HERALD Nassau
Village streets need repaving
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
A number of streets in Atlantic Beach are in need of a range of improvements, from the filling of potholes to complete repaving, and the village is currently surveying their condition.
Residents raised the subject at the July 8 organizational meeting of the village board, describing the deplorable shape of some of the roads.
Major streets that were paved in recent years are still relatively pristine, but some of the older roads are in need of attention.
Bay Boulevard, which traverses the village, is
one of the top priorities, along with the entrance to Duchess Beach, which has potholes that need filling, residents said.
Vincent Amoroso, the village’s building inspector and public works superintendent, noted that there is a list of roads that will be repaved or repaired, and that the work will be detailed in an upcoming legal advertisement in the Herald.
“We’re getting an updated engineering report to list the roads in most despair,” Mayor George Pappas said.
“Overall, most roads are in good shape,” he
Lawrence creates new Park Council
By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com
The newly constituted Lawrence village board was busy at its reorganization meeting on July 11. Along with the usual items on the to-do list there was this: The announcement that the Park Commission had been eliminated, and replaced by the Park Advisory Council.
“The main difference between the two is, one is advisory to the board of trustees,” Village Administrator Gary Castro said of new advisory council. “They would hear suggestions and they would take it to the board of trustees, as opposed to having certain powers themselves to control employees and or other items that pertain to the country club.”
I entered office with a budget of $7,771,400. (It) comes with a $1,538,398 deficit, meaning this money was coming from our bank accounts, from our reserve accounts — money that we shouldn’t be taking from our bank accounts. SAMUEL NAHMIAS Lawrence
The new village board comprises Mayor Samuel Nahmias and Trustees Aaron Felder, Steven Gottesman, Aaron Parnes and Tammy Roz. The July 11 meeting was the first since the June 18 election, in which Nahmias captured the mayoral seat, defeating former Deputy Mayor Paris Popack, and Felder and Gottesman ran unopposed.
On July 16, Nahmias told the Herald that he was resigning as chairman of the Nassau County Bridge Authority to concentrate on his mayoral duties. “This is to ensure I can remain focused on the Village of Lawrence and help my constituents without distraction,” he wrote in a text message. Raymond Webb, executive
Continued on page 4
The advisory council is responsible for overseeing the village’s recreational facilities, which include the Lawrence Yacht & Country Club and Zion Park.
Keith Rossein/Herald
On board the Bronx Cgil 3 were, front from left, Jackie Buono, Michele Gallo and Pam Ziolo. Behind them, from left, Vinny Buono, Richie Gallo and Frank Ward. Story and photos, Page 10.
Lawrence students averting the ‘summer slide’
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
This summer, the Lawrence school district invited 100 kindergarten through sixth grade students to take part in the Summer Jumpstart Program for English Language Learners.
The program aims to provide students with enrichment through engaging activates and targeted learning opportunities.
“We are excited to offer this Summer Jumpstart program to our English Language Learners,” said Kristen Panzararella, Lawrence Primary School’s principal. “It’s more than just a program; it’s a stepping stone for our students, one that enables them to feel confident and prepared as they transition to the next grade level.”
The school district’s aim is to reduce academic disparities and promote longterm student success by investing in targeted support during the summer months. The district is also committed to providing equitable educational opportunities for all students, especially those learning English as an additional language.
“Students were given a baseline the first day they attended the program and teachers have worked with the students each day on a blended model,” Panzararella said. “There’s small group instruction as well as individualized instruction using some of the programs we have.”
Lawrence UFSD
Desiree P. participating in Lawrence school district’s Summer Jumpstart Program, which is tailored specifically for English Language Learners In kindergarten through sixth grade.
The program was also created is to combat the “summer slide,” according to Kathleen Graham, the Lawrence Early Childhood Center principal and the district’s director of special programs.
“Our students work so hard during the school year to gain those foundational skills, especially in reading and often times during the summer those skills are not practiced,” Graham said. “Students
Victoria D. and Keilyn U. learning on their Chrome books in the Summer Jumpstart Program. The program targets kindergarten through sixth grade English Language Learners.
will start the next school year almost half a year behind due to that summer slide.”
The students will be reassessed at the end of the program to view their growth in reading and writing, vocabulary, and a collaborative environment.
“The parents are really appreciative, I know we do have good attendance and the kids are genuinely excited,” Panzararella said. “It’s an exciting opportunity for
them to continue to learn.”
The program is free and the students are asked to bring their district-issued Chrome book and a snack.
“When we talk about ELL, there is emerging, entering, and up to commanding, we didn’t want to specify just emerging or just commanding, we opened it up to all ELL learners,” Graham said.
Having the program will help the students keep the skills they learned and start the next school year with “confidence” and “ready for the next level,” according to Graham.
“I just find it so beneficial, and I’m really proud to be part of a school district that does have these opportunities for our students,” Panzararella said. “For students that English might not be their first language, the chance to continue and not start the school year without the proper resources and to provide these for the families is something I’m really proud of.”
The program is tailored to the student’s levels and baseline data from the school year and is lead by certified teachers. It runs twice a week and will end on July 31, with students receiving a certificate during a celebration.
“Building these foundational skills are truly laying each skill brick by brick, and each moment we get to have to reinforce those bricks and build a sturdy wall of reading is something that I find very impactful for student learning,” Graham said.
After 18 years in Cedarhurst Dimples closes
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
For 18 years, Cindy and Jeremy Merrill owners of Dimples in Cedarhurst, dedicated their lives to making sure babies received unique and thoughtful personalized gifts.
Dimples will be officially closing on July 31.
The Merrills, who live in Cedarhurst, founded Dimples in 2006, after their twins, Erin and Kayla were born. Cindy was going back and forth to Manhattan for baby items that were cute and personalized. Tired of that routine, her solution was to open her own store and model it after the ones in Manhattan that inspired her.
She found prime real estate in Cedarhurst, and opened Dimples. There was an existing Baby Gap that ended up closing in the same year that Dimples opened . She named the store Dimples after staring at her daughter Kayla and seeing her tremendous dimples. Dana Klinger was part of the original partnership, but left roughly after the first two years.
As the business grew, so did their family as a son, Sammy, came along, nearly a year a half after the twins.
“It’s a living breathing thing
that you’re always attached to and now I just want to be able do things that I’m going to enjoy now,” Cindy said.
Although the business is closing, they are not leaving the community.
Cindy and Jeremy said that they poured their heart and soul into the business and are ready to explore different aspects of life and focus on them.
“I am retiring from retail, I feel I am ready for the next chapter in my life, I’m ready for me time,” Cindy said.
“We met amazing people and we’ve done amazing with the community over the last 18 years, but we get to now spend time with our family,” Cindy added. “I want to explore other options, and to see what other things I want to be involved in.”
Being the only custom and specialty baby gifting store in the community, Dimples has had a major impact on the gifts given to babies and their families, and the Merrills believe they have raised the bar..
“We have kids whose parents were customers and now they’re buying gifts for their kids,” said Jeremy Merrill.
Customers rave about Dimples and cannot imaging the communi-
ty without them.
“It’s been the most unique, comforting, heartwarming experience in the neighborhood with personalized care,” said Shari Shapiro. “It was really the only place where we’ve wanted to shop throughout the years.
“During the hard times the world was going through, Cindy and Jeremy always stepped up for not only themselves but the community at large and for all of Israel,” Shapiro added.
The customers have become apart of the Merrill family and help take care of one another in times of need.
Cindy gives a special shout-out to Klinger who helped her open the store.
“We opened this business together, and we really didn’t know how the neighborhood would respond to us,” Cindy said.
Opening day is a memory that Cindy said that she will never forget and thinks of fondly.
Cindy recalls that the community found Dimples a welcoming place to be and customers would pop into the store even when not needing to buy anything.
“I live here so I’m not really saying goodbye, I’m just saying see you in town,” Cindy said. “It’s not goodbye, it’s see you on Central.”
Community Center’s future is a huge unknown
By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com
Five Towns Community Center services have taken different form since Nassau County took over the building at 270 Lawrence Ave. in Lawrence on July 3 that once housed the longtime neighborhood organization
In a June 17 letter, Nassau County officials informed the community center board that they would be assuming control of the property, once the community center’s 50-year lease expired.
Before the county takeover, the center was home to several community-oriented programs and services such as food pantry, after school, senior and youth programs as well as a substance abuse and mental health services.
On July 16, the county sent a letter to families informing them that Five Towns Community Center Summer Camp attendees may attend the Nassau County Summer Recreation Program at Cantiague Park in Hicksville, for free.
Busses have been sent to pickup students from the community center in the morning, and return students in the evening to the center for pickup. If families do not opt for this, there is no alternative program to the center’s summer camp, the county wrote.
The food pantry, which receives much of its donations from Rock and Wrap It UP! a Cedarhurst-based hunger relief
organization, has continued functioning out of the community center, Syd Mandelbaum, founder and CEO of the organization said.
The Veteran’s Farmers Market, which Mandelbaum also runs, occasionally would and still does operate from the center, thanks to a county sheriff opening the doors.
“They understand the needs of the
community and they have allowed us to continue with stuff is such a blessing, because there’s so much need,” Mandelbaum said.
The Veteran’s Farmers Market runs from 9:45 to 11:15 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in Cedarhurst. Then from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on the same days, the community center pantry functions out of the former Five Towns
Community Center property.
