Seaford Herald 10-17-2024

A delightful harvest fair

Attendees gathered at the Seaford Museum on Sept. 29 for the annual Harvest Fair, hosted by the Seaford Historical Society. Story, more photos, Page 20.

Looking to the future of education Wantagh School District joins League of Innovative Schools

By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

Two South Shore school districts were recently accepted into the League of Innovative Schools, in which they will have a chance to collaborate with districts across the country and further new educational opportunities.

The league is a national network of school districts that connects and supports the most forward-thinking leaders in education. It is organized by Digital Promise, a global nonprofit that works with educators, researchers and communities to design innovative educational programs.

The Wantagh and Bellmore school districts were officially welcomed into the league at its fall convening, hosted by the Lindsay Unified School District in Lindsay, California, Sept. 30-Oct. 2. There are more than 150 districts in the league, including five from Long Island.

“We’re hoping to learn from other places and see some of the innovative things going on in the country,” Wantagh Superintendent John McNamara said, “and, of those things, what would be a good fit for the students at Wantagh.”

Bellmore superintendent Joe Famularo said that being a member of the league will give his district the chance to continually improve its

Save on your property taxes with Nassau County’s trusted tax reduction experts.

journey of loss and love

By Josie Racette Intern

Mike “M.J.” Flood’s journey as a writer is marked by personal loss, resilience and a passion for storytelling that has shaped both his creative works and his role as a teacher.

Flood, of Seaford, is the author of “Where Are You?,” a short and powerful memoir expressing grief, healing and love. Flood also wrote and directed “Too Much Noise” in 2018, a short film about a deaf couple in New York.

TFlood’s memoir discusses the many losses he’s suffered in life, including special items, family members and a newborn. One passage in the memoir, titled “Today is the Best Day of My Life,” is particularly powerful, as Flood writes about things he’s lost, ending each sentence by saying it was the best day of his life, because no day—whether yesterday or tomorrow—can be better than today, according to Flood, because we always have today.

He wrote the memoir in six weeks in the spring of 2018, but it wasn’t published until the spring of 2019.

Originally from Lynbrook, Flood met his wife in New Jersey. The couple, who have two daughters, moved to Long Beach, but ultimately settled in Seaford 15 years ago. Flood said he has great friends and supporters of his work in the community, describing it as “a community that has been a blessing for me.”

he book is so raw, so I felt his emotion while he was reading, and it portrayed the bigger picture of grief and death.

Jo PiERViNCENzi Hofstra University student

Flood said he started writing as a kid, enjoying reading, listening to and writing stories. His first story was a replica and knock-off of “The Outsiders,” and as he shared the story with family members, he said he truly believed it was incredible.

“I love words,” Flood said. “I love spinning them.”

Reading children’s books to his two daughters every night, he’s learned to care more about each word on the page to tell his stories. Children’s books Continued on page 9

Steve Sachs/Herald

17,

Fall fun fills Seaford station at annual festival

The Seaford Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Fall Festival on Oct. 5, at the Seaford train station, drawing in families for a day of community fun.

The event featured local vendors offering shopping, a variety of food options, and live music. A beer garden provided a spot for adults to unwind, while children enjoyed games, pumpkin painting, and a fun zone filled with activities.

The festival celebrated the fall season with a lively atmosphere, bringing together residents for a day of entertainment and local business support.

— Charles Shaw

The Seaford Fall Festival was a success, thanks to Seaford Chamber of Commerce Vice President and Event Coordinator Donna Jebaily, chamber president Margaret Grub and past president Ken Jacobsen.

ANNIVERSARY

Celebrating 10 years of serving our community as The Safe Center!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn, NY

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS COST $250 SPONSORSHIPS AND TICKET PACKAGES AVAILABLE!

If you are unable to join us, please consider making a donation in honor of our 10th Anniversary!

Scan QR code, visit TSCLIGala.org, or call 516.465.4774 to donate or purchase tickets.

Steve Sachs/Herald photos

Robert Romero, left, with Town Clerk Kate Murray, Jack Widen, Nassau County Legislator Michael Giangregorio, Town of Hempstead Councilman Chris Schneider, Chris Roth, and Tim Doering at the booth for the Seaford 9/11 Memorial Committee.

Mia Likos, left, with Martina Concialdi, Emily Cody, James Hamilton, Grace Moorhead and Diana Hamilton visit The Little Trailer Experience at the Seaford Fall Festival.

The Seaford Chamber of Commerce hosted its Fall Festival at the Seaford Train Station on Oct. 5.

Lawsuit against Diocese moves forward

By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

A federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Michael Califano, a former third-grade teacher at Maria Regina Catholic School in Seaford, will continue after a U.S. magistrate judge rejected efforts by the Diocese of Rockville Centre and the school to have the case dismissed. Califano claims he was fired in December after the Diocese became aware of photos on social media showing him kissing his boyfriend.

According to a Newsday report, the Diocese and Maria Regina argued that Califano’s termination was protected under the doctrines of “church autonomy” and the “ministerial exception,” which allow religious organizations to make employment decisions without interference from the government. The Diocese maintained that the firing was not based on Califano’s sexuality, but on a violation of handbook policies that require adherence to Catholic values.

Despite these arguments, U.S. Magistrate Judge James Wicks ruled on Sept. 24 that the defenses put forth by the Diocese and the school were “rife with issues of fact,” according to the Newsday report. Wicks found that the case did not merit dismissal at this stage, allowing Califano’s lawsuit to proceed. He added that there is evidence to suggest Califano was fired because of his homosexuality and noted that the Diocese and school had not adequately addressed the merits of Califano’s claims.

Michael Califano, a third-grade teacher at Maria Regina Catholic School in Seaford, embraces friends and colleagues who came out to protest his firing in front of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. His civil rights lawsuit against the Diocese is moving forward after a judge denied a motion to dismiss the case.

The case is due back in court on Oct. 22.

Califano, 26, filed the lawsuit in June, months after his dismissal. According to the lawsuit, Califano was informed by the school’s pastor and a representative from the Diocese that he had violated Catholic values after they became aware of the social media photos. Califano has said he leads a Catholic lifestyle and remains an active participant in the church, despite his sexuality.

Since his firing, Califano has received an outpouring of support from the Maria Regina community. Parents, students, and colleagues rallied around

him, calling for his reinstatement. His aunt, Karen Greenwood, launched an online petition that garnered thousands of signatures, while a protest took place outside St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre shortly after his termination.

The Herald reached out to Califano’s lawyers for comment, but they declined to provide one at this time.

Although the Diocese has also declined to comment on the specifics of Califano’s firing, spokesperson Sean Dolan previously stated in January that the decision was not related to Califano’s sexuality.

Additional reporting by Dan Offner

What You Need to Know: Califano Case Highlights

■ A federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Michael Califano, a former teacher at Maria Regina Catholic School, is allowed to proceed after a U.S. magistrate judge denied the Diocese of Rockville Centre and the school’s motion to dismiss the case. The judge ruled there are factual issues that need to be explored further in court.

■ Califano was fired in December after the Diocese became aware of social media photos showing him kissing his boyfriend. The Diocese argues the termination was based on a violation of Catholic values, while Califano contends it was due to his sexual orientation.

■ Since his termination, Califano has received significant backing from the community, including parents and students, who have protested for his reinstatement and signed petitions supporting him. The case is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 22.

Jonathan Diller Scholarship Fund announced

By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD

cbabirad@liherald.com

The last time Stephanie Diller visited Mulcahy’s Pub in Wantagh, it was with her husband, fallen New York Police Department Detective Jonathan Diller, a Franklin Square native. The couple danced and celebrated their life together.

The atmosphere at the Pub was bittersweet Sept. 30 as elected officials, community leaders, family, friends and colleagues gathered at the pub to announce a scholarship fund in Jonathan’s name to benefit students at St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset, where he graduated in 2010.

Jonathan Diller, of Massapequa Park, was shot and killed in the line of duty on March 25 during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens. He is survived by Stephanie, their one-year-old son, Ryan, and other close family members.

“Jonathan is an American hero who sacrificed his life out of bravery and commitment to his job,” said Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “It’s only right that we come together to protect his family and honor his memory.”

