Students in North Merrick have been hard at work, preparing for the production of ‘Shrek,’ which will be staged this weekend at the Brookside School. Among the performers is Emma Papandrea, who is starring as ‘Dragon’ — an eye-catching addition to the show. Story, more photos, Page 19.
By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District boys’ bowling team won the county championship at Garden City Lanes last month, competing in state-level competitions and clutching sixth place on March 14 and 15. The Bellmore-Merrick team accepts students from Mepham, Calhoun and Kennedy high schools, as well as varsity players from Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue middle schools. The team has recently earned two awards — the boys’ bowling champions’ 2024-25 gold medal and the Nassau County conference runners-up medal.
Lucas Lam, 15, a Mepham High School sophomore, ranks as the number one bowler in Nassau County with a strong average score of 230. He is competing both as a member of his team and on his own in the solo tournament. He competes alongside his brother, Nathan Lam.
“I won the county championship with our team, and we set a new high record of 6,620 pins, and everyone had a great performance,” Lucas said. “I ended up getting the second highest score overall with 1,458 over six games. It felt great that we won because of how much work that our team put in, in order to get this accom-
By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
Master Gardeners from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County taught local homeowners about how to conduct yard work safely for both person and plant at the CCE’s Nassau Farm, located on Merrick Avenue, earlier this month.
The master gardeners are agricultural specialists that focus on educating homeowners about taking care of their property. The history of the program goes back to the founding of the country.
“It started with Thomas Jefferson, and he was very much into agriculture,” Master Gardener Patricia Oliver said. “He thought the farmers should know about all new techniques of growing. They would take a couple of farmers, teach them, and then they would go back and teach their friends and neighbors, and that’s what the Master Gardener plan is about.”
At the farm, homeowners came for a presentation and hands-on workshop about basic pruning techniques, what the
signs of a plant in need of care are, what tools to use and when to use them. Attendees were given tools and gear and practiced proper pruning on the farm’s greenery as a part of its seasonal maintenance.
The farm was founded over a decade ago when the land was leased to Cornell by Nassau County — in that time, the land went from a vacant lot to a flourishing landscape.
“We are the arboretum and gold medal plant garden,” Oliver said. “There are many different gardens here, and each group takes care of their own garden.”
Pruning, the subject of the workshop, is the act of clipping off unhealthy parts of a plant to help the rest thrive.
“Our goal here is really to teach the general public on the correct way to prune, when to prune, and what to prune,” Master Gardener Eileen Rogers said.
“It’s all about the health of the tree,” she explained. “Some branches are dead, damaged or diseased, and also some of them are wild. When you prune, the
Continued on page 4
plishment.”
His father, Merrick resident Siu Lam, helped support the team in preparing for the tournament.
“We did throw a party a couple of weeks before the championship to get them to have a friendly bond and a better rapport with each other,” he said, adding that a strong bond is important in all team sports.
“They need to all step up and have each other’s backs,” he continued. “The thing with bowling is, with any sport, one bad day can determine whether or not you’re successful. They understand that it’s a team effort. If one person has a bad day, someone else needs to step up.”
Riley Kolinsky, 13, a Bellmore resident and a student at Grand Avenue Middle School, is the first eighth grader to become a member of the team. His athletic performance — currently rated with an average score of 205 over 24 games — convinced officials to allow him to compete with older students. He started bowling at age 10 in the PAL bowling league.
“It’s very interesting to me,” Riley said. “It’s the way you can drill a bowling ball, or how there’s so many different oil patterns on lanes, and how many different bowling balls there are and what they’re used for. I just want to get really good at it.”
Being a member of the team offered
Riley an opportunity to make friends with like-minded peers from different grades and schools, he said.
“He works so hard, he’s very disciplined, and he is very serious about it,” Staci Kolinsky, Riley’s mother, said.
“I’m just so proud of him,” she continued. “I am just happy that he found something that he’s passionate about and that he loves doing.”
Lee Kolinsky recalled taking his son to try out for the Bellmore-Merrick boys’ bowling team.
“He was in seventh grade, so he was very excited about trying out,” he said. “We weren’t sure if he would make it because it’s a lot of high schoolers. He actually did really great. He was the first seventh grader in almost 20 years that actually made it to the high school team.”
Joseph Bianca, who coaches the team, worked rigorously with the squad in preparing to win the county championship.
“What we worked on was our endurance,” Bianca said. “During counties, you have to bowl six games. So all my practice is leading up to the counties. We bowled six games to build all the kids’ endurances. And it worked, because in the last game of the tournament, we had our highest score.”
Bianca’s training routine was designed to allow team members to maintain a score of 200 or higher
throughout the entire competition — enough to qualify for individual tournament play. One of the greatest accomplishments, according to Bianca, is the camaraderie team members had experi-
enced along the way.
“They all root for each other and support each other,” Bianca said. “So, it’s a really great group of kids that are very close together.”
Grand Avenue
Middle School
Safa Ahmad
Nicholas D’Arrigo
Christopher Brennan
Daniella Capritto
Sarah Kamler
Mia Karayiannis
Ethan Litman
Michael Marrero
Laura Molina Ocampo
Grayden Urtheil
Merrick Avenue
Middle School
Antoine Achkhanian
Catherine Agers
Joseph Bilella
Keira Glover
Seraphina Khan
Joseph Lentini
Dylan Schachter
Julian Torres
Olivia Walter
Kelly Garrett
Landyn Kalman
Adam Rosman
Simon Saba
John F. Kennedy High School
Haley Gordon
Julie Lehrfeld
Jacob Rakhimov
Dom Vaglica
Meadowbrook
Alternative Program
Aliza Brass
Prep Academy
Michael Bennett
Wellington C. Mepham High School
Desmond Bianco
Harrison Eisenhardt
Steven Romeo
Nicole Saraceni
The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District and its surrounding community came together March 19 at Wellington C. Mepham High School in an inspiring show of unity and generosity for their annual St. Baldrick’s fundraiser, supporting pediatric cancer treatment and research.
Students, teachers, parents and local businesses joined forces to raise funds and awareness with dozens of participants volunteering to shave their heads in solidarity with children battling cancer.
The event, held in the high school gym, was filled with enthusiasm and heartfelt moments while raising more than $58,000 for the foundation. Since 2008, this event has raised more than $750,000.
Mepham sophomore Leah Weerth was the top fundraiser, securing $4,480 in donations, followed closely by Merrick Avenue social studies teacher Matt Chicco who raised $4,323.
Together with teachers Kerry Dennis and Chris Patten, and social studies chairperson Robyn Einbinder, other members of the department also oversaw various details of the evening’s success. Additionally, students in Jackie Geller’s Participation in Government classes volunteered as part of their senior service-learning project.
“This night showcases the spirit and generosity of Mepham,” Dennis said. “Our community pledged years ago that we would continue to fight to end childhood cancer and this year’s event proved that that commitment means something to these students and our Bellmore-Merrick community.”
Patten also played the bagpipes with the Amityville Highland Pipes Band, of which he is a member.
“Childhood cancer is personal for this building,” Patten said. “We do this for our students who bravely battle cancer today and those who successfully beat this illness before.”
Assistant Principal Rick Aceste, social studies Chairperson Robyn Einbinder, Principal Anthony
organizer Kerry Dennis, Assistant Principal Theresa Dell’Olio and Assistant Principal
Seniors Jake Classie and Luke Yepez served as emcees for the evening. Riley Adams and Alana Muñiz co-sang the national anthem. The district’s Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting program documented the event and produced an on-air segment during the fundraiser. Plus, members of the Skull & Bones Drama Club entertained attendees with a performance from their upcoming show, “The Wizard of Oz.”
Members of the Star Wars-themed cosplay group, the 501st Legion and the Saber Guild, were also on hand to support the cause and offer epic photo opportunities.
When it came time for head shaving, students from the district’s cosmetology program housed at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, led by instructor Jaime Pendl, operated the hair buzzers.
— Jordan Vallone
A friendly culinary competition brought Nassau County officials together ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, as town supervisors and a city mayor went head-to-head in the annual “Corned Beef Cook-Off for a Cause.” The event, held at The Milleridge Inn, raised funds for Hooks for Heroes, a nonprofit that supports American veterans and first responders coping with physical and mental injuries.
The cook-off featured Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joe Saladino, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jen DeSena, and Glen Cove Mayor Pam Panzenbeck, each preparing their take on the classic Irish dish. Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly, County Clerk Maureen O’Connell, Comptroller Elaine Phillips, Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, and Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato served as judges.
“One of the best ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is by competing in the ‘Corned Beef Cook-Off for a Cause,’” Clavin said. “Guests at the event enjoyed some delicious corned beef, and the officials helped raise money for an organization that helps our veterans and first responders.”
The event’s host, Butch Yamali, owner of The Milleridge Inn, expressed his enthusiasm. “I love St. Patrick’s Day, and I can’t think of a better way to make the holiday even more special than by raising financial support for our heroes who are suffering from PTSD and other serious challenges,” he said.
Each competitor had their eyes on the top prize, with some hoping to reclaim past victories.
“I love this event, and I am eager to celebrate the season by helping support our brave veterans, firefighters, police officers, and other first responders,” Saladino said. “What’s more, I am hoping to reclaim the crown for the best corned beef, which I won a couple of years ago.”
DeSena acknowledged the tough competition but focused on the cause. “While I have never won the ‘Corned Beef Cook-Off for a Cause’ competition, I am always gratified to raise money for a worthy cause,” she said.
Hooks for Heroes provides stress therapy through fishing trips, helping veterans and first responders manage the effects of service-related injuries.
The event’s judges not only sampled the corned beef but also praised the initiative.
“Corned beef never tasted better,” O’Connell said. “The love and caring that goes into each dish, as well as the warm wishes for our heroes, make this the best St. Patrick’s event anywhere.”
Phillips emphasized the event’s impact.
“Hooks for Heroes is doing some very important work, and the Corned Beef Cook-Off is a fun way to raise money for this worthy organization,” she said.
James Torborg, president of Hooks for Heroes, expressed gratitude for the support.
“The Hooks for Heroes organization is grateful for the efforts of these elected officials,” he said.
“For those who wish to support our mission, they can visit www.hooksforheroes.org.”
