New Hyde Park 2021_12_24

Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park

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Friday, December 24, 2021

Vol. 70, No. 52

N E W H Y D E PA R K

NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE PAGES 23-26

DESENA BACKTRACKS ON BUDGET CLAIMS

COVID CASES CLIMB

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Hydrogen facility to expand Town, National Grid join forces

BY B R A N D ON DUFFY The Town of Hempstead and National Grid announced a joint project that would make the township home to one of the first and largest clean hydrogen projects in the country.

On Dec. 15, officials gathered to announce the expansion of Energy Park’s hydrogen facility in Point Lookout. The HyGrid project will blend hydrogen with natural gas to heat approximately 800 homes in the area and fuel 10 municipal vehicles.

Along with being one the first in the nation, the hydrogen expansion project will become the East Coast’s largest.

Hydrogen blending involves the integration of hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines, reducing carbon intensities of methane. According to National Grid, blending’s benefits include zero carbon produced when using renewable power and no additional costs to taxpayers.

Continued on Page 20

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SEWANHAKA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

New Hyde Park Memorial High School junior Leilani Lee performed solo piano during the American Protégé Winter Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall on Dec. 12. See story on page 29.

Behavior concerns at Memorial Park Devane describes littering, cursing, aggressive play he saw at basketball court cern about behavior problems on the basketball court at Memorial New Hyde Park Mayor Chris- Park at the village board meeting topher Devane expressed con- on Thursday.

The mayor said that he drives by Memorial Park every day and has observed, on numerous occasions, activity and behavior on the basketball court that he considers unacceptable.

BY J OH N N U G E N T

Upon entering the park last Wednesday Devane saw basketball players cursing, littering the park with empty water bottles and playing in a way that involved overly aggressive physical contact.

The mayor said, “It’s unfortunate, the activity that goes on,” but vowed that it will stop. He described the behavior of some

people on the basketball court as “disgusting, pathetic,” adding, “These young men should be ashamed of themselves.”

In a recent encounter with a group of basketball players at Memorial Park, Devane announced that he was the mayor and told them to curb their unruly behavior or leave the facilContinued on Page 35

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The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

HC

DeSena backtracks Town opts out of on staff cut claims retail cannabis Supervisor-elect says she was given misinformation

BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor-elect Jennifer DeSena said at a public meeting last Thursday night that she had been given misinformation about rumored eliminations of staff positions in the supervisor’s office.

Last week, DeSena sent out a news release claiming the town was planning a “deceitful postelection stunt” that included terminating five budgeted positions in the supervisor’s office. On Thursday, she clarified her stance on the misinformation and expressed her desire to work with the Town Board to serve the residents in a nonpartisan manner.

“I was told something this week that I’ve now been told was a mistake and I am looking forward to getting started working,” DeSena said. “I hope that I’ll be able to get some new staff in January. I look forward to working with the rest of the board and hope that we’ll be able to do this within the 2022 budget that you all approved.”

The supervisor’s office includes the town historian and director of business and tourism, whose budgets are scheduled to increase by a combined $300,000 next year, according to the town budget. The supervisor’s office also includes people in the financial, intermunicipal coordination, procurement and legislative affairs sectors.

Town officials echoed DeSena’s sentiments of wanting to serve the North Hempstead community and confirmed the budgeted amount for the supervisor’s office will remain the same as was approved in the 2022 budget on Oct. 28.

“With a new supervisor taking office in January, we are doing what we can to ensure a steady transition,” Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey said in a statement. “As we enter this next

Officials seek more state guidance

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER DESENA

North Hempstead Supervisor-elect Jennifer DeSena said she was given misinformation about rumored staff cuts to the supervisor’s office last week. phase of Town government, all of us recognize the need to protect the progress that has been made.

We will continue our efforts to work collaboratively on solutions that will benefit the Town and its residents.”

Councilman Peter Zuckerman said the only way the board can effectively serve the public and continue to improve the town’s reputation is with teamwork and clear communication.

“In the spirit of good government, our team is committed to bipartisan cooperation,” Zuckerman said in a statement. “All seven members of the Board are responsible for determining the Town’s overall vision. The only way the Town’s workforce can successfully carry out that vision is if the elected officials work together and provide clear guid-

ance.”

“All Town Board members play a significant role in town government, and we are each accountable to the residents,” Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte said in a statement. “I am proud to be part of the team that will ensure Town government runs optimally and cohesively without confusion.”

DeSena also thanked outgoing Supervisor Judi Bosworth, who announced she would not run for re-election earlier this year, for her work in serving the community during her tenure and for aiding in the transition.

DeSena, a Democrat who ran on the Republican line, defeated Town Clerk Wayne Wink for the supervisor seat in November, receiving 22,709 votes to Wink’s 21,922.

The Town of North Hempstead opted out of permitting retail sales of cannabis in the unincorporated areas of the town during a public meeting last Thursday night.

Following the lead of other towns across Long Island, North Hempstead council members voted 6-0, with Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte not present at the virtual meeting due to COVID-19. The decision came after several meetings conducted by the town’s cannabis task force, which ultimately provided the board with recommendations but did not come to a consensus on whether to opt out.

A majority of the members of the public who spoke during Thursday night’s meeting were opposed to permitting retail sales of cannabis, including Supervisor-elect Jennifer DeSena.

“As we try to emerge from the pandemic, the increase of overdoses from drugs and depression and suicide and the mental health crisis we’re in, I urge you to protect the character and safety of our community and

opt out,” DeSena said.

Under a state law passed in March, consumption and smoking of cannabis is legal throughout the state wherever smoking tobacco is legal, though the Nassau County Legislature banned cannabis smoking and vaping on all county-owned property.

Municipalities can opt out of allowing retail sale of cannabis by Dec. 31, but they will not get to share in any generated local tax revenue.

Members of the public also noted that the town has the ability to opt in at a later date and expressed a desire to “wait and see” how the situation plays out in municipalities throughout the state that have permitted retail sales of cannabis. Residents also expressed concerns surrounding “unclear guidelines” from the state as a reason to opt out now.

Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey said the process of deciding whether the town should opt out of the legislation was not an easy one and required an indepth analysis of how a myriad of town entities and its residents would be impacted.

The pros to opting in, she Continued on Page 35

PHOTO BY ROBERT PELAEZ

The Town of North Hempstead opted out of state legislation that would have permitted retail cannabis sales throughout the town during a Thursday night meeting.

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The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

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Ex-Getty Realty Co. chair dies at 94

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ Former Getty Realty Corp.

Chairman and co-founder Leo Liebowitz of Sands Point died from the coronavirus on Sunday at 94.

Liebowitz, who also served as Getty’s chief executive officer from 1985 to 2010, was born on Sept. 28, 1927, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. With a longstanding passion for automobiles, Liebowitz rebuilt and resold vehicles before he could even drive.

He graduated from New Utrecht High School before enlisting in the Air Force at Eglin Field in Florida and later working as a weatherman. He received the Victory Medal as a result of his service.

After becoming more involved as a mechanic, Liebowitz became a passenger bus maintenance worker for New York City.

In 1955, Liebowitz and workshop partner Milton Safenowitz secured a franchise location of the Sunoco Oil Corp.

Sixteen years and a handful of other acquisitions later, including Power Test Corp., the team of Liebowitz and Safenow-

itz or, “LeeMilts,” continued to grow the company into the largest independent gasoline distributor on the East Coast.

In 1985, Liebowitz secured all of Getty Oil Co.’s gasoline stations and terminals throughout the Northeast. Liebowitz ultimately sold the public company, Getty Petroleum Marketing, to Lukoil in 2000 for $71 million.

According to Newsday, Liebowitz used the payday to fund construction of a boat, one of his other passions in life. All of the boats Liebowitz owned throughout his life went by the name of ‘MITseaAH’, including a 156-foot high-speed motorsailer frequently seen around Manhasset Bay in the summer.

Now, according to its website, Getty Realty “owns and leases a quality portfolio of more than 950 convenience stores, gas stations, and other automotive properties.”

“As co-founder of the Company, Leo was a tremendous businessman who was the driving force behind Getty’s growth for more than 60 years,” Safenowitz, now Getty’s chairman, said in a statement. “Leo’s pas-

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROB LIEBOWITZ

Former Getty Realty Co. Chairman and co-founder Leo Liebowitz and George H.W. Bush share laughs onboard yacht MITseaAH at Chick’s Marina in Kennebunkport, Maine. sion and commitment over the years was instrumental to the Company’s success. He took great pride in having a personal connection with all of the Company’s employees, and over the

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years he always enjoyed sharing his wisdom and experience with his fellow Directors. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire Getty team, we send our sincere condolences to Rose

and the rest of the Liebowitz family.”

Liebowitz’s resume includes a variety of awards and recognitions. In 1963, he was a foundContinued on Page 44

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The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

HC

Hofstra students, staff must get booster First college throughout Nassau to mandate additional shot as COVID cases rise

BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Hofstra University staff and students are required to receive a coronavirus booster shot next month, according to a letter sent by university President Susan Poser last Thursday.

Poser, who was appointed to succeed Stuart Rabinowitz last year, cited increased coronavirus cases and growing concern surrounding the omicron variant as reasons for the requirement.

She said students and staff must receive a booster shot within seven days of becoming eligible, starting with those who are first eligible on or before Jan. 18. Those eligible are required to upload proof of the shot by Jan. 18.

“Thank you for all you have done to keep our community safe and healthy. We will be in touch with more information soon,” she said in the letter.

People who received the full series of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccination are eligible to receive the booster six months after the date of their second dose of the vaccine, while people who received the single dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine are eligible for the booster two months after being inoculated.

Poser said more information on how to submit proof of the booster shot will be sent in a campuswide email by Jan. 5.

Statistics showed Long Island’s sevenday positivity rate as of Monday, the most up-to-date figure, was 10.3 percent, compared with just 2.08 percent less than two months ago.

Nassau saw 1,955 new confirmed cases on Monday, bringing the county’s total OME JANUARY 1ST, MY to 249,694 cases since the pandemic beADMINISTRATION WILL MOVE gan, according to the statistics. Additionally, 5,203 Nassau County residents had NASSAU FORWARD WITH A died from the coronavirus as of Monday.

COMMON SENSE APPROACH Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced that masks would be required in all inTHAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE door public places of business that do not FACTS, SCIENCE AND PROGRESS have a coronavirus vaccine requirement.

MADE BY OUR RESIDENTS WHILE The new mandate, which took effect Dec. 13, also extends to schools, nursing ALSO PROTECTING BUSINESSES homes, correctional facilities, health care AND JOBS FROM ANY FURTHER settings, public transit and homeless shelters, according to Hochul.

DAMAGE CREATED BY Nassau County Executive-elect Bruce Blakeman touted a high vaccination rate GOVERNMENT MANDATES. as part of his decision to not enforce HoPHOTO COURTESY OF HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY chul’s mandate once he takes office in Bruce Blakeman January.

Hofstra University President Susan NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE-ELECT “Come January 1st, my administraPoser announced that all students tion will move Nassau forward with a and staff will be required to receive While Nassau County had only two common sense approach that acknowla COVID-19 booster shot. confirmed cases of the omicron variant edges the facts, science and progress as of Wednesday, Long Island’s seven-day made by our residents while also propositivity rate has more than quadrupled tecting businesses and jobs from any So far, Hofstra, which partners with since late October, according to figures further damage created by government Northwell Health, is the only university from the state’s Department of Health.

Continued on Page 35 in Nassau County to mandate the booster shot for its students and staff. Hofstra, LIU Post and Adelphi University all required students and staff to be vaccinated before the fall semester.

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The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

HC

Memorial, H. Frank Carey go remote

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Two schools in the Sewanhaka Central High School District experienced a COVID-19 outbreak, causing them to have remote learning until the holiday break.

Due to faculty and staff members who are quarantined, Floral Park Memorial High School and H. Frank Carey High School were having classes via Google Classroom on Tuesday and Wednesday leading to the holiday break, the school announced on its website.

According to the district’s calendar, the holiday break lasts from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3. All other schools in the district, including Elmont Memorial, New Hyde Park Memorial and Sewanhaka High School, were remaining open for in-person learning until the recess.

According to the district’s confirmed COVID-19 case report for the school year, during the week of Dec. 13, Floral Park Memorial High School had 41 students and 11 faculty contract the virus. At H. Frank Carey High School, 20 students and nine faculty members had

new cases.

Superintendent James Grossane said at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting too many staff members either have COVID-19 or were awaiting results to have in-person learning this week.

“This is due to the high number of faculty and staff in quarantine for either being positive, being symptomatic and awaiting results from a PCR or determining to be close contact to someone with COVID-19,” Grossane said.

Among students, the overwhelming majority of cases are being contracted outside district grounds, he said.

“The percentage of students in quarantine for positivity or being in close contact is at 3.5 percent districtwide,” Grossane said. “That equates to 291 students for the five buildings out of 8,400 students in attendance. Contract tracing continues to tell us that 90 percent or more of cases are contracting the virus at events outside the school.”

The superintendent said that health is the number one priority and that he hoped to return to in-person learning for the two schools after the holiday break.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE [&HELLIP;]

Floral Park Memorial High School and H. Frank Carey School will be on remote-learning for the two days leading up the holiday recess, the district announced.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

Nassau’s daily positivity rises to 12.7% Officials urges residents to wear masks, unvaccinated to get shots as COVID surges

BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Gov. Kathy Hochul rolled out a plan to combat the “winter surge” of the coronavirus on Monday.

Nassau County’s daily positivity rate for confirmed coronavirus cases was 12.7 percent as of Monday, according to the latest statistics from the state’s Department of Health.

As of Wednesday, according to the statistics, Nassau County has had 249,694 cases of the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic, with 1,955 reported on Monday, the most up-to-date new positive cases listed on the department’s website. Nassau’s sevenday rolling average of cases as of Monday was 10.1 percent, a figure the county has not witnessed since May 2020, statistics showed.

With growing concerns about the omicron variant and upcoming holiday gatherings, Gov. Kathy Hochul once again urged everyone to wear masks and get vaccinated as quickly as possible. On Monday, Hochul outlined her plan to combat the “winter surge,” which includes the state acquiring 10 million more at-home test kits and two million tests for schools throughout the state.

Hochul said school districts in the state will remain open after hearing public concerns over having students return to a strictly virtual method of learning.

“We believe that it’s critically important that our children not end up in that same situation they were for so many months, when they were so displaced from their normal environment, they did not get the quality of

education, despite the best efforts of those incredible teachers and parents who struggled every single day alongside their children, just to deal with these circumstances we dealt with last time,” Hochul said Monday.

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth said in a letter to the community that all town facilities adopted Hochul’s indoor mask mandate, regardless of vaccination status. Bosworth also said she hopes the community remains cautious throughout the holiday season so that the spread of the virus can slow.

“With the Christmas holiday upon us, I am again urging that we all remain cautious and vigilant so that we do not spread the virus to those around us – our families, our friends, and our neighbors,” she said. “Please, follow necessary, common-sense precautions, and, most importantly, protect yourself and others by getting vaccinated.”

Though North Hempstead areas have a vaccination rate of nearly 90 percent, according to statistics from the state’s Department of Health, Bosworth implored residents to get their booster shots to add an extra layer of protection against the coronavirus.

“As we know, the virus is constantly evolving, which is making it increasingly clear that booster shots are necessary in order to be fully vaccinated,” Bosworth said. “An extra layer of protection would be to get COVID tests before attending a holiday gathering with your

loved ones. It will just provide additional assurance.”

Recent surges of the virus have resulted in a number of school districts across the North Shore having more than 100 confirmed cases among students, staff and teachers since September.

As of Wednesday, more than 350 students in the Sewanhaka Central High School District had tested positive for the virus since September, according to statistics from the state’s Department of Health. Nearly 80 teachers and 30 staff members had tested positive as well. The district led the 11 school districts on the North Shore in total positive cases for students, teachers and staff.

A total of 280 confirmed cases from students in the Port Washington school district had been reported to the state since September. Additionally, 51 teachers and seven staff members have tested positive since the start of the school year.

The Great Neck school district had 157 students, 47 teachers and 13 staff members test positive since September. District officials said 13 individuals tested positive on Tuesday alone.

Other school districts that had more than 100 confirmed student cases since the start of the school year as of Wednesday included Manhasset (146), Mineola (145), Herricks (132), Roslyn (127) and Floral Park-Bellerose (103).

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The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

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Curricula conversations ongoing in G.N. School district officials back educators’ work to create age-appropriate education for all

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ Great Neck school officials updated the public on the status of an inquiry into teaching about racism during last Wednesday night’s Board of Education meeting.

In November, the board meeting was flooded with comments and concerns over alleged teachings about racism and “white fragility” in an 11thgrade English class at North High School. Board President Rebecca Sassouni said an inquiry was launched and discussions remain ongoing to further analyze districtwide curricula.

“On behalf of the board, I would really like to thank our administrators and teachers who are respectfully engaging in parent and student inquiries,” Sassouni said. “We are encouraged that our capable and dedicated teachers and administrators are open to sharing curricula including on department websites and to having

PHOTO BY JANELLE CLAUSEN

Discussions surrounding age-appropriate curriculum throughout the Great Neck School District remain ongoing, officials said last week. discussions with students and parents.”

Sassouni and District Superintendent Teresa Prendergast said district stakeholders will be updated on any findings from the inquiry regarding curricula and both touted educators in

the district for their commitment to finding ways to teach sensitive matters in an age-appropriate manner.

“Our curriculum leaders will work with teachers to review, update and share course outlines with parents,” Prend-

ergast said. “Faculty will also collaborate with one another and use professional discretion for the selection and use of materials for the courses that are taught.”

“If what come out of the inquiry that was just done and the review that has been had is that we come to shared consensus that viewpoint neutrality in furtherance of education is a positive thing, then that process, which resulted in that consensus, was a positive, productive, teachable moment,” Sassouni said.

The controversy was set off by slides, purportedly used in the 11th-grade class, that were included in an article on the website of Parents Defending Education, a national grassroots organization that works to ensure schools do not promote “harmful agendas,” according to its site.

According to the group, under a slide discussing racism in America, a quote read, “White people benefit from this system,

intentionally or unintentionally, which makes us all (technically) racist, myself included.”

The district has not confirmed or denied that the slides were used in a class.

The teacher, whose name was not disclosed in the article or by members of the Board of Education, also included a slide asking students to agree to a pledge, calling on them to explore sensitive topics openly and honestly, view antiracism as a process to work toward and call out their own and others’ racist tendencies.

