Judy Griffin defeats Brian Curran for Assembly seat
By STAFF REPORT
Democratic challenger Laura Gillen declared victory over incumbent Republican Anthony D’Esposito on Tuesday night in the race in Congressional District 4.
Gillen, a former Hempstead town supervisor, ran on promises to improve infrastructure and protect health care access. Tackling the cost of living and restoring the state and local tax deduction on income taxes were also part of her platform. Gillen lost to D’Esposito two years ago.
“The coordinated campaign that we put together — we knocked on 300,000 doors, we made over 600,00 phone calls, and we put together a campaign that was a winning game that we will emulate in the years to come,” Gillen said.
In State Senate District 9, Republican incumbent Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick retained her seat, defeating Democrat James Lynch.
Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, a former Malverne village trustee, emphasized issues such as crime reduction and economic recovery during her campaign. She stressed that the police need more funding and training, and noted that bail reform
and giving judges more discretion remain on her agenda.
Democrat challenger Judy Griffin upended incumbent GOP Assemblyman Brian Curran to capture the seat in the 21st A.D. Curran had reclaimed the post two years ago from Griffin.
Griffin aims to continue her work as an advocate for education, mental health initiatives,
reproductive rights, and local law enforcement. In her campaign, she highlighted acquiring more that $8 million to help fund police and fire departments, schools, libraries, veterans halls and nonprofit organizations.
Prop 1, which aimed to add protections against discrimination to the state Constitution, won overwhelming approval.
Curran honors three Women of Distinction
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com
Assemblyman Brian Curran hosted the annual Women of Distinction awards ceremony at St. Mary’s/Maris Stella Knights of Columbus Council in Lynbrook in September. The honorees, two from Lynbrook and one from East Rockaway, were nominated by local elected officials for their contributions to the community.
Taway Kiwanis, a village trustee and a county Girl Scout delegate, and is involved with the Faith Formation religious education program at St. Raymond Parish.
“I do everything I do just because it’s a love of mine,” Paul said. “I want to help people.”
his is my way of paying back.
The awards were created in 2011, to honor women in the 21st Assembly District who distinguish themselves through professional achievement and acts of service.
LyNNE HARVEy Women of Distinction award recipient
“Women in today’s world have an impossible job, juggling both family life and professional life — it’s amazing that they are able to get it all done,” Curran said. “These women aren’t in it for the glory — they simply love their community and want to give back. They are truly an example of what a great woman and citizen should be.”
One honoree, Stephanie Paul, is president of East Rock-
Paul connects the community and members of local law enforcement with events like Police Appreciation Night, and spotlights East Rockaway educators with the Teacher Appreciation Award, which recognizes those who go above and beyond to support children inside and outside the classroom.
“I was very caught off guard when I was nominated for this award,” she said. “I was completely blown away by the other recipients of this award, how hard they work and the things they’ve done in their community. That was a very big highlight of that Sunday, to be surrounded by such incredible women.”
Paul prioritizes helping
Continued on page 4
Adrienne Daley/Herald
Laura gillen declared victory in the race in new York’s 4th Congressional district against incumbent anthony d’esposito on tuesday night.
Johnny McGorey’s debuts in Lynbrook village
Known in Massapequa for brunch, dinner, live music, lunch, happy hour, nightly specials and viewing sports, Johnny McGorey’s opened a Lynbrook location at $46 Atlantic Ave., and celebrated with an Oct. 24 ribbon-cutting.
Owners Daver Baker, Joanne Fountain, Carol O’Reilly, Niall Frawley and Rishii Matadeen attracted a crown to the grand opening that included chamber and village officials, along with Assemblyman Brian Curran, Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Laura Ryder and Town Clerk Kate Murray.
The Irish pub/restaurant is open Monday through Sundays from noon to 4 a.m. The phone number is (516) 239-2458.
Lynbrook village has a new place for a night out as Johnny McGorey’s opened on Atlantic Avenue.
— Jeffrey Bessen
Courtesy Harry Huncken
Doctors, nurses, and employees from all of the hospital’s departments flooded to field outside of the hospital.
‘People over politics’: NUMC rallies amid concerns
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Hundreds of dedicated employees, community supporters and elected officials gathered on the front lawn of Nassau University Medical Center on Oct. 29 for a rally that voiced one opinion, loud and clear: “We Are Health Care, Not Politics.”
The rally, dubbed “Nassau Needs U,” was organized by concerned employees, and aimed to spotlight the hospital’s need for state funding and to oppose any state takeover or the appointment of a temporary operator. Over the last five years, the hospital in East Meadow — which is the county’s only public hospital — has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding.
NUMC provides healthcare to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
The Nassau Health Care Corporation, which oversees the operations of NUMC and the A. Holly Paterson Extended Care Facility in Uniondale, has made significant strides in its financial health over the last year, according to an audit conducted by Grant Thornton in June, a leading national public accounting firm.
The audit and related financial reports highlighted several positive trends for the health care corporation including: cash on hand increased from $23 million in January 2024 to $67 million in June; net patient service revenue rose by $76 million in 2023, from $460 million in 2022 to $536 million in 2023; operating loss was reduced by $30 million in 2023; and overtime costs were reduced by $4 million from 2022 levels.
Many of the hospital’s improvements have been attributed to the leadership of Megan Ryan, the interim chief executive and president, and the work of the hospital’s board, the corporation’s chairman Matthew Bruderman said in a release.
But, the hospital’s improvements do not take away from the overarching issue: A lack of state funding, and low Medicaid reimbursements.
NUMC has faced growing concerns over potential cuts to essential services, a state-imposed takeover, or even clo -
Megan Ryan, the interim chief executive and president of NUMC, said the hospital has been able to make significant improvements over the last year because of the work of its many departments.
State Senator Steve Rhoads spoke at the rally in support of the hospital’s operations, and its thousands of staff members that could lose their jobs if the hospital closes or faces additional funding cuts.
Jordan Vallone/Herald photos
The front lawn of Nassau University Medical Center was packed with hundreds of rallygoers last week, who advocated for state funding that would help the hospital stay open. Signs were held with bold messages, like ‘No state takeover.’
sures to accommodate other uses, like housing. The hospital boasts a Level 1 trauma center, a burn center, among other departments, which is why hospital employees — and the community —
don’t want to see it go.
“NUMC is the only public hospital in Nassau County and a crucial lifeline for so many,” Dr. Grace Ting, interim chief medical officer said in a release
for the rally. “We are here to fight for the resources for our patients and keep serving this community without compromising our mission.”
Scattered around the front lawn of the hospital, staff and community members held signs that read, “No state takeover” and “Restore state funding.” Along Hempstead Turnpike, those passing by the hospital in cars honked in support of the hospital and its operations.
“Nassau County’s elected officials are here for you today,” State Senator Steve Rhoads, who’s district includes NUMC, said at the rally. “NUMC needs Nassau County, and Nassau County needs NUMC.”
Since 2019, the hospital has lost $350 million in funding, Rhoads said. If the hospital closes, or faces increased budget cuts, the jobs of many employees may be at stake.
Waylyn Hobbs, the mayor of the Village of Hempstead, New York’s largest village with over 50,000 residents, said the hospital has been a lifeline for health care.
“This hospital has always been there for not only the Village of Hempstead, but all of Nassau County,” he said. “And we are here for you.”
Dr. Steven Lev, the chair of radiology at NUMC, has been a physician at the hospital for over 30 years. He made mention of Ryan’s leadership, calling her the “heartbeat” of NUMC — and said the hospital is the “heartbeat of the community.” He rejected any change in leadership, and said “imagine what we can accomplish (as a hospital) with the resources we deserve.”
“Our hospital is staffed by hundreds of people who understand the community,” he said. “Let us protect the hospital and this lifeline — and let us keep serving the community with dignity.”
Ryan said the hospital has been able to stay open because of the great work of all of its employees. “Everybody here today puts people over politics,” she said. “That’s the way we want our facility. That’s the way we do it every day. We have demonstrated that we are viable, that we can be sustainable — but we need our subsidies that we are owed and we need that today.”
east rockaway Junior/Senior High School students worked on the pledge banner that will hang in the main lobby. from left were Zane Ying, travis James, andrew esposito, mark Babiarz, John pignataro and Kevin o’Hanlon.
Courtesy East Rockaway schools
Taking the ‘Upstander Pledge’
In recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month, East Rockaway Junior/Senior High School marked Unity Day on Oct. 16, as students took a stand against bullying.
