Roslyn 2023_03_24

Peters wins Roslyn Estates mayoral race

Incumbent challenged for 1st time during his 6-year tenure by Teichman

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Roslyn Estates Mayor Paul Peters was re-elected on March 21 to serve another term. The mayor was challenged for the first time in his tenure by candidate Todd Teichman, the only contested election in Roslyn.

Peters won with 250 votes, with Teichman trailing behind with 66 votes.

This will be Peter’s fourth term as mayor of Roslyn Estates. Peters has been Roslyn Estate’s mayor for the past six years. 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. He works in medical sales for 25 years.

One of Peter’s main goals as mayor in this upcoming term is to continue fighting against Gov. Kathy Hochul’s housing plan, he said.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.

Roslyn Estates residents also voted for two trustees, with Susan Rubinstein and Brett Auerbach running unopposed for re-election. Both trustees were re-

elected, with 220 and 203 votes, respectively. The village had five write-ins for the trustee positions, all of which received a singular vote.

Overall, 316 total votes were cast in Roslyn Estate’s election.

Roslyn and East Hills also held elections on Tuesday.

In Roslyn, Mayor John Durkin, Trustee Sarah Oral and Trustee Marta Genovese all ran for re-election unopposed. Durkin received 58 votes, Oral 50 votes and Genovese 54 votes. There were no write-in votes.

In East Hills, Mayor Michael Koblenz, Trustees Brian Meyerson, Trustee Stacey Siegel and Village Justice Howard Jaslow ran unopposed for reelection. All were re-elected.

The Mayor received 237 votes, Meyerson received 248 votes, Siegel received 240 votes and Jaslow received 238 votes.

In a debate on Sunday, Peters and candidate Todd Teichman, who are vying for the village’s mayoral position, debated Sunday about the village code and community initiatives.

The League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset hosted the hour-long debate, which was requested by Peters, in the East Hills Village Courtroom at 3 p.m. About 50 people

Continued on Page 47

New map gives Dems in county big edge

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Democratic enrollment outweighs Republicans in 15 of the 19 recently approved Nassau County legislative districts, a data analysis

done by Blank Slate Media shows.

The Legislature voted 11-7 to adopt a map presented by the majority caucus on Feb. 27. Districts 1-7, 9-11, 13, 14, 16-18 all had more registered Democratic voters in 2022

than Republicans, according to data obtained by Blank Slate Media. The map was last redrawn in 2013. Democratic officials have chastised Republicans for their lack

Continued on Page 48

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROSLYN SCHOOL DISTRICT Kindergarten students making their purchases at the Heights Supermarket. See story on page 46.

DeSena accuses town Dems of ‘sabotaging’ her

Claim follows 2nd failed sewer project vote

BY BRANDON DUFFY

North Hempstead Supervisor

Jennifer DeSena said Democratic majority Town Board members are “committed to sabotaging” her administration following the second failed vote to allocate $3.1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to the second phase of the Manhasset sewer project.

NYCLU files order to obtain NCPD reports

Police dept. fails to provide misconduct and personnel docs

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

The New York Civil Liberties Union fled an order to show cause against the Nassau County Police Department last week in its ongoing efforts to obtain misconduct and personnel records.

The organization requested access to the department’s disciplinary records, use of force, feld interviews, civilian complaints and investigative reports, among others through a Freedom of Information Law request in 2020, according to court documents.

The police department has denied the requests despite the repeal of Civil Rights Law 50-a in 2020, which permitted police departments from disclosing misconduct and other personnel records.

Bobby Hodgson, supervising at-

torney for the New York Civil Liberties Union, told Blank Slate Media that the police department was ordered by the Nassau County Supreme Court to turn over disciplinary records after June of 2020 within 60 days from the order handed down on May 2, 2022.

Eforts to reach a representative from the police department for comment were unavailing.

Hodgson said the organization is requesting the police department to produce all of the documents requested in the New York Civil Liberties Union’s initial Freedom of Information Law request after the repeal of 50-a.

State Supreme Court Justice Roy S. Mahon denied the union’s motion to mandate the department provide all of the misconduct data requested prior to September 2020, when 50-a was repealed.

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Obtaining these records from the police department, Hodgson said, is the frst step needed to provide transparency to the public and determine if real change is needed in Nassau and other municipalities in New York.

“Turning these records over is the frst necessary step in having any sort of informed public discussion about what police accountability looks like in Nassau County,” Hodgson told Blank Slate Media. “In a world where these records are secret, the public knows zero about how the police [department] police[s] themselves.”

Hodgson also discussed the importance of having oversight for policing, such as New York City’s Citizen Complaint Review Board, an independent agency that probes into alleged misconduct reported by residents.

Continued on Page 47

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“It’s sad to see a group of elected ofcials who are so committed to sabotaging my administration that they are willing to sacrifce the future of our Manhasset business district in the process,” DeSena, a Republican, said in a statement Tuesday.

Matthew Donno, co-president of the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce, which has spearheaded the sewer project, said he too believed the proposal was not being considered on its merits.

“There’s a lot of politics in this and I still haven’t gotten to the reason behind it,” Donno said. “Why couldn’t you commit to just putting it into an account? You’re not committing to spending it at this time.”

Council Member Veronica Lurvey, a Democrat, said in a statement she’s committed to the best use of the funds for the town while accusing the supervisor of creating “political noise.”

“Enough already. The most basic facts about this project.m are unknown. Who will receive the money? How will it be spent? What controls will be in place? Is this a legally appropriate use of the funds?

These are critically important questions to which there are no concrete answers,” Lurvey said.“My priority is and has always been allocating $3 million in a prudent way that best serves the Town. There should be no favoritism or politics at play. Our residents are sick and tired of petty squabbles. They want results, and it’s our job to deliver — in a responsible way, ignoring all the political noise and interference that the Supervisor keeps injecting with her coordinated attacks,” she continued.

DeSena and the four town Democrats have frequently clashed since she took ofce in January 2022 over a wide range of issues including the town Building Department, appointments to a town ethics board and the section of a town comptroller.

During the meeting Tuesday, the Town Board split 3-3 along party lines on a resolution to transfer the federal funds from the town’s general fund to the capital fund. Republicans voted for the funding and Democrats voted against it.

“Our businesses, our residents, our environment, and the future of our Continued on Page 48

EDITORIAL:

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PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The New York Civil Liberties Union filed an order to show cause against the Nassau County Police Department in an effort to obtain personnel and misconduct records last week.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS Plandome Road in Manhasset

County not ready for reassessment

Nassau Comptroller Elaine Phillips said office is still addressing issues with properties

BY BRANDON DUFFY

Nassau Comptroller Elaine Philips said there is still more work to be done when it comes to fixing the county’s long-troubled assessment system.

“If the County Executive Blakeman were to ask me if we should do a reassessment right now, I would say no,” Philips said during the March meeting for the New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce. “We have to learn from our mistakes and we are not ready yet.”

Philips was speaking at Umberto’s during the March 16 meeting on the fiscal health of Nassau and the ongoing complexities of the county’s property tax assessments.

The comptroller, elected in 2021 as a Republican, largely detailed the findings and conclusions from the audit she released earlier this year on the property reassessment.

Philips found in her yearlong audit of the reassessment of Nassau’s 386,000 residential and 37,000 commercial properties in 2018 that the county relied on “flawed data.”

Philips said the Department of Assessment had not fixed property information and data weaknesses before the reassessment ordered by then County Executive Laura Curran

in 2017. She also said the five-year phase-in of assessment changes led to additional distortions.

Tax rolls had been frozen the previous eight years under her predecessor, Ed Mangano.

tently reviewing and updating data for properties, allocating sufficient time to performing quality control reviews of property valuations, maintaining a clear audit trail and maintaining accurate physical descriptions of properties.

“We are making sure that we are training assessors so we are getting better-quality looks at each property,” Philips said on the ongoing work that’s been done with the county. “When you get good data in, you can get good data out.”

During that period, thousands of residents filed grievances on the value of their homes, winning reduced assessments and shifting the tax burden onto others who did not challenge their assessments.

A Newsday report from 2019 showed some $2.7 billion in property taxes were shifted over the eight years and people who did not challenge their property taxes were assessed at a level 29.2% greater than those who did.

Philips said since the audit was released, her office and the county’s department of assessment have been working on recommendations made in the report, which include consis-

Curran re-implemented the freeze for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2023 tax years, citing financial instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In February, Blakeman froze the tax rolls for the third year in a row.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ISLAND 360 ARCHIVES

Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Philips.

“We are making sure that we are training assessors so we are getting better-quality looks at each property...When you get good data in, you can get good data out.”

— Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Philips

Video claiming ‘covert’ agenda roils meet

Ultra-conservative group posting shows ex-E.W. assistant superintendent make controversial comments

BY JOSEPH D'ANDREA

More than 100 people attended the East Williston Board of Education meeting Monday as some angry residents voiced their concerns over recently surfaced statements made by a former district official.

David Casamento, an assistant superintendent for the East Meadow school district who has since been reassigned, made controversial comments about how Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, or DEI, are taught in Nassau County schools.

Casamento was a director of technology in East Williston until he left the district in 2017.

Over a dozen attendees approached the board while parents and other East Williston residents made it clear that they lack trust in the board, which has yet to open an investigation into the “covert” agenda Casamento claimed to have pushed in an undercover video released by the non-profit journalism enterprise Project Veritas March 8.

Project Veritas is an ultra-conservative group that has gained notoriety for recording undercover videos and releasing deceptively edited versions of them.

According to a Project Veritas video posted on Instagram, comments made by Casamento included: “I think I said this before, but people don’t give up power, you have to take it from them…you stop hiring those types of people [conservatives]…we created a whole rubric for hiring in light of DEI.”

The video continues, showing him saying: “It’s all secret. So, I would rank them [conservatives] so low [in their interview process] that their score couldn’t possibly raise them up to the level of moving on to the cabinet.”

The video on Project Veritas’ profile, which as over 1.4 million followers on Instagram, has garnered over 622,000 plays.

Some teachers and parents agreed that Project Veritas’ video had been edited, simply highlighting the most revealing comments, but a

number of parents were nevertheless outraged.

East Williston parent Ellie Konstantatos was among those who attended the meeting to condemn the board.

“This school district has the responsibility to step in the shoes of the parents,” she said. “We do not feel comfortable sending our children to a school where we’re finding [inappropriate books about sexuality] again and again. And I do believe that Project Veritas does clip and piece their videos together, but what was said was said, and

we have to know that our school district is safe and secure for all of us, not just a specific few.”

Andrea Gallo, a parent and longtime resident of East Williston, expressed her frustration with the DEI initiative, which she claimed teaches children that they are “either racist or anti-racist — no in-between.”

“Diversity is my life,” she said, “my children are 50% Russian and 50% Italian, and we celebrate all of the Catholic and Jewish holidays faithfully…why does [Casamento] support a speaker who would promote racial activism? What if a student didn’t want to be an activist? My kid couldn’t care less; he just wants to play baseball. That’s all his mind is on. Give him a break.”

Gallo continued: “I resent and am deeply upset that this person is guiding the minds of our children and can make such a presumption about the community they serve stop judging, be open-minded, lead with kindness and believe in the best in people and the community that you serve. Leave behind the negative, judgmental approach.”

Meryl Fordin, a physical education teacher at North Side School in East Williston called for the board to affirm its support for the district’s faculty and staff.

“The teachers and support staff in East Williston are committed to making sure all students are welcomed, supported, respected and provided with every opportunity to learn and thrive,” she said.

Continued on Page 47

SCREENCAP BY JOSEPH D’ANDREA

A resident speaks to the East Williston Board of Education on Monday.

Elderly N. Hills woman targeted in $49K scam

BY CAMERYN OAKES

An 85-year-old woman in North Hills was scammed out of $49,000 by a man claiming to work for Microsoft, according to Nassau County Police.

The unknown man instructed the woman to transfer the money through her local bank branch to another bank account that he had provided for her. Once done, he then told her to send him a copy of her driver’s license and a bank receipt of the transfer to a phone number he gave her.

The woman was targeted while she was on her computer at home and prompted to call a phone number.

Nassau County Police were unable to pro-

vide additional information and had not responded to a request for comment by the time of publication.

Another elderly scam was reported by the Nassau County Police Department Feb. 22.

The victim, an 82-year-old woman in Westbury, was swindled out of $9,400 by a man she believed was her grandson. The man said he was arrested and needed the money to pay for a lawyer.

The woman agreed to meet with the man to give him the money. Afterward, her grandson informed her he was not arrested.

In the Feb. 24 press release about the Westbury incident, the police told residents to be on alert and reminded vulnerable community members about scams.

Holocaust survivors reunite after 76 years

The three gathered at Young Israel of New Hyde Park, coming from N.J., Queens, Melville

BY BRANDON DUFFY

Three Holocaust survivors reconnected for the frst time in 76 years Sunday at Young Israel of New Hyde Park as about 100 people gathered for the historic reunion.

Michael Epstein of Fair Lawn, N.J.; Abe Rosenberg of Queens; and his sister Ada Gracin of Melville, L.I., were children at Feldafng displaced persons camp in Germany.

Feldafng was the frst all-Jewish DP camp and was originally a summer camp for Hitler Youth, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It sat 20 miles southwest of Munich and held about 4,000 Jewish people in 1946, dropping to 1,585 Jewish DPs by Passover 1951. It was closed in March 1953 by the German government, which was given control in 1951.

“Although we lacked many things, I never felt deprived,” said Gracin, 87, according to Newsday. “The survivors cherished each child as if they were theirs. We were precious jewels to them as many had lost their own children. I felt comforted to have my small family together. No more fear of being separated. No more fear of my parents being arrested.”

Both families were at the Feldafng camp.

Epstein and Rosenberg were brought together by a videographer for the “Names Not Numbers” project, an oral Holocaust history flm and curriculum program created by educator Tova Fish-Rosenberg.

The videographer who was working with Epstein for an interview on the project realized he had seen the same photograph from Feldafing last year when working on parts of the program featuring Rosenberg.

“It’s a miracle,” Epstein told Newsday. “It’s unbelievable actually. Not only the connection, but also that we went to [the same college], we

Young Israel of New Hyde Park.

worked together without knowing each other and we each have nice families.”

Both families came to New York in 1949, with Epstein’s settling in the Bronx and Rosenberg’s in Brooklyn, and both men are graduates

of City College of New York. Avigayil Geller, Epstein’s granddaughter, told Newsday her grandfather’s story lets him connect with the past to this day. “My grandfather doesn’t have any fam-

ily other than his parents and one cousin who survived the Holocaust,” she said. “By creating awareness and sharing his story, he’s able to reconnect with people [he knew back then] … It’s really meaningful to see that.”

Gemach spreads loving kindness globally

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Floral Park resident Mark Krieger’s altruism has grown from aiding Long Island’s Jewish community to providing clothing, supplies and acts of kindness on a global scale.

Beautiful Memories Gemach, located at Young Israel of New Hyde Park, has been in service for 11 years and ofers formal clothing for those who are unable to aford retail prices. The Hebrew word “Gemach,” he said, is an acronym for “gemilut chasadim,” loosely translated to “acts of loving kindness.”

Krieger said the idea to establish Beautiful Memories Gemach came when he was volunteering at a clothing pantry for the homeless in Hempstead. After starting Beautiful Memories Gemach with some small donations of dress clothes for men, women and children, he has become a charitable force to be reckoned with as the source of hundreds of gowns, suits, tuxedos and other formal wear.

While the gemach’s initial goal was targeted to aid the Jewish community of Long Island, Krieger has expanded his service to provide clothes to all communities in Long Island and beyond.

“This is the largest high-end clothing gemach in the United States,” Krieger said in an interview with Blank Slate Media. “We probably service, worldwide and locally, about 20,000 people.”

After more than a decade serving the community alongside his wife, Beth, Krieger said giving back to the community and preserving the memories of loved ones who have passed on is their motivation.

“We just want to help people,” Krieger said. “We’re not motivated by money.”

Serving the homeless community of New York and Long Island, he said, also includes providing them with specifc clothing and personal hygiene products. The gemach, he said, also enables people to shop the clothing and pay “a fraction of

a fraction of a fraction of what the clothing’s true value is.”

Since the gemach is not a nonproft organization, he said, the profts made from sales go directly to the synagogue that houses the 2,500-square-foot operation. Krieger said the organization will be teaming up with Gold Coast Rotary Club during the global group’s annual service day on May 21.

The special event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., he said.

While being fooded with highend clothing, Krieger is looking for more volunteers to pitch in and help spread the acts of loving kindness. Having people volunteer their Sundays and Mondays to help set up and organize the clothes at the synagogue, he said, would be an incredible help.

