WILLISTON TIMES 2023_11_03

Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown

$1.50

Friday, November 3, 2023

Vol. 72, No. 44

2023

GUIDEGUIDE TO 2023 ELECTIONS l Section • November

A Blank Slate Media Specia

3, 2023

PAGES 35-46

MOST OPIOID, ARPA MONEY SANTOS PLEADS NOT UNSPENT BY NASSAU GUILTY TO 10 NEW CHARGES PAGE 3

MONSTER MASH

PAGE 10

Deciding control of towns, Legislature Voters go to polls with many races hotly contested races

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y The North Hempstead Supervisor race between Republican incumbent Jennifer DeSena and Democrat challenger Jon Kaiman headlines this year’s elections in the North Shore, where residents will be voting on both town and Nassau County seats.

North Hempstead North Hempstead Supervisor DeSena, a registered Democrat from Manhasset, was elected to her first public office in 2021 as the first Republican candidate to win the seat in over 30 years, succeeding Democrat Judi Bosworth.

More election coverage PAGES 2, 6, 10 Prior to public service, DeSena was the executive director of the Manhasset Coalition Against Substance Abuse and previously was an enforcement attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This fall she submitted the second tentative budget of her administration which includes a 10% tax cut.

The seven-member North Hempstead Town Board, where Democrats

hold a 4-3 majority, is scheduled to vote on the final budget on Thursday, Nov. 2, following the typical schedule in town where the budget is approved before Election Day. Jon Kaiman, of Great Neck, currently serves as the Suffolk County Deputy Executive, a position he has held since 2017 under Democrat Executive Steve Bellone, who is termlimited and cannot seek re-election.

Kaiman was previously North Hempstead supervisor from 2004 to 2013, when he resigned to serve as an adviser to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo on the Superstorm Sandy recovery effort.

Continued on Page 63

‘Amazin Maze’ inducted to DaVanzo Wall of Honor Firefighter Gary Mazur joins other Mineola heroes

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VILLAGE OF MINEOLA

The Village of Mineola held its annual Halloween party on Friday, Oct. 27.

Mineola’s Gary Mazur became the latest recipient of the John S. DaVanzo Wall of Honor Award on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

Mazur has been a firefighter with the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department since 1976 and served as chief of the department in 1998.

Mazur, otherwise known as “Amazin Maze,” is one of the firefighters who was influential in rebuilding the department’s junior firefighter program while serving as the head advisor.

Mineola Mayor Paul Pereira said

the wall was made to honor residents and community leaders who were not always acknowledged for their civic services and that Mazur was the perfect recipient to be honored this year.

“I think we can agree the juniors are what they are and they are who they are because of Gary Mazur,” Pereira said. “All these new chiefs and new officers that are coming through the department now came through Gary first.”

Former Chief Robert Connolly said Mazur’s climb through the department’s ranks was a result of his “infectious energy.”

“That is Gary’s knack,” Connolly said. “He has an ability to get people to want to work with him, to want to be successful and that starts with our junior fire department.”

Connolly said Mazur recognized the importance of sustaining the juniors as chief and became a special assistant to them after his term, eventually turning them into ambassadors to the community.

The ex-chief said Mazur helped bring along the juniors’ annual pasta dinner in February, yearly trips to Lake George and Operation Santa, among other events.

Continued on Page 64

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The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

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Strauss touts record Budget vote set on as Mineola mayor eve of town elections Says he offers unique experience in Legislature bid

Proposed tax cut, spending at issue

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y

Former Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss said if elected to the Nassau County Legislature, he would prioritize holding the line on taxes, preserving the quality of life the 9th District expects and maintaining the safety and security of the county.

“I just enjoy the community service,” Strauss said in an interview with Blank Slate Media. “I enjoy helping people and being part of a problem-solving group.”

Strauss, 60, is the vice president of corporate security at Northwell Healtha and running for the county’s 9th District seat on the Republican and Conservative Party lines. He is up against Democrat challenger Neeraj Kumar.

The seat has been held by Presiding Officer Rich Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park), who is not seeking reelection after serving in the county for nearly 30 years. According to new maps approved earlier this year, the 9th District now includes Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, East Williston, Garden City Park, New Hyde Park, North New Hyde Park, Roslyn Heights and parts of Floral Park, Garden City and Mineola.

