Long Beach Herald 11-28-2024

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Brewery hosts a fashion show

The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce supported the debut of a stylish new event, Unite in Fashion, at Bright Eye Beer Co. last Saturday. Alex Casillo, above, was one of the models who worked the runway, sporting the looks of local designers. At right, Alexandra Mendes performed ‘Believe,’ by Cher, for the sold-out crowd. Story, more photos, Page 10.

Police Dept. welcomes five new chaplains

Chaplains offer spiritual and emotional support in a variety of settings beyond houses of worship, including hospitals, schools, prisons and the military. The Long Beach Police Department launched its newly expanded chaplaincy program earlier this month, welcoming five new religious advisers.

The Rev. Brian Barr, of Beach Catholic; the Rev. Thomas Kennedy, of CenterPoint Church; Bishop Mark Mosses, of New Life Church of Christ; Rabbi Binyamin Silver, of Young Israel; and Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft, of Temple Emanu-El, were all sworn in on Nov. 4. They joined the department’s current chaplains, Rabbi Benjamin Berlin, of Bach Jewish Center, and retired Deacon Thomas Everard.

tant role in police work, and Acting Police Commissioner Richard DePalma said, “Chaplains have been a part of policing for a very long time. We’ve always had our chaplains, and they’ve been great. They’re always there for us.”

I wanted to demonstrate my gratitude for their commitment.
JACk ZANERhAfT

Rabbi

DePalma said he wanted to increase the number of chaplains from two to seven to provide officers with more support. For young cops, he said, the feeling is you’re “supposed to be tough,” and so the emotions that arise on the job are to held in, not shared. In his past experiences, DePalma said, there was a fear among officers of having your gun taken away or being put on desk duty if you shared your feelings, which kept many from doing so. As a result, he said, discussion that should have taken place never did.

City Council President Brendan Finn, a retired New York City police officer, said that chaplains play an impor-

Police officers are exposed to a great deal, including all manner of crime and often intense violence. Chaplains offer them a chance to unbur-

Continued on page 5

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Life-saving skills taught by L.B. COAD

The Long Beach Community Organizations Active in Disasters hosted an emergency preparedness event at Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Oceanside Medical Pavilion on Nov. 20.

The program, led by Dr. David Neubert, an emergency medicine expert, and Point Lookout’s Chief Medical Officer, featured handson training in “Stop the Bleed” and Narcan administration. The planning for this event was a collaborative effort between the organization and the hospital that spanned three months.

B“Being prepared for an event will most likely make the individual willing to step up if needed and makes the scary part of an emergency not so scary anymore,” L.B. COAD member and former city councilwoman, Liz Treston, said. “Being prepared for any emergency, whether you use it or not in your lifetime, is important.”

The Stop the Bleed program, a national initiative, equips participants with skills to control life-threatening bleeding in emergencies. Through interactive demonstrations, attendees learned to apply tourniquets, pack

wounds and use direct pressure—techniques that can prove invaluable in scenarios ranging from accidental injuries to natural disasters—the training aimed to empower attendees with the confidence to act effectively before professional medical help arrives.

The Narcan training, which focused on addressing the opioid crisis, taught participants how to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses using naloxone, a medication designed to reverse these life-threatening events. Participants were trained on administering Narcan via nasal spray or injection and were educated on the importance of seeking further medical assistance even after its use.

“As with many of the trainings that the LB COAD does, it comes from the public request,” Treston said. “It’s unfortunate that young people are dying because of opioid use.”

L.B. COAD, formed after Superstorm Sandy, is part of a national effort to prepare communities in the face of dangerous situations. A COAD is a local coalition that brings together various organizations to coordinate disaster response within a specific area, such as a neighborhood, town, county or state

region. This local-level coordination differs from the broader, statewide efforts and resources provided by Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster at the state or territorial level.

Long Beach’s collaborates with organizations such as Mount Sinai South Nassau, the city’s public relations department, both Nassau County and Long Beach’s offices of emergency man-

agement, multiple nonprofits, Faithbased organizations and elected officials, to bring critical resources and training to the community. This training event was one of many the organization provides.

L.B. COAD’s mission, rooted in preparedness, emphasizes that “being prepared, not scared” is key to responding effectively in critical situations.

Courtesy Liz Treston
Community members had the chance to learn how to be prepared in case of emergencies thanks to an event hosted by L.B. COAD.

West School students take annual trot

The Long Beach School District fundraises and holds events throughout each school year. The annual West Elementary School Turkey Trot is always a big event, but this year, it was taken to the next level.

The West School community this year has given back by raising funds for the West School PTA, with contributions from over 250 friends, family and community members, along with support from over 30 local business sponsors.

The money raised will not only go to program funding, but a portion will also be donated to the Long Beach Soup Kitchen — a cause that students have embraced by collecting food donations all month long. West School Principal Amy Dirolf said the school also held a food drive, which it typically does leading up to the annual turkey trot.

“We thought it was a good opportunity to make it a big fundraiser,” Jackie Signorelli, vice president of the PTA and parent of a kindergartner, said. “We wanted to give back to the community as well. So, as we’re raising money, we’re also sharing the wealth and making it about community and giving. It’s the time of year for being thankful.”

The annual trot was held on Monday, Nov. 25. During the race, each grade level gathered on the large playground at designated times and wore coordinated colors. West School’s fifth grade kicked off the day, going out bright and early at 9 a.m. The order that followed was second grade, fourth grade, pre-K, kindergarten, first grade and finished off by third grade. Parents and families were invited to cheer on their young students.

Each class had goals and incentives they could earn for their fundraising efforts. When a class hit $250, they could choose a prize from a list, including building a fort in class or bringing in stuffed animals. There was another goal of $550, and most classes hit that goal.

There were also school-wide goals for the fundraising. When they hit $1,000, the entire school got a pajama day. When the school hit the end total of $10,000, they get an extra recess.

The kindergarten class led the school in

fundraising. When it was their turn to trot, they ran around the playground with big smiles.

“We took an event that was already exceptional,” Leigh Crane, a PTA member and pre-K parent, said, “and then tapped into every stakeholder possible; students, families, staff members, community members, to really weave in the cohesiveness that West as a school already has. It’s really engaging as much community as possible and giving. Everyone has a part to play here, to be generous and to be collaborative.”

were happy to trot around

playground and get some extra time outside after their fundraising efforts.

Students
the large
Photos courtesy Johnny Milano
Long Beach West School students took part in the annual Turkey Trot on Monday, under some blue skies.
Some students trotted — and some ran their hardest.
Students were happy, earning cheers from family as they trotted.

It is remarkable to us how many people we meet who have amassed signifcant wealth beyond their needs, yet have little or no inclination to share their good fortune with others, even their immediate families. It seems to us that the only value that any asset has is in its use — those who have assets they are unable to utilize are really no better off than those who don’t.

How much richer and happier many lives would be if only we learned to share more. Studies in psychology and neuroscience have demonstrated that acts of generosity trigger a release of endorphins, referred to as the “helper’s high”, leading to increased feelings of happiness and satisfaction.

Generous acts involve considering the needs of others, expanding one’s empathy and leading to deeper connections with others and a more meaningful and fulflling life. This may explain why those least able to give are sometimes the most generous. Generosity has less to do with what one has than the way one thinks.

on “Giving Tuesday,” Dec. 3.

‘Giving Tuesday’ returns to Long Beach Soup Kitchen

“A fght is going on inside me,” said an old man to his son. “It is a terrible fght between two wolves. One wolf is evil. He is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other wolf is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. The same fght is going on inside you.”

The son thought for a minute and then asked, “Which wolf will win?”

The old man replied simply, “The one you feed.”

— Wendy Mass

Generosity may also involve giving of your time and attention. As theologian John Wesley put it three hundred years ago:

“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, To all the people you can, As long as you ever can.”

The Long Beach Soup Kitchen, which has been serving the community for more than 40 years, can’t do what they do without the support of that very community. The soup kitchen is seeking some of that support again starting Tuesday, Dec. 3 — known as “Giving Tuesday” — when they start their second annual citywide juice box drive.

The goal is to collect 2,005 juice boxes by Saturday, Dec. 21.

“Giving Tuesday” is the charitable end cap to Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Why is the goal 2,005 juice boxes? The soup kitchen serves that many meals monthly and, in addition to the hot meal, the guest is given a brown bag lunch with a juice box.

“Last year our expectations were exceeded resulting in a two-month supply of juice boxes rather than the goal of a one-month supply we had hoped for,” said Robert Blau, president of the soup kitchen. “We are so grateful and fortunate to be part of a community that answers the call to support those we feed.”

