Nassau Herald 10-03-2024

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Parker Schug/Herald

At a news conference on Monday, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced the impending demolition of the building that once housed the Five Towns Community Center. He was joined by U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, Assemblyman Ari Brown and County Legislator Howard Kopel.

Five Towns Community Center building to be demolished County brings in athletics, police presence

The building that was the home of the Five Towns Community Center, on Lawrence Avenue in Lawrence, will be demolished, and the Nassau County Police Activity League, along with Operation Overwatch, a unit of the county Police Department, will move onto the property, where a new facility will be built.

County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced the update at a news conference

in Lawrence on Monday.

The community center’s 100-year lease ended on July 3, and the county assumed control of the property.

“For many, many years, the Five Towns Community Center operated, but in the last 10 years, we’ve seen the steady decline of the operations here,” Blakeman said. “The building had fallen into disrepair, and we felt that we needed to make a change to improve conditions here, and provide a community center that the people can be proud

Is protracted school contract dispute ending?

Teachers in the Lawrence school district may be able to breathe a sigh of relief after 13 years without a new contract: There is a proposed agreement on the table.

The tentative deal was announced on Sept. 24, and the details were shared with teachers the following day, but neither district nor union officials have made them public.

The Lawrence Teachers Association, which has nearly 280 members, including librarians, speech therapists and social workers, had until 3 p.m. on Monday to vote on the proposal. As of press time on Tuesday, the results had yet to be announced.

“This achievement underscores our long-standing commitment to collaboration and partnership within our school community,” Lawrence district officials said in a statement released on Sept. 24.

Educators have not received raises since the last contract expired on June 30, 2011, making this the longest contract standoff in any school district in New York state, surpassing a 12-year impasse in Buffalo that

ended in 2016.

“Throughout this process, both the District and our teachers union have worked diligently together to ensure that the needs of our students, educators, and families remain at the forefront of our discussions,” Lawrence officials said in the statement. “This contract represents an important step forward in our shared mission of providing the best possible education for our students.”

Both LTA President Rachel Kreiss and her predecessor, Lori Skonberg, declined to answer questions about the specifics of the contract until it is ratified.

New York State United Teachers also would not comment, union officials said, until an agreement is official and the decision is announced.

The contentious battle included multiple hearing with the state’s Public Employment Relations Board, rounds of mediation and an 18-page report, released in 2018, that cited comparable raises given to three other unions — the Association of Lawrence Administrators, the Lawrence Facilities Management Association and the Lawrence Public Schools Association of Counselors —

Longtime Hewlett Bay Park resident, Fran Friedman dies at 95

Fran Friedman, a longtime Hewlett Bay Park resident and advocate for music and women’s rights, died on Sept. 10 after a battling Alzheimer’s.

She celebrated her 95th birthday on Aug. 29.

Fran was born and raised in the Bronx where she lived with her parents Jack and Sally Ellstein and sisters Rhoda and Gloria, who all predeceased her.

She graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx at 15 years old. Fran earned a bachelor’s degree at Queen’s College, then a master’s degree in speech pathology and audiology from Adelphi University. She also attended McGill University in Montreal.

Fran pursued a professional singing career and later became a speech therapist for the deaf at the Caritas School in Rockville Centre.

She was a part of the juried art show at Five Towns Music and Arts Foundation, and sang at charity events and children’s hospitals on Long Island and in Nyack. Fran was also an advocate for women’s rights.

Fran lived in Hewlett Bay Park with her husband, Sheldon Friedman for over 20 years. The two moved to Manhattan and Nyack, then to the Friedwald Center in the city in 2021, when they needed increased care.

Fran was a travel bug, and visited many places in the states, as well as Canada, Europe, Israel and Mexico. She also loved art, music and dance, her son David Friedman said.

“She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother with a wonderful sense of humor,” David said.

Fran’s daughter Joan Harris and husband Sheldon predecease her.

She is survived by her son, David, granddaughters Samantha Harris, Alexandra Walker and her husband Ben and great-grandchildren Braylen, Kai and Jaxis Walker, along with her nieces and nephew and their children.

“We have wonderful memories of Granny Frannie and miss her smiling face,” Harris and Walker wrote in an email.

A funeral was held at BoulevardRiverside Chapels in Hewlett on Sept. 13. Rabbi Galina Makaveyev of Temple Israel in Lawrence led the service.

Makaveyev sang Fran and Sheldon’s wedding song, “Our love is here to stay.”.

“Mom was a caring, brilliant, funny, talented woman, who welcomed everyone she met,” David said. “She was the matriarch of our family, and inspired us all to be better people. We miss her terribly and are consoled by the many wonderful memories of time we spent with her.”

Courtesy David Friedman
Hewlett Bay Park resident, Fran Friedman, dies at 95 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Heatherwood sues town over approval process delay

Two Five Towns transit-oriented development districts continue to be a point of contention, this time for the developers who are seeking approval to break ground five years after the 2019 zoning change that made way for new residential and minor industrial development near mass transit stations.

Heatherwood Communities LLC, of Commack, a firm that builds multifamily residential developments, filed a lawsuit in Nassau County Supreme Court on Sept. 10, claiming that the Town of Hempstead’s failure to appoint a design review board has stalled Heatherwood’s plans for the new districts, Colleen Collins, general counsel for Heatherwood, wrote in an email.

In 2019, the town approved 11.7 acres near the Lawrence Long Island Rail Road Station and nine acres near the Inwood LIRR station to become transit-oriented development districts.

The purpose, as written in the town’s building zone ordinance, was to offer people living close to mass transportation a lively community.

The ordinance, titled “Transit-Oriented Development District for North Lawrence and Inwood,” stated: “Having transit-oriented development within walking distance of the Lawrence and Inwood LIRR train stations, with appropriate design elements, will achieve multiple

At a meeting on Sept. 20, 2022, 100 Five Towns residents spoke in favor of a sixmonth moratorium on the transit-oriented development districts in Lawrence and Inwood. Now the district is sparking new controversy over the town’s delay in processing applications for the area.

goals: encourage walking and bicycling; increase transit ridership; emphasize mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development; reduce potential automobile dependency associated with new land uses by locating multiple destinations within close proximity; and support a larger commercial tax base for North Lawrence and Inwood.”

Less than two years later, Heatherwoood proposed a five-story, mixed-use building with more than 300 residential units and garage parking for more than

400 vehicles, to be built on Wanser and Bayview Avenues in Inwood.

“To date, petitioners have fully complied with the TOD Ordinance governing provisions and its procedures to obtain the requisite Town agency approvals for various phases of their project,” the plaintiff — Heatherwood, represented by the law firm Ruskin Moscou Faltischek — wrote in the petition against the town. Heatherwood had considered expanding Inwood years before, but only acted on the idea once the area was rezoned to

transit-oriented development, the company wrote in the petition.

In 2022, all potential plans came to a halt as a six-month moratorium was put in place on projects in the area of the zoning change. More than 100 Five Towns residents attended a town hearing to voice their fear of impending overdevelopment. Several extensions of the moratorium kept it in effect until June 18 of this year.

Heatherwood spent over $30 million on the proposed project, and followed the procedure for submitting an application, but the town has yet to do its part, Heatherwood wrote in the petition.

The town’s 2019 building zone ordinance states, “Applicants proposing development in the TOD District have the opportunity to receive an expedited approval process by having the projects initially reviewed by a Town-appointed Design Review Committee (DRC) for advisory comments and assistance with preparing and filing compliant submissions with the Building Department.”

Heatherwood is seeking “appointment of design review board,” Collins wrote in her email, and the expedited review and approval suggested by the town, Heatherwood wrote in the petition.

No court date has been set, because the town has yet to respond to the lawsuit.

Representatives of the town and the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency said they do not comment on pending litigation.

Helping food insecurity one Rosh Hashanah basket at a time

With the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur around the corner, families facing food insecurity may not have access to traditional holiday meals.

The Cedarhurst based Marion & Aaron Gural JCC’s the S.H.O.P — sustenance hope opportunities place — had their annual High Holiday distribution on Sept. 30 from 2 to 5:30 p.m. to help those in need.

They handed out bags of food for over 400 families, with challah, eggs, egg noodles, honey, kasha and other non-perishables, along with two bags of fresh produce, a chicken and frozen gefilte fish.

More than 20 volunteers helped put the bags together, collect the donations and sort all the items, over the last few weeks.

Food donations came from Young Israel of Woodmere, Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, the JCC preschool, Temple Beth Shalom, Hebrew Academy of Long Beach and community members.

Met Council, another contributor, based in the city, is the largest Jewish charity fighting poverty, Shelby Brown, senior director of volunteer services and donor relations for the organization said. The group owns and operates the largest kosher food network in the world, Brown said.

Melissa Berman/Herald

Stacey Feldman, executive director at the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC, left, Carol Roth, operations manager at the JCC, Sharon Fogel, board member and Rivkah Halpern, program director and social worker at the S.H.O.P, hosted the annual High Holiday distribution on Sept. 30.

“It’s very important for us to be able to give back to families and make sure that they’re able to celebrate holidays the way that we celebrate, with dignity,” said Rivkah Halpern, program

director and social worker at the S.H.O.P.

There will be a small distribution for Yom Kippur, and the S.H.O.P will be open in-between holidays for families to

come and get what they need.

“It’s amazing to watch the team come together and to serve the community and the clients are so grateful for what we’re able to provide them,” Halpern said. “It really makes us happy to be able to help people celebrate the holidays with their families and loved ones.”

Tamar Davies, a social work intern for the JCC helped bring the bags of food to cars, and organize the distributions.

“I think it’s such an incredibly special thing that the JCC does and I think it’s something that I wouldn’t want to miss and not be apart of,” Davies said. “Seeing the people come and they’re so appreciative and grateful is a beautiful thing.”

For Met Council, this was one of 143 food distributions before Rosh Hashanah, with the help of 633 volunteers. The organization reached over 180 thousand people with key holiday staples, Brown said.

“It’s really our privilege to be able to bring joy and basic necessities to those in need in the greater Five Towns,” said Stacey Feldman, executive director of the JCC. “We have been providing not only monthly food packages but holiday packages too for 20 years now.”

To get involved or to learn more contact Rivkah Halpern at (516) 2346020 or rivkah.halpern@guraljcc.org.

Kepherd Daniel/Herald

Elder Law Estate Planning Misconceptions

One of the most common and devastating misconceptions about elder law estate planning is that it is too late to save money from nursing home costs. On the contrary, there are crisis planning tools that may save substantial assets from being spent on nursing home costs, even after the client has already entered the nursing home. Almost always, if there are assets left, much can be saved. There are only three ways to pay for nursing home costs – your own assets, long-term care insurance (owned by less than five percent of the population), or Medicaid provided by the government.

