State officials, educators warn of
funding
A trip to learn from leaders in education
By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Wantagh High School Principal Paul Guzzone will travel to Stockholm, Sweden, next month, where he will attend the weeklong Nobel Prize Teacher Summit 2025 and share his school’s accomplishments with leading educators from around the world.
The annual summit brings together educators from more than 30 countries to meet Nobel laureates, scientists and activists to discuss key issues in education. Guzzone was one of two Long Island administrators chosen to attend the event, hosted by the Nobel Prize CoNTiNued
crisis
for schools
Districts could lose millions they need if U.S. Department of Education shuts down, experts say
By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
State officials and local educators are raising concerns over President Trump’s proposal to close the U.S. Department of Education, warning that such an action could threaten federal funding for key student programs. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Feb. 4 that he wanted to shut down the department by executive order but acknowledged that he would need support from Congress and teachers’ unions.
School district leaders say the proposal could disrupt critical federal grants that support students and educators. Levittown Public Schools Superintendent Todd Winch said the plan raises serious concerns, particularly for programs that help low-income students and those with disabilities.
Established in 1979, the Department of Education oversees federal education funding, enforces civil rights laws in schools, and collects student performance data. It administers Title I grants to support low-income students,
funds special education through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, and provides Pell Grants for low-income college students. The department also supports school improvement programs, mental health initiatives and after-school activities.
The State Education Department criticized Trump’s recent executive orders on public education, calling them ineffective and contrary to federal law. Federal legislation, including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and IDEA, has
long protected historically underserved students, according to the state department’s website.
“Our children cannot thrive in an environment of chaos; they need steady and stable leadership that we will endeavor to provide,” a statement on
the state department’s website read.
Following Trump’s remarks, state officials voiced concerns over the potential impact. On Feb. 9, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand joined union leaders, elected officials, students and parents at a news confer-
Courtesy Wantagh School District
Wantagh High School Principal Paul Guzzone said he was looking forward to learning from global educators at the Nobel Prize Teacher Summit next month, and hoped to bring new ideas back to benefit Wantagh High School students.
HERALD SchoolS
Salk named 2025 State School of Character
By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Jonas E. Salk Middle School in the Levittown School District has been named a 2025 State School of Character by Character.org, a national organization dedicated to fostering character development in schools, communities and workplaces.
Salk is one of 98 schools across the state to receive the honor, which recognizes institutions that promote a caring, inclusive environment and provide students with meaningful opportunities to develop and reflect on their character. Schools earning this designation have demonstrated an intentional, proactive and comprehensive approach to character education, embedding it into all aspects of school life.
The recognition qualifies Salk for consideration as a National School of Character, the highest distinction awarded by Character.org. The national honorees will be announced later this year.
Tcommunity, offering students opportunities for moral action and promoting shared leadership among staff, students and families.
Schools that earn the School of Character distinction undergo a rigorous evaluation process, demonstrating that their character education initiatives positively impact school culture, student behavior and academic performance.
his recognition reflects our commitment to fostering an environment in which everyone belongs. At Salk, everyone is family.
JoHn ZAmpAgLionE
Principal, Jonas E. Salk Middle School
Character.org, founded in 1993, is a nonprofit that works to advance character education in schools across the country. The organization establishes 11 guiding principles, known as the 11 Principles Framework for Schools, which include fostering a caring
At Salk, character development is deeply embedded in the school’s culture, with programs such as the RISE initiative—Respect, Integrity, Safety & Staying Healthy and Empathy—guiding students’ personal growth. School leaders say these values extend beyond academics, fostering a sense of unity among students, staff and families.
“We are thrilled and honored to be named a School of Character,” Principal John Zampaglione said. “This recognition reflects our commitment to fostering an environment in which everyone belongs. At Salk, everyone is family.”
The school first earned the State School of Character distinction in 2020 and has now been re-certified, affirming its continued commitment to character education.
“We are proud to be re-certified as a State School of Character,” said school
psychologist Barbara Montiero-Grady, who played a key role in the application process. “At Salk, we embrace the principles of our RISE program both in and beyond the classroom. Our goal is to cultivate a community where all stakeholders feel connected and safe. We are committed
to providing students with opportunities to grow academically, socially and emotionally.”
Salk Middle School will now await Character.org’s final decision on its candidacy for the National School of Character recognition.
Students push for ‘Gio’s Law’ implementation
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 common-sense proposal to become a national standard.”
Courtesy Levittown Public Schools
Jonas E. Salk Assistant Principal Amy O’Grady, Principal John Zampaglione and school psychologist Barbara Montiero-Grady were honored to receive the State School of Character designation.
— Jordan Vallone
Courtesy Office of Legislator Seth Koslow
Jordana Wohlleben met with Legislator Seth Koslow to discuss implementing ‘Gio’s Law,’ legislation that would equip Nassau County Police Department vehicles with epinephrine auto-injectors.
Flu surges in ‘under-vaccinated’ population
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
Anna Sequoia had never had the flu before. At 79, the Glen Cove resident thought she knew what to expect when she developed a sore throat while on a Caribbean cruise last week. But by the time she got home, the illness had taken a frightening turn.
“By the third night, I could barely sleep because of the coughing,” Sequoia recounted. “The coughing was so horrible my chest really hurt.”
Sequoia, who has asthma, went to an emergency room after struggling to breathe. “I told them that I was short of breath,” she said. “I immediately told them that I had been out of the country. They always want to know that. And at that point, everybody put masks on.”
