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Hundreds arrived at Seaford High School for the Seaford 9/11 Memorial Candle Lighting Ceremony. the event was to honor the memory of the five alumni, as well as the rest of the victims, who died from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Somber tribute, 23 years later Hundreds gather for Seaford’s 9/11 memorial ceremony
By CHAR
Seaford hosted its 23rd annual 9/11 Memorial Candle Lighting Ceremony on Sept. 11, and hundreds of people gathered on the front lawn of Seaford High School to honor the lives lost that day.
The event was hosted by the Seaford High School 9/11 Memorial Committee, a nonprof it that was established to honor the memory of five Seaford alumni and all of the others who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center.
The Seaford victims were brothers Thom as and Timothy Haskell, John Perry, Robert Sliwak and Michael Wittenstein. Perry was a New York City police officer; the Haskells were city firefighters; and Sliwak and Wit
nothing like kids he -
memorial.
County Police Department Color Guard, escorted by the department’s Emerald Society Pipe Band and Honor Guard. They marched down Seamans Neck Road and up to the steps of the high school, next to the Former Seaford High Principal Raymond Buckley welcomed the crowd, thanking the
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Steve Sachs/Herald
Hundreds arrived at Seaford High School for the Seaford 9/11 Memorial Candle Lighting Ceremony. the event was to honor the memory of the five alumni, as well as the rest of the victims, who died from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Somber tribute, 23 years later Hundreds gather for Seaford’s 9/11 memorial ceremony
By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Seaford hosted its 23rd annual 9/11 Memorial Candle Lighting Ceremony on Sept. 11, and hundreds of people gathered on the front lawn of Seaford High School to honor the lives lost that day.
The event was hosted by the Seaford High School 9/11 Memorial Committee, a nonprofit that was established to honor the memory of five Seaford alumni and all of the others who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center.
The Seaford victims were brothers Thomas and Timothy Haskell, John Perry, Robert Sliwak and Michael Wittenstein. Perry was a New York City police officer; the Haskells were city firefighters; and Sliwak and Wit-
tenstein both worked for Cantor Fitzgerald in the north tower.
In 2002, the 9/11 committee helped build a memorial at the high school, with plaques dedicated to the five men. Since it was built, community members have gathered there each year for a candlelight ceremony to pay their respects.
This year’s event began with a presentation of the American flag by the Nassau County Police Department Color Guard, escorted by the department’s Emerald Society Pipe Band and Honor Guard. They marched down Seamans Neck Road and up to the steps of the high school, next to the memorial.
Former Seaford High Principal Raymond Buckley welcomed the crowd, thanking the
Girl Scout inspires others to help out
By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Wantagh High School junior Faith Stallone has demonstrated that providing service to her community is not difficult if it’s done one step at a time.
Faith, a member of Wantagh’s Girl Scout Troop 3305, recently raised $1,070 to help send an underprivileged child to Camp Kiwanis, a summer camp in upstate New York that provides recreational and educational programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The camp is part of Kiwanis International, a global organization of volunteers who help improve children’s lives and communities through service and charity.
Thelping kids for all the right reasons,” Silberger said.
here’s nothing like kids helping kids for all the right reasons.
MARg ARET SilBERgER President,
Club
Faith, a member of her high school’s Kiwanis Key Club, began to raise money for Camp Kiwanis in July, when she decided to promote a poster with information on Camp Kiwanis and a QR code to send donations. She promoted her poster at the Thursday Night Live events, a series of summer block parties on Railroad Avenue in Wantagh, hosted by Mulcahy’s Pub & Concert Hall. She also promoted her poster at her church, the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Levittown, during its summer food truck events.
Kiwanis
of Wantagh
During a Sept. 3 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Wantagh, Faith delivered the check to its club president, Margaret Silberger, who said Faith’s commitment to service completes a cycle of young volunteers helping other children in need.
“There’s nothing like kids
“It was a really good experience,” Faith said, “because I got to feel that I was helping someone. And not even just helping one person, I was helping someone give back, because they might have such a good experience that they’re able to give that experience to someone else when they’re older.”
Sending a child to Camp Kiwanis is just one of many
Continued on page 5
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Check-in begins at 9 a.m.
