Long Beach Herald 01-23-2025

LONG BEACH

protesters from across Long island’s South Shore gathered on what was being called a national day of action to voice their concerns about offshore wind outside city hall.

South Shore residents rally against offshore wind, again

By kEPhERD DANIEl kdaniel@liherald.com

A National Day of Action against offshore wind brought community members, activists and local leaders together in Long Beach and Island Park on Saturday, highlighting a sharp divide over renewable energy projects. While protesters rallied against the potential environmental, health and economic impacts of offshore wind, some emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change with renewable solutions. Roughly 50 demonstrators marched from Long Beach to Island Park Saturday afternoon to protest offshore wind projects. The

event, part of a nationwide campaign spearheaded by the National Offshore Wind Opposition Alliance, united coastal communities in voicing their opposition to the offshore wind industry and its impact on local ecosystems, economies and public health.

“We will be saying, ‘End it,’ with one unified voice, to remind our incoming administration that there are millions of coastal citizens that would be negatively impacted by the offshore wind industry and its infrastructure,” said Christina Kramer, of Long Beach, a board member of Protect Our Coast Long Island NY, who opened the rally. “We are looking for our new president and his

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beach shops

By ANGElINA ZINGARIEllo azingariello@liherald.com

At its meeting on Tuesday night, the City Council addressed the future of the city’s beach concessions, and the potential impact of new lease agreements on three local businesses on the boardwalk. The meeting drew a small crowd of residents in support of the businesses, Skudin Surf, Riptides and Marvel.

The council adopted a resolution that allows City Manager Dan Creighton to sign new lease agreements with the businesses, which include significant rent increases. Many attendees, however, expressed their concerns about those increases, and the possibility that Skudin Surf, Riptides and Marvel, which have become fixtures on the beach over the years, may eventually be replaced by larger, corporatebased businesses.

tive equipment to teach people of all abilities to surf. The program has garnered widespread praise in the surfing community for fostering inclusivity and accessibility.

’ll speak for myself: I don’t want them to leave

MIkE REINhAR t City councilman

“If there’s something that we want to do, we should be able to find a way to do it,” Joe Slaninka, who has spina bifida and hydrocephalus, said. “The Skudin Surf for All is that avenue for somebody, whether it’s a kid or an adult with disabilities, to get in the water and enjoy the ocean. I’ve been in the water with every kind of disability known to man, and there’s a smile that I see from my friends, my students, my colleagues, the kids from Long Beach that the Skudins have volunteer.”

Skudin Surf, in particular, drew community support for its Surf for All program, in which its instructors use adap-

Skudin Surf’s current lease is $22,000 per year through 2025, but it will increase to $37,500 on Sept. 16, 2025, the beginning of a new lease — a 70 percent jump. The annual rent would continue to climb, reaching $45,712 by 2035, with further

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Alice Moreno/Herald

Voicing concerns over rising boardwalk rents

increases if a five-year extension is agreed to.

Riptides face an even steeper increase, from $30,000 this year to $52,000 under the new agreement, a 73 percent hike. By the end of the 10-year term, Riptides’ rent would reach $64,900. Marvel, whose current lease is also set to expire this year, faces similar terms, with its rent rising from $52,000 in 2025 to $64,900 by 2035, and extension options raising it to $75,200 by 2040.

“Don’t just think about how much more money you can get, but think about all of the lives that they have helped change,” community activist James Hodge said, referring to Skudin Surf. “Especially the hundreds of kids like myself that never thought we could ever go and surf until they made it happen.”

Many residents voiced fears that the new leases could make it difficult for the businesses to compete, especially if future leases are opened to the highest bidder. Some pointed out that this could pave the way for corporate entities to replace local businesses, potentially altering the unique character of the boardwalk concessions. They urged the council to prioritize the preservation of local businesses over maximizing revenue from the properties.

“Riptides have become part of us, part of who we are as a community,” Gabriella Lopez, an employee of the restaurant and a Long Beach High School senior, said. “It’s an example of the importance of remembering where you come from, and giving back when you can. Working at Riptides has taught me so much, not just about responsibilities, but also the importance of community and giving back. I hope to carry those lessons with me as I move forward in life. Tonight I hope we can all reflect on the importance of supporting local businesses.”

Despite attendees’ concerns, the City Council voted

one resident after another weighed in on the lease increases for their favorite beachside businesses.

to pass the resolution, which cited the value the businesses bring to the city and acknowledged their role in serving the public. Roy Lester was the only council member who opposed the measure.

“I really want to thank the businesses and our city manager for negotiating, because this wasn’t an easy negotiation, but we all felt there needed to be a course correction,” Councilman Mike Reinhart said. “We really needed to get the market value, and these concessions did not want to leave. I’ll speak for myself: I don’t want them to leave. So I want to really thank both parties (for coming to) an agreement.”

The council’s decision represents an effort to support local businesses while addressing the city’s financial needs.

“I personally think the community benefit outweighs the need to put this up to bid and, actually, there is no need to put this up to bid,” Council President Brendan Finn said. “Maybe putting up the bid would bid the money up a little bit, but at what point? To alienate some good businesses, to lose a good business? This is not what this is about. These are Long Beach institutions, and they mean a lot to me and a lot to the community.”

from minimally invasive

Brendan Carpenter/Herald

Shaping the future of Long Beach science

Director Cristie Tursi has helped revamp and expand the entire department

By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

Cristie Tursi, of Rockville Centre, has a bachelor’s from Fordham University, a master’s from Columbia University and advanced certificates from Long Island University. She got her start teaching physics at Regis High School in the city, spent a year teaching at Molloy, then spent eight years — from 2012 to 2020 — teaching physics at Southside High School in Rockville Centre.

She took the next step in 2020, being named the new Director of Science for Long Beach Public Schools. For the last five years, she has been working nonstop to revamp and expand the district’s science department across each school, and has no plans of slowing down.

“That first year when I got here, everybody was trying to figure out how to do school again after Covid,” Tursi remembered. “What I know how to do best is build relationships and that’s what I spent that whole first year doing. From that first year of just getting to know people and what people needed, that we grew from it. I have a sense of pride in all of it because the work that we do now grew from just getting to know each other as a team.”

Throughout the first few years of heading the district’s science team, Tursi has helped grow and add numerous programs and branches to an already expansive department. In the time, the district has added new elementary STEM programs and innovation labs, a working greenhouse, a sixthgrade space experiment program, partnerships with Cold Spring Harbor Labs and the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center, and has grown the middle school and high school science research programs, among even more things.

Students in the science research programs conduct a lot of studies and projects, such as growing lettuce with different types of bacteria, acid rain, regeneration, contaminants in waterways, and more. The young researchers in the program have taken part in multiple competitions across Long Island, with many placing first, second and third. Both the middle school and high school classes are now under the supervision of its teacher Kristen Conklin, who, along with Tursi, takes great pride in the success of the students.

“They really put a lot of effort in,” Conklin said of the students. “Some students even collaborate with scientists outside in the field. That’s one of the goals of science research, is to get them that real-world experience and to connect them with professionals.”

Science students at Long Beach High School have taken part in unique projects outside science research as well. Students in IB Environmental Science have been raising trout, getting the eggs, studying them and then release them back into the wild. Also, out by the exit to the school, there was a patch of land that was juts grass. Over the last

five years, students have been working to plant all different species of plants, making it a new little forest area.

Right outside of the building that the middle school and Lido Elementary School share is the district’s own working greenhouse. The greenhouse, which officially debuted in 2021, is maintained by Brian Pross, a middle school technology teacher, and his students. They maintain the structure and plants — while in season — and Pross is even working to get permits to allow the serving of the food they grow in the greenhouse.

“A lot of kids go into trades, and to give them all this exposure while they’re here, with us, in this nurturing environment that we can provide and all the different exposure to things is very cool,” Tursi said of the greenhouse and all the other district offerings.

Recently, Tursi has been working

hard with the district on the implementation of a new science Regents that comes out this year. Most districts — like Long Beach — opted to wait a year before administering it to ensure the staff and students alike were as ready as they could be for the new tests.

She’s also a member of the Long Island STEM Educational Leadership Association. The group allows her the opportunity to keep in touch with what other teachers and administrators are doing across Long Island, and to train teachers on how to implement new standards into their schools.

Tursi works hard to ensure the relationships and collaboration across the district stay strong and, every other month, has common planning meetings with the teachers at the four elementary schools and does grade-level meetings. During the months in between, she

holds “office hours” to keep in touch constantly to make sure everyone gets what they need. She also meets with the middle school and high school teachers every other week.

“She is the most kind, organized person,” Halle Conklin, a science teacher at Lindell Elementary School, said, while smiling, looking at Tursi. “She genuinely cares so much. Sometimes, if a director comes in, people get nervous, but everyone always feels so comfortable. You’re always willing to help and it’s so appreciated.”

Tursi is proud of the work she and the district has accomplished together so far, but has plans for even more in the future. It’s a lot of hard work, but she enjoys every minute of it.

“It does not feel like work,” she said. “I honestly love what I do. I love the world of curriculum.”

Photos courtesy Cristie Tursi

Cristie Tursi not only works hard at her relationships with the district’s teachers, but the students as well.

Brian Pross, right, with his students, all of whom help maintain the district’s working greenhouse outside of the middle school and Lido Elementary School complex.

Brendan Carpenter/Herald Director of Science, Cristie Tursi, right, with Kylee Nichols, a Lido Elementary STEM teacher, who recently won a contest to gift students with Hess Trucks.

