HERALD
long Island champions!
Carey capped a perfect season last Friday afternoon with a thrilling 37-36 victory over Half Hollow
Hofstra University. Story, additional photos, page 6.
The Islanders collaborate with community to distribute meals
By RENEE DEloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com
The New York Islanders collaborated with local charities and the office of Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages to hand out 200 Thanksgiving meals to Long Island families in need at UBS Arena on the evening of Nov. 26. The event was supported by the Islanders’ Children’s Foundation and UBS.
Solages, who represents the 22nd Assembly District, said her role is to refer people in need to such services. Her office, she said, does case work to help constituents who face financial hardship.
“We interact with many families and communities that are, unfortunately, in a bad situation,” Solages said.
Ann Rina, the Islanders’ executive director of community relations, said her role is to partner with agencies such as Island Harvest and Long Island Cares to help her find families in need. Long Island is an expensive place to live, she said, and when food prices go up, people in all kinds of circumstances can become food insecure.
“We’re just looking to help as many families as we can,” Rina said.
Elba Obregon, the associate director of brand activation,
sponsorship and events at UBS Arena, said her team is involved in the Elmont community through events and partnerships with schools and charities. That’s how they identify the need for events like this one, Obregon said.
“Obviously, this is their community,” she said. “We want them to feel like they belong here, and that they’re welcomed.”
Katrina Hill, Long Island Cares’ vice president of network relations, helps organize the charity’s participation in the event. The Islanders reach out to the organization every year, Hill said, about the Thanksgiving effort.
Long Island Cares, she explained, has a network of member agencies, such as soup kitchens and food pantries, that work with the Islanders to get their clients and members involved. “We are out in the community,” Hill said. “We partner with as many organizations as we can to make sure our families are getting the food that they need.”
Hill also said that Long Island Cares works closely with the New York State Department of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to secure additional funding.
“Any community resources we can get, we’re out advocating for,” she said.
Continued on page 5
Media Origin Inc./Herald
Flag football champions form a lasting family
By RENEE DELORENZO rdelorenzo@liherald.com
After seven years of coaching the Long Island Flag Football Youth Boys League, Brian Diaz finally led his team to a feat they had yet to achieve; winning the Long Island Flag Football League Championship.
Diaz, who originally was registered by his wife to coach the team seven years ago, wasn’t sure what he was getting into when he first started. He knew nothing about the game and had to look up the rules in the minutes before his first practice. But what he did know is that it would be a great opportunity to bond with his son, Shane Diaz.
Shane, the quarterback, said he felt the same way. “Me and my dad have always been close, and we got closer through flag football,” he said. But Shane said he never thought he’d be doing this for seven years.
After the championship win, Brian was quick to give credit to the players and said they were truly the ones responsible for their success. “The kids stepped it up. They really showed maturity. They coached themselves,” he said. At last year’s championship, Shane said the team suffered a disappointing overtime loss. But he knew this year would be important, and he knew this was the team to do it. The roster was
almost the same as last year, Shane said, so it gave them the opportunity to grow and fix their mistakes.
Wide receiver Jack Leimgruber said the real difference that contributed to the win was a noticeable shift in attitude in the second half. “I just felt like the team started playing more freely and having fun. It changed the momentum of the game,” he said.
Brian said his son and many of his players remained loyal to him and the team over the years. As it turns out, what truly kept Shane and the other members playing for so long was the family they were slowly building with each other thanks to Brian’s leadership.
According to Jongregory Cajuste, another wide receiver, Brian’s coaching had an incredible impact on the team’s character. “He recognized it was for fun. When he needed to, he’d step in. But he let us do what we needed to do. He let us play freely,” he said.
I t’s bittersweet. I’m proud of them. I’m blessed having this opportunity to know them and be part of their lives.
Brian welcomes all who want to play onto his team. He said flag football is a good opportunity for kids who might otherwise not participate in sports to have a chance to shine. The atmosphere Brian creates for his team strikes an important balance between working hard and having fun. Brian said he’s even bought LED cones and light-up footballs as a creative solution for practicing in the dark.
BRIaN DIaZ Youth flag football coach
Shane said he admires his dad’s passion. “Some people don’t take flag football seriously, but he does,” Shane said. “I love that about him.” Over the years, Shane has also taken on a leadership role and helps coach his own team along with some younger teams. He said his dad’s coaching helped him become a better leader.
Cajuste said Shane’s leadership style is very much like his father’s. “He’s lenient, cooperative. He responds to what we tell him. He plans everything out,” he said.
The team has come a long way since Brian and his son’s first season, and Brian only had words of affection for the players. “It’s bittersweet,” Brian said. “I’m proud of them. I’m blessed having this opportunity to know them and be part of their lives.”
His team reciprocates the feeling. They said Brian is much more than a coach. Leimgruber said he appreciates Brian immensely. “He was fun to see. He was so personable, “he said. “He wasn’t just a coach, he was like a second father,” he said.
Cajuste said Brian is not just a coach of the game, but a life coach, as well. The family he built with Brian and the rest of the team is what kept him going. “I feel like we’re all family,” he said. “We’re all connected. We worked through it. Coach Brian is like a second father. He always pushes us to go beyond our limits.”
For Shane and many of his team members, they only have one more year left before they are too old to play in the youth league. But Cajuste assured he’d be playing as long as he could. “I’m staying in this game until I can’t. All of us are gonna stay together,” he said.
Shane reflected on approaching the end of his run in the youth league, “I try not to think about it too much,” he lamented. But he said he still wants to play when he’s older, and instead of becoming a coach he could be a referee.
Brian said while he wasn’t originally planning on it, he thinks he’s still got a few years of coaching left in him. With a big smile on his face, Brian said, “I thought I was going to retire after winning, but now I want another win!”
Photo courtesy Kiwanis Club of Franklin Square
Coach Brian Diaz of the Kiwanis Club of Franklin Square stands alongside Long Island Flag Football League Champions Jongregory Cajuste, Sebastian Castineiras, Justin Rubenfeld, Shane Diaz, Antonio Capitano, Michael Hansen, Nick Stavola, Dylan Lotrean, and Jack Leimgruber.
Green Acres Mall distributes hundreds of turkeys
Green Acres Mall held its annual Thanksgiving turkey distribution last week, which gave hundreds of frozen turkeys to organizations across Valley Stream and surrounding communities. Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages joined in distributing over 100 turkeys to houses of worship and community members through her district office in Valley Stream. The collaboration between Green Acres and Solages provided relief to families in the community before Thanksgiving.
Solages distributed 100 turkeys directly from her district office, and an additional 50 turkeys to churches and civic associations in her district, including Holy Name of Mary Church, Bethany French Baptist Church, Millbrook Civic Association, Argo Civic Association, Locustwood-Gotham Civic Association, and the Parkhurst Civic Association. Green Acres facilitated the distribution of hundreds of additional turkeys to organizations across Nassau County.
“Thanksgiving is a time for giving back to the community,” Solages said. “We are grateful to Green Acres for their commitment to those in need. Hosting this distribution and allowing our local community organizations to receive turkeys to give away is an immense help to families across our area. It’s inspiring to see the dedication of so many people in our community joining together to make sure everyone is looked after this Thanksgiving.”
Jill Bromberg, the marketing manager at Green Acres, said, “Green Acres is proud to host this annual distribution and provide support to organizations making a difference in our community. We are grateful for the volunteers and team members at Green Acres, who made this event possible. We look forward to continuing this tradition so we can make this Thanksgiving holiday special for everyone.”
