Students in New York will soon have the option to take fewer Regents exams and choose alternative pathways to graduation.
H.S. Regents requirement revised
New graduation policy will go into effect as soon as 2027
By TAYloR GRAYSoN tgrayson@liherald.com
The New York state Regents exams are a longstanding common-core assessment. For many years, passing five of the exams, ranging from English to algebra, was a requirement for graduating from high school.
New York stood out from many states in requiring these exams. But changes in educational philosophy have many people, including students, their families and educators, questioning the validity of the tests and seeking alternative pathways to graduation to accommodate all students.
A new state policy on Regents requirements for graduation will go into effect in fall 2027, and take two years to fully phase in.
“The Regents exams are not being dropped,” Molly Gegerson, humanities director of West Hempstead Secondary School, said. “To
my understanding, students can choose to take three Regents exams, or choose another path to graduation.”
The change will bring about new options for students who are interested in trades, are more artistically than academically oriented, or are not good testers. The new policy will offer a broader way to accommodate and differentiate curriculum for all types of students, including those with special needs.
According to a Blue Ribbon Commission’s 2023 report on graduation measures, “The intent of this initiative was never to lower standards; to the contrary, it focused on placing all New York State students on a success trajectory by providing them access to the necessary opportunities and support they need.”
Malverne Board of Education President Jeanne D’Esposito highlighted the impor-
Giving back to the families of Lakeview
By TAYloR GRAYSoN tgrayson@liherald.com
With the holiday season’s arrival, Lakeview resident Chris Tucker recognizes the importance of giving back, emphasizing these charitable acts with his annual drives and donations of turkeys, clothes, toys and more to his community yearround.
Tucker’s annual turkey drive this year took place at Harold Walker Memorial Park, from 3 to 6 p.m., on Nov. 24. The location is a staple for this event due to its accessibility. The drive helped feed 35 families this year, a slight increase from 30 during last year’s event.
throughout the community. A lot of times people don’t have, so if you just provide, they don’t have to ask. That way you take pride out of it.”
This year’s turkey drive took place at Harold Walker Memorial Park, form 3 – 6 p.m., on Nov. 24. The location is a staple for this event due to its accessibility.
A lot of times people don’t have so if you just provide, they don’t have to ask. That way you take pride out of it.
ChRiS TuCkER, Family Love Foundation
“We want to make things easier for people,” Tucker said. “We provide food and clothes. We have a softball game each spring to bring people together every year. Food and entry to the game is always free. The softball teams sell jerseys, which can amount to about $1,000 to be distributed
Tucker and his friend, Michael Walker, got together to form the Family Love Foundation, a nonprofit designed to make a difference in their neighborhood. The foundation is based in Lakeview and they offer food and clothing to people. They are working to put together public health clinics in 2025.
Though they have a full staff at the Family Love Foundation, the turkey drive is done on Tucker’s own accord — it’s one of his personal grassroots endeavors that will get done with or without helping hands.
The Family Love Foundation has been around for at least a CoNtiNued oN page 10
Herald file photo
Students given other graduation options
tance of the change. District officials, she said, have received a great deal of positive feedback on the Regents amendment from students and parents alike.
“Sometimes you’re asking a kid to show proficiency in something that’s not going to be necessary for them in their life,” D’Esposito said. “They have to be proficient at certain things, obviously, and it may be different things for different kids. That’s what we’re trying to acknowledge, that it’s not just about a student who can pass the chemistry Regents. That’s not the only way.”
According to Stanford University’s Center for Teaching and Learning, differentiated instruction is fundamentally an attempt to teach different students differently, rather than maintain a one-size-fits-all approach to instruction.
in, and ways of engaging with course learning.
Malverne District Superintendent Lorna Lewis was elected to the steering committee of the Blue Ribbon Commission for this project. “We asked the community what they wanted kids to be able to do, and received over 30,000 responses in the last two years,” Lewis said. “We analyzed those responses to come up with this policy.”
S ometimes you’re asking a kid to show proficiency in something that’s not going to be necessary for them in their life.
Jeanne D’eSpoSito President, Malverne Board of Education
Other programs, such as Universal Design for Learning, give students broad choices of curriculum in order to meet their diverse needs and interests. Differentiated instruction emphasizes methods to promote learning for students with differing preparedness for, interest
“The mission of the New York State Education Department is to raise the knowledge, skill, and opportunity of all people in New York,” the Blue Ribbon Commission’s report stated.
“Our vision is to provide leadership for a system that yields the best-educated people in the world. This mission and vision are only fulfilled when all are provided with the opportunity to learn and succeed.”
The report noted that a high school diploma “must represent a culminating achievement that is within the grasp of all New York students who seize that opportunity.”
It went on to say that what it called a Graduation Measures Initiative was
Students in new York will soon have the option to take fewer regents exams and choose alternative pathways to graduation.
established to tackle a deliberate and “inclusive review of the requirements students must meet to graduate.”
“The Initiative sought to explore what it means to obtain a diploma in New York State and what that diploma should signify to ensure educational excellence and equity for all students in New York State.”
With the new policy, students will have the option to focus on trades, creative endeavors, culinary-oriented curriculums and more. There will still be boxes to check and projects to be completed for each facet of the new graduation pathways. Students will be able to decide on a curriculum path as early as eighth or ninth grade.
To
Courtesy itstockphoto
Malverne gathers for small business Saturday
By TAYLOR GRAYSON tgrayson@liherald.com
Small Business Saturday, an annual shopping event dedicated to supporting local businesses, will take place on November 30 this year. Held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the event was launched in 2010 by American Express to encourage consumers to shop at small, independently owned businesses during the busy holiday season.
The initiative, which falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, has grown into a significant retail occasion for local businesses, many of which offer special promotions and events to draw in customers. It aims to help small retailers and service providers compete with larger chains and online platforms, emphasizing the economic and social benefits of shopping small.
Since its inception, Small Business Saturday has made a substantial impact. In 2022, U.S. shoppers spent an estimated $17.8 billion on the day, according to American Express. The event also highlights the broader importance of small businesses, which the Small Business Administration reports contribute 44% of U.S. economic activity and create two-thirds of new jobs nationwide.
Local chambers of commerce and business associations often organize community events to boost participation. Social media campaigns using hashtags such as #ShopSmall and #SmallBusinessSaturday further promote the initiative. Originally focused on retail, the day has expanded to include restaurants, entertainment venues, and service providers, celebrating the diverse contributions of small businesses to their communities.
Supporters of Small Business Saturday point to its broader benefits, noting that spending at local businesses strengthens neighborhood economies, creates jobs, and fosters unique, vibrant communities. American Express and other advocates encourage shoppers to “shop small” not only during the holidays but throughout the year as well.
The event has become a vital part of the holiday shopping calendar, offering small businesses an opportunity to thrive while reminding consumers of their role in sustaining local economies.
Civic Association member Ann Marie Cuocci, Angela Carbone and Lisa Durand were selling Malverne clothing items. Kelly Di Benedetto and Joanne MacCaskill purchased a few Malverene T-Shirts and Sweatshirts.
Maureen Lennon photos
Chamber of Commerce member Elizabeth Krull with the Chamber Champ visits a local Malverne business owner Raquel Busa of MA’QUINA 37 - Illustration Studio and Shop. She creates greetiing cards, wrapping paper and other illustrations.
