It was a legendary meeting for a legend. On July 15, Emoni Wise of Freeport gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Legend Warren, weighing in at six-pounds and 12 oz. Dr. Jay Seraji, who also coincidentally delivered Emoni, in the exact same operating room at Catholic Health Mercy Hospital 22 years ago, delivered Legend. Before he and his mother were discharged to go home, the whole crew was reunited.
By AVITA JoHN Correspondent
Earlier this year, some residents of Freeport noticed that Brookside Preserve, a scenic oasis in the community, wasn’t being properly maintained. There was garbage, signs of substance abuse, and overall neglect.
The residents, who are nature lovers, wanted to see the preserve thrive, so they decided to act. They started by contacting their local legislator to air their concerns and offer ideas on ways to improve the property.
Commissioner Darcy Belyea.
The group solidified its commitment by creating the South Shore Conservation Society, a nonprofit dedicated to mobilizing volunteers to support Brookside Preserve and other green spaces in southern Nassau County, and particularly in Freeport. The initiative is especially important because the South Shore Audubon Society, the group that previously looked after the preserve, is no longer involved, its partnership with Nassau County having ended.
R esidents in minority hamlets don’t have access to green spaces ... we don’t have that here
Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé assembled a team of experts in parks management and legislative affairs to help refine the community members’ ideas. With the experts’ support, the residents developed a detailed proposal to revitalize the preserve. They collaborated with Mulé and another legislator, Seth Koslow, and later this year they will present their proposal to County Parks
JASmINe PeÑA
SSCS Treasurer
Most of the SSCS’s members are Freeport residents.
“We appreciate the support that we get from Debra Mulé and Seth Koslow,” Jose Cuevas, who handles public relations, said. “Those are the two legislators that have been supportive of the improvement needed (in) the Brookside Preserve, and we look forward (to) the continued support as we look to continue to work hard
Continued on page 4
By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
With the announcement that the Hempstead Stop & Shop, at 132 Fulton Ave. is one of four being closed by Ahold Delhaize USA that owns the supermarket chain, Nassau County Legislators Siela Bynoe and Scott Davis wrote the company a letter opposing the decision.
The letter was addressed to Maura O’Brien, the government affairs manager for Ahold Delhaize USA, the company that owns Stop & Shop, and it details the “many unresolved issues related to the potential loss of a vital community hub” that the legislators feel will negatively impact the community.
“We are deeply concerned about how Hempstead Village residents may experience intensified difficulties in acquiring fresh, nutritious, and affordable food in a community that was recently designated a food desert by experts,” Bynoe and Davis in the letter.
A food desert is defined as an area or community that has a low access to healthy and affordable foods.
The legislators assert in the letter that the Stop & Shop location is the only classified supermarket operating within Hempstead Village, meaning that its
closure would “escalate food inequality within the community by dramatically constricting consumer choice and curtailing access to affordable nutrition options.”
People who face transportation challenges, including seniors, would have to find ways to travel further for their grocery needs, they added.
In comparison, East Meadow, another Stop & Shop location designated to be closed, has three other major supermar-
A power of attorney allows someone you choose as “agent” to handle your legal and financial affairs, most often if you become disabled. However, not all powers of attorney are created equal. The standard form, used by many attorneys, is what we term “over the counter medicine”. Instead, we choose to use what we call the “prescription strength” elder law power of attorney.
It works just like medicine. What happens when you only have over the counter medicine but you need prescription strength? You know what happens – it doesn’t work, it’s not strong enough.
For example, the standard form allows the agent to make gifts up to $5,000 dollars per year. The elder law power of attorney has no such limitation, allowing the agent to gift any amount. Let’s say a client is going into a nursing home or needs care at home. We often save the family hundreds of thousands of dollars using the elder law power of attorney to gift out to the children those amounts that will help qualify the client for Medicaid benefits. Generally, even on
the nursing home doorstep, we can save about half of a parent’s assets by gifting.
Now, if the client only has the standard power of attorney, they can only gift five thousand dollars a year. When it comes to Medicaid, it’s move it or lose it! Almost all of the client’s money will have to be used for their care.
Let’s say the client has $500,000 in assets and needs nursing facility care. We use the elder law power of attorney to gift $250,000 to the children (tax-free). So long as we use the remaining $250,000 to pay for our client’s care, the family gets to keep the $250,000 gift.
Other valuable powers added to the elder law power of attorney are (1) powers to create or modify trusts (2) powers to change beneficiaries on IRA’s, annuities and insurance policies, and (3) powers to refuse any inheritances left to the disabled person.
For clients age sixty and older, choosing an elder law attorney often makes the difference between keeping your home and life savings or losing everything to pay for long-term care.
kets where community members can shop, according to Bynoe and Davis. They draw comparisons between Hempstead and East Meadow to demonstrate the greater toll the decision would take on Hempstead residents.
Using recent census data, the lawmakers note that Hempstead’s median household income of $80,350 is “significantly less” than East Meadow’s of $129,258, and that the poverty rate in Hempstead — 16 percent — is nearly tri-
ple East Meadow’s rate of 5.9 percent.
The lack of health insurance in Hempstead can cause problems for people who may now struggle to access nutritious foods with the potential closure of the store, according to the legislators, with 13.2 percent of residents under the age of 65 uninsured. East Meadow’s figure is much lower at 5.1 percent.
“The departure of a reliable source of nutritional options threatens to exacerbate existing healthcare disparities in Hempstead Village,” they wrote in the letter.
Bynoe and Davis implore Ahold Delhaize to reconsider closing the Hempstead Village Stop and Shop and instead “identify pathways” to keep the facility open in a way that benefits the business as well.
“The decision to close our Hempstead store was a difficult one, and only made after careful analysis and deliberation as we know our stores are closely embedded in our communities,” spokesman Dan Wolk wrote in an email.
He noted that Hempstead will continue to have home delivery after the store’s closure, and a school partnership will to donate $20,000 to Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle School and David Paterson Elementary School.
By AVITA JOHN Intern
Grand Folk Railroad, a band that formed 2009 and has been performing for the past 15 years brings together a group of seasoned musicians who blend various musical styles, creating a unique sound that spans from folk to hard rock. They will be performing a free concert at the Freeport Memorial Library on August 2 at 7 p.m.
Their music, rich with electric guitar work and singer-songwriter flair, captures the essence of Americana and indie music. The band’s journey began 15 years ago in 2009 and has led to the creation of their own CD.
Mike Christian, 67, is a true multi-instrumentalist, seamlessly switching between guitar, bass, and drums. He also serves as the band’s arranger, producer, and engineer. Mike’s deep love for 60s and 70s pop music influences the band’s repertoire, filled with forgotten favorites and hidden gems from that era.
Susan Schwartz-Christian, 72, is the lead singersongwriter of the band. A multi-instrumentalist, she switches between guitar, banjo, and flute. Her powerful voice, rooted in old-school country, combines with sophisticated storytelling to create compelling songs that transcend traditional singer-songwriter expectations.
Schwartz-Christian explained that “The type of music that we produce is a mix of singer songwriter on the folky all the way up to hard rock and our CD that we made reflects all the styles”
Christian added, “It’s like a mixture of songs, but some songs are more folk, rather than like hard Rock or Pop or Early Folk is a category, Americana singer songwriter, but there’s a fair amount of electric guitar work in it.”
“…A pretty good portion of it is what I would call contemporary folk…It’s the type of folk music that’s written,…it’s not the things that you remember from the 1960s like Pete Seeger…It’s more contemporary singer songwriters.” Christian explained.
It’s an outdoor concert, in the outdoor space that they have, and we’re going to be playing a lot of 60s and 70s pop music, but in our own kind of style.
SuSAN ScHwAr Tz-cHrISTIAN singer-songwriter
“I would call it an eclectic mix of forgotten favorites from the 60s and 70s… eclectic slash eccentric mix of forgotten favorites from the 60s and 70s.” Christian continued.
Gary Schoenberger, 75, the newest member, who plays the keyboard, guitar and does some of the vocals for the band, has been a close friend and musical comrade of the band for decades.