—Renee DeLorenzo
A Baker’s Dozen Reasons to Use a Trust
sometimes years to probate.
the Medicaid program.
2. Trusts start the five year “look-back” for institutional care, making you eligible for Medicaid benefits to pay for a nursing home.
3. Trusts can ensure the inheritances you leave will stay in the bloodline for your grandchildren and not end up with in-laws and their families.
4. Trusts can provide who takes over if you become disabled – guaranteeing you get the person you choose instead of a court-appointed legal guardian.
5. Trusts can avoid a will contest from heirs you leave out or ones that receive less than they think they are entitled to.
6. Trusts give you immediate access to assets on death unlike wills which can take months and
7. Trusts can provide supervision and protection for special needs and other children who have issues with handling financial matters.
8. Trusts can reduce and often eliminate estate taxes for couples with taxable estates.
9. Trusts can avoid guardianship proceedings for gifts made to grandchildren.
10. Trusts can avoid the problems of locating unknown heirs or dealing with heirs abroad.
11. Trusts can move assets out of your estate for income and estate purposes.
12. Trusts can avoid the expense, delay and publicity of a probate court proceeding for your property in New York and out of state.
13. Trusts can protect the inheritances you leave from your children’s divorces, lawsuits and creditors.
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Requirements:
Courtesy Office of Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages Mike Maloney, far left, Mark Daley, Jill Bromberg, Michaelle Solages, and Carrie Solages at the Green Acres turkey distribution.
Islanders’ charity helps families in need
Solages, Rina, Obregon and Hill all said they had noticed an increase in food insecurity on Long Island over the past few years. That’s why, they said, their organizations need to be active in the community.
We’re only as strong as our community, and our community gains strength through food.
“Everybody comes from different walks of life, different circumstances that have impacted their abilities to put a meal together,” Rina said. “Especially around the holidays.”
Ann RinA Director of community relations, N.Y. Islanders
Solages agreed, and pointed out that Thanksgiving can be a major expense for a family. But, she said, this event provides an entire meal large enough to feed a family, giving them one fewer thing to worry about as they gather for the holiday.
“We’re only as strong as our community,” Rina said, “and our community gains strength through food.”
islanders’ wives and the team’s mascot, Sparky, with families receiving thanksgiving meals
Obregon agreed, and reiterated that the Islanders are here for these families. “Let’s continue letting the community know than an event like this exists and is available during the holiday season,” she said. “We would love to support more families in the area.”
The more these organizations and charities spread the word, Hill said, the greater an impact the Islanders can make.
Events like these, Solages said, bring dignity to Long Islanders. “It’s hard to ask for help in this world,” she said. “To have a loving environment that you can come to and get assistance is nice. A lot of these people are in the shadows, suffering in silence, and we’re here as a community, telling them they don’t have to.”
For more information about the event and the Islanders’ Children’s Foundation, visit NHL.com/Islanders.
Renee DeLorenzo/Herald
at uBS arena on nov. 26.
HERALD SPORTS
Carey stuns Hills East to win L.I. title
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
One week after a successful fake punt sparked Carey to its first Nassau County title in 10 years, the Seahawks went deeper into their bag of tricks last Friday afternoon and pulled out an all-time victory in the 32-year history of the Long Island football championships.
Senior Christian Todaro’s twopoint conversion run off a faked extra-point with 1:23 remaining in the fourth quarter lifted Carey to a thrilling come-from-behind 37-36 win over Half Hollow Hills East in an epic L.I. Class II battle before a crowd of 3,000 at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.
“We installed the fake PAT at practice a couple of days ago and it’s just incredible we won the Long Island championship with it,” said Todaro, who had one of the best individual performances in LIC history with four touchdowns, a pair of two-point conversions and the gamesealing interception with 10 seconds left. “I just put my head down and ran,” he added. “It was a great feeling but we knew it wasn’t over because Hills is so dangerous. That last minute felt more like 10.”
“We knew we needed to soften up their defense and he made some huge throws.”
Hills East (10-2) drove to the Carey 43 and was looking to get into field-goal range when Todaro fittingly sealed the game picking off a deep throw intended for Lucas Martin, who had three of the RedHawks’ five touchdowns.
“Definitely the best game of my life in any sport,” said Todaro, who hauled in senior quarterback Chris Obertis’ pass from 21 yards out to set up the decisive conversion play, termed “Special.”
After junior Mark Vera’s stunning interception at the Carey 14 with 5:42 remaining rejuvenated the Seahawks, head coach Mike Stanley said thoughts of the “Special” were in the back of his mind as they marched downfield. A roughing the passer penalty kept the drive alive and key yardage by sophomore Justin DePietro (90 yards) and senior Michael Verderosa brought them just outside the red zone.
“These kids executed plays all year and today was no different,” Stanley said. “It’s been an unbelievable ride and I couldn’t be happier for them.”
DiPietro and junior Christian Anaya led the defense with 8 tackles apiece. Senior Luca Cirotti and junior Tristan Hickis both added 7.
Carey, which never trailed during any of its previous 11 victories, was forced to play catch-up twice and faced a 14-point deficit entering the fourth quarter.
“We never put our heads down and just stuck with it,” said Verderosa, who missed the first nine games while recovering from a knee injury. “I can’t put how we’re feeling into words. It’s just amazing.”
Obertis (14 of 18, 244 yards, three touchdowns) directed the offense on an 80-yard scoring drive to cut the margin to 36-29 with 8:34 left. He connected with Verderosa for a 31-yard gain and finished it off with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Theo Andrikopoulos on fourth-and-2.
“Chris had a tremendous season and he was so cool, calm and collected out there,” Stanley said of Obertis.
Obertis had a 73-yard touchdown pass to Todaro midway through the second quarter and a two-yard conversion toss to Michael Agostino for a 22-15 lead. It was knotted at 22 at halftime.
Hills East junior tailback Daniel White dominated the first half with 198 yards rushing and a touchdown. He finished with 244 yards.
“He’s as good a player as we’ve seen,” Stanley said. “We made a few adjustments at halftime that helped. I’m just glad we kind of had the ball last and finished the job.”
Photos by Media Origin Inc./Herald Head coach Mike Stanley and the Seahawks rallied to beat Hills East, 37-36, in an epic Long Island Class II title game last Friday.
Christian Todaro, left, starred in the LIC with four touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions.
Quarterback Chris Obertis passed for 244 yards and three scores.
HERALD SPORTS
Hofstra hoops showing plenty of promise
By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
With a largely new roster this season, fourth-year Hofstra men’s basketball head coach Speedy Claxton was expecting that the beginning of the new season could be a bit of a learning curve. The former standout Hofstra and NBA guard then saw quicker chemistry than he anticipated, providing hope that the 202425 campaign could culminate with a banner.
Hofstra won its first four games to start the new season with many new faces including a 49-48 upset victory against Big East foe Seton Hall at the Nassau Coliseum on Nov. 13. The hot start featured a number of scoring contributions with the Pride also finding ways to win games in a variety of fashions in three straight wins against Iona, Seton Hall and UMass after starting with
a blowout of Division III opponent SUNY Old Westbury.
“Those are three good wins and if you would have told me before the season we would get all three I’d be extremely happy and even if you told me I would only get one I would have been happy,” said Claxton, a former NBA guard who led Hofstra to the NCAA Tournament as a player in 2000. “It shows we can compete with anyone.”
