Roslyn 2023_03_17

SCHOOLS, EDUCATION, CAMPS

PAGES 25-32

3 Roslyn elections

March 21

R. Estates’ mayor only contested race

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Three village elections will take place in Roslyn March 21, with only the mayoral race of Roslyn Estates drawing multiple candidates vying for the position.

The three villages hosting elections are Roslyn Estates, East Hills and Roslyn.

Roslyn Estates has three offices up for election: mayor and two trustee positions. Those positions are currently filled by Mayor Paul Peters, Trustee Susan Rubinstein and Brett Auerbach.

Peters is being challenged by Roslyn Estates resident Todd Teichman.

Peters has been Roslyn Estate’s mayor for the past six years and is running on the Sunshine Party line. Prior to his time as mayor, Peters was a member of the village’s Board of Zoning Appeals and a trustee for the village.

Teichman has lived in Roslyn Estates for 2 1/2 years and has not served in the village government to date. He is running on the Roslyn Estates Party line. Teichman currently works in medical sales and has been in the field for 25 years.

During Peter’s tenure, his accomplishments have included implementing two road repaving projects, relationship building with multiple

Continued on Page 47

NORTH SHORE SCHOOLS EYES CUTS

BLAKEMAN’S WIFE CROSSENDORSED FOR JUDGE

Roslyn teen hosts quake relief drive Emergency medical supplies collected for survivors in Turkey and

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Eliza Liebowitz has been involved in charity work since the age of 5, starting with a simple lemonade stand to raise money for the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons. Now a freshman in high school, her efforts have expanded beyond Long Island and reached a new community in need

over 5,000 miles away.

On Feb. 6, Turkey and Northern Syria were hit with a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. As Liebowitz watched the news unfold, she recognized how devastating the earthquake was and how many people did not have access to medical supplies to treat injuries sustained from the disaster.

“I just immediately wanted to take

action and help people,” Eliza said.

In response, she planned and conducted an emergency medical supply drive through her charity organization, Clean Your Closets Out For Children, to help the earthquake victims.

For two weeks in February, she collected medical supplies to be donated to those affected by the earthquake.

Eliza had to move quickly for this

Syria

project, but she said that’s how it has to be because you can “never predict horrible things happening in the world.

To get the project going, she presented her idea to the Village of East Hills mayor and board of trustees to get their approval and involvement. While any young teenager may have

Continued on Page 46

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER SOLOMON

David Beckham takes a selfie with Nassau’s soccer stars. See story on page 13.

Santos files to run for re-election in ‘24

Begins campaign despite probes, Nassau GOP opposition

unearthed the congressman’s lies earlier this year, following his win over Democrat Robert Zimmerman in the state’s 3rd Congressional District in November.

The House Ethics Committee launched a formal investigation into Republican Rep. George Santos two weeks ago and will scrutinize his most recent congressional campaign, ofcials announced.

The committee will determine if the embattled representative failed to properly disclose information and statements to Congress, engaged in sexual misconduct with someone seeking employment in his D.C. ofce and violated potential federal confict of interest laws.

Santos’ ofcial congressional Twitter account said the newly elected representative “is fully cooperating” in the investigation, but the congressman would not comment on the matter.

A resolution submitted by Town of North Hempstead Democratic Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey that also called for Santos’ expulsion from Congress was passed during a public meeting several weeks ago by a 6-1 vote. North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena presented a resolution for Santos to resign, which passed unanimously.

N. Shore proposes $2.7M in job cuts

Revenue loses, inflation hit schools’ budget

BY CAMERYN OAKES

The North Shore School District is cutting a number of jobs to save $2.7 million in face of budget challenges due to revenue losses from the closure of the LIPA power plant and infationary costs.

Positions that will be cut in the 2023-2024 come from throughout the district, including teachers, teacher’s aids, clerical positions and contingency jobs.

Superintendent Christopher Zublionis told Blank Slate that he is unable to provide the exact number of employees who will be terminated or the positions cut as the numbers may change over time depending on circumstances.

Zublionis gave the example that if a social studies teacher is laid of due to the budget cuts but then a social studies teacher retires, the terminated teacher can be ofered a position again. Because of possible scenarios like this, Zublionis said he is unable to provide exact information yet.

He said that some of the positions planned to be cut are not flled currently, but others are and will re-

quire the person’s employment to be terminated.

“I do want to ensure our community that while we are making tough decisions, we do feel that all major programs are preserved while we’ve found these efciencies,” Zublionis said. “Once the budget is adopted, we’ll be communicating more about the impact, which I think is important, and we are working with the individuals who are impacted employees.”

Zublionis said he is still in the midst of having discussions about these cuts and communicating with the individuals afected.

Board President Dave Ludmar said the decision on job cuts was made with sensitivity, which he appreciated.

The board refrained from stating exactly which positions are being terminated in the proposed budget for the sake of the individuals involved.

Ludmar said that this “does not impact student experience directly.”

The district is proposing a $120 million budget and a tax levy of $89 million for the 2023-24 school year

Continued on Page 47

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

U.S. Rep. George Santos, in a letter to the Federal Election Commission Tuesday, said he will be running for re-election in 2024, despite GOP groups including the Nassau County Republican Committee saying they will not back him going forward.

Contributions have been made to Devolder-Santos for Congress, which has been designated as the embattled congressman’s campaign fnance committee, according to multiple reports.

Eforts to reach a Santos representative for ofcial comment were unavailing.

Nassau County Republican Com-

mittee Chairman Joseph Cairo, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, newly-elected state Sen. Jack Martins and newly-elected U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito have been vocal in expressing their lack of support for Santos going forward.

“He’s disgraced the House of Representatives and we do not consider him one of our congresspeople,” Cairo said in a press conference earlier this year.

Santos has been the face of local and federal probes into his personal, professional and fnancial background. Articles from the New York Times and other publications

Republican Town Councilmember David Adhami said he agreed with the general intent of Lurvey’s resolution but disagreed with its verbiage before voting no, saying there’s information included just to trigger people and it was poorly written.

DeSena motioned to amend the resolution to remove any mention of her name, saying doing so makes it a political and personal attack, which was voted down 4-3 along party lines.

The supervisor endorsed Santos during his congressional campaign and has since changed her tune following the unearthing of Santos’ personal, professional and fnancial track record.

Dozens of NY-03 constituents staged a “Drive Out Santos” caravan throughout diferent North Shore locations to highlight the parts of Congressman George Santos’ resume that Continued on Page 46

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The North Shore School District is proposing a budget that is in response to LIPA revenue losses and inflation.

PHOTO BY BRANDON DUFFY

George Santos celebrating his victory in the state’s 3rd Congressional District election.

Husband, wife renew Halcyon Liquors

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Whether it’s an anniversary, a gender reveal, a shiva or a party, Liz and Peter Heller want their Halcyon Liquors business to be there for their community and they are looking forward to being a part of their neighbors’ lives through any moment.

The Roslyn Heights full-service liquor store is under new ownership by the Hellers, a husband-and-wife team. They have been working at the store since December but took over ownership in the past month.

The Hellers said they have transformed the business at 52 Glen Cove Road, catering to the community by offering a more curated, high-end selection of wine and spirits while still offering something for everybody.

Liz Heller said their inventory is not necessarily more expensive, rather they are providing a broader selection of wine and spirits with an expansive price range. Peter Heller added that they are offering more highly rated spirits and wines, not explicitly highly priced products.

“We’ve taken a very deep dive into the spirits and wine world to expand our knowledge base to really try to cater to the neighborhood and the community’s needs,” he said.

Tequila has surged in popularity recently, Peter Heller said, so the store has expanded its selection to include

harder-to-find and unique tequilas that community members can enjoy.

The pair has also brought in more wines that are not commonly known

but are delicious and cater to the tastes of their community, Liz Heller said.

The store offers delivery and bar-

tending services as well. Every Friday they host a tasting at their store, offering snacks for the adults partaking and little treats for their kids who may tag along.

The full-service liquor store in Roslyn Heights has expanded its inventory to include more unique and highly-rated products the community will enjoy. (Photo by Cameryn Oakes)

Prior to taking over ownership of Halcyon Liquors, Peter Heller was involved in investment banking and Liz Heller had been a hedge fund trader for about 25 years. After the pandemic, she said she was seeking a change in her life.

“As with everybody during COVID, it made you look at your life differently and I think I wanted to be more in a neighborhood type of store,” Liz said. “I was born and raised here and I’m raising my children here. I really love this community and I felt like I wanted to do more to be a part of it.”

Peter Heller, too, said that what they were seeking was to have a stronger relationship with their community. For the last 20 years, they have lived in the Roslyn area and would commute into the city for work. But that came at a price, disconnecting them from their community, he said.

“Now we’re following our dream,” Peter Heller said about having a small business in their community.

This career change for the Hellers

may be a new challenge for them, but it is a rewarding one as they gain the community they intended to seek out with their new business.

“We’ve been in business most of our adult life, but we’ve never been in small business so this challenge is very exciting to us, and more so to even be able to do it where we live,” Peter Heller said. “To be able to do that where you live in your hometown with the people you know and love, that’s just really really exciting to us.”

Liz Heller said the community has been supportive of their new venture and has provided overwhelmingly positive feedback.

“Really everybody that comes into the store is very kind, courteous and really looking to help out the small business owners,” Liz said.

What Liz Heller loves the most is hearing their community members’ stories of why they are coming in to buy their wine and spirits. One customer came to purchase alcohol for a gender reveal party, and Liz said she is looking forward to finding out whether the baby is a boy or a girl.

Liz said the small-business owner community has also been supportive, with other entrepreneurs reaching out to them to offer help in the new venture.

The Greater Roslyn Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a ribbon-

We’re The Key To Your New Home In The Spring!

PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES

Peter and Liz Heller are the new owners of Halcyon Liquors in Roslyn Heights.

NHP man gets probation for insurrection

The Herricks graduate was sentenced to two years for his particpation in the Jan. 6 attack

BY BRANDON DUFFY

A New Hyde Park man was sentenced Thursday to two years of probation for leading a group of rioters inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Eric Gerwatowski, 32, was at the front of a crowd outside the Upper House doors when he pulled one of them open after Capitol Police had closed them to prevent rioters from entering, according to federal prosecutors.

After opening the doors, Gerwatowski turned to the crowd behind him and shouted “Let’s go!” as he began to direct rioters inside the building.

Gerwatowski was sentenced to 24 months’ probation, 30 days home detention, $2,000 restitution to the Architect of the Capitol and 60 hours of community service. He pleaded guilty to interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder in November after being arrested in February last year.

While inside the Capitol, Gerwatowski was live-streamed by another rioter that showed him saying “they’re raping kids and they’re shooting kids” before leaving after being inside for about three minutes, ofcials said.

Gerwatowski was also interviewed outside the Capitol on camera saying “the commies are trying to steal

the country” and that he believed the election was stolen.

Gerwatowski is a graduate of Herricks High School Class of 2008, according to classmates.com.

The Daily News reported he was a member of heavy metal rock bands. The website Reverberation lists an Eric Gerwatowski as a vocalist for the

band The Optimist. One of the songs featured on The Optimist website is titled “Maladjusted.”

The band’s Facebook page in 2015 shared a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. saying “he who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against

it is really cooperating with it.”

Ofcials said the Twitter account @SeditionHunters, which is operated by civilians to share information about identifying suspects from the riot, posted pictures of Gerwatowski using the hashtag #lordlonghair.

The FBI was also able to fnd an Instagram account that is believed to

belong to Gerwatowski, which has since been deleted but was still active on Jan. 6. Multiple tipsters also identifed Gerwatowski, saying he shared the fact he entered the Capitol and gave authorities his phone number, the FBI said.

One of the Capitol ofcers that day told the FBI he made a “tactical decision” not to engage Gerwatowski and other rioters.

“The ofcer told the FBI that he was exhausted, outnumbered, and had already been attacked and sprayed with several chemicals by rioters earlier in the day,” according to a criminal complaint.

More than 999 people from nearly every state have been arrested for various crimes related to the Jan. 6 riots a the Capitol Building, ofcials said.

In October, Nassau attorney and former East Williston school board trustee John O’Kelly was arrested for his actions during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, according to the federal prosecutors.

O’Kelly, 66, is charged with felony charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement ofcers and interfering with law enforcement ofcers during a civil disorder, along with related misdemeanor ofenses, ofcials said.

Sands brings the worlds of fne dining, exhilarating entertainment and spectacular architecture together in an opulent package. Extravagance leads every step of our process. From our commitment to wholistic spa experiences to lavish in-room amenities, from celebrity chefs in our restaurants to celebrities on the stage, Sands leaves nothing to the imagination!

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Eric Gerwatowski of New Hyde Park, left, is seen in a YouTube video from the Capitol Building riots on Jan. 6, 2021.

SPOTLIGHT ON INSTRUCTOR

KEXIN LIU

On February 5th, 2023, the talented young Asian pianist Kexin Liu held a solo concert at Roslyn Presbyterian Church. Throughout the concert, Kexin showcased her impressive skills by performing four different compositions across various genres. Her exceptional technique and expressive musicality were well-received by the audience.

Kexin carefully selected a repertoire that catered to the local audience’s preferences. The program included classical pieces from different eras alongside more contemporary works from recent decades. Through the contrast of different styles, Kexin aimed to provide a new listening experience that would appeal to audiences with varying tastes. The repertoire includes Joe Hisaishi’s Wind-Hill, Fanny Mendelssohn’s “Das Jahr” October, Jean-Pierre Rameau’s Suite, and four-hand contemporary pieces performed with pianist Xu Tan. As a fearless interpreter of different styles of piano works, Kexin’s setting also aroused the interest of music lovers without any professional background, thus making classical music less mysterious but more approachable.

Ms. Kexin Liu has earned widespread praise for her performances over the years. She has been described as “a visionary musician” and “New York’s piano queen”. Her playing has been lauded as both “vigorous and fresh”, as well as “vulnerable and tender”. Kexin’s in-depth interpretation of different styles demonstrates her deep understanding of various genres.

Beyond her career as a pianist, Kexin is also a dedicated piano instructor. She currently works at Musik Colab Education Studio (https://www.musikcolab.com), located in Roslyn, Long Island, where she teaches over 20 students. Musik Colab’s education philosophy emphasizes musical enlightenment and innovation, encouraging students to explore the music world on their own. The enthusiastic teaching attitude and excellent expertise are recognized by all the students and their parents.

Special thanks to Dr.Gary de Sesa, Musical director at the Roslyn Presbyterian Church. None of these would be possible without him.

Blakeman’s wife cross-endorsed for judge

Associate Cedarhurst village justice would serve for a decade if elected in November

BY BRANDON DUFFY

Segal Blakeman, the spouse of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, has been crossendorsed by the Nassau County Democratic and Republican Committees for a Family Court judgeship, according to multiple reports.

Blakeman, who is an associate village justice for Cedarhurts and a private matrimonial and family law litigator for Woodburybased Stone Studin Young & Nigro, would serve a 10-year term if elected later this year in the Nov. 7 general election.

Along with Blakeman, Eric Milgrim, a Democrat and former Nassau public administrator, was also cross-endorsed by state and county Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs and county Republican Committee Chairman Joe Cairo.

Both Blakeman and Milgrim’s names will appear on petitions of candidacy for both parties, which will be submitted by early April.

The seats to be filled opened up last year after Stacy Bennett and Lisa Cairo, daughter of Joe Cairo, were elected as State Su-

preme Court judges in the 10th District for 14-year terms. The two were among six total candidates for a total of six seats.

In 2022, Nassau County had 20 seats open for a judgeship, with 20 total candidates. Of those 20, all of them were endorsed by the county’s Democratic, Republican and Conservative committees.

Joe Cairo told Newsday the two parties “reached a consensus” on “well qualified” candidates and Jared Kasschau of the county Democrats’ Law Committee said he and a panel of five members met with Blakeman to go over her credentials.

“She was found extremely qualified,” Jacobs told Newsday. Blakeman, who graduated from Yeshiva University’s Cardozo School of Law, was a principal law clerk to a Supreme Court judge in the Matrimonial Division and previously worked as an attorney for the county’s housing department under former Republican Executive Ed Mangano before resigning in 2015 following her marriage.

Milgrim, who graduated from CUNY School of Law, is a principal law clerk to State Supreme Court Justice David Gugerty.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BLAKEMAN ADMINISTRATION

Segal Blakeman swears in her spouse, Bruce, as Nassau County Executive in 2022.

Town Board can’t agree on Plandome plan

BY BRANDON DUFFY

A tense Town of North Hempstead Town Board meeting Tuesday night saw a unanimous vote to support the installation of a sewer main along Plandome Road as part of the Manhasset Sewer Conversion Project and a split vote on party lines to block a resolution transferring $3.1 million in federal funds for phase two of the project.

The three-and-a-half-hour meeting included a more than hour-long discussion on whether the town can use American Rescue Plan Act money on behalf of private businesses for phase 2 of the project.

Town Attorney John Chiara has been having ongoing discussions on the question with an attorney for the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce,

North Shore appoints Smyth new assistant superintendent

BY CAMERYN OAKES

which has been spearheading the project.

The six-member board voted 3-3 on the resolution to use the federal funds, with Republicans voting for and Democrats voting against it.

Councilmember Robert Troiano, a Democrat, was not present at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Council Member Veronica Lurvey, a Democrat, said she intends to reintroduce the resolution to provide the ARPA funding at the April 4 meeting.

Supporters of the sewer project, including Manhasset Chamber of Commerce member Robert Donno and Co-President Matthew Donno along with business owners on Plandome road, said the time is now to commit.

“For every reason under the sun this is a project that

The North Shore School District Board of Education appointed Carol Ann Smyth as its new assistant superintendent for instruction during the March 9 board meeting.

“It is an honor to work at the North Shore Schools,” Smyth said in a press release. “North Shore is a wonderful place. We have amazing students, committed parents, incredibly talented educators and a dedicated staff.”

She went on to say, “We are a unique learning community committed to honoring tradition and pursuing continuous growth and innovation such that all of our students can discover and follow their dreams. I care deeply about our school district, its mission and each member of our learning community.”

The position is effective July 1.

Smyth has served as the interim assistant superintendent for instruction since May 26, working closely with Superintendent Chris Zublionis. She previously served as a curriculum director for the district, initially as director of science for

K-12 and then as director of elementary S.T.E.A.M., science, technology, engineering, art and math.

The Board of Ed said Smyth has fostered collaborative work in the school district during her tenure in order to “support meaningful and impactful learning” for students. This is guided by her belief that “each student deserves a well-rounded education of the highest quality which inspires a true love of learning.”

Dave Ludmar, president of the board, observed that he and his members have had to make difficult decisions in their roles overseeing the school district.

“This is not one of those decisions,” he said. “This is a very clear one. Dr. Smyth is creative, innovative and I would call [her] a brilliant educator.”

Carol Ann Smyth has been appointed the assistant superintendent for instruction for the North Shore School District.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NORTH SHORE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hofstra officials oppose Sands’ casino proposal at Nassau Hub

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Hofstra University ofcials formally opposed the Las Vegas Sands’ casino and entertainment proposal at the side of the Nassau Coliseum and surrounding area known as the Nassau Hub.

A letter from Hofstra trustees published online said potential “trafc congestion, crime, economic harm to local business” would have a negative impact on the school community, directly adjacent tothe area.

“The Nassau Hub is an entirely inappropriate location for a casino,” ofcials said. “There are other locations in and around New York City to site a casino that are not in such proximity to multiple educational institutions where so many young people live and learn.”

Eforts to reach Sands ofcials for immediate comment were unavailing.

Sands Vice Presidents Ron Reese, in January said the company and Hofstra have engaged in discussions regarding the proposal and hopes to have a continued dialogue throughout the process.

“We don’t build $4 billion casinos, we build multi-amenity real estate developments and we want to engage with the community and local labor leaders,” Reese said. “We’ve spoken to Hofstra and we hope there are more opportunities to engage in conversation.”

Reese and David Paterson, the former New York governor, said the company’s plan includes a casino, hotel, a live performance venue, restaurants and a spa.