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In-person and virtual tours are available. For event details and to RSVP, visit hofstra.edu/falloh
Seaford Library wraps up summer concert series
The Seaford Public Library concluded its summer concert series with a lively performance by Just Sixties, a 1960s cover band, on Saturday, Sept. 7. The event marked the final outdoor concert of the season, drawing residents to enjoy classic hits from the iconic decade.
The band, which includes Donny West on guitar and keyboard, Matt Spataro on keyboard, guitar, and drums, Robert Gerver on drums, Lisa Vetrone on vocals, Phil Carrillo on rhythm guitar, and Ed Bowe on bass, played classic hits from the era to a crowd of Seaford residents.
In addition to the music, the evening featured a special recognition ceremony for Cindy Schaaf, the longtime head of children’s services at the library. Schaaf was presented with the Frank J. Hoschek Memorial Service Award for her dedicated service to the community. The award honors her many years of work in Seaford, fostering literacy and learning for countless children.
Town of Hempstead Councilman Christopher Schneider attended the event, presenting Schaaf with a citation to further acknowledge her contributions to the library and the broader Seaford community.
The concert offered a fun close to the library’s summer program, as attendees gathered to enjoy live music under the stars.
— Charles Shaw
Steve Sachs/Herald photos
Just Sixties, a 1960s cover band, hit the stage during Seaford Public Library’s last outdoor summer concert on Sept. 7.
Rhythm guitarist Phil Carrillo rocks out on stage during Seaford Public Library’s last outdoor concert of the summer on Sept. 7.
Guitarist and keyboardist Donny West shreds on his Fender Telecaster.
Attendees filled the Seaford Public Library parking lot on Sept. 7 to see a performance by Just Sixties, a 1960s cover band.
John Scaparro, president of the Board of Trustees at Seaford Public Library, holds the Frank J. Hoschek Memorial Service Award with Cindy Schaaf, head of children’s services, during the library’s final outdoor concert on Sept. 7.
Drummer Robert Gerver keeps the rhythm going on stage.
Hope Rencher is focused on helping students develop
By Josie Racette Intern
Hope Rencher, the new assistant principal for the Nassau BOCES Center for Community Adjustment, is a Wantagh resident excited to reach out and help students on the autism spectrum.
Rencher has worked in education for nearly 15 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders and linguistics, as well as a master’s degree in teaching students with speech, language and hearing impairments.
“I’ve worked really closely with teachers to make environmental changes in the classroom to support the students,” Rencher said. “That’s when I realized I was most effective when I worked with the teachers.”
Since her appointment as assistant principal, Rencher has focused on improving teacher effectiveness and student outcomes by bringing something new to the table. By having fresh eyes on students, Rencher says she’s able to see how to push their skills and help them with their career goals.
Rencher is using literacy programs, such as Wilson Foundations, School Based Reading Development Inventories, First Author Curriculum, and Readtopia, to keep students intrigued in literacy.
“How do we get them to read for
I’ve
worked really closely with teachers to make environmental changes in the classroom to support the students. That’s when I realized I was most effective when I worked with the teachers.
Hope RencHeR
Assistant Principal, Nassau BOCES Center for Community Adjustment
enjoyment in the future and keep learning and enhance their skills?” Rencher said. “It’s very easy in our current world to go home and decompress with an iPad, so how can we make sure that our students are always expanding their horizon?”
With the establishment of inquiry groups and professional learning programs, Rencher has increased her involvement with faculty, students and families. For her, the role is about being supportive by building relationships with staff, students and their families. She works with faculty who focus on helping students become successful in the workforce.
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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“How could individuals with special needs and disabilities add to (the workplace)?” Rencher asked. “If I go to a store or a restaurant…I’m thinking from an inclusive perspective now.”
While Rencher is working in and out of the office, she is still getting to know the rest of the CCA staff.
“It’s a lot of new people to get to know, but I am taking my time and getting to know everybody, getting to know the families and making sure that everybody is comfortable with me,” Rencher said. “I want to make sure that I have an open-door policy for staff and students. I want to overcome those challenges by being a good listener and a clear communicator.”
Rencher’s goals are simple: help faculty, students and families become successful in the workforce and in life.
Rencher says her focus is on helping students develop the functional life skills they need to thrive as they transition out of the school system and into the community. She aims to ensure they are well-prepared to become successful members of society.