Long Beach remembers and honors MLK

By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

Long Beach comes together as a community to celebrate holidays and significant events, and Temple Emanu-El is often at the center of the festivities. The temple regularly hosts gatherings, performances, Shabbat services, and more to show its support for a variety of causes.

On Friday, Jan. 17, the temple held its ninth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat, honoring Dr. King’s memory and legacy. The service began at 7:30 p.m., ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was observed three days later on Monday, Jan. 20.

“It went exceptionally well,” Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft said. “We had a very nice turnout, and the vibe was so genuinely about unity and mutual support and understanding. It was a real moment.”

The Shabbat service traditionally includes a reading from Dr. King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. The temple also invites guest speakers, and past honorees have included James Hodge and Bishop Mark Moses of The New Life Church of Christ, among others.

This years’ service featured a performance by the Nehemiah Group, an a cappella group that has previously performed at Temple Emanu-El during a special Black History Month Shabbat.

“The music was uplifting,” Zanerhaft

“With

by

said. “People intermingled, but the idea of the commonality of our struggles, I really think, brought us together. The hope was that Long Beach can be a role model of what it’s like to have different demographics come together for what’s right. It was a nice way to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. King.”

The Temple’s celebration came just days before the City of Long Beach and

the End in Mind”

Subtitled Dying, Death and Wisdom in an Age of Denial, Dr. Mannix’s book is a series of true stories allowing readers to “experience” what happens when people are approaching the end of their lives: how they cope; how they live; what matters most; how dying evolves; what a deathbed is like; how families react. She finds that there is little to fear and much to prepare for.

While many people imagine dying to be agonizing and undignified, Dr. Mannix reassures us that this is rarely the case. Instead, people gradually sleep more often until unconsciousness sets in. This was common knowledge when death took place in the home – until about 1900 when funeral homes first came into being. Knowing what to expect can be immensely comforting to the dying person and their supporters.

Palliative care specialists believe that enabling people to be architects of their own solutions is key to respecting their dignity. They are only in a new phase of life; they have not abdicated their personhood.

The author advocates reclaiming “death” and

“dead” from modern day euphemisms such as “passed away” and “lost” and further that despite a well-lived and contented life, we often say they “lost their battle” instead of that they simply died. These attitudes disable us from having straightforward, unambiguous conversations about death. The conspiracy of silence about death often leads to the heartbreak of the dying being unable to convey their hopes and wishes.

“The dreadful reality, told with honesty and compassion, allows patients and their families to make choices based on truth, instead of encouraging the misleading, hopeless quest for a medical miracle that promotes futile treatment, protracts dying and disallows goodbyes.”

There are only two days with fewer than 24 hours in each lifetime, one is celebrated every year, yet it is the other than makes us see living as precious. Dr. Mannix points the way to what we can become: beacons of compassion, living in the moment, looking backwards with gratitude and forgiveness, and focused on the simple things that really matter.

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

the Martin Luther King Jr. Center hosted the annual MLK Day march on Jan. 20. People from all across the community came out — on both days — to show their support to one another and their commitment to be a unified community.

Temple Emanu-El’s special Shabbat kicked off the weekend of celebration and remembrance, with the annual MLK Day march closing it off. On the day of the march, the weather was cold and wet, but community members weren’t deterred, and filled Park Avenue

and the MLK Center to keep the yearly tradition going strong.

Throughout the year, Temple EmanuEl hosts special Shabbat services for various causes and occasions. In addition to the MLK Shabbat, the temple organizes events for Pride Month, police and first responders, diverse cultures and backgrounds, and the holiday season.

Temple Emanu-El is located at 455 Neptune Blvd. in Long Beach. For more information about the MLK Shabbat, other events, or the temple itself, visit TempleEmanuElLongBeach.org.

Gary Meyer read from the Torah during the

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Book Review:

Kathryn Mannix, M.D.

long beach

Ronnie Myles, Michelle Crosley, Nicole Guberman-Isaacs, and Tonio Simmons ended the service by singing “The Best is Yet to Come.”

Alice Moreno/Herald photos

Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft spoke about the importance of celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.

special Shabbat.

MAKAYLA DAUBE

Mepham Senior Basketball

A FIFTH-YEAR VARSITY basketball player, Daube accomplished two rare milestones this season while leading the Pirates to 10 wins in their first 13 games. Mepham’s 2025 Valedictorian, she reached both the 1,000point and 1,000-rebound plateaus. On Jan. 9, in a 54-40 victory over Herricks, she also became the program’s single-game scoring leader with 34 points. In the fall, Daube helped Mepham to its first-ever volleyball county title.

GAMES TO WATCH

Friday, Jan. 24

Boys Basketball: Uniondale at Hempstead 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Kennedy at Elmont 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Plainedge at V.S. North 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Wantagh at Mineola

Girls Basketball: Long Beach at Baldwin 5

Girls Basketball: Mepham at Carey 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Glen Cove at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Oceanside at Freeport 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Manhasset at Hewlett 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: South Side at Clarke 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 25

Girls Basketball: Floral Park at Lynbrook 10 a.m.

Boys Basketball: North Shore at Seaford 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Island Trees at Malverne 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Mineola at Wantagh 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Clarke at V.S. North 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Seaford at North Shore 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Wheatley at West Hempstead 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Uniondale at Farmingdale 12 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 27

Girls Basketball: Freeport at Oceanside 6:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Kennedy at South Side 7 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

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.

Long Beach produces win streak

By MICHELLE RABINOVICH sports@liherald.com

Coming off a 53-49 win over Jericho Jan. 16, the Long Beach girls’ basketball team learned two things: hunker down on defense, and don’t give up without a fight.

“It’s been a slow start to the season,” said head coach Blake Malizia. “We’ve been competitive in most games but we’ve been falling short.”

The Marines (4-9 overall) might have had a tough go so far, but all signs point to the them turning over a new page, because it solidified what Malizia knew his team was capable of doing the way he drew it out.

It takes a three-game winning streak into this week’s action. Long Beach beat Valley Stream Central by 11 Jan. 13, and last Saturday cruised past Great Neck South by 18.

“Jericho was a big win for us,” Malizia said. “We decided that we were going cause more pressure on key players to try to create turnovers. We’ve also been putting more emphasis on boxing out and closing out. It worked in our favor [against Jericho]; being a little more physical on defense has been the key to our success. With that, we can create turnovers which leads to transition points, which was very helpful.”

Start with that last point: senior shooter Delaney Chernoff, going to the University of Denver for lacrosse next year, hit a massive three-pointer with 24 seconds on the game clock. With less than five seconds to go, Reagan McCarthy was fouled, and her trip to the charity stripe widened the scoring margin.

McCarthy is also the team’s leading rebounder, and having her there brings another level of confidence according to Malizia.

Sophomore guard Brianna Bothell, who put up 14 points in the Jericho win. “She’s one of our captains as a sophomore and she’s one of our leading guards,” Malizia said. “She has been the staple of our team.”

Speaking of guards, sophomore Jor-

dan Soriano and junior Ava Kolb, combine for a starting role. Malizia relies on them both as anchors in the backcourt, alternating which one starts on a given game based on the mismatches he sees from opponents.

“Jordan is more of a point guard, she’s a decent three-point shooter; Ava’s a soccer player, her ability to play on the court and lock down some of their best players has been the key for us this season,” Malizia said.

The Marines also have swing player Alexis Richards added to the mix, as she wreaks havoc at the guard and for-

ward spots as needed. She put up 9 points in the win over Jericho. “She’s been doing a very nice job, and also defensively,” Malizia said.

With six conference games still left, the job’s not finished by any means. “We have to try to bring the same type of aggressiveness no natter who the opponent is,” Malizia said. “And they we’re capable of beating any team.”

This proved to be true after last Saturday’s win over Great Neck South, 45-27. Long Beach saw eight players score, led by Chernoff’s 13 and Soriano’s 9.

Justine Stefanelli/Herald Sophomore guard Jordan Soriano had 9 points last Saturday as the Marines upped their winning streak to three games by topping Great Neck South.

LONG LIVE

Many ways to access great doctors? We have that. Simple mobile app? We have that, too. Convenient locations for primary, specialty and urgent care? Absolutely. On Long Island, you have options in health care. But at Catholic Health, we'd like to remind you to choose you first – because we did, too.

Long Live You and Long Live Long Island™

LIRR record on-time rate isn’t whole story

By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com

With New York City’s new congestion pricing system now in place, Gov. Kathy Hochul rode the rails to Syosset earlier this year, urging city-bound Long Island commuters to leave their cars at home and embrace “world-class” public transit.

On Long Island, the tolling program is expected to increase commuters’ reliance on the Long Island Rail Road. Weekday ridership climbed from about 77 percent of pre-pandemic levels in 2023 to roughly 80 percent last year.

Transit officials, meanwhile, are highlighting the improved service of the railway system, emphasizing a propublic transit message to court suburban commuters looking to avoid the $9 toll to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. LIRR President Rob Free boasted that a higher percentage of trains operated on time last year than ever before.

“Our 95.6 percent on-time performance in 2024 is our highest non-Covid year in the history that we’ve been tracking on-time performance,” Free said.

Three years of growth and growing pains

An analysis of LIRR data over the past three years, however, combined with riders’ firsthand accounts, paints a fuller — and undeniably more complicated — picture.

The number of late trains nearly doubled from 2022 to 2023, from 8,691 to 17,064. The surge, Free contends, resulted from the increase in post-pandemic service over the last two years amid landmarks like the opening of Grand Central Madison terminal in 2023.