Doctors diagnosed her with the flu and prescribed multiple medications, including Tamiflu, prednisone and a nasal decongestant. They also told her to use a nebulizer every four to six hours to ease her breathing. Now recovering at home, she remains shaken by the experience.
“I was scared, actually,” she said. “It’s frightening to me that people are walking around now without masks.”
Flu cases in New York have surged to more than 53,000, with Long Island recording 11,862 cases in a single week — the highest in at least two seasons. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that flu-related doctor visits nationwide are at a 15-year high. The CDC estimates that, so far this season, 24 million Americans have had the flu, resulting in 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths.
In New York, flu activity has reached its highest level in years. The number of flu-related doctor visits
climbed 7 percent in the first week of February, approaching levels last seen during the 2009-10 flu pandemic.
Dr. Bruce Farber, chief of epidemiology at Northwell Health, said this year’s flu is being driven by low vaccination rates and changes in the virus strains.
“Flu seasons vary year by year, depending upon minor drifts in the virus,” Farber said. “Secondly, the population is under-vaccinated. Flu vaccination rates are much lower than they have been in years previous
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… And then, of course, the matchup of the flu vaccine to this year’s strains is also always a prediction, at best.”
In New York, flu vaccination rates among children ages 6 months to 17 have dropped from 60 percent in 2020 to 49 percent this season, according to the CDC. Public health officials stress that the vaccine reduces the severity of illness and the likelihood of hospitalization, even if it doesn’t prevent infection entirely.
Health officials expect flu cases to remain high for several more weeks. “Rates have been very high the first week of February. They’re just starting to level off and fall,” Farber said. “It usually remains at high levels of infection for about eight to 10 weeks, and then slowly declines.”
Officials track the flu’s spread through hospital admissions, flu test positivity rates and emergency room visits.
The Nassau County Department of Health stressed the importance of flu vaccinations in an email to the Herald, noting that it is not too late in the season to get protected. In addition to vaccination, health officials recommend frequent hand-washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces to reduce the spread of the virus. Those who are not feeling well should stay home from work, school and social gatherings until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication.
Those who need help finding a vaccine can call the county health department, at (516) 227-9697.
With between 20,000 and 60,000 flu-related deaths expected annually, Farber stressed the seriousness of the illness, particularly for vulnerable populations. “People should realize that this disease is responsible for a lot of mortality every year,” he said. “It’s not a cold.”
Pet Trusts
Bob and Laura were ready to move forward with their estate plan to save estate taxes and avoid probate. The only hitch was who would take care of their beloved pets, Samson, the dog and Delilah, the cat, after Bob and Laura passed away.
Under New York law, trusts for the care of our pets are valid and enforceable. You can set up a pet trust in either a trust or a will. A trust is a private document that generally does not go to court, so if you create a pet trust within your own trust, it’s a private affair. A will, once submitted to court, is a public document and the court oversees the directions in your will, including your pet trust provisions.
Bob and Laura created pet trusts in their own living trusts. After more searching and discussion, they chose Bob’s brother, Rich, to be the trustee, or manager, of the pet trusts, meaning Rich will oversee and keep account of the money allocated to care for Sampson and Delilah. Rich will also be the caretaker. The trustee and caretaker do not have to be the same person but often that is the arrangement.
According to their trusts, after Bob and Laura are both gone, they leave $10,000 for each of their surviving pets. The trust money is to be used for the “proper medical care, support and maintenance” of their pets until the last pet dies. Then, the remainder of the money, called the “trust balance,” is distributed according to Bob’s and Laura’s wishes.
Instead of leaving a specific amount of money, a technique developed by Ettinger Law Firm may be preferable. What we suggest is that an amount to care for the annual feeding and medical care of the pet be placed in a trust, based on the actuarial life expectancy of the pet as determined by a local veterinarian. After all, the amount needed varies greatly depending on the age of the pet. To that, an average of five thousand or more may be added for unseen expenses. Consideration should also be given as to what a fair fee may be for the trustee.
Our free review of your estate plan every three years assures that the pet trust will be updated as circumstances change.
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Courtesy Metro Creative
Health officials continue to stress the importance of vaccination as the number of flu cases remains high.
Guzzone reflects on upcoming teacher summit
Museum, March 23-29.
“To think that I was one of the two selected from this particular pool is just humbling and exciting,” Guzzone said. “It’s just an awesome feeling.”
His trip is sponsored by EF Educational Tours, which provides global learning experiences for students and educators. Wantagh School District Superintendent John McNamara encouraged him to apply for the summit.
I’m really excited and really honored to have this opportunity.
Paul
Guzzone
Principal, Wantagh High
School
Guzzone said he will approach the opportunity with an open mind, adding that he is excited to learn from other educators and bring some ideas back to the Wantagh district.
“I’m going into this more from a learning perspective than a sharing perspective,” Guzzone said, “because I’m going to be in a location with educators from all over the world who face various obstacles that are different to the obstacles that we face.”
The conference will allow Guzzone to interact with educators from across the globe, following a specific itinerary that will include workshops, school visits and a teacher summit on democracy. While he hopes to learn from educational leaders at the conference, Guzzone noted that he is excited to share some of the programs at Wantagh High School that he is most proud of.
One standout program is the Science Research Academy, which has grown significantly in its second year. Guzzone said enrollment jumped from eight students in its first year to 37 this year, with projections of 50 to 60 students enrolling next year. The program gives students hands-on experience in STEM research, teaching them research skills and data analysis in
modern facilities. Guzzone said he is excited to see more students engaging in advanced research opportunities.
