Nassau Herald 08-08-2024

HERALD Nassau

ADI Negev, a rehabilitation hospital in southern Israel, has a medical clown who visits patients to help lift their spirits. Occupational therapist Sarah Yastrab, right, volunteered at the hospital for two weeks in May.

Wounded Israeli soldier shares his story of injury rehabilitation

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Four volunteers from the Five Towns and one from Far Rockaway will be recognized for their work helping injured Israel Defense Forces soldiers in the Negev Desert in southern Israel.

Physical therapists Daniel Aryeh, of Woodmere, and Moshe Richmond, of Lawrence, occupational therapists Jesse Vogel, of Far Rockaway, and Sarah Yastrab, of, and physical therapist Robert Weinberg, of Woodmere, will be honored at an event hosted by Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst in collaboration with

ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran on Aug. 14.

ADI Negev is a 40-acre, state-of-the-art rehabilitative care for people with disabilities in the Negev.

Major Or Maatuk, an IDF soldier who was critically wounded in the war with Hamas, will recount his life story. He will be introduced by Dr. Shilo Kramer, director of orthopedic rehabilitation at ADI Negev’s Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center.

“Whether you were born into disability (or) touched by disability at some point at life, this 40-acre village has all kinds of resources,” said Elie Klein, the facility’s developmental director.

This summer, more local food insecurity

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

With people away on vacation or at home relaxing, the summer months are difficult for facilities that collect and distribute food to those in need.

The Marion & Aaron Gural JCC’s SHOP (Sustenance, Hope, Opportunities, Place), in Cedarhurst, which operates the Rina Shkolnik Kosher Food Pantry, is one of those facilities that are affected by a drop in donations.

“Typically, the SHOP is quieter over the summer months due to families going away or working at summer camps,” Rivkah Halpern, its program director, said. “This summer, clients came to us saying they lost their jobs in the Five Towns community, creating a new influx of people.”

rity — a lack of access to sufficient food, or food of adequate quality, to meet basic needs — only boosts the need for donations.

The SHOP partners with Gourmet Glatt, Costco and local synagogues to help bring in donations for the Shkolnik pantry. It also recently signed a contract with New Horizons Counseling Center, a mental health agency with offices in Valley Stream and across Long Island.

W e’ve been really inundated, and this summer we’ve seen at least a 10 percent increase in what we normally see for the summer. It’s usually a bit quieter for us.

RIvkAh hALpERN Program director, the SHOP

“The agency sent over a tremendous amounts of referrals to us, because they have a huge client population that is in need of food and gets the bare minimum for food stamps,” Halpern said of New Horizons. “For summer, we’ve been really inundated, and this summer we’ve seen at least a 10 percent increase in what we normally see for the

The increase in food insecu-

Courtesy Sarah Yastrab

Lawrence Primary School fourth- and fifth- graders completed the Summer Jumpstart Program for English Language Learners on July 31. Cornelio G., left, Angela H., Bragly G., Oasel, and Justin M., right, received a T-shirt along with their certificate for perfect attendance.

The first- and second-graders were so happy when the teacher called their names individually for their certificates. Each student clapped and cheered for their classmates.

Celebrating a summer of enrichment, avoiding the ‘summer slide’

Students in the Summer Jumpstart Program for English Language Learners celebrated the completion of the program on July 31.

The students were surprised with a special sweet treat from Kona Ices and they were able to choose which flavor they wanted.

The program aimed to provide students with enrichment through engaging activates and targeted learning opportunities. The program was also

created is to combat the “summer slide,” and not be half a year behind when school starts back up in the fall.

The students took a reassessment test to view their growth in reading and writing, vocabulary, and a collaborative environment.

Marianella Mena, sixth grade bilingual education teacher noted how beneficial the program was for the kids.

Melissa Berman

Melissa Berman/Herald Photos

The students were rewarded with a special surprise treat from Kona Ices. The kids were able to choose which flavor they wanted on their ices.

Cheryl Pagnotta, top right and her third grade class are all smiles for avoiding the ’summer slide’ and completing the English Language Learners program.

Third-graders Guadalupe, left, Angie, Sterling, and Dylan had perfect attendance for the whole program.

Multiple incidents of criminal mischief in Woodmere

Nassau police are investigating two incidents of criminal mischief in Woodmere.

The first incident occurred at 11 p.m. on July 30, as police responding to a call from a resident on Steve Place found graffiti on the white fence of the home of a woman, 62.

An unidentified man last seen walking north on Narrow Lane toward Broadway allegedly is responsible.

The subsequent investigation, which is continuing, also uncovered similar damage to another white fence on Club Drive.

Police ask anyone with information concerning the incident call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 244-8477 or 911. All calls are confidential.

— Jeffrey Bessen

Inwood resident charged in attempted murder Far Rockaway man arrested for assault in Island Park

After Nassau police responded to a reported assault at an Inwood home on July 28 near 8:30 p.m., they found a man, 34, lying on the front lawn with a sheet wrapped around his arm, which was covered in blood.

Police found Jose Antonio Cruz, 59, of Pearl Street, also in Inwood, in the back yard and arrested him.

The men, according to the police, had argued earlier in the day. The dispute became more heated and Cruz allegedly stabbed the man, who suffered a severe and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Cruz was charged with second-degree attempted murder and assault. He was arraigned on July 29.

As of press time, the only information available was this note on WebCrims: “Summons information is generally not available until several weeks after the date issued. Please check back if your summons information is not available at this time.”

— Jeffrey Bessen

A Nassau police officer was injured as police were in the process of arresting a Far Rockaway man for an alleged burglary in Island Park on July 29.

Police responded to a home on Kildare Road around 7 a.m., and found the alleged thief, Malik Hodge, 28, of Beach 45th St., near Long Beach Road and Carolina Road in Island Park.

In the course of the arrest, Hodge, “was violent and combative,” in resisting arrest, according to police. The injured officer was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment. Hodge was also taken to a hospital.

Hodge is charged with burglary, assault, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He pleaded not guilty, a temporary order of protection was issued and Hodge is out on bail. Gregory Stephen Zak is his attorney. Hodge’s next court date is Aug. 20.

— Jeffrey Bessen

Leaving a Vacation Home to Family

We all know the road to you know where is paved with good intentions. Nowhere is this more true than leaving a vacation or beach home for the children to share after the parents have passed. We have often advised that if they are all happy and get along well this might very well lead to the end of those good feelings and relationships.

Inevitably, some will do more work on the premises than others, some will use the premises more than others, there will be disagreements as to maintenance and repairs. Some may never visit or use it at all.

Initially, all expenses tend to be shared equally, since all are equal owners. The foregoing issues, however, will quickly arise and then it will often be difficult or impossible to determine what each child’s fair share of the expenses should be. The one living across the country who never visits may insist that they be “bought out” or, if that’s unaffordable to the others, that the house be sold so that they can get their share.

Sooner or later, one of the siblings dies

and their share goes to a sister-in-law or brother-in-law who may remarry and bring a stranger into the shared arrangement. Or let’s say an owner of one-third of the house dies, and now their share goes to their four children. How is that going to work?

Vacation homes are an excellent example of why good estate planning is often more social work than legal work. In these cases we anticipate the problems and spend the time to figure out who wants and uses the home and perhaps leave it to those children only and compensate the others with money or other assets. If they all use and enjoy the home, we sometimes require that it be held jointly with the right of survivorship, allowing the last of the joint owners to decide who to leave it to.

While the possibilities are endless, each case should be looked at and thought through so as to keep harmony in the family by preempting any potential conflicts. Otherwise, it’s often a case of the old adage that “no good deed goes unpunished”.

NASSAU

NCPD

Jose Antonio Cruz is charged with the July 28 attempted murder of a fellow Inwood resident.

NCPD

Far Rockaway resident Malik Hodge allegedly assaulted a Nassau police officer in Island Park on July 29, and is charged with burglary and a few other charges.

NCPD

The unidentified man walking in the middle of road is alleged to have damaged two residential fences in Woodmere on July 30.

Talking film at HewlettWoodmere Public Library Movie maven analyzes selected cinema

By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com

The language of filmmaking is the mother tongue of Greg Blank, an East Rockaway native and Lynbrook High School alum, as the filmmaker and cinema lecturer brought his professional knowledge to Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library on July 26.

Returning to the Five Towns spot at 1125 Broadway in Hewlett was a full circle moment for Blank, as he had shot an art gallery segment there for the “Push Pause Long Island,” a Verizon Fios show, which he produced early in his career.

The Friday adult program, titled “A Film Buff’s Guide to Cinema Language,” covered techniques and clips from classic films.

Blank structured the lecture to cover the major elements of film language, including screenwriting, producing, cinematography and music/audio design.

Screenwriting includes building a storyline, characters, settings and dialogue for a film, Blank said.

“They have to make it compelling in order to get that film produced,” he said. “So, you want to have a good screenplay, so you can pitch it to a studio or to a producer and say, this is going to make a great movie.”

The producer’s role, Blank said, is to coordinate all aspects of the film’s production.

“They basically hire all of the other ‘artistic departments,’ the art director, the cinematographer, the director,” he said.

Blank also covered cinematography, which includes techniques in camera placement and lens choice.