Led by social worker Lucy Gordon, seventh- and eighth-graders took part in a series of interactive sessions throughout the week, learning the importance of becoming “upstanders”— those who not only stand up for themselves but also advocate for their peers.
The weeklong activities taught students strategies for promoting kindness, navigating challenging situations, and supporting those in need. The les-
Three women from E.R. and Lynbrook are honored
young people find their way, spiritually and civically. She serves as a catechist at St. Raymond’s Parish, and is developing a program that explains local government to young people.
“I’m hoping that we can have an assembly where we can explain what the mayor, the trustees and the whole (village) board do together,” she said. “I want them to know our names. I want to hear their concerns. I want to hear their questions. I want to know what they think the community needs, especially in their age group.”
sons culminated on Unity Day, when students were invited to sign an Upstander Pledge banner.
The banner symbolizes their commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive school environment, and will be displayed in the main lobby as a daily reminder of their pledge to foster empathy and respect in their interactions.
The initiative aims to empower students to take a proactive role in preventing bullying and building a more supportive school community.
— Jeffrey Bessen
The Medicaid Asset Protection Trust is Nothing to be Afraid Of
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”
— H.P. Lovecraft
Many people are afraid of using a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) to protect their assets from being depleted for the cost of longterm care. Shining a bit of light on the subject may help eliminate this fear of the unknown. Contrary to what many believe, including many lawyers, CPA’s and financial advisors, you do not give up control when entering into the MAPT, even though it is called an irrevocable trust.
First, you reserve the right to change the trustee at any time. Yes, you must name one or more children as the trustee (manager) of the MAPT but it is a simple matter to change the trustee at any time for any reason or for no reason at all. It is up to you.
Secondly, you reserve the right to change who you leave your trust estate to upon death.
Circumstances change and your MAPT gives you the flexibility to “roll with the punches”.
Thirdly, while the MAPT only allows you to take the income (interest and dividends) from the trust, you may still make gifts of principal taxfree to your children at any time, in any amount. If you give more than $18,000 per person per year you must report the gift but there is no tax —the IRS just subtracts it from the amount you can give at death, currently over thirteen and a half million. We like to say that most of our clients are “comfortably under”.
Finally, you may revoke an irrevocable trust in New York on consent of all the parties. If you and your children all sign it may be undone. What if one of them will not sign? Not a problem. Remember we said you may change the trustee and who you leave it to. We simply remove the unwilling participant as trustee and beneficiary and then revoke the trust on consent of all the parties!
ETTINGER LAW FIRM
Lynne Harvey, another honoree, is a past president of the Lynbrook Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary, and coordinates department sponsored to fly veterans to Ft. Belvoir, an Army base in Virginia, to receive medical care.
“I was extremely humbled and honored to receive this, because I’m not a one-man band,” Harvey said. “I have numerous people that helped me make this all happen.”
Harvey helps organize the department’s annual End of Summer Bash to Benefit Wounded Warriors in Greis Park.
“I do it because my dad was career military, and in raising myself and my siblings, he always told us that the military put a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs, and to give back when we can,” she said. “This is my way of paying back.”
All proceeds from the Bash are directed to supporting service members who have been wounded in the line of duty and are taken to military bases around the country to receive medical care.
“I coordinate with Fort Belvoir, as well as with the doctors and the nurses on base to see what items the service members will need to help them overcome their injuries,” Harvey explained. “Fort Belvoir deals with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.”
The LFD also accepts nonperishable food, new toys and toiletries after Thanksgiving to take to families receiv-
ing care at those bases.
The third honoree, Kacie Curran — no relation to Brian — is a member of the LFD’s Emergency Medical Company No. 1. She has received awards for two life-saving actions, rescuing a resident from a house fire and treating another who suffered cardiac arrest. Curran was the department’s 2021 firefighter of the year.
“At the age of 26, it’s kind of weird,” she said of the award. “It was really exciting to get it, but I was just definitely, like, wait — I don’t think I’ve done enough.
“Me getting this award is only because of everybody else around me that supported me,” she added.
Curran, a lifelong Lynbrook resident, got involved in the Junior Fire Department at age 12, and joined the regular department at 18. She is the youngest person to become an officer in her company, and served as a company captain from 2021 to 2023. Her father and sister are also members of the department.
“My time in the department’s not done,” she said. “I hope to raise my kids in Lynbrook. I want to stay in the Lynbrook Fire Department, and I hope I can do this until however old I am.”
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rockaway
Courtesy Stephanie Paul
program director Stephanie paul, left, and officer Sarah feinstein at the east rockaway Kiwanis police appreciation night, an annual event honoring members of nassau County’s 4th precinct.
News briefs
Taking part in a sweet ‘tooth’ donation
Dr. Todd Kshonz, a Lynbrook-based dentist, hosted his annual candy buy back on Nov. 1.
Elementary students from the Waverly Park School in East Rockaway sprung into action and collected all of their left-
over and unwanted Halloween sweets and donated to Kshonz’s buy back, which is given to the United States military. He donated $1 per pound of candy.
— Jeffrey Bessen
Gottlieb named a Coca-Cola semifinalist
Lynbrook High School senior Katy Gottlieb was named a semifinalist in the 2025 Coca-Cola Scholar Program. The prestigious recognition moves her one step closer to becoming one of 150 CocaCola Scholars, each awarded a $20,000 college scholarship.
Gottlieb, who serves as vice president of the Lynbrook High Key Club, district executive assistant for the New York State Key Club, treasurer of the National Honor Society, and vice president of her local Future Doctors of America chapter, has also logged more than 600 hours of community service.
Her selection as a semifinalist reflects her strong leadership skills and dedication to her school and community.
“Katy is a truly exceptional student who tirelessly dedicates herself to her peers and community,” Lynbrook High School Principal Matthew Sarosy said. “The honor of being named a semifinalist is well-deserved.”
In the next round, Gottlieb will complete an essay outlining a college course she would design. The final Coca-Cola scholars will be announced in February, with recipients invited to Atlanta for the 37th annual Coca-Cola Scholars Banquet and Leadership Development Institute from April 3 to 6.
Courtesy Shari Bowes
Lynbrook dentist Dr. Todd Kshonz with Waverly Park School students, fifth grader Abigail Zangari and third grader Aiden Sherman, who helped with the candy buy back.
— Jeffrey Bessen
Courtesy Lynbrook public schools Lynbrook High School senior Katy Gottlieb is one of 150 Coca-Cola Scholars semifinalists. At right in high school principal Matthew Sarosy.
East Rockaway board honors hero Neil Schloth
From 42 years as a volunteer with the East Rockaway Hose Company and Fire Department and a 40-year career with the New York State Court System, Neil R. Schloth has emerged as a hometown hero.
The lifelong East Rockaway resident was celebrated for his unwavering dedication to the village and school district at the Oct. 22 Board of Education meeting.
He held several leadership roles in the fire department and served in multiple posts as a school district trustee, including vice president, and president. Schloth was considered a tireless advocate for
Board of Education President Peter McNally received a gift for Board Appreciation Day at the October meeting.
the students and staff.
Schloth continues to educate others as an instructor at the Nassau County Fire Museum, where he shares the history of the volunteer fire Service and promotes fire safety.
The meeting, a fitting tribute to Schloth’s service, also included a celebration of Board Appreciation Day. Kindergartners and first graders from Centre Avenue School serenaded the board with a song and presented gifts that officials said, created “a joyful atmosphere of gratitude.”
— Jeffrey Bessen
Photos courtesy East Rockaway schools
Lifelong East Rockaway resident Neil R. Schloth was recognized for his longtime civic service at the Board of Education meeting on Oct. 22.
Kindergartners and first graders from Centre Avenue School perform a song in celebration of Board Appreciation Day.
HERALD SPORTS
East Rockaway earns No. 4 playoff seed
By BRIAN KACHARABA sports@liherald.com
The East Rockaway football team celebrated Senior Day the best way possible as two soon-to-be graduates helped the Rocks secure their first winning record in a full season in five years and a high seed in next week’s playoffs.
Anthony Grimaldi and Antonio Buzzetta both scored their second touchdowns of the game in the second half and the defense stood tall the rest of the way as East Rockaway doubled up West Hempstead 28-14 last Friday night to close the regular season at 5-3. It was the Rocks’ third win in four outings after splitting their first four games.
