Freeport Herald 12-05-2024

HERALD FREEPORT

Freeport’s Nautical Mile to shine bright

By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ

mrafiq@liherald.com

Freeport’s beloved tradition— the annual Holiday Boat Parade — is set to return to the Nautical Mile on Saturday evening.

Festivities will begin with a Christmas tree-lighting at the Freeport Recreation Center at 6 p.m., followed by a second tree lighting on the Nautical Mile Esplanade at 6:30 p.m., and then the highlight of the evening— the boat parade — at 7 p.m.

Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy expressed great enthusiasm for the annual tradition and said he was looking forward to the two tree lightings, followed by the boat parade, a unique spectacle featuring brightly decorated vessels that has become a hallmark of Freeport’s holiday season.

Boats will line up at Woodcleft Canal, at 271 Woodcleft Ave., before embarking on a route through Randall Bay, offering stunning views to spectators gathered ConTinued on PAge 5

Monthly open mic poetry night breathes life into arts

By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com

Spoken Wordz, a New Yorkbased collective of poets, musicians and performers, has carved out a unique space in Freeport. The village’s Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center has become a welcome venue for the group’s recurring spoken-word poetry and musical open mic series.

Founded by Valley Stream resident Paul Kretz, who is known by most as Paulie, the events blend poetry, music and storytelling in a facility that Sparkle owner Robyn Workman describes as a “home for cre -

ativity and good vibes.”

“About almost three years ago,” Kretz, a union building porter in Manhattan, said, “I was pretty much either (going to) die or just keep being on my BS, drinking, drugging, and all the rest of that. I went to rehab, and then … I tapped into writing.”

“I started to realize my darkness contains a lot of light,” he added.

After rehab, Kretz began attending open mics, where he realized his words resonated deeply with others.

Spoken Wordz held its first event in February 2022, and Kretz hosted monthly shows at

I started to realize my darkness contains a lot of light.

PAUl KREtz Founder, Spoken Wordz

a friend’s bar. They quickly grew from attracting 15 to 20 people to drawing as many as 80. Today there are a number of gatherings each month in the five boroughs and on Long Island, and there are plans to expand to New Jersey.

Jared Schutz, who met Kretz

at an open mic on Long Island, now leads the Long Island chapter. Spoken Wordz found a home at Sparkle on Stage after Schutz moved to Freeport from Queens, making his residence on the floor above the space on the Nautical Mile.

The most recent event at Sparkle on Stage, on Nov. 24, doubled as a food drive, with

attendees donating items for the Soup to Nuts food pantry located in the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church at 61 North Grove Street in Freeport.

“This was their third event here, and it’s going to become a permanent monthly event,” Workman said. “It’s really starting to hit home on Long

ConTinued on PAge 10

in and out of the classroom

HERALD SchoolS

National Honor Society inducts members

Freeport High School’s Performing Arts Center was brimming with pride as the school’s National Honor Society celebrated the induction of 115 new members during its annual ceremony.

Adviser Brianne Underwood opened the event by welcoming attendees, followed by the Freeport High School NJROTC’s presentation of colors.

Superintendent of Schools Fia Davis commended the inductees for their remarkable academic accomplishments.

“It is my honor to be here. It is my first induction with Freeport and when I look at how many of our scholars have chosen excellence, I see you have chosen to be the best among our high school, so I want to celebrate you,” she said.

“Life is about choices, you get to choose whether you will be excellent or a failure, you get to choose whether you will be the best and smartest in the room. The outcome is yours to decide. I want to thank you for choosing academic excellence. Congratulations on your induction.”

National Honor Society officers, including President David de la Llera, Vice President Elsy Soriano, Secretary

Freeport High School’s National Honor Society officers Director of Community Service Angelina Monroy, left, Student Liaison Leah Awalom, Secretary Nadja Salome-Diaz, President David de la Llera, Vice President Elsy Soriano and Treasurer Maliah Farmer hold up a banner.

Nadja Salome-Diaz, Treasurer Maliah Farmer, Student Liaison Leah Awalom, and Director of Community Service Angelina Monroy, spoke about the organization’s four guiding principles — character, scholarship, leadership, and

To see our locations, point your smartphone camera at the QR code and tap the link.

service — and their significance for the new members.

The event also featured the traditional candle lighting ceremony, after which Freeport High School Principal Ms. Gisselle Campbell-Ham and National Honor

Society President David de la Llera awarded the inductees medals to mark their new membership in the prestigious organization.

–Mohammad Rafiq

A Baker’s Dozen Reasons to Use a Trust

1. Trusts can shield your assets from the high cost of home care making you eligible for home health aides through 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

sometimes years to probate.

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.

Photos courtesy Freeport Public Schools

The new inductees of the Freeport High School National Honor Society smiled proudly after receiving their medals.

Perfecting Faith Church hosts holiday feast

By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com

Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport celebrated Thanksgiving with its annual Holiday Feast, an event that has been a cornerstone of the church’s outreach for 15 years, on Nov. 28.

This year, the feast, welcomed 300 guests, transforming the church into a hub of warmth, generosity, and gratitude. “

We had 300 guests,” said Gail Gertrude, a member of the church. “Most of them were walk-ins… it was mostly local community, which was fabulous.”

The church’s sanctuary was converted into a formal dining room, offering attendees a fine dining experience with white tablecloths, elegant decorations, and a full Thanksgiving meal complete with all the trimmings and multiple desserts.

