Franklin Square/Elmont Herald 11-28-2024

HERALD Franklin square/elmont

Super Seahawks!

Assisting the people who help us at Thanksgiving

By RENEE DEloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com

Emilian Emeagwali, who founded the Elmont-based charity Giving Back to Community Corp., held a Thanksgiving food drive at her physical and occupational office in Valley Stream last Saturday. She distributed 100 turkeys and various canned goods to local people in need, many of whom came all the way from New York City.

So much more needs to be done, Emeagwali said.

Emeagwali, 59, who started the Giving Back to Community Corp. in 2009 in Nigeria, brought it to the United States

in 2020, after she noticed a surge in food insecurity on Long Island amid the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, she said, the need has only increased.

Saturday’s event was scheduled to start at noon, but a line of about 30 people had already formed by 11:45 a.m. Before the distribution began, Emeagwali knew she would run out of turkeys before the end of the sixhour event.

Fundraising challenges

The turkeys for this year’s food drive were purchased from BJ’s, with funds raised by Emeagwali’s charity and a $100

T he more you get, the more you can give.

AVERETT lEACh Volunteer

donation from the store. She held a fundraising gala last month at the Golden Terrace Banquet Hall in Richmond Hill, but other than the contribution from BJ’s, she received no further financial support. Most donations were from friends and family members.

Funding, she said, is the big-

gest challenge she faces, and finding a permanent space to operate is a close second. “I spend almost all my time reaching out to people, trying to see if we can get funding,” she said. “That’s what is limiting us.”

Emeagwali does not get funding from local and state elected officials, although she’s

been asking for a while now. She said she has written to supermarkets like King Kullen, Stop & Shop and Key Food, as well as local politicians, but has either been rejected or received no response.

On top of that, she said, not having a permanent space has been eating into the funds she

Continued on page 3

Jeff Wilson/Herald

Carey defeated Mepham, 28-7, to capture the Nassau County Conference II football championship last Friday evening at Hofstra University. Story, additional photos, page 6.

Learning about Native American heritage

Polk Street School fourth graders concluded their history unit on local Native Americans by hosting the annual Native American Village event on Nov. 15. The students’ families, as well as their peers in third grade, were invited to immerse themselves in Native American culture by exploring the village set-up.

Spread across the school’s Outdoor Learning Center, the Native American Village featured the students’ projects from throughout the unit, such as dreamcatchers, longhouse displays, false face and rimdweller masks, and cornhusk dolls. Students shared Native stories in the longhouse, which was built by Principal Gilbert Torossian. Animal skins, fur clothing and bones — which were donated by the PTA –

were on display for visitors to explore. Students and their families were also able to play popular Native games, like corn tosses and the bean game.

As this was a cross-curricular initiative, the students created coil pots during their art classes and learned “Hey Ya Na,” an Apache hand game song, during their music lessons. Earlier in the month, the fourth graders took a field trip to Garvies Point Museum and Preserve in Glen Cove, as well, to learn more about Long Island’s Native American tribes.

This annual initiative is an engaging and fun way for Polk Street’s fourth graders to learn about local Native Americans and share their knowledge with their peers and families. — Renee DeLorenzo

Polk Street School students gather in a circle and play the drums at the Native American Village on Nov. 15.

Photos courtesy Franklin Square Union Free School District Students inside a longhouse at the Native American Village.

Local charity struggles to find funding

raises. When she schedules a gala, she has to pay the venue as if she were any other business, and deduct that from the event’s donations. In addition, she said, none of the venues at which she has held events have made any donations.

“I need funding,” Emeagwali said. “We need a permanent place, you know, so we can do this on a regular basis. But funding is the most important thing.”

Government participation

WAccording to Averett Leach, a volunteer at Giving Back to Community, organizations in Brooklyn have more access to funds than those on Long Island. Leach, who grew up in Brooklyn and saw poverty firsthand, said he wasn’t sure why, but he has noticed a trend in Brooklyn that he doesn’t see in communities like Elmont, particularly in local leadership.

hen you see that you put a smile on somebody’s face — you see somebody struggling and you give them something like this — they brighten up. It’s so rewarding. And that’s why I do it.

Emilian EmEagW ali Giving Back to Community

“Some of those people that are in charge of stuff like that are in the churches you attend,” he said of Brooklyn. “You see them at various community events. So you have that exposure to them on a regular basis.”

On Long Island, Leach said, he doesn’t see elected leaders as often.

Emeagwali agreed, saying, “I think they need to change legislation and put something in there to help organizations like us, because we are closer to the community than them.”

Emeagwali grew up in Nigeria, where she saw widespread poverty. Her efforts abroad, she said, have been particularly challenging. “The type of poverty there is alarming. It wasn’t like this when I was there,” she said. “The children don’t have clothing. You will see a school with no chairs and no desks. The women can’t even afford food for their children.”

Emeagwali showed a video of a food drive she organized last year in Nigeria. “That one, I was crying. I started crying,” she said. As she recalled the experience, she began to tear up. The number of people who show up at these drives, she said, increases every year. This year she expects the number to double. Whatever is left over from her Thanksgiving funds will go toward her next food drive in Nigeria for Christmas.

Connecting with the community

As of now, Giving Back to Communi-

averett

ty relies on Facebook, Emeagwali’s website, newspapers, and word of mouth to raise awareness about her charity and its events. Eileen Dowd, who has been a patient of Emeagwali’s since 2015, said she supports the organization by giving fliers and business cards to politicians and others she meets, promoting both the organization and Emeagwali’s practice to people she meets.

Dowd called Emeagwali a miracle worker, and said that more people should do more what she does. “I support how she helps people who can’t help themselves,” Dowd said. “She lifts up people that don’t see the good in themselves. She goes the extra mile. And she’s a really loving and caring person to people she doesn’t even know.”

Emeagwali said she is not alone in her efforts, and people like Leach, Dowd and her children are the backbone of the organization. She said that with their help, she can in turn help people in Elmont, Valley Stream, Queens and Brooklyn. “We don’t discriminate,” she said. “Anyone who comes in here, we don’t ask where you come from. You’re getting something.”

Leach said that volunteering is rewarding work, and it helps him connect with the community in a way that makes him feel fulfilled. “The fact that we are able to give back these turkeys, these canned products, and see the smiles on people’s faces that receive these items, that’s all I can ask for,” he said.

Leach added that he hopes to inspire

more community participation, and that the community is key to changing how charities like Giving Back to Community can operate. “What needs to change is people’s hearts,” he said. “People need to be more involved. If they get more involved, then they can get more done.”

Despite the many challenges she faces, Emeagwali said her work with the charity is extremely fulfilling. With a big smile, she said, “When you see that you put a smile on somebody’s face — you see somebody struggling and you give them something like this — they brighten up. It’s so rewarding. And that’s why I do it.”

For more information about Emeagwali’s charity, visit GivingBackToCommunity.org.

Renee DeLorenzo/Herald photos

Harrietta Leach, Luci Baijnath, emilian emeagwali, aeisha Smith, and averett Leach gathered in front of a giving Back to Community Corp. banner.

Community members waited in a long line for turkeys and canned goods.

Leach with one of the turkeys he distributed to the community.

Solages distributes free museum passes

Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, in collaboration with the Long Island Children’s Museum, distributed over 2,000 museum passes, theater passes, and tickets to Nunley’s Carousel over the past six months to constituents across the 22nd Assembly District. These passes were distributed to hundreds of families, schools, and community groups.

Solages worked last year to secure grant funding for the children’s museum programming for young children, including the Lullaby Project, in collaboration with the Basics Elmont program, which connects families with musicians to compose custom lullabies for them. This initiative helps foster childhood development and strengthens the bond between parent and child.

With this focus on childhood development, Solages teamed up with the children’s museum to bring more families to the museum and experience firsthand the educational programs and exhibits offered. The Solages’ office distributed passes to elementary schools throughout the district, at Assemblywoman Solages’ Elmont Family Day event over the summer, and other events.

“The Long Island Children’s Museum is a vital part of the Long Island com -

It is remarkable to us how many people we meet who have amassed signifcant wealth beyond their needs, yet have little or no inclination to share their good fortune with others, even their immediate families. It seems to us that the only value that any asset has is in its use — those who have assets they are unable to utilize are really no better off than those who don’t.

How much richer and happier many lives would be if only we learned to share more. Studies in psychology and neuroscience have demonstrated that acts of generosity trigger a release of endorphins, referred to as the “helper’s high”, leading to increased feelings of happiness and satisfaction.

Generous acts involve considering the needs of others, expanding one’s empathy and leading to deeper connections with others and a more meaningful and fulflling life. This may explain why those least able to give are sometimes the most generous. Generosity has less to do with what one has than the way one thinks.

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munity,” Solages said in a news release.

“The educational programs and interactive exhibits are a valuable asset to families looking for a fun, engaging activity for the whole family. I am proud to work with the team at LICM, led by President Erika Floreska to secure funding for their programs and thank them for bringing thousands of community members to the museum for free.”

