Chanukah on Ice, a unique annual Long Beach tradition, took to the Emile Francis Ice Arena on Dec. 29, and participants skated, ate and laughed to celebrate the holiday. Rabbi Eli Goodman helped lead the festivities, and DJ Chef provided the eats.
By ANGElINA ZINGARIEllo azingariello@liherald.com
St. James of Jerusalem Episcopal Church, on West Penn Street, announced the appointment of the Rev. Michael F. Delaney as its new vicar, effective Dec. 1.
Delaney, 68, previously worked within the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, which spans Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as Brooklyn and Queens. Most recently, he served as chaplain to the Right Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, bishop of Long Island and canon liturgist for the diocese. Delaney’s decade of service also included roles as pastoral associate and vicar at the
Cathedral of the Incarnation, in Garden City, where he managed liturgical ministries and stewardship initiatives and formed a Pastoral Care Team.
“I told them that I wanted to come to St. James in Long Beach,” Delaney said. “And it was like, why do you want to go there? And I said, because it’s a block away from the ocean and it’s a parish that I think has lots of possibility, and that’s what I’m really looking for in my life, is actually coming to a place where I can grow with a congregation, discover what it really means to be the Episcopal Church in this day and age, and I think the people here at St. James are pretty
By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com
Long Beach High School has announced the top two students in this year’s senior class: Daniel Brenner is the valedictorian, and LiLin Garfinkel is the salutatorian.
Brenner, 17, was born in China, where his father was working for Lockheed Martin as a radar engineer. He grew up admiring his dad’s work, which sparked his interest in engineering. His family moved back to the United States when he was 12, landing in Island Park, where, in a sign of things to come, he was the valedictorian of Island Park Middle School.
Valedictorian
“That was really early to be ranking people,” Brenner joked.
When he got to Long Beach High, he started taking International Baccalaureate classes, intending to work toward an IB Diploma. It was no surprise, given the influence of his father’s work, that he concentrated in the sciences.
“I want to major in engineering, so I’m more focused on STEM classes,” Brenner explained, referring to science, technology, engineering and math. “I really like calculus. I really like physics. I think they’re very interesting and they’re math-heavy, so I find that cool.”
Outside the classroom, Brenner is a member of the National Honor Society, and vice president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society — despite the fact that he didn’t learn to play a musical instrument until 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic hit, and he found himself bored. He was playing catch with his mom one day, he recalled, and just said, “I want to learn an instrument.”
He decided on the alto saxophone, because it “sounds cool.” He taught himself, watching YouTube videos to learn the fingerings. He joined the high school band later than most of the other student musicians, but he has more than
Continued on page 5
Kennedy Plaza was alive with colorful lights and festive music as city officials and members of local synagogues celebrated the second night of Hanukkah for the city’s grand Menorah lighting on Dec. 26.
Rabbi Eli Goodman of Chabad of the Beaches led the festivities, and went up in the Long Beach Fire Department’s cherry picker to light
the third candle and toss chocolate coins to the children in the crowd below them.
Despite the cold temperatures, people danced in front of a band shell, ate jelly donuts and latkes next to a large spinning dreidel and, of course, the much anticipated great Gelt drop.
Elected officials joined the community for the second night of Hanukkah.
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Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K
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By ABIGAIL GRIECO
Herald Intern
Bill Cassidy of Rockville Centre is a living testament to the power of perseverance, discipline and the relentless pursuit of good health. At the age of 82, Cassidy has battled setbacks and rebounded into an active, fulfilling lifestyle that is built on the very foundation of the sport that changed his life — running.
The former United States Marine turned longtime marathon runner, started his journey back in the 1970s when he was living in Island Park, just two miles away from the boardwalk in Long Beach. Initially, Cassidy explained, he was simply looking to get in better shape, but his passion for running only increased after he was invited to join the Long Beach Sandpipers and the Eisenhower Park Long Island Road Runners.
It didn’t take long before he began to compete in marthons. For nearly a decade, from 1978 to 1987, Cassidy ran 37 marathons.
Within a 10 year span, from 1977 to 1987, Cassidy ran 37 marathons. He completed the Long Island Marathon for the first time at the age of 35, and a decade later, completed the Boston Marathon at the age of 45. Despite the nearly 17,000 competitors, he was the 1,100th runner to cross the finish line, setting a new personal record as well.
“I had some really, really good experiences, but I had some bad ones too,” Cassidy said. “If you run marathons, you have some bad experiences. It’s inevitable.”
His marathon running days came to an end with the Long Island Marathon in 1987. It was a real full-circle moment for Cassidy, whose time had dramatically improved by nearly an hour. His personal best time stood at an impressive 2 hours and 58 minutes.
But after running course based only on memory and without the intense level of training he was accustomed to, Cassidy came to the realization that his body was no longer capable of maintaining the same level of performance.
“That’s when I knew I wasn’t going to be able to run faster than 2:58, so I decided that was the end of my marathon career,” Cassidy said.
Even though he decided to stop competing in mara-
thons, Cassidy’s love for running never waned. His commitment to fitness became a lifestyle that would help him sustain his toughest challenges. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer, Cassidy underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments, which he
admitted, “ended my running career entirely.”
Following the devestation caused by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, Cassidy and his wife, Patricia, moved to Rockville Centre. Despite the slight change in scenery, little has chnaged. He swapped running for walking, setting a goal of three to four miles every day. By early November 2024, he has already traveled 1,200 miles around the village and is on track to meet his goal of 1,400 miles by the end of the year.
“I keep going for a lot of reasons,” Cassidy said. “I’m 82 years old, and I’m keeping the weight off, keeping my heart pumping, and it seems to be working”
Thanks to his continued commitment to proper nutrition an exercise, he said that his doctor describes him as a “perfect physical specimen.” His daily walking routine not only focuses on maintaining his phyiscal health, but his mental well-being as well.
“When you first start running, you try to figure out how you can not run,” Cassidy explained. “You don’t want to go outside. The weather’s bad. The rain. The wind. It’s too cold. But once you really get involved in it, you don’t see yourself not going out.”
For him, the mental health benefits of exercise are just as important as the physical ones — if not more so.
“[Running and walking] clears your head, and you forget about all your problems for however long you’re out there,” Cassidy said. “When you come back, it gets you through the whole day. It’s definitely a mind-clearing experience.”
Throughout his life, Cassidy has maintained a structured day-to-day routine, prioritizing both exercise and nutrition. Today, he remains just as active as ever. He doesn’t miss a single day of walking, and as a result, has stayed remarkably healthy.
“My goal has always been to live long and be healthy for my family,” Cassidy said. “All of this has paid off in the long run. I’ve seen the benefits of hard work and discipline in my life.”
Thanks to his daily regement, he continues to defy the limitation of age and maintain a positive mindset. His journey serves as a reminder to us all that it’s never too late to break bad habits and embark on a new routine.
The Corporate Transparency Act came into being this year as part of the AntiMoney Laundering Act. This act is designed to combat terrorism, tax fraud and moneylaundering. Under the act, corporations and LLC’s are required to report who their “beneficial owners” are in a Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOI report) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement network (FinCEN) on an annual basis. The BOI report is due by January 13, 2025 for entities formed before 2024 and within 90 days of formation or registration for entities formed in 2024. For entities formed after 2025, the BOI report is required to be filed within 30 days.
The BOI report must contain the following information:
1. The entities’ full name (and any alternative names which it is doing business under)
2. Address
3. Where it was formed or registered
4. Its tax id number (EIN)
The BOI report must include the following information for each “beneficial owner” — defined as any individual who has “substantial control” over the entity or owns or controls at least 25%. “Substantial control” means serving as a senior officer, having authority to remove a senior officer or a majority of the board of directors, or in charge of or having substantial interest over major corporate decisions. The trustee of a trust may be a “beneficial owner” if the trust owns an interest in the entity.
