Massapequa Herald 12_11_2024

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Gala Christmas and Chanukah celebration

MPK Village Square was packed with hundreds of people for the event. Story, page 4.

Kwani O’Pharrow wins the 11th AD

Democrat narrowly defeats Republican Joe Cardinale

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.

The Nassau and Suffolk County Boards of Election have certified the results in the NY State Assembly’s 11th District, where Democrat Kwani O’Pharrow was running against Republican Joe Cardinale. The final numbers show O’Pharrow narrowly defeated Cardinale, 26,877 votes to 25,980. O’Pharrow garnered 50.8 percent of the votes, to Cardinale’s 49.2 percent.

“I believe that having Kwani in the Assem -

bly who is a member of the majority will help not only the town but the three Villages and that he will work well to develop relationships,” said Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer. “And with Assemblymen Keith Brown and Mike Durso working with Kwani, we will also have strong voices speaking up on behalf of all of our constituents.”

O’Pharrow is a retired New York City Police Department detective. He said during the campaign that he believes his backDground equips him well for the role. He has iden tified the cost

Marks first change in ten years

By MIKE POLANSKY Correspondent

The Massapequa Park Village Board has voted to increase fees for landscapers operating within the village. The annual fee for landscaping services will rise from $100 to $150, while the fee for each vehicle and trailer decal required for such services increases from $10 to $25.

The fee hikes were approved unanimously during a public work session on November 25, following a motion by Trustee Christine Wiss and a second from Deputy Mayor Tina Schiaffino.

The fee increases are the first since 2014. Village Clerk Linda Tuminello noted that neighboring villages have raised their fees significantly since then.

Amityville charges $175 annually for landscaping licenses and $25 for each vehicle decal. Old Westbury and Sands Point both charge $200 for the license and $25 for the decal. Freeport’s fees are $130 for the license and $30 for each decal. In contrast, the City of Long Beach charges a $400 licensing fee and addi -

tional fees for processing and renewal.

“The Village Board and I continue to review annual fees and applications on a yearly basis,” said Mayor Dan Pearl. “During our review, we studied landscaping licensing fees from other surrounding villages and discovered that our fees were significantly lower as compared to others. The new fees put us on par with what other municipalities charge to license landscapers.”

Section 196 of the Village Code defines landscaping functions as cultivating, seeding, planting, cutting, trimming, pruning, and maintaining grass, shrubs, trees, and other foliage.

In other business, the Village Board:

•Approved a request from the Massapequa International Little League to hold its annual Parade on Saturday, April 5, 2025, with a rain date of Sunday, April 6, 2025.

•Authorized the use of $80,000 in Community Development Funds for residential rehabilitation of homes owned and occupied by low-

Mike Polansky/Herald

Rhythm & Soul

BRUNCH

The ‘Babe of Bethlehem’ returns

The music and reflections were co-director of communications for the Dominican Sisters, Lena Pennino-Smith, and arranged by her husband, Brian Smith, as well as Michael Leuci and Richard Heffner.

Donations will be collected for the victims of this year›s hurricanes. Light refreshments will be served

For more information “The Babe of SongsByLena.com.

sistersop@amityop.

McKenna’s young geographers are in a New York state of mind

Bryce Hansen and Emma DiIorio labeled key elements in the state. patterns throughout the state, learning how much rain and snow each area gets on average. They also did a guided drawing of the state, and then labeled points of interest including major cities, mountains and rivers.

From the comfort of their desks, fourth graders at McKenna Elementary School in the Massapequa School District covered about 54,000 square miles of land and sea during a recent geography lesson. As part of their study of New York State, students learned about its climate and different regions.

Youngsters in Jamie Gallo and Jordyn Axelrod’s class explored the climate

The fourth grade social studies curriculum focuses on local and New York State communities, including history and geography.

Fourth graders Emily Carozza and William Frankovic work on guided drawings.

4th annual Women of Distinction ceremony lauds local heroines

Assemblyman Mike Durso honors local women

New York State Assemblyman Michael Durso, (R-9 th AD), recently held his fourth annual Women of Distinction ceremony at the Marjorie Post Community Center in Massapequa Park.

The event recognizes 10 extraordinary women for their professional accomplishments, personal achievements, and significant contributions to their communities. The honorees are leaders, entrepreneurs, mothers, wives and role models from diverse backgrounds and fields, who have broken barriers and paved the way for future generations.

Local honorees included Carol D’Amato, Robin Hepworth, Debra Ragusa, Michelle Panetta and Deirdre Trumpy.

Carol D’Amato

Carol D’Amato is Chief Operating Officer of ALL DAZZLE, a women’s high-fashion clothing and accessories lifestyle brand she established decades ago with a mission to help all women shine.

Carol’s entrepreneurial spirit and keen sense of style allowed her to navigate the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming her fashion design expertise into a force for good by hosting red carpet fundraising fashion events that engage the local community and support various charitable causes.

Most recently, during New York Fashion Week in New York City, D’Amato was prominently featured on Times Square’s giant billboards as an iconic supermodel, showcasing contemporary women’s fashions and inspiring others to dream big and embrace life with style, grace, and meaningful purpose.

She volunteers her time and talents to industry celebrity charity events, senior assisted living centers, local high schools, colleges, and numerous non-profit organizations. Her commitment and boundless energy allow her to make a meaningful difference in her community and beyond.

Robin Hepworth

Robin Hepworth has been a Massapequa resident for more than 30 years, along with her husband, Andrew, a retired NYPD officer, and is the proud mother of Daniel and Matthew.

She has served as a Cub Scout leader, a member of the PTA, ran the Massapequa Business Networ and was a teacher assistant and special education parent advocate for the Massapequa School District.

Hepworth is the current president of the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce, where she has been

volunteering for over 10 years and works tirelessly to spread the message of Shopping Locally to support small businesses.

She is employed as a professional photographer for Nassau County, where she works to capture significant moments from important press conferences, functions, and other events. She is also owns Robin Joy Photography, a full-service photography studio serving Long Island, specializing in family, children, and event photography. In addition, she donates countless hours of her time to local charity, school, and business events.

She is an active advocate for a wide variety of local issues and takes pride in providing her own special services to the community.

Michelle Panetta

Michelle Panetta is a senior money laundering investigator and the cofounder of the Massapequa Park-based non-profit organization, Beyond The Badge NY, which addresses the growing mental health crisis afflicting the first responder community.

One of her greatest accomplishments was creating Beyond The Badge NY in 2019 with her husband and cofounder Chris Panetta. The organization was created because of the loss of Chris Panetta’s fellow NYPD officer and childhood friend who died by suicide It was also inspired by Michelle Panetta’s personal battles with mental health after she faced a line- of-duty incident at work.

She has a master’s degree in criminal justice from Long Island University and holds numerous certifications in the field of financial crimes. Her history as an adjunct professor at Nassau Community College involved teaching Criminal Justice, and she put her skills to practical use as a Nassau County probation officer serving the neighborhoods of New Cassel, Uniondale, and Hicksville, where she helped assist younger individuals on probation with obtaining their GEDs, completing college applications and resumes.

Debra Ragusa

Debra Ragusa is a dedicated early childhood educator with 26 years of experience teaching thousands of students in the Massapequa School District and the Town of Oyster Bay PreSchool, where she is affectionately known as Miss Debbie.

Since the inception of the town preschool in 2008, Ragusa has been instrumental in developing a nurturing philosophy combined with an academically driven curriculum, which has had an strong impact on the education of countless children.

She has volunteered her time and

talents to various community organizations, including Cub Scouts, Massapequa Soccer Club, Massapequa Mustangs, and the PTA.

She and her husband, Michael, are both graduates of Massapequa High School and have raised their children, TJ and Monica, in Massapequa. This award is especially meaningful as Debbie’s mother was a 2001 Women of Distinction and she is proud to continue her mother’s legacy.

Deirdre Trumpy

Deirdre Trumpy has been an integral part of MOMMAS House Mother-Child Residences organization for over 20 years and now serves as its Executive Director. MOMMAS House provides essential housing and support services to homeless pregnant and parenting young mothers and their children. She provides guidance and direction to young mothers so they can learn to support themselves and their children independently.

Trumpy holds an Advanced Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Long Island University, a Master of Social Work degree from NYU, and a Bachelor of Arts degree with focus on Sociology & Social Work from St. John’s University.

Throughout her career, she has been a passionate advocate for mothers, adolescents, children, and popula -

tions struggling with mental illness and substance abuse. She is an active member of the Long Island Continuum of Care as a representative of the pregnant and Parenting youth population on its Governance Board, serves as co-chair and a member of multiple subcommittees focused on homeless services on Long Island.

Her dedication, compassion, and leadership have made her an invaluable part of the community, inspiring those around her and creating a lasting impact through her service.

At the ceremony, Babylon resident Joan Caliendo, a 2022 Women of Distinction and current Ms. New York Senior America, was the keynote speaker. She delivered words of encouragement, determination, and urged her listeners to take risks no matter what your age. She recently participated in the National Ms. Senior America Pageant at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City and was crowned 2 nd runner-up.

After the ceremony, Durso said, “I want to congratulate all the 2024 Women of Distinction honorees.”

He added, “It was a privilege to acknowledge these remarkable individuals who exemplify what it means to be courageous, selfless, and a positive role model for young women.”

Back row: NYS Assemblyman Michael Durso joins Carol D’Amato, Dawn Dahill, Michelle Panetta, and Robin Hepworth. Front row: Denise Heegan, Donna Marano, Deirdre Trumpy, and Gaby Paulino-Pena. Not pictured: Theresa DePietto and Debra Ragusa

MPK Village festivities light up holiday season start

By MIKE POLANSKY Correspondent

The Village of Massapequa Park marked the start of the holiday season Sa., Nov. 30, with a Christmas tree and menorah lighting at Village Square. Over a thousand residents gathered around Front Street and Park Boulevard to enjoy the festivities.

Massapequa Park Mayor Daniel Pearl led the celebration, welcoming the crowd to the annual event. “Let this moment remind us that the light we create can brighten the world around us,” he said.

Pearl introduced State Assemblyman and Village resident Michael Durso, who then recognized other elected officials in attendance: Nassau County Legislator James

Kennedy, Town of Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato, Oyster Bay Town Councilmembers Tom Hand, Steve Labriola and Lou Imbroto, Massapequa Park Deputy Mayor Tina Schiaffino, and Village Trustees Todd Svec, Christine Wiss and Dana Durso.

Pearl also noted that Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, who was unable to attend, was busy supporting the Massapequa High School Chiefs football team in their Long Island Championship game against William Floyd High School. (The Chiefs won!)

The lighting ceremony began with the menorah, which was illuminated by local resident Faye Grand, her daughter Shannon, and grandson Jonathan. Next, the Christmas tree

lights were switched on by Stephanie Dillon, widow of Massapequa Park NYPD Detective Jonathan Dillon, and their infant son Ryan. Entertainment throughout the evening included a performance of Christmas carols by the Village A Cappella Singers and dance routines by the Massapequa High School Chiefettes. Santa and Mrs. Claus also

made a special appearance, with Santa reminding the children in the crowd, “I’ll be back in 25 days!”

Massapequa High School students Tiffany Gfrerer and Luciana Di Liberto also performed, with Tiffany singing the National Anthem and Luciana closing the ceremony with a rendition of “God Bless America.”

Kwani O’Pharrow wins 11th AD

of living, housing and public safety as the top issues facing the district.

Once in Albany, O’Pharrow plans to bridge this gap through community meetings and innovative outreach strategies aimed at engaging working families. “We need to find a way to get those communities and those families out to these meetings to let them know what’s going on,” he said, stressing that local government has a responsibility to support citizens during changing times.

As a U.S. Navy veteran, O’Pharrow is committed to supporting fellow veterans. “They signed up and fought for our country; we need to support them,” he said.

His NYPD career provided extensive experience in community engagement, he added, because he served in various roles, including school officer, community patrol officer, domestic violence officer, and gang investigations officer.

He also worked in the Intelligence Bureau, protecting dignitaries such as Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. “I’ve seen a lot and done a lot, and those experiences are going help me when I am in office,” O’Pharrow said.

He emphasizes a bipartisan approach to politics, saying, “I always believe that we can have an honest conversation, whether we are Republican or Democrat. It’s a two-way street, and we can learn from each other.”

O’Pharrow and his wife, Cindy, have four children—Danielle, Benni, Kwani and Shirley—as well as five grandchildren. In his free time, O’Pharrow enjoys gardening, spending time with family,, traveling and watching movies.

Cardinale ran on a platform calling for an end to bail reform and increased funding for Long Island’s infrastructure He is also a retired police officer and a resident of Amityville for six years.

MPK hikes landscaping fees

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 income households within the Village. These funds, allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, are distributed to local municipalities, including Massapequa Park, for use based on community needs.

The next regular Village Board meeting will be held on December 13. Work session begins at 6 p.m.; public meeting at 7 p.m., Village Hall, 151 Front St., Massapequa Park. For more information, call the Village at 516798-0244.