— Renee DeLorenzo

“A fght is going on inside me,” said an old man to his son. “It is a terrible fght between two wolves. One wolf is evil. He is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other wolf is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. The same fght is going on inside you.”

The son thought for a minute and then asked, “Which wolf will win?”

The old man replied simply, “The one you feed.”

— Wendy Mass

Generosity may also involve giving of your time and attention. As theologian John Wesley put it three hundred years ago:

“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, To all the people you can, As long as you ever can.”

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Photos courtesy Office Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages

The Voices of Elmont Youth Community Choir attending the Long Island Children’s Museum with passes provided by the museum, in partnership with Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages’ office.

Michalle Solages, center, with L.I. Children’s Museum President Erika Floreska, left, and Director of Education Ashley Niver, right, with museum passes given to the community.

News brief

Sewanhaka Central High School District’s middle school students who performed in ‘Raise Your Voice’ as part of a partnership with Plaza Theatricals.

Students partner with the professionals

Sewanhaka Central High School District partnered with Plaza Theatricals for a musical revue show, “Raise Your Voice.” Middle school students performed at Elmont Memorial Public Library’s 400-seat theatre on Nov. 15 and 16. Forty middle school students from –Elmont Memorial High, Floral Park Memorial High School, H. Frank Carey High School, New Hyde Park Memorial High School and Sewanhaka High — were cast members.

The show featured songs from across the Music Theatre International Broadway junior collection, such as “Guys and Dolls,” “Oliver,” “Mary Poppins” and “The Little Mermaid.”

Superintendent Regina Agrusa said in a news release, “Without a doubt, this group of talented performers will continue to light up the stage with dazzling shows for the next six years. Congratulations on a job very well done!”

— Renee DeLorenzo

Courtesy Sewanhaka Central High School District

HERALD SPORTS

Fake punt sparks Carey to county title

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

There was nothing fake about Carey’s dominant run to the Nassau Conference II football championship.

Well, actually, there was.

Deadlocked with Mepham early in the second half of last Friday night’s title game at Hofstra, the Seahawks pulled a fake punt on fourth-and-6 from their own 47 that saw senior Billy Koutsoumbaris gain 29 yards. Five plays later, sophomore Justin DePietro scored his second of three touchdowns and Carey eventually pulled away for a 28-7 victory and its first county championship since 2014.

“We noticed on the previous punts they were in full return mode,” Koutsoumbaris said. “When I saw we called a fake, I was confident. There was a huge hole and I just took off.”

The top-seeded Seahawks (11-0) faced another fourth down later in the same possession and DePietro, who carried 35 times, kept the chains moving with four of his 187 yards. His 11-yard touchdown capped the nine-play, 57-yard drive which put them ahead for good.

“Our O-line did what it needed to do and Justin is just a machine,” senior center Richie Metzger said of DePietro, who in the 15-0 semifinal win over Long Beach had 160 yards and both touchdowns. “It’s such a great feeling for all of us,” he added. “We’ve been work-

ing for this since the summer. Mepham gave us a tough fight as we expected.”

Carey, which has yet to trail in any game this season, advanced to face Half Hollow Hills East for the Long Island Class II crown this Friday at Hofstra at 4:30 p.m. Mepham, which reached the finals for the second time in three years, finished 9-2 with both defeats coming to the Seahawks.

“I’m just so happy for the kids, they worked so hard all year long,” Carey head coach Mike Stanley said. “They were committed to the offseason and did everything we asked them to do, and more. It’s a special group and I’m really proud of them.”

Both teams scored on their opening drives. Carey went 67 yards on 12 plays and led 7-0 on DePietro’s 6-yard touchdown run and senior kicker Joshua Palomino’s first of four successful extra points. The Pirates responded by going 66 yards on nine plays, with senior quarterback Owen Heller throwing for all of it including a 10-yard touchdown strike to senior Nicholas Gampero. Senior Ryan Bayer added the extra point after the first playoff score allowed by the Seahawks.

“Coach [Tom] Aiello does an outstanding job with our defense to give us an edge,” Stanley said. “Our guys are ready week-in and week-out.”

The next eight possessions combined resulted in no points and the ninth had a similar look until Koutsoumbaris took junior long snapper Mike Agostino’s delivery and turned the biggest play of the game.

“At the time of the fake punt we thought we needed to swing momentum,” Stanley said. “We converted and went on to score and it was a bit of a backbreaker for them.”

DePietro provided breathing room with a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down with 8:33 remaining in the fourth. Carey iced the title four minutes later with senior quarterback Chris Obertis’ 25-yard touchdown pass to junior Tristan Hickis.

Junior Christian Anaya had 2 sacks and 9 tackles to lead Carey’s defense. Junior James Quilty had 17 tackles for Mepham.

“It was a great season and we had an amazing group of seniors who led us and left their mark on the program,” Mepham first-year head coach Tom Mazieka said.

photos by Jeff Wilson/Herald Carey’s defense allowed just one score in three playoff wins, capped by last Friday’s 28-7 triumph over Mepham in the Conference II title game.

Justin DePietro scored three times in Carey’s first county championship victory since 2014.

Quarterback Chris Obertis capped the Seahawks’ county title with a late touchdown pass to Tristan Hickis.

Detectives provide coats for Elmont kids

Each year, the Elmont Union Free School District is the recipient of an incredible outpouring of generosity from the Nassau County Police Detectives’ Association through their annual Coats for Kids drive. This heartwarming initiative ensures that students in need stay warm throughout the winter months.

Led by district Pupil Personnel Services Director Audrey Cabbell and Assistant Director Helisse Palmore, the PPS department worked with the schools’ dedicated social workers to coordinate with the detectives who collected a selection of coats tailored to fit the needs of each school. This year, the district received around 15 coats per building in a variety of sizes, colors and styles.

Student Council members from each of the six schools, along with the social workers, Cabbell and Superintendent Marlon Small, gathered at the PPS office for the special celebration on Nov. 7.

Together, they welcomed Detectives Vinny Vacchiano and Richard Morello, accepted the generous donations and extended a heartfelt thank you to them for their unwavering support and commitment to the Elmont community.

— Renee DeLorenzo

Courtesy Elmont Union Free School District

Elmont Union Free School District Director of Pupil Personnel Services Audrey Cabbell, far right, and Superintendent Marlon Small, far left, along with Student Council members and social workers, accepted a donation of winter coats on behalf of the district from the Nassau County Police Detectives’ Association on Nov. 7.

The stars are dimmed by light pollution

With each passing year — especially in areas like Nassau County — we see less of

By NICOLE FORMISANO

Special to the Herald

As a child, Ken Spencer would wait until the sun sank below the ocean horizon, and then ride his bike down to the beach and lie in the sand, staring up into the sky as the final streaks of pink and orange slipped from view. Then quietly, one by one, billions of stars would wink into existence — diamond dust, he said, scattered across a sea of black velvet.

Now, at 82, the Sea Cliff resident is lucky if he can spot even the brightest stars amid a night sky that has, over the years, morphed into a wall of light-polluted gray.

Nassau County suffers some of the worst light pollution in the world. It’s harming local wildlife, damaging human health, and marring something as seemingly inviolable as the very sky above.

The word “pollution” often evokes clouds of smog, or continental landfills; little do we think of light itself as a form of pollution. But when we are irresponsible about how we artificially light the world around us, that additional light impacts everything it touches.

Summer nights on Long Island, for example, used to mean a world illuminated by fireflies. That likely won’t be the case for the next generation. The bioluminescent beetles can’t find potential mates amid an overlit world, and are becoming increasingly endangered.

Light pollution is increasing by 10 percent every year, according to DarkSky International, a nonprofit fighting to mitigate the problem. And we’re already suffering the effects.

Losing the night sky

“I know nothing with any certainty,”

Vincent Van Gogh once wrote, “but the sight of the stars makes me dream.”

For as long as we have existed, humans have been linked inextricably to the stars. They served as beacons by which humanity navigated, charting new lands and waters; their movement led scholars to new mathematical and scientific discoveries; they have long captured the imaginations of philosophers, poets and artists; they encourage people of every age, race, class and ability to lift their eyes to the sky, wonder at the vast sea of the universe, and recognize the miracle it is to be alive.

“It feels primeval,” Spencer said of the night sky’s singular ability to pull our eyes upward. “It’s something within us.”

the sky. And little by little, it’s become harder and harder to see the Milky Way.”

More than 80 percent of people will not see the Milky Way in their lifetime, according to DarkSky International, and that number is climbing each year. We in Nassau County cannot see the Milky Way without traveling to the East End — and even that sight is a fading echo of what once was.

The amateur astronomer, originally from Milford, Connecticut, began studying the constellations with his daughter in 1989. He remembers looking at the constellation Hercules, identifying the globular cluster of 300,000 stars at the demigod’s side. He looked for that once-familiar sight recently, but the stars were simply impossible for him to see. He used to drive down to the Custer Institute and Observatory in Southold, which served as a refuge for starry skies on Long Island. But even that, he said, is slowly being encroached on.

