Maureen Lennon/Herald
Celebrating Dr. King’s legacy
Ethan Brooks, Stella Jones and Hia Dalta joined the Literacy Care Packages Workshops to make alphabet cards at Molloy University’s MLK Day ceremony. Story, more photos Page 10.
Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce members reinducted
By KElSIE RADZISKI
kradziski@liherald.com
At the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting, the members of the executive board and the board of directors were reinducted.
The executive board includes President Ed Asip, Vice President Donna Einemann, Secretary Carol O’Leary and Treasurer Tom Bogue. Mayor Francis Murray swore in the members on Jan. 22, and voiced the village’s support for the organization.
“We are pro-chamber, our board, and I hope you see that,” Murray said. “Ed and I have lots of meetings together, and I think Ed’s doing a great job.”
At the meeting, at MacArthur Park restaurant, Asip recapped the organization’s achievements over the past year while looking ahead to its goals for this year.
“I want to get you energized,” he told the members, “because 2025 is going to be a big deal.”
Among the chamber’s accomplishments in 2024 were many firsts that it hopes to continue. The first village Restaurant Week was held last year, as well as the first Art Walk, showcasing local art. The Art Walk, Asip said, led to discussions of a potential street fair in the Long Beach Road area.
There was also the chamber’s first June Fest, which Asip said was a hit. “What June Fest was important for is we leveraged other events going on in the village,” he said. “We leveraged the village car show, we leveraged the Odd Fellows corn hole tournament, and that’s what we seek to do.”
Asip underscored the chamber’s goal of helping businesses stay connected to the community, so they can get involved in ongoing events and offer special promotions and creating unique experiences.
As part of its growing partnerships, the chamber is expanding its collaboration with Molloy University. “We’re reintroducing, expanding the ‘communiversity’ program,” Asip said at the
Statewide smartphone ban in schools
By KElSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced a proposal aimed at restricting smartphone use in New York’s public schools to “ensure distraction-free learning statewide,” according to a news release.
The plan would prohibit the use of smartphones and other internetenabled devices during the entire school day, including in classrooms, lunch periods and study halls, the release said.
Ttrict, said in a statement to the Herald. “This has been a policy that fits the needs of our community, and we hope that the final proposal allows districts the latitude to engage parents and students in conversation to guide policy development rather than a one size fits all approach.”
his has been a policy that fits the needs of our community.
MATT G AVEN Superintendent, Rockville Centre school district
Schools would have the flexibility to create their own strategies for managing phone storage, with the state offering $13.5 million in funding for schools to purchase storage systems, like pouches or cubbies.
“We are well positioned in our district because our policy for cell phones has always been ‘Off and Away’ at both the High School and Middle School,” Matt Gaven, superintendent of the Rockville Centre school dis-
Standing alongside educators, students, law enforcement officers and social justice advocates, the governor announced the initiative on Jan. 22. It comes after a yearlong statewide listening tour, on which parents, teachers and students shared with Hochul their growing concerns about smartphone distractions in schools.
“We know that our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling,” the governor said in the release. “This proposal will ensure that our schools have the tools they need to create distraction-free spaces where students can focus on
Continued on page 7
John Wolf, of Rockville Centre, died age 42
By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
John Michael Wolf, of Rockville Centre, died suddenly on Jan. 22, at age 42.
Born on Jan. 26, 1982, at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre, Wolf was a beloved figure in the community. A graduate of Valley Stream South High School, he went on to earn a bachelor’s in physical education and sports management from Adelphi University in 2005. He later completed a master’s in health education at Adelphi.
Wolf was described by longtime friend Andre Farr as someone who was “always laughing, joking around.” “I had the privilege of knowing John for 20 years,” Farr said. “Always had a smile on his face, always happy.”
“He was a very genuine, nice guy with a very great heart,” Matt Slone, another friend of Wolf’s, said.
Wolf was an avid sports fan, particularly devoted to the Mets, Jets and Islanders. He enjoyed playing golf and attending concerts, especially Billy Joel, Coldplay and Guns N’ Roses. He was known for his love of good food, especially skirt steak, a cold beer and strong coffee from Kookaburra Coffee, a popular shop in Rockville Centre.
pretty much every weekend, and he always used to go all the time, too,” Slone recalled. “I would see him there, and we would talk for a few minutes before we’d go.”
Wolf played volleyball, hockey and softball on a team of close friends in spring, summer and fall leagues. He was described as a happy, laid-back guy who enjoyed playing sports with his friends.
“The only time I ever saw John get mad at somebody was in a softball game, where the third baseman was throwing
Farr said. “That’s the only time I’ve ever seen John yell at somebody, and we’ve always laughed and joked around about it.”
Wolf was close with his softball teammates, and his friend Scott Ketler said he would take part in Long Beach’s annual Polar Bear Plunge, to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation, every year.
Known as Coach Wolf at work, he was a gym and health teacher and coach at the Academy for Excellence in Leadership in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
“He was a phys. ed. teacher, and I’m a phys. ed. teacher as well,” Slone said. “So we instantly connected, because we would talk about teaching, about stuff that he did.”
Wolf was known for teaching students with passion and commitment, and as coach of the academy’s varsity girls’ volleyball and badminton teams, he inspired many.
“I’m sure all the kids that he taught are going to be great athletes too,” Ketler said, “because he put his heart and soul into everything he did.”
Wolf also cherished his family. He was engaged to Victoria Faustini, of Long Beach, his partner of two years, and was preparing for their wedding in October. He was stepfather to Faustini’s son, Augustus, 8.
“He loved his family, loved his mom, his dad, his sisters, his brother-in-law,” Farr said. “Always going out, doing stuff with the family. I could be at Nathan’s one night and see him and his dad. They always tried to come out and have hot dogs.”
Farr said he used to take trips with Wolf and his family to Lake George. “He would always go with a whole entourage — his cousins, his friends — and it was always just a great time,” Farr said.
The Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital at North Shore University Hospital delivers the nation’s best cardiac care. Our team offers a full range of exceptional care, from minimally invasive procedures to lifesaving transplants—all while tackling the greatest challenges in medicine.
Courtesy Andre Farr
John Wolf, second from left, would always participate in Long Beach’s annual Polar Bear Plunge with his friends and families.
Synagogue’s day of service for MLK Day
By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
Central Synagogue - Beth Emeth held a day of service on the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, offering families a chance to come together and contribute to the community. The event was organized by Jeff Kelman, the new director of the synagogue’s Hebrew school, or “the Jewish Experience,” along with volunteers and staff.
“Even though it was a day off, I wanted to do something because it was Martin Luther King weekend,” Kelman said.
Iknew that the soldiers in Israel really needed some comfort.
JEff KELmAn
Director of education, Central SynagogueBeth Emeth
“We had about 40 people there, families, kids, families, the preschool, and we also had board members who came as well to share their support.”
The “twopronged event,” Kelman said, began on the morning of Jan. 19 with kids baking challah with their families. Under the guidance of Kelman’s wife, children decorated their loaves of bread with a variety of toppings, including marshmallows, chocolate sprinkles and multi-colored sprinkles. “The kids had a chance to make two challahs to take home, and they could basically garnish it however they wanted,” Kelman said.
In addition to the baking activity, the synagogue’s volunteers and young participants also wrote letters to Israeli soldiers. The children created their own personal greeting cards, decorated with messages of support and encouragement for those serving in Israel.
“I knew that the soldiers in Israel really needed some comfort,” Kelman said. “It’s been a very difficult time, and I’ve been sending letters for all the programs I work for for quite some time now, and the feedback has been tremendous from the soldiers.”
The event ran from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., offering families a chance to spend their morning connecting and participating in these activities during a holiday weekend.
“Although the Hebrew schools are mostly always closed, it pays to open up and do some type of a day of service program,” Kelman said, “because people are home and they’re looking for something to do.”
This initiative was part of Kelman’s broader efforts to engage the community with enriching and enjoyable learning experiences. Since joining the synagogue less than a month ago, on Jan. 1, Kelman has been working to expand the Hebrew School’s offerings, including a new Tuesday enrichment session for kids in grades two to seven and a new teen program that is still in development.
with their
Kids gathered to make cards for Israeli soldiers at Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth’s day of service on Jan. 19.
“We’ve increased the program to add an enrichment session on Tuesday afternoons,” he said. “This is a new thing, to give them another opportunity to have some fun. We focus on fun learning. We do some singing, some videos, Jewish videos, crafts, programs, story telling, and the kids are having a ball.”
Looking ahead, the synagogue has additional community events planned, including a family-friendly Tu B’Shevat Seder and party on Feb. 2 and a chocolate-themed Shabbat service on Feb. 8.