During the meeting, a letter was also read on behalf of the United Parent Teacher Council’s Total Community Involvement Committee. Moji Pourmoradi, the council’s member-at-large, and Kevin Sun, the council’s treasurer, said the council called for two meetings in the past two weeks to start a dialogue for district stakeholders to discuss their “visions, goals and concerns.”

Continued on Page 35

$1M granted for beach park revitalization

BY B R A N D ON DUFFY North Hempstead Beach Park’s revitalization will begin its first phase with the help of a $1,050,000 grant to fund infrastructure work.

Town and state officials gathered at the 90-acre park in Port Washington last week to reveal the grant from New York state that will go toward the 1.25-mile shoreline restoration.

Officials said added benefits include habitat restoration and better protection from erosion.

North Hempstead officials Peter Zuckerman, Charles Berman, Veronica Lurvey, Wayne Wink and Judi Bosworth attended the news conference alongside state Sen. Anna Kaplan.

“After many years of visioning, public participation, planning and designing, we are extremely proud to announce that the first phase of the North Hempstead Beach Park renovation project is in the permitting phase,” said Bosworth, the outgoing town supervisor.

Expected amenities with future renovations include a

restaurant, events stage, sledding hill and athletic courts, among others. Eight acres of parking, which amounts to 675 spots, will be converted into green spaces.

Renovations for the park have been a long time coming.

In 2017, an extensive multiyear “visioning” process began, where suggested amenities were considered after public meetings filled with residents’ ideas.

A conceptual plan in 2019 was developed by the town’s consultant Quentin Rothschild with the help of the Visioning Committee, which included representatives from every part of North Hempstead.

Engineering and construction are set to cost slightly more than $2.3 million for the shoreline, according to North Hempstead spokesperson Gordon Tepper. Other aspects of the project are in the design process and costs are not yet finalized.

Once permits are approved, North Hempstead will undergo its standard “request for proposal” process, with construction beginning shortly after

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth unveiled the proposed master plan for the North Hempstead Beach Park during her State of the Town address. bids are accepted.

The former Bar Beach, located on West Shore Road in Port Washington, came under the jurisdiction of the Town of North Hempstead in late 2007 when it also acquired Hempstead Harbor Park and reopened them both as North

Hempstead Beach Park.

Kaplan, who secured the grant of over $1 million, said the park is in need of a makeover.

“Families have been making treasured memories at North Hempstead Beach Park for generations, but the time

has come to make investments for the future, and create the kind of new amenities that our neighbors will enjoy for generations to come,” Kaplan said.

Until permits are issued for construction, the overall project will remain in the engineering design stage.

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Nassau property sales fell 19% in Nov. OneKey MLS reports 300 fewer single, multifamily homes sold last month compared with 2020

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y The number of residential properties sold in Nassau County dropped by 19.2 percent in November compared with last year, according to OneKey MLS, while prices have been flattening out.

One thousand eleven single and multifamily homes were sold in the county in November, 300 fewer than the same month in 2020.

A total of 1,189 co-ops and condominiums were sold, compared with 1,471 last year. The number maintained a downward trend since August’s level of 1,625 homes sold, the highest figure for this calendar year.

Contributing to the sales drop was a lack of properties on the market. Across Long Island, there was a 31.1 percent decrease in available inventory in November compared with the same month in 2020.

Home prices have flattened since the summer. All homes in Nassau County, which includes co-ops and condos, reported a $655,000 closed median home price last month, according to OneKey, a $5,000 increase from October. November’s median figure was a 9.3 percent increase from $599,000 in the same month last year.

The median price for Nassau homes reached a high of $670,000 in July and August and has declined since then.

The median price of single and multifamily homes in the county was $680,000 in November, an increase from $605,000 in November 2020.

The median price of co-ops sold in Nassau increased to $285,000 in November from $275,000 in November 2020.

The median price of condominium prop-

erties sold was $615,000, a decrease from $660,000 in the same month last year.

Jim Speer, CEO of OneKey MLS, told Newsday the numbers show an evening out throughout the market.

“We were at record highs – that’s really not the case anymore,” he said. “We’re seeing a leveling off. We’re not really see-

ing a decrease.”

For November, Suffolk County residential properties had a median price of $520,000, an increase from $471,500 from the same month in 2020.

In Queens, the median price was $685,000, a 5.4 percent increase from $650,000 last year.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE

Residential, co-op and condominium properties sold in Nassau County dropped nearly 19 percent in November compared with last year, according to OneKey MLS.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND TO A FANTASTIC 2022

NORTH SHORE DENTAL GROUP

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10 The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

HC

Parents concerned over racist incident Officials say Mepham High student taunted Elmont girls with bananas, remarks

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Parents of Elmont Memorial High School students expressed concern about an incident at a girls basketball away game earlier this month where a spectator made racist taunts to the Elmont players.

According to school officials, during a junior varsity game at Wellington C. Mepham High School in Bellmore, a student taunted the Elmont girls with bananas and racist remarks.

According to the New York State Education Department, Mepham High School’s enrollment is approximately 75 percent white, while Elmont Memorial’s is approximately 70 percent Black.

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, according to Sewanhaka School Superintendent James Grossane, quickly identified the responsible student, took internal action and issued an apology. Grossane added that counseling for the student and education for the school has gone on and will continue.

Grossane read a statement during a meeting of the Sewanhaka Board of Education on Tuesday night about the incident, saying he is proud of how the girls conducted themselves on and off the court.

“While we are disappointed to hear the display of an opponent’s spectator at a recent away basketball game we are pleased with how the Bellmore-Merrick administration quickly addressed this in-

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ISLAND NOW ARCHIVES

A racist incident took place earlier this month during an Elmont junior varsity girls basketball game at Wellington C. Mepham High School in Bellmore. cident, identified the individual involved and took action internally,” he said. “We will continue to advocate for our studentathletes and use moments like these to hopefully educate and enlighten the broader athletic and student community.”

Grossane also mentioned how the messaging from the Bellmore-Merrick’s administration has been eloquent, heartfelt and sincere regarding the apologies to the basketball team. According to the superintendent, the Mepham team was empathetic and supportive during the incident.

Tiffany Capers, a trustee on the El-

mont Board of Education, said the board should advocate more for the students.

“Too many times we tell our students to be the bigger person,” Capers said. “We say ‘ignore the bad behavior, just play the game.’ There’s even a sign printed in Elmont’s gymnasium to just play the game.

It’s time for us to say, ‘this isn’t right, we got your back.’”

Capers also mentioned that coaches have been suspended from games for violating guidelines when they win by too many points. She questioned why there is a disparate reaction between the scores of games and racist incidents, which many

parents Tuesday night alleged happened more than once in the past to Elmont teams.

Grossane said that moving forward, all games in the Sewanhaka district will have excerpts from the fairness and bias section from the handbook of Section IV, which oversees athletics, read by members of both teams beforehand. The superintendent also said at the January meeting for Section IV, he plans to offer the idea of mandating the excerpt be read at all games in the county.

Michelle Oxley, a parent in the district, said more needs to be done to ensure that this does not happen again.

“It is my hope that we would have sent more of a message than a slap on the wrist, to peel back the layers of hate for this student,” Oxley said. “According to reports, the student purchased bananas, really? How many times have we been told we look like monkeys?”

Grossane said that the initial response is just the first step and that there will be more steps regarding conduct for spectators and district expectations for teams and players.

Before closing his remarks, the superintendent assured members of the public that he has taken their suggestions into consideration.

“You’ve all given me good ideas and we are going to get to work on them,” Grossane said. “I am a man of my word, and I am going to do everything for these kids.”

G.N. Library appoints Lurman to board

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ The Great Neck Library Board of Trustees appointed Jenni Lurman to fill the vacancy on the board left by former Trustee Chelsea Sassouni on Tuesday night, a motion met with strong opposition from the 70 members of the public present at the virtual meeting.

Board officials said Lurman was one of two names submitted by the Nominating Committee after Sassouni’s resignation became effective on Sept.

14. One of the names that was submitted by the committee, officials said, was a “very divisive” and “anti-Iranian” individual who could potentially damage the library’s reputation if “even considered” by the board to fill the vacancy. The individual was not identified.

Village of Great Neck resident Rebecca Rosenblatt Gilliar received an email from the “divisive” person whom the

committee recommended to the board. Gilliar said she was pleased with the board’s decision not to move forward with the recommendation.

“Without a doubt the Library trustees acted responsibly when they rejected the Nominating Committee’s recommendations,” Gilliar said in a statement. “The person whom the Committee recommended to the Board to be seated as a Library Trustee wrote to me in an e-mail a few weeks ago, ‘..you should be burned at the stake in front of village hall.’ Trustee Gold described this candidate in deeply negative terms at the Library Board meeting on December 21.”

Trustee Mimi Hu said the board has reverted to abiding

by New York state law, which supersedes the bylaws, due to the Nominating Committee’s recommendation of the “divisive” candidate, which, Hu claimed, was a violation of the bylaws.

“The trustees took recourse

PHOTO BY JANELLE CLAUSEN

The Great Neck Library appointed Jenni Lurman to fill the vacancy on the board left by former Trustee Chelsea Sassouni during Tuesday night’s public meeting. to New York state law when the bylaw was silent on what to do when the Nominating Committee acted against the Library’s

interests and did not fulfill on their only job,” Gilliar said.

Board President Weihua Yan said the board expressed

its concerns about the nomination to the committee twice and was told by committee officials Continued on Page 34

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

11

COMMUNITY NEWS

Sillitti announces Sweats for Vets thru January Assemblywoman Gina L. Sillitti (D-Port Washington) announced that she has partnered with the Military Blue Star Mothers of Nassau County on its Sweats for Vets initiative.

The annual donation drive will take place throughout the month of January and provide sweats and other warm clothes to veterans in need.

“The brave men and women who have honorably served our nation deserve our gratitude and support, and not just on Veterans Day,” said Sillitti. “No veteran should be left out in the cold, which is why I’m encouraging community members to donate to the ‘Sweats for Vets’ program and help local veterans stay warm this winter. Too often, these heroes face a host of challenges when they return home and this program ensures that veterans have access to warm clothes during one of the most difficult times of the year.”

Sillitti has thanked the Port Washington VFW Post 1819, Manhasset American Legion

Post 304 and the Williston Park American Legion Post 144 for serving as donation collection sites and encourages all community members to support the program and help veterans in need. Those wishing to donate to the program can drop off any new hats, gloves, socks, scarves, sweatshirts and sweatpants – preferably size L or larger – at any of the following 24/7 collection sites: • Port Washington VFW Post 1819; 29 Mohegan Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050 (drop box located at back of building) • Manhasset American Legion Post 304; 27 Bayview Avenue, Manhasset, NY 11030 (blue mailbox in front of building) • Williston Park American Legion Post 144; 730 Willis Avenue, Williston Park, NY 11596 (drop box in front of building) For more information on this or any other community issue, please visit Assemblywoman Sillitti’s website at www.nyassembly.gov/ Sillitti or contact her office at 516-482-6966 or by email at SillittiG@nyassembly.gov.

W.P man joins D&B Engineers and Architects D&B Engineers and Architects, a leading engineering and consulting organization headquartered in Woodbury that specializes in water supply, wastewater management and environmental engineering, has increased its employee roster by hiring eight employees, one from upstate New York and seven from

across Long Island: Christine Arena of Hopewell Junction; Alison Cataldo of Sayville; Michael Chase of Williston Park; Jack Hartigan of Babylon; Steven Patak of Westbury; Joseph Quinn of East Islip; Alex Schwartz of Bay Shore; and Jonathan Schwartz of Syosset.

D&B President Steven A. Fangmann

commented, “The steady growth of D&B business in the municipal and private engineering sectors continues despite the volatility of the industry. These new employees bring a great deal of talent to the D&B team. Their experience and expertise will benefit all D&B’s municipal and private sector clients.”

Chase is an Engineer I with D&B Engineers and Architects’ Electrical Engineering Group. He attended SUNY Stony Brook in the Electrical Engineering BE Program and Mr. Chase was previously employed at Flagship One Inc. in Lynbrook where he was an Electrical Technician.

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12 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021 A Blank Slate Media Special Section • December 24, 2021

Common side effects of medications and supplements

H

ealth professionals recommend a bevy of medications to their patients when they the benefits of such remedies outweigh the possible risks. The same can be said for vaccinations and other health therapies, such as vitamin and mineral supplementation. While supplements and medications are safe when taken as directed, they still have the potential to cause some unwanted side effects.

Over-the-counter medicines, prescriptions or even herbal dietary supplements can cause side effects. WebMD notes that most of these effects are minor and may only be a temporary inconvenience.

But some side effects may be more serious. Recognizing common side effects may not make them easier

to confront, but it can give people an idea of what to expect. WebMD, the DNA testing firm Sequencing and the healthcare services research experts at Sehat report that the following are some common side effects of medications and supplements.

Stomach discomfort

Since most drugs and supplements need to go through the gastrointestinal system to be absorbed, stomach discomfort, constipation and nausea can occur.

This is one reason why experts typically recommend taking antibiotics, which can cause indigestion and diarrhea, with food.

The vitamins and minerals in multivitamins also can cause stomach discomfort. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may cause the formation of gastric ulcers and stomach bleeding when taken for extended periods of time.

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Drowsiness

Drowsiness is often associated with antihistamines, anti-tussive (cough) medicines and muscle relaxants.

Drowsiness can be exacerbated if medications are mixed with alcohol.

Skin rashes and dermatitis

Some topical medications, supplements and other medicines may lead to rashes or itchiness. A rash may be an indication of an allergic reaction. Severe allergic skin reactions may warrant cessation of certain medications and such side effects should be discussed with a doctor immediately. Vaccines also may cause pain or itching at injection sites, but that irritation tends to recede quickly.

Confusion or restlessness

Medications such as decongestants may increase blood pressure and contribute to confusion,

restlessness, and even insomnia.

Decongestants, when taken in high doses, also can cause an intoxicating high, which is why they are so heavily regulated.

Weight gain

Certain medications, particularly those that adjust hormone levels like contraceptives and many antianxiety and antidepressant medications, can lead to weight gain.

Medications and supplements are often the most effective way to help individuals confront issues regarding their physical and mental health. However, if any side effects become bothersome, individuals should speak with a healthcare provider to find out if there is an alternative or if the medication should be discontinued.

Did you know?

A

ccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for one in 10 deaths among workingage adults in the United States. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are produced jointly every five years by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, advise adults about healthy alcohol consumption. According to the guidelines, women should consume no more than one drink per day while men should limit their consumption to two drinks per day or less. Consuming more alcohol than the guidelines suggest can prove fatal, as the CDC notes that binge drinking is responsible for almost half the deaths related to excessive alcohol consumption.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

What sufficient sleep does for the human body that athletes asked to extend their normal sleep times exhibited faster sprint times and increased free-throw accuracy and a reduction in fatigue at the end of the sleep extension period.

Improved athletic performance is not the only way that sufficient sleep benefits the human body.

S

leep is an often unsung hero of overall health. Diet and exercise get their fair share of glory, but without a good night’s rest, even the most physically active, nutritionconscious individuals are vulnerable to a host of ailments and illnesses.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, most adults need seven or more hours of sleep on a regular schedule each night. Athletes may even benefit from additional sleep. In fact, a 2011 study published in the journal Sleep examined the effects of sleep extension on the athletic performance of collegiate basketball players. That study found

Sufficient sleep and the immune system The Mayo Clinic notes that the immune system releases proteins called cytokines during sleep.

The release of certain cytokines needs to increase when individuals are experiencing infections or inflammation, which is one reason why doctors often recommend extra sleep to sick patients. Without adequate sleep, the immune system may not produce enough cytokines, and that can increase the frequency with which individuals get sick.

Sufficient sleep and weight gain The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reports there is mounting evidence to suggest a link between insufficient sleep and weight gain and obesity. Studies exploring this potential link

13

have been conducted for decades and have examined how sleep affects people of all ages and genders. At the 2006 American Thoracic Society International Conference, researchers who had tracked women’s sleep habits for 16 years found that those who slept just six hours per night were 12 percent more likely to experience major weight gain than women who slept seven hours per night. Experts aren’t entirely sure why this relationship exists, but the results of various studies support the idea that insufficient sleep is a potential catalyst for gaining weight.

Sufficient sleep and chronic disease The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that insufficient sleep has been linked to the development and management of various chronic diseases. For example, the CDC indicates that insufficient sleep has been linked to an increased risk for type 2 diabetes. In addition, the CDC reports that instances of hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, and irregular heartbeat are more common among individuals with disordered sleep than they are among people without such sleep abnormalities.

Sleep is not often mentioned alongside diet and exercise as a vital component of overall health.

But a good night’s rest is no less vital to longterm health than a healthy diet and physical activity.

Family Care Connections, LLC

• Nurse Geriatric Care Manager • Assistance with Aging at Home • Assisted Living & Nursing Home Placement • Elder Care Consulting and Counseling • Medicaid Application & Consulting Services • Housing Options for Aging

Nassau (516) 248-9323

Queens (718) 470-6300

Dr. Ann Marie D’AngeIo, DNP Dr. Frank G. D’Angelo, JD, PhD 901 Stewart Ave., Ste. 230 • Garden City, NY 11530 www.FamilyCareConnections.com

14 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

Opinion

OUR VIEWS

A financial test for Blakeman, GOP

B

ruce Blakeman has not even taken office as county executive, but Nassau Interim Financial Authority Chairman Adam Barsky has already issued a warning to him.

Don’t cut county fees now that County Executive Laura Curran has provided something not seen often in Nassau – a balanced budget. That was Barsky’s message.

His actual words were that he was concerned that county Republican legislators, with Blakeman’s backing, would move ahead with their proposal to cut or reduce various fees – a $350 tax map verification fee, a $55 public safety fee and a $300 recording fee.

This seems like a harsh message to greet a new county executive by the head of the state authority overseeing its finances.

The question is: Was it warranted?

Republican legislators had approved the fee cuts in the midst of the county election campaign – without offering a way to pay for the $100 million hole it would create in the budget.

This apparently is good politics in Nassau County if not good governance.

Not that cutting the fees was a bad idea.

The fees were an unfair and counterproductive way for the county to raise money 10 years ago when they were approved by Republicans to avoid raising taxes.

GOP officials routinely run their campaigns on not having raised county taxes.

