Uniondale Herald 10-17-2024

HERALD UNIONDALE

Alice Moreno/Herald

The Uniondale Fire Department opened its firehouse to the public for fire prevention awareness last Saturday. William Rodriguez brought his dog, Domino, to the event. Story, more photos, Page 10.

Future

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

California Avenue Elementary School in Uniondale recently held its fourth annual Cougar College and Career Pep Rally, introducing its students to their future career possibilities.

The event’s goal is to “get them excited about their futures,” Natasha Garrett, the school’s assistant principal, said.

“Even though it’s elementary school, we want them thinking about their colleges and careers right now,” she said.

Two separate sessions were held on the morning of Oct. 11 to cover the whole school — one for pre-K to second grade and another for the third to fifth grades. Before the big day, the classes selected a college they wanted to represent, and the students waved their college logo flags as they filed into the gymnasium for the rally.

The Uniondale High School Marching

BEACON BEACON

Uniondale residents call for new water tower

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

Uniondale residents, including Pearl Jacobs, president of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association, have long demanded the refurbishment or reconstruction of their local water tower.

“This water tower is indicative of the disparities between communities in Nassau County,” Jacobs said. “You have minority communities, and this is what we get. Our voice is not heard.”

Jacobs and other residents have noticed corrosion on the outside of one of the two water towers on Jerusalem Avenue, behind Turtle Hook Middle School, and they presume there is interior corrosion as well. Jacobs also claimed that people have noticed leaks in the tower.

She has emphasized in the past that the water towers have not been maintained in more than 25 years, despite recommendations for cleaning every three to five years,

according to WaterWorld.com.

The affected tower, which serves Uniondale and East Meadow, is one of seven elevated storage tanks that, along with two ground storage tanks, have a combined storage capacity of 9 million gallons, according to the Town of Hempstead Water Department website.

George Wagner, a Uniondale resident, initially alerted other residents about the rust-colored water coming from his faucets, as the Herald has previously reported. He attributed a variety of health issues he and other Uniondale residents have been facing, including cancer, to the discolored water.

Jacobs herself had a scare, with brown water coming from her taps late last year.

“This past December, I woke up (and) went to take a shower, as I normally do,” she said, “and the water was coming brown from my faucet.”

Jacobs called the Town of Hempstead water commissioner, John Reinhardt, who,

Even though it’s elementary school, we want them thinking about their colleges and careers right now.

NAtAShA G ARREtt Assistant principal, California Avenue Elementary School

Knights performed while students took their seats.

Two student announcers, MonroeDay Fordham, 10, and Dylan Pickett, 8, shared a moment in the spotlight as they addressed their peers.

Monroe-Day gave a speech about “college and how it can help shape your future,” explaining to her peers how colleges offer a variety of different classes “designed to prepare you for your future.”

“It’s completely okay if you’re unsure about your future career right now,” she said in her

speech. “You have plenty of time to explore and discover your interests.”

She then led the group in a chant to boost their self-esteem and confidence for their futures. The chant went: “I believe in myself, I am a shining star, my future is destined for greatness.”

Even as a fifth-grader, Monroe-Day said she is thinking about her future. She already knows she wants to be an ear, nose and throat doctor, adding that she was excited to share her knowledge with the rest of the students through her speech.

“I’m excited that I can be a role model for them,” she said.

Dylan then came out with California Avenue’s school mascot, Calvin the Cougar, to introduce the Hofstra University dance and cheer teams. They danced around the middle of the gym, gave high fives to students in the

New water treatment developments

Jacobs said, sent someone to flush the nearby fire hydrants to fix the water flow. It took two hours, she said, for her water to clear.

Jacobs claims that she and other community advocates “went before the town several times” in past years to demand a response to their concerns and that changes to be made, but, she said, “They’re very mute on this.”

The town approved an $8.4 million bond in 2017 for a new water tower in West Hempstead, and other upgrades. Jacobs criticized the unequal allocation of resources, saying, “Minority communities pay taxes just as well as anyone else, but we do not receive the services.”

Concerns about the water tower have been exacerbated by fears of chemicals found in the water supply. Last year, the Greater Uniondale Area Action Coalition had Wagner’s water tested by an independent Nassau County lab. The results showed high levels of iron, arsenic and ammonia, as well as elevated levels of PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl substances — so-called “forever chemicals” — which are used in a variety of industrial and consumer products.

The Environmental Working Group, a national nonprofit organization focused on environmental and public health issues, tested Uniondale tap water in 2021 and found 45 contaminants. None exceeded legal limits, but

nine exceeded the EWG’s own health guidelines for safe consumption.

“Legal does not necessarily equal safe,” the organization wrote in its report on the town’s water. “Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.”