Stylist salon owner Fabrizia Borgese of SALON BLU with one of the many clients -Jeannine Kuziewski has a hair treatment of highlights.
Christina Brice - art instructor at BEE’S ARTS AND CRAFTS gets ready for upcoming craft parties.
Antonio’s Deli owner Vito Asaro is serving up some delicious lunches and coldcuts to James Cicalese.
Malverne
School briefS
ENL students celebrate at holiday luncheon
West Hempstead Secondary School’s English as a New Language Department hosted its annual Thanksgiving luncheon and students joined together at the north gymnasium on Nov. 27.
The ENL program helps students that may have been born outside of the United States assimilate to their school and classmates and assists in creating a comfortable environment for them to feel accepted.
Events make them feel less alienated from American culture, while teaching them about this country’s holiday traditions.
ENL staff members prepared traditional Thanksgiving dishes such as turkey, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, potatoes and pies. The staff also served the food while students took part in conversations and shared stories. Students also crafted Thanksgiving posters to share what they’re thankful for this holiday.
After the luncheon, students read poetry and performed traditional dances.
— Taylor Grayson
A Baker’s Dozen Reasons to Use a Trust
assets from the high cost of home care making you eligible for home health aides through the Medicaid program.
2. Trusts start the five year “look-back” for institutional care, making you eligible for Medicaid benefits to pay for a nursing home.
3. Trusts can ensure the inheritances you leave will stay in the bloodline for your grandchildren and not end up with in-laws and their families.
4. Trusts can provide who takes over if you become disabled – guaranteeing you get the person you choose instead of a court-appointed legal guardian.
5. Trusts can avoid a will contest from heirs you leave out or ones that receive less than they think they are entitled to.
6. Trusts give you immediate access to assets on death unlike wills which can take months and
sometimes years to probate.
7. Trusts can provide supervision and protection for special needs and other children who have issues with handling financial matters.
8. Trusts can reduce and often eliminate estate taxes for couples with taxable estates.
9. Trusts can avoid guardianship proceedings for gifts made to grandchildren.
10. Trusts can avoid the problems of locating unknown heirs or dealing with heirs abroad.
11. Trusts can move assets out of your estate for income and estate purposes.
12. Trusts can avoid the expense, delay and publicity of a probate court proceeding for your property in New York and out of state.
13. Trusts can protect the inheritances you leave from your children’s divorces, lawsuits and creditors.
LAW FIRM
Students and staff from Malverne’s Maurice W. Downing Primary School donated food and other items to help local families in need with their Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Malverne school helps feed local families with Thanksgiving food drive
Students and staff from Malverne’s Maurice W. Downing Primary School opened their hearts and their shopping bags to help put food on the table for their neighbors in need this Thanksgiving.
With support from families and the school community, the bountiful Thanksgiving Food Drive collection, including trays of hot food donated by a
community member, will ensure that five local families have delicious and nutritious meals on their holiday tables.
In addition, the Downing team is proud to be donating hundreds of nonperishable food items they collected to local food pantries.
— Taylor Grayson
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Courtesy Malverne school district
Courtesy West Hempstead Union Free School District
ENL staff members worked to prepare traditional Thanksgiving dishes.
Green Acres donates over 1,000 turkeys
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
A turkey with all the trimmings figures so prominently in the Thanksgiving holiday that many families willingly squeeze their grocery budgets to afford it.
Joseph Floccari, manager of Green Acres Mall, understands the financial stress Thanksgiving can bring, particularly for households in need. To help, the mall distributed over 1,000 turkeys in its annual Thanksgiving giveaway.
“It’s important for us at Green Acres to be out there and doing our fair share of goodwill,” Floccari said. “When people are in need, this is a great time to give back to them. We’re looking to make hungry families and individuals happy.”
Packaged, frozen turkeys in large boxes were distributed to a number of civic associations, food pantries, and the offices of elected officials from Valley Stream to Long Beach in the lead-up to the holiday. Halal and kosher turkeys were also donated to ensure that “no one gets left out,” Floccari said.
He explained that the mall aimed to get these farmraised poultry products into the hands of local groups and officials who have a keener sense of where the need is most urgent — and who can leverage their community influence and credibility to reach those who might otherwise be too humble to ask for help.
“People don’t necessarily want to stand out there and come asking for a turkey, so it’s easier for them to go to elected officials or civic associations,” Floccari said. “They can distribute it to the people directly without it being a big concern.”
Timing is everything when distributing frozen turkeys, he noted, a task community organizations can better streamline.
“They’re frozen — we can only keep them so long,” Floccari said. “We don’t have the means to put them in the freezer. We pick them up on the same day they’re distributed, and make sure the right amount of turkeys get picked up by each organization.
“It gets a little hectic, but, you know, it’s our time to donate back to the community,” he added.
This year, the average Thanksgiving feast for 10 people cost around $60, according to the 39th annual American Farm Bureau Federation survey — a 5 percent drop from last year, but still 19 percent higher than five years ago.
While Americans saw some relief at the checkout
Green Acres Mall distributed over 1,000 turkeys in its annual Thanksgiving giveaway, partnering with local groups and officials to ease the holiday strain on families in need while fostering a sense of community care.
line, with grocery prices for this year’s feast dipping for the second consecutive year, local officials like Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, whose office distributed 100 turkeys, contend that significant need persists in the region.
“Facilitating these food drives underscores the importance of that ‘village mentality,’ that we’re all here in a community, and you don’t have to suffer alone,” Solages said. “There’s a lot of pressure when it comes to Thanksgiving. Everyone wants that Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving in the sense they want that turkey with all the sides, and so it puts financial pressure on families who already are stressed in these hard economic times.”
Courtesy Green Acres Mall
HERALD SPORTS
Hofstra hoops showing plenty of promise
By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
With a largely new roster this season, fourth-year Hofstra men’s basketball head coach Speedy Claxton was expecting that the beginning of the new season could be a bit of a learning curve. The former standout Hofstra and NBA guard then saw quicker chemistry than he anticipated, providing hope that the 202425 campaign could culminate with a banner.
Hofstra won its first four games to start the new season with many new faces including a 49-48 upset victory against Big East foe Seton Hall at the Nassau Coliseum on Nov. 13. The hot start featured a number of scoring contributions with the Pride also finding ways to win games in a variety of fashions in three straight wins against Iona, Seton Hall and UMass after starting with
a blowout of Division III opponent SUNY Old Westbury.
“Those are three good wins and if you would have told me before the season we would get all three I’d be extremely happy and even if you told me I would only get one I would have been happy,” said Claxton, a former NBA guard who led Hofstra to the NCAA Tournament as a player in 2000. “It shows we can compete with anyone.”
The 4-0 start was followed up by stiff competition at Florida State and then 7th-ranked Houston. The Pride then headed to the Bahamas for three games over the Thanksgiving weekend and knocked off Rice in overtime 68-63 and edged Arkansas State 68-66 on a buzzer beater shot from graduate student forward Michael Graham.
Claxton added six transfers and two freshmen to the roster to go along with six returners from last year’s team that went 20-13 and fell to Long Island rival Stony Brook in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) semifinals.