His expertise on keyboards, guitar, and vocals adds new sounds and rich textures to the band’s music. Schoenberger ‘s repertoire includes roots music, contemporary folk, and bluegrass, further defining the “Folk” aspect of the band.
Frank Doris, 69, adds beautifully melodic touches to the band’s music, elevating their songs with his versatile guitar skills with bass and uke guitars. Since picking up the guitar after the Summer of Love, Frank has played in various bands and even opened for Duran Duran on their first U.S. tour. His influences range from Roy Orbison to Kraftwerk, contributing to the band’s rich and diverse sound.
Bill Resvanis, 75, who plays the drums, is a founding member of the band and is currently no longer a full-time member. However, he still shares the stage during special gigs. Known for his groove and instinctive playing, Resvanis’s contributions have been a cornerstone of the band’s sound.
The story of Grand Folk Railroad started at an event called “The Song Swap”, where musicians gather to share and play songs in a circle. Christian, one of
Friday, August 2
the band’s founding members, had left his previous band to care for his daughter.
He was introduced to Schwartz-Christian, who was initially considered as a replacement for the band he left. Despite never having met Susan, Mike was intrigued when a mutual friend, Schoenberger, suggested she join the song swap.
Christian recalled Schoenberger telling SchwartzChristian, “Susan, why don’t you come to the song swap?” reasoning that she would enjoy it more by virtue of her background
Schwartz-Christian played a song that caught Christian ‘s ear, leading them to become a couple, write music together, and eventually form the Grand Folk Railroad.
Schoenberger, who introduced Christian to Schwartz-Christian, now plays keyboard in the band.
Schwartz-Christian gave a brief description of what to look forward to for the concert on Friday at the Freeport Memorial Library. “It’s an outdoor concert, in the outdoor space that they have, and we’re going to be playing a lot of 60s and 70s pop music, but in our own kind of style.”
“Some of the 60s and 70s songs that people might recognize as good examples would be a song called “Hooked on a feeling” …there’s one called “98.6”, it was a one hit wonder by an artist named Keith… that was his name, one name Keith…. “Midnight confessions”…and “Daydream believer” by the monkeys is always a big favorite” Christian added.
Join Grand Folk Railroad on Friday, August 2, at 7 p.m. at the Freeport Memorial Library for an evening of nostalgia and forgotten favorites of the 60s and 70s. The band will perform hidden pop gems, one-hit wonders, and feel-good favorites that shaped popular music forever. In case of bad weather, the concert will be held indoors.
The Grand Folk Railroad’s journey is a testament to the power of music to bring people together. From a simple song swap to producing their own CD and performing live, the band continues to captivate audiences with their diverse sound and heartfelt performances.
to revitalize the preserve.”
The organization hopes to partner with other community groups in the effort to revitalize the preserve, which is owned and managed by the county. The end of the partnership with the South Shore Audubon Society left the preserve without proper oversight, so it was the perfect time for the South Shore Conservation Society to step in.
Recognizing the importance of community-driven efforts, its members began brainstorming ways to improve the preserve. They proposed creating a community garden in an open lot adjacent to the property, among other initiatives. At a meeting earlier this year with county parks officials, they continued to refine their plans.
“As residents, and being in a large minority population, we don’t see our green spaces being protected,” SSCS Treasurer Jasmine Pena said, “and residents in minority hamlets don’t have access to green spaces for their family. As far as for recreational purposes or for exploration for students, enhancement, when it comes to environmental initiatives, we don’t have that here.
“So it’s equally important for us to set the ground-
W
e appreciate the support that we get from Debra Mulé and Seth Koslow...those are the two legislators that have been supportive of the improvement needed (to) the Brookside Preserve.
Jose Cuevas
SSCS Public Relations
work for our residents and really create something special for all our surrounding areas,” Pena added.
“As far as Baldwin, Merrick and Rockville Centre, they have these preserves, and they’re very well maintained. But in Freeport, where we’ve been left behind, we need to make sure that our residents are involved.”
This is a great opportunity for them and future generations, she said.
The group hopes to become a management support entity for the Preserve — not to take it over, but to
help the county with its upkeep and improvement. Members plan to present a proposal to the county highlighting the organization’s commitment and capabilities.
The society has also launched advocacy and cleanup efforts. It organizes monthly cleanups, rallying community members to help keep the preserve pristine, and acts as a communication conduit between the community and the county. It has reached out to the Nassau County Police Department in an effort to ensure regular surveillance of the preserve, to address the issue of substance abuse.
The SSCS has also secured trash cans for the preserve and arranged for regular pickup, making it easier for visitors to dispose of their garbage properly.
Members continue their efforts to improve the preserve and keep it clean, driven by their love of nature and their desire to see this and other area green spaces flourish.
“We use a lot of social media platforms to reach our volunteers and potential members,” Pena said, “and definitely, a lot of us are very involved in our communities, so we do have a strong hold here when it comes to community endeavors and Freeport.”
Fax: (516) 622-7460
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The latest “Truth in Medicine” poll conducted by Mount Sinai South Nassau, the closest hospital for Freeport residents, reveals that over one-third of Long Island and New York City residents support legalizing medical aid in dying. The survey indicates that 37% of respondents favor legislation allowing medical aid in dying (MAID), 21% oppose it, and 43% remain undecided.
The poll, which explores various health-related topics, also sheds light on residents’ health perceptions and engagement with healthcare services. Among respondents aged 65 and older, 60% rate their overall health as “excellent” or “good,” despite the increased risk for chronic conditions such as dementia, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and arthritis. Overall, 70% of participants consider their health to be “excellent” (13%) or “good” (57%).
The survey highlights disparities in healthcare engagement, with Black respondents and men accessing the healthcare system less frequently than other groups. Approximately 29% of all respondents have taken an independent patient satisfaction survey after a hospital stay, with nearly half of those aged 65 and older participating. Blacks, men, and those under 65 are the least likely to have taken such surveys.
Surprise medical bills continue to be a concern, with one-third of respondents reporting having received unexpected charges. This issue is particularly prevalent among Long Island residents, those with health insurance, and those aged 65 and older. The federal No Surprises Act, effective since January 2022, has helped prevent over 10 million surprise medical bills, according to a survey by American Health Insurance Providers and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Advance care planning remains crucial, as 53% of respondent’s aged 65 and older have a living will, and 52% have designated a healthcare proxy. However, only
32% have long-term care insurance, and a mere 15% have toured an assisted living facility.
Healthcare provider satisfaction varies, with 25% of respondents with private health insurance expressing a “very positive” perception of their insurer. The majority, 75%, report having a primary healthcare provider, with engagement highest among those aged 65 and older. Younger adults are increasingly turning to urgent care and telehealth services for their healthcare needs.
The poll also found that 59% of those recently hospitalized had a positive experience, although 15% reported negative experiences due to lack of follow-up and
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substandard care.
The “Truth in Medicine” poll, conducted from March 21-26, 2024, by LJR Custom Strategies, surveyed 600 residents via landlines and cell phones. The findings have a margin of error of ±3.9%.
Mount Sinai South Nassau has been conducting these polls since January 2017 to educate and foster discussions on critical public health issues. For more information, visit www.southnassau.org/sn/truth-inmedicine.
–Kepherd Daniel
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
The Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame will hold its 2024 induction ceremony Sept. 25 at the Crest Hollow County Club. For more information and tickets, go to www.sectionviii. org. Here’s a list of local honorees.
Tom Catapano
He’s been nothing short of a wizard since becoming Baldwin’s girls’ basketball coach in 2010. He’s guided it to 12 Nassau Class Conference AA championships, 10 Nassau Class AA titles, 5 Long Island Class AA crowns, a pair of New York state public school championships, and a State Federation title.
Canute Curtis
One of the greatest in a long line of great football players from Farmingdale, Curtis was a standout two-way star at running back and linebacker while leading head coach Don Snyder’s Dalers to an undefeated 10-0 record and the Rutgers Cup in 1991. His dominating performances as a senior were good enough to earn Curtis All-Nassau, All-Long Island and All-State honors.