The Rocks, who last won five games in 2019 before posting a 4-1 mark in the Covid-shortened spring season of 2021, will be the No. 4 seed against No. 5 Seaford (4-4), the top Conference IV preseason seed and defending champion, Friday evening in a rematch of the Oct. 18 meeting won by East Rockaway 28-7.
“I’m very happy with where we are,” Rocks head coach Russ Pajer said. “If you told me I was going to get the four seed, I would have been very happy.”
The team is 0-3 in the playoffs since advancing to the semifinals in 2018.
East Rockaway entered the season with a roster of just 25 players and a preseason ankle injury to Buzzetta that shelved him for more than half the season. Grimal-
di was also banged up at times, but the six-foot varsity veteran still willed his way to almost 1,200 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns this season, including two kickoff return scores and a pick-six.
“He’s a really tough, physical, kid,” Pajer said of Grimaldi. “He works hard at it. He wants to be a football player. He wants to be successful. He’s very into what he does.”
West Hempstead had the lone score of the first quarter, but East Rockaway responded early in the second on a 22-yard scoring scamper by Grimaldi and subsequent two-point run by Buzzetta for an 8-7 lead. Buzzetta added the first of his two two-yard touchdown runs late in the first half, but that two-point conversion failed as the Rocks carried a 14-7 advantage into intermission.
The Rams tied it early in the third quarter, but the Rocks got another score from Grimaldi – this one from four yards out – late in the session to give the team the lead it would not relinquish, and Buzzetta capped the scoring in the fourth.
Pajer credited the offensive line of Jethro Jacquet, Terry Hayes, James Lewald, Nick Fioretti and Nick Hickam fullback Conor O’Hagan for East Rockaway’s offense rushing for almost 2,400 yards on the season, with eight different players finding the end zone.
Grimaldi collected 195 of the Rocks’ 390 rushing yards against Seaford a few weeks ago, with two scores. Buzzetta’s three-yard touchdown run highlighted a 16-point third quarter and senior Edwin Abreu-Lopez
recovered two onsides kicks.
“Seaford’s a talented team,” Pajer said. “They’ve got Brian Falk. He’s a good running back [and] he’s a good football player on offense and defense. The quarterback can throw the ball nice. They’ve got some big linemen. So, we have to play a good game. Mistake-free football.”
Sue Grieco/Herald Anthony Grimaldi, left, and the Rocks muscled their way into the playoffs and will host defending county champion Seaford in the first round.
Project 2025 plan for culture, health care
By Jenna ZaZa & Lori Saxena Special to the Herald
Third in a series.
Written by the conservative Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 is a 922-page book detailing overhauls of the executive branch and proposing radical policy changes regarding the economy, culture, education and health care.
The controversial plans have Democrats in a tizzy, the Trump campaign distancing itself from the ideas and saying they would embrace the mandate’s demise. However, six of his former Cabinet secretaries and more than 140 people who played a role in the project also worked in his administration, according to a CNN report.
At its core, the initiative seeks to reshape the federal government, but its impact extends to the local level.
“The next President has a moral responsibility to lead the nation in restoring a culture of life in America again,” Heritage Foundation officials wrote in the project foreword.
Culture
Project 2025 is steeped in dividing culture wars saying, “The next conservative President must make the institutions of American civil society hard targets for woke culture warriors.” Its top goal is to prioritize the nuclear family model “as the centerpiece of American life” by rolling back hard-fought LGBTQ+ and Black rights.
It calls for the reversal of the 2015 Supreme Court case that legalized samesex marriage in all 50 states. Widespread anti-LGBTQ+ policies could significantly erode cultural and familial support for queer individuals.
“This policy document gives extended protections that violate individual civil and human rights,” Kiana Abbady, board chair of Long Island Progressive Coalition, said. “There would be no such thing as non-traditional families, that would only be the nuclear family, and that goes back to the denial of LGBTQ rights.”
Child protection rhetoric of antiLGBTQ+ has a long history but the ideology behind the project’s “optimal childrearing” family structure emerged in the late 1990s from religious conservative groups. Saying that children grew up best in households with both a man and woman parental figure. That argument is considered to be false, according to the American Psychological Association.
“So when [the project] says they want to prioritize nuclear family values, that is coded language,” said Jillian Gaeta, co-founder of Roots to Revolution and a New York City public school teacher. “What that means is they think that women who don’t have children … that couples who are gay and adopting children also have less value in our society.”
The project proposes limiting opportunities for people of color by stamping out all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at the federal, state and local
Project 2025, a plan conceived by the conservative Heritage Foundation, could change the U.S. if Donald Trump is
level. DEI creates jobs, boosts the bottom line for companies and contributes significantly to the economy, according to research by McKinsey & Company.
According to a Suffolk County disparity study final report, persons of color “experience the greatest disparity, as they are significantly less likely to own a business.” It also discovered that there are statistically “significant disparities” in business earnings for minorities.
“The elimination of these programs that encourage economic advancement and economic opportunity for hard working Americans based on the color of their skin is abhorrent and it’s disappointing,” Abbady said.
Critics of the mandate argue that the proposed policies risk overextending government power to enforce rigid gender binaries and strip away support for marginalized communities.
“It was working on, for decades, to have the United States be a white, Christian, authoritarian nation,” Claudia Borecky, president of the Bellmore-Merrick Democratic club, said.
Health care
Project 2025 proposes decentralization of federal programs like Medicaid, increasing privatization, and implementing grant caps on health care.
A 2023 study in the international Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health of 1,695 healthcare facilities in Nassau County, revealed a disproportionate distribution of services, with the majority of facilities clustered in two affluent zip codes. Areas with high social vulnerability have a significantly sparser distribution of healthcare services.
Parts of Suffolk County are federally designated Medically Underserved
Areas due to insufficient access to primary care, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. These regions rely on federally qualified health centers and federal programs such as Medicaid.
Project 2025 aims to encourage health care funding that is specific to the needs of local communities and competition with private insurers. Decentralization could lead to reducing federal funding and limitations on Medicaid, which could exacerbate barriers in accessing medical care for vulnerable populations.
Currently, just over 25 percent of Suffolk County residents and a little more than 23 percent of Nassau County residents are enrolled in Medicaid, according to a United Hospital Fund report.
Michelle Jones, a nurse at Flushing Hospital, who is on the board of directors for the New York State Nurses Association, said these proposals would substantially increase the cost of health care if implemented.
“The cost of health care is going to skyrocket, and so is the cost of medication,” she said. “This, is going to put profit over patients and over the frontline workers who take care of these patients. This project will erode people.”
The project’s proposed health care policies also include reforming the Department of Health and Human Services into an anti-abortion-focused Department of Life.
Liberal organizations, such as EMILY’s List, have pledged to invest money and resources into flipping House seats currently held by anti-abortion Republicans.
“Project 2025 outlines tracking women’s pregnancies, including abortion, miscarriages, stillbirths ... dismantling sex education, and replacing birth con-
trol programs,” Yari Aquino, an EMILY’s List representative, said. “The way to stop Project 2025 from happening is to elect … Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot.”
The Long Island Coalition for Life remains determined to influence public policy in a direction that bans abortion statewide with no exceptions.
“Our ultimate goal is to protect every preborn son and daughter in the womb, to end abortion and to bring back respect for the right to life of all people,” Celeste Broyles, a representative of the Coalition, said. “We don’t discriminate against babies who may have been conceived in rape … all babies deserve the right to life.”
In 2022, former State Sen. Anna M. Kaplan and Assemblywoman Gina L. Sillitti highlighted ongoing local abortion restrictions. Several communities still had “trigger laws” on the books that were passed in the early 1970s and were intended to limit the establishment of abortion clinics and impose stringent regulations on access. Hempstead, Huntington and Oyster Bay towns and the villages of Freeport and Williston Park had local abortion restrictions.
“Every person should have autonomy over their body and have the right to discuss that with their provider.” Jones said. “Under the project, people are defined by their role in their family, but even then they are a single person with the right to make decisions.”
Jenna Zaza and Lori Saxena are reporters with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
Jenna Zaza/Herald
elected president.
Pence reflects on Jan. 6 at LIA luncheon
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
One week before Election Day, former Vice President Mike Pence spoke candidly to about 700 people at the Long Island Association’s annual fall luncheon at the Crest Hollow Country Club, in Woodbury. In an hour-long interview led by LIA President Matt Cohen, Pence, 65, spoke with conviction to a politically diverse crowd about the state of American politics, his break with Donald Trump, and the Republican Party’s future.
