Wantagh Herald 01-02-2025 by Richner Communications, Inc

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Students learn responsibilities of child care engage with them, according to Valerie Gompers, the high school’s family and consumer Fo r s t u d e n t s e a g e r t o sciences teacher who runs the explore child development, program. “It’s a whole class discusWantagh High School offers a hands-on program teaching sion where everyone’s like, ‘Oh, them how to work directly with I’ve tried this,’ or ‘I’ve done kids. this,’ and we kind of all talk The school’s about it together, nursery pro g ram and they all help provides students each other out with with a course that that,” Gompers allows them to care said. for around 40 kids Classes also ranging in age from function as a free 4 months to 5 years nursery, where parold. While caring ents throughout the for these children, Wantagh and Seathe high school stuford communities dents learn how to can enroll their preteach young kids schoolers in the skills that will prep l ayg r o u p s. T h e pare them for eleprogram has been mentary school. around “for years,” Students in the according to Gompclass meet with the who added that VAlERiE GompERSS ers, kids in playgroups some students who on Tuesdays and Teacher, Wantagh sign up for the class Thursdays, while High School once attended prethe remaining school in the proschool days are reserved for gram. lectures, where they lear n The nursery prog ram is about child development and made up of three courses: child review their experiences work- development, adolescent develing with the children. They opment and college child develthen discuss areas in which opment. In child development, they struggle and come up with students learn about concepideas about how to better Continued on page 8

By CHARlES SHAW

cshaw@liherald.com

Courtesy Levittown Public Schools

Holiday toy drive is a rousing success Levittown’s General Douglas MacArthur High School and Jonas E. Salk Middle School ran a successful toy drive last month. MacArthur Principal Joseph Sheehan, far right, and Salk Principal John Zampaglione, second from left, delivered the toys to staff at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in Manhattan.

Opposing the Regionalization Initiative Wantagh, Seaford districts voice concerns over education plan By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

A revision to the New York State Department of Education’s Regionalization Initiative now states that the planning process would be voluntary, not mandatory, but school districts across Long Island, including Wantagh and Seaford, are still concerned about the plan’s scope. The initiative, according to NYSED’s website, is “a collaborative regional planning approach for local districts to communicate what they need in order to address student needs and operational efficiencies.” It was introduced in September as an emergency rule to improve districts throughout New York, the website states,

with the purpose of “expanding opportunities and closing transcript gaps consistent with Board of Regents priorities.” Since the announcement of the initiative, districts and local officials across the state have pushed back, citing concerns over the plan’s lack of clarification and its potential effects on school districts’ autonomy. At a Nov. 21 news conference at the Nassau County Executive building in Mineola, several elected officials decried the impact the plan could have on schools across the state. State Sen. Steve Rhoads said that local and state elected officials should have a voice in how school tax dollars are spent, especially on Long Island, Continued on page 11

hey see the progression of what some kids are able to do compared to others and how they grow throughout those years.

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January 2, 2025 — WANTAGH HERALD

Lions honor veterans at wreath laying event supporting veterans through various initiatives, Obregon said, including collaborating with the Wantagh American The Wantagh Lions Club participated Legion on Veterans Day ceremonies. “We definitely do everything we can in the annual Wreaths Across America event at Pinelawn National Cemetery in for our veterans and anything we can do Farmingdale on Dec. 14, joining hun- for our community, and this is part of it,” Obregon said. dreds of volunteers to Lamendola has a personhonor fallen veterans dural connection to Pinelawn. ing the holiday season. Every year, he lays a wreath Wantagh Lions President at the grave of his uncle, Jose Obregon and First Vice Peter Lamendola, a World President Larry Lamendola War II sergeant who died in were among the particiGermany just weeks before pants, along with Lions the war in Europe ended. members Eileen Lamendo“I don’t know a lot about la, Anthony Cortese, and him, but I come to visit him Chris Quinn. The event every year,” Lamendola began with a ceremony and said. brought together communiObregon said his particity groups, schools, Junior pation was driven by a ROTC members, veterans desire to honor veterans organizations, motorcycle and their sacrifices. clubs, and other volunteers JOSE OBREgON President, Wantagh The Wantagh Lions hope to lay wreaths on graves. to make the wreath-laying “This is something we’re Lions Club event an annual tradition. not going to stop doing. We In addition to their involvewill continue to do this,” Obregon said, emphasizing the Lions ment at Pinelawn, the group actively supClub’s dedication to supporting veterans ports other causes during the holidays. They adopt two homes through St. Franand their families. The wreath-laying tradition was intro- ces de Chantal Parish Social Ministries, duced to the Lions by Chris Quinn, who in Wantagh, providing families in need has participated in the event for years with clothing, food, and toys through and encouraged his fellow members to club fundraisers. They also deliver desserts to the Coast Guard on Christmas join. The Lions have a strong history of

WANTAGH HERALD — January 2, 2025

By CHARLES SHAW

cshaw@liherald.com

e definitely do everything we can for our veterans and anything we can do for our community, and this is part of it.

Charles Shaw/Herald

Wantagh Lions member Anthony Cortese, left, with club President Jose Obregon, Eileen Lamendola and her husband, First Vice President Larry Lamendola, helped lay wreaths down at graves at Pinelawn cemetery on Dec. 14. Eve. “Anywhere where we can help, we help,” Obregon said. Wreaths Across America, a national nonprofit, organizes the annual event to remember and honor veterans by placing wreaths on their graves. Events like the one at Pinelawn take place across the country each December, ensuring that the sacrifices of America’s servicemen

and women are never forgotten. With their commitment to veterans and community service, the Wantagh Lions are already looking forward to continuing their involvement in this meaningful tradition next year. For more information on Wreaths Across America, visit its website at wreathsacrossamerica.org.

NUMC opens new, employee relaxation station By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Nassau University Medical Center has officially opened a new, modern staff lounge, designed to support health care workers’ mental health, resiliency and well-being. The new facility offers a space for the hospital’s workforce — that treats more than 270,000 patients annually — to decompress and recharge, while working in one of the re gion’s most demanding medical environments. Meg Ryan, the president and chief executive MEg RyAN of the Nassau President and chief Health Care Corexecutive poration, which Nassau University oversees the Medical Center operations of NUMC, said employee well-being and engagements has been a priority of hers. “This year, we had our first employee engagement officer,” Ryan said at a Dec. 18 ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate

e are not only investing in our employees’ well-being but also enhancing the quality of care we provide to our patients.

Jordan Vallone/Herald

Nassau University Medical Center leaders and staff cut the ribbon at a new relaxation station, designed to support health care workers’ mental health, resiliency and well-being. the new space. “We created that title, we implemented employee of the month, we created NUMC excellence awards. In line with all these 2024 initiatives, we created this new, beautiful recreational area for all of our employees to use 24-hours a day — it’s available all of the time.” The new area boasts a pool table, a ping pong table, a kitchen, televisions, massage chairs, and other seating areas

where employees and kick back and relax. “Our relaxation station is designed to offer a peaceful environment where everyone can just take a moment to take a break,” Ryan said. “We have games, we have TVs — we value all of our employees. We hope that all of these initiatives foster a healthier and a more balanced work environment for everyone.”

The hospital, in a news release shared with the Herald, said according to a recent study published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, nearly 40 percent of trauma professionals experience symptoms of burnout, depression or anxiety due to the intense emotional and physical demands of their work environment. NUMC boasts a 24-hour Level 1 Trauma Center, the largest on Long Island. Ryan thanked NUMC’s staff involved in facilities management who helped create the space, and joined her during the ribbon cutting last week. “We want to take care of our employees as they take care of Nassau County’s most vulnerable,” Ryan said. “We have focused a lot on employee engagement, appreciation and making sure that all of our employees feel heard because they haven’t been for so long. “The new relaxation station reflects N U M C ’s o n g o i n g c o m m i t m e n t t o employee engagement and a prioritization of our employee’s mental health and overall wellness,” she said. “By providing a space where our hardworking team can take a brief reprieve during a long and demanding shift, we can help reduce staff burnout — a major issue challenging healthcare providers across the country. We are not only investing in our employees’ well-being but also enhancing the quality of care we provide to our patients.”

