Great Neck News 2022_12_09

Major crimes in Nassau up 38% since ‘21

SMASHING PUMPKINS

County

sees decreased reports in rape, murder, sexual assault

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Major crimes in Nassau County as of Oct. 10 had already surpassed 2021’s 12-month total of 5,230, according to statistics reported by police.

The Nassau County Police Department said on its website that 5,542 major crimes occurred from Jan. 1-Oct. 10 this year, an increase of 38% from last year.

The county is on pace to report approximately 1,850 more crimes this year, which would bring Nassau’s annual total to nearly 7,400, a projection by Blank Slate Media showed.

The list of major crimes includes murder, rape, criminal sexual acts, sexual abuse, grand larceny, commercial robberies, other robberies, assault felonies, residential burglaries, other burglaries and stolen vehicles.

The 2021 year-end major crime statistics were obtained by Blank Slate Media under a Freedom of Information Law request submitted to the Nassau County Police Department. The 2022 major crime statistics on the department websites were the most up-todate figures published as of Friday.

Nassau has reported six murders, nine sexual abuse incidents, two criminal sexual acts and seven rapes so far this year. By comparison a total of 10

murders, 11 sexual abuse attacks, 10 criminal sexual acts and 19 rapes were reported in 2021, according to the statistics.

The violent crime categories of murders, rapes, criminal sexual acts and sexual abuse were the only four categories with decreased reports in 2022. Murders decreased by 14%, rape decreased by 59%, criminal sexual acts decreased by 75% and sexual abuse instances decreased by 18%.

The largest increase in major crimes was an 87% rise in stolen vehicles, with 796 reported so far this year. Commercial robberies also increased by more than 51% this year, with 165 reported as of Oct. 10. Police reported 3,354 grand larceny incidents in 2022, a 38% increase from 2021.

Residential and “other burglaries” combined to surpass 2021’s year-end total of 642, with 39% and 17% increases, respectively.

In Nassau’s 3rd and 6th Precincts, which make up a majority of North Shore communities, 2004 major crimes had occurred as of Oct. 10 this year, compared to 1,353 last year, an increase of more than 48%.

The 3rd Precinct, located in Williston Park, serves the communities of Albertson, Bellerose Terrace, Belle-

Village officials express NIMBY concerns in G.N.

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Some elected officials in Great Neck fear that residents against development could impede efforts to revitalize the peninsula, but ex-

pressed their desire to pitch in and help their neighbors who seek smallscale enhancements.

The Great Neck Village Officials Association held a meeting Wednesday which featured a presentation

from Destination: Great Neck, a grassroots organization whose mission is to aid Great Neck’s business district. Destination: Great Neck co-founder and local attorney Janet

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GREAT NECK PARK DISTRICT

Katz, Cilluffo running unopposed in races

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Great Neck Water Pollution Con trol District Commissioner Patty Katz and Great Neck Park District Commis sioner Frank Cillufo are running un opposed in their respective elections on Dec. 13.

Katz, nicknamed “Commissioner Treehugger” by her colleagues at the district, was frst elected to the posi tion in 2016. Preserving the environ ment, she said, has always been a great passion of hers.

A Great Neck resident for nearly 40 years, Katz has facilitated envi ronmentally progressive discussions between politicians, combatted issues such as fracking and climate change, and hosted many public forums to ed ucate the community on the environ ment as part of Reach Out America’s Green Committee.

Katz, who founded the commit tee, said the organization has part nered with ofcials throughout the town to improve the broader North Hempstead environment. She also helped initiate the peninsula-wide an nual Shed the Meds event, something she said she is extremely proud to continue.

“I grew up in Great Neck, so Shed the Meds was one event where residents of Great Neck came and supported this and showed how envi ronmentally conscious they are,” Katz said. “Not polluting and dumping un wanted or expired medications down the toilet or flling up their garbage with it makes me very happy as an environmentalist to be a part of this.”

Adjusting to life since the corona virus, she said, the pandemic allowed the district to focus not only on the quality of wastewater, but how the district could also monitor it to further prevent the spread of the virus. The district recently received a grant to enhance wastewater testing and track the coronavirus, among other viruses, before a public outbreak is reported.

Under her supervision, the district was granted the 2018 New York State Environmental Excellence Award. Ad ditionally, Katz received the Nassau County Comptroller’s Women Break ing Ground Award in 2017, and the May W. Newburger Women’s Roll of

Honor in 2012.

Katz touted the importance of electing a commissioner with experi ence along with a variety of other en vironmental, ecological and general infrastructure knowledge.

“I think some people can think this can be a cushy job, but it’s really not,” she said. “We work very hard and we oversee a lot so you really have to know what you’re doing.

The election will take place on Dec. 13 from 1 p.m.- 9 p.m. at the district headquarters, 236 East Shore Road, Great Neck N.Y. For more in formation visit: https://gnwpcd. net/?page_id=18.

Cillufo is a retired NYPD commu nity afairs public safety director and a longtime resident of Great Neck. Cillufo has a 19-year-old daughter, Francesca.

He was frst elected to the posi tion of commissioner in 2014 in a special election to fll the vacant seat that had been held by Ruth Tamarin.

Cillufo stepped in and worked with the other commissioners to see what improvements to the park could be made that would not be at the taxpay ers’ expense.

Cillufo was also re-elected to his seat in 2019.

Programs and events that have been implemented over the past eight years include a holiday tree lighting, enhanced commuter parking, pickle ball for children, community gardens maintained by volunteer students and more.

An active member of the commu nity beyond being park district com missioner, Cillufo is involved with the Rotary Club and the Lighthouse Soci ety, and is a youth hockey coach and a member of the Memorial Day Parade Committee.

If re-elected, Cillufo will serve for another three years beginning on Jan. 1, 2023. The district election will take place Dec. 13 from 1 p.m.- 9 p.m. and

Sewanhaka awaits state mascot ruling

Ordered to stop using Native Americans

BY BRANDON DUFFY

Sewanhaka Superintendent James Grossane said at the Dec. 1 Board of Education meeting the dis trict is waiting to receive regulations from the state Education Department before determining how to move for ward with Sewanhaka High School’s mascot, the Indians.

“This was a topic of great discus sion at the county’s superintendent meeting last week and the advice we received and are following is we are waiting for the regulations,” Gros sane said during his report. “In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, two change.org petitions were created demanding the mascots for Sewan haka and Manhasset, also an Indian, be changed. the regulations will very clearly spell out what we need to do and what the procedure would be.”

imagery depicting Native Americans by the end of the 2022-2023 school year or risk losing state aid.

Sewanhaka High School, one of fve high schools in the Sewanhaka Central High School District, is cur rently known as the Indians.

“Those school districts that con tinue to utilize Native American team names, logos, and/or imag ery without current approval from a recognized tribe must immediately come into compliance,” the Novem ber memo said. “Should they require guidance, districts may reach out to those districts that successfully retired their mascots or their local Board of Cooperative Education Services. The Department is developing regulations that will clarify school districts’ obli gations in this respect.”

The state DOE released memo Nov. 17 ordering school districts to stop using mascots, team names or

Continued on Page 51

The superintendent said Thurs day he believes the district will be required to form a committee on the matter and seek student input, among Continued on Page 50

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOTH CANDIDATES

Great Neck Water Pollution Control District Commissioner Patty Katz (left) and Great Neck Park District Commissioner Frank Cil luffo (right) are running unopposed in their respective elections on Dec. 13.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SEWANHAKA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DIS TRICT

A Sewanhaka High School student dressed as an Indian, the school’s mascot, at their 2017 homecoming parade.

‘Torso Killer’ pleads guilty to murders

lot of Green Acres Mall in 1968

BY BRANDON DUFFY

A New Jersey man known as the “Torso Killer” pleaded guilty to a 1968 cold case murder of a New Hyde Park woman who he strangled in the parking lot of the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, the Nassau County DA announced Monday.

Richard Cottingham, 75, of the South Woods Estate Prison in Bridgeton, N.J., also admitted to killing four additional women in Nassau County in the 1970s, according to District Attorney Anne Donnelly.

Cottingham, also known as the “Times Square Killer” will not be charged for the four additional homicides he admitted to in court Monday.

The serial killer is serving multiple life sentences for previous murder convictions in New York and New Jersey.

“Serial killer Richard Cottingham has caused irreparable harm to so many people and so many families,” Donnelly said. “Today, he took responsibility for the murder of five young women here in Nassau County between 1968 and 1973. He overpowered, assaulted and brutally murdered them to satisfy his craven desires. Thankfully he will spend the rest of his life in prison where he belongs.”

Diane Cusick, a 23-year-old mother, was a resident of New Hyde Park and an instructor at an Oceanside-based dancing school when she told her family she was going to the Valley Stream mall to buy dancing shoes on Feb. 15, 1968, police said.

When she did not return home, Cusick’s parents drove to the mall where they found their daughter’s body, hands bound and mouth taped shut in the back of her Plymouth Valiant,

police said.

It was determined that Cusick died from asphyxiation due to strangulation.

Donnelly said advancements in DNA tech-

nology allowed evidence from the scene to be retested, which created a profile matching Cottingham’s.

On May, 10, 1972, police found the body of Mary Beth Heinz, a Mineola native, floating face down in a stream near Maine Avenue in Rockville Centre. It was determined she died by asphyxiation due to strangulation and suffered contusions and abrasions to the face and neck, police said. She was working as a mother’s helper in Bellmore at the time of her murder.

In a similar area near Heinz, an 11-yearold boy found the body of Laverne Moye on July 20, 1972. The 23-year-old Queens native was strangled to death.

Cottingham also admitted to strangling Maria Emerita Rosado Nieves. Police found her body on Dec. 27, 1973, in a weeded area of Jones Beach and covered in plastic bags and wrapped in a gray blanket, police said. The Puerto Rican native lived in Manhattan at the time of her murder.

Cottingham has murdered at least 11 young women in New Jersey and New York between 1967 and 1980 while claiming he is responsible for over 100 homicides, according to CBS News.

On May 22, 1980 Cottingham was arrested at the Hasbrouck Heights Quality Inn while he was torturing an 18-year-old sex worker Leslie Ann O’Dell after motel staff called the police, according to the NY Daily News.

He was convicted of murder in 1981, 1982 and three murders in 1984.

N.J. native strangled New Hyde Park woman to death in parking

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Richard Cottingham in 1980.

Music industry icon Koppelman dies

BY STEVEN KEEHNER

Charles Koppelman, a Roslyn Har bor resident and longtime music and entertainment industry executive, died of cancer Nov. 25 at 82, his fam ily announced.

Koppelman worked with many artists, including Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, the Lovin’ Spoonful, Tracy Chapman, Wilson Phillips and Vanilla Ice. He was the chairman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and also held executive positions at EMI and Steve Madden.

“He lived exactly the life he want ed to live,” his son Brian Koppelman, co-creator of the Showtime series “Bil lions,” posted. “And he spent his last days surrounded by those he loved the most.”

Koppelman was born in Brooklyn on March 30, 1940. As a member of the vocal group The Ivy Three, they created a hit in 1960 with “Yogi,” named after the cartoon character Yogi Bear. It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Soon after Koppelman and his bandmate, Don Rubin, joined Car ole King, Neil Sedaka, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil on Aldon Music’s songwriting staf. They later founded Koppelman and Rubin Associates, an entertainment frm that signed The Lovin’ Spoonful the same year it de buted.

When Commonwealth United bought the company in 1968, the two

partners stayed and ran it until Kop pelman moved on to CBS Records. During his tenure, Koppelman signed Billy Joel, Dave Mason, Janis Ian, Journey and Phoebe Snow.

He founded The Entertainment Company in 1975 with Martin Band ier and Bandier’s father-in-law, New York real estate developer Samuel LeFrak. They managed and promoted song catalogs, as well as produced the work of artists such as Barbra Strei sand, Dolly Parton, Diana Ross and Cher.

Koppelman, Bandier and Stephen C. Swid formed SBK Entertainment World Inc. in 1986 and paid $125 mil lion for 250,000 songs owned by CBS. Notable tracks he purchased included “Over the Rainbow” and “New York, New York.”

The company grew to be one of the largest independent music pub lishers. It infuenced the careers of Mi chael Bolton, Robbie Robertson, New Kids on the Block, Grayson Hugh, Ice house and others.

Koppelman and Bandier formed a partnership with EMI Music World wide and launched their own label, SBK Records, in 1989. One year later, with Technotronic’s “Pump Up the Jam,” they received their frst plati num album. They signed artists such as Jesus Jones, Wilson Phillips, Water front and Vanilla Ice.

Koppelman later became the chairman of Steve Madden in 2000. He led the company while its founder

was imprisoned for securities fraud. He went to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia in 2005, where he also served as chairman.

Koppelman was the CEO of CAK Entertainment at the time of his death.

His second wife, Gerri Kyhill Kop pelman, and his three children from

his frst marriage with Brenda Kop pelman, Brian, Stacy and Jennifer, survive him.

Mistrial for N. Shore native, actor Masterson

BY BRANDON DUFFY

A rape trial for actor and North Shore native Danny Masterson has ended with jurors deadlocked on a verdict and a Los Angeles judge declaring a mistrial Wednesday.

Masterson, who grew up in East Wil liston and Garden City, faced three counts of rape involving separate women who have accused Masterson of assaulting them in 2001 and 2003.

The “That 70’s Show” star was origi nally charged in 2020 and released on $3.3 million bail. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A retrial is scheduled for March 27, 2023.

In 2017, Masterson was fired from Netflix’s “The Ranch” amid sexual assault allegations.

Opening arguments began on Oct. 18 with deliberations beginning on Nov. 15. Masterson did not testify during the pro ceedings.

The Los Angeles County District At torney’s Office said after the mistrial was declared that “we will now consider our next steps as it relates to prosecuting this

case” in a statement.

“While we are disappointed with the outcome in this trial, we thank the jurors for their service,” the DA’s office said. “We also want to give our heartfelt apprecia tion to the victims for bravely stepping forward and recounting their harrowing experiences.”

Philip Cohen, Masterson’s lawyer, said: “The vote count says it all, and it is a true testament to our justice system that the jurors were able to see through all the inflammatory noise and focus solely on what was truly important,” The New York Times reported Efforts to reach Masterson’s represen tatives were unavailing.

The Church of Scientology, of which Masterson is a member, reportedly played a significant role in the case against the actor, whose credits include the sitcom “Men at Work” and the 2008 Jim Carrey comedy “Yes Man.”

All three women who accused Master son are former Scientologists, according to Deadline.

One of the accusers, known only as Jen. B, said she was assaulted by Master son as she went in and out of conscious

ness in 2003, according to the Los Ange les Times. Jen. B detailed on the stand a party she attended in 2003 where she was offered a drink by Masterson.

She said she felt nauseous later in the night and was moved by Masterson to his bed after he made her vomit and take a shower, the Los Angeles Times reported.

She testified that she passed out in his bed before waking up to Masterson raping her, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Jane Doe #3, known as CB, said she was in a relationship with Masterson for six years, according to Deadline.

“I was sleeping, I woke up and he was having sex with me and I didn’t want to. … I told him I didn’t want to have sex, and he wouldn’t stop,” Jane Doe #3, aka CB, said of the encounter at their Holly wood Hills home,” reported Deadline.

The third woman in the trial, identi fied as N. Trout, said Masterson raped her in 2003 after he told her in a text message to come over to his Los Angeles home. She told the court that she made it clear that the two would not be having sex.

Efforts to reach Masterson’s represen tatives were unavailing.

PHOTO FROM RED CARPET REPORT ON MINGLE MEDIA TV

Danny Masterson, of East Williston and Garden City, pictured in 2015.

Roslyn Harbor resident worked with Barbara Streisand, Dolly Parton, Vanilla Ice among others

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ISLAND 360’S ARCHIVES

Charles Koppelman (second to the left). The Roslyn Harbor resident and longtime music and entertain ment industry executive died of cancer on Nov. 25 at the age of 82, according to his family.

Blakeman urged to denounce Trump

Legislators Lafazan, Drucker bash former president for dinner with antisemitic figures

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Nassau County Legislators Josh Lafazan (D-Woodbury) and Arnold Drucker (D-Plainview) urged Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to denounce former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago dinner with rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

Fuentes, a Holocaust denier and outspoken antisemite attended the dinner which was initially planned to be between Trump and Ye, the former president said on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump said “the dinner was quick and uneventful” and that Ye, whose antisemitic comments have circulated the news recently, arrived with three friends who he “knew nothing about.”

Lafazan and Drucker urged that Blakeman, the former liaison between Nassau County’s Republican Party and Trump who is also Jewish, denounce the meeting the former president had with the duo.

‘We implore you to immediately utilize your platform and stature as Nassau County’s first Jewish County Executive to denounce Trump’s destructive decisions and make

clear that you reject his reckless emboldening of our society’s most poisonous and bigoted voices,” the legislators urged in the letter.

Immediate efforts to reach Blakeman for comment were unavailing.

Fuentes, a former YouTuber whose hateful rhetoric and antisemitic views led to his channel being permanently suspended, recently demanded that Jews leave the country and that the military be deployed into Black neighborhoods.

Trump claimed he had no prior knowledge of Fuentes, who claimed Trump “liked” him and said “He gets me,” according to a report from the New York Times.

Trump also said Ye had sought business advice from him and that he “expressed no antisemitism,” according to the Times.

Ye’s appearance on far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ show InfoWars featured a handful of antisemitic rhetoric, most notably, “I see good things about Hitler.”

Ye, who wore a face mask during the nearly 3-hour interview with Jones, also said, “I love Jewish people, but I also love Nazis.”