The 4-0 start was followed up by stiff competition at Florida State and then 7th-ranked Houston. The Pride then headed to the Bahamas for three games over the Thanksgiving weekend and knocked off Rice in overtime 68-63 and edged Arkansas State 68-66 on a buzzer beater shot from graduate student forward Michael Graham.
Claxton added six transfers and two freshmen to the roster to go along with six returners from last year’s team that went 20-13 and fell to Long Island rival Stony Brook in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) semifinals.
Sophomore guard Jean Aranguren is one of the newcomers shining early as the team’s leading scorer. The Iona transfer registered a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds in Hofstra’s 75-71 overtime win at UMass on Nov. 16.
The addition of Big East transfers Cruz Davis (St. John’s) and Jaquan Sanders (Seton Hall) are also paying dividends early on this season. Sanders was clutch in the Seton Hall win against his old team with 10 second half points while Davis tallied 21 in the UMass victory.
“All three of those guys have been playing well,” Claxton said. “I think that is why we have been performing well in the early part of the season.”
Other transfers added to the roster include Graham (Loyola Marymount), senior guard TJ Gadsden (Canisius) and redshirt sophomore guard Eric Parnell (Eastern Florida State). Graham is the team’s fourth leading scorer and recorded 14 in the dramatic Arkansas State win.
The Pride are also getting a leadership boost from returning players Silas Sunday and German Plotnikov, who both
Newcomer Cruz
saw key minutes last season. The 7-1 Sunday provides a big presence in the paint while Plotnikov is a long-range shooting threat who connected on 47.4 percent of his three-pointers last season.
“They’re both benefiting from being here last year and knowing how we do things,” said Claxton of Sunday and Plotnikov.
Hofstra’s December schedule is highlighted by a Sunday afternoon home game against Temple on Dec. 15 starting at noon. It will also serve as Hofstra’s annual Jewish Heritage Day game.
The CAA home schedule gets under-
way on Jan. 2 against William & Mary at 7 p.m. which will honor the 25th anniversary of David S. Mack Arena. Hofstra’s annual winter homecoming game will take place on Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. against Stony Brook.
Hofstra was picked fourth in the CAA Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll behind Towson, defending champion College of Charleston and UNC-Wilimington.
“The conference is always going to be tough with some really good teams and really good coaches,” Claxton said. “It’s not gonna get any easier once we get into conference play”
photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications
Davis popped in 21 points for the Pride in a Nov. 16 victory over UMass.
Sophomore Jean Aranguren is leading Hofstra in scoring in the early going.
Celebrating Long Island’s Future Leaders: $2,500 Student Sustainability Prize Open for Nominations
By: Maureen Fitzgerald
Reworld™ is searching for Long Island’s next generation of environmental innovators to receive the first-ever 2025 Student Sustainability Champion Award. This prestigious award honors one outstanding student from Nassau County and one from Suffolk, with each winner receiving $2,500 to support their education or future sustainability projects – presented to the student recipients at the upcoming 2025 Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island.
Nominations are now open, inviting the community to recognize young changemakers under 16 who are making a positive impact. Submissions should highlight the student’s leadership, innovative contributions, and dedication to sustainability. Entries should include a brief description of their achievements and motivation, along with a photo or example of their work—be it a community garden, recycling initiative, or creative environmental solution.
This award is part of the larger 2025 Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island, presented by Reworld™ and hosted by the LI Herald and RichnerLIVE, which will take place on February 26th at The Heritage Club in Bethpage.
The event will bring together community leaders, advocates, and changemakers who are driving innovative environmental solutions and fostering sustainable tomorrows across Long Island.
Despite Long Island’s environmental challenges —coastal erosion, water quality, and balancing development with conservation—stories of innovation and hope thrive. Local nonprofits restore habitats, educators inspire, and leaders prioritize sustainability. From renewable energy to advanced recycling, these efforts showcase the region’s spirit. With Reworld™ fostering this innovation and community empowerment, they’re driving Long Island toward a greener future.
t
“Reworld™ is honored to partner with RichnerLIVE and the Herald to recognize the inspiring efforts of our young changemakers,” said Dawn Harmon, East Region Area Asset Manager at Reworld™. “This initiative aims to empower Long Island’s future leaders and celebrate the innovative strides our community is taking toward sustainability.”
For more information or to submit a student nomination, visit www.richnerlive.com/reworldcontest. Let’s celebrate the bright minds and groundbreaking innovations shaping Long Island’s sustainable future.
To see our locations, point your smartphone camera at the QR code and tap the link.
Nominate a student under 16 for the Sustainability Champion Award to recognize their efforts in driving sustainable change.
We want to hear about the extraordinary young individuals who are driving change in their communities.
Submit a nomination of approximately 200 words or less describing the student’s leadership in promoting sustainability:
The award will be presented at the 2025 LI Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island powered by Reworld in February.
Your nomination could inspire countless others to follow in their footsteps!
What motivates them? What impact have they had?
Be sure to include a photo or an example of their work—whether it’s a community garden, an environmental campaign, or a creative solution to a sustainability challenge.
Meet the vendors at local charity’s craft fair
By RENEE DELORENZO rdelorenzo@liherald.com
Holiday festivities were underway at the annual Rescuing Families Inc. Holiday Craft and Gift Boutique at VFW Post No. 2718 on Nov. 23.
The Franklin Square event included a variety of local vendors who offered a diverse mix of handmade crafts such as caricatures, knitwear, baked goods, pens, soaps, and even specialty drinks like coquito. But, what customers may not know, many of these vendors work year round creating and selling their crafts.
Gina Centauro, who founded Rescuing Families with her husband, Vincent Centauro, said her goal for the event is to shine a spotlight on artists in the industry so people know who they are and where they can find them in the future.
“I think that’s what the most important thing is,” she said of the event. “You’re supporting your neighbors.”
In order to achieve this goal, Centauro said she provides a space for these artists to come together and sell their creations from a centralized location. For the community, she said, it’s a special experience to see who the artists are and how they make their crafts.
Amanda Kaminski, who crochets knitwear such as hats and scarves for her business, Amanda’s Cozy Creations, said going to craft fairs during the holidays is great for her business. She added that she believes handmade goods are a more thoughtful gift to give to friends and family.
“There’s a lot more thought and intention put into that rather than just going to the store to grab something,” Kaminski said.
Lisa Iacovetti, who owns LMI Designs and makes custom pens ranging from children’s characters to comical sayings, said she always brings her art supplies to events so customers can see that she actually makes the pens. She said she attends every Rescuing Families event, and she shows up to
many other craft fairs across Long Island.
“Wherever they pop up, I’m there,” Iacovetti said.
Jackie Perazzo, who sells her handmade soaps for her husband’s company, Soap Yourself Happy, said she does a lot of craft fairs and even sells her products online. Perazzo said she started making soap so she could learn to use her hands again after multiple brain surgeries, and now customers seek out specific events she appears in as a result of her large following on social media.
Yvette Bognar, owner of Evie’s Coquito, has been selling her homemade coquito at craft fairs since early this year. While she does craft fairs all the time, Bognar said it isn’t always easy to run her business when the event organizers don’t advertise or support it properly.
However, Bognar said Centauro does everything right by promoting and sharing the event on social media and the Rescuing Families website.
Centauro agreed with Bognar’s concerns and added there are many other challenges to keeping these businesses running. She said mall culture and social media are obstacles for local vendors because many customers on Long Island are programmed to purchase from national chains or online.