Hope Rencher, the new assistant principal at Nassau BOCES Center for Community Adjustment, brings nearly 15 years of educational experience and a commitment to supporting students with autism. A Wantagh resident, Rencher is dedicated to enhancing literacy and fostering inclusive learning environments.
Wantagh Fire Department responds to restaurant blaze
The Wantagh Fire Department responded to a fire at Lazzat restaurant, located at 3245 Sunrise Highway in Wantagh, on Monday, Sept. 9 around 10:45 p.m. No injuries were reported after the incident.
Leonard J. Mathewson, Chief of the Wantagh Fire Department, was first at the scene and in command. He was assisted by 1st Assistant Bill Stevens, 2nd Assistant William Van Leer and 3rd Assistant Paul Krussmann. Upon arrival, a heavy smoke condition was noted by the team.
Engine 1 and Ladder 1 were first on the scene, followed by Engine 5 and Ladder 2. The units worked their way into the building to locate and confine
the fire. Two hose lines were stretched and placed into operation as the fire was located and extinguished. Due to the possibility of the fire spreading, Chief Mathewson called for additional support from Massapequa and Bellmore while Seaford provided a Firefighter Assist and Safety Team truck. Two engines and an ambulance from Massapequa and a ladder company from Bellmore were all on standby during this time. All operations were completed in around an hour and the cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s office.
Courtesy Nassau BOCES
— Josie Racette
Faith Stallone continues to serve her community
ways Faith has helped serve her community. For her project to earn the Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout could achieve, Faith raised more than 700 pounds of food for Long Island Cares, created a youth food pantry at her church, and led a school-wide food drive to tackle local hunger. Her efforts educated the community and left a lasting impact.
She received her Gold Award certificate in June, and her troop leader, Kerri Stallone, who is also her mother, said Faith has become a role model for other students in her grade who are looking to find ways to perform community service.
“She’s sort of being like a leader to show them how easy it is,” Kerri said. “Just pick something and represent it in a strong way to let others know that you can care about it too.”
She added that she’s proud of her daughter’s accomplishments, which have shown her to be a true inspiration to the rest of the Girl Scout troop. According to Kerri, five girls in the troop have gone for their interviews to start their Gold Award projects.
“It really showed her leadership skills, “Kerri said of her daughter, “and now we got five more that are like, ‘Oh, I want to jump in on that.’”
Kerri said one of her Scouts is working on a program to help college girls who have nut allergies. Another is plan-
ning with her synagogue to raise money to help people in Israel. Kerri added that service projects could sometimes be overwhelming for Scouts because they think too big, but Kerri said she tells them to start small, which allows them to understand how attainable it can be.
“Just talking back and forth with them, it gets them sparked,” Kerri said.
She wants them to understand that giving back to communities doesn’t end after Girl Scouts, and that it can be a life-long passion.
“I’m hoping that what it’s going to do is spark them to join a community service-based sorority when they go to college,” Kerri said, “so that they understand that, me, as a 55-year-old woman,
I’m still giving back.”
As for Faith, she continues to find other ways to help her community. In June, she joined the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a nonprofit dedicated to investing in blood cancer research, where she will help raise money in a fundraising campaign from January to March. She is also working on a beauty pageant with older adults at Amber Court Assisted Living Communities in Westbury, where they will highlight talents they’re still good at, and questions based on what they enjoy.
According to Faith, the pageant’s goal is to help the older adults reflect on who they are now.
“We’re just focused on what they like to do and what they think they’re good at,” Faith said. “So, if one of them is good at singing or if one of them is good at telling jokes, we’re going to highlight that and we’re going to have a whole night for them to do that.”
Faith’s dedication to service extends beyond her recent achievements. Her mother realizes that Faith’s approach to overcoming challenges through helping others has become a source of inspiration.
“I’m very proud of her,” Kerri said, “because there are things in life that make you feel defeated, and the way she combats feeling defeat is by coming up with ideas to help others. That’s her coping.”
Charles Shaw/Herald
faith Stallone, right, presented a check to margaret Silberger, president of the Kiwanis Club of Wantagh, and her husband and club secretary, Jim Silberger, at the club’s Sept. 3 meeting at thom thom Steak & Seafood in Wantagh. Stallone raised money to help send a child to Camp Kiwanis.