Santa, Mrs. Claus, and friends gather after the ceremony.

The Massapequa High School Chiefettes entertain the crowd.

TRANSFORMATIVE PLAN FOR CTE AND FINE & PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS

Roof repairs and security measures also included in the bond plan PLAN

TRANSFORMADOR PARA LOS PROGRAMAS CTE Y DE BELLAS ARTES ESCÉNICAS

Reparaciones de tejados y medidas de seguridad también incluidas en el plan de Bonos

PROPOSITION 1: Roof repairs and electrical upgrades / PROPOSITION 2: CTE and Fine & Performing Arts Enhancements*

PROPUESTA 1: Reparaciones de techos y mejoras eléctricas / PROPUESTA 2: Mejoras en CTE y Bellas Artes y Artes Escénicas*

Massapequa’s standout athlete students earn county-wide honor

Massapequa High School seniors Leo Lin and Katie Ogurick have been selected as recipients of the Outstanding Physical Education Student Award.

This award is presented by the Nassau Zone of New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Each high school in Nassau County selects one male and one female student to receive this award. Massapequa’s physical education teachers selected Leo and Katie for exemplifying exceptional physical performance, scholastic ability and leadership qualities.

They stand out in their physical education classes by demonstrating effort and enthusiasm during all activities, as well as a desire to help and encourage classmates.

“When looking for the recipients of this award, the teachers seek individuals who work incredibly hard during activity time, are selfless and willing to help others throughout the class period and are respectful towards every member of the class,” said Brian Rath, the high school’s physical education chairperson and athletic coordinator.

“Leo and Katie are two individuals who demonstrate a love for physical activity and healthy competition.”

In addition to their active participation in class, they are both athletes.

Leo is a member of the tennis team and does martial arts outside of school, and Katie plays field hockey and lacrosse for Massapequa. The students were to be recognized along with other Zone Award winners at a dinner on Dec. 9 at

Inn at New Hyde Park.

Magic of Lights show illuminating Jones

Beach through January 4

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Live Nation invites visitors to enjoy the Magic of Lights showing now in Jones Beach State Park.

Experience the festive lights from the comfort of your own car as you wind through the sparkling path of Jones Beach’s new holiday tradition. The display of over one million lights runs at dusk, approximately 5 p.m., through Jan. 4, 2025.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the entrance. Standard vehicle pricing starts at $30 Monday—Thursday and $35 Friday—Sunday. You can purchase tickets in advance at: https://magicoflights.com/locations/jonesbeach/.

The experience features favorite holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and dig-

ital animations. There is also a holiday village, with a North Pole Café, a walkthrough selfie present, illuminating mega trees, special nightly activations, holiday merchandise, holiday movies, and more.

Santa will be at the Holiday Village every night through December 23 The Grinch will appear Dec. 24 through January 4. The village will feature special added attractions and there wiil be a Pet Adoption Night on December 11

For more information, visit parks. ny.gov.

Massapequa Kiwanis Club presents annual ‘Christmas at the Cabin’

The Massapequa Kiwanis Club will be holding its annual Christmas at the Cabin on Sat., Dec. 14 at the Kiwanis Log Cabin at John J. Burn Park from 2 to 6 p.m.

The event will feature hot cocoa, cookies, popcorn, Christmas carols, and Santa! Bring your cameras. Admission is a donation of non-perishable food items for the lo-

cal food pantry and/or a new or used book to be donated to the Book Fairies.

The Kiwanis Log Cabin is located at 5158 Merrick Rd., Massapequa (Southeast Corner by the boat ramp.)

For more information, visit massapequakiwanis.org or email massapequakiwanis@gmail.com.

Principal Barbara Lowell and Physical Education Chairperson Brian Rath congratulated Katie and Leo on the recognition

The

Massapequa High School seniors Katie Ogurick and Leo Lin, this year’s award recipients

Registration for co-ed fitness classes underway

Residents who are interested in maintaining or improving their levels of fitness can register for the Town’s popular Co-Ed Fitness Classes at the Hicksville Athletic Center. Classes will kick off in January 2025 and run for 10 weeks. They are offered to individuals 18 years of age or older.

“The Town’s popular co-ed recreational programs provide a great outlet for our residents to exercise and stay in shape while making new friends,” said Councilwoman Laura Maier. “These fun classes offer an opportunity to stay physically active, creating an optimal environment for fitness and forging new friendships!”

This winter, residents can participate in a variety of fitness classes that will be held at the Hicksville Athletic Center:

•Ballroom Dancing: Saturdays, from 7pm to 8pm, beginning January 11th.

•Cardio Kickboxing: Thursdays, from 7:30pm to 8:30pm, beginning January 9th.

•Pilates: Mondays, from 8pm to 9pm, beginning January 6th.

•Yoga: Residents can choose their session from the following: Saturdays (beginning January 11th) from 9am to 10am, Sundays (beginning January 5th) from 9am to 10am, Tuesdays (beginning January 7th) from 8pm to 9pm and Thursdays (beginning January 9th) from 7am to 8am.

•Zumba: Mondays (beginning January 6th) from 6:45pm to 7:45pm or Wednesdays (beginning January 8th) from 7:30pm to 8:30pm.

Registration is available online by visiting oysterbaytown.com/sports. Residents must upload proof of residency (tax or utility bill) and a valid identification card such as a driver’s license. Non-residents may register at a slightly higher fee. Mats will not be provided; patrons must bring their own mats to Yoga and Pilates. The schedule is subject to change. If a session is cancelled, make-up day(s) will be attempted. For more information, or to inquire about special holiday scheduling, please call (516) 797-7945 or email tobparks@oysterbay-ny.gov

PSEG LI employees provide veterans with coats, boots, food—and much gratitude

November was a busy suppport month for PSEG Long Island employees, many of whom are military veterans, as they aided local veterans with several initiatives across Long Island.

“Our Military Tuesday events, the Thanksgiving meal giveaway with Long Island Cares, and other activities allow us to thank local veterans around Veterans Day and Thanksgiving,” said David Lyons, PSEG Long Island’s interim president and COO. “These events, including the Stand Down event in Nassau County, help hundreds of veterans stay warm and enjoy the holiday season.”

On Nov. 22, PSEG Long Island volunteers distributed winter coats, boots, and essentials to over 400 veterans at the Stand Down event, with items donated by PSEG Long Island to General Needs veterans’ assistance organization.

On Nov. 17, 10 employees volunteered at the 9-1-1 Veterans event in Lindenhurst, helping distribute turkeys, sides, and desserts to 500 veterans.

Just before Thanksgiving, over two dozen employees braved cold weather

in Hauppauge to distribute complete Thanksgiving meal kits—turkeys, pies, and sides—to over 500 veterans and their families, in partnership with Long Island Cares and the Suffolk County Veteran Service Agency. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine joined to help distribute the items.

Additionally, PSEG Long Island hosted two Military Appreciation Tuesdays at Long Island Cares pantries in November, where volunteers assisted veterans with groceries and shared information on energy-saving programs. More than 1,000 veterans were served.

PSEG Long Island employees support veterans year-round, including through events like the Suffolk County Stand Down, distributing fresh produce and essentials, and wreath-laying ceremonies at national cemeteries. Several employees also participated in the 22-mile PTSD Awareness Challenge across the Long Island Sound.

For more information on the PSEG Long Island support, and how you can help, go to: psegliny.com/community

Bird walk at Jones Beach Sun. Dec. 15

Join the South Shore Audubon Society for a bird walk in the west end of Jones Beach State Park on Sun., Dec. 15. The group meets at the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station Parking Area. The entrance for the Coast Guard Station and West End Boat Basin is on Bay Drive going west.

Bring binoculars. Walk leaders and

other birders and nature enthusiasts will be happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. The bird walk is free.

To register, text your name and contact information to 516 467-9498. Rain, snow or temperature below 25 degrees F will cancel the walk. Text regarding questionable conditions.

Farmingdale runner Luke Ferraiolo lauded as News12 Scholar Athlete

Farmingdale High School senior Luke Ferraiolo has been recognized as a News 12 Scholar Athlete winner. Excelling in cross country and track, Ferraiolo was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Bethpage Federal Credit Union to acknowledge his accomplishments.

Each year, News 12 and Bethpage Federal Credit Union honor 30 exceptional student-athletes from Long Island who showcase excellence in sports and academics. Ferraiolo is the fifth recipient of this esteemed award this year and has been invited to the ScholarAthlete celebration in June to celebrate with his fellow honorees.

Joined by his parents, younger brother Cole, Athletic Director Jeanne

Berkoski, Coaches Ken Garcia and Thomas Londino, Guidance Counselor Jackie Verre and Principal Jim Her man, Ferraiolo was celebrated by News 12 and Bethpage Federal Credit Union for his outstanding academic achieve ments and athletic skills.

Ferraiolo is a two-time All-County cross-country runner and has also earned track accolades. He participates in swimming, volunteers for Little League, leads the Varsity Club with over 100 athletes and is on the brink of becoming a published science research er.

Additionally, Ferraiolo is a member of the Farmingdale High School March ing Band, where he plays the baritone and euphonium.

Registration underway for O’Bay’s popular co-ed fitness classes

Residents who are interested in maintaining or improving their levels of fitness can register for the Town of Oyster Bay’s popular Co-Ed Fitness Classes at the Hicksville Athletic Center.

Classes begin in January 2025 and run for 10 weeks at a cost of $60. They are geared to individuals 18 years of age or older.

“The Town’s popular co-ed recreational programs provide a great outlet for our residents to exercise and stay in shape while making new friends,” said Councilwoman Laura Maier. “These fun classes offer an opportunity to stay physically active, creating an optimal environment for fitness and forging new friendships.”

A variety of fitness classes will be held at the Hicksville Athletic Center:

•Ballroom Dancing: Saturdays, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., beginning January 11.

•Cardio Kickboxing: Thursdays, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., beginning January 9.

•Pilates: Mondays, from 8 p.m. to 9

p.m., beginning January 6.

•Yoga: session from the following: Saturdays (beginning January 11) from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Sundays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Tuesdays (begin ning January 7) from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursdays (beginning January 9) from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

•Zumba: 6) from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. or Wednes days (beginning January 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Registration is available online by visiting dents must upload proof of residency (tax or utility bill) and a valid identification card such as a driver’s license. Non-res idents can register for $70. Patrons must bring their own mats to Yoga and Pilates. The schedule is subject to change.

For more information, or to in quire about special holiday scheduling, call oysterbay-ny.gov

Leaders bring communities together

By Renee DeLorenzo

At this year’s annual Herald Top Chief Officers of Long Island Awards, hosted by RichnerLIVE on Nov. 20, Long Island’s top officers proved that leadership is much more than just calling the shots. Being a leader comes with a lot of responsibility, and it means a little something different to everyone who serves in such a position. But one thing is certain: No one can do it alone.

Nearly 300 people gathered at the Heritage Club at Bethpage to celebrate excellence in leadership. Representing a wide range of industries including health care, education, utilities, nonprofits and finance, the group of business influencers came together for a night of honor and recognition.

Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health and this year’s recipient of the prestigious Trailblazer Award, stepped on stage to a wave of applause, and spoke about the health care industry and what it means to come together as a community. “I don’t think there’s any substitute for being in a room together as a collective, because you share and you learn,” Dowling said.

For the other honorees at the ceremony, bringing communities together is vital to their success. Ross Turrini and Jim Flannery, of National Grid and National Grid Ventures, respectively, shared those sentiments. Being a leader, they said, means focusing on the people they serve.

For Turrini, chief operating officer of National Grid’s New York gas operations, that means communicating honestly. “You’ve got to be able to have honest communication and conversations,” he said. “Not only with your employees, but with policymakers, legislators, our customers, and folks in the community who you serve. You have to be able to build trust.”

Flannery, COO of National Grid Ventures, U.S. Northeast, said the very reason he was there was because of the community he has built at the company. “The nomination is really a reflection of the people I work with,” he said, adding that his role at the company is forming a workforce that feels like family. “A leader needs to be one who cares about people, listens to people, who can galvanize people around a cause,” he said.

Diane Walsh and Gurjit Singh, of Prager Metis, said that the reason they were there was the amazing people they are privileged to work with daily.

Walsh, chief marketing officer of Prager Metis, said, “I think it’s really important for the community, not only for personal recognition, but for recognition of the firm and everybody we work with every day. They all make us the top chiefs.”

Singh, Prager Metis’s chief information officer, agreed, saying the recognition goes beyond his accounting firm. The acknowledgment of everyone else in the room, Singh said, was just as important. “I think everyone’s deserving — no one’s really above or below,” he said.

The connection between leadership and community was evident throughout the night. The idea that personal recognition is only possible because of the communities top officers serve is a tenet of the best leadership. “It’s all about having good people around you,” Dowling said. “It’s not about an individual situation. It’s about who you put around you. You prove that you’re smarter when you hire people smarter than you.”

He added that success is about the relationships with the people he works with, the people he serves, and the people he meets who share these values, such as those at the Heritage Club that night. “Everyone is going to leave here better than they did when they came in because of the relationships they’re making,” he said.