The “beneficial owner” must report:
1. Full legal name
2. Date of birth
3. Home or business address
4. Identifying number from passport or driver’s license along with scanned copy of the document.
For help in reporting, search fincen.gov, call the helpline at 800-949-2732, or google “help with fincen reporting” to locate online services that will assist with the application for a fee.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced Dec. 20 that a Long Beach man pleaded guilty to selling 10 illegal guns, including assault weapons and a ghost gun, in front of his apartment between April and July of 2024. Two of the weapons were linked to multiple shootings in Queens and Nassau County dating back to 2021.
James Jayshaun Edwards, 33, pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a firearm and criminal possession of a firearm.
Edwards is expected to be sentenced on Feb. 14 to seven years in prison with five years of post-release supervision. The district attorney’s office recommended a sentence of 13 years in prison.
The “guilty plea underscores the strength of this case built by the work of my prosecutors and our law enforcement partners. The overwhelming evidence against him forced this defendant to take accountability for selling nearly a dozen dangerous ghost guns right in front of his home in broad daylight,” Donnelly said. “Our investigation continues into locating the source of the guns this defendant was selling on the streets of Long Beach. We will not tolerate the illegal sale of untraceable weapons in our communities that can put the lives of Nassau County residents at
risk.”
Donnelly said that in April 2024, the district attorney’s office began working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Task Force, the Long Beach Police Department, the New York City Police Department, and the Nassau County Police Department after receiving a tip that Edwards was selling illegal weapons.
Between April and July 2024, Edwards sold 10 illegal firearms, including an assault pistol, an AR-15-style ghost gun, and multiple pistols and loaded firearms, in front of his home on Birch Court in Long Beach. Nearly all the weapons were loaded, and Edwards also sold hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Three additional firearms were recovered on Aug. 22, 2024, when law enforcement executed a search warrant at Edwards’ home.
Ballistics comparisons conducted by the ATF on the guns purchased from Edwards showed that two weapons were used in multiple shootings in Queens, Roosevelt, Westbury, and Long Beach between August 2021 and June 2022.
Edwards was arrested on Aug. 22, 2024, in Long Beach by members of the LBPD, ATF, and NYPD.
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held his own. Now Brenner plays in the school pep band, the jazz band and the wind ensemble.
He also taught himself Japanese. “I self-taught Japanese because I used to watch anime a lot, especially in China,” he said. “I watched anime and I was like, why not learn Japanese? I have an 1,800-day Duolingo streak right now,” he added, referring to his use of the online language platform. “I started in seventh grade.”
Brenner takes a great deal of pride in being a mechanical design lead in and treasurer of the school’s robotics club. He used to watch Formula One racing when he was growing up, interested as much in the engineering and assembly of the cars as he was in the racing. He is also an athlete, the captain of the high school’s badminton and bowling teams.
as a seventh-grader. Since the learning process wasn’t normal, she studied a lot by herself, focusing on the core subjects of math, science, social studies and English. She ended up so far ahead that she took algebra and geometry in middle school and actually skipped eighth grade, going right to the high school.
“I was both excited and nervous,”
I wasn’t thinking of it as a goal.
LiLIn GarfInkeL Salutatorian
Brenner said he never had the goal of being the class valedictorian. “I just worked my best,” he said. “I just tried my hardest.”
Garfinkel, 16, has also followed a unique path in her Long Beach educational career. She was in sixth grade when the pandemic initially spread, and then had an especially strange school year — as did everyone — the year after,
Garfinkel said of the twograde jump. “I remember the first day of school, everyone was confused. I didn’t really like explaining it — I don’t like the whole conversation. But the funny thing is, I didn’t tell anyone in my old grade that I was skipping, so I just disappeared.”
She said she feels as if she missed out on some of the normal eighth-grade experiences, but that set her up for early success. She was well prepared for higher-level classes, and is also aiming for an IB Diploma. Garfinkel is now the vice president of treasury of the National Honor Society, and captain of the math team.
Beyond her academic success, she is also a co-founder and vice president of the school’s Asian American Pacific Islander Culture Club, and treasurer of the Class Club. She plays viola, and is a member of the Chamber Orchestra and the high school’s Principal Quartet. She also volunteers at the Chinese Cultural Association of Long Island, where she helps teach Mandarin and traditional Chinese culture to young students. Garfinkel began playing tennis in middle school, and is now captain of the varsity team. But despite her success in
and out of the classroom, she never thought much about being a top-ranking student.
“I wasn’t thinking of it as a goal,” she said. “It wasn’t really something that I would put over anything else, but I tried my hardest with my grades.”
ALLIE TWIBLE East Meadow Senior Basketball
AFTER HELPING LEAD the Jets to a historic 2023-24 season that ended in the state semifinals, Twible got her senior campaign off to a roaring start by reaching the 1,000-career point milestone Dec. 10. She was named First Team All-Long Island as a junior and was a major part in East Meadow’s first-ever Nassau County and L.I. championship teams. Twible has averaged close to 20 points per game over the past two seasons.
Thursday, Jan. 2
Wrestling: Plainedge at MacArthur 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Sewanhaka at Manhasset 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 3
Boys Basketball: Friends Aca. at Long Beach 12 p.m.
Wrestling: Kennedy at Hewlett 4
Boys Basketball: Farmingdale at West Hemp 5
Wrestling: Lawrence at North Shore 6 p.m.
Wrestling: Lynbrook at Clarke 6 p.m.
Wrestling: East Meadow at Long Beach 6 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Freeport at Seaford 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Oceanside 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Oceanside at South Side 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 4
Girls Basketball: Plainedge at Lynbrook 10 a.m.
Girls Basketball: Calhoun at Division 11 a.m.
Girls Basketball: Malverne at Mineola 11 a.m.
Boys Basketball: Plainedge at Clarke 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Jericho at Kennedy 1 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 6
Wrestling: North Shore at Wantagh 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Carey 5 p.m.
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a winter sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
By GARRETT D. URIBE sports@liherald.com
A pair of All-State repeat Nassau champions lead a Long Beach wrestling team that looks to defend its Conference A2 title after going unbeaten in league last winter at 5-0 (13-2 overall).
Marines phenoms Dunia Sibomana, ranked No. 1 in Nassau Division 1 preseason at 116 pounds, and Ethan Andreula, No. 1 at 101, took a third and second county title last season in Division 1, respectively – Sibomana at 108 pounds, Andreula repeating at 101. The defending county titlists headline a stacked Marines lineup alongside fellow AllStater Gregory Walpole (senior) and twotime All-County junior Brody Franklin –ranked third and second, respectively, in Nassau Division 1 at 124 pounds.
Long Beach – which finished first at the county Division 1 qualifier as host, and at last December’s King of the Mat tournament at Hewlett – returns to A2 ranked second in the county in Division 1, the Marines’ eyes on a prize Long Beach last held in 2017.
“This year I think the county championship’s up for grabs,” said Marines coach Ray Adams. “That’s the goal; the kids are excited for that. And we’re bringing back some tough kids, with more experience.”
Sibomana – who since becoming Nassau’s second-ever eighth-grade wrestler to win a state title has seen his impressive resume expand alongside growing celebrity – made news even over the offseason. In July Sibomana – named Most Outstanding Wrestler at three tournaments last season – took first in GreccoRoman at the famed USMC Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota, then announced in November he’s committed to wrestle at the University of North Carolina.
“We’re very proud of Dunia,” Adams said. “UNC’s a good spot for him. He’s definitely earned it.”