“It’s playing with light and shadow and color and movement, and then juxtaposing it in the editing process,” he said.

The last major element Blank he included in his presentation was music and audio design.

“Music has the ability to shape, and in some cases, alter or even subvert what the filmmaker is communicate,” Blank said.

Throughout the presentation, Blank showed and analyzed scenes from “Airplane!,” “The Deer Hunter,” “Good Will Hunting,” “Goodfellas” and “Sophie’s Choice,” in the library’s Gold Hall to show how these elements interact on the big screen.

Jah Barnes, a program attendee, is a writer and signed up so to could get inspiration.

“I think a lot of these fields are related, like, film, music, writing,” Barnes said. “They all kind of go hand in hand. I’m trying to get, like creative tips.”

Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library hosts a variety of programs, for adults, children and teens including book clubs, cooking classes, crafts, sport activities and workshops.

Library Director Michelle Young said they enjoy hosting programs such as the Friday film lecture, because HWPL is designated Nassau County art music library.

They offer a wide variety of concerts, movie showings, music material and art along with lectures on these topics.

“We like to show all the different facets of creative work and how it’s done,” Young said. “We have a really interesting, a really great built in audience, they’re just art and music aficionados and we have a huge interest in film here too.”

For more information on HewlettWoodmere Public Library programs, visit HWPL.org.

Parker Schug/Herald

Greg Blank, an East Rockaway native and filmmaker, hosted a lecture at HewlettWoodmere Public Library on the pillars of film language, on July 26.

Beach wrestling returns to Long Beach

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Sunbathing, surfing and maybe even a few sandcastles took a back seat last Saturday as a wresting tournament with nearly 250 participants dominated a steamy summer day in Long Beach.

The [Reggie] Jones & [Paul] Gillespie East Coast Beach Wrestling Tournament, the second of its kind on the sand at Edwards Boulevard Beach since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, honored those two legendary coaches and “ran smoothly,” organizer Miguel Rodriguez said.

“It was such an incredible day and the city of Long Beach was a huge help,” said Rodriguez, a longtime member of the Long Beach High School wrestling program coaching staff who competed for the Marines from 1997-99 and took part in a handful of beach wrestling events himself.

“We were hoping for 100 wresters and ended up with close to 250,” he added. “It was a lot of work and took a lot of people to make it possible. The day turned out just perfect. We hadn’t hosted one in nine years, but this was the best-run tournament we’ve had in a long time and honored some special people.”

In addition to coaches Jones and Gillespie, the tournament was dedicated to late Long Beach wrestlers and graduates Lazar LaPenna, Joshua Encarnacion and Michael Berube. Three of the event’s four wrestling rings was named in their

honor, Rodriguez said.

While there was no shortage of high school varsity and JV, and middle school-aged competitors, Rodriguez noted the ages ranged from kindergartners through 55.

Dylan Martinsen, a 2019 Long Beach High School graduate, won the 172-pound weight group. His father, Kevin, 55, also competed. “I hadn’t wrestled since high school and it was really cool,” Dylan said. “Everyone did a great job putting it together, and honoring the memories of the guys we’ve recently lost was touching.”

Each match consisted one of three-minute period and began in the neutral position — both wrestlers stood opposite one another in the center of the ring and waited for the referee’s whistle to start grappling. That was also the case for any restart, Rodriguez said. The first wrestler to score three points advanced. In the event of a tie at the end of three minutes, the wrestler who scored the last point was declared the winner.

“Most matches didn’t last the full three minutes, but one of the finals did,” Rodriguez said. “We had 14 different categories and about 50 first-place medals handed out.”

The goal moving forward, Rodriguez said, is to take the tournament up a notch on the beach wrestling stage. “Not only do we want to make this an annual event, but we’re hoping it can be a qualifier for the Beach World Series,” he said.

Arianna Balsamo, left, and Matthew Sarro were two of the nearly 250 wrestlers to flock to Long Beach to grapple on the sand in the East Coast Beach Wrestling Tournament named after legendary coaches Reggie Jones and Paul Gillespie.

Michelle Ebel/Herald photos

Gregg LaPenna, left, and Kevin Martinsen were two of the elder competitors in last Saturday’s beach wrestling tournament.

Jack O’Grady, top, tussled with Tristan Doughertyse.

The SHOP keeps more than 50 volunteers busy

summer. It’s usually a bit quieter for us.”

In June, the SHOP received 800 pounds of food, valued at $2,200, from Young Israel of Woodmere, Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, the HewlettEast Rockaway Jewish Centre, the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach, and Irving Place Minyan, in Woodmere.

“Our shul supports the local JCC food pantry because it aligns with our commitment to community service and Jewish values such as tzedakah (charity) and chesed (kindness),” Raizy Faska, executive administrative assistant of Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, said wrote in an email. “By partnering with the JCC, we strengthen our communal bonds and ensure that those in

need have access to food. This collaboration allows us to actively contribute to the well-being of our neighbors, embodying our faith’s principles in a meaningful and impactful way.”

“We have a monthly food drive called ‘Stock the SHOP’ where we try to get some of the local temples involved,” Halpern said. “We gave them lists of our most-needed items.”

Community members can drop off donations, work with a local temple or scan a QR code for an Amazon list and have the items sent directly to the SHOP, she said, adding, “We actually got very, very lucky for the month of July with the Amazon wish list of most-needed items here.”

July’s food donations weighed in at 1,000 pounds and were valued at over $3,000, thanks to the help of Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst and Young Israel of Woodmere.

• Sugary cereals

• Peanut butter

• Pasta

• Canned tuna

• Canned fruits and vegetables

• feminine and other hygiene products

• diapers and wipes

In August, the effort has begun to promote and collect items in need for Rosh Hashana, to make holiday packages. The items needed include egg noodles, honey, farfel, kasha and matzo ball soup mix in addition to everyday items.

“We continue to see an increase in clients, so we’re trying to keep the shelves full this upcoming holiday season,” Halpern said.

The key to the SHOP’s success is the volunteers, who sort, shelve, check donations in, unload deliveries, bring donations from stores and temples,

The refrigerator at the SHOP, at the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC, is

organize and deliver food, call clients, pack orders and help shoppers, Laurie Brofsky, volunteer services manager at the Gural JCC, said.

“We had a total of 51 volunteers this July engaged in helping the SHOP in a variety of ways to combat food insecurity in our community,” Brofsky said.

The volunteers — the largest crew for any of the Gural JCC’s programs —

range in age from 15 to nearly 90. In the summer, many are high school and college students looking to get volunteer hours in before school starts, Brofsky said.

“I look through applications and screen people to see where they’d be a good fit, depending on their skills and preferences,” she said. “I match the volunteer’s skill with our needs.”

Courtesy Marion & Aaron Gural JCC

stocked with a variety of items donated by community members, synagogues and local supermarkets.

AI helps level the educational playing field

Embracing

new technologies like ‘adaptive learning’ is proving to be key to keeping kids engaged

By Nicole Wagner & Danielle Schwab

Continuing a series exploring the presence of artificial intelligence in our schools — and, over time, in society as a whole. Thoughts? Questions? Ideas? Email us at execeditor@liherald.com.

While some educators have gotten acquainted with artificial intelligence hesitantly, many school districts across Nassau County have embraced the technological tool in the classroom. It’s no secret that AI is changing the academic landscape. Educators, parents and students are in a race to keep up with its abilities, and especially about how it can — and will — be used in education. A helpful visual representation of just how AI can help students is a ramp. Ramps are used in buildings to make different levels accessible to people who can’t climb steps. But many of those who can take the steps use ramps as well. AI can be seen as a tool that all students can use to make education more accessible and to serve their individual needs.

Meeting students where they are

The Franklin Square school district has embraced AI as a way to help individualize education for students from pre-K through sixth grade. District Superintendent Jared Bloom spoke with the Herald about the multitude of ways AI can help keep students engaged, tai-

loring lessons to their interests.

One tool that district students and parents have used is Goblin.Tools, an AI-powered site that can identify an essay’s key points if a student need to create a Power Point or poster board for a given assignment.

“You can even break those chunks into smaller chunks,” Bloom said. “So it really becomes manageable, and you can really understand what are the key components of that assignment.”

Another way in which AI can help teachers and students is by varying the reading level of a passage. This has been a welcome change for educators in Franklin Square, Bloom explained: 20 years ago, teachers had to find a handful of different reading passages for the various skill levels in their classrooms.

student’s interests, whether it be music, sports, art or anything else. “We know that when students are interested in a topic, they’re going to be more engaged and more open to learning,” Bloom said.

Nassau County BOCES’ Special Education Department, which serves 1,800 students at 10 Nassau BOCES schools, is exploring AI’s potential in special education. Ken Kroog, assistant director of the department, said that AI can help students through what’s known as “adaptive learning.” During online assessments, AI tailors questions based on a student’s performance in real time.

“Now you can take one passage and run it through AI, and be able to hand that reading out to kids all on the same topic without having to go out and get new material,” Bloom said. “And that’s very helpful for students.”

