Uniondale Herald 10-10-2024

UNIONDALE

High school mentorships set to return

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

With the school year well underway, Rhonda Taylor, assistant superintendent of the Uniondale school district,

and members of the Hofstra University staff. From April to June, their role was to communicate with the mentees, as well as their teachers and administrators, if needed, to keep them on top of their

Some mentors tees, some offered ing times of stress, and some even gave them daily wake-up calls, Taylor said, to make sure they

“(Mentees) need somebody who can just encourage them to hang in there,” Taylor said. “Whichever way they could get together with them, they were able to do

Ocampo said that uated — 11 in June and the other two in August. And all of them were accepted

exchange phone numbers. The mentors in the program were “folks who just live in the community,” Taylor said, including firefighters, emergency medical technicians, heads of civic organizations

Although My Brother’s Keeper was created for young gram also accepts struggling young women who believe they would benefit from having a mentor. Six of the mentees last year were young women. The mentees were chosen based on a three-tier system

David Podles, a renowned violinist from Latvia, performed in the afternoon, drawing a large crowd of kids and adults. He played 15 songs in total, from folk medleys to ballads, all from different countries, and shared information about each piece’s country of origin, its composer and the style of music. Argentina, Podles explained, is known for

tillo, five notes played across four beats. Podles played the first recorded merengue from 1906, composed by Luis Alberti. Salsa music is popular in Venezuela, Podles said. Salsa is a combination of many Latin, African and Caribbean music styles, and Podles played the popular Venezuelan

UNIONDALE

Alice Moreno/Herald Corie Mason, 15, left, and 14-year-olds Jessie Mason, Katherine Garcia and Dallis Cooke, of the Uniondale Library’s Junior Friends, helped put together one of the library’s Hispanic Heritage celebrations last Saturday.

Uniondale Library celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

The Uniondale Library held a series of Hispanic Heritage Month programs last Saturday, to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and to bring the community together.

“It’s important to represent the people of our community and celebrate them,” Amanda Borgia, the library’s head of teen services, said.

David Podles, a renowned violinist from Latvia, performed in the afternoon, drawing a large crowd of kids and adults. He played 15 songs in total, from folk medleys to ballads, all from different countries, and shared information about each piece’s country of origin, its composer and the style of music. Argentina, Podles explained, is known for

the tango, a well-known rhythmic music style that has variations among composers but has a common time signature and repeated musical patterns. He played “Adiós Muchachos,” by famed Argentine composer Julio César Sanders, to demonstrate the typical style.

The Dominican Republic is known for its fast-paced merengue music, Podles told the crowd. Merengue is traditionally played with a unique rhythmic pattern called quintillo, five notes played across four beats. Podles played the first recorded merengue from 1906, composed by Luis Alberti.

Salsa music is popular in Venezuela, Podles said. Salsa is a combination of many Latin, African and Caribbean music styles, and Podles played the popular Venezuelan

High school mentorships set to return

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

With the school year well underway, Rhonda Taylor, assistant superintendent of the Uniondale school district, and Pablo Ocampo, assistant principal at the high school, are preparing for the next cohort of mentees in the My Brother’s Keeper Mentor Program.

The program is a way for struggling seniors at Uniondale High to have an extra support system in place to push them to graduation.

“We clearly started out wanting to look for seniors who were struggling to get to the finish line for graduation, and thinking about who could mentor those scholars,” Taylor explained.

and members of the Hofstra University staff. From April to June, their role was to communicate with the mentees, as well as their teachers and administrators, if needed, to keep them on top of their school responsibilities.

N ow that we’ve already started it last year and we have mentors that are able and willing, we’re ready to start a lot earlier this year.

PABLo ocAmPo

Assistant principal, Uniondale High School

The program began last school year, and didn’t get off the ground until April, when the 13 mentees from the high school gathered with nine volunteer mentors at a breakfast to meet one another and exchange phone numbers.

The mentors in the program were “folks who just live in the community,” Taylor said, including firefighters, emergency medical technicians, heads of civic organizations

Some mentors tutored their mentees, some offered them support during times of stress, and some even gave them daily wake-up calls, Taylor said, to make sure they made it to school.

“(Mentees) need somebody who can just encourage them to hang in there,” Taylor said. “Whichever way they could get together with them, they were able to do that.”

Ocampo said that all 13 mentees graduated — 11 in June and the other two in August. And all of them were accepted by at least one college, according to Taylor.

Although My Brother’s Keeper was created for young men of color, the mentor program also accepts struggling young women who believe they would benefit from having a mentor. Six of the mentees last year were young women.

The mentees were chosen based on a three-tier system

Library entertains patrons of all ages

piece “Moliendo Café,” composed by Hugo Blanco.

He closed his set with music from the United States — Jennifer Lopez’s “Si Ya Se Acabó.” He played the familiar tune on his as an encore after a long round of applause and cheers.

Sylvia Piper, a social worker, said she was happy to spend a day off at the concert.

“He was excellent,” Piper said of Podles. “I learned a lot about the different countries, the music and what they stand for.”

“I was impressed by the fact that some little countries, like Nicaragua and Panama, have impressive music,” Knesia Slotska, another attendee, said. “I enjoyed every note.”

In the morning, Andrés Gallardo, from Bilingual Birdies, a bilingual education program for children 6 and younger, visited the library for an inter-

empanadas in the middle.

active musical storytime. Gallardo and the kids sang songs and played with shakers and scarves as he taught them English and Spanish.

Later in the afternoon, the Junior Friends, a teen volunteer program headed by Borgia, offered their own Hispanic Heritage celebration, which they do every year. They decorated the library’s media room with flags and banners to represent different Latin American countries. They also had a table of food and drinks, with different kinds of

Carlos Pavan, an Argentine guitarist and composer, visited the library to play some of his songs. He performed a variety of pieces for a large group of children and adults who gathered for the show, including milonga, another traditional Argentinean music style, and a lullaby he wrote for his nephew 13 years ago. He shared his passion for his culture with the audience and implored them to “never forget your heritage.”

Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of Hispanic history and culture in the United States that begins on Sept.

15, to commemorate the independence days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, as well as Mexico’s, on Sept. 16, and Chile’s, on Sept. 18. President Ronald Reagan expanded the commemoration into a month-long celebration in 1988, 20 years after President Lyndon B. Johnson designated the first Hispanic Heritage Week.

“Hispanic heritage is a part of a lot of people’s heritage,” Corie Mason, 15, president of the Junior Friends, said. “It’s good to be able to celebrate it every year.”

Alice Moreno/Herald

Violinist David Podles performed a variety of songs from Latin American countries to honor their cultures.

A crowd gathered to watch Carlos Pavan play guitar.

Community leaders fight youth violence with annual march

By REI WOLFSOHN Correspondent

Community activists gathered in Roosevelt on Saturday to show that even though violence has decreased in the town, communities will still continue the fight for peace.

Bishop J. Raymond Mackey and his daughter Assistant Pastor Crystal Mackey, of the Tabernacle of Joy Church in Uniondale, led the 18th annual Stop the Violence, Increase the Peace march through the streets of Roosevelt.

People from surrounding communities, including Roosevelt, Uniondale, and Baldwin, gathered in support of facilitating peace in their neighborhoods. Helping End Violence Now, a local organization of activists, was present, as well as the NAACP. The Roosevelt High School band performed as people marched.

Assistant Pastor Mackey spoke of the causes of gang and youth violence in her community, which she said can come from anything going on in the world, like “the economy, the stressors of life, people not having what they need.”

“Our focus is more so to look at what people do need and being able to provide those resources so it doesn’t have to lend to criminal activity,” she said.

Bishop Mackey believes that healing the community and the world starts with healing the whole person from the inside out, sharing a story that reflects this need.

“A young boy came home from school and wanted to play, and the dad was tired,” he explained. “So the dad gave him a picture, and he ripped up the picture, and it was a news article, a picture of the world. He said, ‘When you put this together, we’ll play.’

“In less than ten minutes he was back, he had it together,” Mackey continued. “And (the dad) asked him how he

was able to get it put together so quickly. He said, ‘Well, on the back of the world was a man’s head. When I put the man’s head together, the world was together.’”

“If we can work on mankind and getting our thoughts together,” he added, “it will impact the whole world.”

Deacon Aaron L. Scott of Mount Sinai believes a key problem in the continuation of community violence is that local churches aren’t stepping up and intervening enough.

“They need better leadership,” Scott said. “When I grew up here, every church came together. Didn’t matter

whether they were Jewish or Italian or whatever it was, but they all came together and had meetings and talked about what was going on in the community.”

Pearl Jacobs, a Uniondale native and the president of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association, said that the police are a vital part of solving youth and gang violence, and that gangs are a nexus of this violence.

“Young people need structure,” Jacobs said. “A lot of gang violence is very prevalent in Long Island. A lot of young people gravitate to gangs because they have

nothing else to do. There need to be programs, mentorships, for young people, so these gangs won’t bring them in.”

Something that all of the organizations present at the march have in common is that they offer youth programs that provide mentorship and positivity.

“We’ve had a lot of men drop their flags, go to school, graduate from college,” Bishop Mackey said. “A lot have gotten married, have families. We have so many success stories. When you meet the whole man, the whole man becomes healthy.”

Rei Wolfsohn/Herald

Community leaders Deacon Aaron L. Scott, Barbara Solomon, Pearl Jacobs, Crustal Mackey, Amar Menton, and Sandra Brown gathered before the Stop the Violence, Increase the Peace march on Oct. 5.

