Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald 02-20-2025 by Richner Communications, Inc

DEADLINE MARCH 3RD

The Chamber met for lunch at River Mill

Mayor Alan Beach discussed safety measures, plans for revitalizing Lynbrook and easing the tax burden at the Chamber of Commerce’s Lunch & Learn on Feb. 12 at 100 Ocean Ave.

Fire Department hopes ballot measure will increase volunteerism in Lynbrook

By AINSlEY MARTINEZ

amartinez@liherald.com

Amid an ongoing shortage of volunteers, a referendum on the ballot in next month’s village election proposes extending the Length of Service Awards Program benefits for the village’s volunteer firefighters by two decades.

Under the current system, a volunteer can earn benefits for up to 30 years of service — a $20-per-month stipend for each year up to 30 years, a maximum of $7,200. The referendum would allow the village to increase the eligible length of service to 50 years, and the total maximum benefits to $12,000.

“We want them to continue to volunteer,”

Steve Grogan, a former captain of the department, said.

Recognizing the statewide volunteer firefighter shortage decades ago, New York state introduced the Length of Service program in 1990, and the village adopted it four years later.

In addition to LOSAP benefits, volunteers are eligible for property tax exemptions, state income tax credits, tuition assistance and free annual medical exams. They also receive free training and equipment and, while they serve, workers’ compensation benefits.

Grogan said that the shortage of volunteers remains a widespread challenge, citing the difficulty of balancing a full-time job and a firefight-

Baffo Stathes to step down after leading Per Sempre 2344 for eight years

By AINSlEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com

After eight years as president of Lynbrook’s Per Sempre Lodge 2344 of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, Rosemarie Baffo Stathes will step down March 18, marking the end of an era for the organization.

“It’s like when a parent lets a child go off to school, and they say, ‘Fly, little birdie, fly,’” Baffo Stathes, who is in her 60s, said. “It’s a very bittersweet experience for me. I loved being president of the lodge.”

Iwomen members.

“Being part of this organization has always been about more than just leadership for me,” Baffo Stathes said. “It’s about serving my community, supporting our traditions, and showing the younger generation what it means to give back.”

t’s been a true honor to represent this lodge, and I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done.

Her connection to the organization runs deep — her parents and grandparents were members, too — and she has served in various capacities for over 40 years, since she joined at age 20.

RoSEMARIE BAFFo STAThES

President, Per Sempre Lodge 2344

In the early 2000s, she served as president of the Marcus Aurelius Lodge, in Flushing, Queens, and in 2010 she joined the Per Sempre Ladies’ Lodge 2344A, the organization for

At the start of her presidency in 2017, she led the Ladies’ Lodge. During her tenure, she had to navigate the social and logistical challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Both the men’s and women’s lodges struggled to maintain members, and in 2020, funding problems forced the men’s lodge to dissolve.

But not for long. A year later, Baffo Stathes worked with the men to initiate a merger of the two groups, and she became the first president of the combined co-ed lodge.

The transition made sense for the long term, she said. Centralization meant more mem -

Continued on page 10

Ainsley Martinez/ The Herald

The Lynbrook Council of PTAs celebrated Founders’ Day on Feb. 10 at Lynbrook High School, with a ceremony in the auditorium to honor 17 members supporting the school district.

PTA rings in Founders’ Day

2025 Founders’ Day honorees

Marion Street School

■ Richard Brunswick

■ Regina Fasullo

Waverly Park School

■ Nicole DiCarlo

■ Carrie Edwards Wolkoff

Lynbrook SEPTA

■ Laura Tucker

Lynbrook Council of PTAs

■ Meghan Ceglie

■ Joanna Santoli

Lynbrook North Middle School

■ Alexandra Etra

■ Meredith Koenderman

Lynbrook South Middle School

■ Eva Buonavita

■ Michael Caputo

West End School

■ Ginger Fuentes

■ Chelsea Gundrum

Lynbrook High School

■ Tricia Carroll

■ Amy Ezagui

Lynbrook Kindergarten Center Foundations Award

■ Kathleen Freehill

■ Lisa Genicoff

The event marked the first time Allison Byrne organized Founders’ Day as the newly appointed first vice president of the Lynbrook Council of PTAs. The cafeteria was decorated in green and gold, the district’s colors, and Lynbrook resident Gina Mahmood, owner of Ravenous Rose Catering, provided a selec-

The Lynbrook Council of PTAs celebrated Founders’ Day on Feb. 10 at Lynbrook High School, with a ceremony in the auditorium followed by a reception in the cafeteria. Seventeen community members from all seven schools in the district were honored, including staff and parents. The ceremony included speeches recognizing the contributions of each honoree. Presenters included PTA presidents, parents, and students, including some of the honorees’ children.

tion of appetizers for the honorees and their families.

Celebrate Israel with Hazzan and Friends

Concert & Dessert reception honoring hazzan bonnie zakarin’s 10th anniversary at herjc

“This is a special night to give back to the people in our community who work tirelessly for our kids day in and day out. We want to treat them like gold,” said Byrne.

— Ainsley Martinez

Courtesy Allison Byrne

Mayor Beach talks safety, economic plans

By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com

Mayor Alan Beach said he hopes to find more ways to revitalize Lynbrook, and ease the tax burden on residents through grants, fines and fees.

“It’s time to modernize,” Mayor Beach said.

One initiative the Village is undertaking is the use of traffic light cameras to detect uninsured and unregistered vehicles. This new system has led to the impounding of approximately 172 vehicles so far this year, with owners facing a $300 fee.

Quality of life is a big issue for us.

Mayor Beach noted that the revenue from municipal violations and associated fees help offset the budget, and last year, the Village received $95,000 from 20,000 fines.

ALAN BEAch Mayor

“I know we all complain about taxes, but in Lynbrook it really isn’t too crazy,” he said.

He said Village-acquired grants remain a priority for project funding.

Beach mentioned a $406,000 grant, and an additional $75,000 grant from Brian Kern, which are being used to support various initiatives. He noted that the biggest portion of the tax base goes toward police services.

At the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce’s Lunch & Learn event on Feb. 12, Mayor Beach shared other updates on the Village’s ongoing and future projects.

For example, leases on properties along Atlantic Avenue are helping revitalize the area, with plans for a new walkway to encourage foot traffic.

“We’re very conscious of how we’re getting people involved in the Village,” Beach said, highlighting the positive growth of 24 new businesses in Lynbrook last year.

Addressing the 30 Chamber members in attendance, the Mayor spoke about efforts to tackle “eyesores” in the community, such as the trestle under a storefront on Atlantic Avenue— but emphasized previous renovations, including the Long Island Rail Road station.

He said a recent policy could improve the Village’s appearance and quality of life: businesses that receive three law-breaking complaints can have their licenses revoked.

“Quality of life is a big issue for us,” Beach remarked, stressing the need for the Village to maintain its appeal.

Looking to the future, the Mayor emphasized the need to attract younger people to the Village and move away from outdated systems.

“We’ve got to look toward the future, and get out of the dark ages,” he said.

Mayor Alan Beach addresses attendees about Lynbrook’s future growth, including new businesses, traffic light cameras, and improvements to the village’s quality of life.

Ainsley Martinez/ The Herald photos

About 30 Chamber members gathered to hear Mayor Alan Beach discuss the latest updates on the Village’s developments and upcoming initiatives.

Courtesy Councilwoman Laura Ryder

Councilwoman Laura Ryder and Keith Allen, Senior Pastor of Lynbrook Baptist Church, attend the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce’s Lunch & Learn.

Chamber of Commerce President Michela Argento Serra introduced Mayor Alan Beach, who shared insights on the Village’s ongoing projects and future plans.

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Pet Trusts

Bob and Laura were ready to move forward with their estate plan to save estate taxes and avoid probate. The only hitch was who would take care of their beloved pets, Samson, the dog and Delilah, the cat, after Bob and Laura passed away.

Under New York law, trusts for the care of our pets are valid and enforceable. You can set up a pet trust in either a trust or a will. A trust is a private document that generally does not go to court, so if you create a pet trust within your own trust, it’s a private affair. A will, once submitted to court, is a public document and the court oversees the directions in your will, including your pet trust provisions.

Bob and Laura created pet trusts in their own living trusts. After more searching and discussion, they chose Bob’s brother, Rich, to be the trustee, or manager, of the pet trusts, meaning Rich will oversee and keep account of the money allocated to care for Sampson and Delilah. Rich will also be the caretaker. The trustee and caretaker do not have to be the same person but often that is the arrangement.