Reese told Blank Slate Media in January the hotel will be at least 800 rooms, the live performance venue will have a 5,0007,500 seat capacity and there will be roughly 400,000 square feet of “corporate meeting facilities” to go along with other amenities.

Hofstra President Susan Poser previously expressed concerns in a guest essay in Newsday that a casino would exacerbate trafc, contribute to addiction and mental health tendencies in college-age students and would not guarantee an increase in revenue to the area.

“A casino at the Hub is not about the future, and it would not be an engine for economic and social prosperity,” Poser said in the essay. “It would be dangerous for adjoining neighborhoods, and create a nightmare of trafc and pollution, not to mention antisocial behaviors that often crop up around casinos.”

Despite the company’s name, Reese said, Nassau residents should not anticipate structures that belong in Las Vegas coming to Long Island.

Continued on Page 44

Concerns on inspector general role

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

The Nassau County Legislative Majority will keep Inspector General Jodi Franzese in her position until at least the end of 2023 and her future status will be determined by a new group of legislators, ofcials announced.

Presiding Ofcer Rich Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) told Newsday that the Majority will leave Franzese, the only one to be elected to the position in county history, until year’s end. Nicolello, who announced he will not be running for reelection last week, said the legislators who are elected this November will be the ones determining her status as inspector general.

Franzese has been serving in her capacity as a holdover since her four-year appointment expired at the beginning of the

year, ofcials told the newspaper. Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) expressed concerns with a report mentioning the county’s checkered past involving corruption. He stressed the importance of having a non-partisan ofcial serve as inspector general.

“With Nassau County’s disturbing history of corruption, it is unfathomable that anyone would think it is wise to undermine the Inspector General’s Ofce, which was created for the sole purpose of preventing future scandals,” Abrahams said in a statement. “The Minority Caucus is not willing to accept the risk of a return to the waste, fraud, and abuse of the past. It is time to end the gamesmanship, reappoint the inspector general, and fully commit to the independence of Nassau County’s public integrity watchdog.”

Continued on Page 50

RENDERING COURTESY OF LAS VEGAS SANDS

A rendering of the Las Vegas Sands’ casino and entertainment venue proposal.

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Gounaris, Zanetti to run for re-election

Herricks school board president, v.p. announce during board meeting focused on district budget review

BY BRANDON DUFFY

The second budget 2023-2024 budget presentation for the Herricks Public School District took a deeper look at next year’s projected expenditures during the Board of Education meeting Thursday night.

Also during the meeting, board President Jim Gounaris and Vice President Henry Zanetti each announced their candidacy for the upcoming district elections on Tuesday, May 16.

The 2023-2024 budget draft is $134.7 million and includes an almost $9.5 million increase in spending from the current budget, a 7.5% rise. Excluding pending claims and the associated legal fees, the budget represents only a 5.3% increase, Superintendent Tony Sinanis said.

Sinanis added that he has spoken informally with superintendents and business ofcials in other local districts and said the 5.3% increase “is very much in the average range of where districts currently sit.”

The district is projected to increase the tax levy by 1.83%, which is equal to the tax cap determined by the state and falls below the 2% allowable growth factor limit.

Assistant Business Superintendent Lisa Rutkoske explained the major drivers for the budget increase, where legal claims and settlements take up almost $2.8 million, or 30%, of the budget-to-budget increase.

Of the $9,404,489 increase from last year’s budget, health insurance accounts for

$2,070,000, payroll represents $1,997,000, special education services is responsible for $863,000 and facilities and utilities take up $555,000.

The remaining expenditure increases include debt taking up $316,000, textbooks accounting for $239,000, technology claiming $235,000 and all other costs adding up to

$338,000.

“We want to reiterate to the community that these expenditures are being driven by the students, maintaining programs and ensuring that they do so in a healthy and safe environment,” Rutkoske said.

Budget features include hiring assistant principals for Searingtown and Center Street Elementary Schools, funding for social-emotional learning programs, special education services, English as a New Language programs, new musical and athletic equipment and additional sports, such as varsity girls’ fag football, among other things.

Additionally, the Herricks Public School District will be receiving state aid totaling $8 million more than was granted in the 2022-23 legislative budget. This is a 47% increase in state aid for the school district.

In unrelated district news, there will be a ribbon-cutting for the new Herricks High School auditorium on March 23 before the board of education meeting.

Gounaris, a Manhasset Hills resident, was previously president of the board from 2013 to 2015. He is currently serving his fourth term on the board as a trustee after winning re-election in 2020. He was appointed president last year, following Zannetti.

Zanetti, a Williston Park resident who served on the Herricks PTA for over a decade, was elected to the board in 2017. He is currently in his second term.

Extra! Extra! Roslyn High to perform ‘Newsies’

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Royal Crown Players, the drama program at Roslyn High School, is bringing the critically acclaimed “Newsies” to the stage in the hope of inspiring the next generation of theater kids with their performance.

The musical, which has been nominated for numerous awards and won two Tonys, tells a story inspired by the Newsboys strike of 1899 in New York City. In reaction to a sharp hike in newspaper prices, the newsboys rose up against the power of two publishing giants.

Shows, which are 2 ½ hours with a one 15-minute intermission, will be held at the Roslyn High School auditorium March 30, 31 and April 1.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online at a discounted price, $10 for students and senior citizens and $12 for adults. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $12 for students and senior citizens and $14 for adults.

This production is entirely studentproduced, the show’s drector, Christina Cinnamo, said.

Nearly 70 students are involved in the show, with 40 students in the cast for all the on-stage performances, 1015 students in the crew to manage the production and 15 students in the pit orchestra that plays live for the production.

Jamie Lumetta, a junior at Roslyn High school, is a cast member in the

production and plays one of the newsies. He is also the corresponding secretary for Royal Crown Players.

Jamie said that he has personally enjoyed getting to learn the choreography for the production as it was not a skill he knew much about beforehand. The production includes dance styles like tap, which he said has been interesting to learn.

Auditions and casting were done in December, and they then “hit the

ground running” in January when rehearsals began, Christina said.

The cast rehearses about three to four times a week, but now that the performance is nearing, they are practicing every day. Christina said the students have been quick to learn and they are now at the point of just putting the fnishing touches on the show.

About a week ago, the production had its frst full run-through of the show. Christina said this was a great

confdence boost for the cast and production members as everyone was able to feel connected with one another. This was a high point for her during the production process.

With the cast rehearsing since January and now every day, she said the biggest challenge has been mental and physical stamina for the students.

The show is high energy, Christina said, and it’s physically demanding, but the cast has stepped up to the challenge

and really delivered.

While Jamie is now taking on his role as a newsie, he still has a role as a student as well. Balancing a schedule full of academics and theater rehearsals on top of other extracurriculars can be challenging, but he makes it possible.

“We really enjoy the theater so it’s not an additional taxing thing,” Jamie said. “It’s really a way to let your creativity shine and just enjoy yourself.”

Jamie said he is most looking forward to performing the show for their community and seeing his fellow cast members produce it. Christina agreed, saying it is an excellent show and she can’t wait for the community to see the work they’ve been putting into this production.

Christina said the themes of the show, good triumphing over evil and the power in community, are important and has meaning for the students involved. They are looking forward to sharing this in their performances.

“The show resonates a lot with young people of today willing to fght what’s right and a better future,” Jamie said.

He said he hopes more people from the community will become interested in theater, possibly inspiring the younger children in the audience to want to be a part of it in the future.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the show opening,” Jamie said. “I love theater and I feel like this is really an amazing way to be introduced to it.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ISLAND 360 ARHIVES

Herricks Board of Education President Jim Gounaris, left, and Vice President Henry Zanetti.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINA CINNAMO

Roslyn High School drama program Royal Crown Players rehearsing for their upcoming performances of “Newsies” at the end of the month.

Award-winning lawn grows in Mineola

BY ANNABEL HOFMANN

John Robinson of Mineola has been promoted from a monthly winner of Jonathan Green’s Show Us Your Lawn competition to a national winner.

Robinson, whose wife submitted the photo of their lawn behind his back, previously won the competition for the month of June. This automatically entered him into the national contest at the end of the year, where he also took home frst place.

Jonathan Green, a national supplier of grass seed and lawn care products, holds a monthly contest from April to October where people around the country submit photos of lawns grown using their products. The seven monthly winners are then entered into a year-end competition for the best Jonathan Green lawn.

“Over the thousands of pictures that come in Mr. Robinson won,” said Anthony Langlois, territory sales manager for Jonathan Green. “I think he could be very proud of his lawn, and the picture is beautiful.”

The prize for the monthly contest was $50 to be used to buy Jonathan Green products at Hicks Nurseries, the local retailer and the place where Robinson bought all the supplies to perfect his lawn. The prize for the national competition is a $500 gift card to Hicks and free fertilizer for a year.

Robinson said that his lawn hadn’t always been so photogenic.

“I did have a landscaper, but I had the worst lawn ” he said. “He was cutting weeds and dirt.”

When the pandemic shut down all other activities, Robinson decided to focus on improving his grass.

“I told my wife when I woke up one morn-

ing. I said: ‘I got the biggest project. I want to do it and I want to do it right,’” he explained. After hearing about Jonathan Green products from someone at DeLea Sod Farm, he went to Hicks Nurseries and asked for help.

Documentary of local killer premieres on A&E

BY BRANDON DUFFY

A two-part documentary focused on Richard Cottingham, a New Jersey man known as the “Torso Killer” who murdered multiple North Shore women, premiered on A&E networks Thursday night.

The 76-year-old, who is currently serving multiple life sentences at the South Woods Estate Prison in Bridgeton, N.J., for previous murder convictions in New York and New Jersey, admitted in December to killing four additional women in Nassau County in the 1970s.

“The Torso Killer Confessions” dives into the work of Detective Robert Anzilotti of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Ofce in New Jersey over multiple decades as he tries to crack the cold cases linked to Cottingham’s crimes.

“The special goes behind the scenes, exploring the relationship between the two men,

and how that relationship culminated in Cottingham’s recent headline-making confessions,”

A&E says of the program on its website. “Through in-depth interviews with Anzilotti, neverbefore-heard audio tapes of the men’s conversations, intimate exclusive footage, and multiple confessions from Cottingham,

the special is a rare look into an unrelenting journey for the truth against the odds.”

Diane Cusick, a 23-year-old mother, was a resident of New Hyde Park and an instructor at an Oceanside-based dancing school when she told her family she was going to the Valley

“I came in here and I said, ‘Guys, I’m starting this from scratch, step by step, tell me what to do,’” Robinson said.

With the help and advice from employees at Hicks Nurseries, Robinson’s lawn began to grow

and thrive.

“I was ecstatic. I saw all the green stuf. I saw it bloom and all that, and I said to myself, ‘Oh my god, it’s so good,’” Robinson said. “I didn’t want to buy sod because I fgured this is a project I needed to do myself.”

Robinson said that his grass grew so thick and green that his neighbors started wondering if it was fake.

Langlois was impressed with Robinson’s commitment to the project.

“I’m very pleased to say that talking to him this morning he told me that he actually did everything: put the lawn in with the instructions of the people here at Hicks Nurseries, and he did everything on his own,” he said.

He also explained that Jonathan Green, a sixth-generation family business, focuses on quality over quantity when selling their grass seed.

“We’re not the largest seed company, but I have to say, I think we’re the best seed company,” Langlois said. “Because we don’t sell any in the national chain stores or the larger stores, we can keep a handle on quality and we only sell to the independents like Hicks.”

He also said that they believe customers will get better advice from local, independent stores – guidance which certainly proved useful to Robinson.

Robinson emphasized that growing an award-winning law wasn’t easy. It took lots of care and attention.

“It’s hard to maintain but if you moisten it –and just like your body, it needs vitamins – it’ll grow,” he said.

G.N. panel discusses combatting antisemitism

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

A crowd of approximately 100 people at Young Israel of Great Neck participated in a discussion on the prevalence of antisemitism and ways to combat it on Tuesday night.

Attendees were treated to a panel consisting of Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, Jewish rights activist Rudy Rochman, Young Israel Rabbi Shmuel Ismach, Andrea Bolender from Voices4Truth and Avi Posnick from StandWithUs. Rochman said antisemitism becomes more exposed when the Jewish community strays from what their purpose and true identity is.

“If our people know who they are and are able to reconnect back to our roots and to our values and to actually achieve our aspirations, I can guarantee that antisemitism will go away,” Rochman said.

The 29-year-old uses social media to connect with an audience to not only fght antisemitism but to promote the Jewish community to celebrate everyone’s respected heritage and origins. Simply talking about antisemitism, he said, is not enough to combat it.

“It’s understanding how antisemitism is portrayed,” he said. “How it works and how to be able to stand up and not just make excuses because we talked about it that we feel good

with things.”

Bolender said people disagreeing with Israeli politics has morphed into antisemitic rhetoric, with people equating a political debate with Jew-hatred. Properly educating students, she said, is one of the ways New York and more than half of the U.S. needs to improve to efectively combat antisemitism.

“What I would like to do is have a country-wide scoring system for [Holocaust education},” Bolender said. “As of right now, the only state in this entire country that has maybe an A- is New Jersey.”

Bolender said 30 states in the country do not have any requirements to have Holocaust instruction in their school systems. Long Island, she said, is the fourth-largest Jewish community in the country, yet has a high level of Holocaust illiteracy.

Ryder expounded on what Nassau Police have done and will continue to do to fght antisemitism in the county.

“Nobody in this county is more threatened than the Jewish community,” Ryder said. “Nobody needs more than the Jewish community.”

Ryder also said he believes a lot of the antisemitic incidents that occur throughout Nassau are unreported. Though antisemitism is not on the rise locally, he said, it is on the rise nationally. Social media, Ryder said, plays

Continued on Page 52

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Richard Cottingham in 1980.

PHOTO BY ANNABEL HOFMANN John Robinson (center) and his wife Angela (left) were presented with a $500 gift card to Hicks Nurseries by Anthony Langlois (right) for winning the national Show Us Your Lawn competition.

Barred broker indicted for stock fraud scheme

BY CAMERYN OAKES

A barred investment broker from Glen Cove has been indicted on charges related to a stock fraud scheme of $520,000 collected from investors who believed they were investing in several highprofle companies including Peloton, WeWork, Airbnb & Petco, according to a press release from Nassau County’s

district attorney.

Six investors believed they were investing in pre-initial public ofering, pre-IPO, stock for these companies, but Peter Quartararo, 57, was allegedly using the money for personal luxury items and travel. These items included a 2020 Mercedes Benz SUV, and the money contributed to a down payment on his Maserati.

Quartararo was charged during an arraignment on

Thursday with fve counts of grand larceny in the second degree, one count of grand larceny in the third degree and one count of scheme to defraud in the frst degree.

If convicted of the top count, Quartararo may face the maximum sentence of fve to 15 years in prison.

He pleaded not guilty and was released without having to post bail. His next court date is set for April 3.

Quartararo had previously been barred from working as a stockbroker in March 2013 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FinRA).

Peter Quartararo was indicted Thursday for charges related to a stock fraud scheme that allegedly stole $520,000 from victims.

“This defendant allegedly tricked investors into believing they were getting in on the ground foor on high-profle companies that were going public,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. “Instead, investors lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds that the defendant allegedly then used on luxury purchases, including a sports car. Investing in the stock market always comes

Continued on Page 44

Soccer legends Lloyd, Beckham meet youth

BY ANNABEL HOFMANN

Hundreds of kids crowded around international soccer stars Carli Lloyd and David Beckham, asking for autographs, taking photos and screaming with excitement, when the two came to Nassau Saturday.

As a promotional event for the proposed Las Vegas Sands casino, Lloyd and Beckham visited Long Island for what was supposed to be a day of coaching and practicing soccer. However, when the kids saw the soccer legends, all thoughts of ball control drills immediately left their minds.

Hosted at Mitchell Athletic Complex in Uniondale, soccer teams from Uniondale, Hempstead, Westbury, Garden City, Carl Place and East Meadow were invited to one of two sessions, with around 200 kids participating in each.

Lloyd and Beckham began the event by sharing opening remarks. Then the young soccer players were supposed to form groups of 10 to do soccer drills being demonstrated up front while Lloyd and Beckham came around to give advice.

The minute they stepped onto the feld, the two soccer greats were swarmed. The excitement emanating from the kids was palpable. After about 45 minutes of Lloyd and Beckham signing autographs, each team lined up to take a photo with the two of them.

While there was not very much soccer played Saturday, many kids said this event was some-

thing they will remember forever.

“I’m never washing this hand again,” screamed one little boy after getting a high-fve from Beckham.

The event was part of Sand Cares and the Sands Youth Empowerment Initiative in New York – a campaign intended to increase support for the controversial casino the organization is seeking to build at the Nassau Hub, the site of the Nassau Coliseum.

“Sands has a long history of creating deep and meaningful partnerships with our host communities and developing programs that speak to their needs and aspirations,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate afairs for Sands. “Bringing David Beckham and Carli Lloyd here to interact with some of Long Island’s community soccer clubs is the start of a long-term commitment to invest in the types of programs that beneft local residents and families.”

Lloyd and Beckham ofered their comments on the event in a press release distributed by Sands.

“I love that soccer is a sport that brings people together and requires cooperation and teamwork from every person on the feld,” Lloyd said. “Being here today, with Long Island’sfuture soccer stars and Sands Youth Empowerment Initiative is an uplifting and inspiring experience.”

Continued on Page 44

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

Are Nassau judges politicians in robes?

Perhaps Segal Blakeman, the wife of County Executive Bruce Blakeman, is the best-qualifed lawyer in Nassau to serve as a family court judge and her selection as both the Democratic and Republican candidate in the fall has nothing to do with who she is married to.

Joseph Cairo, Nassau Republican Committee chairman, said Segal Blakeman has an “impressive background and experience, evidencing the credentials necessary to serve as an excellent judge in the Family Court.”

Elizabeth Post, executive director of the Nassau County Bar Association, said Segal Blakeman was found “well qualifed”for Family Court by the association’s Judiciary Committee.

And Jay Jacobs, the state and Nassau Democratic chairman, said she was “found extremely qualifed” by the party law committee.

Segal Blakeman works for Stone Studin Young & Nigro of Woodbury, where she handles matrimonial and family law cases.

She received her law degree from Yeshiva University’s Cardozo School of Law, according to her resume. She also worked as an attorney for the county’s housing department under former Republican County Executive Edward Mangano.

But perhaps Segal Blakeman is not the best-qualifed lawyer in Nassau County.

Perhaps better-qualifed candidates were overlooked and Segal Blakeman got the endorsement because she is the wife of the county executive.

We may never know because Nassau County voters aren’t even going to get the option of a second candidate.

Segal Blakeman’s screening took place after Cairo and Jacobs once again agreed to cross-endorse candidates for judge in elections that are supposed to allow voters to decide who serves on the bench.

In return for backing Segal Blakeman, the Republicans agreed to back Democratic attorney Eric Milgrim, a

former Nassau public administrator, also for Family Court in the Nov. 7 election.

The Family Court seats opened up after Lisa Cairo and Stacy Bennett were elected last year to State Supreme Court. Cairo is the daughter of Joe Cairo. Small world.

Both Cairo and Bennett had run unopposed in the 2022 election. Along with 20 other judges selected by the party leaders.

Party leaders told Newsday the practice of cross-endorsing – and taking the choice out of the voters’ hands – is a way of making sure an equal number of Republican and Democratic candidates are elected to the bench.

Unexplained is why this is a good thing.

Wouldn’t county residents be better served by voting for whom they believe is the best-qualifed candidate – regardless of party? Rather than being selected in backroom deals by unelected party leaders?

Cairo and Jacobs appear to be saying that people running for judge have a partisan agenda no diferent than candidates for legislative or executive branch seats. And they are evening the scales.

If this is such a good idea, why don’t they do the same thing for the county Legislature, county executive and Congress?

Jacobs in the past defended the practice of cross-endorsements by noting that judges are “not permitted to really campaign on any issues, so the public doesn’t really have a particular choice based upon issues like you would have in a normal election. The outcome was determined not by the individual, but by the ups and downs of that particular party’s success in a given year.”