Andreula, meanwhile, has blazed a trail of his own, mirroring that of his fellow top-ranked teammate. After placing third at state in February, Andreula – who in 2023 became Nassau’s first-ever
seventh-grade wrestler to win a county crown in Division 1 – took the middleschool title at 100 pounds at April’s NHSCA Nationals (Virginia Beach).
“Ethan’s just tough, a workhorse” Adams said. “And always stepping up his game.”
Added Adams: “[Success in] the national tournaments, the big stage, should help both Ethan and Dunia. They both will have some tough challenges this year. But they’re game.”
While ranked at 124 pounds, Franklin – who finished third at that weight last season at county – will wrestle at 131, Adams said. Walpole – seventh at state and county runner-up at 116 last season – is slated to start at 124 for Long Beach.
“Brody’s poised to take that next step,
go win upstate,” Adams said. “Gregory Walpole is back looking to return to counties and upstate, where he’s done well and can go farther.”
Adams also pointed to All-League sophomores Casey Powers – 101-pound champ last season at Long Beach’s Battle at the Beach tournament – and Blake Vasaturo – who finished third at 108 in the county qualifier – as Marines anchors in the making. Jordan Andreula (junior, 152 pounds) and Nick Zackaris (freshman, 116) also return as AllLeaguers for Long Beach.
“We’re excited for the challenge this year,” Adams said. “The kids put in a great offseason. Everyone’s looking forward. This year I think we have a good shot.”
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Despite their reputation for being grumpy, and headlines often dominated by crime-related news, an overwhelming majority of New Yorkers believe that most of their fellow citizens are “basically good” and less than a quarter expected political divisions to interfere with their holiday gatherings, according to the latest results of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s “Truth in Medicine” poll, sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union.
The hospital’s Truth in Medicine Poll aims to gather data about public attitudes on key public health topics and spur education and discussion. The latest poll was conducted from Dec. 11, through Dec.17, via both landlines and cell phones, with 600 Long Island and New York City adults ages 18-65 and above. Poll findings are subject to a sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percent.
Some 75 percent of respondents to the hospital’s poll said most people are basically good while only 20 percent believe most people are “basically selfish.” And only 24 percent said they expect political divisions to impact their holiday gatherings this year, with 61 percent saying politics would not intrude on their celebrations.
But other holiday-related issues give cause for anxiety. Making ends meet during the holidays is the leading concern of 38 percent of poll respondents, followed by gaining weight and “not enough time to get things done,” both at 23 percent. When asked specifically about their health concerns during the holidays, 63 percent of respondents said they were “concerned about getting sick with Covid-19 or flu.”
“One of the best ways to stay healthy is to stay up to date on your flu and COVID-19 vaccines,” said Aaron Glatt, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai South
another mental health issue.
Despite the burden of these concerns, just like the residents of Whoville in the “Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” 63 percent of respondents will stick to their plans to celebrate the holidays just as they have planned.
“It is encouraging at this time of year to find that most New Yorkers and Long Islanders are optimistic about their neighbors,” said Adhi Sharma, President of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “The holiday season is a reminder of the good within all of us and fulfills the promise of perpetual hope, generosity, and joy. Remaining optimistic is a good start on the road to improved health.”
Overall, 60 percent are specifically concerned about stress or other mental health issues around the holidays. Finances are the primary cause of stress and mental health issues.
A majority of respondents are concerned about getting Covid-19 or flu and many respondents have taken action to reduce their risk of getting sick. At the time the poll was conducted, 58 percent of respondents said they had received a flu shot, while 49 percent had received the latest Covid-19 vaccine. Those most concerned with getting COVID-19 or the flu are Hispanics and women, particularly women over 50.
Nassau. “Both the flu and COVID-19 remain major causes of serious illness and hospitalization. The vaccines can help you from getting seriously ill.”
The perennial issue of weight gain during the holidays also looms large as Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s approach, with 55 percent of respondents saying they were “very concerned” or “concerned” about gaining weight. Additionally, 17 percent of respondents said they were “very concerned,” and 43 percent “concerned,” about experiencing stress or
If you’re eligible and haven’t been vaccinated for Covid-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus, or pneumococcal disease now is a good time to do it, Dr. Glatt said. “Individuals who are especially vulnerable and have not recently had Covid-19 and, or received one of the 2023 or 2024 booster shots should get the new vaccine for enhanced protection from getting a severe case of the disease.”
–Kepherd Daniel
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Following reports that a large number of mysterious drones have been seen flying over parts of New Jersey and the East Coast, Nassau County officials showcased the county’s drone detection technology, that allows law enforcement to track drones anywhere within the county
County Executive Bruce Blakeman, at a news conference held at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence in Garden City on Dec. 19, told reporters that the county’s drone detection capabilities are “ahead of the curve.”
“I have been to other police departments throughout the United States to take a look at their intelligence and drone detection,” Blakeman said. “I can tell you that Nassau County is state-of-the art. We’re on the cutting edge of drone detection.”
According to a report by NBC, more than 5,000 drone sightings have been reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, mostly in New Jersey, although drones have been seen in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio.
The Federal Aviation Administration banned drone flights in 22 areas of New Jersey, according to a report by AP News.
Patrick Ryder, commissioner of the Nassau County Police Department, said since Nov. 1, Nassau County has identified over 1,800 drone flights and 798 pilots.
Nassau County has the ability to track and identify drones that are in the county’s airspace, but is not allowed to mitigate their flying — only the federal government has that authority, Blakeman said.
“There’s detection and there’s mitigation,” he explained. “The mitigation is two types: One is the technology to jam it and have it return to its base, and the other one is to destroy it.”
Blakeman said they’d like the federal government to allow the police department to do a few things.
“We’d like the technology so we don’t have to shoot it down, because that creates a whole other set of problems,” Blakeman said. “But the technology is there to jam it and send it back to its home base, and we want that. We also want federal legislation that would allow us to issue a federal summons in the event that someone was violating the law.”
Blakeman said the county understands that drone flying is a hobby, and there are proper places where one can fly a drone.
“We have no problem with that,” he added. “But when it gets out of hand, like we’ve seen in New Jersey, or if it’s potential form of some kind of organized crime gang or a foreign nation, we have a responsibility to be on top of that.”
The least worrisome threat, Blakeman said, is an invasion of privacy.
“Drones have been known to go into people’s backyards,” he said, “and hover over windows in their homes.”
Drones can pose threats to aircraft by interfering with planes, or they could crash into structures, causing property damage. Large drones, Blakeman said, have the ability to carry material, either biological, chemical or explosive, which is a major concern.
The data collected by the county, Ryder said, indicates that people flying drones are likely testing the system.
“It indicates that we’ve got 798 knuckleheads that keep putting their drones up at night, just to test the system,” he said. “We’ve seen this triple in size and reporting. What’s going to happen in Nassau County — we’re going to ask you to take the drone down.”
In order to fly a drone in restricted airspace, Ryder said one needs to be a licensed drone pilot. Nassau County has 27 pilots, he said, that have gone to school and learned how to fly drones. The county also has 30 snipers that can subdue threats — like a drone — from long distances, he said.
Inside the David. S Mack Center, Ryder and Blakeman showed reporters the technology from behindthe-scenes — massive screens that can pinpoint where drones are flying, and where they’re being flown from. If an unknown drone is detected, patrol cars can go to the location and ask for it to come down.
The county does not have the ability to take down a drone itself, but can make an arrest if someone is refusing to stop flying their drone.
“Right now, we need help from the federal government, especially because we’re a large department,” Blakeman said. “I can understand if they don’t want to make it available to every department in the United States, but with a department the size of Nassau County, we should have that mitigation technology.”
open to that possibility.”
