Roslyn Times2023_08_25

SCHOOLS & EDUCATION BLAKEMAN SAYS NO MIGRANTS IN COLISEUM

PAGES 21-28

TOWN COMPTROLLER RESIGNS SUDDENLY

GOP mailers turn local races nasty early

N. Hempstead supervisor candidates, Lafazan subject of fliers’ attacks

BY CAMERYN OAKES

With a little more than two months before the Nov. 7 election, campaigns have begun to heat up as a series of mailers – targeting both Democrat and Republican candidates – have been sent out to homes locally.

The main candidates targeted through these mailers are the two Town of North Hempstead Supervisor candidates, incumbent Jennifer DeSena and Jon Kaiman, as well as Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (D–Woodbury) – who is running for re-election in District 18 and in the race for New York’s Third Congressional District in 2024.

A mailer produced by Kaiman’s campaign claimed that DeSena runs a “negative campaign” and is backed by anti-choice and pro-gun conservative and Republican parties.

The mailer states that she “defines herself on day one throwing dirt, lies, and smears,” alongside a photo of her with Rep. George Santos (NY-03) with a quote expressing her support for the embattled representative.

The reverse side of the mailer includes supportive claims for Kaiman’s candidacy. With a statement at the top that “Democrats choose honors, integrity and experience.” It’s followed by initiatives that Kaiman has achieved

INDIA INDEPENDENCE DAY

during his tenure in politics, political offices he has held over the past 25 years and issues supported on his platform.

DeSena’s campaign provided a statement to Blank Slate regarding the mailer from Kaiman’s campaign targeting her.

“Jon Kaiman is a ‘serial tax-hiker’ who voted himself a massive taxpayerfunded salary increase, and he presided over one of the most corruption-riddled towns in the history of municipal government,” the statement said. “He can run to Suffolk for his latest taxpayerfunded job, but he can’t hide from his shameful record as supervisor.”

Kaiman also fell subject to a series of political mailers paid for by the New York Republican State Committee, which claimed he was soft on crime and presided over corruption while he previously served as North Hempstead’s supervisor.

Included on one of the mailers is a list of where they sourced their information, attributing it to local news sources and legal case documents.

Kaiman said at the opening of the Democratic campaign headquarters in Great Neck on Sunday that four mailers in total targeted his campaign just in the month of August. He said that the committee spent $100,000 on the mailers.

Continued on Page 41

Clients say owed millions from G.N. antiques dealer

BY CAMERYN OAKES

A group of individuals have banded together in an online support group over their mutual frustrations dealing with local estate and antique store owner Vahid Peter Khorshad, who they claim owes them millions of dollars. But Khorshad’s attorney said he is taking recent actions to remedy these claims.

Khorshad, with his wife, owns three antique stores located in Great Neck, Bayside, Queens, and Manhat-

tan.

Daniel Roubeni of Great Neck learned about Khorshad’s estate and antique store through hn is neighbor, who had also given antiques to Khorashad to sell. He said she was not aware that she was a “victim” prior to recommending Khorshad.

Roubeni, who was moving out of his home, sold his antique Louis XIV table to Khorshad in 2018, which was appraised at $50,000.

Shortly after, Roubeni’s neighbor told him Khorshad had not paid her

yet and Roubeni said he began to get nervous.

Roubeni said he reached out to Khorshad about his table but that Khorshad said it was in California and had been sold. When he asked for his money, Roubeni said Khorshad told him he had lent it to someone else.

Efforts to contact Khorshad were unavailing after years of back-andforth communication occurred with Khorshad, Roubeni said, and the excuses Khorshad provided changed

Continued on Page 42

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD

The Town of North Hempstead hosted an India Independence Day celebration at Town Hall in Manhasset.

Democrats open headquarters in G.N.

Candidates pledge strong governance at opening

BY BRANDON DUFFY

North Hempstead Comptroller Kristen Schwaner resigned from her position Friday, effectively immediately, according to town officials.

Schwaner, who was set to make $160,000 this year, was unanimously appointed to the role in April after an extensive bipartisan search process.

The comptroller position had been left vacant before then since January 2022, when Tania Orenstein resigned alongside the town’s deputy comptroller.

Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said it will be a challenge to again present a tentative budget without a full-time comptroller.

“Kristen’s resignation is certainly a disappointing turn of events, as she was proving herself to be an excellent comptroller and I was looking forward to crafting next year’s budget with her on my team,” DeSena said in a statement.

The supervisor added that she is committed to offering a record-setting tax cut with her tentative budget this fall.

“Our comptroller will be missed and undoubtedly preparing a budget without her will again present some challenges, but I successfully did it last year while offering the largest tax cut in Town history, and I will be offering another record-setting tax cut for our residents next month when I submit my tentative budget for 2024,” DeSena said.

Last October, DeSena submitted amendment proposals to her original $158.4 million budget that included an 11% tax cut that did not pass in a board vote.

The seven-member board then unanimously passed amendments from Council Member Veronica Lurvey that included a 5% tax cut.

Prior to Schwaner’s appointment, Finance Director Paul Wood was appointed interim comptroller. The town board can appoint Schwaner’s replacement, which can include someone outside the town, at a town board meeting, which is currently scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 5.

R. Estates extends noise hearing Bill would aid village enforcement

BY CAMERYN OAKES

The Roslyn Estates Board of Trustees opened a public hearing Monday night for its new law proposal that would amend its current noise ordinance to address issues presented to the board by residents.

Village Attorney Christopher

Prior said the board has considered changes to the noise ordinance in order to better enforce noise complaints, which he said is difficult due to the nature of their subjectivity.

Changes proposed would include a noise complaint qualified by a reasonable person with normal sensitivities, a prohibition that seasonally restricts gas-powered leaf blowers from June 15-Sept. 15 and an updated penalty provision that would impose escalating fines for repeat offenders.

Prior said the ordinance would be enforced through the testimony of neighbors who hear the noise disturbance.

Trustee Stephen Fox said he consulted his gardener about the addition of a seasonal prohibition of gas-powered leaf blowers. He said his gardener told him that if

the law as is was enacted, he might be forced to leave the neighborhood as electric leaf blowers are cost-prohibitive.

Fox said his gardener implored him not to pass the ordinance amendment.

“I’m fairly sensitive to a small business owner being so concerned about one law creating an enormous cost to his small business,” Fox said.

He said his gardener told him the electric leaf blowers are not powerful enough and prohibitively expensive to maintain as they are required to be charged consistently and need specialized equipment to do so.

Fox said the options for gardeners then are to either not work in the village or increase pricing for residents.

Mayor Paul Peters argued that blowing leaves is not an issue during the summer months when the prohibition would be enacted. He said the reasoning behind including the prohibition was to reduce noise and diminish fumes emitted from the leaf blowers.

Continued on Page 42

DeSena has to submit a tentative budget to the other six members of the town board by the end of September. Last year, budget hearings were held in October with the final vote to approve being held in November prior to Election Day.

This year’s schedule will be set at the Sept. 5 meeting.

Schwaner’s resignation comes after the town board accepted at their last meeting the resignation of Moira La Barbera, the director of purchasing.

Lurvey said two major resignations around the same time are “highly unusual.”

“It’s really concerning for the functioning of the town,” Lurvey said. “I’m not sure what’s going on.”

The council member said she first heard of Schwaner’s absence this week when an email she sent came back with an automated response that she’s no longer with the town. Lurvey added tha she does not know the circumstances of Schwaner’s resignation.

North Hempstead’s current budget for the year is approximately $163 million. The town also has maintained an Aaa bond rating for 13 years, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

Efforts to reach Schwaner and La Barbera for comments were unavailing.

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

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PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES

The Roslyn Estates Board of Trustees opened a public hearing Monday night for a new bill that would amend the village’s noise ordinance.

PHOTO BY KARINA KOVAC

Democratic headquarters opened on Middle Neck Road Sunday, where Jon Kaiman, Veronica Lurvey, Christine Lui, Peter Zuckerman and Mariann Dalimonte have set up their offices.

DeRiggi-Whitton cites unfinished business in campaign

Nassau County legislator seeking seventh term focused on opioid crisis, gov transparency

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D–Glen Cove), a 12-year Nassau County legislator who has been a staunch advocate for measures combatting the opioid crisis and government transparency, is seeking another term in the Legislature with the goal to bring some of her current projects to fruition.

“I really feel that there’s a lot of work that’s still going to be done,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.

Nassau County will hold an election on Nov. 7 for all 19 of its County Legislature districts.

DeRiggi-Whitton is seeking her seventh term as a Nassau County District 11 legislator, facing off against Republican challenger John Stalzer. The district encompasses Sands Point, Port Washington, Roslyn, Roslyn Harbor, Glen Head, Glenwood, Sea Cliff and Glen Cove.

The legislator said she considers herself a moderate Democrat who doesn’t “vote down the line.”

Prior to her time in the legislature, DeRiggi-Whitton served two terms as a Glen Cove Councilmember.

DeRiggi-Whitton graduated from Hofstra University and previously worked as a senior claims adjustor for State Farm.

Her legislative initiatives have focused on environmental issues and actions.

During her tenure, DeRiggi-Whitton said she has worked on notable legislative actions, including banning the use of fracking water to make pel-

lets that melt snow. This was a method that Nassau County was hoping to implement, she said, but was banned from doing so through the legislation she pushed.

DeRiggi-Whitton said Nassau County’s ban was then adopted by

New York City’s five boroughs, utilizing Nassau’s legislation verbatim.

Another legislative action that DeRiggi-Whitton has been passionate about is addressing the opioid crisis, exacerbated by the presence of fentanyl in communities.

DeRiggi-Whitton has hosted Narcan training sessions over the years to teach residents how to administer the overdose-reversing drug and inform them of the issues at hand.

She co-sponsored legislation that would require fentanyl test strips to be included in Narcan kits, which is still awaiting approval in the Legislature.

“It’s one of the only tools we have against fentanyl, which is a whole new game changer in the opioid crisis,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.

She has also presented a separate measure that would allow the county to distribute drug deactivation pouches.

If re-elected, DeRiggi-Whitton said she would work to distribute the money the county received through its opioid settlement to local organizations and small businesses.

“Seeing how that money is dispersed is a big thing on my mind,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.

She added that she would like to see Nassau University Medical Cen-

ter offer specialized treatment to address opioid use, which could be aided by providing the institution money through the county’s settlement.

DeRiggi-Whitton, while an advocate for affordable housing in Nassau County, opposed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s initial plan to increase housing by 3% over three years, which failed to pass due to staunch pushback.

“You can’t just come down with one plan that might work in Buffalo but isn’t going to work on Long Island because of the traffic situation we have, the density issues already and then our resources,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.

She said she was against the governor’s initial housing plan as it is an issue that needs to be addressed locally.

“The local government is here because they really understand the needs of their constituents and it’s really important to abide by what the local government and constituents wish for,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.

She said she supports an increase of affordable housing in Nassau County, saying it is a necessity, but issues of sustainability need to be considered to preserve the quality of life of residents.

Continued on Page

PHOTO COURTESY OF DELIA DERIGGI-WHITTON

Nassau County District 11 Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton is running for her seventh term.

Town comptroller quits after 4 months

BY BRANDON DUFFY

North Hempstead Comptroller Kristen Schwaner resigned from her position Friday, effectively immediately, according to town officials.

Schwaner, who was set to make $160,000 this year, was unanimously appointed to the role in April after an extensive bipartisan search process.

The comptroller position had been left vacant before then since January 2022, when Tania Orenstein resigned alongside the town’s deputy comptroller.

Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said it will be a challenge to again present a tentative budget without a full-time comptroller.

“Kristen’s resignation is certainly a disappointing turn of events, as she was proving herself to be an excellent comptroller and I was looking forward to crafting next year’s budget with her on my team,” DeSena said in a statement.

The supervisor added that she is committed to offering a record-setting tax cut with her tentative budget this fall.

“Our comptroller will be missed and undoubtedly preparing a budget without her will again present some challenges, but I successfully did it last year while offering the largest tax cut in Town history, and I will be offering another record-setting tax cut for our residents next month when I submit my tentative budget for 2024,” DeSena said.

Last October, DeSena submitted amendment proposals to her original $158.4 million budget that included an 11% tax cut that did not pass in a board vote.

The seven-member board then unanimously passed amendments from Council Member Veronica Lurvey that included a 5% tax cut.

Prior to Schwaner’s appointment, Finance Director Paul Wood was appointed interim comptroller. The town board can appoint Schwaner’s replacement, which can include someone outside the town, at a town board meeting, which is currently scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 5.

DeSena has to submit a tentative budget to the other six members of the town board by the Continued on Page 41

N. Hills talks designs for new village signs

BY CAMERYN OAKES

The Village of North Hills Board of Trustees discussed new village entrance signs at its meeting Wednesday night, while delaying an ongoing public hearing for the Seventh-Day Adventists church until its September meeting.

Mayor Marvin Natiss said the village has been looking into replacing the village’s entrance signs.

At the board’s July meeting, Superintendent of Buildings Peter Cinquemani presented

the board with proposals from companies that would make the village’s new signs.

The board said the proposal costs were higher than they liked and requested Cinquemani to seek out additional proposals.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Cinquemani told the board that he had been communicating with another sign company that was going to submit a proposal, but no new proposals were submitted to the village prior to the meeting.

Cinquemani said he consulted a friend with

Continued on Page 42

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

North Hills Village Hall. The North Hills Board of Trustees discussed different approaches to implementing new village entrance signs at its meeting Wednesday night.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SIGHTGROWTHPARTNERS

Former North Hempstead Comptroller Kristen Schwaner.

No migrants at Coliseum: Blakeman

County executive rules out use of vacant arena after suggestion by Queens Borough prez

BY BRANDON DUFFY

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said Thursday there are currently no plans to use the Nassau Coliseum to house migrants.

Blakeman, a Republican, was responding to Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, a Democrat, who said Wednesday the arena in Uniondale should be considered for housing some of the thousands of migrants flocking to New York City.

“New York City is doing more than its fair share,” Richards told the New York Post. “Unused or underutilized assets like Nassau Coliseum should be looked at by the state.”

The executive held a press conference with reporters in Mineola to fire back against the suggestion, saying the coliseum, which stands on a 72acre, county-owned property in Uniondale, is not an option.

“We are not inviting immigrants and migrants into the county that are here from south of the border and not using the

proper and normal channels,” Blakeman said, according to CBS News.

Almost 100,000 migrants have arrived in New York City

since last August seeking asylum, according to the New York City Department of Social Services. Over 58,000 migrants remain in the city’s shelters.

Earlier this month, the Creedmore Psychiatric Center in Queens opened up as a ‘tent city’ for migrants, which has been faced with multiple protests.

The migrant issue has led to a clash between New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul, with Adams calling for an executive order ear-

lier this week to prohibit local municipalities from preventing migrant housing.

In response to Adams’ request for the state to intervene in the migrant situation, Faith Gay, counsel for Hochul, said the state has supplied plenty of resources thus far.

“The state has provided a broad range of support to the city,” the 12-page memo, obtained by The New York Times, said. “The governor has declared a State Disaster Emergency and issued an executive order to support the city’s need for legal and regulatory flexibility. The state has directed significant state funds to the city. The state has made numerous state-owned properties available for the city to house migrants.”

The arena previously was the home of the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders, who moved to UBS Arena in Belmont in 2021. Earlier this year, the county Legislature approved a 99-year lease of the property to Nevada-based Las Vegas Sands, which is planning to build a casino and resort on the site.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

Proposed plans call for the Nassau Coliseum to be transformed into an entertainment venue and casino.

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13 now seeking to replace Rep. Santos

BY CAMERYN OAKES

New York’s Third Congressional District race is heating up with 14 candidates and incumbent Rep. George Santos filing to run as many challengers say they were inspired to join the effort to oust the controversial and duplicitous congressman

Santos is currently facing a federal indictment, which includes seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds and two counts of making materially false statements to Congress.

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If convicted of the top charges, Santos could face up to 20 years in prison.

Santos has drawn backlash since The New York Times reported in December a series of lies that the representative told on his resume to enhance his reputation as a candidate for Congress.

Santos has admitted to lying about his education and work history, but he has notaddressed other inconsistencies and has equivocated when asked about his business dealings and how they related to his political efforts.

In a recent appearance on Fox’s “Good Day New York,” Santos defended lying on his resume and claimed that it is something many people do. When confronted about lying that his mother died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, he denied that he made those claims. In a July 12, 2021 reply on X, formerly known as Twitter, Santos said that “9/11 claimed my mothers life [sic].”

Federal prosecutors accused Mr. Santos of orchestrating a scheme to solicit political contributions that he used for personal expenses; of fraudulently receiving more than $24,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits while he was actually employed; and of knowingly making false statements on House financial disclosure forms.

Court documents in Brazil that were first reported by The New York Times also state that Santos, who was 19 at the time, used a fake name and stolen checks to purchase a pair of sneakers,

Ex-Santos campaign aide indicted in N.Y.

BY BRANDON DUFFY

An ex-campaign aide to Rep. George Santos who was accused of impersonating House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s former chief of staff Dan Meyer was charged with wire fraud and identity theft in a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday.

Samuel Miele, 27, of Green Village, N.J., pleaded not guilty to four counts of wire fraud and identity theft before Magistrate Judge Sanket Bulsara, according to court documents. He was released on a $150,000 bond.

The indictment unsealed Wednesday identifies four emails Miele allegedly sent to four people who contributed to Santos’ campaign between Aug. 19 and Oct. 22, 2021. Miele received a 15% commission on each contribution he solicited, prosecutors said.

Through the “fraudulent scheme” Miele was able to solicit contributions from over a dozen people, prosecutors said.

Miele, in a letter to San-

tos last September, admitted he faked his identity to “a big donor” and that he was “high risk, high reward in everything I do,” according to court documents.

Kevin Marino, Miele’s attorney, told The New York Times his client “looks forward to complete vindication at trial as soon as possible.”

Meyer, who is no longer working for McCarthy, was not named in the indictment, but it does say Miele did not

have permission to use his identity for fundraising purposes.

“My staff raised concerns when he had a staff member who impersonated my chief of staff, and that individual was let go when Mr. Santos found about it,” McCarthy told reporters in January.

Miele was fired by the Santos campaign after the scheme was exposed, The Times previously reported. One57 Group, a company managed by Miele, was paid $43,000 by the Santos campaign and $10,000 by the Rise NY PAC, which was created in December 2020 by the campaign.

Miele’s case is being prosecuted by the same legal team overseeing the case against Santos, who pleaded not guilty in May to a 13-count indictment, which includes allegations of wire fraud, theft of public funds and making false statements to Congress.

Prosecutors said in a letter filed Wednesday the cases should be presumed to be related “because the facts of each case arise out of overlapping events.”

NASSAU COUNTY’S

KEYNOTE SPEAKER RENEE FLAGLER

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SANTOS CAMPAIGN Republican U.S. Rep. George Santos.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SANTOS CAMPAIGN

U.S. Rep. Goerge Santos during a 2020 congressional campaign.