Jacobs does have a point about Supreme Court candidates not being permitted to really campaign on any issues under state ethics laws.

But in exactly what election were Jacobs and Cairo selected to replace

voters in making the choice over such crucial positions? Answer: none.

And it is not as if either party leader has distinguished themselves in selecting candidates.

Cairo is the person who screened and selected George Santos to run for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District. Twice. And Mangano, the last Republican county executive before Blakeman, is now serving time in a federal prison for political corruption.

We can better understand Jacobs wanting a 50-50 split with Republicans.

In 2021, with a 100,000-margin in registered voters, Democrats lost 13 of 45 city, town and county races including all four countywide seats led by Blakeman’s victory as county executive.

The only place the Democrats were competitive were the 20 judicial seats they cross-endorsed with the Republican and Conservative parties.

And then in 2022, the party underperformed across the state as Democrats overperformed across the nation. This helped give Republicans control of the House of Representatives and elect Santos to represent the 3rd Congressional District.

By controlling the selection process, the party bosses gain power over lawyers seeking to become judges. This is good for the party bosses but not a

good thing for the judiciary.

The rules of judicial conduct in New York call for a judge to “uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary.”

The code states that “an independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. A judge should participate in establishing, maintaining and enforcing high standards of conduct, and shall personally observe those standards so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary will be preserved.”

It further states that “a judge shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judge’s activities.” This bears repeating. Judges are supposed to avoid the mere appearance of impropriety.

How exactly does the selection of the wife of the county executive and the daughter of the Republican county chairman square with that standard? Or for that matter a party chair like Jacobs determining which Democrat is elected a judge?

There are legitimate arguments about the wisdom of electing judges.

But consider two reasons that the choice doesn’t belong with Jacobs and Cairo.

One reason no one hears about the candidates in Nassau County is that they don’t have opponents. The public

just might have a reason to learn about a particular candidate if given a choice.

That’s the whole reason for political campaigns. Besides, even though voters may not have the chance to ask judges about their views on political issues, a candidate’s experience is not a bad criterion by which to judge.

For instance, you might just want someone running for a 14-year term that currently pays more than $200,000 a year to have actual experience as a judge – something that some party-picked candidates have lacked in the past.

A second reason is that the election of judges is the law in New York.

Electing judges in sham elections decided in backroom deals is not exactly a strong endorsement for judicial integrity or democracy.

Party leaders and their members bear much of the responsibility for this mess.

But so do the candidates for judge who accept the nomination of both parties under this system.

If nothing else, every candidate running for judge in Nassau should explain to voters why they don’t have a challenger on the ballot. And if they think it serves voters.

Otherwise, it would seem fair to conclude that Nassau judges are just politicians in robes.

The ‘Holy Spirit, protect my Michael’

Fox News propagandist and conspiracy theorist Tucker Carlson, with video handed over to him exclusively by feckless House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, is misleading his viewers by representing the Jan. 6th riot as a peaceful get-together, a sight-seeing tour.

Carlson continues to demonstrate a reckless disregard for the truth. He does so in spite of the fact that Fox News founder Rupert Murdoch testifed under oath that several of the channel’s hosts knowingly lied to their viewers about the 2020 election being stolen.

By Fox maintaining a narrative for which there is no evidence, they are indoctrinating viewers and advancing a false pretext for the ongoing incitement of political violence.

Recalling a certain law enforcement ofcer’s story ofers us a timely reminder of what really went down on Jan. 6th and what the risks of Fox’s misinformation portends for the future.

On the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021, Metropolitan Dept. Police (MPD) ofcer Michael Fanone was preparing to join his brothers and sisters in blue, after he was alerted that they were under siege at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.

Upon readying himself to depart

his mother’s home, she insisted that he stay a little longer while she prayed.“We bowed our heads,” Michael recalled. His mom then invoked St. Michael, the patron saint of police ofcers: “Holy Spirit,” she prayed, “protect my Michael. Be in his eyes in his seeing, in his ears in his hearing, his lips in his speaking, his heart in his thinking. St. Michael surround him. Amen.”Jan. 6th was one of Fanone’s fnal days as an active police ofcer. He documented his experience (with John Shifman), in his chilling memoir, “Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop’s Battle for America’s Soul.”When he arrived at the Capitol Building on Jan. 6th Fanone, a 20-year veteran of the MPD, was dragged down the Capitol steps by rioters, battered with fsts and metal objects, pepper-sprayed, incapacitated by a taser and threatened with his own gun — “Kill him with his gun!” one individual in the mob demanded.

Fanone sufered a heart attack, traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress, and severe burns to his neck. What saved his life, he believes, was making a plea to Trump’s domestic terrorists for empathy in the interest of his children.

He has since testifed before the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol and has been a staple

ANDREW MALEKOFF The Back Road

on cable news programs, to the antipathy of some who would prefer he stay silent. Eighteen months after the attempted coup, a Monmouth University poll was conducted with a random sample of 808 adults age 18 and older. When respondents were asked to characterize the assault on the Capitol building, 64% said “riot” is appropriate and 52% said “insurrection” is appropriate, while 35% said it is appropriate to call it a “legitimate protest.”The poll found that 6 in 10 Republicans still believed Biden won the 2020 presidential election due to voter fraud, thanks in large part to the knowing falsehoods

KREMER’S CORNER

spread by Fox News hosts Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, to name just a few.“What does Mike Fanone deserve? A parade? A key to the city?” asked Molly Ball, reporting for TIME magazine. “He’s not asking for any of that. He’s not asking to be called a hero — he just wants us to remember what his sacrifce was for,” she emphasized. Remember we should.

Hundreds of law enforcement offcers risked their lives and sustained traumatic medical injuries on Jan. 6.Yet, the gaslighting Fox News hosts prefer that their viewers deny the truth to curry favor with Trump and deepen the nation’s divide.

Despite revealing testimony and compelling video evidence presented at the Jan. 6 hearings, the public opinion needle has not moved “on Trump’s culpability for either the riot or his spurious election fraud claims,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute. “This continues to give political cover to Republican leaders who avoided addressing the damage done to our democratic processes that day.”

On December 15, 2022, law enforcement ofcers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 were awarded Congressional Gold Medals for protecting our democracy and defending the Constitution against

the violent mob of MAGA extremists who sought to overturn a free and fair election. The commendation reads, in part, “The MPD did not retreat, and though outnumbered, exhausted, and injured, they remained determined and spent hours fending of the attackers without reluctance.” Fox News does not want their viewers to know this or see the video that documents it.

Notwithstanding what that solemn occasion represented, 21 House Republican ingrates, many of whom rarely hesitate to publicly express how strongly they “back the blue,” voted against awarding the Congressional Gold Medals to the ofcers who responded so valiantly to the Jan. 6th assault on democracy.“The lack of support shown by the most rabid propolice political factions towards the Capitol Police ofcers assaulted on January 6th, 2021 has been a huge blow to law enforcement that will have repercussions for years to come,” commented voting rights expert Sherrilyn Ifll in her Jan. 27 newsletter.

What we need is a U.S. Congress that collectively validates lived history, denounces election denialism and political violence, and honors the men and women in blue for all they endured for us on January 6th.Lest we forget.

GOP self-destructing at worst possible time

These days many major companies are in the process of rebranding their image. They have concluded that a new face will be good for the bottom line and maybe they will attract new customers for their product. Even the Toblerone chocolate manufacturers have decided they need a new logo and the famous Matterhorn Mountain is being removed from the labeling. If ever an entity needed a new image, it is the national Republican Party and there is no chance that such a change will take place in the near future.

At this point in time, the party is beginning to plan for the 2024 presidential election, but it is stuck with the worst possible public image. Ask the average man or woman on the street to name the best-known Republican in Washington and they will more than likely pick George Santos and Marjorie Taylor Green. On top of the fact that there is no Ronald Reagan to lead the army into the next presidential battle, the party is stuck with former

President Donald Trump as their most popular fgure.

A recent poll commissioned by Senate Republicans confrmed that Trump has a strong lead over Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis. There is much talk that one of two grand juries in either New York or Georgia are about to indict Mr. Trump, but he has stated that even if he is under indictment, he will seek the nomination. So like it or not the party is stuck with some very unpopular people. Is there any chance that the party can shake itself of its bad baggage? Not for at least one or two more four-year election cycles.

Most major political parties, recognizing that they have a poor face to the public, would put all of the factions in a room and try to hammer out a coordinated message. But sadly, it would be easier to get the Republican factions into a boxing ring than into an oversized conference room. There are a lot of individuals to point to when you talk about Republican Party madness besides Mr. Trump.

JERRY KREMER

Kremer’s Corner

The person close to the top of the list is House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Anybody who serves in an elected body hopes that one day they will rise to the top of the leadership. McCarthy wanted his new job so desperately that in his zest for the title and

the gigantic fancy ofce, he gave away the store to a handful of zealots who are undermining the party’s image on a daily basis. The George Santos headache was not of the party’s making, but they are stuck with him and McCarthy has no intention of pushing him out the door.

McCarthy did agree that the House Ethics Committee should investigate Santos, but that probe could take a year or more and in the end, there is no chance that Santos will be expelled from ofce. The investigation announcement was nothing more than a promise to some of the rank-and-fle that something had to be done.

It is hard to imagine that a group of 20-plus House members will be responsible for the fate of the party in 2024, but that is obviously the case. No one knows what promises McCarthy made to gain the speakership, but slowly those commitments are coming into plain sight. The release of 40,000 hours of the Jan 6 riot tapes to a Fox News commentator, was one of those

promises and a brief four minutes of the tape were used to claim that the insurrection was a “peaceful tourist event.”

Congresswoman Greene, who gets daily coverage of her outlandish conduct, wants a congressional delegation to visit Jan. 6 prisoners in the D.C. jail claiming that they are “political hostages.” These types of stunts make McCarthy look like a spineless leader who tolerates any and all craziness from his members. There is no doubt that if former Speaker Nancy Pelosi was in charge, such wacko ideas would have been stopped with one phone call.

I know that the Republican Party exists as one of two major parties in America, but if its leaders think they can have big victories in 2024 without a massive house cleaning, they are in a state of delusion. America needs united and strong parties, but the current version of the GOP is the best thing that has ever happened to the Democrats at this crucial time.

2023 Oscars: Ascension of disenfranchised

Films that are embraced by the American public win Oscars because they manage to tap into the American zeitgeist. They are awarded honors not only because they have high production value, great direction, wonderful music or superb acting. They win Oscars because they have somehow channeled the future of America.

Filmmakers are our cultural anthropologists and the great flms, those that are embraced by the mass audience, have tapped into our deepest wishes and fears. Sometimes they are eerily predictive of our future, as the flm “Contagion” was. “Contagion” was made in 2011 and starred Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law. Even though it was shot nine years before COVID, it predicted its arrival and its severity with uncanny accuracy.

So if one wants to understand what America dreams about, fears or wishes for, then all one has to do is watch the top ten nominated flms in this year’s Oscars. It is clear by look-

ing at the flms nominated for Best Picture that as a nation we dream of a future of inclusion and diversity. It was said most movingly by the winner of best supporting actor, Ke Huy Quan, who was in the flm “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.” He seemed to be in shock and disbelief at his victory and tearfully shouted as he raised his Oscar triumphantly and shouted “This is truly the American dream!”

Films channel the American dream like nothing else. And the American dream is demanding that all of the marginalized and disenfranchised be heard and respected. You had Brendan Fraser playing a 600-pound, morbidly obese man. So much for the power of Twiggy. You had a veritable tsunami of Asian talent seen in the flms “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” and “The Whale. Then you had the Irish seen in the flm “The Banshees of Inisherin.”

You have a flm about the power of black women in “The Woman King” starring Viola Davis. Another flm about autocratic woman director in

“Tar” starring Cate Blanchett. The faint whisper of the old guard was seen in the flms “Elvis” about the rock-nroll legend and “Top Gun, Maverick” which was about …well it was about Tom Cruise. Steven Spielberg was represented with a bitter sweet flm about his family in “The Fabelmans.”

One begins to wonder if all the talk about Hollywood running out of ideas may be true. I should have realized all

this many years ago. Let me tell you a true story. In the year 1998 I was in Beverly Hills having breakfast at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. I was there to give a talk at a political psychology convention and I had the day of so I treated myself to a quiet breakfast at this wonderfully swanky hotel.

As I sat down and gazed about the room I could see Gary Oldman seating quietly by himself far of in a corner and having some cofee so I fgured I was in the right place. As I looked over the menu and decided what I wanted, I began to listen in on a table conversation taking place next to me. There were six people sitting at a circular table. Three were elderly white gentleman about 65 years old or so. They looked wealthy, overfed and confdent. Seated next to each man was a woman of about 50 years of age.

Since I was sitting alone and most of the restaurant was empty, I had a chance to hear what they were talking about. They were planning a new movie and it became apparent that these were producers and that the woman

were their assistants. All that is not of particular interest but what was of interest was that the women were actually doing all of the talking, idea creation, planning and decision making. The men were just sitting there. And I suddenly realized that 50-year-old women were the ones running Hollywood, not 65- year-old fat cat men. And now there’s a flm that expresses what I saw in that Beverly Wilshire Hotel. It’s called “Women Talking.”

It is right and good that now those who have been doing the heavy lifting for all these years fnally have their day in the sun and have come to the head of the table. If you want to see the true nature of America in all of its diversity, excellence, and beauty, go watch some of these flms. You will learn that despite all of our contention and polarized thinking, our greatest strength is still seen in the way we are a melting pot, blending us into this grand mixture of talent, hope and energy.

The ascension of the disenfranchised continues with a full head of steam.

PVC plastic water pipes pose toxic danger

The payload on the tanker cars which slipped from the rails in Ohio is far from unusual. Thousands of tanker cars on trains and trucks loaded with toxic chemicals crisscross America every day, destined for manufacturing plants. If spilled or burned, the chemicals can contaminate water, air and soil for generations, essentially creating a Superfund site in a matter of minutes.

People, domestic animals and wildlife in the area are at signifcant risk of sufering both acute and long-term health consequences of these chemical exposures, including cancers, respiratory illnesses, and neurological and reproductive disorders. And these tragedies will continue to happen because we do not properly regulate those industries that handle toxic chemicals, including the railroads. In 2022, there were over 20,000 hazardous materials transport incidents.

In my last column I wrote about planetary boundaries, focusing on chemical contaminants that pervade every corner of our planet and our atmosphere. Accidental releases of chemicals contribute to this, but more commonly, chemicals are released into the environment throughout their life cycle from

their production to their eventual disposal.

Although the derailed train’s tanker cars released a witches brew of toxic chemicals, including benzene and butyl acrylate, the primary chemical released during the train derailment was vinyl chloride. This highly toxic chemical’s main use is in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. It is classifed by both the EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a known carcinogen and it releases more highly carcinogenic chemicals when it burns.

Health experts would like to see PVC declared a “persistent organic pollutant” under the 2001 United Nations Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, an international treaty that seeks to protect human health from persistent and toxic chemicals.

The United States is among just a few countries that have not ratifed the treaty but participate as an observer.

Why is that?

The vinyl industry, represented by the Vinyl Institute, is a powerful force in Washington D.C. and has an industry valuation of $54 billion. It is all too familiar with lawsuits brought against them for worker injuries and deaths, as well as

PATTI WOOD

Matters

contamination of water sources and air.

Since 2000, the industry has paid more than $50 million in federal fnes for safety and environmental violations. They also have faced many civil lawsuits, including the largest Clean Water Act settlement of $50 million in 2019 for unlawfully discharging billions of plastic pellets into a water body.

PVC is used for many products, including fooring, windows and house siding, medical devices and many consumer items, such as shower curtains,

shoes, clothing and credit cards. But of particular concern is its use for water pipes. The federal government is currently engaged in a massive water infrastructure project to replace lead pipes with safer materials.

And the Vinyl Institute is spending considerable resources to pressure Congress to make sure PVC pipe manufacturers are included in the bidding process alongside those traditional suppliers of water pipes.

There’s just one problem. PVC is made from toxic chemicals that leach into the water and other toxins such as gasoline and other pollutants found in soil can breach the pipe’s walls. The Center for Environmental Health in California says that the increased risk of wildfres around urban areas could easily result in melting plastic water pipes.

There have been many cancer clusters in communities around the country that have installed PVC water supply pipes in new homes.

Are we trading lead contamination in leaded pipes for PVC chemical contamination in plastic pipes? Are we trading neurological harm for cancer? It is predicted that 80% of domestic water pipes will be PVC plastic by the year 2030 — a page from many industry playbooks

that puts profts ahead of public health.

It is also no surprise that PVC production is an environmental justice issue.

Most PVC manufacturing facilities are located in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. Residents live with toxic emissions that impact their health and their children’s health, but many also work in the plants, making it a difcult choice for them between having a job or living in a toxic environment.

What happened in Ohio can happen anywhere. So, how do you prevent poisoning another community and others downwind from the site?

Unfortunately, the answer is complicated; it is rethinking raw materials, chemistries and manufacturing processes and, of course, it requires the will of government and industry to come up with safer and cost-efective solutions.

Finally, it will also require educating the next generation of chemists and engineers to address the hazards of the chemicals we are using now that we created in the mid-20th century.

The feld of “green chemistry” recognizes that these chemicals are major contributors to plastic waste, environmental degradation and climate change and that business as usual is no longer an option.

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

Earth

Blakeman has thin track record after a year

It took just about 20 minutes for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to deliver his State of the County message. And while there were lots of self-congratulations, his “accomplishments” a full year after taking ofce are thin and superfcial – especially when compared to what should have been on this list.

Long Island ranks fourth among major American cities for exposureto the physical and economic risks of climate change, as reported in Newsday. But while the former County Executive Laura Curran brought Nassau into the state’s Climate Smart Communities program to make it eligible for projects to mitigate damage and make the county more resilient, what has Blakeman done?

The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation’s Climate Smart Communities Grant program just awarded $11.6 million to 25 municipalities, none in Nassau County. (Brookhaven got $910,000 for food mitigation.)

What has Blakeman done to try to get some of that $4 billion in contracts to build fve ofshore wind-farms of Montauk Point and Long Beach?

There is still $385 million in federal American Rescue Plan pandemic relief aid available to the county. What has Blakeman done? At minimum, he should have actively engaged stakeholders and done what the Democrats have urged: form a public committee to guide the spending.

The only economic development initiative that seems to excite Blakeman is Las Vegas Sands’ proposal to turn the Nassau Coliseum site (remember when the Hub was envisioned to be a tech business hub and self-contained planned

housing community?) into a casino and resort venue, so long as it is “worldclass.” Never mind that the community is against it.

“To keep costs low, especially for seniors, vets, young people, my administration is focused on expanding the tax base, driving local economic activity and bringing the biggest, most prestigious business here,” Blakeman declared. “Nassau County is bigger than 10 states by population, GDP larger than 45 nations in the United Nations. My administration is committed to doing big things – attracting people to Nassau County is a priority.”

Well, that’s just wishful thinking unless there is housing, transportation, infrastructure to support it – a cohesive plan, of which transit-oriented housing development (a focus of the $10 million downtown Revitalization Initiative grant program) has been a key element going back to Tom Suozzi’s administration.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has put out just such a plan, requiring municipalities to increase housing stock by 3% over three years, and providing millions of dollars to pay for the planning and infrastructure to support it. At the same time, she has invested heavily in developing Long Island’s life sciences industry and clean, renewable energy (of-shore wind), already supported by billions of dollars in transit infrastructure (Long Island Railroad’s Third Rail and Grand Central Madison).

“I look forward to working with governor to create jobs, prosperity for our residents,” Blakeman acknowledged.

But he made clear his opposition to Hochul’s housing plan as destroying our “suburban way of life” because it would

mean adding 38,000 units (100,000 new residents) over three years. And yet, Blakeman and the Republicans chide Democratic policies for people moving out of Long Island because of the high cost of living. So what’s your plan? What’s your alternative?

He also opposed the proposed increase in the MTA payroll tax from 34 cents to 50 cents per $100 of payroll. We love to boast how easy commute bolsters our suburban quality of life and our home values, but who does Blakeman believe should pay for it?

