Tim Baker/Herald
Dozens of police officers paid their respects to Hempstead Town Councilman Chris Carini at a Mass on Monday. The 49-year-old retired Port Authority police officer died unexpectedly on July 14, while visiting family in Florida.
Community bids farewell to Chris Carini, a devoted public servant and family man
By JoRDAN VAlloNE & CHARlES SHAW of the Merrick Herald
If any message was clear at Hempstead Town Councilman Chris Carini’s funeral Mass on Monday, it was the one conveyed in the words of the Rev. Steven Camp, who said simply, “He was there.”
Carini, a champion of quality-of-life initiatives in Hempstead and the 5th Councilmanic District, was laid to rest following a service at St. William the Abbot Roman Catholic Church in Seaford. The 5th District includes Seaford, Wantagh, and parts of Bellmore, Merrick, Freeport, Point Lookout and Lido Beach.
Hundreds of family members, friends, elected officials and community leaders filled
the church to pay their respects to Carini, while dozens of police officers from departments in and around Nassau County ensured that Carini, a retired Port Authority police officer, received a fitting send-off.
The longtime Seaford resident died unexpectedly on July 14, at age 49, while visiting family in Florida.
Carini’s body was flown home from Florida on July 17, and officers from the Port Authority JFK Commissary, at Kennedy Airport, gathered to greet him with love and prayers. Police officers stood on the tarmac as the plane pulled into the gate, and Carini’s casket was removed by officers, while dozens more stood in salute.
When he was back in Nassau County, the
Helping students with special needs earns Gold Award
By MARA BollETTIERI Contributor
Grace Pantelis, a recent graduate of Wellington C. Mepham High School in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, is not just your typical teenage girl — she wants to change the world.
She juggles two jobs, Girl Scouts, cheerleading, an internship, and a social life and likes to make the time to help others. Pantelis chose to help students in her high school district for her Girl Scouts Gold Award project.
dents and make an impact on their lives.”
Pantelis said that Theresa Catalina, a chairperson of Special Education for BellmoreMerrick Central High School District, visited her leadership class and inspired her to work with children with special needs for her project. Once Pantelis received permission to work with the students of Calhoun High, there was no stopping her.
As a member of Girl Scout Troop 953 since kindergarten, Pantelis was required to do a project for her Gold Award, the highest in scouting for girls. She decided she wanted to make a difference in her community by working with special education students at Sanford H. Calhoun High School.
“The Gold Award is like a community service project,” Pantelis said. “You can do it involving anything. So, I chose to work with the Calhoun stu-
“I went to their afterschool clubs… and I taught them about nutrition and making good decisions — healthy decisions. I did a few lesson plans. I had to do very interactive work with them … so I did a lot of crafts,” Pantelis said.
She worked with the students during an afterschool program called the Breakfast Club. Each time she went, she made sure to produce a different topic to teach. The Bellmore native said that special education teacher Joshua Drescher helped her come up with ideas for these lessons and often collaborated with her on this proj-
Calhoun benefits from Pantelis’ hard work
ect.
“We would bounce off of each other’s ideas, basically,” Pantelis said. “We did a lesson about Sun Day and being protected in the sun and how important it is to get outside and get your vitamin D. We did another lesson on Earth Day and the importance of reusing and recycling. We did one about mindfulness and focused on different breathing techniques that can help them.”
Ifeel like Grace is a natural-born leader.
“I feel like Grace is a natural-born leader,” said Lisa Pantelis, Grace’s mother. “She’s very determined, she’s responsible.”
Lisa added that she feels that Grace has gained most of her positive qualities and leadership skills from being a Girl Scout most of her life.
“I just think growing up in that environment and plus … being an athlete all her life and having teammates, made her a well-rounded individual,” Lisa said. “I know that she’s a natural leader because it’s always just … whatever she does, she’s always one of the top.”
Pantelis has plans to continue acts of community service soon as the 18-year-old will attend the University of Mississippi, this fall to study marketing and business.
“The next biggest thing that is kind of going on is I’m rushing a sorority and that’s one of the reasons that I’m kind of doing this — to get closer to the Oxford community, that’s where Ole Miss is located, and they do a lot of charity,” Pantelis said. “They all have philanthropies. They give back to certain organizations. So, I’m looking forward to giving back.”
Tim Baker/Herald
grace pantelis, a girl Scout in troop 953, earned a gold award for completing a project working with special needs students at Sanford H. Calhoun High School. the Bellmore resident spoke at a ceremony last month, recognizing her achievement.
What does it take to earn a Gold Award?
the girl Scout gold award is the highest and most prestigious award in the organization. earning it requires a significant commitment of time and effort.
girl Scouts are between grades 9 and 12 and must identify an issue they are passionate about that can be addressed in their community or the world. after thorough planning, a girl Scout presents a plan for approval, and then “takes action” — implementing their project.
a project must educate and inspire those involved and take at least 80 hours to complete. a final report documents the project’s impacts and includes personal reflection by the girl Scout who created it.
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LIsa PanteLIs
Summer learning in Bellmore-Merrick’s schools
Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District is offering students a variety of classes designed to entertain, educate and introduce them to new experiences this summer. These programs are currently underway, and students are thoroughly enjoying their time. The Creative Arts Camp and the Summer STEAM Program are two standout offerings, each providing unique and engaging learning opportunities.
The Creative Arts Camp, running from July 8 to Aug. 16, caters to students in grades 4 to 12. This six-week program offers a diverse curriculum that changes weekly, allowing students to explore various artistic mediums. Classes include fashion design, darkroom photography, international foods, songwriting, stage design, cartooning and orchestra, among others.
Students in the fashion design class tackle daily challenges reminiscent of “Project Runway,” having already created dresses from garbage bags and designed costumes for a costume ball. Meanwhile, the international foods class takes students on a culinary journey around the world, with participants preparing dishes from a different country each day. In darkroom photography, students are delving into the traditional art of film development, learning to process and develop their own photographs.
The STEAM Camp, designed for students in grades 7-9, offers a hands-on approach to learning. Participants engage in lessons on coding, robotics, 3D printing and more. This camp not only includes instruction with drones and Sphero robots but also provides opportunities for students to participate in a minihackathon and a robotics competition, fostering a sense of friendly competition and collaborative problem-solving.
The summer programs at Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District are more than just a way to pass the time; they are enriching experiences that foster creativity, innovation and a love for learning. By offering a diverse range of activities and subjects, these camps help students discover new passions, develop valuable skills and build lasting memories.
As part of a cooking class offered during the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s creative arts camp, a student carefully measured ingredients for a recipe.
Through the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District’s creative arts camp, some students learned about darkroom photography.
and code a
Photos courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District
Students participated in a cooking class as part of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s creative arts camp.
Students engaged in a course in fashion design during Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s creative arts camp.
Students enrolled in Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s summer STEAM camp worked together to build
robot.
During the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s summer STEAM camp, students worked together on robotics and coding.
Antisemitic graffiti leads to hate crime charges
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
My office has no tolerance for these offensive criminal actions that target entire communities and their security.
ANNE DONNELLy
Nassau County district attorney
Months after antisemitic graffiti was discovered on fences along Merrick Avenue and on the sidewalks in front of the East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center, an East Meadow man is now being charged with multiple hate crimes, authorities said. The suspect, identified as Sebastian Patino Caceres, 23, was arraigned before Judge Colin O’Donnell in Mineola on July 16, on charges of third-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime; six counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime; thirddegree criminal mischief; six counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief; seven counts of making graffiti; and possession of graffiti instruments.
Patino Caceres pleaded not guilty and was released to pretrial services with
Jordan Vallone/Herald file
A Merrick Avenue fence line was defaced in April with antisemitic phrases, including ‘Zionism is Nazism.” A suspect, Sebastian Patino Caceres of East Meadow, was arrested shortly after and charged with spray-painting the graffiti. Last week, the charges were upgraded to hate crimes.
electronic monitoring, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office. In New York state, pretrial services provide a range of support and supervision to individuals awaiting trial to ensure they return to court and comply with any conditions set by the judge.
Sometime between April 14 and 15, Patino Caceres allegedly spray-painted several antisemitic phrases on PVC fenc-
Positive Aspects of Aging
Aging provides its own rewards, which only those who experience it really know, as the following quotes show.
“Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better!”
— Ingrid Bergman
“Nothing is inherently and invincibly young except spirit. And spirit can enter a human being perhaps better in the quiet of old age and dwell there more undisturbed than in turmoil of adventure.”