Pence didn’t mince words when expressing his views on the current political landscape, telling attendees he could not support the Democratic ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, but he also acknowledged his decision not to endorse the Republican ticket.
“I could never support the Democrat ticket,” Pence said. “But I’m also not endorsing our ticket. I have real concerns about the direction of the Republican Party today.”
Pence’s remarks reflected his unease with what he described as a growing populist influence in the GOP, a shift he feels strays from the party’s conservative principles. He voiced worries about those in the party who, he believes, are increasingly willing to “walk away from our allies and American leadership in the world” and ignore the national debt,
while “marginalizing the sanctity of life.”
One of the most poignant moments of the luncheon came as Pence recounted his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob attacked the U.S. Capitol, some chanting threats against him. Pence explained that he was guided by the oath he took on President Reagan’s Bible, which he considered both a commitment to the American people and a promise to God.
“The Bible says in Psalm 15, ‘He keeps his oath even when it hurts.’ I know something about that,” Pence said, adding that it is against the spirit of the presidency to dictate what votes were or were not counted.
As Pence described it, his differences with Trump surfaced only in the final days of their administration, when Trump, influenced by a group of lawyers outside the administration, became convinced that Pence had the authority to
overturn the election results. Despite their disagreements, Pence recalled that he and Trump “never had a cross word” throughout their four years together, and even reconciled shortly after Jan. 6, parting “very amicably.” He noted, however, that as time went on, Trump returned to much of the same rhetoric that had fueled the events of Jan. 6, solidifying their separation.
Pence’s said that the Republican Party needed to return to what he described as “mainstream conservatism.” He spoke of the importance of maintaining strong American leadership on the world stage, fiscal responsibility, limited government and traditional values. As he sees it, the GOP must decide whether to adhere to those principles or follow “the siren song of populism unmoored to conservative principle.”
Beyond his concerns about his party’s trajectory, Pence expressed a broader worry for the nation’s divided politics. “Our politics are more divided than any time in my life,” he said. “But I’m not convinced the American people are as divided as their politics.” He added that he hoped we would ultimately unite to face common challenges.
Pence closed on an optimistic note, acknowledging that while many Americans feel their values are being “trampled on and disrespected,” the U.S. can still uphold its role as “the leader of the free world.”
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Roksana Amid/Herald
Long Island Association President Matt Cohen spoke with former Vice President Mike Pence about a range of topics, including his break from Donald Trump, the future of the Republican Party and the importance of upholding constitutional values.
HERALD SchoolS
Special education teacher
Alexis Freudenberg and speech pathologist Heather Bolaños unveiled the new ‘Say and Play’ board.
‘Say and Play’ aims to create educational fun
In a step toward inclusion, Rhame Avenue School’s kindergarten playground now features a “Say and Play” communication board, designed to help nonverbal children and those with speech and language delays express themselves.
This innovative tool, a form of Augmentative and Alternative Communication, was made possible by special education teacher Alexis Freudenberg and speech pathologist Heather Bolaños.
Filled with colorful images depicting common playground activities, the communication board enables children to point to pictures to indicate their choices, breaking down barriers to foster an inclusive play environment.
Freudenberg and Bolaños, dedicated advocates for accessible playgrounds across Long Island, design and locally produce each board, ensuring they’re available to communities in need. A QR code is included, giving families the flexibility to use a digital version on mobile devices at other playgrounds.
Its launching brought together kin -
The children took to the new tool, using it right away to indicate the games they wanted to play and express themselves in real-time.
dergarten classes, including both verbal and nonverbal students, along with school administrators and Principal Jack Bixhorn. Freudenberg and Bolaños introduced the board, showing students how to point to images representing various activities. Children quickly embraced the tool, using it to share their playtime preferences and connect with peers in real-time.
The addition of the Say and Play board marks a meaningful step toward making Rhame Avenue’s playground a welcoming space for all.
By providing a simple, effective way for children with communication challenges to connect and share experiences, the board enhances social interactions and enriches playtime for everyone.
Follow Freudenberg and Bolaños on Instagram to learn more about their mission for inclusive play: @swingingtowardsinclusiveplay and @letsdospeechthings.
— Jeffrey Bessen
Photos courtesy of East Rockaway Union Free School District
A Rhame Avenue student demonstrates how one would use the board to communicate, by point at pictures representing various activities.
Several kindergarten classes, including students both with and without language delays, attended the unveiling of the new communication board.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20 • 6:00-9:00PM
The Heritage Club at Bethpage 99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
MICHAEL J. DOWLING
PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER NORTHWELL HEALTH
ACCOUNTING:
JOHN FITZGERALD
Managing Partner
Citrin Cooperman
GURJIT SINGH
Chief Information Officer
Prager Metis CPAs
DIANE L. WALSH
Chief Marketing Officer
Prager Metis CPAs
BANKING & FINANCE:
STUART H. LUBOW
President & Chief Executive Officer
Dime Community Bank
DAVID A. PERLMUTTER
Managing Partner
Forest Hills Financial Group
MARK SANCHIONI
Senior Vice President & Chief Banking Officer
Ridgewood Savings Bank
JOSEPH TEDESCO
President & Chief Executive Officer
Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union
JOHN BURKE
Managing Director
Global Head of Business & Professional Services
Citi Commercial Bank
BIOPHARMA:
PATRICIA ECKERT, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Enzo Biochem, Inc.
COMMUNICATIONS:
ANDREW RAINONE
Senior Vice President, Business Sales
Optimum Business
EDUCATION:
MARIA CONZATTI, Ed.D.
Chief Administrative Officer
Nassau Community College
TIMOTHY E. SAMS, Ph.D.
President
SUNY Old Westbury
ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION:
LOUIS BEKOFSKY Principal, Managing Partner VHB
WILLIAM MAXWELL Vice President
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
BILLY HAUGLAND II Chief Executive Officer Haugland Group LLC
ANDREW J. SOLANO Managing Partner Emtec Consulting Engineers
GAS/UTILITIES:
CHRISTINA ARMENTANO
Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President Paraco
JOHN RHODES
Chief Executive Officer
Long Island Power Authority (LIPA)
ROSS TURRINI
Chief Operating Officer, New York Gas National Grid
ENERGY:
JIM FLANNERY Chief Operating Officer National Grid Ventures, US Northeast
HEALTHCARE:
MARIANELA CASAS, MPA
Chief Operating Officer
Association for Mental Health and Wellness
STACEY C. JACKSON-HARLEY
RN MA BSN
Chief Operating Officer
Harmony Healthcare
ANDREW MINTZ
Chief Executive Officer
The Smilist
MICHAEL N. ROSENBLUT
President & Chief Executive Officer
Parker Jewish Institute For Healthcare and Rehabilitation
AMY SILVA-MAGALHAES
Chief Operating Officer
The Bristal Assisted Living
JOSEPH VERDIRAME
Chief Executive Officer
Alliance Homecare
AMIT SHAH, MD
Partner & Vascular Surgeon
PRINE Health
HOSPITALITY:
MICHAEL LESSING
Chief Executive Officer Lessing's Hospitality Group
LEGAL:
NICOLE JOSEPH, MSc
Chief Operating Officer & Finance Director
CM Law PLLC
JULIE WYETZNER
Executive Director &
Chief Operating Officer
Cona Elder Law PLLC
MICHAEL H. SAHN
Managing Partner
Sahn Ward Braff Coschignano PLLC
HOWARD M. STEIN
Managing Partner & Co- Chair of the Real Estate Practice Group Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP
NOT-FOR-PROFIT:
PHIL ANDREWS
President
Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce
LISA BURCH, MPH
President & Chief Executive Officer
EPIC Long Island, Inc.
RANDELL M. BYNUM
Chief Executive Officer Girl Scouts of Nassau County
MATTHEW COHEN
President & Chief Executive Officer
Long Island Association, Inc.
ERIKA FLORESKA
President
Long Island Children's Museum
JEFFREY FRIEDMAN
Chief Executive Officer
CN Guidance and Counseling Services
DAN LLOYD
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Minority Millennials, Inc.
DIANE MANDERS
Interim Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director
Senior Vice President, Administration Canon U.S.A, Inc.