But, Gina Centauro said, it’s important to keep these local vendors in business as a way for the community to support their friends, families, and neighbors more directly.
Despite its difficulties, many vendors at the craft fair said they love doing these events, and that’s why they keep coming back.
“I’m happy with what I do, and I love
doing it,” Bognar said. “And that’s why, on my part, it says homemade with love.”
Centauro pointed out that many of these vendors have been with her since the very first Rescuing Families craft fair three years ago. She said the fact that they’ve stayed with her this long must mean she’s doing something right.
As a fundraiser, Centauro said the event is a special opportunity for locals to find unique gifts for their loved ones during the holidays and beyond.
“What better way to find a gift that specifically suits somebody than something that’s made with love and care?” Centauro said.
Proceeds from Rescuing Families go towards people with disabilities and financial hardships. For more information about Centauro’s charity, visit RescuingFamilies.org.
Renee DeLorenzo/Herald photos
Gina Centauro, founder of Rescuing Families, Inc., with some of her handmade decorations for the holiday craft fair at VFW Post 2718.
Jackie Perazzo, right, and her mother, Nancy Lenox, of Soap Yourself Happy stand with Perazzo’s handmade soaps at the fair.
Amanda Kaminski of Amanda’s Cozy Creations knits at her table for the holiday craft fair.
Yvette Bognar of Evie’s Coquito with her handmade coquito at the Nov. 23 craft fair.
Lisa Iacovetti of LMI Designs at her station of handmade pens at the craft fair.
Sewanhaka students go tech
The Sewanhaka Central High School District has introduced a Tech Free Tuesday initiative this school year to encourage students and teachers to explore traditional, screen-free learning.
Each Tuesday, students will put their iPads away to participate in tech-free classroom lessons. The goal of this initiative is to promote critical thinking and problem solving, foster creativity and innovation, improve communication and collaboration, and reduce screen time and promote overall well being.
“They have truly embraced the concept and are looking forward to the different and exciting tech-free lessons each week,” Richard Faccio, assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction said, in a news release.
— Renee DeLorenzo
Photos courtesy Sewanhaka Central High School District
Justin Diaz, left, Russel Lang, and Tony Fuschetto show off their ‘Have A Great Day’ chalk drawing.
Sawera Usman, left, Jordan Woolford, and Natalie Suknandan learn how to write stories together.
STEPPING OUT
Five times the charm
Laurie Berkner returns with a rockin’ holiday concert for families
By Alyssa Seidman
The scarcity of sun that marks winter’s return often brings Laurie Berkner back to her musical roots. On cozy winter evenings her family would gather ’round a songbook to recite melodies reminiscent of Christmas and falling snow.
“Music always made me feel safe, happy, and loved, and all those feelings come together around [this] time of year,” Berkner says. “Holiday songs were always something that brought up a lot of really warm feelings for me.”
It’s no surprise, then, that Berkner’s discography includes two bestselling albums about the most wonderful time of the year. Families adore her — she still wears the known as the ‘Queen of Kindie Rock’ — and can tale in her festive originals alongside yuletide classics once again when “The Greatest Holiday Hits Tour” arrives here at the Paramount, on Dec. 15.
Berkner is a veritable dynamo as singer/songwriter, author, lyricist, and founder of Two Tomatoes Records. With more than one billion total streams, over 500 million views on YouTube, and millions of albums, singles and DVDs sold, her songs have become beloved classics for families worldwide.
While working as a children’s music specialist at preschools and day care centers in New York City, she gained an instinctive understanding of kids’ natural rhythms and energy. This enabled her to launch the progressive “kindie rock” movement, a genre that is just as palatable to parents and caregivers.
Berkner has released 16 award-winning albums over the course of her decades-long career. She was the first recording artist to perform in music videos on Noggin — appeared regularly on the network’s “Jack’s Big Music Show” — and helped develop the animated musical preschool series “Sing It, Laurie!” for Sprout TV, now Universal Kids.
Berkner has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the White House, among many prestigious venues. She is regularly lauded by her peers, and has been dubbed “the Adele of the preschool crowd” (The New York Times), “the queen of kids’ music” (People), and “one of the most popular children’s performers in America” (Wall Street Journal).
Holiday hits
This is the fifth time “The Greatest Holiday Hits Tour” will grace The Paramount stage. She first brought her holiday concert to Long Island in 2019, and has delighted kids — and kids at heart — every year since, aside from 2020.
“It feels really great to be able to come back each year and make it feel like a tradition,” Berkner says. “It’s that feeling of coming together and doing something that feels really good, fun, and joyous.
“Mostly what I try to do is hit a lot of people’s favorites and put the songs I can’t get to into a medley for the encore. I’ll also be playing my new song ‘Walking With The Penguins,’ so they’ll
DoLaurie Berkner is ready to share some holiday cheer with her fans — as only she can. Groove along to festive originals alongside yuletide classics at “The Greatest Holiday Hits Tour.
• Sunday, Dec. 15, 11 a.m.
• Tickets start at $20.50; available at LiveNation.com
• A $1 donation to Little Shelter Animal Rescue is included in each ticket
• The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
hear that live for the first time.”
Her concert features original tunes from her popular holiday albums, “A Laurie Berkner Christmas” and “Another Laurie Berkner Christmas.” She’ll also play treasured holiday classics like “Deck the Halls,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” and more.
Of course Berkner’s greatest hits — “We Are The Dinosaurs,” “Waiting for the Elevator” and “Pig On Her Head” — are always in the mix. At that point everyone is sure to be singing and dancing along with their favorite stuffed animal on their head.
The hour-long show fully involves her audience from the get-go; yet two moments in particular stand out to Berkner.
“In every show I do ‘We Are The Dinosaurs,’ and it’s very hard to not start laughing while everyone is screaming. “When I sing ‘My Family’ I will ask people to hug the person they’re there with, and it’s amazing that they actually do it.”
Cultivating these shared experiences for her mixed-age audiences is Berkner’s aim for every performance, but especially at her holiday shows.
“Those events that feel exciting to the kids [yet] still fun and enjoyable for the parents are difficult to find, but my shows fit that bill. I feel really grateful to provide moments where they can connect with one another, and have a sweet, loving memory when they leave.”
New Year’s resolutions
With a new year on the horizon, Berkner shares some of her plans for 2025.
“I very likely will put out another album next year, but I also have a couple projects I can’t talk about yet,” she says.“There will be new music, new videos, and definitely some surprises — probably more on my plate than I should have!”
Her fans would expect nothing less.
Leggz Ltd.’s
‘The Nutcracker’
Visions of sugarplums await when Leggz Ltd. Dance, presents its annual full-length production. Helmed by longtime Artistic Director Joan Hope MacNaughton, it’s as always, accompanied by the South Shore Symphony Orchestra. This year’s production stars Violeta Angelova as the Sugar Plum Fairy, who’s appeared with the Vienna State Oper and Suzanne Farrell Ballet, with George Sanders, who has danced with New York Theatre Ballet and The Little Prince Broadway, as the Cavalier. The gifted young dancers who round out the cast include 9-year-old Vivian Ng as Clara and 11-year-old Matthew Carnaval as The Prince — both Rockville Centre residents.
Friday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 7, 5 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 8, 3 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444.