Growing up in the Roman Catholic community of Bayonne, New Jersey, Delaney’s faith and musical talents were nurtured from a young age. Despite never having formal piano or organ lessons, he began playing the organ in church at age 14, relying on his innate musical abilities and a developing passion for sacred music.
After graduating from Marist High School in Bayonne in 1974, Delaney enrolled in a theater arts and music program at Stockton State College, now Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey, but after getting to know the music industry, he decided not to complete his degree. Instead he launched a career driven by his natural talent and a deep commitment to the arts.
“I also believe in reincarnation,” Delaney said. “You know, there’s a part of me that thinks that I was a musician in a previous life, and that drew me into this life.”
He served as music director at a large Catholic church, where he led a 120-member choir and oversaw the church’s music program, conducting high school musicals, teaching elementary music in Catholic schools and composing for children’s musicals. He also served as managing director of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, producing concerts at Carnegie Hall and conducting for an offBroadway musical.
In 1986, Delaney professed the vows of an Augustinian monk, but his path later diverged when he decided to pursue the priesthood. Before entering seminary, he returned to higher education at Seton Hall University, where he earned a degree in voice and conducting in 1994. This period of academic and spiritual growth marked a time of personal reckoning. As an openly gay man, Delaney struggled to reconcile his identity with the conservative doctrines of the Catho-
lic Church. Though largely accepted in the communities where he worked, he felt a persistent unease, knowing that his sexuality was not fully embraced. The tension grew at the height of the HIV/ AIDS crisis, when he was disheartened by what he considered the Church’s inadequate response to the suffering of those affected.
Seeking a more inclusive and compassionate spiritual community, Delaney found solace in the more welcoming
Episcopal Church. That led him to shift his focus, first to serving as a music director in Episcopal churches and eventually to pursuing the priesthood within the denomination. In 1998 he was ordained as an Episcopal priest. He sees St. James as a vibrant, welcoming community that embraces the traditions and identity of the Episcopal Church, offering a place for all — whether they come with deep faith, doubt, disbelief or anger. He is dedicated to honoring the church’s heritage, encouraging it to “live into the mystery of who St. James was” while maintaining its strong foundation in Episcopal rituals and liturgy.
“I want to enter into a conversation with you because I think that’s the key to understanding our spirituality and relationship with God and other people,” Delaney said. “I think that’s my call as a priest. No matter where I go, I create relationships. I form a community.”
Engaging with Long Beach’s diverse faith communities, particularly Jewish and Islamic traditions, is another important aspect of Delaney’s vision for St. James. Reflecting on his early exposure to Jewish rituals and his respect for the discipline of Islamic prayer, he emphasizes the value of interfaith dialogue. In a city with a significant Jewish presence, strengthening these connections, he says, is a step toward fostering greater understanding, inclusivity and a spiritually vibrant community.
Hot Wheels Monster Truck Live Show is back at Nassau Coliseum for another year of car-smashing, ramp jumping, wheel-revving action
By Danielle Schwab
Get ready, everyone. Gather up the kids and shake up those January doldrums when the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow party lights up Nassau Coliseum once again. Witness the raw power of epic machines when the iconic Hot Wheels toy vehicles transform into unstoppable monster trucks for the “Glow-N-Fire” competition.
“Kids” of all ages can watch their favorite Hot Wheels trucks come to life when the action returns to Long Island, Jan. 18-19. As the arena darkens for this glow-in-the-dark party, each truck revs up with its unique LED lights. And, in true “It’s Not The Same Without The Flame” fashion, pyrotechnic effects light up the arena, adding even more intensity to the action.
• Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18-19; times vary
• Tickets start at $63.85 adults, $35. 15 children (also “Me + 3” family discount option); available at ticketmaster.com and hotwheelsmonstertruckslive. com
• Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale
It’s an especially big day for one particular truck: The classic blue vintage-style pick-up Bigfoot turns 50. Everyone is invited to the birthday bash. Plus, have the chance to be celebrated alongside the iconic monster truck. Bigfoot would love to see everyone’s creativity — so fans are encouraged to bring homemade birthday cards to wish Bigfoot a happy birthday. And show off those homemade birthday signs at the show for a chance to win prizes during the bash.
“Bigfoot is known as the original monster truck because this monster truck is what started monster trucks in general,” says Caleb Janezich, Bigfoot’s driver since July.
Owner-operator Bob Chandler first began building Bigfoot in 1975, and a legend was born. The modified 1974 Ford F-250 started its career at local mud runs and truck and tractor pulls. It quickly launched a worldwide phenomenon and its legions of fans. Chandler continued to make improvements and modifications until it grew into the massive behemoth known and loved today by multiple generations of fans.
“There are people that come up to us and the dad knows who Bigfoot is, and then maybe the kids are exposed to Bigfoot for the first time. Even the grandpas come up and they remember Bigfoot,” says Janezich, on Bigfoot’s popularity.
There’s surely no better way to commemorate the original monster truck than with incredible stunts performed by Bigfoot along with all his mechanical monster pals, including Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, HW 5-Alarm, Boneshaker, and Gunkster.
Expect to see wheelies, donuts, and long jumps, along with a freestyle Motocross demonstration.
And of course, be prepared for plenty of good ol’ car crushing!
Also witness as the show unleashes its newest addition, Skelesauraus, a truck that takes the spine-chilling form of a giant skeleton head.
This is Janezich’s first time appearing at Nassau Coliseum, however he is no stranger to the Hot Wheels monster truck circuit. An avid collector of Hot Wheels since childhood, Janezich worked as a Bigfoot crewmember before taking up the driver’s seat.
“Bigfoot was always my favorite. I grew up around pickup trucks and four-wheel drives. My dad got me into it.” he says.
“It’s pretty humbling, and it’s really a dream come true. Honestly, they say, ‘if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life’ and that’s pretty much what I live by now.”
While the trucks may seem invincible, it take a dedicated team behind the scenes to keep them crushing to the max.
“The stuff that can be challenging is the unknown. You never know what these trucks are going to do sometimes, and the biggest challenge sometimes can just be just keeping them going and just making sure that we’re ready for the next show all the time, which we try to do very well,” Janezich adds.
Opportunities to go behind the action add to the spectacle. At the Pre-Show Party, held two-and-a-half hours prior to every performance, get up close and see the outrageous designs and epic size of the Hot Wheels behemoths on the arena floor. Meet favorite drivers and performers. Also check out the new VIP Backstage Experience. It’s a behind the scenes guided tour of what goes on before all the smashing and crashing.
Everyone becomes a kid at the show, which is geared to five to 10-year-olds.
“That’s the part that’s always cool because families are coming down and the parents get involved. When the parents are having fun, the kids are having fun, that’s what keeps them coming year after year,” Janezich says.
Courtesy Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Photos: Bigfoot, driven by Caleb Janezich, headlines the latest edition of the spectacle. The iconic truck is joined by many Hot Wheels favorites to thrill fans with exciting car-crunching feats, flying more than 35 feet in the air. Plus, the fiery Skelesaurus roars into the arena ready to “chomp.”
‘Cold Beer on a Friday Night’
Keep those winter doldrums at bay with Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band. It may seem like we’ve got too long to wait ‘til we’re back on the beach, but Kenny comes to the rescue. Join in their “Ultimate Beach Party Tribute” to Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band. Parrotheads, No Shoes Nation and the Zamily. The Long Island-based band — guided by Paul C. Cuthbert (aka Jimmy Kenny) on lead vocals/ acoustic guitar, with Linn DeMilta (aka Lovely Linn), lead and backing vocals, Luis Rios, lead guitar/backing vocals, Frank Stainkamp, keyboard/ backing vocals, Dan Prine, bass, and drummer Mike Vecchione — gets everyone into the groove as only they can.
