Diocese nears deal with victims of sex abuse
By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com
The Diocese of Rockville Centre and the survivors of more than 600 child sexual abuse allegations filed by a Committee of Unsecured Creditors have reached a tentative agreement, potentially laying the foundation for a settlement, after nearly four years of legal wrangling.
While neither side has yet to disclose the agreement’s details, their representatives have indicated that the only remaining holdout is a final offer from Interstate Fire and Casualty, one of the insurance companies that would be involved in any payout to the survivors.
James Stang, one of the lead attorneys representing the survivors, said he was “extremely pleased and flabbergasted” that a plan is close to completion.
“We have an agreement with the church side on the amount of money that will be contributed … and who will be released in exchange for those contributions,” Stang told the Herald.
He attributed the suc -
Steve Sachs/Herald
Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray delivers the opening remarks of the 23rd annual Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony on Sunday evening.
Community reflects on 9/11
Looking back, 23 years later
By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com
The Village of Rockville Centre held its 23rd annual remembrance ceremony last Sunday on the village green, honoring the 49 men and women in the community who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and all those who have died since then from the effects of their efforts at ground zero.
“Tonight, we gather to renew
our commitment to remembering our friends, neighbors, and family members we lost on 9/11 and those who have succumbed from related injuries since that horrific day in American history 22 years ago, their names etched on the sacred memorial behind me,” Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray said. “Our memorial serves as a powerful symbol for me, and a place for personal dedication, to keep
Zoning OKs medical space, with conditions
By DANIEl oFFNER doffner@liherald.com
The planned development of a United Healthcare medical facility and parking garage along Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre has moved one step closer to reality.
The Village of Rockville Centre Board of Zoning Appeals voted, 3-2, to approve a variance allowing a zero-foot setback on the property, as long as no parking would be permitted on Sunrise Highway within 70 feet of Montauk Avenue, heading west.
WFlour Shoppe Bakery, at 486 Sunrise Highway, with a threestory, 42,000-square-foot medical facility, which would include a tiered parking structure with 291 on-site parking spaces.
e don’t want (the developers) to have carte blanche for what you put in there.
A substantial occupancy permit was also approved on condition that the building’s use is limited to the 14 specified medical practices listed by the applicant, thus barring the facility from potentially being used for drug treatment.
JAck MATThEWS
Zoning Board Chairman Robert Schenone said that prior to this application, Nuvo Development, an Orlando, Florida-based real estate development firm, had presented plans in August 2022 to construct a storage facility at the site. But after concerns were aired about the storage facility, the board was convinced and that application was abandoned.
Counsel for the Board of Zoning Appeals
The project, based on the amended site design, seeks to replace the existing retail space between Leonardo’s Furniture, at 500 Sunrise Highway, and the
“Now we have a medical building,” Schenone said. “People don’t want it. So what else can go there — a hotel, a restaurant, a Burger King, a strip mall? Do you think any one of these, everybody’s going to jump for joy for?”
The village zoning board reviews applications that propose to utilize property in a
Continued on page 14
Hablamos Español
County roadwork causes local disruptions
By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com
National Grid, through its subcontractor Bancker Construction, is replacing a 90-year-old gas main along Hempstead Avenue, north of DeMott Avenue, and on nearby intersecting streets. The project, which began in April, involved removing sections of roadway, digging trenches, and installing a new gas main underground along the route.
The Village of Rockville Centre sent an advisory out last week to inform residents that National Grid is expected to complete the project on Saturday, Sept. 21. In the interim the roadway has been temporarily patched with asphalt. The final phase of the project will be roadway resurfacing. Nassau County will be paving Hempstead Avenue, from North Village Avenue to the village limit, once the installation is complete. The county has yet to set an official date for the resurfacing phase of the project as of press time.
“Bancker Construction has not treated the community respectfully,” said Jeff Greenfield, a Rockville Centre resident whose cul-de-sac borders Hempstead Avenue. “National Grid should have done a better job communicating with the residents and ratepayers in Rockville Centre.”
Greenfield said that on April 22, construction crews were working on installing the new gas main when they damaged a pipe underneath, causing a sewage backup in his home. Following the incident, he filed a claim with National Grid, and weeks later was notified that the natural gas service provider denied the claim.
“They said they were not responsible because I wasn’t a customer,” Greenfield said.
Unlike many homes in the community, Greenfield said that when he first moved into his house, the vil-
lage had a moratorium on natural gas. He said natural gas wasn’t an option in his area until about 8 years ago and that he relies on oil instead.
In June, he sent a letter to Stephen M. Beyer, the chief executive officer of Bancker Construction, informing the contractors of the damage. The letter also indicates that the contractors had been closing off the roadway during peak traffic hours, before 9 a.m., despite an agreement that the contractors would not shut down the roadways until after to provide time for school buses to drop off students at school.
“Again, total disregard, disrespect for the community and the safety of the students going to school and individuals going to work,” Greenfield said in his letter, forwarded to the Public Service Commission.
He also stressed the hazardous road conditions caused by the roadwork, which he said had recently led to a car accident on the corner of his street in the work zone, and the service providers’ lack of communication with residents.
In addition to the National Grid project on Hempstead Avenue, the Nassau County Department of Public Works has been working on drainage and safety improvements along Long Beach Road in Rockville Centre and South Hempstead.
Nassau County Legislator Scott Davis said the DPW plan to work through the winter and will provide weekly updates on its progress. The project is slated to be complete September 2025.
Residents and businesses in the area say that the road closures and subsequent detours along Long Beach Road have caused congestion.
“It is an absolute disaster,” Ellen White, one of the co-founders of the Backyard Players and Friends, said. “Cars are basically turning down the side streets. It’s a nightmare.”
Howard Kamph, a Rockville Centre resident who served as president of the Ozone Park Civic Association in Queens for several years, said that having worked with other agencies in the past, he gets how things will unexpectedly arise that will make a project take longer than anticipated.
“I know people aren’t going to be happy about it, but you want it done right,” Kamph said. “Somethings you just have to deal with… be patient.”
While uncertain as to why the county felt the need to do both projects at the same time, he suggested residents make adjustments to their routine to avoid problem areas. “Don’t take the roads where you now there is going to be construction,” Kamph suggested. “Find an alternate road until its finished.”
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RVCFD sweep Battalion parade, tourney
By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com
The Rockville Centre Fire Department emerged victorious at the annual Nassau County Fourth Battalion Parade and Invitational Tournament, capturing two prestigious first-place trophies.
The two-day event, hosted this year by the Lakeview Fire Department, kicked things off on Friday, Sept. 6, with the old-fashioned drill competition.
The tournament tests the skill, endurance and teamwork of volunteer firefighters as they compete in a series of races. Each race is broken into three categories — ladder, hose and bucket brigade. The winners are determined based on their overall time.
Members of the RVCFD Reliance Hose Company No. 3 “Bulldogs” finished the tourney with two of the fastest times in the hose competition, receiving 10 points overall, tying with the Inwood/ Meadowmere “Mud Ducks” for first place.
Close behind, the Third Battalion North firefighters from Valley Stream, Hewlett and Woodmere secured thirdplace with eight points, while the Lakeview Fire Department finished fourth with seven points. The East Rockaway Fire Department rounded out the competition with one point. The drill tournament highlighted the immense skill and dedication each of the departments take when rushing into a fire.
The festivities continued on Saturday, Sept. 7, with the annual Fourth Battalion Parade through the streets of Lakeview.
A brief, yet torrential downpour would not dampen the spirit of participants as they set off down the parade route. Parade goers would quickly rush back outside once the skies cleared, eagerly waving and cheering as the procession of marching bands and antique fire engines passed by:
The battalion, which consists of fire departments from Rockville Centre, Lynbrook, Malverne, East Rockaway, and Lakeview, continued to march down Woodfield Road while a panel of judges carefully evaluated participants based on their appearance and presentation. Judges base their decision on the overall appearance of department members, the condition and presentation of the department’s vehicles, and the uniformity of their formations.
The Rockville Centre Fire Department earned the top prize for best overall appearance, further solidifying their dominance this year.
Following the parade, everyone was invited back to the Lakeview Fire Department headquarters where the celebration continued with live music, food and drink. It was also a chance for both firefighters and civilians alike to unwind and relax after a long weekend.
The celebration not only honored and recognized the efforts of local volunteer firefighters, it brought together friends, families and neighbors from surrounding communities making it a memorable occasion for everyone involved.
Christine Rivera/Herald photos Bass player John Gitto of Mean Machine hits the stage.
Following the annual Fourth Battalion Parade, crowds of people gathered outside Lakeview Fire Department headquarters to enjoy food, drinks and live music.
Dominic, 1, and Frankie Pignataro, 4, of Lynbrook sat on the sidewalk to watch as the Fourth Battalion fire engines and truck companies rolled through the streets of Lakeview.