Stuart Richner, chief executive of Richner Communications and publisher of Herald Community

Media, noted the importance of bringing the leaders together and recognizing the value of what they do.

“Leadership is about more than reaching goals,” Richner said. “It’s about creating a ripple effect of positive change in the organizations and communities we serve. The individuals we honor tonight exemplify

that spirit, making Long Island a better place for all.” A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the Michael Magro Foundation, which supports children with cancer and other pediatric illnesses.

For a full list of sponsors and honorees, go to RichnerLive.com/2024TCOA.

Tim Baker/Herald photos Guests network during the cocktail hour.

Keynote speaker and President of Northwell Health, Michael Dowling gives the keynote speech.

Chief Executive Officer of Harmony Health Care Stacey C. Jackson-Harley, RN MA.

Amit Shah, Senior Vice President of Prine Health (left) poses with Stuart Richner Chief Executive Officer of Richner Communications (right).

Guests listen to keynote speaker, President of Northwell Health, Michael Dowling.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Joseph Verdirame, Chief Executive Officer, of Alliance Healthcare poses with his award.

Christina Armentano Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Paraco.

Chief Marketing Officer, Prager Metis, Diane Walsh.

Randell M. Bynum, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Nassau County.

Ross Turrini, Chief Operating Officer of New York Gas National Grid.

Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP Managing Partner, Howard Stein and Marketing Director Mojan Masuomi.

Nicole W. Joseph, MSc, Chief Operating Officer & Finance Director of CM Law PLLC.

Lisa Burch President and Chief Executive Officer of EPIC Long Island, Inc.

Chief Operating Officer, Guardian Bus Company, Michael Tornabe.

Chief Information Officer, Prager Metis, Gurjit Singh.

F’dale Playcrafters produce ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’

Farmingdale Playcrafters recently presented “The Hunchback of Notre Dame “to packed audiences. The production explored profound themes ,such as faith, power, discrimination, isolation and sacrifice, delivering a strong message of acceptance that resonated with both the cast and the audience.

The Playcrafters’ adaptation of Victor Hugo’s gothic novel was brought to life through a captivating musical score from Walt Disney Pictures’ 1996 animated film “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” featuring compositions by Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.

Director Jessica Mischke, while searching for a performance for this year’s Playcrafters production, said that she was enchanted by the beautiful music and emotional richness of “The Hunchback.”

“I knew that this cast, with their remarkable talent, would embrace the challenge of this complex score and bring it to life with grace and authenticity,” said Mischke.

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” requires a cast of performers adept in character development through movement and storytelling and above all, powerful singers. Fortunately, the Playcrafter’s ensemble includes many seasoned drama students and several musicians and vocalists recognized by NYSSMA. Senior Bobby Silverstein took on the role of Dom Claude Frollo, the archdeacon of Notre Dame Ca

Quasimodo, the bell-ringer of Notre Dame, was portrayed by Junior William Herbert. Senior Madelyn Jimenez was Esmeralda, a young and strong-willed Romani woman who fights for the fair treatment of others.

Junior Nicholas Suwalski played Phoebus, the new captain of the Cathedral Guard, who finds himself conflicted between duty and morality due to Frollo’s biased commands.

Junior Devin Williams embodied Clopin, the cunning Romani leader and entertainer known as the King of the Gypsies. Seniors Clayton Bany, Alex Petrosini and Tori Morra, junior Lea Fredonis, sophomores Jesse Arcuri and Ava Guzman, and freshman Lincoln Keena completed the cast.

The Gargoyles and Statues were brought to life by a skilled ensemble of actors, many of whom took on multiple roles during the performance. Supporting the main cast was a group of talented emerging performers who portrayed local townsfolk, gypsies, and members of the congregation and choir.

This remarkable ensemble, showcasing talent from every grade level, highlights the strength and appeal of the theater program within the Farmingdale School District. Under the direction of Mischke, the cast has dedicated themselves to bringing their production to life, highlighting not only their individual talents but also their collaborative spirit.

At Farmingdale High School’s theater, the exceptional score from the 1996 film was brought to life by the skilled Pit Orchestra,

Paris thanks to the impressive set design and construction by Jamie Capasso and Erik Chocianowski. Finally, the lighting and sound were expertly managed by Joseph Hasset, Jamie Capasso, Matthew Hobbes and. Corey Sterler.

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” marks Mischke’s eleventh venture as a director for a Playcrafter’s musical. Her brother and assistant director, Erik Mischke, plays a crucial role in every production. Together, they have fond memories of watching Disney’s adaptation of “The Hunchback” during their childhood, making it particularly meaningful for them. They said they were thrilled to have the chance to bring this cherished tale to life on stage.

“I hope the Playcrafters’ rendition of ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ inspires you to strive to be compassionate, to see beyond appearances, and to

championing excellence.

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STEPPING OUT

sparkles on local stages

A festive tradition that always delights

By Karen Bloom

‘Tis the season when Sugar Plum Fairies and various figments of a young girl’s imagination come alive. The beloved holiday confection is forever in style.

New York Dance Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’ New York Dance Theatre offers its 42nd season of the holiday classic, presented in the style of the legendary George Balanchine, returning to the John Cranford Adams Playhouse stage at Hofstra University. This production wraps up the company’s celebration of its 50th anniversary on Long Island.

NYDT closely follows the George Balanchine tradition — from storyline through choreography, sets and costumes. It’s the largest production on Long Island, according to Artistic Director and NYDT alumna Nicole Loizides Albruzzese. Her version keeps to the tone set by the company’s founder Frank Ohman, which remains true to the spirit of New York City Ballet’s Lincoln Center production. As a former student and New York City Ballet soloist under George Balanchine, Ohman was one of a select few authorized to use his mentor’s original pas de deux choreography, which continues to distinguish this production, along with costumes and props gifted by Balanchine.

Through the years Ohman supplemented Balanchine’s iconic vision with original dances and scenes. Loizides Albruzzese — who was a student at Ohman School of Ballet (a division of NYDT) under Ohman and performed most of the children’s roles in “The Nutcracker” during her time there (returning as a professional dancer in the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy before her international dance career) — faithfully follows in her mentor’s footsteps in keeping to the Balanchine standard.

“This year has been about celebrating our roots and expanding the reach of the company and the Ohman School of Ballet, also marking a milestone at 45 years,” Loizides Albruzzese says. She returns to the NYDT stage as Frau Silberhaus in the opening Party Scene, alongside Glen Cove’s North Shore Village Theatre Founder-Artistic Director Christopher Moll as Herr Silberhaus. New York City Ballet soloist Erica Pereira and principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht return as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Joseph J. Simeone, whose credits include City Center’s “A Chorus Line” and Susan Stroman’s Degas-inspired “Little Dancer” at the Kennedy Center, joins NYDT this year as the mysterious Herr Drosselmeier.

In all, a cast of 80 children, pre-professional and professional dancers bring this classic story ballet to life. The kids’ roles are performed by Frank Ohman School of Ballet and the School of American Ballet (the home school of New York City Ballet) students.

As an added treat, audiences can enter into the 1820s German family’s household where “The

The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier are an enchanting pair as seen in Eglevesky Ballet’s production.

Nutcracker” unfolds during the semi-immersive pre-show experience. Everyone is invited into the Silberhaus home before the curtain rises, with the sights, smells and sounds of the Christmas Eve party that is the setting for Clara’s dream.

Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21-22, noon and 5 p.m. Tickets start at $33. Hofstra University, John Cranford Adams Playouse, Hempstead. For tickets, visit NYDTNutcrackerTickets or call (631) 462-0964.

Eglevsky Ballet’s reimagined ‘The Nutcracker’

Long Island’s professional dance company, the Eglevsky Ballet, welcomes all to its inventive staging of Clara’s delightful journey, at the Tilles Center. Boston Ballet principals Ji Young Chae and Jeffrey Cirio Miller reprise their roles as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, Also of note, star of ballet, Broadway and screen Georgina Pazcoguin appears as the Dew Drop Fairy.

The beloved story — featuring additional choreography by Executive Artistic Director Maurice Brandon Curry — is danced with inventive staging enhanced by Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, stunning costumes and a cast of over 60 students and professional dancers. The longest, continuously running ‘Nutcracker’ on Long Island, Eglevsky Ballet has presented it as a holiday gift to audiences since 1961. This exciting production, accompanied by Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, is a vibrant representation of the trajectory in which Curry is leading the organization.

Among his innovations, Curry has reinterpreted the central first act pas de deux in the prelude to “Waltz of the Snowflakes,” which is usually danced by the Snow Queen and Snow King. Instead Curry has the music (his personal favorite in the ballet) performed by Clara, danced by Eglevesky Ballet’s Ayne Kim and Enzo Castillo as The Nutcracker Prince.

“Having this pas de deux danced by these two intensifies the connection between the two characters,” Curry says. “We see the arc of their relationship and gives the opportunity for Clara’s dream to have a more poignant and personal effect on our audiences.”

Saturday, Dec. 21, 1 and 6 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 22, 2 p.m. $59-$89. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, Rte. 25A, Brookville. For tickets, visit tillescenter.org or ticketmaster.com or call (516) 299-3100.

The Hot Sardines

The band brings their distinctive sound back to the Landmark stage, with a “Holiday Stomp,” a raucous Christmas celebration that includes timeless classics and original tunes. The Hot Sardines reinvents 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 landed them at the center of a whirlwind. 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.

Saturday, Dec. 14, 8 p.m. $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.

Celtic Woman’s White Christmas

The Grammy-nominated, multiplatinum Irish-singing sensation rings in the holidays with their inimitable style. This is a rare opportunity to hear Celtic Woman’s harmonies with a full symphony orchestra. Hear their favorite Yuletide songs: “Silent Night,” “Carol of the Bells,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Deck the Halls,” and more, along with Celtic Woman favorites “Danny Boy,” “Amazing Grace” and “You Raise Me Up.” In the 20 years since their debut, Celtic Woman has introduced some of Ireland’s most talented singers and musicians to the world stage. Their fresh fusion of traditional Irish music and contemporary songcraft celebrates Ireland’s history while reflecting its modern vibrant spirit.

Thursday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m. $129.50, $99.50, $79.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.

Courtesy MCA Photos LLC

The party scene is among the ballet’s many dazzling moments that unfold in New York Dance Theatre’s staging.

Courtesy Eglevesky Ballet

Your Neighborhood Light Keepers Behind the Scenes Tour

THE

Yellow Brick Joel

Relive the classic songs that define generations when Yellow Brick Joel brings you the ultimate Elton John and Billy Joel experience, on the Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair stage, Friday, dec. 27, 8 p.m. David Clark performs as Billy Joel along with Bill Connors as Elton John in this thoroughly entertaining and faithful tribute to the Face To Face/Face 2 Face tours of the 1990s and 2000s. Experience a spirited concert celebrating the two greatest ‘Piano Men’ of our generation with hits like “I’m Still Standing,” “Rocket Man,’ “Piano Man” and “You May Be Right” along with some deeper fan performances like “Honky Cat”, “Funeral For A Friend”, “Miami 2017”, and “Captain Jack”! A tribute to two of the greatest piano players and performers of all time couldn’t be set up any other way! On one side of the stage, you’ll have Clark playing the role of Billy Joel for the night. Opposite him is Connors as Elton John with Elton’s requisite flamboyant style. Enjoy an incredible night as two of the greatest musical icons come to life in this special concert! Groove to the vibe at this one-of-a-kind performance where these two talents go head-tohead as Elton John and Billy Joel delivering unforgettable music and showmanship. Whether you’re a fan of Billy’s heartfelt ballads or Elton’s electrifying anthems, this tribute concert is sure to leave you feeling like you’ve seen the real thing! Tickets start at $28. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. Tickets available at LiveNation.com.

Massapequa Kiwanis Club’s Christmas at the Cabin

Massapequa Kiwanis invites all to their annual Christmas at the Cabin, Saturday, dec. 14, 2-6 p.m., at the Kiwanis Log Cabin at John J. Burn Park. Enjoy hot cocoa, cookies, popcorn, Christmas carols, and Santa! Bring your cameras. Admission is a donation of non-perishable food items for the local food pantry and/or a new or used book to be donated to the Book Fairies. For more information, visit massapequakiwanis.org or email massapequakiwanis@ gmail.com. 5158 Merrick Road, Massapequa (southeast corner by the boat ramp.)

Teen Python technology workshop

Students in grades 6-12 can learn the latest coding at Massapequa Public Library, Thursday, dec. 12, 6-7:30 p.m. for students in grades 6-12. For more information and to register, call (516) 799-0770. Massapequa Public Library, 40 Harbor Lane, Massapequa Park.

Poetry Group meeting

Join fellow poets at Farmingdale Public Library, Wednesday, dec. 18, 7-8 p.m., and share your work with other poets. No registration is required. For more information, call (516) 249-9090. 116 Merritts Road, Farmingdale.