Crystal Dunn
A genuine soccer phenom at South Side. So talented at a young age that she missed her junior season because she was playing for the United States Under17 team in New Zealand. The Cyclones won three state championships (2006, 2007 and 2009) with Dunn, who scored 46 goals and assisted on 35 others. She was a two-time All-American at North Carolina and played defense for the U.S. Women’s National Team and is a twotime Olympian.
Jim Graziano
The best big man developed at Farmingdale and one of the best to play basketball on Long Island. The 6-foot-10, Graziano was a four-year starter, outstanding as a freshman and improved every season until his senior year when he averaged 26 points and 15 rebounds. A three-time All-Long Island selection, he was the New York State Player of the Year in 1976. He starred at South Carolina and was drafted by the NBA’s Denver Nuggets.
Jay Iaquinta
One of the most decorated football coaches in Nassau County over the past three decades, Iaquinta has amassed 211 victories with stints at Lynbrook, Hewlett and Manhasset. Named the county’s Coach of the Year in 1986 and 2021.
Charlene Lipsey
She played basketball, volleyball, and softball at Hempstead before focusing on
track. In just three years she became a five-time state champ and the Gatorade New York State Runner of the Year. Lipsey went on to a decorated career at LSU and was an eight-time All-American and three-time SEC champion.
Matt McLees
Head coach of Carey’s football team for 16 years and the winningest coach in school history with 76 victories. He was named Nassau Coach of the Year three times, served as President of Nassau Football Coaches Association and is currently the Athletic Director for the Sewanhaka Central School District and Nassau’s football coordinator.
Gary Mims
He grew up in Freeport but became a son of Massapequa. He played three sports for the Chiefs (football, wrestling
and lacrosse) and returned home to coach the wrestling team for 29 years, beginning in 1977. He was named Nassau Coach of the Year three times and produced 31 county champions while winning 291 dual meets.
Rich Ohrnberger
A star two-way lineman for three years at East Meadow, in 2003 he not only won the Martone Award for being Nassau’s top lineman but also the Thorp Award as the county’s best player. After a stellar career as an offensive lineman at Penn State, he was drafted by the Patriots and later played for the Cardinals and Chargers.
V ictor Randazzo
It has been 52 years since Randazzo graduated from Long Beach , and his senior year was special. He was the New
Rockville Centre’s Crystal Dunn was a three-time state champion at South Side, a two-time All-American at North Carolina and a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Award as
best
player and went on to play in the NFL for three teams.
York State champion in the Still Rings competition and the Rope Climb. He won the Still Rings at the Empire State Games five times and went on to become the NCAA Still Rings champ for Southern Connecticut State, helping it to the 1976 collegiate team title.
Max Seibald
A special athlete, Seibald was an AllCounty selection in four sports (football, soccer, track and lacrosse) at Hewlett and a superstar in the latter. He led the Bulldogs to a county championship, beating Garden City in the finals, and was a four-time All-American at Cornell. In 2009 he won the Tewaarton Award as the nation’s top collegiate player. He was a five-time Major League Lacrosse All-Star.
A number of Republican elected officials from Long Island attended the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee July 15 to 18.
Included in the mix were the GOP congressional contingent from Long Island: Anthony D’Esposito, who represents a majority of the South Shore of Nassau County; Andrew Garbarino, whose district spans from Seaford to Calverton in Suffolk County; and Nick LaLota, whose district stretches east from Huntington Station to the twin forks and Montauk.
Not long after the convention, at which former President Donald Trump and his vice presidential pick, Sen. J.D. Vance, accepted their party’s official nominations, the political landscape changed dramatically, as President Biden decided not to run for re-election and Vice President Kamala Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee.
The Democrats will hold their national convention in Chicago Aug. 19 to 22.
–Jeffrey Bessen
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By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
The Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow has opened a newly remodeled mental health clinic — a state-of-the-art facility designed to provide comprehensive mental health services to some of Long Island’s most vulnerable populations.
NUMC, which is overseen by the Nassau Health Care Corporation, previously housed its mental health facilities in the J Building, which is one of the many buildings on its campus. The medical center and NuHealth, the health care network that the hospital is part of, has provided adult outpatient psychiatric services to Nassau County residents for 42 years, including comprehensive psychiatric care and psychotherapy, delivered by both psychologists and psychiatrists.
The mental health clinic has played an important role in the county’s health care services for decades, Meg Ryan, the medical center’s interim president and chief executive, said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 23.
“We receive referrals from all over Nassau County — the courts, the correctional center, division of social services,” Ryan said. “It has the largest training program in Nassau County for both psychiatric residents and psychology interns and externs.”
After touring the mental health clinic in the J Building, Ryan said she felt the hospital could “do better.”
“It was immediately clear to me that we could do better for our patients, and we certainly could do better for our staff,” she explained.
The building lacked an elevator, central air conditioning and was in poor physical condition, and the estimated cost to repair the J Building was $2 million, hospital officials said.
Hospital administrators said they then decided to convert the space in its main building that previously housed its Covid-19 vaccine clinic during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The suite was large and useful at the time, but was no longer being utilized, Ryan said. In addition, the cost to make the space work for its mental health services was only $62,000.
The enhanced space features upgraded security, air conditioning and modern amenities, providing a more comfortable environment for patients and staff. The cost of the renovation was offset by donations of $25,000 from the law firm of Abrams Fensterman, and $1,000 from the Kiwanis Club of East Meadow.
Matthew Bruderman, chairman of the board of directors for the Nassau Health Care Corporation, reminded those attending last week’s ribbon-cutting ceremony that NUMC is one of three “safety net” hospitals in New York, serving all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.
The hospital has made great strides in fixing its financial state, Bruderman
said, and its work is reflected in new spaces, such as the mental health clinic.
“It’s about patient care, it’s about employee care,” he said. “It’s about caring about the community. This team, this hospital — I think it’s just an amazing organization.”
Bruderman called mental health “fundamentally important.”
“The opening of this clinic marks a new chapter in NUMC’s long history of serving the needs of our community,” he said. “We are proud to provide a space that is not only modern and wel-
coming, but also equipped with the resources necessary to offer comprehensive mental health services to people in crisis.”
Dr. Constantine Ioannou, the chair of psychiatry in the health care corporation, said the new suite de-stigmatizes psychiatric care.
“It is the first time that our patients with complex psychiatric diagnoses are part of the main hospital — they walk through the same entrance as everyone else, they are treated exactly the same way everyone else is treated,” he said.
“Every place I have been, the psychiatric clinic is further away from the main building, and the only one that is even further away from that is addiction services.”
Ioannou said the work to reopen the new clinic was “lightning fast,” and he thanked everyone who worked hard to make that happen.
“I think this makes a very big statement that behavioral health and psychiatric care is an integral part of the mission of NuHealth and NUMC,” he said. “I think it will help us provide a better and less stigmatizing source of care for our patients.”
Sometimes, the tiniest things — in this case insects — have the biggest story.
Welcome to the world of “OVO.”
Cirque du Soleil brings the relaunched show to Elmont’s UBS Arena this month with new acts and characters. “OVO” is a colorful intrusion into a new day in the life of insects. Through Cirque’s signature mix of acrobatics, lively visuals and humor, unique personalities and abilities of selected insect species emerge.
“OVO” explores the beauty of biodiversity in all its contrasts and vibrancy. It’s where the every day becomes extraordinary. As told by the creative team: OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects’ home is a world of beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.
“Imagine you lift up a rock and find a whole habitat underneath it.” says Artistic Director Lydia Harper, who’s been with Cirque du Soleil since 2015.
The spectacle begins as a colony of insects embraces a mysterious egg brought by the Blue Fly. Then the egg disappears.
“It’s such an exciting way to start a show, because then you go, ‘anything can happen,” says Harper.
When that egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It’s love at first sight when a quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye — and the feeling is mutual.
The name “Ovo” means egg in Portuguese. This timeless symbol of the life cycle and birth of numerous insects represents the show’s underlying thread, according to Deborah Colker, the production’s writer, director and choreographer. An homage to her Brazilian heritage, it reflects her background in dance and interest in movement on a large scale.
“It’s a story about falling in love, making friends, meeting strangers, and what adventures they can take you on,” Harper says.
