HERALD UNIONDALE
kickin’ it with the DJs
The Cops vs. Kids Battle/ Showcase, hosted by the Village of Hempstead’s Police Activity League at Hempstead High School last Saturday. was a high-spirited competition that had the place rocking. Above, Jade Spann, 10, of north Babylon, was the winner. Spann was among the dJs, ranging in age from 7 to 18, who took part in the mentoring event. Judges said that her interaction with the crowd was one of the reasons she was rated the best. at right, village police detective Russell Harris was one of the coordinators of the event, which emphasized mentoring.
Proble ? Not Anymo
Land Trust kicks off latest housing lottery
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com
The Uniondale Community Land Trust has opened the application process for its next housing lottery, and presented the details of the home and how to apply at a public informational session on Feb. 13.
The Affordable Homeownership Lottery is offering a local family a highquality home at a low cost. The 1,688 square-foot, two-story house will have three bedrooms, two bathrooms and all-new appliances.
The deadline for applying for the lottery is Feb. 24.
Jeannine Maynard, vice president of U-CLT and cofacilitator of the Greater Uniondale Area Action Coalition, advocated for the program as a potential solution to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
“The community has been working for a long time on the issue of permanently affordable housing options,” Maynard said.
t’s important to have affordable homes.
ANEStORIA
SHALkOwSkI President, U-CLT
The home will have an estimated value of $620,000, but a sale price of $275,000.
U-CLT offers the home through the use of a community land trust — a community-owned plot of land where houses can be purchased at lower prices than other real estate, facilitating the development of affordable housing in low-income communities that can remain affordable for generations to come.
U-CLT is a nonprofit that focuses on revitalizing Uniondale, increasing housing stability and cost savings for community members. The group acquired property on Uniondale Avenue from the Nassau County Land Bank after the original home on the premises was destroyed by a fire several years ago. Through the land trust program, the land is being returned to use as a site for affordable housing.
“It’s taken some years to get this to be shovel-ready,” Maynard said. “We had an extended permitting process, we
Continued on page 11
Photos by Gary Battle
Flu surges in ‘under-vaccinated’ population
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
Anna Sequoia had never had the flu before. At 79, the Glen Cove resident thought she knew what to expect when she developed a sore throat while on a Caribbean cruise last week. But by the time she got home, the illness had taken a frightening turn.
“By the third night, I could barely sleep because of the coughing,” Sequoia recounted. “The coughing was so horrible my chest really hurt.”
Sequoia, who has asthma, went to an emergency room after struggling to breathe. “I told them that I was short of breath,” she said. “I immediately told them that I had been out of the country. They always want to know that. And at that point, everybody put masks on.”
Doctors diagnosed her with the flu and prescribed multiple medications, including Tamiflu, prednisone and a nasal decongestant. They also told her to use a nebulizer every four to six hours to ease her breathing. Now recovering at home, she remains shaken by the experience.
“I was scared, actually,” she said. “It’s frightening to me that people are walking around now without masks.”
Flu cases in New York have surged to more than 53,000, with Long Island recording 11,862 cases in a single week — the highest in at least two seasons. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that flu-related doctor visits nationwide are at a 15-year high. The CDC estimates that, so far this season, 24 million Americans have had the flu, resulting in 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths.
In New York, flu activity has reached its highest level in years. The number of flu-related doctor visits
… And then, of course, the matchup of the flu vaccine to this year’s strains is also always a prediction, at best.”
In New York, flu vaccination rates among children ages 6 months to 17 have dropped from 60 percent in 2020 to 49 percent this season, according to the CDC. Public health officials stress that the vaccine reduces the severity of illness and the likelihood of hospitalization, even if it doesn’t prevent infection entirely.
Health officials expect flu cases to remain high for several more weeks. “Rates have been very high the first week of February. They’re just starting to level off and fall,” Farber said. “It usually remains at high levels of infection for about eight to 10 weeks, and then slowly declines.”
Officials track the flu’s spread through hospital admissions, flu test positivity rates and emergency room visits.
The Nassau County Department of Health stressed the importance of flu vaccinations in an email to the Herald, noting that it is not too late in the season to get protected. In addition to vaccination, health officials recommend frequent hand-washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces to reduce the spread of the virus. Those who are not feeling well should stay home from work, school and social gatherings until they have been fever-free
climbed 7 percent in the first week of February, approaching levels last seen during the 2009-10 flu pan demic.
Dr. Bruce Farber, chief of epidemiology at North well Health, said this year’s flu is being driven by low vaccination rates and changes in the virus strains.
“Flu seasons vary year by year, depending upon minor drifts in the virus,” Farber said. “Secondly, the population is under-vaccinated. Flu vaccination rates are much lower than they have been in years previous
Courtesy Metro Creative Health officials continue to stress the importance of vaccination as the number of
EPIC Family, town support people with epilepsy
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
The EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies in East Meadow is partnering with the Town of Hempstead to provide specialized training for public safety officers and lifeguards focused on recognizing and responding to individuals experiencing a seizure.
The EPIC Family has been a lifeline for individuals facing epilepsy, intellectual disabilities and mental health challenges — offering personalized care and a supportive community — for more than six decades. The agency has three branches: EPIC Long Island, which supports individuals with disabilities; the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island; and the South Shore Guidance Center, a mental health and behavioral clinic in Freeport.
The acronym, EPIC, stands for “Extraordinary People In Care.”
Town Supervisor Don Clavin, members of the town board and a handful of lifeguards and public safety officials joined EPIC’s leadership to announce the training during a Feb. 10 news conference at the agency’s headquarters, at 1500 Hempstead Turnpike.
The lifeguards and public safety officers receive a breadth of training in multiple areas of emergency, but are not trained on how to respond to a seizure episode.
When Clavin was 16, he said, he worked as a lifeguard in a pool in Valley Stream when someone had suffered from a seizure, and he did not know how to respond.
“It was really intimidating,” he recounted. “I was trained for drowning (response), I trained for CPR, but I didn’t have (seizure training). This is something that takes place, and people need to have that training.”
More than 30,000 Long Islanders live with an epilepsy diagnosis, and nearly one out of 10 individuals are expected to experience a seizure at some point in their lifetime. Ensuring first responders and public-facing personnel are trained, the town said, is a critical step in promoting safety.
Town Councilwoman Missy Miller spoke about her experience caring for someone who suffers from the condition — her son Oliver. Epilepsy is a brain disease that causes seizures, or episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
“Many people have absolutely no idea (what epilepsy is), or they think it’s a condition that you just take medication and it’s controlled, or you have a surgical procedure and it’s fixed,” Miller said. “For a lucky percentage, that is the case. But for many like my child, there is no relief. I’ve been advocating for that relief for all of Oliver’s life.”
Oliver has been profoundly affected by his condition, Miller said. Reading a letter “addressed” to epilepsy, that she was asked to write for an advocacy research program, Miller shared insight into how epilepsy has changed her family’s life.
“You were the one diagnosis,” Miller read, “and my son has many diagnoses, that changed our lives, because you took so much from us. You took Oliver’s words,
little by little. You took his ability to pull himself up, to sit and stand, his ability to walk, and eventually, his ability to even sit unsupported.”
Miller expressed pride in the town board for taking a step in the right direction to support seizure care. “I think it is so important that we make an active push to raise awareness so that we can get more funding for research,” she said.
The Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island is a member of the National Epilepsy Foundation, and has been serving Nassau and Suffolk counties since 1953, according to Lisa Burch, president and chief executive of the EPIC Family. Through a myriad of services, the foundation provides support, home visits, school advocacy, legislative advocacy and educational resources to individuals with epilepsy and their families or caregivers.
“Raising awareness and providing proper training can make all the difference in an emergency situation,” Burch said. “The EPIC Family thanks the Town of Hempstead for this incredible partnership and is proud to collaborate with them on this outstanding initiative.”
Irene Rodgers, chief development and engagement officer with the Epilepsy Foundation, said the training program is designed specifically for law enforcement and safety officials, who are often first on the scene of emergencies. The training
equips them with the knowledge to recognize and properly respond to seizures.
“Our training is free,” she said. “It’s a professional development program that helps law enforcement and public safety officers understand the many ways seizures can present. By partnering with the Town of Hempstead, we are lucky to have the opportunity to provide this crucial education to public safety officials, expanding awareness and preparedness.”
The seizure awareness training is an hour-long course, offered once a month
online, making it accessible to the town’s employees. More than 100 lifeguards will receive the training, and just over 50 public safety officials, Clavin said.
“Through this partnership, we aim to ensure that individuals experiencing a seizure receive the appropriate care they need, ultimately fostering a safer community for everyone,” he said.
For more information on services provided by the EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies and the Epilepsy Foundation, visit EPICLI.org.
By thE NumBERs:
EpiLEpsy
ON LONg isLAND
•Over 30,000 Long Island residents currently live with epilepsy
•Nearly 1 in 10 people will experience a seizure in their lifetime
•The EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies has served the community for 60+ years
•100+ Town of Hempstead lifeguards will receive seizure response training
•50+ public safety officials will participate in the training program
•Training sessions are conducted monthly in 1-hour online courses
Jordan Vallone/Herald
The EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies is working with the Town of Hempstead to offer seizure response training to public safety officials and lifeguards. The EPIC Family includes the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island.
Irene Rodgers, chief development and engagement officer with the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island, explained parameters regarding the training. The hour-long course is available online, once a month.
Town Supervisor Don Clavin recounted a time when he was a lifeguard at a town pool, and someone suffered a seizure, underscoring the importance for the new training.
Town talks leadership and paying taxes
Courtesy Town of Hempstead Local business, civic and community representatives gathered for the 4th annual Leadership Breakfast hosted by Hempstead Town’s Department of Community Affairs on Feb. 8. Hempstead Town Councilman Tom Muscarella and Town Clerk Kate Murray, by the town seal, attended the event.
