Alice Moreno/Herald
At a special celebration — technically a year late, according to President Billy Florio — the Valley Stream Historical Society marked half a century of preserving the village’s history and honoring the dedicated people who have safeguarded its legacy.
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
The Valley Stream Historical Society, a local organization that has made it its mission to preserve, collect, and chronicle Valley Stream’s history, made history of its own. It celebrated 50 years of its existence at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1790 last week.
Members of the Society schmoozed with local dignitaries and residents, praising a collective body of historical work that spans five decades and has become the authoritative voice on Valley Stream’s storied past. Billy Florio, the society’s president, said the
event deserves an asterisk in the interest of accuracy.
“It was our 50th celebration, though, technically it’s a year late,” he said. The society’s 12 founding members formed their society in 1973, nearly 50 years after the incorporated village was founded.
Uncovering forgotten history
Florio, an author of village history, said the event was a year in the making, led by the society’s secretary Karen Vitale Selah. He described the efforts of his predecessors and current members as guarding Valley Stream’s past against the veil of speculation,
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
Four years ago, public school districts nationwide were flush with federal cash. The billions of dollars was meant to bring schools back from the ordeal of the pandemic. Some districts in dire need used that funding to plug up major financial holes or shore up basic infrastructure. But others like the Valley Stream High School District saw an opportunity. With voters’ blessing, the district channeled this large infusion of cash into bigticket projects budgeting for new smart lockers, mental health clinic renovations, a new barbering program — the list goes on. Students are already benefiting from the completion of several of these projects but many are still under construction or have yet to move past the planning stage.
TPhiL SANfiLiPPO
Head coach, Valley Stream North varsity baseball
Thomas McDaid, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, updated families on the progress of each project earlier this month. One project has been a considerable home run for studentathletes and coaches: the completion of two $5.9 million artificial turf fields at North and South high schools, respectively. Valley Stream North’s varsity baseball head coach, Phil Sanfilippo, says the turf surface will doubly serve his athletes and North’s soccer teams. The cause for the hype mainly comes from one principal advantage turf has over conventional wellworn grass fields — its resistance to downpours. When heavy rain mixes with earth, muck and mud can make the field unfit to play. And the clean-up can be equally as strenuous and time-consuming.
Members of Valley Stream District 24 recently honored the lives lost and sacrifices made on September 11th, 2001, during a ceremony commemorating its 23rd anniversary, hosted by the Village of Valley Stream.
“Commemorating the anniversary of September 11th is as important as ever. As a district, we are honored to participate in the village’s ceremony to honor those we lost, while also helping our students understand the important lessons learned from that day—lessons of kindness, heroism, helping others, and coming together as a community,” said Superintendent Unal Karakas.
Karakas applauded students from the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, who proudly carried American flags and demonstrated their respect during the ceremony.
Teacher Matthew Roth and Director of Facilities Charles Brocher also participated in the event as volunteers with the Valley Stream Fire Department. Students across the district took time in their classrooms to reflect on the events of September 11th, 2001, learning about the unity, empathy, and resilience that emerged in its aftermath.
–Juan Lasso
Curing a rare heart disorder with a short life expectancy.
Performing a life-changing brain surgery— without a single incision.
Helping a new mom give birth and receive a new liver.
At Northwell’s North Shore University Hospital, the nation’s most brilliant minds come here to conquer health care’s greatest challenges. So that whatever comes through our doors: challenge accepted.
North Shore University Hospital
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Democratic leaders in the Nassau County legislature have filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission, alleging that the Sept. 18 campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Nassau County amounted to an illegal, unreported campaign contribution from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, using taxpayer money.
Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, the minority caucus’s leader, was joined by Legislator Debra Mulé and Legislator Seth Koslow, both Democrats, at a news conference on Sept. 19. The complaint sent says that taxpayer-funded resources, totaling over $1 million, were put towards supporting the partisan political event.
“It has come to our attention, and it has been verified, that over a million dollars in overtime was spent yesterday,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “This is hard earned taxpayer money from Nassau County families. This includes items for things like hundreds of police that attended the rally, as well as other municipal employees, ranging from the Department of Public Works to the Parks Department.”
DeRiggi-Whitton said the democratic caucus fully supported the idea of keeping the former president safe. “That is absolutely not in question,” she said. “(But) this is taking money away from other services we really could use.”
At a security briefing ahead of
complaint with the Federal Election Commission, alleging the misuse of taxpayer money to fund the Sept. 18 Trump rally at the Nassau Coliseum.
Wednesday’s rally, Blakeman told reporters that the county budgets for large events — such as the rally — to mitigate the potential financial stress it could place on county resources, like police.
“It’s part of our job,” he said. “We don’t discourage big events in Nassau County — we want to encourage them.”
“We all know that Bruce Blakeman idolizes Donald Trump,” Koslow said. “We all know that he wants to get his attention, but he shouldn’t do that with taxpayer funds.
“Simply because you have a budget,
doesn’t mean you have to spend the money,” he added.
The Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, where the rally was held, was leased for the day by the Trump campaign. Rallygoers began gathering at 8 a.m. on Wednesday for what would turn into a 12-hourlong event, by the time the former president finished speaking. DeRiggi-Whitton also said the campaign should also be reimbursing the county for the cost of its resources, and told reporters that the Nassau County GOP used the event as a fundraising and voter registration event.
According to a story published in the New York Times, which DeRiggi-Whitton referenced, Joseph Cairo, the GOP chairman in Nassau County, organized a highdollar fundraiser “on the sidelines” of the rally.
“It’s clearly a partisan effort,” she said. “They did take the opportunity to raise probably a good amount of funds. However, whatever they raise, there should be a portion of that coming back to the county.”
“It’s clear that this was not just a rally,” Koslow said. “This was a political exercise to try and get more money. If they’re bringing all of this money in, why shouldn’t they reimburse the county and the taxpayers, who are not all Republicans — obviously. Why should undecided voters, independent voters, Democratic voters or Republican voters, foot the bill for this rally. That is our concern.”
When asked about the allegations, Blakeman, in a written statement sent to the Herald, said “Nassau County provides security and safety to all public figures and public events regardless of party affiliation. I guess Democrat leaders really do want Trump killed, but it ain’t happening in Nassau County.”
DeRiggi-Whitton said Blakeman’s remarks were “very concerning.”
“I’ve been an elected official for 18 years,” she said. “We didn’t agree to this expense, and that’s why we’re here today, to state that we think we should be reimbursed. But to get so personal — with such horrible suggestions or thoughts — I’m shocked by it and I’m offended by it.”
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
The South Shore Women’s Alliance has reconvened ahead of the 2024 election, and held its re-establishment meeting at the Merrick Golf Course’s Clubhouse on Sept. 18. The nonpartisan group has previously worked on a variety of topics and policies, and hopes to educate voters about Proposition 1, which will be on New York ballots in November.
The women’s alliance was first formed in 2017, following the Women’s March in Washington D.C., which was held the day after former president Donald Trump’s inauguration. Originally founded as a democratic women’s caucus, the group transitioned into what it is today — a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates for issues important to not only women, but all voters in general. This is done through partnerships and activities with students, informative panels, and fundraisers for things that the group supports.
At the meeting, Claudia Borecky, the group’s president, said in the past, the group organized a response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida in 2018; hosted a speaker to discuss health care initiatives in New York; organized rallies against abortion bans; and held fundraisers for groups like Planned Parenthood.
Attendees at last week’s meeting hailed from the Merrick-Bellmore area, East Meadow, Baldwin, Freeport, Levittown, Wantagh, Seaford and the Five Towns.
A highlight of previous work, Borecky said, was
Jordan Vallone/Herald
At the re-establishment meeting of the South Shore Women’s Alliance, fliers were distributed outlining what the group’s goals are ahead of the upcoming election.
when the group invited lawyers from the South Shore to sponsor a program called “Not Me,” which grew out of the “Me Too” movement, that had been gaining momentum at the time.
“(It) included three, strong, empowering women speakers who discussed how to have a healthy relationship, consent and boundaries,” Borecky recounted.