There will be numerous businesses and locations supporting the “Giving Tuesday” juice box drive where you can drop off any donations toward the goal of 2,005. The businesses and locations include Joyful Treasures, Dune Deli and Catering, East End Pizza, Active Life Gym, Bright Eye Beer Co., Long Beach City Hall, the Long Beach Recreation Center, Blacksmith’s Breads and Fermento.

In addition to the drop off sites, there are several locations that are supporting the juice drive by holding internal collections. These include Beach Giving LBNY, Sea Pointe Towers and Lancer Insurance.

You can also make juice box donations directly to the soup kitchen Monday through Friday, between 9 and 11 a.m., at the soup kitchen, 140 W. Pine St. If you need any assistance with picking up any donations from your home, contact Maureen Doherty at (516) 451-1071.

To learn more, visit the soup kitchen’s website at LongBeachSoupKitchen.com.

&

Courtesy Long Beach Soup Kitchen
The Long Beach Soup Kitchen will be hosting its second annual community juice box drive starting

Police Department adds five new chaplains

den themselves of thoughts and feeling that arise from trauma, with complete confidentiality. To DePalma, “a healthy cop is a good cop,” and he wanted to have this system in place so his officers would be encouraged to share their emotions.

“Mental health is health,” he said. “I want cops to be able to be healthy and provide the best service they can, not only for the city, but for themselves and their families. This chaplain program is basically a way of starting going in that direction, and encouraging cops to be more forthcoming and open.”

C“It’s a way to thank our law enforcement world for their dedication to protecting all of us, but particularly houses of worship,” Zanerhaft said. “I wanted to demonstrate my gratitude for their commitment, and it’s just a natural outgrowth of pastoral care and what we’ve been trained to do and live our life for. To help others, particularly in highly stressful situations, to navigate difficult times, challenging times, sorrowful times — we’re equipped to do that.”

There are other programs to help officers, DePalma said, but with chaplains they have someone to talk to who shares their faith, has similar beliefs or is even of a completely different faith.

Zanerhaft isn’t new to the Police Department. He and Temple Emanu-El frequently host police appreciation Shabbats to thank city officers for their difficult work. Now, as a chaplain, he said, he can be more available to them.

Zanerhaft said he believes it’s an obligation for everyone to try to make the community better, and this is another way he is trying to do that.

Berlin was sworn in as chaplain in April, and he, like Zanerhaft, sees it as a way to give back. “It’s a great honor,” Berlin said. “I get to work alongside those who serve our community, to be able to offer support, guidance, spiritual care. When I came in, we started doing police appreciation barbecues and other communal events. This was just the next development of that relationship in terms of serving the community, and I really love it.”

Courtesy City of Long Beach
rabbi Jack Zanerhaft, of temple emanu-el, was one of the five new chaplains sworn in earlier this month.

Local leaders reject regionalization plan

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, other local elected officials, school district superintendents and school board trustees gathered in the Nassau County executive building on Nov. 21 to oppose the recent State Education Department Regionalization Plan.

The plan, introduced as an emergency rule on Sept. 25, directs school districts to pool resources, programs and services, which critics say threatens the independence of local districts. State Sen. Jack Martins, one of the plan’s main opponents, talked about fighting to preserve local control of districts.

“Long Island schools are regularly ranked among the very best in New York state,” Martins said. “That fact is due in large part to our local control and educational structure, which prioritizes our students’ success. We join our local communities in opposing any effort to force regionalization and fight to preserve local control.”

Blakeman echoed Martins’s sentiments, saying the plan was an attack on suburban school districts, and that he and others would continue to fight to keep power in the hands of the districts.

“Isn’t it interesting that cities such as Yonkers, Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester and New York City are all excluded from their plan?” Blakeman said. “This is just

Sen. Jack Martins, along with other local elected officials, challenged the NYSED’s Regionalization Plan at a news conference on Nov. 21.

another attack on the suburbs by state government, which is completely controlled by left-wing politicians, and we will not stand by and let the Department of Education gut our school districts.”

Many opponents of the plan are questioning the decision to make it an emergency measure. State Sen. Steve Rhoads called it a rushed, and added that the language contained in it could lead to local districts’ complete loss of control of their operations.

“The State Education Department’s self-created emergency regionalization

mandate is vague and can lead to a complete usurpation of local control of schools budgets, tax dollars, and educational opportunities and resources vested in local boards of education,” Rhoads said. “Long Islanders pay some of the highest school taxes in the state, and their local and state officials should and must have a voice in where those dollars are being spent, and that voice is being jeopardized with the SED’s rushed, topdown regionalization plan.”

Sschool districts across Nassau and Suffolk counties are preparing to chal -

lenge the plan. Roslyn school board President Meryl Waxman encouraged other districts to join the fight.

“Superintendents including mine have been told that this is a great big nothing, but what one says and what one does have to align,” Waxman said. “If you take the time to read the regulations and see what they say, they should be self-explanatory. These are emergency regulations, but what was the emergency? Roslyn wasn’t having an emergency until they created one.”

Nonetheless, many people believe that the plan can be beneficial for Long Island school districts. Responding to a rally against the plan on Oct. 31 at Locust Valley High School, Assemblyman Chuck Lavine said that districts can voluntarily participate in shared services, and that the protest was nothing more than political theater.

“The State Education Department website makes it perfectly explicit that any district desiring to engage in shared services with any other district can do so completely voluntarily,” Lavine said. “Held on Halloween, the Oct. 31 rally was nothing more . . . than political theater designed to frighten the public.”

Under the plan, school districts are required to submit surveys to the state by Dec. 6, identifying areas for collaboration. There will also be a comment period before the plan becomes final in January.

Brian Norman/Herald

Turkey, courtesy Latino Civic Association

The Long Beach Latino Civic Association hosted its annual Thanksgiving food drive on Nov. 25, bringing the community together for an event that provided food and resources to families in need.

The initiative, supported by partnerships with local organizations and businesses, aimed to ensure that families could enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal while connecting them to additional support services.

The food drive distributed specially prepared boxes containing a full Thanksgiving feast for everyone. Each box included a turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, an apple pie and all the other traditional fixings. The event was made possible through the collaboration with National Grid, which sponsored the purchase of the food, and Key Food, which offered discounted pricing to support the effort.

“All of our wonderful board members are here, long standing members, brand new members, we’re excited,” Helen Dorado Alessi, executive director of the association, said at the commencement of the event. “We just want National Grid to enjoy the day with our members.”

The event also served as more than just a food distribution. Attendees engaged in various supportive activities, including completing important paperwork, accessing mental health check-ins, financial guidance and receiving legal and civic advice. Long Beach City Manager Dan Creighton also attended to support the event.

The organization with over 1,000 members used the occasion to further its mission of supporting and educating the local Latino population. The event highlighted the group’s focus on addressing community challenges, from immigration concerns to civic

engagement and provided a platform to promote voter awareness and participation.

“In terms of the importance of teaching people about civics, this is absolutely the most important thing, helping people with everything that’s going on in their lives, and then talking to them about the importance of getting out to vote,” Dorado Alessi shared. “The importance of understanding, even if you cannot vote yet, you’re not a citizen, then what can you do? Can you fill out postcards? Can you take an older person and drive them to the voting polls?”

In addition to the Thanksgiving food drive, the association organizes similar events for other holidays including Christmas and Easter, ensuring that families have access to festive meals and holiday essentials throughout the year. It is currently looking for sponsors for the upcoming winter holiday season.

As challenges persist, the organization continues to provide a foundation of support, education and advocacy for the families it serves.

For more information, to see upcoming events or to donate, visit LBLatinoCivic.org.

Angelina Zingariello/Herald
Members of the Latino Civic Association and other volunteers from the community came out to support the food drive.

The stars are dimmed by light pollution

With each passing year — especially in areas like Nassau County — we see less of the night

Special to the Herald

As a child, Ken Spencer would wait until the sun sank below the ocean horizon, and then ride his bike down to the beach and lie in the sand, staring up into the sky as the final streaks of pink and orange slipped from view. Then quietly, one by one, billions of stars would wink into existence — diamond dust, he said, scattered across a sea of black velvet.

Now, at 82, the Sea Cliff resident is lucky if he can spot even the brightest stars amid a night sky that has, over the years, morphed into a wall of light-polluted gray.

Nassau County suffers some of the worst light pollution in the world. It’s harming local wildlife, damaging human health, and marring something as seemingly inviolable as the very sky above.

The word “pollution” often evokes clouds of smog, or continental landfills; little do we think of light itself as a form of pollution. But when we are irresponsible about how we artificially light the world around us, that additional light impacts everything it touches.

