Massapequa Herald 02_19_2025

HERALD Massapequa

Tentative school budget numbers presented to Massapequa BOE

By MIKE POLANSKY Correspondent

The tentative shape of the 2025-2026 Massapequa school district budget was outlined in the first of three budget presentations to the Board of Education on Feb. 6.

Ryan Ruf, the school district’s Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations who made the presentation, noted that the district is facing an expenditure increase of $7,171,055 in the preliminary “rollover budget.” Of this amount, $4,194,326 would go toward salaries and benefits, while $1,179,354 is needed to cover increased special education costs. He reminded

the board that 74 percent of the budget is dedicated to salaries and benefits.

He then provided a detailed review of the general support portion of the budget, including expenses related to the Board of Education, district clerk, district meetings, the superintendent’s office, business office, auditors, legal services, human resources, public information, and buildings and grounds maintenance and security.

Ruf also highlighted a significant increase in electricity and natural gas costs for the 20252026 budget. However, he pointed out that once the district transitions to solar energy, it will

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Oyster Bay Town Board appoints Andrew Monteleone new councilman

By MIKE POLANSKY Correspondent

Andrew Monteleone, a Syosset attorney, has been appointed to the Oyster Bay Town Board, filling the vacancy left by Councilwoman Michelle Johnson, who was elected District Court Judge in November.

“Oyster Bay will benefit greatly from Andrew Monteleone’s experience, leadership, and dedication to the community,” said Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “His legal expertise, commitment to youth programs, and passion for preserving our suburban way of life make him a valuable addition to the Town Board. I look forward to collaborating with him to continue providing responsible governance for our residents.”

Monteleone expressed his appreciation for the appointment. “It is an incredible honor to be appointed to the Oyster Bay Town Board,” he said. “I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me, and I look forward to working tirelessly on behalf of our residents. Oyster Bay is a special place to live, work, and raise a family, and I am committed to preserving the values that make our town so great.”

Monteleone is a graduate of Chaminade High School, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University, a master’s degree from C.W. Post, and a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham Law School.

He began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County before transitioning to private practice, specializing in personal injury litigation and estate planning. He has held leadership positions in the legal community, including as president of the Former Assistant District Attorneys Association and as a board member of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Nassau County.

New bill proposes adding heart checks to school physicals

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

A new bill introduced by Assemblyman Michael Durso and Senator Alexis Weik would require New York schools to include an EKG as part of regular sports physicals.

An EKG is a non-invasive procedure that uses ultrasound to assess the heart’s structure and function. If abnormalities are detected, doctors typically recommend a more invasive test, an electrocardiogram.

The bill, known as Connor’s Law, is named in memory of Connor Kasin, a 17-year-old athlete from the Massapequa School District who died during a charity hockey game in Bethpage. Connor collapsed on the ice during an intermission at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center. Bystanders performed CPR until paramedics arrived and transported him to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Connor, a senior, was an avid hockey player. At the time of his death, he was participating in a memorial game for Sabrina Navaretta, a 19-year-old Syosset graduate who died in a car crash in 2023.

“It turned out that Connor had a heart irregularity that might have been detected by an EKG,” Durso said. “Adding an EKG to a student’s physi -

cal—especially for studentathletes—could uncover these issues sooner and possibly save lives.”

Durso noted that most of the costs for these procedures are covered by insurance. He also said the bill would increase awareness and evaluation of student health, particularly for athletes.

He added that Assembly Bill A2718 has been well received in Albany and has several cosponsors in both the Senate and Assembly.

Photo Courtesy/Town of Oyster Bay

Andrew Monteleone

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.

A rising star shines brightly in the LIMEHOF spotlight

By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com

Camryn Quinlan is only 18 but music enthusiasts are already taking notice of her talent and she has developed a following with her powerful vocals and personal lyrics.

On Sunday, Feb. 9, she performed her first solo show at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, having been invited back after a successful show with the Kerry Kearny Band for LIMEHOF’s 20th anniversary last year.

“I’m very excited to see her perform because she was here with the Kerry Kearney band and I was the one who asked her at the time if she would like to do her own gig here,” said General Manager Barry Fisch, adding “This one is going places, she’s special.”

Camryn, of Sayville, was excited to perform because, she said, she has been singing since she first talked. She is inspired by a wide range of artists including Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan and takes great pride in the fact that she is a writer, while also enjoying the collaborative process, gravitating toward the genres of Americana and Acoustic Pop.

Asked what inspires her writing, she points to everything that surrounds her. “I’m inspired by things that happen to me, movies or shows that I’m watching or what’s going on around me,” she said. In addition to writing and singing, she also plays the guitar and piano and is set to release her first EP in the next couple of months. Particularly excited for the LIMEHOF show, she explained that it would be her band’s first gig as they have only been playing together for a few weeks. “I’m excited to be playing with my new band for the first time, that’s really cool, and performing all of my own originals,” she said. The audience collectively was sur-

prised that the new band had only been playing together for a few weeks because the chemistry and performance level was high. With Camryn as lead singer, the band consisted of Matt Sullivan on the drums, Charlie Duplessis on the guitar and Parker Fohner on the bass.