The “colony” of quirky insects each have distinct personalities, fully portrayed by each cast member. The social Ladybug is always clowning around. The cheeky cricket is full of jumping energy. The mysterious spider climbs through her web. With 52 performers, these are only some of the dazzling bugs you’ll meet.
And in true Cirque du Soleil style, the cast’s jaw-dropping acrobatics enhance each insect’s personality.
“There’s an aerial cradle number where we see 12 artists high above the stage. You’ve got humans throwing humans and doing double somersaults. It’s one of those moments where you stop and just go, ‘How are these people capable of this?” Harper says.
Featured as Scarabs in that segment are two gymnasts who competed in the Olympics — Olga
A spectacular ecosystem comes to life in Cirque du Soleil’s ‘OVO’
Shcherbatykh (in 2004) and Nansy Damianov (in 2008).
The Chinese Pole act, one of the production’s newer showstopping additions, is performed by a formidable “army” of synchronized ants.
“There’s a lot of teamwork, you have them climbing up a pole, all in sync. It’s really beautiful,” Harper adds.
Embodying the characters personalities involves much more than gymnastic aerobatics; it requires careful attention to the show’s theme, along with an understanding of movement and cadence of the insects.
“You take an inspirational source and you go, ‘How can I, as a human, create that so the audience understands who I’m trying to be without just crawling around on all fours pretending to be an ant? You’ve got to find the quality of movement and apply it to choreography or a stylized way of moving,” Harper explains.
• Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 15-18; times vary
• Tickets available at CirqueDuSoleil.com/ovo
• UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont
Add to that vibrant costumes, tech-driven set design and dynamic music — and the world of bugs transforms into the surreal.
“We have this huge wall that covers the whole back of the stage, and that’s brought to life by video projections. So, we have the ability to make it a very small, intimate moment or bring the whole space to life with projections and lighting,” Harper says.
Naturally, the show wouldn’t be complete without accompaniment of a seven-piece band of musician “bugs.”The score, punctuated with Brazilian-style percussion, was composed by Musical Director Berna Ceppas, who has worked extensively in the film industry.
“We have a singer who sings in a various languages. She’s got a bit of Portuguese in there, sometimes Spanish, with the lyrics influenced by the story,” Harper says.
The spectacle takes a magnifying glass to small moments — on big scale in true Cirque fashion — that represent a heightened world booming with life and beauty.
“I’ve always been so inspired and motivated by the ability to create a world that takes you so far away from reality. It’s escapism in its purest form, while blowing your mind at how humans can do these things,” Harper says.“You get to be transported out of this world, It’s kind of making the impossible possible right in front of your eyes.”
Former stars of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning jukebox musical “Jersey Boys,” reunited as The Midtown Men, bring their ‘60s vibe to Eisenhower Park. During their time in the mega-hit musical, these talented artists — Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony nominee J. Robert Spencer — shared the stage for over 1,000 performances. The high-octane musical tour de force that took the “Jersey Boys” phenomenon to Broadway and beyond, is now rocking the stage as a concert. These Broadway veterans, with their band, realized the dream they brought to life as the iconic Four Seasons. The dynamic foursome now celebrates the music that defined the 1960s. The Midtown Men is the next chapter for these accomplished entertainers, making them the first vocal group ever formed by the principal cast of a high-profile Broadway show.
Sunday, Aug. 4, 6:30 p.m. Free admission. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
The acclaimed dance company appears on the Tilles Center stage as it continues its 2024 tour. With a storied history, the first Black classical ballet company, co-founded by dance icon and superstar Arthur Mitchell, has toured the world and introduced young minds and bodies to the power of dance. With all its renown, this boundary-breaking organization has maintained Mitchell’s core belief that ballet belongs to everyone. The 18-member, multi-ethnic company performs a forwardthinking repertoire that includes treasured classics, neoclassical works by George Balanchine and resident choreographer Robert Garland, as well as innovative contemporary pieces. The dynamic program includes “Higher Ground,” with choreography by Robert Garland, featuring Stevie Wonder tunes;“New Bach,” and also choreographed by Garland, with music by J.S. Bach.
Sunday, Aug. 4, 7 p.m. Tickets are start at $64; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville.
Aug. 9
Hop aboard that “Midnight Train to Georgia” when the legendary soul chanteuse brings her Farewell Tour to Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, Friday, Aug. 9, 8 p.m. Gladys Knight is without a doubt one of the most influential, beloved, and important living singers on the planet. And while the Empress of Soul may have been in the business for more than 60 years now, that hasn’t stopped her from continuing to rock that beat as only she can do. She’s bringing her classic Motown-style R&B to audiences one last time before she bids us farewell. The great ones endure, and Gladys Knight has long been one of the greatest. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s fierce vocal power, elegant precision, and heartfelt performances have cemented her as one of music’s unquestionable icons. Among her many accolades she is rated by Rolling Stone as one of the top vocalists of all time.
For sure, very few singers over the last 60 years have matched her unassailable artistry. If you’re a fan of her classic Motown-style R&B, then you’ll surely want to see her perform — on more time. “That’s What Friends Are For,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Midnight Train to Georgia” — you know the hits, now hear her bring them to life once again in her inimitable style. You know the hits – from “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “License to Kill” to “That’s What Friends Are for” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” – now see her do them live in a once-ina-lifetime concert. The Farewell Tour is a celebration of Gladys Knight’s extensive, illustrious, and ground-breaking career, packed to the brim with iconic music that captivated the world back then and will continue to for a long time to come. She oozes the Southern aura through her soulful vocals and grace, allowing an audience to get totally swept away in unforgettable moments of romance, mystery, and charisma. Tickets start at $63. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. Tickets available at LiveNation.com.
Enjoy a family film outdoors on Eisenhower Park’s big screen, Wednesday, Aug. 14, dusk, at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre.
See Disney’s recent animated musical comedy “Wish.” Audiences are welcomed to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star.
Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe, the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico, to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Eisenhower Park, Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
Participate in a 45-minute walk with pace set by group, beginning at Freeport Memorial Library, Wednesday, July 31, 10:30-11:45 a.m. All fitness levels welcome. Led by Maryellen Cantanno. Stay in tune with your body while walking and meeting people. Contact for more information, or ask@ freeportlibrary.info. Freeport Memorial Library. 144 W Merrick Rd, Freeport. More information available at FreeportLibrary.info or call (516) 379-3274.
Embracing technology can greatly simplify caregiving responsibilities. Find out about the gadgets and tools available to enhance the care you provide to your loved ones while also ensuring your own well-being, Friday, Aug. 26, 1 p.m., at Freeport Memorial Library. E these useful technologies and discover how they can improve the quality of life for both you and your loved one. Registration required. 144 W Merrick Road. Register at FreeportLibrary.info or call (516) 379-3274.
Cherish the last moments of this summer with a run and afterparty at EliteFeats’ Summer Party & 5K Run at Eisenhower Park, Field #2, on Thursday, Aug. 22, starting 6:30 p.m. The party will include food, drinks, and music. Check-in for the race begins at 5:30 p.m. $15 for the general public. Free for club and staff members. It is asked that all attendees meet near the Duck’s Red Shed. It is also suggested that those who are interested in staying for the after-party bring a change of clothes. For more information, visit Events. EliteFeats.com.
Play Theatre
Playground
returns to Long Island Children’s Museum with “Dramatic Play!,” Monday, Aug. 5, 1 p.m., taught by Lisa Rudin, Director of Theatre Playground. In this interactive, theater-inspired workshop, children will act out an original story and help choose how it unfolds. Music, props, and sound effects create a theatrical world where participants are immersed in the story.
Children are encouraged to express themselves as they create characters, explore different worlds, stretch their imaginations and build self-confidence.This week’s theme: Unicorns and Dragons! Costumes encouraged. $5 with museum admission. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
Catholic Charities of Long Island’s WIC Program invites everyone to join in supporting Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Bring your kids, friends, co-workers, and family on an energizing walk, Friday Aug. 2, 10 a.m.-noon. Meet at WIC program parking lot, 333 N. Main St.
Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a storybook adventure, Saturday, Aug. 3, 10:30-11:30
a.m. Stroll the gardens and listen to Michaela Goade’s “Berry Song.” Later create a unique take home craft. For ages 3-5. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.