Summer nights on Long Island, for example, used to mean a world illuminated by fireflies. That likely won’t be the case for the next generation. The bioluminescent beetles can’t find potential mates amid an overlit world, and are becoming increasingly endangered. Light pollution is increasing by 10 percent every year, according to DarkSky International, a nonprofit fighting to mitigate the problem. And we’re already suffering the effects.

Losing the night sky

“I know nothing with any certainty,”

Vincent Van Gogh once wrote, “but the sight of the stars makes me dream.”

For as long as we have existed, humans have been linked inextricably to the stars. They served as beacons by which humanity navigated, charting new lands and waters; their movement led scholars to new mathematical and scientific discoveries; they have long captured the imaginations of philosophers, poets and artists; they encourage people of every age, race, class and ability to lift their eyes to the sky, wonder at the vast sea of the universe, and recognize the miracle it is to be alive.

“It feels primeval,” Spencer said of the night sky’s singular ability to pull our eyes upward. “It’s something within us.”

the sky. And little by little, it’s become harder and harder to see the Milky Way.”

More than 80 percent of people will not see the Milky Way in their lifetime, according to DarkSky International, and that number is climbing each year. We in Nassau County cannot see the Milky Way without traveling to the East End — and even that sight is a fading echo of what once was.

The amateur astronomer, originally from Milford, Connecticut, began studying the constellations with his daughter in 1989. He remembers looking at the constellation Hercules, identifying the globular cluster of 300,000 stars at the demigod’s side. He looked for that once-familiar sight recently, but the stars were simply impossible for him to see. He used to drive down to the Custer Institute and Observatory in Southold, which served as a refuge for starry skies on Long Island. But even that, he said, is slowly being encroached on.

“Over the years, now it’s all big-box stores,” Spencer said. “They’re all lit up, and they have big, giant lights in the parking lot, so that light bounces up into

The night sky is integral for interconnectedness, Susan Serven, a spokeswoman for DarkSky International, said. It helps us understand that we aren’t separate from the cosmos, but part of it.

“It’s just been the last generation or two where we’ve lost that privilege to view our starry skies,” Serven said. “If we lose the ability to go out under our night sky, we lose the awe and wonder that humanity has experienced for millennia.”

The health risks of light

When Valerie Giangrande, of Massapequa, says goodnight to her two teenage children, she sometimes has to ask, “Where are your glasses?” The teens will then put on what looks like orangetinted sunglasses before continuing to watch TV or scroll on their phone — sometimes with a sigh or an eye roll, but that’s OK with Giangrande. To the optometrist and applied quantum biology specialist, making sure her kids are shielded from the dangers of excess

sky

blue light is worth a bit of teenage ire.

“It’s one of the biggest health risks that nobody thinks about,” said Giangrande, who is an eye doctor at Optical Concepts offices in Bellmore, Freeport and Patchogue. “Light literally controls every aspect of our bodies, which is a pretty big statement to make, but it controls everything. We’re wired by light.”

Just about every function of our body runs on our circadian rhythm, a natural 24-hour clock, she explains. And that clock is controlled by the sun. When the photoreceptors in our eyes take in the long red wavelengths of morning sun, our bodies understand that it is morning and start slowly producing cortisol. As the sun climbs in the sky, it gives off more shorter-wave blue light, which heightens cortisol production and tells our bodies that it’s midday. And after sunset, when our photoreceptors recognize darkness, our brains get the signal to produce melatonin, the sleep hormone, and go into repair mode.

These days, most of our natural clocks are running haywire. That’s because the vast majority of artificial light that contributes to light pollution — LEDs, phones, computers, televisions, billboards — emit blue light. Our bodies are constantly surrounded by signals that it is noon.

Overexposure to blue light is linked to what seems like every health risk under the sun, Giangrande said — insulin resistance and diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, insomnia and lower-quality sleep, and excess anxiety.

“Anyone who wakes up not refreshed, anyone who’s tired, anyone who can’t fall asleep, can’t stay asleep — blue light

Courtesy Ken Spencer
across the Long island Sound, the town of Clinton, Connecticut, illustrates just how much light is wasted by being projected straight into the air. it burdens taxpayers, contributes to energy waste and creates a visible sky glow that erases stars from the sky.

The more lights, the less we see of the sky

toxicity,” Giangrande said. “Say we eat dinner, and then an hour later we’re really hungry again. That’s blue light toxicity, hands down.”

Our digestive enzymes naturally go down at night, she explained. Often when we’re hungry at night, it’s because our blood sugar and insulin are still up because our body thinks it’s daytime.

There are some things people can do to reduce the harm done by light pollution, Giangrande said. To start your day, step outside — or even just open a window — to get exposure to the full light spectrum of the sun. Consider replacing blue-spectrum LEDs in your home with warmer, softer lighting. And perhaps most important, get 100 percent blue light-blocking glasses to use indoors after the sun has gone down.

“Light has to be regulated first before we do all the things,” Giangrande said. “Because there’s no supplement that can take over for the sunlight.”

Let there (not) be light

So, besides our screens, where is excess artificial light coming from? A few of the primary offenders in Nassau County are entire towns and villages using unshielded streetlamps; empty fields, gas stations and parking lots lit up all night by glaring spotlights; and homeowners who illuminate their — and, by extension, their neighbors’ — property with floodlights out of the erroneous belief that it discourages crime. Multiple studies have found that lighting has no effect on crime. In fact, it encourages crimes like vandalism and graffiti, and the glare from harsh lights at night actually makes it more difficult to spot hazards in the dark.

If overlighting accomplishes anything, it wastes money — more than $3 billion in the U.S. each year, according to DarkSky, or as much as $7 billion, according to another study.

Take the Meadowbrook Parkway, for example. The 869 streetlights that line the road are activated by photocells, which turns the lights on at dusk and off at dawn, a spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation said. However, observant drivers will notice that long swaths of the parkway are peppered with orange lights even in the middle of the day. The NYSDOT did not respond to the Herald to answer whether this was intentional or indicative of faulty photocells, and how much energy and money is wasted by the lights each day.

But light pollution and its energy waste can be mitigated relatively easily by local governments. The Village of Oyster Bay, for example, has a lighting ordinance stipulating that all outdoor lighting be fully shielded. But despite such ordinances being demonstrably energy-efficient and cost-effective, few towns and villages have adopted them.

“The best way we recommend our advocates getting involved in changing actually how their backyards and their cities are lit,” said Chris Peterson, engagement director of DarkSky Inter -

an illustration of how much of the night sky is lost, and how much light is wasted, when it is ineffectively shielded — and, inversely, how well-directed, and timed, lighting can preserve our views of the stars.

Courtesy LightPollutionMap.Info

this map, using data from naSa, observatories and the World alas 2015, shows light that is wasted, which is about 30 percent of all artificial light, darkSky international estimates.

national, “is to approach city councils, development offices, planning commissions, and propose an update to that lighting ordinance for the city.”

The nonprofit even provides a template for proposing such ordinances to local representatives, which illustrates the principles of responsible outdoor lighting. And if local reps are unswayed, individuals can still help by ensuring they are not overlighting their homes.

But if we don’t take action, we will soon live in a world where a starry night sky is a distant memory.

“It’s a terrible thing for children to not know the night sky,” Spencer said. “If you don’t know something, you don’t know what you’re missing.”

“The central core of me knows that night is important,” he said. “Important to us as a human species.”

Those looking to learn more can visit DarkSky.org.

Every man’s right

Amid skyscrapers and smartphones, what do we have in common with our ancestors? The answer is the stars; the vast swath of universe that serves as our celestial home address. When I look up and see Cygnus flying over me in the winter sky, I’m looking at the same stars as people halfway across the world, or from thousands of years ago, whose names I’ll never know. The night sky serves as a keystone of the human experience, and connects us across space and time in ways that would otherwise be impossible.

As the world around us charges forward unceasingly — always asking for bigger, better, more — we rarely think of the things we lose little by little, day by day. We may not even notice when the Little Dipper dims into oblivion; when each star of Orion’s belt blinks out, one by one; when, one day, even brilliant Jupiter is extinguished, and we are left with a lone moon in a gray sky. I’ll tell my grandkids stories of the firmament, how light traveled billions of light years to make its way to us, and all we had to do to see it was look up. I wonder if they’ll believe me.

I’m not ready to give up the night sky. Are you?

Courtesy DarkSky International

Uniting the community through fashion

Inaugural event sells out Long Beach’s Bright Eye Beer Co.

The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce supported the debut of a stylish new event, “Unite in Fashion,” which took over Bright Eye Beer Co. on Saturday, Nov. 23.

