Serving the community for 125 years
The Wantagh Fire Department celebrated its 125th anniversary by hosting the Sixth Battalion of Nassau County parade on Sept. 14. Story, more photos, Page 3.
Wantagh St. Patrick’s Day Parade grand marshal is announced
By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Tommy Shevlin, president of Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, has been named the grand marshal for the 2025 Wantagh St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Community members who attended the Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day event, held at the Wantagh Inn on Railroad Avenue on Sept. 19, applauded when Shevlin’s name was announced. The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce hosted the event.
Also in attendance were local elected officials, including State Sen. Steve Rhoads, Town of Hempstead Councilman Chris Schneider, Town Clerk Kate Murray and County Legislator Michael Giangregorio.
According to Chamber President Cathy McGrory Powell, Shevlin has dedicated his career to helping fellow officers, and his passion to make positive change in the world is what
made him the right choice to lead next year’s parade.
“I’m so immensely proud of him and everything he’s accomplished and everything he’s become,” McGrory Powell said of Shevlin.
With a family background in law enforcement, Shevlin has worked for 26 years between the New York and Nassau County police departments, and accepted the role as the county’s PBA president in 2022. Prior to that, he was a counselor at the Nassau County Police Department’s Employee Assistance Office, where he provided mental health services to officers.
As a counselor, he aimed to combat the stigma surrounding mental health within law enforcement. Shevlin saw how trauma, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder affected his colleagues and sought to help officers address these challenges.
“His passion for mental health, helping first responders and families, has made a great differ-
Explaining how presidents are elected
By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
As Election Day approaches, the League of Women Voters of East Nassau hosted a presentation at the Levittown Public Library on Sept. 18 to educate voters about the Electoral College and its role in selecting presidents.
The league is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that works to protect and expand voting rights throughout the country.
According to East Nassau member Barbara Epstein, its goal is to educate communities and encourage people to register to vote.
“It’s important for people to understand what the Electoral College means and how it impacts how people vote,” Epstein said.
Iat the NYU School of Law and a professor of constitutional law at the Benjamin N. Cardoza School of Law. His research, teaching and advocacy focuses on voting, elections and the laws of democracy.
He noted that most voters may not fully understand how the Electoral College works. “It is that system that we know and love, or at least we think we know it,” Codrington said. “And I’m guessing, to be frank, it’s not really clear that we do love it.”
t’s important for people to understand what the Electoral College means, and how it impacts how people vote.
BARBARA EPSTEIN League of Women Voters of
At last week’s meeting, legal scholar Wilfred Codrington discussed the history of the Electoral College and how it has impacted presidential elections. Codrington is a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice
East Nassau
The Electoral College, he explained, which selects the president, was established in the Constitution, with electors from each state fulfilling their duties six weeks after Election Day.
“Neither the 330 million people living in the United States, nor the 240 million folks of voting age, get to choose the president,” Codrington said. “Rather, it is this extremely important task falling on 538 people” — the
Continued on page 4
Holden Leeds/Herald
Kellard debuts exhibit at Levittown library
By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Joseph Kellard, a photographer from East Meadow, will showcase his photography at the Levittown Public Library from Oct. 1 to Oct. 30.
The exhibit, his first, will also be displayed at the East Meadow Library in January. Kellard, a former journalist, began his photography journey alongside his writing career and developed a passion for capturing a variety of subjects.
“I always had an interest in photography since I was a kid,” Kellard said. “My parents bought me a subscription to Sports Illustrated magazine. I was really into sports, and I really liked the photography in that magazine.”
As a teenager, Kellard’s interest grew after discovering copies of Life magazine at a used bookstore. The black-andwhite photos left a lasting impression, he noted, and he began exploring photography through library books.
After leaving the Herald in 2010, Kellard continued journalism work while photographing the events he covered.
“As a community reporter, you’re reporting on so many different things, from fires to sports events to fairs and beach events, so I’ve taken photos of a lot of different things,” he said.
In 2011, Kellard purchased his first DSLR camera, which allowed him to take his photography more seriously. The camera, he said, became a way for him to go outdoors and socialize. He began regularly photographing various locations, including Long Beach and Manhattan, capturing cityscapes, architecture, and outdoor art.
JoSEpH KELLARd
Kellard’s favorite shots from his upcoming exhibit, “Through My Lens: Skyscrapers to Sunrises to Surfers,” include spontaneous moments, such as his photo of the Chrysler Building with a flock of birds flying past.
In 2001, Kellard became a reporter for Herald Community Newspapers. Later that year, his sister gifted him a point-and-shoot digital camera. While working as the Oceanside editor, Kellard said he studied freelancers’ photography to gain more experience on how to take good shots.
When he became editor of the Long Beach Herald in 2007, his love for photography deepened.
“Long Beach is a beach town. It’s got different neighborhoods and architecture,” he said. “I started going out with my cheap camera and taking photos.”
“I was just walking down 42nd Street to take photos of the Chrysler Building,” he said, “and all of a sudden, these birds just flew.”
In addition to photography, Kellard is working on a book about Leonardo Da Vinci, who he finds inspiring due to his wide-ranging interests.
“The main reason for doing this exhibit is I want to see what the public reaction is to it,” he said. “How much interest people have in my photography, how much they’re willing to buy, and maybe branch out and start selling in parks and fairs.”
Courtesy Joseph Kellard
Photographer Joseph Kellard, an East Meadow resident, stands next to a painting by Leonardo da Vinci at the National Gallery in London. Kellard will showcase his photos during an exhibit at the Levittown Public Library in October and the East Meadow Public Library in
Wantagh F.D. celebrates 125 years of service
The Wantagh Fire Department hosted the Sixth Battalion of Nassau County’s annual firefighter parade on Sept. 14, marking a special celebration of their 125th anniversary.
The event, held on Wantagh Avenue, brought together 10 fire departments from the battalion, including Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick, North Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford, East Meadow, Levittown, Massapequa, and North Massapequa.
The departments marched from Beltagh Avenue to the Wantagh Long Island Rail Road Station, with crowds lining the streets to cheer on their local heroes. The parade featured both modern fire trucks and vintage fire vehicles, providing a glimpse into the past while celebrating present-day first responders.
This rotating event, which moves to a different department each year, serves as a reminder of the dedication and unity among local firefighters, who work together to protect their communities across Nassau County.
— Charles Shaw
The Sixth Battalion parade, held on Wantagh Avenue, brought together fire departments from the battalion, including Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick, North Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford, East Meadow, Levittown, Massapequa, and North Massapequa.
The parade featured vintage fire trucks along with modernized trucks, celebrating the battalion’s decades long commitment to serving their communities.
Families brought their children to the
kids waved
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
Pipe and drum bands marched down Beltagh Avenue in Wantagh as crowds cheered on first responders.
The Wantagh Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary stands in support of the department during the Sixth Battalion parade.
battalion parade, where
American flags to support their local fire departments.
Legal scholar discusses Electoral College
sum total of the members of Congress, plus three for the capital, Washington, D.C. To win the Electoral College, a president needs to win at least half of those votes plus one, or 270.
The electors, he said, hold that title for one day every four years, and are chosen by the political parties, based on the outcome of the popular vote in each state.
“When we go to vote for the president on Election Day,” he said, “we’re actually voting for people to occupy the roles as presidential electors.”
In 48 states, including the capital, a winner-take-all system is used, in which the candidate who wins the popular vote gets all of that state’s electoral votes. Two states that do not use this system are Maine and Nebraska, which split their electoral votes proportionally based on the statewide popular vote and the results in each congressional district.
“It does not matter if you win by seven votes or 7 million votes,” Codrington said. “If you win more than the next candidate, you will win the state’s slates of electors.”
Most states’ voting outcomes can be predicted, but several swing states, in which both the Democratic and Republican parties have similar levels of support, determine who wins the presidency. New York, for example, has not given its electoral votes to a Republican presidential candidate since 1984.
“These swing states have the greatest power,” Codrington said. “They are where the presidential race is most competitive, because Democrats and Republicans in those states are nearly equal, or at least their preferences are.”
As a result, reliably “blue” or “red” states receive
less attention from presidential candidates than swing states. According to Codrington, 96 percent of campaign events during the 2020 election took place in
The Joy of Living
Let us take a moment to remember that joy itself is a primary purpose of living.
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
— George Bernard Shaw
“Well, your greatest joy definitely comes from doing something for another, especially when it was done with no thought of something in return.”
— John Wooden
“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”
— Leo Buscaglia
“A sense of humor...is needed armor. Joy in
one’s heart and some laughter on one’s lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life.”
—Hugh Sidey
“There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.”
— Kahlil Gibran
“The three factors that seem to have the greatest influence on increasing our happiness are our ability to reframe our situation more positively, our ability to experience gratitude, and our choice to be kind and generous.”
— Dalai Lama
“Things won are done, joy’s soul lies in the doing”
— William Shakespeare
“As selfishness and complaint pervert the mind, so love with its joy clears and sharpens the vision.”
