Uniondale Herald 12-12-2024

HERALD UNIONDALE

Jamboree

Kelsie Radziski/Herald

Carolina Flores and her children, Anthony, 10, and Mia, 8, attended the Toys of Hope Parade at Walnut Street School last Saturday.

Toys of Hope Parade draws joyful crowd to Walnut Street

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

The holiday spirit was alive in Uniondale last weekend, as the annual Toys of Hope Parade rolled up to Walnut Street Elementary School, bringing joy, generosity and a sense of community togetherness. Sponsored by the Nassau County Police Department Foundation and hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Uniondale United and the Walnut Street School PTA, the event welcomed families from across the area.

The parade, on Saturday, featured emergency response vehicles, horses and festive trucks filled with volunteers, all lined up around Walnut Street. Families were treated

to hot chocolate and cookies, and had the chance to meet Santa Claus and the Grinch.

Every child received a toy, courtesy of the Toys of Hope organization, which is headquartered in Huntington. The event is part of the ongoing partnership between the NCPD Foundation and Toys of Hope, which supports those in need and promotes the spirit of generosity during the holiday season.

At the end of the event, Santa made a dramatic, and decidedly untraditional, departure in a police helicopter. It circled around the building a few times while he waved down at kids shouting with excitement.

“I think it’s amazing to get into the Christmas spirit,” Carolina Flores, a mother

At hearing on Sands plan, a public divide

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

The draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Las Vegas Sands resort and casino at the site of the Nassau Coliseum was met with both resounding support and critical opposition at a public hearing at the Nassau County Legislature on Monday.

Las Vegas Sands officially submitted the DEIS to the Legislature last month, after a unanimous vote by legislators confirming the document’s completion and availability for public review.

Beautification initiatives are also planned to improve the area’s public spaces, as part of Las Vegas Sands’ effort to enhance both aesthetics and quality of life for residents and visitors.

EIS.

ADRIEnnE ESpoSIto Executive director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment

The DEIS outlines a range of investments — totaling more than $150 million — aimed at modernizing Uniondale’s infrastructure and revitalizing the hamlet and surrounding communities, according to a Sands news release. The projects include expanding the Meadowbrook Parkway to alleviate traffic congestion, enhancing the Uniondale water district to improve its sustainability and upgrading energy infrastructure to meet growing demand.

“We are grateful to the Nassau County Legislature for its thorough review of the completeness of our environmental impact statement,” Michael Levoff, the company’s senior vice president of strategy and public affairs, stated in the release. “This over 28,000-page document further demonstrates Sands’ commitment to comprehensively and holistically mitigate the potential impacts of our transformative project at the site of the Nassau Coliseum.”

At Monday’s contentious hearing, both supporters and detractors shared their opinions on the DEIS. Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said she had analyzed environmental impact statements for 40 years, and approved of how thor-

ConTinued on PAge 5

Laura Gillen reflects on congressional win

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Election Day was a whirlwind of excitement for Laura Gillen, the newly elected Democratic representative of New York’s 4th Congressional District.

“Election days are always very exciting, and a little bit nerve-racking as you wait for the results to come in,” she said.

Gillen, a former Hempstead town supervisor, was joined by her family and campaign team as the polls closed and the results began coming in. She said that once she felt confident enough in the numbers, she declared victory over the incumbent, U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito.

“I was pleased to declare the win, and so pleased to have the opportunity to represent the people of the district,” she said.

The victory capped a remarkable comeback for Gillen, who lost a bid for the congressional seat to D’Esposito in 2022.

Reflecting on the success of her 2024 campaign, she attributed her triumph to listening, communicating and articulating the needs of her district. “I spent the campaign really focusing on the race and the district,” she said. “The message really did resonate.”

Gillen credited her campaign’s success to its strong outreach efforts, which struck a chord among local voters.

“We had a much more robust field program than we had in 2022,” she explained. “We spent a lot of time knocking on doors and pounding the pavement to make sure voters knew the issues at stake.”

She also highlighted her team’s use of television

and digital platforms to broaden their message.

In preparation for her move to Washington, Gillen was invited to Capitol Hill for a congressional orientation. “It was really exciting,” she said. “It really brings it all home.”

The orientation, she said, gave her an opportunity to connect with members of Congress from both parties, which she indicated would be essential to passing important legislation starting in January.

“It was wonderful to also meet my future colleagues,” she said. “We’re in the minority, but the majority is a very narrow majority.”

Her visit to the Capitol also came with an unexpected highlight: Gillen drew the coveted No. 1 spot in the office lottery for incoming freshmen.

“I went in with a spirit of gratitude, thinking, you get what you get,” she said.

Much to her surprise, she secured an office in the recently renovated Cannon House Office Building. Although her office is still under construction, she is confident that it will be ready by the time she takes office.

At the local level, Gillen said she is still evaluating whether to maintain her current campaign office or establish a new space for constituent services, which would ensure accessibility for district residents.

Looking ahead to congressional committee assignments, she said the process is still unfolding, but her priority is clear.

“I want to serve on a committee where I can best deliver for the residents of the district,” she said. Gillen will officially be sworn in on Jan. 6, 2025.

“I am looking forward to working in Washington to deliver results for this district,” she said.

COMMUNITY

Courtesy Laura Gillen

U.S. Rep.-elect Laura Gillen attended congressional orientation on Capitol Hill in Washington on Nov. 12.

Santa departs festivities by . . . helicopter?

of two from Uniondale, said, “and it’s so nice to see that Nassau County is donating toys to children, just to give me that spirit and give me that joy of the season.”

Flores’s son, Anthony, 10, got his first skateboard at the event, and was looking forward to learning how to ride it. His favorite part of the morning, he said, was seeing Santa in the helicopter.

His sister, Mia, 8, also thought it was “cool” watching Santa leave in the helicopter, and said she felt “happy and excited” about receiving two Barbie dolls.

The success of the event was due in no small part to the collaboration among several community groups, according to Quyen Rovner, a social worker at Walnut Street.

Rovner said. “We’re bringing everybody, all the families. It serves everyone in this community. We have our little alumni from the middle school and the high school coming to volunteer that have graduated from here. We’re just very open to having everybody come back to us.”

Hofstra University is another partner in the event, and the Hofstra dance team performed before the parade.

I think it’s amazing to get into the Christmas spirit.

CarolIna Flores

Uniondale mother of two

“Every year, the Nassau County police, the PTA here, our staff, the Kiwanis Club, come together,” Rovner said. “It’s a tremendous collaboration, a community collaboration.”

The parade and toy distribution weren’t just for the students of Walnut Street, she said. Families from other schools in the district were also invited, ensuring that the entire Uniondale community felt included in the holiday celebration.

“It’s not just the elementary school — it doesn’t just serve the kids here,”

“We love coming to events like this,” Danielle Quinn, a fifth-year senior at Hofstra, said. “A big part and value of our program is being able to give back to the community and attend events like this, because it’s really what it’s all about.”

“It was so much fun seeing how excited they got,” Isabella Uberti, a third-year student, said of the children, “not only when we danced, but when we were going up to them when they were getting the gifts.”

Flores expressed her appreciation for not only the event, but for the Walnut Street staff for making it happen and being a part of it.

“The staff members and teachers come out and take time out of their week to come and make sure that their students are happy, and are in a warm and loving environment,” she said.

Holden Leeds/Herald photos

Isreal Daecus, 9, with his Fortnite Nerf gun.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, back right, and Sgt. Daniel Johannessen visited Santa and the kids.

Julian Arocho Hernandez, 9, got a Nerf gun from Santa.

Holiday magic at the Long Island Children’s Museum

Kids and families created jolly memories to kick off the holiday season at the Long Island Children’s Museum’s inaugural Jolly Jamboree on Dec. 7.

Families unwrapped a night of festive fun, from grooving at a dance party with Santa and Rudolph to sock skating around an indoor rink with Elsa and Olaf from the Disney movie “Frozen.” Guests made a variety of wintery crafts, including designing snowman hats and decorating their own tasty treats.

Carolers sang throughout the museum, and other characters, like the beloved Pete the Cat, roamed around to visit the kids. It was a holiday celebra-

tion packed with interactive activities, festive photo opportunities and holiday cheer.

The event was meant to offer families an affordable, festive way to celebrate the holiday season and bring families together, Aimee Terzulli, the museum’s Vice President for Program & Visitor Experience said.

“It’s a night where everybody just can come and spend time together,” she said, “which is really what we want to do during the holidays.”

— Kelsie Radziski

Own

Reliable

Strong

Holden Leeds/Herald photos

Kids joined Santa Claus and Rudolph in hula hooping at the Long Island Children’s Museum’s Jolly Jamboree on Dec. 7.

Brayden, 9, and Claire Lau, 5, made their own snowman hats with the help of a museum staff member.

Families gathered to make crafts as one of the museum event’s many activities.

Guests skated in their socks across the ‘ice’ with Elsa and Olaf from ‘Frozen.’

Supporters and opponents of the Las Vegas Sands casino project filled the county legis lative chamber on Monday for the public hearing on the project’s draft environmental impact statement.

Concerns raised over environmental factors

ough Sands’ is.

“It was a very comprehensive and a very complete draft EIS,” Esposito said.

Referring to the proposed improvements, however, Esposito suggested that the document be “strengthened” with plans for how to handle water withdrawal and conservation, and solid waste. She also suggested the creation of a community advisory board “that looks at the metrics to see how they’re doing on energy and water and solid waste management.”

Many attendees expressed their support for the statement and for the casino project as a whole. Ryan Stanton, executive director of the Long Island Federation of Labor, shared his appreciation for the DEIS and how Sands is going about the project.

“Long Islanders care about traffic, taxes and economic opportunity,” Stanton said. “When we make investments in infrastructure, it creates economic opportunity for the people behind it, reduces taxes for the people behind them, and when people have a reduced tax burden and money in their pockets, they can make good environmental and economic choices.”

On the other side, the Say No to the Casino Civic Association has been vocal in its longstanding opposition to the project, repeatedly making the argument that it will harm the community and environment in a variety of ways. The group claims in a news release that the extensive infrastructure changes needed for the casino would permanently alter the landscape and exacerbate traffic congestion. Members also expressed concerns about the environmental impact, highlighting the expected water consumption and carbon emissions in a news release that followed the DEIS submission.

Concerns about the local impacts of the casino project on surrounding towns, including Uniondale, Hempstead, Garden City and East Meadow, led the Garden City village board to file a lawsuit against Sands, asking the Nassau County Supreme Court to void the 42-year lease agreement for the Coliseum between the county and Sands because, the suit claims, lawmakers did not closely examine the potential impact a casino could

H O P L O C A L

have on the environment.