Follow a present-day Lighthouse Keeper on his rounds, Saturday, dec. 14, 10 a.m. This bottom-to-top tour takes you from the auxiliary generator and the Light Keepers workshop in the basement of the Keeper’s Quarters to the beacon in the lantern room of the lighthouse tower. Learn how Lighthouse Keepers in the 1860s to 2024 maintained the light. Includes a tour of the Lens Building, which houses our original first order Fresnel Lens, and the Boat House.

Tour takes approximately 2 /12 hours. $20, $15 for FILPS members. Reservations required. Limit 10 people. For more information call the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society at (631) 583-5327. 4640 Captree Island, Fire Island.

Introduction to LinkedIn Learning

Learn about LinkedIn Learning, Farmingdale Public Library, Tuesday, dec. 17, 1011 a.m. The online learning platform that provides uses with video courses that are taught by industry experts. To register, stop by the library or call (516) 249-9090 ext. 204 or 206. 116 Merritts Road, Farmingdale.

Behind the Holiday Hits

Do you want to hear the stories behind some of your favorite holiday songs? Massapequa Public Library hosts Holiday Hits, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 7-8:45 p.m. To register, visit shorturl.at/YKUJa. For more information, call (516) 7984607 ext. 6304. 40 Harbor Lane, Massapequa Park.

Model Train Show

The TMB Model Train Show opens Saturday, Nov. 30. It features its ever-exciting show of model trains running in dozens of interesting settings, Saturdays, Jan. 4, 18 and Feb. 8, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sundays, 1-5 p.m., on Dec. 15 and Jan. 5, 19 and Feb. 9, at the Upper Room Church.

With new scenic areas to discover as well as familiar sights and a wide variety of trains from prewar to the most modern O gauge trains, all set in 6,500 square feet of fun for the entire family. Admission is free. So, mark your calendars now. 722 Deer Park Ave., Dix Hills. For more information go to tmbmodeltrainclub.com.

Nina with a Twist

The Town of Oyster Bay’s Distinguished Artists Libraries Concert Series presents, Nina Et Cetera, at Bethpage Public Library, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2 p.m. Enjoy a blend of music from the past with a modern twist. 47 Powell Ave., Bethpage. For more information call (516) 931-3907.

Holiday Lights and Market

The Town of Babylon hosts a holiday market, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13-14, 6-9 p.m.

With vendors, food trucks, face painting, photos with Santa and a spectacular display of holiday lights. Admission is free.Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst.

Art Explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The dropin program continues, Saturday, Dec. 14, noon-3 p.m. Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit nassaumuseum.org to register or call (516) 484-9337.

Having an event?

‘A Christmas Carol’

The Argyle Theatre in Babylon Village presents, “A Christmas Carol,” with performances now through Sunday, Jan. 5 Broadway heavy hitters, Alan Menken (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors) and Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Seussical, Once on This Island), breathe fantastic new life into the classic tale of A Christmas Carol. The theatre is at 34 W. Main St., Babylon. To reach the box office, call (631) 230-3500 or email boxoffice@argyletheatre. com. To purchase tickets online, go to ci.ovationtix.com

Holiday on Ice

The Town of Oyster Bay presents “Holiday on Ice,” Saturday, Dec. 21, 4:30 p.m., at Town of Oyster Bay’s rink, 1001 Stewart Ave., Bethpage. For more information call (516) 797-4121.

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 will span 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.

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, and Sunday, Dec. 14-15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m 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 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.

New York Cracks Down on Puppy Mills with new ban on retail pet sales

New York’s Puppy Mill Pipeline

Act Takes Effect December 15

This Christmas, the familiar question “How much is that doggy in the window?” will no longer be heard in New York. On December 15, the state’s Puppy Mill Pipeline Act goes into effect, banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits. These animals are often sourced from largescale breeding operations known as “puppy mills,” where the health and well-being of both animals and parents are sacrificed for profit.

Signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul in December 2022, New York becomes the sixth state to enact such a ban, aiming to curb the rampant animal cruelty associated with puppy mill suppliers.

Puppy Mill Puppies and Parents Suffer

Pets, Pets, Pets...

JOANNE ANDERSON

Most puppy mills are in the Midwest, where puppies are taken from their mothers at too young an age, often with no genetic screening and minimal veterinary care. These puppies are then transported long distances, making them prone to diseases such as parvo, pneumonia, and hypoglycemia. Meanwhile, their parents remain trapped in tiny, decrepit cages, forced to breed continuously.

Some mills use “red door feeders” that limit the dogs’ access to humans, providing a week’s worth of food at a time. In 2021, there were over 10,000 licensed and unlicensed puppy mills in the U.S., breeding more than two million puppies annually.

It took animal advocates five years to pass this legislation in Albany. Retail pet stores that continue to sell pets after December 15 could face fines of up to $1,000 per violation. However, New Yorkers can still adopt pets from incorporated humane societies, animal rescues, or licensed breeders.

Pet Store Puppies Do Not Come from Responsible Breeders

Pet shops have had two years to adapt their business models, yet some Long Island store owners still claim the law is a surprise. These retailers often insist they obtain puppies from responsible breeders. However, responsible breeders do not sell puppies to pet stores. Breeders who care about animal welfare carefully screen for genetic flaws, educate potential owners, and often require contracts ensuring that they will take

back any puppies if necessary. The price of a well-bred dog from champion lines can be lower than that of a pet store puppy, which may come from irresponsible breeding practices.

Under the new law, pet stores can still charge reasonable rental fees to rescue groups for space to display pets for adoption. This could benefit rescue organizations that lack physical shelters and rely on foster care for adoptable pets. Meanwhile, retail pet stores that previously sold pets will close or shift focus to selling pet supplies, grooming, or boarding services.

A Kinder Pet Store Model

Major pet store chains like Petco and PetSmart have long adhered to a rescue model. Neither store has ever sold puppies or kittens. Instead, they offer their locations as adoption centers for shelters and humane groups at no charge. For example, Last Hope Animal Rescue operates two Petco and two PetSmart adoption centers, where cats and kittens stay until they find homes. The stores provide food and litter, while Last Hope volunteers care for the animals and coordinate adoptions. Additionally, Last Hope dogs visit the stores one weekend a month for adoption events.

This model also works on a smaller scale. In the 1980s and ‘90s, volunteers with the League for Animal Protection (LAP) operated out of a small pet food and grooming store, “Pet Paws,” in Lindenhurst. LAP cats were placed in foster care, while dogs were fostered or boarded at animal hospitals. Adoption paperwork and calls were handled at the store, where certain cats and kittens were brought for adoption when ready.

Libby Post, director of the New York State Animal Protection Federation, said the new law provides pet stores with an opportunity to rebrand themselves as humane businesses. “This retail rescue model enhances public relations”. Adopters of shelter animals from these stores often become lifelong customers for pet food, training, daycare, and grooming services. Pet stores profit, and the cruel practices of puppy mills come to an end.

As the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act takes effect, New York hopes to set a precedent for other states to follow, ending the cycle of animal cruelty in the pet trade once and for all.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The following are a list of public meetings and special events for the coming week: Please note: All meetings are subject to change without notice.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12

• The Long Island Dahlia Society: 9 a.m., Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Hwy., Great River. All are welcome. Come and learn how to care for your dahlias. Tubers will be available for sale starting in April. For more information, call (631)-972-8829 (leave message) or visit longislanddahlia.org

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13

•Simpson United Methodist Church Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 Locust Ave., Amityville. For more information, call (631)-789-2569

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14

• The Long Island Dahlia Society: 9 a.m., Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Hwy., Great River. All are welcome. Come and learn how to care for your dahlias. Tubers will be available for sale starting in April. For more information call (631)-972-8829 (leave message) or visit longislanddahlia.org.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15

• Simpson United Methodist Church Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 Locust Ave., Amityville. For more information, call (631)-789-2569.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16

•Nassau County Legislature: 1 p.m., Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building, 1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola. For more information, call (516)-571-6200.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17

• Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9592, 55 Hickory Lane, Levittown. Free weekly, in-person meeting of Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. For more information, call Steve at (631)-332-0552 or Jill at (516)-220-7808. All calls are confidential.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18

• Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Free weekly, virtual meeting of Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. For more information, call Steve at (631)-332-0552 or Jill at (516)-220-7808. All calls are confidential.

• The Long Island Dahlia Society: 9 a.m., Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Hwy., Great River. All are welcome. Come and learn how to care for your dahlias. Tubers will be available for sale starting in April. For more information call (631)-972-8829 (leave message) or visit longislanddahlia.org

Left: A puppy mill breeding female dog who has raised

litters.

Calendar items are printed for non-profit organizations, as space permits, or when an event, service or information is being sponsored by a profit-making organization without charge to readers. Submit items to us at Richner Communications, attn: Beacon Editor, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530; or email: dconsola@liherald.com at least two - three weeks prior to the publication date in which the item must appear. Sorry, but open-ended requests without the specific dates of the events are not acceptable. While we make every attempt to accommodate each request, we cannot guarantee publication of any items. For more information, call 516-5694000.

Above: Red door feeders in puppy mills contain enough dogfood to last a week.

many

AVISO DE REUNIÓN ESPECIAL DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR BOLETAS DE VOTO EN AUSENCIA, POR CORREO ANTICIPADO Y MILITARES Y REGISTRO PERSONAL

Distrito Escolar Libre de Farmingdale Union

Ciudades de Oyster Bay y BabiloniaCondados de Nassau y Suffolk, Nueva York TENGA EN CUENTA que el 7 de enero de 2025 (la "Fecha de las Elecciones") se llevará a cabo una Reunión Especial del Distrito Escolar Libre de la Unión de Farmingdale, las ciudades de Oyster Bay y los condados de Babylon, Nassau y Suffolk, Nueva York, en el West Gymnasium de la Escuela

Secundaria Weldon E. Howitt, en Farmingdale, Nueva York, a las 6:00 a.m. y las urnas se mantendrán abiertas para votar por máquina de votación electrónica entre las 6:00 a.m. a.m. y 9:00 p.m. hora prevaleciente, con el propósito de votar sobre las siguientes proposiciones:

PROPUESTA DE BONO NO. 1: REEMPLAZOS DE TECHOS Y SISTEMAS ELÉCTRICOS

Adopte la siguiente resolución, a saber:

SE RESUELVE, que la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Libre de la Unión de Farmingdale, por la presente se autoriza a reemplazar techos y mejorar los sistemas eléctricos y relacionados en varios edificios e instalaciones del Distrito Escolar, incluidos los muebles originales, equipos, maquinaria, accesorios, aparatos y mejoras incidentales y gastos relacionados con los mismos a un costo máximo estimado de $ 22,150,000, y que dicha cantidad, o la cantidad que sea necesaria, se recaudará mediante la imposición de un impuesto sobre la propiedad imponible de dicho Distrito Escolar y se recaudará en cuotas anuales según lo dispuesto en la Sección 416 de la Ley de Educación; y, en anticipación de dicho impuesto, se emitirán obligaciones de dicho Distrito Escolar.

PROPUESTA DE BONO NO. 2: MÚSICA Y EDUCACIÓN TÉCNICA

PROFESIONALMEJORAS EN LOS EDIFICIOS E INSTALACIONES DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR

Suponiendo que se

Public Notices — Your right to know

apruebe la Proposición Nº 1, se adoptará la siguiente resolución, a saber: SE RESUELVE, que la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Libre de la Unión de Farmingdale, Ciudades de Oyster Bay y los Condados de Babylon, Nassau y Suffolk, Nueva York, por la presente se autoriza a construir mejoras y adiciones y reconstruir la Escuela Secundaria Farmingdale, incluyendo mobiliario original, equipo, maquinaria, accesorios, aparatos y mejoras incidentales y gastos en relación con los mismos para la mejora de la educación técnica musical y profesional, a un costo máximo estimado de $55,850,000 y dicho monto, o tanto como puede ser necesario, se recaudará mediante la imposición de un impuesto sobre la propiedad imponible de dicho Distrito Escolar y se recaudará en cuotas anuales según lo dispuesto en la Sección 416 de la Ley de Educación, y en anticipación de dicho impuesto, se emitirán obligaciones de dicho Distrito Escolar.

DETERMINACIÓN DE SEQRA: Ambos proyectos de capital han sido determinados como una Acción No Listada de conformidad con las regulaciones del Departamento de Conservación Ambiental del Estado de Nueva York promulgadas de conformidad con la Ley de Revisión de la Calidad Ambiental del Estado ("SEQRA"), cuya implementación según lo propuesto, se ha determinado que no resultará en ningún impacto ambiental adverso significativo. Los materiales de cumplimiento de SEQRA están archivados en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito, donde pueden ser inspeccionados durante el horario regular de oficina.

VOTANTES CALIFICADOS: Los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar tendrán derecho a votar en dicha Reunión Especial del Distrito Escolar. Un votante calificado es aquel que: (1) un ciudadano de los Estados Unidos de América, (2) dieciocho (18) años de edad o más, y (3) residente dentro del Distrito Escolar durante un período de treinta (30) días antes de la elección especial, y que no tenga prohibido votar (es decir, mentalmente incompetente o delincuente convicto). Los votantes calificados deben ser votantes registrados para

poder votar en dicha Reunión Especial del Distrito.

