Oceanside/Island Park Herald 10-24-2024

Honoring a lifelong commitment to service in I.P. Oceanside Kiwanis hosts its installation

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

In towns small and large, there are those who leave their mark on their community. In Island Park, one such person is Mickey Hastava, who has devoted decades of service to the village as the founder of the Kiwanis Club. Hastava has helped keep the cornerstone organization alive and thriving for seven decades.

The club will celebrate its 70th anniversary at DaVinci’s Italian Restaurant on Friday. The event, beginning at 6:30 p.m., will honor Hastava, 88, one of the club’s founding

members. The cost is $70 per person, and attendees will enjoy a sumptuous meal and an open bar.

Island Park Kiwanis was founded by Hastava shortly after he graduated from high school in 1954, and has been in operation ever since. Persuading a friend to help him charter a local chapter of the international organization, Hastava envisioned serving the children and families of the village. Initially he invited 30 classmates, and 10 people attended the first meeting.

A Navy veteran, Hastava was stationed in the Pacific in the 1950s, where he witnessed

some of the tests of atomic weapons that were conducted in the region. The family business, Hastava Real Estate, was one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the Island Park area before it moved to Garden City.

Over the years, the Kiwanis Club has supported a wide range of community needs, from supplying food for families in need to sponsoring children at Camp Kiwanis. It has provided students with school supplies, and built a playground at F.X. Hegarty Elementary after Superstorm Sandy. The club has hosted an annual Lobster Bake fundraiser for

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

The Oceanside Kiwanis Club gathered in celebration on Oct. 17, hosting its highly anticipated installation of officers and awards dinner at Temple Avodah.

The event, filled with camaraderie and community spirit, marked the installation of the club’s officers and board of directors for 2024-25, and three dedicated community members were honored for their exceptional service.

Kiwanis Club Lt. Gov. Michaelene Abbott-Cooper officially discharged the club’s outgoing officers, including President Michael CoNTiNuED oN PAGE 10

over 40 years, as well as pancake breakfasts, spaghetti dinners, Sip and Paint events, and breakfasts with Santa. It will begin its 71styear of service with a holiday food drive on Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Island Park King Kullen. These events not only bring the community together but also raise funds for scholarships, awards, and other chari-

table initiatives. Today the club continues to sponsor community service awards, and donate pediatric trauma kits to the fire department.

Thanks to the efforts of Hastava’s niece Karen Davis, of Oceanside, the current Kiwanis president and a teacher at Lincoln Orens Middle School, the club has seen a revival in

CoNTiNuED oN PAGE 9

Holden Leeds/Herald

Kiwanis Club President Michael D’Ambrosio, far left, with County Legislator Patrick Mullaney; Todd Nussen, his wife, Maria, and their daughters, Melina, Natasha and Adriana; Kiwanis Lt. Gov. Michaelene Abbott-Cooper; and incoming President Eric Abbey.

Oceanside employees honored by McDonald’s family

By REI WOLFSOHN Correspondent

Owner-operator family the Hendels honored four employees who have worked at McDonald’s in Oceanside for nearly 30 years on Oct. 16.

One in eight Americans have worked at McDonald’s. Long-time employees Maria Diaz, Michelle Van Kuyk, Arelis Genao and Maria Astorga were recognized for their status and contributions. The Hendel family, father, brother and sister, own and operate this location.

“You guys have trained me, my brother, the whole team,” Lauren Hendel said. “You’ve really been there for us since the beginning. I’m so proud to work with you. Love you guys. I’m excited to celebrate you today.”

Astorga, who has been at this McDonald’s for 30 years, said her entrance into the McDonald’s Family was sudden.

“I came in one day just to eat,” Astorga said. “I asked if they were hiring and they told me yes. I was hired the next day.”

Genao, who has worked there for nearly 30 years, feels comfortable and supported by her fellow crew members and bosses.

“I stay motivated by the crew, the way I’ve been treated here and the customers,” Genao said.

Mark Hendel, Lauren’s brother, deeply appreciates their contributions to Oceanside McDonald’s.

Rei Wolfsohn/Herald

up for their retirement plans so they can have a better future for themselves and their families.”

Diaz, who has been with them for 17 years, sees the benefits to her community.

“Over time the community has gotten better,” Diaz said.

Lauren said they get very involved with their employees and community.

“I think, for us, family means much more than just working with my dad and my brother,” Lauren said. “When you come here and work at McDonald’s it really is, as we call it, the McFamily. You really get to know people individually, their backgrounds, things about their families. And we all work together toward a common goal. That’s really what the power of the brand is, being there for one another and being there for our communities too.”

“They truly believe in setting a culture in the restaurant as well,” Mark said. “All of the employees come in much happier seeing them, because of their dedication to the McDonald’s brand.”

The Hendels say Van Kuyk is one of the only women at the store who enjoys inventory and trucking. She’s been there for 19 years.

“My favorite part is helping with the truck, making sure the store is organized,” Van Kuyk said.

The Hendels take it one step further. They offer their employees various benefits.

“Our crew people can earn up to $2,500 per semester and managers can earn up to $3,000 per semester (for school),” Mark said. “We also, as an organization, offer 401k programs to each and every employee. For the most part, all of them signed up for it. So the employees we’re recognizing today are all on board with that, and we’re trying to set them

The Hendel family own and operate 31 restaurants throughout New York, including in Time Square and Union Square. They believe in contributing to their communities.

“Ray Crocks said that when you open a McDonald’s up in a community, it’s really important to give back,” said Paul Hendel, father to Lauren and Mark. “So we make it our business to stay in touch with all our local chamber of commerce, and make sure we support little leagues and all that. A lot of our customers come in and they’ll have requests and that’s how it’s all started.”

Michele Pascucci,far left, with Paul, Mark and Lauren Hendel as Maria Diaz, Maria Astorga, Arelis Genao and Michelle Van Kuyk try on their 1 in 8 jackets.

Harvey’s Café opens at Friedberg JCC

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

The Friedberg JCC in Oceanside marked a milestone on Oct. 15 with the grand opening of Harvey’s Café, a vocational training café named in honor of longtime advocate and former Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg.

The café, a project designed to provide individuals with disabilities with handson training in the food service industry, was made possible in part through Weisenberg’s commitment to supporting people with disabilities.

“This café is a testament to confidence, socialization, self esteem and food. We really wanted this,” said Roni Kleinman, the JCC’s CEO. “The South Shore is so under served as far as funding for programs like this and having people come and support us and seeing the participants, greeting people, getting to serve meals, it’s all great.”

The café’s opening ceremony was attended by numerous community members, advocates, and volunteers, all of whom gathered to celebrate this new initiative. At the heart of the event was Harvey Weisenberg, whose lifetime of advocacy for individuals with disabilities has left an indelible mark on the community.

“People with disabilities have challenges, but they have courage,” Weisenberg said. “The most important value that comes out of interrelationships and socialization is to know that love and happiness are combined. What we are doing today is providing a resource that offers love, understanding, and the opportunity for people with disabilities to be part of society and achieve their

full potential.”

Weisenberg, who has personally secured over millions in funding for disability-related initiatives during his career, described his late son Ricky— who had cerebral palsy—as an angel who changed his life and motivated him to improve the lives of others. The creation of Harvey’s Café is a continuation of this work, offering training that not only teaches participants how to make sandwiches and serve customers but also how to build confidence, develop independence, and integrate into the community.

“It’s amazing,’ said Marcy Hallerman, senior program director at the Friedberg JCC. “It’s something we’ve been talking about since we reopened the building after Covid. How we could get our cafe reopened and also provide an opportunity for people with disabilities to learn

career skills? It’s just amazing to see it come to fruition and have it actually happening.”

The café was a collaborative effort between the JCC and local volunteers, some of whom are already deeply involved in related programs. Andrietta Calderone and her twin sister Dana, both volunteers at Harvey’s Café, were introduced to the project through the Cooking with Stars program, which had already fostered their love for cooking. They completed months of training, from July to the café’s opening in October, learning food preparation, customer service, and other skills essential to the café’s operation.

“We love it,” Andrietta said, beaming. “We come in every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to work at the café, and then we head over to our cooking class. It’s been a great experience.”

The twins have a history of community involvement. Andrietta works as a page at the Lynbrook Library, while Dana volunteers wherever she can. Their passion for helping others and contributing to meaningful projects like Harvey’s Café reflects the inclusive spirit of the JCC and its programs.

Rockville Centre resident Ashley Gazes, founder and president of the JCC’s Special Advocacy Coalition was a key figure in the development of Harvey’s Café,

“Harvey has always believed that people with disabilities should be a part of society and have the same opportunities as everyone else,” she said. “Thanks in part to his generosity, we can open this vocational café, a place where people with disabilities can learn the skills needed to work in the food service industry.”

Gazes emphasized that Harvey’s Café is not only a place for learning how to work in food service but also a space where individuals with disabilities can grow more independent and gain the confidence they need to pursue paid employment. The café, she said, will help participants secure jobs in restaurants and cafés across Long Island, ultimately creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

Weisenberg’s dedication to serving people with disabilities has been a lifelong pursuit. The JCC itself, a vital resource in the Oceanside community, continues to provide services to people of all ages, from children to seniors.

“This is a family place,” Weisenberg said. “Families come here, and they find not just activities and resources, but a sense of belonging.”

Photos Courtesy Friedberg JCC

Harvey Weisenberg shares a joyful moment with café volunteers and staff, celebrating the café’s opening and its mission to offer meaningful employment training opportunities.

JCC volunteer Ashley Gazes and former Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg cut the ribbon to officially open Harvey’s Cafe at the Friedberg JCC. Alongside them was cafe manager Peter Lora,left, and cafe volunteers Dana and Andrietta Calderone.

Estate Planning for the Estranged Child (Part Two)

Last week, we wrote about having compassion for the estranged son or daughter married to the narcissist when considering leaving an inheritance. But what about leaving an inheritance to the estranged child who is not in this situation.

The reasons for estrangement are as different as are families. As Tolstoy famously remarked, “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”.

One of the keys to resolving what to leave the estranged child is determining who in the family are they estranged from and for how long and for what reasons (if known). Sometimes they are estranged from only one parent and the other parent does not wish to see that child disinherited. Sometimes they are estranged from the parents but not their siblings — or some but not all of their siblings. It’s complicated. Often, hope springs eternal that the estranged son or daughter will come back into the fold.

In cases like these we like to use a technique

O’Side Highs National Honor Society chapter wins award

we call “Schedule A”. Generally, in a trust or a will, you will find the dispositive provisions, i.e. who you are leaving it to and in what amounts, somewhere in the middle of the document.

When you amend the trust, or prepare a codicil to the will, you may legally change your wishes. Nevertheless, all of the parties can see what it was before and what the change was. For example, if you left someone out and now you are putting them back in, they will clearly see that they were left out before, and vice versa!

To avoid the hurt, confusion and possible litigation that these emotionally fraught situations may engender, we recommend using a “Schedule A” to the trust. Here, in the body of the trust we state that the wishes are provided in “Schedule A” annexed hereto which may be replaced from time to time with the same formalities as the execution of the trust. Now, when a change is made we destroy the old “Schedule A” replacing with the new one avoiding hurt feelings and misunderstandings.

LAW FIRM

Oceanside High School’s National Honor Society Chapter has won the NHS Service Award for Excellence. Jayden Connolly, 2023-24 chapter secretary, applied for a NHS Pillars award, referencing how the chapter had raised more than $1,300 for charities focused on cancer, including The Little Warriors Foundation which raises money to fund high-impact research and clinical trials serving children diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma.

The OHS chapter also devoted 3,375

volunteer hours to the Oceanside community.

Although the 2023-24 officers have graduated, the chapter and its advisors, Michael Communiello and Michelle Rinaldi, announced the award to the school district’s administration.

The National Honor Society pillars are scholarship, service, leadership and character.

— Kepherd Daniel

Courtesy Oceanside School District

The 2023-24 National Honor Society advisors Michael Comuniello and Michelle Rinaldi posed with newly inducted chapter officers: President Tyler Polito, Vice President Benjamin Samuel, Treasurer Justin Connolly, and Secretary Jayden Connolly.

Located in Rockville Centre, Molloy University is home to one of the premier NCAA Division II athletic programs in the East Coast Conference. Molloy is expanding its athletic offerings by introducing sprint football as its 23rd intercollegiate sport. The Lions will proudly compete as the newest member of the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL), with the inaugural season kicking off in fall 2024.

Molloy

Friedberg JCC to address cognitive decline

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

The Friedberg JCC will host a Parkinson’s awareness event on Oct. 29 focusing on cognitive changes in Parkinson’s disease. Sponsored by the Parkinson’s Foundation, the event will feature speakers, a resource fair, lunch, and an exercise demo.

This educational event will provide valuable strategies and insights for patients, families, and healthcare providers to better manage these symptoms. Running from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the program will feature two key speakers: Dr. Mariel Deutsch from Neurology MIND Care, and Kaitlin Steven from Metro Physical & Aquatic Therapy. Both will offer expertise on approaches to managing cognitive changes associated with Parkinson’s. Registration for the event is required and can be completed online at Parkinson.org/oceanside or calling 518-713-1266.