Courtesy Rockville Centre Fire Department
Rockville Centre Fire Department Lt. Jake Russell, left, RVCFD Lt. John Cook, RVCFD Captain Ross Lynch, Chief of Department Scott Mohr, 4th Battalion Chairman Joe Mihalich, 4th Battalion Secretary Kevin Bien, Assistant Chief Tony Rugolo and Assistant Chief Pat Healey celebrate the Reliance Hose Company No. 3 ‘Bulldogs’ drill team for taking home first place at the Nassau County Fourth Battalion Old-Fashioned Invitational Drill Tournament this year.
Members of the Rockville Centre Fire Department participated in the annual Nassau County Fourth Battalion Parade in Lakeview on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Planning For and Executing Inheritances
(Part Two)
Early on, we learned the estate planning phrase “There’s nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals.” Who has children that are all the same?
Some children have received signifcant help from parents during their lifetimes while others haven’t. Many parents choose the “forgiveness provision” to address this situation at death, to either “equalize” any gifts made to some children during lifetime with those who did not or, in the alternative, to “forgive” any loans made to children and then make a gift in like amount to each of the other children by inheritance, before the estate is divvied up in equal shares. Lifetime gifts may also be ignored.
Next up is the problem of children who are partially or wholly estranged. Many clients wish to leave them a token amount but there are pitfalls to consider. One who is left considerably less than their siblings will often be angry and upset. They may demand that their siblings disclose what they received and even to pony up their equal share. Not only that, but the burden of telling that estranged child they are getting
less and delivering the paltry amount is left to the children who you wish to favor!
In our view, it is sometimes better to leave an estranged child out altogether than to stir up all the issues surrounding an inheritance much smaller than equal.
There are many valid reasons, however, to treat children differently. Some may have alcohol or substance abuse issues, learning disabilities or special needs, they may be immature and irresponsible, poor at handling money or a “soft touch” and, fnally, they may have a spouse that dominates them and you do not want to see that controlling spouse get your money.
Sometimes parents leave more to the “needy” child, the old adage being that “the tongue always turns to the aching tooth”. If so, other children’s feelings may need to be addressed. A letter to be opened after your death, explaining what you did and why, may go a long way towards soothing hurt feelings and avoiding misunderstandings, what we term the “emotional legacy”.
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obituarY
Beulah M. Brooms
In Loving Memory of Beulah M. Brooms
August 5, 1944 – September 6, 2024
Age: 80
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Beulah M. Brooms, beloved mother, sister, and aeronautics professional. Beulah passed away on September 6, 2024, at age 80, after a courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma.
A devoted mother to her four children— Tahnya Brooms Osei, Joseph Alex Agyemang, Michael A. Agyemang, and Samuel W. Agyemang—Beulah will be deeply missed by her family, including her four sisters—Annie L. Smith, Pecola Ewing, Jean Brooms, and Judy McKnight , grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was a brilliant and determined woman whose legacy of love, strength, and dedication lives on in the hearts of those she touched.
A private memorial service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Multiple Myeloma research, St Judes, or STEM education for women.
Crime watCh
aided
A resident of Huntington suffered an ankle injury on Sept. 9, while playing soccer at Lister Field.
A resident of Florida reported on Sept. 12 that he tripped while walking on Front Street, injuring his face, hand and knees.
A resident of Rockville Centre reported on Sept. 12 that she fell while walking on Merrick Road, causing injuries to her hand and knee.
assault
A resident of Freeport reported on Sept. 10, he was injured by a BB pellet that was fired from another vehicle while both were driving on Sunrise Highway.
homiCideNatural Causes
A male patient was found unresponsive at a Maine Avenue nursing home on Sept. 9. This patient was later pronounce deceased at the scene.
An 86-year-old resident of Marlborough Court in Rockville Centre was pronounced deceased at his home on Sept. 16, after he was discovered unresponsive.
leaviNg the sCeNe of aN aCCideNt
A resident of Syosset reported on Sept. 10 that his vehicle was damaged in an accident while it was parked and unoccupied at Molloy University.
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.
News brief
Coalition for Youth awarded $375K grant
The Rockville Centre Coalition for Youth has been awarded $375,000 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Federal funding was secured by Congressman Anthony D’Esposito through the Strategic Prevention Framework Partnership for Success grant, which supports regional and national projects aimed at substance use prevention.
“These funds will strengthen the Coalition’s efforts to combat substance misuse by enhancing prevention strategies, improving outreach, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders in the village and across New York’s 4th District,” D’Esposito said in a statement.
The initiative is intended to serve as a model for other communities facing similar challenges by showing the impact of coordinated, community-driven prevention efforts on reducing substance use and improving mental health outcomes.
“(This grant) will help build on our existing evidence-based prevention ini-
tiatives and will empower Rockville Centre and the surrounding communities to not only prevent substance use, but as a result, promote the mental health of our youth,” Ruthanne McCormack, the project coordinator for the Coalition, said.
Spearheaded by Coalition representatives and volunteers, the funding will go to help reduce the onset and progression of substance misuse and related problems by supporting the development and delivery of community-based prevention and mental health promotion services.
“It will support our efforts to prevent substance use among youth, with a particular focus on addressing our community’s concerns over alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, and vaping abuse among individuals aged 12-18,” McCormick said.
Laura Gillen will be running against D’Esposito for New York’s fourth congressional district this November.
– Daniel Offner
LUKE VILLELLA
Oceanside Senior Football
A TWO-TIME ALL-COUNTY selection in baseball, Villella is looking to accomplish the same accolades this football season while leading the Sailors to a deep playoff run in Nasssau Conference I. He set the tone on opening night Sept. 6, rushing for a pair of touchdowns and throwing for a score in Oceanside’s 42-39 home victory over defending county and Long Island champion Massapequa. He threw for 189 yards, going 8-for-13 through the air.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, Sept. 19
Girls Soccer: Lynbrook at Wantagh 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Oceanside at Garden City 5 p.m.
Boys Soccer: V.S. South at Seaford 6:30 p.m.
Girls Volleyball: Long Beach at Mepham 6:45 p.m.
Girls Volleyball: South Side at Massapequa 6:45 p.m.
Girls Volleyball: Farmingdale at East Meadow 6:45 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 20
Girls Soccer: Freeport at Uniondale 4:30 p.m.
Boys Soccer: East Meadow at V.S. Central 5 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Carey at Calhoun 5 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Kennedy at Elmont 5 p.m.
Football: Elmont at South Side 6 p.m.
Football: Wantagh at Locust Valley 6 p.m.
Football: Plainview at East Meadow 6:30 p.m.
Football: Oceanside at Syosset 6:30 p.m.
Football: New Hyde Park at MacArthur 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Football: Carey at Long Beach 11 a.m.
Football: Plainedge at West Hempstead 1 p.m.
Football: V.S. South at North Shore 2 p.m.
Football: East Rockaway at Lawrence 2 p.m.
Football: Clarke at Hewlett 3 p.m.
Football: Freeport at V.S. Central 3 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
HERALD SPORTS
South Side motivated to go far
By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
On the heels of a successful 2023 regular season that didn’t carry over into the postseason, South Side boys’ soccer is looking to extend its 2024 campaign into November.
The Cyclones entered the Class AA playoffs as the No. 3 seed with only two losses before getting upset by Long Beach in the quarterfinals at home, 3-0. It marked the second time in three seasons that South Side’s championship hopes were dashed early in the playoffs by the Marines.
“All of us are fueled by that, for sure,” said fourth-year South Side coach Patrick Corvetti. “We had a really good summer of training and practicing.”
South Side returns around half of last year’s starting lineup including offensive weapons Mike Benfanti, Luca Tarulli, Jack Darlington and Connor Fernandez. Corvetti said any of the four are capable of stepping up as the main scorers in any given game.
Benfanti delivered South Side’s first goal of the new season in a 1-0 win at Hewlett on Sept. 11 from an assist by John Kufta off a long throw-in from Christian Hackett.
The defense is anchored by senior captain TJ Brull, who is the lone returning starter from last year’s team that produced five clean sheets. The backline, which has featured some early season injuries, is also getting contributions from seniors John Kufta and Michael Baum, sophomore Damien D’antonio and Hackett.
Junior Gavin McDaid took the reins as starting goalie this season and recorded a shutout in the Hewlett win with three saves. Junior Caden Belling started the opening match due to a wrist injury to McDaid and registered three saves in a 1-0 loss at Manhasset on Septy. 6.
South Side is in a challenging conference in AA-III which features Garden City, Manhasset, Division, Hewlett, Bellmore JFK, Roslyn and Elmont. The Cyclones began the season with defending county champion Manhasset and dominated the match, according to Corvetti, but for sur-
put
rendering a second half penalty kick goal.
“All top four seeds that were in the playoffs last year are in my conference so it is a competitive league,” Corvetti said. “We will be in the mix and I think we can make a deep run.”
The Cyclones (2-2) ended last week with a convincing 7-0 win against Division under the lights at Darcy Field that featured two goals apiece from Tarulli and Michael Forker along with three assists by Darlington. Luca Suarez, Declan O’Toole and Fernandez also had
goals in the blowout victory in which South Side led 3-0 at halftime before pouring it on in the second half.
