HERALD LONG BEACH
Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach
Laura Gillen declares victory over Anthony D’Esposito
By BRENDAN CARpENTER bcarpenter@liherald.com
Democrat Laura Gillen declared victory over incumbent U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito in a close race in Tuesday’s election, having captured 51 percent of the vote — about 6,000 more votes than the first-term congressman. Gillen appeared to secure her first term in the U.S. House of Representatives, though the results were still unofficial as of press time on Wednesday. She was met with chants of “Laura! Laura!” from her supporters.
“I am so honored and humbled to be your new congresswoman,” Gillen said. “We knocked on 300,000 doors, we made over 600,000 phone calls and we put together a campaign, a winning campaign, that we will emulate for years to come.”
D’Esposito campaigned on a platform focused on public safety and reducing taxes. He took a strong stance on supporting Israel and said border security, too, was a major issue.
Gillen, a former Hempstead town supervisor, ran on promises to improve infrastructure and protect health care access.
Tackling the high cost of living and restoring the state and local tax deduction on income taxes were also part of her platform.
Aside from Gillen, most area Republican incumbents kept control of their seats. In the 9th State Senate District, Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick fended off Democratic newcomer James Lynch, winning 55 percent of the votes, a 13,000-vote difference.
“I’m very excited to get back to Albany to advocate for the
9th Senate District,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said after declaring victory. “We need so much more. We need lots to be done for our communities in the way of affordability, safety and mental health. There’s a lot to be done, and I’m eager to continue that work.”
Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, a former Malverne village trustee, emphasized issues such as crime reduction and economic recovery during her campaign. She stressed that the police
L.B. resident’s first film hits the big screen
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
Long Beach resident Mike Coppola premiered his debut film, “That Creep From the Bar Last Night,” in Bellmore last Friday. A crowd of around 200 attended the screening of the independent film, which explores the struggles of a man grappling with addiction and strained family ties.
“It really could not have gone any better,” Coppola said of the premiere. “We had a whole bunch of people there. We did a whole red carpet, took some really great pictures, we gave some speeches beforehand and we watched the movie. We got blown away by the reception from everybody — standing ovation.”
school playground, which sparked his imagination.
“I didn’t really stick around to see what played out, but it just got me thinking,” Coppola recalled. “And then I kind of got inspired with this idea of, like, who we see, these people in life, sometimes at their worst, and that’s the only moment that you see, that we never see them again. And . . . that’s just the only way you’ll ever know them.”
MIkE COppOLA Filmmaker
Coppola, who has 15 years of experience in the industry and starred in the film, was inspired to create it after a brief but memorable encounter while living in Brooklyn. He saw an apparently unstable man talking loudly near a
“That Creep From the Bar Last Night” follows an alcohol- and cocaine-addicted reggae band manager who wants to see his young daughter on her birthday while facing his own personal difficulties. The film offers an intimate look at how addiction and personal struggles can disrupt family bonds and lead to isolation.
Coppola’s wife, Rachel, also produced the film, which gave them the chance to add a personal touch and local connection to the project. Filming took place in several local spots,
Continued on page 10
Adrienne Daley/Herald
A winter wonderland coming to Long Beach
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
The Ugly Duckling, located at 906 W. Beech St., is launching a limited time “Winter Wonderland” pop-up, an immersive dining experience designed to transport guests to the North Pole, beginning Nov. 21.
Known for past themed events like its Taylor Swift-inspired pop-up and a Halloween collaboration with NYC’s Blood Manor team to present Nightmare on Beech Street, the restaurant often transforms the space during the off-season to continue to attract customers to the restaurant and the West End. This year, the space becomes a winter wonderland with interactive elements to create a festive experience for guests of all ages. The focus is on being a North Pole experience rather than a holiday one.
“This year, we wanted to come up with something that could be exciting for families, not just in the Long Beach Community,” owner Max Feinberg said, “but in surrounding communities and beyond.”
The Winter Wonderland experience begins as guests enter through a “Beech Street Train Station” before boarding a simulated North Pole Express train. Upon arrival, visitors will find themselves in “Downtown North Pole,” complete with storefronts, holiday lights and Santa’s workshop, where elves are
Courtesy Brooke Filosa
The Ugly Duckling, in Long Beach’s West End, will be turning into a winter wonderland at the end of the month, just in time for the season.
busy at work. The “Naughty and Nice” office, an area filled with holiday details and mechanical elements, leads to a lifesized, unfortunately non-edible, gingerbread house set up in the back of the restaurant.
“I think that this is really a great winter, early spring experience that peo-
ple can enjoy, and we’ll also program it out along the way with Santa Claus and other winter characters,” Feinberg said. “I think that design of the room is just the start, and then how we program it, but I think the level to which we go; a lot of time, effort and money to make people believe that they’re going to the
North Pole.”
Feinberg and his team collaborated with set designer Craig Banks, whose group has handled the complex set elements, decor and special effects to build out the environment.
Tickets are $40 per person and include an entree and dessert. While the full menu is still under finalization, they plan to offer seasonal treats such and a variety of holiday-themed cocktails as well as mocktails for the younger North Pole travelers. The menu will also feature a few seasonal dishes to enhance the experience, though The Ugly Duckling is balancing themed elements with classic menu items to maintain efficiency and quality.
“The level we go to really transport the guests into the experience, is a level that I don’t think your average experience goes to.” Feinberg said. “Which is not in any capacity to say or imply that the other experiences aren’t great, and I own the other restaurants that do some of those other experiences, but this, I think, is really transformative.”
Beyond the dining experience, the restaurant will host weekly themed trivia nights every Thursday, featuring questions on different holiday movies.
Tickets and additional information for The Ugly Duckling’s Winter Wonderland are available on WonderlandPopUp.com.
O’Side teacher is honored for excellence
By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
Joseph LaTorre, an English teacher at Oceanside Middle School and a cofounder of the school district’s Bridges Program, has been named an Educator of Excellence by the New York State English Council, an affiliate organization of the National Council of Teachers of English.
LaTorre, 41, of Long Beach, earned the honor for his dedication to his students, his innovative approach to teaching and his passion for helping young people develop not just academically but as individuals poised for success in life.
LaTorre was honored on Oct. 7, after being nominated by the district. He was notified about the award in August.
LaTorre is known for making lasting connections with his students, and creating a fun atmosphere in his classroom that helps foster learning. His teaching style is anything but traditional, as he fills his lessons with music, personal stories and humor, making learning a dynamic and engaging experience.
“Mr. LaTorre blasts music in the mornings, and it gets us going,” Minka Palazzolo, one of his students, said. “He makes his learning plans fun.”
LaTorre’s positive energy is evident from the way his students talk about him. They often mention how he motivates them to be their best, not just academically, but in their personal growth as well.
“He really pushes us to do our best, and makes us feel confident,” Samantha Godelman, another one of his students, said. “I love how he tells stories and makes the class interesting.”
For LaTorre, teaching is much more than following a curriculum — it’s about building a community. His classroom is filled with his students’ memorabilia, from inside jokes and shared experiences to April Fools’ Day pranks and themed competitions. Students also gather occasionally to make class TikTok videos.
In LaTorre’s view, his classroom environment provides students with a space that they could feel comfortable being themselves, allowing them to open up and express their ideas.
“Everything in my classroom is deliberate,” LaTorre said. “We’re not just learning literature — we’re thinking critically, and I’m helping my students develop skills they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives. I want them to leave here with the confidence to solve any problem.”
LaTorre’s Educator of Excellence Award reflects not just his classroom work but also his innovation in creating opportunities for students beyond traditional education models. One of his proudest achievements is co-founding — along with Mitch Bickman, the district’s social studies director — the Bridges Program, an initiative that connects the school districts of Oceanside and Uniondale.
LaTorre described the program as a way to “hack the standard career day”
by offering students a deeper look into a wide variety of careers through small group meetings and real-world insights from professionals.
The program, now in its eighth year, is designed to help students develop the skills and mindset necessary to thrive in their future careers. Students apply to the program in seventh grade and remain in the cohort until they graduate from high school. Along the way, they engage in sessions that emphasize leadership, communication and purpose-driven career exploration.
“Bridges is all about getting students to rethink what matters,” LaTorre said. “We want them to consider not just what they’ll do for a living, but what will make them feel happy and purposeful.”
The success of the Bridges Program
has been remarkable, with alumni reporting life-changing impacts. LaTorre added that several students have gone on to universities such as Cornell, crediting Bridges with opening doors they hadn’t thought possible. Some even continue to collaborate with LaTorre, returning to speak to current students about their careers.