INSCRIPCIÓN PERSONAL ADICIONAL: Por la presente también se notifica que, de conformidad con la Sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación y el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral, se requiere el registro personal de los votantes para dicha Reunión Especial del Distrito Escolar y ninguna persona tendrá derecho a votar a partir de entonces cuyo nombre no aparezca en el registro del Distrito Escolar o en las listas de registro personal permanente aplicables del Condado de Nassau o el Condado de Suffolk. Las personas calificadas para votar, que han sido registradas previamente para votar en el Distrito Escolar y votaron durante estos últimos cuatro (4) años calendario, no necesitan registrarse personalmente para esta elección especial. Las personas que se han registrado para votar en las elecciones municipales, del condado o nacionales de conformidad con la Sección 352 de la Ley Electoral no necesitan registrarse personalmente para esta elección especial. Todas las demás personas que deseen votar deben registrarse. Cualquier persona de dieciocho años de edad o más, y que sea ciudadano de los Estados Unidos, y residente del Distrito Escolar durante los treinta (30) días inmediatamente anteriores al día para votar (y que no tenga prohibido votar) tiene derecho a registrarse y votar. El registro se llevará a cabo con el propósito de registrar a todos los votantes calificados del Distrito de conformidad con §2014 de la Ley de Educación hasta el 2 de enero de 2025, entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m., hora prevaleciente, en todos los días regulares durante los cuales la oficina del Secretario del Distrito está en funcionamiento, ubicada en la Escuela Secundaria Weldon E. Howitt, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York, momento en el cual cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en dicho registro, siempre que en ese momento se sepa o se demuestre a satisfacción de dicho Secretario de Distrito que tiene derecho a votar en esa elección o en lo sucesivo en dicha elección para la cual se prepara el registro. El registro así preparado de conformidad con §2014

de la Ley de Educación se archivará en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, Escuela Intermedia Weldon E. Howitt, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York, y estará abierto para inspección por cualquier votante calificado del Distrito a partir del 3 de enero de 2025, entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m., hora prevaleciente, en días laborables, y cada día anterior al día fijado para la elección, excepto el domingo, y el sábado 4 de enero de 2025 con cita previa, y en el lugar de votación el día de la votación.

Dicha inscripción no se llevará a cabo menos de cinco días antes de la fecha de la Reunión Especial del Distrito Escolar.

De conformidad con §2014 de la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York, la Junta de Registro se reunirá el jueves 2 de enero de 2025, entre las 9:00 a.m. y la 1:00 p.m., hora prevaleciente, en la Escuela Secundaria Weldon E. Howitt, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York para preparar el Registro del Distrito Escolar que se utilizará en la Reunión Especial del Distrito. en cuyo momento cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en dicho Registro, siempre que en dicha reunión de dicha Junta de Registro se sepa o se demuestre, a satisfacción de dicha Junta de Registro, que tiene derecho a votar en la Reunión y Elección de Distrito Especial para la cual se prepara dicho Registro, o cualquier reunión especial de distrito que se lleve a cabo a partir de entonces.

BOLETAS DE VOTO AUSENTE Y POR CORREO

ANTICIPADO: También se notifica que las solicitudes de boletas de voto en ausencia y por correo temprano se pueden solicitar en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar. Cualquier solicitud de este tipo debe ser recibida por el Secretario del Distrito al menos siete días antes de la fecha de la mencionada Reunión Especial del Distrito Escolar si la boleta se va a enviar por correo al votante, o el día antes de dicha Reunión Especial del Distrito Escolar, si la boleta se va a entregar personalmente al votante. Las boletas de voto en ausencia y por correo anticipado deben recibirse antes de las 5:00 p.m. del 7 de enero de 2025, la fecha de la elección, en

la oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar. Una lista de todas las personas a las que se les hayan emitido boletas de voto en ausencia y de votante anticipado por correo estará disponible para inspección pública en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar, 50 Van Cott Avenue, en Farmingdale, Nueva York, no menos de cinco días antes de la fecha de la Reunión Especial del Distrito (excluyendo sábados y domingos) durante el horario regular de oficina que es entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m. hasta la fecha de lo mencionado anteriormente Reunión y Elección Especial del Distrito Escolar. Además, dicha lista también se publicará de manera visible en el lugar de votación durante las horas de dicha Reunión Especial del Distrito Escolar. Cualquier votante calificado puede, al examinar dicha lista, presentar una impugnación por escrito a las calificaciones de cualquier persona cuyo nombre aparezca en la lista de votantes ausentes o por correo anticipado y proporcionar las razones que por lo tanto conoce el Secretario del Distrito antes de la elección para su transmisión a los Inspectores de Elecciones antes del cierre de las urnas o directamente a los Inspectores de Elecciones el día de la votación antes del cierre de la votación. Encuestas. Cualquier impugnación por escrito de una boleta electoral anticipada por correo no se puede hacer sobre la base de que el votante debería haber solicitado una boleta de voto en ausencia.

VOTANTES MILITARES: Los votantes militares que son votantes calificados del Distrito pueden solicitar una boleta militar solicitando una solicitud al Secretario del Distrito en persona, por fax al (516) 756-6893 o rfullam@farmingdaleschools.org o por correo a la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, Distrito Escolar Libre de la Unión de Farmingdale, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York 11735. Para que a un votante militar se le emita una boleta militar, el Secretario del Distrito debe haber recibido una solicitud de boleta válida a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. del 12 de diciembre de 2024, la fecha 26 días antes de la fecha de la elección. En una solicitud de una solicitud de

boleta militar o boleta, el votante militar puede indicar su preferencia por recibir la solicitud o boleta por correo, transmisión de fax o correo electrónico. No se realizará el escrutinio de ninguna boleta militar a menos que se devuelva por correo o en persona y (1) se reciba en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito antes del cierre de las urnas en la fecha de la Reunión Especial del Distrito Escolar y que muestre una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o mostrando un endoso fechado de recibo por otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) recibido por la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. en la fecha de la Reunión Especial del Distrito Escolar y firmado y fechado por el votante militar y un testigo de la misma, con una fecha que se determina que es a más tardar el día antes de la Reunión Especial del Distrito Escolar.

CANCELACIÓN POR NIEVE U OTRA EMERGENCIA: En el caso de un clima u otra emergencia que requiera la cancelación de la reunión del 7 de enero de 2025, dicha Reunión Especial de Distrito se llevará a cabo el 14 de enero de 2025 a la hora y lugar antes mencionados. Fechado: Farmingdale, Nueva York, 9 de octubre de 2024. POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR LIBRE DE FARMINGDALE UNION, LAS CIUDADES DE OYSTER BAY Y BABYLON, CONDADOS DE NASSAU Y SUFFOLK, NUEVA YORK.

/s/Rosemarie Fullam Secretario del Distrito Escolar 24679B. 11/20, 27, 12/ 4, 11

Notice of formation of BELTAGH REALTY, LLC.  Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 11/06/24. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process.  SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC 1430 Horseshoe Drive Bellmore, NY 11710,USA. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 24-680. 11/20, 27, 12/4, 11, 18,25

NOTICE OF SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING

ABSENTEE, EARLY MAIL-IN AND MILITARY BALLOTS AND PERSONAL REGISTRATION

Farmingdale Union Free School District

Towns of Oyster Bay and Babylon Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Special School District Meeting of the Farmingdale Union Free School District, Towns of Oyster Bay and Babylon, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York, will be held on January 7, 2025 (the “Election Date”) in the West Gymnasium at the Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, in Farmingdale, New York, at 6:00 o’clock A.M. and the polls shall be kept open for voting by electronic voting machine between the hours of 6:00 o’clock A.M. and 9:00 o’clock P.M. Prevailing Time, for the purpose of voting upon the following propositions:

BOND PROPOSITION NO. 1: ROOF REPLACEMENTS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

Shall the following resolution be adopted, to wit:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Farmingdale Union Free School District, is hereby authorized to replace roofs and upgrade electrical and related systems at various School District buildings and facilities, including original furnishings, equipment, machinery, appurtenances, apparatus, and incidental improvements and expenses in connection therewith at a maximum estimated cost of $22,150,000, and that said amount, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be raised by the levy of a tax upon the taxable property of said School District and collected in annual installments as provided by Section 416 of the Education Law; and, in anticipation of such tax, obligations of said School District shall be issued.

BOND PROPOSITION

NO. 2: MUSIC AND CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICT BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

Assuming Proposition No. 1 is approved, shall the following resolution be ad-

Public Notices — Your right to

opted, to wit: RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Farmingdale Union Free School District, Towns of Oyster Bay and Babylon, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York, is hereby authorized to construct improvements and additions to and reconstruct Farmingdale High School, including original furnishings, equipment, machinery, appurtenances, apparatus, and incidental improvements and expenses in connection therewith for music and career technical education improvement, at a maximum estimated cost of $55,850,000 and said amount, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be raised by the levy of a tax upon the taxable property of said School District and collected in annual installments as provided by Section 416 of the Education Law, and in anticipation of such tax, obligations of said School District shall be issued.

SEQRA DETERMINATION: Both capital projects have been determined to be an Unlisted Action pursuant to the regulations of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation promulgated pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), the implementation of which as proposed, it has been determined will not result in any significant adverse environmental impact. SEQRA compliance materials are on file in the office of the District Clerk where they may be inspected during regular office hours.

QUALIFIED VOTERS: The qualified voters of the School District shall be entitled to vote at said Special School District Meeting. A qualified voter is one who is: (1) a citizen of the United States of America, (2) eighteen (18) years of age or older, and (3) resident within the School District for a period of thirty (30) days preceding the special election, and not otherwise prohibited from voting (i.e., mentally incompetent or convicted felon). Qualified voters must be registered voters in order to vote at said Special District Meeting.

ADDITIONAL PER -

SONAL REGISTRATION:

Notice is hereby also given that pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law and Article 5 of the Election

Law, personal registration of voters is required for said Special School District Meeting and no person shall be entitled to vote thereafter whose name does not appear upon the register of the School District or on the applicable permanent personal registration lists of the County of Nassau or County of Suffolk. Persons otherwise qualified to vote, who have been previously registered for School District voting and voted during these last four (4) calendar years, need not personally register for this special election. Persons who have registered to vote in town, county, or national elections pursuant to Section 352 of the Election Law need not personally register for this special election. All other persons who wish to vote must register. Any person eighteen years of age or over, and a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the School District for thirty (30) days next preceding the day for voting (and not otherwise prohibited from voting) is entitled to register and vote.

Registration shall be conducted for the purpose of registering all qualified voters of the District pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law through January 2, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., prevailing time, on all regular days during which the office of the District Clerk is in operation, located in the Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such register, provided that at such time he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of said District Clerk to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such election for which the register is prepared. The register so prepared pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk, Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on January 3, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., prevailing time, on weekdays, and each day prior to the day set for the election, except Sunday, and on Saturday, January 4, 2025

by appointment, and at the polling place on the day of the vote.

Such registration shall not take place less than five days preceding the date of the Special School District Meeting.

Pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law of the State of New York, the Board of Registration will meet on Thursday, January 2, 2025, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M., prevailing time, at the Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York to prepare the Register of the School District to be used at the Special District Meeting, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register provided that at such meeting of said Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of such Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the Special District Meeting and Election for which said Register is prepared, or any special district meeting held thereafter.

ABSENTEE AND EARLY MAIL BALLOTS: Notice is also hereby given that applications for absentee and early mail ballots may be applied for at the office of the School District Clerk. Any such application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the date of the aforesaid Special School District Meeting if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before such Special School District Meeting, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by 5:00 P.M. on January 7, 2025, the date of election, in the office of the School District Clerk. A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail voter’s ballots shall have been issued shall be available for public inspection in the office of the School District Clerk, 50 Van Cott Avenue, in Farmingdale, New York not less than five days prior to the date of the Special District Meeting (excluding Saturdays and Sundays) during regular office hours that are between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. until the date of the aforesaid Special School District Meeting and Election. In addition, such list shall also be posted con -

know

spicuously at the place of voting during the hours of such Special School District Meeting. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such list, file a written challenge to the qualifications of any person whose name appears on the list of absentee or early mail voters and provide reasons therefore known to the District Clerk prior to the election for transmittal to the Inspectors of Election before the close of the polls or directly to the Inspectors of Election on the day of the vote before the close of the polls. Any such written challenge to an early mail-in ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an absentee ballot.

MILITARY VOTERS:

Military voters who are qualified voters of the District may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk in person, by fax at (516) 756-6893 or rfullam@ farmingdaleschools.org or by mail to the Office of the District Clerk, Farmingdale Union Free School District, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York 11735. For a military voter to be issued a military ballot, the District Clerk must have received a valid ballot application not later than 5:00 P.M. on December 12, 2024, the date 26 days prior to the date of the election. In a request for a military ballot application or ballot, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application or ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail.