Deutsch, a neurologist specializing in dementia and cognitive changes in Parkinson’s, will share insights on how patients can manage and slow cognitive decline.

Deutsch discussed the challenges faced by individuals with Parkinson’s disease, particularly as it relates to cognitive function. She highlighted that, unfortunately, cognitive changes—such as difficulties with attention, processing speed, executive function, and memory—are common

as the disease progresses. Depression, anxiety, and irritability may also accompany these changes.

Deutsch emphasized that although Parkinson’s disease currently has no cure, there are several ways patients can manage their symptoms and work to prevent dementia.

“I hope attendees leave the event feeling empowered,” she said, “that despite the disease’s challenges, there are many modifiable factors within their control that can improve cognitive health and prevent decline.”

These modifiable factors include exercise, sleep, diet, mood management, stress reduction, and medication optimization. A significant part of Deutsch’s talk will address the importance of patients collaborating with their doctors to optimize

their treatment plans, specifically focusing on managing medications.

While some Parkinson’s medications help with motor symptoms, they can also exacerbate cognitive issues. Dr. Deutsch hopes to provide patients with tools to make informed decisions about their treatments.

Deutsch’s approach as a cognitive behavioral neurologist involves a comprehensive evaluation of patients experiencing cognitive symptoms.

She works with patients who already have a Parkinson’s diagnosis and those with Parkinsonian symptoms, ensuring they receive the right care.

In addition to her professional work, Deutsch is passionate about fostering social connections and cognitive stimulation in her personal life. Recently, she

started a crochet and crafts group called “Yarn Minds Care” in Merrick.

The initiative was born out of her love for crochet and her professional advice that engaging in cognitively stimulating and social activities is crucial for brain health.

The group meets twice a month at Temple Beth Am, offering community members a space to connect, create, and share their craft projects. Deutsch encourages anyone interested to join, whether they crochet or practice other crafts, believing that these activities can help prevent cognitive decline.

Deutsch’s crochet club and her upcoming presentation at the JCC demonstrate her holistic approach to Parkinson’s care, combining medical expertise with practical lifestyle changes that empower patients.

Those attending the event will not only gain valuable insights into managing their cognitive health but also learn about various non-medication strategies that can improve their overall well-being.

“I hope that it will give people plans so that they can try to make some changes, with their doctor’s guidance, about things that could be beneficial for their cognitive health,” she said.

For more information on Deutsch’s crochet group, visit yarnmindscare.com. The event at the JCC is open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to participate in the discussion and take advantage of the resources provided.

Courtesy Friedberg JCC

The JCC has a wide array of programs for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

GIANNA VENTURA

East Meadow Junior Field Hockey

AN HONORABLE MENTION ALL-COUNTY in 2023 after scoring 12 goals and setting up 6 others in her first varsity field hockey season, Ventura ranks among Nassau’s leading offensive weapons this fall and has helped the 11-1 Jets to a conference title. A right wing forward, she has 20 goals and 13 assists through a dozen games. She scored at least one goal in all but one game and has eight multi-goal performances including one hat trick.

GAMES TO WATCH

Thursday, Oct. 24

Field Hockey: Sewanhaka District at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Football: G.N. South at Long Beach 5 p.m.

Boys Volleyball: Lawrence at Calhoun 5:45 p.m.

Girls Volleyball: South Side at Lynbrook 6:45 p.m.

Girls Volleyball: V.S. North at Malverne 6:45 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 25

Field Hockey: North Shore at Clarke 5 p.m.

Football: Plainedge at Island Trees 5 p.m.

Football: Massapequa at Westbury 5 p.m.

Football: Floral Park at Hewlett 6 p.m.

Football: Kennedy at Mineola 6 p.m.

Football: Carle Place at West Hempstead 6 p.m.

Football: Wantagh at Seaford 6 p.m.

Football: Oceanside at Farmingdale 6:30 p.m.

Football: Freeport at Port Washington 6:30 p.m.

Football: Floral Park at Lynbrook 3 p.m.

Football: Oceanside at Freeport 3 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 26

Football: Mepham at Sewanhaka 11 a.m.

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

Football: Garden City at Elmont 1 p.m.

Football: V.S. North at Lynbrook 3 p.m.

Football: V.S. Central at East Meadow 3 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

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

HERALD SPORTS

Oceanside 6-0 with Dalers looming

By BRIAN KACHARABA sports@liherald.com

Oceanside football head coach Rob Blount described the last two seasons as “reloading years” with his team hovering just above or at .500. Now, its firing on all cylinders and chasing history.

Junior Shane Harmon had arguably his best performance as a varsity quarterback by throwing for 340 yards and four touchdowns -- two apiece to seniors Dillon Tveter and Kyle Scheurer – and gained 60 more on just two carries as the Sailors (6-0) rolled to a 42-14 win over East Meadow last Friday night.

Seniors Roman Perisa and Issaiah Spivey added third quarter rushing scores for the high-octane Oceanside offense, which reached at least 42 points for the fifth time this season. Senior captains Simon Wareham and Andrew Dato, freshman Jayden Belone and junior Luke Miller were among the defensive stars.

Oceanside took a 7-0 lead on its first play from scrimmage when Harmon connected with Scheurer on a 70-yard strike down the right side. The Jets tied it moments later, but Harmon hit Tveter on a short screen that went for a 29-yard score and Scheuer on another 62-yard bomb later in the first quarter for a 21-7 lead.

Harmon, the Sailors’ QB1 in 2022, was thrust into action when incumbent Luke Villella went down with a broken shoulder during a 51-34 win at Syosset on Sept. 20. He threw for 168 yards and a score during a 21-14 win at Freeport the previous week and has 10 touchdown passes on the campaign.

“Going into the season, I thought that we had two guys that were high-level, high-talented kids,” Blount said. “Obviously, losing Luke is big because he plays on both sides of the ball, but having Shane there in the bullpen was a big help for us.”

Ten different players have scored on offense for the Sailors this season and the team overall is averaging just over 41 points a game.

Scheurer had three touchdowns, including a 43-yard pick-six, during Oceanside’s wild 42-39 win over defending

Long Island and Rutgers Cup-champion Massapequa in the opener. The Sailors exploded for 28 points in the third quarter after trailing 17-14 at halftime and held off a late 22-0 fourth-quarter surge by the Chiefs for the win.

The defense has yielded a combined 34 points over the last three games after allowing the opposing offenses to average 31 in the first three but will face another stiff challenge when the team visits second-place Farmingdale (5-1) Friday night.

The Dalers, winners of three straight,

had two takeaways and stuffed Oceanside on the one-yard line on another occasion during a 28-10 win last year after blanking the Sailors 34-0 in 2022.

“They are the most talented team, personnel wise, on paper that we have in Conference I right now,” Blount said. “It’s going to be a tough assignment. But we feel good about ourselves. We feel good in the fact that we’ve got some veterans that have stood out for a long time and we’re excited for the opportunity to play them for a conference title.”

Michelle Ebel/Herald

Junior Shane Harmon was lights-out last Friday evening with four touchdown passes in Oceanside’s victory over East Meadow.

Jazz virtuoso Steve Adelson to perform at I.P. Library

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

Island Park resident Steve Adelson, a renowned local musician, and master of the unique Chapman Stick, will be performing at the Island Park Library on Oct.29 at 6 pm. in what promises to be a special hometown show.

Adelson will be joined by his trio and playing alongside him will be renowned vibraphonist Bryan Carrott, whose mastery of the vibraphone—a percussion instrument similar to the xylophone but with resonating tubes that create a rich, vibrating tone—has drawn comparisons to legends like Lionel Hampton. Frank Bellucci, a drummer and a protege of the iconic Buddy Rich, will round out the group.

Adelson, who recently moved to Island Park in May 2023, is no stranger to the Long Island music scene, having lived in Long Beach for 40 years before a brief stint in Arizona.

Known for his deep roots in the local community, Adelson’s return to the Island Park area has reignited his connection to local audiences.

With a background that spans decades, Adelson’s journey as a musician is as interesting as the music he plays. Initially pursuing a career in chemical engineering, Adelson’s life took a dramatic turn when he embraced the counterculture of the 1960s.

“I went to City College and I was a hippie,” Adelson said. “I was at Woodstock, and I said, Who wants to be an engineer? So I switched my major to music and I was a guitar player first for 15 years.”

He began as a guitarist, playing in styles influenced by rock and jazz legends such as The Allman Brothers and Frank Zappa, before transitioning into jazz guitar.

However, his career took a new direction when he

discovered the Chapman Stick, a unique instrument that has since defined his musical career.

The Chapman Stick is a rare and distinctive instrument featuring 12 strings—six bass and six

guitar strings—that are played simultaneously using a tapping technique. This dual functionality allows Adelson to craft a complex, layered sound, where he plays both bass lines and melodies at once.

It’s this innovative and challenging instrument that has earned him recognition across the globe, with performances not only locally but also in Europe, where he was interviewed and played in the Czech Republic before the pandemic.

Adelson’s local impact extends beyond performances.

While living in Long Beach, he developed a strong relationship with the Long Beach Library, where he produced a jazz festival for 16 years.

The festival became a significant cultural event, drawing major figures in the jazz world such as Stanley Jordan, Omar Hakim (a drummer for Sting), and Will Lee (from the Late Show with David Letterman band).

Adelson’s upcoming performance at the Island Park Library marks a continuation of his deep involvement with libraries as community spaces for live music.

Jessica Koenig, the director of the Island Park Library, embraced the idea of Adelson performing at the venue, telling him, “Of course, you’re gonna have a gig. You’re a star.”

In addition to his upcoming library show, Adelson continues to perform regularly, including weekly gigs at local venues like Gran Paradiso in Island Park, where he plays background dinner music.

While his restaurant performances may be more relaxed, his library show is expected to highlight his extraordinary talent and unique musical style.

“It’s going be a jazz concert,but I might throw in a Led Zeppelin song,” Adelson said. “I’ll feel and see what the crowd is like.”

Courtesy Steve Adelson

Steve Adelson showcases his mastery of the Chapman Stick, an innovative instrument blending guitar and bass, ahead of his performance at the Island Park Library.

Island Park Kiwanis set to celebrate 70 years

recent years. Davis has worked closely with the Island Park school district and local businesses to revitalize the organization.

The club experienced a decline in membership over the years, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. At one point, there were only four members left. The membership has since grown to 26, thanks to people like member and Oceanside Board of Education Trustee Seth Blau, who has played a key role in revitalizing the group and strengthening the connection between the Oceanside and Island Park Kiwanis clubs.

“Oceanside has a strong club,” Davis said. “Seth Blau, who was in Oceanside, was the one who said, ‘I don’t want the Island Park Club to die,’ so he joined our club and helped bring it back.”

The Oceanside school district and Superintendent Phyliss Harrington are heavily involved in the Oceanside club, and Davis said that a meeting Blau had with the administration was pivotal.

“Seth went and said, ‘Call Island Park administration and tell them what a vital part Kiwanis is of the community,’” Davis recalled. “Dr. Harrington spoke to our superintendent,” Davis added, referring to Island Park Superintendent Vincent Randazzo, “and then our superintendent took a leading role in allowing us to use the school for functions and promoting Kiwanis events.”

Davis has been involved in Kiwanis since childhood. “I was the president of Island Park Key Club in high school,” she recalled. “We raised money recycling bottles and cans. Everybody in Island Park collected, and the money we raised went towards a kidney dialysis machine at South Nassau Hospital.”

One of the club’s most significant achievements

this year is the reinstatement of its Scholarship Program for Island Park students who attend Long Beach High School, which had been suspended due to a lack of funds. The club is also planning a Country Line Dancing Fundraiser to support future projects. It promotes the Kiwanis branches for all age groups, including Key Club, for high school students, Circle K, for those in college, and Action Club, for adults with disabilities.

As they celebrate a significant anniversary, mem bers are more determined than ever to encourage

Event information

What: 70th anniversary of the Island Park Kiwanis Club, honoring founding member Mickey Hastava

Where: DaVinci’s Italian Restaurant, 118 Long Beach Road, Island Park

When: Friday, Oct. 25, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Cost: $70 per person, includes choice of salad, pasta, entrée, endless homemade breadsticks, dessert, open bar, soft drinks, coffee and tea.

To join the celebration or to contribute to Island Park Kiwanis, contact Karen Davis at Mrsdaviskr@ yahoo.com. All are welcome!

younger generations to get involved. Davis emphasized the importance of organizations like Kiwanis in building a strong community, noting that they not only provide support to those in need, but also foster deep personal connections.

“We have friends now we never would’ve had without Kiwanis,” she said. “It brings people together in ways that nothing else really does.”

As the guest of honor at the 70th anniversary celebration, Hastava represents the heart and soul of the club.