“Giving (students) opportunities to explore their passions at a high level is something we’re just thrilled about,” Guzzone said.
Guzzone also hopes to highlight the high school’s Freshman Experience Program, which helps ninth graders navigate the transition from middle school by offering guidance in a supportive environment. School counselors, psychologists and social workers teach the class once every six-day cycle, covering topics such as
News briefs
organization, career readiness, social media and college planning. The program gives students access to multiple counselors and a safe space to discuss challenges as they adjust to high school life.
“I think we recognize that the jump from middle school to high school is a big jump,” Guzzone said. “By having a safe space for our students to talk about their experiences with their peers and counselors, it’s a great place for kids to kind of get some guidance on where to go for help.”
Guzzone also wants to highlight events that have brought the community together, including the Wantagh Warrior 9/11 Memorial 5K Run. Introduced last year, the race ensures that students never forget the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Held in partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation, the event helps fund student programs focused on 9/11 education, including the junior class trip to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Manhattan.
The run also supports a senior scholarship and a planned 9/11 memorial on school grounds. Proceeds reduce the museum trip’s cost from $110 to $20 per student, making it more accessible. The next visit is scheduled for March 27.
“We have all these doors open for our students to explore the museum and memorial in a first-hand experience,” Guzzone said, “which they’ve never really had the opportunity to do as part of a school.”
Now in his fifth year as principal, Guzzone was recognized in 2022 as Administrator of the Year by the Nassau Counselors’ Association for his support of the guidance program.
Looking ahead to the conference, he said he is eager to hold discussions with fellow educators and is proud of the opportunity, adding that he will represent Wantagh with professionalism and pride.
“I’m really excited and really honored to have this opportunity,” Guzzone said. “I do think it’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Levittown school district voters will decide on building sale
Levittown School District residents will vote on May 20 on a proposal to sell a district-owned building at 1100 Crestline Place in Seaford to Nassau BOCES for around $7.2 million. The sale would include the school building and surrounding land, while the district would retain ownership of the adjoining athletic fields for student and community use.
Built in 1955, the building served as an elemen -
tary school until 1997 and is currently leased by Nassau BOCES as a middle school for students with disabilities.
Superintendent Todd Winch said selling the building “serves the best interests of all involved” and ensures its continued use for education.
If approved, the sale would also require voter approval from Nassau County residents and sub-
division approval by the Nassau County Planning Board.
Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Gardiners Avenue Elementary School, East Broadway Elementary School, Levittown Memorial Education Center and Division Avenue High School.
— Charles Shaw
Courtesy Wantagh School District
Wantagh High School principal paul guzzone will highlight key programs and community initiatives at an education summit in Stockholm, Sweden.
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
Officials worry about education impact
Oence in Manhattan to warn of the consequences of closing the federal department. According to Gillibrand’s office, more than 2.6 million students in 4,800 schools across New York state could lose federal funding, including nearly $1 billion in annual support for a half-million students with disabilities. Nearly a quarter-million English learners in state schools could also lose $66 million in annual funding, her office stated.
TOdd Winch Superintendent, Levittown Public Schools
Gillibrand added that Trump’s proposal was “a reckless and unconstitutional move” that could harm programs that help students in New York schools thrive.
“It is jeopardizing our nation’s academic progress and our role in the global economy at the expense of our children, and we cannot stand for it,” she said. “There should be no debate — defunding education defunds our future.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul warned that clos-
going to go? This is going to hit homeowners and businesses, and I want them to be aware of this consequence,” Hochul said.
In an email to the Herald, Winch said that the potential closure of the department raised serious concerns for the district, particularly the continued funding of longstanding federal grants that directly support students and educators. Winch noted that programs such as IDEA and Title I, II, III and IV grants, which fund critical support for reading, math and English Language Learners, must remain intact.
“Our top priority is ensuring these vital funding streams continue so that every student, regardless of background or ability, receives a high-quality education — without shifting the financial burden onto local taxpayers,”
things to know: high school musical
Wantagh Middle School’s Drama Club will perform ‘High School Musical Junior’ from Feb. 28-March 2 on the high school stage.
Middle school students hit the stage as high schoolers
Wantagh Middle School’s Drama Club is bringing Disney’s High School Musical Junior to the stage from Feb. 28 to March 2. Here’s what to know about the upcoming production:
n A talented middle school cast n A show with heart and humor n When and where to see it
Although the title suggests otherwise, High School Musical Junior will be performed by middle school students. The cast features 47 sixth, seventh and eighth graders, along with crew members. Leading the show are Joseph Leone as Troy Bolton, Emily McHale as Gabriella Montez, and Giada Petrillo as Sharpay Evans.
Director Kristin Fragola chose High School Musical because the students are already familiar with it, making it even more fun to perform. She said the show highlights important themes like friendship, self-acceptance and school spirit. Seventh grader Joseph Leone, who plays Troy, said audiences can expect high-energy dance numbers, great vocals and plenty of laughs.
The musical will take place at the Wantagh High School auditorium with four performances: Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 1 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 2 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors and can be purchased at seatyourself.biz/wantaghms.
Courtesy Wantagh School District
Giada Petrillo, as Sharpay, and Lucas Iacona, as Chad, hope to see a good crowd at each of the four performances.
Joseph Leone rehearses a scene as Troy, the basketball team captain who also loves singing.
with a focus on programs and activities
Afternoon rush
not over once the school bell rings
Kids nowadays are certainly busier than ever before. The increasingly competitive nature of scholastic life combined with the increase of outside of classroom options available to kids means that kids nowadasys are much busier than their school-aged counterparts of yesteryear.