Blakeman said in an interview with Blank Slate Media after his election that he wanted to take a “middle ground” approach when

it comes to those fees, saying he would work with the Legislature to see what makes the most sense for the county and its taxpayers.

We hope so, but Blakeman’s history and the history of Nassau Republicans offer reasons for concern.

The last time Blakeman served in county government was in the 1990s when he was the presiding officer of the Legislature and Republican Tom Gulotta was county executive.

Things did not go well. The county, one of the wealthiest in New York state, became financially insolvent in 1999 and went hat in hand to the state for a bailout.

The county got $100 million in state aid and the authority to borrow $400 million more. In exchange, the country’s finances were placed under state supervision in the form of NIFA by then Gov. George Pataki, a Republican.

Blakeman, who agreed to increase taxes to fill the deficit at the time, lost re-election, as did a majority of the Republicans in the Legislature, and Gulotta chose not to run for another four-year term.

One major question for Nassau residents is what lessons Blakeman learned from his time in the County Legislature. Other county Republicans did not appear to learn much.

After he was elected county executive in 2001, Democrat Tom Suozzi worked with NIFA to balance the budget by raising taxes and holding down spending.

But after Suozzi’s eight years in office came Edward Mangano, a Republican now awaiting sentencing on political corruption charges.

BLANK SLATE MEDIA LLC

22 Planting Field Road, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 Phone: 516-307-1045 • Fax: 516-307-1046 E-mail: hblank@theislandnow.com EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Steven Blank OFFICE MANAGER Holly Blank

Editorial Cartoon

Mangano repeatedly demonstrated his ignorance of basic government accounting and repeatedly rejected NIFA’s warnings that he was running deficits.

NIFA responded in 2011 by voting unanimously to declare a control period on a projected deficit for fiscal year 2011 of $176 million that effectively gave the state authority control over Nassau’s budget.

As the approval of the county fees shows, Republicans have done whatever they could to avoid raising taxes – or cutting expenses – to fulfill their duty to balance the county budget. Usually with budget gimmicks or one-time bailouts Then state Sen. Jack Martins was the author of one of Nassau’s most imaginative bailouts in 2013 when he succeeded in inserting a provision in legislation that allowed Nassau to “transfer” its rights to operate a video-slotmachine parlor to Aqueduct Racetrack for $43 million over three years. In other words, something for nothing.

As late as 2020, under Curran, NIFA agreed to help balance

Nassau’s 2021 budget by using its better credit rating to refinance the county’s debt over the next 15 years.

Barsky said at the time the state authority’s assistance would allow Nassau to “avoid a massive property tax increase and cuts to critical services for those most in need.”

Blakeman said he believes Nassau County should not need NIFA, but touted the work of Barsky and said he looks forward to working with them.

Barsky told Newsday he intends to work with Blakeman “with a lot of respect” and said Nassau is in “relatively good shape based on one-time resources” coming from the federal government due to the coronavirus pandemic and refinancing debt.

Blakeman also said he is working with legislators to address issues that can help relieve some of the fiscal stress on county taxpayers.

“I am working closely with the County Legislature on a variety of pressing issues and look forward to solving issues important to our

REPORTERS Robert Pelaez, Brandon Duffy COLUMNIST Karen Rubin ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Stacy Shaughnessy, Melissa Spitalnick, Wendy Kates, Linda Robinson, Steven Schoenfarber ART DIRECTOR Jewell Davis

taxpayers,” he said.

Curran said under the $3.5 billion budget she developed property taxes will be cut by $70 million next year and $128 million in surplus funds from the 2020 budget will be used to “grow depleted reserves” for whenever the county experiences the “next downturn.”

There are ways for Blakeman to improve the county’s finances without raising taxes, additional federal money or resorting to magical thinking.

A group of government experts said in a Blank Slate Media town hall that as far back as 2011 a detailed financial plan developed at NIFA’s behest offered a number of ways for the county to cut expenses and raise revenues.

But up until now, the suggestions have fallen on deaf ears.

We hope Blakeman learned the right lessons from Nassau County’s financial meltdown in 2000 and the years of financial gimmicks and one-time rescues that followed.

How he addresses the cuts to county fees will be a good indicator of where Nassau is headed.

PRODUCTION MANAGER Rosemarie Palacios EDITORIAL DESIGNERS Lorens Morris, Yvonne Farley CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Deborah Flynn PUBLISHERS OF

Williston Times • Great Neck News Herald Courier • Roslyn Times Manhasset Times • Port Washington Times

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

15

KREMER’S CORNER

Protecting Long Island 5 in state Senate

T

here are over 3 million people living in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

They live on Long Island for a variety of reasons. Some have lived here their entire lives.

Others have migrated to the region for its many wonderful benefits. The crime rate is low.

The parks and beaches are spectacular. And happily, we have some of the best schools in the entire state. We have one other asset, which is our many dedicated public officials.

There are many good local county, village and town officials. While they toil each day in their various communities, much of their success depends on the state legislature and therein lies the challenge.

Once upon a time, the bicounty region was lucky enough to have nine state senators, both Democrats and Republicans, whose combined seniority made them a powerful force in Albany.

Time and retirements have reduced that power group to just four people and their survival is in 2022 is critical to the two

counties.

High school taxes are a big headache for our homeowners and without Senators Brooks, Gaughran, Kaplan and Kaminsky, the taxes would be far higher.

This year, thanks to their efforts, the amount of school aid for the island’s school districts was the highest in history.

In addition to school aid, many other consumer and anticrime programs were approved, that helped the region to keep its quality of life. This is not to disparage the other state senators, but they are the minority party in Albany and can’t deliver the goods that Long Island desperately needs.

There is no one superstar in the Democratic delegation as all of them are hard-working, experienced and informed on the issues. They pay taxes, send their children to our public schools and have a lifetime of public service that makes them stand out in the legislature. They speak up for the island and are not afraid to challenge New York City pro-

JERRY KREMER Kremer’s Corner

gressives who do not understand the needs of suburbia.

John Brooks served as a school board member before seeking a senate seat. He has been a volunteer firefighter for over 50 years. He served as Nassau County’s Director of Risk Management and his challenge of the state’s health insurance program saved ratepayers over $400 million. He is the chairman of the Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee.

Sen. James Gaughran was the youngest member of the Huntington Town Board in its history. He served in the county legislature and is an expert on water quality issues. He has battled high water costs, housing discrimination and has gotten major bus safety laws enacted.

He is Chairman of the Local Government Committee and is a strong voice for ethics reform.

The life story of Sen. Anna Kaplan is impressive. Her family escaped the turmoil of the Islamic Revolution and she embarked on public service as a way to say thank you to this country for its many new opportunities.

She has been fighting for the little guy in her role as chair of the Small Business Committee. She has fought for women’s rights and battled hate crimes.

Before going to Albany she served on the North Hempstead Town Board.

Todd Kaminsky brought an impressive career as a federal prosecutor to his Senate job. As chairman of the Environmental Conservation Committee, he

has pushed through major clean water legislation and has battled for climate change programs. He has battled official corruption.

Senator Kevin Thomas, as chair of the Consumer Protection Committee has introduced laws to protect your personal privacy and helped deliver $239 million in Homeowner Assistance funds to the state. As an attorney, he was a dedicated civic leader before seeking public office.

During my 23 years in office, I was fortunate to be the leader of the Long Island Assembly delegation. Our group of legislators made their voices heard and battled for more school aid, consumer protection, anti-crime laws and a variety of other badly needed efforts.

They got legislators from the city and upstate to take notice of the needs of the suburbs. Long Island has a lot at stake in November 2022. While there will be many candidates for statewide, Congress and other offices, the survival of the Island Four is important for residents of every political thinking.

A LOOK ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Shopping lists a window on ancient world

I

t’s not often that shopping lists make history, but not so long ago that’s what happened in the Holy Land.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University recently subjected 18 fragments of ancient pottery to some new, computeraided analysis. The pottery pieces dated from 600 B.C. and were covered in ink inscriptions in ancient Hebrew.

Researchers found several different handwritings for what they concluded were messages back and forth to the supplies quartermaster of a fort in ancient Judah.

The messages said things like: “To Eliashib (the Quartermaster): And now, give the Kittiyim 3 baths of wine, and write the name of the day.”

Why write the name of the day? Was that some kind of ancient sell-by date? Or was it to check up on poor old Eliashib to make sure he’d really done it?

“And a full homer of wine, bring tomorrow; don’t be late. And if there is vinegar,

give it to them.”

I know nothing about ancient Hebrew and next to nothing about pottery. (I know that it breaks far too easily when all you’ve done is put it down on someone’s granite counter-top.)

But I do know a thing or two about shopping lists.

The first thing I know is that no matter where you put them, no matter how carefully you have stowed them, in a pocket or a purse or a leadlined container, your list will disappear by the time you walk into the store.

You are forced to improvise, free-styling around the store, trying frantically to recall what the heck was so urgent that it brought you there in the first place.

Maybe that’s why you find so many other people wandering, too — glued to their phones, and muttering: “All I could find is the garlic-flavored — will that do?”

“So what ARE we having for dinner?”

“Just how fresh does

JUDY EPSTEIN

A Look on the Lighter Side cheese have to be?”

“What do you mean, ‘Try the pretzel aisle’? I’m in the pretzel aisle staring at the pretzels, and I tell you it isn’t here!”

They obviously had problems in ancient Judah, too.

Why else would someone named Nahum have been ordered to: “Go to the house of Eliashib, son of Eshiyahu, (to collect a jar of oil and send it somewhere) quickly, and seal it with your seal”? Just how quickly does oil go bad, any-

way? (Clearly it lasts longer than eight days if the ancient miracle of Chanukah is anything to go by!)

Sometimes I pull out a shopping wagon and find somebody else’s scrunchedup list in the bottom of it. I often think why not use it?

How different could shopping lists be anyway? Look at Nahum, Eliashib and me; we all use olive oil, wine and vinegar. But this list also features scallops, ham and swiss cheese. Sorry, Nahum, no ham for you!

Another thing I know about shopping lists is that they magically reappear once you get home. “Pancake mix!

That’s what I needed!” And you still need it.

Because that’s the final thing about shopping lists: there is always some residue, something listed that you always forget. That is, until it gets stuck in your head, and it’s all you remember for the next 20 trips. Then, like a modern, supermarket version of the sorcerer’s apprentice,

you keep bringing home applesauce or chicken soup or paper towels every shopping trip, until there’s no place left in the house to put them.

“And Hananyahu has commanded you to Beersheba with 2 donkey’s load and you shall wrap up the dough with them.”

It all makes me wonder if the world can look forward to the day when my scrap-paper shopping lists will be found in some cave and studied by researchers, too.

“This looks like the handwriting of six different people, but they’re all from someone named ‘Judy.’ Can it really just be 30 years of one woman’s shopping lists? Why on earth did she save them?”

“And why did she NEVER remember the pancake mix?”

What might be the headline for such an exhibit?

“Ancient Shopping Lists Are Key to One Writer’s Delusions.”

The original version of this column ran April 22, 2016

16 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

THE BACK ROAD

The moral test, fundamental fight of our time

A

s the first anniversary of the armed attack on the U.S. Capitol approaches, the haunting words of renowned historian Doris Kearns Goodwin ring out as a warning to all Americans.

Journalist Brian Williams asked Goodwin, “If life is a clock face, and democracy runs out at midnight, where do you reckon the clock is right about now?” She replied, “It is as close to midnight as anything that I’ve seen in my lifetime.”

Sen. Liz Cheney echoed Goodwin’s concern, stating that the Jan. 6 assault against the Constitution represents “the moral test of our time, our generation.”

Freedom House, a nonprofit dedicated to the belief that democracy and human rights are essential for international peace, found that among 210 countries and territories the U.S. is one of

25 countries in the last 10 years that has shown significant decline in individual freedoms, including people’s access to political rights and civil liberties.

Goodwin, who won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1995, recollected that only the periods just prior to the Civil War and World War II were possibly more dire. To turn back the clock she cautioned, “The fight for the right to vote has to be the central fight that people are fighting in this country.”

In fact, the analysis presented by Freedom House shows that the U.S. has fallen behind Germany, Italy and Japan, once our mortal enemies in the fight against far-right nationalism, fascism and totalitarianism. My, how the pendulum has swung since the U.S. joined the WWII allied forces in December 1941.

What all U.S. representatives have in common is that they take

ANDREW MALEKOFF The Back Road

an oath in which they solemnly swear to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” As do all U.S. presidents who swear to “faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

In the run up to and after-

math of the Jan. 6 insurgency, in which people died, scores of our representatives whose souls have been hijacked by Donald Trump, failed to uphold their oath of office in order to mollify or curry favor with their golden goose. Freedom House concluded that, “Trump’s actions went unchecked by most lawmakers from his own party, with a stunning silence that undermined basic democratic tenets.”

In a complete dereliction of duty, Donald Trump betrayed the police who fought valiantly, held the line and took a brutal beating to protect our Constitution, despite his oath to protect and defend it.

As U.S. Rep. and former Army Ranger Jason Crow asserted, “Democracy is not inevitable and self-perpetuating. Democracy represents norms that are upheld by people.”

At the same time that the

struggle for Jan. 6 accountability and justice advances, we would all do well to remember LBJ’s sentiments upon the Voting Rights Act of 1965 being signed into law: “The basic right to vote is the most fundamental of all rights without which all the rest are meaningless.”

What we need, the Freedom House report concluded, is a “serious and sustained reform effort to repair the damage done during the Trump era to the perception and reality of basic rights and freedoms in the United States.”

This must begin with Congress passing voting rights legislation, which is the key to safeguarding democracy in America.

“What is the point of democracy,” Goodwin said, “if individuals can’t vote.” Denying Americans the right to vote, quashing voter rights and bringing back voter suppression is the “fundamental fight of our time.”

E A R T H M AT T E R S

Beware of language that demonizes species

I

’m a big proponent of the belief that language matters.

English is a rich language with a multitude of ways to describe objects, activities, living things, emotions and relationships. But it’s not without limitations as we all have likely experienced at one time or another. Sometimes it is in an effort to describe a remarkable site or experience that we confront the inability to find the right word.

Sometimes it is when asked to define ourselves that English fails us.

Over the last 20 months I have been involved in a project to preserve the biodiversity of an undeveloped plot of land.

Through this work I have had to face the limits of language as a consequence of both the meaning of words and the use of words historically, politically and culturally. I am referring to the use of the terms “invasive” and “non-native” when used in an

ecological context.

These terms are widely used by professionals, respected organizations and the government at every level. They are used to focus attention on plants, insects or animal life that typically come from places other than the United States. These species are viewed as presenting a threat to the plants, insects or animal life present for some period prior to introduction of this new species. The threat often comes in the form of newcomers killing other species by outcompeting with them for food and by growing faster and depriving other species of things like space, water and sun. These species also succeed because they are new, so predators are not accustomed to eating them. This gives them time to get established and to spread before a predator adapts to treating them as a food source.

The result is a loss of or

LYNN CAPUANO Earth Matters change in the biodiversity in an area where the new species has been introduced. As a rule, loss of biodiversity is not a positive consequence and is something we work to prevent. Hence, you read about extensive efforts to eradicate and control these “invasive” and “non-native” species.

I don’t take issue with the accepted position that allowing certain species to run rampant

LETTERS POLICY Letters should be typed or neatly handwritten, and those longer than 750 words may be edited for brevity and clarity. All letters must include the writer’s name and phone number for verification. Anonymously sent letters will not be printed. Letters must be received by Monday noon to appear in the next week’s paper. All letters become the property of Blank Slate Media LLC and may be republished in any format. Letters can be e-mailed to news@theislandnow.com or mailed to Blank Slate Media, 22 Planting Field Road, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577.

is problematic, destructive and disruptive, or with the belief that we should act to address the impact of the presence of these species has. I am, however, uncomfortable and dissatisfied with our choice of language for describing these species.

The plants, insects and animals did not invade this country.

They were brought here through no exercise of free will, but as unintended passengers in a cargo ship’s ballast water, on the bottom of a traveler’s shoes or in a box headed for your neighbor’s door. Referring to them as invasive conjures up notions of being attacked and echoes our unfortunate national proclivity to alienate the “other” when we are looking for a group to blame.

Whether it was the Japanese in World War II or any number of other racial, ethnic, religious, or cultural groups throughout our history and as recently as yesterday that we have described as alien, invaders or non-native, this is a well-worn practice used by politicians, extremists and others seeking a following.

Those of us who cannot claim Native American heritage ought to be more sensitive to the hypocrisy of referring to anything as non-native. We certainly weren’t the first people on

this land and should be the last to make any claim about wanting to keep things as they were.

In the context of ecology, we need to reframe the issue and change the language we use to correctly explain and describe what we are talking about. A growing number of people are talking about this need and trying to identify more appropriate and less burdened language to use. For the time being, I choose to focus on preservation of biodiversity. I emphasize the importance of plant management for the benefit of preserving a wide range of plant species and to serve the breadth of life fed and housed by that plant life.

Some species are too destructive not to think about in terms of eradication. But many others do not fall into that category and, in fact, offer us opportunities to break down cultural, racial and ethnic barriers by learning about how they are used in other places. We may not want them to dominate an area, but we should think and speak in terms of management and maintaining biodiversity in our approach. In this way we do not demonize the species, the places they come from and certainly not the people who also come from those places.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

17

VIEW POINT

Merry Christmas? Bah, humbug!

T

his Christmas you may well get a holiday card from a Congress member posing in front of their tree with their entire family, down to the youngest kids, proudly holding assault rifles. Because that’s the Christian thing to do.

They proclaim “Merry Christmas” – even demand others to say it too instead of the more respectful, tolerant “Happy Holidays” as a battle cry in their imagined “war on Christmas” – and drop a toy off to a Toys for Tots drive as if that absolves them of the bigotry, racism, misogyny and hate they promote the rest of the year.

They proclaim themselves “patriots” in a war against imagined tyranny, and blast any form of government service or aid – even public health aimed at stopping the spread of COVID infection, hospitalization and death — as a slippery slope to socialism (communism) and our freedom of religion with a state theocracy they claim is

Christian.

Besides the photos of Congress members exalting weapons of war for Christmas, the other symbol of this year’s holiday festivities is that of public school teachers, on their hands and knees, scrambling to pick up dollars tossed at them from above to buy supplies for their classrooms.