— George Santayana
“The older I get, the greater power I seem to have to help the world; I am like a snowball - the further I am rolled the more I gain.”
— Susan B. Anthony
“Why not just embrace it, go along with it and welcome it?”
—Helen Mirren
“I believe the second half of one’s life is meant to be better than the first half. The first half is finding out how you do it. And the second half is enjoying it.”
— Frances Lear
“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
“The complete life, the perfect pattern, includes old age as well as youth and maturity. The beauty of the morning and the radiance of noon are good, but it would be a very silly person who drew the curtains and turned on the light in order to shut out the tranquility of the evening. Old age has its pleasures, which, though different, are not less than the pleasures of youth.”
— W. Somerset Maugham
“There is a fountain of youth; it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”
— Sophia Loren
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ing on the rear yards of private properties along Merrick Avenue, authorities said.
The graffiti, found on the morning of April 15, included phrases like “Zionism is Nazism” and “F-ck Israel.” The phrases were discovered on plastic sheeting affixed to the fencing protecting a mural of Israeli citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.
Debbie Habshoosh, whose yard backs up to Merrick Avenue, began displaying the photos of the hostages along her fence line last fall. Her husband is Israeli, she told the Herald, and in the six months the flyers had been posted, they hadn’t been touched.
Additional portions of the fence line, where no murals had been hung, were also defaced.
Patino Caceres also allegedly spraypainted “Free Palestine” across the front cement of the East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center, at 1400 Prospect Ave., officials said.
The incident sparked a wave of concern in the East Meadow community, and hours after the graffiti was discovered, an emergency news conference was held by Town of Hempstead officials in front of the fence line. Town Supervisor Don Clavin called the graffiti “a brazen attack
on our friends of the Jewish faith.”
Clavin was joined by several members of the town board, religious leaders, County Legislator Tom McKevitt and District Attorney Anne Donnelly, as well as dozens of concerned residents.
At the April 15 conference, Donnelly said the incident could be categorized as a hate crime, which means it was motivated by bias. She said her office has seen an increase in hate crimes across the county, and was aggressively prosecuting those responsible.
The neighborhood where the graffiti was discovered has a large Jewish community, McKevitt said, leading him to believe “the location of this hateful act was not chosen by accident.”
Rabbi Aaron Marsh of the East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center called the incident “an act of intimidation.”
At the end of the news conference, the Town of Hempstead’s Quality of Life Task Force, which removes graffiti, promptly cleaned the spray paint from the fences.
After an investigation, Nassau County Police Department detectives arrested Patino Caceres on April 16. Surveillance camera footage from a nearby parking lot helped police make the arrest.
The suspect was initially charged with seven counts of criminal mischief, possession of graffiti instruments and seven counts of making graffiti, but those charges have since been upgraded to hate crimes.
“This is not just graffiti — it is an act of hate,” Donnelly said last week. “One that is meant to instill fear in our Jewish communities. But Nassau County refuses to live in fear. My office has no tolerance for these offensive criminal actions that target entire communities and their security.”
The case against Patino Caceres is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Taglienti of the County Court Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Ali Ajamu and the overall supervision of Kevin Higgins, executive assistant district attorney for the litigation division. Attorney James Lynch is representing Patino Caceres.
Patino Caceres is due back in court on Sept. 13. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison, officials said.
A journey from the classroom to the poker table
By BRIAN NORMAN Intern
Retirement is a time for people to celebrate and chase lifelong dreams, and Merrick resident Peter Bloch is doing just that. He recently completed his third performance at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
Bloch has always been a fan of the game, learning from both his parents as a kid and playing himself his entire life.
PeteR BlOch
Although he always loved the game, life seemed to get in the way of pursuing his dream of playing on the big stage.
“I’ve always had an interest in poker,” Bloch said. “I am a retired teacher, so I’ve always had to work extra jobs. I worked at summer camp, and I worked as a pension rep for the United Federation of Teachers after school. So I never really got a chance to play a lot.”
After retiring from teaching in 2021, Bloch decided it was time to chase his lifelong dream and play in the World Series of Poker in July 2022. He earned his seat
at the biggest tournament in poker by competing in smaller tournaments throughout Long Island and winning enough to get himself a seat in Las Vegas.
“There were local games that I played in to get the seat,” said Bloch. “I played in a few small games with 10 or so people, and then after I won that, I got a seat at a
bigger game that had around 30 people in it. The top three people of that game got to go to the World Series of Poker. So technically, I won a small game to win a big game to get to the World Series of Poker.” Bloch’s first two years at the tournament didn’t go as he had hoped, but he still fell in love with the experience and
decided to give it another shot this year. After being eliminated on the first day in 2022, Bloch came ready to play this time around, finishing in 119th place out of 10,043 participants.
“I played almost 60 hours of poker, and it was exhausting yet so thrilling at the same time,” said Bloch. “I got to sit next to some world professionals, and I held my own against them. I played a little smarter and tighter this time, and I actually had a coach to help me out along the way.”
Bloch was able to reconnect with an old friend at the tournament, Robert Varkonyi, the 2002 World Series of Poker winner, who gave Bloch some advice ahead of the tournament and was at his rail cheering him on throughout the tournament.
Throughout his experience at the World Series of Poker, Bloch has fallen in love with the game all over again and hopes to continue to represent the South Shore on the biggest stage for years to come.
“I was thrilled that I was representing the South Shore,” Bloch said. “You know, I’m not huge on social media, but from what I was understanding, there were many people following me online. It was a dream come true. It’s something that I had on my bucket list, but something I never thought would ever happen. There were so many nice people around, and it was just a completely memorable and enjoyable experience, one that I’ll never forget.”
Courtesy Peter Bloch
Residents across Long Island complain that low-flying airplanes have increased in number since the end of the coronavirus pandemic.
A constant annoyance, a public health issue
By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
The roar of jet engines overhead has become a constant aural backdrop for many residents of Long Island, particularly those living in lower-income neighborhoods. In recent years, a shift in flight paths from nearby airports such as Kennedy and LaGuardia, which together handle roughly 1,400 flights a day, has exacerbated the issue. Residents now endure relentless noise from aircraft flying directly over their homes, disrupting daily life and sparking widespread frustration.
“I’ve lived in Uniondale for 30 years, and I don’t ever remember the noise from the planes being so loud and annoying,” Pearl Jacobs, president of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association, said. “Now it’s to the point where these planes are going all day and night long, flying across our skyways, and some of these planes are very low.”
Jacobs and other residents believe that the flight path changes disproportionately affect minority communities. The enforcement of noise ordinances dates back to the rise of American urbanization and industrialization, with New York becoming the first major city in the country to implement noise ordinances in 1905 — which often defined the music of Black and Hispanic communities as noise disturbances.
“I strongly believe this is a racial issue,” Jacobs said. “I’m not saying that white communities aren’t having this issue as well, but in Uniondale and other nearby communities, it is all day, all night, and they are constantly going.”
Efforts to address the noise have met with limited success. The Town of Hempstead created the Town-Village Aircraft Safety and Noise Abatement Committee in 1966 to tackle the problem, but local governments have little influence over the Federal Aviation Administration, which controls flight paths. Jacobs’s attempts to draw more attention to the issue have included writing to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, but she has yet to receive a response.
James Vilardi, executive director of the Noise Abatement Committee, emphasized the challenge of getting the FAA to acknowledge and address the problem. The committee’s primary goal is to obtain accurate decibel readings from FAA monitors, because data is averaged across neighborhoods and does not reflect specific impacts.
“If we get the raw data and find that the decibels vio-
Low-flying airplanes can cause serious health issues, increasing stress levels, preventing sleep and in some cases even leading to cardiovascular issues.
late municipal or federal code, we can appeal to the FAA to make changes,” Vilardi explained. The FAA, however, has been largely unresponsive, leaving residents in limbo.
Brookville Mayor Daniel Serota voiced similar frustrations.
“Years ago, when Congressman (Steve) Israel was our congressman, he initiated meetings with regional FAA folks and other mayors to discuss the planes and their heights,” Serota said. “Every Saturday and Sunday, they fly over our villages, and they’re supposed to have a certain height limit, but the pilots never adhere to that.”
Serota detailed the complexities of addressing the issue, including the discretionary power of pilots to determine flight paths based on safety considerations. Despite some agreements to maintain certain altitudes, those measures, he said, often fall by the wayside.