Despite the continuation of some community center programs, the future of what will fill the space is unknown. Last year, the county requested proposals. The Marion & Aaron Gural JCC and the Lawrence school district were the only two entities to submit proposals.
Murray Forman, president of the Lawrence Board of Education, said the district has not heard any news or decisions from the county for what’s next.
“We’re hopeful the community at large, especially as it relates to the children, will not suffer,” said Forman, who also sits on the county’s Planning Commission.
Stacey Feldman, executive director at the Gural JCC, said she has heard no updates, too.
“I have not been in communication with anyone from Nassau County,” Feldman wrote in an email.
Campbell, who is president of what was the community center’s board, said the future is unclear.
“At this point, we have been plagued with uncertainty and being deliberately ignored over the last year and our programs have suffered,” Campbell wrote in an email to the Herald. “Programs meaning families, staff, and clients have suffered. We have had to abruptly shut down the existing programs due to the lease expiring, with no real leeway to plan for alternatives or extensions with funders.”
Photos courtesy Cindy and Jeremy Merrill Owners of Dimples, Cindy, left and Jeremy, right Merrill stand proudly under their marquee sign when Dimples first opened in 2006.
Courtesy Syd Mandelbaum
Nassau County has extended help to the food pantry and summer camp programs once housed in the Five Towns Community Center, after the county recovered the Lawrence property
Nahmias, new mayor, leaves bridge authority
director of the NCBA, said that former Vice Chairman Vincent Pasqua had succeeded Nahmias, and that Monica McGrath was now the authority’s vice chairman.
Nahmias presented a list of appointments at the reorganization meeting, including Roz as deputy mayor. She was elected to the village board in 2023, after serving on the Park Commission. Nahmias will be the village’s police commissioner; Felder, fire commissioner; Gottesman, finance commissioner; Felder, public works and highways commissioner; Parnes, sanitation commissioner; and Roz, parks and recreation commissioner. The posts serve as liaisons to the Nassau County Police Department, the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department, the village finance and public works department, Sanitary District 1 and the Park Advisory Council, respectively.
Deputy Village Administrator Gerry Castro was promoted to village administrator, succeeding Ron Goldman, who retired. Steven Losquadro is the new village attorney, and Lina Fusco became the village clerk/treasurer.
Other village business
In response to residents’ concerns about pedestrians walking along busy roads, Nahmias said that license platereading cameras and digital speed displays have been ordered and will be
installed near the corner of Broadway and Causeway, and that lines had been repainted at the corner of Broadway and Causeway.
“The bigger problem that we were experiencing was that cars were going
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“The older I get, the greater power I seem to have to help the world; I am like a snowball - the further I am rolled the more I gain.”
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“I believe the second half of one’s life is meant to be better than the first half. The first half is finding out how you do it. And the second half is enjoying it.”
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“The complete life, the perfect pattern, includes old age as well as youth and maturity. The beauty of the morning and the radiance of noon are good, but it would be a very silly person who drew the curtains and turned on the light in order to shut out the tranquility of the evening. Old age has its pleasures, which, though different, are not less than the pleasures of youth.”
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through the intersection of Causeway and stopping right in the middle with a light,” he said.
The board discussed a Town of Hempstead public hearing on July 2 at which council members voted to approve a 30-day comment period on whether a transit-oriented development plan for Inwood and North Lawrence should be rescinded. Judi Bernstein, of the Lawrence Civic Association, urged Nahmias to send out a letter reminding community members to comment on the plan. The comment period ends July 31.
“I’m with you, and we will send out a reminder,” Nahmias said. “Our Councilwoman, Missy Miller, had asked for feedback, and I think that the town wants our feedback, so I would strongly urge anyone who speaks to please explain to them that this is an important matter and that every voice matters. Remember, my constituents are their constituents, and they need to hear from you.”
The board approved salary increases
for the village administrator and treasurer.
Fusco said that a mitigation grant program application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for engineering, sampling and dredging of the village’s marina and upgrading of bulkheads had been verbally approved by FEMA.
Finances were also high on Nahmias’s list. “I entered office with a budget of $7,771,400,” he said. “(It) comes with a $1,538,398 deficit, meaning this money was coming from our bank accounts, from our reserve accounts — money that we shouldn’t be taking from our bank accounts. This reckless spending stops in my administration.”
Comments on the transit-oriented development can be sent to DonClavin@ hempsteadny.gov, or to Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington St., Hempstead, NY 11550.
Have an opinion on Lawrence village? Send a letter to jbessen@liherald.com.
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Parker Schug/Herald
Lawrence held its reorganization meeting on July 11. From left were Trustees Aaron Felder and Tammy Roz, Mayor Samuel Nahmias and Trustees Aaron Parnes and Steven Gottesman.
NASSAU
Melissa Berman/Herald
The Village of Atlantic Beach has a list of streets that need to be repaved, and Bay Boulevard, above, has been on it for years.
Residents say they’re thankful for repaved roads
added. “Like everywhere else, some roads need more repairs than others.”
The village has $600,000 allocated for the work, Pappas said. Each year, the budget for street repairs varies. If there is money left over, it is transferred to another line item in the budget, he explained.
“Paving prices vary depending on the extent of the road’s existing condition, and whether it is repaved or replaced,” Pappas said.
Last year the village repaved Park Street, and Ocean Boulevard was overhauled six years ago, he said.
Some residents claim to have been speaking up about the streets for years, and say they won’t stop until their blocks are improved. Others commend the village for the work that has been done.
“I applaud Vincent Amoroso,” he added.
Randy Scott, a village resident and an Atlantic Beach-based real estate agent, said she is well aware of the variable road conditions, especially on the streets where she is selling houses, and understands the importance of good roads to potential homebuyers.
“They patched a lot on the main road, and they’ve been better now than in a while,” Scott said. “On Park Street, near the Water Club, I know they redid everything, and it’s much better on Beech Street now.”
GeOrGe PaPPas Atlantic Beach mayor
“I don’t have any problems,” longtime resident Richard Applebaum said. “I’ve lived there my whole life, and I think Atlantic Beach roads are the best they’ve ever been.” Every day, Applebaum said, he drives down Park Street and various side streets, and doesn’t see any problems.
Scott said she thinks the roads aren’t as bad as they might be because of less extreme winter weather over the past few years and, as a result, less use of damaging salt on them.
“The streets where East Atlantic Beach meets Atlantic Beach were horrific, and now they’re doing better,” she said. “There are parts of Ocean Boulevard that need to be fixed, and the roads in the village need a lot of work.”
Have an opinion on Atlantic Beach roads? Send a letter to jbessen@liherald. com.
Obamacare remains vulnerable, Solages warns
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
Despite repeated partisan legal challenges aimed at its demise, the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare, has not only survived, but become an indispensable part of the American health care system. This year, a record number of Americans — an estimated 21 million — are insured through its marketplaces, which have redefined baseline expectations for consumer coverage in the health care system. Yet despite its 14 years of proven durability, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, a Democrat, remains warily concerned about ACA’s future.
Solages was blunt in her assessment of what, or rather who represents the biggest political risk to undoing the health care law — former President Donald Trump.
At a news conference in Valley Stream last week, Solages, and leaders of the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East labor union and Protect Our Care, a nonprofit health care advocacy group, forcefully articulated their concerns, underscoring how the law has served as a crucial safety net for New Yorkers, and warned that its termination could be disastrous.
“As we interface with the affordability crisis, it’s important to acknowledge there are reforms at work, from the
Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and health care advocates warned against dismantling the Affordable Care Act, emphasizing its crucial role in providing coverage for 21 million Americans and protecting vulnerable populations, amid ongoing political threats to its future.
Affordable Care Act to the Inflation Reduction Act, to ensure that people have access to health care,” Solages said.
“Now we are seeing constant attacks on these reforms, whether it’s federal representatives trying to take away provisions that ensure people with pre-existing conditions have access to health care or cull prescription pricing relief.”
Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, sought to roll back or repeal significant elements of the law when he was president, but did not succeed. On
the campaign trail this year, certainly aware of the law’s popularity and lasting power, he has made vague promises to replace it with a superior alternative if he returns to the White House.
Solages also cited proposals by Republicans to cap and cut federal Medicaid spending and introduce a block grant system in which states would have to bid for federal funding to secure benefits.
“Instead of direct funding to the states, they want states to enroll in a
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Hunger Games-like competition for coverage,” said Solages. “We can’t compete for coverage when it comes to healt care,” which will inevitably shrink the Medicaid program and leave many uninsured.
For more than a decade, there has been grumbling about the cost and sustainability of health care coverage under ACA by conservative critics.
Many maintain, as they have for years, that coverage plans under ACA can still be too expensive for some middle-class Americans because of high insurance premiums, burdensome costsharing requirements, and narrow health insurance networks that limit people’s choice of doctor and hospital.
And with the sting of inflation and rising health care costs, the insured may still struggle to afford higher-thanexpected co-payments or deductibles.
While Solages acknowledged that New Yorkers are grappling with growing medical debt and prohibitively expensive prescription prices, reducing investments in existing reforms will only exacerbate these problems, not solve them.
“From womb to tomb, all New Yorkers interact with the health care system, and when you erode health care, you impact the most vulnerable New Yorkers,” she said. “We need to raise our voices against unfair cuts to health care.”
Courtesy Office of Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages
Residents across Long Island complain that low-flying airplanes have increased in number since the end of the coronavirus pandemic.