“These four kids only got together five weeks ago and it’s exciting because they sound great,” said Jim McLoughlin, who was there with his wife, Kerri, to support their son Parker. “It’s the perfect recipe and they are all stepping up to the next stage in their career.”

Camryn’s mom was also in attendance and filled with pride. “This is a lifelong dream come true for her and I’m so excited to hear her play her original songs,” said Amy Quinlan.

Attendee Joe Lamberti came out for the show after first seeing Camryn perform last year. “She’s quite a talented young lady. That was a big stage for her and she did great, said Lamberti.

Camryn and her band performed her originals, including “ex box,” which she explained is a song about her 8th grade boyfriend and the box she kept of items from the relationship, and “Hour Glass,” a song about going into a relationship and knowing how it’s going to end. She joked, “So you see, I really like to write happy songs and lighten the mood.”

However, she also sang some upbeat songs, including “Light of Day,” that reflected songs by Colbie Caillat, and “Hummingbird.”

Camryn’s songs are available across streaming platforms. including YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify, and you can also follow her on Instagram at Camryn Quinlan Official.

“It’s exciting to foster young talent and maybe one day she will be one of our Hall of Famers,” said LIMEHOF Chairman Ernie Canadeo.

To learn about upcoming shows at LIMEHOF, visit limusichalloffame.org. or call (631) 689-5888.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The following are a list of public meetings and special events for the coming week: Please note: All meetings are subject to change without notice.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20

•Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting: 7 p.m., Town Board Hearing Room, Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay. For more information, call (516) 624-6333.

•The Long Island Dahlia Society: 9 a.m., Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway, Great River. All are welcome. Come and learn how to care for your dahlias. Tubers will be available for sale starting in April. For more information, call (631)-972-8829 (leave message) or visit longislanddahlia.org

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21

•Simpson United Methodist Church Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 Locust

Ave., Amityville. For more information, call (631)-789-2569

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22

• The Long Island Dahlia Society: 9 a.m., Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway., Great River. All are welcome. Come and learn how to care for your dahlias. Tubers will be available for sale starting in April. For more information call (631)-972-8829 (leave message) or visit longislanddahlia.org

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23

•Simpson United Methodist Church Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 Locust Ave., Amityville. For more information, call (631)-789-2569.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24

•Massapequa Fire District Monthly Meeting: 7:30 p.m., District Administration Building, 1 Brooklyn Ave., Massapequa. For more information, call (516) 798-9849.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25

•Town of Oyster Bay Town Board Meeting: 10 a.m., Town Board Hearing Room, Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay. For more information, call (516) 624-6380.

•Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9592, 55 Hickory Lane, Levittown. Free weekly, in-person meeting of Emotions Anonymous, a 12step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. For more information, call Steve at (631)-332-0552 or Jill at (516)-220-7808. All calls are confidential.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26

• Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Free weekly, virtual meeting of Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. For more information, call Steve at (631)-332-0552 or Jill at (516)-220-7808. All calls are confidential.

• The Long Island Dahlia Society: 9 a.m., Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway., Great River. All are welcome. Come and learn how to care for your dahlias. Tubers will be available for sale starting in April. For more information call (631)-972-8829 (leave message) or visit longislanddahlia.org

Above, Camryn with her bandmates, Parker Fohner, Matt Sullivan and Charlie Duplessis. Below, the band peforming for the audience.

Massapequa Board of Education gets first budget presentation

see a dramatic decrease in these costs, with solar energy eventually paying for itself.

CONTINUED FROM COVER apequa, Ruf explained that while the district does not receive funds directly from the federal government, it does rely on about $2 million in state grants funded by federal grants. He concluded that there is still much uncertainty surrounding this issue.

Turning to the tax levy limit, Ruf noted that the district could raise the tax levy by as much as $5,429,455 next year without exceeding the tax levy limit. However, he emphasized that this does not mean the district will increase the tax levy by this amount.

Ruf also projected an increase in state aid for the 2025-2026 school year, though he cautioned that the situation remains fluid and the increase will be significantly smaller than in previous years. In response to a question about how the potential dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education could impact Mass-

Ruf emphasized that the budget development process aligns with the district’s mission of “creating leaders one child at a time.” He assured the board that the goals for the budget are to develop a fiscally responsible and transparent plan, maintain the district’s financial stability, and improve aging facilities and infrastructure.

As background, Ruf said, the budget process began in December and January with about 20 meetings of the central office team reviewing every budget code.

Andrew Monteleone of Syosset named to Oyster Bay Town Board

CONTINUED

Locally, Monteleone has served on the Oyster Bay Zoning Board of Appeals since 2021. He is also active in the community as a member of the school board at St. Edward the Confessor School in Syosset and as a coach for the Syosset Little League.