Last year at this time, I wrote a column questioning the myth that “most people are good.” Even that faithlessness in humankind was underestimated because just days later the brutal, deadly Jan. 6 insurrection took place. But it didn’t end there because all this year the viciousness, cruelty, misogyny, bigotry have only gotten worse.

People don’t even bother to pretend anymore to have the “Christmas spirit” of giving, compassion, kindness (Kyle Rittenhouse is celebrated as a hero) – although just about everyone has a hand out for contributions.

They can’t even muster

KAREN RUBIN View Point

enough kindness and compassion for the length of Advent (even if they think they would chalk up enough “good” credits to carry them through until next Christmas). About all anybody musters is dropping something at Toys for Tots. I always thought that was very cruel – that Christmas spirit would come down to one stinking toy at Christmas when the child suffers with poverty and insecurity

all the rest of the year. Same with giving out turkeys at Thanksgiving to families that otherwise suffer hunger insecurity day in and day out. Indeed, thanks to West Virginia’s Sen. Joe Manchin, the lead Grinch among all the rest of the Republicans, the child tax credit that lifted half of all impoverished children out of poverty will end with the end of 2021. And forget about parental leave.

What are people really really upset about this Christmas? That consumer prices are up 6 percent over last year – mainly because life is so much better this year than last when we all were locked down in fear of death and eviction and people have so much more money to spend and are really, really, really upset that supply chain bottlenecks may result in shortages of whatever the “it” toy is this season (when has that not been the case?). They show little gratitude for the yeoman’s task Biden has done to actually bring down gas prices and

relieve supply chain bottlenecks (getting ports to operate 24/7, getting more truck drivers on the road, putting FTC on alert against price gouging) and the very fact that families can gather together at Christmas (air travel up to 2019 levels).

I would think that this Christmas there would be more thankfulness instead of griping over “stuff ” because in contrast to Trump, who had no plan whatsoever to get COVID vaccinations into people’s arms and whose entire Christmas message consists of “You can help President Trump own the libs by claiming your PRIORITY ACCESS for our Official Trump Christmas Wrapping Paper and send $35,” President Biden unfurled a massive roll-out of vaccinations (now available at 90,000 sites) that saved over one million lives and prevented 10 million hospitalizations and 35 million cases, according to a study by the Commonwealth Continued on Page 42

OUR TOWN

Christmas celebrated in an age of Miracles

C

hristmas has a way of reminding us of what we want and what we lack.

This yearning is couched in things like presents, Christmas trees, holiday cards and family gatherings. It’s all commercialized yet nonetheless, underneath the ads and the credit card purchases and the mania, there exists a hope for a transformation.

“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens was written because he felt that 19th century England had lost its sense of social harmony. His novel has been embraced because it offers the hope that like Ebeneezer Scrooge, we will transform from darkness to light and gain happiness.

Buying presents, setting up the Christmas tree and such rituals are what psychoanalysts call transformational objects, but it seems that the transformation becomes another forgotten moment, dropping out of sight faster than dried evergreen needles.

Classic Christmas songs, from Bing Crosby’s “I’m Dreaming of a White Xmas” to Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” do their best to help us in our quest to find holiness, joy and peace and as we shop all these jingles enter our unconscious and attempt to instill some magic.

In keeping with the season,

The Wall Street Journal recently had a piece on sainthood and miracles. They explored the nature of saints and what it took to get canonized. Each saint has a back story; each experienced a strong dream, and then had the courage to hold fast to their dream which produced miracles.

The story of St. Patrick, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Valentine, St. Christopher, St. Catherine, St. Padre Pio and Joan of Arc are all filled with serious pain.

St. Patrick was enslaved during childhood, St. Francis of Assisi was imprisoned for more than a year, St. Valentine was beheaded for his work, St. Catherine was first tortured and then beheaded, and Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. The life of a saint isn’t easy. They suffered, experienced stigmata, held to their vision, performed miracles and were killed for it.

Each saint had a transformative dream while held captive.

While a slave, St. Patrick and St. Francis of Assisi experienced visions from God which led them into a holy life. Joan of Arc had a vision as a teen to lead an army for France during the Hundred Years War between France and England. All these visions captivated these saints and guided them on their quest.The Wall Street Journal article mentioned

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

that the final element to canonized sainthood involves miracles, an interesting concept since we live in an age that is hungry for miracles. Paul Simon wistfully sang “These are the days of miracles and wonder.”

I watched the 1996 film “Michael” starring John Travolta as an angel on his last lap around Earth. I was hoping to learn something about saints or miracles. What I learned was that miracles do happen. There was a bar scene where Michael, the angel, started to dance to the Aretha Franklin classic “Chain of Fools.”

In short order, he had every girl in the place dancing along with him displaying the magical moves he first showed the world in “Saturday Night Fever” and then in “Pulp Fiction.” John Travolta is a miracle of otherworldly talent,

hard work and perseverance.

There was an interesting moment in the film where the reporter, played by William Hurt, asked Michael, the angel, to do a large miracle to which Michael responded: “No, sorry, we can only do small miracles. The big ones are impossible to perform, the world is too big a place and humans are too complex for big miracles to happen. You’ll have to settle for small miracles.”

Which takes us full circle and to the miracle of Christmas.

Do saints exist? Probably. Do miracles happen? Probably. Are miracles rare or commonplace?

Commonplace. Let me demonstrate this fact. If you watch the film “Michael,” you will have witnessed the miracle of John Travolta dancing to Aretha Franklin.

Is this not a miracle? Let’s just say you don’t have Netflix or Prime Video so you cannot watch. OK. Go to YouTube and switch on the ad where Mariah Carey is singing “All I Want for Christmas is You” with Justin Bieber in a department store in Manhattan. The voice of Mariah Carey is a small miracle and so are the dance moves of the ever-adorable Justin Bieber. There we have two miracles at once.

OK, let us say you don’t like modern film or modern pop music. Fair enough. How about

getting tickets to see “The Nutcracker” at Lincoln Center. Not only is this beloved ballet one of the world’s great miracles but so is the New York City Ballet. And before you go inside, pause for a moment to look at the three miracle buildings designed by Philip Johnson that make up Lincoln Center.

To quote Paul Simon, this is the time of miracles and wonder. Modern day saints who are performing these small miracles have names like Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin, John Travolta, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson, etcetera. And when any parent adorns a Christmas tree, hangs lights on the roof and wraps those presents on the night before Christmas. these are bigger miracles because no one is there to give applause or recognition for their sacrifice and tireless effort.

Paul Simon was right all along. We do live in the Age of Miracles and wonder especially during the holidays.

18 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

FROM THE DESK OF SUPERVISOR JUDI BOSWORTH

An honor to have served, please stay safe

D

ear Community Leaders, Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases are on the rise throughout the Town of North Hempstead, Nassau County and across New York State.

The Omicron variant is here, and gatherings, both small and large, are contributing to the continued spread of the virus. Gov. Hochul has re-issued the mask mandate, which states that residents are required to wear a mask in all indoor public places.

If a business requires proof of vaccination for those 12 years of

age or older, the mask mandate is not applicable. In the Town of North Hempstead, people at the facilities all have been required to wear masks indoors, even when the statewide mandate was not in effect. I am hoping our residents do the same.

With the Christmas holiday upon us, I am again urging that we all remain cautious and vigilant so that we do not spread the virus to those around us — our families, our friends, and our neighbors.

Please follow necessary, common-sense precautions and, most importantly, protect yourself and

JUDI BOSWORTH North Hempstead Town Supervisor

others by getting vaccinated.

As we know, the virus is constantly evolving, which is making it increasingly clear that booster shots are necessary in order to be fully vaccinated. An extra layer of protection would be to get COVID tests before attending a holiday gathering with your loved ones. It will just provide additional assurance.

On a personal note, I would like to say that it has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your town supervisor for these past eight years.

I am so proud of the work we

have done together. It has been a distinct pleasure working with so many engaged and passionate residents, on a daily basis, to make our communities such wonderful places to live.

We’re a family here in North Hempstead, and I will always be grateful for having the opportunity to serve you all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting in me as your town supervisor.

I wish you all the happiest of holidays and a joyous and healthy new year.

As always, please be smart and stay safe.

READERS WRITE

Sunset and Racism shocks at Manhasset cafe Earth Tides T The earth lets out a reverent sigh to close out each day.

The tides move the stones of so many burdens back and forth, washing away tears and silences.

But we know the diurnal cycles.

From the vast cold of a grey place here the bluest diamond, this we should know…

Our glances pass through moonlight like ripples on a stream, and the quivers of stars offer nothing substantial.

Before night falls and we return to the car, I survey the rows of waves one more time, and know the circle of love is the true direction.

I insist.

Stephen Cipot Garden City Park

NASA, by the crew of Apollo 8, December 24, 1968.

his is an open letter to our community on the North Shore about an upsetting racist experience I had this morning. This is to alert you to the fact that racism is alive and well in our community.

While shopping at Barnes & Noble in Manhasset, I sat down in the café for coffee. Shortly thereafter, an African-American mother and her two daughters sat down at the table across from me. The children were clearly enjoying their drinks and snacks while taking a break from Christmas shopping. Truly precious.

Suddenly, their mother began yelling at a white woman at the next table. Evidently, this white woman not only turned her back on the African-American family

when they sat down, but she also moved her table away from them! Café patrons were in shock at this blatant racism.

I gave the mother thumbs-up hand signals demonstrating my support for her during this ugly incident.

Finally, the mom gathered her daughters and angrily left the café. I heard her tell her daughters that this is what she has been experiencing her whole life and now they sadly have just experienced the same thing.

Note that her daughters were probably in elementary school and now these children are permanently scarred for the rest of their lives.

Wake up, everyone! It is time to address these racist incidents head-on when-

ever they happen. Let us unite our society and nation, not divide it.

In the meantime, if the woman who committed this terrible offense to a lovely family reads this letter, I hope that she will come forward to apologize and to do so by responding to my Letter to the Editor in this publication.

Our country still has lots of work to do in addressing racism. We cannot yield to open discrimination by bigots. It is time to stamp it out.

Hopefully, in this New Year, we will continue to address this horrid issue that plagues and undermines our country. May we mend and heal.

Eleanor Lange Manhasset

Would they ride LIRR to Belmont?

M

any people decide on how to reach the Islanders Belmont Arena by riding the Long Island Rail Road to Elmont Station rather than driving or using various car services based upon cost, frequency of service, time and convenience of choice.

Customers riding the LIRR to the Elmont Station currently only have to pay off-peak fares, which are in effect during rush hour. In March 2022, the LIRR will resume charging peak fares. This will result in those traveling to the Islanders Belmont Arena via the LIRR paying several dollars more. The MTA continues to delay previously scheduled fare increases of 2 percent per year. Adoption of the MTA’s $51 billion 2020 — 2024 Five Year Capital Plan included revenues generated by a 4 percent fare increase every other year. The previously planned 4 percent fare increase in 2021 due to the impacts of CARE COVID-19 have been postponed to sometime in 2022. This

could be followed by another previously planned 4 percent fare increase in 2023.

As the cost to ride the LIRR continues to increase, it will become far more attractive for those attending any events at Belmont Arena to travel by car, car service, Lyft or Uber. All provide a faster convenient door-to-door, one-seat ride than the LIRR. You avoid transferring at Jamaica, doubling back to Elmont followed by either waiting for a shuttle bus from the Elmont LIRR Station or walking 10 minutes to the arena.

This will result in the LIRR becoming less attractive as more people, especially season ticket holders, elect to drive rather than ride the LIRR. It remains to be seen how many younger high school, college students and those in their 20s elect to ride the LIRR rather than drive when attending rock concerts or other sporting events such as wrestling.

Based upon the Islanders Belmont Arena Environmental Impact Statement, the proj-

ect sponsors, Empire State Development Corporation, MTA, LIRR and elected official supporters all promised up to 30 percent or 5,000-plus fans would be attending events at the Belmont Arena via the LIRR. I predict the numbers will be far less. Let’s see what the future LIRR monthly ridership reports reveal.

Larry Penner Great Neck (Larry Penner — transportation advocate, historian and writer who worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for the MTA, NYC Transit, Long Island and Metro North Rail Roads, MTA Bus, NYC Department of Transportation along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ) Letters Continued on Page 36

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

19

20 The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

HC

‘Deepfake’ pics of teens put on porn site

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y A 20-year-old man from Seaford allegedly placed sexually explicit images of teenage girls on pornographic websites after altering them, police said.

Patrick Carey was indicted on Nov. 23 for his role in creating “deepfakes” of teenage girls and posting their personal information online, according to the Nassau County district attorney’s office.

A “deepfake” is an altered image where victims’ faces are edited into pictures of sexual conduct. According to police, approximately 11 women from January to September found pictures, many taken while they were in middle school and high school, from their social media accounts reposted to pornographic sites along with their information.

Carey was arrested on Sept. 5.

Carey is charged with two counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, possessing a sexual performance by a child, aggravated harassment in the second degree as a hate crime, stalking in the second degree, 10 counts of aggravated harassment in the second degree, 10 counts of stalking in the third

degree, three counts of harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

“This defendant allegedly manipulated the photos of more than a dozen women, taken when they were teenagers, and posted the ‘deepfake’ images online for strangers’ sexual gratification,” said Joyce Smith acting district attorney for Nassau County. “His depravity deepened when he allegedly shared the victims’ personally identifying information – including their home addresses – encouraging site visitors to harass and threaten the women with sexual violence.”

Carey faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of the top charge. The defendant’s bail was set at $50,000 bond, $25,000 cash and $150,000 partially secured bond.

The women who had their images posted on the sites had attended MacArthur High School in Levittown, where Carey graduated in 2019. Police said they received reports from women who said they had received notifications of Carey screenshotting some of the social media pictures that appeared online.

During an investigation, police executed two dozen search warrants on Carey’s phone, tablets, social media and

Vehicle used in G. Cove hit and run located: cops

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Police say Patrick Carey, 20, of Seaford, allegedly took pictures off social media, altered them and posted them to pornographic websites. web accounts, which revealed Carey possessed many images of the women and allegedly posted them online.

Senior Investigative Counsel Melissa Scannell and Senior Assistant District Attorney Kelsey Lorer are prosecuting

Hydrogen facility to expand with grant Continued from Page 1

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GLEN COVE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Police say a woman was struck by what appears to be a black Chevy Trailblazer on Saturday morning.

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Police said they have located the vehicle that left a 40-year-old woman hospitalized after a hit-and-run accident in Glen Cove over the weekend.

Glen Cove police said just before 11 a.m. on Saturday what appeared to be a black Chevy Trailblazer struck the woman, a mother of three, while she was crossing Pearsall Avenue southbound, west of Walnut Road. Police reported she suffered a head injury.

On Tuesday, the police said that the vehicle had been located and an investigation was ongoing. No other details were given.

Glen Cove Detective Lt. John Nagle said the victim had been upgraded from critical to stable condition. He said the department was reaching out to the family to receive updates on the victim.

Nagle said the SUV “stopped momentarily and then proceeded to drive away” Saturday morning. The victim was transported to a local hospital by Glen Cove EMS.

the case. Carey is represented by the Legal Aid Society.

He is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 4. Efforts to reach his lawyers were unavailing.

Hempstead’s hydrogen fueling station became operational in 2009, the first of its kind on Long Island, providing locally produced hydrogen.

“The Town of Hempstead continues to be a clean energy leader amongst municipalities, as we have demonstrated the use of wind, solar and green hydrogen, among an array of projects, at our Point Lookout Energy Park,” Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin said. “We are ready to work with National Grid to build on this legacy and thank them for their partnership on this cutting-edge initiative that will deliver zero-carbon energy to America’s largest township for years to come.”

National Grid will combine an adjacent facility with Energy Park in Point Lookout. Much of the equipment is already in place for the partnership, includ-

ing wind and solar equipment, officials said.

Expanding Energy Park is one of many environmental projects that have taken place in Hempstead. Previous initiatives include a clean-energy shellfish nursery, a self-reliant office that runs on “green energy” and expansion of Hempstead’s fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles.

“This is truly an exciting day for the future of clean energy on Long Island, as this partnership with National Grid will be a model for others across the nation,” Clavin said. “By utilizing our existing renewable power infrastructure and working with National Grid to expand the facility, we will be able to produce zerocarbon hydrogen energy to our residents and advance our ongoing environmental platform.”

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, September 23, 2016

21

Bosworth, Town Board OK 5-year capital plan Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board unanimously approved the Town’s 2022-2026 five-year capital plan, which includes improvements to infrastructure, parks upgrades, and road repaving.

The $116,829,854 plan will be funded with a combination of borrowing, grants, and existing cash.

“The upcoming five-year capital plan will continue to improve the Town’s infrastructure and facilities to ensure its useful life for future generations,” said Bosworth.

“We carefully designed the capital plan to reduce the amount of outstanding debt and burden to taxpayers.”

Upcoming projects for 2022 will include:• Continued design and construction at Fuschillo Park, including the replacement of the existing playground, installation of a spray pad, and the renovation of the quiet area• The first phase of improvements at the Martin “Bunky” Reid pool facilities• Infrastructure projects for Michael J. Tully Park• In 2022, the Town plans on beginning the first phase of improvements at the Martin “Bunky” Reid pool facilities which include

the replacement of the outdoor changing area, pool mechanical improvements and the expansion of the existing pool mechanical building• Construction and engineering work for the exterior of the Clark House at Clark Botanic Gardens.• Complete reconstruction and relocation of the playground at Ridders Pond Park.• Building improvements to the Roslyn Community Center.• Rehabilitation of the HVAC system at Clinton G. Martin Park.• Improvements at Gerry Pond Park, highlighted by the replacement of the roof at the main house, rehabilitation of the water wheel, and the restoration of the Hicks Memorial Bridge.• Enhanced pedestrian and traffic safety along the Plandome Road corridor.• An engineering review and design study for Whitney Pond Park to make the park more enjoyable for residents.

This will include a streambed restoration project to improve drainage and improvements to the ecosystem in the eastern portion of the Park.• The Bayview Avenue Shoreline Stabilization project to help with erosion control measures.• Improvements to the Stepping Stones Lighthouse, focus-

ing on a new fixed pier, floating dock, and exterior improvements.• Traffic safety and drainage improvements along the Plandome Road corridor.• Continued engineering services for the 9/11 Memorial, focusing on a remembrance wall, permanent seating, education area, and overall site improvements.• Efforts to address parking issues at Manhasset Valley Park.• Projects to address drainage concerns created by recent extreme weather events.• The first phase of work planned for North Hempstead Beach Park, containing items from the visioning process for the northern portion of the Park and the rehabilitation of the shoreline on the park’s north end.• Construction for the walls and coping system at Manorhaven Beach Park’s Pool.• Large-scale infrastructure and drainage improvements at our Solid Waste Management facilities and transfer station.• The installation of a vehicle and truck wash bay at the Roslyn Highway Yard.• Park improvements at Blumenfeld Family Park.• Infrastructure improvements for North Hempstead’s Animal Shelter.• Continued design improvements to Robert

Dayton Park and its nearby shoreline.