South Side wll visit Bellmore JFK on Wednesday before hosting Manhasset on Sept. 26 in a rematch of the season-opening defeat at 5 p.m. The Cyclones will then travel to Garden City on Sept. 28 and host Hewlett on Oct. 1 at 5 p.m.
“It is a great group of guys and they’re working their butts off,” Corvetti said. “There was a lot of positivity coming into the season.”
Michelle Ebel/Herald
Jack Darlington, right, and the Cyclones are looking to
recent playoff shortcomings to rest and make a run at the Class AA title.
Diocese, creditors optimistic about the deal
cess of the negotiations to two highpowered mediators, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Shelley Chapman and attorney Paul Finn, who were appointed by Judge Martin Glenn, of U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, to try to work out a deal after numerous failed attempts to reach a solution that both sides deemed equitable.
“The Creditors’ Committee and the Diocese have come to a tentative agreement on terms for a potential settlement of the bankruptcy case,” an unidentified spokesperson said in a statement on behalf of the diocese. “Agreements with insurance carriers are still pending. For the sake of survivors and the Church’s ongoing mission on Long Island, we pray that a global settlement plan can be approved and completed as quickly as possible.”
According to Newsday, Glenn expressed his frustration last week with the insurance company for holding up the settlement, and ordered one of its top executives to meet face to face with mediators in New York. In a statement following that meeting, another unidentified spokesperson for the diocese said, “Judge Glenn admonished the Interstate Insurance Company to submit its final offer, since the Creditors’ Committee
and the Diocese have come to a tentative agreement on the terms of a potential settlement of bankruptcy case.”
The Diocese of Rockville Centre, the eighth-largest in the country, filed for bankruptcy in October 2020, after hundreds of lawsuits were filed against it following Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s approval of the Child Victims Act in 2019, which extended the statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims.
Representatives of the survivors’ committee first proposed a reorganization plan for the diocese in January 2023, offering to settle the claims for $450 million. The diocese responded a month later with a $200 million counter-offer, with contributions to be made by the diocese, its parishes, coinsured parties and other members of the ministry, not including insurance payouts.
Whood of reaching a consensus, potentially remanding hundreds of the sexual abuse cases to the state civil courts.
Having determined that the attorneys for the survivors could not substantiate being unable to settle within a “reasonable amount of time,” Glenn rejected the committee’s motion, and in July 2023 he offered the diocese a 100-day window to try to reach an agreement with the survivors.
by-case basis, a large payout in the early goings could risk leaving the diocese with no money for hundreds of other survivors.
James stang Survivors’ attorney
The committee rejected the counteroffer in April 2023 and moved to dismiss the bankruptcy case, due to the unlikeli-
The $200 million proposal, which the diocese referred to as its “best and final” attempt at a reorganization plan, was ultimately rejected by a supermajority vote of the survivors in April, for not providing adequate compensation for their suffering and lacking any child-protection measures.
In response, the diocese sought to dismiss the case, which prompted Glenn to bring in mediators to try to avoid remanding the individual cases to the state courts. His concern was that if the diocese were to handle things on a case-
Chapman, who retired in 2022, presided in the 2008 bankruptcy case against Lehman Brothers, one of the largest Chapter 11 cases in U.S. history. Finn has negotiated more sexual abuse claims than anyone in the country, including the 552 claims brought against the Archdiocese of Boston in 2002. Since then, 38 Catholic dioceses and religious organizations have sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. To date, only 24 of the cases have concluded.
Stang said that because the survivors have reached agreement with several of the insurance carriers, he did not feel that the issue with Interstate would disrupt the overall settlement. He explained that while he was optimistic, he has to contemplate what continued litigation would mean for his clients.
“It is a time issue and a cost issue,” Stang said. “That is why we would like to have a global resolution. My clients don’t have time, and the attorney fees are a story unto themselves.”
Representatives of Interstate were expected to meet with mediators and attorneys for both parties on Thursday, after press time, to try to resolve the issue.
Stony Brook hockey set to begin new era
By ANTHONY DICOCCO Special to the Herald
Starting with the 2025-26 season, the Stony Brook hockey team will begin a new chapter of its story that may aid in expanding its recruiting reach across Nassau County.
Last month, the Seawolves announced that this upcoming season would be the team’s 14th and final year in the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League. Beginning with the 2025-26 campaign, Stony Brook is set to join a brand-new conference — the Atlantic Coast Conference Hockey League.
The ACCHL will have North and South divisions. Stony Brook, Pittsburgh, Delaware, Syracuse and Oswego State in the North. The South will consist of Alabama, Louisville, North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina.
Due to the conference relocation, Stony Brook players from Nassau County are hoping that more players from their area will be inclined to join the program. Currently, there are just three Nassau County residents playing on the team.
After initially failing to get into the university, the Massapequa native attended Farmingdale State for a year to “take care of business on and off the ice” before transferring to Stony Brook prior to last season.
As someone who identified Stony Brook as the total package for both academics and athletics, Valenti hopes that joining the ACCHL can be a needle mover for other Nassau County residents.
“After playing junior hockey in Connecticut for two years, I realized that I had everything that I needed regarding academics and hockey at home,” Valenti said. The new conference, he added, “is definitely exciting . . . and people need to realize it’s a (State University of New York) school. We’re going to be in a very competitive league and you get what you pay for. Stony Brook is a very good school for everything, and hockey is just the icing on the cake.”
Forward Jake Gusavitch, a Massapequa native and first-year student, understands his peers’ reluctance to attend Stony Brook but hopes the name notoriety of the other schools in the conference, along with the opportunities they can bring, can help change that.
“If you just see the logo of Alabama or UNC, it acts as an attractor for players in Nassau County and really everywhere,” Gusavitch said. “We have schools like Syracuse and Delaware
joining us along with the schools down south, so I think that’s a great opportunity to get some looks from scouts who are coming for the bigger schools. All in all, there are a lot of positives.”
Bethpage native and forward Lucas Puccia echoed that sentiment.
“There’s a lot of talent down there in the south,” the sophomore student said. “I think playing those teams will be pretty cool and competitive. Stony Brook is one of the top programs and a really good option for anyone on Long Island.”
Gusavitch also emphasized the bonuses of a limited traveling schedule, as teams in the North will only compete against the South’s teams during the playoffs. Due to Stony Brook’s hyperfocus on academics, he raised the point that less travel on the weekends allows for more time to get schoolwork done, which can be enticing for new recruits who live farther away in Nassau County.
In defenseman Teddy Valenti’s case, Stony Brook was always at the top of his college wish list despite living just under an hour away from the school.
While the Seawolves are guaranteed to finish their tenure in the ESCHL with the most championship wins (five) and regular-season championships (four), the last two seasons have not been kind to them. They have posted a combined 25-28-8 record, missing the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament during each campaign.
Choosing to concentrate on the new season, the Seawolves are putting the upcoming league change on the backburner, as they hope to capture their sixth ESCHL championship and their first national title.
“The mission is always the same,” Valenti said. “We had a very unsuccessful year last year. This year we’re playing in the same conference, and hopefully we can prove ourselves as a program. Then next year, when we move on to a different conference, those teams should fear us.”
Stony Brook will open its ESCHL farewell tour at The Rinx, where it will face off against the New York University Violets, on Oct. 4.
Anthony DiCocco is a reporter with the SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
Courtesy Angelina Livigni
Stony Brook efenseman Teddy Valenti, right, covering Drexel forward Jimmy Jacobs.
Town task force will combat antisemitism
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
The Town of Hempstead has unveiled an antisemitism task force that aims to investigate the rise of assaults on Jewish people across the town.
“I’m delighted to have so many people that are joining me to participate in what we find to be something that is needed, and warranted with what is transpiring in our society now,” Town Supervisor Don Clavin said at the Hebrew Academy of West Hempstead on Sept. 12.
The task force will comprise members appointed by Clavin, along with its co-chair, Congressman Anthony D’Esposito. D’Esposito is currently up for re-election and is running against Laura Gillen.
“The presence of everybody here should signify the importance of what today’s announcement really is,” Clavin said, “the unprecedented and definitely noticed rise of antisemitism throughout our country, and particularly here in the Town of Hempstead.”
According to Clavin, the Town of Hempstead has the second-largest Jewish population of any municpality, behind New York City.
As the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel approaches, the creation of the task force comes at a time where communities have been facing a surge in acts of antisemitism.
“I feel strongly that this advisory council, with its role of not only indentifying antisemitism, (is) trying to determine where it’s festering from, how it’s getting in our communities, and how we educate people to recognize the hatred that is being fostered in our communities,” Clavin said.
Councilwoman Melissa Miller said she was thrilled that the town was taking on this initiative.
Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin, center, discussed the creation of an antisemitism task force alongside members of the town board, elected officials and religious leaders, on Sept. 12.
