Nassau GOP demands that Santos resign
Follows filing of complaints by Watchdog group and 2 N.Y. Dems
BY ROBERT PELAEZThe Nassau County Republican Committee and local GOP officials called on newly-elected U.S. Rep. George Santos to resign from his position on Wednesday morning.
Nassau County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph Cairo, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, newly-elected state Sen. Jack Martins and newly-elected U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito called on Santos to step down from his position, saying the lies and deceit of his personal and professional background will not allow him to be an effective leader.
“He’s disgraced the House of Representatives and we do not consider him one of our congresspeople,” Cairo said in a press conference. “Today, on behalf of the Nassau County Republican Committee, I am calling for his immediate resignation.”
“The lies George Santos told are too numerous to count,” DeSena, who publicly endorsed Santos, said. “He lied to me personally when he sought my endorsement, and while I am offended and disgusted at his deceit, my true concerns are for the residents of the 3rd Congressional District.”
“What was really tragic is the fact that there are so many people here in
3 G.N. science stars in contest semis
BY ROBERT PELAEZA dozen high school seniors across North Shore public school districts were named semifinalists in the 2023 Regeneron Science Talent Search, with multiples from Great Neck South, Schreiber High, Manhasset High and Herricks High.
The competition, formerly spon-
sored by Westinghouse and then Intel before its current sponsor, pharmaceutical company Regeneron, is run each year by the Society for Science and the Public, with the goal of finding solutions to the world’s challenges from budding young scientists.
From an initial 1,804 applications, 300 students across the country and other parts of the world were
named scholars in the 2022 contest, with 40 being from Long Island. The 300 scholars and their schools will be awarded $2,000 each.
Great Neck South was represented by Dana Kagan, Amit Saha and Amber Sun. Schreiber High was represented by Amelia Abell, Sasha Bandler and Bryson Shaub. Herricks also had three students named as semifinalists, with
Jeylin Lee, Dheyala Simirin and Miah Margiano.
Manhasset’s Ben Punzalan and Allen Qian and Roslyn High’s Maxx Yung rounded out the North Shore’s semifinalists.
“Congratulations to the top 300 scholars in this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search,” Regeneron President and CEO Maya Ajmera said. “The
enthusiasm and quality of projects from this year’s participants were just outstanding. Each year, I am tremendously impressed by the ingenuity that the students bring to the competition.”
A total of 16% of the research projects from semifinalists in the country were related to behavioral
G.N. doctor gets 2 1/2 years for fraud
DeSena to give State of Town address Jan. 27 Plans to tout 1st year accomplishments
BY BRANDON DUFFY
Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena will hold her second State of the Town address on Friday, Jan. 27, at the Clubhouse at Harbor Links in Port Washington.
The address will be part of a luncheon hosted by the League of Women Voters of Port WashingtonManhasset.
“I am so excited to deliver this year’s State of the Town address and speak about the Town’s many accomplishments under the frst year of my administration,” DeSena said in a statement. “This year will mark the 36th anniversary of the State of the Town address, and I want to thank the League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset for all their hard work presenting this time-honored tradition. I am excited to share all the ways my administration has been hard at work putting our residents frst.”
In 2021, DeSena was the frst Republican nominee to win the town supervisor election in over 30 years, succeeding Judi Bosworth, a Democrat, who did not seek reelection.
Since her administration began, DeSena and the two Republicans on the board who were also elected last year, David Adhami and Dennis Walsh, have sometimes had tense relations with Democrats, who hold a 4-3 majority on the seven-member board.
DeSena campaigned on making town government streamlined and more efcient, citing issues with North Hempstead’s Building Department.
In June, the Town Board passed legislation submitted by Democrat Councilmember Veronica Lurvey to require reports given to the Town Board from commissioners and department heads at the Building Department to be delivered on a monthly basis rather than yearly.
A month later, a local law was passed to make modifcations to the procedure for requests for expedited permits.
Another reform to require the town Building Department commissioner to make a decision on expedited permits within seven days and remove the Town Board’s ability to override the department’s decisions was continued without a date in
BY ROBERT PELAEZA doctor who practiced in Great Neck was sentenced to 30 months in prison after billing Medicare for millions of dollars worth of procedures that were never conducted, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
In March 2022 Morris Barnard, 59, pleaded guilty to submitting billings to Medicare for gastroenterological and colonoscopy procedures that were not conducted from October 2015 to February 2020 The total cost of billings exceeded $3 million, of which Medicare reimbursed approximately
$1.4 million worth of false claims, officials said.
The fraudulent procedures were rendered to disabled individuals living in residential group homes, according to the billings.
“Today, Dr. Barnard learned the consequences for his greed-driven scheme in which he took advantage of patients who are disabled and living in residential group homes by falsely billing Medicare for medical procedures on them that he never actually performed,” U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace said.
“Health care professionals who
fraudulently bill Medicare for services never actually provided divert taxpayer funding meant to pay for medically necessary services for people enrolled in Medicare,” Susan Frisco, acting special agent in charge, said.
U.S. District Judge Gary R. Brown ordered a restitution of more than $1.4 million to Medicare as a result of the organization’s reimbursements, officials said.
“As the defendant learned today, defrauding Medicare does not pay — it has consequences,” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll said.
Roslyn Times: Steven Keehner 516-307-1045 x214 • skeehner@theisland360.com
Williston Times: Brandon Duffy 516-307-1045 x215 • bduffy@theisland360.com
Port Washington Times: Steven Keehner 516-307-1045 x214 • skeehner@theisland360.com
Dueling county redistricting maps
BY ROBERT PELAEZThe Nassau County Legislature’s Rules Committee will discuss the county’s redistricting process following a November stalemate reached by the bipartisan Temporary Districting Advisory Commission.
The 11-member committee made up of fve Democrats, fve Republicans and one nonvoting chairman, voted along party lines for a pair of resolutions to submit maps to the county’s Republican-controlled legislature in November. The Rules Committee meeting will take place on Jan. 17 at 11 a.m.
County ofcials encouraged residents to view the proposed map from each delegation, all materials and prior comments from commission meetings ahead of the meeting. Residents who wish to make additional comments can do so by submitting them to NCRedistricting@nassaucountyny. gov before the meeting.
The county Legislature, comprised of 12 Republican ofcials and seven Democrats, is now in charge of reviewing all of the maps, public input and materials obtained by the commission and drawing their own district lines.
New district lines are required to be adopted by the county Legislature
in March, ofcials said.
The map was last redrawn in 2013. Democratic ofcials have chastised Republicans for their lack of transparency in developing the 2023 map. They contend that the Republican proposal allows ofcials to select their representatives rather than the
public.
Commission Chairman Frank X. Moroney said Democratic committee member David Mejias’ prediction of litigation was something he had heard from the start of the redistricting process. Moroney said Republican ofcials asked the Democratic com-
mission to work across the aisle, saying the Democrats “did not want to do that.”
“The only thing that happened here is that the Republicans of Nassau County have guaranteed litigation over an illegal map,” Mejias said following the vote. “If and when they
lose, it’s going to cost the taxpayers millions of dollars.”
A total of three map proposals were submitted to the commission: one Republican and two Democratic versions. The Republican proposal closely resembles the current map.
District 9 currently includes Albertson, East Williston, Garden City Park, Mineola, Munsey Park, New Hyde Park, Plandome, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Roslyn Estates and Williston Park. It would remain the same under the Republican suggestion.
District 10 currently includes Kings Point, Great Neck, Lake Success, Herricks, Manhasset, Manhasset Hills, North Hills and Searington. It would remain the same under the Republican suggestion.
District 11 currently includes Glen Cove, Glen Head, Glenwood, Port Washington, Roslyn, Roslyn Harbor, Sands Point and Sea Clif. It would remain the same under the Republican proposal.
District 18 currently includes Bayville, East Hills, East Norwich, Glen Cove, Glen Head, Greenvale, Jericho, Locust Valley, Mill Neck, Muttontown, Old Westbury, Roslyn Heights, Syosset and Woodbury. It would remain the same under the Republican proposal.
Charged with recording woman at gym
Sumter arrested for allegedly taking video at Planet Fitness in Great Neck Plaza
BY ROBERT PELAEZ
A Planet Fitness employee was charged with unlawful surveillance after allegedly using a cell phone to record a woman during a tanning session at the gym’s Great Neck Plaza location Saturday, according to the Nassau County Police Department.
A 20-year-old woman entered the Planet Fitness tanning room Saturday evening and noticed a cell phone recording in the ceiling panels following the tanning session, officials said. The woman, whose name was not disclosed in the report, immediately called 911 and an investigation was launched.
Demetrius Sumter, 27, was arrested and charged with unlawful surveillance in the second degree and was scheduled to be arraigned at the First District Court in Hempstead Sunday, but efforts to reach officials for further comment were unavailing.
A Planet Fitness spokesperson said, “We are aware of the incident that took place at the Planet Fitness in Great Neck Plaza, Nassau, and the employee involved was terminated immediately.”
Failed bank robbery in Westbury: Police
Man who threatened Bank of America teller with weapon last week remains on the run
BY STEVEN KEEHNERA man who unsuccessfully attempted to rob a Westbury bank on Wednesday afternoon remains on the run, police said.
At 2:29 p.m., an unknown male suspect entered the Bank of America at 248 Post Ave. and approached the teller, police said. The subject threatened her with a weapon and presented a handwritten note demanding cash.
The teller, 36, walked away from her station after reading the note and the suspect exited the bank through the back door, receiving no money. Once in the parking lot, the suspect escaped eastbound on Winthrop Street.
There were four bank personnel and several clients present at the time of the crime. There were no reported injuries. An investigation is ongoing.
Police described the suspect as a male Hispanic, approximately 5’8″, average build, light brown complexion and brown eyes.
They said he was wearing a grey zippered sweatshirt with a hood over a black sweater, a black baseball cap with a design on the front, a black cloth mask and black-colored winter gloves.
Officials ask anyone with information on the incident to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
Sport Psychology
Four Million Patients. One High Standard of Care.
Why is NYU Langone Health the #1 hospital in New York? Behind our top rankings is a culture of exceptional performance that inspires everything we do. It’s the reason why each of our hospitals has received the prestigious Magnet® designation for nursing excellence. It’s why we routinely take on complex cases that other hospitals turn away. It’s why we invest big in our communities. We operate one of the largest networks of family health centers in the U.S. and, last year, our community benefit contribution totaled $1.3 billion.
#1 is an attitude, one best expressed by our non-negotiable commitment to extend the highest standard of care to every patient we see, regardless of their condition, location or financial circumstances. Our volume of Medicaid patients is among the highest in New York City, and nearly two-thirds of our inpatients are enrolled in a government-sponsored insurance plan.
Above all, #1 is about stepping up to the plate every day to bring the best to our patients and their families. No exceptions.
Because our mission only works if it works for everyone.
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Vehicular theft gone awry: Officials
Man who stole car from Westbury gas station before crashing it remains at large
BY STEVEN KEEHNER
A man who stole a car from a Westbury gas station Sunday morning before crashing it and fleeing is still at large, police announced.
A male driver, 43, was filling up his 2022 Mercedes at a Shell Gas Station on 865 Carman Ave.
at 8:50 a.m. Police say a black male described as wearing gray sweatpants, got out of a nearby gray Audi and then entered the victim’s vehicle, driving off and fleeing southbound on Carman Avenue.
The gas pump nozzle still attached to the Mercedes was ripped off as the subject fled. The driver of the gray Audi also fled the scene south-
bound on Carman Avenue, police said.
The driver of the hijacked Mercedes then got into an auto accident at the intersection of Carman Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike and disappeared. The victim, 55, reported no injuries at the scene.
The Mercedes was later abandoned near the
Hempstead Turnpike and Park Avenue intersection in East Meadow. The investigation is ongoing.
Detectives are asking anyone with information about the incident to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. Callers will remain anonymous.
Viscardi goes all in with casino fundraiser
Albertson-based center plans fun evening to aid people with serious disabilities
BY STEVEN KEEHNERThe Viscardi Center will hold its third Casino Night fund-raiser on Feb. 9 from 6-9 p.m. at 201 I.U. Willets Road in Albertson.
The center last held the event in January 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic. Gaming tables, playing chips, an open bar, a dinner and dessert bufet, a silent auction and rafes will be among the evening’s festivities.
“What our guests really enjoy about it is that it’s just really a fun evening for people to come together with their colleagues, friends and family members,” Kim Brussell, vice president of public afairs and marketing for the Viscardi Center, said. At the same time, they also “know that the money that’s being raised at the event is really helping individuals with disabilities.”
The Viscardi Center is a nonproft network that ofers services to educate, employ and empower people with disabilities. Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr., who wore prosthetic legs himself, founded the center in 1952. He also
materials, transportation, assistive technology, personal care assistants and ofer internships as well as scholarships. The money will also contribute to the organization’s new inclusive higher education and post-secondary initiatives.
“This new program will provide some comprehensive, post-secondary programming for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Brussell said. “It’ll give them the opportunity to continue to learn. It’ll give them some socialization opportunities as well as some career exploration that they might not otherwise have had.”
While there has been a rise in these types of programs nationwide, Brussell said they are lacking on Long Island. The center plans to kick of its frst pilot program in the coming months.
Tickets are $135 per person and can be purchased at ViscardiCenter. org/all-in or at the door on the day of the event. Sponsorships are also available.
Residents, parish gets wrong tax bills: Abrahams
BY BRANDON DUFFYNassau County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (DFreeport) said in a letter to County Executive Bruce Blakeman and acting County Assessor Matthew Cronin that more than 800 property owners were overcharged on their school tax bills.
Abrahams also said the Notre Dame Parish in New Hyde Park was wrongly sent another tax bill for approximately $480,000 for its 2023 general taxes.
“These latest concerns about the potential existence of another round of signifcant errors in Nassau County’s tax bills are being raised just months after 842 property owners were overcharged on their 2022/2023 school tax bills because the county failed to correctly apply the Taxpayer Protection Plan fve-year phase-in to their properties,” Abrahams said in a statement. “We are furthermore distressed by initial evidence and analysis which indicates that this same error may have occurred on the general tax bills of those same 842 homeowners.”
A previous error in October led to the parish being wrongly sent a bill for $676,634 in school taxes, according to county records. The initial Nassau Assessment Department error led to a $16.7 million assessmenton the taxexempt property.
North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman said in a letter to Cronin that the full tax exemption was again not applied.
“Similar to my explanation in my letter of October 26, 2022 regarding the 2022-2023 School Tax Warrant, it appears that this property appeared on the 2023 General Tax Warrant
because the county failed to apply a full property tax exemption that the above-referenced property appears to qualify for,” Berman said in his letter to the county.
In November, Berman told Blank Slate Media the parish, located at 45 Mayfair Rd., sold a single-family home on its property for $630,000, which is what the county should have removed the tax exemption for rather than the entire property.