TRANSPORTATION:
ROBERT FREE
Acting President
Long Island Rail Road
MARLON TAYLOR
President New York & Atlantic Railway
COREY J. MUIRHEAD
Executive Vice President
Guardian Bus Company
MICHAEL D. TORNABE
Chief Operating Officer
Guardian Bus Company *List still in formation
Nassau Legislature adopts 2025 budget
By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
The Nassau County Legislature has approved County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s proposed $4.2 billion budget for 2025. The plan, which keeps property tax rates flat and prioritizes investments in law enforcement and children’s early-intervention programs, sparked considerable debate and split votes on key legislative committees.
“I’m very pleased that the Republican Majority unanimously passed our no tax increase budget over the objections of Democrats who wanted a tax increase to give them more money to squander away on wasteful spending,” Blakeman said in a statement after the vote on Oct. 30. His office did not respond to requests for further comment.
The Legislature’s Finance Committee voted unanimously to advance the budget, while the Rules Committee was divided, with Republican members in favor and Democratic members, including Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, abstaining. DeRiggi-Whitton cited concerns over the budget’s reliance on reserves, the lack of movement on assessment reform, and financial uncertainties as reasons for the Democratic caucus’s stance.
Blakeman’s budget allocates significant funds for law enforcement and public safety, setting aside resources for two police cadet classes and two correction officer classes, totaling 206 new hires. The allocation is designed to address anticipated retirements and maintain adequate staffing in the Nassau County Police Department, which currently has 2,576 officers.
The spending plan also funds 38 additional full-time positions, primarily in health and human services as well as law enforcement, which will bringing the county’s workforce to 7,517.
Despite the additions, DeRiggi-Whitton said she was
U sing such a large chunk of reserves in one year leaves us vulnerable to future budget challenges, especially if unexpected costs arise.
DELIa
De
RIggI-WHIttoN Minority leader, Nassau County Legislature
concerned about the budget’s anticipated 30 percent reduction in police overtime expenses. She argued that the assumption lacks justification, given historical trends and expected police demands, noting that similar overtime cuts in the past have led to strain on publicsafety services.
“There’s no real evidence to back up the notion that we’ll see a decrease in overtime needs,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “With the same head count, expecting a 30 percent reduction seems overly optimistic and potentially risky for the county.”
The budget includes a $22 million boost in funding for early intervention and preschool services, bringing the total allocation to $185 million. The funds support speech, occupational and physical therapy services for children with special needs. Earlier this year, the county increased its reimbursement rates for service providers, addressing what had been among the state’s lowest rates.
Blakeman’s proposal keeps property taxes flat, in keeping with his commitment to avoid new tax burdens. But DeRiggi-Whitton argued that the spending plan falls short of delivering on Blakeman’s original campaign promises of tax relief and a reformed property assess-
ment system.
“For the third year in a row, we’re seeing a budget that doesn’t address his campaign’s core promises,” she said. “Homeowners are still waiting for the tax cuts and assessment reform that were central to his platform.”
Another sticking point for DeRiggi-Whitton and her Democratic colleagues is the budget’s heavy reliance on reserves, specifically federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. According to the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the county has a $207.4 million operating deficit, which the administration plans to offset by drawing on nearly $200 million in reserves. DeRiggiWhitton likened this to dipping into a household’s savings account to cover ongoing expenses.
“This one-time money is being used to patch budget gaps instead of creating sustainable financial plans,” she said. “Using such a large chunk of reserves in one year leaves us vulnerable to future budget challenges, especially if unexpected costs arise.”
In addition to the budget, legislators approved several key appointments during the meeting. Joseph Adamo, who had been serving as acting county assessor, was confirmed as the permanent assessor, despite questions about his certification status.
Jose Lopez was also confirmed as the permanent commissioner of the Department of Social Services, receiving bipartisan support. Lopez has served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, and brings extensive experience to the role.
The Legislature also approved a pay increase for Nassau County election commissioners, raising their salaries from $180,000 to $210,000.
The budget’s passage in the Republican-majority Legislature shifts the focus to NIFA, which will review the county’s financial plan. Its meeting to discuss the budget is scheduled for Nov. 20.
STEPPING OUT
By Karen Bloom
Join the party with Magical moments on ice and his pals
Ailey II
The latest dose of Disney magic arrives with a rockin’ start to the holiday season. Disney On Ice glides into UBS Arena with “Let’s Dance,” on Nov. 13, to the delight of families who enthusiastically embrace every Disney moment. This time around Mickey and the gang are groovin’ at the DJ table and everyone’s on the guest list.
Audiences feel the electric atmosphere from the get-go as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy remix favorite tunes into colorful stories. “Wish,” an homage to Disney’s 100th anniversary that debuted in the show last fall before the film’s release in theaters — is back in a big way. Now, the entire Kingdom of Rosas is in the spotlight. Wish, Asha, Valentino, Star, and King Magnifico come together for “This Wish,” “I’m a Star” and “This Is The Thanks I Get?!” Go on a journey to Arendelle and the Enchanted Forest in “Frozen 2” with Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf as they are reminded that “Some Things Never Change.”
Also escape to the Pride Lands with Simba and Nala. Audiences should “Be Prepared” as Scar and the hyenas plot to take over the throne. Timon and Pumbaa remind us it’s best just to say “Hakuna Matata” as everyone celebrates the “Circle of Life” as represented in “’The Lion King.”
Skilled maestro Sebastian strikes a chord “Under the Sea” when he conducts Ariel, her seven sisters and a colorful orchestra of sea creatures. Everyone will be singing along as Ariel serenades Prince Eric in “The Little Mermaid.”
And, of course, everyone will immediately “Know The Way” when Moana journeys from the island of Motunui to save her home from Te Ka.
These unforgettable characters and their adventures come alive as audiences are transported to world where imaginations soar — and in true Disney spirit “anything can happen if you just believe.”
So it goes with Mikaela Hyryläinen. The skater, who grew up and still makes her home in Finland, joined the Disney On Ice ensemble in 2019 after concluding her competitive skating career — and is living her dream. Proof that ‘Disney magic’ knows no boundaries.
A Disney fan since childhood, naturally, her first experience with the ice spectacle came about in 2006-07 when she attended a production as a young child with her Mom in Helsinki.
“I remember telling my mother that I enjoyed it so much that I would love to do something similar in the future. So that’s actually where everything started for me.”
Of course, Hyryläinen is quite partial to Elsa.
“Elsa’s my favorite since she comes from the Nordic countries like I do. She has these powers with snow and ice. It’s something that when I was growing up I really enjoyed, playing in the snow and all that. It’s cool that Disney has a character like her.”
As always the skating brings a new dimension to the stories we know so well. Solos, pairs, fast-paced ensemble numbers, along with acrobatic routines, keep everyone in awe of what they’re seeing.
awe of what they’re seeing. not
As Hyryläinen puts it: “We not only do the show on the ice, we also bring it into the air.”
She is especially enthusiastic about a segment in “The Little Mermaid” — Under the Sea — when the seven daughters of Triton ‘fly’ with aerial hoops.
Ailey II, which bills itself as “the next generation of dance,” continues its 50th anniversary of bringing “offthe-charts energy” to the stage. Ailey II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble and led by Sylvia Waters for 38 seasons, Ailey II has advanced Alvin Ailey’s vision for more than five decades. The program includes Ailey’s Streams, an abstract exploration of bodies in space, danced to a percussion score; Houston Thomas’ world premiere Down the Rabbit Hole, a continuation of the choreographer’s Follow the White Rabbit (2022; also Francesca Harper’s Luminous, a work that pays homage to the 50th anniversary of Ailey II and the artists who paved the way for future generations.
“They do splits and spins and all sorts of exciting tricks in the air,” she explains.
Expect to see acrobatic stunts throughout the show.
“We have swaypoles, freestyle skaters leaping off ramps, also other kinds of aerial acts that are so special. They help us tell the stories on an even deeper level.”
• Wednesday through Sunday. Nov. 13-17; times vary
• Tickets start at $30; available at DisneyOnIce.com
• UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont
While the entire production always gets an enthusiastic response, audiences are especially fond of the “Circle of Life.”
“We see Simba and Nala on the Pride Rock and there are all kinds of different animals. We have flamingos, giraffes, impalas, obviously Timon and Pumbaa and even Zazu. It’s a huge celebration of Simba and Nala and their new cub,” she notes.
In fact ‘celebration’ is an apt descriptive of the entire spectacle. The show encourages fans, as per the Mouse House, to “celebrate the magic of courage, love and adventure.”
And that pretty much sums it up for Hyryläinen.