Friday, Jan. 3, 8 p.m. $35, $25, $20, $15. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
‘…Your voice is heard’ Broadway comes to Tilles Center. “Dear Evan Hanson,” the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it, has struck a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere. If you’ve yet to see it, now’s your opportunity. Declared “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history” by the Washington Post, it’s the first musical to take a groundbreaking look — from the point of view of both the parents and young people — at our complex, interconnected, and social media-filled lives. It features an uplifting score, including some of the most iconic musical theatere songs from the last decade: “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through A Window,” and “For Forever.”
Thursday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m. Tickets start at $35. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
The kings of ‘70s tribute hit the road with an authentic throwback to the era, on the Paramount stage, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11, at 8 p.m. Yacht Rock Revue, hailed by Rolling Stone as the “world’s premier soft-rock party band,” invites listeners on a nostalgic voyage through the sun-soaked melodies of the ‘70s and ‘80s. The dynamic Atlanta-based 10-piece ensemble blends impeccable musicianship with a deep reverence for the yacht rock genre. Their original album “Escape Artist” is a bold homage to this iconic sound. Each side of the album encapsulates the band’s ability to transport audiences to a simpler, more carefree time. Lead singles like “Tropical Illusion” and “Passengers” set the tone, evoking sunsets and salty breezes with their lush instrumentation and ethereal vocals.
Collaborations with yacht rock legends Elliot Lurie and Robbie Dupree underscore the band’s status as innovators within their genre. YRR continues to captivate audiences nationwide with their infectious energy and unabashedly joyous performances. Since their humble beginnings in 2007, YRR has emerged as a pivotal figure in revitalizing yacht rock, sharing stages with icons and garnering a devoted following of “Anchorheads.” Whether performing in intimate venues or rocking arenas, their concerts promise an immersive musical journey that celebrates the timeless allure of smooth grooves. $55, $40, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
Nassau BOCES, Long Island’s stateof-the arts career and technical education high school, opens its doors to all students with a passion for hands-on careers, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 6-7:30 p.m. Nassau BOCES GC Tech prepares students for a future in the workforce by providing them with the skills, knowledge and professional qualities they will need to be successful in their chosen career fields. The school boasts a new spa where aspiring estheticians learn skin care and massage techniques. There is also a newly revamped auto shop.
Prospective students and families from Nassau County are invited to tour the GC Tech campus and to meet with expert teachers, counselors and administrators. Additional open house sessions are offered in February and March. Interested students and their families can register at nassauboces.org/ gctech or call the school for more information at (516) 604-4200. 150 Abbey Lane, Levittown.
The Kennedy Plaza Farmers’ Market is held at Kennedy Plaza, in front of Long Beach City Hall, every Wednesday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Come check out locally grown fruits and vegetables! 1 W. Chester St. For more information or to register, visit LongBeachNY. gov.
Hang out with some Long Island Children’s Museum’s “residents,” Sunday, Jan. 5, 1:30-2 p.m., at the drop-in program. Join an animal educator in the Yellow Studio’s Feasts for Beasts Gallery to learn what goes into the care of LICM’s animal “residents.” Observe animal bath time. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.
Do you play Mah Jongg and want to meet other community members who play? Join in the game, at Long Beach Library, Wednesdays at 11 a.m. in the auditorium. Practice your skills and have fun while you do it. Bring your own Mah Jongg tiles. 111 W. Park Ave. For more information, visit LongBeachPL. com or call (516) 432-7201.
BOE meets
The Long Beach Board of Education next meets on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m., at Lindell School. For more information, visit LBeach.org. 601 Lindell Blvd.
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.
Enjoy a movie on Long Beach
Public Library big screen. See “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story,” Monday, Jan. 6. It’s shown in the main auditorium, starting at 2 p.m.
The film follows Christopher Reeve’s rise to becoming a film star follows with a nearfatal horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. After the accident, he became an activist for spinal cord injury treatments and disability rights. 111 W. Park Ave. For more information, visit longbeachpl. com or call (516) 432-7201.
Calling all poets! Long Beach Public Library holds its poetry open mic night, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 6:30 -8:30 p.m., hosted by Nassau County Poet Laureate Emeritus Paula Curci and Peter Dugan. Bring your poems, prose, spoken word, lyrics, and songs up to the mic. All encouraging voices are welcome. 111 W. Park Ave. For more information, visit longbeachpl.com or call (516) 432-7201.
The South Shore Audubon Society welcomes all to join its members for another in its series of bird walks, at Hempstead Lake State Park, Sunday, Jan. 5, starting at 9 a.m. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The group will meet The group will meet in parking lot #3, off Exit 18 of the Southern State Parkway.
To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. No walk if rain or snow. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit ssaudubon. org.
Do you have questions about your computer or laptop? Want to learn more about Zoom, streaming movies, or downloading ebooks to your device? Join Long Beach Library’s Tech Guy, every Wednesday, 2-3 p.m. to get answers to your pressing tech questions. 111 W. Park Ave. For information, visit LongBeachPL. org.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition
“Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition spans various world cultures through a range of media.
It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority. Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. On view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Sands Point Preserve’s reserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for the 2025 unique chamber music series, “Four Seasons in Music,” Sunday, Jan. 12, 3 p.m. The duoJalal ensemble-in-residence led by Kathryn Lockwood on viola, with percussionist Yousif Sheronick, violinists Deborah Buck and Emma Frucht and cellist Caroline Stinson presents a German flavored. Celebrating Germany’s rich history of extraordinary composers, including Bach, Mozart, Schubert and Brahms, to the less traditional, this concert will warm you up on a winter afternoon.
A reception follows. $56, $45 members. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For tickets and information, visit sandspointpreserveconservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901. WEDNESDAY| JANUARY 22 | 7:00PM
LEGAL NOTICE
A nonprofit organization in Nassau County is seeking sealed bids for sales and installation of security related enhancements. This project includes: Doors and Security Guards. Selection criteria will be based on knowledge of surveillance and security, adherence to work schedule, prior experience, references, and cost. Specifications and bid requirements can be obtained by contacting us at grants@yaazoru.org and referencing “RFPNBE”. All interested firms may be required to sign for the proposal documents. Bids will be accepted until Dec 30, 2024. 150736
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS
Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 01/08/2025 at 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:
THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 21/25. LIDO BEACHDeborah & Elliot Cosgrove, Variances, lot area occupied, average front yard setback, side yard, rear yard, construct 3- story dwelling with garage, decks, shed & outdoor shower all attached to dwelling., E/s Woodhail St., 329.80’ S/o Lido Blvd., a/k/a 39 Woodhail St. 32/25. - 33/25. POINT LOOKOUT - Edward & Elizabeth Berger, Variances, subdivision of lot, lot area, exceeds number of stories, lot area occupied, front yards setbacks on Cedarhurst Ave. & Bayside Dr., side yard, construct 3-story dwelling & two (2) A/C units attached to dwelling (Lot A); Special exception for proposed shed with shower attached thereto higher & larger than permitted, exceeding horizontal maximum, with more than required side & rear yard setbacks & with lot area occupied variance (Lot A)., S/E cor. Cedarhurst Ave. & Bayside Dr.
34/25. POINT LOOKOUTEdward & Elizabeth Berger, Variances, subdivision of lot, lot area, maintain dwelling on a lesser lot (Lot B) (demolish existing garage)., E/s Cedarhurst Ave., 63’ S/o Bayside Dr., a/k/a 6 Cedarhurst Ave. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.
This notice is only for new cases in Lido Beach & Point Lookout within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available a t https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals
The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.