Enjoy the glorious grounds of Old Westbury Gardens and listen to some stirring sounds, with Gardens favorite the husbandand-wife folk duo Hungrytown, Sunday, Aug. 4, 3-4 p.m Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson, joined by cellist Suzanne Mueller, present their original music blending traditional and modern influences, at the Barn.. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.
Circus antics
Get in on the action with I. FLY Trapeze, Long Island’s only flying trapeze and circus arts school. Families will enjoy “Wild West Circus,” Saturday, Aug. 17, at 8 p.m., at Eisenhower Park. I.FLY Trapeze puts spectators up close to the aerialists who perform amazing feats of athleticism and agility 25 feet in the air. Performances include Chains, Silk and Lyra, with comedy and on the grounds acts with Balancing and Baton, also a Flying Trapeze Finale. Next to the Nassau County Aquatic Center off Merrick Ave., East Meadow. Free parking available in lot 1A adjacent to the trapeze. For more information, please visit: IFlyTrapeze.com.
The Freeport Camera Club welcomes new members. It meets at Freeport Memorial Library on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month, at 7 p.m. 144 West Merrick Road. More information available at FreeportLibrary.info or call (516) 379-3274.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition
“Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition will span 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.
Plaza Theatrical presents a showstopping tribute to the legendary Patsy Cline, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2:30 p.m. Through a colorful tapestry of iconic songs and witty personal storytelling, Carter Calvert uses her award-winning vocal talents to create this captivating musical tribute. Calvert, a Broadway star and title character in Always… Patsy Cline (opposite Emmy Award winner Sally Struthers), has gained rave reviews and triumphant accolades for her heartfelt portrayal of this legendary country recording artist.
She vocally captures Cline’s musical stylings pitch-perfectly in mega hits including “Crazy,” “I Fall To Pieces,” “She’s Got You” and “Walkin’ After Midnight.” Both captivating and endearing, this fastpaced entertainment delights audiences of all ages. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.
1,
LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF NEW YORK
SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU
WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF STANWICH MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST I, Plaintiff,
v. NATHANIEL JEFFERS
A/K/A NATHANIEL C. JEFFERS, 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 February 24, 2023 as reformed by Order entered on April 16, 2024, I, Michele Bencivinni, Esq., the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on August 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:
65 Mount Joy Avenue Freeport, NY 11520
SBL No.: 55-398-365
ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York. The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 613310/2019 in the amount of $415,548.44 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 148070
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST SYLVIA A. FAISON, ALICE L. FAISON AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ALICE A. FAISON, SYLVESTER FAISON, JR. AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ALICE A. FAISON, JESSE LEE FAISON AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ALICE A. FAISON, ANDREW FAISON AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF’ ALICE A. FAISON, ET AL, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 6, 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, ‘Rain or Shine’ on August 20, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 135 Whaley Street, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 62, Block 129, Lot 2. Approximate amount of judgment $711,178.99 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #011201/2014. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Jane Shrenkel, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 20-002305 81481 147983
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU CIT BANK, N.A. F/K/A ONEWEST BANK N.A. F/K/A ONEWEST BANK, FSB, -againstWILLIAM HARDWICK A/K/A WLLIAM F. HARDWICK, 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 March 2, 2017, wherein CIT BANK, N.A. F/K/A ONEWEST BANK N.A. F/K/A ONEWEST BANK, FSB is the Plaintiff and WILLIAM HARDWICK A/K/A WLLIAM F. HARDWICK, 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 August 22, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 238 BABYLON TURNPIKE, FREEPORT, NY 11520; and the following tax map identification: 55-353-1006. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDING AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FREEPORT, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 009204/2015. Jeffrey Halbreich, 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. 148151
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. LOAN FUNDER LLC, SERIES 34866, Pltf. vs. AMERICAN DREAM RENOVATION’S LLC., et al, Defts. Index #606345/23. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered June 28, 2024, I will sell at public auction on the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on August 27, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. premises k/a 30 Franklin Square, Freeport, NY 11520 a/k/a Section 62, Block 47, Lot 217. Approximate amount of judgment is $488,993.26 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. BRIAN J. DAVIS, Referee. DEUTSCH & SCHNEIDER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 79-37 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385. File No. LF-415#101618 148153
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES I LLC, ASSET BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-HE6, -againstNORVAL CURTIS, 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 November 16, 2023, wherein U.S. BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF BEAR STEARNS ASSET
BACKED SECURITIES I LLC, ASSET BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-HE6 is the Plaintiff and NORVAL CURTIS, 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 August 27, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 185 SOUTHSIDE AVE, FREEPORT, NY 11520; and the following tax map identification: 0062 - 00113-00 - 00102. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FREEPORT, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 000676/2013. Russell S. Burman, 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. 148147
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU CITIMORTGAGE, INC., -againstCHRISTINE ARIS, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on October 12, 2022, wherein CITIMORTGAGE, INC. is the Plaintiff and CHRISTINE ARIS, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on August 22, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 66 MARTHA STREET, FREEPORT, NY 11520; and the following tax map identification, 62-95-132-133-134.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FREEPORT, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 612262/2019. John G. Kennedy, 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. 148149
AND
NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AN AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232
LEGAL NOTICE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PUBLIC HEARING - August 15, 2024
NOTICE IS HEREBY given that a Public Hearing with the Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Main Conference Room, 46 N. Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York on the appeals and applications of cases as they appear on the calendar; residential applications that do not extend their prior nonconforming status may be called first; public comment invited. It is anticipated that the Board will adjourn the legislative session and enter into Executive Session until 6:30 P.M. INTERESTED PROPERTY OWNERS and other persons should appear at the above time and place to have questions answered and to voice opinions.
All applications are nonconforming with zoning regulations herein specified for the districts in which they are located.
Application #2024-9147 Woodcleft Avenue, Marine CommerceSection 62/ Block 177/ Lot 534 - Aaron KadoshPropose 1-story side addition 224 sq. ft., 1-story addition 169 sq. ft., 2nd story terrace 930 sq. ft., roof over deck 424 sq. ft., and wood shades/pergola 240 sq. ft. Variances: Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-40 Required yards, §210-172 (4) Required parking spaces.
Application #2024-10335 Miller Avenue, Residence A - Section 62/ Block 167/ Lot 183Hellen Duran - Maintain 50’ of 6’ high and 102’ of 5’ high solid white PVC fence. Variances: Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-171D (2) Fences and Enclosures.
Application #2024-11253 Garfield Street, Residence A - Section 62/ Block 091/ Lot 426Jeannie Kelly - Construct second floor rear deck 438 sq. ft. Variances: Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-43C (2) Required yards. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Pamela Walsh Boening, Village Clerk 148258
LEGAL NOTICE Notice of Request for Proposals For CAMERAS FOR NAUTICAL MILE ESPLANADE
THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FREEPORT NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK
The Incorporated Village of Freeport is hereby requesting proposals for video cameras and accompanying equipment for installation. Specifications may be obtained at the Purchasing Department, Municipal Building, 1st Floor, and 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, 11520 or on the Village website, www.freeportny.gov, from 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 5, 2024 until 4:00 p.m. Friday, August 23, 2024. Completed proposals are to be delivered to Ms. Taylor D’Orta, Buyer, Incorporated Village of Freeport, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York 11520. All proposals must be received by 4:00 p.m. Friday, August 23, 2024. The Board reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. In submitting a proposal, Vendors agree not to withdraw their proposal within forty-five (45) days after the date required to submit.
The Incorporated Village of Freeport is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and does not discriminate against vendors on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, disability, marital status, familial status, veteran status or any other basis protected under federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.