The school tax bill of the home’s new owner on 9 Aberdeen Rd. was taxed as a class 4 commercial property, which uses 1% of market value and commercial rates, Berman said.
“He should have been taxed as a class 1 residential property using 0.10% of market value and residential rates,” Berman said in a statement.
Abrahams added that Cronin’s use of the chief deputy assessor title could be a violation of the county’s Administrative Code.
“Adding to our already signifcant concerns, the Minority Caucus is aware that neither an assessor nor an acting assessor is currently leading the Nassau County Department, a fact made evident by the published 2024/2025 Tentative Assessment Roll, which was signed by Mr. Cronin as “Chief Deputy Assessor,” Abrahams said.
“Such an action is a potential violation of Article VI of the Nassau County Charter and Chapter VI of the Nassau County Administrative Code. Moreover, it ofers a disturbing reminder of the administration’s secrecy and lack of transparency regarding this issue. All of this begs the question: If a permanent assessor had been appointed, would these repeat errors
Notre Dame Parish on 45 Mayfair Rd. In New Hyde Park.
have occurred?”
Cronin, of Amityville, was appointed acting assessor by Blakeman in May of last year. Prior to his current role, Cronin was an assistant assessor with previous experience in the De-
partment of Assessment.
He served as the county’s commercial and industrial assessor in 2020 before being promoted.
Cronin was appointed after Blakeman, a Republican, did not renew the
contract for acting Assessor Robin Laveman, who was appointed to fll the shoes of her predecessor, David Moog, by former County Executive Laura Curran, a Democrat.
N. Hempstead develops plan to reduce food waste
Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board unanimously adopted an organics management plan to reduce the flow of wasted food which will in turn reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help feed the hungry at the most recent board meeting.
The plan was developed in collaboration with the Town’s Climate Smart Communities Task Force as part of the town’s Climate Action Plan and utilizes the U.S. EPA Food recovery hierarchy to prioritize food waste prevention, donation, and diversion.
Food waste creates carbon dioxide and methane that contributes to climate change. The goal is to create awareness and shift behavior, leading to a cleaner, greener, and healthier environment for North Hempstead residents.
The town’s Organic Management Plan focuses on three core areas:
• Prevention strategies such as smart shopping, storage, and repurposing food
• Encouraging donation of excess food to local food banks
• Hands-on education and tools for home composting, as well as local community composting resources to divert food scraps from landfills and combustion facilities
The town has devoted a section of North Hempstead’s website to food waste including an inventory of local food banks and helpful tips and resources, launched a Food Waste Free Friday campaign on the North Hempstead’s Facebook page and will continue their popular home composting program in the spring.
The town’s Organics Management Plan also references a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation law went into effect in 2022 that requires Designated Food Scrap Generators or businesses and institutions that generate two tons or more of food scraps per week, to comply with donation requirements or both donation and recycling (composting/recycling facility) requirements.
As commercial composting services become available in North Hempstead, the Town will play an active role in educating local businesses and large food-generating institutions of this law.
Residents can access the town’s Organics Management Plan along with tools and resources to reduce food waste at NorthHempsteadNY.gov/ClimateAction
OUR VIEWS Editorial Cartoon
Who is to blame for Santos fiasco?
George Santos was officially sworn in as the representative for the 3rd Congressional District early Saturday morning after running a campaign in which he lied about his professional background, educational history, religion, race and property ownership. Among other things.
This raises two questions.
Who is to blame for a congressional candidate getting elected by deceiving the voters of his district? And how do we prevent this from happening again?
Let’s start with who is to blame, aside from Santos.
Santos, who before being elected to Congress had never served in public office, was selected by both the Queens and Nassau County Republican parties. Twice. Once in 2020 in an unsuccessful run against Rep. Tom Suozzi and again in 2022 in a slightly altered district against businessman Robert Zimmerman.
He was then supported by the New York State Republican Party and the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.
Did any of these groups vet Santos to see whether he was really qualified to represent the voters of northern Nassau County and and portions of northeast Queens in Congress?
Like the way a vice presidential candidate is vetted by a presidential candidate or a nominee to a cabinet position is vetted by a presidential administration and the U.S. Senate?
Apparently not.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman pointed his finger at the Queens County Republican Party last month.
“George Santos is not a Nassau Republican,” Blakeman told Newsday. “He’s a Queens Republican.” He then added that after the district lines changed from 2020 “we kind of inherited him.”
Aside from slighting the more than 2.4 million Queens residents, Blake-
man’s claim is surprising since the 3rd District in 2022 was comprised overwhelmingly of Nassau residents, who cast 82% of the 279,772 votes in the race between Santos and Zimmerman.
There are another 185,000 reasons that the Nassau GOP may have endorsed Santos. That’s the amount of money Santos-tied political action committees gave to the Nassau County GOP for the 2022 campaign, according to a report in Newsday.
Nassau GOP Chairman Joseph Cairo said Thursday that the party would return money donated by one Santos tied-committee — the Rise NY — totaling $126,725.
Cairo on Wednesday did call on Santos to resign from Congress.
Unsaid is why Nassau Republicans did not bother to question how Santos raised the money to contribute to Nassau Republicans.
Or how his personal income rose from $55,000 in 2020 to $750,000 in salary with between $1 million to $5 million in dividends in 2022.
Santos reported to the Federal Election Commission that he loaned his campaign $705,000. A federal complaint was filed Monday urging the FEC to immediately open an investigation into questions about Santos’ fund-raising, loans and expenditures.
Cairo said the standard used by the Nassau GOP in taking the $126, 000 was that “it was permissible under the law, and it would allow a Republican to have a better chance to win in a challenging congressional district.”
This seems to be a very low standard for a candidate who on Saturday helped elect the speaker of the House, the person second in line to the president of the United States.
What about Zimmerman, Nassau and New York State Democrats, particularly Jay Jacobs who is chairman of both parties, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee?
Shouldn’t they have done the opposition research usually conducted in
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campaigns for Congress where negative information about the opposition is ferreted out and used to attack an opponent?
The answer is of course.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did do opposition research that reviewed Santos’ politics.
This included details that Santos attended the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, claimed that he financially supported insurrectionists, called Ukraine a “totalitarian regime,” favored criminal charges for doctors who performed abortions and supported tax cuts for the wealthy.
The research also found personal and financial issues such as questions about an animal rescue nonprofit Santos claimed to have started and that he faced several evictions from apartments he rented.
But the DCCC and the Zimmerman campaign missed many other lies that were later reported by The New York Times after the election and, in many cases, confirmed by Santos.
Democrats, in part, blamed the lies missed on the abbreviated general election campaign that resulted from
REPORTERS
a lawsuit that found congressional maps drawn by the state Legislature violated state law.
Zimmerman said the extended primary campaign cost him money to be used in a general campaign on further opposition research and required him to spend more time raising funds.
But the Democrats’ efforts fell well short of what one would expect in an election that helped determine control of the U.S. House. And the campaign failed to adequately communicate what they found to voters.
Zimmerman also faulted the media for not fulfilling its watchdog role before the election.
He said he tried to present the results of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee research, which was later used by The New York Times, to many members of the news media.
But, he said, there was little interest in the information in part because members of the media didn’t think Santos had a chance to win the election.
We don’t know about the other media companies, but Blank Slate Media did not receive the report until
Robert Pelaez, Brandon Duffy, Steven Keehner COLUMNIST Karen Rubin
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Stacy Shaughnessy, Melissa Spitalnick, Wendy Kates, Barbara Kaplan
ART DIRECTOR Yvonne Farley
after The New York Times story broke. Would we have followed up on its contents? Absolutely.
The Zimmerman campaign also did not recognize a sad reality of 2022: Money lost to the internet and social media has forced newspapers and other news outletsto reduce if not eliminate reporting positions.
This translates into less coverage, particularly in an election year with races for Congress, the state Assembly and state Senate.
The reduced coverage is part of a national trend that should frighten all Americans. Just think about what else is being missed, especially in areas hurt worse than Long Island.
It is also worth noting that it was the media led by The New York Times that — albeit after the fact — actually uncovered Santos’ lies.
This brings us to the question of how to prevent another George Santos from getting elected.
We can rule out the threat of expulsion from a Republican-controlled Congress after watching them spend four days trying to elect a House speaker last week.
BACK ROAD
The monster, buried terror, invisible wounds
In the decades following the Sep. 11, 2001, terrorist attack against America, nearly three million service members were deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. Analysis by the Rand Corporation found that “the psychological toll of these deployments may be disproportionately high compared with the physical injuries of combat.”
For many service members, the nonpartisan research organization explained, “unlike the physical wounds of war, these conditions are often invisible to the eye.”
In his 2022 memoir “Invisible Storm,” former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander recalled his deployment to Afghanistan and the return home. After 9/11 he was inspired to follow in the footsteps of the elders in his family who served in the armed forces.
Jason earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2005 and joined the University’s ROTC battalion. Upon graduation he volunteered for a tour in Afghanistan with the Army National Guard where he earned the rank of captain. His fourmonth deployment involved gathering intelligence, often placing him on high alert in life-threatening situations.
When he returned home, Jason’s mental health began to deteriorate. However, he thought that he did not deserve help, given the nature of his assignment and brief deployment. He held on to the belief that he hadn’t sacrificed enough to “earn” a diagnosis of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or depression and that seeking help would amount to “stealing valor.”
As everyday life became more emotionally stressful, trying to manage anger, guilt, shame, intrusive thoughts and a persistent sense of threat, Jason finally did seek help.
At the time, Jason was deeply involved in a race to become Mayor of Kansas City. He made a public announcement that he was leaving the mayoral race and the reason why.
Jason is a well-known public figure. He was elected to office in Missouri and is a nationally known voting rights activist who founded Let America Vote, a political action committee that aims to put an end to voter suppression and gerrymandering. As for his public disclosure, Jason was widely embraced for coming out about his need for mental health care to address PTSD — THE MONSTER, as his therapist, a Vietnam veteran, referred to it.
MALEKOFF The Back Road
Jason leaves ample space in his memoir for his wife Diana to share how his return home affected her.
“There was nothing to help a reservist’s spouse to deal with deployment,” Diana recalled, “Nothing to tell me what it might feel like, how to become emotionally prepared for it, or what I would even have to deal with upon Jason’s return.”
At home, Jason continued to be hypervigilant, on high alert against threats, real or imagined. “In moments of stillness,” he recalled, “when I was
alone with my thoughts, or as night fell hings had started to get dark.” At bedtime he was overwhelmed by nightmares that unleashed his buried terror.
He just couldn’t turn it off. Neither could Diana.
“When you live with someone who constantly tells you how dangerous the world is, how vulnerable you and your family are,” Diana recalled, “someone who wakes you up to recount violent night terrors, you absorb that trauma and make it your own.”
What Diana is describing is “vicarious trauma,” a condition that can be a consequence of empathetic engagement with trauma survivors and not only war veterans. When she realized that she was absorbing Jason’s PTSD, she also sought mental health care.
“If you want people to understand war, you don’t just tell them about the biggest events or the scariest moments,” Jason came to realize. “Because war is not only smoke and fire, it’s the voltage of danger that seems to hum just under the surface of the whole terrain like the sound of a fridge at night,” he added.
“I was certain danger was all around me,” Jason remembered, “and I had to be constantly preventing,
thwarting, and controlling it.” In other words, beyond the physical wounds of war, everything is a threat; you believe you are about to be killed violently and must be prepared to violently kill another human being.
Retired U.S. Marine Corps fourstar general James Mattis, in his 2019 memoir “Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead,” dispels the view that Jason had held, that for him to seek mental health care could be construed as stealing valor. “Frontline service in the military brings with it the dignity of danger,” Mattis asserted, “and recognizing valor is critical.”
One has to wonder if the danger that Jason (and others) faced with dignity and the valor he consistently demonstrated was appropriately acknowledged upon his discharge. And whether properly recognizing his service and sacrifice might have made a difference in allaying the idea that he was unworthy of receiving mental health care.
Jason brought the war back home with him, along with his buried terror and invisible wounds. In time he took a bold step to bypass stigma, embrace mental health care and find his way through to posttraumatic growth.
ON THE RIGHT
End New York State’s backdoor borrowing
In New York today there are 1,178 state and local public authorities.
That’s a staggering number.
Of the total, 294 are state agencies, 876 are county, city or township agencies, and eight are interstate (i.e.: the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey).
What is frightening: the combined debt of these agencies is $329 billion.
According to a report released by New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli in December, the total debt of the agencies has increased by $61.5 billion since 2017. That’s a jump of 23%—way above the rate of inflation.
The report also revealed that 97% of all state-funded debt has been issued by public authorities.
This “backdoor borrowing” was created back in the days when Nelson Rockefeller was governor (19591973) to skirt these 65 words found in Article 7, Section 11 of the state constitution:
“… no debt shall be hereafter contracted by or in behalf of the state, unless such debt shall be authorized by law, for some single work or pur-
pose, to be distinctly specified therein. No such law shall take effect until it shall, at a general election, have been submitted to the people, and have received a majority of all the votes cast for and against it….”
By borrowing through public authorities, the comptroller noted, “the state bypasses the voter approval process and diminishes transparency, accountability and oversight.”
Governors have used the agencies to fund state spending and to cover up operating deficits. “These transfers make it easier to present a balanced budget picture and avoid potentially difficult decisions on spending and or revenue.”
One of the most notorious backdoor borrowing schemes was hatched during Mario Cuomo’s tenure as the state’s chief executive officer. To help balance his budget, Cuomo sold Attica Prison to the Urban Development Corporation (now known as the Empire State Development Corporation) for $200 million, raised via bonded debt.
To allow the UDC to meet the principal and interest payments on
GEORGE J. MARLIN On The Right
that debt, the state leased the facility and paid rent to the agency.
In effect, Cuomo saddled taxpayers with more than $560 million in principal and interest payments on bonded debt over 30 years to get $200 million in one-shot revenues.
Ironically, the debt was still being paid off when Cuomo’s son, Andrew, was sworn in as governor in 2011.
LETTERS POLICY
Every governor since Rockefeller has utilized this fiscal abuse, including Governor Kathy Hochul.
In this year’s state budget, the New York Dormitory Authority, Power Authority, Mortgage Authority, Energy Research and Development Authority and the Housing Finance Authority transferred over $90 million to the state’s general fund.
And another $68 million, from proceeds of bonded debt issued by the Dormitory Authority, funded 276 pork barrel projects approved by Hochul to reward friendly legislators.
These grants, I can assure you, were not related to the original mission of the Dormitory Authority. A typical project was $500,000 for improvements to the Ice Arena bathrooms and locker rooms in the City of Long Beach.
Other little-known facts about the state and local authorities: they employ over 166,000 people whose total compensation is over $13 billion.