The dancers in the Roosevelt High School marching band participated in the march. Sandra Brown and Amhari Vassell held up the Helping End Violence Now banner.

Steps of hope at Alzheimer’s Association walk

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

The 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s — the Alzheimer’s Association’s largest annual fundraiser — returned to East Meadow on Oct. 6 to support breakthrough research and quality-of-life care for people with dementia.

The walk in Eisenhower Park was one of about 600 happening nationwide.

The Alzheimer’s Association Long Island Chapter continues to provide a community and support system for people with Alzheimer’s, their families, friends, and caretakers, while raising awareness of the importance of brain health, said Community Educator Francesca Todaro.

“I feel like a lot of people that have Alzheimer’s or are confused about Alzheimer’s and other dementias, really could use the education and resources that the association can help them with,” Todaro said.

Before the walk, a Promise Garden ceremony was held, displaying solidarity where walkers carried color-coordinated flowers that represented how Alzheimer’s affected their lives and the people around them.

“It is very touching to hear the stories of how people are personally affected by this disease,” Nassau Walk Committee Member Michele Targovnik said in a news release. “The Promise Garden Ceremony is special because when you see

everyone around you holding different color flowers it makes you feel so supported and wonderful to be standing next to the person next to you.”

Ed Miller, the vice chair for the Alzheimer’s Association Long Island Chapter Board of Directors, played a leading role in making the past two year’s walk a success in Nassau County. Miller joined the Long Island chapter after his father was diagnosed with

together at Eisenhower Park for this event, and to walk together and to see a sea of purple.”

There are 426,500 people in New York aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s Dementia, and over 7 million across the country, according to the Long Island Chapter. While symptoms become severe later in life, the brain changes that cause Alzheimer’s can begin decades before symptoms start. This period of time is a critical opportunity for people at risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia to reduce the risk of the disease and catch its symptoms as early as possible.

Alzheimer’s researchers have made significant progress in treatments that improve the quality of life of Alzheimer’s patients and caretakers. The breakthroughs — such as a blood test that can help identify Alzheimer’s early — allow for intervention before symptoms escalate.

dementia in 2019. Miller, his sister, and mother faced challenges in providing the care an individual with dementia requires, so he began to participate in fundraisers like the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

“I did my first walk in 2022 — it moved me, and it kept moving me,” Miller said. “It’s an absolute honor to come

“There’s been a lot of breakthroughs that have come out in the news over the course of the last couple of years,” Miller said. “These are treatments that aren’t going to eradicate the disease at this point, but they are treatments, and there is hope.

For more information on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the Long Island event, or to view other events, visit Alz.org or call (800) 272-3900.

Brittany Krilov/Herald photos

Walkers took steps for a brighter future at the Alzheimer’s Association of Long Island’s annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Eisenhower Park.

NASSIR EDWARDS

Elmont Senior Football

A MAJOR PART of Elmont’s run to the Nassau and Long Island boys’ basketball championships last winter, Edwards is also one of the county’s top football wide receivers. Although he didn’t have a catch Sept. 28 in a driving rainstorm against Lynbrook, he did more than his share of damage on the defensive side of the ball. Edwards had a 40-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown and a 70-yard interception return for a score to lead an 18-7 victory.

GAMES TO WATCH

Thursday, Oct. 10

Football: V.S. North at Floral Park 2 p.m.

Football: MacArthur at Carey 2:15 p.m.

Football: Jericho at Mepham 2:15 p.m.

Football: Sewanhaka at Calhoun 2:15 p.m.

Football: South Side at Garden City 3 p.m.

Football: Plainedge at Wantagh 3 p.m.

Football: Kennedy at Lynbrook 4:30 p.m.

Football: New Hyde Park at Long Beach 4:30 p.m.

Football: Roosevelt at Baldwin 4:30 p.m.

Football: Malverne at Lawrence 4:30 p.m.

Football: East Meadow at Hempstead 4:30 p.m.

Boys Soccer: Hicksville at Freeport 5 p.m.

Boys Soccer: Lawrence at Plainedge 5 p.m.

Boys Soccer: Syosset at Uniondale 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Oceanside at MacArthur 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Malv/East Rockaway at Lynbrook 5:30 p.m.

Football: Elmont at Manhasset 6:30 p.m.

Football: Herricks at V.S. Central 6:45 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Seaford at Plainedge 6:45 p.m.

Girls Volleyball: Wantagh at Long Beach 6:45 p.m.

Girls Volleyball: Mepham at Lynbrook 6:45 p.m.

Girls Volleyball: Mineola at South Side 6:45 p.m.

Boys Volleyball: Calhoun at Roslyn 6:45 p.m.

Girls Volleyball: Plainedge at MacArthur 6:45 p.m.

Football: East Rockaway at Island Trees 7 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.

Uniondale unbeaten streak at 11

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Malverne/East Rockaway’s girls’ soccer team saw its three-game winning streak come to an end last Saturday, but the Rockin’ Mules still managed a hard-fought 1-1 draw with visiting Uniondale thanks in large part to junior goalkeeper Kiera Stephens.

Stephens made 24 saves, including 16 in the first half, and allowed just a penalty kick goal to Karla Martinez as Malverne/ East Rockaway (7-2-2 in Nassau Conference AAA/AA5) overcame the absence of top defender Sophia Pappas for all but the first 20 minutes due to injury.

“We lost to them 3-0 the first time, so to battle back from being down 1-0 at halftime to get the tie, we’ll take it,” Stephens said. “Everyone on defense worked hard and we possessed the ball more in the second half. It’s fun to be having such a great season.”

Nicole Buzzetta netted the game-tying goal with 26 minutes remaining and the Rockin’ Mules almost won it in the closing seconds. The Knights (6-0-5) extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games but have some work to do to catch Roosevelt for the conference top spot.

“We’ve been pretty steady in all areas of the field,” Uniondale assistant coach Tim Godoy said. “The girls are working well together and our captains have been great. We have a mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen that’s developed nice chemistry.”

Martinez, who also scored on a penalty kick in the first meeting between the teams Sept. 12, opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a hard shot just inside the right post on a penalty kick. Stephens guessed correctly and barely missed getting her fingers on it.

“Next time I might have to go left,” Martinez said of her penalty kick direction. “I’m just glad it went in.”

Stephens, who made 15 saves against Uniondale in the road defeat and has 143 stops in 11 games, was kept extremely busy in the first half. Pappas, described by first-year coach Alexa Adduci as the Rockin’ Mules’ defensive leader, watched the final 60 minutes from the bench after

Uniondale’s Brianna Marquez battled for control of the ball during last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Malverne/East Rockaway.

tweaking a knee. Eighth-grader Scarlet Minnick, freshman Ariana Chinchilla, Dayanara Jose Merino, Paulina Cuthbert, Ariella Pabon and Sonia Velasquez did a tremendous job in the second half, limiting Uniondale’s chances. Cuthbert (9) and Chinchilla (7) are also the team’s leading goal scorers.

“We had a lot of kids step up today and Kiera was incredible,” Adduci said. “Kiera has become more and more aggressive with each game. She was a two-year starter on JV and she’s just a confident keeper.”

With a must-win scenario against Roosevelt on deck, the Knights will host the rematch on their new turf field. The first meeting was a 1-1 draw. Godoy said the defensive work of Emily Ramos, Kimberly Calderon, Sara Chavez and Kimberlyn Hernandez, and the steady goalkeeping of Ashley Bonilla has been outstanding.

“We’ve been working hard since the preseason,” Uniondale’s Madelyn Hernandez said. “It’s my fourth year and this is our best team. We’re a dedicated group and added some fresh young talent.”

Tony Bellissimo/Herald

“The

—George Karatzas, James Cress Florist, Smithtown

Unoccupied business spaces are an opportunity to help bring vitality to downtown areas. For George Karatzas, owner of James Cress Florist, staying downtown was a priority, but costs were prohibitive. Then George applied for our Vacant Space Revival Program, which has provided $2,462 in bill credits to help offset his overhead.* And Smithtown continues to have a business that brings warmth and charm to the area. It’s a beautiful thing to see come together—just like George’s floral arrangements.

*Incentives, grants, and savings will vary with every project. psegliny.com/EcoDev

Bynoe aims to use her experience in Albany

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

When Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe announced her campaign for the seat in the 6th State Senate District last December, she highlighted her decades of work in Mineola and emphasized that there is still more work to be done across the state.

During her visit to the Herald for a Roundtable session, Bynoe, 56, reflected on her time as a public servant — a path inspired by her parents, who were dedicated to serving their community.

“I believe that my parents, the way they raised my sister and I, it was to really do hard work,” she said. “They were public servants themselves, and they taught us the value of always making sure you work to make wherever you live or work a better place.”

Before becoming the legislator for District 2, Bynoe built a foundation in public service as commissioner of the North Hempstead Housing Authority, to which she was appointed by the North Hempstead Town Council in 2008. The Westbury native was elected to the Westbury Board of Education in 2010, where she served two terms and focused on educational policies. In 2014, she was elected to the County Legislature in a special election.

Despite being in the minority in Mineola, Bynoe said that many of the things she has accomplished — including the passage of the Ground Water and Public Supply Facts Report Law and implementation of police body cameras — could be advanced to the state agenda if she were elected to the Senate.

Hernesto Galdamez/Herald Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe is running for State Senate in the 6th District. With many years of public service, she wants to be a voice for all Long Islanders.

ly for folks who we want to ensure have access to health care; they could be right on the campus.”

