Jeff Wilson/Herald
long Island champions!
Wantagh defeated two-time defending Long Island Class IV football champion Bayport-Blue Point, 29-21, last Friday at Hofstra University for its first L.I. title since 2016. Story, more photos, Page 6.
Annual hot chocolate run/walk set for Saturday Seaford Wellness Council hosts 5K fundraiser at high school
By JoSIE RACETTE Intern
The Seaford Wellness Council is gearing up for its 19th annual Hot Chocolate 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, a fundraiser for the community and one of the organization’s most successful events of the year.
The annual fundraiser, which will take place at Seaford High School, is spearheaded by the wellness council, a nonprofit organization comprising teachers, business owners, local government leaders and residents.
The group’s aim is to create a positive change in the community, with a mission statement that reads, “Our goal is to assist in the improvement of the Seaford community’s quality of life by promoting general community wellness.”
Michael Di Silvio, the council’s president, began working with the organization 20 years ago after coaching his daughter’s softball and track teams. As a business owner, he knew Seaford well and wanted to do more for the community.
“It was refreshing to just use my spare time in a way that I was able to put back into the community,” Di Silvio said.
Di Silvio and the rest of the council’s board decided 20 years ago that the first event they wanted to revive was the run/walk, recalling when he was a runner in the 1980s and took part in the event. They brought the run back in 2004, after a 15-year gap, and now, as council president, Di Silvio said he enjoys watching the runners, families and casual walkers participate.
“It’s a great way for families to get together and enjoy a healthy walk/run,” Frank DiGregorio, a council officer who participates in the walk every year, said.
At the outset, about 200 people participated, and right before the pandemic, the number increased to almost 1,000, but then the council was unable to hold the event for two years. All the funds earned from the event go to community programs and events. Raffles are held, and bagels and hot chocolate are offered to the participants.
Di Silvio said the course has always remained the same, but the council might change where it ends. Instead of starting and ending at the front of the high school, the event will end on the school’s track if there are no conflicts with sporting events.
Understanding the 2024 election League of Women Voters meeting highlights voter demographics, results
By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
At the Nov. 20 meeting of the League of Women Voters of East Nassau, attendees were treated to an indepth analysis of last month’s presidential election and what the results could mean for the future.
The league is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that works to protect and expand voting rights throughout the country. Its East Nassau chapter encompasses Wantagh, Seaford, Levittown, Merrick, Bellmore and East Meadow. Joining the meeting were members of the Central Nassau chapter, which includes Baldwin, Freeport, Uniondale, Oceanside and West Hempstead.
leave the meeting, which was held at the Levittown Public Library, with a better understanding of what happened on Election Day.
“I would like them to have a broader sense of the objective details of what happened,” Leiter said. “It was a good opportunity for them to air out their individual concerns.”
I think it’s extremely important, when you start analyzing the election, to look at who actually came out and what was happening there.
RoSANNA PERoTTI Professor of political science, Hofstra University
Ann Leiter, president of the Central Nassau chapter, said the organization encourages people to get out and vote, and also aims to educate voters on political topics. Leiter added that she hoped attendees would
Rosanna Perotti, professor of political science at Hofstra University, spoke at the meeting. Her presentation about the election touched on voter turnout, the candidates’ policies and economic trends. The turnout for the 2024 election, Perotti said, was similar to 2020’s, but this time with a clear advantage for Republicans. Citing reporting from The New York Times, she said that counties with the largest Democratic margins in 2020 delivered roughly 2 million fewer votes for Vice President Kamala Harris than they had for Joe Biden, while Republican counties added around 1.2 million votes
Continued on page 11
St. Frances de Chantal church brings community together with a heartwarming Thanksgiving feast
By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
St. Frances de Chantal Roman Catholic Church in Wantagh continued its decadeslong tradition of hosting a Thanksgiving feast on Nov. 28, bringing together individuals and families for a warm meal and fellowship.
The free event welcomed everyone, whether they were facing food insecurity or simply looking for a place to celebrate the holiday.
It has been a wonderful parish. The people here are very warm, very generous, they are caring, and this came out of their faith.
RE v. SEtH
AWo Doku
St. Frances de Chantal Roman Catholic Church
“It’s for anyone, not just people who are lonely,” said Doreen McDonald, who has been organizing the event alongside her husband, Tom, for nearly 28 years. “Some of the people here feel like this is their family of choice on Thanksgiving. Everybody has a story, and everybody is welcome.”
The menu, catered by Delicious Moments and funded by the parish, included turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables. Community members donated additional items like drinks and tablecloths, helping to create a festive atmosphere. Volunteers prepared the food, served meals, and sat
with attendees to share stories and conversation.
“We’ve never been on a deficit of help, ever,” Doreen said. “There’s so many people who want to do it.”
Tom reflected on the rewarding nature of the event. “Seeing a person
who might not be having a good time in their life, and for two hours they get to have a meal and make new friends— that’s what makes it special,” he said.
The McDonalds’ involvement in organizing the feast stems from their early volunteer experiences and a shared desire to give back. Before they were married, the couple boxed up leftover turkey from a Thanksgiving meal at a San Diego hotel and shared it with those in need. That gesture inspired their commitment to community service, eventually leading them to lead the church’s Thanksgiving efforts.
The feast also included prayers led by the church’s pastor, Rev. Seth Awo Doku, and associate pastor, Rev. Shaju Devassy. Afterward, Doreen played and sang “Amazing Grace” on the piano, adding a heartfelt touch to the celebration.
“It has been a wonderful parish,” said Rev. Doku. “The people here are very warm, very generous, they are caring, and this came out of their faith.”
In addition to the meal, the parish social ministry distributed 100 Thanksgiving boxes, each filled with a day’s worth of food, including a turkey. Director Ele Melendez said they plan to prepare 150 Christmas boxes with hams for families in need.
The church’s Thanksgiving tradition continues to embody the spirit of gratitude and community.
B’nai Torah’s Junior Players bring a classic story to life
By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Temple B’nai Torah in Wantagh will host several performances of “Peter Pan Jr.” this weekend, presented by its Junior Players. The production brings together 29 young actors, ranging in age from 5 to 15, to reenact the beloved tale of Peter Pan and his adventures in Neverland.
Lori Waiting, producer of “Peter Pan Jr.,” said the play was chosen for its ability to include all participants.
“We were looking for something specific that would encompass all of the kids, the boys, the girls, kind of very inclusive of everyone,” she said.
Rehearsals for the production began in early September, with weekly Sunday sessions. Waiting described the children’s progress as “amazing,” noting their ability to embrace their roles and perform without a vocal track. It’s been fascinating, she said, to watch them learn and grow as performers.
For many of the younger children, “Peter Pan Jr.” marks their introduction to the story. Waiting emphasized the importance of keeping the experience enjoyable. “We just want them to be here and be happy and want them to be involved in something,” she said.
The play is directed by Alisa Baroukh, who is making her directorial debut.
“I love working in the theater and I love working with the kids,” she said. “I thought it would be great to take a vision and make it happen.”
Baroukh highlighted the collaborative atmosphere, with older, more experienced participants mentoring younger cast members, fostering leadership and camaraderie.
The production features lively set pieces, including a pirate ship and a nursery, designed with the help of temple member Mark Plavin. One standout scene, referred to as “the monster scene,” combines five songs and brings together the pirates, lost boys, and brave girls. “The cues are hard, but their rehearsals have shown that they are up for the challenge,” Baroukh said.
Choreographer Sarah Reilly, 22, who has acted in temple productions since age 10, described her role as fulfilling.
“When it actually all comes together and seeing them execute it, I just feel so proud and so happy to see them bring it to life,” Reilly said.
Arielle Minkowsky, 12, plays Wendy, the eldest child of the Darling family and one of the main protagonists, next to Peter Pan, who is played by 13-yearold Elijah Baroukh. Arielle said she is looking forward to seeing the younger performers hit the stage.