“We had one student who told me, ‘I didn’t know I could talk to people like this until I did Bridges,’ and now she’s in law school,” LaTorre said.
One of the most striking aspects of LaTorre’s career is the lasting relationship he builds with his students. Even after they graduate, many former students stay in touch with him, seeking advice or just checking in to share their successes.
“I get messages from former students all the time, and it’s always so rewarding,” LaTorre said. “They’ll call me up years later with life problems or just to chat. That connection never really goes away.”
LaTorre spoke about one former student, now a Long Beach police officer, who ran with him along the boardwalk after going through a difficult breakup in college.
“We were walking back to the car, and he just broke down in tears,” he said. “That’s the kind of lifelong relationship I want to have with my students.”
Central to LaTorre’s teaching philosophy is the idea of “high-agency thinking” — the belief that no problem is unsolvable. He instills this mindset in his students, encouraging them to approach challenges with resilience and creativity.
“I want my students to leave here knowing that there’s no problem they can’t solve,” LaTorre said. “That’s what being a high-agency person is all about. I want them to take ownership of their lives and their futures.
“It’s not just about getting a job,” he added. “It’s about creating a life that makes you happy and allows you to contribute to your community.”
LaTorre said being named an Educator of Excellence is a wonderful honor, but he doesn’t want to rest on his laurels. He said he wants to continue expanding the Bridges Program and find new ways to support his students in achieving their dreams.
“I’m thrilled to be recognized, but I’m always thinking about what’s next,” LaTorre said. “I want to keep pushing myself and my students to be the best we can be.”
Photos courtesy Oceanside School District
Joseph LaTorre, Oceanside Middle School’s award-winning teacher, getting silly with students.
Francesca Wasserman, the district’s director of English Language Arts and libraries K-12, with Joseph LaTorre, an Educator of Excellence award winner, and Brian Weinstein, a fellow English teacher.
The Medicaid Asset Protection Trust is Nothing to be Afraid Of
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”
— H.P. Lovecraft
Many people are afraid of using a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) to protect their assets from being depleted for the cost of longterm care. Shining a bit of light on the subject may help eliminate this fear of the unknown. Contrary to what many believe, including many lawyers, CPA’s and financial advisors, you do not give up control when entering into the MAPT, even though it is called an irrevocable trust.
First, you reserve the right to change the trustee at any time. Yes, you must name one or more children as the trustee (manager) of the MAPT but it is a simple matter to change the trustee at any time for any reason or for no reason at all. It is up to you.
Secondly, you reserve the right to change who you leave your trust estate to upon death.
Circumstances change and your MAPT gives you the flexibility to “roll with the punches”.
Thirdly, while the MAPT only allows you to take the income (interest and dividends) from the trust, you may still make gifts of principal taxfree to your children at any time, in any amount. If you give more than $18,000 per person per year you must report the gift but there is no tax —the IRS just subtracts it from the amount you can give at death, currently over thirteen and a half million. We like to say that most of our clients are “comfortably under”.
Finally, you may revoke an irrevocable trust in New York on consent of all the parties. If you and your children all sign it may be undone. What if one of them will not sign? Not a problem. Remember we said you may change the trustee and who you leave it to. We simply remove the unwilling participant as trustee and beneficiary and then revoke the trust on consent of all the parties!
ETTINGER LAW FIRM
HERALD SchoolS
West Elementary students honor deployed soldiers
Students at West Elementary in Long Beach recently collected perishable and nonperishable treats and comforts of home in recognition of National Day of the Deployed on Oct. 26. The day honored those deployed in service to the U.S. military. Additionally, students wrote heartfelt cards and notes to be included in the packages shipped aboard with the collected items.
Elementary school students shipped packages to deployed U.S. soldiers late last month.
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Photos courtesy Long Beach Public Schools
Students at West Elementary honored men and women deployed in service to the U.S. military by observing Day of the Deployed on Oct. 26.
Helping find forever homes for furry friends
Posh Pets Animal Shelter has been a place for animals to temporarily call home while trying to find their forever home for years. Over 1,000 furry friends have passed through the shelter along their journey. They hold events throughout the year, and collect funds, donations and volunteered time from tons of community members. They welcomed community members back to out to Kennedy Plaza on Oct. 27 to
spend time with some of their furry friends.
People came out and played with and walked some of the dogs looking for homes. The dogs had a fun day out, and some were even adopted into their forever homes.
For more information about Posh Pets, or to volunteer or donate, visit PoshPetsRescueNY.org.
Lenny wasn’t a fan of photos.
Milly meeting some very nice humans.
Michael Prata/Herald photos
Long Beach City Council members and local elected officials joined volunteers and Posh Pets for the day.
Jack and Willow played with Nighthawk, from Posh Pets.
Nassau Republican incumbents win big
need more funding and training, and noted that bail reform and giving judges more discretion remains on her agenda.
IIn Assembly District 20, Ari Brown secured another win for Republicans, comfortably defeating former Long Beach City Councilwoman Tina Posterli. Brown received 63 percent of the votes, nearly 16,000 more than Posterli.
care about doing what’s right for Long Island
ArI Brown
Assemblyman
“I’m a lifelong Long Islander. I’ve lived here almost 57 years,” Brown said. “I don’t care about being Democrat or Republican, I care about doing what’s right for Long Island. We have to protect Long Island. That’s what it’s about, and that’s the only thing I really fight for.”
Long Beach City Court Judge Corey Klein was also re-elected.
In a special election in the Town of Hempstead, Councilman Chris Schneider added another win for the GOP, earning a full term in the seat to which he was initially appointed in August. He defeated Democratic challenger Kevan Abrahams, receiving 56 percent of the
Tim Baker/Herald photos
patricia Canzoneri-f itzpatrick won re-election over newcomer James Lynch tuesday night.
votes. Schneider, a lifelong Hempstead resident, has prioritized community engagement and local economic growth during his tenure and has pledged to continue his work in addressing town issues. Prop 1, which will add protections against discrimination to the state Constitution, was approved, passing with 55 percent of the vote.
Additional reporting by Angelina Zingariello.
assemblyman ari Brown won re-election tuesday night, beating out former Long Beach City Councilwoman t ina posterli by a large margin.
Project 2025 plan for culture, health care
By Jenna ZaZa & Lori Saxena Special to the Herald
Third in a series.
Written by the conservative Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 is a 922-page book detailing overhauls of the executive branch and proposing radical policy changes regarding the economy, culture, education and health care.
The controversial plans have Democrats in a tizzy, the Trump campaign distancing itself from the ideas and saying they would embrace the mandate’s demise. However, six of his former Cabinet secretaries and more than 140 people who played a role in the project also worked in his administration, according to a CNN report.
At its core, the initiative seeks to reshape the federal government, but its impact extends to the local level.
“The next President has a moral responsibility to lead the nation in restoring a culture of life in America again,” Heritage Foundation officials wrote in the project foreword.
Culture
Project 2025 is steeped in dividing culture wars saying, “The next conservative President must make the institutions of American civil society hard targets for woke culture warriors.” Its top goal is to prioritize the nuclear family model “as the centerpiece of American life” by rolling back hard-fought LGBTQ+ and Black rights.
It calls for the reversal of the 2015 Supreme Court case that legalized samesex marriage in all 50 states. Widespread anti-LGBTQ+ policies could significantly erode cultural and familial support for queer individuals.
“This policy document gives extended protections that violate individual civil and human rights,” Kiana Abbady, board chair of Long Island Progressive Coalition, said. “There would be no such thing as non-traditional families, that would only be the nuclear family, and that goes back to the denial of LGBTQ rights.”
Child protection rhetoric of antiLGBTQ+ has a long history but the ideology behind the project’s “optimal childrearing” family structure emerged in the late 1990s from religious conservative groups. Saying that children grew up best in households with both a man and woman parental figure. That argument is considered to be false, according to the American Psychological Association.
“So when [the project] says they want to prioritize nuclear family values, that is coded language,” said Jillian Gaeta, co-founder of Roots to Revolution and a New York City public school teacher. “What that means is they think that women who don’t have children … that couples who are gay and adopting children also have less value in our society.”
The project proposes limiting opportunities for people of color by stamping out all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at the federal, state and local
Project 2025, a plan conceived by the conservative Heritage Foundation, could change the U.S. if Donald Trump is
level. DEI creates jobs, boosts the bottom line for companies and contributes significantly to the economy, according to research by McKinsey & Company.
