Nassau Herald 01-09-2025

HERALD Nassau

Isaac Rudansky, of Cedarhurst, is the author of “Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot,” which will be released on Feb. 4 and distributed by Simon & Schuster.

Cedarhurst author’s 500-page draft becomes published novel

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Calling all middle-grade fantasy adventure lovers: a new book by a local author checks all those boxes.

Isaac Rudansky, of Cedarhurst, is the author of “Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot,” a book for children ages 8 to 12 — middle-grade readers — who are fans of the Percy Jackson and Harry Potter series. The book is a product of so-called hybrid publishing, in which costs are shared by the author and a publisher, and will be released on Feb. 4 and distributed in more than 60 bookstores and on Amazon by Simon & Schuster.

Rudansky, 37, grew up in Huntington, in an

Orthodox Jewish home with no television, and he regularly rode his bike to the Huntington Public Library, where he read Stephen King books.

“Reading all of those books nurtured my creativity and instilled this thirst for good stories,” Rudansky said. “Reading good stories led to writing good stories, and I eventually made a career out of it.”

After high school, he had no interest in going to college, and instead went to a rabbinical seminary for a couple of years before taking a gap year in Israel. He was attending a program at Hofstra University and selling art at the time. He started writing 13 years ago.

“We had this cottage behind where I grew up in Huntington — it was a very old neighbor who lived there,” Rudansky recalled. “I

Holocaust survivors’ stories saved

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

This year’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day, on Jan. 27, will mark 80 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, the largest of the German Nazi concentration camps and extermination centers.

Over a period of 14 years beginning in 1982, the Second Generation of Long Island — a group of descendants of immigrants from Germany and other European countries in the late 19th and 20th centuries — made a series of documents focusing on Holocaust survivors and their liberators. Cedarhurst resident Syd Mandelbaum, the son of two survivors, led the project after creating the organization in 1981.

“I founded Second Generation of Long Island, Children

of Holocaust Survivors,” Mandelbaum said. “I had just come back from Israel, where I attended, with my father, the First World Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors.” Mandelbaum and others interviewed survivors and camp liberators on Long Island, in New York City and in Israel, from 1982 to 1995.

“It’s a validation, this idea that I had 40 years ago, and we already have had the most success in having the collection widespread, and now (its) being housed on Long Island is very important to me,” Mandelbaum said.

“This is very important, as many of the subjects were Nassau County residents.”

The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, in Glen Cove, now own the rights to the digital collection of documentaries.

“We’ve been using them and

ContInued on paGe 8

Courtesy Isaac Rudansky

Missing N.Y. treats sparks sweet success

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Samantha Zola started her rainbow cookie business out of an apartment in South Beach, Miami to cure her longing for a New York classic.

Zola Bakes sells only rainbow cookies and in many varieties.

“I was feeling really homesick and I was having trouble finding a job, and I decided to make some rainbow cookies in my apartment since I wanted a little taste of New York,” Zola said. “I couldn’t find rainbow cookies anywhere in Miami and it seemed like no one knew what they were.”

Zola began baking her rainbow cookie business while her husband, Jesse Charnoff, Lawrence native and Lawrence High School alum, was doing his residency at University of Miami in 2016.

They both met at SUNY Binghamton and Charnoff is now an orthopedist with Hospital for Special Surgery.

Originally from Dix Hills, she attended the French Pastry School in Chicago in 2008 and worked at Magnolia Bakery for four years, where she moved up from a baker to a general manager. She helped open the Penn Station location in 2015.

At the beginning of her business, Charnoff helped in between shifts at the hospital, by cutting bars with a ruler by hand, folding boxes, and making deliveries.

“You’d think getting a medical degree would be enough to get out of the bakery,” Charnoff said. “But it’s not, I’m still the delivery and logistics person if she needs another hand.”

Her business officially took off, in 2017 when she launched her website and Instagram and started shipping orders. They moved back to New York in 2019 and currently work out of a 3,000-square-foot building in

Central Islip.

“It’s been fun as a small business to have the family working together on something,” Charnoff added.

In the beginning stages of her business, they were going back and forth to Lawrence regularly as Wall’s Bake Shop in Hewlett inspired Charnoff.

“I told Sam that when she was baking the rainbow cookies, I would be surprised if she could outdo my local bakery,” Charnoff said. “But she was able to do so.”

The bakery is women-operated and Zola’s best friend, Shira Schwartz, director of operations and sales, has been working there since 2022.

“Sam is one of the most hardworking people and anything that she puts her mind to she it going to do it,” Schwartz said. “To see her really build this business from nothing into this incredible place we have now is really just amazing.”

At the beginning of the business, Schwartz was supporting her friend and then during the pandemic she felt lost with her job and Zola offered her a position at the bakery.

“It’s just been amazing to see what has been built the five years prior to me coming and what we’re able to do together, Schwartz added. “It’s really awesome.”

Prior to working with Zola, Schwartz was a senior account executive at wholesale apparel.

“We’ve known each other for almost 20 years and it’s been a very beautiful thing,” Schwartz said.

Zola Bakes has been featured on QVC, Oprah’s Favorite Things, PIX11, NY1 and on many news websites.

Zola’s cookies are shipped nationwide in all 50 states and Canada through her Instagram, @Zola_bakes and website, ZolaBakes.com. Her IG has a viral following with over 35,000 followers.

“Our goal is to introduce the cookie to people who don’t know what it is,” Zola said.

Zola

Samantha Zola,

husband, Jesse Charnoff, promoting their rainbow cookie business. Zola Bakes ships her rainbow cookies nationwide through ZolaBakes.com.

Courtesy Samantha Zola Owner of

Bakes,

left, with her

What to know about new state laws in 2025

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Several new measures approved by the state legislature in 2024 are taking effect as of Jan. 1, bringing changes to health insurance, the minimum wage, paid time off and more.

St. James resident Gina Lie neck has fought for new safety policies after her daughter, Brianna, ten 11, died in a 2005 boating accident. Since then, Lie neck championed “Brianna’s Law,” which makes safety classes a requirement to obtain motorized boat operation certificates.

What state laws are different in 2025?

• Motorized boat safety classes are required for all ages.

• The minimum wage increased by 50 cents for Long Islanders.

• Insurers cannot charge copayments or deductibles for Insulin.

• Employers must provide women with 20 hours of time off for prenatal care.

• Health insurance programs must pay for ambulance costs directly.

The law originally passed in 2019, requiring a different age group of motorized boat operators to become safety certified every year, according to the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. As of 2025, the rule applies to all boat operators regardless of age. Over the past five years, almost 1 million boaters took safety courses.

For minimum-wage workers in New York State, the new year brings a 50-cent per hour increase, the first of a series of annual adjustments that will occur in 2026 and 2027.

New York state has two minimum wages — $16 an hour for residents of Long Island, New York City and Westchester, and $15 everywhere else. New York’s minimum wage is one of the highest in the country, rivaled by only a few states such as California, New Jersey and Washington, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

Business groups who claim that employers will be pressured into cutting staff or go out of business have criticized the increase in minimum wage.

“In this current era of inflation and rising costs, every cent counts for all New Yorkers, especially workers who earn minimum wage,” state Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said in a news release. “By gradually increasing wages for the lowest earners, we are ensuring businesses can adjust to

Several new laws have gone into effect in the New Year, including measures on boating safety, the minimum wage and healthcare.

the change while also helping more families make ends meet.”

For parents with young children or expecting couples, the new measures offer improvements to sick leave and health coverage. Pregnant women can now enroll in state health insurance at any time without penalty. Employers must provide 20 hours of paid time off for women’s prenatal care, including physical exams, medical procedures, and consultations with health providers in preparation for pregnancy.

For the 1.8 million New Yorkers who

need Insulin, health insurance will not be able to charge for “a deductible, copayment, coinsurance or any other sharing requirement,” according to the policy.

The law also now requires medical insurers to directly reimburse ambulance services, a significant change from previous policies requiring individuals to pay for their ambulance transportation.

At the federal level, 66 years, 10 months is the new age for full Social Security benefits.

‘The Barn’ highlights courage amid Holocaust horrors

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Five days before International Holocaust Remembrance Day the National Council of Jewish Women, Peninsula Section will be screening “The Barn” via Zoom, on Jan. 22.

The NCJW is the oldest Jewish feminist civil rights organization working for equity and justice for women, children and families in the United States and Israel.

“Peninsula Section is one of 40 sections around the country of National Counsel of Jewish Women,” said Bonnie Sperry, the section’s executive director. “We have been around over 87 years, and we serve the local community right here in Lawrence.”

Rachel Kastner, Matthew Hiltzik and Phil Berger produced “The Barn.” It features her and the story of her grandfather, Karl Shapiro, 90, and his story of survival in the face of unspeakable evil. Berger also directed the documentary. Shapiro survived the Holocaust due to the help of a Polish farmer who hid him and 17 other Jews for a year and a half underneath his barn.

To reach a larger audience, the NCJW is contacting various learning institutions for middle and high schoolers, and religious organizations across the U.S. to the free viewing.

From Israel, Kastner will explain her path to documentary film produc -

er. She will hold a Q & A with the participants after the viewing.

Kastner, 26, was 18 when she filmed

“The Barn” even though she was not interested in Holocaust storytelling.

“I spent my summers during high school producing short films, working on sets of fiction narrative films and interning at film studios during the summers,” Kastner wrote in an email.

“But when I had the opportunity to

share my own family story in The Barn, my focus changed. The making of the film, and the sharing of this it with audiences, has been incredibly meaningful for me and expanded my understanding of the impact that stories can have.”

“The Barn” takes Kastner and Shapiro to the place he swore he would never return.

Kastner saw the living conditions her grandfather endured and became to understand the incredible odds he overcame to survive.

She wanted to share the story after meeting the woman who saved her grandfather and greatgrandparents.

F

brought Kastner immense pride, while using their story to share the horrors of the Holocaust.