Meanwhile, the downstairs space became a “store” where attendees could shop for free, choosing from items like brand-new coats, clothing, shoes, and housewares.

“Everything in the store is free to take,” Gertrude emphasized. “We actually have personal shoppers. They just don’t randomly go in; each gets a personal shopper to help them.”

In addition to the feast and the store, local barbers from Trimz Barbers of Freeport donated their time, offering free haircuts in a designated barber room. This added a unique touch to the event, further enhancing the feeling of care and community.

The event, which ran from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., relied on the efforts of 100 to 125 volunteers from the church. “Everyone is volunteering,” Gertrude said. “Between upstairs, the servers, and downstairs, the store, it takes all of us to do it properly.”

The Thanksgiving tradition at Perfecting Faith

Church began with the vision of Senior Pastor Donald McClurkin, who sought to create a meaningful holiday experience for those in need. Initially, the church distributed Thanksgiving baskets.

However, recognizing that many recipients lacked the facilities to prepare meals, the church pivoted to hosting a sit-down feast.

“We make it like a fine dining experience because we recognize that a lot of these peoples have never had

a fine dining experience,” Gertrude explained.

Over the years, the feast has evolved to focus more on the local community, a shift attributed to the church’s thriving food pantry. Operated in partnership with Long Island Cares and Island Harvest, the pantry remained open throughout the pandemic, serving as a lifeline for many in the area.

“Our pantry was one of the few pantries that remained open during the pandemic,” Gertrude said. “So many of our sister pantries shut down, and all of the food sources from Island Harvest and Long Island Cares came to us. We served 193,000 tons of food.”

The pantry’s efforts not only met immediate needs but also raised awareness about the church’s services, bringing more local families to the annual Thanksgiving feast.

Guests included homeless individuals, families in need, and seniors who might otherwise spend the holiday alone.

Reflecting on the impact of the event, Gertrude shared a poignant memory: “The reaction of one of the seniors to me one year was, ‘Are all you people always this nice and lovely?’ which broke my heart. It just opened my heart.”

For many, the event offers more than just food and necessities—it provides a sense of community and dignity. Guests are treated like honored attendees, and the care and kindness shown by the volunteers leave a lasting impression.

The church’s commitment to the community extends beyond Thanksgiving. The pantry operates every other Wednesday, and leftover items from the feast’s store are distributed to those in need.

As the holiday season continues, Perfecting Faith Church plans to build on its tradition of service, fostering connections and uplifting the lives of Freeport residents.

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

HERALD SchoolS

Schools give back with annual Turkey Trots

As Thanksgiving approached, students and staff from Freeport Public Schools’ Archer Street and Bayview Avenue elementary schools carried on their tradition of giving back through their annual Turkey Trots.

This year, their efforts supported the American Red Cross and the Make-aWish Foundation. At Bayview Elementary on Nov. 25, students and staff gathered outdoors to trot around the school building, celebrating their success in raising funds.

With lively music playing and special visitors cheering them on, Principal Kelly Fairclough and Assistant Principal Stephanie Berg shared their pride in the students’ achievement of raising nearly $1,700 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

The excitement continued on Nov. 26 at Archer Street Elementary, where not even the rain could dampen the spirit of the annual Turkey Trot.

Dressed in festive holiday hats and carrying Thanksgiving-themed flags and posters, students and staff paraded through the hallways, embodying the

Courtesy Mustapha Marseille/Perfecting Faith Church Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Deborah Payton- Jones, Director of Community Relations and Elder Zenaida White addressed Perfecting Faith’s assembled guests.

Street and Bayview Avenue elementary schools demonstrated the power of community and the spirit of Thanksgiving.

Courtesy Freeport Public Schools

Freeport Public Schools’ Bayview Avenue Elementary presented a check for nearly $1,700 to the Make-a-Wish Foundation at their annual Turkey Trot on Nov. 25.

Moore 4 You feeds hearts and stomachs

By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com

On Thanksgiving Moore 4 You Community Development Center, a nonprofit organization based in Freeport, made sure no one went without, hosting their second annual “Giving U Moore on Thanksgiving” event on Thursday, Nov. 28, at their location in the village.

The event, which took place on the second floor of the organization’s Freeport location at 90 Mill Road, was a resounding success, serving over 150 plates of food to individuals and families in need. The day wasn’t just about providing a meal—it was about creating a sense of community and belonging. Attendees were treated to a sit-down, five-star restaurant-style experience where they were served at their tables and even received to-go plates to take home.

“To see so many people give up their Thanksgiving day to give back to others is heart-warming,” said founder Candist White. “The best part is having my children and family there with me to embrace this feeling. They also got to see teachers like Carissa Grimaldi from Leo F. Giblyn, who taught my son, show up two years in a row along with a few other Freeport school district teachers.”

White’s connection to the community shone brightly throughout the event. A family of 12, who recently lost their father, volunteered alongside their aunt, Kenia Espinal, demonstrating incredible resilience and compassion.

“Through their pain, these children still put smiles on their faces as they served others,” White said.

The meals, donated by local restaurants and community partners, featured traditional Thanksgiving staples like turkey and stuffing, alongside dishes like rice, chicken, and fish. Participating eateries included Mi Casa Dominicana, Cosina de Chiki, Montana Brothers, Frankie’s, Coal House Grille, Churrasqueria Genesis, and Everson Catering. Local PTA members, including Freeport PTA Council and Bayview School President Sylvia Dilone, also contributed by securing donations, cooking, and serving meals.