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening
Jason Bonham, son of the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer, showcases his musical journey and family legacy when he visits the Paramount stage. He celebrates his father with hits from Led Zeppelin’s iconic albums, while highlighting his own contributions to rock history. Encompassing tunes from the iconic band’s entire career, including albums “Led Zeppelin,” “Led Zeppelin II,” and “Led Zeppelin IV,” the concert event is a dynamic tribute to a legend. Jason always finds himself at home behind the drumkit. From this spot, he has anchored the tempo of one of the legendary artists of all-time.
Monday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m. $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.
Courtesy Jayme Thornton
THE Your Neighborhood
The Hot Sardines
14
The band brings their distinctive sound back to the Landmark stage, with a “Holiday Stomp,” Saturday, d ec. 14 , at 8 p.m. It’s a raucous Christmas celebration that includes timeless classics and original tunes. The Hot Sardines bring classic jazz standards with their own brassy horn arrangements, rollicking piano melodies and vocals from a chanteuse who transports listeners to a different era with the mere lilt of her voice. Emerging over a decade ago from the underground parties of Brooklyn to touring worldwide and recording a string of albums that’s racked up more than 60 million streams across digital platforms, the Hot Sardines’ own “potent and assured” (The New York Times), “simply phenomenal” (The Times of London) brand of reinvigorated classic jazz landed them at the center of a whirlwind. . In the last two years, the Hot Sardines have been featured at the Newport Jazz Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival, have sold out venues in New York City from Joe’s Pub to Bowery Ballroom and more than 150 tour dates from Chicago to London. They released two albums on Universal Music Classics to critical reviews and a #1 slot on the iTunes Jazz chart in the U.S. and internationally.
Their unique recipe blends hot jazz and sultry standards from the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s, rich New Orleans sounds, a dash of ’40s Paris flavor, and vibrant musical surprises. It’s all steeped in salty stride piano and the music Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt and Fats Waller used to make. The result is straight-up foot-stomping jazz. Their name says it all: their iconic ‘hot’ styling will paint a vibrant picture with smoky sounds and audiences revel in the steamy, swanky influence of their art form. With their contagious brand of joy, grit, glamour and passion, the 8-piece band invokes the sounds of nearly a century ago, yet stay right in step with the current age. $65, $55, $45. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or by calling (516) 767-6444.
Holiday at Westbury House
Old Westbury Gardens’ Westbury House offers a festive glimpse of early 20th century holiday merriment, before it closes for the winter, Saturday, dec. 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, dec. 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Also dec. 14-15. The “Christmas at Westbury House” celebration reflects what the festive season was like during those opulent decades of the early 1900s when the Phipps family lived there. The period rooms in which John S. Phipps — the eldest son of Henry Phipps, Andrew Carnegie’s partner at Carnegie Steel — and his family resided are impeccably decorated with wreaths, mantelpiece drapes, plenty of greenery, and other horticultural arrangements.
Take a self-guided tour through Westbury House and view specially decorated rooms for the holidays, have cookies and cider on the West Porch and meet and take photos with Santa while listening to ambient holiday music. The gardens will also be open, along with other special holiday events, including Holiday Flute Choir concert, Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m., holiday market, and more. $15, $13 ages 62+ and students, $8 ages 7-17. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or call (516) 333-0048.
Holiday concert
The Long Island Choral Society returns its holiday tradition, Handel’s Messiah, Part 1 and highlights from Parts 2 and 3, Saturday, dec. 7, 7 p.m., at Garden City Community Church. For many Long Islanders, the holiday season officially begins with this performance. The chorus is accompanied by a professional orchestra and soloists. $25, $10 youth. Tickets are available via credit card by calling (516) 652-6878 as well as via Venmo at LICS_2022. For more information, visit lics.org. 245 Stewart Ave., Garden City.
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-comefirst-seated. Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. For more information, visit elmontlibrary.org or call (516) 354-5280.
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.
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 family-friendly 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.
UBS Arena Pre-Event Skate
Elevate your Islanders game day or select UBS Arena show experience with a 90-minute skate session held right before your event! Guests are required to purchase parking for their event and are encouraged to purchase in advance. UBS Arena event parking passes will be honored while visiting The Park. This week’s session will be held Friday, Dec. 6, 6 -7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22.49; available for purchase at UBSArena.com. 2400 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont.
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.
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.
Having an event?
Sugar Plum Ball/ Galactic Gala
Bring the kids to celebrate the season at festivities hosted by the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Sunday, Dec. 8, noon-4 p.m., at Fox Hollow in Woodbury. Kids ages 4-12, accompanied by their adult guest (Mom, Dad, grandparent, etc.), will enjoy a unique party featuring food, fun and some special guests including princesses, fairies and visitors from a Galaxy Far, Far Away. With lunch, DJ, magic show, dancing, raffles, games, photo ops, and more, even Jedi-training. Enjoy a sit down lunch and meet characters from some favorite shows and movies. Cost for each child/adult pair is $195. Advance reservation only. All proceeds benefit CP Nassau. Call CP Nassau at (516) 378-2000 ext. 651 for reservations or visit cpnassau. org. 7755 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury.
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, Friday, Dec. 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.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of formation of Lenovia Ambulette LLC. Articles of organization filled with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 9/19/2024. The business office 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 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
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 Office 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 filed 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
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed 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 NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU INDEX NO.: 609430/2024
DATE FILED: 5/30/2024
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.
NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on 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 identification: 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
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.
News briefs
Solages prohibits junk fees
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 fictitious 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
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 filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office. 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 filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing 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.
Dated: May 29, 2024 LEVY & LEVY
Attorneys for Plaintiff 12 Tulip Drive Great Neck, NY 11021 (516) 487-6655 BY: JOSHUA LEVY, ESQ. #101958 150169
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.
NAME: 3rd Law , LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 12/13/2019. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 31 Covert Avenue Unit #5006 Floral Park, NY 11001Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity 150172
Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages sponsored legislation to prohibit junk fees at the end of car leases and was signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Bill No. A7167/S4778 prevents the lessor of a motor vehicle from charging a turn-in fee at the expiration of the lease, which, according to the news release, is solely for administrative, handling, or clerical purposes.
The news release said these fees have been used to penalize drivers even when the terms of the lease agreement
LEGAL NOTICE
are upheld. Instead of allowing consumers to find the best rate for a new lease, the news release said, the lessors often leverage these fees to get lessees to stay with them, only offering to waive such fees if they sign on to another lease.
According to the news release, this new law protects drivers who lease their vehicles and will enhance transparency when lessees sign onto a lease.
— Renee DeLorenzo
Public Notices
Notice of formation of Rose Lady LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the State of New York SSNY on August 14th 2024. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC 258 Kirkman Avenue. Elmont N.Y. 11003. Purpose: any lawful purpose 150130
LEGAL NOTICE
Separate sealed proposals are being requested for the purchase of network switches, as well as network/data cabling to be received by the Board of Education of the Elmont Union Free School District of the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, at the Elmont Road School, located at 135 Elmont Road, Elmont, New York, at which place said bids will be publicly opened and read, at the time and date specified, for the furnishing of the following: BID
Network Proposal RFP-12-24/25
DATE OPENING 1/20/25
OPENING TIME 10:00 AM
All correspondence needs to reference “Network Proposal RFP-12-24/25 Form 470 #250005456”. A site visit for this project is REQUIRED, and will take place on Thursday, December 12th, starting at 3:30 PM, at the Alden Terrace School, located at 1835 Central Ave, Valley Stream, NY 11580. The site visit will include a vendor walk-through to all 6 elementary schools in the district. Vendors must confirm no later than 24 hours before the Walk Through via email to the Technical Contact Fernando De Bartolo at FDebartolo@elmontschoo ls.org and Alicia King at aking@e-ratecentral.com, with the name/s of those that will be attending to ensure adequate staffing to assist throughout the Walk Through.