Can after-school programs give your children an academic boost? According to a recent study of after-school programs serving low-income elementary and middle school students, the answer is yes. Students who regularly participated in after-school programs surpassed their peers in academic performance. They also exhibited notable improvements in work habits and behavior.
“These findings underscore the importance of high quality after-school programs and activities for both elementary and middle school youth,” explains Deborah Lowe Vandell, PhD, Chancellor’s Professor Emerita, University of California at Irvine’s Department of Education, and the study’s lead author.
It’s no surprise that after-school programs can do much more than keep your children occupied during the afternoon. In fact, afterschool activities can help them in a variety of ways. Children develop time-management skills, build self-esteem, and practice goal-setting. While it may be tough to squeeze in afterschool activities for your children, the benefits
are well worth the extra effort.
Time management and prioritizing. Extracurricular activities teach children how to manage their time and prioritize various tasks and commitments.
Exploring diverse interests. The school band, drama club, or any sport may be an activity your children are interested in joining. By allowing your children the opportunity to explore diverse interests, you give them the opportunity to discover what they are passionate about. Once your children find an activity that they enjoy, succeeding in the activity could ultimately build their confidence and self-esteem.
Making a contribution. Extracurricular activities allow your children to make a contribution to their school or community, which is an important step in preparing them for life outside of academics.
Building self-esteem. Mastering new skills can help create confident kids. By participating in after-school activities, they can build their self-esteem in a relaxed setting as their activities provide the opportunity to be successful in something that they are passionate about.
Setting goals. Participation in extracurricular activities and programs present opportunities for your children to develop their goal-setting skills. Most involve reaching or
achieving a goal, whether it be the lead actor in the school play, winning the state championship or coming in first place in the science fair. As a result, these activities help encourage students to work toward achieving those goals, while having fun at the same time.
Teamwork. Sports teams, clubs and activities, like dancing and music, all require children to work together toward a common goal. By participating in these activities, your children develop the skills they need in order to successfully work with others. In addition, extracurricular activities let children to build
Give
relationships and socialize with peers who share their interests.
College applications. And, of course, after-school activities look great on college applications. In addition to academic performance, colleges want a well-rounded student and look at what activities students are involved in outside of school as a way to fully understand each student.
Photo: Recent studies show a correlation between improved grades, behavior and work habits as a result of students’ involvement in after-school activities.
Attention parents and students: De-stress for spring success
In years past, the onset of spring signaled to students the beginning of the end of the school year. Today, this season has increasingly become one of the most stressful times of the year due to the convergence of extracurricular activities, sports, end-of-year assessments, projects and, for high-school students, college admissions.
“As stress builds for students during the second half of the school year, the best release to this ‘academic pressure cooker’ may also be the most simple —time,” says education expert Dr. Richard E. Bavaria. “Through effective time management and other strategies, students can create ‘found time’ and find themselves better prepared for all of the activities and challenges that come along with the final months of the school year.”
Inside and outside of the classroom, there are many ways that students can manage their workload and create time for stress-reducing activities at home.
Implement some recommended strategies to help your kids achieve academic success.
Spring cleaning: Organization both at home and at school will save students time by eliminating the need to search for homework assignments, books and other items necessary for spring success. Create a “homework zone” that houses study tools and allows students to study without distraction.
Organized kids do better in school than haphazard kids. Help them to set up their planners (written or electronic), to keep their notebooks and backpacks neat and orderly, to break up large assignments into smaller ones so they don’t seem overwhelming, to maintain a work space at home that’s actually workable and not a disaster area, and to stick to the goals you’ve set together.
Also establish or re-establish helpful routines. Give your kids the consistency of fairly regular routines (weekends and holidays can be breaks). Bedtime, wake-up, study, homework, play, family time kids rely on these routines, and the structure helps them to feel safe, know what’s expected of them and be successful.
Spring check-up: Stay informed about the end-of-school activities for which your child will be responsible. Encourage students to use plan-
ners to create timelines, or place a large calendar with deadlines and test dates in a visible area of the house.
Spring tune-up: Help your child evaluate the subjects or areas that she finds most challenging. Assigning a priority to homework items according to their level of difficulty will save time by ensuring your child devotes the most energy to the areas that require extra focus and attention.
Spring in your step: Exercise is a great way to alleviate stress and stimulate the mind. Taking short exercise breaks between assignments can refresh a student’s energy level and renew focus. Maintain healthy habits since healthy kids are better learners. Help your children by making sure they’re getting enough sleep, insisting on their good eating habits, and making sure they’re involved in regular and aerobic exercise.
Spring break: Compressing study time into one all-nighter may seem like a good way to save time, but the brain is less efficient without taking a break to rest, and a student’s memory can be affected. A better alternative is to ensure your child obtains the recommended amount of sleep by spreading study efforts out over a period of time.
Spring forward: Use your family’s “found time” to celebrate spring successes! Show your child that you are confident in her academic abilities, and reward the little things, such as improved concentration while studying or proactively organizing her homework space.
Recommit to learning: With your children, come up with one or two major goals that they want to accomplish for the remainder of this school year. Raising that algebra grade? Getting homework done on time and turning it in the next day? Organizing a study area at home? Using a planner regularly and efficiently?
Agree on some age-appropriate rewards and consequences. Commit to a family-centered goal that education is important to all of you,
work together to support, encourage and help each other.