Courtesy Town of Hempstead Hempstead residents attended a Town of Hempstead taxpayer forum at Averill Boulevard Park on Feb. 6. Hempstead Town Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll, second from right, discussed strategies for reducing property tax bills through exemption programs. The forum also covered new payment features, paperless billing, payment reminders and tax discounts.
Local vendors showcase handmade goods at community center
The John J. Byrne Community Center hosted the Community Hearts Market on Feb. 8, a vibrant event that united families, artisans and small business owners in celebration of love and community.
Thirteen local vendors showcased their unique handmade and homemade goods, offering attendees the chance to support small businesses while exploring a variety of locally crafted items. The market provided a space for visitors to find one-of-a-kind gifts and connect with artists and entrepreneurs.
A lively arts and crafts corner entertained children, allowing them to create and take home their own projects. One engaging craft included designing their own monster orna -
ments with gems and googly eyes. Guests of all ages also enjoyed refreshments, including donuts, cookies and juice, adding to the welcoming atmosphere of the event.
Beyond shopping, the market served as a hub for fostering community connections and supporting small businesses. The success of the event underscored the power of local initiatives in bringing people together.
Organizers at the community center, encouraged by the positive response, expressed that they are hopeful that the Community Hearts Market will return in the future to continue celebrating creativity and togetherness.
— Kelsie Radziski
There were crafts for kids to do, including designing their own ornaments.
Photos courtesy John J. Byrne Community Center
Uniondale community members gathered to shop and spend the day at the Community Hearts Market on Feb. 8.
The John J. Byrne Community Center set up refreshments for guests to enjoy as they shopped.
Community leaders assemble for Read Aloud Day at California Avenue
California Avenue School celebrated World Read Aloud Day, bringing in 43 guest readers to track life lessons to the school’s almost 750 students on Feb. 7.
“It’s a really exciting event that brings our school community together to celebrate the joy of reading and the power of storytelling,” Assistant Principal Natasha Garrett said.
This year, 43 guest readers from around the community — including local firefighters, Hofstra University dance team members and an account executive from Scholastic — came to share their experiences.
“It just really makes the day more meaningful for our students, for them to see new faces come into the classroom and also share their stories and joy of reading with our scholars,” Garrett said.
Some readers were teachers and administrators from middle schools in the district, preparing students for the next step of their education.
California Avenue is a school for Pre-K to 5th grade students.
“It’s more than just being about reading a book,” Garrett said. “It’s also about making connections, sharing experiences through literature, and also it’s a way to show our students that books can take them anywhere, spark new ideas and help them see the world from different perspectives.”
World Read Aloud Day is designed to foster students’ love for reading at an early age, both for personal enjoyment and to strengthen their literacy for later in life.
Garrett has been an assistant principal at California Avenue for 2 years, and was a school counselor for 5 years before that. She has seen the tradition grow each year, incorporating new elements such as the school’s mascot, Calvin the Cougar, a Star-Books book fair and words from core value ambassadors.
Students pushing for enacting ‘Gio’s Law’
Nassau County Legislator Seth Koslow recently met with John F. Kennedy High School junior Jordana Wohlleben to discuss implementing New York state’s “Gio’s Law” and expanding his proposal to equip Nassau County Police Department vehicles with epinephrine auto-injectors.
Wohlleben, the publicity coordinator for the student government at her high school, shared her personal experience with severe allergies. After being diagnosed with tree nut and severe pollen allergies, she began weekly allergy shots. Six months into treatment, a routine injection triggered anaphylactic shock. Medical staff used epinephrine injectors and oxygen to save her life while waiting for emergency responders.
“Jordana is living proof that ready access to EpiPens can make a monumental difference in the treatment of dangerous allergic reactions, and I am so proud of how she has channeled her personal journey into advocacy,” Koslow said. “I am looking forward to working with her to pass Gio’s Law in Nassau County a set the stage for this commonsense proposal to become a national standard.”
— Jordan Vallone
The school aims to impart five core values onto its students: respect, excellence, inclusivity, collaboration and safety. Each of the reading volunteers’ presentations connects to one of these values.
The
– Joseph
tradition began when Samantha Dias, former assistant principal at California Avenue and Garrett’s predecessor, originally conceived of the idea. Today, Dias is the principal of Grand Avenue School.
D’Alessandro
Courtesy Uniondale schools
Local firefighters attended California Avenue School’s Read Aloud Day, educating kids about fire safety.
Courtesy Office of Legislator Seth Koslow Jordana Wohlleben met with Legislator Seth Koslow to discuss implementing ‘Gio’s Law,’ legislation
Extra help
Help your student achieve tutoring success
Your house is a whirlwind after school: Your kids need to have a snack, complete homework, keep up with music lessons you name it. So how do you fit tutoring into a busy household without distracting your struggling student, or making them feel left out of all the fun? Even when tutoring is necessary, learning sessions can be a tall order for kids who are already over-programmed and overtired. Here are some tips for how you can help your tutor make sessions more effective whether virtual or in-person even if your household is as busy as ever.
Designate A Special Spot
One of the biggest benefits of at-home tutoring is giving your student a chance to interact one-on-one with a certified educator. According to Parents.com, even young children who need more practice developing basic skills, like problem-solving, vocabulary, and working with numbers, can benefit from working with a tutor.
Of course, hiring a tutor isn’t always about helping your child get ahead. Tutoring also provides students with the extra help they need to complete school work, address a learning disorder, or master content they struggle with. Depending on your child’s learning style, your tutor might use visual aids, audio clips, or art projects. They’ll need enough room and
enough supplies to teach effectively.
During the hiring process, talk with your tutor about their plans for your child’s tutoring sessions. What kind of space do they need? Together, pick a quiet area in your home that you can dedicate solely to tutoring sessions. This could be the kitchen table, a study desk, or an out-of-the-way corner wherever there’s enough room with limited distractions.
When your child and their tutor have a place that’s all their own to sit down and get to work, it provides the structure and stability for good learning. This routine carries over to every session and makes it easier for your tutor to develop a rapport with your student, so they can accomplish even more together.
Have other children? Make sure they understand that the tutor and your student need time and space to work on their own. Establish this boundary early, so your kids all understand that tutoring time is important work time.
Institute Quiet Hours
Tutoring time can also be good “quiet time” for the rest of your household.
Encourage your other kids to take up quiet activities, like reading, homework, or imaginative play. Turn off devices like TV, phones, or loud games and take a break from constant noise and simulation.
Send Kids Outside
If true “quiet time” is a no-go at your house, try sending your other children outside , when weather permits, or to a different part of the house to play. Most kids don’t get enough exercise or imaginative downtime as it is, and this will help them burn off energy and encourage creativity while keeping indoors relatively quiet for tutoring.
Plus, outdoor time has multiple health and wellness benefits for your kids, even if they don’t stray far from home while you supervise tutoring.
Coordinate Breaks And Boundaries
Most young children can only study for 20 to 30 minutes at a time before they need to move on to another activity or take a break. Teens and tweens can likely study for longer periods of time, from 30 to 40 minutes, before they need to get up and stretch or rest their eyes.
Photo: Children can benefit from having someone focused on them who can support their learning and help them to understand and accept their own learning styles.
at
By Lesley Sauls
Any parent who has asked a child how the day went is likely to have received a glazed stare, shrugged shoulders or the dreaded oneword answer: “Fine.”
Getting into the mind of a child can be akin to breaking into Fort Knox. There has to be a secret code, but what is it? It may seem impossible, but there are some sure-fire ways to engage your child and become privy to the goings-on about which every parent wants to be aware.
Plant the seed of communication before your child even knows what you are up to.
Be sincere
Offer your highs and lows, too, edited for young ears, so that she can see that everyone has ups and downs in life and that you value her enough to share yours. You will soon earn her trust in return and be included in her private thoughts.
Joan Bohman, director of professional standards and continuing professional development for the National Association of School Psychologists, supports laying groundwork as soon as possible for family communication.
“If, during early school years, children know that the parent is going to ask what they learned today, it becomes a standard topic in which all are expected to take part. Then the
pattern is set for older years.”
She adds: “Parents need to be careful to listen and validate the students’ point of view rather than jump in with the ‘right answer’ or ‘right way’ to think about something.”
Conversation starters
Meet your son’s friends, teachers and afterschool program instructors. Volunteer at school if you have time and participate with class
activities as often as possible.
Schools are constantly providing announcements. Scour them for potential conversation starters about upcoming projects, school programs, retiring teachers, peer successes and any other topic you can find. Ask your child’s friends carefully placed questions, and the answers you receive will become conversation starters to use at home.
A question that can be answered with a
one-word answer most likely will be, so ask open-ended questions that can’t possibly be satisfied with a “yes,” “no” or “fine” answer. Instead of asking how your daughter’s day was, ask about specifics.
Ask what kind of math problems she is working on, what she read during her free time and what exercises she did in gym class. You’ll get short answers, but each will open a door to more questions. Relate similar stories from your youth and you’ll likely elicit questions that can easily be bounced back to her.
Age and timing is everything
Consider your child’s age when you gear up for an after-school chat. Younger kids will be open and eager to tell you about their day right away. Parental attention at that age is key, and they’re ripe for conversation. Tweens and teens usually need a little time to themselves before they’re willing to talk. It’s better to let them come home and shift gears from school to family before you start asking questions.
Of older kids, Bohmann suggests, “Ask questions about the day while working on another task. If the student helps set or clear the table, that may be a good time to talk. “
Photo: Knowing when and how to talk to your child or teen makes a world of difference in getting them to open up.