Volunteers of all ages joined the effort, including local high school students Kayson Walker and Dylan Marin, who exemplified the spirit of giving.

Legislator Seth Koslow also attended and volunteered with his daughter, further reinforcing the importance of community and family.

Attendees didn’t leave with full stomachs alone. Each received wellness bags filled with hygiene products like toothpaste and hand warmers, ensuring their needs extended beyond the holiday were also met.

Moore 4 You’s commitment to service doesn’t stop at Thanksgiving. Earlier this year, they distributed 275 backpacks to students in the Freeport School District and are planning a unique Christmas event where par-

ents can select gifts for their children.

Following the Thanksgiving event, the organization shared a heartfelt message with the community: “Moore 4 You would like to humbly thank each and every volunteer, sponsor, and contributor of our Giving U Moore on Thanksgiving community event. With everyone’s help, we were able to give out over 150 plates of food and supplies. Because of your generosity, whether it was a donation, food, or your time, this was possible. For these reasons, we are grateful and offer you to ever let us know if we can do ‘Moore 4 You.’”

As the event came to a close, White reflected on the day’s impact. “We just want to make sure whatever we can do to better service the entire family,” she said.

As Moore 4 You looks ahead, they are gearing up for their next initiative, Giving U Moore 4 the Holidays. This season, the organization aims to sponsor 20 families, ensuring assistance reaches those truly in need through a referral-based system. Partnering with other organizations, including the nonprofit Operation Impact, Moore 4 You is working to raise funds and donations to provide over $500 in gifts and household items of the families’ choosing for each recipient. For those interested in becoming a sponsor or contributing to this heartwarming effort, visit https://linktr.ee/ m4ucenter.

Strong

E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460

■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643

■

Photos courtesy Kenia Espinal

Volunteers Raquel Levine, community outreach coordinator, Dwayne Golding, Legislator Seth Koslow, Sylvia Dilune, and Rochylin Vargas at Moore 4 You Community Development Center’s annual ‘Giving U Moore on Thanksgiving” event on Thursday, Nov. 28.

A festive inflatable turkey welcomes attendees to Moore 4 You’s “Giving U Moore on Thanksgiving” event.

Tree lighting will accompany boat parade

along the Nautical Mile and other vantage points such as Waterfront Park and Seabreeze Park.

This year’s event promises to be a festive celebration for the entire family.

“Our recreation director has arranged for hot coffee and hot chocolate to our visitors and children during the evening,” Kennedy said. “I hope the weather is accommodating and (am) looking forward to seeing you at the Nautical Mile.”

The boat parade’s roots can be traced back to 2007, when the Chamber was already doing a Christmas parade on land, but according to Ilona Jagnow, a long-time resident and the owner of Otto’s Sea Grill on the Nautical Mile, it was when famed Freeport resident Al Grover returned from time in Florida where boat parades were taking place that they thought about importing the idea to Freeport.

“They have a beautiful boat parade in Fort Lauderdale and a lot of towns down in Florida,” she said. “I think the only one at that time on Long Island was Patchogue parade.”

Jagnow explained that Freeport’s parade stands out for its community engagement.

“We’re the only parade that I’m aware of that you can ride in the parade on our party boats,” she said.

Participating party boats, including

Captain Lou’s Starstream, offer an immersive experience to attendees for a fee.

The parade has grown significantly over the years, from a small lineup of 10 boats to an anticipated 30 vessels this year.

“We went up and down all the houses on this parade route … and asked every-

Reduce Your Cancer Risk by Eating Healthy

Learn to make healthy, low-cost meals through our free online cooking series led by Karla Giboyeaux, a registered dietitian at MSK.

Point your smartphone camera at the QR code and tap the link to find festive recipes for the holidays, including a red meat-free version of Pastelón.

body to decorate their backyards because we would hold a contest,” Jagnow recalled about early efforts to involve the community.

While the contest is now a thing of the past, the spirit of community pride remains strong.

Ken Dookram, current president of the Freeport Chamber of Commerce,

described the event as “another opportunity where Freeport gets together … You can go down, have dinner, have fun with family, hot chocolate, and see Santa.”

Dookram pointed out the economic boost the parade brings to local businesses, with many restaurants offering special deals and holiday buffets.

Liz Comerford, director of the recreation center, highlighted some of the evening’s planned activities in store for attendees, including a sing-along by Sparkle on Stage and hot chocolate donated by Sam Scoops.

“We have Santa who will be arriving on one of the fire trucks, so the Freeport Fire Department’s involved,” Comerford said.

Santa will be making an appearance at both the Christmas tree lighting at the recreation center and at the Esplanade.

Jagnow underscored the importance of the event in Freeport’s post-Hurricane Sandy recovery. “It was really nice to see the community come together and embrace this … We needed the boost,” she said, recalling how the tradition persisted even in challenging times.

Spectators are encouraged to arrive early on Dec. 7 to secure a good viewing spot along the Nautical Mile or enjoy the evening from one of the waterfront restaurants offering festive views and warm hospitality.

Courtesy Randy Milteer/Village of Freeport a glowing ‘Happy Holidays’ sign greets visitors to the nautical mile, where the Holiday Boat parade will return on Saturday, promising cheer and holiday spirit.

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 Davis popped in 21

UMass.