Saladino announced the scholarship

fund had been launched on Sept. 30, ensuring that Jonathan Diller will always be remembered. The fund will support young people pursuing careers in law enforcement and family members of those who have served in the field.

He emphasized that Diller exemplified the values of service, community, and respect, and wanted future students to have the same opportunities he had at St. Mary’s.

“We’re honored that Stephanie, and the Diller family chose us for this initiative,” said St. Mary’s High School Principal Gerard Buckley. “This is a moment where we can find light amidst the darkness.”

Matthew Panetta, Jonathan’s former lacrosse coach and English teacher, remembered him as an “outgoing and athletic” student.

“This is a way for us to keep his name alive forever. He deserves it,” Panetta said. “The support we see today speaks to the kind of person Jonathan was.”

For Stephanie Diller, her husband left behind not just a beautiful son but also a legacy of strength.

“I’m incredibly grateful to continue my husband’s legacy,” she said. “He was giving and kind, and this scholarship

will keep his spirit alive.”

Larry Weinberger, president of MGD Realty Investments, spearheaded the initiative and contributed the first $5,000 to launch the fund.

“This fund will create a lasting legacy for Detective Diller,” he said.

To further support the scholarship fund, Saladino announced a fundraising event at Mulcahy’s at 3232 Railroad Ave., Wantagh Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m.

A scholarship fund in Detective Diller’s name was announced Sept. 30 at Mulcahy’s Pub in Wantagh. The scholarship will benefit students of his alma mater, St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset.

“We invite the public to help us reach our goal of $100,000,” he said, noting the event will feature the Joe Saladino Band and is for a vital cause.

For tickets to the fundraising event, visit muls.com/event/det-jonathandiller-scholarship-fundraiser or call (516) 783-7500. For more information about the scholarship or to donate, visit tinyurl.com/dillerscholarshipfund.

Dan Offner/Herald

Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald

Tax credit initiative is saving newspapers

By AMANDA MOTT

Special to the Herald

Earlier this year, the Seaford Herald joined over 200 other local newspapers in New York State to launch the Empire State Local News Coalition, which successfully advocated for a state tax credit to support jobs in local newsrooms across the state.

Now, the fruits of this effort are paying off.

Spurred by the Newspaper and Broadcast Media Jobs Program — the nation’s first tax credit incentivizing hiring at local media outlets — three new local newspapers launched earlier this month in areas previously impacted by newsroom closures in Westchester and on Long Island.

Two of the three Westchester communities that lost their newspapers earlier this year saw the founding of the Rivertowns Dispatch (Ardsley, Hastings-On-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington) and The Recorder (Bedford, Lewisboro, Pound Ridge). A third newspaper, the Floral Park Villager, debuted on Long Island in a community that lost its own weekly paper during the Covid19 pandemic, further demonstrating the program’s ability to revive local journalism and reestablish connections within these communities.

“When we support local journalism, our communities win,” said Zachary

issue.

Richner, founder of the Empire State Local News Coalition and director of Richner Communications, which owns the Long Island Herald newspapers.

“The launch of new local, independent news outlets in Westchester and Long Island is a testament to the momentum created by New York’s passage of the

Estate Planning for the Estranged Child (Part

too

tale about an estranged child. Naturally, they are at a loss as to what to do about the situation when it comes to leaving that child an inheritance.

Years ago, the famous advice columnist Ann Landers wrote that her all time most requested column for reprint was on this very subject. Ann wrote that an inheritance should be considered a gift and that if the gift is not deserved one should not be expected. While that may have been good advice at the time and perhaps still is in most cases, like many things it is more complicated today. In practice, we find that many of these once loving sons and daughters have married individuals with borderline or narcissistic personality disorders. Their spouses are manipulative and controlling. They seek to separate the loving son or daughter from their family so as to better control their spouse. The estranged child knows from experience that going against the wishes of their narcissistic spouse is like throwing gasoline on a fire

so they go along to get along.

Why does this happen? The manipulator has an enormous advantage over the clients’ son or daughter. The manipulator is a professional, having been this way all their life, honing their skills. The estranged son or daughter is an amateur — they have no experience in being manipulated. It may take years for them to even understand they are being manipulated and then more years, if ever, to build up defenses to the manipulation.

When young children are involved, the estranged child well knows the adverse consequences of having any normal relationship with their children should they seek a divorce from the narcissist.

Our advice is to try to understand and be compassionate with an estranged son or daughter in this situation. An Inheritance Protection Trust (IPT), that may only be used for them and your grandchildren, managed by either a sibling or a professional, may be the answer to such a heart-rending situation.

nation’s first tax credit for hiring at local media outlets. We started the Empire State Local News Coalition after some of these very communities lost vital news sources earlier this year and are thrilled by this resurgence in a shockingly short amount of time.”

The Empire State Local News Coalition, which represents over 200 New York newspapers, was instrumental in advocating for the program’s inclusion in the State budget, which offers a 50 percent refundable tax credit on the first $50,000 of each employee’s salary, with a cap of $300,000 per business over three years. The passage of this bill aims to help combat the state’s rapid decline in local journalism in New York. The state has lost nearly half of its newspapers and thousands of media jobs over the past two decades.

Publishers of the new newspapers shared their optimism and positive outlook for their industry in light of the Newspaper and Broadcast Media Jobs program. Allison Schulte, publisher of the Rivertowns Dispatch stated, “We launched the Rivertowns Dispatch to bring back local news to the

communities of Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Ardsley & Dobbs Ferry, New York after our old local newspaper closed earlier this year. We launched the Rivertowns Dispatch because we believe starting with a shared set of facts makes for richer community life, and that newspapers can be fun as well as useful. We are thrilled for the passage of the New York Newspaper and Broadcast Media Jobs Program because it makes it easier for us to hire full-time, quality journalists to share the news and information our communities want and need. We are so grateful to the Empire State Local News Coalition for its advocacy in bringing urgency to the challenges facing New York’s local media industry.”

Lloyd Trufelman, co-founder and publisher of The Recorder, highlighted the critical role of local news in preserving democracy: “The launch of The Recorder, a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom, shows New Yorkers recognize that a healthy democracy depends on access to reliable, quality news sources to stay informed.” Trufelman expressed hope that similar policies would continue to bolster nonprofit news outlets and support a diversified local news ecosystem.

On Long Island, Meg Morgan Norris, publisher of the Floral Park Villager, emphasized the program’s importance in the decision to launch the new paper. “The loss of Floral Park’s longtime newspaper, the Gateway Bulletin, during the Covid-19 pandemic was devastating for this tight-knit community. With the tax credit, there is a path to long-term fiscal stability for outlets like ours,” Norris said.

As local journalism continues to face evolving challenges, the Empire State Local News Coalition and the Seaford Herald remain committed to advocating for long-term sustainability in the industry so that communities like Seaford have trusted local news sources. These new publications mark a hopeful step forward in the resurgence of local media across New York, with the coalition pushing for continued legislative support to ensure the long-term sustainability of local journalism.

Courtesy Empire State Local News Coalition

Co-founders Lloyd Trufelman, Karen Sabath and Ed Baum celebrate the successful printing of the Bedford Recorder’s first

League offers a collaboration of innovation

educational offerings. “It’s just very exciting to be part of this group, to share innovative ideas that are happening all over the country,” he said. “It’s really the cutting edge of education.”

The Wantagh and Bellmore districts were selected from a national pool of applicants for the league based on educational leadership, innovative learning practices, achievements and collaborations with other schools. McNamara credited his district’s mental health initiatives and science research programs for being some of the innovative course offerings that aligned with the league’s goals.

The Bellmore district, Famularo said, is already nationally recognized. In 2018, it was named a Lighthouse District by the national consulting organization FranklinCovey, which recognizes schools that push students to learn leadership qualities and selfconfidence. As for acceptance into the League of Innovative Schools, Famularo credited the district’s character development programs, student access to Chromebooks, robotics course and courses in coding for leading the way to that distinction.

Both superintendents will now have access to unique professional learning opportunities, including attending biannual convenings with

We’re hoping to learn from other places and see some of the innovative things going on in the country and, of those things, what would be a good fit for the students at Wantagh.