The district also held monthly meetings with its Budget and Finance Committee, which includes community members with expertise in accounting and finance.

There will be additional presentations on the budget on March 6 and March 20, with the budget scheduled for adoption by the board on April 24. A budget hearing will take place on May 8, and the public vote is set for May 20.

In other business:

• Dr. Jordan McCaw, the district’s Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services, presented a report on the proposed District Threat Assessment Policy.

• The board approved the appointment of Edward Hoffman as Substitute Athletic Director, pending the return of the Interim Athletic Director.

• The board awarded contracts for the roof restoration project at East Lake Elementary School and for demolition, abatement, roof restoration, and toilet renovations at Hawthorn Elementary School.

Budget Highlights

• 74% of the budget is dedicated to salaries and benefits

costs in the future.

• The district could raise the tax levy by as much as $5,429,455 next year without exceeding the tax levy limit, though no decision has been made yet.

He will serve on the Town Board until November, when he must run for election.

Monteleone resides in Syosset with his wife, Tracey, and their sons, Frankie and Gabe.

WI Class of ‘75 planning reunion

The West Islip High School Class of 1975 is holding a class reunion July 19, 2025 at Captain Bill’s restaurant in Bay Shore.

For details, visit/join the organization’s Facebook page: West Islip High School Class of 1975 Or call 516-456-3207 and leave a message.

• A significant increase is anticipated for electricity and natural gas costs, but the district’s plan to transition to solar energy will dramatically decrease these

• The district does not receive direct funding from the U.S. Department of Education, it relies on about $2 million in state grants that come through federal grants, leaving some uncertainty if changes occur.

U.S. Power Squadrons hold boating courses

The United States Power Squadrons® is offering course dates and locations for upcoming safe boating courses as follows:

•Great South Bay, America’s Boating Course, West Islip Library, 3 Higbie La., West Islip, March 4, 6:30 p.m. The cost is $30. For more information contact Michael Boland at 631-290-8096, or email him at: bolandmichael123@gmail.com

• Captree Squadron, Babylon pool building, 151 Phelps La., North Babylon,

March 3 and 29, 9 a.m. The cost is $60. For more information or to sign up for the course contact Eugene Johnson at 631-921-3403, or email him at pwrbtr@ aol.com

To access the latest list of safe boating courses and seminars on Long Island, go to https://shorturl.at/Qp0Df. For additional information about the United States Power Squadrons call 516-312-2167 or visit one of the web sites listed below.

Massapequa School District Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations Ryan Ruf.

HERALD SPORTS

Massapequa girls track runner-up in Class A

By BRIAN KACHARABA sports@liherald.com

Three track and field athletes from the Massapequa girls’ team qualified for the New York state championships next month after their impressive showings at the Feb. 10 state qualifier at St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington.

Keira McLaughlin followed up her county championship performance by winning the pole vault and fellow junior Sophia Vukelic and senior Riahanna Kuhns will be joining her at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island after finishing second in the 1500-meter run and shot put, respectively.

Coach Mike Dellicurti believes any one of them has the potential to land on the podium.

“Sophia can potentially do something really well,” he said. “She’s got a really good work ethic, and a few weeks of training is going to come in handy for

her. She could possibly place in the allstate category, as well as Keira McLaughlin in the pole vault, and you never know what’s going to happen with Riahanna in the field events.”

McLaughlin cleared nine feet in the pole vault on her first try after achieving the same height on her second attempt during the Section 8 Class A County Championships at St. Anthony’s on Feb. 4. She finished eighth at last year’s counties at 6 feet, 6 inches, and enjoyed a redemption finish to this season.

Kuhns’s final toss of 32-09.25 was more than two inches further than her mark at the counties.

Vukelic’s time of 4:50.04 in the 1500 was almost two seconds behind East Meadow’s Zaria Hall and over four better than Chloe Connolly of North Shore. She finished third in that event’s final at the county championships to go with her runner-up showing in the 3000.

Nearly a week earlier, the Chiefs fin-

ished second at the county event with 77 points, the most for the girls since they amassed 101 in winning the 2020 Nassau Class A title.

“The girls did tremendous,” Dellicurti said. “We knew from the beginning of the season that we were going to be competing for a county championship and now we have some girls that qualified for states as well.”

Fifty of the 77 points were scored in running events. Junior Emma Villalta finished second in the 600-meter run and fifth in the 300, junior Kiera Conaghan was third in the 1500 race walk with sophomore Rhyan O’Leary placing sixth, senior Shea Santiago and McLaughlin placed fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 55-meter hurdles, and junior Kyra Florio-Marinello was fifth in the 1000.

Junior Kailyn Duffy cleared 5 feet, 2 inches on her final high jump attempt to finish second, and freshman Leah Johnson was fourth in the pole vault.

Plainedge captures county wrestling title

By MARC BERMAN sports@liiherald.com

Another year, another Plainedge wrestling domination.