No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is returned by mail or in person and (1) received in the office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on the date of the Special School District Meeting and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 P.M. on the date of the Special School District Meeting and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the Special School District

Meeting. SNOW OR OTHER EMERGENCY CANCELLATION: In the event of a weather or other emergency which necessitates cancellation of the January 7, 2025 meeting, said Special District Meeting shall be held on January 14, 2025 at the aforementioned time and place.

Dated: Farmingdale, New York, October 9, 2024. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE FARMINGDALE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWNS OF OYSTER BAY AND BABYLON, NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES, NEW YORK. /s/ Rosemarie Fullam School District Clerk 24-679A 11/20, 27, 12/4, 11

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Matthew A. Knee, Consultants, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY} on 10/25/2024. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 2840 Rosebud Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566 Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 24-678. 11/13, 20, 27, 12/4, 11, 18

Notice is hereby given that a license, Application ID: NA-0340-24-144503 for liquor, beer, wine, and cider has been applied for by the undersigned to sell liquor, beer, wine, and cider at retail in a Restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 9 Broadway, Massapequa, NY 11758, County of Nassau, for on premises consumption at The Coffee Grind Inc. 24-685. 12/4, 11

Tips to make holiday dinners more affordable

“Eat, drink and be merry” is a familiar refrain come the holiday season. Hosting a holiday dinner is a great way to welcome family and friends and encourage them to embrace the festive nature of the season. However, the high cost of foods and other essentials may have certain holiday hosts rethinking their menus and their guest lists this year.

A 2024 Pew Research Poll showed Americans worried about the state of the economy cite the price of food and the cost of housing as their foremost concerns. More than 90 percent of Americans say they are “very” or “somewhat” concerned about the cost of food and consumer goods.

Average annual food-at-home prices were 5 percent higher in 2023 than in 2022, according to the USDA Economic Research Service. Inflation has been a key topic of discussion for much of the last three years. While data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates inflation continues to cool off from all-time highs, consumers are still anxious about how food prices are affecting their bottom lines and their holiday entertaining plans. According to Farmdoc Daily, which offers agriculture-based data analysis, 68 percent of U.S. consumers expected rising food prices to impact their holiday meals in 2023. Similar concerns may prevail in 2024.

Stretching holiday entertaining dollars comes down to being savvy. With that in mind, hosts can consider these meal modification strategies this holiday season.

• Replace a high-cost protein with a more affordable alternative. Sometimes a holiday meal calls for pulling out all of the stops, and that may mean spending more on a special main dish. Rather than a luxury like beef tenderloin or prime rib roast, consider a less expensive dish, such as a pork tenderloin, roasted chicken or even seafood.

• Add extra side dishes. Incorporate an inexpensive item like rice, beans or an extra vegetable side dish into the meal so that plates can be filled with the less expensive foods and fewer high-cost items.

• Shop the sales. Plan meals around a supermarket circular. While you may have had one holiday dinner idea in mind, once you see what the stores are putting on sale you can stock up on those items and build the dinner around them. If you find a good deal several weeks away from the holidays, buy the items and freeze them until they’re needed.

• Buy generic or store brands. Chances are no one will notice if you use generic or store brand ingredients, which can be considerably cheaper than their brandname counterparts. Many are even manufactured in the same facilities that produce the name brand stuff.

• Make an affordable drink. Alcohol costs can add up when you try to cater to everyone’s tastes and preferences. Make one or two bulk drinks, like a holiday punch or signature cocktail, so you can keep alcohol costs in check.

• Stretch the snacks. Instead of a charcuterie board filled with expensive cheeses and meats, opt for dips and raw vegetables or a low-cost cheese ball made with cream cheese and herbs with crackers. Keep snacks to a minimum; otherwise, guests may fill up and then not have room for dinner.

Holiday hosts can embrace various strategies to save money on family meals this season.

LMAS3

Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board of Appeals

TOWN HALL, AUDREY AVENUE, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK 11771-1592

- TELEPHONE: (516) 6246232 – FAX: (516) 624-6149

RITA BYRNE, Chairwoman – LOIS SCHMITT, Vice Chairwoman –KATHLEEN MULLIGAN

REBECCA M. ALESIA

–ANDREW MONTELEONE – LISA CICCOLELLA – FLORESTANO GIRARDI

*************************

PUBLIC HEARING CALENDAR

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 246-12 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on DECEMBER 19, 2024, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals: BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

APPEAL NO. 76199 - AMENDMENT MASSAPEQUA

JOANNE JABLONSKI: (A) Amend Decision of Zoning Board of Appeals, dated September 23, 1976 in order to Amend the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants to indicate a change in occupancy while still maintaining a Parent/Child relationship. (B) Extend the Special Use Permit to maintain an existing second kitchen in a one-family dwelling for use as a Parent/ Child residence.

SW/ cor. of S. Bay Ave. & Jefferson Pl., a/k/a 100 S. Bay Avenue, Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 21427 - AMENDMENT MASSAPEQUA

ROBERT ERICSON: (A) Amend Decision of Zoning Board of Appeals, dated October 7, 2021 in order to Amend the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants to indicate a change in occupancy while still maintaining a Parent/Child relationship. (B) Extend the Special Use Permit to maintain an existing second kitchen in a one-family dwelling for use as a Parent/Child residence.

N/s/o Berkeley Pl., 140 ft. W/o Seaford Ave., a/k/a 1 Berkeley Place, Massapequa, NY

Public Notices — Your right to know

APPEAL NO. 2291 - AMENDMENT MASSAPEQUA

JOSEPH & ROSEANNE

JARONCZYK: Amend Specific Plan as presented for Appeal No. 22-91 and granted by Decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals, dated March 10, 2022 and amended by Decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals, dated April 4, 2023 to allow existing driveway having less side yard setback.

N/s/o St. Marks Pl., 160 ft. W/o Seaford Ave., a/k/a 11 St. Marks Place, Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-414 MASSAPEQUA

LORRAINE TRAMONTANA & ROBERT SARACCO: (A) Variance to allow existing second kitchen in a one-family dwelling for use as a PARENT/CHILD residence. (B) Variance to allow parking 3 cars in tandem.

N/s/o Rhode Island Ave., 40 ft. E/o Bedford Ave., a/k/a 13 Rhode Island Avenue, Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-416 MASSAPEQUA

LORRAINE TRAMONTANA & ROBERT SARACCO: (A) Variance to allow existing second story rear wood deck with steps exceeding maximum building coverage, having less side yard setback and rear yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow existing air conditioning unit having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (C) Amend Specific Plan as presented for Appeal No. 59-478 and granted by Decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals, dated May 28, 1959 and amended by Decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals, dated February 28, 2002.

N/s/o Rhode Island Ave., 40 ft. E/o Bedford Ave., a/k/a 13 Rhode Island Avenue, Massapequa, NY

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING OF 12/19/24 PAGE 2

APPEAL NO. 24-430 MASSAPEQUA

ALEJANDRA VILLA: Variance to allow existing second kitchen in a onefamily dwelling for use as a PARENT/CHILD residence.

E/s/o Block Blvd., 70 ft. S/o Richard Pl., a/k/a 156 Block Boulevard, Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-469

MASSAPEQUA

CHELSEA CAVALLARO:

(A) Variance to reconstruct a new two-story, one family dwelling on partial existing and partial new foundation having less average front yard setback, rear yard setback, exceeding maximum building coverage and gross floor area than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow existing 8.4 ft. by 10.3 ft. shed and 6.9 ft. by 7 ft. shed having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance.

W/s/o Polo Rd., 76.78 ft. N/o Oxford Pl., a/k/a 47 Polo Road, Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-419

NORTH MASSAPEQUA

STEPHEN PORCARO:

(A) Variance to allow existing two story detached garage exceeding maximum number of stories and height than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow existing two story detached garage, 12 ft. by 10.3 ft. shed and canopy exceeding maximum building coverage of the principal building than permitted by Ordinance.

N/s/o N. Hawthorne St., 100 ft. E/o N. Central Ave., a/k/a 225 N. Hawthorne St., N. Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-472

FARMINGDALE

HAREESH KAVULLY:

(A) Variance to construct a second kitchen in a onefamily dwelling for use as a PARENT/CHILD residence.

(B) Variance for the reduction of off-street parking spaces. Reduction of spaces to 2 when 3 parking spaces are required.

N/s/o Miller Rd., 311.14 ft. W/o Florgate Rd., a/k/a 56 Miller Road, Farmingdale, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-542

FARMINGDALE

HAREESH KAVULLY:

(A) Variance to allow existing front brick patio having less front yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow existing shed having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (C) Variance to construct rear roof over, rear deck and allow existing shed exceeding maximum building coverage than permitted by Ordinance. (D) Variance to construct rear roof over and rear deck exceeding maximum gross floor area than permitted by Ordinance. (E) Amend Specific

Plan as presented for Appeal No. 68-204 and granted by Decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals, dated June 20, 1968.

N/s/o Miller Rd., 311.14 ft. W/o Florgate Rd., a/k/a 56 Miller Road, Farmingdale, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-350

MASSAPEQUA

TARA LERCH: (A) Variance to allow existing cellar entrance having less average front yard setback (Beverly Road) than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow existing 8.1 ft. by 10.1 ft. shed having less front yard setback (Beverly Road) than permitted by Ordinance. (C) Variance to allow existing front portico and platform with steps to grade having less average side/front yard setback (Brewster Road W.) than permitted by Ordinance. (D) Variance to allow existing rear masonry pool deck with masonry pool surrounding having less side yard setback and rear yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (E) Variance to allow existing 6 ft. high PVC fence exceeding maximum height across front yard (Beverly Road) and having less setback from pool than permitted by Ordinance. NE/ cor. Brewster Rd. W. & Beverly Rd., a/k/a 27 Brewster Road W., Massapequa, NY

DECEMBER 9, 2024 BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK 24-687 12/11

Notice is hereby given that a license, Application ID: NA-0340-24-145570 for liquor, beer, wine, and cider has been applied for by the undersigned to sell liquor, beer, wine, and cider at retail in a Restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 108 South St, Oyster Bay, NY 11771, County of Nassau, for on premises consumption at L'Etoile LLC. 24-688 12/11, 19

Classic holiday films the whole family can enjoy

Celebrants owe the joy of the holiday season to various components. Decor and gift-giving go a long way toward making December a joyous time of year. Holiday films also do their part to make the season so special. Many people have their own favorite holiday films, and the following are some that can engage viewers who are young or simply young at heart.

“A Christmas Story”

Released in 1983, this warmly nostalgic, humorous film is a perennial favorite among families. It follows the story of Ralphie, who has his heart set on a very specific Christmas present: a Red Rider BB gun. Amidst wintry exploits and family drama, the true spirit of Christmas manages to shine through in this beloved film. Some of the subject matter can be off-color, and there are some bullying scenes. So this is a movie best watched with children who are mature enough to make it through without being scared.

“Little Women”

Based on the Louisa May Alcott novel of the same name, the 1994 telling of this classic follows the March sisters, who confront financial difficulties, romance and family tragedies in mid-nineteenth century Massachusetts. While it’s not a traditional Christmas movie, the importance of spending time with family around Christmastime is a core theme in this coming-of-age tale.

“Klaus”

Perhaps not as well-known as other animated holiday flicks, “Klaus,” released in 2019, has a personality all its own. Postman Jesper, who is not making the grade at the postal academy, is sent to work in a frozen town in the North, where he discovers a reclusive toy maker named Klaus. The unlikely duo ultimately team up to make and deliver toys and bring smiles to children’s faces.

“Meet Me In St. Louis”

Starring the irreplaceable Judy Garland, this movie musical focuses on four sisters who are awaiting the 1904 World’s Fair in their hometown, but learn that their father has accepted a new job and the family must move to New York beforehand. A Christmas miracle occurs and all is right in the end. Garland sings a memorable version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in the film, solidifying this as a holiday classic.

“The Santa Clause”

This Disney film came out in 1994 and remains a family favorite. When divorced dad Scott (Tim Allen) accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit, he magically becomes the next Santa. He must learn to cope with the ways the transformation to the man in red interrupts his normal life, eventually giving over to the magic of Christmas.

“Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas”

Though this 1977 Jim Henson production is a television special and not a full-length feature film, Generation X likely remembers the heartfelt tale of a poor otter family who sacrifice prized possessions to have what’s needed to enter a talent contest. The goal is to win the prize money to buy special Christmas presents. Audiences get to enjoy narration by Kermit the Frog.

Films are a popular component that help to make the holiday season so special.

LMAS4

Public Notices — Your right to know

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

The Board of Education of the Plainedge Union Free School District invites the submission of Sealed Bid Proposals to furnish materials and labor to complete the Emergency Generator at Plainedge High School in accordance with the plans and specifications for the following category(ies) of work:

PLAINEDGE UNION

FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

EMERGENCY GENERATOR at Plainedge High School

Bid #24-001

SED No. 28-05-18-03-0003-039

Plainedge High School

CONTRACT E-1: ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION

Sealed Bid Proposals will be received until 11:00 A.M. prevailing time on January 9, 2025 at the School District Administration Office, 241 Wyngate Drive, N. Massapequa, N.Y. 11758, at which time and place the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Any bid may be withdrawn without prejudice prior to the official bid opening time or any publicized postponement thereof. Any bid received after the time and date stated above will be returned to the bidder unopened. Bidders are solely responsible for the arrival of each bid at the School District Administration Office by the appointed time, regardless of the means of delivery.