Directed by Luis Vivas June 30th - August 22nd Monday - Friday 1:00PM - 5:00PM
PRICE FOR FULL WEEK - $425 DAILY RATE - $95
INSTRUCTION, DRILLS, & MATCH PLAY! MUST BE WILLING TO LEARN AND HAVE FUN!
MUST SIGN UP IN ADVANCE WITH FULL PAYMENT, SAME DAY WALKINS MAY HAVE TO BE TURNED AWAY.
FOR KIDS 4-18 YEARS OLD - TENNIS: RED, ORANGE, GREEN & YELLOW BALL, TOURNAMENT TRAINING, PICKLEBALL & MULTISPORT AVAILABLE!
Directed by Kristen Cassidy June 30th - August 22nd Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 9:00am - Noon
PRICE
Camp consists of tennis, pickleball, and multi-sport instruction and games!
O ering recreational and professional track classical ballet training for toddlers through adults, ABT© Curriculum, Pre-Primary through Level 5.
KIDS, CAMp and SCHOOL
Watch your child progress in a structured class environment with certi ed instructors. Our thorough syllabus prepares dancers for a career or simply a life-long love of the arts. No matter your goal, every child bene ts from a strong classical foundation.
Summer and fall classes include Ballet Technique, Pointe, Partnering, Acro*, Contemporary, Tap*, Jazz, PBT, Acting and Improv* and more.
Summer Classes, Camps & Intensives 5 or 6-week programs
Regular evening and weekend classes in July & August Youth Day Camps in June & July (August forming) Multi-week Intensives for Experienced Dancers in August
Summer and Fall Enrollment is now open
*No ballet prerequisite. Adults, want a fun way to get in shape? Join us for adult ballet, PBT or tap. BeginnerAdvanced adult classes are o ered for students age18+.
Sunday, June 15th, 2025 and Sunday, August 24th, 2025
Fitting it all in Managing the after-school activities juggle
For many families, the morning rush isn’t the most chaotic time of the day. Instead, the sanitybuster is that long stretch from the time school lets out until the final activity ends and everyone is home.
Surviving the afternoon activities juggle is all about planning and time management and it’s also an opportune time to teach kids valuable skills.
opportunity with activities is it’s a great to learn time management,” says Dalgliesh, a professional organizer who helping kids who are anxious or a skill that will help them throughlives.”
preparation, the activities crunch and parents on a quick path and exhaustion. these tips from the experts for child’s after-school activities a fun rewarding part of childhood and for child the skill of time manage-
Choose the right activities. There is no everyone to run ragged getting to volpractice if your child no longer enjoys it. about mindful choices,” Dalgliesh says. your child to get value out of any whether it’s a great social outlet or a off a lot of energy.”
Consider timing. If you’re lucky enough to in times, choose wisely. “Think well your child does with transitions,” says. “For some kids, coming home wind-down time, [so] parents may want library after school to do homework stopping by the house.”
Honor the family meeting. There is a cenwhen it comes to family time manEveryone must get together once a calendars in hand, to plan out the Figure out how each kid will get to activity, and make plans for meals When doing the planning, try to least one night when the family can together. Make your weekly meetfollowing it with a family movie or
game night. Or, suggests Grey, dole out allowance and lunch money at the end of the meeting.
Maintain a family calendar. Each family member needs his or her own week-at-a-glance calendar, and you also need a family calendar. Yes, that’s a lot of calendars, but it will help ensure all activities are well-planned.
Get the activity bags ready. Get your kids in the habit of packing their activity bags on Sunday night. Designate a place for them to hang or store their bags. For activities requiring a lot of gear, use a checklist to make sure nothing gets left behind.
Embrace meal planning. It’s important to plan simple, consistent meals, especially if you’re a busy family with a lot of activities. For example, kids love theme dinners such as “Taco Tuesday,” and can help with preparation and assembly. Also plan snacks, making sure to have high-protein nibbles available for kids before they embark on a strenuous activity.
Make car time special. If you spend a lot of time driving to and from activities, make that time count. Try an audiobook, choosing a story everyone in the family can enjoy. Dalgliesh plays a conversation game with her children.
She has a set of cards with prompts such as, “What is the worst meal you ever had in a restaurant?” or “What is your favorite vacation memory?” She passes the deck to her kids has them pick one. “It’s about finding those moments to connect,” she says.
Be flexible. Even the most carefully made plans can be rendered useless by a thunderstorm that cancels soccer practice, a sick child, or an unexpected work disaster.
Empower your kids. Give your kids as much control over their own planning and scheduling as they can handle. Different kids need different tools. Especially as kids get older, they need to own their organization system.
Photo: Keeping kids busy after school is a good thing, but participating in many activities without advance planning is inviting miscommunication, forgotten homework and cranky families. Instead, enlist your kids’ efforts each week in planning their time.
Although the chill and snow has us bogged down right now, it’s never too early to being thinking about summer camp. Since the most popular camps typically fill their rosters long before the first signs of spring, the earlier you begin the process, the more options your family will have available.
When choosing a camp or summer program, reputation and word of mouth are meaningful resources; however, a terrific match for one child and family might not be the best match for your child or family. The best advice is to think about your child’s interests and temperament, and make a list of camp features that are most important to your family and child.
Staff: The staff will play a crucial role in how much your child enjoys himself over the summer. A qualified staff is adept at making all children feel welcome, and will be experienced in making everyone’s time at camp as enjoyable as possible.