“There’s nothing more heartwarming than seeing young kids whose eyes light up when they see you and see certain characters on the ice,” she says. “They’re singing so loud, they’re clapping, they’re dancing, they’re having the best time. I’m so happy bringing the Disney magic to all the kids who attend our shows.
“I’m living my best life, getting to bring the stories to life. Plus, this job has taken me to so many cool places in the world. I couldn’t be more grateful for the path I chose.”
A final takeaway from Hyryläinen: “As long as you believe in the magic, as long as you have goals, as long as you have dreams, there’s nothing to stop you.”
Photos courtesy Feld Entertainment
What starts out as a party transforms into an adventure with Mickey and his crew spinning tunes to get it all going.
Friday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
The Seven Wonders
The Seven Wonders “go [their] own way’ when the band brings their popular Fleetwood Mac show to the Madison Theatre. The concert features all your favorite Fleetwood Mac songs — “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” “You Make Lovin’ Fun,” “Rhiannon,” and more — delivered in a powerful performance by a band whose chemistry is as electric as the original. Certainly not your average tribute band, these musicians take it to the next level. While their collective performance experience spans decades, their presence and energy are vivacious, paying homage to the live show of the original Fleetwood Mac. Their onstage charisma invokes the styles of the original band in its prime. It’s a true testament to music’s timelessness.Their performances have been turning heads since their inception.
Friday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m. $50-$60. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 3234444.
Whiskey & Wings Benefit
Enjoy a tasty evening that pairs Buffalo wings and whiskey, benefiting the Alzheimer’s
Staying ahead with the Village Board
The next meeting of the Village of Lynbrook Board of Trustees takes place on Monday, Nov. 18, at Lynbrook Village Hall, at 7 p.m. 1 Columbus Drive.
Keeping up with East Rockaway
Art explorations
Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program Nov. noon-3 p.m. Get inspired the galleries and then join discover different materials to create your own original
talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration Museum of Art, 1 Museum
NassauMuseum.org for more information and to register
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.
Board games from days gone by
Enjoy an evening of learning and playing historic games at Old Westbury Gardens’ Westbury House, Friday, Nov. 8, 7-9:30 p.m. The Long Island Tabletop Gaming Expo takes visitors on journey through 5,000 years of board game history, from its roots in ancient times to more familiar examples from the time of the Phipps family. A brief lecture on board game history includes a presentation of each of the featured games. All are fully playable, and you can try them out yourself.
time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone
Games include: Senet, The Royal Game of Ur, Three Man’s Morris, Six Man’s Morris, Nine Man’s Morris, Twelve Man’s Morris, Mancala, Go, Chess, The Royal and Most Pleasant Game of The Goose, Backgammon. The Landlords Game (transition to the modern Monopoly). $15. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU
Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I Inc. Trust 2006-WMC2, Plaintiff AGAINST Nassau County Public Administrator, as the Limited Administrator of the Estate of Carole Denise Seifert; et al.,
Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered August 17, 2022 I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 25, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 73 Peterson Place, Lynbrook, NY 11563. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section: 42 Block: 126
Lot: 14. Approximate amount of judgment
$1,024,415.54 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 005723/2012. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District and will be held “Rain or Shine”
Richard M. Langone, Esq., Referee
LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC
Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: September 27, 2024 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2831 149613
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE
ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff
AGAINST GEORGE R. ERCOLE JR A/K/A
GEORGE ERCOLE, ET AL.,
Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 4, 2017, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 26, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 169 Spencer Avenue, Lynbrook, NY 11563. All that certain plot piece or
parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of East Rockaway, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38, Block 441, Lot 232.
Approximate amount of judgment $367,743.07 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #008271/2009. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-002974 82469 149572
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWALTS, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2004-24CB, MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-24CB, Plaintiff -against- CRISTA A. BELLEAU, MICHAEL D. BELLEAU; MARIA NUNEZ, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 26, 2024 and entered on September 5, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on November 19, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, County of Nassau and State of New York; known and designated as SBL# 42-21203-5. Said premises known as 3 DOROTHY PLACE, LYNBROOK, NY 11563
Approximate amount of lien $418,018.83 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.
Index Number 611569/2022.
LINDA AGNEW, ESQ., Referee
Pincus Law Group, PLLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556
{* LYNBROOK N*} 149570
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN, that the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook will hold a Public Hearing to consider the amendment of Village Code Chapter 252-55(N) (General Requirements) by adding the requirement that front yard setbacks are to be covered with grass and/or plantings, with the exception of a driveway leading directly to a garage and a walkway leading to the entranceway of the residence; and under SEQRA Regulations, to determine whether the proposed code amendment would cause a significant negative impact on the environment; said Public Hearing will be held at 7 PM on November 18, 2024 at the Village Hall, One Columbus Drive, Lynbrook, New York. All interested persons will be heard during the Public Hearing at the time and place aforementioned. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES JOHN GIORDANO, VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR LYNBROOK 149735
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, MILL CITY MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2017-1, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTINA TRUST AS TRUSTEE, Plaintiff, vs. ANGELICA GOMEZ, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 30, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 2, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 90 Charles Street, Lynbrook, NY 11563. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38, Block 62 and Lots 26-27. Approximate amount of judgment is $483,754.04 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #614337/2022.
Maria Sideris, Esq., Referee
Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff
Firm File No.: 222279-1 149731
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2003-OP1, Plaintiff, Against DANIEL P. MULVEY JR.
A/K/A DANIEL. MULVEY
A/K/A DANIEL P. MULVEY, ET AL
Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 08/17/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 12/3/2024 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 299 Peninsula Boulevard, Lynbrook (T/O Hempstead), New York 11563, And Described As Follows:
ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village Of Lynbrook, Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 0042 Block 00230 Lot 00120
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $383,348.12 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 610938/2020 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.
JOHN P CLARKE, Esq., Referee.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 10/17/2024 File Number: 20-302674 CA 149727
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WATERFALL VICTORIA GRANTOR TRUST II, SERIES G, Plaintiff, vs. JORGE ARIAS, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale After Inquest and Appointment of Referee duly entered on August 19, 2014 and an Order for Extension of Time to Conduct Foreclosure Sale duly entered on February 2, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises
Lynbrook –East Rockaway Little League’s registration for 2025 is open. Above, the 2022 11-year-olds who won the Williamsport District 30 championship in 2022.
Registration is open for baseball and softball
Are you ready for baseball and softball? The Lynbrook–East Rockaway Little League is powering up its 2025 spring registration on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Greis Park Recreation Center.
The league serves school district 20 (Lynbrook) and 19 (East Rockaway), and East Rockaway and Lynbrook villages.
All players that did not play in 2024 must be registered in person by a parent or legal guardian. All new registrants must bring their birth certificates and two proofs of residency.
There is a discount to families registering two or more players. Registration for the spring 2025 season is not guaranteed after Nov. 30.
Fees: 5 to 8, $150; 9 to 12, $155; and 13 to 16, $165.
Also accepting registrants for the Lynbrook/East Rockaway Little League Challenger Division, at not cost, for boys and girls 4 to 18 with physical and mental challenges.
Cash, checks (payable to Lynbrook Little League) or credit cards are accepted. Online registration is available for returning players.
Go to LynbrookLittleLeague.com.
Greis Park Recreation Center is in the park at 55 Wilbur St., in Lynbrook. — Jeffrey Bessen
L et us K now
News Brief items including awards, honors, promotions and other tidbits about local residents are welcome. Photographs may be emailed as well. Deadline for submissions is noon Thursday, week prior to publication. Send to execeditor@liherald.com
known as 18 Catherine Street, Lynbrook, NY 11563. 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 37, Block 226 and Lot 593. Approximate
amount of judgment is $342,900.28 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #008272/2009 and is subject to a strict foreclosure. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale. Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Greenspoon Marder, 1345 Avenue of the
Courtesy William Becker
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
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
E-mail Finds
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!
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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
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com
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OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours
Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off.
Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS
FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
Staff Accountant-Senior . Port Washington, NY. Compile, examine, analyze, record financial statements using ledgers, tables of records etc. Use GAP to prepare balance sheets, P/L. Create ROI statements investment plans/charts. Prepare reports, budgets, costs, assets, liabilities, expenses/profits. Assist CPA. Master’s Degree in Accounting required. Salary: $95K/yr. Resume to Safavieh Group, LLC, Attn: Kevin Yaraghi, 40 Harbor Park Drive, Port Washington, NY, 11050
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Replacing concrete with glass in a high-rise condo?
