Uniondale Herald 01-02-2025 by Richner Communications, Inc

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Uniondale High hosts educational panels By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

Kelsie Radziski/Herald

Kareem McKnight, who spoke about his experiences at Morgan State University, a historically Black university, was joined by fellow panelists Jamel Vanderburg, far left, Janna James and Valerie Volcy.

A pair of panels held at Uniondale High School recently g ave students a dee per understanding of historically Black colleges and universities and the cultural significance of the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities. Students filled the high school’s Little Theater on the morning of Dec. 16 while the Marching Knights drum line kicked off the event. The first panel, focusing on HBCUs, included four panelists who shared their personal ContinUed on page 5

Karine Jean-Pierre, W.H. press secretary, returns to Hempstead By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pier re recently returned to the Village of Hempstead, where she spent part of her childhood and began her journey to the pinnacle of American politics. “Hempstead village is always going to be incredibly important to me,” said JeanPierre, 50, who was appointed press secretary by President J o e B i d e n i n M ay 2 0 2 2 . “Hempstead village is really part of the reason I am who I am today.” In a Dec. 18 homecoming

Yolanda Hutchc e r e m o n y, J e a n erson, HempPierre, who moved stead’s superinto Hempstead from tendent of parks Queens at age 10, and recreation received the key to and Jean-Pierre’s the village from longtime friend, M ayo r Way l y n gave her a heartHobbs Jr. and was felt introduction honored by the comduring the homemunity she once coming. Hutchercalled home. KARInE JEAnson reflected on During the cereJean-Pierre’s mony, held at Ken- PIERRE roots in the comn e d y M e m o r i a l White House press munity and the Park, Hobbs praised secretary path that led her Jean-Pierre for embodying “the resilience to the national stage. “Karine has not only about the community, a community that is built on genera- worked with the national presence that you’ve seen on many tions of greatness.”

empstead village is really part of the reason I am who I am today.

campaigns and elections,” Hutcherson told the crowd, “she really is grassroots here in New York, and she started here and started working on other campaigns and other elected officials that you know of.” Je a n - P i e r re s t a r t e d h e r political career as the director o f l e g i s l at ive a n d bu d g e t

af f airs for New York City Councilman James F. Gennaro in 2003 before moving on to the campaign front as the southeast regional political director for John Edwards’s 2008 presidential campaign. W h i l e wo rk i n g i n N e w York, she also served as press secretary to former Congressman Anthony Weiner, as well ContinUed on page 8

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Uniondale shines bright with holiday cheer

UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON — January 2, 2025

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

T h e U n i o n d a l e E m p ow e r m e n t Resource Center held their inaugural Winter Wonderland to give back to the community during the holiday season. The organization partnered with the Uniondale library to host a holiday celebration with many different offerings for the community. Santa and Mrs. Claus were seated in the back of the room for photo opportunities with kids and families. A long table was set up on the side and filled with a wide variety of free toys for kids to choose from, including wrestling figurines, Hot Wheels cars and small containers of Play-Doh. Hot food was also distributed for free through Kappa Alpha Psi, and members of their youth mentorship program volunteered their afternoons to hand out the food to attendees. A face painter had a station in the corner of the room, and kids flocked to the booth for fun designs of their choice. Vendors set up their booths just outside of the main room in the basement of the library, selling their goods and making their local presence known. Girl Scout Troop 1570 of Uniondale gave a festive performance for attendees, singing Christmas carols. They first sang their songs with a crowd gathered around them, and then they walked around the room for the second part of their performance. Their singing was met with cheers and applause. UERC is an organization started in 2024, and this was their first holiday celebration. Monica Mena, the organization’s event and program coordinator, shared that the goal of UERC is “to make Uniondale better.” The group strives to be present and connected in the community, including through holding events like this, according to Mena. “We’ve wanted to give back to the community,” Mena said. “We wanted to make sure the residents know we’re here.”

Kelsie Radziski/Herald photos

Madisyn McCullough, 6, left, Rio Ebron, 3, Aminah Mouzon, 4, Derek Kiser, 7, and NeAvah Morgan, 11, back, posed with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the UERC Winter Wonderland on Dec. 21. The event was sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Long Island American Chamber of Commerce and the Uniondale All Stars Little League.

Girl Scout Troop 1570 sang Christmas carols for the attendees to get into the holiday spirit.

Evan Leicht, 16, handed out toys to the kids that came to the event.

Firefighters deliver holiday joy to Uniondale The Uniondale Fire Department brought holiday cheer to the streets of Uniondale for their third annual Santa Ride. On the afternoon of Dec. 22, firefighters gathered in the parking lot across the street from the Uniondale Public Library to share their Christmas joy three days early. Santa Claus and the Grinch assisted the department by handing out candy canes to the community members that drove past the lot, stopping to take photos with passing cars. Members of the fire department also gathered in their gear with candy canes of their own to hand out to spread holiday cheer. At the end of the afternoon, Santa and the Grinch rode out in style, waving goodbye to community members from the back of Engine 754 as the truck drove through the streets back to the fire station. The fire department hosted a pancake breakfast earlier that same day, inviting Santa and the Grinch to s p e n d t h e e n t i r e d ay s p r e a d i n g C h r i s t m a s c h e e r i n U n i o n d a l e. Through their annual Santa Ride, the fire department embraced the holiday spirit and reminded Uniondale of their presence in the community. — Kelsie Radziski

Holden Leeds/Herald photos

The Uniondale Fire Department held their third annual Santa Ride through the community on Dec. 22.

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Santa and the Grinch left the afternoon on the back of a fire truck, waving goodbye as they traveled through the streets.

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MAIN PHONE: (516) 569-4000 ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: rbethany@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: E-mail: rbethany@liherald.com ■ SUBSCRIPTIONS: (516) 569-4000 Press ”7” E-mail: subscriptions@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: (516) 569-4000 Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643 ■ ClASSIFIED ADVERTISING: (516) 569-4000 Ext. 286 E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643 Uniondale Herald Beacon Newspaper (PP#), is published Weekly on Thursday by Richner Communications, Inc., 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Garden City, NY 11530 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Uniondale Herald Beacon, 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Subscription rates: $50 one-time payment within Nassau County or $60 outside of Nassau County or qualified request in zip code 11514, 11530, 11550, 11553, 11555, 11556, 11590. Copyright © 2023 Richner Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Panelists discuss impact of HBCUs on their lives

hen you join a black fraternity or sorority on an HBCU campus, you are trying to find your tribe.

mark mcCaw, principal of Lawrence road middle School, at far right with microphone, talked about being a member of alpha phi alpha. ment. Adeola Tella-Williams, dean of academic services at Lawrence Road Middle School, talked about her experience at Virginia State University, in Ettrick, Virginia, an HBCU, where she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. TellaWilliams explained how her membership helped her find her place on campus, sur rounded by students from diverse backgrounds. “You are meeting students from all over the world, all over the country,

with different takes,” she said. “When you join a Black fraternity or sorority on an HBCU campus, you are trying to find your tribe.” Jamel Vanderburg, a graduate of Wilberforce University, an HBCU in Wilberforce, Ohio, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, detailed the Divine Nine’s common purpose: “to make sure that we leave our communities better than where we left off.” Vanderburg, an entre preneur and an adjunct instructor at New York Institute of Technology, told students about the importance of balancing academics and extracurricular activities to create a well-rounded and affordable college experience. “Make sure your g rades are on point,” he said. “Make sure that you are also not just being in classes, because those activities are what can help you afford to pay for school.” He mentioned band, sports, dance and other extracurriculars as keys to “what help you to make a total person, and that’s also what helps you to market yourself to be able to afford school.” The speakers on both panels expressed similar sentiments about the importance of community and support in both their HBCU experiences and their Divine Nine involvement. They encouraged students to consider the lifelong impact of staying in touch with their community and culture throughout their educational journeys.