— Helen Keller
516-327-8880 x117 or email info@trustlaw.com
swing states accounting for 20 to 25 percent of the U.S. population. This obviously creates incentives for presidential campaigns to focus on policies of most interest in swing state voters, at the expense of the broader American public.
“The voter turnout is invariably higher in the swing states than it is in the rest of the country,” Codrington said, “That makes sense: If you feel like your vote counts, you are more likely to vote.”
Throughout the Electoral College’s history, proposals have been introduced in Congress to amend the Constitution to abolish it. In 1969, the House of Representatives voted on a measure to do just that, and more than two-thirds of that body supported it, but when it moved to the Senate, the measure was filibustered.
As the nation continues to evolve, questions about the future of the Electoral College have become more pressing.
“I think, like anything else, times change, and we need to change,” Carol Bergman, treasurer of the East Nassau LWV, said.
One of the main reasons why the Electoral College is unpopular, Codrington said, is because it’s prone to failing. Throughout its history, he says, the Electoral College produced what political scholars called “the wrong winner,” where it awarded the presidency to the popular vote loser. It happened in five presidential elections, most recently in 2016, when Donald Trump won despite the fact that his opponent, Hillary Clinton, received around 48 percent of the popular vote, to Trump’s 46 percent.
“So now we can say we know the Electoral College — I’ll leave you to decide whether we love the Electoral College,” Codrington told the attendees, “but for much of the country’s existence, Americans have not.”
HERALD
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Charles Shaw/Herald at a League of Women Voters meeting on Sept. 18, american legal scholar Wilfred Codrington discussed the history of the electoral College and its impact on presidential elections.
GUes T COLUMN
Welcoming the Jewish New Year with hope, gratitude, and renewal
Asensation of renewal is in the air as we are wishing each other a happy, sweet New Year. We watch the season change; the weather is cooler and the air crisp. The trees shed their leaves in multiple fall’s hues, gracefully carrying us forward, into the Jewish New Year.
Family gatherings and meals are being joyfully planned. Some reflect on their past year’s resolutions and their outcome, and accordingly draft new expectations for the approaching year. Others believe in mind over matter and that through prayers and meditations wishes will materialize.
A major part of ushering in the New Year, is the Jewish, High Holiday Services. There is no denying that the spirit of the
Almighty is ubiquitously present. Special prayers and the overwhelming blasts of the ram’s horn (Shofar), enhance the spiritual experience, often brining emotional tears into our eyes. These days make us tremble as we think about the Judgment Day, deep soul searching, gratitude for the past along with prayers of hope for a bright future. Being grateful for our many benedictions, and simultaneously looking back with humility upon our mistakes. We pray for peace and tranquility in our country and around the world, for
health, prosperity and much more. Deep in our hearts, we promise to do more acts of kindness and help in repairing the fragile world surrounding us.
The Book of Life is open and the Omnipresent listens to our cry.
The past few years had brought turbulent events to individuals and to the entire world. We faced the unknown in many circumstances often feeling helpless and lost. No one knows the Almighty’s master plan, but we pray for His merciful attribute. The High Holidays are favorable times to ask the Almighty for His compassion and
mercy, and His will to inscribe us for an excellent and serene year. As we are literally dipping our apple into the sweet honey, we pray that the Jewish New Year, will be sweet as well. I would like to wish you and your loved ones that the Almighty inscribes you in the Book of Life, and bless you with a healthy, happy, sweet, thriving, tranquil, full of love and togetherness year. May we merit to see complete redemption and peace for our country and the world. Amen!
Happy and Blessed New Year,
Rabbi Moshe P. Weisblum, Ph.D.
Rabbi Moshe P. Weisblum is the spiritual leader for Congregation Beth Tikvah in Wantagh.
Building a family of learners at Manor Elementary School
The new year has started off with a focus on personal and collective growth at Seaford Manor Elementary School. In classrooms throughout the building, students are setting ambitions and building connections with their peers while using literature as inspiration.
In first grade, students in Angelina Lee’s class read “Our Class is a Family.” They then discussed the Seaford Scholar trait of “principled” and how they can achieve that by following the classroom rules and being respectful of each other. That followed with the creation of a class charter. Every student then made a bracelet with the word “first” on it, to remind them that they are a first grade family.
“They’re together for life,” she said. “They’re going to go to high school together, so we want to start building those bonds now.”
Activities throughout the building supported Seaford’s various social and emotion learning initiatives including growth mindset, RULER, Habits of Mind and Seaford Scholars.
Rabbi Moshe WeisbluM
JOEY DIESSO
Massapequa Senior Football
A YEAR AFTER THROWING for 20 touchdowns and helping lead Massapequa to a perfect 12-0 season, Nassau Conference I and Long Island Class I titles, Diesso passed for a pair of scores in each of the first two games this fall. On Sept. 13, he had a near-perfect performance in a 38-13 victory over Freeport. He completed all but one of his 11 pass attempts for 135 yards as the Chiefs got into the win column for the first time in 2024.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, Sept. 26
Boys Soccer: Hewlett at Lawrence 4:30 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Baldwin at V.S. Central 4:45 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Clarke at V.S. North 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 27
Boys Soccer: Wantagh at Clarke 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Wantagh at Plainedge 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Seaford at North Shore 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Farmingdale at Baldwin 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Malverne/East Rock at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Calhoun at Oceanside 6 p.m.
Football: Garden City at Hewlett 6 p.m.
Football: Seaford at Plainedge 6:30 p.m.
Football: Hicksville at Freeport 6:30 p.m.
Girls Volleyball: Freeport at Baldwin 6:30 p.m.
Football: South Side at V.S. North 7 p.m.
Football: North Shore at Malverne 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 28
Football: Calhoun at Mepham 11 a.m.
Football: Carey at Sewanhaka 3 p.m.
Football: Farmingdale at Massapequa 3 p.m.
Football: Hempstead at Oceanside 3 p.m.
Football: Uniondale at V.S. Central 3 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
HERALD SPORTS
MacArthur clicking with 6-0 start
By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
For a second straight season, MacArthur girls’ volleyball has stormed out of the gates strong despite heavy graduation hits.
The Generals entered the week a perfect 6-0 despite losing six seniors from last season’s 13-4 team that won eight of their first nine matches a season removed from also losing key players.
“My anticipation for the year was it was going to be a rebuilding year because we have some younger players,” said 16th-year MacArthur coach Diann Sciulla. “With the time that the girls have put in throughout the off season and preseason they’ve surprised me and we are now six to know in a tough conference.”
MacArthur brought back three returning starters in seniors Arianna Feiler and Natalie Longobucco along with junior Ashley Renneisen. Feiler takes up the crucial middle blocker position while Longobucco and Renneisen are offensive forces as outside hitters.
Sciulla said Feiler, Longobucco and Renneisen have been a major reason for the Generals’ big start to the season with their leadership as tri-captains. She credited them for creating unity in the locker room this season, which can often be crucial toward generating a winning culture
“They lead by example off the court,” Sciulla said of her captains. “The camaraderie that the girls have now has been something that we struggled with here at MacArthur for the 16 years that I’ve coached as it’s hard to keep all the girls on the same page and keep the drama off the court and they have done a great job with that.
Junior Olivia Picarella has stepped up as the Generals’ key defensive player as the starting libero. She recorded 31 digs in MacArthur’s 3-2 win against Roslyn on Sept. 10 by set scores of 27-25, 16-25, 25-11, 21-25 and 16-14.
The offense is keyed largely by the play of junior setter Samantha Cassano, who had 40 assists and 4 aces in a four-
this
set win against Hicksville on Sept. 17.
Junior Megan Campbell has also stepped up in the offense early in the season recording seven kills and one ace in the Hicksville victory.
MacArthur improved to a perfect 6-0 with a 3-1 win against Uniondale on Sept. 19 by set scores of 25-19, 25-18, 16-25 and 25-17. Renneisen shined with 18 kills and two kills while Feiler chipped in with 13 kills to go along with two blocks. Longobucco registered nine kills and one block in the triumph.
The Generals will look to continue the hot start to the season Friday at home versus Hempstead starting at 6:45
p.m. MacArthur then hits the road to face Sewanhaka on Tuesday and Academy Charter on Oct. 7 before returning home to host New Hyde Park on Oct. 9 at 6:45 p.m.
Sciulla said a league title in Conference IV is an attainable goal, which would give MacArthur one of the higher seeds for the playoffs.
“It is a competitive conference and each set has been very competitively played so far,” Sciulla said. “I think a league title is definitely something that can be reachable if my girls can keep the chemistry and keep the energy going.”
Derrick Dingle/Herald Junior setter Samantha Cassano is a major piece of the puzzle for the Generals, who entered
week with a perfect record through six matches.
On Aug. 23, local officials, including State Senator Steve Rhoads, welcomed Ten Ring Archery to Levittown. The 20,000-square-foot facility, founded by Frank Kentoffio and Rick Migliore, is Long Island’s largest indoor archery range.
