HERALD
Laura Gillen declares victory Nassau County Dems take critical seats in 2024 election
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
Democratic challenger Laura Gillen took the podium to declare narrow victory over Republican incumbent Anthony D’Esposito in a high-stakes congressional race in Tuesday’s election.
“I am so humbled an honored to be your new Congresswoman,” Gillen said at the Democratic rally at the Garden City Hotel. “The coordinated campaign that we put together. We knocked on 300,000 doors. We made over 600,000 phone calls. We put out a campaign that was a winning campaign that we will emulate in the years.”
Gillen, a former Hempstead Town Supervisor, ran on promises to improve infrastructure and protect healthcare access. D’Esposito could not be reached for comment as of press time at midnight on Tuesday. In State Senate District 9, Republican incumbent Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick retained her seat over Democrat James Lynch, winning 55 percent of the vote.
Uncertified election results hand Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages a decisive victory against challenger Ian Bergström, retaining her seat
for a sixth term. Solages earned roughly 64 percent of Tuesday’s ballot count.
“I really want to thank the constituents that trust and believe in our commitment to ensure that their voices are heard in Albany,” she said. “I want to continue making sure that the needs of the average New Yorker are prioritized whether it’s property tax relief
or tackling affordability when it comes to utilities.”
Ian Bergström declined to concede as of press time, insisting every ballot be counted, but urged residents to “hold Solages accountable for the lack of state funding in our communities and for passing legislation that jeopardizes residents’ safety and wellbeing.”
LoQuercio is honored by
V.S. Chamber
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
Earlier this year, the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce pledged a renewed commitment to community outreach. Few have worked harder or represented that ideal better than Lauri LoQuercio, who was recently honored as the Chamber’s 2024 Business Person of the Year.
When it comes to serving her community, both within and beyond the Chamber, LoQuercio relentlessly walks the walk and is constantly on the clock. A tight schedule of volunteer programs, activities, and events makes persistent demands on her time. Just last weekend, the 59-year-old led the Chamber’s second annual food drive, collecting 60 bins of food from three village grocery stores in two days to feed local families in need.
Days before that, she was up at 4 a.m. planning a brunch for the Association of Benefit
Administrators, in San Diego, for the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Despite her early mornings and late-hour nights, she frets that “there are not enough hours in a day.” And yet for LoQuercio, any time serving others is time well spent.
“I love what I do,” she said. “I love being able to help people in so many ways, and now the Chamber is an extension of that.”
Outside the Chamber, she is a volunteer assistant for Community Outreach and Food Drives at Island Harvest, a regional food bank. Closer to home, she hands out donated food door to door to needy families as a volunteer for the Saint Vincent de Paul food pantry program at Holy Name of Mary Church. When she is not volunteering or enlisting the help of her fellow Chamber members in one of her latest service projects, LoQuercio is coaching cli-
Continued on page 4
Adrienne Daley/Herald
democrat Laura gillen declared herself the winner in a pivotal congressional race against Republican anthony d’esposito while democrat Michaelle Solages won a decisive sixth term.
HERALD SchoolS
Valley Stream 13 hosts Trunk or Treat
Valley Stream District 13 celebrated the spirit of the season with its annual Trunk or Treat and Pumpkin Patch events, festive gatherings that brought together families, students, and staff across the district. These beloved traditions, held simultaneously and made possible by the dedicated efforts of the PTA, took place recently drawing a large turnout from the community.
During Trunk or Treat, parents and students adorned their vehicles with creative Halloween decorations, transforming the parking lot into a vibrant trick-or-treating hub. Children excitedly visited each trunk, collecting candy and goodies while showcasing their costumes, ranging from classic ghouls to imaginative modern characters.
The pumpkin patch event was also a success, with children taking pumpkins home to carve Jack-o’-lanterns. Festive activities included face painting, games, and a photo booth, ensuring that everyone left with smiles and lasting memories.
This year’s Trunk or Treat and Pumpkin Patch events highlighted the creativity of participants and reinforced the strong sense of community within Valley Stream District 13. Families enjoyed connecting and strengthening bonds that
Valley Stream District 13 officials would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the PTA, parents, staff, and all volunteers who contributed their time and resources to make this event a resounding success. We look forward to continuing this
–Juan Lasso
Courtesy Valley Stream District 13
Willow Road Elementary School staff dressed to impress at a galaxy far, far away at District 13’s Trunk or Treat event.
County hospital rallies amid concerns
Hospital staff and community advocate for state funding needed to keep the doors open
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Hundreds of dedicated employees, community supporters and elected officials gathered on the front lawn of Nassau University Medical Center on Oct. 29 for a rally that voiced one opinion, loud and clear: “We Are Health Care, Not Politics.”
The rally, dubbed “Nassau Needs U,” was organized by concerned employees, and aimed to spotlight the hospital’s need for state funding and to oppose any state takeover or the appointment of a temporary operator. Over the last five years, the hospital in East Meadow — which is the county’s only public hospital — has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding.
We are here to fight for the resources for our patients and keep serving this community without compromising our mission.
DR.
GRAcE TiNG Interim chief medical officer, Nassau University Medical Center
NUMC provides healthcare to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
The Nassau Health Care Corporation, which oversees the operations of NUMC and the A. Holly Paterson Extended Care Facility in Uniondale, has made significant strides in its financial health over the last year, according to an audit conducted by Grant Thornton in June, a leading national public accounting firm.
The audit and related financial reports highlighted several positive trends for the health care corporation including: cash on hand increased from $23 million in January 2024 to $67 million in June; net patient service revenue rose by $76 million in 2023, from $460 million in 2022 to $536 million in 2023; operating loss was reduced by $30 million in 2023; and overtime costs were reduced by $4 million from 2022 levels.
Many of the hospital’s improvements have been attributed to the leadership of Megan Ryan, the interim chief executive and president, and the work of the hospital’s board, the corporation’s chairman Matthew Bruderman said in a release.
But, the hospital’s improvements do not take away from the overarching issue: A lack of state funding, and low Medicaid reimbursements.
NUMC has faced growing concerns over potential cuts to essential services, a state-imposed takeover, or even closures to accommodate other uses, like housing. The hospital boasts a Level 1 trauma center, a burn center, among other departments, which is why hospi-
Doctors,
and
tal employees — and the community — don’t want to see it go.
“NUMC is the only public hospital in Nassau County and a crucial lifeline for so many,” Dr. Grace Ting, interim chief medical officer said in a release for the rally. “We are here to fight for the resources for our patients and keep serving this community without compromising our mission.”
Scattered around the front lawn of the hospital, staff and community members held signs that read, “No state takeover” and “Restore state funding.”
Along Hempstead Turnpike, those passing by the hospital in cars honked in support of the hospital and its operations.
“Nassau County’s elected officials are here for you today,” State Senator Steve Rhoads, who’s district includes NUMC,
said at the rally. “NUMC needs Nassau County, and Nassau County needs NUMC.”
Since 2019, the hospital has lost $350 million in funding, Rhoads said. If the hospital closes, or faces increased budget cuts, the jobs of many employees may be at stake.
Waylyn Hobbs, the mayor of the Village of Hempstead, New York’s largest village with over 50,000 residents, said the hospital has been a lifeline for health care.
“This hospital has always been there for not only the Village of Hempstead, but all of Nassau County,” he said. “And we are here for you.”
Dr. Steven Lev, the chair of radiology at NUMC, has been a physician at the hospital for over 30 years. He made mention of Ryan’s leadership, calling her
the “heartbeat” of NUMC — and said the hospital is the “heartbeat of the community.” He rejected any change in leadership, and said “imagine what we can accomplish (as a hospital) with the resources we deserve.”
“Our hospital is staffed by hundreds of people who understand the community,” he said. “Let us protect the hospital and this lifeline — and let us keep serving the community with dignity.”
Ryan said the hospital has been able to stay open because of the great work of all of its employees. “Everybody here today puts people over politics,” she said. “That’s the way we want our facility. That’s the way we do it every day. We have demonstrated that we are viable, that we can be sustainable — but we need our subsidies that we are owed and we need that today.”