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UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON — January 2, 2025

and achievement, offering educational experiences of attending these institu- opportunities at a time when many tions and the different ways in which predominantly white institutions they impacted their lives. One of them refused to admit Black students. These colleges, as defined by the Higher Eduwas Kareem McKnight, a graduate of cation Act of 1965, were Morgan State University, established with the primain Baltimore, who emphary mission of educating sized the independence Black Americans, according and g rowth that come to the U.S. Department of with going away to school. Education website. T hat helped McKnight The second panel at the become the person he is high school focused on the today, he said, and learn Divine Nine fraternities and valuable life lessons. sororities, which are known “You lear n how to be as Black Greek-letter organiresponsible, learn to take z at i o n s. E i g h t p a n e l i s t s, care of yourself,” he said. including Uniondale alumni “Meet your friends that and staf f, discussed their b e c o m e y o u r f a m i l y. membership in these organiBecause a lot of people I AdeolA TellAzations and why it is impormet that first year, I’m still tant to them. The fraterniWilliAms family with them.” t i e s a n d s o ro r i t i e s we re Valérie Volcy, a recent Dean of Academic formed through HBCUs durUniondale High graduate Services, Lawrence ing “significant national who just finished her first Road Middle School developments, including the semester at Spelman Colrise of Jim Crow laws, the lege, in Atlanta, said that HBCUs provide unique opportunities popularity of scientific racism, and for Black students to excel, with the widespread racial violence and prejudice,” the National Museum of African support of Black educators. “I have never had such good experi- American History and Culture website ences with advisers and teachers,” states. BGLOs emphasize personal excelVolcy said, adding that the faculty at Spelman has been instrumental in her lence, community service and kinship, according to the museum, and panelists academic success. Over the decades, HBCUs have been shared how joining them played a critipillars of African-American culture cal role in their growth and developContinued from page 1

BRINGING LOCAL SPORTS HOME EVERY WEEK

SPOTLIGHT ATHLETE

HERALD SPORTS

Uniondale has something to prove By MICHELLE RABINOVICH sports@liherald.com

ALLIE TWIBLE East Meadow Senior Basketball AFTER HELPING LEAD the Jets to a historic 2023-24 season that ended in the state semifinals, Twible got her senior campaign off to a roaring start by reaching the 1,000-career point milestone Dec. 10. She was named First Team All-Long Island as a junior and was a major part in East Meadow’s first-ever Nassau County and L.I. championship teams. Twible has averaged close to 20 points per game over the past two seasons.

GAMES TO WATCH Thursday, Jan. 2 Wrestling: Plainedge at MacArthur ............................ 5 p.m. Boys Basketball: Sewanhaka at Manhasset ............. 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 3 Boys Basketball: Friends Aca. at Long Beach..........12 p.m. Wrestling: Kennedy at Hewlett................................... 4 p.m. Boys Basketball: Farmingdale at West Hemp ............ 5 p.m. Wrestling: Lawrence at North Shore .......................... 6 p.m. Wrestling: Lynbrook at Clarke .................................... 6 p.m. Wrestling: East Meadow at Long Beach .................... 6 p.m. Girls Basketball: Freeport at Seaford ...................6:30 p.m. Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Oceanside ..................... 7 p.m. Boys Basketball: Oceanside at South Side ............... 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 4 Girls Basketball: Plainedge at Lynbrook ..................10 a.m. Girls Basketball: Calhoun at Division ......................11 a.m. Girls Basketball: Malverne at Mineola.....................11 a.m. Boys Basketball: Plainedge at Clarke ......................12 p.m. Girls Basketball: Jericho at Kennedy ......................... 1 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 6 Wrestling: North Shore at Wantagh ........................... 5 p.m. Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Carey ............................. 5 p.m.

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

The wrestling season is underway, and the Uniondale wrestling program is aggressive to get to the mat. For coach Tim Godoy, the season has been going on for quite some time, carrying lessons from the summer and fall. “Preseason’s really been about not only just training for wrestling but mentally training as well,” Godoy said. “Having them believe that they can be successful on the next level, and realize that there’s going to be some setbacks this year but those setbacks are going to make us stronger as we move forward.” Godoy is referring to the fact he has a mostly young team, with mostly freshman and sophomores starting in their respective weight classes. With that in mind, he said that expectations are going to be determined on a weekly basis for the Knights. “A lot of new faces, all looking to prove themselves,” he said. Contrary to the fresher athletes on the roster, one returner that sticks out to Godoy is his 101-pounder, junior Tarzhay Tamar. “He was small for the weight last year, he’s kinda grown into the 100-pound weight class, so I think he has a great opportunity to do well this year,” Godoy said. Uniondale has three new captains, senior Jaden Lewis-White, who steps on the mat at 285. Godoy highlighted his natural leadership skills amongst his teammates, which went together with his recently successful football season. There’s also juniors Joshua Pierre-Paul and Brian Batista. Godoy said that Pierre-Paul is currently ranked in the county, so he’s expecting great results from him. As for Batista, Godoy said that he made huge strides in the offseason, leaving his improvement to the imagination of friends and opponents. These mentioned players, plus senior Pierre Wellington, are some of the folks that have pleasantly surprised Godoy so far into the season. “He’s somebody who no one’s really talking about yet but hopefully by midseason, he’ll have a

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The Knights are counting on leadership and production from captains Joshua PierrePaul, left, Jaden Lewis-White, center, and Brian Batista. couple of big wins and we’ll be discussing him later in the season,” Godoy noted. While these five guys are have been pushing themselves to their maximum, their spots in the starting lineups are not set in stone just yet. Godoy says that with a team of over 50, they’re holding internal wrestle-offs weekly to gauge how much everyone improves and if someone has progressed so much so that they can confidently start when dual meets come around. “Barring injury, wrestle offs will

determine who is going to start,” he said. The new addition to Uniondale, is that their girls wrestling program has taken off at break-neck speed and participation. “Our athletic director and our superintendent were super supportive this year, we’ve been trying to get the girl’s program off the ground,” Godoy said. “In years past we’ve had two or three girls come out, and this year we’ve had over 30 come out, so the future of girls wrestling is bright and it’s growing.”

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Jean-Pierre honored with key to the village Continued from page 1

as deputy chief of staff and director of legislative and budget affairs for two New York City Council members, according to her website. Hutcherson expressed her pride in Jean-Pier re’s accomplishments, acknowledging the strong connection the press secretary continues to maintain with Hempstead and what her success symbolizes for the community. “It really is about community here, and that’s one thing that I’m proud (of),” Hutcherson said, “to work here in the village where I grew up at and to be here every single day, to see these things, to work with the mayor, to work with all of you, and to see her come back, it truly is amazing.” Jean-Pierre’s Hempstead visit was not only about reflection, but also about giving back to the next generation. She stopped by Joseph A. McNeil Elementary School, which she had attended, to speak with students. She said students from the school sent her letters two years ago when she first became press secretary, congratulating her and asking her to come back to see them one day. “I remember when I received those letters two and a half years ago,” JeanPierre said. “I wanted to find a time to come back and thank them and thank the community that I grew up in.” Jean-Pierre is the longest-serving female press secretary ever, and she also

made history as the first black person and the first openly LGBTQ individual to hold the post. After graduating from Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale in 1993, Jean-Pierre earned a bachelor’s degree from New York Institute of Technology and went on to earn a master’s in public affairs from Columbia University in 2003. S h e b e c a m e a p a r t o f B a r a ck Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and later joined the Obama administration upon his election, serving as the regional political director for the White House Office of Political Affairs. She stayed with Obama through his 2012 reelection campaign and eventually became a senior advisor to Biden’s 2020 campaign. She joined the Biden administration as principal deputy press secretary in 2021 and made history that year as the first openly LGBTQ person to hold a White House press briefing before becoming the White House press secretary. In 2014, Jean-Pierre joined the faculty at Columbia University, where she teaches a course at the School of International and Public Affairs. She published a memoir, “Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America,” in 2019. “This is, in my opinion, one of our greatest days here in the Village of

Kelsie Radziski/Herald

White House press Secretary Karine Jean-pierre, who spent part of her childhood in the Village of Hempstead, was given the key to the village at a ceremony on dec. 18. She arrived at Kennedy memorial park after speaking with students at Joseph a. mcneil elementary School. Hempstead, to have Hempstead’s own return back home,” Hobbs said. “And we want her to know how proud we are

of her as she represents Hempstead, and not only Hempstead, but the whole United States of America.”