Blakeman campaigned on promising to lower property taxes (by over $128 million, the amount of budget surplus from Curran’s administration) and fxing (again) the “broken” assessment system (broken because the last reassessment tried to correct structural inequities that have existed since the assessment system was created).

Instead, hundreds of homeowners received erroneous tax bills; a church

in New Hyde Park was charged nearly $1.2 million in taxes it did not owe, and Blakeman has frozen the assessment rolls again (after criticizing Curran for freezing rolls in the midst of unprecedented market volatility due to COVID).

Blakeman began his administration with ostrich-like denial of the coronavirus pandemic which has so far killed 9,000 Long Islanders, declaring, “Nassau is open for business.” It is the same with the opioid crisis.

Nassau County was able to recoup $78 million from the drug companies that instigated the opioid crisis. Blakeman said his administration is spending $15 million to combat opioid addiction through treatment, community organizations focused on education and treatment. “Working together we reduced overdoses by 30%, but that’s not enough.”

And he couldn’t resist an opportunity to nationalize the problem and dig at President Biden, “But 30% of fentanyl comes through the border. That must stop.” (The administration has interdicted a record 14,000 pounds of fentanyl at the border.)

But has anyone heard anything from the county executive speaking out or showing any kind of leadership about the fentanyl danger? Or even his health commissioner? He even rejected the Democrats’ proposal to require low-cost fentanyl detecting strips be included in every Narcan kit distributed by a county agency.

And if Blakeman were really interested in stemming addiction tragedies – and gave a whit about what residents want — he would not have been so cavalier in refusing to renew the lease for Five

Towns Community Center.

“For months, the process of determining the future of the Five Towns Community Center has been marred by a lack of communication from the county executive’s ofce and this has caused many residents to feel like their voices are not being heard,” Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages (D–Lawrence) said.

And while the county executive’s bombastic rhetoric on issues of crime have indeed garnered attention, his administration has done little to enhance public safety – major crimes increased by over 34 percent yet Blakeman ignores Democrats’ proposal to enhance community policing by funding 110 more police ofcers, and he is advocating for more guns in public spaces, not fewer.

Blakeman did, however, laud the renewal of the contract with the police union, and gave a big shout out to Commissioner Patrick Ryder — huge backers of Republicans.

His administration has mainly consisted of holding concerts, parades, photo ops and handing out proclamations.

“All of this is indicative of an administration that lacks a coherent vision for the future and insulates itself from the public,” Democratic Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) said in the Minority’s rebuttal to Blakeman’s address. “At a time when Nassau County has a projected surplus of $120 million and $385 million in American Rescue Plan federal funds at its disposal, the risk of missed opportunities is great. What is even more worrisome is that the county’s surplus is being misused to give jobs and money to political allies and promote partisan campaigns in violation of local, state and federal laws.”

Plandome Road project greatly needed

It ’s no secret that the cost of doing business on Long Island is high. Between high taxes, burdensome governmental regulations, and backlogged permitting processes, oftentimes the only companies able to thrive in our communities are large corporations able to spend anything they need to open and operate successfully.

Sadly, our small businesses are the ones who suffer the most here. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than on Plandome Road in Manhasset where, on top of all challenges, businesses must pay the crippling added cost of septic ser -

vice. The cost to install and maintain these tanks can run thousands of dollars per month, hindering the ability of so many businesses to thrive.

For nearly 40 years now under previous administrations, our Town and the Manhasset community has been exploring ways to connect the 70 businesses on Plandome Road to the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District, eliminating the need for septic tanks, providing financial relief to businesses, and protecting Manhasset Bay from dangerous nitrogen flows.

Inexplicably, this project has

been stalled for nearly 40 years. This is unacceptable, but thanks to a $5 million New York State grant, and millions of dollars of unspent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that were awarded to the Town for infrastructure projects just like this, we have been presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity to make this dream a reality.

Under my proposal, the town would allocate $3 million of ARPA funding to help fund our Plandome Road businesses’ connection to the sewer system, in a commitment to the future of Manhasset’s

downtown business district.

Lowering the cost of doing business in our town and allowing small businesses to thrive is a pillar of my administration, and I am very proud that under my administration, forward momentum has finally been brought to this project.

In spite of opposition and stalling from some local politicians, I am determined to move forward and, after nearly four decades, undertake and complete this vital project.

Our businesses, our residents, our environment, and our future deserve this. It’s time to get it done.

KAREN RUBIN View Point

FROM THE DESK OF JENNIFER D e SENA

JENNIFER DeSENA

North Hempstead Supervisor

State must revise affordable housing proposal

As an elected ofcial and a fellow Democrat, I urge Gov. Kathy Hochul and our state representatives not to adopt the housing proposal in its current form as part of the forthcoming state budget.

One of the most amazing things about New York State is the diverse options of places to live, including rural towns, suburban bedroom communities, bustling metropolitan areas and everything in between.

As a result of this diversity, communities across our state are presented with diferent and unique challenges.

On Long Island, we face a unique issue of living on top of our drinking water and the threat of saltwater intru-

sion caused by overdrawing from our single-source aquifer something we must always be vigilant about preventing.

We must also be especially cognizant of trafc problems. Anyone traveling, especially at rush hour, knows how congested our roadways have become – and sometimes, it has taken me 40 minutes to travel from Mineola to Glen Cove.

And last but certainly not least, many of our schools face budget concerns and overcrowding and would struggle to take on more students.

Local governments are very well attuned to the specifc needs and challenges facing the communities they serve.

Unfortunately, the governor’s current proposal would undermine local

DELIA DeRIGGI-WHITTON Nassau County Legislator

control by establishing minimum benchmarks for afordable housing growth –and creating a mechanism by which developers can do an end-run around local zoning if those benchmarks are not met.

To have the state come in and impose a one-size-fts-all mandate is, in my opinion, truly irresponsible and counterproductive.

Much like bail reform in previous years, the crucial issue of afordable housing is being linked to the Governor’s budget proposal, placing undue duress on state representatives to make an allor-nothing vote for or against the entire budget.

I once again implore our state ofcials to hear the voices of local commu-

nity leaders, environmental experts, frst responders and their partners in government to oppose the proposal in its current form.

Let’s instead go back to the drawing board, take away the threats of state mandates, and work more closely with local towns, counties, villages, and cities to identify community-driven opportunities to incentivize revitalization, smart growth, and new transit-oriented development that will carry us all toward a more prosperous future.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, of Glen Cove, a Nassau County legislator representing the 11th District, is the ranking member of the Legislature’s Committee on Health & Social Services.

Prurient interests versus public priorities

The year is young, but already there have been more than a dozen train derailments due to inadequate track and safety systems. There is a water main break every two minutes. Nearly one-half of our public roadways are in poor or mediocre condition. These are among the assessments of the American Society of Civil Engineers in its periodic report on U. S. infrastructure. It awarded a grade of C-, to these and other features of our infrastructure, yet these systems are essential to commerce and national security.

In addition to the condition of roads and bridges, we have serious shortages of investment in aviation systems. In January, the outage of the NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) System resulted in the grounding of all domestic fights. We also have substantial needs for securing drinking water safety, solid and hazardous waste management, and seaports.

Related to these systems, we have major needs in climate mitigation, healthcare cost containment, energy alternatives, access to high-quality education, and cybersecurity.

This last is of huge concern to those who study the issue and should be of grave concern to us all. Imagine the

vulnerability to attack and ransom demands of the military guidance systems, the electrical grid, banking transactions, and Air Trafc Control. Yet partisan gridlock limits the ability of Congress to address these needs. The 2021 infrastructure package signed into law by President Biden passed the House by 22 votes, with 206 Members voting “No.”

While these critical issues of public interest persist and worsen, some members of Congress and State Houses devote their attention to prurient interests of the bedroom and bathroom. They are cultural warriors who ignore the public interest.

Across the country there are attempts to limit the freedoms of gay citizens, same sex couples, and those who wish to transition from their birth gender to their truer identity. Family planning is “verboten”. Increasingly, legislators seem to pay more attention to national security and civil threats.

Another issue that garners more attention than infrastructure needs is the teaching of history. Legislators are acting to ban books and limit the teaching of American history because discussions of slavery, racist public policies, and lynching might upset White students and

ROBERT A. SCOTT, Ph.D. My Turn

their families.

Even a train derailment in Ohio was deemed an attack on white people by some ofcials who should be paying attention to required rail braking systems. Although the conditions of roads and bridges are visible, a safety hazard, and a daily annoyance, perhaps the most critical issue is cybersecurity and the vulnerability of our digital society and the “internet of things.”

The recently released “National Cybersecurity Strategy” calls for imposing

READERS WRITE

federally mandated security rules on critical infrastructure, holding software manufacturers responsible for insecure products vulnerable to malevolent hacking.

While voluntary cybersecurity efforts by industry have been helpful, they are insufcient at a time of persistent efforts by ever more sophisticated hackers who wish to breach critical government and private networks. There are no national standards for data protection and comprehensive privacy rules, leaving the military, civil society, manufacturers, and individual citizens vulnerable to attack.

In addition to domestic security concerns, the Council on Foreign Relations has reported on international issues vulnerable to escalation by cyber interference and social media manipulation. These include the humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, Haiti, Lebanon, and Yemen, among others. Other international issues include rising tensions and even armed confrontation between major powers, not only in Ukraine but also in Taiwan and on the borders between India and China.

Finally, there is the possibility of an acute crisis over Iran’s nuclear weapons

program or possible action by North Korea.

In years past, enlightened U.S. leaders have worked with leaders in other countries to create international agreements of universal beneft. These include the law of the seas, coordinated time zones, and shared weather forecasting, all essential to an interdependent world community.

However, a survey of pending congressional and legislative actions fnds little attention to international cooperation beyond war or to issues such as cybersecurity, climate mitigation, mass migration, food insecurity and poverty, healthcare costs, gun control, and infrastructure needs.

Instead, we fnd much discussion about abortion, trans youth, and drag queens. There is more attention to banning books than to banning bombs. Our governments are not working on essential national priorities, and this should be cause for alarm and action.

Dr. Robert A. Scott, president Emeritus, Adelphi University; author, “How University Boards Work,” Johns Hopkins University Press, 2018, Eric Hofer Awardee, 2019

Fox News vs. Dominion voting machines

It;s pretty safe to assume that virtually all readers of the Blank Slate publications— as well as a considerable majority of adult Americans on Long Island and in other parts of the country— have heard and/or read more than enough about the scandal that has been billowing around Fox News, its most prominent anchors, and even the founder and Chairman of the Board, Rupert Murdoch. Of course, most of us who paid attention to the fow of news following the

2020 national elections, and the subsequent assault on the Capitol Building in Washington have been well aware that the claims by Ex-President Trump that the elections had been “stolen,” that the Dominion Voting Machines had been “rigged” to switch votes from Trump to Biden, and that Joseph R. Biden was not the legitimately elected president were outrageous falsehoods — in other words, a colossal lie.

But there was a consistent drum-

beat emanating from Fox News and reinforcing those lies— a reminder of a quotation from Josef Goebbels, the Hitlerian propaganda minister, who stated that “if you tell a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.” It seemed to many of us who were not Fox devotees that the nation might be moving along that path.

It all changed, however, as a result of the widely publicized libel suit fled by Dominion against Fox News, seeking $1.6 billion in damages to the compa-

ny’s reputation as a manufacturer of reliable, accurate tabulators of ballots cast. The case seemed to be slogging along below the radar, attracting little or no attention, until the bombshells recently began exploding: somehow Dominion or its attorneys obtained the texts of emails and text messages among some of those key anchors, demonstrating convincingly that they all knew very well that their claims of rigged elections were false and fraudulent, and that they

had been laughing among themselves about it.

And, to put icing on the cake, Chairman Murdoch admitted, in testimony under oath, that he had known that his network was promulgating lies in order to sustain the loyalty of its “true believers” to avoid antagonizing them, losing audience numbers, and perhaps seeing its publicly traded, NYSE-listed stock decline.

Continued on Page 37

It is astounding to think that a private collection of masterworks as wide-ranging and important as these could be assembled by a 32-year-old connoisseur, but Hong Gyu Shin is an internationally recognized figure in the global art world. He shares more than a hundred of his treasures with us by such greats as Whistler, Lautrec, Boucher, Daumier, Delacroix, Derain, Balthus, de Kooning and many other top-tier names from art history. Shin is a synthesizer. His credo: “Avant-garde visual culture, irrespective of traditions, is timeless.”

See it now

To purchase exhibition tickets, visit the museum or scan code

More as a Member Experience

To purchase a museum membership. visit the museum or scan code

Open Tuesday-Sunday 11 am-4:45 pm

One Mus eum D r ive, Ros lyn Harbor N Y 115 76 5 16. 484 .933 8

NASSAU COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART

YOUR GUIDE TO THE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING

MUSEUM TO DISPLAY DIVERSE COLLECTION

BY ANNABEL HOFMANN

The Nassau County Museum of Art will be opening its new exhibition – Eye and Mind: The Shin Collection – on March 18, featuring a variety of works from the private collection of Hong Gyu Shin.

Shin’s collection features a combination of works spanning artists from all parts of the world, all levels of fame and all styles of art.

Charles Riley, director of the museum, explained that Shin believes all art is equal. Work by a world-renowned artist, is just as important as work by a little-known creator. Western art is just as salient as Eastern art.

“Art history is a great equalizer. Avant-garde visual culture, irrespective of traditions, is timeless,” Shin stated in a press release from the museum.

In curating this exhibit, Shin tried to demonstrate this belief, placing juxtaposing images side-by-side.

One example Riley showed me was two paintings of women that were to be hung next to each other in the gallery. One was a Whistler – a worldfamous American artist – and the other was done by a slave with no claim to fame.

While some museums would hesitate to put works of such varying renown next to each other, Riley thought that epitomized the beauty of Shin’s collection.

Shin is a 32-year-old art connoisseur from Seoul, South Korea. He was 13 years old when he started collecting and now has his own gallery in New York City’s Lower East Side.

“He’s young. He’s one collector,” Riley said. “And he has the most amazing art collection.”

With artists including Lautrec, Boucher, Daumier, Delacroix, Matta,Balthus, Pollock, de Kooning, Gorky and many other important names from art history, this exhibit certainly doesn’t lack in diversity. On

display there are Japanese woodblock prints, pencil and paper doodles, large paintings with 3D elements and more.

The highlight was in the first room. Hanging on the wall was a work by

“People come in here and say, ‘My kid could do that, or a monkey could do that,’” Riley said in reference to the Pollock painting. “Well, there a monkey did do that one.”

The Shin Exhibit will be open through July 9. More information can be found on the Nassau County Museum of Art website at https://nassaumuseum.org.

James Pollock – an artist known for his abstract drip paintings. Next to it was another abstract work of color and lines; this one was done by a chimpanzee named Congo.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY NASSAU COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART

Masterworks from Hong Gyu Shin’s collection will be on display at the Nassau County Museum of Art until July 9.

Library, Gold Coast seek the ‘Next Big Thing’

“The Next Big Thing!” is a music competition produced by the Port Washington Public Library and the Gold Coast Arts Center. The goal of the series of events is simple: to find the most talented young musicians and performers ages 15–30 from our region.

A group of high-level professionals working in diverse areas within the music industry will determine the winner from the pre-selected participants who will perform live in a series of shows. The two preliminary and the semifinal round of performances will be held at the Port Washington Library. The final round of the competition will be held at

the Gold Coast Arts Center in Great Neck.

The Dates and times are as follows:

– Friday, April 14 at 7 pm

– Port Washington Public Library

– Friday, April 21 at 7 pm

– Port Washington Public Library

– Friday, May 5 at 7 pm –

Port Washington Public Library

– Saturday, May 13 at 7 pm

– Gold Coast Arts Center

The winner will be given an opportunity to perform live at one of Long Island’s premier music venues. They will also feature in an editorial spread in Good Times Magazine, be provided with studio record-

Video conversation with Neal Katyal, Errol Louis

ing time in a professional Long Island facility, and will receive a live audio and video reel recorded with professional engineers during a feature performance at the Port Washington Public Library and more! Korg USA has also come on board as a partner providing additional prizes.

All contestant submissions are due by Friday, March 31.

Confirmed judges include: Richard Branciforte, publisher of Good Times Magazine; Great South Bay Music Festival producer Jim Faith of James Faith Entertainment; acclaimed musician & songwriter John Ford from the legendary Strawbs; Zebra frontman Randy Jackson; winner of the 2019 Gold Coast Arts Center’s “Your Big Break” competition, pop-country recording artist Arizona Lindsey; and Alan Wolmark, president of CEC Management. More judges are to be announced!

For the rules, guidelines, and information on how to enter the competition, visit the event’s webpage at pwpl.org/ nextbigthing

On Sunday, March 19 at 3:00 PM, Stephen C. Widom Cultural Arts at Emanuel will present a Video Conversation with former Acting U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal, moderated by NY1 news anchor, host of Inside City Hall, and CNN political analyst, Errol Louis. Neal Katyal will discuss the legal challenges that confront the US today, i.e. issues relating to the former POTUS, SCOTUS among others.

The former Obama administration Acting Solicitor General of the United States and New York Times best-selling author, Neal Katyal runs one of the largest Supreme Court practices in the world at an international law firm, where he occupies the role formerly held by now Chief Justice John Roberts.

He focuses on democracy protection, the Supreme Court, constitutional law, criminal law, and over the last year, blockchain technology. Katyal has orally argued 45 cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.

At the age of 51, he has already argued more Supreme Court cases in U.S. history than any other minority attorney, breaking the record of Thurgood Marshall. Katyal served as Acting Solicitor General during the Obama administration (the federal government’s top courtroom lawyer) and was responsible for representing the federal government in all appellate matters before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeals throughout the nation.

Additionally, Katyal is a law professor with more than two decades of experience at the Georgetown University Law Center where he was one of the youngest professors to have received tenure and a chaired professorship in the university’s history.

At Georgetown, Katyal also serves as faculty chair of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection. Katyal has also been a visiting professor at both Harvard and Yale law schools. He chairs the Board of Advisors of Galaxy Digital, a blockchain/crypto company.

Katyal has received most every award a lawyer can win. In December 2017, American Lawyer magazine named him The Litigator of the Year; he was chosen from all the lawyers in the United States, for being the top litigator for a two-year period.

He earlier received the Edmund Randolph Award, the highest award the U.S. Justice Department can award a civilian, which the Attorney General presented to him in 2011. He has also been named one of the 40 Most Influential Lawyers of the Last Decade Nationwide by National Law Journal (2010); Appellate MVP by

Law360 numerous times; winner of the Financial Times Innovative Lawyer Award for 2017 in two different categories (both private and public law).

Katyal has published dozens of scholarly articles in law journals, as well as op-ed articles in every widely read U.S. newspaper, and has testified numerous times before various committees of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He is a graduate of Yale Law School and Dartmouth College (where he currently serves as an elected Trustee).

In 2019, after Trump was accused of soliciting foreign interference in the presidential election to help his re-election bid, Katyal co-wrote Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump, with Sam Koppelman, which debuted at #2 on the New York Times Best Seller list.

In 2020, Katyal gave his TED Talk, How To Win An Argument (At The US Supreme Court, or Anywhere), which has more than 2 million views to date.

Katyal is a frequent contributor to MSNBC and the New York Times has been named one of GQ’s Men of the Year and has appeared on virtually every major American news program, as well as Showtime’s Billions and Netflix’s House of Cards (where he played himself).

This program is funded by Pamela & Daniel Perla.

Registration for this event is $15.

For further information, to register and purchase a ticket online, go to:

https://www.scwculturalarts.org/sundayseries

This event can be viewed through April 2nd. To purchase a ticket after March 19th at 2:00 PM, call 516.482.5701.

Please call 516.482.5701 if you have additional questions.

Neal Katyal, left, and Errol Louis

8th annual Designer Handbag Bingo fundraiser

New Ground’s 8th Annual Designer Handbag Bingo event is back by popular demand and better than ever! Join us for an evening of food, drinks, fabulous handbags and more on Friday, March 31, 2023 at St. Agnes Parish Center in Rockville Centre, NY.