Taylor D’Orta Buyer, Village of Freeport VILLAGE OF FREEPORT Issue Date - August 1, 2024 148260
LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS NOT A PERMIT New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Notice of Complete Application Date: 07/12/2024
Applicant: CAROL KLARIKAITIS
Facility: KLARIKAITIS ROPERTY
820 S LONG BEACH AVE FREEPORT, NY 11520
Application ID: 1-2820-01973/00006
Permits(s) Applied for: 1Section 401 - Clean Water Act Water Quality Certification
1 - Article 25 Tidal Wetlands
1 - Article 15 Title 5
Excavation & Fill in Navigable Waters Project is located: in HEMPSTEAD in NASSAU
COUNTY
Project Description:
Applicant proposes to remove and replace 55.5 linear feet of existing functional bulkhead 4.5’ landward of the existing location at up to 18” higher than the current height. On the north and south ends of the bulkhead, 7.5lf and 21.5lf of existing bulkhead will be replaced in place at up to 18” higher than existing with 6’ returns installed on each side. The existing boat slip will be closed by installing 18’ of new bulkhead and placing 75 cubic yards of clean fill in the 252 square foot area of the littoral zone. The net loss of littoral zone area will be 2.25 sq ft. The area 10’ seaward of the bulkhead will be dredged to -4MLW and the 25cy resulting dredge spoil will be placed behind the new bulkhead. Existing float and ramp will be reset. Existing overwater deck will be replaced. This project is proposed at 820 South Long Beach Ave in the Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County NCTM #62-156-38.
Availability of Application Documents: Filed application documents, and Department draft permits where applicable, are available for inspection during normal business hours at the address of the contact person. To ensure timely service at the time of inspection, it is recommended that an appointment be made with the contact person.
State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Determination Project is not subject to SEQR because it is a Type II action.
SEQR Lead Agency
None Designated State Historic Preservation Act (SHPA) Determination A cultural resources survey has been completed. The report of the survey is on file. No archaeological sites or historic structures were identified at the project location. No further review in accordance with SHPA is required. Coastal Management This project is located in a Coastal Management area and is subject to the Waterfront Revitalization and Coastal Resources Act.
DEC Commissioner Policy 29, Environmental Justice and Permitting (CP-29) It has been determined that the proposed action is not subject to CP-29.
Availability For Public
Comment Comments on this project must be submitted in writing to the Contact Person no later than 08/15/2024 or 15 days after the publication date of this notice, whichever is later.
Contact Person
STEPHANIE SFORZA NYSDEC SUNY @ Stony Brook 50 Circle Rd Stony Brook, NY 11790-3409 (631) 444-0357 148256
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF LEGAL POSTPONEMENT OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST Javier Genao, as Administrator for the Estate of Yuvelka Figueroa and as Natural Guardian for minor K. Genao a/k/a K.M. Figueroa, Heir to the Estate of Yuvelka Figueroa; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 3, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 8, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 54 Robert St, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 62 Block 99 Lot 581. Approximate amount of judgment $512,932.31 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 609413/2017. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Original Sale Date: July 16, 2024 @ 2:00PM Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: July 24, 2024 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 148224
To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
By AVITA JOHN & MOHAMMAD RAFIQ Of the Freeport
Herald
The Long Island Village Clerks and Treasurers Association (LIVCTA) has a rich and notable history. For many years, it has been bringing together village clerks and treasurers from all over Long Island.
The association helps these officials by giving them important tools, training, and chances to learn from each other. This support makes their work easier and more effective. Recently, the LIVCTA welcomed a new president: Pamela Walsh Boening. She became president on June 13 and is the Village Clerk of Freeport, where she also lives.
“She’s was announced to be the president of the Long Island Clerks Association both South Nassau and Suffolk,” said Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy. “She got voted in about two weeks ago….Excellent choice, very dedicated worker, and I support her 100% being in that position.”
“I am honored to be a part of an organization that touches so many villages in Nassau County and Suffolk County” Boening expressed.
Village clerks and treasurers are essential to local government operations. They manage records, finances, and many administrative tasks that keep villages running smoothly.
As the President of the Freeport Clerk and the LIVCTA, Boening oversees the coordination and administration of the association’s activities. She facilitates meetings, promotes communication and collaboration among clerks and treasurers, and ensures the implementation of best practices across various villages.
She represents the association at regional and state levels, advocating for the professional development and interests of its members. In her role, she also focuses on fostering a supportive network for clerks and treasurers, providing them with resources, training, and opportunities to enhance their skills.
She ensures that the LIVCTA operates smoothly, maintaining transparency and efficiency in all its endeavors, and works to advance the association’s mission of improving municipal
administration across Long Island.
“We process a lot of permits and applications through our department… we are basically here for all of the residents and non-residents.” Boening said.
“The clerk is responsible for everything,” Mayor Kennedy explained. “The foils, the coordination of the zoning board, the coordination of the planning board…. She takes care of all the information requests…She does all of the board meetings, all schedules, the board meetings, notifications. She does all notifications for any zoning board, planning board, 300-foot distance…”
LIVCTA helps these professionals by offering tools and information they need to do their jobs better. This support includes up-to-date training on new technologies and methods that can improve their efficiency.
Boening explained LIVCTA helped with training and guiding people who are looking to become new clerks. She explained that “We help mentor them… we offer assistance to them…we exchange ideas and professional advice when it comes to the job, we encourage and there’s cooperation among all the members.”
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Indenture Trustee for the registered holders of IMH Assets Corp., Collateralized AssetBacked Bonds, Series 2005-3, Plaintiff AGAINST Orazio J. Petito; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 19, 2018, and Amended
February 2, 2022, and Amended October 4, 2022, and Amended June 25, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 4, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 73 Crescent Beach Road, Glen Cove, NY 11542. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Glen Cove, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 31. Block 47 Lot 417. Approximate amount of judgment $1,199,324.65 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 006906/2015. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public
Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” David S. Dikman, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: July 18, 2024 81586 148181
The goal of LIVCTA is to make local government operations more efficient and effective. This means helping village clerks and treasurers perform their duties in the best possible way, which ultimately benefits the public.
When local government runs smoothly, residents receive higher-quality services, from better-managed public records to more transparent financial operations. One of the keyways the LIVCTA achieves its mission is by fostering a strong sense of community among its members.
Through regular meetings, workshops, and conferences, the association creates a platform where village clerks and treasurers can come together, share their experiences, and learn from each other.
These gatherings provide opportunities for professional development and knowledge exchange, helping members stay current with best practices and new trends in local government.
“We want to listen to what the (the people of LIVCTA) want to learn
about,,” stated Boening. “And we try to provide the speakers that will help with the clerks and the treasurers… I want to listen to the feedback from the association and see what they want to hear about and learn from (the speakers).”
By facilitating this network of support, the LIVCTA ensures that village clerks and treasurers are not working in isolation. Instead, they are part of a larger community of professionals who can offer advice, share solutions to common challenges, and provide support when needed.
Boening said over email, “The LIVCTA is a great association that creates cooperation among the Nassau and Suffolk villages.” She continued by stating that, “It is a wonderful network of Clerks and Treasurers that work together for the betterment of their Villages.” This collaborative environment strengthens local government across Long Island, leading to more effective and responsive service to the public. Boening’s appointment as president marks a significant milestone for the LIVCTA.
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Q. My neighbor is getting lightning rods installed on his roof as a precaution amid all the storms we’re having. He said his brother in South Carolina had a fire when his roof was struck. The rods, he said, attract lightning, which keeps the rest of the roof safe. Is this a standard thing for your house, and is lightning really a problem? I never worried about this, and never knew anybody having an issue with it. Should I be considering it?
A. Lightning rods aren’t a bad idea; they’re just not a common thing to have. A lightning rod’s purpose is not to attract lightning, but if lightning should be headed in the direction of your roof, rods and attached cabling can direct it to the ground. Grounding is intended to complete the path to a safe point where it can dissipate.
When you see lightning, usually at the end of a hot summer day, what you’re witnessing is a natural phenomenon that’s similar to the static electricity you produce when you rub a wool blanket and see sparks fly. You’re seeing the accumulation of electrically charged ions that will build up until they can be connected to an oppositely charged set of ions.
Most lightning never reaches the ground because of cloud movement. Charges are often created by a column of warm air radiating from the sun-heated ground. The atmosphere cools as the sun’s heated rays are reduced from the shadow of moisture accumulating in the clouds or at dusk.
