HERALD Oceanside/island park
Alice Moreno/Herald Stacey Richardson, president of the Uniondale Empowerment Resource Center, walking along the Long Beach Bridge, her sign protesting offshore wind projects.
South Shore residents rally in Island Park against offshore wind
By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
A National Day of Action against offshore wind brought community members, activists and local leaders together in Long Beach and Island Park on Saturday, highlighting a sharp divide over renewable energy projects. While protesters rallied against the potential environmental, health and economic impacts of offshore wind, some emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change with renewable solutions.
Roughly 50 demonstrators marched from Long Beach to Island Park Saturday afternoon to protest offshore wind projects. The event, part of a nationwide campaign spear-
headed by the National Offshore Wind Opposition Alliance, united coastal communities in voicing their opposition to the offshore wind industry and its impact on local ecosystems, economies and public health.
“We will be saying, ‘End it,’ with one unified voice, to remind our incoming administration that there are millions of coastal citizens that would be negatively impacted by the offshore wind industry and its infrastructure,” said Christina Kramer, of Long Beach, a board member of Protect Our Coast Long Island NY, who opened the rally. “We are looking for our new president and his cabinet to do as they have promised, to end it.”
New York state hopes to develop 9,000
Mount Sinai celebrates MLK Jr. Day
By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
Mount Sinai South Nassau, in Oceanside, held its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration on Jan. 16, honoring individuals whose contributions embody the late civil rights leader’s values of service, leadership, and community care.
The ceremony recognized healthcare leaders, community advocates and dedicated staff members, who were presented with the Mount Sinai South Nassau Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Award for their exceptional achievements and commitment to fostering equity and compassion.
hospital’s Parent-Child Education Resource Center and cochair of its Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Council. Campbell came to the United States from Brazil in 2008. A specialist in women’s health, she began her tenure at Mount Sinai in 2009 and has since been a key member of a multidisciplinary team.
t’s so inspirational the way that he was able to fight for human rights in a peaceful way.
JANICE CAmPBELL
Representatives from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Assemblywoman Judy Griffin and State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick presented citations to the honorees, recognizing their profound impact on the community.
Among the honorees was Rockville Centre resident Janice Campbell, nurse manager of the
“This honor is a reflection of the collective effort of our team,” she said. “It’s a testament to what we can accomplish together.”
As the founder of the “There for Her” committee — Tracking Health Equity, Raising Efforts for Healing, Empowerment, and Respect — Campbell has spearheaded projects to address birth disparities and ensure respectful, patient-centered care for diverse populations. Under her guidance, the committee organized the hospital’s inaugural Maternal Health Equity Symposium in 2024, which focused on reducing maternal morbidity and mortality among Black women. Campbell’s efforts
Hablamos Español
OHS Model Congress wins best delegation
Oceanside High School’s Model Congress Club competed against six other high schools at the Long Beach Model Congress at Long Beach High School on Dec. 14. OHS left the congress victorious, taking home their first trophy of the year. They excelled in committee debate, participating in entertainment, and maintaining respectful decorum throughout the day. Model Congress’ advisor is social studies teacher Jason Manning.
In addition to being named Best Delegation, individual awards include Ryan Kahl, Lucas Galvez and Matthew Bibicoff for Best Speaker, Honorable Mention for Lianna Arroyo and Talia Ridi, and a Commendation for Elaina Benedict and Matthew Collins.
— Kepherd Daniel
Courtesy Oceanside School District Oceanside High Schools Model Congress club came out victorious at the Long Beach Model Congress.
Jack Banham displays his art in O’Side
By REI WOLFSOHN Correspondent
Jack Banham is 99 years old, and about 15 years ago he began creating what has grown into a collection of hundreds of pieces of art made out of tiny strips of premium paper, which he is still doing today.
Jack was a radio operator in World War II, and a musician in the Korean War. Following the wars he met the love of his life, Terry, at a Sadie Hawkins dance in Manhattan. His four grown children all own many pieces of his paper art. Last weekend, it was on display at the Oceanside Library.
Jack introduced his children to art when they were very young.
“He would make art out of a peach pit,” said Johnny Banham, his youngest son and Rockville Centre resident. “He would take a peach pit and carve it into a Native American. When walking on the street he would find things and pick them up and put them to good use. He always had that ability to find that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
“My dad, Jack, has been instilling music and art in us since we were children,” said Eva Banham, his second oldest. “We all played some kind of instrument…He’s just an amazing person, so creative, so talented, strong and it keeps him occupied.”
Jack only uses 2.75 reading glasses to make his art, no magnifying glasses. He sometimes layers the paper to create shading. It’s all done with Elmer’s glue and no top coat. He doesn’t use any models, photos or drawings for inspiration. He doesn’t sketch it first either, it all comes from his mind.
“He sits there when he’s getting ready for his nap and just dreams,” Eva said. “He’s sometimes in a fog, he’s in a dream, and he’s trying to place all the colors and he just comes up with these ideas. Some when he’s walking around, some he just dreams about.”
It takes Jack about a month and a half to do each piece. Most of them are average sized wall art, some are smaller, some are larger. He does mostly landscapes, but also some portraits.
“He’ll do an hour, then he’ll take a nap, then he’ll get some lunch, then he’ll work on it again for an hour, then take another nap and get a snack,” Johnny said. “I would say he works on it about four or five hours a day.”
After trying stained glass, oils and acrylic, Jack says he got into paper art because it was less expensive and easier than other mediums.
“It’s cheap to make, you know it’s paper,” Jack said. “Expensive frames but I manage to make most of them myself.”
Jack started playing music when he was 13 years old. At that point, his stage name was Reed Conley.
“(I) formed a little band and had a lot of fun after that,” he said. “I would’ve continued music as my second love if it were not for World War Two.”
The rest of Jack’s bandmates all went into the Navy when the war started.
“The only reason I went into the army was I couldn’t swim, so I couldn’t follow my boys.”
After being called back to service in the Korean War, Jack would have liked to stay a musician, but there was no work to be had in that business. He wanted a family with Terry, so he had to get a steadier job. He worked for Pfizer for decades before retiring to follow his other love - art.
Eventually, he started exhibiting his art all across Long Island. His family chooses the pieces that will be exhibited.
“His daughter called us and said he has been exhibiting his art all over Long Island,” said Deborah Keehner, head of adult programming at the Oceanside Library. “And because they’re Oceansiders and we just opened up the new building, she wanted him to be exhibited here and I jumped on it right away. Especially
when I saw his beautiful work.” Keehner understands how meaningful and demanding the artistic process is.
“In his later years, John embraced the intricate art of paper cutting, transforming tiny fragments into masterpieces of magic,” Keehner said. “His art reminds us of the beauty that emerges when patience, precision and imagination come together…Art has an extraordinary power. It connects us, inspires us, and allows us to see the world through new perspectives.”
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
The Oceanside library art reception had several unique displays. Clockwise from top left was Debbie Shea, Penny Frondelli, Deborah Keehner, Michelle Owen, Jack Banham and Agnes Marie Caputo.
Johnny and Eva Banham gathered with their father Jack Banham as his art was displayed at the Oceanside Library.
Veteran Jack Banham still enjoys displaying his art.
MSSN’s Cancellieri named to Healthcare Trustees board
The Healthcare Trustees of New York State board of governors named its 2025 officers and the election of two new members, highlighting its commitment to strengthening New York’s healthcare system through leadership and trustee engagement. Joining the board for three-year terms are Anthony Cancellieri, co-chairman of Mount Sinai South Nassau and trustee of the Mount Sinai Health System and Dr. John McCabe immediate past chair, Loretto.
Continuing in their leadership roles for a second one-year term are:
Chair: Sharon Hanson, secretary and immediate past chair, Erie County Medical Center.
Vice Chair: Muhammed Javed, MD, chair, Olean General Hospital, and trustee, Kaleida Health
Secretary: Laurence Smith, immediate past chair, White Plains Hospital, and trustee, Montefiore Health System
Immediate Past Chair: Susan Holliday, trustee, UR Medicine
Cancellieri’s leadership and experience stand out as he assumes this new role. As co-chairman of Mount Sinai South Nassau, Cancellieri has played a pivotal part in guiding the hospital’s strategic initiatives and ensuring highquality health care for South Shore residents. His involvement with the Mount Sinai Health System further underscores his dedication to advancing
health care across New York State.
The Healthcare Trustees of New York State board of governors provides strategic guidance for the organization’s activities and programs, all aimed at enhancing the state’s healthcare system. The board expressed gratitude for the service and support of its members, whose leadership continues to drive positive change in healthcare governance.
— Kepherd Daniel
the End in Mind”
by Kathryn Mannix, M.D.
Subtitled Dying, Death and Wisdom in an Age of Denial, Dr. Mannix’s book is a series of true stories allowing readers to “experience” what happens when people are approaching the end of their lives: how they cope; how they live; what matters most; how dying evolves; what a deathbed is like; how families react. She finds that there is little to fear and much to prepare for.
While many people imagine dying to be agonizing and undignified, Dr. Mannix reassures us that this is rarely the case. Instead, people gradually sleep more often until unconsciousness sets in. This was common knowledge when death took place in the home – until about 1900 when funeral homes first came into being. Knowing what to expect can be immensely comforting to the dying person and their supporters.
Palliative care specialists believe that enabling people to be architects of their own solutions is key to respecting their dignity. They are only in a new phase of life; they have not abdicated their personhood.
The author advocates reclaiming “death” and
All aboard for safe boating classes
The days might be cold now, but it’s a good time to start planning for the warmer weather and another boating season by registering now for safe boating classes through the Town of Hempstead.
With Brianna’s Law now in effect, requiring all boat operators to obtain a boating safety certificate, these classes are essential for ensuring safe and responsible use of the waterways.
Upcoming Safe Boating Class
The first course of 2025 is designed for ages 10 to 18 and will take place over two sessions at the Department of Conservation and Waterways, 1401 Lido Blvd., Point Lookout.
stead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, said in a news release. “By starting young, we’re building a culture of safety, experience, and respect for our waterways. I encourage all young mariners to sign up for these important classes.”
About Brianna’s Law
This state law honors Brianna Lieneck, an 11-year-old Long Islander killed in a 2005 boating accident. The law mandates safety certification for all boat operators, helping to create safer waters for everyone.
More Courses Coming Soon
Additional courses for both youth and adults will be announced in the near future.