“I really like having the little kids in it because they add an energy to it,” Ari-
Shaw/Herald
Temple B’nai Torah’s Junior Players are set to be in several performances of ‘Peter Pan Jr.,’ reenacting the beloved tale of Peter Pan and his adventures in Neverland. Play organizers said rehearsals have shown that the children are up for the challenge
elle said.
For 13-year-old Jordan Waiting, who plays Tiger Lily, the experience has been especially rewarding.
“They’re almost like little sisters,” she said of the younger cast members. “Being with them, entertaining them, and getting to know them has been really fun.”
Performances will take place at Temple B’nai Torah. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Come and see the show!
• Temple B’nai Torah in Wantagh will present ‘Peter Pan Jr.’ on Saturday, Dec. 7, and Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., with a matinee on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m.
• Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors 65 and over, and $10 for youth 18 and younger. For more information, contact Lori at TBTJuniorPlayers@tbtwantagh.org or call 516-221-2370.
Charles Shaw/Herald
Doreen McDonald, left, with her husband, Tom, at the St. Frances de Chantal Roman Catholic Church Thanksgiving feast. The McDonalds have helped organize the event for around 28 years.
Charles
5K run/walk helps fund wellness council programs
The council has a lengthy list of accomplishments in the community, including co-sponsoring events and the restoration and beautification of community spaces. The wellness council’s building is located on Sunset Avenue in Seaford, surrounded by the Seaford Manor Elementary School and Seaford High School.
The council has a small board that runs the organization, including two treasurers and three secretaries, in addition to four officers and a social media person. The board focuses on the community, taking on any project that benefits the community. While some projects are larger than others, the council puts the same level of effort into each.
“If we want to take on a project, we move quickly and we make sure we get it done, and done right,” Di Silvio said.
I t was refreshing to just use my spare time in a way that I was able to put back into the community.
MIchael DI
SIlvIo President, Seaford Wellness Council
The wellness council runs programs throughout the year, sometimes in partnerships with other organizations, as well as youth programs and socials for older adults. The council also works with the Seaford schools to sponsor people to talk to students about leadership, substance abuse, motivation and life experiences.
“We try to have people who can give presentations to the students on topics that are important and timely,” Di Silvio said.
in last year’s Hot Chocolate 5K, miles munro, left, of Seaford, was the winner, Brady mcgowan,
finished second, and Betsy eickelberg, of amityville, came in third.
In addition, the council and Seaford Public Library host summer concerts, and the council co-sponsors the Veterans Day “Field of Honor” with the Seaford American Legion.
The council is credited with several other accomplishments, including construction of the gazebo at the Seaford train station, the renovation and cleanliness of the Washington Avenue Park and many more
Serving Our Community with:
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• Pre-arrangement planning in your home or our office
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• Specialized in Veterans Benefits
restoration and cleanup projects.
Di Silvio mentioned that senior board members are most likely retiring in the next year or two, and the council is looking for new board members who are “dedicated, energetic people” and can bring ideas to make a meaningful impact in the community.
A Baker’s Dozen Reasons to Use a Trust
1. Trusts can shield your assets from the high cost of home care making you eligible for home health aides through the Medicaid program.
2. Trusts start the five year “look-back” for institutional care, making you eligible for Medicaid benefits to pay for a nursing home.
3. Trusts can ensure the inheritances you leave will stay in the bloodline for your grandchildren and not end up with in-laws and their families.
4. Trusts can provide who takes over if you become disabled – guaranteeing you get the person you choose instead of a court-appointed legal guardian.
5. Trusts can avoid a will contest from heirs you leave out or ones that receive less than they think they are entitled to.
6. Trusts give you immediate access to assets on death unlike wills which can take months and
sometimes years to probate.
7. Trusts can provide supervision and protection for special needs and other children who have issues with handling financial matters.
8. Trusts can reduce and often eliminate estate taxes for couples with taxable estates.
9. Trusts can avoid guardianship proceedings for gifts made to grandchildren.
10. Trusts can avoid the problems of locating unknown heirs or dealing with heirs abroad.
11. Trusts can move assets out of your estate for income and estate purposes.
12. Trusts can avoid the expense, delay and publicity of a probate court proceeding for your property in New York and out of state.
13. Trusts can protect the inheritances you leave from your children’s divorces, lawsuits and creditors.
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Mike Monahan/Herald
also of Seaford,
Winter Wonderland delights in Wantagh
The Wantagh Museum transformed into a holiday hub on Nov. 30 during the Winter Wonderland event.
Hosted by the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the John Theissen Children’s Foundation, families enjoyed carolers singing holiday tunes, a petting zoo, and photos with Santa and the Grinch. Attendees shopped for holiday gifts while savoring treats from vendors like Pies-on-Wheels, Simply Greekalicious, and Pips Pit. The first 500 families received swag bags, and guests supported the John Theissen Children’s Foundation by donating new, unwrapped toys.
The festive evening ended abruptly when a small fire broke out, leading to the cancellation of the tree and menorah lighting. No injuries were reported.
— Charles Shaw
Tim Baker/Herald photos Town of Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, left, with Santa and Legislator Michael Giangregorio at the Winter Wonderland festival on Nov. 30.
Laura Dupkin Memisha, left, with Jeff Memisha, Nick Barberio, Christopher Kaufman and Richie Dupkin enjoying the festivities at the holiday event.
Members of Miss Wantagh Faith Stallone, left, Ariana Chavez, Evelyn Caputo and Mairead Hotz got into the holiday spirit at the annual Winter Wonderland.
There was something for everyone at the Winter Wonderland event, including a petting zoo for kids.
The Jeweltones performed ‘Deck the Halls’ in front of the Wantagh Museum.
HERALD SPORTS
Wantagh dethrones Bayport for L.I. title
By TONY BELLISSIMO sports@liherald.com
Wantagh faced a daunting task in the Long Island Class IV football title game against two-time reigning champion Bayport-Blue Point, owners of the second-longest winning streak on L.I. behind Garden City at 34.
But the run came to an end last Friday afternoon at the hands of the Warriors.
Wantagh, behind quarterback Ryan Conigliaro, Dylan Martini, Joe Nicholson and John Gendels, found the end zone every quarter and knocked off the Phantoms, 29-21, before a crowd of 1,500 at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.
Conigliaro threw three touchdown passes — one each to Martini, Nicholson and Gendels — and Martini delivered a scoring strike to Nicholson out of a Wildcat formation as Wantagh (11-1) captured its first L.I. crown since beating East Islip in 2016 for Class III supremacy. There were no Long Island championships when the Warriors won the Nassau Conference IV title in the spring of 2021.
“We have an exceptional group of kids and I couldn’t be happier for them,” said head coach Keith Sachs, who a week earlier guided the Warriors to a fifth county title in his 32nd year at the helm. “You don’t accomplish this without everyone on board and these kids were all on board
since last season ended,” he added. “Their work ethic has been second to none and they deserved to experience this. It’s awesome.”
Martini rushed for 142 yards, giving him 1,976 on the year to go with 28 touchdowns on the ground. He and Gendels led a ground attack that dominated all year but surprisingly didn’t produce a score in the finale.
“We knew we had to throw the ball today with the way Bayport was stacking the box,” Sachs said. “[Conigliaro] Ryan was tremendous. He’s underrated as a quarterback. He’s also our baseball shortstop and he’s a winner.”
Conigliaro and his counterpart, Bayport senior Cooper Fuller, combined for 5 passing touchdowns, no turnovers and only four incompletions. Conigliaro went 13-for-16 for 168 yards; Fuller was 6-for-7 for 135 yards and two scores through the air and added 100 yards rushing.
“Greatest feeling in my life,” said Conigliaro, whose touchdown passes covered 17 (Nicholson), 24 (Martini) and 21 (Gendels) yards. “I couldn’t have had this kind of a game without the offensive line and my receivers,” he added. “Everyone just gave it all they had. Our game plan going in was to win at all costs.”
The Warriors trailed 14-7 late in the first half but had a magical two-minute drill that featured a hook-and-ladder for a first down and culminated with a touchdown grab by Martini in the corner of the end zone with 12 seconds remaining. Martini then hit senior Oliver Iacobazzi for the two-point conversion and Wantagh led 15-14 at halftime.