Particularly concerning is the presence of 1,4-dioxane, a potentially carcinogenic chemical. The town’s 2022 water quality report documented elevated levels, and despite the claim that it “does not pose a significant health risk,” residents are still afraid of what’s in their

water.

When the Herald initially reported on this issue last November, there were no updates available to report on water tower refurbishments or new treatment processes for water contaminants. But Reinhardt has claimed that progress has been made since then.

“The East Meadow Water District elevated storage tank located behind Turtle Hook School was drained and inspected and had minor repairs made and the interior repainted in the spring of 2024 in preparation for a planned repainting or replacement,” Reinhardt said in a statement to the Herald.

Reinhardt said the Water Department is waiting for the final report from engineers “to further determine if repainting the tank is fiscally prudent or if a full replacement of the tank is a more responsible use of taxpayer funds.” He also noted that “the tank can’t be taken out of service until the ongoing 1,4 dioxane treatment work is complete.”

The town has also begun implementing Advanced Oxidation Process treatment systems to address dioxane and other contaminants in response to the implementation of New York state standards in 2020.

The new treatment project involving the Uniondale wells was scheduled to begin last December, but due to supply delays, it was delayed until the components arrived. They were finally deliv -

What are Water toWers used for?

Water towers store and deliver pressurized water to a community.

Water is first sourced — in Uniondale’s case, from wells — and treated by a water treatment plant to remove pollutants.

The water is then pressurized by a high-lift pump and sent throughout the community in primary feeder pipes to homes’ taps.

Any extra treated water is sent to the water tower. Then, in times of higher demand, water can be supplied from the tower to supplement the water being processed by the treatment plant.

Water towers use gravity-driven hydrostatic pressure, which forces water through the system at a fast rate.

ered on Sept. 27, allowing the new treatment process to begin.

Jacobs, however, maintains that a new water tower is essential for community safety.

“If you look at that water tower, it cannot be fixed,” she said. “We need a new water tower.”

Kelsie Radziski/Herald

Developing young minds for bright futures

front rows and got the crowd hyped up for the performance.

“You can study a variety of subjects at Hofstra, including art, biology, forensic science, filmmaking, music, engineering and much more,” Dylan said in his introduction of the local college.

The two Hofstra teams each performed for the students, as screams of excitement and cheers echoed throughout the gym as the dancers and cheerleaders did back flips and showed off their moves.

During both sessions, the classes showed off their college and their special chant they came up with in preparation for the rally.

Two guest speakers then joined the second session to talk about their experiences in college and how they ended up on their career paths, with Monroe-Day moderating the discussion.

The first guest speaker, Britney Nathan, is an obstetrician/gynecologist at Northwell Health, where she has worked for more than three years, after graduating from Hofstra University in 2016. She encouraged the kids to keep up with their homework.

“Homework is extremely important because homework allows you to practice your skills,” Nathan told the crowd, “and in any field you go

into, you need to be able to practice things so that you’re good at it.”

The other guest, Nash Forbes, is a registered nurse. She grew up in Uniondale, having attended California Avenue Elementary School, Lawrence Road Middle School and Uniondale High School before enrolling in Nassau Community College, where she studied nursing.

Forbes shared her love for nursing and expressed how fortunate she was to help people and connect with them every day. The advice she gave to the students is to read a lot of books — “reading is very fundamental” — and to “go with the flow” as they grow up and discover more of their interests.

“As you get older, you’ll figure out exactly what you want to do,” Forbes said. “It takes time.”

At the end of the rallies, California Avenue Elementary School faculty members held a fashion show, where they showed off their caps and gowns and college gear.

Monroe-Day closed out the rallies with a repetition of her chant: “I believe in myself, I am a shining star, my future is destined for greatness.”

“Just remember, you can be anything you want to be in the future if you work hard and believe in yourself,” she said.

Dylan Pickett, 8, and Monroe-Day Fordham, 10, made speeches at the Cougar College and Career Pep Rally last Friday.

Kelsie Radziski/Herald

California Avenue Elementary School students waved their college flags throughout the pep rally.

Nash Forbes shared why she loves being a registered nurse, while another speaker, Britney Nathan, listened.

Faculty members at California Avenue Elementary School held a fashion show, showing off their caps and gowns and college gear from their school days.

CoNtiNuED FRoM PAgE 1

Tax credit initiative is saving newspapers

By AMANDA MOTT

Special to the Herald

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

Now, the fruits of this effort are paying off.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Courtesy Empire State Local News Coalition

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

CHARLI tesoRIeRe

East Meadow 8th grade Soccer

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

GAMES TO WATCH

Thursday, Oct. 17

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

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

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

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

Girls Soccer: Uniondale at Freeport 5 p.m.

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

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

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

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

Friday, Oct. 18

Football: Hewlett at South Side 6 p.m.

Football: East Meadow at Oceanside 6 p.m.