What drove the re-establishment of the South Shore Women’s Alliance, Borecky said, is Proposition 1. It’s an
amendment to the state’s constitution, aimed at ensuring equal rights to all under law.
The current equal protection clause in the state’s constitution already prohibits discrimination based on “race, color, creed or religion.” The amendment will allow New York voters to include additional classifications that people cannot be discriminated against, such as ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
The decision to include the amendment on this year’s ballot came in mid-June. New York’s Attorney General Letitia James said it was “a huge victory in our efforts to protect our basics rights and freedoms.”
“We will continue to do everything in our power to protect these rights and ensure everyone can live safely and freely in the great State of New York,” James said.
Because the women’s alliance is nonpartisan, it can work with groups like the New York Civil Liberties Union, the League of Women Voters, and New Yorkers for Equal Rights, to spread the word about the amendment, and encourage people to vote to pass it.
“Many women really want to push for this amendment,” Borecky said, “because most people don’t know about it.”
Borecky’s hope is that as the election quickly approaches, members of the South Shore Women’s Alliance can begin connecting with different, nonpartisan groups, and see how it can get involved.
“Most of these groups are already working on it,” Borecky said. “Now we’d like to help, and then we have action to take.”
Let us take a moment to remember that joy itself is a primary purpose of living.
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
— George Bernard Shaw
“Well, your greatest joy definitely comes from doing something for another, especially when it was done with no thought of something in return.”
— John Wooden
“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”
— Leo Buscaglia
“A sense of humor...is needed armor. Joy in
Willow Road Elementary School briefly went into lockdown Monday after a hoax gun threat, likely a part of a growing pattern of “swatting” calls aimed to trigger a police response with no credible danger.
Willow Road Elementary School briefly went into lockdown Monday morning after a gun threat that police later confirmed was a hoax.
The lockdown occurred shortly after students arrived, according to Superintendent Judith LaRocca. The school’s main office received a call reporting an individual with a firearm outside the building, prompting the school district’s emergency system. During a lockdown, all doors are secured, and students and staff remain in locked rooms until the situation is resolved.
As a precaution, three nearby schools — James A. Dever, Howell, and Wheeler — were placed on lockout, meaning no
one could enter or leave the buildings. Police arrived swiftly, determined there was no credible threat, and lifted the lockdown. By 9:15 a.m., the lockout was also cleared at all schools. Superintendent LaRocca indicated the call was likely part of a growing wave of “swatting” calls — bogus threats designed to provoke a heavy police response at a certain location — both across the county and the country. Nassau County police had issued an alert that morning about multiple school threats, all of which were deemed unfounded.
–Juan Lasso
one’s heart and some laughter on one’s lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life.”
—Hugh Sidey
“There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.”
— Kahlil Gibran
“The three factors that seem to have the greatest influence on increasing our happiness are our ability to reframe our situation more positively, our ability to experience gratitude, and our choice to be kind and generous.”
— Dalai Lama
“Things won are done, joy’s soul lies in the doing”
— William Shakespeare
“As selfishness and complaint pervert the mind, so love with its joy clears and sharpens the vision.”
—
Helen Keller
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More practice, better play, and fewer rainouts
“A lot of it is just a matter of waiting and just hoping that the weather changes, that the humidity drops and the clay ground dries up,” said Sanfilippo. “From a coach’s perspective, we can spend more time focusing on teaching skills and fundamentals of baseball and less time worrying about the field being prepared.”
That could translate into hours or sometimes days of lost practice time.
“The high school baseball season is only 10 weeks, so you’re talking about 60 practices, scrimmages, and games out on the field,” said Sanfilippo. “There are only so many days of practice time on the field. The turf field allows you to consistently get on the field.”
Valley Stream athletic officials claim the new turf field not only allows for more practice time but also enhances overall playing performance and safety.
The turf installation, argues Sanfilippo, provides athletes with more secure footing, reducing the risk of slipping as they dash to home plate and cushions the joints. Improved traction may also give athletes an edge in speed and power. The jury is still out on whether the new fields will reduce student injuries this year, and if they do, how much of the decline can be attributed to the upgraded turf.
And despite its many purported benefits, the new turf is not without its potential downsides.
Unlike natural grass, artificial turf tends to trap heat, increasing the risk of friction burns for athletes, especially during the hotter months. But whatever drawbacks for players and maintenance crews, the switch to synthetic fields more than makes up for it in its durability and resistance to the whims of Moth-
■ Air conditioning upgrade at Central and Memorial Junior High School is ongoing with a “transfer switch” scheduled to be received in winter
■ Air conditioning upgrade at South and North have been completed
■ Five HVAC univents have been installed and 3 more are on order upgras
■ Hallway smart locker replacements await approval from the state education department
■ New barbering suite at Central awaits approval from the state education department
er Nature. Deeangelo Guevara, Valley Stream North Athletic Director, is already seeing improvements in scheduling practice times and games for athletes.
“Scheduling is a lot easier for us and a lot more free flowing,” he said. “Teams have (more consistent) access and we don’t have to kind of stop the team from practicing or lower the quality of practice due to the quality of the infield.”
The Central High School District used federal pandemic
funds to install
million artificial turf fields at North and South high schools, which athletes and coaches hope will mean more practice time and fewer weather-related disruptions.
Massapequa Senior Football
A YEAR AFTER THROWING for 20 touchdowns and helping lead Massapequa to a perfect 12-0 season, Nassau Conference I and Long Island Class I titles, Diesso passed for a pair of scores in each of the first two games this fall. On Sept. 13, he had a near-perfect performance in a 38-13 victory over Freeport. He completed all but one of his 11 pass attempts for 135 yards as the Chiefs got into the win column for the first time in 2024.
Thursday, Sept. 26
Boys Soccer: Hewlett at Lawrence 4:30 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Baldwin at V.S. Central 4:45 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Clarke at V.S. North 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 27
Boys Soccer: Wantagh at Clarke 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Wantagh at Plainedge 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Seaford at North Shore 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Farmingdale at Baldwin 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Malverne/East Rock at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Calhoun at Oceanside 6 p.m.
Football: Garden City at Hewlett 6 p.m.
Football: Seaford at Plainedge 6:30 p.m.
Football: Hicksville at Freeport 6:30 p.m.
Girls Volleyball: Freeport at Baldwin 6:30 p.m.
Football: South Side at V.S. North 7 p.m.
Football: North Shore at Malverne 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 28
Football: Calhoun at Mepham 11 a.m.
Football: Carey at Sewanhaka 3 p.m.
Football: Farmingdale at Massapequa 3 p.m.
Football: Hempstead at Oceanside 3 p.m.
Football: Uniondale at V.S. Central 3 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
By MARC BERMAN sports@liherald.com
Valley Stream South’s youthful football team wasn’t up to the task of facing North Shore and its stout rushing attack in the Sea Cliff school’s Homecoming Game last Saturday.
The final score was 53-12 as winless Valley Stream South fell to 0-3 in rebuilding year that saw 18 seniors graduate from the 2023 team. In addition, its top two-way player, Elijah Jack was lost for the season with a torn ACL.
“To think last year at this time we were 2-1,’’ VSS head coach Joe Guastafeste said. “It’s crazy.’’
North Shore only passed the ball one time all afternoon but South couldn’t do much about it. The hope is going forward, the young players will start to find their footing.
“The problem we’re facing across the board is we’re starting a lot of young kids with very little game experience,’’ Guastafeste said. “Eight out of 11 starters on offense are juniors. Two others didn’t play much at all last year. They’re seniors but didn’t play at all.
“We were such a heavy-senior team last year,’’ Guastafeste added. “The onfield experience is not there. An older coach I used to work for said it takes three, four games for a kid to get used to the speed of a varsity game.’’
The Falcons’ positives can be summed up quickly. Senior Nick Simone, who had never played on the football team before, caught two touchdown passes from junior quarterback Danny Casey for 22 and 17 yards.
“He was a baseball player,’’ Guastafeste said. “He’s a bright spot but he’s a senior so it’s tough (for the future).’’
The day got off to a rough start when Casey, in his first season starting and never having thrown a varsity pass before 2024, was intercepted on the opening drive. North Shore never let go of the momentum.