Guests will enjoy a buffet dinner, 2 glasses of wine, and ten rounds of BINGO each with an opportunity to win a beautiful designer handbag.

The evening will feature designers such as Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Prada, Furla, Rebecca Minkoff and more. Guests can also try their luck at the Balloon Pop station, stocked with a number of incredible prizes, or enter into the 50/50 raffle.

To add to the excitement, New Ground is introducing for the first time ever an Exclusive Buy-In Bonus Round of BINGO.

In this round, guests have the chance to try their luck at winning a vintage Gucci handbag donated by Lucky Finds Boutique, and handpainted by local artist Greg Belmonte, owner of Bella Bags. Don’t miss your chance to win this one-of-a-kind custom-painted luxury handbag and become a trendsetter among the rest!

Event co-chairs include Sheila McDougal, a longtime resident of Rockville Centre and Owner of Interior Redesign of Long Island, and Jenny Tzakas-Polizotto, a resident of Garden City

and Owner of Jenny Tzakas Interiors.

“We have had the pleasure of producing this event for the last 6 years and are always amazed at the level of support from our local community members,” said McDougal and Tzakas-Polizotto. “We are proud to share that since its inception, Designer Handbag Bingo has raised over $125,000 in support of New Ground’s homeless Veterans and families. Together, we are truly changing lives for so many people in need.”

Founded in 1991, New Ground provides intensive Social Work and education services to homeless Long Islanders to help Veterans and families break the cycle of homelessness. After completing New Ground’s programs, clients have accomplished various goals in areas of education, employment, financial literacy, parenting, and more, and have secured permanent, stable housing.

New Ground has been successful in assisting Veterans and families in living independently with a brighter future now, and for generations to come.

Tickets are $75 each ($85.00 at the door) and can be purchased by visiting www.bingo2023.eventbee.com

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, please contact (516) 564-4764 x125 or events@newground. org.

Important ways music education benefits students

Researchers increasingly are finding that “do-re-mi” may be just as essential to children’s development as “A-B-C.” Music education, which was once required in the classroom, is increasingly absent from school curriculums. However, proponents feel there should be a greater push for musical education as part of school curricula because of the many benefits students reap from music education.

Taps into multiple skill sets

Music participation goes beyond playing an instrument or singing notes from a page. Experts at Music Together, an early childhood music development program, say that participating in music education involves many different skills, including listening, vision, fine motor skills, problem solving, and utilizing large and small muscle groups.

Transformative effects

A growing body of research points to music

for its transformative effects on youngsters. Participation in music education may help improve communication skills, foster better memory and help children focus their attention more effectively, according to the instrument retailer Zing Instruments. Music may provide the common ground to unite children in pursuit of a common goal.

Improves language skills

Neurobiologist Dr. Nina Kraus participated in “The Harmony Project,” which involved a series of experiments among second and third graders. Dr. Kraus discovered conclusively that music enhanced sound processing and cognitive skills (memory and attention). Music helps students develop the left side of the brain, which is known for processing language. A 2014 study by Arete Music Academy found children who study music tend to have larger vocabularies and more advanced reading skills than those who do not participate in music education.

More consistent attendance rates

The National Association for Music Education determined that schools that offer music education have better attendance rates (93.3 percent) than those that don’t (84.9 percent).

Higher grades

A study in The Journal for Research in Music Education found that students who participated in excellent music programs scored higher on tests in mathematics and English/ language than students enrolled in lowerquality music programs or none at all. Researchers concluded there is a correlation between music education and better retention of material.

Support from parents and teachers

Both educators and parents strongly believe that music education has a positive impact on overall academic performance, indicates

NAMM Foundation and Grunwald Associates LLC. They also feel that budget cuts in music education or deficits in supplies and insufficient allocation of resources is detrimental to students.

Increased IQ scores

An experiment published in a 2004 issue of Psychological Science conducted by E. Glenn Schellenberg at The University of Toronto at Mississauga found that, over the course of nine months, six-year-old participants who were given piano and voice lessons tested on average three IQ points higher than those who had drama lessons only or no lessons at all.

Music education plays an important role in the lives of students, paying dividends that might surprise even those devoted to ensuring school curriculums include it.

Make the most of the summer camp experience

Summer camp season will soon be here, and throngs of children will board buses each morning or pack their parents’ cars full of essentials to survive a few weeks away from home.

Looking back, many adults who experienced summer camp have fond memories of their adventures - whether they all went according to plan or there were some hiccups along the way. Parents want their children to make their own summer camp memories. Even if the canoe capsizes or the cabin leaks during a summer thunderstorm, such experiences can build character and strengthen friendships.

According to RegPack, an online registration software company, more than six million American children participate in some form of camp each year, including sleep-away camp or day camp. The American Camp Association says that number is closer to 14 million, with the most popular camp session length around one week or less. Families getting prepared for camp can follow these guidelines to ensure the experience is one kids won’t soon forget.

Search for an accredited camp

Accredited camps must meet more than 300 standards related to program quality, safety and health, according to the ACA. An accredited camp will likely give parents the most peace of mind.

Consider children’s readiness

There’s no magic age when a child may be ready to go to camp, but generally kids who are ages

seven or eight may be fine to start a resident sleepaway camp. Day camp kids can begin as early as age three, the same age kids often begin preschool programs. Gauge whether the child has spent time away from home at friends’ or family members’ homes to decide if a resident camp will be the right fit or if a day camp is more appropriate.

Connect with fellow campers

If possible, attend a meet-and-greet prior to the start of the season. Neighborhood day camps tend to draw kids from local communities, so there’s already a chance kids will know a few fellow campers.

Get to know camp counselors early on

Campers can introduce themselves to camp counselors and other program directors and are urged to ask questions about specific programs. Counselors can direct campers toward activities they may enjoy.

Make the most of all situations

Much of summer camp will likely be smooth-sailing, but it’s reasonable to expect some bumps along the way. Campers shouldn’t expect perfection, but use the situations that may go awry as learning experiences on how to handle adversity - trying to find the fun in them anyway. Even a medical situation can be overcome, particularly because camps staff qualified medical personnel to ensure campers are safe and well.

Summer camp can be a great experience, especially when families take some pre-camp measures aimed at ensuring kids have a fun season.

Camps

CAMP 2023 will operate 2-week sessions from Monday, June 26 through Friday, August18 featuring endless age-appropriate activities and opportunities to try new things, build confdence, and create lifelong memories.

Variety

of

Camps

for Ages 3-15

UPCOMING OPEN HOUSE

March 25

REGISTER NOW

YMCALI.org/Camp

TOUR THE SCHOOL

Tours are available Monday-Friday 3:30 - 7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Please contact the offce at (718) 225-5502 to schedule your personalized tour

HTA Scholarships Available to Herricks' Students

The HTA is a proud organization of over 740 Herricks employees. We are committed to supporting our community in a variety of ways We have a long tradition of offering three scholarships to graduating Herricks seniors who are pursuing a post-secondary education.

The available scholarships are:

Awarded to a Herricks graduating senior who is in high academic standing, has had a significant, positive impact on Herricks beyond the classroom, is involved in Herricks High School activities, and is enrolled full-time in a four (4) year college or university.

Award amount: $3,000

Awarded to a Herricks graduating senior who is in high academic standing, has had a significant, positive impact on Herricks beyond the classroom, is involved in Herricks High School activities, and is enrolled full-time in a SUNY or CUNY college or university

Award amount: $1,500

Qualifying Herricks seniors are encouraged to complete an HTA scholarship application. Students should refer to the communication sent out to them from the Herricks Guidance Office with application information. The deadline is Friday, March 31, 2023

Herricks Teachers' Association

AV/Computer Technicians, Bus Drivers, Cleaners, Clerical Staff, Custodial Staff, Grounds

Crew, Instructional Aides, Maintenance Staff, Monitors, Nurses, Secretaries, Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Technicians, Therapists, Transportation Staff

Awarded to a Herricks graduating senior who has shown outstanding academic effort, has had a significant, positive impact on Herricks beyond the classroom, is involved in Herricks High School activities, and is enrolled full-time in a four (4) year college or university.

Award amount: $1,500

Working together for our students and with our community.

HTA Scholarship

HTA SUNY/CUNY Scholarship

HTA Denise Foley Memorial Scholarship

Join us at temple beth sholom

Become a part of our TBS family where you and your children can begin a lifelong journey of learning and taking advantage of all our wonderful and enriching family education opportunities. Come learn, grow and celebrate with us!

Learn more about our EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

We provide care for children aged 18 months through Pre-Kindergarten. Our play-based and award-winning Judaic curriculum are the foundation of our program. Children learn through play, and play to learn, which we pride ourselves on. We provide a safe and nurturing environment in which your child can learn and grow during their time at TBS ECC. Our dedicated and caring staf are committed to creating lasting connections with your family, which supports your child’s learning experience at our school.

Learn more about our CURRICULUM

Our ECC Curriculum supports children in achieving important preschool milestones. Our toddler program introduces children to the basic concepts of colors, shapes and counting. Through play and social interaction, our littlest learners are taught what it means to be a good friend and the importance of treating one another with respect (kavod) and kindness (chesed). Our 3’s and 4’s (Pre-Kindergarten) curriculum builds on the foundations laid out in our toddler program. With a focus on emergent literacy and math - the knowledge, skills and attitudes that a child develops in relation to reading, writing, and math - children engage in activities that support these learning goals, all while becoming more independent. We teach the whole child in language/literacy development, math, science, Social Studies, Art, and Social Emotional development. Through the celebration of Shabbat, Jewish holidays, and Israel, our children experience the beauty and joy of their heritage.

Learn more about our ENRICHMENTS and BEFORE AND AFTER CARE

We have fexible extended hours available from 8am-5pm, Monday-Thursday and 8am-3pm on Friday. We ofer a variety of after school enrichment programs for our 3’s and 4’s classes, which extend their day by 45 minutes, including but not limited to Yoga, Dance, Soccer Shots, Imagination Station, Cooking and more. We also provide enrichment during the day through Pee Wee Pro’s and Matt the Music Man.

TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SPEAK TO OUR DIRECTOR ABOUT OUR SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES OR EMAIL INCLUSION @ TBSROSLYN.ORG.

PLEASE CONTACT: KIM WEINBERG, ECC Director 516-621-1171 | kweinberg@tbsroslyn.org

Don’t

Spring break on the farm in Queens

Spring Break on the Farm will have kids buzzing around our historic grounds as they achieve STEM learning objectives and learn all about ecology, sustainability and life on the farm. Grow and explore at the longest continuously operated tract of farmland in NYC at the Queens County Farm.

To start, a farm tour will introduce visitors to our hens, pigs, steer, alpaca, sheep and beehives, and guests will get to feed our goats a tasty snack. Explore the spring farm landscape on a tractor-drawn hayride and watch the fields as they come to life with new growth. During the tour, children can try their hand at a farmwide scavenger hunt.

Then it’s all hands on deck for the day’s specific programming. Children can learn about compost and make a seed ball during Compost to Zero Waste; transplant a marigold as part of Plants & Ecology; learn about the importance of pollinators and make a beeswax candle during What’s the Buzz? Participants will take home their craft from the day’s session.

Stop by the Farm Store for plants, snacks, traditional games, toys and locally-made items – like Queens Farm herbal teas, honey, woven scarves and yarn from our flock of heritage breed sheep. The Con Edison Reading Room will

also be open; stop in for a farm-fresh story after the program. Our picnic areas will also be available for a picnic lunch before or after your program.

The schedule is as follows, with two sessions available per date.

On Wednesday, April 12, Compost to Zero Waste will be held from 10am–12pm and 1–3pm.

On Thursday, April 13, Plants & Ecology will be held from 10am–12pm and 1–3pm.

Lastly, on Friday, April 14, What’s the Buzz? will be held from 10am–12pm and 1–3pm.

General Admission is$35.00/child (accompanying adult is free).You can also save $10 by reserving a 3-day pass to attend all three program dates for $95/child.

Advance online tickets are required as space is limited. Program is for children ages 5–12. Adult supervision is required (adult is free with participating child).

Event is rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, programming will be adapted and moved indoors.

Dress for the farm with layers and boots. Select the date and time slot that works best for you.

No refunds on event tickets

5 Reasons to Advertise

PRESENTED BY

SPONSORED BY

Hall, 3232 Railroad Avenue, Wantagh

Spotlight, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Saturday Mar 18th

The Rocket Man Show - Tribute To Elton John

@ 8pm / $30-$65

The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Jurassic World Live Tour @ 7pm / $20-$175

UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Belmont Park - Long Is‐land

The Room Live with Greg Sestero @ 7pm Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave, Huntington

Traces - Presented by the QC Dept of Drama, Theatre & Dance @ 7pm / $10-$15

Kupferberg Center for the Arts, 153-49 Reeves Avenue, Queens

Gary Gulman: Born on Third Base @ 8pm / $35

“Gary is �nally being recognized as one of the country’s strongest comedians.” – The New York Times Jeanne Rimsky Theater, 232 Main Street, Port Washington. Richard@ landmarkonmain street.org, 516-7676444

Sat 3/18

Lifeguarding (3/18-19) @ 8am / Free Mar 18th - Mar 19th Long Beach Recreation Center, 700 Magnolia St, Long Beach. 516-978-7946

Wings Dublin Irish Dance @ 8pm / $31-$56

Tilles Center Concert Hall, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville

The 90s Band - St. Patrick's Day Party @ 9pm / $10

Mulcahy's Pub and Concert

Dinner and Dance at Plattduetsche Park with Disco Unlimited @ 8pm Plattduetsche Park, 1132 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square

Broadway Rave: The Musical Theatre Dance Party @ 9pm / $20

Meeting Mozart @ 1pm / $19-$29

Tilles Center - Krasnoff Theater, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville

This is Elton! Crash land into your seat with The Rocket Man Show, starring Scotsman Rus Anderson – Elton John’s of�cial 70’s body double as featured in the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ world tour. Chosen by the man himself, Rus’ performance pilots a night of greatest hits, gorgeous costumes and �erce piano playing. Currently featured on E!’s ‘Clash of the Cover Bands’, Rus’ portrayal of Elton has been described as “Amazing” by Jimmy Fallon and “Phenome‐nal” by Queen’s Adam Lambert. The Rocket Man Show has quickly joined the list of must-see tickets in town and is perhaps summed up best by ‘All About That Bass’ megastar Meghan Trainor who claims “You IS Elton!” It’s one small step for man…one giant leap for Elton John fans.

East Meadow Public Library Presents: Deni Bonet & Chris Flynn @ 2pm

East Meadow Public Library, 1886 Front St, East Meadow

NEW YORK RIPTIDE VS ALBANY FIREWOLVES @ 7:30pm / $22

THE NEW YORK RIP‐TIDE IS LONG IS‐LAND'S PROFES‐SIONAL LACROSSE TEAM. THERE'S ONLY TWO MORE CHANCES TO CATCH THEM IN ACTION AT THE NAS‐SAU COLISEUM. TICK‐ETS START AT JUST $22. Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turn‐pike, Uniondale. mger stein@gfsportsandenter tainment.com, 516474-8302

Nate Charlie Music @ 9pm The Wine Cellar on Main, 70 Main St, Northport Nicolls Road @ 11:30pm Nutty Irishman, 323 Main St, Farmingdale

Sun 3/19

Video Conversation with Neal Katyal

moderated by Errol Louis

@ 3pm / $15

Video Conversation with former Acting U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal, moderated by NY1 news anchor, Errol Louis. Topic: "The Legal Challenges that Con‐front the U.S. Today" Great Neck. missy150@ optimum.net, 516-4825701

Patti LuPone - Don't Monkey with Broadway @ 7pm / $51-$106

Tilles Center Concert Hall, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville

Mon 3/20

ART DRIVES

SOCIAL ACTION: "THE PLANT A ROW STORY"

@ 9am AT THE HEART OF PLANT A ROW'S SUC‐CESS IS ART! Port Washington Public Li‐brary, 1 Library Drive, Port Washington. marv‐@plant-a-row.org, 516510-8408

#CourseOfActionComed

y presents Stand Up Comedy @ 7:30pm / $7

Amityville Music Hall, 198 Broadway, Amityville

Tue 3/21

New York Islanders vs. Toronto Maple Leafs @ 7:30pm / $31-$1000 UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Belmont Park - Long Island

Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7:30pm Barclays Center, Atlantic Av‐enue, Brooklyn

Dylan Scott and Danielle Bradbery @ 8pm / $32.50

Great Neck Winter Market

@ 10am Great Neck Indoor Win‐ter Market Great Neck House, 14 Arrandale Avenue, Great Neck. deeprootsfarmersmar ket@gmail.com, 516318-5487

Kevin James: The Irregardless Tour @ 7:30pm / $49.50$99.50

The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Hunting‐ton

Mulcahy's Pub and Concert Hall, 3232 Railroad Avenue, Wantagh

@ 11am / Free Join HWCLI for our very �rst Nonpro�t Job Fair! Yes We Can Commu‐nity Center, 141 Garden Street, Westbury. apor wick@hwcli.com, 631935-5214

Thu

3/23

The best place to promote your events online and in print. Visit us @ https://theisland360.com/local-events/ powered by Featured Featured Featured Featured Featured Featured Editor's Voice Featured Featured Featured Featured EVENTS ARE BACK! Submit Your Events TODAY with our simple add event form then let us create you a ticketed page automatically from the event submission workfow. #Exciting Promote all your events via our network of 5000+ events calendars, listing sites, email and print services. 60 seconds to create, ticket and promote your event, so what are you waiting for! PROMOTE YOUR EVENTS TODAY AT https://theisland360.com/local-events/ the island 360 TICKETING

Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers @ 7:30pm Barclays Center, Atlantic Av‐enue, Brooklyn

Lara Hope & The ArkTones: w/ Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ 8pm The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Teddy Kumpel and Nome Sane? @ 8pm Still Partners, 225 Sea Cliff Ave, Sea Cliff

Cuthbert Live: Solo at Mac Arthur Park @ 6pm MacArthur Park, 1 Maple Ave, Rockville Centre

The Wonder Years: The Hum Goes On Forever Tour @ 8pm / $27.50-$59 The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

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Snowdrops

All my life I have loved beauty more than anything in the world.

Including the snowdrops of dreams that open little by little to lick the photons of the sun in spring.

Each burns like a star in the heart of darkness.

In the morning I shine from within and am surrounded by deep blue waves of air, felds of green and lots of trees.

The light settles over everything including into the shadows.

Like countless fowers, their fre slowly opens into something beautiful.

What’s wrong with this picture?

After investing $105 million for construction of the new Long Island Rail Road Elmont UBS Arena Station, some key elements are still missing. There is only one portable Porto Potty to accommodate hundreds of UBS fans adjacent to the one outdoor shelter for those waiting for the shuttle bus to the arena.

If you have the urge to go, it has to be shared by both men and women. It is also inaccessible to those wheelchair-bound. If there is a line to access this one and only option to relieve yourself, how many riders are not going to wait, but urinate or defecate on the platform, mezzanine, or elevator? Why is there no permanent bathroom with both urinals and stalls with separate facilities to accommodate men, women and those physically disabled as part of the LIRR Elmont UBS Arena Station?

Most LIRR stations provide such basic accommodations. You better have a strong bladder upon exiting the train to hold out up to 20 minutes by the time you are able to enter the UBS Arena and fnd a bathroom to relieve yourself. LIRR stations usually have waiting rooms with seating. They are heated during the winter and air conditioning during the summer. Why does the Elmont UBS Arena Station just have a bare bones mezzanine whose only purpose to aford fans the opportunity to access both the southeast-bound and northwest-bound platforms when traveling to and from the UBS Arena?