January 2, 2025 — WANTAGH HERALD

News briefs

Courtesy office of Assemblyman Ed Ra

Charles Shaw/Herald

Members of the Mineola Middle School student council helped load up the donations onto the U-Haul. Toys were donated to the John Theissen Children’s Foundation and NYU Langone Hospital.

Party City’s Levittown store, located on Hempstead Turnpike, will close as part of the company’s nationwide shutdown, according to media reports. According to the party supply chain’s Instagram, all stores are holding a 50% off sale on all items ahead of their closures.

Toy drive fills 20-foot truck for Wantagh foundation

Party City to close Levittown location

were able to bring smiles to so many children.” Local schools and libraries played key roles in the drive, with districts such as Franklin Square and Garden City and libraries including Franklin Square and Hillside Public Library serving as collection points. — Charles Shaw

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Party City’s Levittown store, located on Hempstead Turnpike, will close as part of the company’s nationwide shutdown, according to media reports. Party City CEO Barry Litwin reportedly informed corporate employees during a Dec. 20 meeting that the closures would mark their last day of employment. The party supply chain, which has been in business for nearly 40 years, is

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Assemblyman Ed Ra recently announced the success of a toy drive that collected enough toys to fill a 20-foot U-Haul truck, benefiting the John Theissen Children’s Foundation in Wantagh and NYU Langone Hospital. “This toy drive is a shining example of the kindness and generosity that makes our community so special,” Ra said. “Thanks to everyone’s support, we

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Gearing up for another Hempstead Mulchfest jvallone@liherald.com

The holiday season may be winding down, but in the Town of Hemsptead, there’s still time to celebrate sustainably at the town’s 5th Annual Mulchfest. Residents are invited to bring their Christmas trees to Veterans Memorial Park at 1700 Prospect Ave., East Meadow on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where the trees will be shredded into mulch for personal use or donated as snacks for the Nigerian Dwarf goats at Norman J. Levy Park and DON CLAViN Preserve. Supervisor “Mulchfest is Town of Hempstead back for the fifth year in a row, and the goats at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve are bleating in excitement,” Town Supervisor Don Clavin said. “This holiday tradition sees scores of residents turning their Christmas trees into mulch, with each year get-

his holiday tradition sees scores of residents turning their Christmas trees into mulch, with each year getting better and better.

Jordan Vallone/Herald file

The Town of Hempstead will hold its annual Mulchfest on Jan. 11 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in East Meadow. Residents can turn their Christmas trees into mulch, which they can either take home or donate to the Nigerian Dwarf goats that inhabit the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in Merrick. Above, a goat at the park munches on a tree at a past event. ting better and better.” A “Mulchfest” is an event where people can bring their natural Christmas trees to be recycled into mulch, a nutrientrich material often used in gardening and landscaping. During a Mulchfest, trees are shredded into mulch using wood chippers, and participants are usually offered

free mulch to take home for personal use. The event promotes eco-friendly practices by preventing discarded trees from going to landfills and repurposing them in ways that benefit the environment, such as improving soil health, retaining moisture, and reducing weeds. Some Mulchfests also use excess mulch for com-

munity landscaping projects or even as snacks for animals, like the Town of Hempstead’s goats, that enjoy eating pine. It’s a sustainable way to “give back” during the holiday season while responsibly disposing of Christmas trees. The eco-friendly event gives families the opportunity to extend the season of giving by repurposing their trees into nutrient-rich mulch for gardening, moisture retention, and weed prevention. Residents can take home a free bag of mulch or choose to have the mulch donated to the town’s goats. Additionally, brokendown cardboard will be accepted and recycled during the event. For those unable to attend Mulchfest, Christmas trees can be dropped off at the homeowner disposal area next to Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve at 1600 Merrick Road, between Monday, Jan. 13, and Saturday, Jan. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. “The Town of Hempstead proudly stands for greener and environmentally friendly programs,” Clavin said. “Come on down to Veterans Park to repurpose your Christmas tree and receive a free bag of mulch in return. Don’t forget to stop by Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve and share some with the lovable goats.” The surplus mulch will also be used for landscaping and planting projects throughout Hempstead Town’s parks, ensuring that residents’ contributions support the community year-round.

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WANTAGH HERALD — January 2, 2025

By JORDAN VALLONE

BRINGING LOCAL SPORTS HOME EVERY WEEK

SPOTLIGHT ATHLETE

January 2, 2025 — WANTAGH HERALD

HERALD SPORTS

Wantagh reloads with young talent By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

ALLIE TWIBLE East Meadow Senior Basketball AFTER HELPING LEAD the Jets to a historic 2023-24 season that ended in the state semifinals, Twible got her senior campaign off to a roaring start by reaching the 1,000-career point milestone Dec. 10. She was named First Team All-Long Island as a junior and was a major part in East Meadow’s first-ever Nassau County and L.I. championship teams. Twible has averaged close to 20 points per game over the past two seasons.

GAMES TO WATCH Thursday, Jan. 2 Wrestling: Plainedge at MacArthur ............................ 5 p.m. Boys Basketball: Sewanhaka at Manhasset ............. 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 3 Boys Basketball: Friends Aca. at Long Beach..........12 p.m. Wrestling: Kennedy at Hewlett................................... 4 p.m. Boys Basketball: Farmingdale at West Hemp ............ 5 p.m. Wrestling: Lawrence at North Shore .......................... 6 p.m. Wrestling: Lynbrook at Clarke .................................... 6 p.m. Wrestling: East Meadow at Long Beach .................... 6 p.m. Girls Basketball: Freeport at Seaford ...................6:30 p.m. Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Oceanside ..................... 7 p.m. Boys Basketball: Oceanside at South Side ............... 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 4 Girls Basketball: Plainedge at Lynbrook ..................10 a.m. Girls Basketball: Calhoun at Division ......................11 a.m. Girls Basketball: Malverne at Mineola.....................11 a.m. Boys Basketball: Plainedge at Clarke ......................12 p.m. Girls Basketball: Jericho at Kennedy ......................... 1 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 6 Wrestling: North Shore at Wantagh ........................... 5 p.m. Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Carey ............................. 5 p.m.

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

The Wantagh wrestling program is looking for new blood to bring championship glory this winter after losing key talent from last year’s team that won a third straight county dual meet title and produced three individual county champions. The Warriors graduated 18 seniors from the historic 2023/24 squad including county champions Joe Clem, Anthony Clem and Jesse Vanorden. Joe Clem also won a state title at 131 pounds and is now competing on the collegiate level with his twin brother Anthony at West Virginia University. Fourteenth-year Wantagh coach Paul Gillespie will now be looking for new wrestlers to emerge who can deliver high podium finishes when the team competes on the county championship stage at Hofstra in February. Among those with the potential of continuing Wantagh’s championship tradition is senior Shareef McMillan, who qualified for the New York State Championships last year at 170 pounds after placing second in the counties. McMillan is coming off a standout football season for the Warriors at defensive tackle where he recorded 20 tackles in Wantagh’s 48-21 Conference IV finals win against Plainedge. Sophomore Andrew Perez, another big part of the Wantagh football team’s run to a Long Island title this past fall, will also be capable of winning a county title this winter after a strong freshman season on the mat. He recorded a big pin of Plainedge’s Jayden Camp in the 215 pounds finals of last year’s Nassau County Division I Dual Meet Championships as part of a 31-28 team title win over the Red Devils. “I think you are going to see great things out of him,” Gillespie said of Perez. “He had a great football season.” Gillespie said sophomore Jonathan Cuttrone also has the potential to earn a spot in the state championships. Cuttrone earned All-County status as a sophomore after defeating MacArthur’s

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Michelle Ebel/Herald

Jonathan Cuttrone, top, is coming off an All-County campaign as a freshman and is one of few returning starters for the Warriors. Andrew Lichter 2-1 in the fifth place finals of the county championships. Perez and Cuttrone are part of a large underclassmen precedence on the Wantagh roster this season with 39 freshman and sophomores. Providing veteran leadership for a youthful team are captains Matt Merecka, Kyle Frey, McMillan and Perez. “We’re young but I think by the end of the season we could get things revved up and see some good stuff,” Gillespie said. To prepare for the big tournaments, Gillespie pieced together a challenging regular season dual meet schedule that includes competing in the prestigious

Eastern States Classic in Clifton Park, N.Y. on Jan. 10 against the top teams in the state. The Nassau County Division I individual championships are slates for Feb 15-16 at Hofstra University’s Mack Sports Complex and Gillespie hopes to once again have a big Wantagh presence at the New York State Championships set for Feb. 28-March 1 at MVP Arena in Albany. “No matter how young they are, you have to have a tough schedule,” said Gillespie, who has produced six state champions at Wantagh since taking over the program in 2011 . “You have to make them tough.”