“I don’t think they were intimidated,’ Guastafeste said. “Last year our JV played their JV and it was a tight game, a 2-point loss. Therefore my younger
kids were playing JV last year and were thinking of that game. I don’t’ think there was intimidation. It was more a skills and speed-of-the-game thing.’’
In its prior two games, the Falcons suffered defeats to Carle Place and West Hempstead. Next up is powerful Locust Valley. “It doesn’t get any easier,’’ Guastafeste said.
North Shore moved to 2-1 with the victory. The Vikings are former Long Island champions from 2021 and reputed annually for their pounding running attack.
Even North Shore’s lone pass of the day was executed with precision – a 3-yard touchdown strike from transfer
quarterback James Camardella to Charles Godfrey. Camardella came in from Chaminade.
All told, 10 Vikings carried the ballwhich had North Shore head coach Dan Agovino beaming afterward. “I’m real excited,’’ Agovino said. “We held ourselves very well up front. The big guys got the job done. Ten different ball carriers. That’s a total team contribution.’’
Guastafeste said North Shore still can pass the ball when it wants to, making the game plan tricky.
“They’re strong because you still have to play balanced,’’ Guastafeste said. “If you don’t stay balanced, you’re going to get beat.’’
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
U.S. Representative Anthony D’Esposito may have violated ethics rules in Congress, designed to combat nepotism and corruption, according to a story published by the New York Times on Sept. 23.
Shortly after taking the oath of office in 2023, D’Esposito hired his longtime fiancé’s daughter to work as a special assistant in his district office, where she earned $3,800 a month, according to payroll records. In April, D’Esposito hired an alleged mistress, Devin Faas, who earned $2,000 a month for a part-time job in the same district office. Payments to both women stopped in July 2023, the Times reported.
D’Esposito has not been accused of wrongdoing, but the employment of both women, which resulted in a payment of about $29,000 in taxpayer funds, could lead to disciplinary actions in the House of Representatives, according to the Times.
The allegations against D’Esposito come about 6-weeks ahead of Election Day. D’Esposito is being challenged by Democrat Laura Gillen, who he defeated two years ago. Early voting starts on Oct. 26. Election Day is Nov. 5.
“These are very serious allegations that demand further investigation and
it’s clear that Anthony D’Esposito has abused his power in every position of trust he’s ever held,” Gillen said in a statement released by her press team on Tuesday. “As Hempstead Town
Supervisor, I fought against corruption, nepotism and waste to help all Nassau County families, and I’ll bring that same common sense, ethical leadership to Congress. Together we can clean up
the deep-seated corruption that clearly surrounds Anthony D’Esposito and restore transparency and accountability to New York’s Fourth Congressional District.”
According to the House’s Code of Official Conduct, “a member, delegate or resident commissioner may not retain the relative of such individual in a paid position, and an employee of the House may not accept compensation for work for a committee on which the relative of such employees serves as a member. The House defines “relative” as someone related to the member, delegate or resident commissioner, including a parent, child, sibling, parent’s sibling, first cousin, sibling’s child, spouse, parent-in-law, child-in-law, sibling-inlaw, stepparent, stepchild, stepsibling, half-sibling, or grandchild.
According to the Times, Matt Capp, a spokesperson for D’Esposito, did not deny that the congressman had a relationship with Faas, but declined to comment on the employment of either women.
In a statement shared with News12, D’Esposito said “My personal life has never interfered with my ability to deliver results for New York’s fourth district, and I have upheld the highest ethical standards of personal conduct.
“Voters deserve better than the Times’ gutter politics,” he added.
By ANTHONY DiCOCCO
The energy was palpable as soon as the children began their infield and hitting drills, because in just moments, they would get the chance to learn from one of baseball’s rising stars.
Despite being in the thick of an intense playoff race, New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez volunteered 90 minutes of his time to coach dozens of lucky kids, ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade, at a free baseball clinic at the Lou Anthony Sports Complex in Massapequa on Sept. 5.
“This is awesome,” Rich Lopos, president of the Nassau County Police Activity League said. “This was something (Alvarez) called us about. He said, ‘I just want to come down and hang out with the kids for a little while,’ and these kids are loving it.”
Over the course of the clinic, kids decked out in Mets apparel rotated between stations that focused on the fundamentals of baseball, such as throwing, catching popups, running and infield work, before finally getting some hitting tips from Alvarez himself during tee drills. Following the clinic and a group photo, participants had the opportunity to pose for individual pictures with Alvarez and get his autograph.
“This was really cool,” Brooklyn
native Aiden Rodriguez, 11, said after the clinic run by the player he described as his idol. “I go to Mets games and meet a lot of players, and Alvarez is one of my favorite catchers in MLB. He made me want to be a catcher.”
Aiden’s brother, Austin, 8, said some
of the key lessons Alvarez taught were to keep your eye on the ball and the ball on the barrel of your bat. And he taught the kids about the mental side of the game, as well. Throughout the clinic, he stressed the importance of putting all their mental energy into baseball and to always have fun while doing it.
As a young pro player who’s still learning what it takes to be a major leaguer, Alvarez said that the kids on the field were also teaching him valuable lessons.
“This definitely helps me relax,” he said. “I’m happier. I can see the kids smile, I see the kids’ emotion and I can see how hard they work here. It gives me a little more energy.”
The event was part of a stacked lineup of athlete-run clinics that has been made possible through a partnership between PAL and Pioneer Sports Long Island. Over the past year, Pioneer Sports, now its 14th year, has held clinics that featured former Rangers goalie Mike Richter, Jets tight end Jeremy Ruckert, Mets third baseman Brett Baty and closer Edwin Diaz, and Yankees starting pitchers Nestor Cortes and Clarke Schmidt.
Tom Falcone, a co-founder of Pioneer Sports, helps facilitate all of the clinics.
“These kids are having a lifetime experience, and for me it’s a lifetime experience, too,” Falcone said. “Just to be able to have these guys come out here to the facility and give back to the community, we’re honored to do this.”
Anthony DiCocco is a reporter for the SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
this year, observing the Jewish Holydays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will be challenging for many Jews.
Rosh Hashanah begins on Oct. 2 and Yom Kippur on Oct. 11, bracketing Oct. 7, the anniversary of the horrific attack on Israel last year. Our joy at the onset of a new year will be tempered by our sadness at the tragic loss of lives a year ago. Yet, somehow, we must overcome the grief, for the moment, and rejoice that a new year is dawning. Is this not a universal issue?
Rabbi aRt VeRnon
Life is never monochromatic, full of one color at a time. We are continually oscillating between high and lows. We dare not fixate on what is past, nor float on dreams of what is not yet, lest we lose sight of the present moment. Now is all we really can embrace.
So we will gather in our synagogues
and around our family tables to celebrate a new year, one filled with possibility and hope. Should our attention waver, the sounds of the Shofar, the ram’s horn, will focus our attention. We will remember that God knows us, our strengths and weaknesses, our failures and successes and our frustrations and aspirations. God is our Compassionate Parent and in that spirit will forgive our shortcomings and encourage us to reach for greatness in the coming year.
Around our family tables, we will dip bread or fruit in honey, hoping for a sweet new year. For at least a moment, we will embrace the joy of the Holyday season with its promise of forgiveness and enter the new year with resolve and hope.
Rabbi Art Vernon, Congregation Shaaray Shalom
The Valley Stream Mayor & Board of Trustees
Extend Warmest Wishes for a JOYOUS & SWEET NEW YEAR
Edwin A. Fare Mayor
John L. Tufarelli
Deputy Mayor
Dermond E. Thomas
Sean Wright
Kevin Waszak Trustees
Melanie A. Jenkins
Village Justice
James J. Hunter
Village Clerk
rumor, and ignorance surrounding it.
“History was forgotten for a long time,” said Florio, requiring a concerted effort by the society’s members to separate fact from fiction and challenge conventional thinking around widely accepted but false versions of local history. And the work is ongoing.
One such misconception, according to Florio, is this: the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration, a historic 1800s property on Hendrickson Avenue and the base of operations for the Society was once thought to be the home of Robert Pagan.