For those interested in learning more about Hooks for Heroes, visit HooksForHeroes.org.
— Jordan Vallone
As estate planners, we consistently meet with people who are suffering from traumatic relationships with their children or grandchildren. Children themselves may become estranged or at odds with parents or their siblings. Sometimes, an in-law is involved that seems to turn the client’s son or daughter into someone completely different from the child they raised. The pain that these clients are going through is palpable.
Some wise sage once said that all pain comes from resistance. Many of these relationship issues may be difficult or impossible to overcome, but one thing we can all do is work on ourselves — by accepting what is. Accepting what is does not mean agreeing with or condoning certain behavior. What it does mean is that you stop saying to yourself that it is not fair, it “should” be otherwise, etc. That will not do you one bit of good and may do you considerable harm. Stress has been called “the silent killer”.
We recall reading a pithy quote a while back that went something like this “when someone disappoints you, you have two choices, you
can either lower your expectations or walk away”. What is disappointment but dashed expectations? Those who learn to expect less are disappointed less.
“Accepting what is” cannot be accomplished overnight. It is a concept or thought process that improves your outlook the more you think about it, work on it and form new neural pathways to forge the new outlook.
Estate planners inevitably become “therapists” for their clients because estate planning involves social relationships. Over the years, we have observed that many social problems occur between the clients two ears. As Shakespeare said in Hamlet “There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Forget about what’s fair or right and what’s not. You are only hurting yourself. The other person is often blissfully unaware of how you’re feeling. Michael J. Fox, the actor known for his optimism despite suffering from Parkinson’s, put it best when he said “My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations”.
LAW ESTATE PLANNING SINCE 1991 trustlaw.com Trusts & Estates • Wills & Probate • Medicaid FREE CONSULTATION: 516-327-8880 or email info@trustlaw.com
Nassau County officials took part in the ‘Corned Beef
a Cause’ event, held at the Milleridge Inn. It raised funds for Hooks for Heroes, a nonprofit that supports American veterans and first responders coping with physical and mental injuries.
Intelitalk Mind, Body, and Wellness: Unlocking What Blocks Your Mind
•Evidence-based strategies to work through difficult moments in your life
•English and Spanish-speaking male and female therapists that support those ages 4 to 80 +
•Specializing in: Anxiety, Anger Management, Depression, Marriage Counseling, ADHD, Addiction, Bereavement, Group Therapy and more!
Mention the Herald for a free 15-minute phone consultation with Dr. Morand
By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
The Hofstra softball team struggled out of the gate to open the 2025 season but still has time to ready the ship for its bid to reach the postseason.
The Pride dropped 19 of its first 21 games before charting a four-game winning streak and has the bulk of the remaining Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) schedule ahead to earn one of the six available spots in the conference tournament. The winner of the CAA playoffs will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which Hofstra achieved in 2023.
“We definitely have hit some moments of growth and challenges,” said fourth-year head coach Adrienne Clark, whose team took 2-of-3 games from first-place Delaware last weekend to stand at 3-6 in the CAA with 18 league games remaining. “We’re trying not to focus on the outcomes as much and focus on the things that we can control and our adjustments within.”
adjustment entering the season with the loss of ace pitcher Julia Apsel, who was an integral part of the 2023 CAA championship squad and is using her final year of college eligibility at Florida State.
Junior Emma Falen is the team’s new number one pitcher after transferring from UC Riverside. The Folsom, Calif. native recorded eight strikeouts in a 4-1 win against Towson on March 14 to earn the Pride their first league win.
The pitching staff also includes freshman Carley Ernst, a two-time Lancaster-Lebanon League First Team selection during her high school career in Pennsylvania. Senior Haley Venturini, a Rhode Island native, has battled injuries over the past two seasons and Clark is hoping she can play a key part of the rotation down the stretch of the season.
The Pride’s offense returned some key pieces from last year’s 23-26 team including junior shortstop Alanna Morse, a Mepham High School graduate, who hit a home run in Hofstra’s 11-3
Feb. 16. She also has been solid anchoring the infield recording a .932 fielding percentage last season as a sophomore with 79 putouts and 88 assists.
“She’s doing a fantastic job,”said Clark of Morse, who is second on the team with a 308 batting average. “She’s also learning how to be a better teammate and support others and she’s sort of doing it in a way that is allowing her to play free and compete hard.”
Morse’s former Mepham teammate, sophomore right fielder Lily Yepez, has also emerged as a key part of the lineup after registering 14 hits in 20 starts as a freshman.
Senior first baseman Anna Butler, a Seaford High School product, adds to the Nassau County South Shore presence on the roster. Butler tied a program record for most hits during a seveninning game when she 5-for-5 in a 4-3 loss to Cornell on Feb. 28.
Butler also can contribute in the pitching circle as well and made her first relief appearance in a 1-0 victory against Howard on March 18, tossing five innings of scoreless relief to earn
the win.
“She is so committed to competing hard and to the team,” said Clark of Butler. “That dynamic is really what has been allowing her to figure some things out.”
Sophomore center fielder Chelsea Villar has begun to make waves in the lineup and entered the week as the Pride’s leading leading hitter with a .313 batting average and three home runs. Sophomore Mackenzie Fitzgerald is also making strides as a sophomore with a .293 average.
Hofstra will be on the road the next two weekends for series against Campbell and Drexel before hosting UNCWilmington for three games from April 11-13 and College of Charleston from April 18-20. The Pride conclude the regular season by hosting CAA foe Monmouth for a three-game series from May 1-3.
“In the rest of conference play it is about continuing to focus on the things we can control and continue to focus on us,” Clark said. “When we do that, we’re capable of beating any team.”
“The
—George Karatzas, James Cress Florist, Smithtown
Unoccupied business spaces are an opportunity to help bring vitality to downtown areas. For George Karatzas, owner of James Cress Florist, staying downtown was a priority, but costs were prohibitive. Then George applied for our Vacant Space Revival Program, which has provided $2,462 in bill credits to help offset his overhead.* And Smithtown continues to have a business that brings warmth and charm to the area. It’s a beautiful thing to see come together—just like George’s floral arrangements.
*Incentives, grants, and savings will vary with every project. psegliny.com/businessfirst
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
Continuing a month-long series of interviews with influential area women in honor of Women’s History Month. Helen Dorado-Alessi is CEO of El Dorado Consulting and executive director of the Long Beach Latino Civic Association.
Herald: Tell me about yourself.
Dorado-Alessi: I grew up in Woodside, Queens, a very tight-knit community, so I was very accustomed to that kind of a world. When my husband and I looked for a new place to live when our children were growing up, Long Beach fit the bill for us. Beyond being a closeknit community, we found a community that was very charitable, giving and open.
I’m of Latin descent from the Caribbean, my dad from Cuba, my mother from Puerto Rico. So it’s kind of in my DNA to be close to the water, sun and sand. Youth development has always been a love of mine because of how hard it was for me coming up. There wasn’t any
such thing, so I always wanted to be on that side of my work. I have two kids, two grandchildren — (I’m) always out and about with them. I see the future in my grandchildren’s eyes and want to make sure that I make them proud with whatever work I am doing.
Herald: What do you do? Why?
Dorado-Alessi: I have my own company called El Dorado Consulting. I work on projects that have helped to broker relationships between philanthropy and nonprofits to get the work done. Right now I’m a consultant to Herstory Writers Workshop, an organization that helps people in jails and schools write their social justice memoirs. We ask people, if your words had the power to change hearts, minds and policies, what would they say? Through that work, I’ve been able to help people have confidence in their voice and their his-
tory, their families, their communities, and then share those stories with politicians, with businesses, with others who may not know what it’s like to walk in somebody else’s shoes.
The other thing I do is that I’m the executive director of Long Beach Latino Civic Association. No immigrant is illegal; a person cannot be illegal, but more importantly, their dreams are not illegal. They’ve left some very violent, scary places to come here, to have a life that they could be proud of. If you give people the information and the education, the knowledge, they’re more than happy to be part of Long Beach or New York or the United States.
Herald: What has challenged you in your career so far, and what keeps you going/inspires you?
Dorado-Alessi: The most challenging part of my whole career and life has
been this particular time where there’s so much animosity, hurtfulness and bullying. I think also the biggest challenge is, how do we fight misinformation and bold-faced lies? I could see why a lot of people would want this particular person to be running the country. I understand that they have their views. I’m just hoping that people, when they see what is really happening, will take a step back.
I think the parts that really drive me is when I work with young people, and I think that could have been my mom or my dad having just arrived. When I see them succeed, when I see them with a little bit of help, they’re going to college, or they’re getting a job on Wall Street. I think other men and women in the field who are fighting as hard as I am and we are, that’s what inspires me. I’m not alone.
More information can be found atherstorywriters.org, and LBlatinocivic.org. Responses have been edited for clarity. The rest of this interview can be found online, at liherald.com.
By MADISON GUSLER mgusler@liherald.com
Juli Grey-Owens is founder and executive director of Gender Equality New York.
Herald: Tell me about yourself.
Grey-Owens: I am a senior trans women who does advocacy work for our community. I grew up in northwestern New Jersey, had a relatively normal childhood. I knew something was different around (age) 3 or 4. In my preteen years I experimented, but didn’t know what was up because this was the 1960s.
I went to high school and was a good student. I was a decent athlete, co-captain of my football team. Met a girl in eighth grade, and we were friends until we started going out in junior year. My experimentation stopped during high school because I was busy with school, sports — I had a girlfriend. I graduated with high honors and applied to engineering schools.
Then my parents had a tough divorce, and I had no money. College was a mess, trying to work multiple jobs and school. I felt a lot of pressure and began experimenting again.
I was recruited to a Fortune 500 company out of college, started work, paid off my bills, and then I went to a counselor to see if I could get rid of this “thing.”
The counselor was really terrific, and he said to me, “You’re not gonna get rid of it. You have to decide how you’re
gonna deal with it.”
I decided to blend this into my life. I continued as a cisgender man, but on weekends I would maybe go to a party or something, just to try to figure out the community and how I fit in it.
In 1981 a work opportunity brought my fiancée and I to Long Island. I got my MBA, I married that girl from junior year, and at 35 we had a child. As I got older, I felt stifled because between career and family, there was no time to go out.