When connecting with camps, ask about staff and how the staff is assembled. What education and training is required of the staff? Does the camp run criminal background checks on its staff? A good staff will be trained in first aid and have some type of background in child counseling or education. Camps that simply hire recommends that 80 percent of a camp’s staff should be 18 or older.
Camp goals: Camps can differ greatly with
what they hope to offer a child. Camps can focus on religion, sports, music, recreation, or a host of other interests. If you’re looking for a sports camp, ask about affiliations with any local colleges or professional teams. If it’s a musical camp, ask about what your child can expect to learn from staff.
It’s also important to determine the general temperament of a camp. Does the camp foster a laid back or more competitive environ-
ment? This can be a big help in choosing the right camp for your child. For example, a child who isn’t very competitive likely will not enjoy a camp where competition is heavily emphasized, whereas a child who is competitive might not get much out of a camp that is more recreational.
Daily schedule: While some camps might be specialized, most parents send their children to recreational camps that they hope
offer their kids a well-rounded experience. Ask to see the schedule from a typical day, and ask about how flexible that schedule is. Will kids be able to choose from different activities each day, or is every day regimented? Remember, kids will be spending their summer vacations at camp, and for many kids camp is an opportunity to relax and spend some time doing what they want. Camps that feature strict schedules might not be the best fit.
Referrals: Chances are some of your child’s classmates attend camp in the summer. Ask around and seek some advice on what are the top options. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to send your child to a summer camp that some of his classmates also attend, which should make it easier for your child to adapt to camp, especially if it’s a first summer away from home.
If you can’t find any personal referrals, ask a camp for a list of references. These references shouldn’t weight too heavily in your decision, as a camp director is obviously not going to give you names of parents whose children didn’t have a good time. But the parents should be able to provide an accurate portrayal of how the camp conducts itself and how your child might fare should he attend that camp.
Photo: It’s much more than s’mores and sing-alongs: Camps can provide lifelong memories and skills.
A musical rendition of 2004 hit movie “Mean Girls” is coming to the Seaford High School stage with a trio of performances on March 7 and 8. A cast of 33 students will bring to life Tina Fey’s original story set at a fictional high school in Illinois.
“Mean Girls: High School Version” is based on the Tony-nominated Broadway musical that followed the movie more than a decade later. The lead actors for Seaford’s adaptation are Kylie Silverstein
as Regina George, Emily Salcé as Janis Ian, Cameron Calderaro as Cady Heron, Olivia Irwin as Gretchen Weiners, Bella Gerace as Karen Smith, Brandon Bombardier as Damian Hubbard, Dylan Malone as Aaron Samuels and Emma Baldwin as Mrs. Norbury. They bring their experience from several previous Seaford dramas and musicals.
“The cast feels like a family and everyone is really talented,” said Kylie, who plays the character dubbed the “queen bee” of the school.
Emily’s goal is to do justice to her character, Janis, an artsy outcast who used to be friends with Regina. She said the show will be a hit because the cast features many strong singers and dancers.
Emma, a senior, takes on the role portrayed by Tina Fey in the movie, an intelligent but wacky teacher. This is her sixth and final show on the Seaford High School stage and she couldn’t think of a better way to end her theater career.
“This is fun and fresh,” she said. “It’s like my life for the last four years because this is about high school.”
Cameron, as Cady, plays a 16-year-old girl who is new to the school and initially makes friends with the outcasts, but then changes to fit in with the popular students. By the end of the movie, Cady has a revelation.
Musical numbers include “Meet the Plastics,” “Revenge Party,” “Where Do You Belong?” and “World Burn.”
The director and choreographer is Samantha Gates-Weber, supported by producer Shari Raduazzo, musical director Gina Salvia and set designer Grant Weber. Gates-Weber, who is directing her final show after more than a decade at the helm, said she selected “Mean Girls” because she fondly remembers the movie and also felt it would work well for this year’s cast.
“It has good themes about being yourself and overcoming obstacles,” she said. “It’s so relatable to high schoolers and anyone watching in the audience.”
Show times are Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Seaford High School auditorium. Advance tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and can be purchased by contacting Raduazzo at (516) 592-4309 or sraduazzo@seaford.k12.ny.us.
Courtesy Seaford School District
The Seaford High School Drama Club will perform ‘Mean Girls’ on March 7 and 8.
Emily Salcé, left, Cameron Calderaro and Brandon Bombardier are among the lead cast members in the upcoming musical production.
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
By Danielle Schwab
IProhibition tale at Molloy’s Madison Theatre
t’s “the party to end all parties” and everyone’s on the guest list. You’re invited to travel back to the decadent world of 1920s Prohibition-era Manhattan when the roaring musical production of Andrew Lippa’s “The Wild Party,” arrives on the Molloy University campus shortly, March 7-9.
Audiences can expect a lively show filled with vibrant jazz and eclectic guests — also some uninvited “surprises” — that’s sure to keep the joint buzzing.
Observing the talented young performers involved with Molloy’s renowned CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory, guided by Director-Choreographer Billy Bustamante, you’ll surelly be thinking: ‘Let’s raise the roof, let’s make a scene!’
Set in the Roaring Twenties, it tells the tale of two vaudevillians, Queenie and Burrs, as they throw the party to end all parties. Jealousy and decadence abound in this spicy concoction whose tasty musical stew of jazz, blues, gospel, and Tin Pan Alley sounds remarkably contemporary.
Vaudeville dancer Queenie, (played by senior Jessica Olexy) and her intense partner Burrs (senior Cade Eller) host an evening of delight only to see it spiral into chaos with every twist and turn.