According to their trusts, after Bob and Laura are both gone, they leave $10,000 for each of their surviving pets. The trust money is to be used for the “proper medical care, support and maintenance” of their pets until the last pet dies. Then, the remainder of the money, called the “trust balance,” is distributed according to Bob’s and Laura’s wishes.

Instead of leaving a specific amount of money, a technique developed by Ettinger Law Firm may be preferable. What we suggest is that an amount to care for the annual feeding and medical care of the pet be placed in a trust, based on the actuarial life expectancy of the pet as determined by a local veterinarian. After all, the amount needed varies greatly depending on the age of the pet. To that, an average of five thousand or more may be added for unseen expenses. Consideration should also be given as to what a fair fee may be for the trustee.

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Marion Street Elementary School’s PTA Diversity Committee will host its annual “Taste of Marion Street” cultural celebration on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m.

News briefs

Taste of Marion Street set for Feb. 27

Marion Street Elementary School’s PTA Diversity Committee will host its annual “Taste of Marion Street” cultural celebration on Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. The event, held at 100 Marion St., invites families to share dishes from their heritage.

Last year, the event featured cuisine from countries including the U.S., Mexico, Colombia, Guyana, Costa Rica, Italy,

Greece, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, China, India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, and Morocco.

For more information, visit LynbrookSchools.org.

— Ainsley Martinez

How Lynbrook public school students performed on 2024 state exams

The New York State Education Department released data on how Lynbrook Public Schools students performed on state exams last year for students in grades 3-8. Proficiency rates are determined by the percentage of students meeting or exceeding the standard set for each exam.

Proficiency Rates for English Language Arts:

Grade 3: 68% proficiency

Grade 4: 73% proficiency

Grade 5: 68% proficiency

Grade 6: 41% proficiency

Grade 7: 50% proficiency

Grade 8: 61% proficiency

Proficiency Rates for Math:

Grade 3: 83% proficiency

Grade 4: 82% proficiency

Grade 5: 76% proficiency

Grade 6: 43% proficiency

Grade 7: 64% proficiency

Grade 8: 28% proficiency

Lynbrook’s proficiency rates generally exceed the state’s composite score. In Mathematics, Lynbrook’s scores are higher, particularly in third and fourth grade. However, eighth graders in Lynbrook show a lower proficiency rate of 28 percent, significantly below the state’s 41 percent.

—

Ainsley Martinez

■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/lynbrook or www.liherald.com/eastrockaway

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a referendum on the ballot in next month’s village election proposes extending the Length of Service awards program benefits for volunteer firefighters in the Lynbrook fire department. former Lynbrook Chief of department Chris Kelly, center, conferred with assistant Chief Clayton murphy, left, and current Chief Scott Bien after a fire at 96 merrick road was extinguished in 2023.

Referendum would extend volunteer benefits

er’s duties. Those who are retired often have more time to volunteer, and the referendum would provide additional incentives for long-term participation, he said.

While there is no age limit for volunteers, they must undergo annual physical assessments and training. “As long as they’re checking all those boxes, they can maintain their service,” LFD Chief Scott Bien said.

Some department volunteer drive trucks, answer calls and take on less physically demanding tasks.

The volunteer shortage has been an issue for decades, Grogan explained, and the department has used LOSAP and other outreach programs to make firefighting a more attractive avocation.

In 1979, Grogan and fellow firefighter Len Llewelyn co-founded the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department to introduce young people to the fire service by offering school credits. The initiative was a success, Grogan said, and the program has since expanded to other area departments including East Rockaway, Malverne, Rockville Centre and Valley Stream.

There are currently 30 juniors in the LFD program, and more than 70 former juniors now serve in the department.

Chief Bien started in the junior program at age 12, continuing his family’s firefighting legacy. “It was always something that interested me when I was younger,” he rcalled.

Participants, who are ages 12 to 17, train in firefighting gear, and learn how to handle hoses and climb ladders.

In Nassau County, volunteer firefighters play a crucial role in emergency services, saving taxpayers billions of dollars annually, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office has reported. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are just over 130 volunteer departments in the county, and only two departments have full-time professional firefighters.

If Nassau County replaced its volunteer firefighters with professionals, the cost would be over $341 million annually, including more than $279 million in additional pay and benefits, according to a 2023 study by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York. That would result in an average property tax increase of 6.5 percent.

The referendum for LOSAP will be on the March 18 village election ballot. For more information on the elections, visit LynbrookVillage.net.

challenge, citing the

ing work and a firefighter’s duties.

Photos courtesy Steve Grogan

Steve grogan, a former captain of the Lynbrook f ire department, said that a shortage of volunteers remains a widespread

difficulty of balanc-

How E.R. public school students performed on 2024 state exams

East Rockaway School District members said the districts and teachers need to strengthen core learning principles to improve test scores at the most recent board meeting.

For New York State’s grades 3-8 assessments, East Rockaway’s students demonstrated varying levels of proficiency in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. The rate is determined by the percentage of students who meet or exceed the set standard for a test.

Proficiency rates for ELA exams:

Grade 3: 43 percent

Grade 4: 42 percent

Grade 5: 50 percent

Grade 6: 56 percent

Grade 7: 38 percent

Grade 8: 50 percent

Proficiency rates for Math:

Grade 3: 39 percent proficiency

Grade 4: 62 percent proficiency

Grade 5: 43 percent proficiency

Grade 6: 58 percent proficiency

Grade 7: 61 percent proficiency

Grade 8: 50 percent proficiency

( Regents Exam Results )

East Rockaway high school stu-

dents performed strongly on the Regents exams, particularly in Algebra I, with 81 percent of students performing sufficiently on the test.

In addition to the state exams, the district reported progress based on the i-Ready diagnostic assessments in reading and math.

For reading, 49 percent of students were at or above proficiency in 2024, which increased to 53 percent in winter 2025.

Additionally, the percentage of students well below proficiency decreased from 18 percent in 2024 to 15 percent in 2025.

For math, 39 percent of students were at or above proficiency in 2024, with a slight decrease to 38 percent in 2025. However, the percentage of students well below proficiency improved from 16 percent to 10 percent during this time.

(Advanced Placement exam success)

The district reported a record number of exams taken, growing from 217 exams in 2022 to 288 exams in 2024.

The percentage of AP exams scoring a 3 or higher — the bench-

mark for college credit — rose to 70.1 percent in 2024, up from 57.6 percent in 2023.

The district also celebrated having 50 AP Scholars, a significant achievement that reflects the success of their college-preparatory programs.

(Looking ahead: goals for student mastery )

East Rockaway’s approach emphasizes mastery learning, focusing on key elements such as scalable processes for demonstrating mastery and teacher assessments that accurately measure student progress.

The district aims to ensure that all students are prepared for college or a career, equipped with the skills outlined in the New York State Portrait of a Graduate. These include:

Innovative problem-solving Literacy across all content areas

Cultural and social-emotional competence

Effective communication Global citizenship

— Ainsley Martinez

E.R. students recieve awards for 9/11 essays

The East Rockaway Board of Education recognized the winners of this year’s Andrew J. Stern Memorial Essay Contest at the Feb. 11 meeting.

The annual contest honors East Rockaway Class of 1978 alumni Andrew Stern who was killed during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. It was created by members of the Stern family who attended the meeting and presented the awards.

The contest winners were East Rockaway Junior Senior High School senior Joey Lu and eighth grader Christopher Devine, and Centre Avenue

Elementary School sixth grader Eshal Abeer. Each year, students are asked to submit an essay based on a specific topic or reflection relating to 9/11. This year the question was: “How can acts of kindness help us remember and honor the heroes of 9/11?”

Scholarships are awarded in three categories: high school, junior high school and elementary school.

Following an induction by the Stern family, each student read their essay and was presented with a certificate and check.

— Ainsley Martinez

L et us K now

News Brief items including awards, honors, promotions and other tidbits about local residents are welcome. Photographs may be emailed as well. Deadline for submissions is noon Thursday, week prior to publication. Send to execeditor@liherald.com

Immigration policies spark anxiety on L.I.

By SCOTT BRINTON Special to the Herald

First in a series of stories on immigration through a partnership between Herald Community Newspapers and Hofstra University.

Sergio Jimenez, of Amityville, an activist with an immigrant rights coalition that includes the Workplace Project in Hempstead, was recently approached by an acquaintance with an unusual proposition: The man asked whether Jimenez would take over his car payments.

The Honduran man had had enough of the Trump administration’s treatment of the immigrant community, and planned to return to his home country. He needed someone to assume his car payments rather than abandon the vehicle.