A real turning point was when my father passed away. I was 47 at the time and I started looking at my life, as you do when your parent passes away, and I decided I needed to be more authentic. I started going to trans events in 2003, and it progressed from there.
ing at Northwell Health and Memorial Sloan-Kettering.
Herald: What has challenged you in your career so far, and what keeps you going/inspires you?
Grey-Owens: The public has a very poor idea of our community, and we suffer as a result. There’s a lot of bad information out there, outright lies in some cases. For example, 8-year-olds are not getting surgery, and school nurses are not giving out hormones. If we don’t get information out, if we don’t start making people aware of our communities, these lies will continue.
My wife and I separated in 2007, and then in 2008 I met my second wife. We’ve been together for 16 years and married for 13.
Herald: What do you do? Why?
Grey-Owens: I’m founder and executive director of Gender Equality New York, a nonprofit that advocates for transgender, gender nonbinary and intersex New Yorkers. The work we do is largely educational: We provide information to agencies, legislators. I provide training to the Nassau and Suffolk police academies. I also provide train-
We currently have a federal government that’s attacking our community and trying to make us disappear. So the work has to be done to normalize our community and make people aware of the conditions we live under.
Herald: What has been the proudest moment in your life?
Grey-Owens: Getting the transgender civil rights bill passed in 2019. Prior to January 2019, a transgender person could be discriminated against in employment, housing and public services.
In 2003, lesbians, gays and bisexuals were able to pass a bill called the Sexual
Orientation Non-Discrimination Act in New York dtate, granting them their civil rights, (but it) specifically excluded the transgender community. It was 16 years before the trans community got their civil rights.
In 2019, the Gender Expression NonDiscrimination Act was signed into law, and we have had civil rights protections in New York state since then. There are no federal protections, so if we leave there are no guaranteed protections.
Herald: What advice do you have to offer? What work is left to be done?
Grey-Owens: Trying to get federal protections for our community is a big thing, but right now we’re just trying to get our community to survive the next four years.
And to some of our younger members, who might still be in school, or living under their family’s rule, and are unable to come out and be themselves: Be patient. Be safe. Make sure you have a roof over your head, that you’re fed and taken care of, get your high school diploma, if you’re able to, get to college. Usually you’re able to be more authentically yourself in college.
It does get better once we get older, but once you’re out as an adult, anything you can do to help move the community forward is important and necessary.
For more information, visit genderequalityny.org or follow @genderequalityny on Instagram and Facebook.
For decades, members of the Bellmore-Merrick Sunday Morning Men’s League have been playing basketball. While the people who participate have changed, grown older — and younger — over the last 40 years, the love of the game hasn’t remained steadfast.
Earlier this month, the league gathered for its traditional in-season tournament that took place at Merrick Avenue Middle School, where the league meets weekly on Sunday mornings for friendly matches. The tournament resembled the inaugural in-season tournament hosted by the NBA between November and
December of 2023.
What started as casual, fun play has evolved into a league that’s event attracted sponsors, like Wilson Sporting Goods, the main manufacturer of basketballs in the U.S., and the official sponsor of the NBA and NCAA.
“A lot of friendships have been made over the years,” Robert Mann, who plays in the league told the Herald during last year’s tournament. “It’s gotten to be a little bigger than a Sunday or Saturday morning thing.”
By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
The Propel NY Energy project is aiming to revo-
1
The Big Investment
$3.26 Billion:
Ratepayers fund the total capital cost for the entire project across New York state.
Six Cents a Day:
Estimated additional cost to an average residential ratepayer—about six cents per day—to support the new infrastructure.
2
The New Grid
90 Miles of Transmission Lines:
The project will construct 90 miles of new underground transmission lines, with 66 miles in Nassau County and additional segments extending into Suffolk County, the Bronx, and Westchester.
3 Additional Interconnection Points:
Long Island currently relies on just two connection points to the statewide grid. Propel NY Energy will add three
lutionize Long Island’s electric grid. The project is currently in the Article Seven permitting process — a two-year review involving environmental and engineering assessments. Construction is slated to
new connections, strengthening overall grid reliability and resiliency.
5 Interconnection Points in Total: With the new additions, the grid will have five connection points, ensuring that power flows efficiently in both directions.
3
Construction & Permitting
Article Seven Permitting:
The rigorous Article Seven process, covering environmental, socioeconomic, and engineering assessments, is expected to take approximately two years, with submissions made in July and anticipated approval around July 2026.
Construction Timeline:
Construction is slated to begin in mid-2026 and continue for three to four years, with completion expected by mid-2030.
begin in mid-2026 and continue until mid-2030. Here’s the key numbers and figures driving this $3.26 billion initiative:
Underground cables will be installed at a depth of roughly 5 to 7 feet, ensuring they are protected from weather and other external risks.
Daily Progress:
Crews are projected to advance between 50 and 150 feet per day per crew, minimizing long-term disruption to local neighborhoods.
4
Future-Proofing the Grid
50 to 90 Percent Increase in Demand:
As much as a 50 to 90 percent surge in electricity demand is projected over the next 20 years, driven by electrification, including electric vehicles, heat pumps, and data centers.
50 percent Renewable Energy by 2030: By 2030, it’s anticipated that 50 percent of Long Island’s power will come from offshore wind—made possible by the upgraded grid capacity.
Avoided Congestion Savings:
Enhanced transmission efficiency is expected to save the state an estimated $3.3 billion in congestion-related costs over time.
5
Selection & Local Impact 19 Proposals Reviewed:
The project was chosen through a competitive process that evaluated 19 proposals from four developers, with Propel NY Energy emerging as the most cost-effective solution.
Local Workforce:
The project will utilize local union labor and contractors, ensuring economic benefits and community engagement throughout Nassau County and beyond.
The Propel NY Energy project is about building a resilient electrical grid that meets the rising energy demands of Long Island and supports a more sustainable energy future.
By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
At the annual New York Press Association Spring Conference in Saratoga Springs last week, Herald Community Media won seven state awards in the 2024 Better Newspaper Contest.
Long Beach reporter Angelina Zingariello won a first place award in the Feature Story category, Division 4. With so many submissions in each of six divisions, it is a very difficult award to win.
About the story with the headline “A long, cold, healing journey” the judges said: “Good combination of personal struggle and outcome with unconventional therapy. Well written and edited, a compelling read.”
The Nov. 21 story focused on how Long Beach resident Mindi Dovberg uses cold-water immersion as a technique for an emotional reset when dealing with physical challenges and emotional setbacks.
The Herald took the top spot in Best Large Space Ad, Division 1, which was printed in the Nassau Herald and other Herald newspapers.
“This stunning ad touches me,” one judge wrote. “The simplicity and pure elegance of this is beautiful. Love how white space was used to create such an impact. Proves the point that sometimes less really is more! Outstanding!”
There were 10 entries in the Rookie Reporter of The Year category, and Sea Cliff/Glen Head reporter Brian Norman captured second place with stories ranging from the controversy surrounding the proposed state regionalization plan to how the food is prepared for North Shore High School students.
Sea Cliff/Glen Head reporter Brian Norman, left took second place in the Rookie Reporter of the Year category. His colleagues Melissa Berman and Charles Shaw congratulate him.
The judges said: “Reporter does a great job conveying story to readers, whether the subject be ‘hard’ news or a feature article.”
Norman, a 2024 graduate of Quinnipiac University, interned with the Herald last summer and was hired in September as a full-time reporter for Sea Cliff/Glen Head. He is now a reporter for the Nassau Herald, the flagship newspaper for the community weekly chain.
Photographer Brian Ballweg placed second in the Sports Feature, Division 1 category. The photograph appeared on the front page of the June 13 Rockville Centre Herald.
The judges said: “This photo shows
excellent framing of the lacrosse winners in this overtime state championship moment. Their faces run to the spectrum of elation, stopping the viewer — the joy here is studying their faces, bodies contained in the goal.”
Creative Director Jeffrey Negrin earned a trio of third-place awards.
In the Best Special Section Cover, Division 2 category, the judges said: “Another really excellent use of text on black with fun ‘clinks’ of glasses as backdrop. Long Island Choice Awards makes me want to open this up over a cocktail.”
For Special Sections/Niche Publications-Newsprint, Division 1 the judges said: “Excellent school recognition.”
The publication was the Herald’s annual special section for the Red and Blue competition at South Side High School that was published for the Feb. 29, 2024 Rockville Centre Herald.
In the Best Multi-Advertiser Pages category, judges said: “Cute organic for a shared page. Makes you want to read each one.”
The 2024 Better Newspapers Contest had 132 newspapers statewide submit 2,082 entries in 68 categories. The Missouri Press Association judged the submissions.
“It’s always nice to be recognized by our peers and colleagues,” said Herald Community Media publisher Stuart Richner. “We look forward to continuing to tell the stories of our communities in the weeks and years ahead. Congratulations to our team on well deserved recognition.”
air circulates through the tree and prevents diseases — and you’ll see the tree grow better because it doesn’t need to feed all these extra branches.”
The Master Gardener’s pruning guidelines are as follows: A branch should be removed if it is diseased, if it crosses on top of another branch, or if it is growing towards the central stem or trunk of the plant. Each of these circumstances threatens to drain the plant’s energy levels, reduce air circulation, or even kill it outright.
A couple of tricky growths to clip are shoots and sprouts. A sprout is a new stem growing out of the ground, coming from the plant’s root system. If left unattended, the sprout will drain a large amount of nutrients from its source plant. A shoot is a branch growing straight up at the top of the plant; growing vertically takes an excessive amount of energy that should be stopped.
For safety, helmets, glasses and sturdy boots are essential. If something is too high to clip with both feet on the ground, that is when calling a landscaper would be best.
Thanks to careful gardening, the master gardeners’ plants are disease resistant, drought tolerant and thrive in multiple seasons.
Each of the gardeners encouraged homeowners to select native species of plants for their homes. A native species would be the best match for Long Island’s environment and be more help-
TUESDAY APRIL 8
6:00-9:00PM
BANKRUPTCY & COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
MICHAEL S AMATO
Partner Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.