Approximately 33% of Authority employees earned $100,000 or more last year. By comparison, DiNapoli
reported, “less than a quarter or 21.6% of New York residents earned as much.”
In addition, the vast majority of New Yorkers do not have the lucrative pension and health care benefits Authority employees receive in retirement.
The authorities also awarded 32,103 contracts worth $11.8 billion. Of these 16% were awarded noncompetitively. Do you suppose any of those non-competitive contracts were handed out to political cronies?
The abuse of public authorities by elected officials to balance budgets and to reward political insiders is egregious.
To fix this mess and to improve accountability, DiNapoli wisely calls on lawmakers “to discontinue its reliance on backdoor borrowing and the use of fiscal gimmicks, eliminate the use of lump-sum appropriations, and impose transparency and fiscal discipline.”
But don’t hold your breath waiting for Albany to act on those recommendations.
Dangers, glory of fame presented on state
“The Collaboration” is a show about the two-year-long working relationship between two of the most important artists of the 20th century, Andy Warhol, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The show is finishing its run with the Manhattan Theatre Club at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre and I suggest that if you have an interest either in fame or America art that you get yourself down to this show.
Andy Warhol is played by the quietly attractive and talented film star, Paul Bettany (“Master and Commander” and “Margin Call”) and Jean-Michel Basquiat is played by the energetic and charismatic rising star Jeremy Pope. The play was written by Anthony McCarten, who also wrote “The Darkest Hour” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” so this is a writer attracted to the theme of how fame can destroy those who embrace it.
The play centers upon the Warhol/ Basquiat collaboration that unfolded in the early 1980s in Manhattan. Much
like the artistic rivalries described by Sebastian Smee in his book “The Art of Rivalry,” we see an older, more established artist who is stuck, frozen and blocked confronted with a younger, freer artist who is on the rise. The art world witnessed this with Matisse vs. Picasso, Lucian Freud vs. Francis Bacon and more recently with de Kooning vs. Pollock.
The older one rises to the very top of his domain, then gets frozen, isolated, hesitant, self-doubting on his Mount Olympus. Then comes the next rising star happy to dethrone the king.
In the case of Warhol, he actually gave up painting altogether until Basquiat came along to unfreeze him. The play unfolds on many levels at once. First, there are the obvious differences in personality between Warhol and Basquiat and the question of how they will cooperate with each other. Warhol was this odd, schizoid, freakish looking homosexual with a white wig who once famously appeared on The Merv Griffin Show at the height of his fame and brought Edie Sedgwick with him to do all the talking.
Paul Bettany does a remarkable job of portraying Warhol in all his quirkiness, cleverness, and shyness. Warhol was a man of endless ambition and business savvy, wonderfully demonstrated in a scene where a distraught girlfriend of Basquiat’s arrives needing money for an abortion and Andy cajoles her into selling one of her Basquiat works for half price. Many Warhol quotes have made
DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town
it into the English lexicon like “Someday everyone will be famous for 15 minutes” and “The truly great art is business art. Business is the greatest art there is.”
On the other hand, Basquiat displayed his own tortured death wish with paintings of skulls and with cocaine and heroin use. Any psychoanalyst who looks at a Basquiat painting will immediately see that this is probably the work of an ambulatory schizophrenic. When we are trained in administering and analyzing projective techniques, we learn that often patients who sketch the insides of a head or body parts are showing lack of boundaries and signs of a latent schizophrenic process. Basquiat’s mother was schizophrenic and Basquiat demonstrated plenty of magical thinking when he kept repeating “my paintings can heal people that look at them.”
But in the end, after all the individual analysis, I felt this play’s underlying message was the way it served as a warning of the dangers of fame. Basquiat was dead by 27 of a heroin overdose and Warhol was shot by an angry fan. The list of those who were killed by fame are many. Jackson Pollock died at the age of 44 in a car crash and let’s not forget Jim Morrison, Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Princess Diana, John Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy. To be famous means you are a serious target of both love and hate and the joyride of fame can end with a crash.
There was an interesting line at the beginning of the play where Basquiat is questioning why Warhol chooses corporate logos to duplicate. Andy Warhol explains that he likes brands and that the greatest paintings eventually become a brand and when this occurs the artist will inevitably get trapped inside his own brand and this can kill him. He explains that is why he gave up painting. The theme of a creation killing its creator is the plot of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” where the doctor’s creation hunts him down and tries to kill him.
The final scene of this play was chilling. It was simply a tape of the Sotheby auction which sold one of the paintings produced by this collaboration and the bidding went like this. “Let’s start the bidding at $50 million. Do I hear $55 million. Yes. Do I hear $75 million? Yes, the caller on the phone offers $75 mil-
lion. Do I hear $90 Million? Yes, I have $90 million. Now do I hear $98 million. Going once, Going twice. Sold for $98 million.” Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Sold for $98 million.”
It’s a shame neither of the two creators of this work were alive to spend the money.
As a sport psychologist, I work with many world-renowned athletes, and I have seen how the media, money and adoring fans eventually make them feel like caged animals who long for freedom. I recall how one of my patients recently went on vacation and when I asked him how it was, he said: “It was impossible to go for a swim in the pool. So many people taking photos of me is embarrassing.”
After the play ended, I got to ask Paul Bettany how he manages his fame and if he thought fame was a danger to him. He first said that he knows that fame comes and goes. “I have come to realize that when I have made a good movie and my star is on the rise, my jokes are laughed at in parties, but when my career is slumping these same jokes are met with silence.” He also said that it is essential to have close family around you and this inoculates you from the dangers of fame. Well put.
So if you have an interest in the dangers and the glory of fame, make it to the Samuel J. Theatre on Broadway before the end of this run in order to see two master craftsmen teach you something about these matters.
EARTH MATTERS
We must support nature to rescue climate
Modern humans like to mark the passage of time and the overculture now celebrates 2023 years. Meanwhile, geobiologists split the timeline for our 4.6- billion-year-old planet into distinct Eons, Eras, Periods, Epochs and Ages. Roughly 2.1 billion years ago, in the Great Oxygenation Event, ancient bacteria completely changed the atmospheric conditions to spark the evolution of aerobic and complex life.
And we humans can celebrate at least 300,000 years in this current form. Like bacteria, we shape our surroundings with our behaviors. From ancient cave drawings to planting a flag on the moon, humans seem driven to leave a lasting impression. In fact, the Anthropocene Working Group proposes that by the mid-20th century a new geologic Epoch began, or the Age of Humans (Anthropocene).
Rewind to the onset of the Holocene (11,700 years ago) when a few million people roamed the planet. Before agriculture and farming, humans made up a mere 1% of mammals. With hunting, destruction of habitats, and domestication of animals we’ve dramatically flipped this ratio for
wild mammals now to comprise less than 4%, while we (36%) dominate with our livestock (60%).
While occupying a humble 0.01% of living organisms on Earth by biomass, we’ve had a dramatic impact on the biosphere. Especially in the last 70 years, we’ve not just mechanically sculpted landscapes for agriculture and farming, fracking and mining, but changed the chemical composition of sediments as well as the atmospheric composition.
Plastics, forever chemicals and other pollutants, fossil fuel emissions, and deposits from chemical and nuclear warfare, compromise Earth’s capacity to sustain us. And we’ve caused the sixth mass extinction of life, with irrecoverable losses throughout the taxonomic kingdoms.
Neoliberal economics drives the mass production of non-recyclables fueled by non-renewables motivated by an obsessive quest for growth. This ecological insanity is rooted in the false and dangerous assumption that we are independent of the biophysical reality that sustains us. We are not just destroying ecosystems, but generating waste that’s accumulating. We can’t afford to run the economy as if it were independent
HILDUR PALSDOTTIR Earth Matters
from our biological environment.
Whatever we do to nature, we do to ourselves. Nature and climate are inseparable, and so are we from the rest of life on Earth. Climate recovery is dependent on our ability to support nature. This December a powerful pledge to protect nature was made at the United Nation Biodiversity Conference with the promise to reverse extinction by 2030 by means of conservation and habitat restoration of at least 30% of land and ocean ecosystems. Currently, 17 percent of terrestrial and 8 percent of marine areas
are under protection.
The greatest natural resource in need of protection is the relationship between humans and nature. We still have wisdom keepers among us who have maintained an unbroken, regenerative connection to land and sea. Our world’s 370 million indigenous people protect more than 80% of global biodiversity in territories under their control. And indigenous people continue to be under attack. It is vital we protect them and their culture.
We have so much to learn from indigenous people who for thousands of years have lived in reciprocity with nature and exercised what Potawatomi botanist Professor Robin Wall Kimmerer describes as honorable harvest in her book “Braiding Sweetgrass.” Here on Long Island we can donate to the Niamuck Land Trust (https://niamucklandtrust.org), the Shinnecock nation’s effort to reclaim and protect their sacred burial grounds. The Peconic Land Trust supports this effort with The Shinnecock Land Acquisition and Stewardship Fund.
Regrettably, Gov. Kathy Hochul recently vetoed the Unmarked Burial Site Protection Act (S5701/A6724), a step in the wrong direction. The
Legislature had passed the bill with near unanimous support. Forty seven states have now legalized the protection of the remains of indigenous people, but New York State governance is far from repairing this sacred relationship with original peoples. Join me in demanding that this bill to protect unmarked, ancient burial sites across New York be reconsidered.
Protection of indigenous people and their rights is a prerequisite to address biodiversity loss and habitat destruction. In order to cure the climate, we must protect the primary guardians of nature. We must rediscover our kinship with the wild world, repair our relationships with nature and each other. We must recover ecological sanity by making decisions every day that sustain life and honor those who came before us.
We can choose repair over despair. For that we must slow down (consumption) and keep in mind that investment in renewable energy isn’t going to cure the climate crisis if we continue to destroy ecosystems and hurt indigenous people in order to harvest rare earth materials. The fabric of life may be torn, but we are the ones who can stitch it back together.
Tax the rich to cut national debt, inflation
Regardless of whether you see Donald Trump’s tax returns as evidence of tax cheating and fraud or as financial wizardry (that is, sleight of hand) in capitalizing on (or fabricating) loopholes so he can pay zero or $750 tax on millions of dollars in income (hello!), Trump is the poster child for the need for tax reform. That is, a fairer (not flatter) tax code and a just, efficient tax collection system.
And yet Kevin McCarthy said his first act as speaker of the House would be to repeal the $80 billion funding for the 80,000 IRS agents. Second is to go after Medicare and Social Security under the aegis of reducing the national debt and mandating spending “within means.”
But those IRS agents are necessary to recover the estimated $1 trillion in unpaid taxes each year by the top 1%. It’s so much easier to go after the tips earned by waiters and let billionaires skate away paying an average of 8%, half the rate that firemen and teachers pay. Let’s see, $80 billion in spending over 10years to recover $1 trillion a year seems like a pretty good ROI.
As for Social Security, the better solution is to raise the cap from
$147,000 in order to adequately fund it and preserve this lifeline for millions of retirees. If the cap were raised or even eliminated, then not only would Social Security be adequately funded, but the rate could actually be lowered for everyone.
Republicans, who had no complaint with the national debt when Trump exploded it by $7.4 trillion ($2 trillion due to the Trump Tax Scam of 2017 and billions because of then Treasury Secretary Mnuchin’s profligate dispensing of Covid relief) are back to using it to handcuff the administration from spending on everything from infrastructure to climate action to public health and education; they even want to cut defense spending by $75 billion. They claim that government must live within its means, just like families do. But families take a mortgage to buy a house, a loan to buy a car, while businesses take loans to start or expand — an investment in the future. It should be the same with government spending.
This is borne out in the fact that Biden’s economic policies – designed for stable growth and sustainability –have resulted in record jobs creation, the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years, the first real gains in income
KAREN RUBIN View Pointsince President Reagan, and a record $1.4 trillion reduction in the budget deficit in a single year. Very simply, when you put people to work, they pay taxes instead of taxing the social safety net, such as it is.
The idea behind raising interest rates to stem rising inflation is to reduce demand. But raising interest rates on mortgages and auto loans in order to control inflation is like a tax that becomes a barrier to families clawing their way into the middle class.
Still, the Republicans seem intent on continuing to beat the drum for the failed and repeatedly discredited “trickle down” theory of lowering taxes on the wealthiest and corporations, which is supposed to unleash “investment.” Instead, their spending is what fuels inflation. Indeed, tax policy that so favors the rich and well-connected is the “trickle down” of inflation – the wealthiest have no problem paying $1 more per gallon of gas or milk, but push up prices for everything and everyone else.
Raising (and collecting) taxes on the uber rich would not only temper demand that is driving inflation but give the government the resources to continue to grow the economy sustainably, without adding to the national debt.
Republicans also push for “flat tax,” which is the “skin in the game” theory of economics. (The fact that the lowest earners, the true “creators,” are also the ones with the most sweat equity doesn’t seem to factor.). This is a crock. Let’s say you set a “flat tax” of 10%: for a family making $20,000, struggling to pay rent, that $2,000 is serious money, but 10% on $1 billion would leave $900 million and hardly be missed.
Moreover, flat tax on what? Billionaires already pay hardly any “income” tax because they don’t “earn” income –they take out loans on anticipated appreciated value of their stock options and get to deduct the interest from taxes or, like Trump, they manage to contrive enough losses to erase revenue.
The more rational approach to the “skin in the game” is reforming the AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax), which seems not to be working very well if Trump could evade paying taxes altogether even as he “earned” millions.
Biden has achieved something comparable to the AMT for corporations: as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden was able to make good on the global agreement to have a 15 percent minimum tax on corporations.
There also should be a transaction tax on stock trading, which would have the added benefit of inserting some stability and long-term productivity to the market.
Raising tax rates on the uber rich would not only lower the budget deficit and pay down the national debt, but give the country vital resources to invest in the future.
READERS WRITE
DeSena clear on how she feels about Santos
Ihave read Eric Lawrence’s letter(s) the past several weeks excoriating Supervisor DeSena’s position regarding George Santos.
It is apparent to me that Mr. Lawrence may have the ability to put ”pen to paper” but cannot read.
The following is Supervisor DeSena’s comments vis a vis Santos:
Town of North Hempstead Jennifer DeSena, who endorsed Santos ahead of the November elec-
tion, condemned him for lying about his personal and professional background and said he will not be welcome at any town event she is present at. Other members of the town board, she said, agree with her.
“George Santos has admitted he lied and fabricated his education and his employment. He has failed to answer additional questions about his finances,” DeSena said in a statement. “My disappointment is extreme and personal as I was deceived
when asked to endorse him. I join others who have called for federal and state investigations.”
DeSena expressed her disappointment in Santos for misleading constituents about his genealogy and relationships with individuals who were killed at the Pulse Nightclub massacre.
“Having failed to answer questions that the public has a right to know, Mr. Santos is not trustworthy and if he takes office will not have my support. He is not welcome at any program or event in
the Town of North Hempstead that I am a part of. I’ve spoken with members of the minority party on the Town Board and our Town Clerk and they share my views.”