“dead” from modern day euphemisms such as “passed away” and “lost” and further that despite a well-lived and contented life, we often say they “lost their battle” instead of that they simply died. These attitudes disable us from having straightforward, unambiguous conversations about death. The conspiracy of silence about death often leads to the heartbreak of the dying being unable to convey their hopes and wishes.
“The dreadful reality, told with honesty and compassion, allows patients and their families to make choices based on truth, instead of encouraging the misleading, hopeless quest for a medical miracle that promotes futile treatment, protracts dying and disallows goodbyes.”
There are only two days with fewer than 24 hours in each lifetime, one is celebrated every year, yet it is the other than makes us see living as precious. Dr. Mannix points the way to what we can become: beacons of compassion, living in the moment, looking backwards with gratitude and forgiveness, and focused on the simple things that really matter.
• Saturday, Feb. 1: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 8: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Participants must attend both sessions to receive their boating safety certificate. The town’s bay constables will lead the classes.
“Teaching the next generation to safely operate a boat is a rite of passage for many Long Island families,” Hemp-
To register for the February class or inquire about future courses, contact the Bay Constables at (516) 897-4100.
Residents who have already been certified but need a replacement card can visit: Bit.ly/4jkJ1p6.
— Jeffrey Bessen
EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 265 E-mail: oceaneditor@liherald.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Press ”7” E-mail:
Jeffrey Bessen/Herald
The Town of Hempstead is offering safe boating classes for participants earn the required boating safety certificate.
Courtesy MSSN Cancellieri will serve a three year term.
Book Review:
MAKAYLA DAUBE
Mepham Senior Basketball
A FIFTH-YEAR VARSITY basketball player, Daube accomplished two rare milestones this season while leading the Pirates to 10 wins in their first 13 games. Mepham’s 2025 Valedictorian, she reached both the 1,000point and 1,000-rebound plateaus. On Jan. 9, in a 54-40 victory over Herricks, she also became the program’s single-game scoring leader with 34 points. In the fall, Daube helped Mepham to its first-ever volleyball county title.
GAMES TO WATCH
Friday, Jan. 24
Boys Basketball: Uniondale at Hempstead 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Kennedy at Elmont 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Plainedge at V.S. North 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Wantagh at Mineola 5
Girls Basketball: Long Beach at Baldwin 5
Girls Basketball: Mepham at Carey 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Glen Cove at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Oceanside at Freeport 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Manhasset at Hewlett 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: South Side at Clarke 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 25
Girls Basketball: Floral Park at Lynbrook 10 a.m.
Boys Basketball: North Shore at Seaford 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Island Trees at Malverne 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Mineola at Wantagh 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Clarke at V.S. North 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Seaford at North Shore 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Wheatley at West Hempstead 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Uniondale at Farmingdale 12 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 27
Girls Basketball: Freeport at Oceanside 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Kennedy at South Side 7 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a winter 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.
Oceanside focused on strong finish
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
Oceanside won’t be taking a conference championship into the most important stretch of the Nassau County wrestling season, but coach Brian Schoenfelder is hoping the Sailors take a few positives away from last Friday’s 37-21 loss to Farmingdale.
“If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best,” Schoenfelder said. “We battled, but we left too many points on the table. Farmingdale is as balanced as any team in the county. Now we have to take a negative and turn it into a positive and finish as strong as we can.”
The Sailors (16-2 in dual meets), who two days earlier crushed Massapequa 46-7 thanks in large part to four pins, lost four of the first five bouts to the Dalers and were unable to dig themselves out of the hole.
“We had a good practice leading up to Farmingdale,” the coach noted. “Maybe we’ll get another shot at them in the playoffs. The county is as wide-open as its been in a long time.”
The top-ranked dual meet teams are Farmingdale, Long Beach, MacArthur and Oceanside, with Calhoun and Freeport not too far behind. Those same teams are likely to contend for the top team score Feb. 15-16 at the county individual championships at Hofstra University.
“We finished eighth in the county last season with 115 points,” Schoenfelder said. “We want to climb that ladder. How high we can get will depend on a lot of things, especially wrestlebacks.”
Oceanside’s wins at Farmingdale came at 145 (Jesse Bittenbender), 190 (Jared Marine), 101 (Luis Estevez), 124 (Jake Strianese) and 131 pounds (Chace Morris.) Strianese, a senior ranked No. 1 in the county, recorded its lone pin.
Those five along with senior Santino Palmisano (170) and sophomore Joshua Moshkovich (285) are at the very least, in Schoenfelder’s opinion, All-County candidates.
“I think we have potential to get five guys to the state tournament,” he said.
“The top three in each weight class in Nassau goes. We also have some guys on a mission to get that county title.”
Strianese will be in a loaded 124pound bracket. He’s a two-time AllCounty finisher and heads into this week’s dual meet team playoffs with a record of 26-2. “Jake’s work ethic is unmatched,” Schoenfelder said. “He’s a favorite to get upstate and he’s on a mission to win a county title.”
Bittenbender, Morris and Palmisano are tied for the team lead in wins with
28. Marine has 27. Bittenbender and Palmisano are looking for their first AllCounty campaigns, while Morris, only a sophomore, and Marine seek a third as well as going all the way.
Marine placed eighth in the state last winter and reached the 100-win plateau for his high school career earlier this season. Morris is fast approaching that milestone.
Estevez, a freshman, has provided a huge boost to the lineup and has 22 victories.
Terry Uellendahl/Herald
Sophomore Chace Morris is one of Oceanside’s state tournament and county champion hopefuls.
LONG LIVE
LIRR record on-time rate isn’t whole story
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
With New York City’s new congestion pricing system now in place, Gov. Kathy Hochul rode the rails to Syosset earlier this year, urging city-bound Long Island commuters to leave their cars at home and embrace “world-class” public transit.
On Long Island, the tolling program is expected to increase commuters’ reliance on the Long Island Rail Road. Weekday ridership climbed from about 77 percent of pre-pandemic levels in 2023 to roughly 80 percent last year.
Transit officials, meanwhile, are highlighting the improved service of the railway system, emphasizing a propublic transit message to court suburban commuters looking to avoid the $9 toll to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. LIRR President Rob Free boasted that a higher percentage of trains operated on time last year than ever before.
“Our 95.6 percent on-time performance in 2024 is our highest non-Covid year in the history that we’ve been tracking on-time performance,” Free said.
Three years of growth and growing pains
An analysis of LIRR data over the past three years, however, combined with riders’ firsthand accounts, paints a fuller — and undeniably more complicated — picture.
The number of late trains nearly doubled from 2022 to 2023, from 8,691 to 17,064. The surge, Free contends, resulted from the increase in post-pandemic service over the last two years amid landmarks like the opening of Grand Central Madison terminal in 2023.
“We operated over 77,000 more trains in 2023 than in 2022,” Free said. “We’ve operated a little over 316,000 trains in 2024, compared to 302,000 trains in 2023. That’s a huge lift.”
The new service into Midtown Manhattan brought with it a complete overhaul of the system’s train schedules. Some service lines and connections were cut, while others added more frequent service.
By the end of November 2024, the number of late trains for the year dropped to 11,480, as disruptions eased — although the number of delays remained higher than in 2022.
LIRR’s own operations are main culprit for delays
Despite fears of commuter frustrations and confusion with the opening of the new terminal, the main cause of train delays in 2023 and 2024 wasn’t passenger-related interruptions. Instead, it was train operations — issues like scheduling conflicts, slow boarding and late departures. These were problems largely within the transit agency’s control that ate into the time passengers needed to board and disembark.
Other problems, like delays caused by train door malfunctions in an aging fleet, were up 79 percent in the first half of 2024, compared with the same period in 2023. And the much-needed upkeep of the LIRR’s ailing infrastructure, from
According to state data, while the LIRR achieved a record 95.6 percent on-time performance in 2024, the number of delays remain higher than in 2022 due to operational issues, infrastructure maintenance, and the impact of increased service volume.
Riders report overall satisfaction with their service but, complained about missed connections, and weren’t happy about the possibility of another fare increase.
signal repairs to track maintenance, has also been a major contributor to train delays over the past two years.
For his part, Free said that a “heightened focus on infrastructure maintenance” has helped, cutting switch failures by 31 percent in 2024, with further work focusing on improving safety and efficiency planned for this year — even if that means more delays.
Historic on-time rate, but average delays stay the same
LIRR trains are more punctual overall, but the average delay of a late train hasn’t gotten any shorter. Rather, wait times have held steady — between 11 and 12 minutes — over the past three years.
Given what he described as an “explosion” of service since the beginning of 2023, Free views this consistency in lateness as a sign of a functioning
system. In the nation’s largest transit system, with lines of service so “interconnected that one hiccup on one of our branches can have systemwide impacts on our total operation, the on-time performance we are achieving is nothing short of a miracle,” he said.
Still, critics point out that the data on train delays misses a key detail: the agency’s “on or close to schedule” standard allows for a grace period of up to six minutes. Delays under six minutes aren’t counted, masking a significant portion of minor setbacks that can still disrupt commuters’ plans.
Riders like Sasha Hanson, who commutes from Valley Stream to her interior design job at Stonehill Taylor in Manhattan, contends that these unofficial hold-ups can be just as vexing when they cause missed connections, particularly at Jamaica Station.
“It gets obnoxious, especially when transfer delays hit at the last minute— usually right as you’re getting off the train,” Hanson said. “It’s not like you can avoid it ahead of time on your commute.”
The “amount of trains that we operate through this terminal is a huge impediment to our operation,” admits Free. “We are looking to improve this situation by putting in higher speed switches, lengthening the platform, and installing a new signal system among other capacity improvements.”
Riders give LIRR high marks — but not for fares
Despite delays, last fall’s MTA survey found that 76 percent of nearly 22,000 commuters surveyed were satisfied overall with their service. Yet some commuters who speak well of the railway also balk at the idea of higher fares.
“I don’t think fares should increase, because it’s costing me a lot of money just to get to school,” said Raya Adiva, a Valley Stream resident and high school senior who depends on the LIRR to get to school in the city.
The specter of more expensive fares looms over commuters as the MTA Board approves a $19.9 billion budget for 2025, which includes plans for a potential 4 percent hike in fares and tolls.
“What’s important to keep in mind is that the price of a monthly ticket is still cheaper now than it was in 2019,” Free said. “The way we institute fares is predictable, so our customers know when it’s coming. We’ve done an incredible job of maintaining cost and giving people good value for their money.”