Questions must be emailed by December 17th, 2024 to the Technical Contact Fernando De Bartolo at FDebartolo@elmontschoo ls.org and Alicia King at aking@e-ratecentral.com and contain the “Network Proposal RFP 12-24/25 Form 470 #250005456” in the subject line. Any other correspondence method will be ignored. Responses to those questions received via email to both contacts stated above by the deadline of December 17th, 2024, will be answered via Addendum to the Form 470 on December 20th, 2024. It is the vendor responsibility to ensure all documents in regard to this bid are received. E-rate funding is being sought for this project, therefore winning proposal will need to participate in the E-rate program and have a valid SPIN (Service Provider Identification Number), and have proof that they are not on Red Light Status with the FCC/SLD. For details of the Network equipment and services being requested, please go to https://opendata.usac.org /stories/s/ejcg-sjaz where the RFP is currently available under Form 470 #250005456. A sealed original proposal must be received by Diane Tool, Business Office, to the Elmont Union Free School District at 135 Elmont Road, Elmont, NY 11003 by no later than 10:00 AM on January 20, 2025. The outside of the envelope must be clearly marked “Network Proposal RFP 12-24/25 Response Form 470 #250005456.” Proposals not clearly marked as such, and inadvertently opened by any mail handlers or Elmont School personnel, will be disqualified. Bidder assumes the risk of any delay in the mail, or in the handling of the mail by employees of the School District, as well as improper hand delivery. It is vendor responsibility to
ensure method of delivery by proposal deadline. Any proposals received after the date and time of the Proposal deadline will be returned to sender.
No partial bids will be accepted. School district has preference to single vendor solution to this RFP request. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive any informalities in said bids, and/or to accept the bid which seems most favorable to the interests of the School District.
Dated: Date of the Bid Certification /Ad placement - 12/06/2024
By Order of: Anna Barbagallo District Clerk Elmont UFSD 135 Elmont Rd., Elmont, NY 150265
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VERUS SECURITIZATION TRUST 2021-R1, Plaintiff, vs. JUAN APUPARO, ET AL., Defendant (s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 31, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 8, 2025, at 2:00 PM, premises known as 108 OAKLEY AVENUE, ELMONT, NY 11003. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 32, Block: 559, Lots: 24, 25, 26. Approximate amount of judgment is $247,179.55 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 602288/2023.
If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee’s attorney, or the Referee.
MARIA SIDERIS, Esq., Referee Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff 150292
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff, vs. JENNY A. EBERT, AS ADMINISTRATOR TO THE ESTATE OF RICHARD EBERT, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 24, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 7, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 23 Franklin Street, Elmont, NY 11003. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 32, Block 474 and Lots 17 & 18. Approximate amount of judgment is $184,387.44 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #613100/2021. Louis B. Imbroto, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 191150-3 150274
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
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Yes, those tall buildings really sway
Waterfront Luxury
Q. We were in Manhattan recently, and learned that tall buildings actually sway back and forth. We stared at the tallest apartment building in the Western Hemisphere, at 432 Park Ave., but couldn’t really tell. Do these buildings sway? How far? Wouldn’t that be dangerous, and how come we don’t hear about it? Why would people put up with that for so much money?
A. Yes, for anywhere from $2 million upward (pun intended) to around $200 million, you, too, can get a continuous amusement ride, or the sensation of always being on a cruise, if you like that sort of thing. When people, mostly at parties, ask me whether I have designed anything tall or famous, I wince, because I’d rather be asked if I’ve ever done anything that people enjoyed seeing or being in.
Few people ever discuss the failings of the most well-known architects. Most of the buildings Frank Lloyd Wright designed leaked. Wright never really was a trained or licensed architect, but he made it to postage stamp status. When the 500-pound windows began flying out of I.M. Pei’s Hancock Tower in Boston, most people, except those who either nearly died or had to clean up the mess, never noticed. The list of the ways in which we learn from building design “aberrations” is endless, but the important thing is that we learn.
People who can afford to live in those tall buildings, above the crowds of common folk, must have to accept the soft sway of the windswept towers they rest their weary heads in. I have read many articles in technical magazines, and reports about how engineers have been tasked with trying to resolve the problems. In the case of 432 Park Avenue, two “dampers” were designed into the center of the tower, even though there is currently no code requirement for them.
The Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, which is much taller than 432 Park Avenue, has features including an aerodynamic shape to cut the wind, and a massive 660-ton pendulum that sways from cables in the core of the building. Even so, on the 163rd floor, the building sways 6½ feet back and forth. There are many different damper systems, flexible, viscoelastic collars and inserts between the rigid steel frame connections that transfer the forces by taking the heat away from the strain of the otherwise rigid joints. Without all of these shock-reducing components, sections would crack and crumble.
As it is, the residents of 432 Park Avenue have complained of air conditioning and heating malfunctions and acoustical discomfort from the creaking walls, whistling wind and stalled elevators. Most of the units are purchased for the beautiful vistas, and you can sell anything to someone who doesn’t do their homework. Many units have been leased and re-leased, bought and sold several times in the three years since the tower opened, with the prices going up and up. Better than buying the Brooklyn Bridge, right?
© 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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Remembering Jimmy Breslin, a legend in New York journalism
Ihave always been an avid reader of newspapers, and have a great admiration for columnists, particularly Jimmy Cannon, and then Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill. That’s why I so appreciate the opportunity to write a column for the Heralds. All of this came rushing back at me as I was reading the recently published biography “Jimmy Breslin,” by Richard Esposito. Breslin was a unique character. No one understood New York’s people, neighborhoods and streets like him.
Breslin’s New York was Queens Boulevard, not Park Avenue. It was cops, prizefighters, bookies and cold beer (until he stopped drinking, anyway). I started reading his columns years ago, in the old Journal-American, and continued with him through the Herald Tribune, the Daily News and Newsday.
I first met Breslin in the 1980s, and we became close friends in the late 1990s. My wife, Rosemary, and I would go to dinner with Jimmy and his wife, Ronnie, at least once a month, and he and I would talk at least once a day. When Jimmy wanted to talk, he wouldn’t stop, and it was almost impossible to get off the phone with him, even if you had work to do. I found that the one way to close out a conversation was to compliment him on something. In true Irish fashion, he would get flustered, mumble a rushed goodbye and slam down the phone.
support in an Irish sort of way. He came to my daughter Erin’s wedding and reception, and stayed to the very end — and that was long after he’d stopped drinking!
W hen he wanted to talk, it was impossible to get off the phone with him.
Breslin was a great guy to be with. He was tough and cynical, but had endless stories and was a true friend — when he was still your friend. He wrote several columns about me during President Bill Clinton’s impeachment that I will always cherish, and he wrote a great blurb for my first novel (which he probably never read). We commiserated after the 9/11 attacks, attending funerals of mutual friends, giving each other
During these good times, though, I would have in the back of my head columns Breslin used to write when he was living in Baldwin, listing people he would no longer speak with. Though he stopped issuing those lists, I wondered when my number would be up. I found out in March 2003, when Rosemary sent him a heated note, blasting him for comparing President George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler.