The event, created by local entrepreneur Colette Morales, brought the glamour of New York Fashion Week directly to the shores of Long Beach, creating an opportunity for the community to showcase its vibrant small businesses while celebrating the art of fashion.

Morales envisioned a unique event that would spotlight the area’s thriving fashion scene while also boosting the profile of Long Beach itself, according to Leah Tozer, cochair of the chamber of commerce.

What makes “Unite in Fashion” particularly special is the level of collaboration it has inspired among local businesses, many of which have stepped forward as sponsors. The event has secured backing from many community favorites, including Story Vibe Media, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, Salon on Park, Kravit Jewelers, JMC Photo Booths, Meadow and Bark, 2 Gypsy Souls, Bridal Reflections, Essentially Grounded, Beed Beech and Runway Couture, Tozer stated.

In addition to celebrating fashion and local businesses, the event benefitted the 343 Fund. Founded by Angela Skudin, the 343 Fund honors first responders and offers vital support to those who serve our community.

There were dynamic music and performances to create an electric atmosphere. The goal was to offer a high-level production that rivals larger city fashion events while maintaining the unique charm and accessibility of a local Long Beach gathering.

Looking ahead, there is already excitement about the potential for “Unite in Fashion” to become an annual event. After it was sold out rather quickly, more in the future certainly makes sense.

Lauren Bricca was one of the evening’s models.
The founder of Unite in Fashion, Colette Lee Morales, and lead makeup artist Amanda Dobry at the show.
Tiffany Rudi showcased her style on the Beer Co.’s runway.
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Patrick Mullaney, Nassau County legislator, Angela Skudin, the founder of the 343 Fund, and Catherine Lewis, a Long Beach professional firefighter, hit the runway together.
The designers of 2 Gypsy Souls, Allison Heumann and Sharon Benyaminy, came to see their creations.

The benefits of everyday ‘Thanks-Giving’ GUEST COLUMN

Yes! It’s that time of year when we celebrate the festive holiday, Thanksgiving! The day when we reflect and give thanks in honoring both our American history, as well as our own family traditions! A holiday of thanks that can serve as a foundation for everyday life.

Counting our daily Blessings:

When I think of everyday blessings, I find myself feeling a deep sense of gratitude for the caring people who have touched my life throughout the journey of my lifetime. For when we share a mindset of appreciation and thanks with the people in our life it can help enhance each other’s wellbeing, giving us the opportunity to create a ripple effect of kindness, which can bring light into the hearts of others, while building bridges of hope in the name of humanity.

The physical benefits of Gratitude: Taking a moment to be thankful causes physiological changes in your body that initiate the parasympathetic nervous system – the part of your nervous system that help you rest

and digest. Gratitude and the response it creates can help bring down your blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.

Improve Sleep: People with an attitude of gratitude tend to engage in activities that support healthy sleep, such as eating well and exercising regularly. Practicing gratitude also make you less stressed, anxious or depressed – three factors that affect sleep quality.

Lessen Anxiety: Regularly practicing gratitude combats negative thinking patterns by keeping our thoughts focused on the present. If you find yourself focusing on negative thoughts about the past or future, challenge yourself to find something you are grateful now as this can help to break the negative thought process and return you to the present.

Things” exercise, developed by an educator, researcher, and author named, Martin Seligman, who was also called the “father of positive psychology” and known as one of the leading researchers in the whole field of psychology.

D onna P isacano B rown

In a study conducted by Seligman and colleagues (2005), participants were asked to write down three good things that happened to them each day, for one week. The results showed that this daily activity had an impact on reported levels of well-being and depression.

What three things went well today?

A Grateful Lens: Processing a life experience through a grateful lens does not mean denying negativity. Instead, it means realizing the power you have to transform an obstacle into an opportunity. It means reframing a loss into a potential gain, recasting negativity into positive channels for gratitude.

On a personal note: When I think of everyday thanks-giving, I think about the daily blessings we have in our lives be they big or small. I think about people who rise above themselves to help another soul without needing any attention or reward. People who kindly share a sincere smile, knowing a smile can sooth a hurting heart and soul- for it’s the moments we create and share that shape the chapters of our lives and the lives of others. Wishing everyone a safe and blessed Thanksgiving!

The “Three Good Things” Exercise: While researching, I came across what is called the “Three Good

A positive psychology technique used to reduce burnout while increasing well-being as this exercise does not dismiss hard experiences through toxic positivity but use it to train our brain to see and savor the good that’s always around us, even during difficult times.

Donna Pisacano-Brown is a Point Lookout resident who has been a columnist featured in local newspapers since 1996. She is a passionate advocate for drunken driving awareness, and shining a light on mental health topics.

Long Beach rap record celebrates 20 years

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of “MM… Food,” the critically acclaimed sophomore album by hip-hop’s masked “supervillain” MF DOOM, the record has received a fresh new look featuring original artwork by Sam Rodriguez.

Daniel Dumile, the man behind the mask, was born in London and moved to Long Beach at an early age. He is the cofounder of KMD, or “Kausin’ Much Damage,” a graffiti crew turned hip-hop trio from Long Beach. The group included Dumile, his younger brother Dingilizwe “DJ Subroc” Dumile, and Jade 1, who was later replaced by Onyx the Birthstone Kid.

MC Serch of 3rd Bass, who happened to be a nearby native of Far Rockaway, heard about KMD and invited Dumile as guest on their hit song, “The Gas Face.” The feature immediately caught the attention of A&R representative Dante Ross, who signed KMD to a deal with Elektra Records in 1991.

The group’s debut album, “Mr. Hood,” was built using a unique bunch of samples, ranging from language learning tapes and Sesame Street records to more funk and doo-wop style instrumentals, with a similar emphasis on lyricism to A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. The album gained further attention after Dumile testified before Congress in support of the National Voter Registration Act.

Tragically, Subroc was struck and

killed in an accident while crossing the Nassau Expressway in April 1993, just months before the scheduled release of KMD’s second album. Dumile completed the album, set for release in May 1994, but Elektra dropped KMD over controversial album artwork, leaving the record unreleased for years. It later appeared as a vinyl-only EP and was rereleased in 2000 by Sub Verse Music.

Grieving his brother’s death and KMD’s shelving, Dumile disappeared from the music scene, only to reemerge years later with a new persona. Adorned in the style of mask worn by Maximus in the Ridley Scott blockbuster, “Gladiator,” he rejoined society as MF DOOM, a nefarious metal-faced scoundrel who vowed to have his revenge on the industry that wronged him.

His debut, “Operation Doomsday,” is widely regarded as a cult classic for its combination of dark humor, clever wordplay and creative use of clips from the Fantastic Four cartoons. When it was released in 1999 it was met with high praise, as it was an entirely new type of concept album altogether.

The success of his collaboration with record producer, Madlib, further boosted his popularity, but it was his followup album, “MM… Food” that really had an impact.

Before his collaboration with the Gorillaz or his guest appearances on Adult Swim, DOOM combined an exten-

GREEN ACRES GIVES BACK

EMPOWERING FAMILIES IN NEED

Distributing over 1,000 regular, Kosher and Halal turkeys during the holiday season.

INVESTING IN EDUCATION

Donating over 1,000 backpacks and school supplies for students to thrive.

TRANSFORMING STUDENTS’ FUTURES

Supporting local schools and students through our School Cents program, sponsorships and scholarships.

ENRICHING CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

Hosting free Kids Club and holiday events.

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY

Proudly hosting remarkable community celebrations.

sive catalog of Saturday morning cartoons, kids shows and 80s-era PSAs, and combined a barrage of food-related metaphors and double entendres to creating something that continues to turn listeners heads to this day.

The 20th-anniversary re-release of “MM… Food” includes 11 bonus tracks, featuring three remixes, one alternate edit, and seven rare interview clips of

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of “MM… Food,” the critically acclaimed sophomore album by hip-hop’s masked “supervillain” MF DOOM, the record has received a fresh new look featuring original artwork by Sam Rodriguez.

MF DOOM with Kevin Beacham, recorded days before the album’s original release on Nov. 16, 2004. For more information or to pre-order the 20th anniversary edition visit GasDrawls.com.

–Dan Offner

STEPPING OUT

Don’t miss the beats, the energy and the vibe when Secret Agent 23 Skidoo launches the museum’s Musical Explorers! Concert series.

Acclaimed husband-and-wife duo Andrés and Christina’s — known as 123 Andrés — catchy songs and lively concerts impart the joy of music, movement and language.