Data Wrapper Illustration by Juan Lasso/Herald
Tim Baker/Herald
Residents offer differing views on offshore wind
megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035, to power up to 6 million homes, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
The National Day of Action included simultaneous events in states including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Virginia and California, highlighting what was described as the growing national concern over offshore wind. Kramer’s activism, she said, began when she received a letter informing her of plans to install high-voltage cables near her home in Long Beach.
“Simple common sense told me this was dangerous,” she said. As she delved deeper, she learned that the cables were part of a plan to transport energy from wind turbines that would be built offshore.
Her research revealed potential risks to public health, she said, including exposure to electromagnetic radiation from high-voltage cables, which has been linked to cancer and leukemia. She also raised concerns about the turbines’ impact on marine ecosystems, local fishing industries and property values.
“My family’s health and safety were being put at risk so someone else could receive electricity,” Kramer said. “I felt like collateral damage.”
Her concerns led her to create Protect Our Coast Long Island NY, a local chapter of the National Offshore Wind Opposition Alliance, in 2021.The group has since gained the attention of local and state officials, including former Congressman Anthony D’Esposito and Assemblyman Ari Brown, both of whom have become vocal supporters. In 2023 the group collected over 15,000 signatures on a petition opposing offshore wind. A crowd of Protect Our Coast supporters gathered on the Long Beach boardwalk last March, along with elected officials, drawing attention to its cause.
The group has grown, but Kramer said she hopes it gets smaller, coinciding with the successful end of its fight. But, she added, referring to the development of offshore wind power, “If it doesn’t end, it will continue to grow, because we won’t stop until it ends.”
Arthur Schnee came from Massapequa on Saturday to voice his frustration with what he sees as conflicts of interest among officials and environmental groups.
“I don’t want to see wind turbines in the ocean,” Schnee said. “The fishing industry suffers,” he argued, pointing to issues that he said have arisen in other regions.
Nassau County Legislator Patrick Mullaney acknowledged the concerns raised by the protesters, while noting the lack of clear communication from offshore wind project developers and state agencies.
“Once the government and companies get their hands on an initiative like this, they rarely let it go,” Mullaney said. “There’s a lot of money behind these projects, which gives them credibility, but it doesn’t mean all questions have been answered.”
Mullaney highlighted frustration with the lack of transparency from state agencies like NYSERDA and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office, which have been slow to address the community’s concerns.
“I think the real issue here is the need for open, honest communication,” Mullaney said. “People deserve answers, not deflection.”
Island Park Mayor Michael McGinty argued that offshore wind is neither environmentally nor economically sustainable.
“We’re paying for two power systems: one for when the wind blows and one for when it doesn’t,” McGinty said. He cited examples from Germany and Sweden, where, he said, wind projects have resulted in increased reliance on nuclear energy.
Jim Brown, an Island Park resident and an environmental advocate, offered a contrasting perspective. Having lived in Long Beach until Hurricane Sandy forced him to relocate, Brown expressed strong support for offshore wind energy.
“We need renewable energy to fight climate change,” he said. “I live near the Barrett power plant, which still runs on fossil fuels and spews harmful emissions into the air. Offshore wind is a cleaner alternative, and all the science supports it as essential to our future.”
Brown also dismissed claims that high-voltage cables from the turbines pose health risks, calling them “misinformation” fueled by “fearmongering.”
Brown highlighted efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of offshore wind projects, including studies conducted by organizations like the South Shore Water Alliance to avoid avian hot spots and minimize disruption to marine ecosystems. He acknowledged that offshore wind projects have tradeoffs, but argued that the benefits outweigh the costs.
“We’re already at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and it will
be disastrous if we continue on this path,” Brown said. “Offshore wind is critical, and we can’t afford to fall further behind in the fight against climate change.”
Despite local opposition, as evi -
denced by the demonstration, Brown said he remained optimistic about the future of offshore wind. “I believe most people support offshore wind,” he said. “The opposition is loud, but we need to fight back and demand more action.”
Alice Moreno/Herald
Protesters from across Long Island’s South Shore gathered on what was being called a National Day of Action to voice their concerns about offshore wind, and marched from Long Beach to Island Park.
Early education, big opportunities at JCC
Hands-on curriculum builds kindergarten readiness for district’s youngest learners
By DANIEL OFFNER
Special to the Herald
The Rockville Centre School District’s universal prekindergarten program continues to grow, providing a nurturing foundation for its youngest learners through an inquiry-based curriculum, family engagement, and strong community partnerships.
Operating across two campuses—the Friedberg JCC in Oceanside and the John A. Anderson Recreation Center— the program serves 87 students. It remains a cornerstone of the district’s early childhood education efforts.
The district began offering universal pre-k at the Friedberg JCC three years ago, marking the program’s first availability. This milestone was a significant win for all Rockville Centre School District families. Unique features such as a bike room, indoor swimming facility, and before- and after-care services make the JCC a supportive, flexible option for families.
This school year, the UPK program further expanded with the addition of two classrooms, providing space for 32 students at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center. Made possible by an inter-municipal agreement with the Village of Rockville Centre and an expansion grant, the Rec Center provides a state-of-the-art inclusive playground, tumble room, and creative exploration spaces to enhance the prekindergarten experience.
“This is our first year at the Rec Center, and we hope to continue growing,” Marie Dalton, assistant superintendent for special education and pupil personnel services, said “We value the opportunity to provide our youngest learners with strong foundational skills for kindergarten and beyond.”
Dalton explained that the district and JCC would continue considering options for growing the program at the Recreation Center.
The UPK curriculum is aligned with New York State Early Learning Standards and focuses on hands-on learning to build kindergarten readiness. Instructional tools like Heggerty Phonemic Awareness and Fundations help strengthen literacy skills by focusing on phonics, listening, rhyming, and sound recognition. Nursery rhymes and visual storytelling add an engaging layer to early literacy development.
“We’ve worked hard to create a cohesive curriculum that unites our multicampus UPK program,” Trici Broderick, a reading specialist who helped develop the curriculum, said. “Our yearlong curriculum map ensures consistency and meaningful learning experiences for all students.”
Inquiry-based learning is prioritized, with math and science problem-solving centers and art projects tied to monthly themes like generosity and community. Physical development also remains a priority, with bike safety lessons, outdoor play, and movement-based activities
fostering coordination and confidence.
“A unique aspect of the UPK program is using personalized Badge Books, where students earn stickers for achieving milestones,” said Orly Gadon, director of student services for the UPK program.
“We are fortunate to have these students at the youngest levels,” Dalton said. “It’s invaluable to support families and build these early skills. We’re committed to expanding options for early childhood care.”
Dalton also highlighted partnerships with Molloy University, which allow student teachers to gain hands-on experience in pre-k classrooms.
“Our partnerships will offer future educators the opportunity to earn pre-K through 6th-grade certification while working directly in the classroom,” Dalton noted. “This hands-on experience strengthens their teaching skills and deepens their connection to the district.”
The Rockville Centre UPK program sets the stage for lifelong learning while fostering strong bonds between students, families, and the district through its thoughtful curriculum, dedication to family and community engagement, and plans for continued expansion.
The Badge Books allow students to set goals for themselves and participate in learning by tracking such milestones, such as counting to 10, reciting the alphabet and putting on a jacket. Parents also receive companion guides to help extend their child’s learning at home.
“We are already seeing the impact of the UPK program on our kindergarteners who entered the district’s kindergarten class,” Dalton said. “They are coming in school-ready, with enhanced socialization skills and budding early literacy skills.”
Aleah Mejia teaches students phonics using Heggerty. Students respond by telling her whether the two words rhyme.
Pre-K students at the Friedberg JCC earn badges by using colors and patterns to help them count to 10.
Dan Offner/Herald photos Students in the UPK program at the Friedberg JCC playing in the bike room.
Students in the UPK program at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center playing at Mr. B’s Inclusive Playground.
Maggie Britt and Nicole, her ‘star’ student of the day, counted out the days in the month of January.
The governor assesses the state of the state
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Gov. Kathy Hochul kicked off her fourth year in office on Jan. 14 by outlining her proposed 2025 agenda in her State of the State address. That agenda includes more than 200 initiatives, many of which would have an impact on Long Island.
Here are some of the key proposals Hochul discussed.
Affordability
Unsurprisingly, Hochul began the address with the issue on every New Yorker’s mind: the cost of living. New Yorkers have seen rising prices in housing, food, utilities, transportation and health care. According to RentCafe, the cost of living in New York is 26 percent higher than the national average.
The governor proposed tax cuts, rebate checks and savings from free school lunches, an initiative that could save a family of five $5,000 a year.
“I’m calling for a sweeping middle-class income tax cut benefitting 8.3 million taxpayers making less than $323,000,” she said. “The tax cut I propose today and will fight for in the coming months will deliver the lowest tax rates in seven decades and save hardworking taxpayers $1 billion.
“But that’s just the start,” she added.
A proposed $3 billion in inflation relief rebates would provide one-time payments of $300 or $500 based on income level and tax filing status. The initiative would have to be approved by the State Legislature.
Hochul’s budget also includes expanding the state’s child tax credit. Under the proposal, families could see the credit increase by as much as three times the cur
Tim Baker/Herald
Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered her State of the State address on Jan. 14, discussing a wide range of policies. Above, the governor appeared at the Long Island Association’s State of the Region Breakfast on Jan. 10.
$500 for children ages 4 to 16. The changes would be phased in over two years.
She governor also proposed that households making up to $323,200 — roughly 77 percent of taxpayers — would be given an income tax break that could save
Education
Hochul unveiled a proposal that would offer free tuition to New Yorkers pursuing associate’s degrees in high-demand fields such as nursing, teaching, technology and engineering. The initiative would build on the state’s existing financial aid programs, and target residents between 25 and 55 seeking to learn new skills to look for jobs in essential industries.
Nearby states, including Massachusetts, have launched similar tuition-free college programs to address labor shortages and promote economic mobility.
Hochul also announced her support for universal free school meals. That would mean boosting state funds to expand an existing program that could reach 280,000 students who aren’t already covered.
Mental Health
Hochul, who is expected to seek re-election in 2026, took office in 2021 when residents statewide were grappling with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Many students faced — and continue to face — mental health challenges.
That has been a central focus throughout her administration. In her latest initiative, she aims to address concerns about random acts of violence committed by those with severe, untreated mental illness. Her agenda includes strengthening Kendra’s Law, which mandates outpatient treatment for certain people with mental illnesses who are not receiving care.