Ye, in October, tweeted that he is “going death con 3 on JEWISH

PEOPLE,” a tweet which has since been deleted.

Drucker and Lafazan said a handful of prominent Republican Jewish officials have condemned the former president for hosting the event and that Blakeman should continue the trend.

“Your failure to date to denounce Trump’s despicable embrace of these individuals has been extremely disappointing,” the legislators wrote to Blakeman

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, bashed Ye for his comments on Twitter.

“Saying you “like Hitler,” “love the Nazis,” and spending all your time with a white supremacist makes one thing clear: Ye is a vicious antisemite,” Greenblatt tweeted last week. “His comments today on InfoWars are not just vile and offensive: they put Jews in danger.”

Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition told the Times, “We strongly condemn the virulent antisemitism of Kanye West and Nick Fuentes, and call on all political leaders to reject their messages of hate and refuse to meet with them.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman was urged to condemn former President Donald Trump’s dinner with Ye and Nick Fuentes.

Dowling named most influential leader

gun violence

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Northwell Health President and CEO Michael Dowling has been named the most influential healthcare leader in the nation by Modern Healthcare, his 16th appearance on the publication’s list.

Dowling, who was ranked second on the list in 2020 and third last year, was ranked higher than President Joe Biden, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and other brand leaders Moderna, UnitedHealthcare and CVS Health.

“This remarkable recognition truly is a reflection of the collaboration and work ethic elicited by thousands of Northwell team members who deliver compassionate care to our patients each and every day,” Dowling said in a statement.

“The past year had been one in which disrupters turned into major players and industry leaders raised their voices to effect change within their organizations and the broader community,” Modern Healthcare Editor Mary Ellen Podmolik said in a statement. “Our 2022 ranking of the ‘100 Most Influential People in Healthcare recognizes these individuals who are transforming a major sector of the nation’s economy and are focused on improving care and payment models.”

Aside from its continuing efforts to combat the coronavirus, Northwell also held its fourth annual conference on gun violence earlier this year. Northwell’s Center for Gun Violence has engaged hospitals and national health systems to work with communities and implement intervention programs.

The center also works to promote education on gun violence and launch awareness campaigns promoting gun safety to avoid accidental shootings and suicides, which account for roughly half of all gun-related deaths in the country.

As of this year, according to Modern Healthcare, guns are now the No. 1 cause of death among Americans 19 years old or younger.

Northwell also launched the Center for Maternal Health this year, aimed at addressing health conditions that could occur from preconception up to a child’s first year, particularly in underserved communities.

“Of course, our daily focus is on our sickest patients,” Dowling said. “But to serve our broader community, we also look at health trends both looming on the horizon and lurking under the cover of darkness. That’s why we’ve taken a stand against gun violence. That’s why we’ve opened Northwell’s Center for Maternal Health to reduce maternal mortality, especially among black Americans.”

Northwell has also worked with Doctors Without Borders by offering telehealth equipment and providing aid to Ukraine during the war against Russia.

Dowling, last year, was also named to the Top CEOs 2021 list by the job recruiting site Glassdoor, which compiled voluntary employee feedback from thousands of companies to rank America’s 100 best leaders.

Dowling earned a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award with a 96 percent employee approval rating, which placed him No. 22 among large company CEOs in the United States.

Dowling ranked second among the nation’s top healthcare/hospital CEOs on Glassdoor’s list, and he was first among all New York CEOs. Glassdoor also ranked Mr. Dowling among the nation’s Top CEOs in 2019, placing 44th overall. Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Glassdoor did not issue a Top CEO list in 2020.

During Dowling’s tenure as CEO, Northwell Health has become New York State’s largest health system, with 23 hospitals, approximately 800 ambulatory and physician practices, and $13.5 billion in annual revenue. He came to the system following 12 years as secretary of health, education and human services under former Gov. Mario Cuomo.

Modern Healthcare lauds Northwell President, CEO for work in public safety,

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHWELL HEALTH

Northwell Health President and CEO Michael Dowling.

One Outstanding Standard of Care—Three Locations

NYU Langone hospitals are once again rated A in patient safety

NYU Langone Hospital— Long Island

NYU Langone Hospital— Brooklyn

NYU Langone Hospitals (Manhattan)

Art exhibit to showcase humanity

‘Life Giving Life’ display by

BY STEVEN KEEHNER

Traveling and photography have always gone hand in hand for Dr. Alan Sloyer and his son, Michael.

“One of the most fun, inspiring, meaningful and purposeful ways to travel is by having a camera and being attuned to what’s going on around us,” said Michael. “Especially the life that’s going on around us.”

It was never their intention to make a show out of their photographs. Yet, seven years ago, the two noticed a recurring theme throughout 15 years of their trip documentation. It was this realization that gave rise to “Life Giving Life”.

The Sid Jacobson JCC will be the exhibition’s home until the end of the year. The display aims to inspire people to consider why human connection is so important and depicts the diversity of culture and natural environments in Africa, Asia, the Americas and more.

“Our daily lives are full of so much magic and if we’re paying attention to it, we get to see it and appreciate it and share it with others. If we’re not paying attention to it, then we miss it completely,” said Michael. “I’m guilty of missing it completely, just as much as anybody else. But I’m hopeful that this exhibition causes people to stop and take a second to appreciate the magic that’s in their everyday life.”

Alan is an award-winning photographer.

son will remain in Sid Jacobson JCC until year’s end

Michael, based in Tokyo, has had his work appear on travel blogs and websites, including the Huffington Post. He attended the Sid Jacobson JCC while growing up in Roslyn and said he is grateful to be able to give back to what was a “strong centerpiece” for him.

“I feel very lucky that [the Sid Jacobson JCC] asked us to be a part of this,” he said. “I also feel like gratitude that the pictures can help out in some way. Not only from a ‘creating a nice atmosphere inside’ perspective, but also financially, given that some people have been purchasing the photographs.”

The Sid Jacobson JCC will receive all the proceeds made from sales.

David Black, Sid Jacobson JCC’s executive director, said the club is privileged to work with Alan and Michael Sloyer and have their work hung displayed.

“This exhibit is so powerful and so moving,” he said. “We have already had such a wonderful response in the short time we have had it hanging in the halls of the building.”

Black also said he is grateful for the Sloyers attempt to bring attention to the club.

He has had his photographs appear in publications such as The New York Times, The New England Journal of Medicine, Chronos, Annals

Sport Psychology

Dr. Tom Ferraro has specialized in sport psychology for 20 years and works in the fields of golf, tennis, soccer, baseball, football, wrestling, lacrosse, figure skating, gymnastics, softball, fencing and more. He has helped professional teams, Olympians and elite young athletes learn how to manage the intense pressure of competitive sports. He appears on both TV and radio and has sport psychology columns in 5 different newspapers and has been featured in The New York Times, Wall street Journal and the London Times. Golf Digest includes him in their list of top mental game gurus in America. For a consultation see below:

Williston Park Professional Center 2 Hillside Ave, Suite E. Williston Park NY 11596 (building parallel to E. Williston railroad station) drtomferraro.com drtferraro@aol.com (516) 248-7189

of Internal Medicine and Shutterbug Magazine. He also has a gastroenterology practice in Great Neck.

“Like them, we believe that each moment of life is sacred and try to remember that each and every day,” he said. “We hope that our members and all who walk our halls over the next month stop to admire the work and think of its meaning – and then consider purchasing a photo from the exhibit.”

Ukrainian consul general visits Nassau County

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Nassau

Blakeman

The

County Executive Bruce Blakeman presented an honorary citation to Ukraine Consulate General Oleksii Holubov Monday.

welcomed the Ukrainian official to Nassau County who expressed his gratitude to the county executive and county residents for their sup-

port since the nation’s war against Russia began earlier this year.

county shipped nine pallets of fire equipment to Ukraine in April after the Russians launched a full-scale invasion in late February at the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Blakeman said the pallets consisted of hoses, helmets, jackets.

father,

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL SLOYER

A piece from the “Life Giving Life” exhibit. The display will be housed at the Sid Jacobson JCC until the end of the year.

PHOTO BY KAREN RUBIN/NEWS-PHOTOS-FEATURES.COM

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman welcomed the Ukranian consulate general to Long Island on Monday.

Police ID man found dead in Manorhaven

Mauricio Quintanilla, 46, was lying on ground in parking lot at 146 Shore Road Sunday

BY STEVEN KEEHNER

A homeless man who was found dead in a Manorhaven parking lot Sunday morning has been identifed, police an nounced.

Ofcials responded to a 911 call at the 146 Shore Road rear parking lot at 10:10 a.m. Ofcers arrived to fnd Mauricio Quinta nilla, 46, lying on the ground.

A Nassau County Police Med ic pronounced the man dead at the scene. The investigation was still ongoing.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or dial 911. Call ers will remain anonymous.

Flynn unopposed for M-L commissioner

BY BRANDON DUFFY

Steve Flynn will run unopposed for re-elec tion as a Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water District commissioner Dec. 13.

Flynn, a foreman for the Public Works De partment in the Village of Plandome, is run ning for his third term after frst being elected in 2016 when he defeated incumbent Donald O’Brien.

“I have 24 years of working with a water distribution system; I am a New York State certifed water operator for the past 22 years and have proudly served my community for 34 years as a volunteer frefghter,” Flynn told Blank Slate Media. “My goals continue to be to provide the best fre and EMS service to the district, provide safe and potable water for our residents, and continue to improve infrastruc ture, all while keeping our tax rates low.”

Flynn, a lifetime resident of Manhasset, held the position of 1st and 2nd lieutenant in his department and captain from 2000 to 2006.

The Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water District takes in all of Manhasset except for Plandome, half of Great Neck and some of northern New Hyde Park.

The Manhasset-Lakeville Water District serves approximately 45,000 customers who use 7.4 million gallons of water a day within the service area of 10.2 square miles, according to

the water district’s website. Eighteen wells at 13 locations provide water to Manhasset and por tions of Great Neck and North New Hyde Park.

If elected, Flynn would serve with Brian Morris and Mark Sauvigne.

The three-member board of commissioners, each of whom serves a three-year term, governs the district. Their terms are staggered so that a seat becomes available for election each year.

Though the commission oversees both the fre and water districts, which cover the same geographic area, the two are technically inde pendent of each other. They serve approximate ly 45,000 people, who use 7.4 million gallons of water a day, according to the water district’s website.

“My extensive water and fre experience, coupled with my leadership positions give me the experience and insight into what our district needs,” Flynn said. “I believe that my qualifca tions and my performance in the last six years serving as your Fire and Water commissioner solidifes that I continue to be the right person for this position.”

Voting for the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water District commissioner will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 13, from noon to 9 p.m. at fre house 1 at 35 Bayview Ave. in Manhasset, 3 at 25 Prospect St. in Great Neck, 4 at 97 Jayson Ave. in Great Neck and 5 at 21 78th Ave. in New Hyde Park.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CANDIDATE

Commissioner Steve Flynn of Manhasset.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

A photograph of 146 Shore Road in Manorhaven. Police said an unidentified man was found dead there on Sunday morning.

BY STEVEN KEEHNER

The Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation has donated $4.5 million to Catholic Health’s St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center in Roslyn.

The Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation, based in Port Washington and founded in 2011, seeks to help organizations that provide high-quality services to residents. They support over 200 qualified 501(c)(3) organizations throughout the United States.

The foundation’s investment in St. Francis’ enables the hospital to maintain its facilities and remain at the forefront of innovative technology, according to Catholic Health.

“It is through the kindness and foresight of our donors that we can constantly implement new advancements in care across all major service lines and remain leaders in service that provide the best and safest care to our patients,” said St. Francis Hospital President Charles Lucore. “We are grateful to the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation for being our trusted partners in our mission and commitment to reach all those in need of world-class healthcare.”

The elevator banks of the Heart Center and the DeMatteis Pavilion are now named after the foundation. They have also placed commemorative plaques in each elevator to recognize physicians, nurses, administrators and support staff, per the request of the Dejana family.

“Our hope is that the sentiment expressed on these plaques conveys to all those who are part of Catholic Health how much their talents

and efforts are appreciated by our family and those whose lives are impacted by their good work,” said Peter Dejana.

The new physicians’ lounge will also be named after the foundation. Doctors may re-

lax in the area before and after procedures and rounds.

“Creating the lounge space for St. Francis physicians to relax, confer with each other or just take a needed break is something we felt

important to provide, and it became a priority for us to see it through,” said Dejana. “We want to show our appreciation for these caregivers and support their lifesaving work in the hospital.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

The exterior of Roslyn’s St. Francis Hospital. The Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation has given the hospital $4.5 million.

Re-elect Patty Katz as G.N. water commish

Iam proudly supporting Patty Katz to be reelected as a Commissioner of the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District. Patty is currently the chairwoman of the board and has impressively served our community during her tenure.

The GNWPCD serves critically important functions, doing the behind the scenes work that is necessary for our broader community to thrive. In particular, the district manages over 5 million gallons of wastewater every day and is relied upon by more than 25,000 residents living in various parts of the Great Neck Peninsula as well as portions of Manhasset. The wastewater treatment facility transports sewage through 72 miles of sewers locally via 10 separate sewage pump stations.

Patty has played an essential role in overseeing the district’s capitol plan to upgrade or replace

seven of the 10 pump stations. So far the plan has been executed very impressively, already completing three upgrades only two years into the fiveyear plan. The district has also completed upgrading the plant itself during her tenure. And, best yet, the project was completed within its budget and on time.

She has also spearheaded the Shed the Meds program that has collected thousands of pounds of unwanted and expired meds along with thousands of needles and Epipens.

Patty completes her roles with little fanfare and gets the job done! Please thank her by offering her your vote on December 13th at the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District headquarters.

Peter Fishkind Great Neck

Time for Nassau GOP to speak against hate

Of course, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman should denounce former President Donald Trump for dining at Mar-A-Lago with Holocaust denier and white nationalist Nick Fuentes and Ye, the entertainer formerly known as Kanye West, who recently kicked off a campaign against Jews by declaring “Death Con 3 on Jewish people.”

That was before the heavily criticized dinner with Trump. Afterward, West went on an Alex Jones podcast wearing a mask and praised Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.“There’s a lot of things that I love about Hitler,” West said.

Nassau County Legislators Arnold Drucker and Joshua Lafazan, both Democrats, were right to criticize Blakeman, a Republican, for remaining silent following the dinner at Mar A Lago.

“In the days following this incident, prominent Jewish Republican leaders across the country have been among the scores who have loudly and unequivocally condemned Trump and his association with and mainstreaming of virulent antisemites and racists,” Lafazan and Drucker wrote in a letter to Blakeman. “On the contrary, your failure to date to denounce Trump’s despicable embrace of these individuals has been extremely disappointing.”

Drucker and Lafazan might have added that more than the usual suspects among Republican congressional leaders also have criticized the meeting in one form or another.

And for good reason. Not forcefully denouncing West and Fuentes allows the unacceptable to become acceptable.

“The normalization of antisemitism is here,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, following Trump’s dinner with West and Fuentes.

This cannot be permitted anywhere. In Nassau County, Blakeman’s condemnation is important for several reasons. He is the highest office holder in Nassau as well as its first Jewish county executive where, as he pointed out in announcing a trade agreement with areas occupied by Israel, he represents 230,000 Jews.

As county executive, Blakeman is

also responsible for the public’s safety at a time when attacks, both verbal and physical, on Jews are surging. Antisemitic hate crimes in New York City more than doubled last month from a year ago, according to NYPD data.

Blakeman has frequently blamed bail reform for a rise in crime in New York. He should be just as vigilant about the rise of hate speech. He was also the Nassau County Republican Party’s liaison to Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign. So Blakeman carries more clout than many.

But Blakeman should not be the only Republican voice to speak out in opposition to Trump’s dinner and the rising tide of hate being directed at blacks, Muslims, Hispanics, members of the LGBTQ community and particularly Jews.

That is the responsibility of every Republican-elected congressional member state senator, assemblyperson, county official and county legislator who has supported Trump in the past. The former president’s association with racists and antisemites did not just begin with his dinner at Mar a Lago.

He has stoked the fires of hate since even before he began his first run for president in 2016 when he questioned without any basis the birthplace of Barack Obama, the United State’s first black president.

He kicked off his campaign with an attack on Mexicans crossing the border and began his presidency with a ban on Muslims entering the country. He showed his disdain for blacks and Asians throughout his campaign.

His platform featured attacks on “globalists” accompanied by photos of prominent Jews who he said were undermining the country by among other things replacing white Americans with immigrants to change the electorate in favor of Democrats.

During the racist, antisemitic “Unite the Right” march in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017, marchers carrying torches shouted “Jews will not replace us.” Trump’s response to the deadly confrontation that followed the march was that there had been “very fine people on both sides.”

In the wake of Trump’s language, hate speech, hate crimes and far-right

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groups emboldened by the president’s language surged. Some traditional Republicans left the party but most stayed as the Party of Lincoln became the Party of Trump.

We actually called on Blakeman to speak out against hate last December after members of the Proud Boys, a rightwing extremist group that helped lead the attack on the U.S. Capitol, marched without a permit down Sunrise Highway and into Rockville Centre where they stormed stores shouting slogans and passing out flyers detailing the group’s fringe philosophies. Members of the Proud Boys now face federal charges of sedition in federal court for their role in Jan 6.

But why the urgency now for Republican officials to speak out?

For one, Republican leaders, who are set to take over the House in January, say they will reinstate Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, and Paul Gosar, Republican of Arizona, to committees from which they were jettisoned by Democrats in part for their antisemitic comments or associating with white supremacists like Fuentes. This is at a time when Republican House members are becoming more extreme with the loss of representatives like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.