Those interested in volunteering, donating or participating in any capacity can visit beautifulmemoriesgemach.org or call Krieger directly at 917-703-4694.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

PHOTO FROM THE ISLAND 360 ARCHIVES

Floral Park resident and Beautiful Memories Gemach founder Mark Krieger.

LIU, NCC join forces, back Sands casino

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Nassau County Community College and Long Island University have joined forces with Las Vegas Sands to develop a hospitality program for students as the casino operator seeks approval for opening an entertainment center at the Nassau Coliseum site.

The partnership between the two colleges will allow students to advance their two-year associate’s degree into a four-year bachelor’s degree, ofcials said. The program, according to Sands ofcials, would be benefcial to graduates seeking to pursue a variety of hospitality roles.

“Sands believes in the power of true partnership and we strive to create an environment of collaboration around all of our developments,” Sands Vice President Ron Reese said in a statement. “We are extraordinarily proud to be working with Long Island University and Nassau Community College to build a world-class hospitality program, creating new pathways to success for Long Islanders.”

Long Island University President Kimberly Cline said the college was proud to work with Sands to aid future students in achieving academic excellence on Long Island. Long Island University, through the partnership, will look for approval for additional bachelor’s and master’s degree oferings to support careers in hospitality management and culinary arts, ofcials said.

“The creation of new studies specializing in hospitality management and culinary arts will ofer unparalleled experiential learning and access to professional opportunities that will launch students to successful careers,” Cline said.

Nassau Community College said it will be serving as a training hub for potential Sands employees and that the collaboration between the two would be contingent on the Sands gaining approval to develop their multibillion- dollar entertainment center at the site of the Nassau Coliseum and the surrounding area known as the Nassau Hub.

“Sands believes in the power of true partnership and we strive to create an environment of collaboration around all of our developments,” Reese said in a statement. “We are extraordinarily proud to be working with Long Island University and Nassau Community College to build a world-class hospitality program, creating new pathways to success for Long Islanders,” Nassau Community College Acting Vice President Maria Conzatti said in a statement.

Sands’ previous partnerships with educational institutes include Northampton Community College in Pennsylvania and University of Las Vegas in Nevada. The company also established a $1 million scholarship program in Singapore to promote careers in hospitality.

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 Blankha Slate Media in January the hotel will have at least 800 rooms, the live performance venue will have a 5,000-7,500 seat capacity and there will be roughly 400,000 square feet of “corporate meeting facilities” to go along with other amenities.

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.

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

“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 ft in with the local look and architecture.”

Hofstra University, which also borders the proposed site like Nassau Community College, released a letter opposing the Sands’ plan last week.

“The Nassau Hub is an entirely inappropriate location for a casino,” Hofstra trustees said in their letter. “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.”

Some Nassau residents have also made their opposition to the plans heard in recent days, including the Lakeville Estates Civic Association. The group, based out of New Hyde Park, said that 218 of its members voted to oppose the plans for a casino.

A total of 266 members cast ballots, with four abstaining, according to the group’s Facebook post on Monday. Dozens also rallied outside the Nassau County Legislative Building in Mineola on Monday to oppose the proposal.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER SOLOMON

Sands Vice President Ron Reese, right, speaks on the partnership with Long Island University and Nassau Community College.

E. Williston ranked in top 100 places to live

Niche also lists Herricks, four Great Neck villages as among best in New York, nationally

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Great Neck Gardens was ranked as the 10thbest place to live in America by Niche Monday, headlining the six North Shore areas to crack the list’s top 100.

The hamlet of Great Neck Gardens ranked as the best place to live in New York, followed by Great Neck Plaza and Herricks in the second and third spots, respectively. Great Neck Plaza was ranked as the 13th-best place to live in America and Herricks was ranked as the 22nd-best.

The Village of Kensington was ranked No. 5 in New York and No. 27 in America, Lake Success was No. 6 in the state and No. 55 in the country and East Williston was No. 10 in New York and No. 82 in the nation, according to the list.

Factors taken into account when creating the rankings included quality of local schools, safety, affordability, higher education rate, cost of living grade, crime and safety grade, housing grade, family amenities, percentage of households with children, weather and air quality, walkability, and percentage of households with children, among other categories, according to Niche.

Kensington was ranked as the best place in New York to raise a family, with Lake Success coming in at No. 3, Great Neck Gardens at No. 4, East Hills at No. 6, Herricks at No. 7, Searingtown at No. 10, Great Neck Plaza at No. 11, Roslyn Heights at No. 12, East Williston at No. 13 and Manhasset at No. 15.

On the “Best Places to Raise a Family in New York,” North Shore areas comprise nearly a third of the entries, with 32 areas represented. Factors considered for the rankings included cost of liv-

ing grade, higher education rates, housing, quality of local schools, diversity, crime and safety, jobs, nightlife, walkability, outdoor activities, weather and short commutes, among others, according to Niche.

The Great Neck School District was ranked

as Niche’s top school district throughout New York for the second consecutive year in 2022, with four others in Nassau County among the top 10. The other local districts ranked highly by Niche included No. 4 Rosly), No. 7 Herricks, No.

9 Manhasset and No. 10 East Williston. Nationally, Great Neck was ranked as the third-best school district in the country, Roslyn was ranked as No. 6, Herricks came in at No. 20, Manhasset was ranked as No. 35 and East Williston was ranked

WILLIAM

J ALLSBROOK Jr

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as No. 37.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

Great Neck Plaza was named as one of the best places to live in New York by Niche.

Casale upbeat about school budget proposal

BY JOSEPH D'ANDREA

The Mineola Board of Education gave a promising budget update on Thursday, presenting information about what is expected to be adopted in April, the progress of capital projects and how several aspects of the budget compare to that of past years.

The tentative 2023-2024 spending plan is $109.7 million, which represents a 0.32% decrease from last year.

Andrew Casale, assistant superintendent for business and operations reported the decrease is mostly related to a smaller transfer to capital.

The tax levy in the tentative budget is $85.5 million, which is a 1% increase and falls below the maximum tax levy increase of 1.74%

Revenues show an increase for next year, “especially with our interest earnings by investing in New York Class,” which amounts to $391,000 since the end of November. Mineola’s fve-year average was highlighted as optimistic during the presentation compared to Nassau County’s fve-year average of “a conservative” 1.91%.

“[Mineola’s] at 1%, with a fve-year average of 1.09%,” said Casale. “You can see a sharp difference there, and it’s impressive, I think.” He went on to say that the averages will decrease in all probability as the tightening of budgets before adoption will most likely occur.

Mineola’s budgets over the last decade was featured in the presentation, showing a 10-year average of 1.11% for the educational plan and budget, which was stated to be “ffth lowest in the county.”

Superintendent Michael Nagler said this can be directly attributed to the closing of two schools in the district 14 years ago and “reinvesting the money back into the school system… we have very fat numbers and we do a ton of capital work. Prior to that, we didn’t do any-

The tentative budget for the upcoming fiscal year is presented on Thursday, March 16.

thing.”

Speaking on state aid, Casale said “Not much has changed in the last two weeks with state aid, which is a good thing because as I reported last time, we had lost $181,000 overnight. So we’re holding strong with our state aid and I don’t anticipate any major changes from now until the adoption, which we’re scheduled to do on April 4 when the governor hopefully

releases her budget on time.”

“The set-aside is in our state aid number and projections right now,” he continued. “Either way, we’re getting that state aid, it’s just whether that restriction stays in place or not. But again, we got a nice increase in state aid at $2.7 million, which does not include pre-K since that’s not general fund money.”

At this time, the board has about $8.5 mil-

lion in the budget for capital projects. It is hoped Mineola’s current middle school project will be completed for $8 million instead of the previous estimate of $8.5 million, in which the remaining $500,000 would be used for the Synergy Cafe and parking lot project, which began on March 17.

Casale spoke on the board’s intentions to alter their approach.

“We hope that this $8 million that we have set aside—we have to think like this now because the prices have gone up so much—is enough for Phase One, so we need to set aside this [$2.5 million] to continue moving forward with this middle school project,” he said.

We’re trying to come up with a way to do the foundation work as early as this summer, and then we’d be able to completely change how we bid the project for hopefully a Thanksgiving opening bid or start date,” he continued.

Nagler expanded on this.

“Hopefully, [the plan] is cost-efective, but it buys us more time to make interest, which we’ve been doing very well on, and it moves us in the right direction to get at least the foundation work done,” he said.

Nagler said he plans on rebidding the project which will include the cafeteria, kitchen and gym and reminded the public that there’s a third phase that will see even more work done throughout the building.

Also noted was a signifcant increase in health and dental benefts, the total salary and the total benefts “buckets” up over 5%.

“I don’t anticipate any major changes once again,” Casale said. “We hope that the governor adopts on time, and if not, I still think that we’re going to adopt on April 4 because we’re in a really good spot and don’t see anything moving that drastically.”

Weber appointed as East Hills ZBA alternate

BY CAMERYN OAKES

East Hills Mayor Michael Koblenz, with the approval of the board of trustees, appointed Bram Weber as an alternate member to the village’s zoning board of appeals on Tuesday.

Bram Weber is a partner at Weber Law Group LLP, where his practice focuses on commercial real estate development law. He received a bachelor of arts in history and American studies from Brandeis University in 1997, and his juris doctor degree from Hofstra University Law School in 2000.

Weber is replacing the ZBA’s former alternate Andrew Crabtree in the wake of his resignation. An alternate member of the board will serve in the instance that a member is unable to attend.

The zoning board of appeals reviews applicants’ appeals to a decision made by the village’s architectural review board regarding their application. The ZBA is capable of reversing, afrming or modifying a decision made by the architectural review board.

The zoning board of appeals is scheduled to convene at 5:30 p.m. on April 20.

PHOTO BY JOSEPH D’ANDREA

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAM BURTON

Bram Weber appointed by Mayor Michael Koblenz as an alternate member on the EastHill’s zoning board of appeals.

N.Y. Community Bank to buy Signature assets

BY BRANDON DUFFY

New York Community Bank Sunday agreed to buy a large portion of Manhattan-based Signature Bank, which state regulators closed last week, for $2.7 billion, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

As of Monday, March 20, Signature’s 40 branches, which includes one in Great Neck, will begin operating as Flagstar bank, a subsidiary of New York Community Bank.

Signature customers will not need to make any changes to their banking as part of the change, according to the FDIC.

Included in the deal is $38.4 billion of Signature’s assets, which also accounts for $12.9 billion in loans and was over a third of the bank’s total assets when it collapsed. The FDIC will maintain receivership, a court-appointed mechanism to help creditors recover funds, of approximately $60 billion in loans that will be sold at a later date, according to a press release.

The Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America, which includes New York-based bank IDB Bank, Apple Bank, Signature, Popular Bank, and New York Community Bank, among others, asked the FDIC to fully insure all deposits over the next two years, as reported by Bloomberg News.

Signature is the second bank to fail in recent weeks, following Silicon Valley Bank in California, which had its assets seized by regulators after depositors hurried to withdraw money after fear and concerns over the banks’ health.

Signature’s collapse, which has offices in New York, Connecticut, California, Nevada

and North Carolina, is the third largest in U.S. banking history, according to multiple reports.

The Town of North Hempstead has $1.2 million in deposits with Signature, which the town has used a restricted reserve fund with

since 2010, according to Supervisor Jennifer DeSena. The supervisor added last week that there is no reason to believe any taxpayer funds are in jeopardy as part of the collapse.

The collapse is estimated to cost the FDIC’s

Deposit Insurance Fund approximately $2.5 billion, paid for by assessments on banks and interest earned on funds invested in U.S. government obligations, which will be specified once the receivership is terminated.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Signature Bank at 261 Madison Ave in Manhattan.

Town board down sewer on Plandome Rd.

For those watching the Town of North Hempstead, the dispute over allocating $3.1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money is deja vu all over again.

In this case, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, a Republican, has proposed that the money be used to pay for the second phase of a project to provide sewers to the downtown businesses along Plandome Road in Manhasset.

The project, fve years in the planning but overdue by about 40 years, is supported by civic associations, the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce, DeSena and board Republicans.

In January, Democrat Councilmember Veronica Lurvey said she, too, was a longtime supporter of the project

But she and the other members of the Town Board’s Democratic majority said they needed more information before voting to allocate the money.

“This is a good project and the ARPA funds are uniquely suited for a project like this,” Lurvey said. “But there are still many unanswered questions about the project.”

So what happened at the board’s March meeting held last week?

Same thing. Further delay with almost the same words spoken.

“The most basic facts about this project are unknown,” Lurvey said in a statement to Blank Slate Media. “Who will receive the money? How will it be spent? What controls will be in place? Is this a legally appropriate use of the funds? These are critically important questions to which there are no concrete answers.”

Why exactly have the Democrats been unable to get the answers during this time? We don’t know.

And what assurances do we have that Town Board Democrats won’t have the same problem the next time they consider the funding at their April 4 meeting?

DeSena blamed the delay on politics.

The Democratic majority Town Board members are “committed to sabotaging” her administration, she said in a statement to Blank Slate Media.

“It’s sad to see a group of elected ofcials who are so committed to sabotaging my administration that they are willing

to sacrifce the future of our Manhasset business district in the process,” she continued.

DeSena has a good point about the politics but doesn’t exactly have clean hands either.

She and the four town Democrats have frequently clashed since she took offce in January 2022 over a wide range of issues, including the town Building Department, appointments to a town ethics board and the selection of a town comptroller.

But she does have a good point about the cost of the Town Board’s delay for approving a badly needed project.

Imagine, the main business district in Manhasset, one of the most afuent communities in New York, relies on cesspools in the year 2023.

Matt Donno, co-president of the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce, which has spearheaded the project, said businesses along Plandome Road can pay as much as $50,000 to $70,000 annually to pump their septic systems. And some may have to spend upwards of $500,000 in a year to maintain the system.

The project would allow Plandome business owners to convert to a pump system that Donno said would connect to each building and essentially pump the water down a sewer line to the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District, where it would be treated.

Supporters point out that the cesspools also pose an environmental threat, especially to the water quality of Manhasset Bay.

So delaying the project has a real cost.

The project received a kick-start in April 2022 when state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti, a Democrat, helped get a $5 million state grant for the frst phase of the project. The $3.1 million is for the second phase.

DeSena is not without blame in playing politics with the ARPA money, federal funds approved by Democrats in Congress without the vote of a single Republican in response to COVID.

In November 2022, shortly before the election, she held a press conference with Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman to announce that $9 million

MEDIA LLC

would be allocated toward fve diferent infrastructure projects in the town using the ARPA money. This included the Plandome Road project

She said at the press conference she had allocated $3.1 million to connect Plandome Road businesses in Manhasset to a public sewer system, $2 million for sidewalk replacement along Westbury Avenue in Carle Place, $1 million for rehabilitation of the 8th and Asbury Ballfelds in Carle Place, $1.76 million for Sunset Park improvements in Port Washington, and $1.2 million for Fuschillo Park improvements in Carle Place.

The only problem is that the Town Board had not voted on the use of the money – as is required by law. And DeSena had not even notifed town Democrats about the press conference.

That did not sit well with Lurvey or her fellow Democrats.

Lurvey declared that “North Hempstead is not a dictatorship” and that the allocation of the money needed to be approved.

She then set a Nov. 17 hearing date to consider allocating the money. The board approved the $2 million for sidewalks in Westbury and $445,919 for the Port Washington Public Parking District at the meeting, a second grant for Port Washington.

But not for the Plandome Road proj-

ect or the other two projects.

The Plandome Road project was instead postponed for the board’s January meeting, which was postponed again to the March hearing date and now to an April hearing date.

Brian Devine, a spokesman for DeSena, said the town was awarded the ARPA money this past summer after the town sent an “application to the Treasury Department that identifed the projects we were looking to utilize the funds on.”

He said DeSena identifed a number of long-delayed projects “that would be kick-started by this infusion of funds but did not consult with the Democratic majority in submitting the project.

“There was no stipulation dictating board involvement prior to submission. As with any spending item, the board weighs in when it comes before them,” DeVine said.

“At this point, to allocate it to something other than what the Treasury Department approved would probably require further conversations with the Treasury,” Devine said in an earlier email to Blank Slate Media.

Really? DeVine is legally correct but politically foolish.

Under state law, funding decisions must be made by a majority of the Town Board – not the supervisor.

This is a system that when the major-

ity of the Town Board is of the same party as the supervisor, things usually go along smoothly.

But when the supervisor is not of the same party? Well, welcome to North Hempstead. Especially when DeSena is keeping Democrats out of the loop on important projects.

Is the delay in approving the money for the second phase of the Plandome Road project payback for her keeping them out of the application process for the money?