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 Nassau 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
Seaford optimistic for improvement
By MICHELLE RABINOVICH sports@liherald.com
The Seaford boys’ soccer team is still searching for its first win of the season, currently 0-3 in Nassau Conference A2 and coming off a shutout loss to Plainedge last Saturday, the Vikings still have their heads held high.
The message for the team is clear from coach Ralph Pascarella: “We just want to compete and do a little bit better than last year,” he said. “Last year was a tough year for us, this year we want to win more games and keep improving.”
To that end, Pascarella has upperclassmen like junior defenders Anthony Mitarotonda and Luke Haering to rely in to put quality work this fall and then to age like wine with extra experience for next year.
There’s also underclassmen such as sophomore brothers Justin and Dylan Hausfeld, midfielder and goalie respectively, who Pascarella said that have proven their worth time and again because of how much work they put in outside of school in extracurricular soccer as well.
A welcome challenge for the Vikings is some of the fresh blood. On the one hand, there’s junior midfielder Ryan Falta, a newcomer, who is expected to make a splash on the pitch, categorized as an extremely hard worker by Pascarella.
“He just works so hard, he’s getting better, so we’re just looking forward to seeing what he can do,” Pascarella explained.
On the other hand, there’s Matteo Qosa, who Pascarella spelled out as dedicated and
driven but raw when it comes to soccer talent. “He’s just starting to get used to the speed of play, but he’ll be doing good things for the team,” Pascarella assured.
Overall, there’s an optimistic air because the goal is made clear: clear communication between all members of the team is what will ensure success.
“I think we’re a little but more organized, we’ve been talking more about systems of play and just how to be better defenders and stay connected,” Pascarella said. “Soccer is a big field, you can’t be great at one part of it and not the other. We’re just trying to connect ourselves a little bit more and stay compact when we defend, and stay compact when we go forward… if we could kid of stay together as a group, almost be connected with strings but not be connected, I think we’ll do better.”
The first person to benefit from good communication is the backstop and there’s two: the aforementioned Dylan Hausfeld and senior Dre DaSilva, both described by their coach as “very, very good” keepers. “They’re splitting time right now, as they’re both very good,” he detailed. “it’s a part that I don’t have to think about too much, which is good, so we move on to the next part of [the game].”
To hammer home the main message, both internally and externally, they’re on the upswing. Pascarella’s feeling it, now he’s waiting for everyone else to see it.
The next time Seaford takes the pitch is Thursday at home against Valley Stream South at 5 p.m.
Derrick Dingle/Herald
Junior Luke Haering, left, is a key piece of the defense for the Vikings, who will look to overcome a difficult start against Conference A2 rivals.
Bench dedicated in memory of late councilman
On Aug. 15, a bench was dedicated at Wantagh Park in memory of the late Town of Hempstead Councilman Chris Carini.
The event was attended by New York State Senator Steve Rhoads, Hempstead Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder, and Town Clerk Kate Murray, among others. The bench, donated through Project Thank A Cop, honors Carini’s legacy of service.
Carini, who died on July 14, served the Town’s 5th Councilmanic District since 2020. A retired police officer, he was known for his dedication to public safety and quality-of-life issues. The dedication ceremony also included Carini’s wife, Danielle, and their children, Ava and Joey; his parents, Joseph and Dianne; Megan and Andy Fox of Project Thank A Cop; Merrick Chamber of Commerce President Ira Reiter; Wantagh Chamber of
Commerce President Cathy McGrory Powell; Nassau County Legislators Rose Walker, John Ferretti, and Thomas McKevitt; as well as other friends and neighbors.
The bench is intended as a lasting tribute to Carini’s contributions to his community.
— Charles Shaw
Courtesy office of State Sen. Steve Rhoads
Attendees at the dedication of the Chris Carini memorial bench at Wantagh Park on Aug. 15, including family, local officials, and community members.
19, 2024
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.
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
Hundreds gather for 9/11 candlelight ceremony
attendees for supporting the Seaford 9/11 Committee’s activities.
Buckley introduced committee member and retired Seaford teacher Stephen Bongiovi, who hosted throughout the evening. Bongiovi introduced Seaford Superintendent Adele Pecora, who led the Pledge of Allegiance.