Hofstra University also took legal action against the county for initially vio lating the Open Meetings Law and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) during the initial approval pro cess for the Nassau Coliseum lease in March 2023. The case is now back in the hands of the Nassau County Supreme Court.

Karen Riordan, a member of the Say No association, said she believed the envi ronmental impact statement “failed to take into account the full regional impact the casino project will have on saltwater intrusion on shore communities.” Rior dan referenced a study released in August by the United States Geological Survey that indicates that Long Island’s only freshwater aquifer is in danger of saltwa ter intrusion, and that the language used in the DEIS to describe this potential problem is “too vague.”

Other association members also spoke at the hearing, including Steve Rolston, a member of the Sierra Club, who said that people’s concerns go beyond the environ ment.

“There are environmental reasons, plus economic and social reasons, that a casino is considered nothing more than legal fraud,” Rolston said.

The draft environmental impact state ment is available for public review on the Legislature’s website, and a public com ment period will extend until Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. Submissions can be sent via email to sandscomments@nassaucountyny.gov, or by mail to the Nassau County Clerk of the Legislature, 1550 Franklin Ave., Mineola, NY 11501.

Nassau County Legislature stead clerk

Hofstra seeks success in conference play

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

Hofstra women’s basketball is looking to provide the doubters wrong in the Coastal Athletic Association.

The Pride was picked to finish 12th in the 14-team league’s preseason poll after a 3-15 CAA season last year in which five e conference losses were in single digits. Hofstra returns five players from last year’s 11-21 team that caught fire at the end of the 2023/24 season to win two games in the CAA Tournament and reach the quarterfinal round and is looking to build off of that postseason run this winter.

“We know we’re better than that but just to say we know we’re better than what we are perceived at or expected to be is not enough,” said fifth-year head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “You’ve got to go and be better and go and show people that you’re better and you’ve got to go and prove that you’re capable of more and that’s where we are as a team now.”

After a hard-fought 63-58 season-opening loss to Sacred Heart, Hofstra responded with back-to-back wins against NJIT and Yale to provide some early-season confidence for the new campaign. The Pride improved to 3-5 on the young season with a 55-52 home win against Howard last Sunday.

Among the key returners determined to propel Hofstra toward its first winning season in nine years is junior guard Emma Von Essen, a Rockville Centre native who was the Pride’s leading scorer last season and knocked down 85 threes. The Long Island Lutheran product is off to another explosive start this season averaging 12.8 points per game so far with 24 threes.

“She’s just so consistent and that’s one of the things that we really appreciate about Emma is she’s going to be Emma every single day, and she’s not trying to do someone else’s job,” Santos Atkinson said. “ She works extremely hard and she knows what she does well, and she tries to do that every single time to the best of our ability.”

Santos Atkinson also returned graduate student center Zyheima Swint, who was the team’s fourth-leading scorer last year and led the team in rebounding. Zyheima Swint registered 14 points in a 75-61 victory against Yale on Nov. 12.

Hofstra also added a number of key newcomers aiding the Pride early this season.

Junior guard Chloe Sterling is the leading scorer through eight games after transferring from James Madison University. The Kennesaw, Ga. native earned CAA Player of the Week honors after tallying a careerhigh 21 points in a 74-69 win at NJIT on Nov. 8.

Freshman forward LaNae’ Corbett is showing promise early in her collegiate career by averaging 10.5 points per game including 15 in the Sacred Heart game to go along with 13 rebounds. She led Hofstra with 17 points in the Howard victory.

“The sky’s the limit for her,” said Satos Atkinson of Corbet, a mechanical engineering major who shined at one of the nation’s top-ranked high school girls basketball programs at Bishop McNamara in Maryland. “She’s one of the most consistent freshmen that I’ve coached in terms of her work ethic and how she shows up.”

Santos Atkinson pieced together some challenging non-conference games to prepare for CAA play that included a Dec. 2 trip to her alma mater the University of Florida where Hofstra trailed in single digits

at halftime to the SEC school before falling 75-48. The Pride will also host Big East foe St. John’s on Dec. 11. The CAA schedule commences on Jan. 3 at Monmouth and Jan. 5 at Delaware before the Pride host its league home opener on Jan. 10 against College of Charleston for a 6 p.m. tipoff. Hofstra concludes the conference schedule at home on March 6 against Long Island rival Stony Brook at 6 p.m. and a Saturday matinee versus Northeastern on March 8 at 2 p.m.

“Two things that we talk about to be successful this year for us is we’ve got to be the most competitive team in the CAA and we’ve got to be the most selfless team in the CAA, and I think we are capable of doing both of those things,” Santos Atkinson said. “And then we’ve got to compete through adversity through the good times and the bad.”

Chloe Sterling, a transfer from James Madison, provides a boost to the Pride’s roster.

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications L.I. Lutheran product and Rockville Centre native Emma Von Essen was Hofstra’s leading scorer last season.

Nassau Coliseum lights up Uniondale for the holidays

Sands New York hosted the Uniondale Holiday Kickoff on Dec. 6. They were joined by the Uniondale Community Council, Uniondale Community Land Trust, Uniondale Empowerment Resource Center, Uniondale Fire Department, John J. Byrne Community Center and the Genesis program. Sands executives and local elected officials were in attendance and made remarks welcoming residents and ushering in the holidays. Youth from the Uniondale community joined Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in officially lighting the coliseum in red and green, beginning a rotation of hol-

iday colors throughout the season, according to the news release.

The event, free and open to the public, featured face painting and makeyour-own ornaments. The New York Holiday Singers sang holiday tunes for guests to enjoy throughout the event.

Hot chocolate and sweet treats were available to guests, and there were plenty of photo opportunities with Santa Claus.

The Uniondale Community Council and Genesis Basketball were there raising funds to help support families and youth activities in Uniondale.

— Kelsie Radziski

Holden Leeds/Herald photos

Milana Iqzarev, 10, Aniyah Lee, 9, Alluruh Lee, 4, Jordyn Johnson, 9, and Brooke Johnson, 11, drank some hot chocolate.

Marvin Amazan, 2, had a big smile on his face with Santa at the Nassau Coliseum lighting on Dec. 6.

Vandella and Ezra Rucker, 8, attended the festive event.

Legislators push ‘Gio’s Law’ for EpiPens

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Nassau County police officers could become front-line defenders against severe allergic reactions if legislation proposed by Legislator Seth Koslow becomes law. The bill would require patrol vehicles to be equipped with epinephrine auto-injectors, or EpiPens, and require officers to be trained to administer them in emergencies.

The bill was unveiled at a Dec. 5 news conference in Mineola, where Koslow, a Democrat from Merrick, was joined by local officials and advocates, including Georgina Cornago, whose son, Giovanni Cipriano, died in 2013 of a severe allergic reaction. Legislators Delia DeRiggiWhitton, Debra Mulè and Scott Davis were also in attendance.

Following her son’s death, Cornago led efforts in 2019 to pass Gio’s Law in New York state. It authorizes certain New York emergency service providers to be trained to treat anaphylaxis and carry EpiPens in their vehicles. The law previously mandated EpiPen training and stocking for first responders in counties with populations of less than 1 million, but it was recently expanded to counties with populations of up to 2 million — which means it can now be implemented in Nassau County.

Jordan Vallone/Herald

Nassau County Legislator Seth Koslow spoke at a Dec. 5 news conference about a bill that would require police department patrol vehicles to carry EpiPens, which are administered to those who have life-threatening allergic reactions.

Suffolk County adopted Gio’s Law in 2023. “This bill will save lives,” Koslow said at the news conference, “because it will give police officers the ability to provide life-saving treatment in an emergency situation. We trust them when it comes to Narcan. We trust them when it comes to CPR. This is a natural

progression, and a natural tool for them to have in their arsenal to provide the resources we expect them to provide on a day-to-day basis.”

Cipriano, who lived in Lawrence, was 14 in 2013, when he went into anaphylactic shock after eating a food he was allergic to. He didn’t have an EpiPen at

the time, so his mother drove him to the hospital, which took too long, leading to his death.

Police department ambulances in Nassau County are equipped with EpiPens, but patrol cars aren’t — and by putting them there, the lifesaving care could be more accessible in emergencies.

“This legislation has been nearly 12 years in the making,” Cornago said. “Its importance cannot be overstated. Just as AED machines have become standard in public spaces, it only makes sense to have epinephrine injectors readily available alongside them as another essential lifesaving device.”

If it passes, the bill will direct the Nassau County Police Department to equip all patrol vehicles with EpiPens within 120 days, and ensure that all officers receive the necessary training to administer the medication.

“The training is about 30 minutes long,” Koslow said. “As far as obtaining the EpiPens, it’s just a function of putting the order in and getting them delivered. They’re readily available.”

Koslow explained that food allergies affect 32 million people in the U.S., and over 1,500 people die every year as a result of food allergy reactions.

The legislators are requesting a vote on the bill before the final legislative session of the year, next Monday.

Reduce Your Cancer Risk by Eating Healthy

Point

Lighting up traditions at Hempstead Village Hall

By REINE BETHANY

Special to the Herald

With brilliant lights and stirring songs, Hempstead Village celebrated its diverse holiday traditions in front of Village Hall on Dec. 5 — its annual Holiday Lights event.

The yearly occasion falls during the first week of December. Hempstead school children spend weeks studying Christmas songs in English and Spanish, learning melodies like “O Hanukkah,” and rehearsing dances expressive of the holiday spirit.

Hempstead is home to some of Nassau County’s oldest Christian congregations, and to Congregation Beth Israel, the Jewish synagogue on Hillside Avenue that was officially established in 1915.

At the annual event, the children mount the steps of the portable stage. They belt out songs and bound through dances for a delighted audience of parents and villagers.

This year, Human Relations Council Director Juanita Hargwood, the event’s organizer, called Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Jr., to open the program.

“It’s a great day in the Village of Hempstead,” said Hobbs. “Welcome to our annual holiday celebration. We’ll be lighting the menorah and we’re excited about the day.”

The elementary-age members of the Jackson Main IB-PYP World Chorale sang and danced “O Hanukkah,” intoned “Silent Night” while a very young Joseph and Mary symbolized the birth of Jesus by clutching a baby doll in blanket, and then called the audience to join in with José Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad.”

Jackson Main music director Soh Yung Lee-Segredo led the self-assured singers.

The audience then clapped along as students from Rhodes Academy’s Performing Arts Class (Empire State Afterschool Program) threw themselves into an exuberant dance routine, accompanied by holiday rock music.

Next came the lighting of the statuesque menorah stationed on the lawn of Village Hall. Rabbi Abe Lebovic, head of Congregation Beth Israel, spoke about Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, while lighting each of the eight menorah candles.