Jordan Vallone/Herald photos
The front lawn of Nassau University Medical Center was packed with hundreds of rallygoers last week, who advocated for state funding that would help the hospital stay open. Signs were held with bold messages, like ‘No state takeover.’
State Sen. Steve Rhoads at the rally in support of the hospital’s operations. Its staff members ould lose their jobs if hospital closes or faces additional cuts.
nurses,
employees from all of the hospital’s departments flooded to field outside of the hospital.
Volunteer extraordinaire leads with heart
ents through the particulars of life insurance as an agent at New York Life.
“My mission is to help educate people so that they can make the best financial decisions for themselves and their families,” she said. Authentic face-to-face connection is what has compelled her to stay in the position she’s had for nearly a decade, with no intention of climbing up the company ladder — even if opportunities arise.
“There are next steps that could be taken in my career,” LoQuercio said, “but I would never take them, because I love the personal connection of meeting with families and planning and making a difference in their lives.”
Her strong desire to give back is accompanied by a deep sense of gratitude.
“I feel like I’ve been blessed, and there are so many people in need,” she said. “If you can help, why wouldn’t you?”
As dedicated as LoQuercio has been to living out her “do-good” mantra, she is often moved by others’ displays of generosity. She recalls being at a food drive for Long Island Harvest that collected over 500 pounds of food from the community.
“That was one day, and I thought, it’s crazy to me that all it took was us standing here and asking for it,” LoQuercio said. “If we stayed at home that day, we would have nothing. So, sometimes all it takes is being present.”
The Medicaid Asset Protection Trust is Nothing to be Afraid Of
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”
— H.P. Lovecraft
Many people are afraid of using a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) to protect their assets from being depleted for the cost of longterm care. Shining a bit of light on the subject may help eliminate this fear of the unknown. Contrary to what many believe, including many lawyers, CPA’s and financial advisors, you do not give up control when entering into the MAPT, even though it is called an irrevocable trust.
First, you reserve the right to change the trustee at any time. Yes, you must name one or more children as the trustee (manager) of the MAPT but it is a simple matter to change the trustee at any time for any reason or for no reason at all. It is up to you.
Secondly, you reserve the right to change who you leave your trust estate to upon death.
Circumstances change and your MAPT gives you the flexibility to “roll with the punches”.
Thirdly, while the MAPT only allows you to take the income (interest and dividends) from the trust, you may still make gifts of principal taxfree to your children at any time, in any amount. If you give more than $18,000 per person per year you must report the gift but there is no tax —the IRS just subtracts it from the amount you can give at death, currently over thirteen and a half million. We like to say that most of our clients are “comfortably under”.
Finally, you may revoke an irrevocable trust in New York on consent of all the parties. If you and your children all sign it may be undone. What if one of them will not sign? Not a problem. Remember we said you may change the trustee and who you leave it to. We simply remove the unwilling participant as trustee and beneficiary and then revoke the trust on consent of all the parties!
LAW FIRM
ELDER LAW ESTATE PLANNING SINCE 1991 trustlaw.com Trusts & Estates • Wills & Probate • Medicaid FREE CONSULTATION: 516-327-8880 x117 or email info@trustlaw.com
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LoQuercio, second from right above, was the brains behind a recent food drive.
Melvin Mamen/Herald photos
Lauri LoQuercio, the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Business Person of the Year, third from left, stood shoulder to shoulder with Mayor Edwin A. Fare, Barbara DeGrace, Chamber member Joosoo Kim, Mark Daley and Chamber President Sasan Shavanson.
V.S. 30 swears student advisory council
Eighteen Valley Stream District 30 students were sworn into the Global Leaders of Tomorrow Advisory Council during the Board of Education Business meeting at Shaw Avenue Elementary School on Oct. 28.
They promised to unlock their potential to become a Global Leader of Tomorrow, activate their selfdetermination and advocacy for themselves and others, become confident and courageous human beings, and navigate multiple pathways for future success, according to officials.
The Global Leaders of Tomorrow Advisory Council will meet regularly with Superintendent Roxanne Garcia-France to discuss how they can accomplish their goals and encourage other students in their respective schools to help in their efforts. This year, the advisory council will focus on the United Nations’ goal of wellness with the question, “What does wellness mean to you?”
“I am so excited because they help me to be a better leader,” Garcia-France said. “This is an opportunity for my Global Leaders of Tomorrow to get that experience, to know that it’s a great honor to serve not only your school, but your community. The real payment is when you serve and do good for others. That’s what it’s all about.”
–Juan Lasso
Courtesy Valley Stream District 30
Eighteen students in Valley Stream District 30 were sworn into the Global Leaders of Tomorrow Advisory Council during the board of education business meeting at Shaw Avenue Elementary School on Oct. 28.
Multimedia sports comes to area school
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
Lawrence High School launched a new media club aimed at enhancing community involvement and showcasing the student-athletes.
Tornado Sports Network was created in collaboration with Angela Matinale, athletic director and Brandon Rebel, LHS alumni.
Rebel graduated in 2022 and is currently an undergraduate student at St. John’s University. He was hired by the district to support various technology needs at the school, including audiovisual equipment for musicals and concerts.
Most recently, he has been working on managing flat panels, a thin video display used as computer monitors and digital signage.
“While working on these projects, I started recording our high school athletic games, Rebel wrote in an email. “Then, while watching the Mets towards the end of the season and into the postseason, I thought: why not stream our games and give students a chance to explore a career in media or communications?”
Rebel was inspired by professional networks like SNY and ESPN, and received the necessary support from the district to create TSN.
TSN serves as a multimedia platform for all members of the community to connect, participate and celebrate the LHS’s athletic programs.
“TSN is designed to foster a strong sense of community while providing valuable hands-on experience for students interested in media and broadcasting,” Angela Matinale, LHS director of health, physical education and athletics wrote in an email. “We want to encourage students to explore their passions and develop skills that will serve them in the professional world.”
TSN aims to provide game coverage and on-hand experience for aspiring media professionals. The club currently has 10 students involved.
“Ever since I was a student at Lawrence, I’ve always been passionate about giving back to our community,” Rebel wrote. “Being a part of TSN allows me to do just that, by providing our students with a platform to express themselves and gain valuable, real-
world experience. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how these opportunities can shape young lives.”
Wynter-Mari Content, a junior at LHS and Leandro Guardado, a freshman, joined TSN at the start of the organization.
Content had already been filming the sports games and a member of stage crew it LHS, where the idea of TSN was explained and offered to them.
“I really do like watching sports but we also get to film it so the players can look back at the games and strategize about better plays,” Content said.
According to Content, her favorite part is having conversations behind the cameras and figuring out what questions to ask they players.
Guardado, who is also a member of stage crew, heard about TSN from Rebel and decided to give it a chance.
“I’m really interested in interviewing people and be on camera, that’s why I joined the club,” Guardado said.
Camera Operation: Learn the technical skills needed to capture the excitement of live games.
Commercial Creation: Develop advertising content that promotes our teams and events.
Animation and Graphic Design: Craft engaging visuals that enhance our broadcasts.
At Lawrence Middle School, Guardado was involved in the media club and he wanted the opportunity to grow his high school transcript.
“I am interested in studying this
Play-by-Play Announcing: Gain experience in live commentary, bringing the game to life for viewers.
Interviews: Connect with coaches and players, sharing their stories and insights with the community.
because it’s really fun and I met a lot of new people,” Guardado said. “This is just a great opportunity.”
For event coverage, search Tornado Sports Network on YouTube.com.
Courtesy Lawrence Union Free School District
Leo G., left, Brian Amaya Ramirez, Boaz Walker and Jason Umana edit a video for the Tornado Sports Network club.
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Project 2025 plan for culture, health care
By Jenna ZaZa & Lori Saxena Special to the Herald
Third in a series.
Written by the conservative Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 is a 922-page book detailing overhauls of the executive branch and proposing radical policy changes regarding the economy, culture, education and health care.