150768
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU SONYMA, Plaintiff AGAINST Elizabeth M. Kiernan aka Liz Kiernan, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 26, 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 February 4, 2025 at 2:30PM, premises known as 88 Michigan Street, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 58, Block: 99, Lot: 10. Approximate amount of judgment $306,034.75 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #002884/2012. 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”. Dominic Villoni, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-047710-F00 83720 150747
To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, -againstDANIEL ANGEL, IF LIVING, AND IF SHE/HE BE DEAD, 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 February 15, 2024, wherein LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC is the Plaintiff and DANIEL ANGEL, IF LIVING, AND IF SHE/HE BE DEAD, 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 14, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 345 EAST HUDSON STREET, LONG BEACH, NY 11561; and the following tax map identification: 59-136-61 & 62. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 606278/2022. John P. Clarke, 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. 150476
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 NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF RESIDENTIAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES TRUST II, Plaintiff, vs. COZY NEST HOMES, LLC, ET. AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 19, 2024 and an Order Appointing Substitute Referee duly entered on November 18, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine”, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 28, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 610 Laurelton Boulevard, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 54 and Lots 6-7. Approximate amount of judgment is $643,946.03 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #607903/2023. 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. Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C., Attn: Jackie Halpern Weinstein, Esq., One Battery Park Plaza, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10004, Tel: 212.825.0365, Attorneys for Plaintiff 150667
Jordan Vallone/Herald file
The Town of Hempstead will hold its annual Mulchfest on Jan. 11 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in East Meadow. Residents can turn their Christmas trees into mulch, which they can either take home or donate to the Nigerian Dwarf goats that inhabit the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in Merrick.
Above, a goat at the park munches on a tree at a past event.
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
The holiday season may be winding down, but in the Town of Hemsptead, there’s still time to celebrate sustainably at the town’s 5th Annual Mulchfest.
Residents are invited to bring their Christmas trees to Veterans Memorial Park at 1700 Prospect Ave., East Meadow on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where the trees will be shredded into mulch for personal use or donated as snacks for the Nigerian Dwarf goats at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve.
“Mulchfest is back for the fifth year in a row, and the goats at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve are bleating in excitement,” Town Supervisor Don Clavin said. “This holiday tradition sees scores of residents turning their Christmas trees into mulch, with each year getting better and better.”
A “Mulchfest” is an event where people can bring their natural Christmas trees to be recycled into mulch, a nutrient-rich material often used in gardening and landscaping. During a Mulchfest, trees are shredded into mulch using wood chippers, and participants are usually offered free mulch to take home for personal use.
The event promotes eco-friendly practices by preventing discarded trees from going to landfills and repurposing them in ways that benefit the environment, such as improving soil health, retaining moisture, and reducing
weeds. Some Mulchfests also use excess mulch for community landscaping projects or even as snacks for animals, like the Town of Hempstead’s goats, that enjoy eating pine. It’s a sustainable way to “give back” during the holiday season while responsibly disposing of Christmas trees.
The eco-friendly event gives families the opportunity to extend the season of giving by repurposing their trees into nutrient-rich mulch for gardening, moisture retention, and weed prevention. Residents can take home a free bag of mulch or choose to have the mulch donated to the town’s goats. Additionally, broken-down cardboard will be accepted and recycled during the event.
For those unable to attend Mulchfest, Christmas trees can be dropped off at the homeowner disposal area next to Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve at 1600 Merrick Road, between Monday, Jan. 13, and Saturday, Jan. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“The Town of Hempstead proudly stands for greener and environmentally friendly programs,” Clavin said. “Come on down to Veterans Park to repurpose your Christmas tree and receive a free bag of mulch in return. Don’t forget to stop by Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve and share some with the lovable goats.”
The surplus mulch will also be used for landscaping and planting projects throughout Hempstead Town’s parks, ensuring that residents’ contributions support the community year-round.
Interested Applicants should contact: lsveda@sewanhakaschools.org for an application.
Full Time and Part Time
Positions Available!
Help Wanted
CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE
Full Time/Part Time
Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.
STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $16.50 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
Help Wanted
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour.
Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA
ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com
Call 516-569-4000 X286
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $34,320 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS
Welcome to an extraordinary waterfront home that masterfully blends contemporary design with unmatched resilience. Constructed on 42 pilings with steel-reinforced block concrete, this 5,600-square-foot residence is built for exceptional energy efficiency and minimal maintenance. Inside, you'll find 5 spacious bedrooms, 3.5 luxurious baths, and three expansive decks, two front-facing and one rear, complete with a gas hookup. The open floor plan is beautifully appointed with hardwood floors, a gas-burning fireplace, and high-end appliances. For year-round comfort, the ground and lower levels are equipped with radiant heat. The expansive yard is a true retreat, with a versatile cabana that can be enjoyed in any season. Perfectly located close to the LIRR and the west end, this home is on the open bay, adjacent to a scenic waterfront walking path, and minutes away from a platinum selection of restaurants, cafes, shops, and more.
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Q. After much research, we chose brick for our new house. It has been a nightmare getting satisfaction from the mason who did the work. We noticed after only a few months that there were white powder-like streaks across the brick walls in many places. We spoke with the brick manufacturer, who said it sounded like an installation problem or streaking from other materials around it. The mason came back and looked at it. He used acid and brushed one spot and it lightened up but didn’t go away. He seemed annoyed with us, and said he could “send someone” to brush and put more cleaner on, but the whiteness would remain and it would have to “weather” after that. We had a sample wall built to make sure the color was right, and really went to a lot of effort for our choices. We are upset that the mason acted like it was our fault for complaining. We selected brick for high durability, weather resistance and low to no maintenance, and now we have this problem. What could have caused it, and is there any other remedy?
A. Brick was a great choice for all the reasons you described, and will outlast generations of occupants if installed correctly. The whiteness may be caused in a few ways. You have to first know what caused it.
Trim materials, above and around brick, will streak from the wrong paint on roof-edge or topof-wall trim. If the paint used was interior latex water-soluble paint, it will separate and run. Prefinished metal, factory finished, will also start to chalk and run. If a highly pigmented paint with low-resin binder was used, then the same results occur. The brick will be somewhat cleanable, but will have to be exposed to many cycles of rain, heat, freezing, etc., also known as weathering.
Because the mason did not mention the runoff of paint from trim, I suspect that your problem is the worst-case scenario, and all the cleaning with muriatic acid and a steel brush will not solve the staining entirely. Wire brushing or high powerwashing actually harms brick, because that amazingly strong fired-finish on the brick, the reason brick is such a good resister of the elements, is now going to be broken down to a grainy finish that can harbor mildew.
Sadly, the issue was completely preventable, either by using trim that did not lose color or by the brick installation. Yes, the brick installation. It starts with not having the correct width of the foundation to carry the brick, so it is installed too close to or right against the exterior plywood. That airspace is supposed to be 2 inches, clear, behind the brick, so rain that gets sucked into the mortar joints can drop behind the brick and “weep” from weep holes at the bottom of the wall. If you do not have weeps, then the wall was installed incorrectly and the problem will continue. Good luck!
© 2025 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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In Nassau County, there is a palpable sense of hope and optimism on the horizon, and much of that can be credited to the steady, inclusive leadership of County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Under his guidance, the county has not only preserved but strengthened its commitment to building a better, safer and more vibrant community for all, no matter residents’ race, religion or economic background. Blakeman’s leadership has shown us all how to bridge divides, foster collaboration, and ensure that every community member has access to the services they deserve.
Take the recent announcement that the county will be entering into a longterm lease with the Marion & Aaron Gural Jewish Community Center to revitalize the Five Towns Community Center in Inwood. Bringing a new stateof-the-art facility to the community isn’t just about upgrading a physical space — it’s about creating an environment that serves the needs of everyone, regardless of background or identity.