John McnaMara Superintendent, Wantagh School District

school visits, taking part in in-person and virtual events to see innovations in action, and collaborating with education leaders across the country. Additionally, McNamara said, participating in the league could create grant opportunities for the Wantagh district.

He added that administrators were still figuring out ways to use the league’s resources to expand students’ educational opportunities.

“A big part of it is being part of a national conversation around current educational issues.” McNamara said.

“That’s a big piece of it, just having access to folks that are looking at similar issues and navigating them.”

Carol-Ann Winans, the Wantagh

district’s executive director of curriculum and instruction, said that inclusion in the league would give the district a national perspective.

“I’m just excited to expand our ability to have conversations with fellow educators,” Winans said. “It’s really just inspiring to hear things from different people from around the state, because all of our experiences are different, and seeing it through different lenses always gives you new ideas.”

As for the Bellmore district, Famularo said that his district would continue exploring technology, such as Artificial Intelligence. AI, he said, has had a dramatic impact on education, and he wanted the district to address it appropriately in schools, and make sure that students understand and use it responsibly, because they’re going to be faced with it in the future.

It’s a great privilege to be an educator, Famularo said, but also a major responsibility. Being included in the league, he noted, would ensure that his district is doing everything it can to make sure students can avail themselves of innovative ideas.

“That’s the mentality,” he said. “It’s not that you’re doing bad and we have to improve. It’s that we’re doing great things, but how do we get to that next level that creates more excitement and a culture that’s uplifting?”

Courtesy Wantagh School District Wantagh School district Superintendent John mcnamara with a Certificate of inclusion for the League of innovative Schools, a national network of school districts that connects and supports the most forward-thinking leaders in education.

CHARLI TESORIERE

East Meadow 8th grade Soccer

NEW TO VARSITY soccer but no stranger to finding the scoresheet, Tesoriere is a big reason East Meadow is on the verge of earning the Nassau Conference AAA/AA4 crown with 11 wins through its first 12 games. Heading into this week’s action, the eighth-grader ranked tied for the county lead in goals with 22. She’s recorded eight multi-goal games and netted hat tricks against Valley Stream Central (both meetings), Hewlett and Glen Cove.

GAMES TO WATCH

Thursday, Oct. 17

Boys Soccer: Baldwin at Mepham 4:30 p.m.

Boys Soccer: Sewanhaka at Carey 4:30 p.m.

Boys Soccer: V.S. Central at Long Beach 5 p.m.

Boys Soccer: Kennedy at South Side 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Uniondale at Freeport 5 p.m.

Boys Volleyball: Wantagh at Lawrence 5:30 p.m.

Boys Volleyball: Calhoun at South Side 6:45 p.m.

Boys Volleyball: Clarke at Plainedge 6:45 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Lawrence at V.S. South 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 18

Football: Hewlett at South Side 6 p.m.

Football: East Meadow at Oceanside 6 p.m.

Football: Baldwin at Jericho 6 p.m.

Football: Island Trees at West Hempstead 6 p.m.

Football: C.S. Harbor at Plainedge 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 19

Football: North Shore at Wantagh 11 a.m.

Football: Lynbrook at Garden City 1 p.m.

Football: Clarke at V.S North 2 p.m.

Football: Farmingdale at Freeport 2 p.m.

Football: Westbury at Uniondale 3 p.m.

Football: Bethpage at Kennedy 3 p.m.

Football: Port Washington at Massapequa 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

Baldwin tops banged-up MacArthur

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Winless in four straight against Nassau Conference AA-1 rivals, Baldwin’s boys’ soccer team entered the final four games of the regular season with little margin for error.

One down, three to go.

The Bruins earned their first victory in three weeks Oct. 9, taking down injury plagued MacArthur, 3-1, behind a pair of goals from Nathaniel Hernandez and one from Erick Ramos. Matt Kobrin scored his team-leading sixth goal of the year for the Generals, who are out of playoff contention.

“Nathaniel is a senior and hasn’t had the kind of season he wanted, but he never stopped working and today in school when I saw him in the hallway I told him I wanted two goals today,” Baldwin coach Chris Soupios said after the game. “He knew I wasn’t kidding and he delivered. It’s a big moment for him.”

Both of Hernandez’s goals came in the second half. Ramos opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a rightfooted blast and Kobrin answered for MacArthur (1-7-3 in AA-1) with a similar shot 12 minutes later.

“We’ve literally had some bad breaks this year,” Generals coach Andy Atkins said. “We were young to start and had Trevor Rizzo and Tristan Magnozzi both suffer bad injuries in the first East Meadow game [Sept. 9] and Liam Dunleavy went down in the second East Meadow game [Sept. 27].

“We’ve had some young guys come up and step up, but it’s a very strong conference and we just haven’t been able

to finish and score enough,” he added.

Baldwin (3-4-4) limited MacArthur’s scoring chances in the second half behind a revamped defense consisting of Matt Alexandre, Max Ascencio-Cueva, Toni LopezAguilar and Justin Victor.

“It’s now or never time,” Soupios said. “Losing to Jericho last week put us in a situation we didn’t want to be in. Now we have to battle to get into the playoffs. We have to be over .500 in the last three games.”

Kobrin, a sophomore, has been a standout at sweeper and offensively on set pieces for the Generals, Atkins noted, with Dunleavy (stopper), Zach Draguca (goalkeeper), Derek Acosta, Vin Silvestri and Nick Nemeth also providing strong contributions.

Ramos has been Baldwin’s top player this fall, Soupios said. Ramos assisted on Allan Paredes’ game-winner Sept. 18 when the Bruins defeated MacArthur at home, 2-1. “Erick does everything asked of him and we move him all over the field,” the coach noted. “He’s hard-nosed.”

The Bruins had a four-game unbeaten streak between Sept. 13 and 26 before two recent hiccups. Devonte Young scored both of their goals in a 2-2 draw with Mepham, and also the lone goal in a shutout win over East Meadow that saw keeper Brandon Torres make 6 saves.

“Ultimately it’s been about putting together 80 minutes,” Soupios said. “We’ve allowed some early goals and some late goals. Honestly, I wasn’t thrilled with our first half today but we played at another level in the second half.”

Ron Manfredi/Herald Sophomore Matt Kobrin is not only one of MacArthur’s defensive leaders but also its leading goal scorer with six.

Lederer-DeFrancesco challenges in 14th A.D.

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Ellen Lederer-DeFrancesco, 54, is a Democrat running to address key concerns for residents of Assembly District 14 and to create a cleaner, more affordable future.

“Helping people has always been important in my life,” she said.

Lederer-DeFrancesco has lived in Oceanside for 14 years with her husband, and Air Force veteran, and they have two teenage daughters and two rescue dogs. Ellen has two master’s degrees and a doctoral degree in education, and taught young people for seven years.

Lederer-DeFrancesco has campaigned energetically: she maintains a weekly newsletter, and has gone door to door to speak with voters to better understand their beliefs, problems and priorities.

“I am running because my opponent has been in office for over 22 years and no longer goes to Albany,” she said. “We pay for him to stay at home and collect a paycheck — we have no representation.”

According to Lederer-DeFrancesco, some of the most important issues in Assembly District 14 are the high cost of living, air and water quality, and women’s reproductive rights.

“I am running because myself and my neighbors deserve better,” she said.

“We all deserve better. We deserve to have somebody up there who is fighting for us.”

As a parent of two, Lederer-DeFrancesco knows that raising a family can be expensive. “In my first career, child care cost more than my paycheck,” she said.

Her parents fell ill, so she stepped in as a caregiver, which gave her experience in dealing with the challenges that seniors in South Shore communities face.

“Senior care is very important to me,” Lederer-DeFrancesco said. “I was a caregiver for both my parents.”

“We have seniors who just can’t afford to stay here, so we need affordable housing,” she said. “We need to not only keep our families here, but we need young people to stay here.”

In order to make life in Assembly District 14 more affordable, LedererDeFrancesco found an opportunity to reduce utility bills.