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

points for the Pride in a Nov. 16 victory over

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.

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.

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!

Submit a nomination of approximately 200 words or less describing the student’s leadership in promoting sustainability: 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.

Creativity flourishes at Sparkle on Stage

Island.

“It started as a New York City project,” she added. “And now it’s becoming a monthly event with my neighbor upstairs, Jared, and his partner, Paulie. … They started bringing some people out from the city, and now it’s really starting to turn into quite the Long Island event.”

Schutz, who works as a community manager for Yelp on Long Island, explained that his exploration of spoken-word poetry began in 2021 after a difficult breakup, which inspired him to channel his emotions into writing.

“I started writing out my thoughts and my feelings, and kind of letters that I wouldn’t send anywhere,” he said. “And then they all started kind of taking form. I felt like they kind of emerged out of me spontaneously, these poems I was writing.”

“I think I’ve probably hit about 200 open mics ever since,” Schutz added. “I started doing poetry, then I started adding music to it, and playing guitar and singing, and now I kind of blend the two together.”

“It’s just like a — it’s the community that creates a safe space where you can express yourself,” he continued. “We always say it’s better to express yourself than to keep it in. And our tagline for all the mics is, ‘Using words to heal and save.’”

Workman echoed the importance of creating a welcoming environment for participants. “This is a space where people can not only share their art, but also make a difference,” she said. “There’s no judgment in the room. There’s nobody, you know, recording them and going, ‘Oh, that’s terrible. You’re going to be in trouble.’ No, it’s just a very safe space to relax and to say what’s on your mind, and have supportive people cheer you on for that.”

Schutz described how the partnership with Sparkle on Stage came about, after Workman noticed him bringing a guitar into his residence above the cultural arts center on the Nautical Mile.

“She asked me, ‘Oh, do you teach guitar?’ and I said,

‘Well, it’s been years, but I’m happy to teach a few of your students, if you need me to,’” he recalled. “That conversation just kind of segued into what I do, my job and my passion with open mics. And she expressed interest in hosting one.”

The first Spoken Wordz event at Sparkle on Stage, in September, drew about 25 attendees.

“We really envision Spoken Wordz being like the next Sofar Sounds, with the difference being, you know, created here in New York and a blend of music and poetry,” Schutz said, referring to a popular musicevent company headquartered in Boston and London.

“We’re looking to do ‘Spoken Soundz’ now,” Kretz added, “which is going to be an offshoot that’s going to be all music venues for singers, musicians, dancers, hip-hop.”

Spoken Wordz remains committed to its original vision of creating a safe, welcoming space. “As soon as you walk through the room, you can feel the energy that becomes synergy,” Kretz said. “It’s just love. People get vulnerable, and people cry happy tears, you know, and feel uplifted.”

The next Spoken Wordz event at Sparkle is scheduled for Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to bring a toy, as the event is doubling as a toy drive.

The group is also having an event at G-Gallery at 404 Broadway in Manhattan this upcoming Sunday, Dec. 8.

More information about upcoming Spoken Wordz events on Long Island and across New York City can be found on its Instagram page, @spokenwordz.nyc.

Shopping, staying safe during the holidays

By JORDAN VALLONE

jvallone@liherald.com

As the holiday season is now in full swing, the Nassau County Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Patrick Ryder and County Executive Bruce Blakeman, are enhancing safety measures across the county to protect residents.

The police department has intensified patrols in shopping malls and commercial areas, deploying both marked and plainclothes officers. Specialized units such as the Mounted Unit, Bureau of Special Operations, K-9, Emergency Services, and POP officers will support these efforts. Additional patrols will be stationed at major malls during peak hours to ensure a safe shopping environment.

Police will also enforce vehicle and traffic laws, targeting illegal parking in fire lanes, failure to use child safety seats, and texting or driving while intoxicated. Handicapped parking violations will be strictly monitored, with spaces reserved only for vehicles displaying visible permits.

Residents are encouraged to take pre-

cautions to ensure their safety both at home and while shopping. Before leaving home, residents should secure their homes residence by engaging alarms and leaving lights on in frequently used rooms to give the appearance of occupancy. Residents are reminded to shop carefully by knowing their destination and route in advance. Shopping with a friend is advised for added safety, and it is helpful to inform someone of your plans, including your route and expected return time. Valuable items should be stored securely out of sight in closets or safes.

When parking, drivers should choose well-lit areas and ensure that all keys, wallets, and other valuables are removed from plain view. Items like laptops, packages, and radar detectors should be secured in the trunk or glove compartment. Lock all doors and note your vehicle’s location for a smoother return. Avoid parking near vans or vehicles with concealed cargo areas. To minimize risk, carry only essential items and be vigilant for suspicious activity. Do not exit your car unless you feel safe, and if necessary, drive away.

While shopping, keep money and

credit cards in your front pocket and carry only what is necessary. Be cautious at ATMs and cash registers to avoid exposing credit or debit card information, as thieves may use cell phones to capture card details. Stay alert for distractions that could be staged to facilitate theft, as these are common during the holiday season.

When returning to a car, shoppers should avoid carrying an armful of packages. Drivers should have their car key ready to unlock their door, and check for suspicious individuals near your vehicle and in the parking lot before exiting the store. If you notice loiterers nearby, do not approach your car. Consider carrying a whistle or other audible device, and if you feel threatened, use it. Once inside the car, drives should lock their doors and honk the horn to attract attention if necessary. Always inspect your car’s interior and surroundings before entering. If you plan to return to the store, ensure packages are not left in plain view. Secure them in the trunk or cover them with a blanket or jacket.