For instance, George Santos, a Republican who will now replace Democrat Tom Suozzi in Congressional District 4

REPORTERS

on the North Shore, attended Trump’s Stop the Steal rally before the attack on the Capitol and provided financial aid to some insurrectionists. Second, Trump, as seen by his meeting with West and Fuentes, appears to be trying to solidify his position by increasing his appeal to far-right Republicans.

This includes Trump calling on social media for the “termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution” so he can be immediately reinstated as president based on the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen.

But perhaps the most important reason for Blakeman and other Republicans to speak out now is what is happening on Twitter, the social media platform recently purchased by Elon Musk, the country’s richest man. His decision to provide amnesty to accounts operated by white nationalists and fringe activists has appeared to have turbocharged hate speech and threats of violence to blacks, gay men, and Jews

“Elon Musk sent up the Bat Signal to every kind of racist, misogynist and homophobe that Twitter was open for business,” said Imran Ahmed, the chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, in The New York Times. “They have reacted accordingly. Jews, to no one’s surprise, appear to be an especially popular target.

The Washington Post reported that “current and former federal officials are warning that a surge in hate speech and disinformation about Jews on Twitter is uniting and popularizing some of the same extremists who have helped push people to engage in violent protests, including the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Congress.

“The officials are predicting that Twitter will contribute to more violence in the months ahead, citing the proliferation of extreme content, including support for genocidal Nazis by celebrities with wide followings and the re-emergence of QAnon proselytizers and white nationalists,” the Post report said.

The experts say that sure as night follows day, violence will follow the hate speech on social media.

Blakeman and other Republicans in Nassau may disagree with Trump’s rhetoric but believe saying so would alienate a significant portion of their electorate – something Democrats don’t have to worry about. They may disagree with Trump’s rhetoric but also see that as an acceptable trade-off for policies such as tax cuts, cutting government regulation and the nomination of conservatives to federal courts.

But if that was ever an acceptable justification, it no longer is. They will almost certainly have blood on their hands if they remain silent now.

Democracy is alive and well in America

It seems like it is light years since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

To date, some 800 people have been charged with a variety of crimes with more to come. Two supporters of the overthrow of our government movement have been found guilty of sedition, which carries a possible 20-year sentence.

This is but one example of the fallout from the effort to overthrow the U.S. government.

The conviction of two of the leaders of the Proud Boys is a significant event that sends a message to some supporters of former President Trump that there is a Constitution and it can’t be trashed just because one man wants to do it.

There are many other events taking place that will make it clear that America was and is a democracy.

The grand jury meeting in Fulton County, Ga., has heard from over 100 witnesses about the various efforts that were undertaken to undermine the transfer of government and set

a precedent for future elections. It is anticipated that later this month the grand jury will recommend the indictment of many key figures who were part of the effort to overturn the Georgia election results.

The principal target of the jury is former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Following the defeat of Mr. Trump at the polls, Giuliani traveled the country spreading the message that the election had been stolen, even though he had no real evidence to back it up.

Under oath, he alleged all types of voting machine manipulations and improper conduct by election officials. It will not be a surprise if a grand jury votes to indict him and members of his legal team.

In addition to the legal team, there are 30 people who signed documents alleging that they were Trump delegates and that the Biden slate should not be recognized when the final vote process was completed.

JERRY KREMER Kremer’s Corner

Most of them were loyal party officials who were willing to believe anything they heard about the conduct of the 2020 elections. Their possible indictment could also send a message to the nation that the electoral process can’t be manipulated by

any citizen.

There are grand juries in two other states that are hearing witnesses on the subject of election fraud and Mr. Trump’s failure to turn over many sensitive government documents.

It is likely that the Florida jurors will find that the former president violated the Espionage Act by unlawfully withholding highly secret documents that were U.S. government property.

In 2005, Sandy Berger who was President Clinton’s top national security aide, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of government documents, so there is no way that Berger and a former president should be treated differently.

Another branch of the overthrow movement is the election deniers who were on the ballot in 14 states.

The most dangerous ones were the candidates for secretary of state. That position gives its occupant the ability to throw out election returns

and award them to their favored candidate. All of the election deniers were defeated at the polls as a sign that the voters recognized them as a threat to democracy.

There is no doubt that there are other cases being developed by the Justice Department and sometime in 2023, they will emerge one-by-one.

Further proof that the Trump dynasty is crumbling is the fact that almost all of the recent court rulings against Trump are being made by judges who he recommended for approval by the Senate.

Even the Supreme Court which leans heavily to the right has refused to give the ex-president any judicial relief.

Prior to this year’s election, there was a palpable feeling that serious efforts were being made to destroy our Constitution. Happily, the majority of the voters all over the country sent the anti-democracy group and Donald Trump a clear message that their views were not wanted or needed.

Stewart Rhodes, Nick the Nazi and Trump

The U S. Department of Justice has not successfully prosecuted a seditious conspiracy case in 27 years.

Until now.

Disbarred, Yale-educated Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, the largest armed militia in U.S., was found guilty of seditious conspiracy on Nov. 29 by a jury of his peers.

Also found guilty of the same charge was Rhodes’ central Florida associate Kelly Meggs.

Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Meggs attempted a coup — to overthrow a free and fair election, that withstood every legal test of credibility.

The two of them engaged in a concerted plot to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power. They were also found guilty of obstruction of government functions, along with three associates.

Rhodes and Meggs face 20-plus years behind bars. The others, 10-plus years.

These delusional “patriots” be-

lieved they were just like our nation’s founding fathers — fighting tyranny.

The unanimous jury verdict, however, was a repudiation of the Oath Keepers’ contention that, “We are patriots. The election was stolen. We came to set it right.”

Hardly.

The jury sent a resounding message to the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, QAnon, Florida Three Percenters and other extremist groups that aim to subvert the U.S. Constitution: “No you are not patriots, you are traitors.”

The seditious conspiracy verdict represents a monumental moment toward more broadly correcting the disinformation grounded in Donald Trump’s election denialism that has been endlessly infectious, supremely toxic and ultimately deadly.

Whether the fever will break with this verdict remains to be seen. It will only be so, though, when those that were in power at the time, who falsely and fraudulently claimed the election was stolen and then proceeded

MALEKOFF The Back Road

to incite deadly violence on Jan. 6 are brought to justice.

That is if it is true in the United States that no one is above the law.

To truly stem further political violence, the full measure of justice and accountability must rise above those that were found guilty on the ground. Justice must extend to the behind-the-

scenes plotters, planners, instigators and inciters that operated out of the White House and under their auspices.

As Rhodes and his confederates are pushed back beyond the margins of civil society where they belong, it is certain that the morally bankrupt Donald Trump will continue to stir the pot of white supremacy, however slickly he does it, that fuels so much of the divisiveness and hate.

In fact, there is no doubt about it.

Case in point: He lunches at his Mar-a-Lago beach house with neoNazi, Holocaust-denying toddler Nick Fuentes, whom he professes not to know and refuses to condemn.

Why won’t Trump condemn him? Because parasites like Nick the Nazi and those who admire him and subscribe to his hate, also like Trump, who Nick openly endorses.

And, that’s okay with Trump. Noxious ideology be damned as long as it broadens his base, activates the grift and fills his coffers.

Parasites believe they can only

strengthen themselves by attaching themselves to a particular host to gain some semblance of legitimacy.

And, although, small but growing numbers of the GOP have condemned Nick the Nazi, very few have done the same to the guy who welcomed him into his home.

Incredibly, some of those same U.S. representatives have proposed investigations to support those found guilty for their actions on Jan. 6, 2021.

Above all, the jury verdict is vindication for the crime victims of Jan. 6, 2021 and, perhaps, will serve as a deterrent for others who contemplate trampling the U.S. Constitution through violent means.

“Finding Rhodes guilty is an important message to anyone who thinks the election was stolen,” said Barbara McQuade, former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Bear in mind, Stewart Rhodes is no martyr.

Just a traitor.

POLICY

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THE BACK ROAD

ANDREW

Rich vs. poor at climate change summit

No, the annual UN conference on climate change known as COP27 was not about a police car. The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC was the 27th United Nations Climate Change conference, held from Nov. 6 to Nov. 20 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international treaty which acknowledges the existence of climate change and provides the framework for climate change negotiations. The convention was adopted in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, with 196 countries ratifying it into force in 1994. The Conference of the Parties is the decision-making body of the UNFCCC and is made up of representatives from all ratifying countries.

The COP has met each year since 1995 to review the implementation of

the convention. Each COP builds on the decisions and resolutions of previous COPs.

In 2022, the G7 nations (United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Japan and the European Union) came with an agenda of codifying the 1.5 Centigrade (roughly 3 degrees Fahrenheit) limit to global temperature increase that had not been successful at COP26.

Limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels is considered crucial as scientists predict that beyond that threshold, the impacts of climate breakdown will quickly become catastrophic and perhaps irreversible.

The nations of the Global South, the G77, representing the developing nations, had other ideas. These nations are already experiencing catastrophic impact, as the destructive flooding in Pakistan has evidenced,

JENNIFER WILSON-PINES Earth Matters

impacting 33 million people. The Maldives are predicted to be uninhabitable by 2100 with continued sea level rise.

The anger and resentment were

further fueled by unequal distribution of Covid-19 vaccinations, concentrated in the industrial nations of the north, and by the failure of those same nations to provide for an agreed-on fund for climate change intervention. Added struggles with energy costs, food shortages and mountains of debt brought the attendees tempers to a boiling point.

In this tense atmosphere, negotiations for immediate action and funding met with resistance from the G7, which failed to understand the depth of feeling. At sessions, nation after nation pointed at the continuing disaster in Pakistan and said, “This is also our future.”The deal that was finally agreed to on loss and damage may provide a basis for the rich countries to better understand the concerns of the poor. All parties will have to work together on setting up the fund and filling it with the monies needed for

the disasters already occurring.

But the deal didn’t include China, now one of the biggest emitters next to the United States. Perversely the G77 chose to side with China, which was not classed as a major emitter in 1995 and let them off the hook for emissions. So while COP27 was regarded as a major triumph and breakthrough by the G77, the G7 developed nations are concerned that without China reducing emissions, the 1.5C threshold line will not be achieved.

While this might seem removed from us, Long Island, with its exposed South Shore, is as vulnerable to climate change-driven sea level rise as the Maldives and increased storm events as Pakistan. The experience of Superstorm Sandy, now 10 years in the past, should be a lesson in the immediate need to build resilience and reduce carbon footprints to prevent future disasters.

OUR TOWN

A child’s search animates many classics

Anutcracker, a wooden puppet, and a stuffed rabbit walk into a bar.

The bartender says “Hello, Gentlemen, what can I do for you this evening?” to which they all say “Do you have anything that can make us real?” The bartender pauses, thinks for a moment, and responds by saying “Well, no, but I have the number of a guy who calls himself The Wizard. Maybe he can help.”

How to become a real human being is a topic seen in many children’s stories. These tales often involve inanimate toy objects that long to become

real. “The Nutcracker” is one of the most popular ballets ever made and is used worldwide to usher in the Christmas season.

The original version was written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816, then redone in 1892 by Alexandre Dumas and set to music by zpyotr IlyichTchaikovsky. The story takes place on Christmas eve in the home of the Stahlbaums and their two children Marie and Fritz.

The central plot involves a wooden nutcracker that looks like a toy soldier and is made real by the love of the young Marie.

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

This story shares elements with other famous children’s stories. Pinocchio was also made of wood, which eventually became real thanks to the Blue Fairy but not before experiencing several moments and challenges.

In the children’s book “The Velveteen Rabbit” a shabby old stuffed rabbit was once loved by a boy who outgrew him and the rabbit longs to be real. Its wish is granted by a garden Fairy but only after he sheds a tear.

Similarly, in the 1995 children’s film “Toy Story,” all the toys in the playroom have a deep longing to be played with by their human owners and not be abandoned. In the film “A.I.” by Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick, a boy android named David longs to become real after his human

mother abandons him. David is helped along the way by the android, Gigolo Joe, played by Jude Law.

And the most well-known tale of inanimate things that want to become real is seen in the “The Wizard of Oz” back in 1939. This is story of the scary journey down the yellow brick road taken by Dorothy, the Tim Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow, all seeking their true inner self. Dorothy wants a loving home, the Lion wants courage, the Tin Man needs a heart and the Scarecrow a brain.

The dystopian science fiction story “Klara and the Sun” by Nobel Prizewinning author Kazuo Ishiguro is about a solar-powered A.F. (Artificial Friend) who is deeply bonded to her owner, a sickly child named Josie.

Klara is like a child herself and thinks animistically that the Sun will save her human friend. The novel was long-listed in 2021 for the Booker Prize in literature. Here again the author is grappling with the concept of what it means to be a real human being.

Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” is said to be the first horror story in literature and is about a creature that was made into a human only to be abandoned by its creator, Dr. Frankenstein. These stories became popular because they touch upon a basic human need, the desire to be real, true to oneself by experiencing love.

In “The Nutcracker” Marie’s love

conjures up a warrior protector out of a wooden nutcracker. Pinocchio disobeys his creator, Geppetto, ventures out into the dangerous world and is protected and transformed by the love of the Blue Fairy. David in the Spielberg film “A.I.” embarks upon a harrowing quest to find ways to become a real boy and to finally be loved through the help of advanced aliens robots of the future.

All of these stories represent what the psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott referred to as the quest to find the true self.

Many children, especially gifted children, are exploited from an early age and learn that the only way to get any love is to become puppet-like or develop what psychoanalysts call a false self, responding to others’ needs and not their own. When this becomes habitual, it leads to depression and deep despair as typified in many of these stories of unhappy rabbits or robots or puppets or children.

The moral of all these tales, including “The Nutcracker,” is that growing up, being true to oneself requires a love that will set you free. The next time you see a children’s book, a ballet or a film featuring a toy, a stuffed animal, or a robot on a harrowing journey in quest of something, it’s a sure bet the author is actually discussing ways to find the most elusive thing on Earth: true love.

Blakeman ignores real threats to residents

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, closing out his first year in office, has proven himself great at cutting ribbons, holding pressers (while not actually answering questions) and photo ops, congratulating high school sports teams, hosting feel-good concerts, but bad at actually doing something to improve residents’ lives. Window dressing, but no actual leadership or governance.

Crime is up, but apparently he doesn’t consider hate crimes, fomented by White Christo Nationalists an issue, though he did announce increased security for synagogues after the New Jersey online threat, making a great show with Orthodox Jews, including Great Neck Mayor Pedram Bral.

Crime is up, but his focus? Overturning New York’s revamped gun laws banning guns from sensitive and high-trafficked areas. He is keen to have people arm themselves in schools, synagogues, on the LIRR, in public spaces. (But not government offices – the Executive Building looks like an armed encampment as he surrounds himself with security.) His concern for “public safety” extends to warning residents against the risk of Christmas tree fires back in October, and announcing Breast Cancer Awareness Week, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Fire Prevention Week.

That’s all the more relevant since real public threats — coronavirus, flu and RVS, even polio — are on the rise in Nassau County, at rates higher than New

York City, highest in the state, and higher than the nation.

Dr. Bruce Farber, chief of public health and epidemiology for Northwell Health, told Newsday it is vital for people to understand that being reinfected a second time with COVID-19 should be taken as seriously as a first infection.

“There’s some data just coming out that suggests the rate of long COVID and complications is just as high with re infections as it was with the original infection. So I don’t think people should have a false sense of security that if they had COVID once, they are out of the woods because that’s not necessarily true at all.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul is actively urging New Yorkers “to take advantage of all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy. Stay up to date on vaccine doses, and test before gatherings or travel. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options” – a message being reinforced with a public information campaign.

But what is Blakeman doing? Is Blakeman echoing the call to get vaccinations, boosted, wear masks, telling people where to go? Showing an example by getting the shot himself? Has he warned residents that even if they have already had Covid, they can get the new variant (so much for Trump’s ‘herd immunity’ strategy)? Is he reminding Nassau that the health insurance enrollment period is open? Of course not.

Blakeman is too interested in pretending all is well, all is normal. Well,

KAREN RUBIN View Point

the new “normal” is making pandemic precautions part of everyday life, not pretending, ostrich-like, that it does not exist.

Nassau’s new health commissioner, Dr. Irina Gelman, at a Blakeman photo op for Ukraine, said she would have to go back and review the statistics but that Covid, flu and RSV rates are up everywhere (it’s the winter holidays, after all) and that increases reflect more testing. But she did not mention any actual effort to urge county residents to get boosted, vaxed, or wear masks in public settings.

Requests for comment from Blakeman and Dr. Gelman were not answered by presstime.)

Blakeman is mining the resentment from segments of the county – such as Orthodox Jews – for the quarantine,

mask and vaccination mandates imposed by a Democratic governor and a county executive at a time when New York was at the epicenter of the coronavirus and Covid was killing 2 million Americans.

Another issue that poses a threat to Nassau County is cyberattacks and ransomware such as have debilitated Suffolk County. Blakeman’s solution is to hire a contractor, presumably to evaluate vulnerabilities.

Despite the steady drumbeat of new revelations concerning Suffolk County’s catastrophic cyberattack, the Republican majority on the Legislature has yet to act on two proposals by Legislator Siela A. Bynoe (D-Westbury): to establish a separate, internal cybersecurity administrator and team within the Nassau County Department of Information Technology to focus on strengthening the county’s systems and developing recovery protocols in the event of an attack and to direct the Department of Consumer Affairs to give any future victims resources that they can use to protect their credit and alert the major credit bureaus of the exposure.