“It’s just unacceptable — if we replaced the population that is being targeting with any other population, there would be an uproar by government, law enforcement and the universities,” Miller said. “It is not acceptable — we should not be just sitting back and fearing what’s going to happen next. Continue to send this message, that we at the Town of Hempstead do not tolerate this and we will continue to fight back.”
Rabbi Ouriel Hazan, of the Hebrew Academy of West Hempstead, expressed his gratitude for the strong partnership between the county and community leaders.
“Today, we speak with one united voice against the veils of antisemitism, and the message is very clear:
We will not tolerate nor stand idly by, or remain silent in the face of hate speech or hateful actions against our community,” Hazan said. “The children deserve to be educated in peace and security.”
As the Jewish holidays approach, the antisemitism task force will be proactive in indentifying and combating signs of hate attacks. There will also be enhanced police patrols at temples and places of worship, according to Clavin.
“This panel has a big responsibility — we’re seeing it foster in our communities, zero tolerance,” Clavin said. “This advisory board has to get it done, be diligent and have the passion that they’re going to go out and get people educated.”
Melissa Berman/Herald
HERALD SCHOOLS
Wilson students honor FDNY firefighter
By Daniel offner doffner@liherald.com
To commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Francis F. Wilson Elementary School honored one of its local heroes for his dedication to the community and his many years of service as a first responder.
New York City firefighter Larry Quinn was recognized by students, teachers, school administrators and village officials during the annual 9/11 Spirit Day ceremony this past week.
“We’re here to honor a Wilson dad who has dedicated his life to serving the Rockville Centre community and the New York City Fire Department,” Wilson Principal James Duffy said.
Quinn, who grew up in Rockville Centre, attended Floyd B. Watson Elementary and graduated from South Side High School in 1995. Six years later, he joined the Rockville Centre Volunteer Fire Department.
Following the events that unfolded on that fateful September morning, he would officially join the ranks of “New York’s Bravest” in 2002. Quinn said the occupation has been a family tradition for the past three or four generations. Both his father and his grandfather before him were firefighters for decades.
“My great-grandfather died in the line of duty,” he said. “I’m proud. It’s my turn. The torch was passed down to me and I try to make them proud every day.”
Today, he proudly serves as the captain of FDNY’s elite Rescue Company 2 in Brooklyn. When off duty, he enjoys spending time at the beach with his family, volunteering at his son’s school, and coaching the Rockville Centre Soccer Club Under-9 boys’ soccer team.
Quinn said he was surprised to find out about the recognition. “I just learned about it three minutes ago,” he said. “I guess my wife, my kids and friends I grew up with kept it quiet. I had no clue about this at all.”
Spirit Day was created by Wilson teachers Kara Spinelli and Courtney Schuh to educate students who are too young to have witnessed the events that took place on 9/11 through lessons focused on first responders and the reason why we come together to honor those we lost. Each year, the school continues this tradition by honoring heroes in the community for their bravery and sacrifice.
During the ceremony, Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray shared a few heartfelt words about the impact that day had on the community, where 47 residents were killed in the attack on the World Trade Center.
“It was a gorgeous morning, much like it is today,” Murray said. “Many of
you are too young too remember, but for my generation, it’s something we will never forget.”
Among the 2,996 who died on September 11, 2001 — 343 were FDNY first responders, including all seven members who served Rescue Company 2. In the aftermath, pieces of the company’s “rig” were recovered at the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island. Today, pieces of the vehicle are on display at the NewYork Hisotrical Society Museum and Library in Manhattan.
“To our first responders,” Murray said, “Thank you for all that you do.”
Rockville Centre Schools Superintendent Matthew Gaven, left, Wilson Principal James Duffy, Logan Quinn, FDNY Captain Larry Quinn, Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray and Ex-Chief Peter Grandazza celebrate 9/11 Spirit Day.
Wilson students join FDNY Rescue Company No. 2 Captain Larry Quinn during 9/11 Spirit Day.
Daniel Offner/Herald photos
Students at Wilson Elementary School gathered on the front lawn to honor those we lost on Sept. 11 and recognize local heroes in the community for their contributions.
Principal James Duffy presents Larry Quinn with this year’s honors.
STEPPING OUT
a vision of the power of the YONIA FAIN’S JOURNEY —
HUMAN SPIRIT
By Danielle Schwab
An artist’s life can take many twists and turns. Certainly that is case of Yonia Fain. He reinvented himself repeatedly, yet his dedication to art remained unwavering throughout his 100 years.
Hofstra University Museum of Art welcomes fall with a look at the esteemed artist, poet, author and educator, through its new exhibit, “Yonia Fain (1913-2013): Tracing History.”
The museum’s assemblage of Fain’s art and personal ephemera offers a comprehensive view of his life and global influence, on view through Dec. 16. Fain was a member of Hofstra’s Fine Arts, Design and Art History faculty from 1971 until his retirement in 1985; he was named faculty emeritus on his 100th birthday.
Around 50 of his works — he bequeathed his archive to the museum — are on display, curated by Assistant Director of Exhibitions and Collections Kristen Dorata, including paintings, drawings, sketchbooks, and poetry.
• Now through Dec. 16
• All programs require advance registration; call (516) 463-5672 or visit events.hofstra.edu
to RSVP
• Emily Lowe Gallery, behind Emily Lowe Hall, Hofstra University’s South Campus, Hempstead
“This exhibition is focusing on his journey, offering a vision of the human spirit,” says Museum Director Sasha Giordano. “We wanted to emphasize the aspect of being a refugee, being a displaced person having to move from place to place. The works of art that were chosen are from the many different places he traveled.”
Born in Ukraine in 1913, Fain fled Bolshevik Russia with his family to Warsaw, Poland. After the Nazi invasion in 1939, he and his first wife fled on foot to Vladivostok, Russia. There he was conscripted into the Russian army as an artist.
Refusing to create propaganda art as demanded by the Nazis and Russian authorities, Fain, with his wife, obtained falsified documents, traveling from Siberia to Japan, eventually landing in the Shanghai Ghetto for the remainder of World War II.
Fain continued to use art as a form of expression, making a living painting portraits of Japanese soldiers and their families, also writing poetry.
“Firsthand experience is key to understanding Yonia Fain’s prolific artistic oeuvre, from his early drawings in prewar Warsaw to the many paintings in New York after 1953,” Jan Burzlaff, postdoctoral associate in Holocaust Studies at Cornell University, writes in the exhibit catalogue.
She continues: “To paint is to share the experience,” Fain reflected in a testimony given to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in June 1999. His work seeks to lend voice to all Jews who experienced Nazi rule, the vast majority of whom did not leave a trace. … The exhibition allows for precisely such a window into historical experience. In the process, because his creations do not fit neatly into the two dominant categories of abstract or realist representations, they also invite a much-needed reevaluation of Holocaust and postwar art.”
After the war ended, Fain set his sights on mural painting in Mexico, becoming friendly with fellow artists Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo. In 1953, he immigrated to the U.S.; his works featured in prominent museums. Fain also continued writing, authoring five books of Yiddish poetry and serving as the president of the Yiddish Pen Society.
“His journey speaks to those who are displaced and pushed to the margins and stripped of identity in society,” Giordano says.
Fain’s art mixes representational technique with elements of abstract expressionism, employing
broad brush strokes, diagonals and dark marks.
“He really can’t be put comfortably into one style of art,” Giordano adds.
One of Fain’s prominent pieces “Occupied City, 2008,” shows an abstract landscape with overlapping buildings drawn in the background.
“It gives a sense of people living on top of each other in an enclosed space, in a trapped space, which reflects his lived experience,” Giordano notes.
Fain also used color to invoke deeper reflection. “Despite the subject matter being very traumatic, he uses a lot of bright and soft pastel colors. It plays to this dichotomy that exists in his work. He’s showing you hope, but he’s showing you despair. He’s showing you betrayal, but he’s showing you empathy.
Museum visitors can also interact with biographical material, including a timeline of the artist’s life and a video recording in which he discusses life in the Shanghai Ghetto. Additionally, everyone is invited to read Fain’s poetry and then submit a poem in response to the exhibit experience.
Fain’s extraordinary conviction to art during a time of adversity shows the enduring strength of human resilience and beckons us to explore the past.
“We should revisit history. We should re-examine these stories. We should consider people whose stories may trace a similar path of hardship today,” says Giordano.
As always, related programming enhances the viewing experience, including an exhibit tour on Oct. 23.
1964 … The Tribute
‘The “British Invasion” returns anew, when “1964 The Tribute” takes its audience on a musical journey back to that unforgettable era in rock history. Since the early 1980s, this reincarnation of the Fab Four has been thrilling folks all over the globe with what Rolling Stone Magazine has called the “Best Beatles tribute on earth.” Choosing songs from the pre-Sgt. Pepper era, “1964” astonishingly recreates an early ‘60s live Beatles concert, with period instruments, clothing, hairstyles, and onstage banter. The band focuses on the quintessential moment in history, when The Beatles actually played before a live audience. Only a precious few got to experience when The Beatles toured the world in the early ‘60s. Who actually felt the “mania” that brought them to world acclaim. “1964” meticulously re-creates the “magic of those live performances with artful precision and unerring accuracy.