The promise of personalization in any subject excites Bloom about AI. A fourth-grade math problem can be plugged into AI and personalized to a

“So let’s say if I answer correctly or achieve a certain level of proficiency, the subsequent questions will challenge me at a greater level,” Kroog explained. “So you get a real clear picture of where, exactly, I’m performing across the different skill areas.”

Students who are visually or audibly impaired can use tools like Otter.ai to transcribe a lecture to better understand what is going on in the classroom. Katherine Lewis, a disability counselor at Nassau Community College, said she uses this tool to help students. AI can be a great help for students who are strug-

gling to understand a topic — and for families who can’t afford a home tutor.

“To be able to sit with your child and utilize some of these tools that are out there, free of charge, helping support an understanding of a particular topic, is pretty magical,” Bloom said.

Students at NCC can benefit from AI when the college’s learning centers are unavailable. Genette Alvarez-Ortiz, vice president of academic affairs, said she hoped it could be used around the clock to help students when staff are not accessible.

“In terms of availability, there are challenges with the evening coverage and weekend coverage,” Alvarez-Ortiz said of the college’s learning centers. “We may be able to look at AI as a possibility to help support our learning centers.”

Benefits that AI offers educators Staff in the Franklin Square school district have reported that personalization and customization of lessons for students can “support students in new and different ways that we wouldn’t have been able to do as easily” without AI, according to Bloom. These tools help teachers save time when creating lesson plans.

“I’m really hopeful that we’re going to be able to get to that point where we’re utilizing AI to make everybody’s life a little bit better and easier,” he said,

Courtesy Nassau BOCES

Nassau BOCES staffers have embraced the power of artificial intelligence to enhance student learning.

AI is changing education in so many ways

“and as a result of that, we’re customizing and personalizing for kids in ways that we wouldn’t have been able to do as quickly before.”

kind of both.”

Student

reception

WBOCES educators have not only used AI tools as time-savers when creating lesson plans, but have also used them as “thought partners,” Kroog said. “It allows special educators to differentiate learning for students, customizing instruction for specific learning needs and leveraging their strengths to give them a very personalized, individualized learning experience,” he said.

This helps teachers in the Special Education Department at BOCES as they work on time-demanding aspects of their jobs, such as report writing and individualized education programs, or IEPs.

As an elementary-focused school district, Bloom said, Franklin Square’s students are using AI differently than a kindergarten-through-12th grade district would. However, the students who are able to use AI prompts have been very excited to embrace the tool. The district has been trying to give students a variety of opportunities to learn how to program, prompt AI, design video games and more to increase their exposure to different technologies.

e know that when students are interested in a topic, they’re going to be more engaged and more open to learning.

JAred Bloom Franklin Square superintendent

Rockville Centre school district Superintendent Matthew Gaven said he also believes AI can be used to tailor lessons to students’ needs.

“Computers and teachers have always given the diagnosis, but not always the prescription,” Gaven said. “Like, ‘How do you get better?’ So AI is

“That’s the world that they’re growing up in,” Bloom said. “We have to be preparing our kids for their future, for their tomorrow.”

In Rockville Centre, students in middle and high school have the chance to enroll in an elective AI course that uses the coding program kidOYO. Gaven said that students have embraced the elective courses that teach AI research at the middleschool level and prompting at the highschool level.

“Our students are going to have these tools embedded in their lives,” Gaven

said. “They need to know how to use them responsibly. They need to know what they’re good for and what they’re not good for. And then they need to know, you know, how do you take the stuff that AI generates and add value on top.”

What are its limitations?

AI does have its limitations. Teachers still need to vet its output to see what’s applicable and what’s not. It’s a process that Kroog believes requires human expertise to navigate.

The technology must comply with New York State Education Law 2-D, which protects students’ and teachers’ personal information.

“Educators need to know how to use them right for their own instruction, and then teach students how to use them responsibly to support their learning,” Kroog said. “And with that comes a lot of learning, a lot of training on our part, and then a lot of understanding of what AI can do and what it can’t do.”

Maintaining academic integrity while using AI is something Bloom is passionate about. “I believe that with enough support and with enough training, just like with the calculator, we’re going to be able to help students to see how it is a tool to improve learning, and not a tool to just get you the answer,” he said.

As Gaven sees it, the future looks

■ ChatForSchools.SkillStruck.com

■ Diffit.ai

■ Goblin.Tools

■ Firefly.Adobe.com

■ Canvas.com

■ Chat.Openai.com

■ Claude.ai

■ Gemini.Google.com

■ Perplexity.ai

■ Otter.ai

bright for the ways AI will be used to help students in the years to come. “If AI truly allows individual pathways for students — you know, really specifically tailored instruction, with the resources that support it,” he said, “then I think it’s going to be a tremendous help for all of our students, particularly our students with special needs.”

Hewlett-Lawrence Soccer Club alums reunite

Despite the rainy weather alums from the Hewlett-Lawrence Soccer Club joined together for the third annual alumni game at Woodmere Middle School on Sunday.

Established in 1970, the nonprofit soccer club for youth 4 to 18, is also part of the Long Island Junior Soccer League, another nonprofit organization based in Ronkonkoma that also fosters the growth and development of young soccer players.

Former players from the HLSC have text groups and continue the friendships they forged years ago.

Local businesses such as Cedarhurst-based Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, Community Chest South Shore, the Hewlett-Woodmere Business Association, State Farm in Valley Stream and Nicole Eliopoulos, the Bell, Vannu and Vardaro families, and Pars Blue Highway Inc, supported the event.

— Jeffrey Bessen

Alice Moreno/Herald photos

Players at the third annual Hewlett Lawrence Soccer Club alumni game before the action got under way on Sunday at Woodmere Middle School.

The alumni soccer game brought out the competitive edge in the players with Keisha Grant and Nico Cuenca battling for the ball.

Ron McClintock, right, looks to control the ball as Rafael Iraheta aims to defend during the alumni soccer game.

David Friedman, president of the Hewlett-Woodmere Business Association, Armando Vardaro and Hewlett Lawrence Soccer Club President Sabino Vardaro organized the alumni game.

Rafael Iraheta is in disbelief that his shot didn’t go into the net for a goal.

Annette & Daniel Kasle

Five Towns therapists volunteer at ADI Negev

Its offerings include art, music, physical and occupational therapy, a therapeutic horse farm, and a safari petting zoo for residents, patients and special-education students. There are 170 residents, and 190 special-education students with severe disabilities who are treated daily.

“We are taking care of everyone, and providing the help that they need,” Klein said, explaining that ADI Negev performs more than 50,000 outpatient treatments each year for those affected by everything from heart attacks and strokes to terrorrelated trauma.

“As soon as the war began, now 300 days ago, we were very, very short-staffed when it came to physical and occupational therapists,” Klein said. “We put out a call, and we have an amazing relationship with the Emergency Volunteers Project, that helped send volunteers to Israel in all different kinds of professions.”

The facility’s regular staff was evacuated because of the war with Hamas, and has not yet returned.

The Kaylie Center is the first and only rehabilitation hospital in Israel, and has 83 inpatient beds.

“We are caring for many of the civilian and IDF heroes of Oct. 7 and we’re understaffed, so we needed a lot of help,” Klein said, “and about a half-dozen PT and OT

May, and was given a caseload the day she arrived. She worked with neurological and orthopedic patients.

“They were very appreciative of having volunteers coming mostly from America to come and fill some of the gaps,” Yastrab said.

“After Oct. 7, everybody wanted to do something,” she said, “and some people

This is something I could do. I have a license to practice occupational therapy; I’ve been doing it for over 30 years. This was a need that they had, and it’s something I could do.”

She heard about the opportunity via a WhatsApp group of therapists, and contacted Kramer, who helped with the process of approving her credentials and providing her with a temporary license from the Israeli Ministry of Health.

ence was how powerful it was interacting with the patients in the rehab center, and hearing about their experiences firsthand in real time living in the south,” Yastrab said. “To hear about their experiences not through the lens of the media was extremely powerful, and was the most important part of the experience.”

She urged all of her friends who are therapists as well as Five Towns community members to come to next week to hear about experiences.

Vogel, who also volunteered in May for two weeks, also heard about ADI Negev on WhatsApp. He brought not only his experience as an occupational therapist, but also his specialty: neuromuscular taping. Vogel uses a special tape that stimulates the muscles, nerves and lymphatic system to increase circulation, reduce pain and inflammation, and promote movement.

“It was absolutely amazing, because here in America, occupational therapy is my day job, (but) volunteering is a more important part of my life,” Vogel said. “It was very much the opposite in Israel, where having this skills got me there to go help people was really an extraordinary feeling.”

“What was so unique about this experi-

Vogel taught patients new techniques with the neuromuscular taping, and helped them relieve pain. He volunteered by day at ADI Negev, and at night he traveled to army bases to tape up IDF soldiers.

“It was fantastic being able to help them get back into the fight after an injury,” Vogel said.

Courtesy Elie Klein

ADI Negev special education student Idan Cohen and Ron Vaknin, a rehabilitation patient and IDF hero.

Mount Sinai South Nassau Recognized for Excellence in Emergency Nursing Mount

Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Emergency Department has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Emergency Nurses Association’s 2024 Lantern Award for outstanding patient care and reducing wait times, and for excellence in nurse retention, achieving a zero vacancy rate and one percent turnover rate.

