PORT WASHINGTON 2024_04_12

JUDGE DENIES REQUEST FOR TRO ON JAMES

Officials blast faith-based housing bill

Republican town supervisors say act is attack on suburban lifestyle

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Nassau County’s three town supervisors rallied against the state government’s proposed bill that would override local zoning laws for religious institutions constructing affordable housing, calling it an attack on their suburban lifestyles.

“We’re here to say to Albany: Stop overriding our local government. Stop overriding our local zoning,” North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said.

New York State lawmakers have proposed a bill – referred to as the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act – that would permit religious institutions like churches, synagogues and mosques to override local zoning laws if they build affordable housing on their properties.

The bill has been backed by a coalition of Black ministers, including those in Hempstead, who are advocating to remove the roadblocks against local zoning laws to allow for housing initiatives.

The rally at Herricks Park in front of the community center was held with a slew of local officials in support – including mayors, school board presidents, town supervisors, county legislators and state senators.

Leading the rally were the county’s three town supervisors – DeSena of North Hempstead, Donald Clavin of Hempstead and Joseph Saladino of Oyster Bay – advocating for the preservation of the suburbs they represent.

Concerns expressed by the speakers were about the impact of the faithbased housing initiative, citing population increases potentially affecting Long Island’s schools, environment, resources and property taxes.

School enrollment at North Shore school districts has been mixed in its rises and falls, with a little over half reporting drops in their student population from 2012 to 2023.

However, the total enrollment of the 13 North Shore school districts has dropped overall with a 0.05% decline, amounting to nearly 25 fewer students over the decade.

DeSena called the bill another “one-size-fits-all” housing proposal from the state government, comparing it to the governor’s housing proposal last year.

“This time it’s hidden behind religion,” DeSena said.

Last year Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a housing plan in the state budget that called for a 3% increase in housing units over three years, with

Continued on Page 45

See story on page 12.

Dems, residents slam Blakeman sheriff plan

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman called for the resignation of County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton on Thursday after she said his program to recruit residents and business

See related story

12

owners with gun licenses to become “provisional” special deputy sheriffs had brought back memories of Nazi Brownshirts.

“She has no right to be a public officer and a public servant in this county,” Blakeman said at a press conference. “She should go away. She should resign.”

DeRiggi-Whitton called Blake-

Continued on Page 44

PHOTO BY TAYLOR HERZLICH

Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) speaks at a rally in Mineola Monday morning.

LI rallies for release of hostages in Gaza

More than 500 residents march 6 months after attack

BY CAMERYN OAKES

More than 500 Long Islanders marched for a mile and a half Sunday, six months after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, to demand the release of 133 Israeli hostages still being held captive by the terrorist organization.

“On this six-month mark, we must not relent or become complacent in our solidarity with hundreds of families who wait every day for their loved ones to return,” said David Black, executive director of the Sid Jacobson JCC.

The rally, held in Plainview Sunday, was organized by the Long Island Supports Israel Coalition, a conglomerate of 17 Long Island Jewish organizations formed in the wake of the

Oct. 7 attack by Hamas upon Israeli citizens.

Daniel Lifshitz, the grandson of two Israeli hostages, joined the march. Both his grandparents were kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 and his grandmother was released later in the month. His grandfather remains in their captivity.

Lifshitz said he has found a family in the Long Island community as they support him through this challenging moment in his life.

“Here I stand half a year later still unable to believe that my grandfather is still there,” Lifshitz said, just a month before his grandfather’s 84th birthday.

“My grandfather always believed that there is hope. I take his hope and see him returning with us.”

Marchers were seen waving and

wearing Israeli flags, sometimes in tandem with the American flag as well. Others carried signs displaying hostages’ faces, including Plainview’s Omer Neutra, 22, who was serving as a tank commander in the Israel Defense Force near Gaza when he was abducted by Hamas.

“The world changed forever for Jews around the world on Oct. 7, and we stand with our friends in Israel to call for the release of those still in brutal and horrendous captivity,” Black said.

The purpose of the coalition is to foster a strong and united Jewish community, banding together in their support of Israel, combatting antisemitism and working proactively in addressing issues affecting the Jewish community.

Port voters OK library’s budget

Also re-elect Trustee Adrienne Saur

BY CAMERYN OAKES

The Port Washington community voted to approve the Port Washington Public Library’s 2024-2025 budget Tuesday night and re-elect Trustee Adrienne Saur.

The library’s budget received 438 votes for approval, with just 47 votes against it. Saur received 441 votes and will begin another fiveyear term in July.

The budget amounts to nearly $7.8 million, a 3.9% increase from the current budget of $7.5 million and a 2% tax increase.

Library Board President William Keller said previously in a letter the budget was drafted with economic factors, maintaining facility conditions and community needs in mind.

Employee benefits are budgeted to increase by about 7.12% in 2025 and a 7.09% increase for salaries.

Expenses for library materials

are budgeted for a slight decrease of $6,000, with $471,000 allotted in 2025.

Also decreasing in budgeted expenses are building operations, which will be falling by 2.98% with $390,370 budgeted.

Library operations, however, would be increasing under the 2025 budget. Library operations are budgeted at $678,000, a 2.73% increase.

The library also budgeted $156,350 for equipment, repairs and transfers and another $12,111 for debt service, bringing total library expenditures to $7,794,101.

Revenues for 2025 are projected to be $7,638,101 with about $1 million from the library’s fund balance to cover the spending fully.

Also voted on was the re-election of Saur. She received 441 votes.

Saur will begin another five-year term with the library beginning in July.

PHOTO BY KEVIN SPELMAN Port Washington Public Library.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SID JACOBSON JCC

Hundreds of Long Islanders rallied Sunday for the release of Israeli hostages.

R. Heights ranked No. 44 in state

Makes Niche’s top 50 list for best places to live in New York, Great Neck Plaza rated first

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Great Neck Plaza was ranked as the No. 1 best place to live in New York in 2024 by Niche, a site that grades and rates schools, companies and neighborhoods, with a slew of other North Shore neighborhoods and Long Island communities that made it into the top 50.

Niche’s ranking encompasses its ratings of the communities’ public schools, housing, nightlife, diversity and appeals to families.

Great Neck Plaza was graded an A+ for its public schools and compatibility for families, also receiving an A for nightlife and an A- for diversity. Its lowest grade was a B for housing.

Overall. Great Neck Plaza received an A+ rating.

Great Neck Plaza’s Mayor Ted Rosen said the ranking is an honor for the village.

“We believe that these rankings confirm what we know and what we have known: that the Village of Great Neck Plaza is a great place to live,” Rosen said.

Niche reported that Great Neck Plaza has a population of 7,443, with a median home value of $391,400 and a median rent of $2,263.

The Great Neck area prevailed in the rankings, with the hamlet of Great Neck Gardens and the Village of Kensington securing the third and fourth spots, respectively.

Ranked No. 2 on the list is Hell’s Kitchen, a neighborhood in Manhattan. Excluding places to live in the city, the three Great Neck communities make the top three for suburban communities.

Great Neck Gardens received the same grade breakdown as Great Neck Plaza, but was ranked lower with a B for its diversity.

It has a significantly smaller population than its Plaza neighbor with 1,139 residents. But, the median home price is nearly triple in Great Neck Gardens set at $1,136,600. No median rent was provided by Niche.

Great Neck communities had the highest rankings of any other community on the North Shore, with six rated within the top 50. Only 11 North Shore areas in total were listed in this range.

Other North Shore communities featured in the list’s top 50 best places to live in the state were Syosset at No. 8, East Williston at No. 16, Russell Gardens at No. 22, Jericho at No. 28, Roslyn Heights at No. 44, Lake Success at No. 46, Thomaston at No. 48 and Herricks at No. 49.

On Long Island, 16 areas were named in the top 50 places to live in New York State. All but one were within Nassau County.

Many of the places listed in the top 50 were neighborhoods within New York City, or other suburbs located north of the city.

The list only ranks the top 664 areas throughout the state, with dozens of communities not even making the list. On the North Shore, this included Plandome Manor and Roslyn Harbor, with both receiving an overall A rating by the publication.

Nassau County communities ranked low on the list include Uniondale at No. 556, Freeport at No. 546 and South Floral Park at No. 544.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The Village of Great Neck Plaza was rated as the No. 1 place to live in New York State by the ranking site Niche.

Town OKs Manhasset Park District’s sale of parking lot

BY CAMERYN OAKES

The Town of North Hempstead Board approved a series of traffic signage changes in Great Neck and Albertson Tuesday morning at its public hearing meeting, with the additional stop signs in Great Neck in response to the recently approved Lake Success ambulance building.

While the stop signs intend to bolster safety around the ambulance building, residents argued that they would not achieve that. They cited anecdotes of drivers not abiding by current stop signs.

Councilmembers disagreed.

“I believe that the stop signs, whether certain residents feel that it’s not going to help or going to help, I think that our traffic engineer did a full study on it and he felt that it was going to be helpful for the safety of residents and commuters and drivers there,” Councilmember Christine Liu, who represents parts of Great Neck, said.

Manhasset-Lakeville Fire District voters approved a $10 million bond to build a new ambulance unit building at 70 Cumberland Ave. in Lake Success in October.

The district will build a two-story, 10,366-square-foot building at an anticipated total cost of $11.7 million, according to the district.

The town board opted to approve the implementation of the stop signs Tuesday morning, which would be placed on the southbound and eastbound directions at the intersection of Cumberland Avenue and Allen Drive.

Port North OKs $4.5M budget

BY CAMERYN OAKES

The Village of Port Washington North approved a $4.5 million budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which includes projects such as an inclusive playground for children with disabilities and varying sensory needs.

“We have an incredibly exciting project,” Mayor Robert Weitzner said.

Weitzner also swore in the re-elected Trustees Steven Cohen and Michael Malatino. And in continuing a decadelong tradition, Weiztner re-appointed Cohen as his deputy mayor once again.

the increase is below the tax cap by about $4,600.

While the budget totals $4.5 million, the village is budgeting revenues at about $3,604,613. The village’s fund balance will fill the $900,000 difference between revenues and spending.

This is about double the amount of fund balance used last year.

The village received a state grant of $500,000 for the inclusive playground that required Port Washington North to match. Weitzner said instead of taxing residents to match the grant, he opted to use money from the fund balance.

Excluding the $500,000 for the park, the village’s use of its fund balance fell about $50,000.

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She said the town’s traffic engineer agreed with the assessment to establish

Continued on Page 44

The stop signs were proposed after the village’s engineering firm conducted a traffic study at the location in response to the proposal to erect an EMS building at the location, Liu said.

The $4,504,613 budget is a 60.62% increase from the current budget but only includes a 2.09% tax levy increase.

The village said the tax levy increase is not surpassing the allowable tax cap due to exemptions available to Port Washington North. Village Treasurer Mary Jo Bella said

The village’s budget also reflects a shift in its infrastructure initiatives, diminishing expenses for road work to bolster tree and sidewalk work instead.

Continued on Page 45

PHOTO BY KARINA KOVAC

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Judge rejects Blakeman ask on trans ban TRO Blakeman files suit to block local elections in even years

BY TAYLOR HERZLICH

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman filed a lawsuit Friday against Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state over a law she signed in December that will move most local elections to even years.

The law is set to take effect in 2026. Individuals elected after Jan. 1, 2025, will serve shortened-terms to match up with the upcoming even-year elections.

Blakeman’s lawsuit seeks to block these changes and contends that the state violated its constitution by enacting the new law, according to Newsday.

Efforts to reach Blakeman were unavailing.

The Democrat-backed law would make local races line up with gubernatorial and presidential elections. Turnout is highest during these elections and Democrats have a slight turnout advantage, according to The New York Times.

Democrats overall outperformed Republican candidates in the special elections that have taken place since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, according to The New York Times.

Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggiWhitton (D-Glen Cove) issued a statement following the announcement of the suit.

“Here we go again with the Blakeman administration’s latest wasteful lawsuit-of-the-week, paid for by Nassau taxpayers,” DeRiggi-Whitton said in a statement. “The Democratic Minority Caucus voted against retaining special counsel to pursue this politically motivated action, and we are confident this frivolous litigation will be swiftly thrown out of court.”

But Blakeman is not the first to oppose the even-year elections law. Onondaga County, home to Syracuse, filed a lawsuit March 22 against the new state law.

He is also the target of two recent lawsuits filed against him after he signed an executive order Feb. 22 banning transgender girl and women athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports at county facilities.

New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a ceaseand-desist order against Blakeman March 1, demanding he rescind the executive order.

And a Long Island-based roller derby league filed a lawsuit March 11 against Blakeman in response to the executive order.

BY CAMERYN OAKES

A federal judge denied County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s request Thursday to safeguard his executive order restricting trans athletes’ participation in sports in Nassau County from legal action by the New York State attorney general.

“This decision will not deter us from protecting the integrity and fairness of women’s sports and the safety of its participants,” Blakeman said in a statement.

“According to the logic of the decision on the temporary restraining order, the county would have to wait for a young girl to get paralyzed before taking action.”

Blakeman signed an executive order Feb. 22 barring transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams that play at county facilities.

New York Attorney General

Letitia James issued a cease-anddesist order against Blakeman in March demanding he rescind the order. The Nassau county executive sued James in federal court, but Judge Nusrat Choudhury ruled that the ban violated the Constitution’s 11th Amendment and Blakeman’s suit had no legal standing.

Under the executive order, transgender girl and woman athletes will now be forced to compete in the leagues that correlate with their sex assigned at birth, limited to competing only on boys’ and men’s teams or coed teams.

The county executive said the purpose of the executive order is to protect women’s and girls’ sports in the county by preventing transgender girls and women athletes from competing, saying transgender women and girls present an unfair advantage.

Continued

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

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Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his trip to war-torn western Europe last week in an effort to bolster U.S. support for the beleaguered nation.

Suozzi and a group of five other congressional members began the trip April 1 and were the first delegation to stay overnight for multiple days in Ukraine since the war started six months ago. The delegation remained in Kyiv for two days and visited other sites throughout Ukraine, as well as Poland and Moldova, describing the sound of air-raid sirens in the middle of the night and the sight of mass graves in Ukrainian cities.

“The people of my district would be appalled by what Putin has done,” Suozzi said in a

Continued on Page 30

Blakeman’s ‘private army’ blasted at rally Suozzi meets with Zelensky on U.S. aid

BY TAYLOR HERZLICH

Nassau County Minority Leader Delia DeRiggiWhitton (D-Glen Cove), other Democrat legislators and residents protested Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s emergency deputy sheriff program at a news conference in Mineola Monday morning.

Protesters carried signs with phrases including “Nassau County is not the Wild West,” “Civilians with guns = unsafe streets” and “Eclipse Blakeman’s militia,” the latter a reference to the solar eclipse which took place Monday afternoon, and chanted “No militia! No way!”

Continued on Page 30

PHOTO COURTESY OF CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI

Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY), joined by a bipartisan group of congressional members, met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his trip last week to Eastern Europe.

PHOTO BY TAYLOR HERZLICH

Protestors gather in Mineola in opposition to County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s emergency deputy sheriff program.

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Blakeman seeks his very own militia

The ad placed by Nassau County appeared in Newsday’s classified section on March 17. It called on residents and business owners 21 to 72 with gun licenses – particularly retired law enforcement or military veterans – to become “provisional” special deputies at $150 a day “for the protection of human life and property during an emergency.”

Who would determine whether there was an emergency? Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the author of the program.

Nassau County legislators and police union leaders said they knew little or nothing of the program before the ad appeared in Newsday. Blakeman did not seek legislative approval or consult with union officials.

Newsday reported that most legislators and union officials were unaware of the measure until one of their reporters brought the program to their attention.

The program appears to be yet another instance of Blakeman offering a solution in search of a problem in an apparent effort to curry favor among MAGA supporters for a possible bid for statewide office or a position in a future Trump White House.

Or a bid by Blakeman to get his very own militia.

Nothing else makes sense.

Nassau has a police department with 2,500 officers that Blakeman said is the highest paid in the state. He has boasted in recent weeks of adding funding to this year’s county budget to hire more officers.