For more information about upcoming events, email Kelman at kelmanjeff4@gmail.com or call (914) 714-1257.
The floor made a comfy spot for kids to work on designing their cards.
Families came together at the synagogue to bake their own challahs, and kids decorated them with their choice of toppings.
Photos courtesy Jeff Kelman
Kids smiled
parents as they worked on their challah together at the synagogue.
Suit settled, Nassau County is redistricted
By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
Heading into an election year for all 19 Nassau County legislative districts, the lines have been redrawn after a lawsuit that originated in 2023 was settled last Friday.
The agreed-on new districts are considered a victory for Democrats.
“This is a tremendous victory for Nassau County,” Jay Jacobs, the New York state and Nassau County Democratic Committee chairman, stated in a news release. “The illegal map sought to disenfranchise communities of color and undermine our democratic principles. This settlement reinforces the fundamental rights of all voters and sends a clear message that such tactics will not be tolerated.”
County Democrats, along with 21 plaintiffs from throughout the legislative districts, filed the lawsuit, alleging that before they were redrawn, the districts were racist, gerrymandered and gave an unfair advantage to Republicans, who hold majority control in the Legislature.
The suit also claimed that voters leaning in one direction were being packed into two districts, while the rest were spread out in other districts as a way to “dilute their voting strength.”
“Once again, the Republican majority in the Nassau County Legislature did
something that was unconstitutional by imposing legislative lines that were unconstitutional,” County Legislator Carrié Solages, who now represents a district similar to when he was first elected in 2011, said. “I am very thankful to the Democratic Party for assembling a team of attorneys, experts on maps and data from across the country, at a cost of well over half a million dollars, in order to fight for a fair, legal map in Nassau County.”
Under the terms of the settlement:
■ The illegal redistricting map is nullified, addressing violations of the New York Voting Rights Act and Municipal Home Rule Law.
■ A new, fairer legislative map is established, including six majority-minority districts and an Asian Influence District, a substantial increase from the prior four majority-minority districts.
■ The voices of Black, Latino and Asian communities are amplified, ensuring that communities of color can elect candidates who represent their interests.
“After long negotiations, Republican attempts to change venue and even disqualify the judge presiding over the case, the Democrats arrived at a map that is fair and creates the opportunity for historic six minority majority districts,” Solages said.
Keeping The Lights On
1. Flow. A sedentary life causes brain deterioration. Blood flow to the brain keeps oxygen in your brain cells which gives them life. Keep moving, walking and get some exercise.
2. Energize. Junk food clogs your arteries and lowers energy, causing a sedentary lifestyle. Healthy food gives energy to your body and brain. Refuel and brighten the lights.
3. Recharge. Lack of enough sleep causes deterioration of the brain. Your brain needs downtime to recharge. Give it enough recharging and keep the lights burning bright.
4. Relax. Constant high stress has damaging effects on the brain and can lead to destructive habits which add further damage. Learn to control stress and let the lights shine.
5. Engage. Like muscles your brain needs exercise. Too often people, after retirement, retire their brains also so they atrophy. Stay engaged, exercise your brain with reading, puzzles and other challenges to keep the lights going on strong.
6. Love. When people grow isolated their brains lack stimulation and they grow dull. Stay connected with family and friends to brighten the lights.
7. Adventure. Many older people lose their zest for new adventures. You don’t need to climb Everest just break out of dull routines. Any venture out to new places turns up the lights.
8. Purpose. People can lose interest in life after they have retired, feeling they have no purpose. Look for opportunities to volunteer. Helping others keeps the lights flaming.
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The districts on the new map
District 1: Rockville Centre, Roosevelt, South Hempstead, and portions of Baldwin and Hempstead.
District 2: Carle Place, New Cassel, Westbury, and portions of Hempstead, Uniondale, Hicksville and Jericho.
District 3: Elmont, Lakeview, Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, South Floral Park, Malverne Park Oaks, and portions of Malverne, Valley Stream, North Valley Stream, West Hempstead and Franklin Square.
District 4: Long Beach, Lido Beach, East Atlantic Beach, Island Park, Harbor Isle, Barnum Island, Point Lookout and portions of Oceanside.
District 5: Portions of Hempstead, Uniondale, West Hempstead and Franklin Square.
District 6: Freeport, and portions of Baldwin and Oceanside.
District 7: Atlantic Beach, Bay Park, Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, Hewlett, Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor, Hewlett Neck, Inwood, Lawrence, Woodmere, Woodsburgh, and portions of Oceanside, South Valley Stream and Valley Stream.
District 8: Garden City, Garden City South, Stewart Manor, and portions of Floral Park, Franklin Square, New Hyde Park and North New Hyde Park.
District 9: Mineola, East Williston, Garden City Park, Herricks, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, and portions of Floral Park, New Hyde Park, North New Hyde Park, Searingtown and Williston Park.
District 10: Albertson, Flower Hill, Great Neck, Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Gardens, Great Neck Plaza, Harbor Hills, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Munsey
■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/rockvillecentre
Park, Plandome, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Roslyn Estates, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock, Saddle Rock Estates, Thomaston, University Gardens, and portions of Roslyn Heights, Searingtown and Williston Park.
District 11: Baxter Estates, Glen Cove, Glenwood Landing, Manorhaven, Port Washington, Port Washington North, Roslyn Harbor, Sands Point, Sea Cliff, and portions of Glen Head.
District 12: Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore, North Merrick, and portions of Wantagh.
District 13: East Meadow, Salisbury, and portions of Levittown
District 14: Lynbrook, North Lynbrook, and portions of Valley Stream, North Valley Stream, Malverne and South Valley Stream.
District 15: North Wantagh, Seaford, and portions of Levittown and Wantagh.
District 16: Farmingdale, Old Bethpage, Plainview, and portions of Hicksville, Jericho, Syosset and Woodbury.
District 17: Bethpage, Plainedge, South Farmingdale, and portions of Hicksville and North Massapequa.
District 18: Bayville, Brookville, Centre Island, Cove Neck, East Hills, East Norwich, Greenvale, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Locust Valley, Matinecock, Mill Neck, Muttontown, Old Brookville, Old Westbury, Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove, and portions of Glen Head and Jericho.
District 19: East Massapequa, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, and portions of North Massapequa.
■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: rvceditor@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 205 E-mail: rvceditor@liherald.com ■ SUBSCRIPTIONS: Press ”7”
Adapted from author Doug Armey, the following are keys to keeping your brain “lit” as you age.
BRADY DELVALLE
V.S. South Senior Basketball
IT WAS A HISTORIC night for DelValle Jan. 17 when Valley Stream South faced Wantagh. The two-time All-County guard reached the 1,000point career milestone in the Falcons’ hardfought defeat. He also assumed the top spot in Nassau County this season for 3-pointers made with 44. A captain, he is averaging 17.4 points per game, which ranks him in the Top 20 in Nassau, and scored in double figures in all but one of the Falcons’ first 14 games.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, Jan. 30
Gymnastics: South Side at Oceanside 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Port Wash at Farmingdale 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Manhasset at Kennedy 5 p.m.
Wrestling: Oceanside at Freeport 6 p.m.
Gymnastics: Lynbrook at North Shore 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball: MacArthur at Baldwin 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Clarke at Hewlett 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Locust Valley at East Rockaway 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 31
Boys Basketball: Syosset at Uniondale 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Lawrence at Plainedge 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Oceanside at Massapequa 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Herricks at Mepham 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1
Boys Basketball: Wantagh at Plainedge 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: V.S. South at V.S. North 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Carle Place at West Hempstead 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: V.S. North at V.S. South 12 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 3
Boys Basketball: Calhoun at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.
Wrestling: Long Beach at Calhoun 5:30 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Farmingdale at Massapequa 7 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a winter sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
South Side shoots past Kennedy
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
There wasn’t a cloud in the Monday night sky but it was raining 3s inside the South Side High School gymnasium as the Cyclones and visiting Kennedy were both on the mark from beyond the arc in a Nassau Conference AA3 girls’ basketball matchup.
South Side, coming off a rough shooting performance in a loss to firstplace Division last Friday, sank eight 3s to the Cougars’ 5 and didn’t allow a point in the third quarter of a 63-28 victory. Junior Ellie Lennon scored a game-high 15 points, sophomore Katelyn Mullin had 13, sophomore Reese Long added 9 and senior Charlotte Rathjen 8 as the Cyclones won their 12th game of the season and improved to 7-3 in AA3.
Senior Jolie Yablon led Kennedy (6-9 overall, 3-6 in AA3) with 8 points and hit the first of its three consecutive treys in the third quarter — junior Jordi Wohlleben and senior Tristan Montalbano followed — as the visitors got within 20-15 before South Side took command.