BUSINESS LITIGATION
JOSHUA M LIEBMAN
Partner Rosenberg, Calica, Birney, Liebman & Ross, LLP
CIVIL LITIGATION
AMY E BEDELL
Partner Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP
CONSTRUCTION & REAL ESTATE LITIGATION
NEIL P DISKIN
Counsel Nixon Peabody LLP
CORPORATE
JOSEPH G MILIZIO ESQ
Managing Partner Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP
ASHLEY MISTRETTA Counsel Nixon Peabody LLP
CHARLES SKOP
Shareholder Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P C
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
DANIEL W RUSSO, ESQ Founder and President Law Office of Daniel W Russo Nassau County Bar Association
DIVORCE & FAMILY LAW
JACQUELINE HAROUNIAN, ESQ
Managing Partner Wisselman Harounian Family Law
JASON A ISAACSON Partner Sunshine Isaacson Hecht, LLP
DEBORAH A. KELLY ESQ.
Attorney Mejias, Milgrim, Alvarado & Lindo, EDUCATION
CYNTHIA A AUGELLO
Managing Partner Augello Law Group
ELDER LAW & ESTATE PLANNING
STEPHANIE D’ANGELO ESQ
Owner and Principal Attorney D'Angelo Law Associates, P.C.
STEPHANIE M. KEATING
Partner
Schwartz, Fang & Keating, P C
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAW
MARJORIE MESIDOR Founding Partner Mesidor PLLC GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
SHAYNA E SACKS Partner Napoli Shkolnik PLLC
HEALTHCARE
SVETLANA MINEVICH, ESQ. Attorney Minevich Law Group, P C
IMMIGRATION
MICHAEL CATALIOTTI, ESQ Principal Cataliotti Law PC
EDUARDO M VILLACORTA, ESQ Founder Villacorta Law Group, P C
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY (IP) LAW
TRAVIS J STOCKMAN ESQ Co-Founder
Stockman & Poropat, PLLC
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT
HON RUTH BOGATYROW KRAFT Partner Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP
CHRISTOPHER MARLBOROUGH Principal Attorney The Marlborough Law Firm, P.C.
CHRISTOPHER J. MORO Counsel Nixon Peabody LLP
LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION
KATHRYN C COLE Shareholder Greenberg Traurig, LLP
DANIEL B RINALDI Of Counsel Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P C
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
STEVE E. MILLON Partner Shapiro-Millon
HON. JOSEPH P. SPINOLA Mediator Resolute Systems, LLC
MUNICIPAL LAW
MATTHEW T MCDONOUGH, ESQ.
Founding Member McDonough PLLC MEDIATION
PERSONAL INJURY
JASON A GREENBERG Founder JAG Law Group
NOT-FOR-PROFIT
LAURETTE D MULRY Attorney & Counselor Legal Aid of Suffolk County, Inc
REAL ESTATE
DAVID ALTMAN Owner Brown Altman & Dileo, LLP
KEITH P. BROWN Partner Brown Altman & Dileo, LLP
ANTHONY A NOZZOLILLO, ESQ Chief Legal Counsel Anthony A Nozzolillo Esq
ELLEN N SAVINO Partner Sahn Ward Braff Coschignano PLLC
REAL ESTATE TAX
CHRISTOPHER P BYRNES Partner Schroder & Strom, LLP
JOSEPH C PACKARD Partner Schroder & Strom, LLP
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
CRYSTI D FARRA Attorney Crysti D Farra Attorney at Law
WORKER’S COMPENSATION
CATHERINE M STANTON Sr Partner Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano LLP
By Karen Bloom
Sure … the Hollywood moviemakers grab your attention. Yet there’s so much more to the movie biz beside that tentpole blockbuster. Check out the Asbury Short Film Concert, which returns to its local “home” at the Madison Theatre next Friday and see an abundance of creative offerings. There’s certainly no denying the appeal of a major feature film. But for those who crave something different that certainly strikes an emotional chord, Asbury’s “concert” is for you. This national touring showcase brings a diverse, focused lineup — in many cases featuring up-and-coming filmmakers — of smaller efforts you generally won’t find on the big screen.
And it’s most definitely not a festival.
“We present the best in comedy, drama, animation, even the occasional documentary,” says Doug LeClaire, Asbury Shorts’ founder and longtime director. “We call it a concert rather than a festival because there are no awards, no Q&A or panel discussions, it’s all about entertainment value for the audience.”
As in previous years, Asbury Shorts offers up an eclectic mix of films, what LeClaire describes as a “potpourri of the short film world.” LeClaire, who was in commercial and film production for over four decades, has been passionate about short films since his student days at New York Institute of Technology. He pivoted to promoting his beloved short films full time and the result has been a resounding success.
“Myself, and those who have been with me the longest, didn’t think our short film party that began in Westbury in 1981 would evolve into a major global touring event that has presented Asbury Shorts shows from Berlin to L.A. over the years with many, many stops in between,” LeClaire says. “The mission has always been to keep great short films, from all years, projected on real cinema screens as opposed to YouTube, smart phones, computers or tablets or the big screen TVs. Asbury Shorts is strictly a theatrical cinema event, no virtual allowed!
“Our number one priority is the enjoyment of our audience. We’re proud to provide an outlet for the filmmakers’ product. For us, it is all about the experience, showing these films to an audience. We give them the opportunity to experience great films on a big screen the way they were meant to be seen.”
He and his team cull them from the film festival circuit — including the prestigious SXSW (South by Southwest), Sundance and Toronto International Film Festival, and Tribeca Festival, among others.
“To get an award at one of these festivals is just as good as an Oscar nomination,” LeClaire says. “These young filmmakers are so happy to get that wreath. They collect them the way we would collect baseball cards back in the day.”
• Friday, April 4, 7:30 p.m.
• For tickets, visit madisontheatreny.org or call the box office at (516) 323-4444
• Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
Think of this as your personal film festival experience. As LeClaire puts it: “We’re bringing these films to folks who can’t get to film festivals.”
His formula certainly has resonated with audiences.
“We have demonstrated that we are entertaining and blessed to have fans that keep coming back,” LeClaire says, “while also reaching out to new audiences.”
The two-hour show moves along briskly. The films range from a brief few minutes to 20 minutes at most.
“A good short film is to the point, fast paced, and most important of all, is the ending,” LeClaire says. “It must make sense.”
And that ending will surely leave you wanting more.
Among the highlights, LeClaire points to Martín Rosete’s 10-minute “Voice Over,” which depicts the urgency of life’s pivotal moments in a desperate race against time.
Three different stories are told by the same narrator searching for the correct story. The same actor appears in all three. Will the narrator find what he’s looking for? We don’t know — maybe, maybe not.
Rosete, a Spanish filmmaker now based in New York, was awarded the Goya, Spain’s Academy Award, for “Voice Over.”.
LeClaire describes it as “sort of the ‘perfect’ short film” due its story and production values.
“It has outstanding and mind boggling production design for an indie produced short film and an ending that I really like,” he explains.
Another standout is “Anomaly” from director Ryan Jenkins, which was honored recently with Best Short Film at the Lake Placid Film Festival. In this 15-minute drama, a renowned magician features an inexplicable illusion in his final run of performances. Meanwhile, a government agent who witnesses the baffling act becomes hell-bent on uncovering its method.
As for the rest, well, you’ll have to attend and see for yourself. LeClaire doesn’t like to reveal too much, promising it’s all “great fun.”
He is delighted to come back to his Long Island roots with his film showcase.
“We’re very heartened by the audience at the Madison. We are grateful to [Artistic Director] Angelo Fraboni and his staff for allowing us to return each year. It’s been a terrific relationship.”
‘Good times…’
Neil Diamond is certainly forever — as honored by Neil Forever, returning to the Paramount stage. David Jacobson, the tribute band’s founder, has a great passion for the music and legacy of the legendary performer. David, along with his son and music director Dylan Jacobson and drummer John Cardoso began their journey in January 2023. Today, the 14-person ensemble delivers an authentic, exciting and joyful concert that captivates the legendary superstar’s fans. Performing Diamond’s music is as much about heart and soul as it is talent; it’s a celebration of the music and the man who created it. The band has forged an exciting path, as discovered by excited and passionate fans, of all ages. Audiences are thrilled by the authentic renditions of classic hits like “Sweet Caroline,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Coming to America,” and “Kentucky Women.”
Friday, March 28, 8 p.m. $59.50, $49.50, $39.50, $29.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
The South Shore Symphony Orchestra springs forward with its next concert, “Slavic Masterworks,” at its Madison Theatre home. The orchestra is joined by renowned cellist Amy Barston, featured in Polish composer Grayna Bacewicz’s Cello Concerto No. 1. A rare gem, according to Barston, she notes that it is fresh to the concert stage in that it is quasi-newly discovered, but it feels like a familiar, beloved masterwork. Electrifying, often dance-like energy, paired with soaring lyrical melodies, it has received an enthusiastic reception from audiences. The evening’s repertoire also includes Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances, op. 46, no. 3 in Ab major and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, op. 64, e minor.
Saturday, March 29, 7:30 p.m. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 3234444.
Grab those leather jackets, and rock on! The Wallflowers are back on the road and bringing their sound to the Paramount stage, Sunday, April 6, at 8 p.m., with special guest Jackson Melnick. For the past 30 years, the Jakob Dylanled act has stood as one of rock’s most dynamic and purposeful bands — a unit dedicated to and continually honing a sound that meshes timeless songwriting and storytelling with a hard-hitting and decidedly modern musical attack. That signature style has been present through the decades, baked into the grooves of smash hits like 1996’s “Bringing Down the Horse” as well as more recent and exploratory fare like 2012’s “Glad All Over.” Even so, in recent years, Dylan — the Wallflowers’ founding singer, songwriter and guitarist — has repeatedly stepped outside of his band. First with a pair of more acoustic and rootsy records, 2008’s “Seeing Things” and 2010’s “Women + Country,” and then with the 2018 film “Echo in the Canyon” and the accompanying soundtrack, which saw him collaborate with a host of artists classic and contemporary, from Neil Young and Eric Clapton to Beck and Fiona Apple.