The police department urged residents to remain vigilant and aware of

enhancing their patrols this holiday season, to ensure a safe shopping experience for all.

their surroundings, and wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season. For additional safety concerns, call (516) 573-7138.

Courtesy Jared Schutz

Spoken Wordz performers rachel Santiago, Cris Kardia, robyn Workman, Jared Schutz, paul Kretz, the Silent poet, dori rochelle, alee Chery and melanie Hill after an open mic event at Sparkle on Stage.

Courtesy Metro the nassau County police department is

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

Dec.

14

The Hot Sardines

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.

Boat Parade

Freeport’s Annual Holiday Boat Parade returns to the Nautical Mile, Saturday, dec. 7, starting around 7 p.m. Enjoy a festive display as boat owners decorate their vessels and waterfront homeowners light up their backyards along the parade route. Contact Nautical Mile Cruises at nauticalmilecruises. com or call (516) 544-6698 or Freeport Water Taxi & Tours at freeportwatertaxi.com or (516) 521-7744 for tickets and information. Call local restaurants directly for reservations. 271 Woodcleft Ave.

Walking Wednesday

Join Maryellen Cantanno for Walking Wednesdays, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Enjoy a 45-minute group walk at a pace set by participants, with all fitness levels welcome. Guided by the health team from Mount Sinai/ South Nassau Hospital, walkers will learn how to stay in tune with their bodies. Some weeks may include off-site meet-ups around the village, and in case of rain, the walk will be held at the Freeport Recreation Center. Call the library to find out this week’s location. Participants must sign a waiver prior to join, which can be found on the library’s website. Visit FreeportLibrary.info or call (516) 379-3274 for more information. 144 West Merrick Road.

Let’s Skate

Get ready to enjoy all the thrills of the snowy season, while staying warm and cozy as Long Island Children’s Museum’s popular “Snowflake Sock Skating rink returns, through Jan. 7. Slip on “sock skates” and take a spin on the indoor rink, made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface that lets kids slide around without blades.

Kids can stretch, twirl and glide. As visitors step off the “ice” they can jump into winter dramatic play in Snowflake Village. Become a baker in the holiday sweet shop, step inside a giant snowman and serve up some hot cocoa, take a turn in the rink “ticket booth” and “warm up” around a rink side “fire pit.” Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

Holiday Tales At The Hearth

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

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.

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.

NEW YORK’S WRONGEST RUNNING COMEDY!

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

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR HSI ASSET SECURITIZATION CORPORATION TRUST

2006-OPT3, MORTGAGEPASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES

2006-OPT3, -againstTERESA BYRD, AS VOLUNTARY

ADMINISTRATRIX AND AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JOEL

JOHNSON A/K/A JOEL F. JOHNSON, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on September 17, 2024, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR HSI ASSET SECURITIZATION CORPORATION TRUST

2006-OPT3, MORTGAGEPASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES

2006-OPT3 is the Plaintiff and TERESA BYRD, AS VOLUNTARY

ADMINISTRATRIX AND AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JOEL

JOHNSON A/K/A JOEL F. JOHNSON, 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 17, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 49 SHONNARD AVENUE, FREEPORT, NY 11520; and the following tax map identification: 55-225-465 & 466.

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, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 608875/2019. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 150034

LEGAL NOTICE REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU MIDFIRST BANK, Plaintiff - against - JOHN DESM, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on September 30, 2024. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on the 17th day of December, 2024 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Premises known as 611 South Long Beach Avenue, Freeport, (Town of Hempstead), NY 11520.

(SBL#: 62-184-2)

Approximate amount of lien $649,262.82 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 613092/2022. Jane P. Shrenkel, Esq., Referee. Davidson Fink LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 400 Meridian Centre Blvd, Ste 200 Rochester, NY 14618

Tel. 585/760-8218

For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832

Dated: October 8, 2024

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 149931

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT, COUNTY OF NASSAU, HARRISON VICKERS AND WATERMAN LLC, Plaintiff against ROOSEVELT PROPERTIES, INC., et al., Defendants. Index No.: 606059/2022.

Pursuant to the Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered June 9, 2023 and e-filed June 12, 2023 as NYSCEF Doc. No. 93 in the office of the clerk of the within named court, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 20, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., the mortgaged premises (i) Section 55 Block 281 Lot 188-192 on the tax map of the Town of Hempstead, County of NASSAU, said premises being known as 509 Babylon Turnpike, Freeport, New York 11520 [PARCEL I]; (ii)

Section 55 Block 446 Lot 130 on the tax map of the Town of Hempstead, County of NASSAU, said premises being known as 111 Park Avenue, Roosevelt, NY 11575 [PARCEL II]; and (iii)

Section 55 Block 281 Lot 193 - 195 on the tax map of the Town of Hempstead, County of NASSAU, said premises being known as 501 Babylon Turnpike, Freeport, NY 11520 [PARCEL III]. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,454,184.82 plus interest and costs. The mortgaged premises will be sold as separate parcels subject to the provisions of said Judgment and Terms of Sale. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court-Appointed Referee will cancel the sale. Successful third-party bidder to pay 10% of the sum bid by certified or bank check(s) made payable to the Referee only. Referee will not accept cash or doubleendorsed checks.