The county also has 60 deputy sheriffs — most based at the county jail — and state troopers who assisted the county during Hurricane Sandy are also available. There are also village and town police and public safety agencies.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has its own police. The county police have volunteer auxiliaries under its direction and, for dire emergencies, there are New York’s

National Guard members.

Isn’t that enough for a county listed two years in a row as the safest county in the United States before Blakeman took office?

And exactly how would this work?

Would the special deputies get uniforms of their own? In 2011, an MTA officer shot and killed a plainclothes Nassau County officer in an example of what can go wrong with even seasoned officers who work together.

How well-trained would these “provisional” deputies be? And how would they interact with other law enforcement agencies? We don’t know.

For good reason, criminal justice experts questioned Blakeman’s program for Nassau County.

“It almost seems redundant to do this when you have neighboring agencies, the state police and the National Guard,” said Jillian Snider, a retired NYPD officer and lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, in an interview with Newsday.

“At a time when people are concerned about the actions of police and police actions are more scrutinized than ever, do we really think it’s safe to consider deputizing any gun owner in the face of an emergency?” said Snider, a criminal justice policy director at R Street Institute, a nonprofit think tank based in Washington, D.C.

This is a real concern. Blakeman’s initiative comes at a time when the Nassau County police, considered among the least transparent in the nation, are denying Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly’s request for disciplinary records.

The DA’s office said the denial is impacting numerous court proceedings and has resulted in at least one case being dismissed.

Would we expect better from the “provisional” sheriff’s deputies under the command of the county sheriff and Blakeman?

Residents and Democratic county

legislators also objected to Blakeman’s plan.

“Nassau County isn’t the Wild West,” County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said in a statement to Blank Slate Media. “We already have one of the largest and best-trained police forces in the nation. The last thing we need during an emergency is a bunch of untrained residents running around with guns, playing junior detective at the behest of the county executive.”

Others questioned its purpose.

“What’s an emergency? Is it going to be when a Black Lives Matter march happens? Is it going to be when a Palestinian march happens? Is it going to be when the St. Patty’s Day parade happens in Long Beach? I don’t know. What’s an emergency?” Michael Moore, a member of the Nassau County FEMA Community Emergency Response Team,” told Patch.

Blakeman initially implied that the “provisional” special deputies would protect buildings during an emergency such as Hurricane Sandy.

But state troopers from around the state were able to assist the county after Hurricane Sandy caused massive destruction and long-term power outages in 2012. And there were no riots then.

Blakeman said at a press conference Thursday political protests that

escalate to riots would be among the kinds of county emergencies in which the special deputy sheriffs would be activated.

Does Blakeman believe that the 2024 presidential election might result in political violence in Nassau County?

Former President Donald Trump’s frequent references to “bloodbaths” and “rigged” elections do increase the likelihood of violence in the race for the White House when he is expected to be the official Republican candidate.

But Blakeman, who was the Nassau County Republican Party’s liaison to the 2020 Trump presidential campaign, said little after the thenpresident orchestrated a riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, intended to overthrow the election.

Do we really want Blakeman to control what is effectively his own militia if Trump orchestrates another attack in 2024 that extends beyond Washington?

Before allowing this to happen, we should at least know if Blakeman agrees with Trump that the people who have been convicted of attacking the Capitol on Jan. 6, includingseditious conspiracy, are hostages. Or the criminals they are.

Blakeman, who is Jewish, called the press conference on Thursday af-

ter DeRiggi-Whitton said his program had brought back memories of Nazi Brownshirts.

“I’ve had some people tell me it’s actually causing them a lot of anxiety,” DeRiggi-Whitton told Patch. “It reminds them not only of the Wild West but of times in Europe with uncertainty. There was something called the Brownshirts, which was basically having civilians all of a sudden become part of law enforcement without the training.”

Surrounded by Republican supporters and Jewish religious officials, Blakeman called for DeRiggi-Whitton to resign, saying her statement trivialized the Holocaust and was “deplorable and disgusting.”

But Deriggi-Whitton listening to her constituents does not trivialize the Holocaust. And what she said about the Brownshirts was true.

It’s Blakeman’s use of Jewish religious figures as props in his bid to deflect criticism that’s “deplorable” and disgusting.”

Since 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust, they have repeatedly vowed “never again.” This means being sensitive to what led to the Holocaust including the Brownshirts, the original paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party that helped Adolf Hitler early in his rise to power.

Continued on Page 29

Walt Whitman: Long Island’s own poet

If you’ve not read “Leaves of Grass” by Walt Whitman, its time you get yourself to the local library, check out the book and get ready to learn about the secret to living a happy life. Similar to the last act in Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” Whitman’s epic 120 page poem provides you with a pathway to finding that elusive thing called happiness.

Walt Whitman was born in Huntington in 1819 and was raised in Brooklyn. Although he left formal education by the age of 11, he worked his entire life as a journalist, editor, teacher and poet. He is now known as one of the most influential American poets and father of free verse. Along with Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Margaret Fuller, he led the transcendentalist movement which was a philosophy espousing the goodness of man and nature and that meaning could be found not in books but rather in the smallest of things such as the sound of the wind, the look of a rock or a leaf of grass. In this way his work reminds me of both Herman Hesse as well as Marcel Proust in the way he is able to find meaning in the slightest of things.

Whitman is thought to be an equal to Alexis de Tocqueville in defining the American character. Whit-

man thought of the English language as the dialect of common sense, and the chosen language to express growth, self-esteem, freedom, equality, friendliness, decisiveness and courage.

He was forever a wanderer and rambler and a keen observer of men and women. It may no long be possible to produce a Walt Whitman since we now live in fast times with fast cars and fast computers. We now speed past things that the rambling poet Walt Whitman sauntered by and observed. He watched firefighters work a fire, policemen enter a crowd to settle it down, sea captains sail a ship and mothers cook a meal. And he considered these common ordinary craftsmen and women to be comparable to Greek gods or presidents.

One of his unique traits as a poet is the way he credited the observer with knowledge which then imbued the observed thing itself with meaning. “All architecture is what YOU DO TO IT when you look upon it; did you think it was the white and grey stones? Or the lines of the arches and cornices?”

At one point in this epic poem he says “The old forever new things…. you foolish child! . the closest simplest things—this moment with you”

Dublin and describe it in such amazing detail. The rambling wanderer, Walt Whitman has managed to do this with America and it is our good fortune that we have this 19th century American genius to read and therefore remind us of what it is to be an American.

So if you have not seen his birthplace and the museum that is at-

tached to it out in Huntington, I recommend you do so. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon, unless that is to buy “Leaves of Grass” and spend the weekend reading it from beginning to end. Walt Whitman is proof that one does not need to await the eclipse in order to enjoy nature. It can be found in every blade of grass in every front yard.

and goes on to list over six hundred such close and simple things like learning spelling, reading, writing, the blackboard, the teacher’s diagrams, panes of glass, the routine of the workshop, factory yard, office, store or desk, manufactures, commerce, engineering, the building of cities, the implements of every trade and on and on, over six hundred of these ‘close and simple things’.

The result of this kind of poetic mastery is that one is eventually brought into connection with the whole world and all that it contains. His work has an impact similar to James Joyce who was able to look at

New York’s failed pot program, chapter 2

Columnists don’t like to dwell on any subject twice because one column should be enough to cover any issue. But somehow the state’s handling of the licensing of cannabis products, continues to be a disaster and complaints from the governor haven’t sped up the process.

Let’s start with the initial rollout of the program. After years of disagreement over the legalization of cannabis in New York, the state Legislature agreed that New York should join some 20-plus states that allow the legal sale of weed. Starting any complex plan takes time and at the outset everyone interested in the business gave the state the benefit of the doubt.

Commissioners were appointed and a small staff was hired. It was expected that after about 18 months, an initial plan would be put in place. The first licenses were given to growers, because you can’t sell anything without it bearing fruit. This was followed by the granting of licenses for laboratories, which would certify that the product

met state standards.

It was always understood that the first batch of licenses would go to people in communities that had been impacted by excessive sales and consumption of illegal drugs. The commission decided that all licenses to sell would go to individuals who had a prior pot conviction. The idea had merit, but the process was a massive headache. By law it was required that people with pot convictions would be eligible for some form of state assistance to launch their businesses.

A program was set up using Wall Street financiers and the state Dormitory Authority. Weeks turned into months and the moneys for startups never became available. Those people who had the funds were told where they would be required to start their business. This formula was supposed to guaranty that the retail locations would be spread around the state. It was a good idea but a license holder from Brooklyn didn’t want to be told that they would have to open a store in Buffalo.

of funds. The clock continued to tick and the only thing that happened was that multiple lawsuits were started against the commission, challenging their preference for licensees with pot convictions.

Up to the beginning of 2024, it was estimated that about 89 licenses had been issued, but many of the lucky license holders didn’t have the funds to open their doors. In addition, the few local governments that allowed cannabis sales, began passing laws making it even harder to find a location to set up a business. Here on Long Island there are only three towns that allow cannabis sales, which only permits a handful of stores to open.

their cannabis at the lowest possible price. To date a number of the growers have gone bankrupt, unable to find customers.

In recent weeks, Gov. Kathy Hochul has expressed her total frustration with the commission’s slow pace and has demanded that they accelerate their issuance of licenses. Upset with the slow pace, she ordered a commission meeting canceled because of the few licenses being granted.

While the program dragged on, thousands of unlicensed stores opened all over the state. By last count there were about 12,000 of such stores. The state had hoped to earn some major revenues from pot sales, but the illegal shops were not going to be the source

While all of the licensing headaches were going on in Albany, a new problem emerged. Numerous licenses had been given to growers who began growing early in the process. Once their cannabis crop was ready for the market, there were only a few retail outlets that could buy the product. Many growers were forced to dump

At this point there are multiple forces expressing their unhappiness with the commission’s conduct. The Legislature is upset, the governor is angry, the licensees are howling for lack of funds or the bureaucratic slowness of the state’s staff and at least one new lawsuit has been commenced.

Over the past 50-plus years, the state has created numerous agencies that issue a large variety of licenses. But no rollout has matched the cannabis fiasco, which has caused the state headaches that will last for many years to come.

PHOTO BY TOM FERRARO

Walt Whitman showed us how to find meaning and joy in a blade of grass.

EARTH MATTERS

Beware the spread of invasive species

Remember that alien-looking bug from last summer, Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)? It looks a bit like a big, colorful moth or a small, chubby butterfly. At the end of last summer the Spotted Lanternfly crowded trunks of various hardwoods and grapevines.

This infestation is nasty looking, even to people like me who love bugs. They excrete honeydew that leaves a sticky mess and may cause the growth of black sooty mold.

SLF are native to China, India, and Vietnam, and were first sighted in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

It is speculated that they were brought to the United States with imported goods. SLF can only travel short distances. But this planthopper can

hitchhike by laying eggs on flat surfaces.

Sadly, we’re expecting an even more obnoxious SLF invasion this summer compared to last year. Our best hope right now is to get all hands on deck this spring to remove egg masses wherever you find them. Yes, this year’s egg hunt must last all spring. Or else, we can prepare for unmanageable swarms of them.

Please look for brownish-gray egg masses. These egg masses are about an inch long. The eggs themselves are much smaller. The female SLF secretes a white, waxy substance over the eggs that looks glossy at first and is mud-like.

HILDUR PALSDOTTIR Earth Matters

When it ages it dries to a greybrown cover that fades and cracks. Old egg masses are scaly looking and in the end eggs are exposed.

Spotted

Now is the perfect time to look under your patio furniture, vehicles, firewood, and inspect tree trunks.

Carefully examine all flat and semiflat surfaces for these egg masses. If you do find the eggs you can scrape them off with a credit card or a hard tool and place them in a closed container with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.

You’ll be rewarded for the time you spend hunting for SLF eggs. Your tax dollars may otherwise be spent on fighting this form of biological pollution.

It’s worth the effort to familiarize yourself with how to control and manage this invasive insect.

In a 2011 testimony to the state Assembly about the threat of invasives to New York ecosystems and economy, DEC Assistant Commissioner Christopher Amato warned that the economic losses associated with invasives in the United States are estimated at 120 billion dollars per year.

The control and management of

invasives is expensive and SLF infestation can easily cost New York state millions of dollars. Here on Long Island our crops and vineyards are at risk. Also, keep in mind that being swarmed by these bugs can easily ruin a perfect beach day.

It is therefore well worth your effort to go outside and look for egg masses. Now is our chance to curb the spread. Once they emerge, the task becomes much harder.

Since it is less expensive and easier to deal with a problem before it becomes widespread, our priority has to be to find and treat SLF infestations early.

The changes to our ecosystems are happening too fast for experts and scientists to keep up with them. We all need to become citizen scientists and help document the spread of invasives. If you’re tech savvy you can help tremendously by downloading iMapInvasives on your smartphone or computer where you can adopt a square to document the presence or absence of SLF and other invasives.

If NYiMapInvasive is not for you, try iNaturalist, a simpler mobile application to enhance your ecoliteracy, this app also works on desktops. By recording your findings with iNaturalists you are helping scientists understand the changes in composition of flora and fauna that are happening rapidly now in response to a changing climate.

Long Island Invasive Species Management Areaare committed to informing the public and curbing the spread of invasives. They’re one of 8 Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs) across New York State dedicated to preventing or minimizing the harm caused by invasive species.

The PRISMs collaborate with the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), resource managers, non-governmental organizations, landscapers, industry and other agencies to fight invasives.

Locally, you can contact Cornell Cooperative Extension, Nassau (CCE-N) for diagnostics and guidance. You can send your collected specimens to CCEN to confirm identification and receive guidance on how to treat infestation. Find out more here https://ccenassau. org/horticulture/plant-diagnostics-soilhealth-center.

For management decisions the PRISMs created a tier system. You can look up your invasive plant or animal of interest to see where it falls with regard to manageability. Early detection goes with fast removal, so invasives that fall in Tier 1 can be eradicated. Tier 2 is more difficult to remove, but can be done. Tier 3 and 4 are too widespread for eradication, but can be contained and managed if addressed properly.

The downside of increased trade and travel is the spread of invasives. Especially the horticulture trade must be scrutinized to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. We need better regulation and oversight in all states, not just New York.

New York’s biodiversity is threatened by human activity, invasives and climate change, all of which amplify each other’s destructiveness. Invasive plants and pests can be viewed as a form of biological pollution and humans are to blame for their introduction and spread.

We must now do what we can to inform each other and our regulatory agencies to mitigate the harm done and prevent the spread of invasives.

Stop complaints, back Biden’s fair-tax reforms

No doubt you are bitching right about now about taxes. Tax day, after all, is April 15.

In election after election, the political challenger always attacks based on tax rates – property tax, income tax, sales tax – doesn’t matter what kind of tax or how tied to reality the complaint of “high taxes” is. And generally Republicans are the ones who base their campaigns on promising to cut taxes – for the rich and powerful, that is (they ended the expanded child tax credit that cut child poverty in half), while attacking Democrats as the “taxand-spend party.”

So it is really interesting that Republicans don’t pay a penalty for the biggest tax increase for New Yorkers: capping the deduction for SALT (State and Local Taxes) at $10,000. It was an overt tactic to punish “blue states,” which tend to have higher state and local taxes (as well as incomes, better schools and infrastructure) and wind up being the “donor states,” sending bil-

lions more to the “gimmee red states” that boast low state and local taxes.

In fact, even after the Long Island Republicans tried to repeal the SALT cap (around the Feb. 13 special election that sent Democrat Tom Suozzi back to Congress), the measure was blocked by House Republicans.

Capping the SALT deduction was a tool to pass the Trump tax cut that almost entirely benefited the wealthiest 1% and corporations, but increased taxes for middle-class families and added $2 trillion to the national debt. And Republicans’ entire tax policy today consists of making the Trump tax cuts permanent beyond their 2025 sunset, which would add $3 trillion in deficits over 10 years. They intend to pay for it with $1.5 trillion in cuts to Social Security, take away Medicare’s ability to negotiate prescription drug costs, repeal $35 insulin and $2,000 out-of-pocket cap, and privatize Medicare. The Republicans are demanding these cuts in order to allow another $5.5 trillion in

working class families. That has never happened, but the fantasy persists.