“We operated over 77,000 more trains in 2023 than in 2022,” Free said. “We’ve operated a little over 316,000 trains in 2024, compared to 302,000 trains in 2023. That’s a huge lift.”

The new service into Midtown Manhattan brought with it a complete overhaul of the system’s train schedules. Some service lines and connections were cut, while others added more frequent service.

By the end of November 2024, the number of late trains for the year dropped to 11,480, as disruptions eased — although the number of delays remained higher than in 2022.

LIRR’s own operations are main culprit for delays

Despite fears of commuter frustrations and confusion with the opening of the new terminal, the main cause of train delays in 2023 and 2024 wasn’t passenger-related interruptions. Instead, it was train operations — issues like scheduling conflicts, slow boarding and late departures. These were problems largely within the transit agency’s control that ate into the time passengers needed to board and disembark.

Other problems, like delays caused by train door malfunctions in an aging fleet, were up 79 percent in the first half of 2024, compared with the same period in 2023. And the much-needed upkeep of the LIRR’s ailing infrastructure, from

According to state data, while the LIRR achieved a record 95.6 percent on-time performance in 2024, the number of delays remain higher than in 2022 due to operational issues, infrastructure maintenance, and the impact of increased service volume.

Riders report overall satisfaction with their service but, complained about missed connections, and weren’t happy about the possibility of another fare increase.

signal repairs to track maintenance, has also been a major contributor to train delays over the past two years.

For his part, Free said that a “heightened focus on infrastructure maintenance” has helped, cutting switch failures by 31 percent in 2024, with further work focusing on improving safety and efficiency planned for this year — even if that means more delays.

Historic on-time rate, but average delays stay the same

LIRR trains are more punctual overall, but the average delay of a late train hasn’t gotten any shorter. Rather, wait times have held steady — between 11 and 12 minutes — over the past three years.

Given what he described as an “explosion” of service since the beginning of 2023, Free views this consistency in lateness as a sign of a functioning

system. In the nation’s largest transit system, with lines of service so “interconnected that one hiccup on one of our branches can have systemwide impacts on our total operation, the on-time performance we are achieving is nothing short of a miracle,” he said.

Still, critics point out that the data on train delays misses a key detail: the agency’s “on or close to schedule” standard allows for a grace period of up to six minutes. Delays under six minutes aren’t counted, masking a significant portion of minor setbacks that can still disrupt commuters’ plans.

Riders like Sasha Hanson, who commutes from Valley Stream to her interior design job at Stonehill Taylor in Manhattan, contends that these unofficial hold-ups can be just as vexing when they cause missed connections, particularly at Jamaica Station.

“It gets obnoxious, especially when transfer delays hit at the last minute— usually right as you’re getting off the train,” Hanson said. “It’s not like you can avoid it ahead of time on your commute.”

The “amount of trains that we operate through this terminal is a huge impediment to our operation,” admits Free. “We are looking to improve this situation by putting in higher speed switches, lengthening the platform, and installing a new signal system among other capacity improvements.”

Riders give LIRR high marks — but not for fares

Despite delays, last fall’s MTA survey found that 76 percent of nearly 22,000 commuters surveyed were satisfied overall with their service. Yet some commuters who speak well of the railway also balk at the idea of higher fares.

“I don’t think fares should increase, because it’s costing me a lot of money just to get to school,” said Raya Adiva, a Valley Stream resident and high school senior who depends on the LIRR to get to school in the city.

The specter of more expensive fares looms over commuters as the MTA Board approves a $19.9 billion budget for 2025, which includes plans for a potential 4 percent hike in fares and tolls.

“What’s important to keep in mind is that the price of a monthly ticket is still cheaper now than it was in 2019,” Free said. “The way we institute fares is predictable, so our customers know when it’s coming. We’ve done an incredible job of maintaining cost and giving people good value for their money.”

Data Wrapper Illustration by Juan Lasso/Herald

Tim Baker/Herald

Parents’ petition goes past 3,400 signatures

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

The possible closure of East Elementary School has continuously sparked significant concern and activism among residents. A petition opposing the move, created on Jan. 14, garnered over 3,400 signatures in less than a week. No decision on the school has been officially made.

“The outpouring of support of the community has been overwhelming,” East School parent Kristin McChesney said. “At the board meeting (Jan. 14), a neighbor with grown children said this school is a jewel in this city. People that have lived in this community for generations are tired of seeing historically important pieces of the community discarded.”

Supporters emphasize that East Elementary is more than just a school; it is a hub for local families, a historic part of the city and a resource for neighborhood stability. Many petition signers have expressed frustration with the district’s handling of the issue, particularly comments dismissing their concerns as ‘uninformed.’ Organizers point out that the petition has drawn far more engagement than a district survey conducted last year, which received fewer than 900 responses and showed neutral or supportive opinions about keeping the school open.

East School is regarded as a key part of the community, providing accessible education and creating connections among families. Many residents have chosen to live near the school specifically for its walkable access, viewing it as a stabilizing presence in one of Long Beach’s most densely populated neighborhoods. Many argue that closing a school should be a last resort and suggest that the district has yet to provide

clear evidence that the financial benefits of the closure would outweigh the costs.

Community members argue that a more thorough analysis is needed, including a detailed assessment of fixed and variable costs, according to McChesney. They also point to the absence of a finalized rental agreement for the building, which raises questions

about the financial viability of the closure. Without guarantees of revenue or specifics on how any savings would impact taxpayers, many feel the decision lacks a solid foundation.

Further fueling frustration is the district’s decision not to conduct an impact study to evaluate the financial, environmental and logistical effects of the closure.

“We don’t know how our children will be split up, and whether they will lose their social connections,” McChesney said. “We are also not convinced there are classrooms available in every building to absorb 300 children. We can’t verify this because we have not been shown reconfiguration plans, and the district has not answered many of the questions asked by staff and teachers regarding placement.”

The potential closure also raises questions about Long Beach’s future to parents. They warn that larger class sizes and reduced access to resources could negatively affect the quality of education, while the loss of a neighborhood school might weaken community ties and make the city less appealing to young families. Advocates have proposed alternative solutions, such as transforming East Elementary into a community school that could partner with local organizations to provide additional services, enhancing its role as a neighborhood hub.

As the school board prepares to discuss the future of East School and related concerns at its Jan. 27 meeting, community members are calling for a more inclusive and transparent decision-making process. They hope the board will acknowledge the strong opposition to the closure and work collaboratively with residents to find a sustainable solution that prioritizes both educational quality and fiscal responsibility.

Using athletics to fight childrens’ cancer

By BRENDAN CARPENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com

The Long Beach athletic department hosted its annual Beauty and the Beast fundraising event on Jan. 15, raising more than $5,500 to benefit MSK Kids at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This years event was the fifth installment of the unique day.

The day-long event began with an opening ceremony, during which teams entered the gym to “Olympic Fanfare.” Cheerleader Theresa Perrone sang the national anthem, followed by a performance by the Long Beach varsity competition cheer team. A recognition ceremony honored Trip Powers, a Long Beach student diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and his family. Long Beach students Josh Vobis and Paddy Henry, captains of the Marines ice hockey team, presented Powers with a framed varsity hockey jersey signed by the team.

On Feb. 2 last year, Powers, an eighth grader, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The disease is a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, a network of vessels and glands spread throughout the body. Powers has been doing well, receiving chemotherapy treatments once a month. His treatment plan is to continue these maintenance sessions until June, according to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Gold is typically the color that symbolizes the fight against pediatric cancer, with green symbolizing the fight against Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. During the event, Long Beach athletes wore gold to honor Powers and all the other kids and families going through fights of their own. All proceeds from the event are going to MSK Kids in Trip Powers’ name.

Long Beach High School’s varsity gymnastics and wrestling teams shared

the gym for their respective meets. The gymnastics team participated in a trimeet against Bethpage High School and Oceanside High School, while the wrestling team faced Baldwin High School. The Long Beach Marines won both the wrestling and gymnastics meets.

Over the past five years, proceeds from the event — including T-shirt sales, raffles and concessions — have totaled more than $25,000 to support MSK Kids. While the event is a team effort, Long

Beach head varsity gymnastics coach Jessica Tull has been its driving force. Tull came up with the idea for the event five years ago. Long Beach Director of Health and Physical Education Arnold Epstein said in a past Herald interview that “she wanted to do a community event around athletics and promote community service, but we didn’t have a cause at that time. We realized very quickly that doing something for MSK kids would be a great opportunity.”

Herald file photo

East School parents are worried about the potential closing of the school, and have taken to a heavily signed petition online.

Courtesy Long Beach Public Schools

Long Beach’s varsity basketball and gymnastics teams competed against nearby school and raised money for MSK Kids.

Arena Football team to call Coliseum home

By MICHELLE RABINOVICH sports@liherald.com

Arena Football is coming back to Nassau County, and this time it’s in a brand-new league in the form of the ENTFLA – the Entertainment Football Association.

Spearheaded by Hall of Famer and former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed, flanked by league owner Doug Freeman with a slight style different: other than the fact that it will be indoors, is that it will be on 7-on-7 format with a reduced play clock, along with the elimination of kicking on fourth down, leading to overall higher-scoring and higher-paced games.

Uniondale and Nassau Coliseum will be the home of one of four teams in the ENTFLA, with the other teams based in Morristown, NJ, Danbury, CT and Fitchburg, MA. The season is projected to run from June to August.