“He’s going back to Honduras because he can’t stand all this suppression,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez spoke during a nearly twohour-long conversation on Feb. 5 that the Herald hosted at a restaurant down the street from Hempstead Town Hall, attended by 15 immigrants and advocates from the local community and beyond. They came to discuss President Trump’s immigration policy, with its increased focus on identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants.

To protect its owners’ privacy, the Herald is not naming the restaurant.

Trump, Jimenez said, is ignoring the potential economic impact of tens of thousands, perhaps millions, of undocumented and documented immigrants returning to their home countries, either because they are forced or choose to. If a growing number of immigrants leave, the economy will suffer, he said.

Immigrants comprise a third of Nassau County’s workforce and a third of its small-business owners, and New York’s immigrants, documented and undocumented, pay more than $3.1 billion annually in state and local taxes, according to the New York Immigration Coalition.

Nadia Marin-Molina, co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, which has an office at the Freeport Workers Justice Center, said she believes the Trump administration aims to “make people’s lives miserable and to scare people, to terrorize people into leaving themselves, because they can’t deport everybody that they say they’re going to deport.”

As of Feb. 3, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported nearly 8,800 arrests of immigrants from 121 countries, with almost 5,700 deportations and removals since Trump took office. As of 2022, an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants lived in the U.S., 3 percent of the population, according to the American Immigration Council.

Many immigrants were already on edge and thinking of returning to their homelands before Trump’s increased enforcement, according to Deyanira Barrow, who immigrated to the U.S. 35

An increasing number of immigrants are considering returning to their home countries because of the Trump administration’s “suppression” of immigrant rights, according to Hempstead-area activists. Advocates and 15 immigrants gathered to talk with the Herald on Feb. 5.

years ago following the Nicaraguan civil war from 1978 to 1990.

Theft is often why “our people say, no, no, I’m going back to my country. They know some people spend a lot of money for nothing,” Barrow, a Workplace Project activist from Baldwin Harbor who owns a cleaning business, said. An attorney might charge $3,000 to $5,000 to process an immigration claim and provide no services, she added.

Local cooperation with ICE?

According to the National Immigration Law Center, on Jan. 20, his first day in office, Trump signed executive orders calling for, among other measures:

■ A recommitment to mass detention of undocumented immigrants.

■ Potential punishment of municipalities that act as “sanctuaries” for them.

■ A DHS review and audit of federal grants and contracts with non-governmental agencies that aid them.

■ Possible reinstatement of countrybased immigration bans.

■ An examination of Temporary Protected Status designations that allow immigrants fleeing violence and natural disaster to remain in the U.S.

■ Expansion of the expedited removal policy that allows the federal government to deport undocumented immigrants without their day in court.

■ Authorization for local municipalities to act as immigration enforcement agents.

This final point was most disconcerting for a number of the immigrants interviewed by the Herald. They wonder whether local governments, such as the villages of Freeport, Hempstead and

Westbury, and area school districts might cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, signed an agreement with the Trump administration on Feb. 4 that deputized county police officers to carry out immigration enforcement in tandem with ICE.

Blakeman’s policy has received bipartisan support. Freshman U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, a Democrat, issued a statement on Feb. 6, saying, “Violent criminals with no legal right to be here should be deported in accordance with the law. Nassau County detectives now being able to work directly with ICE agents on targeted enforcement against known noncitizen criminals will help keep Long Islanders safe.”

Whether local governments and school districts will cooperate with ICE is an open question. Last month, Hempstead Board of Education President Victor Pratt told Newsday, “We will continue to comply with federal mandates, and the law is the law, whether we agree with it or not.”

That prompted the immigrant rights organization LatinoJustice PRLDEF to respond. “Allowing ICE into our schools or working with this federal agency jeopardizes the safety, rights and wellbeing of the district’s student body,” Lourdes Rosado, the group’s president and general counsel, said.

Hempstead Schools Superintendent Susan Johnson posted a message on the district website last week to reassure concerned parents and students: “We understand that there are concerns circulating in our community regarding the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. During these times, it is important to know that our schools are safe spaces where all children are valued, protected and supported.”

No village or school district could be reached by phone for comment at press time.

‘The struggle continues’

“We are in a dire situation, as I see it,” Jimenez said. “Part of it is the lack of cohesion in the community. There’s no one representing, working with us, except organizations” like the Workplace Project.

The immigrant community was very active politically during the 1980s, “but then somehow the community fell asleep, and we remain sleeping,” Emilio Alfaro Ruiz, national advertising director for La Tribuna Hispana, a Hempstead-based Spanish-language newspaper, said. “It’s a state of mind. We have to tell the people that the struggle continues.”

Elected leaders of both parties have disappointed the immigrant community, Ruiz said, adding, “We always hope the Democrats will do more.” In particular, he said, the community had hoped that President Barack Obama, with a Democratically controlled Congress from 2009 to 2011, would push through comprehensive immigration reform, but that never happened.

Many immigrant activists have grown tired of the fight, Ruiz said. As they see it, the “politicians don’t give a damn about us,” he said, “and I’m going to do my own business — self-care.”

Miguel Alas Sevillano, a community organizer with the Workplace Project and a Salvadoran immigrant, said the organization is holding a workshop series to help immigrants understand their rights under the law. “We prepare people in the community how to act in case ICE comes to our homes or our workplaces or any public area,” Sevillano said.

To learn more about the workshops, call (516) 565-5377.

Courtesy Scott Brinton

The East Rockaway Education Foundation provided the Junior-Senior high school with a 3D printer last year.

News briefs

E.R. Education Foundation provides grants to teachers for special classes

The East Rockaway Education Foundation, a nonprofit established 25 years ago to financially support the East Rockaway School District, awards five new grants to teachers within the district. The grants were awarded to:

Kelly Cabasso – Digital Cameras: $2,469.95

Devin Murray – Library Cricut Creations: $2,500

Kristie Galante – Photo Studio

Equipment: $392

Seanna Silver – Senior Chorus Visiting Artist Master Class: $500

Bradley Krauz – CNC Router for Digital Fabrication: $3,000

“We are pleased to support the innovation and growth these grants reflect,” wrote Kristin Ochtera, president of the foundation, in an email to the district.

— Ainsley Martinez

InterCommunity Nursery School celebrated the start of 2025 with a Winter Wonderland performance, showcasing the singing and dancing talents of the two and three year olds, with a grand finale by the Pre-K class.

Students celebrate 2025 with winter show at nursery school

The students sang and danced about polar bears, snowmen, snowflakes and penguins on Jan. 25th.

The show wrapped up with Olaf, from the Disney movie ‘Frozen,’ surprising the stu -

dents and giving out hugs and high fives.

This event has been an annual staple for InterCommunity Nursery School, which has been a cooperative nursery school in Lynbrook since 1930.

“We strive to make every event as fun and family oriented as possible, this school has become a second home for most of the students,” co-president Danielle Davis said.

— Ainsley Martinez

Courtesy East Rockaway School District

Courtesy Danielle Davis

Baffo Stathes leaves legacy of leadership

bers and reduced operating costs, all while preserving the integrity of both groups and their events.

“Over the last four years, we’ve increased our membership,” Baffo Stathes said.

after eight years as president of per Sempre Lodge 2344 of the order Sons and daughters of italy in america, rosemarie Baffo Stathes will step down on march 18.

“We’ve gotten more involved in the Lynbrook community. It’s been a fabulous experience.”

One of the most gratifying aspects of her presidency, she said, was supporting the next generation through scholarships, empowering young people to pursue higher education and become leaders in their own right.

“We don’t just give financial support,” she explained. “We help them see that they can make a difference beyond just securing a job. There’s a way to truly impact society, and I’m proud we can provide that example.”

Before she retired in 2017 from the Beach Terrace Care Center in Long Beach, where she was the director of staff education and training as well as the infection control officer, Baffo Stath-

es balanced her professional responsibilities with her devotion to the lodge.

“I was always very organized with my time,” she laughed. “There was a lot to juggle, but I’ve always been able to make it work.”

She expressed deep pride in the accomplishments of the Per Sempre Lodge. She plans to remain active in the organization, whether offering advice or

helping with scholarships.

A ceremony on March 18 will commemorate her leadership, introduce her successor and reveal other election results. Representatives of other lodges as well as the state and national OSDIA organzations will attend the event, a tradition celebrated since 1905.

“It’s been a true honor to represent this lodge, and I’m incredibly proud of

the work we’ve done,” Baffo Stathes said. “The people I’ve worked with — many of them are personal heroes of mine. To now be a part of that group, to have led this lodge, is something I’ll always cherish.”