During his 11 years as mayor of Mineola before deciding not to seek re-election in 2022, Strauss said he had a unique perspective on the housing crisis in the county. Strauss oversaw part of the implementation of Mineola’s master plan that began in 2004 and is still being implemented now, which includes new downtown streetscapes, a parking garage and new transit-oriented mixed-use buildings, among other things.

“What local municipalities need to consider with the increase in housing is if the infrastructure can handle it,” Strauss said. “We made sure that our village could handle the influx.”

Earlier this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed ahead of this year’s state budget to prioritize state-mandated zoning over local control when considering new developments on Long Island.

Strauss added that the solutions that work for Mineola may not work

The North Hempstead Town Board is set to vote on the Town’s budget for next year on Thursday, Nov. 2.

Council members have until 24 hours before the meeting by 7 p.m. on Wednesday night to submit any amendments to Republican Supervisor Jennifer DeSena’s $163.9 million budget proposal.

The seven-member town board voted to certify DeSena’s budget 5-2 on Oct. 18 in a meeting at which Demcocrat Council Members criticized DeSena over the current budget process.

Town Democrats expressed concerns over the potential impact on the budget from the Town’s recent agreement on a four-year collective bargaining agreement with the CSEA Unit 7555, which represents over 80% of the town’s workforce. The contract still needs to be ratified by the labor union before it can come before the board at a public meeting for approval.

The contract will run from January 2023 through December 2026.

Other issues Town Democrats had

PHOTO COURTESY OF MILL CREEK RESIDENTIAL

raised included the projections for Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington and cuts to road paving, tree planting and maintenance, sidewalk work and beautification funds.

Democrat Mariann Dalimonte said during the Oct. 18 meeting amendments will be made to DeSena’s proposal. As of Monday afternoon, no amendments have materialized.

DeSena in September submitted a budget proposal that includes a 10% property tax cut, maintains town services and programs and increases budget for 13 of the town’s 18 departments.

Allocated in DeSena’s second spending plan is $91.9 million to the town’s general fund, $41.8 million to the town’s outside village fund, which covers services for residents who live outside incorporated villages, and $30.1 million for the 20 town-operated special districts, which create their own budgets.

The general fund tax levy is $22,921,376, according to the tentative budget, compared to $25,468,196 in the 2023 adopted budget, representing a 10% decrease.

Continued on Page 63

Ex-Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss, pictured previously. elsewhere and that deciding on what worked in Mineola was a result of doing “your homework,” building community engagement and speaking to experts to make the best decisions possible.

Strauss said the village of Mineola goes through reassessment every year and encourages Nassau County residents to grieve their taxes to make sure they are paying their fair share.

Strauss said fixing assessment issues in the county is necessary and while he is not on the Legislature at the moment, he believes a phase-in approach is worth looking into.

“There’s a lot of things to consider, a lot of comments to be heard and suggestions and we should really sit and hear all of it and figure this out because it has to be done,” Strauss

said. “You’ll never get to the finish line if you don’t start walking.”

Strauss is a retired detective from the Emergency Service Unit of the New York Police Department. Among his numerous awards is the NYPD’s Medal of Honor for his recovery efforts during the Sept. 11 attacks where he and his team rescued two Port Authority police officers trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center.

Strauss said he believes the Nassau County Police Department is doing a tremendous job and that he would like them to get more resources. He said he’s not aware if the department has staffing to analyze and distribute its crime stats on a month-to-month basis but would look into it if elected.

Continued on Page 64

PHOTO BY KARINA KOVAC

The North Hempstead Town Board is expected to vote on the 2024 budget on Thursday, Nov. 2.

TO REACH US MAIL: 22 Planting Field Road Roslyn Heights, NY 11577

DISPLAY ADVERTISING: Steven Blank 516-307-1045 x201 sblank@theisland360.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Sue Tabakin 516-307-1045 x206 stabakin@theisland360.com

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Deborah Flynn 516-307-1045 x218 dflynn@theisland360.com

EDITORIAL:

Editorial Submissions: theisland360.com/submit-news/ • Deadline for submissions 5pm Mondays Event Submission: theisland360.com/local-events/ Great Neck News: Karina Kovac 516-307-1045 x203 • kkovac@theisland360.com New Hyde Park Herald Courier: Brandon Duffy 516-307-1045 x215 • bduffy@theisland360.com Manhasset Times: Karina Kovac 516-307-1045 x203 • kkovac@theisland360.com Roslyn Times: Cameryn Oakes 516-307-1045 x214 • coakes@theisland360.com Williston Times: Brandon Duffy 516-307-1045 x215 • bduffy@theisland360.com Port Washington Times: Cameryn Oakes 516-307-1045 x214 • coakes@theisland360.com

WILLISTON TIMES (USPS#685-100) is published weekly by Blank Slate Media LLC, 22 Planting Field Road, Roslyn Heights, NY, 11577, (516) 307-1045. The entire contents of this publication are copyright 2023. All rights reserved. The newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Periodicals postage paid at Williston Park, NY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Williston Times, C/O Blank Slate Media LLC, 22 Planting Field Road, Roslyn Heights, New York, 11577.

The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

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Millions in funds unspent by county Critics hit Nassau for not spending opioid settlement, federal COVID-pandemic money

BY C A M E RY N O A K ES Nassau County legislators and legislative candidates have called for the county to spend American Rescue Plan Act and opioid settlement monies to address needs throughout the county, yet the recently enacted 2024 budget does not include such funds.

Instead of dispersing the money, which combined amounts adding up to approximately $400 million, the county has opted to hold it in its reserve funds. Keeping the funds in the county reserves assists in balancing the county’s budget through the accruing interest, improves the reserve fund and has the potential to better the county’s Moody’s bond rating.

But Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (DGlen Cove) said it is concerning that the county is focused more on the financial benefits than spending the money on the people who direly need it.

“Every call we get from a family, from somebody struggling with opioids or, god forbid, somebody who’s just lost their child or grandchild – which is what I’ve had a lot of work with lately – what do we say to them?” DeRiggi-Whitton asked. “‘Oh, the opioid money is being used to improve Blakeman’s bond rating?’ It’s like a moral issue.”

The opioid settlement money was achieved through a lawsuit against the main pharmaceutical companies involved in manufacturing, distributing and selling opioids that exacerbated the national opioid epidemic. New York Attorney

PHOTO BY NOAH MANSKAR

The Nassau County Legislative building.

General Letitia James reached settlements with the companies that exceeded more than $2.6 billion.

The state then allocated the settlement funds to state agencies and local municipalities to mitigate the effects of the opioid crisis.

Nassau County has approximately $70 million from the opioid settlement. Only about $2.5

million has been spent in the last two years, according to DeRiggi-Whitton. She said the county is expecting even more, approximately another $30 million, which can only be used to tackle addiction.

DeRiggi-Whitton is a staunch advocate for addressing the opioid issue exacerbated by the availability of fentanyl in Long Island, pushing

for fentanyl test strips throughout the county and hosting Narcan training sessions.

“It’s affected a number of people that are very near and dear to me and I lived through it for years with some of these parents,” DeRiggiWhitton told Blank Slate Media. “It’s really such a nightmare.”

She said there is an easy first step in taking control of the issue: utilizing the $70 million from the pharmaceutical opioid settlement that is now sitting in the reserves.

DeRiggi-Whitton said what’s clear to her is funding the Nassau University Medical Center, which she said has at least three empty floors.

Those floors could be used for opioid treatment, she said.

“We could make that building the center for opioid rehabilitation,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.

She said the funds could also help to pay for treatment for uninsured individuals or for insured individuals who are typically only offered 28 days of paid treatment through their provider.

She said three months is more adequate in treating people working through addiction.

She said this plan could also help the hospital, which has faced financial hardship, making the plan a “no-brainer” to DeRiggi-Whitton.

Other county legislators and legislative candidates have advocated for the money to be spent, including District 10 candidate Weihua Yan. “I think that’s a missed opportunity,” Yan said.

“Everyday that we are not putting the money into use, people’s lives will be lost.”

Continued on Page 63

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The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

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Red Cross honors Manhasset Manhasset man couple for humanitarian work points gun at a

BY K A R I N A KO VA C

Manhasset Rotary Club, have led to tens of thousands of life-saving heart surgeries for children across the globe, underscoring Gift of Life founder and Manhashis commitment to alleviating suffering set resident Robbie Donno and Barbara and enhancing the quality of human life.

Donno, mayor of the Village of Plandome He said this mission began with a single Manor, were honored by the American child from Uganda and has since touched the lives of an expected 50,000 children by 2024 across 80 countries.