Activists, leaders condemn Nassau police-ICE partnership
By GABRIEL PREVOTS
Special to the Herald
More than a hundred protesters gathered on the steps of the Nassau County’s Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building on Feb. 14 to denounce County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s announcement that 10 county police detectives will be deputized to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Between chants in English and Spanish supporting immigrants, prominent representatives from immigrant rights advocacy groups, elected leaders and union members called on Blakeman to rescind his to rescind his Feb. 5 decision and urged their communities to show solidarity with immigrants.
Immigrants “are the bedrock of every community in this state and in this country, and under no circumstances should the state law enforcement or city law enforcement or municipal law enforcement be colluding with ICE,” said Robert Agyemang, of Hempstead, vice president of the New York Immigration Coalition. Agyemang was born in the U.S., and his parents emigrated from Ghana.
“We’re here today, we’re sending the message: Blakeman, you need to do the right thing. You still have time to make it up,” said Angel Reyes, of Glen Cove, the Long Island coordinator with the immigrant rights organization Make the Road in Brentwood, who served as emcee for the hour-long protest.
In response to opposition to his announcement, Blakeman reaffirmed that the purpose of the deputized detectives would be “picking up criminals, people who are engaged in crimes … These aren’t going to be raids. These are going to be targeted enforcement of known criminals who are here illegally.”
It is unclear when Blakeman’s deputization of the county detectives will take place, as the details have not yet been made public. ICE collaborations with police departments under its 287(g) program are published on the agency’s website, and as of press time, Nassau County remained absent from the list.
Still, speakers emphasized that ICE’s current enforcement policies, laid out by President Trump, have had a chilling effect on immigrant communities throughout Long Island, instilling anxiety and fear and leading many to forgo help when they need it most.
W e’re here today, we’re sending the message: Blakeman, you
need to do the right thing.
Marcia Estrada, a chapter coordinator with local women’s and immigrants’ rights organizations, shared her personal story of escaping “abuse, poverty and threats to my life” in Honduras and then domestic abuse in the United States.
AnGEL REyES L. I. coordinator Make the Road
“If this had happened today with the police collaborating with ICE, I would have never sought help. I would have never called the police because I would have feared facing deportation, being separated from my children or even facing death,” Estrada said.
According to the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Feb. 14 protest was held on Valentine’s Day to “demonstrate love and support for Long Island immigrants, many of whom are living in fear due to an escalation in ICE activity in
their communities.”
While condemning Blakeman’s announcement, many speakers endorsed legislation to counteract it, known as the New York for All Act. It is currently under consideration in the State Legislature, and if passed, the law would prohibit police officers from questioning individuals about their citizenship or immigration status.
The event also included a “Know Your Rights” session by Erik Villa Lobos, of Glen Cove, a paralegal with the Central American Refugee Center in Hempstead. The relatively short talk informed attendees about their right to remain silent, speak to an attorney if arrested and not open the door to police unless officials possess a search warrant signed by a judge.
Susan Gottehrer, NYCLU’s Nassau County regional director, noted immigration should never be treated as a criminal matter, as is the case now. “We have two systems of law in this country,” she told the crowd. “One is civil and one is criminal. Immigration is considered civil law, not criminal law. To say that undocumented people are criminals just by virtue of being undocumented is a willfully false statement, and leaders who say it are betting on the public’s lack of knowledge around this.”
Cheryl Keshner, founder of immigrant rights group Long Island Language Advocates Coalition, drew parallels between Blakeman’s anti-immigration stance and a past period of antiimmigrant sentiment on Long Island in the 2000s that led to the murder of Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero in Patchogue.
“Let’s not forget the painful history which we have here on Long Island,” Keshner said, adding that “racist and xenophobic rhetoric” by prominent county elected leaders caused a wave of hate crimes in 2008 against Latinos in Suffolk County.
“Is this what we want in Nassau County?” she asked.
Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages, a Haitian-American, described Blakeman’s announcement as “reckless.”
“We have less people participating in our society because now they are living in fear,” he said. “The effect of what [Blakeman] did now will be devastating to Nassau County.”
Solages and other speakers also emphasized their concerns that Nassau County police collaboration with ICE would erode community trust in law enforcement.
Courtesy Scott Brinton
Robert Agyemang, of Hempstead, vice president of the New York Immigration Coalition, speaking at the protest.
Angel Reyes, of Glen Cove, a coordinator with the immigrant rights organization Make the Road in Brentwood, served as the primary speaker throughout the hourlong protest outside the Nassau County Legislature.
Community Land Trust offers lower-cost home ownership
have the building permits in place, the house construction is being ordered, and we’re going to move forward with our lottery so that we have a homeowner ready to move in when the house is ready.”
The winner of the lottery will be the entrant who most closely meets the land trust agreement’s guidelines. A resident must be eligible for a mortgage, be able to afford a down payment, be a first-time home buyer and make between 50 and 80 percent of the median household income in Uniondale — at least $78,100 for a family of four. Once the home is sold, the new owner must live in it for at least 10 months of the year.
Anestoria Shalkowski, president of U-CLT, was motivated to address the demand for housing because it is such a fundamental need. “We can’t function properly if we don’t have shelter, food, clothes,” she said, “and so having a home is important for people in the community.”
Putting people in homes helps support the local community as a whole, Shalkowski added.
“When folks are in a home, they feel comfortable, they spend more, they do more, which fosters greater economic development,” she said. “It’s important to have affordable homes in an area for the economic group, and it also helps to give that sense of belonging to the people who are in that community.”
U-CLT’s project manager, Joseph D’Lando, has coordinated land trust programs for almost a decade. U-CLT’s version of the land trust model is unique, designed to keep home ownership affordable continually.
“You’re buying a house — you get a subsidy,” D’Lando explained. “But in many of these other programs, the subsidy expires after several years. I’ve seen this happen with a guy that probably made a half a million dollars on a house — now that house is not affordable to the next person. That’s not the intention of these programs.”
U-CLT fixes this problem by retaining partial ownership of the property with what it calls ground lease agreement. A land trust is a shared equity arrangement — U-CLT owns the land and the resident owns the home. The two assets are connected by the lease agreement, which allows a community organization like U-CLT to offer people a place to live that is cheaper than other real estate options. The lease agreement ensures that every time the home is sold, the price will be affordable, providing Uniondale residents affordable housing for the future.
When the home is sold, U-CLT will take a share of the equity and make the home affordable for the next buyer. While the land trust influences how much the home can be sold for as it appreciates in value, the lower initial
Courtesy Jeannine Maynard
Above, a digital rendering of the house that will be built for the winner of the Affordable Homeownership Lottery. The modular home will be constructed by Oden Development, a company that delivers and assembles Simplex-brand modular buildings for residential and commercial use.
Courtesy Jeannine Maynard
The two-story home’s 1,688-square-foot floor plan includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms and all-new appliances.
costs make it a viable option for saving money, so the owners can build wealth.
The home can also be passed along through an inheritance.
“It keeps a portion of the subsidy, and that’s what keeps the house affordable in perpetuity,” D’Lando said.
The new home will be built by Oden Development, an East Coast construction company that delivers and assembles Simplex-brand modular buildings for residential and commercial use.
To learn more about U-CLT and the Affordable Home Ownership Lottery, visit U-CLT.org.
Immigration policies spark anxiety on L.I.
By SCOTT BRINTON Special to the Herald
First in a series of stories on immigration through a partnership between Herald Community Newspapers and Hofstra University.
Sergio Jimenez, of Amityville, an activist with an immigrant rights coalition that includes the Workplace Project in Hempstead, was recently approached by an acquaintance with an unusual proposition: The man asked whether Jimenez would take over his car payments.
The Honduran man had had enough of the Trump administration’s treatment of the immigrant community, and planned to return to his home country. He needed someone to assume his car payments rather than abandon the vehicle.
“He’s going back to Honduras because he can’t stand all this suppression,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez spoke during a nearly twohour-long conversation on Feb. 5 that the Herald hosted at a restaurant down the street from Hempstead Town Hall, attended by 15 immigrants and advocates from the local community and beyond. They came to discuss President Trump’s immigration policy, with its increased focus on identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants.
To protect its owners’ privacy, the Herald is not naming the restaurant.
Trump, Jimenez said, is ignoring the potential economic impact of tens of thousands, perhaps millions, of undocumented and documented immigrants returning to their home countries, either because they are forced or choose to. If a growing number of immigrants leave, the economy will suffer, he said.
Immigrants comprise a third of Nassau County’s workforce and a third of its small-business owners, and New York’s immigrants, documented and undocumented, pay more than $3.1 billion annually in state and local taxes, according to the New York Immigration Coalition.
Nadia Marin-Molina, co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, which has an office at the Freeport Workers Justice Center, said she believes the Trump administration aims to “make people’s lives miserable and to scare people, to terrorize people into leaving themselves, because they can’t deport everybody that they say they’re going to deport.”
As of Feb. 3, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported nearly 8,800 arrests of immigrants from 121 countries, with almost 5,700 deportations and removals since Trump took office. As of 2022, an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants lived in the U.S., 3 percent of the population, according to the American Immigration Council.
Many immigrants were already on edge and thinking of returning to their homelands before Trump’s increased enforcement, according to Deyanira Barrow, who immigrated to the U.S. 35
An increasing number of immigrants are considering returning to their home countries because of the Trump administration’s “suppression” of immigrant rights, according to Hempstead-area activists. Advocates and 15 immigrants gathered to talk with the Herald on Feb. 5.
years ago following the Nicaraguan civil war from 1978 to 1990.
Theft is often why “our people say, no, no, I’m going back to my country. They know some people spend a lot of money for nothing,” Barrow, a Workplace Project activist from Baldwin Harbor who owns a cleaning business, said. An attorney might charge $3,000 to $5,000 to process an immigration claim and provide no services, she added.
