Uniondale Herald 10-31-2024

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Courtesy Mario Bellevue

The Uniondale Community Land Trust held its annual Housing Heroes awards ceremony on Oct. 17, and among the attendees were its board of trustees, including President Anestoria Shalkowski, fourth from right, and Vice President Jeannine Maynard, far left.

Uniondale group hands out ‘Housing Heroes’ awards

The Uniondale Community Land Trust honored Kevin Crean, director of affordable housing and project development for the Town of Islip, for championing affordable housing initiatives, during its annual Housing Heroes awards ceremony on Oct. 17.

U-CLT is a community-based nonprofit organization “committed to revitalization and empowerment in Uniondale,” according to its website. Since 2014, the organization’s aim has been to address the continuous issue of affordable housing in Uniondale and seek to provide long-term housing stability and promote ownership by members of the community.

“There’s great instability in the housing market, and where there’s instability, it has significant repercussions,” Anestoria Shalkowski, president of U-CLT, said. “So our

purpose is to provide long-term housing stability, prevent displacement and promote community ownership and stewardship of the land.”

Recognized for his work in revitalizing neighborhoods and addressing the complexities of the housing market, Crean has made a significant impact in many communities, including Uniondale, U-CLT officials said.

“Each year, we really are on a quest through our work within the community to find a hero and a champion who really shares our values in affordable housing,” Olena Nicks, U-CLT treasurer, said.

In his position at the Town of Islip, Crean works to identify new affordable housing opportunities within the town and to ensure compliance with the various federal requirements, Nicks said.

Previously, Crean, a lifelong Nassau County resident, spent 15 years as the deputy director

Uniondale High unveils library with a new look

Uniondale High School celebrated a new chapter in education with the grand unveiling of its revamped library, designed to foster learning and creativity, last Friday.

“Now we’ve added to the high school another place where truth and correct information can be found,” Reece Rene, Uniondale High senior and student Board of Education member, said, “at a time where it’s very rare to find.”

Tspaces, like tables and couches, throughout the library for students to spend their free periods studying and lounging.

The library was one of various construction projects the district underwent over the course of the summer into the new school year to improve its facilities.

here is an invaluable experience of reading a book that you can connect to and feel seen in that can only be found in a library.

The new library has freshly painted walls and new flooring for a fresh look. Shelves filled with teen books, fiction and nonfiction, line the room for students to browse and read, with some books propped up on display on the tops of the shelves for easy access and to draw attention.

REEcE REnE

Uniondale High senior and student Board of Education member

There are plenty of work

The unveiling of the new library came with a festive ribbon cutting ceremony that brought together the student body, school administrators and community members, all present in support of the new learning space.

Shawn Brown, Uniondale High’s new principal, spoke of his pride for the project and its personal importance to him.

“There are people that were born, lived and died dreaming of spaces like this,” he said. “For myself, my church and my library was the only safe space that I could just be

COnTinUed On PAge 4

Community comes together for fall fun

The Uniondale community came together on Oct. 20 for the Uniondale Community Fall Festival of 2024. Over 250 community members enjoyed a day filled with shopping, activities and entertainment.

“We hope to make it a staple every year,” David Greaves, president of the John J. Byrne Community Center, said.

This year’s festival — the second of its kind at the Byrne Center — showcased Uniondale’s rich diversity, with vendors offering a wide array of products and services, including jewelry, household goods, crafts, and healthcare information, according to Greaves. Cultural and ethnic organizations were also represented, “reflecting the community’s commitment to inclusion and collaboration.”

The festival made an effort to highlight local businesses and civic organizations, Greaves said, and a mobile clinic from Molloy College provided free health screenings, which gave attendees access to healthcare services they may otherwise struggle to get.

People could have their blood pressure checked, and finger prick tests allowed the nursing students and nurse practitioners to check blood sugars, cholesterol and hemoglobin levels. There was also a team of social workers, speech therapists and mental health professionals to provide additional support.

Musical performances by the Uniondale High School Jazz Band and DJ Sound Barbarian kept the crowd entertained, and the Uniondale Community Council provided carnival games, face painting and crafting sessions for kids. Families strolled through the festival, participating in giveaways and learning about various community resources from the various groups and organizations present, according to Greaves.

The event was directed by Greaves and Marvin Amazan and included a

group of dedicated volunteers to help the day run smoothly.

The event was made possible by various sponsors, including Charmaine Robin State Farm Agency, Knockout Pest Control, Sands New York, Vineyard Offshore, B2K Development, Brixli, Sutton Landing, The Bristal and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

“The Uniondale Community Fall Festival of 2024 will undoubtedly be remembered as a day of joy, community pride and togetherness,” Greaves said in a statement to the Herald, “an event that truly showcased what makes Uniondale such a special place to call home.” — Kelsie Radziski

Kelsie Radziski/Herald
The Uniondale High School Jazz Band performed at the Uniondale Community Fall Festival on Oct. 20.
Chavon Gray, of Super Heavenly Creations, makes gift baskets and bundles for baby showers and other life events, which she sold at the festival.
The Molloy University Community Care truck came to the fair to give free health screenings to community members.
Last Sunday’s fair was the first time Kathy Fuentes sold her variety of handmade crafts at a festival.

Library has fresh paint, new floors, stocked shelves

myself.”

He addressed the students, telling them to “just pick up a book” when they are feeling frustrated or “tired of TikTok and Instagram and everything else” because “that’s the most valuable thing you can do.”

School administrators from throughout the district, as well as some community members, like representatives from the Uniondale Public Library, were also present for the ceremony, and Brown addressed them too.

“I also want to encourage the visitors that are here (to) make it a regular occurrence,” he said. “Come read with some of our students. Mentor them. The door is always open for you. This is your community as well.”

The event brought together many members of the Uniondale school district, including Board of Education president Mary Bediako, who is “so grateful that we can give this to our children.”

“Students, make good use of it,” she implored. “Yes, make us proud.”

Students showed up for the unveiling of the new library as well, exploring their new space and watching the performances by the Uniondale High School Band and the Rhythm of the Night Show Choir to commemorate the occasion. Some seniors spoke in approval and gratitude of the library.

Rene shared her love for the new library and its presence as a “safe space on our high school campus.”

“There is an invaluable experience of reading a book that you can connect to and feel seen in that can only be found in a library,” she said, “a place for creatives, learners and people to be themselves no matter their background or identity.”

Yuniya Phillip-McBride, another Uniondale High senior, expressed her gratitude for the refurbished library. She said she plans to be an educator in her future, and she understands that her future students will “need a place for themselves, a place to study, a place for peace and quiet, as it can get very hectic in these hallways.”

That place for her, she said, is the library: “a place to study for me, a place to read, a place to gain knowledge.

“This place is somewhere that is near and dear to my school experience,” Phillip-McBride said, “and I’m looking forward to spending my free time here.”

COMMUNITY

Emely Ortiz, left, and Reece Rene, both Uniondale High seniors, got some work done at one of the library’s new tables.
Kelsie Radziski/Herald photos
Shawn Brown, Uniondale High School principal, cut the ribbon to officially open the new library last friday, with the help of school staff, Board of Education members and students.

Housing hero, unsung heroes recognized

of the Nassau County Office of Housing and Community Development, before spending five years as its director.

Crean was involved in revitalization efforts in multiple communities throughout Nassau County, including Uniondale, and assisted in overseeing the construction of more than 600 units of multi-family housing and the preservation of more than 1,000 additional rental units throughout the county, according to Nicks.

Crean described at the awards ceremony what U-CLT has done for the community over the years, including searching for “zombie houses” — residences that become vacant and abandoned while in the foreclosure and preforeclosure process.

“They were looking for grants to require those houses (to) stop the squatting, stop the houses that were just deteriorating and ruining the property values in the community,” he said, “and they were being outbid, or they couldn’t find out who owned the properties, because it was found out altogether that these mortgages were being sold on the secondary market.”

Crean initially connected with U-CLT during its process of trying to understand the “complicated problems” plaguing the housing market and figuring out how to get grants and funding.

He expressed his appreciation for U-CLT and other grassroots housing organizations that are actively aiding in the effort to repair the housing issues on Long Island and beyond.

“These are people that I respect (for) their drive and their intelligence and their commitment to their community,” he said, “and I wanted to try and work with them.”

Paul Gibson, a U-CLT trustee, described how Crean helped the organization become an official Community Housing Development Organization, or CHDO, through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop -

Uniondale Community Land Trust

U-CLT is dedicated to bringing affordable housing to Uniondale.

The group’s workshops include: disaster preparedness

f irst-time homebuyer

Wealth-building and home ownership

To learn more or to become a member, visit U-CLT.org.

special engraved award from U-CLT.

“I want to thank you for this honor, for this recognition, and I want to thank you for everything you do for Uniondale,” Crean told U-CLT members upon accepting his award.

ment.

“(Crean) took us through the process of becoming a CHDO, which is what you need to do to get some federal funding,” Gibson said. “He was making our organization bulletproof in terms of getting that approval, of getting that money.”

During the Oct. 17 ceremony at Seasons 52, Crean was presented with a citation from the county, as well as a

Each year, U-CLT also honors an “unsung hero,” which is someone who spends time improving Uniondale behind the scenes. The Uniondale Fire District and department was this year’s recipient for “being like the wind under our wings,” Shalkowski, said.

“One of the things that we always try to do is respond wherever we’re needed in the community and to help out in whichever way that we can,” said Fitzroy Morgan, a member of the Uniondale Board of Fire Commissioners, as well as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. “The more you can put forth in the community, the more you invest in the community, the better the community will be.”

Courtesy Mario Bellevue
Kevin Crean, left, the 2024 recipient of the U-CLT Housing Heroes award, with Trustee Paul Gibson after Gibson’s moving speech.

MYLES MUNRO

Seaford Senior Cross-country

MUNRO PLACED FIFTH in the Nassau County cross-country championships last fall and will look to top that performance at Bethpage State Park Nov. 2. He went on to earn All-State honors in 2023 as a Top 20 finisher in the state and posted a best 5k time of 15-minutes, 43-seconds. He’s three-time All-County in cross-country and as a junior competed in the state track and field championships in the 3200 and 1600 meter events.