But billionaires like Trump don’t even pay the taxes they owe. Researchers estimate that if the top 1% of Americans paid the full amount of taxes they owed, it would raise $175 billion a year. “That’s just unpaid taxes. Not new or higher taxes.”

tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations.

The discredited “rationale” for the Trump/Republican tax scam is that if you let billionaires and corporations keep more money, it will magically “trickle down” to middle class and

The IRS, on the other hand, has done what it is supposed to with the $80 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act: collected $500 million in unpaid taxes from 2,000 delinquent millionaires, launched enforcement action against 25,000 millionaires who have not filed a tax return since 2017, and cracked down on high-end tax evasion like deducting personal use of corporate jets as a business expense.

The IRS is projecting it will collect $561 billion in additional revenue over the next decade because of better enforcement.

Even with better enforcement, the top 1% have done extremely well with

the Biden’s “growth from the middle out and the bottom up” economy. This group now possesses a record $44 trillion — 30% of the nation’s wealth. Elon Musk’s wealth has grown from $2 billion in 2012 to $245 billion in 2024; Jeff Bezos’ from $18.4 billion to $168 billion; Mark Zuckerberg’s from $17.5 billion to $116.6 billion. Meanwhile, the minimum wage is fossilized at $7.25. At the same time, the CEO-toworker compensation ratio of top U.S. firms has gone from 20 times the median worker’s pay in 1965 to 344 times in 2023. For example: Steven Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone and a major Trump donor in 2020, was paid $253,122,146 in 2022, over 1,000 times more than the company’s median worker. Michael Rapino, Live Nation CEO, who cashes in on fees Ticketmaster slaps on for concerts and other events, makes $139,005,56, or 5,414 times his average Live Nation worker.

Continued on Page 29

KAREN RUBIN

PHOTO BY HEATHER LEACH, PENN STATE EXTENSION

lanternfly eggs masses on a post. Each egg mass contains 30-50 eggs.

Help ensure LI aquifer protection for geothermal wells

We all want to protect Long Island’s drinking water. It’s precious, a source of life, unique. Unlike many NY communities including NYC that rely on surface water, reservoirs, and rivers, LI’s several million rely solely on aquifers.

The Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection estimated up to 5,000 geothermal wells were on LI in 2020, seventy percent were open-loop, the vast majority under 500ft deep and not regulated by DEC. Numbers increased since.

An EPA colleague I worked with once said NYDEC “has written off the Magothy.” For geothermal wells I agree, we’ll get to this shortly.

LI’s three main aquifers from surface down are the Upper Glacial, Magothy, Lloyd. Rain and surface water replenish them.

The Upper Glacial was deposited in the last ice age and comprises what we see at the surface, LI’s topography and morphology. It’s very productive but shallow and so very prone to contamination from surface sources. It’s the source of most Magothy contamination, from which contamination can and does reach the Lloyd in places.

Some 70% of LI’s estimated 500MGPD water use is Magothy water. Wells also draw from the Upper Glacial and Lloyd.

The Lloyd is most protected—tapped as a last resort; a moratorium on drilling into it was put in place in 1986 but the DEC can lift it. (NYC keeps trying.)

The DEC permits monitoring wells and water supply wells, permitting covers location, drilling/completion standards, O&M, life-cycle issues including abandonment, closure.

Geothermal wells are another matter and especially a problem for LI because Albany has not legislated, and DEC does not regulate wells under 500ft.

Worse, a NYSERDA admits this: “Further, regulation of the business model for owning and operating these systems remains a threshold issue for New York State.

The issue should be addressed by the legislature to remove uncertainties and to provide a roadmap for geothermal development.

Legislation should enable geothermal to scale rapidly within a financially sustainable business model.

Whether geothermal follows a regulated model like electricity and natural

gas distribution, remains unregulated, or a hybrid combining regulated and unregulated elements is a critical issue that will define how geothermal technology develops in the state.”

DEC only requires well permits for wells that produce over 45GPM, and geothermal wells more than 500ft deep.

For closed-loop geothermal wells of any depth, no permitting, registration, exams, or reporting are required. (So, no life-cycle issues).

For open-loop wells up to 500ft deep, only a preliminary notice and well completion report must be filed. (At best after the fact and far from comprehensive.)

DEC’s Table 1 shows what it all means.

A “closed-loop system” uses HDPE piping installed in drilled and grouted wells that conductively exchanges heat energy with the ground via circulating water or water/antifreeze mixture through the piping system.

An “open-loop system” are wells that extract and use groundwater directly as a heat-exchange source then return the heated or cooled groundwater directly back to the aquifer.

The systems are dual purpose, cooling buildings in summer, supplying heat in winter.

They’re efficient. Expensive to install but have a 30+ yr life and are cost-effec-

tive, very low O&M costs compared to oil, gas, or standard AC. Large buildings can really benefit.

Again, geothermal wells under 500ft have no DEC requirements except to use licensed drillers, need no permits, have no well maintenance and lifecycle requirements, not even to cover closure and abandonment when wells are not used, damaged, nor even when an overlying building is sold or demolished.

DEC must address these issues, must know geothermal well locations, and identify information on an updated and searchable GIS database. We’re running pretty blind.

No wells into the Lloyd, unless necessary for monitoring or remediation. DEC’s 500ft one-size-fits-all doesn’t work. A 500ft well in Hempstead will only reach the Magothy, the same 500ft (or less) will pierce the Lloyd in much of North Hempstead.

We should especially be concerned about open-loop wells. Closed-loop wells are much more protective of aquifers because there’s no contact with aquifer water and system fluid leaks—intentional or not—are easily detected by system pressure drops and automatically shut down.

Noting a worst case, I managed a mega Superfund site in New Jersey where it a major company apparently used open return wells to dispose of waste fluids and

spent solvents creating a 20-mile groundwater plume throughout an entire valley.

Let’s not forget how our aquifers were contaminated to begin with.

Open-loop systems extract water then reinject it back into the aquifer which alters groundwater flow laterally and vertically. And will spread any existing groundwater contamination laterally and deeper. I really don’t like the idea of open-loop wells in LI aquifers in general.

Closed-loop wells don’t alter groundwater flow.

Because New York dropped the ball jurisdictions are left hanging and must develop their own geothermal requirements, not all are, standards and codes across the board are not consistent which results in a fragmented patchwork of aquifer protections. Not a good way to ensure the sustainability and reliability of LI’s drinking water.

LICAP provides guidance and is a good overarching program, but it’s not enforceable, comprehensive enough, nor universally applied. DEC regulations are enforceable and could comprehensively cover all LI but don’t exist.

Town of Brookhaven developed comprehensive geothermal requirements, well standards, maintenance, distance of wells from property lines, abandonment and well closures, but allows open-loop systems.

Massaro served G.N. for 41 years

After 41 years of service and dedication to the Great Neck community, Louis Massaro, known to many as “Louie” or “Lou,” has retired from the Village of Great Neck’s Department of Public Works.

Louie’s family has strong ties to the Great Neck community, dating back a couple of generations when Louie’s great-grandfather, Giovanni (John) Massaro, first arrived in the United States in 1905.

He established Massaro

Brothers, a heating and fuel company that served Great Neck and its surrounding communities for decades. Raised in the Village of Great Neck, Lou attended Great Neck public schools and graduated North High in 1982.

He began working for the Village of Great Neck’s Sanitation Department in February 1983.

After a few years, Lou worked for the Village’s Highway Department, first as labor foreman and then rising up the ranks to deputy superintendent of Public Works. In 2002, he be-

came the superintendent of Public Works and remained in that role until his retirement in March 2024.

Lou has been married to his high school sweetheart, Margie Byrnes, for 36 years. They raised three children, have five grandchildren and reside in Levittown. According to Margie, even though they moved out of Great Neck many years ago, Lou loved Great Neck and the members of this community.

“Great Neck has always been Lou’s home, his heart and his

soul,” said Margie. “Leaving is like moving away from a home you lived in for over 40 years. He will miss the people in the community, especially the ‘Village guys,’ his co-workers, who are like family to him.”

Lou’s plans for retirement include working with his sons, who have a family business, spending time with his grandchildren, cycling and working on his classic cars.

Sara Rietbroek Great Neck Louis Massaro

Town of Hempstead appears to allow both systems but its website and permit application are not exactly clear. Hempstead allows unwise liberties with our aquifers and doesn’t address the range of life cycle issues.

East Hampton bans open-loop systems. LICAP recommends the same but it’s not binding. North Hempstead has a moratorium on all geothermal systems.

In 2020 the Suffolk County Water Authority recommended banning openloop systems. Nassau County could recommend and even codify comprehensive public regulations and spare its jurisdictions the time, expense, and confusion, but so far appears to be silent on the matter. And so it goes, on and on.

Post 2020 we’ve had multiple incentives and funding programs promoting geothermal, offered by State, PSEG, and the federal IRA.

USDOE’s March 2024 report makes it clear that regardless of what Albany and DEC do or don’t do, there’s a large federal approach pushing things. DOE has a onesize-fits-all program that puts all of New York including LI on a schedule for massive phased geothermal development by 2030–2040 and outlines federal funding goals.

Per DOE’s plan once money is readily available business and commercialization necessarily follow. It’s how things work.

DEC says a minimum of 7000 unregulated and abandoned oil and gas wells need to be addressed, we really don’t want to face messy problems from thousands of unregulated geothermal wells down the road.

The genie is out of its bottle. NY must take the lead and coordinate comprehensive aquifer protections lest things really get out of hand and we have a myriad of separate ill-timed, misdirected approaches that are too little, fragmented, too late.

Leaving jurisdictions to cobble their own standards is wasteful, costly, piecemeal, duplicative, and begs pressing issues facing LI’s aquifers. Time is critical.

Stephen Cipot Garden City Park

The author worked in oil, gas, and mining for a Fortune 500 multinational, is a retired USEPA project manager and a geologist, works with several civic organizations, and is appointed to the Town of North Hempstead’s Climate Smart Communities Task Force. All volunteer.

NYSDEC Table 1

READERS WRITE

Democrat state legislators need to be replaced

Monday March 25 was a violent day catching the attention of all New Yorkers. The death of a commuter shoved in front of a train by a deranged person and the murder of a police officer echoed the belief that New York is spiraling downhill.

These tragic events, in addition to the daily crime

stats of robberies, assaults and shoplifting show the erosion of public safety where criminals have little fear of accountability.

A police widow 2 1/2 years ago pleaded for public safety changes.

Stephanie Diller, another widow on Easter weekend stated: “the change never came. And now my son has to grow up without his father. New Yorik has been under one-party rule since the departure of Gov. Pataki.

It’s time for them to step up and effect criminal justice changes for the safety of law-abiding residents.

LI Democrat legislators Gina Sillitti, Michaelle Solages, Steve Stern, Fred Thiele, Monica Martinez and Kevin Thomas received a $32,000 pay hike 2 years ago making them the highest paid in America.

November elections are fast approaching and widows and crime victims are looking for change now.

Joe Campbell Port Washinton

Myth of the LIRR on-time performance reputation

There is really no reason to join MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and Acting LIRR President Richard Davey in celebrating their recent announcement of reaching 95% on-time performance. They sounded like revisionist transit historians.

Here is what they neglected to mention.

Claiming that on-time performance is improving was misleading. Any train arriving within 100 feet of a Penn Station, Grand Central Madison or Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn Platform, within 5 minutes and 59 seconds is considered “on time.” For many LIRR commuters who have to arrive on time, their bosses would not be happy. The LIRR definition of “on time” is like a teacher giving students a passing grade by rigging the results.

Larry Penner Great Neck

When it comes to reaching a real 100%, ontime performance, the 1960’s LIRR motto “Line of the Dashing Dan” should be changed to “Line of the Slow Moving Sloth.”

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.

Remembering Lou Conter and other war heroes

Iwas just reading about a Pearl Harbor sailor who has just died at age 102. Lou Conter a sailor was on the USS Arizona when it was bombed by Japan during WWII. He did what had to be done to aid fellow sailors that were hurt. Meanwhile 1,777 on that day died on that day of infamy.

Lou was a true hero on that day. Now for that I salute a true American hero that went through hell.

I do know another brave American that was there that day and that was my former father-in-law and he was a sailor named Charles Wieland who also later served during the Korean War in Greenland. I myself have served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War era and today am a member of the American Legion Post #103 in Douglaston and the Catholic War Veterans and Auxiliary Post #1979 in Glen Oaks.

I have spoken to some who served in WWII. Again I salute Sailor Lou Conter who was a true hero who served with honor and bravery. I also praise all those in our military today who serve with courage and honor.

Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Bellerose

Treating Trump lawyers fighting gag orders fairly

“Trump’s pattern of attacking family members of presiding jurists and attorneys assigned to his cases serves no legitimate purpose” Judge Juan M. Merchan wrote as he expanded the gag order on Trump’s hush money criminal case.

The judge continued: “It merely injects fear in those assigned or called to participate in the proceedings that not only they but their family members are ‘fair game’ for Defendant’s vitriol.”

The most vicious Trump supporters follow up on such threats made, even to the point of issuing life-threatening messages. Besides those who testify against Trump, imagine the fear it could instill in the minds of prospective jurors.

“Trump’s lawyers fought the gag order and expansion citing constitutional concerns about restricting Trump’s speech further while he’s

campaigning for president and fighting criminal charges.” How would these lawyers feel if it were their lives that were threatened?

What if some supporters of Biden took the same approach as the vicious Trump supporters and decided to threaten those who support Trump, such as his lawyers, who have come up with these supposedly legalistic maneuvers?

Experiencing what others have gone

through or are going through, namely the threats, might give these lawyers pause to follow Trump’s orders, and to realize that money ain’t everything. Perhaps in law school, these lawyers never took a course in DEMOCRACY. “GOD save these lawyers!”

Alvin Goldberg Great Neck

Zimmerman’s work with Sands a conflict

Got a phone call from Robert Zimmerman, who might have been distressed about my calling him out for lobbying for Adelson’s Casino putsch.

I do what I always do. Laughed, bid him good day, and hung up.

Just as a note to politicos: I don’t want to hear your rationalizations. One, I’ve already heard them and two, I don’t write this stuff because I think it will affect your positions. I write this stuff because I know that it won’t.

But a deeper dive into Mr. Zimmerman’s position revealed a truly incoherent stance. Stumbling on a Huffington Post article from February 2023, Mr. Zimmerman opined thus:

“Asked to reconcile his work for Las Vegas Sands with Miriam Adelson’s status as a Republican megadonor and his past comments about her husband, Zimmerman told HuffPost that there was no conflict between his work for Las Vegas Sands and his views on the Adelson family’s political giving.

“My firm’s work in no way compromises my integrity and principles,” he said in a statement.

You have to be a complete chump to believe one word of that. One, no one can simply “silo” these interests, nor is it possible to reconcile them.

To quote Don Corleone, “it makes no difference to me what a man does for a living.” But a man doing this for a living immediately disqualifies himself from running for public office.

In case anyone’s forgotten, (in Nassau, no one has ever learned it in the first place) being a representative for the citizen body means no conflicts of interest.

The article continues:

“As a public relations consultant rather than a lobbyist, Zimmerman is not required to disclose the compensation his firm is receiving for its work on behalf of Las Vegas Sands.

HuffPost asked a spokesperson for Zimmerman how much his firm is earning from the arrangement, but Zimmerman did not provide a response. “

Now there have been hundreds of people who have served in office and then leveraged their careers as lobbyists.

Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan have made millions doing it. Major law firms and defense contractors are loaded with former officials from the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice. Some even work at the behest of foreign governments.

But to be an advocate for a private interest first and then run for public office? I’m sorry, but that negates any claim to having any principles.

It means you don’t believe in anything.

The blame for all this lies with a leadership that is more interested in fielding candidates from their network of connections instead of those who might have a genuine interest in public policy, serving their constituents and the national interest.