“You’re either a doer or a watcher, and we’re doers,” Davis said of her uncle and herself. “People ask me,

Kepherd Daniel/Herald

Island Park Kiwanis Club President Karen Davis with her uncle, club founder Mickey Hastava.

New Kiwanis officers installed for 2024-25

D’Ambrosio, ushering in a new era for the club with the installation of incoming President Eric Abbey and the 2024-25 board members.

Joining Abbey in leadership are First Vice President Jeanine Badalamenti; Second Vice President Keith Pearsall; Secretary Seth Blau; and Treasurer Biagio Rosano. The newly installed officers and board of directors vowed to continue the club’s rich tradition of service in Oceanside, dedicated to fostering projects that support the welfare of children and families.

One of the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the Special Service Award to Todd Nussen, a longtime member of the community who’s known for his tireless dedication as a Social Studies teacher. Oceanside School board trustee Sandie Schoell and Thomas Cesiro IV, a former student of Nussen, presented him with the award, honoring Nussen’s unwavering commitment to improving the lives of Oceanside’s youth through his involvement in various programs, most notably at Oceanside High School.

Schoell praised Nussen’s 19 years of teaching, emphasizing his impact on students and dedication to interdisciplinary learning, while fostering critical thinking about history and civic responsibility. Nussen has received numerous accolades, including recognition from the National World War II Museum and the National Education Council.

Nussen’s work has made a significant impact on the children and families of Oceanside, and the award served as a reminder of the power of one individual’s efforts in shaping a stronger, more compassionate community.

“When I created the Patriot Club 10 years ago, I wasn’t alone, and I haven’t been since,” Nussen said. “I’m lucky enough to have colleagues and good friends by my start, by my side. I wouldn’t be the teacher I am today without their encouragement, collaboration and friendship.”

The club honors veterans from World War II through the Global War on Terror and organizes the annual Field of Honor for Memorial Day, placing flags in honor of veterans.

The evening’s Heart of Gold Award, was bestowed upon Frank and Beth Wassenbergh, stalwarts of the Oceanside community, particularly in their leadership of the St. Anthony’s CYO basketball program. Badalamenti, who introduced the couple, spoke movingly about their years of service and dedication to not only teaching basketball skills to the community’s youth, but also imparting them with life lessons, such as sportsmanship, fair play and determination.

“For Frank and Beth, it’s never been just about basketball,” Badalamenti said. “They’ve taught our kids lessons that go far beyond the game, lessons that will shape the character of every young person who comes through their program.”

In his acceptance speech, Frank Wassenbergh humorously acknowledged his wife Beth’s behind-thescenes efforts, which often go unrecognized.

“I tend to be the guy everyone sees, but it’s my wife who is the real force behind everything we do,” he said.

He expressed his gratitude for the recognition and reflected on the journey they have shared in working with the youth of Oceanside, saying, “We never really expect awards like this, but it feels like an affirmation that we’re doing something right.”

The Wassenberghs have devoted countless hours to mentoring children, teaching them valuable life lessons through sports. Their work has strengthened the bonds within the community, and the Heart of Gold Award was a fitting tribute to their unwavering commitment.

Throughout the evening, attendees celebrated the values that have long defined Oceanside Kiwanis: service, dedication and community. As the new leadership team took the oath, a sense of excitement for the future filled the air.

After being installed as the new club president,

Oceanside Kiwanis Club officers for 2024-25

■ President: Eric Abbey

■ 1st Vice President: Jeanine Badalamenti

■ 2nd Vice President: Keith Pearsall

■ Secretary: Seth Blau

■ Treasurer: Biagio Rosano

■ Assistant Treasurer: Gary Fish

■ Board of Directors: Ken Altman, Nancy Baxter, Joan Ivarson, Ruth Ivarson, Pat Roth

Abbey expressed his enthusiasm for continuing the organization’s legacy of service.

“The Kiwanis club is for the kids and it’s for the community, and that’s what we all donate our time and effort and work for,” he said. “I am very confident that our board and the rest of the Kiwanis club will do a magnificent job this year.”

Holden Leeds/Herald

Incoming Kiwanis President Eric Abbey, Beth and Frank Wassenbergh and Jeanine Badalamenti.

Oceanside community members gathered to support the Kiwanis Club at its annual installation dinner on Oct. 17 at Temple Avodah.

Incoming President Eric Abbey and outgoing President Michael D’Ambrosio.

Project 2025 pushes controversial policies

By JENNA ZAZZA & LORI SAXENA Special to the Herald

Written by the conservative Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 is a 922-page book detailing overhauls of the executive branch and proposing what some consider as radical policy changes regarding the economy, culture, education and healthcare.

The controversial plans have Democrats in a tizzy, the Trump campaign distancing themselves from the ideas and saying they would embrace the mandate’s demise.

The Project would decimate the working and middle classes.

JOhN RIZZO Economist

Some of the project’s more significant policies include eliminating the Department of Education, transforming the Department of Health and Human Service into an antiabortionfocused “Department of Life,” and increasing the president’s control over independent agencies like the Department of Justice.

Despite Trump rejecting the project, six of his former Cabinet secretaries and over 140 people who played a role in the project also worked in his administration, according to a CNN report.

It’s clear that Project 2025 is an election year buzzword. It has both opponents and proponents. At its core, the initiative seeks to reshape the federal government, but its impact extends to the local level.

In the plans forward, the Heritage Foundation notes: “Every hour the Left directs federal policy and elite institutions, our sovereignty, our Constitution, our families, and our freedom are a step closer to disappearing. Conservatives have just two years and one shot to get this right. With enemies at home and abroad, there is no margin for error. Time is running short. If we fail, the fight for the very idea of America may be lost.”

The economy

The mandate criticizes the Federal Reserve’s monetary policies, recommending a major reform of the agency. Even with major reform, the project argues the Federal Reserve, also known as The Fed, would still cause “inflationary and recessionary cycles.” The report calls for abolish it outright, replacing it with either a free-banking system or reimplementing the gold standard.

A free-banking system allows banks to issue their own notes without government oversight or regulation. The gold standard system fixes the value of currency to a specified amount of gold. Up until 1970, the U.S. operated under the gold standard.

“A gold standard imposes very tight constraints on the government to spend,

The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 is a touchstone of controversy, proposing major changes to national policies.

especially in times of crisis like Covid,” said Stephanie Kelton, an economy and public policy professor at Stony Brook University. “This is why countries always go off the gold standard. There is a lot of economic instability in the gold standard.”

Kelton is a former chief economist on the U.S. Senate Budget Committee.

The project claims that the gold standard offers a more stable and less inflationary economy. It asserts that the gold standard will deter the government from arbitrarily issuing more money since a hard asset must back the dollars.

“When we were on a gold standard, the economy would have big booms and big crashes,” Kelton said. “You could say that it was stable if you look over a long period of time like a century or 50 years, but within that period of time, prices are crashing.”

According to economists, a free-banking system isn’t ideal either.

“We saw what unregulated banks did in 2008. It caused a great recession,”

John Rizzo, former Long Island Association chief economist, said. “If anything, we need more regulation not less.”

Long Island is among the top areas in New York state that was hit the hardest by the 2008 financial crisis. The state experienced the most subprime loans with either none or low documentation per 1,000 housing units, according to a report released by the state comptroller.

Long Island also had the most foreclosures, with one every 500 households or less, according to the same report. Congress created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to prevent another great recession and housing finance

bubble. Project 2025 also calls to eliminate the CFPB.

“A bunch of lending activity took place that never should have taken place. Banks steered people into buying homes that they couldn’t afford,” Kelton said. “So if we eliminate the CFPB, it just makes it more likely that something like that can and would happen again.”

Long Island’s unemployment rate is increasing, namely in Babylon town which follows the state rate of 4.9 by only 0.5 points, according to the state’s Department of Labor statistics. The entire region lags behind the state by 1.1 points. Unemployment insurance is also declining. As the rates climb, housing prices are too. The median sale price of a single-family home is nearly $800,000, up 11 percent from last year.

“The housing crisis nearly brought the global economy to its knees, it did, in fact,” Kelton said. “We need people whose job it is to watch out for stuff like this and to intervene and take action on behalf of consumers because, in many cases, people didn’t understand the risks they were taking.”

Project 2025 also proposes peeling back worker pay and protections, making fewer workers eligible for time-anda-half overtime pay by lowering the threshold, and permitting children to work in “hazardous jobs.”

“[The project] is an extreme antiworker agenda that’s more or less designed to allow employers to use and abuse workers as they see fit, pay them as little as possible, offer limited protections, unions, wages, benefits– the whole thing,” Kelton said.

All economists contacted for com-

ment had similar negative perspectives on the project’s economic plans.

The proposed income tax reform simplifies the system to a 15 percent rate for those earning up to about $168,000 and 30 percent for higher earners could have significant implications for Long Island’s middle-income residents. With median individual incomes of around $54,000 in Nassau County and $49,000 in Suffolk County, a large portion of Long Islanders would fall into the lower tax bracket, according to Census Bureau data.

However, many households are already struggling to afford basic necessities like housing, food, and transportation, according to a report by United Way of Long Island. Nearly 30 percent of households in Nassau and Suffolk County face financial hardship despite the region’s relatively low poverty rate of 6 percent.

“It’s blatantly in favor of large corporations and the 15 percent and 30 percent would have a devastating effect on lower and middle-income individuals’ financial situation and overall on the economy,” Rizzo said. “There will be an adverse impact on small businesses that account for 90 percent of the business on Long Island and the middle class. In fact there wouldn’t be a middle class any longer. The Project would decimate the working and middle classes.”

Jenna Zazza and Lori Saxena are reporters with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.

Courtesy George Giokas

Justice of the Supreme Court 2024 JUDICIAL CANDIDATES

Andrew Crecca

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties

Age: 59

Legal career: Andrew Crecca, a figure in Suffolk County’s judicial system for nearly two decades, is looking to take on the state Supreme Court, next.

Appointed as administrative judge for Suffolk County, the 10th Judicial District of the Supreme Court in 2020, Crecca currently oversees operations. This role follows his tenure as supervising judge for matrimonial matters in the same court, from 2013 to 2020.

Crecca’s judicial career began in 2005 when he was elected to the county court in Suffolk. He has since served as an acting justice of the Suffolk Supreme Court from 2007 to 2010 and was elected as a justice of the Supreme Court in 2011, a position he will hold until 2024.

Along with his courtroom duties, Crecca has presided over the Integrated Domestic Violence Court in Suffolk County since 2007. He also served in the Suffolk Legislature.

James F. Matthews

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties

Legal career: James F. Matthews, a candidate for Justice of the Supreme Court in the 10th Judicial District, has over 40 years of legal experience.

Since 2015, he has served as an Acting County Court Judge in Suffolk County, presiding over civil and criminal cases, including business law disputes, personal injury matters and criminal trials.

He has also been an adjunct professor of law at Touro Law School His public service career includes a decade as Northport village attorney and nearly two decades as Huntington town attorney, responsible for municipal law, litigation and land use.

Matthews spent over 30 years in private practice, handling corporate and commercial law, litigation, and personal injury cases. He has a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law and a bachelor’s from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Alfred C. Graf

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties Age: 66

Legal career: A Suffolk County District Court judge since 2018, Alfred Graf is now aiming for the state Supreme Court.

Born and raised on Long Island, Graf graduated from Farmingdale High School in 1976. He enlisted in the Navy that same year and rose to the rank of Operations Specialist Third Class Petty Officer. He received an honorable discharge four years later.

Graf earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from SUNY Plattsburgh and his law degree from Touro Law School. His professional experience includes serving as a NYPD officer. He has also worked as an alternative education schoolteacher and as an attorney with his own private firm.

His political experience includes serving two terms as supervisor of the upstate Town of Brighton and was an assemblyman from 2011 to 20118 representing A.D. 5 in Suffolk.

Terence P. Murphy

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties

Legal career: Terence Murphy was elected to serve as a Nassau County Court judge in 2014. He previously served as a Nassau County District Court judge where he presided over the Veterans Treatment Court from 2010 through 2014. He is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association.

Murphy is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. He served 26.5 years active and military service and was deployed to Bosnia, Iraq and Kuwait. His active duty experience began in 1973 with enlistment after high school. Murphy served as legal adviser to multiple commanders.

Paul E. Hennings

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties Age: 63

Legal career: Paul Hennings is a resident of Suffolk County and has served as a District Court judge since 2019 and Acting County Court judge since 2022. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College in 1983 and went on to earn his law degree at Catholic University Law School three years later. After law school, he joined the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office where he was an assistant district attorney until 1989.

Hennings began his career in private practice in civil litigation, trials and appeals in State and Federal Courts. He first served as an associate with Wortman, Furmuso, Kelly (1989 to 1996). Then he joined the law office of Ted M. Toboias, until 2005. He then joined Devitt, Spellman and Barrett, LLP where he practiced as lead attorney until 2008. He then became a partner at Lawrence, Worden, Rainis, and Bard LLP.

Deanna D. Panico

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties

Legal career: Deanna Panico is a partner at Bee Ready Fishbein Hatter & Donovan, LLP. She has been in private practice since 2011, specializing in employment law.