Many people know about the “five-year look-back period” and assume nothing can be done without advance planning. The fiveyear look-back rule means that if you gave any gifts away within the last five years, when asking for Medicaid to pay for nursing home costs, the gift amount creates a penalty period, which results in a period of ineligibility for Medicaid coverage.

Despite the five-year look-back, New

York law allows people to protect assets from nursing home costs, even without pre-planning. For single applicants, you may be able to save about half of the assets through the “gift and loan” strategy. For married couples, where one spouse needs a nursing home, “spousal refusal” may protect substantial amounts of assets for the spouse at home. These techniques are discussed in detail at trustlaw.com, under “Practice Areas”, then “Medicaid Strategies”.

The five-year look-back rule does not affect eligibility of Medicaid home care, also known as “community” Medicaid. Currently, an applicant may transfer their assets out of their name and still qualify for home care in the next month.

Many assets, such as retirement accounts, rental properties and even the family home in certain cases, are exempt from Medicaid. The bottom line is that if someone you love is in failing health, the sooner you consult an elder law attorney the more you will likely be able to save assets.

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

Pickleball time at Lawrence Country Club

Grab your paddles and get ready to play! The Lawrence Country Club just opened two new pickleball courts.

The club celebrated the official unveiling, on Sept. 20. Lawrence Deputy Mayor Tammy Roz led the ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by pickleball games and instruction.

Since late 2023, the club had visions of expanding and upgrading their current racquet amenities to enhance member experience and entice new members, Kevin Dudleston, club general manager said. They decided that pickleball was the way of the future due to it being one of the fastest growing sports and its appeal to all ages and skill levels,

Dudleston wrote in an email. Laurel Tennis and Sport, a Long Island based landscape project renovation firm, won the bid for the construction in March and ground was broken in May.

“Looking ahead, we can’t wait to see these courts buzzing with activity,” Dudleston wrote. “We envision hiring a dedicated Pickleball instructor to build a program that includes tournaments, casual games, and individual/group instruction. The possibilities are endless, and we’re excited to see how this new addition will grow and evolve in the future!”

Courtesy Lawrence Country Club
Lawrence village Trustee Aaron Parnes, left, Lawrence Country Club General Manager Kevin Dudleston, Deputy Mayor Tammy Roz, club Head Tennis Professional Shabir Mohammed and Vice Chairman of Park Advisory Board Carolyn Argento, enjoy the new pickle ball court.

The Head Start program, which started before the Five Towns Community Center lease ended, will continue until the building is demolished.

County will bring in PAL, Operation Overwatch

of in this community.”

In January 2023, the county issued a request for proposal, seeking people or entities interested in leasing the property and offering youth-oriented services.

“We got two very, very interesting responses,” Blakeman said, referring to proposals from the Lawrence school district and the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC, in Cedarhurst. “But individually, those responses didn’t add up to what we really envisioned here, and that was for a community center that would be run by an organization that was used to running programs for the children of this community and the surrounding areas. Also, we wanted to increase the security in this area, so we went back to the drawing board.”

Blakeman said that NCPAL, which provides a variety of sports programs for children, was the best fit. He added that Operation Overwatch would operate on the property full-time, with 20 active police officers.

“The additional activities and police presence will be appreciated by the residents of the Five Towns,” Stacey Feldman, executive director of the Gural JCC, said when she learned of the news.

Blakeman also said that the county was negotiating with a nonprofit organization about providing services on the property, but he did not identify it.

The Head Start Program, which teaches low-income children healthy development skills, was added at the community center in recent years, and has continued operating there since the lease ended. Blakeman said that those services would continue as long as the building is standing.

Additionally, the still-functioning food pantry may relocate to the Inwood Buccaneers Athletic Club, in Lawrence, Syd Mandelbaum, chief executive of Rock and Wrap It Up!, a Cedarhurstbased anti-poverty think tank, said.

After the existing building is demolished, Blakeman said, a new one will be erected. The project will be funded by a capital program approved by the County Legislature’s presiding officer, Howard Kopel, who accompanied Blakeman to the news conference.

“This is a great day — stabilizing this neighborhood, making it beautiful, the same way that the rest of the area is, (and) most importantly of all, making it safe,” Kopel said.

U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, who also attended, secured $3 million in federal funds for the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence, a police academy in Garden City, which will be diverted to the new NCPAL facility, Blakeman said.

“Here we are announcing another opportunity, an opportunity to partner with the Police Athletic League, giving children in this community a safe haven to enjoy themselves, to collaborate, to communicate,” D’Esposito said.

Gwynn Campbell, president of the Five Towns Community Center board, said the organization is now operating out of the Lawrence Woodmere Academy in Woodmere, and is continuing to determine what its future will look like.

“Now that this has been announced, all the best,” Campbell said.

Murray Forman, president of the Lawrence Board of Education, did not respond to a request for comment.

Package #3

(Feeds 20 Hungry People)

Fillet

ConTinued

ANTHONY GRIMALDI

East Rockaway Senior Football

A RETURNING ALL-COUNTY selection, Grimaldi helped get the Rocks into the win column for the first time in 2024 on Sept. 21. He got East Rockaway’s 52-14 victory over Lawrence started with an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchddown and went on to make four more trips into the end zone. He had touchdown runs covering 45, 18, 75 and 1 yards and racked up 190 yards on the ground on 11 carries. He also leads the defense at linebacker.

GAMES TO WATCH

Friday, Oct. 4

Football: Seaford at Malverne 7 p.m.

Football: V.S. South at Island Trees

Saturday, Oct. 5

Boys Soccer: Academy Charter at Uniondale 10 a.m.

Boys Soccer: Seaford at Lawrence 10 a.m.

Girls Soccer: Clarke at V.S. South

Girls Soccer: Uniondale at Malv/East Rockaway

Girls Soccer: Elmont at Freeport

Boys Soccer: Bellport at Kennedy

Football: Mepham at Carey 11 a.m.

Football: New Hyde Park at Baldwin 11 a.m.

Girls Volleyball: Plainedge at Elmont 11:45 a.m.

Girls Soccer: Lawrence at V.S. North 12:30 p.m.

Boys Soccer: V.S. Central at Mepham 2 p.m.

Football: MacArthur at Calhoun 2 p.m.

Football: Plainedge at North Shore 2 p.m.

Football: Oyster Bay at West Hempstead 2:30 p.m.

Football: Floral Park at Lynbrook 3 p.m.

Football: Oceanside at Freeport 3 p.m.

Football: Hempstead at Uniondale 3 p.m.

Football: Massapequa at East Meadow 3 p.m.

Football: Long Beach at Glen Cove 6:30 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

Lawrence among Nassau’s elite

The seeds for success for this year’s Lawrence boys’ volleyball team were planted last fall.

The Golden Tornadoes won 10 matches a season ago with a roster comprised of talented sophomores and freshmen.

Those players, many of whom play club ball and are on the volleyball court yearround, are a year older, and longtime coach George Klein has reaped the rewards.

“I knew last year when all these juniors were sophomores and Corey [Shakur] was a freshman,” said Klein, in his 35th season at the helm. “They were playing last year and we held our own with basically sophomores and freshmen. So I knew that this year we were going to be successful.

“To what degree? Well, that remains to be seen, but we’re all really, really excited for the season as it has gone and in the future matches,” Klein added.

At the midway point of the regular season, Lawrence is 6-2, having won three straight following a five-set defeat to Roslyn.

That includes a thrilling five-set win at South Side Sept. 19.

“We’re pretty solid at every position and the kids are really into it,” Klein said. “They’re really psyched, they worked hard in the off-season and they work hard in season.”

The strength of the team perhaps lies in the multiple weapons the Golden Tornadoes can deploy.

There’s four strong hitters in juniors Elijah Tolley, Jacob Hooks, senior Derrick Reyes and Shakur, a sophomore middle, with Hooks making the biggest strides from last year.

“He has improved tremendously and he works so hard on his game,” Klein said of Hooks, who had 18 kills in the win over the Cyclones. “He’s one of the top servers in the county. He’s one of the top hitters in the county.”

And in junior Mailo Rozas, Klein believes he has “one of the top setters in the county.”

“He spreads the ball around really well, he’s got excellent hands and he has a lot of

Sophomore Corey Shakur, right, is doing damage at the net for the Golden Tornadoes, who won six of their first eight matches.

volleyball smarts,” Klein said of Rozas who has 308 assists on the season, including 41 in that victory over South Side.

Senior Angel Vazquez, the team’s other middle hitter, is an excellent blocker and Fernando Larios and Sehil Dhoundiyal, who Klein calls an “excellent back row player” are solid junior liberos.

There’s also strong leadership provided by four-year varsity players Reyes and Chris Cornejo, who is like another coach.

“He takes the responsibility of being a captain very, very seriously,” Klein said of

Cornejo. “He makes sure everybody’s out there on time, at timeouts he and I go out to talk to the team and he gives some suggestions. He’s so selfless.”

It’s been a strong first half to the regular season, with Lawrence beating Hewlett, New Hyde Park, Calhoun, Garden City, Valley Stream North and South Side, but the Golden Tornadoes are in a conference that has multiple teams contending for the top spot.

“I’m confident we can play with anyone in the county,” Klein said.

Ron Manfredi/Herald

Ari Brown running for 2nd Assembly term

As he campaigns for re-election to the 20th District seat in the State Assembly, Ari Brown aims to tackle antisemitism, crime and other community issues while leveraging his experience in local governance, construction and business operations.

This will be Brown’s third election for the Assembly seat — a two-year term. The first was a special election in 2022, to fill the vacancy left by Melissa “Missy” Miller when she joined the Town of Hempstead board. Tina Posterli, of Long Beach, is running against Brown.

Brown, a construction business owner and Franklin Square native, moved to Cedarhurst 33 years ago, and is now deputy mayor and a 25-year village board member.

Brown is a part of the Assembly’s state education and small business committees, as well as a ranking member of the local governments committee.

“I think the reason why they put me so quickly as the ranking member for local governments, I run a very tight ship in Cedarhurst,” Brown, a father of seven, said.

Former Cedarhurst Mayor Andrew Parise asked Brown to run the business improvement district in Cedarhurst, before Brown was elected to the village board, he said, nearly 30 years ago. At the time, the district had a vacancy rate

of 20 percent vacancies, and now it’s down to zero, Brown added.

As the first Orthodox Jewish Republican assemblyman, Brown said he plans to keep combating antisemitism, which is at the forefront of his platform, with six specific bills, he introduced.