The Lantern Award also recognizes nursing sta commitment to ongoing education and training and fostering an environment of learning and professional growth.

We congratulate Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Emergency Department nursing sta for their commitment to patient care, quality, safety and a healthy work environment.

Learn more at mountsinai.org/southnassau 877-SOUTH-NASSAU.

Mount Sinai’s emergency nurses are honored

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

The Emergency Nurses Association has awarded the prestigious 2024 Lantern Award to Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Emergency Department.

The department staff received the award for reducing wait times and for demonstrating commitment to exceptional and innovative leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research.

The award is named in honor of Florence Nightingale, a trailblazing nurse and the founder of modern nursing, who was known by the nickname “Lady with the Lamp.”

MSSN’s Fennessy Family Emergency Department, along with emergency departments at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West, are three of only 94 emergency departments across the United States that met the Lantern Award criteria this year, according to the hospital.

Colleen Schaefer, quality operations coordinator for South Nassau’s Emergency Department, submitted the application and the necessary data.

“This was brought forward by our former director, Christina Salucci, and another Mount Sinai emergency department received the award last year,” Schaefer said, “so we really pushed and came together as a department to apply for the award this year.”

Melissa Berman/Herald

For its teamwork and an enduring commitment to service excellence, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Emergency Department was awarded the Emergency Nurses Association’s Lantern Award for reducing wait times and for innovative leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research.

The Emergency Department nurses found out they had won early last month.

in a key measurement of patient satisfaction and performance.

“This is a testament to the ED staff, especially the nurses, for the amazing work they do on a daily basis,” Itzkowitz said. “Talk about the care they provide to all the patients, the patient experience and the patients who want to come here. We are providing a service to the community that they want in that area.”

MSSN’s emergency room simultaneously reduced the “left without being seen” patient rate to below 2 percent and handled a significant increase in post-pandemic patient volume.

“It goes without saying how proud I am and excited to be part of this,” Itzkowitz added. “We know the amazing team that we have — it’s just a matter of time till we’re recognized for the amazing work that the nursing team provides.”

The Lantern Award also recognized the ongoing education and training of the nursing staff to provide the necessary skills and knowledge to adapt to societal needs.

Dr. Adhi Sharma, the hospital’s president, who is an emergency physician by background, said he was immensely proud of the ED staff and leadership.

Dr. Jay Itzkowitz, clinical chair of the department, helped implement a series of innovations that led to improvement

“I think for both leadership and staff, it just signifies how hard we’ve worked together as a department, and we experience growth and change,” Schaefer said. “Our staff is adapting excellent to that, and we’re making sure that we’re growing our team and providing safe patient care for all our patients.”

High ceilings

“It’s very rewarding to see it — it’s a good reflection on the culture in the ED and organization,” Sharma said. “This award is a great milestone, but the best is yet to come.”

STEPPING OUT

Inside the hive at Long Island Children’s Museum

By Danielle Schwab

There’s a special “day” for everyone and everything it seems. So it’s certainly fitting that the helpful yet often misunderstood honey bee gets its due. And that brings us to Aug. 17, aka “National Honey Bee Day.” Long Island Children’s Museum goes all out to celebrate the hard-working insect with two days of “Honey Hoopla” activities, Aug. 16-17.

The museum has been home to over 20,000 honeybees year-round since 2012, when a hive was introduced to the Feast for Beasts exhibit, which opened in January of that year. The museum welcomed visitors to the first “Honey Hoopla” that year so that everyone could experience the first harvesting of honey from the then newly active hive.

Now Honey Hoopla returns — in a big way.

Families can check in on the busy bugs from an observational beehive, still located in the Feasts for Beasts exhibit. There, honeybees travel in and out of the hive, pollinating flowers in the museum’s pollinator garden and working together to create a productive thriving colony.

“They all have an important task to do, and they really stick to that role. And then, of course, there’s the queen, the leader of the hive,” says Ashley Niver, the museum’s director of education.

The fruit of their labors? Lots and lots of honey, of course Color, aroma, and taste can change based on the nectar of the flower. Families are welcome to taste many different varieties of honey, including, of course, from the museum’s honey harvest. And for those interested, the museum’s honey is available for purchase in the Museum Store.

“A lot of people maybe don’t know that honey can taste different from different varieties of flowers or the location. We’re offering different honey varieties that the kids can taste test and try to match up,” Niver says.

Bees certainly give us more than that sweet treat. Families become fully involved in exploring the role of honey bees in our ecosystem through hands-on activities.

• Friday and Saturday, Aug. 16-17, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.)

• $17 museum admission, $16 seniors 65 and older

• View the LICM events calendar at licm.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800

• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City

Visitors will learn that honeybees are responsible for pollinating some of Long Island’s most abundant crops including melons, pumpkins, tree nuts, and berries; and that the honey bee population is in danger and decreasing rapidly. Without these pollinators, we would lose some of our favorite foods such as chocolate, grapes, apples, and pears.

‘Families can also explore the use of honeycombs, from which wax is made. The “Happy Beeday” activity is an opportunity to make and decorate beeswax birthday candles.

“They’ll have a strip of colored beeswax and wicks they’ll wrap and roll up to create the candle, and then any scrap pieces of wax can be used to decorate it,” says Niver.

A local beekeeper will be on hand to demonstrate how honey is harvested from those honeycombs. In addition, kids can get involved in bee-themed crafts throughout the galleries that highlight how we can help the bees so that our fruit and vegetable crops can be healthy.

After some time buzzing around, visitors might want to take a break, with a free theatrical reading of Gay Thomas’ book, “Beezy County Fair: A Bee Tale,” at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The charming story engages families with adorable illustrations and an uplifting message about cooperation and the great benefits of working together for a common goal, along with plenty of bee facts.

While we understand that honey bees do so much for our environment, climate change and pesticides put the insects at risk of colony collapse disorder, where worker bees will exhibit abnormal behavior that leads to the destruction of the colony.

“They’re in danger of continuing to decrease due to different environmental factors,” Niver explains. “If we don’t have the bees here to help us pollinate, then we don’t have the abundance of crops that we can use for our food, and we’ll lose the success of our crop.”

To that end, the museum has launched its Name a Honey Bee Campaign so that visitors can join in bee preservation efforts. A donation of $10 allows families to name one of the museum’s bees, to be recognized on a visual display featuring the bee’s new name and the donor’s name through year’s end.

“It’s very easy for people to feel fearful of bees because they don’t want to be stung, and maybe they assume that all bees are looking to sting and cause harm,” Niver adds. “But the reality is that the honey bees are very docile, and they are just looking to make their honey. They’re really our friends.”

Photos courtesy LICMl

The industrious honey bee buzzes into the spotlight to captivate museum visitors. Participate in a theatrical reading and meet Gay Thomas, author of the “Beezy County Fair: A Bee Tale,” and explore an observational beehive during the event.

Gladys Knight

Hop aboard that “Midnight Train to Georgia” when the legendary soul chanteuse brings her Farewell Tour to Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair. Gladys Knight is without a doubt one of the most influential, and beloved living singers on the planet. And while the Empress of Soul may have been in the business for more than 60 years now, that hasn’t stopped her from continuing to rock that beat as only she can do. She’s bringing her classic Motown-style R&B to fans one last time before she bids us farewell. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s fierce vocal power, elegant precision, and heartfelt performances have cemented her as one of music’s true icons. If you’re enjoy her classic Motown-style R&B, then you’ll surely want to see her perform — one more time. “That’s What Friends Are For,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” — you know the hits, now hear her bring them to life once again.

Friday, Aug. 9, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $63. Tickets available at LiveNation. com. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury.

Paula Poundstone

The iconic comedian Paula Poundstone is known for her smart, observational humor and a spontaneous wit that’s become the stuff of legend. When she isn’t collecting hotel soaps while on tour or panel-ing on NPR’s #1 show, “Wait, Wait...Don’t Tell Me!,” she hosts the popular Maximum Fun podcast, “Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone.” “Nobody” is a comedy field guide to life, complete with taste tests, cats of the weeks and leading experts in everything from beekeeping to prosopagnosia. Her stand-up credentials are endless, along with numerous TV appearances. Her second book, “The Totally Unscientific Study Of The Search For Human Happiness,” in which she offers herself up as a guinea pig in a series of thoroughly unscientific experiments, was recognized a semi-finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor (the highest recognition of humor writing in the U.S.).

Friday, Aug. 9, 8 p.m. $55. $45, $35, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

THE Your Neighborhood

Double Vision

Summer tunes

The 1970s and ‘80s come alive when Double Vision brings their “Foreigner Experience” to the Paramount Stage, Saturday, Aug. 17, 8 p.m. Whether you’re a lifelong Foreigner enthusiast or a newcomer eager to experience the magic of their music, Double Vision promises a night of electrifying entertainment that will leave you singing along and craving more. Composed of some New York City’s top professional rock musicians, the band delivers the highest level of integrity and technical prowess in bring audiences all the hits from the band that you’ve come to love, while honoring Foreigner and its audience, with a show second to none. The spirit of rock ‘n’ roll lives on, one unforgettable performance at a time, with this group of talented musicians and die-hard Foreigner fans. Double Vision has perfected the art of bringing to life the unforgettable hits that have defined generations. From “I Want to Know What Love Is” to “Cold as Ice,” their renditions are a harmonious blend of passion, precision, and nostalgic energy.