Any time of day, columns of warm air, helped by low atmospheric pressure — which is literally less pushing of air molecules against one another — allow the heated air against the ground to rise. As these columns of air rise, the ions in the air molecules “rub” against the cooler clouds that have been gathering evaporated moisture from the heated ground. This all happens faster than you can read this, so the friction building up causes large and rapid accumulations. When a path of released ions forms, as the electrically charged ions rapidly move toward oppositely charged ions in the clouds, bright flashes of light energy, from quickly uniting ions that are crashing into each other, are given off.
After all, opposites really do attract in nature, not just to form a wedding party. The sound of thunder is caused by the extremely fast and very large force of the atmosphere being separated by the electricity and then crashing back together again to fill the vacuum from the bolt of lightning that just parted the air.
There is a lot of energy in lightning, certainly enough to cause a fire from the heat and friction — between 100 million and 300 million volts, although it’s the 30,000 amperes (amps) that can kill a human. Install lighting rods to feel safer and protect property, but research a trained professional to get the spacing and materials correctly installed. Based on your experience and knowledge, the decision is yours. 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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Barely two months ago, I wrote a column saying that the 2024 presidential race was already a campaign like no other. Little did I, or probably anyone, know what the subsequent weeks would bring.
The cascade of events that would shake the political firmament began on the evening of June 27, in Atlanta, when President Biden and former President Donald Trump squared off in a nationally televised debate on CNN — a debate called for by Biden and conducted pursuant to the rules of engagement that he set. A presidential debate this early was unprecedented. Not only was it more than two months earlier than any previous debate, but neither candidate was yet the official nominee of his party.
It was Biden who called for the debate, and challenged Trump to go mano a mano with him. I never understood why Biden or his handlers issued this challenge, unless they thought
iWhenTrump wouldn’t accept. If so, their thinking couldn’t have been more wrong. Not only did Trump immediately accept the challenge, but the debate was a devastating defeat for Biden, causing even fervent supporters to call on him to consider bowing out.
PAs events unfolded, I would wonder whether people in the Biden campaign had set him up for failure and coordinated the calls for his withdrawal. Those calls increased steadily over the following weeks. Some carried the implication that Biden was too mentally enfeebled to get the job done, or in some cases made that charge directly. Some calls, including one from mega Hollywood star and Democratic fundraiser George Clooney, were loud and overt. Others, from Democratic icons Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi and power brokers Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, were more subtle, but just as damaging.
resident Biden’s political career ended as if it had been planned this way.
Biden attempted high-level damage control, but only furthered the image of his being impaired. Every day, more Democrats were calling on him to withdraw.
Then there was the horrific assassi-
Joe was
must admit that from time to time, I get a little emotional. It takes something significant to trigger that reaction, but I’m proud of the fact that I care enough to react to such moments. I couldn’t help but feel strong emotion when I heard that President Biden had decided to end his distinguished political career.
My personal history with the president dates back to the mid1980s. I was asked to co-sponsor a series of fundraising events for Joe when he was seeking re-election to the U.S. Senate. At the time, I didn’t know him very well, but those informal parlor meetings gave me a chance to see him in action. At the outset, I was very impressed with his encyclopedic knowledge of numerous facets of the federal government. He could recite statistics with no notes, and showed a keen understanding of foreign affairs. He had one obvious flaw: He talked too much. His campaign
nation attempt in Pennsylvania, in which Trump escaped death by inches, one Pennsylvanian was killed and two were seriously wounded. The lasting image of that day would be a bloodied but defiant Trump holding his fist high, defying death and demonstrating grace and courage under fire. That was followed just days later by an exceptionally successful Republican convention, and a triumphant Trump path to victory seemed very real — especially with the drumbeat of anti-Biden stories emerging from Democratic sources. Big-money donors stopped contributing. More stories of Biden’s memory lapses showed up in the media. When it seemingly couldn’t get worse for the president, he came down with Covid-19 and had to self-isolate at his Delaware home — a particularly cruel but apt metaphor. Also damaging were media accounts now appearing of conversations days earlier that Schumer and Pelosi had with Biden urging him to withdraw for the good of the party. (I’ve known Nancy Pelosi for more than 30 years, and we had a good relationship. She is mentally sharp and as tough as
ever, doing what she has to do to get things done.)
There were no sounds or sightings of Biden. Then, on a quiet Sunday afternoon, a letter on his personal stationery signed with an auto-pen appeared on social media, announcing that he would not run for re-election. Just like that, Biden’s 50-year career had ended, and not with a bang. Almost as if it had been planned this way all along — which it most likely had — support for Vice President Kamala Harris came from throughout the Democratic universe. (And, belatedly, from Biden himself.)
Eighty-one million dollars from Democratic donors appeared literally overnight. Democrats hailed Harris as the country’s savior. Much of the mainstream media followed suit. Many of those who did so much to push Biden out now hailed his patriotism and courage. Taking his cue, presidential historian Jon Meacham compared Biden to George Washington!
There are now fewer than 100 days to Election Day in this most tumultuous year. What could be next? Hang on. God only knows!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
team used every signal possible to get him to quit talking, but he loved to regale his audience with Washington stories.
I was pleased to see that every one of the guests came away impressed with Biden’s feel for how the government worked. And during his many fundraising opportunities, he couldn’t help but talk about his personal tragedy. It was at the beginning of his first campaign that his first wife and two of his children were killed in a car crash. In the aftermath of that horrible event, Biden was prepared to quit the race and go back to being a private citizen. But his close friends insisted that he continue campaigning, and he was subsequently elected to the Senate. Biden continued his legislative career, and eventually became the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. An appearance before that extremely significant committee is the first stop for any candidate for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Bill Clinton was sworn in as president. My wife, Suzan, and I spent some quality time with him, and marveled at how gracious he was and how much he had grown over those many years.
Y es, he talked too much, but he also gave unexpected shout-outs.
By that point, I had learned one thing about Joe Biden. He remembered people who had helped him, and never turned his back on any friend, at any time. That Inauguration Day he was busy holding a hearing on some federal court appointments, and he invited us to sit in the committee hearing room to see how the confirmation process worked. He was a strong chairman who warmly welcomed all of the judicial candidates and treated them fairly as he questioned them at length.
me and yelled out, “Give a shout-out to a guy who helped me in so many ways.”
And so I fast-forward to now, when Biden has decided that he will no longer pursue his political dreams. His decision to give up his candidacy for the White House was a gut-wrenching one for him and his millions of admirers. No one on the Washington scene can match his talent for getting things done on a bipartisan basis. In fact, when he leaves the White House, there will be no one left with that unique talent.
In 1997, I had the good fortune to visit with then Senator Biden on the day that
As the years rolled by, I lost contact with Biden, but followed his many moves as he eventually advanced to the vice presidency. Then, by chance, I was invited to attend a speech that he gave in a Manhattan hotel to promote one of his many good causes. I was standing a few rows back at the event, not expecting him to see me or know I was there. But just before he left the stage, he spotted
Say what you will about today’s Joe Biden, but his critics can’t erase the many things he has accomplished. When all the naysayers, including Donald Trump, are gone from the planet, the historians will tell the great story about a humble man from Scranton, Pennsylvania, who was responsible for historymaking achievements, and who joined George Washington and Lyndon Johnson in giving up his dream job for the good of the country.
Jerry Kremer was an assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
ith the eyes of the world focused on Paris for the Summer Olympics, Long Islanders have special reasons to feel connected to the global spectacle unfolding across the Atlantic. Our very own Crystal Dunn, from Rockville Centre, is once again representing the United States in women’s soccer, while Wantagh’s Andrew Capobianco is competing in diving. These hometown heroes remind us that Olympic dreams can indeed be born and nurtured in our local communities.
Dunn’s journey from Nassau County fields to international stardom, and Capobianco’s path from Long Island pools to the Olympic springboards embody the Olympic spirit of perseverance, excellence and community support. Their success stories aren’t just about individual achievement; they’re a testament to the robust youth sports programs, dedicated coaches and supportive families that form the backbone of Long Island’s athletic culture.
As we cheer for Dunn, Capobianco and Team USA, we’re reminded of the countless young athletes in our own backyards who harbor similar aspirations. From the soccer pitches of Eisenhower Park to the diving boards of the Nassau County Aquatic Center, Olympic potential is being cultivated daily across the Island.