“Even though we were up one at the half, we got pushed around a little and
knew we had to be better,” Sachs said. “The way we came out in the second half was huge.”
As they did in the first quarter when senior two-way lineman Chris Romano recovered a Bayport fumble that led to Nicholson’s first touchdown, the Warriors scored on their opening drive of the third quarter to lead 22-14. They marched 61 yards on eight plays, capped by Gendels’ touchdown set up by a key 15-yard reception by junior Devin Paccione.
Wantagh’s next drive was a backbreaker for the Phantoms, who hadn’t lost since the 2021 Suffolk Division IV final. It covered 93 yards on 13 plays and ate up more than eight minutes of clock time. Sachs unleashed the Wildcat with the O-line of Romano, Shareef McMillan, Andrew Perez, Anthony Calise, Joe Valentino and Tommy Wunderlich providing Martini with time to operate.
Nicholson caught two passes from Conigliaro totaling 31 yards and the final 18 on a dart from Martini, and it was 29-14 with 7:20 left after Nick Figueroa’s extra point.
“Good things happen when Martini has the ball,” Sachs said. “He’s special.”
The same can be said of Fuller, who kept Bayport alive with a dynamic drive on the ensuing possession. He twice kept the chains moving with fourthdown completions and found tight end Sean Coffey for a 12-yard touchdown with 4:38 to
Wantagh head coach Keith Sachs, left, embraced quarterback Ryan Conigliaro after the Warriors held off Bayport-Blue Point, 29-21, for the L.I. Class IV championship last Friday at Hofstra.
go to make it a one-possession game.
“That Fuller kid won me over, he was tough,” Sachs said. “He kept them in it all the way.”
Wantagh, which won three Nassau playoff games by a combined 113 points, recovered the onside kick (Wunderlich) and picked up three first downs to burn the clock.
“It’s the greatest feeling,” McMillan said. “We played our best. We saved our best for last.”
Joe Nicholson starred in the LIC with a pair of touchdown receptions.
Dylan Martini had receiving and passing touchdowns in Wantagh’’s 29-21 win.
photos by Jeff Wilson/Herald
HERALD SPORTS
Hofstra hoops showing plenty of promise
By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
With a largely new roster this season, fourth-year Hofstra men’s basketball head coach Speedy Claxton was expecting that the beginning of the new season could be a bit of a learning curve. The former standout Hofstra and NBA guard then saw quicker chemistry than he anticipated, providing hope that the 202425 campaign could culminate with a banner.
Hofstra won its first four games to start the new season with many new faces including a 49-48 upset victory against Big East foe Seton Hall at the Nassau Coliseum on Nov. 13. The hot start featured a number of scoring contributions with the Pride also finding ways to win games in a variety of fashions in three straight wins against Iona, Seton Hall and UMass after starting with
a blowout of Division III opponent SUNY Old Westbury.
“Those are three good wins and if you would have told me before the season we would get all three I’d be extremely happy and even if you told me I would only get one I would have been happy,” said Claxton, a former NBA guard who led Hofstra to the NCAA Tournament as a player in 2000. “It shows we can compete with anyone.”
The 4-0 start was followed up by stiff competition at Florida State and then 7th-ranked Houston. The Pride then headed to the Bahamas for three games over the Thanksgiving weekend and knocked off Rice in overtime 68-63 and edged Arkansas State 68-66 on a buzzer beater shot from graduate student forward Michael Graham.
Claxton added six transfers and two freshmen to the roster to go along with six returners from last year’s team that went 20-13 and fell to Long Island rival Stony Brook in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) semifinals.
Sophomore guard Jean Aranguren is one of the newcomers shining early as the team’s leading scorer. The Iona transfer registered a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds in Hofstra’s 75-71 overtime win at UMass on Nov. 16.
The addition of Big East transfers Cruz Davis (St. John’s) and Jaquan Sanders (Seton Hall) are also paying dividends early on this season. Sanders was clutch in the Seton Hall win against his old team with 10 second half points while Davis tallied 21 in the UMass victory.
“All three of those guys have been playing well,” Claxton said. “I think that is why we have been performing well in the early part of the season.”
Other transfers added to the roster include Graham (Loyola Marymount), senior guard TJ Gadsden (Canisius) and redshirt sophomore guard Eric Parnell (Eastern Florida State). Graham is the team’s fourth leading scorer and recorded 14 in the dramatic Arkansas State win.
The Pride are also getting a leadership boost from returning players Silas Sunday and German Plotnikov, who both
Newcomer Cruz
saw key minutes last season. The 7-1 Sunday provides a big presence in the paint while Plotnikov is a long-range shooting threat who connected on 47.4 percent of his three-pointers last season.
“They’re both benefiting from being here last year and knowing how we do things,” said Claxton of Sunday and Plotnikov.
Hofstra’s December schedule is highlighted by a Sunday afternoon home game against Temple on Dec. 15 starting at noon. It will also serve as Hofstra’s annual Jewish Heritage Day game.
The CAA home schedule gets under-
way on Jan. 2 against William & Mary at 7 p.m. which will honor the 25th anniversary of David S. Mack Arena. Hofstra’s annual winter homecoming game will take place on Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. against Stony Brook.
Hofstra was picked fourth in the CAA Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll behind Towson, defending champion College of Charleston and UNC-Wilimington.
“The conference is always going to be tough with some really good teams and really good coaches,” Claxton said. “It’s not gonna get any easier once we get into conference play”
photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications
Davis popped in 21 points for the Pride in a Nov. 16 victory over UMass.
Sophomore Jean Aranguren is leading Hofstra in scoring in the early going.
Celebrating Long Island’s Future Leaders: $2,500 Student Sustainability Prize Open for Nominations
By: Maureen Fitzgerald
Reworld™ is searching for Long Island’s next generation of environmental innovators to receive the first-ever 2025 Student Sustainability Champion Award. This prestigious award honors one outstanding student from Nassau County and one from Suffolk, with each winner receiving $2,500 to support their education or future sustainability projects – presented to the student recipients at the upcoming 2025 Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island.
Nominations are now open, inviting the community to recognize young changemakers under 16 who are making a positive impact. Submissions should highlight the student’s leadership, innovative contributions, and dedication to sustainability. Entries should include a brief description of their achievements and motivation, along with a photo or example of their work—be it a community garden, recycling initiative, or creative environmental solution.
This award is part of the larger 2025 Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island, presented by Reworld™ and hosted by the LI Herald and RichnerLIVE, which will take place on February 26th at The Heritage Club in Bethpage.
The event will bring together community leaders, advocates, and changemakers who are driving innovative environmental solutions and fostering sustainable tomorrows across Long Island.
Despite Long Island’s environmental challenges —coastal erosion, water quality, and balancing development with conservation—stories of innovation and hope thrive. Local nonprofits restore habitats, educators inspire, and leaders prioritize sustainability. From renewable energy to advanced recycling, these efforts showcase the region’s spirit. With Reworld™ fostering this innovation and community empowerment, they’re driving Long Island toward a greener future.
t
“Reworld™ is honored to partner with RichnerLIVE and the Herald to recognize the inspiring efforts of our young changemakers,” said Dawn Harmon, East Region Area Asset Manager at Reworld™. “This initiative aims to empower Long Island’s future leaders and celebrate the innovative strides our community is taking toward sustainability.”
For more information or to submit a student nomination, visit www.richnerlive.com/reworldcontest. Let’s celebrate the bright minds and groundbreaking innovations shaping Long Island’s sustainable future.
Nominate a student under 16 for the Sustainability Champion Award to recognize their efforts in driving sustainable change.
We want to hear about the extraordinary young individuals who are driving change in their communities.
The award will be presented at the 2025 LI Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island powered by Reworld in February.
Your nomination could inspire countless others to follow in their footsteps!
Submit a nomination of approximately 200 words or less describing the student’s leadership in promoting sustainability: What motivates them? What impact have they had?