Was DeSena excluding the Democrats from the application process in retaliation for the Democrats blocking her picks for the Town Ethics Board and other steps that the town supervisor has complained about?

We will let our readers decide that question.

But, in the meantime, needed funding for an important town project sits in limbo.

“There’s a lot of politics in this and I still haven’t gotten to the reason behind it,” Donno said last week. “Why couldn’t you commit to just putting it into an account? You’re not committing to spending it at this time.”

We agree.

DeSena and town Democrats need to drop the gloves for a moment and approve a long-needed project.

What being a kid in America is like today

One matter that I wish I did not feel the need to write about as often as I do is school shootings. Each successive deadly assault begins to feel less and less shocking, if no less horrifying. In the frst six weeks of 2023 alone, there have been 71 mass shootings. By the time this column is in print, that number is likely to rise.

For many parents, their greatest fear today is dropping their kids of at the schoolhouse door.

After a while the mass shootings start to blend in as enduring monuments in our collective psyche. We must guard against complacency and psychic numbing, as we face the risk of mass shootings becoming the “new normal.” What keeps us honest, I believe, are the harrowing and heartbreaking stories that survivors tell us.

By now you may have heard about Trey Louis, the 20-year-old singer who appeared on American Idol on Feb. 26. Immediately follow-

ing his performance of “Stone” by Whiskey Myers, he disclosed to the audience and the judges that he was a school shooting survivor at Santa Fe High School in Texas on May 18, 2018. He dedicated the song to the memory of his best friend Christopher Jake Stone, who was killed that day.

“A gunman walked into my school,” Louis recalled. “I was in art room one, and he shot up art room two before he made his way to art room one. I lost a lot of friends.” Eight students and two teachers died from gunshot wounds. Ten more were injured.

Singer-songwriter Katy Perry, one of the American Idol judges, blanketed her face with her outstretched hands. Then a sobbing and enraged Perry, the mother of a two-year-old daughter, forcefully asserted: “Our country has failed us. This is not OK. You should be singing here because you love music, not because you had

to go through that. You didn’t have to lose friends [and] you know what?

I’m scared too.”

I watched the video on a news program hosted by Nicolle Wallace, mother of an eight-year-old son and anchor of MSNBC’s “Deadline White

ON THE RIGHT

House.” Wallace implored her viewers to listen more carefully to America’s children to better understand the paces they are being put through in school just to survive, to stay alive.

After she replayed the video Wallace, a former White House Communications Director for President George W. Bush, walked viewers through what it must be like for children of diferent ages and developmental stages to go through active shooter drills. What she ofered was simply stated, yet exceedingly profound. It bears repeating:

“There are so many young people out there going about their lives who have survived school shootings,” began Wallace, “I wonder if we need to listen to them more, ask them what it is like to have been raised from the age of three.

“And for anyone who doesn’t have a little kid, active shooter drills change,” she continued, “So when you’re three sometimes they tell the

kids to pretend there is a wolf in the hallway. If there is a window on the door, they lower the shade and they play a game like they are hiding from an animal.

“When you’re fve, six or seven they change the game and they tell you, you’re hiding from a bad man or bad person.

“By the time you’re 10 or 11 you know about Uvalde; most of you know about Newtown and you know you’re hiding from someone who might come into the school and shoot it up.

“And, then when you’re in HS,” Wallace pointed out, “lots of you fght to keep your phones in the classroom so you can send those text messages that we all cover when an active shooting that takes place in a school happens, with the heartbreaking messages from kids in the classroom watching their friends die.

“That is what being a kid in America is like today.”

Gov. Hochul’s nightmare dream book

In conjunction with her State of the State address Jan. 10, Gov. Kathy Hochul released a 276-page book titled “Achieving the New York Dream.”

Calling this work a “book” is a bit of a stretch. It’s more like a term paper. Each page has wide margins, large print, and far fewer words than found in a real book.

But whatever one calls it, the proposals contained therein are a taxpayer’s nightmare.

“Achieving the New York Dream” is a compendium of ideologically driven schemes, that if implemented, would further accelerate the out-migration fight of upper- and middleclass folks.

One of Hochul’s plans, the “New York Housing Compact,” should concern every Long Island homeowner.

The governor makes the dubious claim that more people want to live in New York than there are homes.

Really?

Census Bureau statistics tell a different story. From July 2021 to July 2022, the state lost on a net basis 299,557 people. Only California did worse with 343,230 feeing.

In calendar year 2022, a record-

breaking 62,577 New Yorkers packed their bags and moved to Florida. In 2021, the number skipping town was 61,728.

And if taxes, regulations, utility costs, and crime continue to go up, the exodus will continue and there will be municipal deserts throughout the state with plenty of homes for sale or abandoned.

However, for the sake of argument, let’s go with Hochul’s housing assumption despite her faulty reasoning.

To increase construction Hochul would impose on municipalities “targets” (a/k/a quotas) “for new home creation on a three-year cycle.”

While municipalities “will have discretion on how to meet their new home targets,” the state will monitor them. When judging the localities, the number of afordable housing units built “will be assigned extra weight.”

To force the development of multi-family housing in neighborhoods near railroad stations, localities will be compelled to rezone areas around transit stops.

Big Brother in Albany will also establish a statewide database to track the progress of municipalities.

If municipalities fail to meet their targets, the state will override the will of the local elected ofcials and impose rezoning regulations. Town supervisors and mayors will be dragged before a state housing approval board and ordered to comply with Albany dictates.

Hochul wants to fulfll the longtime progressive dream: destroy suburbia.

The left hates the idea of people owning their own plot of land with

a single-family home and a patch of green grass where they are free of the government’s watchful eye.

Progressives prefer large apartment developments where people are contained and can be monitored.

Remember the “Projects” built by that great Progressive social engineer, Robert Moses in the post-World War II period.

In the name of urban renewal, Moses bulldozed viable New York City neighborhoods and constructed highrise apartment projects that have been mismanaged by the city and have turned into rundown, crime-ridden, dilapidated buildings.

Thanks to Progressive ideology, Urban Renewal became Urban Blight.

Fortunately, local ofcials have spoken out against the Hochul plan. Oyster Bay supervisor Don Clavin, said at a press conference, “We’re here to express outrage at Gov. Hochul’s attempt to take the suburban dream and turn it into an urban nightmare.”

North Hempstead Town supervisor Jennifer DeSena wisely pointed out that if the governor gets her way, the 300,000 new units that could be built in the next 10 years would “severely impact the quality of life” by

straining local services and pushing up property taxes to pay for expanded government and educational services.

If Hochul’s “Housing Compact” becomes law, the winners will be real estate developers who make large political contributions. Assemblyman Jake Blumenkrantz put it this way, “This unprecedented proposal by the governor will now usurp [local] power and hand it to developers and special interest groups and Albany.”

The heat is on. I’m hearing from political wags that suburban Democratic legislators fear the governor’s idea may be the catalyst for a 2024 Red Wave that will sweep them out of ofce.

A comprise plan unveiled last week does not include the state board but maintains targets while ofering more fnancial incentives.

Such incentives for localities, no matter how tempting, are always dangerous. Once addicted to them, Albany will add more and more conditions that will lead to state control of zoning.

No, Long Island’s state legislators must reject these ludicrous proposals to preserve municipal governments’ most treasured right-home rule.

Does your personality match your sport?

Finding the right sport is a lot like fnding the right spouse. You had better be compatible if the match is going to fourish. So how does a person know if they chose the right sport to play? The ft between a person and a sport is not trivial.

Every parent in America is tasked with the problem of which sport to expose their child to. Introduction to a sport is often dictated by the parent or an older sibling who plays the sport. In addition, selection is dictated by where you live.

If you were raised in Brooklyn, you saw more basketball courts then you did golf courses. If you lived in Melbourne, Australia, chances are you saw plenty of water growing up and fell in love with either swimming or surfng. Have you ever noticed how many Olympic swimmers are from Australia?

But ultimately, no matter what sport your family played and no matter where you were raised , the compatibility between a person’s temperament and the sport’s inherent demands must match up if you are

to have a long-lasting and successful relationship with your sport.

In my case I was a pretty good Little League baseball player, but when it was time to enter the Babe Ruth League at age 13, I got one look at the wildness of those oversized Babe Ruth pitchers and said to myself: “Oh, it’s time to start playing golf.” That may be because I was either extremely smart or extremely cowardly but ever since my frst round of golf, it really was a match made in heaven.

Every American sport will require a certain kind of personality trait:

Golf, the ultimate mind game: Golf is a cerebral game that demands a steady demeanor and is made for

EARTH MATTERS

people who don’t mind being alone. You can play by yourself so you don’t need to organize a contingent of your peers to enjoy the game. The perfect golfng personality is Tiger Woods, cool, aloof, a loner and smart.

Basketball, the game for the Fast and Furious: It’s March Madness time so lets deconstruct the game of basketball. I once asked the NY Knicks star Dave DeBusschere whether he thought basketball was physical. He looked down at me and said, “Well, Doc, I’ve had my nose broken seven times. Does that answer your question?” To love basketball you have to be able to penetrate to the basket, which means you must be willing to get hurt.

Baseball, America’s sport: Baseball has a leisurely pace so you had better have a patient nature if you are to enjoy this sport. Joe DiMaggio was a friend of my dad’s. He described “Joltin Joe” as the quiet shy type. DiMaggio’s only real mistake in life was marrying Marilyn Monroe, a woman who brought noise, attention and chaos.

Tennis, boxing but without the blood: I think tennis is the most demanding sport every created. It requires stamina, a good attention span, cat-like quickness, decisiveness, being able to adapt to each opponent and a killer instinct. Jimmy Conners, and John McEnroe are

good examples of the tennis personality.

Lacrosse, a sport made for the American personality: Lacrosse is a quintessentially American sport requiring speed, creativity and confdence. The lacrosse culture has a pure jock-type atmosphere but with a taste of upper class arrogance. You may recall the Duke University lacrosse scandal of a few years ago where some wealthy lacrosse guys were caught partying a little too hard. It took a lot of high-priced lawyers to resolve that mess.

Soccer, “the beautiful game:” Soccer demands an almost other worldly ability to sense, feel and connect with teammates as you play. The common American traits of rugged individualism and narcissism do not match up with soccer’s requirements of team connection, which is the reason we don’t seem to dominate this sport. The Europeans from England, France, Germany, Spain and Italy and the South Americans from Brazil all seem to have that creative fair and ability to play as a team, the trait that soccer demands.

So as I said, both in sports and in marriage, if you want to fall in love and stay in love, you had better be compatible, sympatico and in sync. Choose you sport and your spouse wisely if you want to have a lifelong afair that makes you happy.

High seas treaty to protect international waters

Late on the night of March 4, 190 countries reached agreement on a treaty to protect the biodiversity of the world’s oceans.

This frst-of-its-kind agreement to a common framework to establish protected areas in international waters was almost 20 years in the making. To call it historic is an understatement.

Delegates of the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction reached the agreement that is being referred to as the “High Seas Treaty.” “High Seas” are the waters outside the control of any country. They make up two-thirds of the Earth’s ocean surface. They typically are located 200 nautical miles from the shores of a country at the point where that country’s legal authority of any kind ends.

Once ratifed, the treaty will extend environmental protection to the high seas. Until now, all international waters, other than 1.2 percent of the high seas, have been at the mercy of whatever came their way. This treaty will fundamentally change how the world’s countries and peoples interact with international waters. Once

ratifed and enforced, the treaty will protect all marine life from the tiniest plankton to the largest whale from pollution, overfshing, shipping and deep-sea mining. Nations will propose areas to establish as marine protection areas. These areas will be refuges for Earth’s remaining wild sea plants and animals. Extensive areas containing vulnerable marine ecosystems will now have protection.

Once the treaty goes into efect, nations will have to determine how to enforce the terms of the treaty. Until now, the world’s seas have experienced little to no policing in the face of illegal fshing and all other violations of existing international laws like the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The high seas, and the world’s oceans overall, are the least understood spaces on Earth. According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, we know of 200,000 species living in Earth’s waters, but there potentially are millions more we have yet to discover. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states more than 80 percent of the global ocean is unmapped, unobserved and unexplored. This water drives our weather, regulates

LYNN CAPUANO Earth Matters

temperature and ultimately supports all living organisms and yet we know nearly nothing about it.

We do know marine life and marine biodiversity is under grave threat from a variety of sources, including climate change, pollution and marine commerce. We know of many species in decline and some that have been lost; and there are some we never will know about because they were lost before they could be discovered. This treaty gives us a chance to stem

the decline and loss and maintain the potential for discovery. It also brings greater attention and conversation to the conditions threatening the world’s oceans and all the life within.

Climate change is increasing aquatic temperatures and making the waters more acidic. Shipping traffc collides with surface marine life like whales; and deep underwater, companies are mining the seafoor for minerals, degrading the ocean’s ecosystems and releasing carbon sequestered there. By protecting marine life, the treaty helps preserve marine biodiversity, which in turn increases the amount of carbon absorbed by the ocean.

In addition to providing a way to address the impacts of climate change that typically afect poorer communities disproportionately around the world, the treaty also presents an opportunity to consider a more equitable way to divide profts from deep-sea scientifc discoveries. Deterioration of the seas and marine ecosystems impacts billions of people who depend on the oceans for their food and livelihood.

Part of the treaty establishes a framework for international coordina-

tion of environmental impact assessments and sharing of marine genetic resources – information that can help address human illness and inspire innovation in all areas of human life. It also includes an agreement to share the profts of ocean discoveries resulting in commercial endeavors with developing countries that lack the resources to conduct their own research.

The text of the treaty must now be ratifed by the United Nations. That is no small feat. It could take years for United Nations member states to formally adopt the treaty so that it can go into efect. The United States historically has been slow to ratify environmental treaties if it ratifes them at all. For a treaty to have the weight of law, two-thirds of the U.S. Senate must ratify the treaty.

What can you do to help get this momentous treaty ratifed? Contact President Biden’s ofce and our U.S. senators (Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer) and let them know you want them to support U.S. ratifcation of the “High Seas Treaty.” With your support and advocacy, we can be at the forefront of global adoption of this signifcant agreement to protect our greatest natural resource.

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TOM FERRARO

A person must match his or her sport, much like a rider and a horse.

Support Hochul’s visionary housing compact

“Pretty please” hasn’t worked. So Gov. Kathy Hochul has brought out sticks and carrots to satisfy the decadesold unrequited demand for more housing to undergird the state’s economic development held back not by dollars, entrepreneurship or innovation, but by the lack of afordable housing.

Democratic legislators, spooked by what they can expect is the 2023 bail reform political poison pill, pose an alternative carrots-and-sticks approach, providing money incentive for municipalities that ofer a plan and more money when they implement it instead of a cavalry.)

Hochul’s NY Housing Compact is a bold, visionary plan to create more than 800,000 new homes statewide over the next decade. Far from the “attack on our suburban communities” and “threat to our suburban way of life,” that predictably comes principally from Republicans (Jack Martins, Bruce Blakeman, Jennifer DeSena) and politically skittish Democrats, it is not a “one-size fts all” mandate, but gives municipalities full rein to come up with their own solutions.

But come up with solutions they must. Because housing is a crisis that threatens to hold back necessary economic development and keep our suburbs from decaying into unsustainability. How do you “Save Our Suburbs” (the catchy slogan opponents use) if young people can’t aford to buy the homes built for families? And the fact

is “suburban lifestyle” has always been changing and must change (it is code for the systemic racism that has resulted in Long Island still being one of the most segregated in the country).

Hochul’s proposal would require localities to rezone the area within one-half mile of MTA/LIRR rail stations in the next three years to achieve 3% housing growth unless the area already meets density requirements. For areas within 15 miles of New York City, which means much of Nassau County, localities not meeting state targets would need to rezone to allow up to 50 housing units per acre (25 housing units per acre elsewhere) unless they already meet that target.

Here’s the stick: If localities don’t meet that goal, developers could appeal to a proposed state Housing Approval Board. At that point, the state could green light mixed-income, multifamily proposals even if they don’t meet existing local zoning standards. Municipalities would have to object for health or safety reasons to defeat an appeal.

“It’s ambitious, but I know we can reach it together,” Hochul said in Patchogue, one of a series of appearances across the state promoting the NY Housing Compact. “And we set home creation targets for cities, towns, villages, that are realistic and achievable and if you don’t think so, we’ll talk about it and we’ll show you how. And local leaders are driving this process to

ensure that housing keeps pace with the demand of the employers and the young people and the people that want to come here. We have to meet that demand.”

She said communities would have the fexibility they want and municipalities could design their own approach for creating growth in a scarce market where housing is too expensive.