The members of Per Sempre Lodge 2344 meet on the third Tuesday of every month. For more information, visit PerSempreLodge.org.

Continued from page 1

Photos courtesy Per Sempre Lodge 2344

arthur Spera, far left, Biagio isgro, rosemarie Baffo Stathes, robert Baccari, Jerry f ilippone, elaine mendez, Carmine rosato and Vera d’arrigo at a lodge event last June.

Baffo Stathes, far left, with Jared anello, Joseph fontanetta, Benedetto Zito, rocco Vaglica, Jeremy Lauletta, talia Cutolo and Biagio isgro at the event in June, which celebrated students’ achievements.

KIDS, CAMp and SCHOOL —

Extra help

Help your student achieve tutoring success

Your house is a whirlwind after school: Your kids need to have a snack, complete homework, keep up with music lessons you name it. So how do you fit tutoring into a busy household without distracting your struggling student, or making them feel left out of all the fun? Even when tutoring is necessary, learning sessions can be a tall order for kids who are already over-programmed and overtired. Here are some tips for how you can help your tutor make sessions more effective whether virtual or in-person even if your household is as busy as ever.

Designate A Special Spot

One of the biggest benefits of at-home tutoring is giving your student a chance to interact one-on-one with a certified educator. According to Parents.com, even young children who need more practice developing basic skills, like problem-solving, vocabulary, and working with numbers, can benefit from working with a tutor.

enough supplies to teach effectively.

During the hiring process, talk with your tutor about their plans for your child’s tutoring sessions. What kind of space do they need? Together, pick a quiet area in your home that you can dedicate solely to tutoring sessions. This could be the kitchen table, a study desk, or an out-of-the-way corner wherever there’s enough room with limited distractions.

When your child and their tutor have a place that’s all their own to sit down and get to work, it provides the structure and stability for good learning. This routine carries over to every session and makes it easier for your tutor to develop a rapport with your student, so they can accomplish even more together.

Have other children? Make sure they understand that the tutor and your student need time and space to work on their own. Establish this boundary early, so your kids all understand that tutoring time is important work time.

Institute Quiet Hours

Tutoring time can also be good “quiet time” for the rest of your household.

Encourage your other kids to take up quiet activities, like reading, homework, or imagina

Send Kids Outside

If true “quiet time” is a no-go at your house, try sending your other children outside , when weather permits, or to a different part of the house to play. Most kids don’t get enough exercise or imaginative downtime as it is, and this will help them burn off energy and encourage creativity while keeping indoors relatively quiet for tutoring.

Plus, outdoor time has multiple health and wellness benefits for your kids, even if they don’t stray far from home while you supervise tutoring.

Coordinate Breaks And Boundaries

Most young children can only study for 20 to 30 minutes at a time before they need to move on to another activity or take a break. Teens and tweens can likely study for longer periods of time, from 30 to 40 minutes, before they need to get up and stretch or rest their eyes.

Photo: Children can benefit from having someone focused on them who can support their learning and help them to understand and accept their own learning styles.

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Extra help Help your student achieve tutoring success

Designate A Special Spot

Of course, hiring a tutor isn’t always about helping your child get ahead. Tutoring also provides students with the extra help they need to complete school work, address a learning disorder, or master content they struggle with. Depending on your child’s learning style, your tutor might use visual aids, audio clips, or art projects. They’ll need enough room and

enough supplies to teach effectively.

Institute Quiet Hours

Tutoring time can also be good “quiet time” for the rest of your household.

Encourage your other kids to take up quiet activities, like reading, homework, or imaginative play. Turn off devices like TV, phones, or loud games and take a break from constant noise and simulation.

SHAPE YOUR CHILD’S

Send Kids Outside

Plus, outdoor time has multiple health and wellness benefits for your kids, even if they don’t stray far from home while you supervise tutoring.

Coordinate Breaks And Boundaries

Photo: Children can benefit from having someone focused on them who can support their learning and help them to understand and accept their own learning styles.

Flu surges in ‘under-vaccinated’ population

By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com

Anna Sequoia had never had the flu before. At 79, the Glen Cove resident thought she knew what to expect when she developed a sore throat while on a Caribbean cruise last week. But by the time she got home, the illness had taken a frightening turn.

“By the third night, I could barely sleep because of the coughing,” Sequoia recounted. “The coughing was so horrible my chest really hurt.”

Sequoia, who has asthma, went to an emergency room after struggling to breathe. “I told them that I was short of breath,” she said. “I immediately told them that I had been out of the country. They always want to know that. And at that point, everybody put masks on.”

Doctors diagnosed her with the flu and prescribed multiple medications, including Tamiflu, prednisone and a nasal decongestant. They also told her to use a nebulizer every four to six hours to ease her breathing. Now recovering at home, she remains shaken by the experience.

“I was scared, actually,” she said. “It’s frightening to me that people are walking around now without masks.”

Flu cases in New York have surged to more than 53,000, with Long Island recording 11,862 cases in a single week — the highest in at least two seasons. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that flu-related doctor visits nationwide are at a 15-year high. The CDC estimates that, so far this season, 24 million Americans have had the flu, resulting in 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths.

In New York, flu activity has reached its highest level in years. The number of flu-related doctor visits

climbed 7 percent in the first week of February, approaching levels last seen during the 2009-10 flu pandemic.

Dr. Bruce Farber, chief of epidemiology at Northwell Health, said this year’s flu is being driven by low vaccination rates and changes in the virus strains.

“Flu seasons vary year by year, depending upon minor drifts in the virus,” Farber said. “Secondly, the population is under-vaccinated. Flu vaccination rates are much lower than they have been in years previous

… And then, of course, the matchup of the flu vaccine to this year’s strains is also always a prediction, at best.”

In New York, flu vaccination rates among children ages 6 months to 17 have dropped from 60 percent in 2020 to 49 percent this season, according to the CDC. Public health officials stress that the vaccine reduces the severity of illness and the likelihood of hospitalization, even if it doesn’t prevent infection entirely.

Health officials expect flu cases to remain high for several more weeks. “Rates have been very high the first week of February. They’re just starting to level off and fall,” Farber said. “It usually remains at high levels of infection for about eight to 10 weeks, and then slowly declines.”

Officials track the flu’s spread through hospital admissions, flu test positivity rates and emergency room visits.

The Nassau County Department of Health stressed the importance of flu vaccinations in an email to the Herald, noting that it is not too late in the season to get protected. In addition to vaccination, health officials recommend frequent hand-washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces to reduce the spread of the virus. Those who are not feeling well should stay home from work, school and social gatherings until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication.

Those who need help finding a vaccine can call the county health department, at (516) 227-9697.

With between 20,000 and 60,000 flu-related deaths expected annually, Farber stressed the seriousness of the illness, particularly for vulnerable populations. “People should realize that this disease is responsible for a lot of mortality every year,” he said. “It’s not a cold.”

Courtesy Metro Creative

Health officials continue to stress the importance of vaccination as the number of flu cases remains high.

Discover what’s coming in the

MAR 6

Our Story Finance

The Our Story Finance special supplement is a dedicated exploration of how community businesses drive local economies, foster ﬁnancial resilience, and create lasting social impact. This edition highlights the power of collective entrepreneurship, showcasing how locally owned enterprises shape thriving neighborhoods through shared resources, ethical ﬁnance, and community investment.

Our Story

Real Estate Movers and Shakers

This edition spotlights the individuals driving positive change, from revitalizing neighborhoods to pioneering sustainable development and inclusive economic growth. This edition features in-depth proﬁles, and takes a look behind-the-scenes at how community-focused real estate and business leaders are reshaping local communities.

Higher Education

Higher education is more than just earning a degree— it’s a gateway to personal growth, career success, and community development. This special supplement explores the transformative impact of colleges and universities on individuals and society, highlighting the latest trends, opportunities, and resources available to students and lifelong learners.

Kids Camp and School

Kids Camp and School is an in-depth guide on summer camps, after-school programs, and educational institutions, ensuring families have all the information they need to make informed decisions.

STEPPING OUT

Those ‘wild’ days

Director Billy Bustamante, whose credits include Broadway and off-Broadway, brings his ﬂair to the Madison Theatre’s latest production.

The stage is

By Danielle Schwab

Iset for a

steamy Prohibition tale at Molloy’s Madison Theatre

t’s “the party to end all parties” and everyone’s on the guest list. You’re invited to travel back to the decadent world of 1920s Prohibition-era Manhattan when the roaring musical production of Andrew Lippa’s “The Wild Party,” arrives on the Molloy University campus shortly, March 7-9.