Continued on Page 35

Business&RealEstate

Reducing and eliminating capital gains

Yes, the market is still strong with our limited inventory. It appears attracting buyers is easy as pie if putting your home on the market at a value that makes sense.

Bidding wars are apparently still occurring. But what if you have been living in your home for 30+ years and potentially, for various reasons, you will endure a moderate to large capital gains exposure?

Would you rather pay it up front in the year of your closing or minimize the amount over a specific number of years? Or, would you like to potentially pay nothing?

There are strategies that will enable you to accomplish this.

First, have you considered becoming the lender to your prospective buyer? With interest rates this past week exceeding 7%, providing financing for a buyer, especially if you’re in the higher-priced home sector, could essentially reduce and possibly eliminate your capital gains to “0.”

Moreover, you could receive an excellent interest rate return from your prospective purchaser, while also saving them thousands of dollars per year on their financing costs.

This would become a win/win event

with all parties benefitting. Qualifying your buyer or having your broker perform this important process would enable you to make a logical and pragmatic decision as to their qualifications.

Knowing what type and length of time they have been in business and/or the length of employment will aid in that most crucial and critical decision in becoming their lender.

Knowing the strength of the industry that they are employed in as well as the strength, profit, and loss of their business will also provide a solid basis in determining their qualifications.

Another rather new factor to consider, that has come into play that most will not consider or think about is what businesses and jobs will be affected by AI, and will have a positive or negative effect on consumer income going forward.

Some examples (quoted from VisualCapitalist.com by Marcus Lu), are office and administrative support, legal, architecture and engineering, life, physical and social science, business and financial operations community and social service management, and sales and related are just a handful of industries that will be greatly impacted.

Providing longer terms for a mortgage will create a better opportunity to

reduce your exposure to increased capital gains taxes. One must ascertain an exact plan to be able to do this.

This could save you thousands of dollars as well as saving the buyer money at the same time. The important factor is once you provide financing then your taxable income comes into play.

The more that you earn, the more capital gains you will pay. The amount could be as much as 20% or as little as 0%. So the plan must be set in motion

to have as little “taxable” income as possible, during those years that you are providing financing, to lessen the amount of capital gains that you will be subject to over the term of the mortgage.

This will not work for the majority of sellers, who are allowed a $500,000 exemption, plus the original cost of their purchase plus whatever capital improvement costs have been made over the years.

Total that up and then subtract it from the sale price. Then the difference, if any, will be subject to capital gains in relation to your taxable income during the year of the sale. But for those who figure it out and plan accordingly, it could save you a substantial amount of money.

For some, creating a specific type of trust will also minimize and reduce your exposure to greater capital gains taxes. It is imperative to discuss all the possibilities with your CPA and financial planner as they will create a customized plan that will specifically be designed around your personal financial situation.

Another method to defer, reduce and eliminate capital gains is to rent your home for 2 years, showing the rental income and obviously paying whatever your required taxes minus expenses would entail.

The “Internet of Things” and Smart Clothing

One day after that 2-year period your previous primary residence is now considered your investment property and you can then execute a 1031 deferred tax exchange. This will allow you to purchase another investment property only within the U.S.

So if you decided to retire to another state, you could search out a property nearby for easier management. Once you close you will have 45 days to locate another property which is included in the allowable and maximum 180 days to close and take possession.

I suggest if you are looking locally or out of state, to begin your search as soon as your contract is fully executed. This will provide you additional time to secure the most advantageous investment with the best return possible. More information on capital gains: Internal Revenue Service — Capital Gains and Losses: capital gains info

Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. For a free 15-minute consultation, value analysis of your home, or to answer any of your questions or concerns he can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.Com or via https://WWW.LiRealEstate.Com

You’ve probably heard of the Internet of things, but thought, “what does it mean to me?” To answer that exciting question, let’s first understand the term itself:

The Internet of things (IoT) is the interconnection, via the internet, of computing devices into everyday objects giving them the ability to send and receive data.

We already monitor our home security via smart camera devices and troubleshoot appliance repairs by connecting directly to technical support. But there are even cooler IoT applications in the works!

“Soon, the Internet of Things will meet Gucci in the form of smart clothing. For example, swimwear can include UV sensors to prevent overexposure to harmful radiation. Smart footwear may improve your running technique or monitor the mobility of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Manufacturers might embed haptic feedback into textiles to correct your posture or improve your yoga pose. And don’t forget the accessories, such as the Ray-Ban Stories smart sunglasses (that provide a window to social media when the user is otherwise offline).” -

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OUR VIEWS Editorial Cartoon

Hate makes a stop on its tour in Port

It was not that Scott McKay’s views were unknown before he attended a gathering at Rays of Light, a socalled wellness center in Port Washington last week.

McKay has gained notoriety spreading antisemitic lies and QAnon conspiracy theories on his streaming service and at speaking engagements around the country.

He has combined this with a takeno-prisoners approach in politics, including attacks on local school boards.

Melanie D’Arrigo, a Progressive who has run for office Congress twice and is a founder of Port Washingtonbased LGBTQ+ organization, said she was harassed and falsely accused of trying to stop the McKay event.

D’Arrigo said the Friday before the event in Port Washington she started receiving “hateful” messages that accused her of being a pedophile and child sex trafficker on her Facebook and Instagram accounts.

She also said she also received comments with “homophobic slurs” on photos from Gay Pride events.

The source of the false accusation against D’Arrigo and the online is unclear.

But the tactics are familiar to McKay and his followers.

McKay has marshaled his supporters to engage in opposition to mask rules at schools, urging them to “carpet bomb these boneheads with emails” and “beat the shit out of them,” the Daily Beast reported.

“You forkin’ scumbags will not walk away from this clean,” McKay said in a video, addressing Ankeny, Iowa, school board members last year. “Believe me. Because when this army, the Patriot Streetfighter nation comes at you, you’re forked. So I would say, run the white flag up the pole now because if you haven’t realized at this point with these ladies that they’re coming, all you shitheads, there will be nowhere to run. There’s nowhere to run. You’re all hypocrites, you’re forkin’ scumbag losers.”

And then there is the message

McKay spreads, which includes the kind of lies about Jews that have for centuries spurred some of the most horrific mass murders in human history.

Many Jewish people, McKay has said, are working “under the cover of this religion called Judaism” to carry out a massive and evil conspiracy that began in the 8th century so that they could ‘murder children’ and consume them and eat their hearts.”

These fraudulent Jewish people, McKay said, have perpetrated 9/11; set up banking systems “in exchange for the child blood sacrifices;” and engineered presidential assassinations of Presidents Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and William McKinley.

McKay, who goes under the moniker “Patriot Streetfighter,” has also praised Hitler as a like-minded ally.

The Jewish people, he said, “created” and “manufactured” Hitler to profit from the war, but “Hitler sought to create a banking system for the people and the free world” separate from his Jewish creators and their evil banks.

“Hitler was actually fighting the same people that we’re trying to take down today,” he said.

McKay combines these antisemitic lies with closely related QAanon tropes that falsely allege Democrats, celebrities and non-Jewish religious figures are part of a cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles that runs the world.

Included on the list are President Joseph Biden, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, George Soros, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Ellen DeGeneres, Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama.

Many QAnon supporters also believe that, in addition to molesting children, members of this group kill and eat their victims to extract a life-extending chemical called adrenochrome.

And, according to QAnon lore, former President Donald J. Trump was recruited by top military generals to run for president in 2016 to break up this criminal conspiracy and bring its members to justice.

OK, some might say, but McKay and other QAnon followers are a fringe element with little or no influence. Right? Wrong.

McKay has 228,000 followers on the Rumble streaming service and has hosted many prominent conservative activists and Trump supporters.

They include Trump lawyer Christina Bobb; Trump adviser Roger Stone; Iowa state Sen. Jim Carlin; violent rhetoric-spewing election denier Joe Oltmann; election conspiracy theorist Seth Keshel; and former New Hampshire U.S. Senate nominee Don Bolduc. McKay gained further prominence in his featured speaking role on the far-right ReAwaken America tour, which was founded by Clay Clark and Michael Flynn.

Flynn, a retired United States Army lieutenant general who was the 24th U.S. National Security Adviser for the first 22 days of the Trump administration, has been recruiting “An Army of God” that believe Christianity should be at the center of American life and institutions.

The ReAwaken America tour also featured QAnon influencers, anti-vax activists and election fraud conspiracy theorists, according to the Anti-Defamation League

In addition to McKay, its “featured

tour speakers” have included conservative activist and talk show host Charlie Kirk, former Chief of Staff to the acting Secretary of Defense under Trump Kash Patel, Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former Trump advisor Peter Navarro, My Pillow Guy Mike Lindell, and far-right radio show host Alex Jones.

Donald Trump Jr. has also spoken on the tour. And the tour’s best-known “featured speaker” is Eric Trump, who, along with McKay, spoke together in Nashville, Tenn.

McKay posted a picture of himself with Eric Trump last year and wrote that he “says his Dad loves what we’re doing.”

The Port Washington event was an extension of these efforts.

The outline of the event said McKay would “dive into the secrets of the Under Ground Tunnels and explore fascinating insights. Plus, we’ll address the crucial issue of child trafficking and pleading to protect and safeguard our most vulnerable assets.”

Child trafficking is a serious problem around the world that deserves our attention.

But you can bet that is not what McKay was talking about.

The Under Ground Tunnels?

“There are superhighway sys-

tems,” McKay said of the alleged underground child trafficking system. “There are fully built unoccupied cities under this country and around the world.”

When asked in a Q&A how McKay got his map of the alleged tunnels, he said he doesn’t remember and that he got it from someone else.

McKay apparently doesn’t want evidence to get in the way of a good conspiracy theory.

How did this traveling freak show come to Port Washington?

Shurka, who is Jewish, said the event hosted at the wellness center was to bring awareness to the pervasive issue of child sex trafficking.

He said McKay’s comments have been twisted by other people — notwithstanding the many videos and podcasts online to the contrary.

Shurka also has a business connection with McKay.

He founded UNIFYD, a “nonprofit faith-based” organization that offers a streaming service and alternative medicine products used to treat a wide range of diseases, including cancer and autism, according to its website. McKay owns a UNIFYD center in Dallas. Shurka’s family operates the Port Washington center.

Continued on Page 35

Isn’t it ironic that among the leading government officials serving criminal indictments to Donald Trump, given his well-documented history of racism and misogyny, are several highly accomplished Black American women who have risen in stature in the U.S. judicial system?

For example, there are District Attorney Fani Willis in Georgia, Attorney General Letitia James in New York, and Judge Tonya S. Chutkan in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

This is a case of poetic justice despite Trump’s claim to be the “least racist person in the world.” Let’s examine the record.

A young black employee who worked at Trump’s Castle in Atlantic City in the 1980s recalled, “When Donald and Ivana came to the casino, the bosses would order all the Black people off the floor. I was a teenager, but I remember it: They put us all in the back.”

In 1989 Trump took out a fullpage notice in the New York Times with the headline:“BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY. BRING BACK OUR POLICE!”

The ad called for New York State to adopt the death penalty after “The Central Park Five,” a group of black and Latino teenagers were accused and convicted of brutally assaulting and raping a white woman jogging in New York City’s Central

Park (there was a sixth accused, who pleaded out to another crime). “They should be forced to suffer and, when they kill, they should be executed for their crimes.”

They were later exonerated, after having been incarcerated for 7 to 13 years, when the real assailant later stepped forward and confessed.

In 1993, during Congressional testimony, Trump said that some Native American reservations operating casinos shouldn’t be allowed because “they don’t look like Indians to me.”

Beginning in 2011, Trump was a key antagonist in the Obama birther conspiracy theory. He had no evidence whatsoever that Obama was not a naturally born American citizen, but he pushed ahead, spreading the lie. In September 2016 Trump finally acknowledged that Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961.

In 2016, Trump said U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was involved in lawsuits regarding Trump University, should recuse himself because of his Mexican ethnicity. Trump’s rationale was that since he pledged to build a wall on the southern border with Mexico that Judge Curiel had to be biased against him.

In 2016 Trump referred to Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists. One year later he enacted a “travel ban” on all Muslims entering the U.S. that lasted a little more than one month due to widespread opposition.

Once coronavirus gripped the nation in 2020 and people were dying in the tens of thousands, with refrigerated morgues lining the exteriors of hospitals, Trump referred publicly to coronavirus in racist terms like “Chinese virus” and “Kung flu.”

This contributed to growing antagonism, threats, and physical assaults against Asian-Americans, including children and the elderly, which continues to this day.

In 2021 Trump, following the false voter fraud lead of his then-attorney and advisor Rudoph Giuliani, slandered two black election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss.

He publicly accused them of ballot stuffing that never occurred. This led them to go into hiding in the face

of persistent intimidation and unrelenting threats to their lives.

In 2022, Trump hosted white supremacist Nick Fuentes and antisemitic rapper Ye (Kanye West), at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Fuentes, who attended the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va. (Trump’s “very fine people on both sides” moment) has repeatedly spread racist and antisemitic conspiracy theories, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

“Andrew Anglin, the neo-Nazi founder of the Daily Stormer website, applauded Fuentes and Ye for their efforts to bring white supremacist and antisemitic beliefs into mainstream U.S. politics,” reported the ADL.

What is the Daily Stormer? An American far-right, neo-Nazi, whitesupremacist website and commentary board that promotes the idea of a second genocide of Jews.

Just this month, after being indicted in Fulton County, Ga., for felony racketeering and numerous conspiracy charges, Trump falsely accused DA Fani Willis of having an “affair” with a “gang member” she was prosecuting. “They say there’s a young woman — a young racist in Atlanta — they say she was after a certain gang and she ended up having an affair with the head of the gang or a gang member.

And this is a person who wants to indict me wants to indict me for a

perfect phone call,” Trump told supporters.

None of this is out of character for Trump, “in fact, the very first time Trump appeared in the pages of the New York Times, back in the 1970s, was when the U.S. Department of Justice sued him for racial discrimination” at Trump housing developments in New York, reported German Lopez in an Aug. 13, 2020, Vox Newsletter (note: some excerpts in this column are from German’s reporting).

Is Trump the “least racist person in the world?”

Hardly. His vast history of racist language and conduct speaks for itself. It is more than racial insensitivity and more purposeful than haphazard.

The racially and ethnically bigoted things he says and does contribute to a permission structure for white supremacists and nationalists to come out of hiding and jump on the Trump white-collar criminal organization bandwagon, all in the service of deconstructing democracy.

In due time quite a few black judicial officials, women, and men will assume leadership roles in their courtrooms, as Mr. Trump faces unknown accountability for perhaps the first time in his life. At that time, he will be left to sit and squirm quietly at the defendant’s table as justice and destiny, and no-nonsense jurists like Tonya S. Chutkan await him.

What goes around finally comes around Achieving the American Dream in 2023

It is my firm belief that owning a single-family home on a plot of land in suburbia gives people true independence of mind and soul and is the only real independence from the state and their own collective lot.

I agree with the observation made by social scientist Dr. Edward Shapiro that “the essence of American suburbanization is the desire of tens of millions of people to simultaneously enjoy the economic benefits of an industrial-urban economy while fashioning a lifestyle incorporating the traditional American distaste for cities and factories. The names of our suburbs evoke a pastoral image—Short Hills, White Plains, Spring Valley, Ridgewood. Suburbia’s streets are named Forest Drive, Pleasant Valley Way, and Northfield Avenue, while its housing developments are called Holly Farm Estates, Springdale Homes, and Crestmont Village.”

The yearning for a homestead in suburbia began after the Second World War and continues to this day.

During the COVID lockdown, for example, many couples with chil -

dren, realizing that being cooped up in apartment in New York City without a yard or front porch wasn’t fun, began moving to Long Island. My neighborhood, New Hyde Park, was flooded with young folks buying up every house on the market.

For most people, however, buying their first one-family home is a struggle.

My parents scrimped and saved for 17 years before they could put a downpayment on a house in 1966.

When my wife and I bought our first home in 1983, the mortgage rate was a staggering 17% and the inflation rate was hitting 20%. We had to cut every corner to make the monthly payments.

Back then, I learned that owning a home was not an entitlement. By sacrificing and working hard, we earned the title to our house.

And I came to appreciate British journalist G.K. Chesterton’s comment that “property is merely the art of democracy. It means that every man should have something that he can shape in his own image, as he is shaped in the image of Heaven.”

Today, people still struggle to

earn their piece of the American dream.

A July 30, 2023 Newsday study describes the plight of many homeowners attempting to make ends meet.

This phenomenon, Newsday reports, has caused some experts to ask if William Levitt of Levittown fame and “Master Builder” Robert Moses got it wrong. In other words, they are asking if there should have

been fewer roads and houses and more multifamily public housing.

As for Moses, what he got right was building roads to the parks— “Parkways.” His motive a century ago was to provide access for working-class people to get out of the city and to visit the numerous parks he built (i.e., Jones Beach Park) on weekends and holidays.

Granted, those parkways became thoroughfares for commuters. But imagine what it would be like if Moses had not built them.

What Moses got wrong: he built scores of multifamily housing projects mismanaged by the New York City Housing Authority, which today are examples of urban blight.

Public housing, the dream of progressives like Robert Moses, is a tenant’s nightmare. And we don’t need such nightmares on Long Island.

As for the creation of Levittown, if one wants to point a finger, it should be at the federal government.

Elitist planners at the Federal Housing Administration encouraged banks to lend on millions of new,

low-risk suburban homes while refusing to stake money on older city properties. And to further ensure policy compliance, federal tax code changes gave developers incentives to build new structures in suburbia instead of improving old ones in city neighborhoods. Since many inner-city, single-family homes were disqualified from receiving loans, the mass exodus to Levittown settlements commenced.

The result of this anti-New York City lending policy: Between 1946 and 1979, approximately 70% of all FHA/VA loans in the Metropolitan Area financed homes in Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Regardless of the Fed’s motivation, the suburban homes built have fulfilled the dreams of many.

And just like members of the Greatest Generation and the Boomer Generation, who had to struggle to make ends meet after they bought their first home, the younger generations will have to sacrifice to meet mortgage and property tax payments. Will the struggle be worth it? It was for my family.

Reaching Swiss heaven after a detour to Hell

How was your vacation? Great, amazing, special, magical? Or perhaps it was disappointing, costly, boring and exhausting. The amount of money one spends on a vacation virtually guarantees that you will not say it was a negative and colossal waste of time. We work all year long to afford this little trip so it must be described as glorious, marvelous and wonderful.

My graduate school professor Dr. Fred Levine used Festinger’s theory of cognitive dissonance to explain this curious state. The theory states that discomfort is felt when holding two conflicting beliefs, attitudes or values. People seek consistency of thought, not conflict. So when someone plans on a vacation, goes on a vacation and pays for the vacation, you better believe that they will tell you it was a stupendous experience, even if it was not.