The supervisor also said she will never view Santos as her congressional representative.
Her position and a correct one could not be clearer.
Hank Ratner Port WashingtonSchumer’s $295M Gateway grant short on details
Sen. Chuck Schumer’s announced $295 million federal grant toward a $600 million cost for construction of a concrete casing for a box tunnel under the Hudson Yards doesn’t tell the whole story. Construction of the box tunnel is necessary, due to the multibillion-dollar development project to be built over the Hudson Yards.
All this does is preserves future access to Penn Station from the proposed two new tunnels to be built as part of the $33.4 Billion Gateway Tunnel. It represents a fraction of the overall project scope and budget. We could end up with a hole in the ground, just like the four sections of the original full build proposed Second Avenue Subway from the late 1960s. Construction was suspended in 1975 due the city fiscal crises.
Note the timing of this announcement just days before Republicans assume control of Congress. When I worked for the Federal Transit
Administration, we would refer to these types of grant announcements as our end-of-year clearance sale. Gateway project advocates are afraid that a Republican- controlled Congress might not share the same enthusiasm for this project as a Democratic-controlled Congress.
Schumer missed the bigger picture for future survival of the Gateway project.
There is no guarantee (based upon future advancement of design and engineering, construction contractors’ responses to the procurement process for contract(s) award followed by change orders during construction due to unforeseen site conditions or last minute changes in scope) that the final cost could end up several billion more than the Gateway Development Commission’s updated $16.8 billion first phase project cost
In 2015, the estimated cost was $8.7 billion for two new tunnels plus rehabilitation of two
existing Hudson River tunnels used by Amtrak and New Jersey Transit for access to New York’s Moynihan Penn Station. The total estimated cost for 100% of the proposed Gateway Tunnel project scope of work is $33.4 billion.
There is no firm commitment for any future approval of a Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Grant/ Full Funding Grant Agreement to pay for this project. The CIG FFGA also includes a cap on the total dollar commitment from Washington.
This means that the project sponsor is legally on the hook to pay for any additional costs above and beyond the agreed upon project cost at the time the CIG FFGA is offered and accepted by the grant recipient.
The Gateway Development Commission having no financial resources of its own would have to turn to Amtrak, NJ Transit, Port Authority, Trenton and Albany to cover any costs overruns.
They, in turn, might raise tolls on bridges and tunnels, commuter fares and other taxes to pay for these potential additional costs.
Commuters and taxpayers — buyer beware!
Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for NJ Transit, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NYC Transit bus, subway and Staten Island Railway, Long Island and Metro North Rail Roads, MTA Bus, NYCDOT Staten Island Ferry along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ.).
Mirror (after Andrei Tarkovsky)
You say you can See right through me, Topped with a knowing laugh. I look in the mirror and see nothing, too. But it’s not as bad as I thought, and I’m not laughing.
Stephen Cipot Garden City ParkDon McCarthy served community well
Ilearned recently of the passing of an old friend, Don McCarthy, of Manhasset.
I first became acquainted with Don many years ago as a volunteer in the local Democratic Party. I was a “kid;” Don was one of the “grown-ups.”
Back then, in the ’70s and ’80s, the politics of Nassau County and the Town of North Hempstead looked very different from today. It took a special breed of person to remain engaged and dedicated to a cause that saw many more disappointments than successes. Don was one of those rare individuals, starting out in Westbury and then settling for good with his family in his much-loved Manhasset.
During my years as a political leader, Don was always a source of solid guidance, good
judgment and unerring wisdom. When I entered the legal profession he so revered, I was privileged to represent Don in his capacity as the long-time vice-chair of the North Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals, a responsibility he performed with honor and distinction for two decades. As a BZA member, Don was the same person he was in all his endeavors – a patient listener, a thoughtful problem-solver, and always fair and balanced in his decision-making.
Don was above all else about family and service, the dual responsibilities that drove so many whom I considered role models when I was growing up. As a young man, I encountered many of these individuals who had been formed by the experiences of World War II, the Korean War (Don was a proud Korea vet), and
the 1950s/1960s suburban boom that created the Long Island of today. They were a different breed and of a different time. Like Don, they seemed more certain about what was right and wrong, good and evil, important and unimportant.
Our community matured into a better, kinder, more tolerant place because of Don and so many countless other like him.
Donal Finnbar McCarthy was my friend. I was very fortunate to have first crossed his path more than 50 years ago. May he rest in peace. Sincere and heartfelt condolences to Maureen and the family.
Gerard Terry RoslynSomething rotten in the Nassau County GOP
The Nassau GOP is a dirty organization. Suspected dirty money from the disgraced “Santos” (or whatever his name is) campaign polluted every campaign the Nassau GOP was involved in. The blizzard of “Santos” and Martins lawn signs that littered
every road and byway were likely financed by “Santos” dirty money.
Those racist, sepia-toned scare ads were also apparently financed by dirty dark money. By pretending to be Jewish (Jew-ish?), he managed to finesse that dark money honey-pot known as
the Republican Jewish (or is it Jew-ish?) Coalition (an organization most recently purposed to keeping Sheldon Adelson out of the slammer).
The likelihood that offshore (illegal) Russian oligarch money also found its way into the “Santos” and other Nassau GOP campaign coffers
(Martins’, for example) should not surprise us as well! The Nassau GOP of Margiotta, Skelos, and Mangano always runs true to form.
Eric Cashdan Sands PointProposed law could cause medical bills to soar
The Nassau County Medical Society firmly believes that the Grieving Families Act would cause complications for healthcare providers and patients alike.
We stand with the Medical Society of the State of New York in support of this veto and in our dedication to advocating for physicians and patients throughout the state.
The GFA would “expand recovery rights of a decedent’s surviving ‘close family’ in a wrongful death case” and consequently impact New York-
ers whose cost of health-care, insurance, and other health-related expenses could increase by billions of dollars.
We have already seen an increase in medical malpractice premiums. However, this bill could create an even further “40% hike in [these] premiums” for private physicians. Hospitals could also see a “45% [increase]… per New York’s Medical Society.”
The GFA expands the capability to sue a medical provider to any grieving family mem-
ber for up to 3 1/2 years after losing a loved one.
This bill could result in higher wait times at emergency departments and further delays and obstacles to physicians providing and patients receiving accessible and affordable health care.
We advocate for physicians through our actions and call all New Yorkers and policymakers to contact Gov. Hochul and have this bill vetoed.
The efforts and voices of our citizens in this matter will undoubtedly catalyze positive
change in medical practices throughout the state. Please join us alongside MSSNY, all other county medical societies, and state legislators in publicly stating our opposition to this bill.
When we work together, we protect the medical profession and secure patients’ access to quality, affordable health care.
Dr. David Podwall President Nassau County Medical SocietyA majority of House Republicans, including newly minted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, are election deniers who voted not to certify the 2020 presidential election. The reason? The Big Lie that President Biden did not win in a free and fair election.
And the New York Post has reported that Santos’ fabrications were a “running joke”
among the Republican House leadership during the campaign.
Cairo said the Nassau Republican Party will not endorse Santos in 2024 and we would like to believe Republicans will take a closer look at candidates in 2024. Then again he did not offer any changes in policy that would prevent another candidate like Santos from gaining the party’s backing.
The Democrats also need to take a long look in the mirror ahead of 2024. Jay Jacobs should receive particular scrutiny after presiding over the loss of four congressional seats in New York State in 2022 and all four countywide positions in 2021.
And both county parties should at least pledge to take steps to prevent fraudulent candidates from being nominated.
Media companies such as ourselves must also more aggressively vet candidates — no matter what the financial challenges. And let readers know when candidates do not cooperate.
And voters must also demand more of both political parties and better appreciate – and support — the vital role played by local media that serve as watchdogs for their communities.
YOUR GUIDE TO THE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING
CHORAL SOCIETY TO CELEBRATES 75 YEARS
On Sunday, February 5, 2023, the Mineola Choral Society of Long Island will present a celebratory concert to mark its 75th concert season.
The concert will be at 3:00 pm at Corpus Christ RC Church, 155 Garfield Ave, Mineola. The centerpiece of the program will be Vivaldi’s “Gloria” with additional pieces showcasing a range of choral styles and composers and a special appearance by the Mineola High School A Capella Choir. Tickets are $25 and are available through the website: www. mineolachoralsociety.org/tickets.html and at the door.
Advance sale tickets (before January 25) at $20 are available from MCS members or by calling 516-294-1175.
From its founding in 1947 as a community-based chorus, to its present membership
of over 80 singers from more than 30 Long Island communities (from Brooklyn to West Islip), MCS has remained true to its core mission, bringing amateur singers together for weekly rehearsals in a congenial atmosphere, presenting two concerts with full orchestra and professional soloists each season.
Over the years the group has performed classical masterworks, Broadway and American Songbook favorites and choral works in a broad range of styles. In early 2020 when the COVID pandemic brought choral singing into the news as a potential “superspreader,” MCS was challenged to stay together and keep the organization strong through a hiatus that lasted almost two years. “We Zoomed together, some of us found virtual choruses to help fill the gap, and our Board strategized on how to return to rehearsals and performance
safely, by following CDC guidelines and tapping the experience of other choral groups” explained Board President Karen Zalewski.
Early in 2022 MCS began rehearsing again – masked and with distanced seating and shorter rehearsal time – and presented a successful concert in May 2022 entitled “Our Prayer for Peace.” The program acknowledged the losses of the pandemic and the tragedy of the war in Ukraine with performances of the Mozart Requiem, the premier of an original piece, “Lamentations” by the Choral Society’s conductor of sixteen years, Thomas W. Jones, and choruses from Handel’s “Messiah.” Mr. Jones’ retirement at the end of that season initiated a search for a new director.In September MCS began its 75th anniversary season joined by two exceptional musicians: Conductor and Artistic Director Meg Messina
and Accompanist Karen Faust Baer. “While we are one group among many on Long Island, our success in staying together and growing is, I believe, exceptional” said Board Treasurer and long-time member George Graf. “We were fifty singers for the May concert, and have now restored and expanded our membership, welcoming returnees and new singers, including former students of Dr. Messina, who has led the Mineola High School choral program since 2002.”
Graf and his wife Diane have been members of MCS for over forty years, and according to Diane Graf “the incredible support MCS has had from members, friends and businesses from across Long Island – and of course audiences — has helped us reach this milestone with the largest and strongest group of singers we have ever had.”
How to use diet to combat age-related bodily changes that can affect your health
Vitamin D helps with antiinflammation, immune system support and muscle function, among other benefits. So it’s vital that aging men and women find ways to get sufficient vitamin D.
The human body is a marvel. How the body transforms over the course of an individual’s life is one of its more remarkable qualities, and those changes never cease, even as individuals near retirement age. The changes associated with aging include physical transformations but also more subtle shifts the naked eye cannot see. For example, metabolism slows as individuals grow older, and aging also can lead to a decrease in bone density and muscle mass. These changes affect how men and women at or nearing retirement age should approach their diets in recognition of the various ways their nutritional needs change at this point in their lives. Any modifications to a diet should first be discussed with a physician, but the following are some ways aging adults can use diet to combat agerelated changes to their bodies.
• Prioritize protein. The authors of a 2010 study published in the journal Current Opinion in Nutrition and Metabolic Care recommended that older adults consume between 25 and 30 grams of protein with each meal. The researchers behind the study concluded that such consumption could limit inactivitymediated losses of muscle mass and function.
• Overcome reduced production of vitamin D. WebMD notes that people over 65 typically experience a decrease in natural production of vitamin D. Vitamin D is not naturally found in many foods, so aging men and women may need to rely on supplementation to ensure their bodies get enough of it.
• Consume ample dietary fiber. The National Resource Center on Nutrition & Aging notes that fiber plays an important role in the health of older adults. Fiber has been linked with heart health, healthy digestion, feeling full, and preventing constipation, which the online medical resource Healthline notes is a common health problem among the elderly. Though the NRCNA notes that older adults need slightly less fiber than their younger counterparts, it’s still a vital component of a nutritious diet. The feeling of fullness that fiber consumption can provide also is significant, as it can ensure adults who aren’t burning as many calories as they used to aren’t overeating in order to feel satisfied. That can make it easier for such adults to maintain a healthy weight.
• Monitor intake of vitamin B12. The NRCNA notes that vitamin B12 is involved in a host of important functions in the body, including nerve function and the formation of red blood cells. Vitamin B12 is most easily found in animal products, which many aging men and women must largely avoid due to other health concerns. In such instances, men and women can discuss supplementation with their physicians as well as alternative food sources of B12, such as fortified cereals, salmon and other items.
Bodily changes related to aging increase the likelihood that men and women will need to alter their diets in order to maintain their overall health.
Getting Back on Track
Schools College Counsel
What students can do to rebound in the second half of the school year
How students can narrow their college lists
College Counsel Testing Tips
Testing Tips
How students can prepare for standardized tests
How students can prepare for standardized tests
Answers to what a college degree is worth
BY LIBBY SULLIVAN
As many high school seniors are submitting their college applications and awaiting their offers of admission and financial aid this spring, New York Institute of Technology has become the first university in the nation to provide a highly personalized and visual return on investment calculator on its website.
This tool, called Return on College, or ROC, is designed to help prospective and current students fully understand the financial costs and potential long-term payoff of various undergraduate degrees, complete with related career pathways.
“New York Tech is proud to be the first higher education institution in the nation to implement this robust ROI tool. Our prospective and current students along with their families will benefit from the transparency into the cost of and return on a New York Tech degree that this tool provides,” said Karen Vahey, dean of admissions and financial aid, who spearheaded this initiative at New York Tech.
Partnering with Vantage Point Consulting, which designed and developed ROC through a U.S. Department of Education Small Business Innovation Research grant, New York Tech volunteered to serve as a beta site in 2021 to provide input into the tool design before unveiling it in late 2022.
Vahey and Jeffrey Carpenter, co-founder and executive vice president at Vantage Point, collaborated as classmates in the University of Pennsylvania doctoral program, from which they each received their Ed.D. in 2020.
“I was conducting my doctoral research on the changing public perceptions of college value when the Department of Education released its grant application for developing a tool to help families and students better understand the full cost and the return on investment of their college degree. My company, Vantage Point was
thrilled to win the $1.1 million grant to fund our early research, design, and development of ROC. Dean Vahey and New York Tech leaned forward as the first university to help provide input into the ROC design and to make it available to their current and prospective students. We look forward to learning from ROC users and continuing to improve ROC based on their feedback this year and then making ROC more broadly available next year,” said Carpenter.
New York Tech supported the initial design and rollout of ROC and provided design input throughout its development. Basically, for each of the dozens of undergraduate degree programs offered at New York Tech (and listed on nyit.edu), a prospective student can link directly into the ROC tool and see a visual representation of the net price of a degree, the careers that align with it, the change in salary potential relative to any current degree level and/or career, and the anticipated student loan costs relative to the potential for improved earning power.