GAMES TO WATCH

Friday, Nov. 1

Football: Manhasset at Kennedy 2 p.m.

Football: Oceanside at Port Washington 5:30 p.m.

Football: Division at Hewlett 6 p.m.

Football: West Hempstead at East Rockaway 6:30 p.m.

Football: Locust Valley at Plainedge 6:30 p.m.

Football: Syosset at Massapequa 6:30 p.m.

Football: Lynbrook at Bethpage 7 p.m.

Football: V.S. South at Malverne 7 p.m.

Football: Wantagh at C.S. Harbor 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 2

Cross-Country: Nassau County Class I, II and III championships at Bethpage State Park 10 a.m.

Football: Calhoun at Carey 11 a.m.

Football: Jericho at Sewanhaka 11 a.m.

Football: Island Trees at Lawrence 11 a.m.

Football: MacArthur at Baldwin 2 p.m.

Football: Long Beach at Mepham 2 p.m.

Football: Seaford at North Shore 2 p.m.

Football: South Side at Floral Park 3 p.m.

Football: Elmont at Clarke 3 p.m.

Football: Mineola at V.S, North 3 p.m.

Football: Uniondale at Freeport 3 p.m.

Football: Westbury at V.S. Central 3 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

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

Uniondale tops Oceanside in OT

Uniondale is hoping to write a similar script East Meadow orchestrated last season in the Nassau Class AAA boys’ soccer playoffs.

The Knights were seeded No. 1 in 2023 but were knocked off in the quarterfinals by the eighth-seeded Jets, who with two more upsets went on to capture their firstever county title.

“It wasn’t a good feeling to go out early last year as the top seed,” Uniondale’s Junior Valle said.

Valle made sure that didn’t happen this fall. His heroic left-footed blast from about 20 yards with 1:06 remaining in the first overtime beat No. 2 Oceanside, 3-2, in an opening round matchup Oct. 23.

“We know what it feels like to be on the other side of this,” Knights coach Nelson Cohen said. “We’ve had such a difficult season dealing with so many injuries and not having our full team for so many games. The playoffs for us started weeks ago because our backs were against the wall. This feels really good because it was a total team effort.”

The Sailors, who defeated Uniondale 2-1 in the regularseason meeting Sept. 12 on a pair of Franco Visone goals, found themselves in a 2-0 hole less than 10 minutes in this time and played a man down for more than 75 minutes.

Starting goalkeeper Bryan Tirado, a big reason Oceanside finished behind only Plainview in the 13-team conference, was handed a red card after the nearest official to the play ruled he made a save

off Raymond Zavala using his hands outside of the box.

Backup Collin Schirrmacher was strong in relief, but the Sailors were unable to complete what would have been an amazing comeback.

“I was actually worried when they went down a man,” Cohen said. “Adversity can rally a team and that’s exactly what happened. They gave us everything they had.”

Senior standout defender Dylan Wassenbergh scored on a penalty kick in the 32nd minute to cut the deficit in half. Then the Sailors (7-3-3) pulled even with 35:34 remaining in regulation when Sean Mahoney drilled home a direct kick from 15 yards.

“I’m super proud of the fight the kids showed,” Oceanside coach Patrick Turk said. “To give up two in the beginning and then to get two back down a man, that’s a lot to be proud of. A lot of proud things despite the result.”

Angel Velasquez got the party started early for Uniondale (6-5-2) with a goal in the 4th minute. Zavala scored five minutes later off an assist from Alberto Pineda.

“We really want to go all the way,” Zavala said.

The Knights, who got eight saves from Jorge Martinez, the best of which came on the doorstep against Wassenbergh with just over 10 minutes to go, advanced to face No. 3 Syosset in the semifinals Oct. 29 at Farmingdale State College.

Uniondale defeated Syosset Oct. 10, 3-2, behind a pair of Zavala goals. The winner of the rematch will face Plainview or Massapequa for the title Nov. 3 at Farmingdale State at 4:30 p.m.

Michelle Ebel/Herald
Raymond Zavala had one of Uniondale’s three goals in its 3-2 overtime win at Oceanside in a Class AAA quarterfinal playoff game Oct. 23.

Be prepared: An app that lets you report and track power outages.

Power outages are a reality, especially during a storm or other weather events. One of the most frustrating issues can be not knowing when power will be restored.

The good news is that, for PSEG Long Island customers, a power outage doesn’t have to leave you completely in the dark. That’s because the Long Island company created a free Outage Tracker, accessible from any smartphone or mobile-enabled device on our mobile app.

PSEG Long Island used customer feedback from J.D. Power surveys, research, and focus groups to help them design the app.

“Our intention is to reduce the stress and anxiety of an outage by enabling customers to closely track the progress of their restoration, all within the free, convenient PSEG Long Island mobile app,” says Larry Torres, Sr. Director, Emergency Preparedness and Logistics.

It’s as easy to use as it is to download. And once it’s installed on your device, if you have a power outage, you have access to report outages and track updates.

As PSEG Long Island begins the restoration process, you receive notifications on the Outage Tracker. These show everything from confirmation that your outage report was received, to damage assessments, to repair alerts and an estimate of when power will be restored.

“The sooner we know about specific outages, the quicker we can react and restore power,” says Michael Presti, Director, Customer Experience and Marketing.

The PSEG Long Island Outage Tracker provides customers with:

Accessibility: Even if someone loses power, they can access the Outage Tracker on their mobile device as long as they have cell service. However, they need to download it before an event to ensure they’re prepared.

Reporting capability: Customers can report partial or full power outages. In the case of downed lines, the app provides a phone number to call. This immediate reporting helps PSEG Long Island respond more efficiently to restore service.

Year-round reliability: Because outages can sometimes occur even when the weather is not a contributing factor, the Outage Tracker helps people stay connected and able to report issues at any time.

We live in a world where we have more information at our fingertips than ever before. It just follows that having some control and knowledge about power outages is critical to our peace of mind and ability to plan, be heard, and feel safe. So be prepared, and learn more about the free PSEG Long Island mobile app at psegliny.com/app.

Photo by Tony Lopez.
Photo by Fotostorm via Getty Images.

A power outage doesn’t have to leave you feeling powerless. Be prepared. Download our free mobile app with Outage Tracker. You can report outages and track restoration progress. Because knowing is power.

Spooktacular fun at trunk-or-treat

Families gathered at Smith Street School for the fourth annual trunk-ortreat event to celebrate Halloween in a spooky and safe way.

“Merging the community is the main purpose,” Ebony Guerrier, Smith Street PTA president and owner of Mrs. G’s Brown Bag Charity, said. “We let the kids have something safe to do, a safe trick-or-treating event.”

The event is a joint effort between the Smith Street PTA and Guerrier’s charity, she said, and while this year’s Oct. 26 event is the fourth of its kind, this was the first time it was held at Smith Street School.

Families came out to spend the sunny afternoon trick-or-treating from car to car. Families decked out their trunks with decorations and themes, and they handed out a variety of candy and treats.

Some kids dressed up as popular characters, like Wednesday Addams, princesses like Elsa, and superheroes like Batman and Spiderman. Some wore scary masks and costumes, and others dressed as Dalmatians and cows.

There was also a craft station with three different options for kids to do. They made witch hat cookies by putting frosting on a cookie and then sticking a Hersey’s Kiss on top to make it look like a witch’s hat, and they created Halloween scenes with sticker sheets. There was a table of glow sticks for kids to take for free as well.

Vendors sold treats and gifts throughout the event, and the Uniondale Fire Department even showed up to hand out some goodies themselves. Kids in their costumes lined up to take the free treats and pose for photos with firefighters.

“We just love bringing families together,” Guerrier said.

To learn more about what Mrs. G’s Brown Bag Charity is about, visit them on Facebook at Mrs. G’s Brown Bag Charity Org. — Kelsie Radziski

Kelsie Radziski/Herald photos
Tiffany Blake and Naim Jackson, 4, decorated their car trunk in a Spiderman theme, with Jackson dressed up as Spiderman himself.
Tiffany and Lorenzo Pearson, along with their twins Layla (white chef hat) and Loren, 6, wore chef costumes while they sold baked goods through their organization Laylo’s Wish Foundation LLC.
Destini Langley, 8, dressed up as Wednesday Addams for the trunk-or-treat event, while her parents Michael and Dana wore scary masks.

Thousands gather at Jones Beach for annual Strides walk

Thousands gathered at Jones Beach State Park last Sunday to take part in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, which aimed to raise awareness of the disease and raise funds for breast cancer research.

The Oct. 20 event marked its 31st year, and participants made their way west on the park’s boardwalk, adorned in pink. The event, sponsored by Teachers Federal Credit Union, is one of the largest fundraisers organized by the American Cancer Society, a nationwide organization that is dedicated to eliminating cancer and improving the lives of those affected by it.

According to Liz Wellinghorst, director of regional integrated marketing for the society’s northeast region, park officials and police estimated that around 77,000 attendees took part in the event, and matched last year’s total of around $2.3 million in funds raised.

“This event was brought about so that people who have an affinity for the issue of breast cancer can have the opportunity to get together and raise awareness and celebrate their own cancer journeys,” Katie Goepfrich-Schafer, executive director of the society’s Long Island chapter, said.

The money walkers raised will help fund the society’s research programs and patient-support services, which include transportation programs and Hope Lodge communities, where patients stay free during cancer treatments.

The walk drew people from across the South Shore and all over the country. Over 300 students, parents, teachers, administrators, support staff and retirees from Uniondale participated in the walk to raise awareness, Alison Chaplar, Uniondale’s elementary Technology Integration Specialist, said.

They represented three “courageous fighters” from the Uniondale district — Shannon Bethel in Uniondale High School, Isabel Caron in Walnut Street

School and Denise Cosme in Turtle Hook Middle School.