This could have provided increased capacity to accommodate disabled patrons. Was all of the above a cost-saving measure in reduction of project scope on the part of the MTA and LIRR to keep the price tag from growing beyond $105 million? Perhaps the MTA and LIRR were afraid of an invasion by nearby homeless people moving into the facility..The westbound platform has a total of fve benches to accommodate 20 riders. The eastbound platform has a total of three benches to accommodate 12 riders. There are no provisions any place at the station to accommodate advertising, which could generate badly needed revenue. You can count on one hand the number of parking spots allocated for Elmont and other nearby communities that are being used by commuters on any given weekday. .There are only fve bike racks on the north side and none on the south side to accommodate those who wish to cycle to the facility. When it

comes to disposal of newspapers, beverage containers, garbage or other waste, there doesn’t appear to be any options for recycling. There are only a limited number of garbage cans on the platform levels. Are riders suppose to carry all of this refuse on to the train or into the UBS Arena? This contradicts the MTA commitment to support a cleaner environment.

There is plenty of surplus property on the north side of the station that could have been used for drivers to drop of potential commuters.

There is an absence of trail blazer signs in the surrounding communities to direct people to fnding the station. The source of funding for the new Elmont UBS LIRR Station comes from the Empire State Development Corporation transferring $105 million from their budget to the MTA. This fnanced the new Elmont UBS LIRR Station. The developers put in $30 million up front and the state $75 million.

The developers are in the process of making yearly payments, without interest, to reimburse the state over the next 30 years. The developer ended up with an interest-free loan. Could Elmont or other nearby community small business person get the same sweetheart deal?

They would have to go to a bank and pay interest charges.

Author’s note: The photos of wild dafodils were taken at Caumsett State Park in 2021. Shown are the original Lloyd house and farmstead from the 1700s.The large white house on West Neck Road a little before the park is a later Lloyd family house of the 1800s. The Lloyds had slaves who lived in the 3rd foor unfnished foor of that house. One of whom was Jupiter Hammon, who was to become the frst black American slave to become a published poet, to boot. At least Mr. Hammon was allowed to read, which was quite rare for slaves in the U.S., though more rare in the south, where reading and education were considered privileges, African Americans who could read and were educated were often considered dangerous. You can learn about Jupiter Hammond on the web and read some of his poems. Jupiter Hammon was very spiritual and religious.

Bathrooms, seating areas, air conditioning and overhead space heaters could have been easily accommodated on the mezzanine level. There is only one elevator serving each platform providing access to the UBS Arena via the mezzanine. What happens if one or both are out of service due to mechanical issues? Many wheelchair-bound people will have a difcult time attempting to navigate the accompanying handicapped ramp.

Why wasn’t a second elevator installed on both the eastbound and westbound platforms?

BY STEPHEN CIPOT, CAUMSETT STATE PARK 2021

Commuters, taxpayers, transit advocates, MTA funding agencies, elected ofcials, local neighbors and UBS Arena patrons deserved better. Clearly, investing $105 million for the new Elmont UBS Arena station did not come anywhere close to delivering all the previous promises made by the MTA, LIRR, elected ofcials who promoted this project and other project advocates.

Larry Penner Great Neck

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 Ofce of Operations and Program Management.

Fox vs. Dominion voting machines

Continued from Page 18

With that as already well-known background, many of us are hoping — expecting— that the scales have been tipped in favor of Dominion and that Fox will have to bear a huge fnancial burden. Some commentators with a left-leaning bias have even suggested the possibility that the $1.6 billion in damages for libel could be augmented by punitive damages for the willfully false attack on Dominion’s integrity as a key supplier of voting machines to localities across the entire country. It remains to be seen, of course, how the trial goes and how successful the defense attorneys may be in refuting the plaintif’s claims.

What I’ve said thus far, though, is well known among those of us who have paid attention to reports of developments, and many of us have a shared hope that now, at last, the Fox viewers will have to face up to the fact that they’ve been conned— that the Fox anchors have played to their audience’s wishful thinking rather than reporting facts that their viewers would fnd disappointing. And another widely known fact is that Fox has consistently avoided reporting about the progress of the pre-trial preparations, including the admission by its

most favored anchors that they had been deliberately lying to their most loyal fans.

And there’s good reason to suspect that if it turns out that the trial goes against Fox and that the decision includes the requirement of a very large payment — possibly measured in billions — it would be the network’s policy simply not to mention it. Since it’s been asserted that a very large percentage of the Fox audience obtains ALL of its news from Fox, it seems entirely possible that the Fox public would still never know that they have been conned by the TV personalities on whom they had been relying.

That’s all a lead-in to a proposal that if the Dominion legal team learns about it and agrees could solve the dilemma: Assuming a victory by Dominion, the terms laid down by the court should include not only the monetary relief granted in the decision, but also that Fox News be required to report in its newscasts the results of the trial, accompanied by the concession that those eminent anchors knew full well that they were lying, and that the policy of lying had been supported all the way up to the top of the corporation in the person of Chairman Rupert Murdoch.

That may well fulfll Fox’s greatest fears: Its

audience could lose faith and seek other sources, its advertising revenues would consequently diminish, and the price of its shares would decline, probably afecting the net wealth not only of Chairman Murdoch and his family but also of those who receive any portion of their compensation in some form of participation in shares of company stock.

Furthermore, there might even be a broader beneft to the solution I suggest. I’m sure that many will remember the contention, in the aftermath of the fnancial near-meltdown of 2008/09, the protests that many of the corporate managers who had been responsible for the problems that led to the crash seemed to have gotten away with little, if any, penalty; indeed, some actually earned large bonuses, often in the form of participation in company shares, for helping the business recover from the crisis they had helped create.

If those Fox individuals are seen to bear some personal cost for having shared in the creation of the Great Scam, it just might be considered a just and fair retribution.

Robert I. Adler Port Washington

PHOTO BY STEVE KALKA

Stephen Cipot Garden City Park

Business&RealEstate

Commitment to earn your broker’s license

I have been in the industry for over 42 years and have seen tremendous changes occur over that time. When I began, you only needed 45 hours of classroom instruction, pass the New York State exam and be 18 years of age to earn your real estate license.

Fast forward to today. As of Dec. 21, 2022, you now need an approved qualifed and certifed classroom or online education of 77 hours (previously 75 hours) of instruction to earn your real estate salesperson license. The cost of the course can range from $99 (I have seen this price online during of-season winter months) to $700 as a college course. Obviously, it would be prudent to fnd the most economical class to consider.

We have a list of those companies where the out-of-pocket costs are the lowest. You also need to be sponsored by a licensed Real Estate Broker to be in the business and a valid NYS photo driver’s license or a non-driver ID photo card. The additional fees required after you earn your real estate salesperson license are as follows: $15 written exam, $65 initial application, and $65 renewal fee (on your second year renewal). Credit cards are accepted to pay the fees.

You will have a fnal classroom test to enable you to identify your strengths and weaknesses in answering the questions

in order to pass the NYS exam. There are ways to study for the NYS exam. There are study guides that one can purchase to provide you with a greater opportunity to pass. We have a special Q & A that we supply to all our potential new agents, making it easier for them to pass the exam.

I have heard from several companies that provide the qualifed and certifed classes that a great majority of participants, 65%, don’t pass the NYS exam the frst time. This may be because either they don’t sufciently study, don’t truly understand the information, or aren’t confdent enough in taking tests. There are 75 questions and there are several versions of the exam and you will need to get at least 52 answers correct to pass and receive a grade of 70.

To keep the license active, one needs 22.5 hours of continuing education credit (CE) every two years to keep it current. With that continuing education, one needs to enroll in some new required and necessary classes either online or in person. Those classes are now required if your license expires after Sept. 21, 2022 and are the following: two hours of Implicit Bias Awareness, two hours of Cultural Competency, three hours or Fair Housing, one hour of Agency Law, 2.5 hours in Ethical Business Practices, and

A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

one hour of Legal Matters.

Once you fnally receive an email via EAcess from the Department of State that you have passed, then you must fnd a Broker to sponsor you as a salesperson. If you fail or think that you might because you do not do well on tests, then automatically as a backup sign up for another scheduled NYS exam ($15 additional).

Earning your real estate salesperson license is barely the frst step in the beginning of starting your business. Creating and growing your new career will take a tremendous amount of concerted ef-

forts, disciplined actions and sacrifcing your valuable time. There are approximately 1,548,058 Realtors who are part of an MLS and total of 2 million licensed real estate agents in the United States, according to the National Association of Realtors in 2022. There were 130,439 Brokers and salespersons in NYS and only 60,000+ who were consider Realtors and members of the NYS Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors, the esteemed professional groups.

Only 46% have earned a Realtor designation. Whether you are performing your business part-time or taking the plunge as a full time professional, constant training, learning and absorbing information and concepts will be tantamount in earning an adequate ancillary income if you have a full time job (in the U.S. almost 50% of licensed agents have jobs) or if full time earning a livable income. Prior to the pandemic the average income of an agent was approximately $43,500 and after the Pandemic it decreased to about $39,200. New York/ New York City had the highest average of $111,487 in 2022, and that varied depending on your status as a part or fulltime agent.

Becoming a licensed real estate salesperson (consultant) is an excellent way to go into your own business. You

WHAT IS THE DARK WEB?

are an independent contractor and not an employee. You determine your own hours (not like an employee) and you will have 100% control over your income and not your employer. As a business you will have quite a lot of tax deductions that employees aren’t privy to. It is a challenging but rewarding enterprise. The feld is well worth the “sweat equity” and eforts to be in greater control over your earnings and lifestyle if you so choose to go down that path. Good luck if you do.

The links below are clickable online to donate (if you are a subscriber or become one, go to: Subscription Ofers to provide to a friend or business associate) to go online to read my 350+ archived columns: Philip A Raices

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 40 years of experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certifed International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S) as well as the new “Green Industry” Certifcation for eco-friendly construction and upgrades. He can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@ TurnKeyRealEstate.Com or via https:// WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com

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Business&RealEstate Canadeo picked for global marketing program

The EGC Group, a full-service integrated marketing and digital agency, is happy to announce that Chris Canadeo, EGC Group’s director of analytics, has been selected to participate in Tribe Global’s Rising Stars program.

Tribe Global is a global network of independent communications agencies, aimed at identifying and developing the next generation of talent to drive the agency network’s growth. Canadeo is the only New York-based representative in the program.

The other U.S. based participants include Cameron Haggerty, Director of Revenue for Billups (based in Dallas, Texas), and Laken Wright, Design Director for Fiction Tribe (based in Portland, Oregon).

Based in the Netherlands, Andrew Brunton is Managing Director

EMEA for Billups which is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

“It is an honor to be inducted into the Tribe Global Rising Stars Program,” said Canadeo. “I am excited to contribute my own ideas and perspectives and to work alongside other talented professionals to make a real impact on our industry.”

The Rising Stars program brings together a team of talented individuals from across the Tribe Global network, who will collaborate with the executive board to spearhead strategic and tactical priorities across marketing, education and training. They will also focus on the organization of the TribeOpen 2023 Conference in New York, a fagship event of the agency network. This international dream team will work together to drive innovation and growth across the network, while

helping to shape the future of the marketing industry.

The rest of the team includes Maxim Bogaert, marketing and sales

manager for Comma (based in Belgium); Lizzie Howitt, business director for LIGHTBLUE (based in Dubai United Arab Emirates); Helena Sarkis, media executive for Fusion5 (based in Dubai United Arab Emirates); and Sam Guess, partnerships director for LIGHTBLUE (based in Dubai United Arab Emirates).

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Rising Stars program, which is designed to identify and develop the next generation of talent within our network,” said David Balfour, co-founder of LIGHTBLUE and Board Member of Tribe Global. “We believe that by nurturing and empowering our rising stars, we can drive growth and innovation across our network and help to shape the future of the marketing industry.”

The program will run for an initial period of 24 months, during

which time the Rising Stars team will work closely with the Executive Board to drive a range of strategic and tactical initiatives.

These will include the development of new marketing and business development strategies, the creation of new educational and training programs, and the implementation of new recruitment and retention initiatives.

“Tribe Global is committed to developing and nurturing the talent within our network, and the Rising Star program is a key part of that commitment,” added Balfour. “We look forward to working with our rising stars to drive innovation, growth, and success across our network in the years to come.” For more information about the Rising Stars program and Tribe Global, please visit www.wearetribeglobal.com

Islam joins tax certiorari, condemnation law group

Dilara Islam joined the Real Property Tax Certiorari Law and Condemnation Litigation Practice Group at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP as an Associate.

Prior to joining the frm, Ms. Islam was a Claims Specialist with Nationwide Insurance where she reviewed management and professional liability claims under insurance policies providing coverage for directors and ofcers, employment

practices and cyber matters.

During law school, she served as a Judicial Intern for The Honorable Deborah Kaplan, New York State Supreme Court. She also interned for Gallo Vitucci Klar, LLP in Woodbury and was a research assistant where she edited casebook materials for a frst-year Property course.

She earned her Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law in 2021 and her Bachelor of

Science in Mathematics from Adelphi University in 2016.

At St. John’s, Ms. Islam served as the Managing Editor of the Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development and was a recipient of a Catalyst Public Interest Fellowship. She also served on the Dean’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion; as a Mentor in the Student Mentor Program; and participated in the Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute.

At Adelphi University, Ms. Islam was Class President of the Student Government Association; earned a Dean’s Scholarship and a Recognition Award Scholarship; and was recognized by the prestigious honor society Omicron Delta Kappa as an Emerging Leader.

Before she entered law school, Ms. Islam worked for two years as a Knowledge Management Assistant for Latham & Watkins, LLP,

where she profled deal documents for each practice group in the frm’s database, including the tax department.

She is admitted to practice in the state of New York.

Ms. Islam also served as a mentor for Read Ahead, based in New York City, where she assisted elementary school students with their literacy and social skills. She is conversant in Bengali.

McGrath named assist. v.p. at Educational Bus

Dawn McGrath, a resident of Lindenhurst, has been promoted to assistant vice president of operations at Educational Bus Transportation, which provides student transportation services to a number of school districts in Nassau and Sufolk counties. The announcement was made by Educational Bus Transportation CEO John Corr.

“For 35 years, Dawn has been part of the Educational Bus family, beginning as a school bus driver before moving on to dispatcher and eventually operations manager,” said Corr. “Every step of

the way, she has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to excellence and safety. She is a consummate professional who possesses the skills and ability that are essential to excellence in student transportation. Everyone at Educational Bus Transportation joins me in congratulating Dawn as she begins her next chapter as assistant vice president of operations.”

According to Corr, McGrath will report directly to Patti RoyceMoser, vice president of operations, helping to provide support, leadership and direction to

Educational Bus Transportation’s operating locations throughout Long Island. She will also help control the daily operation of all transportation contracts, in compliance with the policies of the contracting agencies and in conformance with company policies and procedures.

Last year, McGrath received The Golden Merit Award from the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) at its annual meeting and convention. Among the highest honors in the school transportation industry, The Golden Merit Award recognizes

school transportation professionals for their outstanding achievements in service and safety.

Educational Bus Transportation is a member of The Trans Group, LLC (Spring Valley, NY), which provides transportation to hundreds of thousands of passengers annually in lower New York state and Long Island. With more than 1,400 vehicles and over 2000 employees, The Trans Group is actively involved in the school bus industry on the state and federal level. More information is available at www.thetransgroup.com.

Manhasset girls wins L.I. championship

BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS

There were 70 seconds left in this remarkably successful season, and it looked like the end of the line on Saturday for the Manhasset girls basketball team.

The fans from Shoreham-Wading River, champs of Sufolk County class A, were going wild in the stands of Nold Hall at Farmingdale State University. The Wildcats led by six points 45-39, with but 1:10 left.

Everything, everything pointed toward a loss for Manhasset.

Except for the kids in the white uniforms who didn’t believe the scoreboard.

“No amount of time is too little time for us,” said junior forward Nicoletta Tsiamis. “We’re still in it until the buzzer goes of.”

And indeed they were. The Indians staged a remarkable late comeback, scoring six straight points, the last one coming from star senior guard Caitlin Barrett at the free throw, to tie the score at 45 and send the game to overtime.

And in OT, Manhasset dominated, and captured its frst Long Island championship since 1993, 58-51, setting of a wild on-court celebration and in the stands from the hundreds of fans in attendance.

Snatching triumph from the frm jaws of defeat, Manhasset (24-1) are now two wins from a state title, as it will travel to Troy on Friday for the Class A semifnals.

“It’s surreal and amazing, and I can’t be more excited,” said Barrett, who scored a team-high 20 points and dished out six assists. “We stayed positive when we were down, nobody was teary-eyed or getting upset. We knew we’d worked so hard all year for these moments and that we’d come through.”

The comeback was started and fn-

Manhasset’s Lauren Perfetto (10) celebrates after a basket during the Long Island Championship game Saturday, March 11 at Farmingdale State. Teammates Caitlin Barrett (10) and Mia LoPinto celebrate in background.

ished by Barrett, but she had a ton of help on Saturday. There was junior forward Lauren Perfetto, who scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in maybe the best game of her career.

Tsiamis chipped in 10 points and six boards, while senior center Ali McIntyre added four points and seven boards for Manhasset.

But it still took some heroics for Manhasset to win. The comeback started with a 3-pointer from the right side from Barrett, her only triple of the day, that brought the Indians to within 45-42 with 57 seconds left.

Then after Manhasset forced a tie-up on defense, and got the possession arrow in its favor, Tsiamis hit a layup to make it 45-44.

Perfetto then made a steal and got fouled on her drive. She missed both foul shots after going 6-for-6 previously on the day, but Manhasset was still alive sec-

onds later after S-WR’s GraceAnn Leonard missed both of her free throws.

Finally, it came down to one chance for Manhasset. With nine seconds left, Barrett drove into the lane looking to get to the basket but the Wildcats defense converged on her.

She dished to the right corner to LoPinto, who took a 3-pointer that would’ve won the game. It clanked of the rim right to Barrett, who immediately heaved it toward the rim, knowing the clock was about to expire.

It missed, but the referees’ whistle blew with .2 seconds left. Manhasset had one last try.

“I knew she’d make both,” Perfetto said.

“Nobody else we want at the line than C.B. right there,” Tsiamis added.

With the crowd roaring, Barrett sent her frst free throw long, and suddenly the lacrosse star who helped that team

win a state title last year had the season on her fngertips.

“It was defnitely scary, I was shaking a little bit,” Barrett said. “I just tried to take a deep breath, calm myself down, and make it.”

She did, and four more minutes were put on the clock, and the entire momentum had shifted in the arena.

“On the bench (before OT) we were saying ‘this is our moment, it’s a new quarter, forget the rest, and just go out and win.’” Perfetto said.

Perfetto got the team going in the extra frame, getting a rebound and putback to put Manhasset up, 47-45. After a steal, Barrett was fouled and this time made both for a 49-45. The lightning-quick senior Barrett then scored a lefthanded scoop driving layup, 51-45, 1:53 left in OT, and that was pretty much the ballgame. Shoreham-Wading River (24-2) never got closer than four points the rest of the way.

“That kid Lauren Perfetto, she’s a big part of the heart and soul of this team,” Sadeh said. “She wants to work the hardest, put in the practice time, and she pushes everyone in practice to do that. You need that type of gritty kid on your team. She’s an unbelievable kid; I can’t say enough about her.”

The Indians came into the game fying high of their Class A county championship win over Lynbrook, but they got of to a rough start Saturday afternoon, committing turnovers on their frst three possessions.

Shoreham-Wading River got of to a hot start, grabbing a 7-0 lead 3 minutes in, and the Indians trailed 10-2 after just three minutes, and it looked for a spell like Manhasset was going to get run out of the gym.

But slowly the Indians defense, playing mostly a 2-3 zone in the frst half,

slowed the Wildcats attack, and the offense got going.

A driving layup and a foul by Barrett got Manhasset going, and despite junior guard Mia LoPinto going to the bench for the rest of the half with two fouls just seven minutes into the game, the Indians surged back.

Freshman backup center Lauren Connolly gave Manhasset very good minutes in second quarter, with three points, and three blocked shots.

“She gave us some huge minutes, and scrapped and did so much for us,” Manhasset head coach Lauren Sadeh said of Connolly. “For a freshman to play with poise like she did was really great.”

The Wildcats didn’t make a feld goal in the entire second period, and a 10-0 run by Manhasset, capped by a driving layup by Barrett, gave the Indians their frst lead, 17-16, midway through the second quarter. Manhasset took a threepoint lead into the locker room.