Football: Baldwin at Jericho 6 p.m.

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

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

Saturday, Oct. 19

Football: North Shore at Wantagh 11 a.m.

Football: Lynbrook at Garden City 1 p.m.

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

Football: Farmingdale at Freeport 2 p.m.

Football: Westbury at Uniondale 3 p.m.

Football: Bethpage at Kennedy 3 p.m.

Football: Port Washington at Massapequa 3 p.m.

Nominate a “spotlight Athlete”

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

HERALD SPORTS

Uniondale needs win for playoffs

By DYLAN BUtLeR sports@liherald.com

The county final for the Uniondale boys’ soccer team is coming up Oct. 16 against Herricks.

It’s not technically the final — that gets played Nov. 3 at Farmingdale State University — but that’s what the Knights are considering their regular season finale because a win in that match and they’re in the playoffs.

“The mindset is that it’s our county final,” coach Cohen Nelson said heading into the showdown against 1-7-3 Herricks. “Every game going forward is our county finals.”

And should Uniondale (4-5-2) book their berth in the Nassau ‘AAA’ playoffs, regardless of the seed, Nelson likes his team’s chances.

“We can play against anyone,” he said. “If we’re healthy, mentally and physically, we’ll take on the best of them. I’m not scared of anyone right now. We’re ready.”

The Knights proved that with a 3-2 victory over third-place Syosset (6-1-4) on Oct. 10, which Nelson called “easily the best win of the year.” It was Syosset’s first loss of the season.

Raymond Zavala struck for a pair of goals and set up another in his first match back from a two-game disciplinary suspension, the latest to receive tough love from the coach they call “Papa Nelson.”

“I’m very strict when it comes to discipline,” he said. “I’ve benched players in semifinals. I’ve benched players in key games. I’ve done it time and time again.”

Mental mistakes, which resulted in dropped points against Hempstead, Port Washington, and Oceanside, and numerous injuries have punished Uniondale.

But the Knights have turned the corner in both regards, with co-captains Carlos Godoy and Junior Valle, Angel Vasquez, Jean Auguste, and Michelle Perez all back from long-term injuries.

Starting goalkeeper Pedro Asturis, who suffered a concussion in a seasonopening defeat at Freeport, remains out, but Jorge Martinez has stepped up in his stead and has been a pleasant surprise.

“The team has been galvanized

around him,” said Nelson, who also lauded sophomore Alberto Pineda for his work ethic.

Heading into the final day of the regular season, six of eight playoff spots in Nassau ‘AAA’ have been booked with Plainview-JFK, Oceanside, Syosset, Hempstead, Massapequa, and Port Washington already in the postseason.

Freeport, Hicksville, Uniondale and Farmingdale are all still alive and the Knights could finish as high as sixth if they win and other results go their way.

Uniondale, which started with one win in their first six matches, has turned the

corner and learned from miscues earlier in the season.

Now they’re healthy and head into the Herricks “final” confident of a second consecutive win that would book another postseason berth.

And should they do that, Nelson thinks his side can make noise in the playoffs.

“We are the team to beat,” Nelson said. “Now, I’m almost looking for that challenge, relishing the opportunity to play the best. Once we overcame those two obstacles, the mental and physical injuries, we’re ready to battle with anyone at any time, anywhere.”

Michelle Ebel/Herald Junior Valle is one of the captains for the Knights, who kept their playoff hopes alive with a huge win over Syosset Oct. 10.

What schools, Nassau are doing to ensure students’ safety

By NICOLE WAGNER nwagner@liherald.com

As schools across Long Island faced 80 threats throughout September, county officials, the Nassau County Police Department and school districts have continued to impress the priority of school safety.

The public is, as always, encouraged to report any suspicious activity to police — but officials say parents play an important role in speaking to their children about school safety and threats.

SDistrict security team are continually looking for ways to strengthen the District’s safety protocols, preparedness and technology.”

afety and security are paramount to the Uniondale School District.

“We take threats serious, and it’s a crime,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said during a news conference at the David S. Mack Training and Intelligence Center on Oct. 1. “You have to talk to your children about using that kind of language. If they hear that kind of language in school, they have to report it immediately.”

Uniondale

The district informed the Herald that they have been using the Rave Panic Button app, a tool that has been implemented in schools across Long Island, for “several years.” The app acts as a panic button that school staff can use in the event that there is an incident to bypass 911. Once activated, the app notifies police and they are dispatched to the school.

MONIquE

DARRISAW-AkIL

Uniondale school district superintendent

“Safety and security are paramount to the Uniondale School District,” Monique Darrisaw-Akil, Uniondale district superintendent, said in a statement to the Herald. “The Board of Education, central administration and the

“It dispatches the cops quicker to the schools,” Ryder said during the news conference.