ROC combines multiple trusted data sources—including the U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Department of Education—as well as additional labor market insights and data to help students and families better understand the return on their investment for a degree from New York Tech.
Vahey expects that use of this new, innovative tool will gain significant traction late this winter and into the spring as prospective students and their families receive their financial aid offers.
“Bottom line, ROC helps to break down complex data points such as college outcomes and costs, opportunity cost and expected future wages by degree program, as well as the cost of student loans, to paint a clear picture of anticipated costs and earning potential by degree program,” she said.
How students can better manage their time
Many people have a lot of demands on their time.
There are only so many hours in a day, which means that the sooner a person can develop strategies for managing his or her time efficiently and effectively, the more successful that person can be. It can be especially important for students to explore ways to improve their time management skills early in their academic careers. Time management involves planning, and that includes allotting time for specific tasks. The following strategies can be useful for anyone looking to manage their time more effectively.
Establish a daily schedule
Staying the course may require a guideline detailing how you will spend your time. A good part of the day may be taken up by classes and assignments, but focusing on the other parts of the day also is key. Set up a plan for how you will treat each day. Block off specific times for exercise, meals, school, study, and any other
responsibilities you have. Time blocking is a format by which you go through the moments of the day. You can block out by the hour or any amount of time you need.
Figure out where you’re losing time
You need to know how you’re currently spending your time before you can improve on time management strategies. Spend a few days jotting down a time log. This will help you determine if you’re working efficiently or where you are losing time.
Make time for breaks
Burnout can occur when you work yourself too hard. That makes breaks an important part of time management. Breaks allow for time to call loved ones, text with friends, meditate, or engage in other activities unrelated to school. According to sleep researcher Nathaniel Kleitman, people’s minds naturally crave breaks after 90 minutes of intense work. You may need breaks at different intervals. Learn to read your body’s cues.
Break projects down
Many students avoid projects they feel are huge tasks. Breaking down the larger job into smaller ones can help students stay focused and reward progress. For example, if you need to write a 50-page research paper, make the first task finding source material,
the next citing quotes and studies, and then resolve to write a set number of pages per day.
Schedule classes wisely
Some people are night owls while others thrive in the morning. Set up schedules so you’re in class when you are at your most
productive; otherwise, you could lag and waste time. This may not be possible for high school students, but colleges allow for more flexibility in scheduling.
Time management is an important skill for students to develop. It will help in the classroom and later on when entering the workforce.
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At its most fundamental, Buckley Country Day School is an inclusive, diverse environment that nurtures the whole child and lays the foundation for success in high school, college, and beyond.
Buckley’s mission is at the heart of its curriculum, which seeks to inspire and prepare students for a lifetime of learning. When alumni talk about their Buckley experience, they consistently credit BCDS with instilling in them a curiosity and insatiable thirst for knowledge that continues long after they leave the school’s 28-acre Roslyn campus. Buckley accepts students as young as two years old in the Pre-Nursery program, and admits students on a rolling basis through grade seven.
Herricks Public Schools Universal Pre-K Applications
Subject to approval of grant funding from New York State, residents of Herricks Public Schools with eligible 4 year olds (age 4 on/before December 1, 2023) may apply for free full day pre-kindergarten classes for the 2023-2024 school year. Selection will be done by lottery.
Application forms must be received no later than February 10, 2023. Applications can be found on the district website: www.herricks.org (under Parents tab/Universal Pre-K). All applicants must be residents of the Herricks School District.
How students can narrow their college lists
College requires a significant commitment of time and money. High school seniors are expected to have an idea of what they want to do with the rest of their lives and then find schools that can help them achieve their career goals. By the time many high school students reach their junior year, colleges have undoubtedly already sent them brochures highlighting their programs. Applying to college is much simpler than it once was, thanks in part to various softwares that centralize and streamline applications. But the application process can still be complex and even expensive. To simplify the process and reduce costs, students will eventually need to decide which schools to apply to. The following strategies can help students narrow down their lists.
• Employ the “match,” “reach” and “safety” formula. A match school is one you’re likely to get into. A reach school is one that is more selective and could be a bit of stretch for acceptance. A safety school is one that’s likely a guaranteed acceptance. A well-rounded college list includes a mix of these types of schools. College application fees range from $20 to $90, so set a reasonable limit for applications. Choosing around three to four matches, two safeties and at least one reach is a good cut-off.
• Decide where you “don’t” want to go. Turn the criteria around and narrow down prospects by what doesn’t appeal to you. Maybe you don’t like the hot weather, so certain southern schools may be out. If you do not like large lecture halls, maybe schools with a huge student population and large classes can be eliminated. Weed out what you don’t like to help narrow your options.
• Consider cost. Before applying to schools, thoroughly research all costs. According to CreditKarma, in 2022 the average tuition at public colleges in the United States was $10,577 per year, while private college tuition cost $33,230. Additional costs include room and board, meal plans, books, and any technology or additional fees. Discuss these costs with your family. Compare them to what the expected family contribution will be, and approximately how much aid money can be expected from each school (this information is typically included on the school’s website or through college comparison tools). Cost alone could weed out many options.
• Course of study is a major consideration. Eliminate any school that doesn’t offer your intended major. Eliminate schools that do not offer the courses you desire.
• Rate the campus. Visit as many schools as you can in person. A school that looks one way on the internet may not come across the same when you schedule a tour and see the facilities up close. First-hand impressions are important considering this is where you’ll be spending time for the next four years.
When narrowing down colleges, some additional considerations are distance from home, campus life, potential internship opportunities, and other criteria that is important to you.
In 2022 the average tuition at public colleges in the United States was $10,577 per year, while private college tuition cost $33,230
Considerations for seniors looking to go back to school
The picture of a traditional college student is one in his or her late teens or early 20s. However, a deeper look may reveal that college student demographics are more diverse than one might imagine. In fact, senior citizens can rest assured that if they plan to return to the classroom, they’re likely to find students around their age.
According to the senior citizen resource Elder Guru, just over 0.3 percent of university students are over 65. Even though that is a low number in the grand scheme of things, it is an indication that seniors have a presence on college campuses. And that number is expected to rise. Universities are increasing efforts to include seniors as important parts of their
student bodies. Here are some things seniors considering going back to school may want to know.
Incentives are available. Many schools are looking to expand their elder student body populations by making it easier for them to go to school. That means seniors may be able to attend for little to no cost through tuition waivers and discounts. Speak with an admissions officer about your options.
· Lay the foundation for a new career. A survey from the Rand Corporation found that 39 percent of workers age 65 and older who were currently employed had previously retired at some point. Going back to school may provide a foundation for new skills that
can make it easier to advance in a second career. Heading back to classes also can help people stay competitive in a current job.
· Engage and socialize. Going back to school provides seniors with an opportunity to engage with their peers and younger students. Returning to school may expose older adults to new experiences, technologies and customs they may otherwise never have enjoyed.
· Embrace the excitement of a new environment and its challenges. Heading back to college can be challenging, which is something seniors looking for mental stimulation may enjoy. Senior Finance Advisor reports that heading back to school
and lifelong learning has been linked to better health, improved financial situations and even a reduced risk of dementia.
· Staying informed. Going back to school can enable seniors to stay technologically informed and
learn about movements and other factors that are helping to shape the modern world.
Seniors have many reasons to return to the college classroom, and such a pursuit can pay numerous dividends.
How students can prepare for standardized tests
Standardized tests remain a significant part of the academic experience for millions of students at all grade levels. Though many colleges and universities no longer require the SAT or ACT for admission, experts note that many of those schools still value such tests and how applicants who choose to take them perform.
Students who want to take standardized tests can take various steps to ensure they do their best and make the decision to take the tests work to their advantage.
• Prepare as if you’re taking the test early. It’s never too early for high school students to begin thinking about college. Students who plan to take standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are often urged to do so in their junior year of high school. Such a timeline affords students ample time to retest if they feel they can improve their scores. Though sophomore year might seem early to start preparing for the SAT and ACT, it’s the perfect time to do so for students who plan to take the test in the first half of their junior year. This gives them ample time to find a tutor or test preparation program so they can perform their best.
• Utilize preparation services. Standardized tests carry a lot of weight, even at schools that no longer require them, so professional test preparation services can be a good investment. Parents can work with their children to find a tutor or preparation program in advance of their scheduled testing date. Some programs are lengthier and more intensive than others, but families can identify which type of program can most benefit the student. Some students may just need a post-summer refresher, while others may benefit from a more intensive program.
• Look for free programs and resources. A student’s school may offer a free test preparation program as testing season draws closer. In addition, books on preparing for tests may be available for free at your local library. In the latter example, parents and students should confirm that any preparation guidebooks are up-to-date. Testing has changed significantly over the years, so students won’t want to be looking over prep materials that no longer reflect modern tests.
• Take practice tests. Practice tests can be invaluable. Such tests can indicate where students are strong and any areas they should seek to improve. Students who have a tutor or are enrolled in a test prep program can go over their practice test results with their tutor or instructor to identify areas for improvement and strategies to perform better when the tests count.
• Time your practice tests. Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are timed. Students can prepare for that by taking timed practice tests. The more acclimated students become to testing situations, the better they’re likely to perform.
Standardized tests can put pressure on students. One of the ways students can alleviate that pressure is to prepare for tests in advance so they’re as comfortable as possible on the day of the test.
Educational and meaningful ways to celebrate Black History Month
Each February, the United States commemorates the impressive contributions of Black individuals.
Black History Month traces its origins to 1915, 50 years after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. In that same year, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (later known as ASALH) was founded to promote the achievement of Black Americans and others of African descent. In 1926, a more formal holiday was established by Dr. Carter G. Woodson with a national Negro History Week, which evolved into today’s Black History Month. February was chosen because it coordinates with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglasstwo individuals who were essential to the fight for equal rights for Black people.
Black History Month is loaded with opportunities to learn more about influential Black individuals. Local libraries, television channels and schools often focus on such individuals throughout the month of February, providing ample chances for individuals from all walks of life to learn more about people and events that have shaped the nation.
· Watch documentaries. During Black History Month, many networks feature documentaries on influential figures who made their marks in the Black community and beyond. Streaming services also may have documentaries or special interview series available that highlight certain Black figures.
· Visit a cultural center. Museums and other cultural or community centers emphasize Black history in February. Even in smaller towns one may be able to attend speeches or readings at local libraries.
· Watch movies. Curate a collection of films that were directed by Black directors or feature Black actors in lead roles. Films that chronicle the biographies of Black historical figures also can be educational.
Learn about local Black history. There may be specific Black individuals in your local community who are notable for their
accomplishments or efforts. In addition, many people might be surprised to learn about events in their own communities that helped to shape Black history.
Read MLK Jr’s famous letter. People can revisit the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. by reading his “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” The letter is considered vital for anyone hoping to understand the Civil Rights movement in the United States.
Black History Month provides plenty of chances to learn about influential figures and historical events.
*Class sizes are limited (15-20 students/room). We are still complying with state and local health guidance to ensure the safety and health of all students and staff.
Travel opportunities for retirees
schedule meals and sightseeing to avoid the crowds so that everyone can sit back and relax on their adventures.
RV excursions
Retirement provides individuals with ample time to engage in activities they enjoy. Many seniors spend that newfound free time relaxing and seeing the sights.
Seniors are a travel-friendly demographic. The World Tourism Organization says that, in 1999, more than 593 million international travelers were age 60 years and older. Seniors are projected to take two billion trips annually by 2050. As Baby Boomers and Generation Xers continue to retire, a larger portion of the overall population will have time to travel. When seniors plan trips, they have many ways to get around in style.
Cruising
Cruising can be an ideal way for older adults to travel. Cruise ships depart from ports across the world and travelers can choose from an array of itineraries. People can travel on cruises that are at sea for as few as three to five days to others that are out for weeks at a time. One reason seniors enjoy cruising is because it’s all-inclusive with little extra planning required. Step aboard a cruise ship and enjoy a floating hotel complete with food, lodging, entertainment, shopping, gambling, and much more. Organized excursions at ports of call can add to the thrill of cruising.
Guided tours
Escorted tours are another option seniors may want to consider. By working with reputable tour operators, seniors can engage in affordable, safe and comfortable tours via bus, train or other modes of travel. Tour companies take the work out of the trips by handling the details and showcasing the best locales. Tour experts know when to
Travel by recreational vehicle is a great way for individuals with time on their hands to see the sights up close and personal. When RVing, the time spent traveling is the adventure, and the destination is simply the cherry on top. The RV industry exploded during the pandemic because it provided a safe way to enjoy a vacation and get away from home. MARVAC Michigan RV & Campgrounds says currently more than nine million households own an RV in the United States. There’s no age limit to buying an RV, although the RV Industry Association says the average owner is 48-years-old and married.
RV-friendly campsites and parks enable travelers to mingle with each other, providing affordable and fun ways to travel.
Timeshares
Seniors who got in on the timeshare bandwagon early in life can choose to enjoy their travel years even further. The timeshare model enables buyers to purchase the right to use particular homes, condos, hotel rooms, resorts, or other accommodations for specific periods of time. For example, some timeshare agreements are for one week each year in a designated location. Seniors with more time on their hands may want to revisit timeshare agreements to increase the frequency in which they can use properties or to find timeshare companies that enable swapping properties with others so that different locales can be enjoyed.
Visiting family
Retirees may aspire to spend more time with family members who do not live nearby. Families may want to consider mother-daughter residences or properties with small guest houses so that seniors can stay in the residences when visiting but have some privacy at the same time. Seniors have many travel options, and retirement is the ideal time to get out and enjoy time away from home.
Fun ways for seniors to stay active
Physical activity is an important component of overall health. Health experts advise that exercise can increase lean body mass, prevent conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, improve balance, and positively affect mental health/cognition. Exercise also can foster socialization with others, helping people overcome boredom and isolation.
As individuals get older, they may not be able to participate in all of the activities they enjoyed as youths, but that doesn’t mean older adults must resign themselves to sedentary lifestyles. There are plenty of entertaining ways to remain physically active that can accommodate any limitations a person may have. Explore these methods for staying active.
Explore senior center offerings
Community senior centers often fill calendars with a vast array of activities, some of which can include physical activities. Hikes, walking tours, dances, and other activities all serve as entertaining ways to get out and about while meeting some fitness goals.
Garden or do yard work
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotions says adults should get 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Raking leaves, mowing the lawn, digging in flower beds, trimming bushes, and other outdoor tasks could help a person meet this quota in a way that doesn’t seem like exercise at all.
Play games with grandchildren
Little kids may inspire older adults to be more active, as it can be difficult to keep up with those youngsters. Take infants or toddlers for walks or push them in strollers. Attach a child seat or towing carriage to a bicycle and ride around the neighborhood. Play games that require movement, such as hideand-seek or Marco Polo in the pool. If it’s snowing, have a snowball fight or make a snowman in the yard.