Additionally, Hochul is advocating for a Teen Mental Health First Aid program, to equip high school students with the skills to maintain their mental health and offer support to their peers. She also promoted mental health resources for after-school programs, to ensure students access to licensed health care facilities through state-funded programs.
The Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital at North Shore University Hospital delivers the nation’s best cardiac care.
Our team offers a full range of exceptional care, from minimally invasive procedures to lifesaving transplants—all while tackling the greatest challenges in medicine.
A modern approach to traditional values
‘Character Education’ has a new name: Social and Emotional Learning
Catholic education has always been unique because it is values-based, and places a high level of importance on personal and interpersonal skills. This difference has been realized through the expectation of certain kinds of conduct in a Catholic school that reflects a student’s self-respect, and respect for others. Responsibility, and accountability for one’s actions have always been part of the higher expectation in Catholic school.
After years of experimenting with the latest educational fads, schools of all types across the nation are recognizing that investing in the social and emotional management skills of students will have a greater effect on the trajectory of their lives. Public, private and Catholic schools have all shown greater interest in what is now known as Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Catholic schools, because they have never lost sight of this, are further along in the development and implementation of SEL programs.
Catholic schools across the Diocese of Rockville Centre have maintained their focus on the ‘character education’ of students, even as more permissive educational models were being implemented elsewhere. While currentday Catholic school has embraced the integration of new educational technologies, personalized learning and new curriculum elements, the commitment to traditional values and religious tradition have never wavered. Catholic school has continued to teach biblical principles and traditional values, focusing imparting spirituali-
ty and self-discipline. In doing so, character education has systematically, yet seamlessly, been an integral part of the educational experience of generations of students.
Today, the heightened interest in SEL makes it clear that Catholic schools were on the right track all along.
Why Social Emotional Learning matters
Social Emotional Learning is viewed as attentiveness to the whole child’s needs. It is comprised of five major components: selfawareness, self-management, decision-making, relationship skills and social awareness.
Self-Awareness: A self-aware student will recognize how his or her thoughts, emotions, actions, and values impact their behavior. Students are encouraged to embrace a growth mindset, recognizing that change is possible, and that they have the ability to become selfsufficient and confident.
Self-Management: Students are taught to regulate their own thoughts, emotions, and actions to align with their values. Selfmanagement emphasizes motivation, impulse control, organizational skills, and goal-setting.
Responsible Decision-Making: Students are encouraged to make responsible decisions within an ethical framework. Being a responsible decision maker requires problem identification, analysis, self-evaluation, and reflection.
Relationship Skills: Development of skills like communicating effectively, engaging in
appropriate social behavior, and participation in group and collaborative activities.
Social Awareness: The ability to empathize with others, including those with whom they disagree, as well as those from different moral, cultural, and ethical backgrounds.
As everyone who has attended Catholic school can attest, these five principles are traditional parts of a Catholic education. In fact, these characteristics are often the most easily
distinguishable differences in the way a young man or woman ‘carries themselves’ in their daily interactions with others. They are the characteristics that we subconsciously recognize and silently attribute to the student being ‘a Catholic school kid’.
Photo: Faith-based rigorous academics are enhanced by innovative teaching practices that prepare students for the modern tech-based world in which we live.
OPEN HOUSE: January 29 10:00 - 1:00
SUNDAY, JANUARY 26TH AT 11 A.M.-1 P.M.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH AT 9:30 A.M.
REGISTRATION:
JANUARY 28TH, 9:30 - 10:30 A.M. & 7:00-8:00 P.M. JANUARY 29TH, 9:30 - 10:30 A.M.
Discover a Faith-based Educational Journey at St. Agnes Cathedral School At St. Agnes Cathedral School we believe that every child is a precious gift from God. We invite you to experience our exceptional academic program at our upcoming Open House.
Nurturing Environment: We cultivate a community based on love, compassion, and respect. Here, every child is encouraged to grow, explore, and develop their unique talents in a caring, supportive atmosphere.
Rigorous Academic Excellence: Our curriculum blends faith with innovative teaching methods, offering a challenging yet enriching academic experience that sparks curiosity and fosters a lifelong passion for learning.
Spiritual Growth: Alongside academics, we emphasize spiritual development, guiding students to understand and live by the values of faith, hope, and charity, shaping strong moral foundations for their future.
Physical and Creative Development: Our students enjoy physical education classes in our spacious gym, with K-8 students also participating in daily recess. Through art, music, and enrichment activities, they experience a well-rounded education that nurtures both body and mind.
Community Engagement: Our Mothers’ Club, Fathers’ Club, Parent-School Association, and School Board work together to help our students grow and thrive, fostering meaningful connections between families, teachers, administration, and students.
State-of-the-Art Facilities: Our new STEM Center features a science lab, STEM lab, and Art Room. Designed to inspire creativity and innovation, our modern classrooms provide an engaging environment for students to explore and learn.
ST. AGNES OPEN HOUSE CATHEDRAL SCHOOL
Honorees inspired by the work of MLK
gained national recognition in 2022 when she received the inaugural Award for Extraordinary Nurses in Patient Safety from the National Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
Growing up in Brazil, Campbell said she admired Dr. King’s work from afar.
“I grew up in another country, listening to his work, thinking it was something that I would never be part of it but then, when we moved to the U.S. we learned that it’s such a strong part of the culture,” she said. “It’s so inspirational the way that he was able to fight for human rights in a peaceful way.”
Rockville Centre resident Naginder Singh received the honor for her lifelong dedication to community service. Born and raised in India just a few years before the 1947 partition, which forced her family to flee Pakistan and resettle in New Delhi, Singh overcame tremendous hardship to build a life centered on family, education and giving back.
When her late husband, Dr. Harbhajan Singh was offered a chance to pursue a career in medicine in the United States, the family moved to Massachusetts in 1968, and nine years later made their way to New York, where they made a home in Rockville Centre.
After Naginder earned her master’s degrees in history and early childhood education, She was a social worker in Nas-
sau County while raising her two sons and supporting her husband throughout his esteemed medical career upon graduating from Amristar Medical College in 1963.
Her community involvement includes contributions to the Mount Sinai South Nassau Veterans Committee, the Sandel Senior Center and the local Lions Club.
In 2024, she was honored with the Robert Uplinger Distinguished Service Award, which was established by Lions Clubs International to highlight outstanding service to either a local Club, district or overall community. This further solidified her legacy of compassion and dedication to Rockville Centre and its residents.
“I am so blessed, and I’m very, very fortunate to live in Rockville Centre,” Singh
said. “This hospital has given love and support to my family for all these years. I’m very grateful and very fortunate to be part of your family.”
Christine and Keith Doud, of Merrick, were celebrated for their transformative contributions to the hospital and beyond.
The Douds, who have been married for 12 years, have exemplified teamwork and altruism in their respective roles at the hospital.
Christine Doud, a 23-year veteran of the hospital, has served on numerous councils and committees, earning accolades such as the ATNM Award of Excellence and the Daisy Team Member Award. In addition, she co-designed the “Who Will You Be Today” campaign, which encour-
ages actionable kindness and promotes workplace morale.
Keith Doud, a maintenance mechanic part of the engineering department team, has been instrumental in supporting the hospital’s Veterans Committee initiatives, including the “Suits on Soldiers” and “Coats for Soldiers” drives, which have provided more than 1,000 items to veterans in need. Together, the couple spearheaded the Toys for Tots program and the Santa at Sunrise fundraiser, benefiting countless children and families during the holiday season.
“There are so many great people working here who are equally deserving,” Christine Doud said. “To be recognized for something we’re so passionate about is truly overwhelming.”
For the Douds, their work at Mount Sinai is more than a job — it’s a family affair. Christine Doud’s sister served the hospital for nearly four decades, and her niece is also part of the team.
“It’s like a family business,” Keith Doud remarked, reflecting on the significance of being honored during the Martin Luther King Day celebration.
As each honoree received recognition, the audience was reminded of Dr. King’s legacy.
“It’s not uncommon for us to quote Martin Luther King,” Keith Doud noted. “To be recognized on a day that celebrates his legacy makes this even more special.”
Courtesy Judy Griffins office
At Mount Sinai South Nassau’s MLK Day celebration, several people were honored with citations from local officials. From left were Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray, Christine and Keith Doud, Naginder Singh, Janice Campbell and Assemblywoman Judy Griffin.
Arena Football team to call Coliseum home
By MICHELLE RABINOVICH sports@liherald.com
Arena Football is coming back to Nassau County, and this time it’s in a brand-new league in the form of the ENTFLA – the Entertainment Football Association.
Spearheaded by Hall of Famer and former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed, flanked by league owner Doug Freeman with a slight style different: other than the fact that it will be indoors, is that it will be on 7-on-7 format with a reduced play clock, along with the elimination of kicking on fourth down, leading to overall higher-scoring and higher-paced games.
Uniondale and Nassau Coliseum will be the home of one of four teams in the ENTFLA, with the other teams based in Morristown, NJ, Danbury, CT and Fitchburg, MA. The season is projected to run from June to August.
The emphasis of the new league in the land of Billy Joel and bagels was to bring professional sports to local, blue-collar families without breaking the bank, with an added emphasis on entertainment appropriate for the entire family while at a pro game, confirmed by its mission statement.
League advisor Tommy Benizio said the real purpose is to bring something that’s affordable, fun and entertaining, giving families in Long Island a place to come without driving hours and pay hundreds of dollars in tickets and parking passes to watch football live in an arena.
Plus, it’s meant to be fun.
“Between the players flying over the wall, landing in your lap and knocking your hotdog out of your hand, you catch a football you get to keep it, the cheerleaders, the mascot, the dancing and T-shirt canons, it is a fun and entertaining thing for three or four hours on Sat-
urday nights,” Benizio said. “So before you can come into the building we want live music and jumping castles for kids and a beer garden, it’s a party.”
With over 100 high school football teams on the island, the league’s owners hope for a close connection between the youth of Long Island growing in the sport they love, and the professionals engaged in it. Roosevelt High School football head coach Joe Vito is excited to see how a local pro football team will create an additional positive influence for his players.
“I’m excited to be able to have my team come here and see and maybe dream about maybe being this one day,” Vito said. “I try to expose our kids to a lot of things and coming to this is will be something they’ll be exposed to, so they’re excited to get the opportunity to come.”