In the Nassau County Division II championships last weekend, Plainedge won a second straight championship for the first time and qualified a record seven wrestlers to the individual state tournament in Albany Feb. 28-March 1.

Plainedge won the team county title by 100 points over Seaford in a massive rout and boasted three county titlists –Kyle Carter (145), Luke Nieto (152) and Devin Downs (190). All three were repeat champions. Carter and Nieto are seniors and Downs a junior.

Last season, the Red Devils won the state team title but fell short this year two weeks ago, finishing second in controversial fashion. But the county showing was superlative.

“I thought our young guys really

wrestled well,’’ said coach Rob Shaver. “ Our backup guys who are stuck behind some of our guys really excelled.’’

Plainedge only had two seniors on the roster after losing six All-County performers form 2024. Six were seniors and Luke’s brother, sophomore Jake, transferred to Chaminade.

Still Plainedge maintained its beast mode and now six wrestlers head to states. They are: Luke Wortzel (101), who is an eighth grader, junior Nick Gerbasi (116). Carter (145), Nieto (152), junior Jake Dephilips (160), Downes (190) and junior Jayden Camp (215).

Plainedge had never won two straight county tournament titles, and the Red Devils weren’t even tested.

“To win as much as we can, I’m incredibly proud,’’ Shaver said. “The young guys stepped up did an unbelievable job. We wrestled a lot of young guys. We lost six All-County wrestlers and still qualified the most-ever for states.’’

One youngster in particular was Vincent Mistretta at 116. The sophomore finished third in counties and just missed out a top-2 finish that would’ve put him at states.

Meanwhile, Downs is the brightest of their stars. He is the returning state champion and bids for a repeat. At counties, he won “Outstanding Westler’’ and the award for pins in the least amount of time. “He wasn’t challenged too much at the counties,’’ Shaver said.

Nieto will look for his first state title after winning counties. He was runnerup at states last year. “Hopefully he’s ready to take the next step forward and win states,’’ Shaver said.

The only sour moment for Shaver’s wrestlers came at the state team tourney in Syracuse when it finished second to John Glenn from Suffolk County. The North Massapequa school has a chance to erase that disappointment in Albany.

Media Origin Inc./Herald

Sophomore Vincent Mistretta, top, took third at 116 pounds to help Plainedge win its second straight county title.

Derrick Dingle/Herald Junior Sophia Vukelic will compete in the state meet in the 1500 meter run after placing second in the qualifier.

Plainedge Eastplain students get a tasty recipe for learning through baking company’s ‘Bake for Good Assembly’

Plainedge’s Eastplain Elementary School fourth and fifth graders recently participated in the King Arthur Baking Company’s Bake for Good Assembly as part of their service-learning project. The program allows students to learn, bake, and share their baked goods as an

act of kindness. Students learned that combining math, science, reading and baking adds up to delicious bread. Third-grade students also participated by helping to pack the materials. The students donated 85 loaves of bread to The Inn.

All photos courtesy of the Plainedge School District.

NEWS BRIEFS

Durso opens annual pet food drive for LI Cares

NYS Assemblyman Michael Durso, in coordination with Long Island Cares, is inviting the community to participate in his annual Pet Food Drive to help families keep their pets out of shelters and remain at home where they belong.

Durso is asking residents, community organizations and pet lovers to donate unopened bags of dog and cat food, canned pet food and pet supplies. All items collected will be donated to Baxter’s Pet Pantry, operated by Long Island Cares, which provides free pet food and pet supplies to pet-owning families in need throughout Long Island.

Donations can be dropped off through April 4 at Durso’s district office at 512 Park Blvd. in Massapequa Park or at various other locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk Ccounties including:

Petco 5500 Sunrise Hwy, Massapequa; Babylon Public Library 24 S Carll Ave, Babylon; North Babylon Public Library 815 Deer Park Ave, North Babylon; West Babylon Public Library 211 109, West Babylon or West Islip Public Library 3 Higbie Lane, West Islip.

In addition, students at the following schools can bring in donations: Massapequa High School, Massapequa; Bayview Elementary School, West Islip; Manetuck Elementary School, West Islip; Oquenock Elementary School, West Islip; Beach Street Middle School, West Islip Udall Road Middle School, West Islip; West Islip High School, West Islip and Paul J Bellow Elementary School, West Islip.

For more information, call Durso’s district office at 516-541-4598.

Spirituality group sets women’s retreat March 15

Science of Spirituality will be hostinScience of Spirituality will be hosting a Women’s Retreat on Saturday, March 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Learn how to face life’s challenges by finding your center of inner strength, peace and love through meditation. The program will include a complimentary vegetarian lunch. Come for discussion, sisterhood, meditation and friendship.

Featured workshops include Medi -

tation, Beautify Your Life with Emotional Wellness with Ekta Kohli Portillo, LCSW; Yoga for Health and Inner Harmony with Ferlaisa Gomez, ALM, RYT; and Vegan Bites for One or More with Rosanna Jimenez, CHHC.