“We’re going to bring the eight lights of the menorah into the world,” said Lebovic. “And I want to remind all of you, our job is to be a lamplighter — to bring light into the world.”

When Rabbi Abe finished, Regina Lattimore, secretary to the Hempstead Police Department, threw the switch that ignited brilliant white lights on the trees and shrubs outside Village Hall, and set lamps glowing inside a large crêche depicting the Nativity.

A stately Kwanzaa kinara, similar in shape to the menorah, quietly awaited its turn to be lighted on Dec. 26.

Fire truck sirens penetrated the air.

A parade of decorated Hempstead Fire Department trucks rolled up in front of Village Hall.

“Hi, Santa! Hi, Santa!” shouted the crowds of eager children.

Santa clambered off a fire truck and was instantly surrounded by giggling kids. Each received a cheery packet of candy and toys from the Hempstead Village Hall elves, and then went to a side table, where more elves served everyone hot chocolate.

Photos courtesy Reine Bethany School children clustered around Santa Claus at the Dec. 5 Holiday Lights ceremony. Each child received a packet of small gifts from Santa’s elves at Village Hall.

Accompanied on the drum by music director Soh Yung Lee-Segredo, students in the Jackson Main Elementary School World Chorale sang and danced to holiday songs at the Holiday Lights ceremony outside Village Hall on Dec. 5.

Dancers from the Rhodes Academy Performing Arts Class, part of the Empire State Afterschool Program, danced to a holiday rock song at the Holiday Lights ceremony outside Village Hall on Dec. 5.

Nominate a student under 16 for the Sustainability Champion Award to recognize their efforts in driving sustainable change.

We want to hear about the extraordinary young individuals who are driving change in their communities.

The award will be presented at the 2025 LI Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island powered by Reworld in February.

Your nomination could inspire countless others to follow in their footsteps!

Submit a nomination of approximately 200 words or less describing the student’s leadership in promoting sustainability: What motivates them? What impact have they had?

Be sure to include a photo or an example of their work—whether it’s a community garden, an environmental campaign, or a creative solution to a sustainability challenge.

Leaders bring communities together

By Renee DeLorenzo

At this year’s annual Herald Top Chief Officers of Long Island Awards, hosted by RichnerLIVE on Nov. 20, Long Island’s top officers proved that leadership is much more than just calling the shots. Being a leader comes with a lot of responsibility, and it means a little something different to everyone who serves in such a position. But one thing is certain: No one can do it alone.

Nearly 300 people gathered at the Heritage Club at Bethpage to celebrate excellence in leadership. Representing a wide range of industries including health care, education, utilities, nonprofits and finance, the group of business influencers came together for a night of honor and recognition.

Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health and this year’s recipient of the prestigious Trailblazer Award, stepped on stage to a wave of applause, and spoke about the health care industry and what it means to come together as a community. “I don’t think there’s any substitute for being in a room together as a collective, because you share and you learn,” Dowling said.

For the other honorees at the ceremony, bringing communities together is vital to their success. Ross Turrini and Jim Flannery, of National Grid and National Grid Ventures, respectively, shared those sentiments. Being a leader, they said, means focusing on the people they serve.

For Turrini, chief operating officer of National Grid’s New York gas operations, that means communicating honestly. “You’ve got to be able to have honest communication and conversations,” he said. “Not only with your employees, but with policymakers, legislators, our customers, and folks in the community who you serve. You have to be able to build trust.”

Flannery, COO of National Grid Ventures, U.S. Northeast, said the very reason he was there was because of the community he has built at the company. “The nomination is really a reflection of the people I work with,” he said, adding that his role at the company is forming a workforce that feels like family. “A leader needs to be one who cares about people, listens to people, who can galvanize people around a cause,” he said.

Diane Walsh and Gurjit Singh, of Prager Metis, said that the reason they were there was the amazing people they are privileged to work with daily.

Walsh, chief marketing officer of Prager Metis, said, “I think it’s really important for the community, not only for personal recognition, but for recognition of the firm and everybody we work with every day. They all make us the top chiefs.”

Singh, Prager Metis’s chief information officer, agreed, saying the recognition goes beyond his accounting firm. The acknowledgment of everyone else in the room, Singh said, was just as important. “I think everyone’s deserving — no one’s really above or below,” he said.

The connection between leadership and community was evident throughout the night. The idea that personal recognition is only possible because of the communities top officers serve is a tenet of the best leadership. “It’s all about having good people around you,” Dowling said. “It’s not about an individual situation. It’s about who you put around you. You prove that you’re smarter when you hire people smarter than you.”

He added that success is about the relationships with the people he works with, the people he serves, and the people he meets who share these values, such as those at the Heritage Club that night. “Everyone is going to leave here better than they did when they came in because of the relationships they’re making,” he said.

Stuart Richner, chief executive of Richner Communications and publisher of Herald Community

Media, noted the importance of bringing the leaders together and recognizing the value of what they do.

“Leadership is about more than reaching goals,” Richner said. “It’s about creating a ripple effect of positive change in the organizations and communities we serve. The individuals we honor tonight exemplify

that spirit, making Long Island a better place for all.” A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the Michael Magro Foundation, which supports children with cancer and other pediatric illnesses.

For a full list of sponsors and honorees, go to RichnerLive.com/2024TCOA.

Tim Baker/Herald photos Guests network during the cocktail hour.

Keynote speaker and President of Northwell Health, Michael Dowling gives the keynote speech.

Chief Executive Officer of Harmony Health Care Stacey C. Jackson-Harley, RN MA.

Amit Shah, Senior Vice President of Prine Health (left) poses with Stuart Richner Chief Executive Officer of Richner Communications (right).

Guests listen to keynote speaker, President of Northwell Health, Michael Dowling.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Joseph Verdirame, Chief Executive Officer, of Alliance Healthcare poses with his award.

Christina Armentano Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Paraco.

Chief Marketing Officer, Prager Metis, Diane Walsh.

Randell M. Bynum, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Nassau County.

Ross Turrini, Chief Operating Officer of New York Gas National Grid.

Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP Managing Partner, Howard Stein and Marketing Director Mojan Masuomi.

Nicole W. Joseph, MSc, Chief Operating Officer & Finance Director of CM Law PLLC.

Lisa Burch President and Chief Executive Officer of EPIC Long Island, Inc.

Chief Operating Officer, Guardian Bus Company, Michael Tornabe.

Chief Information Officer, Prager Metis, Gurjit Singh.

Staying safe during the holiday shopping season

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

As the holiday season is now in full swing, the Nassau County Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Patrick Ryder and County Executive Bruce Blakeman, are enhancing safety measures across the county to protect residents.

The police department has intensified patrols in shopping malls and commercial areas, deploying both marked and plainclothes officers. Specialized units such as the Mounted Unit, Bureau of Special Operations, K-9, Emergency Services, and POP officers will support these efforts. Additional patrols will be stationed at major malls during peak hours to ensure a safe shopping environment.

Police will also enforce vehicle and traffic laws, targeting illegal parking in fire lanes, failure to use child safety seats, and texting or driving while intoxicated. Handicapped parking violations will be strictly monitored, with spaces reserved only for vehicles displaying visible permits.

Residents are encouraged to take precautions to ensure their safety both at home and while shopping. Before leaving home, residents should secure their

The Nassau County Police Department is enhancing their patrols this holiday season, to ensure a safe shopping experience for all. The department urges people to follow simple precautions in order to ensure their safety and the safety of others.

carefully by knowing their destination and route in advance. Shopping with a friend is advised for added safety, and it is helpful to inform someone of your plans, including your route and expected return time. Valuable items should be stored securely out of sight in closets or safes.

When parking, drivers should choose well-lit areas and ensure that all keys,

compartment. Lock all doors and note your vehicle’s location for a smoother return. Avoid parking near vans or vehicles with concealed cargo areas. To minimize risk, carry only essential items and be vigilant for suspicious activity. Do not exit your car unless you feel safe, and if necessary, drive away.

While shopping, keep money and credit cards in your front pocket and carry only what is necessary. Be cautious at ATMs and cash registers to avoid exposing credit or debit card information, as thieves may use cell phones to capture card details. Stay alert for distractions that could be staged to facilitate theft, as these are common during the holiday season.

When returning to a car, shoppers should avoid carrying an armful of packages. Drivers should have their car key ready to unlock their door, and check for suspicious individuals near your vehicle and in the parking lot before exiting the store. If you notice loiterers nearby, do not approach your car. Consider carrying a whistle or other audible device, and if you feel threatened, use it. Once inside the car, drives should lock their doors and honk the horn to attract attention if necessary. Always inspect your car’s interior and surroundings before enter

The police department urged residents to stay vigilant and aware of their surroundings, and wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season. For more safety concerns, call (516) 573-7138.

SummARy Of SAfEty tipS

Before

Leaving Home:

• Secure your home by engaging alarms and leaving lights on in frequently used rooms to give the appearance of occupancy.

•Plan your shopping trip, knowing your destination and route in advance.

• Shop with a friend if possible, as there is safety in numbers.

• Inform someone of your plans, including your route and expected return time.

• Store valuable items securely out of sight in closets or safes.

While Shopping:

•Keep money and credit cards in your front pocket and carry only what you need.

• Be cautious at ATMs and cash registers to avoid exposure of credit or debit card information. Thieves

Courtesy Metro

Welcome to

Sands Proposes $150M Infrastructure Plan for Nassau County

28,000+ page Draft Environmental Impact Statement with infrastructure modernization investments ready for public review

On On November 20th, Las Vegas Sands offi cially submitted its Draft Environmental Impact Statement to the Nassau County Legislature for its proposed worldclass integrated resort at the site of the Nassau Coliseum. The submission followed a vote by the Nassau County Legislature which unanimously confi rmed that the document is complete, addresses all required topics, and is now available for public review.

The DEIS, a 28,000+ page, 6-foot tall document, is the most comprehensive environmental impact statement ever presented on Long Island, refl ecting Las Vegas Sands’ steadfast commitment to sustainable development and community investment. “We are grateful to the Nassau County Legislature for its thorough review of the completeness of our environmental impact statement. This over 28,000-page document further demonstrates Sands’ commitment to comprehensively and holistically mitigate the potential impacts of our transformative project at the site of the Nassau Coliseum. We are equally grateful to the many Long Islanders and local organizations that continue to come to the table and work with us to create opportunity and build a better, more inclusive, more sustainable community for all,” said Michael Levoff , Las Vegas Sands’ Senior Vice President of Strategy and Public Aff airs.