According to a Suffolk County disparity study final report, persons of color “experience the greatest disparity, as they are significantly less likely to own a business.” It also discovered that there are statistically “significant disparities” in business earnings for minorities.
“The elimination of these programs that encourage economic advancement and economic opportunity for hard working Americans based on the color of their skin is abhorrent and it’s disappointing,” Abbady said.
Critics of the mandate argue that the proposed policies risk overextending government power to enforce rigid gender binaries and strip away support for marginalized communities.
“It was working on, for decades, to have the United States be a white, Christian, authoritarian nation,” Claudia Borecky, president of the Bellmore-Merrick Democratic club, said.
Health care
Project 2025 proposes decentralization of federal programs like Medicaid, increasing privatization, and implementing grant caps on health care.
A 2023 study in the international Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health of 1,695 healthcare facilities in Nassau County, revealed a disproportionate distribution of services, with the majority of facilities clustered in two affluent zip codes. Areas with high social vulnerability have a significantly sparser distribution of healthcare services.
Parts of Suffolk County are federally designated Medically Underserved
Areas due to insufficient access to primary care, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. These regions rely on federally qualified health centers and federal programs such as Medicaid.
Project 2025 aims to encourage health care funding that is specific to the needs of local communities and competition with private insurers. Decentralization could lead to reducing federal funding and limitations on Medicaid, which could exacerbate barriers in accessing medical care for vulnerable populations.
Currently, just over 25 percent of Suffolk County residents and a little more than 23 percent of Nassau County residents are enrolled in Medicaid, according to a United Hospital Fund report.
Michelle Jones, a nurse at Flushing Hospital, who is on the board of directors for the New York State Nurses Association, said these proposals would substantially increase the cost of health care if implemented.
“The cost of health care is going to skyrocket, and so is the cost of medication,” she said. “This, is going to put profit over patients and over the frontline workers who take care of these patients. This project will erode people.”
The project’s proposed health care policies also include reforming the Department of Health and Human Services into an anti-abortion-focused Department of Life.
Liberal organizations, such as EMILY’s List, have pledged to invest money and resources into flipping House seats currently held by anti-abortion Republicans.
“Project 2025 outlines tracking women’s pregnancies, including abortion, miscarriages, stillbirths ... dismantling sex education, and replacing birth con-
trol programs,” Yari Aquino, an EMILY’s List representative, said. “The way to stop Project 2025 from happening is to elect … Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot.”
The Long Island Coalition for Life remains determined to influence public policy in a direction that bans abortion statewide with no exceptions.
“Our ultimate goal is to protect every preborn son and daughter in the womb, to end abortion and to bring back respect for the right to life of all people,” Celeste Broyles, a representative of the Coalition, said. “We don’t discriminate against babies who may have been conceived in rape … all babies deserve the right to life.”
In 2022, former State Sen. Anna M. Kaplan and Assemblywoman Gina L. Sillitti highlighted ongoing local abortion restrictions. Several communities still had “trigger laws” on the books that were passed in the early 1970s and were intended to limit the establishment of abortion clinics and impose stringent regulations on access. Hempstead, Huntington and Oyster Bay towns and the villages of Freeport and Williston Park had local abortion restrictions.
“Every person should have autonomy over their body and have the right to discuss that with their provider.” Jones said. “Under the project, people are defined by their role in their family, but even then they are a single person with the right to make decisions.”
Jenna Zaza and Lori Saxena are reporters with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
Jenna Zaza/Herald
elected president.
Money secured to help boost Long Beach
Public services, infrastructure to be addressed thanks to grant
Assemblyman Ari Brown announced a significant $100,000 grant from the State and Municipal Facilities Program for capital improvements to the City of Long Beach’s City Hall and police station. This funding will enhance vital public services and infrastructure for the community.
T“In a time when some misguided individuals claim that a Republican cannot deliver funding for their constituents in a NYC-centric legislature, this grant is a testament to our commitment to serving the needs of all residents,” Brown said. “I am proud to have secured funding for various projects across my district. This year alone, we funded new pickleball courts for Cedarhurst, $100,000 for the repairs of the Hewlett Harbor bridge, $50,000 for Island Park infrastructure, a mobile library truck for the Peninsula Public Library, and tens of thousands of dollars for all of my district libraries- just to name a few projects.”
to communities. “Historically, my constituents did not see the funding they deserved. I believe in collaboration and partnership, and that’s why working with the newly elected Long Beach City council members has been so rewarding.”
hese funds will enhance the dignity and safety of city hall.
Brendan Finn council president
Brown emphasized that despite being in the minority, he has tried to work with Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick to consistently deliver resources
“Assemblyman Brown has been a tremendous advocate for, and partner of, the City of Long Beach,” City Council President Brendan Finn said. “These funds will enhance the dignity and safety of city hall and the police department showing his commitment to the residents of our city and strong support for our police officers.”
In addition to the grant for Long Beach, Brown noted the significant impact of shutting down a proposed multi-billion-dollar wind farm that would have been “economically disruptive to all of Long Island, especially to the City of Long Beach.” “The collaboration between myself, Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, and Anthony D’Esposito exemplifies how effective teamwork can lead to better outcomes for our communities.”
“I am excited to continue working
re-elected Assemblyman Ari Brown secured a grant for Long Beach to improve public services and infrastructure.
with local officials who are true partners in governance, focusing on projects that directly benefit our residents,” he added.
Assemblyman Ari Brown represents the 20th Assembly District, which includes the towns and villages of Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, Hewlett, Woodmere, Inwood, Island Park, Lawrence and Oceanside, along with the barrier island from Atlantic Beach to Point Lookout.
CONQUERING HEALTH CARE’S GREATEST OBSTACLES. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.
–Brendan Carpenter
Curing a rare heart disorder with a short life expectancy.
Performing a life-changing brain surgery without a single incision.
Helping a new mom give birth—and receive a new liver.
At Northwell’s North Shore University Hospital, the nation’s most brilliant minds come here to conquer health care’s greatest challenges. So that whatever comes through our doors: challenge accepted. North Shore University Hospital
Herald file photo
Recently
Film festivals on the horizon for Coppola
including Bright Eye Beer Company, as well as New York City locations like Central Park and P.S. 11 in Brooklyn.
From initial planning to the premiere, the project took 11 months, with Coppola and his team working up to eight hours a day. The film was produced without external funding or traditional crowdfunding — the Coppolas financed it on their own.
“Crowdfunding has never been something that I’ve really connected with,” Coppola said. “I just feel like there’s so many things in this world that could use that money, donationwise, charities and stuff like that. I personally felt bad about asking people to give money to my job, so I was pretty proud to say that we funded this ourselves.”
The Coppolas initially identified a half-dozen actors they’ve met who they wanted to collaborate with, and invited them to audition. Additionally, they posted casting notices and conducted 126 open auditions. Thanks to this thorough process, they hired actors who could best bring their gritty New York drama to life.
“We could not have truly assembled a better team of cast and crew,” Rachel said. “This project has been really, really special all around for us. Just while shooting, everything just went so seamlessly, and everyone worked together so well. I think that shows up until the premiere night. The support we received was just incredible — to have 200 people come out and have the film so well received.”
“That Creep From the Bar Last Night” has been submitted to 41 film festivals, including Sundance and Tribeca, where Coppola and his team hope for further recognition. The team is also targeting other festivals in the New
if
York area and beyond, aiming to reach a broader audience and attract more support for future projects.
Coppola hopes to create more films, has several scripts already written, and said he is open to potential collaborations with producers interested in supporting new projects. For now, his focus remains on building momentum for “That Creep From the Bar Last Night” as it makes its way through the festival circuit.
For updates on the film, follow @thatcreepfromthebarlastnight on Instagram.
Continued from page 1
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
the premiere of ‘that Creep from the bar last night,’ at Bellmore movies, drew a large crowd of friends and family, all supportive of Coppola’s newest feature film.
michael Coppola, producer, writer, director and star, with his wife, rachel, producer and actor.
Clementine Benstock, the actor who plays maggie.
“that Creep from the Bar Last night” follows a man attempting to win back the trust of his daughter and ex-wife,
he’s allowed to.
edward Bally, the director of photography.
Pence reflects on Jan. 6 at LIA luncheon
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
One week before Election Day, former Vice President Mike Pence spoke candidly to about 700 people at the Long Island Association’s annual fall luncheon at the Crest Hollow Country Club, in Woodbury. In an hour-long interview led by LIA President Matt Cohen, Pence, 65, spoke with conviction to a politically diverse crowd about the state of American politics, his break with Donald Trump, and the Republican Party’s future.