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January 2, 2025 — UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON

Flipping for fun at the firehouse holiday breakfast kids smiled in front of the Christmas tree and sat on Santa’s lap for photos. The Christmas tunes were cranked as families also participated in holiday season activities, including building their own gingerbread houses. The fire department led their annual Santa ride later in the day, bringing holiday cheer to the community throughout the day in more ways than one. — Kelsie Radziski

UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON — January 2, 2025

The Uniondale Fire Department brought in Santa and the Grinch for a festive holiday pancake breakfast with the Uniondale community. Families came to Brookside Engine Company 2 on Dec. 22 to get into the holiday spirit with pancakes and other breakfast goodies, which they ate at tables set up throughout the fire station. There were Christmas decorations adding to the lively holiday celebration, and

Holden Leeds/Herald photos

Camila Borilla and Nathalie, 5, wore fun hats when they posed with Santa and his elf at the Uniondale Fire Department’s Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 22.

Alice Alvarenga, 6, and Camila Mancia built their own gingerbread houses.

Jacob Ventura, 3, and Noah Ventura, 5, in front of the Christmas tree.

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January 2, 2025 — UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON

Hempstead Village Kwanzaa ceremony unites generations By REINE BETHANY Special to the Herald

In the Village of Hempstead, where about 44% of the residents proudly claim African descent, Kwanzaa is much more than a 58-year-old cultural observance. Occurring yearly Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, Kwanzaa is a seven-day affirmation of pan-African and African-American heritage. It includes commemorations of triumph over oppression. Hempstead Village marked the first day of Kwanzaa 2024 with a program in the Kennedy Park auditorium. From very young children to near-centenarians, attendees participated in songs, poetry, dance, and the lighting of the Kwanzaa kinara. Many attendees wore the flowing, brilliantly patterned clothing associated with African ceremonial garb. Banners displaying the Kwanzaa colors of red, black and green decorated the auditorium walls, representing the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, the dark skin of Africans, and hope for the years to come. A table in front of the auditorium stage was set with Kwanzaa symbolic Photos courtesy Shamel Harris/Village of Hempstead objects, such as the Unity Cup (Kikombe cha Umoja) and the Mishumaa Saba, or The seven candles of the kinara were lighted by Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Jr., center, and village residents at the Kwanzaa celseven candles, which are placed in the ebration in Kennedy Park auditorium on Dec. 26. stand called the kinara. At this communal gathering to kick off the Kwanzaa week, all seven candles were lit. Throughout the week since, in home ceremonies, one candle has been lit per day. Each day focuses on one of the “Nguzo Saba,” the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja, unity; Kujichagulia, self-determination; Ujima, collective work and responsibility; Ujamaa, cooperative economics; Nia, purpose; Kuumba, creativity; and Imani, faith. Respected village personages led the evening. Tina Hodge-Bowles, who has run Operation Get Ahead for Hempstead Village senior citizens for many years, organized the program with Human Relations Council Director Juanita Hargwood. Businesswoman and public ser- Young dancers from the Reign Dance Complex honored their African heritage at the Kwanzaa celebration in Kennedy Park auditorium vant Shelley Brazley acted as moderator. on Dec. 26. The invocation was delivered by Rev. Dr. After poems and dances, accompanied Sedgwick Easley, pastor of Union Baptist Church. Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Jr., led by stirring rhythms on an African djembe drum, Mayor Hobbs lit the first kinara the lighting of the candles. candle, representing Umoja Rev. Dr. Cynthia Diaz, (unity). “We pay tribute to Hempstead’s first Black the unity that is the foundafemale associate justice, protion of the family and the vided the central reflection community,” he said. of the evening. One by one, younger and “On this day we come, older members of Hempprobably more than in a stead’s African American long, long time, with the community lit the candles, need to bring light to dark speaking the solemn words faces,” Diaz said. She called to articulate each of the 2024 “a national roller coastSeven Principles. er,” referring to the fraught Bishop William Whitaker presidential race between from Bethlehem of Judea Vice President Kamala HarChurch delivered the final ris, the first Black woman to CYNTHIA DIAz blessing. occupy so high a political Hempstead Village “May the spirit of Kwanoffice, and former president lawyer and activist zaa illuminate our hearts,” Activist and former village justice Cynthia Diaz exhorted her listeners to pass Kwanzaa Donald Trump, who won this Whitaker prayed. “May we year’s election. principles on to their children, saying, “Share our stories, share our history … so that no “I firmly and prayerfully believe that walk together in peace, celebrate our one can take that history away from them,” at the Kwanzaa celebration in Kennedy Park despite some of our fears, in 2025, we will shared heritage, and nurture the seeds auditorium on Dec. 26. of hope and progress.” thrive,” Diaz said, evoking applause.

firmly and prayerfully believe that despite some of our fears, in 2025, we will thrive.

Gearing up for another Hempstead Mulchfest

Jordan Vallone/Herald file

The Town of Hempstead will hold its annual Mulchfest on Jan. 11 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in East Meadow. Residents can turn their Christmas trees into mulch, which they can either take home or donate to the Nigerian Dwarf goats that inhabit the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in Merrick. Above, a goat at the park munches on a tree at a past event. the lovable goats.” The surplus mulch will also be used for landscaping and planting projects

throughout Hempstead Town’s parks, ensuring that residents’ contributions support the community year-round.

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The holiday season may be winding down, but in the Town of Hemsptead, there’s still time to celebrate sustainably at the town’s 5th Annual Mulchfest. Residents are invited to bring their Christmas trees to Veterans Memorial Park at 1700 Prospect Ave., East Meadow on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where the trees will be shredded into mulch for personal use or donated as snacks for the Nigerian Dwarf goats at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve. “Mulchfest is back for the fifth year in a row, and the goats at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve are bleating in excitement,” Town Supervisor Don Clavin said. “This holiday tradition sees scores of residents turning their Christmas trees into mulch, with each year getting better and better.” A “Mulchfest” is an event where people can bring their natural Christmas trees to be recycled into mulch, a nutrient-rich material often used in gardening and landscaping. During a Mulchfest, trees are shredded into mulch using wood chippers, and participants are usually of fered free mulch to take home for personal use. The event promotes eco-friendly practices by preventing discarded trees from going to landfills and repur-

posing them in ways that benefit the environment, such as improving soil health, retaining moisture, and reducing weeds. Some Mulchfests also use excess mulch for community landscaping projects or even as snacks for animals, like the Town of Hempstead’s goats, that enjoy eating pine. It’s a sustainable way to “give back” during the holiday season while responsibly disposing of Christmas trees. The eco-friendly event gives families the opportunity to extend the season of giving by repurposing their trees into nutrient-rich mulch for gardening, moisture retention, and weed prevention. Residents can take home a free bag of mulch or choose to have the mulch donated to the town’s goats. Additionally, broken-down cardboard will be accepted and recycled during the event. For those unable to attend Mulchfest, Christmas trees can be dropped off at the homeowner disposal area next to Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve at 1600 Merrick Road, between Monday, Jan. 13, and Saturday, Jan. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. “The Town of Hempstead proudly stands for greener and environmentally friendly programs,” Clavin said. “Come on down to Veterans Park to repurpose your Christmas tree and receive a free bag of mulch in return. Don’t forget to stop by Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve and share some with