So let me honestly try to describe my Switzerland vacation. I started out with the usual naïve excitement and hope of Clark Griswold in the comedy film series “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” but my blissful naiveté came to a crashing halt when I was informed at the airport that the flight was canceled and that I would be staying overnight in one of those hellish hotel airports near JFK.

The overnight stay began with an unusual twist as I entered my hotel room to be encountered by a family of three who were already occupying the room. I felt it would be inappropriate to stay with them, given the fact that I did not know their names, so I walked back to the elevator in an effort to go back to the front desk and asked for a different room.

I entered the elevator to find that I would be sharing the elevator ride down with a woman who was essentially half naked. What I meant by that is she had on a top and bottom but her top was unbuttoned. I found this both diverting and mildly exciting but also eerie, like I was now in the film “The Shining” with that frightening hotel in the mountains. I escaped the hotel elevator without incident and returned to the front desk where upon I was given another room.

Alas, my adventure was not over yet for as I re-entered the elevator I now found myself in the presence of another lady. We remained silent half way up to my floor and then she suddenly blurted

out that she was sorry she had been so quiet on the way up and that her mind was actually racing a mile a minute. I was smart enough not to ask what kind of thoughts she was having at the time. The elevator did have the smell of marijuana, so I assumed that this lovely young lady was “stacked up over Kennedy” to use a phrase from the film “Putney Swope.”

The rest of the evening was thankfully uneventful and the next day I was finally on my way to Switzerland and the Alps. You can see how educational vacations can be. I had already learned that owning a jet or at the very least flying privately is a must when traveling to Europe. Now that I was disabused of any further Clark Griswold-like naiveté excitement, I felt equipped to face

EARTH MATTERS

my Swiss vacation head on and without anxiety.

I learned never to flinch at the cost of flying first class or business class even though it costs anywhere from four to five times more. Flying coach has a way of transforming a human into a farm animal, so I’m willing to fork over an extra two or three thousand dollars in order to avoid this eventuality.

The best way to understand the many barriers one faces in the effort to enter to the land of fun and frolic is to accept that normal life is like a force of gravity. It pulls you down as a magnet pulls down a piece of metal. It is no easy thing to escape gravity. We humans have a hard time achieving fun, frolic or freedom. Satan said it best during his discussion with God in Goethe’s “Faust.” As Satan chats with God Almighty, he compares humans to crickets and says, “Humans are just like crickets, always trying to leap up to the heaven, only to fall back into the mud again and again. It’s quite funny actually”

Not withstanding Satan’s unkind remarks, we are as intrepid as Clark Griswold, and hope lives in our hearts and so off we fly to Switzerland.

Despite Satan’s dire remarks, I did enjoy Switzerland. Zurich was a dream come true. The Grand Dolder Hotel where I stayed overlooks the city and the river that flows by. The tram system works like a Swiss watch, always on time and always sparkling clean. Most of the

Swiss take trams rather than cars and this has a way of bonding you to the community.

The Swiss are helpful, attractive, decent and polite. Swiss men are trim and tall and smiling. When I got to Switzerland, I immediately felt like a fat ugly American, but since I had just been reading “The Magic Mountain” by Thomas Mann, I learned to acknowledge my inferior status and felt some freedom once I accepted my shamefully disgraceful pot belly.

The Swiss women look like blonde goddesses, with great tans, nice legs and drive Aston Martins or Porsches. Zurich was a lot like walking through a James Bond movie but without any of the shooting. And riding a gondola to the top of the Alps is just like riding the gondola in Disney World except the Swiss gondola is 2,000 feet above the ground where as the one in Disney World is about 30 feet in the air.

I can say that Switzerland is a marvel and similar to other great destination spots like Capri, Paris or Barcelona because it produces the wish to move there and live happily ever after. But those kinds of things only happen in books and movies.

So for now we will have to settle for these brief sojourns to heaven and just like “The Divine Comedy” one must accept the fact that the only way to get to heaven or the Swiss Alps is to first go through hell.

Invasion of the Spotted Lanternfly in U.S.

Not just the climate, but also the composition of flora and fauna is changing rapidly as a consequence of human activity. Travel and trade routes have redistributed animals and plants across the globe to be out of alignment with the evolution of ecosystems in their original homes. Certain exotic plants quickly choke out natives, who simply can’t compete, as there’s no natural predator or ecological regulation for the majority of imported non-native beings. As a result we call them invasive pests and the USDA blames invasives for economic losses at $137 billion per year.

Before we knew better, explorers would triumphantly introduce new species to our ecosystem. Now we do it inadvertently. Native to China, the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF, Lycoroma delicatula) has now made Long Island their new home. The spotted lanternfly isn’t really a “fly,” but a planthopper, and doesn’t travel long distances on its own. First discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014, we have helped these hitchhikers spread by transporting goods.

To insect enthusiasts, they look pretty at first sight, but give them time to spread and they quickly become not just a real nuisance but also an economic liability as they suck the life out of both crops and ornamentals. They weaken plants and excrete honeydew (nice word for “bug urine) that promotes sooty mold growth. If you’ve parked beneath an SLF-infested tree you know what I mean, as the sticky

excrement is hard to clean. They’ve already cost farmers a fortune in the states where they’ve spread. Spotted lanternflies threaten to wreak havoc in Long Island vineyards.

The adult form looks like a butterflymoth hybrid, with bright red wings. The nymphs undergo four instar stages and start out as tiny black dots in May to end up red with white spots ( 1 inch in size) before the adult emerges in July. Adults are easy to spot as they’re one-inch long with wingspan of about two inches.

SLF swarms easily feel overwhelming, but don’t worry about your safety as they don’t sting or bite and they do not carry diseases. Economists at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences estimated that SLF cost Pennsylvania thousands of jobs and over $300 million a year in damages. The immature forms of SLF aren’t picky eaters and can feed on a wide variety of hardwood trees and grapevines. The adults prefer the host plant, the Tree

HILDUR PALSDOTTIR Earth Matters

of Heaven (TOH, Ailanthus altissima). Introduced in good faith as an ornamental in 1784, it is now a weed to our woodlands. Tree of Heaven (TOH) is native to China and was intentionally brought to Philadelphia as an exotic, fastgrowing shade tree. In 1820 it was intentionally brought to Flushing, Long Island. We can help curb the spread of SLF by removing TOH. But you have to know how to manage this invasive tree effectively. With older trees there’s a method to the madness and you better consult an expert. SLF spread by laying their eggs. They hatched early this spring, but please do not wait for Easter with the egg hunt. Start your egg hunt early this fall. Learn how to identify and destroy SLF egg masses.

These egg masses, which look like lichen, are found on any flat surface, including trees, rocks, lawn furniture, folding chairs and the underside of your car. You’ll need to scrape these into a resealable bag that contains rubbing alcohol and dispose of them properly.

Non-chemical management of the SLF population is critical as the use of insecticides is non-specific and harms beneficial insects. Insects pollinate the majority of flowering plants and are foundational to our food supplies, while also decomposing organic materials and feeding birds and animals. Scientists are deeply concerned about the steep decline in the population of beneficial bugs.

The good with the bad news here is that the adult SLF is relatively large in size and therefore easy to spot and identify. We can play whac-a-lanternfly with a flat, handheld device or go on a stomping parade. Don’t go crazy if they get inside your home, they can’t survive more than 48 hours without food.

If you see them, crush them. The most eco-friendly and humane way to kill SLF is to crush them by hand (or foot). Step on them or squash them mechanically in whichever way you can think of. You can also use simple mechanical swats or handheld electric bug zappers for targeted killing. Specialized backpack-style vacuum cleaners have been designed that suck up SLF from the surfaces of tree trunks, branches and leaves.

This killing spree is especially hard

for people who love bugs. Yes, that’s me! I failed every encounter with SLF so far, so I’m counting on you. I let them get away as I must admit I’m mesmerized by their beauty and novelty. So I’ll go for the egg hunt instead.

Please inspect all surfaces when you travel from a lanternfly infested area to a SLF free region. Look beneath your car and inspect your tires. You can use Ecosia (or Google) DIY circle traps for easy collection of SLF. Sticky band traps must be protected with screens to prevent collateral damages to wildlife. Too many birds and beneficial bugs get caught in homemade sticky traps and lanternfly tape.

Finally, a comforting observation from neighboring states where this pest first broke out. SLF threat to crops seems worst in the first outbreak, but damages seem to taper off after a few years, especially if we respond appropriately. Let’s help our ecosystem deal with these unintential invaders. Most importantly, don’t panic! Instead get wise, get to know your ecosystem. Learn the difference between beneficial bugs and harmful ones. Remove invasive trees and plant natives.

And let’s remember not to blame the bugs for this predicament. We did this to ourselves. Nature is well known to respond to environmental threats and evolutionary pressures by ridding itself of unwanted pests. And perhaps it’s not the spotted lanternfly, but really us who are bugging out the rest of the beings on Earth right now.

DR. TOM FERRARO Our

PHOTO BY LAWRENCE BARRINGER, PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUGWOOD.ORG Adult Spotted Lanternfly.

PHOTO BY TOM FERRARO Switzerland does not disappoint

Give 1 person 1 vote; nullify the Electoral College

Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by 3 million in 2016, but Trump squeaked by a win with 45,000 votes spread across Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin, or 0.03% of total votes cast, in 2016.

In 2020, Joe Biden won the popular vote by nearly 8 million but Trump, who ignores the 81 million votes against him, thought he could get Georgia’s secretary of state to “find me 11,780 votes, one more than I need” and did something similar in Michigan and Arizona because he knew that he only needed one more vote than Biden to win those three states’ electoral votes. In fact, had some 55,000 votes in those three states gone the other way, Trump would have won.

This is what made Trump’s strategy to overturn the 2020 election all too easy.

Now think about this: Biden could win 100 percent of California’s, New York’s and Illinois’s votes, he could win 10 even 20 million more votes than Trump (or whoever the Republican is), but if he loses four states (Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona) by just one vote apiece, hwwould lose the presidency in 2024.

An elector in Wyoming represents around 150,000 voters, whereas a California elector represents the votes of some 500,000 residents. That makes a Wyoming voter three times more powerful than a Californian voter.

That doesn’t seem to comport with the ideal of “democracy” and “one-person, one-vote.”

Moreover, the realization that the presidential election is decided in the

swing states has been shown to depress turnout by up to 16% in non-battleground ground states., according to Abolish the Electoral College, a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing voting rights.

Extremist reactionary Justice Antonin Scalia justified the Bush v. Gore decision, which halted the state-mandated Florida recount and anointed George W. Bush president despite Al Gore getting more votes nationally, and as it turns out, in Florida as well, saying that the Constitution doesn’t specifically guarantee “oneperson, one-vote.”

Except that what the Constitution does say is that “the person having the greatest number of votes shall be the president,” so it would seem that is the fundamental kernel of actual democracy (which must have figured in the Moore v. Harper decision rejecting state legislatures’ power to choose the winning candidate), which should be the objective today, 232 years after the adoption of the Constitution, with all the societal changes that have taken place.

The Founding Fathers (all white male men who owned property) established the Electoral College as a compromise between electing the president by a vote in Congress vs. president by popular vote of qualified citizens (white men who owned property).

The smaller states refused to agree because the biggest states would overrule the smallest. But as it is now, the smallest states have out-sized power, which is how the Republicans won in 2000 and 2016 and was the whole strategy behind Trump’s 2020 attempted coup.

KAREN RUBIN View Point

The anti-democratic impact of the Electoral College is compounded by the fact that all but two states have a “winnertake-all” system, awarding allof the state’s electoral votes to the candidate who wins the majority of votes. This makes it incredibly easy to literally rig the system – you don’t need to flip a score of votes, only a little Russian disinformation targeted in a few key districts or a sympathetic election official who would flip one extra vote to take the entire state. This system effectively disenfranchises every voter in the group with less than the plurality, invalidating their vote altogether.

“These dynamics drive voter apathy, undermine public confidence in the democratic process and weaken the perceived legitimacy of the elected president,” Charlotte Hill writes at the Democracy Docket. “They also degrade democracy by fo-

READERS WRITE

menting minority rule.”

This tyranny of the minority proliferates throughout the system – in the way the Senate is formulated (Wyoming has equal number of senators to California) and its filibuster rules requiring 60 votes to move legislation, and in gerrymandering congressional seats where it is so easy to pack and crack districts to disenfranchise certain voters.

Another solution would be to get rid of the “winner take all” electoral votes so that the votes were apportioned based on the share of votes won in the state, as Maine and Nebraska already do. But this is only feasible if there is a federal law requiring all states to apportion the electoral college votes.

Another reform would be to do what other countries do: require the winning candidate to get more than 50 percent of votes (there is nothing in the Constitution that would prevent this). (Trump got 46.1% while Clinton got 48.2% of the 2016 votes; in 2020, Biden got 51.3% to Trump’s 46.9% of total votes, 53.4%. to 44.5% in non-battlegrounds ,but 48.4% vs. 50.1% in battlegrounds, according to the Cook Political Report (https://www. cookpolitical.com/2020-national-popular-vote-tracker).

The Constitution has been amended 27 times, but It is unlikely to get a constitutional amendment ending the Electoral College.

So the best, most expeditious way to actually, for the first time in America’s grand experiment to get a government by the people and have a truly democratically elected president, is to nullify the

Electoral College.

A movement has been underway, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would make the Electoral College irrelevant without a Constitutional amendment abolishing it. States that join the Compact commit to award their electors to the winner of the national popular vote instead of who wins the state.

The Compact would go into effect when enough states have joined with collective Electoral Votes exceeding 270. So far 16 states, including New York, plus DC have signed on, with Minnesota the latest to officially join. That yields 205 of the 270 electoral votes needed to nullify the Electoral College. Meanwhile, Nevada, Maine, Michigan and Alaska have taken meaningful steps toward joining the Compact.

“A system that was created nearly 240 years ago with a compromise to ensure power remained in the hands of wealthy landowners to placate an inherently evil system of slavery,” writes Abolish the Electoral College at its website (https://abolishtheelectoralcollegepac. org/). “We believe that this obviously flawed system of choosing our president and vice president is long overdue for reform. Every person’s vote should count, not just those in a select few states. Reform of the Electoral College starts with the basic principle that every citizen in the United States has a right to have their voice heard and that their vote not only matters, but is not diminished because of a legacy of injustice that continues to this day.”

Give Jersey fair share of congestion toll money

There is a solution for “A Jersey jeer for congestion pricing foes” (Editorial — August 17). Elected officials continue to lobby for discounts or exemptions for police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services (ems), teachers, low-income, NYC outer borough & suburban residents, seniors, physically disabled, small commercial delivery businesses, users of electric vehicles, taxi, Urber and Lyft drivers, residents living below 60th Street in Manhattan or other special niches. These discounts or exemptions will be adopted to placate constituents of public officials when running for reelection in 2024. The MTA Traffic Mobility Review Board is in the process of holding a series of meetings. This is to determine who will pay how much in tolls for those driving south of 60th Street in Manhattan. One

hundred and twenty various constituencies have requested exemptions or reductions. Some New Jersey elected officials have filed federal legislation or lawsuits to prevent the MTA from initiating Congestion Pricing.

More discounts equals less revenue. Taxi, Uber/Lyft drivers may pass most of these news costs on to riders. This will probably result in fewer customers. There is no guarantee that anywhere near $1 billion in annual toll revenues will appear. You can’t capture five years of toll revenues estimated to be $1 billion per year when you implement the program four and 1/2 years late or after 90% of the MTA $51 billion Five Year 2020 — 2024 capital program has come and gone. Congestion Pricing may not be implemented until June 2024. This would result in the MTA having to post-

pone virtually all of the $15 billion in capital projects (funded by tolling) until the next 2025 — 2029 Five Year Capital Plan. There is still a bumpy road ahead before Congestion Pricing becomes a reality.

This is supposed to raise $15 billion toward the MTA $51 billion 2020 — 2025 Five Year Capital Plan. Both NJ Transit and the Port Authority have similar multi-year Capital Plans.

This a simple solution to resolve New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s lawsuit against the MTA’s implementation of Congestion Price Tolling.

All the MTA has to do is share some of the proceeds. Just like the MTA, both NJ Transit and the Port Authority have similar multi-year Capital Plans. Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA Chairman Janno Lieber should offer Governor Murphy,

NJ Transit and the Port Authority and PATH a fair share of revenues generated by these new tolls Garden State residents will be paying.

Why not share 5% each with NJ Transit, Port Authority and Port Authority Trans Hudson (PATH) subway. This will still leave the MTA with 85% of toll revenues for NYC Transit bus, subway, Staten Island Railway, MTA Bus, Long Island and Metro North Commuter Rail Roads.

Some of these dollars could go toward the NJ share for the $18 billion (two new Hudson River plus rehab of two existing tunnels) or $39 billion full scope Gateway Tunnel project, $10 billion Port Authority 42nd Street Bus Terminal, N.J. share of Hochul’s latest $8 billion Penn Station improvement project along with N.J. Transit and PATH capital programs

or other transportation improvements beneficial to N.J. residents. After all, fair is fair. Thousands of New Yorkers are reverse commuters traveling from Penn Station, Herald Square, Port Authority George Washington Bridge and 42nd Street bus terminals via bus, ferry, rail and PATH, to jobs, schools, shopping sports stadiums, entertainment, Newark Airport and other NJ destinations. They benefit by N.J. Transit, Port Authority and PATH capital investments.

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 Office of Operations and Program Management.

READERS WRITE

MTA overtime salary nuances Kaiman created great programs

Larry Penner in his 8/18 letter on MTA overtime made several misleading statements. He misleads the readers when he states that overtime is included in the employee’s last year’s base salary. Under Tier 4 and 5 pension reform, only 15% of the overtime earnings can be used for pension purposes.

He gives the false impression that the pension is calculated on 100% of their final year overtime salary. Further-

more, he states that “salary increases should never exceed the Consumer Price Index.”

If this was true for all the nation’s workers, there could never be an improvement in the standard of living. He fails to mention that in 2022, there was an 8% increase in the cost of living, but employees only received a 3% increase. Does he propose we make up the difference?

David Torby Great Neck

State GOP’s ugly attacks on Kaiman

Along with our Great Neck neighbors we recently received a series of large postal cards making crude and scurrilous attacks against the current Suffolk District County executive and past North Hempstead town Supervisor, Jon Kaiman. These ugly and outrageous mailings were sent by the New York State Republican State Committee.

The Republicans are the party of Mr. George Santos, a convicted liar, who is presently drawing a salary as a U.S. con-

gressman because the party discarded all principles in order to keep his vote!

Jon Kaiman is a respected leader who has held numerous elected and appointed governmental positions over the past 25 years. He deserves an apology from the New York State Republican State committee and the full support of all North Hempstead voters in his bid for North Hempstead Town Supervisor this November.