“For 30 years, Uniondale teachers have been committed to fundraising and walking in support of breast cancer awareness and research,” Chaplar said. “Together, we continue to make strides towards a cure.”

Jennifer Castle, of East Meadow, a recent breast cancer survivor, was taking part in her first Strides walk, having been diagnosed in March. Her Team Castle was made up of friends and family.

“I think it’s just important that people understand that the only way that research is going to get better over the years is by not only participating in the walk and being there for your loved ones, but the donations are really important too,” Castle said.

After her diagnosis, she recounted, she underwent a lumpectomy and node removal to prevent the cancer from spreading. Over the summer she had four rounds of chemotherapy as well as cold capping, in which a head cap freezes hair follicles to prevent the hair loss that results from chemo. Castle kept 80 percent of her hair, she said, which made the experience less traumatic for her and her four children.

Castle added that having a strong support system is critical for anyone who is being treated for cancer. “If I didn’t have the support that I had,” she said, “I don’t think I would have been in the place that I am right now.”

For years, fundraisers such as the Strides walk have helped advance breast cancer research and treatment, according to Goepfrich-Schafer. Since 2013, she said, there have been many breakthroughs, including biomarker immunotherapy treatment, which uses the body’s own signals to help the immune system target cancer cells.

“I’ve seen cancers that had terrible outcomes 10, 15 years ago that are now treatable today,” Goepfrich-Schafer said.

According to the American Cancer Society

in

their lifetime, and that women between ages 40 and 44 “have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year.” Goepfrich-Schafer said she encourages women to go for those screenings when they’re of age, because

early detection is crucial to surviving the disease.

For more information on breast cancer and the American Cancer Society, visit its website, cancer.org.

website, one
eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in
Courtesy Alison Chaplar
A crowd of Uniondale students, parents, teachers, administrators, support staff and retirees joined the crowd in the American Cancer Society’s Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.
Michael Rechter/Herald
Participants in the American Cancer Society’s Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk started at the East Bathhouse, and walked along the boardwalk to raise awareness of breast cancer and money for research.
Participants wrote the names of those they were walking for on a wall at Jones Beach. According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

L.I. schools threatened by Project 2025

Project 2025’s agenda to restructure the government extends beyond the Fed and into education, proposing to completely eliminate the Department of Education. This is a contentious move that could have profound repercussions for public education on Long Island.

The DOE plays a significant role in supporting local education by providing funding to high-poverty schools and increasing programs designed to protect and serve vulnerable students, such as those with disabilities or in the LGBTQ+ community.

Eliminating the department means drastically reducing federal funding streams and eventually phasing out Title I, a federal program that provides financial assistance to schools with a high percentage of low-income students, according to a Chalkbeat report. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization focused on education issues.

Title I aims to ensure all children, regardless of socio-economic status, meet state academic standards by funding programs like after-school tutoring and teacher development. Schools can operate schoolwide improvement initiatives if they meet certain thresholds of low-income students.

“When you eliminate funding, the things that get cut are teacher salaries, teachers get laid off, class sizes get bigger, and you have less counseling services, less paraprofessional services ... all of that is eliminated when you don’t have Title I funding,” Jillian Gaeta, co-founder of the organization Roots to Revolution and a New York City public school teacher, said.

Nearly half of Suffolk County’s total public school enrollment is economically disadvantaged students at 44 percent, in Nassau County it is 32 percent, according to the State Education Department. Districts such as Huntington, Central Islip and Brentwood 63 percent, 66 and 88, of the students are from low-income households, respectively, according to state statistics.

Project 2025 also proposes to reduce eligibility for federally funded meal programs.

Funding impact

The potential rollback of programs like the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program under Project 2025 could exacerbate the lack of access to food on Long Island. In recent years, the number of food-insecure individuals on the island has surged, increasing by 58.3 percent since 2021, with an estimated 65,000 children affected, according to a Long Island Cares report.

Over 60 percent of students in lower-income districts like Brentwood and Hempstead qualify for free lunch and breakfast, indicating a substantial reliance on federal aid programs, according to Meals Count data. Meanwhile, wealthier districts like Jericho and Great Neck in Nassau County, where less than 10 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, would be less affected by federal cuts, according to state data.

“In the schools that I’ve worked in, 80 percent of students were receiving free and reduced lunch,” Gaeta said. “If you take away that ability, you now have 80 percent of your kids hungry. You can’t educate those kids; they’re struggling because all they’re focusing on is how their bellies aren’t full.”

Long Island is also seeing a surge in school lunch debt, according to a Healthy School Meals for All report. The Lindenhurst school district reported nearly $50,000 in unpaid school lunch fees and South Huntington said meal debt doubled from $20,000 after the pandemic. Wealthy districts often benefit from higher property tax revenues, which can be used to supplement educational programs. Low-income districts typically struggle with limited funding and resources, making it challenging to provide basic services, let alone additional support for meal programs.

But it’s not just lunch — early childhood education

A portion of Project 2025 aims to roll back progress made on programs and laws that are designed to protect and serve vulnerable people such as the LGBTQ community.

programs are also on the chopping block under Project 2025.

Whither Head Start?

Head Start is a federal initiative that promotes school readiness for young children from low-income families. It serves children aged 3 to 5, focusing on cognitive, social, and emotional development alongside health screenings and nutritious meals. The program is critical in preparing disadvantaged children for elementary school and fostering long-term academic success.

“Early education programs ... are foundational for a child’s ability to thrive in school, and also for their economic security, that they are able to read and write and develop those skills at an early age,” Gaeta said.

In Nassau County, the availability of Head Start programs is concentrated in districts with higher rates of low-income families. Out of eight Head Start locations, many are in areas with higher child poverty rates.

The Head Start programs in Hempstead, Freeport and Roosevelt illustrate this trend. Hempstead, with a child poverty rate of nearly 21 percent, and Roosevelt, where nearly 17 percent of children live in poverty, highlights communities that heavily rely on these educational resources. Freeport, with around 14 percent of children living in poverty, further emphasizes the critical need for support in these districts. The figures are based on Census Bureau data.

Child poverty rates in Westbury (14 percent), Lawrence (10 percent), and Long Beach (6 percent) demonstrate a varied landscape where families may still benefit from Head Start programs, although the urgency may differ.

More affluent districts like Garden City, Syosset, and East Williston, which report child poverty rates of less than 5 percent, do not have any Head Start locations. Wealthier families often have access to private preschools and other early childhood programs.

Title IX fallout

Another proposal of Project 2025 includes a rollback of Title IX, a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, including sports.

“Title IX, which allows girls to play sports and opens up opportunities for young girls, is also supported and protected by the federal government,” Gaeta said. “So if you eliminate the Federal Department of Education, you’re eliminating all those benefits that our kids need to have successful schools.”

Rolling back Title IX could also disproportionately

impact non-binary and transgender students as the project aims to “define ‘sex’ under Title IX to mean only biological sex.”

“Long Island is already seeing pieces of Project 2025 being enacted,” Kiana Abbady, board chair of Long Island Progressive Coalition, said. “[Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman] already passed a transban, where individuals cannot play sports if they identify as transgender.”

In Nassau County 10 school districts — Island Park, Jericho, Lawrence, Locust Valley, Long Beach, Mineola, New Hyde Park, Oceanside, Oyster Bay and Port Washington — are set to lose funding, based on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2025 executive budget.

“If any parts of Project 2025 are enacted, we will see large swaths of Long Island’s communities, predominantly black and brown, predominantly working class, lose significant funding for public schools,” Abbady said. “We already see that. ”

Extracurricular activities, such as sports, are typically the first to be cut when schools experience dips in funding, and this could have adverse effects on students. Research indicates that participation in sports is linked to numerous benefits for both girls and transgender youth, including improved academic performance, higher self-esteem, and greater overall well-being.

In underfunded districts, girls often have 1.3 million fewer opportunities than boys to engage in athletic programs, according to the National Women’s Law Center. Exclusionary policies for trans youth like Nassau County’s Legislature and Project 2025 Title IX reforms could exacerbate rates of depression, school absenteeism and suicide in trans students, which are already significantly higher than for cis-gender students.

Without the federal enforcement of Title IX and adequate funding, the gap in opportunities between wellfunded and underfunded schools could widen, leaving many girls and LGBTQ youth without access to the necessary resources for their athletic and educational advancement.

Gaeta said this is ultimately the goal of Project 2025.

“It is designed to benefit wealthy, wealthy white men,” she said. “All of the projects, all the policies in Project 2025, will hurt low-income families, will hurt middle-class families, will hurt women and girls, will hurt LGBTQ families, will hurt people of color. It is designed that way.”

Jenna Zaza and Lori Saxena are reporters with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.

Courtesy George Giokas

Some Democrats are too far left.Some Republicans are too far right.But some candidates just make COMMON SENSE.

IN NASSAU COUNTY, THAT’S LAURA GILLEN FOR CONGRESS .

About Common Sense

The Common Sense Party looks at both Democrats and Republicans running for office. And then nominates the one who’s most reasonable, who thinks for themself. Who can compromise to get things done. In Nassau County, that’s Laura GIllen.

So this November, find the "Common Sense Party" on your ballot.

Party

Democratic

Republican

Conservative

Working Families

Common Sense

Presidential Electors for President (Vote for One)

Kamala Harris

Donald J. Trump

Donald J. Trump

Kamala Harris

Representative in Congress (4th District) (Vote for One)

Laura Gillen

Anthony D’Esposito

Anthony D’Esposito

Laura Gillen

GENERAL ELECTION Candidates

Amendment to Protect Against Unequal Treatment

This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.

A “YES” vote puts these protections in the New York State Constitution.

A “NO” vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.

Enmienda para Proteger Contra el Trato Desigual

Esta propuesta protegería contra el trato desigual basado en la etnicidad, el origen nacional, la edad, la discapacidad y el sexo, incluida la orientación sexual, la identidad de género y el embarazo. También protege contra el trato desigual basado en la salud y la autonomía reproductiva.