Take up a new hobby
Find hobbies that incorporate physical activity. Perhaps learning to salsa dance or taking Zumba™ will be fun? Pickleball has caught on across the nation. The sport is a mix of tennis, racquetball and badminton that caters to all ages. Joining a bowling team is another way to get active and meet new people.
Physical activity is important at any age. Seniors can explore fun ways to stay in shape and be active to reap all the benefits of exercise.
What effect will Fed have on housing in ‘23?
Over the next 3 months our real estate market will be impacted further over increased rates. With the proposed 1/2% increase in March by Fed Chair Jerome Powell we could see a further softening in the demand to purchase. It appears that higher rates will be held in place for a while until he sees inflation consistently coming down and is controlled. I do not see that his original 2% inflation target will be reached and most likely 4-5% might be more realistic. As per Vicinity Energy publication, natural gas and oil for heating have increased a staggering 525% since June of 2020 and not seen since 2008.
The war in Ukraine, our short supplies and Liquid Natural Gas exports to Europe have caused major issues. Although prices have temporarily been reduced at the pump due to millions of gallons of oil being brought onto the market from our Strategic Reserves storage, and slower demand; prices will continue to increase as we head into the busier driving periods of spring and summer . With all the money given out during the Pandemic and the excessive spending and demand reducing the supply of consumer goods, contributing to supply shortages, and the effect of the war in Ukraine, prices have increased substantially over the last 18 months and have not come down much at all.
It will take a while to know what will happen and will depend on several variables. How many future layoffs will occur in tech, retail and internet based and other
industries? How much higher will interest rates go? When will the Fed pivot and lower rates? What impact on the housing industry have in adding continued pain to our economy when those who want to purchase are no longer able to; leading to less purchasing of consumer and commercial goods e.g. refrigerators, stoves, dish washers, microwaves, and construction and purchases, for cement, steel, wood, windows, etc. Less buying in turn will reduce our labor force further. It is currently happening, even though more jobs are being created, the long term affects will take and be experienced maybe a year or two or more from today.
There is an inverse correlation between unemployment and inflation. Higher unemployment equals less inflation as there is less spending and lower unemployment produces more spending and higher inflation.Consumer spending has added to increased personal debt. It’s getting worse for those living from pay check to pay check as they are now relying on their credit cards on a more regular basis to get by. Credit card debt has reached 866 billion in the 3rd quarter of last year representing a 19% increase year over year. What impact on the housing market, mortgages and foreclosures will it have?
Unlike the tragic 2008 debacle, the silver lining is that the majority of local homeowners, as well as those throughout the U.S. have gained substantial equity built up in their homes over the last few
PHILIP A. RAICES
Real Estate Watch
years; allowing them to stay above water and not walk away from their mortgage obligations.However, for whatever reasons for those who may want to stay but financially cannot; they should try to sell while prices are still historically high, and should be thinking and planning for alternatives. When you lose a job or business and cannot pay your mortgage and other debts it becomes very traumatic. It can be extremely difficult in thinking about what to do. Why wait for medical bills, loss of income and divorce become one of the 3 major reasons that people declare bankruptcy. However, if you have sufficient or substan-
tial equity then you could still be able to sell and still have a good sum of money to take with you. However, procrastination, stress and no thought out plan and waiting to try to delay the inevitably will not be the best path to take. Unless you spend the time to create or have a logical and pragmatic plan, hoping and praying that your financial picture might improve just might be an attempt at futility.The most advantageous way is to determine and ascertain how to increase one’s income; whether taking on a new job(s) or starting a side hustle by learning how to take the necessary steps through online education in becoming more entrepreneurial.
Whether the Fed continues to increase rates or finally pivots will determine whether our economy heads into a hard recession in 2023 and beyond or maybe just continue a soft one as we have been experiencing since early 2022, leading to an easy landing. We will find out over the next 6-12 months or longer. It appears that all the experts are split as to what will happen with their quality thesis backing up their propositions. Their reasoning provides merit to their conclusions. It is extremely challenging to truly determine who will be right or wrong.
One of the variables is the demand on housing and the increase in inventory. If demand were to decrease substantially, thereby aiding to continued and reduced sales activity and increasing our housing inventory, then this will contribute to low-
MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION (MFA)
er prices (but not a crash, unless inventory were to increase above 8+ months) then a difficult and tougher recession would ensue. Inflation is slowing coming down and might come down in the 6+% range. Moreover, a decrease in consumer spending, which is 70% of our economy will occur as credit card debt becomes unmanageable and people stop their conspicuous and non-essential spending.
What the Fed does over the next few months with interest rates and inflation, impacting your family situation then serious decisions will have to be made as to what is best for you going forward.
Continue to Donate to the Ukrainian Crisis and save a life or 2:
IOM’s Ukraine Response
OR The International Organization for Migration a 501(c) 3 Corporation: OR:http://donate.iom.int
Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 40 years of experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S) as well as the new “Green Industry” Certification for eco-friendly construction and upgrades. 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
Most likely, you are already using MFA. If you’ve received an email that sends you a code to enter, or a text message that dings to alert you to take action, that is MFA. The common thread is they require additional proof of identity, beyond the log-in, when accessing sensitive information.
With cybercrime now exploding, small and midsize businesses (SMBs) must be proactive to protect their critical data. This includes access to their networks, accounting systems and operational systems, hosted both locally and in the cloud. Every SMB has its own considerations. Some need email encryption, most need secure VPNs to support remote workers.
Sandwire advises and implements robust cybersecurity services to shield SMBs from harm. MFA is but one arrow in our quiver.
Business&RealEstate
McCord to have courthouse named after him
To honor his 34 years of service as a supervising judge in charge of administrative duties for the City of Glen Cove, its City Council unanimously passed a resolution to rename the city’s courthouse the Richard J. McCord City Courthouse. No other elected judge served in this courthouse which opened in 1995. A date has not been set yet.
Richard McCord is co-chair of the Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Practice Group at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP . He has an in-depth understanding of bankruptcy law, representing creditors and debtors in all areas of corporate and consumer bankruptcy matters. He also lectures on bankruptcy issues throughout the course of the year. Since 1987, he has
served as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee for the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York.
He also served as a Chapter 13 Trustee for the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York.
Active in his community, Mr. McCord has served as chairman of the YMCA of Long Island corporate board and as chairman of the board of man-
agers of the YMCA at Glen Cove. He earned a juris doctor from Quinnipiac School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University.
Before serving as Justice of the City of Glen Cove, Mr. McCord was Deputy Mayor of Glen Cove from 1980 until 1983, and Chairman of the Glen Cove Housing Authority from 1985 until 1987.
LIJ appoints medical director Harris Beach adds political law practice
Against the backdrop of a highstakes general election, Harris Beach PLLC is launching a political law practice that will provide a range of election law, campaign finance and lobbying compliance legal services.
With experience throughout the state, Harris Beach attorneys represent candidates, corporations, governments, political committees, trade associations and other organizations participating in the electoral process or seeking to shape government policy.
Attorneys on the team have provided counsel to mayors, commissioners, council members, local governments, superintendents, trustees, governors, congressional representatives and two past presidential candidates.
Partners Keith M. Corbett and Jared A. Kasschau will co-lead the Harris Beach Political Law Practice Group.
“Given today’s political environment, it’s essential that participants in the election process obtain experienced counsel to ensure compliance with myriad regulations governing elections and politics,” Keith said. “Non-compliance creates reputational risk, impacts the course of campaigns and could also result in legal liability.”
“We can quickly assemble an integrated team with experience across industries to help mitigate risk and navigate political processes, campaigns, elections, ballot initiatives, political advocacy, campaign finance, lobbying, ethics and more at the federal, state and local level,” Jared said.
Corbett has extensive experience in all aspects of election law, having litigated hundreds of ballot access proceedings across New York State while also advising constituted committees.
Corbett is also a campaign finance attorney who regularly represents candidates, trade associations, PACs and all entities engaged in campaign finance-related activities in state, federal and New York City politics.
He represented President Barack Obama in a noted birther case, counseled the presidential campaign of President Joseph R. Biden and regularly advised the past three governors of the State of New York.
Team co-leader Kasschau served as the Nassau County Attorney from 2017 to 2020. He has extensive experience in all aspects of municipal law with a particular focus in New York state election and campaign finance law.
He’s represented candidates for federal, state and local offices, including candidates for the U.S. presidency, and counseled candidates through every phase of the election process, from ballot access to post-election recounts.
Kasschau also has deep campaign finance experience, routinely advising and counseling candidates, candidate committees, and other political committees in registration, filing obligations, winding up, audits and investigations. As a municipal attorney,
Kasschau has also advised and counseled municipalities and special districts on election and referendum procedures, as well as in actions brought by candidates or voters.
Harris Beach attorneys routinely assist in the administration of local, state, and federal elections, including interposing and defending various election law proceedings under the New York State Election Law. The team provides comprehensive counsel and advice, representing many on both sides of the political aisle.
Long Island Jewish Medical Center has appointed Dr. Mathew Foley,as its medical director. Dr. Foley succeeds Richard Schwarz, MD, who is taking on the new role of vice president of medical affairs and quality at Northwell Health.
Foley is an experienced clinical leader; he previously served as vice chair of emergency medicine at North Shore University Medical Center in Manhasset.
Prior to joining Northwell, Dr. Foley spent stints in emergency medicine at NYU Langone and University Hospital of Brooklyn at SUNY Downstate.
Foley was vice chair of emergency medicine and an associate professor at NYU Langone Health, where he had emergency department oversight for NYU Tisch, NYU Brooklyn, NYU Orthopedic Hospital, Bellevue Hospital and NYU Cobble Hill. Foley also led the creation of NYU Langone’s telemedicine program.
“Dr. Foley is an accomplished and respected emergency medicine physician with a wealth of experience,” said Dr. Michael Gitman, executive director, LIJ Medical Center. “He is a col-
laborative, innovative leader and the perfect choice to succeed Dr. Richard Schwarz, who has been promoted to vice president of medical affairs and quality for Northwell Health. We welcome Dr. Foley and wish Dr. Schwarz well.”
Schwarz will play an integral role leading Northwell’s policies and procedures while co-chairing the health system’s performance improvement coordinating group. Schwarz previously held leadership posts at Huntington Hospital, Stony Brook University Hospital as well as several dialysis
and medical groups throughout the region.
Both Schwarz and Foley proved to be crucial clinical leaders during COVID-19, especially during the First Wave when their respective hospitals stood at the epicenter of the pandemic. Foley was named Physician of the Year at North Shore University Hospital in 2020-21.
“I am honored to join Long Island Jewish Medical Center, which serves one of the most diverse populations in the nation,” said Foley. “I am grateful for the opportunity to support the staff of every department at LIJ to help create destination programs. Fostering the best working environment within our medical center is paramount to LIJ’s mission of providing quality care for all patients regardless of income, race, religion, sexuality or creed.”
Foley received his medical degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., earned a Master of Science in nutrition from Columbia University in New York as well as a Bachelor of Arts in human biology from Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
FCA names Paige O’Brien VP
FCA, a Garden City-based health and human services not-for-profit organization, recently named Paige O’Brien vice president of strategic advancement and chief development officer.
FCA President and CEO Jeffrey L. Reynolds made the announcement on behalf of the organization.
“Paige is a terrific addition to FCA’s management team,” said Reynolds. “She’s a leader, original thinker and energetic team player who easily engages with people who will support FCA’s mission. Paige understands the significant impact our work has on Long Island’s underserved communities and can readily communicate the gravity of that work to strengthen our donor base.”
A native of Sayville, O’Brien is well acquainted with fundraising in challenging times. She began her development career working as an operations director with guidance in giving, an onsite fundraising consultant engaged by the diocese of Galveston-Houston.
In the days leading up to the launch of the capital campaign, Hurricane Harvey struck, devastating the area. Originally scheduled for two years, the campaign was first postponed and then extended to four years, next contending
with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite these setbacks, the capital campaign raised $128 million. She was also able to complete an MBA program with a focus on Leadership at the University of Houston.
Returning to New York, O’Brien worked for the Archdiocese of New York as the associate director of its annual appeal.
O’Brien worked with more than a dozen campaign managers to facilitate the appeal, which hit its goal to raise $21 million. O’Brien most recently served as the Director of Development Operations at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn.
Currently a resident of St. James, O’Brien said she is especially grateful to be working close to home and family, fundraising for the vital programs that serve people in her neighborhood and communities across Long Island.
Business&RealEstate
Northwell appoints chief of hematologic malignancies
Northwell Health announced today it has appointed Dr. Douglas Gladstone, a leader in hematology and medical oncology, as chief of hematologic malignancies at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute.
Prior to joining Northwell, Gladstone served for 14 years as clinical director of the outpatient bone marrow transplantation program at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Md.
In his new role, Gladstone will work with physician leaders in leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, bone marrow transplant and classic hematology to enhance clinical and research programs.
“We are thrilled Dr. Gladstone has joined Northwell’s Cancer Institute to lead the division of hematologic malignancies across our health system in
the New York metropolitan region,” said Dr. Richard Barakat, physicianin-chief and director of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, and senior vice president of cancer services at Northwell Health. “His more than two decades of clinical expertise, cuttingedge research and academic teaching in the field of blood cancers and benign blood disorders will be a tremendous asset at the Cancer Institute as we advance programs and drive innovative approaches for cancer treatments.”
At the Cancer Institute, Gladstone will help establish an outpatient hematopoietic and cellular transplant center at Northwell, broaden the use of CAR T-cell therapy, and explore the role of transplanting regulatory T cells, which modulate our immune response and have the potential to treat chronic inflammatory diseases and se-
vere infections such as COVID-19.
“Among my key goals will be to collaborate with my colleagues to unify hematology care across the health system as well as help lead efforts
for the Northwell Cancer Institute to earn National Cancer Institute (NCI)designation, which recognizes cancer centers for their scientific leadership in laboratory and clinical research, as well as serving their communities and promoting and training a range of healthcare professionals”
Gladstone received his medical degree at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, completed his residency and chief residency at the University of Rochester, followed by dual fellowships in hematology and medical oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. After completing his fellowships, Dr. Gladstone became further involved in clinical research, immunotherapy and in blood and bone marrow transplantation research. He is an associate professor of medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/
Northwell.
In addition, Gladstone will partner with Cancer Institute leadership to further advance faculty engagement in clinical research recruitment and catalyze new clinical and translational research initiatives.
He will work collaboratively with leadership to improve process and flow within the outpatient R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center to support efficiencies, programmatic growth and oversee the future transfer of the bone marrow transplant and leukemia units from North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset to the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Hospital at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park.
With more than 400 physicians, Northwell Health Cancer Institute treats more than 19,000 cancer patients annually, more than any other provider in New York State.