Pearl and Seymour Weinstein

Great Neck

Negative mailers GOP weakness

In the past few weeks, at least three postcard mailers have been arriving in mailboxes throughout North Hempstead, with vile attacks on Jon Kaiman, the Democratic candidate for Town Supervisor. These postcards, paid for by the New York Republican State Committee, are typical of the mendacity and negative campaign tactics we have come to expect from the Republican Party.

Notably, the Republican candidate for Supervisor’s name is nowhere to be found on these postcards. If her own party can’t find anything good to say about her and is basing their campaign solely on attacking Jon Kaiman, that ought to tell you something.

Since she took office in January 2022, it has become increas-

When you have no new programs, no new ideas or policies the best course of action is to viciously attack your opponent and that is exactly the campaign Jennifer DeSena our current North Hempstead supervisor is running.

If you like playing ping pong at the Senior Center, if you like taking courses at the Senior Center, if you like having an inexpensive lunch each day at the Senior Center, if you like getting inexpensive cab rides for doctor visits, thank Jon Kaiman.

These programs have been instituted through Project Independence which services our senior community and Project Independence was created by Jon Kaiman.

If you need information concerning town events, programs and general town

information call 311. Jon Kaiman instituted this service for our community.

When tragedy hit our area his record was stellar. Jon was appointed by the governor for the clean-up and recovery effort in super storm Sandy. He did an outstanding job. He is known as “The Superstorm Recovery Czar”

Jon is an extremely creative and energetic man who has served his community well over the past forty years.

He obtained millions of dollars in federal grants for environmental infrastructure, housing and community improvement.

He built the Yes We Can Community Center in New Cassel, created and implemented the school recycling partnership, helped improve the quality of water

through a variety of initiatives, created a no-kill shelter for dogs and the list goes on and on.

Just think of a future with a man who is interested in the environment, clean water, a protected coastline and creative ways of servicing our community. Jon has a proven record of initiating programs, services and government that works for the people.

Don’t let the negativity of DeSena guide you let the positive accomplishments of Jon Kaiman and the future possibilities of Jon Kaiman’s innovative programs that service North Hempstead guide your vote.

Congestion pricing is a tax grab

Ihave been a Roslyn resident for some 40 years. Personally, I found and exposed the Roslyn school scandal, and rid the district’s for-profit day care center, owned by the school board president’s wife, operating out of East Hills High School.

I remained anonymous and chose not to be the story. When they made the movie

(“Bad Education”), I chose not to contribute.

I am a frequent contributor to the New York Post and again, to not seek publicity. As a loyal American, I see things from perhaps a different perspective than your editors.

I just spent three weeks in London and had the opportunity to see what congestion pricing can achieve.

The first myth is that it will eliminate or reduce congestion. In London this was not the case. Traffic is as thick as it always was, it took 32 minutes to travel 2 ½ miles. The traffic lights are rigged so that only 3 or 4 cars can pass at a green light, with a speed limit of 20 m.p.h. Speeding at 21 m.p.h. will get you a $150 fine.

Continued on Page 32

Navigating the pitfalls of congestion pricing for New York City

Iam deeply concerned about the potential implementation of congestion pricing and its far-reaching repercussions for our beloved city.

While the idea of reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality may seem noble, the proposed measures may actually inflict severe economic hardships on low- and middle-class commuters and residents, while also causing irreparable damage to local businesses and the vibrancy of our community.

ing would discourage potential patrons from venturing into the city. The very heart and soul of our community would be at stake as beloved institutions grapple with plummeting revenues.

New York City’s allure as a global tourist hub is undeniable, but the introduction of congestion pricing threatens to tarnish this reputation.

improved services.

The lack of transparency and accountability within the MTA’s operations and spending practices should be a red flag for New Yorkers. Before implementing congestion pricing, we must demand a clear plan for fund allocation and strict oversight to prevent a repeat of past financial abuses.

ingly apparent that Jen DeSena is an ineffective leader who has done nothing but bicker with the Democratic town council members, impeding progress on important town matters.

Jon Kaiman is a trusted and tested public servant who improved local services, reduced costs for residents, and crafted common-sense police reforms.

As North Hempstead Town Supervisor, Jon established a 311call center, protected our green spaces, and created Project Independence, enabling older adults to safely age in place in the Town.

The Town of North Hempstead needs an experienced, proven leader like Jon Kaiman.

Nina K. Gordon Great Neck

The prospect of congestion pricing is, without a doubt, a burden that low and middle-class commuters cannot afford. For many working-class individuals, driving into the city is not a luxury, but a necessity.

Given the limited alternatives, overcrowded trains and subways, high transit crime and unreliable service, many New Yorkers rely heavily on their personal vehicles for their daily commutes.

Introducing tolls would essentially create a financial hurdle, another form of taxation, forcing them to dig deeper into their pockets just to get to work. These are individuals who are already grappling with the escalating costs of living in the city and many pay tolls entering through MTA bridge and tunnels.

The economic damage caused by congestion pricing would not stop at commuters’ wallets. Our cherished local businesses, such as restaurants, event halls, and organizations that host on-site events, would suffer a significant blow.

Many of these businesses thrive on foot traffic, and the imposition of congestion pric-

The high cost of traveling and experiencing the city, coupled with the current trend of inflation, would deter tourists from exploring our vibrant neighborhoods, iconic landmarks, and world-class cultural institutions.

This would ripple through the local economy, causing losses in the hospitality, retail, and entertainment sectors.

Moreover, congestion pricing’s impact extends to the very products we rely on every day. Restaurants and businesses depend on timely deliveries to keep their operations running smoothly.

By charging fees for every delivery, congestion pricing would increase the cost of goods sold, eventually trickling down to consumers who will have to bear the brunt of higher prices. The very essence of affordability that our city is known for could be threatened.

Decades of tolls collected on bridges and other sources of revenue have often failed to translate into tangible improvements in our public transportation system.

Implementing congestion pricing risks giving the MTA even more unchecked power over citizens’ money without a guarantee of

In conclusion, while the intent behind congestion pricing is to alleviate traffic congestion and improve air quality, the potential pitfalls and disadvantages for New York City is a greater valid and of high importance.

The proposed tolls would disproportionately burden low and middle-class residents, cripple local businesses, and undermine the city’s status as a global tourist destination.

We must learn from the history of financial mismanagement and demand a comprehensive plan before surrendering our hardearned money to the MTA.

As a concerned resident, I urge our city’s leaders to carefully consider the long-term consequences of congestion pricing and to explore alternative solutions that promote economic growth, inclusivity, and sustainability for all New Yorkers.

Our city’s future hangs in the balance, and it is our responsibility to ensure it remains vibrant, accessible, and affordable for generations to come.

Shawn Ezhaghi Roslyn Heights

Charlotte Sear Great Neck

YOUR GUIDE TO THE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING

D-Day Living History event to be held on Airpower Museum

American Airpower Museum proudly has announced a Douglas C-47 “Skytrain” D-Day Living History Flight Experiences event on Saturday, Sept. 2.

In a one-of-a-kind immersive educational program, AAM’s C-47 troop transport will conduct four flights where Living Historians show passengers what 101st and 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers experienced on their incredible 1,200-plane D-Day assault.

Noted World War II Living Historian Robert Scarabino, with help from his 101st Airborne Reenactors, will transport passengers back in time to that fateful day in history.

Stories of our nation’s “Greatest Generation,” heroes of the Normandy D-Day Invasion, are being retold to a new generation of Americans.

AAM takes the next step and turns these events into teachable moments or “living history,” where passengers feel, hear, see and smell how it was on that “Night of Nights,” when the June

6, 1944 D-Day Invasion was launched, or on the daytime “Operation Market Garden” airdrop into Holland from Sept. 17 to 27, 1944.

AAM has created a totally unique experience to honor our heroic C-47 troop transport crews and paratroopers. Passengers are issued M-1942 jump jackets, helmets and harnesses, take part in an authentic mission briefing, then “form up” with AAM’s professional reenactors in full WWII 101st Airborne gear.

Next, passengers and reenactors board AAM’s C-47 Skytrain, just like America’s heroes did 79 years ago when they risked all to liberate occupied Europe from the Nazi scourge.

On board the C-47, passengers feel and hear the aircraft’s mighty twin engines firing up, then she taxis to the runway and takes off from Republic Airport, heading for Long Island’s South Shore.

During the flight, they observe the pilots operating their cockpit controls and paratroopers prepping for battle.

They’ll relive the Airborne experience up to the very moment when orders are given to hook up to the overhead static line.

Upon returning from this exciting flight, all will learn what our heroes did 79 years ago when they helped achieve victory for the Allies, culminating in the Nazi surrender. (Each Living History experience is about 1.5 hours long and the actual flight time to Long Island’s South Shore and back is about 20 minutes.)

AAM’s four C-47 flights are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can book seats by visiting AAM’s website at www.americanairpowermuseum.org and clicking “C-47 D-Day Living History Flight Experience.” Or call (516) 531-3950, (631) 454-2039 or visit AAM’s gift shop Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway in Farmingdale. An added plus is that each passenger may bring an extra guest at no charge, to watch the flights plus tour AAM’s exhibits all day.

The public is invited to visit AAM’s Hangar 3 all day on September 2nd, so you can watch each flight and tour AAM’s exhibits (tickets and pre-registration not required). In that case, regular admission is free for members, $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and veterans, $10 for children ages 5-12 and free for children ages 4 and under.

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II. Affectionately dubbed “Second Chance,” AAM’s iconic C-47 was built in 1944 and supplied to the U.S. Army Air Force.

She was transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1945 and flew in the Berlin Airlift (1948 — 1949) with the RAF, serving until 1950. The aircraft next served in the Belgian Air Force for two years. In 1952 she went to the French Air Force, serving two years in Viet Nam, as well as in India, Algeria, Morocco and the Congo.

In 1967 she was sold to Israel and

flew in the Israeli Defense Force for 32 years. AAM acquired the aircraft in 2000. In addition to AAM’s popular DDay reenactment flights, she also performs at regional air shows in classic WWII D-Day markings with the original “D8” code. One of the last C-47s still in stock military configuration, this aircraft has just over 17,000 hours in the air, one of the world’s lowest flight times ever!

This is a family-friendly program for all ages and a wonderful way to educate young Americans about WWII and how U.S. military veterans fought to defeat Nazi Germany and defend our freedom. Support AAM’s mission to honor veterans and military aviation history by helping maintain and preserve the Museum’s iconic aircraft. Help “Keep ‘Em Flying!”

The American Airpower Museum is an aviation museum located on the landmarked former site of Republic Aviation at Republic Airport in Farmingdale,

PHOTOS BY AAM

Living historians and passengers line up and board AAM’s WWII Douglas C-47 Skytrain Second Chance and (2) AAM’s WWII Douglas C-47 in flight over Long Island’s South Shore.

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Prepping parents, guardians, and students

There is nothing like a Long Island summer! All of us at Long Island Teachers hope you enjoyed it to the fullest, enjoying time with family and friends at the beach, in the pool, and our beautiful staycation spots.

As we think of the school year ahead, we’ve compiled some advice gleaned over the years from the thousands of teachers on Long Island that we are lucky enough to call members.

Back to school fills children with excitement and a little of the first-day jitters. Our educators focus on supporting youth mental health in today’s world. We hope summer was a time for them to enjoy being a kid and want to offer some helpful tips focused on planning and organization, which can often help calm anxious minds as these carefree months come to an end.

Re-establish school year routines.

To help ease the stressful school mornings, restart a regular bedtime and morning time routine a week or two before school starts. Have them wake up and eat breakfast at the same time every day. Help your kids write a rough outline of their school and activity schedules and create a family calendar, or choose a calendar app that tracks everyone’s activities and commitments.

Start shopping for school supplies together

Entering a new grade is exciting and a little scary. When shopping, allow them to pick out their lunchbox, backpack, and even some new clothes. Set a budget and share with them how much they can spend on these items so it doesn’t stress you out. This is an excellent way to teach

them about money and give them a little responsibility too!

Set up a homework station.

Talk with your child about a designated time and space where they can do homework. Depending on your child’s ability to finish homework without help, consider a time and place where you are available in case your child needs assistance.

Prepare for the unpredictable.

As working parents can attest, finding a lastminute sitter when your child is sick can be challenging. Now is an excellent time to start lining up a sitter when the school calls to say your child is ill.

Create your after-school game plan

If both parents work, where will your child go after school? Depending on your child’s age, will they attend an after-school program, stay at a neighbor’s, or be allowed to stay home alone? This helps eliminate confusion during the already crazy first weeks. If they will be at home alone, go over house rules, safety concerns, and what to do in an emergency.

Turn off the video games and TV.

It will feel like you are cutting their summer short; however, two weeks before school starts is a good time to start weaning the electronics. Shock sets in when they realize that six to eight hours of their day will be spent learning and not gaming or binge-watching favorite shows. Ease

your child back into the learning process by limiting the electrics and encouraging them to read or play quietly. Using a timer is an excellent trick to ease into this for more extended periods!

Go over school materials and information. Most schools provide a packet online or via email with a ton of information on your child’s teacher(s), important dates, emergency forms, and transportation arrangements. Jot down important dates on your calendar or put them in your phone. Talk openly with your kids about their feelings about returning to school and what they can expect on the first day, and be ready to answer any questions.

Get organized.

Back to school means LOTS of paperwork that can consume the counters in your home. Designate a spot in your home for permission slips, upcoming projects, and other school-related papers. This can help eliminate surprises that require last-minute midnight to Target, Walmart, or Dollar Store runs for supplies. A decluttered home also helps support a decluttered mind.

Get your child’s yearly checkup

Germs and school are synonymous, so getting your child’s wellness checkup before school starts is optimal. It is also essential to get those annual physicals done early to comply with state requirements and for school sports registration.

Diving into the school year with a positive attitude and these tips will help you and your children kick off a new year with confidence. Teachers and coaches will thank you, too!

to school, back to bullying

The transition from summer to the classroom is challenging for many K-12 students. But for some, heading back to school also means heading back to bullying.

One in five students reports being bullied, an experience that can cause effects ranging from a drop in academic performance to severe mental health issues like depression, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, and other harmful behaviors.

In addition, with smartphones and social media at their disposal, bullies now have access to more tools than ever before.

As students head back to school, one school counseling expert shares valuable insight for parents to take action.

“The most common types of bullying that take place in K-12 schools include verbal bullying, cyberbullying, physical bullying, and relational bullying,” says Cameka Hazel, assistant professor in New York Institute of Technology’s School Counseling, M.S. program.

Hazel notes that cyberbullying, in particular, can present especially difficult. The media has the potential to reach a wide range of viewers and [posts can be] difficult to remove. The emotional damage stemming from large viewership cannot be easily undone, even if the post is taken down,” she says.

Public schools report that bullying is high-

est in middle school (28%), followed by high school (16%), combined schools (12%), and elementary (9%). Considering this, Hazel urges parents of all K-12 students to familiarize themselves with the anti-bullying policies at their child’s school.

“All 50 states are required to have anti-bullying laws in [K-12] schools,” said Hazel, who specializes in the supervision and training of professional mental health and school counselors. These policies should cover students’ interactions on school property and school buses, as well as school functions held off campus, like field trips.

According to Hazel, typically, all support and academic staff receive training on the state’s anti-bullying policies. The school’s administration would then designate individuals to serve as anti-bullying coordinators, or a committee to oversee bullying reports and disciplinary actions.

“All students and parents should be made aware of who the anti-bullying coordinators are and how to file a bullying complaint,” she said.

Hazel also advises parents considering a new school to request the school’s anti-bullying policies and inquire about additional initiatives (outside of the mandated policies) that the school is taking to cultivate healthy peer relations among its students.

Beating back-to-school ‘Lunch Box Anxiety’

For many parents, getting back into the routine of packing their child’s lunch is one of the biggest stressors of the back-to-school season. In fact, a survey found that nearly three in five parents get stressed out just thinking about it.

Now, nutrition expert Mindy Haar, Ph.D., assistant dean at New York Institute of Technology’s School of Health Professions in Old Westbury, shares simple tips and tricks for packing a healthy school lunch.

What common mistakes do parents make in preparing their children’s school lunches?

Not planning for the week in advance may leave parents to give lunches just based on what’s on hand. Drawing up a menu for the week, with your child’s input, can increase variety and nutritional value.

What are some strategies parents can leverage to make preparing school lunches easier?

Letting children help with shopping and food prep will assure that they don’t bring home lunch containers filled with uneaten food.

Whenever possible, save prep time by using dinner leftovers. Preparing food in quantity also eliminates cleanup time and provides fewer opportunities to nibble. Examples of freezer-friendly foods are flax seed muffins, vegetable soups, and vegetable burgers.

What constitutes a well-balanced lunch?

Following the pattern suggested by My Plate, the lunch meal should include a generous amount of vegetables and fruit, as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A portion of whole grains (about half a cup or one slice of bread) can provide fiber and checking the label for at least three grams of fiber per serving should be done.

A portion of protein rounds out the meal with recommended animal-based protein such as fish, white meat poultry, egg whites, low-fat cottage cheese, or yogurt. However, moving to a more plant-based diet by including beans, tofu, edamame, hummus, nuts, or seeds as protein sources introduces even more nutrients and is eco-friendlier.

Ideally, snacks should contribute something positive to a child’s daily nutrition needs. For example, adding a cup of fat-free or low-fat milk – or comparable non-dairy milk – to any snack significantly contributes to a child’s calcium needs.

Can you provide a handful of simple, healthy meal options?

Baked potato stuffed with broccoli and plain yogurt

Lentil/split pea/barley soup and whole grain bread

Stir fry tofu and vegetables with quinoa

Whole wheat vegetable pizza

Bean burgers and whole wheat pasta

What about snacks?

Cut-up fruits and vegetables

Fruit kabobs: cut-up fruit on a toothpick or skewer

Whole grain crackers and/or cut-up vegetables and hummus

Frozen grapes or canned pineapple rings

In addition to serving as assistant dean for New York Tech’s School of Health Professions, Mindy Haar is the chair of the school’s Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, which offers a fully online M.S. in Clinical Nutrition program.

How students c an get the most out of tutoring

No student’s academic career is free from challenges. Classroom challenges can help students get more out of their coursework, which can benefit them as their academic careers progress and prepare them to excel in the professional arena.

Students can sometimes overcome challenges on their own or with a little extra assistance from educators and parents When coursework is especially challenging, students may benefit from working with tutors. Direct one-on-one communication with a tutor can help students fully understand complex concepts that parents may not understand In certain instances, educators cannot always pause lessons to help struggling students in the classroom, particularly if others in the class are ready to move on So tutors may be just what students need to unlock their academic potential and stay the course as their knowledge of a specific subject expands.