One bill would strip scholarships from students who engage in antisemitic acts, and another would mandate student sensitivity training related to antisemitism. Brown also created a bill to update the definition of the practice of antisemitism to protect its victims, he said.

“A lot of them have something to do with antisemitism, but they all defend good and decent people,” he said.

With still another bill, Brown said he hoped to designate certain offenses against law enforcement as hate crimes.

“Let’s say you’re at some rally,” he said. “They’re coming out against the Jewish people. Police defend the Jewish people. They go after the cops just for defending innocent protesters.”

Another big-ticket item for Brown is doing away with cashless bail, he said, adding it’s something that could be putting stores, such as CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid, out of business.

“I don’t care if you steal a piece of gum — throw them in jail, let them have their day in court, it’s a crime,” Brown said.

His stance is modeled after former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s popularization of the “broken win -

Incumbent Ari Brown is seeking reelection to the Assembly in November.

dows” theory to crack down on minor crime, creating a sense of lawfulness.

“Unless we’re going to go after every single criminal, why should there be cashless bail?” Brown said. “I don’t even understand, ‘Oh people can’t afford it.’

Don’t commit the crime, I mean, that’s all.”

Brown also plans to work to reverse the regressive commuter tax, or congestion pricing.

“If people can’t afford to go to Manhattan, gas prices are so high and now you have this other layer, 20 to 30 dollars extra — that’s not going to happen,” Brown said, citing costs as just another

deterrent from visiting the city. When it comes to projects involving offshore wind, Brown said he has not been entirely against the idea, but has met with the leaders of these potential projects that would impact his constituents to propose alternative paths of travel for transmission lines. He has suggested less dense, non-residential areas for them, but to no avail, he said.

Brown added that the electromagnetic fields associated with offshore wind developments could damage infrastructure and cause cancer.

He said he believes he’s the most suited to return to his Assembly seat, because “I’m a Long Islander first and foremost.”

Based on Brown’s half-Italian, halfJewish background, diverse wealth of connections and decades of construction in the communities he represents, he’s well versed in the demands of his constituents, he said.

“I’m very well aware what’s needed,” he said.

District 20 includes the villages and hamlets of Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, Hewlett, Inwood, Island Park, Lawrence, Oceanside, Woodmere and the barrier island from Atlantic Beach to Point Lookout.

Tina Posterli aims to transform District 20

Long Beach’s Tina Posterli is preparing to shake up the political landscape as she vies for the District 20 Assembly seat, drawing on her experience in local governance.

“I developed my voice and my passion for this work, really, since I was in my 20s,” Posterli said, citing her first jobs in public policy and communications for healthcare and water.

Her previous positions on the Long Beach City Council and as president of the Long Beach Board of Education have prepared her for the Assembly, she said.

“These experiences really shaped me and showed me the real legislative priorities that our communities need,” Posterli said. “I’m dedicated to securing funding for education to ensure all our students get quality education and keep our property taxes from spiking, and securing funding for much-needed resources that will help with flood abatement and infrastructure to protect our communities against flooding and sea level rise.”

While on the City Council, Posterli said she helped to secure over $200 million to close the sewage treatment plant that was discharging millions of gal -

lons of effluent into Reynolds Channel. The funds were also used to improve Long Beach’s water treatment plant and repave 60 of the city’s roads.

Posterli said she also had a part in bringing the North Shore Critical Infrastructure Project, which added bulkheads, water pumps and flood mitigation, to fruition, after not being pushed through for decades.

One of her major agenda items, if elected to the Assembly seat, would be to again secure funds for flood mitigation and combating sea level rise, she said.

Another of her accomplishments, she said, was navigating the Long Beach district through Covid-19.

“I was president of the school board during the pandemic, so (I handled) crises, working across agencies — state, federal — to obtain funding to work within intergovernmental to keep our schools open and functioning,” Posterli said.

In the Assembly, she plans to advocate to change the school foundation aid formula to encapsulate many variables to ensure that Long Beach, Oceanside and other communities receive their “fair share,” of the primary state funding for schools, Posterli said.

She also hopes to tackle antisemitism in schools, by passing bipartisan

legislation, and advocating for education to start as young as possible in academics.

Another item at the forefront of Posterli’s campaign is reproductive rights, she said. She was once the assistant vice president of governmental affairs and advocacy for a Planned Parenthood affiliate.

“We have Proposition One that’s going to be the Equal Rights Amendment, and it’s on the back of the ballot, and it is going to help enshrine things like abortion into our state’s Constitution, and that’s really important at a time when political whims across the country take away those rights in one fell swoop,” she said.

Despite having the Reproductive Health Act in the state, which protects abortion rights, the proposition would ensure that reproductive rights are solidified, in case of an extremist legislator or a governor looking to take them away, Posterli said.

In terms of offshore wind, and a project she voted down during her time on the City Council, Posterli said she understands the need for renewable energy, but not cables that would run through densely populated communities. She said community input on a route for such a project is necessary.

Her track record of connections with

diverse stakeholders is her strong suit in representing the communities she would serve, she said.

“I’ve driven action toward common goals and been able to get people on the same page, and I do that all the time in all of my positions,” Posterli said.

Melissa Berman/Herald
Melissa Berman/Herald Tina Posterli, of Long Beach, is running for the District 20 Assembly seat in the Nov. 5 election.

A rainy homecoming loss for Lawrence

Lawrence High School’s homecoming parade might have been rained out, but the varsity football team still battled on the field during their homecoming game.

Students, families, alumni and

community members came out to celebrate the day on Sept. 28.

The Lawrence Golden Tornadoes lost to the West Hempstead Rams, 21-7.

Administrators and teachers from the district engaged with

the families and cheered on the team.

Special thanks were extended to the parent volunteers and staff who helped to make the 2024 homecoming a success.

— Melissa Berman

The game started at 2 p.m. and the teams didn’t let the weather stop them from playing. During the game there was a salute for service and performances from the cheer and dance teams.

Lawrence High School varsity football players took to the field at 2 p.m. facing West Hempstead High School.
Terry Uellendahl/Herald photos
Lawrence High School lost their homecoming game against West Hempstead on Sept. 28. Dajahn Harris is a part of the Lawrence team.
Despite a rained out parade, Lawrence High School still celebrated homecoming at the varsity football game against West Hempstead High School. Geovanni Richardson, played in the game on Sept. 28.
Eyad Karram, a Lawrence High School varsity football player, played in the homecoming game on Sept. 28.

Is 13-year contract battle near the end?

urge the district to come to terms with the LTA.

“The District remains committed to fostering a supportive and enriching environment for both students and staff,” Lawrence officials said in the statement. “We are excited about the positive impact this agreement will have on our educational community.”

In April 2023, LTA members, along with teachers from across Long Island, New York City and upstate, gathered in the Cedarhurst Long Island Rail Road station parking lot and marched along

Central Avenue, calling for a resolution of the negotiation stalemate. They waved signs that read “Teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions,” “Class size matters” and “We support Lawrence teachers.”

Class size was a focus of the LTA. At the rally, Kreiss said, “We are an extension of their home,” referring to district students. “Teachers are not only educators, but we are also their motivator, and sometimes a parental figure. If we have to have larger class sizes, the students are going to be the ones who are hurt by that.”

Here, you’ll think about your future in a whole new way.

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, November 17 at 1 PM

In April 2023, the Lawrence Teachers Association gathered in the Cedarhurst Long Island Rail Road station parking lot and marched along Central Avenue in support of a new contract.
Kepherd Daniel/Herald Teachers from across Long Island as well as New York City and upstate turned out in support of the LTA 18 months ago. Among the signs were ‘Class size matters.’

Voting primer: A guide to making sure you’re counted

With Election Day, Nov. 5, as well as early voting, Oct. 26 to Nov. 3, rapidly approaching, this guide offers essential information about voting in Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as details on voter eligibility, registration, voting procedures, and absentee voting. Information for this guide was collected through the League of Women Voters of Nassau County and the Nassau and Suffolk County boards of elections.

Am I eligible to vote?

In order to be eligible to vote, you must:

■ Be a United States citizen.

■ Be at least 18 years old (you can pre-register at 16 or 17).

■ Live in the county, city, or village for at least 30 days before an election.

■ Not be incarcerated for a felony conviction

■ Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

How do you vote in the general election?

In order to vote in a general election in the U.S., you must be registered before Election Day. To find your polling place in Nassau, go to NassauCountyNy. gov/566/Board-of-Elections. In Suffolk, SuffolkCountyNy.gov/Departments/BOE.

Where/how do I register?

You can register to vote by:

■ Filling out a voter registration form found on either county’s Board of Elections website or the New York State Board of Elections website (at least 25 days before the election)

■ Registering in person at some public agencies.

■ Visiting the Nassau County Board of Elections from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. You’ll receive a confirmation card within two to six weeks. If you don’t receive it, call (516) 571-2411 to check on your application.

There are three ways for voters to cast a ballot in this year’s elections:

■ In person, during early voting, at any one of the 28 early voting locations or on Election Day at your designated polling place.

■ By mail – By early mail ballot or by absentee ballot. To request a ballot, go to Eections.Ny.Gov/request-ballot.

■ For military and oversees voting, go to Elections. Ny.Gov/military-and-overseas-federal-voting.

Do I need to register every year?

No, you’re permanently registered once you’ve registered. However, you need to submit a new application if your name, address, or party changes. If you move, notify the County Board of Elections and re-register.

Should I register with one political party?

You are not obligated to join a political party, however, according to the League of Women’s Voters, “Declaring a party allows you to vote in that party’s primary election, which in New York State is open only to party members.” Enrolled party members can also sign nomination petitions. It’s also important to mention that registering with a party doesn’t mean you have to vote for that party’s candidates. You’re always free to vote for any candidate in general elections.

What is early voting?

Early voting allows people to cast their ballots before Election Day. Early voting also allows voters to go to locations that are closer, like public libraries, public buildings, or community centers. However,

these locations will be different from your assigned Election Day polling place.

When and where does early voting take place?

Hours are:

■ Most days: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

■ Oct. 28: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

■ Oct. 29 and 30: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Check each county’s Board of Elections website for specific locations or location changes.

How do I know where to vote on Election Day?

In order to know where to vote you must look up your polling place, which can be found by entering your county, first and last name, date of birth, and zip code on the New York State Poll Site Search website. This site also tracks voter registration and absentee ballots.

Linda Devin-Sheehan, a board member of the Suffolk League of Women Voters, at the voter registration drive on the Stony Brook University campus on Sept. 11.

Can I still vote if I won’t be able to go to a polling place?