Projects that were substantially completed in 2021 included:• Significant upgrades to the playground at Caemmerer Park.• Resurfacing and restriping of the parking lot at Clinton G. Martin Park.• Upgrading of the electrical service and boiler system at Michael J. Tully Park.• Dredging of the boat ramp at Manorhaven Beach Park.• Port Washington Safe Routes to School sidewalk and roadway improvements.• Mill Pond Park curbing and parallel parking installation.• Seawall, pier and parking lot project at Harbor Hills Park.• Completion of renovations to Gerry Pond Park in Roslyn with a focus on water quality enhancements and dredging, along with beautification of the park.• Resurfacing of walkways in Whitney Pond Park.• Installation of the 9/11 Memorial and walkway resurfacing at Manhasset Valley Park.• Residential and industrial roadway resurfacing, including Papermill Road in Roslyn.• Concrete roadway and sidewalk rehabilitation.

For a complete list of projects visit www.northhempsteadny.gov/capitalplan.

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22 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Dowling one of ‘Most Influential’ in health care Northwell Health President and CEO Michael J. Dowling, who leads the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State, has been named to Modern Healthcare magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare,” ranking third overall.

In Modern Healthcare’s 2021 list, Mr. Dowling ranked highest among 25 health care system or hospital CEOs nationwide.

This year, Albert Bourla, chairman & CEO of Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals,

ranked first and Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, ranked second.

National leaders ranked in this year’s list include Dr. Anthony Fauci, director, chief medical advisor to the president of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (No. 20), President Joe Biden (No. 34), and Xavier Becerra, U.S Secretary of Health and Human Services (No. 59).

Last year, Mr. Dowling ranked second on the health care magazine’s annual list only after frontline workers who were named first.

Mr. Dowling’s innovation, leadership and strong stance on social issues such as gun violence as a public health crisis as well as immigration, racial justice and the opioid epidemic, have also contributed to him earning a place on Modern Healthcare’s prestigious list for the 15th consecutive year.

The health system recently held its third annual conference on gun violence Dec. 15 with prominently known physicians, government officials and a family member whose loved one died as a result of gun violence. In addition, Northwell established a Center for Equity Care, funded a $1.3 million employee innovation challenge encouraging development of new processes and initiatives to improve health care, and implemented a broad range of employee health programs that engaged tens of thousands of staff.

Modern Healthcare’s list includes the nation’s most prominent health care CEOs, elected officials and government administrators.

“This past year has shown us how vulnerable we still are to various pandemics facing health care, and how important it is to collaborate with our dedicated frontline workers and vanguard leaders to solve problems quickly in order to help our patients, families and communities through extraordinarily difficulty times,” Dowling said. “COVID-19 is ever-present and damaging. Gun violence continues to cripple us. And there are numerous other issues that are keeping our communities from thriving. It is our responsibility to partner with them to dramatically shift the situation in the right direction.”

In 2020, Northwell Health bore the brunt of the first wave of the pandemic with New York City as its epicenter. To date, the health system has treated more than 254,000 COVID patients across its network, including 64,000 COVID patients who were hospitalized.

To further combat COVID-19 this year, Northwell offered COVID-19 vaccines to employees and residents across the New York metropolitan re-

Warm Holiday Wishes

gion, leveraging community partnerships. In October, Northwell Health’s staff reached 100 percent vaccination, due in part to the state’s vaccine mandate for health care workers.

“In 2021, we have made great strides in protecting our communities and country against coronavirus and its variants by making available COVID-19 vaccines to adults and children ages 5 and up, as well as booster shots,” said Dowling. “However, with approximately 200 million Americans vaccinated – about 61 percent of the population – the nation recently hit a grim milestone of 800,000 Americans who have died of the virus. The health system and our cities and towns across the country must step up efforts to continue education, testing, treatment and outreach to encourage as many vaccine-hesitant people to further stem the spread of coronavirus cases.”

In 2020, Dowling authored, “Leading Through a Pandemic: The Inside Story of Humanity, Innovation, and Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Crisis, a book that continues to offer guidance to health care leaders on how to avoid the spread of future viral illness. His vision and crisis management expertise helped manage the first coronavirus surge in New York City, establish one of the nation’s most state-of-the-art testing centers at Northwell Health Labs, innovate new ways to alleviate supply shortages and utilize the entire integrated health system to improve patient care.

During his tenure as CEO, Dowling has developed Northwell Health into New York State’s largest health system with 22 hospitals, approximately 830 ambulatory and physician practices, and $15 billion in annual revenue. His ability to grow the health system into a vast clinical, academic and research enterprise builds on a legacy of innovation dating back to his 12 years of public service overseeing health, education and human services for former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo. To see the complete list of Modern Healthcare’s “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare,” go to: http://ModernHealthcare.com/100MostInfluential.

Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year.

Helen Kang

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

O 516.627.2800 | M 516.647.7850 helen.kang@elliman.com

elliman.com © 2021 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. HUNTINGTON STATION, NY 11746. 631.549.7401.

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GUIDE TO DINING

a blank slate a blank mediaslate / litmor media publications special section special • december section • 24, december 2021 22, 2017

24 NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

A

Ring in the New Year with festive party ideas

lthough New Year's Eve parties tend to be similar from year to year, hosts can explore the many ways to make their celebrations stand out from those of years past. This handy guide provides ideas to your get creative juices flowing. · Establish a color palette. Many people equate New Year's Eve with the gold and silver hues of champagne.

However, you can use any festive color for your party. Use the same colors on everything from invitations to dinnerware to take-home favors.

· Encourage guest input. Guests understand the cost of hosting and the amount of planning necessary to throw a festive party, and many will likely reach out to ask what they can do or bring. Figure out in advance which aspects of the party you want your guests to take care of so you have a ready answer when the inquiries start rolling in.

· Keep musical tastes in mind. A fun party usually includes an array of familiar songs and music that appeals to the masses. When compiling a party playlist, choose songs guests are sure to know and love. Mix these in with a few of your favorites. You can even ask guests to provide the names of three favorite songs when they RSVP. · Dim the lights. Bright lights can make guests feel intimidated and awkward. Set the mood by turning off overhead lights, opting for ambient lighting instead. For a fun effect, string holiday lights around the room or use a portable disco ball to spread sparkling colors on the floor and ceiling. Candles are another option for intimate affairs, but should be avoided as a safety measure if you're having a large crowd. · Set out New Year's fill-in-the-blank cards. Encourage guest participation with an entertaining idea. Print out small cards that guests have to

complete. Phrases like, "The bad habit I want to quit is ___" or "____ was the silliest thing I did last year," can be fun to do and share. Guests can take turns guessing whose card is being read.

martinis or vanilla cake-flavored vodka mixers, may be the right flavor for your affair. As the host, you should remember to provide non-alcoholic alternatives as well.

· Create a specialty drink. In addition to toasting champagne or sparkling wine, serve a specialty drink creation. This can be a beverage that ties into your color scheme or the theme of the party.

Dessert drinks, such as chocolate

New Year's Eve parties are a great way to reflect on the last year and look forward to a new one, and hosts can take steps to make their parties memorable for all the right reasons.

· Have the party catered. Unless you want to spend the evening in and out of the kitchen, invest in catering.

Guests of a late party won't expect a three course meal. However, platters of sandwiches, appetizers and other little munchies will fit the bill. Remember, caterers may book up fast this time of year, so be sure to reserve service well in advance of your party.

· Consider more substantial food after midnight. Encourage guests to eat more and drink less once the clock has struck midnight. Casseroles and other baked dishes are easy to make in advance and have on hand. A breakfast buffet of pancakes, toast and omelets also will fill guests up with something more substantial than chips and dips.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021 • NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE

Go gourmet for your New Year's Soirée

N

ew Year's celebrations wouldn't be the same without food and, of course, drinks. But while you may already have the champagne on ice for when the clock strikes 12, you may not already have plans in place with regard to feeding your guests as you ring in a new year.

If you really want to send the year out in flavorful style, consider the following recipe for "Cocktail Dates" from Bob Blumer's "Surreal Gourmet Bites: Showstoppers and Conversation Starters" (Chronicle Books).

Cocktail Dates Yields 12 bites 12 large dried Medjool dates 1 4-ounce chunk Parmigiano Reggiano cheese 6 slices bacon, cut in half widthwise Preheat oven to 350 F. Insert a bamboo skewer or a similar facsimile in the bottom of the date until the pointy tip rests on the bottom of the pit. Push the pit out of the stem side.

Reserve dates.

Using your sharpest knife, cut Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into 1/4-inch slices. Cut those slices into 1/4-x-1-inch pieces (the resulting 1-inch pieces should be approximately the same diameter as a pencil). Cut the tip of each piece at a 45-degree angle.

Leading with the pointy end, stuff a stick of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into the pit hole of each date.

Wrap each date with a slice of bacon.

Set dates on a baking sheet, seam-sides down, and skewer each with a toothpick to hold bacon in place.

Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until bacon is crispy. Caution: These cocktail dates are like molten lava when they come out of the oven. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Note: Mejdool dates or any other dried date can usually be found in Mediterranean stores or specialty food stores.

Note: Dates can be stuffed and wrapped up to 24 hours in advance

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26 NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

What are the differences between sparkling wines?

A

s midnight approaches on New Year’s Eve, revelers anxiously anticipate toasting the arrival of a new year with a glass of something bubbly. Once the cork is popped and the drinks are poured, the party can truly begin. Although revelers may assume any fizzy beverage they are served is champagne, by the true definition of the word, they actually may be drinking something else — one of many varieties of sparkling wine.

fermentation in bottles and creates an earthy, yeasty flavor.

Sparkling wines

Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wines are champagne.

Other notable types of sparkling wine include Italian Prosecco and Spanish Cava. Sparking wine is produced in regions of France as well as in the United States and Canada. But sparkling wine can be made just about anywhere grapes are grown.

Sparkling wines are often doublefermented in steel containers instead of bottles.

True champagne

Authentic champagne is named after Champagne, France, the region where the grapes used to make it are grown, fermented and bottled.

According to European law, the only labels that are allowed to include the name “Champagne” must be bottled within 100 miles of this region, which is close to Paris.

The taste of champagne is unique thanks to the soil in which the grapes are grown. It is a mineral-rich soil and imparts that flavor into the beverage.

Champagne is made from a unique base of grapes that include Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes. Experts with Wine Country also say that roughly 90 percent of all blended champagnes use a ratio of

People are drawn to other sparkling wines besides champagne for various reasons. For some, cost is a heavy consideration, as authentic champagne can be considerably more expensive than sparkling wine.

In addition, some people find less expensive champagnes are not as palate-pleasing as sparkling wines.

2⁄3 red and 1⁄3 Chardonnay mixes.

Another component that sets champagne apart is the process by which it is made. It is strictly controlled by the Appellation d’Origine Controlée. This certification dictates how a producer may grow

the grapes and how the grapes can be harvested and processed.

Champagne is produced by méthode champenoise, a process that is said to have been invented by a monk named Dom Perignon.

This procedure involves double

Few things are more universally associated with celebrations than a bottle of bubbly. Subtle differences set sparkling wines apart from champagne, but personal preference is oftentimes the deciding factor when choosing which beverage to choose for a special occasion.

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28 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

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COMMUNITY & SCHOOL NEWS

The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

29

M-Lakeville hosts water commish assoc.

For over a century, fire districts and water districts have worked synergistically in providing essential services to Long Islanders. If water pressure and flow is not maintained to the highest level at all times, it would compromise firefighters’ ability to hook up to fire hydrants and fight fires.

Realizing communications between member water districts of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association and local fire districts is imperative, NSWCA recently held a meeting with the Nassau County Fire Commission to demonstrate their dedicated commitment to the Long Island community.

Hosted by Manhasset Lakeville Water District, the NSWCA’s meeting presentation was led by Francis X. DeBobes, Nassau County Fire Commission chairman.

A 30-plus year decorated veteran, DeBobes discussed maximizing efficiencies between fire districts and water districts and commended the 21 member districts from Nassau and Suffolk Counties for providing the more than adequate amount of water pressure and flow needed from hydrants, especially during times when water district well sites are being retrofit to treat water from emerging compounds. He also expressed the importance of having residents comply with backflow testing each year to avoid an undesirable flow of water back into a home or business.

Discussions during the presentation included Commissioner-Elected Water Districts and the Nassau County Fire Commission to collectively pursue federal grants that will provide proper funding to replace dated fire equipment and hydrants.

“Many residents may not know that water suppliers are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of our fire hydrants within our neighborhoods and communities,” stated NSWCA President Amanda R. Field and

PHOTO CREDIT/PHOTO PERMISSION: COURTESY OF PROGRESSIVE MARKETING GROUP, INC.

Pictured at a recent Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association and Nassau County Fire Commission presentation meeting that focused on maximizing efficiencies between water suppliers and fire districts with the importance of both of these essential providers working closely together to protect local consumers are (from left to right): John Madden, Supervising Fire Marshal, Office of the Fire Marshal Nassau County; Andrew Schmitt, Jr., Division Supervisor, Office of the Fire Marshal Nassau County; Francis X. DeBobes, Chairman, Nassau County Fire Commission; Amanda R. Field, NSWCA Board President and Plainview Water District Commissioner; and John F. Coumatos, NSWCA 1st Vice President and Bethpage Water District Commissioner.

NHP-GCP hosts annual Turkey Trot Manor Oaks School participated in its 10th annual Turkey Trot and food drive, hosted by physical education teacher Lisa Santos, on Nov. 17.

Students participated in the Turkey Trot as a race or fun run, and they were encouraged to dress in Thanksgiving-themed costumes. Winners of the race and the costume contest were awarded an extra gym class.

A food drive was held in conjunction with the trot. Due to the donations of students and staff, 21 local families in need received food for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Plainview Water District commissioner. “Our member Districts test to ensure each hydrant holds line pressure without leaks. We flush each hydrant regularly and we perform additional maintenance as recommended by the

hydrant manufacturer. Our heroic firefighters can rely on us each time they connect to a hydrant and water flow will never be an issue.”

“A lot of education is being provided by water suppliers about their responsibilities to consumers, and it’s something worth noting,” said DeBobes. “Fire districts and water districts work hand in hand with one another and, in many ways, we rely on one another.

Another fact worth noting is response time from local water districts and local fire districts to an emergency situation can be within minutes…something we take to heart each and every day.”

For more information about this topic or other related NSWCA matters, please contact Mr. Gary Cucchi with Progressive Marketing Group, Inc. at his office, (631) 756-7160, via cell, (516) 721-3709, or by email, gcucchi@ pmgstrategic.com Organized and chartered in 1981, the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) is comprised of water commissioners from 21 Nassau County and Suffolk County water districts. The NSWCA is dedicated to promoting environmental excellence and best practices as well as to maintaining the highest standards of water quality and supply.

The Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association, which serves over 620,000 people in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, sponsors regular educational meetings on topics that include the environment, security, economics, rules and regulations, among other related issues. For more information please visit, https://www.nswcawater.org/.

NHP Memorial student performs at Carnegie Hall New Hyde Park Memorial High School junior Leilani Lee performed solo piano during the American Protégé Winter Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall on Dec. 12.

Lee submitted a video of her solo performance to the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition, which earned her the opportunity to perform at the gala

concert. She currently attends the Manhattan School of Music’s pre-college program where she studies under concert pianist Ubaldo Diaz-Acosta. Lee has participated in a variety of recitals at different venues, including local churches, schools and Flushing Town Hall. She also traveled to Spain in 2018 to participate in the Burgos International Music Festival.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE NEW HYDE PARKGARDEN CITY PARK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Manor Oaks School kindergarten Turkey Trot winners.

Blank Slate Media welcomes your submissions.

Please e-mail them to news@theislandnow.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SEWANHAKA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

New Hyde Park Memorial High School junior Leilani Lee performed solo piano during the American Protégé Winter Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall on Dec. 12.

30 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Temple learns about Crown Heights Friendly Fridge Temple Beth Sholom Sisterhood members learned recently about the national movement to reduce food insecurity by establishing and stocking community refrigerators that are accessible to residents who struggle to feed their families.

At a recent Sisterhood program held during Chanukah at TBS in Roslyn Heights, Dr. Joie Jager-Hyman spoke about the Crown Heights Friendly Fridge that she co-founded with her Brooklyn neighbors who work together as volun-

teers to keep the refrigerator stocked. Sisterhood members donated enough fresh food that night to fill 10 crates for the Crown Heights fridge as well as funds that will go towards an upcoming food drive that will give away 150 meals.

Donating food for the Crown Heights Friendly Fridge are Temple Beth Sholom Sisterhood Program VPs (L to R) Nadine Kesten and Cindy Feldman, with Dr. Joie Jager-Hyman, a founder of this Brooklyn community fridge, Sisterhood Co-President Sheri Warshavsky, Rabbi Cara Weinstein Rosenthal, and Social Action Chairs Wende Jager-Hyman and Phyllis Pellman. About 30 women donated food for the Crown Heights fridge at this December 2, 2021, event.

The Crown Heights Friendly Fridge, which is hooked up to electric power at a neighborhood bodega, is a sheltered fridge that remains outdoors year-round, says Joie. That way it’s accessible to area residents, who can pick and choose from its contents to supplement their meager food supply.

The fridge is run on the honor system: Recipients do not have to qualify financially as they do at food pantries but can take food out of the fridge and bring it home, no questions asked.

In the 14 months since setting up the fridge, Joie says this informal program has been working well and patrons have not abused the privilege. She says she was motivated to set up the fridge because of growing food insecurity in the area last year as the pandemic showed no signs of abating.

“Nearly 1.5 million New Yorkers, including one in four children, have experienced food insecurity,” Joie said. She and her neighbors living in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, learned through operating the community fridge, that there are people living just a few blocks away who struggle to feed themselves and their families.

Northwell Health staff packs over 2K gifts

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHWELL HEALTH

Northwell Health employees gathered together to pack over 2,000 gifts for kids in local communities.