The emphasis of the new league in the land of Billy Joel and bagels was to bring professional sports to local, blue-collar families without breaking the bank, with an added emphasis on entertainment appropriate for the entire family while at a pro game, confirmed by its mission statement.

League advisor Tommy Benizio said the real purpose is to bring something that’s affordable, fun and entertaining, giving families in Long Island a place to come without driving hours and pay hundreds of dollars in tickets and parking passes to watch football live in an arena.

Plus, it’s meant to be fun.

“Between the players flying over the wall, landing in your lap and knocking your hotdog out of your hand, you catch a football you get to keep it, the cheerleaders, the mascot, the dancing and T-shirt canons, it is a fun and entertaining thing for three or four hours on Sat-

urday nights,” Benizio said. “So before you can come into the building we want live music and jumping castles for kids and a beer garden, it’s a party.”

With over 100 high school football teams on the island, the league’s owners hope for a close connection between the youth of Long Island growing in the sport they love, and the professionals engaged in it. Roosevelt High School football head coach Joe Vito is excited to see how a local pro football team will create an additional positive influence for his players.

“I’m excited to be able to have my team come here and see and maybe dream about maybe being this one day,” Vito said. “I try to expose our kids to a lot of things and coming to this is will be something they’ll be exposed to, so they’re excited to get the opportunity to come.”

Reed, the league commissioner, is key on the possibility of giving all types of NCAA football players another avenue to play the sport they love even if they don’t make it to the Show.

“We’re gonna be pulling kids from college, that pool, and a lot of these that are going to play in this league, when they play in this league, it’s another avenue for them to get to the Big Time,” Reed said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re at, if you’re good enough and display those attributes that a team might want, you can find somewhere to go and get a chance. We feel this league is about that.”

Each team will play 8 regular-season games.

“Anytime that we could have another opportunity to have more of our kids play professional football, is a great opportunity that we love as we coach the youth,” Vito said.

The nickname for the “Long Island” or “New York” franchise will be determined through a naming contest. Visit goentfla.com for more information.

Courtesy ENTFLA

Buffalo Bills legend Andre Reed is commissioner of the new Entertainment Football Association, which debuts in June with four franchises including Long Island.

CATHOLIC SHOOLS WEEK

A modern approach to traditional values

‘Character Education’ has a new name: Social and Emotional Learning

Catholic education has always been unique because it is values-based, and places a high level of importance on personal and interpersonal skills. This difference has been realized through the expectation of certain kinds of conduct in a Catholic school that reflects a student’s self-respect, and respect for others. Responsibility, and accountability for one’s actions have always been part of the higher expectation in Catholic school.

After years of experimenting with the latest educational fads, schools of all types across the nation are recognizing that investing in the social and emotional management skills of students will have a greater effect on the trajectory of their lives. Public, private and Catholic schools have all shown greater interest in what is now known as Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Catholic schools, because they have never lost sight of this, are further along in the development and implementation of SEL programs.

Catholic schools across the Diocese of Rockville Centre have maintained their focus on the ‘character education’ of students, even as more permissive educational models were being implemented elsewhere. While currentday Catholic school has embraced the integration of new educational technologies, personalized learning and new curriculum elements, the commitment to traditional values and religious tradition have never wavered. Catholic school has continued to teach biblical principles and traditional values, focusing imparting spirituali-

ty and self-discipline. In doing so, character education has systematically, yet seamlessly, been an integral part of the educational experience of generations of students.

Today, the heightened interest in SEL makes it clear that Catholic schools were on the right track all along.

Why Social Emotional Learning matters

Social Emotional Learning is viewed as attentiveness to the whole child’s needs. It is comprised of five major components: selfawareness, self-management, decision-making, relationship skills and social awareness.

Self-Awareness: A self-aware student will recognize how his or her thoughts, emotions, actions, and values impact their behavior. Students are encouraged to embrace a growth mindset, recognizing that change is possible, and that they have the ability to become selfsufficient and confident.

Self-Management: Students are taught to regulate their own thoughts, emotions, and actions to align with their values. Selfmanagement emphasizes motivation, impulse control, organizational skills, and goal-setting.

Responsible Decision-Making: Students are encouraged to make responsible decisions within an ethical framework. Being a responsible decision maker requires problem identification, analysis, self-evaluation, and reflection.

Relationship Skills: Development of skills like communicating effectively, engaging in

appropriate social behavior, and participation in group and collaborative activities.

Social Awareness: The ability to empathize with others, including those with whom they disagree, as well as those from different moral, cultural, and ethical backgrounds.

As everyone who has attended Catholic school can attest, these five principles are traditional parts of a Catholic education. In fact, these characteristics are often the most easily

distinguishable differences in the way a young man or woman ‘carries themselves’ in their daily interactions with others. They are the characteristics that we subconsciously recognize and silently attribute to the student being ‘a Catholic school kid’.

Photo: Faith-based rigorous academics are enhanced by innovative teaching practices that prepare students for the modern tech-based world in which we live.

CATHOLIC

The governor assesses the state of the state

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Gov. Kathy Hochul kicked off her fourth year in office on Jan. 14 by outlining her proposed 2025 agenda in her State of the State address. That agenda includes more than 200 initiatives, many of which would have an impact on Long Island.

Here are some of the key proposals Hochul discussed.

Affordability

Unsurprisingly, Hochul began the address with the issue on every New Yorker’s mind: the cost of living. New Yorkers have seen rising prices in housing, food, utilities, transportation and health care. According to RentCafe, the cost of living in New York is 26 percent higher than the national average.

The governor proposed tax cuts, rebate checks and savings from free school lunches, an initiative that could save a family of five $5,000 a year.

“I’m calling for a sweeping middle-class income tax cut benefitting 8.3 million taxpayers making less than $323,000,” she said. “The tax cut I propose today and will fight for in the coming months will deliver the lowest tax rates in seven decades and save hardworking taxpayers $1 billion.

“But that’s just the start,” she added.

A proposed $3 billion in inflation relief rebates would provide one-time payments of $300 or $500 based on income level and tax filing status. The initiative would have to be approved by the State Legislature.

Hochul’s budget also includes expanding the state’s child tax credit. Under the proposal, families could see the credit increase by as much as three times the current amount — up to $1,000 per child under age 4, and

Tim Baker/Herald

Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered her State of the State address on Jan. 14, discussing a wide range of policies. Above, the governor appeared at the Long Island Association’s State of the Region Breakfast on Jan. 10.

$500 for children ages 4 to 16. The changes would be phased in over two years.

She governor also proposed that households making up to $323,200 — roughly 77 percent of taxpayers — would be given an income tax break that could save households hundreds of dollars a year for roughly.

Education

Hochul unveiled a proposal that would offer free tuition to New Yorkers pursuing associate’s degrees in high-demand fields such as nursing, teaching, technology and engineering. The initiative would build on the state’s existing financial aid programs, and target residents between 25 and 55 seeking to learn new skills to look for jobs in essential industries.

Nearby states, including Massachusetts, have launched similar tuition-free college programs to address labor shortages and promote economic mobility.

Hochul also announced her support for universal free school meals. That would mean boosting state funds to expand an existing program that could reach 280,000 students who aren’t already covered.

Mental Health

Hochul, who is expected to seek re-election in 2026, took office in 2021 when residents statewide were grappling with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Many students faced — and continue to face — mental health challenges.

That has been a central focus throughout her administration. In her latest initiative, she aims to address concerns about random acts of violence committed by those with severe, untreated mental illness. Her agenda includes strengthening Kendra’s Law, which mandates outpatient treatment for certain people with mental illnesses who are not receiving care.

Additionally, Hochul is advocating for a Teen Mental Health First Aid program, to equip high school students with the skills to maintain their mental health and offer support to their peers. She also promoted mental health resources for after-school programs, to ensure students access to licensed health care facilities through state-funded programs.

Residents share their views on offshore wind

cabinet to do as they have promised, to end it.”

New York state hopes to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035, to power up to 6 million homes, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

The National Day of Action included simultaneous events in states including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Virginia and California, highlighting what was described as the growing national concern over offshore wind. Kramer’s activism, she said, began when she received a letter informing her of plans to install high-voltage cables near her home in Long Beach.

“Simple common sense told me this was dangerous,” she said. As she delved deeper, she learned that the cables were part of a plan to transport energy from wind turbines that would be built offshore.

Her research revealed potential risks to public health, she said, including exposure to electromagnetic radiation from high-voltage cables, which has been linked to cancer and leukemia. She also raised concerns about the turbines’ impact on marine ecosystems, local fishing industries and property values.

“My family’s health and safety were being put at risk so someone else could receive electricity,” Kramer said. “I felt like collateral damage.”

Her concerns led her to create Protect Our Coast Long Island NY, a local chapter of the National Offshore Wind Opposition Alliance, in 2021.The group has since gained the attention of local and state officials, including former Congressman Anthony D’Esposito and Assemblyman Ari Brown, both of whom have become vocal supporters. In 2023 the group collected over 15,000 signatures on a petition opposing offshore wind. A crowd of Protect Our Coast supporters gathered on the Long Beach boardwalk last March, along with elected officials, drawing attention to its cause.

The group has grown, but Kramer said she hopes it gets smaller, coinciding with the successful end of its fight. But, she added, referring to the development of offshore wind power, “If it doesn’t end, it will continue to grow, because we won’t stop until it ends.”

Arthur Schnee came from Massapequa on Saturday to voice his frustration with what he sees as conflicts of interest among officials and environmental groups.