Apparently, this has been reduced to mere self-interest. Whether it’s a judge’s wife getting a no-show job with the town or millions of dollars gifted to U.S. senators from foreign interests, nothing is sacred. No one seems to be able to say “no.”

And the New York State “Legislature” is loaded with fixers whose sole purpose is to foam the runway for local private interests.

Time was when people avoided doing certain things to avoid the mere appearance of impropriety. Today, they practically advertise it.

We have normalized what shouldn’t be tolerated.

You may not like Representative OcasioCortez’ politics, and that’s your right. But you’ll never find her taking money from pharma companies to block pricing reform or use her office to do certain “favors” for people. She can’t be bought, and that is why the New York Democratic Party establishment fears her.

Years ago, I read “The Woman Behind the New Deal,” a biography of Frances Perkins, FDR’s Secretary of Labor, from whom we get the term “Madam Secretary.”

Towards the end of the book, with WWII over and FDR’s passing, what was striking to me is how none of the former members of FDR’s cabinet leveraged their experience for personal gain or influence on behalf of others.

Some retired, some wrote histories of their experiences, others taught at colleges, and not even prestigious ones. No one gave a thought to monetizing their positions. And they had practically saved America and western civilization.

Today, that’s all been boiled down to the sight of a fat gibbering oaf sitting on a gold toilet bowl. This is what our public ethic has been reduced to. I can think of no better metaphor for the trajectory of this country.

Donald Davret Morristown

Sitting high atop a hill, the conveniently located and easily accessible Douglaston Manor is situated above the beautiful Douglaston Golf course. Featuring stunning views of the New York City Skyline, all of our impressive ballrooms are the perfect venue for your dream wedding, social and corporate events. And, our exquisitely manicured landscape and full patio access add to your guests’ experience.

At the Douglaston Manor we have always taken great pride in our exceptional service and ability to work within your budget. We know you want every detail to be perfect and our experienced banquet managers will make sure everything goes smoothly, from start to finish.

From an intimate gathering of 50, to a larger party of 350, Douglaston Manor has everything you need and dream of.

Book your visit today.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING

Branford Marsalis Quarter to headline first ever event at LIU

The first ever Tilles Jazz Fest was announced today, produced by Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The one-day event will take place on four stages including Tilles Center’s Concert Hall, across the beautiful Long Island University Post campus on July 20 with performances from 1 pm into the late evening.

Saxophonist, and one of the most influential and revered figures in jazz, Branford Marsalis headlines the event in a 7:30 pm concert in Tilles Center’s Concert Hall.

The NEA Jazz Master, Grammy Award winner, and Tony nominee will perform with his celebrated quartet. Eight other concerts will take place on stages across the verdant Long Island University Post campus, with outdoor Great Lawn and Rose Garden locations, as well as within the historic Winnick House, the original Post estate home.

Along with Marsalis, participating artists include Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble, a special project comprised of a stellar team of jazz musi-

cians featuring Tia Fuller, Dawn Clement, Mimi Jones and Jeff Lederer; innovative harpist Brandee Younger; rising star pianist Sean Mason and his Quartet; lyrical and swinging trombonist Mariel Bildstein; young jazz vibraphonist Jalen Baker leading his Duo; vocalist and composer Georgia Heers; and student ensembles.

Tilles Center Executive and Artistic Director Tom Dunn, said, “We’re thrilled to unveil this firstever and first-annual landmark event. In collaboration with our friends at Jazz at Lincoln Center, we’re set to transform the beautiful LIU Post campus into a vibrant hub of music and fun on July 20. It promises to be an unforgettable day for our entire community to celebrate summer with the joy of live jazz.”

In an event for the whole family, gates open at noon on July 20, with the first performance starting at 1 pm, and additional shows throughout the day.

Seating for all daytime events is general admission, and attendees are invited to bring picnics, blankets, and chairs. A jazz second line, led by trombonist Mariel Bildstein, will conclude the

daytime festivities that also include an instrument petting zoo, food trucks, and local artisans.

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Georgina Javor, vice president of Concerts and Touring, said, “We’re so pleased to extend our long-standing collaboration with Tilles Center to create this exciting new event, and the lineup of artists are a who’s who of established and upcoming talent.”

Dunn concluded, “Tilles Center continues to expand our connection with our community in new and exciting ways.

Thanks to our sponsors Sandy and Eric Krasnoff for their leadership support of LIU and Tilles Center’s Jazz Initiatives, our Jazz Fest outdoor Main Stage sponsor Dime Bank, and of course our 2023/24 Season Sponsor Catholic Health and many more contributors and patrons, our longplanned goal of launching a world-class summer jazz festival for our great Long Island community is becoming a reality.”

Tickets are on sale now to members and aubscribers through the Tilles Center Tantleff box office and go on sale to the general public on April 18tthrough all channels. “Daytime” Passes include

admission to the grounds and all events before 7pm (Adults $55, 18 & Under $20). “All Event”

Passes provide access to day events plus reserved seats for the evening Branford Marsalis performance (Regular Price $110, 18 & Under $75). “Evening Only” tickets are available for the Branford Marsalis event with individual ticket prices beginning at $35. Tilles Center Members & Subscribers save 10% off regular adult ticket prices.

Tickets for Tilles Center shows can be purchased online at tillescenter.org or ticketmaster. com, in-person at Tilles Center’s Tantleff Box Office or by telephone at 516.299.3100. The box office, located at 720 Northern Boulevard (Route 25A) in Brookville, New York, is open Monday to Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. Fees are associated with all orders. There are no refunds.

Tilles Jazz Fest is sponsored by Sandy and Eric Krasnoff, Catholic Health, and Dime Bank. With additional support was provided by Lisa and Brian Land and Jessica Brassler and George Kakoulides.

PHOTO BY ERIC RYAN ANDERSON

Branford Marsalis Quartet

Yiddish Theatre comes to Roslyn with live concert

Temple Beth Sholom of Roslyn Heights is bringing the Yiddish Theater to Long Island for an electrifying, theatrical concert on Monday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m.

give the children added support, such as one-toone tutoring from special-education teachers.”

And that is not all. It takes a village to ensure that all students make progress: from the temple’s Inclusion Committee members, who have raised funds and awareness, to the teens who aid classroom teachers and the high school seniors who “shadow” students.

This live show, called “Soul to Soul,” is a hit that has toured the country and made international appearances. Conceived by the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene’s artistic director Zalmen Mlotek, this high-energy concert with stirring songs in Yiddish (with supertitles) and in English, celebrates the historic partnership between African Americans and Jews during the Civil Rights Era.

The moving musical selections are accompanied by an interwoven narrative, complete with multimedia imagery and video.

“Our program is based on academics,” Solomon explained, “but there’s also a social element. Classmates see kids with special needs or requirements as part of the community and they’re very accepting and speak up on their behalf. There’s also a staffed resource room for students who need to take a break from their classroom.”.

Music and Lyrics

by Irving Berlin

Orchestrations by Larry Moore

Book by Herbert & Dorothy Fields

As Revised by Peter Stone Newly Refurbished Air-Conditioned Theater!

The very talented cast includes Lisa Fishman, Cantor Magda Fishman, Tony Perry, and Broadway veteran Elmore James. The show is especially relevant now, according to its creators, as it reflects the need for unity and healing in today’s world.

The award-winning NYTF, now in its 109th season, is the world’s oldest continuously operating Yiddish theatre company and the longest consecutively producing theatre in the United States.

The company, which resides in New York City at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, presents plays, musicals, concerts, lectures, and interactive workshops.

One of its recent productions, composer Barry Manilow and lyricist Bruce Sussman’s “Harmony,” a musical in English about a German male singing group forced to disband during the Holocaust, moved to Broadway last fall, where it ran for several months.

NYTF’s “Soul to Soul” one-night-only performance at Temple Beth Sholom on June 3 will benefit the synagogue’s ongoing inclusion efforts, which have enabled the religious school to accommodate special- needs children as well as those on the autism spectrum.

In fact, TBS has mainstreamed these students into its regular classes “to mirror the trend in public schools and in response to parents’ requests,” said educational director Sharon Solomon. “To make their transition successful, we

Another aspect of being an inclusive and welcoming congregation involves making the temple accessible to people with special physical needs, as it did by installing a ramp at the building’s Roslyn Road entrance, said Pearl Halegua, a former TBS president.

Other measures have included making restrooms at the synagogue fully accessible and purchasing prayer books with large type for the visually impaired.

Making the temple and religious school inclusive is an ongoing effort, which Halegua said requires designated funds each year.

Former TBS Rabbi Alan Lucas was a champion of the Inclusion Initiative and Rabbi Joshua Ben-Gideon, the temple’s new senior rabbi, is also highly supportive, she said, adding that Cantor Barnoy is a key member of the Inclusion Committee.

Temple Beth Sholom has the honor of bringing “Soul to Soul” to Long Island this spring. Please save the date of June 3rd for this compelling performance. For further information, or to become a concert sponsor, please contact the temple office at 516-621-2288 or email mainoffice@tbsroslyn.org.

Chairs of Temple Beth Sholom’s Inclusion Committee include left to right Cantor Offer Barnoy, Pearl Halegua, educational director Sharon Solomon, Jocelyn Wasserman, and Isaac Zivari. They look forward to bringing “Soul to Soul,” to Roslyn. The event, which is open to the public, is a benefit for the temple’s inclusion efforts.

LI Music Hall offering 2024 music scholarships

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame(LIMEHOF) is now accepting applications for its 2024 Student Scholarship program. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 10.

LIMEHOF will award $500 scholarships to graduating students. These scholarships will provide funding to eligible graduating high school students from Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens, or Kings (Brooklyn) Counties who have shown an interest in pursuing a career in music.

To apply and to read the eligibility requirements,please download the scholarship application. (https://www.limusichalloffame.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-Student-ScholarshipApplication.pdf)

Student Scholarships Applications Deadline: Friday, May 10.

All applications must be postmarked by the application due date to be accepted.

For more information about LIMHOF’s education recognition programs, contact Tom Needham, education advisory board chairman at info@limusichalloffame.org.More information about LIMEHOF’s Education programs may be found at https://www.limusichalloffame.org/scholarshipsgrants/

The LIMEHOF Education Committee will base selections on the completed application and the following:

• 400-to-500-word essay on education and career goals.

• High school transcript.

• Letter of recommendation from an individual who can attest to the applicant’s commitment to a career in music.

Eligibility criteria is:

• Graduating high school senior from Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, or Kings (Brooklyn) Counties.

• Minimum 2.5 GPA.

• Accepted full-time at an accredited college or university.

• Demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in music.

• Financial need.

• U.S. citizen or legal resident with I-55 permanent residency.

Don’t miss your opportunity to submit your nominations for the Top Business Leaders 2024.

Blank Slate Media is recognizing the most influential and accomplished individuals in business, finance, education, law, not-for-profit, and media who continue to find ways to lead and inspire.

To nominate, or to find out details on how to be a corporate sponsor visit www.theisland360.com/nassau-countys-top-business-leaders

Friends of the Library book, author luncheon

The Friends of the Library will hold its 55th Annual Book & Author Luncheon on Friday, May 10 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at The Garden City Hotel, featuring Ilyon Woo, author of the nonfiction bestseller “Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom,” one of The New York Times10 Best Books of 2023.

She will appear in conversation with Port’s own Kelly McMasters, a bestselling memoirist, editor and Hofstra professor.

Event sponsorships and individual tickets can be purchased online at pwpl.org/fol/reserve or patrons can pick up a reservation brochure in the library. The Luncheon is the FOL’s sole fundraising event.

Tickets are $125 per person. Sponsorships begin at $250. Sponsors enjoy prominent seating, a signed copy of the featured book, inclusion on signage at the event and in thank-you ads, and other benefits. Reserve early to guarantee seating!

“We are so excited to feature Ilyon Woo, who with just her second book has reached a level of acclaim few writers of history achieve,” said FOL President Pamela O’Connell. “Master Slave Husband Wife” tells the remarkable true story of Ellen and William Craft who escaped slavery in 1848 through daring, determination, and disguise, with Ellen passing as a wealthy, disabled White man and William posing as “his” slave.

It is one of the most inspiring self-emanci-

pation stories in American history and already a classic in the literature of slavery

McMasters is an accomplished essayist, professor, mother, and former bookshop owner.

She is the author most recently of “The Leaving Season: A Memoir-in-Essays (2023).” Her first book was “Welcome to Shirley: A Memoir from an Atomic Town (2008),” which was turned into an acclaimed documentary film.

She is currently an associate professor of English and director of publishing studies at Hofstra University.

For further information email fol@pwpl.org.

Symphony of Hope at the Tilles Center in May

The public is warmly invited to participate in an inspirational evening of music set to take place on May 2nd at 8 pm at the Tilles Center’s Krasnoff Theater.

Beyond the artistry shared, the evening will serve as a means to support two outstanding institutions: The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center.

The concert will showcase special guests from JAMD, a school in Israel currently facing a funding crisis due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas War.

Two students, one Jewish and one Arab, will accompany one of the music selections, sending a powerful message of unity through music. Mi-

chael Klinghoffer, the President of JAMD, will also attend the event, further emphasizing the importance of this benefit concert.

The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center, a nonprofit educational organization, is another beneficiary. HMTC educates students on the atrocities of the Holocaust and the importance of tolerance and respect for all people.

Funds from the concert will aid in their mission to enlighten minds and promote a world free from hate and prejudice.

“This spectacular event is a golden opportunity for community members to support these organizations. By attending the Symphony of Hope Concert, our community will not just enjoy an evening of incredible music, but will be helping JAMD and HMTC continue their essential work,” stated David Winkler, composer and executive and artistic director of Chamber Players International.

Organizers strongly encourage sponsorship opportunities, which not only provide necessary funding for these organizations but also bring visibility to a commitment to tolerance, respect, and the arts.

If a sponsorship is not possible, patrons are urged to purchase tickets for themselves and their loved ones.

The organizations involved encourage all to attend the Symphony of Hope benefit concert on May 2nd at 8 pm at the Krasnoff Theater, Tilles Center, emphasizing it as an opportunity to come together for an evening of unity, music, and hope. For more information, including details on tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please visit hmtcli.org/events/lico

Featured author Ilyon Woo

PHOTO BY ROBERTO RICCI

Long Island Concert Orchestra music director and conductor, Enrico Fagone, will lead the orchestra in presenting Symphony of Hope.

Fri 4/12

Fleetwood Macked

The Ultimate Tribute to Fleetwood Mac: The Warehouse welcomes back

Fleetwood Macked and Echoes of the Eagles! @ 6:30pm

The Warehouse, 203 Broadway, Amityville

Dave Matthews Tribute Band @ 7pm

Mulcahy's Pub and Concert Hall, 3232 Railroad Ave, Wan‐tagh

The Whiskey Crows: Whiskey Crows Live! @ 8pm

Nutty Irishman, 323 Main St, Farmingdale

Sat 4/13

John Maurice Restrepo: John Maurice Trio @ Primi Italian Steakhouse @ 7pm

Primi Italian Steakhouse, 999 Montauk Hwy, West Islip

Justin Willman @ 7pm / $25-$59.50

The Paramount, Huntington

Poetica Musica: A Thousand Years of French Music @ 7:30pm / $30

Experience a delightful musical tour exploring the history of France from Medieval times to the present in the Red Ballroom of Westbury House. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old West‐bury Road, Old West‐bury. mramirez@old westburygardens.org, 516-333-0048

The Benderz @ 10:30pm Nutty Irishman, 323 Main St, Farmingdale

Sun 4/14

2024 Cornell vs Notre Dame @ 1pm Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium, 720 Northern Blvd, Brookville

Soundscapes of Mridangam - Akshay Anantapadmanabhan @ 4pm

Shri Saneeswara Temple, 1616 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park

Discussion/Book signing with “The Supermajority...” author Michael Waldman @ 3pm

Discussion/Book sign‐ing with “The Superma‐jority...” author Michael Waldman, moderated by NY1 News anchor Errol Louis. Michael Waldman explores the tumultuous 2021-2022 Supreme Court term. Refreshments Temple Emanuel of Great Neck, 150 Hicks Lane, Great Neck. missy150@opti mum.net, 516-482-5701

“Trinity Church’s Gilded Age Personalities" by Jean Henning @ 3pm / Free

Join Jean Henning as she tours Trinity Epis‐copal Church, illustrat‐ing how its rich history continues to inspire and captivate the Roslyn and Long Island communities. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1579 Northern Boule‐vard, Roslyn. info@ roslynlandmarks.org, 516-625-4363

Ari Shaf�r: Wrong Side of History Tour @ 8pm / $30-$55

The Paramount, Hunt‐ington

Bobby Rush @ 8pm NYCB Theatre At Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd, Westbury

Buddy Guy @ 8pm Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury South

101 Independent Projects (10 wks) @ 10am / $505

Apr 15th - Jun 24th

The Long Island Academy of Fine Art, 14 Glen Street, SUITE 305, Glen Cove. 516-590-4324

Sunday Apr 14th

13th annual All Kids Fair @ 10am / $5

Samanea New York Mall, 1500 Old Country Road, Westbury. 516-621-1446

An amazing day for one low price! 80+ family-centered exhibitors, three bounce houses, face painters, photo booth, balloon artists, cotton candy, characters, many activity areas and much more.