Be sure to include a photo or an example of their work—whether it’s a community garden, an environmental campaign, or a creative solution to a sustainability challenge.
What’s up next door and around the corner
HERALD neighbors
Congregation Beth Tikvah hosts annual interfaith service
At about midday on Aug. 3, 1954, an Air Force F-84 Thunderjet fighter plane crashed into a residential neighborhood on Denver Road in Wantagh. In addition to the pilot, one civilian on the ground was killed and five were injured. The various members of the local clergy gathered at the site to offer their prayers and assistance and out of this tragedy came the Wantagh Clergy Council.
Until the pandemic put halt to many public gatherings, the Clergy Council sponsored a Community Thanksgiving eve service each year at one of the member congregations. The service was last held at Congregation Beth Tikvah on November 22, 2017. The Council held this year’s service on Sunday, Nov. 24 at Congregation Beth Tikvah in Wantagh.
In difficult times, celebrating Thanksgiving across different faiths and beliefs reminds us of our shared humanity. It highlights the common ground of gratitude, showing that, despite our differences, we all have something to be thankful for. It’s a chance to focus on what unites us, not what divides us.
Linda
not
Courtesy Jerry Hertzman
Rabbi Moshe P. Weisblum from Congregation Beth Tikvah giving the Opening Prayer with fellow clergy.
Photos courtesy of Ab Roher Members of the combined choir.
Courtesy of Ab Roher
Senator Steven Rhoads, left, with participating clergy and Lorraine Levin, Chairperson of Thanksgiving Interfaith Service Committee.
Members of the Thanksgiving Interfaith Service Committee-David Kamlet, left, with Esther Kamlet, Regina Leaf, Arline Mann, Maddy Ross,
Katz and Lorraine Levin, Chairperson. Richard Slutzah, who is
present in the photo, was also a member of the committee.
Congregants and Clergy enjoyed refreshments after the service.
LWV unpacks last month’s presidential election
to Donald Trump’s total this year.
“I think it’s extremely important, when you start analyzing the election, to look at who actually came out and what was happening there,” Perotti said.
In Nassau County, Trump became the first Republican candidate since George H.W. Bush, in 1988, to garner more votes than his Democratic opponent, receiving 52 percent to Harris’s 47 percent.
The main reason why a majority of voters across the country chose Trump was simple, Perotti said: the economy. Reporting from exit polling surveys, she said, made that clear, and the economy was followed in importance by immigration. Harris’s campaign, Perotti added, focused more on cultural issues, such as abortion rights.
“Harris talked a lot about reproductive rights and about abortion, and those things were important in Senate races,” Perotti said. “They don’t appear to have been quite as important, from some of the things that I’m looking at, in the presidential contest.”
Nonetheless, across the country, abortion rights continued to have strong support. Legislation protecting women’s health care choices, Perotti said, passed in seven out of the 10 states where they were on the ballot. In New York, the Equal Rights Amendment, which will
add protections against discrimination to the state Constitution — including in the areas of pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes — won approval with nearly 57 percent of the vote.
In the 2020 election, Perotti said, 65 percent of voters age 18 to 29 voted Democratic, and 35 percent favored Republican candidates. That margin shrank
this year, with Harris receiving 55 percent of the young vote, to Trump’s 43 percent. And within that age group, there was a gender gap, Perotti noted, with young women more likely to vote for Harris, and young men, with or without a degree, preferring Trump. According to a study by Tufts University, a majority of young women voted
for Harris, but 56 percent of young men voted for Trump, an increase of 15 percentage points over 2020. The main issues for young men, Perotti said, appeared to be immigration and the economy, while young women were more concerned about health care, and specifically abortion rights. Even in her own classes, she said, she noticed that younger men were more vocal in their support of Trump, which made for some tense discussions.
“There is a message of being left behind, of not being noticed, that was really powerful to young men,” Perotti said, “and a message of relatability and a tribal message that really seems to have resonated with them.”
She concluded by highlighting several concerns about the election results, which included accountability for the events of Jan. 6, 2021, opposition to vaccines, climate issues, immigration and single-party control of the government.
Peggy Stein, a member of the league’s East Nassau chapter, said she hoped attendees whose favored candidates lost would understand that that didn’t mean they should give up hope.
“They still have to be involved,” Stein said. “You can’t just say, ‘Well, I didn’t get what I wanted.’ We have to be ready to go forward, and we have to do what’s best for the country.”
Charles Shaw/Herald
rosanna perotti, professor of political science at Hofstra university, discussed the results of the presidential election at the nov. 20 meeting of the League of Women Voters of east nassau, at the Levittown public Library.
STEPPING OUT
Five times the charm
Laurie Berkner returns with a rockin’ holiday concert for families
By Alyssa Seidman
The scarcity of sun that marks winter’s return often brings Laurie Berkner back to her musical roots. On cozy winter evenings her family would gather ’round a songbook to recite melodies reminiscent of Christmas and falling snow.
“Music always made me feel safe, happy, and loved, and all those feelings come together around [this] time of year,” Berkner says. “Holiday songs were always something that brought up a lot of really warm feelings for me.”
It’s no surprise, then, that Berkner’s discography includes two bestselling albums about the most wonderful time of the year. Families adore her — she still wears the known as the ‘Queen of Kindie Rock’ — and can tale in her festive originals alongside yuletide classics once again when “The Greatest Holiday Hits Tour” arrives here at the Paramount, on Dec. 15.
Berkner is a veritable dynamo as singer/songwriter, author, lyricist, and founder of Two Tomatoes Records. With more than one billion total streams, over 500 million views on YouTube, and millions of albums, singles and DVDs sold, her songs have become beloved classics for families worldwide.
While working as a children’s music specialist at preschools and day care centers in New York City, she gained an instinctive understanding of kids’ natural rhythms and energy. This enabled her to launch the progressive “kindie rock” movement, a genre that is just as palatable to parents and caregivers.
Berkner has released 16 award-winning albums over the course of her decades-long career. She was the first recording artist to perform in music videos on Noggin — appeared regularly on the network’s “Jack’s Big Music Show” — and helped develop the animated musical preschool series “Sing It, Laurie!” for Sprout TV, now Universal Kids.
Berkner has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the White House, among many prestigious venues. She is regularly lauded by her peers, and has been dubbed “the Adele of the preschool crowd” (The New York Times), “the queen of kids’ music” (People), and “one of the most popular children’s performers in America” (Wall Street Journal).
Holiday hits
This is the fifth time “The Greatest Holiday Hits Tour” will grace The Paramount stage. She first brought her holiday concert to Long Island in 2019, and has delighted kids — and kids at heart — every year since, aside from 2020.
“It feels really great to be able to come back each year and make it feel like a tradition,” Berkner says. “It’s that feeling of coming together and doing something that feels really good, fun, and joyous.
“Mostly what I try to do is hit a lot of people’s favorites and put the songs I can’t get to into a medley for the encore. I’ll also be playing my new song ‘Walking With The Penguins,’ so they’ll
DoLaurie Berkner is ready to share some holiday cheer with her fans — as only she can. Groove along to festive originals alongside yuletide classics at “The Greatest Holiday Hits Tour.
• Sunday, Dec. 15, 11 a.m.
• Tickets start at $20.50; available at LiveNation.com
• A $1 donation to Little Shelter Animal Rescue is included in each ticket
• The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
hear that live for the first time.”
Her concert features original tunes from her popular holiday albums, “A Laurie Berkner Christmas” and “Another Laurie Berkner Christmas.” She’ll also play treasured holiday classics like “Deck the Halls,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” and more.
Of course Berkner’s greatest hits — “We Are The Dinosaurs,” “Waiting for the Elevator” and “Pig On Her Head” — are always in the mix. At that point everyone is sure to be singing and dancing along with their favorite stuffed animal on their head.
The hour-long show fully involves her audience from the get-go; yet two moments in particular stand out to Berkner.