“It’s up to the pilot, and if he feels he needs to go lower or the weather is a certain way, that’s his purview,” Serota said. “We had Covid, which silenced the planes for a while, but now they’re back, flying as low as can be.”
Serota added that despite years of reaching out to airline and public officials, nothing has been done to
solve the issue. He said it is one of the most frequent complaints he gets from Brookville residents.
“On weekends it can be very loud,” he noted. “These big planes, like the double-decker ones with four engines, fly over at sometimes 1,500 feet. You can see the words on the Emirates Airlines planes and hear the noise as if they’re right above your backyard.”
The impact of aircraft noise extends beyond mere annoyance. According to the Civil Aviation Authority and the National Library of Medicine, prolonged exposure to aviation noise can have serious health consequences. Common adverse effects include not only annoyance, but cognitive impairment, sleep disturbance, and cardiovascular disease. Noise pollution has been linked to higher rates of heart disease and stroke, as well as hypertension and disrupted sleep patterns. Studies have also suggested potential effects on birth outcomes and psychological health, although more research is needed to fully understand those impacts.
Annoyance, the most often documented response to noise, can interfere with thoughts, feelings and activities, and lead to resentment and discomfort. Cognitive impairment, particularly in schoolchildren, is another concern, with research from the National Library indicating that high levels of aircraft noise can affect reading comprehension, memory, attention and mood. Sleep disturbance, characterized by awakenings and changes in sleep patterns, can result in next-day fatigue and long-term health issues.
Cardiovascular disease is a significant risk, with high levels of aircraft noise acting as a stressor on the body. Research by the Civil Aviation Authority has found associations between aircraft noise and an increased risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Hypertension, another cardiovascular risk factor, has also been linked to chronic aircraft noise exposure.
Despite the evident health risks, local officials face an uphill battle in addressing the problem.
“We understand that everybody has to share the burden, but it’s a nuisance and a problem,” Serota said. “It’s not for lack of trying; all the elected mayors I know on the North Shore have been very vocal. But the FAA is a big bureaucracy, and when you’re dealing with a bureaucrat, they don’t care.”
The struggle for quieter skies continues, but without greater cooperation from the FAA and a commitment to addressing the issue, Long Island residents will likely remain under the constant hum of aircraft, their health and well-being hanging in the balance.
Photos courtesy Metro Creative
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Republicans gather at national convention
Milwaukee was the place to be last week for Republicans as the Wisconsin city hosted the 2024 GOP national convention, where former president Donald Trump accepted the party’s official nomination as its presidential candidate and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance became the Republican nominee for vice president.
During the four-day convention, Republicans from across the country hobnobbed and networked, including Woodmere resident Cindy Grosz, Matt Capp, who serves as Rep. Anthony D’Esposito’s communication director, as well as D’Esposito and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who were both delegates representing New York. Delegates are responsible supporting a presidential candidate at the convention.
There were also speeches by celebrities such as former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, model Amber Rose, Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White, along with Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Tim Scott and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
Post-convention news included the July 21 announcement by President Biden that he was stepping aside. The presumptive front-runner for the Democratic nomination is Vice President Kamala Harris. The Democrats hold their convention Aug. 19-24 in Chicago.
–Jeffrey Bessen
Photos courtesy Cindy Grosz
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, right, who represents the 21st Congressional District in upstate New York and chairs the House Republican Conference, with Grosz at the NYGOP event at the convention.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman with Woodmere resident Cindy Grosz at the Nassau GOP gathering during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Biological males banned from female sports at county facilities
By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com
A Nassau County bill banning biological males from participating in women’s sports and activities on county facilities was signed on July 15.
“It’s a good day for women in Nassau County, today,” Legislator Samantha Goetz, who represents Legislative District 18 and is a sponsor of the measure, said at a news conference in Mineola on that Monday.
Presiding Officer Howard Kopel expressed his support for the legislation.
“It’s here to protect women and this is something that I think that all people of good will should accept and understand,” Kopel said.
Immediately after the law was signed, New York State Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the county on claims that it conflicts with state discrimination laws.
“With this law, Nassau County is once again attempting to exclude transgender girls and women from participating in sporting events while claiming to support fairness,” James wrote in a news release. “NYCLU and the Long Island Roller Rebels won their first lawsuit and County Executive Blakeman’s transphobic executive order was struck down because it was blatantly illegal. Now this discriminatory law must be as well. Here in New York, every person has the right
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signs legislation banning biological males from participating in women’s sports and activities on county facilities, alongside cosponsor to the bill Legislator Samantha Goetz and others who voted to pass it.
to be exactly who they are free from discrimination, and my office will always protect that right.”
New York Civil Liberties Union also filed a lawsuit against Blakeman and the county legislature.
“It is abundantly clear that any attempt to ban trans women and girls from sports is prohibited by our state’s antidiscrimination laws,” Gabriella Lari-
os, staff attorney at NYCLU wrote in a news release. “It was true when we successfully struck down County Executive Blakeman’s transphobic policy and it is true now. This latest round of hateful legislation is unacceptable and we won’t let it stand in New York.”
The County Legislature approved the bill in a 12-5 vote along party lines, following an executive order that Blakeman
issued earlier this year, which has faced more than one court challenge.
“For us it’s a matter of common sense, it’s a matter of fairness and it’s a matter of integrity,” Blakeman said at the July 15 news conference.
The bill was filed June 7 and was passed by the legislature’s rules committee just three days later.
“If they do continue to push forward on this harmful legislation, the NYCLU will certainly see them in court, and we believe it will be promptly struck down as unlawful under our state anti-discrimination law,” Bobby Hodgson, New York Civil Liberties Union assistant legal director previously said to the Herald.
After signing his executive order in February, that demanded sports, leagues, organizations, teams, programs or sport entities in county facilities designate themselves based on male, female or co-ed, to only accept athletes who meet that criteria according to their sex at birth, James sent a cease-and-desist letter to Blakeman demanding he rescind it.
Blakeman responded a few days later with a federal lawsuit contesting the order, which was denied in federal court and dismissed in April.
The county Supreme Court struck down Blakeman’s executive order on May 10, after a legal challenge by the NYCLU.
Blakeman said he plans to appeal the decision.
Parker Schug/Herald
Mourning loss of beloved town councilman
Seaford and Wantagh fire departments stretched a huge American flag across Southard Avenue, and the hearse carrying his body drove beneath it.
Monday’s Mass followed two days of wake services at the Charles G. Schmitt Funeral Home in Seaford.
Carini, a Republican, was elected to the Town Board in 2019, after Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney dropped out of the race six weeks before the election. Carini had long been involved with the Wantagh/Seaford Homeowners Association, which often focused on quality-of-life issues. He was re-elected to his second term last November.
In office, Carini spearheaded the town’s Quality of Life Task Force, and was a staunch supporter of law enforcement. He campaigned against bail reform efforts, and directed funding toward the improvements of recreational facilities in his district. He made an effort to attend every town event, Little League opening day, and Eagle Scout or Gold Award ceremony.
“boundless” and his humor as “infectious.”
“I don’t know that I’ve ever met someone who was more passionate or took more enjoyment out of helping his neighbors and trying to make his community better than Chris,” Rhoads said.
Town Councilwoman Missy Miller said Carini was “the epitome of the phrase ‘larger than life.’”
“He was passionate and effective,” Miller wrote on Facebook. “He was the best kind of public servant, selfless.”
At Carini’s wake and funeral, Project Thank A Cop, a group he worked closely with that supports police officers and their families, set up a comfort station for mourners. They handed out water, snacks and baked goods, and had therapy dogs on hand as well to comfort Carini’s family members and friends.
And it wasn’t just his job that Carini loved, but his family, too. He is survived by his wife, Danielle, and their two children, Ava and Joey.
Camp, who led the funeral services, said that Carini’s greatest achievement in life was his family. “He cherished them,” Camp said, “and understood how much family meant.”
The day after Carini died, local officials who worked alongside him expressed their sadness. In a statement emailed to the Herald, State Sen. Steve Rhoads described Carini’s energy as
“We are so heartbroken,” group administrators wrote on Facebook.
Camp spoke about how Carini was committed to the communities he served, and, of course, to those who knew him best — his family and friends.
“There’s a lot of turmoil in our society today, and we try to figure it out,” Camp said. “Chris understood all of that turmoil, and he always tried to do his best.”
Those wishing to donate to Carini’s family can do so at GoFund. Me/25067cbb. The family also asked that donations be made to the John Theissen Children’s Foundation, based in Wantagh, in his memory. Go to JTCF.org to donate.