“It was good to see us bounce back after Division,” South Side head coach Dan Ferrick said. “We shot 13-for-63 in that game and it was so unlike us. Tonight showed we can put a tough one behind us. Now we’re comfortably in the playoffs with seven conference wins and it’s just a matter of seeding.”
Mullin hit four treys on the night and Lennon three shots from long range as the Cyclones all but secured third place in AA3. They have four games remaining—Roslyn, Bethpage, Manhasset and Hewlett — before the playoffs begin in mid-February. This Friday at 7 p.m. is the home regular-season finale against Bethpage where the team will honor Rathjen, Taylor Hansman and Ella Burbige.
“Our hope is to run the table and If I had to guess right now, probably be seeded sixth or seventh,” Ferrick said.
“We still have to go to Manhasset and that’s going to be a tough one. Hopefully we play how we did tonight.”
Derrick Dingle/Herald Sophomore Katelyn Mullin scored 13 points Monday night, including four threepointers, as South Side defeated Kennedy, 63-28.
Kennedy has five conference games to go, including three at home, and is on a three-game slide after taking down Hewlett behind senior Ashley St. Surin’s 13 and Bethpage behind Yablon’s 21 and Montalbano’s 18. All are all having solid seasons, head coach Mallory Freely said.
“It’s a really tough conference and we’ve had trouble against teams with a lot of height,” Freely said.
The Cougars scored 9 of the first 11 points of the second quarter before South Side used a 12-3 run to lead by 14 at halftime. The third was all Cyclones, who scored all 20 points of the quarter highlighted by two 3s apiece from Lennon and Mullin.
“We shot the ball well and that was one of the best things about tonight along with how well we defended their better scorers,” Ferrick said.
Reflecting on past success, looking ahead
meeting. “We’re working closely with the Molloy Career Center,” and the initiative will help connect the college to the surrounding community.
The chamber’s social media improvements and successes were also a highlight of Asip’s address, as he noted that the group’s posts reached over 7,000 people and continue to generate buzz for local businesses and events. It’s a “phenomenal communication mechanism,” he said, and he emphasized the chamber’s growing marketing efforts.
Einemann, who coordinates the chamber’s events, outlined its plans for 2025. Among the highlighted upcoming events is a Valentine’s Day Giveaway, sponsored by the Northwell Health Katz Institute for Women’s Health, aimed at engaging the community while collecting contact information to stay in touch with local residents. “The goal is to connect our community with our commerce and create more opportunities for engagement,” Einemann said.
She shared some ideas for additional community events, including a March Madness-themed pub crawl and a cocktail dinner in April, which will sell 300 tickets for $100 each for a chance to win a 50/50 prize.
“The goal is to put you front and center every month with something fun,” Einemann told her colleagues, “so that when they experience Rockville Centre, they feel our vibrancy.”
the Chamber of Commerce board of directors was also reinstalled at the chamber’s monthly meeting. from left were
gatti, iyna Caruso, michael rechter, phil Hammond, Jillian Weston, donna melega, Lisa umansky, donna einemann, Carol o’Leary, rhonda glickman, eric mingorance, tom Bogue, mayor francis murray and ed asip.
As we embrace this season of new beginnings, I’m excited about the opportunities ahead in helping you find an ideal place to call home. The journey so far has been one of growth and connection, and I’m looking forward to guiding you through the process, whether you’re buying, selling, or exploring new possibilities. Here’s to more successful connections, new adventures, and helping you make the best moves for your future!
Tim Baker/Herald
Susan
New state tax credit for small businesses
By MADELEINE ROSEN Special to the Herald
The Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally Act would provide small businesses with up to $4,000 for marketing in community media.
Small businesses in Rockville Centre might soon be receiving some muchneeded financial relief.
Earlier this month, State Sen. Monica R. Martinez and Assemblywoman Jen Lunsford introduced the Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally Act, which would establish a new $10 million tax credit for small businesses advertising in local media outlets. The LOCAL Act aims to support the marketing needs of small businesses — especially those that are minority-, woman- or veteranowned, or that have 10 employees or fewer – while keeping investment in the media outlets that New Yorkers rely on everyday for critical information.
LIA President & CEO Matt Cohen said, “By making community advertising for small businesses more accessible and affordable, this proposed act will help them with their marketing strategy and customer engagement while simultaneously supporting local media outlets, which are also small companies. The legislation is a win-win, and we look forward to its passage this session.”
“This legislation fosters a cycle of growth, allowing small businesses to
expand their reach while simultaneously supporting the media outlets that keep New Yorkers informed and engaged,” Martinez, the bill’s senate sponsor, said.
The legislation has already garnered staunch support from the media and business community alike. Led by The Empire State Local News Coalition, which is composed of over 200 local newspapers across New York – includ-
ing the Rockville Centre Herald – the bill has received praise from business trade groups throughout the state, which view the proposal as a solution to increase investment in small businesses and sustain local news organizations.
“The LOCAL Act is a win-win-win for local businesses, local news, and local communities,” Zachary Richner, founding member of the Empire State Local News Coalition, said. “These institu -
tions are intricately connected and work together to create the vibrant communities that New Yorkers love.”
The bill comes as the 2025 Legislative Session kicks off and negotiations begin on the State’s next fiscal year budget, which must be passed by both the Senate and Assembly and signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul by April 1. The tax credit would need to be included in the State’s final spending plan.
“The LOCAL Act is about more than just advertising – it’s about investing in the economic health of our local communities and investing in the kind of local journalism that we need now more than ever,” Martinez’ fellow bill sponsor, Lunsford, said.
Under the LOCAL Act, a minority-, woman- or veteran-owned business, as well as any business with 10 employees or fewer, would be eligible to receive a refundable tax credit of 80 percent of its first $5,000 of local advertising for a maximum credit of $4,000 per year. The program would be capped at $10 million annually.
“We are excited to support local businesses,” said Stuart Richner, president of Richner Communications Inc. “By making advertising more accessible and affordable, the LOCAL Act will empower Long Island’s small businesses to reach new customers while ensuring that our local media outlets continue to connect and inform our residents.”
Courtesy Town of Hempstead
Local small businesses, like Jeanine’s Gifts on N. Park Avenue in Rockville Centre, could get funding for advertising through the LOCAL Act. Pictured: Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, left, and Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder recognizing Jeanine Palladino, owner of Jeanine’s Gifts, in November 2024 as a small business spotlight.
Molloy salutes MLK with Day of Service
Molloy University had students honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by taking part in the school’s seventh annual MLK Day of Service on Monday.
The event held at Public Square on Molloy’s campus transforms the national holiday into a powerful day of community action.
A keynote presentation by Lisa Zakiya Newland, professor and chairwoman of the Department of Social Work, opened the three and a half hour event with “Cultivating Call and Response for Service and Social Action,” that aimed to inspire the students to embrace service and social responsibility.
There was a mini resource fair that connected attendees with nonprofit organizations to take part in hands-on service projects.
Also part of the event were:
■ Smile Bags Workshop: Decorate and assemble cheerful “smile bags” to brighten the days of children and teens in local hospitals.
■ Literacy Care Packages Workshop: Prepare books and literacy materials to support underserved communities locally and globally.
■ Hands-On CPR and NARCAN Training Workshops: Learn life-saving skills to empower yourself to respond to emergencies in your community.
The MLK Day of Service at Molloy University continues to inspire action and make a difference in the lives of others, fostering the values of service and community engagement that King championed, schools officials said.
–Jeffrey Bessen
Molloy College teachers Michelle Martin, Karen Johnson, Lorraine Emeghebo and Jacquelie Williams welcomed everyone to the MLK event on Jan. 20.
Maureen Lennon/Herald photos
The Nassau Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., joined Molloy for their day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
Jo-Anne Harvey and her son Josiah, 7, made cheerful cards during Molloy University’s day of service.
South Side Middle School students Rachael Dryden, Angie Real and Ariana Campos created colorful cards for local hospital patients with teacher Jen Monsour.
Inspiring ceremony at the MLK Center
By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
The MLK Community Center in Rockville Centre hosted a heartfelt ceremony on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, bringing together local leaders, community members and youth to celebrate the life and legacy of the revered civil rights leader. The event emphasized King’s ongoing message of service, unity and the pursuit of equality.
At the ceremony, Mayor Francis Murray pointed out to the audience a reminder of King’s visit to Rockville Centre on March 28, 1968, just days before his assassination.
“He said, ‘We are all the same, and if we wanted to succeed as a human race, we would have to come together and do so,’” Murray shared. “Who believes that unfortunately, eight days later, he was shot and killed. That visit to Rockville Centre was the last time Dr. King visited New York.”
He reminisced about “the life and legacy of a man who brought hope, healing to our nation” and encouraged the audience to honor his values and teachings.