Audiences can expect a lively show ﬁlled with vibrant jazz and eclectic guests — also some uninvited “surprises” — that’s sure to keep the joint buzzing.

Observing the talented young performers involved with Molloy’s renowned CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory, guided by Director-Choreographer Billy Bustamante, you’ll surelly be thinking: ‘Let’s raise the roof, let’s make a scene!’

Set in the Roaring Twenties, it tells the tale of two vaudevillians, Queenie and Burrs, as they throw the party to end all parties. Jealousy and decadence abound in this spicy concoction whose tasty musical stew of jazz, blues, gospel, and Tin Pan Alley sounds remarkably contemporary.

Vaudeville dancer Queenie, (played by senior Jessica Olexy) and her intense partner Burrs (senior Cade Eller) host an evening of delight only to see it spiral into chaos with every twist and turn.

• Friday through Sunday, March 7-9; times vary

• Tickets start at $35; available at madisontheatreny.org or the box ofﬁce at (516) 323-4444

• Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

Sondheim’s “Here We Are” (choreographer). Now Molloy’s theater students can beneﬁt from his talents.

“I have history with this story,” Bustamente says. “I directed an off-Broadway production of the other version back in 2016, so this feels like a full circle moment, getting to explore this story again through different writers.”

There’s even a ‘show within a show’ musical number, “ A Wild, Wild Party,” a favorite of senior Angelo Domingo, who appears as a party guest, the rambunctious boxer Eddie.

The Pirates of Penzance

Shiver me timbers! Book your passage to the Madison Theatre when Molloy University’s renowned CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory, stages the classic musical, accompanied by the South Shore Symphony, Sail away to the whimsical world of Gilbert & Sullivan’s beloved operetta, where a merry band of parading pirates — led by their Pirate King — clash swords and nightsticks with the bumbling Bobbies on the shores of Cornwall. The story revolves around Frederic, who was apprenticed by mistake to a band of tenderhearted pirates. He meets the daughters of Major-General Stanley, including Mabel, and the two young people instantly fall in love. With its humorous blend of romantic entanglements and memorable melodies, this delightful production promises an evening of laughter and theatrical magic.

Friday through Sunday, Feb. 2123, times vary. Tickets start at $35. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 3234444.

“At this party, everyone has a secret and something to hide. This show explores what happens when those secrets and the masks — that we all wear — get ripped off,” Bustamante says.

Based on Joseph Moncure March’s 1928 poem of the same name, the award-winning off-Broadway musical wowed audiences with its look into love in a messy and exciting fashion when it debuted 25 years ago.

the award-winning off-Broadway musical wowed audiences with its the score,” Bustamante says. “The nature of the music

While the narrative poem is almost a century old, Lippa’s adaptation brings a modern take to the story, blending the captivating allure of the 1920s with a modern feel.

“The music is a lot more contemporary and eclectic, all while being rooted in jazz. There are some really exciting pop, Latin and contemporary musical theater elements in the score,” Bustamante says. “The nature of the music allows audiences today to engage with the story and see themselves in the characters’ experiences in a really impactful way.”

From larger-than-life dancing sequences such as “Juggernaut,” to soulful reﬂections as in “What Is It About Her?,” the production traverses the range of human emotions and complicated identities those vaudeville entertainers of that era.

“All these people at the party are people who don’t belong in other places. The nature of what it meant to be a vaudevillian performer was you were uplifted and applauded at one moment and then not allowed certain restaurants or rooms at the next,” Bustamante explains.

“At its core, it’s something really beautiful. But on the

“At its core, it’s something really beautiful. But on the other hand, these are all damaged people because of the lives that they’ve had to leave, and that sets the stage for an evening where a lot can really go down.”

This isn’t the ﬁrst time that Bustamante has helmed the story. In fact, he was involved with a different musical adaptation of the famous poem, created by Michael John LaChiusa. His resume includes acting in productions such as Broadway Theatre’s “Miss Saigon” in addition to his directorial turns in “Here Lies Love” (assistant director) and Stephen

as a party guest, the rambunctious boxer Eddie. says.

“It was the number that introduced me to the show, and it has just a very fun, infectious vibe,” Domingo

an opportunity to hone their performing skills before

For the cast of 25, this production is an opportunity to hone their performing skills before going forward professionally.

“The [CAP21] program teaches you a lot about how to be an individual in theater. Because we’re in New York, you get the experience of [being with] working professionals who are working on Broadway, Off Broadway and developing musicals,” Domingo continues.

[being with] working professionals who are

“I’ve grown in more ways than I thought I ever would. And when it comes to my training, I achieved things that I thought would take way longer to achieve already.”

Czech National Symphony Orchestra

So get ready to head to the theater — it’s time to join the party.

I thought I ever would. And when it head theater — it’s time to join the party.

audience Party” feeling

“I hope that our audience can leave “The Wild Party” feeling entertained, but at the same time a little educated and with a deeper understanding of themselves,” Bustamante

understanding of themselves,” Bustamante says.

masks serve you, and what masks might you

“And our version of the show can really help ask the question of our audience: ‘What masks serve you, and what masks might you be ready to let go.’

Recognized as one of Europe’s ﬁrst-rank symphonic ensembles and renowned for its versatility, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra brings its current U.S. tour to Long Island, under the baton of music director Steven Mercurio. Dynamic guest soloist Maxim Lando, an American pianist and winner of the 2022 New York Franz Liszt International Competition, joins CNSO. He and violinist Sandy Cameron perform beloved works from the Romantic repertoire — Jan Václav Hugo Voríšek’s Sinfonia Re Maggiore, Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 and selected works from Antonín Dvorák, including Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 33 and Czech Suite.

The Wild Party contains mature themes.

lively on stage.

Saturday, Feb. 22, 3 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Photos courtesy Madison Theatre Angelo Domingo and Mariposa Boyd step

a different musical adaptation of the famous poem, created by Michael John LaChiusa.

THE Your Neighborhood

Colin

Jost

March

Live … from Long Island … it’s Colin Jost! He appears on the Paramount stage, Thursday, March 13, 8 and 10 p.m. From Saturday Night Live to standup to his appearances in film, other TV ventures and even authoring a memoir, Jost is seemingly everywhere. He is currently in the middle of his 11th season as SNL’s “Weekend Update” coanchor, and his 20th as an SNL writer. His accolades are many: five Writers Guild Awards, two Peabody Awards and 15 Emmy nominations for his writing on “SNL.” Jost and his Weekend Updatemate Michael Che have hosted special editions of “Weekend Update” on MSNBC during the 2016 Republican and Democratic national conventions as well as co-hosted the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2018.

Also, in 2024 they executive produced and co-hosted Peacock’s first live comedy event, “Colin Jost and Michael Che Present: New York After Dark,” which featured an evening of surprise dropin performances from stand-up comedians. As a writer, Jost has been published multiple times in the New Yorker and has contributed to the New York Times Magazine, among other endeavors. In 2020, Jost debuted “A Very Punchable Face.” A New York Times bestseller, the memoir is a series of essays that documents pivotal moments in Jost’s life, including growing up in Staten Island in a family of firefighters, commuting three hours a day to high school, attending Harvard while Facebook was created and more. And in 2024, he even appeared as a correspondent from Tahiti for NBC Sports for the surfing competition at the summer Olympic Games, plus last year he was featured entertainer of the 2024 White House Correspondents Dinner. $129.50, $119.50, $89.50, $79.50, $69.50, $59.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

On stage

Adelphi University

Performing Arts students present the musical adaptation of “The Spitfire Grill,” Wednesday through Sunday, Feb. 26-March 2. Based on the 1996 film by Lee David Zlotoff, this is a heartwarming and inspirational musical tale of redemption, perseverance and family. It follows a troubled young parolee yearning for a fresh start who follows her dreams to Wisconsin, based on a page from an old travel book, only to find a small town with a gritty heart aching with longing and regret.

Unexpectedly discovering the healing power of community while working at the Spitfire Grill, Percy reawakens the entire town’s capacity for rebirth, forgiveness and hope. Set to a melodic folk-inspired score, it’s a joyous celebration of human kindness.

$30. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi. edu/pac.

PTA Founders’ Day

East Rockaway School District’s PTA units will hold its Founder’s Day event, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m., at East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School. For more information, visit EastRockawaySchools.org.

Little Learners in the Kitchen

Children ages 18 months to 5 can learn how to make winter cookies while using Spanish vocabulary, Friday, Feb. 21, 10-11 a.m., through the Lynbrook Recreation Department at Greis Park. Location is available after registering, $25. To register, visit Lynbrook.RecDesk.com.