“It has been enormously meaningful to share my family story with people all over the world — especially in recent years when Holocaust revisionism and denial is increasingly rampant,” she wrote. “For me, being the grandchild of 3 Holocaust survivors is so deeply a part of my core and inspires me to be better - it’s an honor to share that with others.”

or me, being the grandchild of 3 Holocaust survivors is so deeply a part of my core and inspires me to be better - it’s an honor to share that with others.

“Paulina and her family were under no obligation to save Jews — and yet, they did,” Kastner wrote. “They are symbols for me of what it means to stand up in dark times and refuse to give in to hatred, racism, antisemitism or any other form of bigotry that is so often contagious. And my grandfather’s story of building a beautiful and fulfilling life after leaving Europe has served as a powerful example of human resilience for me.”

R AcHEL KAStNER, ProduCer of “THe Barn”

Pnina Knopf, Holocaust education chair for NCJW, said screening “The Barn” is more important than ever.

“The time is now!” Knopf said. “With antisemitism and Holocaust misinformation and denial spreading rapidly across social media platforms and in the news globally, we, along with Rachel, are seeking to combat these trends and educate all generations about survival and the Holocaust. We must teach where the dangers of hate can lead.”

To register for “The Barn” go to https://bit.ly/4a3IKCI or call the Peninsula Section office at (516) 569-3660.

Sharing her grandfather’s story has

Created by ChatGPT

Courtesy Pnina Knopf

Rachel Kastner, producer of ’The Barn,’ documentary that features Kastner and her grandfather, Karl Shapiro, as they follow his story of survival during the Holocaust.

Q&A with a Woodmere Middle School author

By PARKER SCHUG

pschug@liherald.com

Eighth-grader Natalie Hesney sets high goals in and outside of Woodmere Middle School.

Hesney is looking to become a published author, while also earning high honors and pursuing multiple extracurricular activities, Woodmere Middle School Principal John Andruszkiewicz said at a Hewlett-Woodmere Board of Education meeting on Dec. 18.

“She is involved with our school newspaper, art club and our youth leadership club,” he said. “As impressive as these accolades are, perhaps what stands out most is Natalie’s kindness to others and her devotion to her family and friends.”

The Herald spoke with Hesney about the book she is working on, that she calls the Project, and hoping to publish upon its completion.

Herald: What inspired you to start writing?

Natalie: A lot of things. I’ve always been fond of storytelling and I like making stuff up.

H: Are you a big reader? What are some of your favorite genres?

N: Not as much recently, but I do read, still. I really like a lot of fiction (books) and fantasy, as well as romance. I think they’re all great genres.

H: How long have you been writing?

N: Probably, since around fourth grade, I started writing stories that were

eighth grader at Woodmere Middle School, is currently working on her first book with aims to be a published author.

like little short things that came up with that were only like three or four pages long.

H: What were those stories about?

N: They were just random fantasy stories. They were about like mermaids and talking animals.

H: So tell me about this book that you’re currently working on?

A Forgotten American Treasure

Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac appeared from 1732 to 1758. Amongst other information, it provided pithy sayings and proverbs, many of which have withstood the test of time.

“An empty bag cannot stand upright.”

“Anger is never without a reason, but seldom a good one.”

“Anoint a villain and he’ll stab you: stab him and he’ll anoint you.”

“An old young man will be a young old man.”

“Don’t think to hunt two hares with one dog.”

“Eat few suppers and you’ll need few medicines.”

“Great almsgiving, lessens no man’s living.”

“Happy’s the wooing that’s not long a doing.”

“He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.”

“If your riches are yours, why don’t you take them with you to the other world.”

“Lost time is never found again.”

“The noblest question in the world is, what good may I do in it?”

“They who have nothing to trouble them, will be troubled at nothing.”

“The sleeping fox catches no poultry.”

“The tongue is ever turning to the aching tooth.”

“When you’re good to others, you are best to yourself.”

“Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion.”

Editor’s Note: The filing requirement under the Corporate Transparency Act (last week’s column) has been suspended by the courts until further notice.

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N: The book I’m currently working on is about these kids who are in 10th grade and during the weekends, they get transported to this alternate universe, while the versions of themselves from this alternative universe live in their other universe during the weekend.

H: What inspired that pot?

N: It was from a comic I had read online and a little bit from my friends. A lot of the characters were based off of my friends.

H: When did you actually get started on this book?

N: Around two or three weeks ago.

H: Could you tell me a little bit about your process?

N: I write after school for half an hour. A lot of the time when I get started, I just write a few pages and if I feel like I’m going to stick with the story, I will plot out more of the plot and the characters and how the world (in the story) works.

H: How do you balance this and your schoolwork?

N: I prioritize schoolwork over my writing. I do all of my homework first, but there are still a few hours where I’m not really doing anything, and I dedicate it to my writing.

H: What are your next steps in writing this book and hopefully getting it published?

N: Definitely getting the first draft done and figuring out how I want the plot to work. I’d like to get it published, I just want to figure out an actual draft before I look into anything more about that.

H: Do you have a timeline in mind for when you’d like to finish this book?

N: I’m flowing with it, but I’d like to complete it before, I guess, the summer. I don’t know how long it will take me to finish a full book.

H: What has been your favorite part of working on this book, and what is your favorite part of writing in general?

N: Mapping out characters and coming up with like different kinds of characters, because a lot of people in the stories are based off of people I know, or traits they have are based on people I know and I like telling people like that I’m close with ‘Oh yeah, something you did helped inspire that part of the character.’

H: What would you say is next for you, once your book is complete?

N: Probably revising and seeing and seeing what happens from there!

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Courtesy Douglas Hesney

Natalie Hesney,

Inwood residents Marlon Rabanales, left, and Olibia Barrios Cifuentes with their newborn baby girl, Jimena Sulemia, the first of 2025 at St. John’s Episcopal Health Hospital.

Episcopal Health Hospital welcomes first baby of 2025

St. John’s Episcopal Health Hospital in Far Rockaway welcomed its first baby of 2025, on Jan. 1 at 12:28 a.m.

Jimena Sulemia was born to Inwood residents Olibia Barrios Cifuentes and Marlon Rabanales. She weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 18.9 inches.

The hospital’s team members presented Jimena and her parents with an array of gifts, including a baby play

center, baby wipes and a stroller that has a car seat attachment.

The ICARE Foundation gave the family — baby books, baby care essentials, a baby monitor, clothing, a diaper bag and toys. ICARE is the charitable and philanthropic arm of Episcopal Health Services. Jzanus, a Long Island based company and partner of EHS, donated the baby monitor. — Melissa Berman

Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department Commissioner Justin Hoffman, left, Commissioner Warren Norman, Deputy Chief Steven Magliaro, Chief of Department Meyer Adler and Deputy Chief Joseph McHugh all took the oath of office, on Dec. 31.

Fire department installs five new officers on New Year’s

The Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department installed five newly appointed staff at its annual swearingin ceremony, on New Year’s Day.

The new members include — Deputy Chief Joseph McHugh, Commissioner Justin Hoffman, Chief of Department Meyer Adler, Deputy Chief Steven Magliaro and Commissioner Warren Norman.

“We extend our best wishes to the new leadership team as they guide us in to 2025,” the department wrote in a Facebook post. “A heartfelt thank you to Chief of Department Michael Beilinson for his exceptional leadership and dedication over the past seven years. Your service has been invaluable to our department and community.”

— Melissa Berman

Courtesy LCFD

Courtesy Episcopal Health Hospital

HERALD SPORTS

Hofstra wrestling begins exciting new era

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

Hofstra wrestling alum Jamie Franco is now leading the program where he thrived on the mats as a student-athlete looking to raise it to new heights.

Franco, a three-time NCAA Championship qualifier at Hofstra in the early 2010s, was named the Pride’s 13th- head coach on July 1, 2024 replacing Dennis Papadatos after he took an administrative role in the university’s athletic department. It marks another return home for Franco, who served as an assistant coach under Papadatos from 2016 to 2023 before spending a season on the wrestling staff at Columbia University last year.

“I always wanted to be a head coach and to be able to get this opportunity was a dream come true for me,” said Franco, who won 75 matches at Hofstra including a conference title at 133 pounds in 2013. “To come back to my alma mater and get my first head coaching gig at Hofstra was really special.”

After graduating Hofstra in 2014 with a business degree, Franco was operations manager of the famed Longo and Weidman MMA Training Center in Garden City where Hofstra wrestling legend Chris Weidman trained when he held a UFC middleweight title from 2013 to 2015. Franco maintains a close relationship with Weidman and recently brought his longtime trainer Ray Longo in a cross training session with the wrestlers.

“I think it’s always good to get these guys training outside of just wrestling to make them physically and mentally tougher,” Franco said.

Franco inherited a roster with plenty of former Long Island high school wrestling standouts including 133-pound Ryan Arbeit, who won a county title for Wantagh in 2022. The redshirt freshman was voted a team captain in October along with Massapequa High School product Chase Liardi, Justin Hoyle of Maple Valley, Wash and Ross McFarland of Pennellville, N.Y.

Two of Arbeit’s former Wantagh teammates are also on the Hofstra roster including red-shirt junior Mat Rogers, who won a New York State Championship in 2020 and Joe Russo, who was sidelined last season after joining the Pride from Nassau Community College. Russo was sidelined at the beginning of the season with an injury, but Franco is hoping he can make a contribution as the dual meet schedule heats up.

The Nassau County South Shore presence on the Hofstra mats also includes 165-pound redshirt junior Eric Shindel, who was an All-County wrestler at JFK High School in Bellmore in 2020 and 2021.

Fellow 165-pounder Kyle Mosher, who won a New York State title with South Side High School in Rockville Centre, joined the Pride this season as a graduate student after competing as an undergraduate student

at Columbia under Franco.

“He is looking really good early in the season so we’re looking to keep building on it,” said Franco of Mosher, who placed eighth in the 30-team Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 7. “He’s on everyone’s radar now.

Franco recorded his first dual meet win as Hofstra head coach with a 21-12 victory against Duke at home on Nov. 16. The Pride entered the new year at 4-3 and will next be in action on Jan. 9 with an Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) road match at Binghamton. The Pride then has home matches in the Mack Sports Complex scheduled Jan. 26 against Penn starting at noon and Feb. 2 versus Franklin & Marshall at 4 p.m.