Mikulin stresses commitment to constituents
By Mike Polansky Correspondent
iRepublican Assemblyman John K. Mikulin is seeking re-election against Democratic challenger Harpreet Singh Toor in the 17th Assembly District. Mikulin is also running on the Conservative line. A Bethpage resident, Mikulin graduated from Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville and earned a bachelor’s degree in government, a master’s in public administration from St. John’s University, and a law degree from Touro Law Center.
t’s a strain on our system, and we need policies that put our people first.
JoHn
k. MikUlin 17th Assembly District
Before serving in the Assembly, he served as president of the Island Trees Public Library board and deputy Town of Hempstead attorney. He has been a member of St. James Roman Catholic Church in Seaford and lives with his wife, Corinne, and their newborn son.
The November ballot includes a proposed amendment to the New York state Constitution that would ban discrimination based on gender identity and pregnancy outcomes. Mikulin opposes the amendment, arguing it could allow transgender women to compete in female sports.
“If you are a biological male, you shouldn’t be competing in women’s sports,” he said. On abortion, Mikulin criticizes New York’s cur -
rent laws, which he claims allow abortions up to birth. He is “pro-life” but would consider voting for less restrictive legislation after reviewing the bill.
Mikulin also advocates for ending New York’s sanctuary status, citing $2 billion in expenditures on services for undocumented immigrants since 2017.
“It’s a strain on our system, and we need policies that put our people first,” he said.
Mikulin opposes a new state law moving local elections to even-numbered years, fearing that national issues will overshadow local ones and ballots will become too complicated. He voted against the measure on the floor because, like fellow Republicans, he believes it will create ballots that are too large and confusing that will “drown out local elections.”
Mikulin supports maintaining state aid for local schools and opposes unfunded mandates from Albany. He also believes New York City receives a disproportionate amount of aid — an opinion he shares with his Democratic opponent.
Mikulin takes pride in addressing constituent concerns, and views his role as service-oriented. “Whether it’s a pothole, a road needing repair or an unemployment issue, I focus on what I can do to help,” he said.
Toor hopes to share his ideas at state level
By Mike Polansky Correspondent
Democrat Harpreet Singh Toor seeks the seat in the 17th Assembly District. He is challenging Republican incumbent John Mikulin.
Toor, originally from Punjab, India, has been a U.S. resident since 1982. He holds a bachelor’s degree in math and economics from Punjabi University.
His career includes roles with New York City agencies and as a tax accountant. Toor has run unsuccessfully for New York City Council twice and has held leadership roles with the Sikh Cultural Society. A widower with two grown sons, he lives in East Meadow since 1994 and appeared in “Learning to Drive.”
The November ballot includes a proposed amendment to the New York state Constitution that would ban discrimination based on gender identity and pregnancy outcomes.
ireproductive healthcare and autonomy.”
Toor, influenced by his experience when his wife was pregnant during cancer treatment, believes government should not regulate abortion access, but said he has not yet taken a position on the amendment.
While acknowledging issues at the southern border, he believes immigration should be addressed at the federal level.
n the Sikh religion, like all the religions of the world, we are supposed to share.
HaRPReeT
TooR Challenger, 17th Assembly District
Toor supports equal treatment but shares concerns about transgender athletes in women’s sports, suggesting they should compete in a separate category.
“I don’t want to keep transgender males from competing, but let them compete in their own category,” he said.
Voters will be asked to approve a measure on the ballot that would legalize abortion in the state constitution. While the Equal Protection of Law Amendment doesn’t explicitly mention abortion, it is designed to protect against anything the government does to affect a person’s “pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and
“It is not a question of New York alone or the blue states. It is an American issue that needs to be addressed collectively,” he said, advocating for continued support for immigrants while seeking to re duce taxpayer costs.
In the meantime, he favors continuation of the status quo in New York while at the same time “robustly making efforts to find jobs for the immigrants and take other action to lessen the cost to taxpayers,” he said.
“In the Sikh religion, like all the religions of the world, we are supposed to share,” Toor added.
He agrees with his opponent and opposes another question on the ballot, which would, if approved, move local elections to even-numbered years, bringing them in line with state and national elections.
He maintains that if there is a “wave” for one party in a combined election year that the system of checks and balances that are essential in a democratic society will be hurt.
“From that perspective, if it hurts checks and balances, I cannot support it,” he said.
Also, like his opponent, Toor opposes the state levying unfunded mandates on schools, emphasizing that
Mikulin’s challenger, Harpreet Toor, says he believes government should not regulate abortion access, but is undecided on the Equal Protection of Law Amendment.
all state mandates should be fully funded.
Reflecting on his mother’s philosophy, he emphasizes that effective handling of issues leads to lasting results.
“Money will come and go, but issues handled properly will stay until time ends,” Toor said.
Herald file photo
Republican Assemblyman John K. Mikulin, of Bethpage, who is seeking re-election, opposes Proposal 1, the state Equal Rights Amendment.
Harald file photo
Mets’ Alvarez gives kids tips to remember
By ANTHONY DiCOCCO
Special to the Herald
The energy was palpable as soon as the children began their infield and hitting drills, because in just moments, they would get the chance to learn from one of baseball’s rising stars.
Despite being in the thick of an intense playoff race, New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez volunteered 90 minutes of his time to coach dozens of lucky kids, ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade, at a free baseball clinic at the Lou Anthony Sports Complex in Massapequa on Sept. 5.
“This is awesome,” Rich Lopos, president of the Nassau County Police Activity League said. “This was something (Alvarez) called us about. He said, ‘I just want to come down and hang out with the kids for a little while,’ and these kids are loving it.”
Over the course of the clinic, kids decked out in Mets apparel rotated between stations that focused on the fundamentals of baseball, such as throwing, catching popups, running and infield work, before finally getting some hitting tips from Alvarez himself during tee drills. Following the clinic and a group photo, participants had the opportunity to pose for individual pictures with Alvarez and get his autograph.
“This was really cool,” Brooklyn native Aiden Rodriguez, 11, said after the clinic run by the player he described as his idol. “I go to Mets games and meet a lot of players, and Alvarez is one of my favorite catchers in MLB. He made me want to be a catcher.”
As a young pro player who’s still learning what it takes to be a major leaguer, Alvarez said that the kids on the field were also teaching him valuable lessons.
“This definitely helps me relax,” he said. “I’m happier. I can see the kids smile, I see the kids’ emotion and I can see how hard they work here. It gives me a little more energy.”
The event was part of a stacked lineup of athlete-run clinics that has been made possible through a partnership between PAL and Pioneer Sports Long Island. Over the past year, Pioneer Sports, now its 14th year, has held clinics that featured former Rangers goalie Mike Richter, Jets tight end Jeremy Ruckert, Mets third baseman Brett Baty and closer Edwin Diaz, and Yankees starting pitchers Nestor Cortes and Clarke Schmidt.
Tom Falcone, a co-founder of Pioneer Sports, helps facilitate all of the clinics.
Aiden’s brother, Austin, 8, said some of the key lessons Alvarez taught were
“These kids are having a lifetime experience, and for me it’s a lifetime experience, too,” Falcone said. “Just to be able to have these guys come out here to the facility and give back to the
Anthony DiCocco is a reporter for the SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom
Courtesy Anthony DiCocco
Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez gave hitting pointers to the kids who attended the free baseball clinic at the Lou Anthony Sports Complex in Massapequa.
members of the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce, past grand marshals and local officials gathered at the Wantagh inn on Sept. 19 to celebrate the announcement that tommy Shevlin, third from left, will serve as the 2025 Wantagh St. patrick’s day parade grand marshal.
Shevlin will lead St. Patrick’s Day Parade
ence in the lives of our law enforcement,” McGrory Powell said. “He believes a healthy officer is a more effective officer and an even bigger asset to all.”
Also as PBA president, Shevlin has focused on improving mental health resources for police officers. During an announcement at Kings Park High School in January, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an allocation of $13 million for mental health support for officers. Hochul said she spoke with Shevlin and thanked him “for shining a spotlight and being a champion” on bringing awareness to the issues officers face with mental health.
Shevlin described it as “unbelievable” for the Wantagh community to pick him as the 2025 parade’s grand marshal. Though he currently resides in Smithtown, Shevlin was a Wantagh resident six years ago, saying that it was one of his favorite communities.
According to Parade Chairman Christopher Brown, the parade has been successful, thanks to help from the community, which includes sponsors and groups that march, as well as fire, sanitation and public works departments, the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County.
Aside from celebrating Irish heritage, the parade also recognizes its grand marshals’ contributions to the community. Past grand marshals included John Murray Jr., owner of Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall; Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder; Michael Dunphy, owner of the Wantagh Inn; and John Theissen, founder and executive director of the John Theissen Children’s Foundation.
I ’m so immensely proud of him and everything he’s accomplished and everything he’s become.
Cathy MCGrory Powell President, Wantagh Chamber of Commerce
“For (McGrory Powell) to recognize me and for all of you to recognize me, it really is an honor,” Shevlin said at the Sept. 19 event. “I’m actually speechless.”