Highlights of the DEIS, prepared by leading engineering fi rm VHB, include more than $150 million in mitigation investments, targeting enhancement of infrastructure and beautifi cation of Uniondale and other local, historically disinvested

communities. These investments aim to modernize central Nassau County to support a multi-billion dollar investment by Las Vegas Sands while also unlocking additional economic development opportunities for the county and enhancing the quality of life for residents. Key mitigation measures, funded privately by Sands include:

• Modernizing the Meadowbrook Parkway: Adding additional capacity and reconstructing bridges to ease congestion on this historically overburdened corridor. This critical improvement will not require land takings but will require state approval.

• New Water Well for Uniondale: Enhancing a local water district

that has been operating in a defi cit for many years to ensure longterm sustainability and reliability of the project while providing a much-needed public benefi t.

• Electric Substation Expansion: Upgrading energy infrastructure in the area to meet growing demand and support regional modernization.

• Beautification Projects: Improving public spaces and the aesthetic appeal of the area to benefi t both residents and visitors.

“We are proud to present one of the most comprehensive environmental impact statements ever prepared on Long Island. Working with Sands on this project has been a pleasure. Whenever a potential impact was identifi ed, the company consistently demonstrated its commitment to mitigate these issues, ensuring that both the community and the environment were respected and protected,” said Terri Elkowitz, Senior Principal at VHB.

The DEIS document is now available for public review on the Nassau County Legislature website, and comments can be submitted through Jan. 6, 2025. The Legislature’s retained engineering experts will diligently review the document before making recommendations on a Final Environmental Impact Statement which is expected to be adopted sometime next Spring.

The Sands project is committed to a transparent, communitycentered process, inviting residents, stakeholders, and local leaders to provide input during the public comment period. To sign a letter of support for the project, go to SandsNewYork.com

Photos provided by Sands

Sands team members and supporters at the DEIS hearing

Community members supporting Sands at the environmental scoping session

Celebrating Innovation and Legacy at the Air & Space Gala

The Cradle of Aviation Museum’s annual Air & Space Gala on November 7th was a shining celebration of Long Island’s rich aerospace and defense legacy. Sands proudly sponsored this inspiring event, which honored individuals shaping the future of innovation: Senior Vice President of Lunar Permanence at Blue Origin, John Couluris, and Chair & Chief Executive Officer for Vantage Group, George Casey, and Baldwin native and NASA Astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli.

Funds raised by the Gala support the museum’s mission to preserve Long Island’s rich aerospace history and expand its educational impact. Proceeds from the event fund essential programs, including STEM initiatives that inspire middle and high school students, as well as partnerships with local elementary schools. The Gala is also a platform to honor significant

historical milestones and recognize outstanding leaders in the aerospace community.

The evening’s highlights featured a stunning performance by the Freeport Choir, who delivered heartfelt renditions of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America."

The keynote speaker, NASA Astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli captivated attendees with her inspiring journey from Long Island to space and her aspirations for lunar exploration. The evening was concluded with a dynamic panel discussion exploring the intersection of technology, education, and space exploration, emphasizing Long Island’s pivotal role in the aerospace industry.

Sands is honored to support events that showcase our community's rich history, celebrate groundbreaking achievements, and inspire future generations to reach for the stars.

Sands New York Celebrates Long Island Heroes at 2024 Red Cross Gala

The 2024 Long Island Heroes Celebration, hosted by the American Red Cross on Nov. 14, was a night of inspiration and generosity, raising an impressive $300,000 to support life-saving Red Cross programs. Held at the Cradle of Aviation, the event recognized extraordinary individuals and organizations whose service exemplifies the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross. Attendees were treated to moving tributes and heartfelt stories of resilience, with honorees celebrated for their unwavering commitment to the community.

John Ledecky, owner of the Stanley Cup-winning New York Islanders, was named the Humanitarian Honoree for his philanthropic leadership and dedication to uplifting Long Islanders. Additional honorees included the Good Samaritan Honorees, whose acts of courage saved a family from a home fire in their town of Glen Cove, earning them a standing ovation from the crowd.

Sands New York proudly served as a sponsor of the event, with a full table of enthusiastic guests joining the celebration. Reflecting on the gala, Tracey Edwards, Senior Vice President and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer for Sands New York,

shared, “The Red Cross has been a steadfast partner to Long Islanders through countless storms and disasters, offering relief and hope in our most challenging moments. Sands New York is honored to support their mission and celebrate the heroes who embody the spirit of resilience and service.” The funds raised will help sustain critical Red Cross programs, including disaster preparedness, blood donation drives, and support for military families. The evening underscored the profound impact of collective action in creating stronger, more resilient communities, with Sands New York reaffirming its commitment to supporting organizations that make a lasting difference.

Family & Children’s Association Gala Showcases Community Impact and Partnership

On Nov. 14, the Family & Children’s Association held its annual Fall Harvest Celebration at The Heritage Club in Bethpage, bringing together supporters and partners to honor the organization’s critical work in serving vulnerable populations across Long Island. The event highlighted FCA’s dedication to addressing pressing issues, from food insecurity to mental health services, and raised vital funds to sustain its life-changing programs. As a key sponsor, Sands New York underscored its deep-rooted commitment to partnering with FCA in strengthening the Long Island community. Earlier this year, Sands announced a $200,000 donation to expand FCA’s offerings,

enabling the organization to broaden its reach and address gaps in essential services. This ongoing collaboration reflects a shared vision of fostering stability, opportunity, and hope for residents in need.

“Sands New York has been proud to support the Family & Children’s Association and their tireless work to improve lives across Long Island,” said Tracey Edwards, Senior Vice President and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer for Sands New York.

“This celebration is a testament to the power of community-driven solutions and the incredible impact we can make together.”

The Fall Harvest Celebration

featured inspiring stories from those directly impacted by FCA’s programs, reinforcing the importance of collective action in tackling challenges like poverty, addiction, and access to healthcare.

The evening was a poignant reminder of the resilience and strength of Long Islanders—and of the transformative potential of strategic partnerships like the one between FCA and Sands New York.

LI TODAY

Long Island Fight for Charity: A Knockout Success

The Long Island Fight for Charity took center stage on Nov. 25, 2024, delivering a thrilling mix of heart-pounding action and heartwarming philanthropy. Local business leaders laced up their gloves for an unforgettable evening of boxing, camaraderie, and community impact, raising an incredible $2 million for charities including Long Island Community Chest, EAC Network and many other deserving causes and organizations, chosen by the boxers themselves. Sands New York was proud to support this event as a sponsor for the second year in a row.

The star-studded event featured standout matches, including bouts by Sammy Chu and Robert Madden. Sammy Chu was escorted to the ring by former Governor and Sands Senior Vice President David Paterson. The two had shared an especially memorable moment in a recent training session at the Academy of Boxing in Huntington, where the Governor and Sammy sparred in the ring. Chu’s bout, the fi nal fi ght of the night, brought the crowd to its feet with his determination and skill.

Adding to the excitement was a diverse array of food and drink from local vendors, creating a festive atmosphere that highlighted Long Island’s vibrant community spirit. As always, the Fight for Charity proved to be more than a boxing event—it was a celebration of resilience, generosity, and the power of coming together for a cause.

The event’s resounding success underscores its role as one of Long Island’s premier charitable evenings, combining athleticism and altruism to support those in need. Here's to another knockout year of giving back!

Photo provided by Sands

The Sands New York team attends the 16th Annual Alumni and FRIENDS Reception, celebrating the accomplishments of NYIT's School of Architecture and supporting scholarships, special projects, and industry collaboration.

Photo provided by Sands

The Sands New York team was proud to attend the Westbury Arts Fall Gala, supporting the organization's mission to connect, inspire, and educate the community through arts and culture. The event, themed "A Pop of Color - Let Your Inner Colors Shine," celebrated the achievements of distinguished honorees and highlighted the importance of the arts in Long Island’s cultural landscape.

STEPPING OUT

sparkles on local stages

A festive tradition that always delights

By Karen Bloom

‘Tis the season when Sugar Plum Fairies and various figments of a young girl’s imagination come alive. The beloved holiday confection is forever in style.

New York Dance Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’ New York Dance Theatre offers its 42nd season of the holiday classic, presented in the style of the legendary George Balanchine, returning to the John Cranford Adams Playhouse stage at Hofstra University. This production wraps up the company’s celebration of its 50th anniversary on Long Island.

NYDT closely follows the George Balanchine tradition — from storyline through choreography, sets and costumes. It’s the largest production on Long Island, according to Artistic Director and NYDT alumna Nicole Loizides Albruzzese. Her version keeps to the tone set by the company’s founder Frank Ohman, which remains true to the spirit of New York City Ballet’s Lincoln Center production. As a former student and New York City Ballet soloist under George Balanchine, Ohman was one of a select few authorized to use his mentor’s original pas de deux choreography, which continues to distinguish this production, along with costumes and props gifted by Balanchine.

Through the years Ohman supplemented Balanchine’s iconic vision with original dances and scenes. Loizides Albruzzese — who was a student at Ohman School of Ballet (a division of NYDT) under Ohman and performed most of the children’s roles in “The Nutcracker” during her time there (returning as a professional dancer in the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy before her international dance career) — faithfully follows in her mentor’s footsteps in keeping to the Balanchine standard.

“This year has been about celebrating our roots and expanding the reach of the company and the Ohman School of Ballet, also marking a milestone at 45 years,” Loizides Albruzzese says. She returns to the NYDT stage as Frau Silberhaus in the opening Party Scene, alongside Glen Cove’s North Shore Village Theatre Founder-Artistic Director Christopher Moll as Herr Silberhaus. New York City Ballet soloist Erica Pereira and principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht return as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Joseph J. Simeone, whose credits include City Center’s “A Chorus Line” and Susan Stroman’s Degas-inspired “Little Dancer” at the Kennedy Center, joins NYDT this year as the mysterious Herr Drosselmeier.

In all, a cast of 80 children, pre-professional and professional dancers bring this classic story ballet to life. The kids’ roles are performed by Frank Ohman School of Ballet and the School of American Ballet (the home school of New York City Ballet) students.

As an added treat, audiences can enter into the 1820s German family’s household where “The

The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier are an enchanting pair as seen in Eglevesky Ballet’s production.

Nutcracker” unfolds during the semi-immersive pre-show experience. Everyone is invited into the Silberhaus home before the curtain rises, with the sights, smells and sounds of the Christmas Eve party that is the setting for Clara’s dream.

Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21-22, noon and 5 p.m. Tickets start at $33. Hofstra University, John Cranford Adams Playouse, Hempstead. For tickets, visit NYDTNutcrackerTickets or call (631) 462-0964.