Barbara Donno’s contributions have been impactful in Manhasset schools and across the village. During her nineyear tenure as the president of the school board, she played a pivotal role in elevating the Manhasset school system to one of the best-rated high schools in the nation, her husband said.

The Humanitarian Award, introduced

by Ali Jabbour, a committee member of the heroes’ celebration and chief communications and branding officer at Long Island University, recognizes individuals whose actions mirror the values of the Red Cross.

“The Humanitarian Award is given to those who have demonstrated enduring support to causes that lift up the quality of human life and alleviate suffering for those who need,” said Jabbour. “Through PHOTO BY KARINA KOVAC a long history of acts of personal and financial generosity and sacrifice, the awardees The American Red Cross of Long Island gave the Humanitarian Award to have made a meaningful difference in the Gift of Life founder Robbie Donno and Village of Plandome Manor mayor lives of others.”

Barbara Donno for their work domestic and abroad.

Continued on Page 64 Red Cross of Long Island last Thursday with the Humanitarian Award for their dedication to improving lives both domestically and abroad.

Robbie Donno’s efforts, which started during his time as president of the

boy, 6: police

BY K A R I N A KO VA C A Manhasset man was charged by Nassau County police Saturday with endangering the welfare of a child and menacing after an incident in which he al-

PHOTO COURTESY OF NASSAU COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Michael Yifan Wen, 43, pointed a handgun at a minor, according to police.

legedly pointed a gun at a 6-yearold boy, who had mistakenly left a Halloween goody bag filled with candy on his front porch.

Police said a 42-year-old mother was driving her two sons, daughter a nephew to a friend’s address on Rockcrest Road on Oct. 28 at 7:25 p.m. in Manhasset when the daughter, 10, and son, 6, approached a house. They rang the doorbell and left a goody bag with candy for Halloween on the porch before going back to the car.

The mother then drove down the block when the daughter realized the address might have been wrong. They turned back to the house and the 6-year-old son got out of the vehicle and went to the porch to retrieve the bag. At the same time, the door opened and Michael Yifan Wen, 43, allegedly pointed a black handgun at the 6-year-old’s head, police said.

The police were called and he was arrested without incident, charged and arraigned in court Sunday.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

We Support Jon Kaiman: You Should Too! Senator

Senator

Chuck Schumer

Kirsten Gillibrand

“Jon Kaiman is one of the smartest, honest, and driven leaders we have in our region.

But you don’t have to take my word for it.

Jon’s been tested over the many years of his distinguished career in public service — including his leadership in his hometown of North Hempstead, during the State’s Superstorm Sandy recovery, and his work on reform in Suffolk County. Electing Jon Kaiman is a no-brainer, because he will always fight for his constituents and what is right.” – Fmr. Suffolk DA Tim Sini

“I have known Jon Kaiman for 30 years. He is a smart, effective, and honest public servant.

People are fed up with government and politics at every level. Jon Kaiman will get things done as Town of North Hempstead supervisor, and will help restore faith in government. You know he can do it because he’s done it.”

– Fmr. Rep. Tom Suozzi

“Jon Kaiman was born to serve. He’s spent a lot of time helping others and making a big difference.”

– Comptroller Tom DiNapoli

County Executive

Rep.

Community Leader

Community Leader

Fmr. Councilwoman

Grace Meng

Robert Zimmerman

Mohinder Taneja

Viviana Russell

Steve Bellone

Assemblyman

Legislator

Community Leader

Fmr. Rep.

Fmr. Rep.

Fmr. Councilwoman

Chuck Lavine

Siela Bynoe

Melanie D’Arrigo

Gary Ackerman

Steve Israel

Lee Seeman

Assemblywoman

Fmr. Assemblyman

Gina Sillitti

Tony D’Urso

Dep. Speaker

Phil Ramos

“I am proud to endorse Jon Kaiman for Town of North Hempstead Supervisor. Jon is a steady, proven leader who has consistently proven he has the vision to improve the quality of life in all the Town’s communities. He also has a strong record of fiscal discipline, and a cast-iron commitment to reining in wasteful spending. There’s a reason Jon’s opponents are running scared and lying about his record. They know that Jon has earned the trust and respect of the Town’s residents, and that he will always put people – not politics – first.”