“Over the years, now it’s all big-box stores,” Spencer said. “They’re all lit up, and they have big, giant lights in the parking lot, so that light bounces up into

The night sky is integral for interconnectedness, Susan Serven, a spokeswoman for DarkSky International, said. It helps us understand that we aren’t separate from the cosmos, but part of it.

“It’s just been the last generation or two where we’ve lost that privilege to view our starry skies,” Serven said. “If we lose the ability to go out under our night sky, we lose the awe and wonder that humanity has experienced for millennia.”

The health risks of light

When Valerie Giangrande, of Massapequa, says goodnight to her two teenage children, she sometimes has to ask, “Where are your glasses?” The teens will then put on what looks like orangetinted sunglasses before continuing to watch TV or scroll on their phone — sometimes with a sigh or an eye roll, but that’s OK with Giangrande. To the optometrist and applied quantum biology specialist, making sure her kids are shielded from the dangers of excess

the night sky

blue light is worth a bit of teenage ire.

“It’s one of the biggest health risks that nobody thinks about,” said Giangrande, who is an eye doctor at Optical Concepts offices in Bellmore, Freeport and Patchogue. “Light literally controls every aspect of our bodies, which is a pretty big statement to make, but it controls everything. We’re wired by light.”

Just about every function of our body runs on our circadian rhythm, a natural 24-hour clock, she explains. And that clock is controlled by the sun. When the photoreceptors in our eyes take in the long red wavelengths of morning sun, our bodies understand that it is morning and start slowly producing cortisol. As the sun climbs in the sky, it gives off more shorter-wave blue light, which heightens cortisol production and tells our bodies that it’s midday. And after sunset, when our photoreceptors recognize darkness, our brains get the signal to produce melatonin, the sleep hormone, and go into repair mode.

These days, most of our natural clocks are running haywire. That’s because the vast majority of artificial light that contributes to light pollution — LEDs, phones, computers, televisions, billboards — emit blue light. Our bodies are constantly surrounded by signals that it is noon.

Overexposure to blue light is linked to what seems like every health risk under the sun, Giangrande said — insulin resistance and diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, insomnia and lower-quality sleep, and excess anxiety.

“Anyone who wakes up not refreshed, anyone who’s tired, anyone who can’t fall asleep, can’t stay asleep — blue light

Courtesy Ken Spencer across the Long island Sound, the town of Clinton, Connecticut, illustrates just how much light is wasted by being projected straight into the air. it burdens taxpayers, contributes to energy waste and creates a visible sky glow that erases stars from the sky.

The more lights, the less we see of the sky

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from PreViouS Page

toxicity,” Giangrande said. “Say we eat dinner, and then an hour later we’re really hungry again. That’s blue light toxicity, hands down.”

Our digestive enzymes naturally go down at night, she explained. Often when we’re hungry at night, it’s because our blood sugar and insulin are still up because our body thinks it’s daytime.

There are some things people can do to reduce the harm done by light pollution, Giangrande said. To start your day, step outside — or even just open a window — to get exposure to the full light spectrum of the sun. Consider replacing blue-spectrum LEDs in your home with warmer, softer lighting. And perhaps most important, get 100 percent blue light-blocking glasses to use indoors after the sun has gone down.

“Light has to be regulated first before we do all the things,” Giangrande said. “Because there’s no supplement that can take over for the sunlight.”

Let there (not) be light

So, besides our screens, where is excess artificial light coming from? A few of the primary offenders in Nassau County are entire towns and villages using unshielded streetlamps; empty fields, gas stations and parking lots lit up all night by glaring spotlights; and homeowners who illuminate their — and, by extension, their neighbors’ — property with floodlights out of the erroneous belief that it discourages crime. Multiple studies have found that lighting has no effect on crime. In fact, it encourages crimes like vandalism and graffiti, and the glare from harsh lights at night actually makes it more difficult to spot hazards in the dark.

If overlighting accomplishes anything, it wastes money — more than $3 billion in the U.S. each year, according to DarkSky, or as much as $7 billion, according to another study.

Take the Meadowbrook Parkway, for example. The 869 streetlights that line the road are activated by photocells, which turns the lights on at dusk and off at dawn, a spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation said. However, observant drivers will notice that long swaths of the parkway are peppered with orange lights even in the middle of the day. The NYSDOT did not respond to the Herald to answer whether this was intentional or indicative of faulty photocells, and how much energy and money is wasted by the lights each day.

But light pollution and its energy waste can be mitigated relatively easily by local governments. The Village of Oyster Bay, for example, has a lighting ordinance stipulating that all outdoor lighting be fully shielded. But despite such ordinances being demonstrably energy-efficient and cost-effective, few towns and villages have adopted them.

“The best way we recommend our advocates getting involved in changing actually how their backyards and their cities are lit,” said Chris Peterson, engagement director of DarkSky Inter -

an illustration of how much of the night sky is lost, and how much light is wasted, when it is ineffectively shielded — and, inversely, how well-directed, and timed, lighting can preserve our views of the stars.

Courtesy LightPollutionMap.Info this map, using data from naSa, observatories and the World alas 2015, shows light that is wasted, which is about 30 percent of all artificial light, darkSky international estimates.

national, “is to approach city councils, development offices, planning commissions, and propose an update to that lighting ordinance for the city.”

The nonprofit even provides a template for proposing such ordinances to local representatives, which illustrates the principles of responsible outdoor lighting. And if local reps are unswayed, individuals can still help by ensuring they are not overlighting their homes.

But if we don’t take action, we will soon live in a world where a starry night sky is a distant memory.

“It’s a terrible thing for children to not know the night sky,” Spencer said. “If you don’t know something, you don’t know what you’re missing.”

“The central core of me knows that night is important,” he said. “Important to us as a human species.”

Those looking to learn more can visit DarkSky.org.

Every man’s right

Amid skyscrapers and smartphones, what do we have in common with our ancestors? The answer is the stars; the vast swath of universe that serves as our celestial home address. When I look up and see Cygnus flying over me in the winter sky, I’m looking at the same stars as people halfway across the world, or from thousands of years ago, whose names I’ll never know. The night sky serves as a keystone of the human experience, and connects us across space and time in ways that would otherwise be impossible.

As the world around us charges forward unceasingly — always asking for bigger, better, more — we rarely think of the things we lose little by little, day by day. We may not even notice when the Little Dipper dims into oblivion; when each star of Orion’s belt blinks out, one by one; when, one day, even brilliant Jupiter is extinguished, and we are left with a lone moon in a gray sky. I’ll tell my grandkids stories of the firmament, how light traveled billions of light years to make its way to us, and all we had to do to see it was look up. I wonder if they’ll believe me.

I’m not ready to give up the night sky. Are you?

–Nicole Formisano

Courtesy DarkSky International

Belmont Park Village open for holidays

By RENEE DELORENZO rdelorenzo@liherald.com

Belmont Park Village is officially open for the holiday season. The 340,000 square foot shopping complex, built by The Bicester Collection and operated by Value Retail Management, is the first of its kind in the United States. Taking many cues from the immersive atmosphere of the Walt Disney Company theme parks, Belmont Park Village offers a bubble of seclusion that provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of Long Island life.

Jason Katz, the chief commercial officer of Value Retail Management, said the company’s goal was to create an unforgettable day out.

“We want the Village to be an oasis for our guests,” he said. “Whether they live around the corner or are visiting from abroad, we are creating a getaway from everyday life.”

Taking guests on a journey from SoHo to Sag Harbor, the $1.3 billion structure stands as a one of a kind tribute to the classic streets of New York City all the way through the rustic farmlands of Long Island’s east coast. Standing alongside The Bicester Collection’s nine villages in Europe and two villages in China, Belmont Park Village establishes a unique character that maintains the feel of the local area while simultaneously creating something entirely new.

The history encapsulated within the village provides special insight to iconic monuments of Belmont’s early days. Customers will feel as though they are stepping out of time and transporting to the early 20th century with designs reminiscent of Belmont Park’s opening in 1905.

The sense of discovery is a pillar of the overarching concept and design of the park. Every time a customer turns a corner, they can expect something new to be found. Whether it’s a brand customers have yet to shop, a restaurant they have yet to taste, or a quiet hideaway they have yet to experience, the complex offers a wide array of sensory stimuli all within the safety of a sheltered environment.

Katz said the services provided by the village would include a “hands-off” shopping experience, where customers can drop their bags off with concierge and pick them up on their way out.

“Our guest is the discerning luxury customer, whether it be while at their home on Long Island, New York, or traveling, whether that be domestically, or abroad,” he said.

The developers, in partnership with UBS Arena, have also curated an experience that taps into the intersection of music and fashion. The developers will be partnering with artists performing at the arena for collaborations at the village.

The large-scale complex will bring around 1,500 jobs to Elmont and $800 million in economic benefits for the surrounding area. The jobs will include a variety of roles such as retail, hospitality, food and beverage, and services. The company offers comprehensive training that will lead to long-term career opportunities. The company will host three

local job fairs at UBS Arena in order to recruit workers.