Bids must be presented on the standard bid proposal form(s) in the manner designated therein and as required by the Specifications. All bids must be addressed to the Purchasing Agent, Justine Stringer, District Administration Building, 241 Wyngate Drive, N. Massapequa, N.Y. 11758. All bids shall be sealed and in an opaque envelope that is distinctly marked on the outside as follows: “Bid #24001, Emergency Generator at Plainedge High School” as required by the Bid Specifications. The name of the bidder, bidders address, and the name of the contract, and/or contracts being bid must also appear on the outside of the envelope.

The Contract Documents may be examined at the Office of the Architect, Mark Design Studios Architecture, PC, 270 North Broadway, Hicksville New York, 516-

827-0240 (phone) during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. excluding holidays. Bidders are encouraged to call ahead; however, the Contract Documents may only be obtained through the Office of REV, 28 Church Street, Suite #7, Warwick, NY 10990 (845-651-3845) beginning on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.  Complete digital sets of Contract Documents shall be obtained online (with a free user account) as a download for a non-refundable fee of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars at the following website: www.mds.biddyhq. com under ‘public projects’. Optionally, in lieu of digital copies, hard copies may be obtained directly from REVplans upon a deposit of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars for each complete set. Checks for deposits shall be made payable to Plainedge Union Free School District, and may be uncertified. Plan deposit is refundable in accordance with the terms of the ‘Information For Bidders’ to all submitting bids. Bidding Document costs are refundable provided the documents are returned to REVplans within thirty (30) days of the Bid Opening, and are COMPLETE, UNMARKED and in NOT TORN condition. Any bidder requiring printed documents to be shipped shall make arrangements with the printer directly and pay for all packaging and shipping costs.

All bid addenda will be transmitted to registered plan holders via email and will be available at the above. Any bidder requiring documents to be shipped shall make arrangements with the printer and pay for all packaging and shipping costs. Plan holders who have obtained hard copies of the bid documents will need to make the determination if hard copies of the addenda are required for their use, and coordinate directly with the printer for hard copies of addenda to be issued. There will be no charge for registered plan holders to obtain hard copies of the bid addenda. The bid deposit for hard copies will be returned upon receipt of plans and specifications, in good condition, within thirty days after bid date, except for the lowest responsible bidder, whose check will be forfeited upon the award of

the contract.

A Pre-Bid walk-through will be held promptly at 3:00 P.M. on Friday, December 20, 2024 at the Plainedge High School located at 241 Wyngate Drive, No. Massapequa N.Y. 11758. All bidders shall meet at the front entrance of the school. Prospective bidders are strongly encouraged to attend. Knowledge of the site is crucial to obtain a proper understanding of the Work. All bidders must be fully familiar with the site. Bidders shall visit the sites of proposed work and be fully familiarized with conditions as they exist, as well as the character of the operations to be carried on under the proposed contract. All visits must be scheduled & coordinated with Brett Prochazka, Director of Facilities, at (516) 992-7422 or by email to Brett.Prochazka@ plainedgeschools.org.

Each bid must be accompanied by a certified check payable to PLAINEDGE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT or by a Bid Bond in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the bid conditioned as set forth in the “Information for Bidders” of the Bid Specifications. All bid security, except those of the three lowest bidders will be returned within ten (10) days after bids are submitted. The bid security provided by the three lowest bidders will be returned after the execution of the Trade Contract. The District will require the successful bidder to provide separate Performance and Labor & Materials Payment Bonds in the amount of the contract price and in the form specified in the Bid Documents.

Each Bidder shall prepare their bid proposal, along with a bid security, in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the “Information for Bidders” and Bid Specifications. Attention of bidders is particularly called to the prevailing wage rates to be paid under the contracts. Wages to workers, laborers and mechanics employed to work on this project shall be paid in accordance with Section 220 of the Labor Law and in accordance with the Prevailing Rate Schedules found in the Project Manual. Proof of such payments will be required.

The District will award a contract to the lowest re-

sponsible bidder providing the required security within forty-five (45) days of the date opening of the bids. To the fullest extent allowed by law, the District further reserves the right to reject bids that contain conditions, omissions, exceptions or modifications, or in its sole discretion to waive any irregularities in the bids, or to reject any or all bids, or to accept any bid which in the opinion of the District is in its best interest.

Date: December 11, 2024 Board of EducationPlainedge Union Free School District 241 Wyngate Drive N. Massapequa, NY 11758 Maureen Ryan, District Clerk 24-690. 12/11

Legal Notice

PLEASE BE ADVISED, that the Organizational Meeting of the Massapequa Fire District of the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau, New York will be held on the 6th day of January 2025 at 7:00PM at One Brooklyn Avenue, Massapequa, New York.

Dated: November 25, 2024 Joanne Riggio, Secretary Massapequa Fire District 24-689 12/11

Amityville UFSD Food Service Workers PT/FT

Responsibilities- Food preparation & service, sanitation awareness, other duties as assigned by the District.

Qualifications- Knowledge and experience with cooking, inventory, cashiering, recordkeeping, customer service, computer skills **Suffolk County Food Manager's Certificate preferred. Salary range starting at $20,980.

Email resume to: humanresources@amityvilleufsd.org or apply online at www.olasjobs.org/longisland

Amityville UFSD

Substitute/Permanent Substitute Teachers

Elementary & Secondary Level

Qualifications: NYS Certification Salary: $150 per day

Application: Interested candidates please apply online at www.olasjobs.org/longisland Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

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

Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460

E-mail your ad

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

EMAIL MARKETING SPECIALIST

Herald Community Newspapers is seeking a motivated and knowledgeable Email Marketing Expert to join our team. If you have a passion for crafting effective email campaigns and a knack for data-driven decision-making, this role is for you!

RESPONSIBILITIES: Set up and manage email campaigns from start to finish. Analyze data to identify target audiences and optimize email strategies. Craft compelling email content, including writing effective subject lines. Monitor and report on campaign performance.

REQUIREMENTS: Degree in Marketing, Business, or related field. Strong understanding of data analysis and marketing principles. Experience with email marketing is preferred but not required.

POSITION DETAILS: Flexible: Part-time or Full-time. Salary range: $16,640 to $70,000, depending on experience and role.

Join our dynamic team and help us connect with our audience in meaningful ways! Apply today by sending your resume and a brief cover letter to lberger@liherald.com

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

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City.

We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com

Call 516-569-4000 X286

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours

Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various

Long Beach

Waterfront Luxury

Apartment

What good is ‘grandfathered’ if we still need permits?

Q. We have an old home, built in the 1940s, that we just found out needs permits for a garage and a back family room. We don’t understand why we need this. The house was sold to us this way, cleared title, and we were told the garage was grandfathered in and the back room was “part of the house.” Why is it that if we bought it that way and it’s been there for so many years, it still needs plans, permits and, as we are finding out, a possible zoning hearing just to avoid fines? Are there rules about grandfathering over some period of time, like a statute of limitations or something?

A. No, there is actually no provision for grandfathering. When meeting with potential clients, we often check public records if we can’t find anything in the homeowners’ closing papers. The reason why this is missed is because, most of the time, a title company searches records but doesn’t set foot in the house. Also, because it’s rare to have anyone who is qualified to look at the house conditions to compare them with codes and records, things like your garage and rear addition are assumed and not confirmed.

Unfortunately, the conditions may need upgrading if they don’t meet current codes, although some building departments are more reasonable if you can prove the year of the work to them. Others will ask for windows to be changed to meet light, ventilation and fire escape requirements in bedrooms, or to have air conditioning units and basement escape wells addressed. It’s not unusual to need plans, a building application, zoning approval and, finally, a permit for the air conditioning condenser unit in your side yard, or for an escape well that restricts the only side yard available to get out of a basement.

I know that I’m saving people money and aggravation by explaining these things before they buy the house or do a new project, just because they’re aware of how to address the issue, but it’s rare to be asked, before a sale, to even look at the issues, because it would thwart the sale in many cases if this condition was revealed. It’s assumed that a title search is all you need, and yet I often find that in the process of doing the new project people want, we professionals get bogged down with the other things that create friction, delays and feelings of despair. It’s not unusual to hear people say they never would have started the project if they knew it was going to be this difficult, usually with the phrase, “can of worms” attached.

Depending on the need for a zoning variance, which in some municipalities can add many months to the process, you will need to have plans professionally generated by an architect or engineer, code, zoning and energy analysis to obtain permits, final inspections and certification. Good luck!

© 2024 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send

Ask The Architect Monte Leeper

Stuff HERALD

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opinions

Hochul must sign horseshoe crab act into law

Gov. Kathy Hochul has been presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save one of our planet’s greatest unsung heroes, the horseshoe crab. Earlier this year, the State Senate and Assembly passed a bill that would prohibit taking horseshoe crabs from New York waters for bait or for biomedical use. Hochul has until the end of the month to sign the bill into law, and time is running out for us to persuade her to do so.

Horseshoe crabs have existed relatively unchanged for roughly 450 million years — 200 million years longer than dinosaurs — and they have survived five mass extinctions. They are a keystone species, which means that if their populations were to dwindle to numbers that are unsustainable, the repercussions for other species would be devastating. Every year, numerous species of migratory shorebirds rely on horseshoe crab eggs for food on their long journey to

itheir breeding grounds in the Arctic. For half a century, humans have depended on horseshoe crabs for our survival, because they have played a major role in modern medicine. Their unique copper-based blue blood contains a clotting agent that immediately forms a clot when it comes into contact with bacteria. Because of this, horseshoe crab blood has been used for decades by the biomedical industry to test for infection-causing bacteria in injectable drugs, intravenous solutions, vaccines and medical implants. Their blood was also used to develop the Covid-19 vaccines that have saved millions of lives. Luckily, a synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood has been developed and approved for biomedical use, but the changeover in the industry has been slow.

This keystone species helped scientists develop the Covid vaccines.

sive animals, grazing across the seafloor like ancient vacuum cleaners, looking for the small aquatic insects, mollusks and detritus on which they feed. There are four species of horseshoe crabs, and the Atlantic coast is the only place in the Western Hemisphere that is home to one of those species, the Atlantic horseshoe crab, or Limulus polyphemus

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s benchmark stock assessment of horseshoe crabs in 2019, and the recently updated stock assessment in 2024, both show the crabs’ stock status in New York as poor. Of all the states on the Atlantic coast, New York is the only one where that is the case, and there is no evidence that the population is rebounding.

the crabs, which puts even more pressure on the New York stock and puts them at a higher risk of poaching by outof-state fishermen. Bait alternatives exist, but fishermen won’t be compelled to use them unless a ban is enacted.

Entrusting the state Department of Environmental Conservation to regulate the harvesting of horseshoe crabs is a mistake. Regulation depends on enforcement, and with only 30 to 40 environmental conservation officers patrolling the entire Long Island coastline, there is ample opportunity for overharvesting and poaching to take place.

Although there are misconceptions that they are poisonous or that they use their tails as weapons, horseshoe crabs are completely harmless. The tail serves a very important purpose: to flip a crab over if it gets turned upside down. That’s why you should never pick one up by its tail. They are completely pas-

Horseshoe crabs cannot legally be harvested for biomedical use in New York state. Their dwindling population here is due mostly to their harvesting for use as bait in the eel and conch fisheries as well as the loss of their spawning grounds due to sea level rise and shoreline hardening. New Jersey and Connecticut have both banned the harvest of

Friends of the Bay is asking you to urge Governor Hochul to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law Friends of the Bay is an environmental conservation and advocacy organization headquartered in Oyster Bay. Our mission is to preserve, protect and restore the ecological integrity and productivity of the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Estuary and the surrounding watershed. Please visit friendsofthebay.org/ horseshoe-crab-protection-act to learn how you can help, and to get a copy of a sample letter that you can sign and mail, or email, to the governor.

Christine Suter is executive director of Friends of the Bay.

Unwrapping a year of daily notes

unwrapped the holiday gift I received from my son, Matthew, last year and found a New York Mets tear-off calendar for 2024. Six days a week (weekends were combined), there was either a question about Mets history or a fun fact.

Jan. 1: “In 2019, Pete Alonzo blasted 53 home run, setting a record for an MLB rookie.”

Feb. 13: “Who was the first player in Mets history to steal home more than once in a single season?

Hubie Brooks, 1991.”

March 27: “In 2022, Francisco Lindor became the first shortstop in Mets history to hit at least 20 home runs in consecutive seasons.”

I don’t know why, but from New Year’s Day through the following 12 months, I wrote notes on the back of each page I tore off.