Local cooperation with ICE?
According to the National Immigration Law Center, on Jan. 20, his first day in office, Trump signed executive orders calling for, among other measures:
■ A recommitment to mass detention of undocumented immigrants.
■ Potential punishment of municipalities that act as “sanctuaries” for them.
■ A DHS review and audit of federal grants and contracts with non-governmental agencies that aid them.
■ Possible reinstatement of countrybased immigration bans.
■ An examination of Temporary Protected Status designations that allow immigrants fleeing violence and natural disaster to remain in the U.S.
■ Expansion of the expedited removal policy that allows the federal government to deport undocumented immigrants without their day in court.
■ Authorization for local municipalities to act as immigration enforcement agents.
This final point was most disconcerting for a number of the immigrants interviewed by the Herald. They wonder whether local governments, such as the villages of Freeport, Hempstead and
Westbury, and area school districts might cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, signed an agreement with the Trump administration on Feb. 4 that deputized county police officers to carry out immigration enforcement in tandem with ICE.
Blakeman’s policy has received bipartisan support. Freshman U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, a Democrat, issued a statement on Feb. 6, saying, “Violent criminals with no legal right to be here should be deported in accordance with the law. Nassau County detectives now being able to work directly with ICE agents on targeted enforcement against known noncitizen criminals will help keep Long Islanders safe.”
Whether local governments and school districts will cooperate with ICE is an open question. Last month, Hempstead Board of Education President Victor Pratt told Newsday, “We will continue to comply with federal mandates, and the law is the law, whether we agree with it or not.”
That prompted the immigrant rights organization LatinoJustice PRLDEF to respond. “Allowing ICE into our schools or working with this federal agency jeopardizes the safety, rights and wellbeing of the district’s student body,” Lourdes Rosado, the group’s president and general counsel, said.
Hempstead Schools Superintendent Susan Johnson posted a message on the district website last week to reassure concerned parents and students: “We understand that there are concerns circulating in our community regarding the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. During these times, it is important to know that our schools are safe spaces where all children are valued, protected and supported.”
No village or school district could be reached by phone for comment at press time.
‘The struggle continues’
“We are in a dire situation, as I see it,” Jimenez said. “Part of it is the lack of cohesion in the community. There’s no one representing, working with us, except organizations” like the Workplace Project.
The immigrant community was very active politically during the 1980s, “but then somehow the community fell asleep, and we remain sleeping,” Emilio Alfaro Ruiz, national advertising director for La Tribuna Hispana, a Hempstead-based Spanish-language newspaper, said. “It’s a state of mind. We have to tell the people that the struggle continues.”
Elected leaders of both parties have disappointed the immigrant community, Ruiz said, adding, “We always hope the Democrats will do more.” In particular, he said, the community had hoped that President Barack Obama, with a Democratically controlled Congress from 2009 to 2011, would push through comprehensive immigration reform, but that never happened.
Many immigrant activists have grown tired of the fight, Ruiz said. As they see it, the “politicians don’t give a damn about us,” he said, “and I’m going to do my own business — self-care.”
Miguel Alas Sevillano, a community organizer with the Workplace Project and a Salvadoran immigrant, said the organization is holding a workshop series to help immigrants understand their rights under the law. “We prepare people in the community how to act in case ICE comes to our homes or our workplaces or any public area,” Sevillano said.
To learn more about the workshops, call (516) 565-5377.
Courtesy Scott Brinton
LI TODAY welcome to CommunIty VoIces
Sands New York Celebrates Black History Month
Sands New York proudly celebrates Black History Month by honoring the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black communities throughout history. This month is an opportunity to reflect on the impact of Black leaders, innovators, and changemakers who have shaped our American society and industry.
Sands recognizes that diversity is not just something to acknowledge—it is a fundamental strength that drives innovation, inclusivity, and progress.
Sands’ commitment to diversity extends beyond celebration; it’s embedded in the way they do business. Sands actively supports minorityowned local businesses, fostering opportunities for growth and collaboration within our communities. Through
meaningful partnerships, inclusive hiring practices, and continued investment in supplier diversity, they strive to create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
This Black History Month, Sands reaffirms their dedication to equity, inclusion, and uplifting the voices that have long been at the heart of progress, including our own Senior Vice President, and former Governor of the State of New York, David Paterson.
Paterson shared his thoughts on the significance of Black History Month and the opportunities Sands is creating in
his home community:
"Black History is American history—and this month is a time to honor the legacy of those who came before us and to ensure that progress continues for future generations. For me, it’s also deeply personal—it’s about recognizing the resilience, talent, and contributions of Black Americans who helped to build strong, diverse communities, especially right here in Nassau County, a place I’ve always called home.”
“Sands is creating real opportunities for economic empowerment, career growth, and diversity in industries that have long lacked representation,” he continued. “I’m proud to be part of a company that not only celebrates Black history but actively invests in a more inclusive future."
Las Vegas Sands Named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for World and North America
Las Vegas Sands was again recognized on the Dow Jones Sustainability™ Indices, with placement on both DJSI World and DJSI North America for the fifth consecutive year.
Sands China Ltd., the company’s Asian subsidiary, was named to DJSI World and DJSI Asia Pacific for the third consecutive year.
Sands and Sands China are the only two companies out of 18 invited to participate in the Casino and Gaming category listed on DJSI World this year. Sands is the only company in the Casino and Gaming category listed on DJSI North America, and Sands China is one of only two companies in the Casino and Gaming category listed on DJSI Asia Pacific.
Corporate Sustainability Assessment. It represents the top 10% of the largest 2,500 companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria. DJSI North America and DJSI Asia Pacific represent the top 20% of the 600 largest North American companies and the top 20% of the 600 largest companies in the Asia Pacific developed region in the S&P Global Broad Market Index based on the same criteria.
The Sands New York team has gone above and beyond in their outreach to the community, working to build bridges with every chamber, every nonprofit, every organization that might be impacted by their project. Not only have they sought to mitigate any potential issues, but they are working to craft a proposal that will be truly inclusive, and create long-term positive impacts.
Lashawn Lukes, President of the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce
DJSI World comprises global sustainability leaders identified by S&P Global through the
“To close this year with our fifth consecutive placement on DJSI speaks to the tremendous collaboration within many areas of our company, all working hand-in-hand to advance our environmental, social and governance initiatives,”
Katarina Tesarova, senior vice president and chief
Continued on page 4
Sands sustainability practices include energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy, water conservation and eliminating unnecessary single-use plastics and packaging waste. This type of corporate sustainability commitment is exactly what Long Island needs.
Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment
Celebrating Creativity and Community with the UON2D Global Art Foundation
on Jan. 31st, the UON2D Global Art Foundation, in collaboration with Harvest Christian University and the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, hosted an evening of celebration, inspiration, and networking at Jericho Terrace in Mineola.
The event honored individuals and organizations making a meaningful impact in the arts, education, and business communities. Attendees were treated to a night filled with talent and creativity, leaving them inspired by the incredible work being done to foster a more connected and empowered society.
Sands New York, a proud sponsor of
the event, reinforced its commitment to supporting initiatives that uplift communities and celebrate artistic expression. Their dedication aligned with the mission of the UON2D Global Art Foundation, which harnesses the power of art to bridge cultures and empower individuals.
The event also highlighted the missions of Harvest Christian University and the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, both of which are dedicated to education, business development, and community engagement.
“We were thrilled to come together and recognize the incredible individuals
and organizations driving progress in our community,” said Tracey Edwards, Corporate Social Responsibility Offer for Sands New York.
“This event was not just about celebration—it was about not-for-profit capacity building, strengthening connections, and opportunities to collaborate building a brighter future for all.”
With opportunities to network, engage with thought leaders, and celebrate artistic and educational excellence, the evening was truly an unforgettable experience. Guests left feeling inspired and motivated to continue making a positive impact in their respective fields.
To learn more about the Sands as the world’s preeminent developer and
Photo provided by Sands New York
Sands New York served as a proud sponsor of the UON2D Global Art Foundation event celebrating those making impacts in the arts, education, and business communities
Uniondale Community Council Honors Local Leaders at the 40th Annual Trustees Dinner Dance
The Uniondale Community Council hosted its annual Uniondale Community Dinner Dance, a night dedicated to celebrating individuals who have worked tirelessly to make Uniondale a thriving, safe, and vibrant community. Held at Verdi’s of Westbury on January 31st, the evening brought together local leaders, residents, and supporters for a night of recognition, unity, and celebration.
As a sponsor of the event, Sands New York emphasized its commitment to supporting Uniondale and investing in its future. Former New York State Governor and Sands Senior Vice President David Paterson reflected on the importance of community leadership, stating, “Uniondale is a shining example of what happens when dedicated individuals come together to uplift their community. Sands is honored to support this event and celebrate those who make a lasting impact.”
The evening was filled with heartfelt speeches, lively entertainment, and an undeniable spirit of togetherness. As the Uniondale Community Council continues its mission of advocacy and empowerment, the event served as a reminder that strong communities are built by those who dedicate themselves to the service of others.
Long Island Fight for Charity Announces $130k for Long Island Organizations
The Long Island Fight for Charity celebrated another remarkable year, capping off its efforts with closing ceremonies that highlighted the generosity and community spirit of the region. This year’s event raised $130,000 to benefit several Long Island charities, including the Long Island Community Chest and EAC Network. As an event sponsor, Sands New York is thrilled to congratulate and thank the boxers for their hard work and training. Cumulatively, this event has now raised over $2 million for Long Island since its inception.
Photo provided by Sands New York Sands New York joined the Uniondate Community Council along with other local leaders and residents for the Uniondale Community Dinner Dance.