Value Retail Management also made it a point to collaborate with several local construction firms, including the Ronkonkoma-based firm Aurora. Boasting as the most sustainable retail destination in North America, Belmont Park Village is certified as the first complex to follow the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology, an accreditation common to building complexes in Europe.

In addition, Belmont Park Village has partnered with UBS Arena and the New York Islanders to further invest in the community through the Back to School Giveback Program and The Bicester Collection’s global Do Good program. By partnering with local charities, the village will continue its effort to support students, women, and children.

Located next to the Cross Island Parkway and the Elmont train station, the complex can be accessed through several modes of transportation. Shuttles will be provided directly from the Elmont train station to the front of the complex, and

there will be drop-off points for Uber and Lyft commuters. For those travelling in their personal vehicles, a six-story parking garage is available just across the park’s entrance.

Once completed, the experiential shopping complex will include 155 stores with a mix of local, national, and international brands to attract customers of all sensibilities. Not only do the develop-

ers hope to draw in customers from Long Island and Manhattan, but international customers, as well.

Belmont Park Village is opening on a rolling basis and will be adding more stores in the near future. For now, customers can enjoy the experience Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Visitors walk the streets of the village.

Visitors walk around the dog-friendly complex while others sit on a bench.

Photos courtesy Belmont Park Village

A view of one of the courtyards at Belmont Park Village.

Belmont Park Village at nighttime decorated with holiday lights.

STEPPING OUT

Don’t miss the beats, the energy and the vibe when Secret Agent 23 Skidoo launches the museum’s Musical Explorers! Concert series.

Acclaimed husband-and-wife duo Andrés and Christina’s — known as 123 Andrés — catchy songs and lively concerts impart the joy of music, movement and language.

Memories with melodies at Long Island Children’s Museum

Reach for the rhythm in you with a colorful spectrum of musical performance

By Danielle Schwab

After everyone polishes off the turkey, families can embark on a musical adventure to usher in the holiday season, courtesy of Long Island Children’s Museum. The stage is set for a new concert series, “Musical Explorers!,” which kicks off this weekend, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

Young audiences are introduced to an excitingly diverse music scene, featuring an array of global sounds, culture, and artistic legends from the world of jazz, hip hop, Latin music, and more. Families will surely get in the groove at the museum’s inaugural series of concerts, which represent the vibrant genres of jazz, hip-hop and Latin music. Performers add their unique touch, blending imaginative storytelling into musical masterpieces.

“Music speaks to human nature, the human soul. Every culture has music. Everybody celebrates it. Everybody taps to the rhythm. So that’s what we’re looking to provide,” James Packard, the museum’s theater program director says. “Musical Explorers offers our audiences the opportunity to dive deeper into the many ways that music speaks to us.”

In curating the concerts, he selected Grammy-winning artists and top talents in family music so that a diverse range of genres reflecting the power of music are represented.

“We encourage families to use these performances to introduce their children to the rhythms of hip-hop, the soul of jazz, and the vibrant beats of contemporary Latin music,” he says.

The series begins this weekend with Grammy-winning hip-hop funk sensation Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. This dynamic three-person rap ensemble offers their young audience a fun and engaging introduction to hip-hop. Known for their electrifying blend of hip-hop with sci-fi-inspired storytelling and feel-good tunes, the band combines the raw energy of funk with the surreal magic of animation-inspired performance. Imagine a band with Jim Henson playing guitar or Shel Silverstein writing the bass lines and you’ve got Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. Prepare to get up and dance with larger-than-life stories through upbeat songs.

“We just came out with an album in collaboration with the Asheville Symphony. We took folk tales from around the world from various cultures and turned them into hip-hop songs to tell these stories,” Joel “Cactus” Sullivan, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo’s lead singer, says.

Sullivan and his bandmates journey back thousands of years, drawing from the rich traditions of Japan, West Africa and Persia to tell timeless life lessons. And, it wouldn’t be hip-hop without some creative freestyle — with the help of members from the audience, of course.

“We get words from the crowd and then make up a song on the spot right there. There’s something magical about the improvisation that can happen with hip hop,” Sullivan adds.

Heading into New Year, everyone can jive to some outstanding jazz grooves with the iconic Jazz at Lincoln Center Quintet, on Jan. 19 and 20. The top-flight musicians swing into the sound of America. Their performances explore the Great Migration and the Harlem Renaissance, examining the great Louis Armstrong’s journey from New Orleans to Chicago and New York — all from the museum’s intimate stage.

“Lincoln Center is a new connection for us,” Packard notes. “It will be a more traditional concert style, but geared at school-age kids, with interactivity and conversation going on between the musicians and the audience.”

Another performance to keep an eye (and an ear) out for is husband-and-wife duo 123 Andrés. The pair — Latin Grammy winners for Best Children’s Music Album earlier this year —

Dark Star Orchestra

• Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1

• $11 with museum admission; available online at licm.org/ theater or in person at the museum box office

• View the LICM events calendar at licm.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800

• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City

will arrive in June with their interactive bilingual performance that speak to the joy, energy and cultural richness of Latin America.

They’ll be sure to get everyone singing, clapping and dancing along to rhythms from across the Latin music spectrum.

“Music is a universal language the world over. It is a part of who we are spiritually. And so it goes on all the time, a thing that goes into your soul,” Packard adds.

The concert series reinforces the museum’s mission to bring musicians into kid-accessible spaces. It’s an opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in a world of rhythm, melody and cultural appreciation — all within the welcoming environment of the LICM Theater.

“Music is a form of social-emotional learning,” Packard continues. “You can let out happiness or sadness. Exposing children to different styles they might find, ‘Oh, I really like hip hop,’ or ‘I really like the Latin beat’, or ‘I really like the jazz,’ and that can have an impact where they go in life.”

The Grateful Dead have been resurrected in the form of Dark Star Orchestra. Formed in 1997, this tribute band came up with the novel idea of recreating complete sets from The Grateful Dead’s gigantic list of concerts. Over 3,100 shows later DSO continues the Grateful Dead live concert experience to acclaim. On any given night, the band performs based on a set list from the Dead’s 30 years of extensive touring or use their catalog to program a unique set list for the show. In this way DSO offers a continually evolving artistic outlet within the Dead’s musical canon. Honoring both the band and the fans, Dark Star Orchestra’s members seek out the unique style and sound of each era while simultaneously offering their own informed improvisations.

Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30, 8 p.m. $99.50, $69.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.

Long Island

Ballet

Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’

The holiday treat returns, Audiences will once again be transported by the Sugar Plum Fairy to The Land of Sweets in this familyfriendly classic, set to the music of Tchaikovsky. LIBT’s production opens “Nutcracker” season here, sparkling with a talented cast of adult professionals and aspiring young student dancers. This version is both narrated and abridged, to introduce youngster to the story of Clara, her magical nutcracker and her enchanting winter adventure..

Saturday, Nov. 30, noon and 4 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 1, 2 p.m. $37.50. Purchase tickets at liballettheatre. com or by phone at (631) 2714626. For more information, visit landmarkonmainstreet.org. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington.

Courtesy LICM

Courtesy Jazz at Lincoln Center

The Jazz at Lincoln Center quintet introduces young audiences to a cherished musical tradition.

Courtesy David Rugeles

THE Your Neighborhood

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening

Jason Bonham, son of legendary Led Zeppelin drummer, visits the Paramount stage, Monday, dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. He showcases his musical journey and family legacy, celebrating his father’s legendary career, with a concert featuring hits from Led Zeppelin’s iconic albums, and highlighting Jason’s own notable contributions to rock history. Encompassing hits from the iconic band’s entire career, including albums “Led Zeppelin,” “Led Zeppelin II,” “Led Zeppelin IV,” and “Physical Graffiti,” the concert event is a dynamic tribute to Jason’s father, with “…a band that recreates Led Zeppelin’s music to such a degree that one can’t help but close their eyes and simply listen…” [-Classic Rock Revisited]. Jason displayed musical talent from a young age. By age five, he could skillfully play drums, and at 17, he joined the band Air Race. Over the years, he contributed to various musical projects, including a Led Zeppelin reunion in 1988, touring with Jimmy Page, and forming his band “Bonham.” He collaborated with notable artists, recorded successful albums, and participated in a Muddy Waters tribute that earned a Grammy nomination.

Throughout the years, Jason collaborated with different artists, recorded with Foreigner, and participated in the highly anticipated Led Zeppelin reunion in 2007 at London’s O2 arena. His musical journey showcases a blend of family legacy, collaborations with rock legends and a commitment to preserving and celebrating iconic rock history. Jason always finds himself at home behind the drumkit. From this spot, he has anchored the tempo for a myriad of the most legendary artists of all-time. It’s the place where he initially realized his destiny as a kid. It’s a triedand-true safe harbor for the expression of his purest emotions. Ultimately, Jason remains forever at home on the drums. $99.50, $89.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

1863 Thanksgiving

Partake of Thanksgiving traditions from days gone by during Old Bethpage Village Restoration’s annual holiday event, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 30dec.1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Journey back to the 19th century as oldfashioned wood burning stoves, beehive ovens and hearths are all fired up as “villagers” prepare a variety of foods and baked goods, using historical recipes. Of course, a fat turkey is spitted and roasted, along with pie making and a demonstration of food preservation methods.