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jvallone@liherald.com

UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON — January 2, 2025

By JORDAN VALLONE

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January 2, 2025 — UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON

STEPPING OUT

up for monster truck mayhem Hot Wheels Monster Truck Live Show is back at Nassau Coliseum for another year of car-smashing, ramp jumping, wheel-revving action By Danielle Schwab Get ready, everyone. Gather up the kids and shake up those January doldrums when the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow party lights up Nassau Coliseum once again. Witness the raw power of epic machines when the iconic Hot Wheels toy vehicles transform into unstoppable monster trucks for the • Saturday and Sunday, Jan. “Glow-N-Fire” competition. 18-19; times vary • Tickets start at $63.85 “Kids” of all ages can watch their favorite Hot Wheels trucks adults, $35. 15 children come to life when the action returns to Long Island, Jan. 18-19. (also “Me + 3” family As the arena darkens for this glow-in-the-dark party, each discount option); available truck revs up with its unique LED lights. And, in true “It’s Not at ticketmaster.com and hotwheelsmonstertruckslive. The Same Without The Flame” fashion, pyrotechnic effects light com up the arena, adding even more intensity to the action. • Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale It’s an especially big day for one particular truck: The classic blue vintage-style pick-up Bigfoot turns 50. Everyone is invited to the birthday bash. Plus, have the chance to be celebrated alongside the iconic monster truck. Bigfoot would love to see everyone’s creativity — so fans are encouraged to bring homemade birthday cards to wish Bigfoot a happy birthday. And show off those homemade birthday signs at the show for a chance to win prizes during the bash. “Bigfoot is known as the original monster truck because this monster truck is what started monster trucks in general,” says Caleb Janezich, Bigfoot’s driver since July. Owner-operator Bob Chandler first began building Bigfoot in 1975, and a legend was born. The modified 1974 Ford F-250 started its career at local mud runs and truck and tractor pulls. It quickly launched a worldwide phenomenon and its legions of fans. Chandler continued to make improvements and modifications until it grew into the massive behemoth known and loved today by multiple generations of fans.

“There are people that come up to us and the dad knows who Bigfoot is, and then maybe the kids are exposed to Bigfoot for the first time. Even the grandpas come up and they remember Bigfoot,” says Janezich, on Bigfoot’s popularity. There’s surely no better way to commemorate the original monster truck than with incredible stunts performed by Bigfoot along with all his mechanical monster pals, including Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, HW 5-Alarm, Boneshaker, and Gunkster. Expect to see wheelies, donuts, and long jumps, along with a freestyle Motocross demonstration. And of course, be prepared for plenty of good ol’ car crushing! Also witness as the show unleashes its newest addition, Skelesauraus, a truck that takes the spine-chilling form of a giant skeleton head. This is Janezich’s first time appearing at Nassau Coliseum, however he is no stranger to the Hot Wheels monster truck circuit. An avid collector of Hot Wheels since childhood, Janezich worked as a Bigfoot crewmember before taking up the driver’s seat. “Bigfoot was always my favorite. I grew up around pickup trucks and four-wheel drives. My dad got me into it.” he says. “It’s pretty humbling, and it’s really a dream come true. Honestly, they say, ‘if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life’ and that’s pretty much what I live by now.” While the trucks may seem invincible, it take a dedicated team behind the scenes to keep them crushing to the max. “The stuff that can be challenging is the unknown. You never know what these trucks are going to do sometimes, and the biggest challenge sometimes can just be just keeping them going and just making sure that we’re ready for the next show all the time, which we try to do very well,” Janezich adds. Opportunities to go behind the action add to the spectacle. At the Pre-Show Party, held two-and-a-half hours prior to every performance, get up close and see the outrageous designs and epic size of the Hot Wheels behemoths on the arena floor. Meet favorite drivers and performers. Also check out the new VIP Backstage Experience. It’s a behind the scenes guided tour of what goes on before all the smashing and crashing. Everyone becomes a kid at the show, which is geared to five to 10-year-olds. “That’s the part that’s always cool because families are coming down and the parents get involved. When the parents are having fun, the kids are having fun, that’s what keeps them coming year after year,” Janezich says. Courtesy Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live

Photos: Bigfoot, driven by Caleb Janezich, headlines the latest edition of the spectacle. The iconic truck is joined by many Hot Wheels favorites to thrill fans with exciting car-crunching feats, flying more than 35 feet in the air. Plus, the fiery Skelesaurus roars into the arena ready to “chomp.”

Keep those winter doldrums at bay with Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band. It may seem like we’ve got too long to wait ‘til we’re back on the beach, but Kenny comes to the rescue. Join in their “Ultimate Beach Party Tribute” to Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band. Parrotheads, No Shoes Nation and the Zamily. The Long Island-based band — guided by Paul C. Cuthbert (aka Jimmy Kenny) on lead vocals/ acoustic guitar, with Linn DeMilta (aka Lovely Linn), lead and backing vocals, Luis Rios, lead guitar/backing vocals, Frank Stainkamp, keyboard/ backing vocals, Dan Prine, bass, and drummer Mike Vecchione — gets everyone into the groove as only they can. Friday, Jan. 3, 8 p.m. $35, $25, $20, $15. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.

‘…Your voice is heard’ Broadway comes to Tilles Center. “Dear Evan Hanson,” the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it, has struck a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere. If you’ve yet to see it, now’s your opportunity. Declared “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history” by the Washington Post, it’s the ﬁrst musical to take a groundbreaking look — from the point of view of both the parents and young people — at our complex, interconnected, and social media-ﬁlled lives. It features an uplifting score, including some of the most iconic musical theatere songs from the last decade: “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through A Window,” and “For Forever.” Thursday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m. Tickets start at $35. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON — January 2, 2025

‘Cold Beer on a Friday Night’

Your Neighborhood

Nassau BOCES GC Tech Open House

THE Jan.

Yacht Rock Revue

The kings of ‘70s tribute hit the road with an authentic throwback to the era, on the Paramount stage, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11, at 8 p.m. Yacht Rock Revue, hailed by Rolling Stone as the “world’s premier soft-rock party band,” invites listeners on a nostalgic voyage through the sun-soaked melodies of the ‘70s and ‘80s. The dynamic Atlanta-based 10-piece ensemble blends impeccable musicianship with a deep reverence for the yacht rock genre. Their original album “Escape Artist” is a bold homage to this iconic sound. Each side of the album encapsulates the band’s ability to transport audiences to a simpler, more carefree time. Lead singles like “Tropical Illusion” and “Passengers” set the tone, evoking sunsets and salty breezes with their lush instrumentation and ethereal vocals. Collaborations with yacht rock legends Elliot Lurie and Robbie Dupree underscore the band’s status as innovators within their genre. YRR continues to captivate audiences nationwide with their infectious energy and unabashedly joyous performances. Since their humble beginnings in 2007, YRR has emerged as a pivotal figure in revitalizing yacht rock, sharing stages with icons and garnering a devoted following of “Anchorheads.” Whether performing in intimate venues or rocking arenas, their concerts promise an immersive musical journey that celebrates the timeless allure of smooth grooves. $55, $40, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Nassau BOCES, Long Island’s stateof-the arts career and technical education high school, opens its doors to all students with a passion for hands-on careers, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 6-7:30 p.m. Nassau BOCES GC Tech prepares students for a future in the workforce by providing them with the skills, knowledge and professional qualities they will need to be successful in their chosen career fields. The school boasts a new spa where aspiring estheticians learn skin care and massage techniques. There is also a newly revamped auto shop. Prospective students and families from Nassau County are invited to tour the GC Tech campus and to meet with expert teachers, counselors and administrators. Additional open house sessions are offered in February and March. Interested students and their families can register at nassauboces.org/gctech or call the school for more information at (516) 604-4200. 150 Abbey Lane, Levittown.