UBS Arena, Belmont ParkLong Island

The Wall�owers @ 8pm / $25-$75

The Paramount, Huntington

401 Instructed Open Studio (10 wks) @ 10am / $505

Apr 18th - Jun 27th

The Long Island Academy of Fine Art, 14 Glen Street, SUITE 305, Glen Cove. 516-590-4324

Mon 4/15 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Tue 4/16

201 Drawing & Painting (11 wks), 4 hours @ 10am / $720

Apr 16th - Jun 25th

The Long Island Academy of Fine Art, 14 Glen Street, SUITE 305, Glen Cove. 516-590-4324

Adult Lecture: Social Dance Crazes of the early 20th Century @ 7pm / $15

Swing through turn of the century "dance crazes," with Celia Ipi‐tois, producer of the premiere dance video series, EYE ON DANCE. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury. mramirez@oldwestbury gardens.org, 516-3330048

Fri 4/19

Lauren Jaimes @ 7pm Lilly's of Long Beach, 954 W Beech St, Long Beach

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Wed 4/17

Fiona Davis Book Signing @ 6:30pm / Free

Join us for this special author event in which Fiona Davis will discuss her latest novel The Spectacular with a book signing to follow. Mineola Memorial Li‐brary, 195 Marcellus Road, Mineola New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins @ 7pm / $20-$200

First LI Concert with Laivy, Son of Matisyahu, Exclusively at Buddha Jams Bare‐foot Concert Series @ 4pm / $20

Apr 18th - Apr 19th

First Long Island Con‐cert with Laivy, Son of Matisyahu, Exclusively at Buddha Jams Bare‐foot Concert Series

Buddha Jams Yoga, 192 Glen Street, Glen Cove. jason@buddha jams.com, 516-5487168

Stretch The Mozzarella Party @ 7pm / Free Mulcahy's, Wantagh

Thu 4/18 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

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Trey Kennedy: Grow Up @ 7pm / $39.50-$75.50

Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, Westbury

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MIKE DELGUIDICE: The Residency Continues @ 8pm / $20-$60

The Paramount, Hunt‐ington

Tony Bennett tributes at Elmont Memorial

Plaza Theatrical Productions presents Peter Fogel’s ‘Til Death Do Us Part…You

First!’ on Sunday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m. at the Elmont Memorial Library Theater at 700 Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont. Tickets are $40, $35.00 for seniors. plus $5.00 ticket processing fees.

Fogel brings a hilarious autobiographical tale. Eternal bachelor Fogel has major commitment issues as the love of his life has just

broken up with him on Valentine’s Day.

He senses his own mortality and after much soul searching he decides to revisit the scene of all his romantic disasters.

Fogel’s signature wit, along with riotous relatable characters, takes us on a whirlwind comedic journey of searching for his soul mate and the meaning of a real commitment.

Fogel laments: “The longest relationship I’ve had in my entire life….is with T-Mobile!

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Blakeman’s own militia: What could go wrong

Continued from Page 14

Comprised of former members of the German army and barroom brawlers that came together in the early 1920s, the Brownshirts protected Hitler at Nazi rallies and assemblies, disrupted the meetings of opposing parties and intimidated others, especially Jews.

The Sturmabteilung, or stormtroopers as Brownshirts were officially known, didn’t actually participate in the Holocaust.

The SS replaced them after Hitler’s release

from jail in 1925.

Is the hiring of special deputy sheriffs cause for concern for another Holocaust? No.

But then again millions of Jews and nonJews lost their lives by underestimating the threat posed by Hitler, the Brownshirts, and all those who supported the Nazis.

In that context, it doesn’t seem unreasonable for residents and elected officials to express concerns when they see an unnecessary unit of armed people created for questionable purposes in a time of rising antisemitism.

This is especially true when we now know the armed Trump supporters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6 included white supremacists and neo-Nazis.

Some wore shirts with “Camp Auschwitz” and “6MNE” – Six Million Is Not Enough” — written on them. Some were former members of the police or military and even current members of law enforcement.

Great Neck resident Sabine Margolis started a petition last week that demands Blakeman’s program be suspended. By Friday, the

petition had received more than 900 signatures.

On Monday, Nassau County legislators held a rally in opposition to the program joined by residents, former law enforcement officials, the New York Civil Liberties Union, the National Organization of Women and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Hiring armed civilians under the county executive’s control is a bad idea for almost too many reasons to count.

Blakeman should drop the program now.

Bitching about taxes? Support Biden’s fair-tax reforms

Continued from Page 16

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Billionaires Income Tax Act to close loopholes that let the wealthiest Americans avoid paying their fair share in taxes: “buy” (assets that appreciate in value), “borrow” (against the asset’s growing, untaxed value to fund their extravagant lifestyle instead of earning actual taxable income), and “die” (pass assets to benefi ciaries tax-free). Indeed, the average tax rate of the top 1% is just 8%, a fraction of what fi refi ghters and teachers pay. Her proposal would apply to taxpayers with more than $1 billion in assets or more than $100 million in income for three consecutive years. https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/imo/

media/doc/billionaires_income_tax_one_pager.pdf)

Here’s another idea: a refi nement of the Alternative Minimum Tax on these folks tied to what they spend – after all, they have to have gotten the money from somewhere. This might be an adaptation of the Value Added Tax system used in 170 countries including Europe.

President Biden has a detailed, workable fair-tax plan, incorporated into his proposed 2025 budget, which is calculated to reduce the national debt by $3 trillion over the next decade and notably would not raise taxes on anyone earning less than $400,000 a year:

Make Big Corporations Pay Their Fair Share: Raise the corporate tax rate to 28%

and the corporate minimum tax to 21%. Deny corporations a tax deduction when they pay over $1 million to any employee. Quadruple the stock buyback tax from 1% to 4%. Crack down on corporate jet loopholes. And Biden wants for-profi t commercial space companies like SpaceX to start paying aviation excise taxes to support the air traffic control system like the rest of the aviation industry.

Make the Wealthy Pay Their Fair Share: Require the wealthiest 0.01 percent – those with wealth of more than $100 million — to pay at least 25 percent of income in taxes. Increase the Medicare tax rate on income above $400,000, close loopholes that allow some high-paid professionals and wealthy business

owners to avoid the tax, and direct all Medicare tax revenue into the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund as was originally intended. Ensure that the IRS can continue to collect taxes owed by wealthy tax cheats.

I would add: raise or eliminate the cap on income for the Social Security 6.2% tax, now $168,600 (it has been raised each year since 2016 when it was $118,500); if eliminated, the tax could be lowered for everyone.

Cut Taxes for Working Families and the Middle Class: Increase the Child Tax Credit for 66 million children. Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to benefi t 19 million working-class Americans. Make lower ACA health insurance premiums permanent.

Judge denies Blakeman request on trans ban TRO

Continued from Page 6

The ban only applies to transgender girls and women since Blakeman said there is no advantage for transgender boys and men to compete on boys’ and men’s teams.

Blakeman said he is not aware of any incidents involving transgender athletes in Nassau County, but the purpose of his order is to get the county “ahead of the curve.”

James assailed the executive order as discriminatory.

“The law is perfectly clear: you cannot discriminate against a person because of their gender identity or expression. We have no room for hate or bigotry in New York,” James said. “This executive order is transphobic and blatantly illegal. Nassau County must immediately rescind the order or we will not hesitate to take decisive legal action.”

The cease-and-desist letter, signed by the attorney general’s Civil Rights Bureau Chief Sandra Park, said the executive order violates New York State anti-discrimination laws in discriminating against transgender women and girls.

James’ office said the executive order “effectively prohibits” transgender girls and women from

participating on teams that coincide with their gender.

Blakeman in turn sued James for attempting to block his executive order in U.S. District Court, claiming that the anti-discrimination laws of New York violate the U.S. Constitution and asking the judge to prevent James from pursuing legal action.

Choudhury denied this suit, citing the Constitution’s 11th Amendment blocking local governments from suing the state government in federal court and a lack of legal standing for Blakeman’s suit.

“There are no facts in the record showing that any specific cisgender woman or girl in Nassau County will face imminent injury in an athletic event involving a transgender woman or girl on Nassau County Parks property if the executive order is invalidated,” Choudhury wrote.

A decision will be made on James’s request to dismiss the county’s lawsuit entirely later in April, the judge said.

In tandem with the attorney general’s lawsuit against the county, a Massapequa woman’s roller derby group – called the Long Island Roller Rebels – has also filed a suit against the executive order alleging discrimination.

Suozzi meets Zelensky in Ukraine to talk U.S. aid

Continued from Page 12

statement, referring to the Russian president. “I am more convinced than ever that he must be stopped and that aiding Ukraine is central to the United States’ strategic and financial interests. I will carry that message forward in Washington this week.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson(R-La.) is facing pressure to follow through on promises to pass new aid for Ukraine as Congress returns from a twoweek recess this week.

The Senate approved a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in February that Johnson rejected. Johnson has held that he won’t support new Ukraine aid without passing tough U.S. border policies. He has not released details on the specifics of a new aid package.

Some Republican legislators are against sending more aid to Ukraine or have said they care more about sending aid to Israel instead.

Far right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)

berated Johnson while a guest on Tucker Carlson’s show on X and agreed with Carlson that the speaker is putting the priorities of Ukraine above the priorities of the United States.

But pressure is mounting as Democrat legislators argue that Ukraine can’t hold out much longer without additional U.S. aid.

“The Ukrainians are running out of time, and we must act within the next two weeks,” Suozzi said in a statement.

He defeated Republican-backed opponent Mazi Melesa Pilip in a special election in February to claim the 3rd Congressional District seat of disgraced former Rep. George Santos, flipping the congressional district from Republican to Democrat.

His win represented the first significant victory in a major race for Nassau Democrats in three years, just months after Republicans swept elections throughout Long Island in November.

Suozzi served in the House for three terms from

January 2017 to January 2023, representing the 3rd Congressional District. Previously, he served as Nassau County executive from 2002 to 2009 and the mayor of Glen Cove from 1994 to 2001.

The congressman described the situation in Ukraine as devastating: 100,000 soldiers and civilians have been killed, 10 million people have been forced to leave their homes and 20,000 children have been kidnapped and sent to Russia, he said.

Suozzi said he visited with residents who had been held hostage, families whose homes and churches had been destroyed, farmers who found mines in their fields and journalists whose colleagues have been killed.

Zelensky “first and foremost expressed his gratitude to the American people,” Suozzi said in a statement. “He then made it clear that the situation now in Ukraine is dire. Ukraine must be resupplied, and if they are, they can and will stop Putin.”

Zelensky wrote about his meeting with the del-

egation on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I emphasized the vital need for the United States Congress to promptly adopt a decision to further support our state, providing an appropriate package to protect against Russian terror and enable us to continue our dynamic actions,” Zelensky wrote.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wrote a letter to senators Friday, emphasizing the need for additional aid to Ukraine. He said the Senate bill on that aid has sat on the speaker’s desk for more than 50 days, and the longer it sits unpassed, the more desperate Ukraine becomes.

“I have spoken with Speaker Johnson, and I believe that he understands the threat of further delaying the national security supplemental,” Schumer said. “However, Speaker Johnson has to ultimately decide for himself whether or not he will do the right thing for Ukraine, for America and for democracy around the world.”

Dem legislators protest Blakeman’s ‘private army’

Continued from Page 12

“We’re here today because an idea of deputizing a private army with citizens is a terrible one for two simple reasons, in my opinion,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “No. 1, we don’t need it. We have one of the best police forces in the nation. And No. 2, we don’t want it.”

Nassau County is rated the safest county in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report.

And the Nassau Police Department is wellfunded. In Nassau, 971 county workers earned more than $200,000 in 2022, with 942 of these 971 highest paid employees working for police or corrections, according to Newsday.

But Blakeman seeks to expand county law enforcement by bringing in emergency special deputy sheriffs to provide protection during county-wide emergencies.

“Some people belittle how much money and time we spend on training and going through all of our emergency operations,” Blakeman said at a press conference in Mineola Friday afternoon about the day’s earthquake. “You never know what you’ll wake up to in the morning.”

A Nassau County ad called for county property or business owners, specifically former law enforcement and military veterans, to apply to the emergency sheriff position.

The posting comes after the Nassau Police Department reported a 6.5% drop in major crimes over the first 11 months of 2023, as well as a 12.9% drop in all crime in January 2024.

The implementation of the special deputy sheriffs was not sought out through legislative or union approval, according to Newsday, and many legislators were unaware of the new positions until the newspaper inquired.

The application deadline was March 31. It is not known how many individuals applied and how many sheriffs the county would like to hire.

Efforts to reach Blakeman were unavailing.

Nassau County already employs around 60 deputy sheriffs under the Sheriff’s Department, according to Newsday. These deputy sheriffs do not respond to 911 calls, but they do execute warrants, serve court orders and conduct evictions.

DeRiggi-Whitton said she spoke with current county officers who oppose the deputy sheriff program.

“I have been approached by so many different police officers and from not only Nassau County, but from Glen Cove and other areas, and they’re very concerned about this,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “And the No. 1 reason is it’s hard enough in an emergency situation. If there’s someone there that they’re not familiar with and doesn’t identify themselves correctly, it could be a disaster.”

Susan Gottehrer, the director of the Nassau County NYCLU Chapter, questioned the logistics of the emergency deputy sheriff program. She asked if the sheriffs will be visibly identified with uniforms, who will command the sheriffs, how much training the sheriffs will receive, whether the sheriffs will be given other weapons upon hiring such as tasers or batons and if the sheriffs will be required to wear body cameras.

Like other legislators and speakers at the rally, Gottehrer said she wanted to know the definition of a county emergency according to Blakeman.

“[As] a parent of a young man, a young black man, who sometimes wants to wear a hood. God forbid a young man wearing a hood is out about minding his business during this so-called state of emergency,” Legislator Carrié Solages (D-Valley

Stream) said. “And God forbid an overzealous, George Zimmerman type of person chooses to think that that young man is a danger.”

Zimmerman is a former neighborhood-watch volunteer who fatally shot an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin, in Florida in 2012.

“We cannot allow this to happen. This is not Florida. This is Nassau County,” said Barbara Powell, president of the NAACP Hempstead branch. “We do not want people running around here preying on anyone, let alone the black and the brown people walking around minding their business.”

Legislators questioned the financial cost of the emergency sheriff program, claiming that the funding would come from taxpayer dollars.

Residents at the rally worried about the potential of a “citizen army” and said they could not think of any county emergency in which a special deputy sheriff program would be warranted.

“We have plenty of police officers and the National Guard if needed,” said Dana, a Nassau County resident who wished to keep her last name anonymous. “It is horrible to think about [the deputy sheriff program] happening in Nassau County, a place where we love to live.”