The controversial plans have Democrats in a tizzy, the Trump campaign distancing itself from the ideas and saying they would embrace the mandate’s demise. However, six of his former Cabinet secretaries and more than 140 people who played a role in the project also worked in his administration, according to a CNN report.
At its core, the initiative seeks to reshape the federal government, but its impact extends to the local level.
“The next President has a moral responsibility to lead the nation in restoring a culture of life in America again,” Heritage Foundation officials wrote in the project foreword.
Culture
Project 2025 is steeped in dividing culture wars saying, “The next conservative President must make the institutions of American civil society hard targets for woke culture warriors.” Its top goal is to prioritize the nuclear family model “as the centerpiece of American life” by rolling back hard-fought LGBTQ+ and Black rights.
It calls for the reversal of the 2015 Supreme Court case that legalized samesex marriage in all 50 states. Widespread anti-LGBTQ+ policies could significantly erode cultural and familial support for queer individuals.
“This policy document gives extended protections that violate individual civil and human rights,” Kiana Abbady, board chair of Long Island Progressive Coalition, said. “There would be no such thing as non-traditional families, that would only be the nuclear family, and that goes back to the denial of LGBTQ rights.”
Child protection rhetoric of antiLGBTQ+ has a long history but the ideology behind the project’s “optimal childrearing” family structure emerged in the late 1990s from religious conservative groups. Saying that children grew up best in households with both a man and woman parental figure. That argument is considered to be false, according to the American Psychological Association.
“So when [the project] says they want to prioritize nuclear family values, that is coded language,” said Jillian Gaeta, co-founder of Roots to Revolution and a New York City public school teacher. “What that means is they think that women who don’t have children … that couples who are gay and adopting children also have less value in our society.”
The project proposes limiting opportunities for people of color by stamping out all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at the federal, state and local
Project 2025, a plan conceived by the conservative Heritage Foundation, could change the U.S. if Donald Trump is
level. DEI creates jobs, boosts the bottom line for companies and contributes significantly to the economy, according to research by McKinsey & Company.
According to a Suffolk County disparity study final report, persons of color “experience the greatest disparity, as they are significantly less likely to own a business.” It also discovered that there are statistically “significant disparities” in business earnings for minorities.
“The elimination of these programs that encourage economic advancement and economic opportunity for hard working Americans based on the color of their skin is abhorrent and it’s disappointing,” Abbady said.
Critics of the mandate argue that the proposed policies risk overextending government power to enforce rigid gender binaries and strip away support for marginalized communities.
“It was working on, for decades, to have the United States be a white, Christian, authoritarian nation,” Claudia Borecky, president of the Bellmore-Merrick Democratic club, said.
Health care
Project 2025 proposes decentralization of federal programs like Medicaid, increasing privatization, and implementing grant caps on health care.
A 2023 study in the international Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health of 1,695 healthcare facilities in Nassau County, revealed a disproportionate distribution of services, with the majority of facilities clustered in two affluent zip codes. Areas with high social vulnerability have a significantly sparser distribution of healthcare services.
Parts of Suffolk County are federally designated Medically Underserved
Areas due to insufficient access to primary care, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. These regions rely on federally qualified health centers and federal programs such as Medicaid.
Project 2025 aims to encourage health care funding that is specific to the needs of local communities and competition with private insurers. Decentralization could lead to reducing federal funding and limitations on Medicaid, which could exacerbate barriers in accessing medical care for vulnerable populations.
Currently, just over 25 percent of Suffolk County residents and a little more than 23 percent of Nassau County residents are enrolled in Medicaid, according to a United Hospital Fund report.
Michelle Jones, a nurse at Flushing Hospital, who is on the board of directors for the New York State Nurses Association, said these proposals would substantially increase the cost of health care if implemented.
“The cost of health care is going to skyrocket, and so is the cost of medication,” she said. “This, is going to put profit over patients and over the frontline workers who take care of these patients. This project will erode people.”
The project’s proposed health care policies also include reforming the Department of Health and Human Services into an anti-abortion-focused Department of Life.
Liberal organizations, such as EMILY’s List, have pledged to invest money and resources into flipping House seats currently held by anti-abortion Republicans.
“Project 2025 outlines tracking women’s pregnancies, including abortion, miscarriages, stillbirths ... dismantling sex education, and replacing birth con-
trol programs,” Yari Aquino, an EMILY’s List representative, said. “The way to stop Project 2025 from happening is to elect … Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot.”
The Long Island Coalition for Life remains determined to influence public policy in a direction that bans abortion statewide with no exceptions.
“Our ultimate goal is to protect every preborn son and daughter in the womb, to end abortion and to bring back respect for the right to life of all people,” Celeste Broyles, a representative of the Coalition, said. “We don’t discriminate against babies who may have been conceived in rape … all babies deserve the right to life.”
In 2022, former State Sen. Anna M. Kaplan and Assemblywoman Gina L. Sillitti highlighted ongoing local abortion restrictions. Several communities still had “trigger laws” on the books that were passed in the early 1970s and were intended to limit the establishment of abortion clinics and impose stringent regulations on access. Hempstead, Huntington and Oyster Bay towns and the villages of Freeport and Williston Park had local abortion restrictions.
“Every person should have autonomy over their body and have the right to discuss that with their provider.” Jones said. “Under the project, people are defined by their role in their family, but even then they are a single person with the right to make decisions.”
Jenna Zaza and Lori Saxena are reporters with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
Jenna Zaza/Herald
elected president.
HERALD SchoolS
V.S. 24 cafeteria aid saves a student’s life
Kathleen Neske, a cafeteria aide at Brooklyn Avenue School in the Valley Stream District 24, recently saved the life of a student who was choking during lunch by quickly recognizing the emergency and performing the necessary life-saving protocol. Neske was honored for her heroic actions and unwavering diligence at the district’s October Board of Education business meeting.
“Our Board of Education and the entire Valley Stream 24 community extend our deepest gratitude to Neske for her quick thinking and remarkable bravery in a moment of crisis,” said Superintendent Unal Karakas. “Thanks to her swift and courageous actions, our student is safe and well. We are incredibly grateful to Mrs. Neske for exemplifying such dedication and care toward our students.”
Brooklyn Avenue School staff and community members attended the Board of Education meeting in recognition of Neske, expressing heartfelt thanks for her selflessness and life-saving response. Her actions reflect the commitment and compassion that Valley Stream 24 strives to foster throughout the district, said officials.
–Juan Lasso
Kathleen Neske, a cafeteria aide at Brooklyn Avenue School in the Valley Stream District 24, was honored for saving the life of a student who was choking on food at lunch.
Courtesy Valley Stream District 24
Ghostly Gala enchants families with fun
The annual Ghostly Gala, a Halloween tradition at the Long Island Children’s Museum, enchanted families once again this year with an evening filled with fun, creativity and a dash of spooky spirit.
“We are always looking for ways to connect families through special events with their kids,” Ashley Niver, the LICM director of education, said. “So this is really wonderful, because we have so many families come and they’re all dressed up as a theme together.”
Attendees — both kids and their parents and guardians — were encouraged to show up in their best costumes, joining museum staff who were also dressed up for the occasion. Some standout costumes included a circus ringmaster and lion, an axolotl and Jack and Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
The gala offered a safe trick-or-treating experience, with staff positioned throughout the museum to distribute a variety of goodies. Treats were sorted into orange buckets for food items and teal buckets for non-food alternatives, ensuring all children can participate regardless of dietary restrictions.
The toys and other non-food items were available to all kids, but Niver said, “We just wanted to make sure that we had something available to kids specifically that would not have another option too.”
The evening featured numerous free activities for all guests, including the lively “Monster Mash Dance Party.” Families also met beloved book characters, like Elephant and Piggy, who greeted visitors throughout the night. Kids had the chance to decorate their own bat trick-ortreat bags, collect goodies and enjoy festive snacks, including a pumpkin patch cookie decorating station.
The second floor transformed into a “Mummies of the Museum” haunted house, complete with decorations and interactive mystery cauldrons filled with textured items for a sensory experience. Additional activities included creating fun and spooky crafts, like spider web necklaces, in designated crafting areas.