Sophomore guard Jean Aranguren is one of the newcomers shining early as the team’s leading scorer. The Iona transfer registered a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds in Hofstra’s 75-71 overtime win at UMass on Nov. 16.
The addition of Big East transfers Cruz Davis (St. John’s) and Jaquan Sanders (Seton Hall) are also paying dividends early on this season. Sanders was clutch in the Seton Hall win against his old team with 10 second half points while Davis tallied 21 in the UMass victory.
“All three of those guys have been playing well,” Claxton said. “I think that is why we have been performing well in the early part of the season.”
Other transfers added to the roster include Graham (Loyola Marymount), senior guard TJ Gadsden (Canisius) and redshirt sophomore guard Eric Parnell (Eastern Florida State). Graham is the team’s fourth leading scorer and recorded 14 in the dramatic Arkansas State win.
The Pride are also getting a leadership boost from returning players Silas Sunday and German Plotnikov, who both
Newcomer Cruz
saw key minutes last season. The 7-1 Sunday provides a big presence in the paint while Plotnikov is a long-range shooting threat who connected on 47.4 percent of his three-pointers last season.
“They’re both benefiting from being here last year and knowing how we do things,” said Claxton of Sunday and Plotnikov.
Hofstra’s December schedule is highlighted by a Sunday afternoon home game against Temple on Dec. 15 starting at noon. It will also serve as Hofstra’s annual Jewish Heritage Day game.
The CAA home schedule gets under-
way on Jan. 2 against William & Mary at 7 p.m. which will honor the 25th anniversary of David S. Mack Arena. Hofstra’s annual winter homecoming game will take place on Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. against Stony Brook.
Hofstra was picked fourth in the CAA Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll behind Towson, defending champion College of Charleston and UNC-Wilimington.
“The conference is always going to be tough with some really good teams and really good coaches,” Claxton said. “It’s not gonna get any easier once we get into conference play”
photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications
Davis popped in 21 points for the Pride in a Nov. 16 victory over UMass.
Sophomore Jean Aranguren is leading Hofstra in scoring in the early going.
Celebrating Long Island’s Future Leaders: $2,500 Student Sustainability Prize Open for Nominations
By: Maureen Fitzgerald
Reworld™ is searching for Long Island’s next generation of environmental innovators to receive the first-ever 2025 Student Sustainability Champion Award. This prestigious award honors one outstanding student from Nassau County and one from Suffolk, with each winner receiving $2,500 to support their education or future sustainability projects – presented to the student recipients at the upcoming 2025 Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island.
Nominations are now open, inviting the community to recognize young changemakers under 16 who are making a positive impact. Submissions should highlight the student’s leadership, innovative contributions, and dedication to sustainability. Entries should include a brief description of their achievements and motivation, along with a photo or example of their work—be it a community garden, recycling initiative, or creative environmental solution.
This award is part of the larger 2025 Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island, presented by Reworld™ and hosted by the LI Herald and RichnerLIVE, which will take place on February 26th at The Heritage Club in Bethpage.
The event will bring together community leaders, advocates, and changemakers who are driving innovative environmental solutions and fostering sustainable tomorrows across Long Island.
Despite Long Island’s environmental challenges —coastal erosion, water quality, and balancing development with conservation—stories of innovation and hope thrive. Local nonprofits restore habitats, educators inspire, and leaders prioritize sustainability. From renewable energy to advanced recycling, these efforts showcase the region’s spirit. With Reworld™ fostering this innovation and community empowerment, they’re driving Long Island toward a greener future.
t
“Reworld™ is honored to partner with RichnerLIVE and the Herald to recognize the inspiring efforts of our young changemakers,” said Dawn Harmon, East Region Area Asset Manager at Reworld™. “This initiative aims to empower Long Island’s future leaders and celebrate the innovative strides our community is taking toward sustainability.”
For more information or to submit a student nomination, visit www.richnerlive.com/reworldcontest. Let’s celebrate the bright minds and groundbreaking innovations shaping Long Island’s sustainable future.
Nominate a student under 16 for the Sustainability Champion Award to recognize their efforts in driving sustainable change.
We want to hear about the extraordinary young individuals who are driving change in their communities.
The award will be presented at the 2025 LI Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island powered by Reworld in February.
Your nomination could inspire countless others to follow in their footsteps!
Submit a nomination of approximately 200 words or less describing the student’s leadership in promoting sustainability: What motivates them? What impact have they had?
Be sure to include a photo or an example of their work—whether it’s a community garden, an environmental campaign, or a creative solution to a sustainability challenge.
Turkey drive exceeds last year’s efforts
decade, but the foundation became official by way of an LLC for the first time this year. LLC stands for limited liability company. It’s a business structure that allows owners certain protections and solidifies the business as legit. Even with staff in their corner, Tucker and Walker, who’s the acting president, handle most of the foundation’s community outreach.
They have known each other for about 35 years, and have worked together for the last eight years. Growing up, the pair attended Malverne High School, where they first met.
The near decade-long tradition of the foundation’s softball game started with a barbecue. Michael Walker, also of Lakeview, organized an annual cookout and softball game for the neighborhood to enjoy. He then decided to make it into a charity.
“I do it to help the community,” Walker said. “I came from poverty myself. So I try to give back and help others.”
Walker has been organizing events like this for over a quarter century.
Tucker credited two people in his life for his interest in humanitarianism — his late friend Esquire Dent, who coached youth football, and his mother Earnestine Tucker Jackson, who fed everybody. Tucker doesn’t describe himself as a researcher of food insecurity, but rather an
observer of his own community.
“I knew just by watching,” Tucker said. “When you just pay attention to your area, you see what’s needed.”
According to health.ny.gov, approximately one in four adults in New York State experience food insecurity. Within New York State, the percentage of adults who report that they are food insecure varies by county and ranges from 11.2 percent to 39 percent.
Adults experiencing food insecurity have a higher probability of several chronic diseases, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, asthma, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease, the report indicated.
According to WorldHealthReview.org, Lakeview has a 2024 population of 5,992. Lakeview is currently growing at a rate of 0.45 percent annually. The average household income is $128,450 with a poverty rate of 15.4 percent, per Data USA.
Residents are very aware of the work these two men are doing. Walker and Tucker promote their events heavily on social media.
The turnout is pretty large for this duo’s events. A reported 50 or so folks attend the drives annually, but the softball game usually sees up to 200 people in the stands.
All of these things are done in the name of charity, and promoting a sense of togetherness in Lakeview.
Photos courtesy Chris Tucker giving out turkeys with a smile, from left, are Latesha tucker, Chris tucker and Latoya Benjamin.
Karen Wright helping give back to the community of Lakeview. families in need were given turkeys for the holidays.
Staying safe during the holiday shopping season
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
As the holiday season is now in full swing, the Nassau County Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Patrick Ryder and County Executive Bruce Blakeman, are enhancing safety measures across the county to protect residents.
The police department has intensified patrols in shopping malls and commercial areas, deploying both marked and plainclothes officers. Specialized units such as the Mounted Unit, Bureau of Special Operations, K-9, Emergency Services, and POP officers will support these efforts. Additional patrols will be stationed at major malls during peak hours to ensure a safe shopping environment.