Heather D. Crosley, Esq., Referee

Lawrence & Walsh, P.C., 215 Hilton Avenue, Hempstead, NY 11550, Attorneys for Plaintiff 150115

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

INDEX NO.: 610836/2024

DATE FILED: 6/20/2024

SUMMONS

L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Plaintiff, -againstELVESSA GOODWIN, HERBERT GOODWIN, PATRICIA RICHARDSON WILDER and MARIETTA WILDER, if they be living, if they be dead, their

respective heirs-at-law, 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 ELVESSA GOODWIN, HERBERT GOODWIN, PATRICIA RICHARDSON WILDER and MARIETTA WILDER, 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 of residence are unknown to the plaintiff, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER; ADMINISTRATOR OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, “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 New York), and in case of failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Jeffrey A. Goodstein, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, entered Nov. 20, 2024 and 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 the of interest, penalties, additions and expenses thereon to premises k/a Section 55, Block 322, Lots 108-109.

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: June 20, 2024 LEVY & LEVY

Attorneys for Plaintiff 12 Tulip Drive Great Neck, NY 11021 (516) 487-6655 BY: JOSHUA LEVY, ESQ. #101956 150179

The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bid proposals received and subject to these reservations, shall award the contract to the lowest qualified and responsible bidder. Bids which, in the opinion of the Board, are unbalanced shall be rejected. In submitting a bid, bidders agree not to withdraw their bid within forty five (45) days after the date for the opening thereof.

Taylor D’Orta Buyer Village of Freeport VILLAGE OF FREEPORT Issue Date - December 5, 2024 Freeport Herald 150370

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO BIDDERS FURNISHING OF WATER METERS - 2025 FOR THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FREEPORT WATER DEPARTMENT NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO BIDDERS 2025 FURNISHING CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE (TABLET) FOR FREEPORT VILLAGE POOLS FOR THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FREEPORT NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

Notice is hereby given that the Purchasing Department of the Incorporated Village of Freeport, New York will receive sealed proposals for 2025 FURNISHING CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE (TABLET) FOR FREEPORT VILLAGE POOLS

until 11:00 A.M. on January 7, 2025 in the Main Conference Room of the Municipal Building, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, 11520, at which time and place they will be opened publicly and read aloud. Specifications, proposal and proposed contracts may be obtained by visiting the Village website at www.freeportny.gov or at the Office of the Purchasing Agent, Municipal Building, 1st Floor, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, 11520, 9:00 A.M. on December 9, 2024 until 4:00 P.M. January 3, 2025. There is no fee for a set of contract documents.

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO BIDDERS DISPOSAL OF INORGANIC MATERIALS 2025 FOR THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FREEPORT NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK Notice is hereby given that the Purchasing Agent of the Incorporated Village of Freeport, New York will receive sealed proposals for the following contract: DISPOSAL OF INORGANIC MATERIALS 2025 until 11:00 A.M. on January 7, 2025 in the Main Conference Room of the Municipal Building, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, 11520, at which time and place they will be opened publicly and read aloud. Specifications, proposal and proposed contracts may be obtained by visiting the Village website at www.freeportny.gov or at the Office of the Purchasing Agent, Municipal Building, 1st Floor, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, 11520, 9:00 A.M. on December 9, 2024 until 4:00 P.M. January 3, 2025. There is no fee for a set of contract documents.

The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bid proposals received and subject to these reservations, shall award the contract to the lowest qualified and responsible bidder. Bids which, in the opinion of the Board, are unbalanced shall be rejected.

In submitting a bid, bidders agree not to withdraw their bid within forty five (45) days after the date for the opening thereof.

Taylor D’Orta Buyer Village of Freeport VILLAGE OF FREEPORT Issue Date - December 5, 2024 Freeport Herald 150369

Notice is hereby given that the Purchasing Agent of the Incorporated Village of Freeport, New York will receive sealed proposals for the following contract: FURNISHING OF WATER METERS - 2025 until 11:00 A.M. on January 7, 2025 in the Main Conference Room of the Municipal Building, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, 11520, at which time and place they will be opened publicly and read aloud. Specifications, proposal and proposed contracts may be obtained by visiting the Village website at www.freeportny.gov or at the Office of the Purchasing Agent, Municipal Building, 1st Floor, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, 11520, 9:00 A.M. on December 9, 2024 until 4:00 P.M. January 3, 2025. There is no fee for a set of contract documents.

The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bid proposals received and subject to these reservations, shall award the contract to the lowest qualified and responsible bidder. Bids which, in the opinion of the Board, are unbalanced shall be rejected.

In submitting a bid, bidders agree not to withdraw their bid within forty five (45) days after the date for the opening thereof.

Taylor D’Orta Buyer Village of Freeport VILLAGE OF FREEPORT Issue Date - December 5, 2024

Freeport Herald 150372

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

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO BIDDERS 2025 ANNUAL TREE REMOVAL CONTRACT FOR THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FREEPORT NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

Notice is hereby given that the Purchasing Department of the Incorporated Village of Freeport, New York will receive sealed proposals for “2025 ANNUAL TREE REMOVAL CONTRACT” until 11:00 A.M. on January 7, 2025 in the Main Conference Room of the Municipal Building, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, 11520, at which time and place they will be opened publicly and read aloud.