Yes, you can vote by absentee ballot if you’re unable to vote in person due to:

■ Not being in the county or New York City on Election Day

■ Temporary or permanent illness or physical disability

■ Primary care duties for ill or physically disabled individuals

■ Being a patient or inmate in a Veterans’ Administration Hospital

■ Detention in jail/prison (awaiting trial, grand jury action, or serving time for a non-felony conviction).

What is an absentee ballot?

An absentee ballot allows you to cast your vote if you can’t make it to your polling place on Election Day. It’s the same ballot you would receive if you voted in person. However, you can fill it out at home and mail it back or drop it off at the County Board of Elections or at an early polling place.

How do I request an absentee ballot?

To request an absentee ballot you can:

■ Download and fill out the Absentee Ballot Application from the New York State Board of Elections website.

■ Send a letter by mail to: Nassau County Board of Elections at P.O. Box 9002, Mineola, NY 11501 or Suffolk County Board of Elections PO Box 700, Yaphank, NY 11980.

■ In the letter, you must include:

■ Your name and date of birth.

■ The address where you are registered.

■ The reason for the request.

Remember, the Nassau County Board of Elections will take absentee ballots up to 10 days before the election. Under normal circumstances, the Suffolk County Board of Elections will send out ballots between one and three days after receiving an application.

Anjolique Powell is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism Working Newsroom program for students and local media.

A facsimile of a New York state voter registration.
Photos courtesy Gabby Daniels

Science on deck in Mandelbaum’s new book

Syd Mandelbaum, put his background in cancer, DNA and genetics research into play on the baseball field, 33 years ago.

The CEO and founder of Rock and Wrap It Up!, a Cedarhurst based antipoverty think tank, has a historic moment to share in his new book, “Introducing Home Run Measurement Into Baseball April 1991,” out this October.

The process began when Mandelbaum heard a 1990 home run by Jessie Barfield, called during a Yankees’ game radio broadcast, where it was up for debate how far the ball had gone.

“It hit me like a light bulb, I could measure that if I knew the dimensions of the stadium,” Mandelbaum said.

In his time spent studying cells under a microscope, Mandelbaum internalized equations on a micro scale to measure small distances. He knew that he could bring these equations to life on a macro scale, and with the knowledge of field dimensions, he could determine the distance that a home run traveled.

Mandelbaum called the Mets to give his idea a try at Shea Stadium, where the team played until 2008 and was denied access. Tim Hasset, Yankees operations manager at the time, invited Mandelbaum to his stadium to try.

Unfortunately, Mandelbaum said, the equation failed. He went back to the drawing board, re-evaluated wrote letters to all Major League Baseball teams for another shot to try his equation.

George Costa, vice president of stadium operations at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, eagerly welcomed the idea, Mandelbaum said. At the time, Mandelbaum was a Lawrence District Board of Education trustee, and a school board related trip to the west coast timed out perfectly with this mission, he said. He was given a suite during the 1991 opening series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he confirmed his equation. Mandelbaum took the success back to New York, demoing the operation for the Mets and Yankees. He then went on to do 18 demonstrations that season.

Mandelbaum continued measuring in

Syd Mandelbaum, tests his home run measurement equation at Candlestick Park in San Francisco in 1991. He recounts the story in his new book, “Introducing Home Run Measurement Into Baseball April 1991.”

football, golf and many other professional sports, meeting announcers, athletes and showcasing this discovery, Mandelbaum said.

Pat Alesia, a friend of Mandelbaum’s, read the book and found the connections to be the most interesting part.

“I think the thing I like most about it

ANNIVERSARY

A nonprofit organization in Long Island, NY is seeking sealed bids for the sale and installation of security related enhancements. This project includes the installation of vehicle mitigation barriers. Selection criteria will be based on price, reputation/ experience, and quality of materials proposed. Specifications and bid requirements can be obtained by contacting us at myplantersproject@gmail.com All interested firms will be required to sign for the proposal documents and provide primary contact, telephone, fax and email address. Bids will be accepted until 12 pm October 11, 2024. Work is to commence by November 4, 2024 and completed by December 23, 2024.

Minority and Women Owned Businesses are Encouraged to Apply.

Celebrating 10 years of serving our community as The Safe Center!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn, NY

If you are unable to join us, please consider making a donation in honor of our 10th Anniversary! Scan QR code, visit TSCLIGala.org, or call 516.465.4774 to donate or purchase tickets. INDIVIDUAL TICKETS COST $250 SPONSORSHIPS AND TICKET PACKAGES AVAILABLE!

Courtesy Syd Mandelbaum
Dr. Sabah Shah Retina Care
Dr. Rivka Markowitz Pediatric Optometry
Dr. Vivek Kumar Comprehensive Cataract Surgery
Retina Care Cataract Surgery Pediatric Optometry Eye Exams

STEPPING OUT

Mandy Patinkin talks

A gourd-geous display:

Journey with jack-o’-lanterns

Spectacular pumpkins light up the night for the Great Jack

O’ Lantern Blaze at Old Bethpage Village Restoration.

As Halloween approaches, jack-o’-lanterns are making their appearance throughout our neighborhoods with their unique carvings once again. While we think of it as fall fun, in fact pumpkin carving dates back centuries as a way to ward off evil spirits with their spooky faces.

The beloved tradition gets a unique twist at the Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze, opening tomorrow at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. See pumpkins transformed into magnificent jack-o’lantern creations, illuminating a trail through the historic restored village for all to admire.

It all began in the Hudson Valley — at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson 19 years ago — conceived by the Westchester County cultural organization Historic Hudson Valley.

“About 20 years ago, we hit upon this idea of a display of jack-o’-lanterns, and we weren’t sure how people would respond to it. It was hugely popular. And so it has just expanded in a big way since then,” says Rob Schweitzer, Historic Hudson Valley’s vice president of communications and commerce.

• Friday through Sunday, Oct. 4-Nov. 3.

• Adult tickets start at $32; $10 children (ages 3-17)

• With limited capacity, entry is available only through advance online purchase of timed tickets or FLEX anytime tickets; no tickets are sold at the venue

• Purchase tickets at pumpkinblaze.org

Certainly a must-see during the season, the pumpkin trail is now in its fifth year on Long Island, with over 30 different installations. Over 7,000 jack-o’-lanterns carved by local artisans resulting in a larger-than-life themed pumpkin showcase — a mix of real and carvable foam — spanning a half-mile loop, enhanced with synchronized lighting and an original soundtrack for a fully immersive experience.

• Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage

“We have a team, 10 to 12 of us, that work together to make sure that we’re keeping the same consistency, the same quality, throughout the carvings,” Carol Hough, lead pumpkin carver, says.

Her team carves each week, swapping out old pumpkins with fresh ones. Carvers are creative with their tools to accommodate the high volume of pumpkins, using sheetrock knives and ice cream spades to get the job done, according to Hough.

Long Island history and culture are incorporated into the Blaze experience. Guests are welcomed by a 12-foot tall retro-style “Greetings from a Long Island” postcard made up of individually carved jack-o’-lanterns.

“What we like to do is really focus on the heritage of the location,” Schweitzer says.

Ever wonder what your favorite Long Island celebrity looked like as a pumpkin? The Blaze is the place to check out some pumpkin-face renderings of local personalities. Icons such as Billy Joel, Joan Jett, Jerry Seinfeld and Natalie Portman are on display.

“We have a Long Island Hall of Fame. These are large portraits, rendered in jack-o’-lanterns , of folks from Long Island that have done great things,” Schweitzer explains.

Among the locally themed installations, a functioning lighthouse replica of the Montauk Point Lighthouse, complete with a flashing beacon to light the way, is sure to attract attention. With history as a focus, it comes to no surprise that the Blaze would find its way to the historic village.

“We’ve looked at a lot of sites over the years and a lot of them have some good characteristics, but don’t have everything. Old Bethpage Village Restoration really had

everything,” Schweitzer says.

Of course, there are plenty of what one would consider Halloween staples that celebrate the spirit of the season, such as a 25-foot giant spider web and the Day of the Dead installation.

Hough is particularly fond of the Day of the Dead jack-o’-lantern tribute, among the new displays along this year’s trail.

“There are some skeletons and some sugar skulls. It’s really beautiful. I absolutely love it,” Hough says.

Other showstoppers include a thrilling pumpkin circus, a glowing Statue of Liberty, a pumpkin-filled Ferris wheel, and a planetarium. Plus, see a tribute to First Responders. This display involves carved jack-o’-lanterns depicting a firefighter heroically putting out a flame, honoring the bravery and dedication of our local heroes.

“The concept for that really came out of the early period of the pandemic, there was a lot of focus on First Responders and our healthcare workers and those on the front lines of dealing with the pandemic. It’s something that we’ve continued to celebrate,” says Schweitzer.

There’s so more to the trail than just carvings. Lighting and sound are integral to the Blaze experience. Each installation is depicted with an original score to create the perfect ambience.

Volunteers from local scout troops and high school honor societies are also involved, assisting in lighting the lanterns that line the path.

Also new this year, the Blaze is offering custom-made pumpkins to order. Surprise a special someone with a custom-carved pumpkin, displayed at the new Celebration Arch. Reservations are limited and must be made seven days in advance.

So carve out some time, there’s a pumpkin creation for everyone at the Blaze.

As Schweitzer says: “It’s really an event you can just go and relax and smile at. It genuinely is something that appeals to all ages.”

For an extra fall treat, stop by the Café Blaze for some yummy cider donuts and pumpkin beer. And check out the nightly pumpkin carving. It may inspire you to do create you own special seasonal décor at home.

‘The Princess Bride’ One of Mandy Patinkin’s memorable roles — certainly one that lives on as beloved piece of pop culture — is his turn in the 1987 fantasy “The Princess Bride.” He played a man bent on revenge (“Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!”). It performed only so-so at the box office back then, but it’s come to be one of the most beloved movies of the 1980s. Relive all the fun — and Patinkin’s masterful portrayal of the Spanish swordsman — when the actor pops by Tilles Center for a special film screening, followed by a 45-minute conversation. His son Gideon Grody-Patinkin — who has contributed to the family legacy since he began filming his father and mother, actress-writer Kathryn Grody, during the pandemic and posting their interactions on TikTok — moderates.

Saturday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, 720 Northern Blvd. Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org.

Everclear

Everclear, one of the leading alternative rock bands to emerge from the ‘90s, led by vocalist-guitarist-founder Art Alexakis, is back on the road. The band is joined by special guests Marcy Playground and Jimmie’s Chicken Shack. The setlist for this tour includes all the hits from their extraordinary three decades-long catalog, spotlighting tracks off their album “Songs From An American Movie Vol. One,” to be released on vinyl later this year for the first time via Intervention Records. Since forming in 1992, Everclear has enjoyed a lengthy career by any measure, beginning with their major-label debut, 1995’s platinumselling album “Sparkle and Fade,” and its massive chart-topping hit “Santa Monica,” Everclear was soon a household name and catapulted into the masses.