PHOTO BY KAREN RUBIN

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order that bars transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams at county facilities.

Business&RealEstate

Pros, cons of new disclosure statement

For those realtors who have not yet signed up for the Property Condition Disclosure Statement presentation by our LIBOR attorney, then they should sign up ASAP!

Most consumers and homeowners aren’t aware of the new revised and updated law which can greatly impact their sale and sale price.

Lastly, some know about the new Property Condition Disclosure Statement Law that was enacted, (replacing the original 2002 law) recently passed in the state Legislature.

Gov. Hochul signed it into law on Sept. 22, 2023. It became effective on March 20, and situations have been radically altered for Realtors, sellers, and buyers; but favoring buyers considerably more.

The old law said that if a seller did not fill out the 48 questionnaire form on the previous Property Condition Disclosure Statement, (as most attorneys told them not to), they would have to pay $500 at the closing.

This didn’t protect them against future lawsuits by the purchaser due to defects in their home; especially since the disclosure wasn’t completed.

What’s now changed is that if your home wasn’t in a fully executed contract, (e.g. signed by the purchaser and seller) by that latter date, then the new and updated law now obligated all sellers of residential properties in New York State to fill out the new 55 question form; seven new questions were added concerning flood hazard issues.

Moreover, this was mandatory and had to be completed and provided to the seller or buyer’s attorney before emailing the contract.

Although there is some time spent by the seller to meticulously and carefully complete the PCDS, the bonus and icing on the cake enables them to earn and keep the $500.

The seller is no longer responsible for paying the additional monies at their closing. Previously, not filling out the PCDS form was the only reason by law that a seller had to pay the $500 at the closing.

More importantly, most attorneys had advised their sellers, not to fill out the form, and pay the $500, so they wouldn’t open themselves up to potential lawsuits.

Personally and professionally,

had been truthful and forthright in their efforts to answer all the questions, paying the $500?

More importantly, if a lawsuit were to commence, I would surmise that the buyer and his or her lawyer would have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the seller had purposely and intentionally hid facts about defects in and around their home.

The bottom line is that the sellers are paid $500 per hour, as savings when filling out the mandatory and required form; which generally takes no more than 1 hour or less to complete.

However, there are 14 exceptions to the rule in certain specific situations and they are as follows:

There are nine additional exceptions to the new law, which you can ascertain and find at casetext.com under the N.Y. Real Prop. Law§463.

The new law protects the sometimes unwary purchaser from a few sellers who just might be hiding some serious issues or possibly might not even know what defects might be in their home.

I thought it was not the best approach for the seller if they were candid, upfront, and transparent with properly answering the PCDS.

Furthermore, I also believe that most attorneys didn’t want to have to represent and deal with any after-the-fact and subsequent lawsuits against their former clients related to those non-completed PCDS.

What judge or jury would consider convicting a seller, if they

∙Court transfer order by a probate court in dealing with the administration of a decedent’s estate.

∙ Transfer under a writ of execution.

∙ Transfer by a trustee in bankruptcy or debt or in possession.

∙ A transfer as a result of exercising the power of eminent domain.

∙ A transfer due to a decree for a specific performance contract or agreement by 2 or more persons.

So hiring a home inspector might be your best, safest, and most prudent investment if your home is 20 years or older; to know and understand what issues there are in your home and fix and repair them, as well as decrease the opportunity for a purchaser in reducing their offer as well as avoiding any potential lawsuits in the future.

Philip A. Raices is the owner / Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite180 in Great Neck. For a15-minute consultation, value analysis of your home, or to answer any of your questions or concerns he can be reached by cell: (516) 6474289 or by email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.Com or via https://WWW. Li-RealEstate.Com

MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION (MFA)

Most likely, you are already using MFA. If you’ve received an email that sends you a code to enter, or a text message that dings to alert you to take action, that is MFA. The common thread is they require additional proof of identity, beyond the log-in, when accessing sensitive information.

With cybercrime now exploding, small and midsize businesses (SMBs) must be proactive to protect their critical data. This includes access to their networks, accounting systems and operational systems, hosted both locally and in the cloud. Every SMB has its own considerations. Some need email encryption, most need secure VPNs to support remote workers.

Sandwire advises and implements robust cybersecurity services to shield SMBs from harm. MFA is but one arrow in our quiver.

Business&RealEstate

Sassouni presents at school law conference

Rebecca Sassouni, of counsel to Wisselman Harounian Family Law, recently presented on the subject of, “Striking a Balance: Where Mental Health and Restorative Practices Intersect with Student Disciplinary Hearings” during a plenary session of the Nassau Suffolk Academies of Law Annual School Law Conference.

Sassouni devotes her private practice in Carle Place to representing students of all ages and abilities with family and school-related

matters, such as special education, identity, discipline, identity, tuition, residence and custody.

Sassouni was also recently bestowed with the annual Multi-Cultural Council of New York Women’s award for her legal and not-for-profit advocacy on behalf of women, children, and marginalized communities.

For more information call (516)773-8300 or visit www.lawjaw.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA SASSOUNI

President Rebecca Sassouni.

Robert J. Mitchell CPA, EA

Theresa Hornberger CPA

Marvin Goodman CPA, (ret)

NHP squatters seek to become heirs of home

BY TAYLOR HERZLICH

The Porsche-driving squatters accused of occupying 39 Brussel Drive in New Hyde Park since August without a valid lease filed an affidavit demanding they be made heirs to the property April 1, according to legal documents.

The move comes a month after Nassau County District Judge Christopher Coschignano ordered the squatters to be evicted.

Prior to demanding heirship, one of the squatters, Margaret Grover, filed a police report March 2 claiming she saw neighbor Jerry Jacob, one of the many nearby residents frustrated by the squatters, with a gun while he was exiting his vehicle, according to legal documents.

“We’re all extremely frustrated and we cannot believe the shenanigans that they’re playing and they’re not even law-abiding, tax-paying citizens,” Jacob told Blank Slate Media.

Jacob said he filed a complaint with the district attorney about the fake police report, which he believes is retaliation, and sent videos to the district attorney and Nassau County Police Department showing he was in his home at the time Grover pulled up to the property and claimed he was outside with a gun.

Grover was arrested the same day she filed the report for a long-expired driver’s license, according to police records.

The squatters, Grover, 19, and Denton Gayle, 29, filed the affidavit for heirship in an attempt to stop the bank, which owns the property at 39

Brussel Drive, from foreclosing on the property, according to legal documents.

“We believe all loans/mortgages are satisfied as attached & we have a rent to own since June 1st, 2023,” Grover and Gayle wrote in the affidavit papers.

Neighbors said they presume the affidavit is an attempt to prolong the eviction process, since the eviction requires a bank title, which is secured through foreclosure.

The couple also wrote that they have been “maintaining and improving the property” since June.

Grover and Gayle first moved in to the home at 39 Brussel Drive, which was foreclosed in 2013, in August. The couple brought along their baby, dog and Porsche Cayenne.

Since the bank owning the property changed in recent years, the foreclosure is technically still in progress, Jacob said.

Police were alerted to the inadequate living conditions at the foreclosed home and investigated the property in October, Jacob said, when officers discovered the home had no electricity, hot water or plumbing.

Both squatters were charged with endangering the welfare of a child and pleaded not guilty. Gayle was also charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest.

The Town of North Hempstead Building Department determined the home had failed its

Continued on Page 39

Nassau shaken in 4.8 magnitude earthquake

BY TAYLOR HERZLICH

Long Islanders felt shaking Friday morning after a reported earthquake north of Whitehouse Station in New Jersey, approximately 45 miles from Manhattan.

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake was reported at 10:23 a.m. by the United States Geological Survey.

“My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day,” Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

New York State residents received a public alert on their phones at 12:05 p.m. warning that aftershocks may occur.

There have been no reports of structural damage throughout the county, Nassau Executive Bruce Blakeman said at a press conference in Mineola this afternoon.

The Department of Public Works has not reported any incidents throughout the county, Blakeman said.

Blakeman said the Atlantic Beach and the Bayville Bridge

Blakeman said his office has been in contact with employees at the police department, the fire department, emergency services, National Grid, PSEG, Veolia Water, Nassau Medical Center, the correctional center and the temporary cricket stadium, all of whom reported no structural damages.

were being inspected as he spoke at the press conference around 12:30 p.m.

Blakeman said the county spoke with a geologist from the United States Geological Department who said that while aftershocks might occur, they will not be nearly as severe as the earthquake and are not likely to cause damages.

Continued on Page 45

CRYSTALLIZE FINE MINERAL SPECIMENS

GRAND OPENING!

Crystallize is a new ne mineral gallery in Rosyln Village, located at 19 Main Street. We are focused on Fine Minerals for the beginner to advanced collector, as well as beautiful decor for the home.

All ages are welcome to enjoy the gallery!

Mention this ad for a free crystal on your rst visit.

Open by appointment only. Please message or call Alex and Ian at 914-357-1366 to schedule a private showing.

SCREENCAP BY TAYLOR HERZLICH

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman shares earthquake updates at a press conference in Mineola Friday afternoon.

Notice of Formation of Penha Advisory LLC. Articles of Organization filed

Benjamin D. Hicks: An advocate for creating Nassau

BY JENNIFER LISTER

Nassau County celebrates its 125th anniversary this year with educational events commemorating its extensive and illustrious history.

glected by the Queens County government centered in the west. Hicks, along with other prominent figures, believed a separate county would better serve the eastern communities’ needs.

Benjamin Hicks, in 1854. Walter Hicks took ownership in 1878 and named it the “Walter Hicks’ Grist Mill.”

Notice of Formation of Lisa Penha Experiential Marketing & Communications, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/27/2023. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Lisa Penha: 72 Ivy Way. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

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The region now known as Nassau County was originally inhabited by Indigenous tribes such as the Marsapeque, Matinecoc, and Sacatogue. Dutch settlers began to colonize the area in the early 1600s as part of the New Netherland colony, followed by English settlers in the mid- to late 1600s.

Nassau County officially came into existence in 1899, after the three towns within its boundaries sought independence from Queens’ jurisdiction.

During this transitional period, when Queens became a borough of New York City, a significant figure rose to the occasion: Benjamin Doughty Hicks (18361906), known throughout his life as Benjamin D. Hicks.

Benjamin D. Hicks was the nephew of Isaac Hicks, who founded Hicks Nurseries in 1853.

The Westbury nursery is still owned by the Hicks family and run by Stephen Hicks, a sixth generation descendant.

Hicks tirelessly advocated for secession through countless defeats and setbacks.

After the bill failed to pass in Albany in May of 1877, “Hicks, in a long public letter blamed the defeat on ‘selfish politicians, both on Long Island and at Albany…’ (Mohan, Geoffrey. “Nassau’s Difficult Birth: Eastern Towns of Queens Win the Fight to Separate After Six Decades of Wrangling” (Long Island, Our Story, Newsday, pp. A16-A17, A53-A54).”

On January 22, 1898, Hicks chaired and moderated the Mineola meeting that planned the creation of Nassau County.

Benjamin D. Hicks and his wife Alice purchased the Mill from Walter Hicks on August 8, 1887. Together they owned the Roslyn Grist Mill for five years until 1892.

The final Hicks family owners of the Roslyn Grist Mill, Isaac Hicks and his wife Ida, signed over the Mill for $1 on April 29, 1916, to five trustees (Harold Godwin, John H. Love, Henry Waldbridge, Gerald L. Eastman, and Albertson Hicks) to restore the Mill into a museum. In 1976, when Nassau County acquired the Roslyn Grist Mill, the 1916 trust agreement signed by Isaac and Ida Hicks was included in the transaction.

held in July 2023 at the Roslyn Mill site, underscored the project’s significance and Nassau County’s substantial investment in the project.

He emphasized the importance of preserving historical sites like the Roslyn Grist Mill, stating, “money cannot buy what you have here. It is an important archeological site. It is an important historical site. I am just so pleased as a student of history to be part of this.”

Nassau County Executive Blakeman even challenged the Roslyn Landmark Society to complete Phase II by 2025, coinciding with the county’s 125th anniversary – a fitting tribute to Hicks and his contributions to the Roslyn community.

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In 1870, Benjamin D. Hicks moved from Manhattan to Westbury at the age of 34. From 1870 to 1898, Benjamin D. Hicks was instrumental in the New York State Republican Party and was the leading advocate to separate the Towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay from Queens County.

After almost thirty years of losing battles, Hicks’ determination bore fruit when Governor Frank Black, a friend of Hicks, signed the bill to create Nassau County on April 27,1898, becoming effective on Jan. 1, 1899. Hicks’ role was pivotal during this moment in Long Island history; he recognized the need for a more responsive local government and championed the cause for his community.

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The Hicks family has a long history of serving the Long Island community; for 67 years members of the family owned and operated the Roslyn Grist Mill, from 1849 to 1916.

On April 27, 1875, Hicks chaired a meeting to take preliminary steps to form a new county.

Residents in the eastern portion of Long Island, including Roslyn, felt ne-

The first member of the Hicks family to purchase a share of the Roslyn Grist Mill was Oyster Bay resident and owner of J. Hicks & Sons Lumber Yard in Hempstead Harbor, Joseph Hicks.

Joseph purchased the Mill in two installments in April and August of 1849 before selling half of the Mill to his son,

Benjamin D. Hicks’ involvement with the Roslyn Grist Mill demonstrates his understanding of the importance of local infrastructure, while his advocacy for a separate county showcases his commitment to responsive government.

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The meticulously restored Roslyn Grist Mill stands as a distinguished landmark, offering educational enrichment and community engagement.

The Roslyn Grist Mill stands as a poignant testament to these enduring values, honoring the aspirations of Roslyn’s forefathers.

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The current restoration of the Roslyn Grist Mill contributes another dimension to the narrative of the Hicks family.

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When you visit Roslyn later this year, you can witness the reinstallation of the shingled siding, the addition of a new roof, and preparations for reproduced milling equipment.

The completion of these tasks signifies the conclusion of Phase II of the Roslyn Grist Mill’s rehabilitation and introduction of an opportunity for restricted access to the general public.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, speaking at a press conference

This transformation owes its realization to the support of Blakeman and esteemed community stakeholders. Their collective efforts ensure that visitors will embark on a local journey, tracing the artistry of milling, the rich history of Roslyn, and its indispensable role in the development of Nassau County 125 years ago.

Undoubtedly, the narrative of Benjamin D. Hicks and the Hicks family will contribute to this history, further enhancing our understanding of the region’s cultural legacy.

“The Hicks family and Hicks Nurseries have been a part of the fabric of Nassau County since its founding,” said Stephen Hicks. “Over the ensuing 125 years, our business has adapted and changed along with Nassau as it has grown into the prosperous suburban county that it is today. We look forward to being a part of this community for the next 125 years.”

NHP squatters seek to become heirs of home

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Continued from Page 38

inspection and was unlivable without working bathrooms.

After the couple was arrested and removed from the home in October, they presented a two-year lease beginning June 1 for the home in court, claiming they had been illegally locked out of the home by the landlord, Edward Iacono. But Iacono had died in 2016.

In December, Coschignano granted the couple occupancy of the home.

For months, neighbors have faced a legal gridlock over the illegal occupancy.

They won a small victory when Coschignano reversed his initial decision March 6 and ordered the squatters to be evicted.

However, since the warrant of eviction had not yet been provided to police as of March 25, cops have been unable to evict the squatters, neighbor Al Moline said. The sheriff ’s department received the warrant sometime after March 25, Jacob said.

The squatters have been issued a 14day eviction notice, Jacob said.

The town said it is giving the bank 90 days to finish the foreclosure. If not done, they said they will take over the property using the state’s Zombie law,

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which permits municipalities to inspect, secure and maintain vacant and abandoned properties.

The town said it would pay for the

commercial movers and 30 days of storage required for the eviction. This is a necessary requirement before police can move forward with an eviction.

The

Drive

the squatters have created an unsafe environment, one the residents’ have endured for months.

residents of Brussel

say

PHOTO COURTESY OF JERRY JACOBS

The formerly abandoned house on Brussel Drive in New Hyde Park that neighbors say is occupied by squatters.