One of her greatest honors as superintendent, Pecora said, was accompanying 20 students to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans last month. Joining them were 14 veterans who experienced that history firsthand. The trip was part of the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Soaring Valor program.
Pecora noted that students bonded with the veterans “almost instantly” which surprised representatives of the foundation. But, she added, that bonding was not by chance. “It’s because of how the children are raised in the Seaford community,” Pecora said. “This is a civic-minded, democratic community.”
The Rev. Joseph Fitzgerald, pastor of Saint William the Abbot Roman Catholic Church in Seaford, delivered the invocation, and told the audience to never forget examples of kindness, friendship and health that have sustained those who lost family members in the attacks, or in the 23 years since then.
“Never forget the loved ones lost on Sept. 11, and those who have passed since,” Fitzgerald said. “We’ll never forget the heroic actions of bravery and sacrifice the days and months after at ground zero.”
Former congressman Peter King, a Seaford resident, also spoke. He recalled the courage of the first responders that day, as well as their dedication to the recovery effort.
“Nine-eleven, 2001, was America’s darkest day,” King said, “but it was also America’s finest hour, because it showed that the American spirit cannot be conquered, cannot be controlled, and cannot be put down.”
Seaford 9/11 Committee President Kenneth Haskell, the brother of Timothy and Thomas, spoke of the importance of honoring the memory and sharing the stories of those who lost their lives.
“No one wants to be here today,” Haskell said. “It’s a painful reminder of what’s been lost, but we have an obligation to be here for all those who are no longer with us. This monument we gather at today is a testament to those lives, and more importantly, it’s a testament to their lives that were well lived.”
The ceremony concluded with the candle-lighting, a
benediction by the Rev. John Hickey, of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, and a bell toll by Seaford 9/11 families.
Earlier, Bongiovi had reflected on the lasting impact of Sept. 11. “Nine-eleven is a phrase and an image that is now historic within our culture,” he said. “It is and always will be unforgettable. A concept that will echo for eternity. For many in attendance tonight, we will always remember where we were, what we were doing, when we heard.”
Steve Sachs/Herald photos
members of the nassau County police department paid tribute at the memorial of the five Seaford High School alumni who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
the Candle Lighting Ceremony, at Seaford High School, began with a performance by the nassau County police department emerald Society pipe Band and Color guard.
the rev. Joe f itzgerald spoke at Seaford’s 9/11 memorial ceremony.
Seaford High School 9/11 memorial Committee president Ken Haskell, left, with committee Chair tom Condon in front of the memorial at the high school.
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
“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 definitive 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.
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) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.
Vendors for collectible show
Temple B’nai Torah seeks vendors for a Giant Collectible Show, Sunday, oct. 13. 2900 Jerusalem Ave. For vendors interested in participating, call Greg or Steve at (631) 382-0300 or email tbtcardshow@tbtwantagh.org for details.
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.
Vendors wanted for Holiday Shopping Day
Congregation Beth Tikvah Sisterhood is seeking vendors for its Holiday Shopping Day on Sunday, dec. 8, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. The event will be held in a secure, heated indoor space. Vendors can rent space at reasonable rates to sell apparel, jewelry, housewares, collectibles, seasonal items, crafts, and more. 3710 Woodbine Ave. For more information or to inquire about selling, email CBTWantaghHolidayShop@ gmail.com.
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) 2245800 or LICM.org.
Wantagh Warrior 5K
Wantagh School District invites all to participate in the inaugural Wantagh Warrior 9/11 Memorial 5K, Sunday, Sept. 22. The run takes place on the high school track at 9:30 a.m. Children can participate in a 400M dash at 8:30 a.m. For race, volunteer, donation and sponsorship opportunities, visit tinyurl.com/WW911Run. 3297 Beltagh Ave in Wantagh.
Sept. 25
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.
Game time
Enjoy Mah Jongg and Canasta, every Thursday, noon to 4 p.m., at Congregation Beth Tikvah, $5 contribution, no outside food, as snacks and drinks will be supplied. Bring your games and cards, lessons available. 3710 Woodbine Ave., Wantagh. For more information, email mahjonggCBT@yahoo.com or call (516) 785-2445.