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Students care for kids in nursery program Continued from page 1

tion to birth, while adolescent development focuses on fifth grade to high school and into early adulthood. The college development course, available to seniors, encompasses all of the material, with a focus on the psychological aspect of growing up. According to Gompers, there are around 60 students participating in the nursery program. During playgroups, students deal one-to-one with preschoolers, tailoring the curriculum based on the abilities of the child they’re assigned. “[Children are] going over letters of the alphabet, or they’re going over numbers and counting things,” Gompers said. “We sing and celebrate birthdays with them. We’ll go over colors, and they learn how to play with others.” Students enrolled in the college development course, who’ve already taken adolescent and child development, are able to see kids grow from when they were babies, according to Gompers, and help develop their speech and learning as they mature. Being part of that development, she said, is a proud moment for the students. “They see the progression of what some kids are able to do compared to others and how they grow throughout those years,” Gompers said. Parizoba Kobiroba, a senior at the high school, said she loves to teach kids

Charles Shaw/Herald

Children in the nursery program at Wantagh High School got to meet Santa Claus on dec. 17. While functioning as an actual nursery, the program teaches the high school students how to be responsible for taking care of a child, according to teacher Valerie gompers. in the playgroup about colors, shapes, speaking, and the sounds certain animals make. High school students, she said, also teach kids important socialization skills, such as making friends and sharing. “Some kids here are very shy and feel like they don’t want to talk,” Kobiroba said, “but if they’re paired with someone that talks a lot and brings

them out, then it’s going to prepare them for elementary school.” Separation anxiety, Gompers said, is one of the phases that the high school students help preschoolers overcome when they first arrive at the nursery. The first weeks are tough for the younger kids, she said, because most of them are leaving their parents for the first time. To help the kids feel comfortable,

students write letters to the parents, introducing themselves while sharing their likes and dislikes. Gompers said the letters help the kids become familiar with who is caring for them, while students learn interpersonal and communication skills. According to Gabriella Benisvy, a senior, kids sometimes scream for their mom when they first arrive. She said she would try to engage the kids by talking to them about their favorite color, adding that she’s patient and gentle with kids, allowing them to open up. Being able to see the kids smile, she said, is a wonderful experience. “For me, I know the kids can trust me, and they know how gentle I can be,” Benisvy said. “I don’t rush into anything. It’s how they get comfortable.” For Gompers, the class teaches students that it’s not as easy as they think it is to care for a child. There’s a responsibility that comes with it, she noted, which includes identifying safety concerns and knowing how to calm a child when they are crying. “I want them to really see what it’s like to be responsible for another person,” Gompers said. “It kind of has them turn around and be less selfish about things, and they understand that they’re solely responsible for another human being and how much work that is and how hard it is.”

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Levittown council announces holiday winners Chrissy and George Joos’ first-place display at Bellows Lane lit up the neighborhood with holiday cheer, showcasing their passion for creating a festive atmosphere.

Photos courtesy Levittown community council

Bryan and Lorraine Vigliarolo’s third-place display at John Lane transformed their home into a winter wonderland, a family tradition for more than 35 years.

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EDITOR/REPORTER Lochan Singh’s childhood-inspired decorations at Chimney Lane earned second place with a dazzling display that spread joy to all who saw it.

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WANTAGH HERALD — January 2, 2025

The Levittown Community Council brought back its “Home for the Holiday” Contest this year after a pause in 2023. Residents submitted photos of their decorated homes in the Levittown and Island Trees area, and council members toured the entries to select the winners. First place went to Chrissy and George Joos on Bellows Lane, who brought Christmas cheer to their neighbors and the community. Chrissy, the mastermind behind the display, loves showcasing her creativity each year. George assists by searching high and low for unique pieces to add to their festive collection. Lochan Singh of Chimney Lane earned second place with decorations inspired by his childhood memories. Singh’s lights bring joy to his friends and family and aim to spread happiness throughout the community during the holiday season. Bryan and Lorraine Vigliarolo of John Lane took third place for their winter wonderland display, a family tradition spanning over 35 years. With festive garlands and shimmering ornaments, their home transforms into a magical holiday retreat each season. Residents were encouraged to visit the winning homes to enjoy the festive displays.

Tradition shines at Chabad Hanukkah experience

January 2, 2025 — WANTAGH HERALD

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Families from Merrick, Bellmore, and Wantagh gathered on Dec. 25 to celebrate Hanukkah in a lively and heartwarming event hosted by the Chabad Center for Jewish Life. The Hanukkah Experience, a cherished community tradition, brought together hundreds of attendees for an evening filled with joy, light, and togetherness. The festivities began at 5 p.m. at the Merrick Gazebo with the 19th Annual Grand Menorah Lighting. Students from the Alan & Tatyana Forman Jewish Early Learning Center Preschool and the Chabad Hebrew School captivated the audience with their special Hanukkah performances. County Executive Br uce Blakeman was part of this year’s menorah lighting ceremony, as was Alan For man and RABBi KRAmER Eliezer Putter, Director Chabad Center for Jewish Life both longtime Chabad supporters, who were donation matchers in the Chabad’s endof-year campaign which raised over $400,000. Forman and Putter were both honored and thanked during the menorah lighting. At 5:20 p.m., the Great Menorah Parade set off from the gazebo, winding through the streets of Merrick as participants made their way to the Chabad Center for Jewish Life. The parade featured decorated vehicles that delighted spectators along the route. Once at the Chabad Center, attendees enjoyed a warm and welcoming Kosher Hanukkah Chinese dinner at 5:30 p.m. The meal included traditional Hanukkah treats such as crispy latkes and sweet donuts. Activities for all ages followed, with guests choosing between three movie rooms tailored to adults, school-age children, and preschoolers, or participating in creative Hanukkah crafts. “Hanukkah is a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition,” Rabbi Shimon Kramer, director of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, said. “In ancient times, our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. This year, through the Hanukkah Experience, we hope to rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place. We are thrilled to share the light and joy of Hanukkah with the community through parades, performances, and meaningful gatherings.” Kramer also emphasized Hanukkah’s universal message, which transcends faith and culture: The triumph of good over evil, freedom over oppression, and light over darkness. As part of Chabad’s global Hanukkah outreach initiative, the Merrick celebration joined thousands of similar events organized

ow more than ever, coming together as a community is essential.

Photos courtesy Chabad Center for Jewish Life

Students from the Alan & Tatyana Forman Jewish Early Learning Center Preschool and the Chabad Hebrew School performed at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life’s Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 25.

Following a parade through the streets of Merrick, the Jewish community of Merrick, Bellmore and Wantagh celebrated Hanukkah with a Chinese food dinner at the Chabad Center, located on Hewlett Avenue.

County Executive Bruce Blakeman participated in this year’s menorah lighting. worldwide — from major cities like New York and Hong Kong to remote areas in Africa and South America. “Now more than ever, coming together as a community is essential,” Kramer said. “Our event is warm, friendly, and open to all, with no synagogue membership or affiliation required. We are proud to offer a space where everyone can feel included in the spirit of the holiday.” The parade and experience was a joyful occasion that celebrated tradition, unity, and the power of community, leaving attendees with memories to cherish and the promise of light in the year ahead.