Panico was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2011, the U.S. Eastern District of New York in 2012, the U.S. Southern District of New York in 2016, and the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 2014.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Stony Brook University in 2007 and her law degree from St. John’s University School of Law in 2010.

Paul Hensley

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties Age: 63

Legal career: Paul Hensley was a judge for the district court of Suffolk County in New York. He was appointed to the court in 2002, elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2008. Hensley lost the 2014 election. Before his judicial appointment, Hensley served as a principal law clerk. His current titles are County Court judge, District Court judge and acting Supreme Court justice. Hensley has served as an acting Suffolk County Court judge since 2006, and was a law clerk for County Court Judge James Hudson from January 2001 until July 2002. From January 1999 to January 2001, Hensley was a law clerk for State Supreme Court Justice Leonard B. Austin. From March 1998 until January 1999, he worked as an assistant Huntington Town attorney. Before that, Hensley worked for the Robert Plan Corp., and also served as a Suffolk County assistant district attorney. He received his law degree from SUNY Buffalo.

Gregg Roth

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties

Legal career: Gregg Roth is an attorney with over 30 years of experience in many sectors of law, including civil rights law, employment law, personal injury law, social security disability law and workers’ compensation law.

Roth received his law degree at Hofstra University’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law in 1993, and has been a member of the New York State Bar since 1994. He has served as a state principal law clerk for the past 11 years, and previously was the associate director for Drug Court programs February 2011 to April 2014.

An extremely accomplished legal professional for decades, according to people who know him, he’s been crossendorsed by the Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties in Nassau County as a nominee for the New York State’s Supreme Court.

Ryan E. Cronin

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties

Age: 43

Legal career: Ryan Cronin is a practicing attorney from Garden City. He received his law degree from the Washington University School of Law in 2008. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Loyola College. He was the Democratic candidate for Senate District 6 in 2012 and 2016, losing both times to incumbent Republican Kemp Hannon. He ran for Nassau County Comptroller in 2021 and lost to Republican Elaine Phillips.

During his campaigns, Cronin focused on issues such as community safety, justice reform and access to legal resources. He emphasized a commitment to fairness and integrity in the judicial process.

2nd District Court Judge Family Court Judge 2024 JUDICIAL CANDIDATES

Chris J. Coschignano

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties

Age: 60

Legal career: Chris J. Coschignano is a seasoned attorney and a candidate for family court judge, practicing law since 1990. As a member and partner at his firm — Sahn Ward — he specializes in zoning and land use planning, real estate law, municipal law, economic development, and family law. His extensive experience includes managing complex zoning projects on Long Island, earning recognition for smart growth initiatives. He served as a councilman for the Town of Oyster Bay from 2001 to 2017 and has held various municipal roles since 1995, including counsel to the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals.

Coschignano is active in community service, serving on multiple boards, including the Nassau County Bar Association and the Touro Law Center. He co-founded the St. Edward the Confessor Church’s Annual Summer Festival and coaches youth ice hockey. A recipient of numerous awards, he is committed to public service and education

Veronica Renta Irwin

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties Age: 50

Legal career: Judge Veronica Renta Irwin, currently serving on the Nassau County District Court, is running for re-election in the 2nd District.

Renta Irwin completed her early education at Brentwood High School before earning her degree from SUNY Albany and graduating from Hofstra Law School in 1999.

Starting her legal career in private practice, she founded her own firm, Irwin & Streiner, LLC, in Great Neck in 2001, focusing on personal ijury, guardianship and constitutional violations. Renta Irwin also has experience as principal law clerk for Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Sharon M.J. Gianelli from 2020 to 2024. She has also been involved in various legal organizations, including theLong Island Hispanic Bar Association, where is a past president, and as a board member of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association. She also teaches at the School of Law at Hofstra University.

Andrea C. Phoenix

Democrat

Age: 59

Legal career: Phoenix has served as a Nassau County District Court judge in the Tenth Judicial District since 2007, where she presides over the Nassau County Mental Health Court and the Drug Treatment Court. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University, a master’s degree in communication and education from The Ohio State University, and a J.D. from the Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law.

Before her election, Phoenix practiced family law in private practice from 1992 to 2006 and was a staff attorney with Nassau Suffolk Law Services. She has led the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York and the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association, and she served on the New York State Unified Court System Family Violence Task Force.

She is also involved with the Amistad Black Bar Association, Theodore Roosevelt American Inn of Court, and community groups, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and The Links, Incorporated.

Lisa Daniels

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties Age: 58

Legal career: Lisa Daniels has over 25 years of legal experience, focusing on family litigation and guardianship cases. Daniels holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and a Brooklyn Law School law degree She has been an adjunct professor, teaching family law and litigation at Hofstra University and Queens College from 1997 to 2001. Daniels is a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Children and the Law and serves on its legislation subcommittees. She is also a member of the Nassau County Bar Association Family Court Advisory Committee. Daniels ran for county legislator in 2013 and eight years later. In 1998, Daniels founded her law firm, addressing a wide range of family law issues, such as juvenile delinquency actions, abuse and neglect matters. She is listed on the New York State Court Part 36 Fiduciary List, serving as a court examiner, evaluator and guardian for incapacitated individuals.

Joseph Nocella Jr.

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties Age: 60

Legal career: Joseph Nocella Jr. currently serves as a Nassau County District Court judge, having been elected to the position for the 2023 to 2028 term. County Executive Bruce Blakeman initially appointed him to the court in 2022.

Before becoming a judge, Nocella served as the town attorney for Hempstead from 2021 to 2022 and as chief of staff to the Hempstead Town Supervisor from 2020 to 2021.

From 2017 to 2020, he was the town attorney for Oyster Bay. Within Nassau County government, Nocella has an extensive background, including positions as Counsel to the Office of Housing & Community Development from 2014 to 2017, Managing Attorney in the County Attorney’s Office from 2011 to 2014, and Counsel to both the County Executive and the Nassau County Legislature from 2006 to 2008 and again from 2010 to 2011.

Sean Wright

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties Age: 54

Legal career: Sean Wright, a longtime Valley Stream resident, is running for District Court Judge in the 2nd District, bringing decades of legal experience and community service to his campaign.

Wright has spent more than seven years as a prosecutor for Valley Stream, where he handled ticket and building violation cases. Inn 2011 when he became a Hempstead Town attorney and worked as an arbitrator for both Queens and Nassau County.

He has served as treasurer for the Friends of Bridge, a substance abuse counseling center, and has volunteered as an attorney adviser for High School Mock Trial, where he helped teacha new generation of legal minds. His dedication to local youth extended to the sports field as an assistant coach for the Valley Stream Green Hornets.

In 2016, Wright was appointed to the Valley Stream village board by Mayor Ed Fare after the resignation of Virginia ClavinHiggins

County Court Judge

Jeffrey A. Goodstein

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties Age: 57

Legal career: Jeffrey A. Goodstein is running for Nassau County Court Judge. Goodstein has served as an acting justice of the Nassau County Supreme Court in the 10th Judicial District since 2012, appointed by Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti. He also holds a position as a judge in the New York Court of Claims, appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2012 and reappointed in 2014. Goodstein earned his law degree from Touro Law School and has served in various legal capacities throughout his career. He is also an adjunct professor at St. John’s University School of Law.

On the issues:

Anthony D’Esposito, a Republican and former NYPD detective, won the district in the 2022 midterm elections defeating Laura Gillen, and flipping the seat from Democratic to the GOP control for the first time in 25 years.

He said he is working hard noting as there are 75,000 more Democrats in the district than Republicans.

4th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Anthony D’Esposito Party: Republican

D’Esposito’s platform continues to emphasize affordability, increased funding for local schools, and opposes “cashless bail” policies, which he says have contributed to rising crime. He also suports eliminating the cap on state and local tax deductions.

D’Esposito noted his work to retun money to the district for water cleanup in Hempstead village and to mitigate flooding in low-lying South Shore communities, a majority of the district, including his hometown of Island Park.

Along with partnering with local elected officials to make the communities more sustainable, considering the damage the area suffered after

Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

He said he is opposed to a federal ban on abortion.

On immigration he supported the House bill known as H.R. 2 that addressed issues regarding immigration and border security, including by imposing limits to asylum eligibility, but points to the Democratic-led Senate that did not put the measure up for a vote.

D’Esposito said he prioritizes public safety and said he strongly support Israel and Ukraine.

His re-election bid has been overshadowed by an ethics complaint.

A Democratic action committee has accused him of hiring his fiancée’s daughter and a woman he allegedly had a personal relationship with for taxpayer-funded positions in his district office.

The allegations have prompted calls for an expedited investigation, though D’Esposito has denied any wrongdoing and views it as a personal, private matter.

Laura Gillen is mounting a campaign centered on supporting middle-class families, defending women’s rights, and tackling pressing social justice issues.

As a former Town of Hempstead Supervisor, Gillen made history in 2017 as the first Democrat to hold the office in over a century. Her tenure was marked by key accomplishments, including passing transparency reforms, modernizing the town’s digital infrastructure, and allocating over $59 million to repair local roads. She lost her re-election bid in 2019, but remained an active figure in Nassau County politics.

On the issues:

wake the Supreme Court overturning Roe V. Wade. She criticized D’Esposito’s support for anti-abortion policies, arguing that his stance is out of touch with the values of Long Island voters. She said she stands strong stand against the rise of antisemitism, particularly in the wake of increasing incidents in schools, synagogues and on social media. Her action plan is aimed at combating hate, which includes leveraging federal resources to improve safety in schools, providing more protection for synagogues, and increasing oversight of social media platforms to prevent the spread of hateful content.

Gillen has made it clear that her campaign is focused on delivering for Long Island families. She has emphasized her commitment to reinstating the State and Local Tax deduction, a key economic issue for many county residents.

Gillen is a staunch advocate for reproductive rights, vowing to fight for the restoration of legal abortion in the

Senate DiStrict 6

As a mother of four, Gillen said she brings a personal connection, emphasizing that she understands the challenges facing families in her district. She believes that her bipartisan approach as town supervisor, where she worked with a GOP-majority board, demonstrates her ability to get things done while staying true to her principles.

Thomas Montefinise, a lifelong Oceanside resident.

A graduate of Hofstra University and CUNY School of Law, Montefinise’s career spans a range of roles, from repairing commercial kitchen equipment to practicing law in family, criminal, and matrimonial cases.

On the issues:

A key issue driving Montefinise’s platform is the rise in crime across Long Island, which he attributes to the state’s controversial bail reform laws. The laws allows individuals charged with misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies to be released while awaiting trial. Montefinise sees flaws in the system.

“There’s a process. Everybody deserves a day in court, but you also need to give the tools to the prosecutors and police to get their job done,” Montefinise said.

He stressed that the erosion of trust in law enforcement can unravel the justice

system: “If people start feeling like they can’t call the police, the system falls apart.”

He is also focused on the struggles of Long Island’s middle class, whom he believes are being “squeezed out” by rising costs. He calls for smarter spending and resource allocation, pointing to ongoing challenges such as inflation and the influx of migrants.

“We need to raise wages and incentivize programs,” Montefinise said, emphasizing the need to reallocate funds rather than continually increasing spending. “We’re cutting money and spending it in all the wrong places,” he added, pointing to mismanaged state resources as a source of frustration.

“I’ve met a lot of people,” he said. “I’ve never done something like this before, but I’ve been hearing about the economy, prices of goods, inflation, and safety. It’s been an awesome experience.”

Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe is focusing on her extensive public service record and community values. Her career includes serving such as commissioner of the North Hempstead Housing Authority and on the Westbury Board of Education.

On the issues:

Bynoe highlighted significant county legislative accomplishments, such as the passage of the Ground Water and Public Supply Facts Report Law and the introduction of police body cameras in Nassau County. She stressed that these efforts are part of her broader mission to ensure Long Islanders’ concerns are prioritized in Albany.

She aims to protect Nassau University Medical Center, which provides critical services but faced financial challenges earlier this year. Bynoe advocates for the development of housing options on NUMC’s campus, with a focus on workforce and senior housing to benefit the surrounding community and ensure

access to healthcare.

“There are opportunities there for senior housing, workforce housing, especially for folks who we want to ensure have access to health care,” she said.

She helped passed a county bill to study alternatives to traditional police responses to mental health crises, and she supports the expansion of wellness centers in schools.

“We should go to those community organizations, including schools, that can host those types of facilities on their campuses and have folks that are already doing the work, fund them, and go in and talk to the young people,” she said.

Bynoe seeks to advocate for the issues that matter most to her constituients

“Making sure that we have a voice — a strong voice in the Senate that really has a pulse on the issues and the concerns of Long Islanders,” she said.

Laura Gillen Party: Democrat

Congressional District 4 includes the South Shore Nassau County communities from the western county border to Seaford.

Siela Bynoe Party: Democrat

Thomas Philip Montenfinise Party: Republican

On the issues:

Patricia CanzoneriFitzpatrick is a familiar face, being elected to represent Senate District 9 in 2022. She’s seeking a re-election for a second term.

Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick began her career in public service well before becoming senator.

She’s spent time as a Malverne village trustee in the Village of Malverne — where she lives — as Malverne’s police and fire commissioner, and as the village’s deputy mayor and budget director.

Senate DiStrict 9

Patricia CanzoneriFitzpatrick Party:

Republican

She says police need more funding, training, and trust based on their training and wants to continue working on bail reform and increasing discretion for judges.

“One of the first bills I proposed was allowing judges to have discretion,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said. “I understood that there was a need for the bail laws to change, and I applauded that, but I think they went

too far. So, we need to bring it back a little bit toward the middle, so to speak, and give judges discretion.”

Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick also wants to support small businesses.

She says they should be allowed to operate without increased utility rates and increased taxes from the state.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our community. It’s very important to support small businesses,” she said.

She also hopes to offer more support to veterans, more mental health support in schools and to stop Nassau County from becoming a “sanctuary county” for illegal immigration.

She’s also not opposed to offshore wind energy options, but thinks it has to be implemented in a more efficient way than previously attempted.

On the issues:

James Lynch, a longtime psychiatrist, has been helping those struggling with severe mental illness.

He saw firsthand what it was like to be poor, at risk of homelessness and underserved. A newcomer for this position, he aims to do more.

Lynch spent time as a trustee and deputy mayor for Stewart Manor village, and said he enjoyed it, but decided he wanted to do more.

He thought of Senate District 9, and threw his hat into the ring.

He hopes to “end one party domination” in Nassau County politics. He hopes to join their ranks, and hold them accountable.

“I’d like to see a change in the tone and the dynamics that don’t exist in Nassau County,” he said. “I don’t think some people are serving us as well as they should.”

Lynch plans to combat climate change and the effect it’s had on local

Assembly District 20

On the issues:

Ari Brown is seeking re-election for his Assembly seat, emphasizing his commitment to combating antisemitism and addressing crime. Brown, the first Orthodox Jewish Republican assemblyman in the state, is running for his third election since initially winning a special election in 2022.

acts and mandate sensitivity training.

As a 25-year veteran of the Cedarhurst village board and current deputy mayor, Brown brings a wealth of local government experience to his role, he said, including serving as the board’s liaison to the village’s Business Improvement District.

He serves on the Assembly’s state education and small business committees and is a ranking member of the local governments committee.

Antisemitism is at the forefront of Brown’s platform. He has introduced six bills aimed at addressing this issue, including legislation to strip scholarships from students engaged in antisemitic

communities. He’s for wind farms, for said he understands there’s work to be done in terms of community response.

He’s met with community members that have pushed back against wind farms — and found that the residents agreed be open to potential wind farms in the future.

Lynch said he also plans to work to keep taxes from increasing.

“I support a tax cap,” he said. “Nassau County, Town of Hempstead, my school district, has a tax cap. New York State Government, that’s a separate thing to deal with, but that’s how you solve it. It’s only slowing the rate of increase; it’s not stopping or lowering it. So I expect my taxes to stay the same.”

Brown is also advocating for the elimination of cashless bail, arguing it contributes to increased crime and negatively impacts businesses, he said. He supports a tough-on-crime approach, drawing inspiration from former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s “broken windows” theory, Brown said.

Other key issues in Brown’s campaign include opposing the commuter tax — congestion pricing — and rethinking offshore wind projects. Brown said he has not been entirely against the idea, but has met with the leaders of these potential projects that would impact his constituents to propose alternative paths of travel for transmission lines. He has suggested less dense, non-residential areas for them

He said that his diverse background and deep roots in the community make him well-suited to understand and address constituents’ needs.

Long Beach’s Tina Posterli is aiming to leveraging her experience in local governance and public policy to wrest the Assembly seat from Ari Brown.

On the issues:

Long Beach’s Tina Posterli is aiming to leveraging her experience in local governance and public policy to wrest the Assembly seat from Ari Brown.

electiOn ‘24

With a background in Long Beach City Council and as president of the Long Beach Board of Education, Posterli believes she brings a wealth of local knowledge to her campaign, she said.

Her platform is built on education funding, with Posterli aiming to secure resources for quality education while keeping property taxes in check, she said. Posterli plans to push for changes to the school foundation aid formula to ensure fair distribution of state funding across districts, she said.

In the past, Posterli secured $200 million for Long Beach’s infrastructure

improvements, she said. She is also focused on flood mitigation and reproductive rights, an issue close to her heart, as she was a Planned Parenthood advocate.

Posterli said she supports Prop 1, which would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

Addressing antisemitism in schools through early education initiatives is another priority for Posterli. On offshore wind, she advocates for a balanced approach that supports renewable energy while ensuring community input on project routes.

Posterli said her experience in crisis management, particularly in navigating the school district through the Covid-19 pandemic, underscores her readiness for the Assembly role.

She is prepared to tackle the community priorities, Posterli said, emphasizing her commitment to serving the diverse needs of A.D. 20 and her track record of connecting with various stakeholders to achieve common objectives.

James Lynch Party: Democrat

Senate District 9 inludes Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, Elmont, FranklinSquare, Inwood, Isand Park, Hewlett, Lawrence, Lynbrook, Malverne, North Woodmere,Valley Stream and Woodmere.

Tina

Posterli

Party: Democrat

Ari Brown Party: Republican

GENERAL ELECTION Candidates

Democratic Electors

Amendment to Protect Against Unequal Treatment

This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.

A “YES” vote puts these protections in the New York State Constitution.

A “NO” vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.

Enmienda para Proteger Contra el Trato Desigual

Esta propuesta protegería contra el trato desigual basado en la etnicidad, el origen nacional, la edad, la discapacidad y el sexo, incluida la orientación sexual, la identidad de género y el embarazo. También protege contra el trato desigual basado en la salud y la autonomía reproductiva.

Un voto “SÍ” coloca estas protecciones en la Constitución del Estado de Nueva York. Un voto “NO” deja estas protecciones fuera de la Constitución del Estado.

Electores para Presidente y Vicepresidente

Kamala D. Harris (For President)

Republican Electors

This is not an actual by your edition of the Herald. Specifi Herald may be found at LIHerald.com

Tim Walz (For Vice President)

Electores para Presidente y Vicepresidente

Donald J. Trump (For President)

JD Vance (For Vice President)

Representative in Congress District 4

Representante en el Congreso Distrito 4

Laura Gillen (D,CS)

United States Senator

Senador Estatal, Distrito

Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D, WF)

Diane Sare (L)

Vote for One (1)

Anthony D’Esposito (R,C)

Vote for One (1)

Michael D. Sapraicone (R,C)

State

Senador Estatal, James

Member

de Tina Posterli

Justice

Juez de la James Gregg Deanna Terence

Miembro

State

Senador Estatal,

Siela

ELECTIon’24

actual ballot, but a composite of several sample ballots so as to reflect all the districts within the communities covered Specific candidates for individual communities are identified in blue. Complete reporting on candidates running in districts covered by the LIHerald.com under the Elections ’24 tab. For election results after the polls close Tuesday night, go to LIHerald.com

Senator District 6

Estatal, Distrito 6

Bynoe (D)

Vote for One (1)

Thomas Philip Montenfinise (R,C)

Senator District 9

Estatal, Distrito 9

Vote for One (1) James Lynch (D) Patricia CanzoneriFitzpatrick (R,C)

Member of Assembly District 20

de la Asamblea Distrito 20

Vote for One (1)

Posterli (D) Eric Ari Brown (R,C)

Justice of the Supreme Court

la Corte Suprema (Vote for up to Eight) (8)

F. Matthews, Jr. (D,R,C)

Roth (D,R,C)

Deanna D. Panico (D,R,C) Terence P. Murphy (D,R,C)

Alfred C. Graf (D,R,C)

Paul E. Hennings (D,R,C)

Paul M. Hensley (D,R,C) Andrew A. Crecca (D,R,C)

County Court Judge

Juez del Tribunal del Condado Jeffrey A. Goodstein(D,R,C)

Family Court Judge

Juez del Tribunal de Familia Vote for Three (3)

Lisa Daniels (D,R,C)

Chris J. Coschignano (D,R,C)

Joseph Nocella, Jr. (D,R,C)

District Court Judge District 2

Juez del Tribunal de Distrito Vote for Four (4)

Andrea C. Phoenix (D,R,C) Veronica Renta Irwin (D,R,C)

Ryan E. Cronin (D,R,C) Sean Wright (D,R,C)

Town approves preliminary 2025 budget

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Town of Hempstead residents are expecting to pay more taxes next year — $5 more for those who live in villages, and $65 more for those who live in unincorporated areas.

The Town Board approved the preliminary 2025 budget on Oct. 1, adopting a $549 million spending plan, an increase of 4.9 percent. The tax levy will increase from $346 million to $389 million — a jump of over 12 percent that will far exceed the state tax cap of roughly 2 percent.

Town Comptroller John Mastromarino stated at a budget hearing on Oct. 15 that the town has managed to postpone tax increases over the past few years by utilizing reserve funds. But, he said, those funds are now running low, which is necessitating the tax increase.

“The town hasn’t had a tax increase in four years,” Mastromarino said. During that time, he added, the cost of living across the country increased by almost 28 percent, “and what we were doing was utilizing the reserves to protect our taxpayers,” Mastromarino said.

“The reserves were used, the taxpayers were protected, and it’s now at a point where we just can’t do it anymore,” he said.

Mastromarino said that the town used $22 million of reserve funds.

Where your tax dollars could go

School districts: 64 percent

Nassau County: 14 percent

Special districts: 10 percent

Villages: 7 percent

Towns: 4 percent

Cities: 1 percent

Before the budget hearing, community members rallied outside Town Hall, organized by members of the Nassau County Legislature’s Democratic caucus, who oppose the proposed tax increases. They accused the board of lacking transparency and failing to adequately inform the public about budgetary changes.

Attendees highlighted the already high cost of living that many residents are struggling with as they face the need to find additional funds to meet their tax obligations.

Former County Legislator Kevan Abrahams, who is challenging Republican Town Councilman Christopher Schneider to serve the balance of the term of Christopher Carini, who died in July,

spoke at the rally.

“There’s no transparency — there’s no visibility,” Abrahams said of the board’s budgeting process. “They try to do this in the cloak of darkness and they’re trying to squeak it past you. It’s called a sneaky weasel tax.”

In a letter about the budget proposal distributed among those who attended the hearing, Town Supervisor Donald Clavin stated that the spending plan was “fiscally responsible” and would enhance the town’s quality of life.

“Residents love the Town of Hemp -

Town Supervisor Donald Clavin addressed board members during a budget hearing on Oct. 15, at which they discussed the preliminary 2025 budget of $549 million.

stead, and for many good reasons,” Clavin wrote. “Our beaches, parks, and nature preserves are second to none. We have some of the finest restaurants, shops, and small businesses around. Our schools, athletic programs, community organizations, senior centers, and other public resources are among the best in the nation.

“This superlative quality-of-life experience paired with top-notch government services is what continues to make Hempstead Town a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” he added.

SHOP WHAT'S NOW

Hernesto Galdamez/Herald

STEPPING OUT

Ghoul out with some festive merrymaking Get your scare on with Halloween-inspired shindig

By Karen Bloom

The countdown is now on to spooking and assorted revelry. The signs of that festive day are all around us as all those ghouls, witches and wizards look forward to Oct. 31.

So throw on a costume and act like a kid — with or without the kids. Transform your house into a spooky (or mildy spooky lair) with party tricks and Halloween treats. Set the scene with a mad scientist-themed sweets table and carry it home with a crazy good menu featuring frightfully yummy appetizers, some mocktails for the kids (and non-drinkers in your crowd) and, of course, treats.

Dress up the details: Many folks can’t wait to dress up for a Halloween party, but that’s not so for everyone. Don’t make costumes mandatory. Instead offer a table of accessories that anyone can borrow and use to alter their appearance. Goofy glasses, strange hats, adhesive mustaches, or masks can be fun.

Have fun with Halloween cuisine. Cookie cutters can turn sandwiches, desserts, biscuits — just about anything — into different shapes. Foods also can be made a tad more spooky simply by renaming them or presenting them in interesting containers. Beverages can be offered in jugs or old bottles and labeled “potions.”

Try these tricked-out treats for same tasty spooking.

Witches Finger Sandwiches

Entice guests into your lair with some witchy fingers

• 1 (11-oz.) can refrigerated breadsticks

• 6 small slices pepperoni

• 12 (2/3-oz.) slices cheese

• 3/4 cup finely shredded lettuce

Heat oven to 375°F. Separate dough into 12 strips. Place flat on ungreased cookie sheet; do not twist. With sharp knife or kitchen scissors, cut 2 small triangles from one end of each dough strip to form a point that resembles a fingertip. Lightly score breadsticks in center to resemble knuckles. Cut each pepperoni slice into 2 pointed ovals to resemble 2 fingernails. Place 1 pepperoni piece on each breadstick.