Having an event?
Harvest Fair
Seaford Historical Society hosts their annual Harvest fair on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 10 a.m. at the Seaford Museum. Pumpkins, mums, vendors, baked goods and hot dogs will be on sale, along with raffes and a grand prize. This is an annual fundraiser to help support the museum built in 1893. 3890 Waverly Ave.
Bingo at Temple B’nai Torah
Temple B’nai Torah hosts a fun-flled bingo session, every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.-1p.m., and every Thursday, 7:15 -10 p.m. Prizes, progressive games and refreshments available. 2900 Jerusalem Ave., in Wantagh. For more information, call (516) 221-2370.
Pumpkin Spice Ceramic workshop
Seaford Public Library welcomes Rosemarie Attard for a painting session at on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m. Contact Kristen Jording for more, at (516) 221-1334 x3210 or visit seafordlibrary.org. 2234 Jackson Ave., Seaford.
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.
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.
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.
Alzheimer’s Walk in the Park
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America hosts its annual Walk in the Park fundraiser, at Eisenhower Park, Saturday, Sept. 28. The walk kicks off with an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. at the park’s Field 6. Those who raise $100 or more will have an opportunity to meet retired baseball player Dwight Gooden, who’s joining the walk’s efforts as an ambassador. For more information, visit ALZFdn. org/walk.
Walk to cure FSHD
Join Long Islanders to walk to cure facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, hosted by the FSHD Society, at Eisenhower Park, Saturday, Sept. 28. 10 a.m. Family and friends are invited to ‘walk or toll’ and raise money, working towards a cure for the progressive muscle disease. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. 1899 Park Blvd. For more information and to learn how to participate, visit FSHDSociety.org.
SEAFORD HERALD — September 19, 2024
(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
Levittown students embark on historical adventures
Levittown Public School students in the Adventures in Local History program experienced an exciting summer expedition as they journeyed to several historical locations throughout Long Island from Aug. 12 to 16.
Over the five-day excursion, a range of historical sites shed light on the influential past of these Long Island locales. First, the group visited the Smithtown Historical Society to partake in the colonial farm life program which involved students working with looms, breaking down flax plants and making their own marble games.
On day two, students toured the Conklin Farmhouse maintained by the Huntington Historical Society. Students experienced what life was like for children on a colonial farm and created their own colonial era toys.
At the Garvies Point Museum and Preserve, students learned about Native American tools and artifacts and had plenty of hands-on experiences during a tour. The Carriage Museum at the Long Island Museum had students sit in an authentic horse-drawn carriage as they learned what it was like to travel through Long Island and the streets of New York City in the 1800s.
The final stop at the Cradle of Aviation Museum taught students about the history of air travel and space exploration on Long Island with a bonus viewing of “Cities of the Future” in the museum’s planetarium.
Courtesy Levittown Public Schools
Students in the Adventures in Local History program learned about the loom from Smithtown Historical Society members.
Students went on a guided tour of the Cradle of Aviation Museum before watching a movie in the planetarium.
What’s up next door and around the corner
HERALD neighbors
Veterans hold 9/11 remembrance ceremony
Wantagh showed it would never forget the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, during the Wantagh American Legion Post 1273’s 9/11 Patriot Day Remembrance on Sept. 8.
Held at the Legion on 3484 Park Ave., the ceremony honored local residents who died in the terror attacks. Local
Troop 96
Wantagh attended the 9/11 ceremony held at Wantagh American Legion Post 1273 on Park Avenue.
officials delivered remarks, and the event was attended by boy and girl scouts, as well as members of the Blue Star Mothers of Nassau County.
After the solemn tribute, attendees were invited to stay for light refreshments provided by the Legion.
— Charles Shaw
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS
Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Offcers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230,
Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 09/25/2024 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:
THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 AM 619/24. SEAFORDThomas O’Neill, Variance, side yard, maintain one (1) a/c unit attached to dwelling., N/s Paddock Rd., 150’ E/o Boot La., a/k/a 2099 Paddock Rd. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING
ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Seaford within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals
The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 148984
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
Among those who attended the Wantagh American Legion’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony were the Blue Star Mothers of Nassau County.