“Robert Pagan did not live in the house that has his namesake. That is not Robert Pagan’s house,” he said. The house-turned-museum and protected historical site formerly belonged to Robert Pagan’s son-in-law, William Fletcher. Details like this matter to village historians, but an accurate accounting of the past should matter to everyone according to Florio. A critical understanding of history helps to shed light on how residents fit into the larger story of Valley Stream.
“History is how we learn from our mistakes,” he said. “History is where we came from and what we are. Our focus has been much more on ensuring we verify the actual truth from the amount of history we’ve aggregated.”
Five decades of truth, tradition, and triumphs
Valley Stream Mayor Ed Fare, chairman of the society, described himself as a living remnant of the earliest days of the organization since he joined in 1979.
“My father, Wilbur, was president in 1980, and I started as a young boy by accompanying him to the Parish Hall at Holy Trinity Church to help him set up the chairs for the general membership meetings,” said Fare in his remarks to the celebration.
The mayor said the survival and celebration of the village’s history rested on the backs of a few committed individuals and those who follow in their steps.
Gaetano “Guy” Ferrara busted a move before starting his own comedy segment, “Five Minutes with Guy.” Ferrara was honored as a longtime member of the Valley Stream Historical Society.
“I would like to recognize the entire current board of the Valley Stream Historical Society- these folks have stepped up and continued the work of our founders and have dedicated themselves to volunteering for the betterment of Valley Stream,” he said.
Longtime members Guy Ferrara and Florence Gunther were also honored at the celebration for their work in preserving and publishing important features of the village’s past for posterity and members of the board were sworn in.
■ Mable Dibble Ackerly
■ Alan and Helen Dowdeswell
■ Edward Moore
■ Helen Rack Moore
■ Seymour Morgenroth
■ Howard Ruehl
■ Burt and Betty VanderClute
■ Lillian Rack Weaver
■ Carolyn and Dwight Young
By Iris Wiener
Shaun Taylor-Corbett has enjoyed a unique journey from his upbringing in Rockville Centre to working in New York theater. After becoming a household face with a stint on the hit children’s TV show “Hi-5,” he went on to star in the acclaimed Off-Broadway musical “Altar Boyz” and eventually was part of the original cast of Lin Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights.” Working on that Tony-Award winning musical showed him the importance of exploring community through musical theater; it set the stage for his most personal project to date: ”Distant Thunder,” which runs Sept. 25 through Oct. 27 at A.R.T./New York Theatres. Taylor-Corbett not only co-wrote the book and lyrics for the new Off-Broadway musical, he also co-produced and stars in the production, which he credits with helping him learn about his own background. His mother, acclaimed dancer-choreographer and director Lynne Taylor-Corbett, directed and co-wrote. At age 15, Taylor-Corbett decided he wanted to know more about his family’s background. “It was important to me to know where we came from,” he says.
His roots are Black, Scandinavian, Blackfeet Indigenous, and Irish. Realizing he wanted to know more about his Indigenous side, Taylor-Corbett’s mother proceeded to bring her son to Browning, Mont. There he met Darrell Robes Kipp, an educator and community leader responsible for saving the Blackfeet language.
“He really instilled in me the importance of language for a culture,” says Taylor-Corbett. “It was very impactful for me and it made me want to create a story about my experience being mixed race.”
“Distant Thunder”evolved into a story about a young person who returns to his roots after many years of being away. It goes on to explore the various ways in which he experiences community.
Taylor-Corbett’s first memory as a performer was recording himself singing to Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl.” He moved to Rockville Centre when he was 8-years-old, where he attended South Side Middle School and South Side High School. It was at South Side Middle School that he took on one of his first theatrical roles: Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Looking back he appreciates having had a unique childhood growing up with his father [Columbia Records music executive Michael Corbett] and his mother.
Much of ‘Distant Thunder’ was inspired by Taylor-Corbett’s experience growing up mixed race. “I didn’t quite know where I fit in, so I was open and friendly with everybody,” he says. “There were some instances where I felt like an outsider and got made fun of, but I think what I got from being mixed and hanging out with people from different cultural identities is that I fell in love with learning about cultures.”
Taylor-Corbett travels frequently and studies international relations.“As one aspect of my identity — being Indigenous — got stronger, I realized I could take all of what I learned and try to do something in the U.S. I wanted to help the people that gave me so much.”
Taylor-Corbett still spends time in Rockville Centre with his mother in his childhood home. One of his favorite aspects of working on “Distant Thunder” has been collaborating with mom.
“I value having time with her and going through this adventure,” he says. “We’ve grown so much together as friends because of this. There’s a deeper meaning, and drive we have together because I was a kid when we started [this journey]. We don’t have that much time with our parents, so holding onto every moment doing this with her is a joy.”
He also appreciates the wealth of experience that Lynne brings to the project; the multi-talented ‘Broadway legend’ is known for her choreography of Broadway’s “Swing!” and the film “Footloose,” as well her direction and writing for “Cougar the Musical,” among other projects.
“I’m learning so much from her,” he says. “She passed on that legacy to me. I see myself growing in confidence because of her.”
Taylor-Corbett is proud that “Distant Thunder” honors the Blackfeet community that he holds close to his heart. He had never seen an Indigenous Broadway or Off-Broadway musical, and imagined how incredible it would be to have a large cast representing the Blackfeet and Indigenous communities performing an Indigenous story through powwow and pop music. Adding it to the American theater canon would break through barriers.
“We wanted to have the show be a portal into another world, into the magic that is Indian country,” he says, as he looks forward to opening night on Oct. 3. “I want people to leave the show uplifted and joyful about the future. I’m hoping that everyone feels represented, that people feel proud of what we’ve done, and that it inspires people who might be on a similar journey as they write their own stories.”
Tickets for ‘Distant Thunder’ can be purchased online at amasmusical.org or by calling (212) 563-2565.
Take out that neon yet again and give your hair its best ‘80s ‘do. Those crazy days are back — as only Jessie’s Girl can pull off, on the Paramount stage, The band of NYC’s top rock/pop musicians and singers gets everyone into that “Back To The Eighties” vibe with the latest edition of their popular concert experience. With a lineup including four pop-rock vocalists dressing and performing as ‘80s icons, backed by a dynamic band, this is the definitive ‘80s experience. Jessie’s Girl has mastered overthe-top renditions of the some of world’s most unforgettable songs, all while dressed up as the iconic characters of that decade. This is theater meets live music, covered in ‘80s glitz. Some would say there’s no decade like the ‘80. So throw on your best neon, use extra hair spray on that hair and head to Back To The Eighties — because it’s time to party like it’s 1989.
Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. $45, $37.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
The Drama Desk Award-winning “Celebrity Autobiography” returns to Tilles Center with an entirely new show. Starring Richard Kind, pictured above (fresh off his comic turn in that Hulu sensation “Only Murders in the Building”), Jackie Hoffman, Craig Bierko, Lillias White, Mario Cantone, and show creators Eugene Pack and Dayle Reyfel, an ever-changing selection of tellalls and memoirs are performed verbatim. Celebrity tell-alls are perfectly entertaining on their own, as exclusive windows into the lives of famous personalities. But this smash-hit comedic masterpiece takes it a step further — as as outrageously true memoirs are acted out live on stage by some of the funniest people around.
Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Everclear, one of the leading alternative rock bands to emerge from the ‘90s, led by vocalistguitarist-founder Art Alexakis, is back on the road, appearing on the Paramount stage, Sunday, oct. 6, 7 p.m. The band is joined by special guests Marcy Playground and Jimmie’s Chicken Shack. The setlist for this tour includes all the hits from throughout Everclear’s extraordinary three decades-long catalog, spotlighting tracks off their album “Songs From An American Movie Vol. One,” which they’ll release on vinyl later this year for the first time via Intervention Records.