Eglevsky Ballet’s reimagined ‘The Nutcracker’

Long Island’s professional dance company, the Eglevsky Ballet, welcomes all to its inventive staging of Clara’s delightful journey, at the Tilles Center. Boston Ballet principals Ji Young Chae and Jeffrey Cirio Miller reprise their roles as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, Also of note, star of ballet, Broadway and screen Georgina Pazcoguin appears as the Dew Drop Fairy.

The beloved story — featuring additional choreography by Executive Artistic Director Maurice Brandon Curry — is danced with inventive staging enhanced by Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, stunning costumes and a cast of over 60 students and professional dancers. The longest, continuously running ‘Nutcracker’ on Long Island, Eglevsky Ballet has presented it as a holiday gift to audiences since 1961. This exciting production, accompanied by Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, is a vibrant representation of the trajectory in which Curry is leading the organization.

Among his innovations, Curry has reinterpreted the central first act pas de deux in the prelude to “Waltz of the Snowflakes,” which is usually danced by the Snow Queen and Snow King. Instead Curry has the music (his personal favorite in the ballet) performed by Clara, danced by Eglevesky Ballet’s Ayne Kim and Enzo Castillo as The Nutcracker Prince.

“Having this pas de deux danced by these two intensifies the connection between the two characters,” Curry says. “We see the arc of their relationship and gives the opportunity for Clara’s dream to have a more poignant and personal effect on our audiences.”

Saturday, Dec. 21, 1 and 6 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 22, 2 p.m. $59-$89. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, Rte. 25A, Brookville. For tickets, visit tillescenter.org or ticketmaster.com or call (516) 299-3100.

The Hot Sardines

The band brings their distinctive sound back to the Landmark stage, with a “Holiday Stomp,” a raucous Christmas celebration that includes timeless classics and original tunes. The Hot Sardines reinvents jazz standards with their own brassy horn arrangements, rollicking piano melodies and vocals from a chanteuse who transports listeners to a different era with the mere lilt of her voice. Emerging over a decade ago from the underground parties of Brooklyn to touring worldwide and recording a string of albums landed them at the center of a whirlwind. Audiences revel in the steamy, swanky influence of their art form. With their contagious brand of joy, grit, glamour and passion, the 8-piece band invokes the sounds of nearly a century ago, yet stay right in step with the current age.

Saturday, Dec. 14, 8 p.m. $65, $55, $45. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or by calling (516) 767-6444.

Celtic Woman’s White Christmas

The Grammy-nominated, multiplatinum Irish-singing sensation rings in the holidays with their inimitable style. This is a rare opportunity to hear Celtic Woman’s harmonies with a full symphony orchestra. Hear their favorite Yuletide songs: “Silent Night,” “Carol of the Bells,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Deck the Halls,” and more, along with Celtic Woman favorites “Danny Boy,” “Amazing Grace” and “You Raise Me Up.” In the 20 years since their debut, Celtic Woman has introduced some of Ireland’s most talented singers and musicians to the world stage. Their fresh fusion of traditional Irish music and contemporary songcraft celebrates Ireland’s history while reflecting its modern vibrant spirit.

Thursday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m. $129.50, $99.50, $79.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.

Courtesy MCA Photos LLC

The party scene is among the ballet’s many dazzling moments that unfold in New York Dance Theatre’s staging.

Courtesy Eglevesky Ballet

THE Your Neighborhood

Yellow Brick Joel

Relive the classic songs that define generations when Yellow Brick Joel brings you the ultimate Elton John and Billy Joel experience, on the Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair stage, Friday, dec. 27, 8 p.m. David Clark performs as Billy Joel along with Bill Connors as Elton John in this thoroughly entertaining and faithful tribute to the Face To Face/Face 2 Face tours of the 1990s and 2000s. Experience a spirited concert celebrating the two greatest ‘Piano Men’ of our generation with hits like “I’m Still Standing,” “Rocket Man,’ “Piano Man” and “You May Be Right” along with some deeper fan performances like “Honky Cat”, “Funeral For A Friend”, “Miami 2017”, and “Captain Jack”! A tribute to two of the greatest piano players and performers of all time couldn’t be set up any other way! On one side of the stage, you’ll have Clark playing the role of Billy Joel for the night. Opposite him is Connors as Elton John with Elton’s requisite flamboyant style. Enjoy an incredible night as two of the greatest musical icons come to life in this special concert!

Groove to the vibe at this one-of-a-kind performance where these two talents go head-tohead as Elton John and Billy Joel delivering unforgettable music and showmanship. Whether you’re a fan of Billy’s heartfelt ballads or Elton’s electrifying anthems, this tribute concert is sure to leave you feeling like you’ve seen the real thing! Tickets start at $28. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. Tickets available at LiveNation.com.

Holiday at Westbury House

Old Westbury Gardens’ Westbury House offers a festive glimpse of early 20th century holiday merriment, before it closes for the winter, Saturday, and Sunday, d ec. 14-15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m The “Christmas at Westbury House” celebration reflects what the festive season was like during those opulent decades of the early 1900s when the Phipps family lived there. The period rooms in which John S. Phipps (the eldest son of Henry Phipps, Andrew Carnegie’s partner at Carnegie Steel) and his family resided are impeccably decorated with wreaths, mantelpiece drapes, plenty of greenery, and other horticultural arrangements.

Take a self-guided tour through Westbury House and view specially decorated rooms for the holidays, have cookies and cider on the West Porch and meet and take photos with Santa while listening to ambient holiday music. The gardens will also be open, along with other special holiday events, including holiday market, and more. $15, $13 ages 62+ and students, $8 ages 7-17. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or call (516) 333-0048.

‘Cabaret is Coming to

Town!’

Join L.I. Cabaret Theatre for an exhilarating holiday performance, Saturday, dec. 14, 2 p.m., at the Elmont Library Theatre. The show will keep everyone in the festive groove with the best holiday songs of all time and more. A live band, a cast of 30 singer and special guest singers Tom Stallone, Eric Wieboldt and Candis Alek will keep everyone thoroughly entertained. Also expect a special appearance from Santa! Free admission. Seats fill up fast, so arrive early. 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. For more information, visit elmontlibrary.org or call (516) 354-5280.

Home for the Holidays Adoption

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

Let’s Skate

Get ready to enjoy all the thrills of the snowy season, while staying warm and cozy as Long Island Children’s Museum’s popular “Snowflake Sock Skating rink returns, through Jan. 7. Slip on “sock skates” and take a spin on the indoor rink, made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface that lets kids slide around without blades.

Kids can stretch, twirl and glide. As visitors step off the “ice” they can jump into winter dramatic play in Snowflake Village. Become a baker in the holiday sweet shop, step inside a giant snowman and serve up some hot cocoa, take a turn in the rink “ticket booth” and “warm up” around a rink side “fire pit.” Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

Bird walk

See some birds with the South Shore Audubon Society. All are welcome to join members for the next in its series of bird walks, the west end of Jones Beach State Park, Sunday, Dec. 16, starting at 9 a.m. The group will meet at the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station Parking Area. The entrance for the Coast Guard Station and West End Boat Basin is on Bay Drive going west. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. Rain, snow or temperature below 25 degrees will cancel the bird walk. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit SSAudubon. org.

Having an event?

Holiday concert

Celebrate the season with the Symphonic Pops of Long Island, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2 p.m. The intergenerational orchestra of 60 L.I.-based musicians performs with the Willow Interfaith Women’s Choir as special guests. The program, at Brookside School in North Merrick, includes “Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Let It Snow,” “Christmas Sing-A-Long,” “Greensleeves,” “Chanukah Festival Overture,” and much more. Suggested donation of $10 is requested at the door (kids are free). 1260 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York. Visit symphonicpopsli.org for more.

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.

Family theater

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.

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to its stage, Friday, Dec. 13, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Sunday, Dec. 15, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; also Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 17-19, 10:-15 a.m. and noon. Ezra Jack Keats’ “The Snowy Day & Other Stories” celebrates the joy in the small moments of a child’s world. Experience the wonder of a fresh snowfall, the delight of whistling for the first time, and the awe of finding a special treasure. In this childhood adventure, Keats’ classic books come to life, featuring live actors and shadow puppets telling the stories of “The Snowy Day,” “Goggles!,” “Whistle for Willie,” and “A Letter to Amy.” $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.

Nassau County brings Christmas early with toy giveaway

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and the Office of Hispanic Affairs held their annual Feliz Navidad Concert and Toy Distribution, bringing holiday joy and smiles to thousands of children and families.

“This event reflects the spirit of generosity and community that defines Nassau County,” Herbert Flores, Executive Director of the Office of Hispanic Affairs, said in the news release. “It’s about celebrating culture, unity, and the importance of family during the holiday season.”

The event, on Dec. 4 at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in Uniondale, featured performances by local musicians and groups, including the Freeport Middle School Band, Uniondale Knight Time Jazz and Brianna Lambertucci, a Long Island singer.

Attendees of all ages enjoyed photo opportunities with beloved holiday characters, including Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph and the Grinch, according to the news release, thanks to the Mineola and Uniondale Fire Departments. Elsa and Anna from the Disney movie “Frozen” “captivated the audience with a magical and heartwarming performance,” the news release said.

Children ate cookies and drank hot chocolate as they celebrated the holiday spirit. The highlight of the evening was the distribution of toys that were donated by Major Chuck Kilbride and the Toys for Tots Foundation, ensuring that every child received a gift.

“The Annual Feliz Navidad Concert and Toy Distribution is more than a holiday celebration; it’s a moment to bring families together and ensure that every child feels the magic of the season,” Blakeman said in the news release. “For many in our Hispanic community, this event is a vital source of joy and support. It’s an honor to witness the smiles and sense of unity it inspires.”

The event, which drew thousands of attendees from across the county, was made possible through community partners, including Nationwide Mortgage Bankers, US Federal Chaplains, International Alliance of Chaplains, Jackie and Manny Carvalho and Anthony Antonelli.

is looking for... 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

— Kelsie Radziski

Courtesy The Office of Hispanic Affairs

County Executive Bruce Blakeman smiled with kids at the annual Feliz Navidad Concert and Toy Distribution on Dec. 4.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the fiscal affairs of the Uniondale School District for the period beginning on July 1, 2023 and ending on June 30, 2024, have been examined by an independent public accountant and that the report and management letter prepared in conjunction with the external audit by the independent accountant has been filed in the Business Office where it is available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons. Pursuant to Section 35 of the General Municipal Law, the governing board of the Uniondale School District may, in its discretion, prepare a written response to the report of the external audit by the independent public accountant and file any such response in the Business Office as a public record for inspection by all interested persons no later than 90 days after their presentation to the Board.