– Fmr. County Executive Laura Curran

“I proudly endorse Jon Kaiman for Supervisor for his steadfast leadership and decades of tireless advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ communities. Jon’s unwavering commitment to equality, inclusivity, and LGBTQ rights has made a significant impact for all Long Islander’s and I believe Jon is the candidate who will continue to champion these important issues with authenticity, dedication and passion.” – David Kilmnick PhD, MSW

PROUDLY ENDORSED BY:

Great Neck Dems President

Manhasset Dems President

Peter Fishkind

Vasu Krishnamurthy

Sierra Club

New York League of Conservation Voters

Port Wash Dems President

Councilman

Robert Troiano

“Jon Kaiman is an innovative and forwardthinking leader who will make sure North Hempstead is providing quality government services.”

– Fmr. Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth

Kim Keiserman

Planned Parenthood PAC

NYS Court Officers Association

Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

1199 SEIU

Italian-American Political Action Committee

“Jon Kaiman is a smart, innovative official with a reputation for integrity.” – Newsday Election Day November 7 H Polls open from 6am to 9pm

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

Negative GOP mailers called antisemitic

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Two mailers from the Republican Party featuring Jewish candidates Jon Kaiman and Joshua Lafazan holding fistfuls of cash have been scrutinized as antisemitic by community members for playing into stereotypes historically used to villainize Jewish people.

Kaiman, a Democratic candidate running for Town of North Hempstead supervisor, is shown in a mailer holding up two handfuls of cash and an enlarged head. Next to him are messages that Kaiman is associated with high taxes and corruption.

Lafazan, another Democratic candidate running for re-election to continue representing Nassau County’s District 18, is depicted in a mailer holding fistfuls of $100 bills, with his teeth elongated and yellowed, an enlarged nose and smoke rising above his head that casts a shadow of horns.

Lafazan has called for a press conference to be held Tuesday to denounce what he is calling antisemitic ads, alongside Kaiman, community leaders, rabbis and a family of Holocaust survivors who received the mailers.

“These types of disturbing images are especially heinous as incidents of antisemitism are drastically increasing in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas’ terrorist attack,” the media advisory for the conference states. “Community leaders will call for an end to this dangerous politics of hate.”

The press conference will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Mid Island Y JCC. Kaiman declined to comment on the issue until after the press conference.

In a recent submission from a reader, Manhasset resident Christine Monterosso called the recent mailer of Kaiman holding wads of money as a method used to “signal to their constituents that their opponent is Jewish.”

“Using antisemitic stereotypes are always hurtful, but they are particularly painful at this moment in time,” Monterosso said.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, depictions of Jewish people being greedy with money date back to the Middle Ages, with de-

scriptions of Jews in art and literature playing into these tropes through the centuries. Many of these scrutinized images include Jewish people holding money, with the intent to malign people of the faith.

“One of the most prominent and persistent stereotypes about Jews is that they are greedy and avaricious, hoping to make themselves rich by any means,” the Anti-Defamation League stated. “They are seen both as relentless in the pursuit of wealth and also as stingy misers determined not to let any money slip from their grasp. They are imagined to exert control over the world’s financial systems, but are also accused of regularly cheating friends and neighbors out of a buck.”

The Washington Post reported on a 2018 congressional race that included a slew of political mailers targeting Jewish candidates by depicting them holding money, pointing to a larger issue perpetuated by the Republican Party.

The Nassau County Republican Committee denied that the mailers were intended to target Jewish candidates and feed into stereotypes associated with the faith.

“So far as the insincere and specious claims of antisemitism from the Democrat Party, the Republican Party has no knowledge of the religion that the candidate in question observes,” the Republican Committee stated. “Nor do we associate illustrations of greedy and corrupt politicians holding money with any ethnic group, race or religion.

Shame on the Democrat Party and The Island 360 if they make any such association.”

Blank Slate Media is reporting on the issue because it is a news story that has been raised by our readers through letters to the editors, comments on our website and elected officials.

The Island 360 has published a letter to the editor which addresses this issue and publisher Steven Blank expressed opinions on the issue in his endorsement of Kaiman.

Blank said that, as pointed out by the Washington Post in its report five years ago, these ads play into Jewish stereotypes that come amid rising antisemitism.

Continued on Page 73

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PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES OF A PHOTO COPY OF THE MAILER

North Hempstead Supervisor candidate Jon Kaiman is depicted holding fistfuls of cash with an enlarged head, which community members have called out for feeding in antisemitic tropes.