Friday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m. $65, $40, $30, $19.64. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
‘… Rollin’ on the river’
Step into a virtual time machine and journey back to the glory days of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s with Commotion — the electrifying Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band. The musicians pride themselves on their commitment to faithfully reproducing the iconic CCR sound. From the soulful voice of Steve McLain to the mesmerizing guitar solos of Jimmy Ryan, every riff, melody and rhythm comes to life with precision. McLain possesses a vocal prowess rivaling the one and only John Fogerty. With his husky timbre, emotive delivery and uncanny ability to recreate Fogerty’s raw energy, be transported back to when CCR ruled the airwaves. They are joined drummer Mark Ellis and bassist George Foster, who deliver those infectious beats that were CCRs trademark.
Friday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $45. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or (516) 323-4444.
Photos courtesy Hofstra University Museum of Art; Gift of the Estate of Yonia Fain Yonia Fain’s life is represented through his contemplative art, such as “Occupied City” (top left), “rouble Moving Into Harmony and Light,” (top right) and “Rage” (bottom right).
THE Your Neighborhood
Jessie’s Girl
Take out that neon once again and give your hair its best ‘80s ‘do. Those crazy days are back — as only Jessie’s Girl can pull off, on the Paramount stage, Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. The band of NYC’s top rock/pop musicians and singers gets everyone into that “Back To The Eighties” vibe with the latest edition of their popular concert experience. With a lineup including four pop-rock vocalists dressing and performing as ‘80s icons, backed by a dynamic band, this is the defnitive 80s experience. Throw on top of that: a load of super-fun choreography, audience participation, props, costumes, and confetti — and you have a party that audiences don’t want to leave. Jessie’s Girl has mastered over-the-top renditions of the some of the most unforgettable songs, all while dressed up as the iconic characters of that decade.
Theater meets live music, covered in ‘80s glitz. There’s no decade like the ‘80s — and no one does that era quite like Jessie’s Girl Throw on your best neon, use extra hair spray and head to Back To The Eighties — because it’s time to party like it’s 1989. $45, $37.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Hundreds attend FCA’s Senior H.O.P.E. Fair
Family & Children’s Association (FCA), one of Long Island’s largest nonprofit health and human services organizations, hosted a highly successful Senior H.O.P.E. Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Samanea N.Y. Mall in Westbury. The free event, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, drew a large crowd of seniors and their families, offering a wealth of information and services aimed at improving their quality of life.
H.O.P.E., which stands for Happiness, Opportunity, Positive, Energy, was specifically designed to provide older adults with resources and knowledge to enhance their well-being. More than 50 vendors participated, offering attendees valuable insights into a wide range of services, including Medicare, mental health support, scam prevention, and substance use awareness. The fair also featured four educational workshops, technology training for seniors, and opportunities for caregivers to learn about support options. Additionally My Three Sons Bagels provided a free boxed lunch for the first 300 attendees.
FCA President and CEO Dr. Jeffrey L. Reynolds emphasized the importance of events like the Senior H.O.P.E. Fair, especially as Long Island’s population continues to age. "It’s no secret that Long Island’s population is aging. Every year, our senior division helps more than 10,000 seniors improve their quality of life. The H.O.P.E. Fair allowed us to share these resources, and many others, with the broader Long Island community,
Reynolds said.
Lisa Stern, FCA’s Assistant Vice President for Senior & Adult Services, expressed her gratitude to the event's partners and the diverse group of vendors who made the fair possible. “We’re thrilled to have brought the H.O.P.E. Fair to Long Island’s senior population and their families. We couldn’t do this without our valued community partners, and we were happy to have vendors from diverse backgrounds offering a multitude of services to the senior community,” she said.
For those unable to attend, FCA offers continuous support to Long Island’s senior population through its many programs, reaching over 10,000 seniors each year. For more information about FCA’s services or future events, visit www.fcali.org.
Art explorations
Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program returns for a new season, Saturday, Sept. 21, 9, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.
Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for more information and to register or call (516) 484-9337.
Hempstead House tour
Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Wednesday, Sept. 25, noon-1 p.m. Visit the grand rooms inside the massive 50,000-squarefoot Tudor-style mansion, the former summer residence of Gilded Age fnancier 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.
Tribute concert Plaza
Theatricals’ tribute series continues, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2:30 p.m., with Shades of Buble. An exciting trio brings the swinging standards and pop hits of Michael Bublé to the stage in an unforgettable high-energy event. This act consistently wows audiences with their harmonies, smooth choreography and charming good looks.
Enjoy big-band standards from the jazz era, classic hits from the 1950 through ‘70s, as well as Billboard chart toppers from today in this high-energy show that generates standing ovations from sold-out crowds. See the show at 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 5996870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.
Founders Growth Summit
The three-day Founders Growth Summit for visionary restaurant founders takes place at The Loft at Tap Room in Rockville Centre, Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 23-25. The event features world-class speakers, power networking opportunities, and founder-tofounder content, connection and community. 47-51 N. Village Ave. For more information visit FoundersGrowthSummit.com.
(LEFT TO RIGHT) Paige O’Brien VP & Chief Development Officer and Kim Como, Marketing & Communications Director at FCA. DR. JEFFREY L. REYNOLDS, CEO & President of FCA
GUESTS visiting the over 50 vendors to earn a wealth of new information.
Photos by Tim Baker
H.O.P.E. balloon arch greeting guests at the entrance.
FCA VAN outside the venue taught attendees about technology
The Lion’s Club’s Amazing Race
The Lions Club of Rockville Centre hosts The Amazing Race, Saturday, Sept. 28, beginning at 10 a.m, at the Rockville Centre Fire Department on Maple Avenue. Teams of residents race around the village, solving clues, performing challanges and having fun, with a chance for a Test your local knowledge and learn more about the village, all while raising money. Raffles, food and a cash bar at the final destination. Teams are capped at four people.
Check-in is at John J. Anderson Recreation Center. Cost is $35 for adults and $20 for children. A portion of proceeds is donated to the Rockvkille Centre Breast Cancer Coalition. For more information visit rvclions.com or call (516) 395-3024.
Comedy Night at The Pantry
Enjoy a hilarious night of comedy at The Pantry RVC, Friday, Sept. 27, featuring a lineup of comedians from across Long Island and New York City including Dan LaRocco, Sean Brown, Carla Oakerson, Johnny Macdonald and Sean Donnelly. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 plus taxes and fees and are available online at Eventbrite.com. For more information call (516) 766-8848. 525 Merrick Road.
Friends of Mercy Golf Classic
The Friends of Mercy Hospital hosts their 43rd annual Golf Classic, Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Rockaway Hunting Club in Lawrence. The outing is sponsored by Emcor, and includes two shotgun starts, at 8 a.m. following breakfast, and at 1 p.m. following lunch and driving range.
The event will concluded with cocktails and dinner reception at 6:30 p.m., in special recognition of Tim Murphy, president of Emcor Services, for its longstanding commitment to Mercy Hospital. For more, visit FriendsofMercyHospital.com.
Gather research on your historic home
Hosted by Alene Scoblete, a Phillips House Museum Trustee and former archivist at Rockville Centre Public Library, this virtual presentation provide the basics on how to research the history of your home, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. For more details, visit RVCHS.org.
Having an event?
Fascinating Fungi
Bring the kids to make some discoveries about mushrooms at Long Island Children’s Museum’s drop-in program, Sunday, Sept. 29, 1-3 p.m. Did you know that some mushrooms can glow in the dark? Learn about the 113 species of mushroom that are considered bioluminescent, due to a chemical reaction that attracts bugs to help spread mushroom spores.
Stop by to learn about these amazing fungi and make a glowing mushroom craft to bring home. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
Afternoon tunes
Eisenhower Park’s Noontime Concert series concludes, Wednesday, Sept. 25, noon2 p.m. Enjoy the classic oldies group The Tercels, reliving those great tunes of the ‘50s and ‘60s, plus more, at Field #1. Bring seating. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
On exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition
“Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition spans various world cultures through a range of media.
It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority. Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. On view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Art League of L.I. exhibit
Sept. 28
In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Art League of Long Island presents “Retrospect - The Individual Art of Collaboration in Reconstructive Surgery.” The exhibit delves into the interplay between personal artistry and collaborative efforts in the context of breast reconstruction, showcasing how the healing process can transcend medicine to become an inspiring narrative of restoration and personal resilience. This unique exhibition explores the intersection of medicine and art through the lens of two accomplished breast reconstruction surgeons, Dr. Ron Israeli and Dr. Jonathan Bank, whose careers and artistic endeavors are deeply intertwined.
The works on display show the multifaceted nature of artistic expression in medicine and surgery. Their work emphasizes the importance of collaborative creativity in the healing process, offering viewers a unique perspective on the emotional and physical aspects of breast reconstruction. On view Sept. 28 through Oct. 18. Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery at Art League of Long Island, 107 East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills. Visit artleagueli.org for more information.