Reed, the league commissioner, is key on the possibility of giving all types of NCAA football players another avenue to play the sport they love even if they don’t make it to the Show.
“We’re gonna be pulling kids from college, that pool, and a lot of these that are going to play in this league, when they play in this league, it’s another avenue for them to get to the Big Time,” Reed said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re at, if you’re good enough and display those attributes that a team might want, you can find somewhere to go and get a chance. We feel this league is about that.”
Each team will play 8 regular-season games.
“Anytime that we could have another opportunity to have more of our kids play professional football, is a great opportunity that we love as we coach the youth,” Vito said.
The nickname for the “Long Island” or “New York” franchise will be determined through a naming contest. Visit goentfla.com for more information.
Courtesy ENTFLA
Buffalo Bills legend Andre Reed is commissioner of the new Entertainment Football Association, which debuts in June with four franchises including Long Island.
STEPPING OUT
Photos courtesy LICM
In the Orion spacecraft, future astronauts interact with buttons, levers and sounds as they learn facts about what it takes to bring humans to the Moon, and eventually to Mars.
Space explorers need to utilize limited resources on the moon to live and survive. At this work station, children transport objects to and from the surface using foam blocks.
for an out-of-this-world
adventure
‘Moon to Mars’ touches down at Long Island Children’s Museum
By Danielle Schwab
Calling all future space explorers! It’s time to set course to the moon, and beyond, with opportunities for kids to fuel their imaginations and dream bigger — and farther — than ever before.
“Moon to Mars” has rocketed into Long Island Children’s Museum, on view through May 4. The traveling exhibit, — created by Omaha Children’s Museum and designed with support from NASA’s Deep Space Exploration Systems at Johnson Space Center — brings the wonders of space to life for young learners. Through six immersive play zones, future explorers get a first-hand look at current space technology and discover the possibilities of future missions.
“We have the resources to bring a really complex topic to life for children, where they can understand what makes a mission possible like what tools are used or why astronauts need to wear protective clothing,” says Ashley Niver, the museum’s director of education. Inspired by the current realities and the future dreams of space travel, the exhibit’s connection to real NASA technology is what makes it so compelling. Kids can climb aboard the Orion Spacecraft, designed to carry astronauts on future Artemis missions — using buttons, levers and sounds — or take the wheel of the Lunar Rover to explore the moon’s rugged surface.
“With the recent advancements in space exploration, like the launch of the James Webb telescope and the evolution of SpaceX, it’s the perfect time to introduce an exhibit focused on the future Artemis Mission,” Niver says. “We have so many leaps in space exploration and so many new things on the horizon.”
Clearly, creating advanced space technology is no simple feat. It involves creativity, problem-solving and much trial and error on the part of a diverse team. Young space explorers have the chance to dive into that engineering process, designing and building their very own rockets, and then launching their creations across the room.
“There’s a lot of engineering components that come into this, involving critical thinking for kids. These people [the spacecraft systems developers] have an incredible amount of skill and knowledge about space and creating these structures, but there are still things that they might realize don’t work, and to solve the problem,” Niver adds.
“The exhibit offers children endless opportunities to nurture their curiosity through the most effective way we know they learn: play. It also provides a valuable opportunity for parents to discover ways to incorporate big concepts like space exploration, physics and engineering into play at home. Whether it’s building a Martian landscape with pillows or creating a rocket ship out of a cardboard box, these activities spark storytelling that encourages imagination and inspires the ‘big thinkers’ of tomorrow.”
After young “explorers” have landed at their destination, there’s still much to be discovered. Visitors can get geared up in a spacesuit and explore a new world.
Among the components, kids can construct a new base using pulleys and blocks at the Moon Base Builder to make the planet or moon inhabitable.
Once the base is complete, step through the lunar leaps and feel the changes in gravity as you walk — or jump.
• Now until May 4
• $18 museum admission, $16 seniors 65 and older
• View the LICM events calendar at licm.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800
• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City
“You could take a leap and you have to work really hard to jump far on the moon. You wouldn’t have to do that because you don’t have the gravitational force pulling you as strong,” Niver explains.
Additional learning opportunities are found at the Space Academy Kiosk video display. It covers all things space exploration such as life in space, spacesuits, and real-life astronauts.
Each activity shows the boundless nature of space in kidfriendly fashion, perhaps even inspiring some future astronauts and space engineers.
“They can step into the role. It helps kids to connect to something that isn’t exactly what they know, they could put on a costume or a spacesuit and really embody that character. Hands-on play is a great way to engage them in content or topics that may be a little bit more foreign to them,” Niver says.
“The astronauts, at one point, were kids too. They dreamed of the same thing as you. You can understand the path that they went through that led them to their current career,” she adds.
As always, related programming enhances the exhibit experience. This time around, the museum is partnering with its Museum Row neighbor, Cradle of Aviation Museum.The Cradle’s portable, inflatable planetarium dome, the Digitalis Planetarium, will be in residence Feb. 17-21, for more space exploration. Families can discover the majesty of the stars and our universe during a 30-minute presentation led by a trained Cradle of Aviation educator. Four planetarium performances will be offered each day.
The LICM stage also gets in on the act with the futuristic production of “Interstellar Cinderella,” Feb. 7-March 21. Set in 3017, Cinderella is a space engineer who is looking to revolutionize space travel with her new invention.
While the exhibit is “in orbit” be sure to check out more related programming; information is on the museum’s website.
Acrobats of Cirque-tacular
Families will enjoy a new take on circus-style thrills when the Acrobats of Cirque-tacular visits the Landmark stage,. Cirque-tacular features one dazzling circus feat after another in a high-energy, family-friendly flurry of fun. Indulge your curiosity and celebrate your senses as this troupe of acrobats, aerialists and circus specialty artists bend, twist, flip, and fly into everyone’ hearts. Cirque-tacular’s performers — an ever-changing cast of elite aerialists, acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, specialty acts and world-record holders from Broadway and Las Vegas stages — are hailed as “mesmerizing”, “incredible”, and “truly impressive.” The performers are revered as cutting edge leaders of the new American vaudeville movement. Explosive music that complements the performance and act adds to the fun.
Saturday, Jan. 25, 2 p.m. $38. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
‘Dancing with the Stars’
Dancing with the Stars is back on tour to heat up winter with a dazzling live production. See the ballroom brought to life in this new edition featuring everyone’s favorite Dancing with the Stars pros and special guests. They’ll perform glittering new numbers as well as some of the unbelievable showstoppers featured in season 33. The high-energy show puts the dancers in the spotlight, showcase their dynamic moves as seen during the series, along with some lively new twists. The tour delivers an unforgettable night of electrifying dance performances from worldrenowned dancers who topped the leaderboard.
Tuesday, Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com, tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Intergalatic adventures take flight.
Your Neighborhood
THE
1
‘Easy come, easy go’ Queen-mania rocks on. Almost Queen returns to the Paramount stage with their homage to the beloved band, Saturday, Feb. 1 , 8 p.m. They don’t just pay tribute to the legendary band, Almost Queen transports you back in time to experience the magic and essence of Queen themselves. The band — featuring Joseph Russo as Freddie Mercury, Steve Leonard as Brian May, Randy Gregg as John Deacon, and John Cappadona as Roger Taylor — is “guaranteed to blow your mind” with iconic four-part harmonies and expertly executed musical interludes. dynamic live performance showcasing signature four-part harmonies and intricate musical interludes. The band’s authenticity shines through in their impeccable attention to detail and genuine costumes, while their live energy and precision captivates fans of all ages with an unforgettable concert experience. Almost Queen’s concerts are a true testament to the band’s love for Queen’s music.
The carefully curated setlist featuring Queen’s best-loved songs, like “Somebody to Love,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Fat Bottomed Girls,” and “Radio Ga Ga,” along with lesser known tracks. And of course, no Queen tribute concert would be complete without classics like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions!” It’s no wonder fans keep coming back for more. $79.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50, $34.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech Open House
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech, Long Island’s state-of-the arts career and technical education (CTE) high school, is opening its doors to all students with a passion for a hands-on career. Come and get a “Taste of Tech” at an open house at Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center, Saturday, Jan. 25, 10 a.m. Following an introduction to the school led by administrators, there will be self-guided tours of the facility.
Additional open house sessions are offered in February. Interested students and their families can register for the Open House at nassauboces.org/ barrytech or call (516) 622-6812 for more information. 1196 Prospect Ave., Westbury.
Chamber Installation Dinner
Save the date for a special evening hosted by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, Thursday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m., at Kombert Caterers. The gala honors the Hal Knopf Team at Compass as Business of the Year and Thomas Lehman as Citizen of the Year, recognizing their exceptional contributions to the community. Join us in celebrating these outstanding honorees. 3050 Oceanside Road. For more, visit oceansidenychamber.org.
Celebrate Football Playoffs With
Comic showcase
Plaza Theatricals’ rolls into 2025 with the latest edition of the 50+ Comedy Tour, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2:30 p.m. Laugh along with an all new lineup of some of the funniest comedians on the scene. And they all have one thing in common: they’re all over age 50!
Hosted by Long Island Comedy Festival’s Paul Anthony, the lineup includes “Banjo” Les Bayer and Chris Monty. $40, $35 seniors. Get in on the fun at Plaza’s stage at Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical. com.
Rockville Centre Choral Society Recruitment
Like to sing? The Rockville Centre Choral Society wants you! The non-sectarian chorus sings in Lynbrook and around the South Shore. New members are welcome. The chorus sings a variety of genres: pop, folk, showtunes, light classical and standards. All voices are welcome. No experience necessary. RCCS meets Wednesdays, 7:45-9:30 p.m., and performs two concerts yearly. Rehearsals are held at St. James United Methodist Church, 11 St. James Place, Lynbrook. For more information, email rvcchorus@ gmail.com or call (516) 599-5705.
Family movie
Come in from the cold and enjoy a movie on Oceanside Library’s big screen. Kids will enjoy ”The Super Mario Bros. movie, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2-4 p.m. A plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother Luigi, trying to save a captured princess. Rated PG. The event is free, Visit oceansidelibrary.com or call (516) 766-2360 for more. 30 Davison Ave.
Tunes with Track 9 Duo
Enjoy a concert with Track 9 Duo, featuring Chris and Christie Sciaratta, Friday, Jan 24, 7:3010:30 p.m., at J. Paul’s Terrace Cafe, For reservations, call (516) 536-1806. 239 Merrick Road, Oceanside.