That ended it. It was curtain time. No more phone calls or dinners. I did call him once when I heard there was a serious illness in his family.
“Jimmy, I heard the news,” I said. “I’m sorry. I’m thinking of you.”
“Yeah,” he replied, “I’ll be thinking of you, too. Goodbye.”
Later I saw him at the renowned journalist Jack Newfield’s funeral, and
we had a quick handshake. Several years after that, in 2009, Rosemary and I went to the funeral of Breslin’s daughter Kelly at an old church in Lower Manhattan. Afterward we sat and talked with him at a table in the churchyard for 10 or 15 minutes. The conversation was warm and friendly, almost like it used to be. When it was time to say so long, I said, “Jimmy, we should get together.”
“Yeah,” he said. “We should. That’d be good.” We shook hands.
We never got together. I wish we had. Breslin died in 2017, and a large part of New York died with him.
Esposito’s biography brings back the memories not just of Breslin, but of the days when newspapers and their columnists — and the written word — had such a vital role to play in our society. While much of that has died, I commend the Herald for keeping the tradition alive for the people of Long Island.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
No matter who’s president, L.I.’s middle class struggles
Eight years ago, about four months into Donald Trump’s first term as president, the Herald published an op-ed I wrote entitled “What American Dream?” in which I lamented the ever-growing financial burden on Long Island’s middle class.
Despite all the hard work I put in, I wrote, I was decidedly worse off than my mother and father were a generation earlier. I laid equal blame on Democrats and Republicans, who had rotated in and out of Washington all my life and done little to stop the downward spiral. “And his promises notwithstanding,” I added, “President Trump will likely do little to change our trajectory.” He did not.
And, in all fairness, neither did President Biden.
Eight years ago I noted that my wife and I worked full time as teachers, but that she had to care for our kids alone during the week, while I tutored after school to keep up with ever-rising expenses.
Today I tutor two to three times as much as I did then. Not out of greed, but necessity. My wife continues to do the lion’s share of the work with the kids, but she, too, has taken on a second job, doing early intervention for specialneeds 2-year-olds. So, eight years ago, we basically needed three incomes to make it. Now we need four.
BSome of my colleagues at school were elated after Election Day that we have another four years of Trump coming, almost as if their team had won the Super Bowl. It has always surprised me how any teacher can support the guy whose Supreme Court appointee, Neil Gorsuch, rendered the decisive vote in Janus v. AFSCME, a case that weakened public-sector unions like the ones we belong to.
House — our lives here on Long Island are not going to get any easier.
That’s because we’ve witnessed a steady erosion of the middle class since 1973, when real wages started to fall against the backdrop of an energy crisis and pronounced inflation. The true death knell was President Ronald Reagan’s taking office in 1980. Reagan slashed taxes for corporations and the wealthy with the idea that the financial benefits at the top of the economic food chain would trickle down to the rest of us. Only they didn’t.
y the time I graduated from eighth grade in 1992, working moms were the norm.
To be fair, others at school were crestfallen.
I, on the other hand, for the first time in my adult life, paid absolutely no attention to this election, and did not watch one minute of election night coverage. Although I voted for Kamala Harris, I did not shed a tear.
That’s because I’ve heard this song before. I know how this movie ends. It doesn’t matter who’s in the White
I’m by no means an economist, but consider this: When I entered kindergarten in 1983, my mother was one of a few moms who needed to get a job to help make ends meet. The embarrassment of getting picked up by another classmate’s mother will forever be etched in my memory. Years later, my mother told me how the guilt I laid on her at the time absolutely broke her heart. Sorry, Mom. I love you.
But by the time I graduated from eighth grade in 1992, working moms were the norm. I can only recall one or two classmates whose mothers didn’t work. Things had certainly changed, and they only continued to get worse.
I’m not piling on Republicans, because there were 20 years of Democratic presidents as well between then and now. My colleagues, both jubilant and dejected after this past Election Day, might remember that the roles were reversed in 2008, when Barack Obama was first elected. Regardless of who has led the country, things haven’t gotten a whole lot better.
That’s because the people at the top — the corporate interests that really run America — don’t want them to. As the late, great comedian George Carlin said, “Our country’s a big club … and you ain’t in it!”
Nobody should have been surprised that Trump trounced the incumbentbacked Harris. Middle class voters have been drowning for 50 years, desperately hoping someone would toss them a life vest that never seems to come.
I wish I shared my Trump-supporting colleagues’ optimism, or even the Harris supporters’ melancholy, but I just don’t. I don’t think any real help is coming, regardless of who is in office. I will gladly eat my words in four years if my wallet is fatter and prices are lower. But I doubt that’s going to happen.
Nick Buglione is a teacher, a freelance journalist and a former editor of the
East Meadow Herald.
Demothen jubilant Election roles Barack Regardless of haven’t the top really to. As Carlin and surprised incumbentvoters have desperately a life Trump-supportthe but I help is office. four prices to freelance the
Franklin square/elmont
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HERALD
COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Cliff Richner
Publisher,
BIn Long Islanders we trust
eginning with the birth of our nation, Long Islanders have shaped the policies of America as well as our country’s impact on the world. Suffolk County’s William Floyd was one of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence. President Theodore Roosevelt, who made his home in Oyster Bay, is often cited as one of our greatest leaders. Bellmore’s William Casey served as President Ronald Reagan’s CIA director during an era fraught with Cold War tensions.
As the Biden administration sunsets and President-elect Donald Trump’s second administration begins to take shape, Long Islanders are once again positioned to influence our nation and the course of human history.
T rump has nominated Howard Lutnick, from Jericho, to serve as secretary of commerce. Lutnick, the chairman and chief executive of the global financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, strongly supports the president-elect’s plans to impose tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico, which would have dramatic impacts on the global economy.
T rump has chosen Dr. Dave Weldon, a Farmingdale High School and Stony Brook University graduate, to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Weldon, a former congressman from Florida, would succeed fellow Long Islander Dr. Mandy Cohen, a Baldwin native whom President Biden appointed to the role last year. (Another Baldwin native, Karine Jean-Pierre, has served as President Biden’s White House press secretary since 2022.)
Given the recent politicization of the CDC, as well as the anti-establishment views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom
letters
Trump has selected as his secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services — which oversees the CDC — Weldon is set to wield unique power in setting public health policy.
Biden named Dr. David Kessler, a graduate of Woodmere Academy (now the Lawrence Woodmere Academy) as the lead scientist on the coronavirus vaccine distribution efforts. Kessler formerly headed the Food and Drug Administration under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
T rump has also named Steve Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff, who was raised in Baldwin Harbor and Old Westbury, is a successful real estate developer and a major benefactor of Hofstra University, where he earned a law degree. (He shares that law school alma mater with Charles Kushner, the father of Trump’s son-inlaw, Jared Kushner, and a convicted felon whom Trump has selected as ambassador to France.) Witkoff’s appointment continues Trump’s selection of Long Islanders for critical Middle East policy roles.
In Trump’s first term, the U.S. ambassador to Israel was David Friedman, who grew up in North Woodmere. The son of Rabbi Morris Friedman, who led Temple Hillel for 33 years and brought Reagan to the synagogue in 1984, David Friedman played a pivotal role in promoting Trump’s Middle East policies, from the decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, to supporting the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
T rump also announced his choice of Garden City’s Kash Patel as director of
Randi just won’t stop with Trump
To the Editor:
I just finished reading Randi Kreiss’s column, “Dear readers, we can’t keep it in neutral” (Nov. 28-Dec. 4). It seems that Randi is totally consumed by Trump derangement syndrome. Donald Trump is a deeply flawed soul to be sure, but when compared with Hillary and Harris, he is Abe Lincoln.