Since forming in 1992, Everclear has enjoyed a lengthy career by any measure, spanning 11 studio releases, including four that have been certified Gold or Platinum, selling over 6 million records, and achieving 12 Top 40 Hit Singles on Mainstream Rock, Alternative, and Adult Top 40 radio, including “Santa Monica,” “Father of Mine,” “I Will Buy You A New Life,” “Wonderful” and “Everything To Everyone,” as well as numerous videos, concerts, and various other accolades, including a 1998 Grammy nomination. The band’s 1993 debut album “World Of Noise,” released on the Portland independent label Tim/Kerr Records, paired with their significant efforts to break into college radio and the buzz they’d created within the Portland music scene, attracted the attention of major labels, including Capitol Records, which signed the group soon after. Beginning with their major-label debut, 1995’s platinum-selling album “Sparkle and Fade,” and its massive chart-topping hit “Santa Monica,” Everclear was soon a household name and catapulted into the masses. Alexakis was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2019; he’s since donated $1 from every ticket purchased from his performances to charities such as Sweet Relief Musicians Fund and National MS Society. In addition their numerous concerts over the band’s lengthy career, Alexakis created and runs the annual Summerland Tour, which features a package of popular ‘90s alt rock bands. $70.50, $50.50, $050, $25.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Tribute concert
Plaza Theatricals’ tribute series continues, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2:30 p.m., with Shades of Buble. An exciting trio brings the swinging standards and pop hits of Michael Bublé to the stage in an unforgettable high-energy event. This act consistently wows audiences with their harmonies, smooth choreography and charming good looks.
Enjoy big-band standards from the jazz era, classic hits from the 1950 through ‘70s, as well as Billboard chart toppers from today in this high-energy show that generates standing ovations from sold-out crowds. See the show at 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.
College: Getting there from here
Henry Waldinger Memorial Library hosts a Zoom session with Edward Jones advisor Annette Matthew,, who will field questions on saving for college and financial strategies, Wednesday, oct. 9, 7 p.m. Registration required. For more visit valleystreamlibrary.org or call (516) 825-6422.
A Halloween experience not to be missed, Spooky Fest is an outdoor adventure perfect for families, whether you want to be scared — or prefer seasonal fun of the non-scary kind. Join in the fun at the Center for Science, Teaching and Learning, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout October. Along the way in the updated and beautifully lit up Enchanted Walk you will see dinosaurs, aliens and friendly witches, costumed characters and more, including the Mystical Garden. Get your fortune told, make a craft and dance with the Halloween DJ, along with face painting and the Amazing Glow tent. For those who want a scare, venture into the Haunted Woods, where zombies and dinosaurs hang out. Admission starts at $22. 1450 Tanglewood Road, Rockville Centre. Visit CSTL.org for call (516) 7640045 for more information.
Bring the kids to make some discoveries about mushrooms at Long Island Children’s Museum’s drop-in program, Sunday, Sept. 29, 1-3 p.m. Did you know that some mushrooms can glow in the dark? Learn about the 113 species of mushroom that are considered bioluminescent, due to a chemical reaction that attracts bugs to help spread mushroom spores. Stop by to learn about these amazing fungi and make a glowing mushroom craft to bring home. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
The Village of Valley Stream hosts a free spook-tacular movie night, Saturday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m., at Barrett Park, Jadwin St. & Cochran Place. For more information, visit Vsvny.org or call (516) 872-4159.
Valley Stream Central High School District Board of Education holds their regular board meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m., at Memorial Junior High School, cafeteria B. 123 S. Central Ave,. For more information call (516) 872-4159 or call (516) 872-7700.
Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program returns for a new season, Saturday, Sept. 28, 9, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.
Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for more information and to register or call (516) 484-9337.
Enjoy what makes Valley Stream unique with the annual Valley Stream Community Fest on Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., presented by the Valley Stream Community Fest Committee. The event showcases visual and performing arts, food, service organizations, and activities geared to families. Rockaway Ave, Valley Stream. For more information go to vscommunityfest.com or email info@vscommunityfest. com.
Join Long Islanders to walk to cure facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, hosted by the FSHD Society, at Eisenhower Park, Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. Family and friends are invited to ‘walk or toll’ and raise money, working towards a cure for the progressive muscle disease. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. 1899 Park Blvd. For more information and to learn how to participate, visit FSHDSociety.org.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition
“Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition spans various world cultures through a range of media.
It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority. Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. On view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Adelphi University’s Theatre Department present two one-act plays from icons of the American Little Theater movement, of the early 20th century, now through Sunday, Sept. 29. See “Suppressed Desires” by Susan Glaspell and “George Cram Cook and Seaweed” by Alice Gerstenberg, Sept. 26-27, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 28, 2 and 7:30 p.m. (livestream available); Sept. 29, 2 p.m. Gerstenberg’s Seaweed explores the future prospects and dating escapades of 20somethings in the 1920s. It’s “Sex and the City” but only four years after women received the right to vote. Suppressed Desires brings the audience into a 1914 marriage where a husband, wife, and her sister interrogate the psychological meaning of every conscious and unconscious utterance. All shows take place in Adelphi’s Performing Art Center’s Black Box Theatre. $25, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ & KELSIE RADZISKI of the Herald
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, vowed to the crowd at his rally on Sept. 18 at the Nassau Coliseum that he would win the vote in the state of New York in November’s election.
“It hasn’t been done in a long time,” Trump, referring to a decades-long losing streak of Republican presidential candidates in the state, “but we are going to win New York.”
Trump spoke for nearly 90 minutes at his first rally on Long Island since 2017, cheered by a sea of supporters wearing Make America Great Again hats and T-shirts and waving MAGA flags, thousands of them gathered outside the packed arena, watching on television monitors.
He denounced his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her policies, which he said would make New York “a Third World nation” if she were to win.
Trump highlighted Long Island issues and events, paying tribute to New York City Police Officer Jonathan Diller, of Massapequa, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Queens in March. The former president noted the 2016 slaying of Long Island teenagers Nisa Mickens and Kayla Cuevas, and the influx of MS-13 gang members.
“Our country’s going down,” he said. “If you look at what’s happening with the Venezuelans taking over … They’ve taken over your buildings and your land. You got to do something about it.
“That wouldn’t happen with Bruce Blakeman, I can tell you that right now,” Trump added, referring to the Republican Nassau county executive, which sparked chats of “Bruce!” from the
crowd.
This was Trump’s first rally since a second assassination attempt was reported at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15. He credited the U.S. Secret Service for stopping the attempt.
He vowed to rebuild the subways, highways and bridges in New York and across the country. He promised to reinstate the income tax deduction for state and local taxes, which his administration backed legislation to cap during his presidency. He also announced that he would make the World Trade Center site, in Lower Manhattan, a national monument maintained by the federal government — a pronouncement that was met with an enthusiastic ovation.
“That hallowed ground and the memory of those who perished there will be preserved for all time,” he said, just a week after the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Trump also addressed global affairs. “I will settle the war in Ukraine,” he said. “I got along very well with Putin,” he said, referring to Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, “and I will end the chaos in the Middle East. A vote for Kamala Harris is a vote to obliterate Israel.”
Hours before the rally, County Legislator Carrié Solages, a Democrat, condemned statements made by Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, about Haitian migrants eating residents’ pets in Springfield, Ohio, at a counterprotest with Haitians from Long Island outside the Coliseum entrance.
County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs held a protest with elected officials hours before Solages’.
Before Trump took to the stage, others expressed their support for his campaign, including Republican U.S. Representatives Anthony D’Esposito and Nick LaLota, who represent the 4th and 2nd
congressional districts, respectively. The pair are being challenged by former Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen and John Avalon in closely watched contests in November that could determine the balance of power in the House of Representatives.
In an impassioned speech, D’Esposito denounced Harris, described the Democratic Party as “dangerous” and emphasized that he “stand(s) for what Donald Trump believes in.”
“I stand for a secure border, I stand for backing law enforcement, I stand for growing our economy, I stand for putting America first,” D’Esposito said.
The Republican nominee in the 3rd Congressional District, Mike LiPetri, who hopes to flip Rep. Tom Suozzi’s seat, said he was proud to endorse Trump and his goals for his presidency.
“This is our time to restore common sense, to create safe, secure and affordable communities …,” LiPetri said, “making sure we have secure borders, a safe America, making sure we have peace across the world, making sure we’re standing with the Jewish community, and making sure we stand with Israel.”