But Blakeman has basically frozen out Democrats from any actual deliberation for the betterment of the county – as in the pseudo “bipartisan” redistricting committee.

And by the way, Gov. Hochul back in February established a Joint Security Operations Center in Brooklyn to serve as a nerve center for joint local, state and federal cyber efforts, including data collection, response efforts and infor-

mation sharing. The JSOC, the nation’s first-of-its-kind cyber command center, provides a statewide view of the cyberthreat landscape and improves coordination on threat intelligence and incident response.

The governor also proposed a $30 million “shared services” program to help local governments and other regional partners acquire and deploy highquality cybersecurity services to bolster their cyber defenses.

Has Nassau County sought out this expertise and assistance?

So far, Blakeman has spent 98% of his time and effort on purely ceremonial things, maybe 2% on policy or actions that actually benefit Nassau County, improve people’s lives.

Blakeman ignores any proposal that comes from the Democrats and exiles every Democrat from public presentation, surrounding himself with Republicans and supporters.

Among the Republicans on hand for the Ukraine event at which Ukraine’s consulate general thanked Blakeman for Nassau’s gun drive to help the war-torn nation’s citizens, Republican Congressman-elect George Santo responded to a question about his Republican House leadership threatening to withhold aid to Ukraine, saying, “We don’t agree on everything in my caucus.”

Hardly a way to effectively govern. Hardly leadership. And with Republicans poised to gerrymander a supermajority on the county Legislature, that is the way it will be for a decade, at least.

Regents Exams should evolve into 21st century

After more than 12 years serving as a school superintendent and 25 as an educator, I’ve pushed back at the Editorial Board at Newsday when they conflate their love affair of rigorous testing to the magical potential of high educational outcomes. I’ve also seen when anyone opposes their viewpoint, it means they side with watering down the educational system with low expectations that would allow it to live in a malaise of mediocrity.

In their most recent harangue, they share, “Seasons come and seasons go, but there is no off-season when it comes to caring about how we educate our children.” I’m the first to say the Editorial Board cares about educating children, my concern is how they believe we need to do so. Let’s begin with their central argument over rigorous testing and its relation to academic progress and graduation rates.

The Board warned “that Regents tests, part of getting a diploma in New York State for more than a century, should not be abandoned or watered down just because students are having difficulty passing them. Improve what and how we teach.” The Editorial Board continues to argue that “writing that Regents tests are not the problem with our

high schools or our high schoolers. The exams are telling us there is a problem. That’s why they’re under attack.”

First, their opinion is far from accurate. They are under attack because we have been assessing our students in New York with the same type of exam since the end of the Civil War. We have assessed our students pretty much the same way for 150 years in New York State. I can’t think of anything else we do on the planet the same way for 150 years in medicine, transportation, technology or even how we entertain ourselves. Think about that for a moment. Everything else in the world has evolved around us except for the way we assess the learning of a student when they complete a course or grade level. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the Regents Exams are terrible. We must however understand they are not the only way to assess learning in the classroom.

On an aside, a major problem we have with many students isn’t measured by a single test in math, science, English or social studies. We have students who are more anxious, depressed, or suicidal than any generation before and it’s getting worse each year. The fact that schools don’t pay enough attention to that should be under attack, not the fact

MICHAEL HYNES PW School District Superintendent

that we want to explore and potentially change how students graduate high school, the number of Regents exams a student takes or if we should administer them at all.

Over the years, I have come to appreciate columnist Lane Filler at Newsday and would like to think I’ve matured in my old age respecting divergent viewpoints. Mr. Filler recently warned against easing standards which he believes are driven by the Board of Regents, the state Assembly, and teacher unions. Mr. Filler believes, “If that happens…the crow-

ing over instantly increased graduation rates will drown out the warnings that the soft bigotry of low expectations is too often leaving children adorned in caps and gowns behind.” I understand most people fear change, but to equate much needed change to bigotry and leaving children behind seems extreme from my perspective. We can increase graduation rates and still embrace high expectations … just different ones.

I agree when the Editorial Board identifies that “skills and competencies unheard of 50 years ago now are crucial, while some traditional requirements have lost relevance. Not every student must be pointed toward a four-year liberal arts education if a direct job path suits them better. But they all must have basic skills to function in this more complex world.” I truly feel we must look to the alternative methods some public and non-traditional school systems evaluate (for) both teaching and learning. There are many viable ways for students to express proficiency and mastery in an area of study. The shift happens when the conversation reduces the importance of one data point at the end of the year to embracing the purpose and meaning of a student’s growth over time.

I ask adults, when was the last time

you took a multiple-choice test or were assessed at work by the administration of a multiple choice test? To think we have assessed the children in New York the same way since Lincoln was in the White House is heartbreaking. The fact the New York State Education Department brought together a Blue-Ribbon Commission to make potential changes to graduation requirements gives me hope.

Let’s become familiar with some of the innovative schools around the world who embrace authentic learning and assessment. Students showcase their deep understanding by project and problembased assessments and performanceminded tasks. I think we can all agree, that is how we navigate in the real world. It’s time we move New York State away from the 19th century and into the 21st. We can do so by developing alternative assessments that don’t bring down standards but make them higher than what we already have. Maybe…just maybe, this is something we can all agree on in a world that celebrates divisiveness and extremes.

Michael J. Hynes is the superintendent of schools for Port Washington Public Schools

FROM THE DESK OF MICHAEL HYNES

Re-elect Katz as water commish P

Ihave had the pleasure of working with Patty Katz on many committees that she has chaired. As a previous Reach Out America Environmental Committee member, we tried to improve the quality of life in our community.

Patty is hardworking, honest and displays a keen ability to lead while still being a team player. Even if a cause seems insurmountable Patty remains steadfast on the desired outcome with a positive attitude.

For the past six years, Patty has shared her skills at the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District as commissioner and continues to be a thoughtful and able steward for Great Neck residents. I urge you to join me in voting to re-elect Patty Katz on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the GNWPCD, 236 E. Shore Rd at the Vista Hill Rd. entrance.

Leslie Hirschhorn Great Neck

In transit

Summer’s end. The air motionless. Languor fills from the outside. Afternoon dyes the world crimson, bliss more pure than my blood certainly.

They say the sun won’t last forever. One day it’ll swell to engulf the earth as it slowly dies out.

I bite into a juicy orange, filling me with sweetness distilled from the sun, releasing joy exploding outward.

I am grateful for this moment of light, air and openness that shatters darkness without shadow or enclosure like the long sigh of summer. That brief transit of a human timescale.

Stephen Cipot Garden City Park

Re-elect Scobbo police commish

lease join me in voting to re-elect PW Police Commissioner Frank Scobbo to continue protecting us as he has so diligently been doing. Scobbo is hands down the most qualified and far exceeds the qualities we are looking for now. Frank Scobbo has been listening and focusing on our needs.

*Upgraded headquarters: Commissioner Scobbo, with his local experience owning and operating a heavy commercial construction company, is the only person with the knowledge and expertise to lead us for finally resolving the requirements for the unquestionable demand for an upgraded PWPD headquarters. Frank has already put together a fact-finding study and cost analysis figures on both the alternatives of rebuilding at the present location or acquiring a facility at a new site.

Scobbo found a new site, but we lost the opportunity due to competitors’ ability to move

faster than our department could. Scobbo is committed not to let that happen again and plans are being made to put him in direct line for guiding the PD building committee.

*PW Traffic Court: Commissioner Scobbo has already investigated and begun laying the groundwork and needed negotiations for the PW court that we have been talking about for some time. This court system would allow the PWPD to be reimbursed for some of the costs we taxpayers pay out every year for enforcement costs by traffic safety violations. Right now, all costs are covered by our residents’ taxes and we receive zero dollars to defray the enforcement costs.

All payments by guilty parties are kept by Nassau County or New York State. Our own court system would provide for us to lower the taxpayer burden. This is the same as municipalities with their own courts do now all around

us even with us paying all the enforcement costs. In addition, now anyone getting a traffic ticket here must go out of the area to court.

A court here would also keep PW police here for more presence and protection in PW, which Scobbo wants as do we all and will also stop our taxpayers’ dollars spent for them to be away in outside courts for extended hours. As you see, Frank Scobbo thinks out of the box for ways to give us more protection and save taxpayer dollars.

These are just a few of the many reasons we need to keep Commissioner Frank Scobbo fighting for our safety while saving our tax dollars.

Please join me in Voting to re-elect Commissioner Frank Scobbo.

Steve Kaplan Port Washington

Take a nostalgia ride on subways

For the cost of one swipe of either a Metro or One Metro New York (OMNY) fare card, you can participate in the New York Transit Museum Nostalgia Ride on the holidays. There is still time to join your neighbors and come aboard on Sundays, Dec. 4, 11, and 18 between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Your journey to the past takes place aboard the train as it runs along the NYC Transit No. 1 local track on Manhattan’s West Side. It will be running express between the Chambers St and 137th St – City College St stations. The trains are made up of 1960s series R33 and R36 subway cars. It is a great trip into long forgotten past history.

Riding old subway cars will remind you of a time decades ago when it was common to find both penny gum and soda machines dispensing products at many subway stations. Clean and safe bathrooms were readily available. It was an era when people respected authority and law. Previous generations of riders did not lit-

ter subway stations and buses by leaving behind gum, candy wrappers, paper cups, bottles and newspapers.

No one would openly eat pizza, chicken or other messy foods while riding a bus or subway. There were no acrobatic performers swinging from inside subway car poles while you were seated during your journey. Most everyone paid their way and there was very little fare evasion.

Previous generations of both bus and subway riders survived daily commutes with no air conditioning. All they had for comfort were overhead fans. Air-conditioned buses and subway cars that we all take for granted today were virtually non-existent until the time of the 1964-65 World’s Fair. Air-conditioned buses were still a novelty. It was not until 1966 that NYC Transit first purchased over 600 buses with this new feature. Subsequently, all future new buses would include air conditioning. By the early 1990s, 100% of the bus fleet was air conditioned.

In 1967, NYC Transit introduced the first in10 air-conditioned subway cars operating on the old IND system (Independent municipal NYC built, financed and operated A, C, E. F & G lines). It was not until 1975, that air-conditioned subway cars were introduced on the old IRT (NYC private franchised Independent Rapid Transit system operated 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, Franklin Avenue and Times Square shuttle lines).

Subsequently, this also included the old BMT (NYC private franchised Brooklyn Manhattan Transit system B, D, J, L, M, N, Q, R & Z lines), It took until 1982 to retrofit all the original IRT “Redbird” series subway cars. By 1993, 99% of the NYC 6,000 subway cars were air conditioned with the exception of a handful running on the No. 7 Flushing line.

Ways to combat gun violence

The editorial on tightening gun legislation was most welcome. The editor is correct, it is an epidemic. Too many lives have been tragically cut short due to gun possession. Now more than ever, the issue of gun violence has captured our society and the issue requires emphasis on the means to save human lives.

While it is the massacres that gain notoriety, there are many single shootings that also should be accounted for. A death due to gun possession is tragic whether it be a massacre or a single shooting.

The editor describes legislation that has been enacted. Some without controversy, others not. The issue boils down to a three-pronged issue: political, legislative and human. It is devastating to note that gun safety, the preservation of hu-

man lives is dependent upon political leanings. While legislation has been enacted to counter the prevalence of gun possession, we must first elect legislators who will push for gun safety measures. Assault weapons should be outlawed. The advent and acceptance of concealed-carry weapons should be scrapped. There should be universal background checks, “smart guns” should be manufactured if we cannot rid society of the need for gun ownership, enact federal safe storage legislation and eliminate national legislation against “ghost guns.”

However, instead of just focusing on the election process and gun safety legislation, there are other means to preserve lives such as educating our society. I would promote consciousness raising programs in schools and even the police about the need to respect diversity. I would

promote a national advertising program on the need for gun safety, such as safe storage of guns if they were kept in the home. Northwell has the right idea. They have screened a televised advertisement on this subject. Allow doctors/pediatricians to discuss gun ownership with their patients/parents. New York state has enacted this piece of legislation. It should be enacted nationally.

It is my hope that some of the above measures will be implemented to save lives, not destroy them. Enough is enough of senseless killings.

Lois Schaffer Great Neck

PHOTO BY DR. JAMES HAKLAR

Larry Penner

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office.

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EGLEVESKY BALLET DOES ‘THE NUTCRACKER’

Eglevsky Ballet, Long Island’s premier ballet company and academy, presents its annual production of the holiday classic, “The Nutcracker” starring New York City Ballet soloist Miriam Miller as the “Sugar Plum Fairy” and New York City Ballet principal Tyler Angle as the “Cavalier.”

The production also stars, Fox Weather meteorologist (and Instagram and TikTok sensation) Nick Kosir as “Dr. Stahlbaum”, the father of “Clara,” the ballet’s protagonist. “The Nutcracker” features choreography by the company’s executive artistic director, Maurice Brandon Curry.

Eglevsky Ballet’s production will be performed with live music provided by the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, under the baton of maestro David Bernard.

The performances will take place on Saturday, Dec. 17th, at 1 PM and 6 PM and Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2 PM at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in Greenvale. Tickets may be purchased at the Tilles Center box office or through Ticketmaster.

Eglevsky Ballet brings the beloved story to the Tilles Center stage with Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, stunning costumes, thrilling choreography and a cast comprised of over sixty students and the company’s professional dancers.

Eglevsky Ballet’s production is the longest, continuously running production on Long Island. Directed and choreographed by Executive Artistic Director Maurice Brandon Curry, Eglevsky Ballet’s production tells the story of a young girl named “Clara” and how a mysterious gift from her godfather, “Herr Drosselmeyer” brings about an enchanted, fantastical dream.

The Eglevsky Ballet has presented “The Nutcracker” as a holiday gift for children of all ages since 1961. This exciting production is a vibrant representation of the trajectory in which Mr. Curry is leading the organization.

This year, the role of “Clara” will be danced by professional company mem-

ber, Briana Laman. The “Nutcracker Prince” will be portrayed by professional company member, Ryan Cavaline.

The central first act pas de deux in the prelude to “Waltz of the Snowlflakes” is usually danced by a “Snow Queen” and a “Snow King”.

Curry has the music (his personal favorite in the ballet) performed by the characters “Clara” and “The Nutcracker Prince”. “Having this pas de deux danced by these two characters,” Curry said, “intensifies the connection between the two characters. We see the arc of their relationship and gives the opportunity for Clara’s dream to have a more poignant and personal effect on our audiences.”

This year, Eglevsky Ballet is partnering with Birthday Wishes of Long Island to offer support assistance in their mission. Birthday Wishes provides a birthday gift and a “Birthday-in-a-Box” for children experiencing homelessness.

Jamie Rapfogel, the director of the Long Island Branch states, “We are thrilled to partner with the Eglevsky Ballet and their holiday performance of “The Nutcracker” this December at the Tilles Center!

What a special way to allow the families we serve to experience the magic and delight that this event allows. Just like our mission of providing birthday parties to children experiencing homeless brings feelings of normalcy and joy so does the honor of watching the Eglevsky Ballet’s holiday extravaganza!”

Eglevsky Ballet is asking all who attend the performances to bring an unwrapped toy for boys and girls ages 1-17 to donate to Birthday Wishes.

Do not miss these performances of “The Nutcracker” with Long Island’s own Eglevsky Ballet at the Tilles Center on Dec. 17 at 1 PM and 6 PM and on Dec. 18 at 2 PM.

Featuring live music provided by the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and guest stars from New York City Ballet and television, it is a production not to be missed.

NIC, DESI – Broadway song, dance and romance

On Sunday, Dec . 11 at 3:00 p.m., Stephen C. Widom Cultural Arts at Emanuel will present a virtual concert, NIC + DESI — Broadway Song,

Dance & Romance. NIC & DESI sing, dance and share their love story in this duo celebration of classic and contemporary Broadway!

Following star turns on Broadway and in numerous nationally touring musicals, theatrical power couple Nicolas Dromard and Desireé Davar created this new duo act to be able to share their love of song and dance with venues worldwide.

NIC+DESI perform stage and screen favorites, from Great American Songbook standards (“Shall We Dance,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “I Won’t Dance”) to hits from their favorite roles in Broadway’s JERSEY BOYS, WEST SIDE STORY, OKLAHOMA!, WICKED, and more!

This program is funded by Susan Goldfarb in memory of her beloved husband Lloyd Goldfarb, past president of the synagogue.

Registration for this virtual event is $15.

For further information, to register and purchase a ticket online, go to:https://www.scwculturalarts.org/sunday-series

After Dec. 11 at 2:00 PM, call 516.482.5701 to purchase a ticket. Video is available for viewing thru Dec. 25, 2022. Call 516.482.5701 if you have any questions.

Great gift experiences for foodies

Attend a show

Experiential gifts shift the emphasis from tangible items to building memories through experiences. Various studies have indicated that the memories gained through experiences may surpass the exhilaration and happiness of receiving a material item. What’s more, experiential gifts may be something that people can share together — expanding the possibilities of gift-giving even further. There are many different experiences to accommodate people’s specific interests. People who enjoy spending time in the kitchen will undoubtedly be excited by these food-related experiential gifts.

Culinary classes

What better way to enjoy a passion for cooking than by learning more about techniques and terminology? Culinary classes can be the perfect avenue through which to gain more experience and instruction from professionals. While it’s possible to enroll in a culinary school if the goal is to change careers, many different private classes are ideal for hobbyists, such as cake decorating lessons to classes catering to children and teens.