Healthy eating for the New Year Cornell Cooperative Extension visits Uniondale Public Library to instructadults how to go into the New Year with healthy eating habits, Thursday, Jan. 9, 7-8 p.m., 400 Uniondale Ave. For more information or to register, visit UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

Splish Splash…Animal Baths Hang out with some Long Island Children’s Museum’s “residents,” Sunday, Jan. 5, 1:30-2 p.m., at the drop-in program. Join an animal educator in the Yellow Studio’s Feasts for Beasts Gallery to learn what goes into the care of LICM’s animal “residents.” Observe animal bath time. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.

MLK Day Parade and Ceremony Hempstead village is celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a parade from Village Hall to Hofstra University, with a celebration with refreshments to follow. Saturday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m. Parade is assembling at 99 James A. Garner Way, Hempstead. For more information, contact Juanita Hargwood at (516) 478-6286 or Aisha Wilson-Carter at (516) 463-6469 or equity@ hofstra.edu.

JANUARY HOME GAMES USE CODE 'HERALD' FOR 10% OFF TICKETS

MONDAY| JANUARY 6 | 7:00PM

TUESDAY | JANUARY 7 | 7:00PM

THURSDAY| JANUARY 9 | 7:00PM

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON NIGHT

JEWISH HERITAGE NIGHT

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WEDNESDAY| JANUARY 22 | 7:00PM

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WEDNESDAY| JANUARY 29 | 5:00PM

GIVEAWAY

CHINESE NEW YEAR

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@LONGISLANDNETS Expiration: 2/28/25

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January 2, 2025 — UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON

Get ready to enjoy all the thrills of the snowy season, while staying warm and cozy as Long Island Children’s Museum’s popular “Snowflake Sock Skating rink returns, through Jan. 7. Slip on “sock skates” and take a spin on the indoor rink, made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface that lets kids slide around without blades. Kids can stretch, twirl and glide. As visitors step off the “ice” they can jump into winter dramatic play in Snowflake Village. Become a baker in the holiday sweet shop, step inside a giant snowman and serve up some hot cocoa, take a turn in the rink “ticket booth” and “warm up” around a rink side “fire pit.” Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

Icebreaker Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K Start off the New Year on the right foot with a series of races at Eisenhower Park, Saturday, Jan. 25. The Icebreaker Marathon and other races are slated to begin around 9 a.m. in the park’s Field 2, near Parking Lot 2. To register and for more information, visit EliteFeats.com/25icebreaker.

Having an event?

Jan.

Bird walk The South Shore Audubon Society welcomes all to join its members for another in its series of bird walks, at Hempstead Lake State Park, Sunday, Jan. 5, starting at 9 a.m. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The group will meet The group will meet in parking lot #3, off Exit 18 of the Southern State Parkway. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. No walk if rain or snow. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit ssaudubon.org.

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.

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.

In concert Sands Point Preserve’s reserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for the 2025 unique chamber music series, “Four Seasons in Music,” Sunday, Jan. 12, 3 p.m. The duoJalal ensemble-in-residence led by Kathryn Lockwood on viola, with percussionist Yousif Sheronick, violinists Deborah Buck and Emma Frucht and cellist Caroline Stinson presents a German flavored. Celebrating Germany’s rich history of extraordinary composers, including Bach, Mozart, Schubert and Brahms, to the less traditional, this concert will warm you up on a winter afternoon. A reception follows. $56, $45 members. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For tickets and information, visit sandspointpreserveconservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

Jan. 3rd, 2025

January. 3rd, 2025

UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON — January 2, 2025

Let’s Skate

There’s no better time to adopt a new pet than during, “Home for the Holidays” at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter. All fees are waived and include free spaying/neutering, vaccinations, microchipping, now through Sunday, Jan. 5. Licensing feels still apply. Prospective adopters can browse photos and profiles at hempsteadny.gov/179/ animal-shelter and also on the shelter’s Facebook page. 3320 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh. For more information, call the animal shelter, (516) 785-5220.

On exhibit

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Home for the Holidays Adoption

Public Notices

January 2, 2025 — UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON

LUNI1 0102

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 01/08/2025 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals: --------------------------------THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 17/25. UNIONDALE Novelette Lyn, Variance, side yard, maintain A/C unit attached to dwelling., N/s Windsor Rd., 132.83’ E/o Decatur St., a/k/a 717 Windsor Rd. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Uniondale 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. 150777 To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU In the Matter of an Article 10 Neglect Proceeding File#: 637016 Docket#:NN-09966-24 Nassau County Department of Social Services (Petitioner) Donna Rose M. Stahl (Respondent) Henry M. Stahl (DOB: 10/19/2024) SUMMONSPUBLICATION (INPERSON) To: Donna Rose M. Stahl 748 Goodrich Street, Uniondale, NY 11553 A petition under Article 10 of the Family Court Act has been filed with this Court requesting the following reliefs: PrePetition Application and Neglect.

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear IN PERSON before this Court on: Date/Time/Part: February 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM in Part 2 Purpose:In Person Appearance and Preliminary Proceeding Presiding:Hon. Robin M. Kent Location: Courthouse, 1200 Old Country Rd., Westbury, NY 11590 Floor:3 Room:303 to answer the attached petition and to be dealt with in accordance with the Family Court Act. Please bring this notice with you and check in with the Court Officer in the Part. Be sure to arrive at the courthouse prior to the time listed above. Do not be late as there is a limited window of time for your case to be heard. If you fail to appear as directed, a warrant may be issued for your arrest. Dated: December 18, 2024 John Aiken, Chief Clerk TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT: The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Robin M. Kent of the Family Court, Nassau County, dated and filed with the petition and other papers in the Office of the Clerk of the Family Court, Nassau County. 150804

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. Search by publication name at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2021-GS1, Plaintiff, Against MARIE RAPHAEL, EDELINE L. SAUNDERS, ET AL, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 02/05/2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 1/30/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1076 Northgate Court Square, Uniondale, New York 11553, And Described As Follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale (Unincorporated Area), in the Town of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 55 Block 532 Lot 24

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $601,359.45 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 616200/2022 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine. Samantha L. Segal, Esq., Referee. SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 Dated: 12/17/2024 File Number: 38281 MB 150694

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AND AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff, v. ROMUALDO BONILLA, ET AL, Defendants. NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on October 31, 2024, I, Adrienne Flipse Hausch, Esq., the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on January 28, 2025 at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Ct. Dr., Mineola, NY 11501, at 02:00 PM the premises described as follows: 159 Ruxton Street Uniondale, NY 11553 SBL No.: 50-13-4, 5 & 6 ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York. The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 604141/2020 in the amount of $498,740.87 plus interest and costs. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the Court System’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 150659

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR FINANCE OF AMERICA STRUCTURED SECURITIES ACQUISITION TRUST 2019-HB1, Plaintiff, AGAINST UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF CORINE RAY A/K/A CORINE L RAY, if they be living and if they be dead, the respective heirs-at-law, next-of-kin, distributes, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant(s) who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or inheritance, any right, title or interest in or to the real property described in the Complaint, et al. Defendant(s) Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on October 31, 2024. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM premises known as 755 Northgate Dr, Uniondale, NY 11553. Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County, and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 55, Block 531 and Lot 18. Approximate amount of judgment $470,123.35 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #001250/2016 | 16-001250. Michael Alpert, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 150661

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AN AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232 To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

Nassau University Medical Center leaders and staff’ cut the ribbon at a new relaxation station, designed to support healthcare workers’ mental health and well-being.