A constant annoyance, a public health issue
By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
The roar of jet engines overhead has become a constant aural backdrop for many residents of Long Island, particularly those living in lower-income neighborhoods. In recent years, a shift in flight paths from nearby airports such as Kennedy and LaGuardia, which together handle roughly 1,400 flights a day, has exacerbated the issue. Residents now endure relentless noise from aircraft flying directly over their homes, disrupting daily life and sparking widespread frustration.
“I’ve lived in Uniondale for 30 years, and I don’t ever remember the noise from the planes being so loud and annoying,” Pearl Jacobs, president of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association, said. “Now it’s to the point where these planes are going all day and night long, flying across our skyways, and some of these planes are very low.”
Jacobs and other residents believe that the flight path changes disproportionately affect minority communities. The enforcement of noise ordinances dates back to the rise of American urbanization and industrialization, with New York becoming the first major city in the country to implement noise ordinances in 1905 — which often defined the music of Black and Hispanic communities as noise disturbances.
“I strongly believe this is a racial issue,” Jacobs said. “I’m not saying that white communities aren’t having this issue as well, but in Uniondale and other nearby communities, it is all day, all night, and they are constantly going.”
Efforts to address the noise have met with limited success. The Town of Hempstead created the Town-Village Aircraft Safety and Noise Abatement Committee in 1966 to tackle the problem, but local governments have little influence over the Federal Aviation Administration, which controls flight paths. Jacobs’s attempts to draw more attention to the issue have included writing to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, but she has yet to receive a response.
James Vilardi, executive director of the Noise Abatement Committee, emphasized the challenge of getting the FAA to acknowledge and address the problem. The committee’s primary goal is to obtain accurate decibel readings from FAA monitors, because data is averaged across neighborhoods and does not reflect specific impacts.
“If we get the raw data and find that the decibels vio-
Low-flying airplanes can cause serious health issues, increasing stress levels, preventing sleep and in some cases even leading to cardiovascular issues.
late municipal or federal code, we can appeal to the FAA to make changes,” Vilardi explained. The FAA, however, has been largely unresponsive, leaving residents in limbo.
Brookville Mayor Daniel Serota voiced similar frustrations.
“Years ago, when Congressman (Steve) Israel was our congressman, he initiated meetings with regional FAA folks and other mayors to discuss the planes and their heights,” Serota said. “Every Saturday and Sunday, they fly over our villages, and they’re supposed to have a certain height limit, but the pilots never adhere to that.”
Serota detailed the complexities of addressing the issue, including the discretionary power of pilots to determine flight paths based on safety considerations. Despite some agreements to maintain certain altitudes, those measures, he said, often fall by the wayside.
“It’s up to the pilot, and if he feels he needs to go lower or the weather is a certain way, that’s his purview,” Serota said. “We had Covid, which silenced the planes for a while, but now they’re back, flying as low as can be.”
Serota added that despite years of reaching out to airline and public officials, nothing has been done to
solve the issue. He said it is one of the most frequent complaints he gets from Brookville residents.
“On weekends it can be very loud,” he noted. “These big planes, like the double-decker ones with four engines, fly over at sometimes 1,500 feet. You can see the words on the Emirates Airlines planes and hear the noise as if they’re right above your backyard.”
The impact of aircraft noise extends beyond mere annoyance. According to the Civil Aviation Authority and the National Library of Medicine, prolonged exposure to aviation noise can have serious health consequences. Common adverse effects include not only annoyance, but cognitive impairment, sleep disturbance, and cardiovascular disease. Noise pollution has been linked to higher rates of heart disease and stroke, as well as hypertension and disrupted sleep patterns. Studies have also suggested potential effects on birth outcomes and psychological health, although more research is needed to fully understand those impacts.
Annoyance, the most often documented response to noise, can interfere with thoughts, feelings and activities, and lead to resentment and discomfort. Cognitive impairment, particularly in schoolchildren, is another concern, with research from the National Library indicating that high levels of aircraft noise can affect reading comprehension, memory, attention and mood. Sleep disturbance, characterized by awakenings and changes in sleep patterns, can result in next-day fatigue and long-term health issues.
Cardiovascular disease is a significant risk, with high levels of aircraft noise acting as a stressor on the body. Research by the Civil Aviation Authority has found associations between aircraft noise and an increased risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Hypertension, another cardiovascular risk factor, has also been linked to chronic aircraft noise exposure.
Despite the evident health risks, local officials face an uphill battle in addressing the problem.
“We understand that everybody has to share the burden, but it’s a nuisance and a problem,” Serota said. “It’s not for lack of trying; all the elected mayors I know on the North Shore have been very vocal. But the FAA is a big bureaucracy, and when you’re dealing with a bureaucrat, they don’t care.”
The struggle for quieter skies continues, but without greater cooperation from the FAA and a commitment to addressing the issue, Long Island residents will likely remain under the constant hum of aircraft, their health and well-being hanging in the balance.
Photos courtesy Metro Creative
Courtesy Lawrence Schools
Angel Flores Ruiz went professional in Panama and will no longer compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris with the Panamanian Boxing Team, Chris Simmons, Panama selection boxing trainer said.
Lawrence senior Angel Flores Ruiz goes pro
By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com
Angel Flores Ruiz’s path has taken a turn, Chris Simmons, the Panama selection boxing trainer said.
“He’s actually not going to be going to the Olympics,” Simmons said of Flores Ruiz’s next steps, which he had previously told the Herald. “He actually just went professional. He had his professional debut.”
Flores Ruiz, a Lawrence High School rising senior, went professional in Panamanian Boxing and knocked his opponent out in his first match, Simmons said.
In a conversation with the Herald in March, Flores Ruiz said he had been selected to represent the Panamanian Boxing Team in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Tomas Cianca Batista, president of Panama’s Olympic Boxing Federation and secretary of the Panamanian Olympic Committee discovered Flores Ruiz’s talent via Instagram, Flores Ruiz said.
“In the world that we live in now, we are so blessed that we have that technology,” Nitza Flores, Flores Ruiz’s mother, who ran the Instagram account said previously to the Herald. “I believe that he had a lot of talent, and I wanted people to see that.”
Simmons had coached Flores Ruiz when he came to youth national camps in Panama.
“He’s really good and he’s improving and improving,” Simmons said. “The unique thing about Panama, is that in Panama, you can be professional and
you can still fight in Olympics. In the United States, you can’t.”
When athletes become professionals, their strategy and training changes slightly in the sport, Simmons said.
“When you go professional, everything just slows down a little bit,” Simmons said. “You start picking your shots, I mean, as you do four rounds, it’s kind of the same, just a little slower. Then when you go to six, eight and 10 and 12, it slows down even more. You just learn how to pick your shots and instead of just, punch, punch, punch, punch, like the amateurs, you’re setting up your shots, you learn how to set stuff up more.”
When Flores Ruiz was initially selected to the Panamanian Olympic team, he said he had the opportunity to obtain Panamanian Citizenship, allowing his competition for the country.
Much of his inspiration came from his father, Flores Ruiz said, previously.
“This was like a dream of my father, because he wanted to become a boxer, and knowing that both of my parents are proud, and all the times my dad has been taking to the train has been paying off,” Flores Ruiz said.
Flores Ruiz previously thanked his coach Bienvenido Roman, from Brooklyn, 2013 Volunteer Coach of the Year for the U.S. Olympic Committee for his help to this point.
Simmons said Flores Ruiz might be too young for the Panamanian Olympic team at this point, hence not participating in the Olympics.
Flores Ruiz did not respond to a request for comment.
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Keystone hosts annual regatta and boat blessing
The storied Woodmere-based Keystone Yacht Club held its annual regatta and boat blessing on July 13. The club features a story written about it from the Saturday, Aug. 17, 1907 Brooklyn Eagle.
The private non-profit group was founded in 1888 and describes itself as a “family oriented marina and club.” Members are dedicated to boating, sailing and waterfront activities.
More than 90 floating dock slips are available for boats of all sizes at the club’s marina at 190 Woodmere Blvd. South.
— Jeffrey Bessen
On board the Bronx Cgil 3 were Jackie Buono, left, Michele Gallo and Pam Ziolo and behind them were Vinn Buono, left, Richie Gallo and Frank Ward.
On the stern of the Silver Dollar were Vinny Buomo, left, Richie Gallo, Capt. Doug Di Ceglio, Nancy Di Ceglio with her dog Reyka, Barbara Glasser and Wendy Cox.
Boats and personal watercraft shared the South Shore water during the Keystone Yacht Club’s annual regatta earlier this month.
Keith Rossein/Herald photos Keystone Yacht Club regatta leaders, Vice Commodore Bob Clark, left, Commodore Mike Laxton and Rear Commodore Steve Liquori before the East Rockaway-based club’s annual boating event on July 13.
As the boats returned, Capt. Lou Esposito came down from the top deck of Quiet Storm to stand on the stern with Deacon Scott Baker who blessed each boat in the regatta for safe passage as they passed.
Jordan Wright (AD-70) Stefani Zinerman (AD-56) Michael Benedetto (AD-82) George Latimer (CD-16)
Republicans gather at national convention
Milwaukee was the place to be last week for Republicans as the Wisconsin city hosted the 2024 GOP national convention, where former president Donald Trump accepted the party’s official nomination as its presidential candidate and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance became the Republican nominee for vice president.