Memories with melodies at Long Island Children’s Museum

Reach for the rhythm in you with a colorful spectrum of musical performance

After everyone polishes off the turkey, families can embark on a musical adventure to usher in the holiday season, courtesy of Long Island Children’s Museum. The stage is set for a new concert series, “Musical Explorers!,” which kicks off this weekend, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

Young audiences are introduced to an excitingly diverse music scene, featuring an array of global sounds, culture, and artistic legends from the world of jazz, hip hop, Latin music, and more. Families will surely get in the groove at the museum’s inaugural series of concerts, which represent the vibrant genres of jazz, hip-hop and Latin music. Performers add their unique touch, blending imaginative storytelling into musical masterpieces.

“Music speaks to human nature, the human soul. Every culture has music. Everybody celebrates it. Everybody taps to the rhythm. So that’s what we’re looking to provide,” James Packard, the museum’s theater program director says. “Musical Explorers offers our audiences the opportunity to dive deeper into the many ways that music speaks to us.”

In curating the concerts, he selected Grammy-winning artists and top talents in family music so that a diverse range of genres reflecting the power of music are represented.

“We encourage families to use these performances to introduce their children to the rhythms of hip-hop, the soul of jazz, and the vibrant beats of contemporary Latin music,” he says.

The series begins this weekend with Grammy-winning hip-hop funk sensation Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. This dynamic three-person rap ensemble offers their young audience a fun and engaging introduction to hip-hop. Known for their electrifying blend of hip-hop with sci-fi-inspired storytelling and feel-good tunes, the band combines the raw energy of funk with the surreal magic of animation-inspired performance. Imagine a band with Jim Henson playing guitar or Shel Silverstein writing the bass lines and you’ve got Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. Prepare to get up and dance with larger-than-life stories through upbeat songs.

“We just came out with an album in collaboration with the Asheville Symphony. We took folk tales from around the world from various cultures and turned them into hip-hop songs to tell these stories,” Joel “Cactus” Sullivan, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo’s lead singer, says.

Sullivan and his bandmates journey back thousands of years, drawing from the rich traditions of Japan, West Africa and Persia to tell timeless life lessons.

And, it wouldn’t be hip-hop without some creative freestyle — with the help of members from the audience, of course.

“We get words from the crowd and then make up a song on the spot right there. There’s something magical about the improvisation that can happen with hip hop,” Sullivan adds.

Heading into New Year, everyone can jive to some outstanding jazz grooves with the iconic Jazz at Lincoln Center Quintet, on Jan. 19 and 20. The top-flight musicians swing into the sound of America. Their performances explore the Great Migration and the Harlem Renaissance, examining the great Louis Armstrong’s journey from New Orleans to Chicago and New York — all from the museum’s intimate stage.

“Lincoln Center is a new connection for us,” Packard notes. “It will be a more traditional concert style, but geared at school-age kids, with interactivity and conversation going on between the musicians and the audience.”

Another performance to keep an eye (and an ear) out for is husband-and-wife duo 123 Andrés. The pair — Latin Grammy winners for Best Children’s Music Album earlier this year —

Dark Star Orchestra

• Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1

• $11 with museum admission; available online at licm.org/ theater or in person at the museum box office

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

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

will arrive in June with their interactive bilingual performance that speak to the joy, energy and cultural richness of Latin America.

They’ll be sure to get everyone singing, clapping and dancing along to rhythms from across the Latin music spectrum.

“Music is a universal language the world over. It is a part of who we are spiritually. And so it goes on all the time, a thing that goes into your soul,” Packard adds.

The concert series reinforces the museum’s mission to bring musicians into kid-accessible spaces. It’s an opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in a world of rhythm, melody and cultural appreciation — all within the welcoming environment of the LICM Theater.

“Music is a form of social-emotional learning,” Packard continues. “You can let out happiness or sadness. Exposing children to different styles they might find, ‘Oh, I really like hip hop,’ or ‘I really like the Latin beat’, or ‘I really like the jazz,’ and that can have an impact where they go in life.”

The Grateful Dead have been resurrected in the form of Dark Star Orchestra. Formed in 1997, this tribute band came up with the novel idea of recreating complete sets from The Grateful Dead’s gigantic list of concerts. Over 3,100 shows later DSO continues the Grateful Dead live concert experience to acclaim. On any given night, the band performs based on a set list from the Dead’s 30 years of extensive touring or use their catalog to program a unique set list for the show. In this way DSO offers a continually evolving artistic outlet within the Dead’s musical canon. Honoring both the band and the fans, Dark Star Orchestra’s members seek out the unique style and sound of each era while simultaneously offering their own informed improvisations.

Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30, 8 p.m. $99.50, $69.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.

Long Island Ballet Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’

The holiday treat returns, Audiences will once again be transported by the Sugar Plum Fairy to The Land of Sweets in this familyfriendly classic, set to the music of Tchaikovsky. LIBT’s production opens “Nutcracker” season here, sparkling with a talented cast of adult professionals and aspiring young student dancers. This version is both narrated and abridged, to introduce youngster to the story of Clara, her magical nutcracker and her enchanting winter adventure..

Saturday, Nov. 30, noon and 4 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 1, 2 p.m. $37.50. Purchase tickets at liballettheatre. com or by phone at (631) 2714626. For more information, visit landmarkonmainstreet.org. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington.

Courtesy LICM
Courtesy Jazz at Lincoln Center
The Jazz at Lincoln Center quintet introduces young audiences to a cherished musical tradition.
Courtesy David Rugeles

Your Neighborhood

THE

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening

Jason Bonham, son of legendary Led Zeppelin drummer, visits the Paramount stage, Monday, dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. He showcases his musical journey and family legacy, celebrating his father’s legendary career, with a concert featuring hits from Led Zeppelin’s iconic albums, and highlighting Jason’s own notable contributions to rock history. Encompassing hits from the iconic band’s entire career, including albums “Led Zeppelin,” “Led Zeppelin II,” “Led Zeppelin IV,” and “Physical Graffiti,” the concert event is a dynamic tribute to Jason’s father, with “…a band that recreates Led Zeppelin’s music to such a degree that one can’t help but close their eyes and simply listen…” [-Classic Rock Revisited]. Jason displayed musical talent from a young age. By age five, he could skillfully play drums, and at 17, he joined the band Air Race. Over the years, he contributed to various musical projects, including a Led Zeppelin reunion in 1988, touring with Jimmy Page, and forming his band “Bonham.” He collaborated with notable artists, recorded successful albums, and participated in a Muddy Waters tribute that earned a Grammy nomination.

Throughout the years, Jason collaborated with different artists, recorded with Foreigner, and participated in the highly anticipated Led Zeppelin reunion in 2007 at London’s O2 arena. His musical journey showcases a blend of family legacy, collaborations with rock legends and a commitment to preserving and celebrating iconic rock history. Jason always finds himself at home behind the drumkit. From this spot, he has anchored the tempo for a myriad of the most legendary artists of all-time. It’s the place where he initially realized his destiny as a kid. It’s a triedand-true safe harbor for the expression of his purest emotions. Ultimately, Jason remains forever at home on the drums. $99.50, $89.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

1863 Thanksgiving

Partake of Thanksgiving traditions from days gone by during Old Bethpage Village Restoration’s annual holiday event, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 30dec.1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Journey back to the 19th century as oldfashioned wood burning stoves, beehive ovens and hearths are all fired up as “villagers” prepare a variety of foods and baked goods, using historical recipes. Of course, a fat turkey is spitted and roasted, along with pie making and a demonstration of food preservation methods.

With fiddle music, entertainment and children’s activities, including storytelling,and more. $15, $12 children 5-12 and seniors. 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage. Visit oldbethpagevillagerestoration. org or call (516) 572-8409 for more information.

In concert

Plaza Theatricals’ welcomes everyone to a “Motown Holiday Dance Party,” Sunday, dec. 8, 4 p.m. Celebrate the holidays in true Motown style. Enjoy a sensational afternoon of soulful tunes, joyful dancing, and nostalgic vibes at the electrifying concert. Get ready to groove, spread the festive cheer and make unforgettable memories. See the show at 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Movie time

Follow up Thanksgiving with a film on Long Beach Public Library’s big screen. Watch “Beetlejuice BeetleJuice,” Tim Burton’s long awaited “BeetleJuice” sequal, Friday, Nov. 29, 1-3 p.m.. After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid, accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife. 111 W. Park Ave. For information, visit LongBeachPL. org.

Bird walk

See some birds with the South Shore Audubon Society. All are welcome to join members for the next in its series of bird walks, at Mill Pond Park in Wantagh, Sunday, dec. 1, starting at 9 a.m. The park is on the north side of Merrick Road, four blocks west of Wantagh State Parkway. The group meets at the gazebo. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. Rain, snow or temperature below 25 degrees will cancel the bird walk. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org.