On the topic of mental and behavioral health, Bynoe is a strong advocate of increasing access to mental health resources, a pressing issue in today’s society. In Mineola, she successfully passed legislation to conduct a study and recommend alternative police responses to calls about mental health crises.

Earlier this year, Baldwin Middle School unveiled an in-house wellness center on its campus. Asked if she would push for more in-house facilities at schools, Bynoe said that she would, in a thoughtful way.

“We should go to those community organizations, including schools, that can host those types of facilities on their campuses and have folks that are already doing the work, fund them, and go in and talk to the young people,” she said.

With years of experience in the legislature, Bynoe aims to be the voice for Long Island residents in Albany if she is elected, addressing their concerns and striving for balance.

“We need to turn the corner — it’s a public-benefit hospital that provides Trauma One care, and we have tons of people within the Senate district that rely on that hospital,” Bynoe said. “There are opportunities there for senior housing, workforce housing, especial-

Her top priority in Albany would be to preserve public benefits and resources like Nassau University Medical Center, which was on the brink of a financial collapse earlier this year. Another priority is the need for housing, particularly the potential for residential development on the NUMC campus.

“Making sure that we have a voice — a strong voice in the Senate that really has a pulse on the issues and the concerns of Long Islanders,” she said. “I also want to go to Albany to bring some balance and make sure that, despite the fact that we have fewer members, we are equally as important, and our issues need to be addressed.”

Montefinise targets rising crime, economy

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

The 6th State Senate District hasn’t had a Republican representative since 2018 — when then Sen. Kemp Hannon had occupied the seat for 29 years — but Thomas Montefinise aims to change that in November.

Montefinise, an Oceanside native, graduated from Oceanside High School, and then went to Nassau Community College before transferring to Hofstra University, where he earned a degree in history. He went on to finish a law degree at CUNY School of Law.

He has had a diverse career, with jobs ranging from repairing commercial kitchen equipment at a friend’s business to managing municipal contracts and real estate matters at the Nassau County attorney’s office. He has also practiced matrimonial, family and criminal law.

One of the key issues Montefinise is campaigning on is the rising crime that he says is affecting his neighborhood and communities across Long Island. He is particularly critical of the state’s bail reform law, which allows those charged with misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies to be released while awaiting their court dates.

“There’s a lot of crazy stuff that I see going on,” Montefinise said at a recent Herald Roundtable. “Bail reform, cashless bail — I mean, I represented criminal defendants, and everybody deserves to have their stories heard. (But) there’s a process. Everybody deserves a day in court, but you also need to give the tools to the prosecutors and police to be able to get their job done, because if people start feeling like they can’t call the police to help them, and feel like they can’t rely on the prosecutor to protect them, the system falls apart.”

Also on next month’s ballot is a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would ban discrimination based on many types of discrimination, including age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

Montefinise said he read through the proposition once, and based his understanding on his law school education.

“I do think that there are legitimate reasons, sometimes, to make a categorization based on sex and gender,” he said. “This is based on the way I’ve been reading it, and kind of where I think they’re heading. They’re trying to elevate that to strict scrutiny, (and) strict scrutiny means no classification can ever be made.”

Montefinise said he was also concerned about the state of middle-class people living on Long Island, and described them as being “squeezed out.”

“I think one of the major things that we need to look at is making sure that we don’t increase spending and we reallocate spending,” he said. “We need to look at where the dead weight is. Where are we throwing money?”

He used the ongoing influx of migrants as an example.

“We need to raise and be able to lift up wages, and be able to incentivize programs,” Montefinise said. “That’s really what we need to do. We have to reallocate money. I think what we’re doing is we’re cutting money, and we’re spending it in all the wrong places.”

Engaging with constituents is essential for anyone running for public office, and Montefinise noted that he has been actively listening to district residents who share their concerns and needs, a process that has been new territory for him.

Hernesto Galdamez/Herald Thomas Montefinise is running on the Republican ticket for the seat in the 6th State Senate District, currently held by Democrat Kevin Thomas, who is not seeking re-election after serving since 2019.

“I’ve met a lot of people,” he said. “I’ve never done something like this before, but I’ve been hearing about the economy, prices of goods, inflation, and safety. It’s been an awesome experience.”

My Brother’s Keeper program looks to return

that was implemented last September, Matt Ritter, the district’s assistant superintendent for planning, assessment, data and accountability, explained. The system identifies the students who “need the most social, emotional and academic support” by dividing them into three tiers based on their grades and performance.

“These procedures and tools help us analyze students’ needs and put them into tiers according to how much help they’re going to need to get them across the finish line,” Ritter said. Tier three students get “safety nets” based on their increased needs, including being a part of the mentor program.

This year, all nine original mentors are returning to the program, and more community members have shown interest in joining as well. Mentees have not officially joined yet, but Taylor said she and Ocampo have already identified and met with some seniors who may be a good fit for the program based on their performance from the previous year.

Ocampo said they are planning to get this year’s program started by November, to give the mentors and mentees more time for support and relationship building.

“Now that we’ve already started it last year and we have mentors that are able and willing,” Ocampo said, “we’re ready to start a lot earlier this year.”

“I think we’ll have fewer boys in a situation of possibly not graduating this year because we’re starting so much earlier,” Taylor added.

The National My Brother’s Keeper organization has six national milestones that community chapters are meant to meet, and one of them is Graduating from High School Ready for College and Career. Taylor and Ocampo implemented the mentor pro -

gram through MBK to help meet that goal. This program is just one of the initiatives the Uniondale school district has taken to increase the graduation rate, which has been a major district goal.

The official graduation rate from the 2023-24 school year will be released later this year, but based on the numbers from the district, it is expected to be over 90 percent for the first time in Uniondale.

COMMUNITY

10/31/2024 5:30 p.m. Uniondale 11/21/2024 5:30 p.m. Uniondale 12/19/2024 5:30 p.m. Uniondale 01/30/2025 5:30 p.m. Uniondale 02/27/2025 5:30 p.m. Uniondale 03/27/2025 5:30 p.m. Uniondale 04/24/2025 5:30 p.m. Uniondale 05/29/2025 5:30 p.m. Uniondale 06/26/2025 5:30 p.m. Uniondale 07/24/2025 5:30 p.m. Uniondale

Courtesy Uniondale school district

Mentors and mentees from last school year’s My Brother’s Keeper Mentor Program gathered at a breakfast for the first time in April to get the program started. This year’s program is expected to start by November.

Guests ‘come together’ for annual gala

The annual Pan Am Gala came to the Cradle of Aviation Museum to pay homage to the history of the airline and the legacy of the Beatles, who came to America 60 years ago. The Saturday evening event, hosted by the Pan Am Museum Foundation, saw a large crowd of people enjoying the night and raising money for the museum.

Sam Donaldson, former Chief White House Correspondent for ABC News, gave the keynote speech. At 90, he spoke about his memories from his lengthy career, including his experiences flying on Pan Am on the Presidential Press Charter flights.

“I think those times were such that even if you didn’t know it, you were on the world’s best airline,” he said in his speech.

Other speakers presented the history and future of the Pan Am airline, which was originally founded in 1927. The Cradle of Aviation Museum “will preserve and exhibit Pan Am artifacts commemorating the company’s history, contributions to aviation, and the extraordinary people of Pan Am,” according to the museum’s website.

The museum houses former aircrafts and other materials for patrons to learn from and holds different educational events, according to the website. The money raised by the gala, including a $22,000 auction of a large Pan Am London poster, will go to the museum.

The other highlight of the night was Strawberry Fields, a famous Beatles tribute band. The group has performed across the country and around the world, including at Shea Stadium, Citi Field, Yankee Stadium, and Fenway Park, according to their website. They performed a variety of Beatles hits that had the guests up and dancing all night.

Many people, from Pan Am staff to Beatles fans and supporters, attended the gala. Rita Sottile, a Queens native, traveled to the gala from her Dallas home to show her support to Pan Am and reminisce about her time as the

administrative assistant in the Beatles’ Manhattan office. She spent two years in the role — 1968 to 1970 — and many years before that as a Beatles fan.

She said that New York was the epicenter of Beatlemania in America and “there was nothing like it.” The Beatles changed music forever, she said.

“The fact that I came into this role with the Beatles changed my whole life,” she said.

To learn more about the Pan Am Museum Foundation, visit ThePanAmMuseum.org.

— Kelsie Radziski

Tim Baker/Herald

Sam Donaldson, former Chief White House Correspondent for ABC News, gave the keynote speech at the annual Pan Am Gala on Saturday night, honoring his career and the airline.

The crowd of gala attendees listened to Sam Donaldson’s keynote speech.

The band brought to 60s vibes to the gala, playing in front of a crowd of Beatles fans.

Strawberry Fields, a famous Beatles tribute band, played all the Beatles’ biggest hits.

STEPPING OUT

Fl!ppin’ out at the circus

It’s all a thrill with daredevils under the Big Top

By Danielle Schwab

The Big Top has sprung up on Long Island once again for a Fl!p Circus spectacular that brings audiences up close to the action.

The circus spectacle, which wowed audiences here earlier in the spring, brings its intimate Big Top experience back, now through Oct. 15, to Hicksville’s Broadway Commons.

Fl!p Circus was started by the Vazquez family, a long line of circus performers dating back over 50 years. Its older counterpart, the Circus Vazquez, originated in Mexico City in 1969 and has since ventured to the U.S.

While Circus Vazquez has one of the largest tents in America, Fl!p Circus has one of the smallest with around 800 seats. It brings a refreshing, more intimate look at the circus experience with no seat more than 50 feet from the ring.