Pence didn’t mince words when expressing his views on the current political landscape, telling attendees he could not support the Democratic ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, but he also acknowledged his decision not to endorse the Republican ticket.
“I could never support the Democrat ticket,” Pence said. “But I’m also not endorsing our ticket. I have real concerns about the direction of the Republican Party today.”
Pence’s remarks reflected his unease with what he described as a growing populist influence in the GOP, a shift he feels strays from the party’s conservative principles. He voiced worries about those in the party who, he believes, are increasingly willing to “walk away from our allies and American leadership in the world” and ignore the national debt,
while “marginalizing the sanctity of life.”
One of the most poignant moments of the luncheon came as Pence recounted his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob attacked the U.S. Capitol, some chanting threats against him. Pence explained that he was guided by the oath he took on President Reagan’s Bible, which he considered both a commitment to the American people and a promise to God.
overturn the election results. Despite their disagreements, Pence recalled that he and Trump “never had a cross word” throughout their four years together, and even reconciled shortly after Jan. 6, parting “very amicably.” He noted, however, that as time went on, Trump returned to much of the same rhetoric that had fueled the events of Jan. 6, solidifying their separation.
Pence’s said that the Republican Party needed to return to what he described as “mainstream conservatism.” He spoke of the importance of maintaining strong American leadership on the world stage, fiscal responsibility, limited government and traditional values. As he sees it, the GOP must decide whether to adhere to those principles or follow “the siren song of populism unmoored to conservative principle.”
Beyond his concerns about his party’s trajectory, Pence expressed a broader worry for the nation’s divided politics.
“The Bible says in Psalm 15, ‘He keeps his oath even when it hurts.’ I know something about that,” Pence said, adding that it is against the spirit of the presidency to dictate what votes were or were not counted.
As Pence described it, his differences with Trump surfaced only in the final days of their administration, when Trump, influenced by a group of lawyers outside the administration, became convinced that Pence had the authority to
“Our politics are more divided than any time in my life,” he said. “But I’m not convinced the American people are as divided as their politics.” He added that he hoped we would ultimately unite to face common challenges.
Pence closed on an optimistic note, acknowledging that while many Americans feel their values are being “trampled on and disrespected,” the U.S. can still uphold its role as “the leader of the free world.”
Roksana Amid/Herald
Long Island Association President Matt Cohen spoke with former Vice President Mike Pence about a range of topics, including his break from Donald Trump, the future of the Republican Party and the importance of upholding constitutional values.
Nassau Legislature adopts 2025 budget
By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
The Nassau County Legislature has approved County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s proposed $4.2 billion budget for 2025. The plan, which keeps property tax rates flat and prioritizes investments in law enforcement and children’s early-intervention programs, sparked considerable debate and split votes on key legislative committees.
“I’m very pleased that the Republican Majority unanimously passed our no tax increase budget over the objections of Democrats who wanted a tax increase to give them more money to squander away on wasteful spending,” Blakeman said in a statement after the vote on Oct. 30. His office did not respond to requests for further comment.
The Legislature’s Finance Committee voted unanimously to advance the budget, while the Rules Committee was divided, with Republican members in favor and Democratic members, including Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, abstaining. DeRiggi-Whitton cited concerns over the budget’s reliance on reserves, the lack of movement on assessment reform, and financial uncertainties as reasons for the Democratic caucus’s stance.
Blakeman’s budget allocates significant funds for law enforcement and public safety, setting aside resources for two police cadet classes and two correction officer classes, totaling 206 new hires. The allocation is designed to address anticipated retirements and maintain adequate staffing in the Nassau County Police Department, which currently has 2,576 officers.
The spending plan also funds 38 additional full-time positions, primarily in health and human services as well as law enforcement, which will bringing the county’s workforce to 7,517.
Despite the additions, DeRiggi-Whitton said she was
U sing such a large chunk of reserves in one year leaves us vulnerable to future budget challenges, especially if unexpected costs arise.
DELIa DeRIggI-WHIttoN Minority leader, Nassau County Legislature
concerned about the budget’s anticipated 30 percent reduction in police overtime expenses. She argued that the assumption lacks justification, given historical trends and expected police demands, noting that similar overtime cuts in the past have led to strain on publicsafety services.
“There’s no real evidence to back up the notion that we’ll see a decrease in overtime needs,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “With the same head count, expecting a 30 percent reduction seems overly optimistic and potentially risky for the county.”
The budget includes a $22 million boost in funding for early intervention and preschool services, bringing the total allocation to $185 million. The funds support speech, occupational and physical therapy services for children with special needs. Earlier this year, the county increased its reimbursement rates for service providers, addressing what had been among the state’s lowest rates.
Blakeman’s proposal keeps property taxes flat, in keeping with his commitment to avoid new tax burdens. But DeRiggi-Whitton argued that the spending plan falls short of delivering on Blakeman’s original campaign promises of tax relief and a reformed property assess-
ment system.
“For the third year in a row, we’re seeing a budget that doesn’t address his campaign’s core promises,” she said. “Homeowners are still waiting for the tax cuts and assessment reform that were central to his platform.”
Another sticking point for DeRiggi-Whitton and her Democratic colleagues is the budget’s heavy reliance on reserves, specifically federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. According to the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the county has a $207.4 million operating deficit, which the administration plans to offset by drawing on nearly $200 million in reserves. DeRiggiWhitton likened this to dipping into a household’s savings account to cover ongoing expenses.
“This one-time money is being used to patch budget gaps instead of creating sustainable financial plans,” she said. “Using such a large chunk of reserves in one year leaves us vulnerable to future budget challenges, especially if unexpected costs arise.”
In addition to the budget, legislators approved several key appointments during the meeting. Joseph Adamo, who had been serving as acting county assessor, was confirmed as the permanent assessor, despite questions about his certification status.
Jose Lopez was also confirmed as the permanent commissioner of the Department of Social Services, receiving bipartisan support. Lopez has served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, and brings extensive experience to the role.
The Legislature also approved a pay increase for Nassau County election commissioners, raising their salaries from $180,000 to $210,000.
The budget’s passage in the Republican-majority Legislature shifts the focus to NIFA, which will review the county’s financial plan. Its meeting to discuss the budget is scheduled for Nov. 20.
STEPPING OUT
Join the party with
Magical moments on ice and his pals
By Karen Bloom
Ailey II
The latest dose of Disney magic arrives with a rockin’ start to the holiday season. Disney On Ice glides into UBS Arena with “Let’s Dance,” on Nov. 13, to the delight of families who enthusiastically embrace every Disney moment. This time around Mickey and the gang are groovin’ at the DJ table and everyone’s on the guest list.
Audiences feel the electric atmosphere from the get-go as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy remix favorite tunes into colorful stories. “Wish,” an homage to Disney’s 100th anniversary that debuted in the show last fall before the film’s release in theaters — is back in a big way. Now, the entire Kingdom of Rosas is in the spotlight. Wish, Asha, Valentino, Star, and King Magnifico come together for “This Wish,” “I’m a Star” and “This Is The Thanks I Get?!” Go on a journey to Arendelle and the Enchanted Forest in “Frozen 2” with Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf as they are reminded that “Some Things Never Change.”
Also escape to the Pride Lands with Simba and Nala. Audiences should “Be Prepared” as Scar and the hyenas plot to take over the throne. Timon and Pumbaa remind us it’s best just to say “Hakuna Matata” as everyone celebrates the “Circle of Life” as represented in “’The Lion King.”
Skilled maestro Sebastian strikes a chord “Under the Sea” when he conducts Ariel, her seven sisters and a colorful orchestra of sea creatures. Everyone will be singing along as Ariel serenades Prince Eric in “The Little Mermaid.”
And, of course, everyone will immediately “Know The Way” when Moana journeys from the island of Motunui to save her home from Te Ka.
These unforgettable characters and their adventures come alive as audiences are transported to world where imaginations soar — and in true Disney spirit “anything can happen if you just believe.”
So it goes with Mikaela Hyryläinen. The skater, who grew up and still makes her home in Finland, joined the Disney On Ice ensemble in 2019 after concluding her competitive skating career — and is living her dream. Proof that ‘Disney magic’ knows no boundaries.
A Disney fan since childhood, naturally, her first experience with the ice spectacle came about in 2006-07 when she attended a production as a young child with her Mom in Helsinki.
“I remember telling my mother that I enjoyed it so much that I would love to do something similar in the future. So that’s actually where everything started for me.”
Of course, Hyryläinen is quite partial to Elsa.