“There’s everyday things that we pay for that can come down,” she said. “And here’s two examples: our electric company and our water company are private — they are for-profit. They do not care about the ratepayers, they care about their shareholders.”

To improve the health of the environment, Lederer-DeFrancesco supports gradually including cleaner forms of energy to the economy and improving recycling programs.

Tim Baker/Herald

Ellen Lederer-DeFrancesco is a former educator seeking to represent the towns of the 14th A.D. to address cost-of-living concerns and environmental health.

She supports Proposal 1 in next month’s election, which would revise the First Amendment to the Constitution to protect the civil rights of people based on their pregnancy status, ethnicity, and age, in addition to other categories.

Regarding reproductive health,

Lederer-DeFrancesco made her message clear in a conversation with reporters during a Herald Roundtable event.

“Women do not have to die,” she said. “Women do not have to bleed out.” She advocates for women — historically, a disenfranchised voting group — to make their voices heard in this election.

“It’s recent history that we have been entitled to get the right to vote,” Lederer-DeFrancesco said. “We need to. Women have fought really hard and really long. Honor those women who fought for us by voting.

“To everybody else who thinks that they can sit it out because their vote doesn’t count: every single vote counts,” Lederer-DeFrancesco said. “Please honor the system and democracy and go vote. It’s everybody’s duty to get out and vote and to be part of the democratic process.”

Lederer-DeFrancesco aspires to work with local Republicans to achieve her policy goals. To voters and policy makers across the aisle, she has a message: “We are more alike than we are different,” she said.

McDonough runs with one rule: ‘Get it done’

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

David McDonough, 87, has represented the people of Bellmore, Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford and East Meadow since 2002.

Over his years as an Assemblyman, McDonough has made his office available to those in need of guidance.

“We are a public service,” he said. “I have a big sign in my office: ‘Help someone today.’ That’s our motto.”

McDonough’s office adds a personal touch to helping community members. No matter what, he and his team offer their services.

“When we have somebody come in with any type of a problem, we make sure we can refer them to the right people,” he said.

Every year, McDonough’s office holds several community drives to deliver supplies to people in need. These drives collect toys, coats, school supplies, pet food, and most recently, hurricane relief for those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

In the Assembly, McDonough is a member of several committees that influence the quality of life in Nassau County.

“I’m on the Education Committee, the Transportation Committee, the Con-

sumer Affairs Committee and I chair a task force on the Public Safety Committee,” he said.

McDonough’s social network extends into the federal government.

“I have friends in Congress who used to be in the Assembly, and several friends in the Senate too,” he said.

McDonough prepares for trouble by facilitating meetings between federal agencies and county administration to increase familiarity. Over his career, he has used this strategy with the FBI and Secret Service to help their operations go as smoothly as possible.

“One of my policies is to bring people together to make friends, so when they have an event, they know each other,” McDonough said.

The assemblyman knows how to reach across the aisle to make change. He worked with the Democratic-majority Legislature in Albany to pass a bill that improved safety and education in schools.

“I work with the local school boards in my district,” he said. “One of the things is about the Holocaust.”

McDonough supported a bill that required the Holocaust to be included in history curriculums, and hopes to expand the scope of those lessons to be more in-depth.

“I’m responsible for us changing the

education law for over 500,000 students in high schools,” he said.

During a Herald roundtable discussion, McDonough recalled a bill he helped pass. Before it was written, private schools were not obligated to report sexual assault and other forms of abuse, as public schools were. When a girl attending a private school was sexually assaulted and the school did not disclose it, McDonough worked with Democrats to rewrite the law to make schools — public and private — obligated to report these incidents.

“Public safety is a big thing right now,” he said.

McDonough has a history of supporting local law enforcement, and has experience working with Nassau County Police Commissioner Pat Ryder.

To address safety concerns, McDonough has worked with the Nassau County Police Department to secure $200,000 for law enforcement and other safety programs, including the installation of speed cameras on the Northern State Parkway and the Long Island Expressway.

He wants to address the affordability crisis in Nassau County. He hopes to work with banks to lower the mortgage rates, correlating with the Federal Reserve’s rate cut.

“The rents are unbelievable,”

Tim Baker/Herald David McDonough has been in office for 22 years, and hopes to continue to represent Assembly District 14.

McDonough said. “You can’t rent on Long Island at any decent cost.”

If he wins re-election, McDonough offers time-tested strategies that have supported Assembly District 14 for the past 22 years.

“Get it done — That’s my policy,” he said.

Flood reflects on his creative journey

have powerful messages that are conveyed with only a few words and pictures, he added.

As a teacher at Kellenberg Memorial High School and a professor at Molloy University, Flood has maintained an energy and passion for the material to keep students engaged. He said he realizes he must inspire his students, especially teaching English and writing, and believes the greatest masters of any art form are teachers.

“Being part of the English department at Kellenberg is always helpful to a writer because I’m surrounded by people who are always talking about reading and writing and who appreciate the value of stories,” Flood said.

Flood added that many students lack the enthusiasm to write, so he tries to teach from a point of view of someone who is living the life of a writer. He could tell if his teaching style is helping by reading his students’ work.

His short film, “Too Much Noise,” was shown in American and international film festivals, and earned the Best Original Idea award at New York City’s 2018 Chain Film Festival. It was the first completed piece of writing that he produced and presented to the public.

Flood received his master’s degree in creative writing at Hofstra University, where he met Martha McPhee, a fellow avid reader and creative writer. He’s returned to campus to attend some of McPhee’s Great Writers, Great Readers’ events.

“My time at Hofstra was extraordinarily important for me,” Flood said.

McPhee said, “Seeing students come back is sublime. It’s why I teach. It’s the reward.”

On Oct. 9, Flood returned to Hofstra as a participant of the English Department’s Great Writers, Great

Readers’ series. An audience of students and faculty gathered in the Hofstra Cultural Center Theater, where Flood discussed “Where Are You?”

“It’s easier to fictionalize all the awful in the world, you know?” Flood said during the event.

Last week’s event began with McPhee reminiscing about having Flood as a student 15 years ago when Hofstra still offered an Master of Fine Arts English degree. During the event, Flood read “Tara,” “Hurt,” “Losing Things 3,” “Loss Stew,” “Float Away” and “Today is the Best Day of My Life.” McPhee then asked him a few questions, ending the night with some students joining the discussion for extra credit.

“The talk was very insightful and impactful,” Julie

Liuzza, a first-year student at Hofstra, said.

Students said they appreciated the chance to meet Flood after the reading, and they purchased his book and waited in line for him to sign it.

“The book is so raw, so I felt his emotion while he was reading, and it portrayed the bigger picture of grief and death,” Jo Piervincenzi, another first-year student at Hofstra, said.

Flood now has two works in progress — one is a novel set for release in the summer of 2025 and the other is a documentary film about the impact of suicides on families.

As Flood wrote in his memoir, “Today is the best day of my life. Because I have it.”

Josie Racette/Herald

Seaford resident and author mike flood discussed his book with martha mcphee, a professor of english and creative writing at Hofstra university, in the campus auditorium on oct. 9.

SEAFORD HERALD — October 17, 2024

Members from the Levittown Volunteer Ambulance Corp welcomed attendees at the second annual Touch-A-Truck recruitment drive.

Connecting families with first responders

The 6th Battalion hosted its second annual Touch-A-Truck event on Sept. 28 at the Seaford train station, offering children of all ages a chance to explore emergency vehicles up close.

Firetrucks, ambulances, and other vehicles from departments including Seaford, Levittown, and Wantagh were on display, along with the Nassau County Fire Marshal HAZMAT Team. The event provided an opportunity for attendees to meet local first responders and learn about the equipment they use.

Representatives from various departments were also on hand to answer questions about volunteering for those interested in becoming first responders.

–Charles Shaw

Fire trucks, ambulances, and other vehicles from departments including Seaford, Levittown, and Wantagh were on display, along with the Nassau County Fire Marshal HAZMAT Team.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Robby Gati, 3, from Seaford, and his grandfather Robert Golden enjoying the fire trucks at the event.

WLVAC Probationary Member Ronan Postance and Lt. Chris Harran at the cotton candy station during the Touch-A-Truck event.