“It makes it very different and very unique. We wanted to create a show that appealed more to the traditional side of the circus,” says Alexa Vazquez, a fourth-generation performer.

“The seats are made for a 360-degree view, so wherever

• Now through Oct. 15

• Weekdays, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 1 and 4 p.m.; Sunday, noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m.

• Tickets start at $50 adult, $30 children; available at flipcircus.com or can be purchased in person at box office

• Broadway Commons, 358 N. Broadway, Hicksville

you’re sitting, you’re getting the best view. You feel like a part of the performance,” she continues.

Training since she was 15,

Vazquez showcases her acrobatic skills in her mesmerizing Hula Hoop gymnastics act. She weaves various hoops together simultaneously, including a giant hoop, the Cyr Wheel.

“It’s something where, if you lose concentration very quickly, it can go very wrong,” Vazquez explains.

“But at the same time it’s fun because people see a gigantic wheel, but then they see a smaller one. It’s confusing for them, but fun at the same time.”

Fl!p Circus takes traditional acts and gives them a contemporary twist with — in the grand circus tradition — an international flair. Jugglers, trapeze artists and daredevils from throughout the world — including Brazil, India, Chile, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Mexico, and the U.S. — live and travel together from location to location.

That global flavor is led by Brazil’s favorite clown, Bubi Guiner, who brings his classic comedic routines and side-splitting antics to the U.S. for the first time. He may even invite you on stage as part of the show.

From India, watch as Hasan Ansari thrills audiences with his flexibility, performing body-bending maneuvers on a wooden pole, leaving you wondering how a human body can do that. Ukraine’s Anastasia & Misha present a stunningly synchronized and poetic presentation of dance and acrobatics. Also Pavel Valla Bertini, a fifth-generation performer from the Czech Republic, keeps everyone on the edge of their seats

with his unparalleled one, three and even 15-wheeled unicycle skills.

Others delight audiences with their fast-paced juggling skills, energetic roller skating feats, graceful dancing and acrobatics.

There’s always something new to enjoy, no matter how many times you go, according to Vasquez.

“Every year that it comes to town, you’re going to see a different show,” she says.

Every act brings a different culture to the stage. Each is accompanied by a special musical score, played by the Fl!p Circus Band. The versatile soundtrack ranges from classic instrumental to upbeat rock.

“I always like to say, with Flip to expect the unexpected,” says Vazquez. “As you walk into the stands — (with) the music, the lights, and the way the atmosphere is set — you’re inside a different world, and it’s something that you have to experience yourself.”

And, of course, there’s an assortment of tasty circus treats to munch on from the concession stand.

Capturing over 200 years of circus tradition into high-energy show, Fl!p Circus invites everyone to immerse themselves in the experience.

“We just want the audience to enjoy the show, and we want them to be transformed into what we’re doing,” says Vasquez. “We want the audience, when they come in, to feel welcome, to feel like they’re a part of the family.”

Tom Colicchio on ‘why he cooks’

Get an unprecedented insights into the life of one of America’s top chefs when Tom Colicchio brings his “Why I Cook” book tour to the Paramount stage. Part memoir-part cookbook, Colicchio’s newest book shares an exclusive look inside the mind and kitchen of the beloved multiple-Awardwinning chef, restaurateur, and television personality. Colicchio cooked his first recipe at 13-yearsold — a stuffed eggplant from an issue of Cuisine magazine that he picked up out of boredom — and it changed his life. Through 10 memoir chapters and 60 recipes, “Why I Cook” shares Colicchio’s personal reflections of more than 40 years behind the stove. From pre-dawn fishing excursions with his grandfather to running the flat-top at the snack shack of the local swim club, to finding his way as a young chef in New York City, into Tom’s life yet.

Saturday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m.$95, $65, $54, $35. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Anthony Pascal and Anthony Rapp

Get ready to be swept away with Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, the original stars of “Rent.” Their enduring friendship, spanning three decades, forms the heart and soul of this duo show, promising an evening filled with music, anecdotes and laughter. Pascal and Rapp’s friendship and history create an unforgettable evening of music, stories and fun. Expect songs from highlights throughout their careers, music that has influenced their lives, and of course some of the iconic hits from where it all began — meeting on the stage of “Rent.” Jonathan Larson’s iconic show, remains an international phenomenon, contuing a trajectory that began with it’s Off-Broadway opening all those years ago.

Thursday, Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m. $69, $64, $54. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Visit landmarkonmainstreet.org for tickets and information, or call (516) 7676444.

Photos courtesy Fl!p Circus

Modern yet vintage describes the Fl!p Circus experience.

THE Your Neighborhood

Oct. 19

Steve Martin and Martin Short

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 guest performers at Tilles Center’s 2024 Gala, Saturday, oct. 19, 8:30 p.m. 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. The jokes come at you at a rapid-fire pace with little set-up and big punch lines as they mock Hollywood and the fickle nature of celebrity, but the comedy truly soars when they lovingly (and relentlessly) roast each other. Martin and Short’s chemistry and timing on stage reflects a friendship forged over three decades which developed when they met for the first time on the set of the 1986 film “Three Amigos.” These two titans of comedy have been touring together since 2015, when they launched their first live show entitled “A Very Stupid Conversation.” Tickets start at $70. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

‘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, Saturday, oct. 12, 7-8:30 p.m. and 9-10:30 p.m.; also 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 SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.

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.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment Celebrates Environmental Equinox Awards Gala

On Thursday, Sept. 26, the Citizens Campaign for the Environment hosted its annual Environmental Equinox Awards Gala, celebrating over 35 years of grassroots advocacy and environmental achievements. The event highlighted the organization's tireless efforts to protect New York's natural resources and promote sustainable practices across the region.

Sands New York was a proud sponsor of the evening, underscoring its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of CCE, emphasized the importance of collaboration in advancing environmental goals: “We are stronger when we all work together. Our community of advocates and supporters is essential to preserving our

who we are:

environment and our natural resources for future generations.

This year's honorees made a lasting impact in this fight, and we are grateful for all of our sponsors, including Sands New York, and their partnership in our mission.”

Tracey Edwards, Senior Vice President and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer at Sands New York, echoed the importance of community-driven initiatives:

“At Sands New York, we believe that sustainability isn’t just a corporate responsibility—it’s a collective one. We are proud to stand alongside Citizens Campaign for the Environment and support their incredible work to safeguard New York’s ecological future.”

The evening was filled with inspiring speeches and a shared dedication to continue fighting for cleaner air, water, and land.

Celebrating a bright future with S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth's 24th Anniversary Gala

This September, S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth celebrated its 24th Anniversary Gala, bringing together community leaders, advocates, and supporters to honor nearly a quarter-century of empowering at-risk youth and preventing gang violence in Long Island communities.

The event, themed "Stronger Together," highlighted the organization's ongoing efforts to create safer, more resilient neighborhoods through education, outreach, and advocacy.

Sands New York proudly served as a sponsor for the evening, reinforcing its support for organizations that foster positive change and community development.

Rahsmia Zatar, Executive Director of S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, expressed gratitude for the unwavering support:

"S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth has spent 24 years standing with young people, offering them the tools and support they need to build brighter futures. We are deeply appreciative of partners like Sands New York who share our vision of empowering youth and strengthening our communities."

Tracey Edwards, Senior Vice President and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer at Sands New York, reflected on the critical nature of investing in youth programs:

"We believe that strong communities start with strong youth.

S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth’s mission aligns with our core values, and we are proud to contribute to the incredible work they do to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to succeed."

The event celebrated not only the achievements of the past but also the ongoing work to create safer and more supportive environments for Long Island’s youth.

Photo provided by Sands

Sands New York was a proud sponsor of this year’s Environmental Equinox Awards Gala presented by Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

Photos provided by Sands

Sands New York joined

S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth to celebrate its 24th Anniversary Gala

Former New York State Governor David Paterson Featured at Long Island Contractors Association Legislative Breakfast

On Sept. 27, 2024, the Long Island Contractors’ Association hosted its annual legislative breakfast at the Hilton Long Island Hotel in Melville, New York. Featured speakers included former New York State Governor and Senior Vice President of Las Vegas Sands David Paterson, the cover feature on the election issue of LICA’s premier trade publication “Road Warriors” and guest speaker Jonathan Martin, Politics Bureau Chief and Senior Political Columnist, Politico where he delivered his keynote: Making Sense of Today’s

Politics.

Guests received a free copy of Jonathan Martin’s co-authored New York Times bestseller book

“This Will Not Pass.” LICA’s honorees included Hon. Steve Stern, New York State Assemblyman with the Leadership Award and the INN Interfaith Nutrition Network with the Partnership award.

More than 250 guests attended the event, including elected officials, principals of the heavy construction industry on Long Island, LICA’s board of directors and staff, and leading labor officials.

Sands Team Turns out to Support Commercial Industrial Brokers Society

of Long Island

The Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island held their 2nd annual women’s golf outing at Stonebridge Country Club in Hauppauge. Sands was an event sponsor and Gina Coletti and Joanna Mikucki represented the project on the course.

CIBS was formed in 1992 out of the shared belief among the

region’s leading brokers that the region needed a unified voice. Since its formation, CIBS has helped upgrade the industry by offering hundreds of educational programs, seminars, and presentations; advocated professional standards and offered grievance resolution; provided informal mentoring relationships; raised tens of

Sweet Success: Long Island Children's Museum Hosts 'Cupcakes & Cocktails' Fundraiser

The Long Island Children's Museum (LICM) hosted its annual Cupcakes & Cocktails fundraiser, a delightful evening filled with creativity, sweet treats, and community spirit. The event attracted supporters from across Long Island, all gathering to enjoy gourmet cupcakes and specialty cocktails, while raising vital funds for LICM’s educational programs and exhibits.