Blakeman has made it abundantly
Tclear that this project is not only about the local Jewish community, but also about providing for all residents, from all walks of life. The new community center, he said, will be “open to everybody in the community regardless of your race, religion, ethnic group, abilities or lifestyles.” This emphasis on inclusivity is the hallmark of Blakeman’s administration, which knows the value of reaching across lines, breaking down barriers, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Hcaters to the needs of Nassau’s diverse population, offering programs in English, Spanish, Hebrew, Yiddish and Russian, so everyone feels welcome, no matter their language or cultural background.
e has shown us all how to bridge divides and foster collaboration.
The collaboration between the Gural JCC, the Police Activity League and the Nassau County Police Department’s Operation Overwatch program is a powerful illustration of this approach. The county is not only investing in physical infrastructure, but is also fostering an environment where safety, community-building and family enrichment are prioritized. From an indoor pool and walking tracks to sports courts and yoga classes, the new center will offer a wide array of recreational activities. For those in need, it will feature a food pantry, as well as after-school programs, tutoring and senior services.
The partnership with the Gural JCC, with its deep roots in the local community, will help ensure that the center
We need
he U.S. Department of Education was established as a cabinet-level agency in October 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, and officially began operations in May 1980. For nearly 45 years, the department has soldiered past many attempts to break it apart, or disband it altogether, most notably by conservative politicians who believe that the federal agency oversteps states’ rights.
While calls to do away with the agency have persisted through the early 21st century, the effort has never been successful, and here’s why: Many educators, parents, advocacy groups and politicians on both sides of the aisle support a federal role in education to ensure equity and civil rights enforcement.
I’m not an educator or a politician, but I can tell you this: Education, and at the very least a high school diploma, is imperative to one’s success in life. What’s even more important is that the Department of Education has played a vital role
Another key aspect of this initiative is the involvement of local law enforcement. With the inclusion of the NCPD, Blakeman has ensured that the center will not only be a place for recreation and education, but also a safe haven for children and families. This extra layer of security and community outreach is exactly what the Five Towns need: Blakeman has effectively blended public safety with community engagement.
Equally deserving of praise are the efforts of Congressman Anthony D’Esposito and the County Legislature’s presiding officer, Howard Kopel, whose support has been integral to the success of this initiative. D’Esposito worked tirelessly to secure $3 million in federal funds that will be used to build the new facility, while Kopel’s leadership has ensured that the necessary funding was approved. Both men have been steadfast in their commitment to improving the quality of life for county residents.
As a member of the Assembly, I have seen firsthand how Blakeman’s
approach to governance creates opportunities for everyone. His willingness to work across party lines, collaborate with community leaders, and secure funding from all available sources has made a real difference. Whether it’s improving public safety, investing in education or revitalizing aging infrastructure, Blakeman is a leader who understands the needs of the community and is determined to deliver.
Moreover, the long-term lease agreement, which is expected to last 40 to 60 years, is a significant step forward for the Five Towns area. This commitment not only ensures stability but also provides the resources needed to sustain and expand the center’s offerings for generations to come. As we look toward the future, the revitalization of the community center serves as a shining example of what can be accomplished when strong leadership, collaboration, and community-focused action come together.
This project is just one of many that Blakeman has championed, and with continued support from leaders like D’Esposito, State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Kopel, there is no limit to what Nassau County can achieve in the years ahead. I look forward to seeing this vision come to life, and to the continued progress we will make together as a community.
Ari Brown represents the 20th Assembly District.
in making access to education possible for countless people, ensuring that opportunities for learning and growth are within reach for all.
The DOE oversees and coordinates national education policies, but it also works closely with state and local governments to assess needs on a state-by-state basis.
One of the department’s key components is Title I — the largest federal education program, which is aimed at improving the academic achievement of disadvantaged students. It provides financial assistance to schools and districts with high percentages of children from low-income families.
public education for students with disabilities, and also provides them with protections and resources, like individualized education plans.
The act stretches beyond primary and secondary education, also requiring schools to help students transition from high school to postsecondary education, employment or independent living — ensuring that no one’s future is negatively impacted by a disability.
s hutting it down would have profound consequences for students all over the nation.
I’m detailing all of this because I, like many others, find it extremely alarming that President-elect Donald Trump has once again vowed to shut down the Department of Education.
grams could survive or operate under other federal or state agencies, but the transition would likely cause massive disruptions in services, negatively impacting students.
Ninety percent of all K-12 students in the U.S. are publicly educated, due to education’s accessibility and widespread availability, and who would we be, as a nation, if we took that accessibility away?
I’ve said this many times, and I’ll say it again: If you voted for Trump because you believe in his vision for America, that’s fine, and it’s your right as an American.
Putting that aside, however, I now ask you to think about students — perhaps even your children — and what the shutdown of a massively important department could mean.
Over the years, Title I has garnered bipartisan support for addressing education inequities. Debates have arisen over funding distribution and outcome measurement, but Title I remains a central component of federal education policy because of its critical role in supporting vulnerable students.
The DOE also oversaw the implementation of the landmark Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, which guarantees free, appropriate
He first proposed to do so during his 2016 presidential campaign, but even his first-term secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, didn’t see that idea through.
The DOE has faced its share of woes over the course of seven presidencies, and yet it continues its work. Shutting it down isn’t just a matter of politics — it’s a decision that would have profound consequences for students across the nation.
If Trump succeeds in dismantling the department in his second term, experts in the field have indicated that its pro-
The Department of Education exists to ensure that education is not a privilege for few, but rather a right for everyone, and to close it down would risk reversing decades of progress. Rather than dismantle it, we should be focused on strengthening it for generations to come, prioritizing children, their futures, and the promise of opportunity for all.
Jordan Vallone is a senior editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? Jvallone@liherald.com.
anew year always arrives freighted with emotion. It carries the accumulated hopes, frustrations and lessons of the previous 12 months, paired with the tantalizing possibility of transformation.
This year, as we look ahead, we find ourselves grappling with familiar challenges while daring to believe in the promise of better days.
One challenge we must confront is the growing fragmentation of our shared experiences. Increasingly, the global and local spheres seem to exist in parallel universes. A catastrophe halfway across the world — whether a climate disaster, political upheaval or humanitarian crisis — has the power to shape economies and policies closer to home, yet often feels distant, reduced to a fleeting headline.
Meanwhile, our more local and personal concerns — the cost of living, caring for family and doing well at work — demand urgent attention but risk being overshadowed by the constant churn of global issues. Bridging this gap requires a recalibration of priorities. The new year demands both outward-looking empathy and a renewed focus on strengthening the foundations of our own communities.
Economically, the year ahead will likely test the resilience of all levels of
To the Editor:
our government. Trust in institutions has eroded, but there are also glimmers of progress worth celebrating: advancements in green technology, a renewed emphasis on workers’ rights, and shifting societal attitudes toward mental health and well-being. These trends suggest that positive change, while slow, is possible.
We need to be optimistic, but that demands resolve. The climate crisis, for instance, is no longer a future threat but an immediate reality, underscored by the fires, floods and record-breaking temperatures of recent years. The urgency to act cannot be overstated, and yet real solutions remain politically fraught and logistically complex. We face the challenge of balancing personal responsibility with the recognition that systemic change requires collective action.
At the same time, the new year also offers a chance to reimagine what progress means. Growth, long equated with economic expansion, is being reconsidered in light of its environmental and social costs. These ideas challenge deeply entrenched narratives about success and prosperity, but they also open up the possibility of more inclusive, equitable futures.