Un voto “SÍ” coloca estas protecciones en la Constitución del Estado de Nueva York. Un voto “NO” deja estas protecciones fuera de la Constitución del Estado.

Democratic Electors

Electores para Presidente y Vicepresidente

Kamala D. Harris (For President)

Republican Electors

Tim Walz (For Vice President)

Electores para Presidente y Vicepresidente

Donald J. Trump (For President)

JD Vance (For Vice President)

Representative in Congress District 4

Representante en el Congreso Distrito 4

Laura Gillen (D,CS)

United States Senator

Senador Estatal, Distrito 7

Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D, WF)

Diane Sare (L)

la

Vote for One (1)

Anthony D’Esposito (R,C)

(1)

Michael D. Sapraicone (R,C)

ELECTIon’24

Senator District 6

Estatal, Distrito 6

Bynoe (D) Thomas P. Montenfinise (R,C)

Member of Assembly District 18

Burroughs (D, WFP) Danielle Smikle (R,C)

Justice of the Supreme

Court

la Corte Suprema (Vote for up to Eight) (8)

F. Matthews, Jr. (D,R,C)

Roth (D,R,C)

Deanna D. Panico (D,R,C)

Terence P. Murphy (D,R,C)

County Court Judge

Tribunal del Condado

Jeffrey A. Goodstein(D,R,C)

Alfred C. Graf (D,R,C)

Paul E. Hennings (D,R,C)

Paul M. Hensley (D,R,C)

Andrew A. Crecca (D,R,C)

Family Court Judge

Joseph Nocella, Jr. (D,R,C)

District Court Judge District 2

Andrea C. Phoenix (D,R,C) Veronica Renta Irwin (D,R,C)

Ryan E. Cronin (D,R,C) Sean Wright (D,R,C)

D’Esposito balances controversy, re-election

U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito has his sights set on reelection in the 4th Congressional District, where he will face a familiar opponent amid unfamiliar scrutiny over his hiring practices.

A Republican and a former NYPD detective, D’Esposito won his seat in the 2022 midterms, flipping a district that had been in Democratic hands for 25 years. He defeated former Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen that year by a margin of roughly 10,000 votes with a campaign focused on crime, inflation and government spending. He hopes to do it again next week with a renewed focus on border security, crime and the cost of living on Long Island.

But D’Esposito’s re-election bid is under a cloud, with an ethics probe questioning whether he improperly hired his fiancée’s daughter and a woman he allegedly had a personal relationship with for taxpayer-funded positions in his office. During a Herald Roundtable on Oct. 10, D’Esposito made it clear that he views the allegations as baseless. “There is absolutely nothing that was violated ethically, and my personal life is my personal life,” he said, asserting that if there had been any ethical questions, he would not have made those hires.

In spite of the allegations, D’Esposito remains focused on issues central to residents of his district. He emphasized that he has been instrumental in securing millions in federal funding for local infrastructure projects ranging from water filtration systems to police training facilities. “In the last 18 months, I’ve been able to bring close to $40 million back to the district to help with infrastructure,” he said.

D’Esposito has also positioned himself as a strong supporter of Israel, and has been vocal in his support for sending more aid to Israel in light of renewed con-

Anthony D’Esposito discussed his re-election campaign in the 4th Congressional District amid controversy over his hiring practices at a Herald Roundtable on Oct. 10.

flicts with Iran and Lebanon following the attack by Hamas last Oct. 7.

“I think the United States of America needs to continue to provide every resource necessary to Israel to eradicate Hamas and any terrorist organization,” he said, criticizing the Biden administration for what he views as a lack of urgency.

Another key issue is the ongoing border crisis. “We have a border security problem,” D’Esposito said, emphasizing the need to shut down the southern border and implement a more stringent asylum process. He noted a Department of Homeland Security briefing where it was revealed that over 420,000 people who

crossed the border illegally had been convicted of crimes in their home countries, including over 13,000 convicted murderers. D’Esposito argued that the Biden administration’s handling of the border has been inadequate, claiming, “The Customs and Border Patrol agents don’t have the resources that they need.”

He remains critical of the administration’s economic and energy policies, and advocates for energy independence, saying, “We need to focus on being more energy independent and stop relying on foreign countries for power.” He also expressed concerns about the national deficit, arguing that it is unsustainable and could have long-term consequences for future generations.

D’Esposito has framed himself as a bipartisan problem solver, willing to work with both sides to achieve results for his district. But he is also aware of the tightrope he walks within his party, having been labeled both a MAGA extremist and a “Republican in Name Only” after calling for the removal of former U.S. Rep. George Santos. D’Esposito said he understands the balance between his own values and party expectations, and will do what he feels is right, regardless of how it may be perceived. “It seems to me I’m doing the right thing and playing the middle,” he said.

As the district becomes a focal point in the national battle for control of the House of Representatives, D’Esposito remains confident in his leadership and his track record of securing federal resources for Long Island.

Laura Gillen prioritizes reproductive rights

Laura Gillen, the Democratic candidate in New York’s 4th Congressional District, is running on a platform focused on tackling the rising cost of living on Long Island, reproductive rights and immigration reform.

“It’s really expensive to live here, and people want relief,” Gillen said during a Herald Roundtable on Oct. 7, adding that this concern came up in nearly every conversation she has had with voters in the district. She is particularly critical of her opponent, U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito for not restoring the state and local tax deduction on income taxes, which was capped during the Trump administration. “My opponent said he was going to restore our SALT deduction. He’s been in the majority for almost two years and has completely failed to do that,” Gillen said, emphasizing that reinstating the deduction, a key issue for many homeowners in Nassau County, would be a top priority if she were elected.

Reproductive rights are also central to Gillen’s campaign, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 decision, ending nearly 50 years of constitutional protection for abortion rights. Gillen stresses the need to protect access to reproductive health care, including abortion, in vitro fertilization and contraception.

“Protecting a woman’s right to choose, protecting the right to access IVF and the right to contraception are things we never thought we’d even have to talk about before the Dobbs decision,” she said. Gillen also pointed to the broader implications of the decision, noting that Republicans are continuing to push for fed-

Laura Gillen, the Democratic challenger in the 4th C.D., discussed the rising cost of living, reproductive rights, the country’s border problems, the mental health crisis, Israel and more with the Herald.

eral restrictions on reproductive rights.

Health care, particularly for mental health, is another key focus of Gillen’s campaign. She noted that the country is facing a growing mental health crisis, which affects people of all ages. “It’s affecting our young people, our seniors, our veterans and our law enforcement officers,” she said.

Gillen advocates increasing resources to make mental health services more accessible, reducing the long

wait times many patients face. “Families shouldn’t have to wait weeks to get an appointment for a loved one in crisis,” she said, calling for improvements in insurance coverage for mental health care and for expanding access to care.

Immigration reform is a pressing issue, Gillen said, criticizing Congress for its inaction on the border crisis. She said she is committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform that secures the border while facilitating citizenship for immigrants. “We’ve seen nothing get done to secure our border, to stop the flow of fentanyl, or to create a pathway for citizenship for people who want to come here legally,” she said. Her proposal includes deploying more border agents, using advanced technology like anti-tunneling systems, and improving the asylum process, which she described as “completely broken” due to the long delays in adjudicating claims.

Gillen has also taken a strong stance on national security, particularly in regard to Israel and the increase of antisemitism in this country. “We’ve seen an incredible rise of antisemitism, even before Oct. 7,” she said, referring to last October’s attacks on Israel by Hamas.

Her bipartisan approach to solving these issues grew out of her experience as the first Democratic Hempstead town supervisor in over 100 years. Despite facing a Republican-controlled Town Board, Gillen managed to implement sweeping reforms, including ethics legislation, cutting taxes and modernizing the town’s infrastructure.

“I got things done, and that’s what I plan to do in Congress,” Gillen said. “People want problem-solvers in Congress … We need to get things done and reduce the partisanship that’s holding us back.”

Juan Lasso/Herald

Havana Munsuz

Age 9, Locust Valley

My mom (Lenia Matias). I think she would make equal rights for every person. She supports LGBTQ rights, and she’s also a woman. All the presidents are boys, and we should have a girl as a president. We read a book about the election together.

If you could choose anyone, who would make a good president? Why?

Nicholas Kemp

Age 5, East Rockaway

I want Aaron Judge to be president but I (also) don’t want him because he’s playing baseball and he won’t hit any more home runs. If he was president I think he would be so happy.

Age 7, Rockville Centre

My dad (Eric Donohoe) because he’s basically like Donald Trump. Also, my mom (Shannon Donohoe) because she’s technically almost the same as my dad. She would get more jobs in America, put the prices down so if it was $3 it would be $2 and she would get more American-made products

Amelia Geraghty

Age 8, East Meadow

I think John F. Kennedy because if he ever did something wrong, his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy would have stood up for civil rights for women. I don’t think he would do anything wrong. And he was also young (when he was president). The older you are, the more you forget. I’ve read a lot of books about him and Jacqueline Kennedy.

Vote Laura Gillen: Independent Leadership for Long Island

Vote early through November 3

Election Day November 5

Tasnim and Taha Laghroudi

Tasnim, age 8; Taha, age 10, Wantagh

My teacher Ms. Sanders (my third grade teacher) would make a good president because she’s really fun and she’s very serious so we do our work instead of just playing around the whole time. Teachers are hard working and they’ve been through a lot of lessons and teachings, and they’re responsible for people in their class.

NUMC thinks pink, unveils new mammography van

WEDNESDAY

NOVEMBER 20 • 6:00-9:00PM

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

MICHAEL J. DOWLING PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER NORTHWELL HEALTH

ENGINEERING

ACCOUNTING:

JOHN FITZGERALD Managing Partner Citrin Cooperman

GURJIT SINGH

Chief Information Officer

Prager Metis CPAs

DIANE L. WALSH

Chief Marketing Officer

Prager Metis CPAs

BANKING & FINANCE:

STUART H. LUBOW

President & Chief Executive Officer

Dime Community Bank

DAVID A. PERLMUTTER

Managing Partner

Forest Hills Financial Group

MARK SANCHIONI

Senior Vice President & Chief Banking Officer

Ridgewood Savings Bank

JOSEPH TEDESCO

President & Chief Executive Officer Ocean Financial Federal Credit

JOHN BURKE

Managing Director

Global Head of Business & Professional Services

Citi Commercial Bank

BIOPHARMA:

PATRICIA ECKERT, CPA Chief Financial Officer Enzo Biochem, Inc.