The evening was a perfect blend of fun and philanthropy, with attendees participating in hands-on activities, live entertainment, and auctions featuring unique experiences and local goods. Funds raised from the event will directly support LICM's mission to inspire children and families through interactive exhibits and programs.

LICM Executive Director Erika Floreska expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support:

"Cupcakes & Cocktails is one of our favorite events because it brings together the whole community in a fun and engaging way, all for a great cause. The support we receive allows us to continue focusing on the well-being of children and families through the power of play by offering playful learning experiences for children from all backgrounds, abilities, and ages. We are so thankful to everyone who participated and made this night such a success."

The event proved to be both a sweet and significant way for the Long Island community to support the museum’s efforts in fostering creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning.”

thousands of dollars for local charities; and created social settings in which colleagues have become

friends, and competitors respected peers.

Photo provided by Sands

Former New York State Governor and Senior Vice President of Las Vegas Sands David Paterson was a featured speaker at this year’s annual Long Island Contractors’ Association legislation breakfast.

Photo provided by Sands

Sands served as an event sponsor for the 2nd annual Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island golf outing.

Sands Participates in the Bellmore Street Fair

The Bellmore Street Festival took place from September 20-22, 2024, bringing together local businesses, vendors, and community members for a weekend of food, fun, and entertainment.

Sands New York had a tent where we did face painting and gave out all kinds of swag!

Despite some rain, the Sands team engaged with numerous local residents, business owners, and festival-goers who were excited to learn more about the Sands project and its potential impact on the local economy. The event provided a valuable opportunity to connect with the community, answer questions, and showcase Sands New York's investment in the region.

Sands Celebrates 100 Years of the Uniondale Fire Department

The Uniondale Fire Department marked a century of service with a lively parade and celebration on the afternoon of September 28th, 2024. Sands New York was on site to join the procession at the intersection of Park and Uniondale Avenues and to cheer on and thank Uniondale's brave first responders.

The event was a testament to the Department's dedication, with a strong turnout from local residents and supporters despite the rain. Following the parade, a ceremony was held inside the firehouse where Chief of Department George Martinez, alongside Assistant Chiefs Hicks and Rodriguez, received proclamations recognizing their leadership. The evening wrapped up with a festive block party behind the firehouse, where the community gathered to celebrate.

Tracey Edwards, Senior Vice President and Corporate Responsibility Officer at Sands New York, praised the event, saying, "It was inspiring to see so many young people and families come together to honor Uniondale’s true local heroes. The Fire Department's legacy of service and dedication to this community is an example for all of us."

Sands Addresses East Meadow Chamber

Former New York State Governor and Sands Senior Vice President David Paterson delivered a powerful address to East Meadow Chamber of Commerce members during their Wednesday, Sept. 18 dinner meeting. The gathering, held at the locally-owned Mediterranean Restaurant, featured not only a delicious meal but also a strong show of support from the Chamber's executive board members, reinforcing the community’s commitment to local businesses and leadership.

Photos provided by Sands

Members of the Sands team attended the Bellmore Street Fair to interact with the local community.

Photo provided by Sands

On Sept. 18, Former New York State Governor and Sands Senior Vice President David Paterson addressed members of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce.

Photo provided K2M Photography

On Seor Vice Presidt Meadow Chamber of Commerce.

LI TODAY

Sands Sponsors 2024 Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in New York City

The company’s support of the premier global leadership event represents its aligned commitment to addressing economic empowerment, diversity, hardship relief and climate change.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) was the presenting partner sponsor of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) meeting on Sept. 23-24 in New York City, building on the company’s commitment to addressing economic, social and environmental issues for the betterment of its regions around the world.

The CGI meeting coincided with the U.N. General Assembly and brought together business, government and civil society leaders to drive progress on climate resilience, inclusive economic growth and recovery, health equity, the full participation of women and girls, and humanitarian response efforts to crises around the globe. Since its inception, the CGI has driven more than 4,000 commitments to action in its priority areas, which have improved the lives of nearly 500 million people in more than 180 countries.

“This event has fostered important dialog and established ongoing, forward-thinking global action for tackling the world’s most pressing challenges,” Sands Chairman and CEO Robert G. Goldstein said. “Our support is indicative of our commitment to helping advance CGI priorities, as well as being part of the conversation to learn how our company can meaningfully contribute to these areas.”

“At CGI this year, we’re bringing together hundreds of leaders from across sectors to not only discuss pressing issues facing the world, but also to take action,” Greg Milne, CEO of the Clinton Global Initiative, said. “We’re grateful to Las Vegas Sands for helping to make the CGI 2024 Annual Meeting possible and supporting a community of organizations from the public and private sectors who are implementing solutions to our greatest challenges.”

Sands focuses its work to

who we are:

address global and regional challenges under the People, Communities and Planet pillars of its corporate responsibility program, which drives the company’s efforts to promote workforce development and economic empowerment; advance diversity, equity and inclusion; help eliminate barriers and uplift disadvantaged populations; and ensure ongoing progress in addressing climate change and preserving the planet’s vital resources.

Specifically, Sands has set actionable goals to make tangible progress under each pillar:

People – By 2025, the company aims to invest $200 million in workforce development, which encompasses Team Member advancement, local business and supplier development, and hospitality education in its regions. Since 2021, the company has spent $181 million toward its 2021-2025 workforce development ambition in support of advancing economic

empowerment.

Communities – Sands is committed to building resiliency and making its communities ideal places to live, work and visit through its Sands Cares community engagement program, which prioritizes addressing hardship relief and supporting disadvantaged populations, advancing education, building the capabilities of nonprofit organizations to solve pressing problems, and promoting the cultural and natural heritage of its local regions. By 2025, Sands aims to contribute 250,000 Team Member volunteer hours toward these priorities, augmenting its philanthropic investments.

Underpinning the company’s work in its People and Communities pillars is its dedication to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion through Team Member and supplier programs, along with supporting diverse community organizations to help remove systemic barriers and create opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Planet – To address climate change, Sands has set a target to achieve a 17.5% reduction in emissions by 2025, as compared to a 2018 baseline. In 2023, the company reduced emissions by 50%, even as energy consumption increased with business returning to pre-pandemic levels. The reduction is representative of Sands’ persistent approach to energy-efficiency projects and commitment to renewable energy certificate purchases.

Under the Planet pillar, the company is focused on core environmental priorities in the areas of low-carbon transition, waste, materials and resources, and water stewardship, led by the Sands ECO360 global sustainability program.

The developer of a proposed multi-billion-dollar flagship hospitality and entertainment project on Long Island

Photo provided by Sands

Sands New York hosted a group of Westbury High School scholars at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York City where they met with Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Photo provided by Beatrice Moritz/CGI

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sands Chairman and CEO Robert G. Goldstein.

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.

Saturday Space Lab

Cradle of Aviation hosts a Saturday space lab session on NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission, Saturday, Oct. 12, noon-12:45 p.m. Visitors will also learn how to stargaze in their own backyards with tips and advice from museum educators. $12, $11 for children under 12 and seniors. Cradle of Aviation Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. To purchase tickets or learn more, call (516) 572-4066 or visit CradleOfAviation.org.

Hispanic Heritage Month Family Craft Activities

Make and take fun crafts and learn about their cultural histories at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12-13, 12-4 p.m. Crafts include Mexican piñatas, Salvadorian capirucho, or cup-on-a-stick, and Peruvian siku, or pan flute. Free with museum admission. Cradle of Aviation Museum, Charles Lindbergh Boulevard. To learn more, call (516) 572-4066 or visit CradleOfAviation.org. Oct. 10

Art Craft & Gift Vendor Fair

Spend a day shopping among 75-100 vendors in Eisenhower Park, Sunday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Eisenhower. Free parking and admission. No food available Park, Parking Field 8, 1899 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow. To learn more, call (516) 442-6000 or visit NassauCountyFairs. com.

Having an event?

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program returns for a new season, Saturday, Oct. 12, 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.

Tribute concert

Plaza Theatricals’ tribute series continues, Sunday, Oct 20, 2:30 p.m., with Shades of Grey. From his best-remembered role as the iconic Master of Ceremonies in “Cabaret,”both on Broadway and in the film version, to his more recent portrayal as the Wizard of Oz in “Wicked,” Joel Grey continues to entertain audiences of all ages. And now, continuing his own tradition of creating unique and memorable performances, Bob Spiotto takes to the boards once again, in both story and song, to educate and entertain, as he pays tribute to this legendary performer. See the concert at 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Investment seminar

Financial advisor Kyle Hauptman leads a presentation at Uniondale Library on the foundations of investing, Wednesday, Oct 16, 7-8:30 p.m. 400 Uniondale Ave. For more information or to register, visit UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

Honoring Long Island’s best in health care

By Melissa Berman

Health care professionals traded their scrubs and lab coats for suits and cocktail dresses at the third annual Herald Excellence in Healthcare Awards at the Heritage Club, in Bethpage, on Sept. 18, which honored the best in their field.

The event, organized by the RichnerLIVE team at the Long Island Herald, drew more than 300 attendees, and recognized more than 10 health care professions.