Many of us also enter 2025 grappling with uncertainty. The relentless pace of
I agree with everything that Peter King wrote in “Like many other devotees, I’ll miss ‘Blue Bloods’ dearly” (Dec. 19-25). Though I never had the chance to meet the cast of “Blue Bloods,” they did feel like family. There has to be a show for people like us — born in Queens, my grandfather was with the Manhattan mounted police in the late 1920s, my cousins were with the Port Authority Police during the Colin Ferguson bloodbath on the LIRR and on Sept. 11.
We love the Police Department and everything they stand for. They are our angels on earth in these crazy times. I appreciated grace before meals as a practicing Catholic. So there are many people who loved “Blue Bloods,” but I’m sure the network needed to try to make even more money! No one cares about the audience, just the dollar sign.
NANCY ALBERTELLI East Meadow
To the Editor:
My father, like Mr. King’s, wore NYPD’s blue. Like Mr. King, I consider ‘Blue Bloods’ more nuanced than many cop shows. But his speculations about imagined oppo-
technological change, the aftershocks of a pandemic and the simple unpredictability of life can feel overwhelming. Yet amid this turbulence, we find moments of connection and meaning. A neighbor’s kindness, a shared laugh, the rediscovery of an old passion — these small, often overlooked moments remind us why we persevere.
How do we handle the bad while making room for the good? We need to balance action with rest and contemplation, and ambition with gratitude. This requires recognizing that while we cannot solve every problem, we can contribute to their solutions.
As we step into the new year, we should resolve to move beyond empty platitudes. Instead of vague aspirations for “better days,” let’s strive for tangible progress: a stronger sense of community, a commitment to justice, and a willingness to adapt to changing realities. We should allow ourselves moments of joy, not just as a distraction from life’s difficulties, but also as a reminder of its possibilities.
It isn’t easy. There are always setbacks and frustrations, but there are also breakthroughs, large and small, that remind us of our capacity to endure, to grow and to create a better future. The new year’s gift gives us the opportunity to begin anew.
nents of the show, and his “unanswered questions,” are dubious. No doubt, the cast members are all outstanding people and first-class actors, but they were performers acting out dramatic scripts. It’s all fiction, and we can enjoy “as if” for the hour, but to extend the imaginary past the credits is delusional.
Americans generally tend to romanticize both our lawmen and our criminals, clouding our view of reality. Our fiction is out of sync with our nonfiction, and we get confused. If real police were “Blue Bloods” police, we would not have had a Bernie Kerik as commissioner; there would be no need for civilian complaint review
as the season of giving comes to a close, it’s important to reflect on not just all we have to be thankful for, but on those who still need our support. While there are certainly plenty of domestic issues, and Americans in need, we cannot forget the people of Ukraine, who are nearing the end of their third year of war with Russia.
The conflict, which has cost the lives of roughly 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers and over 11,000 civilians, has put on display the very real threat authoritarianism is posing to democracies all around the world today. And the people of Ukraine, who spent decades under Soviet rule and centuries under czarist rule before that, know how important their right to self-determination is, because they know what it means to live under a regime without rights. Here in America, where we’ve had the luck and privilege to live under a democratic government for our entire history, it can be easy to brush aside these kinds of conflicts by claiming that certain areas or certain cultures
are used to conflict. We hear it about the Middle East all the time: so-called “experts” who assert that the region has “always been at war,” and that one ethnic group or another “doesn’t understand democracy.”
I don’t buy it.
As our Founding Fathers knew too well, human beings are born with an innate desire, and a right, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While we may think of these words as uniquely American, I’ve always believed that they were written not just with our country’s population in mind, but as a fundamental fact of the human condition.
wmyr Zelensky chose to stay in Kyiv in 2022, when the capital city refused to fall, and every day since, his people have had one message for Putin and the world: We will not go quietly.
e can’t turn our backs on a country that is fighting for its sovereignty.
When our nation was in its infancy and fighting for its existence, we relied heavily on the support not only of foreign nations like France and Spain, but on the extraordinary efforts of individuals from around the world who recognized that our fight for independence wasn’t just a local conflict, but a global one, that of freedom vs. tyranny.
There are hundreds of international charitable groups that are on the ground in Ukraine providing humanitarian aid, from UNICEF to the Red Cross. Other organizations, such as United Help Ukraine, Nova Ukraine and Razom for Ukraine, provide medical aid to tens of thousands of people and soldiers across the country.
And the people of Ukraine have shown their desire for these universal rights with a determination and tenacity that has allowed this country of only 37 million to face down, and frequently defeat, a richer and larger nation with nearly five times its population. And Ukrainians are fighting not just for their own rights and sovereignty. They are the first line of defense against the deranged, ahistorical and plutocratic worldview that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian oligarchs are so desperate to spread.
When Ukrainian President Volody-
boards, body cameras and millions spent on misconduct settlements; and less turnover in the top brass. “Courtesy cards” would be in museums, not wallets.
Distractions from reality allow speculations like Mr. King’s suggestion that scriptwriters were pressured “to portray cops in a negative light,” as if any producers care at all about what viewers see between the commercials. There are other shows for that. Equally dangerous is his question about the series’ cancellation. Instead of noting the fact that the noble cast accepted a 25 percent pay cut to subsidize season 14, Mr. King conjures the demon of “woke” from nothing.
It’s true that the show’s fans will always have the memories, but we must hope our nostalgia doesn’t distract from the realities of 21st century law and its enforcement.
BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre
To the Editor:
Long Island Rail Road commuters should be concerned about insufficient funds being earmarked to bring bridges,
viaducts, tunnels and other basic infrastructure that are in poor or marginal condition up to a state of good repair in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposed $68 billion 2025-2029 Five Year Capital Plan. This also applies to Metro-North Railroad and New York City Transit.
It’s questionable whether $600 million is sufficient funding for LIRR critical infrastructure projects under the proposed plan. Can this eliminate the growing backlog of critical infrastructure repair? Too many critical capital assets remain in daily service beyond their anticipated useful life. There is still a $33 billion shortfall to fully fund the plan.
Safety, state of good repair, and reliable, on-time performance with a minimum of service disruptions at a fair price should be higher priorities than system expansion projects. The $7.7 billion Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, the $5.5 billion Brooklyn-Queens light-rail Interborough Express and the $3.1 billion Metro North Bronx East Penn Station Access projects all need to be put on hold. Funding for all three would be better spent on critical infrastructure projects benefiting over 4 million NYC Transit subway, 200,000-plus LIRR and 200,000plus Metro North daily commuters. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and board members have a fiduciary responsibility to
The analogy isn’t perfect. Ukraine isn’t fighting to win its independence from its mother country, but is fighting instead to maintain its sovereignty in the face of foreign aggression. But the fact remains that its people, who have seen family members’, friends’ and loved ones’ lives destroyed by the aggression of a brutish dictator, deserve not only our respect and admiration, but our help.
You may think, “But I’m only one person — what could I possibly do?” And obviously, no one person can end this conflict overnight (except maybe Rocky Balboa). But there are plenty of ways for us to do our part.
There are also nearly 300,000 Ukrainian refugees now living in the United States, part of a diaspora of nearly 4 million Ukrainians, predominantly women, children and seniors, who have been forced to flee their homes in the face of ruthless Russian aggression. While many of these people have been kindly fostered by Americans, Europeans and people everywhere, there are always more people in need.
To learn more about how to host Ukrainian refugees, visit SupportUkraineNow.org.
Ukrainians are fighting not just for their own right to exist, but for the rights of people around the world struggling against conquest and the threat of extermination. As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously declared, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” — and we can all do more to help Ukrainians restore peace in the country they love.
Will Sheeline is an editor covering Glen Head, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? WSheeline@liherald.com.
Framework by Tim Baker
protect the interests of riders and taxpayers.
LARRY PENNER
Great Neck
Larry Penner is a transportation advo-
cate, historian and writer who previously served as a director of the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.
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