Breastfeeding Support Group
Mercy Hospital offers a peer-topeer meeting for breastfeeding support and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms are welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 to secure you and your baby’s spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.
Lunar New Year
Welcome the Year of the Snake at Long Island Children’s Museum, Saturday and Sunday, Jan 25-26, noon-4 p.m. Stop by to learn all about the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival and learn about this special year, which is believed to bring an abundance of opportunities and fortune. everyone.
Enjoy dance and musical performances, on the LICM stage, view live artisan demonstrations and create themed take-home crafts. For ages 3 and up. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.
Having an event?
Have questions about tech?
Need help with your device? Get one hour of one-on-one help from a librarian, at Oceanside Library, every Tuesday, 10-11 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon. For your session, have a clear goal(s) in mind (i.e.: navigating smart phone, attaching documents to email, creating a spreadsheet for a specific purpose, etc.). Come prepared with all login usernames and passwords you might need and bring a notebook in case you would like to take notes. Tech help is by appointment only. Sessions are limited to a maximum of once a month per patron. 56 Atlantic Ave. Register at OceansideLibrary.com or call (516) 766-2360.
Beginner Mah Jongg Lessons
Start learning Mah Jongg over six Wednesdays, Feb. 20-April 10 (no class on March 19), 3:45–5:45 p.m., at the Friedberg JCC. For more information call the Friedberg JCC (516) 766-4341
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
On Exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) which publicly launched the movement. The direct followup to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. The exhibit encompasses significant cultural advancements during Long Island’s Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age movement, including votes, jobs, and the automobile for women, the beginnings of suburbia with commutation for work, and planned residential communities, which all defined the era, while the following decade brought economic reversals and the WPA program. Works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Fernand Léger, Guy Pène du Bois, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, and Reginald Marsh, among others, along with art deco stylists of poster art and graphics, and photography will convey the Art Deco spirit along with its furniture, decorative arts, and fashion.
Like “Our Gilded Age,” the social scene of Long Island’s Gold Coast, and its personalities — both upstairs and downstairs — will be portrayed, along with the ongoing relationship with the immediate urban context of New York with its skyscrapers and deco-styled architecture. On view through June 15. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum. org.
Hempstead House tour
Feb. 16
Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Sunday, Feb. 16, noon-1 p.m. and 2-3 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 to purchase tickets. $10. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.
Oceanside’s long-standing mystery GUEST COLUMN
Nearly a century ago, the Oceanside community found itself at the center of a reallife Hardy Boys mystery: the case of the missing bulletin board. The peculiar incident unfolded just after midnight in Sept. 1929, when two police officers briefly left their post at the police booth located on the Oceanside Triangle. One officer went to patrol his beat, while the other responded to a report of a prowler.
Fifteen minutes later, the officers returned, finding no sign of a prowler. But something was amiss: the community’s recently installed bulletin board had vanished.
The Bulletin Board’s Origins
In March 1929, the now-defunct Oceanside Civic Association led an initiative to construct a community bulletin board in the heart of town. The plan was for each of the 32 local organizations and institutions to contribute $6.50, covering the board’s cost. However, Civic Association President, Fred W. Brown, fronted the money for its purchase and installation.
The board was placed near the police booth and measured about ten square feet, split into two sections for bulletins and announcements. It was mounted on
posts deeply embedded in the ground, secured with chains, and connected to electric lights. Weighing over 300 pounds, the board was designed to be a sturdy, practical resource for the community. The Civic Association took great pride in that bulletin board.
Controversy and Discontent
Despite its utility, the bulletin board was not universally welcomed into the Oceanside community. It quickly became a polarizing presence in the middle of the town. Many criticized its appearance. Others viewed it as a safety hazard, claiming it obstructed traffic at the busy intersection where two roads converged.
A Suspected Plot
the moment; extensive planning and coordination was needed to pull off such a caper within the limited timeframe.
S eth J. B lau
Some in the community believed the disappearance of the bulletin board was no accident. They suspected that the prowler call was a diversion, orchestrated to give conspirators a window of opportunity. In the time the officers were away, the entire structure was removed. This was not a feat that could have been accomplished on the spur of
The Civic Association condemned the act and demanded an investigation. Although it stopped short of outright accusing anyone, the Civic Association implied that Sanford Story, a prominent figure in Oceanside, might have been involved. Story, a lifelong resident of Oceanside, founder of the Oceanside National Bank, and former member of the Oceanside School Board, as well as a past chief of the Oceanside Fire Department, was well-known and respected in the community. It was believed that he previously voiced opposition to the bulletin board and even requested its removal from the police. Story and Brown were no strangers to each other as Story had recently defeated Brown in a very close election for Fire Commissioner.
Denials and Defiance
In response to the allegations, Story firmly denied any involvement.
“I would like to shake hands with the
people who stole the board, but I don’t know who they are,” Story remarked at the time. “It was unsightly, it obstructed the view of traffic on two thoroughfares, and its location in the Memorial Park was uncalled for and inappropriate. But I knew nothing of its removal until two days after it disappeared.”
A Mystery Left Unsolved
Despite public outcry and demands for accountability, the case of the missing bulletin board was never solved. Brown never fully recouped his initial investment in the bulletin board or discovered its whereabouts. Story always maintained his innocence. The police closed out the complaint that Brown had filed. No one ever came forward admitting any involvement and the remains of the bulletin board were never found. To this day, the incident continues to be one of Oceanside’s most intriguing little-known unsolved mysteries that has persisted in local legend for over 95 years.
Seth J. Blau is an Oceanside resident and trustee on the Oceanside School Board since 2012. He has been a columnist featured in local newspapers since 2010 and has a passion for discovering, preserving and displaying the history of the Oceanside community
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PIONEER IN RESTORATION & RECOVERY
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January 23, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
Public Notices
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY
COMPANY. NAME:
AuerbachSolutions, LLC.
Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 12/03/24. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to:AuerbachSolutions 117 W Waukena Ave., Oceanside, NY 11572
Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 150809
LEGAL NOTICE
Please take notice that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Oceanside Fire District of the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York will hold its monthly meetings for the year 2025 on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 P.M. except for the 2nd Tuesday in April when the meeting will take place on the 2nd Monday. All meetings will take place at the Oceanside Firehouse located at 65 Foxhurst Road, Oceanside, New York 11572.
All meetings of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Oceanside Fire District are open to the public. This notice is being posted in accordance with the provisions of section 104 of the Public Officer’s Law of the State of New York. The Board reserves the right to cancel, postpone or reschedule any meeting.
By the order of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Oceanside Fire District.
Dated: Oceanside, New York
January 8, 2025
Tricia Schields District Secretary Oceanside Fire District 151113
LEGAL NOTICE New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Notice of Complete Application
Date: 12/16/2024
Applicant: NEVADA VILLAS INC
C/O JAMES VILARDI 146 N CENTRAL AVE VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580 Facility: NEVADA
VILLAS INC PROPERTY
SHELL PL - W SIDE - S OF NEVADA AVE|NCTM
43-70-485,486,494 Application ID:
1-2820-04167/00005
Permit(s) Applied for: 1Article 25 Tidal Wetlands
Project is located: in HEMPSTEAD in NASSAU COUNTY Project Description: Applicant proposes to construct a seven-unit residential condominium development on a 35,171 square foot parcel adjacent to Shell Creek.
Work includes the construction of seven units with garages on the first level and living space on two levels above, a paved driveway and parking area with on-site drainage, 25-foot-wide planted buffer zone between the development and the bulkheaded shoreline. As proposed, this project requires variance relief from the following development restrictions of 6 NYCRR Part 661.6 (Tidal Wetlands Land Use Regulations): 1. Principal building minimum 75-foot wetland setback. Closest building is proposed 33.9 feet from the wetland boundary. 2. 20% maximum adjacent area coverage limit for impervious structures. Proposed adjacent area coverage is approximately 83%. 3. Maximum allowable development density of two units per 20,000 square feet of lot area. With lot area of 35,171 square feet, the maximum number of units should be two. Seven units are proposed. 4. 75-foot minimum wetland setback for hard surface driveways / parking areas. At closest point, the proposed driveway will be 72 feet from the wetland boundary. The site is located at the southwest end of Shell Place is Island Park, NCTM # 43-70-485, 486, & 494 on Shell Creek.
Availability of Application
Documents:
Filed application documents, and Department draft permits where applicable, are available for inspection during normal business hours at the address of the contact person. To ensure timely service at the time of inspection, it is recommended that an appointment be made with the contact person.
State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR)
Determination
Project is an Unlisted Action and will not have a significant impact on the environment. A Negative Declaration is on file. A coordinated review was not performed.
SEQR Lead Agency
None Designated
State Historic Preservation Act (SHPA)
Determination
The proposed activity is not subject to review in accordance with SHPA. The application type is exempt and/or the project involves the continuation of an existing operational activity.
Coastal Management
This project is located in a Coastal Management area and is subject to the Waterfront Revitalization and Coastal Resources Act.
Availability For Public Comment
Comments on this project must be submitted in writing to the Contact Person no later than
02/07/2025 or 15 days after the publication date of this notice, whichever is later
Contact Person
MARY A MACKINNON
NYSDEC
SUNY@STONY BROOK 50 CIRCLE RD STONY BROOK, NY 11790-3409 (631) 444-0365 151114
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 4th day of February, 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Chapter l90 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead by the insertion of a location into Section l90-4, subdivision “A”, in relation to a 20 mph school speed limit, 7 AM to 6 PM, school days, as follows:
“A” - 20 mph school speed limit 7 AM to 6 PM school days
OCEANSIDE, Castleton Courtbetween Long Beach Road to Property Entrance of School District #6.
(TH-578/24)
The proposed local law is on file in the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Hempstead, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, where same may be inspected during office hours.
ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: January 21, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 151102
LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE OF NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER’S SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE
Notice is hereby given that commencing on February 18th, 2025, will sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 13th, 2025 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the
interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property. Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six-month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code. Effective with the February 2019 lien sale Ordinance No. 175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale. Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased. Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/526/County-
Treasurer Should the Treasurer determine that an inperson auction shall be held, same will commence on the 18th day of February 2025 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer.
A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/527/Annual-TaxLien-Sale
A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 06th, 2025. Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audiotape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 ext. 1-3715.
Dated: January 23, 2025 THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, NewYork
TERMS OF SALE
Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts.
However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.
The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act(FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et.seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC) receivership.
The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed.