Police will also enforce vehicle and traffic laws, targeting illegal parking in fire lanes, failure to use child safety seats, and texting or driving while intoxicated. Handicapped parking violations will be strictly monitored, with spaces reserved only for vehicles displaying visible permits.
Residents are encouraged to take precautions to ensure their safety both at home and while shopping. Before leaving home, residents should secure their homes residence by engaging alarms and leaving lights on in frequently used rooms to give the appearance of occupancy. Residents are reminded to shop carefully by
knowing their destination and route in advance. Shopping with a friend is advised for added safety, and it is helpful to inform someone of your plans, including your route and expected return time. Valuable items should be stored securely out of sight in closets or safes. When parking, drivers should choose well-lit areas and ensure that all keys,
wallets, and other valuables are removed from plain view. Items like laptops, packages, and radar detectors should be secured in the trunk or glove compartment. Lock all doors and note your vehicle’s location for a smoother return. Avoid parking near vans or vehicles with concealed cargo areas. To minimize risk, carry only essential items and be vigilant
for suspicious activity. Do not exit your car unless you feel safe, and if necessary, drive away.
While shopping, keep money and credit cards in your front pocket and carry only what is necessary. Be cautious at ATMs and cash registers to avoid exposing credit or debit card information, as thieves may use cell phones to capture card details. Stay alert for distractions that could be staged to facilitate theft, as these are common during the holiday season.
When returning to a car, shoppers should avoid carrying an armful of packages. Drivers should have their car key ready to unlock their door, and check for suspicious individuals near your vehicle and in the parking lot before exiting the store. If you notice loiterers nearby, do not approach your car. Consider carrying a whistle or other audible device, and if you feel threatened, use it. Once inside the car, drives should lock their doors and honk the horn to attract attention if necessary. Always inspect your car’s interior and surroundings before entering. If you plan to return to the store, ensure packages are not left in plain view. Secure them in the trunk or cover them with a blanket or jacket.
The police department urged residents to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings, and wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season. For additional safety concerns, call (516) 573-7138.
Curing a rare heart disorder with a short life expectancy.
Performing a life-changing brain surgery without a single incision.
Helping a new mom give birth—and receive a new liver.
At Northwell’s North Shore University Hospital, the nation’s most brilliant minds come here to conquer health care’s greatest challenges. So that whatever comes through our doors: challenge accepted.
North Shore University Hospital
Courtesy Metro
The Nassau County Police Department is enhancing their patrols this holiday season, to ensure a safe shopping experience for all. The department urges people to follow simple precautions in order to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
Malverne, lovers of the holidays for forever
By TAYLOR GRAYSON tgrayson@liherald.com
Malverne, New York, a quaint village in Nassau County on Long Island, is known for its tight-knit community and rich traditions.
We do all the decorating days, cookie decorating, ornament decorating, Christmas with Santa. We do all the things.
MeGAN O’RuRke SchuTTA Co-chair of the Malverne celebrations committee.
Over the years, holiday celebrations in Malverne have reflected a blend of cultural heritage, smalltown charm, and a commitment to community spirit. These festive gatherings continue to bring residents together, fostering a sense of unity and joy.
The roots of Malverne’s holiday celebrations can be traced back to the village’s incorporation in 1921. Early residents brought their holiday customs to this growing community. Christmas was a particularly prominent holiday, marked by caroling, tree lighting, and religious services. By the mid-
20th century, the village began organizing larger, public events to bring everyone together during the holiday season. Megan O’Rurke Schutta and Kristal Lang are village members that also run
the celebrations committee. “We do all the decorating days, cookie decorating, ornament decorating, Christmas with Santa. We do all the things,” O’Rourke Schutta said.
One of Malverne’s most cherished traditions is its annual Holiday Lighting and Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. Held in the heart of the village, this event has become a cornerstone of local holiday festivities. Dating back to the early 1950s, the tree lighting has evolved into a grand celebration featuring performances by local choirs, the arrival of Santa Claus, and hot chocolate stands run by local businesses. The lighting ceremony takes place in front of the Malverne train station, transforming the area into a winter wonderland. The tree lighting is described as a can’t miss event. It will take place this year on Dec. 7.
Another beloved tradition is the Malverne Village Parade, held during the winter holiday season. Local organizations, schools, and businesses participate in this cheerful procession, showcasing floats and marching bands. The parade is often accompanied by a festive street fair, which provides an opportunity for residents to shop for holiday gifts, enjoy seasonal treats, and share in the
joy of the season. Religious celebrations have also played an integral role in Malverne’s holiday traditions. Churches such as Our Lady of Lourdes and the Malverne Community Presbyterian Church have long hosted events like nativity plays, midnight masses, and interfaith gatherings. These activities emphasize the spiritual aspects of the season and unite residents across diverse faiths.
Beyond Christmas, other holidays have also become focal points for celebration in Malverne. The annual Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony in Reese Park has gained prominence in recent years, reflecting the village’s growing cultural inclusivity. Additionally, seasonal decorations and activities highlight various holidays throughout the year, from Fourth of July parades to fall harvest festivals.
Malverne’s holiday celebrations have grown to symbolize more than just seasonal joy—they represent the enduring spirit of a community that values tradition, inclusivity, and togetherness. Whether through twinkling lights, festive music, or shared meals, the village continues to honor its rich history while creating new memories for future generations.
Christine Rivera/Herald
Boy Scout Troop 25 decorating the gazebo during the holiday decorating day on Nov. 23.
STEPPING OUT
Five times the charm
Laurie Berkner returns with a rockin’ holiday concert for families
By Alyssa Seidman
The scarcity of sun that marks winter’s return often brings Laurie Berkner back to her musical roots. On cozy winter evenings her family would gather ’round a songbook to recite melodies reminiscent of Christmas and falling snow.
“Music always made me feel safe, happy, and loved, and all those feelings come together around [this] time of year,” Berkner says. “Holiday songs were always something that brought up a lot of really warm feelings for me.”
It’s no surprise, then, that Berkner’s discography includes two bestselling albums about the most wonderful time of the year. Families adore her — she still wears the known as the ‘Queen of Kindie Rock’ — and can tale in her festive originals alongside yuletide classics once again when “The Greatest Holiday Hits Tour” arrives here at the Paramount, on Dec. 15.
Berkner is a veritable dynamo as singer/songwriter, author, lyricist, and founder of Two Tomatoes Records. With more than one billion total streams, over 500 million views on YouTube, and millions of albums, singles and DVDs sold, her songs have become beloved classics for families worldwide.
While working as a children’s music specialist at preschools and day care centers in New York City, she gained an instinctive understanding of kids’ natural rhythms and energy. This enabled her to launch the progressive “kindie rock” movement, a genre that is just as palatable to parents and caregivers.
Berkner has released 16 award-winning albums over the course of her decades-long career. She was the first recording artist to perform in music videos on Noggin — appeared regularly on the network’s “Jack’s Big Music Show” — and helped develop the animated musical preschool series “Sing It, Laurie!” for Sprout TV, now Universal Kids.
Berkner has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the White House, among many prestigious venues. She is regularly lauded by her peers, and has been dubbed “the Adele of the preschool crowd” (The New York Times), “the queen of kids’ music” (People), and “one of the most popular children’s performers in America” (Wall Street Journal).