T:10" S:9"

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

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T:12.45"

S:11.45"

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The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

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NASSAU’S CRIME FIGHTERS MADE THEIR CHOICE FOR TOWN SUPERVISOR

Supervisor

Jen DeSena

Jon Kaiman

Jen DeSena - Keeping Us Safe Partnering with the police to stop hate crimes.

Supports full-funding for the police.

Endorsed by all 4 Nassau law enforcement unions.

Working with Legislator Mazi Pilip to increase police patrols at houses of worship.

CRIME FIGHTERS BACK JEN… & JEN BACKS THE BLUE ELECTION DAY

NOVEMBER

7

CRIME FIGHTERS

ENDORSEMENT

Re-Elect

JEN DeSENA

Paid for by DeSena for North Hempstead

SUPERVISOR

Early voting, Oct. 28th - Nov. 5th

The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

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DELIVERING FOR OUR COMMUNITY

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Ed Scot

As a Civic President and a Water Commissioner, Ed Scott:

✓ Constructed a veterans memorial ✓ Restored the Albertson gazebo ✓ Turned a dormant sump into a thriving family park ✓ Upgraded critical water plant infrastructure ✓ Turned down his $30,000 benefit plan saving taxpayer money

✓ Battled against free lifetime benefits for other commissioners

Paid for by Friends of Edward Scott

VOTE NOV 7TH TO ELECT EDWARD SCOTT TO THE NORTH HEMPSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL

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10 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

Want to challenge yourself and enjoy learning for fun?

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The Frick Estate Lectures

The Frick Estate Lectures is a lifelong learning program designed for intellectually curious adults who enjoy expanding their minds while delving into the liberal arts for personal enrichment and pleasure. We at The Frick Estate Lectures offer you a chance to explore works of art, music, literature, drama, history, philosophy, and more as you participate in these stellar programs with others of your same mind.

You will be taught by professors who are experts in their fields – no inferior courses allowed. Below are just two examples of what’s coming up this fall:

VOICES OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA

With Professor Marc Courtade, specialist in musical theatre and opera – Opera is back at the Metropolitan, and the company is fortunate to have engaged many of the world’s classical singers for their upcoming performances. Among operas to be featured this season are La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, and Carmen. Professor Courtade will sample for you and discuss a wide range of greats, from sopranos to basses in a variety of roles and repertoire, so come to enjoy the inspiring music – no previous opera knowledge or experience required!

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If you want to be challenged and learn something new, sign up for whatever interests you on our website www.thefrickestatelectures.org You may also phone 516-415-1101 to register or request a printed catalogue, but hurry since classes close out early!

15 mayors endorse DeSena’s re-election

BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Fifteen mayors from North Shore villages have endorsed incumbent Republican Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, her campaign announced Monday.

Barbara Donno of Plandome Manor, Bonnie Parente of East Williston, Pedram Bral of the Village of Great Neck, Paul Ehrbar of Williston Park, Michael Koblenz of East Hills, Marvin Natiss of North Hills, Kevin Fitzgerald of Floral Park, Sandy Quentzel of Roslyn Harbor, Paul Pereira of Mineola, Christopher Devane of New Hyde Park, Pater Cavallaro of Westbury, John Popeleski of Manorhaven, Randall Rosenbaum of Flower Hill, Lawrence Ceriello of Munsey Park and John Kurkjian of Plandome endorsed the supervisor, who is seeking her second two-year term.

The mayors, who represent over 115,000 North Hempstead residents, commended DeSena for including a 10% tax cut in her budget proposal, pushing back against Gov. Kathy Hochul’s housing plan and preserving the suburban way of life in the area.

“In these challenging times, leadership is not just about making promises, but about delivering results,” the mayors said in a joint statement. “Since being elected Town Supervisor, Jen has collaborated with local stakeholders, listened to the concerns of our residents and taken action to create positive change. We are confident that Jen DeSena is the leader North Hempstead needs to help our Town move forward.”

DeSena, of Manhasset, is running for re-election against Democrat Jon Kaiman, of Great Neck, who held the position from 2004 to 2013.

DeSena said in a statement she is humbled by the endorsements and that she looks forward to con-

tinue building relationships with community stakeholders.