During the four-day convention, Republicans from across the country hobnobbed and networked, including Woodmere resident Cindy Grosz, Matt Capp, who serves as Rep. Anthony D’Esposito’s communication director, as well as D’Esposito and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who were both delegates representing New York. Delegates are responsible supporting a presidential candidate at the convention.
There were also speeches by celebrities such as former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, model Amber Rose, Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White, along with Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Tim Scott and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
Post-convention news included the July 21 announcement by President Biden that he was stepping aside. The presumptive front-runner for the Democratic nomination is Vice President Kamala Harris. The Democrats hold their convention Aug. 19-24 in Chicago.
–Jeffrey Bessen
Attend Hofstra’s Virtual
GRADUATE OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 6 p.m.
At Hofstra University, graduate students plant the seeds to advance in their career. Hear from representatives across 200 programs that include business, communications, education, engineering, health sciences, nursing, and psychology, and learn all the ways your success can sprout at Hofstra University. Your future awaits.
For event details and to RSVP, visit hofstra.edu/visit
Photos courtesy Cindy Grosz
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, right, who represents the 21st Congressional District in upstate New York and chairs the House Republican Conference, with Grosz at the NYGOP event at the convention.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman with Woodmere resident Cindy Grosz at the Nassau GOP gathering during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Bionica Bootcamp, spreading robotics knowledge
By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com
Bionica is building its program by offering a bootcamp to the community.
First Tech Challenge Team 7120 Bionica, of Hewlett High School, is using their coding and computer-aided design- or CAD-knowledge to teach the public.
“I really want the students that I’ll be teaching to look at theses new skills in a new perspective,” Rachel Chen, head programmer, for the robotics team, and course teacher said.
Chen, a rising senior at Hewlett High, wanted to start the program to help with the overwhelming experience of learning coding and CAD, two essential skills in robotics.
“I’m planning on making the entire course very beginner friendly,” Chen said.
The course will feature six virtual sessions, free of charge, on Fridays from 2 to 3:35 p.m. Each session will be divided into two parts, one focusing on coding, the other on CAD Chen said. The sessions began July 19 and will run until Aug. 23.
“CADing is one of the most important skills when you’re trying to build a robot,” Deniz Artan, head builder for Bionica said. “I definitely learned that this year when we didn’t use CADing as much and we just kind of thought, let’s just put this on the robot and see what happens. It’s a lot of trial and error that we’re adding. You can basically avoid
that whole thing. Have it on the computer and then see what you do.”
The course caps out at 15 students, as Chen wanted to give each student personalized attention.
Artan, a rising junior at Hewlett High, said the course was initially intended to educate their team members, but was opened to the public when they realized they could expand their reach. FIRST, or For Inspiration and Recognition of Sci-
ence Technology, the organization through which Bionica competes in local to national challenges puts great value in spreading robotics knowledge, Artan said.
“It’s kind of feared, almost, sometimes,” Artan said of robotics. “Because the technology is advancing so quickly, but really the goal of FIRST is to make people feel comfortable with that and these classes will definitely help show
people that robotics isn’t just a robot moving, there’s thought behind it, and there’s a process.”
Chen is using the programs Onshape, a free browser CAD program and Android Studio a coding program, to teach students. Each lesson will include a presentation, screen sharing and a guided class assignment. Chen will also teach theory and practical uses of these skill sets.
“I want to be reaching some concepts that they could eventually further explore,” Chen said.
The team has been planning for the bootcamp since earlier in the year, Artan said.
“We all have so many things to do, and we all have so many jobs and we don’t exactly have time to always teach, which is the issue, which is why we wanted to focus on bootcamp in the summer,” Artan said.
Chen took the lead on the course, thanks to her virtual presentation practice, hosting professional mentors and speakers for the group, throughout Bionica’s competition season. Her teammates are lending support in the planning and teaching process, Artan said.
And hopefully, from the bootcamp, more members will join, Artan and Chen said, with directly applicable knowledge for a successful robotics season.
“We’re not just educating ourselves, but also, our whole community,” Artan said.
For more information on how to join, email bionica7120@gmail.com.
Courtesy Rachel Chen
Bionica, a Hewlett High School robotics team, hosted their first coding and computeraided design bootcamp on July 19. The free virtual class will run for six weeks this summer.
STEPPING OUT
‘Cold Beer on a Friday Night’
Whether
Capture the flavors of summertime cuisine up a tasty bash
By Karen Bloom
firing up the grill for a pool party, barbecue or even just a weeknight meal, one thing’s for sure: summertime means grilling season. Grilling takes many forms: your crowd may prefer the standard fare of burgers and hot dogs to flame-kissed vegetables and the artistry of a perfectly done steak. However, the possibilities don’t end there.
By mixing and matching traditional grilled classics with options that have a variety of textures and flavors, you can shake up your at-home menu and add new favorites to your routine this grilling season.
It’s easy to go from casual to elegant in a snap. The traditional faves always have their place, but if you’re looking for a different type of barbecue, add some finesse to your menu with other ideas, by re-imagining your grilling style.
Spicy Mustard Chicken Kebabs
With their easy preparation and quick cooking time, kabobs are a simple way to enjoy many of your favorite fresh flavors.
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 pound raw boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and black pepper
• 1 medium red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
To make sauce, place 3 tablespoons mustard in medium bowl. Add oil and garlic powder, and whisk until uniform. Cover and refrigerate.
To make marinade, in small bowl, combine vinegar with remaining 2 tablespoons mustard. Stir until uniform.
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place chicken and marinade in large sealable plastic bag. Remove as much air as possible and seal. Gently knead marinade into chicken through bag. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, if using wooden skewers, soak 4 in water for 20 minutes to prevent burning. Alternately thread marinated chicken and onion chunks onto 4 skewers. Bring grill to mediumhigh heat.
Brush both sides of kebabs with sauce. Grill kebabs for 5 minutes with grill cover down.
Flip kebabs and grill for 6 to 8 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Enjoy.
Cabbage Steaks With Bacon & Blue Cheese
These cabbage steaks blend sweet and slightly sour notes with savory crumbles of cheese for a dish that pleases every one of your taste buds.
• 6 slices bacon
• 1 package McCormick Grill Mates Smoky Applewood Marinade
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 head green cabbage, cut into 3/4-inch thick slices (about 6 steaks)
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
Cook bacon in large skillet on medium heat until crisp. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the drippings.
Crumble bacon; set aside. Mix marinade mix, oil, vinegar, maple syrup and reserved bacon drippings in small bowl until well blended. Place cabbage steaks in large resealable plastic bag or glass dish. Add marinade; turn to coat well.
Refrigerate 30 minutes or longer for extra flavor. Remove cabbage steaks from marinade. Reserve any leftover marinade.
Grill cabbage steaks over medium heat 5 to 6 minutes per side or until tender-crisp, brushing with leftover marinade. Serve cabbage steaks topped with blue cheese, crumbled bacon and green onions.
Mediterranean Vegetables
Fresh veggies tossed with rice vinegar and garlic make a tasty, nutritious side.
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (seasoned)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus extra, to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper, plus extra, to taste
• 1 tablespoon, plus 1 1/2 teaspoons, fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced
• 1 cup fresh zucchini, sliced into 1 3/4-inch long, 1/4-inch thick planks
• 1 cup fresh green pepper strips
• 1 cup fresh red pepper strips
• 8 fresh stalks asparagus, slicing off 1/4 inch from bottom of stalk
• 1 fresh portobello mushroom, sliced into 1/2-inch squares
• 1 cup fresh eggplant, diced into 1/2-inch squares
Heat grill to 375 F.
In large bowl, mix together rice vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, parsley and garlic to create marinade. Clean vegetables then place them in marinade in small batches. Toss to coat then place in foil pouch. Pour remaining marinade over vegetables and seal pouch.
Bake in oven or over indirect heat on grill 25 minutes. Add salt and pepper, to taste, after removing pouch from heat.
Chef’s tip: Open pouch after 20 minutes of cooking and allow vegetables to crisp slightly under direct heat for remaining 5 minutes.
Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band bring their beachy vibe back to the Paramount stage. With summer in full swing, enjoy their“Ultimate Beach Party Tribute” to Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band. Parrotheads, No Shoes Nation and the Zamily: it’s 5 o’clock somewhere so raise ‘em up and sing along. The Long Island based band — guided by Paul C. Cuthbert (aka Jimmy Kenny) on lead vocals/ acoustic guitar, with Linn DeMilta (aka Lovely Linn), lead and backing vocals, Luis Rio, lead guitar/backing vocals, Frank Stainkamp, keyboard/ backing vocals, Dan Prine, bass, and drummer Mike Vecchione, have been celebrating the beach/country sounds for over a decade to the delight of their audiences.
Friday, July 26, 8 p.m. $35. $25, $20, $15. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
The Hilarious Hitmen
Sal Governale, Richard Christy and Billy Mira, radio personalities known for their prank calls and comedy, keep the laughs coming as “The Hilarious Hitmen.” The dynamic trio brings a modern twist to humor, drawing inspiration from the classic styles of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Christy’s extraordinary drumming skills set the heartbeat for their performance, while Governale’s charisma and comedic genius keep audiences in stitches. Not to be outdone, Mira’s impressions and vocal range captivate everyone. Get in on the laughs when they bring their to Harry Chapin Theatre at Eisenhower Park, for a lively evening that blends big band comedy with audience participation and delightful surprises. Audiences can’t get enough of their refreshing and new take on music and comedy, making their performances an unforgettable experience that leaves you craving for more.