Holiday hits
This is the fifth time “The Greatest Holiday Hits Tour” will grace The Paramount stage. She first brought her holiday concert to Long Island in 2019, and has delighted kids — and kids at heart — every year since, aside from 2020.
“It feels really great to be able to come back each year and make it feel like a tradition,” Berkner says. “It’s that feeling of coming together and doing something that feels really good, fun, and joyous.
“Mostly what I try to do is hit a lot of people’s favorites and put the songs I can’t get to into a medley for the encore. I’ll also be playing my new song ‘Walking With The Penguins,’ so they’ll
DoLaurie Berkner is ready to share some holiday cheer with her fans — as only she can. Groove along to festive originals alongside yuletide classics at “The Greatest Holiday Hits Tour.
• Sunday, Dec. 15, 11 a.m.
• Tickets start at $20.50; available at LiveNation.com
• A $1 donation to Little Shelter Animal Rescue is included in each ticket
• The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
hear that live for the first time.”
Her concert features original tunes from her popular holiday albums, “A Laurie Berkner Christmas” and “Another Laurie Berkner Christmas.” She’ll also play treasured holiday classics like “Deck the Halls,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” and more.
Of course Berkner’s greatest hits — “We Are The Dinosaurs,” “Waiting for the Elevator” and “Pig On Her Head” — are always in the mix. At that point everyone is sure to be singing and dancing along with their favorite stuffed animal on their head.
The hour-long show fully involves her audience from the get-go; yet two moments in particular stand out to Berkner.
“In every show I do ‘We Are The Dinosaurs,’ and it’s very hard to not start laughing while everyone is screaming. “When I sing ‘My Family’ I will ask people to hug the person they’re there with, and it’s amazing that they actually do it.”
Cultivating these shared experiences for her mixed-age audiences is Berkner’s aim for every performance, but especially at her holiday shows.
“Those events that feel exciting to the kids [yet] still fun and enjoyable for the parents are difficult to find, but my shows fit that bill. I feel really grateful to provide moments where they can connect with one another, and have a sweet, loving memory when they leave.”
New Year’s resolutions
With a new year on the horizon, Berkner shares some of her plans for 2025.
“I very likely will put out another album next year, but I also have a couple projects I can’t talk about yet,” she says.“There will be new music, new videos, and definitely some surprises — probably more on my plate than I should have!”
Her fans would expect nothing less.
Leggz Ltd.’s
‘The Nutcracker’
Visions of sugarplums await when Leggz Ltd. Dance, presents its annual full-length production. Helmed by longtime Artistic Director Joan Hope MacNaughton, it’s as always, accompanied by the South Shore Symphony Orchestra. This year’s production stars Violeta Angelova as the Sugar Plum Fairy, who’s appeared with the Vienna State Oper and Suzanne Farrell Ballet, with George Sanders, who has danced with New York Theatre Ballet and The Little Prince Broadway, as the Cavalier. The gifted young dancers who round out the cast include 9-year-old Vivian Ng as Clara and 11-year-old Matthew Carnaval as The Prince — both Rockville Centre residents.
Friday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 7, 5 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 8, 3 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444.
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening
Jason Bonham, son of the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer, showcases his musical journey and family legacy when he visits the Paramount stage. He celebrates his father with hits from Led Zeppelin’s iconic albums, while highlighting his own contributions to rock history. Encompassing tunes from the iconic band’s entire career, including albums “Led Zeppelin,” “Led Zeppelin II,” and “Led Zeppelin IV,” the concert event is a dynamic tribute to a legend. Jason always finds himself at home behind the drumkit. From this spot, he has anchored the tempo of one of the legendary artists of all-time.
Monday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m. $99.50, $89.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
Courtesy Jayme Thornton
THE Your Neighborhood
Dec. 14
The Hot Sardines
The band brings their distinctive sound back to the Landmark stage, with a “Holiday Stomp,” Saturday, d ec. 14 , at 8 p.m. It’s a raucous Christmas celebration that includes timeless classics and original tunes. The Hot Sardines bring classic jazz standards with their own brassy horn arrangements, rollicking piano melodies and vocals from a chanteuse who transports listeners to a different era with the mere lilt of her voice. Emerging over a decade ago from the underground parties of Brooklyn to touring worldwide and recording a string of albums that’s racked up more than 60 million streams across digital platforms, the Hot Sardines’ own “potent and assured” (The New York Times), “simply phenomenal” (The Times of London) brand of reinvigorated classic jazz landed them at the center of a whirlwind. . In the last two years, the Hot Sardines have been featured at the Newport Jazz Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival, have sold out venues in New York City from Joe’s Pub to Bowery Ballroom and more than 150 tour dates from Chicago to London. They released two albums on Universal Music Classics to critical reviews and a #1 slot on the iTunes Jazz chart in the U.S. and internationally. Their unique recipe blends hot jazz and sultry standards from the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s, rich New Orleans sounds, a dash of ’40s Paris flavor, and vibrant musical surprises. It’s all steeped in salty stride piano and the music Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt and Fats Waller used to make. The result is straight-up foot-stomping jazz. Their name says it all: their iconic ‘hot’ styling will paint a vibrant picture with smoky sounds and audiences revel in the steamy, swanky influence of their art form. With their contagious brand of joy, grit, glamour and passion, the 8-piece band invokes the sounds of nearly a century ago, yet stay right in step with the current age. $65, $55, $45. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or by calling (516) 767-6444.
Holiday at Westbury House
Old Westbury Gardens’ Westbury House offers a festive glimpse of early 20th century holiday merriment, before it closes for the winter, Saturday, dec. 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, dec. 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Also dec. 14-15. The “Christmas at Westbury House” celebration reflects what the festive season was like during those opulent decades of the early 1900s when the Phipps family lived there. The period rooms in which John S. Phipps — the eldest son of Henry Phipps, Andrew Carnegie’s partner at Carnegie Steel — and his family resided are impeccably decorated with wreaths, mantelpiece drapes, plenty of greenery, and other horticultural arrangements.
Take a self-guided tour through Westbury House and view specially decorated rooms for the holidays, have cookies and cider on the West Porch and meet and take photos with Santa while listening to ambient holiday music. The gardens will also be open, along with other special holiday events, including Holiday Flute Choir concert, Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m., holiday market, and more. $15, $13 ages 62+ and students, $8 ages 7-17. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or call (516) 333-0048.
Holiday concert
The Long Island Choral Society returns its holiday tradition, Handel’s Messiah, Part 1 and highlights from Parts 2 and 3, Saturday, dec. 7, 7 p.m., at Garden City Community Church. For many Long Islanders, the holiday season officially begins with this performance. The chorus is accompanied by a professional orchestra and soloists. $25, $10 youth. Tickets are available via credit card by calling (516) 652-6878 as well as via Venmo at LICS_2022. For more information, visit lics.org. 245 Stewart Ave., Garden City.
Ornament Workshop
Bring the family to create and decorate festive holiday ornaments, Friday, dec. 6, 4-5 p.m., at Malverne Village Hall. $5 per child. Advanced signup is required at malvernevillage.org. 99 Church St.