Between food, music and additional festivities — such as thisd guessing game — there was plenty of fun and Hanukkah spirit to go around.

Deadline for ‘strengths and needs tool’ extended where school taxes are among the highest in the state. “The State Education D e p a r t m e n t ’s s e l f - c r e a t e d ‘emergency’ regionalization mandate is vague, confusing and can easily lead to a complete usurpation of local control of school budgets, tax dollars and educational opportunities and resources vested in local boards of education,” Rhoads said at the gathering. At a Dec. 12 Board of Education meeting at Wantagh High School, Superintendent John McNamara voiced concer ns about the district’s potential loss of resources as a result of the plan, and said that the district had sent several letters to the Education De par tment opposing it. Wantagh, he said, had joined other school districts in filing a legal challenge to the initiative. Last month, the Education Department revised the initiative to allow districts to opt out o f t h e p l a n n i n g p r o c e s s. According to the department’s website, “A school district may elect not to participate in the development of a regionalization plan.” If a district chooses

not to participate, its superintendent — after consulting with the school board — must submit a letter to the department’s Office of Education Policy in Albany by Jan. 15, and “every ten years thereafter.” In addition, the Dec. 6 deadline for the first step in the process, which required state districts to submit a “strengths and needs tool,” was extended to Jan. 15. As outlined by the department, the tool would require districts to provide data and analytics to the state to aid in the creation of mandated regionalization plans. “The state did make some adjustments,” McNamara said at the December meeting, “and they have moved that ahead with some of those adjustments, but not as many as we would like to have seen.” The Seaford Board of Education sent out a letter to the community on Nov. 27 detailing the plan. According to the letter, the plan would mandate that school districts participate in the merging of resources, programs and services — which districts already do on a voluntary basis, the letter added, with no involvement from the

Herald file photo

the Seaford School district has joined several other districts throughout the state in opposing the State education department’s regionalization initiative, which school administrators say would limit autonomy in their districts. state. In addition, the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, or BOCES, would have a supervisory role in the process, which, the letter stated, could infringe on the district’s autonomy. According to the Education D e p a r t m e n t w e b s i t e, t h e Regionalization Initiative is not about reorganization, nor does it mandate that districts partic-

ipate in particular activities under a regional plan, but will be a collaborative approach in which districts communicate what they need to address student’ needs. “The outcomes and action items from regional planning conversations will vary from region to region,” the website states, “building upon the strengths inherent in local

communities and reflecting innovative ideas from the individuals who live in them.” At the Seaford district’s Dec. 11 school board of meeting at Seaford Manor Elementary School, board president Lisa Herbert said that the district would not submit the strength and needs tool, and approved a resolution to opt out of the planning process. “We were waiting to see what the permanent rule was going to look like, and it looks like what we thought it was going to look like,” Herbert said at the meeting. “It is an opt-out of the planning process, not an opt-out of regionalization itself.” The district’s prior objections and commentary on why it finds the plan problematic, Herbert added, remain: Trustees believe it could pose a threat to the administration’s ability to govern the district in a way that would be best for the student body. At the Nov. 22 board meeting, trustees approved a resolution authorizing the district to initiate the legal challenge, known as an Article 78 proceeding, to the initiative.

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STEPPING OUT

up for monster truck mayhem Hot Wheels Monster Truck Live Show is back at Nassau Coliseum for another year of car-smashing, ramp jumping, wheel-revving action By Danielle Schwab Get ready, everyone. Gather up the kids and shake up those January doldrums when the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow party lights up Nassau Coliseum once again. Witness the raw power of epic machines when the iconic Hot Wheels toy vehicles transform into unstoppable monster trucks for the • Saturday and Sunday, Jan. “Glow-N-Fire” competition. 18-19; times vary • Tickets start at $63.85 “Kids” of all ages can watch their favorite Hot Wheels trucks adults, $35. 15 children come to life when the action returns to Long Island, Jan. 20-21. (also “Me + 3” family As the arena darkens for this glow-in-the-dark party, each discount option); available truck revs up with its unique LED lights. And, in true “It’s Not at ticketmaster.com and hotwheelsmonstertruckslive. The Same Without The Flame” fashion, pyrotechnic effects light com up the arena, adding even more intensity to the action. • Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale It’s an especially big day for one particular truck: The classic blue vintage-style pick-up Bigfoot turns 50. Everyone is invited to the birthday bash. Plus, have the chance to be celebrated alongside the iconic monster truck. Bigfoot would love to see everyone’s creativity — so fans are encouraged to bring homemade birthday cards to wish Bigfoot a happy birthday. And show off those homemade birthday signs at the show for a chance to win prizes during the bash. “Bigfoot is known as the original monster truck because this monster truck is what started monster trucks in general,” says Caleb Janezich, Bigfoot’s driver since July. Owner-operator Bob Chandler first began building Bigfoot in 1975, and a legend was born. The modified 1974 Ford F-250 started its career at local mud runs and truck and tractor pulls. It quickly launched a worldwide phenomenon and its legions of fans. Chandler continued to make improvements and modifications until it grew into the massive behemoth known and loved today by multiple generations of fans.

“There are people that come up to us and the dad knows who Bigfoot is, and then maybe the kids are exposed to Bigfoot for the first time. Even the grandpas come up and they remember Bigfoot,” says Janezich, on Bigfoot’s popularity. There’s surely no better way to commemorate the original monster truck than with incredible stunts performed by Bigfoot along with all his mechanical monster pals, including Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, HW 5-Alarm, Boneshaker, and Gunkster. Expect to see wheelies, donuts, and long jumps, along with a freestyle Motocross demonstration. And of course, be prepared for plenty of good ol’ car crushing! Also witness as the show unleashes its newest addition, Skelesauraus, a truck that takes the spine-chilling form of a giant skeleton head. This is Janezich’s first time appearing at Nassau Coliseum, however he is no stranger to the Hot Wheels monster truck circuit. An avid collector of Hot Wheels since childhood, Janezich worked as a Bigfoot crewmember before taking up the driver’s seat. “Bigfoot was always my favorite. I grew up around pickup trucks and four-wheel drives. My dad got me into it.” he says. “It’s pretty humbling, and it’s really a dream come true. Honestly, they say, ‘if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life’ and that’s pretty much what I live by now.” While the trucks may seem invincible, it take a dedicated team behind the scenes to keep them crushing to the max. “The stuff that can be challenging is the unknown. You never know what these trucks are going to do sometimes, and the biggest challenge sometimes can just be just keeping them going and just making sure that we’re ready for the next show all the time, which we try to do very well,” Janezich adds. Opportunities to go behind the action add to the spectacle. At the Pre-Show Party, held two-and-a-half hours prior to every performance, get up close and see the outrageous designs and epic size of the Hot Wheels behemoths on the arena floor. Meet favorite drivers and performers. Also check out the new VIP Backstage Experience. It’s a behind the scenes guided tour of what goes on before all the smashing and crashing. Everyone becomes a kid at the show, which is geared to five to 10-year-olds. “That’s the part that’s always cool because families are coming down and the parents get involved. When the parents are having fun, the kids are having fun, that’s what keeps them coming year after year,” Janezich says. Courtesy Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live

Photos: Bigfoot, driven by Caleb Janezich, headlines the latest edition of the spectacle. The iconic truck is joined by many Hot Wheels favorites to thrill fans with exciting car-crunching feats, flying more than 35 feet in the air. Plus, the fiery Skelesaurus roars into the arena ready to “chomp.”

Keep those winter doldrums at bay with Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band. It may seem like we’ve got too long to wait ‘til we’re back on the beach, but Kenny comes to the rescue. Join in their “Ultimate Beach Party Tribute” to Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band. Parrotheads, No Shoes Nation and the Zamily. The Long Island-based band — guided by Paul C. Cuthbert (aka Jimmy Kenny) on lead vocals/ acoustic guitar, with Linn DeMilta (aka Lovely Linn), lead and backing vocals, Luis Rios, lead guitar/backing vocals, Frank Stainkamp, keyboard/ backing vocals, Dan Prine, bass, and drummer Mike Vecchione — gets everyone into the groove as only they can. Friday, Jan. 3, 8 p.m. $35, $25, $20, $15. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.