FREE EVENT
the
Planning board now has to approve the proposal
manner that is not consistent with municipal zoning laws. By granting a variance, the board agrees to amend village code to conform to the requested alterations, bringing a proposal in compliance with the law.
A setback defines the distance a building must be from the property line. In the case where it is zero, it can be built up to the line. Substantial occupancy permits, as defined by village code, must be obtained for any development or extension with a maximum occupancy of at least 50 people or more.
During the Sept. 11 public work session, zoning board members carefully considered statements made at last month’s meeting, in support of the application made on behalf of the Reiffman Group — a Long Island real estate management company that currently owns and leases three office buildings in the village — and the opposition from members of the public.
W“I’m very sensitive to the neighbors, and I heard them loud and clear,” Onorato said. “To some extent, the problem is in the enforcement. I believe that the accommodation made in creating the parking garage substantially addressed a lot of our concerns.”
The proposal initially presented to the board in June sought the construction of a 55,400-square-foot building, which fell short of the 368 parking spaces required by code. As a result, the Reiffman Group significantly scaled back the project to allow for a parking deck with 291 on-site spaces, removing the need for a parking variance.
hat else can go there — a hotel, a restaurant, a Burger King, a strip mall? Do you think any one of these, everybody’s going to jump for joy for?
Barry Hochhauser, an alternate member of the zoning board who was filling in for Dana Sanneman, said that he made a motion to approve the application because a zero-foot setback variance is not unusual for properties along Sunrise Highway. He also agreed with the plan to issue a substantial occupancy permit for a medical office facility.
RobeR t Schenone Chairman, Rockville Centre Board of Zoning Appeals
“As far as the approval goes, it’s pretty straightforward,” Hochhauser said. “These owners, who I’ve never met before … have heard what you have said and they have made adjustments to the project.”
Tony Onorato, an appointed member of the zoning board, said the addition of an attached parking garage addressed several of the concerns residents expressed at the meeting in August, regarding people parking on residential roadways in the vicinity surrounding the project site.
However, zoning board member Bridget Caulfield, who voted against the application, suggested that the board should consider the existing traffic congestion on Sunrise Highway, at the intersection of Long Beach Road, before approving the substantial occupancy permit.
“I’ve been stuck at that light. It’s very congested over there,” Caulfield said. “I don’t know if it’s a proper use for that area with the volume.”
Schenone and Jack Matthews, who serves as counsel to the zoning board, explained that any business use at the location would ultimately bring more congestion to the area.
After further deliberation, the board determined that limiting the substantial occupancy permit to the 14 specified practices was a reasonable request.
“We don’t want you to have carte blanche for what you put in there,” Matthews said. “What you told us you might put in there, we’re okay with.”
The applicant would now be required to return before the board to amend the permit if it were to add to the list of approved medical practices.
Following the zoning board’s 3-2 vote, the project will now go before the Village of Rockville Centre Planning Board for possible approval.
Continued from page 1
Daniel Offner/Herald
rockville Centre Board of Zoning appeals approved a zero-foot setback variance and substantial occupancy permit for a proposed united Healthcare medical facility.
Remembering those lost on that fateful day
working on remembering the past and committing to making the future better.”
The ceremony began with the presentation of the Police Department Color Guard, which was followed by the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance led by Girl Scout Troop 843. Father Michael Duffy of St. Agnes Cathedral provided the invocation, leading participants in silent prayer for those we lost.
During the ceremony, three candles were lit and placed atop the three stone pillars of the memorial by relatives and loved ones of those who died on that fateful morning 23 years ago.
Lauren O’Brien, a Rockville Centre native and 2023 graduate of South Side High School, who lost her uncles Timothy Michael O’Brien and Stephen Tighe, shared a few words on behalf of her family.
“I speak for my entire family when I say we don’t ever forget,” O’Brien said. “The faith that was instilled in all of us has been tested and as a unit we continue to march through. I believe some folks choose not to mention that day or our loved ones lost in fear of being too much of a burden or that they might be offended. Although I admire the disbelief, I go back to thinking, always promise not to forget.”
Timothy O’Brien and Stephen Tighe, we both at work at Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services company that was based on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center’s north tower, when a commercial airliner struck it at approximately 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001.
“The loss of the men in our family was senseless. It was criminal. It was pure evil. But the men that we lost were the complete opposite of those things,” Lauren said. “Time passes but it cannot erase what has been done. They deserve to be remembered. They deserve to be kept alive in spirit. They deserve to know their passing is not in vain.”
Her uncle Timmy was well known in the community. He attended St. Agnes School where he helped win a state basketball championship, after which he went on to attend Hartwick College on a full basketball scholarship. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Lisa
LEGAL NOTICE
Public Notice to Bidders
Sealed Bids will be received by the Purchasing Department of the Village of Rockville Centre, One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York for the matter stated below until 11:00 am prevailing time on October 17, 2024 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for: WASTE TRANSFER
D’Arpino, and three children John, Maddie, and Jacie.
Tighe, also indelible, left a mark on his community. He grew up on Hillside Avenue, around the corner from the O’Brien family, and was a skilled soccer player for the South Side High School Cyclones. In 1986, he married his wife Kathleen, with whom he had four children. He loved coaching youth soccer with the Rockville Centre Soccer Club and was the junior varsity coach at Kellenberg Memorial High School. Beloved by the community, the field on Windsor Avenue was renamed in his memory in 2003.
Both men’s names were read aloud on Sunday night, along with those of the other 54 other village residents who died on Sept. 11 or in the aftermath of the attack, from illnesses related to the toxins in the dust from the collapsing building, at the conclusion of the ceremony.
“At a time when evil wanted to see weakness, we showed the epitome of strength,” O’Brien said. “Perhaps now is the time when we never forget and live as we all did on Sept. 12, 2001.”
After reciting the names, Rabbi David Lerner of Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David provided the benediction, which was followed by a few
words of inspiration from Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley, who encouraged everyone in attendance on Sunday night to honor the ones we lost by performing one good deed in the days ahead.
The crowd stood as American Legion Post Commander Frank Colón Jr. played taps, followed by an acoustic rendition of “America the Beautiful” performed by Peter Garrity and Tom McNicholas.
patrick o’Brien assists his mom, marilyn, to place a candle atop the 9/11 monument in memory of her son, t imothy, and her sonin-law, Stephen t ighe.
STATION REHABILITATION
Bid No. 2409CP2(1129)
The contract documents, specifcations 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 certifed check, bank check or bid bond payable to the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre in the amount of fve (5%) percent of the gross amount of the bid.
All potential bidders of this contract are required to attend a mandatory site visit of the Waste Transfer Station Building prior to submitting bids. Location: 10 Sunrise Highway, Rockville Centre. Date: September 26, 2024 at 10:00am. 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 October 4, 2024.
Award of Contract will be made to the lowest
Hempstead town Councilwoman Laura r yder, left, assemblyman Brian Curran, deputy mayor Kathy Baxley, trustees Katie Conlon and emilio grillo and nassau County Legislator Scott davis attend the annual remembrance day ceremony on Sunday. also pictured father michael duffy, rabbi david Lerner, police Commissioner randy dodd.
father michael duffy of St. a gnes Cathedral delivers the invocation during the annual remembrance ceremony.
Steve Sachs/Herald photos members of the rockville Centre f ire department stand at either side of the memorial in solemn reflection of the events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001.
Help Wanted
DRIVERS WANTED
Full Time and Part Time
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Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour
Night Availability is a Must.
Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!
$20 - $25/ Hour
Bell Auto School 516-365-5778
Email: info@bellautoschool.com
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com
EMAIL MARKETING SPECIALIST
Herald Community Newspapers is seeking a motivated and knowledgeable Email Marketing Expert to join our team. If you have a passion for crafting effective email campaigns and a knack for data-driven decision-making, this role is for you!
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Set up and manage email campaigns from start to finish. Analyze data to identify target audiences and optimize email strategies. Craft compelling email content, including writing effective subject lines. Monitor and report on campaign performance.
REQUIREMENTS:
Degree in Marketing, Business, or related field. Strong understanding of data analysis and marketing principles. Experience with email marketing is preferred but not required.
POSITION DETAILS:
Flexible: Part-time or Full-time.
Salary range: $16,640 to $70,000, depending on experience and role.
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A column went ‘clunk’
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TQ. We were sitting in our living room and heard a loud clunk. We went to investigate, thinking something spooky or structural had happened, maybe in our attic. It turned out that a steel post in our basement had just rusted out and fallen over, probably from saltwater during the hurricane flooding we had. Should we be concerned? The floor seems to be level, and not bouncy or anything. What should we do? Can we replace the column to save money?
A. Sometimes things do go bump in the middle of the night. (People sometimes ask me if these questions are real. You actually called me about this, as a former client, and I was able to stop over and look at the problem.) You were right to be concerned, and to react quickly instead of waiting to see what could happen next.