ANALYSIS

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU Bank of America, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST

David A. Nobrega; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

duly entered September 8, 2015, and Amended November 3, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County

f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: October 30, 2024 150329

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

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOC IATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2020-RPL1, Plaintiff, Against

ROSALINA JOHNSON, Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 06/25/2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 1/9/2025 at 3:00PM, premises known as 278 Anchor Way, Uniondale, NY 11553, And Described As Follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, being at East Hempstead, Unincorporated, in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. Section 50 Block 33301 Lot 107

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $519,383.25 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 607898/2021

Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee.

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

Dated: 11/8/2024 File Number: 37728 mbayram 150333

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

The Bank of New York Mellon fka The Bank of New York, as Trustee for the Certificateholders of the CWABS, Inc., AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2006-18, Plaintiff AGAINST Nassau County Public Administrator, as Limited Administrator of the Estate of Mary Alice Turner a/k/a Mary A. Turner; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 15, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 8, 2025 at 4:00PM, premises known as 865 Southern Parkway, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 50 Block 286 Lot 131. Approximate amount of judgment $818,838.47 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 009443/2012. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Cary David Kessler, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: October 24, 2024 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 150325

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

County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 9, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 24 Underhill Avenue, Roosevelt, NY 11575. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Roosevelt, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 55 Block 319 Lots 1109, 1110, & 1111. Approximate amount of judgment $673,242.32 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 608463/2022. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Matin Emouna, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: October 24, 2024 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 150327

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

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 12/18/2024 at 9:30 A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

deck above, convert garage to living space, construct 2-story addition & 2nd story, all attached to dwelling., S/s Northern Pkwy., 90’ W/o Colonial St., a/k/a 678 Northern Pkwy. 752/24. ROOSEVELTManoj Ramautar, Waive off-street parking with insufficient maneuvering aisle (convert warehouse to auto repair & retail store)., E/s Babylon Tpke., 48.7’ N/o E. Fulton Ave., a/k/a 105 Babylon Tpke. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Uniondale & Roosevelt within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 150420

To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AN AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 9, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1298 Birch Street, Uniondale, NY 11553-2008. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 50 Block 572 Lot 0015. Approximate amount of judgment $248,768.87 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 004891/2014. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

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

Janine T. Lynam, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP

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

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU PHH Mortgage Corporation, Plaintiff AGAINST Miguel A. Boquin a/k/a Miguel Boquin; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 15, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 744/24. UNIONDALEDonald Joyner & Catherine Joyner, Variance, height, maintain detached garage., E/s Fullerton Ave., 207.3’ S/o Southern Pkwy., a/k/a 799 Fullerton Ave. THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 747/24. UNIONDALEJacqueline Chichester, Variances, side yard, side yards aggregate, construct addition with

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO BIDDERS Public Notice is hereby given that separate sealed bids for UNIONDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY ROOF REPLACEMENT project will be received until 11:00 AM prevailing time on JANUARY 3, 2025 at the Administrative Offices at the UNIONDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY located at 400 UNIONDALE AVENUE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553 which time they will be received, opened, read aloud and will be made available to the public. The work shall be as follows: Contract#1Roof Replacement Complete digital sets of the Contract documents may be obtained online (with a free user account) as a download for a nonrefundable fee of one hundred Dollars ($100.00) at the following website www.jagplanroom.com under ‘public projects’ beginning on DECEMBER 6, 2024 Optionally, in lieu of digital copies, hard copies may be obtained

directly from Island Digital Reprographics 200 Broadhollow Road Suite One Farmingdale New York 11735 (631-753-3000) upon a deposit of Fifty ($50) Dollars for each complete set. Checks for deposits shall be made payable to the UNIONDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY All bid addenda will be transmitted to registered plan holders via email and will be available at the above referenced website. Any bidder requiring documents to be shipped shall make arrangements with the printer and pay for all packaging and shipping costs. Plan holders who have obtained hard copies of the bid documents will need to make the determination if hard copies of the addenda are required for their use, and coordinate directly with the printer for hard copies of addenda to be issued. There will be no charge for registered plan holders to obtain hard copies of the bid addenda. The bid deposit shall be refunded to each Bidder only if the plans and specifications are returned, in good condition, with no handwritten notations thereon within (30) calendar days after the bid opening date. All deposits shall be forfeited to the LIBRARY after the (30) days have elapsed. ANY PERSON OR CORPORATION WHO FAILS TO SUBMIT A BID SHALL FORFEIT THEIR HARD COPY PLAN DEPOSIT IN ITS ENTIRETY. Each Bidder must deposit, with their sealed bid, security in an amount not less than 5% of the base bid and all Alternate Bids in the proper form subject to the conditions set forth in the Instructions to Bidders . Attention of the Bidders is specifically directed to the minimum wage rates to be paid under the contract, as well as to other provisions set forth in the bidding documents. Bidder will also be required to show to the satisfaction of the UNIONDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY that they are carrying Workers’ Compensation Insurance as required by law and all other Insurance in amounts not less than that specified under the General Conditions. Performance Bonds and Labor/Material Bonds, as called for in the General Conditions, are a requirement of each contract. The UNIONDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY reserves the right to reject any or all bids submitted, to waive any informality or irregularity in any bid, and/ or to accept any bid in whole or in part and/ or to award or not award the contract, if in the opinion of the UNIONDALE PUBLIC

Public Notices

LIBRARY, the best interest of the LIBRARY will thereby be served. This invitation is an offer to receive bids for a contract. The successful Bidder will be required to execute a formal contract in the form contained in the Contract Documents.

All bids received after the time stated in the Notice to Bidders will not be considered and will be returned unopened to the bidder. The bidder assumes the risk of any delay in the mail or in the handling of the mail by employees of the LIBRARY. Whether sent by mail or by means of personal delivery, the bidder assumes responsibility for having its bid deposited on time at the place specified. Each Bidder shall agree to hold their bid price for (45) days after the formal bid opening.

Per Article 8, Section 220 of the New York State Labor Law, every contractor and subcontractor shall submit to the LIBRARY within (30) days after issuance of its first payroll, and every (30) days thereafter, a transcript of the original payroll record, as provided by this article, subscribed and affirmed as true under penalties of perjury. The LIBRARY shall be required to receive and maintain such payroll records. The original payrolls or transcripts shall be preserved for (5) years from the completion of the work on the project. BY ORDER OF:

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

UNIONDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY 150385

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

TO PLACE AN AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. MTAG, AS CUSTODIAN FOR ALTERNA FUNDING I, LLC, Pltf. vs. DANIEL C. BROWN, et al, Defts. Index #002241/2017. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Nov. 23, 2022, I will sell at public auction on North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on January 13, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises k/a 371 First Place, Uniondale, NY

a/k/a School District 2, Section 50, Block 109, Lot 6. Approximate amount of judgment is $21,571.20 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. ADRIENNE FLIPSE HAUSCH, Referee. BRONSTER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 156 West 56th

Street, Ste. 703, New York, NY 10019. File No. 700999.132 - #101961 150461

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

TO PLACE AND AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR MFRA TRUST 2015-1, Plaintiff, vs. DINA VENTURA A/K/A

DINA M. VENTURA, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 8, 2023 and an Order

Appointing Successor Referee duly entered on October 15, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 14, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 335 Locust Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, Unincorporated area, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 50, Block 47 and Lots 32-34. Approximate amount of judgment is $886,894.24 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #616578/2019.

Lisa Segal Poczik, Esq., Referee

Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 180599-2 150465

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for Structured Asset Securities Corporation Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AM1, Plaintiff AGAINST Gladys Arias; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 28, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 13, 2025 at 2:30PM, premises known as 399 Hawthorne Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain

plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 34 Block 496 Lots 342, 343. Approximate amount of judgment $480,193.67 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 616925/2019. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Oscar A. Prieto, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: November 8, 2024

For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 150459

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU BANK OF AMERICA, N.A, Plaintiff AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF NASSAU COUNTY, AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF BARBARA G. STAFFORD, UNKNOWN HEIRS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF BARBARA G. STAFFORD IF LIVING, AND IF HE/SHE BE DEAD, ANY AND ALL PERSONS UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, CLAIMING, OR WHO MAY CLAIM TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN, OR GENERAL OR SPECIFIC LIEN UPON THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THIS ACTION. ET AL.,

Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 8, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 14, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 324 MAPLEGROVE AVENUE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 50, Block 48, Lot 44-45. Approximate amount of judgment $284,058.64 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #616471/2018. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the

NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-004820 83278 150404

PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES

To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY GITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS SEPARATE TRUSTEE OF GITSIT MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST BBPLC1, Plaintiff against SHAWN Y. BROWN, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Leopold & Associates, PLLC, 80 Business Park Drive, Suite 110, Armonk, NY 10504. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered October 31, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 16, 2025 at 3:00 PM. Premises known as 1068 Arthur Street, Uniondale, NY 11553. Sec 36 Block 148 Lot 190, 191 and 192. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $323,635.85 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 618169/2023. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Joshua D. Brookstein, Esq., Referee File # 11847969 150457

Ho, ho, holiday at East Meadow Stew Leonard’s

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The holidays arrived at Stew Leonard’s on Dec. 3, thanks to an East Meadow Fire Department fire truck that transported Santa Claus to the East Meadow grocery store on Front Street. Stew Leonard’s hosts a variety of holiday-themed events throughout the year, all building up to the kick off the store’s kickoff for Christmas celebration.

Santa’s arrival was celebrated with holiday music, cookies and hot chocolate as he was greeted by community members outside of the store. Wow the Cow, Stew Leonard’s mascot, also joined in during the Tuesday evening festivities.

Festivities at the East Meadow store continued through the weekend, as the store held a special brunch on Dec. 7 and 8 featuring everyone’s favorite manin-red. Families who participated were able to enjoy a farm-fresh selection of food and meet Santa.

And despite three packed days of activities, there’s one more chance to meet Santa at the store, as he’ll be in East Meadow on Dec. 14 and 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Families are invited to stop by any time and take a complimentary photo with Santa.

The East Meadow store is located at 1897 Front Street, East Meadow. For questions about the events, customers should call (516) 394-9001.

Stew Leonard’s is a family-owned and operated grocery chain, based in Connecticut. It has Long Island stores in Farmingdale and East Meadow.

The store has long been recognized for its active involvement in local communities, a key element of its business

philosophy. The grocery chain emphasizes creating a family-friendly shopping experience and supporting initiatives that bring people together and uplift communities.

From family-oriented holiday events like Halloween trick-or-treating and Easter Egg hunts, most of the events are free or low-cost, designed to foster community spirit. The store has chain has also taken part in charitable initiatives — at the East Meadow store this year, families who participated in “Barkfest,” a costume contest for dogs, donated bags of food and other pet-oriented items in a drive, which were donated to the Last Hope Animal Rescue in Wantagh.