Food as entertainment was first made popular by legendary television personality Julia Child. Child paved the way for many others, including professionally trained chefs and those like Rachael Ray, who honed her self-taught skills through experience. Network food shows often tape in metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles. Research how to purchase tickets and give the experience of being an audience member.

Food and beverage hop

To promote local businesses, many cities and towns with strong hospitality markets organize seasonal restaurant tasting tours. For a predetermined price, participants gain entry to various establishments offering samples of their offerings. Gift-givers can purchase entry to these events, gifting a few people at the same time. Then the group can sip and nibble the day away.

Personal chef for a day

Treat someone to a professionally prepared meal in his or her own home. Private caterers and personal chefs will sometimes offer their services and walk guests through the making of a meal — preparing it right before their eyes in one person’s home. It’s a great way to learn technique and gather with a few other lucky people to enjoy a delicious meal at home with little effort.

Food-based experiential gifts can treat any foodie to special memories that last a lifetime.

People fond of food will enjoy food-related experiences as holiday gifts.

What to give new homeowners this holiday season

The real estate market has been a wild ride in recent years. Sellers have cashed in on record-breaking profits, and buyers have had to compete against many others — sometimes in bidding wars — for a limited number of properties. Once listed, homes are selling fast. As interest rates rise and inventory increases, things are likely to change, though for some it did not come soon enough.

Individuals who were lucky enough to find a new home this year may discover they now have little money to outfit those homes. Shoppers with new homeowners on their holiday shopping lists may want to help those loved ones outfit their homes this season. The following are some home-related gift ideas to get shoppers started.

• Video/smart doorbell: Although the smart doorbell market began with only a handful of options, there’s now a bevy of manufacturers who make video and smart home doorbells. These doorbells serve the dual purpose of alerting homeowners to someone at the door, while providing surveillance of the comings and goings outside of the home. Depending on the product, a subscription may be needed to access video history. Doorbells range from $50 to $200 and more depending on features and resolution.

• Furniture gift card: There’s a good chance new homeowners will need to furnish new rooms in a home, particularly if they’re coming from an apartment or a smaller place. Many people also like to update furnishings when they move

into new places. A gift card to a popular furniture store in the area will provide the head-start new homeowners need to secure sofas, dining sets, lamps, rugs, and more.

• Household tool kit: What better way to prepare new homeowners for the do-it-yourself projects and household repairs than with a tool kit? Home improvement retailers often package common tools needed in carrying cases or sets, but shoppers can grab separate items they think will be used and group them together into one gift. Pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, a level, and measuring tape are good starter tools.

• Customized doormat: Give that new home additional curb appeal with a doormat customized with a special message or the new homeowners’ names, such as Welcome to the Smith Home. Other customizeable products include cutting boards and wall plaques.

• Programmable thermostat: A programmable or learning thermostat will help new homeowners save on their energy bills. Many thermostats now pair with smart home systems and phones and automatically adjust the temperature as needed to reduce energy consumption.

• Linens: A high thread count sheet set or plush Turkish cotton towels may not be something new homeowners think to get for themselves. But these luxurious gifts can make life at home more comfortable.

Moving into a new home is an exciting yet expensive endeavor. Carefully curated gifts can tap into what new homeowners need the most.

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Sports experiences make great

The thrill of sports has inspired billions of loyal fans and athletes across the globe. Professional, collegiate, scholastic, and even recreational sports entertain people all year long. That popularity is something shoppers can keep in mind as they look for the perfect gift for the family sports fan this holiday season. Many adults undoubtedly recall receiving sports equipment as a holiday gift when they were children. Whether it’s a baseball mitt or a field hockey stick or a new ball, these gifts tend to light up kids’ eyes come Christmas morning. Adult sports fans may not need such equipment, but they might be just as excited to receive these unique sports experiences this holiday season.

• Tickets: For diehard sports fans, nothing is better than going to the big game. Perhaps in acknowledgment of the growing popularity of following a favorite team on the road, many professional sports leagues now release team schedules months in advance of the first game of the season. For example, the National Football League released its 2022 schedule in mid-May, despite the fact that the season does not begin until September. Shoppers can peruse schedules and circle a mustsee home game or lay the foundation for a memorable trip by giving tickets to a road game.

• Stadium tour: Stadium tours are another great experience the family sports fan will undoubtedly appreciate. Many professional

sports teams now welcome fans to tour their stadiums both in-season and during the offseason. These tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at stadiums, arenas and ballparks. Teams may even host tours on game days, making this a great stocking stuffer to pair with tickets to a game.

• Fan fest: Fan fest tickets make an ideal gift for individuals who can be accurately described as “diehards” for their favorite teams. These family-friendly gatherings tend to happen in the weeks leading up to the start of a new season. A handful of current and former players typically attend fan fests, which are hosted by the team and typically include activities for adults and children alike.

• Lessons: Holiday shoppers may have a sports fan on their list who still enjoys lacing up their cleats. For example, pro golf fans may still enjoy hitting the links themselves. In such instances, lessons from a nearby golf pro can be just the thing to make sports fans smile this holiday season.

Sports experiences make an ideal gift for individuals whose passion for a favorite team is a big part of their life.

Photo: Nick Biondo

Gifts to rev auto lovers’ engines

Since they first became widely available in the early 20th century, cars have inspired no small number of passionate devotees. Some people simply can’t resist the thrills of the open road, while others love driving because of the sense of independence it provides. Regardless of what inspires their passions, come the holiday season, auto enthusiasts undoubtedly would be excited to unwrap these auto-related gifts.

• Car wash kit: It’s one thing to drive, and another thing entirely to drive a car that looks like it’s fresh off the dealership lot. Car wash kits come in various sizes, so they’re ideal for holiday shoppers working with various budgets. Kits may include wet wax, wheel gel, glass cleaner, a short handle brush, and microfiber towels, among other supplies. Each accessory within the kit can make cars or trucks shine and look as good as new.

• Mechanics’ tool kit: Many car lovers enjoy working on their vehicles almost as much as they love driving them. That makes a mechanic’s tool kit a must-have for auto enthusiasts. Like car wash kits, mechanics’ kits are ideal gifts because they can suit shoppers working with various budgets. Extensive kits include all the tools car lovers need, from ratchets to extension bars to sockets and more, to spend a fun day working in the garage.

• Car wash kit • Mechanics’ tool kit • Tire infator • Autocross Lesson

• Tire inflator: All those miles on the open road is bound to catch up with tires over time, and a portable tire inflator can ensure tires are always properly inflated. Cordless varieties are popular, but so are options that can be plugged into vehicle lighters. Either way, this is a must-have item for anyone who puts a lot of miles on their vehicle.

• Autocross lesson: Of course, gifts for auto lovers needn’t be restricted to helping them take care of their own cars. Autocross lessons can teach drivers the finer points of timed competitions while enabling them to get behind the wheel of an exotic car they’ve dreamed of driving. Autocross schools typically have classes for drivers with experience as well as novices, making this a fun gift for anyone who wants to take the thrill of driving to the next level.

There’s no shortage of gift ideas to please the auto enthusiast on your holiday shopping list this year. From the fun to the functional, there’s something for everyone who loves being behind the wheel.

Great gifts for school-aged children

Successful shopping for adults on a holiday list often involves identifying a loved one’s favorite hobby and then finding something that makes that hobby even more enjoyable. For example, a new e-reader can be just what the family bookworm needs to make reading even more immersive.

School-aged children may not be so simple to shop for, as their interests are always evolving and they tend to outgrow toys as quickly as their growing bodies outgrow their clothes. No two kids are the same, but these gift ideas can appeal to school-aged youngsters at a time in their lives when their curiosity is always piqued.

• STEM gifts: Parents know that the term “STEM” is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. These academic disciplines have gained heightened importance over the last couple of decades, and many toy manufacturers now make products that reinforce STEM lessons kids learn in the classroom in a fun way.

STEM-based toys are available for kids of all ages, including children who are still in diapers.

• Nature-based gifts: Many parents do everything they can to reduce the amount of time their kids spend looking at screens, which is a tall order in the digital era. But various manufacturers produce toys designed to help kids be more physically active in the great

outdoors. From age-appropriate binoculars that encourage kids to explore natural settings to birdhouses and fairy gardens kids can build and paint in their favorite colors, shoppers can choose from a host of naturebased gifts that encourage kids to get away from their screens and enjoy the great outdoors.

• Board games: Board games remain a wonderful way for kids to learn and have fun doing it. Board games are made for kids of all ages, and they’re not just fun, but also beneficial to early childhood development. For example, clinical psychologist Beatrice Tauber Prior, Psy.D. noted to the children’s book publisher and distributor Scholastic that board games requiring strategy help the frontal lobes of the brain develop. Those lobes are responsible for planning, organizing and decisionmaking. Board games also provide opportunities for families to spend quality time together free from distractions.

• Cookbooks: Cookbooks are another great gift for school-aged youngsters, who can learn a lot from pitching in at dinnertime. Children who cook with their parents can learn valuable lessons about nutrition and measuring ingredients can reinforce lessons learned in the classroom. Shoppers can choose from any number of cookbooks designed for kids, and even children as young as two can pitch in when baking cookies or preparing family meals.

Shopping for school-aged children during the holiday season can be made easier with some suggestions that can reinforce classroom lessons while keeping the focus on fun.

What to do about returns after shopping early

The adage “the early bird gets the worm” certainly applies to holiday shopping. By shopping early, holiday shoppers can avoid long lines, shipping delays and crowded parking lots. Shopping early also increases the chances shoppers will find what they want, making for a happier holiday season for their loved ones.

If holiday shopping early increases the chances of finding the perfect gift, it also can make returns a little more difficult. That’s an even bigger consideration for shoppers who get an especially significant head-start on buying gifts for their loved ones, as many stores have airtight and time-sensitive return policies. Despite that, holiday shoppers who like to shop early can employ various strategies that could make it easier for loved ones to return gifts.

• Shop at retailers who offer extended return policies. Many retailers recognize the popularity of shopping early for the holidays and tweak their standard return policies during this time of year. Prior to purchasing any gifts, shoppers can shop around for retailers who offer extended holiday returns. Pandemic-related supply shortages and shipping issues may compel more retailers to offer such policies as a greater number of people shop early to ensure they get what they want and that their purchases arrive on time. But it’s still wise for shoppers to confirm if an extended return policy is in place prior to

purchasing anything.

• Ask recipients to avoid opening packages if they might return items. The excitement of receiving a great gift may compel recipients, especially children, to immediately open the box But early shoppers can request that packages remain intact until recipients confirm that they want to keep the gift.

Some retailers may offer full returns or store credits on unopened items even if the return window has closed.

• Urge recipients to return items during off-peak hours. If recipients want to return an item in person, urge them to do so at a time when the story isn’t likely to be busy. Staff might be wore willing to work with people returning gifts at times when they aren’t overwhelmed by lots of people returning items at once.

• Keep tags and receipts. Recipients are more likely to get full refunds or store credit if tags are still attached and gift givers have saved their receipts.

This applies even to items that were purchased months before they’re being returned.

In an era dominated by supply shortages and shipping issues, it makes sense to shop early for holiday gifts. And some savvy strategies can make it easier for recipients to return gifts purchased well before the holiday season.

Home improvement projects enable homeowners to transform their homes into their ideal living spaces. According to iProperty Management, most homeowners in the United States spent between $5,000 and $10,000 improving their homes in 2018. And it doesn’t stop there, as home improvement sales are projected to reach $465 billion in 2022.

Various renovation projects are best left to the professionals. However, many homeowners are eager to get their own hands dirty with various projects, large and small. Having the right tools and gear on hand can make projects go all the more smoothly. Holiday shoppers can consider these ideas as they seek to ensure DIYers have all they need to get the job done.

• Painting time-savers: Painting requires some basic essentials, from paint trays to rollers to brushes. Projects can be made more efficient with innovative products that help save time and reduce mess. One such item is a paint brush cover, which snaps over wet paintbrushes

between coats so they won’t dry out or require rinsing. Brushes that cut in easily and others with flexible handles for getting in tight places also make painting projects that much easier.

• Cordless drill: A mechanical drill makes easy work of assembly projects and general renovations that require screws as fasteners. A cordless rechargeable drill will be easy to maneuver when handling projects away from outlets. Going cord-free also reduces the risk of trips and falls on errant cords.

• Lawn care subscription service: Home improvements extend to the exterior. In addition to mowers, trimmers and garden shears, DIYers may benefit from subscription products that improve on property care. These formulations are customized to the specific needs of homeowners’ lawn or landscaping greenery and are shipped right to their door.

• Rotary tool kit: This is one of the most versatile tools homeowners can have on hand. A rotary tool can engrave, grind, sharpen, polish, cut, carve, and more depending on the

accessory attachment.

• Multi-use ladder: A ladder is a necessity for various projects inside and outside the home. One that can transform into an A-frame, scaffold system, staircase ladder and other configurations helps ensure maximum safe reach for the job at hand.

• Composter: Whether you use an indoor kitchen composter or one designed for outdoor use, being able to generate one’s own compost is great for avid gardeners. Compost, often called “black gold,” is made from

kitchen scraps, leaves and other items that break down into a rich fertilizer.

• Tool box/tool organizer: Tool storage is a market all its own. It runs the gamut from rolling metal storage containers to plastic or metal boxes to canvas bags to plastic molded curated kits. Tool organizer kits also come at various price points, so it’s easy for shoppers to choose one that fits their budgets.

• Organizing units: Organizing units are available in prefabricated kits that are easily assembled when needed, as well as custom-made products that are installed by a professional. They may be an option for a handy person looking to organize tools and other items for home repairs.

Do-it-yourselfers can be even more handy with tools geared toward their interests and repair needs.

Great gifts for fitness buffs

Holiday shopping is a fun way to show loved ones just how much they’re appreciated. Though it’s not always so easy finding the right gift, identifying a passion of each person on your holiday shopping list can make finding the perfect present that much easier. No two families are exactly the same, but that doesn’t mean they don’t share similar characteristics and personalities. For example, many families have at least one person who qualifies as a physical fitness buff. A passion for fitness can serve as a great starting point when shopping for a loved one who can’t wait to exercise each day. This holiday season, shoppers can stoke that passion for exercise with some gifts designed to help people reach their fitness goals.

Insulated water bottle: On the surface, a new water bottle might not seem like the most impressive gift. However, fitness buffs know just how much water bottles have changed in recent years and how invaluable it can be to have a good one at the ready. A high-quality insulated water bottle can keep water cold for hours, ensuring endurance athletes accustomed to long runs or cycling sessions won’t need to hydrate with warm drinks no matter how long it’s been since they started their workouts.

Fitness trackers: Fitness trackers run the gamut from low-cost options with useful yet limited capabilities to more expensive items that can seemingly give athletes all the information they need about variables such as their heart rate and performance metrics. If the fitness buff on your list has his or her heart set on an expensive

device, speak to other family members about pooling your resources.

Fitness app subscription/gift card: The popularity of various exercise apps spiked dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic because they made it easy to get professional fitness instruction at home. A subscription to a service like ClassPass (classpass.com) provides access to classes at thousands of top-rated gyms, fitness studios, salons, and spas across the globe. This can help fitness buffs find new exercises if their existing routines have grown stale or simply stay in shape even if they don’t always have time to get to the gym.

Home exercise equipment: Though the darkest days of the pandemic might be in the rearview mirror, the world has grown accustomed to periodic spikes that could compromise workout routines. That needn’t be the base for fitness buffs who keep some simple exercise equipment at home. A set of dumbbells, a new weight bench or even a new yoga mat can ensure fitness buffs won’t miss a workout even if they can’t get out of the house.

Exercise is an essential part of fitness buffs’ daily routines. Holiday shoppers can keep that in mind as they look for gifts to make this season even more special for their fitness-focused family members.

Experiential gifts for kids

The popularity of experiential gifts is undeniable. In its 2021 Winter Holiday Shopping Report, the market research firm Mintel revealed that nearly half of individuals surveyed for the report felt that experiential gifts are superior to tangible items. Such preferences are something holiday shoppers can keep in mind as they pursue the perfect gift for their loved ones.

Experiential gifts are often associated with adults and their bucket lists, but kids have much to gain from being gifted experiences as well. In addition to the lasting memories inspired by experiential gifts, such offerings also get kids up and out of the house. Parents recognize that’s not always so easy in the digital age.

Though children likely don’t have a bucket list that can make it easy for holiday shoppers to find the perfect experiential gift, the following are a number of experiences that kids of all ages can enjoy.

• A day at the zoo

• A trip to a trampoline park or bouncy house facility

• Tickets to a sporting event, concert or live show

• Music lessons

• A paint and sip (juice) event with one or both parents

• Cooking lessons

• A day at a nearby national park

• A camping trip

• Horseback riding lessons

• A day at a nearby amusement park

• A day at a local arcade

• A day at a local museum with interactive exhibits

• A helicopter ride

• Art lessons

• A day on the ski slopes

• A day on the beach

• Gymnastics lessons/classes

• A day at the local bowling alley with friends • Ice skating lessons

• A round of mini golf • Jewelry-making lessons/classes • A fshing trip on a nearby body of water

There’s no shortage of experiences that can benefit children’s lives. That’s something holiday shoppers can keep in mind as they shop for the perfect gifts for youngsters on their shopping list this December.

Crystal singing bowls with Sylph Chamber Music

Sylph Chamber Music will perform a concert of Baroque, Romantic, Jazz, World and Broadway music accompanied by Tibetan crystal singing bowls.

These beautifully toned instruments of meditation provide you with peace and healing. Featuring Nadine Scharman (flutist), Ann Zalkind (pianist) and Andrea Randa (quartz

crystal singing bowls/vocals).