‘…Your voice is heard’ Broadway comes to Tilles Center. “Dear Evan Hanson,” the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it, has struck a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere. If you’ve yet to see it, now’s your opportunity. Declared “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history” by the Washington Post, it’s the ﬁrst musical to take a groundbreaking look — from the point of view of both the parents and young people — at our complex, interconnected, and social media-ﬁlled lives. It features an uplifting score, including some of the most iconic musical theatere songs from the last decade: “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through A Window,” and “For Forever.” Thursday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m. Tickets start at $35. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

WANTAGH HERALD — January 2, 2025

‘Cold Beer on a Friday Night’

Your Neighborhood

Reading Wonderland

THE 10

Yacht Rock Revue

The kings of ‘70s tribute hit the road with an authentic throwback to the era, on the Paramount stage, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11, at 8 p.m. Yacht Rock Revue, hailed by Rolling Stone as the “world’s premier soft-rock party band,” invites listeners on a nostalgic voyage through the sun-soaked melodies of the ‘70s and ‘80s. The dynamic Atlanta-based 10-piece ensemble blends impeccable musicianship with a deep reverence for the yacht rock genre. Their original album “Escape Artist” is a bold homage to this iconic sound. Each side of the album encapsulates the band’s ability to transport audiences to a simpler, more carefree time. Lead singles like “Tropical Illusion” and “Passengers” set the tone, evoking sunsets and salty breezes with their lush instrumentation and ethereal vocals. Collaborations with yacht rock legends Elliot Lurie and Robbie Dupree underscore the band’s status as innovators within their genre. YRR continues to captivate audiences nationwide with their infectious energy and unabashedly joyous performances. Since their humble beginnings in 2007, YRR has emerged as a pivotal figure in revitalizing yacht rock, sharing stages with icons and garnering a devoted following of “Anchorheads.” Whether performing in intimate venues or rocking arenas, their concerts promise an immersive musical journey that celebrates the timeless allure of smooth grooves. $55, $40, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Seaford Public Library hosts its 10th annual “Walking into a Reading Wonderland” adult winter reading program Jan. 6-Feb. 22. Adults 18 and older can register online or at the library starting Jan. 6. Participants can submit weekly book reviews online or in-person for a chance to win gift certificates to local restaurants, with grand prizes including a Kindle Fire HD 10. Winners will be announced on Feb. 24. For details, visit seafordlibrary.org. 2234 Jackson Ave.

Seaford Board of Education meets Seaford Board of Education hold its next general meeting, Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Seaford Manor Elementary School, 7:30 p.m. Meeting date, time or location of a may change, so the board recommends to check the home page of the district website at seaford.k12.ny.us for the most up-to-date information. 1590 Washington Ave.

Bingo at Temple B’nai Torah Temple B’nai Torah hosts a fun-filled bingo session, every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and every Thursday, 7:15 -10 p.m. Prizes, progressive games and refreshments available. 2900 Jerusalem Ave., in Wantagh. For more information, call (516) 2212370.

Splish Splash…Animal Baths Hang out with some Long Island Children’s Museum’s “residents,” Sunday, Jan. 5, 1:30-2 p.m., at the drop-in program. Join an animal educator in the Yellow Studio’s Feasts for Beasts Gallery to learn what goes into the care of LICM’s animal “residents.” Observe animal bath time. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.

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

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Gardening through the seasons Instructor Lee Miller leads a discussion on gardening through the seasons at Wantagh Public Library, Monday, Jan. 6, 1 p.m. Registration for cardholders is going now while registration for out of district cardholders starts on Dec. 23. For more information, visit wantaghlibrary.org. 3285 Park Ave.

Jan.

Game time Enjoy Mah Jongg and Canasta every Thursday from noon - 4 p.m. at Congregation Beth Tikvah. $5 contribution, no outside food, as snacks and drinks will be supplied. Bring your games and cards, lessons available. 3710 Woodbine Ave., Wantagh. For more info, email mahjonggCBT@yahoo. com or call (516) 785-2445.

The South Shore Audubon Society welcomes all to join its members for another in its series of bird walks, at Hempstead Lake State Park, Sunday, Jan. 5, starting at 9 a.m. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The group will meet The group will meet in parking lot #3, off Exit 18 of the Southern State Parkway. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. No walk if rain or snow. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit ssaudubon. org.

Adam Ferrara performs at Governor’s Comedian and podcaster Adam Ferrara takes to the stage at Governor’s Comedy Club, Friday, Jan. 17, 8 p.m.; also Saturday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m. General admission for both shows is $25. For more information, visit govs..com.

Having an event?

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

On exhibit Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition “Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition spans various world cultures through a range of media. It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority. Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. On view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

In concert Sands Point Preserve’s reserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for the 2025 unique chamber music series, “Four Seasons in Music,” Sunday, Jan. 12, 3 p.m. The duoJalal ensemble-in-residence led by Kathryn Lockwood on viola, with percussionist Yousif Sheronick, violinists Deborah Buck and Emma Frucht and cellist Caroline Stinson presents a German flavored. Celebrating Germany’s rich history of extraordinary composers, including Bach, Mozart, Schubert and Brahms, to the less traditional, this concert will warm you up on a winter afternoon. A reception follows. $56, $45 members. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For tickets and information, visit sandspointpreserveconservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

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Get ready to enjoy all the thrills of the snowy season, while staying warm and cozy as Long Island Children’s Museum’s popular “Snowflake Sock Skating rink returns, through Jan. 7. Slip on “sock skates” and take a spin on the indoor rink, made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface that lets kids slide around without blades. Kids can stretch, twirl and glide. As visitors step off the “ice” they can jump into winter dramatic play in Snowflake Village. Become a baker in the holiday sweet shop, step inside a giant snowman and serve up some hot cocoa, take a turn in the rink “ticket booth” and “warm up” around a rink side “fire pit.” Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM. org.

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LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 01/08/2025 at 9:30 A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals: --------------------------------THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 4/25. WANTAGH - TD Bank US Real Estate, Renewal of grant to maintain double-faced, illuminated pylon sign on Sunrise Hwy. property line & setback 18’ on Wantagh Ave., S/W cor. Sunrise Hwy. & Wantagh Ave., a/k/a 3222 Sunrise Hwy. THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 31/25. WANTAGH - Laura Chu & Todd Summers, Variances, lot area occupied, front yard average setback, side yard, side yards aggregate, maintain terrace conversion to living space (foyer) attached to dwelling which is lower than 2’ above base flood elevation., E/s Riverside Dr., 40’ N/o Lynbrook St., a/k/a 2419 Riverside Dr. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Wantagh within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on

the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 150778

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. Search by publication name at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, -againstJOHN DELISA A/K/A JOHN F. DELISA A/K/A JOHN F. DE LISA, 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 January 9, 2024, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT is the Plaintiff and JOHN DELISA A/K/A JOHN F. DELISA A/K/A JOHN F. DE LISA, 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 February 3, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 3014 VALENTINE PLACE, WANTAGH, NY 11793; and the following tax map identification: 56-263-427. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT WANTAGH, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 608335/2018. Jane P. Shrenkel, 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