The Pride will look to make some noise at the EIWA Championships at Lehigh on March 7-8 and qualify at least three of four wrestlers for the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia from March 20-22.

“The guys are growing every week,” Franco said. “I think we’re going to see a more gritty team for us in the EIWAs so I feel like we’re going to get a bunch of placers there this year.”

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications Massapequa native Chase Liardi is one of Hofstra’s captains.

Ross McFarland and the Pride are looking to make noise under new coach Jamie Franco, a Hofstra wrestling alumn.

Local author’s novel debuts after 10-year journey

have a scene of a portal opening up, like a vertical tear in the space, and a villain climbing through and wreaking havoc on the cottage and the neighbor.”

As he was writing the scene, an idea struck him from a math class he was taking at Hofstra about scatterplots, graphs that use coordinates to display values for two variables.

“In my mind, scatterplot sounds like a place, and maybe it’s the name of the place on the other side of the portal where this villain came from,” Rudansky said. “I get to thinking, what will happen in Scatterplot? and I thought there they definitely needed scribes — it just sounded right.”

He always knew that his title character would be named Georgie Summers, because he always loved that name, and after he had the title, he continued to expand on the adventure and started putting the pieces of the story together.

Rudansky contacted Webster Stone, an editor at Rugged Land Media who he found online, when his draft was 500 pages long, with no ending in sight.

“Isaac’s first draft was rough, but he’s such a smart, driven, and enthusiastic guy,” Stone wrote in an email. “His excitement for the project was infectious, he definitely had a vision.”

Courtesy Isaac Rudansky

was forming a company called Adventure Media Group, a full-service management agency.

Then, Rudansky said, “I wanted to finish something that I started. I called Web and we started working together again.”

In 2021, he picked up where he left off on his draft. “After a while, a long while, his writing started to improve, he learned how to paint poignant scenes,” Stone wrote. “He could be moving, fun and funny too. He also developed a capacity for narrative drive — that’s when you have to turn the page and keep reading.”

After the pair worked together for a year on an outline, Rudansky’s story started to come to life.

“His story is at once intimate and wide-ranging, there is so much action, but it’s leavened with softer set pieces,” Stone wrote. “Isaac has a nice ear, the dialogue rings true and sounds right, there is conflict, scope, twists and a big ending. What’s more, it has ideas and themes that are at once timely and important.”

wood blockbuster too. Long live Scatterplot!”

As he neared completion of the book, Rudansky worked with Jim Thomas, an editor at Random House.

“The first wash was how accessible his writing is,” Thomas said. “It’s very open, engaging, lively — the characters jump off the page and the story draws you in from the first page. He doesn’t wait with the action, there’s something compelling happening from the first page. That’s nice for an adult editor. It makes it interesting and draws me in.”

Thomas was excited about the book’s conceit, because it was something he had never seen before in a middle-grade fantasy adventure.

“The idea is that our memories, the memory of every person alive in the world we know, is stored in massive libraries in an alternative universe,” he said. “I found it really engaging and fun.”

Rudansky felt disheartened by the notes he received from Stone, which suggested he rethink his story. “I didn’t have

“Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot” is currently on display at Blue Door Books, in Cedarhurst, and has been read and reviewed by 35 students in grades eight through 12.

Every day for three years, Rudansky rose at 4 a.m. and write from 4:30 to 7:30 a.m., before his children woke up, and eventually finished his manuscript.

The best part of editing the book, Thomas said, was working with Rudansky.

Unforgettable Events Start at The Seawane Club

the heart to start over from scratch,” he said.

He told Stone that he would call him back in a week, and that week turned into 10 years. During those 10 years he

Stone said he has immense pride in Rudansky and high hopes for his book.

“That personality of his, and that voice, comes across in ‘Georgie Summers’, the character and the book,” Stone wrote. “It’s a terrific book, I want to see it a New York Times bestseller and a Holly-

“It’s a collaboration — a writer brings material to an editor and then a lot depends on how well the editor and the artist can communicate,” Thomas said. “It’s been such a pleasure working with Isaac. He and I just really click and speak the same language. During his revision process, he took what I offered him and did more with it.”

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Holocaust survivor stories find a home in Nassau

incorporating some of them into our own brief stories,” the center’s executive director, Bernard Furshpan, explained. “Right now the museum is one of the members of the coalition that (County Executive) Bruce Blakeman put together to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.”

As the son of two Holocaust survivors himself, Furshpan wants to keep these stories alive. “As these liberators and survivors are dying, there’s very few left,” he said. “It’s an honor to keep the legacies alive.”

There are 47 documentaries in total, of 41 survivors and six liberators. The average age of the survivors when they were interviewed was 57, and they recalled their experiences in vivid detail.

“In 1983, we starting donating our collection to the Video Archive of Holocaust Testimony at Yale’s Sterling Library,” Mandelbaum said. “In 1993, when the United State Holocaust Memorial Museum opened, our collection was shared and housed there. In the past decade, the collection was made available to the World War II Museum in New Orleans and the Jewish Museum in Warsaw, Poland.”

In 1993, Mandelbaum flew to Los Angeles and gave director Steven Spielberg’s organization, the Shoah Visual History Foundation, the documentaries

to get them started. Mandelbaum granted the Shoah Foundation permission to use the collection in April 1995, when he served as commissioner of the Nassau County Commission on Human Rights. Mandelbaum recalled a special inter-

“Our first interview was with my father, Joseph, in the beginning of 1982, and it was done by Doris Simon, who had taken interviewing classes with us,” Mandelbaum said. “We became very good at this, and over the next 10 years we had produced 40 documentaries.”

Dagmar Fodimab, 77, the daughter of two survivors, shared the story of her mother, Serena Stern, being on the first transport to Auschwitz from Czechoslovakia, in the spring of 1942. Fodimab, a Woodmere resident, said she thought the Second Generation of Long Island had a very important mission.

“We felt that it would be important to get documentation and testimony as the survivors got older …,” Fodimab said. “In light of all the claims made, that (the Holocaust) never happened, people wanted testimonies of people that were there and to tell the true story. This did happen, and people have numbers on their arms, and to tell the story of what the Jewish people went through.”

view with Frances Purcell, a Holocaust survivor and former Nassau County executive and Malverne mayor, on Jan. 15, 1985. Purcell’s interview, along with many others, took place at Lawrence High School, in a small studio.

Fodimab urged people to seek the truth, especially given what is going on in Israel now. “Our story has to be told, and it’s most important the truth be told,” she said. “There’s only one truth when you talk about history. The truth that what happened is not somebody’s interpretation. These were facts from people that survived.”

Courtesy Syd Mandelbaum

Syd Mandelbaum, the son of two Holocaust survivors, left, interviewed another survivor, Frances Purcell, former Nassau County executive and Malverne mayor, in January 1985 for the Second Generation of Long Island documentaries. CoNtINued

Lawrence LateLy

Bearing witness: students learn from Holocaust survivor

On Dec. 5, a group of students from Lawrence High School’s Art, English and Social Studies departments along with members of the Hebrew Culture Club, visited the Holocaust Resource Center in Manhasset. One rings and it is an associate from my former ad agency, someone I worked with nearly three decades ago. It’s not the first time we have spoken since I changed jobs and he moved south, but without question, he is one of the most influential creatives I have ever known.

There, they were given the increasingly rare opportunity to listen to a Holocaust survivor. The students listened as Rosalie Simon, a ninety-two-year-old woman, told her story, which started when she was 12.

She began to describe her journey to the camps, explaining the way they dehumanized Jewish people by overcrowding them and making them sleep on the floor of a cemetery. They were not provided any food the whole way to the camps and were not told where exactly they were going.

Mengele was in charge of that, and he is now notorious for being the “angel of death.” He had sentenced Rosalie to die, and she was sent to a room to wait for her death.

She walked in and was filled with a desperate urge to live. She screamed and pleaded for someone to spare her life, but it eventually seemed hopeless. More and more people came into the room, but her despair did not leave her. Rosalie’s escape came in the face of a redheaded woman who told her to run. She ran and ran until she found her sisters, who then got her on the train before Dr. Mengele spotted her.

Once her family of eight reached the camps along with others, they were forced to split up into two groups. The group Rosalie and her mom were sent to was told that they would get extra bread while the other group had to work.

Having never been separated from her family like that, Rosalie found a chance and snuck away to go to her sisters, not knowing that would be the last time she ever saw her mother. The “extra bread” was actually a front for the gas chambers that no one knew existed at the time.

Rosalie’s mission worked, though; she was reunited with her four sisters while her younger brother and father were not with her. Later on, the people in the camp were examined and separated based on their ability to work. Dr.

The people who passed the examinations were sent to a factory to work, and then later on, they managed their full escape. These are only parts of the horrific experience Rosalie had to endure, and by listening to this first-hand account from a survivor, the students themselves became witnesses.

Along with the invaluable and unforgettable account told by Rosalie Simonds, the students were also able to view many artworks done by high school students after they had listened to experiences such as Rosalie’s. They gained both inspiration for their own future works and more insight into the Holocaust such as the propaganda that was spread around during that time and the people who refused to be bystanders and instead aided people towards freedom.

The experience as a whole left a lasting impact on the Lawrence students’ minds. They continue to keep in mind everything they have learned as they put together their own artistic pieces representing the Holocaust and its survivors. Through their art, the students hope to honor the survivors and ensure their stories continue to resonate for generations to come.

news brief

Specialty clinics open at NUMC

Nassau University Medical Center has launched two specialty clinics to expand access to vital care for the community.

The Colorectal Screening Clinic, now open on Monday mornings, focuses on early detection and prevention of conditions such as colon cancer. The clinic, located on the first floor with NUMC’s other surgical clinics, performs endoscopies under sedation by appointment. Colon cancer affects approximately

150,000 people annually in the United States, with one-third of cases resulting in death. Early screenings are key to improving survival rates. For appointments, call (516) 572-6703.

The new Reflux Clinic operates Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings on the sixth floor. Under the leadership of Dr. Venkatesh Sasthakonar, the clinic provides diagnosis, treatment, and longterm support for patients experiencing acid reflux and related conditions.