The Uniondale district also has two assigned school resource officers from the Nassau County Police Department.

“The District has recently enhanced its safety measures with increased security cameras District-wide, improved exterior lighting, security presence in the District from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day and the installation of new scanners at Uniondale High School,” Akil said in a statement. “The District is also in the process of installing security vestibules in every school building.”

as Uniondale students came back to school for the 2024-2025 school year,

dent Monique darrisaw- akil said that ‘safety and

Nassau police work closely with schools to ensure students’ safety, according to Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. Police officers are strategically placed throughout Nassau to respond quickly to any possible threats made to any of the county’s 400 schools. Schools are equipped with tools such as mantraps and bulletproof glass to

slow a shooter down.

Seventy percent of school shootings are over in five minutes, with 40 percent of that statistic being over in two minutes, Ryder said. In Nassau County, he said response time to any call take roughly one to three minutes.

— additional reporting by Melissa Berman and Kelsie Radziski

Tim Baker/Herald

superinten-

security are paramount’ to the district.

employees packed

and food

NUMC lends a hand to North Carolina’s Helene victims

Nassau University Medical Center hosted a heartfelt deployment on Oct. 8, as it prepared to send a medical relief team to North Carolina in response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene.

The hurricane ravaged the southeastern United States, but inland North Carolina — particularly communities in and around Asheville — was one of the hardest-hit areas, suffering wide -

spread destruction. Flooding from torrential rains submerged homes and businesses, while powerful winds downed trees and power lines, leaving thousands without electricity. Coastal communities elsewhere, like in western Florida, were severely impacted by storm surges, and many areas were left inaccessible due to road damage. Hurricane Helene has resulted in several hundred deaths across multiple

ANNIVERSARY

regions, with many more people still unaccounted for. Emergency services have been overwhelmed, with local hospitals and clinics struggling to meet the demand for medical care.

In response, NUMC is sending a team of 15 dedicated professionals, including EMTs, Environmental Services workers, nurses, and doctors, along with three fully equipped vehicles. Their mission is to provide vital medical assistance

and deliver essential supplies such as medical equipment, food, water, clothing, and even pet supplies to the affected communities.

This relief effort reflects NUMC’s strong commitment to aiding those in crisis, ensuring that the people of North Carolina receive not only the medical care but also the resources that are desperately needed.

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024

Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn, NY

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

Steve Sachs/Herald

Nassau University Medical Center has lent its hand in relieving the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. A truck was packed last week by eager volunteers, who will be aiding relief efforts.

NUMC

supplies

into the truck. A team of 15 volunteers traveled nonstop to North Carolina, beginning on Oct. 8.

Fire prevention and awareness in Uniondale

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

October is Fire Prevention Awareness Month, and the Uniondale Fire Department welcomed the community to their fire station to learn about fire safety.

“We try to promote fire safety and make it a family-friendly affair,” George Martinez, chief of the fire department, said.

Fire trucks filled the back parking lot of the Van Ness fire station on Oct. 12 for the department’s annual open house, and people were invited to get an upclose look at all of the department’s apparatus. There was also a smoke trailer that simulates a smoke condition, where people learn to drop low to the ground in order to exit without inhaling smoke.

Firefighters cooked hamburgers and hot dogs, and there was also popcorn, cotton candy, and an ice cream truck people enjoyed for free. Kids jumped in the bounce house and went down the inflatable slide, both shaped like fire trucks.

Throughout the day, firefighters gave demonstrations and explanations on how to best prevent fires and what to do when fires break out.

“Always make sure the stove is off when you leave,” Martinez said, “make sure you blow out candles when you leave the home.”

“Don’t plug too many things into outlets, and make sure there’s an adult in the house,” he added.

Fire Prevention Month is celebrated in October, and the goal is to “raise fire safety awareness and help protect homes and families,” according to FirstAlert.com.

The American Red Cross Long Island chapter had a booth set up with fire safety tips and information. They handed out a variety of materials, including smoke detectors that can be installed for free.

They also had flyers with more fire safety information on them, including tips such as closing the door before going to sleep for an added barrier in case a fire breaks out outside the room.

As overall safety was emphasized throughout the five hour event, two representatives from the Town of Hempstead Town Clerk’s office were there completing Child Safety I.D. Kits. Representatives took photos of kids and stamped their fingerprints on cards for parents or guardians to take home, so if something happens to the kids, the parents have records to give to the police to help them in their investigation.

To learn more about Child Safety I.D. Kits, call (516) 812-3046.

As the Uniondale fire department continues their efforts to keep the community safe, Martinez said they are always in need of more volunteers.

“Feel free to come any Sunday morning at 9 a.m. to any firehouse,” he said to anyone interested in joining the fire department.