To register, email infotristate@sos. org

For more information, call (631) 8227979.

Science of Spirituality Meditation Center is located at 79 County Line Road,

St. Patrick’s Day Parade route changes

The Massapequa Chamber of Commerce is changing the route of its St. Patrick’s Day ParadeMarch 15 after a Nassau County Police Department recommendation.

The parade route for the inaugural event will now head south on Broadway in Massapequa from Jerusalem Avenue to Veterans Boulevard.

The Nassau County Police has advised all those marching in the parade to arrive at 10 a.m. The parade will kick off 11 a.m., sharp. The Showmobile will be located at Pennsylvania Avenue and Broadway.

If you are planning to march in the parade, register online at: https://shorturl.at/ ZKApZ.

Taste of Massapequa on Thursday, April 24

The Massapequa Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Taste of Massapequa on Thursday, April 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Wren Kitchen

The event will feature over 30 restaurants with samples and is $30 per person. Taste of Massapequa will in -

TOBAY

clude raffles, music, games and refreshments.

To register, visit massapequachamber.org.

For more information, call (516) 5411443 or email massapequachamber@ gmail.com

Winter Break skating sessions

Families looking for recreational fun during winter recess need look no further than one of the town’s iceskating facilities, which will be offering extended hours through the winter

break week. Extended sessions will run through Feb. 23.

To find out more about the hours and rinks, visit oysterbaytown.com or call (516) 624-6333 or (516) 797-7961.

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Amityville’s Dan Kiernan advances to next level on TV’s ‘The Voice’

By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com

Dan Kiernan of Amityville is advancing to the Battles Rounds of NBC’s “The Voice,” joining country singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini’s team.

Kiernan earned the only “replay” available to contestants on Ballerini’s team for his performance of Panic! At The Disco’s “High Hopes.” The “replay” is a special opportunity given to contestants after a coach regrets not turning their chair in time to select them.

“You are amazing, and you have such an aura about you,” Ballerini said during the show’s Season 27 premiere on Monday, Feb. 2. “I made a mistake; I think you’re fantastic.”

Kiernan, 33, has been auditioning for “The Voice” on and off since 2013. He almost didn’t audition this time, as he was focused on producing his own music and gaining traction as a songwriter. However, he called the chance to appear on the TV hit “undeniable.”

“I’ve always loved the show,” Kiernan said. “I grew up on reality singing shows and learned how to sing and interpret music from watching.”

The Amityville native has been singing for as long as he can remember and has worked in theater and on cruise ships. Most recently, he has been a full-time singer and songwriter, performing as a wedding singer across the tristate area.

The judges for this season of “The Voice” include Michael Bublé, John Legend, Adam Levine, and Kelsea Ballerini. Bublé was the first to turn his chair, and Kiernan described that moment as “insane.”

“I thought, how wonderful that I get to stay in this Wizard of Oz dreamland,” Kiernan said. “I couldn’t go wrong with any of the coaches, but I chose Kelsea because of the energy and connection we made.”

Kiernan has been enjoying his time on the show and is grateful for the support from family and friends. “It has been overwhelming in such a great way,” he said. His mom, Helen, and cousin, Samantha, were with him for the turning-point audition.

“I’ve genuinely dreamed of the chair turning and getting to the Blind Auditions is one of those bucket list dreams come true,” he said.

As he moves on to the highly competetiveBattle Rounds, Kiernan is excited for the opportunity to represent his community and share his voice with the world. He also expressed gratitude for his close-knit Long Island family.

“They’ve really kept me going,” he said. “They’re all enjoying the celebrations now.”

Kiernan attended the Long Island Lutheran School in Glen Head and the Long Island High School of Arts in Syosset.

“The Voice” airs on NBC on Mondays at 8/7C and streams on Peacock.

To learn more about Dan Kiernan, follow him on Instagram, X, and TikTok @DanKiernanMusic.

Photo Credits: Headshots –

Photo by:

Danny Ventrella/NBC Audition shots –

Photo by: Christine Bartolucci/NBC

The history and the stars of the WKC’s annual show; going strong after 149 years

Last week during the 149 th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monty, a champion Giant Schnauzer, received the honor of Best in Show (BIS) out of an entry of over 2,500 dogs from 201 breeds. Why does the world watch Westminster? Look at this list:

Pets, Pets, Pets...

Our Local Link: Westminster Kennel Club had a grand clubhouse and kennels right here in Babylon from 1880 to 1904. In fact, Sensation, the WKC trademark Pointer, was buried in front of that clubhouse by Southards Pond in 1887. I did not know this, nor did Babylon historians, until 2006, when I read a reference to Sensation’s grave in a Canadian dog publication. With the help of our local historians and others, I spent the next ten years piecing together clues to where the flagpole (Sensation’s grave marker) and the clubhouse once stood. My findings were chronicled in at least fifty “Pets” columns.