“I don’t want to see wind turbines in the ocean,” Schnee said. “The fishing industry suffers,” he argued, pointing to issues that he said have arisen in other regions.

Nassau County Legislator Patrick Mullaney acknowledged the concerns raised by the protesters, while noting the lack of clear communication from offshore wind project developers and state agencies.

“Once the government and companies get their hands on an initiative like this, they rarely let it go,” Mullaney

said. “There’s a lot of money behind these projects, which gives them credibility, but it doesn’t mean all questions have been answered.”

Mullaney highlighted frustration with the lack of transparency from state agencies like NYSERDA and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office, which have been slow to address the community’s concerns.

“I think the real issue here is the need for open, honest communication,” Mullaney said. “People deserve answers, not deflection.”

Island Park Mayor Michael McGinty argued that offshore wind is neither environmentally nor economically sustainable.

“We’re paying for two power systems: one for when the wind blows and one for when it doesn’t,” McGinty said. He cited examples from Germany and Sweden, where, he said, wind projects have resulted in increased reliance on nuclear energy.

Jim Brown, an Island Park resident and an environmental advocate, offered a contrasting perspective. Having lived in Long Beach until Hurricane Sandy forced him to relocate, Brown expressed strong support for offshore wind energy.

“We need renewable energy to fight climate change,” he said. “I live near the Barrett power plant, which still runs on fossil fuels and spews harmful emissions into the air. Offshore wind is a cleaner alternative, and all the science supports it as essential to our future.”

Brown also dismissed claims that high-voltage cables from the turbines pose health risks, calling them “misinformation” fueled by “fearmongering.”

Brown highlighted efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of offshore wind projects, including studies conducted by organizations like the South Shore Water Audubon Society to avoid avian hot spots and minimize disruption to marine ecosystems. He acknowl-

edged that offshore wind projects have trade-offs, but argued that the benefits outweigh the costs.

“We’re already at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and it will be disastrous if we continue on this

path,” Brown said. “Offshore wind is critical, and we can’t afford to fall further behind in the fight against climate change.”

Despite local opposition, as evidenced by the demonstration, Brown said he remained optimistic about the future of offshore wind. “I believe most people support offshore wind,” he said. “The opposition is loud, but we need to fight back and demand more action.”

Stacey richardson, president of the uniondale empowerment resource Center, walking along the Long Beach Bridge with a sign protesting offshore wind projects.

Alice Moreno/Herald photos island park mayor michael mcginty spoke after the crowd made its way across the bridge to island park.

*MEET THE 2025 HONOREES*

REAL ESTATE DEAL OF THE YEAR

Joseph Farkas

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Michael T. Puntillo

Managing Partner

PX4 Development

TOP ENGINEER

Stephen A. Hayduk, P.E.

Senior Principal Hayduk Engineering LLC

INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS

IMEG

EXCELLENCE IN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY CITIZENSHIP

Christopher Capece

President Heatherwood Luxury Rentals

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AWARD

David Orwasher

Chief Development Officer Breslin Realty

PIONEER IN RESTORATION & RECOVERY

Jeremy Longo

General Manager Belfor Property Restoration

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP

Sheldon L. Shrenkel

Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director Nassau County IDA

TOP MORTGAGE BROKER OF THE YEAR

Nicholas Ceccarini

President Weatherstone Mortgage Corp

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN EXCELLENCE

Willy Zambrano, FAIA, LEED AP, NCARB

Founder & Design Principal in Charge Zambrano Architectural Design LLC

INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP & IMPACT

Patricia Oliva

Chief Executive Officer Consumer Direct Title

EXCELLENCE IN REAL ESTATE FINANCE

Vito Giannola

Executive Vice President & Chief Banking Officer Provident Bank

KITCHEN AND BATH DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

John Starck

President & Chief Executive Officer Showcase Kitchens

EXCELLENCE IN REAL ESTATE & TITLE

LAW

Paula Parrino, Esq

Chief Administrative Officer & Vice President of Operations Nationwide Court

FATHER/SON POWER TEAM

Stanley H & Kenneth Schuckman

Founder / President Schuckman Realty

STEPPING OUT

Photos courtesy LICM

In the Orion spacecraft, future astronauts interact with buttons, levers and sounds as they learn facts about what it takes to bring humans to the Moon, and eventually to Mars.

Space explorers need to utilize limited resources on the moon to live and survive. At this work station, children transport objects to and from the surface using foam blocks.

for an out-of-this-world adventure

‘Moon to Mars’ touches down at Long Island Children’s Museum

By Danielle Schwab

Calling all future space explorers! It’s time to set course to the moon, and beyond, with opportunities for kids to fuel their imaginations and dream bigger — and farther — than ever before.

“Moon to Mars” has rocketed into Long Island Children’s Museum, on view through May 4. The traveling exhibit, — created by Omaha Children’s Museum and designed with support from NASA’s Deep Space Exploration Systems at Johnson Space Center — brings the wonders of space to life for young learners. Through six immersive play zones, future explorers get a first-hand look at current space technology and discover the possibilities of future missions.

“We have the resources to bring a really complex topic to life for children, where they can understand what makes a mission possible like what tools are used or why astronauts need to wear protective clothing,” says Ashley Niver, the museum’s director of education.

Inspired by the current realities and the future dreams of space travel, the exhibit’s connection to real NASA technology is what makes it so compelling. Kids can climb aboard the Orion Spacecraft, designed to carry astronauts on future Artemis missions — using buttons, levers and sounds — or take the wheel of the Lunar Rover to explore the moon’s rugged surface.

“With the recent advancements in space exploration, like the launch of the James Webb telescope and the evolution of SpaceX, it’s the perfect time to introduce an exhibit focused on the future Artemis Mission,” Niver says. “We have so many leaps in space exploration and so many new things on the horizon.”

Clearly, creating advanced space technology is no simple feat. It involves creativity, problem-solving and much trial and error on the part of a diverse team. Young space explorers have the chance to dive into that engineering process, designing and building their very own rockets, and then launching their creations across the room.

“There’s a lot of engineering components that come into this, involving critical thinking for kids. These people [the spacecraft systems developers] have an incredible amount of skill and knowledge about space and creating these structures, but there are still things that they might realize don’t work, and to solve the problem,” Niver adds.

“The exhibit offers children endless opportunities to nurture their curiosity through the most effective way we know they learn: play. It also provides a valuable opportunity for parents to discover ways to incorporate big concepts like space exploration, physics and engineering into play at home. Whether it’s building a Martian landscape with pillows or creating a rocket ship out of a cardboard box, these activities spark storytelling that encourages imagination and inspires the ‘big thinkers’ of tomorrow.”

After young “explorers” have landed at their destination, there’s still much to be discovered. Visitors can get geared up in a spacesuit and explore a new world.

Among the components, kids can construct a new base using pulleys and blocks at the Moon Base Builder to make the planet or moon inhabitable.

Once the base is complete, step through the lunar leaps and feel the changes in gravity as you walk — or jump.

• Now until May 4

• $18 museum admission, $16 seniors 65 and older

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

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

“You could take a leap and you have to work really hard to jump far on the moon. You wouldn’t have to do that because you don’t have the gravitational force pulling you as strong,” Niver explains.

Additional learning opportunities are found at the Space Academy Kiosk video display. It covers all things space exploration such as life in space, spacesuits, and real-life astronauts.

Each activity shows the boundless nature of space in kidfriendly fashion, perhaps even inspiring some future astronauts and space engineers.

“They can step into the role. It helps kids to connect to something that isn’t exactly what they know, they could put on a costume or a spacesuit and really embody that character. Hands-on play is a great way to engage them in content or topics that may be a little bit more foreign to them,” Niver says.

“The astronauts, at one point, were kids too. They dreamed of the same thing as you. You can understand the path that they went through that led them to their current career,” she adds.

As always, related programming enhances the exhibit experience. This time around, the museum is partnering with its Museum Row neighbor, Cradle of Aviation Museum.The Cradle’s portable, inflatable planetarium dome, the Digitalis Planetarium, will be in residence Feb. 17-21, for more space exploration. Families can discover the majesty of the stars and our universe during a 30-minute presentation led by a trained Cradle of Aviation educator. Four planetarium performances will be offered each day.

The LICM stage also gets in on the act with the futuristic production of “Interstellar Cinderella,” Feb. 7-March 21. Set in 3017, Cinderella is a space engineer who is looking to revolutionize space travel with her new invention.

While the exhibit is “in orbit” be sure to check out more related programming; information is on the museum’s website.

Acrobats of Cirque-tacular

Families will enjoy a new take on circus-style thrills when the Acrobats of Cirque-tacular visits the Landmark stage,. Cirque-tacular features one dazzling circus feat after another in a high-energy, family-friendly flurry of fun. Indulge your curiosity and celebrate your senses as this troupe of acrobats, aerialists and circus specialty artists bend, twist, flip, and fly into everyone’ hearts. Cirque-tacular’s performers — an ever-changing cast of elite aerialists, acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, specialty acts and world-record holders from Broadway and Las Vegas stages — are hailed as “mesmerizing”, “incredible”, and “truly impressive.” The performers are revered as cutting edge leaders of the new American vaudeville movement. Explosive music that complements the performance and act adds to the fun.