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Northwell Health staff on Dec. 14 came together for a marathon of wrapping and packing gifts for local school children this holiday season.

The over 2,000 gifts will be sent out to families in need in communities Brentwood, Bay Shore, Freeport, Hempstead as well as parts of Manhattan, Westchester and Staten Island.

Employee donations, which totaled over $40,000, contributed towards art supplies and other gifts for five different age categories. Along with each present, a handwritten note from the employee who wrapped it themself is left inside. The state’s largest “I am so proud of each Northwell employee and all of our community partners

who made this joyful event possible,” said Edward Fraser, vice president of community relations, on Tuesday according to a statement. “Today, literally hundreds of our team members joined together to wrap thousands of gifts for children in the communities we serve. It is our belief that no child should be denied the gift of joy at the holidays.”

Employees managed the day over twohour shifts alongside help from Supplies for Success, Northwell’s nonprofit project partner.

According to a press release, Mindy Richenstein, founder and president of Supplies for Success, said the day’s motto was, “All children deserve the gift of joy at the holidays!”

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32 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

Business&RealEstate

Homeowners face an uncertain future

I

t’s obvious to everyone that prices for consumer goods, food, gas (up $1.20 since 2020) and heating fuel, among almost everything else, have increased substantially.

Wood products and components for constructing homes have risen sharply, adding $36,000 to the price tag of an average home. Supposedly, supply chain issues have been the cause due to the lack of labor, truck drivers, even the glue for plywood and the tiny pine beetle that had caused the demise of 15 years of log supplies in British Columbia, Canada, which was enough wood to build 9 million homes. They are continuing to chew their way through hardwood forests in Alberta, Canada. and the Pacific Northwest.

It also takes about two years to build a mill to cut the wood and many were built in 2018-2019 in the South which are just coming online. But I am curious as to how many companies in various sectors of our economy might have been jumping on the bandwagon and began gouging by raising prices arbitrarily? I have seen it just with Covid testing kits in some local pharmacies. Have you?

Managed IT

With population growth down over the last 10 years but current demand being abnormally and historically high mainly due to the pandemic, prices of homes have continued to escalate and may continue to rise for maybe another one to two years. If the current issues with variants continue, this just might keep the market going.

However, as interest rates slowly increase, this will eventually cool off demand and eliminate those who just won’t be able to afford to buy, causing them to rent or stay put where they are. This, in turn, will cause reduced demand and pull back in construction.

Inflation makes the cost of everything increase, so the value of your dollar today will be reduced by at least 15 percent in 2022, which is why holding any excessive amounts of currency and not having it invested in an asset, such as some rental real estate, commodities, emerging markets abroad, gold, silver or even some crypto currencies to hedge against what will eventually happen to your purchasing power until the ravaging effects of inflation subside, is not wise.

It’s possible that hyper inflation could raise its ugly head

VoIP Phones

Cyber Security

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

as the Fed is running out of band- aid fixes or are we in a stagflation situation? This will continue to have a domino effect on the price of wood and the necessary materials to construct homes. There will be a correlation between interest rates, demand, inventory and whether or not home prices will stabilize or possibly decrease. There are way too many variables in the mix to know for sure what the end results will be. My prediction is by 2023, the market will have changed either moderately or more aggressively.

Today, to anyone with a variable rate mortgage or a reverse mortgage who worries

Cyber Compliance

about interest rates, I would suggest they refinance to a fixed rate asap. However, as forbearance extensions end, you should call your lender or loan servicer and explain your situation and if necessary, ask for another extension, unless you had gotten one right after the CARES Act, which will not allow you to apply for another one. Or you can work something out so you can avoid going into foreclosure.

You also want to try to keep your credit in good standing, so don’t avoid communicating with your bank as this will be to your advantage in staying in your home. Unfortunately, there will always be those who avoid calling, so then the Lis Pens (notice of pending action) process begins, leading to foreclosure. More important is if you are having or will be having issues paying your mortgage and cannot work things out with your lender, then here is a suggestion. If you currently have excellent equity, this is the most opportune moment in time to consider cashing in while prices and demand are historically high and interest rates are still very low. The next two years may be great for

some. But for so many more it will be very difficult.

The United States is at a tipping point in its future financial stability and our position as a global empire because we have kicked the can and our financial reckoning down the road for over half a century.

With that, I would like to wish all my readers a happy, enjoyable and healthy holiday season and a healthier, happier and lucrative 2022.

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). For a “FREE” 15 minute consultation, a 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 Just email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your ideas or suggestions on future columns with your name, email and cell number and he will call or email you back.

CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK AT FACEBOOK.COM/ THEISLANDNOW AND TWITTER: @THE ISLANDNOW

The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

HC

33

Recent Real Estate Sales in

New Hyde Park

41 Park Circle, New Hyde Park

35 Jeffrey Place, New Hyde Park

4 bd, 2 ba, Sold On: 11/10/21, Sold Price: $595,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: New Hyde Park-Garden City Park

3 bd, 3 ba, Sold On: 11/10/21, Sold Price: $1,125,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Herricks

976 N 5th Street, New Hyde Park

27 7th Street, New Hyde Park

4 bd, 2 ba, Sold On: 11/12/21, Sold Price: $700,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: New Hyde Park-Garden City Park

4 bd, 2 ba, Sold On: 11/16/21, Sold Price: $685,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: New Hyde Park-Garden City Park

Editor’s note: Homes shown here were recently sold in New Hyde Park, by a variety of real estate agencies. This information about the home and the photos were obtained through the Zillow.com. The homes are presented solely based on the fact that they were recently sold in New Hyde Park and are believed by Blank Slate Media to be of interest to our readers.

Douglas Elliman is proud to welcome Rebecca Romero to our New Hyde Park Office.

Welcome to Douglas Elliman Rebecca Romero

Rebecca Romero

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson O 516.746.0440 | M 516.359.0188 rebecca.romero@elliman.com New Hyde Park Office | 1700 Lakeville Road

elliman.com © 2021 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

110 WALT WHITMAN ROAD, HUNTINGTON STATION, NY 11746. 631.549.7401.

34 The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

HC

G.N. Library appoints Lurman to board Continued from Page 10 that the board should interview each of the people whose names were presented.

Yan said the board told the committee that if nothing else was submitted before the 60-day deadline after Sassouni’s resignation, outlined in the library bylaws, the board would conduct continue the search on its own.

Yan said the board opened its own interview process on Nov. 29, which lasted until Dec. 3. On Dec. 2, he said, the board received another name from the committee, a person that also applied for the position through the board’s process.

Yan said five members of the board were present when 14 interviews with “qualified candidates very objectively” occurred on Dec. 13, 15 and 17. Ultimately, he said, board members were pleased with their nomination of Lurman to fill the vacancy on the board for the remainder of Sassouni’s term for the next year, which would expire at the library’s annual meeting in January 2023.

“We interviewed very diverse candidates and we are very happy to nominate someone who we think will represent the community and be a great asset to the board,” Yan said.

Marietta DiCamillo, the chair of the Nominating Committee, said the board submitted the names of two candidates “well before” the 60-day deadline with one remaining in consideration and another one withdrawing after winning an October election. DiCamillo said the committee then provided a replacement name for the candidate that withdrew.

DiCamillo said the committee was then advised by the board that either “both or one” of the names submitted were “completely unacceptable” and asked the board to clarify the criteria used to make that determination and when the candidates were interviewed.

The board, according to DiCamillo, never answered those questions and did not respond to her requesting a legal opinion through the board’s attorney, which was also reportedly not given.

The committee, DiCamillo said, submitted a fourth name to the board. DiCamillo said the committee has abided by the library bylaws throughout the process.

“The board is deciding to do what they will against the public’s will, but the committee has adhered to the bylaws which have been in existence since as long as I can recall,” she said.

IT FEELS LIKE EVERYONE’S

COMING FROM A PLACE OF DISTRUST TO REPORT AND IT MAKES ME REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE EVERYONE WHO SERVES ON THE BOARD IS DOING IT OUT OF THEIR PASSION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE AND THEY’RE HERE BECAUSE THEY GOT YOUR VOTES.

Kathy Gold TRUSTEE

Last week, the board received a letter from Brian Stolar of the Meyer Suozzi law firm on behalf of library association members advising the board to cease efforts to fill the vacancy.

Stolar, in the letter, claimed the board was not adhering to library bylaws in filling the seat.

“Rather than abide by the Bylaws, the Board has demonstrated through its interview process involving members not on the Nominating Committee’s list, that it plans to violate its Bylaws and select a person of the Board’s own choosing.” Stolar said.

Efforts to reach Stolar or the board’s legal representation, Bee Ready Fishbein Hatter & Donovan LLP, for further comment were unavailing.

Trustee Barry Smith attempted to make a motion to table Lurman’s appointment, but no other board member seconded it. Smith cited the importance of the Nominating Committee to the library and said the board’s attempt to bypass the bylaws comes with great risk.

“The Nominating Committee is an integral part of the organization for vetting and working together with the board to fill board vacancies,” Smith said. “I think circumventing that process risks this asso-

ciation not fulfilling its fiduciary obligation and also goes against the populace vote.”

Yan said the board is not attempting to bypass the committee and is not violating the bylaws by appointing Lurman to the board.

“We are certainly not trying to circumvent the Nominee Committee or what’s in the bylaws,” he said. “We simply asked the Nominating Committee to consider the reputation of the library and they failed to do that.”

Members of the public began to express their displeasure with the board, claiming its actions were going against the bylaws and trying to go against the Nominating Committee. A proposed measure to eliminate the committee fell short during the October election.

“Optically, this looks like you guys are just trying to bypass the vote,” one person said. “We specifically voted to keep the Nominating Committee there and you’re just going right over our vote.”

“Listen to what we’re telling you, you’re doing something wrong and acting in bad faith while you’re doing it is not right,” another said.

After pleas from residents to postpone the appointment until a future meeting, the board approved the appointment, 5-1, with Smith being the only member in opposition. Members of the public became more verbose and began to sharply criticize board members, claiming they did not act in the public’s best interest.

“We will be sure to remember this next time there is an election,” one person said. “We’re going to take legal action against this. This is a clear violation of your own bylaws.”

“You guys are like a monarchy or queen trying to pass this without considering people’s request,” Joseph Esrali said.

“We need this process of filling this vacancy to be done properly and with full disclosure and transparency,” someone else said. “This was very inappropriate. Your lawyers told you not to do it and you still went ahead with it.”

The public and board members began to engage in heated discourse, with constant interruptions when attempts were made to ask questions and give answers. Members of the public claimed

Yan was “talking in circles” and dancing around questions presented to him.

In the Zoom chat, members of the public began to argue with each other on myriad issues ranging from alleged racist comments to politics. Continued threats of voting out board members were also made toward the end of the meeting.

Trustee Kathy Gold said the public accusations against the board made her feel uncomfortable and reiterated that each trustee is taking time to help better the community.

“It feels like everyone’s coming from a place of distrust to report and it makes me really uncomfortable because everyone who serves on the board is doing it out of their passion for community service and they’re here because they got your votes,” she said.

One resident said the mistrust stems from the impression that Hu, not Yan, is “running the entire board.”

Yan ended up removing one member of the public for not “respecting” the public meeting guidelines, which stirred another frenzy throughout the public. Others present attempted to ask Yan a question on behalf of the removed person, but constant interruptions and heated exchanges prevented that from occurring.

Smith made a motion to adjourn the meeting after two hours of discourse, saying that this matter is far from finished and will be revisited.

“Listen everyone, I am on your side and respect all your comments, but at some point we have to adjourn the meeting,” Smith said. “Believe me, this is not done. Believe me.”

Despite the heated exchanges during the meeting, Hu said in a phone interview, she was pleased to see people present and have a desire to be informed of what is happening at the library.

“I still want people to show up and participate in the meetings and I think, at the end of the day, we want the library to thrive and we also want to show the rest of the world we respect each other,” Hu said. “This is a community where people want to move to. I am confident in this new trustee we have appointed and I am extremely happy she will be joining us.”

The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

HC

35

Town opts out of retail cannabis sales Continued from Page 2 said, included an influx of new jobs and revenue for the town. The biggest con to opting in, she said, would be the lack of specific rules and regulations from the state in terms of how this would impact the town on a broader scale.

“The issue, as I see it, is whether there is space for fair, safe and profitable legal cannabis marketplace in the unin-

corporated areas throughout the Town of North Hempstead,” Lurvey said. “I will be voting to opt out. However, I call upon the Town Board to reconsider this issue when the state-level rules and regulations have been released.”

Councilwoman Viviana Russell touted the importance of the town being cautious and waiting for further state regulations and guidance as a reason to opt out, agreeing with

Lurvey that the decision would allow the board to opt in at a later date if it wishes.

“It is already legal to have cannabis in the state of New York, but with regards to whether we opt in or out, there’s just not enough information for us to make an informed decision to opt in,” Russell said.

Villages on the North Shore that have opted out include Mineola, Great

Neck, New Hyde Park, Russell Gardens, Floral Park, Flower Hill, Sands Point, Williston Park and Great Neck Estates.

Last week, the Town of Hempstead Board also unanimously voted to opt out of the legislation. Other towns on Long Island that have opted out of the law include East Hampton, Oyster Bay, Islip, Shelter Island and Smithtown.

Babylon and Southampton are the two towns that have opted into the law.

Behavior concerns Curricula talks ongoing in G.N. at Memorial Park Continued from Page 7 “We also discussed the need to reduce the tension within the district, to provide constructive community building, a need for parents to learn accurate information and for parents to feel heard,” Pourmoradi said.

“We are encouraged that the school district has shown initial interest in working on community forums and look forward to bringing these to light,” Sun said.

Prendergast reiterated her support and

faith in the district’s administration and educators to provide students with quality education and keep its reputation intact.

“I have the utmost respect and confidence in our teachers and administrators to help students negotiate these challenging issues,” Prendergast said. “The Great Neck Public Schools employs an incredibly talented and hardworking professional team of educators who make significant contributions to our school community.”

Hofstra mandates booster

Continued from Page 1 ity. He said they responded in a very disrespectful manner.

Devane added that he did not know whether the people involved were village residents but described them as 16 to 20 years old. He said he has seen them drive cars around the park in a dangerous manner and behave in a way that is “not conducive to a family atmosphere.”

Accordingly, the mayor declared that starting in the new year, residency requirements will be enforced at all park facilities. IDs will be checked when people enter village-owned parks.

The village code states, “All parks, fields and playgrounds

Continued from Page 4 mandates,” Blakeman said in a statement last week.

Hochul said the mandates will be revisited on Jan. 15. As of Wednesday, more than 76 percent of all Nassau County residents had been fully vaccinated.

Statistics from the state Department of Health showed that PHOTO BY JOHN NUGENT seven ZIP codes on the North Shore were fully vaccinated. Alowned by the Village are for the bertson’s 11507 ZIP code, New exclusive use of Village residents Hyde Park’s 11040 ZIP code, Great Neck’s 11021 ZIP code, and their guests.”

“I want the village residents Port Washington’s 11050 ZIP to be proud of our park system,” code, Roslyn’s 11576 ZIP code, Devane said. He added that he Great Neck’s 11020 ZIP code “wants mothers and fathers to know that they send their kids to a safe, clean facility.”

The board also reported that work continues on improvements to Memorial Park. Upgrades to the fields, fencing and installation of a new bocce court are underway.

Also, plans are being made for a St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Pending coordination with the Police and Fire departments, Saturday, March 12, is the proposed date, the mayor said.

www.facebook.com/TheIslandNow

Roslyn Heights’ 11577 all had 100 percent inoculation rates.

The 11042 ZIP code of New Hyde Park continued to have the lowest rate at 25.1 percent of people vaccinated, according to statistics. That area, however, consists primarily of businesses south of Northern State Parkway and along Marcus Avenue.

The next lowest vaccination rate on the North Shore is the 83.7 percent in the 11024 ZIP code of the Great Neck peninsula, which includes the Village of Kings Point. The next lowest one is also in Great Neck, with the 11023 ZIP code at an 89.8

percent rate, according to the figures. This area incorporates parts of the villages of Great Neck and Saddle Rock, along with Great Neck Gardens and Harbor Hills.

The statistics also show vaccination rates of 99.3 percent in Williston Park, 97.9 percent in Mineola, 96.7 percent in Manhasset and 92 percent in Floral Park.

In total, the 14 North Shore ZIP codes average a 91.8 percent vaccination rate. Without the 25.1 percent figure in the 11042 ZIP code, the average for the remaining 13 ZIP codes increases to 96.9 percent.

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36 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

READERS WRITE

Adolf Hitler, Donald Trump and Trump suckers

W

orld War II ended when Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies inMay 1945. That year was concurrent with the early days of television. By 1951, they were in 12 million homes and by 1955, half of all U.S. homes had one. Growing up, since television was so new, my generation was fascinated by television and watched for many hours.

During the 1950s and early 1960s, we watched so many war movies on television and saw the horrors committed by the Nazi regime. In fighting the Nazis, over 400,000 Americans were killed and almost 700,000 were wounded. In total, 15 million to 30 million people were murdered by the Nazis, a death toll that included the state-sponsored persecution of 6 million Jews known as the Holocaust.

What about the next generation, our children, ages 45 to 53? For them, World War II ended approximately 25 years before they were born. That’s like my generation relating to World War I. We didn’t. And then there’s our grandchildren’s generation, ages 21-30. For them, World War II took place over 75 years ago. Do you think the subject is covered thoroughly in schools? Therefore, if those two subsequent generations know so little about

World War II, how can we expect them to really know who Adolf Hitler was and the atrocities he and his Nazis committed?

Nazism was a totalitarian movement, led by Adolf Hitler, of intense nationalism, mass appeal and dictatorial rule as well as anti-intellectualism, emphasizing the will of the charismatic dictator as the sole source of inspiration of people and a nation. The one and only goal of Nazi policy was the annihilation of all enemies of the Aryan nation. It also emphasized the inequality of humans and races and the right of the strong to rule the weak and purge or suppress competing political, religious and social institutions.

Adolf Hitler had a deep understanding of mass psychology and mass propaganda and stressed the fact that all propaganda must hold its intellectual level at the capacity of the least intelligent of those at whom it is directed and that its truthfulness is much less important than its success.