The cgnoncert is at the Great Neck Library 159 Bayview Avenue, Great Neck, on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2 PM in the Library Community Room. For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at (516) 466-8055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary. org

Deafening silence on Trump’s dinner guests

Last month former Vice President Pence said Donald Trump was wrong for having dinner with a Holocaust denier and antiSemite (Nick Fuentes and Ye West). He even went as far as to call for Trump to apologize for having dinner with the two despicable individuals.

Yet the recently elected Congressman-elect George Santos and state Senator-elect Jack Martins minimized their personal objections to Trump’s despicable behavior, another example of how Trump believes “there are good people on both sides.”

Where are the likes of County Executive

Bruce Blakeman, North Hempstead Councilman David Adhami, Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and our Great Neck neighbor Jeff Wiesenfeld and other Republicans? Are they waiting for instructions from their Republican Party leadership to give them permission to call out Trump’s action? They are all guilty of facilitat-

ing hate and empowering the Marjorie Taylor Greens and others.

Supporters of silence bring “shanda” (shame) to us all.

Charles Schneider Great Neck

Germain right choice for water commish

My name is Sam Adler, I am a 7th-grade student at Weber Middle School.

I became very focused on protecting our drinking water when I read the book “A Long Walk to Water” and learned that in Africa women and children have to walk miles each day

for their drinking water. It made me focus on the threats of overuse and contamination right here in our hometown.

I have completed several projects with Commissioner [Mindy] Germain including the Every Drop Counts exhibit at Bay Walk Park, the Port

Washington Water District Do It For Port Student Certificate program, and a townwide panel discussion on drinking water.

Commissioner Germain uses a science-based approach to educate and act as a community to preserve our precious resource. On Dec. 13 please vote

Mindy Germain water commissioner. Polls open 12 p.m. — 9 p.m. at Polish Hall, 5 Pulaski Place. Do it for my generation!

Sam Adler Weber Middle School Student

Vote to re-elect Germain as water commish

On Dec. 13, local water commissioner elections will be held. I urge Port Washington residents to vote for Mindy Germain for another term as a Port Washington Water District commissioner.

The Port Washington Water District is known as a regional leader in efforts to effectively man-

age, conserve and protect their local water supply. Mindy Germain has been a driving force behind many of these efforts.

Ranging from strong water conservation policies that successfully reduced water demand during the 2022 drought, to overseeing the construction of new treatment systems for emerging

contaminants, repairing infrastructure and being a voice for her community on regional steering committees such as Long Island Groundwater Sustainability Study, Mindy is a proven leader.

For her tireless work and commitment to serving the customers of the Water District, please support her for another term as your commissioner.

The polls are open from 12 noon to 9 pm on Dec. 13 at the Polish Hall, 5 Pulaski Place, Port Washington.

Sarah Meyland Member of the Western Nassau County Aquifer Committee

State wastes $11B in improper payments

“New York’s outdated unemployment insurance system likely contributed to at least $11 billion in improper payments during the COVID-19 pandemic, an audit from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found.”

Searching through the Internet, I found this headline but I don’t remember reading this in local newspapers.

Every New Yorker should be outraged. It’s $11 billion, not $11 million and it may be even

higher. For years the state knew its unemployment system was outdated, but as usual, they did nothing.

And where was our state legislature? As usual asleep at the switch as they were when

Gov.

dents.

John Frangos Manhasset

Could Dems have done better in ‘22 elections?

Could the Democrats have done better in the 2022 elections and what can they do in 2024? It’s about messaging, especially in the following areas:

Crime – “Defund the police!”This was a made-up slogan by the Republicans who repeated this lie so often that many believed it to be true.

Do you want to know about crime? Who was responsible for injuring 140 police officers during the Capitol Insurrection of Jan. 6th?

Focus! Focus! Focus! Trump was behind this and many of his Republicans in Congress closed their eyes to this reality in support of Trump.

To offset this false belief, the Democrats should have placed ads on television and in newspapers showing the riots that we all saw on television throughout the day, featuring comments made by House GOP leader, Kevin McCarthy, and by Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell.

McCarthy said, “Trump bears responsibility for the Capitol riot.” McConnell publicly denounced President Trump and his supporters for instigating the insurrection by saying “The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people.”

Do as the Republicans do. Repeat! Repeat! Repeat! The only difference: truth!.

Inflation — Who and what caused inflation? Realistically, one reason was the breakout of COVID. Another was the fighting in Ukraine.

Both caused shortages of so many products. Prices rose and everybody suffered. The increase in the cost of food, drugs, gas and rent affected so many families and individuals. Businesses were hurt too. How many local mom-and-pop shops were forced to close their doors?

As for the big public companies, with so many of us suffering, how come they reported record profits? Yet they still got tax breaks.

Check out such companies as Tyson Foods, Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Anheuser Busch, Pepsico, Coca Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Proctor & Gamble, Walmart, Home Depot, Toyota, AT&T, Verizon, Bank of America, J.P . Morgan Chase, Apple and let’s not forget ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell and BP , to name a few.

Record profits. Tens of billions of dollars in profits! So many of these companies had contributed to the Republican cause. “Give and ye shall get” and boy did they get. Republicans for the little people? How would you like to buy a bridge?

Abortion—Let’s hear it for the God-fearin’ people who care about life but really don’t give a damn about women? Control over their own

bodies?

It’s not up to them but to politicians who really care about them. Sure! In some states, it would even be illegal for victims of rape, children too, to have abortions. Just imagine young girls forced to have a baby.

Can you imagine what that would do to their childhood and to their families? What if it was your daughter or granddaughter who was a victim of rape? Imagine your grandchild having a rapist as their father, living behind bars, that’s prison. And for that person to be called “father”? Give me a break

For 2024, the Democrats must be more precise in getting their message out covering crime, inflation, abortion; Let’s also not forget about the Republicans’ desire to cut or eliminate Social Security and Medicare.

The Democrats could also pull out a bag of tricks, or more precisely one bag, that could generate a lot of support.

In Wyoming, it has been 46 years since a Democrat was last elected to the Senate and 44 years since one was last elected to the House of Representatives. That is called Republican domination.

There is no reason to believe that might

change in 2024. Wyoming! The state where the Republicans expelled their own Liz Cheney for becoming a member of the Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol.

Based upon her heroic stand for democracy, the Democrats should support her run for Congress in 2024 by putting her up as their party nominee, in either the race in the House of Representatives or in the Senate.

Although her positions are so different than the Democrats’ positions, it would show the electorate that Democrats would reward an individual who put country ahead of party.

With some Republican electorate support, she could win and in reality, serve with total independence; to vote how she pleases based upon her own convictions.

At the very least, it would shine a light on an individual who helped save democracy. This outof-the-box thinking might help Democrats win races in other states.

We must spread the word of truth. Our democracy is still at stake.

Alvin Goldberg Great Neck

Cuomo was decimating nursing home resi-

Backing Katz as

commish G.N. commissioners back Patty Katz

On Dec. 13 there will be an oft-overlooked but nonetheless critically important election, that is, the selection of a Great Neck Water Pollution Control District commissioner. The holder of this office is an integral part of what has become one of the best and most essential institutions in our area, one that monitors our wastewater and helps protect the health of our community.

For the past six years, in one of three positions at the helm, Patty Katz has done her job diligently and effectively. During her tenure she has given critical guidance during the

pandemic, organized pharmaceutical takeback events, secured millions in grants for district upgrades, led educational forums and received many regional awards for her efforts. Great Neck citizenry have the chance to give her a well-deserved vote of confidence by returning her to office on Dec. 13, 1-9pm, at the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District, 236 East Shore Road. I urge you to go and to vote, for her, for you, for us, for all our sakes.

Rita Hall Great Neck

As commissioners of the Great Neck Water Pollution District, we urge you to Re-elect Patty Katz as commissioner on Tuesday Dec. 13.

It has been our pleasure to serve alongside Patty at the district during her tenure. Her willingness to unselfishly put in the time and effort required to fulfill her duties has made her a great partner to us in aggressively leading our work to pursue environmentally friendly, sustainable and cost-efficient projects that will deliver long lasting value to our community.

With Patty’s energy, intelligence and passion, we believe she has served this community well

by helping us meet our goals during her time at the district. With your support, we look forward to working with her over the next three years. We ask you to vote for Patty Katz on Dec. 13 and keep her as a district asset and part of our successful team.

Steve J. Reiter Commissioner

Jerry Landsberg Commissioner

District

Vote Meyer for Port police commissioner

On Tuesday, Dec. 13, Port Washington residents will cast their ballots for a police commissioner. I urge you to vote for JB Meyer.

Port Washington is the only law enforcement entity of its type in New York State. It’s a police district that currently serves two villages and several unincorporated areas of the Town of North Hempstead.

Its three commissioners serve three threeyear terms, with one position coming up each year. The commissioners serve in a critical

fiscal oversight function as well as providing policy guidance, obtaining grants and assisting the police chief and executive staff in achieving operational objectives and functional goals. They function as a board.

JB Meyer is the right person for this important job. He has lived here for over 20 years and has raised three of his boys here. He has been a volunteer firefighter for 20-plus years and an EMT.

You may know him as a coach of our Port Washington boys’ lacrosse and basketball pro-

grams for decades. He and his wife Abby are the owners of Chief Graphix, a thriving small business right here in Port.

He supports local causes: community clean-ups, water safety programs, fire safety initiatives, food drives and school activities. He shows up. He shows up when things need doing.

I retired from the Nassau County Police Department as chief of support services after a 33-year career. I know policing and the business of policing. JB Meyer brings a lot to the

table: Local knowledge, a proven commitment to the community, small business acumen, and a deep desire to serve.

The special election for police commissioner is Dec. 13 at the Polish Hall, at 5 Pulaski Place. It is critically important to turn out for this local election that has a direct impact on our community and to support JB Meyer for police commissioner.

Sean McCarthy Port Washington

Library board transparency needed in G.N.

We have all heard the news by now of the alleged “win” by Mimi Hu, Rory Lancman, and Kim Schader. What we haven’t heard much talk of is the incredibly slim margin by which each candidate established their victory, specifically Mimi Hu, whose victory was gained by a mere 7 votes.

And that is astounding considering the number of “bullet” ballots she received — otherwise known as undervotes where she was the only candidate voted for among any of the three races. That’s right — Mimi somehow obtained 87% of the 333 absentee ballots, and at least 20% of these ballots were undervotes. Sound questionable to anyone else?

Now that these three are in “office” what can we expect from our library board and nominating committee?

Kim Shader has consistently voiced her opinion that the nominating committee should be dismantled so it will be interesting to see how she embraces her newly elected role.

More interestingly, Mimi commenced litigation against the only two standing members of the nominating committee seeking judicial approval of the committee’s removal. In an even more aggressive manner, she recently spearheaded a board resolution that will now allow the board members to fill a midterm vacancy by a vote of only 4 standing members, instead of the originally required majority vote of 6

members.

This might not sound like such a big deal until you recognize two things: first, Mimi has created a voting block on the board by aligning herself with Josephine Mairzadeh, Kathleen Gold, and Scott Sontag.

Look back at the meeting minutes during Mimi’s last term, and those years that overlapped with these three puppets, and you will see that not once have any of them voted separately from or differently than Mimi.

Mimi calls the shots and these three then vote in her favor. That is all she needs to obtain those four votes to fill a vacancy with anyone she wants on the board.

What about the nominating committee’s impartial role? What about the community’s voice in having an independent election to determine the appropriate candidate to fill that vacancy? What about checks and balances?

Clearly, Mimi does not care one iota about democracy, the community, or impartiality.

But all of this gerrymandering and politicking only highlights the second issue: Rory Lancman’s tenuous (at best) interest in our community. It is no secret that Rory is a failed politician who couldn’t hack it in NYC politics and got pushed out of his prior elected position.

Why move to Great Neck? Why seek a seat on the local library’s board? To rebuild his resume in an attempt to social climb the political

landscape of Long Island.

I would take a safe bet that Rory Lancman will not come close to finishing his first year, let alone a full term at the library, in the hopes of landing a bigger, more lucrative political role elsewhere in Great Neck or nearby. And his vacant seat will now become a social and political trading card for Mimi to play to her advantage.

But in the end, while this all makes for a good story, some might ask why would Mimi, or indeed anyone fight this hard for a non-paying community volunteer position.

Her current role gives her access to manipulate $9.6MM of our taxpayer dollars. Taxpayer dollars that are going towards funding her private litigation against another board member and the nominating committee.

Her mismanagement of the library board has led to her paying over $100,000 in legal fees to an overpriced NYC law firm to further her personal agenda. She has increased the library’s legal liability and risk due to her litigious nature.

This ultimately caused the library’s insurance carrier to deny continuing coverage under the existing Directors and Officers Liability insurance policy due to “too many claims,” as reported in the recent board meeting minutes.

Now more of our taxpayer dollars will pay for a higher insurance premium because Mimi doesn’t know how to manage a board or her emotions. And this is who our town re-elected

to office? It’s a disgrace.

Where are the so-called local journalists who flood Next Door and Facebook mom-anddad groups with false praise for Mimi? Why aren’t they reporting this abuse of discretion and power? Because they also stand to benefit, indirectly and directly, from Mimi’s corruption.

We can choose to stand down and be defeated, or we can rise against Mimi Hu, Rory Lancman, and Kim Schader and the secret political machine that supports their agendas.

Attend board meetings. Speak out and question the board on policy changes. Demand transparency. Demand fiscal responsibility. Demand that Mimi starts to pay her own legal fees out of her pocketbook and not ours.

Our taxpayer dollars are at stake. We saw how this election was stolen from qualified candidates who fought hard, and we saw a community that rallied in support of them.

Scott Sontag’s seat is up for re-election next year. How will that election be handled?

Has the board learned anything, or will they allow Scott and Mimi to make another end run in that race? Will this town allow them to manipulate another “victory”? Not if we have anything to say about it.

This is only my opinion on the Great Neck Library.

Amir Great Neck

Irina

Great Neck Water Pollution Control District

Great Neck Water Pollution Control

Business&RealEstate

Step-by-step guide to buying a co-op

You have finally found “your place to call home” and arrived at an agreed price and been accepted on your purchase of a co-op. You have submitted your offer with your pre-approval from your bank or if cash proof of funds. Some sellers will ask to see your financials prior to going to contract to be confident that you are financially strong enough to pass the co-op board.

Then the contract is made up by the seller’s attorney and sent to the buyer’s attorney for review. Once all the terms are agreed upon by the attorneys and their clients and the final contract is drafted, then the contract is signed first by the buyer and then the seller. All required agency, lead, housing anti-discrimination, and buyer disclosures should also be signed, too, by both parties.

Over the last few years, I have found that some buyers will do an inspection prior to signing their contract to make sure there aren’t any hidden issues with the building structure. Sometimes the buyer’s attorney will ask for the most recent board meeting minutes. Sometimes it will have information about any future capital improvements that might be considered or approved to be completed. This could cause either an assessment or an increase in monthly maintenance. From my experience, management will not email them but will allow minutes to be reviewed in their office by the buyer or his/her attorney.

It is now time to be prepared and gather all your current financials together.

Most recent tax returns, W-2s if salaried, or 1099s, if self-employed, bank accounts, all asset accounts, e.g. bonds, stocks, etc. Most items should be noted on your tax returns. The next step is to have your agent email you a sales application that when done will be handed into the management office. It is crucial that you follow the exact directions on the application and proceed with filling it out and answering all the questions in the most accurate fashion.

It is critically important to be an “open book” and disclose all your assets and liabilities. There are times that co-ops can even go so far as to request the IRS to verify your income tax returns by filling out form 4506. They will also ask for personal and business references to ascertain the strength of your character as they know you best as a person.

Most buyers should have sufficient and solid personal and business relationships. Be straightforward, candid, and upfront with your information as it will make your package complete. A few co-ops have switched to an online program that allows all participants in the transaction to fill it out which makes it a more seamless and efficient procedure. This simplifies the process, especially if there are several people and/or family members involved, as it can be forwarded to each individual, as each section is completed, especially if there are several purchasers who reside in different locations.

Co-op applications specifically inquire

PHILIP A. RAICES

Real Estate Watch

about your finances as they want you to paint them a picture of how strong a candidate you are. This will allow management and the board to have the most positive opinion and view of you and whoever else is part of the purchasing process. It will make them feel the most comfortable enabling you to pass the management and board review allowing you to purchase.

When filling in the financial data, again it is extremely important to provide all the pertinent information exactly as they are asking for it. Also, by New York State law application fees today can only be a maximum of $20. It is also important

to put your packages together in the exact order of the questions asked. It’s prudent to have your agent review your package to make sure everything is done correctly and completed in the proper order. If you need additional help ask your agent.

Then you will need to duplicate as many packages as are required as noted in the instructions. Each completed package should be in individual binders w/ color coded tabs to separate each section to make it as easy as possible for the review process for management and the board. The impression and presentation you convey in your packagers are important, but your income, debt/income, and credit are paramount in passing the board. Make sure to add the required checks that will go to the management.

If you have questions, reach out to either your agent or the management company. Their contact info is always on the board sales application. When done, you should either drop off your completed packages in person (or if allowed your agent can assist)so management can go over them or if you are very far away overnight them.

Once reviewed by management and accepted, then they will be sent to the board for their final review. If all is good, management will call to schedule an appointment in the evening for you to meet the board. Once you pass the board, both attorneys have to set up a closing and if financed with a lender and there is a “clear

to close” determined by the bank. It is usually within two-plus weeks or less if it is a cash transaction that a closing will occur.