“It’s just a really nice evening where you know you can take your kids to somewhere that is safe and trusted,” Niver said, “and that you know everything being handed out is going to be monitored.”
Williams, Nicole Ramirez and Daniela Ramirez played in the museum’s bubble room, along with ‘Miraculous Ladybug’ Valerie Castano and Joshua Rodriguez, both 8, and his dinosaur.
–Kelsie Radziski
Eva Kagan, 6, wore a circus ringmaster costume to the Ghostly Gala, with Samuel, 2, as a lion in the ‘hula hoop’ ring of fire.
Michael
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ inspired some museum guests, with Jack, Sally, Zero, and Oogie Boogie being represented. Other costumes include Pikachu and Batman.
Elizabeth and Eric Jansen dressed up as the two halves of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which Grace the unicorn, 8, Leonardo the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, or Andrew, 6, and Marshall from ‘Paw Patrol,’ or Lucas, 3.
Mark Rogan, a cowboy, rode a motorcycle in the museum with Princess Paige Guarni, 5, and Ben the axolotl, 7.
Pence reflects on Jan. 6 at LIA luncheon
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
One week before Election Day, former Vice President Mike Pence spoke candidly to about 700 people at the Long Island Association’s annual fall luncheon at the Crest Hollow Country Club, in Woodbury. In an hour-long interview led by LIA President Matt Cohen, Pence, 65, spoke with conviction to a politically diverse crowd about the state of American politics, his break with Donald Trump, and the Republican Party’s future.
Pence didn’t mince words when expressing his views on the current political landscape, telling attendees he could not support the Democratic ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, but he also acknowledged his decision not to endorse the Republican ticket.
“I could never support the Democrat ticket,” Pence said. “But I’m also not endorsing our ticket. I have real concerns about the direction of the Republican Party today.”
Pence’s remarks reflected his unease with what he described as a growing populist influence in the GOP, a shift he feels strays from the party’s conservative principles. He voiced worries about those in the party who, he believes, are increasingly willing to “walk away from our allies and American leadership in the world” and ignore the national debt,
while “marginalizing the sanctity of life.”
One of the most poignant moments of the luncheon came as Pence recounted his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob attacked the U.S. Capitol, some chanting threats against him. Pence explained that he was guided by the oath he took on President Reagan’s Bible, which he considered both a commitment to the American people and a promise to God.
“The Bible says in Psalm 15, ‘He keeps his oath even when it hurts.’ I know something about that,” Pence said, adding that it is against the spirit of the presidency to dictate what votes were or were not counted.
As Pence described it, his differences with Trump surfaced only in the final days of their administration, when Trump, influenced by a group of lawyers outside the administration, became convinced that Pence had the authority to
overturn the election results. Despite their disagreements, Pence recalled that he and Trump “never had a cross word” throughout their four years together, and even reconciled shortly after Jan. 6, parting “very amicably.” He noted, however, that as time went on, Trump returned to much of the same rhetoric that had fueled the events of Jan. 6, solidifying their separation.
Pence’s said that the Republican Party needed to return to what he described as “mainstream conservatism.” He spoke of the importance of maintaining strong American leadership on the world stage, fiscal responsibility, limited government and traditional values. As he sees it, the GOP must decide whether to adhere to those principles or follow “the siren song of populism unmoored to conservative principle.”
Beyond his concerns about his party’s trajectory, Pence expressed a broader worry for the nation’s divided politics. “Our politics are more divided than any time in my life,” he said. “But I’m not convinced the American people are as divided as their politics.” He added that he hoped we would ultimately unite to face common challenges.
Pence closed on an optimistic note, acknowledging that while many Americans feel their values are being “trampled on and disrespected,” the U.S. can still uphold its role as “the leader of the free world.”
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Roksana Amid/Herald
Long Island Association President Matt Cohen spoke with former Vice President Mike Pence about a range of topics, including his break from Donald Trump, the future of the Republican Party and the importance of upholding constitutional values.
Nassau Legislature adopts 2025 budget
By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
The Nassau County Legislature has approved County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s proposed $4.2 billion budget for 2025. The plan, which keeps property tax rates flat and prioritizes investments in law enforcement and children’s early-intervention programs, sparked considerable debate and split votes on key legislative committees.
“I’m very pleased that the Republican Majority unanimously passed our no tax increase budget over the objections of Democrats who wanted a tax increase to give them more money to squander away on wasteful spending,” Blakeman said in a statement after the vote on Oct. 30. His office did not respond to requests for further comment.
The Legislature’s Finance Committee voted unanimously to advance the budget, while the Rules Committee was divided, with Republican members in favor and Democratic members, including Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, abstaining. DeRiggi-Whitton cited concerns over the budget’s reliance on reserves, the lack of movement on assessment reform, and financial uncertainties as reasons for the Democratic caucus’s stance.
Blakeman’s budget allocates significant funds for law enforcement and public safety, setting aside resources for two police cadet classes and two correction officer classes, totaling 206 new hires. The allocation is designed to address anticipated retirements and maintain adequate staffing in the Nassau County Police Department, which currently has 2,576 officers.
The spending plan also funds 38 additional full-time positions, primarily in health and human services as well as law enforcement, which will bringing the county’s workforce to 7,517.
Despite the additions, DeRiggi-Whitton said she was
Using such a large chunk of reserves in one year leaves us vulnerable to future budget challenges, especially if unexpected costs arise
DELIa DeRIggI-WHItto Minority leader, Nassau County Legislature
concerned about the budget’s anticipated 30 percent reduction in police overtime expenses. She argued that the assumption lacks justification, given historical trends and expected police demands, noting that similar overtime cuts in the past have led to strain on publicsafety services.
“There’s no real evidence to back up the notion that we’ll see a decrease in overtime needs,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “With the same head count, expecting a 30 percent reduction seems overly optimistic and potentially risky for the county.”
The budget includes a $22 million boost in funding for early intervention and preschool services, bringing the total allocation to $185 million. The funds support speech, occupational and physical therapy services for children with special needs. Earlier this year, the county increased its reimbursement rates for service providers, addressing what had been among the state’s lowest rates.
Blakeman’s proposal keeps property taxes flat, in keeping with his commitment to avoid new tax burdens. But DeRiggi-Whitton argued that the spending plan falls short of delivering on Blakeman’s original campaign promises of tax relief and a reformed property assess
ment system.
“For the third year in a row, we’re seeing a budget that doesn’t address his campaign’s core promises,” she said. “Homeowners are still waiting for the tax cuts and assessment reform that were central to his platform.”
Another sticking point for DeRiggi-Whitton and her Democratic colleagues is the budget’s heavy reliance on
STEPPING OUT
Join the party with
Magical moments on ice and his pals
By Karen Bloom
Ailey II
The latest dose of Disney magic arrives with a rockin’ start to the holiday season. Disney On Ice glides into UBS Arena with “Let’s Dance,” on Nov. 13, to the delight of families who enthusiastically embrace every Disney moment. This time around Mickey and the gang are groovin’ at the DJ table and everyone’s on the guest list.
Audiences feel the electric atmosphere from the get-go as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy remix favorite tunes into colorful stories. “Wish,” an homage to Disney’s 100th anniversary that debuted in the show last fall before the film’s release in theaters — is back in a big way. Now, the entire Kingdom of Rosas is in the spotlight. Wish, Asha, Valentino, Star, and King Magnifico come together for “This Wish,” “I’m a Star” and “This Is The Thanks I Get?!” Go on a journey to Arendelle and the Enchanted Forest in “Frozen 2” with Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf as they are reminded that “Some Things Never Change.”
Also escape to the Pride Lands with Simba and Nala. Audiences should “Be Prepared” as Scar and the hyenas plot to take over the throne. Timon and Pumbaa remind us it’s best just to say “Hakuna Matata” as everyone celebrates the “Circle of Life” as represented in “’The Lion King.”