Port schools honored for music education Chaman Antique Rug Gallery gets two Port B.I.D. grants

The Port Washington School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education for the tenth consecutive year.

Now in its 25th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to school districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement to provide music access and education to all students.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Port Washington answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, and support for the music program and community music-making programs.

Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by The Music

Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

“I am thrilled that the NAMM Foundation has recognized the accomplishments of our music educators and the Port Washington community with this honor for the tenth consecutive year! Our students and families consistently experience a strong, well-rounded musical experience, and this recognition is yet more proof of the success we have had. Congratulations to all our music educators and thank you to all the people who support our program,” said Kevin Scully, school district director of creative arts.

For more information about the Port Washington Union Free School District, please visit the district’s website at www. portnet.org follow our Instagram/Facebook page: @PortWashSchools.

The Port Washington BID welcomes Chaman Antique Rug Gallery to Port Washington. They recently opened on Port Washington Boulevard.

The gallery features an eclectic array of antique, semi-antique, and new rugs, early tapestries, exemplary room-size carpets, and collector pieces. They also provide repair services.

Omid Chaman as the second generation of the family-owned company has taken the business to the next level with technology, digital skills, advertisement, and a special eye for color in Oriental rugs.

Omid shared his reasons for opening a business in Port Washington by saying, ”I relocated my antique rug and tapestry business from New York City to Port Washington, NY, drawn by the town’s serene charm and thriving arts scene.

Port Washington’s picturesque waterfront setting provides the perfect backdrop for showcasing exquisite textiles. The sense of community here fosters strong connections with local artisans and collectors, enhancing the authenticity and appreciation of my craft.

Additionally, the proximity to affluent neighborhoods ensures a discerning clientele eager to discover the timeless beauty of my curated collection. I Love Port Washington!”

Bill Haagenson, board member of the B.I.D. says, “We are pleased to welcome Chaman Antique Rug Gallery and award them with 2 grants. Our community will benefit from their high-quality rugs and the friendly service they provide. We are glad Omid and his family chose Port Washington and encourage everyone to visit the gallery.”

Chaman Antique Rug Gallery is located at 650 Port Washington Blvd at the corner of Willowdale Avenue.

Eligible businesses within the defined business district, both new and established, can apply for grants for funding to assist with costs of signage at the place of business.

Guidelines and applications, along with additional resources for business owners, can be found on the Port Washington B.I.D. website under the Business Resource heading. Inquiries can also be directed to the Port Washington B.I.D. Office at 516-883-8890.

Chaman Antique Rug Gallery receives two grants from the Port Washington B.I.D. for a new tenant bonus and a new sign. Board members, Bill Haagenson and North Hempstead Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte, along with Holly Byrne, executive director, present the big check to Omid Chaman.

Port Water District receives grant from ReWild LI

Rajan, ReWild Gardens project manager Samantha Jo and ReWild Gardens program manager Maggie Muzante in designing and implementing a native garden at PWWD headquarters.

The Port Washington Water District is excited to announce that it has received a grant from ReWild Long Island to create a native plants garden at District headquarters on Sandy Hollow Road.

Planting will begin this spring and the garden will serve as a stop along the 2024 PWWD and ReWild Long Island Sustainable Garden Tour, which is scheduled for this June. The location of the garden is perfect for the viewing of passersby and will serve as an educational tool from which residents can draw inspiration for their own gardens.

“Using native plantings in your garden is a fantastic way to keep your home beautiful while conserving water and supporting our environment,” said PWWD Commissioner Mindy Germain. “Our garden at the PWWD headquarters will serve as a demonstration and educational tool that our residents can

use as inspiration for their own homes. We are greatly looking forward to watching our garden bloom this spring and summer and we hope to see more homeowners throughout our community take the same approach to home beautification.”

ReWild Long Island, a Port Washington-based organization that promotes sustainable landscaping practices throughout Long Island, is currently in the process of designing the garden. The grant it has provided to the PWWD covers all costs of materials and design, making it so that this project comes at no cost to the District’s ratepayers.

The garden is set to include plants such as summersweet, inkberry, cardinal flower, ostrich fern and more.

“It is always a pleasure for us to work alongside other environmentallyconscious organizations in our area to promote sustainable landscaping

choices,” said Raju Rajan, president of the Board at ReWild Long Island. “We have worked with the Port Washington Water District on a number of projects that have been a great benefit to our community and we are proud to assist in making this garden a reality. We hope it helps to inspire others to follow in their footsteps and make sustainable choices when decorating their gardens this spring and summer.”

Plants native to Long Island are much more beneficial for the environment than those that are not native to the area. First and foremost, they require significantly less water to remain healthy, as their roots are adapted to go deep into the soil and retain moisture.

They are also much more friendly to the pollinators in the area, helping to sustain local wildlife and the benefits they provide to the region’s environment.

Port Washington Water District Commissioner Mindy Germain, third from right, worked alongside PWWD Superintendent Paul Prignano, far left, Mike Savarese of D&B Engineers and Architects, landscape architect Michael Michel, ReWild Long Island President Raju

COURTESY PORT WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

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ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE PART-TIME

The Viscardi Center publishes a monthly print/digital newspaper and website that serves the New York City and Long Island disability community and is looking for an energetic, highly motivated sales representative.

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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.

Publisher's notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Publisher’s notice: All employment advertising herin is subject to section 296 of the human rights law which makes it illegal to advertise any preference based on religion, sex, familial status, arrest record, national origin, color, age, or disability. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for employment which is in violation of the law. Employment opportunities advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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Democrats slam Blakeman sheriff plan

Continued from Page 1

man’s attacks a deflection from the issue, saying residents had contacted her with concerns and she would continue to fight against the program.

“Thankfully, the public is seeing through his antics,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “My office continues to receive many emails and phone calls thanking me for my opposition and encouraging me to continue fighting this irresponsible proposal – and that is what I will do.”

On March 17, the county had an ad published in Newsday calling for special deputy sheriff applicants “for the protection of human life and property during an emergency.” Specifically being sought after were individuals with law enforcement or military backgrounds.

‘We’re preparing for an event that we hope never happens,” Blakeman said.

Blakeman said at the press conference that political protests that escalate to riots would be among the kinds of county emergencies in which the special deputy sheriffs would be activated.

The announcement took Nassau County officials by surprise. Legislators and union leaders said they had little knowledge of the initiative and the administration did not seeklegislative approval nor consult with union officials

In the wake of the announcement of these positions, many residents and local officials have scrutinized the program for the danger it could present.

“Nassau County isn’t the Wild West,” DeRiggi-Whitton said in a statement to Blank Slate Media. “We already have one of the largest and best-trained police forces in the nation. The last thing we need during an emergency is a bunch of untrained residents running around with guns, playing junior detective at the behest of the county executive.”

Great Neck resident Sabine Margolis started a petition that demands the program be suspended. By Friday, the petition had received more than 900 signatures.

Coming to the forefront of the scrutiny are residents and officials comparing the resident law enforcement group to the Brownshirts – an early Nazi paramilitary organization comprised of former soldiers and street fighters.

At a press conference Thursday, Blakeman denounced the comparison.

Comparisons to the Brownshirts

In an interview with Patch, DeRiggi-Whitton said that residents have come to her with concerns about the deputy sheriffs and residents comparing them to Brownshirts.

“I’ve had some people tell me it’s actually causing them a lot of anxiety,” DeRiggi-Whitton told Patch. “It reminds them not only of the Wild West but of times in Europe with uncertainty. There was something called the Brownshirts, which was basically having civilians all of a sudden become part of law enforcement without the training.”

Blakeman said DeRiggi-Whitton’s statement trivialized the Holocaust, calling them “deplorable and disgusting.”

“Equating these men and women who would be willing to devote their time to protecting our county, people who have prior experience in law enforcement, served this county, served this country, military veterans who would be willing to step up to the plate again for this community, calling them Brownshirts?” Blakeman said. “ How could you [DeRiggi-Whitton] possibly disgrace your office by making such an untrue and damning statement and trivializing the Holocaust?”

The county executive was joined by county officials, law enforcement and Jewish religious leaders for the press conference in front of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center, including its Executive Director Moji Pourmoradi.

He qualified the comments as a personal insult.

“Am I the leader of the Brownshirts?” Blakeman questioned. “A Jewish American? I’m offended by that.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman stood in front of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center Thursday to denounce Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton’s comment relaying resident comparisons of the emergency special deputy sheriffs to Brownshirts.

Blakeman said these special deputy sheriffs would not be loyal to the county executive or a political party.

He demanded DeRiggi-Whitton apologize to the applicants for the comparison and called for her to step down from her role in the legislature.

DeRiggi-Whitton said she stood by her criticisms of the special deputy sheriffs, which she said the county executive intended to deflect community concerns.

“The idea of any county executive having a private, armed group of people to deploy at his sole discretion is risky, unnecessary, and has created tremendous anxiety in people across Nassau County,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “It is telling that his response to overwhelming criticism has been to distort my relaying of constituents’ heartfelt concerns with hopes of manufacturing false outrage and changing the subject.”

Sabine Margolis, who started the petition against the special deputies, said they can be compared to many historical examples of militarizing residents for political gains.

She called Blakeman’s attacks against DeRiggi-Whitton a stunt and an attempt to take away a frame of reference for calling out the potential harm of such groups. She said private militias are dangerous, no matter what they are called.

Margolis grew up in Germany and said she was taught the ways to identify rises in fascism. She said this education is what alerted her to concerns about the mobilization of residents as emergency special deputy sheriffs.

She said she supports law enforcement and their ability to protect citizens but not the use of special deputies.

She questioned the ability of residents to do that in place of law enforcement – suggesting they volunteer with other emergency response organizations already established like the Red Cross.

“To me, getting people with guns is a trigger,” Margolis said. “It doesn’t mean safety in any way, shape or form… Emergency response doesn’t need guns, emergency response needs information.”

What are the emergency special deputy sheriffs?

Upon the announcement of the positions, much uncertainty arose on what the responsibilities of the emergency special deputy sheriffs were and the subsequent selection and training process.

The establishment of these positions is in the intent of preparing for potential emergencies, Blakeman said.

“I didn’t want to find myself in a circumstance where we’d have an emergency, and it would be a very significant event like Superstorm Sandy, and scramble to get volunteers who wouldn’t be vetted and wouldn’t be pre-trained,” Blakeman said.

The county executive said that the New York State and local law allows the deputizing residents during emergencies. He said the implementation of the special deputy sheriffs did not need to be

approved by the legislature as it is the power of the executive branch to implement.

He described the establishment of these special deputies as a database of individuals who can be called on during an emergency.

Blakeman said the special deputy sheriffs’ responsibilities would be limited to guarding buildings and infrastructure. They would not be patrolling officers.

He said doing so would allow police officers to better respond to emergencies and perform patrolling functions.

Emergencies where these special deputies would be used include natural disasters, like Superstorm Sandy, Blakeman explained.

But other emergencies the county executive said they could be used in are political protests that evolve into riots. He said if a riot escalated to buildings being burned down and communities being harmed, then that would constitute an emergency.

Applicants are vetted first by the Sheriff’s Department and then by the Police Department. Once their credentials are evaluated, then the chosen applicants will be trained.

The county is prioritizing applicants with prior law enforcement or military training. They would then be trained even further by the county sheriff’s office on the penal law, deadly force and weapons.

About 100 people applied to be emergency deputy sheriffs. Blakeman read off a list of applicants’ backgrounds, all having prior law enforcement or military experience.

The county executive said a list of the deputy sheriffs will be released once all have been screened and approved.

Even with the addition of these special deputies, Blakeman said he is seeking to hire additional police officers this year. He touted that the county already has one of the largest police forces in the United States.

Petitioning against the program

Upon learning the news of the new emergency special deputy sheriffs, Margolis said she had chills going down her spine.

“It is just so reminiscent of something that I have learned to always be afraid of and to stop in its tracks,” Margolis said, referencing her German education to identify fascism.

So Margolis started a change.org petition to express her and the community’s disapproval of the emergency special deputy sheriffs.

She described her petition as a spark to aid people in acting against the program.

“I’m finding more and more people [in support of the petition],” Margolis said. “There’s a majority against this and they don’t know how to voice this, so I am giving them the opportunity for the opposition in a normal discourse – this is not aggressive, this is the way a democracy should work.”

But through the fear in response to this pro-

gram, Margolis said there is also hope.

“Together we can make a difference in civil discourse,” Margolis said. “This really is an issue for our whole county and we shouldn’t be pitting neighbor against neighbor.”

She said her petition is intended to recognize “patterns of injustice and speaking up before they can manifest themselves.”

The petition, which set a goal of 500 signatures, garnered 900 signatures by Friday. A new goal has been set for 1,000 signatures.

Town OKs Albertson road signs

Continued from Page 4

stop signs along the street.

A resident told the town board that the Planning Department identified a mistake in the engineering firm’s assessment when measuring the sight distance from the proposed driveway. She said it requires 280 feet of visibility, whereas only 130 was available where Cumberland Avenue meets Allen Drive.

She asked the town board if this had been addressed.

Neither the town board nor a member of the Planning Department was aware of this potential issue raised by the resident.

Other concerns raised by the resident were the narrow roads surrounding the proposed EMS building and noise volume.

Liu said she would meet with the Planning Department to further investigate the issues raised.

Other traffic signs were also approved in Albertson, including a “no stopping here to corner” sign on the west side of Bethel Road from the north curb line of Ashford Place and a stop sign on the southbound and eastbound directions at the intersection of Dewey Avenue and Evans Avenue.

Councilmember Ed Scott said the implementation of the traffic signs is needed in the areas.

The town board also approved the Manhasset Park District’s sale of a developed parking lot at 61 Locust St.

The Manhasset Park Districtsaid in its application that the property is no longer of use to the district and sought to sell it to Benedetto Romano for $700,000.

The property would continue to be used for outdoor storage and vehicle parking for the neighboring autobody shop owned by the buyer.

The park district authorized the sale in September but has been awaiting approval by the town board since then.

In other news, multiple residents spoke during public comment about the difficulties of attending public hearings in the morning, citing challenges for them because they were scheduled during the work day.

The town board opted in January to begin holding public hearings in the morning and separate from the monthly board meetings held in the evenings.

PHOTO BY KAREN RUBIN

Officials protest faith-based housing bill

Continued from Page 1

the possibility of the state stepping in if the 3% goal was not met, and the use of transit-oriented developments to achieve that objective.

It ultimately failed and was not adopted in the budget.

“And the idea of just repackaging it, putting on new wrapping paper and presenting it as a gift, we rejected the gift last year, two years, we reject it this year as well,” state Sen. Jack Martins said.

While the rally was held on the day of the solar eclipse, Clavin compared it more to Groundhog’s Day in the repetition of history as he said the state government continues to seek influence on Long Island’s housing.

Speakers continually stressed that the issue is not one of partisan politics.

“I didn’t ask for anybody’s card of their political affiliations standing here behind us,” Clavin said. “These are mayors, these are town supervisors, these are school board members who recognize the importance of development but development that fits the needs.”

All of the town supervisors, councilmembers, county legislators and state senators present at the rally were Republicans.

DeSena said the Town of North Hempstead and its neighboring towns are working to increase housing, but said it is being done “the right way” through local governance and community input.

She said housing development has occurred in Westbury and Mineola, many projects funded through New York State grants.

and State Sen. Jack Martins join hands at the rally against the state government’s proposed faith-based affordable housing bill.

The town is in the process of updating its master plan, DeSena said, which would identify areas for further development as well as the necessary infrastructure to support it. This would encompass a series of community hearings gathering input on the town’s developmental initiatives.

Clavin said the Town of Hempstead approved “hundred” of housing units in the past year, but did not disclose the portion designated as affordable.

Saladino said the county is not against development but rather supports incentive-based solutions to erect more affordable housing on the island.

“While we don’t oppose reasonable develop-

Nassau County shaken by earthquake

Continued from Page 38

The county executive said the only damage he was aware of was a tree knocked down in Suffolk County, though he could not confirm if the fallen tree was caused by the earthquake.