Carini was buried at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.
the rev. Steven Camp led the procession out of the church, and sprinkled holy water on Carini’s casket. police officers from departments in and around nassau County paid their respects to Carini, who was a staunch support of law enforcement.
Tim Baker/Herald photos
project thank a Cop, an organization that supports police officers and their families, set up a comfort station at Carini’s wake and funeral, offering water and refreshments to mourners.
Chris Carini
STEPPING OUT
‘Cold Beer on a Friday Night’
Whether
Capture the flavors of summertime cuisine up a tasty bash
By Karen Bloom
firing up the grill for a pool party, barbecue or even just a weeknight meal, one thing’s for sure: summertime means grilling season. Grilling takes many forms: your crowd may prefer the standard fare of burgers and hot dogs to flame-kissed vegetables and the artistry of a perfectly done steak. However, the possibilities don’t end there.
By mixing and matching traditional grilled classics with options that have a variety of textures and flavors, you can shake up your at-home menu and add new favorites to your routine this grilling season.
It’s easy to go from casual to elegant in a snap. The traditional faves always have their place, but if you’re looking for a different type of barbecue, add some finesse to your menu with other ideas, by re-imagining your grilling style.
Spicy Mustard Chicken Kebabs
With their easy preparation and quick cooking time, kabobs are a simple way to enjoy many of your favorite fresh flavors.
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 pound raw boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and black pepper
• 1 medium red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
To make sauce, place 3 tablespoons mustard in medium bowl. Add oil and garlic powder, and whisk until uniform. Cover and refrigerate.
To make marinade, in small bowl, combine vinegar with remaining 2 tablespoons mustard. Stir until uniform.
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place chicken and marinade in large sealable plastic bag. Remove as much air as possible and seal. Gently knead marinade into chicken through bag. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, if using wooden skewers, soak 4 in water for 20 minutes to prevent burning. Alternately thread marinated chicken and onion chunks onto 4 skewers. Bring grill to mediumhigh heat.
Brush both sides of kebabs with sauce. Grill kebabs for 5 minutes with grill cover down.
Flip kebabs and grill for 6 to 8 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Enjoy.
Cabbage Steaks With Bacon & Blue Cheese
These cabbage steaks blend sweet and slightly sour notes with savory crumbles of cheese for a dish that pleases every one of your taste buds.
• 6 slices bacon
• 1 package McCormick Grill Mates Smoky Applewood Marinade
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 head green cabbage, cut into 3/4-inch thick slices (about 6 steaks)
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
Cook bacon in large skillet on medium heat until crisp. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the drippings.
Crumble bacon; set aside. Mix marinade mix, oil, vinegar, maple syrup and reserved bacon drippings in small bowl until well blended. Place cabbage steaks in large resealable plastic bag or glass dish. Add marinade; turn to coat well.
Refrigerate 30 minutes or longer for extra flavor. Remove cabbage steaks from marinade. Reserve any leftover marinade.
Grill cabbage steaks over medium heat 5 to 6 minutes per side or until tender-crisp, brushing with leftover marinade. Serve cabbage steaks topped with blue cheese, crumbled bacon and green onions.
Mediterranean Vegetables
Fresh veggies tossed with rice vinegar and garlic make a tasty, nutritious side.
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (seasoned)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus extra, to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper, plus extra, to taste
• 1 tablespoon, plus 1 1/2 teaspoons, fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced
• 1 cup fresh zucchini, sliced into 1 3/4-inch long, 1/4-inch thick planks
• 1 cup fresh green pepper strips
• 1 cup fresh red pepper strips
• 8 fresh stalks asparagus, slicing off 1/4 inch from bottom of stalk
• 1 fresh portobello mushroom, sliced into 1/2-inch squares
• 1 cup fresh eggplant, diced into 1/2-inch squares
Heat grill to 375 F.
In large bowl, mix together rice vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, parsley and garlic to create marinade. Clean vegetables then place them in marinade in small batches. Toss to coat then place in foil pouch. Pour remaining marinade over vegetables and seal pouch.
Bake in oven or over indirect heat on grill 25 minutes. Add salt and pepper, to taste, after removing pouch from heat.
Chef’s tip: Open pouch after 20 minutes of cooking and allow vegetables to crisp slightly under direct heat for remaining 5 minutes.
Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band bring their beachy vibe back to the Paramount stage. With summer in full swing, enjoy their“Ultimate Beach Party Tribute” to Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band. Parrotheads, No Shoes Nation and the Zamily: it’s 5 o’clock somewhere so raise ‘em up and sing along. The Long Island based band — guided by Paul C. Cuthbert (aka Jimmy Kenny) on lead vocals/ acoustic guitar, with Linn DeMilta (aka Lovely Linn), lead and backing vocals, Luis Rio, lead guitar/backing vocals, Frank Stainkamp, keyboard/ backing vocals, Dan Prine, bass, and drummer Mike Vecchione, have been celebrating the beach/country sounds for over a decade to the delight of their audiences.
Friday, July 26, 8 p.m. $35. $25, $20, $15. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
The Hilarious Hitmen
Sal Governale, Richard Christy and Billy Mira, radio personalities known for their prank calls and comedy, keep the laughs coming as “The Hilarious Hitmen.” The dynamic trio brings a modern twist to humor, drawing inspiration from the classic styles of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Christy’s extraordinary drumming skills set the heartbeat for their performance, while Governale’s charisma and comedic genius keep audiences in stitches. Not to be outdone, Mira’s impressions and vocal range captivate everyone. Get in on the laughs when they bring their to Harry Chapin Theatre at Eisenhower Park, for a lively evening that blends big band comedy with audience participation and delightful surprises. Audiences can’t get enough of their refreshing and new take on music and comedy, making their performances an unforgettable experience that leaves you craving for more.
Saturday, July 27, 7 p.m. Free admission. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
Spicy Mustard Chicken Kebabs Cabbage Steaks with Bacon & Blue Cheese Mediterranean Vegetables
Aug. 4
Dance Theatre of Harlem
The acclaimed dance company visits Long Island on its 2024 tour, appearing on the Tilles Center stage Sunday, Aug. 4, 7 p.m. With a storied history, the first Black classical ballet company, co-founded by dance icon and international superstar Arthur Mitchell, has toured the world, engaged communities and introduced young minds and bodies to the power of dance. With all its renown, this boundary-breaking, dynamic organization has maintained Mitchell’s core belief that ballet belongs to everyone. Now a singular presence in the ballet world, DTH presents a powerful vision for ballet in the 21st century. The 18-member, multi-ethnic company performs a forward-thinking repertoire that includes treasured classics, neoclassical works by George Balanchine and resident choreographer Robert Garland, as well as innovative contemporary works that use the language of ballet to celebrate Black culture. Through performances, community engagement and arts education, the Company carries forward Dance Theatre of Harlem’s message of empowerment through the arts for all. The dynamic program includes “Higher Ground,” with choreography by Robert Garland, featuring Stevie Wonder tunes; “New Bach,” also choreographed by Robert Garland, with music by J.S. Bach; “Take Me with You,” choreographed by Robert Bondara, featuring Radiohead; also Robert Garland’s “Return,” with James Brown and Aretha Franklin tunes. Tickets are start at $64; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville.
Dramatic Play
Theatre Playground returns to Long Island Children’s Museum with “Dramatic Play!,” Monday, July 29, 1 p.m., taught by Lisa Rudin, Director of Theatre Playground. In this interactive, theater-inspired workshop, children will act out an original story and help choose how it unfolds. Music, props, and sound effects create a theatrical world where participants are immersed in the story.
Children are encouraged to express themselves as they create characters, explore different worlds, stretch their imaginations and build selfconfidence. This week’s theme: Undersea Adventure. Costumes encouraged. $5 with museum admission. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
Friday Night Car Show
The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores holds its Friday Night Car Show, through oct. 4, at the Bellmore LIRR parking lot. Show opens at 6 p.m., closes at 10 p.m. Free for all spectators; admission for cars is $5. For more, visit BellmoreChamber.com.