Students put on performances, including singing, dancing and poetry reading. The event, organized by Patrick Morris and Sharon Sheppard of the community center, was not only a way to honor King but a celebration of African American history.
The ceremony included comments
from Siela Bynoe, the newly elected New York State Senator, who reflected on her own childhood and the influence of King’s image and teachings.
“I could remember back in Queens… a picture of Dr. Martin Luther King on the wall along with a cross, and so my parents used both of those symbols on the wall as ways to make sure that we remembered that Dr. Martin Luther King had done such marvelous work that had laid his life on the line out there at a time,” she said. “But it was challenging to stand up for people that
were oppressed, stand up for people who were marginalized, and stand up for those who are underserved. And so it’s with that spirit I serve, and it’s with that spirit that I will continue to serve.”
Bynoe also challenged everyone in the audience to “find a way to make sure that you can make this community even better” in the spirit of King’s legacy.
Legislator Scott Davis was also in attendance, and he spoke about the enduring power of King’s message.
“My message to all of you is…Look
and ask yourself, ‘What can I do for others?’ he said, “and for all of us, that might be something a little bit different.”
The event was a reminder to the village of Rockville Centre of King’s continuing influence in society, with each speaker and performer encouraging the audience to reflect on how they can contribute to their community based on King’s teachings.
Tim Baker/Herald photos Jarrod Murphy, 9, from the MLK Center Back to School program in Rockville Centre, was one of the speakers at the MLK Community Center’s ceremony.
A large audience gathered at the MLK Community Center to honor King’s legacy and longstanding message of unity and justice.
The youth and teen performing arts group of Rockville Centre performed at the ceremony on Jan. 20.
RVC schools wait for cell phone details
what matters most — their education.”
If the budget is approved, the initiative would take effect in the 2025-26 school year in all public school districts, charter schools and BOCES facilities. It includes provisions to ensure that parents have a way to contact their children during the day if needed, and also allows exceptions for students who require phones for medical reasons or as part of Individualized Education Programs.
“Keeping students engaged would be a lot easier,” Raphael Yeni, an elementary orchestra teacher in the Rockville Centre district, said. “I know there’s going to be a very weird transitional period and pushback, but I’m hoping that it will be for the better and implemented in a smooth manner.”
In addition to phones, Yeni added, smartwatches can also be a distraction among students. “I would say the smartwatches are more of the problem at the elementary level with certain students,” he said. “I’ve definitely had some instances where students were, even in a small lesson group, on their smartwatches.”
Hochul’s proposal builds on her focus last year on addressing the challenges of technology in young people’s lives, including the Safe for Kids Act, which restricts addictive social media feeds for minors, and the New York Child Data Protection Act, which limits the collection of minors’ personal data online.
Support for the proposal has been widespread, with organizations such as the New York State United Teachers and the New York State Parent-Teacher Association backing the initiative, according to the news release.
gov. Hochul’s proposed smartphone restriction in schools aligns with the rockville Centre school
phone policy, and could encourage students to focus more on their schoolwork, like these South Side High School students in the Wood design Club.
The $13.5 million allocated in the budget for storage devices would help schools that need support to implement the plan. Hochul also emphasized that the proposal aligns with her “commitment to protecting youth mental health.”
As part of her $1 billion investment in mental health, she has expanded access to mental health care in schools, with $20 million in start-up funding allocated for new school-based mental health clinics. Since February 2024, the state has funded 71 new satellite clinics, bringing the total number of facilities to over 1,100 statewide.
“At this time, we know that the Legislature still needs to weigh in on the Governor’s proposed ban on personal internet connected devices,” Gaven said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing more specifics for the Governor’s proposal and how the proposal ultimately impacts schools.”
Daniel Offner/Herald
district’s current
Court backs county transgender sports ban
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
New York State Supreme Court Judge Bruce Cozzens last week denied a request by the Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s recreational roller derby league, to temporarily block a Nassau County law that restricts sports teams from using county facilities based on biological sex.
The Roller Rebels argued that Local Law 121-24 discriminates against transgender women by preventing them from participating in women’s sports. The league sought a preliminary injunction to stop the law’s enforcement while its lawsuit challenging the law continues.
The Long Island Roller Rebels are members of the Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Association, which “welcomes all transgender women, intersex women, and gender expansive women to participate in its member leagues. The sex assigned at birth of any and all WFTDA participants is considered confidential and private,” according to court documents.
“I’m very happy that … Cozzens ruled that Nassau County’s local law banning biological males from playing on female sports teams is constitutional and that we did abide by the law,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. “I’m gratified that we were the first in America to do it, and I think we set the tone for the rest of the nation.”
In a 12-6 vote along party lines, the County Legislature passed a bill on June 24 that bans individuals who were born male from taking part in women’s sports and on county-run facilities, regardless of their gender identity.
The county claimed the law was enacted to ensure fairness and safety in sports for biological women, and
After a legal tussle, the law that restricts sports teams from using county facilities based on biological sex was
argued that federal Title IX regulations protecting women’s sports support its position.
The court ruled that the Roller Rebels failed to prove that the law discriminates against transgender individuals under the state’s Human Rights Law or Civil Rights Law. Cozzens noted that the law does not ban transgender people from participating in sports, but requires leagues to designate teams as male, female or co-ed.
In his decision, he emphasized the safety concerns and physical differences between biological men and women, particularly in contact sports like roller derby. The judge also highlighted the county’s responsibility to use public facilities in ways that serve the majority of taxpayers.
“The power differential between adult individuals
who are born male and those born female is substantial and therefore may be more dangerous,” Cozzens’s decision read. “This would create additional risk to the individual and potential liability, creating costs to the municipality. The municipality is not obligated to provide a recreational setting for each and every individual residing within its confines.”
“As we’ve said all along, it’s just common sense,” Blakeman said. “Biological males should not play in female sports. They have a competitive advantage. It’s unfair, and it’s also unsafe.”
The ruling follows an executive order signed by President Trump on Jan. 20 that eliminated protections for transgender individuals, stating that the federal government would define sex strictly as male or female.
By Danielle Schwab & Tim Baker
Sean Cirillo Oceanside
My 2025 resolution is to replace all my local car trips with walking and biking. Replacing these short trips that are typically done with a car is healthier, saves me money, better connects me to the community and I’m never stuck in traffic on a bike.
What is your major goal for 2025?
Mike
Ahl Babylon
I would like to get stronger. I ride my bike in Babylon. My average is 45 minutes to do 10 miles, and I want to get it under 40 minutes. I have two little boys, I want to be healthy for them.
David Friedman Hewlett
Definitely need a nice relaxing vacation somewhere warm. I haven’t been to Atlantis in many years, or maybe Italy. There are too many things to do and I’m getting older, so I need a vacation.
Sharon Edwards Merrick
Time management is definitely my resolution for this year. Last year really went by quickly; it was over and done. I have everything on one to-do list. I have a family that I want to spend some time with and then I have my business. I’m trying to balance everything.
Cliff
Krauter Bayville
I would like to become more involved in the committees around the city (Glen Cove). I meet many people that do things out of their good nature. It’s something I highly respect and admire and I’d like to try to do more of.
STEPPING OUT
By Danielle Schwab
When it comes to Monster Jam, go big or go home.
Those bigger-than-life behemoths gear up for a crushing competition madness takes over
Witness the roar of eight monster trucks battle it out for the winning trophy at the fullthrottle competition with plenty of car-smashing, donut-wheeling and back-flipping action fans know and expect.
Monster Jam arrives at UBS Arena next weekend, Feb. 7-9, taking over Belmont Park for three days packed with high-flying action and jaw-dropping stunts. This isn’t just any event — it’s “As Big As It Gets.” where where every moment is unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable.
Both monster truck fanatics and first-time watchers will experience all the motorsport has to offer in a four-part competition ruled by these 12,000 pound mechanical beasts.
Drivers bring out all the stunts for the competition to the delight of spectators.
“Who doesn’t love big trucks crushing stuff, mjumping high in the air, rolling over and doing all the crazy stuff we do?” says Matt Cody, the longtime driver of Grave Digger and 2024 Arena Series West Champion.
• Friday through Sunday, Feb. 7-9; times vary
• Tickets available at ticketmaster.com
• UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont
always my birthday present. I fell in love with it,” he says.
Starting at 13-years-old, Cody got involved with the event in every way possible — whether it was sweeping floors, cleaning trucks or driving the tractortrailers. His passion and hard work earned him a role as a mechanic for the show, eventually paving the way for him to become an official driver in 2012.