Skilled maestro Sebastian strikes a chord “Under the Sea” when he conducts Ariel, her seven sisters and a colorful orchestra of sea creatures. Everyone will be singing along as Ariel serenades Prince Eric in “The Little Mermaid.”
And, of course, everyone will immediately “Know The Way” when Moana journeys from the island of Motunui to save her home from Te Ka.
These unforgettable characters and their adventures come alive as audiences are transported to world where imaginations soar — and in true Disney spirit “anything can happen if you just believe.”
So it goes with Mikaela Hyryläinen. The skater, who grew up and still makes her home in Finland, joined the Disney On Ice ensemble in 2019 after concluding her competitive skating career — and is living her dream. Proof that ‘Disney magic’ knows no boundaries.
A Disney fan since childhood, naturally, her first experience with the ice spectacle came about in 2006-07 when she attended a production as a young child with her Mom in Helsinki.
“I remember telling my mother that I enjoyed it so much that I would love to do something similar in the future. So that’s actually where everything started for me.”
Of course, Hyryläinen is quite partial to Elsa.
“Elsa’s my favorite since she comes from the Nordic countries like I do. She has these powers with snow and ice. It’s something that when I was growing up I really enjoyed, playing in the snow and all that. It’s cool that Disney has a character like her.”
As always the skating brings a new dimension to the stories we know so well. Solos, pairs, fast-paced ensemble numbers, along with acrobatic routines, keep everyone in awe of what they’re seeing.
awe of what they’re seeing. not
As Hyryläinen puts it: “We not only do the show on the ice, we also bring it into the air.”
She is especially enthusiastic about a segment in “The Little Mermaid” — Under the Sea — when the seven daughters of Triton ‘fly’ with aerial hoops.
Ailey II, which bills itself as “the next generation of dance,” continues its 50th anniversary of bringing “offthe-charts energy” to the stage. Ailey II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble and led by Sylvia Waters for 38 seasons, Ailey II has advanced Alvin Ailey’s vision for more than five decades. The program includes Ailey’s Streams, an abstract exploration of bodies in space, danced to a percussion score; Houston Thomas’ world premiere Down the Rabbit Hole, a continuation of the choreographer’s Follow the White Rabbit (2022; also Francesca Harper’s Luminous, a work that pays homage to the 50th anniversary of Ailey II and the artists who paved the way for future generations.
“They do splits and spins and all sorts of exciting tricks in the air,” she explains.
Expect to see acrobatic stunts throughout the show.
“We have swaypoles, freestyle skaters leaping off ramps, also other kinds of aerial acts that are so special. They help us tell the stories on an even deeper level.”
• Wednesday through Sunday. Nov. 13-17; times vary
• Tickets start at $30; available at DisneyOnIce.com
• UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont
While the entire production always gets an enthusiastic response, audiences are especially fond of the “Circle of Life.”
“We see Simba and Nala on the Pride Rock and there are all kinds of different animals. We have flamingos, giraffes, impalas, obviously Timon and Pumbaa and even Zazu. It’s a huge celebration of Simba and Nala and their new cub,” she notes.
In fact ‘celebration’ is an apt descriptive of the entire spectacle. The show encourages fans, as per the Mouse House, to “celebrate the magic of courage, love and adventure.”
And that pretty much sums it up for Hyryläinen.
“There’s nothing more heartwarming than seeing young kids whose eyes light up when they see you and see certain characters on the ice,” she says. “They’re singing so loud, they’re clapping, they’re dancing, they’re having the best time. I’m so happy bringing the Disney magic to all the kids who attend our shows.
“I’m living my best life, getting to bring the stories to life. Plus, this job has taken me to so many cool places in the world. I couldn’t be more grateful for the path I chose.”
A final takeaway from Hyryläinen: “As long as you believe in the magic, as long as you have goals, as long as you have dreams, there’s nothing to stop you.”
Photos courtesy Feld Entertainment
What starts out as a party transforms into an adventure with Mickey and his crew spinning tunes to get it all going.
Friday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
The Seven Wonders
The Seven Wonders “go [their] own way’ when the band brings their popular Fleetwood Mac show to the Madison Theatre. The concert features all your favorite Fleetwood Mac songs — “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” “You Make Lovin’ Fun,” “Rhiannon,” and more — delivered in a powerful performance by a band whose chemistry is as electric as the original. Certainly not your average tribute band, these musicians take it to the next level. While their collective performance experience spans decades, their presence and energy are vivacious, paying homage to the live show of the original Fleetwood Mac. Their onstage charisma invokes the styles of the original band in its prime. It’s a true testament to music’s timelessness.Their performances have been turning heads since their inception.
Friday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m. $50-$60. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 3234444.
THE Your Neighborhood
Madeleine Peyroux
The acclaimed jazz singer, songwriter and interpreter brings her tour to the Landmark stage, Sunday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m., following the spring release of “Let’s Walk,” her first album in six years, The new songs present sides of the artist only touched on in the past. The collection is her most diverse, intimate and bold work as she shares thoughtful and revealing views on personal and societal concerns. Peyroux offers hope through understanding and community by using one of our most unifying means, music. Peyroux is highly acclaimed for her dusky, lyrical style and affinity for reinterpreting classic jazz, blues, and folk standards. Her extraordinary journey is one of the music industry’s most compelling. Emerging in her teens Much like songbird Edith Piaf, Madeleine Peyroux spent her teenage years busking the busy streets of Paris. Just like the ‘little sparrow’, Madeleine befriended the city’s street musicians and made its Latin quarter her first performing stage. Years later, Peyroux would cite iconic Piaf as an influence on her music and record a rendition of the classic La Vie En Rose, soulfully capturing the tune’s romanticism and melancholy. Peyroux drew favorable comparisons to the legendary Billie Holiday, and eventually caught the attention of the record industry. Her debut album, 1996’s “Dreamland,” featured a bevy of noted jazz artists and drew accolades for her distinctive take on blues and jazz standards. Her follow-ups, 2004’s “Careless Love” and 2006’s “Half the Perfect World,” fared even better, charting on the Billboard 200 and achieving gold status. Overwhelmed by her initial success, Peyroux has continued to cut a low-key, if no less lauded, career path.
Though her intimate sound certainly owes a debt to Holiday, she has continued to evolve, carving out her own stylistic niche that balances a modern sensibility with a respect for older vocal traditions. Nine albums and twenty-plus years since her debut, “Dreamland,” Peyroux continues to challenge the genre lines of jazz, venturing into the fertile fields of other contemporary genres with unfading curiosity. Madeleine’s thirst for creative exploration is unfading and her willingness to face creative challenges remains as solid now as it was three decades ago. $70, $65, $58. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
In concert
Plaza Theatricals’ welcomes Andy Cooney with his “Irish Celebration,” Sunday, Nov. 17, 2:30 p.m. Cooney’s outstanding voice and dynamic stage have filled the rafters of Lincoln Center and The National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland. His talent and versatility provide the ability to deliver a variety of songs directly to the hearts of the audience.
Cooney is surely one of the greatest singing sensations on the Irish music scene today. Christened “Irish America’s Favorite Son” by The New York Times, it is a title he richly deserves. See the show at 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.
Eagle Court of Honors
Boy Scouts of America Valley Stream Troop 109 hosts an Eagle Court of Honors for Luke Lopez, Saturday, Nov. 9, starting at 3 p.m., at Grace United Methodist Church gymnasium. 21 South Franklin Ave. For more information, call (347) 920-8026 or email vanzlopez@aol.com.
District 30 Board meeting
Valley Stream District 30 Board of Education holds their regular board meeting, Monday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m. 99 Shaw Ave. For more information call (516) 4343600 or visit ValleyStream30. com.
Valley Stream village meeting
The Village of Valley Stream holds their regular board of trustees meeting, Monday, Nov. 25, 7 p.m., at Village Hall. 123 S. Central Ave. For more information, visit Vsvny.org or call (516) 872-4159.
American Legion Post 854 meets
Valley Stream American Legion Post 854 holds their regular monthly meeting, Thursday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m. 51 Roosevelt Ave. For more information, call (516) 791-9791 or visit AmericanLegion845.com.