Drawing inspiration from Foreigner’s unmistakable sound and stage presence, Double Vision delivers a performance that pays homage to the band’s legacy while infusing their own charisma and enthusiasm. Their commitment to authenticity is matched only by their unwavering dedication to creating an electrifying experience for every audience member. With an impressive catalog of classics at their fingertips, Double Vision transports audiences to an era when arena rock ruled and Foreigner reigned supreme. Each show is a testament to their musical prowess, transporting fans to a time when anthems were born and memories were made. Sing along to some of the greatest hit tunes , including “Juke Box Hero,” “Hot Blooded,” “Cold As Ice,” “I Want To Know What Love Is,” “Urgent,” “Double Vision,” “Head Games,” “Feels Like the First Time,” and more! . $60, $40, $25, $20. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Enjoy a tribute to ‘70s radio hits with 45 RPM, at Eisenhower Park, Friday, Aug. 9, 8 p.m. The New York City-based band of vocalists and musicians recreates the songs and their era with the C’mon Get Happy show, an entertaining and visually engaging evening that has you singing and dancing along. It’s a whole night of “wow, I remember that one” moments. Get “hooked on a feeling” with 45 RPM. Bring seating Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

AARP Defensive Driving

Refresh your driving skills and obtain insurance discounts with an AARP Defensive Driving class, Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 12-13, 6-9:30 p.m., at Peninsula Public Library. Registrants must attend both sessions to qualify for insurance discounts. $25 for AARP Members and $30 for nonmembers. District 15 residents have first preference. Registration is required and spots are limited. Fees must be paid by check and dropped off at library within 24 hours of registering. Park in the spaces in front of the library for the class. Peninsula Public Library, 280 Central Ave., Lawrence. Call Roxanne Spodek at (516)-9675777 to register.

Movie Night

Enjoy a family film outdoors on Eisenhower Park’s big screen, Wednesday, Aug. 14, dusk, at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre. See Disney’s recent animated musical comedy “Wish.” Audiences are welcomed to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharpwitted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe, the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico, to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Eisenhower Park, Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

Friends of Rock Hall gardening workshop

Friends of Rock Hall welcomes all to Gardening: A Lesson in Life, Monday, Aug. 12, 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.

Seasonal Sprouts

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a Seasonal Sprouts session, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 11 a.m.-noon. Children (ages 4 to 6) can tour the gardens with guided activities exploring smells, sight, sound, and touch, even taste in planting a tasty veggie. $8 per child, $15 adult. Registration required. 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, Aug. 15, 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) 790-4829.

Aug. 17

Circus antics

Get in on the action with I.

FLY Trapeze, Long Island’s only flying trapeze and circus arts school. Families will enjoy “Wild West Circus,” Saturday, Aug. 17, at 8 p.m., at Eisenhower Park. I.FLY Trapeze puts spectators up close to the aerialists who perform amazing feats of athleticism and agility 25 feet in the air. Performances include Chains, Silk and Lyra, with comedy and on the grounds acts with Balancing and Baton, also a Flying Trapeze Finale. Next to the Nassau County Aquatic Center off Merrick Ave., East Meadow. Free parking available in lot 1A adjacent to the trapeze. For more information, visit IFlyTrapeze.com.

Game Time

Play canasta, mah jongg or Scrabble during in-person game time, on Monday, Aug. 12, 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, Aug. 12, 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.

Summer sounds under the gazebo

The Village of Cedarhurst 27th annual Tuesday Nite Concerts Under the Gazebo series continues with Italian Night, featuring a performance by Vanessa Racci, Tuesday, Aug. 13, at Andrew J. Parise Park. With kids pre-show, 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.

Task force focuses on human trafficking

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Law enforcement agents, state legislators and experts on human trafficking met at a conference at Nassau Community College on July 31.

The Assembly Minority Conference Task Force on Human Trafficking was created to help Nassau and Suffolk investigators, policy makers and safe houses share what they need to protect victims.

The Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking — the state organization responsible for providing annual reports on the topic — is three years out of date, resulting in a critical lack of data since coronavirus lockdowns eased. Since then, organizations that help victims have strained to mitigate the harm done by human traffickers.

“It is a problem that is everywhere, but nobody is actually seeing it,” Assemblyman Brian Curran said.

The participants discussed state financial support, law enforcement tools, aid for exploited migrants, and educational programs to help New Yorkers recognize when someone is a victim of trafficking.

Attorneys and law enforcement personnel considered the effects of changes in trafficking-related charges — some are not officially “sex crimes,” so perpetrators don’t end up on the state’s Sex Offender Registry — and proving a victim was exploited is difficult for prosecutors, Christine Guida, deputy chief of the Nassau County Special Victims Bureau, explained.

The difficulty of bringing cases to trial can begin much earlier. Trafficking victims are often young — high school and college students — or struggle to communicate due to a language barrier. In virtually every case, they are threatened by traffickers not to come forward.

“People think that in order to do the unthinkable, there has to be some kind of torture involved,” defense

Joseph D’Alessandro/Herald

The task force is composed of local law enforcement, legislators and members of organizations that provide services to people in need, representing a range of groups that deal with different aspects of human trafficking.

attorney Diane Clarke said. “That’s not the case.”

The goal of training and education programs is to demystify what human trafficking is and how it works. Deepening the public’s understanding of trafficking can make tools such as simple hand signals for help increasingly viable for victims to escape their captors.

The Empower, Assist and Care Network is one of many organizations that provide housing, case management and other forms of aid to victims across Long Island and New York City.

“It is my hope that these conversations are going to continue in a way that is coordinating and enhancing our services, and advocating for funding,” said Neela Mukherjee Lockel, president and CEO of the EAC Network. “We’re going up against giant criminal enterpris-

es. That’s what human trafficking is, and we need money and resources to do that.”

Dr. Jeffrey L. Reynolds is president and CEO of the Family and Children’s Association, which has been providing shelter for runaway, homeless and trafficked children for over 140 years. It also has a mental health program that serves about 400 young people, in addition to programs for those suffering from addiction.

“We’re here today to make a couple suggestions about ways to improve systems of care,” Reynolds said. “This would include educating health and human service workers about how to spot the signs of trafficking, what to do about it, and how to intervene.”

The conference was the first step in renewing the fight against trafficking, Assemblyman Brian Maher said.

Public Notices

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

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Zoning Appeals of the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor will hold a public hearing at Village Hall on August 14, 2024 at 7:00PM. A ZOOM link to the meeting is available on our website at www.hewlettharbor.gov. All interested parties will be given the opportunity to be heard on the following applications for variance relief:

Simon and Tatiana Ilyaich – 1336 Boxwood Drive West Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557- (CONTINUED)are requesting to install a 24x44 inground pool, construct a new outdoor kitchen and legalize existing prefabricated gazebo. This dwelling is in a residential B district.

Applicant requests relief from Village Zoning Codes 145-19, and 145-49:

• Zoning code section 145-19 states: The maximum permitted lot coverage shall not exceed 30%. Applicant is requesting a 40.8 % lot coverage.

•Zoning code section 145-19 states: The maximum permitted front yard lot coverage shall not exceed 23%.

Applicant is requesting a 26.1 % lot coverage.

•Zoning code section 145-19 states: The minimum front yard setback is 25 ft. Applicant is requesting 16ft. (2 front yards)

•Zoning code section 145-49 states: No swimming pool or part thereof shall be constructed in the front yard.

Anthony and Danielle Naso – 339 Pepperidge Road Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 – (CONTINUED)is requesting to build a deck, replace the existing brick pool perimeter with pavers and add to existing patio, and add a walkway. This dwelling is in a residential B district.

Applicants request relief from Village Zoning Code 145-19:

•Zoning Code 145-19 states: The maximum permitted lot coverage shall not exceed 25%.

Applicant is requesting a 39.96% lot coverage.

Michael Roitman – 127 Lake Drive Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 – is requesting to build an inground pool and cabana. Applicant requests relief from Village Zoning Codes 145-25 and 145-12. This dwelling is in a residential B district. It is a legal non-conforming lot with 10,900 sq ft where 14,500 is required. Applicant is seeking relief for a rear yard set-back.

•Zoning Code 145-25

Accessory Structures (swimming pool): 15ft is required for the rear yard setback; applicant is proposing 5.8ft which is encroaching 9.2 ft into the rear yard setback.

•Zoning Code 145-25

Accessory Structures (gazebo, pergola): 15 ft is required for the rear yard setback; applicant is proposing 5.8ft which is encroaching 9.2 ft into the rear yard setback.

•Zoning Code 145-25

Accessory Structures (pool equipment): 15 ft is required for the side yard setback; applicant is proposing 11.9ft which is encroaching 3.1ft into the side yard setback.

•Zoning Code 145-12

Building Area: maximum is 30% as per chart in 145-19; applicant is requesting 40.5% which is over 10.5%.