Saturday, Jan. 25, 2 p.m. $38. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

‘Dancing with the Stars’

Dancing with the Stars is back on tour to heat up winter with a dazzling live production. See the ballroom brought to life in this new edition featuring everyone’s favorite Dancing with the Stars pros and special guests. They’ll perform glittering new numbers as well as some of the unbelievable showstoppers featured in season 33. The high-energy show puts the dancers in the spotlight, showcase their dynamic moves as seen during the series, along with some lively new twists. The tour delivers an unforgettable night of electrifying dance performances from worldrenowned dancers who topped the leaderboard.

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com, tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Intergalatic adventures take flight.

THE

‘Easy come, easy go’

Queen-mania rocks on. Almost Queen returns to the Paramount stage with their homage to the beloved band, Saturday, Feb. 1 , 8 p.m. They don’t just pay tribute to the legendary band, Almost Queen transports you back in time to experience the magic and essence of Queen themselves. The band — featuring Joseph Russo as Freddie Mercury, Steve Leonard as Brian May, Randy Gregg as John Deacon, and John Cappadona as Roger Taylor — is “guaranteed to blow your mind” with iconic four-part harmonies and expertly executed musical interludes. dynamic live performance showcasing signature four-part harmonies and intricate musical interludes. The band’s authenticity shines through in their impeccable attention to detail and genuine costumes, while their live energy and precision captivates fans of all ages with an unforgettable concert experience. Almost Queen’s concerts are a true testament to the band’s love for Queen’s music.

The carefully curated setlist featuring Queen’s best-loved songs, like “Somebody to Love,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Fat Bottomed Girls,” and “Radio Ga Ga,” along with lesser known tracks. And of course, no Queen tribute concert would be complete without classics like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions!” It’s no wonder fans keep coming back for more. $79.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50, $34.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Jan. 25

Nassau BOCES Barry Tech Open House

Nassau BOCES Barry Tech, Long Island’s state-of-the arts career and technical education (CTE) high school, is opening its doors to all students with a passion for a hands-on career. Come and get a “Taste of Tech” at an open house at Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center, Saturday, Jan. 25, 10 a.m. Following an introduction to the school led by administrators, there will be self-guided tours of the facility. Additional open house sessions are offered in February. Interested students and their families can register for the Open House at nassauboces.org/ barrytech or call (516) 622-6812 for more information. 1196 Prospect Ave., Westbury.

Farmers’ Market

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.

Comic showcase

Plaza Theatricals’ rolls into 2025 with the latest edition of the 50+ Comedy Tour, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2:30 p.m. Laugh along with an all new lineup of some of the funniest comedians on the scene. And they all have one thing in common: they’re all over age 50!

Hosted by Long Island Comedy Festival’s Paul Anthony, the lineup includes “Banjo” Les Bayer and Chris Monty. $40, $35 seniors. Get in on the fun at Plaza’s stage at Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical. com.

Meditative Dance

Long Beach Public Library holds a meditative dance class, Sunday, Feb. 2, with Marissa Moser promotes profound somatic healing. If you’ve ever tried to sit still to meditate and struggled to stop the thoughts in your head, this is for you! The class will meet in the auditorium starting at 1:30 p.m. Start the New Year off with a meditative approach to the year aheadl. For more information or to register, visit LongBeachPL.com or email NicoleM@longbeachlibrary.org. 111 W. Park Ave.

Mah Jongg club

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.

Ask the tech guy

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.

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program continues, Saturday, Feb. 1, noon-3 p.m. Kids and their adult partners talk about and making art together. While there, enjoy reading and play in the Reading Room, and contribute to The Lobby Project, a collaborative art installation. Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit nassaumuseum. org to register or call (516) 4849337.

Lunar New Year

Welcome the Year of the Snake at Long Island Children’s Museum, Saturday and Sunday, Jan 25-26, noon-4 p.m. Stop by to learn all about the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival and learn about this special year, which is believed to bring an abundance of opportunities and fortune. everyone.

Enjoy dance and musical performances, on the LICM stage, view live artisan demonstrations and create themed take-home crafts. For ages 3 and up. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.

Having an event?

Breastfeeding Support Group

Mercy Hospital offers a peer-to-peer meeting for breastfeeding support and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms are welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 to secure you and your baby’s spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.

Polar Bear Splash

The Long Beach Polar Bears will make their annual plunge, Sunday, Feb. 9, on Laurelton Blvd. beach with proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish. T-shirt sales begin at 10 a.m.; Polar Bears gather at noon and go in the water at 1:30 pm.For more information xvisit LongBeachNY.gov.

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

On Exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) which publicly launched the movement. The direct followup to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. The exhibit encompasses significant cultural advancements during Long Island’s Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age movement, including votes, jobs, and the automobile for women, the beginnings of suburbia with commutation for work, and planned residential communities, which all defined the era, while the following decade brought economic reversals and the WPA program. Works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Fernand Léger, Guy Pène du Bois, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, and Reginald Marsh, among others, along with art deco stylists of poster art and graphics, and photography will convey the Art Deco spirit along with its furniture, decorative arts, and fashion.

Like “Our Gilded Age,” the social scene of Long Island’s Gold Coast, and its personalities — both upstairs and downstairs — will be portrayed, along with the ongoing relationship with the immediate urban context of New York with its skyscrapers and deco-styled architecture. On view through June 15. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum. org.

Hempstead House tour

Feb.

16

Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Sunday, Feb. 16 noon-1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. Visit the grand rooms inside the massive 50,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion, the former summer residence of Gilded Age financier Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim. Tours are limited in size and tend to sell out. Arrive early to purchase tickets. $10. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

Public Notices

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

Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six-month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code. Effective with the February 2019 lien sale Ordinance No. 175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale. Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased. Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/526/CountyTreasurer

Should the Treasurer determine that an inperson auction shall be held, same will commence on the 18th day of February 2025 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer.

A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/527/Annual-TaxLien-Sale

superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts. However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.

The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act(FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et.seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC) receivership.

after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale. Furthermore, as to the bidding,

News briefs

Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick

State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick is supporting a community-wide book drive intended to promote literacy and reading. The book drive is an opportunity for donors to give back to the community, the news release continued, and can help support reading and education across Nassau County.

“We know the power of a good book— it can inspire, educate, and open doors to new worlds,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said in a news release. “I encourage everyone to donate new or gently used books and help us make a difference in the lives of others.”

Books can be donated at five public libraries in Nassau County Lynbrook, Long Beach, Elmont, Lawrence and Malverne until Feb. 7. All donations will go to Book Fairies, a Freeport-based nonprofit organization that distributes books to communities in need on Long Island.

For more information, call CanzoneriFitzpatrick’s office at (516) 766-8383.

–Renee DeLorenzo

supports book drive

Where to donate books

Lynbrook Public Library

56 Eldert St., Lynbrook

Long Beach Public Library

111 West Park Ave., Long Beach

Elmont Memorial Library

700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont

Peninsula Public Library

280 Central Ave., Lawrence

Malverne Public Library

61 St Thomas Place, Malverne

L.B. recognized for budgetary presentation

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE OF NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER’S

SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that commencing on February 18th, 2025, will sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 13th, 2025 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property.

A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 06th, 2025. Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audiotape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 ext. 1-3715.

Dated: January 23, 2025

THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, NewYork

TERMS OF SALE

Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all

The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed.

The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk. The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately

1. The bidder(s) agree that they will not work with any other bidder(s) to increase, maintain or stabilize interest rates or collaborate with any other bidder(s) to gain an unfair competitive advantage in the random number generator in the event of a tie bid(s) on a tax certificate. Bidder(s) further agree not to employ any bidding strategy designed to create an unfair competitive advantage in the tiebreaking process in the upcoming tax sale nor work with any other bidder(s) to engage in any bidding strategy that will result in a rotational award of tax certificates.

2. The tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) bid, will be arrived at independently and without direct or indirect consultation, communication or agreement with any other bidder and that the tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) to be bid, have not been disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder, and will not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder prior to the close of bidding. No attempt has been made or will be made to, directly or indirectly, induce any other bidder to refrain from bidding on any tax certificate, to submit complementary bids, or to submit bids at specific interest rates.

3. The bids to be placed by the Bidder will be made in good faith and not pursuant to any direct or indirect, agreement or

City Council President Brendan Finn and the Long Beach City Council announced that the city has received the 2024 Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association.

This award recognizes local governments who prepare budget documents of the highest standards and show effort toward full disclosure and transparency.

“We are proud of the work the administration and staff have done and continue to do to make Long Beach more affordable for our residents”, Finn said. “Responsible budgeting is the cornerstone of our commitment to the city and it is an honor for the city to be recognized for this achievement.”

The Distinguished Budget Presenta -

tion Awards Program, established in 1984, encourages state and local governments to create high-quality budget documents. These documents must align with guidelines from the National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting and the Government Finance Officers Association’s best practices.

About 1,800 governments — including states, cities, counties, special districts, and school districts — have been recognized for their transparency in budgeting. To earn the distinction, budget documents must meet the program’s criteria and excel as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communication tool.

–Brendan Carpenter

Public Notices

discussion with, or inducement from, any other bidder to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive bid.

4. If it is determined that the bidder(s) have violated any of these bid requirements then their bid shall be voided and if they were the successful bidder the lien and any deposits made in connection with said bid shall be forfeited.

Dated: January 23, 2025

THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, New York 151098

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF FINANCE OF AMERICA STRUCTURED SECURITIES ACQUISITION TRUST 2019-HB1, Plaintiff, AGAINST UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF SARAH WARD MOORE A/K/A SARAH WARD A/K/A SARAH MOORE, DANIELLE COPELAND A/K/A DANIELLE MOORE AS NEXT OF KIN AND HEIR AT LAW OF SARAH WARD MOORE A/K/A SARAH WARD A/K/A SARAH MOORE, et al. Defendant(s) Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on July 19, 2024.