Photo provided by Sands New York
This year’s Long Island Fight for Charity, sponsored by Sands New York, raised $130,000 to benefit local charities.
LI TODAY
sustainability officer, said. “We greatly value DJSI as a benchmark for our performance as well as its valuable feedback. To receive recognition on these lists is a fantastic endorsement, but we also learn from the process every year.”
Sands has leveraged the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment along with a number of external benchmarks and industry standards to shape its corporate responsibility programs and establish ESG targets, which have helped the company gain recognition through DJSI as well as other corporate responsibility rankings. Most recently, Sands was included on Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies. The company ranked 60th out of 600 companies included on Newsweek’s list and first in the hotels, dining and leisure industry.
Among the many targets Sands has set to drive its corporate responsibility progress during its 2021-2025 ESG reporting
cycle are three primary ambitions aimed at increasing the company’s impact in the areas of workforce development, community service and carbon emissions reduction. These ambitions map to Sands’ People, Communities and Planet corporate responsibility pillars.
Under the People pillar, Sands aims to invest $200 million in workforce development by 2025. As of the end of 2023, Sands had invested $68 million in workforce development initiatives, bringing the company’s cumulative investment to $181 million since 2021.
Under its Communities pillar, Sands has set a target to contribute 250,000 Team Member volunteer hours by 2025 to advance causes in local regions. By the end of 2023, Sands Team Members had logged 222,823 volunteer hours in support of local nonprofits and community issues since 2021.
The company’s primary ambition under the Planet pillar of its corporate responsibility platform is to achieve a 17.5% reduction in
carbon emissions by 2025. As of the end of 2023, Sands’ carbon emissions-reduction performance was 50% below the base year, despite resort visitation returning to pre-pandemic levels, which drove energy consumption increases.
Sands will update on 2024 progress made toward these ambitions in its next ESG report published in spring 2025.
The DJSI, including DJSI World, were launched in 1999 as the pioneering series of global sustainability benchmarks available in the market. The index family is comprised of global, regional and country benchmarks. The S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment is an annual evaluation of company sustainability practices and covers over 13,000 companies globally. It measures performance on a wide range of industryspecific economic, environmental and social criteria that are relevant to the growing number of sustainability-focused investors.
A HUGE THANK YOU from the Sands New York team!
Thanks to your help, Sands New York has submitted over a thousand letters of support for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) ahead of public comment closing on January 21st, 2025.
Our commitment to creating a transformative project for Long Island remains stronger than ever, and we are deeply grateful for your partnership throughout this journey.
Residents and leaders in the community have attended several public meetings showing their support for the Sands New York project.
Photo provided by Sands New York
STEPPING OUT
Those ‘wild’ days
Director Billy Bustamante, whose credits include Broadway and off-Broadway, brings his flair to the Madison Theatre’s latest production.
The stage is set for a steamy Prohibition
By Danielle Schwab
It’s “the party to end all parties” and everyone’s on the guest list. You’re invited to travel back to the decadent world of 1920s Prohibition-era Manhattan when the roaring musical production of Andrew Lippa’s “The Wild Party,” arrives on the Molloy University campus shortly, March 7-9.
Audiences can expect a lively show filled with vibrant jazz and eclectic guests — also some uninvited “surprises” — that’s sure to keep the joint buzzing.
Observing the talented young performers involved with Molloy’s renowned CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory, guided by Director-Choreographer Billy Bustamante, you’ll surelly be thinking: ‘Let’s raise the roof, let’s make a scene!’
Set in the Roaring Twenties, it tells the tale of two vaudevillians, Queenie and Burrs, as they throw the party to end all parties. Jealousy and decadence abound in this spicy concoction whose tasty musical stew of jazz, blues, gospel, and Tin Pan Alley sounds remarkably contemporary.
Vaudeville dancer Queenie, (played by senior Jessica Olexy) and her intense partner Burrs (senior Cade Eller) host an evening of delight only to see it spiral into chaos with every twist and turn.
tale at Molloy’s Madison Theatre
• Friday through Sunday, March 7-9; times vary
• Tickets start at $35; available at madisontheatreny.org or the box office at (516) 323-4444
• Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
Sondheim’s “Here We Are” (choreographer). Now Molloy’s theater students can benefit from his talents.
“I have history with this story,” Bustamente says. “I directed an off-Broadway production of the other version back in 2016, so this feels like a full circle moment, getting to explore this story again through different writers.”
There’s even a ‘show within a show’ musical number, “ A Wild, Wild Party,” a favorite of senior Angelo Domingo, who appears as a party guest, the rambunctious boxer Eddie.
The Pirates of Penzance
Shiver me timbers! Book your passage to the Madison Theatre when Molloy University’s renowned CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory, stages the classic musical, accompanied by the South Shore Symphony, Sail away to the whimsical world of Gilbert & Sullivan’s beloved operetta, where a merry band of parading pirates — led by their Pirate King — clash swords and nightsticks with the bumbling Bobbies on the shores of Cornwall. The story revolves around Frederic, who was apprenticed by mistake to a band of tenderhearted pirates. He meets the daughters of Major-General Stanley, including Mabel, and the two young people instantly fall in love. With its humorous blend of romantic entanglements and memorable melodies, this delightful production promises an evening of laughter and theatrical magic.
Friday through Sunday, Feb. 2123, times vary. Tickets start at $35. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 3234444.
“At this party, everyone has a secret and something to hide. This show explores what happens when those secrets and the masks — that we all wear — get ripped off,” Bustamante says.
Based on Joseph Moncure March’s 1928 poem of the same name, the award-winning off-Broadway musical wowed audiences with its look into love in a messy and exciting fashion when it debuted 25 years ago.
the award-winning off-Broadway musical wowed audiences with its the score,” Bustamante says. “The nature of the music
While the narrative poem is almost a century old, Lippa’s adaptation brings a modern take to the story, blending the captivating allure of the 1920s with a modern feel.
“The music is a lot more contemporary and eclectic, all while being rooted in jazz. There are some really exciting pop, Latin and contemporary musical theater elements in the score,” Bustamante says. “The nature of the music allows audiences today to engage with the story and see themselves in the characters’ experiences in a really impactful way.”
From larger-than-life dancing sequences such as “Juggernaut,” to soulful reflections as in “What Is It About Her?,” the production traverses the range of human emotions and complicated identities those vaudeville entertainers of that era.
“All these people at the party are people who don’t belong in other places. The nature of what it meant to be a vaudevillian performer was you were uplifted and applauded at one moment and then not allowed certain restaurants or rooms at the next,” Bustamante explains.
“At its core, it’s something really beautiful. But on the
“At its core, it’s something really beautiful. But on the other hand, these are all damaged people because of the lives that they’ve had to leave, and that sets the stage for an evening where a lot can really go down.”
This isn’t the first time that Bustamante has helmed the story. In fact, he was involved with a different musical adaptation of the famous poem, created by Michael John LaChiusa. His resume includes acting in productions such as Broadway Theatre’s “Miss Saigon” in addition to his directorial turns in “Here Lies Love” (assistant director) and Stephen
as a party guest, the rambunctious boxer Eddie. says.
“It was the number that introduced me to the show, and it has just a very fun, infectious vibe,” Domingo
an opportunity to hone their performing skills before
For the cast of 25, this production is an opportunity to hone their performing skills before going forward professionally.
“The [CAP21] program teaches you a lot about how to be an individual in theater. Because we’re in New York, you get the experience of [being with] working professionals who are working on Broadway, Off Broadway and developing musicals,” Domingo continues.
[being with] working professionals who are
“I’ve grown in more ways than I thought I ever would. And when it comes to my training, I achieved things that I thought would take way longer to achieve already.”
Czech National Symphony Orchestra
So get ready to head to the theater — it’s time to join the party.
I thought I ever would. And when it head theater — it’s time to join the party.
audience Party” feeling
“I hope that our audience can leave “The Wild Party” feeling entertained, but at the same time a little educated and with a deeper understanding of themselves,” Bustamante
understanding of themselves,” Bustamante says.
masks serve you, and what masks might you
“And our version of the show can really help ask the question of our audience: ‘What masks serve you, and what masks might you be ready to let go.’
Recognized as one of Europe’s first-rank symphonic ensembles and renowned for its versatility, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra brings its current U.S. tour to Long Island, under the baton of music director Steven Mercurio. Dynamic guest soloist Maxim Lando, an American pianist and winner of the 2022 New York Franz Liszt International Competition, joins CNSO. He and violinist Sandy Cameron perform beloved works from the Romantic repertoire — Jan Václav Hugo Voríšek’s Sinfonia Re Maggiore, Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 and selected works from Antonín Dvorák, including Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 33 and Czech Suite.
The Wild Party contains mature themes.
Angelo Domingo and Mariposa
step lively on stage.
Saturday, Feb. 22, 3 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Photos courtesy Madison Theatre
Boyd
a different musical adaptation of the famous poem, created by Michael John LaChiusa.
THE Your Neighborhood
Colin Jost
March 13
Live … from Long Island … it’s Colin Jost! He appears on the Paramount stage, Thursday, March 13, 8 and 10 p.m. From Saturday Night Live to standup to his appearances in film, other TV ventures and even authoring a memoir, Jost is seemingly everywhere. He is currently in the middle of his 11th season as SNL’s “Weekend Update” coanchor, and his 20th as an SNL writer. His accolades are many: five Writers Guild Awards, two Peabody Awards and 15 Emmy nominations for his writing on “SNL.” Jost and his Weekend Updatemate Michael Che have hosted special editions of “Weekend Update” on MSNBC during the 2016 Republican and Democratic national conventions as well as co-hosted the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2018.