“These mayors represent a diverse cross-section of our Town, and their collective endorsement speaks to my ability to bridge the divide, find common ground, and drive positive change across our great Town,” DeSena said. “I have cherished my time collaborating with these amazing local officials, and I look forward to continuing this important partnership in my second term, as we work to prioritize taxpayer relief, public safety, and protecting our suburban quality of life against attacks from Albany.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CANDIDATE

North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena.

Legislature approves Blakeman’s budget

BY K A R I N A KO VA C On Monday, the Nassau County Legislature greenlit County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s $4.1 billion budget for the 2024 year. The process, however, was not without its share of contention, as a Democratic effort to reduce the property tax levy by $128 million and strengthen law enforcement and Inspector General’s of-

fice staff was met with rejection from the Republican majority.

Presiding Officer Richard J. Nicolello (RNew Hyde Park) had many heated moments with Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport), telling him at one point he was “out of order” and asking, “Why can’t you control yourself for a few minutes?”

Continued on Page 73

SCREENGRAB FROM NASSAU COUNTY LEGISLATURE DEMOCRATS

The Nassau Legislature led a contentious battle over amendments to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s $4.1 billion budget, which was approved unanimously.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

Judi Bosworth and Charlie Berman Endorse Veronica Lurvey for North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes

“I can attest to Veronica’s dedication and passion for North Hempstead.

Her commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency is unwavering.”

—Judi Bosworth, Retired Town Supervisor

“Veronica’s dedication to our community, along with her strong fiscal expertise, makes her the ideal candidate.”

—Charlie Berman, Receiver of Taxes

Putting transparency and taxpayers first.

Early Voting Oct 28 - Nov 5 Election Day November 7 www.veronicalurvey.com PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF VERONICA LURVEY

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12 The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

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14 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

Opinion ENDORSEMENTS

Jon Kaiman for Town of North Hempstead supervisor Jon Kaiman versus Jennifer DeSena The race for North Hempstead town supervisor pits the current occupant of the office, Jennifer DeSena, against a former occupant, Jon Kaiman.

We strongly endorse Kaiman.

Kaiman brings a deep knowledge of government at the town, county and state level.

He served as district court judge, followed by 10 years as town supervisor where he served for 10 years, from 2004 to 2013.

In 2013, he was appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to lead New York State’s clean-up and recovery efforts following Superstorm Sandy and to oversee Nassau County’s finances as the chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority.

Since 2017, Kaiman has served as deputy county executive of Suffolk County.

As North Hempstead supervisor, Kaiman developed innovative ideas to improve residents’ quality of life, including the 311 universal call center and Project Independence to help seniors stay in their homes with a wide variety of services.

Kaiman’s administration was marred by a bribery scandal in the Building Department that he says was uncovered by changes he initiated and that he reported the crimes immediately to the Nassau County district attorney.

The Building Department was later plagued by excessive delays in issuing permits that in Kaiman’s remaining years was not corrected – and continues to this day.

He now offers specific plans to correct the problem – including the obvious solution of hiring more inspectors and not letting problems un-

covered during new construction get in the way of approvals on the new work.

He also touts his success in obtaining grants to help finance new projects.

Kaiman on occasion could lack a good bedside manner in dealing with the town Council members and residents – something he says he has learned to do better since he last served.

He also correctly points out that whatever the dust-ups that took place on the Town Council don’t compare to the dysfunction of the current council with its Democratic majority and DeSena, who won office on the Republican line.

Some of this dysfunction can be attributed to bad state law, which gives the Town Council’s majority executive authority and the supervisor, with just one vote, the responsibility to carry out its direction. And some can be applied to DeSena for having no prior experience in government.

But while town council Democrats could have been more accommodating, DeSena has appeared not to recognize the limitations of her role or work more closely with the majority.

This includes her announcement of major capital projects using federal money provided by the Biden administration – without informing Democrats, let alone getting their approval.

No matter that the projects included the much-needed installation of sewers on Plandome Road in Manhasset.

Or the more recent hiring of a lawyer who has donated generously to county Republicans to hear a harassment charge filed by one of her staff members without consulting with Democrats.

The town also lost to resignation several high-ranking staff members in

Jon Kaiman the finance and purchasing departments amid this rancor, including the town comptroller, who resigned without notice while preparation of the budget was taking place.