The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all
tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk. The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale. Furthermore, as to the bidding, 1. The bidder(s) agree that they will not work with any other bidder(s) to increase, maintain or stabilize interest rates or collaborate with any other bidder(s) to gain an unfair competitive
advantage in the random number generator in the event of a tie bid(s) on a tax certificate. Bidder(s) further agree not to employ any bidding strategy designed to create an unfair competitive advantage in the tiebreaking process in the upcoming tax sale nor work with any other bidder(s) to engage in any bidding strategy that will result in a rotational award of tax certificates.
2. The tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) bid, will be arrived at independently and without direct or indirect consultation, communication or agreement with any other bidder and that the tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) to be bid, have not been disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder, and will not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder prior to the close of bidding. No attempt has been made or will be made to, directly or indirectly, induce any other bidder to refrain from bidding on any tax certificate, to submit complementary bids, or to submit bids at specific interest rates.
3. The bids to be placed by the Bidder will be made in good faith and not pursuant to any direct or indirect, agreement or discussion with, or inducement from, any other bidder to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive bid.
4. If it is determined that the bidder(s) have violated any of these bid requirements then their bid shall be voided and if they were the successful bidder the lien and any deposits made in connection with said bid shall be forfeited.
Dated: January 23, 2025 THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, New York 151098
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY THE BANK OF NEW YORK
MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE
FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2017-11T1, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-11T1, Plaintiff against LEON WILLIAMS, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Leopold & Associates, PLLC, 80 Business Park Drive, Suite 110, Armonk, NY 10504.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered January 3, 2025, 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 February 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM. Premises known as 640 Pearl Street, Oceanside, NY 11572. Sec 38 Block 534 Lot 17. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Oceanside, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $511,729.72 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 615752/2023. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. 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.” Lawrence S. Farbman, Esq., Referee File # 11842218 151110
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Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.
STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $16.50 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com
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EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour.
Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
NYU Langone Health is recruiting participants for an exciting new study exploring why and how some people with dementia experience a return of mental clarity as they approach the end of life.
NYU Langone Health is recruiting participants for an exciting new study exploring why and how some people with dementia experience a return of mental clarity as they approach the end of life.
These episodes are known as paradoxical lucidity. If you have a loved one suffering from advanced dementia, they may eligible for this study.
These episodes are known as paradoxical lucidity. If you have a loved one suffering from advanced dementia, they may eligible for this study.
If interested, please contact the Parnia Lab research team at 917-227-0932 or pl@nyulangone.org
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PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes
The fires in L.A. got us wondering
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Q. I, like many others, am upset about the terrible fires happening in California. We were discussing it the other day, and are wondering what your opinion is about how these fires spread so quickly, considering that we were also having high winds at the same time. Are our homes safe? Do we have better building regulations? Could the same thing happen to us that’s happening in California? What can we do to prevent this and what do you think California should do?
A. It can happen here. We must all listen, observe and learn from this tragedy to avoid repeating it in our own communities. I have often written about the beginnings of rules and regulations, which began after the great fire of London in 1666 and, in this country, after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. It took many decades and many lives lost to recognize that building codes were needed, however.
Unfortunately, the typical response, historically, is to immediately express horror, but as time goes on, become complacent that something that bad couldn’t happen here. Yes, it can happen anywhere, and certainly in communities where the buildings are closer together. So we need to listen when we’re told that it could happen, and realize why fire could burn down any community where nature’s forces work against our best planning.
We have seen the devastation, and some of us realize the many elements that contribute to disaster, such as drought, high winds, finish materials that combust and lack of ability to escape, to name a few. Our building codes are focused on life safety and limiting fire spread. At the right temperature, nearly everything burns.
California has similar codes, but many buildings were constructed prior to the newest, more stringent codes and did not have safety requirements for one- or two-hour resistive surface materials, interior sprinklers or opening protective devices like special shutters that drop to enclose spaces and reduce fire spread. Our roofs, siding, fences and interior materials, just like California’s, can ignite readily when hot embers land on them.
Rebuilding in California will have to include interior sprinklers, non-combustible exterior materials and community training in what to take, when to evacuate and how to do so safely without blocking the path of emergency responders. I expect that we will see greater distances between dwellings and backyard structures, less vegetation, cannons mounted on utility poles to shoot fire-retardant and fire break walls that can lift out of the ground to separate buildings. There are products on the market to do all of these things, though most have been developed for flood prevention or highly flammable building conditions. More people will choose cement board siding that mimics everything from stone to wood siding to preserve styles that are consistent with the building shape, and metal, cement or ceramic tile roofs that will not combust if a hot ember or coat lands on it, and metal window frames. Remember to choose safe materials. Good luck!
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“
The Sopranos” revolutionized television entertainment when it made its debut on HBO in 1999, and continued through 2007. On the surface, it was an organized-crime story centered on a mob guy in New Jersey named Tony Soprano. Below the surface, however, “The Sopranos” explored new levels of the complexity of human nature.
Yes, Tony Soprano was a monster capable of vicious brutality. But he was also an uppermiddle-income family man living in suburbia with a wife, Carmela, and two children he truly loved. Sure, he had his goomba, but he genuinely cared about and provided for Carmela, and would say hardly a bad word about her. He was a doting father who would take his daughter, Meadow, to visit prospective college campuses while taking time out along the way to murder
opinions
‘Woke up this morning . . .’
someone who had crossed him. All in a day’s work.
Then there was Tony’s mother, who had also plotted to kill him. Underlying all these contradictions was the reality that this vaunted tough guy and super stud was in therapy with Dr. Melfi, who treated him for anxiety and depression.
TThere was also a supporting cast of rogues and characters that would cause anyone anxiety. Big Pussy was Tony’s loyal friend, who turned out to be an FBI informer — a “rat.” Tony killed him, and dumped his body off the family boat so he could swim with the fishes. Bobby Bocola was an overweight killer who could play Santa Claus, and got himself shot to death in Trainland, the model train store on Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook.
Uncle Junior was an aging mob leader and family patriarch who was capable of casual cruelty.
hree of the stars of ‘The Sopranos’ offer their takes on what made the show special.
Recently, my wife, Rosemary, and I went to the historic Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts to see “In Conversation With the Sopranos,” with Steve Schirripa (Bobby Bocola), Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Vincent Pastore (Big Pussy), who reminisced about their experiences on the show and answered questions from the capacity crowd. The audience was made up of real people — middle-income Long Island families, many of whom, no doubt, had moved out here from New York City. Listening to the questions they asked, you’d conclude that they must have watched and rewatched every “Sopranos” episode.
discussing how they got their parts and their opinions of the other actors. James Gandolfini — Tony Soprano — was the glue that made “The Sopranos” work so well, and was extremely generous and always supportive. Dominick Chianese (Uncle Junior) was an exceptional actor and a totally mild-mannered gentleman off screen. Tony Sirico, who played Paulie Walnuts, was a psycho on and off screen but a loyal friend.
Christopher, Tony’s young protégé, killed his girlfriend, Adriana, when he found out that she, too, was an informer. Paulie Walnuts smothered his mother’s friend to death with a pillow when she caught him stealing her money.
Schirripa is a good friend and a truly great guy, totally down to earth. I’d met Imperioli and Pastore when they did a similar show with Steve about six years ago in Westbury. Both are very talented but regular guys.
The show was terrific, with the trio
Particularly funny was Pastore’s story about how a real-life mob-connected restaurant in the Bronx had proudly displayed his framed photo on the wall — but because the show depicted him as a “rat,” the picture was taken off the wall and destroyed. Their presentations were terrific, as was the question-and-answer session. They had a great rapport with the audience. After the show I met briefly with them, and told them “The Sopranos” would never grow old. Schirripa and I said we’d connect again soon. I’m looking forward to it.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
When was the last time you read a book?
iam a minority in so many ways that I never realized I’m part of a shrinking population of people who read books for fun. We read because we want to. We read because, for some of us, there’s no better way to spend our time. We read because there’s no other human experience that can transport us to another time and place, completely immersing us in the joys and tribulations of people who are the invention of a writer’s mind. I’ve known for some time that young people aren’t choosing to read books when the competition is TV or social media. I don’t need studies to tell me that, head to head, when it’s reading vs. streaming, reading loses with most teens most of the time.
The Atlantic recently ran a piece by Rose Horowitch revealing that at some of the country’s “elite” colleges, many students are neither willing nor able to read the books they’re assigned for classes. They say they just can’t do it — can’t concentrate for so long, can’t stay
with a narrative. Classes that once required some 10 books for the year now assign “excerpts.”
The students aren’t failing to perform. We have failed in preparing them to read properly.
When Horowitch investigated further, she discovered that the problem begins in high school. In recent years, with the ascendance of social media and smartphones, there has been a parallel decline in reading. More disturbing, many teachers are accommodating the change by dumbing down the curriculum, assigning summaries or chapters instead of whole books.
GPT to see what AI could do with the assignment.
Damn good is the answer. Plot summary, excellent. Discussion of themes, better than I could do. Analysis of language, good enough.
A re parents of young kids reading to them, or are they, too,distracted by phones?
Last week I began teaching a book group for adults. We do a book a week for eight weeks; they’ve had the syllabus since May, so there has been ample time to prepare. These folks are in the class for the pure joy and intellectual stretch of abandoning themselves to a narrative imagined by someone else.
I realize that high school and college kids can probably get by with ChatGPT to find summaries and analyses of the books they’re assigned in class. So, after I had reread the first book for my class and completed my notes, I went to Chat-
But what is missing entirely is any discussion of the emotional component of reading. The summaries can inform you, but they can’t make you feel. I’m remembering reading “Sophie’s Choice” in 1982, my heart twisted around the character as she chose which of her children would live. I’m talking about reading “Beloved” as a teen and perceiving racism in a profoundly new way. When I discovered “Lonesome Dove,” I disappeared for days into the Old West, way past the clichés of cowboys and cattle drives.
This isn’t just a woe-is-me essay. There’s an answer to the problem, and it is to limit or ban smartphone use and social media for children and young teenagers. We limited cigarette smoking and we demanded seat belts. Enlightened and committed leaders can do this. Informed parents can do this.
Kids read before they could Google. They picked up books before they could stream. Living in a world where high
school and college students don’t or can’t find the intellectual bandwidth to read a book is tragic for them personally and for our country. I wonder if parents of young children are regularly reading to them and introducing books, or if they, too, are distracted by phones.