When he left office, but for the horror of Covid, the country was at peace and the economy was in great shape. Could this country endure four more years of what we just went through? Obviously not! The fake dossier, the disgraceful lawfare, and it goes on and on.
Trump establishes the Depar tment of Government Efficiency and the left mocks him unendingly. When it pays enormous dividends, they will ignore it, as they always do. Thank God the country was sickened by the last four years and overwhelmingly decided to reject it!
RICHARD LAND Woodmere
the FBI. Leaders on both sides of the aisle, however, have expressed concerns about that choice, because of what they perceive to be Patel’s desire to dismantle the very institution he has been tapped to lead, as well as his lack of relevant experience.
“I categorically opposed making Patel deputy FBI director,” William Barr, who served as attorney general under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Trump, wrote in his 2022 book, “One Damn Thing After Another.” “I told Mark Meadows,” Barr added, referring to Trump’s White House chief of staff, “it would happen ‘over my dead body.’ Someone with no background as an agent would never be able to command the respect necessary to run the day-to-day operations of the bureau.”
Finally, there’s former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, who, in 2022, unsuccessfully challenged Gov. Kathy Hochul in New York’s gubernatorial election. Zeldin, an Army veteran who represented New York’s 1st Congressional District from 2015 to 2023, is poised to become Trump’s administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. In that role, Zeldin would have wide-ranging powers to create or eliminate regulations that protect the environment.
Many of Trump’s selections must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. We expect most of them will be, or will serve in interim roles. Regardless, these Long Islanders are a testament to the region’s diverse influence on national politics and international diplomacy. We hope they don’t forget where they came from, and make decisions that uplift not only our country, but also the Long Island communities they once called home.
Supporting Long Island businesses in the green economy
affordability remains a pressing concern for Long island families — and our businesses feel the same strain. small businesses are the backbone of our communities, employing hundreds of thousands of Long islanders while defining the character and vitality of our towns. To ensure their long-term success, we must make reducing costs and fostering innovation a top priority.
Contrary to outdated thinking, economic growth and environmental sustainability are not competing priorities — they are deeply interconnected. A thriving clean-energy economy not only protects our environment, but also creates opportunities for businesses to cut costs, improve efficiency, and position themselves for longterm success. The green economy offers
a path to prosperity that supports both people and the planet.
recent federal legislation has opened unprecedented opportunities for Long island businesses to thrive in this new economy. The inflation reduction Act, signed into law by President Biden in 2022, provides billions of dollars in grants, tax credits and reimbursements designed to help businesses adopt green technologies and reduce overhead. These programs include incentives for retrofitting buildings, purchasing electric vehicles, installing solar panels and switching to geothermal heating systems — solutions that lower energy costs while reducing carbon footprints. Long island is uniquely positioned to reap the benefits of these initiatives. By leveraging these federal resources, we can modernize infrastructure, boost competitiveness, improve efficiency and ensure that our businesses lead the way in the clean-energy revolution. The New
Letters
Shop safely during the holidays
To the Editor:
The Nassau County Police Department advises shoppers to be vigilant for their safety and the safety of others this holiday season. Before leaving home, secure and engage alarms, and leaving lights on in frequented rooms to give the appearance that people are home. Plan your shopping trips, know where you’re going and, if possible, go with someone else. Let someone know where you’re going. Park in an area that’s well lit, and make sure your valuables are out of sight. Avoid parking near vans or other vehicles with covered cargo areas. Don’t get out of your car unless you feel safe, lock your vehicle, and remember where you’ve parked.
As you shop, keep money and credit/debit cards in a front pocket, and limit the number of cards and the cash you carry. To avoid identity theft, be careful when exposing your cards and other identification at cash registers and ATMs. Be aware that thieves use cellphones to capture card and identity information. Be cognizant of distractions that could be staged to avert your attention.
When you return to your vehicle, don’t do so with your arms full of packages. Use a cart. Be ready to unlock your car door. Check the parking lot for suspicious-looking people, and if you see anyone loitering nearby, don’t go to your vehicle. Carry a whistle or other audible device, and if you feel threatened, use it. Before getting into your vehicle, look around and inside it. Once inside, lock the doors, and if you have to, use your horn to attract attention.
Always be aware of your surroundings.
NAssAU COUNTy POLiCE DEPArTMENT
york state Energy research and Development Authority is actively helping businesses access these funds, making it easier to embrace energy-efficient technologies that drive both immediate savings and long-term growth.
we are uniquely positioned to reap the benefits of green initiatives.
The U.s. Department of Energy is also stepping up with innovative programs like the Onsite Energy Program. This initiative helps high-energy-use businesses generate their own electricity, dramatically reducing operational costs and emissions. Eligible businesses can receive up to $300,000 in grant funding, giving them the tools to embrace cleaner, more cost-effective energy solutions. By absorbing much of the costs of investing in major pieces of clean-energy infrastructure, these programs are making it easier for businesses to harness the opportunities for green growth in our local economy.
To support Long island businesses in seizing these opportunities, i am proud
Prevent Christmas tree fires
To the Editor:
Christmas tree fires may not be common, but when they do occur, they can cause serious damage. Fires involving fresh trees tend to occur more often than artificial tree fires, in part because fresh trees dry out over time, making them more flammable, and a dried-out tree will burn much more quickly than a well-watered one. New york state ranks high in the nation in home fire deaths — there have been 105 so far in 2024, according to the U.s. Fire Administration — and the Firefighters Association of the state of New york urges residents to follow these tips to have a safe Christmas:
• For a fresh tree, cut 2 inches from the base of the trunk before placing it in the stand. Add water daily to keep the tree well hydrated.
• Trees should be at least 3 feet away from any heat source, including fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
• Make sure the tree isn’t blocking an exit, such as a door or window.
• Ensure that decorative lights are in good working order and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Tree safety needs to be taken seriously. Here are some key findings of the National Fire Protection Association on Christmas tree fires, reflecting annual averages between 2018 and 2022:
• Christmas tree fires are most common between 3 p.m. and midnight, the hours in which about half of them occur.
• roughly two of every five fires start in a living room, family room or den.
• Electrical failures or malfunctions are factors in 34 percent of fires.
• in 20 percent of fires, some type of heat source was placed too close to the tree.
FirEFigHTErs AssOCiATiON OF
to be hosting a free webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 17, in collaboration with the DOE’s Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships program. This session will provide valuable insights into funding opportunities and practical steps for implementing green energy solutions. i encourage all local businesses, medical facilities, schools, and other entities with high-energy-use facilities to register by visiting tinyurl.com/gogreencutcosts24.
By tapping into these resources, Long island can lead the way in building a resilient, sustainable economy. Together we can empower our businesses to innovate, grow and succeed while securing a cleaner, greener future for all. Tackling the climate crisis is essential to preserving our way of life on the coast, and we can use this challenge as a chance to kick-start a new era of economic opportunity for our region. i urge every entrepreneur to explore these initiatives and join the movement to build a more affordable and prosperous Long island.
Michaelle Solages represents the 22nd Assembly District.
Framework by Tim Baker
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