The partnership between student and tutor is most effective when each person fully commits to a tutoring session Professional tutors are paid to be committed, and it’s up to students to match that commitment. Making the most of working with a tutor comes down to preparation, interest, a willingness to put in the work, and a host of additional factors

• Prepare for each tutoring

session Students should prepare for each tutoring session just like they do for other activities they care about, including extracurriculars Student musicians would not arrive to a recital without their instrument, nor would athletes arrive for a game without their equipment Prior to the beginning of a tutoring session, double-check to ensure you have all the necessary materials, including books, class notes, past and current

assignments, and a syllabus for the class. If possible, send the tutor the syllabus in advance of the first session, and note the challenges you’re having in regard to the material

• Recognize the student-tutor dynamic is a two-way street Tutors should not be the only ones to speak during a session. Students can prepare questions prior to each session and then ask any additional questions that come to mind during the session Open, free-flowing communication can help students gain a stronger grasp of the material, and it’s the responsibility of both tutors and students to keep lines of communication open If a tutor ’s approach is not resonating, speak up and ask for more clarification

• Act ively engage Tutors may give some additional work to help students learn the material Students should not write off such assignments because they won’t be graded. Active engagement in tutoring, both during sessions and between them, can ensure students get the most out of tutoring

• Be pat ient Tutors are typically utilized when students have trouble understanding complex subjects That complexity means it will likely take time before students fully grasp what tutors are teaching them. Students should stay patient and not grow discouraged if it’s taking awhile to grasp material Celebrate any progress that is made, however incremental it may be. Small steps forward can lead students down a successful path that could ultimately end with mastery of a complex subject

Tutors help millions of students fulfill their academic potential each year The most successful student-tutor relationships are characterized by hard work on the part of both parties

Unique academy and e duc ational tracks in scho ol

chools continue to evolve and change their curriculum to meet the needs of modern students. Many schools now recognize the importance of helping students develop skills that will help them be competitive in the world and workforce. One way they are doing so is through the development of educational academies or specific academic tracks to give students an advantage later in their academic careers. Here’s a close look at such offerings, which tend to be primarily at the high school (secondary school) level.

Early college academy

SSchools continue to evolve and change their curriculum to meet the needs of modern students. Many schools now recognize the importance of helping students develop skills that will help them be competitive in the world and workforce. One way they are doing so is through the development of educational academies or specific academic tracks to give students an advantage later in their academic careers Here’s a close look at such offerings, which tend to be primarily at the high school (secondary school) level.

offerings. Others provide college courses in a high school setting. High schools develop complementary relationships with accredited colleges in the area, typically community colleges. Upon completion of the programs, students in the early college courses will receive associates degrees. Advantages to an ECA is that students already have completed two years of college, which saves time and money.

Dual enrollment/Advanced placement

on students’ scores on the tests. Both of these avenues may help students earn college credits, provided the school they attend will accept the credits.

Career tracks/pathways

High schools have been offering this option for some time now. Dual enrollment classes are essentially college courses that high schoolers take while in high school. Professors from nearby colleges may teach these courses right in a high school classroom. High school teachers also may be trained to instruct a college’s approved coursework. At the end of the course, the student will have received credits for that college course.

Early college academy

Early college academy, also known as early college high school, is a program that enables high school students to earn two-year associates degrees at the same time as they earn high school diplomas, according to U.S. News & World Report. The Early College High School Initiative was established in part in 2002 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Early colleges have expanded over the last 20 years, and these programs may work in different ways. Some bring high schoolers to college campuses to take courses in-person, or there may be remote course

Early college academy, also known as early college high school, is a program that enables high school students to earn two-year associates degrees at the same time as they earn high school diplomas, according to U S News & World Report. The Early College High School Initiative was established in part in 2002 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Early colleges have expanded over the last 20 years, and these programs may work in different ways Some bring high schoolers to college campuses to take courses in-person, or there may be remote course offerings. Others provide college courses in a high school setting. High schools develop complementary relationships with accredited colleges in the area, typically community

Advanced placement (AP) classes are classes with collegelevel curricula created by the College Board. AP students must pass AP exams at the end of the classes. Certain colleges will accept AP classes as college credit depending

colleges Upon completion of the programs, students in the early college courses will receive associates degrees. Advantages to an ECA is that students already have completed two years of college, which saves time and money.

Dual enrollment/ Advanced placement

Students may choose to follow particular tracks in high school if they pick a college major or choose a trade school. Sometimes these programs are called pathways. Nevertheless, they may be offered in Visual Arts, STEM, Business Management, Automotive Repair, Hospitality, or Mathematics. While students will still get an array of core classes, by enrolling in a track, their electives and certain other classes may be geared toward a particular pathway. For example, an eligible math course for a business student may be accounting as opposed to calculus for a general education student. These pathways help develop passions and interests and enable high schoolers to grow accustomed to the customization of a degree.

scores on the tests Both help students earn colleg school they attend will a

High school has evolved to introduce students to higher education in novel ways.

Career tracks/pat

Back to school means back to dance!

Want

Our

High schools have been offering this option for some time now Dual enrollment classes are essentially college courses that high schoolers take while in high school. Professors from nearby colleges may teach these courses right in a high school classroom. High school teachers also may be trained to instruct a college’s approved coursework. At the end of the course, the student will have received credits for that college course Advanced placement (AP) classes are classes with college-level curricula created by the C llege Board. AP students must pass AP exams at the end of the classes Certain colleges will accept AP classes as college credit depending on students’

Students may choose to in high school if they pic choose a trade school. S are called pathways Nev offered in Visual Arts, S Management, Automotiv Mathematics. While stud array of core classes, by electives and certain oth toward a particular pathw eligible math course for be accounting as oppose general education studen develop passions and int schoolers to grow accus customization of a degre High school has evolved higher education in nove

Providing early childhood and school age education programs since 1973

• Open year-round Monday to Friday for children ages 12 weeks to 12 years old

• Licensed by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services

• Infants, Toddlers, and Pre-K Programs

• Before and After-School, Holiday Care, Summer Camp Programs

• Use of the Creative Curriculum

• Nutritious Meals and Snacks

• Medical Oversight

• Outdoor Playspace

• Preparation for Kindergarten

• Music Program

• Nut-Free Facility

5 Convenient Locations in Nassau County Glen Cove, Manhasset, Mineola, New Hyde Park, and Uniondale

For location and contact information, please visit our website at www.HarborChildCare.org

Fri 8/25

Center, 195 Woodcleft Ave, Freeport

Sat 8/26

Rob Appelblatt (Splatt): SPLATT.LIVE! @The Rust & Gold @ 6pm

The Rust & Gold, 70 Gerard St, Huntington

61ST ANNUAL LONG ISLAND SCOTTISH FESTIVAL AND HIGHLAND GAMES @ 8am / $25

Sand City Brewing, 150 S Well‐wood Ave, Lindenhurst

Friday Aug 25th

VOYAGE - The Ultimate Journey

Tribute

@ 8pm / $20-$40

The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Voyage has been hailed by fans and critics alike as the number one Journey tribute band in the world, performing Journey's music with chilling accuracy! Since 2005, Voyage has dominated America with more sold out shows than any other tribute.

Slightly Stoopid and Sublime with Rome wsg Atmosphere, The Movement @ 3:30pm / $45-$99.50 Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, 1000 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh

New York Mets vs. Texas Rangers @ 7:10pm Citi Field, 120-01 Roosevelt Av‐enue, Flushing

Wed 8/30

connect with one another. MidIsland Y JCC, 45 Manetto Hill Road, Plainview

Kirsten Maxwell Music @ 7pm Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave, Huntington

Nickelback @ 7pm UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Bellerose Terrace

James Maddock at My Father's Place @ 8pm / $30

James Maddock will be playing at My Father's Place on August 25. Ad‐vanced tickets are $30, and tickets the day of the show are $35. My Father's Place, 3 Pratt Boulevard, Glen Cove. myfathersplaceproduc tions@gmail.com

Sivan arbel: w/ SHC Collective @ 8pm Sparkle On Stage Cultural Arts

With bagpipes, caber tossing, concerts, food, and kids’ games, the 61st Annual Long Is‐land Scottish Festival and Highland Games is back and a perfect day out for everyone! Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury. tickets@ oldwestburygar dens.org, 516-333-0048

Coalo Zamorano: New York - Tour Exáltate

2023

@ 6:30pm El Gran Yo Soy Pentecostal Church, 70 W Merrick Rd, Freeport

Sand City South Presents The Homme, Bad Guise & Spirit Gun @ 7pm

Walt Wilkins: Shine Sessions House Concerts @ 7pm Shine Sessions House Concerts, Commack

Dave Matthews Tribute Band

@ 7:30pm

Join the Town of North Hempstead for its sum‐mer concert series. North Hempstead Beach Park, 175 West Shore Road, Port Washington. feedback @northhemp steadny.gov, 516-8696311

Sun 8/27

Elevado Music: HEALEmerge Integrative Wellness @ 6:30pm

Emerge Integrative Wellness, 623 Broadway, Massapequa

Mon 8/28

Disco Unlimited at The Boat Yard (Tobay Beach) @ 7:30pm

The Boat Yard Water Front Bar and Grill, 1 Ocean Pkwy,, Mass‐apequa

BE OUR GUEST: The Disney DJ Night @ 8pm / $15-$40

The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

The Q-Tip Bandits @ 9pm Spotlight NY Huntington, 370 New York Ave, Huntington Nicolls Road @ 11:30pm

Nutty Irishman, 323 Main St, Farmingdale

1st Round Men's / Women's @ 11am / $105

Billie Jean King Na‐tional Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing

Tue 8/29

Jewish Learning Series @ 12:30pm

Join the Mid Island Y JCC and a host of guest presenters for in‐teresting and relevant lectures and discussions related to Ju‐daism and Jewish Culture. MidIsland Y JCC, 45 Manetto Hill Road, Plainview

Thu 8/31

Wheelwright @ 7pm Spotlight NY Huntington, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Rhonda Kay and the Backstage Trio @ 2pm

Rhonda Kay and the Backstage Trio After‐noon TEA is funded by the Manhasset Com‐munity Fund's Green‐tree Foundation and sponsored by The Bristal Assisted Living | August 30, 2023 at 2pm Jeanne Rimsky Theater, 232 Main Street, Port Washington. bo�of�ce @landmarkonmain street.org, 516-7676444

Max Weinberg's Jukebox @ 8pm / $25-$59.50 The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Liam St. John @ 10pm Spotlight NY Huntington, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Fri 9/01

Zac N Fried @ Plattsduetache @ 6:30pm Plattduetsche Park, 1132 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square

The 90's Band @ 7pm Salt Shack, 100 Ocean Pkwy, Babylon

The Smashing Pumpkins: The World Is A Vampire Tour @ 6:30pm / $29.50$175

Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, 895 Bay Parkway, Wan‐tagh

Social Singles @ 6:30pm / $12

Join us at the Mid-Island Y JCC for ongoing social program‐ming for singles ages 55+ to

New York Mets vs. Seattle Mariners @ 7:10pm Citi Field, 120-01 Roosevelt Av‐enue, Flushing

Industry Presents: Sarah Gross, The Belle Curves, Lydia Von Hof @ 8pm Industry, 344 New York Ave, Huntington

Calendar information is pro‐vided by event organizers. All events are subject to change or cancellation. This publica‐tion is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in this calendar.

The best place to promote your events online and in print. Visit us @ https://theisland360.com/local-events/ powered by

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Business&RealEstate

Adduci a 2024 Best Lawyers Ones to Watch

Carrie Adduci (resident of New Hyde Park) has been named to the 2024 Best Lawyers Ones to Watch list.

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch™ awards the Purely Peer Review methodology to highlight excellence in legal talent for lawyers who are earlier in their careers. Like traditional Best Lawyers awards, “Ones to Watch” awarded lawyers are recognized for their work in specific area of law.

Adduci, a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group, concentrates on acquisitions, sales and refinances of commercial and residential properties. She also represents developers with regard to the sale of their newly con-

structed residential homes.

Prior to joining Certilman Balin, Adduci was a Real Estate Associate at a small Long Island law firm. In this position, she represented and advised purchasers, sellers, landlords and tenants in a variety of commercial and residential real estate transactions, including real property and co-operative apartments.

Adduci also co-taught a course in Applied Legal Analysis at her alma mater, St. John’s University School of Law. She earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude in 2012 and her Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, with a major in Legal Studies and a minor in Theology.

She served as managing editor of St. John’s Law Review and Vice CoChair of the Public Interest Committee. As a student she helped her peers to strengthen their writing skills, as a consultant in the Writing Center.

St. John’s Law School awarded Ms. Adduci with a Merit-Based Scholarship, the ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award, and the St. John’s Gold Pro Bono Service Award. She was also on the Dean’s List.

During the summer of 2011, Adduci served as a Law Clerk at the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian in Chicago, Ill. She was designated a guardian ad litem and attorney for

children involved in protective proceedings in Cook County Juvenile Court.

Adduci was named to the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, to the 2022 and 2021 Rising Stars list of Metro New York Super Lawyers, and its 2023 Women’s Edition. She was also recognized with a Leadership in Law Award and as one of the “Who’s Who in Professional Women” by Long Island Business News,as well as as one of the “Rising Stars” by Real Estate Weekly.

She is admitted to practice in the state of New York and is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association and New York State Bar Association.

Roslyn’s Turestky named a best lawyer

Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman has announced that Donna J. Turetsky (resident of Roslyn) has been named to the 2024 Best Lawyers list.

Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. The process is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

Turetsky is a co-chair of the Trusts and Estates and Elder Law Practice Groups at Certilman Balin.

She concentrates her practice on trust and estate administration, elder

law, estate planning,special needs planning and guardianships.

In the area of estate administration,she assists clients in all aspects of Surrogate Court practice which includes probate and administration proceedings, construction and reformation proceedings, discovery proceedings and accounting proceedings.

Turetsky has been appointed numerous times to serve as Guardian Ad Litem through the Surrogate’s Court.

Clients receive her counsel on estate and tax planning matters. She prepares Wills, Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, Supplemental Needs Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Health Care

Proxies, and Living Wills.

In her elder law practice, Turetsky counsels seniors and their families. She assists these clients in the preservation of assets in the face of possible long-term care needs. She is also experienced in Medicaid and Special Needs Planning, and prepares applications for both home care and nursing home care.

She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Miami, a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Miami School of Law.

She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Nassau

County Bar Association and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).

Ms. Turetsky was also selected to the 2023 and 2022 editions of Best Lawyers. In 2021, Blank Slate Media honored her as one of Nassau County’s Women of Distinction.

In 2011, Long Island Business News recognized her as a one of its “Who’s Who in Women in Professional Services,” and in 2016, the Center for Children, Families and the Law at Hofstra University School of Law selected her as one of its Top Women in Law and Long Island Pulse Magazine named her a Top Legal Eagle.

Two Silverbergs honored by Best Lawyers

For the tenth consecutive year, Stephen J. Silverberg, based on extensive peer review, is listed in the 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in the practice area of Elder Law.

For the first time, Scott B. Silverberg is listed in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America: Ones To Watch® in the practice areas of Elder Law and Trusts and Estates.

For the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, a review of over 13.7 million votes resulted in over 76,000 leading lawyers being honored in the milestone 30th edition.

For the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®in America, over 2.4 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in over 25,000 lawyers being honored in the new edition.

Stephen holds the AV Preeminent (5 out of 5) rating, the highest possible designation from Martindale-Hubbell, and has been on the Super Law-

yer New York metro list since 2007.

He is designated a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, as authorized by the American Bar Association. Applicants must pass a stringent written examination and substantial independent peer review to receive this designation.

Although the test started in 1993, fewer than 520 attorneys have earned the CELA designation. Silverberg is a graduate of Hartwick College and Brooklyn Law School. He has been a New York and Florida Bars member for over forty years.

Stephen J. Silverberg is a nationally recognized leader in estate and tax planning, estate and trust administration, asset preservation planning, and Elder Law.

He is the past President of the prestigious National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. In 2003 he was named a NAELA Fellow, the highest honor

given by NAELA to “attorneys whose careers concentrate on Elder Law, and who have distinguished themselves both by making exceptional contributions to meeting the needs of older Americans and by demonstrating a commitment to the Academy.”

Silverberg is also a former president and is a member of the New York State chapter of NAELA.

Scott B. Silverberg is President of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a member of the National Board of Directors of NAELA. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Elder Law Practicum of national NAELA.

As a New York State Bar Association member, Scott serves as ViceChair of the Practice Management Committee of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section Executive Committee. Previously, he chaired the Technology Committee.

In 2022, Scott became a member of The Estate Planning Council of Nassau County, a member chapter of the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils.

Scott earned an LLM (Master of Laws) in Elder Law from the Stetson University School of Law, a leader in special needs planning. He is the only attorney in New York who holds this degree.

He graduated from Fordham Law School (JD, 2013) and holds a Bachelor of Science from the internationally renowned Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

The Law Office of Stephen J. Silverberg, PC, represents clients in estate planning, tax, estate administration, asset preservation planning, Elder Law, and related issues. The Law Office of Stephen J. Silverberg, PC is at 185 Roslyn Road in Roslyn Heights 516-307-1236 and www.sjslawpc.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LAW OFFICE OF STEPHEN J. SILVERBERG, PC Scott B. Silverberg

Congestion pricing tax grab

Continued from Page 18

If the road had two lanes, one is now a bike lane. But, beware, crossing that bike lane is dangerous and at your own risk. The bikers know no rules, it is everyone for themselves. Any car in the City of London is billed about $18 a day, whether or not it moves.

As of the end of August, fossil-fueled cars are forbidden. The effect of this is to render any gas-burning car in the country, value reduced by half.

The cost of EV cars is about $20,000 more than conventional automobiles. Recharging a vehicle is about $78 and is time-consuming. Outside of London, people really have no interest in Battery cars.

The result has been that London is losing its middle class. The residents break down to young, single professionals, the very rich, tourists and immigrants, legal and otherwise. Many businesses have folded, and have been reduced to convenience or “off License” stores.

Enforcement is Orwellian for parking violations, stopping or traffic misdeeds. A UBER driver must wear his identification around his neck or else the fine is in the hundreds. The cost of collecting these fees approaches the monies collected.

When our politicians come up with proposals such as this, they see only their pet interests, in this case, the MTA. When I began driving the bridges and tunnels were .25 each way. Now it is $6-$8, except for the Verrazano which is I believe $19

When you add parking, meters were .10 an hour, and now $3-$4 per hour, with a meter maid on every block. Add the congestion fee to all of this and it rapidly becomes a burden to the working man or a resident wanting to shop.

Conveniently, the congestion zone stops at 60th Street, so anyone who wants to go uptown off of the Queensboro Bridge gets socked with the fee.

Let’s look at the TBTA and any crossing. As I mentioned, when I started driving the toll was .25, does it really cost $500,000+ a day to maintain the Triboro bridge or the Queens Midtown Tunnel?

Where does the money go? Our politicians believe that “if you build it, they will come.” This is not the case always. How many more who drive, are going to opt for the crime-ridden subways?

With the high cost of rent, and these added expenses, everything in Manhattan will increase in cost. It would be naive to think that UPS, Amazon and any delivery truck will absorb this increase.