But while it’s been nine long years since we’ve heard from the group with whom he first made his mark, the Wallflowers are silent no more. And Dylan always knew they’d return. And return the band has, with “Exit Wounds,” their new studio offering. It marks the first new Wallflowers material since “Glad All Over.” And while the wait has been long, the much-anticipated record finds the band’s signature sound — lean, potent and eminently entrancing — intact, even as Dylan surrounds himself with a fresh cast of musicians. $75, $45, $35, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Mercy Hospital offers cardiac screening
You only have one heart. Protect it with a free cardiac screening at Mercy Hospital, Saturday, March 29, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Getting your coronary calcium score scan can save your life. A coronary calcium score is like a “mammogram” for the heart to screen for blockage(s). This simple, non-invasive test can indicate coronary artery disease before the onset of symptoms or heart attacks. The scan does not require IV or Oral CT contrast. Limited appointments available. No insurance necessary. 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. Radiology & Imaging (adjacent to Emergency Department). To register, call (516) 62-MERCY (63729).
Want to master the art of training for a triathlon? Stop by an informative event, Saturday, March 29, in Eisenhower Park. Adult and youth participants will take part in various swimming, running and training exercises. To register for a fee, visit RunSignUp.com, and search the event in Eisenhower Park. Classes begin at 8 a.m.
Shop and explore the Outdoor Flea Market in Merrick at the Merrick LIRR station, Sunday, March 30, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., weather permitting. For more information, call (516) 443-6000 or visit nassaufairs.com.
Art Explorations
Converse, collaborate and create at family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program continues, Saturday, March 29, noon-3 p.m. Kids and their adult partners talk about and make art together. While there, enjoy reading and play in the Reading Room, and contribute to the collaborative Lobby Project. Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit nassaumuseum. org to register or call (516) 484-9337.
Long Island Children’s Museum invites families toparticipate in Holi, the Festival of Colors, Sunday, April 6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Originating in India, this Hindu festival marks the end of winter and the arrival of the colorful spring season. During this joyous celebration, families eat sweets, dance to traditional folk music and throw colorful powder made from flowers called gulal. Crafts, color throwing and dancing are part of this vibrant event. Welcome spring’s arrival with Holi. Participants are encouraged to wear clothes that they won’t mind getting messy. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. Go to licm.org or call (516) 224-5800 for more information.
‘Palette of Petals’ at Planting
Visit Planting Fields
Arboretum for a delightful stroll among the early bloomers, as part of its First Fridays series, Friday, April 4, 1-2 p.m. Experience the enchanting spring colors at the Margaret Sullivan Heather Garden. Director of Horticulture Donna Moramarco guides visitors through the remarkable collection of azaleas, cherry blossom trees, magnolias, camellias, and more as you stroll the grounds to the recently restored garden. Discover the rich horticultural history of this stunning space, learn about the Coe family’s dedication to these vibrant flowers, and delve into the vision that the Olmsted Brothers had for this beloved site. $20. Registration required. 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay. Visit plantingfields.org or call (516) 922-9210 to register and for information.
Join Egyptologists-authorsprofessors Drs. Colleen and John Darnell at Nassau County Museum of Art, Sunday, March 30, 3 p.m., for a fascinating lecture on “Egyptomania” in the 1920s. The Darnells are authors of several books and dozens of articles. With academic careers in Egyptology at Yale University, they are committed to bringing ancient Egypt’s rich history, religion, art, and language to a worldwide audience.
Their passion for vintage fashion and modeling has led to exciting collaborations with Egypt’s premier jewelry designers, photographers and magazines. Limited seating. Registration required. $20, $15 seniors, $10 students; members free. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or nassaumuseum.org.
Long Island Children’s Museum opens its doors to a weekend devoted to STEM activities, Saturday and Sunday, March 29-30, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., that will ignite the imaginations of children and adults alike. Guest experts off engaging demonstrations, experiments and interactive activities. Highlights include sampling the science of molecular gastronomy at work with flash frozen ice cream; learn about native and invasive species that swim in Long Island waters; discover how oysters are coming to our rescue; study the water cycle and Long Island’s unique geographic formations and more. Activities free with museum admission. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. Visit licm. org or call (516) 224-5800 for more.
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.
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 followup 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.
Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Sunday, April 13, noon-1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. Visit the grand rooms inside the massive 50,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion, the former summer residence of Gilded Age financier Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim. Tours are limited in size and tend to sell out. Arrive early to purchase tickets. $10. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.
27,
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 614816/2024 COUNTY OF NASSAU
DEUTSCHE BANK
NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2006 SECURITIZED ASSET BACKED RECEIVABLES LLC TRUST 2006-FR4 Plaintiff, vs.
STEVEN PAUL OLIVERI, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CARMINE R. OLIVERI; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF CARMINE
R. OLIVERI, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #1, “JOHN DOE #2” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an
interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Mortgaged Premises: 2118 HOLLAND WAY, MERRICK, NY 11566
Section: 63, Block: 143, Lot: 34 Defendants.
To the above named Defendants
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT
THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $600,075.00 and interest, recorded on April 04, 2006, in Liber M30304 at Page 849, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 2118 HOLLAND WAY, MERRICK, NY 11566. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on
the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.
Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated: February 10th, 2025
ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC
Attorney for Plaintiff Jinghan Zhang, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590
516-280-7675 152007
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 609863/2024 COUNTY OF NASSAU
WILMINGTON
SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR ONITY LOAN ACQUISITION TRUST 2024-HB2, Plaintiff, vs. ROBERT A. GOLDER, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JEAN ANN GOLDER A/K/A JEAN A. GOLDER; AMANDA OLSEN, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JEAN ANN GOLDER A/K/A JEAN A. GOLDER; GREGORY OLSEN, JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JEAN ANN GOLDER A/K/A JEAN A. GOLDER; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF JEAN ANN GOLDER A/K/A JEAN A. GOLDER, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien
upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK STATE
DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Mortgaged Premises: 1724 HORATIO AVENUE, MERRICK, NY 11566
Section: 55, Block: 87, Lot: 944 & 945
To the above named Defendants
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other
than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT
THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $544,185.00 and interest, recorded on October 22, 2007, in Liber M32438 at Page 766, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 1724 HORATIO AVENUE, MERRICK, NY 11566. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.
NOTICE
YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: January 31st, 2025 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID,
CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC
Attorney for Plaintiff Matthew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 152170
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF Nassau, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., As Trustee For Option One Mortgage Loan Trust 2003-3, AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2003-3, Plaintiff, vs. Kevin P. Murphy a/k/a Kevin Murphy, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale After Inquest and Appointment of Referee duly entered on January 31, 2017, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 15, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1811 Bedford Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55, Block 123 and Lots 61, 62, 63 & 108. Approximate amount of judgment is $321,049.80 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #007487/2012.
George Esernio, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 180558-1 152156
on the 25th day of March, 2025, at 7:00 o’clock in the evening of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations:
BELLMORE
CENTRE AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 106 feet north of the north curbline of Grand Avenue, north for a distance of 17 feet.
(TH-50/25)
ELMONT
JACOB STREET - west side, starting at a point 225 feet north of the north curbline of Atherton Avenue, north for a distance of 22 feet.
(TH-62/25)
OAKLEY AVENUE - east side, starting at a point 378 feet north of the north curbline of L Street, north for a distance of 18 feet.
(TH-56/25)
MERRICK
HARVARD AVENUEsouth side, starting at a point 334 feet east of the east curbline of Central Parkway, east for a distance of 17 feet.
(TH-51/25) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:
ELMONT
CLEMENT AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 115 feet south of the south curbline of Langdon Street, south fora distance of 22 feet.
(TH-141/18 - 6/5/18)
(TH-58/25) ;and, BE IT FURTHER ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Muscarella offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AND SETTING ASIDE CERTAIN PARKING SPACES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE SOLE USE OF HOLDERS OF SPECIAL PARKING PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COUNTY OF NASSAU TO PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 203-2025, adopted February 25th, 2025, a public hearing was duly held on the 11th day of March, 2025, at the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the proposed establishment and setting aside of a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons, in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, all as set forth in said resolution; and WHEREAS, after due consideration, this Town Board finds it to be in the public interest to establish and set aside a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking on Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York,
Dated: Hempstead, New York March 25, 2025 BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.
Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 152435
LEGAL NOTICE CASE NO. 21527
RESOLUTION NO.208-2025
Adopted: March 11, 2025
Councilmember
RESOLVED, that in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, the following parking spaces be and the same hereby is set aside for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons:
ELMONT
LUCILLE AVENUE - east side, starting at a point 88 feet north of the north curbline of Theodora Street, north for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-36/25)
SEWANEE AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 386 feet south of the south curbline of Atherton Avenue, south for a distance of 18 feet.
(TH-24/25)
SEAFORD
LOCUST AVENUE -
south side, starting at a point 275 feet west of the west curbline of Guildford Park Drive, west for a distance of 15 feet.
(TH-1/25)
UNIONDALE
BRAXTON AVENUEsouth side, starting at a point 188 feet east of the east curbline of Uniondale Avenue, east for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-34/25)
WANTAGH
MCDONALD AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 150 feet north of the north curbline of Campbell Avenue, north for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-33/25) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:
(NR) FLORAL PARK
239TH STREET - west side, starting at a point 110 feet north of the north curbline of Superior Road, north for a distance of 16 feet.
(TH-580/24 - 2/4/25)
(TH-580(B)/24)
MERRICK
HARVARD AVENUEsouth side, starting at a point 298 feet east of the east curbline of Central Parkway, east fora distance of 20 feet.
(TH-260/15 - 9/8/15)
(TH-31/25) (NR) WESTBURY
WESTLEY ROAD - south side, starting at a point 138 feet east of the east curbline of Fairfield Avenue, east for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-332/20 - 1/5/21)
(TH-47/25)
; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk shall enter this resolution in the minutes of the Town Board and shall publish a copy of this resolution once a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town of Hempstead and shall post a copy hereof on the signboard maintained by her, and file in her office affidavits of such
publication and posting.
The foregoing resolution was seconded by Councilmember Schneider and adopted upon roll call as follows:
AYES: SIX (6)
NOES: NONE (0) 152432
LEGAL NOTICE
BELLMORE-MERRICK
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
BELLMORE U.F.S.D.
MERRICK U.F.S.D.
NORTH BELLMORE
U.F.S.D.
NORTH MERRICK
U.F.S.D.
TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU
NOTICE TO BIDDERS:
In accordance with provision of Section 103 of Article 5-A of the General Municipal Law, the Boards of Education of the Bellmore and Merrick Transportation Consortium hereby invites the submission of sealed bids from reputable and qualified vendors from the provision of labor and materials for the following contract: Bellmore-Merrick Transportation Consortium Software & Equipment Bid Bids will be publicly opened and read at the Bellmore-Merrick
Central High School District Business Office, 1260 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 10:00 am. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained from the office of Tom Volpe, Director of Transportation, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. Bids must be presented on the standard bid form in the manor designated therein and as required by the specifications. All bids must be enclosed in sealed envelopes which are clearly marked on the outside: Bid for: TRANSPRORTATION SOFTWARE AND EQUIPMENT. Bids shall remain firm for a
period of forty-five (45) days following the date of the bid opening.
The Boards of Education reserve the right to waive any informalities in or to reject any or all bids, or to accept that bid which, in the Board of Education of the Bellmore-Merrick Transportation Consortium’s judgement, is in the best interest of the School District. The Bord of Education further reserves the right to consider experience, service, and reputation in connection with the services to be rendered.
In addition, the Boards of Education reserve the right to consider the financial responsibility and specific qualifications as set forth in the bid specifications, of the prospective bidder in its evaluation of the bids and award of the contracts. By order: Board of Education
BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
BELLMORE U.F.S.D.
MERRICK U.F.S.D.
NORTH BELLMORE
U.F.S.D.
NORTH MERRICK
U.F.S.D. 152464
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR SOUNDVIEW HOME LOAN TRUST 2007OPT5, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-OPT5, -againstBARBARA BREIER, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT K. HICKMAN, ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on February 4,
2025, wherein WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR SOUNDVIEW HOME LOAN TRUST 2007OPT5, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-OPT5 is the Plaintiff and BARBARA BREIER, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT K. HICKMAN, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on April 28, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2292 VASSAR PLACE, MERRICK, NY 11566; and the following tax map identification: 55-147-122, 123 & 124. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 603884/2023. Oscar A. Prieto, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 152425
Sofia Meyer and William Miolan, students in the
will take on the roles of Fiona and Shrek in their
The fairytale “Shrek” will soon come to life on stage at the Brookside School by a cast of North Merrick School District students on March 28 and 29.
Students from Camp Avenue, Harold D. Fayette and Old Mill Road schools have spent weeks collaboratively preparing for the debut of “Shrek Jr.,” which will be complete with elaborate costumes and set dressings.
Performers were thrilled to don the roles of various fairytale characters, which includes Jayden Reinersten as Pin-
occhio and Daniella Lipkin as Gingy the gingerbread man. Taking up the leads are William Miolan as Shrek, Sofia Meyer as Fiona, Joseph Taglia as Donkey and Mehmet Cirakoglu as Lord Farquaad. All are welcome to attend the performances at Brookside School at 1260 Meadowbrook Road at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29. Tickets can be purchased through the school website, NMerrickSchools.org.
— Jordan Vallone
The Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency has granted preliminary approval for a package of economic development incentives to assist in the construction of senior housing on the site of a former synagogue in North Bellmore.
The incentives were approved in the form of an inducement resolution for SDL Bellmore LLC, which plans to replace a 26,903-square-foot vacant building, formerly used by Temple Beth El Jewish Center, with two residential buildings totaling 45,458 square feet.
The 1.43-acre site is located at 1373 Bellmore Road.
The $12.6 million project will include 28 rental units for residents 55 and older, with three designated for veterans. Each unit will have two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The development is expected to create 37 construction jobs and three full-time equivalent positions.
Temple Beth El merged with the East Meadow Jewish Center in 2020 to form the East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center.
Scott Leyton, a longtime partner in the development firm Ornstein Leyton,
is the sole owner of SDL.
The IDA benefits package remains subject to further review, a public hearing, and final authorization. The Hempstead Town Board approved a zoning change for the site in 2022, and site plan approval is pending. The existing building, which has been exempt from property taxes, is set to be demolished.
“This proposed project will provide much-needed senior rental housing in the community and, for the first time, will generate revenues for the various taxing jurisdictions,” IDA chief executive Fred Parola said.
The Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency is a public benefit agency that facilitates business relocation, expansion, and development in the town, New York’s largest. The agency is authorized by New York state to promote economic growth through financial assistance and tax relief. The IDA prioritizes responsible development, emphasizing a stable tax base, an educated workforce, and access to major transportation hubs.
— Jordan Vallone
Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460
E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com
E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com
DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Help Wanted
Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must.
Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! $22 - $27/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K
To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
Inside Sales Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $34,320 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS
FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
Eldercare Offered
Senior Caregiver/ Housekeeping Available. Private/ Professional. CNA* HHA* CCA Certified. Experienced/ Excellent References. Emma 516-519-0456
Hebrew Academy of Long Beach seeks educators to join our exceptional school faculty in fostering a culture of academic exploration and excellence and dedication to spiritual, intellectual, and personal growth of all students. We are currently looking for candidates in the following divisions:
Lev Chana Early Childhood:
• Early Childhood Assistant Teachers
• Early Childhood Head Teachers
HALB Elementary School:
• Middle School Language Arts Teacher
• Elementary School Assistant Teachers
DRS Yeshiva High School for Boys:
• Business and Entrepreneurship Teacher
• Science Teacher
• STEM Teacher
• Math Teacher
• Resource Room Teacher
To learn more about our school community, please visit www.halb.org. We look forward to hearing from you! Please send resumes or inquiries to resumes@halb.org.
Q. I’m waiting months for a permit and they keep asking for added notes and plan changes, but not all at once. It’s a complete runaround. Why is this happening? My business is losing money and I’m losing patience.
A. Continuing from two weeks ago, people often have unrealistic expectations of the review process. When plans are submitted, the process begins with assigning an application designation. Many departments have a large backlog of applications, which means that they will often get to yours in the order it came in. There are the applications that jump ahead of the line for various reasons, from medical emergencies to fire repair, decisions made by economic development criteria from higher up the government chain, etc.
I’m often asked about who the client can talk to in order to speed things up. This sends a message to me that the whole review process is about to slow down even more. From experience, I reply that the applicant can “try whatever method they want, but be careful.” If someone actually does skip the line, I am aware that it may backfire, because pressuring plan reviewers can sometimes lead to delays and friction when the reviewer kicks the plans back with objections that make the owner insist that the “architect should have known this.”
Objections may seem purposeful, but because they’re legitimate, the application is on hold, and takes pressure off the reviewer. Pressuring the reviewers is not recommended. Architects are burdened enough with never knowing whether they should add all kinds of notes to the plans, or when to keep things simpler. For example, some reviewers want reprints of building code sections on the plans, only to find that another reviewer wants those same notes removed from the plans, causing further delays, to put the researched code notes on plans, and then delays in revising plans afterward. It’s a lose/lose situation guaranteed to cause further delay, but “that’s the way it is.”
There are also delays caused by the fact that your approval process may involve your local jurisdiction, separate review by the fire marshal’s office at the county level, review by the engineering department of your local government and possibly the county department of public works if the property in question is on a county roadway. You may also be asking for something proposed to occupy the building that requires a “change of use” approval, with a zoning case that may add months and even years to the process.
I recently walked with a dentist up and down a commercial district street, and we looked in the windows of three locations the dentist was interested in. Placards on the windows showed announcements for zoning hearings from two to four years ago. All of the businesses were still empty. What does that possibly tell you? There may be inadequate parking or drainage issues, previous open permits not resolved, etc. The process isn’t simple, and you must be prepared for the course it may take. Good luck!
MIKASA SENTIMENTS FLUTED Champagne Glasses, boxed set 4, inscribed: Friendship, Success, Happiness, Wisdom, $80, 516-884-9994. SHOWER BENCH WHITE Excellent Condition $40. S. Freeport 516 279 7696
PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-866-448-8311 Have zip code of property ready when calling!
SERVICE
***MASONRY & CONSTRUCTION*** EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS! GIUSEPPE MUCCIACCIARO
We Do Pavers, Cultured Stone, Concrete, Bluestone, Blacktop, Fireplace, Patio, Waterproofing, Walkways, Pool Work. Lic#H2204320000 Family Operation Over 40Years. 516-238-6287
Cable/TV/Wiring
Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-782-4069
Electricians
E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.
Tired of calling a contractor & they don't call back? I will call you back the same day! 917-822-0225 Ricky Specializing in carpentry, bathrooms, kitchens, sheetrock, flooring, electric, plumbing. Over 25 yrs exp.Lic/Ins H3805150000
AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER?
STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888-920-9937
BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-855-399-2076
CARPENTRY & PAINTING: Residential/ Commercial. All Phases. Licensed/Insured. FREE ESTIMATES! Anthony & J Home Improvements 516-678-6641
GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391
HANKS PAINTING & DRYWALL REPAIR LLC. 5 *Star* *Artist* *Finish. Residential Interior Painting Our Specialty. Drywall Installations/ Repairs, Wallpaper Removal, Skim Coat, Cracks, Gaps Filled, License #201789/Insured. References. Hank 516-330-8396 www.hankspainting.com
*PROFESSIONAL PAINTER* Repairs, Wallpaper, Moldings & More! Free Estimates
Ins/Lic#H0106110000
Please Call Sal Today! 516.343.2152
Sprinkler Syst./Irrig.Wells
es! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-855-399-2582
HEARING AIDS!! HIGH-QUALITY rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money
Legal
Telephone Services
CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682
Tree Services
T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE *TREE REMOVAL *STUMP GRINDING *PRUNING. FREE ESTIMATES. 516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com
small businesses are the backbone of Long Island, fueling local economies and creating jobs.
But despite their vital role in empowering Long Islanders and enhancing local main streets, small businesses are struggling. Countless mom-and-pop shops are still reeling from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, and small-business owners are grappling with inflation and facing fierce competition from corporate giants with massive marketing budgets.
Last month I took a major step to support Long Island’s small-business community by introducing the Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally, or LOCAL, Act in the State Senate. The LOCAL Act, which was also introduced in the Assembly by member Jen Luns-
ford, would establish a tax credit for small businesses to promote their goods, products and services in local media outlets, from print and digital to television and radio.