Specifications, proposal and proposed contracts may be obtained by visiting the Village website at www.freeportny.gov or at the Office of the Purchasing Agent, Municipal Building, 1st Floor, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, 11520, 9:00 A.M. on December 9, 2024 until 4:00 P.M. January 3, 2025. There is no fee for a set of contract documents.

The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bid proposals received and subject to these reservations, shall award the contract to the lowest qualified and responsible bidder. Bids which, in the opinion of the Board, are unbalanced shall be rejected.

In submitting a bid, bidders agree not to withdraw their bid within forty five (45) days after the date for the opening thereof.

Taylor D’Orta Buyer Village of Freeport VILLAGE OF FREEPORT Issue Date - December 5, 2024 Freeport Herald 150371

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

TO PLACE AN AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff, v. KIM GUNDERSON, 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 September 24, 2019, I, Ellen Durst, Esq., the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on January 6, 2025 at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Ct. Dr., Mineola, NY 11501, at 02:00 PM the premises described as follows: 271 President Street Freeport, NY 11520 SBL No.: 62-59-13, 14, 15 & 16 ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York.

5,

Public Notices

The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 008366/2015 in the amount of $526,036.62 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 150362

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. 150358

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST SERIES ACE 2005-HE5, -againstCHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, 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 19, 2015, wherein HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST SERIES ACE 2005-HE5 is the Plaintiff and CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, 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 January 8, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 36 JOHN STREET, ROOSEVELT, NY 11575; and the following tax map identification: 55-422-146, 147 & 148.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT ROOSEVELT, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 019083/2008. Janet Deluca, 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

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE HOME EQUITY ASSET TRUST 2007-2 HOME EQUITY PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-2, Plaintiff, Against ANA M. BERNAL CRIOLLO, CARLOS CRIOLLO, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 07/19/2017, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 1/9/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 990 Ardmore Road, Baldwin, New York 11510 and Described As Follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town Of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. Section 36 Block 468-03

Lot 30

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $428,345.24 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 2503/2015

Steven Keats, Esq., Referee.

SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Dated: 11/19/2024 File Number: 27789 mbayram 150367

In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on December 16, 2022, I, William J. Birney, Esq. the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on January 7, 2025 at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Ct. Dr., Mineola, NY 11501, at 02:00 PM the premises described as follows: 21 Stillwell Place Freeport, NY 11520

SBL No.: 62-50-32 ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York. The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 003264/2014 in the amount of $588,987.50 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 150365

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. For Sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.

SCOTT SILLER, Esq., Referee Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff 150339

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY

PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC, Plaintiff against KELLY DOSMAS, et al Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s)

Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614.

2005-HE11, Plaintiff AGAINST Fred Gross

A/K/A Frederick Gross

LEGAL NOTICE

STATE OF NEW YORK

SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff, v. Nancy N. Wright, Defendants.

NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF STANWICH MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST

J, Plaintiff, vs. EDISON A. VALENCIA, ET AL., Defendant (s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 5, 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 7, 2025, at 2:00 PM, premises known as 18 PRESIDENT STREET, FREEPORT, NY 11520. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 62, Block: 52, Lot: 495. Approximate amount of judgment is $789,341.06 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 613757/2022.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered September 12, 2023, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 65 Linden Place, Roosevelt, NY 11575. Sec 55 Block 480 Lot 7. All that certain plot, parcel, piece of land with the buildings and improvements thereon erected situate, lying and being at Bay Park. Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $301,619.74 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 610146/2022.

The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Jane P Shrenkel, Esq., Referee File # XPNMN100 150341

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. Bank, N.A., successor Trustee to LaSalle Bank National Association, on behalf of the Holders of Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I Trust 2005-HE11, Asset-Backed Certificates Series

A/K/A Frederick M. Gross, Herminia Gross, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 11, 2018, 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 7, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 53 Tyler 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, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 62, Block 105, Lot 312. Approximate amount of judgment $511,041.15 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #007888/2009. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Michael G. Postiglione, Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-080399-F00 83078 150232

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU PATCH OF LAND LENDING LLC # 201500001, Plaintiffagainst- COLUMBUS N. 259 CORP., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 21, 2022 and entered on October 24, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY

on January 7, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of the Southerly side of Bedford Avenue with the Westerly side of North Columbus Avenue; being a plot 60 feet by 100 feet by 60 feet by 100 feet.

Section: 55 Block: 361 Lot: 1108, 1109-1110. Said premises known as 259 N. COLUMBUS AVENUE, FREEPORT, NY Approximate amount of lien $390,163.48 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 614801/2020. ADRIENNE HAUSCH, ESQ., Referee WALDMAN, KALAHAR & ASSOCIATES, PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 315 MADISON AVENUE, 3RD FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10017 {* FREEPORT LEADER*} 150261

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. FERNANDO S CUNHA, Pltf. vs. 4090 GREENTREE RE HOLDINGS LLC, et al, Defts. Index #617499/2023 Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered October 31, 2024, I will sell at public auction on the north side front steps of Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on January 7, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. prem. k/a 88 Evans Avenue, Freeport, New York 11520 a/k/a School District 8, Section 55, Block 396, Lot 372, Group Lots 372-374. Approximate amount of judgment is $13,818.25 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. JUDGE SCOTT H. SILLER, Referee. BRONSTER, LLP, 156 West 56th Street, Ste. 703, New York, NY 10019. File No. 307580.209 #101930 150354