VSCHSD Board meeting
Valley Stream Central High School District Board of Education holds their regular board meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 8 p.m., at Memorial Junior High School, 320 Fletcher Avenue. For more information call (516) 872-5628 or visit vschsd.org.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR GREENPOINT MORTGAGE FUNDING TRUST MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-AR1, -againstDONALD PAULO, 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 August 13, 2024, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR GREENPOINT MORTGAGE FUNDING TRUST MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-AR1 is the Plaintiff and DONALD PAULO, 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 November 21, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 18 ROTTKAMP ST, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580; and the following tax map identification: 37-503-95. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, 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.: 014943/2012. Ronald J. Ferraro, 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. 149542
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 15, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 19, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 41 Edgeworth Street, Valley Stream A/K/A 41 Edgeworth Street, South 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, Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 39, Block 414 and Lot 113. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,169,432.21 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #014294/2012. Howard Colton, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No.: 181775-1 149540
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
(OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Charles Casolaro, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-066204-F01 82675 149454
LEGAL NOTICE
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. 149622
LEGAL NOTICE
VALLEY STREAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT THIRTEEN NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK
News brief
Valley Stream District 30 salutes B.O.E.
Valley Stream District 30 celebrated Board of Education Appreciation Week during its monthly meeting at Shaw Avenue Elementary School on Oct. 28.
Under the direction of music teacher Stephanie Fischer, third graders performed a medley of songs in the school’s auditorium to thank the board for supporting its students and staff members. Superintendent Roxanne Garcia-France commended each board member for their efforts in the Valley Stream school community.
“Our board has always supported our vision, our core beliefs, and how we truly believe in 21st-century learning,”
Garcia-France said. “They’ve all helped to prepare our students to be ready and competitive in the workforce and any decisions that they choose.”
The board was also recognized for their ability to coordinate with district leaders and community members to ensure that goals, resources and the district’s decision-making process are transparent to everyone in the school community. The district would like to thank all of the board members for their dedication to the community.
–Juan Lasso
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, THE BANK OF NEW YORK
MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWABS, INC., ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-8, Plaintiff, vs. RICHARD R. GREENE
A/K/A RICHARD GREENE, ET AL., Defendant(s).
COUNTY OF NASSAU Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee, in trust for the registered holders of Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I Inc. Trust 2005NC2, Mortgage PassThrough Certificates, Series 2005-NC2, Plaintiff AGAINST Ivy May Johnson a/k/a IvyMay Johnson, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 10, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 18, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1033 Stafford Road, 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 Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 37., Block: 582, Lot: 30. Approximate amount of judgment $722,479.46 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #003354/2015. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU BANK OF AMERICA NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGMENT SERIES I TRUST, -againstPUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF NASSAU COUNTY AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ELSIE CARLSON, 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 May 29, 2024, wherein BANK OF AMERICA NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGMENT SERIES I TRUST is the Plaintiff and PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF NASSAU COUNTY AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ELSIE CARLSON, 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 November 26, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 17 SOUTH HOMMELL STREET, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580; and the following tax map identification: 37-521-42. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT ELMONT, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 011621/2013. Judith Powell, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane &
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the fiscal affairs of the Valley Stream Union Free School District Thirteen for the period beginning of July 1, 2023, and ending of June 30, 2024, have been examined by D’Arcangelo & Co., LLP and that the report of the external auditor has been filed in the office of the Assistant Superintendent for Business and Human Resources where it is available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons. Pursuant to section thirtyfive of the general municipal law and section twenty one sixteen-a (b)(1) of the Education Law, the governing board of the Valley Stream Union Free School District Thirteen shall prepare a written response to the examination performed by the independent auditor, D’Arcangelo & Co., LLP and file any such response in the office of the Assistant Superintendent for Business and Human Resources as a public record for inspection by all interested persons no later than January 15, 2025.
Jennifer Mercatante District Clerk 149837
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL POSTPONEMENT OF 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 November 13, 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
Public Notices
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 and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 612619/2023. Prior sale was scheduled for October 21, 2024. 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 Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff 149793
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016 SC6 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. RAJBIR SINGH, Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 30, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 37 South Montague Street a/k/a 37 Montague 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 Village of Valley Stream, County of
Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 366 and Lot 498. Approximate amount of judgment is $440,158.59 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #601852/2019. Mark Stephen Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No.: 192525-1 149845
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff AGAINST
Quan Li He a/k/a Quan L. He a/k/a Quan He; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 5, 2019 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 December 10, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 51 Dewitt 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 Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY, District: 2820 Section: 37 Block: 495 Lot: 223. Approximate amount of judgment $287,118.88 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 600388/2018. 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.”
John Kennedy, Esq., Referee
LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: October 3, 2024
For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 149853
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU.
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2021-GS3, Plaintiff -againstCASSANDRA ALLEN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 7, 2024 and entered on October 15, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on December 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows:
BEGINNING at a point on the Southerly side of Viola Street, distant 265.00 feet Easterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the said Southerly side of Viola Street with the Easterly side of Liberty Boulevard; being a plot 100.00 feet by 45.00 feet by 100.00 feet by 45.00 feet. Section: 37 Block: 388 Lot: 47 Said premises known as 30 VIOLA STREET, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580
Approximate amount of lien $624,755.13 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 618253/2022.
SCOTT H. SILLER, ESQ., Referee Kosterich & Skeete, LLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 707 Westchester Ave, Suite 302, White Plains, NY 10604 {* VAL STRM H*} 149779
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. PATRICK MOLONEY, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April 22, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 11, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 24 West Dover 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, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 164 and Lot 123. Approximate amount of judgment is $506,554.82 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #608747/2018. Cash will not be accepted. Heather Crosley, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215,
Attorneys for Plaintiff 149843
CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE
Full Time/Part Time
Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department.
Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.
STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $16 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com
DRIVERS WANTED
Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
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MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
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Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
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Replacing concrete with glass in a high-rise condo?
Q. We have a condo in Florida, and read your column even when we’re there, which is half the year. Our condo board is proposing “improvements,” aside from all the regulatory issues we’ve been hit with due to building collapses and storms. Our building faces the ocean and is 17 stories tall. It has spectacular views and large balconies. One proposed renovation is to remove the concrete walls between the balconies, which we were told are not structural, and replace them with glass walls to improve our views and modernize the building. Aside from the huge cost increase we will be forever paying, do you think that’s a good idea? The board hired engineers to look at it, and they say it can be done. We are concerned about glass not holding up to hurricanes, since all of the balcony doors and windows had to be replaced with specially made strong frames and glass. What should we tell our board?
A. Your address helped me look at the satellite view from my computer. I’m skeptical about whether this would be an improvement. Certainly it would add glitz and glamour to the building, probably making the value as sky-high as the cost and the height. I understand why you live on a high floor, considering the views.
But any building has to be examined as the sum of its many parts. Its appearance is only part of the equation. There are three basic components to what is defined as “architecture”: appearance, function and structure. To a trained professional, the composition will fail if the three components aren’t working together in a harmonious way.
In your building’s case, there are certain aspects that are taken for granted, but to an engineer or architect, the placement of those vertical fin walls not only accentuates the “verticality,” giving the building an illusion of greater height, but the fins act as a wind break to the balconies, which reduces the tendency for the wind to whip across the face of the building. This whipping wind is, at times, dangerous, and is referred to as the Bernoulli effect. This phenomenon sucks roof shingles off homes and gives lift to airplanes. It’s also the reason your toilet draws waste down the pipes when water flows from above the bowl downward.
In your case, the removal or replacement of those walls may actually negatively alter the function of the building’s integrity to withstand high winds in the name of glitzy appearance. I wouldn’t recommend the jack-hammering and saw-cutting of the fins unless I first spoke to the original designers to find out if it was their intention to have those spines on the outside of the building to strengthen against natural horizontal movement, and whether they intended them to break up the high winds in extreme hurricane events. Sometimes it’s better to leave a design alone when the conclusions are better but not well understood than to tinker and ruin the integrity.