S unaina S amala

Taking to the ice for the Jewish Festival of Lights

The Chabad of Hewlett invited the children of the community to celebrate Hanukkah with a skating session at Grant Park.

“‘Chanukah’ on Ice was a great success,’” Sharon Bernowich, Chabad of Hewlett office manager wrote in an email. “Many families and friends from the entire greater Hewlett area came together to celebrate Chanukah.”

Along with ice skating, there were various inside and outdoors activities for both adults and children including — creating your own candle box, face painting, dancing, dreidel, and enjoying warm refreshments.

They also lit the grand menorah on the ice and kept it on the ice during the skating session, on Dec. 26, to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights.

“The menorah lighting on the ice was very uplifting, there was singing and you could feel the deep connection to Judaism, light always overcomes the darkness!” Bernowich wrote.

“Everyone in attendance had a great time, we are so thankful for our beautiful community.” — Melissa Berman

Abby, left, and Yuval Atias were all smiles as they donned their ice skates ready to get onto ice rink at Grant Park in Hewlett.

The children were invited to celebrate Hanukkah with an ice skating session and have holiday fun with the Chabad of Hewlett.

The menorah took center stage on the ice during the second night of the Hanukkah celebration.

Eric Dunetz/Herald Photos

Leah Hinkow, left, Emma Khavasov and Matalie Stein volunteered at the ‘Chanukah on Ice’ celebration coordinated by the Chabad of Hewlett at the create your own candle box table, on Dec. 26.

It became a bit crowded getting on the ice rink at Grant Park during the Chabad of Hewlett’s holiday event.

Lawrence ignites a new Hanukkah tradition

Lawrence lit the menorah each nigh of the holiday, outside Village Hall. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, County Legislature Presiding Officer Howard Kopel, Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich of Congregation Beth Shalom, distinguished guests and families were part of the holiday festivities throughout the eight-day celebration. A special thank you went out to the members of the Nassau County Police Department and Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol for providing safety during the holiday.

Throughout Hanukkah, there were stories shared from Trustee Aaron Felder, who spoke about his father surviving the Holocaust. Also, Israel Defense Forces Lt. Yonatan Ben Hamu, who shared his story on the severe combat that took the bottom portion of his left leg.

The village aims to host the public menorah lighting for many years to come.

“As we light the menorah, we are reminded of the strength and resilience of the Jewish community, and the timeless message that even in the darkest of times, light will always prevail,” Mayor Samuel Nahmias, wrote in an email. “Let this ‘Chanukah’ bring joy, peace and warmth to all, and may the spirit of togetherness shine brightly in our hearts and our great village.”

— Melissa Berman

• Body Work

• Acupuncture

• Foot Reflexology

• Facials

• Red Light Therapy

• Lymphatic Drainage

• Cellulite Treatments

• Body Sculpting

• Natural Facelifts And Much More

• Professional private rooms. No curtain dividers or half walls.

• Free Hot Stones with all services.

• Fluent English, Spanish, Italian and Chinese spoken. Gift Certificates Available

Courtesy Village of Lawrence

On the second night of Hanukkah, several elected officials attended the Lawrence village menorah lighting, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, fourth from right, County Legislator Howard Kopel on Blakeman’s right and Lawrence Mayor Sam Nahmias in front of both men.

Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom gives back

The Western Nassau Chapter of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom collected items for Hannah’s Project providing access to feminine hygiene products to at-risk teenagers and women.

The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom chose to donate collected items to the Domestic Harmony Foundation and the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC’s the S.H.O.P. Sustenance Hope Opportunity Place, in Cedarhurst.

Rock and Wrap it Up! award winning anti-poverty think tank based in

Cedarhurst developed this project idea.

The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom aims to forge trust, respect and relationships between Muslim and Jewish women of all ages. They speak out against all forms of prejudice, hatred and discrimination.

For more information about The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, go to Sosspeace.org.

–Melissa Berman

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 is looking for...

To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com

Photos courtesy Syd Mandelbaum

Members of the Western Nassau Chapter of Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom and some of their children divide the donations benefiting the Domestic Harmony Foundation and the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC’s the S.H.O.P.

Barbara Bezalel, left, Afroz Ahmad, Karen Weinberg and Lima Islam at the S.H.O.P in Cedarhurst.

Nominate a student under 16 for the Sustainability Champion Award to recognize their efforts in driving sustainable change.

We want to hear about the extraordinary young individuals who are driving change in their communities.

The award will be presented at the 2025 LI Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island powered by Reworld in February. Your nomination could inspire countless others to follow in their footsteps!

Submit a nomination of approximately 200 words or less describing the student’s leadership in promoting sustainability: What motivates them? What impact have they had?

Be sure to include a photo or an example of their work whether it’s a community garden, an environmental campaign, or a creative solution to a sustainability challenge.

A royal flush of generosity for charity

A charity poker tournament supporting Israeli Defense Forces soldiers drew widespread community participation at the Israel Chesed Center on Dec. 15.

The event, organized jointly by the Israel Chesed Center and Israelis for Israel, featured professional dealers, an open bar and food service, with all proceeds dedicated to supporting IDF soldiers.

“Every penny raised will go directly to initiatives that support IDF soldiers and the families affected by the war,” Ovadia Halfon of Israelis for Israel said.

Moshe Eisen participated in the charity event supporting Israeli Defense Force soldiers at the Israel Chesed Center.

He emphasized the funds would support vital supplies, medical care and emotional support programs.

The tournament, which required a $200 buy-in, offered substantial prizes including a Royal Caribbean cruise voucher worth $3,000 for first place, an iPhone for second place, and an electric bike for third place.

Players had the option for unlimited re-buy-ins during the first hour and additional buy-in opportunities afterward.

— Parker Schug

Alice Moreno/Herald Photos

Israeli Defense Force soldier Gabi Katz, left, Israel Chesed Center Co-founders Moshe Bodner and Jeff Eisenberg and event organizer Ovadiah Chalfon put on a poker fundraiser at the Israel Chesed Center, with proceeds going to the Israel Defense Forces.

STEPPING OUT

Step inside an epic adventure with Anna, Elsa and the Madrigal clan moments on ice

By Karen Bloom

Welcome the New Year in true Disney style. The latest Disney ice extravaganza arrives at UBS Arena in Elmont ready to enchant families once again. This time around the spotlight is on two of the newest tales — beloved by Disneyphiles in the Disney canon: “Frozen” and “Encanto.” Audiences can share in the special joy of these captivating adventures when Disney On Ice’s glides into UBS Arena, now through Jan. 12.

Families will be transported into two of Disney’s most popular films as the world of Anna, Elsa, Mirabel, and the Madrigal family unfolds up close. These adored characters are, of course, joined by Mickey and his crew. Along with Minnie, Donald and Goofy, audiences will sing-along to everyone’s favorite songs interpreted through world-class skating, aerial acrobatics and dynamic special effects.

• Now through Sunday, Jan.12; times vary

• Tickets start at $35, pre-show character experience also available for a fee; purchase at ticketmaster.com or disneyonice.com or in person at box office

• UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont

As always, the atmosphere is electric from the get-go. From the opening segment with Mickey and the gang, we quickly arrive in Arendelle to the delight of all the “Annas” and “Elsas” in the audience. Olaf, the lovable snowman who likes warm hugs and all things summer, narrates the story everyone knows so well. Artful skating (what could be more fitting?) transports families to the snowy kingdom to be a part of Anna’s adventure to find Elsa, whose icy powers unleashed an eternal winter. Kristoff and Sven take audiences along as they encounter wintry conditions in a race to bring back summer.

Elsa’s solo segment skated to “Let It Go” is among the highlights of the show’s first half. “It’s a big moment,” says Rebekah Johnson, who — off ice at this point — is exhilarated by the audience response.

At age 19, Johnson is experiencing the Disney magic for the first time as a performer. She joined the cast in September as an ensemble skater and couldn’t be happier.

Skating since she was two-years-old, the St. Paul, Minn.-based Johnson says “I always knew I was meant to be a show skater.”

Like her many castmates, she’s embraced Disney from a young age.

“I’ve always loved the princesses and ‘Frozen’,” she enthuses. “I’ve dreamed about skating for Disney for so long.”

From her first Disney On Ice experience as a young child to revisiting the spectacle as a teenager more recently, she knew this was where she belonged.

“When I saw the show again, I thought ‘this is so cool.’ I still dreamed about being a princess.”

While Johnson is not quite there yet, she’s relishing every moment as the youngest member of the cast and every moment on ice.

“I’ve wanted to skate for Disney for so long,” she continues. “It’s all very surreal, but it’s real!”

After a very Frozen adventure, the show’s second half takes everyone to a vibrant town in the mountains of Colombia where we meet the Madrigals, that extraordinary family who live in

Yacht Rock Revue

The kings of ‘70s tribute hit the road with an authentic throwback to the era. Yacht Rock Revue, hailed by Rolling Stone as the “world’s premier soft-rock party band,” invites listeners on a nostalgic voyage through the ‘70s and’80s sun-soaked melodies. The Atlantabased 10-piece ensemble blends impeccable musicianship with a deep reverence for the genre. Their original album “Escape Artist” is a bold homage to this iconic sound. YRR continues to captivate audiences nationwide with their infectious energy and unabashedly joyous performances. Since their humble beginnings in 2007, YRR has emerged as pivotal in revitalizing yacht rock, sharing stages with icons and garnering a devoted following of “Anchorheads.” Whether performing in intimate venues or rocking arenas, their concerts promise an immersive musical journey that celebrates the timeless allure of smooth grooves.

Friday and Saturday, Jan.10-11, 8 p.m. $55, $40, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

a magical casita in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. Mirabel tells the tale of her amazing family and her journey to save the casita — her enchanted family home — alongside her sisters: Isabela, whose perfection radiates with her ability to make plants grow and flowers bloom with every step, and Luisa, with the gift of super strength that she uses to help her village move buildings and reroute rivers.