Shevlin was actually a student in McGrory Powell’s social studies class at Valley Stream Central High School in the 1990s.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him march,” McGrory Powell said, “and to bring attention to the importance of mental health. There is a high rate of suicides in law enforcement, which Shevlin has brought attention to during his career.”
This will mark the fifth year that Wantagh has held its St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which, according to McGrory Powell, is the biggest on Long Island.
“These guys have set the path,” Shevlin said of past grand marshals. “How much they have given back to the community is priceless.”
Shevlin has marched in St. Patrick’s Day parades in Savannah, Georgia, New Orleans, Chicago, Boston and several times in New York City as an NYPD cop.
“I used to work it in uniform, but now it’s going to be a totally different feeling,” Shevlin said.
He said it’s an honor being named grand marshal for the Wantagh St. Patrick’s Day Parade, adding that he cannot wait to walk out there and see everybody as he leads the ceremony.
“This will, by far, be my favorite parade of all time, that I will never forget,” Shevlin said, “and I can finally bring my family — my two little boys and my wife — to show them why St. Paddy’s Day is my favorite holiday of all time.”
The parade is set to take place in Wantagh on March 16 at 2 p.m.
Continued from page 1
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
Shevlin, president of the nassau County police Benevolent association, was named grand marshal of what will be the fifth annual Wantagh St. patrick’s day parade.
the Wantagh american Legion pipe Band marched into the Wantagh inn, followed by past grand marshals.
STEPPING OUT
From the ‘burbs to the
big stage
Rockville Centre native explores roots in new musical
By Iris Wiener
Shaun Taylor-Corbett has enjoyed a unique journey from his upbringing in Rockville Centre to working in New York theater. After becoming a household face with a stint on the hit children’s TV show “Hi-5,” he went on to star in the acclaimed Off-Broadway musical “Altar Boyz” and eventually was part of the original cast of Lin Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights.” Working on that Tony-Award winning musical showed him the importance of exploring community through musical theater; it set the stage for his most personal project to date: ”Distant Thunder,” which runs Sept. 25 through Oct. 27 at A.R.T./New York Theatres. Taylor-Corbett not only co-wrote the book and lyrics for the new Off-Broadway musical, he also co-produced and stars in the production, which he credits with helping him learn about his own background. His mother, acclaimed dancer-choreographer and director Lynne Taylor-Corbett, directed and co-wrote. At age 15, Taylor-Corbett decided he wanted to know more about his family’s background. “It was important to me to know where we came from,” he says.
His roots are Black, Scandinavian, Blackfeet Indigenous, and Irish. Realizing he wanted to know more about his Indigenous side, Taylor-Corbett’s mother proceeded to bring her son to Browning, Mont. There he met Darrell Robes Kipp, an educator and community leader responsible for saving the Blackfeet language.
“He really instilled in me the importance of language for a culture,” says Taylor-Corbett. “It was very impactful for me and it made me want to create a story about my experience being mixed race.”
“Distant Thunder”evolved into a story about a young person who returns to his roots after many years of being away. It goes on to explore the various ways in which he experiences community.
Taylor-Corbett’s first memory as a performer was recording himself singing to Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl.” He moved to Rockville Centre when he was 8-years-old, where he attended South Side Middle School and South Side High School. It was at South Side Middle School that he took on one of his first theatrical roles: Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Looking back he appreciates having had a unique childhood growing up with his father [Columbia Records music executive Michael Corbett] and his mother.
Much of ‘Distant Thunder’ was inspired by Taylor-Corbett’s experience growing up mixed race. “I didn’t quite know where I fit in, so I was open and friendly with everybody,” he says. “There were some instances where I felt like an outsider and got made fun of, but I think what I got from being mixed and hanging out with people from different cultural identities is that I fell in love with learning about cultures.”
Taylor-Corbett travels frequently and studies international relations.“As one aspect of my identity — being Indigenous — got stronger, I realized I could take all of what I learned and try to do something in the U.S. I wanted to help the people that gave me so much.”
Taylor-Corbett still spends time in Rockville Centre with his mother in his childhood home. One of his favorite aspects of working on “Distant Thunder” has been collaborating with mom.
“I value having time with her and going through this adventure,” he says. “We’ve grown so much together as friends because of this. There’s a deeper meaning, and drive we have together because I was a kid when we started [this journey]. We don’t have that much time with our parents, so holding onto every moment doing this with her is a joy.”
He also appreciates the wealth of experience that Lynne brings to the project; the multi-talented ‘Broadway legend’ is known for her choreography of Broadway’s “Swing!” and the film “Footloose,” as well her direction and writing for “Cougar the Musical,” among other projects.
“I’m learning so much from her,” he says. “She passed on that legacy to me. I see myself growing in confidence because of her.”
Taylor-Corbett is proud that “Distant Thunder” honors the Blackfeet community that he holds close to his heart. He had never seen an Indigenous Broadway or Off-Broadway musical, and imagined how incredible it would be to have a large cast representing the Blackfeet and Indigenous communities performing an Indigenous story through powwow and pop music. Adding it to the American theater canon would break through barriers.
“We wanted to have the show be a portal into another world, into the magic that is Indian country,” he says, as he looks forward to opening night on Oct. 3. “I want people to leave the show uplifted and joyful about the future. I’m hoping that everyone feels represented, that people feel proud of what we’ve done, and that it inspires people who might be on a similar journey as they write their own stories.”
Tickets for ‘Distant Thunder’ can be purchased online at amasmusical.org or by calling (212) 563-2565.
Jessie’s Girl
Take out that neon yet again and give your hair its best ‘80s ‘do. Those crazy days are back — as only Jessie’s Girl can pull off, on the Paramount stage, The band of NYC’s top rock/pop musicians and singers gets everyone into that “Back To The Eighties” vibe with the latest edition of their popular concert experience. With a lineup including four pop-rock vocalists dressing and performing as ‘80s icons, backed by a dynamic band, this is the definitive ‘80s experience. Jessie’s Girl has mastered overthe-top renditions of the some of world’s most unforgettable songs, all while dressed up as the iconic characters of that decade. This is theater meets live music, covered in ‘80s glitz. Some would say there’s no decade like the ‘80. So throw on your best neon, use extra hair spray on that hair and head to Back To The Eighties — because it’s time to party like it’s 1989.
Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. $45, $37.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Celebrity Autobiography
The Drama Desk Award-winning “Celebrity Autobiography” returns to Tilles Center with an entirely new show. Starring Richard Kind, pictured above (fresh off his comic turn in that Hulu sensation “Only Murders in the Building”), Jackie Hoffman, Craig Bierko, Lillias White, Mario Cantone, and show creators Eugene Pack and Dayle Reyfel, an ever-changing selection of tellalls and memoirs are performed verbatim. Celebrity tell-alls are perfectly entertaining on their own, as exclusive windows into the lives of famous personalities. But this smash-hit comedic masterpiece takes it a step further — as as outrageously true memoirs are acted out live on stage by some of the funniest people around.
Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Photo courtesy Michael Lee Stever
The cast rehearses “Distant Thunder” ahead of previews beginning Sept. 25.
Photo courtesy Caroline Grogan Shaun Taylor-Corbett with his co-writer, director and mother, Lynne Taylor Corbett.
THE Your Neighborhood
Everclear
Everclear, one of the leading alternative rock bands to emerge from the ‘90s, led by vocalistguitarist-founder Art Alexakis, is back on the road, appearing on the Paramount stage, Sunday, oct. 6, 7 p.m. The band is joined by special guests Marcy Playground and Jimmie’s Chicken Shack. The setlist for this tour includes all the hits from throughout Everclear’s extraordinary three decades-long catalog, spotlighting tracks off their album “Songs From An American Movie Vol. One,” which they’ll release on vinyl later this year for the first time via Intervention Records.
Since forming in 1992, Everclear has enjoyed a lengthy career by any measure, spanning 11 studio releases, including four that have been certified Gold or Platinum, selling over 6 million records, and achieving 12 Top 40 Hit Singles on Mainstream Rock, Alternative, and Adult Top 40 radio, including “Santa Monica,” “Father of Mine,” “I Will Buy You A New Life,” “Wonderful” and “Everything To Everyone,” as well as numerous videos, concerts, and various other accolades, including a 1998 Grammy nomination. The band’s 1993 debut album “World Of Noise,” released on the Portland independent label Tim/Kerr Records, paired with their significant efforts to break into college radio and the buzz they’d created within the Portland music scene, attracted the attention of major labels, including Capitol Records, which signed the group soon after. Beginning with their major-label debut, 1995’s platinum-selling album “Sparkle and Fade,” and its massive chart-topping hit “Santa Monica,” Everclear was soon a household name and catapulted into the masses. Alexakis was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2019; he’s since donated $1 from every ticket purchased from his performances to charities such as Sweet Relief Musicians Fund and National MS Society. In addition their numerous concerts over the band’s lengthy career, Alexakis created and runs the annual Summerland Tour, which features a package of popular ‘90s alt rock bands. $70.50, $50.50, $050, $25.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Fascinating Fungi
Bring the kids to make some discoveries about mushrooms at Long Island Children’s Museum’s drop-in program, Sunday, Sept. 29, 1-3 p.m. Did you know that some mushrooms can glow in the dark? Learn about the 113 species of mushroom that are considered bioluminescent, due to a chemical reaction that attracts bugs to help spread mushroom spores.