Let’s Skate

Get ready to enjoy all the thrills of the snowy season, while staying warm and cozy as Long Island Children’s Museum’s popular “Snowflake Sock Skating rink returns, through Jan. 7. Slip on “sock skates” and take a spin on the indoor rink, made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface that lets kids slide around without blades. Kids can stretch, twirl and glide. As visitors step off the “ice” they can jump into winter dramatic play in Snowflake Village. Become a baker in the holiday sweet shop, step inside a giant snowman and serve up some hot cocoa, take a turn in the rink “ticket booth” and “warm up” around a rink side “fire pit.” Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

Tea time

The festive season is underway at Old Westbury Gardens. Enjoy a cream tea (featuring scones, Devonshire cream, assorted sweets, and tea), then a guided tour of decorated Westbury House, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m. $22.50 per person. Advance registration suggested. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

Christmas Tree Lighting

Join city officials and other community members to celebrate the season at the annual Kennedy Plaza Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, Friday, Dec. 6. More details to come. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov.

Having an event?

Holiday Tales At The Hearth

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

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

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition

“Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition spans various world cultures through a range of media.

It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority. Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. On view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Family theater

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to its stage, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 5-6, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Saturday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; also Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 10-12, 10:-15 a.m. and noon. Ezra Jack Keats’ “The Snowy Day & Other Stories” celebrates the joy in the small moments of a child’s world. Experience the wonder of a fresh snowfall, the delight of whistling for the first time, and the awe of finding a special treasure. In this childhood adventure, Keats’ classic books come to life, featuring live actors and shadow puppets telling the stories of “The Snowy Day,” “Goggles!,” “Whistle for Willie,” and “A Letter to Amy.” $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.

Pearl Harbor Commemoration

The City of Long Beach and the Joint Veterans Organization hold a Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration, Saturday, Dec. 7, 1 p.m., at the VFW. 675 W. Park Ave. For more information, visit LongBeachNY.gov.

MLK Center celebrates Thanksgiving early Volunteers

give out turkeys, lunch to families in the community

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center hosted a unique, collaborative and unifying Thanksgiving lunch and turkey giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 23.

The event, which took place at the center itself, at 615 Riverside Blvd., brought the community together to share a meal and provided turkeys for families in need during this festive holiday season.

The lunch and giveaway included a full, free Thanksgiving meal for anyone and everyone, served from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by turkey distribution from 2 to 4 p.m. The event also featured fun, family-friendly activities and opportunities for community connection.

Numerous volunteers helped ensure the day was a success. Usual MLK Center volunteers, Long Beach firefighters and others made the day go by smoothly, and even ensured some of the turkeys were dressed up in fire helmets.

The event was made possible through the support of local partners, including New Life Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ; Centrepoint Church; Evangel Revival Community Church; Christian Light Missionary Baptist Church; the City of Long Beach; the Long Beach Police Department; the Long Beach City Council; Long Beach Lions Club; Soup Kitchen; We Dream TV; La Cruzada Evangelica Misionera Church; Dems by the Sea; the North Park Civic Association; Assemblyman Ari Brown; State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick; Marcos Arias, owner of Next Level Auto Body; Max Almonte, Long Beach firefighter and treasurer of the MLK Center; Tommy Canner; Cliff Skudin of Skudin Surf; Beach to Bay; Devin Parker, superintendent of the Long Beach Sanitation Department;

LEGAL NOTICE

and St. Mary Catholic Church.

Through educational programs, outreach initiatives, and cultural events, the center honors Dr. King’s legacy by promoting service, compassion, and a spirit of togetherness.

For more information about the Thanksgiving

Public Notices

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, -againstMATTHEW HENRY, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Offce of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on December 19, 2023, wherein BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION is the Plaintiff and MATTHEW HENRY, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on December 17, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 671 EAST WALNUT STREET, LONG BEACH, NY 11561; and the following tax map identifcation: 59-185-68, 69 & 70.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index No.: 603252/2018. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 150032

UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF SARAH WARD MOORE A/K/A SARAH WARD A/K/A SARAH MOORE, DANIELLE COPELAND A/K/A

DANIELLE MOORE AS NEXT OF KIN AND HEIR AT LAW OF SARAH

WARD MOORE A/K/A

SARAH WARD A/K/A

SARAH MOORE, et al.

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on July 19, 2024.

Approximate amount of judgment $872,190.65 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment. Index #602521/2019. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 149956

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF FINANCE OF AMERICA STRUCTURED SECURITIES ACQUISITION TRUST 2019-HB1, Plaintiff, AGAINST

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 17, 2024 at 2:00 PM premises known as 157 W Chester Street, Long Beach, NY 11561. Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County, and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 59, Block 69 and Lot 50, 51, 52.

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE FOR FORMATION of a limited liability company (LLC). The name of the limited liability company is LAUREL BECKET LLC. The date of fling of the articles of organization with the Department of State was October 18, 2024. The County in New York in which the offce of the company is located is Nassau. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the company upon whom process may be served, and the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the company served upon him or her to The LLC, 340 East Olive Street, Long Beach, New York 11561. The business purpose of the company is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under the laws of the State of New York. 150050

Lunch and Turkey Giveaway, or to inquire about volunteering, contact the Martin Luther King Jr. Center at 516-240-2230 or info@lbmlk.org.

Community members came out and enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal at the

–Brendan Carpenter
Skye Margies/Herald photos
Volunteers, including Long Beach firefighters, helped distribute the turkeys, and some had little fire helmets.
MLK Center on Nov. 23.
Cousins Armond Walker and Allen Brown came out to enjoy the event.

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department.

Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.

STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.

Salary Range is $16 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

Dental Assistant Needed

For Dental Specialty Office

Tuesday - Saturday

30+ Hours Per Week

$19.00/ Hour Negotiable Call 516-536-1700 Fax 516-536-1823

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers.

Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.

Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour

Night Availability is a Must.

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

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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

HBCI SUPERVISOR FT: Seeking LCSW or LMSW for Crisis Intervention Program, Cedarhurst NY. 3+ yr exp, Supervision exp. $80K Annually + benefits Claufer@hamaspikkings.org 516-875-8400 x144

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

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Q. We are buying a house and got an engineer’s report that said there are several problems, including the worst, a crack in the foundation wall. It is parallel to the floor of the basement, but there’s no crack on the outside, either because the outside wall was painted or because the crack is below ground. The engineer made it sound very serious, but it doesn’t look serious to us, just concerning. Do we get another engineer or architect — is there a difference? What should we do to decide if the house is worth the hassle? We really want the house, and made a commitment, since there are several offers and ours is the highest — above the asking price.

A. I have dealt with this problem more lately than at any other time in my career, because it’s being used a lot as a bargaining tool, since house prices are in the stratosphere. In most cases, the wording from the home inspector makes it sound extremely dire.

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I make two observations when reading these reports or hearing about the problem: 1) The report wording or buyer’s explanation is often not specific, but recommends a structural engineer, not an architect, and 2) the problem, when I review it, is most often not as serious as it is made out to be. By that I mean that except for about one out of every thousand cases, the wall is not imminently going to fail, and the person who wrote the report is not a licensed engineer or architect. They generally lack the structural training and testing, and therefore the credentials, to represent themselves as qualified to make specific recommendations, only to bring the condition to your attention, although you may already have noticed it.

As for whether you choose an architect or engineer, they both have training and credentials in this area of expertise. The engineer, if he or she is specifically a “structural” engineer, is more qualified for much more specialized and sophisticated structural design, but an architect must have formal structural training and testing in order to be licensed and registered. You can verify the licensure by searching the office of professions at op. nysed.gov and inserting their name and the field of practice. I often do this for clients, and have discovered that many home inspectors aren’t “engineers,” but do have home inspection credentials.

Again, in most cases, whether in or out of a flood zone, I have seen this condition, and the repair is often, but not always, to remove broken or exposed areas around the cracking and to inject structural repair epoxy specifically formulated for masonry or concrete repair. You most definitely should get qualified licensed professionals to look at the wall, since anyone else could not legally call themselves licensed to take responsibility for carrying out the work or its lasting result, and could be held liable for costs if a failure occurs, and you certainly want to avoid failure. Good luck!

© 2024 Monte Leeper

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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SI

look forward to representing you again

erving New York’s 4th Congressional District has been an honor. Indeed, being entrusted with the sacred honor of representing my Long Island neighbors on Capitol Hill is a duty I have taken extraordinarily seriously every day. I am grateful to the people of this district for placing their faith in me, and look forward to representing you again. It has certainly been a consequential and active 118th Congress, and I am proud of the accomplishments I was able to achieve on behalf of the 4th District. As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I worked tirelessly to help pass House Republicans’ signature H.R. 2 border security legislation — a sweeping plan to end the border security crisis, which is in stark contrast to the disaster Democrats have allowed to fester along America’s southern border.