Saturday, July 27, 7 p.m. Free admission. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
Spicy Mustard Chicken Kebabs Cabbage Steaks with Bacon & Blue Cheese Mediterranean Vegetables
Dance Theatre of Harlem
The acclaimed dance company visits Long Island on its 2024 tour, appearing on the Tilles Center stage Sunday, Aug. 4, 7 p.m. With a storied history, the first Black classical ballet company, co-founded by dance icon and international superstar Arthur Mitchell, has toured the world, engaged communities and introduced young minds and bodies to the power of dance. With all its renown, this boundary-breaking, dynamic organization has maintained Mitchell’s core belief that ballet belongs to everyone. Now a singular presence in the ballet world, DTH presents a powerful vision for ballet in the 21st century. The 18-member, multi-ethnic company performs a forward-thinking repertoire that includes treasured classics, neoclassical works by George Balanchine and resident choreographer Robert Garland, as well as innovative contemporary works that use the language of ballet to celebrate Black culture. Through performances, community engagement and arts education, the Company carries forward Dance Theatre of Harlem’s message of empowerment through the arts for all. The dynamic program includes “Higher Ground,” with choreography by Robert Garland, featuring Stevie Wonder tunes; “New Bach,” also choreographed by Robert Garland, with music by J.S. Bach; “Take Me with You,” choreographed by Robert Bondara, featuring Radiohead; also Robert Garland’s “Return,” with James Brown and Aretha Franklin tunes. Tickets are start at $64; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville.
Dramatic Play
Theatre Playground returns to Long Island Children’s Museum with “Dramatic Play!,” Monday, July 29, 1 p.m., taught by Lisa Rudin, Director of Theatre Playground. In this interactive, theater-inspired workshop, children will act out an original story and help choose how it unfolds. Music, props, and sound effects create a theatrical world where participants are immersed in the story.
Children express themselves as they create characters, explore different worlds, stretch their imaginations and build selfconfidence. This week’s theme: Undersea Adventure. Costumes encouraged. $5 with museum admission. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
Movie in the park
Enjoy a night at the movies with “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory” at North Woodmere Park, on Tuesday, July 30, during Nassau County’s Close To Home Tuesdays summer series. The movie begins at dusk and it weather permitting. This is a free event. For more information call (516)-572-0200.
Film talk
Join Greg Blank at HewlettWoodmere Public Library for “A Film Buff’s Guide to Cinema Language,” Friday, July 26, 1-2:30 p.m. Examine techniques and shots that make a film a “classic,” enjoyable, and/ or simply understandable. Gold Hall. Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, 1125 Broadway, Hewlett. For more information visit HWPL.org or call (516)-3741967.
In concert
The Hewlett Bagel Boss Concert Series continues with Cyndi and Glenn’s “Plugged In,” Saturday, July 27, 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. The acoustic duo performs play Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Stevie Wonder and Miranda Lamb tunes. RSVP required. 1352 Peninsula Blvd., Hewlett. For more information, call (516)569-8600.
Friends of Rock Hall gardening workshop
Friends of Rock Hall welcomes all to Gardening: A Lesson in Life, Monday, July 29, 10-11 a.m. Learn how to cultivate, seed, plant and tend a vegetable and herb garden. Tools will be provided, bring your own gloves and a water bottle. This is a free event. For more information, call (516)-239-1157. Rock Hall, 199 Broadway, Lawrence.
Storybook Stroll
Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a storybook adventure, Saturday, Aug. 3, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stroll the gardens and listen to Michaela Goade’s “Berry Song.” Later create a unique take home craft. For ages 3-5. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.
Hewlett Fire Department
Breakfast Connect
Hewlett Fire Department welcomes all to the weekly breakfast connect, Wednesday, July 31, 8-9 a.m. The breakfast meeting is free and open to everyone in the community.
Benjamin J. Moleno Hall, 25 Franklin Ave., Hewlett. For more information and to reserve a spot, call or text Andrew Leibowitz at (516) 7904829.
Movie Night
Enjoy a family film outdoors on Eisenhower Park’s big screen, Wednesday, July 31, dusk, at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre.
See the recent 3D animated musical fantasy “Trolls 3: Trolls Band Together.”
The film serves as the threequel to Trolls, the sequel to Trolls World Tour, and the continuation of DreamWorks Trolls franchise. Eisenhower Park, Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
Game Time
Play canasta, mah jongg or Scrabble during in-person game time, on Monday, July 29, 2-4:30 p.m., in the Bentley Room of Peninsula Public Library. 280 Central Ave., Lawrence. Seating limited. First come, first seated.
Having an event?
Friends of Rock Hall Watercolor Workshop
Friends of Rock Hall hosts a watercolor workshop in the garde, Monday, July 29, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The class is taught by certified art teacher Linda Shedlock, Adult only, must bring your own supplies and pre-payment required. $90, $80 for members/seniors. Checks are payable to Friends of Rock Hall. Space is limited. Rock Hall, 199 Broadway, Lawrence. For more information/RSVP call (516)-239-1157 or email FriendsofRockHall@gmail. com.
Suummer sounds under the gazebo
The Village of Cedarhurst’s 27th annual “Tuesday Nite Concerts Under the Gazebo series continues with Milgro, Tuesday, July 30, at Andrew J. Parise Park. With kids preshow including magicians. 235 Cedarhurst Ave.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
On exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition
“Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition will span various world cultures through a range of media. It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority. Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. On view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
‘Walkin’ After Midnight’
Plaza Theatrical presents a showstopping tribute to the legendary Patsy Cline, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2:30 p.m. Through a colorful tapestry of iconic songs and witty personal storytelling, Carter Calvert uses her award-winning vocal talents to create this captivating musical tribute. Calvert, a Broadway star and title character in Always… Patsy Cline (opposite Emmy Award winner Sally Struthers), has gained rave reviews and triumphant accolades for her heartfelt portrayal of this legendary country recording artist.
She vocally captures Cline’s musical stylings pitch-perfectly in mega hits including “Crazy,” “I Fall To Pieces,” “She’s Got You” and “Walkin’ After Midnight.” Both captivating and endearing, this fastpaced entertainment delights audiences of all ages. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.
ENDLESS SUMMER
Dems hope for blast of political momentum
By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
The opening of a state Democratic office in Hempstead coincided with the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, and Long Island Democrats are hoping for liftoff toward victory in November.
Congressional hopeful Laura Gillen, who is running against now incumbent Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, aims to defeat the Republican she ran against two years ago.
“We need a representative for this district who actually represents the district and delivers for the district,” Gillen said outside the 82 Main St. office. “I’ll legislate and act in the best interests of the people that I represent.”
She said that D’Esposito has not delivered for the district that includes communities from the Nassau border across the county’s South Shore to Wantagh.
Inside the office, members of 1199 Service Employees International Union, campaign volunteers and party supporters mingled with Rep. Gregory Meeks, who represents southeast Queens; Gillen, Siela Bynoe, a current county legislator now running for state senate opposing Republican Thomas Philip Montefinise; and Noah Burroughs who is opposed by Danielle Smikle in the 18th Assembly District.
Meeks spoke for nearly seven min -
utes to motivate the troops, noting that Long Island is vital to the hopes of Democrats.
“This the key to making sure we have and return to having the majority in the United States House of Representatives,” he said.
Calling the 2022 congressional elections a “tragic accident,” when several seats were lost, Meeks, who has served since 1998, said: “Because we won NY-3,
we only need four more seats and we know that NY-4 is going to deliver the goods and make sure that Laura Gillen is elected.”
NY-3 is the congressional district formerly represented by George Santos. After his ouster from the House, former Congressman Ton Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip in a special election in February.
ported her in the June primary against fellow Dem Taylor Darling, and noted that every vote is critical.
“It is important to support Laura Gillen,” Bynoe said. “there is much at stake. Our democracy is at stake.”
Bynoe then led the audience in the chant,” When we vote, we win.”
Burroughs, a native of Hempstead, who played in the NFL and taught for 20 years said his primary mission is to “give back to kids.”
“I do things more or less for the community — us all,” he said, noting that he “won’t’ stop walking and talking” the district and to potential constituents until the election is over.
Gillen also noted the energy in the office and acknowledged those who attended.
“We know what the stakes are in this election, and NY-4 we need a congressperson who actually shows and delivers for the people,” she said.
Despite being the challenger in her race against D’Esposito, Gillen, who did serve two years as Town of Hempstead supervisor before running for Congress, said she has a positive outlook.
“I feel really good about this campaign, I think you saw from this office opening there is tremendous energy and momentum,” Gillen said. “We’ve seen it in our grassroots support, we’ve seen it in our fundraising. And I think people are ready for a change in this district
Jeffrey Bessen/Herald
Democratic candidate for Congress, Laura Gillen, center, at the opening of the state Democrats’ office on Main Street in Hempstead on July 20.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION
TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. ALBERT D. SUROWIECKI
A/K/A ALBERT SUROWIECKI, ET AL.,
Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 6, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 966 Singleton Avenue, Woodmere, NY 11598. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, situate, lying and being at Woodmere, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 41, Block 28, Lots 105 and 823. Approximate amount of judgment is $530,294.98 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #609151/2021. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.