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If only politics could emulate Notre Dame-Navy football
I’ve been a lifelong lover of sports, particularly baseball and college football. The rivalries. The tension. The thrill of victory. The agony of defeat. Watching warriors in the arena.
Having said that, I’m generally not one of those guys who equate the gridiron, the playing field, the rink, the tennis court or the boxing ring with the challenges of everyday life or those facing the nation. But there are exceptions. One in particular. I truly wish that the almost century-long football rivalry between the U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen and Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish could serve as a model for the world of politics and government.
Beginning in 1927, Navy and Notre Dame have played each other 98 times on the gridiron, missing only the 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic. While Notre Dame has pretty much dominated the series, winning 82 of the games, this rivalry transcends so much of what passes for college sports
and “student-athletes” today.
While every Notre Dame-Navy game is intense and hard-fought, there is no trash talk or demeaning the other team or its players. At the end of the game, no matter who wins or loses, the players on both teams stand respectfully together for the playing of their respective alma maters.
At the end of the game, no matter who wins, the players on both teams stand together.
A further differential between this and other rivalries is that these players are truly students, who must meet academic standards. Notre Dame always ranks at or near the top of colleges across the country in the percentage of athletes who graduate and receive degrees. Navy has similar standards, and its graduates are also obligated to serve five years of active military duty after graduation. Understandably, this has made it increasingly difficult to recruit top high school players who have dreams of going on to make millions of dollars in the National Football League rather than being shot at in combat. Certainly since the Vietnam War, Navy hasn’t been the football powerhouse it was during the 1940s and ’50s.
While Notre Dame has managed dur-
ing most of these years to compete at a high level, it has never considered dropping Navy from its schedule, thanks to a commitment it made after World War II, which Notre Dame survived only because of Navy. As a private Midwest school with no large benefactors at the time and so many students being drafted into the war effort, Notre Dame was faced with imminent financial collapse. The Naval Academy saved the day by setting up a major training base on the Notre Dame campus, providing the university with fiscal solvency and ensuring its survival as an academic institution — and a football colossus.
The Fighting Irish won the national championship in three of the four years following the end of the war.
Realizing and appreciating how obligated it was to Navy for its very survival, Notre Dame made a solemn commitment to keep Navy on its football schedule for as long as Navy wanted. So the rivalry and the series have continued all these years. But it goes beyond a financial obligation. There is a mutual respect between the schools that’s reflected at every level, including Notre
Dame’s emulation of Navy with its firstrate naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.
No matter how often I’ve seen it, I am always moved by the pregame ceremonies, with each school acknowledging the other’s traditions, and the postgame alma mater camaraderie among the players, no matter how hard the battle or how bitter the defeat.
Think how gratifying it would be if our national leaders could follow the lead of Notre Dame and Navy. Fight hard but respect the other side. Look for common ground in the national interest without fear of being labeled a Republican In Name Only or a traitor by your own party.
No, politics is not college football. But our political leaders could learn something by emulating the best of college football, exemplified by the Fighting Irish and the Midshipmen.
And yeah, Notre Dame did beat Navy in this year’s game, 51-14, on Oct. 26. But even in the win-at-all-costs world of college football, the score was almost secondary in this unique traditional rivalry. Go Irish! Go Navy!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
EIt’s
time for a new era of political civility
lection Day has come and gone. While the results are unofficial or pending, the passing of this period is the happiest thing that has happened to me in years. By any measure, the 2024 election season has been a brutal, emotional and unsettling time. Our nation has been bruised, battered and ripped apart by the tensions that elections can cause, and now, happily, the campaigns have come to an end. Depending on the results, we will soon either be talking about the winners’ plans for the future or steeling ourselves for days and weeks of bitter court battles. It may be that the lawyers will be fully engaged in what they do best, but it’s long past time for the country to begin thinking about how we can start the healing process that is so badly needed.
So much of the division that we have been experiencing is the product of a political system that has no referee to stop any foul play or ugly communica-
tion. I have witnessed many campaigns over the years, and I have been involved in my own. But more recent campaigns have sunk to levels of conflict that previously were impossible to imagine.
The root cause of the bitterness can be attributed to the candidates, but the real cause is money, money and money. Since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed unlimited expenditures in elections, billions of dollars have poured into shadow committees, none of which care about dignity, decency or fair play. These “dark” committees, whose backers are unknown and well hidden, are not reluctant to drag campaigns into the gutter.
Rlaw that would change how the political system is funded. But there are too many elected officials who like the current system and have no desire to clean it up. Many of them represent safe districts, and are happy to be able to beat up a challenger using phantom funding.
ecent campaigns have sunk to levels of conflict previously unimagined.
The average voter has no idea who or what is behind a political television commercial, except those that mention a candidate by name and voice that candidate’s approval. But there are countless commercials, mailings and social media postings that are misleading. They may mention some committee, but you will never know who is really behind the presentation.
You would think that members of Congress, who are often the object of smear campaigns, would want to pass a
The use of untraceable money isn’t just something that is connected to the campaign process. The same donors spend fortunes throughout the year, wining and dining legislators, favoring them with extravagant trips and coming up with countless other imaginative ways to curry favor with members of Congress. Some legislators get so much financial support from some industries or special-interest groups that it’s fair to say that they’ve been captured and are fully owned by them.
If the divisions in our country are linked to too much money in the system, how can America be healed? The answer is in the hands of the public. It may be unfair to suggest that the voters have any responsibility for the bitterness that we have experienced, but voters can’t be excused from helping to cure a government evil.
The thing that makes certain elected officials happy is the fact that average citizens are too busy to monitor the conduct of their legislators. Over the course of a typical year in office, members of Congress vote on dozens of bills, and the people back at home have no knowledge of how they vote. It’s the responsibility of the media to devote more space to reporting on how our representatives vote.
But to make our world a little more civil, voters must demand that Congress make a serious effort to clean up our corrupt campaign system. At least once or twice a year, call your congressman or congresswoman and ask what he or she is doing to change how we elect our officials. Don’t talk to a staff member. Insist on talking to the person who represents you.
It isn’t a hopeless task to seek changes in the election process. Nothing is written in stone, and you can make things happen. It’s time for an American political climate change.
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.
Now the real work begins
as the Herald reaches your mailbox, the election results may or may not be fully tallied.
Regardless of outcomes, one truth remains constant: Long Island is our shared home, and its future depends far more on what unites us than what divides us.
Although the voting machines are making their way from the gymnasiums of schools and recreation centers back into storage, democracy doesn’t pack up and leave town when the polls close. The real measure of our community’s strength is found in how we work together on the other 364 days of the year. And on that score, Long Island’s story is nothing short of remarkable.
Look around our communities. The volunteer firefighter rushing to an emergency call isn’t asking whether the home in danger voted red or blue. The teacher staying late to help struggling students isn’t checking their parents’ party registration. The civic association working to preserve local wetlands isn’t conducting political litmus tests at its meetings.
What binds our communities together runs deeper than partisan politics. We
letters
Peter King always fought for us
To the Editor:
I enjoy former Congressman Peter King’s commentary in the Herald, and I’ve appreciated his efforts to support Long Island through the years.
The various natural disasters that have recently occurred across the country bring back memories of Superstorm Sandy and Sept. 11, and the many federal and state officials who fought King’s efforts for relief. I think it would make an interesting column to see how many of those elected officials are now clamoring for similar relief in their jurisdictions.
ToM JAffA Rockville Centre
So who collects all those lawn signs?
To the Editor:
Election Day has come and gone. It reminds me of the 1960s television show “The o uter Limits.” With the end of around-the- clock commercials by politicians, political parties, political action groups and special-interest groups, we
all want our children to thrive in Long Island’s excellent schools. We share concerns about protecting our sole-source aquifer — the water beneath our feet that sustains every one of us. We worry about young families being priced out of our neighborhoods, and about our seniors being able to age in place in the communities they helped build. We take pride in our beautiful shorelines and want to preserve them for future generations.