David and Eryka Kadosh1181 Harbor Road Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 – is requesting to complete a 1203 sq. ft. Interior Renovation; total will be 1501 sq. ft. addition to existing. This dwelling is in a residential AB district.

• Zoning Code 145-10.2 states: a flat roof shall not exceed 28 ft.; plans propose 32.5 ft. (exceeds code by 4.5 ft)

• Zoning Code 145-19 states: maximum building area shall not exceed 30%; the plans propose 39.7%. Existing building area is 26.3%. Plans propose a 9.7% increase in building area.

• Zoning Code 145-19 states: side yard setback is 15ft.; plans propose 14.5 ft. (exceeds code by 6 inches)

• Zoning Code 145-19 states: side yard aggregate is 35 ft.; plans propose 29.5 ft. (exceeds code by 5.5 ft.) BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

DR. JULIO NOVELLO, CHAIRMAN ZONING BOARD

Tommy MontemaranoBuilding Superintendent Dated: Hewlett Harbor, New York July 26, 2024 148247

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR VELOCITY COMMERCIAL CAPITAL LOAN TRUST 2018-2, Plaintiff against ILYUSHA KHAIMOV, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF RAKHMIN KHAIMOV, DECEASED, et al Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern & Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016 and 1131 Route 55, Suite 1, Lagrangeville, NY 12540. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered June 28, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 4, 2024 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 266 Randall Avenue, Lawrence, NY 11559-1231. Sec 40 Block 20 Lot 35 and 36. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate lying and being at Lawrence, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $383,964.81 plus interest,

fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 603624/2022. During the COVID-19 health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Darice Guzman Piotrowski, Esq., Referee File # NY202300000275-1 148203

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST JOSEPH DELUCA, PAULA DELUCA, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 6, 2019, 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 on September 4, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 11 AVON ROAD, HEWLETT, NY 11557. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Hewlett, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, Section 39, Block 439, Lot 15. Approximate amount of judgment $661,525.22 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #002527/2017. 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. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Dan Blumenthal, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 17-000653 81654 148179

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATE HOLDERS OF CWMBS, INC., CHL MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH TRUST 2005-11, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-11, Plaintiffagainst - DARRYL MARCIE GREENBAUM GREEENSTEIN, et al

Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on June 6, 2024. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 4th day of September, 2024 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Cedarhurst, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York.

Premises known as 588 Broadway, Cedarhurst, NY 11516.

(Section: 39, Block: 392, Lot: 463)

Approximate amount of lien $116,259.97 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 616924/2022. Leslie S. Lowenstein, Esq., Referee.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409

For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832

Dated: June 25, 2024

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to,

wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 148189

LEGAL NOTICE VILLAGE OF LAWRENCE Sealed Bids for ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE REHABILITATION & RECONSTRUCTION OF THE LAWRENCE MARINA BULKHEAD & DREDGING TO MITIGATE FLOODING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT SEALED PROPOSALS must be received by the Village Board of Trustees at their offices at 196 Central Avenue, Lawrence, New York 11559 on: Thursday August 22, 2024 at 10:00 AM at which time they will be publicly opened and read with the Contract to be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable. All bids shall be in accordance with the scope of work, specification, drawings and terms of the proposed contracts. The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any informality therein. The Village will not accept bids from, or award contracts to, anyone who cannot prove to the complete satisfaction of the Board of Trustees that he has sufficient experience in this type of work and is financially able and organized to successfully carry out the work required in the specified time. The scope of work, drawings and specifications will be available and may be obtained at the Village Hall, 196 Central Avenue, Lawrence, New York, 11559, starting at 10:00 AM, Thursday, August 8, 2024, and thereafter, during normal Village business hours. A nonrefundable fee of $50.00 is required for paper or electronic copies of the contract documents. The authorized contact for any questions regarding this proposal should be directed to: Gerry Castro Village Administrator 196 Central Avenue Lawrence, New York 11559

(516) 239-4600 ext. 1031

e-mail: gcastro@villageoflawrenc e.org

Dated: August 2, 2024

For the BOARD OF TRUSTEES 148386

LEGAL NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held as to the following matter: Agency: Board of Zoning Appeals Incorporated Village of Atlantic Beach, New York 11509

Date: August 22, 2024

Time: 7:00 PM

Place: Village Hall, 65 The Plaza, Atlantic Beach, New York 11509

Subject: Case #24-01-6423. Chabad of the Beaches, 2025 Park Street,Atlantic Beach, New York 11509.

Applicant proposes to change the use of the above referenced premises from business (bank) to a religious/community center use with an accessory café with additions to the building and covered front porch. The applicant is seeking relief from the following sections of the Zoning Code: Section 250-125(3) - Accessory Parking - 11 spaces required, 7 spaces provided. Section 250-125(F)- Special Exception - Parking within the Front Yard Setback Area. Section 250-108.1(C)(1) - Special Exception - Proposed Religious Use. Section 250-108.1(c)(2) - Special Exception - Accessory Use - Proposed Café accessory to primary religious use.

Section 185 B(1) and 250-81- Signs - Special Exception for exceeding sign size - Permitted 12 square feet and 3 foot in height, Proposed 20 square feet and 3’ 10” in height. Section 250-16.2(A) - Special Exception - Accessory Structure in Front Yard.

Section 250-22(B) - Front Yard Setback - Required 25 feet, proposed 18’ 6 7/8” to drive thru fixed canopy on Albany Boulevard and 16’ 6 Ω” to Park Street. Section 250-25(A)(2) - Open Porch - Permitted 6 foot encroachment into front yard and pitched roof, proposed 12’ 4 5/8” encroachment and flat roof. Section 250-16.2(A) - Accessory StructuresPermitted 8’ in height and 80 square feet in size without a special exception - Proposed 12’ 10.5” in height and 483 square feet (special exception as to size).

Section 250-23(D) - Side Yard Setback - Required

20 feet, proposed 0.1 feet to rear addition and 6’ 5 3/8” to front awning. Section 250-4Continuation or change of legal nonconforming uses and buildings - Proposed expansion of nonconforming use. Premises are also known as Section 58, Block 60, Lots 5-9 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map. All the said time and place, all interested persons may be heard with respect to the foregoing matter. All relevant documents may be inspected at the Building Department, 65 The Plaza during normal business hours.

Dated: July 19, 2024. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

Josie Ficeto, Building Clerk 148383

LEGAL NOTICE

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Planning Board of the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor will hold a public hearing at Village Hall on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 7:00PM. A ZOOM link to the meeting will be available on our website at www.hewlettharbor.gov. All interested parties will be given the opportunity to be heard on the following applications for relief: 1)Leon and Andriyana Hofman – 1200 Seawane Drive Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 has applied to the Planning Board for design review for landscaping, light piers and gates. At said hearing, all interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard. Copies of the proposed application will be available at the Village Hall at least five (5) days before the public hearing and may be seen during the regular business hours.

Those persons planning to attend the meeting and who require special accommodations because of a disability are requested to notify the Village Clerk no less than 48 hours prior to the meeting. BY ORDER OF THE PLANNING BOARD OF THE VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR AMIR GAL- Chairman, Planning Board TOMMY MONTEMARANOBuilding Superintendent Dated: Hewlett Harbor, New York August 2, 2024 148384

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Living A Dream

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA East Pointe Country Club. Gorgeous 3BRs, 3Bths, Golf, Double Kitchen, High Ceilings. MLS#RX-10977928 $889,000 Jill 561-373-2724 CEDARHURST NO FEE trance, 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

room and home office, also wet bar. Guest quarters. Taxes: $12,508.44 Franklin Square $905,000 Hoffman Street. Duplex. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and pantry. Formal dining room. First floor master bedroom. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight. Taxes: $12,430.17

Lido Beach $1,289,000

Gerry Avenue. Hi Ranch. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Den/family room and home office, also wet bar and guest quarters. Master bedroom with walk-in closet. High end finishes include skylight. Security system.

Taxes: $15,290.87

Malverne $692,000

Morris Avenue. Colonial. Fully renovated and move-in ready. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. New eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. New bathrooms, roof and windows.

Taxes: $14,800

PLOT FOR SALE at Beth David’s in Elmont. Asking for $6,500. Please contact Michele Flanigan at 518-546-9550

Merrick $1,350,000

Valerie Court. Split Level. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Large custom eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and high-end stainless steel appliances. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Custom upgrades include 2 fireplaces, skylight and radiant heated flooring in main bathroom. All large rooms. Upper level Trex deck leads to paved yard with built-in pool. Security system.

Taxes: $29424.24

Oceanside $1,212,500

Oceanside Parkway. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. Master bathroom with walk-in closet. High end finishes include cathedral ceiling. Security system.

Taxes: $23,265.16

Rockville Centre $850,000

Hamilton Road. Split Level. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Partial finished basment. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Expansive home on a beautiful block is meticulously maintained and filled with period charm and elegance. It features four spacious levels of living space, including all oversized bedrooms and light filled sunroom with backyard access. Ensuite master bedroom. Private backyard with pavered patio and mature landscaping throughout.

Can we just elevate, or do we need to rebuild?