And for over 40 years, Stew Leonard’s stores have taken part in a “turkey brigade” which passes out turkeys to charities ahead of Thanksgiving. The welcomed event returned to East Meadow again this year, as firefighters, police officers, election officials and more gathered to distribute turkeys and give back tot hose in need.

Stew Leonard’s in East Meadow continues to embody the spirit of the season with its commitment to creating memorable, family-friendly experiences. Whether it’s Santa’s arrival by firetruck, holiday brunches, or opportunities to give back, the store offers a space for the community to celebrate together. As this year’s holiday events wind down, families can look forward to a calendar full of joyful gatherings in the months ahead.

To look at what’s happening at each individual store throughout 2025, visit StewLeonards.com, and hit the East Meadow store tab. For tickets for paid events, customers can follow along at EventBrite.com.

Holden Leeds/Herald

Santa Claus arrived at the East Meadow Stew Leonard’s on Dec. 3, officially kicking off the holiday season at the grocery chain. He was driven over by an East Meadow Fire Department truck for an evening of festivities.

Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460

E-mail

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

Amityville UFSD Food Service Workers PT/FT

Responsibilities- Food preparation & service, sanitation awareness, other duties as assigned by the District.

Qualifications- Knowledge and experience with cooking, inventory, cashiering, recordkeeping, customer service, computer skills **Suffolk County Food Manager's Certificate preferred. Salary range starting at $20,980. Email resume to: humanresources@amityvilleufsd.org or apply online at www.olasjobs.org/longisland

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.

STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $16 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

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

Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour

Night Availability is a Must.

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

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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

HBCI SUPERVISOR FT: Seeking LCSW or LMSW for Crisis Intervention Program, Cedarhurst NY. 3+ yr exp, Supervision exp. $80K Annually + benefits Claufer@hamaspikkings.org 516-875-8400 x144

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

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

HomesHERALD

Waterfront Luxury

DWhat good is ‘grandfathered’ if we still need permits?

Q. We have an old home, built in the 1940s, that we just found out needs permits for a garage and a back family room. We don’t understand why we need this. The house was sold to us this way, cleared title, and we were told the garage was grandfathered in and the back room was “part of the house.” Why is it that if we bought it that way and it’s been there for so many years, it still needs plans, permits and, as we are finding out, a possible zoning hearing just to avoid fines? Are there rules about grandfathering over some period of time, like a statute of limitations or something?

A. No, there is actually no provision for grandfathering. When meeting with potential clients, we often check public records if we can’t find anything in the homeowners’ closing papers. The reason why this is missed is because, most of the time, a title company searches records but doesn’t set foot in the house. Also, because it’s rare to have anyone who is qualified to look at the house conditions to compare them with codes and records, things like your garage and rear addition are assumed and not confirmed.

Unfortunately, the conditions may need upgrading if they don’t meet current codes, although some building departments are more reasonable if you can prove the year of the work to them. Others will ask for windows to be changed to meet light, ventilation and fire escape requirements in bedrooms, or to have air conditioning units and basement escape wells addressed. It’s not unusual to need plans, a building application, zoning approval and, finally, a permit for the air conditioning condenser unit in your side yard, or for an escape well that restricts the only side yard available to get out of a basement.

I know that I’m saving people money and aggravation by explaining these things before they buy the house or do a new project, just because they’re aware of how to address the issue, but it’s rare to be asked, before a sale, to even look at the issues, because it would thwart the sale in many cases if this condition was revealed. It’s assumed that a title search is all you need, and yet I often find that in the process of doing the new project people want, we professionals get bogged down with the other things that create friction, delays and feelings of despair. It’s not unusual to hear people say they never would have started the project if they knew it was going to be this difficult, usually with the phrase, “can of worms” attached.

Depending on the need for a zoning variance, which in some municipalities can add many months to the process, you will need to have plans professionally generated by an architect or engineer, code, zoning and energy analysis to obtain permits, final inspections and certification. Good luck!

Stuff HERALD

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Electricians

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

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

Home Improvement

DOLL HOUSE MINIATURES & ACCESSORIES. Under $99.00. Call Joy Evenings, 917-743-7695 Leave Message

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Hochul must sign horseshoe crab act into law

Gov. Kathy Hochul has been presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save one of our planet’s greatest unsung heroes, the horseshoe crab. Earlier this year, the State Senate and Assembly passed a bill that would prohibit taking horseshoe crabs from New York waters for bait or for biomedical use. Hochul has until the end of the month to sign the bill into law, and time is running out for us to persuade her to do so.

Horseshoe crabs have existed relatively unchanged for roughly 450 million years — 200 million years longer than dinosaurs — and they have survived five mass extinctions. They are a keystone species, which means that if their populations were to dwindle to numbers that are unsustainable, the repercussions for other species would be devastating. Every year, numerous species of migratory shorebirds rely on horseshoe crab eggs for food on their long journey to

itheir breeding grounds in the Arctic. For half a century, humans have depended on horseshoe crabs for our survival, because they have played a major role in modern medicine. Their unique copper-based blue blood contains a clotting agent that immediately forms a clot when it comes into contact with bacteria. Because of this, horseshoe crab blood has been used for decades by the biomedical industry to test for infection-causing bacteria in injectable drugs, intravenous solutions, vaccines and medical implants. Their blood was also used to develop the Covid-19 vaccines that have saved millions of lives. Luckily, a synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood has been developed and approved for biomedical use, but the changeover in the industry has been slow.

This keystone species helped scientists develop the Covid vaccines.

sive animals, grazing across the seafloor like ancient vacuum cleaners, looking for the small aquatic insects, mollusks and detritus on which they feed. There are four species of horseshoe crabs, and the Atlantic coast is the only place in the Western Hemisphere that is home to one of those species, the Atlantic horseshoe crab, or Limulus polyphemus

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s benchmark stock assessment of horseshoe crabs in 2019, and the recently updated stock assessment in 2024, both show the crabs’ stock status in New York as poor. Of all the states on the Atlantic coast, New York is the only one where that is the case, and there is no evidence that the population is rebounding.

the crabs, which puts even more pressure on the New York stock and puts them at a higher risk of poaching by outof-state fishermen. Bait alternatives exist, but fishermen won’t be compelled to use them unless a ban is enacted.

Entrusting the state Department of Environmental Conservation to regulate the harvesting of horseshoe crabs is a mistake. Regulation depends on enforcement, and with only 30 to 40 environmental conservation officers patrolling the entire Long Island coastline, there is ample opportunity for overharvesting and poaching to take place.

Although there are misconceptions that they are poisonous or that they use their tails as weapons, horseshoe crabs are completely harmless. The tail serves a very important purpose: to flip a crab over if it gets turned upside down. That’s why you should never pick one up by its tail. They are completely pas-

Horseshoe crabs cannot legally be harvested for biomedical use in New York state. Their dwindling population here is due mostly to their harvesting for use as bait in the eel and conch fisheries as well as the loss of their spawning grounds due to sea level rise and shoreline hardening. New Jersey and Connecticut have both banned the harvest of

Friends of the Bay is asking you to urge Governor Hochul to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law Friends of the Bay is an environmental conservation and advocacy organization headquartered in Oyster Bay. Our mission is to preserve, protect and restore the ecological integrity and productivity of the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Estuary and the surrounding watershed. Please visit friendsofthebay.org/ horseshoe-crab-protection-act to learn how you can help, and to get a copy of a sample letter that you can sign and mail, or email, to the governor.

Christine Suter is executive director of Friends of the Bay.

Unwrapping a year of daily notes

unwrapped the holiday gift I received from my son, Matthew, last year and found a New York Mets tear-off calendar for 2024. Six days a week (weekends were combined), there was either a question about Mets history or a fun fact.

Jan. 1: “In 2019, Pete Alonzo blasted 53 home run, setting a record for an MLB rookie.”

Feb. 13: “Who was the first player in Mets history to steal home more than once in a single season?

Hubie Brooks, 1991.”

March 27: “In 2022, Francisco Lindor became the first shortstop in Mets history to hit at least 20 home runs in consecutive seasons.”

I don’t know why, but from New Year’s Day through the following 12 months, I wrote notes on the back of each page I tore off.

Jan. 3: “Fast day @ work. Much to do. Zone meeting. Job interview. Freeport production. NYPA.”

Feb. 13: “Snow day. Everyone home. Matt visited. Workers upstairs. Chocolate chip p–cakes/bacon dinner.

March 26: “@ office. Production Nas-

sau early. Closed papers early.”

Early in the year, I debated whether to leave the calendar at home or bring it in to the office. I sided with keeping it on the desk in my man-cave-libraryoffice at home, in what used to be my son’s bedroom.

April 8: “On this date in 1954, future Mets catcher Gary Carter was born in Culver City, CA.” (Additional fun fact: Carter’s jersey number was 8.)

May 14: “In 1972, who did the Mets trade to the Giants in exchange for Willie Mays? RHP Charlie Williams (along with $50,000).”

previous day, or over the weekend. It’s been interesting to compare what I wrote in the first few months of the year with my notes later in the year. The Mets had a horrible start, but then, on Oct. 9: “Mets win NLDS Series 3-1.”

o n one side, a landmark in Mets history. On the other, my daughter’s birthday.

Every morning this year, after getting dressed, I’ve put off going downstairs for breakfast for a few minutes, sat down and noted the highlights of the previous day.

April 1: “Edited stories. Set up paper. Tuna for dinner. Two great hoops games. Mets 0-4/good job.

May 16: “Got sale docs signed/ mailed. C/U backyard. Rangers clinched semi series.”

June 29/30: “Sat. — errands/clean up. Relax/game nite/pizza. Sun. — a little work/relax. Pulled pork @ Les’s/dinner. Spoke with Stuart/plan.”

Writing these brief notes was a way to remember what had happened the

The thoughts trickle back as snapshot memories that I either want to cherish, like Sept. 25 — “White House Tavern dinner 30 yrs.” — Or try to forget, like Oct. 27: “Mr. G’s wake.”

July 19: “Mike Piazza was the first player in Mets history to have four different seasons with at least 30 home runs.”

Sept. 3: “On this date in 1978, who became the first Mets player to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game? Lee Mazzilli. Time is fleeting, it is precious, and God is not making more of it. These are among the many, many things that have been written about time. Clearly, we should be making the most of it.

July 23: “Office. Production mostly on time. Nautilus for dinner.”

Aug. 6: “Office. Production — Lyn, Nassau, Uniondale & South Shore Record computer glitches/rain storm.