Breakfast with Santa
Bring the family to Breakfast with Santa at the Bridge Church, Saturday, dec. 7, 9-11 a.m. $20 per person. Advanced signup is required at malvernevillage.org. 1 Norwood Ave, Malverne.
Holiday Tales At The Hearth
Let’s Skate
Get ready to enjoy all the thrills of the snowy season, while staying warm and cozy as Long Island Children’s Museum’s popular “Snowflake Sock Skating rink returns, through Jan. 7. Slip on “sock skates” and take a spin on the indoor rink, made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface that lets kids slide around without blades.
Kids can stretch, twirl and glide. As visitors step off the “ice” they can jump into winter dramatic play in Snowflake Village. Become a baker in the holiday sweet shop, step inside a giant snowman and serve up some hot cocoa, take a turn in the rink “ticket booth” and “warm up” around a rink side “fire pit.” Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.
Visit Sands Point Preserve’s Hempstead House and join in the holiday cheer, Sunday, Dec. 8, 1-4 p.m. The familyfriendly event includes activities for all ages. Meet and take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy jazz and holiday music with Port Jazz Project, along with seasonal crafts, Dreidel Corner, “nutty” holiday scavenger hunt, reading nook with holiday and winter stories, and puppet shows with Wonderspark Puppets at 2 and 3 p.m. 127 Middle Neck Road. Admission is $40/car, members; $45/ car nonmembers, includes parking. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.
Having an event?
Sugar Plum Ball/ Galactic Gala
Bring the kids to celebrate the season at festivities hosted by the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Sunday, Dec. 8, noon-4 p.m., at Fox Hollow in Woodbury. Kids ages 4-12, accompanied by their adult guest (Mom, Dad, grandparent, etc.), will enjoy a unique party featuring food, fun and some special guests including princesses, fairies and visitors from a Galaxy Far, Far Away.
With lunch, DJ, magic show, dancing, raffles, games, photo ops, and more, even Jedi-training. Enjoy a sit down lunch and meet characters from some favorite shows and movies. Cost for each child/adult pair is $195. Advance reservation only. All proceeds benefit CP Nassau. Call CP Nassau at (516) 378-2000 ext. 651 for reservations or visit cpnassau. org. 7755 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
On exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition “Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition spans various world cultures through a range of media.
It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority. Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. On view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Family theater
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to its stage, Friday, Dec. 6, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Saturday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; also Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 10-12, 10:-15 a.m. and noon. Ezra Jack Keats’ “The Snowy Day & Other Stories” celebrates the joy in the small moments of a child’s world. Experience the wonder of a fresh snowfall, the delight of whistling for the first time, and the awe of finding a special treasure. In this childhood adventure, Keats’ classic books come to life, featuring live actors and shadow puppets telling the stories of “The Snowy Day,” “Goggles!,” “Whistle for Willie,” and “A Letter to Amy.” $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.
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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
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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
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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
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 Call 516-569-4000 X286
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume
Yes, those tall buildings really sway
Waterfront Luxury
Q. We were in Manhattan recently, and learned that tall buildings actually sway back and forth. We stared at the tallest apartment building in the Western Hemisphere, at 432 Park Ave., but couldn’t really tell. Do these buildings sway? How far? Wouldn’t that be dangerous, and how come we don’t hear about it? Why would people put up with that for so much money?
A. Yes, for anywhere from $2 million upward (pun intended) to around $200 million, you, too, can get a continuous amusement ride, or the sensation of always being on a cruise, if you like that sort of thing. When people, mostly at parties, ask me whether I have designed anything tall or famous, I wince, because I’d rather be asked if I’ve ever done anything that people enjoyed seeing or being in.
Few people ever discuss the failings of the most well-known architects. Most of the buildings Frank Lloyd Wright designed leaked. Wright never really was a trained or licensed architect, but he made it to postage stamp status. When the 500-pound windows began flying out of I.M. Pei’s Hancock Tower in Boston, most people, except those who either nearly died or had to clean up the mess, never noticed. The list of the ways in which we learn from building design “aberrations” is endless, but the important thing is that we learn.
People who can afford to live in those tall buildings, above the crowds of common folk, must have to accept the soft sway of the windswept towers they rest their weary heads in. I have read many articles in technical magazines, and reports about how engineers have been tasked with trying to resolve the problems. In the case of 432 Park Avenue, two “dampers” were designed into the center of the tower, even though there is currently no code requirement for them.
The Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, which is much taller than 432 Park Avenue, has features including an aerodynamic shape to cut the wind, and a massive 660-ton pendulum that sways from cables in the core of the building. Even so, on the 163rd floor, the building sways 6½ feet back and forth. There are many different damper systems, flexible, viscoelastic collars and inserts between the rigid steel frame connections that transfer the forces by taking the heat away from the strain of the otherwise rigid joints. Without all of these shock-reducing components, sections would crack and crumble.
As it is, the residents of 432 Park Avenue have complained of air conditioning and heating malfunctions and acoustical discomfort from the creaking walls, whistling wind and stalled elevators. Most of the units are purchased for the beautiful vistas, and you can sell anything to someone who doesn’t do their homework. Many units have been leased and re-leased, bought and sold several times in the three years since the tower opened, with the prices going up and up. Better than buying the Brooklyn Bridge, right?
© 2024 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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Remembering Jimmy Breslin, a legend in New York journalism
Ihave always been an avid reader of newspapers, and have a great admiration for columnists, particularly Jimmy Cannon, and then Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill. That’s why I so appreciate the opportunity to write a column for the Heralds. All of this came rushing back at me as I was reading the recently published biography “Jimmy Breslin,” by Richard Esposito. Breslin was a unique character. No one understood New York’s people, neighborhoods and streets like him.
Breslin’s New York was Queens Boulevard, not Park Avenue. It was cops, prizefighters, bookies and cold beer (until he stopped drinking, anyway). I started reading his columns years ago, in the old Journal-American, and continued with him through the Herald Tribune, the Daily News and Newsday.
I first met Breslin in the 1980s, and we became close friends in the late 1990s. My wife, Rosemary, and I would go to dinner with Jimmy and his wife, Ronnie, at least once a month, and he and I would talk at least once a day. When Jimmy wanted to talk, he wouldn’t stop, and it was almost impossible to get off the phone with him, even if you had work to do. I found that the one way to close out a conversation was to compliment him on something. In true Irish fashion, he would get flustered, mumble a rushed goodbye and slam down the phone.
Wsupport in an Irish sort of way. He came to my daughter Erin’s wedding and reception, and stayed to the very end — and that was long after he’d stopped drinking!
hen he wanted to talk, it was impossible to get off the phone with him.
Breslin was a great guy to be with. He was tough and cynical, but had endless stories and was a true friend — when he was still your friend. He wrote several columns about me during President Bill Clinton’s impeachment that I will always cherish, and he wrote a great blurb for my first novel (which he probably never read). We commiserated after the 9/11 attacks, attending funerals of mutual friends, giving each other
No matter who’s
Eight years ago, about four months into Donald Trump’s first term as president, the Herald published an op-ed I wrote entitled “What American Dream?” in which I lamented the ever-growing financial burden on Long Island’s middle class.