Q. We’re doing a major house lift, making changes to our existing first floor and adding a second floor. We thought it made sense to get a design and then stop, because this way we didn’t spend a lot of money on full construction plans and then end up disappointed that it was over our budget. Simple turned into complicated, as it often does. The contractor and the architect agreed that the house should just be reconstructed (nothing saved) and the estimators insisted on much more information to give us a price. Are we going about this the right way? We’re already disillusioned that we aren’t going to be able to build within our budget, and we don’t even have numbers to make a decision. What should we do?

Ask The Architect

A. Your house project isn’t sounding too “uplifting,” and frankly, from your description, you shouldn’t be lifting the original house. You may spend more than $50,000 just trying to save the little bit of the original house, moving plumbing and wiring, trying to work around the existing materials and reconstructing old ones. Money is the driving factor in most construction projects, and although it’s frustrating, you must either politely persist with evaluating costs with the contractor, or get to the finish line with plans to give estimators something to work with.

First, though, you should recognize that the current first floor will become a second floor, and the new floor above will be a third floor if you plan to have a lowest level high enough to park cars underneath or use for accessible, stand-up storage. Federal guidelines require that the new lowest level not be used for anything but car or general storage, and the state requires indoor sprinklers.

It’s really up to the contractor working with you, and the architect, to reach predictable costs for the total project. You need to pay both of them to spend the time necessary to hit a targeted budget. The contractor will then work with getting together material, labor and overhead costs, with profit and a cushion for issues that can arise, like weather, material delivery delays and scrambling when something isn’t available or a truck breaks down.

While it’s not completely unreasonable for estimators to want more information, putting together a preliminary budget isn’t a mysterious, unheardof request. My concern when this happens is that all parties need to cooperate. The reason for the architect’s involvement is to answer questions and guide decision-making about sizes of structure, material choices and code compliance. If the contractor or a subcontractor makes projections on the design of structure, for example, it must be understood that the architect makes the final decision about wall thicknesses, insulation values, structural components, and even window and door sizes. These are safety and code-related conditions that are governed by law.

The costs can escalate when plans are completed, so reducing the project to meet a budget, up front, is important. Good luck!

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opinions

The political crossroads of 2024

My wife and I recently embarked on a road trip to see parts of this beautiful country that we hadn’t yet seen. The trip started in our nation’s capital, where an old friend and a true patriot, Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, arranged for us to take a congressional tour of the White House, followed by a tour of the Capitol, guided by one of D’Esposito’s staff members.

After the second tour, the congressman favored us with his take on the current state of politics in the country. Later we toured other attractions in the city, which I had seen several times before, but it never gets old for me.

The upshot of the stop in D.C. was a conflicted feeling. My sense of pride in our magnificent capital city and its many historical sites naturally infused me with the feeling of being lucky to have been born and to have lived my

entire life in the best country the world has known. But in my hotel room, and in the car as I listened to the news, it spurred other thoughts. Just think of the momentous events of July 2024.

Since I last appeared in these pages, we have experienced the attempted assassination of a former president, the nominee of the Republican Party for the election this November; the withdrawal of President Biden, who had already virtually secured the Democratic nomination but was forced out by elites in his party; and the virtual coronation of his replacement by those same elites, who deem themselves the only people qualified to pick a new nominee without a single voter’s participation in the process.

A trip to Washington reminded me how lucky I am, and got me thinking . . .

And what a nominee! Kamala Harris has “enjoyed” a record-low approval of her job as vice president, and now feels she deserves the most important job in the world.

Consider just a few highlights of Harris’s tenure over the past three and a half years. At the outset of the current administration, she was given the

task of dealing with the issue of the border, and the media immediately gave her the title of “border czar.” Obviously there is no such title, but there was no doubt that dealing with the border was her responsibility. The result was a horrendous increase in illegal crossings by unknown people from all over the world, including from countries that are sworn enemies of the United States; fentanyl pouring across the southern border, causing untold numbers of deaths in our country; and a number of horrifying murders, rapes and other crimes committed by illegal migrants. Harris cheered the rioters in the summer of 2020, and helped raise money to bail out the violent ones. She minimizes the crimes of Hamas and Hezbollah, and calls for Israeli “restraint,” falsely accusing the victim, Israel, of causing the suffering of the residents of Gaza being used as human shields by the Hamas terrorists. She is a strong proponent of the diversity, equity and inclusion movement, even attacking the Supreme Court for its ruling that universities could not exclude students of Asian extraction who were

more qualified than groups favored by the elites.

Finally, Harris has been a strong advocate of the Biden economic program, once proudly touted by the administration as Bidenomics, which has led to all of us facing enormous increases in our cost of living.

As I write, Harris has not yet named a vice presidential running mate. As an aside, I must say that I am appalled that Josh Shapiro, the Jewish governor of Pennsylvania, would consider, for personal political advantage, lending his popularity to someone who is clearly no friend to Israel.

I close by noting that in these columns I have generally stayed away from partisan political positions. However, this is perhaps one of the most consequential elections in my lifetime. I remind people who might dislike former President Trump’s sometimes bombastic personality that we already experienced four years of his leadership. The country not only survived the experience, but we also had a great economy, and the world was much calmer. Food for thought.

Howard Kopel represents Nassau County’s 7th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s presiding officer.

Momalas for Kamala, a thread to unite us

in a world where news breaks instantly on our phones, cracking the world open in an instant, behold the weekly newspaper, the tortoise of the news business. As I write, I realize it’s not all bad to have time to think between 72-point headlines.

When I wrote last, almost a month ago, President Biden was still the presumptive Democratic nominee, although there was plenty of chatter about his slow walk and whispery talk. He was adamant: He would not step down. He was ready to fight. Many of us who think Biden has done an outstanding job in office came to believe he was not up to another four years. He looked frail. He appeared to overestimate his ability, at age 81, to meet the demands of the job. It felt disloyal to urge him to make way for a younger contender, but loyalty to our democracy had to come first. I celebrated his willingness to relinquish power, wished it had come sooner, but we had a potential new candidate.

Three weeks ago, Kamala Harris was (and still is) the vice president, and at that point her own presidential dreams were on hold. Donald Trump was salivating like a lion at the Roman Forum, waiting to take on Biden in the next debate. After the president’s shockingly poor performance in the first one, the Donald was closing in for the kill.

J.D. Vance? Barely a twinkle in Trump’s eye a month ago. He’s the guy who wrote “Hillbilly Elegy.” Suddenly he morphed into a megaMAGA, with extreme, creepy ideas about women’s rights and personal freedoms. Trump thought Vance would make a perfect addition to the ticket.

That was July 13. Then, curtains up on the Republican National Convention, just days after the attempted assassination, with a buoyant Trump telling the world he was still standing.

Those were enough big news items for five years, compressed and pounded under pressure into just days, until the whole country, burnished like a diamond, seemed brilliant and raw. You could hear us, an entire nation, sucking in deep calming breaths, trying to steady ourselves.

i hope all the disparate political identities will form a cohesive movement.

Then, on July 21, Biden announced that he was stepping out of the presidential campaign and endorsing Harris to be the Democratic nominee.

Women for Kamala.

That’s where I lost the thread. Aren’t we all supposed to be coming together as Americans to choose our president? Can’t we be Citizens for Kamala? Am I a Short Woman for Kamala or a CR-V Driver for Kamala or a Yasso Pop Fanatic for Kamala? We’re dividing and subdividing into micro cells.

Then that changed, too. I decided to embrace the political moment.

Momalas for Kamala is born. Momala is Harris’s nickname in her family, but it’s more than that. According to the Urban Dictionary, “A momala is a trusted guardian. Outside of the family, a momala is the mother of a neighborhood. In a village, she is mother and healer. In a state, she is the mother of health, knowledge and creativity. For a country, she is the mom of compassion and strength.”

A few weeks back, Thomas Matthew Crooks was a shy kid from rural Pennsylvania who got it into his head to kill the former president. And he nearly did, grazing Trump’s ear as he stood at the podium at an outdoor rally. I saw it happen, and time stopped until Trump was hustled to safety. I lived through the years of JFK, MLK and RFK dying in heartbreaking eruptions of political violence. Those murders scarred the political landscape forever.

I’m writing this all down because after some amount of time, nobody will believe that it all happened just like this over the past few weeks.

Then the head of the Secret Service stepped down because of her agency’s failure to stop the assassination attempt.

Then a kind of organic political wave swelled out of nowhere, pushing people forward to support Harris in a tsunami of relief and joy. Black women for Kamala. White Dudes for Kamala. White

We all have mothers or are mothers or value mothers. Momalas are us, men and women, young and old.

I hope all the disparate political identities will form a cohesive movement to elect Harris president. I hope Trump will summon the courage to meet her toe to toe in a debate. I hope the young voters in this country will shed their indifference and get into the fray.

Copyright 2024 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

RAnDi KREiss

HoWARD KopEL

Established 1924

lOri harWiTT

2 Endo Boulevard

City, NY 11530

Phone: (516) 569-4000

Fax: (516)

On Friday, honor our Indigenous heritage

as we mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on Friday, it’s crucial for us here on Long Island to reflect on the rich indigenous history that shapes our communities and landscapes. From the Shinnecock and Montaukett to the Unkechaug and Setauket, Native American tribes have been integral to Long Island’s story since long before European settlers arrived.