COMMUNICATIONS:

ANDREW RAINONE Senior Vice President, Business Sales Optimum Business

EDUCATION:

MARIA CONZATTI, EdD

Chief Administrative Officer Nassau Community College

TIMOTHY E. SAMS, Ph.D.

President SUNY Old Westbury

WILLIAM MAXWELL Vice President The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

BILLY HAUGLAND II Chief Executive Officer Haugland Group LLC

ANDREW J. SOLANO Managing Partner Emtec Consulting Engineers

GAS/UTILITIES:

CHRISTINA ARMENTANO

Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President Paraco

JOHN RHODES

Chief Executive Officer Long Island Power Authority (LIPA)

ROSS TURRINI Chief Operating Officer National Grid New York

ENERGY: JIM FLANNERY Chief Operating Officer National Grid Ventures, US Northeast

HEALTHCARE:

ALLISON BERGMANN

Chief Operating Officer Solutions 4 Community Health

MARIANELA CASAS, MPA

Chief Operating Officer Association for Mental Health and Wellness

STACEY C. JACKSON HARLEY

Chief Operating Officer

Harmony Healthcare

ANDREW MINTZ

Chief Executive Officer The Smilist

MICHAEL N. ROSENBLUT

President & Chief Executive Officer

Parker Jewish Institute For Healthcare and Rehabilitation

AMY SILVA-MAGALHAES

Chief Operating Officer

The Bristal Assisted Living

Nassau University Medical Center recently unveiled the design for a new, state-of-the-art mobile van that would screen for breast cancer — dubbed the “MammoVan” — in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The advanced mobile mammography unit will be hitting the road next May, providing life-saving early detection services to thousands of women across Nassau County while ensuring accessible healthcare for underserved communities.

“Breast cancer is the second leading

cause of cancer-related deaths among females in New York state,” Meg Ryan, NUMC’s interim chief executive and president, said.

Ryan added that 16,700 females are diagnosed with breast cancer in New York annually, and Nassau County has a breast cancer rate that’s 10 percent higher than the rest of New York.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and joining Ryan at the Oct. 23 unveiling were Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, more than 100 hospital employees and the medical center’s board members.

NUMC offers women’s health care clinics with extended hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and weekend clinics, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays. More than 13,000 women have visited the clinics so far this year, and more than 20,000 are expected to use these services by the end of 2024.

JOSEPH VERDIRAME

Chief Executive Officer

Alliance Homecare

AMIT SHAH, MD

Partner & Vascular Surgeon PRINE Health

HOSPITALITY:

MICHAEL LESSING Chief Executive Officer Lessing's Hospitality Group

LEGAL:

NICOLE JOSEPH

Chief Operating Officer & Finance Director CM Law PLLC

JULIE WYETZNER

Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer Cona Elder Law PLLC

MICHAEL H. SAHN

Managing Partner Sahn Ward Braff Coschignano PLLC

HOWARD M. STEIN

Managing Partner & Co- Chair of the Real Estate Practice Group Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP

NOT-FOR-PROFIT:

PHIL ANDREWS

President Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce

MICHAEL K. BILLIA

Chief Executive Officer Life’s WORC

LISA BURCH, MPH

President and Chief Executive Officer

EPIC Long Island, Inc.

RANDELL BYNUM

Chief Executive Officer

Girl Scouts of Nassau County

MATTHEW COHEN

President and Chief Executive Officer Long Island Association, Inc.

ERIKA FLORESKA

President Long Island Children's Museum

JEFFREY FRIEDMAN

Chief Executive Officer CN Guidance and Counseling Services

Chief Executive Officer and Founder Minority Millennials, Inc.

DIANE MANDERS Interim Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director Habitat for Humanity of LI

JOHN MCGUIGAN Chief Executive Officer AHRC Suffolk

JEFFREY L. REYNOLDS, PHD President & Chief Executive Officer Family and Children's Association LUIS VAZQUEZ President & Chief Executive Officer Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

REAL ESTATE:

JOSEPH A. FARKAS Chief Executive Officer & Founder Metropolitan Realty Associates LLC

RETAIL:

ROBERT KAY Chief Executive Officer Lifetime Brands, Inc.

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT:

CHRIS R. VACCARO President & Executive Officer Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame

TECHNOLOGY: AMY E. NEWMAN Senior Vice President, Administration Canon U.S.A, Inc.

TRANSPORTATION:

ROBERT FREE Acting President Long Island Rail Road

MARLON TAYLOR President New York and Atlantic Railway

COREY J. MUIRHEAD Executive Vice President Guardian Bus Company

MICHAEL D. TORNABE Chief Operating Officer Guardian Bus Company *List still in formation

“Early detection is vital,” Ryan said. “Here at NUMC, we perform 6,500 mammograms annually, both on site here and in the van. Our breast imaging clinic, our oncology center, our women’s health and our radiology services are vital to our community.”

NUMC’s mobile mammography van has been in use since 2002, and the new van will greatly increase the standard of care being offered to patients, Ryan said.

“It’s going to be the best of the best in our van,” she said. “We’re getting new technology — the gold standard of technology. Right now, the van goes out twice a week, and now this new van that’s going to be delivered here in May, it’s going to be going out into communities five to six days a week.

“We’re going to see an increase annually of 40 percent more patients,” Ryan added. “That’s 40 percent more people that we can get in the van, diagnose and treat early. So that’s very important for our community.”

During the unveiling, Ryan also announced that the hospital has recently partnered with the nonprofit Hair We Share, which provides human hair wigs made from donated hair, free of charge, to people struggling with medical hair loss. Hair We Share, based in Jericho and founded in 2014 by Suzanne Chimera and Dean Riskin, now has a “wig room” inside of NUMC’s oncology suite to help patients dealing with chemotherapy-related hair loss.

Chimera, a wig designer since 1994, said that human hair wigs are completely hand made, and each strand of hair is individually sewn. Wigs can cost upwards of $3,000.

Hair We Share was originally founded to help a young girl dealing with alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. To learn more, visit HairWeShare.org. Ryan said everything NUMC does is for the benefit of the community. The hospital serves all Nassau County residents, regardless of their ability to pay. “We’re trying to be more accessible,” she said, “and we’re really honing in on what our patients need and trying to respond to that.”

For more on the hospital and its women’s health care services, visit NUMC.edu.

DAN LLOYD

STEPPING OUT

Looking outward from an artistic perspective

Local talents on view at

Museum’s Long Island Biennial

A tradition since 2010, the popular Long Island Biennial at Hecksher Museum returns with “The Body Politic,” shining the spotlight on our diverse artistic talent throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.

The latest edition of the juried exhibition — now on view through mid-January — offers an exciting look at what is happening artistically here in our area.

Out of 313 submissions, 79 were accepted from 60 artists, resulting in a vivid assortment of mediums, styles and focuses on exhibit. Curated by Meredith A. Brown, the museum’s consulting curator of Contemporary Art, each piece was reviewed by an expert jury team. The panel included Ian Alteveer, department chair of contemporary art at the Museum of Fine Arts; Patricia Cronin, artistic director of the LGBTQ+ VR Museum, art professor and sculptor; Grace Hong, assistant director of Galerie Lelong & Co.

The exhibit takes on a theme for the first time — examining contemporary social, cultural and political issues. It’s a snapshot of some of the major national, local and even international matters that compel artists in this important election year.

“Sixty countries — taken together, representing half the world’s population, including the United States — will have held major elections by the end of this year,” Brown says.

“It’s a crucial year. And we thought it would be interesting to see how the people, the artists in our communities, are thinking about these political, social, cultural issues — and representing them through art.”

The exhibit represents a remarkable variety of media, with styles spanning abstraction to hyperrealism, including sculpture, painting, photography, and collage. One pieceis even composed with cut plastic straws and lighters found on a beach.

“I’m always interested in the way artists can combine things that I wouldn’t have thought of, sometimes materials that are ‘non-art’ materials,” Brown adds.

East Meadow’s Karen Kirshner is among the artists featured. Her abstract acrylic painting “The Mission, 2022” employs a “direct painting” technique that enables her to use her emotions to paint onto the canvas.

“I never know what I’m going to paint. I paint in the moment, moment to moment, and then

the frantic rush to safety by and for the Ukrainians.

review and evaluate and adapt and improve,” Kirshner explains.

She was influenced by the war in Ukraine, with so many trying to flee. Her movement of lines, shapes and vibrancy of colors expresses the Ukrainians’ frantic energy.

“I felt in my soul,” Kirshner says. “The mission is to get people out.”

Maria Spector, of Babylon, is represented with two paintings: “Candy Girls and Boys Under the Jellybean Tree, 2022 ” and “Candy Girls Under the Sugar-Plum Tree with Boy and the Artists that Painted Women 2020-22.”

In “Candy Girls and Boys Under the Jellybean Tree“ contemporary figures of children are mixed with images from art history, fine art and popular culture — all under a tree ‘ripe’ with various candies.

• Now through Jan. 19

• Open Thursday through Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

• Heckscher Museum of Art,

2 Prime Ave., Huntington

• Visit Heckscher.org for more information or call (631) 380-3230

“By incorporating pop culture, I explore issues of femininity and masculinity through both history and today. The work is meant to challenge our own biases and beliefs,” Spector says.

Another standout, Lynbrook’s Susan Kozodoy Silkowitz captures her vision through photography. “Pink Shoes, 2022” is a testament to freedom of expression without discrimination. The male in pink platform shoes was snapped outside of Fashion Institute of Technology.