‘Easy come, easy go’ Queen-mania rocks on. Almost Queen returns to the Paramount stage with their homage to the beloved band. They don’t just pay tribute to the legendary band, Almost Queen transports you back in time to experience the magic and essence of Queen themselves. The band — featuring Joseph Russo as Freddie Mercury, Steve Leonard as Brian May, Randy Gregg as John Deacon, and John Cappadona as Roger Taylor — is “guaranteed to blow your mind” with iconic four-part harmonies and expertly executed musical interludes. dynamic live performance showcasing signature four-part harmonies and intricate musical interludes. The band’s authenticity shines through in their impeccable attention to detail and genuine costumes, while their live energy and precision captivates fans of all ages. Almost Queen’s concerts are a true testament to the band’s love for Queen’s music. We Are the Champions!” It’s no wonder fans keep coming back for more.
Saturday Feb. 1, 8 p.m. $79.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50, $34.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
“From the atmosphere to the production to the people, it’s a big family and it’s a big family sport, everybody’s there to just have fun,” he adds.
Ten years later, Cody started driving the infamous Grave Digger — a 43 year global legend among monster trucks, sporting massive 66-inch tires.
“It’s just a big, bad machine,” Cody says.
Watch as these powerful trucks race for the fastest time, showcase their jaw-dropping skills with epic stunts — some of which are only on two wheels — in competitions of speed and skill. Also see the drivers unleash their trucks’ wild, untamed power in a thrilling freestyle showdown.
And of course, there’ll be plenty of monster-sized donuts to get heads-spinning as well.
This epic ride sports tombstones on its side “for the competitors that we’ve beaten and buried,” he explains.
Going head-to-head against Grave Digger are newcomers Plane Krazy and Krazy Train as well as a new fan favorite, Sparkle Smash, a giant blue-and-purple unicorn that’s sure to kick some butt.
Other trucks returning to claim victory are the always-popular Megalodon, Zombie, El Toro Loco, and Terminal Velocity.
South Shore Symphony
right in the middle of the action, helping to
To make it even more exciting, the judges’ panel includes the entire audience. Fans are right in the middle of the action, helping to crown the event champion as they get to score the drivers in real time based on their skills, stunts, and saves. Everyone gets a say in which truck triumphs with glory and eventually moves on to July’s Monster Jam World Finals.
It’s truly an unforgettable family affair, involving generations of families since Monster Jam’s start in 1992.
“I met so many awesome fans from over the years, dedicated fans who’ll bring their grandfather, the dad, and now son, to an event. And the grandfather will be like, ‘Yeah, I remember bringing my son.’ Even though I’m not the driver that may have been [there] at that time, they’ll take a picture just to recreate that,” Cody says.
“It’s just an awesome experience among the families and the memories that they’re making.”
All of this from the best seat in UBS Arena, which is every seat according to Cody.
“I tell people that in an arena as compared to a stadium, stadiums are cool, but in an arena, there’s not a bad seat in the house.”
Start off the action early. Fans can get a closer look at the trucks and meet the drivers at the exclusive Monster Jam Pit Party — or get revved up prior to the show with sneak peaks, giveways and extra action at the Monster Jam Trackside Experience.
Before taking over the driver’s seat, Cody’s Monster Jam journey began sitting in the audience of Monster Jam events as a kid. Cody, from Williamsport, Md., began to follow the sport at age 8. As a lifelong fan, he knows the thrills it offers to both fan and participant.
Photos courtesy Feld Entertainment
Before taking over the driver’s seat, lifelong fan, he knows the thrills it offers to both
Top left - Sparkle Smash, among the newcomers, joins El Toro Loco and the other trucks in nailing vertical 2-wheel tricks, among other feats.
Music Director Adam Glaser’s South Shore Symphony Orchestra welcomes the New Year with a rousing concert, titled “Heritage and Memory, at its Madison Theatre home. The orchestra is joined by guitarist Tali Roth. Originally from Israel, now based in the New York City area, she’ll be playing the beloved Rodrigo’s Concieto de Aranjuez. The evening’s repertoire also includes Humperdinck’s Prelude to the opera Hansel and Gretel. The charming composition is known for its sweetness and nostalgia to this piece that catches you off guard. Another, Mary Watkins’ Soul of Remembrance is becoming a staple in the orchestra repertoire, and deservedly so, according to Glaser. The program’s second half is devoted to Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 in D major.
“Monster Jam used to come every year. It was
Top right - Monster trucks reach epic heights in the latest edition of Monster Jam. Grave Digger, with Matty Cody (bottom left) and other popular trucks thrill fans in their customized high-power vehicles.
Saturday, Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444.
Your Neighborhood
THE
Sheng Wang
With his signature laid-back style, as showcased in his Netflix special Sweet & Juicy produced and directed by Ali Wong, comedian, actor, and writer, Sheng Wang brings his hilarious standup to the Paramount stage, Saturday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m.
Long-time comedian
Sheng Wang is truly coming into his own. Two decades of performing has taken him from doing stand-up for touristy audiences in New York unwilling to give an Asian American comedian the time of day to a successful Netflix special, “Sweet and Juicy,” produced and directed by Ali Wong. Wang asks audiences to not only recognize the personhood of an Asian on stage but to find deep resonance with this person’s honest feelings. He mines comedy from the mundane, everyday parts of life — from the meditative ritual that is shopping at Costco to how to get maximum value from health insurance. Because he’s from Houston, Texas., Wang also speaks with a slight Southern drawl, giving a relaxed quality to his delivery. He likens himself to “A Clown with Words.” Among his other credits, Wang was a featured standup on HBO’s “2 Dope Queens” special and also wrote for the ABC show “Fresh Off the Boat.” Wang resides in L.A. and in his time off he enjoys exploring botanical gardens and discovering new ways to snack. $69.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Long Island Choral Society auditions
Long Island Choral Society, under the Direction of Michael C. Haigler, holds auditions for new members for the final concert of their 96th Season. Auditions are by appointment only and will be held Mondays, continuing Feb. 3 and 10, at Garden City Community Church. The Berlioz Requiem is a piece known for its power and beauty that offers a rare musical performance opportunity while bringing the Choral Society’s 2425 concert season to an exciting close.
If you love to sing consider auditioning to be part of this treasured Long Island tradition. Those interested can schedule an audition by calling (516) 6526878 or via e-mail at audition. info@lics.org. 245 Stewart Ave., Garden City.
Art explorations
Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program continues, Saturday, Feb. 1, noon-3 p.m. Kids and their adult partners talk about and make art together. While there, enjoy reading and play in the Reading Room, and contribute to The Lobby Project, a collaborative art installation. Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit nassaumuseum.org to register or call (516) 484-9337.
Winter in the woods
Explore Sands Point Preserve in winter, with environmental educator Hildur Palsdottir, Saturday, Feb. 1, 10-11:30 a.m. She will engage participants ill engage audiences in handson nature discovery activities encompassing the preserve’s unique physical features and wildlife.
Conservation issues are also discussed on the walk through the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim. $15 ($10 members), $5 children. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.
The Furry Forecaster
Visit Long Island Children’s Museum and share in some Groundhog Day fun, Saturday, Feb. 1, noon-2 p.m. Join in on the forecasting festivities and make a groundhog to take home, at the drop-in program. Will he emerge from his burrow and see his shadow or not? For ages 3 and up. Free with admission. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.
Jan. 31
In perfect harmony
Join more than a dozen incredible a cappella groups for the return of the popular SingStrong A Cappella Festival, hosted by Adelphi University, as they pull out all the stops for their 20th year. This family friendly weekend, Friday through Sunday, Jan. 31Feb. 2, features five completely different concerts, also workshops and competitions, even a group you can perform with, among other activities. Professional a cappella groups perform along with collegiate and high school ensembles. A variety of musical genres are represented, including re-imaginings of barbershop, pop, R&B, jazz, and more. Visit singstrong.org for details. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 8774000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.
SSHS Freshman Orientation
Incoming ninth-grade students are invited to attend a freshman orientation at the South Side High School auditorium, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m. Following the presentation, students will be given a tour of the facilities, locker assignments and plan their class schedule with guidance counselors. 140 Shepherd St.
Rockville Centre Choral Society Recruitment
Like to sing? The Rockville Centre Choral Society wants you! The nonsectarian chorus sings in Lynbrook and around the South Shore. New members are welcome. The chorus sings a variety of genres: pop, folk, showtunes, light classical and standards.
No experience necessary. RCCS meets Wednesdays, 7:45-9:30 p.m., and performs two concerts yearly. Rehearsals are held at St. James United Methodist Church, 11 St. James Place, Lynbrook. For more information, email rvcchorus@gmail.com or call (516) 599-5705.
Keeping up with the Village
The next meeting of the Village of Rockville Centre Board of Trustees takes place on Monday, Feb. 3 , 7 p.m., at Village Hall. 1 College Place.
Having an event?