Sunday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m. $70.50, $50.50, $30.50, $25.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.

Photos courtesy Historic Hudson Valley Thousands of hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns light up the night as the Halloween spirit is all a-glow, with Old Bethpage Village’s 19th century buildings and historic barns as a backdrop.

THE Your Neighborhood

Tom Colicchio on ‘why

he cooks’

Get an unprecedented look insights into the life of America’s top chef when Tom Colicchio brings his “Why I Cook” book tour to the Paramount stage, Saturday, oct. 12, 2 p.m. Part memoir-part cookbook, Colicchio’s newest book shares an exclusive look inside the mind and kitchen of the beloved restaurateur multipleJames Beard and Emmy Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and television personality. Colicchio cooked his first recipe at 13-years-old — a stuffed eggplant from an issue of Cuisine magazine that he picked up out of boredom — and it changed his life. Through 10 memoir chapters and 60 recipes, “Why I Cook” shares Tom’s personal reflections of more than 40 years behind the stove. From pre-dawn fishing excursions with his grandfather to running the flat-top at the snack shack of the local swim club, to finding his way as a young chef in New York City, Tom chronicles the dishes and memories that have shaped him as a person and chef.

Through these meaningful dishes, gorgeous recipe shots, and images from Tom’s childhood, “Why I Cook” is the most personal look into Tom’s life yet. He recounts the extraordinary personal journey that brought him from his working-class Italian background in Elizabeth, N.J., to the award-winning kitchens of New York City’s best restaurants, to the set of “Top Chef” and the stage of the Emmy Awards, among his many endeavors. $95, $65, $54, $35. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program returns for a new season, Saturday, oct. 5, 9, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.

Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for more information and to register or call (516) 484-9337.

Pancake Breakfast

Our Lady of Good Counsel invites all to a Christmas Dream Pancake Breakfas, Sunday, oct. 6, 8-11:30 a.m. $5 for adults, children 12 and under are free. Our Lady of Good Counsel, 68 Wanser Avenue, Inwood. For more information, call (516) 239-0953.

Spooky Fest is back

A Halloween experience not to be missed, Spooky Fest is an outdoor adventure perfect for families, whether you want to be scared — or prefer seasonal fun of the non-scary kind. Join in the fun at the Center for Science, Teaching and Learning, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout October. Along the way in the updated and beautifully lit up Enchanted Walk you will see dinosaurs, aliens and friendly witches, costumed characters and more, including the Mystical Garden. Get your fortune told, make a craft and dance with the Halloween DJ, along with face painting and the Amazing Glow tent. For those who want to a scare, venture into the Haunted Woods, where zombies and dinosaurs hang out. Admission starts at $22. 1450 Tanglewood Road, Rockville Centre. Visit CSTL.org for call (516) 7640045 for more information.

Hempstead House

tour

Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Wednesday, Oct. 9, noon-1 p.m.

Visit the grand rooms inside the massive 50,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion, the former summer residence of Gilded Age financier Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim.

Tours are limited in size and tend to sell out. Arrive early

Bird walk

See some birds with the South Shore Audubon Society. All are welcome to join members for the next in its series of bird walks, at Point Lookout

Town Park, Sunday, Oct. 6, starting at 9 a.m. Meet in the southeast corner of the large parking lot on the south side of Point Lookout Town Park and will walk east Storybook

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 spans 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.

Capital Fools

Washington, D.C.’s premier political satire group Capitol Fools bring their musical parody show to the Adelphi University stage, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. The Capitol Fools hold up a mirror to today’s crazy political culture, providing hilarious song parodies and reflections that continue to inspire laughter amid the contentious presidential election season. Formern members of the Capitol Steps perform all their beloved bits, along with backward-talking spoonerisms, breakneck costume changes, over-the-top impressions and all-new song parodies reflecting today’s news headlines. $20. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

WOODMERE FIRE DISTRICT ANNUAL BUDGET FOR 2025

WHEREAS, on the 23rd day of September, 2024, pursuant to Sections 105 and 181 of the Town Law, the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Woodmere Fire District confirmed that the Annual Fire District Budget Hearing will be conducted with reference to the Annual Fire District Budget for fiscal year 2025 on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 commencing at 6:45 p.m. at the Fire District Building located at 20 Irving Place, Woodmere, New York 11598, and WHEREAS, the Board of Fire Commissioners is required to adopt a proposed budget at least 21 days before Tuesday, October 15, 2024 so that it is available for public inspection prior to the budget hearing.

NOW, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Woodmere Fire District has adopted a proposed Annual Fire District Budget for 2025 as of this date for purposes of discussion and review at the Budget Hearing to be held on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 and a copy of the proposed budget is available at the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Hempstead and at the office of the Woodmere Fire District Secretary at 20 Irving Place, Woodmere, New York 11598 where it may be inspected by any interested person during office hours. In addition, copies of the proposed budget will be available on the night of the said hearing.

NOW, therefore, BE IT

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Woodmere Fire District will hold the Annual Fire District Budget Hearing to be conducted with reference to the Annual Fire District Budget for fiscal year 2025 on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 commencing at 6:45 p.m. at the Fire District Building located at 20 Irving Place, Woodmere, New York 11598.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the aforesaid budget will be presented to the residents and taxpayers of the Woodmere Fire District and to the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Woodmere Fire District, for their respective consideration at this public hearing and for the purpose of considering the said budget and hearing all persons interested in the subject concerning same on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 commencing at 6:45 p.m. at the Fire District Building located at 20 Irving Place, Woodmere,

New York 11598.

Dated: September 23, 2024

Woodmere, New York

BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS

WOODMERE FIRE DISTRICT

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

ATTEST:

DAVID HALLER

WOODMERE FIRE DISTRICT SECRETARY 149282

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2025 BUDGET

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that the proposed budget of the Atlantic Beach Fire District of the Town of Hempstead, State of New York, will be presented to the Board of Fire Commissioners for its consideration.

A Public Hearing will be held at 6 PM at the Atlantic Beach Fire District HQ, One Rescue Road, A/K/A Bridge Access Road, Atlantic Beach, New York on the 16th day of October, 2024.

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that a copy of the proposed budget is available with the Village Clerk at the Atlantic Beach Village Hall, 65 The Plaza, Atlantic Beach, New York and Fire District Secretary, One Rescue Road, Atlantic Beach, New York where it may be inspected during the office hours 9 AM to 3 PM, Monday to Friday. By Order of the Board of Fire Commissioners Atlantic Beach Fire District

By Order of the Board of Fire Commissioners INWOOD FIRE DISTRICT Inwood, NY

DATED: 9/24/24 149279

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

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: October 10, 2024

Time: 7:00 PM

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

Subject: Case #24-06-6593. 1764 Bay Boulevard LLC, 1764 Bay Boulevard Atlantic Beach, New York 11509.

maintain the same aggregate width and side yard setback. This shall include any vacant lots or when the entire structure is removed and replaced. Proposed side landing and steps west side yard aggregate setback 13.19 feet. Section 250-24 Rear yards. There shall be a rear yard, the depth of which shall be at least 25 feet. Proposed house 24 feet, rear deck 21-22 feet and second floor balcony 19.5 feet.

Section 250-25

Permitted encroachments (A)(1) Cornices, eaves, gutters, chimneys or bay windows projecting not more than 24 inches. Proposed rear overhang 4 feet. Section 250-108

meeting at the place and time aforesaid for the purpose of conducting a regular meeting where general business will be conducted.

Dated: September 26, 2024

By Order of the Board of Trustees Village of Lawrence, NY Gerry Castro Village Administrator 149284

LEGAL NOTICE

Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 10/09/2024 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

4) Richard Sharpe of 1318 Everit Place Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 has applied to the Planning Boaard for review of a renovation/addition/altera tion to the existing dwelling.

Prohibited and restricted uses (J) Buildings within the Village of Atlantic Beach shall be constructed with a peaked or gable roof only. Proposed flat roof with a rooftop deck (480 SF). Premises are also known as Section 58, Block 82, Lots 5-7 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map.

-21764 Bay Boulevard legal notice

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: September 26, 2024.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Hewlett Bay Fire District, in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, at the District Office, 1180 Broadway, Hewlett, NY, at 7:30 P.M., on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, for the purpose of considering the proposed Fire District Budget for the 2025 fiscal year. ALL PERSONS INTERESTED in the matter will be heard at that time and place. A copy of the proposed 2025 Fire District Budget will be available after September 24, 2024, at the Office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Hempstead, One Washington Street, Hempstead, NY 11550 on normal business days, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. and at the Office of the Fire District Secretary, 1180 Broadway, Hewlett, NY 11557, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M.

By Order of the Board of Fire Commissioners Hewlett Bay Fire District

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 633/24. WOODMEREKevin Talty, Variance, lot area occupied, maintain deck attached to dwelling., S/s Longworth Ave., 60’ E/o Broadway (Franklin Ave.)., a/k/a 105 Longworth Ave. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Woodmere within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.

149251

To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. Search by publication name at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

5) Derek and Alyson Finneran – 438 Pepperidge Road Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 has applied to the Planning Board for review of the replacement of existing brick facing and aluminum siding with stone facing and vinyl shake siding.

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.

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”. Keith Lavallee, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-005649 82470 149240

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

Arnold M. Geller

Commissioner/District

Secretary

Dated: Atlantic Beach, New York September 9, 2024 149281

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Public Hearing

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Inwood Fire District will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, October 22, 2023 at 12:00 P.M., at the Office of the District, located at 188 Doughty Boulevard, Inwood, New York, for the purpose of adopting the 2025 Annual Budget for the District.

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a copy of the proposed budget will be available at the Office of the Town Clerk, Town of Hempstead, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, beginning October 1, 2024, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday, except holidays or at the above Fire District’s Offices, 188 Doughty Boulevard, Inwood, New York, beginning October 1, 2024, between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M., daily.

Applicant proposes to construct a new two-story single-family dwelling. The applicants are seeking relief from the following sections of the Zoning Code: Section 250-20 Height (A) In the case of a singlefamily dwelling, no building shall be greater in height than 2 1/2 stories, with a maximum height of 28 feet to peak for properties east of the street center line southbound of the west side of The Plaza and the east side of Acapulco Street north of Atlantic Boulevard. Proposed bulkhead height 30.16 feet. Section 250-20 Height (B) Roof slopes less than four feet vertically for every 12 feet horizontally shall have a maximum height of 24 feet to peak, including parapet walls for properties east of the street center line southbound of the west side of The Plaza and the east side of Acapulco Street, north of Atlantic Boulevard. Proposed flat roof with parapet walls 25.5 feet. Section 250-21 Lot coverage. The lot coverage shall not exceed 30% of the lot area. Proposed 46.89%.