Jan. 3: “Fast day @ work. Much to do. Zone meeting. Job interview. Freeport production. NYPA.”

Feb. 13: “Snow day. Everyone home. Matt visited. Workers upstairs. Chocolate chip p–cakes/bacon dinner.

March 26: “@ office. Production Nas-

sau early. Closed papers early.”

Early in the year, I debated whether to leave the calendar at home or bring it in to the office. I sided with keeping it on the desk in my man-cave-libraryoffice at home, in what used to be my son’s bedroom.

April 8: “On this date in 1954, future Mets catcher Gary Carter was born in Culver City, CA.” (Additional fun fact: Carter’s jersey number was 8.)

May 14: “In 1972, who did the Mets trade to the Giants in exchange for Willie Mays? RHP Charlie Williams (along with $50,000).”

previous day, or over the weekend. It’s been interesting to compare what I wrote in the first few months of the year with my notes later in the year. The Mets had a horrible start, but then, on Oct. 9: “Mets win NLDS Series 3-1.”

o n one side, a landmark in Mets history. On the other, my daughter’s birthday.

Every morning this year, after getting dressed, I’ve put off going downstairs for breakfast for a few minutes, sat down and noted the highlights of the previous day.

April 1: “Edited stories. Set up paper. Tuna for dinner. Two great hoops games. Mets 0-4/good job.

May 16: “Got sale docs signed/ mailed. C/U backyard. Rangers clinched semi series.”

June 29/30: “Sat. — errands/clean up. Relax/game nite/pizza. Sun. — a little work/relax. Pulled pork @ Les’s/dinner. Spoke with Stuart/plan.”

Writing these brief notes was a way to remember what had happened the

The thoughts trickle back as snapshot memories that I either want to cherish, like Sept. 25 — “White House Tavern dinner 30 yrs.” — Or try to forget, like Oct. 27: “Mr. G’s wake.”

July 19: “Mike Piazza was the first player in Mets history to have four different seasons with at least 30 home runs.”

Sept. 3: “On this date in 1978, who became the first Mets player to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game? Lee Mazzilli. Time is fleeting, it is precious, and God is not making more of it. These are among the many, many things that have been written about time. Clearly, we should be making the most of it.

July 23: “Office. Production mostly on time. Nautilus for dinner.”

Aug. 6: “Office. Production — Lyn, Nassau, Uniondale & South Shore Record computer glitches/rain storm.

Sept. 14/15: “A little work/errands relaxed. Laundry — work relaxed. Wendy’s w/Liz. Chris out with the ladies.”

Snapshots of nearly 365 days of another year in a life. I wonder what other people’s notes would look like.

Oct. 4: “On this date in 1999, Al Leiter threw a two-hit shutout to propel the Mets over the Reds in a one-game playoff berth for the NL Wild Card berth.”

Dec. 3: “What ballpark was the first to allow fans to keep the foul balls that landed in the stands? Wrigley Field.”

Who knows what the next year will bring? I hope it’s more memories like these.

Oct. 19/20: “Sat. — Errands/watched college FB. B&B Fish and Clam tilapia/ onion rings. Sun. — Read stories/laundry. Watched football. Houlihan’s for Liz’s 19th B-day!

Nov. 16/17: “Sat. — Errands, dinner Alan’s B-day, Austin’s Ale House. Sun. — open house. Football. Pasta/sauce/ bread dinner.”

Dec. 4: “Office. Asked to write op-ed to fill hole. Valley Stream 100 mtg. Dinner w/Liz, buffalo chicken roll/ CParm.”

Time moves quickly, and while details of my daily life may not match the scale of the Mets’ landmark events, they hold deeper significance. My team — my family and friends — far outshines even my favorite baseball squad in importance.

Jeffrey Bessen is the deputy editor of Herald Community Newspapers, and a dedicated note taker.

CHRis TinE sUTER

pOsT

Ira L. Cahn - Founder Established

State must fund seat belts for school buses

Yellow school buses are an iconic image of education in America, transporting millions of children each day. But in New York state, the question of whether buses are equipped with seat belts is left to individual school districts.

The Briarcliff, Elmsford and Yonkers districts have embraced the added security of seat belts in a limited form, but others have opted out, leaving a patchwork system that prioritizes local discretion over consistent safety standards.

On the crowded roads of 2024, this approach is no longer acceptable. It is time for the state to mandate seat belts on all school buses in every district, ensuring the safety of every child who steps aboard.

School buses are generally recognized as one of the safest modes of transportation, thanks to their design and the principle of “compartmentalization.” High-backed, closely spaced seats create a buffer that helps absorb the force of a collision.

Simple compartmentalization is far from foolproof, however, particularly in side-impact crashes or rollovers. Seat belts add a crucial layer of protection in these scenarios. Without them, children can be thrown from their seats, increasing the likelihood of serious injury or even death.

A statewide mandate would align New York with the growing national consensus on school bus safety. Several

letters

D’Esposito is a falsifier

To the Editor:

states, including New Jersey, Florida, and California, already require seat belts on buses. These mandates reflect the recommendations of safety organizations like the National Transportation Safety Board, which has advocated for the installation of lap-and-shoulder belts on all new large buses. By following suit, New York would reaffirm its commitment to children’s safety and set an example for still more states to follow.

One argument often made by opponents of mandatory seat belts is that they’re too costly to install. Retrofitting existing buses or buying new models equipped with seat belts is a significant investment, but when the expense is weighed against the potential cost of injuries or fatalities, the financial argument falls flat.

The state Department of Transportation could work with school districts to phase in the requirement over time, offsetting the cost with the help of state funding or federal grants. But again, the safety benefits of seat belts far outweigh the expense. Protecting children should never hinge on budgetary constraints.

Another concern is enforcement of seat belt requirements. Critics argue that younger children might not consistently buckle up. While this concern is valid, it is not insurmountable. Bus drivers can incorporate quick visual checks into their routine, and schools can implement safety education pro-

Re U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito’s recent op-ed, “I look forward to representing you again”: D’Esposito said some things that were far from the truth. As president of the Long Island chapter of the New York Alliance for Retired Americans, I represent over 10,000 members Islandwide, which includes more than 3,000 members in his district.

I was assigned to secure a meeting with the congressman, as I had done with Peter King several years ago. King gave the alliance’s statewide president and me about 20 minutes, and that was two days after a major snowstorm. I would have been happy with 20 minutes with D’Esposito, but despite numerous calls, I was given the runaround by both his district and Washington offices. Maybe if he had met with us, more of those 3,000-plus members would have voted for him. After all, everyone agrees that senior citizens vote in higher percentages than the general population.

He was also inaccurate about his voting for an immigration bill, because he left out the part where he voted against the bipartisan bill

grams to teach students the importance of being protected while on the bus. These measures would foster a culture of compliance and ensure that seat belts serve their intended purpose.

Beyond the practical and financial considerations, the best argument for seat belts is a moral one. Parents trust that when their children board a bus, they are as safe as possible. By leaving the decision to individual districts, New York sends a troubling message: that children’s safety may vary depending on their Zip code. This undermines the model of equal protection and fairness that public education is supposed to embody.

In the end, the case for mandatory seat belts on school buses is clear. The technology exists, the safety benefits are well documented, and the moral imperative is undeniable. New York has long been a leader in progressive public policy. Requiring seat belts on school buses would not only safeguard the state’s most vulnerable residents, but also reaffirm its commitment to equity and safety.

It’s time for the state to take the wheel on this issue and drive meaningful change. Safety is not optional — it’s a necessity. With an annual budget of nearly a quarter-trillion dollars, New York has no excuse for not providing money to add seat belts to school buses. Children are our most precious passengers, and the time to act is now.

that would have solved many immigration problems. But his party leaders wanted him to help kill that bill so it could be used as an issue in the November election.

Representative D’Esposito speaks out

of both sides of his mouth, like many politicians do. All I can say about that is, you reap what you sow.

STANLEY B. BERgMAN East Meadow

We’re working to keep NUMC open, despite its struggles

among the top priorities of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority is ensuring that Nassau University Medical Center remains open, returns to financial health and is available to serve the people who need it most. A recent op-ed in the Herald by NUMC leadership (“After reforms, NUMC is on the upswing,” Oct. 10-16) caught our eye, because it painted a rosy picture of the hospital’s financial situation, even though the facts say the opposite.

Despite the platitudes offered in the op-ed, the fundamental issue remains that the Nassau Health Care Corporation, the state public authority that manages NUMC and related facilities, continues to operate at a tremendous deficit while making no meaningful changes to work toward financial stability. NHCC’s oper-

He

ating losses (before certain actuarial adjustments) were approximately $77 million in 2023 and roughly $108 million in 2022. NIFA is projecting an operating loss for NHCC of around $120 million in 2024.

tEarlier this year, NHCC made a unilateral demand for substantial additional funding from the state. In response, the State Department of Health requested that NHCC provide certain required information and take particular actions to achieve balanced operations in order to be considered for extraordinary relief. Amazingly, NHCC has resisted complying adequately with the Health Department’s reasonable conditions that it must impose to ensure that NHCC would manage the state’s scarce resources appropriately.

of $7 million. Over the past four and a half years, the total that NHCC owes NYSHIP has ballooned to roughly $380 million.

he county’s Interim Finance Authority has made the troubled hospital a priority.

That isn’t just some enormous number sitting in a filing cabinet in Albany: It’s a tremendous cost that is being passed on to other municipal organizations in Nassau County and throughout the state. This means that these costs are being subsidized by entities like local governments and school districts, and thus, taxpayers. The increased burden on Nassau County and other taxpayers will only get worse if the hospital’s ineffective leadership is not changed for the better.

the past three years alerting leadership that the health care corporation is at risk of termination by NYSHIP due to these unpaid amounts. It is the negligence of NHCC’s executives that has led it to this point.

At the core of its financial instability is the fact that NHCC owes the New York State Health Insurance Program, or NYSHIP, $9 million per month in premiums. NHCC pays only $2 million each month, creating a monthly deficit

Letters

sounds like he wants his seat back

To the Editor:

I found Anthony D’Esposito’s piece confusing, because it sounded more like his first campaign speech to regain his lost seat rather than an opinion. In a county that voted favorably for the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, Mr. D’Esposito was unable to ride Mr. Trump’s coattails and defeat Laura Gillen in New York’s 4th Congressional District. In the majority opinion, the best candidate won.

JOHN P. FITzSIMONS

Rockville Centre

School regionalization: something smells

To the Editor:

After reading in the Herald about the emergency regionalization plan proposed by the State Education Department, I see this as an attempt by the department to integrate all of the Nassau County school districts and their systems. That would eliminate local control of schools and centralize their supervision.

This new “emergency” approach would improve the education results in the Hempstead and Roosevelt districts, to name just a few, but by signing on to the plan, school districts will lose all local control. I advise districts to move

forward with caution. I smell a rat here.

RUTH HIRSCH

Hewlett

Why the MTA’s 2025 fare hikes make sense

To the Editor:

Long Island Rail Road and New York City Transit riders should hold accountable any public official, Metropolitan Transportation Authority board member or transit advocate who opposes the planned 4 percent fare hikes in 2025 for missing why the increases are needed. They were part of the MTA’s $51 billion 2020-2024 Five Year Capital Plan.

Quality and frequency of service depends on secure revenue streams. We will all have to contribute — be it with fares or tax revenue redistributed to the MTA. Fare hikes are periodically required if the authority’s operating agencies, including the LIRR, are to provide the services millions of New Yorkers count on daily. They are inevitable due to increasing costs of labor, power, fuel, supplies, materials, routine safety, state of good repair, replacement of worn-out rolling stock, and upgrades to stations, yards and shops necessary to run any transit system.

In 2023, the MTA lost $700 million to fare evasion and spent $1.3 billion on employee overtime. There is little reason to believe that the 2024 numbers will significantly change. So, in return for honest riders paying the new higher fares

NHCC executives are potentially placing an even greater financial strain on the shoulders of their over 3,500 employees (along with retirees), all of whom are at risk of losing their health insurance should these arrears on NYSHIP payments continue. The New York State Civil Service Commission has sent NHCC numerous letters over

The hospital’s problems are the result of poor management and an ineffective board, whose members must be replaced in order for the situation to improve. NIFA knows for certain that, in order for NUMC to continue serving our community, its existing leadership must change, and soon. NHCC’s current board leadership and management have shown that they are ill-equipped to oversee such a delicate operation. Their lack of ability shows, and it could ultimately result in the hospital shutting down entirely. Thousands of people would be out of jobs, and all of us would lose a crucial medical resource in our community.

The last thing we want is for NUMC is to close its doors. Along with Gov. Kathy Hochul and her top staff, NIFA is working hard with all stakeholders to keep them open.

Richard Kessel is chairman of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority.

Framework by Tim Baker

next year, the MTA must step up and reduce annual fare evasion by several hundred million dollars and employee overtime to well below $1 billion. A fare increase requires MTA reforms.

LARRY PENNER

Great Neck

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a director of the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.

At the Chamber of Commerce tree lighting in Veterans Memorial Park — East Meadow

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