In fact, New York has created 1.2 million new jobs in the past decade but only 400,000 new housing units. The state is investing millions to cultivate life-sciences, clean renewable energy and other enterprises to revitalize Long Island, but where will employees live?

Hochul’s proposal attempts to redress the main obstacles communities have used to block development: the

expense of providing the infrastructure and services (sewer treatment, water supply, roads, lighting and the like), and even adequate planning experts by creating a fund of at least $250 million, an amount that will be increased if necessary. And for smaller communities that cannot aford the necessary planning process, she has created a $20 million fund they can tap.

Republicans – especially when they are campaigning – constantly complain about the migration of population of the island, blaming high property taxes and energy costs. They hone in on economic development as the antidote to increase the tax base. But you can’t have economic development without housing. And if the problem is that the population has been leaving, I fail to understand Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s complaint that the 3% would mean the addition of 38,000 units (households) and 100,000 people over three years. How would this be a hardship rather than the economic boon that folks like Destination Great Neck, who pine for the vitality Great Neck used to have, are appealing for?

And as Hochul notes her NY Housing Compact, it isn’t necessarily low income. She is advocating a full spectrum of housing types, but afordability will naturally come if supply better matches demand.

“That’s all we’re talking about,” she said. “Giving people the chance to live in their homes, build capital,

build wealth by buying that frst little condo and eventually you can progress through life.”

Also, there needs to be a reversal of the trend manufactured by banks and venture capitalists to keep people in rentals and out of home ownership, once the staple of the American Dream, white picket fence and all. For most, housing is their major asset, their nest egg, their legacy to lift up their progeny. Owning – rather than renting – makes for more stable, safe communities, engaged citizens and voters.

One hundred organizations throughout the state have come forward to strongly endorse Hochul’s NY Housing Compact; at appearances on Long Island, Westchester and throughout the state, employers, workers and residents share their own experience, pleading with their local elected ofcials for more housing availability.

“Gov. Hochul deserves credit for standing up to propose a vision to address Long Island’s lack of housing — especially afordable housing,” said Ian Wilder, executive director of Long Island Housing Services. “Without a plan, Long Island — especially our economy — will continue to be hollowed out because of a dearth of places to live.”

Housing is Hochul’s Erie Canal — “Clinton’s Folly,” mocked in 1818, that made New York the Empire State and New York City the fnancial capital of the world.

Hofstra students oppose casino in HUB

The Hofstra Student Government Association stands with the “Say No to the Casino Civic Association” in asking Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to say no to the casino.

As students of Hofstra University and members of this community, we are deeply concerned about the direct negative impact a casino could have on our campus and the surrounding area.

We believe that allowing a casino to operate

in close proximity to our campus would be irresponsible and could have serious consequences to students and community members, such as addiction and a decline in one’s mental health and well-being.

Scientifc research and evidence shows the vast negative social and cultural implications casinos have on communities.

A casino is an inappropriate use of the HUB, which should be used for the innovation and

creativity of the community. We should be investing in opportunities to foster growth and development, not in an industry that can be dangerous to students and community members.

The Hofstra Student Government Association urges you to say no to the proposed casino at the HUB. Please consider the concerns of our community and the recommendations of public health experts in addiction prevention.

Please consider our future generations by ensuring us a good education and a safe community. As college students, we are committed to advocating for ourselves and peers and hope that you join us in this efort.

Will Germaine and Julie Singh on behalf of Hofstra’s Student Government Association SGA President and Vice President

Gifting of Mineola zoning rights, IDA tax breaks

Recently, the Mineola Village Board approved a residential building project, Searing Group LLC, which allowed the developer to be build to 60 feet high, which is over double the zoned areas permissible height. This is not the frst granting of a building project which allowed new building zoning heights that was approved in the village and it has led to exponential growth whereas over 1,000 apartments have been built in the last few years.

Once the developer, Searing Group, received their variance to build the oversized building, they just had to drive over the LIRR bridge to the Nassau County IDA ofces and apply for a 20-year property tax abatement for this project,

elimination of mortgage recording fees and an exemption for sales taxes on all materials used for the property. The Nassau IDA will be holding a public hearing on this project application on March 27 to hear oral and written comments.

As has happened in the past, the Nassau IDA will approve this project and all of its tax favored benefts with little to minimal public comments. Once the IDA approves the project, the land and new building will become an asset to a public agency, the Nassau County IDA. To the detriment to the existing local taxpayers, the IDA tax abatements on this project will shift the full taxable valuation of the new building until sometime in 2043. Hence, the local taxpayers, including the towns of Albertson, Roslyn Hts, and some of Gar-

den City Park, will be subsidizing the school and county taxes that should be paid by this building for 20 years.

The County IDA has taken over multiple properties in the village and this process doesn’t seem to be ending soon as there are many more projects in planning and design. In addition to the Nassau IDA generous , NYS through Kathy Hochul’s Housing Compact is proposing to redevelop land within a half mile around LIRR stations in a similar fashion as the IDA process has been implemented in the Village of Mineola.

If the Hockul Housing Compact is approved, state agency staf will be directing local development, tax abatements will be applied and the system will be administered by folks who don’t live

here, don’t understand the local impacts, don’t pay taxes here and will all be dictated by law. Developers will line up to take advantage of these tax advantaged projects just as they have been in the Village of Mineola.

I believe Mineola is a microcosm of what will be coming to all local train stations on the island if the NYS Hochul Housing Compact is approved by the state this April. Now is the time to make your voices heard on this plan to ensure that Long Island communities don’t become run by state bureaucrats who may or may not agree with the current way of life here in Nassau County.

Andrew Ward Mineola

Snowdrops 2

There are no degrees of beauty, no gradations, only what’s pure and true.

Like Plato’s ideals, reaching down into the infnite within us, or maybe beauty comes from deep inside and spreads out into the world—perhaps it is a combination of both, but I really don’t know.

When you’re alone and suddenly come across snowdrops in the feld or wood, no matter under sun or cloud, they brighten the day and disposition.

A long, long, time ago, my grandmother took me gently by the hand to look out a window, sometimes she led me outside under the brightest moon, to tell me snowdrops appeared were the light of stars had kissed the earth at night. And sometimes they appeared with winter’s last snowfakes, from under a bed of snow, to let us know it’s spring. She told me to remember, so that I would always know what’s true.

Stephen Cipot Garden City Park

READERS WRITE

LIRR needs a permanent prez

Thirteen months ago, Long Island Rail Road President Phil Eng retired efective Feb. 25, 2022. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber subsequently appointed Metro North President Catherine Renaldi who is now celebrating one year as interim LIRR president.

After 12 months on the job, she must have developed a good working knowledge of the agency organization, staf, operations, facilities and customers needs.

She should be familiar with ongoing and planned capital projects in the LIRR’s multibillion-dollar portion of the MTA’s $51 billion 2020-2024 Five Year Capital Plan.

If MTA Chairman Janno Lieber is happy with her performance to date, why hasn’t he promoted her to be the next permanent LIRR president? Is there something we don’t know?

Remember that Lieber, just like his predecessors will need the blessing of the

governor. Just like past history, Gov. Kathy Hochul will play a behind-the-scenes role in the selection for a permanent LIRR president.

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.

Why I’m running for G.N ed board

I write today with abiding love and care to announce that I will seek re-election to a third term on the Great Neck Public Schools Board of Education.

I recognize that it is both an awesome honor and responsibility to serve as a fduciary and steward. I am proud of my eforts as president (elected by my colleagues unanimously in 2021 and 2022) and as a trustee by the community twice in 2020 and 2017.

During what has been a dynamic period for students, families, personnel, and the public, I have been able to pivot: enabling the board to hold accountability and maintain stability, while allowing new ideas to fourish.

Hallmarks of my tenure so far have been accountability, fscal prudence, board training and engagement, and consensusbuilding. As president, I have been proud to oversee an increased budget pass rate, the revamping of the business ofce, initiation of a broad-based 40 member Board advisory committee, the livestream record-

ing of Board of Education meetings that allow for more community engagement and transparency and a demographic study of the peninsula.

We achieved each of these these while also maintaining our bedrock and abiding commitments to the safety, well-being, academic opportunities and rigor of all children and personnel every day. Since January, I have also been spearheading the board’s undertaking of a national search to select our next superintendent of the Great Neck Public Schools.

I still feel the presence of my friend and mentor, Donald Ashkenase, of blessed memory, with whom I served for four years, as alternate vice president at the board table. Even prior to Great Neck Public Schools being ranked No. 1 in the state of New York and third in the nation, Don would refer to us as “the A Team.” One hopes we continue to make him proud.

The board must hire the next superintendent of schools for our district. In addition, I wish to ofer every child enrolled

in Great Neck Public Schools the broad academic oferings and excellence that my own four children, recent GNPS graduates, enjoyed. Having resided here for nearly 30 years, I appreciate our pluralism and kaleidoscopic diversity. It is one of the reasons why Great Neck is truly special.

Like many parents, my volunteer community involvement grew with my children. Prior to election to the board in 2017, I was involved in many years of continuous leadership in United Parent Teacher Council, Shared Decision Making Committees, Sephardic Heritage Alliance Inc., Temple Israel of Great Neck, and other local organizations for nearly two decades. My CV is available at www.rebeccaforboe. com. For ease of reference it is translated in Farsi, Hebrew, Korean, Mandarin and Russian.

I hope to count on your vote on May 16, 2023.

Schools should make mental health a priority

The mental health crisis among American teenagers is a serious issue that needs to be addressed urgently. While schools are making eforts to tackle the problem, their approach is fawed. Instead of merely talking to and educating parents about mental health, schools need to prioritize the mental health of their students through consistent policies and actions.

Two critical factors that contribute to the mental health of teenagers are sufcient sleep and strong friendships. Unfortunately, many school policies

prevent students from achieving these foundations. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep daily, but early school start times prevent them from getting enough rest. Schools should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. to address this issue. Additionally, schools need to prioritize relationship building among students. Students need time to develop and maintain connections, but many schools’ policies prevent this by mixing up classes and preventing students from maintaining relationships from year to year.

While there are valid reasons for some policies, such as preventing bullying and ofering a range of courses, schools must recognize that they are contributing to the mental health crisis among teenagers. Educating administrators about the importance of consistent policies that are in line with mental health professionals’ recommendations is crucial. Additionally, schools should focus on creating schedules and policies that prioritize the mental health of their students, rather than prioritizing sports schedules and busing costs.

Parent workshops on mental health may be useful, but schools should not rely solely on them to address the mental health crisis among teenagers. Instead, schools must take action to create a positive and healthy environment for their students to thrive. Ultimately, schools are responsible for the mental health of their students, and it is time for them to take a proactive approach to tackle this crisis.

Kate Goldberg Great Neck

Rebecca Sassouni Great Neck

Finding purpose after son lost to overdose

Carole Trottere, director of communication in several posts, dedicates her life to drug fight

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Carole Trottere described her son Alex Trottere as a funny person who was a wonderful friend to so many people. He was a licensed welder who loved his career and was just getting ready to start a new job in Illinois when he died of a fentanyl overdose in April 2018 at the age of 30.

In the wake of her son’s death, Trottere told Blank Slate she felt as though she had lost her purpose. After nearly five years of grieving, she said she has found that purpose again through the overdose prevention advocacy work she now does.

Trottere spoke at a press conference Mondaywhere County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced the county’s implementation of Narcan kits, a life-saving overdose reversal drug, in 50 locations throughout the county. The Narcan kits will be placed in automatic defibrillator kits throughout the county. Trottere said she aided in establishing this.

In 2021, 270 overdose-related deaths were reported in Nassau County. Of those deaths, 190 were due to fentanyl, according to Blakeman.

While the 2022 data is not complete yet, Blakeman said that 172 overdose deaths have been reported

in 2022 so far. He attributed the apparent decrease in overdose deaths to more access to Narcan throughout the county.

“The job’s not done until it’s zero,” Blakeman said.

He added that six out of 10 illegal pills the Drug Enforcement Agency tested this year contained enough fen-

tanyl to kill a human being and fentanyl overdoses are the leading cause of death for those ages 18 to 45.

“This kind of drug doesn’t discriminate based on race, based on ethnicity, based on what their religion is, based on what their socio-economic status is,” Blakeman said. “This is a drug that’s insidious and it’s in every

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neighborhood and every community and we’ve got to fight it.”

The implementation of the Narcan kits was achieved through a partnership between the county and the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. LICADD is an organization that originated in Nassau County which provides services to

combat issues related to alcohol and drug abuse.

Blakeman announced in September that the county is investing $2.4 million in drug treatment, education and prevention with the money they received through the opioid settlement between the state of New York and three of the nation’s largest drug distributors.

Blakeman said during Monday’s press conference that his office and the Legislature will be spending $15 million a year over the next four years for overdose prevention, drug treatment and education, which he announced in September. He said there is a meeting scheduled this month in which they will finalize the plans for how the money will be dispersed.

Blakeman said the decision for how the money will be distributed is taking a while as they are researching where the money can go for the best results. Distribution of the money should be done “very quickly,” he said, but did not provide an exact date, timeline or numbers as to how and where it will be divvied up.

Trottere said that the county’s implementation of Narcan kits is a step in the right direction for overdose death prevention in the county.

Continued on Page 52

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Carole Trottere shares the story of her son Alex at a March 20 press conference. County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced at the conference the county’s implementation of Narcan kits.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING TRIUMPH, POSTWAR, OF MODERNISM

Temple Isaiah will present the final installment of its three-part art lecture series titled “Ben Shahn and the Postwar Triumph of Modernism” on Sunday, March 26th at 2:00 PM.

The presentation will focus on the career of artist Ben Shahn which began during the Great Depression with his work for the Federal Arts Program of the W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration), his participation in the radical Artists’ Union and the American Artists’ Congress before the second World War.

His socially-conscious yet modernist work continued to be relevant and popular well into the postwar period of Abstract Expressionism, the Cold War and the struggle for civil rights during the turbulent decade of the 1960s.

The program will be presented by art historian Dr. Dennis Raverty, associate professor at New Jersey City University, where he teaches 19th and 20th century art history, including the art of West Africa, the diaspora and African American art, as well as the Renaissance and Baroque Periods in Europe.

His articles and criticisms have appeared in numerous art publications. An award-winning professor, Raverty lives in New York City and is currently co-authoring a book on American illustration with Dennis Dittrich, former president of the Society of Illustrators.

The session will take place at Temple Isaiah of Great Neck, One Chelsea Place.

There is a $15 donation and registration is required. Please contact the temple at(516) 487-5373 or by email at isaiahgn@yahoo.com. Art historian Dr. Dennis Raverty

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Adventure Park to hold Easter Egg Hunt in trees

The Adventure Park at Long Island, the area’s largest zipline and climbing adventure experience, is excited to announce the dates of its annual “Easter Egg Hunt in the Trees” running from March 31 – April 9.

March 31 is also the Park’s 2023 Season Opening Day.

In this non-traditional Easter Egg Hunt, participants look for “eggs” hidden among the trees throughout the trails while climbing through the adventure park. Participants receive a treat at the end of their climb.

“The annual Easter Egg Hunt in the Trees

is a favorite of guests,” said Phil Insalaco, park manager. “They enjoy seeing where the Easter Bunny has hidden eggs throughout the trails and, of course, love getting a treat at the end.”

Participation in the “Easter Egg Hunt in the Trees” is free, but guests will need to purchase a ticket for climbing at myAdventurePark.com/ LIAP. Dates for the “Easter Egg Hunt in the Trees” are March 31 through April 9 during regular operating hours.

The Adventure Park at the Long Island has also released its Spring Break schedule with daily extended hours from April 7 through April 16.

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Spring activities for families to enjoy together

Spring is one of the most popular seasons of the year. After several months of chilly temperatures in many regions, spring provides a welcome reprieve from the cold.

Moderate temperatures makes it much more comfortable and inviting to venture outdoors, particularly for families with children who might not adapt to the cold as well as adults. The following are some family-friendly activities that make the most of spring renewal.

Visit botanic gardens

If there’s a botanical garden nearby, a visit in spring is a great time to soak in the beauty of nature. That’s because an abundance of flowers bloom during the spring, meaning a garden will be in peak form. Visitors can meander through rows of rose bushes or tour the labyrinth of trimmed hedges. Beautiful, flowering cherry trees, with their delicate pink or white petals, also are sights to behold in spring.

Prepare a home garden

Visiting a garden is one thing, creating one at home is another. In addition to planning a vegetable garden to enjoy tasty pickings throughout summer, you can devote some property to flowers that will attract wildlife. Check with a garden center about which flowers and plants attract butterflies and other beneficial insects. Many garden centers sell butterfly and hummingbird mixes to attract wildlife.