JOANNE ANDERSON

tended the grand opening of the clubhouse in Babylon months before. Parade of champions: Certain years just the elite participate. When there is a shortage of space in the daytime, breed judging venue, only champion dogs can enter. With agility and obedience trials this year, over 2,500 dogs from all fifty states and other countries competed at WKC.

Benching:

Westminster is one of the only benched shows left, which means when not in the ring for breed judging, all dogs had to be on view in a specific area from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to educate the public about purebred dogs. Only Best of Breed winners were invited to the Garden for Group judging and BIS.

“America’s Dog Show” since 1877: The first Westminster had over 1200 dogs entered, including a two-legged mixed breed named Nellie. The event lasted four days in May, rather than three days in February. Sensation was on special exhibition at that first show while local notable August Belmont Jr. showed six dogs, including Robin whose tombstone still stands near the cannons at Belmont Lake. Belmont pulled a shrewd one, entering Robin as both a Gordon and an English Setter. He could not do that now because of the rules of the American Kennel Club that he helped form.

Longevity:

It is the second longest continuously held sporting event in the US, one year behind the Kentucky Derby. The WKC dog show went on despite turmoil and tough times. During the Depression, the number of entries stayed solid. Former President Hoover attended the 1943 WKC show during WWII. WKC honored Search and Rescue dogs working at Ground Zero in February 2002. From 2021-25, COVID moved the show to Lyndhurst mansion in Tarrytown and then the Billie Jean King National Tennis Stadium in Flushing.

World famous arena:

WKC has been held in the five incarnations of Madison Square Garden. No other sport can make that claim. In 1880, when Garden reconstruction was going on, a wall collapsed as Show Manager William Tileston and Chair Walter Webb walked by. Tileston and three women passersby were killed; Webb was injured. Both men were WKC charter members who had at -

“Academy Awards of Dogs”: Westminster is the canine Super Bowl and Oscars combined. A week’s worth of festivities, including dog-designated benefits and awards banquets, lead up to the final showdown at Best in Show.

Chronicling our history and culture:

Prominent WKC participants fill history books. The Czar of Russia sent his Wolfhounds. Famous Americansamong them J.P. Morgan (Collies), Nelly Bly (Maltese), Lou Gehrig (German Shepherd), Patty Hearst (French Bulldogs), and General Custer (Staghounds)- entered their dogs. The WKC Dog Show has been televised since 1948 which pre-dates “I Love Lucy’.

Civic responsibility:

WKC has a long tradition of giving back. During the first 1877 show, one day’s proceeds went to Henry Bergh of the newly formed ASPCA. In 1918, profits were given to the Red Cross to support war efforts. Now, WKC presents scholarships to outstanding veterinary students.

“Live from New York”: Other major dog shows broadcast taped TV highlights. But during Westminster, live TV covered every Best of Breed (BOB) winner, Group judging, and BIS. In 1990, there were 140 AKC recognized breeds; in 2012 there were 185; this year 201.

This is a ton of information to compile. In 2014, when I had the WKC Best of Breed cards ready for TV, I got stuck on the top floor of the New Yorker Hotel because of a broken elevator. I could see the Garden across the street but not get there. I felt as if I had the heart for a transplant that I would not be able to deliver on time.

In 1933, Lou Gehrig entered his German Shepherd “Afra of Cosalta” at the Westminster Dog Show.

At Belmont Lake State Park, tombstone of Robin. August Belmont Jr, entered Robin as both an English Setter and a Gordon Setter at the first Westminster Show in 1877.

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

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 set for

By Danielle Schwab

Ia 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

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

opportunity to hone their performing skills before [being with] working professionals who are

“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.

“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.

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 lively on stage.

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

THE Your Neighborhood

Colin Jost

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.

Experiencing The Soul, Part 2

The Science of Spirituality in Amityville hosts Experiencing The Soul, Part 2, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 7-9 p.m. Explore the essential practices of gratitude, contentment, compassion and forgiveness in this eight-part Meditation Workshop Series. Each class is a stand-alone workshop. No prior knowledge is needed. The speaker will be Andrew Vidich, PhD. For more information, call (631) 822-7979. 79 County Line Road, Amityville.

Annie Mark takes the LIMEHOF stage

Annie Mark, a New Yorkbased singer-songwriter who has shared her country-tinged Americana-roots music with audiences from Florida to Ireland appears at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, Sunday, Feb. 23 , 3 p.m. Her songs explore life’s journey and universal themes of love and loss, struggles and triumphs, shadows and light, with a little humor thrown in. The event is free with an admission ticket. $29.50 for adults; $27, 65 and older; $22 students. To purchase your admission ticket, visit limehof. org or call (631) 689-5888. Tickets can also be purchased prior to the show at the ticket office. 97 Main St., Stony Brook.