Hoffman named Certilman group co-chair
Jodi S. Hoffman, Partner at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP , has been elevated to co-chair of the Real Estate Practice Group at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP . Managing Partner Howard M. Stein is her co-chair.
Hoffman’s entire career at the firm spans three decades of representing clients in all areas of real estate law. She focuses her practice on the representation of landlords and tenants in commercial leasing on a local and national basis.
Additionally, she represents clients
in commercial acquisitions and sales for various types of commercial property including retail, warehouse and office buildings. She also handles commercial lending matters, representing borrowers in refinances or in connection with an acquisition.
Noteworthy transactions include her representation of a supermarket chain in its expansion throughout the tri-state area, as well as the expansion of its related real estate portfolio. She represented a landlord in the lease of
a 230,000 square–foot facility for the corporate headquarters of a software company.
Hoffman earned juris doctor from Albany Law School of Union University and her bachelor of arts in political science from Brandeis University.
Since its inception seventeen years ago, Ms. Hoffman has donated her time as a mentor in the Lawyers Involved with Kids Education program, which is affiliated with the Uniondale School District.
In this capacity, she mentors fourth and fifth-grade students helping them prepare for the New York State English Language Arts examination as well as providing students with the additional support and attention that they may not receive at home.
Hoffman is a member of the New York State and Nassau County Bar Associations. She is admitted to practice in the state of New York, and the United States District Court, Eastern and Southern District of New York.
Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York, a 93-year-old social services organization supporting children, youth, families and individuals with developmental disabilities across New York and Long Island, welcomed Matthew Bredes, CPA, to the senior executive team as the organization’s new chief financial officer.
“I am so impressed with Matthew’s technical skills and his collaborative spirit, which combined will have a positive impact on the organization, our employees, and mostly importantly, those we serve through our mission,” said President and
Chief Executive Officer Corinne Hammons.
In his role, Bredes will oversee the fiscal operations of Little Flower and St. John’s Residence for Boys, its affiliated organization.
In addition, he will oversee the Information Technology and Services and Facilities teams. He will serve as the key financial advisor to the president and CEO and the boards of directors of the affiliated organizations, and he will collaborate with his peers on the Senior Executive Council.
Bredes will be accountable for financial functions, including financial monitoring and oversight and budget preparation and monitoring. He will leverage his expertise to balance present needs with future planning. “We are excited that Matthew has joined the Little Flower team, said Board Chair Howard Nolan. “We look forward to his leadership and guidance to assist with the Agency’s future growth and financial sustainability.”
“I am extremely excited and grateful to be joining the Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York team as
their Chief Financial Officer,” said Bredes. “I look forward to assisting with further development of the organization’s reach to best support local communities and those we serve.”
Before joining Little Flower, Bredes served as the audit director for the international accounting firm Binder Dijker Otte. In this role, he directed and managed 20 teams and provided guidance to regional nonprofit healthcare engagement teams. Bredes had been a loyal employee of BDO USA, LLP for 14 years before moving on to join the Little Flower team.
Nassau GOP calls for Santos to resign
Nassau County that are survivors of the Holocaust,” Blakeman said. “These are people whose families were decimated and it many instances wiped out For him to make up this story that his parents were Holocaust survivors, is beyond the pale. It is simply tragic and outrageous and disgusting.”
Santos also faces a pair of new complaints fled by a watchdog group and two of his Democratic colleagues from New York.
The Campaign Legal Center, a nonproft organization that aims to advance democracy through the law, questioned the newly-elected congressman’s infux of wealth after reporting a salary of $55,000 in 2020 to $750,000 in 2022 and $1 million to $5 million in dividends.
The organization also called the congressman’s $705,000 loan to his campaign into question, claiming he falsifed reports on nearly 40 expenditure flings under $200.
The center fled the complaint with the Federal Election Commission on Monday and to the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday.
Adav Noti, the senior vice president and legal director for the Campaign Legal Center, said the Federal Election Commission owes it to the public to unearth the truth regarding Santos’ fnancial disclosures.
“George Santos has lied to voters about a lot of things, but while lying about your background might not be illegal, deceiving voters about your campaign’s funding and spending is a serious violation of federal law,” Noti said. “That is what we are asking the Federal Election Commission to investigate.”
The Federal Election Commission said in a let-
A pair of complaints have been filed against U.S. Rep. George Santos and his questionable financial background.
ter to the Devolder Santos Nassau Victory Committee that three donors made contributions exceeding the legal limits by $76,000. The political action committee is required to explain the excess donations it received by Feb. 8.
Democratic U.S. Reps. Ritchie Torres and Daniel Goldman fled a complaint with the House Ethics Committee on Tuesday for allegedly violating the Ethics in Government Act, saying the Republican must be held accountable for deceiving voters and Congress.
The Ethics in Government Act, ofcials said, was created to “preserve and promote the integrity of public ofcials and institutions,” which Torres and Goldman believe Santos has failed to adhere to. The two described fnancial reports submitted in 2020 and 2022 as “sparse and perplexing” in
the complaint.
“Over the past several weeks, extensive public reporting- as well as Santos’ own admissions- have shown that Mr. Santros misled voters in his District about his ethnicity, his religion, his education, and his employment and professional history, among other things,” the complaint said.
Santos has declined to answer questions from the media since arriving at Capitol Hill last week, and eforts to reach the congressman for comment were unavailing.
Financial disclosures also showed that four political action committees with ties to Santos and his family contributed almost $185,000 to the Nassau County Republican Party, money that will be returned, according to Cairo.
The Rise NY PAC contributed $64,225 to the Nassau GOP and $62,500 to the Town of Hempstead Republican Party. The Nassau GOP also received $47,966 from the Devolder Santos Nassau Victory Committee, $10,000 from the GADS (George Anthony Devolder Santos) PAC and $750 from Devolder-Santos For Congress.
Cairo told Newsday that the Nassau GOP will return the Rise NY money, which totals $126,725 and reiterated the lack of support Santos has from the organization.
Over the past two years, Santos also donated thousands to Nassau County organizations and elected ofcials.
Included in the flings is $500 to Elaine Philips’ campaign when she was running for Nassau County comptroller for an event donation, a personal contribution of $500 to the Sands Point-Port Washington Republican Committee, $750 to the Nassau County Republican Primary Campaign, $1,000 to D’Esposito’s campaign, $250 to the Glen Cove Knights of Columbus, $200 to the campaign for
Vhibuti Jha, who ran for the state’s 16th Assembly District, and $500 to the campaign for Ruka Anzai, who ran for the state’s 13th Assembly District.
Former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, who represented the district until 2023 and defeated Santos in 2020, told CNN that the Republican had $40,000 in his campaign account two years ago before reporting an excess of $700,000 this year.
“I never even mentioned his name in the campaign, I beat him by 12 points, Suozzi said. “Now, all of a sudden he has all this money that he loaned from himself. When he was running against me, he was being evicted for non-payment of rent.”
Santos’ campaign outspent other Republican House winners on Long Island and his Democratic opponent Robert Zimmerman on fights, hotels and restaurants during the campaign, according to fnancial disclosure reports.
Santos spent over $42,000 on fights, more than the $17,637 spent on fights by Republican Congressman-elect Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), Congressman-elect Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) and Zimmerman.
He also shelled out nearly $30,000 on hotels compared to the $22,233 by the other four. Filings show spending by the Santos campaign at the Garden City Hotel, W Hotel in Miami Beach and Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C.
Santos also laid out more than $31,000 at restaurants, with Garbarino in second place with expenditures of $24,155. He spent over $4,500 during 25 diferent visits to Il Bacco, the Little Neck restaurant where he also held his victory party at on Election Night.
The flings include an outlay of nearly $11,000 to a company called Cleaner 123 under “apartment rental for staf.”
Santos sworn in amidst continued calls to resign
BY ROBERT PELAEZAfter going days without electing a House speaker, newly-elected U.S. Rep. George Santos was sworn into ofce despite continued calls for him to resign from his post by elected ofcials and 3rd District residents.
U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-California) failed to receive the required 218 votes from Republican memberselect to be named House speaker in 14 separate times last week before securing a victory as House speaker in the 15th go-around.
Santos was seen casting a vote for McCarthy on Thursday by raising his right hand and fashing an “OK” sign with his left hand, a sign used by various far-right and white supremacist groups.
Local voices in the 3rd District have expressed their concerns about having Santos serve as their representative and called for a special election.
Great Neck’s Jody Finkel launched a change.org petition calling on Santos to step down which has received more than 1,400 signatures as of Wednesday morning.
The petition calls for the U.S. Department of Justice to prosecute Santos for fraud, local Republican leaders to apologize for backing Santos’ congressional run and for national Republican leaders to refuse Santos a seat in Congress.
“In my 30+ years in the nonproft world lobbying for environmental,
health and afordable housing issues in Washington and Albany, I’ve never seen anyone with such an arrogant contempt for the truth or his constituents,” Finkel, a volunteer of the Great Neck Democratic Party and organizer of a petition urging Santos to resign, said in a statement. “While the whole country is aghast at Santos’s lies and utter disregard for decency, the residents of NY-03 have the most to lose.
“Mr. George Devolder Santos is a conniving fraud who not only fagrantly lied about his background but also manufactured connections to the Holocaust, 9/11, and the Pulse Nightclub attack for political gain,” Manhasset’s Frank Bua said in a statement. “He is a dangerous and repugnant imposter who is unft to serve anything but a prison sentence.”
“He should resign because he abused the voter’s trust, and if he wants (as he says) to serve and represent his constituents, the only way he can legitimately do so is to step aside so this district’s voters can choose a representative who will serve with the integrity they rightly should expect of any political leader,” Irwin Zeplowitz, the senior rabbi of Community Synagogue in Port Washington said in a statement.
Robert Zimmerman, who lost to Santos in the 3rd Congressional District election, bashed the congressman-elect for fabricating his resume and urged him to step down from his seat and run against him again in a special election.
“George, if that’s even your
real name, if you’re so convinced that#NY3voters still trust you – resign & run against me again in a special election,” Zimmerman tweeted from his personal account on Tuesday. “Face the voters with your real past & answer questions about your criminal history. Let the voters decide.”
Town of North Hempstead Jennifer DeSena, who endorsed Santos ahead of the November election, condemned him for lying about his personal and professional background and said he will not
be welcome at any town event she is present at. Other members of the town board, she said, agree with her.
“George Santos has admitted he lied and fabricated his education and his employment. He has failed to answer additional questions about his fnances,” DeSena said in a statement. “My disappointment is extreme and personal as I was deceived when asked to endorse him. I join others who have called for federal and state investigations.”
DeSena expressed her disappoint-
ment in Santos for misleading constituents about his genealogy and relationships with individuals who were killed at the Pulse Nightclub massacre.
“Having failed to answer questions that the public has a right to know, Mr. Santos is not trustworthy and if he takes ofce will not have my support. He is not welcome at any program or event in the Town of North Hempstead that I am a part of. I’ve spoken with members of the minority party on the Town Board and our Town Clerk and they share my views.”
The supervisor also said she will never view Santos as her congressional representative.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who called for a probe into Santos’ background, told CNN that the congressman-elect “has emotional issues” that need to be addressed.
“While I was very angry with him when he frst announced that those were lies, the fact of the matter is I feel sad for him now and I think he needs help and I think he needs to address those emotional issues,” Blakeman said.
Nassau Republican Committee Chairman Joseph Cairo said the organization will not be supporting Santos in 2024 after previously saying he should still serve as a congressman this cycle.
“I don’t know what party would endorse him as a candidate,” Cairo told Newsday in a statement. “This Republican committee will not support George Santos in 2024.
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However, some of the largest diferences between the current map and the Republican map can be found in three districts – 2, 8 and 14.
District 2 currently includes Hempstead, Hicksville, Lakeview, Malverne, New Cassel, Rockville Centre, Uniondale, West Hempstead and Westbury. This would change to New Cassel, a portion of East Meadow, Uniondale, Hempstead, West Hempstead and Garden City South.
District 8 currently includes Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, Elmont, Floral Park, Franklin Square, New Hyde Park, Stewart Manor and West Hempstead. This would change to Floral Park, Malverne Park Oaks, Franklin Square, Stewart Manor, Bellerose and Bellerose Terrace.
District 14 currently includes Carle Place, Garden City, Garden City South and portions of Bethpage, Franklin Square, Hempstead, Hicksville, Jericho, Plainview, West Hempstead and Westbury.
The two Democratic proposals are very similar, but there are some key diferences.
District 9 would cover Sands Point, Port Washington North, Manorhaven, Baxter Estates, Port Washington, Plandome Manor, Flower Hill, Munsey Park, Roslyn Estates, Manhasset, Thomaston, Kensington, Great Neck Gardens, Great Neck and Kings Point under the frst proposal.
Under the second, it would include Kings Point, Great Neck, Great Neck Gardens, Kensington, Manhasset, Plandome Heights, Plandome, Plandome Manor, Port Washington, Baxter Estates, Manorhaven, Sands Point, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn (Village), Roslyn Estates, Munsey Park, Flower Hill and Thomaston.
District 7 would cover Glen Cove, Sea Clif, Glenwood Landing, Glen Head, Old Brookville, Upper Brookville, Matinecock, Locust Valley, Lattingtown, Bayville, Mill Neck, Centre Island, Oyster Bay (Hamlet), Oyster Bay Cove, Cove Neck and Laurel Hollow under the frst proposal.
Under the second, it would include Roslyn
(Village), Roslyn Harbor, Greenvale, Glenwood Landing, Old Brookville, Glen Head, Sea Clif, Lattingtown, Matinecock, Locust Valley, Upper Brookville, Oyster Bay (Hamlet), Mill Neck, Bayville and Centre Island.
District 6 would cover Saddle Rock, Harbor Hills, Saddle Rock Estates, Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza, Russell Gardens, University Gardens, Lake Success, North Hills, Searingtown, Manhasset Hills, Herricks, North New Hyde Park, New Hyde Park and Garden City Park under the frst proposal.
Under the second, it would cover Saddle Rock, Harbor Hills, Great Neck Plaza, Russell Gardens, University Gardens, Lake Success, North Hills, Searingtown, Manhasset Hills, Herricks, North New Hyde Park, Garden City Park and New Hyde Park.
District 2 would cover Westbury, New Cassel, most of Salisbury, Uniondale and a portion of East Meadow. Under the second, it would cover Westbury, New Cassel, Salisbury, Uniondale and portion of East Meadow
District 12 would cover Mineola, Carle Place, Williston Park, East Williston, Albertson, Roslyn Heights, East Hills, Old Westbury, Brookville, Muttontown, Oyster Bay Cove, Cove Neck, Laurel Hollow and parts of Jericho.
Under the second, it would cover Searingtown, Albertson, Williston Park, Mineola, Carle Place, East Williston, Roslyn Heights, East Hills, Greenvale, Old Westbury, Brookville, Muttontown, East Norwich and part of Jericho.