Bake at 375°F. for 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. If necessary, reapply “fingernails” with small dot of ketchup.

puffs to resemble ghosts onto the remaining baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until dried and firm, about 1 hour. Turn off the oven, close the door, and cool until completely dried, about 1 hour more.

Dip the tip of a toothpick into melted chocolate and dot chocolate “eyes” on each of the ghosts.

Spiderweb Cheesecake

Snare your guests with some spider web cheesecake. Use your favorite 9” cheesecake recipe.

Topping:

• 1/3 cup heavy cream

• 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

• 1/3 cup milk, cream, sour cream or ricotta cheese

Web:

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chunks or chips

First, make your favorite 9” cheesecake, one using a graham cracker crust. Add 1/4 cup black cocoa to the crust, before pressing it into the pan. Bake the cake as directed; remove from the oven, and let it cool.

To make the topping: Whip the heavy cream with the sugar just until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the sour cream just until combined.

Spread the topping over the cooled cheesecake.

Rock the Dock

Ambrosia, John Ford Coley and Peter Beckett (The Voice of Player), come together for a magical night performing all of their 1970s and ‘80s Billboard Top 40 Hits, on the Tilles Center stage, Yacht Rock the Dock shines the spotlight on the original artists, with Elliot Lurie, as they reinvigorate their many beloved tunes. Enjoy Ambrosia’s everlasting hits including “How Much I Feel,” “You’re the Only Woman” and “Biggest Part of Me.” John Ford Coley, most known as half of the Grammy-nominated duo England Dan and John Ford Coley, performs many memorable hits, including “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight,” “Love Is The Answer” and “Nights Are Forever Without You.” These songs are the soundtrack to a generation.Today’s so-called smooth yacht rock music scene would not be yacht rock without the contributions of these Grammy winning artists.

Friday, Oct. 25, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

‘Old Time Rock’

Split each breadstick. Cut each cheese slice into strips and place in breadstick, overlapping strips. Top each with lettuce. If desired, serve with mustard, mayonnaise or ketchup. Serve warm or cold. Note: Place leftover small triangular dough pieces on cookie sheet; bake until crisp. Use as croutons or nibblers.

Spooky Bones and Ghosts

Chase the demons away with a few “bones.”

• 2 large egg whites

• 2 drops fresh lemon juice, or more to taste

• 7 tablespoons white sugar, or more to taste

• 2 chocolate chips, melted, or as needed

Preheat oven to 225°F. Line 2 baking sheets with silicone baking mats.

Whisk eggs whites and lemon juice together in a bowl until thick, white, and foamy. Add sugar a spoonful at a time, whisking constantly, until meringue is shiny, thick, and holds its shape.

Transfer meringue to a piping bag. Pipe 12 bone shapes onto a prepared baking sheet. Pipe 12

To make the chocolate web: Heat the cream until it begins to simmer, then pour it over the chocolate and stir. The chocolate will begin to form one mass. Keep stirring until all the chocolate has melted — the cream should be hot enough to melt all the chocolate. If not, reheat briefly.

Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag fitted with a small tip (or a zip-top bag with one corner cut to form a 1/8” opening). Pipe one central dot onto the cream topping, then six concentric circles around the dot, spaced 1/2” apart.

Beginning with the center circle, gently pull a toothpick through all the circles toward the outer edge. Wipe the toothpick clean and repeat, moving clockwise and dragging the toothpick through at every eighth segment of the circle to complete the web pattern.

Peter Lemongello, Jr., the son of Long Island’s legendary star, returns to the Landmark stage. He takes his audience on a nostalgic musical journey from the 1960s through the’ 80s with his “Old Time Rock ‘N Roll” show. Accompanied by his eight-piece band, Peter delivers an engaging performance that evokes pure emotion. He continues to honor his father’s legacy — Peter Lemongello was the first artist to sell over a million albums on TV, through an innovative TV commercial campaign that paved the way for music video infomercials and MTV. A special highlight is Peter Jr.’s heartfelt tribute to his father, performing the hit “Do I Love You,” written by Paul Anka, which his Dad debuted on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.”

Friday, Oct. 25, 8 p.m. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or by contacting Gene DiNapoli at (917) 567-5842.

Witches Finger Sandwiches

Spooky Bones and Ghosts

Spiderweb Cheesecake

THE Your Neighborhood

America

The perennial classic rock favorite is back on the road again as founding member Dewey Bunnell celebrates the band’s 54rd anniversary, appearing on the Tilles Center stage, Saturday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m. Billed as “Ride On Tour 2024, will draw on the band’s deep catalog of hits including signature song “A Horse With No Name,” a Number One hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1972. Bunnell and America’s co-founder Gerry Beckley (along with former band mate Dan Peek), who met in high school in London in the late 1960s, quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of that tune. Forty plus years later, these friends continue to make music together (although Beckley has now retired from touring) thrilling audiences with their timeless sound. Yet beyond their impressive catalog of hits, listeners discovered there was always much more to America than surface perceptions. The combination of Beckley’s melodic pop rock and Bunnell’s use of folk-jazz elements, slinky Latin-leaning rhythms and impressionistic lyric imagery contrasted well with Peek’s more traditional country-rock leanings and highly personal lyrics.

On their way to becoming a global household name, America’s journey found them exploring a wide variety of musical terrain. Their best-known tunes, including “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross The River,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People,” and “Sister Golden Hair” were beloved as cornerstones of 1970s Top 40 and FM rock radio. From their formative years, America has been a band capable of transcending borders with its uplifting music and positive message. Embracing a rainbow of divergent cultures, America’s audiences continue to grow, comprising a loyal legion of first, second and third generation fans, all bearing testament to the group’s enduring appeal. Tickets start at $35. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

NEW YORK’S WRONGEST RUNNING COMEDY!

‘The Birthday Party’

Looking for something to do this Halloween season that isn’t just for kids? Visit Sands Point Preserve for an exclusive, immersive theatrical production, “The Birthday Party,” held in a secluded opulent mansion,Friday, oct. 25, also oct. 31 and Nov. 1. For those who attended Archie’s last “Birthday Party,” rest assured, there are new surprises in store.

Guests will be blindfolded and escorted to a secret location on the property, Villa Vanitas, to celebrate the enigmatic Lord Archibald Axel Von Finkelshorn Chatterton’s 30th birthday. He is a witless charmer on the cusp of a life-changing revelation, and everyone’s invited to witness his journey on a night that promises to be unforgettable and delightfully unpredictable. Cocktail attire preferred. $175 per person. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.

Spooky Fest is back

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

Brahms - Symphony No. 1

Smetana - My Country “The Moldau” Smyth- Overture to ”The Wreckers” Adam Glaser Music Director and Conductor

Dog Days Weekend

Enjoy the glorious grounds of Old Westbury Gardens with your pooch (leashed of course), Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26-27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. With dog parade and costume contest on Sunday, 3-5 p.m. Prizes awarded to best dog costumes, including Prettiest, Most Handsome, Most Original, Best Duo or Group, Funniest.

Costume contest participants must register. Advance ticket purchase for weekend events required. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information, visit oldwestburygardens.org or call (516) 333-0048.

Village of Island Park Halloween Beach Bash

Celebrate Halloween early at the Village of Island Park’s Halloween Beach Bash, Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m.1 p.m., at Masone Beach on Waterford Road. With hayrides, a petting zoo, pumpkin picking, and pumpkin decorating. Join Mayor Michael McGinty and Deputy Mayor Matthew Graci for a fun-filled day!

OceanCon 2024

Oceanside Library hosts OceanCon 2024, Sunday, Oct. 27. This popular event features cosplay, comics, gaming, and more, promising a day full of excitement for fans of all ages. Don’t miss the chance to dive into a world of pop culture fun. 56 Atlantic Ave., Oceanside. For more information visit oceansidelibrary.com.

Oceanside High School

Class of 1984 40th Reunion

With the motto of “Reuniting The Kids We Once Were” Oceanside High School’s class of 1984 hosts its 40th reunion, Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7:30-11:30 p.m. 2985 Kenneth Place, Oceanside. Contact Joseph Cuomo at (516)812-6209 for more information.

Grand Opening Ceremony

Celebrate the grand opening of the renovated Oceanside Library, Sunday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m. The ceremony includes speeches, a ribbon cutting, and the dedication of a 50-year time capsule, donated by the Friends of the Oceanside Library. Building tours will follow.

Having

an event?

In concert

Musical quintet Sybarite visits Adelphi University’s Performing Arts Center, Friday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. The ensemble is known for bridging genre gaps to bring unexpected musical combinations together to create a unique, dynamic concert experiences. Equal parts passion, grit, and musical ecstasy, it’s an intoxicating cocktail of genre-breaking artistry expressed through the virtuosity of violinists Sami Merdinian and Suliman Tekalli, violist Caeli Smith, cellist Laura Andrade, and double bassist Louis Levitt.

The group is constantly evolving, defying categorization, and keeping audiences on their toes. Tickets start at $35. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. Visit Adelphi.edu/pac for tickets and information or call (516) 877-4000.

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

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition

“Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition will span various world cultures through a range of media. It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority. Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. On view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

On stage

See Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” presented by Nassau Community College Theater and Dance Department, opening Friday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m.; also Saturday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 27, 2 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 29-30, 7;30 p.m. Delve into the lives of Arkádina, a famous — but fading — actress, and that of her lover, Trigórin, a well-known author. They arrive at her brother Sórin’s country estate for the summer, just as son Konstantín is staging an experimental new play he’s written and directed, starring his girlfriend, Nína.

Chekhov’s first successful naturalist play follows the lives of young artists as they navigate life. Thematically, it’s a study of the arts and the artist, the lack of real satisfaction to be found there, the pretense and mediocrity that pervade the practice, and yet the power and mystery that are possible. $12; NCC students free $10 veterans, alumni, seniors 60+, students and NCC employees. Nassau Community College’s Little Theatre, Garden City. For tickets/information, visit nassau.booktix.com or NCC.edu or call (516) 572-7676.

Run or Walk

OHS announces its merit scholars

An Oceanside High School senior, Shehreyar Ahmad, has been named a National Merit Scholarship competition semifinalist and three other students, Anabel Connelly, Joseph Sardo, and Brennan Cawley, have been recognized as commended students in the 70-year-old scholarship program.

Shehreyar is in the top one percent of the 1.3 million students nationwide who took the 2023 Pre-SAT, which is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship competition. Semifinalists have the opportunity to continue in the competition and half of those who become finalists will be awarded a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

Anabel, Joseph and Brennan placed among the top four percent of students nationwide, earning the title Commended Students. Commended Students do not continue in the competition but are recognized for their exceptional academic promise.

— Kepherd Daniel

Oceanside

Long Island’s most anticipated new oceanfront rental community is now open. At The Breeze, each apartment opens you to a world of uncompromising luxury amenities & an active, adventurous lifestyle.

Contact us today to tour our models 180 Boardwalk, Long Beach, NY 11561 516.908.7733 | breezelongbeach.com

Courtesy Oceanside School District

High School’s National Merit semifinalist, Shehreyar Ahmad, center, surrounded by Commended Scholars Anabel Connelly, Joseph Sardo and Brennan Cawley, and their school counselors, principal, associate principal, as well as Phyllis Harrington, superintendent of schools, left and Diane Provvido, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and technology.

Fall Fest at EGP Oceanside supports Fink Family

On Columbus Day, EGP Oceanside hosted its 8th Annual Fall Fest, dedicated to Robyn Fink, an Oceanside mother battling an aggressive form of breast cancer. The event featured live music, raffles, crafts, and more.

Attendees came together to show their solidarity with Fink and her fami-

ly, raising funds to support her ongoing medical treatments. The festival was a heartfelt reminder of the importance of community during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

— Kepherd Daniel

Dina Ewashko/Herald photos

Brianna and her father Tim O’Hagan celebrated the Fall Festival with Dan and Robyn Fink, their daughter Harper and her friends

Festival-goers participated in games to raise funds for the Fink family. From left was Reagan, Riley and Ryan Sodano, Camryn Keanne and Estella Rowan.

Robyn Fink alongside her husband Dan, expressed gratitude, calling the outpouring of love unforgettable.

Children had fun decorating as part of the festival’s family-friendly activities. From left was Joely Medrano, Cheryl Rivelli and Ayden Stabile

Celebrating the beauty of Fall, change and letting go Guest Column

Fall is here. The most colorful season of the year. Days filled with exquisite landscapes, cool, rejuvenating air, everything pumpkin and outdoor celebrations. A time when Mother Nature brings her most vibrant colors to life as she gracefully transitions us into the winter season.

What makes Fall special?

Changing leaves: As the Fall season progresses, we joyfully witness the change of colors as the leaves on the trees transition from green to the vivid colors of red, orange, and gold.

Seasonal activities: Fall is a popular time for nature walks, hayrides, visiting small towns, driving up the countryside, and having bonfires.