With fiddle music, entertainment and children’s activities, including storytelling, and morel. $15, $12 children 5-12 and seniors. 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage. Visit oldbethpagevillagerestoration. org or call (516) 572-8409 for more information.

Are you game?

Bring some friends and make some new ones during game night at Elmont Memorial Library, Wednesdays, 1:30-4:30 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) 3545280.

Franklin Square BOE meets

Attend the Franklin Square Board of Education meeting, Wednesday, dec. 4, 8 p.m., at Washington Street School. 760 Washington St. For more information, call (516) 481-4100.

Play Canasta

Join in a friendly game of Canasta, Fridays, 1-4 p.m., at Franklin Square Public Library, 19 Lincoln Road. For more information, visit franklinsquarepl.org or call (516) 488-3444.

Bird walk

See some birds with the South Shore Audubon Society. All are welcome to join members for the next in its series of bird walks, at Mill Pond Park in Wantagh, Sunday, dec. 1, starting at 9 a.m. The park is on the north side of Merrick Road, four blocks west of Wantagh State Parkway. The group meets at the gazebo. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. Rain, snow or temperature below 25 degrees will cancel the bird walk. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org.

Tea time

The festive season is underway at Old Westbury Gardens. Enjoy a cream tea (featuring scones, Devonshire cream, assorted sweets, and tea), then a guided tour of decorated Westbury House, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m. $22.50 per person. Advance registration suggested. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

Community Game Night

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.

In concert Plaza

Theatricals’ welcomes everyone to a “Motown Holiday Dance Party,” Sunday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m. Celebrate the holidays in true Motown style. Enjoy a sensational afternoon of soulful tunes, joyful dancing, and nostalgic vibes at the electrifying concert. Get ready to groove, spread the festive cheer and make unforgettable memories. See the show at 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Santa is coming to the Square!

The Square Health & Fitness invites all to their celebration of the holiday season, Friday, Nov. 29, 2-4 p.m. Kids can meet Santa and create arts and crafts to bring home. This is a free event. 510 Hempstead Tpke, West Hempstead.

Having an event?

Holiday Tales At The Hearth

Visit Sands Point Preserve’s Hempstead House and join in the holiday cheer, Sunday, Dec. 8, 1-4 p.m. The familyfriendly event includes activities for all ages. Meet and take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy jazz and holiday music with Port Jazz Project, along with seasonal crafts, Dreidel Corner, “nutty” holiday scavenger hunt, reading nook with holiday and winter stories, and puppet shows with Wonderspark Puppets at 2 and 3 p.m. 127 Middle Neck Road. Admission is $40/car, members; $45/ car nonmembers, includes parking. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition

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

Family theater

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to its stage, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 5-6, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Saturday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; also Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 10-12, 10:-15 a.m. and noon. Ezra Jack Keats’ “The Snowy Day & Other Stories” celebrates the joy in the small moments of a child’s world. Experience the wonder of a fresh snowfall, the delight of whistling for the first time, and the awe of finding a special treasure. In this childhood adventure, Keats’ classic books come to life, featuring live actors and shadow puppets telling the stories of “The Snowy Day,” “Goggles!,” “Whistle for Willie,” and “A Letter to Amy.” $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm. org.

Local leaders reject regionalization plan

By BRIAN NORMAN bnorman@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, other local elected officials, school district superintendents and school board trustees gathered in the Nassau County executive building on Nov. 21 to oppose the recent State Education Department Regionalization Plan.

The plan, introduced as an emergency rule on Sept. 25, directs school districts to pool resources, programs and services, which critics say threatens the independence of local districts. State Sen. Jack Martins, one of the plan’s main opponents, talked about fighting to preserve local control of districts.

“Long Island schools are regularly ranked among the very best in New York state,” Martins said. “That fact is due in large part to our local control and educational structure, which prioritizes our students’ success. We join our local communities in opposing any effort to force regionalization and fight to preserve local control.”

Blakeman echoed Martins’s sentiments, saying the plan was an attack on suburban school districts, and that he and others would continue to fight to keep power in the hands of the districts.

“Isn’t it interesting that cities such as Yonkers, Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester and New York City are all excluded from their plan?” Blakeman said. “This is just

Sen. Jack Martins, along with other local elected officials, challenged the NYSED’s Regionalization Plan at a news conference on Nov. 21.

another attack on the suburbs by state government, which is completely controlled by left-wing politicians, and we will not stand by and let the Department of Education gut our school districts.”

Many opponents of the plan are questioning the decision to make it an emergency measure. State Sen. Steve Rhoads called it a rushed, and added that the language contained in it could lead to local districts’ complete loss of control of their operations.

“The State Education Department’s self-created emergency regionalization

mandate is vague and can lead to a complete usurpation of local control of schools budgets, tax dollars, and educational opportunities and resources vested in local boards of education,” Rhoads said. “Long Islanders pay some of the highest school taxes in the state, and their local and state officials should and must have a voice in where those dollars are being spent, and that voice is being jeopardized with the SED’s rushed, topdown regionalization plan.”

Sschool districts across Nassau and Suffolk counties are preparing to chal -

lenge the plan. Roslyn school board President Meryl Waxman encouraged other districts to join the fight.

“Superintendents including mine have been told that this is a great big nothing, but what one says and what one does have to align,” Waxman said. “If you take the time to read the regulations and see what they say, they should be self-explanatory. These are emergency regulations, but what was the emergency? Roslyn wasn’t having an emergency until they created one.”

Nonetheless, many people believe that the plan can be beneficial for Long Island school districts. Responding to a rally against the plan on Oct. 31 at Locust Valley High School, Assemblyman Chuck Lavine said that districts can voluntarily participate in shared services, and that the protest was nothing more than political theater.

“The State Education Department website makes it perfectly explicit that any district desiring to engage in shared services with any other district can do so completely voluntarily,” Lavine said. “Held on Halloween, the Oct. 31 rally was nothing more . . . than political theater designed to frighten the public.”

Under the plan, school districts are required to submit surveys to the state by Dec. 6, identifying areas for collaboration. There will also be a comment period before the plan becomes final in January.

Brian Norman/Herald

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON AS TRUSTEE FOR CWABS, INC. ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-2, -againstCHRISTOPHER J. BRODIE

JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CHRISTOPHER

J. BRODIE, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Offce of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on September 17, 2024, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON AS TRUSTEE FOR CWABS, INC. ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-2 is the Plaintiff and CHRISTOPHER J. BRODIE JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CHRISTOPHER

J. BRODIE, 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 9, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 295 TRAVIS AVENUE, ELMONT, NY 11003; and the following tax map identifcation: 32-499-38 & 39.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT ELMONT (NOT AN INCORPORATED VILLAGE), IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index No.: 614702/2018. Harold F. Damm, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 149800 LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

INDEX NO. 615876/2023 COUNTY OF NASSAU

US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff, vs.

CHRISTOPHER CLEMENS, SR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DEBRA CLEMENS A/K/A DEBRA MAKARIUS; CHRISTOPHER CLEMENS, JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DEBRA CLEMENS A/K/A DEBRA MAKARIUS; LAUREN CLEMENS, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DEBRA CLEMENS A/K/A DEBRA MAKARIUS; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF DEBRA CLEMENS A/K/A DEBRA MAKARIUS, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specifc lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #1; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #2; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #3, Defendants. Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Mortgaged Premises: 189 JACOB STREET, ELMONT, NY 11003 Section: 32, Block: 467, Lot: 32 & 33

To the above named Defendants

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear

within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a defciency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF

SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $300,000.00 and interest, recorded on April 07, 2005, in Liber 28624 at Page 659, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 189 JACOB STREET, ELMONT, NY 11003. The relief sought in the within action is a fnal judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who fled this foreclosure proceeding against you and fling the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: October 23rd, 2024 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC

Attorney for Plaintiff

Crystal Khemraj, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 149798

LEGAL NOTICE Notice of formation of Lenovia Ambulette LLC. Articles of organization flled with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 9/19/2024. The business offce is located at 327 Keller Avenue Elmont New York in Nassau county. SSNY has been designated for Service of process. SSNY shall mail any process

served against the LLC to 327 Keller Avenue Elmont New York 11003. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 149775

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC, Plaintiff, v. JACLYN CANNIZZARO A/K/A JACLYN M. CANNIZZARO, ET AL, Defendants. NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT

In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Offce of the County Clerk of Nassau County on November 13, 2019, I, Brian J. Davis, Esq., the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on December 19, 2024 at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Ct. Dr., Mineola, NY 11501, at 02:00 PM the premises described as follows: 63 Garden Street Valley Stream, NY 11581 SBL No.: 39-408-4 ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York. The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the fled judgment, Index No. 611311/2018 in the amount of $390,428.35 plus interest and costs. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the Court System’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale.

Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP

Attorneys for Plaintiff 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 149970

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU RECOVCO MORTGAGE MANAGEMENT, LLC; Plaintiff v. 1700 GROUP LLC; et al.; Defendants. Attorney for Plaintiff: Hasbani & Light, P.C., 450 7th Ave, Suite 1408, NY, NY 10123; (212) 643-6677

Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on 5/22/23, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder on the north side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 17, 2024, at 2:00 PM

Premises known as 116-23 237th Street, Elmont, NY 11003

Section: 32 Block: 626 Lot: 21,22

All that certain plot, piece, or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the County of Nassau, State of New York. As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale.

Approximate amount of judgment: $781,924.13 plus interest and costs. Index Number: 611929/2019

Roger Hausch, Esq., Referee 149981

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU DITECH FINANCIAL LLC, -againstMERITUS MALIVERT, ET AL.

LEGAL NOTICE OFFICE OF THE MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE CERTIFICATE OF ASSUMED NAME Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 333 The fling of an assumed name does not provide a user with exclu- sive rights to that name. The fling is required for consumer protection in order to enable customers to be able to identify the true owner of a business.

ASSUMED NAME: VANESSA NATALIE

GEORGE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSI-

NESS: 189 Sterling Road, Elmont New York USA

NAMEHOLDER(S):

Name: Vanessa-Natalie: George Address: 189 Sterling Road, Elmont New York USA I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all required felds, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the appli- cable chapter of Minnesota Stat- utes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath.

DATE FILED: November 1st, 2024

SIGNED BY: Steve Simon (15085435 150080

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Offce of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on July 18, 2018, wherein DITECH FINANCIAL LLC is the Plaintiff and MERITUS MALIVERT, 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 19, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 83 NORFOLK DRIVE WEST, ELMONT, NY 11003; and the following tax map identifcation: 37-Q18-13. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN AT ELMONT, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index No.: 001512/2012. Janine T. Lynam, 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. 150093

& LEGAL NOTICES To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Offcers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 12/04/2024 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.

709/24. FRANKLIN SQUARE - Alphy

Mattathil, Variance, lot area occupied, maintain roofed over porch attached to dwelling., S/s Princeton Rd., 620’ W/o Eton Rd., a/k/a 835 Princeton Rd. 710/24. ELMONTChappell Pierre, Faisa Pierre & Kimberly H. Pierre, Mother/Daughter Res. (2nd Kitchen)., W/s Oakley Ave., 1168.22’ N/o Sweetman Ave., a/k/a 142 Oakley Ave. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Franklin Square & Elmont within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 150162

AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. Search by publication name at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU INDEX NO.: 609430/2024

DATE FILED: 5/30/2024 SUMMONS FNA DZ, LLC, Plaintiff, -againstARTHUR BEZMAN and STEVEN BEZMAN, if they be living, if they be dead, their respective heirs-atlaw, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through ARTHUR BEZMAN and STEVEN BEZMAN, if they be dead, whether by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, including any right, title or interest in and to the real property described in the complaint herein, all of who and whose names and places or residence are unknown to the plaintiff, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER,

“JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12”, the last twelve names being fctitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action, to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with the summons, to serve notice of appearance, on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the date of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York), and in case of failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Jeffrey A. Goodstein, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, entered Nov. 20, 2024 and fled with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Offce. THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a tax lien and to recover the amount of the tax lien and all of the interest, penalties, additions and expenses thereon to premises k/a Section 32, Block 425, Lot 125. Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. The basis of venue is the location of the subject property.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the tax lien holder who fled this foreclosure proceeding against you and fling the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the tax lien holder will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (TAX LIEN HOLDER) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

HERALD SCHOOLS

Elmont students mark service, academics

The excitement and pride were evident in the chatter and full gymnasium at Covert Avenue School, as the Elmont community joined together to honor both local veterans from the American Legion Post 1033 and English a New Language scholars at the Nov. 12 Board of Education meeting.

Superintendent Marlon Small began the meeting with heartfelt words of thanks to the veterans in attendance before handing the reigns over to Covert Avenue School Principal Mary Natoli.

Natoli welcomed the families, scholars, board trustees and all others in attendance to the annual tradition of honoring those who have served the country. She then invited Nassau County Director of Veterans Affairs Ralph Esposito to join in leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

Under the inspiring direction of Covert Avenue music teacher Sheryl Turk, the fifth and sixth grade chorus sang a rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

After the national anthem, Natoli addressed the veterans.

“On behalf of all of us, thank you for your service and sacrifice,” she said in a news release. “It is because of you that we can enjoy the freedom to pursue our goals and celebrate days like today. Your bravery and dedication inspire us to be better, and your legacy reminds us of the importance of giving back to our community and country.”

In a beautiful tribute to the veterans, the chorus sang once more, delivering a powerful performance of “United We Stand (An American Medley).” Principals from all six buildings, alongside students, then presented handmade cards to the veterans as a token of gratitude.

American Legion Post 1033 Commander Lecia Rodriques-Whyte and Esposito thanked the district and families for their unconditional support each year.

After the touching ceremony honor-

ing Elmont’s veterans, Interim Director of Curriculum and Instruction Robert Cavaliere recognized the incredible milestone achieved by 74 ENL scholars from across the district. The students scored at the Commanding level on the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test, an annual assessment designed to evaluate students’ abilities in listening, speaking, reading and writing in English. Achieving the Commanding level represents a student’s mastery of fluency in English.

Students from each building were called to the front of the gymnasium, where they were congratulated by their principals and Cavaliere, and received a Certificate of Recognition.

To offer an inclusive and engaging environment for all attendees, the district also provided live translation in Spanish with ear-piece devices.

— Renee DeLorenzo

Photos courtesy Elmont Union Free School District

Elmont Union Free School District honored local veterans during the Board of Education meeting on Nov. 12.

Alden Terrace School’s honored ENL students are pictured with Principal Shawnée Warfield, Assistant Principal Shona Beldo, the school’s ENL staff and Interim Director of Curriculum and Instruction Robert Cavaliere.

Covert Avenue School’s fifth and sixth grade chorus, under the direction of Sheryl Turk, far left, performed at the Nov. 12 Board of Education meeting.

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

Amityville UFSD

Substitute/Permanent Substitute Teachers Elementary & Secondary Level

Qualifications: NYS Certification

Salary: $150 per day

Application: Interested candidates please apply online at www.olasjobs.org/longisland

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.

Salary Range is $16 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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

HBCI SUPERVISOR FT: Seeking LCSW or LMSW for Crisis Intervention Program, Cedarhurst NY. 3+ yr exp, Supervision exp. $80K Annually + benefits Claufer@hamaspikkings.org 516-875-8400 x144

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

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

Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT Inside Sales

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

OUTSIDE SALES

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

Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary

‘It

doesn’t look serious to us’

Luxury Beach Living

Welcome to your dream beach retreat! This stunning, fully renovated FEMAcompliant beach home is perched on a wide, desirable block, close to shopping and vibrant restaurants. Enjoy views of both the ocean and bay from the comfort of your elevated contemporary residence. This bright and airy home features an open floor plan with soaring cathedral ceilings and skylights

Q. We are buying a house and got an engineer’s report that said there are several problems, including the worst, a crack in the foundation wall. It is parallel to the floor of the basement, but there’s no crack on the outside, either because the outside wall was painted or because the crack is below ground. The engineer made it sound very serious, but it doesn’t look serious to us, just concerning. Do we get another engineer or architect — is there a difference? What should we do to decide if the house is worth the hassle? We really want the house, and made a commitment, since there are several offers and ours is the highest — above the asking price.

A. I have dealt with this problem more lately than at any other time in my career, because it’s being used a lot as a bargaining tool, since house prices are in the stratosphere. In most cases, the wording from the home inspector makes it sound extremely dire.

I make two observations when reading these reports or hearing about the problem: 1) The report wording or buyer’s explanation is often not specific, but recommends a structural engineer, not an architect, and 2) the problem, when I review it, is most often not as serious as it is made out to be. By that I mean that except for about one out of every thousand cases, the wall is not imminently going to fail, and the person who wrote the report is not a licensed engineer or architect. They generally lack the structural training and testing, and therefore the credentials, to represent themselves as qualified to make specific recommendations, only to bring the condition to your attention, although you may already have noticed it.

As for whether you choose an architect or engineer, they both have training and credentials in this area of expertise. The engineer, if he or she is specifically a “structural” engineer, is more qualified for much more specialized and sophisticated structural design, but an architect must have formal structural training and testing in order to be licensed and registered. You can verify the licensure by searching the office of professions at op. nysed.gov and inserting their name and the field of practice. I often do this for clients, and have discovered that many home inspectors aren’t “engineers,” but do have home inspection credentials.