In the most basic terms, if you tell a lie often enough and keep repeating it, people will come to believe it, especially if the people are not smart enough to realize that lies are repeated to them. The law of propaganda states: “Repeat a lie often enough and

it becomes the truth.” This is known as the “BIG LIE” and it originally appeared in “Mein Kampf,” Hitler’s manifesto.

Sound similar to Trump’s manifesto? Trump rejects “rationalism, liberalism, democracy, the rule of law, human rights and all movements of international cooperation and peace.”

He stressed the subordination of the individual to the state and the necessity of blind and unswerving obedience to leaders. He also emphasized the inequality of humans and races and the right of the strong to rule the weak and purge or suppress competing political, religious and social institutions.

Hitler took pride in being a master salesman and showman. We know that Trump takes pride in having the same abilities. He is also a great storyteller, specializing in lies. Again, tell a lie often enough and keep repeating it and people will come to believe it, especially if the people are not smart enough to realize that lies are repeated to them.

Hitler had power. Anyone who disagreed with him or his policies usually ended up imprisoned or dead. Protecting Hitler was the SS, headed by Heinrich Himmler — one of the most feared organizations in all of Nazi

Germany with more than 250,000 members engaged in activities ranging from intelligence operations to running Nazi concentration camps.

Trump also has power. On Jan. 6, a mob of thousands of Trump supporters, some carrying Nazi flags, attacked the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.. Many innocent people were injured, including 138 police officers plus four who died. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell denounced President Trump and his supporters for instigating the insurrection. “The mob was fed lies,” McConnell said.

“They were provoked by the president and other powerful people.”

It’s not only subsequent generations who need to be informed. How about the millions of Trump supporters who don’t understand what Trump really thinks of them? He believes most are not smart or intelligent enough to recognize the lies he constantly tells them. When are they going to realize that he’s playing them as suckers? “TrumpSuckers!” What an appropriate name. Please TrumpSuckers. Get smart. Help save America and Democracy.

Alvin Goldberg Great Neck

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

37

PROFESSIONAL GUIDE ▼ COMPUTER / TECH SUPPORT ▼

ATTORNEY ▼

COLLEGE CONSULTING ▼

HUTT LAW, PC Didi Hutt, Esq.

Science

Technology

Engineering

STEM College Consulting, LLC

TDS COMPUTER SERVICES Your Technology Center

Windows PC and Mac’s

• Virus Removal / Data Recovery • Software and Hardware Repairs

Math

Tina DiMino, !"#$%"&'()*&+%",--&.&%",/01-(2/(% 33345678%",--&.&",/01-()/.##"49,:% 5678",--&.&",/01-()/.##";.:2)-49,: • 516-459-6816 We help high school students pursue their interests in science research, engineering, computer science, math, and more

HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT ▼

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Drop Off, On-Site & Remote

516.944.5193

No Fee Until You Win • Car Accidents • Construction Accidents • Slip/Trip and Fall Injuries • Medical Malpractice • School Injuries • Workers Compensation

933 Port Washington Blvd., Port Washington tdsce.com info@tdsce.com

LAW ▼

D’Angelo Law Associates, PC Stephanie A. D’Angelo, Esq.

Call (212) 323-7443

Serving All 5 Boroughs and Long Island 305 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10007 www.HuttLawPC.Com

!"#$%&'"('%)*+%),"-*%'".*/*0'% !"1&&)&+*/,'"2)+3"10)/0"*+"456' !"1&&)&+'7"8)9)/0":"#$%&)/0"456'";<*,'6'/+ !"=<7'%"-*%'"-5/&$<+)/0"*/7"-5$/&'<)/0 !".'7),*)7"1>><),*+)5/":"-5/&$<+)/0"?'%9),'& !"45$&)/0"@>+)5/&"A5%"10)/0

!"##"$ %&'()*+,-./0+0

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BCD"?+'2*%+"19'EF"?+'E"GHC"!"(*%7'/"-)+IF"#J"DDKHC" 222EL*6)<I-*%'-5//',+)5/&E,56

TUTOR ▼

TUTOR ▼

Port Tutoring

4-Hr. Midterm Review Crash Course Sunday, January 9th and Sunday, January 16th Geometry * Algebra 1 * Algebra 2 * Precalc * AB@BC Calc * Honors Bio * Earth Science • Living Environmental * Chemistry * Physics * AP Physics * US History * Global History * APUSH * AP World * APES *First come, fits served basis * 5 Student minimum Per Course * Tuition $200.00 * Dates and Time Subject to Change • To register, email info@porttutoring.com and we will send you the Registration Form and Class Times Inquire about Middle School Midterms and College Finals

953 Port Washington Blvd., Port Washington 516.767.1342

HIGH SCHOOL…COLLEGE SPANISH GRAMMAR/LITERATURE

William Cullen, M.A., NYS Permanent Certification 7-12

Call/Text 516-509-8174

TUTOR ▼

!"#$%&'$"#()*%%% "#$%&'(#!)*##&++%%%%%% "#$%&'(#!)*##&++

!!!! !!!% ! &+,&%!-+!%.,/&01,/&00%./2&%./!%.,,/&%.23,++%.0,++% % &4&5-067%/88%,49:+2&,%

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MNOPQOQPNRST! URR%!"#$%V>B?()*$")%9AWDP%!"#$%V>B?()*$")C%6X%NNYMY% ()Z"[H"#$$'$"#()*PG";%

MATH

• Wills & Trusts • Estate Administration • Estate Planning • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Probate • Real Estate Nassau (516) 222-1122

Queens (718) 776-7475

901 Stewart Ave., Ste 230 • Garden City, NY 11530 www.DangeloLawAssociates.com

TUTOR ▼

TUTOR ▼

SPANISH TUTOR Making a Difference…

Your Trusts & Estates Attorney

MATH • SAT • ACT

ALL MATH

Grade 4 - First Year College, ACT, SAT, AP, GRE, ALL Placement Tests

VERY EXPERIENCED, specializing in all Private and Public schools (Chaminade, Kellenberg, Sacred Heart, etc.) !"#$%"&#'()*#)+)$&,-.#/&$0#"12"&,"-3"4#(-4#(5(&465,--,-.# teachers at very reasonable rates. !"#$%"&#'#()$*("#$+#$,-.*,"#/0#1*,23"#“homework help”#$&# 44#1*,23"#“test prep help”5#',6#.*1*3"6#+'("#3$#+'("#71'898:;

Richard 516-567-1512 educationtimeincrgs@outlook.com

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS ▼

College Arts Admissions

College Counseling in the Visual and Performing Arts Dance • Musical Theatre & Drama • Film • Instrumental & Vocal Music • Audio Recording & Production • Theatre Technology & Production • Visual & Graphic Arts RESUME • ESSAYS • REPERTOIRE LISTS

Michele Zimmerman 516-353-6255 CollegeArtsAdmissions@gmail.com www.CollegeArtsAdmissions.com

TI-84 TI-89

★ Algebra ★ Core Curriculum NYS Licensed ★ Geometry Grades 7-12 ★ Algebra 2 + Trig ★ Pre-Calc ★ AP Calculus

NORM: 516-625-3314

ENGLISH • ACT • SAT eading ★ Critical R ONLINE ★ Writing Tutoring ★ Grammar ★ Essays Also

LYNNE: 516-625-3314

38 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

BUYER’S GUIDE ▼ ANTIQUES

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS

CARPENTRY

$$ Top Cash Paid $$

!"#!$%&'(%)$**+&$!#(,$-

!"##$#%&'()*+,&'-./#$*.% and&01234235

HIGH END ANTIQUES HIGH CASH PAiD Oil Paintings, Mid-Century Accessories 1950s/60s, Porcelain, Costume Jewelry, Sterling Silver, Gold, Furniture, Objects of Art, etc.

• 1 Pc.or entire estates • Premium prices paid for Tiffany, Damaged Quality Pieces Meissen Porcelain, Bronzes, Marble, etc. also

wanted

CALL JOSEPH OR RUTH

718-598-3045 or 516-270-2128

Crown Molding Window Molding Base Molding Picture Frame Molding

New Doors Old Plaster Removed New Drywall Installed Rotted Wood Replaced

516-884-4016 Lic# H0454870000

-./012314156&15&'2789::;&$/.219<&=&>/2?< @-8:A/9&>/2?&!B./97<@ @#3C;D156&$/.219<&=&%13/&$/.219<@ @E9:C7156&@&-8//79:0?@&#2157156&@&#32<7/9156 @F/A&GC<7:;&'2789::;<@

!"#$"%#&""#%'(#")#*+,-."/0#123456780#9:2;<3=27345>?

CARS WANTED

!"#$%&# '((#)'*+

!"#$%"&$''()"*(+, !"-$"*(%.)/"-$"*)$0'.1 !"2$3+45"$)"-$6"2$3+45 &$4(6."9$:)";()"<$)"("

=>?@@"

#(7",.,:;6+$4"(4,"<).."5+<6

COMPUTER REPAIR

• Screen Fix • Computer Repairs • Onsite Service • Tutoring • VHS to DVD

516.472.0500

AntiqueAssets.com

";@A8B#CDEFGHHFECIJ#K#98//B#CDEFLEHFEMMN

Buying and Selling over 40 Years / Member New England Appraisers Association

-5A#O#PHMIINEIIII

,-./0,1/2-1.

www.ComputerRepairForce.com 33 Great Neck Rd. Ste. #5 2nd Floor, Great Neck Open 7 Days • Patient & Friendly

CHIMNEY SPECIALISTS

DEMOLITION AND JUNK REMOVAL

CUSTOM FRAMING

HOME IMPROVEMENT

JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING Over 30 Years in Business We can frame anything!

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Family Business for over 40 years

COMPLETE JUNK REMOVAL/DEMOLITION

A',"$)"-.B"8()/C"#):;D/C"E(4/C"FGE/

#.76"$)"8(''

Quality Care & Workmanship Thousands of frames to choose from

516-775-9495 92 Covert Ave., Stewart Manor HOURS: Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 @jacks_custom_framing jackmccullough@me.com

Chimneykinginc.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

15-YEAR RESIDENTIAL WARRANTY POLYUREA NOT EPOXY đ 4X STRONGER THAN EPOXY đ NO HOT TIRE PICK-UP! đ WON’T CHIP OR PEEL đ EASY TO CLEAN đ INDOOR/OUTDOOR

ONE DAY FLOORS

Residential - Commercial Bonded Insured / Free Estimates

STRONG ARM CONTRACTING, INC.

516-538-1125 HOME IMPROVEMENT

iPaintFloors.com

Free Estimates / 516-581-9146

!"#$%&&'(#&)*+,"+-./&&01

Nass#HO444640000

• Suff#HI-61446 • Insured

28 YEAR GC RESIDENT Lic & Ins H18E2170000

Call BOB 516-741-2154

Elegant Touch Remodeling “Quality Construction with a Personal Touch” Deal direct with owner - Serving li over 25 years

• • • •

All Types of Home Improvements Free Estimates • Free design service extensions • Kitchens dormers • bathrooms decks • siding

631.281.7033 Licence #H18H2680000

JUNK REMOVAL ALL PHASES OF RUBBISH REMOVAL & DEMOLITION

HOME IMPROVEMENT

516.676.8469

• Kitchen Installations • Furniture Assembly • Finish Carpentry • Minor Electrical & Plumbing

HOME IMPROVEMENT

ISA

• New Construction & Conversions • Dormers • Extensions • Mason Work • Stone • Kitchens • Windows • Siding • Decks • Porticos • Baths • Basements • Carpentry Work

đ GARAGE FLOORS đ LAUNDRY ROOMS đ PATIOS đ WALKWAYS đ RECREATION ROOMS đ BASEMENTS đ SERVICE AREAS đ OFFICES đ SCHOOLS đ SHOWROOMS đ RESTROOMS đ PRODUCTION AREAS đ VETERINARY CLINICS

CONCRETE COATINGS

• We Remove Or Demo Anything & Everything • Entire contents of home and/or office • We clean it up and take it away

AMBIANCE

• Residential • Commercial Construction Sites

Kitchens • Bathrooms Clean-Ups • Attics Basements Flood/Fire

516-541-1557 www.1866WEJUNKIT.com

ALL SIZE DUMPSTERS Same Day Service, Fully Insured Bob Cat Service

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

39

BUYER’S GUIDE ▼ MASONRY

HOME IMPROVEMENT

LAMPS FIXED $ 65 In Home Service Handy Howard 646-996-7628

MOVING

FREE ESTIMATES LOU: 516 850-4886

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

DRIVEWAYS & PARKING LOTS RETAINING WALLS FOUNDATIONS DRYWELL WATER DRAINAGE WATER PROOFING

SIDEWALKS PATIOS / PAVERS BRICK / BLOCK BLUE STONE STEPS / STOOPS BELGIUM BLOCK CULTURED STONE

Contracting LLC

MASONRY • PAVING • CONCRETE

FULLY INSURED

LIC: #H2219010000

PAINTING, POWERWASHING

!"##$#%&'()*+,&-./$*/$0 and&'12-34526

• INTERIOR / EXTERIOR • B. Moore Paints • Power Washing • Dustless Sanding Vacuum System • Taping • Spackling • Plaster Removed • New Drywall

516-884-4016 Lic# H0454870000

ROOFING

N.Y.D.O.T.#10405

MOVING & STORAGE INC.

Long Island and New York State Specialists

• Residential • Commercial • Piano & Organ Experts • Boxes Available FREE ESTIMATES www.ajmoving.com

516-741-2657

114 Jericho Tpke.

Mineola, NY 11501

PAINTING

PAINTING & WALLPAPER est. 1978

Interior and Exterior • Plaster/Spackle Light Carpentry • Decorative Moldings Power Washing 516-385-3132 New Hyde Park

www.MpaintingCo.com

ROOFING

516-983-0860

• Slate Roof Repairs • Shingle Roof Repair • Copper Flashing Replacements • Caulking/Roof Maintenance • Silicone Coatings • Snow Guards/Roof Ventilation

631-496-9711

516-328-7499 Licensed & Insured

PLACE YOUR AD

ADVERTISE WITH US To advertise, call 516.307.1045 or fax 516.307.1046

Licensed & Insured Nassau Lic #H1859520000

ADVERTISE WITH US

PLACE YOUR AD WITH US! To place your ad, call 516.307.1045 or fax 516.307.1046

WINDOW TREATMENTS

PLACE YOUR AD WITH US

ADVERTISE WITH US TODAY! To place your ad, call 516.307.1045 or fax 516.307.1046 TREE SERVICE

OLD VILLAGE TREE SERVICE 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE Owner Operated Since 1989 Licensed & Insured

FREE ESTIMATES

Member L.I. Arborist Assoc.

*CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS TOP BRANDS AT DISCOUNT PRICES* WE BRING THE SHOWROOM TO YOU FREE CONSULTATION

516-466-9220 WINDOW REPAIRS

631-385-7975

WINDOW REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS

516-426-2890

Outdated Hardware • Skylights •Andersen Sashes • New Storm Windows • Wood Windows • Chain/Rope Repairs • Falling Windows • Fogged Panes • Mechanical Repairs • Wood Repairs

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

WWW.SKYCLEARWINDOW.COM Call Mr. Fagan • 32 Years Experience

WWW.MADEINTHESHADENSLI.COM

ALL BRANDS

Lic. # H080600000 Nassau

nassau

40 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

COMMUNITY CLASSIFIEDS To advertise here call:516.307.1045

▼ EMPLOYMENT To Place Your Ad Call Phone:

516.307.1045 x 218

Fax:

516.307.1046

e-mail:

DFlynn@theislandnow.com

In Person:

22 Planting Field Road Roslyn Heights, NY 11577

We’re Open:

Mon–Thurs: 9am-5:30pm Fri: 9am-6pm

Deadlines

Monday 2:00pm: Classified Advertising Tuesday 1:00pm: Legal Notices/ Name Changes Friday 5:00pm Buyers’s Guide Error Responsibility All ads placed by telephone are read back for verification of copy context.

In the event of an error of Blank Slate Media LLC we are not responsible for the first incorrect insertion. We assume no responsiblity for an error in and beyond the cost of the ad.

Cancellation Policy Ads must be cancelled the Monday before the first Thursday publication. All cancellations must be received in writing by fax at: 516.307.1046 Any verbal cancellations must be approved by a supervisor. There are no refunds on cancelled advertising. An advertising credit only will be issued.

• Great Neck News • Williston Times • New Hyde Park Herald Courier • Manhasset Times • Roslyn Times • Port Washington Times • Garden City News • Bethpage Newsgram • Jericho Syosset News Journal • Mid Island Times • Syosset Advance

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

NASSAU COUNTY NEEDS CERTIFIED HHA’S, COMPANIONS AND HOMEMAKERS. ★★★ HIRING IMMEDIATELY★★★ “A Special thank you to all the Nurse Aides and all who Save Lives.”

• Competitive Pay Rate • Flexible Scheduling • All Shifts & Locations available

We are seeking a tax clerk/processor/breakdown person for a full-time (40 hours + Overtime M-F 5 days) seasonal (February-April) position to join our tax team. You will perform clerical and administrative functions in order to drive company success.

You must be able to work overtime.

• Light phone duty.

• Previous experience in office admin • Ability to prioritize & multitask • Strong Attention to detail • Strong Organizational skills • Full-time Temporary (seasonal)

Salary: $17.00/hour Email: LJR@rosovichassociates.com Call 718-347-9631

Office Assistant / Clerical

Seeking Candidate with Experience with Health & Welfare Benefits & Medical Claims.

• Must be proficient in MS Word, Excel & Computer Skills • Must have good customer service skills • Will train • Mon-Fri. 8:30am-4:30pm • Competitive salary and medical, pension benefits • Williston Park location

516-877-9228 Ask for Peter Scalzo

CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANT Cherry Valley Club Garden City Is seeking a seasoned construction knowledgeable individual to act as Owners’ Representative for multiple building related projects at the club.

Candidate should be personable and adept at construction trade coordination and project management. Flexible Per-diem employment engagement expected. Send resumes to : carneyj2@verizon.net FRONT DESK ADMIN. Busy Real Estate Office Computer and Organizational Skills Required. Flexible 20 hrs/week IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY Resume/Call for Appointment 516-248-9494 LYNEER STAFFING SOLUTIONS Hiring Mail Sorters, Data Entry $15.00, Forklifts $17.50, Mystery Shoppers Ages 21-25 $20.00. 860 Long Island Ave., Deer Park NY 11729 631-586-4699 MONTICELLO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OPENINGS: Spanish Teacher (7-12) Music Teacher/Orchestra Director, Speech Language Pathologist.