NUMC opens new relaxation station for its employees employees. We hope that all of these initiatives foster a healthier and a more balanced work environment for everyNassau University Medical Center one.” The hospital, in a news release has officially opened a new, modern staff lounge, designed to support health shared with the Herald, said according care workers’ mental health, resiliency to a recent study published in the Jourand well-being. The new facility offers a nal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, space for the hospital’s workforce — nearly 40 percent of trauma professionthat treats more than 270,000 patients als experience symptoms of burnout, annually — to decompress depression or anxiety due to and recharge, while working the intense emotional and in one of the region’s most physical demands of their demanding medical environwork environment. NUMC ments. boasts a 24-hour Level 1 Meg Ryan, the president Trauma Center, the largest and chief executive of the on Long Island. Nassau Health Care CorpoRyan thanked NUMC’s ration, which oversees the staff involved in facilities operations of NUMC, said management who helped employee well-being and create the space, and joined engagements has been a priher during the ribbon cutority of hers. ting last week. “This year, we had our “We want to take care of first employee engagement our employees as they take officer,” Ryan said at a Dec. care of Nassau County’s 18 ribbon-cutting ceremony most vulnerable,” Ryan to celebrate the new space. MEg RyAN said. “We have focused a lot “We created that title, we on employee engagement, President and chief implemented employee of appreciation and making executive t h e m o n t h , we c re at e d sure that all of our employNUMC excellence awards. In Nassau University ees feel heard because they line with all these 2024 ini- Medical Center haven’t been for so long. tiatives, we created this new, “The new relaxation stabeautiful recreational area for all of our tion reflects NUMC’s ongoing commitemployees to use 24-hours a day — it’s ment to employee engagement and a priavailable all of the time.” oritization of our employee’s mental The new area boasts a pool table, a health and overall wellness,” she said. ping pong table, a kitchen, televisions, “By providing a space where our hardmassage chairs, and other seating areas working team can take a brief reprieve where employees and kick back and during a long and demanding shift, we relax. can help reduce staff bur nout — a “Our relaxation station is designed to major issue challenging healthcare prooffer a peaceful environment where viders across the country. We are not everyone can just take a moment to take only investing in our employees’ wella break,” Ryan said. “We have games, being but also enhancing the quality of we have TVs — we value all of our care we provide to our patients.”

By JORDAN VALLONE

jvallone@liherald.com

e are not only investing in our employees’ well-being but also enhancing the quality of care we provide to our patients.

17 E1

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Our brick walls aren’t what we expected Q. After much research, we chose brick for our new house. It has been a nightmare getting satisfaction from the mason who did the work. We noticed after only a few months that there were white powder-like streaks across the brick walls in many places. We spoke with the brick manufacturer, who said it sounded like an installation problem or streaking from other materials around it. The mason came back and looked at it. He used acid and brushed one spot and it lightened up but didn’t go away. He seemed annoyed with us, and said he could “send someone” to brush and put more cleaner on, but the whiteness would remain and it would have to “weather” after that. We had a sample wall built to make sure the color was right, and really went to a lot of effort for our choices. We are upset that the mason acted like it was our fault for complaining. We selected brick for high durability, weather resistance and low to no maintenance, and now we have this problem. What could have caused it, and is there any other remedy?

A. Brick was a great choice for all the reasons you described, and will outlast generations of occupants if installed correctly. The whiteness may be caused in a few ways. You have to first know what caused it.

Ask The Architect

Trim materials, above and around brick, will streak from the wrong paint on roof-edge or toponte eeper of-wall trim. If the paint used was interior latex water-soluble paint, it will separate and run. Prefinished metal, factory finished, will also start to chalk and run. If a highly pigmented paint with low-resin binder was used, then the same results occur. The brick will be somewhat cleanable, but will have to be exposed to many cycles of rain, heat, freezing, etc., also known as weathering.

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Because the mason did not mention the runoff of paint from trim, I suspect that your problem is the worst-case scenario, and all the cleaning with muriatic acid and a steel brush will not solve the staining entirely. Wire brushing or high powerwashing actually harms brick, because that amazingly strong fired-finish on the brick, the reason brick is such a good resister of the elements, is now going to be broken down to a grainy finish that can harbor mildew.

press 5

Sadly, the issue was completely preventable, either by using trim that did not lose color or by the brick installation. Yes, the brick installation. It starts with not having the correct width of the foundation to carry the brick, so it is installed too close to or right against the exterior plywood. That airspace is supposed to be 2 inches, clear, behind the brick, so rain that gets sucked into the mortar joints can drop behind the brick and “weep” from weep holes at the bottom of the wall. If you do not have weeps, then the wall was installed incorrectly and the problem will continue. Good luck!

© 2025 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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Answers to todAy’s puzzle

opinions

fter Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed the Planned Offshore Wind Transmission Act in the fall of 2023 due to local opposition to a wind farm’s high-voltage cables, the state had a trick up its sleeve. The bill would have required the State Energy Research and Development Authority to establish transmission planning for the offshore grid, coupled with a requirement to conduct a costbenefit analysis that included the impact on ratepayers. In essence, the bill would for the first ChristinA have, time, given New Yorkers insight KrAmer into the true cost of implementing offshore wind projects and their transmission lines. The question is, why did Hochul veto the bill? In addition to local opposition, I believe the answer is that if the public knew the true cost of these plans, people would begin to question the wisdom of investing millions of dollars in reworking a power grid that wasn’t broken in the first place. They would ask hard questions about where money was being spent, and who was benefiting — questions the governor obviously doesn’t

want raised. In its infinite surreptitious reach, the state concealed in its latest budget the Renewable Action through Project Interconnection Deployment, or RAPID, Act, granting it the authority to overrule local and public input. The state Office of Renewable Energy Siting would have final say on project siting, even over community objections. Groups of so-called environmentalists, influenced by Hochul’s green agenda, have received millions of dollars to push the narrative that we need to move off fossil fuels now because the Earth is on fire. Before we go scorched-Earth, Let’s look at facts. The state took away local municipality and public involvement in the siting of renewable-energy projects and paused congestion pricing. Further, a report by the state’s Fire Safety Working Group falsely concluded that fires last year at three battery energy storage system facilities in New York state — which store the energy that wind turbines create — had no environmental impact, neglecting to include test results of hydrogen fluoride levels in the air, soil or water at those sites. What is even more disturbing is that the working group has written an inadequate code that allows for placement of BESS facili-

ties in residential and commercial areas. Long Island water comes from aquifers that, if polluted, would jeopardize the health of millions. Hydrogen fluoride gas produced in these fires turns acidic when mixed with water, becoming acid rain. This acid, in large enough concentrations, can dissolve concrete. Would you or your children want to drink water this contaminated? Apparently, Hochul doesn’t care about such consequences in her drive to rapidly implement green-energy projects. This act-now-and-monitor-later mentality, regardless of the consequences, does nothing to put minds at ease. To date, no robust engineering analysis suggests that Hochul’s RAPID Act plan will work. There has been no rigorous analysis. Instead, evidence seems to indicate that the state’s planned installations of solar arrays, wind turbines, battery facilities and transmission cables will not reliably power the grid, and will not prove safe or affordable. Worth noting, in this critical context, is the Vineyard Wind offshore debacle off the coast of Nantucket last July, when a single turbine blade selfdestructed, dropping 60 tons of plastic into the ocean and wreaking havoc, closing beaches and impacting marine life,

t’s a mistake to plan for wide-scale solar and wind power in New York at this point.