Ex-Chief Chris McGuire showing his niece and nephew WLVAC Ambulance 294 and Seaford Fire Departments prevention activities.

Nassau’s Jewish community unites for Israel

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The mood was somber at Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre last week, where hundreds gathered on Oct. 7 to commemorate the first anniversary of the attacks against Israel. As local and congressional leaders, alongside rabbinical figures from across Nassau County, stood united in reflection, the crowd listened with to messages of resilience — an urgent call to combat rising antisemitism — and a collective resolve to move forward with strength and unity.

Prior to opening remarks, made by Congressmen Anthony D’Esposito, Tom Suozzi and Nick LaLota, a Color Guard was presented by members of the Nassau County Police Department and the Jewish War Veterans, while Shulem Lemmer, a well-known Hasidic recording artist, sang both the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Hatikvah,” the Israeli national anthem.

semitism and evil in every corner of this nation,” he said.

“Israel’s willingness to fight this is battle, is a battle that they’re fighting not just for them and their survival,” Suozzi said. “It’s for us as well, because the same people that want to kill the Jews, the same people that want to destroy Israel, also want to destroy the United States of America as well, and they’re fighting on our behalf.”

KOhLER Veteran Israel Defense Forces

D’Esposito emphasized the need for the U.S. to fund Israel in its campaign against terrorism in the Middle East, as well as the need to combat antisemitism at home.

“We need leadership in the House of Representatives to begin to root out anti-

County Executive Bruce Blakeman recalled the moment he received word of the attacks in Israel last year, and said he immediately instructed Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder to mobilize the Nassau County Police Department, and send them to every synagogue and “make sure they’re safe and secure.”

Several speakers remarked on the fact that there are still known hostages in Gaza — including Americans, and Long Islanders, such as Omer Neutra, who’s from Plainview.

The event was coordinated through Nassau County’s work with the Jewish Community Relations Council, led by Mindy Perlmutter. She said 22 Jewish organizations — that make up the Long Island Jewish Coalition — meet regularly to share what they’re doing, and how they

can support each other’s goals.

“This coalition, along with our county executive and his office, organized this evening’s program to recall, reflect and comfort each other as we remember those who were massacred — demand that our hostages be released — and emphasize that Israel has a right to exist and defend herself,” Perlmutter said.

Several Israel Defense Forces veterans spoke, including Nassau County Legislator Mazi Pilip, and Ira Kohler, who recently completed his military service in Isra-

el. Kohler is a Schechter School graduate, and is friends with Neutra.

Even though it’s been a year since the attacks, Kohler said people — like his friend — are still living in a “dark day.”

“This day will only come to an end for him in one of two ways — he will either have the opportunity to run to his mother, or we will watch his mother bury him in the ground and say her final goodbyes,” he said. “And for that — we need to continue fighting, because we must see them home.”

Tim Baker/Herald

Hundreds packed onto the fields of Eisenhower Park last week to reflect on the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel. Many held Israel flags in support.

Semifinalist is academically and musically gifted

Good grades are not the only measure of success for Wantagh High School senior Michael Muscarnera, who was recently named a semifinalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. Finding time for his interests and passions is of equal importance, and he has achieved that balance quite well.

Michael will graduate in June having taken 13 Advanced Placement and college-level classes, meaning much of his four years will have been devoted to some of the most challenging coursework offered at the school. He’s also set aside plenty of time for his true love, music.

This year, in addition to four AP classes, he is a member of both the honors Wind Ensemble and the Concert Band, the latter of which he spends much time mentoring younger musicians. Michael is proficient in several instruments. After mastering the bass clarinet, he learned to play the bassoon, clarinet, French horn, tenor saxophone and trombone. The more instruments he learns, he said, the easier the next one becomes.

He first joined the orchestra in third grade at Wantagh Elementary School, then switched to band as a fourth grader. His involvement in the music program has grown throughout high school and this year he is band co-president in addition to roles as pep band director and Tri-M Music Honor Society treasurer.

Michael also makes time for academic clubs as agenda chair for Model Congress and as a member of the Academic Team, Mathletes and Science Olympiad. He has already begun his college search as he looks to major in music education.

Approximately 16,000 students nationwide were named National Merit semifinalists, with selection based on PSAT scores and other program requirements. Students who attain finalist standing will then compete for nearly 6,900 scholarships, totaling approximately $26 million. Michael must complete and application and write an essay for the finalist round.

“It’s definitely exciting,” Michael said about being named a semifinalist. “I’m curious to see where it goes, but I’m proud to have made it this far.”

Courtesy Wantagh School District

Wantagh High School senior Michael Muscarnera has been named a semifinalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Here’s TheSCOOP

85-year-old man died following a

85-year-old man dies in Seaford house fire

An 85-year-old man died after a fire broke out at his home on Crescent Cove Drive in Seaford on Monday night, police said.

Officers responded to the residence at around 7 p.m. on Oct. 7, where they found the second floor of the home engulfed in flames, according to the Nassau County Police Department. The Seaford Fire Department arrived shortly after and extinguished the fire, but the house sustained significant damage.

The man was rescued from the home and transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation, where he was pronounced dead on Oct. 8, at approximately 12:00 a.m., authorities said.

The Nassau County Fire Marshal and the Arson/Bomb Squad are investigating the cause of the fire.

The investigation is ongoing.

— Charles Shaw

No injuries reported in Levittown house fire

A house fire broke out early Saturday morning in Levittown, according to Nassau County Police.

Officers responded to the blaze at around 2 a.m. on Bark Lane and found the front of the home fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters from Levittown, Bethpage, and Wantagh quickly arrived on scene and extinguished the fire.

The Nassau County Fire Marshal and Arson Bomb Squad are investigating the incident. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Courtesy John Scalesi

An

house fire on Crescent Cove Drive in Seaford on Oct. 7.

— Charles Shaw

STEPPING OUT

Back to the basics:

Building with BLOCKS

Young imaginations reach new heights at ‘Block Party’

By Danielle Schwab

From a futuristic spaceship to a giant castle, there’s no limit to what can be created with blocks and a little creativity.

Young “builders” are invited to show off their skills at “Block Party,” a free-play exhibit for all ages to enjoy.

But be sure to visit soon — Long Island Children’s Museum’s seasonal exhibit is short-lived. It runs through Nov. 3.

“This new exhibit for the museum is so open-ended and encourages so many different modalities of learning and types of play within the space,” says Ashley Niver, the museum’s director of education.

While kids may play with smaller blocks at home, these big foam blocks come in larger-than-life proportions — so visitors can make their biggest creations yet.

Steve Martin and Martin Short

• Now until Nov. 3

• $17 museum admission, $16 seniors 65 and older

• View the LICM events calendar at licm.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800

• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City

fun.

“These are structures that they can build, that they can climb on, they can go through or under. They can use a lot of dramatic play with this since it’s all just open-ended play, which is what we love,” Niver says. “So there’s a lot of processes happening during this kind of play, and it really invites a lot of collaboration between the adults and the kids as well as peer-to-peer, to work together.”

From long, bendable cylinders to the stackable rectangles, the blocks can be used as the catalyst for an endless assortment of building projects. The results are limitless.

The blocks are all blue, intentionally so. The single block color creates a blank canvas for endless creative possibilities. By eliminating the distraction of multiple colors, children can immerse themselves fully in their designs, focusing on construction and creativity without worrying about matching hues. Thus children are able to immerse themselves fully in play, according to Niver.

“When you have a lot of visual distraction, it’s actually harder for kids to unleash their imagination and learn and have that creative output be as successful,” she explains. “So basically, having them all in one color allows a better opportunity for that to flourish.”

Prompts throughout the exhibit space guide the builders, if some inspiration for their block masterpieces is needed. Build a shelter for a real (or imaginary) pet or perhaps a robot that actually works. The exhibit even challenges everyone to see how high you can build.

For smaller creations, a table of hand-held blocks is available to play with as well.

“The appeal of this exhibit lies in its immersive quality,” Niver says. “While children are accustomed to playing with small blocks that fit in the palm of their hand, here they encounter a larger-than-life experience.”