“Tonight is not only a celebration of achievement, but also a sincere expression of gratitude to those who tirelessly safeguard the health and well being of our community,” Amy Amato, Richner Communications’ executive director of corporate relations and events, said. “Your dedication, resilience and passion are truly inspiring.”

Awards were presented to 46 health professionals, including three special honors: Distinguished Visionary, Organization of Excellence and Excellence in Nursing Advocacy.

“From dedicated doctors and nurses to visionary hospital executives and inspiring educators, these honorees are the backbone of our communities’ health,” Stuart Richner, chief executive of Richner Communications, said.

Michelle Ballan, of the Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center, who received an Excellence in Healthcare award, expressed her gratitude for being recognized for her hard work.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be here and to be celebrated, because I’m just a liaison for individuals with disabilities to eradicate and minimize the health care disparities that exist in different settings,” Ballan said. “To be honored for the health care award, it’s really just an extension of the work that my team does for individuals with disabilities, who are the true experts.”

Having worked in the home care field for 20 years, Joseph Verdirame, CEO of Alliance Homecare/TrustHouse, has learned that there are no shortcuts, and you need to provide exceptional care for the patient, he said.

“We’ve spent a lot of time building and developing our business model to really enhance the way home care is provided in the industry,” Verdirame, who also won the Excellence in Healthcare award, said. “We’re very proud of what we’ve accomplished today for all the work we’ve put in.”

According to Luis Fandos, of Alluring Age: Anti-Aging and Wellness Center, who won an Excellence in Healthcare award, it was a dream come true to be honored, and he finally feels that all the effort, sweat and tears he put into his work has come to fruition.

“When you have other people recognize what you do, and appreciate that, it’s priceless,” Fandos said.

The keynote speaker was Stanley M. Bergman, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Henry Schein and the winner of the Distinguished Visionary Award. “Health care is local, and it is critical that we maintain an outstanding quality of health care system here on Long Island,” Bergman said, and

told the crowd, “Thank you for what you do, being amongst the nation’s best health care systems.”

The major sponsors of the awards included Alliance Homecare, Henry Schein, Nassau University Medical Center, the New York State Nurses Association, Northwell Orthopedics, Stony Brook Medicine, The Aspen Group and Trusthouse.

Muriel Donnelly, VP of PR at Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, with Stuart Richner of Richner Communications.

Honoree Jennifer Lazzaro, of Hearing and Brain Centers of America, Long Island.

Honoree Denis Nankervis, of Peconic Bay Medical Center Northwell Health.

Honoree Dr. Howard Goodman, the Long Island Weight Loss Doctor, with Jessica Kleiman of the Long Island Herald.

Jason Thomas/Herald photos

Honoree Michelle Ballan, of Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center, with her family and friends.

Jason Thomas/Herald photos

Honoree John McGuigan, of AHRC Suffolk, right, with Stuart Richner.

Honoree Dr. Brian Mayrsohn, of Maywell Health.

Dr. Jill Kaman, of the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.

Keynote and Distinguished Visionary recipient Stanley Bergman, of Henry Schein.

Honorees Roxanne Carfora, of AgelessMD, and Dr. Luis Fandos, of Alluring Age: Anti-Aging and Wellness Center.

Honorees from Aspen Dental, Lina Patino, DDS, and Roumiana Tzvetkova, DMD.

Honoree Megan C. Ryan, of Nassau University Medical Center.

Honoree Catherine Canadeo, center, of Catherine Canadeo Health & Wellness Corp.

Holden Leeds/Herald photos

Dr. Todd J. Cohen, of New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Melissa Schachter, of the Speech Language Place.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

SURROGATE’S COURT, NASSAU COUNTY

CITATION

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,

By the Grace of God Free and Independent

TO:Grassi & Co.

Office of the NYS

Attorney General

Jasper Surety

Linda Hickey

Ira Ozarin

Sybil Sidelman-Ryan

Nathaniel Ozarin

Nathan Levy

Mark Levy a/k/a Adrian Levy

Nassau County Department of Social Services

Nassau Health Care

Corporation

any and all unknown persons whose names or parts of whose names and whose place or places of residence are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained, distributees, heirs-at-law and next-ofkin of the said Stella Levy, deceased, and if any of the said distributees named specifically or as a class be dead, their legal representatives, their husbands or wives, if any, distributees and successors in interest whose names and/or places of residence and post office addresses are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained.

A petition having been duly filed by Public Administrator of Nassau County, who is domiciled at 240 Old Country Road Suite 603, Mineola, New York 11501. YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Nassau County, at 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York, on November 20, 2024, at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, why the account of Public Administrator of Nassau County, a summary of which has been served herewith, as Administrator of the estate of Stella Levy, should not be judicially settled.

[X] Further relief sought (if any):

1.Releasing and discharging the Petitioner from all liability, responsibility, and accountability as to all matters set forth in the account of proceedings;

2.Allowing the commissions of the Petitioner in the amount of $ 29,704.04 pursuant to SCPA 2307(1) and the reasonable and necessary expenses of the office in the amount of $ 8,568.01 pursuant to SCPA 1207(4);

3.Fixing and determining the attorney’s fees and disbursements of Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC attorney for petitioner in the amount of $ 52,849.36, of which $ 17,849.36 has been paid and $ 35,000.00 is unpaid;

4.Fixing and determining

the accounting fees of Grassi & Co, CPA’s, PC in the amount of $ 6,350.00, of which $ 350.00 has been paid and $ 6,000.00 is unpaid;

5.Releasing and discharging the surety;

6.Directing that Nassau County Department of Social Services show cause why their claim amount of $ 254,404.36 should not be rejected and denied;

7.Directing that Nassau Health Care Corporation show cause why their claim amount of $ 298,608.04 should not be rejected and denied;

8.Directing each of you claiming to be a distributee of the Decedent to establish proof of your kinship, and show cause why the balance of said funds should not be paid to said alleged distributees upon proof of kinship or deposited with the New York State Comptroller on account for the unknown next of kin of Stella Levy, decedent, should said alleged distributees default herein or fail to establish proof of kinship;

9.Granting such other and further relief as to the Court is just and proper. Dated, Attested, and Sealed, September 23, 2024 (Seal)

HON. HON. MARGARET C. REILLY

Surrogate

s/ Debra Keller Leimbach Chief Clerk

Signature of Attorney Richard T. Kerins, Esq. Print Name of Attorney Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC

Firm Name (516) 538-1111

Telephone 254 Nassau Boulevard South, Garden City South, New York 11530

Address rkerins@mmkolaw.com Email (optional)

NOTE: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you, and you or your attorney may request a copy of the full account from the petitioner or petitioner’s attorney. 149306

NASSAU COUNTY, AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF GUMERCINDO LLANOS, ET AL., Defendant (s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 5, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 7, 2024, at 2:00 PM, premises known as 674 WINTHROP DRIVE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553.

All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 0050, Block: 00447-00, Lot: 00018. Approximate amount of judgment is $458,757.22 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 601980/2018. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee’s attorney, or the Referee.

PETER LEVY, Esq., Referee Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff 149308

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR LVS TITLE TRUST XIII, Plaintiff, v. KENNY GAVILANES, ET AL, Defendants. NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE

The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 005515/2016 in the amount of $485,744.00 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

149298

Uniondale wells set for water quality improvements

The Town of Hempstead recently received new electrical components to its Oak Street facility in Uniondale to reduce the elevated levels of 1,4 dioxane in the water supply.

“These electrical components are critical for the operation of the already installed treatment systems,” John Reinhardt, the Town of Hempstead Water Department commissioner, said in a statement to the Herald.

The two Uniondale wells at the Oak Street facility were initially examined in Sept. 2020 and a Basis of Design Report was completed in February 2021, according to the Emerging Contaminant Project Schedule. Elevated levels of dioxane were officially identified in the Town of Hempstead’s 2022 water quality report.

cess treatment systems on 13 wells throughout the town to eliminate the contaminants and comply with the state law.

The new treatment project on the Uniondale wells was supposed to begin in December 2023, but due to delays in materials, the process had to be put on pause until the components arrived. They were finally delivered on Sept. 27.

“With these items in place in the facility, the contractor will now connect the hundreds of cables and wires running throughout the facility to these components and begin energizing and testing each component,” Reinhardt said.

Local organizations and community members have been keeping up with the treatment developments and are relieved that the project can begin.

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR SC PARK LANE II TRUST 2019-1, Plaintiff, vs. EDWARD W. POWERS, AS THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF

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 August 1, 2024, I, Melissa D. Mohan, Esq., the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on November 6, 2024 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: 677 Walter Street Uniondale, NY 11553

SBL #: 50-108-210&211 ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York.

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU DITECH FINANCIAL LLC, -againstFREDERICK T. GLENN, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on June 27, 2023, wherein DITECH FINANCIAL LLC is the Plaintiff and FREDERICK T. GLENN, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 22, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 730 HEMPSTEAD BOULEVARD, UNIONDALE, NY 11553; and the following tax map identification: 50-135-252, 253 & 254. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 602891/2019. Jane P. Shrenkel, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 149054

In 2020, the New York State Department of Health established an official standard for 1,4 dioxane, as well as other chemicals found in the water. In response, the Town of Hempstead Water Department designed Advanced Oxidation Pro-

“It was important to the Uniondale residents because this is an ongoing fight regarding the water quality of Uniondale,” Stacey Richardson, president of the Uniondale Empowerment Resource Committee, said.