I can report that your crawl space went through a significant amount of repair, but is in otherwise pristine condition after the flooding occurred. Unlike many people I meet with, you took pictures of the stripped bare structure, and could show me the ones you kept in a computer file. That was important in determining what to do next, because the main beam supporting the house is partially enclosed with marine plywood and has several adjustable columns, which I never recommend for permanently supporting loads, especially in a potential flood-prone crawl space under a home.
Now I have photos to prove what I have often said about adjustable columns, the ones with either pegs or adjustable screws or, like your columns, both pegs and a large adjustable screw at the top. I am in favor of full steel columns that aren’t lightweight, but rather have heavyweight sidewalls of ¼-inch-thick steel.
It isn’t that the adjustable columns aren’t strong enough. My concern is that they be installed correctly and how long they will last, especially in a corrosive environment. Almost every adjustable column I have ever seen is installed incorrectly, upside down. The manufacturer specifically instructs that the adjustment portion of the column should be at the bottom, not at the top. After installing a correctly calculated spread footing, the column is installed so that when the floor slab is poured in place, the concrete will enclose the screw adjustment section of the column.
In a flood zone, I always recommend that plastic be in place around the base of the column before the concrete pour is made, to keep saltwater from directly contacting the steel. Even though the steel must be coated with rust-preventive paint, concrete acts like a sponge, and the salt builds up and remains around the steel after each flooding episode. Even better, I recommend solid concrete block columns to support the beam in a flood hazardprone area. They will last a hundred years longer than the steel. You can do the work yourself and avoid things that go bump in the night. Good luck!
© 2024 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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opinions Seeking post-pandemic healing in the woods
Acold wind, as loud as a trumpet, whipped across the summit of Mount Marcy, New York’s highest peak in the Adirondacks, on Aug. 17. I could see only feet in front of me, because the mountain, at 5,344 feet above sea level, was enveloped by clouds. Then a light rain started to patter across the rocky slab at my feet.
I was in a dreamscape, surrounded by massive boulders and tall piles of rocks called cairns, intended to guide hikers through stormy conditions. Then, out of the fog, two 20-something hikers appeared like apparitions, wearing nothing more than shorts, T-shirts and sneakers, each carrying but one small water bottle.
The two moved across the steep, slippery rock like cats, seemingly unfazed by the increasingly concerning weather. One pulled out a short joint and inhaled it all at once. He and his hiking partner stood at Marcy’s highest point and joked that they were the highest men in New
iYork. Then they asked if we — my son, Andrew, my soon-to-be son-in-law, Matteo, and I — would like our photo taken at the summit. We did, and the fellow toking the joint obliged.
The pair were from Massachusetts, but mostly hiked in New Hampshire, they said. They had never climbed Mount Marcy before. I remarked that I had last made the ascent 45 years ago.
“What were you, 3?” the smoker asked.
“Actually, I was 12.”
“Whoa.”
DI’m a nearly lifelong Long Islander accustomed to a virtually flat landscape, and the Adirondack High Peaks region has lived in my imagination since I first visited the area as a Boy Scout with Troop 79, in Suffolk County, during my middle school years. I could never reconcile in my mind the massiveness of the mountains, the sheer grandeur of them. Even as a child, I understood how special they were, and how fortunate I was to visit them.
take in the spectacular view (on a clear day, it’s said you can see Mount Royal, in Montreal, 65 miles away, from Marcy’s summit), but my older self understood how privileged I was to be in this place. To be consumed by the weather was an experience unto itself, one part eerie, one part mystical.
espite the fog atop Mount Marcy, I understood how privileged I was to be there.
I had decided during the coronavirus pandemic that I wanted — I needed — to return to Mount Marcy, and I wrote about that desire in a Herald column in March 2021, “Reflections on a pandemic year.” I was the Heralds’ executive editor at the time, and like so many people then, I was exhausted, mentally as well as physically, having covered the pandemic for a year. My mind often wandered to the forests of my childhood, both on Long Island and in the Adirondacks and Catskills. I longed for the quiet and solitude of the woods.
I climbed Bear Mountain, in New York’s Hudson Highlands, with my wife, Katerina, in June. It was a distressingly hot day, but we made it. Then Andrew and Matteo proposed that we climb Marcy this summer, and I was all in. I didn’t hesitate. Now it’s on to Katahdin, in Maine, hopefully in one of the coming summers.
The experiences of climbing Bear Mountain and Mount Marcy were made more special and lasting in my memory because I shared them with family. Only my daughter, Alexandra, was missing, but I’m certain she will be trekking with us into the mountains in the near future.
Like so many, I was hyper-focused on my work during the pandemic. It was all we had. I still love my work — now as a full-time Hofstra University journalism professor. But to this day, more than a year after the official end of the “Covid19 emergency” in May 2023, my mind often drifts to the woods, to nature. It is there that we find the psychic and spiritual healing that so many of us still so desperately need.
On the day Andrew, Matteo and I made our ascent, the weather was less than ideal. A younger version of me might have been disappointed not to
“I hope to climb Bear Mountain, Mount Marcy and Mount Katahdin again, and perhaps others as well,” I wrote. “I hope. I hope. I hope. We must keep hope alive to remember why we should do all we can to survive these terrible and terrifying times.”
Scott Brinton is an assistant professor of journalism, media studies and public relations at Hofstra University’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication. ©Scott A. Brinton. Comments? scott.brinton@hofstra.edu.
Honoring our immigrant ancestors
mmigration has been a contentious topic for the past few years, as the migrant crisis at the southern border has continuously grabbed headlines, prompted intense debate and served as a major policy point for candidates in elections across the nation. While Americans have always, and likely will always, disagree on how to handle this issue, there’s no denying the increasingly vitriolic, outlandish and in many cases outright racist language used to describe these immigrants. Every American is a descendant of immigrants, whether your ancestors came here on the Mayflower, through Ellis Island or, in recent decades, on a plane. My ancestors came from Italy, Scotland, England, France and Germany, some as early as the 1600s and some as late as the early 1900s.
So it’s disappointing, as someone who was raised to take pride in my family’s history, who learned about the struggles that my Italian and Jewish relatives faced when they arrived, to see how willing many Americans are to assume the
worst about all immigrants.
There are some who will say, “I don’t hate all immigrants — just the illegals who come to our country to steal our jobs and murder us.” While I can appreciate the very real worries about gang members or criminals arriving in our neighborhoods, I’d like to ask a simple question.
How do you think your immigrant ancestors would feel if someone accused them of eating dogs?
I can promise you, most of our ancestors did face discrimination when they came to this country. In the mid-1800s, when waves of Germans and Irish arrived, and decades later, when Italian, Greek, Russian, Jewish and more people came here in droves, they faced the racist backlash that many immigrants are still facing today.
whom endured hellish conditions on their journey over. They drew caricatures, published cartoons calling Irishmen “wild beasts,” and ran political campaigns on a platform that the Irish were not fit to be members of civilized society.
i t’s frustrating to see many Americans assume the worst about immigrants.
According to Kevin Kenny, a professor of history at Boston College, “Native-born Americans criticized Irish immigrants for their poverty and manners, their supposed laziness and lack of discipline, their public drinking style, their Catholic religion, and their capacity for criminality and collective violence. In both words and pictures, critics of the Irish measured character by perceived physical appearance.”
Sound familiar?
The Know Nothing Party of the 1850s was a nativist political movement that opposed Catholic immigration into the country. They ran on a platform of keeping America Protestant and “pure,” rejecting the notion that Catholics and non-Anglo-Saxon peoples had anything to offer our young nation.
The Know Nothings used slurs to insult the many Irish immigrants who had fled the Great Famine, many of
I’m not saying people don’t have a right to be concerned about illegal immigration. It’s a serious issue that has remained unresolved through far too many administrations of both parties. But we must remember that our words have meaning, and that when we make blanket judgments about people or groups, we are, as the adage goes, cutting off our nose to spite our face.
Because immigrants have always been the backbone of this country, from the day of the signing of the Declaration
of Independence — which features the signatures of eight immigrants — to today. From early arrivers like Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who built Fort West Point and helped the Americans win the Battle of Saratoga, to later ones like Andrew Carnegie, the tycoon who dominated the steel industry in the 19th century — neither of whom had ‘legal’ documentation when they arrived — immigrants have always had an outsized impact as workers, innovators and leaders.
Arguably the most famous immigrant in our history, Alexander Hamilton, came to New York as a boy with nothing, and ended up one of our most influential Founding Fathers. I wonder what people these days would call the immigrant orphan child of a prostitute from the Caribbean with no formal schooling. Immigration is difficult. It is a quagmire that provides immeasurable benefits while, conversely, creating serious social, economic and political pressures. But we should never resort to reductive and hateful stereotypes.
Every immigrant, no matter how he or she came here, is a human being, and should be treated as such. Don’t make the same mistake the people who called my relatives “wops” and “dagos” did, and assume they have less to offer.
Will Sheeline is a senior reporter covering Glen Cove, Glen Head, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? WSheeline@ liherald.com.