The goal of the LOCAL Act is simple yet powerful: to help small businesses stretch their marketing dollars while connecting with their most important audience, their neighbors.
iThe LOCAL Act would level the playing field for Long Island’s small businesses by making marketing more affordable. It would also support local news outlets, which provide the journalism our communities rely on but that are struggling to stay afloat. As advertising revenue shrinks, more newsrooms are being forced to cut staff or shut down altogether, leaving neighborhoods without the local reporting they count on. The LOCAL Act directly addresses this issue head-on by encouraging small businesses to invest in these news outlets, providing a mutually beneficial lifeline for economic
growth.
t would level the playing field for them by making marketing more affordable.
When small businesses thrive, so do their communities. The LOCAL Act would focus on supporting any business with 10 or fewer employees as well as minority-, woman- and veteran-owned businesses of any size. For many owners of these businesses, the ability to advertise affordably in trusted, community-driven platforms like local newspapers would be a gamechanger. Local media outlets are well positioned to connect businesses with their neighbors and loyal customers who are eager to shop locally and uplift their communities.
Small businesses do more than drive economic growth — they strengthen the neighborhoods they serve, sponsor local initiatives and reflect the cultural identity of their communities. For this reason, The LOCAL Act has already garnered strong support from business groups across Long Island and the state, including the Long Island Association,
the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business and the thousands of small businesses each organization represents, as well as the more than 200 newspapers that make up the Empire State Local News Coalition. This is a testament to the urgency and importance of this legislation.
The LOCAL Act is a clear benefit for all New Yorkers. It’s a chance to make sure every dollar invested in marketing can help Long Island foster a vibrant economic environment where small businesses can grow and communities can prosper.
State legislators have a real chance to invest in solutions that make a difference for businesses and local economies across New York this year. By working alongside the Long Island business and local news community to pass this transformative bill, we will empower small businesses, uplift local journalism and create stronger, more vibrant communities for generations to come.
Monica Martinez represents the 4th State Senate District.
The current threat of deportation for many of Long Island’s immigrants is unjust, unwise and cruel. Members of Pax Christi Long Island, representing the Catholic peace movement, urge our community to recognize the long tradition of Catholic social teaching that guides us to the command of Jesus in Matthew 25 that we “welcome the stranger.”
As a devout Jew, Jesus knew well the command of Leviticus 19:33-34: “When an alien resides with you in your land, do not mistreat such a one. You shall treat the alien who resides with you no different than the natives born among you …”
Catholic bishops:
Our belief in the dignity of the human person demands that we treat immigrants with respect and recognize their great contributions. But our nation imposes quotas and bureaucracies that make legal immigration overwhelmingly difficult, and brands those who flee their troubled homelands as “illegals.”
At this time, our nation seems to be both shunning and relying on immigrants. As a new surge of poisonous nativism creates fear among the immigrant communities, Pope Francis has spoken clearly in a letter to American
“I have followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations. The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality. At the same time, one must recognize the right of a nation to defend itself and keep communities safe from those who have committed violent or serious crimes while in the country or prior to arrival. That said, the act of deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness. . . . The true common good is promoted when society and government, with creativity and strict respect for the rights of all — as I have affirmed on numerous occasions — welcomes, protects, promotes and integrates the most fragile, unprotected and vulnerable.”
As Long Island residents, we have deep connections with the immigrant community. They are family members, friends, classmates, neighbors and coworkers. Our decades of experience show that most immigrants are hardworking and law-abiding. The Immigration Research Institute reports that immigrants account for 22 percent of Long Island’s economic output. Across New York state, undocumented immigrants contribute $1.1 billion in state and local taxes.
We value and respect local law enforcement officers. We remind them that enforcing federal policy on immigrants is the responsibility of the federal government. We urge local law enforcement to refrain from collaboration with federal immigration agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, unless a person is detained because of a criminal act or has a criminal record. We also remind local law enforcement that:
ship have always been respected as places of refuge. No law enforcement agency should be allowed to violate those spaces without probable cause.
■ People reporting crimes should not be forced to prove their identity before they are helped. This is especially true in cases of domestic violence.
■ Minors should not be intimidated or questioned unnecessarily; rather, they should be protected.
Pax Christi Long Island stands with our immigrant community because it’s the right thing to do. We acknowledge their sizable contribution to the health and welfare of Long Island. We ask all Long Islanders to embrace and protect them nonviolently from injustice and abuse. We hope to remain true to our religious tradition and the universal standard of decency, by treating all people the way we would like to be treated.
■ No one can enter a private dwelling unless they have a warrant signed by a judge. An administrative order signed by ICE does not meet legal criteria for entering a private dwelling.
■ Hospitals, schools, and places of wor-
Pax Christi Long Island members Sister Mary Beth Moore and Sister Evelyn Lamoureux are Catholic nuns who have worked with immigrants for decades. Pax Christi Long Island can be contacted at catholic peaceli@gmail.com.
ictory has a hundred fathers,” President John F. Kennedy famously responded when the public wanted to know whom to blame for the Bay of Pigs debacle, while “defeat is an orphan.”
But not always. Take the financial debacle that is the Nassau University Medical Center. Its parentage as a health care institution on the brink of collapse could not be clearer: an inept board of directors appointed by an unserious county executive in partnership with a subservient county legislative majority, completely not up to the task of managing a hospital whose complicated and challenging core mission is to provide health care to Nassau County’s most vulnerable residents.
The only long-term solution to NUMC’s leadership crisis is for our governor and locally elected state officials — who are already connected to the state’s health care budgeting and regulatory ecosystem — to appoint a majority of NUMC’s governing board of the Nassau Health Care Corporation, which
Aincludes NUMC, the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility and other divisions.
The numbers tell the story, and they don’t lie.
and financial consultants. But NUMC’s board couldn’t do even that.
ANHCC began 2024 anticipating ending the year $97 million in the hole — a staggering sum for an institution expecting less than $600 million in revenue. Numbers released at its board meeting in early December showed it closing out 2024 over $158 million in the red — 63 percent worse than planned. In 2024 it spent 18 percent more than it received in revenue.
nd so do Nassau County taxpayers, who are on the hook for $85 million in debt.
Additionally, NUMC owes over $400 million in unpaid health insurance premiums for its employees, a debt that increases by about $7 million each month.
Indeed, the board and management couldn’t even make a serious application to the state for emergency financial relief. The state offered NUMC nearly $84 million if it would, among other things, produce a detailed five-year transformation plan; commit to conducting a bona fide, professional search for a new chief executive (the current interim CEO is the hospital’s former inhouse lawyer); and provide accurate and up-to-date information on its highestpaid employees and its outside lobbying
At a town hall-style event last March with NUMC employees, a hospital worker afraid of losing her job asked the chair if NUMC would comply with the state’s conditions for receiving the aforementioned $84 million in emergency aid. His response? “I’m going to give you a real simple answer — no.”
Instead, in December, NUMC’s chairman hastily added a resolution to the board’s agenda to install the current interim CEO as the permanent CEO for a five-year term, with a 66 percent raise, to $750,000 a year, retroactive to her time as interim CEO. (She ultimately settled for $550,000.)
The chair called those challenging his obstinacy “idiotic” — people “who want a gimp with a ball in their mouth to do what they say.” He derided other candidates whom he purportedly interviewed for the CEO role as “fat old men.” (Age discrimination in employment is illegal.) These antics only scratch the surface of the chair’s inappropriate conduct, including profanitylaced tirades at public meetings.
Here is where we have to ask ourselves, to borrow from Shakespeare: Whence cam’st thou, unworthy board?
Or, in President Kennedy’s phrasing, who fathered this failure of a board? This answer, too, lies in numbers. By statute, the county executive and the County Legislature’s majority caucus effectively appoint 12 of NUMC’s 15 board members — they either appoint them directly or the governor does so solely upon their recommendation. The county executive also chooses the chair. And, of critical importance at this moment of institutional crisis, the board’s appointment of a CEO is subject to the approval of the county executive. Make no mistake: while Long Island has had its share of natural disasters, NUMC’s is entirely man-made. Its board can’t govern; its management can’t manage. And if NUMC goes under, that would be a real disaster for the nearly 300,000 patients a year who rely on its services, NUMC’s 3,500 dedicated employees, and Nassau County taxpayers, who guarantee about $85 million in outstanding NUMC debt and count on NUMC to provide health care services for our correction system and numerous other programs. It’s time to give NUMC the serious and sober governance it needs to survive. Let’s hope the upcoming legislative session brings NUMC’s patients and employees — and taxpayers — this much-needed reform.
Rory Lancman is vice chair of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority.
s an avid reader, I’ve always had a fond place in my heart for historical fiction and period pieces, but I enjoy exploring a number of genres. Toward the end of 2024 and so far this year, I’ve found myself gravitating toward women-centric contemporary fiction and comingof-age novels, which would normally imply that they feature teenagers or young-adult characters and themes, but I think their impact is broader. We’re constantly changing and growing, and whether we come to realizations about life at 15 or 55, they impact our sense of self.
I’ve often said that the best writers are also the best readers, and as a young woman navigating the craziness of life, I’ve found comfort in books that showcase both the hardships, and the joys, of girlhood. There is so much pressure these days to adhere to societal standards — which can vary so greatly depending on whom you’re talking to — and not enough conversations about
what’s actually important to modern, up-and-coming women. Everything we want for ourselves, and every decision we make, is so important.
fort in knowing that the struggles of young women aren’t unique to our culture, but rather, are shared by many.
SMarch is Women’s History Month, and I considered just rattling off a number of my favorite empowering reads, but I realized I could never narrow down the list. So instead I’m switching gears, and homing in on a recent read of mine, the young adult novel “Firekeeper’s Daughter,” by Angeline Boulley.
This was my first exposure to Native American literature. The book’s protagonist, Daunis Fontaine, is a biracial high school senior who lives in a mostly indigenous community near an Ojibwe reservation in Northern Michigan. The Ojibwe are a large Native group in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. and Canada. While the book is largely about a drug-related scandal that wreaks havoc in Fontaine’s Native community, it also conveys so many important undertones relating to her culture and womanhood. Full of twists and turns, it kept me on my toes, and left me with an understanding of a culture I wasn’t familiar with and a sense of com-
ome days, it’s so hard to be a woman that I wonder if we’re heading backward.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve thought a lot about the concept of privilege because of another book, “Difference Matters,” by Brenda J. Allen, which I read for a class I’m taking through Stony Brook University. Allen crafts meaningful observations about various social groups, and effectively communicates why and how our differences matter in fascinating ways. She defines privilege as “unacknowledged entitlement that one receives,” and in a series of exercises, she encourages readers to think about the things in their lives that have given them privilege.