Also, in 2024 they executive produced and co-hosted Peacock’s first live comedy event, “Colin Jost and Michael Che Present: New York After Dark,” which featured an evening of surprise dropin performances from stand-up comedians. As a writer, Jost has been published multiple times in the New Yorker and has contributed to the New York Times Magazine, among other endeavors. In 2020, Jost debuted “A Very Punchable Face.” A New York Times bestseller, the memoir is a series of essays that documents pivotal moments in Jost’s life, including growing up in Staten Island in a family of firefighters, commuting three hours a day to high school, attending Harvard while Facebook was created and more. And in 2024, he even appeared as a correspondent from Tahiti for NBC Sports for the surfing competition at the summer Olympic Games, plus last year he was featured entertainer of the 2024 White House Correspondents Dinner. $129.50, $119.50, $89.50, $79.50, $69.50, $59.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
On stage
Adelphi University
Performing Arts students present the musical adaptation of “The Spitfire Grill,” Wednesday through Sunday, Feb. 26-March 2. Based on the 1996 film by Lee David Zlotoff, this is a heartwarming and inspirational musical tale of redemption, perseverance and family. It follows a troubled young parolee yearning for a fresh start who follows her dreams to Wisconsin, based on a page from an old travel book, only to find a small town with a gritty heart aching with longing and regret. Unexpectedly discovering the healing power of community while working at the Spitfire Grill, Percy reawakens the entire town’s capacity for rebirth, forgiveness and hope.
Set to a melodic folk-inspired score, it’s a joyous celebration of human kindness. $30, with discounts available for seniors, students Adelphi alumni and staff. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.
In concert
The influential proto-punk/garage band The Dictators performs at My Father’s Place, Sunday, March 2, 7-9 p.m. My Father’s Place at The Roslyn, 1221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn. For tickets/ information, visit MyFathersPlace. com or call (516) 580-0887.
Art Explorations
Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program continues, Saturday, Feb. 22, noon-3 p.m. Kids and their adult partners talk about and make art together. While there, enjoy reading and play in the Reading Room, and contribute to The Lobby Project, a collaborative art installation. Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit nassaumuseum.org to register or call (516) 484-9337.
BOCES Barry Tech Open House
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech, Long Island’s state-of-the arts career and technical education (CTE) high school, opens its doors to all students with a passion for a hands-on career. Come and get a “Taste of Tech” at an open house that will be held at the Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center, Thursday, Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m. Following an introduction to the school, led by administrators, there will be self-guided tours of the state-of-the-art facility, at 1196 Prospect Ave., Westbury. Interested students and their families can register at nassauboces.org/barrytech or call (516) 622-6812 for more information.
A Band Called Honalee
Plaza Theatricals welcomes the modern-day folk trio, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2:30 p.m. Inspired by the music and legacy of Peter, Paul & Mary, the ensemble offers up an energetic interactive tribute. Satisfying diehard PPM lovers as well as newcomers to this wonderful era of music, their concer features all of PPM’s beloved hits, including “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” “Blowing in the Wind,” and of course “Puff The Magic Dragon.”
With stirring vocal harmonies and polished showmanship, they also offers favorites from Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Pete Seeger, Joni Mitchell, The Mamas & The Papas, Joan Baez, The Weavers, and more. $40, $35 seniors. Groove along at Plaza’s stage at Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit plazatheatrical. com.
Junior Friends
Celebrate Black History Month with Junior Friends for fun, food, and entertainment at Uniondale Public Library, Thursday, Feb. 20, 6-8 p.m. No sign-up required. 400 Uniondale Ave. For more information, visit UniondaleLibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220.
In concert
Jupiter String Quartet returns to Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, Friday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m. The intimate group of violinists Nelson Lee and Meg Freivogel, violist Liz Freivogel (Meg’s older sister), and cellist Daniel McDonough (Meg’s husband, Liz’s brotherin-law) are brought together by ties both familial and musical.
The ensemble brings its well-honed musical chemistry to three works shaped by bold musicality and deeply meaningful thematic inspirations, including Warmth from Other Suns by Carlos Simon; String Quartet No. 3, Glitter, Doom, Shards, Memory by Shulamit; and String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130 with the Grosse Fuge by Ludwig van Beethoven. 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.
Having an event?
Family theater
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to its stage, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21,-22, 11 a.m and 1:30 p.m.; also Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 26-27, 10:15 a.m. and noon. It is 3017 in this futuristic, musical retelling of “Cinderella.” She’s now a space engineer looking to revolutionize space travel. The Prince holds a space parade and she saves it by helping fix the Prince’s spaceship, also showing the Prince her new hyper warp speed engine.
But first, she’ll have to keep her evil stepmother from throwing a wrench in her plans! $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
On Exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) which publicly launched the movement. The direct follow-up to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts.
The exhibit encompasses significant cultural advancements during Long Island’s Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age movement, including votes, jobs, and the automobile for women, the beginnings of suburbia with commutation for work, and planned residential communities, which all defined the era, while the following decade brought economic reversals and the WPA program. Works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Fernand Léger, Guy Pène du Bois, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, and Reginald Marsh, among others, along with art deco stylists of poster art and graphics, and photography will convey the Art Deco spirit along with its furniture, decorative arts, and fashion.
Like “Our Gilded Age,” the social scene of Long Island’s Gold Coast, and its personalities — both upstairs and downstairs — will be portrayed, along with the ongoing relationship with the immediate urban context of New York with its skyscrapers and deco-styled architecture. On view through June 15. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Hempstead House tour
Feb. 23
Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Sunday, Feb. 23, 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.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU
U.S BANK TRUST
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, -againstVALERIE MARTIN, 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 6, 2024, wherein U.S BANK TRUST
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST is the Plaintiff and VALERIE MARTIN, 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 March 4, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1008 DITMAS AVENUE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553; and the following tax map identification: 50-453-52. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT UNIONDALE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 010550/2014. Peter Famighetti, 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. 151283
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. WALTER BROOME AND VALERIE BROOME, IF THEY BE LIVING, IF THEY BE DEAD, THEIR RESPECTIVE HEIRS-ATLAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS HAVING OR CLAIMING UNDER, BY, OR THROUGH WALTER BROOME AND VALERIE BROOME, IF THEY BE DEAD, WHETHER BY PURCHASE INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN AND TO THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN, ALL OF WHO AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES OF RESIDENCE ARE UNKNOWN TO THE PLAINTIFF, et al Deft. Index #611563/2022. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered January 15, 2025, I will sell at public auction on the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on February 27, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at a.m. prem. k/a a/k/a Section 50, Block 33901, Lot 110. Approximate amount of judgment is $ plus cost and interest. The foreclosure sale will take place “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court appointed Referee will cancel the foreclosure auction.
PAMELA SHARPE, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. For Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #102079 151279
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. EQUINNE LLC, Plaintiff -against- RACHEL
AUGUSTIN, NATHALIE AUGUSTIN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated July 17, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County
Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on March 11, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at the Village of Hempstead, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the westerly side of Friske Place, distant 55 feet southerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the westerly side of Fiske Place with the southerly side of Robin Wood Avenue; being a plot 100 feet by 45 feet by 100 feet by 45 feet. Section: 36 Block: 115 Lot: 169, 170 and 268. Said premises known as 7 FISKE PLACE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553
Approximate amount of lien $239,992.80 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 609970/2022.
ELLEN DURST, ESQ., Referee Scott A. Rosenberg, P.C.
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 151 Tanners Pond Road, Garden City, New York 11530
{* UNIONDALE*} 151361
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU
--- Index No. 802372/2024
Date Summons Filed: 11/22/2024
DOTILDA LANGLEY HEADLEY, Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. The basis of venue is Plaintiff’s residence. Plaintiff, SUMMONS -againstPlaintiff resides at 1043 Midland Street, Uniondale, NY 11553.
VERNAL ALWIN HEADLEY, Defendant.
-X ACTION FOR DIVORCE
To the above named Defendant: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer on Plaintiff’s Attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you
personally within the State of New York, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.
Dated: November 22, 2024
Jan Gomerman, Esq. Attorney for Plaintiff 807 East Jericho Turnpike Huntington Station, NY 11746
631-549-1777 151492
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY.
L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP, Pltf. vs. RAYMOND R. PRILLER, if he be living, if he be dead, his respective heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successor in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, or through RAYMOND R. PRILLER, if he be dead, whether by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, including any right, title or interest in and to the real property described in the complaint herein, all of who and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiffs, et al Defts. Index #614732/2023.
Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered January 27, 2025, I will sell at public auction on the north side front steps of the Nassau County Courhouse, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on March 14, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. prem. k/a Section 34, Block 523, Lot 410-412. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the sale.
LINDA S. AGNEW, Referee., LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #102093 151573
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com
Hempstead school district facing a $33 million budget deficit
The Hempstead school district finds itself in severe financial straits with a projected $33 million budget deficit and the genuine prospect of laying off employees and restructuring its elementary school buildings, officials said.
“Due to decreased enrollment in the district, especially at the elementary level, the Board and District Administration are considering restructuring the District’s use of its elementary buildings,” officials said in a prepared statement. “Currently, the District has five elementary schools. The restructuring being considered is reducing elementary schools to four and using the fifth elementary building for alternative student-focused programs and services.”
The district is looking at having to budget an additional $19.2 million for charter schools in 2025-2026, bringing the total projected financial plan for next school year to $106.4 million.
The charter schools that receive money from the Hempstead district are: Academy Charter in Uniondale, Roosevelt Children’s Academy, Evergreen Charter School and the Brooklyn Dreams Charter School.
The district has budgeted $9.8 million from the fund balance to eliminate the increase in the tax levy and to meet the
LEGAL NOTICE
2024-2025 revenue budget.
Officials said that they plan on using $16 million from the district’s fund balance to meet its revenue goals.