Movie Night
Enjoy a family film outdoors on Eisenhower Park’s big screen, Wednesday, July 31 , dusk, at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre. See the recent 3D animated musical fantasy “Trolls 3: Trolls Band Together.” The film serves as the threequel to Trolls, the sequel to Trolls World Tour, and the continuation of DreamWorks Trolls franchise. Eisenhower Park, Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
Cedarmore Farmers’ Market
Buy fresh food and produce from local vendors while enjoying various forms of entertainment at Cedarmore Farmers’ Market at Baldwin LIRR Train Station, Parking Field BA-5, every Saturday through oct. 12, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. This event is in partnership with New York Legislators Seth Koslow and Debra Mulé. With a D.J., authors and artistic dance performances. For more information, visit CedarmoreFarms.org.
Storybook Stroll
Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a storybook
adventure, Saturday, Aug.
3, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stroll the gardens and listen to Michaela Goade’s “Berry Song.” Later create a unique take home craft. For ages 3-5. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.
Moonlight Mile
Run a mile under the moon with EliteFeats at Newbridge Road Park, Bellmore, on Friday, Aug. 9, starting at 6:30 p.m, rain or shine. Enjoy snacks and drinks at the end of the race courtesy of Waterloo Sparkling Water. $25 to participate. Receive a glowin-the-dark tee with your purchase. Proceeds benefit the Never Stop Running Foundation. Call (516) 5313323 for more information.
Movie Premiere
Highly anticipated comedydrama “If You Have Lemons,” presented by Urban Artistic Media Group, premieres at Bellmore Movies and Showplace, Wednesday, Aug. 21, starting at 6:30 p.m. It includes red carpet event, a Q&A session, and a screening; duration is 3 hours and 30 minutes. $17.85 to reserve a spot for the screening. 222 Pettit Ave. For more information, visit @ UrbanArtisticMediaGroup on Facebook or @KeiSongPowell on Instagram.
League of Women Voters East Nassau General Meeting
The League of Women Voters of East Nassau invites all to its next general meeting, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 7 p.m., at Levittown Public Library. Participate in an engaging discussion. 1 Bluegrass Lane, Levittown. For more information, visit LWVEastNassau.org.
Author talk
Jamie Brenner, best-selling author of several summerthemed novels, among others, fittingly brings summer to a close as guest speaker at Merrick Library, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 6:30-7:30 p.m. This event is in partnership with the North Merrick and Bellmore Public Libraries. Registration is required. 2279 Merrick Ave. For more information, visit MerrickLibrary.org.
Summer Party 5k
Cherish the last moments of this summer with a run and afterparty at EliteFeats’ Summer Party & 5K Run at Eisenhower Park, Field #2, on Thursday, Aug. 22, starting 6:30 p.m. The party will include food, drinks, and music. Check-in for the race begins at 5:30 p.m. This event costs $15 for the general public. Free for club and staff members. It is asked that all attendees meet near the Duck’s Red Shed. It is also suggested that those who are interested in staying for the after-party bring a change of clothes. For more information, visit Events. EliteFeats.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 viw through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
‘Walkin’ After Midnight’
Having an event?
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.
Plaza Theatrical presents a showstopping tribute to the legendary Patsy Cline, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2:30 p.m. Through a colorful tapestry of iconic songs and witty personal storytelling, Carter Calvert uses her award-winning vocal talents to create this captivating musical tribute. Calvert, a Broadway star and title character in Always… Patsy Cline (opposite Emmy Award winner Sally Struthers), has gained rave reviews and triumphant accolades for her heartfelt portrayal of this legendary country recording artist. She vocally captures Cline’s musical stylings pitch-perfectly in mega hits including “Crazy,” “I Fall To Pieces,” “She’s Got You” and “Walkin’ After Midnight.” Both captivating and endearing, this fastpaced entertainment delights audiences of all ages. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.
NEW YORK’S WRONGEST RUNNING COMEDY!
Obamacare remains vulnerable, Solages warns
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
Despite repeated partisan legal challenges aimed at its demise, the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare, has not only survived, but become an indispensable part of the American health care system. This year, a record number of Americans — an estimated 21 million — are insured through its marketplaces, which have redefined baseline expectations for consumer coverage in the health care system. Yet despite its 14 years of proven durability, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, a Democrat, remains warily concerned about ACA’s future.
Solages was blunt in her assessment of what, or rather who represents the biggest political risk to undoing the health care law — former President Donald Trump.
At a news conference in Valley Stream last week, Solages, and leaders of the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East labor union and Protect Our Care, a nonprofit health care advocacy group, forcefully articulated their concerns, underscoring how the law has served as a crucial safety net for New Yorkers, and warned that its termination could be disastrous.
“As we interface with the affordability crisis, it’s important to acknowledge there are reforms at work, from the
Affordable Care Act to the Inflation Reduction Act, to ensure that people have access to health care,” Solages said.
“Now we are seeing constant attacks on these reforms, whether it’s federal representatives trying to take away provisions that ensure people with pre-existing conditions have access to health care or cull prescription pricing relief.”
Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, sought to roll back or repeal significant elements of the law when he was president, but did not succeed. On
the campaign trail this year, certainly aware of the law’s popularity and lasting power, he has made vague promises to replace it with a superior alternative if he returns to the White House.
Solages also cited proposals by Republicans to cap and cut federal Medicaid spending and introduce a block grant system in which states would have to bid for federal funding to secure benefits.
“Instead of direct funding to the states, they want states to enroll in a
Hunger Games-like competition for coverage,” said Solages. “We can’t compete for coverage when it comes to healt care,” which will inevitably shrink the Medicaid program and leave many uninsured.
For more than a decade, there has been grumbling about the cost and sustainability of health care coverage under ACA by conservative critics.
Many maintain, as they have for years, that coverage plans under ACA can still be too expensive for some middle-class Americans because of high insurance premiums, burdensome costsharing requirements, and narrow health insurance networks that limit people’s choice of doctor and hospital.
And with the sting of inflation and rising health care costs, the insured may still struggle to afford higher-thanexpected co-payments or deductibles.
While Solages acknowledged that New Yorkers are grappling with growing medical debt and prohibitively expensive prescription prices, reducing investments in existing reforms will only exacerbate these problems, not solve them.
“From womb to tomb, all New Yorkers interact with the health care system, and when you erode health care, you impact the most vulnerable New Yorkers,” she said. “We need to raise our voices against unfair cuts to health care.”
Courtesy Office of Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and health care advocates warned against dismantling the Affordable Care Act, emphasizing its crucial role in providing coverage for 21 million Americans and protecting vulnerable populations, amid ongoing political threats to its future.
Students presented Robert R. Dillon awards
Nassau Boces students were awarded $1,600 in scholarships by the Nassau Boces Educational Foundation through the first Robert Dillon Awards on last month, presented in memory of the former Nassau Boces district superintendent, and a former East Meadow superintendent, who died last summer.
At the family’s request, donations were made to the foundation in Dillon’s memory. To date, those donations have totaled more than $13,000, a portion of which funded a special student award at each Nassau Boces school or program completion ceremony to honor and recognize the far-reaching impact that Dillon had on education.
“These awards recognize and honor Dillon’s commitment to ensuring that all students be provided with equal opportunities and serve as a reminder
of his passion for education,” said Anthony Fierro, chairperson of the foundation and long-serving chief administrator of the Nassau Boces Department of Facilities Services and Capital Projects.
There are three distinct categories for the Robert R. Dillon Awards.
The first category is the Robert R. Dillon Core Values Champion Award, which recognizes students who display a spirit of kindness and uphold, embrace, and embody the Nassau Boces core values of compassion, equity, excellence, integrity, and respect. The recipients of this award were Makayla Ashley, Michael Benitez Granados, Bryan Hernandez, Bilal
News briefs
‘Project 21’ arrests made in Nassau County
Several men were arrested last earlier this week, in a “Project 21” initiative, which targets the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products to minors.
According to Nassau County Police Department officers, the Problem Oriented Policing Unit, with the assistance of underage agents, conducted an investigation, and as a result of the operation, four individuals were arrested.
Paul Martino, 19 of Bellmore, sold products to a minor at Conv N Cigars in Bethpage. Anil Bansal, 51 of Hicksville, sold
products to a minor at Ulta, located on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown. Naveen Nfn, 24 of Bethpage, sold products to a minor at Puff Kulture, also in Bethpage. Mahendrakumar Pate, 39 of Flushing, sold products to a minor at Evolve, located in Farmingdale.
All four men are charged with unlawfully dealing with a minor and were issued appearance tickets, returnable on Sept. 5, to the First District Court in Hempstead.
— Jordan Vallone
Crime brief
Man facing multiple charges after Planet Fitness incident
A Roosevelt man was arrested for an assault that occurred at a Planet Fitness on July 21, around 7:50 p.m.