Nassau Community College otices faculty protest course cuts

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. 150754

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. LBLIBERTY LLC, SB MUNI CUST FOR, Pltf. vs., ELIZABETH DEL PRADO, et al Deft. Index #001360/2015. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered January 9, 2017, I will sell at public auction on the north side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on January 15, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. prem. k/a 60 Twisting Lane, Wantagh, NY a/k/a Section 51, Block 408, Lot 2. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the sale. PAMELA SHARPE, Referee., LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Drive, Great Neck, NY. #101978 150427 LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: KJ SOCIAL, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 11/21/2024. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 3497 Stratford Road, Wantagh, NY 11793. Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 150444 LEGAL NOTICE REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR SG MORTGAGE SECURITIES BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-FRE2, Plaintiff - against SUZANNE M. BRADY, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on March 15, 2019. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on the 23rd day of January, 2025 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Wantagh, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York. Premises known as 3677 Smith Street, Wantagh, NY 11793. (SBL#: 57-89-105) Approximate amount of lien $614,197.89 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 010340/2015. John G. Kennedy, Esq., Referee. McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409 For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 Dated: November 20, 2024 During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 150606

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AN AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232 To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232

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READ THEM

By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

Students and faculty at Nassau Community College are voicing their frustration over the lack of course offerings and departmental cuts. Faculty packed the college’s multipurpose room to hear colleagues and students voice their concerns at the annual winter luncheon on Dec. 17. The event was hosted by the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers, a local union affiliated with New York State United Teachers. Frustrations over course cuts and departmental reductions were highlighted. According to NCCFT president Faren Siminoff, the campus is not meeting its mission, which is to offer a “robust offering of courses” scheduled throughout the day for students. Administrators have doubled since last year, she said, but the college has eliminated 21 departments, cut funding to student services and clubs, all while limiting its schedule of classes. Jerry Kornbluth, the vice president for Community and Government Relations at Nassau Community College, said in a statement that the college aims to preserve and expand course offerings while retaining tenured professors despite a nationwide decline in college enrollment. He noted that the college has reduced its budget deficit from $14.8 million to $4.8 million, while boosting enrollment by 8% over the past year. Department mergers, he said, were carefully planned in alignment with union agreements to improve efficiency. In addition, Kornbluth stated that the theater and dance department will not be eliminated, and will continue to offer majors and seasonal productions, ensuring its ongoing presence on campus. “Our priority remains preserving and enhancing the affordable, high-quality education that Nassau Community College is known for,” Kornbluth said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to be a place where students thrive, whether they are entering the workforce or transferring to a four-year institution.” Siminoff claims that students have found it difficult to find courses that fit their busy schedule, especially for those who work. The college, she said, would reportedly cancel a course offering early, sometimes a week or two after registration opens, even though students register weeks later. “If there’s nothing there for them, they’re not going to register,” Siminoff said. “This is totally counter to the rhythm and needs of the community that uses this college.” Joining students and staff were County Legislators Thomas McKevitt and Siela Bynoe, who spoke of the importance that community colleges provide for middleclass students. Bynoe was elected to state senate in November. McKevitt said he wished people could see the college’s potential as a place where students, who might not be able to afford

Charles Shaw/Herald

Richard Ginsburg, chair of the theater and dance department at Nassau Community College, spoke at the Dec. 17 luncheon about cuts to his department. tuition for private institutions, can succeed and be tomorrow’s leaders. “The reality is that the private institutions have priced the middle class out of higher education,” McKevitt said, “which is why Nassau Community College is more important than it has ever been before.” Richard Ginsburg, chairman of the theater and dance department at NCC, claimed administration planned to “deactivate” the program. Ginsburg had instructed and guided students for over 40 years throughout the department’s 61-year history, adding that the arts are essential to education, and the state owes it to itself to sustain and encourage such programs. “We had survived and grew through a deadly pandemic,” Ginsburg said, “but we will not survive through this administration, as next fall, the theater department will go from historically nine, full-time teaching faculty to zero.” Simran Gil, an international student and president of the Filipino Cultural Society, said at the beginning of this semester, her club allegedly received “zero dollars in funding” despite submitting all their paperwork on time. Gil said her club addressed this issue to the Faculty Student Association and Student Government Association and eventually received $250, which Gil said was “far too little” to support the club’s activities, which was half of what they received in 2021, she added. “We need a clear answer regarding the discrepancies in our budget and accountability for how funds are allocated,” Gil said. Bynoe is a graduate at Nassau Community College, who worked full-time while attending courses in the evening. She described her experience as a foundation that led her to a master’s in public administration at Long Island University and wants the college to be sustainable for current students and generations to come. “We want to make sure that their children and their children’s children have an opportunity to have an affordable, quality education,” Bynoe said, “One that can allow them to springboard to other universities and go into vocations of their choice.”

17 E1

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Our brick walls aren’t what we expected Q. After much research, we chose brick for our new house. It has been a nightmare getting satisfaction from the mason who did the work. We noticed after only a few months that there were white powder-like streaks across the brick walls in many places. We spoke with the brick manufacturer, who said it sounded like an installation problem or streaking from other materials around it. The mason came back and looked at it. He used acid and brushed one spot and it lightened up but didn’t go away. He seemed annoyed with us, and said he could “send someone” to brush and put more cleaner on, but the whiteness would remain and it would have to “weather” after that. We had a sample wall built to make sure the color was right, and really went to a lot of effort for our choices. We are upset that the mason acted like it was our fault for complaining. We selected brick for high durability, weather resistance and low to no maintenance, and now we have this problem. What could have caused it, and is there any other remedy?

A. Brick was a great choice for all the reasons you described, and will outlast generations of occupants if installed correctly. The whiteness may be caused in a few ways. You have to first know what caused it.

Ask The Architect

Trim materials, above and around brick, will streak from the wrong paint on roof-edge or toponte eeper of-wall trim. If the paint used was interior latex water-soluble paint, it will separate and run. Prefinished metal, factory finished, will also start to chalk and run. If a highly pigmented paint with low-resin binder was used, then the same results occur. The brick will be somewhat cleanable, but will have to be exposed to many cycles of rain, heat, freezing, etc., also known as weathering.

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Because the mason did not mention the runoff of paint from trim, I suspect that your problem is the worst-case scenario, and all the cleaning with muriatic acid and a steel brush will not solve the staining entirely. Wire brushing or high powerwashing actually harms brick, because that amazingly strong fired-finish on the brick, the reason brick is such a good resister of the elements, is now going to be broken down to a grainy finish that can harbor mildew.

press 5

Sadly, the issue was completely preventable, either by using trim that did not lose color or by the brick installation. Yes, the brick installation. It starts with not having the correct width of the foundation to carry the brick, so it is installed too close to or right against the exterior plywood. That airspace is supposed to be 2 inches, clear, behind the brick, so rain that gets sucked into the mortar joints can drop behind the brick and “weep” from weep holes at the bottom of the wall. If you do not have weeps, then the wall was installed incorrectly and the problem will continue. Good luck!

© 2025 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

19 E3

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Answers to todAy’s puzzle

opinions

fter Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed the Planned Offshore Wind Transmission Act in the fall of 2023 due to local opposition to a wind farm’s high-voltage cables, the state had a trick up its sleeve. The bill would have required the State Energy Research and Development Authority to establish transmission planning for the offshore grid, coupled with a requirement to conduct a costbenefit analysis that included the impact on ratepayers. In essence, the bill would for the first ChristinA have, time, given New Yorkers insight KrAmer into the true cost of implementing offshore wind projects and their transmission lines. The question is, why did Hochul veto the bill? In addition to local opposition, I believe the answer is that if the public knew the true cost of these plans, people would begin to question the wisdom of investing millions of dollars in reworking a power grid that wasn’t broken in the first place. They would ask hard questions about where money was being spent, and who was benefiting — questions the governor obviously doesn’t

want raised. In its infinite surreptitious reach, the state concealed in its latest budget the Renewable Action through Project Interconnection Deployment, or RAPID, Act, granting it the authority to overrule local and public input. The state Office of Renewable Energy Siting would have final say on project siting, even over community objections. Groups of so-called environmentalists, influenced by Hochul’s green agenda, have received millions of dollars to push the narrative that we need to move off fossil fuels now because the Earth is on fire. Before we go scorched-Earth, Let’s look at facts. The state took away local municipality and public involvement in the siting of renewable-energy projects and paused congestion pricing. Further, a report by the state’s Fire Safety Working Group falsely concluded that fires last year at three battery energy storage system facilities in New York state — which store the energy that wind turbines create — had no environmental impact, neglecting to include test results of hydrogen fluoride levels in the air, soil or water at those sites. What is even more disturbing is that the working group has written an inadequate code that allows for placement of BESS facili-