Sept. 14/15: “A little work/errands relaxed. Laundry — work relaxed. Wendy’s w/Liz. Chris out with the ladies.”

Snapshots of nearly 365 days of another year in a life. I wonder what other people’s notes would look like.

Oct. 4: “On this date in 1999, Al Leiter threw a two-hit shutout to propel the Mets over the Reds in a one-game playoff berth for the NL Wild Card berth.”

Dec. 3: “What ballpark was the first to allow fans to keep the foul balls that landed in the stands? Wrigley Field.”

Who knows what the next year will bring? I hope it’s more memories like these.

Oct. 19/20: “Sat. — Errands/watched college FB. B&B Fish and Clam tilapia/ onion rings. Sun. — Read stories/laundry. Watched football. Houlihan’s for Liz’s 19th B-day!

Nov. 16/17: “Sat. — Errands, dinner Alan’s B-day, Austin’s Ale House. Sun. — open house. Football. Pasta/sauce/ bread dinner.”

Dec. 4: “Office. Asked to write op-ed to fill hole. Valley Stream 100 mtg. Dinner w/Liz, buffalo chicken roll/ CParm.”

Time moves quickly, and while details of my daily life may not match the scale of the Mets’ landmark events, they hold deeper significance. My team — my family and friends — far outshines even my favorite baseball squad in importance.

Jeffrey Bessen is the deputy editor of Herald Community Newspapers, and a dedicated note taker.

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State must fund seat belts for school buses

Yellow school buses are an iconic image of education in America, transporting millions of children each day. But in New York state, the question of whether buses are equipped with seat belts is left to individual school districts.

The Briarcliff, Elmsford and Yonkers districts have embraced the added security of seat belts in a limited form, but others have opted out, leaving a patchwork system that prioritizes local discretion over consistent safety standards.

On the crowded roads of 2024, this approach is no longer acceptable. It is time for the state to mandate seat belts on all school buses in every district, ensuring the safety of every child who steps aboard.

School buses are generally recognized as one of the safest modes of transportation, thanks to their design and the principle of “compartmentalization.” High-backed, closely spaced seats create a buffer that helps absorb the force of a collision.

Simple compartmentalization is far from foolproof, however, particularly in side-impact crashes or rollovers. Seat belts add a crucial layer of protection in these scenarios. Without them, children can be thrown from their seats, increasing the likelihood of serious injury or even death.

A statewide mandate would align New York with the growing national consensus on school bus safety. Several

letters

D’Esposito is a falsifier

To the Editor:

states, including New Jersey, Florida, and California, already require seat belts on buses. These mandates reflect the recommendations of safety organizations like the National Transportation Safety Board, which has advocated for the installation of lap-and-shoulder belts on all new large buses. By following suit, New York would reaffirm its commitment to children’s safety and set an example for still more states to follow.

One argument often made by opponents of mandatory seat belts is that they’re too costly to install. Retrofitting existing buses or buying new models equipped with seat belts is a significant investment, but when the expense is weighed against the potential cost of injuries or fatalities, the financial argument falls flat.

The state Department of Transportation could work with school districts to phase in the requirement over time, offsetting the cost with the help of state funding or federal grants. But again, the safety benefits of seat belts far outweigh the expense. Protecting children should never hinge on budgetary constraints.

Another concern is enforcement of seat belt requirements. Critics argue that younger children might not consistently buckle up. While this concern is valid, it is not insurmountable. Bus drivers can incorporate quick visual checks into their routine, and schools can implement safety education pro-

Re U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito’s recent op-ed, “I look forward to representing you again”: D’Esposito said some things that were far from the truth. As president of the Long Island chapter of the New York Alliance for Retired Americans, I represent over 10,000 members Islandwide, which includes more than 3,000 members in his district.

I was assigned to secure a meeting with the congressman, as I had done with Peter King several years ago. King gave the alliance’s statewide president and me about 20 minutes, and that was two days after a major snowstorm. I would have been happy with 20 minutes with D’Esposito, but despite numerous calls, I was given the runaround by both his district and Washington offices. Maybe if he had met with us, more of those 3,000-plus members would have voted for him. After all, everyone agrees that senior citizens vote in higher percentages than the general population.

He was also inaccurate about his voting for an immigration bill, because he left out the part where he voted against the bipartisan bill

grams to teach students the importance of being protected while on the bus. These measures would foster a culture of compliance and ensure that seat belts serve their intended purpose.

Beyond the practical and financial considerations, the best argument for seat belts is a moral one. Parents trust that when their children board a bus, they are as safe as possible. By leaving the decision to individual districts, New York sends a troubling message: that children’s safety may vary depending on their Zip code. This undermines the model of equal protection and fairness that public education is supposed to embody.

In the end, the case for mandatory seat belts on school buses is clear. The technology exists, the safety benefits are well documented, and the moral imperative is undeniable. New York has long been a leader in progressive public policy. Requiring seat belts on school buses would not only safeguard the state’s most vulnerable residents, but also reaffirm its commitment to equity and safety.

It’s time for the state to take the wheel on this issue and drive meaningful change. Safety is not optional — it’s a necessity. With an annual budget of nearly a quarter-trillion dollars, New York has no excuse for not providing money to add seat belts to school buses. Children are our most precious passengers, and the time to act is now.

that would have solved many immigration problems. But his party leaders wanted him to help kill that bill so it could be used as an issue in the November election.

Representative D’Esposito speaks out

of both sides of his mouth, like many politicians do. All I can say about that is, you reap what you sow.

STANLEY B. BERgMAN East Meadow

We’re working to keep NUMC open, despite its struggles

among the top priorities of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority is ensuring that Nassau University Medical Center remains open, returns to financial health and is available to serve the people who need it most. A recent op-ed in the Herald by NUMC leadership (“After reforms, NUMC is on the upswing,” Oct. 10-16) caught our eye, because it painted a rosy picture of the hospital’s financial situation, even though the facts say the opposite.

Despite the platitudes offered in the op-ed, the fundamental issue remains that the Nassau Health Care Corporation, the state public authority that manages NUMC and related facilities, continues to operate at a tremendous deficit while making no meaningful changes to work toward financial stability. NHCC’s oper-

ating losses (before certain actuarial adjustments) were approximately $77 million in 2023 and roughly $108 million in 2022. NIFA is projecting an operating loss for NHCC of around $120 million in 2024.

tEarlier this year, NHCC made a unilateral demand for substantial additional funding from the state. In response, the State Department of Health requested that NHCC provide certain required information and take particular actions to achieve balanced operations in order to be considered for extraordinary relief. Amazingly, NHCC has resisted complying adequately with the Health Department’s reasonable conditions that it must impose to ensure that NHCC would manage the state’s scarce resources appropriately.

of $7 million. Over the past four and a half years, the total that NHCC owes NYSHIP has ballooned to roughly $380 million.

he county’s Interim Finance Authority has made the troubled hospital a priority.

That isn’t just some enormous number sitting in a filing cabinet in Albany: It’s a tremendous cost that is being passed on to other municipal organizations in Nassau County and throughout the state. This means that these costs are being subsidized by entities like local governments and school districts, and thus, taxpayers. The increased burden on Nassau County and other taxpayers will only get worse if the hospital’s ineffective leadership is not changed for the better.

the past three years alerting leadership that the health care corporation is at risk of termination by NYSHIP due to these unpaid amounts. It is the negligence of NHCC’s executives that has led it to this point.

At the core of its financial instability is the fact that NHCC owes the New York State Health Insurance Program, or NYSHIP, $9 million per month in premiums. NHCC pays only $2 million each month, creating a monthly deficit

Letters

He sounds like he wants his seat back

To the Editor:

I found Anthony D’Esposito’s piece confusing, because it sounded more like his first campaign speech to regain his lost seat rather than an opinion. In a county that voted favorably for the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, Mr. D’Esposito was unable to ride Mr. Trump’s coattails and defeat Laura Gillen in New York’s 4th Congressional District. In the majority opinion, the best candidate won.

JOHN P. FITzSIMONS

Rockville Centre

School regionalization: something smells

To the Editor:

After reading in the Herald about the emergency regionalization plan proposed by the State Education Department, I see this as an attempt by the department to integrate all of the Nassau County school districts and their systems. That would eliminate local control of schools and centralize their supervision.

This new “emergency” approach would improve the education results in the Hempstead and Roosevelt districts, to name just a few, but by signing on to the plan, school districts will lose all local control. I advise districts to move

forward with caution. I smell a rat here.

RUTH HIRSCH

Hewlett

Why the MTA’s 2025 fare hikes make sense

To the Editor:

Long Island Rail Road and New York City Transit riders should hold accountable any public official, Metropolitan Transportation Authority board member or transit advocate who opposes the planned 4 percent fare hikes in 2025 for missing why the increases are needed. They were part of the MTA’s $51 billion 2020-2024 Five Year Capital Plan.

Quality and frequency of service depends on secure revenue streams. We will all have to contribute — be it with fares or tax revenue redistributed to the MTA. Fare hikes are periodically required if the authority’s operating agencies, including the LIRR, are to provide the services millions of New Yorkers count on daily. They are inevitable due to increasing costs of labor, power, fuel, supplies, materials, routine safety, state of good repair, replacement of worn-out rolling stock, and upgrades to stations, yards and shops necessary to run any transit system.

In 2023, the MTA lost $700 million to fare evasion and spent $1.3 billion on employee overtime. There is little reason to believe that the 2024 numbers will significantly change. So, in return for honest riders paying the new higher fares

NHCC executives are potentially placing an even greater financial strain on the shoulders of their over 3,500 employees (along with retirees), all of whom are at risk of losing their health insurance should these arrears on NYSHIP payments continue. The New York State Civil Service Commission has sent NHCC numerous letters over

The hospital’s problems are the result of poor management and an ineffective board, whose members must be replaced in order for the situation to improve. NIFA knows for certain that, in order for NUMC to continue serving our community, its existing leadership must change, and soon. NHCC’s current board leadership and management have shown that they are ill-equipped to oversee such a delicate operation. Their lack of ability shows, and it could ultimately result in the hospital shutting down entirely. Thousands of people would be out of jobs, and all of us would lose a crucial medical resource in our community.

The last thing we want is for NUMC is to close its doors. Along with Gov. Kathy Hochul and her top staff, NIFA is working hard with all stakeholders to keep them open.

Richard Kessel is chairman of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority.

Framework by Tim Baker

next year, the MTA must step up and reduce annual fare evasion by several hundred million dollars and employee overtime to well below $1 billion. A fare increase requires MTA reforms.

LARRY PENNER

Great Neck

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

At the Chamber of Commerce tree lighting in Veterans Memorial Park — East Meadow

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