For the first time live, everyone can witness Tia Pepa, who can control the weather with her emotions; her husband Felix; their daughter Dolores, with her gift to hear; and Bruno, the mysterious and misunderstood Madrigal family member whose visions foretold the future.

“I’m especially partial to ‘Encanto,” Johnson says. “It’s so upbeat, high energy, that everyone [in the audience] gets so exited.”

And, of course, We Don’t Talk About Bruno.

Here audiences especially respond to the aerial segment, which showcases the skaters’ acrobatic skills above the ice, along with plenty of ice dancing.

“It looks magical,” Johnson says.

And that’s the timeless Disney mantra: “Anything can happen if you just believe.”

In the end, audiences leave with the understanding that everyone has their own gifts, magical or not, and being true to yourself and loving those around you is what makes you special.

Or as Johnson puts it: “Magic is inside all of us.”

At the end, special appearance from Mulan and Li Shang, Belle and Prince Adam, Ariel and Eric, Aladdin and Jasmine, Miguel from Coco, and Moana celebrate that iconic Disney “magic” in a rousing finale.

Photos courtesy Feld Entertainment

Smooth Dre’s Rhythmic Odyssey

Experience the pulse of Brooklyn hip-hop with Smooth Dre and his crew. A renowned figure in Brooklyn, he’s carved a niche in the hip-hop world with his unique style and profound lyrical narratives. Known for blending classic beats with rich, contemporary rhythms, Smooth Dre delivers music that resonates with authenticity and depth. His journey from underground circuits to mainstream stages has been marked by a steadfast dedication to his craft and an unwavering commitment to his roots. Smooth Dre’s influence extends beyond music; he is a cultural icon who embodies the spirit of hip-hop in every aspect of his life. Dive into a night of relentless beats and lyrical storytelling with Smooth Dre, a maestro of urban soundscapes, with his friends.

Saturday, Jan. 11, 8 p.m. $70. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or madisontheatreny.org.

Photos: Dreams do come true when the royal sisters of Arendelle are joined by the Madrigal family in a ice spectacle that fully brings both films to life.

Dave Atell

Start the New Year off with some laughs from one of stand-up comedy’s best, when Dave Atell visits the Paramount stage, Sunday, Jan. 19, 8 p.m. An all-timegreat joke writer, named one of the “25 Funniest People in America” by Entertainment Weekly, Atell is most at home in comedy clubs. He built a loyal following by barnstorming the country with his brand of off-color “very adult” humor, and his audiences got even bigger after his cult-favorite travel show, “Insomniac.” Atell continues to be a presence on TV — including his hit Netflix specials “Hot Cross Buns” and “Bumping Mics” — while constantly writing new material and taking it on the road. Beginning his comedy career in the early ‘90s, Attell ascended through New York’s stand-up ranks alongside the likes of Louis C.K. and Jon Stewart.

After a brief stint writing for SNL, Attell has headed several shows of his own. “Insomniac” followed Attell on late-night trips, tracking down and interviewing anyone who wasn’t asleep for some reason (usually either night workers or drunk people), while “Dave’s Old Porn...well, you can Google that one yourself.” When not on the road, Attell makes regular appearances at the Comedy Cellar in New York City. $59.50, $49.50, $44.50, $39.50, $29.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Defensive Driving Course

Empire Safety Council offers another session at HewlettWoodmere Public Library, Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 13-14, 6-9 p.m. Participation in this six-hour course gives you a reduction of insurance fees for three years and can reduce points. Registration is required. The fee for the class is $33 per person, and must be paid the day of the class by cash, check or money order payable to Empire Safety Council. Class size is limited to 25. Registration required. Visit hwpl.org for more information. 1125 Broadway, Hewlett.

Knitting workshop

Learn to knit a scarf, at Peninsula Public Library, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 7-9 p.m. Registration is required; $20 material fee collected at the door. All participants select their color. For more information, call Roxanne Spodek at (516) 9675777. 280 Central Ave., Lawrence.

Chevre Shabbat

Participate in a ChanukahChevre Potluck Shabbat dinner at Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Center, Friday, Jan. 17, 6 p.m. Bring your best potluck recipe. 295 Main St., East Rockaway. For more information, visit herjc. org or call (516) 599-2634 or email Rebecca at Rebecca.youth. family@gmail.com to sign up.

In concert

Plaza Theatricals’ welcomes the New Year, with an Elvis tribute, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2:30 p.m. Ritchie Santa performs “Elvis Is In The House,” keeping the King’s legacy alive. Santa often shares how, even 47 years after his passing, Elvis connects people who might never have met otherwise. See the show at 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Game Time

Peninsula Public Library invites all to game time, Mondays and Thursdays, in the Bentley Room. Come play canasta, mah jongg, and scrabble. Seating is limited; first come, first served. Call Roxanne Spodek to confirm the program the day before at (516) 967-5777. 280 Central Ave., Lawrence.

Lawrence BOE meets Lawrence School District Board of Education holds its first meeting of the New Year, Monday, Jan. 13, 8 p.m., at Lawrence High School. 2 Reilly Rd., Cedarhurst.

Concert program

Paige Patterson perform, Sunday, Jan. 19 at 2:30 p.m., in Gold hall at Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library. Enjoy songs from Sinatra to Santana and everything in between. Visit hwpl.org for more information. 1125 Broadway, Hewlett.

Lomdus for Life

Join Yeshiva Darchei Torah when five couples are honored at the Lomdus for Life dinner, Sunday, Jan. 19, at the New York Marriott. RSVP at Darchei.org/ forlife. For more information or questions email dinner@darchei. org or call (718) 868-2300 ext. 301. New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams St., Brooklyn.

Breakfast Connect

Want to network your business?

Attend the Breakfast Connect group’s get together every Wednesday, 8-9 a.m. The breakfast meeting is free and open to everyone in the community. Hewlett Fire Department at the Benjamin J. Moleno Hall, 25 Franklin Ave., Hewlett. For more information call or text Andrew Leibowitz at (516) 790-4829.

Musical seasosns

Sands Point Preserve’s reserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for the 2025 unique chamber music series, “Four Seasons in Music,” Sunday, Jan. 12, 3 p.m. The duoJalal ensemble-in-residence led by Kathryn Lockwood on viola, with percussionist Yousif Sheronick, violinists Deborah Buck and Emma Frucht and cellist Caroline Stinson presents a German flavored. Celebrating Germany’s rich history of extraordinary composers, including Bach, Mozart, Schubert and Brahms, to the less traditional, this concert will warm you up on a winter afternoon.

A reception follows. $56, $45 members. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For tickets and information, visit sandspointpreserveconservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

Having an event?

Introduction to Reiki

Kathleen Gunning offers an introduction to Reiki, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2 p.m. in the Boehm room at Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library. Participants will learn how to relax your body, calm the mind, manage pain and reduce stress. Visit hwpl. org for more information. 1125 Broadway, Hewlett.

Book Talk

Discuss “Takeover: Hitler’s Final Rise to Power,” with Hofstra rofessor Stanisalo Pugliese, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2 p.m. in Gold hall at Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library. Visit hwpl.org for more information. 1125 Broadway, Hewlett.

Parsha & Pizza

Grab some pizza and stay for the weekly Torah portion discussion, Thursday, Jan. 9, at Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Center. 295 Main St., East Rockaway. RSVP required. For more information, visit herjc. org or call (516) 599-2634.

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

On Exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) which publicly launched the movement. The direct follow-up to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts.

The exhibit encompasses significant cultural advancements during Long Island’s Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age movement, including votes, jobs, and the automobile for women, the beginnings of suburbia with commutation for work, and planned residential communities, which all defined the era, while the following decade brought economic reversals and the WPA program. Works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Fernand Léger, Guy Pène du Bois, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, and Reginald Marsh, among others, along with art deco stylists of poster art and graphics, and photography will convey the Art Deco spirit along with its furniture, decorative arts, and fashion.

Like “Our Gilded Age,” the social scene of Long Island’s Gold Coast, and its personalities — both upstairs and downstairs — will be portrayed, along with the ongoing relationship with the immediate urban context of New York with its skyscrapers and deco-styled architecture. Opens Jan. 18, on view through June 15. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Fit As A Fiddle

Jan. 11

Visit Long Island Children’s Museum to celebrate Family Fit Lifestyle Month, Saturday, Jan. 11, noon-2 p.m. Families can make a take-home custom fitness game to get in tip top shape by having fun, at the drop-in program. For ages 3 and up. Free with admission. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.

WEDNESDAY| JANUARY 22 | 7:00PM

CHINESE

January 9,

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notices

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Planning Board of the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor will hold a public hearing at Village Hall on Wednesday, January 15th 2025 at 7:00PM. A ZOOM link to the meeting is available on our website at www.hewlettharbor.gov.

All interested parties will be given the opportunity to be heard on the following applications for plan review:

1) David and Eryka Kadosh – 1181 Harbor Road Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 have applied to the Planning Board for site plan, elevation plan and landscape design review for a complete house renovation/alteration of a one family home.

2) Aamer Hussain/Five Towns Holdings, LLC –1051 Channel Drive Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 has applied to the Planning Board for design review for renovations to existing home and a second-floor alteration.

At said hearing, all interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard. Copies of the proposed application will be available at the Village Hall at least five (5) days before the public hearing and may be seen during the regular business hours.

Those persons planning to attend the meeting and who require special accommodations because of a disability are requested to notify the Village Clerk no less than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Dated: December 27, 2024 Hewett Harbor, New York BY ORDER OF THE PLANNING BOARD OF THE VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR

Michael Serao Planning Board Chairman Peter Lynch Building Superintendent 150806

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU.

RBS CITIZENS, NA F/K/A CHARTER ONE BANK, Plaintiff -against- LAVERN BECKFORD AND NEVILLE LEWIS, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated September 26, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at (CCP) Calendar Control Part Court Room of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Dr., Mineola, NY on February 3, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the Southerly side of Cedarhurst Street, distant

537.35 feet Westerly and Southwesterly as measured along the southerly and Southeasterly side of Duston Road from the extreme Westerly end of the arc of a curve which connects the Southerly side of Duston Road with the Westerly side of Oakleigh Road; being a plot 129.43 feet by 10.89 feet by 121.28 feet by 112.71 feet by 37.82 feet. Section: 39 Block: 549 Lot: 41.