— Kelsie Radziski

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU The Bank of New York Mellon FKA The Bank of New York as Trustee for the Certificateholders of the CWABS, Inc., AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2005-2, Plaintiff AGAINST Maria Messias, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 4, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 22, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 725 Newton Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 50, Block: 125, Lot: 48. Approximate amount of judgment $426,994.50 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604195/2019. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the

time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Ron Ferraro, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-090124-F00 82429 148982

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff against DASWELL ANDERSON A/K/A DASWELL S. ANDERSON, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered March 18, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 24, 2024 at 3:00 PM. Premises known as 227 Warren Street, Uniondale, NY 11553. Sec 44 Block 38 Lot 100. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in Uniondale, in the Town of Hempstead, County of

Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $640,112.60 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 604137/2020. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Richard L. Farley, Esq., Referee File # YCHNY333 149024

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES

CORPORATION MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-BC4, -againstHAZEL E. SHAMBERGER, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on February 9, 2023, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES

CORPORATION

MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-BC4 is the Plaintiff and HAZEL E. SHAMBERGER, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 22, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 504 DECATUR STREET, UNIONDALE, NY 11553; and the following tax map identification: 50-122-104, 242, 243, 680 & 681.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 605953/2018. Nicholas Ferrar, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 149052

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

EDITOR/REPORTER

Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

EMAIL MARKETING SPECIALIST

Herald Community Newspapers is seeking a motivated and knowledgeable Email Marketing Expert to join our team. If you have a passion for crafting effective email campaigns and a knack for data-driven decision-making, this role is for you!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Set up and manage email campaigns from start to finish. Analyze data to identify target audiences and optimize email strategies. Craft compelling email content, including writing effective subject lines. Monitor and report on campaign performance.

REQUIREMENTS: Degree in Marketing, Business, or related field. Strong understanding of data analysis and marketing principles. Experience with email marketing is preferred but not required.

POSITION DETAILS: Flexible: Part-time or Full-time. Salary range: $16,640 to $70,000, depending on experience and role.

Join our dynamic team and help us connect with our audience in meaningful ways! Apply today by sending your resume and a brief cover letter to lberger@liherald.com

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

To Deliver Papers To Businesses in Massapequa, Amityville and Babylon 2 Days Per Week

Must Have Own Vehicle/Van This is an independent contractor role for Richner Communications Compensation based on stops starting at $275/week If Interested contact Jim at jrotche@liherald.com or 516-569-4000 x211

JOURNEYMAN

COMMERCIAL/ RESIDENTIAL

Electrical Services. Traveling/ Valid License Required. 7-10yrs. Experience. $28-$34/ hourly. 516-739-3425, hrdepartment@valenteelectric.com

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

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com

Bus Monitors .............. $19.32/hr. food s ervice personnel and c afeteria Monitor $16.00/hr. nurses sub .................. $175/day cleaners ................. $40,454/year

at $15.00/hr. School Nurse, Part-Time

We have an opening for a P/T school nurse, 2 days/wk mostly Wed & Thurs. Pro-rated salary, approx. $240.00/day. RN cert. required. Please apply for positions via OLAS at

Should we avoid cedar for siding, too?

Amazing Location

estled on a picturesque 75x118

Q. We want to replace our cedar siding, and you wrote about not using cedar. Is that just for decks, or also for siding? Our community in Massachusetts insists on cedar siding, but has been accepting lookalikes if they meet their appearance standards at the community review. It wouldn’t make sense for us to consider cedar if it’s as much of a problem as you stated. Please let us know your opinion on what we should do, since we want to try to get the siding done before the winter.

A. In my column, answering the question about decks, I wrote that I don’t recommend cedar as either a structural material or finish board material because of its instability and maintenance issues, for decks, specifically. Natural wood is more reactive to the environment, because it used to be in the middle of a tree, and wasn’t intended to be exposed to the weather in its natural state.

The stronger, solid hardwoods are less reactive, but cedar is a soft wood that easily expands and contracts. Although it’s resistant to insects, it doesn’t last as long as other products. As a siding material, it’s not as big a problem, and it’s reminiscent of the original New England historical architecture it was employed for. It’s very attractive, and the issue of stability and durability is different for its use as a siding material.

There are two basic kinds of natural cedar siding, cedar shakes and cedar shingles. Shingles are cut with blades and shaped uniformly, while shakes, also called “split” shakes, are cut to size at double the thickness (or more) and then split in half. That mimics the rustic and non-uniform look our first settlers developed for making the homes and meeting houses they constructed as weatherresistant as they could manage. The techniques and original tools are still used today.

You may want to reconsider when to do the work, whichever style you choose, because cedar is generally harvested in the winter and early spring, and you’ll get better-quality material to work with in the spring than in the fall. The reason the wood is harvested when it is is because the ground around cedar trees is boggy and swampy, and heavy equipment can’t get to the trees until the ground is hard and stable. (Incidentally, foresting requirements dictate that for every tree harvested, two trees must be planted, and about 1 percent of all cedar trees are taken in a season, meaning there will be plenty of cedar for you when you need it.)

Make sure you have an installer who knows to use a waterproofing membrane and drainage filter fabric first, before the cedar is applied, so the shingles or shakes don’t constantly sit against a wet wall after they’re attached. The original settlers understood this, and used strips of cedar to keep the shakes off the wall to drain and dry. Wetting and drying cycles cause accelerated decay. Good luck!

Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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Miscellaneous For Sale

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FINDS UNDER $100

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SERVICES

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Remembering a cherished friendship with Nelson DeMille

The bestselling, superbly gifted novelist Nelson DeMille recently died. The author of 23 books, including 17 bestsellers, DeMille was so much more than a brilliant writer. He was first and foremost an outstanding human being and a loyal friend.

The first book of his that I read was “Cathedral,” in the early 1980s. It was a gripping tale of an attack on the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I was hooked. Among all of Demille’s books, I found “Gold Coast,” a satiric depiction of Long Island’s North Shore, to be a true classic. My wife, Rosemary, became an almost obsessive reader of his works.

I didn’t actually meet DeMille until the early 2000s, when I was privileged to be invited to several lunches hosted by Mets owner Fred Wilpon and New York jurist Sol Wachtler at which DeMille was also a guest. I was struck immediately by what a regular guy he was. Totally unassuming and down-to-earth. Humorous. Extremely intelligent, and

A

Tknowledgeable on so many topics. Never once telling us how many bestsellers he authored, or mentioning his service in Vietnam as an infantry commander, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star.

Those early gatherings opened the way for lunches, dinners and social gatherings at which Rosemary and I would see Nelson and his wife, Sandy, as well as get-togethers he and I would have with guys we each knew. I distinctly recall the wonderful evening Rosemary and I enjoyed at DeMille’s home, celebrating his 75th birthday with his family and a multitude of friends.

TRosemary, who, in what turned out to be Sandy’s final social event, invited her to a formal congressional lunch in Washington honoring then first lady Melania Trump.

That evening, Sandy joined Rosemary, our daughter, Erin, and me for dinner at a Capitol Hill restaurant, and she was as outgoing and upbeat as ever. Just months later, in September 2018, she died. As devastated as he was, Nelson never showed even the slightest bit of self-pity.

he bestselling author was still the blue-collar guy who grew up in Elmont.

Conversations with him ran the gamut of his varied interests, including dedication to his family and his concern for others. Nothing was more saddening or distressing than when Sandy, a nonsmoker, was stricken with lung cancer. The years following her diagnosis in 2014 were marked by peaks of hope, but then by the darkest valley in 2018, when Sandy succumbed after waging a courageous, uncomplaining struggle.

She was an absolute delight to be with. Intelligent and always upbeat. Sandy was the center of her husband’s life. She was especially friendly with

Rosemary and I continued to get together with DeMille and, if anything, our friendship and admiration for him only deepened. More than ever, I realized that, with all his fame and success, he was, at heart, still the blue-collar guy who grew up in Elmont. Though he moved easily with the socially upscale and the movers and shakers, he very much identified with cops, firefighters, construction workers and military veterans. Those were the people who, through guts and dedication, make our nation work with little recognition or acclaim.

DeMille also never left Long Island. His roots were here, and this was where he stayed.

He continued his literary efforts,

writing, as always, in longhand on yellow legal pads, and rushing feverishly to meet his publisher’s deadlines. His final work was “Blood Line,” published in 2023, which he co-wrote with his son, Alex. Last Oct. 11 I had the privilege of moderating a discussion of “Blood Line” with the two of them before a large audience at LIU Post.

Weeks later, on Oct. 28, Rosemary, and I got together with DeMille at the Paramount, in Huntington, at a reception prior to a performance by Bill O’Reilly and Sid Rosenberg. DeMille was in good spirits, and seemed entirely healthy, but that was the last time we were with him. Soon after, he let us know he was being treated for cancer, but was confident all would be well.

This went on for months. On June 6, Rosemary received an email from him, saying he had just one procedure left, and then we’d be getting together for dinner. That was the last we heard from him. Nelson died of esophageal cancer on Sept. 17.

His wake and funeral, attended by hundreds of admirers and friends, were a celebration of a wonderful man of great accomplishment. He will be missed. Nelson DeMille, R.I.P.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

historic election for all the wrong reasons

his has been a political year like no other in my lifetime. It may be the only year that was dominated by mean-spirited and ugly conduct, all in the name of winning an election. I am not naïve, having run 12 successful campaigns for public office. But the desperate campaign being run by Donald Trump, in his quest for renewed power, will stand out in the history books for many years to come.

Let’s start with this backdrop. Trump lost the 2020 election by 7 million votes. His years of claims that his success was “stolen” are fake by any measure. He admitted that he was beaten by challenging the election results in Georgia. If you lost an election, why would you be asking the Georgia secretary of state to “find 11,780 votes”? What is sad is that there are millions of Americans who have fallen for that charade.