He called this earthquake a “good learning experience” for public safety officials.

“Some people belittle how much money and time we spend on training and going through all of our emergency operations,” Blakeman said. “You never know what you’ll wake up to in the morning.”

The earthquakes comes soon after a posting by the Blakeman administration seeking to recruit armed residents to aid in county emergencies.

With school in session, local districts have reported updates on student safety.

“RSD Alert Earthquake reported. All students and staff are safe,” wrote the Roslyn School Dis-

trict in a text to district residents.

There was no damage to the facilities at the Roslyn School District, according to an email by Superintendent Allison Brown.

There were no damages to school facilities and all students and staff members are school at the Port Washington School District, East Williston School District, Floral Park-Bellerose School District, Mineola School District, Great Neck School District, Sewanhaka School District, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District and Herricks School District, according to administrative employees.

Efforts to reach the North Shore School District and the Manhasset School District were unavailing.

There were no reports of injuries or damages at Hofstra facilities, according to an email sent by Hofstra University to students.

No damages were reported at the county legislature’s Democratic caucus, according to communications director Danny Shrafel.

“I was in a staff meeting when it happened and initially, really, the first thought was it felt like a truck driving past our building at some speed that kept shaking the building,” Shrafel said. “And then we started getting texts and emails and phone calls saying, ‘Did you feel that? Did you feel that?’”

No damages were reported at Hempstead town hall and proceedings should move on without any stalls, town spokesman Umberto Mignardi said.

This 4.8 magnitude quake comes close to the worst reported seismic incident in New Jersey, which was also its first reported earthquake: a 5.3 magnitude earthquake in 1783.

Long Island rallies for hostages in Gaza

Continued from Page 2

Many speakers representing organizations within the coalition spoke to the need for such leadership in the Jewish community to call for the release of the hostages and confront rising reports of antisemitism.

“This coalition beautifully represents the unity and strength so needed to blaze ahead in partnership to fight Jew hatred and support our Long Island community,” said Michelle Ahdoot, director of Programming and Strategy for End Jew Hatred.

Organizations involved in the coalition in-

clude AIPAC, American Jewish Committee, AntiDefamation League, #EndJewHatred, Friends of the IDF, Sid Jacobson JCC, Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF), Simon Wiesenthal Center, StandWithUs and UJA Federation of New York.

“The Long Island Jewish community is united now more than ever. Six months into a war that Israel didn’t start, and didn’t want, we gather in mass to demand the return of the hostages, including our neighbor Omer Neutra,” said Eric Post, AJC Long Island Regional director. “We

will continue to work day and night to stand with Israel and for our collective security.”

Present at the rally were individuals from across Long Island, including people with loved ones being held hostage, local officials and religious leaders.

“We appreciate all who came out today to walk with us and call for the safe return of the hostages and will work with others in our coalition to ensure we don’t have to do this again to mark another sad milestone,” Black said.

ment, we oppose this direct attempt to circumvent zoning laws,” Saladino said. “When you go around zoning laws, that means the public doesn’t have a say.”

Currently, faith-based housing is subject to local zoning laws and forced to be evaluated, and subsequently approved or disapproved by local governments if not complient.

While the bill would permit religious housing to be exempt from height, size and setback zoning regulations, the projects would still have to comply with other zoning regulations.

The state bill claims that religious institutions “run into zoning barriers” that restrict them from redeveloping their property to construct affordable housing. It states the law would provide“ a sorely needed public good” and bolster revenues.

According to Saladino, there are more than 1,100 religious institution properties in the county. He said many of them are located in residential neighborhoods.

The law mirrors one in California, where a bill passed in the fall that permits churches, synagogues and mosques to construct affordable housing on their property even if it contradicts local zoning.

Clavin said the governor’s office does not intend to include this bill in the budget, but attempts to move the legislation forward will continue.

The governor’s Long Island press secretary told Blank Slate that the bill was never proposed by the governor and is not in the budget.

In tandem with the faith-based affordable housing pursuit, Hochul said she is seeking a new affordable housing plan to build 15,000 units in high-cost areas of Long Island, New York City and Westchester County. This is being explored through the possibility of erecting housing on state-owned land in these areas, like at SUNY Old Westbury.

Continued from Page 4

Weitzner said the village has been repaving its roads over the past few years and will have finished repaving all of them by the end of next year. Since the work will be done soon, the village is using the money used for roads to go towards fixing sidewalks and planting trees.

In planting new trees, the village is also planning to remove old trees causing damage to the sidewalks. This work will go in tandem with the sidewalk repairs.

The village is budgeting $80,000 to finish road construction projects, with another $80,000 for tree work and $192,000 for sidewalks.

As the village approved its budget and continues to look forward to its future financials, the Board of Trustees also made actions for the village’s future in conducting its annual village organizational meeting.

PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES

(From left to right) Nassau County District 10 Legislator Mazi Pilip, Hempstead Supervisor Donald Clavin, East Hills Mayor Michael Koblenz, North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino

Feinstein receives $6.1M grant for red cell disorder

Herricks Fund’s annual carnival

Planning is in full swing for the Herricks Community Fund’s Annual carnival.

The grounds of the Herricks Community Center become a fair filled with rides for kids and adults, games of chance and food concessions. This family event attracts throngs of people enjoying themselves in a local community setting.

The Herricks Community Fund is a 501 (c)(3) not-forprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people of all ages in our community. All monies raised directly benefit the programs we support.

The fund has donated over $1,000,000 since its inception in 1986, and over $700,000 in the last 20 years alone to worthwhile causes in the Herricks District and globally.

The Herricks Community Fund numbers among its beneficiaries the Our Space Adult Day Program, Senior Nutrition Programs, Herricks Players, Se-

nior Citizens Programs, Herricks Youth Council, Herricks Teacher Mini-Grants, Scouts, Herricks School District, Herricks Scholarship Fund, Herricks Community Fund Scholarships, and many more special projects for the Herricks School District.

There’s nothing more traditional than the fund’s annual carnival. It’s more than just fun. It’s the opportunity to bring people together in a wholesome, safe and homespun atmosphere.

Iona Davis, co-president of the Fund said, “I look forward to greeting all of the carnival attendees. It is a great opportunity for everyone to come out, have a great time, enjoy some terrific food and experience rides to thrill all. Please stop by our booth and say hello.”

The fund wishes to thank all of the carnival sponsors and looks forward to seeing many of you at the carnival. For additional information, please call 516-742-1926.

Red cell disorders, such as Diamond-Blackfan anemia and sickle cell disease, affect more than 1 billion people worldwide and are a significant cause of chronic illness and mortality.

To further our understanding and potential treatments of these disorders, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research has been awarded a $6.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Led by Lionel Blanc, professor in the Institute of Molecular Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes, the seven-year initiative aims to build off previous research and will shed light on DBA, SCD and anemia.

Specifically, Dr. Blanc and his team will attempt to unravel the process and malfunction of erythropoiesis, or the production of red blood cells, in those disorders.

“Understanding red cell blood disorders, how they develop and progress, is essential given their global impact on millions,” said Blanc. “This grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute will help pave the way for innovative treatments and improve the quality of life for those affected.”

The grant will help fund three research projects:

• Study of ribosome and cell cycle length regulation in fetal vs. adult erythropoiesis.

• Explore the erythromyeloblastic island associated with DBA and SCD.

• Focus on identifying and testing novel drugs for these hematologic disorders.

“Dr. Blanc’s work in uncovering the fundamental molecular mechanisms of red blood cell disorders paves a path towards novel therapeutic approaches,” said Dr. Kevin J. Tracey, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes and Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research. “His translational research forms the foundation for identifying innovative treatments for complex blood disorders.”

Blanc is a recognized leader in hematology research. In 2022, he published research in Bloodshowing that high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) prevents the body’s ability to produce sufficient oxygen-rich red blood cells.

In 2019, he received a $2.5 million grant from the NIH to study treatment for erythropoietic disorders, including DBA.

Town to host annual Easter Egg Hunt

North Hempstead Town Supervisor, Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board invite residents to join them as they “Hop Into Spring” with a fun community event at Martin “Bunky” Reid Park in Westbury on Saturday, April 13 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“It’s the perfect way to get our kids off the iPads and phones and let them enjoy the outdoors on a Saturday afternoon. Neighbors from all over the North Hempstead community get together to

celebrate the arrival of warmer weather with this afternoon full of exciting activities for children and adults alike,” DeSena said. “And it’s a great opportunity for everyone – parents and children — to socialize and meet some new friends.”

Children will be asked to search for colorful eggs scattered throughout the park but there will also be arts and crafts, games, and much more. The Easter Egg Hunt is open to children of all ages, and participants are asked to bring their own bag or basket for egg collection.

Martin “Bunky” Reid Park is located at the corner of Broadway and Urban Avenues in Westbury. The rain location for the event will be at the “Yes We Can” Community Center, directly across the street. For more information, please call (516) 869-6311 or 311.

Town honors Regeneron students

Some 22 North Hempstead high school seniors were named winners in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science research competition for high school students. The students were recognized by Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board with proclamations in a special ceremony during the Town Board meeting on April 2. Winners were named from a number of local high schools, including:

William A. Shine Great Neck South High School: Tiffany Zhang, Alexander Xu, Maggie Wu, Helen Tang, Brian Liu, Brandon Kim, Luke Huang

Paul D. Schreiber High School: Hannah Rosenberg, Harrison Roth, Sadie Muller, Tej Parekh, Benjamin Gordon

Roslyn High School: Shayla Zheng, Cayden Shen, Jacob Gross

Herricks High School:

Kishan Shanmugananthan, Heemali Patel, Rebecca Bover, Hiuyi Cheng

Manhasset High School: Jack Voelker

Mineola High School: Luigi Sartori, Samantha Stewart

Members of the North Hempstead Town Board welcomed the town’s Regeneron-winning students. Top row left to right Jack Voelker of Manhasset High School; Luigi Sartori of Mineola High School; Kishan Shanmugananthan of Herricks High SchoolBottom row left to right Maggie Wu of William A. Shine Great Neck South High School; Shayla Zeng of Roslyn High School; Heemali Patel and Hiuyi Cheng of Herricks High School; Jacob Gross and Cayden Shen of Roslyn High School.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FEINSTEIN INSTITUTES

Dr. Lionel Blanc from the Feinstein Institutes will lead the new red blood cell research.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PAUL EHRBAR

2023 carnival attendees roam the grounds.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD

TRIP TO FINAL FOUR

EX-Chaminade star Michael O’Connell shines for N.C. State

BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS

Under almost any other circumstance, the travel habits and itinerary of Tim O’Connell the last few weeks would seem strange. Maybe even arouse suspicion.

But the last few weeks have been unlike any other circumstance of O’Connell’s life, and the life of his immediate family.

The longtime Mineola resident and youth sports coach has been traveling around America, buying only one-way tickets on trains and airplanes, and booking one-night stays in hotels.

First, it was Washington, D.C. Then Pittsburgh. Then Dallas. And then, Phoenix.

One-way itineraries, only.

He does this because he didn’t know how long he’d be staying at each place, watching his youngest son finish off his college basketball career in a way not even Spielberg could’ve dreamed up. And also, now he’s doing it because, well, superstition is a powerful thing, especially when it works.

O’Connell’s son, Michael is a Stanford graduate and former player for the Cardinals, who last spring transferred to North Carolina State for one more season of life as a college athlete.

And then, improbably, impossibly, Michael O’Connell and his teammates reached the Final Four.

Even writing it, it doesn’t seem real.

After an under .500 regular season record in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Wolfpack won five consecutive games in five days at the ACC Tournament, highlighted by O’Connell’s miraculous, banked-in tying three-pointer at the end of regulation against Virginia in the semifinals.

N.C. State won that game, then the next night against top-seeded North Carolina to get an unlikely bid to the NCAA Tournament.

And once they got in, the 11thseeded Wolfpack have been unstoppable.

Four straight wins, with O’Connell’s veteran leadership help-

ing lead the way (he’s averaged 10.2 points and 4.1 assists during the ninegame winning streak) have placed N.C. State into the national semifinals.

Their players, like O’Connell and gregarious center D.J. Burns, are suddenly national celebrities, a part of the best story in sports right now.

Saturday in Arizona their ncredible run came to an end when they lost to eventual runnerup Purdue.

And in the stands, with no return ticket bought, was Tim, wife Tara, oldest son Thomas, and as many relatives as can make it to the desert.

“It’s surreal, is the word I keep coming back to,” Tim O’Connell said by phone Wednesday. “It’s been one

thing after another, and more and more people have gotten interested and gotten excited, and now reporters are calling me and everyone in town says they’re watching and it’s just surreal.”

“It’s hard to describe, because every time they come to a game and you think, ‘OK, this one is going to be the end of the line,’ they find a way to win again,” said former Chaminade coach Bob Paul, who coached O’Connell. “They just find a way to keep it going and it’s because Michael and his teammates are so clutch.”

It’s been surreal for everyone in the O’Connell orbit. Thomas, a threetime Final Four participant in lacrosse at Maryland and a 2017 national

champion, said the family didn’t have high hopes on March 12, when No. 10 seed N.C. State played Louisville in the opening round of the ACC Tourney, and needed to rally in the final minute to win.

“You just want him to have a good experience and just hoping for one more day,” said Thomas, who’s now an assistant coach in lacrosse and basketball at Chaminade. “And then they win once, and then a sec-

“You just want him to have a good experience and just hoping for one more day, And then they win once, and then a second time, and it starts building and building.”

— Thomas O’Connell ASSISTANT COACH IN LACROSSE AND BASKETBALL AT CHAMINADE

ond time, and it starts building and building.”

By the time N.C. State got to the semis on Friday night, March 15, 50 family members packed the MCI Center in the nation’s capital. And still, Tim O’Connell had the car packed and ready to head back up north after the game.

That night the dozens of O’Connells they saw the Wolfpack go down three with less than 10 seconds to go, and Virginia’s best foul shooter, Isaac McNeely, on the line.

“I told everyone this kid is like a 90% foul shooter, and if he makes this shot, game’s over,” Tim O’Connell said. “And then he missed.”

The next few seconds will be immortalized in N.C. State lore forever, including on the T-shirt that accompanies this story: O’Connell dribbled down the court furiously, and stopped and popped from in front of the Wolf-

pack bench.

The ball soared so high it left the TV frame, then bounced high off the backboard and rolled around the rim before settling through the twine.

“I have to tell the truth, I fell asleep during the game,” Paul said with a rueful chuckle. “And when I woke up I looked at my phone and I had hundreds of texts on the group chat of former players I’m on. It was just incredible.”

N.C. State had life, and the miracle run continued. Wins over Texas Tech, Oakland University, Marquette and Duke put the Wolfpack in the Final Four for the first time since 1983.

Michael O’Connell, who played three years at Chaminade before transferring to Blair Academy in N.J. for a final year, has been a multi-sport star in Mineola since he was a kid.

Lacrosse was his first love, as he dreamed of following in his brother’s footsteps to Maryland, but basketball runs in the family blood, with aunts, uncles and grandparents all playing college ball (Michael’s great-uncle, Andrew O’Connell, even got a shout out CBS’ Bill Raftery Sunday on the air.)

His Stanford career didn’t lead to much success, but he did get a degree in three years and decided to try his luck at N.C. State this year.

And now this unlikely ride has galvanized his hometown, where watch parties have occurred at Cornerstone Bar in Mineola, where elementary school kids are making “good luck” signs for O’Connell, and former coaches like Paul and current Chaminade head coach Dan Feeney say things like “no one deserves it more than Michael” and “he’s the best kid I ever coached.”

I just want him to enjoy this and step out of the whirlwind for a minute, he really seems to be taking a moment and doing that,” Thomas O’Connell said. “He’s been signing every autograph, posing for every picture, just soaking it all in.”

PHOTO CREDIT: SERYLDATEE.COM

A shirt now on sale commemorating former Chaminade star Michael O’Connell’s game-tying 3-pointer that kept North Carolina State’s season alive.