Go animal watching

Flowers are not the only thing on display come the spring. Many animals, including birds, are born this time of year. Baby animals are not only adorable, they can be entertaining to watch grow. Families can spend time viewing the animals that visit their yards or surrounding parks, being careful to keep their distance. Adults may be quite protective of their young, so it’s better to watch from the lens of a camera or with binoculars. Always resist the urge to help a baby animal who seems like it was abandoned. The parent may be a short distance away gathering food or trying to avoid drawing attention to the young to deter predators.

Get out on the water

A bright, warm day is an ideal time to enjoy the open water. Spring is a season when many marinas reopen and avid boaters put their vessels back into the water. You also can venture into streams or lakes aboard kayaks or canoes, getting exercise and seeing the scenery in the process. Bring a fishing pole along and cast it into the water for a few hours of recreation.

Make wind chimes

Enhance the garden or decor around the home by making wind chimes or other percussion items that can create beautiful music when spring breezes blow. Commercially available kits are sold, but wind chimes also can be made from items like bamboo or even strung shells.

These are just a few family-friendly activities to enjoy this spring.

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Fun and educational ways to celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual holiday that has been celebrated since 1970. Despite somewhat humble beginnings, much of the globe now celebrates Earth Day, which this year takes place on Saturday, April 22.

Earth Day has long drawn attention to issues afecting the planet and its climate. The efects of those issues have grown increasingly noticeable in recent years, which makes this Earth Day and all subsequent celebrations an ideal opportunity to celebrate the planet while learning about the many challenges it faces in the years to come. The following are some unique, fun and educational ways to celebrate the planet this April.

· Leave the car at home. Winter weather is a distant memory by late April in many places, making Earth Day an ideal time to travel by foot or by bicycle instead of by car. That’s not only fun, but also a great opportunity to learn about carbon emissions. The United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. Vehicles also emit a substantial amount of methane and nitrous oxide. This is why gas-powered vehicles are so often linked to climate change, much of which is driven by greenhouse gas emissions. A car-free Earth Day can be fun and serve as a catalyst for conversation about the efects of gas-powered vehicles on the health of the planet.

· Volunteer with a local environmental organization. Environmental organizations are committed to the ideals behind Earth Day all year long. However, each Earth Day many of these organizations sponsor eco-conscious ef-

forts to help the planet and raise awareness about issues like climate change. Volunteering with a local beach or park cleanup or signing up to walk and raise money for a local environmental charity makes for a fun and educational way to spend your Earth Day.

· Get your hands dirty and plant. The National Forest Foundation notes that planting trees can have a profound and positive impact on the planet. According to the NFF, planting more trees helps forests to sequester carbon, which can have a signifcant efect on climate change. The NFF estimates that 100 mature trees can remove 50 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent and 430 pounds of pollution from the atmosphere. Even if you can’t work with a local forestry organization to plant more trees in a nearby forest, planting native trees on your own property can help combat climate change.

· Involve children in your eforts to combat climate change. Today’s adults likely won’t be the ones forced to confront the more challenging consequences of climate change. Unfortunately, that cost is likely to be passed on to future generations. That makes this Earth Day a great time to involve kids more directly in eforts to combat climate change. Explain the signifcance of avoiding the car, volunteering or planting trees in terms that kids can understand, emphasizing that the future of the planet could very well be in their hands.

Earth Day takes on greater signifcance each year as the efects of climate change become more noticeable. This year the holiday can be celebrated in various ways that are both enjoyable and educational.

Spring cleaning pointers

Spring is a season of renewal. When the flowers are blooming and the trees are budding and the weather is pleasantly warm, people often feel inspired to make changes around their homes. Work may begin with culling belongings and organizing essentials.

There is debate regarding where the practice of “spring cleaning” originated. Some researchers link it to certain religious groups. It has long been an ancient Jewish custom to thoroughly clean a house in preparation for the springtime feast of Passover. The house is scoured to remove any yeast bread, or chametz, from the home. Similarly, members of the Greek Orthodox church celebrate “Clean Week,” which is a week of cleaning before Lent. In Iranian culture, families spend days cleaning prior to the Persian New Year, which begins on the spring equinox.

Spring cleaning also has some secular roots. For instance, in the 1800s, Londoners routinely cleared their homes of grime and soot that accumulated over the winter.

Spring cleaning is still a ritual for many today. As people embark on their plans to tidy up, these tips can help them along.

Tackle one big task a day

Who hasn’t started one project only to be distracted into moving along to another room? This often occurs when people discover something out of place in one space and then move that item where it belongs, only to find a new cleaning task at hand in that space. Inefficiency can make you give up on spring cleaning prematurely. Agree to address one room/task a day. Keep a basket or box handy to store errant items until you move on to the next room.

Stock up on supplies

Prepare all of the cleaning supplies in advance. Put together a tool kit of sorts with the equipment you need, including mops, brooms, rags, cleansers, and the like. Organization can keep you on course.

Harness your strengths and weaknesses

Some people clean because they are stressed or angry, others do so to avoid other tasks. Keep personality in mind when establishing a cleaning schedule. For example, clean at night if you’re a night owl, or wait until you are feeling antsy before embarking on a “calm down cleaning.”

Tackle seasonal chores fi rst

Some tasks need to get done to prepare for the spring and summer season. These may include cleaning the grill and sorting through outdoor furniture and decor. Spring cleaning may involve readying the pool for another year of use, or cleaning out rain gutters to prepare for spring storms. Tackle time-dependent tasks first and then move on to others that are less time-sensitive.

Spread out the work

Some people like to devote full weekends to spring cleaning, but that can be overwhelming for others. Breaking down cleaning tasks into 15- to 30-minute intervals each day can make the job more tolerable.

Spring cleaning season has arrived, and certain tips can make the job more efficient and manageable.

6 ways to make your garden more successful

Homeowners enjoy gardening for many different reasons. In addition to adding beauty to a property, gardens can offset grocery costs by yielding tasty produce. They also offer important habitats and food sources for both insects and animals.

While growing a vegetable or flower garden can turn into a rewarding hobby, or even a passion, gardening also can be overwhelming - particularly when the results are less than stellar. Novice gardeners have scores of resources at their disposal, including the advice of gardeners who have made mistakes and learned from them. The following guidance can make home gardens that much more successful.

1. Start small.

You may have visions of an expansive garden growing rows of crops or acres of flowers. But it is smart to start small and build on what you find successful, which includes plants that thrive in your lawn and garden.

This also is beneficial if you are unsure of vegetable yields. Several blooming plants producing bushels of crops can be overwhelming, especially if you can’t get to harvesting or cooking them in a timely fashion.

2. Assess the soil.

Plants need nutrient-rich soil to encourage extensive root systems and produce strong, hardy plants, according to the gardening resource GrowVeg. Nourish soil with organic matter, such as manure, compost, shredded leaves, and natural mulch. Add this organic matter in the off-season to give it enough time to be incorporated into the ground before spring. You can have your soil tested for pH and other characteristics that make it friendly or averse to plants at a local garden center.

3. Arm yourself with knowledge.

Do you know how deeply to plant seeds and how far apart to space plants? Are you aware of the sunlight needs of certain flowers or plants? If not, read the packaging and do your research so your plants have the best chance of not only sprouting, but also surviving. Many people prefer to start seedlings indoors in late winter and then transfer those plants outdoors when they are stronger and more established.

4. Sit in your yard and observe. Watch the way the sunlight dances over areas of your land-

scape. Take note of which areas get the most sun and shade. This will help you plan what to plant and where to plant it. Vegetable gardens tend to need ample sunlight to bear pick-worthy produce. You can give plants a leg up by growing them in optimal conditions.

5. Choose hardy varieties.

Certain plants have been bred to thrive in your climate, including heat-tolerant plants for climates with sweltering summer sun. Consult with a local gardening center to figure out which plant zone you are in and which plants will do best within that zone.

6. Use rainwater.

Rainwater contains fewer contaminants and additives than tap water, which can benefit garden plants. Collect rainwater in rain barrels and use irrigation systems to deliver it to the garden.

Home gardens can yield many gifts, from flowers to fruit. Beginners can utilize some time-tested strategies to increase their chances of planting a successful garden.

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Makeup tips for enhancing beauty this spring

Millions of women turn to cosmetics to help them put their best faces forward. The online people skills resource the Science of People indicates an estimated 44 percent of American women do not like to leave their homes without makeup.

Research published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science says that the primary reasons women use makeup are to camouflage and seduce. Women who are anxious and insecure may use makeup to appear less noticeable, while women who want to garner extra attention may use makeup to be more sociable and assertive.

Some women may wear makeup to feel more confident and improve their appearance, both in their own eyes and in the eyes of others. Learning how to apply makeup so that it enhances beauty rather than covering up features can take practice. However, these tips can help get women on the right path.

· Consider lightening up. “No makeup” makeup is a growing trend. Barely there products can tweak features just enough to avoid looking washed out and brighten up skin where needed. Look for lighter formulations.

· Smooth out texture. A plumping serum can help make mature skin more smooth to prepare the face for makeup application. In

Keep seasonal allergies in check this spring

There is much to look forward to when springs arrives. Daily hours of sunlight increase while temperatures continue to climb. Blooming fowers and leaves budding on trees also add some awe-inspiring color back into the landscape. Even though there’s much to enjoy about spring, one side efect of so much foliage in bloom is the return of seasonal spring allergies.

Many people fnd they cannot enjoy the sunshine and balmy temperatures of spring because of seasonal allergies. Hayfever, or allergic rhinitis, is a common spring allergy. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology indicates allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States. More than 50 million Americans sufer from allergies each year. The Aerobiology Research Laboratories says allergens in the air across Canada have been rising in many cities over the last 15 years.

While there is no cure for seasonal allergies, there are steps individuals can take to live with them more comfortably.

· Stay indoors on dry, windy days. It’s better to go outside after it rains, which clears pollen from the air.

· The ACAAI urges individuals to modify indoor environments to keep allergens out. An HEPA flter in HVAC systems can better trap spores.

· Consider vacations near the ocean or other bodies of water, as pollen counts tend to be lower in these areas.

· Delegate lawn mowing and other tasks that involve stirring up allergens to someone else. If you must do gardening and landscaping, wear a face mask to flter out some allergens.

· Close windows or doors when pollen counts are especially high.

· Wash hair and clothes when coming indoors to rinse out allergens that would transfer to pillowcases or furniture.

· Speak to an allergist who can recommend medications or other treatments that can improve seasonal allergies. Corticosteroids reduce infammation and antihistamines can help reduce sneezing or itchy eyes.

Seasonal allergies are a potential pitfall of the spring season. However, there are remedies that can help alleviate the sufering.

addition to a moisturizer, this can fill in fine lines and help the face appear more youthful and dewy.

· Use a light hand. Rather than drowning the face in product, use certain items like concealer sparingly. You can always layer as you go.

· Opt for cream-based makeup. Creambased foundations, blushes and highlighters can definitely make a difference in how the makeup wears on the face. People who tend to have dry skin or aging skin may find that creamy formulas help hydrate the skin and make it more radiant, offers makeup artist Neil Scibelli.

· Modify day to day. Makeup artist Kristofer Buckle suggests skipping a daily makeup ritual and using products depending on what is needed each day. Some days dark circles may need to be addressed, while other days redness may be the biggest issue.

· Choose two makeup shades. Leave the store with two close foundation hues that can be blended accordingly depending on skin color at particular times of year. Skin color varies from season to season. Match foundation to the jawline down to the neck. Makeup trends and tips evolve depending on the look women desire. Right now a natural face is all the rage, with dewy radiant skin at the helm.

Budget-friendly ways to freshen up your home’s exterior this spring

As any homeowner knows, renovation projects tend to cost a lot of money. The average cost of a home renovation is difficult to gauge, as such endeavors run the gamut from complex projects like a kitchen overhaul to simpler ones like painting a room inside a home. Indeed, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry notes that scope is what drives the cost of a renovation project.

Though there might not be an “average cost” of a renovation project, homeowners can expect to spend thousands of dollars on projects that are not very small in scale. Navigating such an expense at a time when inflation remains high might be difficult for some homeowners looking to maintain the appearance of their home exteriors. However, there are many budget-friendly ways homeowners can tend to the exterior of their properties this spring.

· Power washing: Power washing won’t break the bank but it can revive the look of a home. Power washing removes dirt and grime from the siding of a home and a power washing can be used to clean porches, walkways and patios as well. Hardware chains like Home Depot and Lowes typically rent power washers, but homeowners who don’t want to do it themselves can hire a professional for a few hundred dollars, if not less. Power washing after winter can be a good idea, as the elements can take a toll on a home’s exterior. A good power washing before spring and summer entertaining season can thus give a home a fresh, clean look without breaking the bank.

· Furnished front porch: A furnished front porch can serve as a welcome sign to neighbors and provide a great place to relax with a morning cup of coffee and a good book. Homeowners with a small porch won’t need to bust their budgets to upgrade their front porch furnishings. Some small chairs with bright cushions, a small table and a rug underfoot can revamp an entryway at low cost.

· Window box installation: Installing window box planters is another cost-effective way to brighten up a home’s exterior. Homeowners can hang window boxes outside windows on the front of their homes and then fill them with brightly colored flowers to add an inviting pop of color to their home exteriors. The experts at Better Homes & Gardens urge homeowners to take weight into consideration before buying window planters. Keep in mind that soil and developed plants can be heavy, so look for a sturdy box as well as one that has drainage holes.

· Replace hardware: Another simple way to freshen up a stale exterior is to replace hardware. Door knobs, knockers, house numbers, and even the mailbox can appear dated after a while. Replacing these items is inexpensive and quick but can have a profound impact on how the exterior of a home appears to residents and visitors.

Exterior renovations need not break the bank. Various simple and inexpensive tweaks can quickly revitalize the exterior of a home.

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Turnpike, Belmont Park - Long Island

Cuthbert Live: Solo at Mac Arthur Park

@ 6pm MacArthur Park, 1 Maple Ave, Rockville Centre Hot Mulligan @ 6pm

The Paramount, South Hunting‐ton

Nate Charlie Music @ 6:30pm

W.H. Burnett's Tavern, 22 Pine Hollow Rd, Oyster Bay

For the Love of Coltrane feat. Camille Thurman -Hosted by the John and Alice Coltrane Home @ 7pm Half Hollow Hills Community Li‐brary, 55 Vanderbilt Pkwy, Dix Hills

The Wonder Years: The Hum Goes On Forever

Tour

@ 8pm / $27.50-$59

The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Phil Smith

@ 9pm

The Wine Cellar on Main, 70 Main St, Northport

Sat 3/25

2023 Port Washing‐ton 5k Winter Run @ 9am / $60 North Hempstead Beach Park, 175 West Shore Road, Port Washington

NEW YORK RIPTIDE VS ALBANY

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Friday Mar 31st

"Celebrating Meat Loaf"

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Celebrate the legendary Meat Loaf and experience his hit songs performed brilliantly by The Neverland Express plus American Idol winner, Caleb Johnson. The Neverland Express includes world-class alumni of Meat Loaf�s of�cial band. Led by his Record Producer, Music Director, Guitarist, Paul Crook with drummer, John Miceli, gui‐tarist, Randy Flowers and female lead vocalist, Lyssa Lynne, the band stays true to the original recordings while delivering the excite‐ment of a live Meat Loaf show.

Great Neck Winter Market

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

Mon 3/27

2023 Triathlon Clinic @ 8am / $25-$40

Eisenhower Park, East Meadow

New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres @ 5pm / $31-$1000 UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead

Bangers and Mash: Lindenhurst St Patrick's Day Parade After Party @ 1pm The Village Lanterne, 155 N Wellwood Ave, Lindenhurst

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Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Trouble Is...25th Anniversary

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New York Islanders vs. New Jersey Devils @ 7:30pm / $28-$1000 UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Belmont Park - Long Island

NEW YORK ISLANDERS RACE TO THE RINK 5K @ 9am / $40 UBS ARENA, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont

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"Drunk Shakespeare" @ 7pm / $19-$49 The Garden, 125 Pearl Street, New York

Vladimir Caamano @ 9pm The Stand (Upstairs), 116 E. 16th St, New York City

Electrify Your Strings!: Electrify Your Symphony with Mark Wood @ 8pm Alfred G. Berner Middle School, 50 Carman Mill Rd, Massapequa

Wed

Francie Moon @ 7pm The Sultan Room, 234 Starr St, Brooklyn

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

Ianlara @ 8pm The Stand (Main Room), 116 E. 16th St, New York City

The Manhattan Transfer - Long Island Cares Bene�t Concert @ 8pm / $65-$250 The Space at Westbury Theater, 250 Post Av‐enue, Westbury

Dan Reardon @ 5:30pm Teddy's Bully Bar, 46 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay

Karen Bella @ 7pm Bar Petite, 56 Stewart Ave, Huntington

Derek Adam @ 8pm Spotlight NY Huntington, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Michelle Jameson @ 6am Paddy Power Pub, 70 Merrick Ave, Merrick

FAST Roslyn - Friday Night FAST MADNESS Fun - 03/31 @ 5:30pm / $50 FAST Roslyn, 340 Wheatley Plaza, Roslyn. 516-801-3533

Guster @ 6:30pm The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Dave Pettigrew: Long Island Awakening presents Worship United @ 7pm East Gate Church, 1150 Hicksville Rd, North Massape‐qua

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

Phil Firetog Trio & Co @ Publicans @ 10pm Publicans, 550 Plandome Rd, Manhasset

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Zucker School students celebrate Match Day

Graduating students at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/ Northwell learned where they would spend the next phase of their medical training during the school’s Match Day ceremony on March 17.