Despite all the hard work I put in, I wrote, I was decidedly worse off than my mother and father were a generation earlier. I laid equal blame on Democrats and Republicans, who had rotated in and out of Washington all my life and done little to stop the downward spiral. “And his promises notwithstanding,” I added, “President Trump will likely do little to change our trajectory.” He did not.
And, in all fairness, neither did President Biden.
Eight years ago I noted that my wife and I worked full time as teachers, but that she had to care for our kids alone during the week, while I tutored after school to keep up with ever-rising expenses.
During these good times, though, I would have in the back of my head columns Breslin used to write when he was living in Baldwin, listing people he would no longer speak with. Though he stopped issuing those lists, I wondered when my number would be up. I found out in March 2003, when Rosemary sent him a heated note, blasting him for comparing President George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler.
That ended it. It was curtain time. No more phone calls or dinners. I did call him once when I heard there was a serious illness in his family.
“Jimmy, I heard the news,” I said. “I’m sorry. I’m thinking of you.”
“Yeah,” he replied, “I’ll be thinking of you, too. Goodbye.”
Later I saw him at the renowned journalist Jack Newfield’s funeral, and
we had a quick handshake. Several years after that, in 2009, Rosemary and I went to the funeral of Breslin’s daughter Kelly at an old church in Lower Manhattan. Afterward we sat and talked with him at a table in the churchyard for 10 or 15 minutes. The conversation was warm and friendly, almost like it used to be. When it was time to say so long, I said, “Jimmy, we should get together.”
“Yeah,” he said. “We should. That’d be good.” We shook hands.
We never got together. I wish we had. Breslin died in 2017, and a large part of New York died with him.
Esposito’s biography brings back the memories not just of Breslin, but of the days when newspapers and their columnists — and the written word — had such a vital role to play in our society. While much of that has died, I commend the Herald for keeping the tradition alive for the people of Long Island.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
president, L.I.’s middle class struggles
Today I tutor two to three times as much as I did then. Not out of greed, but necessity. My wife continues to do the lion’s share of the work with the kids, but she, too, has taken on a second job, doing early intervention for specialneeds 2-year-olds. So, eight years ago, we basically needed three incomes to make it. Now we need four.
B
Some of my colleagues at school were elated after Election Day that we have another four years of Trump coming, almost as if their team had won the Super Bowl. It has always surprised me how any teacher can support the guy whose Supreme Court appointee, Neil Gorsuch, rendered the decisive vote in Janus v. AFSCME, a case that weakened public-sector unions like the ones we belong to.
House — our lives here on Long Island are not going to get any easier.
That’s because we’ve witnessed a steady erosion of the middle class since 1973, when real wages started to fall against the backdrop of an energy crisis and pronounced inflation. The true death knell was President Ronald Reagan’s taking office in 1980. Reagan slashed taxes for corporations and the wealthy with the idea that the financial benefits at the top of the economic food chain would trickle down to the rest of us. Only they didn’t.
y the time I graduated from eighth grade in 1992, working moms were the norm.
To be fair, others at school were crestfallen.
I, on the other hand, for the first time in my adult life, paid absolutely no attention to this election, and did not watch one minute of election night coverage. Although I voted for Kamala Harris, I did not shed a tear.
That’s because I’ve heard this song before. I know how this movie ends. It doesn’t matter who’s in the White
I’m by no means an economist, but consider this: When I entered kindergarten in 1983, my mother was one of a few moms who needed to get a job to help make ends meet. The embarrassment of getting picked up by another classmate’s mother will forever be etched in my memory. Years later, my mother told me how the guilt I laid on her at the time absolutely broke her heart. Sorry, Mom. I love you.
But by the time I graduated from eighth grade in 1992, working moms were the norm. I can only recall one or two classmates whose mothers didn’t work. Things had certainly changed, and they only continued to get worse.
I’m not piling on Republicans, because there were 20 years of Democratic presidents as well between then and now. My colleagues, both jubilant and dejected after this past Election Day, might remember that the roles were reversed in 2008, when Barack Obama was first elected. Regardless of who has led the country, things haven’t gotten a whole lot better.
That’s because the people at the top — the corporate interests that really run America — don’t want them to. As the late, great comedian George Carlin said, “Our country’s a big club … and you ain’t in it!”
Nobody should have been surprised that Trump trounced the incumbentbacked Harris. Middle class voters have been drowning for 50 years, desperately hoping someone would toss them a life vest that never seems to come.
I wish I shared my Trump-supporting colleagues’ optimism, or even the Harris supporters’ melancholy, but I just don’t. I don’t think any real help is coming, regardless of who is in office. I will gladly eat my words in four years if my wallet is fatter and prices are lower. But I doubt that’s going to happen.
Nick Buglione is a teacher, a freelance journalist and a former editor of the East Meadow Herald.
Demothen jubilant Election roles Barack Regardless of haven’t the top really to. As Carlin and surprised incumbentvoters have desperately a life Trump-supportthe but I help is office. four prices to freelance the
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In Long Islanders we trust
eginning with the birth of our nation, Long Islanders have shaped the policies of America as well as our country’s impact on the world. Suffolk County’s William Floyd was one of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence. President Theodore Roosevelt, who made his home in Oyster Bay, is often cited as one of our greatest leaders. Bellmore’s William Casey served as President Ronald Reagan’s CIA director during an era fraught with Cold War tensions.
As the Biden administration sunsets and President-elect Donald Trump’s second administration begins to take shape, Long Islanders are once again positioned to influence our nation and the course of human history.
T rump has nominated Howard Lutnick, from Jericho, to serve as secretary of commerce. Lutnick, the chairman and chief executive of the global financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, strongly supports the president-elect’s plans to impose tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico, which would have dramatic impacts on the global economy.
T rump has chosen Dr. Dave Weldon, a Farmingdale High School and Stony Brook University graduate, to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Weldon, a former congressman from Florida, would succeed fellow Long Islander Dr. Mandy Cohen, a Baldwin native whom President Biden appointed to the role last year. (Another Baldwin native, Karine Jean-Pierre, has served as President Biden’s White House press secretary since 2022.)
Given the recent politicization of the CDC, as well as the anti-establishment views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom
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Trump has selected as his secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services — which oversees the CDC — Weldon is set to wield unique power in setting public health policy.
Biden named Dr. David Kessler, a graduate of Woodmere Academy (now the Lawrence Woodmere Academy) as the lead scientist on the coronavirus vaccine distribution efforts. Kessler formerly headed the Food and Drug Administration under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
T rump has also named Steve Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff, who was raised in Baldwin Harbor and Old Westbury, is a successful real estate developer and a major benefactor of Hofstra University, where he earned a law degree. (He shares that law school alma mater with Charles Kushner, the father of Trump’s son-inlaw, Jared Kushner, and a convicted felon whom Trump has selected as ambassador to France.) Witkoff’s appointment continues Trump’s selection of Long Islanders for critical Middle East policy roles.