They came out strong, and I thought if we could just through the frst quarter, we’d have a mental reset,” Sadeh said. “And then to go into halftime, up 3, given how far behind we were, and Mia not playing at all in the second quarter, I thought we were golden.”

Now, fresh of this Long Island title, Manhasset now travels up I-87 to Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, for the state semifnals. The Class A semi for the Indians will be Friday at 1:30 p.m. against Canandaigua Academy, a school located in Canandaigua, about 30 minutes south of Rochester.

If Manhasset were to win, the championship game would be Saturday the 18th at 7 p.m. The school has never won a girls basketball state title.

“I never want the season to end,” Tsiamis said. “These are my best friends. I want to keep playing with them forever.”

Manhasset’s Park wins triple jump title

BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS

Imagine, for a moment, a champion surfer who doesn’t like water.

Or the world’s best geologist who isn’t that fond of rocks.

It doesn’t make much sense, right? How could you spend your life doing something, hour after hour, around something you don’t much care for?

Well, don’t ask Manhasset High School senior Paul Park, because for the past fve years he’s been dealing with a similar conundrum.

Park hates sand.Hates it. Doesn’t like going to the beach, because the sand gets everywhere and into everything. We’ve all been there and experienced that.

And yet, ever since eighth grade,

Park has spent thousands and thousands of hours mired in the grainy white stuf, because that’s what long jumpers and triple jumpers like him land on after soaring through the air like Carl Lewis or Michael Powell did decades before.

“I know it’s strange,” he said with a laugh. “I just really don’t like shaking my shoes out all the time after practice.”

Well, despite his loathing of sand, all those hours of practice have paid of big-time, culminating in a magical moment for Park on March 4 at the New York State Indoor Track and Field Championships, on Staten Island.

Soaring farther than he ever had, Park landed a triple jump of 46 feet, 11 inches to claim his frst state title. Im-

proving his past personal best of 45-1, Park did it on his frst jump Saturday, and on an injured left heel he’d hurt the week before.

“I feel like the higher the stakes of the meet, the more adrenaline I had, so when I was doing that frst jump I wasn’t feeling any pain,” Park said. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw (how far) it was. I didn’t think it was anything that special, but then they put up the number and I was shocked, just shocked.”

After his record leap, Park and his coaches, Steve Steiner, Kevin Kearney and Justin Renna, had to wait for more than hour to see if Park’s mark would hold up and give him what’s believed to be Manhasset’s frst indoor track and feld state title since 1984.

PHOTO BY KRISTIN PERFETTO

PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER

Manhasset senior Paul Park won the state championship in the triple jump on March 4 on Staten Island.

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Hofstra officials oppose Sands’ casino proposal

Continued from Page 8

“I want to be clear that I don’t want to call it a Las Vegas-style resort because I don’t think that’s appropriate,” Reese said. “It will be Las Vegas style in terms of amenities, but the size and design is going to fit in with the local look and architecture.”

Paterson said the company has a self-imposed April 1 deadline to have the application completed and be ready to go before the state. Reese said the company launched the plans to develop the Hub into this entertainment center a few weeks ago and did not make any commitment on what the fate of the Nassau Coliseum would be.

Reese said that the company anticipates a minimum of 5,000 people working at the site, though no residential buildings are part of the Sands’ plan. Reese said the next steps for the Sands is for the Nassau County Legislature to approve the lease transfer of the Coliseum and

the Hub.

The state’s gaming commission, he said, would then have to establish a five-member local board to approve the Sands bid. The board would be made up of appointees from the town supervisor, the county executive, the governor’s office and the local Senate and Assembly member representing the area.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman discussed what would warrant approval for the Sands’ proposal during his State of the County address.

“It must be world-class with a luxury hotel and entertainment component…it must bring significant revenue to the county and surrounding areas, including construction and permanent jobs…and it must have the support of the community,” Blakeman said. “We will continue to explore this possibility and we’ll keep county residents informed throughout the process.”

Soccer legends Lloyd, Beckham meet youth

Continued from Page 13

“I have always talked about the importance of grassroots football in empowering communities and bringing people together,” said Beckham, who has previously promoted Sands casinos and resorts. “It’s great to be here today with Carli and The Sands Youth Empowerment Initiative, working with these incredible students, young people and future football stars.”

In addition to the Sands Youth Empowerment Initiative, Las Vegas Sands recently announced job training partnerships with Nassau

County Community College and Minority Millennials. They have also funded and launched a new certification program to help minority, women, and veteran entrepreneurs within Long Island’s labor community create businesses, according to the press release.

Hofstra University President Susan Poser, the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association and the Garden City Village Board of Trustees have publicly opposed the casino.

Beckham signed countless balls, cleats, jerseys and more for adoring young fans.

Barred broker indicted for stock fraud scheme

Continued from Page 13

with risk, but investors should never have to worry that the financial professionals they are trusting with their money will steal from them.”

Donnelly said in the press release that the fraudulent scheme started in July 2018 and continued through January 2021.

During those 2 ½ years, Quartararo met with the six victims and proposed to them preIPO stock in the high-profile companies for approximately $2 a share. He told them he would sell the shares and give the profits to the victims when the companies went public.

The amount each victim provided to Quartararo ranged from $14,000 to $202,000 in cash and checks to purchase the alleged preIPO shares.

The district attorney’s investigation found that Quartararo did not purchase any shares of stock in the pre-IPO companies. Instead, the checks and cash were deposited into accounts controlled by Leonard Quartararo, Peter Quartararo’s father, Paul Casella, Peter Quartararo’s

business partner, and another uncharged individual.

The SEC confirmed that no shares of IPO stock in Peloton, WeWork, Airbnb or Petco were ever purchased by the defendant, according to the district attorney’s press release.

Quartararo was arrested by Nassau County district attorney detective investigators in April 2021 and re-arrested in August 2021 on additional charges.

Co-defendant of East Meadow Paul Casella, pleaded guilty to criminal facilitation in the fourth degree on Dec. 14. He was sentenced to a conditional discharge.

Co-defendant Leonard Quartararo, 80, pleaded guilty to criminal facilitation in the fourth degree on July 22, 2021. He was also sentenced to a conditional discharge.

If you believe you were the victim of an investment fraud perpetrated by Peter Quartararo, Paul Casella or Leonard Quartararo, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office asks that you contact their Financial Crimes Bureau at 516-571-2149.

Recent Real Estate Sales in

45 Highfield Road, Glen Cove

5 bd, 3 ba, 2,658 sqft, Sold On: 12/28/22, Sold Price: $850,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: Glen Cove

34 Craft Avenue, Glen Cove

4 bd, 2 ba, 2,000 sqft, Sold On: 12/29/22, Sold Price: $715,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: Glen Cove

9 Wellington Road, Greenvale

2 bd, 1 ba, Sold On: 12/20/22, Sold Price: $555,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: Roslyn

124 Overlook Terrace, East Hills

4 bd, 2 ba, 1,700 sqft, Sold On: 12/28/22, Sold Price: $988,888

Type: Single Family, Schools: Roslyn

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

Roslyn teen hosts supply drive for quake

Continued from Page 1

been intimidated to speak in front of the board, Eliza said she was not worried in the slightest because she knew them all so personally. The village agreed to partner with Eliza in her eforts.

She also partnered with Temple Sinai of Roslyn, where she is a member and which sent an email blast to the congregation about the project and how they could participate.

Two collection boxes were then established for donations, one at the East Hills Village Hall and one at the temple.

Medical supply donations collected. (Photo courtesy of Donna Liebowitz)

Eliza provided community members with a wish list of items to donate. Donations included wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, shower chairs, commodes, braces, slings, medical boots, neck braces, casting materials, catheters, frst aid kits and assorted wound care items.

By the end of the two weeks, the donations flled half of a large box truck.

“It felt like I was juggling a lot at once, but it was very rewarding,” Eliza said.

She partnered with The AFYA Foundation, which collected the donations. AFYA is a non-proft organization that provides medical supplies globally to communities without access.

The organization, based in Yonkers, N.Y., will then sort through the donations at its warehouse. Once done, the group will work with the

Halcyon Liquors renewed

Continued from Page 3

cutting for Halcyon Liquors March 16 to celebrate the new ownership and introduce them to the neighborhood.

“Although we do know many people in the neighborhood, we don’t know everybody,” Liz Heller said, “so this will get the news out there that this store is under new management.”

She is looking forward to the ribbon-cutting as an opportunity to get to know more of the community members and understand how she can work with them as well.

Liz Heller said the chamber’s ribbon-cuttings have been important as they help small businesses in the community.

“It’s great that they’re looking to help people and their business gain exposure and, again, to be a bigger part of the community,” she said. “It’s not just your business, it’s the community.”

Lulu

director of youth and teen engagement

Turkish Embassy to deliver the supplies to those in need.

Right now, the donations from Eliza and the Roslyn community are still undergoing sorting and organizing by AFYA.

Eliza said she has noticed a gap in her community’s eforts to conduct charity initiatives, and she wanted to be the person to bridge that gap. She said that she has been very fortunate in her life and wants to utilize her po-

sition to help others.

While her charity work started with lemonade stands, it wasn’t until she coordinated her mitzvah project that it became a regular component of her life.

For Eliza’s mitzvah project, she and a family friend worked with the local food bank to host rafes to raise money and collected food donations.

Through working with the food bank, Eliza said she gained a greater

sense of community. She attributed the drive’s success to the eforts of her fellow community members coming together to contribute to her charity project.

“I just realized how much one community could do if everyone works together,” Eliza said. “I thought it would be a missed opportunity to not try to use that for good and all sorts of diferent charities and purposes.”

In October, Eliza founded her charity organization Clean Your Closets Out For Children, also known as Triple C New York.

The mission of her organization is to collect donations of items no longer used and provide them to children experiencing poverty, illness, natural disasters or war. Eliza said this also gives items a second life and diverts them from landflls.

Since a top priority of her charity is aiding children in need, Eliza ensured the children of Turkey and Syria were not forgotten during her recent medical supply drive. Among the plethora of medical supplies donated, she made sure there were children’s bandages with recognizable characters like Baby Shark and Mickey Mouse that would “make children happy in such a hard time for them.”

Medical supplies donated included bandages with characters for the children aficted by the earthquake.

(Photo courtesy of Donna Liebowitz)

Eliza said it’s important to cater to the needs of children when collecting donations and planning for disaster relief because they tend to be forgotten in the chaos of situations. She said she wanted to have a balance in supplies donated for everyone of all ages when collecting for the earthquake relief.

Going forward, Eliza is continuing her eforts with her charity organization. She said she will keep up with the news to fnd any potential areas where she can step in to help.

“I’ve always just wanted to make an impact and charity is my way of doing that,” Eliza said.

‘Torso Killer’ documentary premieres on A&E

Continued from Page 12

Stream mall to buy dancing shoes on Feb. 15, 1968, Nassau County police previously said.

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

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

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

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said at the time of

Cottingham’s guilty plea that DNA technology advancements allowed evidence from the scenes to be retested, which created a profle matching Cottingham’s.

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

On May 22, 1980, Cottingham was arrested at the Hasbrouck

Heights Quality Inn while he was torturing an 18-year-old sex worker Leslie Ann O’Dell after motel staf called the police, according to the NY Daily News.

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

The documentary premiered on Thursday night at 9 p.m. and will run again Friday at the same time.

The documentary can be streamed online on A&E’s website.

Santos files for re-election in 2024 despite probes

Continued from Page 2

have come under scrutiny in recent months several weeks ago.

The groups responsible for organizing Saturday’s event include Concerned Citizens of NY-03, Courage For America and MoveOn. The organization previously held another rally

weeks ago in Roslyn before constituents loaded up buses headed to Washington, D.C., to speak to Santos at his ofce in the Capitol.

Members of Concerned Citizens of NY-03 encouraged Congress to oust Santos from his seat despite his lack of support from local Republican groups.

“It’s time for the entire New York

Republican Congressional delegation to stop hiding behind the Ethics investigation and put all their energy behind bipartisan eforts to get the Resolution to Expel Santos to the House foor,” Port Washington resident Kim Keiserman said.

“NY-03 voters cannot tolerate this fraudster for another minute let

alone two more years!,” Manhasset’s Jane Russell said. “Santos is a disgrace and brings nothing but shame to the House of Representatives. Santos thinks he can continue to lie and steal from the voters of this district but he is sorely mistaken. He needs to be removed now!”

PHOTO COURTESY OF DONNA LIEBOWITZ

Belferder,

at Temple Sinai, Eliza Liebowitz, founder of Clean Your Closets Out For Children, Michael Koblenz, mayor of East Hills, and Rabbi Michael White of Temple Sinai of Roslyn.

R. Estates only village with contested race

public ofcials and departments, updating investment policy with the bank and fnancial institutions to get higher interest rates for the village’s invested monies, improving security and better enforcement of local speed limits and stop signs and improving and upgrading The Dogwoods basin and pump to prevent fooding.

If re-elected, Peters said he would also like to continue the tax rate as is while continuing programs of repaving the roads. He said there are plans currently in the works to establish a program this spring to continue repaving projects.

He also wants to continue community programs and events, as well as fght against Gov. Kathy Hochul’s housing plan. The plan would require local governments to rezone areas within a half mile of MTA rail stations that serve the Long Island Rail Road to achieve 3% growth in housing over three years.

Teichman’s main goals if elected would be to streamline building approval processes in the village to work better for residents as well as expand community programs and events to cater to the village’s families and children.

Trustees Rubinstein and Auerbach did not respond to requests for comment.

Rubinstein was elected as a trustee in 2021 and is running for her second term. Auerbach was elected in 2017 and is running for his fourth term.

East Hills residents will vote for four ofces: mayor, village justice and two trustees.

Those positions are currently flled by Mayor Michael Koblenz, Justice Howard Jaslow, Trustee Brian Meyerson and Trustee Stacey Siegel, who are all seeking re-election. They are running on the Unity Party line.

Koblenz and Jaslow did not respond to requests for comment.

Koblenz has been mayor of East Hills for 28 years. He has been credited with buying, creating and constructing the park at East Hills, keeping taxes unchanged for the past 12 years and establishing the Senior Activities Committee and the Kids in the Park programs.

Jaslow previously served as the East Hills village prosecutor from 2006-2015 and was the village’s acting justice until 2021. He is a partner at Platzer, Swergold, Goldberg, Katz & Jaslow law frm.

Meyerson has been a trustee for nine years. Previously he served as a prosecutor for the village. He made the shift to become a trustee in 2014 due to a suggestion from his late father.

He describes himself as the “behind the scenes, nuts and bolts” guy on the board, handling a lot of the personnel, building and park issues in the village to make sure things run smoothly.

Notable accomplishments Meyerson shared include union contract negotiations, restructuring the building department processes, shortening permitting processes and separating permit-

ting channels based on project size, revamping the interactive pool for younger children at the park and helping residents with their day-to-day issues.

Looking forward, Meyerson said if he is reelected his dream would be to pursue a project to convert the army barracks building in the park into an indoor parks facility. This would provide activities and facilities year-round to the community.

Siegal is pursuing her third term as a trustee in East Hills. In 2011, she established the Kids in the Park program, which is how she became involved in the community and the board. She said she is passionate about fostering community relations and much of that is evident in her work as a trustee.

During her tenure, Siegal has developed her Kids in the Park program, established Pet Alert –an alert system for lost pets in the village – and has hosted community events like a women’s softball league and community concerts.

If re-elected, Siegal said she wants to continue fostering community growth through events and programs as well as maintaining taxes as they have not been raised in 13 years.

Roslyn residents will be voting for their mayor and two trustees. Those positions are currently flled by Mayor John Durkin, Trustee Sarah Oral and Trustee Marta Genovese, who are all running for re-election unopposed.

Eforts to contact the village and the three ofcials were unavailing.

Durkin was a trustee for six years before being elected as mayor. He is currently seeking his 12th term as mayor after serving over 20 years in the position.

Oral has been a trustee since 2013. She is an associate at Cameron Engineering & Associates.

All elections will be held on March 21.

Roslyn Estates residents can vote at the village hall, 25 The Tulips, from noon until 9 p.m.

The election for East Hills will be held in the theater at 209 Harbor Hill from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Roslyn residents can vote at the village hall, at 1200 Old Northern Blvd., from noon to 9 p.m.

N. Shore School District proposes $2.7M in job cuts

Continued from Page 2

The budget is increasing by about 3.8%, compared to the current academic year’s budget of nearly $116 million. Zublionis said this is mostly attributed to increases in health insurance, retirement and debt service costs

When the cost increases and revenue losses are added together, Zublionis said it amounts to $10.6 million the district has to make up for.

Overall, the district is trimming its budget in three areas: central administration by 2.77%, plant maintenance by 1.62% and supervision instruction by 7.45%.

The biggest loss for the district, according to Zublionis, is the loss of revenue from the Long Island Power Authority power plant.

“For generations, a big portion of the [tax class] was paid by the power plant,” Zublionis said previously. “That worked as long as it was generating power.”

In Nassau county, the tax base is built around four classes: businesses, utilities, condos and homes. In areas with high business and retail revenue, those businesses pay taxes that reduce the taxes paid by homeowners.

In 2010, the plant was decommissioned. In the wake of the decommissioning, Zublionis said that LIPA was grieving its taxes, which were fnally settled in June.

That means, according to Zublionis, millions of dollars have been slashed from the tax roll and taxes have shifted to the residents.

In 2001, homeowners paid about 54.5% of the tax class share. In 2023, they now pay about 83.4%.

In total, the district has lost $2.35 million from LIPA revenue. LIPA is currently paying a direct assessment, which is gradually decreasing by millions of dollars a year. Zublionis said that over the next fve years, the district projects it

will lose more than $38 million in total revenues from LIPA.

The district received about $2.1 million more in state aid, but Zublionis said it was not enough for their needs. The district has been applying for more grants but has not received any additional money, Zublionis said during the meeting.

The board also presented a plan to pull $350,000 from their 2016 capital reserves to fund two projects: replacing the high school’s turf and renovating the dance studio. These are funds that the school already has in its accounts.

The capital reserve identifes projects where the money is to be spent, which is approved by residents in a vote. The feld’s turf replacement was not identifed as a project, therefore residents will vote on whether to allow the reserve funds to go toward that project when they vote on the budget as well.

The board spoke about the projects’ importance due to the benefts provided for students and their future. Athletics and fne and performing arts were described as “imperative” to a student’s success, and the board said these projects directly afect those areas.

During the May 16 election, residents will vote on three propositions: whether or not to adopt the district’s proposed budget, the partial renovation of the turf feld as an identifed project for the 2016 capital reserves and the expenditure of funds from the capital reserve for the dance studio and feld renovations.

The board will convene again March 23 when it will adopt the district’s 2023-24 budget. The meeting will be held at 7:45 p.m. in the Glenwood Landing Auditorium. It will be livestreamed on the district’s website.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE VILLAGE OF ROSLYN ESTATES

Roslyn Estates’ mayoral race is the only contested election in Roslyn. The two candidates running are incumbent Mayor Paul Peter (left) and Roslyn Estates resident Todd Teichman (right).

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Concerns on handling of inspector general’s role

Continued from Page 8

Franzese, a Massapequa resident who previously served as senior inspector general for the New York City Department of Investigations, was appointed to serve as Nassau’s first inspector general in 2019. Abrahams had said earlier the office was established after

Democratic legislators refused to authorize any bonds for capital projects for the last 2 1/2 in a push to establish the position.

The position was created following the arrest of former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano in a political corruption scheme that he was ultimately found guilty of.

Mangano’s conviction is based on a deal he made with Harendra Singh, a restaurateur on Long Island and a star witness in the trial, in which Singh kicked back money and personal benefits in return for the county executive pushing the Town of Oyster Bay to authorize loans for Singh, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The inspector general’s role, according to county officials, includes conducting “the review, investigation, examination and audit” of all the county’s dealings. Both Nicolello and Abrahams were members of the bipartisan search committee that reviewed almost 25 resumes and conducted interviews.

Abrahams, at the time, lauded Franzese for her management experience, her questions of detail in regards to the funding of the new office, as well as the several cases she worked on in her current position that led to better practices in New York City.