Said premises known as 1069 DUSTON ROAD, NORTH WOODMERE, NY 11581

Approximate amount of lien $717,014.19 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. Index Number 011136/2014.

RALPH MADALENA, ESQ., Referee

David A. Gallo & Associates LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030

File# 5025.2735 {* NASSAU HER, NEWSDAY NA*} 150496

accommodations for a disability, such person should contact the Village Clerk at least 5 days before the hearing. All interested parties will have the opportunity to be heard By Order of the Board of Building Design

Barry Pomerantz

Chairman Dated: December 30th, 2024 150917

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that a public hearing will be held as to the following matter: Agency: Board of Appeals

Village of Woodsburgh Date: January 15, 2025

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: 30 Piermont Ave Hewlett, NY 11557

of the Village Clerk, 30 Piermont Avenue, Hewlett, New York, during regular business hours.

Dated: December 19, 2024

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Michelle Blandino, Village Clerk

150916

LEGAL NOTICE

WOODMERE FIRE DISTRICT MEETINGS FOR 2025

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Woodmere Fire District in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, will hold a Meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners on the following evenings in 2025 commencing at 7:00pm (except where stated).:

Thursday 1/23/25 @ 8pm

Monday?2/24/25

Thursday 3/20/25

Thursday 4/24/25

Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 21st day of January, 2025, at 7:00 o’clock in the evening of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations:

ELMONT

KIEFER AVENUE - south side, starting at a point 93 feet west of the west curbline of Keller Avenue, west for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-565/24)

ROOSEVELT

CARROLL STREET - south side, starting at a point 65 feet west of the west curbline of Andrews Avenue, west for a distance of 16 feet.

(TH-570/24)

EAST ROOSEVELT

Town Clerk 150885

Premises are also known as Section 41, Block 68, Lot 79 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map.

At the said time and place, all interested persons may be heard with respect to the foregoing matters.

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held as to the following matter: Agency: Board of Appeals Village of Woodsburgh

Date: January 15, 2025

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: Village Hall, 30 Piermont Avenue, Hewlett, New York

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AND AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

LEGAL NOTICE

Village of Lawrence

Legal Notice NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Building Design of the Incorporated Village of Lawrence will hold a work session beginning at 6:30 P.M. followed by a public meeting on January 27th, 2025 at the Lawrence Village Hall 196 Central Ave Lawrence, New York 11559 beginning at 7:00 P.M. to conduct the following Public Hearings and to attend to such other matters as may properly come before the Board:

“Guttman-8 Dogwood Lane- Proposed New Addition/Alteration Design.

“Winegrad-634 Atlantic Avenue- Proposed New House Design.

“Goldstein-94 Muriel Avenue- Proposed New House Design.

“Beach 2nd Development-210 Beach 2nd Street- Proposed 4 New House Designs. The order in which the listed applications are heard shall be determined the night of the meeting. The applications and accompanying exhibits are on file and may be inspected at the Village Office during normal business hours between 8:00a.m. and 4:00p.m. If anyone needs special

Subject: Application of Shmuel & Raizel Weiss, 847 Ivy Hill Road, Woodsburgh, New York, to maintain a swimming pool and fencing, which work requires variances of the following Village Code sections: (a) 150-47(H), (i) in that the swimming pool was installed at 25 feet from the property line at Hickory Road, where the Board previously granted approval for the swimming pool with a setback from Hickory Road of 26.1 feet, (ii) in that that swimming pool fencing will be located 0 feet from the property line, where the minimum setback is 25 feet and the Board previously granted the fencing to be 5 feet from the property line, and (b) 150-50(B), in that the fence installed has a height of 5 feet, where the maximum permitted height is 4 feet. Premises are also known as Section 41, Block 112, Lot 7 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map. The Board of Appeals, as lead agency, has determined that this application is a Type II matter under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, which requires no environmental review. At the said time and place, all interested persons may be heard with respect to the foregoing matters. Any person having a disability which would inhibit attendance at or participation in the hearing should notify the Village Clerk at least three business days prior to the hearing, so that reasonable efforts may be made to facilitate such attendance and participation.

Plans and other materials associated with the application may be reviewed and downloaded at www.woodsburghny.com or inspected at the office

Thursday 5/15/25

Thursday 6/19/25

Thursday 7/17/25

Thursday 8/21/25

Thursday 9/18/25

Tuesday 10/21/25 @ 6:45pm - Budget Meeting

Tuesday 10/21/25

Thursday 11/20/25

Thursday 12/18/25

The meetings will be held at the Fire District Headquarters located at 20 Irving Place Woodmere, NY 11598 in the main meeting room. All meetings of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Woodmere Fire District are open to the public. This notice is being publicized and posted in accordance with the provisions of Section 104 of the Public Officers Law of the State of New York. By order of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Woodmere Fire District.

Dated: Woodmere, New York January 2, 2025

David Haller, Secretary, Woodmere Fire District 150919

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE

Notice of a Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Atlantic Beach, Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 7:30 pm at Village Hall, 65 The Plaza for the purposes of engaging counsel to represent the Incorporated Village of Atlantic Beach and for any other matters that may lawfully come before the Board of Trustees.

Emily Siniscalchi, Village Clerk

Inc. Village of Atlantic Beach 150918

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC

HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking on Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion,

AVENUE - north side, starting at a point 250 feet east of the east curbline of Rose Avenue, east for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-556/24)

HOWARD AVENUEnorth side, starting at a point 284 feet west of the west curbline of John Place, west for a distance of 30 feet.

(TH-566/24) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:

ELMONT

MADISON STREET - south side, starting at a point 32 feet west of the west curbline of Dauntless Parkway, west for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-380/06 - 10/3/06)

(TH-563/24)

INWOOD

WEST END AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 94 feet south of the south curbline of Pearl Street, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-523/22 - 12/6/22)

(TH-557/24)

(NR) LYNBROOK

HUDSON COURT - east side, starting at a point 152 feet north of the north curbline of Whitehall Street, north for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-105/20 - 08/4/20) (TH-568/24)

HEMPSTEAD ALL PERSONS

INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: January 7, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY

Subject: Application of Israel & Jacqueline Abecassis, 99 Willow Road, Woodsburgh, New York, to construct a second story addition over an existing one story with interior alteration to the single-family dwelling, which requires variances of the following Village Code sections: (a) 150-10, no building shall be hereafter erected or altered which shall have its front wall nearer to the street line than 50 feet. In the case of a corner lot, a front yard shall be required on each street upon which the lot abuts, the proposed second story has setbacks of (i) 25.1 feet on the north side abutting Pond Lane, (ii) 29.3 feet on the north side abutting Pond Lane, (iii) 37.1 feet on the north side abutting Pond Lane; (b) 150-13.1, the maximum building height to front yard setback ratio shall be 0.420, the proposed height setbacks ratios are (i) 0.57 on the east side abutting Willow Road, (ii) 0.86 on the north side abutting Pond Lane, (iii) 0.74 on the side abutting Pond Lane, and (iv) 0.58 on the side abutting Pond Lane; (c) 150-13.3, the maximum floor area for a lot size of 19,912 square feet, the maximum permitted floor area is 4,819.8 square feet, the proposed floor area is 5,810 square feet, an excess of 990.2 square feet; (d)150-39(A), the areas occupied by all buildings and structures and accessory uses which extend above the grade of the property shall not exceed 15%, (2,986.8 square feet), the proposed building area is 17.13% (3,411.3 square feet), an excess of 424.5 square feet; (e)150-39(B), the maximum permitted impervious site coverage is 6,537.75 square feet, the proposed impervious site coverage is 7,319.2 square feet, an excess of 781.45 square feet.

This application is a Type II Action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act.

Any person having a disability which would inhibit attendance at or participation in the hearing should notify the Village Clerk at least three business days prior to the hearing, so that reasonable efforts may be made to facilitate such attendance and participation. All relevant documents may be inspected at the office of the Village Clerk, 30 Piermont Avenue, Hewlett, New York, during regular business hours.

Dated: December 4, 2024 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS Michelle Blandino, Village Clerk 150914

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held as to the following matter: Agency: Board of Appeals Village of Woodsburgh Date: January 15, 2025 Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: Village Hall, 30 Piermont Avenue, Hewlett, New York

Subject: Application of Isaac and Shira Kalish, 815 Pond Lane, Woodsburgh, New York, to construct a second story addition over the existing garage and interior alterations on the second floor, which requires a variance of the following Village Code section: §150-13.3 Maximum permitted floor area; states that for a lot size of 20,034 square feet, the maximum permitted floor area shall be 4,767.48 square feet, the proposed floor area is 5,095.93 square feet, an excess of 331.45 square feet. Premises are also known as Section 41, Block 71, Lot 20 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map.

At the said time and place, all interested persons may be heard with respect to the foregoing matters. This application is a Type II Action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act. Any person having a

disability which would inhibit attendance at or participation in the hearing should notify the Village Clerk at least three business days prior to the hearing, so that reasonable efforts may be made to facilitate such attendance and participation. All relevant documents may be inspected at the office of the Village Clerk, 30 Piermont Avenue, Hewlett, New York, during regular business hours.

Dated: December 3, 2024 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS Michelle Blandino, Village Clerk 150915

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR RASC 2006KS9 Plaintiff, Against MICHELLE WILLIAMS A/K/A MICHELLE D. WILLIAMS, et al Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 11/14/2024, 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 1/30/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 37 Cedar Road, Inwood, New York 11096, And Described As Follows:

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being At Inwood, Town Of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. Section 40 Block 144 Lot 350 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $524,686.09 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 606755/2022 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.