“I’ve been photographing people for 50 years. It took me many years to be able to do what I do, which is approach and photograph people on the street,” Kozodoy Silkowitz says. “I think it’s a wonderful thing to see people who are unafraid to express who they are, although some people may disapprove.”

Visitors can contribute their own voice to what’s on view and how they relate to community and identity through a collage of messages on the response wall.

It’s all part of the museum’s effort to encourage artistic reflection through times of great change, inspiring us to engage with narratives in a new light.

As Brown puts it: “It helps the artists and it helps those of us who are not artists to think about the diversity of artists and viewpoints and opinions in these communities in which we live, and in that way, hopefully it can broaden people’s views of their communities, of where we are.”

As always, the exhibit experience is enhanced by related programming. The participating artists will be in the galleries on select Sundays throughout the exhibition period to engage with visitors, as well as taking part in upcoming museum and community events.

Mike DelGuidice’s Concert Weekend for Veterans

Mike DelGuidice, one of Long Island’s celebrated singersongwriters returns to The Paramount, with special guests. The band always gives it their all, especially when playing the iconic Billy Joel songs. DelGuidice leads his ensemble in a rousing concert that highlights the Piano Man’s decades of hits. Like his idol, DelGuidice grew up mastering several instruments including bass guitar, guitar, piano, and drums. He’s renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of the Joel catalog, which caught the attention of Joel himself, who ultimately brought him on stage with him. DelGuidice and his band pack hit after charttopping hit in a high energy show that’s always a crowd pleaser. The concert delights audiences with renditions of classic rock favorites and his own eclectic originals.

Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2, 8 p.m. $60, $40, $25, $20. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

America

The perennial classic rock favorite is back on the road again as founding member Dewey Bunnell celebrates the band’s 54th anniversary, appearing on the Tilles Center stage. Billed as “Ride On Tour 2024, it draws on the band’s deep catalog of hits including signature song “A Horse With No Name,” a #1 hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1972. Bunnell and America’s co-founder Gerry Beckley (along with former bandmate Dan Peek), who met in high school in London in the late 1960s, quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of that tune. Forty plus years later, these friends continue to make music together (although Beckley has now retired from touring) thrilling audiences with their timeless sound. Yet beyond their impressive catalog of hits, listeners discovered there was always much more to America than surface perceptions.

Saturday, Nov. 2, 8 p.m.

Tickets start at $35. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Susan Kozodoy Silkowitz’s Pink Shoes gives a voice to personal expression.
Photos courtesy Heckscher Museum
Maria Spector’s collage “Candy Girls and Boys Under the Jellybean Tree,” is part of a series that explore issues of consumerism, sexuality, femininity, and masculinity — merging the ideas and works of the past with the present.
Karen Kirshner’s “The Mission” was inspired by the war in Ukraine. It conveys

On stage

Join Adelphi University’s talented theater students who perform playwright Caryl Churchill’s “Love and Information,” Thursday and Friday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 2, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 3, 2 p.m.

The fast-moving theatrical kaleidoscope explores more than 100 characters in over 50 short scenes as they try to make sense of what they know and what they find out. This is a play unlike any other that examines what it means to be human in a modern world and tackles the tension between the concepts of love and information.

Tickets start at $30, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, Olmsted Theater, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

Long Island Turkey Trot

Runners are invited to come out for the Long Island Turkey Trot in Eisenhower Park, Saturday, Nov. 2, in Parking Field 2. The walk/ run 5K event begins at 9 a.m. for more information and to register, visit Events.EliteFeats. com/24LITurkeyTrot.

Christmas Bazaar

Check out United Methodist Church of Hempstead’s annual Christmas Bazaar, Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. No entry fee. 40 Washington St., Hempstead. For more information, call (516) 4856363.

Happy Healthy Harvest

Enjoy music, food, arts and crafts, games, a balloon artist and face painting, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2-5 p.m. No fee. Hempstead Village Hall, 99 James A. Garner Way, parking lot 14. For more information, call (516) 478-6286.

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.

Board games from days gone by

Enjoy an evening of learning and playing historic games at Old Westbury Gardens’ Westbury House, Friday, Nov. 8, 7-9:30 p.m. The Long Island Tabletop Gaming Expo takes visitors on journey through 5,000 years of board game history, from its roots in ancient times to more familiar examples from the time of the Phipps family. A brief lecture on board game history includes a presentation of each of the featured games. All are fully playable, and you can try them out yourself.

Games include: Senet, The Royal Game of Ur, Three Man’s Morris, Six Man’s Morris, Nine Man’s Morris, Twelve Man’s Morris, Mancala, Go, Chess, The Royal and Most Pleasant Game of The Goose, Backgammon. The Landlords Game (transition to the modern Monopoly). $15. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

Your Neighborhood Concert program

THE

Ailey II

Ailey II, which bills itself as “the next generation of dance,” continues its 50th anniversary of bringing “off-the-charts energy” to the stage, with a performance at Tilles Center, Friday, Nov. 8 , at 8 p.m. Ailey II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s outstanding and emerging choreographers.

The 2024-25 repertory features two world premieres by former Ailey II member Alia Kache and by Houston Thomas, as well as repertory favorites and beloved classics. Founded in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble and led by Sylvia Waters for 38 seasons, Ailey II has advanced Alvin Ailey’s vision for more than five decades by giving early-career dancers a bridge from world-class training at The Ailey School to the professional stage. Led by Artistic Director Francesca Harper, Ailey II’s dancers bring their technical mastery and emotional depth to works by the most daring established and emerging choreographers. Just as Ailey envisioned, the company continues to develop the next generation of performers and dancemakers while expanding audiences through global touring and community-based performances.

‘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 concludes Thursday and Friday, oct. 31-Nov. 1. For those who attended Archie’s last “Birthday Party,” rest assured, there are new surprises in store.

The American Chamber Ensemble performs, Sunday, Nov. 3, 3-5 p.m., at Hofstra University. $20 general admission, $15 seniors over 65 and non-Hofstra college students with school ID, one free ticket with Hofstra ID. Helene Fortunoff Theatre, 127 Hofstra University. For more information, call (516) 4635490 or visit News.Hofstra.edu.

Writing Thankful Poetry

The program includes Alvin Ailey’s Streams, an abstract exploration of bodies in space, danced to a percussion score by Miloslav Kabelac; Houston Thomas’ world premiere Down the Rabbit Hole, a continuation of the choreographer’s Follow the White Rabbit (2022) that expands on its themes, examining the relationship between humans and technology; also Francesca Harper’s Luminous, a work that pays homage to the 50th anniversary of Ailey II and the artists who paved the way for future generations. Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Guests will be blindfolded and escorted to a secret location on the property, Villa Vanitas, to celebrate the enigmatic Lord Archibald Axel Von Finkelshorn Chatterton’s 30th birthday. He is a witless charmer on the cusp of a life-changing revelation, and everyone’s invited to witness his journey on a night that promises to be unforgettable and delightfully unpredictable. Cocktail attire preferred. $175 per person. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.

Uniondale Public Library welcomes all to a writing workshop, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m. It includes short meditation-guided imagery and positive affirmation writing prompts for clarity and goal setting, No fee. Uniondale Public Library, 400 Uniondale Ave. For more information or to register, visit UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

Decoupage Seashell Trinket Trays

Design your own seashell trinket trays at Uniondale Public Library, presented by the Whaling Museum, Thursday, Nov. 7, 7-8 p.m. No fee. Uniondale Public Library, 400 Uniondale Ave. For more information or to register, visit UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.

Hempstead schools raise budget concerns after charter school approval

Public Notices

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 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

at 2:00PM, premises known as 612 Newton Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553 And Described As Follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being At Uniondale, Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 36 Block 134 Lot 507

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $388,511.23 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 11090-14

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK N.A., AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE J.P. MORGAN

MORTGAGE

ACQUISITION TRUST

2006-CH2 ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-CH2, Plaintiff, Against MAUREEN E HILLARY

AKA MAUREEN HILLARY; ET AL

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/28/2016, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 12/3/2024

For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.

Jane Shrenkel, Esq., Referee.

SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Dated: 10/17/2024 File Number: 32669 CA 149729

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU NEWREZ LLC, F/K/A NEW PENN FINANCIAL, LLC DBA SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING, -againstOSCAR CLARA, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on February 23, 2023, wherein NEWREZ LLC, F/K/A NEW PENN FINANCIAL, LLC DBA SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING is the Plaintiff and OSCAR CLARA, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on December 2, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 305 CHESTER STREET, UNIONDALE, NY 11553; and the following tax map identification: 50-48-15 & 16. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT UNIONDALE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 605776/2017. Howard Eric Colton, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

During its Oct. 16 meeting, the Hempstead School Board expressed concern and dismay about the incoming Diamond Charter School, which was approved by the SUNY Charter Schools Institute Oct. 2 and is expected to open in the district in September 2026.

Members of the Hempstead board, echoing the sentiments of other publicschool officials across New York State, said they believe their enrollments and budgets will be hurt because of the new charter school.

“Looking at our enrollment figures, at least 50% of our students in the Hempstead Union Free Preschool District will be attending a charter school or a special needs site for the 2025-2026 school year,” Hempstead Superintendent Susan Johnson said. “It’s very disturbing and very real. We need to start focusing on this reality right now because it’s going to impact our future budgets in the district.”

Rodney Gilmore, Hempstead’s assistant superintendent for human resources, said he thought similarly, adding that the Diamond charter should be separately funded by Albany rather than Hempstead residential property taxes.

“The taxpayer’s money is what is funding (the school district) and the charter,” Gilmore said. “Now, if (charter schools) want to have a separate source of funding for the state to give them, fine. But it’s coming out of the public’s pocket to pay them, and it’s not right.”

When completed, the Diamond Charter School is initially expected to serve 162 students in kindergarten through first grade, adding students in elementary grades each year and eventually serving 486 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, according to its application and charter approval with SUNY.

Charter schools, like traditional public schools, are publicly funded by local taxpayers. Charter schools were instituted in New York State to compete with district schools, particularly in underperforming urban areas, in order to provide parents

with more choices for their children.