“In every show I do ‘We Are The Dinosaurs,’ and it’s very hard to not start laughing while everyone is screaming. “When I sing ‘My Family’ I will ask people to hug the person they’re there with, and it’s amazing that they actually do it.”
Cultivating these shared experiences for her mixed-age audiences is Berkner’s aim for every performance, but especially at her holiday shows.
“Those events that feel exciting to the kids [yet] still fun and enjoyable for the parents are difficult to find, but my shows fit that bill. I feel really grateful to provide moments where they can connect with one another, and have a sweet, loving memory when they leave.”
New Year’s resolutions
With a new year on the horizon, Berkner shares some of her plans for 2025.
“I very likely will put out another album next year, but I also have a couple projects I can’t talk about yet,” she says.“There will be new music, new videos, and definitely some surprises — probably more on my plate than I should have!”
Her fans would expect nothing less.
Leggz Ltd.’s
‘The
Nutcracker’
Visions of sugarplums await when Leggz Ltd. Dance, presents its annual full-length production. Helmed by longtime Artistic Director Joan Hope MacNaughton, it’s as always, accompanied by the South Shore Symphony Orchestra. This year’s production stars Violeta Angelova as the Sugar Plum Fairy, who’s appeared with the Vienna State Oper and Suzanne Farrell Ballet, with George Sanders, who has danced with New York Theatre Ballet and The Little Prince Broadway, as the Cavalier. The gifted young dancers who round out the cast include 9-year-old Vivian Ng as Clara and 11-year-old Matthew Carnaval as The Prince — both Rockville Centre residents.
Friday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 7, 5 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 8, 3 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444.
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening
Jason Bonham, son of the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer, showcases his musical journey and family legacy when he visits the Paramount stage. He celebrates his father with hits from Led Zeppelin’s iconic albums, while highlighting his own contributions to rock history. Encompassing tunes from the iconic band’s entire career, including albums “Led Zeppelin,” “Led Zeppelin II,” and “Led Zeppelin IV,” the concert event is a dynamic tribute to a legend. Jason always finds himself at home behind the drumkit. From this spot, he has anchored the tempo of one of the legendary artists of all-time.
Monday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m. $99.50, $89.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
Courtesy Jayme Thornton
THE Your Neighborhood
Dec.
14
The Hot Sardines
The band brings their distinctive sound back to the Landmark stage, with a “Holiday Stomp,” Saturday, d ec. 14 , at 8 p.m. It’s a raucous Christmas celebration that includes timeless classics and original tunes. The Hot Sardines bring classic jazz standards with their own brassy horn arrangements, rollicking piano melodies and vocals from a chanteuse who transports listeners to a different era with the mere lilt of her voice. Emerging over a decade ago from the underground parties of Brooklyn to touring worldwide and recording a string of albums that’s racked up more than 60 million streams across digital platforms, the Hot Sardines’ own “potent and assured” (The New York Times), “simply phenomenal” (The Times of London) brand of reinvigorated classic jazz landed them at the center of a whirlwind. . In the last two years, the Hot Sardines have been featured at the Newport Jazz Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival, have sold out venues in New York City from Joe’s Pub to Bowery Ballroom and more than 150 tour dates from Chicago to London. They released two albums on Universal Music Classics to critical reviews and a #1 slot on the iTunes Jazz chart in the U.S. and internationally. Their unique recipe blends hot jazz and sultry standards from the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s, rich New Orleans sounds, a dash of ’40s Paris flavor, and vibrant musical surprises. It’s all steeped in salty stride piano and the music Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt and Fats Waller used to make. The result is straight-up foot-stomping jazz. Their name says it all: their iconic ‘hot’ styling will paint a vibrant picture with smoky sounds and audiences revel in the steamy, swanky influence of their art form. With their contagious brand of joy, grit, glamour and passion, the 8-piece band invokes the sounds of nearly a century ago, yet stay right in step with the current age. $65, $55, $45. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or by calling (516) 767-6444.
Holiday at Westbury House
Old Westbury Gardens’ Westbury House offers a festive glimpse of early 20th century holiday merriment, before it closes for the winter, Saturday, dec. 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, dec. 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Also dec. 14-15. The “Christmas at Westbury House” celebration reflects what the festive season was like during those opulent decades of the early 1900s when the Phipps family lived there. The period rooms in which John S. Phipps — the eldest son of Henry Phipps, Andrew Carnegie’s partner at Carnegie Steel — and his family resided are impeccably decorated with wreaths, mantelpiece drapes, plenty of greenery, and other horticultural arrangements.
Take a self-guided tour through Westbury House and view specially decorated rooms for the holidays, have cookies and cider on the West Porch and meet and take photos with Santa while listening to ambient holiday music. The gardens will also be open, along with other special holiday events, including Holiday Flute Choir concert, Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m., holiday market, and more. $15, $13 ages 62+ and students, $8 ages 7-17. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or call (516) 333-0048.
Holiday concert
The Long Island Choral Society returns its holiday tradition, Handel’s Messiah, Part 1 and highlights from Parts 2 and 3, Saturday, dec. 7, 7 p.m., at Garden City Community Church. For many Long Islanders, the holiday season officially begins with this performance. The chorus is accompanied by a professional orchestra and soloists. $25, $10 youth. Tickets are available via credit card by calling (516) 652-6878 as well as via Venmo at LICS_2022. For more information, visit lics.org. 245 Stewart Ave., Garden City.
Indoor Holiday Shopping Day
Congregation Beth Tikvah Sisterhood hosts its Indoor Holiday Shopping Day on Sunday, dec. 8, 10 a.m.5 p.m. The event will be held in a secure, heated indoor space. With jewelry, crafts, apparel, housewares, collectibles, seasonal Items and more. 3710 Woodbine Ave, Wantagh. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call (516)785-2445 or email CBTWantaghHolidayShop@ gmail.com.
On stage
Temple B’nai Torah Junior Players perform “Peter Pan,” at Temple B’nai Torah, Saturdays, Dec. 7, and Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. $20 for adults, $15 for seniors 65 and over, $10 age 18 and younger. For advance ticket sales, visit tbtwantagh. seatyourself.biz or mail checks payable to Temple B’nai Torah with “TBT Junior Show” in the memo line. For more details, contact Lori Waiting at TBTjuniorplayers@ tbtwantagh.org. 2900 Jerusalem Ave., Wantagh. Hot Chocolate 5K Seaford Wellness Council hosts their annual hot chocolate 5K run/walk, Saturday, Dec. 7, at Seaford High School, 9 a.m. With post-race refresements and raffles. For more iand to sign up, visit seafordwellness. com/hot-chocolate-run. 1575 Seamans Neck Road, Seaford.
Bingo at Temple B’nai Torah
Temple B’nai Torah hosts a fun-filled bingo session, every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and every Thursday, 7:15 -10 p.m. Prizes, progressive games and refreshments available. 2900 Jerusalem Ave., in Wantagh. For more information, call (516) 221-2370.
Let’s Skate
Get ready to enjoy all the thrills of the snowy season, while staying warm and cozy as Long Island Children’s Museum’s popular “Snowflake Sock Skating rink returns, through Jan. 7. Slip on “sock skates” and take a spin on the indoor rink, made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface that lets kids slide around without blades.
Kids can stretch, twirl and glide. As visitors step off the “ice” they can jump into winter dramatic play in Snowflake Village. Become a baker in the holiday sweet shop, step inside a giant snowman and serve up some hot cocoa, take a turn in the rink “ticket booth” and “warm up” around a rink side “fire pit.” Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.
Having an event?
Sugar Plum Ball/ Galactic Gala
Bring the kids to celebrate the season at festivities hosted by the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Sunday, Dec. 8, noon-4 p.m., at Fox Hollow in Woodbury. Kids ages 4-12, accompanied by their adult guest (Mom, Dad, grandparent, etc.), will enjoy a unique party featuring food, fun and some special guests including princesses, fairies and visitors from a Galaxy Far, Far Away.