Children who don’t read books grow up to be adults who don’t read, and never learn the subtleties of language and the possibilities of lives and worlds other than their own.
As we begin a new year, here are the books that I’m teaching. Maybe you’ll read one or two. If you do, write to me and we can share our impressions.
“Migrations,” by Charlotte McConaughy; “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” by Oscar Wilde; “Something I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You,” by Alice Munro; “The Matrix,” by Lauren Groff; “Slow Horses,” by Mick Herron; “The Wren, the Wren,” by Anne Enright; “A Day in the Life of Abed Salama,” by Nathan Thrall; “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck.
We worry about the rise of book banning in today’s America. Remember the horrific dystopia of “1984”? The irony is that book banning and book burning aren’t necessary in a culture that doesn’t read books.
Copyright 2025 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
RAnDi KREiss
Herald editorial
Serve the constituents, not the parties
earlier this month, those who were elected and re-elected in November took their oaths of office.
Long after the last ballot is counted, and as soon as the oaths are administered, the most important chapter begins — the work of governing. And now that Gov. Kathy Hochul has delivered her State of the State address and the legislative session is underway, New York’s elected officials face an urgent challenge: to move beyond partisan rhetoric to deliver for the people who entrusted them with power. While the election season is often defined by fiery speeches and ideological divides, the responsibilities of governing require cooperation, compromise and a steadfast focus on serving the taxpayers.
Hochul laid out her vision for the year in her address last week, touching on issues that transcend party lines, including affordable housing, public safety, economic growth and climate adaptability.
These are not Democratic or Republican issues; they are New York issues, and they demand solutions from leaders on both sides of the aisle. Yet the immediate responses to Hochul’s proposals
letters
Peter King walks a tightrope with Trump
To the Editor:
showed how entrenched partisanship can overshadow a shared commitment to progress.
Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, but some of the reactions to the State of the State were all too predictable, either filled with vitriol for Hochul’s policies or unquestioningly agreeing with everything she said.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of divisiveness. The political climate in New York, as in much of the country, is polarized, with both parties often more focused on scoring points than solving problems. But taxpayers deserve better. They expect their representatives to work together — less as Democrats and Republicans than as public servants dedicated to improving the quality of life in their communities.
Addressing housing affordability, for example, isn’t merely a policy discussion — it’s a pressing issue for families struggling to make ends meet. Likewise, public safety can’t be reduced to talking points; it affects the lives of residents of cities, towns and villages across the state. And economic growth isn’t about partisanship — it’s about creating jobs, supporting small businesses and helping communities thrive. These priori-
Re Peter King’s column “Once again, there’s a New Yorker in the White House” (Jan. 9-15): King should be commended for his once again skilled sleight of hand when it comes to comments about President Donald Trump. King managed to call him an “overlord” while at the same time showering him with praise for his supposedly singlehanded eradication of MS-13 on Long Island. King can certainly walk the tightrope very well. Lest we forget, Trump’s focus on the gang was a convenient opportunity for him to launch his narrative that all migrants are criminals, murderers or rapists. The FBI, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and, most important, Long Island law enforcement should be praised for their diligent, exhausting work on this scourge. And any child could see through Trump’s blatant politicization last year of Officer Jonathan Diller’s murder. Really, Peter. How amusing that King chooses to focus on Trump’s New York roots, his beginnings in Queens and King’s memory of a smiling Trump appreciating King’s New York accent. As if these things could overshadow our new president’s slew of bankruptcies, criminal indictments, multiple accusations of sexual abuse and documented perpetration of fraud on the public via Trump University and the Trump Foundation. King also
ties require collaboration, creativity and the willingness to engage in tough but constructive dialogue.
The stakes are high. Trust in government is fragile, and elected officials must demonstrate that they can deliver results. That means setting aside political differences to focus on what unites us: a shared desire for a prosperous, safe and equitable New York. It means finding common ground on key issues while respecting differing perspectives.
As the state’s leaders embark on this legislative session, they must remember that their duty is not to a political party, but to the people they represent. Voters have made it clear time and again that they don’t want endless gridlock or partisan posturing; they want solutions. They want leaders who prioritize progress over politics.
The work of governing is not glamorous, and most of the time it doesn’t make headlines. But it is the foundation of a functioning democracy. Now that the campaigns, the election and the swearing-in ceremonies are behind us, it’s time for the winners to roll up their sleeves, put the rhetoric aside and get to work. The future of our state — and the trust of its people — depend on it.
notes that Trump has made friends with County Executive Bruce Blakeman, former Congressman Lee Zeldin and county Republican Party Chairman Joe Cairo — MAGA supporters all. Birds of a feather flock together.
Of course, King is afraid that he and all the other Long Island MAGA tools that
Trump used while campaigning will be discarded in his junk heap of no-longeruseful sycophants now that the election is over. King is genuflecting to Trump again in an attempt to garner favor for New York in light of Trump’s continuing belligerent rhetoric about blue states and big cities. Most importantly, Long Islanders need a
opinions
Rubbing elbows with three great men
Columnists generally like to write about happy things, or at least not dwell on the subject of death. But over the past few weeks, three very significant people have died, and in some or many ways, I had direct contact with all of them. I refer to the late President Jimmy Carter, Chuck Dolan and Dick Parsons.
I don’t claim to have been a buddy of President Carter’s, but I had one interesting experience with him that is still fresh in my memory. During my years in the Assembly leadership, there was a custom that all potential Democratic candidates for president be introduced to the members of both houses of the Legislature. It was the job of an assigned member to escort the potential candidate around the Capitol for the meet-and-greet.
Apparently, nobody in the leadership offered to take then Governor Carter to
meet the elected members. Almost by default, I raised my hand and offered to do the escort work. My first task was to meet Carter at the Albany airport. At the stroke of noon, he arrived in the waiting area, looking to find his good shepherd. I greeted him and drove him to the Capitol so he could make his pitch for why New York should support his candidacy.
it was the White House operator, and to my surprise, President Jimmy Carter was calling.
During the following three hours, Carter made his case for being the next president. Late that afternoon, we returned to the airport, and I wished him the best of luck. He wasn’t convinced that he could win over doubting Democrats, but he was determined to go to all of the key delegate-rich states to convince the doubters that he was the man for the job.
Two years later, the modest and humble Georgian was the president. On a February afternoon, our home phone rang, and the woman calling said she was the White House operator. Despite being skeptical, I took the call, and to my surprise it was Carter calling.
Letters
repeal of the state and local tax write-off cap imposed as punishment by Trump during his first term. Former Congressman Anthony D’Esposito promised to get that done, but caved in the end. Maybe the recent visit to Mar-a-Lago by Reps. Andrew Garbarino, Nick Lalota, Mike Lawler and the rest was enough to satiate Trump’s need for sucking up from his MAGA crew, and we’ll see a lifting of the SALT cap.
New Yorkers don’t need to “work to find common ground with the president” to become great again. We are one of the most beautiful and economically stable states in the country, with resources and opportunities not available in any other part of the nation. Do we have problems to be addressed? Sure we do. But we’re still great.
ELIzABETH MuRPHY Franklin Square
Town hikes taxes, and mailers, ads keep coming
To the Editor:
Nassau Republican officials at every level shamelessly waste taxpayer money on mailers and op-ed pieces that are purely partisan attacks on Democrats, and they cite one-party rule in Albany, overlooking the stark reality that Nassau County, its cities, towns and most villages, is currently ruled by a single-party GOP machine, as it has been for most of
He told me that he would be making a number of public-works grants on Long Island, and asked if I had any preferences for a grantee. I recommended my hometown of Long Beach as the recipient of federal dollars — but I never heard from Carter again.
On a note closer to home, I was one of thousands of people who had a chance to know Charles Dolan, who created Cablevision and countless other innovations. He was a giant in the communications industry, but he was just plain Chuck in private.
I had the good fortune to be invited to his Christmas receptions and his famous July Fourth parties. On every occasion, he had the ability to make you feel like you were the only person at the event.
One August, Chuck invited my wife and daughters to the Hampton Classic, a major event for equine aficionados. Chuck had acquired a new camera and took pictures of my family, which I used on our family holiday card that year. I credited him as the photographer, and I got a call from him, thanking me for giv-
ing him the recognition. At all times, Charles, the titan of the industry, was just plain Chuck.
My last tribute is to the late Dick Parsons, a giant in so many businesses who was known for his great negotiating skills. I met him in the late 1960s, when he was a counsel to Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. He eventually went into the private sector, as chairman of the Dime Community Bank and Time Warner.
I still fondly remember a lunch appointment of ours on the afternoon of the O.J. Simpson trial verdict. We spent an hour discussing how Simpson could avoid a conviction, but at all times he was just Dick Parsons, a regular guy talking about a world of issues.
After decades of meeting great people, I very much miss those who were humble and gracious, never making a big deal of the power and influence they were lucky to possess. There aren’t many of those people left on this planet.
Jerry Kremer was an assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
Framework by Tim Baker
our lives.
We all suffer from the Nassau and Town of Hempstead GOP’s relentless crusade to stay in power by gerrymandering, doling out patronage and perks to friends and family in the town’s employ, spending millions of taxpayer dollars on partisan mailers and television ads while imposing double-digit tax increases and fees on beleaguered taxpayers.
While Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin gave generous raises to his inner circle, again, he and his Town Board socked every town homeowner with a double-digit tax increase, sneaking in a 12.1 percent tax hike in December and over $850,000 in raises this month without mentioning it in any of the town’s famous and constant mailers. And this year the town refuses to post the names of those receiving raises. What are they hiding?
The town’s devious attempt to hide this nepotistic, self-serving resolution to give themselves, their families and friends substantial raises epitomizes Clavin’s resolve to hide the truth from voters. Or is this just a way to avoid recusing themselves from voting on raises to relatives?
It’s time for this charade to end. Clavin must stop raising our taxes in years he isn’t running, and then sending out tax-paid mailers at $80,000 a pop, claiming he is freezing taxes in an election year.
DAvE DENENBERG Merrick
In last week’s brief “Gillen sworn in as a Congresswoman,” a few of the people in the accompanying photograph were misidentified. Those in the photo included Owen Finegan, Myles
The
The view from the Nassau University Medical Center — East Meadow
JerrY kremer
Finegan, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Chris Finegan, u.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, Austen Finegan and Laine Finegan.
date of Gillen’s swearing-in was Jan. 3.
mountsinai.org/southnassau