Taste of Rockville Centre
To help raise money for local, national and Irish charities, the RVC St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee hosts the annual Taste of Rockville Centre, Friday, Jan. 31, t 7 p.m., at St. Agnes Parish Center, located behind the Cathedral. Enjoy a variety of dishes from more than 20 different area restaurants, with wine tasting, microbrewery samplings, dessert, and a coffee bar. $65 per person. Tickets available online at RVCStPatrick. com. 29 Quealy Place.
St. Agnes Dinner Dance
The St. Agnes Cathedral School will hosts its 2025 Dinner Dance, Saturday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m., at The Lannin at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. This year’s event honors St. Thomas Aquinas Award recipients Jacqueline and Peter Agresta, St. Catherine of Siena Award recipient Pat O’Brien, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award recipients Maureen O’Loughlin and Kelly Magas. To RSVP, contact StAgnesReservations@Gmail. com.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
On exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) which publicly launched the movement. The direct followup to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. The exhibit encompasses significant cultural advancements during Long Island’s Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age movement, including votes, jobs, and the automobile for women, the beginnings of suburbia with commutation for work, and planned residential communities, which all defined the era, while the following decade brought economic reversals and the WPA program. Works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Fernand Léger, Guy Pène du Bois, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, and Reginald Marsh, among others, along with art deco stylists of poster art and graphics, and photography will convey the Art Deco spirit along with its furniture, decorative arts, and fashion.
Like “Our Gilded Age,” the social scene of Long Island’s Gold Coast, and its personalities — both upstairs and downstairs — will be portrayed, along with the ongoing relationship with the immediate urban context of New York with its skyscrapers and deco-styled architecture. On view through June 15. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum. org.
Hempstead House tour
Feb. 16
Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Sunday, Feb. 16, noon-1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. Visit the grand rooms inside the massive 50,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion, the former summer residence of Gilded Age financier Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim. Tours are limited in size and tend to sell out. Arrive early to purchase tickets. $10. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
SUMMONS Supreme Court of New York, Nassau County U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF LSRMF MH MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST II,, Plaintiff -againstMICHAEL EGAN A/K/A MICHAEL C. EGAN; JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION; CITIBANK, N.A.; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT) O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NASSAU COUNTY CLERK; EMERALD GROUP HOLDINGS LLC; VITALCAP FUND; “JOHN DOE” AND “JANE DOE” said names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, Defendants. Index No. 616933/2023. Mortgaged Premises: 70 Reid Avenue Rockville Centre, NY 11570 Section: Section: 38 Block: 415 Lot: 20 To The Above Named Defendant(s): YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. If you fail to appear or to answer within the aforementioned time frame, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECTIVE of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Consolidation, Extension, and Modification Agreement to secure $195,000.00 and interest, covering the premises known as 70 Reid Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY 11570. Said Consolidation, Extension, and Modification Agreement consolidated a Consolidation, Extension, and Modification Agreement recorded in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office on June 15, 2001 in Liber Book M21085, Page 685, Control Number 921 with a mortgage dated January 16, 2004. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the mortgage described above. Plaintiff
designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP
1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160 Garden City, New York 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff. 151003
LEGAL NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE OF NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER’S SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE
Notice is hereby given that commencing on February 18th, 2025, will sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 13th, 2025 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property.
Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six-month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code. Effective with the February 2019 lien sale
Ordinance No. 175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale.
Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased. Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further
information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/526/CountyTreasurer
Should the Treasurer determine that an inperson auction shall be held, same will commence on the 18th day of February 2025 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer.
A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/527/Annual-TaxLien-Sale
A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 06th, 2025. Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audiotape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 ext. 1-3715.
Dated: January 23, 2025
THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, NewYork
TERMS OF SALE
Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts. However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.
The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of
same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act(FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et.seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC) receivership.
The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed.
The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk.
The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County
Crime watCh arrest
Rohan Antonio Scott, 20, of Rockville Centre, was arrested on Jan. 25 and charged with assault and harassment after an investigation at the SAIL Group Home in Baldwin.
assault
A customer of Catch 13, on N. Park Avenue, was reportedly punched by an acquaintance in the parking lot outside of the restaurant on Jan. 24. The assault caused a physical injury.
leaving the sCene of an aCCident
A motorist reported on Jan. 23 that their vehicle was struck by another vehicle, which then fled the scene, while driving on Peninsula Boulevard.
A motorist reported on Jan. 23 that their vehicle was struck by another vehicle, which then fled the scene, while parked in a Merrick Road parking lot.
A motorist reported on Jan. 26 that their vehicle was struck by another vehicle, which then fled the scene, while driving on N. Village Avenue.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
fire watCh
The Rockville Centre Fire Department is always looking for help in serving our community. If you live here or in any one of the adjacent communities and are interested in joining or just
Jan. 19 – Jan. 26
General Alarms – 17
Still Alarms – 6 Rescue – 4
Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 49
Mutual Aid Fire – 0
Mutual Aid Rescue – 0
Mutual Aid Ambulance – 0
Total – 76
have questions, please visit any firehouse on Sunday mornings and speak with one of the officers or call (516) 6789320. For emergencies dial 911 or (516) 766-0400.
Year To Date
General Alarms – 53
Still Alarms – 15 Rescue – 13
Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 215
Mutual Aid Fire – 3
Mutual Aid Rescue – 0
Mutual Aid Ambulance – 1
Total – 300
Public Notices
Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale. Furthermore, as to the bidding,
1. The bidder(s) agree that they will not work with any other bidder(s) to increase, maintain or stabilize interest rates or collaborate with any other bidder(s) to gain an unfair competitive advantage in the random number generator in the event of a tie bid(s) on a tax certificate. Bidder(s) further agree not to employ any bidding strategy designed to create an unfair competitive advantage in the tiebreaking process in the upcoming tax sale nor work with any other bidder(s) to engage in any bidding strategy that will result in a rotational award of tax certificates.
2. The tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) bid, will be arrived at independently and without direct or indirect
consultation, communication or agreement with any other bidder and that the tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) to be bid, have not been disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder, and will not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder prior to the close of bidding. No attempt has been made or will be made to, directly or indirectly, induce any other bidder to refrain from bidding on any tax certificate, to submit complementary bids, or to submit bids at specific interest rates.
3. The bids to be placed by the Bidder will be made in good faith and not pursuant to any direct or indirect, agreement or discussion with, or inducement from, any other bidder to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive bid.
4. If it is determined that the bidder(s) have violated any of these bid requirements then their bid shall be voided and if they were the successful bidder the lien and any deposits made in
connection with said bid shall be forfeited.
Dated: January 23, 2025 THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, New York 151098
LEGAL NOTICE Public Notice to Bidders Sealed Bids will be received by the Purchasing Department of the Village of Rockville Centre, One College Place, Room 204, Rockville Centre, New York 11570 for the matter stated below until 11:00 am prevailing time on FEBRUARY 13, 2025 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for: 2025 FIRE HYDRANT REPLACEMENTS Bid # 2502W1(1137) The contract documents, specifications and plans can be examined on the Village’s website at www.rvcny.gov. Follow the link to the Purchasing Department. Each bid must be accompanied by a certified check, bank check or bid bond payable to the
Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre in the amount of five (5%) percent of the gross amount of the bid. All questions should be directed to the Purchasing Department. Please contact Lisa Strazzeri via email only at lstrazzeri@rvcny.us. Questions must be submitted no later than February 6, 2025. Award of Contract will be made to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with applicable provisions of the law. The Village reserves the right to reject all bids or make such determination as in the best interests of the Village, as provided by law. Purchasing Department Lisa Strazzeri Purchasing Agent 516-678-9213 151289
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Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.
STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.
Salary Range is $16.50 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com
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EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
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 $34,320 + 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
OFFICE ASSISTANT PT
Flexible Hours. General Office Duties. Phones, Filing, Light Bookkeeping. $20$25/ Hour. Salary Commensurate With Experience. Email info@cousinsmetal.com Or Call 516-536-7755
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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 $34,320 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 openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are
DHow hard is converting from oil to gas?
Q. We want a new boiler and to convert to gas, because oil costs keep rising. How safe are a gas boiler, water heater and stove? We are told it could be very expensive to run a gas line to our home if there isn’t one on the street. We have spoken to a plumber who is looking into this for us, but is this really going to be economical, since we’re retired and just trying to find ways to reduce living costs?
A. Gas is generally safe when the lines are left alone where installed, and not tampered with. We only read or hear news about a gas explosion when something out of the ordinary happens. Years ago, a gas explosion on Long Island turned out to have been caused by thieves who ripped the gas stove out of an empty home, leaving the open gas line spewing gas to the whole house until a spark from the boiler ignited the gas and blew the home up. This is rare, and was caused by ignorance.