With lunch, DJ, magic show, dancing, raffles, games, photo ops, and more, even Jedi-training. Enjoy a sit down lunch and meet characters from some favorite shows and movies. Cost for each child/adult pair is $195. Advance reservation only. All proceeds benefit CP Nassau. Call CP Nassau at (516) 378-2000 ext. 651 for reservations or visit cpnassau. org. 7755 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury.
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.
Family theater
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to its stage, Friday, Dec. 6, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Saturday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; also Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 10-12, 10:-15 a.m. and noon. Ezra Jack Keats’ “The Snowy Day & Other Stories” celebrates the joy in the small moments of a child’s world. Experience the wonder of a fresh snowfall, the delight of whistling for the first time, and the awe of finding a special treasure. In this childhood adventure, Keats’ classic books come to life, featuring live actors and shadow puppets telling the stories of “The Snowy Day,” “Goggles!,” “Whistle for Willie,” and “A Letter to Amy.” $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.
Hanukkah happenings with Chabad Center
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
With Hanukkah on the horizon, the Chabad Hebrew School of Merrick, Bellmore, and Wantagh is gearing up to host its Hanukkah Block Party. This event, scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 8, and Wednesday, Dec. 11, invites Jewish children enrolled in Chabad Hebrew School to explore the traditions and themes of Hanukkah through hands-on, engaging activities.
At Chabad Hebrew School, learning about Judaism goes beyond the classroom and the Hanukkah Block Party offers a dynamic way for children to connect with their heritage while celebrating the holiday in a festive and meaningful setting.
The event includes a variety of activities designed to blend holiday fun with Jewish traditions. Children will participate in the Dreidel Dash, a fast-paced twist on the classic dreidel game, and enjoy Hanukkah treat tasting, which highlights the holiday’s traditional flavors. Students will also engage in ImprovStyle Reporting, becoming creative “news anchors” as they retell the story of Hanukkah in their own words, and work on crafting LED sculptures, glowing decorations that symbolize the light and miracles of the holiday.
“These activities aren’t just fun — they’re designed to teach important lessons about Jewish identity and the enduring themes of Hanukkah, such as Persumei Nisa, or spreading the miracle of the holiday,” Rabbi Shimon and Chanie Kramer, directors of the Chabad Center, said in a news release detailing the upcoming event.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
Rabbi Shimon Kramer at the lighting in 2022.
“This event highlights what makes our Hebrew School special,” Rabbi Kramer said. “We don’t just teach about Judaism—we bring it to life. The Hanukkah Block Party is a celebration of Jewish pride and resilience, giving our students the opportunity to truly connect with their heritage.”
This year’s event will also feature the hashtag ShareTheLight initiative, encour-
Public Notices
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE LBCABANA SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. MICHAEL K. CARBONE, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order
Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 8, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 17, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 3388 Maplewood Drive South a/k/a 3388 Maplewood Drive, Wantagh, NY 11793. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and
State of New York, Section 57, Block 219 and Lot 11. Approximate amount of judgment is $820,538.42 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #614238/2022. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.
Tara Mayerhofer, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 221849-1 149979
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, -against-
JOSEPH J. LACOVA, ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on October 15, 2024, wherein BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION is the Plaintiff and JOSEPH J. LACOVA, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on January 7, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 3019 JOHNSON PLACE, WANTAGH, NY 11793; and the following tax map identification: 56-297-62.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT,
PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT WANTAGH, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 613357/2021. Brian Davis, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 150290
enrolled in the Hebrew School are invited to attend on either Dec. 8 or Dec. 11. Families can register by visit ChabadJewishLife. org/CHS or by calling (516) 833-3057 ext. 106.
Hanukkah excitement continues later this month, when the holiday begins on Dec. 15. There will be a community-wide celebration open to all, featuring the Grand Menorah Lighting and a special show for the holiday. Festivities begin at 5 p.m., outside of the Chabad’s Hewlett Avenue headquarters in Merrick.
Those parading will head towards the Merrick Gazebo around 5:15 p.m., where a Grand Menorah will be lit for the holiday. Families can plan to enjoy a Chinese dinner, Hanukkah crafts, a movie and more.
For more on what to expect and to register for the event later this month, visit ChabadJewishLife.org/Light.
Hanukkah Block Party:
• Dates: Sunday, Dec. 8, and Wednesday, Dec. 11
• Location: Chabad of Merrick, Bellmore, and Wantagh
aging children to share the spirit of Hanukkah with their neighbors by proudly displaying their LED crafts in their windows.
“Hanukkah reminds us that no matter the challenges we face, our light will always shine brighter,” Kramer said.
The Hanukkah Block Party will take place at Chabad of Merrick, Bellmore, and Wantagh. Jewish children ages 5 to 11
• Details: Fun and educational activities for Jewish children ages 5–11 enrolled in Chabad Hebrew School, including games, crafts, and storytelling.
Community-Wide Hanukkah Parade:
• Date: Wednesday, Dec. 25
• Details: Open to the public, celebrating the holiday spirit.
A small fire broke out on the roof of the Wantagh Museum during the Winter Wonderland festival. Wantagh firefighters quickly extinguished the flame, and the rest of the event was cancelled.
Fire disrupts Winter Wonderland festival
A small fire broke out at the Wantagh Museum during the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce’s annual Winter Wonderland festival on Nov. 30, prompting an emergency response and the cancellation of planned festivities.
According to a Facebook post from the Wantagh Fire Department, Wantagh firefighters, already present at the museum for recruitment and education, noticed smoke near the chimney of the museum around 3:30 p.m. and quickly alerted dispatchers. Crews led by Third Assistant
Chief Paul Krussmann extinguished the blaze within 15 minutes. Additional assistance was provided by the Seaford and North Bellmore fire departments. According to the fire department, the rest of the event, including the Christmas Tree and Menorah lighting, was cancelled.
No injuries were reported, and the fire is under investigation by the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office.
Tim Baker/Herald file
There’s plenty of Hanukkah activities coming up at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, including the Grand Menorah Lighting on Dec. 25, the first night of the holiday. Above, elected officials with the
— Charles Shaw
Tim Baker/Herald file
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Yes, those tall buildings really sway
Waterfront Luxury
Discover
Q. We were in Manhattan recently, and learned that tall buildings actually sway back and forth. We stared at the tallest apartment building in the Western Hemisphere, at 432 Park Ave., but couldn’t really tell. Do these buildings sway? How far? Wouldn’t that be dangerous, and how come we don’t hear about it? Why would people put up with that for so much money?
A. Yes, for anywhere from $2 million upward (pun intended) to around $200 million, you, too, can get a continuous amusement ride, or the sensation of always being on a cruise, if you like that sort of thing. When people, mostly at parties, ask me whether I have designed anything tall or famous, I wince, because I’d rather be asked if I’ve ever done anything that people enjoyed seeing or being in.
Few people ever discuss the failings of the most well-known architects. Most of the buildings Frank Lloyd Wright designed leaked. Wright never really was a trained or licensed architect, but he made it to postage stamp status. When the 500-pound windows began flying out of I.M. Pei’s Hancock Tower in Boston, most people, except those who either nearly died or had to clean up the mess, never noticed. The list of the ways in which we learn from building design “aberrations” is endless, but the important thing is that we learn.
People who can afford to live in those tall buildings, above the crowds of common folk, must have to accept the soft sway of the windswept towers they rest their weary heads in. I have read many articles in technical magazines, and reports about how engineers have been tasked with trying to resolve the problems. In the case of 432 Park Avenue, two “dampers” were designed into the center of the tower, even though there is currently no code requirement for them.
The Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, which is much taller than 432 Park Avenue, has features including an aerodynamic shape to cut the wind, and a massive 660-ton pendulum that sways from cables in the core of the building. Even so, on the 163rd floor, the building sways 6½ feet back and forth. There are many different damper systems, flexible, viscoelastic collars and inserts between the rigid steel frame connections that transfer the forces by taking the heat away from the strain of the otherwise rigid joints. Without all of these shock-reducing components, sections would crack and crumble.