According to Nassau County Police Department detectives, officers responded to a call for a disturbance at a Planet Fitness, located at 1630 Merrick Road. Officers observed Getho Brevette, 27, fleeing the scene in his car, heading westbound on Merrick Road. Shortly after, he was involved in an auto accident and left the scene, later returning to Planet Fitness.
Getho Brevette
As officers approached Brevette, he allegedly threw an unknown liquid on them, forcibly removed an officers’ body-worn camera, and threw it on the ground, causing it to break. He then attempted to remove the officer’s weapon. The officers sustained injuries dur-
ing the course of the arrest, as Brevette was violent and became combative, while resisting arrest.
The officers were taken to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation. Brevette was also taken to an area hospital.
Brevette is charged with two counts of assault, grand larceny, robbery, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, sexual abuse, forcible touching and leaving the scene of an auto accident. He was arraigned on July 22 at the First District Court in Hempstead.
Brevette was previously arrested July 20 for a robbery at the First Baptist Church of Westbury and was released on July 21.
— Jordan Vallone
Khawar, Halle Peace, Angel Reyes Lopez, Joseph Mahoney, Leon Nelson II, Aubree Neumann, Anastasia Ortiz, Alexi Romero, and Lola Rubinstein.
The second category is the Robert R. Dillon Exemplary Citizenship and Leadership Award, which recognizes students who have shown exceptional and impactful leadership skills and fostered positive and productive relationships both inside and outside of school. The recipients of this award were Wilem Hernandez, Karina Licitra, and Luisary Collado Recio.
The third and final category is the Robert R. Dillon Outstanding Teamwork Award, which recognizes a stu-
dent who has demonstrated exceptional skills in team-focused activities and working collaboratively with others to achieve positive outcomes for the greater good. The recipient of this award was Addison Moore. Nassau Boces offers programs for learners of all ages and abilities that help them to achieve their maximum potential in alternative, artistic, outdoor, special education, career and technical, and virtual educational environments. The Nassau Boces Educational Foundation, an independent, nonprofit, community-based organization, continues to support them through the acquisition and distribution of funds, allowing for ceremonies like these and many other educational opportunities for students of Nassau Boces schools, services, or programs
—Jack Schwed
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (“FANNIE MAE”), A CORPORATION ORGANIZED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, -againstGWENDOLYNN S. BRITT F/K/A GWENDOLYNN S. MALLIA, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on May 14, 2019, wherein FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (“FANNIE MAE”), A CORPORATION ORGANIZED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is the Plaintiff and GWENDOLYNN S. BRITT F/K/A GWENDOLYNN S. MALLIA, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on August 6, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1580 LITTLE WHALENECK ROAD, MERRICK, NY 11566; and the following tax map identification: 56-247-311.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT MERRICK, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 601255/2018. Michele Bencivinni, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 147819
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE BEAR STERNS ALT-A TRUST 2004-10, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-10, Plaintiff, Against LUIS A. QUIJANO, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 03/22/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 8/6/2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 174 Babylon Turnpike, Merrick, New York 11566, And Described As Follows:
ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in Merrick, Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau, State Of New York.
Section 2555 Block 166 Lot 158
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $1,154,373.34 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 005630/2015
Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee.
If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 6/10/24 File Number: 17-300295 SH 147813
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU ELIZON MASTER
PARTICIPATION TRUST I, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS OWNER TRUSTEE Plaintiff -againstROSEMARIE FRATELLO, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 1, 2023 and entered on August 8, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on August 13, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate,
lying and being at North Merrick, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows:
BEGINNING at a point on the westerly side of Richard Avenue, distant 250 feet Southerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the westerly side of Richard Avenue and the southerly side of Henry Street; being a plot 125 feet by 75 feet by 125 feet by 75 feet.
SBL# 55,6,803-805
*REFEREE does not accept cash only bank or certified checks payable to Lisa Goodwin, Esq., referee*
Said premises known as 45 RICHARD AVENUE, NORTH MERRICK, NY 11566
Approximate amount of lien $674,050.36 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 606896/2019.
LISA GOODWIN, ESQ., Referee Kosterich & Skeete, LLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 707 Westchester Ave, Suite 302, White Plains, NY 10604
{* MERRICK HE*} 147876
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of formation of Maltese & Gabriele, PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 04/30/2024. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the PLLC, 2041
roBert Dillon
Business Intelligence Analyst wanted by 3W Auto Accessory Inc. in Oceanside, NY. Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Data Science, or business-related major. Duties: Collect and analyze data from various sources, uncovering insights into sales, inventory, and market trends; Create interactive reports and dashboards, aiding decision-making by presenting key performance metrics; Forecast sales, conduct market research, and optimize inventory levels; Segment customers for targeted marketing and evaluate sales team performance; responsible for Data security and compliance, along with continuous improvement. Yearly Salary will be $80850 to $90000. Mail Resume to 3W Auto Accessory Inc., Attn: Qi Zhou, 3401 Lawson Blvd, Oceanside, NY 11572.
AIDES
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
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! $20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com
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 mhinman@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST: PART TIME, Must be Fluent in English and Spanish, Must Have Good Computer Skills, Able to Learn New Programs, Pleasant Phone Voice, Good People Skills, Salary Negotiable. 516-726-0309 or Email Resume to coreybickoff294@gmail.com
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
Homes
Grand Center Hall Colonial
CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978
Ayou pull up to this home you
LYNBROOK: 2 BR, Off Street Parking, No Pets, $3,100. 516-599-3174
WANTAGH 1 BEDROOM, Full Kitchen, Full Bath, Livingroom/Kitchen Combo, No Smoking No Pets. $1650. 516-731-3763.
Taxes: $10,270.09
Elmont $640,000
Norfolk Drive. Cape. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Many updates including bathrooms. First floor master bedroom. Cozy fenced-in yard.
Taxes: $13,272
BETH DAVID CEMETERY: Elmont, NY.
ROCKVILLE CENTRE SUNNY Private Entrance,Walk In Closet, Walking Distance South Nassau Hospital, Share Bath, 516-913-0804.
3 Plots. Separate Or All Together. Graves 18, 25, and 32. Purchase Separate $3999; Purchase Together $9999. Negotiable. Call 845-641-7316
ONE BURIAL PLOT FOR SALE at Beth David’s in Elmont. Asking for $6,500. Please contact Michele Flanigan at 518-546-9550
Hewlett $670,000
Peninsula Boulevard. Ranch. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. New eat-in kitchen with shaker cabinets, high-end Samsung appliances and island, also sliding doors to private fenced-in yard. Move-in ready with new siding and roof. Taxes: $14,237.40
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Malverne $920,000
Foster Avenue. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Movein ready stunning home in convenient Westwood neighborhood. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and pantry. Updates include skylight. Walk to Westwood LIRR. Taxes: $16,869.06
Merrick $1,200,000
Loines Avenue. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Gourmet eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and pantry. Formal dining room. Den/family room, home office and guest quarters in bonus finished attic. High end finishes include cathedral ceiling and wet bar. Entertaining style backyard with heated saltwater pool and pool house with 3 portico doors. 2 car garage. Security system.
Taxes: $23,818.67
Rockville Centre $1,650,000
Contractors seem to have plans of their own
Q. We are getting estimates for a small bump-out at the back of our house to add a breakfast room, and the estimates have been much higher than we were led to believe. We met with a contractor before we hired an architect, and he gave us a number, but suggested we get plans made, which we did. In addition to doing an estimate from the plans, the contractor said we should pay him for the estimate if we don’t use him because of the time he took. His card actually says “Free estimates.” Between the price, which went way up, and the fact that he wants money, even if he doesn’t get the job, we aren’t going to even consider him, but is this common, that he should have such a higher price and also want to get paid? Incidentally, he added a lot of things that aren’t in the plans and aren’t what we spoke about.
A. This scenario is common, and I often warn people that they should, preliminarily, try to get a ballpark estimate, just to be sure they can do the project before getting started with plans. It always helps to have the contractor and architect speak, so we’re all on the same page.
Most often, though, what ends up happening is a kind of disillusionment when the plans are done and the contractor’s numbers are much higher than discussed. I’m amazed at how many contractors, without a phone call or meeting, try to change the project, question the engineering or structure, or try to work around the architect after all the time and consideration given to planning. It’s rare to have a contractor not make statements about the structure, even though I have rarely dealt with a contractor who can show expertise, with a license in engineering, to alter the design. Many just want to make it simpler to build without ever having to recognize the long-term issues of high winds, heavy snow or building codes.