But the Olympics offer us more than just athletic inspiration. They provide a moment for global unity, a rare opportunity when the world sets aside its differences to celebrate human achievement. In these divisive times, such moments of collective joy and shared purpose are more valuable than ever.
No, we’re not a nation of one religion
To the Editor:
On Long Island, we can take a cue from this Olympic spirit. Our communities, diverse in culture, ethnicity and economic background, can find common ground in supporting local sports and celebrating shared achievements. Whether it’s a high school championship game or a community swim meet, these events have the power to bring us together, fostering a sense of local pride and unity.
Moreover, the Olympics remind us of the importance of investing in our youth and their dreams. Long Island has a proud tradition of producing worldclass athletes in a variety of sports. From Jim Brown in football to Sue Bird in basketball, our local heroes have shown that with proper support and resources, the path from local fields and pools to international arenas is possible.
This Olympic season, let’s recommit to supporting our local sports programs and recreational facilities. Let’s ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has access to quality coaching, safe playing fields, well-maintained pools, and the opportunity to pursue their athletic passion. This isn’t just about creating future Olympians; it’s about building healthier, more connected communities.
The Olympic motto — “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” — can serve as an inspiration beyond sports. In our local governance, business practices and community initiatives, we can strive to be more efficient, aim for higher goals, build stronger bonds, and do it all collaboratively.
As we watch the Olympics unfold, let’s use this opportunity to reflect on
Re Will Sheeline’s column last week, “We are not a nation of one religion”: We’re not even a nation of one Christianity, and that’s part of the problem. Those demanding a national “return” to some mythical origin are selling a bogus product, relying on American’s ignorance of history and religion.
The bait and switch begins by invoking the Puritans. They opposed England’s established church, and were allowed to leave, partly as exile, in order to set up a “plantation” along the lines of Ulster and Jamestown. They were Christians, but subject to the King. Some 170 years later, the United States was founded, and one of the things the American Revolution rejected was the ancient combination of church-state.
Thomas Jefferson, a biblical scholar, composed
our own community. How can we embody the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect in our daily lives? How can we support the Crystal Dunns and Andrew Capobiancos of tomorrow who are practicing in our local parks and pools today?
Let’s also remember that not every young athlete will make it to the Olympics, and that’s OK. The real value of sports lies not in the medals won, but in the life lessons learned: teamwork, discipline, resilience and the pursuit of personal bests. These are qualities that serve us well in all aspects of life, from the classroom to the boardroom.
In the spirit of the games, let’s challenge ourselves to go beyond being spectators. Volunteer at a local youth sports league, mentor a young athlete or simply show up to cheer at a high school game or swim meet. These small actions can have a profound impact on young people’s life and contribute to the vitality of our communities.
As Crystal Dunn takes the field and Andrew Capobianco climbs to the springboard in Paris, they carry with them not just the hopes of a nation, but also the pride of Long Island. Their journeys from local fields and pools to the world stage are reminders of the potential that exists in every corner of our community.
Let the Olympic flame ignite a renewed sense of community spirit here on the Island. Together we can create an environment where every child feels supported in pursuing their dreams, athletic or otherwise. In doing so, we’ll be building a stronger, more united community — one that truly embodies the Olympic ideal.
sometimes good things come from bad things. That’s why I am hopeful.
The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump once again shook the foundation of America’s democracy. Deadly shots fired could further tear our country apart . . . or not.
This horrific event might just give America a new opportunity to heal the divide.
President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump and elected officials can all help us come together as a nation.
I have always tried to work across party lines. At my swearing-in speech before Congress in February, I said, “Wake up. The people are sick and tired of finger-pointing and petty partisan politics.”
We know our country is fractured. Partisanship prevails. Confrontation has replaced cooperation. Anger and hate speech seem much too common. Congress is literally a House divided against itself.
Our founders disagreed on many things, but were unanimous in their
contempt for partisan politics, calling it “a dangerous vice and a moral disease.”
I have championed the belief that we must find common ground, that we must work across party lines to actually get things done for people. We can disagree with one another, but we must remember that we are in the solutions business. Again, we can disagree, but we must not hold one another in contempt. Contempt is one of the biggest problems in our politics. It’s a recipe for disaster.
tI have always worked hard to build coalitions of like-minded Democrats and Republicans to solve problems. Right now I am focused on the border. So what is causing this intense division?
15 percent — and those who vote tend to be more extreme on the political spectrum, extremist candidates on both sides tend to win.
A candidate in a safe seat only need win the primary; the general election is safe. To win the primary, too many candidates just pander to the base.
he attempt on Donald Trump’s life shook the foundation of our democracy.
Second, the more extreme you are on social media, the more “likes” or “follows” you get. We have all seen hateful, venal posts that seem to get more views than even the cute cat videos. Extreme social media is also more likely to generate small donor contributions from a vast audience. “Let’s work together” just doesn’t seem to generate much excitement.
tent. They are blowing up issues where we have the slightest disagreement and trying to make us unrecognizable to one another.
Our laptops and cellphones have become treasure troves of misinformation, disinformation and phony websites. Computer algorithms are programmed to feed us more and more of the same content we seem interested in.
But I still have great faith in the American people, and in our system.
Biden, Harris and Trump have a wonderful opportunity in the coming months to move beyond divisive rhetoric and try to bring us together. We can disagree — disagree strongly — but not promote contempt or hate, and certainly not violence.
I think there are four major factors contributing to today’s divisions: safe seats, social media, cable news, and our foreign adversaries.
The first major problems we face is gerrymandering, drawing congressional and other seats to favor one party. Ninety percent of House seats are safe — overwhelmingly Democratic or Republican. The only way to beat a member of Congress in a safe district is to primary them. But since so few people vote in primaries — fewer than
his own Christ-centric bible, yet when later asked why the Constitution didn’t mention God, he replied, “We forgot.” The founders, and American society, were “Christian,” but of a wide variety that included Anglicans, Baptists, Quakers and even the (then) widely hated Catholics, and the often suspect Jews.
The founding era of the 1780s was dominated by the Enlightenment of liberal ideas, of science, and of democracy as a natural extension of the Christian precept of equality. Abandoning “established” religion was affirmed as a form of progress. It reinforced the common goals of unity, democracy, of free expression and liberty of association.
American culture was dominated by what was later called mainline Protestantism. This Christianity, retaining much of Catholic theology, held truth and God as aligned; reason, logic and science were God-given tools to comprehend the universe and means to improve the human condition. That Christianity supported the democratic republic being constructed.
Seventy-five years later, this was what Lincoln meant by “our ancient faith”: the tradition of church-free, ethical democracy. The U.S. did not then have a Pledge of Allegiance, no “under god” until 1953. About 100 years after Lincoln, this remained the core of Martin Luther King’s philosophy: a Christian-infused population would bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice. It has.
Under the label “Christian,” House Speaker Mike Johnson types seek to sell a “biblical worldview” model, the Jeff Landry sorts spout his Commandments as a preamble to the Constitution, and the Lauren Boebert fools are “tired” of America’s history of opposition to their dominion. They promote, under the costume of Christian morality, an Old Testament time of “divine right” governance, rigid social hierarchy, slave economies and tribal warfare. America is far too Christian a country to accept such foolishness.
Third, cable news. Think Fox and MSNBC. Depending on the show and the target audience, cable news networks hire talent and invite guests who will reinforce their own narrative that the other side is destroying our country. The crazier the quotes, the more airtime you get.
Fourth, and the most pernicious, our foreign adversaries Russia, the Chinese Communist Party, Iran, and North Korea are using our freedom of speech, our social media and more, and they are sowing disinformation and discon-
Framework by Tim Baker
I’m hopeful, too, that we might all seize this moment to recognize that politics is serious business, and realize how harmful hate is and how badly it affects the political climate.
No foreign adversary can ever hope to defeat America. None ever has. The greatest threat to our republic comes not from external forces, but from within. Only internal divisions could topple our government.
Now more than ever, let’s all find common ground, work together, and make America the best it can be.
Tom Suozzi represents the 3rd Congressional District.