As it is, the residents of 432 Park Avenue have complained of air conditioning and heating malfunctions and acoustical discomfort from the creaking walls, whistling wind and stalled elevators. Most of the units are purchased for the beautiful vistas, and you can sell anything to someone who doesn’t do their homework. Many units have been leased and re-leased, bought and sold several times in the three years since the tower opened, with the prices going up and up. Better than buying the Brooklyn Bridge, right?
© 2024 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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Remembering Jimmy Breslin, a legend in New York journalism
Ihave always been an avid reader of newspapers, and have a great admiration for columnists, particularly Jimmy Cannon, and then Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill. That’s why I so appreciate the opportunity to write a column for the Heralds.
All of this came rushing back at me as I was reading the recently published biography “Jimmy Breslin,” by Richard Esposito. Breslin was a unique character. No one understood New York’s people, neighborhoods and streets like him.
Breslin’s New York was Queens Boulevard, not Park Avenue. It was cops, prizefighters, bookies and cold beer (until he stopped drinking, anyway). I started reading his columns years ago, in the old Journal-American, and continued with him through the Herald Tribune, the Daily News and Newsday.
I first met Breslin in the 1980s, and we became close friends in the late 1990s. My wife, Rosemary, and I would go to dinner with Jimmy and his wife, Ronnie, at least once a month, and he and I would talk at least once a day. When Jimmy wanted to talk, he wouldn’t stop, and it was almost impossible to get off the phone with him, even if you had work to do. I found that the one way to close out a conversation was to compliment him on something. In true Irish fashion, he would get flustered, mumble a rushed goodbye and slam down the phone.
Wsupport in an Irish sort of way. He came to my daughter Erin’s wedding and reception, and stayed to the very end — and that was long after he’d stopped drinking!
hen he wanted to talk, it was impossible to get off the phone with him.
Breslin was a great guy to be with. He was tough and cynical, but had endless stories and was a true friend — when he was still your friend. He wrote several columns about me during President Bill Clinton’s impeachment that I will always cherish, and he wrote a great blurb for my first novel (which he probably never read). We commiserated after the 9/11 attacks, attending funerals of mutual friends, giving each other
During these good times, though, I would have in the back of my head columns Breslin used to write when he was living in Baldwin, listing people he would no longer speak with. Though he stopped issuing those lists, I wondered when my number would be up. I found out in March 2003, when Rosemary sent him a heated note, blasting him for comparing President George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler.
That ended it. It was curtain time. No more phone calls or dinners. I did call him once when I heard there was a serious illness in his family.
“Jimmy, I heard the news,” I said. “I’m sorry. I’m thinking of you.”
“Yeah,” he replied, “I’ll be thinking of you, too. Goodbye.”
Later I saw him at the renowned journalist Jack Newfield’s funeral, and
we had a quick handshake. Several years after that, in 2009, Rosemary and I went to the funeral of Breslin’s daughter Kelly at an old church in Lower Manhattan. Afterward we sat and talked with him at a table in the churchyard for 10 or 15 minutes. The conversation was warm and friendly, almost like it used to be. When it was time to say so long, I said, “Jimmy, we should get together.”
“Yeah,” he said. “We should. That’d be good.” We shook hands.
We never got together. I wish we had. Breslin died in 2017, and a large part of New York died with him.
Esposito’s biography brings back the memories not just of Breslin, but of the days when newspapers and their columnists — and the written word — had such a vital role to play in our society. While much of that has died, I commend the Herald for keeping the tradition alive for the people of Long Island.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
No matter who’s president, L.I.’s middle class
Eight years ago, about four months into Donald Trump’s first term as president, the Herald published an op-ed I wrote entitled “What American Dream?” in which I lamented the ever-growing financial burden on Long Island’s middle class.
Despite all the hard work I put in, I wrote, I was decidedly worse off than my mother and father were a generation earlier. I laid equal blame on Democrats and Republicans, who had rotated in and out of Washington all my life and done little to stop the downward spiral. “And his promises notwithstanding,” I added, “President Trump will likely do little to change our trajectory.” He did not.
And, in all fairness, neither did President Biden.
Eight years ago I noted that my wife and I worked full time as teachers, but that she had to care for our kids alone during the week, while I tutored after school to keep up with ever-rising expenses.
Today I tutor two to three times as much as I did then. Not out of greed, but necessity. My wife continues to do the lion’s share of the work with the kids, but she, too, has taken on a second job, doing early intervention for specialneeds 2-year-olds. So, eight years ago, we basically needed three incomes to make it. Now we need four.
B
Some of my colleagues at school were elated after Election Day that we have another four years of Trump coming, almost as if their team had won the Super Bowl. It has always surprised me how any teacher can support the guy whose Supreme Court appointee, Neil Gorsuch, rendered the decisive vote in Janus v. AFSCME, a case that weakened public-sector unions like the ones we belong to.
House — our lives here on Long Island are not going to get any easier.
That’s because we’ve witnessed a steady erosion of the middle class since 1973, when real wages started to fall against the backdrop of an energy crisis and pronounced inflation. The true death knell was President Ronald Reagan’s taking office in 1980. Reagan slashed taxes for corporations and the wealthy with the idea that the financial benefits at the top of the economic food chain would trickle down to the rest of us. Only they didn’t.
y the time I graduated from eighth grade in 1992, working moms were the norm.
To be fair, others at school were crestfallen.
I, on the other hand, for the first time in my adult life, paid absolutely no attention to this election, and did not watch one minute of election night coverage. Although I voted for Kamala Harris, I did not shed a tear.
That’s because I’ve heard this song before. I know how this movie ends. It doesn’t matter who’s in the White
I’m by no means an economist, but consider this: When I entered kindergarten in 1983, my mother was one of a few moms who needed to get a job to help make ends meet. The embarrassment of getting picked up by another classmate’s mother will forever be etched in my memory. Years later, my mother told me how the guilt I laid on her at the time absolutely broke her heart. Sorry, Mom. I love you.
But by the time I graduated from eighth grade in 1992, working moms were the norm. I can only recall one or two classmates whose mothers didn’t work. Things had certainly changed, and they only continued to get worse.
struggles
I’m not piling on Republicans, because there were 20 years of Democratic presidents as well between then and now. My colleagues, both jubilant and dejected after this past Election Day, might remember that the roles were reversed in 2008, when Barack Obama was first elected. Regardless of who has led the country, things haven’t gotten a whole lot better.
That’s because the people at the top — the corporate interests that really run America — don’t want them to. As the late, great comedian George Carlin said, “Our country’s a big club … and you ain’t in it!”
Nobody should have been surprised that Trump trounced the incumbentbacked Harris. Middle class voters have been drowning for 50 years, desperately hoping someone would toss them a life vest that never seems to come.
I wish I shared my Trump-supporting colleagues’ optimism, or even the Harris supporters’ melancholy, but I just don’t. I don’t think any real help is coming, regardless of who is in office. I will gladly eat my words in four years if my wallet is fatter and prices are lower. But I doubt that’s going to happen.
Nick Buglione is a teacher, a freelance journalist and a former editor of the East Meadow Herald.
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eginning with the birth of our nation, Long Islanders have shaped the policies of America as well as our country’s impact on the world. Suffolk County’s William Floyd was one of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence. President Theodore Roosevelt, who made his home in Oyster Bay, is often cited as one of our greatest leaders. Bellmore’s William Casey served as President Ronald Reagan’s CIA director during an era fraught with Cold War tensions.
As the Biden administration sunsets and President-elect Donald Trump’s second administration begins to take shape, Long Islanders are once again positioned to influence our nation and the course of human history.
T rump has nominated Howard Lutnick, from Jericho, to serve as secretary of commerce. Lutnick, the chairman and chief executive of the global financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, strongly supports the president-elect’s plans to impose tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico, which would have dramatic impacts on the global economy.
T rump has chosen Dr. Dave Weldon, a Farmingdale High School and Stony Brook University graduate, to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Weldon, a former congressman from Florida, would succeed fellow Long Islander Dr. Mandy Cohen, a Baldwin native whom President Biden appointed to the role last year. (Another Baldwin native, Karine Jean-Pierre, has served as President Biden’s White House press secretary since 2022.)