Clutching small white envelopes containing their “match,” the 91 graduating students that make up the Class of 2023 eagerly awaited the stroke of noon, the time all medical students nationwide open a personalized letter from the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) revealing their residency results. This rite of passage is the culmination of years of preparation, hard work and determination.

“Everything you’ve worked for and accomplished has been preparing you for this moment,” David Battinelli, dean of the Zucker School of Medicine, said when addressing students and their families moments before opening their residency letters. “You are headed to some of the fnest residency programs in the country. More hard work will be ahead, but you are more than ready to face any challenges. Our faculty, staf and the entire medical school community will continue to support and cheer you on as you take this next step in your journey.”

Here is the Match Day 2023 breakdown for the Zucker School of Medicine’s 91 participating students:

100% secured residency positions

23 students matched to Northwell Health residency programs

Students matched into 20 specialty areas. The top three specialties were internal medicine, radiology and anesthesiology, with students also matching into various sub-surgical specialty matches, such as urology, plastic surgery, thoracic and vascular

Residency spots were obtained in 14 diferent states, including New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Chicago, California and South CarolinaThree couples participated via the “Couples Match,” where pairs of students, including engaged and married couples and close friends, can apply for residency together with the goal of matching in the same program and/ or region for their training

MD/PhD candidate Muhammad Shoaib will become the frst physician and scientist in his family. While in medical school, Muhammad

served as president of the Young Investigator’s Society at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, was involved in over thirty scientifc publications and received a $50,000 research grant from the ZOLL Foundation for his groundbreaking study on improving survival rates for people immediately following cardiac arrest.

Muhammad, who will be entering his residency in emergency medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, wanted a program that would provide him with both the time and support to continue to pursue research.

“COVID has shown that EM doctors are the frst to face everything and anything that walks into the hospital,” Muhammad said, who is from Astoria, Queens. “I want to use this quality of emergency medicine as a strength to engage in meaningful research that can be readily applied in the emergency setting to help us better care for our patients in the sickest times of their lives.”

Muhammad credits the medical school’s

Town celebrates Tree City USA distinction

The Town of North Hempstead was once again recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation.

This marks the 11th year that the Town has received the title of “Tree City USA.” This designation is given out to towns and cities that have a viable tree management plan and program.

To be eligible to be recognized as a “Tree City USA” community, certain requirements must be met such as having a Tree Board or Department, having a Tree Care Ordinance, having a Community Forestry Program and the observance of Arbor Day.

The “Tree City USA” program was created by the Arbor Day Foundation, which is the nation’s leading community forestry program that provides a foundation for efective and well-organized community tree care.

It is also facilitated in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

unique approach to learning with giving him the autonomy to explore and learn in his way.

“I learn better in a more collaborative, minimal-lecture manner, a style that the Zucker School of Medicine provided me,” Muhammad said. “I also appreciate the faculty members’ dedication to improving how medicine is taught at the school.”

As the recipient of the 2023 Advancing Women in Science and Medicine’s (AWSM) Barbara Hrbek Zucker Emerging Scientist Award, Danielle Howell is excited to embark on a psychiatry residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Danielle was the frst medical student ever to receive funding from the AWSM. The organization has raised more than $2.5 million since its inception in 2010 to support medical research by female investigators. The award helped fund an entire year of Danielle’s research on the role of social determinants of health in hospital settings.

Danielle plans to continue her research in her residency, particularly in underrepresented and under-resourced communities.

“I defnitely want to continue my research and get more involved in community-based participatory research at Mount Sinai,” Howell said, who credits the support of AWSM for her motivation and passion for research. “They specifcally have a clinic that does a lot of amazing work around depression screening and mental health. I’m excited to continue the work and hopefully become a child and adolescent psychiatrist.”

Julian Azar immigrated to the United States from Buenos Aires, Argentina when he was eight years old, an experience he credits for helping him dream big and pursue a career in medicine. After matching into internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital, Julian is excited about what the future holds.

“I am passionate about using my Latinx background to help those in need and look forward to serving the Hempstead community and beyond,” Azar said, who was the co-chair of the Latino Medical Student Association at the Zucker School of Medicine.

The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) seeks to unite and empower medical students through community service, mentorship and education to advocate for the health of the Latino community.

“I’m excited to go into internal medicine and work in a feld I feel most closely aligns with my ultimate mission as a physician — to aid the vulnerable communities with an emphasis on humanistic care,” Azar said, who looks forward to being the next healthcare professional in his family.

The Match process begins in the fall, usually in the fnal year of medical school when students apply to residency programs at which they would like to train. Program directors review applications and conduct candidate interviews. Applicants later submit their rank order lists of preferred programs to the NRMP, and program directors rank applicants in order of preference for training.

The Class of 2023 will be conferred as doctors during the school’s commencement ceremony on May 8.

This program provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities that more than 93 million Americans call home. Town

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY

The 91 Match Day participants eagerly wait to open their envelopes at noon.

officials receiving Tree City USA designation.

Business&RealEstate

Bank failures’ impact on lending

I am extremely concerned about the failure of SVB, Signature and now Credit Suisse. Who will be next? There will be smaller banks that are stressed fnancially with the much higher rates, that had investments in Bitcoin and other digital currencies and do not have the money to back them up. OMG, we are in for a very tumultuous and scary time and this will have a major impact on lending and real estate purchases.

What I have been watching and waiting for are “what makes sense” opportunities. They are coming and will be fooding the market over the next six to 36 months. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, who has increased rates nine times in the past 16 months, may possibly add another 1/4 to 1/2 point hike this week. Although the infation rate has come down to supposedly 6.5% from the 8%-plus high last June, I believe he will have to continue raising rates to quell our unrelenting infation in order to get it down to his 2% goal. I am not sure how many months or even years that it will take to succeed in achieving his objective.

Looking back, the Fed through “Quantitive Easing” made available over $6 trillion of digital currency to the banks and consumers, but actually only printed approximately $3 trillion — a move 99% of the population probably didn’t know about. The middle class, whatever is left

of it, is in huge trouble. Credit card debt was $972 billion in January 2023, the most ever on record, because everyone who was receiving PPP, EIDL, and unemployment insurance is now out of dollars and they are using their plastic to survive. That is a sad and truly scary position to be in.

Who can predict when this catastrophic situation we are in will end? It’s obvious infation is still out of control, but raising rates further will only exacerbate our fragile, yes fragile economy as layofs will continue to shed excess employees as consumers continue to slow their spending, especially on discretionary purchases.

Layofs will be the mainstay of our market as things continue the way they are. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more food pantries spring up and more families and individuals need assistance because of the lack of available money to buy food. I already see this in Long Island at the 501C not for proft “The Interfaith Nutritional Network” Food Pantry on 100 Madison Ave. out in Hempstead, NY. They are feeding in excess of 500 families and individuals twice a day and it will be getting much worse!

Purchasing any homes or any other type of real estate with fnancing will be that much more challenging and difcult as it has and will continue for many to be too costly to aford the monthly expense.

However, that will depend on one’s income as higher-income families and individuals will most likely still be better of buying as a comparison with renting, depending on the cost. It will still be more advantageous due to the tax deductions, the potential of using part of your home as an ofce, as many have been doing and the stability of being your own landlord and having a fxed-lease (a mortgage) for 30 years.

Taking a seven-year fxed ARM (adjustable rate mortgage) for now might be the best approach and rates could come down within that time. At least you won’t

be throwing out your money on someone else’s property, paying his/her mortgage, providing them tax and expense deductions, reducing your wealth and giving it away each and every month as well as the security of knowing you are now in control as the landlord (homeowner) and can determine if and when you want to move.

Cash purchasers are and will be in better positions to make purchases whether it is a home or a investment property ecause “cash just might be king” in those situations when motivated sellers would rather take a sure transaction than worry about fnancing with an appraisal that may not be what your agreed and accepted price is. The buyer can now come back and renegotiate the price if the sellers are not going to be reasonable. I would impress upon sellers not to lose a qualifed buyer and think outside the box to make the sale work.

As more banks potentially fail, then the existing banks will become even more restrictive with their lending requirements. This, in turn, will create a tougher environment for fnancing for those with mediocre credit, insufcient income and debt/income ratios or those who don’t want to pay the higher rates but are qualifed. Some sellers who really need or want to sell should consider providing either a short or longer-term mortgage to

create a greater demand for their home or even investment property.

Most important for the seller is if there are substantial capital gains then providing fnancing will stretch out their capital gain taxes over many years and you will receive a great interest rate, than any bank, as you now become the bank.

The future is uncertain and the Fed is between a “rock and a hard place.” We are already seeing bailouts for depositors, although they are candy coating it by saying “shoring up the banks and protecting consumer’s deposits (but not investors in those banks). It is very obvious that taxpayers will be footing the bill in the future and I am somewhat convinced at this point in time that there will be a recession. How bad it will be we’ll fnd out this year or next.

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

Donate to Turkey Relief

Continue to Donate to the Ukrainian Crisis and save a life or the Donate to The Ukranian Relief Fund InternationalOrganizationforMigration a501(c)3Corporation OR: Donate to Ukranian Project

What is Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)?

Have you noticed that a website address starts with the letters and symbols of http:// or https://? What is the difference and why should you care? HTTPS secures communication and data transmission between a user’s web browser and a website. HTTPS is the newer, more secure version of HTTP.

HTTPS helps to secure websites that send or receive sensitive data. Simply put, any website that requires login credentials or involves financial transactions should use HTTPS to ensure the security of users, transactions and data. This includes personal or business information exchanged by online banking services, online retailers and healthcare providers.

A malicious actor can easily impersonate, modify or monitor an HTTP connection. HTTPS protects against these vulnerabilities. As a result, it ensures that no one can tamper with these transactions, securing users’ privacy and preventing sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

Small and medium-sized business managers should be mindful to check for the secure HTTPS when accessing websites for banking, shopping online, and SAAS (software-as-a-service) programs. We highly recommend coaching all employees to look for this, as well. Human error is behind the majority of IT breaches and is avoidable with proper training and reinforcement. Contact Sandwire Technology Group for information on affordable cyber security training for your company.

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

Business&RealEstate

Daniel Gale network event raises $35K

Young professionals fundraiser to support real estate company’s charitable foundation

The Young Professionals Network of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, one of the nation’s leading realtors and the top-ranked luxury real estate organization serving Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens, recently held its frst annual fundraiser.

Held at The Inn at New Hyde Park, more than 200 enthusiastic networkers raised $35,000 for the Daniel Gale Foundation, a charitable organization wholly funded by donations from Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty real estate advisors, staf, management, senior executives and board members.

“I am elated, impressed and proud of our young professional group, who put together a

wildly successful beneft event,” said Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty CEO Deirdre O’Connell, who was in attendance. “Not only did they raise a substantial sum of money for the Daniel Gale Foundation, but they also put on an outstanding networking event to the great beneft of all who attended.”

Kathleen McCarthy, a real estate advisor based out of the Bayside/Flushing and Garden City ofces who serves on the advisory board of YPN, explained the signifcance of bringing together this group of young professionals and veteran real estate advisors. “Over the past three years, we’ve mostly operated in our own silos, meeting by zoom or in small group settings.

Nothing matches the energy of getting together in a local venue while doing good. Our newer agents in particular were able to meet and learn from the top-producing legacy agents in the room. These interactions are invaluable stepping stones to future success.”

YPN currently has between 30 to 40 active members and an advisory board of eight who plan quarterly events. In addition to fundraising, YPN ofers growth opportunities for its members in a supportive environment. One YPN member, for example, recently launched a podcast, which has since been shared among members and their networks. Members also share listings via Instagram and Facebook with a dedicated inbox. “It’s

all about relationship building, supporting our colleagues and referring business among one another,” added McCarthy.

Because of the generous contributions of event sponsors including Embrace Home Loans, Chase Home Lending, Citizen’s Bank, Wells Fargo, and Jon Pappas, 100% of ticket sales were donated to the Daniel Gale Foundation.

Pictured here: Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty CEO Deirdre O’Connell (center, black slacks) fanked by the board of the YPN (l-r) Kathleen McCarthy, Lowell Ackerman, Veranika Johnston, Deirdre O’Connell, Melissa Stark, Christianne Mustazza, Joseph LaViola, and James Hogan.

Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty CEO Deirdre O’Connell, center, flanked by the board of the YPN, left to right, Kathleen McCarthy, Lowell Ackerman, Veranika Johnston, Deirdre O’Connell, Melissa Stark, Christianne Mustazza, Joseph LaViola, and James Hogan.

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Recent Real Estate Sales in

18 Arbor Lane, Roslyn Heights

6 bd, 5 ba, Sold On: 1/26/23, Sold Price: $2,280,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: East Williston

87 Barnyard Lane, Roslyn Heights

5 bd, 6 ba, 4,300 sqft, Sold On: 2/8/23, Sold Price: $2,400,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: East Williston

189 Peachtree Lane, Roslyn Heights

4 bd, 3 ba, Sold On: 2/10/23, Sold Price: $950,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: Mineola

38 Woodward Street, Roslyn Heights

4 bd, 3 ba, Sold On: 2/8/23, Sold Price: $1,580,000

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 shines in DECA contests Kindergarteners go food shopping

March is nutrition month at Heights School—an opportunity for young students to learn about making healthy food choices and identifying diferent food groups.

To make the nutrition curriculum fun and hands-on, educators created a Heights Supermarket stocked with non-perishable food, donated in collaboration with the Parent Faculty Association (PFA).

Each class also designed a food poster to help organize the cans and boxes of food on display.

The trip to the supermarket began with the children watching a video of Principal Mary Wood exploring Ferreira Food Town and speaking with the managers of diferent departments.

Then, students headed to the classroom market to mock purchase a food item. When they reached the cash register they were asked to identify the food group of their purchase.

At the end of the month, all the food will be donated to local food pantries.

Ribbon cutting at Halcyon Liquors

The Greater Roslyn Chamber of Commerce welcomed Halcyon Liquors to the community with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, March 16.

Owners Liz and Peter Heller were on hand to welcome customers and friends.

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Town of North Hempstead Councilman Peter Zuckerman wished them much success. Roslyn Chamber President Mimi Howard,

VP of Marketing and Public Relations, Barbara Kaplan, and board members Graciela Hall, Garnet Ardila, Melissa Spitalnick, Alicia Brown (and sister Natasha Brown), Howie Mann, Gwen Levy, and Wayne Wink, and member Alan Goldberg were able to enjoy some wine tastings.

Halcyon Liquors is located at 52 Glen Cove Road, Roslyn Heights. Their phone number is 516-625-0517.

Sixty-fve Roslyn High School students were among 2,600 participants who competed in the 2023 New York State DECA Competition—held at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center in Rochester, New York from March 8-10.

Nineteen of the Roslyn students qualifed for the national competition, to be held April 22-26 in Orlando, Florida. Forty-four students earned top ten medallions in 21 categories.

DECA is a not-for-proft student career organization that prepares young adults to become innovative leaders in four areas: marketing, hospitality, fnancing and management. They have 250,000 members worldwide. Students compete at the regional level, then the state level to reach the national/international level of competition.

Landmark adds Goldman to board

At the Feb. 6 meeting, the Roslyn Landmark Society Board of Trustees voted to appoint Cliford Goldman as a trustee.

Goldman has been a Roslyn area resident for the past 33 years along with his wife Amy and two children.

Goldman ran a textile and wallcovering company servicing the commercial architectural and design community for 39 years here on Long Island.

As a graduate of Washington University in St Louis, he majored in history and discovered how preserving architecture and design strengthens communities.

Goldman also currently sits on the

board of his company, Carnegie Fabrics, and the National Board of the Hydrocephalus Association, the largest non-proft which addresses the support, advocacy and research around the neurological condition.