Charters have more autonomy to manage their affairs than district schools. Governed by trustees, instead of school boards, these not-for-profit schools can offer longer school days and years, flexible teaching practices and selective admission rules, none of which are permitted by state law in public schools. In many cases, they have performed better than their district counterparts, often with higher reading and math proficiencies and graduation rates, but not always.

According to the New York State Education Department, there are currently 357 charter schools operating or approved for operation in the state. Most are in the five boroughs of New York City, the Capitol Region and Western New York. Diamond will be the eighth charter school on Long Island, and the third in Hempstead behind the Academy Charter School and the Evergreen Charter School.

In a phone interview with The Advocate, the executive director of the Diamond Charter School, Mark Crusante, refuted the budgetary arguments of Hempstead school officials. He said a quality of education for the child is most important.

“I know charter schools are controversial,” Cusante said. “And I know a lot of people will say that it takes away resources from our school district. But, at the end of the day, it’s not, because that resource is still going to that child. I always say to take away the argument for money, because that’s always the bottom line that most school districts have. But it’s not about the money. It’s about the child.”

The ongoing arguments between both sides will no doubt continue over the coming months. Hempstead School Board President Victor Jay Pratt said he hopes that through all the crossfire, the voices of Hempstead school officials and residents will be heard.

“The idea of having the option to go to a public school or a charter school, I’m not against that,” Pratt said. “We just hope to be heard because it doesn’t seem like we’re being heard.”

Courtesy Christina Arlotta
Hempstead school board member Jeffery Spencer, left, board president Victor Jay Pratt and superintendent Susan Johnson recently discussed the addition of the Diamond Charter School which is expected to open in September 2026.

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $16 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available! Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.

Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!

$20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School

516-365-5778

Email: info@bellautoschool.com

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@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

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

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

OFFICE COORDINATOR

To Handle Daily Office and Clerical Tasks at a Conservative Synagogue on the South Shore. 35 Hours per Week. Salary Ranges From $20-$24 per Hour Commensurate with Experience. Email Resume to: office@congbt.org or Call 516-785-2445 for more info

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

To place an ad

Will housing ever be more affordable?

A Buyers Dream Home

Welcome to 7 Granada Pl in Massapequa. This stunning Fort Lauderdale-style waterfront colonial, newly constructed in 2023, epitomizes luxurious living. Offering 4

Q. I’m looking to sell my home, and I’m stunned by the cost of homes these days. My daughter’s family had to move out of the area, not because they needed better jobs, but because their jobs couldn’t pay enough to afford a home, and my wife and I could only help a little. Do you see any hope for housing to be made more affordable? Are there less costly ways to build that could help young people get a foothold on the American Dream? What do you think?

A. Yes, there are many ways to make homes more affordable, but the way to make it happen is very complicated, and I doubt that you’ll see it happen. Think of people, our economy, our system of living arrangements, our communities, separately or combined into large entities, as being like a large woven fabric. There are many threads in this fabric, many colors and textures and many ways the threads are woven, some over, some under and some straight through. Pull at one part of the fabric, poke at another, and the whole composition ruffles, wrinkles, even tears and starts to unravel.

Now, think of how much each thread costs, how someone puts a price on that thread because of its location, its color, its finish within the fabric. That one thread is now thought of as more expensive, special and exclusive. Others see that thread and decide their threads are pretty darn special, too. Soon every thread goes up in value, and anyone trying to weave a new thread into the fabric, or trying to buy that thread, must be in compliance with the costs, rules and location.

Regulators who decide where different threads can be placed, how big or small those threads can be and what they can look like, are people. People are threads in the fabric. Your kids are threads who may or may not find a way to be woven into the fabric as other threads disintegrate or are pulled away. Government, financial institutions, property associations, neighbors and you have to all cooperate to make the fabric stay together.

It’s possible that when enough people refuse to buy a thread or be a thread, then the value of threads diminishes. The cost of making a thread — a home or a commercial building — keeps increasing, so the cost of the components has to be brought down. But the people who make those components have to get paid. Do we cut their salaries? It’s all connected, like a complicated woven fabric in which everything has to work together.

There’s currently a nationwide shortage of housing units and a limited inventory of homes for sale, possibly because it costs more for less, so people are reluctant to move. Prices, the cost of materials, the regulated size of homes, and profit margins for sellers and lenders all need to be reduced. Does anyone see that happening, or do we wait for the fabric to become brittle and start to come apart to respond? 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.

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opINIoNS

Fentanyl is taking too many lives

The other day, I was browsing my LinkedIn feed and came across an illustration that caught my eye. There were three glass jars, all the same size, each containing a black ball. The first jar’s ball filled the jar. The second jar’s ball was smaller, and the third was tiny. A caption read, “People tend to believe that grief shrinks over time.”

Underneath was another set of jars, increasing from small to large. This time the balls were the same size, filling the first jar entirely, and as the jars grew larger, it was as if the jar was growing around the ball. The caption read, “What really happens is that we grow around our grief.”

Grief is universal. Some grieve when a favorite restaurant closes, while others mourn a pet or a relationship. But what about a parent grieving the loss of a child? As a father of two daughters, I can’t fathom losing one of them. The thought gives me a pit in my stomach. I can only imagine the pain becoming part of me, like an organ or an appendage. In theory, I agree with the illustration’s message. It offers context to the

Wunfathomable. But what if your child were murdered? Would that change things? What if the murder were preventable? I hope to never find out. Unfortunately, it’s a reality for many families, especially because of fentanyl.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of fentanyl. Most likely, you know someone who has died from it or has been affected in some way. Kids are dying, and families are being torn apart. You might be mistaken if you think it’s not happening in your neighborhood.

ICDC:

■ Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.

■ In 2022, it caused more than 73,800 preventable deaths.

■ Accidental overdose is now the second-leading cause of death among young people.

n my years of recovery work, I’ve attended too many wakes and funerals.

Many associate overdoses with rock stars or homeless junkies, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Your child doesn’t need to be a drug addict to die from fentanyl poisoning — it’s everywhere. Complacency is fentanyl’s greatest ally. It’s being found in drugs like marijuana. Unless drugs are prescribed by a doctor or come from a reputable dispensary, you’re playing Russian roulette.

Consider that scene in “The Deer Hunter”: Your child is Christopher Walken, the gun he’s holding to his head is the party your child is attending, and the lone bullet is that Xanax laced with fentanyl that they’re trying for the first time.

Here are some sobering facts from the

In Texas, law enforcement has seized over 505 million lethal doses of fentanyl. That’s enough to kill every person in the U.S. It’s simple math: Fentanyl = death.

In my profession, I facilitate free Narcan training. Narcan reverses opioid overdoses. It saves lives.

People often ask, “Why would a drug dealer want to kill their clients?” The answer is simple: fentanyl is cheap and highly addictive. That translates to higher profits and return customers: high risk but high reward.

In my almost 15 years of recovery, I’ve attended too many wakes and funerals for kids and adults. There’s an expression in recovery: Sometimes you have to step over the bodies. That should be reserved for battlefields, yet we live on a battlefield where fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction.

I serve on a Community Prevention Coalition working to educate our kids

about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. It includes school administrators, social workers, police officers, local merchants, and parents who have lost loved ones to fentanyl. We focus on combating the spread of this deadly drug through our communities.

Grief shouldn’t be part of a parent’s job description, yet it often is. While it’s impossible to avoid all grief, we can reduce the chances of preventable loss. We must act to effect change. You don’t have to be a crusader, but sitting on our hands isn’t an option. We can spread awareness to prevent more fentanyl poisonings.

A mentor once told me, “If you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem.” Here’s the call to action: Join your local community coalition. Get trained to administer Narcan. Talk to your kids about substance dangers. Write to local officials about their plans for the opioid crisis, and consult professionals about prevention strategies. Pick one action, and you’ll be part of the solution. A community that works together always wins.

Jason Mayo is a certified recovery peer advocate at a nonprofit community recovery and outreach center on Long Island. He is a contributing writer for The Sober Curator, has written for the Forbes Business Council and is the author of the children’s books “Do Witches Make Fishes?” and “The Boy and the Billy Goat.”

Hurricanes shred lives and property

e did the stupid thing, and we survived.

We did not evacuate our home on a barrier island on the west coast of Florida when Hurricane Helene blasted through in the earlymorning hours of Sept. 26.

The first alerts about Helene seemed exaggerated and alarmist: A disorganized low-pressure system, percolating quietly near the Yucatan Peninsula, would gather fearsome energy over the Gulf of Mexico and slam into Florida’s Gulf coast, as a Cat 4 or 5 killer. It was an unusual setup for hurricane in these parts. My parttime residence was long said to be safe by the indigenous people who lived here, protected geographically because of a twist in the coastline. Maybe the ancients are exacting revenge for our careless guardianship of their land.

We are on the eighth floor of a building on the beach, and we have metal wind shutters. So, considering the labori-

ous process of gathering our belongings and food and driving to a safe haven, we decided to stay. Besides, once a storm is on its way, not much time remains before landfall, and it isn’t clear which way to run. Hurricanes often wobble or weaken or, in the case of Helene, turn left over Georgia and North Carolina, destroying everything in their path.

We had water for a week, and food that didn’t need to be refrigerated or heated. We had each other and Lillybee the dog, who had been skulking in our shadows for days. We also felt somewhat jaded by overhyped weather alarms in the past. Epic snowfalls, tornadoes sprouting everywhere, on-again-off-again water spout watches. We would probably be OK.

generators malfunctioned. Then I walked up. Then I did the same walk, down and up eight flights, for five days, until power was restored. Both of our cars, parked “safely” in the garage, were engulfed by the tidal surge and totaled.

W e were scared straight by Helene, and will never try to ride one out again.

Sometime after midnight on the 26th, the rain and wind came on like a freight train, hammering the shutters against our windows. Within an hour we had no electricity and no internet. Officials on the mainland turned off all water service to the island. The bridge to the rest of the world was closed.