Alice Moreno/Herald photos

Marvin Amazan and his son, Marvin Jr., 2, wore fire hats and smiled at each other during the Fire Prevention Open House on Saturday.

From left: Kevin Hicks, first assistant chief, George Martinez, chief, and Joseph Rodriguez, second assistant chief, put together the annual event.

Uniondale EMS Supervisor Luis Rodriguez sat in one of the fire trucks with his daughter Ariana, 2.

New Board of Education trustee sworn into role

Alvin R. McDaniel Jr. is the newest member of the Uniondale school district Board of Education. He was sworn into his new position as board trustee at the Oct. 1 Board of Education work session. He has an extensive background in school business offices, and he said he is looking forward to using his experience to serve the district and the Uniondale community.

McDaniel has lived in Uniondale for the past 10 years and is currently the Village of Freeport comptroller. He completed his doctorate in education at Hofstra University “with a focus on the effective fiscal management of capital projects,” according to the news release.

Wand accounting clerk for the Valley Stream Central High School District.

He is also an officer of the NAACP Hempstead branch and a member of Equity 4 LI Youth, and an active member of his church as a Eucharistic minister, lecturer and Knights of Columbus member.

e look forward to the valuable expertise and skills McDaniel will bring to the Board.

Mary Bediako President, Uniondale Board of

He has an extensive background working in Long Island school districts. He is the former assistant superintendent of finance and operations for the Westbury school district, assistant business administrator for the Roosevelt school district, accountant for the Hempstead school district

Education

McDaniel is filling the seat of former trustee Carol Eason, who resigned earlier in the school year.

“The Uniondale School District is proud to welcome McDaniel to the Board of Education,” Mary Bediako, Uniondale Board of Education president, said in the news release. “He possesses an admirable commitment to serving our educational community and supporting the aspirations of our students.

“We look forward to the valuable expertise and skills McDaniel will bring to the Board,” Bediako said, “as we work together to continue providing exceptional academics, extracurriculars and opportunities to the Uniondale community.” — Kelsie Radziski

Courtesy Uniondale school district

Alvin R. McDaniel was sworn into his new position as Uniondale Board of Education trustee on Oct. 1.

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.

STEPPING OUT

Back to the basics:

Building with BLOCKS

Young imaginations reach new heights at ‘Block Party’

By Danielle Schwab

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

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

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

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

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

Steve Martin and Martin Short

• Now until Nov. 3

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

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

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

fun.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photos courtesy LICM

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

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

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

Anthony Rodia

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

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

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

THE Your Neighborhood

Rock the Dock

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

‘The Birthday Party’

Looking for something to do this Halloween season that isn’t just for kids? Visit Sands Point Preserve for an exclusive, immersive theatrical production, “The Birthday Party,” held in a secluded, opulent mansion,Friday and Saturday, oct. 18-19, oct. 25, oct. 31, and Nov. 1. For those who attended Archie’s last “Birthday Party,” rest assured, there are new surprises in store.

Guests will be blindfolded and escorted to a secret location on the property, Villa Vanitas, to celebrate the enigmatic Lord Archibald Axel Von Finkelshorn Chatterton’s 30th birthday. He is a witless charmer on the cusp of a life-changing revelation, and everyone’s invited to witness his journey on a night that promises to be unforgettable and delightfully unpredictable. Cocktail attire preferred. $175 per person. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit

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.

Adelphi’s Best of Broadway: Decades

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

Chamber concert

Immerse yourself in the rich harmonies and lyrical beauty of a piano trio and solo vocal works, with Old Westbury Gardens ensemble-in-residence Poetica Musica, Saturday, Oct. 19, 8 p.m., with pre-concert talk at 7:30 p.m.

Cellist Eugene Moye, violinist Erik Wyrick, pianist Yasmin Alami, and mezzo-soprano Eleanor Valkenburg perform works by Debussy, Mendelssohn and Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel. $30, $25 members, seniors, students. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit oldwestburygardens.org or call (516) 333-0048.

NCC Open House

High school students, transfer students, career changers, and anyone considering a college education are invited to attend the Open House at Nassau Community College, Sunday, Oct, 20, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. It begins in the Physical Education Building Field House. During the event, faculty and staff will provide information about the nearly 80 degree and certificate programs offered at the College.

The knowledgeable advisors will be on hand to answer questions regarding financial aid, admissions, placement testing, services for students with disabilities, academic support, and extracurricular activities. Additionally, student guides will lead tours of our 225acre campus and share their experiences as NCC students. For more information and to register, visit ncc.edu/ openhouse or call (516) 5727346. 1 Education Drive, Garden City,

Having an event?

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program continues Saturday, Nov. 2, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.

Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for more information and to register or call (516) 484-9337.

Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition

“Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition spans various world cultures through a range of media.

It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority. Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. On view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

On stage

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

Public Notices

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 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

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;

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

ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York.