Q. We have a condo in Florida, and read your column even when we’re there, which is half the year. Our condo board is proposing “improvements,” aside from all the regulatory issues we’ve been hit with due to building collapses and storms. Our building faces the ocean and is 17 stories tall. It has spectacular views and large balconies. One proposed renovation is to remove the concrete walls between the balconies, which we were told are not structural, and replace them with glass walls to improve our views and modernize the building. Aside from the huge cost increase we will be forever paying, do you think that’s a good idea? The board hired engineers to look at it, and they say it can be done. We are concerned about glass not holding up to hurricanes, since all of the balcony doors and windows had to be replaced with specially made strong frames and glass. What should we tell our board?
A. Your address helped me look at the satellite view from my computer. I’m skeptical about whether this would be an improvement. Certainly it would add glitz and glamour to the building, probably making the value as sky-high as the cost and the height. I understand why you live on a high floor, considering the views.
But any building has to be examined as the sum of its many parts. Its appearance is only part of the equation. There are three basic components to what is defined as “architecture”: appearance, function and structure. To a trained professional, the composition will fail if the three components aren’t working together in a harmonious way.
In your building’s case, there are certain aspects that are taken for granted, but to an engineer or architect, the placement of those vertical fin walls not only accentuates the “verticality,” giving the building an illusion of greater height, but the fins act as a wind break to the balconies, which reduces the tendency for the wind to whip across the face of the building. This whipping wind is, at times, dangerous, and is referred to as the Bernoulli effect. This phenomenon sucks roof shingles off homes and gives lift to airplanes. It’s also the reason your toilet draws waste down the pipes when water flows from above the bowl downward.
In your case, the removal or replacement of those walls may actually negatively alter the function of the building’s integrity to withstand high winds in the name of glitzy appearance. I wouldn’t recommend the jack-hammering and saw-cutting of the fins unless I first spoke to the original designers to find out if it was their intention to have those spines on the outside of the building to strengthen against natural horizontal movement, and whether they intended them to break up the high winds in extreme hurricane events. Sometimes it’s better to leave a design alone when the conclusions are better but not well understood than to tinker and ruin the integrity.
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If only politics could emulate Notre Dame-Navy football
I’ve been a lifelong lover of sports, particularly baseball and college football. The rivalries. The tension. The thrill of victory. The agony of defeat. Watching warriors in the arena. Having said that, I’m generally not one of those guys who equate the gridiron, the playing field, the rink, the tennis court or the boxing ring with the challenges of everyday life or those facing the nation. But there are exceptions. One in particular. I truly wish that the almost century-long football rivalry between the U.S. Naval Academy
Midshipmen and Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish could serve as a model for the world of politics and government.
Beginning in 1927, Navy and Notre Dame have played each other 98 times on the gridiron, missing only the 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic. While Notre Dame has pretty much dominated the series, winning 82 of the games, this rivalry transcends so much of what passes for college sports
and “student-athletes” today.
While every Notre Dame-Navy game is intense and hard-fought, there is no trash talk or demeaning the other team or its players. At the end of the game, no matter who wins or loses, the players on both teams stand respectfully together for the playing of their respective alma maters.
At the end of the game, no matter who wins, the players on both teams stand together.
A further differential between this and other rivalries is that these players are truly students, who must meet academic standards. Notre Dame always ranks at or near the top of colleges across the country in the percentage of athletes who graduate and receive degrees. Navy has similar standards, and its graduates are also obligated to serve five years of active military duty after graduation. Understandably, this has made it increasingly difficult to recruit top high school players who have dreams of going on to make millions of dollars in the National Football League rather than being shot at in combat. Certainly since the Vietnam War, Navy hasn’t been the football powerhouse it was during the 1940s and ’50s.
While Notre Dame has managed dur-
ing most of these years to compete at a high level, it has never considered dropping Navy from its schedule, thanks to a commitment it made after World War II, which Notre Dame survived only because of Navy. As a private Midwest school with no large benefactors at the time and so many students being drafted into the war effort, Notre Dame was faced with imminent financial collapse. The Naval Academy saved the day by setting up a major training base on the Notre Dame campus, providing the university with fiscal solvency and ensuring its survival as an academic institution — and a football colossus.
The Fighting Irish won the national championship in three of the four years following the end of the war.
Realizing and appreciating how obligated it was to Navy for its very survival, Notre Dame made a solemn commitment to keep Navy on its football schedule for as long as Navy wanted. So the rivalry and the series have continued all these years. But it goes beyond a financial obligation. There is a mutual respect between the schools that’s reflected at every level, including Notre
Dame’s emulation of Navy with its firstrate naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.
No matter how often I’ve seen it, I am always moved by the pregame ceremonies, with each school acknowledging the other’s traditions, and the postgame alma mater camaraderie among the players, no matter how hard the battle or how bitter the defeat.
Think how gratifying it would be if our national leaders could follow the lead of Notre Dame and Navy. Fight hard but respect the other side. Look for common ground in the national interest without fear of being labeled a Republican In Name Only or a traitor by your own party.
No, politics is not college football. But our political leaders could learn something by emulating the best of college football, exemplified by the Fighting Irish and the Midshipmen.
And yeah, Notre Dame did beat Navy in this year’s game, 51-14, on Oct. 26. But even in the win-at-all-costs world of college football, the score was almost secondary in this unique traditional rivalry. Go Irish! Go Navy!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
EIt’s
time for a new era of political civility
lection Day has come and gone. While the results are unofficial or pending, the passing of this period is the happiest thing that has happened to me in years. By any measure, the 2024 election season has been a brutal, emotional and unsettling time. Our nation has been bruised, battered and ripped apart by the tensions that elections can cause, and now, happily, the campaigns have come to an end. Depending on the results, we will soon either be talking about the winners’ plans for the future or steeling ourselves for days and weeks of bitter court battles. It may be that the lawyers will be fully engaged in what they do best, but it’s long past time for the country to begin thinking about how we can start the healing process that is so badly needed. So much of the division that we have been experiencing is the product of a political system that has no referee to stop any foul play or ugly communica-
tion. I have witnessed many campaigns over the years, and I have been involved in my own. But more recent campaigns have sunk to levels of conflict that previously were impossible to imagine.
The root cause of the bitterness can be attributed to the candidates, but the real cause is money, money and money. Since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed unlimited expenditures in elections, billions of dollars have poured into shadow committees, none of which care about dignity, decency or fair play. These “dark” committees, whose backers are unknown and well hidden, are not reluctant to drag campaigns into the gutter.
R ecent campaigns have sunk to levels of conflict previously unimagined.
law that would change how the political system is funded. But there are too many elected officials who like the current system and have no desire to clean it up. Many of them represent safe districts, and are happy to be able to beat up a challenger using phantom funding.
The average voter has no idea who or what is behind a political television commercial, except those that mention a candidate by name and voice that candidate’s approval. But there are countless commercials, mailings and social media postings that are misleading. They may mention some committee, but you will never know who is really behind the presentation.
You would think that members of Congress, who are often the object of smear campaigns, would want to pass a
The use of untraceable money isn’t just something that is connected to the campaign process. The same donors spend fortunes throughout the year, wining and dining legislators, favoring them with extravagant trips and coming up with countless other imaginative ways to curry favor with members of Congress. Some legislators get so much financial support from some industries or special-interest groups that it’s fair to say that they’ve been captured and are fully owned by them.
If the divisions in our country are linked to too much money in the system, how can America be healed? The answer is in the hands of the public. It may be unfair to suggest that the voters have any responsibility for the bitterness that we have experienced, but voters can’t be excused from helping to cure a government evil.
The thing that makes certain elected officials happy is the fact that average citizens are too busy to monitor the conduct of their legislators. Over the course of a typical year in office, members of Congress vote on dozens of bills, and the people back at home have no knowledge of how they vote. It’s the responsibility of the media to devote more space to reporting on how our representatives vote.
But to make our world a little more civil, voters must demand that Congress make a serious effort to clean up our corrupt campaign system. At least once or twice a year, call your congressman or congresswoman and ask what he or she is doing to change how we elect our officials. Don’t talk to a staff member. Insist on talking to the person who represents you.
It isn’t a hopeless task to seek changes in the election process. Nothing is written in stone, and you can make things happen. It’s time for an American political climate change.
Jerry Kremer was an assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
Now the real work begins
as the Herald reaches your mailbox, the election results may or may not be fully tallied.
Regardless of outcomes, one truth remains constant: Long Island is our shared home, and its future depends far more on what unites us than what divides us.