Stop by to learn about these amazing fungi and make a glowing mushroom craft to bring home. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.
Game time
Enjoy Mah Jongg and Canasta, every Thursday, noon to 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 information, email mahjonggCBT@yahoo.com or call (516) 785-2445.
Art explorations
Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program returns for a new season, Saturday, Sept. 28, 9, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.
Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum. org for more information and to register or call (516) 484-9337.
Vendors wanted for Holiday Shopping Day
Congregation Beth Tikvah Sisterhood is seeking vendors for its Holiday Shopping Day on Sunday, dec. 8, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. The event will be held in a secure, heated indoor space. Vendors can rent space at reasonable rates to sell apparel, jewelry, housewares, collectibles, seasonal items, crafts, and more. 3710 Woodbine Ave. For more information or to inquire about selling, email CBTWantaghHolidayShop@ gmail.com.
Spooky Fest is back
A Halloween experience not to be missed, Spooky Fest is an outdoor adventure perfect for families, whether you want to be scared — or prefer seasonal fun of the non-scary kind. Join in the fun at the Center for Science, Teaching and Learning, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout October. Along the way in the updated and beautifully lit up Enchanted Walk you will see dinosaurs, aliens and friendly witches, costumed characters and more, including the Mystical Garden. Get your fortune told, make a craft and dance with the Halloween DJ, along with face painting and the Amazing Glow tent. For those who want a scare, venture into the Haunted Woods, where zombies and dinosaurs hang out. Admission starts at $22. 1450 Tanglewood Road, Rockville Centre. Visit CSTL.org for call (516) 7640045 for more information.
SUB Touch-A-Truck
The 6th Battalion Fire Departments and the WantaghLevittown Ambulance Corps hosts a Touch A Truck event at the Seaford LIRR station, Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m. Families can explore fire trucks, emergency vehicles, and more. The event includes trucks from local fire departments, EMS organizations, and the Nassau County Police. Attendees can meet local volunteer firefighters and EMTs and learn about joining. Free and open to all. For more information, visit nassausbravest.com/ volunteer-now.php.
Community Yizkor service
Join Congregation Beth Tikvah for a Community Yizkor Service, free and open to the community, on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2:30 p.m. This service will be led by Rabbi Moshe P. Weisblum, in the congregation’s Sanctuary. 3710 Woodbine Ave. To RSVP, call the office at (516) 785-2445.
Having an event?
Harvest Fair
Seaford Historical Society hosts their annual Harvest fair on Sunday, Sept. 29, 10 a.m. at the Seaford Museum. Pumpkins, mums, vendors, baked goods and hot dogs will be on sale, along with raffles and a grand prize. This is an annual fundraiser to help support the museum built in 1893. 3890 Waverly Ave.
Bingo at Temple B’nai Torah
Temple B’nai Torah hosts a fun-filled bingo session, every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.-1p.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) 221-2370.
Vendors for collectible show
Temple B’nai Torah seeks vendors for a Giant Collectible Show, Sunday, Oct. 13. 2900 Jerusalem Ave. For vendors interested in participating, call Greg or Steve at (631) 3820300 or email tbtcardshow@ tbtwantagh.org for details.
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.
On stage
Adelphi University’s Theatre Department present two one-act plays from icons of the American Little Theater movement, of the early 20th century, now through Sunday, Sept. 29. See “Suppressed Desires” by Susan Glaspell and “George Cram Cook and Seaweed” by Alice Gerstenberg, Sept. 26-27, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 28, 2 and 7:30 p.m. (livestream available); Sept. 29, 2 p.m. Gerstenberg’s Seaweed explores the future prospects and dating escapades of 20somethings in the 1920s. It’s “Sex and the City” but only four years after women received the right to vote. Suppressed Desires brings the audience into a 1914 marriage where a husband, wife, and her sister interrogate the psychological meaning of every conscious and unconscious utterance. All shows take place in Adelphi’s Performing Art Center’s Black Box Theatre. $25, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.
Trump is welcomed to L.I. by a sea of red
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ & KELSIE RADZISKI of the Herald
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, vowed to the crowd at his rally on Sept. 18 at the Nassau Coliseum that he would win the vote in the state of New York in November’s election.
“It hasn’t been done in a long time,” Trump, referring to a decades-long losing streak of Republican presidential candidates in the state, “but we are going to win New York.”
Trump spoke for nearly 90 minutes at his first rally on Long Island since 2017, cheered by a sea of supporters wearing Make America Great Again hats and T-shirts and waving MAGA flags, thousands of them gathered outside the packed arena, watching on television monitors.
He denounced his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her policies, which he said would make New York “a Third World nation” if she were to win.
Trump highlighted Long Island issues and events, paying tribute to New York City Police Officer Jonathan Diller, of Massapequa, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Queens in March. The former president noted the 2016 slaying of Long Island teenagers Nisa Mickens and Kayla Cuevas, and the influx of MS-13 gang members.
“Our country’s going down,” he said. “If you look at what’s happening with the Venezuelans taking over … They’ve taken over your buildings and your land. You got to do something about it.
“That wouldn’t happen with Bruce Blakeman, I can tell you that right now,” Trump added, referring to the Republican Nassau county executive, which sparked chats of “Bruce!” from the
crowd.
This was Trump’s first rally since a second assassination attempt was reported at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15. He credited the U.S. Secret Service for stopping the attempt.
He vowed to rebuild the subways, highways and bridges in New York and across the country. He promised to reinstate the income tax deduction for state and local taxes, which his administration backed legislation to cap during his presidency. He also announced that he would make the World Trade Center site, in Lower Manhattan, a national monument maintained by the federal government — a pronouncement that was met with an enthusiastic ovation.
“That hallowed ground and the memory of those who perished there will be preserved for all time,” he said, just a week after the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Trump also addressed global affairs. “I will settle the war in Ukraine,” he said. “I got along very well with Putin,” he said, referring to Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, “and I will end the chaos in the Middle East. A vote for Kamala Harris is a vote to obliterate Israel.”
Hours before the rally, County Legislator Carrié Solages, a Democrat, condemned statements made by Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, about Haitian migrants eating residents’ pets in Springfield, Ohio, at a counterprotest with Haitians from Long Island outside the Coliseum entrance.
County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs held a protest with elected officials hours before Solages’.
Before Trump took to the stage, others expressed their support for his campaign, including Republican U.S. Representatives Anthony D’Esposito and Nick LaLota, who represent the 4th and 2nd
congressional districts, respectively. The pair are being challenged by former Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen and John Avalon in closely watched contests in November that could determine the balance of power in the House of Representatives.
In an impassioned speech, D’Esposito denounced Harris, described the Democratic Party as “dangerous” and emphasized that he “stand(s) for what Donald Trump believes in.”
“I stand for a secure border, I stand for backing law enforcement, I stand for growing our economy, I stand for putting America first,” D’Esposito said.
The Republican nominee in the 3rd Congressional District, Mike LiPetri, who hopes to flip Rep. Tom Suozzi’s seat, said he was proud to endorse Trump and his goals for his presidency.
“This is our time to restore common sense, to create safe, secure and affordable communities …,” LiPetri said, “making sure we have secure borders, a safe America, making sure we have peace across the world, making sure we’re standing with the Jewish community, and making sure we stand with Israel.”
Blakeman spoke of his priority to keep the county safe, after Nassau was recently named the safest county in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
“Nassau County protects the integrity and safety of women’s sports, and Nassau County unmasked the criminals, antisemites and hate mongers,” he said.
Blakeman called for Trump’s election in November so the country could “get back to common sense.”
“Let’s save our country, and let it start right here,” he said. “Let it start on Long Island, and go throughout the whole state of New York and the state of New Jersey and roll across America.”
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Former President Donald Trump held a rally at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale on Sept. 18, and vowed to win the state of New York in the November election.
Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was among those who enthusiastically supported the former president.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman spoke about his priority to keep the county safe.
Rally reflects Nassau’s deep political divide
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
The Nassau Coliseum parking lot was filled with vehicles displaying flags, banners and homemade posters before former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally last week. Attendees, eager to show their allegiance, dressed in MAGA hats, shirts and red, white and blue outfits, while chants of “Trump, Trump, Trump!” erupted sporadically.
For his supporters, Trump remains the best candidate to fix the nation’s economic problems and take a stand against traditional politicians. Tommy Mundy, a Trump impersonator from Long Beach, praised the former president’s record.
“He’s a great man,” Mundy said. “He’s been right on everything all along.”
Mundy also dismissed concerns about Trump’s divisive stance on social issues, including abortion.
“Politicians are wicked and evil, and he’s not a politician,” Mundy said. “I’m not too concerned about the abortion issue — let God take care of that. We’re going to do great things, and the economy’s going to get turned around.”