Peter J. Famighetti, Esq., Referee
Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 147805
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU
DEUTSCHE BANK
NATIONAL TRUST
COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF ARGENT
SECURITIES INC., ASSETBACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES
2005-W5, -against-
DANIELLA JEAN-PIERRE
MOWETA A/K/A
DANIELLA JEAN-PIERRE
A/K/A DANIELLA JEAN
PIERRE, ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on January 16, 2020, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF ARGENT
SECURITIES INC., ASSETBACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES
2005-W5 is the Plaintiff and DANIELLA JEANPIERRE MOWETA A/K/A
DANIELLA JEAN-PIERRE
A/K/A DANIELLA JEAN PIERRE, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on August 7, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 862 STATION PLACE, WOODMERE, NY 11598; and the following tax map identification: 39-231-129.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT WOODMERE, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 006709/2010. Michael Cardello, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 147817
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON MORTGAGE SECURITIES CORP., CSAB MORTGAGE-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-2, Plaintiff AGAINST ELLIOT RINDENOW, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 15, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, ‘Rain or Shine’ on August 6, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 770 West Broadway, Woodmere, NY 11598. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being near Cedarhurst, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, and State of New York, Section 39, Block 197, Lot 72, and Section 39, Block 197, Lot 76, and Section 39, Block 197, Lot 82. Approximate amount of
judgment $1,428,888.33 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #006374/2009. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Only Bank or Certified check payable to the Referee will be accepted for the downpayment. No endorsed/third-party check or cash will be accepted. David S. Zeidman, Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 00-143727 81197 147755
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff AGAINST MOSHE MILNER, EUGENE MILLER, AHAVA SARAH MILLER, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 13, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, ‘Rain or Shine’ on August 6, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 556 Church Avenue, Woodmere, NY 11598. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Woodmere, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 39 Block 163 Lot 25-27. Approximate amount of judgment $441,988.84 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #615229/2022. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure
auction. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-003391 81304 147761
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC, -againstGERALDINE CASTROVILLA, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ANTHONY T. CASTROVILLA, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on June 25, 2024, wherein MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC is the Plaintiff and GERALDINE CASTROVILLA, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ANTHONY T. CASTROVILLA, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on August 19, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1128 FULTON STREET, WOODMERE, NY 11598; and the following tax map identification: 39-209-23 & 24.
ALL THOSE TWO CERTAIN LOTS, PIECES OR PARCELS OF LAND SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT WOODMERE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, IN THE COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 605283/2022. Brian J. Davis, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 148042
LEGAL NOTICE INC. VILLAGE OF CEDARHURST LEGAL NOTICE
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cedarhurst will hold a public hearing on Monday, August 5, 2024, at 8:00 PM in Village Hall, 200 Cedarhurst Avenue, Cedarhurst, New York for the purpose of amending Section 90-1 Riding Upon Sidewalks Prohibited.
The Five Towns, doo-wop and the power of music
By KAREN SETLOWE Special to the Nassau Herald
Memory can be elusive, but the ties that bind can remain strong. Friendships born out of time remain long after others have come and gone. Lawrence High School is one of those places where time-honored friendships began and remain.
Countless class reunions continue to bring friends back together after time and place separates them for long stretches of time. Music is a critical part of those reunions, because the music of each class runs through our memories like blood through our bodies. It is part of our identity.
A time-honored example of this is doo-wop, encompassing rhythm and blues, Golden Oldies and rock ’n’ roll. The height of doo-wop’s popularity spanned the 1940s through the 1960s and influenced music to come. In the minds and hearts of those who grew up with it, it continues to inspire and convey feelings of wellness.
The Lawrence High class of 1961 continues to feel the power of doo-wop. When they talk on the phone, email and text, and keep in touch with social media, they share their fondness for
doo-wop. Listening to it energizes and sustains them, makes them laugh and leaves them with a sense of wellness. In addition to the nostalgia, doo-wop’s special rhythm affects them on a physiological level.
If you’ve ever watched people when doo-wop is played, you’ve observed the change in their body language, especially while dancing. Their bodies in motion and looks on their faces tell the story. It’s no wonder that the doo-wop Inexperience, a unique museum in Wildwood, New Jersey, is popular and radio shows still play doo-wop.
Wellness practitioners understand how music works with a variety of treatments. Scientists are studying music’s healing effects. Sometimes, musicians are hired to play music, including doo-wop, for a wellness experience. Doo-wop continues its legacy for fun and a feel good experience.
Playwright Karen Setowe is a Lawrence High School graduate. Her work has taken her throughout the U.S. and overseas. Her current research and development is experimental video theatre with a focus on the arts, especially music, in small-town America and the global healing power of music.
Public Notices
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that all interested persons will have an opportunity to be heard at said hearing.
Dated: July 24, 2024 Cedarhurst, NY By Order of Mayor Benjamin Weinstock and Board of Trustees Salvatore Evola Village Clerk-Treasurer 148135
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE INWOOD FIRE DISTRICT, INWOOD, NEW YORK, 11096.
There will be a General Meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Inwood Fire District as follows:
Time:7:00 P.M.
Date: Thursday, August 8, 2024
Place:DISTRICT OFFICE Melissa Rivelli, District Secretary 148136
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a
public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 6th day of August, 2024, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 202-1 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at the following locations: EAST MEADOW COREY LANE (TH 268/24) South Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Newbridge Road, east for a distance of 60 feet.
INWOOD LAWRENCE AVENUE (TH 271/24) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Pearl Street, north for a distance of 35 feet.
PEARL STREET (TH 271/24) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Lawrence Avenue, west for a distance of 35 feet.
WEST HEMPSTEAD HEMPSTEAD AVENUE (TH 253/24) West SideNO STOPPING ANYTIMEstarting at a point 167
feet north of the north curbline of Coolidge Street, north for a distance of 168 feet.
HEMPSTEAD GARDENS DRIVE (TH 272/24) East Side - NO STOPPING ANYTIME - starting at a point 164 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south for a distance of 81 feet.
ALSO, to REPEAL from Section 202-1 “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” from the following location: WEST HEMPSTEAD HEMPSTEAD AVENUE (TH 179/23) West SideNO STOPPING ANYTIMEstarting at a point 201 feet north of the north curbline of Coolidge Street, north for a distance of 68 feet.
(Adopted 6/20/23) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: July 2, 2024 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 147995
LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR NOTICE OF MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Hewlett Harbor will meet in both public and via Zoom on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 7:00PM, Eastern Standard Time, for the purpose of holding the Village’s regular monthly meeting. An agenda for the meeting will be made available to the public on the Village Website. All residents wishing to attend via Zoom can visit www.hewlettharbor.gov for instructions. Residents wishing to speak via Zoom or in person must notify the Village Clerk in advance.
Dated: Hewlett Harbor, New York July 19, 2024 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR NICOLE GIACOPELLI VILLAGE CLERK 148133
Business Intelligence Analyst wanted by 3W Auto Accessory Inc. in Oceanside, NY. Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Data Science, or business-related major. Duties: Collect and analyze data from various sources, uncovering insights into sales, inventory, and market trends; Create interactive reports and dashboards, aiding decision-making by presenting key performance metrics; Forecast sales, conduct market research, and optimize inventory levels; Segment customers for targeted marketing and evaluate sales team performance; responsible for Data security and compliance, along with continuous improvement. Yearly Salary will be $80850 to $90000. Mail Resume to 3W Auto Accessory Inc., Attn: Qi Zhou, 3401 Lawson Blvd, Oceanside, NY 11572.
AIDES
Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! $20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST: PART TIME, Must be Fluent in English and Spanish, Must Have Good Computer Skills, Able to Learn New Programs, Pleasant Phone Voice, Good People Skills, Salary Negotiable. 516-726-0309 or Email Resume to coreybickoff294@gmail.com
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
Grand Center Hall Colonial
CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978
As you pull up to this home you will notice a welcoming cul-de-sac. This home boasts a true Center Hall Colonial, a living room, dining room, newer eat-in-kitchen with custom 42" wood cabinets, stainless
LYNBROOK: 2 BR, Off Street Parking, No Pets, $3,100. 516-599-3174
WANTAGH 1 BEDROOM, Full Kitchen, Full Bath, Livingroom/Kitchen Combo, No Smoking No Pets. $1650. 516-731-3763.
Elmont $640,000
Norfolk Drive. Cape. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Many updates including bathrooms. First floor master bedroom. Cozy fenced-in yard.
Taxes: $13,272
BETH DAVID CEMETERY: Elmont, NY.
ROCKVILLE CENTRE SUNNY Private Entrance,Walk In Closet, Walking Distance South Nassau Hospital, Share Bath, 516-913-0804.
3 Plots. Separate Or All Together. Graves 18, 25, and 32. Purchase Separate $3999; Purchase Together $9999. Negotiable. Call 845-641-7316
ONE BURIAL PLOT FOR SALE at Beth David’s in Elmont. Asking for $6,500. Please contact Michele Flanigan at 518-546-9550
Hewlett $670,000
Peninsula Boulevard. Ranch. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. New eat-in kitchen with shaker cabinets, high-end Samsung appliances and island, also sliding doors to private fenced-in yard. Move-in ready with new siding and roof. Taxes: $14,237.40
Lido Beach $1,430,000
Biarritz Street. Cottage. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Den/family room and home office. High-end finishes include cathedral ceiling and wet bar. Taxes: $19,573.89
Malverne $920,000
Foster Avenue. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Movein ready stunning home in convenient Westwood neighborhood. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and pantry. Updates include skylight. Walk to Westwood LIRR. Taxes: $16,869.06
Merrick $1,200,000
Loines Avenue. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Gourmet eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and pantry. Formal dining room. Den/family room, home office and guest quarters in bonus finished attic. High end finishes include cathedral ceiling and wet bar. Entertaining style backyard with heated saltwater pool and pool house with 3 portico doors. 2 car garage. Security system.