• Friday through Sunday, March 7-9; times vary
• Tickets start at $35; available at madisontheatreny.org or the box office at (516) 323-4444
• Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
Sondheim’s “Here We Are” (choreographer). Now Molloy’s theater students can benefit from his talents.
“I have history with this story,” Bustamente says. “I directed an off-Broadway production of the other version back in 2016, so this feels like a full circle moment, getting to explore this story again through different writers.”
There’s even a ‘show within a show’ musical number, “ A Wild, Wild Party,” a favorite of senior Angelo Domingo, who appears as a party guest, the rambunctious boxer Eddie.
The Pirates of Penzance
Shiver me timbers! Book your passage to the Madison Theatre when Molloy University’s renowned CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory, stages the classic musical, accompanied by the South Shore Symphony, Sail away to the whimsical world of Gilbert & Sullivan’s beloved operetta, where a merry band of parading pirates — led by their Pirate King — clash swords and nightsticks with the bumbling Bobbies on the shores of Cornwall. The story revolves around Frederic, who was apprenticed by mistake to a band of tenderhearted pirates. He meets the daughters of Major-General Stanley, including Mabel, and the two young people instantly fall in love. With its humorous blend of romantic entanglements and memorable melodies, this delightful production promises an evening of laughter and theatrical magic.
Friday through Sunday, Feb. 2123, times vary. Tickets start at $35. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 3234444.
“At this party, everyone has a secret and something to hide. This show explores what happens when those secrets and the masks — that we all wear — get ripped off,” Bustamante says.
Based on Joseph Moncure March’s 1928 poem of the same name, the award-winning off-Broadway musical wowed audiences with its look into love in a messy and exciting fashion when it debuted 25 years ago.
the award-winning off-Broadway musical wowed audiences with its the score,” Bustamante says. “The nature of the music
While the narrative poem is almost a century old, Lippa’s adaptation brings a modern take to the story, blending the captivating allure of the 1920s with a modern feel.
“The music is a lot more contemporary and eclectic, all while being rooted in jazz. There are some really exciting pop, Latin and contemporary musical theater elements in the score,” Bustamante says. “The nature of the music allows audiences today to engage with the story and see themselves in the characters’ experiences in a really impactful way.”
From larger-than-life dancing sequences such as “Juggernaut,” to soulful reflections as in “What Is It About Her?,” the production traverses the range of human emotions and complicated identities those vaudeville entertainers of that era.
“All these people at the party are people who don’t belong in other places. The nature of what it meant to be a vaudevillian performer was you were uplifted and applauded at one moment and then not allowed certain restaurants or rooms at the next,” Bustamante explains.
“At its core, it’s something really beautiful. But on the
“At its core, it’s something really beautiful. But on the other hand, these are all damaged people because of the lives that they’ve had to leave, and that sets the stage for an evening where a lot can really go down.”
This isn’t the first time that Bustamante has helmed the story. In fact, he was involved with a different musical adaptation of the famous poem, created by Michael John LaChiusa. His resume includes acting in productions such as Broadway Theatre’s “Miss Saigon” in addition to his directorial turns in “Here Lies Love” (assistant director) and Stephen
as a party guest, the rambunctious boxer Eddie. says.
“It was the number that introduced me to the show, and it has just a very fun, infectious vibe,” Domingo
an
opportunity to hone their performing skills before
For the cast of 25, this production is an opportunity to hone their performing skills before going forward professionally.
“The [CAP21] program teaches you a lot about how to be an individual in theater. Because we’re in New York, you get the experience of [being with] working professionals who are working on Broadway, Off Broadway and developing musicals,” Domingo continues.
[being with] working professionals who are
“I’ve grown in more ways than I thought I ever would. And when it comes to my training, I achieved things that I thought would take way longer to achieve already.”
Czech National Symphony Orchestra
So get ready to head to the theater — it’s time to join the party.
I thought I ever would. And when it head theater — it’s time to join the party.
audience Party” feeling
“I hope that our audience can leave “The Wild Party” feeling entertained, but at the same time a little educated and with a deeper understanding of themselves,” Bustamante
understanding of themselves,” Bustamante says.
masks serve you, and what masks might you
“And our version of the show can really help ask the question of our audience: ‘What masks serve you, and what masks might you be ready to let go.’
Recognized as one of Europe’s first-rank symphonic ensembles and renowned for its versatility, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra brings its current U.S. tour to Long Island, under the baton of music director Steven Mercurio. Dynamic guest soloist Maxim Lando, an American pianist and winner of the 2022 New York Franz Liszt International Competition, joins CNSO. He and violinist Sandy Cameron perform beloved works from the Romantic repertoire — Jan Václav Hugo Voríšek’s Sinfonia Re Maggiore, Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 and selected works from Antonín Dvorák, including Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 33 and Czech Suite.
The Wild Party contains mature themes.
Saturday, Feb. 22, 3 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Photos courtesy Madison Theatre Angelo Domingo and Mariposa Boyd step lively on stage.
different musical adaptation of the famous poem, created by Michael John LaChiusa.
Family theater
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to its stage, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21,-22, 11 a.m and 1:30 p.m.; also Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 26-27, 10:15 a.m. and noon. It is 3017 in this futuristic, musical retelling of “Cinderella.” She’s now a space engineer looking to revolutionize space travel. When the Prince holds a space parade, Cinderella saves it by helping fix the Prince’s spaceship. Cinderella knows it’s the perfect opportunity to show the Prince her new hyper warp speed engine. But first, she’ll have to keep her evil stepmother from throwing a wrench in her plans! $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.