Did closing 14th Street speed traffic? Of course it did not, and likewise for Herald Square and Times Square. It is obvious that the politicians are anti-car.

Will the hundreds of thousands of working commuters, give up their cars to take the Subway, or buses. Unfortunately, when the make gross mistakes, there is no going back, the damage is done.

Years ago, NAFTRA was going to increase business from Mexico and the economy would flourish. Some 63,000 factories and now you can’t buy an American-made nail or clock.

Lest people think that congestion pricing or battery cars will save the planet, it is well established the First Law of Thermodynamics states that ”energy can neither be created nor destroyed.”

Instead of the car burning fuel, now the power plant will. Forget alternative energy, which when push comes to shove, is neither reliable or cheap.

With this folly of congestion pricing, it is only a tax grab and there is no going back. Today’s Daily Telegraph reveals how these policies hurt London.

Cary Ratner

Roslyn

READERS WRITE

On 9/5/2022, a reader’s letter was posted on congestion pricing. The reader asked if the MTA treats commuters like an ATM Machine (a redundancy, since you’re saying automatic teller machine machine, but let’s skip grammar). This reader asked “why is there no emphasis on the part of MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and supporters of congestion pricing when it comes to dealing with fare evasion, excessive overtime, pension abuse, burdensome state and federal Buy America rules and regulations, transferring of TBTA bridge and tunnel tolls to transit along with upcoming union contracts? They all collectively adversely impact the MTA capital program.”

The reader further said “many who will be asked to pay for congestion pricing already pay for tolls on MTA TriBoro Bridge and Tunnel Authority bridges and tunnels. Every year, $500 million in TBTA-generated tolls are transferred to MTA Transit operating agencies in-

cluding New York City Transit subway, bus and Staten Island Railway, Long Island Rail Road, Metro North Rail Road and MTA Bus

Why doesn’t the MTA resolve all of these issues before pursuing congestion pricing? Collectively they could easily raise close to the $1 billion per year promised by the implementation of congestion pricing.

You don’t need to take my word for it; the opinion piece is readily available with a couple of mouse clicks. It’s right on this very website. The author of this opinion piece? Larry Penner.

This very same author apparently has changed his mind about congestion pricing: “Why Not Give Jersey a fair share of congestion toll pricing revenues?” There is a very simple solution to Gov Phil Murphy’s lawsuit: Share revenues with New Jersey.”

But there’s one fly in the ointment: the subject of Gov. Murphy’s lawsuit is not about New Jersey receiving congestion pricing toll revenues. It is about

OUR VIEWS

the alleged unfair taxation of New Jerseyites.

If Mr. Penner would engage in nuts-and-bolts research rather than simply talking off the top of his head, he would come up with this:https:// www.nj.gov/governor/news/ news/562023/20230721a.shtml. In this article, Gov. Murphy and other Jersey politicians state their issues with congestion pricing. Right or wrong it has nothing to do with New Jersey getting its fair share of revenue.

So which is it? Is Mr. Penner in favor of it? Against it? In favor of it? Why does the author have no problem with New Jerseyites paying congestion tolls on top of bridge tolls but apparently has an issue with Long Island residents paying it? Why is it that a man with decidedly Libertarian leaning opinions is (sometimes) in favor of de facto taxation?

Nat Weiner Bronx

Hate makes stop on its tour in Port

Continued from Page 14

To its credit, the Port Washington Democratic Club released a statement prior to last week’s event, castigating antisemitic comments made by McKay and urging individuals not to attend the event.

Kim Keiserman, president of the Port Washington Democratic Club, said they released the statement because it is their mission to promote democratic values and speak out against hate. She said the

club thought the community had the right to know this event was being hosted.

“It just shows that people everywhere need to be aware of what’s happening in their community, we need to be willing to speak out against hate even when it’s uncomfortable and we have to tell the truth,” Keiserman said.

The Democratic Club was later joined by Town of North Hempstead officials of both parties and Democratic state Assemblywoman Gina Silletti in condemning

McKay.

But we are disappointed that we have yet to hear from other Nassau County officials at all levels.

There are some people who will dismiss McKay and his followers as idle threats.

But Jan. 6 tells us that we do so at our own peril. The time to stamp out the hate is now. To do so, we must all respond to McKay and all those who promote these bigoted fantasies.

Penner flip flops on pricing 14 now running in Santos’ CD3

Continued from Page 8

among other goods, from a store in Niterói, located outside of Rio de Janeiro.

Two years later, Santos confessed to the crime and was later charged, according to The Times.

Santos is also being investigated by the House Ethics Committee.

In April, Santos announced his bid for re-election despite his current indictment and diminished support by constituents.

Due to his deception, alleged criminal reputation and pending legal repercussions, Santos has been facing strong opposition to his role as a representative and his future campaign for re-election. This response has led to a long lineup of challengers for the Third Congressional District seat.

The lineup so far includes seven Democratic candidates, seven Republican candidates – one of whom is Santos – and one Independent candidate, according to Ballotpedia.

Democratic candidates include former New York State District 7 Sen. Anna Kaplan

(D–Port Washington), District 18 Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (D–Woodbury), St. John’s legal studies professor William Murphy and 29-year-old activist Zak Malamed. Other candidates include Austin Cheng, Scott Livingston and Darius Radzius. Matthew Nappo, operations officer for EPM Studios, is running as an independent.

Republican challengers facing incumbent Santos are Afghanistan war veteran and former J.P. Morgan Vice President Kellen Curry, retired NYPD Detective Mike Sapraicone and newest candidate, Air Force veteran and personal injury lawyer Greg Hach. Other candidates include Philip Sean Grillo, a Queens man charged with storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; orthopedic surgeon Harvey Manes, and Daniel Norber, a small business owner from Bayside, Queens.

Santos has been a talking point for many of the candidates running for his seat, notably Republicans, with many advocating to reinstate faith in the district in the wake of his scandals.

This includes the newest Republican candidate Hach.

“I am running for Congress because honorable Third District voters were conned by a crook and serial liar,” Hach said in a press release, referring to Santos.

Curry also expressed the importance of reinstating an effective representative for the district in a previous interview with Blank Slate.

“What we’re really focusing on right now is making sure that we draw attention to the current state of leadership,” Curry said. “Quite frankly, nothing happens if we don’t have leadership that we can believe in.”

Sapraicone shared a similar inspiration for his candidacy as Curry, who said he is running in order to “return integrity and a respected voice to the office.”

Neither Nassau County GOP Chairman Joe Cairo nor Democrat Chairman Jay Jacobs has made any endorsements yet for their congressional congressional candidates in the race.

On Monday, Sept. 11, the Town of North Hempstead will host a 9/11 Memorial Service at 8:15 a.m. at Manhasset Valley Park, located on East Shore Road and Northern Boulevard. All are welcome to the ceremony.

“This year marks the 22nd Anniversary of these tragic attacks on America, and we will once again commemorate the day and honor those we have lost with this special ceremony at

the Town’s 9/11 Memorial at Manhasset Valley Park,” Supervisor Jennifer DeSena stated. “Fiftysix North Hempstead residents lost their lives in the attacks, so it is especially significant that we come together as a community each year to honor their memory. The passage of time does not diminish the tragedy that our nation suffered, so please join us as we remember these loved ones and the brave heroism of our first responders

who answered the call that day.”

“Once again we gather to commemorate those we lost in the tragic events of September 11th twenty-two years ago.

Our somber reflection may be a public expression, a celebration and tribute or an immensely private and personal moment of grief and resolution.

May we continue to heal and rededicate

The Sands Point Preserve Conservancy welcomed guests –including philanthropists, artists, garden enthusiasts, business leaders and officials – to its Garden Party Gala on Tuesday, Aug. 1, to unveil the new Hempstead House Garden.

The four-season sustainable garden comprises diverse, native grass, shrub, and flower species planted to support the biosphere.

At the outdoor event, guests cheered as Fred Falconer, president of Falconer Florist, a 103-year-old business based in Port Washington, cut the ribbon to the iconic garden.

A sensory experience, the garden is designed to welcome guests all year long with such plantings as Pale purple coneflower, Oakleaf hydrangea, October skies aster and much more.

The gala featured organic wine tastings from seven local vineyards and wineries, professional artists painting the garden in real-time, opportunities to learn about the garden’s native plantings, eco-friendly centerpieces, cocktails, festive fare and live music. Guests contributed notes and photos to an exclusive time capsule, honoring this historic moment for future generations at the Preserve.

ourselves to a better world and share in the promise to “Never Forget”, said Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava.

The Town of North Hempstead September 11th Memorial at Manhasset Valley Park features a stately 19-foot-long steel beam from the World Trade Center.

If you have any questions, please call the Office of the Town Clerk at 516-869-7610.

North Hempstead’s Sept. 11 Memorial Service Sands Point Preserve Conservancy gala

Redesigned out of necessity after the Preserve’s 1,500 rose bushes were destroyed by Rosette’s Disease in 2021, the new, four-season sustainable garden comprises diverse, native grass, shrub, and flower species planted to support the biosphere. For this $250,000 installation, the conservancy worked with MNLA, the renowned New York-based landscape architecture firm, to revitalize the garden in keeping with the Preserve’s legacy. Port Washington-based Calabrese & Sons Landscaping Contractors brought MNLA’s vision forward, meticulously planting the garden to be enjoyed spring, summer, fall and winter.

The New York State Senate had awarded the Conservancy a $100,000 grant for the garden’s renovation.

The Conservancy is looking to the Preserve’s supporters as well as garden enthusiasts and conservation advocates to help offset the additional financial obligations.

The gala also marked the beginning of a new campaign in which the community can support the garden through fundraising efforts that include the purchase and engraving of commemorative bricks, planters, benches and fountains.

16 Northwell hospitals cited for cardiovascular care

Sixteen Northwell Health hospitals have received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s, Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Achievement Award for demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, researchbased guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, faster recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

The hospitals that received the Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award are Glen Cove Hospital, Huntington Hospital, Mather Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, LIJ Medical Center at Forest Hills, LIJ Valley Stream, North Shore University Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital Center, Peconic Bay Medical Center, Phelps Hospital, Plainview Hospital, South Shore Hospital (formerly Southside), Staten Island University Hospital, Prince’s Bay, Staten Island University Hospital, North Campus and Syosset Hospital.

Of those hospitals, 15 received secondary, Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll status recognizing them for providing the most up-to-date, evidence-based care for patients with type 2 diabetes who are hospitalized with heart failure, heart attack or stroke.

Earning Stroke Gold Plus status

For a specified duration, each facility met precise quality achievement criteria related to the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients. These criteria encompassed the speed to treatment, appropriate administration of medications and other stroke therapies in accordance with the latest evidence-based guidelines, with the objective of promoting rapid recovery and minimizing mortality and disability among stroke patients. Additionally, prior to being discharged, patients were provided with education on self-care management, scheduled follow-up visits, and received additional interventions to ensure a smooth transition of care.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidenceand research-based guidelines.

“Northwell hospitals continue to be recognized by the American Heart Association for its exceptional

Brennan honored by LICADD

Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (D – Woodbury) recently supported the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence at their 36th annual Adele C. Smithers Angel Ball at Oheka Castle in Huntington.

At the Thursday, June 22 event, which raised awareness and funds for drug intervention and prevention programs on Long Island, LICADD presented its 2023 Founders Award to Michael

J. Brennan, and its Humanitarian Award to John Polsinelli and the Polsinelli family.

Lafazan, a LICADD board member, presented the honorees with a Nassau County Legislature Citation in recognition of their contributions to the cause of promoting recovery.

“As Nassau County and our entire nation continue to grapple with the devastation wrought by the opioid drug

crisis, the work of organizations like LICADD becomes more impactful and essential than ever before,” Lafazan said.

“The success of their Angel Ball will equip LICADD to further amplify their life-saving eff orts to prevent substance abuse, provide addiction treatment, and encourage the pursuit of recovery – and we are all gratifi ed to Michael Brennan, the Polsinelli family, and all of LICADD’s supporters for making this possible.”

responsive clinical outcomes in stroke care,” said Dr. Souhel Najjar, senior vice president and executive director of the neurology service line of Northwell Health. “We are committed to improving care to the communities we serve by providing the latest therapies and guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for patients with stroke.”

Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.

As New York State-designated and Joint Commission Certified stroke centers, the 17 Northwell Health hospitals have multidisciplinary stroke teams available 24 hours a day to assess and treat stroke patients.

For more information about Get With The Guidelines, visitheart.org/quality.

PHOTO BY DAVID HEINLEIN

Guests at the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy Garden Gala

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHWELL HEALTH

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE OF NASSAU COUNTY LEGISLATOR JOSH LAFAZAN

Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan’s presentation to Michael Brennan.

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Recent Real Estate Sales in

32 Pebble Lane, Roslyn Heights

5 bd, 5 ba, 4,300 sqft, Sold On: 6/8/23, Sold Price: $2,250,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: East Williston

2 Donaldson Place, Roslyn Heights

5 bd, 4 ba, 3,100 sqft, Sold On: 6/7/23, Sold Price: $1,565,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: Roslyn

32 Lambert Street, Roslyn Heights

4 bd, 3 ba, 2,511 sqft, Sold On: 6/13/23, Sold Price: $1,100,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: Roslyn

16 Applegreen Drive, Old Westbury

5 bd, 6 ba, Sold On: 7/17/23, Sold Price: $2,560,000

Type: Single Family, Schools: Jericho

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.

GOP mailers target Lafazan, Kaiman

Continued from Page 1

He called the mailers a “badge of honor” as they are attempting to bring him down in the polls, which he claimed the democratic party is ahead in.

Kaiman went on to condemn the mailers and its contents.

“Those people that decide that they can say anything they want just to hold on to power, as we said earlier, and they can denigrate and diminish anyone they want by saying whatever they want not true in their papers, in mailings, they’re going to have to pay the price because the people will come out and vote for us,” Kaiman said at the office opening. “The people have done it before.”

He went on to defend the Democratic candidates and the campaigns they are leading.

“We know that good people in the Democratic Party know how to lead, we can be trusted, we have experience,” Kaiman said. “We have the roots that show that we understand what our community wants. We look at what’s going on with our opponents these days… Their polling says what our polling says that we’re ahead. We’re winning.”

Kaiman continued by criticizing the Republican Party and its officials currently in office.

“They are the party of lies,” Kaiman said. “It’s not about the individual. We can respect any individual who steps forward. It’s not about the party that they’re in, but the organization Republican Party. They can send out lie after lie

after lie, elect someone like George Santos and keep him there.”

Efforts to contact Kaiman for further comment were unavailing.

Another series of mailers paid for by the New York Republican State Committee has targeted Lafazan, making claims that he prioritizes combatting white privilege, that he does not support law enforcement departments and that he is a fraud.

These mailers also included the sources of their information, attributing it to social media posts, local news sources, Nassau County Legislature minutes and public records.

Lafazan was not able to provide comment prior to publication.

Andy McIndoo, spokesman for Lafazan’s campaign, shared a statement with Blank Slate stating that the mailers include lies that “reek of desperation from a campaign with no ideas of their own.”

McIndoo went on to defend Lafazan, saying that his work in the Legislature has been across the aisle.

“Since serving in the county Legislature Josh has passed more bills with bipartisan support than any other legislator,” McIndoo said. “He’s accomplished this through listening to the needs of his constituents and building coalitions with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get things done. When Josh is working to pass bills to alleviate the tax burden on Nassau families, keep our neighborhoods safe, all the way down to protecting kids with deathly allergies eat safely in restaurants, I ensure you that the people of his district understand what he stands for.”

Living a dream with a walk ‘Into the Woods’

the Mezzos weren’t in the audience, but behind the curtain.

It was the first play under Mezzo Theatrical Productions, a venture between John and Cathryn, a Williston Park native, that has allowed them the creative freedom and a certain level of professionalism to explore their passion.

John, a Brooklyn native, has been a lifelong theatre junkie since he saw the musicals “Grease” and “Annie” on Broadway. Locally, John, with a number of regional credits, was a Herricks Players veteran and performed with the community group on and off since 1991.

Cathryn, the artistic director who designed and put together all sets and costumes (and even Milky White, the cow that is on stage as much as any actor), first got her start in theater as a teenager when she was invited to do set design for a community play. Her background also includes work with the Players, a career in

graphic design and Mezzo Art + Design, where she works in more fine art, including painting, illustration and fiber art.

For the cast of 15, who also included John as the narrator, the premiere on Friday, Aug. 4, culminated nearly 2 1/2 months of work to get the show together.

“Doors opened at 7 p.m. for opening night and we were either sewing costumes or painting trees until 6:45,” Cathryn recalled jokingly. “It was no days off and 12-hour days leading up to it.”

Despite the fast-paced environment behind the scenes, the Mezzos said it would not have been possible without both the performers and friends that helped backstage.

Instead of a village, it takes a kingdom, John said, which is why they included their twist on the old adage on their playbill.

“We had a great cast that came prepared and it made a huge difference,” John said. “We also had a mix of friends and family that were a very

big help.”

Producing and funding your own play can come with its own set of challenges and rewards, something the Mezzos thought they were prepared for but still had to overcome.

John said directing and producing came with its own complexity, ranging from the amount of administrative work to getting started to the play itself, lining up both dialogue and music so they can interact with each other at the right times.

“When you’re in charge you do have creative control,” John said. “But you also own every aspect and need to find a limit for what’s possible.”

After six shows over the first two weekends in August, seeing the finished product come to life was a different feeling altogether for the Mezzos.

“It was so overwhelmingly beautiful and visually it exceeded my expectations,” John said. “It was great to see how our community of friends and family came together.”

Town comptroller resigns after 4 months

Continued from Page 4

end of September. Last year, budget hearings were held in October with the final vote to approve being held in November prior to Election Day.

This year’s schedule will be set at the Sept.

5 meeting.

Schwaner’s resignation comes after the town board accepted at their last meeting the resignation of Moira La Barbera, the director of purchasing.

Lurvey said two major resignations around

the same time are “highly unusual.”

“It’s really concerning for the functioning of the town,” Lurvey said. “I’m not sure what’s going on.”

The council member said she first heard of Schwaner’s absence this week when an email

Moving forward, Mezzo Theatrical is planning on what to do next in terms of either a smaller play, another musical or holding acting classes between shows, John said. Cathryn added she hopes Mezzo Theatrical could provide more opportunities for interested young adults to take part in the arts.

“It’s a great learning experience for anyone involved,” Cathryn said.

Another focus would be finding a more local home in the immediate area.

“There’s nothing scheduled officially, but there will be something in the future and we are figuring out what that will look like,” John said. “There will be a presence of our company in the community.”

For now, the Mezzos are looking toward their next production, set to premiere soon.

“We’re doing a show next week called vacation,” Cathryn said.

More information can be found on Instagram @MezzoTheatrical.

she sent came back with an automated response that she’s no longer with the town. Lurvey added tha she does not know the circumstances of Schwaner’s resignation.