Edward Sass, of North Babylon, also voiced his dissatisfaction with career politicians, a common theme among the attendees. Sass said he sees Trump as a non-politician who speaks plainly and delivers results.
“You get a lot of these politicians saying, ‘We’re going to do this; we’re going to do that.’ They should have done it already,” Sass said. “Three and a half
years, and they haven’t done anything.”
Sass criticized what he described as Vice President Kamala Harris’s vague promises, as well as the growing population on Long Island.
“We’re Long Island, we’re an island, we’ve got too many people in a boat,” he said, suggesting that the region’s infra-
structure is being overwhelmed by unchecked development and population growth.
Outside the Coliseum, anti-Trump protests reflected the sharp divisions among voters. Protesters gathered just beyond the gates, holding signs and chanting, “We’re not going back,” sum-
ming up their opposition to the former president.
Ann Leahy, from Wantagh, was among them. “He’s a crook, and he’s a liar, and he’s a rapist,” she said of Trump. “He’s cruel and he’s just a horrible person. He should never get near the White House again.”
Leahy expressed disbelief at the continuing support for Trump. “He was there for four years, and he was a horror then,” she said. “He has no policies. He just repeats the same stuff over and over again, and people are falling for it. I don’t understand why people would even dream about voting for this lunatic.”
Another one of the protesters was Magalie Theodore, a Haitian immigrant from Elmont, who expressed deep frustration with Trump’s disproven claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were stealing and eating residents’ pets.
“We are mad at Trump for the lies he has made about us,” Theodore said. “We don’t eat pets. We protect pets. As a citizen from Haiti, our country is a protector. We are the first Black republic. We don’t support bullies, and that’s what he’s been doing to immigrants.”
Theodore also criticized Trump’s approach to campaigning, accusing him of attacking ethnic groups to distract from his legal troubles. She also expressed disappointment in local leaders like Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for supporting Trump.
“I thought he was going to look out for all people, but apparently, he’s not,” Theodore said of Blakeman. “He’s supporting the biggest bully in America.”
Roksana Amid/Herald photos
Magalie Theodore and Magda Guillaune defiantly made clear their oppostion to former President Trump at last week’s rally. “We don’t support bullies,” Theodore said.
Edward Sass, of North Babylon, was eager to show his support for Donald Trump.
26,
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPPLMENTAL
Public Notices
SUMMONS Supreme Court of New York, Nassau County US BANK TRUST NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff, -againstCHARLES J. WEIGAND, JR. A/K/A CHARLES J. WEIGAND, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE T. WEIGAND; BARBARA A. WEIGAND, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE T. WEIGAND; MADELYN M. WOOD, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE T. WEIGAND; UNKNOWN
HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE T. WEIGAND; CAPITAL ONE BANK USA NA; DISCOVER BANK; NEW YORK STATE
DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF THERESA ANN CHANG, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE T. WEIGAND; NASSAU COUNTY PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATOR, PURPORTED
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE T. WEIGAND; JOHN DOE (SAID NAME BEING FICTITIOUS TO REPRESENT UNKNOWN TENANTS/OCCUPANTS OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND ANY OTHER PARTY OR ENTITY OF ANY KIND, IF ANY, HAVING OR CLAIMING AN INTEREST OR LIEN UPON THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY), Defendants. Index No. 605035/2023. Mortgaged Premises: 3215 Mark Alan Drive Wantagh, NY 11793 Section: 51 Block: 494 Lot: 27. To The Above Named Defendant(s): YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. If you fail to appear or to answer within the aforementioned time frame, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECTIVE of the above captioned action is to
foreclose on a Mortgage to secure $309,004.00 and interest, recorded in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office on April 13, 2010, in Book M 34754, Page 871, Control Number 1168, covering the premises known as 3215 Mark Alan Drive, Wantagh, NY 11793. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160 Garden City, New York 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff. 148760
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACTY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. JESSICA X. VALENCIA A/K/A JESSICA VALENCIA, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 26, 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 October 22, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 214 North Fifth Street, Bethpage, NY 11714. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 46, Block 51 and Lots 27-29. Approximate amount of judgment is
$450,559.69 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #601822/2020. Cash will not be accepted.
Richard L. Farley, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 149008
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. CITIMORTGAGE, INC., SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO ABN AMRO MORTGAGE GROUP, INC., Plaintiff -againstJAMES T. HARING, if he be living and if he be dead, etc..., et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated July 17, 2023, 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 October 23, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at Wantagh, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the westerly side of Cornelius Avenue, distant 96 feet southerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the westerly side of Cornelius Avenue with the southerly side of Valentine Place; RUNNING THENCE southerly along the westerly side of Cornelius Avenue, 15 feet; THENCE Westerly at right angles to Cornelius Avenue 159 feet; THENCE southerly on a line forming an interior angle of 270 degrees with the preceding course, 81 feet; THENCE westerly at right angle to the preceding course, 66 feet; THENCE northerly at right angle to the preceding course, 96 feet; THENCE easterly at right angles to Cornelius Avenue 225 feet to the westerly side of Cornelius Avenue at the point or place of BEGINNING.
Section: 56 Block: 411 Lot: 408
All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction.
Said premises known as 1728 CORNELIUS AVENUE, WANTAGH, NY 11793
Approximate amount of lien $296,757.45 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. Index Number 15593/2013.
STEPHEN FROMMER, ESQ., Referee David A. Gallo & Associates LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030 File# 5025.1158 {* WANTAGH*} 148957
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 64-2024
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held September 17th, 2024, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 64-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 64-2024, amending Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations.
Dated: September 17, 2024
Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.
Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 149129
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
LOCAL LAW NO. 65-2024
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held September 17th, 2024, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 65-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 65-2024, amending Section 197-5 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “ARTERIAL STOPS” at various locations.
Dated: September 17, 2024 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.
Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 149130
LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU ______ MIDFIRST BANK Plaintiff, vs. Any unknown heirs to the Estate of ANTHONY PASCUCCI, SR. next of kin, devisees, legatees, distributees, grantees, assignees, creditors, lienors, trustees, executors, administrators or successors in interest, as well as the respective heirs at law, next of kin, devisees, legatees, distributees, grantees, assignees, lienors, trustees, executors, administrators or successors in interest of the aforesaid classes of persons, if they or any of them be dead, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff; SARA PASCUCCI; ANTHONY PASCUCCI, JR.; MELVILLE SURGERY CENTER LLC; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; and “JOHN DOE” and “MARY DOE,” Defendants. _____ Filed: 09/28/2023 Index No.: 615761/2023 SUMMONS Mortgaged Premises: 35 Berkshire Road Bethpage, (Town of Oyster Bay) NY 11714 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a
Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is for the foreclosure of: Mortgage bearing the date of April 30, 2015, executed by Rosa Pascucci and Anthony Pascucci Sr., wife and husband, and Concetta Pascucci, an unmarried woman to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (“MERS”), as mortgagee, as nominee for Envoy Mortgage, LTD. to secure the sum of $422,211.00, and interest, and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Nassau County on May 8, 2015 in Liber Book: M 40396 Page: 674. That Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as Nominee for Envoy Mortgage, LTD duly assigned said Note and Mortgage to Roundpoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation by Assignment dated June 13, 2018 and recorded on June 29, 2018 in the Office of the Clerk of Nassau County in Instrument No.: 2018-57164 Volume: 42916 Page: 700. Loan Modification bearing the date of January 3, 2019, executed by Rosa Pascucci and Anthony Pascucci Sr., wife and husband, and Concetta Pascucci, an unmarried woman to Roundpoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation to secure the sum of $487,274.66, with interest, and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Nassau County on February 5, 2019 in Instrument No.: 2019-11586 Volume: 43282 Page: 813. That Roundpoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation duly assigned said Note and Mortgage to Freedom Mortgage Corporation by Assignment dated November 24, 2020 and recorded on December 2, 2020 in the Office of the Clerk of Nassau County in Instrument No.: 2020-116108 Volume: 44778 Page: 789. That
Roundpoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation duly assigned said Note and Mortgage to Freedom Mortgage Corporation by Correction Assignment dated August 14, 2023 and recorded on September 7, 2023 in the Office of the Clerk of Nassau County in Instrument No.: 2023-52998 Volume: 47269 Page: 288. That Freedom Mortgage Corporation duly assigned said Note and Mortgage to U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee for RMTP Trust, Series 2021 Cottage-TT-V by Assignment dated February 8, 2022 and recorded on April 6, 2022 in the Office of the Clerk of Nassau County in Instrument No.: 2022-41342 Volume: 46506 Page: 410. That U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Legal Title Trustee for RMTP Trust, Series 2021 Cottage-TT-V duly assigned said Note and Mortgage to MidFirst Bank, a federally chartered savings association by Assignment dated April 6, 2023 and recorded on April 21, 2023 in the Office of the Clerk of Nassau County in Instrument No.: 2023-23736 Volume: 47120 Page: 254. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the Mortgaged Premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. The basis of venue is the County in which the Mortgaged Premises is situated. Section:46 Block:421 Lot:4
DATED:September 13, 2024 Rochester, New York NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the Mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose
your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your Mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. SCHEDULE A LEGAL DESCRIPTION ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as and by Lot Number 4, Block 421, on a certain map entitled, “Map of Village Homes, Section 3, situate at Bethpage, Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, N.Y.”, June 1949, Bartlett, Ludlen & Dill, 89 Montague Street, Brooklyn, N.Y.” filed in the Office of the Clerk of Nassau County on March 22nd, 1950 as Map No. 4895, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the northerly side of Berkshire Road, distant 140.50 feet easterly from the easterly end of the curve, which curve connects the northerly side of Berkshire Road with the easterly side of Norfolk Lane, and from said point of beginning; RUNNING THENCE North 30 degrees 15 minutes 38 seconds East, a distance of 100 feet; THENCE South 59 degrees 44 minutes 22 seconds East, a distance of 63.57 feet; THENCE South 30 degrees 15 minutes 38 seconds West, a distance of 100 feet to the northerly side of Berkshire Road; THENCE North 59 degrees 44 minutes 22 seconds West, a distance of 63.57 feet to the point or place of BEGINNING. 149114
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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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‘We did everything right, or so we thought’
Q. We are trying to understand why we did everything right, or so we thought, and now have to start over with getting a permit and inspections so we can move on. First, we thought the whole construction process was over a year ago, but now find that we got an ultimatum, in the form of a notice that we will get a summons to appear in court if we don’t respond, and the inspector said that the plans we have are no longer good. We read your column about this and it created even more questions, like: What if we just drop it and don’t respond, and why do we have to make new plans? We did make some changes, but isn’t that normal? We wanted to get it right, and the changes were hardly noticeable to anyone else. What do you think we should do?