Howard Kroplick, co-president of the Roslyn Landmark Society, commented “We are excited to be adding a new trustee to the Board with expertise in history and architecture. The passion Clif has for history will be an asset to the organization.” Jordan Fensterman, vice president and board development chair of the Roslyn Landmark Society said “I am thrilled to welcome Clif to the board

of trustees. We look forward to working with him in our eforts to preserve the historic structures in and around the Roslyn community.”

Webinar on water conservation

The Roslyn Water District, alongside the Port Washington Water District and Irrigation Association of New York, recently hosted their second virtual Irrigation Contractor Training Webinar.

The webinar helped to better educate irrigation contractors on fnding the most efective and efcient ways to aid residents in conserving water this irrigation season and follow the district’s 2023 irrigation guidelines. T he information providing during the event also serves as a means of furthering the RWD’s eforts to ensure that all residents have a plan to replace their standard irrigation controllers with smart irrigation controllers, something which all residents much have completed by January 1, 2025.

“Irrigation systems coming online is the biggest reason for the tremendous spike in water usage we see every spring and summer in the Roslyn Water District,” said RWD Superintendent Richard Passariello. “Irrigation contractors are very infuential when it comes to how residents operate their systems and providing them with resources to better educate their customers on how to conserve water

while irrigating their properties. We extend our thanks to those who attended and we are looking forward to seeing positive results as the weather gets warmer.”

During the webinar, RWD and PWWD ofcials spoke on the crucial nature of mandatory irrigation guidelines that all residents absolutely must follow during peak irrigation season. These mandatory requirements include complying with Nassau County’s Odd/Even Lawn Watering Ordinance, watering during designated times of day based on the village or hamlet in which a resident lives and reducing sprinkler time by at least two minutes per zone.

The mandatory switch from standard to smart irrigation controllers by Jan. 1, 2025 was also a focus of the webinar. Smart controllers are some of the most efective tools for limiting water use during irrigation season, as they use WiFi connections to read weather reports and assess the amount of rainfall one’s property might receive.

This makes sure that properties only receive the exact amount of water needed in order to remain healthy,

eliminating the issues that come with overwatering.

Mike Dwyer of the Irrigation Association of New York also spoke during the webinar. Dwyer, an irrigation contractor and owner of Hot Water Aplenty, addressed specifc techniques which contractors can use while installing irrigation systems to help their customers conserve.

This included drip irrigation, using check valves on all head replacements and using pressure-regulated bodies for repairs. He furthered the discussion on smart irrigation controllers, speaking on methods that contractors use to make sure they are most efective, including additions such as rain sensors, fow sensors and soil moisture sensors.

“As professionals of the industry, the Irrigation Association of New York understands the importance of water conservation when it comes to protecting our sole-source aquifer,” said Dwyer. “The IANY is proud to do our part in helping residents of the Port Washington and Roslyn Water Districts by providing our expertise to the irrigation contractors who service these communities.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROSLYN SCHOOL DISTRICT Roslyn High School students at the DECA competition.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROSLYN SCHOOL DISTRICT

A kindergarten student identifying her purchase as a grain.

The Greater Roslyn Chamber of Commerce welcomes Halcyon Liquors to the community.

Peters wins Roslyn Estates mayoral race

Continued from Page 1

from the public were in attendance, flling the courtroom almost entirely.

In his opening statement, Teichman said he wants to focus on implementing a stronger sense of community in the village if elected.

His goal is to foster a connection between residents and village hall. He said it is currently a place where people “fght to get their permits approved,” but it should be where people can share their suggestions for the village, learn how they can improve their houses and connect with people.

In his opening statement, Peters said his priority as mayor has been to serve the best interest of the entire village, not necessarily the interests of select individuals.

He said he supports the village’s code, which is intended to protect the village from “uncontrolled development, architectural eye sores and the ravaging of our characteristic landscape,” in order to keep property values high and “preserve the unique environment that makes Roslyn Estates so desirable and valuable.”

One member of the public asked the candidates if they support and plan to enforce the newly developed tree code, which preserves trees throughout the village.

While both candidates said they support the preservation of trees, they disagreed about the efectiveness of the code.

Teichman said he wants to protect the trees, but many are being removed for various reasons and the village has been unable to stop it.

“I think we need to make a code that ac-

Video roils EWSD meeting

Continued from Page 4

Fordin went on to speak about the Project Veritas content, saying the organization has used deceptive practices in the past and seeks to stoke division: “What these videos actually show are educators doing their jobs; teachers making good faith attempts to serve their students and communities while expressing caution and awareness that these are very sensitive issues… [Project Veritas and its allies] threaten our students, the cohesion of our community and the integrity of our profession.”

From those claiming that students’ developing minds are not suitable for the teachings of DEI to the teachers looking to protect their role as trustworthy educators, it was apparent that this dilemma has created division in East Williston.

The board did not make any comments that suggested the opening of an investigation.

In responding to comments from parents about inappropriate library materials, Board President Mark Kamberg explained that library texts are chosen based on “age appropriate recommendations from a variety of professional organizations, including the American Library Association, School Library Journal, and Common Sense Media.”

tually works and that people can use and understand so that trees aren’t removed without permission and that trees when people have good reason to remove them, can be removed,” Teichman said.

Peters, who rewrote the code with the board “intentionally to make it more organized, more even-handed and simpler to apply without debate in every meeting of the [Architectural Review Board (ARB)],” said he supports the current code.

Teichman also said the village’s codes on building are unclear and not concise, lending to prolonged periods to get permits approved.

This response was prompted by a question about a statement Teichman made to Blank Slate about it taking 10-12 meetings to get some

permits approved. He asked the candidates if there are examples where this happened.

Teichman could not confrm the meetings number since he is not in village hall. But he said it took more than three meetings to get his tree project approved.

Peters said he was not aware of an instance where it took 10-12 meetings for a permit to be approved. He said the village recently improved the process to include the ARB and the arborist at the beginning, which he said has been fairly efective in streamlining the procedure.

When asked about preserving the specialty of Roslyn Estates, Peters said he would continue his current eforts through the village code. He said it is drafted to beneft the entire village by maintaining the village’s architectural integrity,

landscaping and mitigating neighborhood impacts.

“If it were up to me, we would continue to maintain that heritage and the integrity of the original plan of Roslyn Estates as much as possible and to minimize overdevelopment and crowding,” Peters said.

While Teichman agreed that the village’s heritage should be preserved, he said there should be solutions to incentivize preserving the older homes, which he said younger homeowners are not interested in.

“Because the reality is if we protect [the historical homes], they’re going to decrease the value because fewer people will be interested,” Teichman said.

When asked what they believe to be the village’s biggest problem, both candidates agreed that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s housing plan poses the biggest threat.

The plan would require local governments to rezone areas within a half mile of Metropolitan Transportation Authority rail stations, including the Long Island Rail Road, within three years to increase housing.

“That plan would basically override our zoning and our home rule and make it so that we no longer have any control over our environment,” Peters said. “It would change the character of every village on Long Island.”

The debate ended with the candidates providing two-minute closing statements.

Peters warned that the village is “being attacked” by two forces, one being the governor’s proposed housing plan and the other being individuals who want to transform the village “into a no-holds-barred, treeless, crowded suburb with no sense of community or concern for our neighbors” by altering the village’s code.

Teichman concluded by pledging that if elected he would work for the community and its interests.

“I was raised with the values of service and I’ve spent my whole life working to achieve those goals,” Teichman said. “Now I have the opportunity to do more and to help Roslyn Estates become even better.”

Residents can vote for a mayoral candidate, as well as two trustees, on March 21 at the village hall, 25 The Tulips, from noon until 9 p.m.

NCPD refuses to give NYCLU reports

Continued from Page 2

The board was established in 1993 by former New York City Mayor David Dinkins and the New York City Council.

“In many instances, the Citizen Complaint Review Board has undertaken an investigation, gathered evidence and found that misconduct occurred and an ofcer did, in fact, do something inappropriate and recommended levels of discipline all the way up to fring,” Hodgson said.

Hodgson said every county or municipalities situation may not be indicative of New York City’s, but said having the proper reports, statistics and resources for looking into alleged misconduct can aid in efective policing.

“Having independent oversight creates some control for people who are not part of the police agency themselves,” Hodgson said.

Some Nassau’s Democratic legislators, in 2021, called for New York Attorney General Letitia James to establish a third-party oversight ofce for the county’s police department.

Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-

Freeport), Legislator Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury) and Legislator Carrié Solages (D-Lawrence) all signed a letter sent in March 2021 after the county Legislature approved a plan to reform and reinvent policing put forward by former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo had required police departments across the state to provide reform plans following the George Floyd murder in Minneapolis by a police ofcer.

James, in a letter sent to the legislators in mid-April, acknowledged the benefts of establishing a remote ofce and criticized the county for not including “meaningful checks on law enforcement.” She also cited the lack of necessary funding to establish a remote oversight ofce in Nassau.

As of now, the county relies on the state Law Department’s Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Ofce for oversight of the police department. The legislators proposed to have a regional branch of the ofce focus solely on any misconduct in the department.

Nassau County currently leaves reviews of

possible misconduct to the police themselves and from 2016 to 2021 reported zero “founded” cases of false arrest and excessive force.

But during that time 30 people won court judgments against county police for 41 allegations.

For 38 of the allegations, the Nassau County Attorney’s ofce paid money to settle the case while also barring the accuser from speaking publicly about the allegations.

Hodgson said the New York Civil Liberties Union has run into similar stalemates with “many other police departments” in New York.

The organization made requests to more than a dozen agencies in the state, some “fghting tooth and nail to either delay or outright deny” the union’s Freedom of Information Law requests.

“At this point, I would say Nassau is behind the curve,” he said. “We are eagerly awaiting more productions and for these cases to move forward in court against Nassau.”

PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES

Todd Teichman, left, and Mayor Paul Peters, right, debated in front of a crowd of 50 members of the public on March 19. Both are running for the office of Roslyn Estates Mayor.

New map gives Dems in county big edge

Continued from Page 1

of transparency in developing the 2023 map. They contend that the Republican map allows ofcials to select their representatives rather than the public.

Nassau’s electoral district maps are redrawn every 10 years based on the federal census to redraw boundaries that refect population changes.

The analysis also showed that President Joe Biden would have received more votes in 14 of the 19 legislative districts adopted by the Legislature on Feb. 27, despite winning in nine of the districts under the current map adopted in 2013. The recently approved 7th District is the only one with more registered Democrats that Biden would not have won.

Demographics and party enrollment data, ofcials said, was compiled by the City University of New York. Data from the 2020 presidential election, ofcials said, was published by the Harvard Dataverse.

Though Biden would have won more districts under the recently approved map, former President Donald Trump’s vote share would have increased in 10 districts in the new format.

More than 366,000 Nassau residents were registered Democrats as of 2022, compared to 281,000 Republicans, according to the data. The 19 legislative districts average 19,294 Democrats and 14,800 Republicans.

More than 238,000 Nassau residents are not registered to a specifc party, an average of 12,575 per district, according to the data. Each district also averages 2,147 residents enrolled as Conservatives, Working Families Party members or another afliation.

Detailed data from the 2020 U.S. census showed that Nassau County’s white, non-Hispanic population decreased by nearly 10 percent, while its Asian American population increased by more than 4 percent.

The Hispanic or Latino population rose by more than 31 percent, growing from 14.6 percent in 2010 to 18.4 percent in 2020. While data showed that Nassau’s Black population remained at 10.5 percent over the decade, it did in-

crease by 4.2 percent.

The 6th District, under the newly adopted map, becomes the county’s ffth minority district, according to the data. Prior to the approval, only Districts 1, 2, 3 and 5 had minority populations outweighing the white population, data showed.

Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) said there is likely no scenario in which the maps “will not be challenged in court,” following the adoption of the maps in February.

“By passing this illegal map, the Republican Majority has recklessly placed Nassau County on a collision course towards numerous lawsuits that will ultimately cost taxpayers millions of dollars,” Abrahams said.

Eforts to reach Abrahams for further comment on the maps based on the data analysis were unavailing.

Daniel Schrafel, communications

director for the minority caucus, said in a statement that using voting data from the 2020 presidential election to construct a new map is “particularly misleading.”

“Only apples-to-apples comparisons of performance should be used to judge the fairness of a map,” Schrafel said in a statement to Blank Slate Media. “When that standard is applied, the severity of the extreme partisan gerrymander that was adopted on Feb. 27 comes clearly into focus.”

Abrahams also bashed the GOP proposal for “diluting the voting power of minority communities across” Nassau County, including having an “Asian-American infuence district.”

The map, he said, goes against parts of the federal Voting Rights Act and the John. R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York.

The 1st District has an increased

number of enrolled Republicans in the new map as opposed to the current map, but still has more than 21,000 Democrats compared to 10,000 Republicans, according to the data.

Nicolello said that having a “perfect” redistricting process is an “impossible” task and touted the fairness of the newly-drawn districts.

“This map is a fair map, it provides equal representation for all our residents and protects community interests as much as possible,” Nicolello said following the adoption.

Nicolello also said the Legislature did everything in its power to follow the federal and state requirements when drawing the lines.

“This map is not gerrymandered to favor Republicans,” Nicolello said.

Democratic county Legislator Arnold Drucker, in a statement last month, expressed his displeasure with the proposal that splits Plainview and redraws the lines in his district.

“The current proposal is an extreme partisan gerrymander that carves apart Plainview and other communities across the 16th Legislative District,” Drucker said. “This is not about the political fate of one person over another – it is much more signifcant. This is a brazen attempt to dilute and render irrelevant the voices of all Democrats residing in the 16th District and it must not stand.”

Legislator Josh Lafazan will be pushed into the 16th Legislative District, represented by Drucker, according to the map.

The villages of Roslyn, Roslyn Harbor and parts of Glenwood Landing are included in the 11th District, with Greenvale, East Hills and other parts of Glenwood Landing in the 18th District, Roslyn Estates in the 10th District and parts of Roslyn Heights in the 9th District, according to the new map.

Other changes to North Shore areas include the expansion of the 10th District into Munsey Park, Plandome and Plandome Manor.

DeSena accuses town Dems of sabotage

Continued from Page 2

Plandome Road Business district deserve this project,” DeSena said. “It’s incredibly sad to see all of these things sacrifced by the majority councilmembers to bolster their own political power, as they’re presumably looking to dole out these federal funds to their own pet projects.”

Town Democrats during the January Town Board meeting voted to postpone the vote on allocating the funds to the March meeting as they awaited a meeting with the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District related to the costs of the project, among other things.

Businesses along Plandome Road in Manhasset have repeatedly complained about the high cost of maintaining private septic tanks with some saying pumps have to be examined on a weekly basis.

Businesses and restaurants along

Plandome Road can pay as much as $50,000 to $70,000 annually to pump their septic tanks, they said. Some have also said they pay more than $500,000 a year to maintain their systems.

Connecting new sewers on Plandome Road to the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District’s system would have cost roughly $12 million to serve around 80 Plandome Road businesses and building owners, according to the 2020 feasibility study conducted by Cameron Engineering.

Donno told Blank Slate Media the chamber’s attorney, Babylon-based Matthew McDonough, has been evaluating similar uses of federal funds such as Sea Clif and Huntington Station for their sewer projects.

He said McDonough has been speaking with town Attorney John Chiara to provide him with the necessary

precedent for the town to be able to move forward with committing to the project.

In Sea Clif, 230 property owners were ofered up to $7,500 in county recovery funds to connect to the village’s enlarged sanitary sewer system, according to the inter-municipal agreement that was approved last year.

In Huntington Station, $66 million in state funding was committed to the Huntington Station sewer project, which will allow neighborhoods of New York Avenue in Huntington Station to connect to the expanded sewer system in the business district, according to a release from Sufolk County.

Work is expected to begin in February 2024 and be completed by April 2027.

DeSena said the ARPA money would be used to partially reimburse

expenses for businesses on Plandome incurred from connecting to a new sewer line, which is being funded by a $5 million state grant secured by state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (D-Port Washington) and then-state Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills)

“I believe now is the time for action, as the Town has been presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make this dream a reality. Utilizing these federal funds, coupled with the $5 million grant secured by Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti in furtherance of this project, this project stands to cost local taxpayers next to nothing to complete a project that will beneft so many,” DeSena said.

A previous version of this story was published. It has since been updated.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NASSAU COUNTY LEGISLATURE

The newly adopted Nassau County legislative district map.

Denton Ave. kids get board update Herricks breakfast survey

At the March 9 Herricks Board of Education meeting, Denton Avenue Elementary School Principal Dominick Tolipano along with eight students welcomed members of the board and the Herricks school community.