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM premises known as 157 W Chester Street, Long Beach, NY 11561. Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County, and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of

Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 59, Block 69 and Lot 50, 51, 52. Approximate amount of judgment $872,190.65 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #602521/2019. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 151077

Employment HERALD

LONG B EACH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Please visit www.longbeach.org to learn more

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! $20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com

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

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.

Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must.

Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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

NYU Langone Health is recruiting participants for an exciting new study exploring why and how some people with dementia experience a return of mental clarity as they approach the end of life.

NYU Langone Health is recruiting participants for an exciting new study exploring why and how some people with dementia experience a return of mental clarity as they approach the end of life.

These episodes are known as paradoxical lucidity. If you have a loved one suffering from advanced dementia, they may eligible for this study.

These episodes are known as paradoxical lucidity. If you have a loved one suffering from advanced dementia, they may eligible for this study.

If interested, please contact the Parnia Lab research team at 917-227-0932 or pl@nyulangone.org

If interested, please contact the Parnia Lab research team at 917-227-0932 or pl@nyulangone.org

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

OFFICE ASSISTANT PT

Flexible Hours. General Office Duties. Phones, Filing, Light Bookkeeping. $20$25/ Hour. Salary Commensurate With Experience. Email info@cousinsmetal.com Or Call 516-536-7755

OUTSIDE

SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $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 FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

The fires in L.A. got us wondering

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Apartments For Rent

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Q. I, like many others, am upset about the terrible fires happening in California. We were discussing it the other day, and are wondering what your opinion is about how these fires spread so quickly, considering that we were also having high winds at the same time. Are our homes safe? Do we have better building regulations? Could the same thing happen to us that’s happening in California? What can we do to prevent this and what do you think California should do?

A. It can happen here. We must all listen, observe and learn from this tragedy to avoid repeating it in our own communities. I have often written about the beginnings of rules and regulations, which began after the great fire of London in 1666 and, in this country, after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. It took many decades and many lives lost to recognize that building codes were needed, however.

Unfortunately, the typical response, historically, is to immediately express horror, but as time goes on, become complacent that something that bad couldn’t happen here. Yes, it can happen anywhere, and certainly in communities where the buildings are closer together. So we need to listen when we’re told that it could happen, and realize why fire could burn down any community where nature’s forces work against our best planning.

We have seen the devastation, and some of us realize the many elements that contribute to disaster, such as drought, high winds, finish materials that combust and lack of ability to escape, to name a few. Our building codes are focused on life safety and limiting fire spread. At the right temperature, nearly everything burns.

California has similar codes, but many buildings were constructed prior to the newest, more stringent codes and did not have safety requirements for one- or two-hour resistive surface materials, interior sprinklers or opening protective devices like special shutters that drop to enclose spaces and reduce fire spread. Our roofs, siding, fences and interior materials, just like California’s, can ignite readily when hot embers land on them.

Rebuilding in California will have to include interior sprinklers, non-combustible exterior materials and community training in what to take, when to evacuate and how to do so safely without blocking the path of emergency responders. I expect that we will see greater distances between dwellings and backyard structures, less vegetation, cannons mounted on utility poles to shoot fire-retardant and fire break walls that can lift out of the ground to separate buildings. There are products on the market to do all of these things, though most have been developed for flood prevention or highly flammable building conditions. More people will choose cement board siding that mimics everything from stone to wood siding to preserve styles that are consistent with the building shape, and metal, cement or ceramic tile roofs that will not combust if a hot ember or coat lands on it, and metal window frames. Remember to choose safe materials. Good luck!

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T“he Sopranos” revolutionized television entertainment when it made its debut on HBO in 1999, and continued through 2007. On the surface, it was an organized-crime story centered on a mob guy in New Jersey named Tony Soprano. Below the surface, however, “The Sopranos” explored new levels of the complexity of human nature.

Yes, Tony Soprano was a monster capable of vicious brutality. But he was also an uppermiddle-income family man living in suburbia with a wife, Carmela, and two children he truly loved. Sure, he had his goomba, but he genuinely cared about and provided for Carmela, and would say hardly a bad word about her. He was a doting father who would take his daughter, Meadow, to visit prospective college campuses while taking time out along the way to murder

opinions

‘Woke up this morning . . .’

someone who had crossed him. All in a day’s work.

Then there was Tony’s mother, who had also plotted to kill him. Underlying all these contradictions was the reality that this vaunted tough guy and super stud was in therapy with Dr. Melfi, who treated him for anxiety and depression.

TThere was also a supporting cast of rogues and characters that would cause anyone anxiety. Big Pussy was Tony’s loyal friend, who turned out to be an FBI informer — a “rat.” Tony killed him, and dumped his body off the family boat so he could swim with the fishes. Bobby Bocola was an overweight killer who could play Santa Claus, and got himself shot to death in Trainland, the model train store on Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook.

Uncle Junior was an aging mob leader and family patriarch who was capable of casual cruelty.

hree of the stars of ‘The Sopranos’ offer their takes on what made the show special.

Recently, my wife, Rosemary, and I went to the historic Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts to see “In Conversation With the Sopranos,” with Steve Schirripa (Bobby Bocola), Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Vincent Pastore (Big Pussy), who reminisced about their experiences on the show and answered questions from the capacity crowd. The audience was made up of real people — middle-income Long Island families, many of whom, no doubt, had moved out here from New York City. Listening to the questions they asked, you’d conclude that they must have watched and rewatched every “Sopranos” episode.

discussing how they got their parts and their opinions of the other actors. James Gandolfini — Tony Soprano — was the glue that made “The Sopranos” work so well, and was extremely generous and always supportive. Dominick Chianese (Uncle Junior) was an exceptional actor and a totally mild-mannered gentleman off screen. Tony Sirico, who played Paulie Walnuts, was a psycho on and off screen but a loyal friend.

Christopher, Tony’s young protégé, killed his girlfriend, Adriana, when he found out that she, too, was an informer. Paulie Walnuts smothered his mother’s friend to death with a pillow when she caught him stealing her money.

Schirripa is a good friend and a truly great guy, totally down to earth. I’d met Imperioli and Pastore when they did a similar show with Steve about six years ago in Westbury. Both are very talented but regular guys.

The show was terrific, with the trio

Particularly funny was Pastore’s story about how a real-life mob-connected restaurant in the Bronx had proudly displayed his framed photo on the wall — but because the show depicted him as a “rat,” the picture was taken off the wall and destroyed. Their presentations were terrific, as was the question-and-answer session. They had a great rapport with the audience. After the show I met briefly with them, and told them “The Sopranos” would never grow old. Schirripa and I said we’d connect again soon. I’m looking forward to it.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

Rubbing elbows with three great men

Columnists generally like to write about happy things, or at least not dwell on the subject of death. But over the past few weeks, three very significant people have died, and in some or many ways, I had direct contact with all of them. I refer to the late President Jimmy Carter, Chuck Dolan and Dick Parsons.

I don’t claim to have been a buddy of President Carter’s, but I had one interesting experience with him that is still fresh in my memory. During my years in the Assembly leadership, there was a custom that all potential Democratic candidates for president be introduced to the members of both houses of the Legislature. It was the job of an assigned member to escort the potential candidate around the Capitol for the meet-and-greet.

Apparently, nobody in the leadership offered to take then Governor Carter to

meet the elected members. Almost by default, I raised my hand and offered to do the escort work. My first task was to meet Carter at the Albany airport. At the stroke of noon, he arrived in the waiting area, looking to find his good shepherd. I greeted him and drove him to the Capitol so he could make his pitch for why New York should support his candidacy.

During the following three hours, Carter made his case for being the next president. Late that afternoon, we returned to the airport, and I wished him the best of luck. He wasn’t convinced that he could win over doubting Democrats, but he was determined to go to all of the key delegate-rich states to convince the doubters that he was the man for the job.

i t was the White House operator, and to my surprise, President Jimmy Carter was calling.

He told me that he would be making a number of public-works grants on Long Island, and asked if I had any preferences for a grantee. I recommended my hometown of Long Beach as the recipient of federal dollars — but I never heard from Carter again.

On a note closer to home, I was one of thousands of people who had a chance to know Charles Dolan, who created Cablevision and countless other innovations. He was a giant in the communications industry, but he was just plain Chuck in private.

I had the good fortune to be invited to his Christmas receptions and his famous July Fourth parties. On every occasion, he had the ability to make you feel like you were the only person at the event.

ing him the recognition. At all times, Charles, the titan of the industry, was just plain Chuck.

My last tribute is to the late Dick Parsons, a giant in so many businesses who was known for his great negotiating skills. I met him in the late 1960s, when he was a counsel to Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. He eventually went into the private sector, as chairman of the Dime Community Bank and Time Warner.

I still fondly remember a lunch appointment of ours on the afternoon of the O.J. Simpson trial verdict. We spent an hour discussing how Simpson could avoid a conviction, but at all times he was just Dick Parsons, a regular guy talking about a world of issues.

After decades of meeting great people, I very much miss those who were humble and gracious, never making a big deal of the power and influence they were lucky to possess. There aren’t many of those people left on this planet.

Two years later, the modest and humble Georgian was the president. On a February afternoon, our home phone rang, and the woman calling said she was the White House operator. Despite being skeptical, I took the call, and to my surprise it was Carter calling.