fishing, local businesses and communities. How future offshore wind catastrophes will affect shore towns, wildlife and commercial fishing isn’t known. But New Yorkers should realize that it’s a mistake, at this point, to plan the construction, let alone the funding, for dozens of gigawatts of solar and wind power — along with batteries 100 times the size of the world’s largest existing battery — and new transmission lines to tie all this to the existing grid. Instead, we might better ask, first, who thought this was possible? and second, from empirical examples of places with significant intermittent energy — California and Germany — why did anyone think this would enable New York to cut fossil-fuel use and reliably and affordably power the grid? Given the egregious overreach of Hochul’s RAPID Act, there should be an immediate halt to all of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting work as well as a prohibition on placing any renewableenergy facilities within residential communities and near schools. Taxpayers don’t want to be the subjects of a largescale energy experiment, or a classaction lawsuit, as a result of the “next big idea.” Christina Kramer, a professional photographer and an adjunct professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, is the founder and president of Protect Our Coast – Long Island, New York.

Helping Ukraine fight for justice

s the season of giving comes to a close, it’s important to reflect on not just all we have to be thankful for, but on those who still need our support. While there are certainly plenty of domestic issues, and Americans in need, we cannot forget the people of Ukraine, who are nearing the end of their third year of war with Russia. The conflict, which has cost the lives of roughly 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers and over 11,000 civilians, has put on display the very real threat authoritarianism is posing to WiLL democracies all around the world sheeLine today. And the people of Ukraine, who spent decades under Soviet rule and centuries under czarist rule before that, know how important their right to self-determination is, because they know what it means to live under a regime without rights. Here in America, where we’ve had the luck and privilege to live under a democratic government for our entire history, it can be easy to brush aside these kinds of conflicts by claiming that certain

areas or certain cultures are used to conflict. We hear it about the Middle East all the time: so-called “experts” who assert that the region has “always been at war,” and that one ethnic group or another “doesn’t understand democracy.” I don’t buy it. As our Founding Fathers knew, humans are born with an innate desire, and a right, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While we may think of these words as uniquely American, I’ve always believed that they were written not just with our country’s population in mind, but as a fundamental fact of the human condition. And the people of Ukraine have shown their desire for these universal rights with a determination and tenacity that has allowed this country of only 37 million to face down, and frequently defeat, a richer and larger nation. And Ukrainians are fighting not just for their own rights and sovereignty. They are the first line of defense against the deranged, ahistorical and plutocratic worldview that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian oligarchs are so desperate to spread. When Ukrainian President Volodymyr

Zelensky chose to stay in Kyiv in 2022, and every day since, his people have had one message for Putin and the world: We will not go quietly. When our nation was in its infancy and fighting for its existence, we relied heavily on the support not only of foreign nations like France and Spain, but on the extraordinary efforts of individuals from around the world who recognized that our fight for independence wasn’t just a local conflict, but a global one, that of freedom vs. tyranny. The analogy isn’t perfect. Ukraine isn’t fighting to win its independence from its mother country, but instead is fighting to maintain its sovereignty in the face of foreign aggression. But the fact remains that its people, who have seen family members’, friends’ and loved ones’ lives destroyed by the aggression of a brutish dictator, deserve not only our respect and admiration, but our help. You may think, “But I’m only one person — what could I possibly do?” And obviously, no one person can end this conflict overnight (except maybe Rocky Balboa). But there are plenty of ways for us to do our part.

e can’t turn our backs on a country that is fighting for its sovereignty.

There are hundreds of international charitable groups that are on the ground in Ukraine providing humanitarian aid, from UNICEF to the Red Cross. Other organizations, such as United Help Ukraine, Nova Ukraine and Razom for Ukraine, provide medical aid to tens of thousands of people and soldiers across the country. There are also nearly 300,000 Ukrainian refugees now living in the United States, part of a diaspora of nearly 4 million Ukrainians, predominantly women, children and seniors, who have been forced to flee their homes in the face of ruthless Russian aggression. While many of these people have been kindly fostered by Americans, Europeans and people everywhere, there are always more people in need. Ukrainians are fighting not just for their own right to exist, but for the rights of people around the world struggling against conquest and the threat of extermination. As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously declared, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” — and we can all do more to help Ukrainians restore peace in the country they love. Will Sheeline is an editor covering Glen Head, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? WSheeline@liherald.com.

UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON — January 2, 2025

Governor Hochul’s totalitarian energy agenda

Herald editorial

UNIONDALE

HERALD January 2, 2025 — UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON

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Stepping into a new year with hope and resolve

new year always arrives freighted with emotion. It carries the accumulated hopes, frustrations and lessons of the previous 12 months, paired with the tantalizing possibility of transformation. This year, as we look ahead, we find ourselves grappling with familiar challenges while daring to believe in the promise of better days. One challenge we must confront is the growing fragmentation of our shared experiences. Increasingly, the global and local spheres seem to exist in parallel universes. A catastrophe halfway across the world — whether a climate disaster, political upheaval or humanitarian crisis — has the power to shape economies and policies closer to home, yet often feels distant, reduced to a fleeting headline. Meanwhile, our more local and personal concerns — the cost of living, caring for family and doing well at work — demand urgent attention but risk being overshadowed by the constant churn of global issues. Bridging this gap requires a recalibration of priorities. The new year demands both outward-looking empathy and a renewed focus on strengthening the foundations of our own communities. Economically, the year ahead will likely test the resilience of all levels of

our government. Trust in institutions has eroded, but there are also glimmers of progress worth celebrating: advancements in green technology, a renewed emphasis on workers’ rights, and shifting societal attitudes toward mental health and well-being. These trends suggest that positive change, while slow, is possible. We need to be optimistic, but that demands resolve. The climate crisis, for instance, is no longer a future threat but an immediate reality, underscored by the fires, floods and record-breaking temperatures of recent years. The urgency to act cannot be overstated, and yet real solutions remain politically fraught and logistically complex. We face the challenge of balancing personal responsibility with the recognition that systemic change requires collective action. At the same time, the new year also offers a chance to reimagine what progress means. Growth, long equated with economic expansion, is being reconsidered in light of its environmental and social costs. These ideas challenge deeply entrenched narratives about success and prosperity, but they also open up the possibility of more inclusive, equitable futures. Many of us also enter 2025 grappling with uncertainty. The relentless pace of

technological change, the aftershocks of a pandemic and the simple unpredictability of life can feel overwhelming. Yet amid this turbulence, we find moments of connection and meaning. A neighbor’s kindness, a shared laugh, the rediscovery of an old passion — these small, often overlooked moments remind us why we persevere. How do we handle the bad while making room for the good? We need to balance action with rest and contemplation, and ambition with gratitude. This requires recognizing that while we cannot solve every problem, we can contribute to their solutions. As we step into the new year, we should resolve to move beyond empty platitudes. Instead of vague aspirations for “better days,” let’s strive for tangible progress: a stronger sense of community, a commitment to justice, and a willingness to adapt to changing realities. We should allow ourselves moments of joy, not just as a distraction from life’s difficulties, but also as a reminder of its possibilities. It isn’t easy. There are always setbacks and frustrations, but there are also breakthroughs, large and small, that remind us of our capacity to endure, to grow and to create a better future. The new year’s gift gives us the opportunity to begin anew.