“Specific restructuring plans are first being considered; if the Board does make the decision to move forward with this restructuring of its elementary school facilities, it would then, in consultation with District Administration, and after input from the community, determine which elementary schools would remain open and which elementary school would be used for other student-based purposes,” officials noted in their statement.
At the same time, Hempstead schools are one of four Long Island districts that showed improvement after being noted for underperforming by the state.
School districts across the state are in the middle of assembling operating budgets for the next school year. The state budget is expected to be finalized by March 31, allowing school district to know how much state aid they will receive.
District residents across the state will vote on the school budget, Board of Education trustees and school-related referendums on May 20.
Public Notices
STATE OF NEW YORK
SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016 SC6 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff, v. MICHAEL CARROLL, ET AL, Defendants.
NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT In pursuance of a Judgment of
Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on January 22, 2025, I, Oscar A. Prieto, Esq., the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on March 24, 2025 at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Ct. Dr., Mineola, NY 11501, at 02:00 PM the premises described as follows: 617 Wellelein Road Uniondale, NY 11553 SBL #: 36-140-19
ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York. The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 011317/2011 in the amount of $700,140.60 plus interest and costs.
The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the Court System’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such
all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP
Attorneys for Plaintiff 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 151731
— Jeffrey Bessen
Courtesy Christina Arlotta
The Hempstead school district is projected to have a $33 million budget deficit. Above, Board of Education Trustee Jeffrey Spencer, left, board President Victor Jay Pratt and Superintendent Susan Johnson discussed the addition of the Diamond Charter School which is expected to open in September 2026.
Stunner – Move Right In!
Houses in flood zones had to be raised, but businesses?
Q. I am interested in leasing a building that I am certain was flooded during several recent storms. The landlord says the sheetrock and insulation were replaced, and there were only a “few inches of water.” I doubt that. The metal building is stained around the bottom 4 feet, in between tall weeds, since nobody takes care of it. It’s in an industrial area. I wonder why I had to lift my house, but these buildings, which clearly were seriously flooded, never had to make changes to deal with future flooding. I can’t risk losing inventory, and I don’t see where there was much done to prevent water from getting in. I probably won’t take the lease, but I still wonder why these buildings didn’t either have to be raised or make changes for better flood protection.
A. Most commercial buildings were not considered “substantially damaged,” a definition by the Federal Emergency Management Agency requiring flood-prevention implementation. In most cases, only when renovating, waterproofing materials were required to be added to either the inside or outside of buildings, but this was not enforced uniformly with required permits. Part of the reason that flood-proof materials were added was, just as you said, to prevent loss of inventory, but also because businesses can’t be out of commission for very long without losing money.
Flood protective panels that attach at the exterior doors and windows, membranes placed on interior walls behind new finishes, and waterproofing of exterior walls up to 2 feet above the flood elevation, designated by FEMA for your area, have become standard practice for projects where people are concerned about their businesses continuing to operate after the next serious storm. The owner or tenant has to be concerned enough to implement these safeguards, because most commercial buildings in flood-prone areas were either not considered damaged enough to lift or not required to flood-proof unless brought to the attention of officials.
The issue comes down to one thing: insurance. Many people think of FEMA as just a federal government program, but it’s much more than that. It’s a large insurance company, one of the largest in the world. Because there are so many disasters to handle each year — roughly $200 billion worth of damage — most insurance companies stopped insuring coastal communities around the country. There’s just too much risk. So FEMA is designated to cover the high risk, backed by taxpayers to pay for the gaps and losses. That falls to taxpayers because otherwise-thriving communities would cease to exist, tax revenue would be lost, bonds and debt failures would occur and the economy could collapse. It’s all tied together.
So even though evaluation or enforcement may not have been done, taking steps as a tenant may be your only recourse. Consult with experienced professionals to create a flood-proof building. Water gets through floors, gaps in walls and places you may not have thought of. Good luck!
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opinions Recalling the presidents I’ve met
As we celebrated Presidents’ Day on Monday, I thought back on presidents I’ve had the opportunity to meet over the years. Except for my first meeting with Richard Nixon in 1967, before he was president, all of those meetings resulted from my involvement in politics.
In the summer of 1967, between my second and third years of law school, I worked as an intern in Nixon’s Wall Street law firm. (The fellow intern I was assigned to work with that summer was Rudy Giuliani — who was then a liberal Democrat.)
In addition to the chance encounters we had with Nixon in the hallway or elevator, we interns had a long lunch discussion with him, during which he demonstrated his expansive knowledge of foreign and domestic issues. Surprisingly, he also displayed a certain shyness.
A quarter-century later, in 1993, the then former president was in Washington to address Republicans in Congress, where I told him how much I appreciated the long-ago internship. He was no longer shy, but seemingly at peace. The following year, I attended his funeral in
California.
President Gerald Ford was in the closing days of his 1976 campaign against Jimmy Carter when he spoke at a massive rally at the Nassau Coliseum. At a reception afterward, Ford was gracious and friendly, a class act.
The next time I saw him was in 1998, at Sonny Bono’s funeral in California.
From Nixon to Trump, there have been 10, and each left a different impression.
I had just two brief encounters with Jimmy Carter, the first an introduction at Yitzhak Rabin’s funeral in Jerusalem in 1995. The second was about 10 years ago, when I was on a Delta Shuttle, waiting to take off for Washington, when Carter got on the plane, recognized me, shook my hand and gave me a warm hello and a big smile — an awkward moment for me, since I had attacked him for something on national TV just the day before!
Except for a White House briefing for New York Republicans in 1987, my dealings with President Ronald Reagan consisted of handshakes and photos at political events in Nassau County and Manhattan. I was always struck by his sense of dignity and leadership. He never disappointed.
President George Bush 41 was the last of the old-school presidents, in the best sense of that term. He was very knowl-
edgeable and always respectful of his office. In addition to greeting him at political events before and after his presidency, I was invited, along with other newly elected Republicans, to meet with him in the Oval Office in his final days as president in January 1993. It was inspiring and memorable. He didn’t have a word of regret or complaint. True stature.
Though President Barack Obama offered to appoint me ambassador to Ireland, my dealings with him were infrequent and businesslike. He was always polite, and always “no drama Obama.”
My contacts with Joe Biden were when he was senator and vice president, primarily at social events in Washington. He was invariably cordial and humorous. Always greeted me with a big grin, and would kid me that Irish guys should always be Democrats. He was sharp; very different from how he was as president.
The presidents I spent the most time with were Bill Clinton, George Bush 43 and Donald Trump, all of whom are within two years of me in age. I worked closely with Clinton on the Irish peace process, traveling with him on his historic visits to Northern Ireland. I stood with him during his impeachment. He
couldn’t have been more gracious and friendly to my family. He and Hillary were the first to call the night my mother died. We remain friends.
I saw up close how dedicated the younger George Bush was to helping New York and defeating Islamist terrorism following the horrific Sept. 11 attacks. I was with him in the ruins of the World Trade Center three days afterward, and over the succeeding months and years was at numerous meetings he had with cops, firefighters and 9/11 victims’ family members. A true patriot. Great sense of humor.
Donald Trump was and is one of a kind. He and I grew up in Queens at the same time. Though we lived in different Zip codes, one on one he was like the guys I grew up with, totally down to earth. Despite his public persona, he could be caring and concerned, like when he reached out to my daughter when she was sick, or when he invited my grandchildren to the White House. Most significantly, I’ll always be appreciative of his visits to Long Island, where he led the effort to crush MS-13. These are just some of the recollections from my front-row seat of the 10 men who led our nation over the past six decades.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
Somewhere, the Founding Fathers must be fretting
As best I can remember when I was in fourth grade, we were taught that there are three branches of government — the legislative, the judicial and the executive. And we were taught that they were co-equals, with each possessing powers that the other branches couldn’t interfere with.
To make it simple, our teacher stated that the legislative branch, represented by Congress, is responsible for making laws. The executive branch, headed by the president, enforces laws made by Congress and oversees federal agencies. The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court, interprets laws and ensures that they comply with the Constitution. In my lifetime, over many decades, I have seen how the wishes of our Founding Fathers were complied with. While I was too young to understand the maneuvers of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, when he stepped over the line, the
Supreme Court reversed a number of his actions. In blunt terms, he was told that some of his actions violated the Constitution.
Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama saw their controversial legislation overridden by a vote of three-fourths of Congress. And on quite a few occasions, the Supreme Court told Congress that it had violated the Constitution and its actions were null and void. That seemed to be in line with what I learned at Public School 26 in Brooklyn.
Wcal issues. Some are consistent with campaign promises Trump made, but others clearly step on the toes of the 435 members of Congress.
e once learned that the White House, Congress and the courts were co-equals.
Having served in the State Assembly for 23 years, I am very much aware of how the systems work in both Washington and Albany. I have seen the Legislature in Albany flex its muscles and override the governor on many occasions. I have seen the courts tell the Legislature that it has stepped over the line and violated the state Constitution.
On Jan. 20, President Trump issued an avalanche of executive orders. Many of them have escaped public attention, because voters don’t spend all their time watching the news and following politi-
Under Article I of the Constitution, Congress is given the sole authority to appropriate money for the operation of the government. There is no language that allows the president to impound funding authorized by Congress. The president campaigned on the promise of abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, but only Congress can dissolve a federal agency.
Some of the most challenging developments in the new Trump term are the actions taken by Elon Musk. He may have been given a blanket direction to cut government waste, but he is not allowed to abolish any federal agency that has been created by Congress. Musk has effectively shut down one agency already by restricting funding, but his powers will no doubt be challenged in the federal courts.