Bingo at Temple B’nai Torah
Temple B’nai Torah hosts a fun-filled bingo session, every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and every Thursday, 7:15 -10 p.m. Prizes, progressive games and refreshments available. 2900 Jerusalem Ave., in Wantagh. For more information, call (516) 221-2370.
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?
Boat slip lottery
Nassau County residents can apply for the 2025 Wantagh Park boat slip lottery now through Saturday, March 7, at the Wantagh Park Marina Office. The drawing will be held on Sunday, March 8, 10 a.m. Applicants must submit a Nassau County Leisure Passport, driver’s license, boat registration, and recent tax or utility bill, along with a $36 non-refundable fee (cash or credit). For more information, call (516) 571-7460. 1 King Road, Wantagh.
Game time
Enjoy Mah Jongg and Canasta every Thursday, noon-4 p.m., at Congregation Beth Tikvah. $5 contribution, no outside food, as snacks and drinks will be supplied. Bring your games and cards, lessons available. 3710 Woodbine Ave., Wantagh. For more info, email mahjonggCBT@ yahoo.com or call (516) 7852445.
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 followup to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. The exhibit encompasses significant cultural advancements during Long Island’s Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age movement, including votes, jobs, and the automobile for women, the beginnings of suburbia with commutation for work, and planned residential communities, which all defined the era, while the following decade brought economic reversals and the WPA program. Works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Fernand Léger, Guy Pène du Bois, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, and Reginald Marsh, among others, along with art deco stylists of poster art and graphics, and photography will convey the Art Deco spirit along with its furniture, decorative arts, and fashion.
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.
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.
briefs
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Celebrating WinterFest in Levittown
State Sen. Steve Rhoads joined Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, Councilman Dennis Dunne, Legislator Tom McKevitt, and Assemblyman John Mikulin at the Levittown Community Council’s WinterFest at the Island Trees Public Library on Feb. 8.
Rhoads was inspired by the dedication of community groups working to make Levittown a great place to live. He expressed his gratitude to the event
organizers for bringing the community together and creating a memorable experience for local families.
“Events like WinterFest showcase the heart of Levittown—neighbors coming together to celebrate, support one another, and strengthen our community,” Rhoads said. “Thank you to everyone who made this event such a success!”
— Charles Shaw
Rhoads, local officials, congratulate students in Lions Club’s Blood Drive Poster Contest
State Sen. Steve Rhoads joined Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, Councilman Chris Schneider, and Legislator Michael Giangregorio at the Lions Club of Seaford’s annual Blood Drive Poster Contest on Feb. 1, celebrating the creativity and community spirit of local students.
Students from Seaford Manor School and Seaford Harbor School used their artistic talents to raise awareness about
the Blood Drive and the urgent need for blood donors. With the current blood shortage, their efforts played a crucial role in encouraging lifesaving donations. Since its inception, the Seaford Lions Club Blood Drive has collected over 3,500 pints of blood, enough to save more than 10,000 lives. Rhoads congratulated the talented contest winners and commended these budding artists for their dedication to help raise awareness.
Courtesy Office of State Sen. Steve Rhoads
State Sen. Steve Rhoads joined local officials on Feb. 8 at Island Trees Public Library for Levittown Community Council’s annual WinterFest.
Courtesy office of State Sen. Steve Rhoads
State Sen. Steve Rhoads joined local officials for the Lions Club of Seaford’s annual Blood Drive Poster Contest on Feb. 1.
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.
cal issues. Some are consistent with campaign promises Trump made, but others clearly step on the toes of the 435 members of Congress.
W e once learned that the White House, Congress and the courts were co-equals.
Having served in the State Assembly for 23 years, I am very much aware of how the systems work in both Washington and Albany. I have seen the Legislature in Albany flex its muscles and override the governor on many occasions. I have seen the courts tell the Legislature that it has stepped over the line and violated the state Constitution.
On Jan. 20, President Trump issued an avalanche of executive orders. Many of them have escaped public attention, because voters don’t spend all their time watching the news and following politi-
Under Article I of the Constitution, Congress is given the sole authority to appropriate money for the operation of the government. There is no language that allows the president to impound funding authorized by Congress. The president campaigned on the promise of abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, but only Congress can dissolve a federal agency.
Some of the most challenging developments in the new Trump term are the actions taken by Elon Musk. He may have been given a blanket direction to cut government waste, but he is not allowed to abolish any federal agency that has been created by Congress. Musk has effectively shut down one agency already by restricting funding, but his powers will no doubt be challenged in the federal courts.
The biggest surprise to me, as a former state and local official, is how civil service protections are being totally ignored. Notices have been sent to thou-
sands of federal workers offering them buyouts with no guarantees that they will keep their jobs if they don’t take them. Actions taken by the administration to force career employees out of their jobs defy what the civil service system is about.
The most eye-popping development is the failure of any Republican member of Congress to complain about the impact of the funding impoundments on their own home communities. Major cancer research hospitals in Louisiana, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas have made urgent cries about the loss of anticipated dollars. Special drugs for serious diseases can’t be purchased without assurances that the money will be available. Rather than free up these dollars, the White House is focusing on efforts like halting the production of pennies that are popular with the public. There seem to be no people in Washington who are echoing the voices of the Founding Fathers. That is our loss.
Jerry Kremer was an assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
Established 1990
Incorporating
Wantagh/Seaford
In civil discourse, everyone deserves respect
iHERALD
n 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