Section 250-22 Front yards (A) The required front yard depth shall be the same as the average front yard depth of the existing buildings within 200 feet on each side of the lot and within the same block in the same use district. Average front yard setback 16 feet. Proposed second story west balcony 14.2 feet and second story east balcony 15.5 feet. Section 250-23 Side yards. (B) In case of a single-family dwelling with 51 feet or more of frontage where the existing aggregate widths of which are 15 feet and the existing side yard is five feet, any additions shall be permitted to

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.

Josie Ficeto, Building Clerk 149285

LEGAL NOTICE

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF LAWRENCE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Lawrence, at Lawrence Village Hall, 196 Central Avenue, Lawrence, New York 11559, on the 10th day of October 2024, at 8:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that all interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard on all meeting matters at the place and time aforesaid. If anyone needs special accommodations for a disability, such person should contact the Village Clerk at least 5 days before the meeting.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to the requirements of the Open Meetings Law of the State of New York, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lawrence will convene in public

Dated: September 24, 2024

Michael Ahern, Fire District Secretary 149283

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE INWOOD FIRE DISTRICT, INWOOD, NEW YORK, 11096.

There will be a General Meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Inwood Fire District as follows:

Time:7:00 P.M..

Date: Thursday, October 10,2024

Place:DISTRICT OFFICE

Melissa Rivelli, District Secretary 149279

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

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230,

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, October 16th at 7:00PM. A ZOOM link to the meeting is available on our website a t www.hewlettharbor.gov. All interested parties will be given the opportunity to be heard on the following applications for plan review:

1) Jeremy Danziger and Ilana Ajzenman – 369 Pepperidge Road Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 has applied to the Planning Board for site plan, elevation plan and landscape design review for a 2nd story addition over remaining portion of existing house.

2) 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.

3) Dr. Sergio Sokol – 35 Thixton Drive Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 has applied to the Planning Board for installation of 33 solar panels.

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

Dated: September 27, 2024 Hewett Harbor, New York BY ORDER OF THE PLANNING BOARD OF THE VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR Amir Gal Planning Board Chairman Tommy Montemarano Building Superintendent 149286

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST MARIE DURANTE-BOLIVARD, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 5, 2022, 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 November 6, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1106 Rosedale Rd, North Woodmere (Town of Hempstead), NY 11581. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being near Valley Stream, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 39, Block 511, Lot 33. Approximate amount of judgment $963,932.08 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #006017/2014. 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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (BROOKLYN) WINDWARD BORA, LLC.; Plaintiff v. OSNAT ZINNAR, et al; Defendants Attorneys for Plaintiff: Hasbani & Light, P.C., 450 7th Ave, Suite 1408, NY, NY 10123; (212) 643-6677

Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on 2/12/24, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder in the EDNY-Brooklyn, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, NY 11201. On October 22, 2024 at 9:30 AM.

Premises known as 965 Cedarhurst Street, North Woodmere, NY 11581 Section: 0039 Block: 00549-00 Lot: 00002

All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York. As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale. Approximate amount of judgment: $273,926.00 plus interest and costs.

Docket Number: 19cv-04533 Allan B. Mendelsohn, Esq., Referee 149058

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK N.A., AS TRUSTEE, FOR CARRINGTON MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2006-NCI ASSET-BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, Plaintiff, Against FREDERICK NEIL KLEIN A/K/A FREDERICK KLEIN A/K/A FRED KLEIN, JODI KLEIN, DEBBIE G. KLEIN, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 08/27/2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 10/22/2024 at 2:00PM,

Unreserved J U dg M ent

Flats. Innings. Soldiers. Guests. Jurors ... And Me

My uncle had an old car with wheels so bad it had to be retired. Happy is the fan whose hometown pitcher retires the side, while the exhausted army retires from the field and the exhausted guest retires for the night. Meanwhile the instruction-charged jury retires to render its decision.

Well, I’m not a car or a ball-player or a soldier or a guest or a juror, but last month, I, too ... retired.

With neither Florida nor golf nor pinochle as my backup, but with my wife, Janet, agreeing to be annoyed and bothered on a full-time basis, I set out to in, being bust not being busy and being occupied with having no occupation.

Since I was 17, I’ve worked as a babysitter, deliverer of newspapers on the Upper West Side, gear-boy for the security guards at the Daily News (“we gird the

guards that guard The News,”) research assistant at the New York Historical Society, sports leader at the 92nd street Y, Cubmaster/Scoutmaster, camp counselor, camp director, youth director at the Jewish Center-Manhattan, Criminal Law Investigator, Kings County Assistant District Attorney, Trial Supervisor, Chief-Family Court Unit, First Deputy Chief Supreme Court Trail Bureau, Chief-Special Victims Bureau, Public Defender, newspaper columnist, teacher , trial attorney, community college professor and Dean, municipal attorney, village persecutor, Associate Justice Village Administrator.

equally devoted to those who employed us, and in every position, I was blessed to never be urged to do something that was either illegal, unethical or immoral.

For the most part, my bosses were professional, supportive, fair-minded and good humored, and, as a boss I tried to be the same way (while occasionally supplying surprise desktop doughnuts, cookies, almonds or raisins.

I’ve always worked hard but never labored, worked but never toiled, and in the ongoing rat race encountered very few rats.

velous local institution plus I still have my law license) never the less, I won’t miss the guest for promotions, the ever present threat of “we’ve decided to move in a different direction,” the traffic, the train delays, the “rise of a new king who knew not of Joseph and his achievements,” the introduction of new systems to replace unbroken “old” systems that would eventually be returned when the new systems didn’t work, and, of course, the greatest of bruising competitive sports...office politics.

Anyway, as I “retire” and gratefully look back at more than five decades of work, I realize that, as the saying goes, because I loved (almost) every minute of it, I haven’t actually ever really “worked” a day in my life.

Every position was interesting, satisfying and accompanied by colleagues

While I don’t intend to remain (American) idle (I’m already privileged to have an exciting part-time teaching at a mar-

Thank you to so many for so much.

© Ron Goldman 2024

Atlantic Beach residence under threat of demolition

Roseanne Golden of Atlantic Beach went before the Atlantic Beach village board at a special hearing to discuss the hazardous condition of her home at 51 Ulster Ave. in Atlantic Beach on Sept. 26. Vincent Amoroso, superintendent of public works and building inspector for Atlantic Beach led the hearing. Amoroso served Golden, personally

Public Notices

premises known as 58 Brower Avenue, Woodmere, New York 11598, And Described As Follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in Woodmere (Formerly Woodsburgh) In The Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 41 Block 24 Lot 326 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $1,162,718.94 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 0003350/2012 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.

Rita Solomon, Esq., Referee.

MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 7/31/24 File Number: 109-0035 SH 149030

LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR NOTICE OF MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Hewlett Harbor will meet in both public and via Zoom on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 7:00PM, Eastern Standard Time, for the purpose of holding the Village’s regular monthly meeting. An agenda for the meeting will be made available to the public on the Village Website. All residents wishing to attend via Zoom can visit www.hewlettharbor.gov for instructions. Residents wishing to speak via Zoom or in person must notify the Village Clerk in advance.

Dated: Hewlett Harbor, New York September 20, 2024 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR

NICOLE GIACOPELLI VILLAGE CLERK 149144

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 October 28, 2024 at 4:00 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 149154

and by registered mail on Sept. 10, due to the condition of her property.

“I posted a do not occupy on the premises, known as 51 Ulster, as an unsafe structure and one that is found to be dangerous for the life, health, property, or safety of the public and occupants of the structure,” Amoroso said. “It is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, or structurally unsafe, where as in such faulty condition or construction that the unstable foundation partial/complete collapse can happen.”

The house was originally constructed in 1929 as a two-story, single-family residence, Amoroso said.

Amoroso visited the site with the village engineer, Michael Williams from R&W Engineering PC, on Sept. 4. to assess the exterior of the property and noticed many deficiencies, Amoroso said.

“Primarily, there is a large vertical crack on the northeast corner of the house that has exposed rotten wood and framing on the corner post and the sheathing is exposed to the weather,” Amoroso said. “This presents a condition that could cause serious or life-threatening injury or death at any time.”

homeowners on numerous occasions, advising them to vacate the property.

“My personal opinion is that reconstruction is not a viable alternative at this point, so if the property is not going to be able to be secured and reconstructed, that it should be demolished,” Amoroso said. Golden said that she hired a structural engineer and planned to meet with an architect to discuss restorative plans, at the Sept. 26 meeting, Mayor George Pappas raised his concerns to Golden regarding occupation of the residence.

Roseanne Golden, 51 Ulster Avenue, Atlantic Beach attended a hearing at Atlantic Beach Village Hall regarding the potential demolition of her home, on Sept. 26.

Williams said that his biggest concern is the 14-foot long exposed section of the property without any siding or sheathing, along the north face.

“My concern is obviously life, safety issues and certainly the structure is not habitable at this point,” Williams said. “That is my professional opinion.”

Amoroso said that he spoke with the

“Our concern is to make sure nobody gets injured on the property and that’s part of our job serving on the board,” Pappas said.

Golden resides with her husband, who did not attend the meeting, along with two dogs and a parrot.

The board stipulated that Golden and her husband move out of the home by Oct. 3, all personal belongings and furniture be removed by Oct. 6, any open entrances must be secured or boarded up by Oct. 8 and if that is not complete by Oct. 9, the village will do so, and bill Golden for costs.

The board said that if Golden plans to restore the home, plans must be submitted by Nov. 7.

Golden is willing to work with the board, she said.

“If she is going to occupy the premises until the end of next week, that she is doing it at her own risk,” Amoroso said.

The board will address the issue again at the regular village meeting on Oct. 15.

R on G oldman
Melissa Berman/Herald

Employment

CLASSIFIED

Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460

E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com

E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com

DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.

floral park-Bellerose elementary school District

The DisT ric T is seeking various posiT ions for T he 2024-2025 school year

Teacher a ides

VALLe Y STR e AM DISTRICT #30 Immediate Position Available

COMMUNITY SERVICES INFORMATION ASSISTANT

Floral Park-Bellerose

Elementary School District

Teacher Aides

We have openings for teacher aides for the 2022/23 school year. 10-month positions available immediately, starting at $15.00/hr.

School Nurse, Part-Time

We have an opening for a P/T school nurse, 2 days/wk mostly Wed & Thurs. Pro-rated salary, approx. $240.00/day. RN cert. required.