These challenges don’t come with party labels attached. Potholes don’t care how you voted. High property taxes affect everyone’s wallet. Delays on the Long Island Rail Road don’t discriminate based on political affiliation. The solutions to these shared challenges won’t come from political grandstanding, but rather from the often unsung work of community engagement: attending town halls, participating in school board meetings, joining civic associations, supporting local businesses, and staying informed about local issues.
Whether it’s addressing water quality concerns, tackling the housing crisis, preparing for rising sea levels or ensuring that our downtowns remain vibrant,
the solutions will come from sustained community engagement, not just periodic trips to the polls. This means neighbors working with neighbors, towns collaborating with towns, and citizens engaging with their government at all levels.
As your community newspaper, the Herald has chronicled Long Island’s journey through countless election cycles. We’ve seen the political pendulum swing back and forth, but we’ve also witnessed something more fundamental: the enduring strength of our communities when residents commit to the daily work of democracy.
So whether you’re pleased or disappointed with Tuesday’s results, remember that the most important work happens between elections. Get involved. Stay informed. Attend local meetings. Join community organizations. Talk with neighbors who see things differently than you do. Model behavior you’d be proud for your children to emulate.
The ballot you cast on Tuesday mattered. But what you do today, tomorrow, and every day after could matter even more. Let’s all work together for a prosperous Long Island.
now return control of your TV to you — until the next election cycle. No more telephone robo calls, text messages or candidate campaign mailings clogging mailboxes and weighing down our hard-working postal employees.
finally, some peace and quiet! Candidates who claimed they cared about the environment should now do their part. Winners and losers should have their campaign staff and volunteers pick up all the
opinions
Join the necessary fight against spotted lanternflies
the Herald and other publications have detailed the negative impacts of the invasive spotted laternfly on Long Island, and while the population of these unwelcome insects continues to require intervention to prevent their unchecked spread across our region, there are steps that every Long Islander can take in their own backyard to protect against them. at the Long Island Conservancy, we are eager to share some tips that will make a positive impact — and in some cases, multiple positive outcomes by eradicating not only this invasive insect, but also invasive plants that serve as the lanternfly’s primary food source.
First off, much like the MTa’s famous slogan, if you see something, squish something! This fall, keep your eyes peeled for egg masses, and make sure to destroy them through the spring. removing the tree of heaven, an invasive non-native plant, is a top priority when it comes to proactive ways to erad-
icate the lanternfly. The tree of heaven is a fast-growing, invasive species across north america that you may not recognize by sight, but you certainly can by scent — it’s also known as the stinking sumac, stink tree, stink weed, and a variety of other names including “stink.”
The plant is spreading with the same vigor as the lanternfly, and removing it eliminates the insect’s favorite food. Mechanical removal is possible: Girdle it, rip it out and remove it; whatever you can do to set them back. Make sure to follow up to ensure it doesn’t regrow.
a species displaced halfway across the world.
s quash them, plant milkweed, and yank out all the tree of heaven you can find.
Many land managers and conservation professionals have warned against mechanical removal, encouraging the use of herbicides instead. In our experience, this isn’t necessary; while the removed/damaged trees will sucker up, if you pull the suckers biweekly for a growing season, the roots will give up the ghost and the problem can be eliminated.
The tree of heaven is a significant problem in our region, not just because of the smell, but because it chokes out beneficial native plants. In the case of the lanternfly, the plant is essentially the closest thing to “home cooking” for
Letters
thousands of campaign signs that litter our roads and highways. Perhaps they could use leftover campaign funds to hire homeless or unemployed people to collect this litter, along with people who have been sentenced to perform community service.
If candidates refuse to clean up after themselves, your local village, town or county department of highways or public works should do the job and send candidates the bill.
Larry Penner Great Neck
Let’s turn the seasonal page, not just on weather
To the editor:
We are entering a different season in a merica. It’s not a season everyone likes or voted for, but it’s changing. For some it’s better, for some it’s worse. For some it’s good news, and for some it’s bad.
your perspective colors your season. If you love autumn, then you have enjoyed the current season in much of a merica. you haven’t enjoyed it if you’ve been in the path of a hurricane, but you’ve enjoyed it if you live in most any other place in america. We’ve had a dry fall, but it’s been beautiful.
Political seasons are hard on the nation. We’ve been inundated by political advertisements for months. The presidential campaign went on forever. We are so ready to move on.
There’s always a new season around the corner. It’s best for all of us if we can make the best of each one. They pass by, so enjoy them, love them, roll with them.
Try to make the best of your current season in life. It’s not always easy. We don’t like the seasons when we’re sick, and seasons that are difficult, and even harsh and cruel, come to us all if we live long enough. So, enjoy the good ones.
Dr. GLenn MoLLeTTe
If getting rid of that awful smell isn’t enough incentive, early scientific research suggests that lanternflies that feed on the tree of heaven sequester toxins, called quassinoids, that make our native birds extremely less likely to eat them. So the lanternflies are essentially exempt from the food chain, another reason why so many have managed to thrive in our competitive environment. This is, by the way, why they have those bright red warning colors! and the tree of heaven isn’t the only invasive species of plant that supports the lanternfly population. Porcelainberry and other species that originated in asia are key sources of food. every pernicious invasive species removed means more available space for native, healthy species to grow and thrive on Long Island.
When it comes to native species, there are a few to consider planting, like milkweed. I’ve seen dead lanternflies on milkweed plants — it appears that the dopey insects feed on them and poison themselves. (If you need a bonus reason to plant milkweed, the influx of mon-
arch butterflies is lovely!)
While taking steps to remove invasive plants in your yard and replace them with native species is proactive, some people are well past that point — they’re dealing with infestations. In that case, you may be ready to set up a trap around a native host tree.
observe where the lanternflies congregate most on your land and set your trap up there. While they tend to like walnut and sumac the best, they’ve been seen on maples, birches, sycamore and other trees. Building a trap is easy — you can find a step-by-step guide at https://extension.psu.edu/how-to-builda-spotted-lanternfly-circle-trap.
For saplings that aren’t big enough for a proper trap, just knock the bugs into a soapy dish. Some will hop away, but they’re quite easy to catch this way, and if you do this once a day, over time you’ll see fewer of them returning.
While combating the spotted lanternfly has been compared to trying to keep water off the beach because there are so many, by eradicating invasive species like the tree of heaven, we are helping to protect our environment now and for years to come.
Frank Piccininni is the president of Spadefoot Design and Construction and a co-founder of the Long Island Conservancy.
Comments about our stories? Send a letter to the editor to execeditor@liherald.com.
Framework by Lisa LaMagna & Billy Reyes
In between changings of the guard at Buckingham Palace — London
Frank piccininni
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EPIC Long Island, Inc.
RANDELL M. BYNUM
Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of Nassau County
MATTHEW COHEN
President & Chief Executive Officer
Long Island Association, Inc.
ERIKA FLORESKA
President
Long Island Children's Museum
JEFFREY FRIEDMAN
Chief Executive Officer
CN Guidance and Counseling Services
DAN LLOYD
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Minority Millennials, Inc.
DIANE MANDERS
Interim Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity of LI
JOHN MCGUIGAN
Chief Executive Officer
AHRC Suffolk
JEFFREY L. REYNOLDS, Ph.D.
President & Chief Executive Officer
Family and Children's Association
LUIS VAZQUEZ
President & Chief Executive Officer
Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
REAL ESTATE:
JOSEPH A. FARKAS
Chief Executive Officer & Founder Metropolitan Realty Associates LLC
RETAIL:
ROBERT KAY
Chief Executive Officer
Lifetime Brands, Inc.
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT:
CHRIS R. VACCARO
President & Executive Officer
Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame
TECHNOLOGY:
AMY E. NEWMAN
Senior Vice President, Administration
Canon U.S.A, Inc.
TRANSPORTATION:
ROBERT FREE
Acting President
Long Island Rail Road
MARLON TAYLOR
President New York & Atlantic Railway
COREY J. MUIRHEAD
Executive Vice President
Guardian Bus Company
MICHAEL D. TORNABE
Chief Operating Officer
Guardian Bus Company *List still in formation