Blakeman spoke of his priority to keep the county safe, after Nassau was recently named the safest county in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
“Nassau County protects the integrity and safety of women’s sports, and Nassau County unmasked the criminals, antisemites and hate mongers,” he said.
Blakeman called for Trump’s election in November so the country could “get back to common sense.”
“Let’s save our country, and let it start right here,” he said. “Let it start on Long Island, and go throughout the whole state of New York and the state of New Jersey and roll across America.”
By ROKSANA AMID
ramid@liherald.com
The Nassau Coliseum parking lot was filled with vehicles displaying flags, banners and homemade posters before former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally last week. Attendees, eager to show their allegiance, dressed in MAGA hats, shirts and red, white and blue outfits, while chants of “Trump, Trump, Trump!” erupted sporadically.
For his supporters, Trump remains the best candidate to fix the nation’s economic problems and take a stand against traditional politicians. Tommy Mundy, a Trump impersonator from Long Beach, praised the former president’s record.
“He’s a great man,” Mundy said. “He’s been right on everything all along.”
Mundy also dismissed concerns about Trump’s divisive stance on social issues, including abortion.
“Politicians are wicked and evil, and he’s not a politician,” Mundy said. “I’m not too concerned about the abortion issue — let God take care of that. We’re going to do great things, and the economy’s going to get turned around.”
Edward Sass, of North Babylon, also voiced his dissatisfaction with career politicians, a common theme among the attendees. Sass said he sees Trump as a non-politician who speaks plainly and delivers results.
“You get a lot of these politicians saying, ‘We’re going to do this; we’re going to do that.’ They should have done it already,” Sass said. “Three and a half
years, and they haven’t done anything.”
Sass criticized what he described as Vice President Kamala Harris’s vague promises, as well as the growing population on Long Island.
“We’re Long Island, we’re an island, we’ve got too many people in a boat,” he said, suggesting that the region’s infra-
structure is being overwhelmed by unchecked development and population growth.
Outside the Coliseum, anti-Trump protests reflected the sharp divisions among voters. Protesters gathered just beyond the gates, holding signs and chanting, “We’re not going back,” sum-
ming up their opposition to the former president.
Ann Leahy, from Wantagh, was among them. “He’s a crook, and he’s a liar, and he’s a rapist,” she said of Trump. “He’s cruel and he’s just a horrible person. He should never get near the White House again.”
Leahy expressed disbelief at the continuing support for Trump. “He was there for four years, and he was a horror then,” she said. “He has no policies. He just repeats the same stuff over and over again, and people are falling for it. I don’t understand why people would even dream about voting for this lunatic.”
Another one of the protesters was Magalie Theodore, a Haitian immigrant from Elmont, who expressed deep frustration with Trump’s disproven claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were stealing and eating residents’ pets.
“We are mad at Trump for the lies he has made about us,” Theodore said. “We don’t eat pets. We protect pets. As a citizen from Haiti, our country is a protector. We are the first Black republic. We don’t support bullies, and that’s what he’s been doing to immigrants.”
Theodore also criticized Trump’s approach to campaigning, accusing him of attacking ethnic groups to distract from his legal troubles. She also expressed disappointment in local leaders like Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for supporting Trump.
“I thought he was going to look out for all people, but apparently, he’s not,” Theodore said of Blakeman. “He’s supporting the biggest bully in America.”
LEGAL NOTICE
A non-profit organization in Oceanside, NY is seeking interested resources to provide bids for sale and installation of components and equipment to enhance our security infrastructure. These include bollards & barriers, fire resistant entry doors and enhanced bullet resistant glass.
Selection of providers in each category will be based on knowledge of each of the above noted components and their integration in our security system framework. Additionally, relevant prior experience, problem resolution expertise, adherence to projected work schedules, agreed upon budget/cost estimates and references will play an important role in the evaluation process.
Next steps and requisite details can be obtained by contacting us by phone at (516)766-6809 ext. 2 or via email at: security@avodah.org with your company name, point of contact & email and/or phone information. Responses will be provided and accepted until ___ (Date to follow). Work will commence by ____ (Date to follow) and be completed by ____ (Date to follow). All information will remain confidential. 149126
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU
NATIONSTAR
and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 612619/2023. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee’s attorney, or the Referee. For Sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.
MARIA SIDERIS, Esq., Referee
The inaugural Molloy University Sprint Football season will kick off with its first home game on Friday, September 27 at 7 p.m. at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale.
Sprint football is a full-contact sport with the same rules as traditional college football — with the exception that all players must weight 178 pounds or less.
“This is a fun and growing collegiate sport and we couldn’t be more excited,” Molloy University President James Lentini said.
MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A
CHAMPION MORTGAGE COMPANY, Plaintiff, Against CAROLYN J. ANDERSON
A/K/A CAROLYN ANDERSON, ET AL.,
Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 08/27/2019, 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 10/16/2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 111 South Drive, Valley Stream, New York 11581, And Described As Follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in The Incorporated Village Of Valley Stream, Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 39 Block 409-06 Lot 102
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $494,051.08 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 13-014284 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.
Dominic A. Villoni, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 8/9/24 File Number: 548-0111 SH 148899
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE GEWMC ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-2, Plaintiff, AGAINST EDITH COOK, et al. Defendant(s) Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on August 13, 2024.
I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 15, 2024 at 2:00 PM premises known as 932 Dana Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580. Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, at Valley Stream, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 0037, Block 00633-00 and Lot 00014. Approximate amount of judgment $560,291.44 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #601430/2018.
Ellen Durst, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 148856
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU MIDFIRST BANK, A FEDERALLY CHARTERED SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, -againstSATNAM SIGNH, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on July 30, 2024, wherein MIDFIRST BANK, A FEDERALLY CHARTERED SAVINGS ASSOCIATION is the Plaintiff and SATNAM SIGNH, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 24, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 1 BIRCHWOOD DRIVE, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580; and the following tax map identification: 37-556-58. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT VALLEY STREAM, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 609594/2022. Scott H. Siller, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 149056
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF9 MASTER PARTICIPATION
TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. ADELADE MOORE A/K/A ADELAIDE MOORE, ET AL., Defendant (s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 20, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 31 PENINSULA BOULEVARD, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11581. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 39, Block: 467, Lot: 17. Approximate amount of judgment is $435,213.79 plus interest
Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff 149062
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK N.A. AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS, OF THE J.P. MORGAN
MORTGAGE
ACQUISITION TRUST
2006--WMC4 ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES
2006-WMC4, Plaintiff, vs. WILLIAMS FAMILY TRUST, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale with Reference for Sale duly entered on September 12, 2019, 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 October 22, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 187 Fir Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 395 and Lots 453 and 454.
Approximate amount of judgment is $831,973.71 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #533/2015.
Rita Solomon, Esq., Referee
Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff 149016
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU
Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement relating to IMPAC Secured Assets Corp., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-3, Plaintiff AGAINST
Yolene Masse a/k/a
Yolene F Masse; et al., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered August 10, 2023 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 October 21, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 194 North Cottage Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 37 Block 146 Lots 3 and 4. Approximate amount of judgment $911,758.46 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 616430/2018. 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.”
Karen C. Grant, 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: September 5, 2024 149026
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 63-2024
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held September 17th, 2024 , by the Town Board
Molloy will be the ninth and newest team to join the Collegiate Sprint Football League. During the season they will compete against legendary programs including Army West Point, Cornell University, the United State Naval Academy and the University of Pennsylvania.
The Lions will represent Long Island as the only sprint football team in the region, opening the door for more high school students to continue their football careers at a collegiate level.
–Daniel Offner
of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 63-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 63-2024, amending Chapter 202 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “REGULATIONS & RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at various locations.
Dated: September 17, 2024 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 149128
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 65-2024
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held September 17th, 2024, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 65-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 65-2024, amending Section 197-5 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “ARTERIAL STOPS” at various locations.