HERALD

The names of our towns and landmarks echo this heritage: Montauk, Quogue, Peconic, Ronkonkoma, Hauppauge, Patchogue, and many more. These names aren’t just relics of the past, but living reminders of the peoples who stewarded this land for millennia. They represent a deep connection to the environment and a complex cultural tapestry that continues to influence our region today.

But we must also confront the painful history of exploitation and displacement that followed European settlement. The original inhabitants of Long Island, like indigenous peoples across the Americas, faced immense challenges as their lands were seized, their populations decimated by disease, and their cultures suppressed. The Shinnecock Nation, for instance, was engaged in a long struggle for federal recognition, and continues to make its case for the return of ancestral lands.

Despite these hardships, indigenous communities have shown remarkable resilience. The Shinnecock Nation continues to maintain its cultural practices

Letters

D’Esposito shouldn’t meddle in NYC’s business

To the Editor:

and advocate for its rights. The Unkechaug people, on the Poospatuck Reservation in Mastic, have preserved their language and traditions. These communities serve as a living link to Long Island’s past and as vital contributors to its present and future.

Nationally, Native Americans have made countless contributions to American society, often unrecognized. From agricultural techniques that feed millions to democratic principles that influenced the U.S. Constitution, indigenous knowledge and practices have shaped the nation in profound ways. Native American code talkers played a crucial role in World War II, using their languages to create unbreakable codes. In science, medicine, arts, and sports, indigenous Americans continue to excel and innovate.

Globally, indigenous peoples are at the forefront of environmental protection efforts. Their traditional knowledge and sustainable practices offer valuable insights for addressing climate change and preserving biodiversity. From the Amazon rainforest to the Arctic tundra, indigenous communities are often the most effective guardians of critical ecosystems.

As we commemorate this international day — which is followed in October by Indigenous Peoples’ Day, observed just in the United States — it’s essential to move beyond mere recognition to active support and engagement. On Long Island, we can:

1. Educate ourselves about local indige-

Imagine if residents of the five boroughs dumped tons of toxic wastes in the South Shore district represented by Congressman Anthony D’Esposito. Imagine further that a New York City politician loudly denounced a plan to protect the health of D’Esposito’s constituents.

The congressman would surely be outraged. So why does he support a permanent ban on congestion pricing in Lower Manhattan? (“Congestion pricing may be paused, but the fight continues,” July 25-31.)

Car commuters whom D’Esposito defends spew pollutants every day in the congestion-pricing zone. The fact that these tailpipe emissions are invisible does not make them less deadly than mounds of toxic garbage.

Studies suggest that 153,000 fewer cars would enter the zone once congestion pricing takes effect. And that will result in sharp decreases in nitrogen oxide emissions and particulate matter.

nous history and current issues facing Native communities.

2. Support indigenous-owned businesses and cultural events.

3. Advocate for the protection of sacred sites and the return of ancestral lands.

4. Incorporate indigenous perspectives in local decision-making, especially when it comes to environmental issues.

5. Promote the teaching of Native American history and cultures in our schools.

Recognizing indigenous peoples isn’t about dwelling in the past, but rather about creating a more inclusive and just future. It’s about acknowledging that the first inhabitants of this land have valuable knowledge, perspectives, and rights that deserve respect and consideration. As Long Islanders, we have a unique opportunity to honor the indigenous heritage that surrounds us daily. From the shores of Peconic Bay to the bluffs of Montauk, we walk in the footsteps of those who came before us. Let’s ensure that their stories, struggles and triumphs are not forgotten, but celebrated as an integral part of our shared history. This International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, let’s commit to building stronger relationships with Native communities, supporting their rights and aspirations, and benefiting from their wisdom. In doing so, we enrich our own lives and communities while taking a step toward healing historical wounds and creating a more equitable society for all.

opinions

These Olympics, we’ve championed all athletes

when legendary quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement (for the first time), I was the editor in chief of my college’s news magazine, the Campus Slate, at the New York Institute of Technology. We covered a wide range of subjects, driven by the interests of our reporters, and one of my staff writers asked me if he could write something summarizing his thoughts on what it was like to watch “the greats” — the famed athletes of his childhood — retire. I liked the idea, and it came together nicely. Although I wasn’t the biggest sports fan in my youth, I could relate to the story.

But for me, the epitome of athleticism didn’t come in the form of an epic home run or, in Brady’s case, so many game-winning touchdowns. For me it was the whoosh of a soccer ball hitting the net at the back of the goal.

Like millions of other youth around the U.S., I grew up playing soccer, and some of my fondest memories from my

adolescence and teenage years are of my days on the field.

So when I think of the greats, I don’t think of people like Derek Jeter or Brady. I think of women like Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Hope Solo, Tobin Heath and Carli Lloyd, among many others.

In this country, female athletes don’t get the same attention, or respect, as their male counterparts, and that’s almost understandable. Men’s sports have built entire industries from the ground up over the past century.

But there is much to be said about how hard women have worked to make sure they can have their moments of glory. Kathrine Switzer famously ran the Boston Marathon before women were allowed to; thousands have fought the wage gap that still affects sports today; and, of course, superstars like Serena Williams have cemented the idea that women athletes deserve the spotlight, too.

w hen I think of the greats, I think of Megan Rapinoe, not Tom Brady.

that over the past few years, the U.S. women’s soccer team has gone through changes. They performed poorly at last year’s World Cup, losing early in the tournament to Sweden. And in the lowest of moments for some of our players, many of whom are previous World Cup winners and Olympic gold medalists, they were not welcomed back to our country with open arms.

Instead they were hit with this: “WOKE EQUALS FAILURE,” which Donald Trump posted to his Truth Social account last summer.

“Nice shot Megan, the USA is going to hell!” (This was in reference to a penalty kick Rapinoe missed in the game against Sweden.)

I’m old enough to have thick skin, to read things like Trump’s comments and brush them off with an eye roll. But I can’t help but think about the little girls whose shoes I was once in. I think it’s fair to say they’d be genuinely affected by seeing something like what Trump wrote. I think about how difficult it must be for them to see their heroes, their greats, subjected to cruelty.

The Paris Olympic Games will be wrapping up this weekend, and there have been many female athletes, not just soccer players, representing our country. Their successes and their setbacks — their journeys — are so important. We need to remember that.

It’s always nice to see our athletes win, and our teams bring home gold. But if they don’t? Think about what you say before you say it, and think about who you’re saying it to.

Women’s soccer isn’t the same, and I’m not sure at what point it became cool to tear down some of our country’s best athletes, but alas, it is our reality.

All teams, in every sport, have their ups and downs, and I’d agree with many

Letters

Levels of that latter type of pollution are now 60 percent higher in Manhattan than the upper limit recommended by the World Health Organization.

The congressman shows no respect for the New York City elected officials who decided, after years of debate and voluminous research reports, to impose a fee on drivers who poison the air breathed by Manhattan residents and workers.

D’Esposito should practice goodneighborliness by dropping his opposition to an initiative that will save many lives.

KEvIN J. KELLEY Atlantic Beach

We were honored to care for Rosemary King

To the Editor:

As the administrator for the Emergency Department at North Shore University Hospital, I would like to extend our heartfelt wishes to Rosemary King for a swift recovery following her recent surgery with Dr. Tamayo. Additionally, I want to express our deepest gratitude for the kind words her husband, former Congressman Peter King, shared in his column in the July 18-24 issue of the Herald, “In a medical emergency, we were in experts’ hands.”

Our team was deeply moved by Mr. King’s account of his family’s experience.

LANDON WITz, MHA Senior manager, Operations Emergency Medicine North Shore University Hospital Manhasset

Jerry’s right: Project 2025 is a horror story

To the Editor:

Thanks to Jerry Kremer for his op-ed, “If you like horror stories, read Project 2025,” in the July 18-24 issue. I am so grateful when our local newspapers are able to bring national issues to the forefront. It’s so important to get this kind of information to local communities that are sometimes insulated within their own little world.

Project 2025 hasn’t received much attention until recently — despite the Heritage Foundation’s in-depth involvement in the Trump presidency and this year’s Trump campaign. It is so important that trusted local public servants sound the alarm on this extremely dangerous agenda, and that people are made to realize it is indeed very real.

ELIzABETH MURPHY Franklin Square

It should come as a surprise to no one that conservative America hates the women’s national team. Why? Simply because for decades, its players have expressed “progressive” opinions about equal pay, social justice and LGBTQ rights, among other things that are largely unliked by the far right.

When the women are winning, the keyboard warriors are quiet. But when they lose? Well of course it’s because of their political and social beliefs.

As we’ve cheered for those athletes, we’ve been reminded that their worth isn’t measured solely by their victories, but also by their power to inspire. Let’s be careful in what we say, and ensure that our words foster encouragement, not disillusionment, for the next generation of greats.

Jordan Vallone is a senior editor who writes for the Bellmore, East Meadow and Merrick Heralds. Comments? jvallone@liherald.com.

Framework by Tim Baker

Three-on-three basketball draws all kinds of fans — Hempstead

JorDan VaLLone