Holiday festivities: Fall is home to many holiday festivities, including Halloween and Thanksgiving. Fall is also symbolic of change and letting go

understanding and kind to oneself, as this compassionate approach eases the process of letting go, making it less daunting and more nurturing. Self-compassion also means stopping self-judgment and criticism.

Practicing self-care

Engaging in healthy activities that nurture our mental, physical, and emotional well-being, thereby providing us with the strength and resilience to let go.

Mindfulness

The practice of letting go often goes hand in hand with cultivating mindfulness — the awareness of the present moment without judgment.

Yes, Fall teaches us how to let go by reminding us that it is an essential part of growth and not a sign of weakness but strength. The changing seasons of Fall are a metaphor for letting go of things that no longer serve us and embracing change. Autumn teaches us how beautiful it can be to let go and how change can pave the way for reflection, understanding, and growth.

Letting go as a form of practicing selfcare

Letting go is a spiritual or psychological process that requires relinquishing or lessening our attachment to outcomes, desires, and expectations and accepting what is.

An inner journey where we bravely confront challenging emotions and experiences, understanding them, and then releasing them with full consciousness. It’s a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, healing, and transformation that ultimately leads to personal growth and a more fulfilling life. To let go of the things that weigh you down.

Self-compassion

Self-compassion involves being

Self-forgiveness

Self-forgiveness is more specifically about forgiving ourselves for a particular action, thought, or way of showing up, while forgiveness is about deciding not to let past hurts control our present and future emotional state.

Seek professional support

Sometimes, letting go requires more than personal effort, and why talking to a therapist can provide a safe space to explore your emotions and receive guidance on how to release them.

On a Personal Note: Beyond its scenic beauty, Autumn carries profound symbolism, mirroring the transitions within our own lives. To acknowledge our own seasons of change and when to let go of what no longer serves us as this can bring renewed clarity and empowerment to both our inner and outer world. For as I have learned, there are times in life when letting go means holding on to loving ourselves. The most important, beautiful season of all.

Donna Pisacano-Brown is a Point Lookout resident who has been a columnist featured in local newspapers since 1996. She is a passionate advocate for drunken driving awareness, and shining a light on mental health topics.

News Brief items including awards, honors, promotions and other tidbits about local residents are welcome. Photographs may be emailed as well. Deadline for submissions is noon Thursday, week prior to publication. Send to execeditor@liherald.com

Public Notices

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2. Publication No. 3398610.

3. Filing Date: October 1, 2024.

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10. Owner: Richner Communications, Inc., 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, Nassau County, NY 11530; Clifford Richner, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, Nassau County, NY 11530; Stuart Richner, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, Nassau County, NY 11530.

11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU CITIBANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CHASE FUNDING MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2002-3, Plaintiff, AGAINST KIM TUFANO AKA KIM M. TUFANO, et al. Defendant(s) Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on July 24, 2024. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 6, 2024 at 2:30 PM premises known as 2858 Cherry Court Oceanside, NY 11572. Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County, and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Oceanside, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 38, Block 402 and Lot 52.

Approximate amount of judgment $374,851.44 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of

Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12 Not applicable.

13. Publication Title: OCEANSIDE/ISLAND PARK HERALD.

14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September 26, 2024.

15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: a. Total No. Copies: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 5000; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 5000.

b. Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions stated on Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 8; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 8 (2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 849; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 949. (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, and Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 1552; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 1502. (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12

filed Judgment. Index #610176/2018. John P. Clarke, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 149248

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff AGAINST THOMAS F. CUCCURULLO, JR. AKA THOMAS F. CUCCURULLO, JESSE CUCCURULLO, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered August 26, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 20, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 171 Audubon Boulevard, Island Park, NY 11558. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Island Park, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 43 Block 396 and Lot 4. Approximate amount of judgment $745,289.60 plus interest and costs. Premises will

Months, 0; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 0. c. Total Paid Distribution: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 2409; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 2459. d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution( by Mail and Outside the Mail) : (1) Free or Nominal Rate OutsideCounty as Stated on Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 758; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 1029 (2)Free or Nominal In-County as Stated on Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 518; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 0 (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other classes Mailed Through the USPS: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 0. (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 300; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 550. e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 1576; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 1579. f. Total Distribution: Average No. Copies Each Issue During

be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #617699/2022. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Michael J. Langer, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-001555 82636 149462

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY SAMUEL HAMPTON LLC, Plaintiff against NEVADA VILLAS INC., et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Hersko & Ehrenreich P.C., 555 Willow Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516, (516) 942-4216. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered October 18, 2023, 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

Preceding 12 Months, 3985; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 4038. g. Copies Not Distributed: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months,1015; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 962. h. Total: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 5000; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 5000. i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 60.45%; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date 60.90% 16. This Statement of Ownership will be printed in the October 24, 2024, issue of this publication. 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner: Stuart Richner, Owner; Date: October 1, 2024. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material information requested on the form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties). 1275291 To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232

November 26, 2024 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being, and identified on the land and tax map of the County of Nassau in the State of New York. Premises known as (no street number) Nevada Avenue, Island Park, New York 11558. Sec 43 Block 70 Lot 485, 486, and 494. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $192,932.19 plus interest, fees, costs and attorneys fees. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 608680/2021. 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.” Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee File # 11-7175 149605

Donna PiSacano BroWn

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department.

Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $16 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!

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

Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.

Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

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

$20 - $25/ Hour

Bell Auto School

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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 mhinman@liherald.com

EMAIL MARKETING SPECIALIST

Herald Community Newspapers is seeking a motivated and knowledgeable

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

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

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

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

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MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

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

Medical Reception/Accounts

Receivable

Part Time- back-office work. Rockville Centre. Must be friendly, well-spoken. Computer literacy necessary. Back office includes collections/account receivable, verifying insurance and researching claims and some billing. Must be flexible (days/evenings). $18-$19/ Hourly. Email resume drsmnw@optonline.net or fax resume 516-763-4218.

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

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

OUTSIDE SALES

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

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE

Victorian Colonial Fixer-Upper

What can we do with our Helene-damaged home?

Q. Our home in Asheville, North Carolina, was damaged by Hurricane Helene. The insurance company was contacted, and several busy contractors have looked at the property as they passed by. One commented that many homes need to be completely rebuilt, because they’re missing parts that protect them from hurricanes, such as “tecos.” What are tecos, and why do they make a difference? Can they be added without tearing our house down? This may push us to just sell, as is, and move on, at a large loss. What can we do?

A. . First, Teco is a brand name for metal connectors that hold lumber building parts together, giving any home greater resistance to being pulled apart by wind.

Unfortunately, the company went out of business in the 1990s. It’s a brand name, not a generic term — it’s like saying Kleenex instead of facial tissue. But the name stuck, and is often used by people who have no idea that you can’t get a Teco anymore, but it’s easier than saying joist hanger or connector.

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The most-used brand today is Simpson, which is far more sophisticated, for a much wider variety of engineered connections. The key word is “engineered,” and I emphasize it because most users of these products often use the wrong connectors for the wrong purposes. For example, your home, if it’s not completely in splinters, can be saved, but you have to use the right connectors, utilizing manufacturer charts and selecting the right ones based on wind resistance calculations. I’m sure I just lost most readers, because almost nobody actually calculates, or desires to respect, the right use of the right connector, so people go to the store and buy a box of what looks best, what is most available or what costs the least.

While filming the documentary “Hell or High Water,” which never got released due to lack of funding, I got to meet with officials, from (the equivalent of) the mayor to the head of the building department in Moore, Oklahoma, after third-graders were killed in their concrete elementary school by the fastest winds ever recorded, 313 miles per hour. The neighborhood was gone. People were rebuilding. I questioned why building permits were issued and yet nobody was using the connectors to reconstruct. The superintendent of the building department answered with frustration, knowing that it’s a code requirement, that “most people can’t afford the cost of the connectors.” Nine years later, I saw an article about the state of Oklahoma now strictly enforcing connector requirements.

You don’t have to walk away from your home. The base and top of the wall studs, the roof rafter connections and the corner hold-downs can be retrofitted, which will give you additional wind resistance of approximately 30 mph, and as a nationally certified damage assessor, I have seen firsthand that the right connectors save property and lives. Good luck!

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Don’t miss

your chance — get out and vote

as we approach a pivotal election that portends high political drama, there’s never been a better time to stress the importance of voting. Every vote counts, and participation is more than a right — it’s a crucial responsibility that shapes this nation’s democracy.

This is not about whom to vote for. It’s about making the most of the privilege of voting.

Early voting is now underway in parts of the country, and in the state of Georgia, the turnout has already made headlines. On the first day of early voting, more than 300,000 Georgians cast their ballots — more than double the number who voted that day in 2020.

That could signal the beginning of another record turnout for the presidential election. Four years ago, both eventual President Joe Biden and the incumbent, Donald Trump, garnered the most votes ever in a presidential election. Biden won with some 81 million.

The heightened enthusiasm, to put it most politely, for next month’s election underscores why every eligible voter should make his or her voice heard.

This year, Election Day falls on Nov. 5, but early voting provides flexibility for those who may not be able to vote on that day. In New York, early voting gets under way this Saturday and ends on Nov. 3.

Early voting gives voters the chance to skip the long lines and cast their ballots at a time and place that is convenient for them. It’s a safeguard against last-minute emergencies or unforeseen obstacles that might occur on Election Day.

The surge in early voting is a promising sign for democracy, but it also sends a larger message about civic engagement in today’s highly charged political climate. Voting is one of the most direct ways individuals can influence the policies that shape their lives.

Whether the issues voters are focused on are health care, education, the economy, social justice or abortion access, the winning candidates, and measures on the

New York state elections are all about the major parties

To the Editor:

As New York voters prepare for the Nov. 5 elections, it is apparent that candidate choices are limited now more than ever. The Herald Roundtable articles, for example, are limited to coverage of Democratic and Republican candidates. The anti-democratic impact of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s electoral

Early voting locations

■ Oyster Bay Ice Rink 1001 Stewart Ave., Bethpage, NY 11714

■ Elmont Public Library 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont, NY 11003

■ Floral Park Recreation Center 124 Stewart Ave., Floral Park, NY 11001

■ Freeport Recreation Center 130 East Merrick Rd., Freeport, NY 11520

■ St. Paul’s Recreation Center 295 Stewart Ave., Garden City, NY 11530

■ Glen Cove City Hall 9 Glen St., Glen Cove, NY 11542

■ Great Neck House 14 Arrandale Ave., Great Neck NY 11023

■ Hempstead Rec. Center/Kennedy Park 335 Greenwich St., Hempstead, NY 11550

■ Hofstra University 1000 Fulton Ave., Hempstead, NY 11549

■ Hicksville Levittown Hall 201 Levittown Pkwy., Hicksville NY 11801

■ South Shore Jewish Center 191 Long Beach Rd., Island Park, NY 11558

■ Lawrence Country Club 101 Causeway, Lawrence, NY 11559

■ Long Beach City Hall 1 West Chester St., Long Beach, NY 11561

■ Massapequa Town Hall South 977 Hicksville Rd., Massapequa, NY 11758

■ Temple Beth Am 2377 Merrick Ave., Merrick NY 11566

■ Nassau County Board of Elections 240 Old Country Rd., Mineola NY 11501

■ Michael J. Tully Park 1801 Evergreen Ave., New Hyde Park, NY 11040

■ Plainview Mid-Island Y JCC 45 Manetto Hill Rd., Plainview, NY 11803

■ Port Washington Library 1 Library Dr., Port Washington, NY 11050

■ Rockville Centre Recreation Center 111 N. Oceanside Rd., Rockville Centre, NY 11570

■ Gayle Community Center 53 Orchard St., Roslyn Heights, NY 11577

■ Syosset Public Library 225 S. Oyster Bay Rd., Syosset NY 11791

■ Valley Stream Presbyterian Church 130 S. Central Ave., Valley Stream, NY 11580

■ St. Francis De Chantal Church 1309 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh, NY 11793

■ West Hempstead Public Library 500 Hempstead Ave., West Hempstead NY 11552

■ Yes We Can Community Center 141 Garden St., Westbury, NY 11590

■ Williston Park American Legion 730 Willis Ave., Williston Park, NY 11596

ballot, will help determine the future of those issues. By casting your vote, you become part of the collective decisionmaking process that steers the direction of the country.

For those who feel disillusioned or disengaged, it’s important to remember that democracy works best when it’s fully inclusive. Every election offers the opportunity to hold public officials accountable, to approve or reject ballot measures, and to influence the future of local, state and national policies.

When large numbers of people opt out of the process, fewer voices shape the policies that affect everyone. Voting is a way to speak up, even when the system feels

letters

“reforms” has become abundantly clear with this year’s elections in our state. Having made it virtually impossible for independent third-party candidates to appear on the ballot, drastically changing longstanding ballot access laws and regulations in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, this fall we find ourselves with only Democrats and Republicans listed on our ballots. In a manner similar to what Republicans have done elsewhere, New York Democrats have suppressed the vote and stifled

imperfect or frustrating. By casting your vote — whether early or on Election Day— you are exercising a power that should never be taken for granted. “My vote doesn’t matter” is simply not the case. So if you can’t vote on a busy Tuesday, Nov. 5, make a plan to do so between now and the Sunday before Election Day. Or take advantage of the time you still have to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. Be part of the conversation, have a say in the issues that matter to you, and help ensure a future that reflects the will of all Americans.