The second historical event that

taints the Trump re-election effort is the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill. Trump once told Americans that they shouldn’t believe what they saw with their own eyes. Whether you’re blind or able to see, at Trump’s urging, hundreds of people broke down the doors to the Capitol and destroyed government property, and their actions contributed to the death of five people. That is not my conclusion. It is the findings of countless jurors who heard the facts after weeks and weeks of criminal trials.

D onald Trump’s vision of the nation is depressing and false.

And so, with the blemish of a torrent of facts that would undo any reelection effort, Trump commenced his 2024 campaign. He once claimed he would “drain the swamp,” but instead he has created a new swamp by conducting a campaign heavy with racial undertones, vicious personal attacks and attacks on the American court system.

There have been so many vitriolic assaults that it would take more than one column to adequately describe all of them. One of the current ones that deserves public scorn is his attacks on

the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio. Despite the pleas of the Republican governor of Ohio, the mayor of Springfield and many other elected officials, both Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, have continued to spread false charges about Haitians eating dogs and cats.

I long ago learned that personal attacks on your opponent don’t get much voter applause. Trump has decided that calling his challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris, “mentally impaired” is a way to get voter support. He also thinks that attacking her appearance is a way to win over skeptical women voters. These tasteless tactics are not the way to get the support of the fast-shrinking independent vote.

One of the winning ways to get voters to be your boosters is to offer solid policy proposals and to give the public a chance to hear your vision for the next 10-plus years. Trump has offered little in way of new ideas, but has Project 2025 as his policy proposal. That 900-plus-page volume, drafted by former officials of his administration, calls for

dismantling the federal government as we know it and turning it over to prescreened loyalists who will complete a menu of bureaucratic horrors. Perhaps the most vexing part of the current Trump effort is his constant harping on what he thinks our country looks like. He describes America as a “failed state.” His vision of the nation is depressing and false. He claims that many thousands of the migrants who have come to America have committed major crimes. Any honest presidential contender would not tear down the country at a time when it wants a leader with a brighter view of the nation.

Obviously, my view of the Trump campaign is not a flattering one. Am I a partisan? I have spent all of my life cultivating relationships with my Republican counterparts, and have succeeded because of our mutual respect. But I draw the line when it comes to Donald Trump. I just don’t think he is the true face of America.

Jerry Kremer was an assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.

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Calling for fire safety, honoring local volunteers

With Fire Prevention Week — Oct. 6-12 — upon us, it’s important to reflect on the significance of fire safety in our communities, and to recognize the extraordinary contributions of the volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians who keep us safe.

These men and women are truly local heroes, but they are also neighbors just a phone call away who risk their lives in hazardous situations that include fires and floods. They should never be taken for granted, and this annual observance serves as a reminder that we all have a role to play in preventing fires and responding to emergencies of all kinds.

There are 71 fire departments in Nassau County — 69 all-volunteer, and two with both professionals and volunteers — along with six volunteer ambulance corps that provide fire, technical rescue and emergency medical help, all serving 1.3 million residents. In Suffolk, more than 125 volunteer fire and EMS agencies serve that county’s population of more than 1.5 million.

Fire Prevention Week is a nationwide campaign aimed at raising awareness of fire hazards and promoting practices that can saves lives. President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed it a national observance in 1925 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which devastated much of the city and claimed hundreds of lives.

“Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!” is this year’s theme. The goal is to

Letters

educate people about the crucial role smoke alarms play in preventing injury and death when a fire breaks out in a home.

Three of every five home fire deaths occur in properties without working smoke alarms, and the risk of dying in a house fire is cut in half when there are functioning alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association. This underscores the fact that fire prevention isn’t just about avoiding accidents — it’s about saving lives.

The American Red Cross also stresses the importance of installing smoke alarms. At the organization’s Sound the Alarm events, volunteers install smoke alarms for free. For more information, go to RedCross.org.

Education is paramount, too. Children, adults and seniors benefit from learning how to prevent fires and to respond appropriately if one breaks out. Teaching children not to play with matches, encouraging adults to avoid being distracted while cooking and reminding seniors to be mindful of electrical appliances are just a few essential lessons that can reduce the likelihood of fires.

It’s also important to honor the brave people who respond when fires and other emergencies occur. Volunteer firefighters often juggle full-time jobs and family responsibilities, yet they still make time to respond to calls for help — whether it’s a house fire, a car accident or a medical emergency.

Letter writer defending D’Esposito was ‘splitting hairs’

To the Editor:

In his letter last week, “Is D’Esposito vulnerable to a House probe?” Christopher Kane complained that the Herald owes Congressman Anthony D’Esposito an apology for an article about the hiring of his mistress and the daughter of his fiancée that was headlined “D’Esposito faces ethics probe over hiring.” Kane argued, in part, that D’Esposito didn’t violate any ethics rules because he wasn’t married to his fiancée.

However, according to a Sept. 23 article in The New York Times, “The House code of conduct prohibits members of Congress from employing spouses or relatives, including stepchildren. Though Mr. D’Esposito has never married, congressional ethics experts said that employing a woman akin to his stepdaughter, who shared a home with him, could breach the requirement that members of Congress ‘adhere to the spirit and the letter of the rules.’”

The Times article continued, “A separate provision adopted in the wake of the #MeToo movement explicitly states that lawmakers ‘may not engage in a sexual relationship with any employee of the House who

They undergo extensive training to ensure that they are equipped to handle the myriad dangerous conditions that can arise in an emergency, and they are often the only line of defense when a home catches fire and lives are on the line. It’s no wonder that so many people find firefighters’ dedication so inspiring.

The same is true for volunteer EMTs, who provide critical care during medical emergencies, administering life-saving treatment before a victim can be transported to a hospital. Their swift action and expertise often mean the difference between life and death.

A former Long Island volunteer firefighter and EMT who continues to serve as a paid paramedic and a New York City police officer explained why he became a first responder.

“I wanted to participate in something that allowed me to help my neighbors at their most vulnerable points in life, while also providing me with valuable life experience and training,” he told the Herald. “The fire department put me on a path to serve the people and communities that I live and work in, as well as (having) a second family I know would come to my aid should my family or I need it.”

We strongly urge you to be there for your local fire department’s next fundraiser or open house, salute the volunteers at their next holiday parade and, if you’re able, consider becoming one of them.

works under the supervision of the member.’”

Although D’Esposito was not married to his fiancée, with whom he was

allegedly cohabiting, it appears that in his letter, Kane was doing nothing more than splitting hairs!

Lastly, while he criticizes Laura Gil-

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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. t here 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. 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.

W e need to help students understand the significance of voting.

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

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len, who “identifies as a Catholic,” apparently Kane is not that troubled by D’Esposito’s reported affair with a married woman (which ended her marriage) while he was engaged to someone else. Do we really want to be represented by someone who is so ethically challenged?

RobERt tollE Cedarhurst

Abortion rights must be enshrined in N.Y.’s Constitution

to the Editor:

I was unclear about Proposition 1, and my concern grew when I learned that women in states with abortion bans are dying. I wondered if New York’s abortion laws could withstand the radical extremists influencing our Supreme Court, Congress and potentially the White House. Despite Republican assurances against a national abortion ban, I remain skeptical, especially since the Supreme Court previously deemed Roe v. Wade settled law.

Moreover, the GoP made no effort to block the proposed ban on the abortion pill. While an outright abortion ban may not be imminent, without enshrining abortion rights in New York’s Constitution, it’s plausible that there will be attempts to erode women’s rights gradu-

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

t his 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.

ally. For these reasons, it’s crucial to condemn the fear-mongering falsehoods spread by the radical right about the ballot initiative and to vote “yes” on Proposition 1.

StEPHaNIE CaPuaNo Wantagh

Now Trump will approve the SALT deduction?

to the Editor:

t hen-President Donald t rump and the Republicans limited our income tax deduction for state and local taxes. For two years the Republicans have controlled the House, so why haven’t Congressman anthony D’Esposito and the MaGa Republicans in the House introduced legislation to give us back our Salt deductions?

Now, in a desperate attempt to help D’Esposito keep his House seat, trump comes to New York and tells us he’s going to give us back the S alt deduction. He’ll do that right after he finishes building the wall and Mexico pays for it. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

It won’t be all bad when D’Esposito loses the election. His friends in the town of Hempstead will give him a good job.

DENNIS PatRICK bRaDY Rockville Centre

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.

MoniQUe DArrisAW-AKiL

FrAMeWorK by Tim Baker

At the Family Street Festival — Bellmore

In October 2022, Tamar Lemoine of Valley Stream felt a lump in her right breast and was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer. She had previously put o a biopsy after a mammogram in 2021 detected a suspicious mass, so she knew that this time she would need to act fast.

Tamar was referred to Dr. Christine Hodyl, Director of Breast Health Services at Mount Sinai South Nassau, who created a comprehensive treatment plan that included chemotherapy and breast-conserving lumpectomy surgery along with the removal of several lymph nodes. Her treatment ended with a month of radiation therapy sessions. Now cancer-free, Tamar urges women to get their annual mammograms.

Mount Sinai South Nassau’s cancer program is accredited by the Commission on Cancer and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, o ering patients a multidisciplinary approach to fight cancer without having to leave Long Island.

In October 2022, Tamar Lemoine of Valley Stream felt a lump in her right breast and was diagnosed with late-stage