Stoplight Party 5K Long Island

The Never Stop Running Foundation holds its Stoplight 5K, Saturday, Feb. 22, in Eisenhower Park. This foundation supports athletic and charitable events as they raise awareness and foster community involvement. Race begins rain or shine at 10 a.m. in Eisenhower’s Field 2. Visit EliteFeats. com/25StopLightLI for more information and to register for the run.

Catch up with Kiwanis

Lynbrook Kiwanis Club meets twice monthly. Meetings are held the first Thursday of each mont, 6:30 p.m., at Lynbrook Library; the third Thursday, at 7 p.m., at Savino’s, 88 Atlantic Ave. For more information, visit Facebook. com/KiwanisLynbrook.

Youth Baseball Clinic

Students in grades K-6 can play baseball with Lynbrook High School players, coaching staff and Lynbrook Diamond Club, Saturday, March 1, 1-2:15 p.m., at Lynbrook High School Gymnasium. Check in at the gym. $30. 9 Union Ave. To register, visit TinyURL.com/ DiamondClubClinic2025.

Art Explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program continues, Saturday, Feb. 22, noon-3 p.m. Kids and their adult partners talk about and make art together. While there, enjoy reading and play in the Reading Room, and contribute to The Lobby Project, a collaborative art installation. Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit nassaumuseum. org to register or call (516) 484-9337.

Bingo

Stop by St. Mary’s Maris/Stella Knights of Columbus, every Thursday, 7 p.m. for bingo. With $2,000 cash prizes this week, food from Vincents Restaurant, coffee, snacks, and more. For more information, call (516) 887-2228. 78 Hempstead Ave.

Family theater

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to its stage, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21,-22, 11 a.m and 1:30 p.m.; also Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 26-27, 10:15 a.m. and noon. It is 3017 in this futuristic, musical retelling of “Cinderella.” She’s now a space engineer looking to revolutionize space travel. When the Prince holds a space parade, Cinderella saves it by helping fix the Prince’s spaceship and show the Prince her new hyper warp speed engine. But first, she’ll have to keep her evil stepmother from throwing a wrench in her plans! $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.

In concert

Jupiter String Quartet returns to Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, Friday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m. The intimate group of violinists Nelson Lee and Meg Freivogel, violist Liz Freivogel (Meg’s older sister), and cellist Daniel McDonough (Meg’s husband, Liz’s brotherin-law) are brought together by ties both familial and musical.

The ensemble brings its well-honed musical chemistry to three works shaped by bold musicality and deeply meaningful thematic inspirations, including Warmth from Other Suns by Carlos Simon; String Quartet No. 3, Glitter, Doom, Shards, Memory by Shulamit; and String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130 with the Grosse Fuge by Ludwig van Beethoven. Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.

On Exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) which publicly launched the movement. The direct follow-up to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. The exhibit encompasses significant cultural advancements during Long Island’s Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age movement, including votes, jobs, and the automobile for women, the beginnings of suburbia with commutation for work, and planned residential communities, which all defined the era, while the following decade brought economic reversals and the WPA program. Works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Fernand Léger, Guy Pène du Bois, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, and Reginald Marsh, among others, along with art deco stylists of poster art and graphics, and photography will convey the Art Deco spirit along with its furniture, decorative arts, and fashion.

Like “Our Gilded Age,” the social scene of Long Island’s Gold Coast, and its personalities — both upstairs and downstairs — will be portrayed, along with the ongoing relationship with the immediate urban context of New York with its skyscrapers and deco-styled architecture. On view through June 15. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

A Band Called Honalee

Plaza Theatricals welcomes the modern-day folk trio, Sunday, Feb. 23 , 2:30 p.m. Inspired by the music and legacy of Peter, Paul & Mary, the ensemble offers up an energetic interactive tribute. Satisfying diehard PPM lovers as well as newcomers to this wonderful era of music, their concer features all of PPM’s beloved hits, including “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” “Blowing in the Wind,” and of course “Puff The Magic Dragon.”

With virtuosic musicianship, stirring harmonies and polished showmanship, they also offers favorites from Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Pete Seeger, Joni Mitchell, The Mamas & The Papas, Joan Baez, The Weavers, and more. $40, $35 seniors. Groove along at Plaza’s stage at Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit plazatheatrical.com.

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE OF VILLAGE TREASURER’S SALE FOR TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE IN THE VILLAGE OF LYNBROOK, NEW YORK PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Real Property Tax Law, the Village Law of the State of New York, the Village Code of the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, and pursuant to a Resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lynbrook, Nassau County, New York, adopted at a meeting held on the 13th day of January, 2025, the Treasurer of said Village will sell pursuant to Village Code §222-27(B) to the Village of Lynbrook, in the manner prescribed by law, on the 13th day of March 2025 at 10:00 A.M., each of the following parcels of real estate upon which Village taxes remain unpaid as will be sufficient to discharge the taxes, interest and charges thereon which may be due at the time of the sale.

Such interest in real estate will be sold subject to any unpaid assessment thereon levied by said Village and any unpaid lien purchased and held by said Village, and all liens on property included in this sale are sold subject to the provisions of any federal or state law. The following is a list of lots, pieces and parcels of real estate to be sold, and the total amount of the taxes, interest and charges thereon:

58-4-7

58-4-9

LEGAL NOTICE

LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD

PUB 1X 2/20/25

AVISO ELECTORAL DEL PUEBLO DE 2025

A LOS ELECTORES DE LA ALDEA INC. DE LYNBROOK, NUEVA YORK

NOTIFICACIÓN SE DA, que la siguiente es una lista verdadera y correcta de los candidatos nominados, como se indica en las peticiones de nominación presentadas ante el Oficial Electoral del Pueblo, para que las oficinas se llenen en la Elección del Pueblo que se llevará a cabo el martes 18 de marzo de 2025, de conformidad con las disposiciones de la Ley Electoral del Estado de Nueva York: NOMBRE DEL CANDIDATO CARGO PÚBLICO LUGAR DE RESIDENCIA (PLAZO DE 4 AÑOS)

LYNBROOK NEW VISION PARTY

EMBLEM: STARRichard Fasano Justicia del Pueblo 13 Linda Court

Michael Hawxhurst Fiduciario 28 First Street Michael Habert Fiduciario 34 Chestnut St AVISO SE DA ADEMÁS QUE el único lugar de votación, en el Lynbrook El Centro Recreativo estará abierto a votación a las 7:00 A.M. y cerrará a las 9:00 P.m.

JOHN GIORDANO, OFICIAL ELECTORAL DEL PUEBLO

LYNBROOK, NEW YORK 151696

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU MATRIX FINANCIAL SERVICES

CORPORATION, Plaintiff AGAINST MICHAEL HEALEY, KATHLEEN ROSE HEALEY, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 19, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 12, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 65 Highland Boulevard, Lynbrook, NY 11563. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected,

LEGAL NOTICE

LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD 2025 VILLAGE ELECTION NOTICE TO THE ELECTORS OF THE INC. VILLAGE OF LYNBROOK, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the following is a true and correct listing of the nominated candidates, as indicated on the nominating petitions filed with the Village Election Officer, for the offices to be filled at the Village Election to be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, pursuant to the provisions of the New York State Election Law:

NAME OF CANDIDATE PUBLIC OFFICE PLACE OF RESIDENCE (4 YEAR TERM)

LYNBROOK NEW VISION PARTY

EMBLEM: STAR

Richard Fasano Village Justice 13 Linda Court

Michael Hawxhurst Trustee 28 First Street

Michael Habert Trustee 34 Chestnut Street

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN THAT the sole polling place, at the Lynbrook Recreation Center shall be open for voting at 7:00 A.M. and closed at 9:00

P.M.

JOHN GIORDANO, VILLAGE ELECTION OFFICER

LYNBROOK, NEW YORK 151695

situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37 Block 135 Lots 18, 19 and 20. Approximate amount of judgment $488,553.62 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #615187/2023.