Beyond the book

The Whaling Museum invites all to a presentation on “The Wide Wide Sea” by Hampton Sides, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6:30 p.m. In February of 1779, James Cook famously met his end on a Hawaiian beach. Hampton Sides’ bestseller details the disturbing behavior and violent moods that gripped the explorer on this final, fatal voyage and wrestles with Cook’s legacy amid the backdrop of colonialism. Participants will explore artifacts from the time when Hawaii was a popular whaling port. $15, free for museum members and patron s of participating libraries. Register shorturl.at/CQXDJ. For more information, call (631) 367-3418. 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor.

Massapequa Chamber Scholarship

Members’ children or grandchildren can apply for a scholarship of $500. Open to Massapequa High School students and those from Massapequa who attend another public or private schools outside of Massapequa. Massapequa High School students should apply through their guidance office. Other students should go online to tinyurl.com/5n8cse63 to download an application. There will be one scholarship awarded to one winner.

Little Learners Art Lab

Families are invited to Long Island Children’s Museum’s Little Learners Art Lab workshop, Thursday, Feb. 27, 11:30 a.m.-noon. Each week in this workshop, participants are introduced to handson materials, artmaking and inspiration from artists and techniques. This week, children will explore ways to paint, rub and draw different textures in art. For ages 2-5. $4 with museum admission, $3 for members. Museum Row, Garden City. Visit licm.org or call (516) 224-5800 for more information.

BOCES Barry Tech

Open House

Nassau BOCES Barry Tech, Long Island’s state-of-the arts career and technical education (CTE) high school, opens its doors to all students with a passion for a hands-on career. Come and get a “Taste of Tech” at an open house that will be held at the Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center, Thursday, Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m. Following an introduction to the school, led by administrators, there will be self-guided tours of the state-of-the-art facility, at 1196 Prospect Ave., Westbury. Interested students and their families can register at nassauboces.org/barrytech or call (516)622-6812 for more information.

Co-ed Badminton

For adults looking for an indoors sport to keep active in the winter, join Co-ed Badminton! Classes take place on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, at Hicksville Athletic Center. Classes are for those 18 years of age or older and run for 10 weeks. Online registration is open at oysterbaytown.com/ portal. There are fees for the classes. For information, (call 516) 797-7945. 167 Broadway, Hicksville.

Jam Session

Massapequa Public Library hosts a Jam Session, Monday, Feb. 24, 7-8:45 p.m. Come down to the Bar Harbour building and bring your instrument to play some music together and do some improvisation. All levels are welcome. To register for this program, visit massapequa. librarycalendar.com/event/ library-jam-session-20034. For more information, call (516) 798-4607. 40 Harbor Ln., Massapequa Park.

Having an event?

Golden Tones Chorus

The Town of Oyster Bay is seeking members for its Golden Tones Entertainment Group. The senior chorus is a social group open to town residents over the age of 60 who have an interest in singing, dancing or entertaining. Meetings are held every Friday at the North Massapequa Community Center, at 214 North Albany Ave., N. Massapequa. There are two planned shows, a spring show and a holiday show. Senior citizens interested in joining the Golden Tones should call (516) 797-7916 for more information.

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. Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit nassaumuseum.org to register or call (516) 484-9337.

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, 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.

Meet the Animals

Students in grades 6-12 are invited to Plainedge Public Library, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6-7 p.m. for a program on the world of wildlife. Learn all about the reptiles, birds and mammals that call Long Island their home. Additionally, you will learn about the different classes of animals and their characteristics that make each group unique and have the opportunity to meet several of the ambassador animals from Wildlife Center of Long Island. The program will also detail how you can help the wildlife in your own backyard. Registration required. Call (516) 735-4133 to register. 1060 Hicksville Road, N. Massapequa.

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE UNDER THE TRUST AGREEMENT FOR THE STRUCTURED ASSET INVESTMENT LOAN TRUST SERIES 2004-BNC2, Plaintiff AGAINST JOHN MIONE, JR., TERESA MIONE, DIANA TERRITO, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 7, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 18, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 9 SUZANNE B CT, MASSAPEQUA, NY 11758. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Massapequa, Town Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 65, Block 190, Lot 57. Approximate amount of judgment $750,801.48 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #612457/2017.

Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221

17-006153 84246

25-116 2/12, 19, 26, 3/5

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬-LIMETIME ENTERTAINMENT, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 11/13/2024. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to:280 N Cottage Street Valley Stream NY 11580

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity.