ties in residential and commercial areas. Long Island water comes from aquifers that, if polluted, would jeopardize the health of millions. Hydrogen fluoride gas produced in these fires turns acidic when mixed with water, becoming acid rain. This acid, in large enough concentrations, can dissolve concrete. Would you or your children want to drink water this contaminated? Apparently, Hochul doesn’t care about such consequences in her drive to rapidly implement green-energy projects. This act-now-and-monitor-later mentality, regardless of the consequences, does nothing to put minds at ease. To date, no robust engineering analysis suggests that Hochul’s RAPID Act plan will work. There has been no rigorous analysis. Instead, evidence seems to indicate that the state’s planned installations of solar arrays, wind turbines, battery facilities and transmission cables will not reliably power the grid, and will not prove safe or affordable. Worth noting, in this critical context, is the Vineyard Wind offshore debacle off the coast of Nantucket last July, when a single turbine blade selfdestructed, dropping 60 tons of plastic into the ocean and wreaking havoc, closing beaches and impacting marine life,

t’s a mistake to plan for wide-scale solar and wind power in New York at this point.

fishing, local businesses and communities. How future offshore wind catastrophes will affect shore towns, wildlife and commercial fishing isn’t known. But New Yorkers should realize that it’s a mistake, at this point, to plan the construction, let alone the funding, for dozens of gigawatts of solar and wind power — along with batteries 100 times the size of the world’s largest existing battery — and new transmission lines to tie all this to the existing grid. Instead, we might better ask, first, who thought this was possible? and second, from empirical examples of places with significant intermittent energy — California and Germany — why did anyone think this would enable New York to cut fossil-fuel use and reliably and affordably power the grid? Given the egregious overreach of Hochul’s RAPID Act, there should be an immediate halt to all of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting work as well as a prohibition on placing any renewableenergy facilities within residential communities and near schools. Taxpayers don’t want to be the subjects of a largescale energy experiment, or a classaction lawsuit, as a result of the “next big idea.” Christina Kramer, a professional photographer and an adjunct professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, is the founder and president of Protect Our Coast – Long Island, New York.

Hochul must sign horseshoe crab act into law

ov. Kathy Hochul has been presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save one of our planet’s greatest unsung heroes, the horseshoe crab. Early in 2024, the State Senate and Assembly passed a bill that would prohibit taking horseshoe crabs from New York waters for bait or for biomedical use. Hochul has until the end of the month to sign the bill into law, and time is running out for us to persuade her to do so. Horseshoe Christine crabs have existed sUter relatively unchanged for roughly 450 million years — 200 million years longer than dinosaurs — and they have survived five mass extinctions. They are a keystone species, which means that if their populations were to dwindle to numbers that are unsustainable, the repercussions for other species would be devastating. Every year, numerous species of migratory shorebirds rely on horseshoe crab eggs for food on their long journey to

their breeding grounds in the Arctic. For half a century, humans have depended on horseshoe crabs for our survival, because they have played a major role in modern medicine. Their unique copper-based blue blood contains a clotting agent that immediately forms a clot when it comes into contact with bacteria. Because of this, horseshoe crab blood has been used for decades by the biomedical industry to test for infection-causing bacteria in injectable drugs, intravenous solutions, vaccines and medical implants. Their blood was also used to develop the Covid-19 vaccines that have saved millions of lives. Luckily, a synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood has been developed and approved for biomedical use, but the changeover in the industry has been slow. Although there are misconceptions that they are poisonous or that they use their tails as weapons, horseshoe crabs are completely harmless. The tail serves a very important purpose: to flip a crab over if it gets turned upside down. That’s why you should never pick one up by its tail. They are completely pas-

sive animals, grazing across the seafloor like ancient vacuum cleaners, looking for the small aquatic insects, mollusks and detritus on which they feed. There are four species of horseshoe crabs, and the Atlantic coast is the only place in the Western Hemisphere that is home to one of those species, the Atlantic horseshoe crab, or Limulus polyphemus. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s benchmark stock assessment of horseshoe crabs in 2019, and the recently updated stock assessment in 2024, both show the crabs’ stock status in New York as poor. Of all the states on the Atlantic coast, New York is the only one where that is the case, and there is no evidence that the population is rebounding. Horseshoe crabs cannot legally be harvested for biomedical use in New York state. Their dwindling population here is due mostly to their harvesting for use as bait in the eel and conch fisheries as well as the loss of their spawning grounds due to sea level rise and shoreline hardening. New Jersey and Connecticut have both banned the harvest of

his keystone species helped scientists develop the Covid vaccines.

the crabs, which puts even more pressure on the New York stock and puts them at a higher risk of poaching by outof-state fishermen. Bait alternatives exist, but fishermen won’t be compelled to use them unless a ban is enacted. Entrusting the state Department of Environmental Conservation to regulate the harvesting of horseshoe crabs is a mistake. Regulation depends on enforcement, and with only 30 to 40 environmental conservation officers patrolling the entire Long Island coastline, there is ample opportunity for overharvesting and poaching to take place. Friends of the Bay is asking you to urge Governor Hochul to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law Friends of the Bay is an environmental conservation and advocacy organization headquartered in Oyster Bay. Our mission is to preserve, protect and restore the ecological integrity and productivity of the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Estuary and the surrounding watershed. Please visit friendsofthebay.org/ horseshoe-crab-protection-act to learn how you can help, and to get a copy of a sample letter that you can sign and mail, or email, to the governor. Christine Suter is executive director of Friends of the Bay.

WANTAGH HERALD — January 2, 2025

Governor Hochul’s totalitarian energy agenda

HERALD

Herald editorial

Charles shaw Senior Reporter

Stepping into a new year with hope and resolve

January 2, 2025 — WANTAGH HERALD

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new year always arrives freighted with emotion. It carries the accumulated hopes, frustrations and lessons of the previous 12 months, paired with the tantalizing possibility of transformation. This year, as we look ahead, we find ourselves grappling with familiar challenges while daring to believe in the promise of better days. One challenge we must confront is the growing fragmentation of our shared experiences. Increasingly, the global and local spheres seem to exist in parallel universes. A catastrophe halfway across the world — whether a climate disaster, political upheaval or humanitarian crisis — has the power to shape economies and policies closer to home, yet often feels distant, reduced to a fleeting headline. Meanwhile, our more local and personal concerns — the cost of living, caring for family and doing well at work — demand urgent attention but risk being overshadowed by the constant churn of global issues. Bridging this gap requires a recalibration of priorities. The new year demands both outward-looking empathy and a renewed focus on strengthening the foundations of our own communities. Economically, the year ahead will likely test the resilience of all levels of

our government. Trust in institutions has eroded, but there are also glimmers of progress worth celebrating: advancements in green technology, a renewed emphasis on workers’ rights, and shifting societal attitudes toward mental health and well-being. These trends suggest that positive change, while slow, is possible. We need to be optimistic, but that demands resolve. The climate crisis, for instance, is no longer a future threat but an immediate reality, underscored by the fires, floods and record-breaking temperatures of recent years. The urgency to act cannot be overstated, and yet real solutions remain politically fraught and logistically complex. We face the challenge of balancing personal responsibility with the recognition that systemic change requires collective action. At the same time, the new year also offers a chance to reimagine what progress means. Growth, long equated with economic expansion, is being reconsidered in light of its environmental and social costs. These ideas challenge deeply entrenched narratives about success and prosperity, but they also open up the possibility of more inclusive, equitable futures. Many of us also enter 2025 grappling with uncertainty. The relentless pace of

technological change, the aftershocks of a pandemic and the simple unpredictability of life can feel overwhelming. Yet amid this turbulence, we find moments of connection and meaning. A neighbor’s kindness, a shared laugh, the rediscovery of an old passion — these small, often overlooked moments remind us why we persevere. How do we handle the bad while making room for the good? We need to balance action with rest and contemplation, and ambition with gratitude. This requires recognizing that while we cannot solve every problem, we can contribute to their solutions. As we step into the new year, we should resolve to move beyond empty platitudes. Instead of vague aspirations for “better days,” let’s strive for tangible progress: a stronger sense of community, a commitment to justice, and a willingness to adapt to changing realities. We should allow ourselves moments of joy, not just as a distraction from life’s difficulties, but also as a reminder of its possibilities. It isn’t easy. There are always setbacks and frustrations, but there are also breakthroughs, large and small, that remind us of our capacity to endure, to grow and to create a better future. The new year’s gift gives us the opportunity to begin anew.