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HERALD
History is passed down in our fire departments
History is often perceived as something static — a collection of events consigned to textbooks, memorialized in museums, or commemorated on anniversaries. It can feel as though history lives on dusty bookshelves, far removed from our daily lives.
But history isn’t merely a record of the past, frozen in time. Rather, it is a living, breathing thing, continuously shaping the present and influencing the future.
History evolves as it is interpreted, re-examined and passed down through generations. One way to understand its dynamic nature is by noting how institutions like fire departments are now hiring young people who were born after Sept. 11, 2001 — a day that still feels so recent and vivid to many of us.
This milestone is a potent reminder that history is an ever-evolving force that defines generational perspectives, values and narratives.
Many of us remember where we were and what we were doing on 9/11, as do members of older generations who remember where they were when they heard that President John F. Kennedy had been shot, or that Pearl Harbor had been attacked.
For firefighters — and especially those who serve in New York City and on Long Island — no date holds deeper meaning than Sept. 11. The bravery of the many first responders who ran
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The latest on New York’s push for state and federal ERA
To the Editor:
toward the hellish chaos at the World Trade Center, intending to save lives, has become emblematic of the courage and sacrifice inherent in their profession.
That fire departments are now hiring people who were not alive when the towers fell highlights the inevitability of generational change and the idea that history is always moving forward, even when it feels as if time has stood still.
These young recruits are entering a world shaped by the consequences of 9/11, yet they engage with it in a different way. For them, Sept. 11 is, yes, history, but not a memory — a chapter learned in school rather than a harrowing, indelible life experience.
This generational shift forces us to confront the duality of history: it is at once deeply personal and profoundly collective. For those of us who lived through 9/11 — and particularly the millions who could see the smoking wreckage from their homes or offices, with no need of a television screen — the event has become part of the fabric of our lives. For those born afterward, it is something learned about and appreciated through second-hand accounts.
Nonetheless, their presence in firefighting gear yet to be soiled signals that history is alive, breathing new life into the institutions that helped shape it. Eerily similar to the refrain repeated by Jewish people immersed in their
own living history since the Holocaust, “Never again,” fire departments across the United States, as far removed from New York as Alaska, echo the phrase, “Never forget.”
There, the Kenai Fire Department — more than 4,500 miles from ground zero — commemorates 9/11 every year as if its members, too, were just a truck ride from where the planes hit.
“The greatest thing we can do to honor the lives lost on 9/11 is to strive to be the people we were on Sept. 12, when we all came together, we all felt like one nation, one people,” Jay Teague, chief of the Kenai department, said at its Sept. 11 ceremony last week, as reported by KDLL public radio. “We get lost in the daily strife, the daily frustrations, and we lose that sometimes, but I think that’s probably the best sentiment we can end on, is that we should strive to be the people we were on Sept. 12.”
As young recruits join firehouses in New York City, on Long Island and across the country, they bring with them a new understanding of public service, informed not only by the legacy of 9/11, but the challenges they have faced in the post-9/11 world, marked by heightened security, shifting global politics, a pandemic and a divided country.
This generational handoff underscores the vitality of history. It is not static; it does not belong solely to the past. Rather, it lives on through the people who reinterpret it and shape it anew.
As election season heats up, the League of Women Voters of Central Nassau and partners such as New Yorkers for Equal Rights and the New York Civil Liberties Union continue to advocate for and educate about Proposal 1, appearing on state ballots in the upcoming election, through postcarding, phonebanking, canvassing and public appearances. We remind New York voters to “flip their ballot” on Nov. 5 and vote on Prop 1, which expands on the current state Equal Rights Amendment to include protections against discrimination for all New Yorkers.
Moreover, LWVCN recently joined the Sign4ERA.org team — which advocates for the long-overdue certification and publication of the federal ERA — when the organization’s chair, former New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, and her colleagues visited Garden City on Sept. 1 to ask U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito for his support. D’Esposito, who represents the 4th Congressional District, is one of a few
opinions
A new season of optimism and opportunities
the old refrain, “Summer went too fast,” never does get old — and that’s because so many of us have been repeating it in recent days.
But even as the season’s end brings a tinge of sadness, it also brings a new autumnal momentum to our lives: a new school year for our children, the transition of our recent high school graduates to higher education in colleges and universities around the country, and people entering the job market or changing careers. Our local small businesses geared up for back-to-school sales, and families are now preparing for fall events and religious holidays, most notably the Jewish New Year and the High Holy Days.
As we have each year since 2016, my office will host a number of events coinciding with this change in seasons, to help constituents and their families prepare for the months ahead.
On Sept. 24, we will host our twice-annual Shed the Meds event at Syosset Library, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., in partnership with the Nassau County Police Department’s 2nd Precinct. This event is crucially important, because it provides a safe and effective way for our friends and neighbors to dispose of unused, unfinished or expired medications, thereby safeguarding against having those medications end up in the wrong hands or damaging our environment through improper disposal.
s hedding meds, tax workshops, the Mammovan and more as we move into fall.
Village Restoration, in partnership with the county Department of Assessment. Homeowners and seniors will receive individualized assistance with applying for and receiving all of the tax exemptions they are entitled to. We will repeat that workshop less than two weeks later, on Oct. 22, at the Jericho Public Library. Both workshops are from 1 to 3 p.m., and anyone needing help should arrive no later than 2:30.
As we approach the colder months and contend with the inevitable flu season and an increase in Covid cases, I encourage everyone to protect themselves and their families by taking full advantage of the vaccines that are available to keep us safe and healthy. And with school now back in session and our children, parents and families sharing and embracing this new season, I remind all drivers to exercise an abundance of caution as they traverse the streets of our communities.
On Oct. 10, we will bring the Homeowner Exemption Liaison Program, or HELP, property tax exemption workshop series to The Barn at Old Bethpage
Letters
remaining members of Congress needed to sign a House discharge petition that would bring HJ Resolution 25 — removing the deadline for the ratification of the ERA — to the House floor for a vote.
Since Virginia was the 38th state to ratify the ERA in 2020, we have the threefourths majority of states needed to affirm it as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. As of Sept. 1, the discharge petition had been signed by 214 House members, and needed 218 signatures to move to a floor vote. So if you live in District 4 — which includes Atlantic Beach, Baldwin, Carle Place, East Meadow, Elmont, the Five Towns, Floral Park, Franklin Square, Freeport, Garden City, Garden City Park, Hempstead, Long Beach, Lynbrook, Malverne, Merrick, New Hyde Park, Oceanside, Rockville Centre, Roosevelt, Seaford, Uniondale, Valley Stream, Wantagh, West Hempstead and Westbury — and you support the ERA, contact D’Esposito’s office, at desposito.house.gov, as soon as possible, and ask him to sign Discharge Petition No. 6. This federal equal rights legislation is long overdue, and we are close to making history by seeing it finally published in the Constitution, where, arguably, it always should have been.
On Tuesday, which, auspiciously, was both Constitution Day and National Voter Registration Day, representatives of the LWVCN, the National Council of Jewish Women and the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women were scheduled to visit D’Esposito’s office to discuss the urgency and significance of the federal ERA, not only for New Yorkers but for all Americans.
SUSAN CUSHMAN, PH.D. LWVCN advocacy chair Garden City
Last but certainly not least, on Nov. 7, we will team up with Nassau University Medical Center to bring the Mammovan back to our community. This potentially life-saving initiative gives women an opportunity to expeditiously screen for breast cancer — and those without insurance may be able to do so at no cost. Please stay tuned, and contact my office closer to the event date for more details.
Funding from Washington and Albany is crucial to LIRR’s operations
To the Editor:
The Long Island Rail Road still needs to reach a state of good repair for its existing fleet, stations, elevators, escalators, signals, interlockings, track, power, yards and shops. That also includes more stations reaching compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Maintenance programs for all operating assets also need to be fully funded, and completed on time, to ensure riders safe, uninterrupted, reliable service.
Since its creation in 1964, the Urban Mass Transit Administration — which since 1991 has been known as the Federal Transit Administration — has provided billions of dollars to pay for many of these capital improvements. The LIRR’s share of the FTA’s annual grants to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority averages 15 percent. In 2024, this should total $270 million of $1.8 billion in federal grant funding.
The state Department of Transportation also provides Statewide Transportation Operating Assistance on an annual basis to the MTA and the LIRR. Let’s give thanks to both Washington and Albany for continued financial support for our LIRR, the nation’s largest commuter railroad.
LARRY PENNER Great Neck
Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a director of the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.
My office is always available to anyone and everyone for any questions or needs. It continues to be my utmost honor and privilege to serve as a legislator, and as we support the Syosset Chamber of Commerce’s 20th anniversary Street Fair on Jackson Avenue on Sept. 29, I hope you can take a break from the fun, festivities and vendors to stop by and say hello to my staff and me.
Arnold W. Drucker represents Nassau County’s 16th Legislative District, and is the Legislature’s deputy minority leader.
Framework by Tim Baker
Pride sculpted in sand — Town Park Point Lookout
arnoLD w. DrUCker