$17.95/hr. Teaching a ssistants .... $19.95/hr. s ecurity personnel .. $20-$25/hr. Bus Drivers..... $25.14-$26.87/hr. Bus Monitors $19.32/hr. food s ervice personnel and c afeteria Monitor $16.00/hr. nurses sub $175/day cleaners ................. $40,454/year

Please apply for positions via OLAS at www.OLASjobs.org

After School Child Care opportunities are also available. Please apply through scope www. scope online.us

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.

Salary Range is $16 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers.

Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour

Night Availability is a Must.

Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

$20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778

Email: info@bellautoschool.com

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

• Facilitate connections between families, students, and various community agencies and government offices to ensure families receive the support they need.

• Assist families and students in navigating social services and community resources, providing guidance and support throughout the process.

• Conduct outreach to our school community to ensure equitable access to services and resources.

• QUALIFICATIONS: As per Civil Service

• SALARY: $40,525 - $55,000

Interested candidates should apply on www.olasjobs.org

You should address your letter of interest and resume to: Ms. Sherina Lucas Administrative Officer, HR Valley Stream UFSD Thirty 175 N. Central Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580 humanresources@VS30.org

EOE

EMAIL MARKETING SPECIALIST

Herald Community Newspapers is seeking a motivated and knowledgeable

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

RESPONSIBILITIES:

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

REQUIREMENTS:

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

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

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

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

To Deliver Papers To Businesses in Massapequa, Amityville and Babylon 2 Days Per Week

Must Have Own Vehicle/Van

This is an independent contractor role for Richner Communications Compensation based on stops starting at $275/week If Interested contact Jim at jrotche@liherald.com or 516-569-4000 x211

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

MULTI

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate

WE BUY HOUSES for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670

Apartments For Rent

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

CNA: MALE & FEMALE CAREGIVERS Experienced with a wide range of Medical Care including Dementia, Alzheimer's & Parkinson Patients. Caring & Dependable. Driver. References Available. Derrick@917-363-8924

HEALTHCARE WORKER with 40 Years of Experience Working with the Aging and Geriatric Population in Various Settings is Seeking a Position Caring for a Senior with Flexible Scheduling. 516-640-4204

CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

Apartments For Rent

EAST ROCKAWAY: 3 BRS, FBTH, Second Floor, 2 Parking Spots, Pets OK. $2800 Includes Heat/ Water. 516-596-9470

Garages For Rent

VALLEY STREAM OVERSIZED GARAGE With Upstairs, 20x20, For Storage. $800/Month. Call 646-399-5785

Out Of Town/Real Estate

CATSKILLS: 3 BEDROOMS, 2 baths, 14 acres. 26x48 poured foundation, Needs Work. $169K. Owner. 607-434-8350

‘We

want our deck back’

Q. We have a large deck that finally needs to be repaired, and some parts replaced. It is wood with some steel beams, and we wanted to do the boards that look like wood but are made from plastics and supposedly last longer. We looked at several brands and aren’t sure what is best, but it probably doesn’t matter now. The prices came in very high for the work, and each contractor we have spoken to said we were only going to save money if we use all wood, including the beams. The beams are steel, as we understand, since they extend farther without as many columns. The funny thing is that we were replacing the wood because it started rotting and twisting after 15 years, bad enough that we don’t feel comfortable using the deck — it’s on our second floor, which is why we want fewer columns, so we can continue to use the ground level as an outdoor dining space. What can you recommend that we do? The costs make it impossible to move forward, and we really want our deck back.

A. I like to quote the oil filter commercial we used to hear all the time: “You can pay me now or pay me later.” In this case, you can spend the money on the less-costly wood, and then spend more money on re-treating the wood and repairs. As for the steel beams being replaced, it should be understood that steel is more compact for its strength, and the equivalent ability to span longer distances with wood requires much more wood, and it will more than likely be taller, meaning the beams will extend lower.

The synthetic decking materials are a much better choice, and the ones that are recycled resinbased, without the wood component parts in their composition, are at the top of the list of low maintenance, deterioration and replacement that you have with wood mixtures and wood deck materials. I have seen the difference many times over the years, including the landing deck in my own yard. I originally built it out of cedar, which was supposed to be resistant to insects and, if stained properly, would last a long time, or so I thought. After just four years, the wood posts and the properly stained decking had become distorted with warping, twisting and some end rotting. I replaced the materials with synthetic decking and rails, and after 24 years, it’s still in great condition.

This problem of not factoring in the cost of maintenance, accessibility and the increase in material costs over time has often led to much greater expense in the life of buildings. You have to question yourself as to which is more affordable, the continued maintenance or initial costs.

Remember that the people you are speaking to will do either system, wood or synthetic, because for them it’s a current job that they will leave behind and that you have to live with. Good luck!

© 2024 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY

BASSETT GIRL'S 4 piece bedroom set w/ mirror. Merrick. Text for photos. $90 516-306-9131

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Electricians

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Exterminating

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Tree Services

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America’s

support

of Israel is vital — now more than ever

Last Oct. 7, Israel was plunged into a crisis that has demanded both our attention and our action. As a rabbi and a proud Zionist, I’ve traveled to Israel twice since that tragic day — once to volunteer, and once to witness the devastation firsthand.

The scale of loss is staggering.

Israel’s top priority must be the rescue and safe return of the hostages, who have endured unimaginable trauma, and Israel must do everything in its power to secure their release. This aligns with pikuach nefesh, the Jewish principle that preserving life overrides almost all other considerations. Still, the mission of rescuing the hostages cannot justify widespread destruction. Ensuring the safety of innocent people on all sides of this conflict is essential for Israel, not just strategically but morally.

America’s support for Israel, especially in this moment, must be resolute but also thoughtful. Historically, the U.S. has

Abeen Israel’s strongest ally, providing military, financial and diplomatic backing. That partnership has helped Israel withstand threats, grow as a nation and secure its future. But in this current conflict, American support should also reflect the shared values of democracy and human rights. While Israel defends itself, it must do so in a way that seeks to minimize harm to civilians. The U.S. can play a role in pushing for that balance.

The American Jewish community is wrestling with this tension. For decades, many American Jews have offered unconditional support for Israel, rooted in a deep connection to the land and the need for Jewish survival. But in recent years, there’s been a shift. Many, especially younger generations, are questioning Israel’s policies, particularly in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This doesn’t mean turning away from Israel, but rather engaging in more critical conversations about its actions, while still standing firmly against terrorism. We cannot ignore the growing divide within the American Jewish community, where progressive voices are demanding

I ts fight for survival must not lead it down a path that betrays its core values.

that Israel adhere to the same human rights values they champion in other contexts. These concerns are real and important. Yet it’s possible to support Israel’s right to defend itself while also holding it accountable to ethical standards. This dual approach — support coupled with honest critique — strengthens, rather than weakens, the bond between Israel and American Jews.

America’s involvement is more than just providing military aid and diplomatic cover. It’s about ensuring that Israel’s fight for survival doesn’t lead it down a path that betrays its core values. The principle of tohar haneshek, the purity of arms, demands that Israel’s military actions avoid unnecessary harm. It’s a concept deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, calling for restraint even in the heat of conflict. American influence, if used wisely, can help Israel stay true to this principle.

In a broader sense, America’s continued support for Israel must remain strong, but it also needs to reflect the complexities of the situation. This isn’t a black-and-white conflict, and American leadership should encourage Israel to

The best of times, the worst of

s women ascend, does misogyny spike?

Let’s start with a quiz: Exactly what part of their bodies are men willing to enlarge or remove or bleach or burn or exfoliate or liposuction or disfigure with waxes and curling irons and injections and dyes? How many guys spend their time and money putting fat in and taking fat out in a never-ending pursuit of physical perfection? Do they obsess about injecting fat into their thinning lips or sucking fat out of their expanding behinds?

The answer is, not that many, especially when compared with the number of girls and women who willingly undergo painful medical procedures to meet standards of beauty promulgated by social media and a hard-to-change culture in which men often decide how women should look. Some women say they were miserable growing up because boys called them flat-chested. Others say all the guys did was stare at their big breasts. Some wanted enhancements. Some wanted reductions. But the frame of reference often was the approval of

boys and men.

This is not a new story, but there are new threads.

Now, apparently, small breasts are “in.” According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2023, more than 76,000 American women had elective breast-reduction surgery, a 64 percent increase from 2019. Who sets the standard? Often the values come from men rather than the women themselves. Influencers who have enormous power over our teenagers send messages subliminal and overt, saying: You are not OK as you are. Something needs fixing.

Tseek not just victory but a path to lasting peace. The rescue of hostages is crucial, but so is preventing a cycle of violence that further destabilizes the region.

At the same time, America must recognize that support for Israel isn’t just about defense. It’s about protecting a democratic ally that shares common values of human rights and justice. While military might is necessary, it must be tempered by the moral responsibility to minimize harm to civilians — Israeli and Palestinian alike.

In the end, America’s support for Israel is essential not just for Israel’s survival, but for upholding the values we hold dear. This is a moment of reckoning, when the stakes are high and the consequences of every decision are profound. The U.S. must stand by Israel, but also guide it in a way that ensures the preservation of life and the pursuit of peace. The hostages must come home, and this conflict must end with the preservation of the values that have always been at the heart of both nations’ aspirations.

Rabbi Michael Cohen is the clergical leader of Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth in Rockville Centre. He served in the U.S. Army for over a decade, and is a member of the Long Island Board of Rabbis, the New York Board of Rabbis and the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

times for women

I hope the increasing numbers of patients are seeking the surgery for sound reasons, not as a fashion statement.

hey are empowered like never before, and being attacked like never before.

The New York Times ran a story last week, “The Power (and Relief) of a Smaller Bosom,” reporting that the number of women seeking breast-reduction surgery has increased, especially among those under 30.

Why are more and more young girls choosing surgery?

To be clear: Breast reduction is often necessary. Ultimately, it is a decision between a woman and her doctor. It’s a big deal; the procedure can cause scarring and loss of sensation, and it requires anesthesia. For many teenagers and women, it greatly changes their life for the better, but results are not guaranteed.

Looking out at the political and cultural panorama at this time and date, I see women empowered in unprecedented ways. And perhaps because of that new power, they are being attacked, also in unprecedented ways. As women ascend, as we elect women to Congress and perhaps the White House, there is a companion piece: a significant movement to keep women down, to deny them their rights, especially reproductive freedom. Much of the misogynistic rhetoric begins at the top, with a presidential candidate and his acolytes who demand laws that control women’s bodies and choices.