You can avoid this by being cautious, and hiring professionals to handle gas appliances. With several steps to convert from oil to gas, you, or your plumber, must verify that gas lines are available on your street. I remember converting to gas, contacting the gas company and, after a week, calling them back and learning that there was no gas, and that the closest location was a block away, on the other side of a busy county road. I was also told that I would have to go door to door to speak to neighbors about converting to gas so that it would be worth it for the gas company to extend the street line into our neighborhood. In other words, the gas company wanted me to market their product if I wanted it for myself.
I did manage to find others around me who were interested in converting. Then we all waited, and wouldn’t you know it, the neighbors started calling me to find out when the gas lines were going to be installed. That prompted me to do what you may also have to do: keep calling. There were issues with getting approvals for the road opening of a county road, which takes months, permits for the gas conversion by the plumber, location of other utilities, oil and tank removal after gas was in.
Plan for summer installation, when the boiler is least needed. As for the expense, it doesn’t pay to buy a less expensive boiler if it’s less efficient, because its operating cost — usually based on how much heat is derived per unit of fuel consumed — will be much more than the money saved at the outset. Incidentally, oil fuel is slightly more efficient than gas, but the cost increases are based on a less stable spot market. Although gas tends to remain more price-stable, for some unknown reason, it tends to increase in cost concurrent with oil increases. Good luck!
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America’s literacy crisis is everyone’s responsibility
What if I told you that the next pandemic is around the corner, but is totally preventable? Wouldn’t you muster all your resources to stop it? That’s what is happening in America now when it comes to literacy among young people, and everyone, not just educators, has the power to do something about it.
“There is currently a literacy crisis happening in the U.S.,” according to the Education Trust, “one that disproportionately affects students of color, and that cannot be ignored.”
According to the National Assessment of Education Progress, the majority of American children are not proficient readers. Last year, the NAEP found that just 43 percent of fourth-graders in the U.S. scored at or above a proficient level in reading. And for marginalized students, the numbers are much worse: just 17 percent of Black students, 21 percent of Latino students, 11 percent of students with disabilities and 10 percent of multilingual learners can read proficiently by fourth grade. Reading is fundamental, extending far beyond the ability to decode words.
It cultivates critical thinking, builds healthy imaginations, expands vocabulary and nurtures curiosity. Reading expands the mind, and it is essential to maintaining an informed citizenry and an effective democracy. The decline in reading proficiency should concern us all.
How did we get here?
The proliferation of technology in every aspect of our lives is a main culprit. Distractions are everywhere, from constant entertainment on our televisions to the endless notifications from our apps to video games that keep children and young adults occupied for hours and make it difficult for traditional books to compete. While technology offers many benefits, we must find ways to rebalance the scales and reignite a love of reading.
eHere are some of the ways you can support your children’s reading at home:
n Choose the right books. Select books with no more than four or five unfamiliar words per page or paragraph to avoid frustration.
very family can create a reading culture at home with some distractionfree time.
Schools, in partnership with parents and communities, are key, and collaborative efforts are crucial. In the Uniondale school district, our pre-kindergarten program provides students with a great foundation in reading, but sustained support is vital. Parents are the primary influencers of reading in their children’s lives. By modeling reading habits, sharing reading strategies and prioritizing family reading time, parents and caregivers can have a positive impact on children’s reading journeys.
n Select books that they’re interested in. Interest and enthusiasm are key.
n Talk about what they’re reading. You can talk about a book before, during and after they read it by asking questions and getting your child to share predictions and reactions. Every family can create a reading culture at home by dedicating some distraction-free time to reading.
In Uniondale, our teachers promote reading by fostering a love of books and teaching the foundational skills that make students avid readers. Every day, teachers develop students’ confidence in reading by exposing them to rich vocabulary, providing phonics instruction and sharing comprehension strategies. As a nationally certified My Brother’s Keeper Community, we pledged to ensure that all of our students are reading on grade level by the end of third grade. We are working toward this commitment by enlisting the support of our community partners, businesses and leaders, who
engage in either our Reading Buddies or our community-based literacy activities.
This summer, we initiated a My Brother’s Keeper Summer Reading program, which challenged elementaryschool students to read 30 books over the summer and post their summaries online. Our local businesses, including restaurants, barber shops and laundromats, displayed signs that promoted the program and allowed students to post their reading summaries to a digital QR code. Students who took part were invited to a free night at the Long Island Children’s Museum and an endof-summer fun night on the Uniondale High School athletic fields.
We continued our community reading program in the fall, in collaboration with the Uniondale Public Library, and this month we’re launching a Reading Buddy program with the teens of Jack and Jill of America’s Nassau County chapter. All of these initiatives not only spread awareness of the importance of reading, but also signal that there’s a shared responsibility for children’s reading in our community, and we all have to do our part.
The solution to the literacy crisis is within our reach. By working together and reminding young people of the magic and power within the pages of a book, we can reverse this trend and empower the next generation.
Monique Darrisaw-Akil is superintendent of the Uniondale school district.
A new path forward for Long Island transportation
Long Island is a place of endless potential, where communities with rich histories thrive in scenic landscapes. Our ability to sustain this prosperity is at risk, however, due to a glaring issue: outdated and insufficient transportation infrastructure. The status quo is no longer an option.
MichAeLLe SOLAGeS
Long Island’s transportation challenges stem from years of systemic neglect and a funding model that doesn’t prioritize our region’s needs. Currently, Long Island’s funding mechanism is lumped together with New York City and other counties under the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council. This arrangement puts Long Island at a disadvantage, forcing us to compete for resources with the complex
and nearly endless needs of the five boroughs and beyond.
The numbers paint a stark picture. Long Island’s share of transportation funding has dwindled to just 6 percent, despite a population that would make us the third-largest city in the nation. We are being asked to do more with less, and the cracks are starting to show — literally, in our roads and railways. To address this crisis, we must rethink how transportation funding and planning are handled.
that we know how to prioritize best.
With the leadership of such an organization, we would be able to build a Long Island where commuting is seamless, roads are safer and public transit options are robust. Projects such as modernizing the Long Island Rail Road, improving safety on major highways, and developing environmentally friendly transit systems would finally get the attention they deserve.
A region that is key to New York’s economy is treated as an afterthought.
The creation of a Nassau Suffolk Metropolitan Planning Organization is the logical next step. By establishing a dedicated MPO for Long Island, we can ensure that our transportation priorities are no longer overshadowed by those of neighboring regions. The new organization would allow us to access federal funding directly, giving us the autonomy to address local issues
Smaller New York regions, like Ithaca, already benefit from their own MPOs despite having far smaller populations and economies than Long Island. Why should our region, home to more than 3 million people and a cornerstone of New York’s economy, continue to be treated as an afterthought?
This is not just about transportation — it’s about Long Island’s future. Without the infrastructure to support our
growing population and economy, we risk losing what makes this region special.
Thanks to the leadership of State Sen. Monica Martinez and Assemblyman Steve Stern, legislation to establish a Nassau Suffolk MPO has been introduced, and as the chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, I’m proud that we’ve included this important legislation in our 2025 People’s Budget Framework. Now it’s up to us to make this vision a reality. Passing this legislation would mark a turning point, signaling that Long Island’s needs would no longer be ignored.
Let’s seize this opportunity to secure Long Island’s place as a leader in transportation innovation. By creating a Nassau Suffolk MPO, we can build a future in which our communities are connected, our economy is strengthened and our residents enjoy a better quality of life.
Michaelle Solages represents the 22nd Assembly District.
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HERALD
Cliff Richner
Publisher, 1982-2018
Robert Richner
Edith Richner Publishers, 1964-1987
Act would help main streets, local newsrooms
Small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities. They are the corner stores, familyowned restaurants, and local service providers that fuel our neighborhoods, create jobs, and drive economic growth. Yet these vital businesses often face significant challenges in reaching new customers and growing their operations in an increasingly competitive economy.
With the official introduction in the New York State Legislature of the Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally, or LOCAL, Act, small businesses across the state might gain a powerful new tool next year to help sustain their success and maximize the reach of their marketing dollars. Sponsored by State Sen. Monica Martinez and Assemblywoman Jen Lunsford, the legislation would establish a tax credit for small businesses that advertise in local media outlets — from print and digital to television and radio. By making advertising more affordable, the LOCAL Act would empower small businesses to reach their target audiences while also supporting the essential work of the same media outlets that provide our communities with local journalism.
The LOCAL Act focuses on supporting minority-, woman- and veteranowned businesses, as well as any businesses with 10 or fewer employees. For
letterS
Blakeman takes the credit, but how safe is the county?