I’ll be the first to admit that some days, it is so hard to be a woman. The negative rhetoric, and the legal moves that are stripping women in the United States of rights they previously had, sometimes make me wonder if we’re heading backward. Despite those doubts, I am also so proud to be a woman — one with a voice, and drive, and dreams that I know I will work hard to achieve.
Daunis Fontaine has a voice, drive, and dreams, too. As do Rocky, the middle-aged, comical protagonist in Catherine Newman’s novel “Sandwich”; Caroline Ferriday, a real person whose story is told in Martha Hall Kelly’s “Lilac Girls”; and Isabelle Rossignol, a young woman who is part of the French resistance in World War II in Kristin Hannah’s work of historical fiction, “The Nightingale.”
I’ve listed a few additional reads of mine to make this point: I am so privileged to have had access to these works — to read and think about things with free will — and to be able take the time to ponder what they mean to me, and hopefully to other women, too.
The weight of girlhood is heavy, but so is its strength. Reading these stories has reinforced what I’ve always known to be true — that women’s voices, whether in fiction or in real life, hold immense power. The privilege of having access to these narratives is one I don’t take lightly, and as I continue to learn and grow, I hope to carry that same power into the spaces I occupy. Because every woman’s story deserves to be told, and more important, heard.
Jordan Vallone is a senior editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? jvallone@liherald.com.
recent actions by the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies to remove web pages highlighting the contributions of Black, Hispanic and female veterans raise a critical question: Are we confusing history with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives? And more important, what does the loss of historical information mean for present and future generations?
The removal of these pages from Arlington National Cemetery’s website, along with thousands of other web pages across government platforms, was carried out to comply with an executive order issued by President Trump.
The order, which aimed to eliminate DEI initiatives in federal programs, mandated that any DEI-related content published between Jan. 20, 2021, and Jan. 19 of this year be either archived or removed. As a result, significant historical records, including those recognizing the sacrifices and achievements of marginalized groups in the U.S. military, have been erased from public view.
The decision reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the distinction between diversity efforts and historical documentation. DEI initiatives are designed to promote fairness, representation and opportunity for marginalized communities. History, on the other hand, is an objective record of the past — one that cannot be rewritten or selec-
tively deleted without serious consequences for society as a whole.
When we remove historical information under the guise of eliminating DEI, we are erasing the stories and experiences that have shaped the nation. The contributions of African American soldiers who fought in segregated units during World War II, the bravery of Hispanic servicemen in the Korean War, and the pioneering achievements of female military officers are not “DEI content.” They are part of the fabric of American history.
By erasing these stories from public platforms, we are denying future generations the opportunity to learn from the struggles and triumphs of those who came before them. We are also depriving historically marginalized communities of the recognition and respect they deserve. History gives us a deeper understanding of our nation’s progress — and its failures. Without it, we risk repeating the mistakes of the past and failing to appreciate the diversity and resilience that define America.
The removal of content highlighting the contributions of marginalized groups does not end DEI; it merely attempts to silence the voices of those who have long fought for recognition and equality in our society. The effort to scrub this content from government websites sets a dangerous precedent. It suggests that historical facts can be elimi-
To the Editor:
On March 7, hundreds gathered at the State Office Building in Hauppauge to advocate for a 7.8 percent targeted increase in Medicaid rates for disability services to address rising costs, ensure fair pay for staff, and stabilize the care system for people with disabilities.
As a father of an adult child with disabilities who relies on Medicaid-supported services, I feel an overwhelming responsibility to advocate for the protection and support of staff, whose roles are crucial in caring for those with disabilities. These significant issues have profound personal and far-reaching effects for families like mine.
For over 25 years, my son Bobby has received exceptional care from the Developmental Disabilities Institute in Smithtown. The dedication and compassion of their staff have greatly enriched his life, helping him accomplish daily tasks. Their work is more than just a job; it is a calling driven by empathy and a commitment to improving lives. These critical services deserve fair compensation and job security.
In addition, the proposed hundreds of billion of dollars in cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental
nated or hidden when they become politically inconvenient. That isn’t the behavior of a free and democratic society.
The loss of historical information has far-reaching implications. For educators and students, online resources serve as vital tools for teaching American history. For researchers and historians, they provide access to primary sources and documentation that help us understand the evolution of social and political movements.
Restoring the content that was removed from Arlington National Cemetery’s website and other federal platforms isn’t just about complying with government policy — it’s about protecting the truth. Historical documentation must be treated as sacred, separate from politics or ideological battles. Federal agencies must prioritize the preservation of historical records, regardless of whether those stories align with the current political environment. Educational institutions, historians and advocacy groups must also work to archive and share information through independent platforms to ensure that those stories are not lost forever.
In a democracy, history belongs to the people — all the people. It is our collective responsibility to safeguard that history, not erase it. Without an honest and complete understanding of our past, we cannot hope to build a more just and equitable future.
Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are deeply troubling. These programs serve as lifelines, supporting people like my son and often the staff caring for him and his peers, many of whom seek supplemental food support
because of their low-wage status. Cutting funds for these programs is more than an economic decision; it is a moral one that will have devastating consequences for vulnerable populations.
as high school seniors and others contemplate their college plans, it is timely to remind them about the purpose of higher education. This is especially true at a time when there are those who question the value of universities and focus on vocational rather than on advanced education. Critics also tend to focus on the means for learning rather than on its purpose.
roBert a . sCott
A college education is much more than job prep. It is as much about character development and preparation for civic engagement as it is about preparing for a career. Too many people focus on immediate job placement instead of preparing for a life with the potential for multiple careers.
As Bill Gates once said, jobs are eliminated, but “work” — opportunities for solving problems — expands. So how best can students prepare for a future in which they see themselves as problem-solvers in constantly evolving work settings? That’s the role of colleges and universities.
In 1900, farm employment accounted for nearly 40 percent of all jobs. Today it’s about 10 percent. Technology and new management techniques are the
difference. At the end of World War II, service industries accounted for 10 percent of nonfarm employment, compared with 38 percent for manufacturing. Since the 1970s, the American economy has moved away from producing goods to providing services, and the service sector has accounted for an increasing proportion of jobs and workers.
CThe work necessary for sustainable, civil communities will continue to expand. Technological tools are increasingly available, but create ethical challenges and require educated judgment. AI should be used as a tool, not as a crutch or a substitute for thinking. Work requires information verification, not just data gathering. AI will eliminate jobs, and those graduating from colleges and universities must be prepared for this new world of employment options.
ing a civilization compatible with its inhabitants’ aspirations and the limitations of the natural environment; teach students to appreciate other cultures; and apply theory to practical problems.
ollege is as much about character development as it is about career prep.
Colleges seek to help students’ transformation into productive citizens and professionals. Cooperative education, internships and service learning all reinforce classroom learning. Students gain the confidence to formulate ideas, take initiative, increase their ability to reason in different modes, solve problems, and develop communication and computational skills as well as imagination, the ability to consider ideas from different angles through exposure to the arts, literature and other cultures.
■ Graduates have lower unemployment rates than those with only a high school diploma. They also report higher job satisfaction and better career prospects.
■ Most graduates view their college education as a good investment.
We know the skills and abilities that organizations want in employees. Beyond technological know-how, they want people who can learn to analyze problems and create ethical solutions — i.e., add value and perform — without AI support. These are the skills and abilities necessary for all work, from corporate to public service to community-based jobs.
The purpose of a college education is to help students advance their knowledge, both general and expert; skills such as writing and speaking; abilities such as analysis and leadership; and values such as respect for others and teamwork. This includes the ability to understand the choices that await them as citizens, consumers, decision-makers, and arbiters of ethical alternatives. The purpose is also is to inspire students to contemplate the meaning of life; help them become capable of build-
I urge our local congressional representatives, including Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino, to oppose these cuts. I encourage them to advocate for sustainable funding that prioritizes the well-being of those who depend on these critical support services. An investment now will secure the present and safeguard the future for people like my son.
JoSePh W. SChMIdT
Board of Directors chair Developmental Disabilities Institute Wantagh
To the editor:
Nassau County has received $95.5 million from New York state for opioid treatment and awareness, part of the opioid lawsuit settlement. of that amount, $39.5 million has been awarded. h owever, awarded does not mean spent. In reality, the county has only spent $3 million of that
$95.5 million.
Meanwhile, 210 residents died of overdoses in 2023. data for 2024 has not yet been released.
To make matters worse, County e xecutive Bruce Blakeman has been publicly highlighting the $39.5 million in awarded funds — an impressive figure on its face — while omitting the far less impressive $3 million that has actually been spent.
This lackadaisical approach to deploying lifesaving resources is not only negligent and callous, but also appears to be financially motivated. Since receiving the funds, Nassau County has accrued millions in interest from the unspent balance sitting idle on its books. What does it say about our county executive that he appears willing to gamble with lives for financial gain? Surely there are more ethical and effective ways to manage the county’s finances — ones that don’t come at the expense of public health. PeTroS KroMMIdAS
They learn how to learn on their own as well as in groups. We hope they will learn to think strategically about their lives, even taking a job so they have a base from which to pursue bigger dreams. We also hope they will develop a sense of humor and can laugh at themselves.
The benefits of college graduation are well known:
■ Possessing a degree provides access to a wider array of opportunities.
■ Certain fields in technology, health care and education require a degree.
Just think of the work to be done in a society: clean, affordable and dependable energy sources; reliable, inexpensive mass transportation and infrastructure; secure information systems; effective schools, health care, and fire and flood protection; safe, nourishing and affordable food; affordable housing; clean water and sanitation; peaceful relations among nations; and equal access to the rule of law.
These and other requirements for a sustainable, civil society represent problems to be identified, analyzed and solved — work to be done.
Dr. Robert A. Scott is president emeritus of Adelphi University and co-author of “Letters to Student: What it Means to be a College Graduate” (Roman & Littlefield, 2024).
Thursday, April 10, 2025