Dated: September 17, 2024 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 149130
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff AGAINST Patricia D. Savage a/k/a Patricia Savage; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 8, 2017, and Amended January 26, 2022, 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 October 28, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 50 East Saint Marks Place, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 37 Block 98 Lot 14 & 15 (Lot Group). Approximate amount of judgment $489,038.00 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 011595/2014. 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.” Pallvi Babbar, 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: September 9, 2024 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 149158
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff AGAINST MARVALYN MCKENZIE, DASHAWN DEROSIN, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 31, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 29, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 4 Sheridan Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37 Block 185 Lot 39. Approximate amount of judgment $619,486.41 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #615650/2022. 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”. Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-003754 82326 149118
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MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
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L‘We did everything right, or so we thought’
Q. We are trying to understand why we did everything right, or so we thought, and now have to start over with getting a permit and inspections so we can move on. First, we thought the whole construction process was over a year ago, but now find that we got an ultimatum, in the form of a notice that we will get a summons to appear in court if we don’t respond, and the inspector said that the plans we have are no longer good. We read your column about this and it created even more questions, like: What if we just drop it and don’t respond, and why do we have to make new plans? We did make some changes, but isn’t that normal? We wanted to get it right, and the changes were hardly noticeable to anyone else. What do you think we should do?
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A.Do something, as opposed to doing nothing. If you do nothing, you may get the summons to appear in court, and after the appearance, you more likely will receive a judgment in addition to a fine, plus an order to still follow through or receive more fines and judgments. The timing of all of this is up to your building inspector and your building department as to the amount of time that will pass before any of this happens. I have clients who have done nothing for 20 years, and several who sold their property to unsuspecting buyers who still have to follow through, someday.
The fine may be affordable, but it’s still a fine. The judgment either forces you to comply or appeal. An appeal can cost as much or more in legal and court fees than just complying.
The only cases in which there were serious legal consequences that I have any experiences with both ended badly. Both involved much more serious problems, with building violations of a dangerous condition, and both ended with the building being condemned and bulldozed. Each was seriously structurally deficient and had multiple code violations. While your situation may not be like these, you should consult an attorney about your options, since resisting compliance changes from a building permit to a legal matter.
In most jurisdictions, when you make changes to the house that no longer match the plans, the building department may only ask for a letter from the design professional, as I recently mentioned in an earlier column. That would be a lie if you made so many changes or the changes were significant. I’ve often dealt with situations in which the owner and contractor made changes that moved the load-bearing walls off of the structural load path, and now the second floor is bowing. That type of change is significant, and could lead to irritating cracking that will not go away no matter how many times repairs are made.
Changes without communication are a bad idea. Your officials are trying, indirectly, to confirm safety and code compliance. Good luck!
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all the drama, it’s a dead heat
It seems as if barely a week goes by in the presidential campaign without one more otherwise once-in-adecade, totally unexpected event occurring.
Almost relegated to the background in all this tumult are the multitude of criminal charges brought against Donald Trump, including 34 felony convictions in one case alone, which have only increased his favorability ratings to their highest level ever.
For starters, there was the Biden-Trump CNN debate fiasco in late June, in which President Biden virtually self-destructed in real time before a nationwide audience. At times incoherent and appearing hopelessly confused, Biden had no sooner left the debate stage than Democratic Party leaders, consultants and media types displayed their own levels of incoherence in expressing their shock and dismay over how poorly Biden had performed and their fear of his impending defeat in November, especially contrasted with Trump’s relatively effective performance. Biden insisted he was going for-
ward, and conducted a media tour to rescue his terminally wounded candidacy.
While all this was taking place, Trump barely escaped death in Butler, Pennsylvania, when an attempted assassin’s bullet missed his skull by an inch, clipping his right ear and resulting in the iconic photo of his bloody defiance. Then there was the Republican Convention in Milwaukee, which, except for an overly long acceptance speech by Trump, worked to perfection. Trump’s path to victory seemed clear.
TThen, out of nowhere on a Sunday afternoon, Biden announced that he would not run for re-election. Though he had won the overwhelming majority of delegates to the impending Democratic National Convention, he couldn’t withstand the coordinated move against him from all sides of the Democratic Party, from the actor George Clooney to party leaders Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. Almost simultaneously with his withdrawal statement, Biden announced his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. Though her favorability numbers had been lower than Biden’s, she unexpectedly surged into a dead heat with Trump. This was followed by a
With precious weeks to go before the November election, I had hoped that we would be having a real debate about the issues that should dominate in a federal election year. I refer to such things as election integrity, a woman’s right to choose, the economy and other relevant subjects in such a crucial year. But instead, it seems that for some of the candidates, the only issue is race.
When Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee of the Democratic Party, I understood that her mixed-race history would be a boon to some bigots who considered her selection a chance to vent against all people of color. And with every passing day, we hear about some politician openly venting about her color. The chief culprit has been former President Donald Trump, who seizes every opportunity he can to stoke the culture wars.
carefully choreographed Democratic Convention in Chicago, at which Harris appeared to make headway by repositioning herself as a moderate, not the progressive she had always been.
rump can’t just criticize current policies, and Harris can’t just say she’s not Joe Biden.
Seemingly caught off guard by Harris’s emergence, Trump made a number of unforced errors, including saying he hadn’t known until recently that Harris was black. He was clearly off his game. Polls showed Harris with a slight but growing edge. This was followed by their debate, in which Harris was acknowledged to be the victor.
Yet in another surprise development, the postdebate polls not only showed almost no real gain by Harris, but also found increased voter doubts about her on gut issues like immigration and the economy. It was now a horse race, and both sides were gearing up for the stretch run.
Then again came the unexpected: another assassination attempt against Trump, this time while he was playing the fifth hole of his Mar-a-Lago golf course. For days the media focused on this almost-tragedy. How did the Secret Service allow the would-be assassin to get so close to Trump so soon after the attempt in Butler in July? How much
did incendiary rhetoric contribute to this political violence?
This tumultuous, unprecedented 2024 campaign is now in its final six weeks, and is back where it started in earnest almost a year ago. Despite all that has happened along the way, the polls show the race is too close to call. Hopefully the candidates and voters will use the time between now and Nov. 5 to focus on the issues.
Real people are hurt by high prices for groceries. It’s difficult for young people to obtain a mortgage to buy a home. Crime is real, and repeat offenders are back on the streets. Illegal immigration is rampant, and attacks by criminal gangs are increasing.
Overseas, Israel is fighting for its survival. The Russia-Ukraine war rages unabated, while China continues to expand its military and threaten its neighbors, particularly Taiwan and the Philippines.
Trump must do more than criticize current policies, and detail what measures he would take. Harris must do more than just say that she’s not Joe Biden. And all of us must live up to the responsibilities and challenges of living in a democracy.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
One of his first shots in the current hate debate was his questioning of Harris’s race. At one of his campaign rallies, he asked if she really was Black. Eventually, when Trump found that this diatribe wasn’t catching on with his voters, he moved on to other highly sensitive racial areas.
TKeep in mind that he has often played the race card. One of his most memorable racist comments concerned the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Despite his continuous denials, there were multiple press stories that quoted him as saying there were “very fine people, on both sides.”
Their most recent target was the Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. It’s a fact that various groups that cross the border often seek to settle in places that other immigrants have chosen as their home.
he governor of Ohio and the mayor of Springfield have denied vile claims.
In order to keep the racial flames burning, both Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, have made immigration the focal point of their campaign. There is no doubt that the border issue has legitimacy, but the TrumpVance approach is to stoke the racial fires with claims that mental patients and convicts are invading the country. Neither man has come up with any proof that these claims are legitimate.
The Haitians in Springfield are in this country as part of a program that allows immigrants to seek asylum based on violence in their countries. That program was created by President Ronald Reagan, and has been honored by all subsequent presidents, with the exception of Trump. This same program allows in residents of Ukraine and Venezuela, whose countries are experiencing great turmoil. Trump and Vance continue to spread the lie that members of Springfield’s Haitian community are stealing people’s pets and eating them. Their claims have caused massive angst in that city, where schools and municipal activities have shut down. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, the mayor of Springfield and other city officials have vehemently denied that such activities have taken place, but the Trump-Vance meanness continues unabated. There is no doubt that Spring-
field is dealing with an influx of Haitians who are trying to find work there, but the false rumors continue.