Voting isn’t just a privilege; it’s a duty that upholds the foundation of our democracy. Your voice matters. Let it be heard.

meaningful political debate on the issues that face us all. We urge Gov. Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature to reverse these draconian changes to our election law as soon as possible. New Yorkers deserve more voter choice, more democracy.

Thanks to the Cuomo “reforms,” New York is the only state to have just two candidates for president appearing on the ballot. This has happened in only one other state in the past 40 years, Oklahoma. Many voters now feel faced with two unsatisfactory

opinions

Join the necessary fight against spotted lanternflies

the Herald and other publications have detailed the negative impacts of the invasive spotted laternfly on long island, and while the population of these unwelcome insects continues to require intervention to prevent their unchecked spread across our region, there are steps that every long islander can take in their own backyard to protect against them. At the long island Conservancy, we are eager to share some tips that will make a positive impact — and in some cases, multiple positive outcomes by eradicating not only this invasive insect, but also invasive plants that serve as the lanternfly’s primary food source.

First off, much like the mTA’s famous slogan, if you see something, squish something! This fall, keep your eyes peeled for egg masses, and make sure to destroy them through the spring. removing the tree of heaven, an invasive non-native plant, is a top priority when it comes to proactive ways to erad-

icate the lanternfly. The tree of heaven is a fast-growing, invasive species across north America that you may not recognize by sight, but you certainly can by scent — it’s also known as the stinking sumac, stink tree, stink weed, and a variety of other names including “stink.”

The plant is spreading with the same vigor as the lanternfly, and removing it eliminates the insect’s favorite food. mechanical removal is possible: Girdle it, rip it out and remove it; whatever you can do to set them back. make sure to follow up to ensure it doesn’t regrow.

a species displaced halfway across the world.

s quash them, plant milkweed, and yank out all the tree of heaven you can find.

many land managers and conservation professionals have warned against mechanical removal, encouraging the use of herbicides instead. in our experience, this isn’t necessary; while the removed/damaged trees will sucker up, if you pull the suckers biweekly for a growing season, the roots will give up the ghost and the problem can be eliminated.

The tree of heaven is a significant problem in our region, not just because of the smell, but because it chokes out beneficial native plants. in the case of the lanternfly, the plant is essentially the closest thing to “home cooking” for

Letters

choices: a candidate who is engaged in sowing pernicious and deadly seeds of ethnic and ideological conflict, and another who supports wars and continuing our nation’s complicity in an ongoing genocide.

The Green Party urges all progressive voters to write in “Jill Stein” in this year’s election. Don’t stay home, and don’t waste your vote!

Jim Brown Chair, Green Party of Nassau County Island Park

Kremer summed up Trump, but there’s more

To the Editor:

in his oct. 10-16 column, “A historic election for all the wrong reasons,” Jerry Kremer presents several compelling reasons to reject Donald Trump’s “desperate campaign” for president.

But voters should consider other factors as well. Conservatives, in particular, ought to ask whether Trump adheres to three principles they surely hold dear: family values, law and order, and patriotism.

Do republican parents really want their children to view this potential president as a role model? Should kids

if getting rid of that awful smell isn’t enough incentive, early scientific research suggests that lanternflies that feed on the tree of heaven sequester toxins, called quassinoids, that make our native birds extremely less likely to eat them. So the lanternflies are essentially exempt from the food chain, another reason why so many have managed to thrive in our competitive environment. This is, by the way, why they have those bright red warning colors!

And the tree of heaven isn’t the only invasive species of plant that supports the lanternfly population. Porcelainberry and other species that originated in Asia are key sources of food. Every pernicious invasive species removed means more available space for native, healthy species to grow and thrive on long island.

when it comes to native species, there are a few to consider planting, like milkweed. i’ve seen dead lanternflies on milkweed plants — it appears that the dopey insects feed on them and poison themselves. (if you need a bonus reason to plant milkweed, the influx of mon-

arch butterflies is lovely!) while taking steps to remove invasive plants in your yard and replace them with native species is proactive, some people are well past that point — they’re dealing with infestations. in that case, you may be ready to set up a trap around a native host tree. observe where the lanternflies congregate most on your land and set your trap up there. while they tend to like walnut and sumac the best, they’ve been seen on maples, birches, sycamore and other trees. Building a trap is easy — you can find a step-by-step guide at https://extension.psu.edu/how-to-builda-spotted-lanternfly-circle-trap.

For saplings that aren’t big enough for a proper trap, just knock the bugs into a soapy dish. Some will hop away, but they’re quite easy to catch this way, and if you do this once a day, over time you’ll see fewer of them returning. while combating the spotted lanternfly has been compared to trying to keep water off the beach because there are so many, by eradicating invasive species like the tree of heaven, we are helping to protect our environment now and for years to come.

Frank Piccininni is the president of Spadefoot Design and Construction and a co-founder of the Long Island Conservancy.

Framework by Tim Baker

seek to emulate a philanderer and a vulgarian incapable of telling the truth?

How do those professing to “back the blue” square that stance with support for a convicted felon? is someone charged with racketeering and 51 other criminal offenses a credible champion of the rule of law?

Are red-white-and-blue all-Americans oK with a candidate who orchestrated the attempted overthrow of the country’s constitutional order? Does denigrating members of the U.S. armed forces demonstrate love of country?

Trump defiles all three of the values most Americans regard as sacrosanct.

This is not to say that Kamala Harris is without personal flaws of her own. She’s imperfect, both as a candidate and a human being. Besides, voters should be assessing a candidate’s policy positions, not only his or her personal behavior. And Harris’s record and her proposals can be fairly criticized from a conservative perspective.

But character does matter. And on that score, Donald Trump is utterly unqualified to hold the nation’s highest office.

KEvin J. KEllEy Atlantic Beach

Election Letters to the Editor policy

In the interest of fairness and transparency during the election season, we will not publish letters in the Oct. 31-Nov. 6 issue, the final one before Election Day, that criticize a candidate or a specific issue. This is to ensure that no last-minute submissions are published without sufficient opportunity for rebuttal. Readers are encouraged to send letters to execeditor@liherald.com.

A crisp, patriotic day in Eisenhower Park - East Meadow

Frank piccininni

Law school bonds formed decades ago are still strong

Few possessions in life are more valuable than lasting friendships. I’ve been more than blessed with friendships that began almost 60 years ago, when I was a student at Notre Dame Law School, and remain strong all these decades later. That was clear when we got together again at Notre Dame last week.

I entered Notre Dame in 1965. From my home in Queens to the campus in South Bend, Indiana, was about 800 miles by car. In life experience, the distance was light years. I had no clue what to expect. My life up to then had been almost entirely confined to Queens, where I grew up; Brooklyn, where I went to high school and college; and Manhattan, where I was born, and where, during my last two years of college, I worked loading and unloading trucks and freight cars at the Railway Express Terminal on 10th Avenue. My out-of-state ventures had been limited to New Jersey: a two-week summer rental when I was 9, a handful of one-day visits to relatives and two nights at Palisades Amusement Park. In

New York, I took the ferry once to Staten Island, made the occasional trip to Jones Beach and journeyed to the Bronx for a handful of Yankees games and once to watch the football Giants practice at Fordham. I had never eaten in an actual restaurant, my dining experience limited to White Castle and pizza joints.

The Notre Dame campus was as impressive as advertised, with its famed Golden Dome glistening in the Indiana sun and more trees and manicured grass than I’d seen anywhere except Central Park. The law school was a three-story Gothic structure that radiated seriousness of purpose. I opted to live in Fisher Hall, the graduate student dorm, rather than an off-campus apartment mainly for convenience: It was a two-minute walk from the law school and next door to the dining hall.

had gone away to college, and I had no idea what dorm life was like.

C atching up with four longtime, far-flung friends from Notre Dame.

We were all willing to work together and help one another out — very different from the cutthroat competition at many law schools. That was a great defense against the dean of the law school, who took pride in the number of first-year students who flunked out or bailed out. His welcoming greeting to us had set the tone: “Look at the man on your left and the man on your right. Before long, one of you won’t be here. And damned be he who first cries, ‘Enough, enough!’”

Fortunately, the six of us survived the dean’s first-semester bloodletting, with Ward and Weiss doing exceptionally well and the rest of us doing well enough.

Rosemary, who was a student at neighboring St. Mary’s, during my first semester, and her becoming an integral part of our group. We got married at the start of my final semester before graduation.

After graduation, everyone did well: Manning in Chicago, Ward in Maine, Curtin in New Jersey, Weiss in St. Louis and Bonenberger in West Virginia.

Though we were many miles apart, we stayed in close contact over the years, including at five-year class reunions, even holding weekly Zoom meetings during Covid.

Then, last summer, Manning, who was in many ways our magnet, died, and we decided to have our own minireunion. So last week we were together again in South Bend.

Most important, the law students living around me in Fisher Hall were great guys. Dick Manning, Tom Curtin, Tom Ward, Charlie Weiss and Lanny Bonenberger became lifelong friends. For the most part we all had similar upbringings, Catholic school-educated. Every one of us except Ward, whose father was a doctor, was the first in our family to go to college. And every one of the others

FWhyor the past year, politicians and political commentators have described the upcoming election as the most consequential in American history. To be realistic, all elections have consequences, but there is no doubt that this one will have a dramatic impact on my family, and countless others, for years to come. With less than two weeks to go until Nov. 5, I am weary from the back-and-forth discussions I have had with family members, friends, neighbors, and political allies and adversaries. Happily, all of those talks have been cordial, and it has been worthwhile to listen to all opinions. These exchanges have better prepared me to explain why I will vote for Kamala Harris for president. Before explaining the basis for my vote, I need to rebut some of the arguments that I have heard from supporters of Donald Trump. Some have made the claim that Harris is “anti-Israel.”

Sometime in the spring of our first year, there was a climactic power struggle between the dean and the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, president of the university, over the starting date for the law school in the fall. Their grand compromise was to give the dean his starting date, but to throw the law students off campus. It was my first experience as collateral damage! But the six of us found a house to rent in South Bend, and our friendships grew stronger than ever. Adding to all this was my meeting

There were changes. Fisher Hall and the house we rented have been demolished. The law school building is many times larger than it was. But among us, nothing had changed. We walked the campus, reliving good memories, retelling old stories, talking about our children and grandchildren. We were thankful for our bonds of friendship, which had been forged in another century and have grown only stronger over seven decades. A great gift.

Go, Irish!

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

I’m voting for Kamala Harris

They point to the fact that then-President Trump moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, but they have not offered any proof that as a candidate, Harris has failed to support Israel. She has shown her unhappiness with its prime minister, but Benjamin Netanyahu is not Israel.

itrust her, and believe she is the best choice for challenges both at home and abroad.

Three months into the election madness, some people tell me they “don’t know enough about Kamala.” I view that as an excuse not to vote for a woman. My response to them is, “Where does Trump stand on abortion, child care tax cuts, more housing opportunities for people of modest means and tax breaks for middleincome families?”

I frequently hear people describe the vice president as “too liberal.” They reference her former support for Medicare for All and her past opposition to fracking. Harris has modified her positions on a number of issues, as has Trump’s vice presidential nominee, J.D. Vance, who is now in lockstep with Trump — after once calling him a “Hitler.”

I choose Harris over Trump for a

number of reasons. I trust her, and believe that she will be an honest president. I don’t believe that she will make private deals with campaign donors, or craft laws that will favor a handful of wealthy donors like Elon Musk. Above all, she won’t lie, lie and lie some more at every opportunity.

Thanks to President Biden’s hard work, America has the respect of world leaders once again. NATO is once more a united force in Europe, and the only firewall we have against Russia and Vladimir Putin. Harris will be a strong supporter of NATO and Ukraine. That will make our country safer. She will uphold our alliances with Asian nations and oppose China’s efforts to harm Taiwan.

Harris will appoint qualified people to major positions in her cabinet, and has pledged to seek bipartisan advice on key issues. There are countless thought leaders in America who would gladly give their time to the government if they thought their views would be respected. Above all, she will not sell out the nation to domestic or foreign

interests.

Harris will protect a woman’s right to choose. She has pledged to reinstate Roe v. Wade, and will appoint judges to the Supreme Court who will protect women’s rights. She will appoint an attorney general who will follow the Constitution, and be the people’s lawyer and not the president’s lap dog.

Harris will maintain our support for Israel. She has seen the powerful support that Biden has provided, including his latest pledge to give Israel guided missiles and U.S. military support to back them up. She will honor those commitments.

Rather than recite the reasons why I do not support Trump, I’ll defer to America’s top generals, who have called him dangerous and unfit to be commander in chief. To add to their opposition, I could further quote all of Trump’s former cabinet members who oppose his re-election.

Enough said.

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.

JERRY KREMER