Anthony C. Curcio, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 12/16/2024 File Number: 20-303082 CA 150690

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $16.50 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

Cost Estimator Est. cost of purch; prep. cost & exp. stmt & ot. nec' docs for duration of prod. life cycle; set up cost monitoring & rpt’ng sys. & proced' for prods.; & rvw mat'l & labor requir't to decide most costeffective method to procure prods. BA in Commerce, Econ. or rel. Sal $56,285. Send ltt/res to: Attn: HR, Kiss Nail Products Inc. 25 Harbor Park Dr. Port Washington, NY 11050

CSC Holdings, LLC seeks a Systems Engineer to design, manage, maintain, and document both internal and customer-facing Unix environments and operating systems. Responsible for system life cycle management and system automation. Resolve performance, security, and reliability issues with production Unix environment. Provide configuration and support for Cisco UCS and Dell HCO environment. Provide configuration and support for both physical and virtual server environment. #LI-DNI Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related field, plus 3 years of experience as a computer systems administrator or similar role. Experience must include a minimum of: 3 years of experience with Unix administration; 3 years of experience with VMware implementation; 3 years of experience with Cisco UCS Blade and Dell servers; 3 years of experience with scripting languages; 3 years of experience with HP server automation; 3 years of experience with UNIX operating systems (such as RedHat, CentOS, Solaris, or Debian); 3 years of experience with hardware configuration and software installation and configuration; 3 years of experience with TCP/IP network administration; and 3 years of experience with high-availability and DR solutions. 10% travel to worksites throughout the metropolitan NYC area required. Part-time telecommuting may be permitted. Job location: Bethpage, NY. Rate of Pay: $128,211.00 - $138,211.00 per year. To apply, please visit https://www.alticecareers.com and search by job title or enter Job ID number: 7607.

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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 $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

Management Analyst. Collect & analyze corp. activities/procedures in procurement, inventory, & HR; monitor purch.to ensure efficiency; monitor probs & suggest improvement; & make reports for implement. of procedures/modifications. BA any degree, plus 2 yrs exp. as mgmt. analyst or rel. Sal. $75,733. Send ltt/res to Attn: HR, IVY Enterprises, Inc. 25 Harbor Park Dr. Port Washington, NY 11050

Marketing Specialist: Conduct mkt. rsch projects to create & implement strategies & resp’s; collect & analyze info. abt. mkt condition; & examine & interpret mkt data to forecast mkt trends. BA in Mkt’g, Bz Admin. or rel. Sal. $60,174/yr. Send ltt/res to: Attn: HR, IVY Enterprises Inc. 25 Harbor Park Dr., Port Washington, NY 11050.

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + 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 $34,320 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT

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My meeting with a president, and what might have been

Thank you, Jimmy Carter.

When I was a student in Florence, Italy, in 1979, I was invited to a fellow student’s home in Munich. There I was awakened by loud noises out in the street, and watched a huge truck with giant arms and claws that was lifting several odd-shaped bins from two street corners at the same time.

My friend explained that this was something called “recycling.” The truck was gathering separated bins of brown, green and clear glass and paper, all at the same time. I was intrigued, and further investigated this new idea, writing six pages of notes. After I returned to the U.S., I hand-wrote that six-page letter to the president of the United States, Jimmy Carter.

Then a strange thing happened. Our office secretary in Monroe, Michigan, came to my desk and said that a man named William Ruckleshaus, chairman of the federal Environmental Protection Agency, was on the phone, and wanted to speak to me. He explained that President Carter had received my letter and wanted to meet. I was 22 years old.

Because it was election time, the president was doing town hall meetings across the country, and selected a high school near my home in Toledo, Ohio. I was sent a special pass to give to Secret Service agents, and on Oct. 25, 1980, at 9:42 am, in a crowded gymnasium, I presented my pass to a tall Marine-like agent who seemed to be aware of the arrangement. He didn’t hesitate. I was walked behind a backdrop by two agents, down a hallway and seated in a classroom.

In walked President Carter, and he came over, shook my hand and sat in a school desk next to me. He was holding my letter on recycling, and we discussed the many specific things he was interested in implementing, starting with government, to reduce waste in the United States. I kept answering, “Yes, Mr. President,” and he kept saying, “Call me Jimmy.”

As we talked, he smiled that big Jimmy Carter grin, and I kept thinking he was too genuinely sincere, too nice to be the president, too down-to-earth — and how surreal the moment was. But the most surreal of all was when he asked me if I would come to Washington, D.C., and work with him to implement this program from the White House. I immediately answered, “Yes, Mr. President,” still unable to call him Jimmy. Then he smiled at me one more time and said, “Of course, I have to get re-elected.” He lost to Ronald Reagan, and the rest is history. I always wonder how my life would have been, working with the president, overseeing a new program that never materialized. I wouldn’t have crossed paths with the young lady who has shared my life for 43 years, never enjoyed the two daughters we raised or the grandchildren we fuss over, might not have opened my own architectural practice, moved to Long Island or started writing a column for the Herald. I wonder. Thank you, Jimmy Carter!

© 2025 Monte Leeper

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

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Once again, there’s a New Yorker in the White House

When Donald Trump is inaugurated as our 47th president the week after next, he will (once again) be the only president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt who is a born-and-bred New Yorker. Despite his recent relocation to Florida, where he has presided from Mar-a-Lago like an overlord, Trump has never escaped his New York roots. This is important to New York and Long Island. I say this not because of any native-son pride, but because downstate New York has unique issues and challenges that can be best understood and addressed by a true New Yorker. Like me, Trump grew up in Queens, but that’s where the geographic comparison ends. He was raised in very upscale Jamaica Estates. I grew up in very bluecollar Sunnyside. Same time; different stations. Of course, that didn’t stop

Trump from implying to people in Washington that he and I grew up together. So much so that non-New York members of Congress would ask me, “What kind of guy was he growing up?” And my misleading non-answer would always be, “Same as he is today.”

WDespite the very different economic aspects of our upbringings, Trump and I, in many ways, spoke the same language. I distinctly remember when he invited me to the White House in February 2017, a few weeks after his inauguration, for a routine billsigning ceremony. As we spoke for just a few minutes, he gave a big smile and said, “It’s great to hear that New York accent down here.”

anti-MS-13 efforts succeeded in crushing the gang’s reign of terror in Nassau and Suffolk counties.)

e’ll need President Trump’s support and cooperation to address critical issues.

Probably the most relaxed I ever saw Trump was when he invited me to join him at ringside for a night of UFC fights at Madison Square Garden in November 2019. The loud fullhouse crowd chanting “USA!” and giving him thumbs ups was a stark contrast to the Ukraine impeachment proceedings against him that were under way at the same time in Washington.

This year, his giant rallies at Madison Square Garden and the Nassau Coliseum were major parts of his winning campaign.

Executive Bruce Blakeman, county Republican Party Chairman Joe Cairo and former Congressman Lee Zeldin. Trump’s brother Robert lived in Garden City for many years until he died in 2020. On a somber note, I was there last March when Trump came to the funeral home in Massapequa to comfort the family of murdered NYPD hero Jonathan Diller.

Several times when I was talking with him on Air Force One, when he was flying to Long Island to address the MS-13 murder spree, I felt as if I were speaking with just another guy on a Queens street corner, and had to keep reminding myself that I was talking to the president of the United States. (His

Trump also had friendships with Long Islanders such as former U.S. Sen. Al D’Amato, from his years in Washington, and Joe Mondello, who was Trump’s attorney in several business transactions and was later appointed ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago by Trump. More recently, the president-elect has formed close friendships with County

Over the next several years, New York will need the support and cooperation of President Trump to address critical issues, including illegal immigration, crime and drugs, health care for those who continue to be affected by the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, aging infrastructure, congested traffic and high taxes. We will especially need him to fight off anti-New York elements in the Republican Party who have too often in the past clearly demonstrated their geographic bias. Together, whether Republican or Democrat, New Yorkers should work to find common ground with the president to make New York great again.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

The challenge of being president in challenging times

We are entering a new year, in which there will be many challenges for all of us. But the biggest ones will be for President-elect Donald Trump, who is about to embark on a historic second term. We know what he will do on Inauguration Day, but the real question is what kind of president he will be when the history of his second term is written.

Trump made many promises to voters, and there is no doubt that he will fulfill many of them. Voters were clearly concerned about the immigration challenges at the borders, and Trump has pledged to close them down and begin a program of mass deportations. Many voters were unhappy with the way our government works, and for better or worse, there will be changes. The proposed appointees to the Trump cabinet are in most cases total unknowns when it comes to government experience. Thinking that his new

team will be able to function effectively is a big wish that may or may not come true. Many of the proposed cabinet members have never run any type of business, and in some cases their only qualification is that Trump likes them. That could be a recipe for disaster.

Thinking that Trump’s new team will be able to function effectively is a big wish.

Aside from the promise to shut down the borders, the big Trump pledge was that he would do something about the high cost of things like eggs and other household needs. In the weeks since the election, he has made it clear that cutting down on such things as grocery costs is too difficult to accomplish.

Much of his presidency will be defined on Jan. 20, when he will sign a number of executive orders. Some may win broad public acceptance, but others may lead Trump voters to question whether they were the reason they supported him. The pledge to pardon Jan. 6 rioters pleased a small segment of the population, but freeing convicted thugs would send the wrong message in a country that prides itself on law and order.

Trump has pledged to dramatically

cut energy costs by embarking on massive oil and gas drilling programs. Whether that can have any effect is questionable, because the country experienced record oil and gas drilling in 2024, and creating extra product doesn’t mean that prices will go down. We consumers know from experience that the oil and gas producers don’t give any discounts to motorists or homeowners.

Some Trump voters have expressed a desire for our country to curtail any overseas relationships and to once again make the United States into an isolationist country. We went through that experience in the 1930s, when Adolf Hitler was beginning to map out his plan to control Europe and the rest of the world. Since those dark days, we, our friends and supporters have created NATO, and our country has assured our allies that we will defend them if any of our enemies attack them. Obviously, that means China or Russia.

There is no doubt that the Trump presidency will bring about many changes in the way our nation functions. History shows that every president makes some type of imprint on the

country. In many cases, he spends a lot of time trying to erase his predecessor’s accomplishments, and Trump will devote a substantial amount of time to doing exactly that.