District 11 would cover Bellerose Terrace, Bellerose, Floral Park, Stewart Manor, most of Franklin Square, Garden City South and Garden City. Under the second, it would cover Bellerose Terrace, Floral Park, South Floral Park, Garden City South, Garden City and a portion of Elmont and Franklin Square.
The Republican proposal divides communities like the Village of Hempstead into two districts, whereas under the Democratic proposal it would be one district.
and social sciences, 12% were medicine and health, 10% were cellular and molecular biology, 8% were neuroscience and 7% were environmental science.
From the crop of 300 semifnalists, 40 stu-
dents will be selected as fnalists, who are scheduled to be announced on Jan. 24. Finalists will show their work to the public, meet with prestigious leaders in the science community and compete for a variety of awards headlined by the $250,000 top prize in March.
Continued from Page 2
August. Shortly after the Aug. 4 Town Board meeting, Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Philips announced an audit of the town’s Building Department after DeSena asked for one in July.
For the town’s Board of Ethics, four of the seven members were appointed last year to defned terms, leaving three serving unexpired terms at any time. When DeSena took ofce, all seven members at the time were serving on unexpired terms.
North Hempstead also adopted a $162.8 million budget for 2023 in November. The initial $158.4 million budget submitted by DeSena was later amended unanimously by the Town Board to include a 5% tax cut after Democrats abstained from voting on an 11%
tax cut proposed by Desena after her initial budget submission.
Democrat Councilmember Veronica Lurvey said in a statement at the time the 11% tax cut was “too extreme” and the adopted budget allows the Town to be better prepared for certain economic conditions.
The Town’s comptroller and deputy comptroller position, which has been vacant since DeSena took over, remains unflled after Democrats voted against the appointment of John Morris to be comptroller in December.
Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte, a Democrat, cited a Newsday article that reported Morris was not re-hired as the Smithtown comptroller and that council member Robert Creighton said his term “didn’t work out to our satisfaction” before she voted no.
Democrats also voted to appoint Douglas
Schlaefer as superintendent of highways and reject DeSena’s pick, Gerrard Losquadro, during the Dec. 20 meeting.
After DeSena’s frst address last year, Lurvey recorded a response for residents about “protecting the progress that has been made here in North Hempstead over the past several years and about what lies ahead” that was aired on North Hempstead TV.
Lurvey described town accomplishments under Bosworth, specifcally during COVID-19, and elaborated on priority initiatives for the year that town Democrats released last week. She added that constituents can expect a bevy of improvements to roads and other infrastructure, and the revitalization of North Hempstead Beach Park while the town maintains an AAA bond rating.
The address is set to begin at 1:15 p.m. and
is free to the public. For the luncheon, which begins at 11:45 a.m., registration must be completed by Jan. 20. There is a $40 charge per person.
Amy Bass, chair of the luncheon, said the league is happy to be hosting the event.
“The League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset looks forward to presenting Supervisor DeSena and to welcoming our community members to our annual Lunch with the League,” Bass said in a statement. “We’re all so happy to once again be ofering this event and this service to our community.”
Registration can be found at www.lwvofpwm.org or by calling 917-270-1340. The address will also be livestreamed on the town’s website and Facebook page.
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Town of North HempsteadBoard of Zoning Appeals
Pursuant to the provisions of the Code of the Town of North Hempstead, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Zoning Appeals of said Town will meet at Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, New York, on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 to consider any matters that may properly be heard by said Board, and will hold a public hearing on said date to consider applications and appeals. The following cases will be called at said public hearing starting at 10:00am. APPEAL #21338 –Richard Nejat; 32 Shoreclif Pl., Great Neck, Section 2, Block 367, Lot 54; Zoned ResidenceA Variance from § 70-22.4 to build a new home with a driveway that has a slope that is too steep. Plans are available for public viewing at https:// northhempsteadny.gov/bza. Persons interested in viewing the full fle may do so by any time before the scheduled hearing by contacting the BZA department via e-mail at BZAdept@northhempsteadny. gov. Additionally, the public may view the live stream of this meeting at https:// northhempsteadny.gov/ townboardlive.
Any member of the public is able to attend and participate in a BZA hearing by appearing on the scheduled date and time.
Comments are limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Written comments are accepted by email up to 60 minutes prior to the hearing. Timely comment submissions will be made part of the record.
“William, you were always my hero. I wanted to be just like you, but I didn't play football or basketball like 'The Will', just didn't have your touch. I enjoyed watching you and was always proud to be your brother. Never does a day go by that I do not think of you. What would it be like to be able to call you. I have told my daughters about you letting me drive Mom and Dad’s new car around Tarboro although I was only 14 years old. October 2, 1970, Daddy’s birthday and the day that changed my life. You were my hero before Nam and you are still and one day I hope to walk with you again. I Love you. Mike”
DAVID MAMMINA,
R.A., Chairman; Board of Zoning Appeals
Herricks boys bowler Jake Lau has become one of the best in the county after only competing for one year.
Sports
Herricks’ Lau a bowling ‘natural’
BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS
There are scads of athletes out there who have worked at their craft since the crib. Kids who seem to have been born with a stick, a glove or a basketball in their hands, and then spent decades perfecting that sport.
Then there are kids like Jake Lau, a sophomore at Herricks High School. He never had much interest in bowling as a kid, saying he’d only gone “a few times,” despite his father Tim being a lifelong kegler.
Then in October 2021, looking for a winter sport that he could try, he decided to give bowling a shot.
“I thought it might be fun, worth trying out,” Lau said. “And once I started, it felt really comfortable and natural for me.”
Lau’s rise has been near-meteoric: The sophomore leads the strong Herricks squad, one of the best in Nassau County, with a 210.4 average, good for third-best in the county.
Lau has rolled a season-high 266, and a high series of 692, and has helped Herricks lose only three games out of 99 thru matches of Jan. 7.
“It’s pretty remarkable, and definitely above any expectations I had for him,” said Herricks bowling coach Craig Weinberg. “For only bowling for about a year, to be as good and as consistent as he is, is really something.”
Lau, a righty who uses the newly-popular two-handed bowling style (the bowler puts two fingers into the holes, no thumb, and puts their off-hand underneath the ball to help spin it faster down the lane), said once he got started bowling, it became all he wanted to do.“I wasn’t that good at first, but I started watching a lot of online videos, and my Dad helped me a lot, and I just practiced all the time,” Lau said. “In the last year, I’ve probably bowled five or six days a week, and I love it.”
Now he’s able to get more revolutions on the ball using two hands. He’s been helped by being a part of a strong Herricks team ranked eighth in Nassau County that includes freshman Zachary Chen, and senior Tyler Yu. Both the Herricks boys and girls team (also undefeated, and ranked fourth) will compete in the county tournament on Feb. 4.
For Lau, the mental part of bowling has been
as big of an adjustment as the physical.
“Staying sharp and paying attention to everything the other bowlers are doing is really important,” he said. “Just how their ball is moving, how the lane conditions might be changing as the game goes along, that kind of thing.
“One thing I never do,” he said with a laugh, “is look at the score. I don’t want to know exactly what I have, or how I’m doing.”
Weinberg said that Lau’s ability to stay even-keeled is a big reason for his success.“He can throw three balls in a row that aren’t great, and then reel off seven or eight strikes in a row,” Weinberg said. “He never lets a few bad frames bother him.”
Lau, who also will compete in the county individual tournament on Feb. 11, also has a passion for music; he’s in Herricks’ jazz choir and chamber choir, something he did not see coming.
“Our teacher told me once that you don’t choose music, it chooses you,” he said. “And I think that’s what happened, because now I love it.
“Just like bowling.”
O. Westbury women’s soccer team earns honor
The SUNY Old Westbury Panther Women’s Soccer Team was named a winner of the 2022 College Silver Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award by United Soccer Coaches, the national Association.
Of the more than 2,600 teams playing men’s and women’s soccer across the five levels of collegiate competition in the sport nationwide, only 117 men’s and women’s teams received either the Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze version of the College Team Ethics and Sportsmanship
Award.
Teams honored at the platinum level went an entire season without a player or coach receiving a yellow card or red card. Teams honored at the gold (1-10%), silver (11-30%) and bronze (31-50%) levels are based on a percentage calculated by the total number of cards received by players/coaches divided by the team’s total number of games played.
“This is a wonderful team award,” said head coach Betty Bohringer. “To be recognized is real-
ly impressive and is a fantastic testament to the quality of the skills and competitive discipline of our players, the culture of our program and the high character our students display.”
Fifty teams claimed the Silver Award alongside SUNY Old Westbury.
“High standards, disciplined play, and remarkable comradery are hallmarks of our teams,” said Lenore Walsh, athletic director. “This national recognition highlights the commitment to competitiveness and sportsmanship
we expect our Panther student-athletes to exhibit every day.”
The United Soccer Coaches is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. It is the largest soccer coaches’ organization in the world, with more than 30,000 members. It offers training courses for both beginning and experienced coaches and a wide range of award programs. Rare among sports organizations, it serves its sport for both men/boys and women/girls.
SCHOOL NEWS
Upcoming events at the Great Neck Schools
Kindergarten registration for 2023–24
Kindergarten registration for Great Neck school district residents will begin on Jan. 17, 2023. All registration applications are processed online with a final required in-person meeting for verification purposes.
Any child who legally resides within the school district and will be five years old on or before Dec. 1, 2023, is eligible to register for kindergarten for the 2023–24 school year. All children who will attend public or private school kindergarten in September 2023 need to be registered. Please note that students currently enrolled in the district’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program do not have to re-register to attend GNPS Kindergarten.
The following items are necessary to register a child for kindergarten: (1) Proof of district residency (deed, current tax bill, or closing statement, if ownership; current signed lease or current rent receipts, if rental). (2) Three pieces of current, official mail. (3) Child’s original birth certificate. (4) Parent or guardian valid photo ID. (5) Parental control papers (if applicable). (6) Immunization and Physical certificate signed and stamped by a physician or other authorized health agency.
Directions for the online application process can be found on the district website at www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/registration. For additional information about registering your child for kindergarten, contact the Registration Office by phone at (516) 441-4080, or by e-mail at residency@greatneck.k12.ny.us.
Applications available for board advisory committee
The Great Neck Board of Education is currently accepting applications from community members and staff members who wish to serve on the newly established Board Advisory Committee for the 2022–23 school year.
The Advisory Committee will meet monthly regarding matters of school and community interest. Topics may include: community relations and modes of communication between the District and the school community; enrollment projections and the potential impact on the District; the annual budget development process and presentations to the community; review of potential future capital improvements; and intermunicipal relations at the local and State
levels.
Committee meetings will take place on Wednesday evenings from 7–9 p.m. on the following dates: Feb. 8 at Lakeville School, March 15 at E.M. Baker School, and April 19 at Lakeville School. Attendance is limited to committee members only and additional meetings may be scheduled. Committee members are expected to attend the meetings and to review materials provided, if any, in advance of each meeting.
Interested community members and staff members who are at least 18 years of age are encouraged to apply. Applications will be reviewed by the Board and up to 40 individuals will be selected to serve on the Committee.
The Board Advisory Committee application is available on the District website at www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/committees. Hard copies of the application are available in the Phipps Administration Building, 345 Lakeville Rd. The application deadline is Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023.
For additional information, please contact Patricia McShane, district clerk/secretary to the Board of Education, at pmcshane@ greatneck.k12.ny.us or (516) 441-4001.
Kennedy school staff adopt families for the holidays Faculty at the John F. Kennedy School continued their longstanding commitment to supporting local families in need during the holiday season. Staff members “adopted” 28 families within the Kennedy School community and collected all the necessary items to help these families celebrate a happy and healthy holiday. Pictured here, (left to right) Nicole Zupa, Anna Reda, Gladys Ramirez, Malka Rahmanan, Assistant Principal Ai-Huei Chang-Lau, and Principal Ron Gimondo prepare festive gift bags with toys and clothing, as well as large cardboard boxes filled with non-perishable food items to be delivered to local families.
South High fencing teams shine at holiday tournament
South High School fencing teams competed against the best fencers on Long Island at the Brentwood Holiday Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 17. The Rebels had outstanding performances all around, with several students winning medals.
Top performances from the Boys Fencing Team included: cap-
tain Ryan Wong, gold medal in saber; Siyuan (Mark) Xiang, silver medal in epee; Jia (Justin) Jiang, bronze medal in foil; Maxwell Tse, fifth place in epee; Huan (John) Chen, sixth place in saber; and captain Drew Kim, ninth place in foil.
Top performances from the Girls Fencing Team included: captain Vicki Lin, silver medal in saber; Alyssa Wong, bronze medal in saber; Justina Hom, silver medal in epee; Audrey Gao, bronze medal in epee; and Ashley Nguyen, sixth place in epee.
The South High Boys Fencing Team, coached by Joshua Baravarian, are the reigning Long Island fencing champions and twotime Nassau County champions (2021, 2022). The Girls Fencing Team, coached by Catie Sagevick, has won the Nassau County championship four years in a row (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).
Christa Fulton Memorial Teacher Award
The Great Neck Public Schools encourages alumni to consider nominating a GNPS educator for the annual Christa Fulton Memorial Teacher Award. The deadline to submit nominations is Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
The sole purpose of this award is to recognize GNPS educators who have had a profound impact on the lives of students. Alumni from North High School, South High School, and Village School may nominate an elementary teacher, a secondary school teacher, a guidance counselor, or a social worker for this award.
Nominations detailing how the selected teacher has had an impact on the individual’s life must be submitted to christafultonaward@gmail.com by Jan. 31. Authors should identify themselves only by their student number, which may be obtained from the guidance office at the high school they attended (or for Village School graduates, the middle school attended). Please also include the name of the high school attended and the year of graduation
A five-member award committee will carefully consider all nominations and select two recipients based on the perceived impact that the teachers had on their students’ lives.
For additional information about this award, including the nomination and selection process, contact Dr. Stephen C. Lando, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education, at slando@ greatneck.k12.ny.us.
Acknowledge Our History is holding an art exhibition displaying the winning works from AOH’s 2022 Students Art Competition — “Our Culture, Our History, Our Identity.” — at the Great Neck Library from Jan. 21 — Feb. 10. We welcome you to come join us for a reception on Saturday, January 21st from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
AOH received works of all types. From painting to photography, watercolor to digital art, contestants from all over the world captured ideas that represent their culture, history, and identity. Works that will be displayed at the exhibition include self-portraits, drawings of historical architecture, other objects—cherry blossoms, animals, folklores—symbolizing cultural elements in our daily life.
The theme, integrating culture, history, and identity, facilitated conversation between competitors and those around them. By learning about their culture from parents, neighbors, and mentors, they created artworks, reflective of their own identity and the identity of those around them.
20 winning works were chosen. Congratulations: Alex Bai,