Once the build is done, it’s time to put young imaginations to the test! Kids can put the spotlight on their creations and produce interesting shadows on the wall for interactive storytelling.

The exhibit was created in conjunction with “Worldwide Day of Play,” an initiative of Nickelodeon with the Association of Children’s Museums to get families engaged with their environment through screen-free play while fostering the benefits of skill-building activities.

“Block Party’” encourages children to develop their motor skills, enhance their muscle strength

“We think it’s really important for the kids to disconnect because they don’t have as many opportunities to do that these days. I find that screens are becoming so much more prevalent, and they’re so accessible in different areas,” Niver says.

“To really set the scene and just bring it down to the basics of building blocks, it’s so beneficial to them for their development, with a lot of social emotional learning happening.”

This is the first exhibit to be installed after the museum’s Fall Fix Up — the annual two-week closing period every September when the museum conducts maintenance and exhibit refresh, along with staff training.

“We go over different aspects of learning and play and try to educate our staff and empower them for when we reopen. We make sure that we reopen in a really impressive way for our visitors, to welcome them back,” Niver adds.

At the Block Party, no dream is too big, so it’s time to get building — one block at a time.

Photos courtesy LICM

Museum visitors are invited to an oversized “block” party where giant lightweight blocks turn playtime into extraordinary adventures. Stack them, crawl through them or team up to make dream designs come true. Construct castles, mazes, fantastical creatures or secret hideaways.

Icons, collaborators and dos amigos Steve Martin and Martin Short have a relationship that’s evolved in unexpected ways since their SNL days. Their comic prowess has surely reached new heights since their involvement in Hulu’s smash hit “Only Murders in the Building.” The pair takes another comic turn as special guests at Tilles Center’s 2024 Gala. These two funnyman display their impeccable talents as “The Dukes of Funnytown!” — a show that redefines the form in unexpected and profound ways, from two of the most influential and acclaimed talents of the past century. Their humor is often subversive, but it is always a joyous self-deprecating romp from two comedy masters driven to make each other laugh as much as the audience.

Saturday, Oct. 19, 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $70. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Anthony Rodia

Anthony Rodia lets loose with his “Totally Reliable” tour. A firstgeneration Italian-American, Rodia came out of the womb making people laugh. In his 20s he tried a few open mics, but ultimately took a different career path as finance manager of a luxury car dealership. In 2019, Rodia returned to comedy and left his day job to become a full-time stand-up comic. He hit the ground running and performed 100 shows in just nine months, and within three years gained a massive fan base online and around the country. In a short time, Anthony gained over 900,000 social media followers and his YouTube videos have amassed over 22 million views. Rodia’s comedy pulls from his real life and razor-sharp observations on marriage, parenthood and just about everything else.

Saturday Oct. 19, 7 and 9:30 p.m.

$89.50, $79.50, $69.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

THE Your Neighborhood

Rock the Dock

Ambrosia, John Ford Coley and Peter Beckett (The Voice of Player), will come together for a magical night performing all of their 1970s and ‘80s Billboard Top 40 Hits, on the Tilles Center stage, Friday, oct. 25, at 8 p.m. Yacht Rock the Dock shines the spotlight on the original artists, with Elliot Lurie, as they reinvigorate their many beloved tunes. Enjoy Ambrosia’s everlasting hits including “How Much I Feel,” “You’re the Only Woman” and “Biggest Part of Me.” John Ford Coley, most known as half of the Grammy-nominated duo England Dan and John Ford Coley, performs many memorable hits, including “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight,” “Love Is The Answer” and “Nights Are Forever Without You.”Peter Beckett, Player’s original lead singer and songwriter. was voted by Billboard Magazine as Best New Single Artist in 1978 for Player’s hit “Baby Come Back.,” while Elliot Lurie is best known as the vocalist for Looking Glass, and sang lead on the band’s hit single “Brandy.” These songs are the soundtrack to a generation. Today’s so-called smooth yacht rock music scene would not be yacht rock without the contributions of these Grammy winning artists. What emerged primarily from southern California during one of the greatest periods of music is a classic rock radio staple across the U.S. You cannot turn on the radio without hearing many of these songs every day. As younger generations of music fans fall in love and embrace these classic rock/soft rock hits, everyone realizes that these songs are becoming bigger now than at any time since their heyday, which by common consent stretched between 1976 and 1983. Get ready to Rock the Dock! Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 2993100.

‘The Birthday Party’ Looking for something to do this Halloween season that isn’t just for kids? Visit Sands Point Preserve for an exclusive, immersive theatrical production, “The Birthday Party,” held in a secluded, opulent mansion, Friday and Saturday, oct. 18-19, oct. 25, oct. 31, and Nov. 1. For those who attended Archie’s last “Birthday Party,” rest assured, there are new surprises in store. Guests will be blindfolded and escorted to a secret location on the property, Villa Vanitas, to celebrate the enigmatic Lord Archibald Axel Von Finkelshorn Chatterton’s 30th birthday. He is a witless charmer on the cusp of a life-changing revelation, and everyone’s invited to witness his journey on a night that promises to be unforgettable and delightfully unpredictable. Cocktail attire preferred. $175 per person. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit

Adelphi’s Best of Broadway: Decades

Jump into the dazzling world of Broadway as Adelphi’s talented students bring to life the magic of shows that opened 10, 20, 30 or more years ago, Sunday, oct. 20, 4 p.m. Enjoy modern and classic Broadway hits from shows like “Suffs” (2024); “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” (2014); “Sunday in the Park with George” (1984) and “Anything Goes” (1934). Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

Chamber concert

Immerse yourself in the rich harmonies and lyrical beauty of a piano trio and solo vocal works, with Old Westbury Gardens ensemble-in-residence Poetica Musica, Saturday, oct. 19, 8 p.m., with pre-concert talk at 7:30 p.m. Cellist Eugene Moye, violinist Erik Wyrick, pianist Yasmin Alami, and mezzo-soprano Eleanor Valkenburg perform works by Debussy, Mendelssohn and Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel. $30, $25 members, seniors, students. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old

Spooky Fest is back

A Halloween experience not to be missed, Spooky Fest is an outdoor adventure perfect for families, whether you want to be scared — or prefer seasonal fun of the non-scary kind. Join in the fun at the Center for Science, Teaching and Learning, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout October. Along the way in the updated and beautifully lit up Enchanted Walk you will see dinosaurs, aliens and friendly witches, costumed characters and more, including the Mystical Garden. Get your fortune told, make a craft and dance with the Halloween DJ, along with face painting and the Amazing Glow tent.

For those who want a scare, venture into the Haunted Woods, where zombies and dinosaurs hang out. Admission starts at $22. 1450 Tanglewood Road, Rockville Centre. Visit CSTL.org for call (516) 7640045 for more information.

Bingo at Temple B’nai Torah

Temple B’nai Torah hosts a fun-filled bingo session, every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.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) 2212370.

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.

Having an event?

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program continues, Saturday, Nov. 2, 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. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for more information and to register or call (516) 484-9337.

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.

On stage

See Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” presented by Nassau Community College Theater and Dance Department, opening Friday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m.; also Saturday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 27, 2 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 29-30, 7;30 p.m. Delve into the lives of Arkádina, a famous — but fading — actress, and that of her lover, Trigórin, a well-known author. They arrive at her brother Sórin’s country estate for the summer, just as son Konstantín is staging an experimental new play he’s written and directed, starring his girlfriend, Nína. Chekhov’s first successful naturalist play follows the lives of young artists as they navigate life. Thematically, it’s a study of the arts and the artist, the lack of real satisfaction to be found there, the pretense and mediocrity that pervade the practice, and yet the power and mystery that are possible. Nassau Community College’s Little Theatre, Garden City. Tickets $12; NCC students free with valid ID; $10 veterans, alumni, seniors 60+, students and NCC employees. For tickets/information, visit nassau.booktix.com or NCC. edu or call (516) 572-7676.

Harvest fair brings autumn fun to Seaford

The Seaford Historical Society’s Annual Harvest Fair brought autumn to life on Sept. 29 at the Seaford Museum, transforming the grounds into a lively celebration of the season.