North Hempstead’s current budget for the year is approximately $163 million. The town also has maintained an Aaa bond rating for 13 years, according to Moody’s Investors Service. Efforts to reach Schwaner and La Barbera for comments were unavailing.

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

PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES

A series of mailers from the New York Republican State Committee targeting Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan.

Clients want antiques back or money

Continued from Page 1

over time and lacked consistency.

“He couldn’t even keep his lies straight,” Roubeni said.

Roubeni said he has accepted that his table is gone and is understanding about exceptional circumstances, but that he believe this is a premeditated scheme.

“To be so deliberately lied to and defrauded, it’s very hurtful,” Roubeni said. “And if someone stole $1 from me or a million dollars, theft is theft.”

Roubeni’s loss inspired him to share his story on Facebook, knowing that his neighbor had also been wrapped up in the business affair with Khorshad and thinking that there might be others out there.

The response was overwhelming, he said.

“People came out of the woodwork,” Roubeni said.

He then set out on creating a spreadsheet with all of the names of the people who claimed they were defrauded, including the year of the transaction, the dollar amount of their consigned goods, whether they had attorneys or legal cases and their contacts.

Based on his communications with individuals, Roubeni estimates that about $7 million is owed to customers who have not received their consigned items back.

The group, now reaching about 30 individuals, came together collectively to share their experiences in an online support group. Roubeni said a new person joins nearly every week.

“We’re all trying to see what can get done,” Roubeni said.

Roubeni said their strength is in their numbers in fighting to have the situation remedied.

“Some kind of justice needs to be served,” he said.

Roubeni said he believes that Khorshad’s actions are part of a larger, pre-planned scheme to

defraud individuals out of their antiques.

Efforts to contact Khorshad were unavailing.

Oscar Michelen, the attorney representing Khorshad, disagreed that his client acted with malice in his business dealings, saying that there was no intention to scam his customers. He attributed the progression of these issues to circumstances, such as a lack of organization and communication exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michelen said Khorshad’s problems go back to the pandemic when his business experienced setbacks.

“It really upended the nature of the business,” Michelen said.

While he understands the issues and the customers’ frustrations, Michelen said the acrimony should be taken out of all these affairs as the law is clear and they are taking action to

remedy the situation.

Michelen defined Khorshad’s legal issues as falling into three categories: repayment of loans, rent disputes and consignment goods returns.

He said there was a prior lawsuit over Khorshad’s lack of rent payments for his Manhattan store, which has been settled, and another rent dispute over his Great Neck store which has also been worked out.

Michelen said he is representing Khorshad in two of his landlord/tenant claims, two claims of loans and four claims involving consignment issues. He said two of the consignment issue claims have been settled and the other two are in the works.

He said the category of consignment goods returns encompasses the grievances of Roubeni and the members of the support group who are either trying to get their consignment goods

R. Estates continues noise hearing

Continued from Page 2

The Town of North Hempstead has a similar law in which gas-powered leaf blowers are prohibited during the same time period for commercial landscapers.

The law, which was initially presented at the board’s July meeting, was adjourned to be continued at the next meeting on Sept. 18.

The board also approved various plantings at the Serpentine Sump, which would amount to $8,000. The funding would come from the village’s beautification fund.

The board also entertained two requests to remove trees from individuals’ properties.

One request was from a resident who was

appealing the village’s decision not to allow him to cut down his tree after the village’s arborist declared it was not necessary to have it removed. He argued that it was a danger as it hung over his infant son’s bedroom and was a potential fire hazard as it hung over his chimney.

The board opted not to vote on the matters as there were only three of the five board members present, meaning it would need to be approved by all three present members. The issue will be addressed at the board’s September meeting.

The second tree removal request was granted by the board as it was determined that the two trees were either dead or leaning over, posing a danger to people in the area.

The board determined that the owner could

remove the trees under the condition that he replace them with not more than two trees. They said the village’s Architectural Review Board will determine how many trees need to be planted by the property owner.

Some residents were present to ask the board about other trees removed in the village, concerned about a property on The Intervale that had nearly all of the trees removed.

The board addressed the resident’s concern that the village fought to keep as many trees preserved on the property, but that they had to allow for many to be removed in order for a house to be built on the property. They said the property owner is required to plant more trees and paid a significant sum of money to the village to cut

N. Hills talks designs of new village signs

Continued from Page 4

a sign company about the pricing proposals the village was receiving, who told Cinquemani that the type of sign the village was requesting requires additional labor that increases the pricing.

Cinquemani said his friend suggested the board implement aluminum-backed signs rather than a PVC sign with gold leaf. Cinquemani said he was told this would be more cost-efficient and withstand time better – which last for about 5-8 years.

Deputy Mayor Dennis Sgambati said he consulted a local sign company which told him that gold leaf is more expensive and not as durable as

it bubbles due to sun exposure. He was advised that gold paint would be more cost-effective and more durable.

Cinquemani said that the main cost-driving factor is that the gold paint or gold leaf, regardless, has to be hand-applied. He said the village’s logo on the sign is very intricate, making it more labor and time-intensive.

Natiss said he was not interested in the aluminum-backed signs but was open-minded to doing more research on the type of sign they wanted to implement.

“Maybe we can do some more research on the sign,” Natiss said. “The first one to save

money will cheapen the village and our entrance signs, I will not be interested in that.”

Natiss asked that the decision be held off for another month to wait for any additional proposals to be submitted to the village. Cinquemani said he would look into the different approaches to the design of the signs in the meantime.

The North Hills Board of Trustees was scheduled to host a continued public hearing for a proposal of additions and renovations to the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists church, but pushed the hearing until the September meeting after the applicant requested it be adjourned Wednesday night.

back or money back from the sales.

One of the customers, Behrooz Hakimian of Great Neck, filed one of the claims now in the process of being resolved and Michelen said he has been contacted about the list of his goods that can now be picked up.

Hakimian was selling his home in 2018 and wanted to sell some of the antiques he had acquired over his 50 years of travel. Since his daughter has a power of attorney for him, Hakimian’s daughter handled the sale of his antiques.

Hakimian estimates that the antiques he lent on consignment to Khorshadrange from $85,000 to $110,000, including silver horse figures from India, porcelain from Russia, clothes from China, Persian miniatures and Chinese embroideries.

After years of never getting his items returned nor paid for, and back and forth communication with Khorshad where he provided “every imaginable excuse,” Hakimian said his daughter filed a report with the Nassau County District Attorney because he thought he was being defrauded. The DA suggested they work with the Nassau County Police Department’s Major Case Bureau: Fraud & Forgery.

On Aug. 11, Hakimian’s daughter was informed of a letter left for them at their old residence that said their items were at the store and available to be picked up within 30 days.

Michelen said they are working to resolve the issues without having to go through litigation as “it does not help anybody to litigate these claims.” He said the consignment issues are straightforward, as they are either giving back the goods or selling them and giving them the money from the sales.

“We’re trying to get to a point where we can figure out what is going on and just give people their property back,” Michelen said.

Michelen said that anyone who has sold their antiques to Khorshad and believes they have a claim, to contact him at omichelen@cuomollc.com.

them down.

Fox said an issue is that the property was an overgrown area, and if the board had not allowed them to remove trees from the property to develop it, then it would deter development.

He said that while cutting down trees is something that pains the village and himself personally, it was necessary to let someone build a house on the property.

Prior added that the property owners have the right to develop their property within the village’s ordinances, and the village cannot use its ordinances to prevent the development of a single-family home. If the village had prevented them from developing, Prior said the owners could obtain a court judgment that would require the village to pay them the fair market value for the property.

The Roslyn Estates Board of Trustees will convene again at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 18.

The church, located at 7 Shelter Rock Road, is proposing a series of changes to the building and site, including expanding the parking lot, the building’s setback, a new recording studio and other building expansions. The proposal is drawing pushback from the surrounding neighbors, whose attorneys have spoken at previous meetings expressing their concerns.

The board also delivered its monthly shuttle update, which Natiss said shows the shuttle usage by residents is lower than it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but still increasing each month.

The North Hills Board of Trustees will convene again at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 20, when they will continue to discuss the village’s new entrance signs and hold the public hearing for the Seventh-Day Adventists church.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS Vahid Peter Khorshad’s Great Neck antique store.

DeRiggi-Whitton runs for 7th term

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Village of Roslyn Estates Planning Board

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Planning Board of the Village of Roslyn Estates will hold a Public Hearing on September 6, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 25 The Tulips, Roslyn Estates, New York, on the following:

Application of Joseph Chadi, owner of premises at 80 The Oaks, Roslyn Estates, NY 11576, also known as Section 7, Block 213, Lot 11 on Nassau County Land and Tax Map, located in an R-12 Zoning District, for (a) site plan approval under Village Code Section 1451(A) with respect to proposed construction of a new single family home, and (b) re-grading approval under Village Code Section 80-3(A), with respect to proposed re-grading of the parcel within 20’ of a property line by more than 2”

The application and plans are on file in the Village Office, 25 The Tulips, Roslyn Estates, New York, and may be examined during business hours: Monday-Friday 9AM-4PM. All interested parties may attend the Public Hearing at the aforementioned time and place or send written communication to the Village Office to be heard. Any individual requiring special assistance to attend should notify Village Clerk Michael Tomicich, (516) 621-3541, at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

Noah D'Alessio,

Planning Board

Chairman

Village of Roslyn Estates

August 21, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Village of Roslyn Estates Planning Board

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN THAT the Planning Board of the Village of Roslyn Estates will hold a Public Hearing on September 6, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Office, at the Village Hall, 25 The Tulips, Roslyn Estates, New York, on the following:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Town of North HempsteadBoard of Zoning Appeals

Continued from Page 3

DeRiggi-Whitton has also been outspoken in her opposition to the recently proposed Sands New York casino.

As the one legislator who voted against the new casino, DeRiggi-Whitton said there are better alternatives for the old coliseum that would bring sustainable and higher-paying jobs to the county.

“I really care about my constituents and my community, the future of my area and all of Nassau County,” DeRiggiWhitton said.

Recently, DeRiggi-Whitton proposed text-to-911 legislation that was adopted and will be implemented so individuals can contact the emergency phone line during incidents when a call cannot be made.

“Which will come in handy, God forbid, for any type of domestic violence situation or if there’s a school invasion or even if there is someone who’s hearing impaired,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.

Whitton said the source of contamination has been found, nearby homeowners have implemented filtration systems and the bacterial levels have been diminishing.

In order to reopen, the beach’s bacterial levels need to be below a certain limit for five consecutive weeks, which has not been achieved yet. Despite this, she said she is hopeful the beach will be reopened soon enough.

DeRiggi-Whitton said she is a dedicated fiscal watchdog who believes in strict financial oversight and responsible budgeting.

Going forward, one issue that DeRiggi-Whitton said she is focused on is the installation of the current inspector general, whose contract has not been renewed with the county. She said she is concerned that the county may be working to remove her.

is one seat away from obtaining a super majority in the county Legislature, meaning that the party would be able to act independently when making decisions. She said this essentially diminishes checks and balances within the Legislature as it reduces the amount of diverse oversight over decisions made.

“I don’t believe in supermajorities, even if it was a Democratic supermajority. It doesn’t matter what party I really don’t care,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “Supermajorities are very dangerous.”

Despite this, Nassau County has approximately 100,000 more Democratic voters than Republicans.

She said she has also requested that language availability be included in the service, which would allow someone to text 911 regardless of English proficiency.

DeRiggi-Whitton said she has also worked on a series of projects that have been notable to her during her tenure.

This included a $6 million project revamping Manorhaven Boulevard through drainage, improving traffic flow and beautifying the downtown.

“If they choose to get rid of the one that we have now—I think she’s excellent and I don’t really think there’s any reason or cause to remove her—but if they do and they replace her it’s going to have to be with a legitimate, strong independent voice,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “Not someone who’s afraid to question the administration’s decision on contracts or anything else.”

DeRiggi-Whitton wroked to create an independent Office of the Nassau County Inspector General to oversee county contracting.

Nassau County residents and the Nassau County Democratic Committee filed a lawsuit against Nassau County’s recently redrawn legislative map, citing an alleged illegal partisan advantage for the Republican Party in county Legislature elections. While DeRiggi-Whitton declined to comment on the lawsuit challenging the current legislative map because she is named in the lawsuit, she said that ”something does seems off.”

Because of this, DeRiggi-Whitton said she is concerned about losing Democrat-held seats which has motivated her further to run for re-election.

Application of Tom Fu, owner, 86 The Serpentine, Roslyn Estates, NY 11576, also known as Section 7, Block 242, Lot 16 on Nassau County Land and Tax Map, in an R-12 Zoning District, for regrading approval under Village Code Section 803(A), to legalize regrading of the parcel within 20’ of a property line by more than 2”, in connection with a partially installed retaining wall

1. The application and plans are on file in the Village Office, 25 The Tulips, Roslyn Estates, New York, and may be examined during business hours: Monday-Friday 9AM-4PM. All interested parties may attend the Public Hearing at the aforementioned time and place or send written communication to the Village Office to be heard. Any individual requiring special assistance to attend should notify Village Clerk Michael Tomicich, (516) 621-3541, at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

Noah D'Alessio, Chairman Planning Board Village of Roslyn Estates

August 21, 2023

Pursuant to the provisions of the Code of the Town of North Hempstead, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Zoning Appeals of said Town will meet at Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, New York, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 to consider any matters that may properly be heard by said Board, and will hold a public hearing on said date to consider applications and appeals. The following cases will be called at said public hearing starting at 10:00am.

APPEAL #21439 - Pawan Verma; 22 Reed Drive, Roslyn; Section 9, Block 654, Lot 38; Zoned: Residence-A Variance from 70-28 to construct a roof that covers too much of the lot.

Plans are available for public viewing at https://northhempsteadny.gov/ bza.  Persons interested in viewing the full file may do so by any time before the scheduled hearing by contacting the BZA department via e-mail at BZAdept@northhempsteadny. gov.  Additionally, the public may view the live stream of this meeting at https://northhempsteadny.gov/ townboardlive. Any member of the public is able to attend and participate in a BZA hearing by appearing on the scheduled date and time.  Comments are limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Written comments are accepted by email up to 60 minutes prior to the hearing. Timely comment submissions will be made part of the record.

DAVID MAMMINA,

A project the legislator has currently been spearheading is to get Crescent Beach in Glen Cove reopened, which she said has been in the works for about 10 years. The beach has been closed due to bacterial contamination, but DeRiggi-

She said having an inspector general who does not act independently from the municipality served can be worse than not having an inspector general at all.

DeRiggi-Whitton said that a concern of hers is that the Republican Party

While she said she doesn’t plan to serve in her position forever, she has been very lucky to represent the 11th District and wants to continue in order to see her current projects for the district come to fruition.

Lanternflies invade North Shore

Continued from Page 11

The past eight years have witnessed a surge in research focused on the Spotted Lanternfly since the pest’s introduction to southeast Pennsylvania in 2014. It’s suspected that insect egg masses were unnoticed on shipments and made their way to America, potentially on wooden pallets.

ral predators, Leeser cautioned against the unchecked growth of the Spotted Lanternfly population. Businesses with outdoor seating, including vineyards, could face substantial challenges due to the swarms of these insects. And fallen trees pose a potential risk to person and property.

going to be one more and if we can let’s let’s hold the line and not let the Lanternfly spread.”

R.A.,

Chairman;

Board of Zoning Appeals

Pennsylvania’s grape industry, in particular, felt the impact of the invasive species, earning the bug the label of “grape pest.” Leeser said Long Island vineyards might be affected in the coming weeks and “definitely will change in the coming years.”

Research conducted primarily by Penn State and coordinated by Cornell has been pivotal in understanding and addressing the issue.

Acknowledging the absence of natu-

Cornell is developing a biopesticide that uses naturally occurring fungi that can effectively eliminate the Spotted Lanternfly. Additionally, the hope of scientists is that native predators will eat the invasive bug as it integrates into the ecosystem.

“On one hand, don’t panic,” Leeser said. “Don’t overreact. On the other hand, don’t move it, you know, New Yorkers, Long Islanders included, put up with a lot of a lot of changes in their environment, a lot of challenges. This is

Residents are urged to inspect their trees, vehicles, firewood, and outdoor furniture for egg masses and destroy the masses and insects. Egg masses can be destroyed by scraping them into a bucket of hot, soapy water or into alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

For those who encounter the Spotted Lanternfly, the town is asking residents to “please take a photo of the insect, egg masses, or the infestation and email it to spottedlanternfly@agriculture.ny.gov or call the DEC’s Forest Health information line at 1-866-640-0652.”

To learn more about the Spotted Lanternfly and its prevention, visit www.dec. ny.gov/animals/113303.html.

Free, reduced price lunch guidelines announced

The Board of Education announced a free and reduced price meal (Free Milk) policy for Roslyn School District area school children. Local school officials have adopted the following family eligibility criteria to assist them in determining eligibility:

SNAP/TANF/FDPIR Households

Households that currently include children who receive the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) but who are not found during the Direct Certification Matching Process (DCMP), or households that currently receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) must complete an Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals/Milk, listing the child’s name, a valid SNAP, TANF or FDPIR case number and the signature of an adult household member.

Eligibility for free meal benefits based on participation in SNAP, TANF or FDPIR is extended to all children in the household.

When known to the School Food Authority, households will be notified of their children’s eligibility for free meals based on their participation in the SNAP, TANF or the FDPIR programs. No application is necessary if the household was notified by the SFA their children have been directly certified.

If the household is not sure if their children have been directly certified, the household should contact the school.

Other Source Categorical Eligibility

When known to the School Food Authority, households will be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals based on the individual child’s designation as Other Source Categorically Eligible, as defined by law. Children are determined Other Source Categorically Eligible if they are Homeless, Migrant, Runaway, a foster child or Enrolled in Head Start or an eligible pre-kindergarten program.

Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court, are eligible for free meals. Any foster child in the household is eligible for free meals regardless of income.

A separate application for a foster child is no longer necessary.

Foster children may also be included as a member of the foster family if the foster family chooses to also apply for benefits for other children. Including children in foster care as household members may help other children in the household qualify for benefits. If non-foster children in a foster family are not eligible for free or reduced price meal benefits, an eligible foster child will still receive free benefits

If children or households receive benefits under Assistance Programs or Other Source Categorically Eligible Programs and are not listed on the notice of eligibility and are not notified by the School Food Authority of their free meal benefits, the parent or guardian should contact the school or should submit an income application.

Other Households

Households with income the same or below the amounts listed above for family size may be eligible for and are urged to apply for free and/or reduced price meals (or free milk). They may do so by completing the Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals/Milk sent home with the letter to parents.

One application for all children in the household should be submitted. Additional copies are available at the principal’s office in each school.

Applications may be submitted any time during the school year to Tanya Fernandez, social worker. Please contact Fernandez at (516) 801-5066 with any questions regarding the application process.

Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact the School Food Authority if they choose to decline the free meal benefits.