Dear

Before the presidential election, the Herald published an editorial explaining why the familyowned newspapers would not be endorsing political candidates.

If I had read the piece in a vacuum, I would agree with it entirely. It states, in part, “Our focus is not on swaying voters toward a particular candidate, but on delivering comprehensive and unbiased information about the issues that matter most to Long Islanders. We are not here to tell our readers how to vote for political candidates; rather, we are here to arm readers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions at the ballot box.”

Sounds perfect. But we are living through an unprecedented and exceedingly imperfect time in our nation’s history. This year, not endorsing meant keeping silent when silence may have implied that both presidential candidates met minimal standards for serving in the nation’s highest office. By any standard, that is not true of President-elect Donald Trump.

Media across our country have some-

What’s more, I was proud that the House passed legislation I introduced to formally condemn the antisemitic chant, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which is used by antisemitic actors to call for the destruction of Israel. My commitment to combating antisemitism also extends to my tenure as a member of the Holocaust Memorial Museum board and my work to help found the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group — a panel created to foster stronger ties between the U.S. House of Representatives and Israel’s legislature, the Knesset. As a retired New York City Police Department detective, I also endeavored to support law enforcement professionals across the country with such legislation as my Police Our Border Act, which passed in the House and will help law enforcement agencies across the country better respond to the ongoing border crisis.

I’m proud of everything I accomplished in Congress, from bills to committee work.

hours of committee work I engaged in through my seats on the House Homeland Security, Transportation & Infrastructure, and House Administration committees. What’s more, my leadership role as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology allowed me to conduct important oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency — an organization that is extraordinarily important to South Shore communities that are prone to flooding emergencies, like many in our district.

Governing is difficult, and requires coalition building, compromise, and a willingness to reach across the aisle — a fact I understand after being named the 11th-most bipartisan member of Congress and serving as a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus.

These are only a few of the 37 pieces of legislation I introduced, the 448 bills I co-sponsored and the thousands of

In addition to my legislative and committee work, I successfully secured over $20 million in direct funding for community projects across the 4th District to benefit our neighbors. These secured federal resources funded a new Nassau County Police Department training village, important flood-mitigation infrastructure in the Village of Floral Park, technology upgrades for the Freeport, Lynbrook and Rockville Centre police departments, and more.

readers, we can’t keep it in

how made it seem as if a convicted felon with a rich history of lying and a refusal to take on the serious issues of governance is a reasonable choice. But in our president-elect, we have an aspiring autocrat, a morally bankrupt man with a vengeful heart.

He has already begun fulfilling his promise to dismantle the government by selecting big donors, MAGA loyalists and inexperienced toadies for his new cabinet. None of this is a surprise. He said he would do it, and he is. Whether they get confirmed is dependent on the ever-weakening backbone of Republican senators, who live and die, politically, at the whim of the man they follow.

tarian government.

D onald Trump did not meet the presidency’s minimal standards.

We are in the beginning days of DJT’s revenge tour, fulfilling his promise to punish those who opposed him, challenged him and tried to bring him to justice. He wants people at the table whose loyalty is to him. Their expertise and leadership qualities seem incidental to the main qualification: unquestioning obeisance to the leader.

So the idea of not endorsing candidates, this extraordinary year in particular, does not sit well. The fallout from the coming Trump presidency could be a catastrophic shift toward an authori-

My successor, Laura Gillen, will need to navigate these challenges while serving in the House Democratic minority, which will prove difficult. Indeed, the fact that Gillen will be in the minority lends itself well to being a vocal partisan critic of the House Republican majority and the incoming Trump administration, because both will be working in overdrive to correct the many mistakes of the Biden administration and Democrats across the country who forced Americans to endure crippling inflation and a border crisis. Gillen’s position in the House minority does not lend itself well to delivering for 4th District neighbors like I was able to do by leveraging my position in the majority.

Gillen made bold, empty promises, and now it is time for her to deliver. Voters will be watching.

Anthony D’Esposito is completing his term in the 118th Congress.

neutral

I understand the dilemmas. Do endorsements really affect voters’ choices? Historians, psychologists and journalists bat the question around, with no clear answer. Do endorsements alienate too many readers? In the world of newspapers, these issues loom much larger on the local level than with big newspapers like the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, which also declined to endorse this year.

Local papers live in the community. They have responsibilities to their readers, to the truth and to the realities of just staying in business. With local newspapers closing every week across the country, conflicting interests must be reconciled, very carefully.

I started at the Nassau Herald more than 30 years ago, and for many years it did endorse candidates, from local officials to the presidency. Leatrice Spanierman, my mentor and colleague and the Heralds’ longtime executive editor, interviewed candidates every fall and wrote endorsements. The candidates, including member of the U.S. House and Senate, came to her office; they knew the value of local newspapers’ endorsement. The Heralds had a voice, and used

it as a means of informing readers. The editorial in the Oct. 31-Nov. 6 issue, explaining why the Heralds were not offering endorsements, stated that “the one place where you might see opinions about local and national political candidates … is in columns in our editorial pages, like those written by Randi Kreiss and Peter King. These essays are distinguished from Herald news content by featuring photos of the authors, making it clear that they reflect the writers’ perspectives and not the views of the Herald.”

I understand the need to create distance. I like the distance, too. I don’t speak for the Heralds. No one high on the masthead has ever tried to influence what I write or don’t write. The paper stays above the fray by giving King and me platforms for different points of view. I would be fine with any newspaper’s no-endorsement policy if this election had been like any other in America’s long history. But it was not. Nothing about this race was normal. The times demanded speaking up for democracy. For the immediate future and for as long as it can, the press must use its voice to call out the bad guys and amplify justice. This Thanksgiving, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to share my views. Our free press never seemed so precious.

Copyright 2024 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

AnTHonY D’ESpoSITo
RAnDI KREISS

A season for giving back on Long Island

With the holiday season upon us, our minds turn to traditions — Thanksgiving meals filled with comfort and gratitude, and other gatherings of family and friends over the coming weeks.

These moments of celebration are precious, but they also give us an opportunity to reflect on what it means to give back. Thanksgiving, rooted in the idea of gratitude, serves as a poignant reminder of our privilege and the responsibility to extend a hand to others. Here on Long Island, where vibrant communities thrive amid significant challenges, there is no shortage of causes deserving our time, attention and generosity.

Friendsgiving, a relatively recent tradition, embodies the spirit of connection by bringing friends together to share a meal and express their appreciation for one another. It can also be an occasion to unite for a greater purpose. By turning these gatherings into opportunities to collect donations or volunteer, we can channel collective energy into tangible support for those in need. Whether it’s hosting a food drive or organizing a group to serve at a local soup kitchen, Friendsgiving can be a powerful reminder of the broader community we’re all a part of.

On Long Island, the contrast between abundance and need is striking. While many of us prepare for feasts, thousands struggle to put food on the table. Nearly 284,000 people will suffer from hunger on Long Island at some point this year, according to Community Solidarity, a nonprofit that provides groceries, fresh produce and warm vegan meals to lowincome communities.

Organizations like Island Harvest and Long Island Cares work tirelessly to combat food insecurity in our neighborhoods. A donation of non-perishable items, a financial contribution, or volunteering for a few hours can make a profound difference to families facing hun-

letters

Where is this ship of state sailing?

To the Editor:

Re Peter King’s column last week, “Trump makes the comeback of all comebacks”: It’s fair for Mr. King to celebrate Donald Trump’s “comeback,” and to take his share of reflected glory for strongly supporting him. But, weeks into the transition, is there no trepidation over what is being wrought?

Mr. King long served honorably

Organizations that welcome your help

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island: BBBsli.org

Citizens Campaign for the Environment: CitizensCampaign.org

Community Solidarity: CommunitySolidarity.org

Family & Children’s Association: FCAli.org

Interfaith Nutrition Network: The-Inn.org

Island Harvest: Island Harvest.org

Long Island Cares: LICares.org

Save the Great South Bay: SaveTheGreatsouthbay.org

ger this season.

Beyond food insecurity — limited or uncertain access to adequate food — there are numerous other causes that need our support. The holiday season can be especially difficult for those without homes. Groups like the Interfaith Nutrition Network, in Hempstead, provide shelter, meals and supportive services to help the unhoused regain some sense of stability. Contributing to these efforts — whether through monetary donations, clothing drives, or simply offering your time — can help others who are less fortunate experience the warmth of the season.