The event, which also served as a fundraiser for the museum, featured pumpkins, mums, and baked goods, along with a variety of vendors. Attendees enjoyed food and raffles, while children delighted in a bounce house and face painting. The community came together to support the museum and preserve Seaford’s storied past.

–Charles Shaw

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. ROGER DENNIS CHAFFEE, et al, Defts. Index #612456/2022. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered June 12, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on November 1, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. prem. k/a Section 52, Block 302 Lot 743. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are

other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the sale. RICHARD L. FARLEY, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Drive, Great Neck, NY. #101815 149265

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers 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 10/23/2024 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 644/24. SEAFORD - Ivan & Denise Homolka, Special exception to maintain shed higher than permitted., N/s Wicks Ave., 365’ W/o Alan Pl., a/k/a 4045 Wicks Ave. 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. 149493

Steve Sachs/Herald photos

Vendors got into the fall spirit at the annual fair.

Lauren Tietz, left, with Town Clerk Kate Murry, Peter Tietz, Charles Wroblewski, Councilman Chris Schneider and County Legislator Michael Giangregorio at harvest fair.

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.

Salary Range is $16 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

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

Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must.

Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! $20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School 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.

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MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

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

Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

Medical Reception/Accounts Receivable

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

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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

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An architect for a sunroom?

Q. I’m buying a sunroom for my breakfast room on the back of my split-level house, about 8 feet off the ground. I’m being told by the contractor that I need an architect and sealed plans. Since it’s basically a kit of parts that will go on my existing deck, why do I need this? It seems like a lot of extra expense the sunroom people didn’t tell me about. If I already have a permit for the deck, it should be allowed, right? I haven’t bought the sunroom yet. I’m just trying to be sure I know the whole story before I do this, probably by spring, when the weather is better for construction. Any advice would be helpful.

A. Do things once, the best way. A deck isn’t habitable, but a sunroom is, and a permit is required. Plans have to show structural support, energy and building code compliance. Rain, moisture and ice are your primary concerns.

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You need the whole story without the sales part. Just like any purchase, issues you might not expect are still important, like finding out what kind of oil to add to your snow blower before the engine seizes or that windows without factory tinting can allow ultra-violet sunlight rays to fade your carpet. As an architect for a largely popular sunroom manufacturer in the 1980s and ’90s, I experienced many issues with their construction.

Pre-engineered panel systems are designed by the company, hopefully by engineers, and should come with plans, from the manufacturer, that can be sealed and signed by their in-house engineer. If not, plans may need to be drawn from scratch by an architect or engineer that you hire so those plans can be integrated with your house. Integrated means that the company generally just sells you a product and doesn’t necessarily give any indication of how to support the unit or how to attach the unit system to your house so that it won’t leak or move.

This is the general failing of the system, since, as I experienced with most of the installations, the part I could detail was free of leaking or movement, but the units themselves leaked nearly every time. We could detail how the edges of the unit could be sealed and redundantly weather-stripped and flashed, but the frames around the glass and wall edges would unseal and leak. I even met with the corporate president/owner and identified the specific problems. Promises to correct leak issues were made but not kept, and eventually I gave up.

I looked at a two-year-old system while discussing other work for a home recently. The owner described the back-and-forth misery he and his family were experiencing with their sunroom and the company. Even 25 years after I gave up, the same company is still doing things the same way. You need a detail-oriented architect and installer, even if you think you don’t. The cost of doing things twice is much greater. Good luck.

2024

Monte Leeper

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Join the necessary fight against spotted lanternflies

The Herald and other publications have detailed the negative impacts of the invasive spotted laternfly on Long Island, and while the population of these unwelcome insects continues to require intervention to prevent their unchecked spread across our region, there are steps that every Long Islander can take in their own backyard to protect against them.

FRAnK piccininni

At the Long Island Conservancy, we are eager to share some tips that will make a positive impact — and in some cases, multiple positive outcomes by eradicating not only this invasive insect, but also invasive plants that serve as the lanternfly’s primary food source.

First off, much like the MTA’s famous slogan, if you see something, squish something! This fall, keep your eyes peeled for egg masses, and make sure to destroy them through the spring.

Removing the tree of heaven, an invasive non-native plant, is a top priority when it comes to proactive ways to erad-

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

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

a species displaced halfway across the world.

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

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

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

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

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

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

arch butterflies is lovely!)

While taking steps to remove invasive plants in your yard and replace them with native species is proactive, some people are well past that point — they’re dealing with infestations. In that case, you may be ready to set up a trap around a native host tree.

Observe where the lanternflies congregate most on your land and set your trap up there. While they tend to like walnut and sumac the best, they’ve been seen on maples, birches, sycamore and other trees. Building a trap is easy — you can find a step-by-step guide at https://extension.psu.edu/how-to-builda-spotted-lanternfly-circle-trap.

For saplings that aren’t big enough for a proper trap, just knock the bugs into a soapy dish. Some will hop away, but they’re quite easy to catch this way, and if you do this once a day, over time you’ll see fewer of them returning.

While combating the spotted lanternfly has been compared to trying to keep water off the beach because there are so many, by eradicating invasive species like the tree of heaven, we are helping to protect our environment now and for years to come.

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

How to talk to young people about elections

Every four years, citizens of the United States have the privilege of voting in the presidential election. It is one of the most sacred and awesome responsibilities of being an American citizen. Reflecting on the ideals set forth in the Constitution, it is crucial that we engage our students in conversations about the election process to help them understand and appreciate the significance of voting. Although discussing politics in public schools can be uncomfortable for some, particularly in today’s polarized environment, remaining silent on these issues is actually detrimental. Educators have a responsibility to help develop young people into informed, active participants in the democratic process and, hopefully, the next generation of civic leaders.

As a former high school social stud-

ies teacher, I believe the election season is the perfect opportunity to make learning more relevant by bringing textbooks to life. There are so many invaluable skills students can learn during local and national election cycles. First, they should be taught about the election process. Many of our students come from other countries, including those that do not have participatory democracies. Teachers can use the upcoming elections as a time to provide a refresher on the branches of government and how elections function in the U.S.

We need to help students understand the significance of voting.

developed guidelines for identifying news media bias, which includes differentiating news from opinion, understanding that bias is a spectrum and recognizing our own biases. These are all extremely valuable skills that students will benefit from even after the election cycle has passed.

Additionally, we can teach students how to navigate the media landscape and identify bias in the media. With the widespread use of social media as primary news sources, it is often difficult for young people and adults alike to differentiate fact from fiction or evaluate the credibility of a news source.

The News Literacy Project, an organization devoted to ensuring that all students are skilled in news literacy,

Another critical skill students can develop when learning about elections is how to consider different perspectives. With the explosion of the internet and social media algorithms, it is very likely that young people who get their news from online media sources are never confronted with opinions or values that are different from their own. In order for students to successfully navigate life after high school and become leaders in the global workforce, however, they must be able to listen to the opinions of others, seek to understand a variety of perspectives and engage in civil discourse and debate. These skills are essential for navigating real-world challenges.

Finally, teaching about elections

offers an excellent opportunity to discuss with young people the importance of voting. As educators, we counter voter apathy by teaching students about the historical struggle for voting rights in this country, particularly for historically marginalized groups, such as women and African-Americans. These discussions may evoke strong emotions, but they are vital to helping students understand why voting matters and how our country has evolved.

We should remind students of the importance of taking part in local elections in addition to the national presidential elections. We should also explore ways for young people to practice exercising the right to vote in school, and provide opportunities for them to voice their opinions on local issues in the community.

This is a really exciting and pivotal time in our country, with history unfolding before our eyes. It is our duty to ensure that the next generation is not only witnessing these moments, but is engaged with and prepared to shape them.

Monique Darrisaw-Akil, Ed.D., is superintendent of the Uniondale Union Free School District.

HERALD

sHeraLd editoriaL

The Mets are a case study in grit

ports often provide the most visible examples of overcoming the odds. Take, for example, the New York Mets, who, in late May, suffered a crushing loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving them 11 games under .500. Many fans and baseball insiders had all but written them off, but the Mets didn’t quit.