Taxes: $23,818.67
Rockville Centre $1,650,000
Contractors seem to have plans of their own
Q. We are getting estimates for a small bump-out at the back of our house to add a breakfast room, and the estimates have been much higher than we were led to believe. We met with a contractor before we hired an architect, and he gave us a number, but suggested we get plans made, which we did. In addition to doing an estimate from the plans, the contractor said we should pay him for the estimate if we don’t use him because of the time he took. His card actually says “Free estimates.” Between the price, which went way up, and the fact that he wants money, even if he doesn’t get the job, we aren’t going to even consider him, but is this common, that he should have such a higher price and also want to get paid? Incidentally, he added a lot of things that aren’t in the plans and aren’t what we spoke about.
A. This scenario is common, and I often warn people that they should, preliminarily, try to get a ballpark estimate, just to be sure they can do the project before getting started with plans. It always helps to have the contractor and architect speak, so we’re all on the same page.
Most often, though, what ends up happening is a kind of disillusionment when the plans are done and the contractor’s numbers are much higher than discussed. I’m amazed at how many contractors, without a phone call or meeting, try to change the project, question the engineering or structure, or try to work around the architect after all the time and consideration given to planning. It’s rare to have a contractor not make statements about the structure, even though I have rarely dealt with a contractor who can show expertise, with a license in engineering, to alter the design. Many just want to make it simpler to build without ever having to recognize the long-term issues of high winds, heavy snow or building codes.
On the other hand, one individual tried to upsell the job, claiming that piles were needed on a home where there was a basement and no other pilings. In order to add underground pilings to the price, a deep soil test, showing the character of the supporting earth, would need to be done. The home is over 100 years old and shows no signs of settling, so the inclusion of piles, without even consulting the licensed professional, is unwarranted.
It’s true that contractors have a hard job doing estimates, especially because the prices of lumber and other commodities change. They can spend many weeks calling around to suppliers and checking pricing, only to have their integrity questioned. This can lead to increasing numbers to account for potential material price changes. While you can’t expect the cost to remain the same, it is fair to ask, at the beginning, for a higher-end number so the outcome isn’t so different. Good luck!
© 2024 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
Ask The Architect Monte Leeper
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MAAX ALLIA SHR4834 Acrylic Walk-In Shower. Brand New. 48"x34"x88". Paid $2,774 Selling $1,400. Babylon,Location. 941-321-1790
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Congestion pricing may be paused, but the fight continues
From Buffalo to Montauk, New Yorkers of every color, creed and religion find themselves struggling to stay afloat amid the ever-increasing tax burden imposed on them, especially by the legions of out-of-touch bureaucrats who wield power in Albany. For too long, Long Islanders seeking financial relief from our state capital have found instead that many of their elected leaders in Albany are all too eager to nickel-anddime hardworking taxpayers as a solution to the fiscal mismanagement rife across government-operated entities as well as those directly tied to New York state, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
There is no doubt that the MTA is a vital resource for New Yorkers, but the dereliction of duty by the agency’s lead-
Has New York state government helped address your costs of living over the past six years? Has it made your life easier?
According to a recent poll, only 37 percent of registered voters thought the state was on the right track, while 52 percent said they believed it was headed in the wrong direction. In response to a prompt asking if the “2024 New York State legislative session did or did not succeed in passing laws that improve the quality of life in New York,” only 17 percent of respondents said they believed it did.
This sentiment was broadly shared across the political spectrum: Only 26 percent of Democrats, 7 percent of Republicans, and 12 percent of Independents/Others said they believed laws were passed this session that improved our quality of life. It is especially concerning that New Yorkers do not feel that state government is improving their lives when you consider how much money our state spends. When the state last had a divided
ership has led to staggering budget deficits and wasteful spending, to the point where it now costs the MTA roughly $3 billion a year just to service its enormous debt. Recognizing the unsustainable nature of this spending spree, the MTA conspired with Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York Democrats to siphon more cash from commuters via a congestion pricing plan, which is nothing more than a thinly veiled commuter tax.
that part of Manhattan altogether — like many in the trucking and carting sector.
Will Gov. Kathy Hochul simply restart the plan after November’s election?
Charging drivers who enter Lower Manhattan via car a fee in addition to the tolls already collected on many bridges and tunnels is nothing short of highway robbery, and New Yorkers resoundingly rejected this latest Democratic cash grab. Indeed, residents of every political stripe have voiced their concerns about this new tax, which would see the average commuter fork over an additional $4,000 for the privilege of entering Lower Manhattan, and force many businesses to raise prices or shy away from conducting business in
I was proud to stand alongside fellow Republicans, and some common-sense Democrats, to raise the alarm across the tristate area about this anti-business mandate. What’s more, I introduced bipartisan federal legislation to reject congestion pricing and to ensure that this disastrous plan did not come to fruition. After repeated public calls to Governor Hochul and the Democrats in the State Legislature to scrap the plan, the people were heard, and Hochul “paused” the implementation of congestion pricing at the 11th hour last month.
But the timing seemed suspect.
Poll after poll across New York told the same story: Congestion pricing was an awful plan, and voters were prepared to take their frustration to the ballot box. It isn’t hard to connect the dots and conclude that Hochul only delayed implementation of congestion pricing
because, on the federal level, Democrats feared that it would imperil their campaigns in competitive House districts leading up to the November election — including the one for my seat. I find it hard to believe that New York state and its governor invested significant money in constructing the new tolling infrastructure across Manhattan only for Hochul to have a change of heart at the last minute.
So it is vital that while commonsense, anti-congestion pricing advocates have the wind at our backs, we press on and demand further reassurances — in law — that this plan will not simply be restarted once the all-important fall election season has concluded.
It is extraordinarily important that New Yorkers stand united in continued opposition to Hochul’s disastrous congestion pricing plan, and demand more concrete protections against the implementation of this debilitating scheme as we move forward. I will be sure to keep up the fight in Washington as your voice on Capitol Hill.
Anthony D’Esposito represents the 4th Congressional District.
Our state government: lots of dollars, little sense
government, in 2018, with the governor’s mansion and the Assembly controlled by Democrats and the State Senate controlled by Republicans, in partnership with a handful of Democrats, the state budget was $168 billion. This year, under one-party control, the spending plan totaled $237 billion — an increase of roughly 40 percent over six years, far exceeding the 26 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for the same period. The budget passed in 2018 under divided government was the eighth one in a row that adhered to a 2 percent spending increase cap, but Albany no longer seems to concern itself with such fiscal restraint. Yet does anyone believe that New Yorkers received a quality return on their additional investment of more than $60 billion since 2018?
A 40 percent increase in spending over the past six years — for what?
clean-water infrastructure funding, which had been championed by the State Senate Republican Conference when it controlled the chamber. Meanwhile, New York City has received a bailout of $3.4 billion over the past two years for the self-inflicted migrant crisis that will only serve as a Band-Aid, without fixing the problem.
Blumencranz and I succeeded in forcing the legislative supermajorities to address the issue of illegal squatters, instead of including the language we had proposed, Albany passed a watereddown version that has left gaps in the law.
To be clear, there are areas where state spending is a crucial investment in our future — education, clean water and air, and infrastructure, to name a few. But it is troubling that despite Gov. Kathy Hochul’s initially proposing such a costly budget, we still had to rally with local schools in Nassau County to restore their state funding, and the State Legislature had to fight to restore
Regarding crime and public safety, an issue on the minds of many New Yorkers, the legislative supermajorities still refuse to take meaningful action to fix the failed cashless bail laws they enacted. In polling numbers that nearly mirror voters’ feelings on this year’s legislative session, only 17 percent of New Yorkers say they believe crime has improved in the past year. Common-sense legislation I carry with Assemblyman Ed Ra to grant judges discretion to consider dangerousness when determining whether to hold a defendant pretrial was voted down in the Senate Codes Committee along party lines, and the Legislature refused to take up a comprehensive package of bills to combat antisemitism, including several of my own and Assemblymen Ari Brown’s and Ra’s bills. Further, while Assemblyman Jake
This is not to say that the state has failed to make progress on any issue. In the final days of the session, we passed a bill to help protect children’s mental health from addictive feeds on social media, which I was proud to cosponsor. However, I believe most New Yorkers would agree that Albany hasn’t done enough to stem the consistent outmigration our state is experiencing — driven largely by our affordability crisis. As a small-business owner and a mother of four, I know the importance of budgeting and spending within my means. Yet when I proposed an amendment on the Senate floor to keep utility costs under control by placing a moratorium on any new costs or regulations until a thorough cost-impact study is completed, my amendment was voted down along party lines.
At some point, Albany needs to realize that simply spending more money won’t solve our problems, and that using a little sense will go further than even billions of dollars.
Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick represents the 9th Senate District.
Fax: (516)
HERALD
HeraLd editoriaL
Face mask bill must strike a delicate balance
amid ongoing debates about public safety and individual rights, the Nassau County Legislature is poised to make a significant decision that could have an impact on both.