PHOTO BY NOAH MANSKAR The Nassau County Legislative building.

Irish musician saved twice at 2 Northwell hospitals

A Queens man has the luck of the Irish and two Northwell Health hospitals to thank for saving his life – twice. Allen Gogarty, an Irish folk rock musician, performed two songs today for doctors and nurses of Long Island Jewish Forest Hills (LIJ Forest Hills) and the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in the Manhasset hospital.

Gogarty’s health odyssey began on December 2, 2022, when he woke up in his Glendale home to severe back pain, nausea and sweating. His wife called 911, but by the time the ambulance came his symptoms had subsided.

“I started to think that maybe I overreacted,” said Mr. Gogarty.

Even though he felt better, EMTs convinced Gogarty to go to the hospital to be checked out. He was brought to LIJ Forest Hills where blood tests and a chest CAT scan were done.

“His bloodwork showed that he had an elevated level of troponin – a protein found in the cardiac muscles – in his bloodstream,” explained Alexander Lucks, DO, an emergency medicine physician at LIJ Forest Hills.

When the heart is damaged, it releases troponin into the blood which is indicative of a heart attack or other heart-related condition.

Gogarty was transported to the hospital’s telemetry unit where his heart was monitored overnight. The following morning Gogarty went from being OK to having a severe heart attack.

Within seconds, a team of doctors and nurses began performing CPR on Gogarty. A breath-

ing tube was inserted into his mouth, his heart was shocked three times with defibrillations and multiple types of life support medications were administered to try and restore his heartbeat to normal rhythm.

For 23 minutes Gogarty was without a pulse.

“He was dead,” said Syed Iqbal, DO, director of critical care at LIJ Forest Hills. “It’s extremely rare when a patient codes for that long and then is able to survive. Mr. Gogarty was very lucky.”

Once stabilized, Gogarty was transported to the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital at NSUH where he was taken directly to the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab.

Gogarty’s blood pressure was virtually nonexistent and he was in dire shape. Doctors implanted a small temporary heart pump – known as an Impella device – to keep his heart beating as they stented two of his coronary arteries that were 100% and 90% blocked.

“Mr. Gogarty was probably one of the sickest patients I’ve ever saved,” said Gaurav Rao, MD, an interventional cardiologist at NSUH.

Listening to the doctors recount his health journey at a reunion on Wednesday, Gogarty was awe struck by the life-saving care he received at both hospitals. The father of two teenage sons is now on the road back to recovery and is starting to get back into playing gigs around the tri-state area.

“The gift of life has been handed back to me,” he said. “It’s something that we take for granted that I won’t ever take for granted again.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY NORTHWELL HEALTH

Drs. Alexander Lucks and Syed Iqbal of LIJ Forest Hills and Drs. Gaurav Rao and David Stern of the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital at North Shore University Hospital flank Irish folk rock musician Allen Gogarty.

G.N. panel discusses fighting antisemitism

Continued from Page 12

a large role in the ways people today can spread hate so easily.

“We have individuals in the police department that use social media all day long,” Ryder said. “They get on undercover accounts and they do exactly what the neo-Nazi, white supremacist groups do. They stoke the public to try and fnd something out and we monitor those sites.”

Parental engagement and reporting anything suspicious to the police, Ryder said, are ways to best combat antisemitism in 2023. Pilip echoed Ryder’s advice and urged the public to call the police and not be afraid of what may happen afterward.

Town Board can’t agree on Plandome Rd. plans

Continued from Page 7 should move forward,” said Robert Donno, who has served as the chamber’s liaison for the project.

“Business owners are incredulous to hear we are on cesspools and they walk away,” said Lynn King, a property owner on Plandome. “It’s not the rent that is driving them away, it’s that they can’t operate in a reasonable capacity. If you turn this town, I don’t know how you’re going to explain this to your residents.”

Democrats voted in January to push the resolution to March to await a discussion with the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District for town board members to get answers to questions about the cost and funding of the project.

Phase one will be funded by a $5 million grant secured last year by state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (D-Port Washington) and then-state Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills), which will cover the main sewer line.

Concerns about the cost of maintenance for private septic tanks have been expressed by businesses along Plandome Road, with some claiming pumps have to be examined on a weekly basis.

Matthew Donno previously told Blank Slate Media the project, which has been analyzed for more than fve years, will provide economic and environmental benefts to Plandome Road’s business district.

Businesses and restaurants along

Plandome Road can pay as much as $50,000 to $70,000 annually to pump their septic tanks. Some have also said they pay more than $500,000 a year to maintain their systems.

The system that Plandome business owners will be converting to will be a pump system that Donno said will connect to each building and essentially pump the water down the line to the district, where it will be treated.

Since the board ofcially supported the installation of a sewer main on Plandome, the district can get started on a design study to begin phase one.

The district’s study along with the physical application of pipes and hookups into businesses was once estimated to cost upwards of $12 million. Now, Donno said, the project should be fully funded by the proposed funds from the town and a $5 million state grant.

Lurvey and Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte, a Democrat, said they support the entire project and the decision to wait until April is a matter of making sure the money is used in an appropriate manner.

“I support putting the sewer line in, but I need to make sure we cross our T’s and dot our I’s to make sure this $3 million is okay to use,” Dalimonte said.

Chiara said he has been having ongoing discussions with counsel from the chamber to discuss the interpretation of the Clean Water Act and how it

can be used with sewer laterals, which would connect the sewer line in Plandome to the businesses themselves.

“ARPA refers to the Clean Water Act on what is eligible and not eligible,” Chiara said.

If approved, DeSena said business owners can get subsidized up to a certain amount to connect to the sewer, speeding things up and making sure Plandome has to only be opened up one time.

A similar method was used in Sea Clif last year, where 230 property owners were ofered up to $7,500 in county recovery funds to connect to the village’s enlarged sanitary sewer system.

Chiara clarifed the county and state received CARES Act funding, while the town did not.

During the meeting, DeSena appeared to end her battle with town Democrats over the appointment of a town comptroller, withdrawing her nomination of John Morris to the post. The appointment had been rejected by town Democrats in December.

Lurvey said she and DeSena had agreed to interview a fnalist for the position.

In December, a resolution to appoint Morris, a former Smithtown comptroller with over 15 years of municipal accounting experience, was rejected.

Morris has previously served as

treasurer for the Villages of Mastic Beach and Westbury and director of fnance for the town under Supervisor May Newburger from 1998 to 2001.

Dalimonte, a Democrat, cited a Newsday article that reported Morris was not re-hired as the Smithtown comptroller and that council member Robert Creighton said his term “didn’t work out to our satisfaction” before she voted no in December.

Morris told Newsday this week he lost his Smithtown post for political reasons.

DeSena also reported that the town has $1.2 million in deposits with Signature Bank, which was shut down by state regulators earlier this week.

“We have no reason to believe that these taxpayer funds are in jeopardy in any way, but since the story broke I have taken the proactive steps to direct our comptroller’s staf to explore our options to move the money out and into another designated depository,” DeSena said.

Signature and Silicon Valley Bank in California both had their assets seized by regulators after depositors hurried to withdraw money after fear and concerns over the banks’ health.

DeSena said getting a comptroller has been a major focus of her administration, especially in light of the near collapse of Signature Bank, in which she said the town has had a restricted reserve fund since 2010.

PHOTO BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Young Israel of Great Neck hosts a forum to discuss ways to combat antisemitism on Tuesday.

East Hills softball to begin again in April

Play Ball!

There has been a Roslyn Softball ‘choose up’ game going on since the mid 1980’s, and we are looking for a few good men.

The choose up game is re starting in early

10

April, in the Village of East Hills Park; Sunday double header games begin at 8:30 and end around noon.For additional information, contact Stew Faden at 516 410 6666 or Peter Wagner at 516 527 1200

Roslyn High seniors named Merit finalists

Ten Roslyn High School students have been named finalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Competition — Mohammad Balasinorwala, Jessie Dong, Jake Konigsberg, Lydia Lee, Emelie Nguyen, Catherine Ren, Arya Sinha, Brian Song, Sophie Weisman and Stanley Zhao.

These academically talented students now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships

worth more than $30 million that will be offered this spring.

The students are among 15,000 nationwide to be named finalists, representing less than 1% of high school seniors in the United States.

“Congratulations to all our students who earned this distinction,” Roslyn High School Principal Scott Andrews said. “It is a truly exceptional academic achievement.”

Roslyn Middle School to perform ‘Aladdin

The Roslyn Middle School Spotlight Drama Club hosted four performances of Disney’s Aladdin Jr. for the Roslyn Community from March 2-5.

They also performed select scenes for the students at Harbor Hill and East Hills elementary schools on Feb. 15.

Disney’s Aladdin Jr. is based on the 1992 Academy Award-winning film and the 2014 hit Broadway show. It is the story of Aladdin and his three friends, Babkak, Omar and Kassim –played by Dylan Sakaria, Gefen Portnoy, Made-

leine Klein and Lilly Bakhchi – who are down on their luck until Aladdin discovers a magic lamp and the Genie, played by Nevada Yip, who has the power to grant three wishes.

Wanting to earn the respect of the princess Jasmine, played by Ava Klein, Aladdin embarks on an adventure that will test his will and his moral character.

“We are so incredibly proud of the students for all their hard work,” music teacher Dorothy Burns said. “Congratulations to everyone involved in the production!”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROSLYN SCHOOL DISTRICT

Spotlight Drama Club perform a musical number in Aladdin

St. Mary’s girls win state basketball title

Capture second consecutive Catholic School Athletic Association championship in 66-49 romp

BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS

The second time proved just as sweet for the St. Mary’s girls basketball team.

But this time, youth was served even more than usual.

A veteran squad won last year’s state Catholic High School Athletic Association title for the Gaels. But this season, a whole heaping of freshmen and sophomores complemented the upperclassmen, to achieve the same result.

Saturday night at Fordham University, St. Mary’s started fast and fnished even faster, blowing away Bufalo’s Nichols school, 66-49, to win the school’s seventh state championship.

Freshman Kayla Solomon, the Gaels’ leading scorer in the playofs, poured in 20 points, while seniors Taryn Barbot and Tara Murray chipped in 17 and 15, respectively, as the hundreds of fans

from Manhasset and the St. Mary’s community that trekked to the Bronx went home happy.

“We’ve been working for that the whole season, to be a team where any of our players could do well in a game,” said senior Taylor Barbot, who had eight assists and nine rebounds Saturday night. “All the young players played so well, and they helped get us this second title.”

The second title is always harder,” head coach Kevin White said. “But it’s good that the seniors who worked hard got what they worked for.”

As strong as the seniors were, led by the Barbot twins and Tara Murray, whose two consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter helped stretch a seven-point lead at the end of the third into double digits, it was the young’uns who really helped power St. Mary’s.

Players like freshmen Solomon, Tiana Thompson, and Scarlet Cubero, along with sophomore Sky

Priester all helped power the Gaels on Saturday. White said at one point those four were on the court along with Taryn Barbot in the second quarter and did “a heck of a job.”

“Those kids had never been in that moment, championship game and all the pressure, and they handled it so well,” White said.

Solomon, who averaged 16.8 points per game this season, said she was “more excited than nervous” playing such an important contest.

“Taylor and Taryn and the other older players have really been helping me all year and giving me confdence, so I had confdence (Saturday),” Solomon said. “It was one of the most exciting days of my life.”

The road back to the title game was pretty smooth for the Gaels (24-4) for most of the season. Led by the senior twin duo of the Barbots, both headed to College of Charleston next season, as well

as younger Solomon and Priester, St. Mary’s dominated most foes and seemed poised to repeat as state champions.

Solomon, a shooting guard, poured in 27 points in a playof win over St. Anthony’s on Feb. 28, and the Gaels’ stifing defense didn’t allow most opponents room to operate.

“We’re a very mature team with a lot of kids who’ve been through pressure situations before,” White said. “They know what it takes to win.”

Solomon, “a pretty confdent kid,” White said. She’s not the only scoring threat we have, which makes her life easier. She passes so well, and really everyone on the team is unselfsh.”

On March 9, in the state semifnals at Christ the King School in Queens, though, the Gaels were held to their lowest point total of the season in the 37-33 win.

After racing out to a 27-12 halftime lead, it looked like St. Mary’s would cruise over Monsignor Scanlan in a rematch of last year’s CHSAA state championship game.

But Scanlan’s defense stifened, and St. Mary’s was only able to score 10 points in the fnal two periods, hanging on for the victory.

“We just stopped running our ofense, and didn’t execute,” White said. “It was very atypical of us, and (after the game) the kids knew they didn’t play well and that we’d have to play better Saturday to win.”The Gaels survived the semis thanks to Solomon’s 11 points and good free throw shooting in the fnal minutes, with Solomon, Murray and Taryn Barbot hitting from the stripe.

“We knew after that game we didn’t play our best, and we weren’t happy with our performance at all,” Taryn Barbot said. “We knew we had to play better to win (Saturday) and we knew we would.”

Now with another state title in hand, St. Mary’s will advance to the Federation Tournament in the Albany area on March 25-26. The tournament will be held at three high schools: Guilderland High, Shaker High and Shenendehowa High.

St. Mary’s will compete in the Class AA division and will play the N.Y. State public school champ, which won’t be determined until March 18-19.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to keep playing together and see if we can win another title,” Taylor Barbot said. “We want to keep winning, and we didn’t get to play the Federation last year. So we’re excited.”

Manhasset’s Park wins triple jump title

Continued from Page 40

Finally, when the last competitor failed to reach 46-11, Park could celebrate, though he said he was so surprised he won that he didn’t know how to celebrate Manhasset head coach Steve Steiner said he was stunned, too, but couldn’t be happier for his star, who oh-by-the-way has a 4.0 GPA and looks to be headed to University of Pennsylvania next year.

“What he did, improving by that much and winning a state title when he was the No. 7 seed, that just doesn’t happen,” Steiner said. “But Paul is such

a hard worker, and loves to achieve in everything he does, and we’re so proud of him. He absolutely earned this.”

“This is a kid who doesn’t miss a practice, doesn’t take days of, and always has a great attitude,” Renna added. “To see his hard work pay of was so awesome.”

Park wasn’t fnished after winning the triple jump; despite the pain in his heel “getting worse and worse every jump,” he competed in the long jump and fnished ffth, with a top leap of 22 feet, 5 inches.

“That probably wasn’t the best idea, to keep

jumping in the long jump,” he said. “By the end I could barely walk.”

Park’s journey into jumping started in seventh grade, when he frst joined the middle school track team. Beginning with the high jump, which he said he liked, he was asked to try the triple jump and long jump by Steiner when he joined the high school team in eighth grade.

Park said one of his frst-ever triple jumps was “like in the top 3 for middle schoolers in the state” that year, so he immediately knew he had a talent for it.

As he progressed over the years, Park said he began to love jumping, the challenges and the joys of it. Last spring he fnished in ffth in the triple jump (42’7″) and eighth in long jump (20’10.5″) in the outdoor states.

Now, he’s a champion, and he’s headed to Boston for New Balance National championships on March 11 to try to keep on winning.

“I’m hella motivated to do well at Nationals,” Park said. “If I can get Top 6 and become all-American, that would be awesome.”

One day, he may even grow to like sand.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREGORY SHEMITS/ST. MARY’S OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

The St. Mary’s girls basketball team, and a whole bunch of fans and school administrators, celebrate after the Gaels’ CHSAA state championship win on March 11 at Fordham University.

GoHealth Roslyn expands hours

Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care Roslyn now ofers late-night care, with new, expanded hours from 8 a.m. until midnight, seven days a week.

With the additional hours, Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care enhances its convenient, accessible ondemand care for families in Roslyn, and surrounding areas, Port Washington, Greenvale, Roslyn Heights, Manhasset and Albertson.

“By staying open late, we are increasing our delivery of care, when and where our community needs it,” said Vivek Taparia, NY market president. “We all know that sore throats, fevers, coughs and minor injuries can happen at any time. With our latenight hours, patients can receive care for any non-life threatening concerns until midnight, which could help avoid the emergency room or reduce the wait for important medical atten-

tion.”

To help patients access any necessary ongoing or follow-up treatment, the center’s healthcare experts can provide referrals to top Northwell Health specialists.

Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care Roslyn is located at 1033 Northern Blvd., just east of Searingtown Road/Port Washington Boulevard. Patients can save their spot online, or just walk into the center.

6

Herricks students in N.Y. state honor band

Herricks Middle School students Amelia Hsieh, Skylar Kiang, Allison Lee, Alejandro Santana, Claud Tung and Emma Wang were selected to perform in the New York State Band Directors Association Middle School Honor Band in Syracuse, NY on March 4.

The Herricks musicians were six of only 120 students from across New York state who were selected to participate. The middle school band members worked with the

Director of Wind Band Studies and Assistant Professor of Music at Penn State University Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin. Students participated in vigorous rehearsals on Friday and Saturday morning then performed a concert on Saturday afternoon.

A musical experience like this is something students will treasure and remember forever. Middle School Band Director Alicia Brown shares, “I love providing an experience

for our middle school students to meet with musicians across New York State that share the same excitement for music. I am impressed with the maturity of their music making and ability to create beautiful music with strangers in such a short period of time.”

The district is very proud of Amelia, Skylar, Allison, Alejandro, Claud and Emma and congratulates them on this wonderful accomplishment.

Awarded society scholarship Mineola honors 2 student athletes

Mineola Union Free School district congratulates Cathreen Paul on being selected as a National Honor Society (NHS) Scholarship semifnalist.

Cathreen is a senior at Mineola High School and a member of NHS. Recipients of this recognition are chosen based on the four pillars of NHS: scholarship, service, leadership, and character, all of which are refected in Cathleen’s exemplary dedication to scholastic and extracurricular endeavors.

“Cathreen has been an invaluable member of the Mineola Community whose impact on the school will last well beyond her graduation,” said school counselor Nicole Lebowitz. “Her selfess attitude is refected in all aspects of her life. She is constantly working to lift up those around her and sees success not as an individual goal, but as a collective mission.”

At Mineola High School, Cathreen has been a leader and trailblazer, while always fnding time to support the local community. As a junior, she founded the Asian American Cultural Alliance, providing a space for students to learn and embrace diverse culture. She has held leadership positions in the Student Organization, Key Club, Business Club and Student Service Center, where

she volunteered at Ronald McDonald House and provided peer to peer tutoring. As an active member of the Computer Science department, Cathleen served as President of Girls Who Code, Vice President of FRC Robotics and was an active board member of Science National Honor Society and

Computer Science Honor Society. As a junior, she was awarded the Aspirations in Computing Award from the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT). This fall, Cathreen plans to major in Computer Science and Business Management.

Mineola Union Free School District is proud to recognize two high school student athletes with the Reggie Carter Award, named in honor of the former Mineola High School administrator who left an indelible mark on the Mineola community.

Mineola High School junior A.J. DeRose and senior Chloe Jean-Noel have been named the 2023 recipients of the award, which is presented annually to student athletes who exhibit

outstanding leadership, sportsmanship and work ethic on and of the feld. Reggie Carter, who passed away from a heart attack in 1999 while serving as assistant principal at Mineola High School, was a former basketball star at St. John’s University who played professionally with the New York Knicks prior to joining Mineola. He is remembered fondly for his empathetic spirit, humility and dedication to all learners.

Mineola congratulates Cathreen Paul on being selected as a National Honor Society Scholarship semifinalist. NHS advisor Scott Donnellan, left, Cathreen Paul, NHS advisor Cynthia Lombardi and Mineola High School principal Nicole Culella, right.

Mineola High School junior A.J. DeRose and senior Chloe Jean-Noel are this year’s recipients of the Reggie Carter Award, named in honor of the former Mineola High School assistant principal.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Eighth grader Skylar Kiang, left, and seventh graders Emma Wang, Amelia Hsieh, Alejandro Santana, Claud Tung and Allison Lee, right, performed in the New York State Band Directors Association Middle School Honor Band in Syracuse on March 4.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MINEOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT

PHOTO COURTESY OF MINEOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT

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ronitberman@danielgale.com

ronitberman.danielgale.com