“Elsa’s my favorite since she comes from the Nordic countries like I do. She has these powers with snow and ice. It’s something that when I was growing up I really enjoyed, playing in the snow and all that. It’s cool that Disney has a character like her.”
As always the skating brings a new dimension to the stories we know so well. Solos, pairs, fast-paced ensemble numbers, along with acrobatic routines, keep everyone in awe of what they’re seeing.
awe of what they’re seeing. not
As Hyryläinen puts it: “We not only do the show on the ice, we also bring it into the air.”
She is especially enthusiastic about a segment in “The Little Mermaid” — Under the Sea — when the seven daughters of Triton ‘fly’ with aerial hoops.
Ailey II, which bills itself as “the next generation of dance,” continues its 50th anniversary of bringing “offthe-charts energy” to the stage. Ailey II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble and led by Sylvia Waters for 38 seasons, Ailey II has advanced Alvin Ailey’s vision for more than five decades. The program includes Ailey’s Streams, an abstract exploration of bodies in space, danced to a percussion score; Houston Thomas’ world premiere Down the Rabbit Hole, a continuation of the choreographer’s Follow the White Rabbit (2022; also Francesca Harper’s Luminous, a work that pays homage to the 50th anniversary of Ailey II and the artists who paved the way for future generations.
“They do splits and spins and all sorts of exciting tricks in the air,” she explains.
Expect to see acrobatic stunts throughout the show.
“We have swaypoles, freestyle skaters leaping off ramps, also other kinds of aerial acts that are so special. They help us tell the stories on an even deeper level.”
• Wednesday through Sunday. Nov. 13-17; times vary
• Tickets start at $30; available at DisneyOnIce.com
• UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont
While the entire production always gets an enthusiastic response, audiences are especially fond of the “Circle of Life.”
“We see Simba and Nala on the Pride Rock and there are all kinds of different animals. We have flamingos, giraffes, impalas, obviously Timon and Pumbaa and even Zazu. It’s a huge celebration of Simba and Nala and their new cub,” she notes.
In fact ‘celebration’ is an apt descriptive of the entire spectacle. The show encourages fans, as per the Mouse House, to “celebrate the magic of courage, love and adventure.”
And that pretty much sums it up for Hyryläinen.
“There’s nothing more heartwarming than seeing young kids whose eyes light up when they see you and see certain characters on the ice,” she says. “They’re singing so loud, they’re clapping, they’re dancing, they’re having the best time. I’m so happy bringing the Disney magic to all the kids who attend our shows.
“I’m living my best life, getting to bring the stories to life. Plus, this job has taken me to so many cool places in the world. I couldn’t be more grateful for the path I chose.”
A final takeaway from Hyryläinen: “As long as you believe in the magic, as long as you have goals, as long as you have dreams, there’s nothing to stop you.”
Photos courtesy Feld Entertainment
What starts out as a party transforms into an adventure with Mickey and his crew spinning tunes to get it all going.
Friday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
The Seven Wonders
The Seven Wonders “go [their] own way’ when the band brings their popular Fleetwood Mac show to the Madison Theatre. The concert features all your favorite Fleetwood Mac songs — “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” “You Make Lovin’ Fun,” “Rhiannon,” and more — delivered in a powerful performance by a band whose chemistry is as electric as the original. Certainly not your average tribute band, these musicians take it to the next level. While their collective performance experience spans decades, their presence and energy are vivacious, paying homage to the live show of the original Fleetwood Mac. Their onstage charisma invokes the styles of the original band in its prime. It’s a true testament to music’s timelessness.Their performances have been turning heads since their inception.
Friday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m. $50-$60. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 3234444.
THE Your Neighborhood
Madeleine Peyroux
Nov. 17
The acclaimed jazz singer, songwriter and interpreter brings her tour to the Landmark stage, Sunday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m., following the spring release of “Let’s Walk,” her first album in six years, The new songs present sides of the artist only touched on in the past. The collection is her most diverse, intimate and bold work as she shares thoughtful and revealing views on personal and societal concerns. Peyroux offers hope through understanding and community by using one of our most unifying means, music. Peyroux is highly acclaimed for her dusky, lyrical style and affinity for reinterpreting classic jazz, blues, and folk standards. Her extraordinary journey is one of the music industry’s most compelling. Emerging in her teens Much like songbird Edith Piaf, Madeleine Peyroux spent her teenage years busking the busy streets of Paris. Just like the ‘little sparrow’, Madeleine befriended the city’s street musicians and made its Latin quarter her first performing stage. Years later, Peyroux would cite iconic Piaf as an influence on her music and record a rendition of the classic La Vie En Rose, soulfully capturing the tune’s romanticism and melancholy. Peyroux drew favorable comparisons to the legendary Billie Holiday, and eventually caught the attention of the record industry. Her debut album, 1996’s “Dreamland,” featured a bevy of noted jazz artists and drew accolades for her distinctive take on blues and jazz standards. Her follow-ups, 2004’s “Careless Love” and 2006’s “Half the Perfect World,” fared even better, charting on the Billboard 200 and achieving gold status. Overwhelmed by her initial success, Peyroux has continued to cut a low-key, if no less lauded, career path.
In concert
First-Time Homebuyers Seminar
Plaza Theatricals’ welcomes Andy Cooney with his “Irish Celebration,” Sunday, Nov. 17, 2:30 p.m. Cooney’s outstanding voice and dynamic stage have filled the rafters of Lincoln Center and The National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland. His talent and versatility provide the ability to deliver a variety of songs directly to the hearts of the audience. Cooney is surely one of the greatest singing sensations on the Irish music scene today. Christened “Irish America’s Favorite Son” by The New York Times, it is a title he richly deserves. See the show at 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.
Ask the tech guy
Though her intimate sound certainly owes a debt to Holiday, she has continued to evolve, carving out her own stylistic niche that balances a modern sensibility with a respect for older vocal traditions. Nine albums and twenty-plus years since her debut, “Dreamland,” Peyroux continues to challenge the genre lines of jazz, venturing into the fertile fields of other contemporary genres with unfading curiosity. Madeleine’s thirst for creative exploration is unfading and her willingness to face creative challenges remains as solid now as it was three decades ago. $70, $65, $58. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
The Long Island Housing Partnership and the State of New York Mortgage Agency, in collaboration with the City of Long Beach, hosts a homebuyers workshop, Thursday, Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m., at Long Beach Public Library, second floor. Learn about the home buying process, as well as programs and grants available to firsttime homebuyers. 111 W. Park Ave. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov.
Farmers’ Market
The Kennedy Plaza Farmers’ Market is held at Kennedy Plaza in front of Long Beach City Hall every Wednesday and Saturday, from 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.
Mah Jongg club
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.
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.
7,
LEGAL NOTICE
Public Notices
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU
MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC, -againstKAREN S. ROBERTSON, IF LIVING, AND IF SHE/HE BE DEAD, ET AL.
AMENDED NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on August 8, 2024, wherein MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC is the Plaintiff and KAREN S. ROBERTSON, IF LIVING, AND IF SHE/HE BE DEAD, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on November 19, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 23 VINTON STREET, LONG BEACH, NY 11561; and the following tax map identification: 59-225-66 & 67.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATE LYING AND BEING IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 609244/2022. David S. Ziedman, Esq. - Referee. The Referee does not accept cash and only accepts bank checks or certified checks made payable to David S. Zeidman, as Referee. The Referee will not accept any checks made payable to a third party. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 149544
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU
WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR HILLDALE
TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST
MARY MARKS, RON MARKS AKA RON EVAN
MARKS, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 16, 2022, 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 December 3, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 47 East Beech 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, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 99, Lot 61-64. Approximate amount of judgment $1,405,702.49 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600924/2018. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Fay Mattana, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 19-005692 82952 149677
LEGAL NOTICE
REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON MORTGAGE SECURITIES CORP., CSMC MORTGAGE-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-6, Plaintiff - against - MAGGIE HEYMAN, et al Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on January 10, 2018. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on the 3rd day of December, 2024 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Long Beach, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Premises known as 259 West Hudson Street, Long Beach, NY 11561.
(Section: 59, Block: 55, Lot: 50 and 51)
Approximate amount of lien $894,882.67 plus interest and costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.
Index No. 010922/2013.
Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee.
McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170
Tel. 347/286-7409
For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832
Dated: October 20, 2024
During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 149671
Distrito Electoral N.º 2: todos los votantes calificados del Distrito que residan al oeste de la entrada al puente State Parkway votarán en la estación de bomberos de Lido del DISTRITO DE BOMBEROS DE LIDO y POINT LOOKOUT, 211 Lido Boulevard (esquina con Regent Drive), Lido Beach, Nueva York. ADEMÁS, TENGA EN CUENTA que los candidatos a Comisionado del Distrito de Bomberos deben presentar sus nombres ante el Secretario del Distrito de Bomberos, en la sede del Distrito de Bomberos, 102 Lido Boulevard (esquina con Hewlett Avenue), Point Lookout, Nueva York, a más tardar a las 3:00 p. m. del 20 de noviembre de 2024, mediante el formulario de petición, suscrito por no menos de veinticinco (25) votantes calificados del DISTRITO DE BOMBEROS DE LIDO Y POINT LOOKOUT. Todas las peticiones deben incluir firmas y los nombres y direcciones impresos de cada firmante.
Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness
Vicky Shaw, right, administrator of Park Avenue Extended Care Facility, presented a check to Dr. Christine Hodyl at the Mount Sinai South Nassau Breast Cancer Awareness Month Panel on Oct. 22. Proceeds were from a bake sale in of support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month that was hosted by Park Avenue Extended Care, which was rated as one of the best nursing homes.
LEGAL NOTICE
AVISO DE ELECCIONES DEL DISTRITO DE BOMBEROS DE LIDO Y POINT LOOKOUT
TENGA EN CUENTA que, de conformidad con la ley, se llevará a cabo una elección para votantes calificados del Distrito de Bomberos de Lido y Point Lookout, ciudad de Hempstead, condado de Nassau, estado de Nueva York, el martes 10 de diciembre de 2024, entre las 4:00 p. m. y las 9:00 p. m., con el propósito de elegir a un residente del Distrito de Bomberos para que se desempeñe como Comisionado del Distrito de Bomberos por un período de cinco (5) años, a partir del 1 de enero de 2025. Todos los residentes del Distrito de Bomberos de Lido y Point Lookout que estén debidamente registrados en la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau antes del 20 de noviembre de 2024 serán elegibles para votar.
La votación se realizará por distrito electoral de la siguiente manera: Distrito Electoral N.º 1: todos los votantes calificados del Distrito que residan al este de la entrada al puente State Parkway votarán en la sede del DISTRITO DE BOMBEROS DE LIDO y POINT LOOKOUT, 102 Lido Boulevard (esquina con Hewlett Avenue), Point Lookout, Nueva York.
POR FAVOR, TENGA EN CUENTA ADEMÁS que la Junta de Comisionados de Bomberos ha dispuesto el uso de boletas electorales en ausencia en esta elección. De conformidad con las disposiciones de la Sección 175-b de la Ley de la ciudad, las solicitudes de boletas electorales en ausencia para esta elección están disponibles cualquier día hábil en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito de Bomberos entre las 10 a. m. y las 3:00 p. m., o pueden descargarse en http://www.pllfd.org, y debe ser recibida por el Secretario del Distrito de Bomberos al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si la boleta se enviará por correo al votante o el día antes de la elección si la boleta se entregar personalmente al votante o su agente. Se mantendrá una lista de votantes ausentes en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito de Bomberos, donde estará disponible durante el horario de oficina habitual hasta la fecha de la elección. Cualquier votante calificado puede, al examinar dicha lista, presentar una impugnación por escrito de las calificaciones como votante de cualquier persona cuyo nombre aparezca en dicha lista, indicando el motivo de dicha impugnación. Dicha impugnación por escrito será transmitida por el Secretario del Distrito de Bomberos a los inspectores electorales el día de la elección. Dicha lista también se publicará en un lugar visible en el lugar de votación durante la elección, y cualquier votante calificado puede impugnar la aceptación de la boleta de votante
Public Notices
ausente de cualquier persona en dicha lista, al presentar su impugnación de la aceptación de la boleta de votante ausente de cualquier persona en dicha lista, al dar a conocer su impugnación y el motivo de la misma a los inspectores electorales antes del cierre de las urnas. No se examinará ninguna boleta de votante ausente a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito de Bomberos a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. del día de la elección.
POR FAVOR, TENGA EN CUENTA ADEMÁS que las urnas permanecerán abiertas hasta las 9:00 p. m. y durante el tiempo adicional necesario para permitir que todos los votantes calificados presentes en ese momento emitan sus votos.
TERRI RYAN, Secretaria de Distrito Por orden de la Junta de Comisionados de Bomberos de LIDO y POINT LOOKOUT FIRE DISTRICT
Peggy Pogue Steiner, Presidenta 149897
LEGAL NOTICE LIDO AND POINT LOOKOUT FIRE DISTRICT ELECTION NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Law, an election of the qualified voters of the Lido and Point Lookout Fire District, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, State of New York, will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, between the hours of 4:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M., for the purpose of electing one resident of the Fire District to serve as Fire District Commissioner for a term of five (5) years, commencing January 1, 2025. All residents of the Lido and Point Lookout Fire District who are duly registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections by November 20, 2024 will be eligible to vote. The voting will be by election District as follows:
Election District No. 1All qualified voters of the District residing east of the State Parkway Bridge approach will vote at LIDO and POINT LOOKOUT FIRE DISTRICT Headquarters, 102 Lido Boulevard (corner of Hewlett Avenue), Point Lookout, New York. Election District No. 2All qualified voters of the District residing west of the State Parkway Bridge approach will vote at the Lido Fire House of the LIDO and POINT LOOKOUT FIRE DISTRICT, 211 Lido Boulevard (corner of Regent Drive), Lido Beach, New York.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that candidates for Fire District Commissioner must file their names with the Fire District Secretary, Fire District Headquarters, 102 Lido Boulevard (corner of Hewlett Avenue), Point Lookout, New York, not later than 3:00 P.M. on November 20, 2024, in petition form, subscribed by not less than twentyfive (25) qualified voters of the LIDO AND POINT LOOKOUT FIRE DISTRICT. All petitions should include signatures, and the printed names and addresses of each signatory.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Board of Fire Commissioners has provided for the use of absentee ballots at this election. Applications for absentee ballots for this election, in accordance with the provisions of Section 175-b of the Town Law, are available on any business day at the office of the Fire District Secretary between the hours of 10 A.M. and 3 P.M., or can be downloaded at http://www.pllfd.org, and must be received by the Fire District Secretary at least seven (7) days before election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his or her agent. list of absentee voters shall be kept in the office of the Fire District Secretary where it shall be available during regular office hours until the date of the election. Any qualified
voter may, upon examination of such list, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such list, stating the reason for such challenge. Such written challenge shall be transmitted by the Fire District Secretary to the inspectors of election on election day. Such list shall also be posted in a conspicuous place at the voting site during the election, and any qualified voter may challenge the acceptance of the absentee voter’s ballot of any person on such list, by taking his or her challenge of the acceptance of the absentee voter’s ballot of any person on such list, by making his or her challenge and the reason therefor known to the election inspectors before the close of the polls. No absentee ballot shall be canvassed unless it has been received in the office of the Fire District Secretary not later than 5:00 P.M. on the day of the election.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the polls will remain open until 9:00 P.M. and for such additional time as is necessary to permit all qualified voters then present to cast their votes.
TERRI RYAN, District Secretary By Order of the Board of Fire Commissioners LIDO and POINT LOOKOUT FIRE DISTRICT Peggy Pogue
Courtesy Mount Sinai South Nassau
CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE
Full Time/Part Time
Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.
Salary Range is $16 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com
DELI COUNTER HELP: Overnight Position 10pm-6am/ 2pm-10pm/ All Shifts. Experienced Preferred. Oceanside 24Hr. Bagel 516-678-7070
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
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
EMAIL MARKETING SPECIALIST Herald Community Newspapers is seeking a motivated and knowledgeable Email Marketing Expert to join our team. If you have a passion for crafting effective email campaigns and a knack for data-driven decision-making, this role is for you!
RESPONSIBILITIES: Set up and manage email campaigns from start to finish. Analyze data to identify target audiences and optimize email strategies. Craft compelling email content, including writing effective subject lines. Monitor and report on campaign performance.
REQUIREMENTS: Degree in Marketing, Business, or related field. Strong understanding of data analysis and marketing principles. Experience with email marketing is preferred but not required.
POSITION DETAILS: Flexible: Part-time or Full-time. Salary range: $16,640 to $70,000, depending on experience and role. Join our dynamic team and help us connect with our audience in meaningful ways! Apply today by sending your resume and a brief cover letter to lberger@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour.
Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
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 $33,280 + 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
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 $33,280 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
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Replacing concrete with glass in a high-rise condo?
Q. We have a condo in Florida, and read your column even when we’re there, which is half the year. Our condo board is proposing “improvements,” aside from all the regulatory issues we’ve been hit with due to building collapses and storms. Our building faces the ocean and is 17 stories tall. It has spectacular views and large balconies. One proposed renovation is to remove the concrete walls between the balconies, which we were told are not structural, and replace them with glass walls to improve our views and modernize the building. Aside from the huge cost increase we will be forever paying, do you think that’s a good idea? The board hired engineers to look at it, and they say it can be done. We are concerned about glass not holding up to hurricanes, since all of the balcony doors and windows had to be replaced with specially made strong frames and glass. What should we tell our board?
A. Your address helped me look at the satellite view from my computer. I’m skeptical about whether this would be an improvement. Certainly it would add glitz and glamour to the building, probably making the value as sky-high as the cost and the height. I understand why you live on a high floor, considering the views.
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But any building has to be examined as the sum of its many parts. Its appearance is only part of the equation. There are three basic components to what is defined as “architecture”: appearance, function and structure. To a trained professional, the composition will fail if the three components aren’t working together in a harmonious way.
In your building’s case, there are certain aspects that are taken for granted, but to an engineer or architect, the placement of those vertical fin walls not only accentuates the “verticality,” giving the building an illusion of greater height, but the fins act as a wind break to the balconies, which reduces the tendency for the wind to whip across the face of the building. This whipping wind is, at times, dangerous, and is referred to as the Bernoulli effect. This phenomenon sucks roof shingles off homes and gives lift to airplanes. It’s also the reason your toilet draws waste down the pipes when water flows from above the bowl downward.
In your case, the removal or replacement of those walls may actually negatively alter the function of the building’s integrity to withstand high winds in the name of glitzy appearance. I wouldn’t recommend the jack-hammering and saw-cutting of the fins unless I first spoke to the original designers to find out if it was their intention to have those spines on the outside of the building to strengthen against natural horizontal movement, and whether they intended them to break up the high winds in extreme hurricane events. Sometimes it’s better to leave a design alone when the conclusions are better but not well understood than to tinker and ruin the integrity.
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If only politics could emulate Notre Dame-Navy football
I’ve been a lifelong lover of sports, particularly baseball and college football. The rivalries. The tension. The thrill of victory. The agony of defeat. Watching warriors in the arena. Having said that, I’m generally not one of those guys who equate the gridiron, the playing field, the rink, the tennis court or the boxing ring with the challenges of everyday life or those facing the nation. But there are exceptions. One in particular. I truly wish that the almost century-long football rivalry between the U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen and Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish could serve as a model for the world of politics and government.
Beginning in 1927, Navy and Notre Dame have played each other 98 times on the gridiron, missing only the 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic. While Notre Dame has pretty much dominated the series, winning 82 of the games, this rivalry transcends so much of what passes for college sports
and “student-athletes” today.
While every Notre Dame-Navy game is intense and hard-fought, there is no trash talk or demeaning the other team or its players. At the end of the game, no matter who wins or loses, the players on both teams stand respectfully together for the playing of their respective alma maters.
At the end of the game, no matter who wins, the players on both teams stand together.
A further differential between this and other rivalries is that these players are truly students, who must meet academic standards. Notre Dame always ranks at or near the top of colleges across the country in the percentage of athletes who graduate and receive degrees. Navy has similar standards, and its graduates are also obligated to serve five years of active military duty after graduation. Understandably, this has made it increasingly difficult to recruit top high school players who have dreams of going on to make millions of dollars in the National Football League rather than being shot at in combat. Certainly since the Vietnam War, Navy hasn’t been the football powerhouse it was during the 1940s and ’50s.
While Notre Dame has managed dur-
ing most of these years to compete at a high level, it has never considered dropping Navy from its schedule, thanks to a commitment it made after World War II, which Notre Dame survived only because of Navy. As a private Midwest school with no large benefactors at the time and so many students being drafted into the war effort, Notre Dame was faced with imminent financial collapse. The Naval Academy saved the day by setting up a major training base on the Notre Dame campus, providing the university with fiscal solvency and ensuring its survival as an academic institution — and a football colossus.
The Fighting Irish won the national championship in three of the four years following the end of the war.
Realizing and appreciating how obligated it was to Navy for its very survival, Notre Dame made a solemn commitment to keep Navy on its football schedule for as long as Navy wanted. So the rivalry and the series have continued all these years. But it goes beyond a financial obligation. There is a mutual respect between the schools that’s reflected at every level, including Notre
Dame’s emulation of Navy with its firstrate naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.
No matter how often I’ve seen it, I am always moved by the pregame ceremonies, with each school acknowledging the other’s traditions, and the postgame alma mater camaraderie among the players, no matter how hard the battle or how bitter the defeat.
Think how gratifying it would be if our national leaders could follow the lead of Notre Dame and Navy. Fight hard but respect the other side. Look for common ground in the national interest without fear of being labeled a Republican In Name Only or a traitor by your own party.
No, politics is not college football. But our political leaders could learn something by emulating the best of college football, exemplified by the Fighting Irish and the Midshipmen.
And yeah, Notre Dame did beat Navy in this year’s game, 51-14, on Oct. 26. But even in the win-at-all-costs world of college football, the score was almost secondary in this unique traditional rivalry. Go Irish! Go Navy!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
EIt’s
time for a new era of political civility
lection Day has come and gone. While the results are unofficial or pending, the passing of this period is the happiest thing that has happened to me in years. By any measure, the 2024 election season has been a brutal, emotional and unsettling time. Our nation has been bruised, battered and ripped apart by the tensions that elections can cause, and now, happily, the campaigns have come to an end. Depending on the results, we will soon either be talking about the winners’ plans for the future or steeling ourselves for days and weeks of bitter court battles. It may be that the lawyers will be fully engaged in what they do best, but it’s long past time for the country to begin thinking about how we can start the healing process that is so badly needed.
So much of the division that we have been experiencing is the product of a political system that has no referee to stop any foul play or ugly communica-
tion. I have witnessed many campaigns over the years, and I have been involved in my own. But more recent campaigns have sunk to levels of conflict that previously were impossible to imagine.
The root cause of the bitterness can be attributed to the candidates, but the real cause is money, money and money. Since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed unlimited expenditures in elections, billions of dollars have poured into shadow committees, none of which care about dignity, decency or fair play. These “dark” committees, whose backers are unknown and well hidden, are not reluctant to drag campaigns into the gutter.
Rlaw that would change how the political system is funded. But there are too many elected officials who like the current system and have no desire to clean it up. Many of them represent safe districts, and are happy to be able to beat up a challenger using phantom funding.
ecent campaigns have sunk to levels of conflict previously unimagined.
The average voter has no idea who or what is behind a political television commercial, except those that mention a candidate by name and voice that candidate’s approval. But there are countless commercials, mailings and social media postings that are misleading. They may mention some committee, but you will never know who is really behind the presentation.
You would think that members of Congress, who are often the object of smear campaigns, would want to pass a
The use of untraceable money isn’t just something that is connected to the campaign process. The same donors spend fortunes throughout the year, wining and dining legislators, favoring them with extravagant trips and coming up with countless other imaginative ways to curry favor with members of Congress. Some legislators get so much financial support from some industries or special-interest groups that it’s fair to say that they’ve been captured and are fully owned by them.
If the divisions in our country are linked to too much money in the system, how can America be healed? The answer is in the hands of the public. It may be unfair to suggest that the voters have any responsibility for the bitterness that we have experienced, but voters can’t be excused from helping to cure a government evil.
The thing that makes certain elected officials happy is the fact that average citizens are too busy to monitor the conduct of their legislators. Over the course of a typical year in office, members of Congress vote on dozens of bills, and the people back at home have no knowledge of how they vote. It’s the responsibility of the media to devote more space to reporting on how our representatives vote.
But to make our world a little more civil, voters must demand that Congress make a serious effort to clean up our corrupt campaign system. At least once or twice a year, call your congressman or congresswoman and ask what he or she is doing to change how we elect our officials. Don’t talk to a staff member. Insist on talking to the person who represents you.
It isn’t a hopeless task to seek changes in the election process. Nothing is written in stone, and you can make things happen. It’s time for an American political climate change.
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.
Now the real work begins
as the Herald reaches your mailbox, the election results may or may not be fully tallied.