Republican Legislator Mazi Pilip has proposed a bill that would make the county one of the first in the metropolitan area to ban face masks that conceal a wearer’s identity.
The proposal, backed by all 12 Republican county legislators, aims to unmask those responsible for violent acts during protests, imposing fines of up to $1,000 and potential jail time for violators.
A similar measure was proposed by State Sen. Steve Rhoads last month, after six young men wearing masks attacked another man at the Academy Charter School graduation at Hofstra University.
The Pilip bill is a reaction to violence involving people wearing masks in recent months during protests at universities including Columbia, George Washington and Yale. Pilip said that when they cover their faces, people can act as brazenly as they wish, which is unacceptable, and the idea behind the proposal is to curb violence and hold perpetrators accountable.
A laudable goal — but this well-meaning legislation may compromise public health and civil liberties, particularly when face masks are used as intended. They became an essential public health
Letters
Jerry Kremer should rethink congestion pricing
To the Editor:
tool during the coronavirus pandemic, and are not just a means of personal protection, but also a potential collective shield that helps reduce the transmission of airborne viruses.
Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of masks in curbing the spread of infectious diseases, thereby saving lives. To undermine this practice, even with the pandemic seemingly behind us, could have dire consequences for public health, especially as we ponder future outbreaks of other diseases.
The proposed bill includes exemptions for those wearing masks for health or religious reasons, but the enforcement of those exemptions would raise significant concerns. While the Republican presiding officer of the County Legislature, Howard Kopel, said he doubted anyone would intervene when an older person wears a mask for health reasons, there appear to be broader worries. The New York Civil Liberties Union has voiced concerns that the legislation paints a target on the backs of people of color, and protesters who disagree with government policies.
Those sentiments are echoed by Democratic Legislator Debra Mulé, who highlights what she sees as the ambiguity surrounding the bill’s implementation and enforcement.
Historical and current events have shown that laws with vague enforcement guidelines often disproportionately impact marginalized communities. Even the appearance that some were
Re Jerry Kremer’s recent column, “It’s time to give the governor a break”: I strongly disagree with Kremer’s opinion about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s cancellation of congestion pricing. This money would have been of great benefit to those of us who ride the Long Island Rail Road and the New York City transit system. It would also have helped to reduce air pollution in New York City, a big problem.
As we’ve seen in the weeks since the governor canceled this program, there is no Plan B for funding the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s capital program, despite her absurd statements to the contrary. There is a real risk of losing significant federal funding for the Second Avenue subway. Also, muchneeded new electric train cars for the LIRR will likely now be indefinitely delayed.
I’m guessing that Kremer doesn’t ride the railroad and experience some of the very old M-3 passenger cars, which break down frequently. The now canceled capital program would also have improved accessibility at LIRR stations, not to mention helping
being unfairly targeted by a face mask law would not only undermine trust in public institutions, but also exacerbate existing social and racial tensions.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s consideration of a mask ban on New York City transit, and similar proposals from other state legislators, indicate a broader trend toward restricting mask use that, if taken up by individual counties as well and not carefully managed, could become the focus of endless litigation and, yes, masked protests. Legislators’ focus should instead be on fostering a safe environment without infringing on individual rights or compromising public health. Rather than outright bans, there should be a nuanced approach that balances safety with the right to wear masks for legitimate reasons. Enhancing security measures at protests, improving surveillance to identify perpetrators of violence without compromising the anonymity of peaceful demonstrators, and fostering better communication between law enforcement and the public could be more effective strategies.
Legislation that restricts the use of masks must be carefully crafted to avoid unintended consequences that affect citizens’ freedoms or can be seen as discriminatory. As the County Legislature considers Pilip’s bill before a scheduled Aug. 5 vote, it should seek input from a wide range of stakeholders before finalizing it, in an effort to protect both public safety and individual rights.
opinions We are not a nation of one religion
my earliest memories of church are of getting dressed up and heading to St. Dominic’s, in Oyster Bay, with my family. We’d dab our fingers with holy water, make the sign of the cross and walk into the pews, where i would immediately grab a hymnal and start looking through it, hoping we’d get to sing some of my favorites, like “The lord of the Dance” or “We Three Kings.” As i grew up, i continued to enjoy many aspects of religion, from getting into (very amateur) theological debates with my friends to the sense of community and belonging it can provide, even as my belief in God slipped away.
While i don’t go to church too often anymore, i still have a special place in my heart for the magic, the importance and the splendor of religion, especially Christianity. The history of religion is one of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and led to some of the most phenomenal art, literature and philosophy that humanity has ever produced.
But i’ve been deeply disheartened by some political stunts that have taken place around the country in the name of religion. None more so than the recent efforts by louisiana Gov. Jeff landry to require all public classrooms in the state to display the Ten Commandments. This comes at a time when there are calls for America to “return” to being a Christian nation, and for Christianity to play a more prominent role in our government, with many echoing the sentiments of Colorado rep. lauren Boebert that “i’m tired of this separation of church and state junk.”
a
nd you need look no further than the Constitution to be reminded of that.
That “junk” Boebert so eloquently refers to is one of the defining pillars of the Founding Fathers’ vision for our country. Because despite what Christian nationalists argue, the United States has never been a Christian nation, and was expressly founded on the idea that any people, with any religious beliefs, could find a home here, even if reality has not always reflected those ideals.
Some argue that the founders were themselves Christian, and that religion played a huge role in the creation of the nation. What this conveniently ignores is the fact that many of them
Letters
to buy new diesel train cars and locomotives, which are approaching the end of their useful lives.
Kremer noted the economic cost of congestion pricing, and perhaps some adjustments could be made. But not funding our transit system is a terrible idea, and it will absolutely result in higher costs to taxpayers in the end.
i once thought of Mr. Kremer as a fairly progressive and effective legislator, but i guess that’s all in the past now that he’s a lobbyist.
i n contrast, Kevin Kelley’s column, “Our future should include transit-oriented development,” makes a lot of sense. We urgently need housing and transportation here on long island. Kremer’s negative comments about transit funding accomplish nothing, except to play to the short-term interests of uncaring politicians.
i suggest he think about this, and reevaluate his position.
MiChAel CrAveN Point Lookout
Road violence vs. gun violence: no comparison
To the editor:
Anyone who travels by car, rides a bike or walks across an intersection in
were in fact deists, with no personal connection to any one church. George Washington attended a different denomination’s service every week, while many suspected Benjamin Franklin of being a secret atheist. Thomas Jefferson even went so far as to reply to a letter by the Danbury Baptist Association by declaring, “When (the Church has) opened a gap in the hedge or wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world, God hath ever broke down the wall itself, removed the Candlestick, etc., and made his Garden a wilderness as it is this day. And that therefore if he will ever please to restore his garden and paradise again, it must of necessity be walled in peculiarly unto himself from the world …” even earlier, roger Williams, a Puritan minister and the founder of rhode island, was banished from Massachusetts for his “erroneous” and “dangerous opinions,” for preaching against the king and for the separation of church and state. Williams feared that the co-mingling of religion and government would not only lead to oppression, but would damage the integrity of the church.
Favoring one religion over others goes directly against the Constitution itself. The establishment Clause, a key component of the First Amendment, states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” While the exact meaning of “establishment” has been debated by legal scholars for centuries, the broad understanding has traditionally been that the government cannot, and should not, promote one religion over any other.
religion is a wonderful thing. it brings people together, and encourages us to consider our place in the universe. i’ll be the first to stand up when people of any religious denomination in this country are being oppressed for their beliefs.
At the same time, we cannot allow any religious ideology to influence the functioning of our government, because once we start telling people how to live, love and think based on our religious beliefs, we are no longer upholding religion, but tyranny. As a wise carpenter from Nazareth said in Matthew 22:20, “render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”
Will Sheeline is a senior reporter covering Glen Cove, Glen Head, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? WSheeline@ liherald.com.
Framework by Tim Baker
Nassau County knows that life-threatening recklessness behind the wheel has become terrifyingly common. in fact, 20 times more people are killed in the county by drivers than by shooters. yet elected officials, led by County e xecutive Bruce Blakeman, are doing little or nothing to reduce traffic violence. instead, in a stunning example of skewed priorities, Blakeman and his political allies stir public fears of the comparatively tiny threat of gun-related crime.
i n 2022 — the most recent year for which statistics are available — traffic violence claimed 81 lives in Nassau County. That same year, a total of four people in the county were killed by armed assailants.
And the roads are becoming ever more deadly.
“Traffic fatalities in New york have grown at an alarming rate since the pandemic,” state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a report last month.
Speeding and drunk or distracted driving are among the leading causes of this upsurge. But the Nassau County Police Department issued 66 percent fewer speeding tickets in 2022 than in 2019, the year prior to the pandemic. DWi arrests have also sharply decreased.
“ i n Nassau County,” Blakeman declared in March, “we back the blue, and we fund our police.” he boasted that more than 200 officers have been added
to the county’s police force since he took office in 2022.
That rhetoric, and those statistics, mean little to the families of children and adults killed in preventable crashes. And almost all motor vehicle fatalities can indeed be prevented with safer road
designs and tighter enforcement of traffic laws. Nassau County public officials must stop ignoring this worsening threat to the lives of their constituents.
At last Saturday’s next-to-last Food Truck Festival — Wantagh
KeviN J. Kelley Atlantic Beach