Joshua D. Brookstein, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 23-001000 84245 151402

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff AGAINST GEORGE R. ERCOLE JR A/K/A GEORGE ERCOLE, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 4, 2017, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 11, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 169 SPENCER AVENUE, LYNBROOK, NY 11563.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of East Rockaway, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38, Block 441, Lot 232. Approximate amount of judgment $367,743.07 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #008271/2009. Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-002974 84088 151400

LEGAL NOTICE SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS IN TAX LIEN FORECLOSURESUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAU - PAPIO DEVELOPMENT CORP, Plaintiff, NERI BACHRACH A/K/A NERI BACHARACH, et. al., Defendants. Index No. 613674/23. To the above named Defendants -YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action within twenty days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service or within thirty days after

service is completed if the summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. Plaintiffs designate Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the county in which the property, with respect to which a judgment is sought, is situated. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to the Order of the Hon. R. Bruce Cozzens, J.S.C., dated January 15, 2025. The object of this action is to quiet title and declare Plaintiff the record holder and owner of a real property located at School District 29 Section 42 Block 107 Lots 183, 286, 384, and 385 and is also known as 76 Waverly Avenue, East Rockaway, New York, 11518, and bar the defendants from all claims and interests in the property.

Dated: February 4, 2025 BRONSTER, LLP, Attorney for Plaintiff Papio Development Corp. By: Leonid Krechmer, Esq. 156 West 56th Street,

Suite 703

New York, NY 10019 (212) 558-9300 151555

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Houses in flood zones had to be raised, but businesses?

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A. Most commercial buildings were not considered “substantially damaged,” a definition by the Federal Emergency Management Agency requiring flood-prevention implementation. In most cases, only when renovating, waterproofing materials were required to be added to either the inside or outside of buildings, but this was not enforced uniformly with required permits. Part of the reason that flood-proof materials were added was, just as you said, to prevent loss of inventory, but also because businesses can’t be out of commission for very long without losing money.

Flood protective panels that attach at the exterior doors and windows, membranes placed on interior walls behind new finishes, and waterproofing of exterior walls up to 2 feet above the flood elevation, designated by FEMA for your area, have become standard practice for projects where people are concerned about their businesses continuing to operate after the next serious storm. The owner or tenant has to be concerned enough to implement these safeguards, because most commercial buildings in flood-prone areas were either not considered damaged enough to lift or not required to flood-proof unless brought to the attention of officials.

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opinions Recalling the presidents I’ve met

As we celebrated Presidents’ Day on Monday, I thought back on presidents I’ve had the opportunity to meet over the years.

Except for my first meeting with Richard Nixon in 1967, before he was president, all of those meetings resulted from my involvement in politics.

In the summer of 1967, between my second and third years of law school, I worked as an intern in Nixon’s Wall Street law firm. (The fellow intern I was assigned to work with that summer was Rudy Giuliani — who was then a liberal Democrat.) In addition to the chance encounters we had with Nixon in the hallway or elevator, we interns had a long lunch discussion with him, during which he demonstrated his expansive knowledge of foreign and domestic issues. Surprisingly, he also displayed a certain shyness.

A quarter-century later, in 1993, the then former president was in Washington to address Republicans in Congress, where I told him how much I appreciated the long-ago internship. He was no longer shy, but seemingly at peace. The following year, I attended his funeral in

California.

President Gerald Ford was in the closing days of his 1976 campaign against Jimmy Carter when he spoke at a massive rally at the Nassau Coliseum. At a reception afterward, Ford was gracious and friendly, a class act.

The next time I saw him was in 1998, at Sonny Bono’s funeral in California.

From Nixon to Trump, there have been 10, and each left a different impression.

I had just two brief encounters with Jimmy Carter, the first an introduction at Yitzhak Rabin’s funeral in Jerusalem in 1995. The second was about 10 years ago, when I was on a Delta Shuttle, waiting to take off for Washington, when Carter got on the plane, recognized me, shook my hand and gave me a warm hello and a big smile — an awkward moment for me, since I had attacked him for something on national TV just the day before!

Except for a White House briefing for New York Republicans in 1987, my dealings with President Ronald Reagan consisted of handshakes and photos at political events in Nassau County and Manhattan. I was always struck by his sense of dignity and leadership. He never disappointed.

President George Bush 41 was the last of the old-school presidents, in the best sense of that term. He was very knowl-

edgeable and always respectful of his office. In addition to greeting him at political events before and after his presidency, I was invited, along with other newly elected Republicans, to meet with him in the Oval Office in his final days as president in January 1993. It was inspiring and memorable. He didn’t have a word of regret or complaint. True stature.

Though President Barack Obama offered to appoint me ambassador to Ireland, my dealings with him were infrequent and businesslike. He was always polite, and always “no drama Obama.”

My contacts with Joe Biden were when he was senator and vice president, primarily at social events in Washington. He was invariably cordial and humorous. Always greeted me with a big grin, and would kid me that Irish guys should always be Democrats. He was sharp; very different from how he was as president.

The presidents I spent the most time with were Bill Clinton, George Bush 43 and Donald Trump, all of whom are within two years of me in age. I worked closely with Clinton on the Irish peace process, traveling with him on his historic visits to Northern Ireland. I stood with him during his impeachment. He

couldn’t have been more gracious and friendly to my family. He and Hillary were the first to call the night my mother died. We remain friends.

I saw up close how dedicated the younger George Bush was to helping New York and defeating Islamist terrorism following the horrific Sept. 11 attacks. I was with him in the ruins of the World Trade Center three days afterward, and over the succeeding months and years was at numerous meetings he had with cops, firefighters and 9/11 victims’ family members. A true patriot. Great sense of humor.

Donald Trump was and is one of a kind. He and I grew up in Queens at the same time. Though we lived in different Zip codes, one on one he was like the guys I grew up with, totally down to earth. Despite his public persona, he could be caring and concerned, like when he reached out to my daughter when she was sick, or when he invited my grandchildren to the White House. Most significantly, I’ll always be appreciative of his visits to Long Island, where he led the effort to crush MS-13. These are just some of the recollections from my front-row seat of the 10 men who led our nation over the past six decades.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

Somewhere, the Founding Fathers must be fretting

As best I can remember when I was in fourth grade, we were taught that there are three branches of government — the legislative, the judicial and the executive. And we were taught that they were co-equals, with each possessing powers that the other branches couldn’t interfere with.

To make it simple, our teacher stated that the legislative branch, represented by Congress, is responsible for making laws. The executive branch, headed by the president, enforces laws made by Congress and oversees federal agencies. The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court, interprets laws and ensures that they comply with the Constitution.

In my lifetime, over many decades, I have seen how the wishes of our Founding Fathers were complied with. While I was too young to understand the maneuvers of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, when he stepped over the line, the

Supreme Court reversed a number of his actions. In blunt terms, he was told that some of his actions violated the Constitution.

Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama saw their controversial legislation overridden by a vote of three-fourths of Congress. And on quite a few occasions, the Supreme Court told Congress that it had violated the Constitution and its actions were null and void. That seemed to be in line with what I learned at Public School 26 in Brooklyn.

Wcal issues. Some are consistent with campaign promises Trump made, but others clearly step on the toes of the 435 members of Congress.

e once learned that the White House, Congress and the courts were co-equals.

Having served in the State Assembly for 23 years, I am very much aware of how the systems work in both Washington and Albany. I have seen the Legislature in Albany flex its muscles and override the governor on many occasions. I have seen the courts tell the Legislature that it has stepped over the line and violated the state Constitution.

On Jan. 20, President Trump issued an avalanche of executive orders. Many of them have escaped public attention, because voters don’t spend all their time watching the news and following politi-

Under Article I of the Constitution, Congress is given the sole authority to appropriate money for the operation of the government. There is no language that allows the president to impound funding authorized by Congress. The president campaigned on the promise of abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, but only Congress can dissolve a federal agency.

Some of the most challenging developments in the new Trump term are the actions taken by Elon Musk. He may have been given a blanket direction to cut government waste, but he is not allowed to abolish any federal agency that has been created by Congress. Musk has effectively shut down one agency already by restricting funding, but his powers will no doubt be challenged in the federal courts.

The biggest surprise to me, as a former state and local official, is how civil service protections are being totally ignored. Notices have been sent to thou-

sands of federal workers offering them buyouts with no guarantees that they will keep their jobs if they don’t take them. Actions taken by the administration to force career employees out of their jobs defy what the civil service system is about.

The most eye-popping development is the failure of any Republican member of Congress to complain about the impact of the funding impoundments on their own home communities. Major cancer research hospitals in Louisiana, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas have made urgent cries about the loss of anticipated dollars. Special drugs for serious diseases can’t be purchased without assurances that the money will be available. Rather than free up these dollars, the White House is focusing on efforts like halting the production of pennies that are popular with the public. There seem to be no people in Washington who are echoing the voices of the Founding Fathers. That is our loss.

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.