The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 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

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 66-2024

North Baldwin Olympian honored by Nassau County Legislators

Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé and Alternate Deputy Minority Leader

set the school’s records in the 100- and 200meter events, both indoors and outdoors.

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

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

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 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

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held October 1st, 2024 , by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 66-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 66-2024, amending Chapter 202 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “REGULATIONS & RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at various locations.

Dated: October 1, 2024 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 149498

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 10/23/2024 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals: THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.

Siela A. Bynoe honored North Baldwin resident Christopher Borzor for his achievement of competing for Haiti in this year’s Paris Olympics prior to the Sept. 23, Legislature meeting.

Qualifying for the men’s 100-meter race marked the culmination of a lifetime for Borzor, who immigrated to the United States with his family at age six. He began with the Baldwin Blazers track club before joining the Lawrence Road Middle School track team in Hempstead. In high school, Borzor played a role in securing the Nassau County Class A title as part of Uniondale’s varsity track program, winning the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) championship among numerous honors.

Borzor later earned a track scholarship to the University of Cincinnati, where he became an All-American and

653/24. ROOSEVELTAreli A Rodriguez, Use variance, maintain 2family dwelling., E/s Cottage Pl., 236.06’ S/o Grenada Ave., a/k/a 46 Cottage Pl.

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Roosevelt within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may

appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.

149494

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff -against- PIERRE LISSADE, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated May 17, 2024 and entered on May 28, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on November 18, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at

After completing his undergraduate studies, he pursued a master’s degree in Gerontology while competing for the University of South Carolina, where he placed third in the PAC 12 and earned secondteam All-American honors.

Currently holding the national 100meter track record for Haiti, Borzor trained for the Olympics under former Olympian Nadine Faustin-Parker and is now preparing for the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo next year.

“Chris is just another shining example of what we do best in this country—and that is allow immigrants to come in and do what they do best and allow that to shine,” Mulé said in a news release. “We are so proud of you, and we know that you are going to do really wonderful things from here on in.”

Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows:

BEGINNING at a point on the Northeasterly side of Park Avenue, distant 132.39 feet Northwesterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the Northeasterly side of Park Avenue with the Northwesterly side of Smith Street; being a plot 100 feet by 60 feet by 100 feet by 60 feet. Section: 50 Block: 419 Lot:17

All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction.

Said premises known as 791 PARK AVENUE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553

Approximate amount of lien $353,209.87 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. 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 or the Mortgagee’s attorney. Index Number 601597/2020.

JANE SHRENKEL, ESQ., Referee

David A. Gallo & Associates LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030 File# 7777.045 {* UNIONDALE*} 149483

— Hernesto Galdamez

Courtesy Peter M. Budraitis

North Baldwin’s Christopher Borzor, middle, was recognized by Nassau County Legislators on Sept. 23 for competing for Haiti in this year’s Paris Olympics.

Employment HERALD

floral park-Bellerose elementary school District

The DisT ric T is seeking various posiT ions for T he 2024-2025 school year

Teacher a ides

$17.95/hr. Teaching a ssistants

Floral Park-Bellerose Elementary School District

Teacher Aides

We have openings for teacher aides for the 2022/23 school year. 10-month positions available immediately, starting 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.

$19.95/hr. s ecurity personnel .. $20-$25/hr. Bus Drivers..... $25.14-$26.87/hr. Bus Monitors $19.32/hr. food s ervice personnel and c afeteria Monitor $16.00/hr. nurses sub .................. $175/day cleaners ................. $40,454/year

Please apply for positions via OLAS at www.OLASjobs.org

After School Child Care opportunities are also available. Please apply through scope

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

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

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! $20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

EMAIL MARKETING SPECIALIST

Herald Community Newspapers is seeking a motivated and knowledgeable

Email Marketing Expert to join our team.

If you have a passion for crafting effective email campaigns and a knack for data-driven decision-making, this role is for you!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

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

REQUIREMENTS:

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

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

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

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 Call 516-569-4000 X286

OUTSIDE

SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time

Eligible for Health

401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

A Home For All Seasons

CATSKILLS: 3 BEDROOMS, 2 baths, 14 acres. 26x48 poured foundation, Needs Work. $169K. Owner. 607-434-8350

Step into a world where past elegance meets modern innovation. This remarkable 1930s Tudor has been thoughtfully transformed for the 21st century,

An architect for a sunroom?

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

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

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

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

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

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

© 2024 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

AMITYVILLE: SATURDAY 10/19/24 and Sunday 10/20/24 10am-5pm. 68 Stuart Avenue. Multi- family! Estate/ Yard Sale!

SAVE

Stuff

BROOKSTONE PILLOW TV Remote in box, new, $29, 516-884-9994.