letters She’ll miss ‘Blue Bloods,’ too To the Editor: I agree with everything that Peter King wrote in “Like many other devotees, I’ll miss ‘Blue Bloods’ dearly” (Dec. 19-25). Though I never had the chance to meet the cast of “Blue Bloods,” they did feel like family. There has to be a show for people like us — born in Queens, my grandfather was with the Manhattan mounted police in the late 1920s, my cousins were with the Port Authority Police during the Colin Ferguson bloodbath on the LIRR and on Sept. 11. We love the Police Department and everything they stand for. They are our angels on earth in these crazy times. I appreciated grace before meals as a practicing Catholic. So there are many people who loved “Blue Bloods,” but I’m sure the network needed to try to make even more money! No one cares about the audience, just the dollar sign. NANCY ALBERTELLI East Meadow

Yes, but the show was clearly fiction To the Editor: My father, like Mr. King’s, wore NYPD’s blue. Like Mr. King, I consider ‘Blue Bloods’ more nuanced than many cop shows. But his speculations about imagined oppo-

nents of the show, and his “unanswered questions,” are dubious. No doubt, the cast members are all outstanding people and first-class actors, but they were performers acting out dramatic scripts. It’s all fiction, and we can enjoy “as if ” for the hour, but to extend the imaginary past the credits is delusional.

A m e r i c a n s g e n e r a l ly t e n d t o romanticize both our lawmen and our criminals, clouding our view of reality. Our fiction is out of sync with our nonfiction, and we get confused. If real police were “Blue Bloods” police, we would not have had a Bernie Kerik as commissioner; there would be no need for civilian complaint review

opinions

s the season of giving comes to a close, it’s important to reflect on not just all we have to be thankful for, but on those who still need our support. While there are certainly plenty of domestic issues, and Americans in need, we cannot forget the people of Ukraine, who are nearing the end of their third year of war with Russia. The conflict, which has cost the lives of roughly 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers and over 11,000 civilians, has put on display the very real threat authoritarwiLL ianism is posing to democracies sHeeLine all around the world today. And the people of Ukraine, who spent decades under Soviet rule and centuries under czarist rule before that, know how important their right to self-determination is, because they know what it means to live under a regime without rights. Here in America, where we’ve had the luck and privilege to live under a democratic government for our entire history, it can be easy to brush aside these kinds of conflicts by claiming that certain areas or certain cultures

are used to conflict. We hear it about the Middle East all the time: so-called “experts” who assert that the region has “always been at war,” and that one ethnic group or another “doesn’t understand democracy.” I don’t buy it. As our Founding Fathers knew too well, human beings are born with an innate desire, and a right, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While we may think of these words as uniquely American, I’ve always believed that they were written not just with our country’s population in mind, but as a fundamental fact of the human condition. And the people of Ukraine have shown their desire for these universal rights with a determination and tenacity that has allowed this country of only 37 million to face down, and frequently defeat, a richer and larger nation with nearly five times its population. And Ukrainians are fighting not just for their own rights and sovereignty. They are the first line of defense against the deranged, ahistorical and plutocratic worldview that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian oligarchs are so desperate to spread. When Ukrainian President Volody-

myr Zelensky chose to stay in Kyiv in 2022, when the capital city refused to fall, and every day since, his people have had one message for Putin and the world: We will not go quietly. When our nation was in its infancy and fighting for its existence, we relied heavily on the support not only of foreign nations like France and Spain, but on the extraordinary efforts of individuals from around the world who recognized that our fight for independence wasn’t just a local conflict, but a global one, that of freedom vs. tyranny. The analogy isn’t perfect. Ukraine isn’t fighting to win its independence from its mother country, but is fighting instead to maintain its sovereignty in the face of foreign aggression. But the fact remains that its people, who have seen family members’, friends’ and loved ones’ lives destroyed by the aggression of a brutish dictator, deserve not only our respect and admiration, but our help. You may think, “But I’m only one person — what could I possibly do?” And obviously, no one person can end this conflict overnight (except maybe Rocky Balboa). But there are plenty of ways for us to do our part.

e can’t turn our backs on a country that is fighting for its sovereignty.

Letters boards, body cameras and millions spent on misconduct settlements; and less turnover in the top brass. “Courtesy cards” would be in museums, not wallets. Distractions from reality allow speculations like Mr. King’s suggestion that scriptwriters were pressured “to portray cops in a negative light,” as if any producers care at all about what viewers see between the commercials. There are other shows for that. Equally dangerous is his question about the series’ cancellation. Instead of noting the fact that the noble cast accepted a 25 percent pay cut to subsidize season 14, Mr. King conjures the demon of “woke” from nothing. It’s true that the show’s fans will always have the memories, but we must hope our nostalgia doesn’t distract from the realities of 21st century law and its enforcement. BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

The MTA should rethink its spending priorities To the Editor: Long Island Rail Road commuters should be concerned about insufficient funds being earmarked to bring bridges,

viaducts, tunnels and other basic infrastructure that are in poor or marginal condition up to a state of good repair in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposed $68 billion 2025-2029 Five Year Capital Plan. This also applies to Metro-North Railroad and New York City Transit. It’s questionable whether $600 million is sufficient funding for LIRR critical infrastructure projects under the proposed plan. Can this eliminate the growing backlog of critical infrastructure repair? Too many critical capital assets remain in daily service beyond their anticipated useful life. There is still a $33 billion shortfall to fully fund the plan. Safety, state of good repair, and reliable, on-time performance with a minimum of service disruptions at a fair price should be higher priorities than system expansion projects. The $7.7 billion Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, the $5.5 billion Brooklyn-Queens light-rail Interborough Express and the $3.1 billion Metro North Bronx East Penn Station Access projects all need to be put on hold. Funding for all three would be better spent on critical infrastructure projects benefiting over 4 million NYC Transit subway, 200,000-plus LIRR and 200,000plus Metro North daily commuters. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and board members have a fiduciary responsibility to

There are hundreds of international charitable groups that are on the ground in Ukraine providing humanitarian aid, from UNICEF to the Red Cross. Other organizations, such as United Help Ukraine, Nova Ukraine and Razom for Ukraine, provide medical aid to tens of thousands of people and soldiers across the country. There are also nearly 300,000 Ukrainian refugees now living in the United States, part of a diaspora of nearly 4 million Ukrainians, predominantly women, children and seniors, who have been forced to flee their homes in the face of ruthless Russian aggression. While many of these people have been kindly fostered by Americans, Europeans and people everywhere, there are always more people in need. To learn more about how to host Ukrainian refugees, visit SupportUkraineNow.org. Ukrainians are fighting not just for their own right to exist, but for the rights of people around the world struggling against conquest and the threat of extermination. As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously declared, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” — and we can all do more to help Ukrainians restore peace in the country they love. Will Sheeline is an editor covering Glen Head, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? WSheeline@liherald.com.

Framework by Tim Baker

At the Electric Light Parade — Long Beach

protect the interests of riders and taxpayers. LARRY PENNER Great Neck Larry Penner is a transportation advo-

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

WANTAGH HERALD — January 2, 2025

Helping Ukraine fight for justice

Mount Sinai South Nassau is High Performing in Six Areas of Care.

mountsinai.org/southnassau 1254271

January 2, 2025 — WANTAGH HERALD