Established

In civil discourse, everyone deserves respect

in February we celebrate Black History Month, honoring the achievements, resilience and contributions of Black Americans throughout history. In March we recognize Women’s History Month, acknowledging the pivotal role of women in shaping our society. Throughout the year, we take time to celebrate mothers, fathers, military veterans, educators, grandparents and others who have made an impact on of our lives, and continue to.

HERALD

These moments of recognition remind us of something fundamental: Every person, the members of every ethnic and demographic group, and those of every faith deserve R-E-S-P-E-C-T, as the great Aretha Franklin sang. Yet in today’s world, respect often seems to be in short supply. This reality is magnified by the noise blasting from social media, the nonstop discourse on television and radio masquerading as news, and the constant barrage of opinions that seek to divide rather than unite.

We can, and should, engage in constructive discussions on pressing issues such as climate change, education, housing, economic opportunity and social justice without resorting to dehumanization. It is possible to stand firm in our

letters

How about taking on property taxes, Jerry?

To the Editor:

Re Jerry Kremer’s op-ed in the Feb. 6-12 issue, “Cleaning the 2024 slate is comforting”: While we don’t share the same political philosophy, I respect Mr. Kremer’s career and his accomplishments. He was known in Albany as a fellow who actually did the people’s business.

His piece had a regular-guy ring to it. His protestations were mine, as were the laments. I no longer go to Yankee Stadium. I do get to Citi Field for a game or two, but the Mets are moving into the high-priced arena as well. I’ll still go, but I do mourn the old days.

Supermarkets are on my canceled list. I have throwback moments at Costco now.

Jerry’s recollection of the movies took me back to a story my father told me when I was a kid. The son of Sicilian immigrants who didn’t have much, he told me that one day, as a 14-year-old, he found a quarter on the street. With that quarter he got a trolley ride, a hero sandwich and a triple feature. It was 1934, and a quarter got you somewhere in Brooklyn.

Jerry did skip over my major annoyance, property taxes. Last October, the Herald printed my op-ed, “Nassau is no county for old

beliefs while recognizing the humanity of those who see the world differently. Diversity of thought is essential to a thriving society. Healthy debate strengthens our communities, fosters new ideas and leads to meaningful progress. But progress is only possible when conversations are grounded in mutual respect.

As we address the challenges facing our nation, we must acknowledge that the path forward is not always clear. Intelligent, clear-thinking people will advocate different solutions based on their experiences and beliefs. That is to be expected. But what should never change is our commitment to engaging with one another as individuals deserving of respect, regardless of our differences.

It isn’t enough to simply argue about policies or demand that others see the world exactly as we do. True progress requires dialogue. It requires the humility to recognize that none of us has all the answers, and we must be open-minded enough to find solutions together, even when our collective problems seem impossibly difficult.

We must also reject the idea that disagreement makes those who disagree

into enemies. Too often, political and social divisions are deepened by rhetoric that seeks to demonize rather than understand. But a just and equitable society cannot be built on division. Rather, it requires the recognition that, despite our differences, we are all part of the same human family.

In the year ahead, let’s recommit to fostering a culture in which mutual respect is not an afterthought, but instead a guiding principle. Let’s teach our children — not just with words, but also with actions — that disagreement is not a reason to hate, but an opportunity to learn. Let’s model the kind of civil discourse that allows communities to grow stronger rather than splinter apart.

Black History Month, Women’s History Month and all the other days on which we honor those who have shaped our communities serve as indelible reminders of the R-E-S-P-E-C-T everyone deserves, every day. Despite the challenges we face, a just, equitable society remains within our reach — one in which opportunity isn’t determined by race or Zip code, where debate isn’t defined by hostility, and where respect is a cornerstone of its foundation.

men.” I’ll be 80 this summer, and my property taxes, which I’ve been paying for 47 years, are now north of $30,000. I hope that in his editorial role, Jerry can advocate

for seniors who want to stay in their homes.

PHIL COMO Sea Cliff

opinions On smartphones, collaborate, don’t mandate

the advent of smartphones, social media and other personal devices has brought about a revolution that has impacted everything from the way we communicate and socialize to the way we research information and work. While these technologies offer undeniable benefits, they also present significant challenges, particularly for our youth.

Gov. Kathy hochul’s proposed statewide ban on student smartphone use during the school day aims to address these challenges, but a top-down approach risks creating more problems than it solves. The governor has charged each school district with devising a plan for eliminating student smartphone use during the school day. While the motivation behind her proposal is laudable, the impact of this mandate could place schools at odds with students and their families. The path forward requires collaboration with our stakeholders, not mandates.

The research highlighting the nega-

tive impacts of social media on young people, especially girls, is compelling. Teachers, administrators and even students themselves acknowledge that smartphones are a problem. In addition to harmful effects on student wellbeing, their use has an adverse effect on learning, socialization and development. students whose use of smartphones is unregulated tend to pay attention less in class. As teachers battle for attention, learning declines. students may try to pay attention, but the gravitational pull of their phones is just too great. Between the alerts, the messages, the apps and the games, it’s extremely difficult for even the most diligent students to resist the urge to check their devices. We can all agree that something must be done.

a

income communities, access to smartphones is more than just play; it is a lifeline to work and needed resources.

s we discuss their challenges in schools, we can’t overlook their benefits.

hochul frames phones as a public health threat, justifying government intervention. however, we must consider parental choice and respect the principle of local control. schools need to work with teachers, families and students to co-construct “rules of engagement” for student smartphone use. We also need to understand the perspectives of all stakeholders before we make decisions that alter the way students navigate their day at schools.

are also significant. storing thousands of phones every day will present logistical and financial burdens for schools that are already stretched thin. While the state proposes funding for storage solutions, the ongoing costs of staffing and implementation remain a concern. Moreover, how will schools facilitate communication between parents and children in emergencies? These logistical hurdles underscore the need for careful planning and collaboration.

But as we discuss the challenges of phones in schools, we cannot overlook the benefits they provide. Teachers may utilize phones during class for instant feedback, and students rely on them when their school-issued devices malfunction or are unavailable. Additionally, some families rely on the access to their teens for coordinating child care or work schedules. In lower-

Letters

There’s good news about younger readers, Randi

To the Editor:

Re Randi Kreiss’s recent column, “When was the last time your read a book?”: I was happy to be informed about Randi’s impressions of the reading habits of children and young adults. This is a subject that I have a firsthand knowledge of.

Over the past 10 to 15 years, I have observed a tendency among my paying customers, most of whom are, in fact, 16 to 30 years old. Most come to me to fill a gap in their knowledge of classics, science fiction, general fiction, mystery and other literary genres. It seems that high schools and colleges assign them books that are online, but those who come to me seem to prefer hard copies. For me the trend is notable and rewarding, and boosts my hope that reading physical books, particularly classics, has not lost its luster in our over-technological, disgustingly overcomputerized society.

AMnOn TIshlER

Booklovers Paradise Bellmore

Alarmed at Blakeman’s ‘outrageous behavior’

To the Editor:

I am alarmed at the lack of alarm in nassau County in response to County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s outrageous behavior.

First he organized an independent local armed security force, and denied it was a “militia.” It actually fits the dictionary definition of a militia, which means Blakeman is either uninformed or disingenuous — or both.

Then he declared that the new York Post, a tabloid owned by Rupert Murdoch, is the official publication of nassau County, because Blakeman doesn’t like the leanings of n ewsday, which, for better or worse, has been a l ong Island-centric publication for decades. Both moves are autocratic and partisan, and both are indefensible — but the public outcry has been muted, at best. I believe we need to react to — and reject — this sort of overreach, which I do not believe represent either the feelings or the interests of many nassau County residents.

RIChARd sChWARz Bayville

We should teach students to be responsible young adults, with the ability to self-regulate, by fostering opportunities for them to do so. By teaching them from a young age to manage their phones, we empower them with lifelong skills that they will need in order to succeed in most workplaces. during these conversations with family members, we will undoubtedly find that one-size solutions will not fit every district. Instead, school leaders, in consultation with teachers, parents and students, should be able to develop their own solutions.

The practical implications of a ban

Many districts already have cellphone policies in place. These models, along with input from all stakeholders, should inform the development of targeted strategies that work for them. let’s allow schools the flexibility to develop plans that are responsive to the unique needs of their communities.

The goal is to create safe and productive learning environments in which children are free from the distracting influence of their phones. This requires open communication, mutual respect, and a commitment to finding solutions that work for everyone. By fostering collaboration and empowering local communities, we can effectively address the challenges of smartphone use in schools.

Monique Darrisaw-Akil is superintendent of the Uniondale Union Free School District.

Framework by Tim Baker

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moniQUe Darrisaw- akiL

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