Although the voting machines are making their way from the gymnasiums of schools and recreation centers back into storage, democracy doesn’t pack up and leave town when the polls close. The real measure of our community’s strength is found in how we work together on the other 364 days of the year. And on that score, Long Island’s story is nothing short of remarkable.
Look around our communities. The volunteer firefighter rushing to an emergency call isn’t asking whether the home in danger voted red or blue. The teacher staying late to help struggling students isn’t checking their parents’ party registration. The civic association working to preserve local wetlands isn’t conducting political litmus tests at its meetings.
What binds our communities together runs deeper than partisan politics. We
letters
Peter King always fought for us
To the Editor:
I enjoy former Congressman Peter King’s commentary in the Herald, and I’ve appreciated his efforts to support Long Island through the years.
The various natural disasters that have recently occurred across the country bring back memories of Superstorm Sandy and Sept. 11, and the many federal and state officials who fought King’s efforts for relief. I think it would make an interesting column to see how many of those elected officials are now clamoring for similar relief in their jurisdictions.
ToM JAffA Rockville Centre
So who collects all those lawn signs?
To the Editor:
Election Day has come and gone. It reminds me of the 1960s television show “The o uter Limits.” With the end of around-the- clock commercials by politicians, political parties, political action groups and special-interest groups, we
all want our children to thrive in Long Island’s excellent schools. We share concerns about protecting our sole-source aquifer — the water beneath our feet that sustains every one of us. We worry about young families being priced out of our neighborhoods, and about our seniors being able to age in place in the communities they helped build. We take pride in our beautiful shorelines and want to preserve them for future generations.
These challenges don’t come with party labels attached. Potholes don’t care how you voted. High property taxes affect everyone’s wallet. Delays on the Long Island Rail Road don’t discriminate based on political affiliation. The solutions to these shared challenges won’t come from political grandstanding, but rather from the often unsung work of community engagement: attending town halls, participating in school board meetings, joining civic associations, supporting local businesses, and staying informed about local issues.
Whether it’s addressing water quality concerns, tackling the housing crisis, preparing for rising sea levels or ensuring that our downtowns remain vibrant,
the solutions will come from sustained community engagement, not just periodic trips to the polls. This means neighbors working with neighbors, towns collaborating with towns, and citizens engaging with their government at all levels.
As your community newspaper, the Herald has chronicled Long Island’s journey through countless election cycles. We’ve seen the political pendulum swing back and forth, but we’ve also witnessed something more fundamental: the enduring strength of our communities when residents commit to the daily work of democracy.
So whether you’re pleased or disappointed with Tuesday’s results, remember that the most important work happens between elections. Get involved. Stay informed. Attend local meetings. Join community organizations. Talk with neighbors who see things differently than you do. Model behavior you’d be proud for your children to emulate.
The ballot you cast on Tuesday mattered. But what you do today, tomorrow, and every day after could matter even more. Let’s all work together for a prosperous Long Island.
now return control of your TV to you — until the next election cycle. No more telephone robo calls, text messages or candidate campaign mailings clogging mailboxes and weighing down our hard-working postal employees.
finally, some peace and quiet! Candidates who claimed they cared about the environment should now do their part. Winners and losers should have their campaign staff and volunteers pick up all the
opinions Fentanyl is taking too many lives
the other day, I was browsing my LinkedIn feed and came across an illustration that caught my eye. There were three glass jars, all the same size, each containing a black ball. The first jar’s ball filled the jar. The second jar’s ball was smaller, and the third was tiny. a caption read, “People tend to believe that grief shrinks over time.”
Underneath was another set of jars, increasing from small to large. This time the balls were the same size, filling the first jar entirely, and as the jars grew larger, it was as if the jar was growing around the ball. The caption read, “What really happens is that we grow around our grief.”
Grief is universal. Some grieve when a favorite restaurant closes, while others mourn a pet or a relationship. But what about a parent grieving the loss of a child? as a father of two daughters, I can’t fathom losing one of them. The thought gives me a pit in my stomach. I can only imagine the pain becoming part of me, like an organ or an appendage.
In theory, I agree with the illustra-
tion’s message. It offers context to the unfathomable. But what if your child were murdered? Would that change things? What if the murder were preventable? I hope to never find out. Unfortunately, it’s a reality for many families, especially because of fentanyl.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of fentanyl. Most likely, you know someone who has died from it or has been affected in some way. Kids are dying, and families are being torn apart. you might be mistaken if you think it’s not happening in your neighborhood.
iHere are some sobering facts from the CDC:
■ Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.
■ In 2022, it caused more than 73,800 preventable deaths.
n my years of recovery work, I’ve attended too many wakes and funerals.
Many associate overdoses with rock stars or homeless junkies, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. your child doesn’t need to be a drug addict to die from fentanyl poisoning — it’s everywhere. Complacency is fentanyl’s greatest ally. It’s being found in drugs like marijuana. Unless drugs are prescribed by a doctor or come from a reputable dispensary, you’re playing russian roulette.
Consider that scene in “The Deer Hunter”: your child is Christopher Walken, the gun he’s holding to his head is the party your child is attending, and the lone bullet is that Xanax laced with fentanyl that they’re trying for the first time.
Letters
thousands of campaign signs that litter our roads and highways. Perhaps they could use leftover campaign funds to hire homeless or unemployed people to collect this litter, along with people who have been sentenced to perform community service.
If candidates refuse to clean up after themselves, your local village, town or county department of highways or public works should do the job and send candidates the bill.
Larry Penner Great Neck
Let’s turn the seasonal page, not just on weather
To the editor:
We are entering a different season in a merica. It’s not a season everyone likes or voted for, but it’s changing. For some it’s better, for some it’s worse. For some it’s good news, and for some it’s bad.
your perspective colors your season. If you love autumn, then you have enjoyed the current season in much of a merica. you haven’t enjoyed it if you’ve been in the path of a hurricane, but you’ve enjoyed it if you live in most any other place in america. We’ve had a dry fall, but it’s been beautiful.
Political seasons are hard on the nation. We’ve been inundated by political advertisements for months. The presidential campaign went on forever. We are so ready to move on.
There’s always a new season around the corner. It’s best for all of us if we can make the best of each one. They pass by, so enjoy them, love them, roll with them.
Try to make the best of your current season in life. It’s not always easy. We don’t like the seasons when we’re sick, and seasons that are difficult, and even harsh and cruel, come to us all if we live long enough. So, enjoy the good ones.
Dr. GLenn MoLLeTTe
Comments about our stories? Send a letter to the editor to execeditor@liherald.com.
■ accidental overdose is now the second-leading cause of death among young people.
In Texas, law enforcement has seized over 505 million lethal doses of fentanyl. That’s enough to kill every person in the U.S. It’s simple math: Fentanyl = death.
In my profession, I facilitate free narcan training. narcan reverses opioid overdoses. It saves lives.
People often ask, “Why would a drug dealer want to kill their clients?” The answer is simple: fentanyl is cheap and highly addictive. That translates to higher profits and return customers: high risk but high reward.
In my almost 15 years of recovery, I’ve attended too many wakes and funerals for kids and adults. There’s an expression in recovery: Sometimes you have to step over the bodies. That should be reserved for battlefields, yet we live on a battlefield where fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction.
I serve on a Community Prevention
Coalition working to educate our kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. It includes school administrators, social workers, police officers, local merchants, and parents who have lost loved ones to fentanyl. We focus on combating the spread of this deadly drug through our communities.
Grief shouldn’t be part of a parent’s job description, yet it often is. While it’s impossible to avoid all grief, we can reduce the chances of preventable loss. We must act to effect change. you don’t have to be a crusader, but sitting on our hands isn’t an option. We can spread awareness to prevent more fentanyl poisonings.
a mentor once told me, “If you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem.” Here’s the call to action: Join your local community coalition. Get trained to administer narcan. Talk to your kids about substance dangers. Write to local officials about their plans for the opioid crisis, and consult professionals about prevention strategies. Pick one action, and you’ll be part of the solution. a community that works together always wins.
Jason Mayo is a certified recovery peer advocate at a nonprofit community recovery and outreach center on Long Island. He is a contributing writer for The Sober Curator, has written for the Forbes Business Council and is the author of the children’s books “Do Witches Make Fishes?” and “The Boy and the Billy Goat.”
Framework by Lisa LaMagna & Billy Reyes
In between changings of the guard at Buckingham Palace — London