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Amos Financial, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST Valerie Cleavland as heir at law and next of kin of Emmett Samuel; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 22, 2023 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 January 7, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 50 Charles Street, Roosevelt, NY 11575-1710. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Township of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY,

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF NRZ PASS-THROUGH TRUST XI-B, Plaintiff, vs. SONIA M. TORRES A/K/A SONIA TORRES, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale After Inquest and Appointment of Referee and Amendment of Caption duly entered on November 3, 2022, 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 2:30 p.m., premises known as 104 East Pennywood a/k/a Pennywood Avenue, Roosevelt, NY 11575. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Roosevelt, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55, Block 443 and Lots 200-202. Approximate amount of judgment is $516,170.54 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604308/2018. Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 191802-1 150352

Section 55 Block 421 Lot 199 & 200. Approximate amount of judgment $616,723.95 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 010671/2014. 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.” 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: October 25, 2024 150343

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, PLANET HOME LENDING, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. SERGIO BENITEZ, Defendant. Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 25, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 7, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 80 Horace Avenue, Roosevelt, NY 11575. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Roosevelt, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55, Block 446 and Lot 136. Approximate amount of judgment is $436,915.24 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #610487/2020. Heather D. Crosley, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 213621-1 150349

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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.

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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

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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.

When 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 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! 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

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 special-needs 2-year-olds. So, eight years ago, we basically needed three incomes to make it. Now we need four.

B

Some 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.

doesn’t matter who’s in the White House — our lives here on Long Island are not going to get any easier.

y the time I graduated from eighth grade in 1992, working moms were the norm.

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.

struggles

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!”

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

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,

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.

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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

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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.

opinions

A farewell, but the journey continues

As I prepare to step down from my role as Assemblywoman for the 18th District, I reflect with both pride and gratitude on the progress we have made, as well as the important work that lies ahead. Over the past six years, our office has tackled critical challenges — from addressing educational disparities and infrastructure needs to advocating for social justice — laying a strong foundation for lasting improvements in our community.

The strides we have made and the future we are shaping are both inspiring. Our collective achievements in the district stand as a testament to the power of dedicated public service and the transformative impact it can have on residents’ lives.

When I first took office, I was driven by a deep commitment to addressing the educational disparities that were holding back so many of our students. One urgent issue was the lack of adequate transportation in the Hempstead school district. Many children were forced to walk as far as three miles to and from school each day, putting their safety and academic success at risk. Securing $1

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

million for districtwide busing wasn’t just a victory — it was a promise fulfilled, ensuring that every student could access education without the burden of an unsafe commute.

Our dedication to education extends well beyond transportation. We made critical investments in infrastructure, such as funding the installation of an underground oil tank for the West Hempstead district, ensuring a warm and supportive learning environment during the colder months. We also secured $300,000 to upgrade Hofstra University’s sports facilities, $100,000 for field improvements in the Roosevelt district, and $150,000 for security enhancements at Uniondale High School.

i remain committed to addressing issues affecting Black and brown communities.

Known affectionately as the state’s “pothole princess,” I worked tirelessly to secure Long Island’s share of the $1 billion Operation Pave Our Potholes fund, leading to much-needed road improvements that have enhanced residents’ safety and quality of life. We also prioritized veterans by securing $250,000 to support the Veterans Mental Health Training Initiative. And fought for legislation to protect homeowners from deceitful practices, ensuring the security and well-being of our community.

cacy for the NY HEAT Act, which addresses energy affordability and sustainability, ensuring that Long Islanders can manage their energy bills while contributing to efforts against climate change. As chair of the Subcommittee on Foster Care, I trust that future leaders will continue to prioritize the well-being of vulnerable children, advocate for fair compensation for caregivers, and provide the support parents need. The welfare of our most vulnerable New Yorkers will always remain a top priority.

Each of these investments reflects our commitment to providing the resources necessary for students and school districts to thrive. One of my proudest accomplishments was launching the state’s first ever pre-apprenticeship program at Roosevelt High School, in partnership with Laborers Local 66. This initiative will equip students with the practical skills and career pathways they need, helping to bridge the gap between education and employment.

Our efforts also extended to community infrastructure and public safety.

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

One of the most transformative moments of my tenure was the passage of legislation that established a commission to study reparations and racial justice. This is a crucial step in acknowledging and addressing the historic injustices of slavery and discrimination. As a co-sponsor, I am deeply honored to have contributed to this historic effort, which seeks to heal old wounds and pave the way for a more just and equitable future.

Looking ahead, I’m hopeful for continued progress in several key areas. I encourage my successor to build on the foundation we have laid by closing educational gaps and fostering stronger partnerships with labor unions to create more opportunities for our youth. I also remain optimistic about continued advo-

FrAmework by Tim Baker

Finally, I remain steadfast in my commitment to addressing the issues that affect Black and brown communities, particularly in my beloved 18th District. The reparations bill is an important first step, but much work remains to be done. As I conclude my time in office, I’m not saying goodbye; rather, I reaffirm my commitment to continue fighting for the values and causes that have guided me throughout my tenure.

Our journey toward a more just and equitable society is far from over. As Nipsey Hussle wisely said, “This is a marathon, not a sprint.” I am excited to see what the future holds, and remain devoted to supporting efforts to address current disparities and build a brighter future for all. Thank you for the privilege of serving you, and for the unwavering support that has made these accomplishments possible.

Taylor Darling is completing her term as assemblywoman for the 18th District.

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