You should ask your attorney about what you will need to bring with you, e.g. certified and regular checks and I.D. A final walk through is scheduled the day of or one day before the closing to make sure everything in the unit is as it was when you last saw it and that the stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, ACs, washer/dryer or whatever appliances were included function properly (ask about any warranties or paperwork).

The closing should take approximately 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours assuming everyone is on time, all the necessary paperwork and documents are available and completed and the monies from the funding bank are ready. Upon completion, you will get your keys to your new home and don’t forget the mailbox keys, too.

Obviously, there are many facets to buying a co-op, but it is the most costeffective and economical way for one to purchase in getting a “foot in the door” to become an owner and begin growing your future wealth.

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. For a “FREE” 15-minute consultation, value analysis of your home, or to answer any of your questions or concerns he can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.Com or via https://WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com

Phishing: A Real and Present Danger to Small Business

Phishing is a form of cyber fraud that uses bogus emails in order to lure victims to part with something of value, such as passwords and credit cards. It does this by mimicking a trusted sender, convincing an employee to click a link. This immediately installs malware like viruses and ransomware to the company’s network where it can access invaluable data.

Sandwire Technology Group fights back on behalf of its clients, small and midsize businesses (SMBs), with limited budgets. Our CyberSafe stack serves as a defensive shield, featuring:

• Email/data backup to retrieve and restore data

• Spam filtration, secure email platform

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven anti-phishing software

• Dark web monitoring/credential exposure protection

• Employee training with phishing tests and educational videos

Phishing emails are becoming increasingly difficult to spot, a trend that sees no end. Today, nearly every major data breach begins with a successful attack.

Is your company protected?

Business&RealEstate

FCA, a leading health and human services not-for-profit organization on Long Island, recently named Richard Lind of Rockville Centre to its board of trustees.

Lind is an area vice president, retail and consumer goods at Salesforce. FCA President and CEO Jeffrey L. Reynolds, made the announcement on behalf of the organization.

“We are exceedingly pleased to welcome a person of Rich’s talents and commitment to our board,” said Reynolds. “His knowledge of IT, business processes and commitment to Long Island’s quality of life will surely be an asset.”

FCA’s mission is near and dear to Lind, who played a role in his family as the caregiver to a loved one who struggled with addiction and mental health

challenges. He said that having the opportunity to help those in need is both deeply personal and a tremendous privilege.

Professionally, Lind has spent nearly 10 years at Salesforce, where he is a software sales executive focused on helping consumer goods companies build technology strategies.

While at Salesforce, he has driven community engagement and volunteerism across his organization in a variety of non-

profits in the United States.

Prior to Salesforce, Lind spent nearly seven years at Eli Lilly and Company, where he partnered with physicians to create awareness around mental health treatments available for their patient population.

“My extensive experience in technology, business operations, and professional sales has enabled me to provide cohesive, thoughtful, and purpose-built solutions for my customer,” said Lind. “I look forward to contributing in similar ways to support the continued impact that FCA has across Long Island’s most vulnerable residents and communities.”

A native of Fairfield County, Conn., Lind attended Boston College, where he met his wife, Elizabeth. The couple has two children, Richie and Emmy.

Overjet has announced a new partnership with ProHEALTH Dental, a provider of comprehensive state-of-the-art dental care with 17 locations across the tri-state metropolitan New York area.

ProHEALTH Dental is a national leader in the provision of oral health services through the integration of dental and medical services by entering clinical affiliation agreements with large healthcare providers, including hospital systems and large medical groups.

The collaboration will deliver Overjet’s FDA-cleared dental AI platform for tooth decay detection and bone level quantification to the expansive network of ProHEALTH Dental, helping to drive transformational clinical and operational improvements across the organization — enhancing accuracy and precision, improving patient care, increasing case acceptance

rates, delivering actionable insights, and automating administrative tasks and audits.

”ProHEALTH Dental’s focus on integrating dental care with medical care to improve patients’ overall wellness is a comprehensive approach,” said Dr. Terri Dolan, chief dental officer of Overjet. “Our partnership reflects our companies’ shared mission in delivering best-inclass clinical care and exceptional patient experience. We are proud to partner with a leader like ProHEALTH Dental to transform dentistry through AI.”

“We are committed to providing our patients with the best preventative and restorative dental care,” said Dr. Nicolas Elian, chief dental officer of ProHEALTH Dental. “We understand that oral health is connected to patients’ overall health and Overjet’s focus on detecting problems early makes them a step above the rest. With Overjet’s ability to detect and outline dental caries plus measure bone levels to aid in the diagnosis of periodontal disease, our clinicians will be able to deliver comprehensive care.”

Every day, Overjet’s dental AI products are used by private practices and large dental groups to enable better clinical decision-making. To learn more about the partnership and how dentists are using Overjet’s innovative AI to improve clinical decision-making and overall practice performance, visit overjet.com.w

Major

rose Village, Carle Place, East Garden City, East Meadow, East Williston, Floral Park Center, Gar den City Park, Herricks, Mineola, New Cassel, New Hyde Park, North New Hyde Park, Roslyn Heights, Salisbury, Searingtown, Stewart Manor, Uniondale, Westbury, and Williston Park.

The 6th Precinct, located in Manhasset, serves the communities of East Hills, Flower Hill Great Neck Plaza, Harbor Hills, Manorhaven, Munsey Park, North Hills, Plandome, Pland ome Manor, Plandome Heights, Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock, Sea Clif, Thomaston, Glen Head, Glen wood Landing, Great Neck, Greenvale, Manhas set, Roslyn Heights and University Gardens.

The 3rd Precinct reported a 38% increase in major crimes from last year, with 1,385 as of Oct. 10 in 2022. The 6th Precinct reported a 76% increase in major crimes, with 619 this year.

The largest increase of major crimes in the 3rd Precinct is the 109 stolen vehicles reported so far this year, compared to the 64 reported during the same time frame last year. The 3rd Precinct also saw a 70% increase in residential burglaries, with 68 reported this year, a 43% increase in other burglaries with 107 this year and a 37% increase in grand larcenies, with 900 reported so far in 2022.

The 3rd Precinct reported two murders, no rapes, one criminal sexual act, three sexual abuse instances, 44 other robberies, 49 com mercial robberies and 102 assault felonies. The precinct’s reported rapes and criminal sexual acts are down from last year, while the pair of murders were in contrast to none last year.

The 6th Precinct’s largest increase is the 1,400% surge in commercial robberies, with 15 reported this year compared to just one last year. The precinct also saw a 123% rise in stolen vehicles, reporting 132 instances this year and a 120% increase in other burglaries with 33 re ported this year.

The 6th Precinct also reported no murders, rapes and criminal sexual acts as of Oct. 10, fg ures that remained the same since last year. Ad ditionally, two sexual abuse instances, 10 other robberies, 23 assault felonies, 52 residential burglaries and 352 grand larcenies this year. The lone category that saw a decrease since last year was other robberies with two fewer reported in 2021.

An analysis of Nassau County crime statis tics for the past fve years conducted by Blank Slate Media shows a decrease of more than 10% in major crimes from 2017-2021 but an increase of more than 16% increase in violent crimes.

The fgures reported by the department to the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services did not correlate with what Blank Slate Media obtained in the Freedom of Information Law

in Nassau up 38% since ‘21

is divided into four sectors for polling purposes.

The 1st District encompasses the Village of Kings Point, Saddle Rock Estates and areas of the Village of Great Neck that are east of Middle Neck Road and north of Hicks Lane and west of Middle Neck Road. The polling place for District 1 is the Great Neck House at 14 Arrendale Ave.

The 2nd District encompasses the area of

request for the 2021 year from Nassau County.

The statistics listed on the Police Depart ment’s website have a disclaimer that states that “crimes listed relate to specifc New York State Penal Law sections and may difer from crime categories reported to [the Department of Crimi nal Justice Services].”

Statistics that were reported by the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services site show a total of 14,039 major crimes were committed throughout the county in 2017, compared to 12,535 in 2021 — a 12% decrease.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, during a July interview with Blank Slate Media, attributed the rise in crime in the county to New York’s bail reform laws.

Blakeman, who has been outspoken in his displeasure with the state’s reformed bail laws since he launched his campaign for county ex ecutive last year, said there is a “state of lawless ness” throughout New York and it has resulted in repeat ofenders coming back to Nassau County to commit crimes.

“We have to get serious about changing the

laws so that we don’t give criminals more rights than victims,” Blakeman said. “Unfortunately, that’s the way it is now. We’ve got people com mitting crime after crime and judges are not given the discretion whether or not to hold these people and I think it’s a huge mistake.”

New York implemented bail reform laws in January 2020, with modifcations passed in April of that year and the spring of 2022. The laws eliminated bail for misdemeanor and nonviolent felony charges.

State ofcials said the modifed laws elimi nated pretrial detention and optional cash bail in an estimated 90 percent of cases.

While judges throughout New York have the option to set bail in almost any case involving a violent felony, they may also release individuals in almost all other cases on their own recogni zance or enact certain terms to make sure they ultimately return to court.

What judges cannot do, under the new bail reform laws, is to consider an individual’s “dan gerousness” when setting those terms.

Cashless bail laws were the focal point of

campaigns for many Republican candidates on the local and state level who saw success in Nas sau over the past two election cycles.

Republican Anthony D’Esposito, a former NYPD detective and Hempstead councilman defeated Democrat and former Town of Hemp stead Supervisor Laura Gillen for the 4th Con gressional District last month, 137,899-127,748.

Aside from Gillen’s loss, a congressional seat that had not been in Republican hands for 25 years in the 3rd District also fipped to Re publican as George Santos defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman last month. Santos received 142,017, or 54.2% votes while Zimmerman re ceived 120,060 or 45.8% votes.

Though Zimmerman said that modifcations to the state’s bail reform laws were needed, San tos’ messaging was that of being “completely against” the bail laws in contrast to Zimmerman wanting to “advocate for changes” to the law.

Despite U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) los ing the gubernatorial race to Gov. Kathy Hochul, the Republican claimed the larger share of sup port in Nassau with 55.4% of the vote.

the Village of Great Neck that is east of Middle Neck Road and unincorporated areas of the Town of North Hempstead that are south of the Village of Great Neck and north of the Village of Kensington. The polling place for District 2 is also the Great Neck House.

The 3rd District encompasses the villages of Great Neck Plaza, Thomaston and Kensington. The polling place is the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire

Department Company #3 at 25 Prospect Street.

The 4th District encompasses the Village of Russell Gardens and other unincorporated areas within the town. These areas are the Great Neck Terrace Apartments, Lakeville, Upland, Lake Success Hills and Manor sections of Great Neck, and all other areas bounded by Great Neck Road on the north and west, Northern Boulevard on the south, and Middle Neck Road on the east.

The polling place for District 4 is the Manhas set-Lakeville Fire District’s Company No. 4 Fire house on 97 Jayson Ave.

Residents who are 18 years of age or older and have resided in the Great Neck Park District for at least 30 days prior to the election and are registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections at least 23 days prior to the election are eligible to vote.

GRAPHIC BY ROSE PALACIOS

Officials fear opposition to development

Mayor William Warner said. “They want it to go back to the 1940s, but we’ve gone past that.”

Nina Esagof discussed ways to transform Mid dle Neck Road and the entire business district, headlined by establishing an “anchor” business.

Esagof noted the desire of the organization to utilize the Squire Cinemas building, which shut down permanently in September 2020. While the property itself is privately owned, she said the goal is to potentially utilize the space to provide live entertainment to Great Neck resi dents and outsiders.

Village of Great Neck Mayor Pedram Bral said, in many cases, incentives are needed so that developers have the desire to open stores and try to provide some new life to the penin sula’s downtown. Bral warned instances where residents who claim to support development only to protest government tax breaks and claim that proposed structures will turn the peninsula into Queens impede villages’ eforts to revitalize the peninsula.

“The same people that want to have revital ization go to the [Nassau County Industrial De velopment Agency] and stomptheir feet and say we don’t want the IDA to give this [developer] a tax break,” Bral said.

“There are people that want nothing built and don’t want any change,” Great Neck Estates

Bral and other elected ofcials said they have heard concerns from residents about in creased trafc as a result of increased residential or mixed-use development. Warner said residen tial units generate less trafc than retail.

“Every time we talk about anything, certain people come in droves saying they do not want trafc and that trafc is bad,” Bral said. “But they want [revitalization] as well.”

Bral said the residential buildings along Middle Neck Road produce roughly one student per 10 units, and not all of the students end up attending the Great Neck Public School District.

Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Ted Rosen said his community has faced opposition to a proposed 12-unit structure, not because of taxes, but the burden the building would present for the school district. Rosen said four or fve of those units would be occupied by senior citizens.

Rosen said the idea of transit-oriented de velopments is something villages and residents need to adapt to so that retail developers want to set up shop in Great Neck and true downtown revitalization in a more technological shopping age can be achieved.

“We were probably one of the frst villages in

Nassau County to adopt transit-oriented devel opment where you give incentives to landlords of retail buildings so they can build up,” Rosen said.

Thomaston Mayor Steven Weinberg sug gested to Esagof and the Destination: Great Neck team that they have residents who are prodevelopment attend meetings where proposed structures are being reviewed so that support for projects can be heard rather than just residents who are opposed to development as a whole.

“There will be plenty of people that will say no because the school taxes will go up,” Winberg said. “But there are other people that if they look at it can become educated and express the alter nate view so that all sides are being presented.”

Esagof lauded the work Destination: Great Neck does with local merchants in Great Neck, but said she has found cases where the owners don’t have social media or, in some cases, a web site presence. Rosen said Great Neck Plaza has also seen a less-than-expected turnout for cours es provided by the village and Hofstra University to aid local business owners in promoting their stores on a more modern platform.

Village ofcials did express support for helping Destination: Great Neck promote their small-scale beautifcation and revitalization ef

forts, with some saying they will allow banners or fags to be displayed throughout their mu nicipalities. Esagof said the organization would also help villages with code enforcement to en sure facades and signage of businesses are not an eyesore to the community.

Bral said he has heard concerns from busi ness owners about the cost of enhancing and maintaining the exterior of their stores. Hav ing local stores compete against Amazon while recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, he said, has resulted in even more businesses shut tering than before.

Esagof also pitched ideas to visually en hance the peninsula by featuring more lights, constructing a mural and even having a tasteful version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame but with Great Neck’s notable residents.

“This is a town with a history of entertain ment,” she said. “Very notable people used to live here and that’s another area we’d like to ex plore. We want to make Great Neck known for that, it’s a historical town.”

Those interested in being a part of the orga nization’s revitalization eforts or learning more can contact info@destinationgreatneck.com and visit www.destinationgreatneck.com.

Sewanhaka awaits state’s ruling on mascots

other things, before determining whether or not to change the name or seek to retain it through approval of one of the nine recognized Native American nations in the state.

“Once we get those regulations, we will share those with the community and we will do as we are directed by the New York State Educa tion Department,” Grossane said.

The memo in November came on the heels

of a court case involving Cambridge Central School District, which voted to retire its “Indi ans” team name, logo and mascot in June 2021 before reversing their decision a month later af ter new board of education members took ofce.

Albany County’s Supreme Court ruled that public schools violate the Dignity Act when us ing Native American mascots.

“Thus, the court’s decision establishes that public school districts are prohibited from uti lizing Native American mascots. Arguments that

community members support the use of such imagery or that it is “respectful” to Native Amer icans are no longer tenable,” said Senior Deputy Commissioner James Baldwin in his memo.

Native American mascots have long been a topic of discussion both locally and nationally.

In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, two change.org petitions were created demand ing the Indian mascots for Sewanhaka and Manhasset be changed.

Both school boards said at the time they

would be evaluating the use of the symbols in the district.

Since 2020, the National Football League’s Washington Redskins renamed itself to the Washington Football Team before permanently deciding on the Washington Commanders, which was unveiled earlier this year.

Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians also renamed themselves the Guardians, which took efect this year.

PHOTO BY ROBERT PELAEZ)

Great Neck’s elected officials discussed ways to revitalize the peninsula during a meeting last week.

Open: Mon–Thurs: 9am-5:30pm Fri: 9am-6pm

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Ukrainian consul general visits

He also helped facilitate the shipment of more than 460 guns to Ukrainians last month, making it the first shipment of guns from the United States to Ukraine. The guns were obtained through a county-orchestrated gun drive.

Blakeman, along with U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley), Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove), U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) and Glen Cove Mayor Pam Panzenbeck previously pledged support for Ukraine after the invasion, with some urging President Joe Biden to close the Killenworth estate, a compound in Glen Cove used by Russian diplomats to the United Nations.

In 2016, President Barack Obama’s administration ordered a Russian-owned mansion in Brookville, which was described by the U.S. government as a “recreational compound,” to be closed in late December due to Russia’s interference in the presidential election. Since then, 35 diplomats were expelled while the Killenworth estate itself was unaffected. It remains a Russian property that does not pay property taxes.

Port Washington’s Jeff Stone and Kathy Levinson, the leaders of Project H.E.L.P. Long Island, also aided in providing support for Ukraine.

The two collected funds to distribute to a variety of international organizations, including UNICEF, Save the Children and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The funds, Stone said, were wired to those agencies to provide Ukrainian refugees with resources to survive.

Stone also said he and Levinson, along with help from the community, collected baby strollers, onesies, coats, jackets and other clothes at the Presbyterian Church in Garden City for Ukrainian refugees.