On the other hand, one individual tried to upsell the job, claiming that piles were needed on a home where there was a basement and no other pilings. In order to add underground pilings to the price, a deep soil test, showing the character of the supporting earth, would need to be done. The home is over 100 years old and shows no signs of settling, so the inclusion of piles, without even consulting the licensed professional, is unwarranted.
It’s true that contractors have a hard job doing estimates, especially because the prices of lumber and other commodities change. They can spend many weeks calling around to suppliers and checking pricing, only to have their integrity questioned. This can lead to increasing numbers to account for potential material price changes. While you can’t expect the cost to remain the same, it is fair to ask, at the beginning, for a higher-end number so the outcome isn’t so different. Good luck!
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Congestion pricing may be paused, but the fight continues
From Buffalo to Montauk, New Yorkers of every color, creed and religion find themselves struggling to stay afloat amid the ever-increasing tax burden imposed on them, especially by the legions of out-of-touch bureaucrats who wield power in Albany. For too long, Long Islanders seeking financial relief from our state capital have found instead that many of their elected leaders in Albany are all too eager to nickel-anddime hardworking taxpayers as a solution to the fiscal mismanagement rife across government-operated entities as well as those directly tied to New York state, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
There is no doubt that the MTA is a vital resource for New Yorkers, but the dereliction of duty by the agency’s lead-
When legendary quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement (for the first time), I was the editor in chief of my college’s news magazine, the Campus Slate, at the New York Institute of Technology. We covered a wide range of subjects, driven by the interests of our reporters, and one of my staff writers asked me if he could write something summarizing his thoughts on what it was like to watch “the greats” — the famed athletes of his childhood — retire. I liked the idea, and it came together nicely. Although I wasn’t the biggest sports fan in my youth, I could relate to the story.
But for me, the epitome of athleticism didn’t come in the form of an epic home run or, in Brady’s case, so many game-winning touchdowns. For me it was the whoosh of a soccer ball hitting the net at the back of the goal.
Like millions of other youth around the U.S., I grew up playing soccer, and some of my fondest memories from my
ership has led to staggering budget deficits and wasteful spending, to the point where it now costs the MTA roughly $3 billion a year just to service its enormous debt. Recognizing the unsustainable nature of this spending spree, the MTA conspired with Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York Democrats to siphon more cash from commuters via a congestion pricing plan, which is nothing more than a thinly veiled commuter tax.
that part of Manhattan altogether — like many in the trucking and carting sector.
Will Gov. Kathy Hochul simply restart the plan after November’s election?
Charging drivers who enter Lower Manhattan via car a fee in addition to the tolls already collected on many bridges and tunnels is nothing short of highway robbery, and New Yorkers resoundingly rejected this latest Democratic cash grab. Indeed, residents of every political stripe have voiced their concerns about this new tax, which would see the average commuter fork over an additional $4,000 for the privilege of entering Lower Manhattan, and force many businesses to raise prices or shy away from conducting business in
I was proud to stand alongside fellow Republicans, and some common-sense Democrats, to raise the alarm across the tristate area about this anti-business mandate. What’s more, I introduced bipartisan federal legislation to reject congestion pricing and to ensure that this disastrous plan did not come to fruition. After repeated public calls to Governor Hochul and the Democrats in the State Legislature to scrap the plan, the people were heard, and Hochul “paused” the implementation of congestion pricing at the 11th hour last month.
But the timing seemed suspect.
Poll after poll across New York told the same story: Congestion pricing was an awful plan, and voters were prepared to take their frustration to the ballot box. It isn’t hard to connect the dots and conclude that Hochul only delayed implementation of congestion pricing
because, on the federal level, Democrats feared that it would imperil their campaigns in competitive House districts leading up to the November election — including the one for my seat. I find it hard to believe that New York state and its governor invested significant money in constructing the new tolling infrastructure across Manhattan only for Hochul to have a change of heart at the last minute.
So it is vital that while commonsense, anti-congestion pricing advocates have the wind at our backs, we press on and demand further reassurances — in law — that this plan will not simply be restarted once the all-important fall election season has concluded.
It is extraordinarily important that New Yorkers stand united in continued opposition to Hochul’s disastrous congestion pricing plan, and demand more concrete protections against the implementation of this debilitating scheme as we move forward. I will be sure to keep up the fight in Washington as your voice on Capitol Hill.
Anthony D’Esposito represents the 4th Congressional District.
These Olympics, let’s remember to champion all athletes
adolescence and teenage years are of my days on the field.
So when I think of the greats, I don’t think of people like Derek Jeter or Brady. I think of women like Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Hope Solo, Tobin Heath and Carli Lloyd, among many others.
In this country, female athletes don’t get the same attention, or respect, as their male counterparts, and that’s almost understandable. Men’s sports have built entire industries from the ground up over the past century.
But there is much to be said about how hard women have worked to make sure they can have their moments of glory. Kathrine Switzer famously ran the Boston Marathon before women were allowed to; thousands have fought the wage gap that still affects sports today; and, of course, superstars like Serena Williams have cemented the idea that women athletes deserve the spotlight, too.
W hen I think of the greats, I think of Megan Rapinoe, not Tom Brady.
that over the past few years, the U.S. women’s soccer team has gone through changes. They performed poorly at last year’s World Cup, losing early in the tournament to Sweden. And in the lowest of moments for some of our players, many of whom are previous World Cup winners and Olympic gold medalists, they were not welcomed back to our country with open arms.
Instead they were hit with this: “WOKE EQUALS FAILURE,” which Donald Trump posted to his Truth Social account last summer.
“Nice shot Megan, the USA is going to hell!” (This was in reference to a penalty kick Rapinoe missed in the game against Sweden.)
I’m old enough to have thick skin, to read things like Trump’s comments and brush them off with an eye roll. But I can’t help but think about the little girls whose shoes I was once in. I think it’s fair to say they’d be genuinely affected by seeing something like what Trump wrote. I think about how difficult it must be for them to see their heroes, their greats, subjected to cruelty.
The Paris Olympic Games begin this week. There will be many female athletes, not just soccer players, representing our country. Their successes and their setbacks — their journeys — are so important. We need to remember that.
It’s always nice to see our athletes win, and our teams bring home gold. But if they don’t? Think about what you say before you say it, and think about who you’re saying it to.
Women’s soccer isn’t the same, and I’m not sure at what point it became cool to tear down some of our country’s best athletes, but alas, it is our reality.
All teams, in every sport, have their ups and downs, and I’d agree with many
It should come as a surprise to no one that conservative America hates the women’s national team. Why? Simply because for decades, its players have expressed “progressive” opinions about equal pay, social justice and LGBTQ rights, among other things that are largely unliked by the far right.
When the women are winning, the keyboard warriors are quiet. But when they lose? Well of course it’s because of their political and social beliefs.
As we cheer for those athletes, let’s remember that their worth isn’t measured solely by their victories, but also by their power to inspire. Let’s be careful in what we say, and ensure that our words foster encouragement, not disillusionment, for the next generation of greats.
Jordan Vallone is a senior editor who writes for the Bellmore, East Meadow and Merrick Heralds. Comments? jvallone@liherald.com.
AnTHonY D’EsposiTo
JoRDAn VALLonE
HeraLd editoriaL
Face mask bill must strike a delicate balance
amid ongoing debates about public safety and individual rights, the Nassau County Legislature is poised to make a significant decision that could have an impact on both.
Republican Legislator Mazi Pilip has proposed a bill that would make the county one of the first in the metropolitan area to ban face masks that conceal a wearer’s identity.
The proposal, backed by all 12 Republican county legislators, aims to unmask those responsible for violent acts during protests, imposing fines of up to $1,000 and potential jail time for violators.
A similar measure was proposed by State Sen. Steve Rhoads last month, after six young men wearing masks attacked another man at the Academy Charter School graduation at Hofstra University.
The Pilip bill is a reaction to violence involving people wearing masks in recent months during protests at universities including Columbia, George Washington and Yale. Pilip said that when they cover their faces, people can act as brazenly as they wish, which is unacceptable, and the idea behind the proposal is to curb violence and hold perpetrators accountable.