NYS Certification Required. Please apply online by D ec 19th at: https://monticelloschools.tedk12. com/hire EOE

TAX PREPARER PART TIME Franklin Square Experience needed Retirees welcome. Call 516-358-9455 Fax resume 516-358-9483 Email: ed@loturco.com

SITUATION WANTED

Certified HHA

• Experienced • Excellent references.

718-850-3400

• Collating and processing completed tax returns.

• Filing, Copying and Faxing.

• Coordinating incoming & outgoing mailed in returns.

• Handling incoming & outgoing mail and faxes.

EMPLOYMENT

EDDIE’S RESTAURANT OF NEW HYDE PARK Full Italian Menu Hiring P/T Servers, Bartenders, Bus Persons and Hostess Days/Weekends a must.

Call 516-424-8080 Leave message. or walk-in, 2048 Hillside Avenue New Hyde Park

Office Assistant / Receptionist / Clerical Seeking candidate for general office duties.

• Must be proficient in MS Word, Excel & Computer Skills • Must have good customer service skills • Will train • Mon-Fri. 8:30am-4:30pm • Competitive salary and medical, pension benefits • Williston Park location

516-877-9228 Ask for Peter Scalzo

RECEPTIONIST needed for P/T eves & weekends. Will train. Also VET/TECH KENNEL ASST. Duties include helping doctors with appointments/treatments. Cleaning cages/offices/equipment. Must like animals, be reliable, dependable & work well with others. Pay negotiable for both positions. Please call to schedule interview. Port Washington Animal Hospital: 516-883-2005 SNOW SHOVELING NEEDED Snow shoveling for Garden City resident sidewalk needed. Call 516-747-4749

We will provide you the best caregivers in America.

Filipino men and women.

Kind, loving and caring at this very difficult time.

Call Gertrude

347–444–0960 A HOME HEALTH CARE AIDE Irish trained woman with 10 years experience and excellent checkable references available. Honest and reliable. Licensed driver with own transportation. Please call 516-383-7150

HHA/Caregiver Seeking full-time employment

I have years of experience with Dementia/Diabetes.

You name it, I've seen it all.

Very hardworking, reliable.

Caring & honest woman in need of job.

Have my own car.

Please call:

646-575-8217 CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AIDE FULL TIME 25 years experience, light housekeeping, shopping, activities, appointments etc. Valid driver’s license. Excellent references and fully vaccinated. Please call 516-236-1711

!"#$%&%"'())*( +,,-./0(1,2(3,45

*67.+74+8(1,2( "+982+:(;728<( =>,??./0< @.0>A(>,B=8-88?./05( )768(,C/(;725 !DE%'(=718 F+87=8(;7++(!>82:(7A

GHIJKLMJKLHG

!"#$%&'(#%)*%'+%,-%.

ELDER CARE Experienced woman seeks position to care for the elderly live in or live out. Certified HHA. Excellent references. Please call 516-800-6442 ELDER CARE: AIDE/COMPANION with 25 years experience available to care for sick or elderly. Days, nights, weekends. Own car. Excellent references. Fully Vaccinated.

Call 516-775-6171

CAREER TRAINING COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants.

Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get trained, certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

MARKETPLACE A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP 516-746-8900 Antiques-Furniture-Jewelry-SilverMirrors-Lamps-Artwork Come to Consign & Stay to Shop Visit.... Our Shop 109 Eleventh St. Garden City Mon-Fri 10-4 (Wed till 6) Saturday 12-4 Shop Our Online Store ATStewartExchange.org Items to Consign? Email photos (with sizing info) to: store@atstewartexchange.org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society Like us on Facebook & Instagram

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WANTED TO BUY

GET DIRECTV ! ONLY $69.99/ month. 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies on Demand (w/SELECT All Included Package). PLUS Stream on UP to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost.

Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

LOOKING TO BUY! Estates, Oriental items, Gold, Silver, Costume Jewelry, Dishes, Flatware, Watches, Clothing, Old Photos, Coins, Stamps, Records, Toys, Action Figures, Comics, Art and Furniture.

Immediate Cash Paid Call George 917-775-3048 or 718-386-1104

NOVENAS/PRAYERS PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (Never known to fail). Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine of Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin assist me in this necessity. Oh Star of the Sea help me and show herein you are my Mother. Oh Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth I beseech thee from the bottom of my heart to succor me this necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh show me herein you are my Mother.

Oh Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to Thee (three times). Oh Holy Mary I place this cause in your hands (three times). Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen. This prayer must be said for three days and after three days your request will be granted. The prayer must be published. Grateful thanks. (D.A.C.)

MARKETPLACE INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now! Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week! Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time! We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property!

Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales. com for more information or call 516279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information. Visit us at www.invitedsales.com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!

TOP CASH PAID: ESTATE CONTENTSALL OBJECTS OF ARTJEWELRY, ETC. Please call 718-598-3045 or 516-270-2128 www.antiqueassets.com

TAG SALE CATHEDRAL GARDENS INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN Tuesday, December 21, 2021 9:30 a.m. 86 St. Paul’s Place Cathedral Gardens, NY 11550 Tons of collectibles, furniture, clothing, kitchen items, TVs, household items and more....... Visit www.invitedsales.com for pictures & details!! Masks will be required due to the new mandate and for your safety.

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41

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

▼ EMPLOYMENT, SERVICES, HOME IMPROVEMENT

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APARTMENTS FOR RENT MINEOLA in 2 Family house on Roslyn Rd 1st Floor Apartment 2 BR, Washer & Dryer Finshed Basement Backyard, Parking $2850/month 2nd Floor Apartment: 2 Br, Parking $2250/month *** Close to Winthrop Hospital, LIRR, Restaurants Utilities are separately metered. NO FEES! Contact Michael: 516-510-9666

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HOME FOR SALE For Sale by owner. PRINCIPALS ONLY. Beautiful Cape in the Village of New Hyde Park 4 BR/3 BTH home with hardwood floors throughout, formal dining & living room. Updated kitchen w/ granite countertops and stainless appliances. Finished basement and garage. Large private backyard with recently paved driveway. Contact: Ginger 516-737-4905 or Cliff 516-860-7785.

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FAMILY RECOVERY SERVICES I am a long time resident of Garden City and understand the complexities of ADDICTION & MENTAL HEALTH. I am available to GUIDE families find the MOST COST EFFECTIVE & COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PLAN for a loved one. I will Bridge the Gap between a Family ravaged by Alcoholism, Drug Addiction and/or Mental Health AND Life Long Recovery.

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AQUATEC LAWN SPRINKLERS FALL DRAIN OUTS Backflow Device Tests Free Estimates Installation Service/Repairs Joe Barbato 516-775-1199 AMBIANCE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES *Handyman & Remodeling *Kitchen Installations *Furniture Assembly *Finish Carpentry *Minor Electrical & Plumbing 28 year GC Resident Lic & Ins H18E2170000 Call BOB 516-741-2154 THE GENERAC PWRcell a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today.

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42 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

▼ SERVICES, HOME IMPROVEMENT, TUTORING, HEALTH PAINTING & PAPERHANGING

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Merry Christmas? Bah, humbug!

Continued from Page 17 Fund. And by preventing hospitalizations, more people who suffered other health emergencies – heart attacks, car accidents, gun shots, cancer diagnosis – were also saved to celebrate the holidays.

Now, there is a new Omicron variant, even more transmissible and infectious than the Delta variant, spreading mostly by the 60 million who, mainly to “stick it to the libs” refuse to get vaccinated and even boo Trump for saying he got boosted.

I would think that getting vaccinated and wearing a mask in public to protect not just yourself but those around you who may be vulnerable to severe infection, hospitalization and death, is the essence of the Christmas spirit and what “Christian” is supposed to be about.

I would think people would be thankful we have the means to protect ourselves and our families from the worst – hospitalizations, Long COVID, and death, and that we have a president who has the

compassion and competence to respond immediately to the new threat.

In fact, President Biden is delivering the most precious Christmas present of all — a $3 billion life-saving gift to make 500 million home COVID test kits available for free that can be ordered online and delivered through the mail, beginning in a few weeks. At the same time, he is expanding access to vaccinations and test sites. He is standing ready to support hospitals expected to see a surge of patients

in the next couple of weeks – mobilizing 1,000 military doctors, nurses and health care workers to go where needed, getting supplies and equipment ready from beds to ventilators.

What do I want for Christmas?

My holiday wish is for Trump and his accomplices, his acolytes and his insurrectionist hordes to be held accountable in order to protect America from the next, more diabolical and competent dictatorwannabe, and save democracy and the Rule of Law.

Also on my list: the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the Women’s Health Protection Act, and Build Back Better to protect the planet against climate change. And if there is any more room in Santa’s bag, I want Supreme Court reform and the Equal Rights Amendment, and for pro-life to mean an end to the gun violence epidemic.

And oh, yes, a return to the spirit of “Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men” and not just for Christians or for Christmas.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

ATTENTION JOURNALISM STUDENTS

Opportunity is Knockin’!

ARE YOU A COLLEGE STUDENT ?

DO YOU KNOW A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO WANTS TO EARN $2,600 THIS SUMMER?

Paid Summer Internship Positions Available The New York Press Association Foundation is sponsoring a paid summer internship at this newspaper for a qualified journalism student.

Any student currently enrolled in a recognized journalism program is eligible to compete for an internship with a net $2,600 stipend provided by NYPA. Applicants must attend college during the 2022-2023 academic year.

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43

44 The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

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FOR YOUR LOCAL NEWS VISIT US ONLINE AT

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Ex-Getty Realty Co. chair dies Continued from Page 3 ing member of the Shelter Rock Jewish Center. In 1988, he was named the Oil Trades Association of New York’s Man of the Year. In 2000, he received the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America’s Distinguished Marketer Award. In 2001, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. In 2005, he received the society’s lifetime achievement award and also served as a president of the organization. Additionally, Liebowitz served as a trustee of the Brookdale Hospital and as an advisory board member of Chemical Bank.

Sept. 22, 1994, was also proclaimed to be Leo Liebowitz Day by the Queens borough president.

In a phone interview, Liebowitz’s son Rob spoke about his father’s approach.

“He was very family-oriented and he always put family first,” Rob Liebowitz, of Roslyn, said. “He helped to instill very strong values in all his kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and served as a role model for us.”

Treating others how they desire to be treated, Rob said, was one of the values his father tried to instill in his offspring on a daily basis. Rob described his father as “an eternal optimist,” never allowing life’s hardships to dampen his outlook.

“No matter what problems he had, he never got down about them and always looked for solutions to move forward,” Rob said.

Liebowitz met his wife, Rose Kalowitz, in 1949 during a Yom Kippur social dance. Two years later, the two jitterbugged their way down the aisle and were married.

Liebowitz, in addition to Rose and Rob, is survived by his children Eileen, Karen, Linda, Pamela and Richard, his brother Irv, 18 grandchildren and 16 greatgrandchildren.

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The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

HC

45

COMMUNITY NEWS

Virtual assembly Val, sal at H. Frank Carey for GCP students Kistler provided students with a variety of different winter cartoons and drawings to choose from. Students voted on each of the four and then completed their directed winter drawings. Kistler taught stu-

dents many tips and tricks to use when sketching, including shading techniques.

“The students loved the assembly,” fifth-grade teacher Maya Guzman said. “It was an awesome experience!”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NEW HYDE PARK-GARDEN CITY PARK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Garden City Park School fifth-graders in Maya Guzman’s class enjoyed a virtual visit with artist Mark Kistler on Dec. 13.

H. Frank Carey High School has named Devin Casano and Emily Lavin as the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Class of 2022.

Casano is regarded at Carey as the epitome of a true academic and a role model. He has been inducted into the English, Science, Social Studies, Math, Foreign Language and National honor societies. His performance on the AP exams earned him the title of AP Scholar with Distinction.

Along with excelling in the classroom, Casano is an active member of the school community. He is vice president of the National Honor Society and a member of the Future Business Leaders of America. He also participated on the Sewanhaka Central High School District’s Student Community Conversation Committee.

Outside of school, Casano is a fire explorer and has recently earned the title of lieutenant due to his commitment to the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department. He was also a participant in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Student Advisory Council and in Senator Kaplan’s Youth Advisory Board.

Lavin is known at Carey for

her tremendous character and for demonstrating leadership qualities. She has been named an AP Scholar with Distinction after earning a score of 5 on seven out of eight AP exams. She also earned a silver medal for her performance on the AATI National Italian Exam. An active member of the Carey community, Lavin has served as the vice president of National Honor Society, a cofounder and treasurer of Girls for

Girls Club, editor for the Yearbook, staff writer for the Carey Clipper, a player on the varsity lacrosse team, a member of Think Pink, and a member of the Class of 2022 Board. Additionally, she has been inducted into departmental honor societies for Social Studies, Science, World Language, English and Math. Lavin has also been a co-captain for Relay for Life and a cheerleading coach for the Franklin Square Warriors.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SEWANHAKA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SEWANHAKA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

H. Frank Carey High School’s class of 2022 valedictorian Devin Casano.

H. Frank Carey High School’s class of 2022 salutatorian Emily Lavin.

Students research Herricks announces val, sal the human body

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE NEW HYDE PARK-GARDEN CITY PARK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

New Hyde Park Road School sixth-graders presented their projects virtually to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Marc Ialenti.

Throughout November, sixth graders at Garden City Park School and New Hyde Park Road School conducted research on the human body systems with Project Lead the Way teacher Salvatore Giurlanda.

The unit concluded with an interactive gallery walk-through that displayed the students’ work. They created body outlines illustrating various organs in the human body and attached a QR code for others

to easily view their projects. Students presented these projects and their findings with a virtual visit with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Marc Ialenti.

“Dr. Ialenti offered an opportunity for our students to learn more about the different facets of the medical profession and offered opportunities to ask questions from their research,” Mr. Giurlanda said.

Herricks High School has announced that Keneil Soni and Chloe Chang have been named the Class of 2022 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. In addition to this great honor, both students were named National Merit Semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Throughout his time at Herricks High School, Soni has earned a number of impressive achievements such as being named a Scholar Artist from the Long Island Arts Alliance, as well as earning a coveted spot with Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Ensemble.

Soni is the first horn player ever from Nassau County to be invited to play with the ensemble and is one of only 13 hornists selected in the entire country. In addition to these accomplishments, Soni also serves as president of the TriM Music Honor Society and the FED Challenge and is captain of the school’s varsity cross-country team.

“My dad was a key factor in helping me realize that one of the biggest lessons that you can take away from life is that knowledge is power,” said Soni.

Salutatorian Chloe Chang

also has an impressive resume. In addition to her scholarly success, Chang was selected as one of 11 winners in the New York Times’ Sixth Annual Critical Review contest. She is president of the Model UN and Amnesty International clubs and serves as captain of the varsity girls tennis team.

“Not only are the teachers at Herricks great, but they are role models who I look up to,” said Chang. Of her accomplishment being named salutatorian, she

notes, “It feels bittersweet. Years of hard work have gone into this.”

Looking to the future, both Soni and Chang share a common goal in wanting to attend medical school to become doctors.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with Keneil and Chloe through their years in middle and high school,” said Principal Joan Keegan. “They’re thoughtful, kind, poised, and professional. We congratulate them on this tremendous achievement.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Herricks High School class of 2022 valedictorian Keneil Soni.

Herricks High School class of 2022 salutatorian Chloe Chang.

46 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 24, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

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Town holds menorah lighting at Mary Jane

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Town of North Hempstead Council Members Veronica Lurvey, Lee Seeman and Mariann Dalimonte, and Receiver of Taxes Charlie Berman attended the Town’s Menorah Lighting on Dec. 5 at Mary Jane Davies Green in Manhasset.

The menorah lighting ceremony, which fell on the last night of Hanukkah, was led by Rabbi Mendel Paltiel of Chabad of Manhasset. Attendees enjoyed musical performances, fire dancers, and a chocolate Gelt drop.

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The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

HC

47

COMMUNITY & SCHOOL NEWS

Denton Avenue New student council leadership honors veterans Students at Denton Avenue Elementary School in Herricks created cards in honor of all veterans who served in the United

States Armed Forces. The Herricks school community thanks all veterans for their service and sacrifices.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Candidates for student council co-president at Denton Avenue.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

On Nov. 23, candidates for student council co-presidents at Denton Avenue Elementary School in the Herricks School District delivered speeches to their fellow students. Candidates were Isaac Abraham, Mario Cimino,

AvaRose Joneleit, Jaden Mathew, Julia Persaud and Gavin Yeung.

Candidates expressed their vision for Denton Avenue and what positive changes they would put forth. Students were poised as they delivered thoughtful and

dynamic speeches.

Fifth graders voiced their choices on the same day through the voting process. Congratulations to all who participated and to newly elected co-presidents Mario Cimino and Gavin Yeung.

Universal pre-K Chamber makes donation coming to NHP-GCP On Monday, Dec. 13, the Benevolence Committee of the Greater New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, made a donation of $1,000 to the Nas-

Pending the approval of the NYS Budget, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Union Free School District will provide a full-day Universal PreKindergarten at all district buildings for the 2022-2023 school year.

Applicants must be a resident of NHP-GCP, not eligible for Kindergarten until September 2023, and 4 years of age (born on or before December 1, 2018).

We will provide a full-day (5 hours) program with certified teachers. As the program is entirely funded through a grant from New York State.

Students will be selected

sau Chapter of the Wounded Warriors Foundation.

The donation was made at the main firehouse in New Hyde Park.

at a public lottery to be held on March 1, 2022 at 9:00 am. This will be done virtually, and you will be provided with a meeting code prior to the public draw. For questions email Lmiranda@nhpgcp.org In order to apply, please complete the Google Form found at this link https:// www.nhp-gcp.org/registration_/registration or use the QR Code on the district website. All Applications —in order to be placed in the lottery — are due by February 18th, 2022. Any applications received after that date will be placed on a waiting list.

PHOTO BY ED STONE PHOTOGRAPHY

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L to R: Chamber Past Presidents-Mark Laytin, Christopher Vulpis; Donna Pagano, Chamber 1st VP; Cheryl Fajardo, Chamber President; NHPFD Chairman Joe O’Grady, Chief Joe Pappa, and Former Chief Tom Smith; Chamber Past Presidents Richard DeMartino, Peter Caputo; Chamber Board Member Ed Powers.

48 The Herald Courier, Friday, December 24, 2021

HC

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