In the run-up to Jan. 20, he has talked about a takeover of Greenland and a seizure of the Panama Canal. Greenland still has strong ties to Denmark, which we can be sure isn’t in the mood to give up a land mass rich in precious minerals and other raw materials. Panama controls the canal under a treaty entered into by President Jimmy Carter. Serious attempts to seize the canal would raise questions around the world about America’s written word.

Four years go by fast, and as the clock ticks, historians assess the accomplishments and mistakes of every president. We hope there will be many positive changes from a Trump administration, and that America will be a better place after his tenure ends. That’s my wish for 2025 and beyond, and, I’m sure, everyone’s hope.

Jerry Kremer was an assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.

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Feeling under siege? Combat the chaos.

are you still emotionally shaken by the violent, seemingly random acts that occurred shortly before we turned the calendar and again on New Year’s Day?

On Dec. 22, a woman was burned alive on a Brooklyn subway train. On New Year’s Eve, a man was critically injured when he was pushed into the path of an oncoming subway train in Manhattan.

HERALD

On Jan. 1, the year just hours old, we awoke to the news of multiple deaths and dozens of injuries when a pickup truck plowed into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Later that morning, a Tesla Cybertruck detonated outside a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, killing the driver and injuring seven others. And four gunmen opened fire outside a nightclub in Queens that night, injuring 10.

When these kinds of headlines intrude into our lives, we may feel as though the world is unraveling. The ripple effects are profound: Lives are lost or forever changed, public spaces are emptied, and once-reliable joys like festivals, parades and football bowl games are relegated to the realm of unimportance.

This sense of being constantly on edge is exhausting. But amid the grief and uncertainty, there are ways to process our emotions, respond constructively, and help ourselves and others find solace and strength.

What should we do?

When violence or tragedy strikes, the

letters

Advocating for child care in New York

To the Editor:

The year ahead will be filled with uncertainty and opportunity. Our leaders in New York must create the conditions necessary for every child to thrive, while safeguarding our state’s safety net.

We must demand full funding for our child care and public education systems, ensure that every family has a home and access to health care, guarantee clean air and safe environments, and protect every immigrant. We must demand that our state takes a bold position and does not waver from it. Most important, we must demand that the ultra-wealthy and extremely profitable corporations pay their fair share, because that’s the key to funding the essential services that help everyone succeed.

For too long, corporate politicians and their wealthy donors have put their interests ahead of the needs of our public schools, child care and working families. It’s time for a change. Here’s what we’re fighting for to make this

first imperative is safety. Avoiding highrisk situations and being vigilant in public spaces are more important than ever.

We must also safeguard our emotional and psychological well-being. Start with staying informed, but not letting yourself be overwhelmed. The 24-hour news cycle has a way of amplifying fear, and while information is crucial, it’s equally important to recognize when it’s time to step back. Be selective about your sources of information, and balance the hard truths of current events with stories that remind you of the good in humanity.

It’s also essential to strengthen our communities. Feeling under siege isolates us, making us retreat into individual fear. But fear is best countered collectively. Reach out to neighbors, join local groups or participate in civic events that promote unity.

Advocate for solutions. Moments of crisis are not always random acts of chaos; they are often symptoms of systemic issues, whether it’s gun violence, mental health crises or deep societal divisions. Supporting policies and groups that address these root causes — and working constructively with people whose opinions differ on the issues — is one way to reclaim a sense of agency in a world that feels out of control.

How should we feel?

The emotions stirred by these tragedies are complex and valid. There’s fear, anger, sadness and sometimes even guilt

— guilt over feeling powerless or for wanting to escape the constant barrage of bad news. It’s important to allow yourself to feel these emotions without judgment.

Be resilient. Focus on what you can control. Small, deliberate acts — reaching out to a friend, writing to a policymaker or simply stepping outside for a walk — can help restore a sense of balance. While we may not be able to prevent every tragedy, we can control how we respond to them.

How can we help?

Be present. Show up for others. Simple gestures, such as offering an attentive ear or a comforting word, are appreciated. Help the people who are directly affected. Donate to relief funds, volunteer at community centers or contribute to organizations addressing the systemic causes of violence and instability.

Share stories of courage, kindness and resilience. Elevate these stories — not in an effort to persuade others to ignore the pain, but to remind you and them that even in the darkest moments, light filters through.

Feeling under siege doesn’t mean we are powerless. It means that we are called to action — both in our personal lives and in our communities. We are called to care for one another, to demand better from our leaders, and to work toward a future in which safety and joy are not fleeting privileges but shared realities.

Let’s put politics aside and just save lives

in politics, disagreements are inevitable. They’re part of a system designed to encourage debate and foster diverse perspectives. But some issues transcend politics — or at least they should.

The fight to equip our first responders with life-saving epinephrine autoinjectors, or EpiPens, is one of those issues. And yet, despite its life-or-death implications, my legislation to mandate EpiPens in Nassau County police vehicles has been stonewalled by County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Republican leaders in the Legislature.

I introduced this bill inspired by stories like that of Georgina Cornago, whose son Gio died tragically in 2013 of an allergic reaction. Georgina has turned her unimaginable pain into a relentless mission to prevent others from suffering the same loss. Through her foundation, Love for Giovanni, she’s educated countless people about the dangers of food allergies, advocated for epinephrine accessibility and helped save lives. Her story has touched the hearts of many, including mine.

nCornago’s advocacy has already borne fruit. In 2019, thanks to her tireless efforts, New York passed Gio’s Law, which allows first responders like police officers to carry epinephrine. But her mission is far from over. On a national stage, she continues to push for epinephrine to be as ubiquitous as AEDs, ensuring that no child — or parent — is left defenseless against anaphylaxis. Yet here in Nassau County, where Gio’s story began, we’ve failed to honor his legacy by failing to act.

Anaphylaxis doesn’t care about your socioeconomic status, your neighborhood or your political affiliation. It can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time. A child at a birthday party accidentally eating the wrong cake. A teenager at a school event who doesn’t realize there are peanuts in the dessert. A parent walking in the park. Seconds can mean the difference between life and death, and police officers, often the first on the scene of an emergency, can administer epinephrine quickly.

lives and the peace of mind it offers families. Training officers to use the devices takes less than 30 minutes. Nassau police officers already carry Narcan to combat opioid overdoses, and equipping them with EpiPens is a logical, lifesaving next step.

assau County police should carry potentially lifesaving EpiPens.

Cornago has said time and again, “Every second counts.” Yet here we are, wasting months on partisan bickering while lives hang in the balance. Neighboring Suffolk County has already implemented similar measures, demonstrating both the feasibility and necessity of such a program.

So why are Nassau Republicans blocking this bill? The answer escapes me, and I suspect it escapes the parents who worry every day about their children’s safety. This obstructionism isn’t just shortsighted — it’s morally indefensible.

standard. Imagine a Nassau County in which every patrol car carries the tools to save a life. Imagine the relief parents would feel knowing their local police officers are equipped to protect their children from anaphylaxis. This is an achievable goal, and it starts with passing this legislation.

Cornago’s advocacy has shown us what’s possible when determination meets compassion. She’s organized events like Trunk or Treat to create safe spaces for kids with allergies. She’s worked to install public signs in parks, raising awareness of food allergies. She’s even helped educate school districts about the need for accessible EpiPens. Her efforts have saved lives. Now it’s time for the County Legislature to do its part.

At just $100 per EpiPen thanks to a new price cap on the drug — a cost that could be reduced through bulk purchasing — the cost of implementing this program is negligible, especially when weighed against the potential to save

Letters

happen:

■ Tax the ultra-wealthy and corporations. New York has the public dollars we need, but only when we pass legislation that makes millionaires, billionaires and highly profitable corporations pay their fair share. The Invest in Our New York campaign shows how we can raise revenue to support our schools, affordable child care and working families. By ensuring fair taxation, we will finally provide the support our kids, educators, and child-care workers have needed for far too long.

■ A fairer, stronger future for all. Every child needs access to a highquality education, no matter their background. But we can’t make that happen without a state budget that prioritizes equity. The Invest in Our New York campaign offers a blueprint for raising the public dollars needed to fund our education and child-care programs. It’s time for a state budget that focuses on the well-being of all New Yorkers — not just the wealthiest.

Your voice is crucial to making these changes a reality. Join us for Child Care Advocacy Day, on Jan. 28, and AQE Advocacy Day, on Feb. 4. Together we can ensure that the 2025 budget prioritizes public education,

early care and learning, and universal child care, so that all of New York’s children have the resources they need to succeed.

Let’s make 2025 the year we secure a more just and equitable future for every New Yorker.

ZAkIYAH SHAAkIR-ANSARI MARINA MARCOu-O’MALLEY Co-executive

directors, Alliance for Quality Education NY

He’ll miss ‘Blue Bloods,’ too

To the Editor:

Re Peter king’s column, “Like many other devotees, I’ll miss ‘Blue Bloods’ dearly (Dec. 19-25): I agree with you, Mr. king: “Blue Bloods” will be missed. It was very well acted and written. What really bothers me is that CBS would not reconsider, despite strong ratings and even stronger outcry about the show ending.

How about another network taking the show, or even better, HBO? It would have worked. It’s a shame that it ended its run this way.

TONY GIAMETTA Oceanside

It’s time for us to focus on what truly matters: protecting our community. For years, Cornago has been fighting to ensure that no other family has to endure the loss she suffered. Her dedication should inspire us all. Yet instead of supporting her mission, some in the Legislature seem more intent on scoring political points.

Imagine a world in which Gio’s Law isn’t just a state initiative but a national

To my Republican colleagues, I say, listen to Georgina. Listen to the countless parents who’ve written, called and pleaded for action. Listen to the doctors and first responders who know what’s at stake. This is not about politics; it’s about saving lives.

Let’s not allow bureaucracy and partisanship to stand in the way of progress. We owe it to Gio’s memory, to Georgina’s tireless efforts, and to every Nassau County family to act now. Passing this legislation is not just the right thing to do — it’s the only thing to do.

Seth I. Koslow represents Nassau County’s 5th Legislative District.

Framework by Alexis Morledge

At Blarney Castle — but did he kiss the stone? — County Cork, Ireland