In Trump’s first term, the U.S. ambassador to Israel was David Friedman, who grew up in North Woodmere. The son of Rabbi Morris Friedman, who led Temple Hillel for 33 years and brought Reagan to the synagogue in 1984, David Friedman played a pivotal role in promoting Trump’s Middle East policies, from the decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, to supporting the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
T rump also announced his choice of Garden City’s Kash Patel as director of
Randi just won’t stop with Trump
To the Editor:
I just finished reading Randi Kreiss’s column, “Dear readers, we can’t keep it in neutral” (Nov. 28-Dec. 4). It seems that Randi is totally consumed by Trump derangement syndrome. Donald Trump is a deeply flawed soul to be sure, but when compared with Hillary and Harris, he is Abe Lincoln.
When he left office, but for the horror of Covid, the country was at peace and the economy was in great shape. Could this country endure four more years of what we just went through? Obviously not! The fake dossier, the disgraceful lawfare, and it goes on and on.
Trump establishes the Depar tment of Government Efficiency and the left mocks him unendingly. When it pays enormous dividends, they will ignore it, as they always do. Thank God the country was sickened by the last four years and overwhelmingly decided to reject it!
RICHARD LAND
the FBI. Leaders on both sides of the aisle, however, have expressed concerns about that choice, because of what they perceive to be Patel’s desire to dismantle the very institution he has been tapped to lead, as well as his lack of relevant experience.
“I categorically opposed making Patel deputy FBI director,” William Barr, who served as attorney general under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Trump, wrote in his 2022 book, “One Damn Thing After Another.” “I told Mark Meadows,” Barr added, referring to Trump’s White House chief of staff, “it would happen ‘over my dead body.’ Someone with no background as an agent would never be able to command the respect necessary to run the day-to-day operations of the bureau.”
Finally, there’s former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, who, in 2022, unsuccessfully challenged Gov. Kathy Hochul in New York’s gubernatorial election. Zeldin, an Army veteran who represented New York’s 1st Congressional District from 2015 to 2023, is poised to become Trump’s administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. In that role, Zeldin would have wide-ranging powers to create or eliminate regulations that protect the environment.
Many of Trump’s selections must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. We expect most of them will be, or will serve in interim roles. Regardless, these Long Islanders are a testament to the region’s diverse influence on national politics and international diplomacy. We hope they don’t forget where they came from, and make decisions that uplift not only our country, but also the Long Island communities they once called home.
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A farewell, but the journey continues
as i prepare to step down from my role as Assemblywoman for the 18th District, i reflect with both pride and gratitude on the progress we have made, as well as the important work that lies ahead. Over the past six years, our office has tackled critical challenges — from addressing educational disparities and infrastructure needs to advocating for social justice — laying a strong foundation for lasting improvements in our community.
The strides we have made and the future we are shaping are both inspiring. Our collective achievements in the district stand as a testament to the power of dedicated public service and the transformative impact it can have on residents’ lives. When i first took office, i was driven by a deep commitment to addressing the educational disparities that were holding back so many of our students. One urgent issue was the lack of adequate transportation in the Hempstead school district. Many children were forced to walk as far as three miles to and from school each day, putting their safety and academic success at risk. securing $1 million for districtwide busing wasn’t
Letters
Shop safely during the holidays
To the Editor:
The Nassau County Police Department advises shoppers to be vigilant for their safety and the safety of others this holiday season.
Before leaving home, secure and engage alarms, and leaving lights on in frequented rooms to give the appearance that people are home.
Plan your shopping trips, know where you’re going and, if possible, go with someone else. Let someone know where you’re going. Park in an area that’s well lit, and make sure your valuables are out of sight. Avoid parking near vans or other vehicles with covered cargo areas. Don’t get out of your car unless you feel safe, lock your vehicle, and remember where you’ve parked.
As you shop, keep money and credit/debit cards in a front pocket, and limit the
just a victory — it was a promise fulfilled, ensuring that every student could access education without the burden of an unsafe commute.
Our dedication to education extends well beyond transportation. We made critical investments in infrastructure, such as funding the installation of an underground oil tank for the West Hempstead district, ensuring a warm and supportive learning environment during the colder months. We also secured $300,000 to upgrade Hofstra University’s sports facilities, $100,000 for field improvements in the roosevelt district, and $150,000 for security enhancements at Uniondale High school.
i remain committed to addressing issues affecting Black and brown communities.
hole princess,” i worked tirelessly to secure Long island’s share of the $1 billion Operation Pave Our Potholes fund, leading to much-needed road improvements that have enhanced residents’ safety and quality of life. We also prioritized veterans by securing $250,000 to support the Veterans Mental Health Training initiative. And fought for legislation to protect homeowners from deceitful practices, ensuring the security and well-being of our community.
addresses energy affordability and sustainability, ensuring that Long islanders can manage their energy bills while contributing to efforts against climate change. As chair of the subcommittee on Foster Care, i trust that future leaders will continue to prioritize the well-being of vulnerable children, advocate for fair compensation for caregivers, and provide the support parents need. The welfare of our most vulnerable New yorkers will always remain a top priority.
Each of these investments reflects our commitment to providing the resources necessary for students and school districts to thrive. One of my proudest accomplishments was launching the state’s first ever pre-apprenticeship program at roosevelt High school, in partnership with Laborers Local 66. This initiative will equip students with the practical skills and career pathways they need, helping to bridge the gap between education and employment.
Our efforts also extended to community infrastructure and public safety. Known affectionately as the state’s “pot-
number of cards and the cash you carry. To avoid identity theft, be careful when exposing your cards and other identification at cash registers and ATMs.
Be aware that thieves use cellphones to capture card and identity information. Be cognizant of distractions that could be staged to avert your attention.
When you return to your vehicle, don’t do so with your arms full of packages. Use a cart. Be ready to unlock your car door. Check the parking lot for suspicious-looking people, and if you see anyone loitering nearby, don’t go to your vehicle.
Carry a whistle or other audible device, and if you feel threatened, use it. Before getting into your vehicle, look around and inside it. Once inside, lock the doors, and if you have to, use your horn to attract attention.
Always be aware of your surroundings.
NAssAU COUNTy POLiCE DEPArTMENT
One of the most transformative moments of my tenure was the passage of legislation that established a commission to study reparations and racial justice. This is a crucial step in acknowledging and addressing the historic injustices of slavery and discrimination. As a co-sponsor, i am deeply honored to have contributed to this historic effort, which seeks to heal old wounds and pave the way for a more just and equitable future.
Looking ahead, i’m hopeful for continued progress in several key areas. i encourage my successor to build on the foundation we have laid by closing educational gaps and fostering stronger partnerships with labor unions to create more opportunities for our youth. i also remain optimistic about continued advocacy for the Ny HEAT Act, which
by Tim Baker
Finally, i remain steadfast in my commitment to addressing the issues that affect Black and brown communities, particularly in my beloved 18th District. The reparations bill is an important first step, but much work remains to be done. As i conclude my time in office, i’m not saying goodbye; rather, i reaffirm my commitment to continue fighting for the values and causes that have guided me throughout my tenure.
Our journey toward a more just and equitable society is far from over. As Nipsey Hussle wisely said, “This is a marathon, not a sprint.” i am excited to see what the future holds, and remain devoted to supporting efforts to address current disparities and build a brighter future for all. Thank you for the privilege of serving you, and for the unwavering support that has made these accomplishments possible.
Darling is completing her term as assemblywoman for the 18th District.
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At the Froehlich Family Lights, on Sherwood Drive — East Meadow
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tayLor DarLing
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