Adding to the venom were remarks Vance made on the Sunday talk shows on Sept. 15. He was challenged for continuing to assert the false pet-eating claims. “If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do,” he told Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The latest attempt to assassinate Trump should have resulted in his toning down the incendiary talk coming from him and his campaign team. But after a soft comment expressing his appreciation for the public’s support, he claimed that the Democrats were responsible for the assassination attempts “with their ugly rhetoric about me.” That kind of response can only bring about more toxic threats at a time when calm should be the byword.
Jerry Kremer was an assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
One year ago, the Herald published the editorial below, about a spate of reckless driving on the Southern State Parkway. Unfortunately, in light of the devastating news that a number of Long Island teens have lost their lives in several recent crashes, we are once again somberly reminded that reckless drivers put at risk not only their own lives, but also the lives of others. We recommend that local municipalities and law enforcement agencies schedule town halls to discuss how best to stem the tide of reckless driving on Long Island — from speeding to texting, and everything in between, whether on a parkway or a local street. In the meantime, we reprint our editorial from the Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2023, issue.
Drive a mere exit or two on any of Long Island’s main thoroughfares and you are sure to see at least one roadside shrine remembering the victim of a fatal car crash.
These memorials — already too commonplace — will only become more ubiquitous if nothing is done to stem the rising tide of dangerous drivers on these roads. In fact, just last week, sadly, Peninsula Boulevard was the site of two
To the Editor:
As the country and the rest of the world have experienced another year of scorching heat waves, private, for-profit utility companies — which we rely on for our basic necessities, like heating, cooling and electricity — are keeping us reliant on climate-wrecking fossil fuels while reporting record profits. When they work well, utilities exist in the background of our lives: They power our homes, cool us down when it’s hot, and give us heat when it’s cold. But too often they are sources of aggravation: The power goes off when it’s dangerously hot or cold out, our bills skyrocket, and these for-profit companies threaten to shut off services when we’re unable to pay.
We know that climate change raises those stakes even higher, and utility companies themselves play a massive role in exacerbating the climate crisis: 80 percent of the electric utilities in the U.S. run on fossil fuels.
Shifting utilities to clean energy is integral to working toward a safer climate, but these companies would rather maintain the status quo and keep the public in the dark.
separate fatal accidents. On the same day.
We have all seen the tricked-out cars and motorcycles that zig and zag through traffic — exceeding the speed limit in spades — with no concern about repercussions from law enforcement or consequences for the lives of others.
That sickening feeling you get when your heart skips a beat, and you thank heaven to be alive, because yet another vehicle comes out of nowhere at 100 mph to cut you off, and then does the same thing to the next car? And the next? Too many of us Long Islanders know this feeling all too well.
Reckless (and noisy) drivers — threatening both public safety and community tranquility — are operating with impunity. And they know it.
Their cars are hard to miss, with their illegally modified mufflers that can be heard miles away at all hours of the day and night. Illegal license plate covers and fake temporary tags protect their callous disregard for law and order by making it impossible for anyone to identify them, including law enforcement tools like speed cameras. And their friends are now sometimes even setting up lawn chairs on the side of the high-
way to watch cars race in broad daylight — missing the irony that a crash victim’s memorial is often just over their shoulders.
More than 75 people lost their lives, and another 13,000 were injured, in nearly 37,000 traffic accidents in Nassau County last year. Those are unacceptable numbers.
It’s difficult to find law enforcement on these central thruways, especially on the Southern State Parkway — one of Nassau County’s deadliest roads — between the Cross Island Parkway and Heckscher State Park.
We need more, not less, patrolling of our roads. We need more, not less, enforcement of sensible laws already on the books. We need more, not less, coordination between state and local law enforcement. And we need more stringent laws and harsher penalties coming out of Albany so that we can make these reckless drivers as scared to continue these dangerous activities as we are to witness them.
We implore all jurisdictions to work together to rein in the scourge of irresponsible, dangerous and selfish drivers. Because even one more roadside shrine is one too many.
to burn our future while individuals and families
We deserve an energy system that allows everyone to have
Yes, I think we can all agree that New York City’s roads are too crowded, the air is too polluted, and a lot of money is needed to improve mass transit, but the plan to charge commuters $15 to enter manhattan — on top of the tolls they’re already paying — that was recently put on hold by Gov. Kathy Hochul isn’t the way to go. The additional expense wouldn’t affect the rich, but it would clobber the middle class and working poor, who are already overburdened by high taxes.
Proponents say that the plan would push commuters to take the train. Well, have you seen how much train tickets cost these days? From my village of Sea Cliff, a round-trip ticket to manhattan
is $29. And, of course, that fee doesn’t include parking. And for some folks, like my friend Charlotte Abelson, who owned an upholstery business and worked into her 80s, commuting daily into the city, it was not feasible for her to lug her wares onto the Long Island Rail Road.
And there are some communities that don’t have train service at all.
HThe original congestion pricing plan would create a staggering bureaucracy. Since it was announced, more than 130 groups have petitioned to be exempt or to be charged a reduced fare. (If their claims are accepted, who would make up the difference for revenue lost?). Small businesses and Broadway producers have testified that the plan would hurt. Companies have declared that they would send their trucks through Bronx neighborhoods to avoid paying the new tolls — which I am sure would not delight the people
Does the proposed Equal Rights Amendment go too far?
To the Editor:
After reading Sasha Ahuja’s letter (“Curran’s wrong about the ‘war on women,’” Sept. 5-11), in support of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment, which will be on New York ballots in November, I decided to ask Google to tell me exactly what the proposed constitutional amendment says. This is what I learned:
“No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this state or any subdivision thereof. No person shall, because of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed, or religion, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy, be subjected to any discrimination in their civil rights by any other person or by any firm, corporation, or institution, or by the state or any agency or subdivision of the state pursuant to law.”
I’m wondering if the amendment might go too far or be too broad in its
living there.
But there is a solution: Instead of the original congestion pricing plan, let’s severely cut the price of a train ticket. I can testify from personal experience how this would be a success. I’ve always loved manhattan, but the cost to go into the city became too prohibitive, so I limited my jaunts to special occasions.
ow about drastically reducing the price of an LIRR ticket instead of hiking tolls?
But then, three years ago, I turned 65. While I wasn’t ecstatic about becoming a senior citizen, it did have a nice benefit: half-price tickets on the LIRR! So my old $29 ticket is now $14.50 — still a tad high, but much better. I go in to manhattan at least once a week now. And I’m helping the city’s economy: I see a show, I eat in a restaurant, I attend concerts and book signings. Indeed, since I’m going in more often than I did before, I’m adding more money to help rebuild mass transit.
And it seems that Governor Hochul likes my plan — though she might not realize it. Traffic around Kennedy Airport has gotten worse because of construction going on, so Hochul has cut the price of an AirTrain ticket in half, from $8.50 to $4.25, as a way to induce travelers to leave their vehicles at home and reduce the traffic around the airport. And it’s working. Way to go, Governor!
So let’s extend this idea to the railroad: Dramatically cut the price of an LIRR ticket. Commuters would leave their cars at home, traffic entering the city would be reduced, air pollution would decrease, and there would be lots of revenue to improve mass transit. A win-win for everyone.
Saul Schachter is a retired social studies teacher and freelance writer whose essays have appeared in Newsday, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and The Miami Herald as well as in a 2020 collection entitled, “Why Does My Social Life Pick Up When I Leave the Country?”
scope. Adding anything to the Constitution is a very big deal, since changing our minds after the fact may be very difficult in practice. Voters need to understand the complexities before casting a vote.
Personally, I’d have no issue with the amendment if it granted equal rights and equal protection to everyone regardless of “race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed, or religion, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression” — but it doesn’t stop there. The final clause gives women an unlimited right to abortion on demand, regardless of the stage of gestation.
While many argued for or against the removal of “reproductive freedom” as guaranteed by Roe v. Wade, most would agree that abortion has been a hotly debated topic. As such, I do not feel it should be part of a bigger amendment like Prop 1. Instead, let’s get Prop 1 passed without its final clause, and then allow ample discussion time before trying to get a separate amendment passed that deals exclusively with whether a woman’s “right to privacy” trumps the right to life of the unborn, and if so, when?
PAm SINGER
Malverne