Daisy Girl Scouts from troop 3093 and troop 3277 attended the ceremony. Scaelett Kerpen, left, Emma Hedley, Ava Jonker, Elena Berishulli, and Samantha Troccoli. George Dibitto speaks to the crowd during the remembrance ceremony.
DRIVERS WANTED
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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!
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Set up and manage email campaigns from start to finish. Analyze data to identify target audiences and optimize email strategies. Craft compelling email content, including writing effective subject lines. Monitor and report on campaign performance.
REQUIREMENTS:
Degree in Marketing, Business, or related field. Strong understanding of data analysis and marketing principles. Experience with email marketing is preferred but not required.
POSITION DETAILS: Flexible: Part-time or Full-time.
Salary range: $16,640 to $70,000, depending on experience and role.
Join our dynamic team and help us connect with our audience in meaningful ways! Apply today by sending your resume and a brief cover letter to lberger@liherald.com
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
To Deliver Papers To Businesses in Massapequa, Amityville and Babylon 2 Days Per Week
Must Have Own Vehicle/Van
This is an independent contractor role for Richner Communications Compensation based on stops starting at $275/week If Interested contact Jim at jrotche@liherald.com or 516-569-4000 x211
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE open-
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press
ings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour.
Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
A column went ‘clunk’
Entertainer's Dream Home
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!
Stuff HErald
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We badly need congestion pricing
Ibelieve congestion pricing is an absolute necessity, for several reasons. First of all, traffic in the metropolitan area is an absolute nightmare. You can’t get into New York City in a reasonable amount of time unless you leave at 5 a.m. or after 9 p.m. most days from any direction — Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut or New Jersey.
Once you get to Manhattan, traffic is so bad that you can walk faster than you can drive. I know, because I work on the Upper East Side and often walk to appointments and meetings. It’s faster than waiting endlessly in a taxi or Uber.
The rafts of Citi Bikes, bike lanes, bus-only lanes and outdoor restaurants built during and after the coronavirus pandemic make Manhattan more intolerable for driving than ever before.
According to a TomTom report, New York tops the list of cities with the worst traffic in America. The average commuter spent just under 25 minutes driving about six miles in 2023.
ISecondly, our mass transit system has been allowed to deteriorate over the decades, because politicians have always kicked the can down the road. The Second Avenue subway was originally proposed over 100 years ago. Today, three stations have been built, and the extension to Harlem has been put off, because congestion pricing, which was supposed to help pay for it, has been halted.
IThe 7 Subway line was to have had a stop in Hell’s Kitchen, the “10th Avenue station,” to alleviate passenger congestion on the West Side and serve the growing neighborhood, but that, too, was killed for lack of funds and political will.
regional train service and rehabilitating the century-old subway system. The more comfortable and convenient the train system, the more people will use it, and the more drivers will opt out of the maddening rush to get to the city.
f only we could come up with a way to charge people based on their net worth.
Much of the current subway system is antiquated, some of it was damaged by saltwater intrusion during Superstorm Sandy, and the signal system is a hazard unto itself, slowing the system down and causing accidents. So how do we resolve our urban traffic nightmare? There is no doubt that rail lines into Manhattan should be the No. 1 priority. They move the most people at the fastest speeds into and out of the city. Congestion pricing would be of enormous benefit in funding better
Now, there are valid reasons why congestion pricing is unfair. If I’m a millionaire, I don’t care about paying $15 to drive below 60th Street, but if I make $50,000 a year, it’s putting a huge dent in my wallet. Box trucks or moving vans would pay $24, large trucks $36, which would make goods and services cost more for New Yorkers.
It’s unfortunate that we can’t devise a methodology that could charge people based on their net worth. If a license tag could be connected to an IRS filing, we could charge wealthy people a different rate than those of more modest means.
Beyond a system like that, we must resurrect the congestion pricing program to start to reduce traffic into Manhattan, and use those funds to upgrade MTA trains, subways and buses. If we do nothing, we will have wasted $500 million installing the apparatus to track vehicular traffic into the city, while
doing nothing to reduce traffic and pollution and build a city for the future.
It is also unconscionable that fare evasion cost the MTA an estimated $690 million in 2022, including $315 million from buses and $285 million from subways — 10 percent of the MTA’s annual budget.