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letters She’ll miss ‘Blue Bloods,’ too To the Editor: I agree with everything that Peter King wrote in “Like many other devotees, I’ll miss ‘Blue Bloods’ dearly” (Dec. 19-25). Though I never had the chance to meet the cast of “Blue Bloods,” they did feel like family. There has to be a show for people like us — born in Queens, my grandfather was with the Manhattan mounted police in the late 1920s, my cousins were with the Port Authority Police during the Colin Ferguson bloodbath on the LIRR and on Sept. 11. We love the Police Department and everything they stand for. They are our angels on earth in these crazy times. I appreciated grace before meals as a practicing Catholic. So there are many people who loved “Blue Bloods,” but I’m sure the network needed to try to make even more money! No one cares about the audience, just the dollar sign. NANCY ALBERTELLI East Meadow

Yes, but the show was clearly fiction To the Editor: My father, like Mr. King’s, wore NYPD’s blue. Like Mr. King, I consider ‘Blue Bloods’ more nuanced than many cop shows. But his speculations about imagined oppo-

nents of the show, and his “unanswered questions,” are dubious. No doubt, the cast members are all outstanding people and first-class actors, but they were performers acting out dramatic scripts. It’s all fiction, and we can enjoy “as if ” for the hour, but to extend the imaginary past the credits is delusional.

A m e r i c a n s g e n e r a l ly t e n d t o romanticize both our lawmen and our criminals, clouding our view of reality. Our fiction is out of sync with our nonfiction, and we get confused. If real police were “Blue Bloods” police, we would not have had a Bernie Kerik as commissioner; there would be no need for civilian complaint review

opinions

hat if I told you that the next pandemic is around the corner, but is totally preventable? Wouldn’t you muster all your resources to stop it? That’s what is happening in America now when it comes to literacy among young people, and everyone, not just educators, has the power to do something about it. “There is currently a literacy crisis happening in the U.S.,” according to the Education Trust, “one that disproportionately affects students of color, and that cannot be ignored.” According to the National Assessment of moniQUe Education ProgDarrisaw-akiL ress, the majority of American children are not proficient readers. Last year, the NAEP found that just 43 percent of fourth-graders in the U.S. scored at or above a proficient level in reading. And for marginalized students, the numbers are much worse: just 17 percent of Black students, 21 percent of Latino students, 11 percent of students with disabilities and 10 percent of multilingual learners can read proficiently by fourth grade. Reading is fundamental, extending far beyond the ability to decode words. It cul-

tivates critical thinking, builds healthy imaginations, expands vocabulary and nurtures curiosity. Reading expands the mind, and it is essential to maintaining an informed citizenry and an effective democracy. The decline in reading proficiency should concern us all. How did we get here? The proliferation of technology in every aspect of our lives is a main culprit. Distractions are everywhere, from constant entertainment on our televisions to the endless notifications from our apps to video games that keep children and young adults occupied for hours and make it difficult for traditional books to compete. While technology offers many benefits, we must find ways to rebalance the scales and reignite a love of reading. Schools, in partnership with parents and communities, are key, and collaborative efforts are crucial. In the Uniondale school district, our pre-kindergarten program provides students with a great foundation in reading, but sustained support is vital. Parents are the primary influencers of reading in their children’s lives. By modeling reading habits, sharing reading strategies and prioritizing family reading time, parents and caregivers can have a positive impact on children’s reading journeys.

Here are some of the ways you can support your children’s reading at home: n Choose the right books. Select books with no more than four or five unfamiliar words per page or paragraph to avoid frustration.

very family can create a reading culture at home with some distractionfree time.

BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

The MTA should rethink its spending priorities To the Editor: Long Island Rail Road commuters should be concerned about insufficient funds being earmarked to bring bridges,

n Talk about what they’re reading. You can talk about a book before, during and after they read it by asking questions and getting your child to share predictions and reactions.

Every family can create a reading culture at home by dedicating some distraction-free time to reading. In Uniondale, our teachers promote reading by fostering a love of books and teaching the foundational skills that make students avid readers. Every day, teachers develop students’ confidence in reading by exposing them to rich vocabulary, providing phonics instruction and sharing comprehension strategies. As a nationally certified My Brother’s Keeper Community, we pledged to ensure that all of our students are reading on grade level by the end of third grade. We are working toward this commitment by enlisting the support of our community partners, businesses and leaders, who engage in either our Read-

Letters boards, body cameras and millions spent on misconduct settlements; and less turnover in the top brass. “Courtesy cards” would be in museums, not wallets. Distractions from reality allow speculations like Mr. King’s suggestion that scriptwriters were pressured “to portray cops in a negative light,” as if any producers care at all about what viewers see between the commercials. There are other shows for that. Equally dangerous is his question about the series’ cancellation. Instead of noting the fact that the noble cast accepted a 25 percent pay cut to subsidize season 14, Mr. King conjures the demon of “woke” from nothing. It’s true that the show’s fans will always have the memories, but we must hope our nostalgia doesn’t distract from the realities of 21st century law and its enforcement.

n Select books that they’re interested in. Interest and enthusiasm are key.

viaducts, tunnels and other basic infrastructure that are in poor or marginal condition up to a state of good repair in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposed $68 billion 2025-2029 Five Year Capital Plan. This also applies to Metro-North Railroad and New York City Transit. It’s questionable whether $600 million is sufficient funding for LIRR critical infrastructure projects under the proposed plan. Can this eliminate the growing backlog of critical infrastructure repair? Too many critical capital assets remain in daily service beyond their anticipated useful life. There is still a $33 billion shortfall to fully fund the plan. Safety, state of good repair, and reliable, on-time performance with a minimum of service disruptions at a fair price should be higher priorities than system expansion projects. The $7.7 billion Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, the $5.5 billion Brooklyn-Queens light-rail Interborough Express and the $3.1 billion Metro North Bronx East Penn Station Access projects all need to be put on hold. Funding for all three would be better spent on critical infrastructure projects benefiting over 4 million NYC Transit subway, 200,000-plus LIRR and 200,000plus Metro North daily commuters. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and board members have a fiduciary responsibility to

ing Buddies or our community-based literacy activities. This summer, we initiated a My Brother’s Keeper Summer Reading program, which challenged elementaryschool students to read 30 books over the summer and post their summaries online. Our local businesses, including restaurants, barber shops and laundromats, displayed signs that promoted the program and allowed students to post their reading summaries to a digital QR code. Students who took part were invited to a free night at the Long Island Children’s Museum and an end-of-summer fun night on the Uniondale High School athletic fields. We continued our community reading program in the fall, in collaboration with the Uniondale Public Library, and this month we’re launching a Reading Buddy program with the teens of Jack and Jill of America’s Nassau County chapter. All of these initiatives not only spread awareness of the importance of reading, but also signal that there’s a shared responsibility for children’s reading in our community, and we all have to do our part. The solution to the literacy crisis is within our reach. By working together and reminding young people of the magic and power within the pages of a book, we can reverse this trend and empower the next generation. Monique Darrisaw-Akil is superintendent of the Uniondale school district.

Framework by Tim Baker

At the Electric Light Parade — Long Beach

protect the interests of riders and taxpayers. LARRY PENNER Great Neck Larry Penner is a transportation advo-

cate, historian and writer who previously served as a director of the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.

UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON — January 2, 2025

America’s literacy crisis is everyone’s responsibility

Mount Sinai South Nassau is High Performing in Six Areas of Care.

mountsinai.org/southnassau 1254271

January 2, 2025 — UNIONDALE HERALD BEACON