At this time of year, we also highlight the importance of supporting our local youth. Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island and the Family & Children’s Association offer mentorships and resources to empower young people. By donating to these programs or

in a Congress that will now be directed to self-emasculate. There are threats of courts-martial, military-assisted deportations, even gender tests for House members. Furors will multiply over staff, from cabinet positions on down. Promises are made of $2 trillion in budget cuts. Mr. King’s experience-based thoughts might be useful.

We sail soon into heavy seas aboard the USS “Caine Mutiny,” with Captain Queeg in command.

becoming a mentor yourself, you can have a lasting impact on a young person’s life.

And let’s not forget our environment, which sustains us all. As we celebrate the bounty of the land, consider supporting groups like Citizens Campaign for the Environment or Save the Great South Bay. Their work to protect Long Island’s natural beauty ensures that future generations can enjoy the landscapes and waterways we too often take for granted.

Of course, there’s also local news, which continues to face economic headwinds. Organizations like the Empire State Local News Coalition help sustain New York’s local news organizations — like the Herald — so reporters can tell the important stories about your friends and families, and shine a light on all of the issues mentioned here.

The beauty of giving back is that it doesn’t always have to be monetary — your time and skills can be just as valuable. Many local nonprofits, shelters and community centers are in dire need of extra hands during the holidays. A few hours spent wrapping gifts for underprivileged children, serving meals to veterans, or taking part in a community cleanup can ripple outward in meaningful ways.

Finally, don’t forget Dec. 3, Giving Tuesday, the annual nationwide day of charitable giving. For more information on this growing grass-roots effort, go to givingtuesday.org.

As we gather around dinner tables this season, let’s remember that gratitude is most powerful when it inspires action. Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving remind us of our interconnectedness — our shared humanity and the strength of our communities. Together we can ensure that everyone, in every corner of Long Island, feels the gratitude of the holidays. Each of us has the power to make the season brighter for others. This year, let’s not just celebrate; let’s give.

in our nation’s intensified max on

here to share have wholeheartedly Trumpist may be some what the that Americans economic flict, afraid These the many the

sHeeline

What comes next? How about our neglected unity?

For me, like so many Americans, the last six months have been a whirlwind of emotions, as arguably the most historic election in our nation’s history built momentum, intensified and eventually reached a climax on election night. While I’m not here to share my opinion on the outcome, the big question facing every citizen and resident of our country is: What next?

It can be tempting to see the outcome of the election as the ultimate refutation of the left — proof that Americans have rejected progressive values and policies and have wholeheartedly embraced modern Trumpist conservatism. While there may be some truth to this, I believe that what the result ultimately showed was that Americans are afraid. Afraid of economic disaster, afraid of global conflict, afraid of violence at home. These are reasonable fears. Even for the many Americans who lived through the final throes of the cold War or watched the twin towers fall on Sept. 11,

2001, our country has never seemed more like a powder keg ready to explode.

Which is why, now more than ever, we need to come together not just as liberals and conservatives, but as Americans. The United States has always been strongest when we’ve been united, and our darkest moments come when we turn on one another and lay blame at our neighbors’ doorsteps.

As Abraham Lincoln famously said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” and those words are as true today as they were 166 years ago.

my dad will never forget the kind strangers far from home after the 9/11 attacks.

While conservatives may claim, rightly or wrongly, that progressives are softhearted dopes who focus on issues that don’t matter to real Americans, progressives may claim, rightly or wrongly, that conservatives are coldhearted dopes who focus on issues that don’t matter to real Americans. Perspective is everything, and trying to work together and understand not only what our differences are, but also why they exist, is the quintessential heart of the American experiment.

The intersection of our political and social culture has always been an uneasy compromise. This extends to

Letters

The Sands proposal: nothing but trouble

To the Editor:

The Las Vegas Sands proposal to spend $6 billion — that’s billion with a B, folks — had me wondering from where Sands expected to recover their investment plus the daily cost of operations and the profit from the project. It wasn’t really a wonder, more of a fact, given all the expected losses the gambling public would be leaving behind.

A real concern is the draining of huge amounts of our underground aquifer to feed this unnecessary beast, a waste of our local water supply.

The proposal is now also offering an expansion of lanes on the Meadowbrook Parkway from three to four. All this would accomplish would be the removal of the mature trees and greenery along that stretch of parkway, leaving no shoulder.

Yes, it’s a parkway, meaning there are no commercial vehicles. So without an adjacent commercial highway, all the daily delivery trucks that would be needed to supply this property would be feeding off the Long Island Expressway, the only commercial road, for miles through our local streets. That would be an unneeded burden on our local streets and neighborhoods, 24/7.

We do not need this disaster in the making.

everything from political rivals being forced to work together in government — such as when Alexander hamilton and Thomas Jefferson collaborated to create our financial system while simultaneously establishing Washington, D.c., as the nation’s capital — to having uncomfortable Thanksgiving dinners with relatives who have radically different political values.

The idea that people who disagree politically could do so without resorting to violence is what separated our country from nearly all others when we declared our independence. It is one of the most sacred responsibilities that we as Americans must honor and hold dear, or risk losing the dream of a more just, more equitable society as envisioned by our founding fathers.

So while it’s easy to feel emotional following this election, remember that we need to heal the nation’s wounds, not worsen them. Think next time before you gloat to a “bleeding heart liberal” about winning the election — or calling every conservative voter you know a fascist. Are you really saying it because you believe it, or because emotions are running high and you feel like you need

to show the world how strongly you hold your beliefs?

In the days after the Sept. 11 attacks, my father was in california, desperately trying to get back home to my family. With all flights grounded, he and a friend rented a car and tried to make a cross-country drive.

Running on fumes on a remote stretch of highway, they came to a gas station that, unfortunately, was out of business. Stranded and worried about their loved ones, my dad and his friend were lucky enough to be found by some locals in a pickup truck. The saviors had a spare five-gallon tank of gas for the dirt bikes in the bed of the truck.

My dad always talked about how, while thanking them, he explained how and his friend were New Yorkers trying to get home to their families. Without missing a beat, one of the men responded, “We’re all New Yorkers today.”

That is what makes America great, not rhetoric or political stunts or moral grandstanding. And that is what we need to keep hold of in the aftermath of this election: that no matter what, we are all Americans, and that we’re all stronger when we work together.

Will Sheeline is an editor covering Glen Head, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? WSheeline@liherald.com.

Framework by Francine Berman

Lastly, the Sands has been spending a lot of money locally on public relations, newspapers inserts, etc., to make the proposal sound appealing. Don’t believe the wizardry, which, when you look behind the curtain, is really a corporate giant taking local amenities and infiltrating our local environment, all in the name of a profit to feed its own goals.

East Meadow

How about sharing a holiday meal at a diner?

To the Editor:

This holiday season, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, if you’re too tired to cook, consider sharing a meal with family, friends or neighbors and patronize your local diner or restaurant. for decades I have enjoyed many excellent meals at many local diners.

Diners have been part of my life since I was a teenager. Eating out is a periodic ritual, and their portions are generous. Between the soup, salad, rolls, coleslaw and pickles, along with the main course, diner dinners satisfy the heartiest appetites. Who’s never taken a doggie bag home with leftovers to eat the next day? Many times we’ve bagged our desserts to go.

Many Long Island neighborhoods

have seen changes over the years. New immigrant groups sometimes favor their own ethnic foods and restaurants. Diners have also lost customers over time to fast-food restaurants. Remember, these people are our neighbors. our local entrepreneurs who own and operate diners have continued to invest in our communities, creating new employment opportunities without the assistance of federally funded taxpayers’ stimulus dollars. They work

long hours, pay taxes and provide local employment. If we don’t patronize our local restaurants, these workers don’t eat, either.

Why not honor the fond memories of some our favorite diners that have come and gone by continuing to patronize those that remain? h ere’s hoping that diners don’t go the way of the dinosaurs.

At the ‘Wicked’ Experience — Universal Orlando Resort
Great Neck

Giving Birth? Look No Further than the South Shore’s Only High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care

Mothers looking for a hospital at which to give birth should consider the quality indicators used by U.S. News & World Report ® to determine institutions deemed High Performing for Maternity care.

Mount Sinai South Nassau is the only South Shore hospital to earn the rating of High Performing based on eight key measures:

• Reduced C-section delivery rates

• Low early elective delivery rates

• Low overall unexpected newborn complication rates

• Increased routine VBAC rates

• Increased exclusive human milk feeding rates

• Low episiotomy rates

• Routine birthing-friendly practices

• Transparency on racial/ethnic disparities

If you want the best birthing experience for you and for your baby, look no further than Mount Sinai South Nassau.

Learn more at southnassau.org/maternity, or call 877-SOUTH-NASSAU.

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