CHARTER CLUB HOME (angels depicted) set of 4 assorted salad/ dessert plates, boxed. $39, 516-884-9994

DOG LADDER: DELUXE, Metal Frame, New, Never Used. Originally $100, Only $25 Firm. 516-486-7941

RADIAL TIRE R255/65R16 In New Condition. $20 Firm! 516-486-7941

WESTINGHOUSE ROKU 32" HD SMART TV, WR32HT2212. New, unopened. $65.00. (516)209-7970.

SERVICES

Cable/TV/Wiring

Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-782-4069

Cleaning Services

When veterinary care is unavailable or unaffordable, ask for Happy Jack® animal healthcare for cats, dogs, & horses. At Tractor Supply® (www.happyjackinc.com)

MARINA'S CLEANING SERVICES: Cleaning Homes, Apartments, Condos, Offices. Experienced. FREE Estimates. 10% Off With This Ad. Serving Long Island. 516-670-7764

Electricians

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

Exterminating

PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-866-448-8311 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

Home Improvement

BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-855-399-2076

Miscellaneous

GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391

Plumbing

PLUMBER! PLUMBER! PLUMBER! FREE ESTIMATES! Heating, Repairs, Installations. $25 OFF New Customers. 24 Hour Emergency Response. Family Plumbing. 516-599-1011.

Power Washing

POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. . ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641

Sprinkler Syst./Irrig.Wells

Telephone Services

CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682

Tree Services

FRANCISCO'S TREE SERVICE AND LANDSCAPING: Tree Removal, Stumps, Fertilization, Planting, Land Clearing, Topping. Free Estimates. Lic# H206773000. Office 516-546-4971, Cell 516-852-5415

Satellite/TV Equipment

DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Direct and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Health & Fitness

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 1-855-399-2719

Attention: VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-855-399-2582

HEARING AIDS!! HIGH-QUALITY rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 855-819-7060

Health Coverage

FREEDOMCARE. LET YOUR loved ones care for you and get paid! Paid by Medicaid. Choose family or friends as your paid caregiver. Check your eligibility today! Call FreedomCare now! 1-516-540-5962

TJoin the necessary fight against spotted lanternflies

FRAnK piccininni

he Herald and other publications have detailed the negative impacts of the invasive spotted laternfly on Long Island, and while the population of these unwelcome insects continues to require intervention to prevent their unchecked spread across our region, there are steps that every Long Islander can take in their own backyard to protect against them. At the Long Island Conservancy, we are eager to share some tips that will make a positive impact — and in some cases, multiple positive outcomes by eradicating not only this invasive insect, but also invasive plants that serve as the lanternfly’s primary food source.

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

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

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

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

the closest thing to “home cooking” for a species displaced halfway across the world.

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

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

The tree of heaven is a significant problem in our region, not just because of the smell, but because it chokes out beneficial native plants. In the case of the lanternfly, the plant is essentially

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

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

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

to plant milkweed, the influx of monarch butterflies is lovely!)

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

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

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

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

Frank Piccininni is the president of Spadefoot Design and Construction and a cofounder of the Long Island Conservancy.

Blakeman’s actions bring serious risks for first responders

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

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

the County Legislature’s Democratic minority and the public.

The Republican majority’s public mask ban, which Blakeman eagerly signed into law, is another piece of legislation that puts our police officers in highly precarious situations. Under this measure, it’s up to an officer to determine the “intent” of a person wearing a mask. This would expose our officers to thorny constitutional and medical privacy issues under the Fifth Amendment and HIPAA laws. Moreover, there’s the risk that a sick person could feel pressured to remove their mask, thereby exposing the officers and the public to Covid or some other airborne disease.

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

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

To address concerns about constitutionality and practicality, the minority caucus proposed a more narrowly tailored mask law — the Masked Crime Accountability Act — that would reduce the burden on our law enforcement officers by focusing specifically on punishing those who use masks while committing crimes. While our bill is a clearer

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

With budget season now upon us, I

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

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

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

DELiA

DeRiGGi-WHiTTon

BEACON

Established 2023

Incorporating

Kelsie RadzisKi

Nicole Welch Multi Media Marketing Consultant

oFFice

2 Endo Boulevard

Garden City, NY 11530

Phone: (516) 569-4000

Fax: (516) 569-4942

Web: www.liherald.com

HERALD

SThe Mets are a case study in grit

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

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

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

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

letterS

Climate change should be on voters’ minds

To the Editor:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Real-life stories such as these are just a sample of what people can achieve while illustrating that the journey to success is rarely smooth. At press time, the Mets had come back to tie the NLCS with the Dodgers at one game apiece. The team has shown its fans what it means to push through, learn, adapt, and remain focused on the next game all season long. Here’s hoping that inspiring lesson will continue.