Households may apply for benefits at any time throughout the school year. Children of parents or guardians who become unemployed or experience a financial hardship mid-year may become eligible for free and reduced price meals or free milk at any point during the school year.

Children in households receiving Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits may be eligible for free or reduced price meals through the application process.

For up to 30 operating days into the new school year (or until a new eligibility determination is made, whichever comes first) an individual child’s free or reduced price eligibility status from the previous year will continue within the same School Food Authority. When the carryover period ends, unless the household is notified that their children are directly certified or the house-

hold submits an application that is approved, the children’s meals must be claimed at the paid rate.

Though encouraged to do so, the School Food Authority is not required to send a reminder or a notice of expired eligibility.

The information provided on the application will be confidential and will be used for determining eligibility. The names and eligibility status of participants may also be used for the allocation of funds to federal education programs such as Title I and National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), State health or State education programs, provided the State agency or local education agency administers the programs and for federal, State or local means-tested nutrition programs with eligibility standards comparable to the NSLP. Eligibility information may also be released to programs authorized under the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) or the Child Nutrition Act (CNA).

The release of information to any program or entity not specifically authorized by the NSLA will require a written consent statement from the parent or guardian.

The School Food Authority does, however, have the right to verify at any time during the school year the information on the application. If a parent does not give the school this information, the child/children will no longer be able to receive free or reduced price meals (free milk).

Under the provisions of the policy, the designated official will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling of the designated official, he/she may make a request either orally or in writing for a hearing to appeal the decision.

Dawn Piteo, school lunch manager, whose address is Roslyn Public Schools, Box 367, Roslyn, NY 11576, has been designated as the hearing official. Hearing procedures are outlined in the policy.

However, prior to initiating the hearing procedure, the parent or School Food Authority may request a conference to provide an opportunity for the parent and official to discuss the situation, present information and obtain an explanation of the data submitted in the application or the decisions rendered. The request for a conference shall not in any way prejudice or diminish the right to a fair hearing.

Only complete applications can be approved. This includes complete and accurate information regarding: the SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR case number; the names of all household members; on an income application, the last four digits of the social security number of the person who signs the form or an indication that the

adult does not have one, and the amount and source of income received by each household member. In addition, the parent or guardian must sign the application form, certifying the information is true and correct.

In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age, disability or limited English proficiency.

Nondiscrimination Statement

This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https:// www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992 or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3. email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Summer Institute for Teachers Learning conference

The School of Education at SUNY Old Westbury recently held its first Summer Institute for Teachers Learning Conference.

The theme for the conference was “Promoting Equitable Education” and was designed for faculty of institutions of higher education, district education leaders, principals, P-12 teachers, teaching assistants, program directors, curriculum specialists, and all those who are strategic and thoughtful in promoting students’ success and leading transformational change at their institutions.

During the four days, topics discussed by the speakers included, “Making Culturally Relevant Education Real in the Classroom;” “Supporting students with exceptionalities;” “Boosting STEM success for underrepresented groups;” “Using assessment to improve student learning outcomes,” and “Effective online teaching strategies.” The groups completed action plans and network in the after-

noon sessions.

Of the conference, attendee Natalie Nelson, assistant principal in the Elmont Union Free School District said: “it’s been a rare opportunity to interface with teachers and administrators, particularly with college

educators and gave us an opportunity to have real in-depth conversations that we can take back to support our teachers and staff. I am overwhelmed with the information I received at this conference, and I would recommend it for any member of the education

Adopt a dog from North Hempstead’s animal shelter

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board would like to remind residents about dogs up for adoption at the Town’s Animal Shelter. This month’s featured pups include Willie, Mama, and Cider Willie is a 1-year-old black lab mix that came from an overcrowded shelter in Georgia through the Shelter Connection’s rescue program. Willie has a typical lab personality: goofy, fun loving, and affectionate! Unfortunately, whoever was Willie’s previous owner did not do much training with him. He needs a family to continue teaching his commands as well as teaching him that not everyone wants to be jumped on for a hug! Willie gets along with everyone he meets, dogs and humans alike, and would make a great companion to any household that is dedicated to keep working with him.

Big Mama the Cane Corso mix is looking for her permanent new best friend. Mama was found as a stray with 7lbs of chains hanging from her neck. She is easygoing, affectionate, gets along with other dogs, and lives

for scratches and belly rubs. She can sometimes be a bit reserved at first with new people but will warm up with some treats and petting. She would do best in a home with a bit of dog experience and children ages 10 and older.

Gorgeous Cider is a 4-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix that is ready to find her forever family. Cider is a very active girl that is seeking a ball throwing partner. She truly lives to chase a ball. Cider is a happy girl that has been enjoying her training sessions; she is extremely smart! Sometimes she can be a bit unpredictably jumpy, especially when there’s a toy involved and would thrive in a home without children. Cider would love an active family that is dedicated to continuing her training.

The North Hempstead Animal Shelter is located at 75 Marino Ave. in Port Washington and is open Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To make an appointment to visit or for more information on a featured dog, please call 311 or 516-869-6311.

community.”

“Having traveled all the way from Canada, the 2023 Summer Institute proved to be both an invaluable and a transformative experience,” said attendee Christina Raso, principal, St. Albert Adult Learning

Centre.“Together, we delved deeply into the essential topic of culturally relevant pedagogy while engaging in meaningful discussions. Regardless of our geographical boundaries, the significance of this topic remains constant.”

The keynote “Designing Learning Environments with Equity in Mind: Culturally Relevant Education as an Act of Educational Dignity and Justice” was given by Dr. Jevon D. Hunter, the Woods-Beals Endowed Chair for Urban Education and Interim Associate Dean for the School of Education at SUNY Buffalo State. Dr. Lester W. Young Jr., the New York State Board of Regents Chancellor, was the guest of honor for the conference.

Several speakers were featured during the conference including Dr. Maureen Gillette, professor of Educational Studies and former dean of the College of Education & Human Services at Seton Hall University and Dr. Mason Mason from Apple Education.

Parker Jewish’s pickleball court

The Parker Jewish Institute has opened a 26-by-30-foot outdoor pickleball court, on its patio level, for patients and residents.

This popular activity is modified to help participants have fun while achieving their physical- and occupationaltherapy goals. It also promotes social interaction.

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and is easy for beginners to learn. The sport offers older adults a host of benefits, including functional- and cognitive-related improvements, and a reduction in self-reported pain.

On the court, participants must wear appropriate footwear, for safety. Recre -

ational leaders begin each session with simple movement and stretching, followed by an explanation of rules and goals. During the warm-up, participants get ample opportunity to practice with equipment, whether it’s swinging a paddle or practicing serves.

Pickleball court time is scheduled through Parker’s director of Therapeutic Recreation. In this adaptive version of the sport, participants are escorted to the court and seated, and for those in wheelchairs, the chair is locked as a safety measure.

Recreational staff, positioned on either side of the nets, provide safety reminders and help to keep the ball in

play. Staff members offer hydration during play, and follow each resident’s plan of care.

“We are so excited to offer pickleball at Parker Jewish Institute. Our recreational team offers engaging, adaptive activities that help residents and patients build strength, endurance and range of motion,” said Michael N. Rosenblut, president and CEO of Parker Jewish Institute. “Physical activity is very important for healthy aging, and helps prevent any chronic conditions from worsening. And when an activity is fun and inclusive, people look forward to their sessions, while also improving their overall well-being,”

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUNY OW OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

School of Education Dean Diana Sukhram (standing, right) leading a session at the Summer Institute Learning Conference.

PHOTO BY MAGGIE TUMINO MILLS

Willie available at the North Hempstead Animal Shelter.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PARKER JEWISH INSTITUTE

The Parker Jewish Institute has opened a 26-by-30-foot outdoor pickleball court.

MANHASSET READY

Talented football team prepares for move up to Conference 2

BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS

Two years ago, the Manhasset football team reached the heights every Long Island team strives for: county champs.

Manhasset rose up thanks to a veteran squad that battled through the 2020 COVID season and triumphed over all comers in its class to win its first county crown in a quarter-century.

That team had a ton of returning starters, a veteran head coach in Jay Iaquinta who’s now won more than 200 games in his career, and a promising young group ready to help out.

One thing that team did not have, though? County powerhouses Garden City and Mepham on the schedule.

After another solid 5-4 season in 2022, Manhasset has been moved up from Conference 3 to Conference 2, and Iaquinta knows that will be a big challenge.

“Top to bottom (Conference 3) was tough, but this new league is very, very good at the top,” Iaquinta said as he prepared for the official start of practice, which is Aug. 19 this year. “We know we’re going to be playing a lot of very tough teams, but I feel really good about our team.”

Those positive vibes stem from the fact that Manhasset has nine returning starters on offense. One of those two new faces is at quarterback, where junior Drew Schwartz, a starter on JV last season, takes over for the graduated star Matt Cargiulo.

Schwartz, who like his predecessor spent the winter working with ex-Oceanside and NFL standout Jay

Fiedler, is a converted wide receiver who’ll have to master Manhasset’s triple-option attack.

“You’re involved in every single play and having to make a few decisions on every single play,” Schwartz

said. “You’re reading the linemen, you’re reading their linebackers, you’re seeing where all your guys are as the play is developing. It’s a lot but I feel very ready to step up.”

Getting to work with Fiedler, a longtime friend of Iaquinta’s who has worked with Manhasset QBs in the past, was eye-opening for Schwartz.

“Just everything he was teaching me about footwork, mechanics, making reads, he’s done it at the highest level and knows exactly what he’s talking about,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz will be helped by a fleet of offensive weapons, led by senior fullbacks Jack Mulholland (a Dartmouth commit for lacrosse) and Kiante Blacknall.

Mulholland, also a linebacker on defense, is a bruising back who his teammates say is very tough to bring down.

“He’s a great leader and is a load trying to tackle him; it’s not fun trying to do it in practice,” said senior safety Brian Fleck.

Mulholland heaped praise on his offensive teammates and raved about Schwartz’s potential.

“He’s a very composed guy, doesn’t get rattled by much,” Mulholland said. “He’s got a great arm and is very smart with the ball. He’s going to be great for us.”

The Manhasset offensive line is led by three-year starters Tristan Chang and Tyler Giacobbe, while speedy wing backs/wide receivers Atif Heathington and Eddie Farkouh will be carrying the ball and making tacklers miss.

“I think we’re going to put up

more points this year than last because everyone has a year of experience and our weapons are all better and faster,” Iaquinta said.

Defensively, Manhasset is led by Mulholland, who had 78 tackles in 2022, and Fleck; the latter is a secondyear starter described by his coach as the “brains of our operation on defense.”Fleck will be aided by fellow DBs Heathington and Cole Purcell, and Fleck said he’s seen big growth from the whole defense in the offseason.

“We’ve got so many guys who’ve been through the battles and are tougher because of it, and everybody has come back serious and ready to have a great season,” Fleck said. “We know that there are very tough teams in (our new conference), so we’re definitely going to have to play very well to win. But we’re confident we’re going to be a really good team.”

Manhasset starts the season earlier than some teams, with a home game on Sept. 1, meaning it’ll have only two full weeks of practice before getting going for real.

“It’s a challenge but having so many guys back makes that a little easier,” Mulholland said. “A lot of games last year, we were close but couldn’t quite finish. This year we’ve got all the pieces we need.”

Manhasset 2023 schedule:

9/1: vs. MacArthur, 7 p.m.9/8: vs. Herricks, 7 p.m.9/14: at Jericho, 5 p.m.9/23: at Elmont, 2 p.m.9/30: vs. Mepham, 2 p.m.10/7: at Calhoun, 3 p.m.10/13: vs. Garden City, 6 p.m.10/26: at Carey, 6 p.m.

Mineola Athletic HOF induction set

This year’s 2023 Inductees to the Mineola Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees: 1926 Grad Bergen Simonson, 1964 Grad Bill Corley, the 1960 Mineola Nassau County Championship Basketball team, the 1960 Mineola Football team Rutgers Cup Champions and the 1961 Mineola Lacrosse Nassau County Champions will all be inducted into the Mineola Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday,

Sept. 9 at 2 pm at Hampton Stadium at Halftime of the Varsity Football game.

There will then be a celebration get-together at the Corner Stone Bar and Restaurant in Mineola. We are hoping to see all the people of the Mineola district to come and celebrate all the outstanding athletes of the past that brought pride and excitement to the whole community.

PHOTO BY MYLES TINTLE

Senior fullback/linebacker Jack Mulholland (55) and Manhasset will look to win a county title for the second time in three years.

The Mineola 1960 Nassau County Championship Basketball Team right after they won the title.

Buckley School’s 96th commencement exercises

On a beautiful June 14, under clear sunny skies, parents, friends, faculty, and staff gathered to partake in Buckley’s 96th Commencement exercises and celebrate the achievements of the members of the Buckley “Centennial” Class of 2023.

Pastor Keith Pettus, from Truth Center Ministries International in Port Washington,opened this year’s ceremony with an invocation. Pettus was introduced by graduate Genesis Edmonds who said of him that “he displays nothing but genuine love and care for those he shepherds as well as all others he crosses paths with.”

Pettus based his message to the graduates on Buckley’s mission statement and urged them to “keep their eyes open and their mind awakened because, as one writer put it, ‘it is impossible to learn what we think we already know’.”

On behalf of her classmates, Joselin Reyes presented the Teacher of the Year Award,selected by the members of the graduating class to the longtenured art teacher and musical director Jennifer Demopoulos to whom she gave credit for transforming her into a girl she did not know yet and for helping her come out of her shell and be comfortable being authentically herself.

The Thomas J. Reid Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes outstanding teaching,demonstrated by concern for each student, quality of instruction, and commitment to Buckley.

The 2023 Thomas J. Reid Excellence in Teaching Award was presented to Mathematics Teacher Heather Serra.

The G. Robert Gage Award for Excellence in Teaching, named and given in memory of Mr. Bob Gage’s late father, is given annually to a faculty member in recognition of their excellence in teaching. This award is funded every year by the investment income earned on the endowment gift made by the Gage family. The 2023 recipient of the G. Robert Gage Award for Excellence in Teaching was Mandarin Teacher Sumeng Guo.

A generous endowment gift from Linda and John Powers made possible the presentation of an additional faculty award at graduation. The Powers Family Teacher Recognition Award is given annually to a faculty member in recognition of their embodiment of the school’s character and spirit, care and nurturing qualities, and excellence in teaching.

This year, the Powers Family

Teacher Recognition Award was presented to first grade Teacher Hillary Janik.

Board Chair Chris Lee presented this year’s Trustees’ Bowl, the School’s most prized academic award, to the student who achieved the highest grade point average. The Trustees’ Bowl was presented to Soleil Can.

The Scholarship Medal for the second highest academic average was awarded to Valentina Lopez, while Isabella Ramirez earned the Certificate of Merit for the third highest average.

Eden Clarkson and Aaron Spence, Student Council Co-Presidents, presented the gift of the Class of 2023 to Buckley Country Day School.

The class of 2023 presented a check to the school to add to the GoFundMe set up to support the family of a long-time, beloved member of the maintenance team who suffered a serious medical emergency in February.

Thank you to the Class of 2023 for setting the right example and allocating their gift to a person who has done so much for the Buckley community.

Lower and Upper School Administrative Assistant Mrs. Jennifer Chillianis was selected by the graduating class to be their faculty speaker.

She was introduced by Madeleine Garbus who spoke about the positive impact Mrs. Chillianis had on all of the graduates’ lives and the lives of everyone in the Buckley community.

“She always remembers the conversation that was started the morning before. Her nurturing and caring attitude is just adding on to the family that has been created at Buckley,” concluded Madeleine with gratitude.

Chillianis talked about how fondly she remembers her interaction with the graduates over the years and encouraged them to “remember to be kind and say ‘yes,’ to take every opportunity to be kind when they arise, and to ‘do it’ when they have the power to help someone.”

Chillianis brought the house down when her phone rang during her speech, and she responded to the call about a lost blazer or instrument, bake sale money, and dismissal changes. Everyone was familiar with the conversations she was re-enacting and could relate!

Cybelle Can ’16 was this year’s alumna speaker. Cybelle was introduced by her younger sister, Soleil, whom she claimed to have raised! Soleil gratefully acknowledged how much of a pillar her sister had been in

her personal growth, listening to her with an open mind and preparing her for different chapters of her life.

Cybelle set out to offer powerful advice and guidance “from one Buckley graduate to another,” as she put it; and she did! Her message centered around the importance of adaptability. “Adaptability is the capacity we have to embrace change and change cultivates fear, which is why we often fail at adapting,” Cybelle started. Then she reassured the graduates that through neuroplasticity, we are wired to be resilient and adaptable.

However, Cybelle added, “it is not just biology, you must also actively work at adaptability.” Referring to the recent pandemic, Cybelle concluded, “You’ve all shown your skills in adaptability in the face of unfathomable change and came out okay, so trust in yourself to do it again and again.”

The two student speakers selected by their peers were Soleil Can and Aaron Spence. They framed their graduation remarks around the question “we still have to answer; the ever-demanding question of the purpose behind all that we are.”

And so, Soleil and Aaron shared with us what their classmates had to say about their childhood dreams,

their current identities, and what lessons they have learned and will apply in the future “to navigate all their high school endeavors.” Soleil and Aaron ended with a note of gratitude to, in their own words, “those who have helped them mold their present, past, and future, and most importantly, shape them into young individuals who will most definitely use the lessons they have been taught and thrive as they enter the next chapter of their lives.”

Diplomas were then awarded to the members of the graduating class. Newly-elected Student Council CoPresidents Eliza Li ’24 and Adli Abdel-Misih ’24 displayed the wooden plaques carved by the graduates as they walked across the stage to receive their diplomas.

Simultaneously, eighth-grade advisors read excerpts from comments selected by the Head of School and written by the students’ teachers over the past twelve years.

It was with pride and joy that the entire community joined in cheering the Class of 2023and wishing them well.

Shiloh Ffrench introduced this year’s musical offering: I Will Always Remember You by Miley Cyrus.

Shiloh remarked, “As the song says ‘We gotta keep moving on’ as we leave Buckley, but we will always keep our time together ‘like a photograph’ in our minds. It may be ‘hard to say goodbye,’ but it does not mean we must say goodbye to the memories we have shared.”

Pastor Keith Pettus concluded the ceremony with a beautiful blessing for the graduates and the school community.

The 2023 graduates have now become the newest members of Buckley’s Alumni Association, and we hope that under the leadership of their class agent, Eden Clarkson,Buckley will soon have the pleasure of hosting their first reunion.

The members of the Class of 2023 will be attending: Archbishop Molloy, Avenues,Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Friends Academy, The Lawrenceville School, Loyola School, The Mary Louis Academy, Northfield Mount Hermon, The Packer Collegiate Institute, The Peddie School, Phillips Exeter Academy, Poly Prep Country Day School, Portledge School, The Spence School, Trinity School. Congratulations to the Buckley Class of 2023!

The Class of 2023, Buckley Country Day School

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