25-118. 2/12, 19, 26 3/5, 12, 19

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF MASSAPEQUA PARK NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK NOTICE OF SALE OF TAX LIENS FOR UNPAID VILLAGE TAXES

NOTICE OF TAX LIEN SALE OF VILLAGE OF MASSAPEQUA PARK, NEW YORK IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, in pursuance of the provisions of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York and of a resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Inc. Village of Massapequa Park, Nassau County, New York passed at a meeting thereof held on February 10, 2025, I, CHRISTOPHER R. BRIGGS, Village Treasurer of said Village of Massapequa Park, will sell at public auction in the manner provided by law on the 13th day of March, 2025 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning in the Court Room in the Municipal Building in said Vil-

lage of Massapequa Park so much of each of the following parcels of real estate upon which Village Taxes remain unpaid as will be sufficient to discharge the taxes, fees, interest and charges which may be due thereon respectively at the time of such sale and which shall continue the same from day to day until the said sale shall be completed. Each purchaser at such tax sale shall pay the amount of his bid to the Village Treasurer within ten days after the sale. Upon such payment, the Treasurer shall give to the purchaser a certificate in writing describing the real property purchased and the sum paid therefore. Each such certificate shall be presumptive evidence that the sale and all proceedings prior thereto, including the assessment of the land and the levying of the tax were regular and according to the provisions of this section and of all laws relating thereto.

If any purchaser at any sale of lands for unpaid taxes made pursuant to the provision of this section, neglects or refuses to pay the amount of his bid within the time prescribed, the Village Treasurer may state an account against such purchaser and may recover the same with costs from such purchaser by an action brought in the name of the Village Treasurer, or such Village Treasurer may cancel such sale to such purchaser and the parcel so sold shall be deemed to have been purchased by the Village. IMPORTANT

THE NAME OF THE OWNERS SHOWN ON THIS LIST MAY

NOT NECESSARILY BE THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS OWNING THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT. SUCH NAMES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE ASSESSMENT ROLLS PREPARED AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 2025, AND FREQUENTLY DIFFER FROM THE NAMES OF THE OWNERS AT THE TIME OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE NOTICE. IT MAY ALSO BE THAT SUCH OWNERS ARE NOMINAL ONLY AND ANOTHER PERSON IS ACTUALLY THE BENEFICIAL OWNER.

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Berner students team up to build a kinder school

Gratitude, growth mindset and teamwork were themes of this year’s Chiefs Challenge Day at Berner Middle School in the Massapequa School District. The annual character education program took place on Jan. 28 and included a full day of assemblies, workshops and discussions.

Seventh and eighth graders attended the “Ryan’s Story” presentation by John Halligan. He has spoken at schools across the country to share his powerful story about his son Ryan, who committed suicide at 14 as a result of bullying. Ms. Halligan’s message encouraged students to think about how they treat others, and he emphasized the role that bystanders can play to stand up for a bullying victim.

The Box Out Bullying assembly for sixth graders focused on appropriate social media conduct and gave students tools to navigate complex social dynamics and build healthy relationships. Students and teachers were called up to the stage during the interactive presentation.

All students participated in group discussion sessions following their respective assemblies to review the messages and talk about the steps they can take to contribute positively to the school community.

In classrooms, students participated in a pipe-cleaner teamwork challenge. The goal was to work collaboratively to build the tallest tower. For the growth mindset lesson, students watched a trio of Pixar videos, which was followed by a class discussion.

The famous failures escape room

lesson focused on the hurdles that several celebrities faced and overcame to achieve success. Students worked in small groups to solve a series of clues. In the gratitude lesson, they discussed what it means to be grateful, then wrote thoughtful letters of thanks to important people in their lives.

The prior afternoon, students from the Chiefs Challenge Club prepared the building by hanging inspirational signs around the building. Many of the signs had quotes about inclusion, gratitude and growth mindset from famous figures like Jackie Robinson, Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Seuss. Chiefs Challenge members also placed notes with positive messages on every locker in the school.

Chiefs Challenge co-advisers Caroline Glynn and Juliette Happe said that character education day has been taking place for nearly two decades. It started small with a video and couple of classroom lessons, before growing into the full-day experience it is today. They explained that the goal is for students to understand the power of their words, and recognize the impact of their words and actions on the school community.

During the last period of the day, all students participated in reflective activity, writing what they learned and how they can use this knowledge to make their school a better place.

“Chiefs Challenge Day is very important to spread awareness about the way people are treated,” eighth grader Karlye Irving said. “Everyone should be treated equally and with kindness.”

Sixth graders from Berner Middle School attended a Box Out Bullying presentation as part of the Chiefs Challenge character education day on Jan. 28.

Photos courtesy of the Massapequa School District

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

Q. I am interested in leasing a building that I am certain was flooded during several recent storms. The landlord says the sheetrock and insulation were replaced, and there were only a “few inches of water.” I doubt that. The metal building is stained around the bottom 4 feet, in between tall weeds, since nobody takes care of it. It’s in an industrial area. I wonder why I had to lift my house, but these buildings, which clearly were seriously flooded, never had to make changes to deal with future flooding. I can’t risk losing inventory, and I don’t see where there was much done to prevent water from getting in. I probably won’t take the lease, but I still wonder why these buildings didn’t either have to be raised or make changes for better flood protection.

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.

Massapequa

pOsT

Ira L. Cahn -

CaroLyn

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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.

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.

aincome 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

At Ogden Elementary School’s Father-Daughter Masquerade Ball — Valley Stream

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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.