When I was 24, married three years, I became pregnant, had a miscarriage and a D and C — dilation and curettage — at a local hospital. Emotionally, it was wrenching. But from a medical point of view, it went smoothly. The doctor met us at the hospital. He did the procedure and I went home. I was healthy enough to have two healthy children in the following years.

Today, because of draconian abortion bans passed by mostly male politicians

in a number of states, and the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the right to abortion, women who miscarry risk bleeding to death or suffering for hours before they can access basic life-saving treatment. Doctors are afraid to treat them. These measures are antiwoman, archaic and cruel.

By an accident of the time in which I lived my reproductive years, I had a safe post-miscarriage D and C. Now, 50 years later, we have fallen back to restrictive practices controlled by politicians, led by Donald Trump.

These threads connect in a tapestry of what it feels like to be a girl or woman today.

We need to be strong within ourselves to reject any messaging that tells us our bodies need fixes and surgeries. We have to be fiercely committed to women’s freedom to choose if and when to have children.

Pay attention to the messaging targeting women. Don’t sign up for surgery that alters your body without thoughtful screening and counseling. Don’t go for shortcuts, or any other kind of cuts, to achieve someone else’s standard of beauty.

Support individuals, and vote for individuals who see the ascendancy of women as fulfilling the promise of democracy.

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

MICHAEL CoHEn
RAnDI KREIss

HERALD

HeraLd editoriaL

Even in a deep blue state, your vote matters a

s the Nov. 5 election approaches, we urge every eligible Long Islander to exercise his or her fundamental right, and fulfill a crucial civic duty, by voting. The importance of registering to vote and casting your ballot cannot be overstated, especially in an election year when so much is at stake — from immigration policy to a woman’s right to choose.

While it’s easy to assume that New York state’s presidential electoral votes are a foregone conclusion for Vice President Kamala Harris — the state has not voted in the majority for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1984 — this election is about far more than just the race for the White House. Our state and local races have profound implications not only for our daily lives and communities, but also for the future of the country.

Take for instance the race in the 4th Congressional District, right here on the South Shore of Nassau County, where incumbent U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, a Republican, faces former Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen, a Democrat. Experts consider this race to be one of the — if not the — most competitive in the entire country. The outcome of this single race could determine which party controls the House of Representatives. Yes, you read that correctly: Your vote in this local race could have national ramifications,

Letters

Peter King on the ‘horse race’

To the Editor:

Re Peter King’s column last week, “After all the drama, it’s a dead heat”: After a list of “totally unexpected” events, Mr. King, seemingly surprised, declares the presidential campaign to be a “horse race.” It is not, however, despite these events but because of them that the race is too close to call. The issues that are on the ballot have been submerged by the media’s excessive focus on those that are not.

Mr. King’s call for voters to focus is correct, though his recitation of the issues omits many and misplaces others. Missing, for example, are abortion, gun legislation, disinformation, voter suppression/ballot diversion, Project 2025 and DeSantis-Blakeman-style personal militias. Crime is real, Mr. King says, an indisputable statement, but as the evidence shows, ought not to head the list.

I share Mr. King’s sentiment about living up to “the responsibilities and challenges of living in a democracy” which should begin

helping determine the makeup of the legislative body that decides both national and international policies.

And your influence doesn’t stop there. State Senate and Assembly races, as well as local elections, will shape policies that affect our schools, taxes, infrastructure, and quality of life. These are the decisions that impact us most directly, yet they often receive the least attention from voters.

The power to influence these outcomes is in your hands, but only if you’re registered and ready to vote. If you haven’t registered yet, or if you need to update your registration, visit vote.gov by the registration deadline, Oct. 26. Not sure if you’re registered? Vote.gov can tell you that, too. The userfriendly website simplifies the process, ensuring that you’re prepared to make your voice heard on Election Day. You can also register at the county Board of Elections, at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola.

For those who can’t make it to the polls on Nov. 5, New York offers several alternatives. Early voting runs from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3, providing ample opportunity to cast your ballot at your convenience. Early voting locations can be found at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.

If you’re unable to vote in person, absentee voting is an option. You can request an absentee ballot by Oct. 26, at elections.ny.gov/request-ballot, or in

person, at the county Board of Elections, and return it by mail (postmarked by Nov. 5), or in person, at a polling location, by 9 p.m. on Election Day.

Democracy thrives on participation. When voter turnout is low, a small minority ends up making decisions for the entire community. By registering and voting, you ensure that your interests and values are represented at all levels of our government. Moreover, voting is a hard-won right that generations before us fought to secure and expand. Participating in elections honors their sacrifices and continues the work of strengthening our democracy.

In these politically charged times, it’s easy to believe that our individual votes don’t matter. Nothing could be further from the truth. Close races are sometimes decided by handfuls of votes, and every ballot cast sends a message about the issues that matter to our community.

You can educate yourself on the local issues and the candidates by reading the Herald. In the coming weeks, we will publish interviews with all of the candidates that are seeking your vote, so that you can cast an informed one.

Make your voice heard. Register to vote, encourage your friends and family to do the same, and show up to cast your ballot. Whether you choose to vote early, by mail or on Election Day, what matters most is that you participate.

concert, are shaping our future, and no one is excused.
BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

opinions

When will we finally say, ‘Enough’?

iwas a junior at plainedge High School, in North Massapequa, in 2018, when 17 people died and 17 others were injured in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in parkland, Florida.

After the shooting, we wore orange to school — the color for protesting gun violence — and staged a walkout in solidarity with the school. We ran a fundraiser through the National Honor Society, from plainedge to parkland, to help a grieving community over a thousand miles away. And yet, it didn’t seem like enough. What words do you have to offer, thoughts you have to think, when something so senseless happens to people your age?

That year, everything changed. When we returned to classes in the fall of 2018, the front doors at plainedge High had been changed to fortify the exterior. We weren’t permitted to enter or leave through any entrance except the main one, and we carried I.D. cards at all times.

But as demonstrated earlier this

month at Apalachee High School in Winder, georgia, sometimes no level of security is enough. It wasn’t enough at the Covenant School in Nashville last spring; it wasn’t enough in uvalde, Texas, the year before. The list of schools and communities tarnished by acts of violence against children goes on and on, and at some point, I think we all can’t help but wonder: How many more?

Many will argue that guns aren’t the problem in America, and that instead we have a mental health crisis. I agree — we do. But the two are not mutually exclusive.

erus pandemic, 1 in 5 children had a diagnosed mental health disorder. After 2020, surveys showed that 71 percent of parents said the pandemic had taken a toll on their child’s mental health — and things haven’t gotten much better since.

verything changed at Plainedge High in 2018 — but security isn’t enough.

gun violence, and deaths related to it, have been on the rise. In 2020, gun violence claimed more lives than it had during any other year on record — more than 45,000. In 2022 it was the leading cause of death among u.S. children and teens between ages 1 and 19. guns are a problem. But so is mental health.

The “mental health crisis” has long been Republicans’ scapegoat — their explanation for school shootings — and yet the party has done almost nothing to address their supposed concerns.

According to the American psychological Association, before the coronavi-

Letters

Congressman D’Esposito’s ‘last straw’

To the Editor:

Soon after Anthony D’Esposito was sworn into Congress, I wrote to him, suggesting that he take a leadership role by introducing legislation to require universal background checks to purchase guns, and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. I assumed that as a former police officer with direct knowledge of the frequency of gun violence and the understanding that the majority of his constituents favor gun control, he would consider my proposal.

I was wrong. In his response, D’Esposito circumvented the issue entirely. Obviously, he is more beholden to the NRA than to his constituents. That has not stopped him from asking for donations from me every day.

Now I read that, contrary to House of Representatives ethics rules, he hired his mistress and his fiancée’s daughter to positions in his local congressional office. That’s the last straw. I doubt he will resign, but certainly he should not be re-elected to Congress.

Is D’Esposito vulnerable to a House probe?

To the Editor:

It appears that the Herald may owe u.S. Rep Anthony D’Esposito and your readers a correction and an apology. last week’s issue had a story with the headline “D’Esposito faces ethics probe over hiring.” It cited the House of Representatives’ code of conduct’s list of relatives who cannot be hired by anyone serving in the House. Neither a former fiancée (no longer a fiancée at time of hiring) nor an alleged mistress is on the list.

Why did the Herald have an incendiary headline that was contradicted in the sixth paragraph of the story?

Because D’Esposito’s holier-than-thou opponent, l aura g illen, needed an opportunity to pontificate?

g illen identifies as a Catholic who worked with Mother Theresa for about five minutes long ago. g illen is proabortion because of her “own experience.” As she wrote in a Daily News op-ed piece in 2022, she had a medically necessary dilation and evacuation. Her experience was most unfortunate. But apparently she doesn’t know the difference between the termination of a human life through abortion and the removal of an already dead child.

Despite the fact that the data supports what we already know, 193 House Republicans voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which provided $2.35 billion to expand vital school mental health services; 210 voted against the American Rescue plan Act, which provided $12 billion to address mental health needs arising from the pandemic; and 205 voted against the Mental Health Matters Act, which would provide grants for schools to hire more mental health experts and grow their mental health services.

America has a problem, and the longer we wait to address it, the more people will die. School shootings should have ended after Columbine, after Sandy Hook, after Oxford High School in Michigan. Students shouldn’t be afraid to go to school.

“life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is written in our Declaration of Independence, codifying the unalienable rights of all Americans. But as it turns

out, the children who have been senselessly murdered while their government stood by didn’t have those rights. Because if they did, they’d still be alive. Right?

Colt gray, the 14-year-old charged with four murders for the shooting in georgia, shouldn’t have had access to a gun. He displayed serious mental health concerns and had made threats in the past, and yet he carried out an act of extreme violence, with a weapon his father purchased for him.

The problem isn’t isolated to georgia. Two weeks ago, right here on long Island, a Bayville man was arrested because his 11-year-old son wandered out of his house carrying his father’s shotgun.

We can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines and hope things will change. The time for thoughts and prayers has passed. What we need is decisive action — action that addresses both gun control and mental health, because either one without the other is no solution.

The safety of children, the preservation of their future, depends on our ability to enact meaningful reforms. The question is no longer how many more tragedies we can endure, but when we will finally say, “Enough.”

Jordan Vallone is a senior editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? jvallone@liherald.com.

As with her quick condemnation of D’Esposito for supposed violation of House ethics rules that do not apply, gillen is ignorant of science and the law with regard to abortion. We do not need another addition to the idiocracy in D.C.

gillen must not be elected. And the Herald apparently owes some apologies.

At the Touch-a-Truck event — Merrick
CHRISTOpHER M. KANE Rockville Centre
JorDan VaLLone

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