And beyond the dollars and cents, New York City now ranks as one of the most ozone-polluted cities in the world thanks to the millions of cars, trucks and buses in stop-and-go gridlock traffic, with drivers endlessly circling for parking spaces and taxis, Ubers and Lyfts driving nonstop, looking for their next fare.
So how to move the massive number of people in the metropolitan area from destination to destination? Make the best use of the advanced train system that enlightened people built 120 years ago, and that provided 2 billion rides in 2023, on over hundreds of miles of track, picking up and dropping off people at 472 stations. But you can’t build out and upgrade the system without money, and congestion pricing is the ticket.
Jim Paymar is a veteran New York television anchor and reporter who has worked at CNBC, WNBC and WABC. He anchors a podcast, “The Big Shift with Jim Paymar.”
When will we finally say, ‘Enough’?
was a junior at Plainedge High School, in North Massapequa, in 2018, when 17 people died and 17 others were injured in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland, Florida.
After the shooting, we wore orange to school — the color for protesting gun violence — and staged a walkout in solidarity with the school. We ran a fundraiser through the National Honor Society, from Plainedge to Parkland, to help a grieving community over a thousand miles away. And yet, it didn’t seem like enough. What words do you have to offer, thoughts you have to think, when something so senseless happens to people your age?
That year, everything changed. When we returned to classes in the fall of 2018, the front doors at Plainedge High had been changed to fortify the exterior. We weren’t permitted to enter or leave through any entrance except the main one, and we carried I.D. cards at all times.
But as demonstrated earlier this
month at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, sometimes no level of security is enough. It wasn’t enough at the Covenant School in Nashville last spring; it wasn’t enough in Uvalde, Texas, the year before. The list of schools and communities tarnished by acts of violence against children goes on and on, and at some point, I think we all can’t help but wonder: How many more?
Many will argue that guns aren’t the problem in America, and that instead we have a mental health crisis. I agree — we do. But the two are not mutually exclusive.
rus pandemic, 1 in 5 children had a diagnosed mental health disorder. After 2020, surveys showed that 71 percent of parents said the pandemic had taken a toll on their child’s mental health — and things haven’t gotten much better since.
E verything changed at Plainedge High in 2018 — but security isn’t enough.
Gun violence, and deaths related to it, have been on the rise. In 2020, gun violence claimed more lives than it had during any other year on record — more than 45,000. In 2022 it was the leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens between ages 1 and 19.
Guns are a problem. But so is mental health.
The “mental health crisis” has long been Republicans’ scapegoat — their explanation for school shootings — and yet the party has done almost nothing to address their supposed concerns.
According to the American Psychological Association, before the coronavi-
Despite the fact that the data supports what we already know, 193 House Republicans voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which provided $2.35 billion to expand vital school mental health services; 210 voted against the American Rescue Plan Act, which provided $12 billion to address mental health needs arising from the pandemic; and 205 voted against the Mental Health Matters Act, which would provide grants for schools to hire more mental health experts and grow their mental health services.
America has a problem, and the longer we wait to address it, the more people will die. School shootings should have ended after Columbine, after Sandy Hook, after Oxford High School in Michigan. Students shouldn’t be afraid to go to school.
“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is written in our Declaration of Independence, codifying the unalienable rights of all Americans. But as it turns
out, the children who have been senselessly murdered while their government stood by didn’t have those rights. Because if they did, they’d still be alive. Right?
Colt Gray, the 14-year-old charged with four murders for the shooting in Georgia, shouldn’t have had access to a gun. He displayed serious mental health concerns and had made threats in the past, and yet he carried out an act of extreme violence, with a weapon his father purchased for him.
The problem isn’t isolated to Georgia. Two weeks ago, right here on Long Island, a Bayville man was arrested because his 11-year-old son wandered out of his house carrying his father’s shotgun.
We can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines and hope things will change. The time for thoughts and prayers has passed. What we need is decisive action — action that addresses both gun control and mental health, because either one without the other is no solution.
The safety of children, the preservation of their future, depends on our ability to enact meaningful reforms. The question is no longer how many more tragedies we can endure, but when we will finally say, “Enough.”
Jordan Vallone is a senior editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? jvallone@liherald.com.
HERALD
HeraLd editoriaL
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
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
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