A laudable goal — but this well-meaning legislation may compromise public health and civil liberties, particularly when face masks are used as intended. They became an essential public health
Letters
Jerry Kremer should rethink congestion pricing
To the Editor:
tool during the coronavirus pandemic, and are not just a means of personal protection, but also a potential collective shield that helps reduce the transmission of airborne viruses.
Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of masks in curbing the spread of infectious diseases, thereby saving lives. To undermine this practice, even with the pandemic seemingly behind us, could have dire consequences for public health, especially as we ponder future outbreaks of other diseases.
The proposed bill includes exemptions for those wearing masks for health or religious reasons, but the enforcement of those exemptions would raise significant concerns. While the Republican presiding officer of the County Legislature, Howard Kopel, said he doubted anyone would intervene when an older person wears a mask for health reasons, there appear to be broader worries. The New York Civil Liberties Union has voiced concerns that the legislation paints a target on the backs of people of color, and protesters who disagree with government policies.
Those sentiments are echoed by Democratic Legislator Debra Mulé, who highlights what she sees as the ambiguity surrounding the bill’s implementation and enforcement.
Historical and current events have shown that laws with vague enforcement guidelines often disproportionately impact marginalized communities. Even the appearance that some were
Re Jerry Kremer’s recent column, “It’s time to give the governor a break”: I strongly disagree with Kremer’s opinion about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s cancellation of congestion pricing. This money would have been of great benefit to those of us who ride the Long Island Rail Road and the New York City transit system. It would also have helped to reduce air pollution in New York City, a big problem.
As we’ve seen in the weeks since the governor canceled this program, there is no Plan B for funding the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s capital program, despite her absurd statements to the contrary. There is a real risk of losing significant federal funding for the Second Avenue subway. Also, muchneeded new electric train cars for the LIRR will likely now be indefinitely delayed.
I’m guessing that Kremer doesn’t ride the railroad and experience some of the very old M-3 passenger cars, which break down frequently. The now canceled capital program would also have improved accessibility at LIRR stations, not to mention helping
being unfairly targeted by a face mask law would not only undermine trust in public institutions, but also exacerbate existing social and racial tensions.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s consideration of a mask ban on New York City transit, and similar proposals from other state legislators, indicate a broader trend toward restricting mask use that, if taken up by individual counties as well and not carefully managed, could become the focus of endless litigation and, yes, masked protests. Legislators’ focus should instead be on fostering a safe environment without infringing on individual rights or compromising public health. Rather than outright bans, there should be a nuanced approach that balances safety with the right to wear masks for legitimate reasons. Enhancing security measures at protests, improving surveillance to identify perpetrators of violence without compromising the anonymity of peaceful demonstrators, and fostering better communication between law enforcement and the public could be more effective strategies.
Legislation that restricts the use of masks must be carefully crafted to avoid unintended consequences that affect citizens’ freedoms or can be seen as discriminatory. As the County Legislature considers Pilip’s bill before a scheduled Aug. 5 vote, it should seek input from a wide range of stakeholders before finalizing it, in an effort to protect both public safety and individual rights.
opinions
We are not a nation of one religion
my earliest memories of church are of getting dressed up and heading to St. Dominic’s, in Oyster Bay, with my family. We’d dab our fingers with holy water, make the sign of the cross and walk into the pews, where I would immediately grab a hymnal and start looking through it, hoping we’d get to sing some of my favorites, like “The Lord of the Dance” or “We Three Kings.” As I grew up, I continued to enjoy many aspects of religion, from getting into (very amateur) theological debates with my friends to the sense of community and belonging it can provide, even as my belief in God slipped away.
While I don’t go to church too often anymore, I still have a special place in my heart for the magic, the importance and the splendor of religion, especially Christianity. The history of religion is one of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and led to some of the most phenomenal art, literature and philosophy that humanity has ever produced.
But I’ve been deeply disheartened by some political stunts that have taken place around the country in the name of religion. None more so than the recent efforts by Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry to require all public classrooms in the state to display the Ten Commandments. This comes at a time when there are calls for America to “return” to being a Christian nation, and for Christianity to play a more prominent role in our government, with many echoing the sentiments of Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert that “I’m tired of this separation of church and state junk.”
were in fact deists, with no personal connection to any one church. George Washington attended a different denomination’s service every week, while many suspected Benjamin Franklin of being a secret atheist.
a nd you need look no further than the Constitution to be reminded of that.
That “junk” Boebert so eloquently refers to is one of the defining pillars of the Founding Fathers’ vision for our country. Because despite what Christian nationalists argue, the United States has never been a Christian nation, and was expressly founded on the idea that any people, with any religious beliefs, could find a home here, even if reality has not always reflected those ideals.
Some argue that the founders were themselves Christian, and that religion played a huge role in the creation of the nation. What this conveniently ignores is the fact that many of them
Letters
to buy new diesel train cars and locomotives, which are approaching the end of their useful lives.
Kremer noted the economic cost of congestion pricing, and perhaps some adjustments could be made. But not funding our transit system is a terrible idea, and it will absolutely result in higher costs to taxpayers in the end.
I once thought of Mr. Kremer as a fairly progressive and effective legislator, but I guess that’s all in the past now that he’s a lobbyist.
In contrast, Kevin Kelley’s column, “Our future should include transit-oriented development,” makes a lot of sense. We urgently need housing and transportation here on Long Island. Kremer’s negative comments about transit funding accomplish nothing, except to play to the short-term interests of uncaring politicians.
I suggest he think about this, and reevaluate his position.
MICHAEL CRAvEN Point Lookout
Road violence vs. gun violence: no comparison
To the Editor:
Anyone
rides a bike or walks across an intersection in
Nassau County knows that life-threatening recklessness behind the wheel has become terrifyingly common. In fact, 20 times more people are killed in the county by drivers than by shooters.
yet elected officials, led by County Executive Bruce Blakeman, are doing little or nothing to reduce traffic violence. Instead, in a stunning example of skewed priorities, Blakeman and his political allies stir public fears of the comparatively tiny threat of gun-related crime.
In 2022 — the most recent year for which statistics are available — traffic violence claimed 81 lives in Nassau County. That same year, a total of four people in the county were killed by armed assailants.
And the roads are becoming ever more deadly.
“Traffic fatalities in New york have grown at an alarming rate since the pandemic,” state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a report last month.
Speeding and drunk or distracted driving are among the leading causes of this upsurge. But the Nassau County Police Department issued 66 percent fewer speeding tickets in 2022 than in 2019, the year prior to the pandemic. DWI arrests have also sharply decreased.
“In Nassau County,” Blakeman declared in March, “we back the blue, and we fund our police.” He boasted that more than 200 officers have been added
Thomas Jefferson even went so far as to reply to a letter by the Danbury Baptist Association by declaring, “When (the Church has) opened a gap in the hedge or wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world, God hath ever broke down the wall itself, removed the Candlestick, etc., and made His Garden a wilderness as it is this day. And that therefore if He will ever please to restore His garden and paradise again, it must of necessity be walled in peculiarly unto Himself from the world …”
Even earlier, Roger Williams, a Puritan minister and the founder of Rhode Island, was banished from Massachusetts for his “erroneous” and “dangerous opinions,” for preaching against the king and for the separation of church and state. Williams feared that the co-mingling of religion and government would not only lead to oppression, but would damage the integrity of the church.
Favoring one religion over others goes directly against the Constitution itself. The Establishment Clause, a key component of the First Amendment, states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” While the exact meaning of “establishment” has been debated by legal scholars for centuries, the broad understanding has traditionally been that the government cannot, and should not, promote one religion over any other.
Religion is a wonderful thing. It brings people together, and encourages us to consider our place in the universe. I’ll be the first to stand up when people of any religious denomination in this country are being oppressed for their beliefs.
At the same time, we cannot allow any religious ideology to influence the functioning of our government, because once we start telling people how to live, love and think based on our religious beliefs, we are no longer upholding religion, but tyranny. As a wise carpenter from Nazareth said in Matthew 22:20, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”
Will Sheeline is a senior reporter covering Glen Cove, Glen Head, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? WSheeline@ liherald.com.
Framework by Tim Baker
to the county’s police force since he took office in 2022. That rhetoric, and those statistics, mean little to the families of children and adults killed in preventable crashes. And almost all motor vehicle fatalities can indeed be prevented with safer road
designs and tighter enforcement of traffic laws. Nassau County public officials must stop ignoring this worsening threat to the lives of their constituents.
At last Saturday’s next-to-last Food Truck Festival — Wantagh
KEvIN J. KELLEy Atlantic Beach
who travels by car,