Regardless of outcomes, one truth remains constant: Long Island is our shared home, and its future depends far more on what unites us than what divides us.
Although the voting machines are making their way from the gymnasiums of schools and recreation centers back into storage, democracy doesn’t pack up and leave town when the polls close. The real measure of our community’s strength is found in how we work together on the other 364 days of the year. And on that score, Long Island’s story is nothing short of remarkable.
Look around our communities. The volunteer firefighter rushing to an emergency call isn’t asking whether the home in danger voted red or blue. The teacher staying late to help struggling students isn’t checking their parents’ party registration. The civic association working to preserve local wetlands isn’t conducting political litmus tests at its meetings.
What binds our communities together runs deeper than partisan politics. We
letters
Peter King always fought for us
To the Editor:
I enjoy former Congressman Peter King’s commentary in the Herald, and I’ve appreciated his efforts to support Long Island through the years.
The various natural disasters that have recently occurred across the country bring back memories of Superstorm Sandy and Sept. 11, and the many federal and state officials who fought King’s efforts for relief. I think it would make an interesting column to see how many of those elected officials are now clamoring for similar relief in their jurisdictions.
ToM JAffA Rockville Centre
So who collects all those lawn signs?
To the Editor:
Election Day has come and gone. It reminds me of the 1960s television show “The o uter Limits.” With the end of around-the- clock commercials by politicians, political parties, political action groups and special-interest groups, we
all want our children to thrive in Long Island’s excellent schools. We share concerns about protecting our sole-source aquifer — the water beneath our feet that sustains every one of us. We worry about young families being priced out of our neighborhoods, and about our seniors being able to age in place in the communities they helped build. We take pride in our beautiful shorelines and want to preserve them for future generations.
These challenges don’t come with party labels attached. Potholes don’t care how you voted. High property taxes affect everyone’s wallet. Delays on the Long Island Rail Road don’t discriminate based on political affiliation. The solutions to these shared challenges won’t come from political grandstanding, but rather from the often unsung work of community engagement: attending town halls, participating in school board meetings, joining civic associations, supporting local businesses, and staying informed about local issues.
Whether it’s addressing water quality concerns, tackling the housing crisis, preparing for rising sea levels or ensuring that our downtowns remain vibrant,
the solutions will come from sustained community engagement, not just periodic trips to the polls. This means neighbors working with neighbors, towns collaborating with towns, and citizens engaging with their government at all levels.
As your community newspaper, the Herald has chronicled Long Island’s journey through countless election cycles. We’ve seen the political pendulum swing back and forth, but we’ve also witnessed something more fundamental: the enduring strength of our communities when residents commit to the daily work of democracy.
So whether you’re pleased or disappointed with Tuesday’s results, remember that the most important work happens between elections. Get involved. Stay informed. Attend local meetings. Join community organizations. Talk with neighbors who see things differently than you do. Model behavior you’d be proud for your children to emulate.
The ballot you cast on Tuesday mattered. But what you do today, tomorrow, and every day after could matter even more. Let’s all work together for a prosperous Long Island.
now return control of your TV to you — until the next election cycle. No more telephone robo calls, text messages or candidate campaign mailings clogging mailboxes and weighing down our hard-working postal employees.
finally, some peace and quiet! Candidates who claimed they cared about the environment should now do their part. Winners and losers should have their campaign staff and volunteers pick up all the
opinions Fentanyl is taking too many lives
the other day, I was browsing my LinkedIn feed and came across an illustration that caught my eye. There were three glass jars, all the same size, each containing a black ball. The first jar’s ball filled the jar. The second jar’s ball was smaller, and the third was tiny. a caption read, “People tend to believe that grief shrinks over time.”
Underneath was another set of jars, increasing from small to large. This time the balls were the same size, filling the first jar entirely, and as the jars grew larger, it was as if the jar was growing around the ball. The caption read, “What really happens is that we grow around our grief.”
Grief is universal. Some grieve when a favorite restaurant closes, while others mourn a pet or a relationship. But what about a parent grieving the loss of a child? as a father of two daughters, I can’t fathom losing one of them. The thought gives me a pit in my stomach. I can only imagine the pain becoming part of me, like an organ or an appendage.
In theory, I agree with the illustra-
tion’s message. It offers context to the unfathomable. But what if your child were murdered? Would that change things? What if the murder were preventable? I hope to never find out. Unfortunately, it’s a reality for many families, especially because of fentanyl.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of fentanyl. Most likely, you know someone who has died from it or has been affected in some way. Kids are dying, and families are being torn apart. you might be mistaken if you think it’s not happening in your neighborhood.
Here are some sobering facts from the CDC:
■ Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.
■ In 2022, it caused more than 73,800 preventable deaths.
i
n my years of recovery work, I’ve attended too many wakes and funerals.
Many associate overdoses with rock stars or homeless junkies, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. your child doesn’t need to be a drug addict to die from fentanyl poisoning — it’s everywhere. Complacency is fentanyl’s greatest ally. It’s being found in drugs like marijuana. Unless drugs are prescribed by a doctor or come from a reputable dispensary, you’re playing russian roulette.
Consider that scene in “The Deer Hunter”: your child is Christopher Walken, the gun he’s holding to his head is the party your child is attending, and the lone bullet is that Xanax laced with fentanyl that they’re trying for the first time.
Letters
thousands of campaign signs that litter our roads and highways. Perhaps they could use leftover campaign funds to hire homeless or unemployed people to collect this litter, along with people who have been sentenced to perform community service.
If candidates refuse to clean up after themselves, your local village, town or county department of highways or public works should do the job and send candidates the bill.
Larry Penner Great Neck
Let’s turn the seasonal page, not just on weather
To the editor:
We are entering a different season in a merica. It’s not a season everyone likes or voted for, but it’s changing. For some it’s better, for some it’s worse. For some it’s good news, and for some it’s bad.
your perspective colors your season. If you love autumn, then you have enjoyed the current season in much of a merica. you haven’t enjoyed it if you’ve been in the path of a hurricane, but you’ve enjoyed it if you live in most any other place in america. We’ve had a dry fall, but it’s been beautiful.
Political seasons are hard on the nation. We’ve been inundated by political advertisements for months. The presidential campaign went on forever. We are so ready to move on.
There’s always a new season around the corner. It’s best for all of us if we can make the best of each one. They pass by, so enjoy them, love them, roll with them.
Try to make the best of your current season in life. It’s not always easy. We don’t like the seasons when we’re sick, and seasons that are difficult, and even harsh and cruel, come to us all if we live long enough. So, enjoy the good ones.
Dr. GLenn MoLLeTTe
Comments about our stories? Send a letter to the editor to execeditor@liherald.com.
■ accidental overdose is now the second-leading cause of death among young people.
In Texas, law enforcement has seized over 505 million lethal doses of fentanyl. That’s enough to kill every person in the U.S. It’s simple math: Fentanyl = death.
In my profession, I facilitate free narcan training. narcan reverses opioid overdoses. It saves lives.
People often ask, “Why would a drug dealer want to kill their clients?” The answer is simple: fentanyl is cheap and highly addictive. That translates to higher profits and return customers: high risk but high reward.
In my almost 15 years of recovery, I’ve attended too many wakes and funerals for kids and adults. There’s an expression in recovery: Sometimes you have to step over the bodies. That should be reserved for battlefields, yet we live on a battlefield where fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction.
I serve on a Community Prevention
Coalition working to educate our kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. It includes school administrators, social workers, police officers, local merchants, and parents who have lost loved ones to fentanyl. We focus on combating the spread of this deadly drug through our communities.
Grief shouldn’t be part of a parent’s job description, yet it often is. While it’s impossible to avoid all grief, we can reduce the chances of preventable loss. We must act to effect change. you don’t have to be a crusader, but sitting on our hands isn’t an option. We can spread awareness to prevent more fentanyl poisonings.
a mentor once told me, “If you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem.” Here’s the call to action: Join your local community coalition. Get trained to administer narcan. Talk to your kids about substance dangers. Write to local officials about their plans for the opioid crisis, and consult professionals about prevention strategies. Pick one action, and you’ll be part of the solution. a community that works together always wins.
Jason Mayo is a certified recovery peer advocate at a nonprofit community recovery and outreach center on Long Island. He is a contributing writer for The Sober Curator, has written for the Forbes Business Council and is the author of the children’s books “Do Witches Make Fishes?” and “The Boy and the Billy Goat.”
Framework by Lisa LaMagna & Billy Reyes
In between changings of the guard at Buckingham Palace — London
Jason maYo
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