Students and staf of Denton Avenue were pleased to host the March meeting and showcase their school. Prior to the start of the meeting,

students shared some of their favorite aspects of what makes Denton so special, including the positive tone set each day with a Morning Meeting to the ways students beneft from having access to one-to-one technology at their fngertips.

The district extends thanks and appreciation to the Denton Avenue Elementary PTA for their support of making the meeting successful.

Denton Avenue Elementary School students and staff surrounded by members of the Herricks Board of Education and administration at the March 9 meeting.

The Herricks School District will be conducting a survey of parents and guardians of students in Kindergarten through sixth grade who attend the Center Street, Denton Avenue, and Searingtown Elementary Schools and the Herricks Middle School to determine if there is any interest in a school breakfast program. If insufcient interest is determined, an exemption to participate in the breakfast pro-

gram will be requested by the Herricks Board of Education to the New York State Education Department. Parents and taxpayers are asked to share their concerns regarding the district’s survey and exemption by contacting Kimberly James, District Food Service Director at Herricks High School, 100 Shelter Rock Road, New Hyde Park, NY 11040 or by calling 516-3058752.

Mineola teacher named state Master Teacher

Mineola Union Free School District congratulates high school Computer Science teacher Kuri DiFede on being named a 2022 New York State Master Teacher.

Ms. DiFede’s classes at Mineola High School include AP Computer Science A, Python and Web Development. She also runs the asynchronous computer science program, giving students who can’t ft traditional computer science classes into their schedule access to the classes. In addition, Ms. DiFede is the Computer Science teacher leader, coach of the FRC and FTC Robotics teams and advisor for the Computer Science Honor Society. She has been a member of the Mineola High School faculty since 2016.

“Joining the Master Teacher program has allowed me to interact with educators from a variety of STEM disciplines from across the state, sharing experience and exchanging ideas that will immediately beneft our learners,” said Ms. DiFede. “This amazing program has also given me the unique opportunity to further my own professional development, gathering knowledge and inspiration that I can share with my fellow teachers.”

“Ms. DiFede is a wonderful educator and resource for both students and her colleagues,” said Mineola Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Nagler. “As a teacher leader in the Mineola School District she

already provides leadership to our computer science department. Now, as a selected member of the NYS Master Teacher Program, she will have another way to continue to hone her craft while collaborating among top STEM educators in the state.”

This achievement is part of the New York State Master Teacher Program (NYSMTP), a professional coalition of K-12 public school teachers who share a common interest for STEM learning and for collaborating with their colleagues to inspire and engage the next generation of STEM leaders. Ms. DiFede is one of 221 educators to be selected to join this network of teaching professionals, known as Master Teachers.

Aiding those fleeing Ukraine EWSD artists work at exhibit

With help from the East Williston community and fellow students, The Wheatley School student Emma Azevedo spearheaded an efort to send much-needed supplies for citizens of Ukraine displaced due to the war.

The Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine campaign began with a desire to extend hope and encouragement to families who have lost their homes and belongings and to remind them that the world is prepared to

help. Over 50 students contributed by writing messages of hope that were included with the items and helped load the donations into the container.

Once the donations were ready to be delivered, Emma worked with Ukrainian Charitable Foundation “Pomogaem” to ensure that the items, which included medical supplies, clothing and personal hygiene items, will be distributed as soon as possible to those most in need.

With help from the East Williston community and fellow students, The Wheatley School student Emma Azevedo spearheaded an effort to send much-needed supplies for citizens of Ukraine displaced due to the war.

Albertson Hook, Ladder installation

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Council Member Peter Zuckerman attended the Albertson Hook & Ladder Engine & Hose Company Number 1, Inc.’s 113th Annual Installation and Inspection Dinner Dance at the Royalton in Roslyn on March 11.

The event celebrated Chief Joel Melamed and the

outstanding members of the company for their hard work and dedication in protecting residents.

The Albertson Fire Company serves the Albertson, Searingtown, and Roslyn Heights communities. It is made up of volunteer members who work around the clock and provide fre protection and emergency rescue response.

Albertson Fire Department installation abd dinner dance Saturday, March 3 at the Royalton Mansion in Roslyn Heights.

Six students from The Wheatley School in East Williston will have their art displayed at the Art Supervisors Association All-County Art Exhibition to be held on Mar. 19 at Long Beach High School.

Emma Azevedo, Allison Be-

laks, Shannon Flachner, Maya George, Fotini Lountzis and Robert Marasia were nominated by their art teachers for the honor. The art that was selected for the exhibition includes sculpture, photography, drawing and mixed media.

be held on March 19. Emma Azevedo, left, Robert Marasia, Shannon Flachner, Maya George, Fotini Lountzis and Allison Belaks, right.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

PHOTO COURTESY OF MINEOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT

PHOTO COURTESY OF EAST WILLISTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

PHOTO COURTESY OF EAST WILLISTON SCHOOL DISTRICT East Williston students from The Wheatley School display their art selected for the Art Supervisors Association All-County Art Exhibition to

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“Is this world changing? No, but what the county executive did today because I went in and asked him, I think that makes a little difference and I felt like that was good use of my purpose,” Trottere said. “I have a little more purpose now.”

got the email inviting her attend, but she described it as divine intervention.

“I really felt my son was guiding me when I was ready to do it,” Trottere said.

As Alex was her only child, she said she felt like she had lost a part of her identity, questioning who she was and her purpose. This was the worst part of the five years following her son’s death, she said.

is to have the conversation about drugs with their kids. Regardless of who their child is and the activities they engage in, she said that this is an issue that has the potential to affect anyone, even the “good kids.”

As her son’s death nears the five-year anniversary, she said during most of the interim she didn’t think much about engaging in overdose prevention advocacy. Not until last fall when she attended a DEA summit in New York City for parents who had lost a child to substance use. She said the purpose of the summit was for the administration to speak with grieving parents and recruit them for drug education and awareness purposes.

To this day she’s unaware of how she

But engaging in advocacy for overdose prevention and education brought her a sense of purpose again. Since she hadhad a career in public relations, formerly serving as the executive assistant for Democratic Minority Leader Bruce Nyman, Trottere said this opportunity felt like something she could do.

“This is something you should talk to your children about, even if you think ‘I never have to worry about my kid touching an illegal drug.’” Trottere said. “It’s a dangerous world now for young people.”

She said what drives her to continue this work is to prevent parents like her from experiencing the death of a child due to an overdose.

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Sports

Manhasset girls go far, but fall short

Lose in state semifinals to Canandaigua Academy 55-42 as early proves too hard to beat

BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS

They didn’t go away. They fought to the end.

The Manhasset girls basketball team never could quite grab the advantage in Friday’s Class A state semifnal game at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.

Playing against Canandaigua Academy, the Long Island champions fell behind 8-0 early but kept nipping at the Braves’ heels, refusing to let a dream season die easily.

The Indians climbed back in the game numerous times, but each time they cut the defcit to two or three points, Canandiaigua would make a little spurt to get further ahead.

It was supremely frustrating for Manhasset, and ultimately, the defcits were too much to overcome. The Braves, thanks to outstanding 3-point shooting, pulled away in the fnal few minutes and won, 55-42.

“We got so close to closing the gap, so many times,” Manhasset head coach Lauren Sadeh said. “We were 1-2 possessions away, a lot of times. Psychologically, just looking up and seeing the score tied, would’ve been big. But we just couldn’t make enough shots.”

The pattern repeated itself throughout the game: The Indians (24-2) closed the gap many times: At 10-8, they were a bucket away from tying it, but Canandaigua scored four straight to get the lead back to six. Then it was 15-14, Braves, but four quick points spurted Canandaigua back in front.

It was like a race where the lead runner let the pack catch up or a bit, then pulled away just as they were about to lose the lead.

Manhasset, normally a good outside shooting team, picked a very unfortunate day to have a bad night from the perimeter, going 1-for-18 from behind the 3-point line.

Shooters go through slumps, it happens to everyone, and unfortunately, it happened to Mia (LoPinto) and our other shooters today,” Sadeh said. “We kept fring away, I told them to keep shooting, they just weren’t going down.”

Still, Manhasset kept fghting. Senior center Ali McIntyre was a force inside, scoring 12 points and ripping down 11 rebounds, while junior Lauren Perfetto had 10 points and nine boards. Junior Nicoletta Tsiamis also had 11 points and eight rebounds.

Canandaigua did an excellent job on Manhasset senior star Caitlin Barrett, holding her to seven points, and forcing her to work hard on both ends of the foor.

“She had to do a lot defensively, trying to contain their bigger players, and then run our ofense,” Sadeh said. “She was working double time on both.”

The Indians, trailing by fve at the half, weren’t panicking, Sadeh said. The six-point comeback in the fnal 80 seconds of the Long Island Championship game a week earlier was a rallying point.

“We said in the locker room, hey, we scored six points in a minute, we have the whole half left to make up this defcit,” Sadeh said.

But it wasn’t to be. Despite Tsiamis maybe having her best game of the season (“she doesn’t back down from anyone, she doesn’t care, she’s just fearless,” Sadeh marveled) the closest Manhasset could come was within 2 points in the third quarter.

In the fourth, Manhasset had one last push, as Tsiamis made two free throws to cut the defcit to fve, 39-34.

But a steal and layup, and another bucket from Canandaigua moved the gap to nine, and Manhasset was fnally put away.

Still, a few hours after the game on the drive down I-87, Sadeh took a moment to marvel at the season.

First Nassau County championship since 1993. First Long Island championship in 30

years. A team she absolutely loved coaching, something she admits she hasn’t always been able to say in 12 years as Manhasset’s leader.

The Indians got to play from practice in October all the way until St. Patrick’s Day, and so much had to go right to get them to this place.

It started with senior leadership; McIntyre and Barrett were “exactly what you’d want from captains, they did the right things and were such good examples for the younger kids,” Sadeh said. “And Mia too, this was her fourth year in the program, and she was part of the leadership group.

“You had every girl on the team be all in, commitment-wise from day one,” Sadeh added. “That is very, very rare. Nobody put other things in their life ahead of this team, and that’s the frst team I’ve ever had that I can say that about.”

Throw in a heaping dose of luck: The Indians had no major injuries and no sicknesses to deal

with, another extremely rare thing for a coach to see.

“A lot of things have to line up to have this kind of season,” Sadeh said. “We accomplished an insane amount, we got better as the season went along, and the kids just kept fghting and wanting to be here.”

Manhasset fell just two wins short of the ultimate goal any program sets, but there’s no doubt this season was an enormous success.And with juniors like Perfetto and Tsiamis and LoPinto back next year, along with young contributors like freshman Lauren Connolly and junior Chrisi Ladopoulos, Manhasset has a chance to have another outstanding season next fall.“We were all in this together from Day 1, and to see how much we accomplished is just amazing,” Barrett said after the Long Island championship win. “I just love playing with everyone on this team. Every single person.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTIN PERFETTO

The Manhasset girls basketball team lost in the state semifinals on Friday.

Sports

Herricks wrestling season wrap-up

Joseph Mattie finishes 2nd in state tournament as Highlanders finish 29th out of 136 teams

BY SUSAN MATTEI

Bellmore JFK County Qualifer – Feb. 4

The Herricks Highlanders competed in its county qualifer at Bellmore JFK High School on February 4. It was a very challenging qualifer including MacArthur, Bellmore JFK, Levittown Division, Baldwin, Glen Cove, Roslyn, and Valley Stream North.

At the completion of the tournament, Herricks had the following eight All-Conference wrestlers, with top fve place-winners advancing to the County/Section Championship:

102 lbs (6th): Nehan Yasir

126 lbs (1st): Joseph Manfredi

132 lbs (1st): Michael Manfredi

160 lbs (1st): Joseph Mattei

189 lbs (2nd): Cooper LaRock

215 lbs (5th): Hughie Santosus

285 lbs (2nd): Alex Cabrera

285 lbs (3rd): Amr Ibrahim

In addition, Joseph Mattei earned the most pins in least time award with fve pins in 4:36 minutes.

Nassau County Championship – Feb. 11 and 12

On February 11 and 12, Herricks entered the Nassau County/Section 8 Wrestling Championship at Hofstra University. The top fve Highlander place-winners from the previous week’s qualifer at Bellmore JFK competed in the event. Each of the 13 weight classes had approximately 26 wrestlers seeded according to this season’s performance.

On Sunday, Feb. 12, Highlanders had three All-County wrestlers, including one champion. The following is how all the wrestlers performed:

Joseph Manfredi, junior (126 lbs) – defending 110 lb State and County champion, was third seed in the weight class, went 4-1 over the two days and advanced to the semi-fnals. He lost in the semi-fnals and placed 3rd, qualifying for the State tournament.

Michael Manfredi, senior (132 lbs) – a returning County place winner, was fourth seed in the weight class, went 3-2 in the tournament and placed 6th in the County.

Joseph Mattei, senior (160 lbs) – a returning County fnalist and state place winner, was frst seed in the weight class, went 5-0 and was crowned county champ. He did not have a single point scored on him during the entire tournament and also won the Tom Hennigan Most Pins Least Time award, with four pins in 4:11 minutes and also advanced to the State tournament.

Cooper LaRock, senior (189 lbs) – was sixth seed in the weight class, went 2-2, losing to the 3rd place fnisher in the championship round and lost in the blood round to the eventual 6th place fnisher. He was a top-eight fnisher in the County.

Hughie Santosus, sophomore (215 lbs) –was unseeded, lost two competitive matches in the championship and consolation rounds and

was eliminated after the frst day.

Alex Cabrera, senior (285 lbs) – was eleventh seed in the weight class, went 3-2, losing to the 6th place fnisher in the championship round and losing in the blood round to the eventual 5th place fnisher. He was a top-eight fnisher in the County.

Amr Ibrahim, senior (285 lbs) – was twelfth seed in the weight class, was 3-2 on the day with losses to the eventual 1st and 6th place fnishers. He was a top twelve fnisher in the County.

The Herricks Highlanders ended up with 92 team points in the County/Section 8 Championship, placing eighth out of 40 teams.

New York State Championship – Feb. 24 and 25

On February 24 and 25, Herricks entered the New York State Wrestling Tournament Championship at the MVP Arena in Albany. The Highlanders had two qualifers from the Section Championship, Joseph Manfredi at 126 lbs and Joseph Mattei at 160 lbs. Manfredi earned the fourth seed while Mattei secured the third seed in a 21 man bracket. Unfortunately, shortly before the tournament began, Joseph Manfredi had to withdraw due to an illness.

Mattei went 3-1 in the tournament, placing second with a tough 7-6 loss in the fnal. He had two wins by pin and another by decision before the fnals loss. Mattei fnished his high school career with 188 wins and 138 pins over fve years of wrestling which included a lost year due to Covid in 2021.

The Herricks team ended up with 24 team points in the State Championship, tying for 29th place out of 136 teams.

Special thanks to Coaches Eric Goldberg, Thomas LaMaida and Robert Bianco for a great season and to all those who came out and supported the team.

The following are the wrestlers comprising the 2022-2023 Herricks Wrestling team with their season records:

Abbas Rizvi (Fr. 1-11), Rodin Rayany (Jr. 10-25), Dane Saji (So. 4-20), Raphael Cruz (Fr. 5-2), Brandon Leong (So. 7-17), Ryan Verma (Sr. 3-23), Ayaan Ghafar (So. 19-8), Joseph Manfredi (Fr. 46-2), Enzo Peralta (So. 19-15), Alex Espinoza (Capt. Sr. 11-17), Jesus Yeh (Jr. 9-22), Ayaan Sharma (Fr. 6-7), Michael Manfredi (Capt. Sr. 27-3), Earfon Rad (So 15-9), Joshua Lee (Fr 7-4), Samir Ebrahim (Jr 20-14), Riley Royals (Jr), Landon Lee (8th 25-9), Orlando Salinas (Sr. 2-4), Matthew Rapa (Jr. 12-9), Varnith Samala (Fr. 0-5), Jesse Royals (Jr. 1113), Yuvraj Singh (Fr. 2-19), Jonathan Penfold (Fr. 2-0), Jonathan Sukhraj (Jr. 14-13), Joseph Mattei (Capt. Sr. 42-3.), Nawat Tipmanee (Jr. 7-10), James Maggio (Fr.3-8), Joseph Puvogel (Jr. 7-12), Aryan Sharma (So. 9-6), Cooper LaRock (Capt. 31-10), Shuo Rosario (Jr. 5-5), Jake Stein (Fr. 0-8), Jaime Sanchez (So. 5-17), Hughie Santosus (So. 22-14), Costas Dafnos (Fr. 10-16), Kiriakos Dafnos (So. 14-13), Alex Cabrera (Sr. 26-3), Amr Ibrahim (Sr. 27-10)

Joseph Mattei, 160 lbs, county champ and state finalist

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