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

MARTIN MELKONIAN Uniondale

opinions

After reforms, NUMC is on the upswing

For decades, Nassau University Medical Center has towered above the landscape, representing our community’s commitment to quality health care — for everyone. Public hospitals across the state face enormous challenges, and NUMC is no different. But as we close in on two years of executing substantial reforms, this irreplaceable institution is proving resilient and improving.

At Long Island’s largest public safety-net hospital and Level 1 trauma center, each year the unwavering dedication of our staff provides $1 billion in services to more than 270,000 patients. Many of those patients are from our most at-risk populations, who can’t afford to pay for care and otherwise wouldn’t receive treatment.

Leveraging new financial standards and practices, more-efficient systems and a renewed commitment to the patient and visitor experience, we are proving that we can be a model for success. Our dedication to strengthening the foundations of the facility has recently been recognized by top health care organizations.

In August, after a rigorous evalua-

The MTA’s capital

tion, NUMC earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its high-performance standards. To achieve this accreditation, NUMC underwent an indepth, multi-day, unannounced onsite review by a team that judged compliance standards in several key areas, including patient rights, infection control, surgical services and patient safety.

TJust days later, NUMC’s team was again recognized, receiving two prestigious awards from the American Heart Association. The hospital was honored with AHA’s Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline achievement awards, reflecting our team’s adherence to the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines for heart disease and stroke.

Newsday on the crisis of long emergency room wait times on Long Island, NUMC’s was ranked second out of all hospitals for average patient wait time, despite the fact that we serve more than 65,000 emergency patients each year.

he hospital received two prestigious awards from the American Heart Association.

These recognitions required strategic planning, rigorous training and a culture of excellence that permeates every level of our organization. Our staff of more than 3,600 undergo continuous evaluations and specialized training to ensure that we meet the highest standards of care, which is particularly crucial because we serve a diverse community with unique health needs.

new Community Engagement Center, our first public open house, our recent Back-to-School program and other initiatives are also part of our effort to ensure that NUMC remains a hub for the broader community.

NUMC has long been a cornerstone of health care in Nassau County — more than just a hospital, we are a trusted partner and a critical lifeline for our neighbors. Our hospital is often the first place people turn in times of need. We take our unique responsibility very seriously.

These certifications, initiatives and facility upgrades are just a small sample of the exciting results from nearly two years of management and operational reforms.

The AHA also noted that our efforts have led to improved patient outcomes, including more lives saved, shorter recovery times and reduced hospital readmissions. These awards come as we prepare for the construction and opening of a new Cath Lab in 2025 that will enable the hospital to perform more lifesaving heart procedures on site.

Our Emergency Room staff also continues to demonstrate excellence and success under the stress of a growing patient population. In September, after an in-depth investigative report by

LETTERs

plan doesn’t have a chance

To the Editor:

Long Island Rail Road riders should be concerned that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $68 billion, fiveyear, 2025-2029 Capital Plan isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. Gov. Kathy Hochul claims she can find additional state and federal funding to make up for the missing $15 billion in congestion pricing revenue from the current $51 billion 2020-2024 capital plan. She promises the same for making up the $33 billion shortfall in the proposed plan. This leaves the MTA with a record $48 billion shortfall in funding!

The plan will be dead on arrival.

Allocation of funding for advancing toward a state of good repair in all capital asset categories should be a higher priority than any system expansion proj-

ects. Funding for the $7.7 billion Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 and the $5.5 billion Brooklyn/Queens Interboro Express Light Rail Connector would be better spent on repair projects. Metro North Railroad’s $3.1 billion Bronx East Penn Station Access project should be put on hold. Forget about the $7.5 billion Second Avenue Subway Phase 3, the 125th Street Crosstown Extension, as well.

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

LARRy

PENNER

Great Neck

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

Election Letters to the Editor policy

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

While previous leadership spent money on new executive offices, we’re focusing on enriching the patient experience and expanding our services. We recently extended our onsite clinical office hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays until 9 p.m. for our pediatric, women’s health, general medicine and physical therapy services. Starting this month, we will have Saturday clinic hours as well for the first time.

This expansion helps make prevention and treatment more convenient for working families, and reduces emergency room visits. Our first NUMC van was just delivered to help those with transportation needs. The opening of our

While NUMC continues to face financial challenges due to drastic state funding cuts that have not been restored, we are committed to building on the success of our recent fiscal reforms to safeguard this vital community resource.

NUMC is a beacon of hope and a testament to the strength of our community. It represents our commitment to caring for one another. Our collective support for the hospital means that our area will avoid the health care crises that plague other communities across the nation. Residents will have the peace of mind knowing they have a public hospital ready to meet any challenge.

Megan C. Ryan is interim president and CEO of Nassau University Medical Center.

MEGAn C. RYAn

FRAMEwoRk by Harriet Katz

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

“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