Great Neck’s Abby Podwall and Tori Sobiecki organized a Hoops for Humanity fund-raiser for Ukraine in conjunction with St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church. Money raised went to the Northwell Health Ukrainian Relief Fund, which has been supporting Doctors Without Borders on missions in Ukraine.

Giving Is Living, JCC

Kids-Giving event

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Council Member Peter Zuckerman were proud to join with Giving is Living Inc. and the Sid Jacobsen JCC for their first Kids-Giving

event on Nov. 20 held at the Hector Gayle Roslyn Community Center.

The event distributed coats, hats, gloves, and food to families in need in the local community.

Douglas Elliman launches drive to benefit the homeless

This Giving Tuesday, Noelle Lambert and The Bryn Elliott Team announced their first ever Holiday Donation Drive, benefitting the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, an organization that strives to end homelessness on Long Island, and to alleviate the issues associated with homelessness and poverty for homeless and at risk persons in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

“I’ve always been passionate about helping others, but more specifically assisting the homeless is really important to me,” said Noelle Lambert, licensed real estate salesperson with Douglas Elliman Real Estate. “When you strip away all the excess and get down to the basics — the minimum that one should have in order to put their best foot forward every day — what remains is a home, along with food, and the like. There are countless people struggling and facing homelessness right now on Long Island and it just feels like the right thing to do to help them.”

liott, licensed associate real estate broker with The Bryn Elliott Team at Douglas Elliman Real Estate. “They’re also looking for clothing, socks and winter coats. We’re hopeful that this drive will make a difference by helping people who need it; especially during the toughest time of the year to be homeless.”

“We thank everyone in advance for their participation, because every dona-

tion truly does make a difference,” said Noelle. “We’re so appreciative of each business that has let us use their establishment as a drop-off location.” If you have any questions, please contact Noelle Lambert at 631-478-3819 or Bryn Elliott at 631-332-8899. For more information about the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, visit www.addressthehomeless.org.

Updating mortgage satisfaction info

Town of North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman would like to remind residential property owners that they must notify the Tax Office when satisfying their mortgage.

“It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that property information is up to date with the Town’s Tax Office and incorporated village (if applicable). This ensures that the tax bills are sent to the proper location, avoiding late fees and penal-

ties,” said Berman

Changes to your property tax information can be made through the online portal, by printing out a change form and emailing, faxing or mailing to the Tax Office, filling out the reverse side of a tax bill or sending in a letter with the required information.

To learn more visit: www.northhempsteadny.gov/Change-MortgageInfo or call 311.

The drive will run through Dec. 19 and has five drop-off locations throughout Long Island. The drive is collecting non-perishable (boxed and canned) food Items, shampoo & conditioner, soap, toothpaste & toothbrushes, deodorant, gently used or new winter coats and clothing and new socks.

“This year the organization is desperately in need of nonperishable food and personal care items,” said Bryn El-

Annual winter clothing drive

The day was clear and sunny, a warm breeze wafting by. Although the leaves were changing their colors and gently dropping, this late November day was a gift, perhaps of one last warm time before the cold days and nights of winter will be arriving..

It’s at this time that the Temple Judea Social Action Committee springs into action, collecting from the members warm coats, jackets, hats, scarves,

gloves, mittens and sweaters.

The clothing and other winter items will be brought to St. Patrick’s Church of Glen Cove, where it will be distributed to needy clients.

The synagogues involved in this project are Temple Judea of Manhasset, Shelter Rock Jewish Center, and Congregation Tifereth Israel of Glen Cove.

This project is through participa-

tion in TANS, a consortium of North Shore synagogues. It is the Neighbors Helping Neighbors event led by the chairpersons of Temple Judea’s Social Action Committee, Alicia Munves and Rita Marcus.

Temple Judea cordially welcomes new members. We are conveniently located off exit 36 North on LIE 333 Searingtown Road in Manhasset (516)6218049 www.temple-judea.com

Happening at the Great Neck School District

North High senior named Student of the Quarter by Nassau BOCES

North High School senior Jennifer (Avigail) Pinsky has been named a Student of the Quarter at Nassau BOCES Barry Tech career and technical education high school. She is currently in her second year of the Computer Game Design and Programming Skills course at Barry Tech, which is a hands-on program that immerses students into the video game development industry as they learn to design and program their own high-level, fully functioning video games.

Nassau BOCES Students of the Quarter are selected based on grades, attendance, work ethic, and preparedness. Honorees take the initiative on class projects and serve as role models for their fellow students, in both the classroom and the workplace.

Saddle Rock organizes Thanksgiving food donation

Saddle Rock School helped support local families this Thanksgiving by hosting a food drive for the St. Aloysius Interfaith Food Pantry in Great Neck. This building-wide donation drive, now in its ninth year, was sponsored by the Saddle Rock Student Government. Kindergarten through fifth-grade classes worked together to collect the components of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Student government representatives and alternates decorated boxes and bags that were used to transport the generous donations to the food pantry on Nov. 18. Student Government faculty advisors are Evan Chen, Lauren Rio, and Jessica Schatz.

Improv at South High Theatre South’s Improv Troupe, known as Hot Lunch Improv, will perform on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m., in the GP Room at South High School, 341 Lakeville Rd. During the performance, students create characters and scenes based on ideas from the audience.

The public is encouraged to attend the improv show, always a popular event, to enjoy a spontaneous production by a talented cast. Tickets ($5 general admission – cash or check only) will be sold at the door starting at 7 p.m.

For further information, please contact Ilana Meredith Schikler, drama teacher/director, at (516) 441-4873 or visit www.gntheatresouth.com/improvtroupe. Members of the Hot Lunch Improv Troupe are Anishka Arolkar, Antranig Baghdassarian, Cooper Brown, Joshua Davis (co-captain), Alexis Dorf, Nathan Gaysynsky, Amanda Roth (co-captain), Isabella Spagnoli, and Jessica Tamari.

South Middle winter concerts & art show

The South Middle School Music Department and Art Department are pleased to present the Winter Concerts & Art Show on Monday, Dec. 12, and Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7:30p.m. at South Middle School, 349 Lakeville Rd. Concerts are free, open to the public, and each lasts about an hour.

Winter Concerts

The Concert on Dec. 12 will feature the Senior Orchestra, Senior Chorus, and the Senior Band. Classical selections performed will include music by Handel, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky. Popular works by Brian Balmages, Pinkzebra, and Ben E. Kingwill also be heard, along with traditional holiday classics.

The Concert on Dec. 13 will feature Orchestra 6, Chorus 6, and Band6. Classical selections will feature music by Haydn and Rossini. Popular works by George M. Cohan and The Beach Boys will also be performed, in addition to a winter wonderland of a grand finale!

Instrumental students are taught by Music Department Head Alan Schwartz,Mark Boschen, and Andrew DeNise. Choral students are taught by Korey Coppola.

According to Mr. Schwartz, these concerts “offer perfect opportunities to introduce children from preK through grade 5 to the concerts in which they may very well perform in the future.” For more information, please contact Mr. Schwartz at (516) 441-4651, or at aschwartz@greatneck.k12.ny.us.

Art Show

Concertgoers can also enjoy the Art Show, which will be on display in the school lobby during the week of Dec. 12. The exhibit includes a variety of drawings, paintings, and prints created by students in grades 6, 7, and 8. Art students are taught by Art Department Head Cynthia Smith, Karla Krupala, and Hannah Lauth. For more information about the Art Show, please contact Ms. Smith at (516) 441-4640, or at csmith@greatneck. k12.ny.us.

North Middle winter concert series

The North Middle School Music Department is pleased to host their annual Winter Concert Series, featuring two evenings of music performances on Tuesday, Dec. 13, and Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. in the Daniel J. Tomaselli Auditorium, 77 Polo Rd.

Music selections for both performances will include holiday classics, original works, and classic repertoire.The concerts are free and the public is invited to attend.

The concert on Dec. 13 will feature performances by the Grade 6 Band, Chorus, and Orchestra. The Grade 6 Chorus is under the direction of vocal music

teacher Arielle Murdocco, and the Grade 6 Band and Orchestra are under the direction of instrumental music teacher Anthony Virgilio.

The concert on Dec. 15 will feature performances by the Grade 7-8 Band, Chorus, and Orchestra. The Grade 7-8 Chorus is under the direction of vocal music teacher Arielle Murdocco, and the Grade 7-8 Band and Orchestra are under the direction of music department head/instrumental music teacher Matthew Trinkwald.

For more information, please contact Mr. Trinkwald at (516) 441-4551, or mtrinkwald@greatneck. k12.ny.us.

Calendar notices for December 2022

Wednesday, Dec. 7

Adult Learning Center Registration for Trimester II ENL & GED-Prep Classes, 9 a.m.–noon and 6:30–9:30 p.m., 105 Clover Drive. Info: www.greatneck.k12. ny.us/alc or (516) 441-4950.

North High School Winter Concert I, 7:30 p.m., 35 Polo Rd. Info: 516-441-4751.

Thursday, Dec. 8

Adult Learning Center Registration for Trimester II ENL & GED-Prep Classes, 9 a.m.–noon and 6:30–9:30 p.m., 105 Clover Drive. Info: www.greatneck.k12. ny.us/alc or (516) 441-4950.

South High School Winter Concert I, 7:30 p.m., 341 Lakeville Rd. Info: 516-441-4851.

Friday, Dec. 9

South High Improv Night I, 7:30 p.m., 341 Lakeville Rd. Info: 516-441-4851.

Monday, Dec. 12

South Middle School Winter Concert & Art Show I, 7:30 p.m., 349 Lakeville Rd. Info: 516-441-4651.

Tuesday, Dec.13

North Middle School Grade 6 Concert, 7:00 p.m., 77 Polo Rd. Info: 516-441-4551.

South Middle School Winter Concert & Art Show II, 7:30 p.m., 349 Lakeville Rd. Info: 516-441-4651.

Wednesday, Dec. 14

Board of Education Public Action Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Parkville School, 10 Campbell St., New Hyde Park. Info: www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/meetings or (516) 441-4001.

Thursday, Dec. 15

North Middle School Grades 7 & 8 Concert, 7:00 p.m., 77 Polo Rd. Info: 516-441-4551.South High School Winter Concert II, 7:30 p.m., 341 Lakeville Rd. Info: 516-441-4851.

Tuesday, Dec. 20

North High School Winter Concert II, 7:30 p.m., 35 Polo Rd. Info: 516-441-4751.

Fire depts. host training day for junior firefighters

Three local fre companies, the Great Neck Alerts, Manhasset-Lakeville and Port Washington, held a joint training day at Manhasset-Lakeville’s Company No. 2 for members of their respective junior frefghters’ programs.

About 45 junior frefghters, rang ing in age from 12-17, braved the chilly, rainy weather early one Sunday morning to participate in several frefghting drills,

also referred to as “evolutions”.

Outftted in full frefghting gear, the juniors received “hands on” essen tial training in ground and aerial ladder skills, hose line operation, and search and rescue techniques. Ladder training included learning how to raise and sta bilize a ground ladder against a building, and how to safely mount and dismount a ladder.

An aerial ladder extends directly from a fre truck to the roof of a building. The juniors learned how to mount and climb the 50 ft. ladder that extended from the fre truck to the roof. On the roof, they learned how to perform roof operation skills.

Search and rescue drills were con ducted in two separate buildings, one that included a maze where the juniors, work

ing in teams, had to search and rescue several “hose dummies” or victims and bring them to safety.

For the hose line operation evolu tion, there were two separate hoses with 5 or 6 juniors operating each hose. They learned how to change the pattern of the water from a straight stream to a fog, a useful skill when learning how to disperse and apply water efectively on a fre.

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There were several advisors and vol unteer frefghters on hand from each of the three departments that provided the training and also shared their extensive knowledge and expertise of frefghting. The participating fre departments plan to continue holding joint training sessions in the future in an efort to help train the next generation of frefghters.

Harriman

Troop 10 of Great Neck, New York went back packing in Harriman State Park on a beautiful weekend in October 2022. Fourteen scouts and four adult leaders backpacked 4.4 miles with their own personal gear, water, lightweight stoves, liq uid fuel, food, tents, and water flters to the Stone Memorial Shelter.

They started at the Reeves Visitor Center and hiked to the Stone Memorial Shelter with a detour up Diamond Mountain which aforded beautiful views of the surrounding valleys with fall colors all around. Two more scouts with two adult leaders hiked a shorter route to the shelter after the PSATs and met the rest of the troop.

Firemanship skills were taught or tested de pending on the scouts’ level. Using water flters, they obtained water from nearby fowing streams thanks to recent rains. The patrols cooked one-pot meals on the lightweight stoves.

The flling dinner included ground beef and rice and vegetables, and one patrol ate vegetarian. Several senior scouts in addition to cooking their own dinners supervised the younger scouts for safety, especially regarding the lightweight stoves.

Clean-up was easy and after a campfre and snacks, all slept well. In the morning, the scouts boiled water for oatmeal, broke camp and back packed everything out 1.5 miles to the waiting cars.

Troop 10 meets at the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department on 25 Prospect Street on Mon days at 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on school days. If you are interested to join Troop 10, please contact Dr. Dwight J Rosenstein at djrosenstein@gmail. com.

Come and donate hats, gloves, and scarves at the Great Neck Library now through January 30, 2023. You can drop of your donations at all four of our library locations.

The Great Neck Library Main Building is located at 159 Bayview Avenue, Great Neck. The Station Branch is located at 26 Great Neck Road, 2nd Level, Great Neck. The Parkville Branch is located at 10

Campbell Street, New Hyde Park. The Lakeville Branch is located at 475 Great Neck Road, Great Neck. All your donations will be distribut ed to the people in need at the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (LICH).

For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at (516) 466-8055 or email adultprogram ming@greatnecklibrary.org.

Sports

Fall season brings local, state success

Area sports team excel in football, soccer, field hockey, swimming, cross country and volleyball

BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS

It was a fall season to remember for so many athletes in our Nassau County area. As happens every year, the cream rose to the top in a plethora of autumn sports.

From the gridiron to the swimming pool, from the tennis courts to the gymnasiums, a ton of great performances were seen.

With the high school football season officially over for our teams, the bow has been put on the 2022 fall campaign. Here’s a look back at some of the performances to remember:

FOOTBALL: Several area teams made the playoffs, but the only public school team to win a round made it all the way to the Long Island Championship game.

Competing in Conference IV, North Shore High School went undefeated in the regular season and captured its second straight Nassau championship, beating West Hempstead in the title game.

The Vikings could not quite defend their LIC, though, losing to Suffolk champ Bayport-Blue Point, 35-7 in the championship game.

Chaminade once again shone on the gridiron as well, but fell to St. Anthony’s in the CHSAA AAA semifinals.

GIRLS SOCCER: The Wheatley School had an outstanding season, reaching the Nassau Class B final before losing to Seaford, 1-0.

FIELD HOCKEY: Manhasset reached the Class B final for the second consecutive season, but once again was upended by Garden City, 2-1 in the final. Still, it was a fine season for the Indians in head coach Steve Sproul’s final year before retiring.

GIRLS SWIMMING: It was an absolutely sensational season for the Herricks girls swim team, with two individuals and two relay teams making the state finals in Webster on Nov. 18-19.

Then while there, senior Kailey Simons missed out on a state title in the 50 freestyle by two-hundredths of a second, snaring second place, and also finished second in the 100 backstroke.

Her teammate, senior Katie Yee, also excelled at states, grabbing third place in the 100 butterfly and fifth in the 200 IM. Both Herricks’ relay teams finished fourth as well.

Manhasset freshman Samantha Anderson, who won the county title in the 500 freestyle, had a smashing states meet as well, placing fourth in the 500 free and sixth in the 200 free.

Manhasset freshman diver Victoria Wang snagged a third-place finish for her team at states.

GIRLS TENNIS : The Schreiber girls tennis team kept its dynasty rolling, bringing the Class A county championship back to Port Washington once again. And once again the Vikings didn’t stop there, as they went to the large school state semifi nals after beating Harborfields for the Long Island championship.

In the state semis played at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Schreiber won its semifinal but fell in the team championship to Scarsdale.

In the individual tournament, the doubles team from Schreiber of Ellie Ross and Dasha Perfiliev nearly defended their state crown, losing to a duo from Burnt Hills in the championship match.

Elsewhere, Manhasset and Roslyn enjoyed strong seasons, with each making the state team semis, and at Great Neck South the team of Kyra Diaz and Madison Lee had a wonderful postseason, reaching the finals at the county championships, then advancing to the semifi nals at the state championships.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: Schreiber sophomore Ashley Carillo continued her great career by winning the Class I Nassau cross country meet, in 19:27.89.

Great Neck South’s Isabella Spagnoli won Class II counties in 18:53.48 and then won the Class A state qualifier as well.

At states, Spagnoli finished 40th, while Carillo placed 48th.

BOYS BADMINTON: Great Neck South continued to roll in local badminton play, as the boys saw Melvin Thu win the singles title for the county. GNS then reached the team finals but fell in a close match against Jericho, 4-3.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Mineola advanced the farthest of the local teams, reaching the semifinals of the county Class A playoffs, before losing to top seed South Side, 3-0. New Hyde Park enjoyed an undefeated regular season but fell to South Side in the opening round. Wheatley reached the semifinals of Class B but lost there to North Shore.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Schreiber reached the semifinals of the Division I bracket before losing, while Roslyn advanced to the finals of Division II before falling to top-seeded Calhoun.

PHOTO BY SHANE HELFNER

The Port Washington Schreiber tennis team reached the state team finals this fall.

If you were planning on waiting to list your home until a fer the holidays, these considerations might be of interest to you.

1.

Low inventory means more buyers looking at your home

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