One August, Chuck invited my wife and daughters to the Hampton Classic, a major event for equine aficionados. Chuck had acquired a new camera and took pictures of my family, which I used on our family holiday card that year. I credited him as the photographer, and I got a call from him, thanking me for giv-

Jerry Kremer was an assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.

JERRY KREMER

editorial

Serve the constituents, not the parties

earlier this month, those who were elected and re-elected in November took their oaths of office.

Long after the last ballot is counted, and as soon as the oaths are administered, the most important chapter begins — the work of governing. And now that Gov. Kathy Hochul has delivered her State of the State address and the legislative session is underway, New York’s elected officials face an urgent challenge: to move beyond partisan rhetoric to deliver for the people who entrusted them with power. While the election season is often defined by fiery speeches and ideological divides, the responsibilities of governing require cooperation, compromise and a steadfast focus on serving the taxpayers.

Hochul laid out her vision for the year in her address last week, touching on issues that transcend party lines, including affordable housing, public safety, economic growth and climate adaptability.

These are not Democratic or Republican issues; they are New York issues, and they demand solutions from leaders on both sides of the aisle. Yet the immediate responses to Hochul’s proposals

letters

Peter King walks a tightrope with Trump

To the Editor:

Re Peter King’s column “Once again, there’s a New Yorker in the White House” (Jan. 9-15): King should be commended for his once again skilled sleight of hand when it comes to comments about President Donald Trump. King managed to call him an “overlord” while at the same time showering him with praise for his supposedly singlehanded eradication of MS-13 on Long Island.

King can certainly walk the tightrope very well. Lest we forget, Trump’s focus on the gang was a convenient opportunity for him to launch his narrative that all migrants are criminals, murderers or rapists. The FBI, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and, most important, Long Island law enforcement should be praised for their diligent, exhausting work on this scourge. And any child could see through Trump’s blatant politicization last year of Officer Jonathan Diller’s murder. Really, Peter.

showed how entrenched partisanship can overshadow a shared commitment to progress.

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, but some of the reactions to the State of the State were all too predictable, either filled with vitriol for Hochul’s policies or unquestioningly agreeing with everything she said.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of divisiveness. The political climate in New York, as in much of the country, is polarized, with both parties often more focused on scoring points than solving problems. But taxpayers deserve better. They expect their representatives to work together — less as Democrats and Republicans than as public servants dedicated to improving the quality of life in their communities.

Addressing housing affordability, for example, isn’t merely a policy discussion — it’s a pressing issue for families struggling to make ends meet. Likewise, public safety can’t be reduced to talking points; it affects the lives of residents of cities, towns and villages across the state. And economic growth isn’t about partisanship — it’s about creating jobs, supporting small businesses and helping communities thrive. These priori-

ties require collaboration, creativity and the willingness to engage in tough but constructive dialogue.

The stakes are high. Trust in government is fragile, and elected officials must demonstrate that they can deliver results. That means setting aside political differences to focus on what unites us: a shared desire for a prosperous, safe and equitable New York. It means finding common ground on key issues while respecting differing perspectives.

As the state’s leaders embark on this legislative session, they must remember that their duty is not to a political party, but to the people they represent. Voters have made it clear time and again that they don’t want endless gridlock or partisan posturing; they want solutions. They want leaders who prioritize progress over politics.

The work of governing is not glamorous, and most of the time it doesn’t make headlines. But it is the foundation of a functioning democracy. Now that the campaigns, the election and the swearing-in ceremonies are behind us, it’s time for the winners to roll up their sleeves, put the rhetoric aside and get to work. The future of our state — and the trust of its people — depend on it.

How amusing that King chooses to focus on Trump’s New York roots, his beginnings in Queens and King’s memory of a smiling Trump appreciating King’s New York accent. As if these things could overshadow our new president’s slew of bankruptcies, criminal indictments, multiple accusations of sexual abuse and documented perpetration of fraud on the public via Trump University and the Trump Foundation. King also notes that Trump has made friends with County Executive Bruce Blakeman, former Congressman Lee Zeldin and county Republican Party Chairman Joe Cairo — MAGA supporters all. Birds of a feather flock together.

Of course, King is afraid that he and all the other Long Island MAGA tools that Trump used while campaigning will be discarded in his junk heap of no-longer-useful sycophants now that the election is over.

A new path forward for Long Island transportation

Long Island is a place of endless potential, where communities with rich histories thrive in scenic landscapes. Our ability to sustain this prosperity is at risk, however, due to a glaring issue: outdated and insufficient transportation infrastructure. The status quo is no longer an option.

MichAeLLe soLAGes

Long Island’s transportation challenges stem from years of systemic neglect and a funding model that doesn’t prioritize our region’s needs. Currently, Long Island’s funding mechanism is lumped together with New York City and other counties under the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council. This arrangement puts Long Island at a disadvantage, forcing us to compete for resources with the complex

and nearly endless needs of the five boroughs and beyond.

The numbers paint a stark picture. Long Island’s share of transportation funding has dwindled to just 6 percent, despite a population that would make us the third-largest city in the nation. We are being asked to do more with less, and the cracks are starting to show — literally, in our roads and railways. To address this crisis, we must rethink how transportation funding and planning are handled.

that we know how to prioritize best.

With the leadership of such an organization, we would be able to build a Long Island where commuting is seamless, roads are safer and public transit options are robust. Projects such as modernizing the Long Island Rail Road, improving safety on major highways, and developing environmentally friendly transit systems would finally get the attention they deserve.

Aregion that is key to New York’s economy is treated as an afterthought.

The creation of a Nassau Suffolk Metropolitan Planning Organization is the logical next step. By establishing a dedicated MPO for Long Island, we can ensure that our transportation priorities are no longer overshadowed by those of neighboring regions. The new organization would allow us to access federal funding directly, giving us the autonomy to address local issues

Letters

King is genuflecting to Trump again in an attempt to garner favor for New York in light of Trump’s continuing belligerent rhetoric about blue states and big cities. Most importantly, Long Islanders need a repeal of the state and local tax write-off cap imposed as punishment by Trump during his first term. Former Congressman Anthony D’Esposito promised to get that done, but caved in the end. Maybe the recent visit to Mar-aLago by Reps. Andrew Garbarino, Nick Lalota, Mike Lawler and the rest was enough to satiate Trump’s need for sucking up from his MAGA crew, and we’ll see a lifting of the SALT cap.

New Yorkers don’t need to “work to find common ground with the president” to become great again. We are one of the most beautiful and economically stable states in the country, with resources and opportunities not available in any other part of the nation. Do we have problems to be addressed? Sure we do. But we’re still great.

ELIzABETH MuRPHY Franklin Square

Town hikes taxes, and mailers, ads keep coming

To the Editor:

Nassau Republican officials at every level shamelessly waste taxpayer money on mailers and op-ed pieces that are purely partisan attacks on Democrats, and they cite one-party rule in Albany, overlooking the stark reality that Nassau County, its cities, towns and most villag-

es, is currently ruled by a single-party GOP machine, as it has been for most of our lives.

We all suffer from the Nassau and Town of Hempstead GOP’s relentless crusade to stay in power by gerrymandering, doling out patronage and perks to friends and family in the town’s employ, spending millions of taxpayer dollars on partisan mailers and television ads while imposing double-digit tax increases and fees on beleaguered taxpayers.

While Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin gave generous raises to his inner circle, again, he and his Town Board socked every town homeowner with a double-digit tax increase, sneaking in a 12.1 percent tax hike in December and over $850,000 in raises this month without mentioning it in any of the town’s famous and constant mailers. And this year the town refuses to post the names of those receiving raises. What are they hiding?

The town’s devious attempt to hide this nepotistic, self-serving resolution to give themselves, their families and friends substantial raises epitomizes Clavin’s resolve to hide the truth from voters. Or is this just a way to avoid recusing themselves from voting on raises to relatives?

It’s time for this charade to end. Clavin must stop raising our taxes in years he isn’t running, and then sending out tax-paid mailers at $80,000 a pop, claiming he is freezing taxes in an election year.

DAvE DENENBERG Merrick

Smaller New York regions, like Ithaca, already benefit from their own MPOs despite having far smaller populations and economies than Long Island. Why should our region, home to more than 3 million people and a cornerstone of New York’s economy, continue to be treated as an afterthought?

This is not just about transportation — it’s about Long Island’s future. Without the infrastructure to support our

growing population and economy, we risk losing what makes this region special.

Thanks to the leadership of State Sen. Monica Martinez and Assemblyman Steve Stern, legislation to establish a Nassau Suffolk MPO has been introduced, and as the chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, I’m proud that we’ve included this important legislation in our 2025 People’s Budget Framework. Now it’s up to us to make this vision a reality. Passing this legislation would mark a turning point, signaling that Long Island’s needs would no longer be ignored.

Let’s seize this opportunity to secure Long Island’s place as a leader in transportation innovation. By creating a Nassau Suffolk MPO, we can build a future in which our communities are connected, our economy is strengthened and our residents enjoy a better quality of life.

Michaelle Solages represents the 22nd Assembly District.

FrAMework by Tim Baker

In last week’s brief “Gillen sworn in as a Congresswoman,” a few of the people in the accompanying photograph were misidentified. Those in the photo included Owen Finegan, Myles

The view from the Nassau University Medical Center — East Meadow

Finegan, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Chris Finegan, u.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, Austen Finegan and Laine Finegan. The date of Gillen’s swearing-in was Jan. 3.

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