Given the recent politicization of the CDC, as well as the anti-establishment views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom
letters
Trump has selected as his secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services — which oversees the CDC — Weldon is set to wield unique power in setting public health policy.
Biden named Dr. David Kessler, a graduate of Woodmere Academy (now the Lawrence Woodmere Academy) as the lead scientist on the coronavirus vaccine distribution efforts. Kessler formerly headed the Food and Drug Administration under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
T rump has also named Steve Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff, who was raised in Baldwin Harbor and Old Westbury, is a successful real estate developer and a major benefactor of Hofstra University, where he earned a law degree. (He shares that law school alma mater with Charles Kushner, the father of Trump’s son-inlaw, Jared Kushner, and a convicted felon whom Trump has selected as ambassador to France.) Witkoff’s appointment continues Trump’s selection of Long Islanders for critical Middle East policy roles.
In Trump’s first term, the U.S. ambassador to Israel was David Friedman, who grew up in North Woodmere. The son of Rabbi Morris Friedman, who led Temple Hillel for 33 years and brought Reagan to the synagogue in 1984, David Friedman played a pivotal role in promoting Trump’s Middle East policies, from the decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, to supporting the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
T rump also announced his choice of Garden City’s Kash Patel as director of
Randi just won’t stop with Trump
To the Editor:
I just finished reading Randi Kreiss’s column, “Dear readers, we can’t keep it in neutral” (Nov. 28-Dec. 4). It seems that Randi is totally consumed by Trump derangement syndrome. Donald Trump is a deeply flawed soul to be sure, but when compared with Hillary and Harris, he is Abe Lincoln.
When he left office, but for the horror of Covid, the country was at peace and the economy was in great shape. Could this country endure four more years of what we just went through? Obviously not! The fake dossier, the disgraceful lawfare, and it goes on and on.
Trump establishes the Depar tment of Government Efficiency and the left mocks him unendingly. When it pays enormous dividends, they will ignore it, as they always do. Thank God the country was sickened by the last four years and overwhelmingly decided to reject it!
the FBI. Leaders on both sides of the aisle, however, have expressed concerns about that choice, because of what they perceive to be Patel’s desire to dismantle the very institution he has been tapped to lead, as well as his lack of relevant experience.
“I categorically opposed making Patel deputy FBI director,” William Barr, who served as attorney general under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Trump, wrote in his 2022 book, “One Damn Thing After Another.” “I told Mark Meadows,” Barr added, referring to Trump’s White House chief of staff, “it would happen ‘over my dead body.’ Someone with no background as an agent would never be able to command the respect necessary to run the day-to-day operations of the bureau.”
Finally, there’s former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, who, in 2022, unsuccessfully challenged Gov. Kathy Hochul in New York’s gubernatorial election. Zeldin, an Army veteran who represented New York’s 1st Congressional District from 2015 to 2023, is poised to become Trump’s administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. In that role, Zeldin would have wide-ranging powers to create or eliminate regulations that protect the environment.
Many of Trump’s selections must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. We expect most of them will be, or will serve in interim roles. Regardless, these Long Islanders are a testament to the region’s diverse influence on national politics and international diplomacy. We hope they don’t forget where they came from, and make decisions that uplift not only our country, but also the Long Island communities they once called home.
Why do we still doubt a woman’s ability to lead?
acouple of weeks ago, i was sitting in the waiting room of a car repair shop with my dad, minding my own business, as one does while waiting to pick up a car that’s being worked on. There were a few other customers there, most of them quiet and keeping to themselves, but one man, sitting to my right, was running his mouth about politics.
sure, there are men, like the one we encountered, who have their misogynistic beliefs that women are unfit for office. But i’ve found that it’s not just men who are dismissing the ability of a likely qualified and certainly accomplished woman to run a country.
iObviously happy that Donald Trump had won the presidential election, the man said something along the lines of, “it’s a good thing Kamala Harris didn’t win, because no one would ever respect her” — due simply to the fact that she’s a woman. if i’d been in the mood for an argument, i probably would’ve said something like, “i sure hope you don’t have any daughters or a wife at home who’d love to hear you say that.” But alas, i didn’t want to get into a conflict with a stranger, so i kept my mouth shut, and on the way out the door a few minutes later, my dad and i laughed to ourselves about how ridiculous the guy sounded. Like everyone else, i had my thoughts going into this election cycle, and truthfully, it doesn’t matter whom i voted for, because it’s a done deal at this point.
er, many aunts and lots of cousins, who are successful and honest and righteous people.
it’s a shame, i think, that somewhere along the way, the man at the shop and the women who are reinforcing such a negative, internal bias didn’t have that same guidance. And if they did, then something else has failed them.
’ve heard too many women say that they could never vote for a woman for president.
it’s women, just like me, who have serious doubts about their own gender. i’ve seen and heard from many of them, “i’m a woman, and i could never vote for a woman.”
i’m seldom at a loss of words, but that has stumped me. i am extraordinarily thankful that my sister and i grew up in a household in which we were told that we could accomplish anything, so long as we set our minds to it and put in the work. i am so thankful to be surrounded by extraordinary women, like my mother, my grandmoth-
My entire life, i’ve been inspired by the people around me, as well as the women — the trailblazers — who are making our world a better, more inclusive place. And it really is a shame that a large chunk of our population still believes that someone who’s deserving of a prestigious role, like the presidency, should be denied that simply because she’s a woman.
i’m a big reader and thinker, and i implore anyone who thinks so negatively about the abilities and strength of women to pick up a book. read “The Nightingale,” by Kristin Hannah, and be blown away by a tale of courage. read “The Dressmakers of Auschwitz,” by Lucy Adlington, and learn a true story of sewing for survival. read “The Handmaid’s Tale,” by Margaret Atwood, and think about what life could be like if we let misogyny win.
in a world where the impossible can become possible, little girls should know that they can be whoever they want to be, career women, moms, a blend of both — or the top candidate on a presidential ticket.
The election results aside, women soldier on. We must actively challenge the biases, in ourselves and others, that continue to hold us back. Only then can we create a future in which every woman knows that her voice matters and her potential has no limits.
if you voted for Donald Trump because you believe in his policies and his vision for America, that’s fine — and that’s your right as an American. But if you voted for him simply because you found yourself unable to support a woman, for whatever reason, then, boy, are we in serious trouble. That’s an insult to every woman who’s come before you — every woman who’s willed her way through glass ceilings, and endured hardship after hardship, solely on the basis of sex.
Jordan Vallone is a senior editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? jvallone@liherald.com.
Letters Framework
by Tim Baker
Shop safely during the holidays
To the Editor:
The Nassau County Police Department advises shoppers to be vigilant for their safety and the safety of others this holiday season.
Before leaving home, secure and engage alarms, and leaving lights on in frequented rooms to give the appearance that people are home.
Plan your shopping trips, know where you’re going and, if possible, go with someone else. Let someone know where you’re going. Park in an area that’s well lit, and make sure your valuables are out of sight. Avoid parking near vans or other vehicles with covered cargo areas. Don’t get out of your car unless you feel safe, lock your vehicle, and remember where you’ve parked.
As you shop, keep money and credit/debit cards in a front pocket, and limit the number of cards and the
cash you carry. To avoid identity theft, be careful when exposing your cards and other identification at cash registers and ATMs. Be aware that thieves use cellphones to capture card and identity information. Be cognizant of distractions that could be staged to avert your attention.
When you return to your vehicle, don’t do so with your arms full of packages. Use a cart. Be ready to unlock your car door. Check the parking lot for suspicious-looking people, and if you see anyone loitering nearby, don’t go to your vehicle.
Carry a whistle or other audible device, and if you feel threatened, use it. Before getting into your vehicle, look around and inside it. Once inside, lock the doors, and if you have to, use your horn to attract attention.
Always be aware of your surroundings.
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JorDan VaLLone
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