Again, in most cases, whether in or out of a flood zone, I have seen this condition, and the repair is often, but not always, to remove broken or exposed areas around the cracking and to inject structural repair epoxy specifically formulated for masonry or concrete repair. You most definitely should get qualified licensed professionals to look at the wall, since anyone else could not legally call themselves licensed to take responsibility for carrying out the work or its lasting result, and could be held liable for costs if a failure occurs, and you certainly want to avoid failure. 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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SI look forward to representing you again

erving New York’s 4th Congressional District has been an honor. Indeed, being entrusted with the sacred honor of representing my Long Island neighbors on Capitol Hill is a duty I have taken extraordinarily seriously every day. I am grateful to the people of this district for placing their faith in me, and look forward to representing you again. It has certainly been a consequential and active 118th Congress, and I am proud of the accomplishments I was able to achieve on behalf of the 4th District. As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I worked tirelessly to help pass House Republicans’ signature H.R. 2 border security legislation — a sweeping plan to end the border security crisis, which is in stark contrast to the disaster Democrats have allowed to fester along America’s southern border.

What’s more, I was proud that the House passed legislation I introduced to formally condemn the antisemitic chant, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which is used by antisemitic actors to call for the destruction of Israel. My commitment to combating antisemitism also extends to my tenure as a member of the Holocaust Memorial Museum board and my work to help found the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group — a panel created to foster stronger ties between the U.S. House of Representatives and Israel’s legislature, the Knesset. As a retired New York City Police Department detective, I also endeavored to support law enforcement professionals across the country with such legislation as my Police Our Border Act, which passed in the House and will help law enforcement agencies across the country better respond to the ongoing border crisis.

I’m proud of everything I accomplished in Congress, from bills to committee work.

hours of committee work I engaged in through my seats on the House Homeland Security, Transportation & Infrastructure, and House Administration committees. What’s more, my leadership role as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology allowed me to conduct important oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency — an organization that is extraordinarily important to South Shore communities that are prone to flooding emergencies, like many in our district.

Governing is difficult, and requires coalition building, compromise, and a willingness to reach across the aisle — a fact I understand after being named the 11th-most bipartisan member of Congress and serving as a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus.

BThese are only a few of the 37 pieces of legislation I introduced, the 448 bills I co-sponsored and the thousands of

In addition to my legislative and committee work, I successfully secured over $20 million in direct funding for community projects across the 4th District to benefit our neighbors. These secured federal resources funded a new Nassau County Police Department training village, important flood-mitigation infrastructure in the Village of Floral Park, technology upgrades for the Freeport, Lynbrook and Rockville Centre police departments, and more.

My successor, Laura Gillen, will need to navigate these challenges while serving in the House Democratic minority, which will prove difficult. Indeed, the fact that Gillen will be in the minority lends itself well to being a vocal partisan critic of the House Republican majority and the incoming Trump administration, because both will be working in overdrive to correct the many mistakes of the Biden administration and Democrats across the country who forced Americans to endure crippling inflation and a border crisis. Gillen’s position in the House minority does not lend itself well to delivering for 4th District neighbors like I was able to do by leveraging my position in the majority.

Gillen made bold, empty promises, and now it is time for her to deliver. Voters will be watching.

Anthony D’Esposito is completing his term in the 118th Congress.

Dear readers, we can’t keep it in neutral

efore the presidential election, the Herald published an editorial explaining why the familyowned newspapers would not be endorsing political candidates.

If I had read the piece in a vacuum, I would agree with it entirely. It states, in part, “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 ballot box.”

Sounds perfect. But we are living through an unprecedented and exceedingly imperfect time in our nation’s history. This year, not endorsing meant keeping silent when silence may have implied that both presidential candidates met minimal standards for serving in the nation’s highest office. By any standard, that is not true of President-elect Donald Trump.

Media across our country have some-

how made it seem as if a convicted felon with a rich history of lying and a refusal to take on the serious issues of governance is a reasonable choice. But in our president-elect, we have an aspiring autocrat, a morally bankrupt man with a vengeful heart.

He has already begun fulfilling his promise to dismantle the government by selecting big donors, MAGA loyalists and inexperienced toadies for his new cabinet. None of this is a surprise. He said he would do it, and he is. Whether they get confirmed is dependent on the ever-weakening backbone of Republican senators, who live and die, politically, at the whim of the man they follow.

tarian government.

I understand the dilemmas. Do endorsements really affect voters’ choices? Historians, psychologists and journalists bat the question around, with no clear answer. Do endorsements alienate too many readers? In the world of newspapers, these issues loom much larger on the local level than with big newspapers like the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, which also declined to endorse this year.

D onald Trump did not meet the presidency’s minimal standards.

We are in the beginning days of DJT’s revenge tour, fulfilling his promise to punish those who opposed him, challenged him and tried to bring him to justice. He wants people at the table whose loyalty is to him. Their expertise and leadership qualities seem incidental to the main qualification: unquestioning obeisance to the leader.

So the idea of not endorsing candidates, this extraordinary year in particular, does not sit well. The fallout from the coming Trump presidency could be a catastrophic shift toward an authori-

Local papers live in the community. They have responsibilities to their readers, to the truth and to the realities of just staying in business. With local newspapers closing every week across the country, conflicting interests must be reconciled, very carefully.

I started at the Nassau Herald more than 30 years ago, and for many years it did endorse candidates, from local officials to the presidency. Leatrice Spanierman, my mentor and colleague and the Heralds’ longtime executive editor, interviewed candidates every fall and wrote endorsements. The candidates, including member of the U.S. House and Senate, came to her office; they knew the value of local newspapers’ endorsement. The Heralds had a voice, and used

it as a means of informing readers.

The editorial in the Oct. 31-Nov. 6 issue, explaining why the Heralds were not offering endorsements, stated that “the one place where you might see opinions about local and national political candidates … is in columns in 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.”

I understand the need to create distance. I like the distance, too. I don’t speak for the Heralds. No one high on the masthead has ever tried to influence what I write or don’t write. The paper stays above the fray by giving King and me platforms for different points of view.

I would be fine with any newspaper’s no-endorsement policy if this election had been like any other in America’s long history. But it was not. Nothing about this race was normal. The times demanded speaking up for democracy. For the immediate future and for as long as it can, the press must use its voice to call out the bad guys and amplify justice. This Thanksgiving, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to share my views. Our free press never seemed so precious.

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

AnTHonY D’ESpoSITo

RAnDI KREISS

Franklin square/elmont

Established 1998

Incorporating the Franklin Square/Elmont Record

Renee DeLoRenzo Reporter

RhonDa GLickman

Vice President - Sales

2 Endo Boulevard

Garden City, NY 11530

Phone: (516) 569-4000

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E-mail: fseditor@liherald.com

Copyright © 2024 Richner

A season for giving back on Long Island

With the holiday season upon us, our minds turn to traditions — Thanksgiving meals filled with comfort and gratitude, and other gatherings of family and friends over the coming weeks.

These moments of celebration are precious, but they also give us an opportunity to reflect on what it means to give back. Thanksgiving, rooted in the idea of gratitude, serves as a poignant reminder of our privilege and the responsibility to extend a hand to others. Here on Long Island, where vibrant communities thrive amid significant challenges, there is no shortage of causes deserving our time, attention and generosity.

Friendsgiving, a relatively recent tradition, embodies the spirit of connection by bringing friends together to share a meal and express their appreciation for one another. It can also be an occasion to unite for a greater purpose. By turning these gatherings into opportunities to collect donations or volunteer, we can channel collective energy into tangible support for those in need. Whether it’s hosting a food drive or organizing a group to serve at a local soup kitchen, Friendsgiving can be a powerful reminder of the broader community we’re all a part of.

On Long Island, the contrast between abundance and need is striking. While many of us prepare for feasts, thousands struggle to put food on the table. Nearly 284,000 people will suffer from hunger on Long Island at some point this year, according to Community Solidarity, a nonprofit that provides groceries, fresh produce and warm vegan meals to lowincome communities.

Organizations like Island Harvest and Long Island Cares work tirelessly to combat food insecurity in our neighborhoods. A donation of non-perishable items, a financial contribution, or volunteering for a few hours can make a profound difference to families facing hun-

letters

Where

is this ship of state sailing?

To the Editor:

Re Peter King’s column last week, “Trump makes the comeback of all comebacks”: It’s fair for Mr. King to celebrate Donald Trump’s “comeback,” and to take his share of reflected glory for strongly supporting him. But, weeks into the transition, is there no trepidation over what is being wrought?

Mr. King long served honorably

Organizations that welcome your help

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island: BBBsli.org

Citizens Campaign for the Environment: CitizensCampaign.org

Community Solidarity: CommunitySolidarity.org

Family & Children’s Association: FCAli.org

Interfaith Nutrition Network: The-Inn.org

Island Harvest: Island Harvest.org

Long Island Cares: LICares.org

Save the Great South Bay: SaveTheGreatsouthbay.org

ger this season.

Beyond food insecurity — limited or uncertain access to adequate food — there are numerous other causes that need our support. The holiday season can be especially difficult for those without homes. Groups like the Interfaith Nutrition Network, in Hempstead, provide shelter, meals and supportive services to help the unhoused regain some sense of stability. Contributing to these efforts — whether through monetary donations, clothing drives, or simply offering your time — can help others who are less fortunate experience the warmth of the season.