A.Do something, as opposed to doing nothing. If you do nothing, you may get the summons to appear in court, and after the appearance, you more likely will receive a judgment in addition to a fine, plus an order to still follow through or receive more fines and judgments. The timing of all of this is up to your building inspector and your building department as to the amount of time that will pass before any of this happens. I have clients who have done nothing for 20 years, and several who sold their property to unsuspecting buyers who still have to follow through, someday.
The fine may be affordable, but it’s still a fine. The judgment either forces you to comply or appeal. An appeal can cost as much or more in legal and court fees than just complying.
The only cases in which there were serious legal consequences that I have any experiences with both ended badly. Both involved much more serious problems, with building violations of a dangerous condition, and both ended with the building being condemned and bulldozed. Each was seriously structurally deficient and had multiple code violations. While your situation may not be like these, you should consult an attorney about your options, since resisting compliance changes from a building permit to a legal matter.
In most jurisdictions, when you make changes to the house that no longer match the plans, the building department may only ask for a letter from the design professional, as I recently mentioned in an earlier column. That would be a lie if you made so many changes or the changes were significant. I’ve often dealt with situations in which the owner and contractor made changes that moved the load-bearing walls off of the structural load path, and now the second floor is bowing. That type of change is significant, and could lead to irritating cracking that will not go away no matter how many times repairs are made.
Changes without communication are a bad idea. Your officials are trying, indirectly, to confirm safety and code compliance. Good luck!
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After
all the drama, it’s a dead heat
It seems as if barely a week goes by in the presidential campaign without one more otherwise once-in-adecade, totally unexpected event occurring.
Almost relegated to the background in all this tumult are the multitude of criminal charges brought against Donald Trump, including 34 felony convictions in one case alone, which have only increased his favorability ratings to their highest level ever.
For starters, there was the Biden-Trump CNN debate fiasco in late June, in which President Biden virtually self-destructed in real time before a nationwide audience. At times incoherent and appearing hopelessly confused, Biden had no sooner left the debate stage than Democratic Party leaders, consultants and media types displayed their own levels of incoherence in expressing their shock and dismay over how poorly Biden had performed and their fear of his impending defeat in November, especially contrasted with Trump’s relatively effective performance. Biden insisted he was going for-
ward, and conducted a media tour to rescue his terminally wounded candidacy.
While all this was taking place, Trump barely escaped death in Butler, Pennsylvania, when an attempted assassin’s bullet missed his skull by an inch, clipping his right ear and resulting in the iconic photo of his bloody defiance. Then there was the Republican Convention in Milwaukee, which, except for an overly long acceptance speech by Trump, worked to perfection. Trump’s path to victory seemed clear.
TThen, out of nowhere on a Sunday afternoon, Biden announced that he would not run for re-election. Though he had won the overwhelming majority of delegates to the impending Democratic National Convention, he couldn’t withstand the coordinated move against him from all sides of the Democratic Party, from the actor George Clooney to party leaders Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. Almost simultaneously with his withdrawal statement, Biden announced his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. Though her favorability numbers had been lower than Biden’s, she unexpectedly surged into a dead heat with Trump. This was followed by a
Bigotry
With precious weeks to go before the November election, I had hoped that we would be having a real debate about the issues that should dominate in a federal election year. I refer to such things as election integrity, a woman’s right to choose, the economy and other relevant subjects in such a crucial year. But instead, it seems that for some of the candidates, the only issue is race.
When Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee of the Democratic Party, I understood that her mixed-race history would be a boon to some bigots who considered her selection a chance to vent against all people of color. And with every passing day, we hear about some politician openly venting about her color. The chief culprit has been former President Donald Trump, who seizes every opportunity he can to stoke the culture wars.
carefully choreographed Democratic Convention in Chicago, at which Harris appeared to make headway by repositioning herself as a moderate, not the progressive she had always been.
rump can’t just criticize current policies, and Harris can’t just say she’s not Joe Biden.
Seemingly caught off guard by Harris’s emergence, Trump made a number of unforced errors, including saying he hadn’t known until recently that Harris was black. He was clearly off his game. Polls showed Harris with a slight but growing edge. This was followed by their debate, in which Harris was acknowledged to be the victor.
Yet in another surprise development, the postdebate polls not only showed almost no real gain by Harris, but also found increased voter doubts about her on gut issues like immigration and the economy. It was now a horse race, and both sides were gearing up for the stretch run.
Then again came the unexpected: another assassination attempt against Trump, this time while he was playing the fifth hole of his Mar-a-Lago golf course. For days the media focused on this almost-tragedy. How did the Secret Service allow the would-be assassin to get so close to Trump so soon after the attempt in Butler in July? How much
did incendiary rhetoric contribute to this political violence?
This tumultuous, unprecedented 2024 campaign is now in its final six weeks, and is back where it started in earnest almost a year ago. Despite all that has happened along the way, the polls show the race is too close to call. Hopefully the candidates and voters will use the time between now and Nov. 5 to focus on the issues.
Real people are hurt by high prices for groceries. It’s difficult for young people to obtain a mortgage to buy a home. Crime is real, and repeat offenders are back on the streets. Illegal immigration is rampant, and attacks by criminal gangs are increasing.
Overseas, Israel is fighting for its survival. The Russia-Ukraine war rages unabated, while China continues to expand its military and threaten its neighbors, particularly Taiwan and the Philippines.
Trump must do more than criticize current policies, and detail what measures he would take. Harris must do more than just say that she’s not Joe Biden. And all of us must live up to the responsibilities and challenges of living in a democracy.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
must not dominate this election
One of his first shots in the current hate debate was his questioning of Harris’s race. At one of his campaign rallies, he asked if she really was Black. Eventually, when Trump found that this diatribe wasn’t catching on with his voters, he moved on to other highly sensitive racial areas.
TKeep in mind that he has often played the race card. One of his most memorable racist comments concerned the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Despite his continuous denials, there were multiple press stories that quoted him as saying there were “very fine people, on both sides.”
Their most recent target was the Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. It’s a fact that various groups that cross the border often seek to settle in places that other immigrants have chosen as their home.
he governor of Ohio and the mayor of Springfield have denied vile claims.
In order to keep the racial flames burning, both Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, have made immigration the focal point of their campaign. There is no doubt that the border issue has legitimacy, but the TrumpVance approach is to stoke the racial fires with claims that mental patients and convicts are invading the country. Neither man has come up with any proof that these claims are legitimate.
The Haitians in Springfield are in this country as part of a program that allows immigrants to seek asylum based on violence in their countries. That program was created by President Ronald Reagan, and has been honored by all subsequent presidents, with the exception of Trump. This same program allows in residents of Ukraine and Venezuela, whose countries are experiencing great turmoil. Trump and Vance continue to spread the lie that members of Springfield’s Haitian community are stealing people’s pets and eating them. Their claims have caused massive angst in that city, where schools and municipal activities have shut down. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, the mayor of Springfield and other city officials have vehemently denied that such activities have taken place, but the Trump-Vance meanness continues unabated. There is no doubt that Spring-
field is dealing with an influx of Haitians who are trying to find work there, but the false rumors continue.