To the Editor:
many of these entrepreneurs, the ability to advertise affordably in trusted, community-driven platforms like local newspapers would be a game-changer. Local media outlets are well positioned to connect businesses with their neighbors — customers who are eager to shop locally and uplift their communities.
This legislation couldn’t come at a better time. Small businesses are still navigating the economic aftershocks of the pandemic, inflationary pressures, and competition from large corporations with massive marketing budgets. The LOCAL Act would help level the playing field, giving your favorite momand-pop store a way to increase visibility without sacrificing their scarce financial resources.
When our small businesses thrive, so do our communities. Small businesses employ your neighbors, sponsor your kids’ Little League team, and offer a convenient destination for a night out with your spouse. These businesses are not only economic drivers, but also cornerstones of community identity.
The benefits of the LOCAL Act would extend beyond businesses. Local media outlets, too, are vital to communities, because they produce the journalism that keeps people informed about school board meetings, neighborhood crime, church bake sales and the
most recent newlyweds — and everything in between. Unfortunately, declining advertising revenues have jeopardized the financial sustainability of many of these media outlets, and small newsrooms have been shuttering across the state. By encouraging small businesses to advertise locally, the LOCAL Act would helps these outlets continue their essential work of championing their communities.
This dual benefit — supporting both small businesses and local journalism — has already garnered strong support from business groups, community leaders, and the 200-plus local newspapers comprising the Empire State Local News Coalition — including the Heralds. It’s a win-win solution that strengthens the backbone of our local economy while fostering a unified, informed citizenry.
The LOCAL Act marks a bold step forward in tackling the interconnected challenges our communities are facing today. By working together to implement and embrace this program, we can build stronger businesses, sustain vital journalism, and ensure the prosperity of communities across New York for years to come.
We support this smart legislation. Tell your elected leaders in Albany to include the LOCAL Act in the final fiscal year 2026 state budget.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman boasts in his Jan. 16-22 Herald op-ed, “Safety and affordability must be Nassau’s priorities,” that he has made Nassau County the safest county in the nation. But Blakeman neglects to acknowledge that the same top ranking in a U.S. News & World Report annual survey was also attained in two consecutive years during the tenure of his predecessor, Democrat Laura Curran.
The Republican county executive attributes the comparatively high degree of security to “our investments in public safety.” Blakeman notes that he has sworn in 291 new police officers since taking office in 2022.
While the additional cops may be helping keep violent-crime rates at the low level achieved under Curran, an expanded Nassau County Police Department has done little to make the county’s roads safer. Blakeman says nothing, and has done nothing, about the traffic violence that resulted in nearly 150 deaths in the county during his first two years in office. Killings by armed assailants claimed fewer than 10 lives in the same period.
The NCPD, and Blakeman, appear uninterested in acting to reduce this carnage. County police issued about 20 percent fewer tickets to drivers in 2022 than in
2019, according to the most recent data available from state sources. Stricter enforcement would likely bring about a drop in fatal crashes related to speeding
opinions Conspiracy has no place after tragedy
Like so many others, I have watched the California wildfires unfold with a mix of horror and awe.
For those unfamiliar with the scale of destruction, the fires that began igniting near Los Angeles in early January have scorched over 40,000 acres, claimed at least 27 lives, injured more than 20 people and destroyed over 15,000 structures.
As I followed news reports, watched television coverage and scrolled through social media during the first week of the fires, one message stood out: Nearly everyone had California and its residents in their thoughts and prayers. Relief efforts and fundraisers quickly sprang into action as people rallied to help and offer support wherever it was needed. It is in our nature as humans to want to help. Yet to my dismay, almost as soon as the relief efforts began, conspiracies started surfacing. And not to be punny, but they spread like, well, wildfire. On my social media feeds, I occasionally come across videos from a popular
account called “Gubba Homestead.” The account owner, a farmer, often starts her videos with the tagline, “I’m a conspiracy theorist . . .” From there she dives into various claims, many of which can be debunked by science. The videos are clickbait-like in their nature, designed to provoke reactions or outrage in the comments — an approach that boosts views and amplifies the videos’ spread.
tIt’s a fascinating, albeit troubling, method of online content creation, and I wasn’t surprised when, about a week after the fires began, she appeared on my feed once again, starting with the familiar line, “Call me a conspiracy theorist, but . . .”
atures in 2024 were dubbed “abnormally hot” by scientists at the University of California — which should surprise no one. And it’s not just the West Coast that has been affected by fires. Think about what occurred just a few months ago in upstate New York.
heories started surfacing almost as soon as the relief efforts began in L.A.
She went on to claim that there was no way the L.A. wildfires could have been caused by climate change, offering harmful commentary that did nothing to help anyone during a time of tragedy. Without diving too deep, I’ll tell you this: Climate scientists have indicated that the likelihood of fire events has increased by 31 to 66 percent since 1950, due to intense periods of strong rainfall, which create more vegetation, followed by periods of extreme drought, which dries out that vegetation. Global temper-
Letters
and driving under the influence — the two leading causes of road deaths. Blakeman seeks to project a toughguy image when it comes to crime. That accounts for his unilateral move to create a force of 75 armed “special deputies” to be activated whenever he chooses. This new unit, criticized as a private militia, will be mobilized in cases of “emergency,” the county executive maintains. But the carnage on the county’s roads does not, in his estimation, qualify as a topic worth addressing — let alone as an “emergency.”
KevIN J KeLLeY Atlantic Beach
It’s time for New York to embrace nuclear power
To the editor:
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent state budget proposal fails to adequately address New York’s energy infrastructure. The proposal does not mention nuclear power, even though it is the state’s best energy opportunity. equally troubling is the omission of the empire State Wind project, a once-central component of New York’s energy goal of generating net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. If the governor rec-
ognizes that wind energy faces significant public opposition, especially on Long Island, then it’s time to focus on funding nuclear energy projects instead.
Nuclear power is the most efficient form of renewable energy, generating massive amounts of electricity with a much smaller land footprint than wind or solar. This is best demonstrated by the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant, which never went online. The plant’s site now houses wind turbines that produce 1/35,000th of the energy the nuclear plant would have generated. While there were justifiable concerns about building a reactor downstate, Hochul should now look to fund nuclear reactors upstate that would create electricity for downstate communities.
The closure of the Indian Point energy Center in 2021 underscores the urgency of building a better energy grid for New York. This move forced downstate New York to increase its reliance on fossil fuels, driving up emissions and worsening air pollution. Communities already struggling with environmental and health inequities continue to bear the brunt of these decisions.
Nuclear power is resurging across the country. Tech companies such as Microsoft and Meta are restarting nuclear reactors because they recog -
Climate change is real, and it’s here. People can ignore the truth, but there’s no place in this conversation for conspiracies.
At the core of American values lies the principle of free speech. Thoughtful questioning and theorizing have driven breakthroughs once deemed impossible. Scientific discoveries have emerged, and transformative social change has been achieved, thanks to people who challenged the status quo — doing so with ethical integrity and moral purpose.
What’s unfolding across social media, as Californians work to rebuild their lives, is neither ethical nor moral. Those whose lives have been upended don’t need “influencers” spreading baseless claims or (again, sorry) fanning the flames of conspiracy.
This behavior exploits tragedy for attention, shifting the focus away from the victims and the real issues at hand. It undermines efforts to address the underlying causes, like climate change
and inadequate infrastructure, and distracts from the stories of resilience and heroism that deserve to be heard.
The conspiracy phenomenon isn’t unique to the California fires. From hurricanes to pandemics to mass shootings, misinformation and conspiracy theories seem to surface in the wake of nearly every major tragedy. Under the guise of seeking the “truth,” sensationalized theories simply capitalize on fear, confusion and distrust, and accomplish nothing.
To complicate things, Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, announced a few weeks ago that it was scrapping its fact-checking program, which flagged possible misinformation — a move that will just keep conspiracies burning, spreading and infiltrating the minds of many.
I’m not suggesting that we stop questioning or trying to make sense of the world around us, but as always, we must remain mindful. Consider the weight of your words and actions, and the harm that conspiracies can inflict. There’s a time and place for questions, based on the truth. That’s how we rebuild and move forward. But in the aftermath of tragedy, we can’t afford to make room for ignorance.
Jordan Vallone is a senior editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? Jvallone@liherald.com.
nize that they are the most effective way to fuel their operations sustainably. It’s time for New York to follow suit. Governor Hochul should take bold action to fund nuclear energy projects, ensuring that downstate residents have access to renewable power.
Framework by Tim Baker
Miss Long Island 2025, Kristen Rosario, left, and Miss Long Island Teen, Adriana Lane, were crowned at Molloy University’s Madison Theatre — Rockville Centre
JorDan VaLLone
MICHAeL SINGeR Long Beach
Michael Singer is a student at New York University’s Stern School of Business.
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