Instead the ball club made strategic lineup changes and, most important, held firm in their belief that they were still a great team. The result? A remarkable turnaround that put them 30 games over .500 and propelled them into this week’s National League Championship series.

Pitcher Jim Abbott is another powerful example of overcoming adversity. Born without a right hand, Abbott faced enormous challenges from an early age, but refused to let his physical difference define or limit him. He eventually reached the major leagues, and not only pitched at the highest level, but tossed a no-hitter for the Yankees in 1993.

This lesson isn’t just for athletes. Struggling students can reassess their study habits, ask for extra help, and find the support they need. A professional facing new challenges at work can seek out training, lean on colleagues for advice, and even turn frustration into motivation. Teachers, mentors and coaches thrive on helping others succeed, so seeking help isn’t a weakness — it’s a smart move.

Letters

Climate change should be on voters’ minds

To the Editor:

As the election draws closer, we cannot ignore the growing impact of climate change on our communities. Hurricane Helene and now Hurricane Milton, along with dozens of wildfires this past summer, are all clear warning signs of a very real climate crisis.

This issue deserves more attention than it has received so far this election cycle. During the presidential debate, only one brief question was asked about climate at the very end.

The fact is, the climate crisis impacts us all, no matter where we live or how much money we make. Americans are being told to flee their homes and risk losing everything. Meanwhile, Big Oil continues to put profits over people by prioritizing fossil fuels that continue to destroy our environment.

We cannot afford to lose any more time in the fight against the climate crisis. We need leaders — at the federal, state and local level — who believe in the science of climate change and are

Overcoming adversity isn’t just about persistence, but is about a mindset of constant learning and growth. Whether you’re falling behind in school, at work or on a sports team, the temptation to surrender can be overwhelming. But those who thrive amid adversity don’t see challenges as walls; they see them as steppingstones to progress.

If you’re a student struggling to grasp difficult concepts, feeling like you’re always two steps behind, it’s easy to lose hope. At work, new technologies and methodologies might feel like waves crashing over you, leaving you disoriented. And for an athlete, the weight of defeat can make the rest of the season feel like an uphill climb that’s no longer worth making.

So how does a person, or a team, regroup and find success after falling behind?

While determination is key, succeeding isn’t just about plowing through. It’s about strategic adaptation. It’s about identifying what’s important, what’s holding you back, and making meaningful changes — sometimes inspired by others, and sometimes by digging deep into yourself.

The first step often is simply asking for help. And that’s nothing to be ashamed of. We’ve all been there!

Adversity isn’t a dead end. It’s a detour that offers new pathways to growth and success, but only if we’re willing to stay the course, make adjustments, and push beyond the initial

impulse to give up. And real-life stories of overcoming adversity can be powerful sources of inspiration, because they demonstrate that success is often born from struggle, resilience and perseverance.

J.K. Rowling’s journey to becoming the world-famous author of the Harry Potter series is a classic example. Before Harry Potter became a household name, Rowling was a struggling single mother living on welfare. She wrote the first Harry Potter book in coffee shops, often battling self-doubt and rejection. No fewer than 12 publishers rejected the manuscript before Bloomsbury finally took a chance on it.

Thomas Edison, one of history’s greatest inventors, failed over a thousand times before making the first light bulb work. When asked about his repeated failures, Edison famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” His relentless drive and ability to see failure as a learning opportunity helped him change the world.

Real-life stories such as these are just a sample of what people can achieve, while illustrating that the journey to success is rarely smooth. At press time, the Mets were down 1-0 to the Dodgers in the NLCS — down, but far from out. The team has shown its fans what it means to push through, learn, adapt, and remain focused on the next game all season long. Here’s hoping that valuable lesson continues.

Blakeman’s actions bring serious risks for first responders

in recent months, nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman has pursued a number of controversial measures that, in addition to likely being unconstitutional, bring with them a number of unintended consequences that will negatively impact our police and first responders.

the most glaring of those actions is Blakeman’s provisional emergency special deputy sheriff program. known more commonly as the “militia,” this misguided initiative has sparked tremendous concern in a number of local police departments. even as the first classes of “militia” cadets have now graduated and are in the process of being activated, our concerns about their training, how they will be identified, and how and when these “deputies” can and will be deployed remain unaddressed by the Blakeman administration, which continues to stonewall

the County legislature’s Democratic minority and the public.

the republican majority’s public mask ban, which Blakeman eagerly signed into law, is another piece of legislation that puts our police officers in highly precarious situations. Under this measure, it’s up to an officer to determine the “intent” of a person wearing a mask. this would expose our officers to thorny constitutional and medical privacy issues under the Fifth amendment and HIPaa laws. Moreover, there’s the risk that a sick person could feel pressured to remove their mask, thereby exposing the officers and the public to Covid or some other airborne disease. to address concerns about constitutionality and practicality, the minority caucus proposed a more narrowly tailored mask law — the Masked Crime accountability act — that would reduce the burden on our law enforcement officers by focusing specifically on punishing those who use masks while committing crimes. While our bill is a clearer

Hdeterrent to crime, the republican majority pushed through its version of the law without considering public concerns or the potential consequences.

ow will a police officer verify a claim of an exception to the mask ban?

For both of these measures, there is the issue of how effectively they can be enforced, if at all. the same goes for Blakeman’s banning of transgender female athletes using county sports facilities, which, like the mask ban, is being challenged in court. How is an officer, having been called to one of the situations created by these laws, expected to proceed? How rigorously should an officer attempt to verify someone’s claim that they qualify for an exemption under the mask ban? How can an officer navigate a heated confrontation over claims that a young athlete is violating the ban on trans athletes? are we going to start interrogating athletes over their gender identity? It’s all a recipe for disaster, and even more lawsuits against the county — litigation that you, the taxpayer, will end up footing the bill for.

With budget season now upon us, I

Letters

willing or can be convinced to take bold action before it’s too late. So I urge everyone: When you cast your ballot next month, think of our planet and the people that call it home.

MartIn MelkonIan Uniondale

The MTA’s capital plan doesn’t have a chance

to the editor:

long Island rail road riders should be concerned that the Metropolitan t ransportation authority’s $68 billion, five-year, 2025-2029 Capital Plan isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. Gov. kathy Hochul claims she can find additional state and federal funding to make up for the missing $15 billion in congestion pricing revenue from the current $51 billion 2020-2024 capital plan. She promises the same for making up the $33 billion shortfall in the proposed plan. t his leaves the M ta with a record $48 billion shortfall in funding! the plan will be dead on arrival.

a llocation of funding for advancing toward a state of good repair in all capital asset categories should be a higher priority than any system expansion projects. Funding for the $7.7 billion Second avenue Subway Phase 2 and the $5.5 billion Brooklyn/Queens Interboro express light rail Connector would be better spent on repair projects. Metro north railroad’s $3.1 billion Bronx east Penn Station access project should be put on hold. Forget about the $7.5 billion Second avenue Subway Phase 3, the 125th Street Crosstown extension, as well.

Don’t be surprised in 2025 when both the governor and the legislature reduce the proposed $68 billion plan by billions. I predict it will end up somewhere in the $50s billion range, to deal with more realistic future funding availability.

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.

Election Letters to the Editor policy

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

believe it is essential to analyze these controversial measures through another lens — police overtime. When we consider possible impacts on law enforcement professionals, we must factor in how these measures could further burden our officers and increase their workloads — especially as we ponder other proposals that could elevate overtime costs. Before the county clears the way for a casino or any other major development or legislative initiative that could be a significant driver of overtime, we would be wise to commission a thorough evaluation.

Specific to the casino, initial projections of $1.8 million being sufficient to cover the resulting overtime — which is just one quarter of 1 percent of our current overtime budget — seem farfetched. a rigorous review would go a long way toward revealing the true and accurate costs, so that law enforcement agencies serving not only the county, but also its cities and villages, can budget wisely and gear their training resources toward addressing every one of these new endeavors.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton represents Nassau County’s 11th Legislative District and is the minority leader of the Legislature.

Framework by Harriet Katz

On a trip to Ohio, visiting the Cleveland Botanical Garden.

DeLia

DeriGGi-wHitton