The dog needed to go out, so I grabbed a flashlight and walked down eight dark flights of stairs to get outside. Building

But we were lucky. We lived through the storm without a medical crisis and with replaceable losses.

We vowed never to stay when the authorities tell us to evacuate. What if one of us got sick during the hurricane? What if the windows blew in, even with the shutters?

Less than two weeks later, we had another shot at hurricane survival. Hurricane Milton developed on the east coast of Mexico, and got himself together in record speed, exploding from Category 1 to Category 5 in one day and taking direct aim at our island as he charged up the west coast of Florida.

This time we obeyed the evacuation orders and moved to a hotel on the mainland with Lillybee. One day later, the hotel was evacuated, sending us on a drive across the state, with thousands of other people. We took refuge with family on the East Coast. And we waited and waited for the hurricane to hit and do its

work so we could begin to build back. Like waiting for surgery.

Milton made landfall on Oct. 9 on the tiny barrier island south of us, wiping it clean of all the charming old Florida cottages that have survived for so long on a spit of land. Cars floated out into the Gulf. A man was rescued clinging to a large cooler from his sunken boat. We came back to our condo four days later. The property was a mess, but we had power and internet. We were on a boilwater advisory, stores were closed, and piles of household belongings and soaked furnishings are piled up along the roads.

We love it here, but it’s crazy to build on barrier islands. Nature always reclaims her own. We were scared straight by the first hurricane, and will never try to ride one out again. We look around at neighbors who have lost everything they own. And we know we are part of a bigger, more frightening human-made disaster called climate change.

Who will gather the will and willingness to stop the rising tides and temperatures? Who will stop the awful gathering storm of wind, rain and fire that sweep across our nation in every season?

Copyright 2024 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

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iHerald editorial

The Herald’s pact with you

n recent days, two of the most prominent national newspapers, The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, announced that they would not endorse a presidential candidate in Tuesday’s election, breaking from decades of precedent. Many have speculated on the reasons behind these decisions, suggesting that the newspapers favored Kamala Harris but ultimately chose not to upset Donald Trump for fear of retribution if the former president returns to the Oval Office.

For those of us in the news business, these decisions raise questions about the role of newspapers in a charged political climate. We at the Long Island Herald, a proud local newspaper company family-owned for three generations, see this as an opportunity to reaffirm our mission to serve the people of Long Island.

Unlike many national publications, the Herald does not make endorsements of candidates seeking political office, and our reasons are simple yet vital. Our focus is not on swaying voters toward a particular candidate, but on delivering comprehensive and unbiased information about the issues that matter most to Long Islanders. We are not here to tell our readers how to vote for political candidates; rather, we are here to arm readers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions at the

letters

‘Harris shouldn’t even be on the ticket’

To the Editor:

ballot box. For us, the true measure of success is when readers feel empowered to draw their own conclusions based on facts, insights and perspectives they can trust.

Our mission is grounded in the local stories that directly impact your day-today lives — stories about Long Island schools, roads, parks, businesses and community events. It’s easy for national headlines to overshadow these essential local matters, especially in a polarized political landscape. Yet we firmly believe that our responsibility is to stay rooted in the issues affecting our neighborhoods and families. From zoning changes and public safety to neighborhood events and high school sports, we are here to cover what is relevant and timely for our readers.

The one place where you might see opinions about local and national political candidates, however, is in columns on our editorial pages, like those written by Randi Kreiss and Peter King. These essays are distinguished from Herald news content by featuring photos of the authors, making it clear that they reflect the writers’ perspectives and not the views of the Herald. We strive to showcase a diverse array of local voices across the ideological spectrum in these opinion pieces.

In a world saturated with news from national outlets, social media platforms and pundits, local newspapers play a

I couldn’t disagree more with Jerry’s Kremer’s viewpoint in his column last week, “Why I’m voting for Kamala Harris.” Harris shouldn’t even be on the ticket. If the Democrats had held an open primary after President Biden was pushed aside, she wouldn’t even have been considered.

Her word-salad responses to questions are baffling and her knowledge of the issues is inept. The only thing that rings in her favor is the Roe v. Wade debate. Harris is clueless on the economy, the border, which is a travesty, and her ability to engage with world leaders. Donald Trump is far from perfect, but he’ll put America first, and Kamala, in my opinion, will not.

And Jerry left something out

To the Editor:

In “Why I’m voting for Kamala Harris,” Jerry Kremer forgot to mention what our open south -

unique and irreplaceable role. Our newspaper is here to highlight the concerns and successes of Long Island, to act as a mirror to our community, and to bring a sense of belonging and understanding that no national publication can provide. But to achieve this, we need to hear from you, our readers. What are the topics you care about? What issues are not getting the coverage they deserve? Are there people in our community doing extraordinary things whom we should feature? We encourage you to share your thoughts, ideas and feedback with us. Let us know what you’re curious about, what you feel needs to be addressed, and where you think we can improve. Your voices are essential to shaping a Herald that genuinely reflects and serves your community.

Reach out to us at kradziski@liherald.com, and let us know what matters to you!

As the election approaches, we understand the intense focus on national races, but our mission remains to illuminate the issues closest to home. We will continue to be your trusted source for local news, not by endorsing political candidates but by informing, listening, and responding to the needs of Long Island.

Together, let’s keep our community well-informed, engaged and vibrant — one local story at a time.

opinions

When did we become so unkind?

ispent a lot of my childhood, and now, consequently, a lot of my adulthood, at my uncle’s lake house in Pennsylvania.

Some of my fondest memories revolve around being there — whether I was fishing with my grandfather, exploring the outdoors with my cousins or curled up with a good book on the beach, taking in my surroundings.

As I’ve gotten older, I find that I love the area for different reasons. I still like to fish and spend time outside with my family and my dogs. But I also love exploring the Poconos communities around the house, which, in many ways, feel like a second home to me.

Readers of the Bellmore, Merrick and East Meadow Heralds have likely seen my name pop up on their community Facebook pages throughout the almost three and a half years that I’ve been working here. I like to stay involved with community forums,

because they’re not only a great source of information, but also a great place for me to network, and meet the people in the communities that I cover and love.

So just as I do here at home and when I’m working, I’ve joined a few community social media pages in the Pennsylvania region I travel to. Again, I find that it’s a great way to stay in the loop, find new spots to visit, and again, receive a variety of information that I might not know otherwise.

the world often feels overwhelmingly negative, but we don’t have to make it worse.

A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through a page that I check frequently, and came across a post from a page contributor that read: “NY Trash Destroyed The Poconos.”

It took me a moment to really wrap my head around what I was reading, because for one, the region is economically very reliant on tourism from places like New York, and because I couldn’t believe that people actually felt that way. I’d imagine that everyone has had their own experiences with “outsiders,” but I’d venture to guess that the vast majority of the people who’ve found second

Letters

ern border has done to our country. Maybe that’s because Harris was in charge of the border.

FRANk

VENIS East Rockaway

Harris looks like the smart choice

To the Editor:

Vice presidents are very limited in what they can do in that job. Their job is to support the president’s policies. Think of former Vice President Mike Pence.

Vice President Harris is her own strong person, and she will take what she perceives to be the best aspects of President Biden’s policies, but no vice president is ever a carbon copy of their predecessor. In terms of the southern border, Harris says that she supports having both parties in Congress work together and compromise on solutions, as was recently done with the strict border bill that both parties agreed on. However, Trump intervened and told Republicans to back out.

Trump and his MAGA Republicans prefer a dictatorial approach to solving our country’s problems. They tell us that we are a failing nation that only one man can fix. Beware. That is not democracy.

Concerning our economy, economists

homes in Pennsylvania are just like me and my family — kind, courteous and respectful. Fellow commenters on the thread confirmed my beliefs. Whatever reasons he had to make that post didn’t matter in the long run. In the grand scheme of things, it was just another blip on the social media timeline. It didn’t make any waves, and it certainly didn’t stop “outsiders” from visiting the area, or going to homes that they own.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve thought a lot about that post, not because I took insult in his words, but because I can’t imagine ever going out of my way to post such a ridiculous, negative thing — on any platform, for any reason.

It’s like the age-old saying: “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.”

It doesn’t matter that the post came from a place other than Long Island, because I’m sure we can all think of similar ones. Comments become vicious and people start attacking one another, while ignoring the actual problem: We,

as a society, can be extraordinarily unkind.

There’s a lot going on these days. Things are polarized, and I feel it — the agitation, the stress about the way things are. The world we live in today isn’t perfect, but was it ever?

The point I’m trying to make is, if you have to go out of your way to say something completely unnecessary, take a moment and ask yourself: Is it worth it?

The world today may not be perfect, and often it feels overwhelmingly negative. We don’t have to make it worse. When things feel harsh and disconnected, kindness is a quiet strength, as is thinking about the things we say, or write, before we say them.

We can choose to be mindful of what we say, understanding that our words have consequences. The world may not be perfect, but each of us can make it a little better by simply pausing, reflecting, and opting for kindness whenever we can, because in a time when so much feels out of our control, this is one thing that isn’t.

Jordan Vallone is a senior editor who writes for the Bellmore, Merrick and East Meadow Heralds. Comments? jvallone@ liherald.com.

Framework by Tim Baker

report that it is doing well. Gas prices are down, unemployment is down and the stock market is flourishing.

One would expect that food and housing costs would continue to improve under Harris. Economists say that Trump’s tariffs would backfire and increase the cost of goods. Also, it seems that most people agree with the Harris plan to have large corporations pay their fair share of taxes, but she will need a Democratic Congress to achieve this.

On Election Day, keep it all in perspective

To the Editor:

Beware of all the promises of goodies — or, as I call them, Halloween tricks and treats — promised by candidates running for public office. There is no such thing as a free lunch, or, in this case, free government programs offering benefits to you. Taxpayers always end up picking up the tab.

That’s a good reason why politicians should be changed often, like diapers, because most are full of you know what! Remember this next Tuesday before you vote.

At Falcon’s Halloween Yard Haunt — Pierce Avenue, North Bellmore
JorDan VaLLone

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