The biggest surprise to me, as a former state and local official, is how civil service protections are being totally ignored. Notices have been sent to thou-
sands of federal workers offering them buyouts with no guarantees that they will keep their jobs if they don’t take them. Actions taken by the administration to force career employees out of their jobs defy what the civil service system is about.
The most eye-popping development is the failure of any Republican member of Congress to complain about the impact of the funding impoundments on their own home communities. Major cancer research hospitals in Louisiana, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas have made urgent cries about the loss of anticipated dollars. Special drugs for serious diseases can’t be purchased without assurances that the money will be available. Rather than free up these dollars, the White House is focusing on efforts like halting the production of pennies that are popular with the public. There seem to be no people in Washington who are echoing the voices of the Founding Fathers. That is our loss.
Jerry Kremer was an assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
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HERALD
In civil discourse, everyone deserves respect
in February we celebrate Black History Month, honoring the achievements, resilience and contributions of Black Americans throughout history. In March we recognize Women’s History Month, acknowledging the pivotal role of women in shaping our society. Throughout the year, we take time to celebrate mothers, fathers, military veterans, educators, grandparents and others who have made an impact on of our lives, and continue to.
These moments of recognition remind us of something fundamental: Every person, the members of every ethnic and demographic group, and those of every faith deserve R-E-S-P-E-C-T, as the great Aretha Franklin sang. Yet in today’s world, respect often seems to be in short supply. This reality is magnified by the noise blasting from social media, the nonstop discourse on television and radio masquerading as news, and the constant barrage of opinions that seek to divide rather than unite.
We can, and should, engage in constructive discussions on pressing issues such as climate change, education, housing, economic opportunity and social justice without resorting to dehumanization. It is possible to stand firm in our
letters
How about taking on property taxes, Jerry?
To the Editor:
Re Jerry Kremer’s op-ed in the Feb. 6-12 issue, “Cleaning the 2024 slate is comforting”: While we don’t share the same political philosophy, I respect Mr. Kremer’s career and his accomplishments. He was known in Albany as a fellow who actually did the people’s business.
His piece had a regular-guy ring to it. His protestations were mine, as were the laments. I no longer go to Yankee Stadium. I do get to Citi Field for a game or two, but the Mets are moving into the high-priced arena as well. I’ll still go, but I do mourn the old days.
Supermarkets are on my canceled list. I have throwback moments at Costco now.
Jerry’s recollection of the movies took me back to a story my father told me when I was a kid. The son of Sicilian immigrants who didn’t have much, he told me that one day, as a 14-year-old, he found a quarter on the street. With that quarter he got a trolley ride, a hero sandwich and a triple feature. It was 1934, and a quarter got you somewhere in Brooklyn.
Jerry did skip over my major annoyance, property taxes. Last October, the Herald printed my op-ed, “Nassau is no county for old
beliefs while recognizing the humanity of those who see the world differently. Diversity of thought is essential to a thriving society. Healthy debate strengthens our communities, fosters new ideas and leads to meaningful progress. But progress is only possible when conversations are grounded in mutual respect.
As we address the challenges facing our nation, we must acknowledge that the path forward is not always clear. Intelligent, clear-thinking people will advocate different solutions based on their experiences and beliefs. That is to be expected. But what should never change is our commitment to engaging with one another as individuals deserving of respect, regardless of our differences.
It isn’t enough to simply argue about policies or demand that others see the world exactly as we do. True progress requires dialogue. It requires the humility to recognize that none of us has all the answers, and we must be open-minded enough to find solutions together, even when our collective problems seem impossibly difficult.
We must also reject the idea that disagreement makes those who disagree
into enemies. Too often, political and social divisions are deepened by rhetoric that seeks to demonize rather than understand. But a just and equitable society cannot be built on division. Rather, it requires the recognition that, despite our differences, we are all part of the same human family.
In the year ahead, let’s recommit to fostering a culture in which mutual respect is not an afterthought, but instead a guiding principle. Let’s teach our children — not just with words, but also with actions — that disagreement is not a reason to hate, but an opportunity to learn. Let’s model the kind of civil discourse that allows communities to grow stronger rather than splinter apart.
Black History Month, Women’s History Month and all the other days on which we honor those who have shaped our communities serve as indelible reminders of the R-E-S-P-E-C-T everyone deserves, every day. Despite the challenges we face, a just, equitable society remains within our reach — one in which opportunity isn’t determined by race or Zip code, where debate isn’t defined by hostility, and where respect is a cornerstone of its foundation.
men.” I’ll be 80 this summer, and my property taxes, which I’ve been paying for 47 years, are now north of $30,000. I hope that in his editorial role, Jerry can advocate
for seniors who want to stay in their homes.
PHIL COMO Sea Cliff
It’s time for the county executive to do his job
as I enter my 14th year as a Nassau County Legislator and reflect on my time in office, it dawned on me that I have served for all of those years as a member of the Legislature’s minority caucus. While there have been disagreements with county executives and my colleagues in the majority along the way, I have always maintained cordial and productive relationships, and worked with county executives of both parties to get things done for my district and the county’s taxpayers.
the Nassau County Charter, a capital plan must be adopted by Dec. 15 each year — but the Blakeman administration has achieved this only once in the past three years. The 2025 plan is once again running late, jeopardizing economic growth, good jobs and increased safety and quality of life generated by these projects.
Since Bruce Blakeman took office as county executive in 2022, however, progress on crucial initiatives, grants and capital infrastructure proposals has stalled — and minority caucus-represented areas have shouldered a disproportionate impact. To get all areas of the county back on the right track, I urge the Blakeman administration to begin addressing these key priorities:
■ Finalize a comprehensive, equitable capital plan that invests in the communities of all 19 legislative districts. Per
B■ Get the politics out of CRP grants. Since the beginning of 2024, the majority has received more than 30 Community Revitalization Program grants, and the minority has received none. Some grant proposals for volunteer firefighters, village police departments and other first responders in minority districts have been held up for years. These funds need to get out to our communities regardless of legislators’ party affiliation.
donate heavily to his campaigns and profit handsomely off a broken system. Until then, the best way to protect yourself from overtaxation is to grieve your home’s assessed value, and the deadline to do so is March 3.
ruce Blakeman has failed to deliver on his promises for three years.
■ We need real solutions to stabilize the future of Nassau University Medical Center. NUMC is an essential part of our regional health care matrix, a Level 1 trauma center with a state-of-the-art burn center and an in-demand drug detox facility. Moreover, it serves as a lifeline for some of the county’s most economically vulnerable patients. The Blakeman administration must stop treating this vital facility like a political football and have a serious conversation with the state about keeping it open.
accounts collecting interest, and the ordinance currently making its way through the Legislature to create a grant portal for agencies on the front lines of addiction, treatment, prevention and recovery services is long, long overdue.
■ Last, but certainly not least, disband the dangerous, illegal militia. Nassau County has one of America’s besttrained police departments, and it is instrumental in making us the safest county of our size year after year. An armed militia with minimal training by the county — regardless of its participants’ previous experience or background — is not something the public or police ever asked for or needed, and Blakeman has no legal authority to marshal such a force. End the militia and allow our outstanding law enforcement professionals to do their jobs without interference.
■ Blakeman promised to “fix” the county’s assessment system. He hasn’t and it’s only gotten worse. His administration has frozen the assessed values of our properties for three consecutive years. With each passing year, the tax rolls become even more unfair and distorted. The administration must live up to its promises and put the people ahead of the big tax-grievance firms that
LeTTers
There’s good news about younger readers, Randi
To the Editor:
Re Randi Kreiss’s recent column, “When was the last time your read a book?”: I was happy to be informed about Randi’s impressions of the reading habits of children and young adults. This is a subject that I have a firsthand knowledge of.
Over the past 10 to 15 years, I have observed a tendency among my paying customers, most of whom are, in fact, 16 to 30 years old. Most come to me to fill a gap in their knowledge of classics, science fiction, general fiction, mystery and other literary genres. It seems that high schools and colleges assign them books that are online, but those who come to me seem to prefer hard copies. For me the trend is notable and rewarding, and boosts my hope that reading physical books, particularly classics, has not lost its luster in our over-technological, disgustingly over-computerized society.
AMNON TISHLER
Booklovers Paradise Bellmore
Alarmed at Blakeman’s ‘outrageous behavior’
To the Editor:
I am alarmed at the lack of alarm in Nassau County in response to County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s outrageous behavior.
First he organized an independent local armed security force, and denied it was a “militia.” It actually fits the dictionary definition of a militia, which means Blakeman is either uninformed or disingenuous — or both.
Then he declared that the New York Post, a tabloid owned by Rupert Murdoch, is the official publication of Nassau County, because Blakeman doesn’t like the leanings of Newsday, which, for better or worse, has been a Long Islandcentric publication for decades.
Both moves are autocratic and partisan, and both are indefensible — but the public outcry has been muted, at best. I believe we need to react to — and reject — this sort of overreach, which I do not believe represent either the feelings or the interests of many Nassau County residents.
RICHARD SCHWARz Bayville
■ Distribute the opioid funding the county has been sitting on for years. In the past several years, the county has received nearly $100 million in settlement funds from the distributors, manufacturers and retailers of the addictive opioids that continue to devastate families. But the Blakeman administration has only spent roughly $3.3 million of that money to date. It is infuriating that so many people have died in the past year while settlement funds sat in bank
Blakeman took an oath to serve all of Nassau’s 1.4 million residents, but his hyper-partisan approach and failure to deliver on promises has been evident throughout the past three years. We deserve better, and addressing these key issues would be a step in the right direction for an administration that has routinely focused on matters far beyond its proper jurisdiction or control.
Delia DeRiggi-Whitton represents Nassau County’s 11th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s minority leader.
Framework by Tim Baker
DeLia DeriGGi-wHiTTon