At this time of year, we also highlight the importance of supporting our local youth. Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island and the Family & Children’s Association offer mentorships and resources to empower young people. By donating to these programs or

in a Congress that will now be directed to self-emasculate. There are threats of courts-martial, military-assisted deportations, even gender tests for House members. Furors will multiply over staff, from cabinet positions on down. Promises are made of $2 trillion in budget cuts. Mr. King’s experience-based thoughts might be useful.

We sail soon into heavy seas aboard the USS “Caine Mutiny,” with Captain Queeg in command.

BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

becoming a mentor yourself, you can have a lasting impact on a young person’s life.

And let’s not forget our environment, which sustains us all. As we celebrate the bounty of the land, consider supporting groups like Citizens Campaign for the Environment or Save the Great South Bay. Their work to protect Long Island’s natural beauty ensures that future generations can enjoy the landscapes and waterways we too often take for granted.

Of course, there’s also local news, which continues to face economic headwinds. Organizations like the Empire State Local News Coalition help sustain New York’s local news organizations — like the Herald — so reporters can tell the important stories about your friends and families, and shine a light on all of the issues mentioned here.

The beauty of giving back is that it doesn’t always have to be monetary — your time and skills can be just as valuable. Many local nonprofits, shelters and community centers are in dire need of extra hands during the holidays. A few hours spent wrapping gifts for underprivileged children, serving meals to veterans, or taking part in a community cleanup can ripple outward in meaningful ways.

Finally, don’t forget Dec. 3, Giving Tuesday, the annual nationwide day of charitable giving. For more information on this growing grass-roots effort, go to givingtuesday.org.

As we gather around dinner tables this season, let’s remember that gratitude is most powerful when it inspires action. Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving remind us of our interconnectedness — our shared humanity and the strength of our communities. Together we can ensure that everyone, in every corner of Long Island, feels the gratitude of the holidays. Each of us has the power to make the season brighter for others. This year, let’s not just celebrate; let’s give.

sHeeline

in our nation’s intensified max on election here to share have wholeheartedly Trumpist may be some what the that Americans economic flict, afraid

These the many the final watched

What comes next? How about our neglected unity?

For me, like so many Americans, the last six months have been a whirlwind of emotions, as arguably the most historic election in our nation’s history built momentum, intensified and eventually reached a climax on election night. While I’m not here to share my opinion on the outcome, the big question facing every citizen and resident of our country is: What next?

It can be tempting to see the outcome of the election as the ultimate refutation of the left — proof that Americans have rejected progressive values and policies and have wholeheartedly embraced modern Trumpist conservatism. While there may be some truth to this, I believe that what the result ultimately showed was that Americans are afraid. Afraid of economic disaster, afraid of global conflict, afraid of violence at home. These are reasonable fears. Even for the many Americans who lived through the final throes of the cold War or watched the twin towers fall on Sept. 11,

2001, our country has never seemed more like a powder keg ready to explode.

Which is why, now more than ever, we need to come together not just as liberals and conservatives, but as Americans. The United States has always been strongest when we’ve been united, and our darkest moments come when we turn on one another and lay blame at our neighbors’ doorsteps.

As Abraham Lincoln famously said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” and those words are as true today as they were 166 years ago.

m

y dad will never forget the kind strangers far from home after the 9/11 attacks.

While conservatives may claim, rightly or wrongly, that progressives are softhearted dopes who focus on issues that don’t matter to real Americans, progressives may claim, rightly or wrongly, that conservatives are coldhearted dopes who focus on issues that don’t matter to real Americans. Perspective is everything, and trying to work together and understand not only what our differences are, but also why they exist, is the quintessential heart of the American experiment.

The intersection of our political and social culture has always been an uneasy compromise. This extends to

Letters

The Sands proposal: nothing but trouble

To the Editor:

The Las Vegas Sands proposal to spend $6 billion — that’s billion with a B, folks — had me wondering from where Sands expected to recover their investment plus the daily cost of operations and the profit from the project. It wasn’t really a wonder, more of a fact, given all the expected losses the gambling public would be leaving behind.

A real concern is the draining of huge amounts of our underground aquifer to feed this unnecessary beast, a waste of our local water supply.

The proposal is now also offering an expansion of lanes on the Meadowbrook Parkway from three to four. All this would accomplish would be the removal of the mature trees and greenery along that stretch of parkway, leaving no shoulder.

Yes, it’s a parkway, meaning there are no commercial vehicles. So without an adjacent commercial highway, all the daily delivery trucks that would be needed to supply this property would be feeding off the Long Island Expressway, the only commercial road, for miles through our local streets. That would be an unneeded burden on our local streets and neighborhoods, 24/7.

We do not need this disaster in the making.

everything from political rivals being forced to work together in government — such as when Alexander hamilton and Thomas Jefferson collaborated to create our financial system while simultaneously establishing Washington, D.c., as the nation’s capital — to having uncomfortable Thanksgiving dinners with relatives who have radically different political values.

The idea that people who disagree politically could do so without resorting to violence is what separated our country from nearly all others when we declared our independence. It is one of the most sacred responsibilities that we as Americans must honor and hold dear, or risk losing the dream of a more just, more equitable society as envisioned by our founding fathers.

So while it’s easy to feel emotional following this election, remember that we need to heal the nation’s wounds, not worsen them. Think next time before you gloat to a “bleeding heart liberal” about winning the election — or calling every conservative voter you know a fascist. Are you really saying it because you believe it, or because emotions are running high and you feel like you need

to show the world how strongly you hold your beliefs?

In the days after the Sept. 11 attacks, my father was in california, desperately trying to get back home to my family. With all flights grounded, he and a friend rented a car and tried to make a cross-country drive.

Running on fumes on a remote stretch of highway, they came to a gas station that, unfortunately, was out of business. Stranded and worried about their loved ones, my dad and his friend were lucky enough to be found by some locals in a pickup truck. The saviors had a spare five-gallon tank of gas for the dirt bikes in the bed of the truck.

My dad always talked about how, while thanking them, he explained how and his friend were New Yorkers trying to get home to their families. Without missing a beat, one of the men responded, “We’re all New Yorkers today.”

That is what makes America great, not rhetoric or political stunts or moral grandstanding. And that is what we need to keep hold of in the aftermath of this election: that no matter what, we are all Americans, and that we’re all stronger when we work together.

Will Sheeline is an editor covering Glen Head, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? WSheeline@liherald.com.

Framework by Francine Berman

Lastly, the Sands has been spending a lot of money locally on public relations, newspapers inserts, etc., to make the proposal sound appealing. Don’t believe the wizardry, which, when you look behind the curtain, is really a corporate giant taking local amenities and infiltrating our local environment, all in the name of a profit to feed its own goals.

MIchAEL LEfkoWITz Accountants + Advisors

East Meadow

How about sharing a holiday meal at a diner?

To the Editor:

This holiday season, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, if you’re too tired to cook, consider sharing a meal with family, friends or neighbors and patronize your local diner or restaurant. for decades I have enjoyed many excellent meals at many local diners.

Diners have been part of my life since I was a teenager. Eating out is a periodic ritual, and their portions are generous. Between the soup, salad, rolls, coleslaw and pickles, along with the main course, diner dinners satisfy the heartiest appetites. Who’s never taken a doggie bag home with leftovers to eat the next day? Many times we’ve bagged our desserts to go.

Many Long Island neighborhoods

have seen changes over the years. New immigrant groups sometimes favor their own ethnic foods and restaurants. Diners have also lost customers over time to fast-food restaurants. Remember, these people are our neighbors. our local entrepreneurs who own and operate diners have continued to invest in our communities, creating new employment opportunities without the assistance of federally funded taxpayers’ stimulus dollars. They work

long hours, pay taxes and provide local employment. If we don’t patronize our local restaurants, these workers don’t eat, either.

Why not honor the fond memories of some our favorite diners that have come and gone by continuing to patronize those that remain? h ere’s hoping that diners don’t go the way of the dinosaurs.

At the ‘Wicked’ Experience — Universal Orlando Resort

LARRY PENNER Great Neck

Giving Birth? Look No Further than the South Shore’s Only High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care

Mothers looking for a hospital at which to give birth should consider the quality indicators used by U.S. News & World Report ® to determine institutions deemed High Performing for Maternity care.

Mount Sinai South Nassau is the only South Shore hospital to earn the rating of High Performing based on eight key measures:

• Reduced C-section delivery rates

• Low early elective delivery rates

• Low overall unexpected newborn complication rates

• Increased routine VBAC rates

• Increased exclusive human milk feeding rates

• Low episiotomy rates

• Routine birthing-friendly practices

• Transparency on racial/ethnic disparities

If you want the best birthing experience for you and for your baby, look no further than Mount Sinai South Nassau.

Learn more at southnassau.org/maternity, or call 877-SOUTH-NASSAU.