Adding to the venom were remarks Vance made on the Sunday talk shows on Sept. 15. He was challenged for continuing to assert the false pet-eating claims. “If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do,” he told Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The latest attempt to assassinate Trump should have resulted in his toning down the incendiary talk coming from him and his campaign team. But after a soft comment expressing his appreciation for the public’s support, he claimed that the Democrats were responsible for the assassination attempts “with their ugly rhetoric about me.” That kind of response can only bring about more toxic threats at a time when calm should be the byword.
Jerry Kremer was an assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
HeraLd editoriaL
Deadly Wild West in our backyard
One year ago, the Herald published the editorial below, about a spate of reckless driving on the Southern State Parkway. Unfortunately, in light of the devastating news that a number of Long Island teens have lost their lives in several recent crashes, we are once again somberly reminded that reckless drivers put at risk not only their own lives, but also the lives of others. We recommend that local municipalities and law enforcement agencies schedule town halls to discuss how best to stem the tide of reckless driving on Long Island — from speeding to texting, and everything in between, whether on a parkway or a local street. In the meantime, we reprint our editorial from the Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2023, issue.
Drive a mere exit or two on any of Long Island’s main thoroughfares and you are sure to see at least one roadside shrine remembering the victim of a fatal car crash.
These memorials — already too commonplace — will only become more ubiquitous if nothing is done to stem the rising tide of dangerous drivers on these roads. In fact, just last week, sadly, Peninsula Boulevard was the site of two
Letters
The utilities thrive on environment-damaging fossil fuels
To the Editor:
As the country and the rest of the world have experienced another year of scorching heat waves, private, for-profit utility companies — which we rely on for our basic necessities, like heating, cooling and electricity — are keeping us reliant on climate-wrecking fossil fuels while reporting record profits. When they work well, utilities exist in the background of our lives: They power our homes, cool us down when it’s hot, and give us heat when it’s cold. But too often they are sources of aggravation: The power goes off when it’s dangerously hot or cold out, our bills skyrocket, and these for-profit companies threaten to shut off services when we’re unable to pay.
We know that climate change raises those stakes even higher, and utility companies themselves play a massive role in exacerbating the climate crisis: 80 percent of the electric utilities in the U.S. run on fossil fuels.
Shifting utilities to clean energy is integral to working toward a safer climate, but these companies would rather maintain the status quo and keep the public in the dark.
separate fatal accidents. On the same day.
We have all seen the tricked-out cars and motorcycles that zig and zag through traffic — exceeding the speed limit in spades — with no concern about repercussions from law enforcement or consequences for the lives of others.
That sickening feeling you get when your heart skips a beat, and you thank heaven to be alive, because yet another vehicle comes out of nowhere at 100 mph to cut you off, and then does the same thing to the next car? And the next? Too many of us Long Islanders know this feeling all too well.
Reckless (and noisy) drivers — threatening both public safety and community tranquility — are operating with impunity. And they know it.
Their cars are hard to miss, with their illegally modified mufflers that can be heard miles away at all hours of the day and night. Illegal license plate covers and fake temporary tags protect their callous disregard for law and order by making it impossible for anyone to identify them, including law enforcement tools like speed cameras. And their friends are now sometimes even setting up lawn chairs on the side of the high-
way to watch cars race in broad daylight — missing the irony that a crash victim’s memorial is often just over their shoulders.
More than 75 people lost their lives, and another 13,000 were injured, in nearly 37,000 traffic accidents in Nassau County last year. Those are unacceptable numbers.
It’s difficult to find law enforcement on these central thruways, especially on the Southern State Parkway — one of Nassau County’s deadliest roads — between the Cross Island Parkway and Heckscher State Park.
We need more, not less, patrolling of our roads. We need more, not less, enforcement of sensible laws already on the books. We need more, not less, coordination between state and local law enforcement. And we need more stringent laws and harsher penalties coming out of Albany so that we can make these reckless drivers as scared to continue these dangerous activities as we are to witness them.
We implore all jurisdictions to work together to rein in the scourge of irresponsible, dangerous and selfish drivers. Because even one more roadside shrine is one too many.
our money to burn our future while individuals and families struggle. We deserve an energy system that allows everyone to have access to clean and affordable energy.
LISA KONRAD
opinions
Buried in our uniforms: a call to protect firefighters
Beyond law enforcement and the military, few professions are so deeply ingrained in one’s soul and evoke such a profound connection that members would choose to be buried in their uniforms. Fire service members’ love for their profession is part of their DNA, and integral to their very being.
I write this with a sense of frustration. Far too often, we get news of another firefighter’s death from cancer. These dedicated servants, in all likelihood, were or will be buried in their uniforms.
We must do better, and prevent the lives of our brothers and sisters from being cut short.
At what point do we say, ‘Enough’? When do we take a stand to ensure the future health of firefighters? Cancer has been an increasingly common diagnosis among them for a while now, and it’s time for leadership to take the steps that are needed to address this issue head on. We are all aware that firefighters are exposed to myriad harmful substances during their service. These dangers
range from toxic fumes to hazardous chemicals, and they accumulate in our bodies, taking a toll on our health. Despite advancements in safety gear and procedures, the risks remain significant, and acknowledging them isn’t enough. We must take definitive action to mitigate them.
Leadership in fire departments and governmental bodies must prioritize the health and safety of their firefighters. This includes implementing common-sense procedures that account for firefighters’ long-term health and well-being, and that ensure policy accountability.
Screenings, training, culture
L
firefighters to better protect themselves, reducing the likelihood of exposure and subsequent health issues.
Fostering a culture that prioritizes long-term health within the fire service is essential. Firefighters often prioritize the immediate mission over their health, but shifting this mindset to one that also values ongoing health is critical. Promoting a culture of health awareness encourages firefighters to take proactive steps to protect their health, both on and off the job.
eadership in fire departments must prioritize firefighters’ safety.
Regular and thorough health screenings should be mandatory to catch potential issues early. Early detection is crucial for effective treatment. If their health problems are identified earlier, firefighters have a better chance of successful treatment and recovery, ultimately saving lives.
Firefighters need detailed training on the risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances and on best practices to minimize those risks. That includes using firefighting gear correctly and understanding decontamination procedures. Proper training empowers
Letters
Does the proposed Equal Rights Amendment go too far?
To the Editor:
After reading Sasha Ahuja’s letter (“Curran’s wrong about the ‘war on women,’” Sept. 5-11), in support of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment, which will be on New York ballots in November, I decided to ask Google to tell me exactly what the proposed constitutional amendment says. This is what I learned:
“No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this state or any subdivision thereof. No person shall, because of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed, or religion, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy, be subjected to any discrimination in their civil rights by any other person or by any firm, corporation, or institution, or by the state or any agency or subdivision of the state pursuant to law.”
I’m wondering if the amendment might go too far or be too broad in its
scope. Adding anything to the Constitution is a very big deal, since changing our minds after the fact may be very difficult in practice. Voters need to understand the complexities before casting a vote.
Personally, I’d have no issue with the amendment if it granted equal rights and equal protection to everyone regardless of “race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed, or religion, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression” — but it doesn’t stop there. The final clause gives women an unlimited right to abortion on demand, regardless of the stage of gestation.
While many argued for or against the removal of “reproductive freedom” as guaranteed by Roe v. Wade, most would agree that abortion has been a hotly debated topic. As such, I do not feel it should be part of a bigger amendment like Prop 1. Instead, let’s get Prop 1 passed without its final clause, and then allow ample discussion time before trying to get a separate amendment passed that deals exclusively with whether a woman’s “right to privacy” trumps the right to life of the unborn, and if so, when?
PAm
SINGER
Malverne
ter, and to make informed tactical and strategic decisions that will benefit future generations of firefighters. Simply stated, we assist in size-up by joining the NFR.
Protecting our health
We are buried in our uniforms. This must not just be a symbol of our dedication, but a call to protect ourselves. It’s time to say ‘Enough’ and make the changes that will ensure the future health of our firefighters.
More is needed
We also must be part of the solution, and provide the information that’s needed to develop better strategies and tactics for combating cancer in the fire service. That’s why today, I ask you, whether you are a career or volunteer firefighter, active or retired, to join the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer.
Firefighters understand the value of size-up on the fireground. The information that we gain is critical to informing our strategies and tactics, leading to successful outcomes and lives saved. This is the same way that the NFR aims to “size up” and assess cancer risks.
This information will be used to help us understand occupational cancer bet-
Please join the NFR today. The sacrifices that were made by those who were diagnosed with cancer are a stark reminder of the urgency of this issue. Let’s honor them by taking action. Sign up at cdc.gov/niosh/firefighters/registry.html.
Frank Leeb is the managing director of the First Responder Center for Excellence. He previously served as a deputy assistant chief in the New York City Fire Department, and retired in June after more than 30 years. During his tenure with the FDNY, he held several senior staff positions, including chief of the fire academy, chief of training and chief of safety. He has also been a member of the East Farmingdale Fire Department since 1983. He can be contacted at firstresponderconsultant@gmail.com. This article first appeared in Firehouse magazine (firehouse.com) in August.
Framework courtesy Peter Moran
Soaking in the Secret Lagoon hot springs — Fludir, Iceland
Frank LeeB