DeSena has proposed a politically attractive 10% tax cut in next year’s budget on Sept. 30, citing a large town surplus fueled by a spike in town revenues over the past two years.

Democrats and Kaiman said that this budget includes cuts in funding for needed services and fails to account for a new contract she has approved for most town workers. The Democratic council members promise amendments to the budget before it comes to a vote shortly before Election Day. DeSena also failed to address the ongoing problems with the Building Department after pledging to fix them during the 2021 race.

Instead, once elected, she asked the Nassau County comptroller to audit the problem more than a year ago.

The county comptroller has yet to is-

sue the audit and the delays continue.

Even more troubling has been the slash-and-burn campaign that DeSena has run – or the campaign that the Nassau County Republican Party has run for her – against Kaiman.

While political campaigns often are not Tiddlywinks, this campaign has relied on half-truths and lies not seen before in a race for town posts presented in an avalanche of cable television ads and direct mail pieces.

The most recent mailer is a picture of Kaiman holding two large handfuls of cash in his hands under the headline “HIGH TAXES & CORRUPTION…with JON KAIMAN.” The ad is very similar to a pattern identified five years ago by the Washington Post of Republican mailers playing on stereotypes by showing Jewish candidates holding money.

At a time of rising antisemitism, this is very insensitive if not worse.

It is consistent with the scaremongering campaigns run by Republicans in Nassau County and statewide. But in this case, DeSena has ownership of at least the message.

Another direct mail piece appears to be appealing to racial fears, quoting a local newspaper saying the last time he was supervisor Kaiman “tried to ram through Bronx-style multifamily housing, for his developer cronies” with a picture of Kaiman in front of high-rises.

This refers to Kaiman’s proposal for accessory dwelling units – not high rises – that he quickly withdrew after heated opposition as supervisor.

Kaiman now rejects any major changes to a town housing policy that seems intent on discouraging significant new housing.

The DeSena campaign has also charged that under Kaiman taxes went up 44%. Kaiman said the total increase over 10 years amounted to

an average of $44.50 per household.

The DeSena campaign also claimed that Kaiman approved a $31 million tax hike as Nassau Finance Board chairman. The tax hike was actually approved by the Republican County executive and Republicancontrolled Legislature. Kaiman and NIFA merely said the budget was fiscally sound.

DeSena, who says she is a registered Democrat, also does not accept any blame for endorsing George Santos and then campaigning with him in his run for Congress.

In a press release announcing her endorsement, she said “George is a friend and a true leader…I formally endorse him for Congress.”

DeSena has since blamed the Democratic candidates for Congress for not uncovering the many lies Santos had told during his two campaigns, and said she quickly called for his resignation when the lies came out after the election.

But at the time of DeSena’s endorsement, it had been reported that Santos said the Mueller report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election was a hoax and he supported a national abortion ban and doctors who perform them should be prosecuted criminally.

Santos also said he attended the Stop the Steal rally on Sept. 6 and he gave money to defend insurrectionists who attacked the U.S. Capitol that day.

This is not the kind of judgment — or beliefs — needed by the North Hempstead supervisor.

Jon Kaiman does have this judgment, along with a deep experience that makes him an excellent choice for town supervisor now.

Blank Slate Media strongly endorses Jon Kaiman for Town of North Hempstead supervisor.

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE. ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2023.

BLANK SLATE MEDIA LLC

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

15

ENDORSEMENTS

Peter Zuckerman for Town Council District 2 Peter Zuckerman versus Edward Scott Democrat Peter Zuckerman has been an effective representative of the Town of North Hempstead’s District 2 since he was appointed in January 2014 after 11 years as a trustee in the Village of East Hills He was elected to a four-year term in 2019.

Before serving on the Town Board, Zuckerman served 11 years as a trustee for the Village of East Hills.

Zuckerman, a real estate lawyer, has taken a lead role in addressing concerns about noise and what residents believe are an excessive number of plans flying across North Hempstead He recently presented a Town resolution to authorize funding for a

flight plan analysis, the first step in presenting potential litigation against the FAA to address air traffic issues that have plagued the Town.

He also touts his work in getting funding for town improvements in his district.

Zuckerman said that in response to calls for increased housing, he along with the rest of the Town Board opposed Gov. Kathy Hochul’s state plan to expand housing on the island.

He said the decision should be up to the local government municipalities.

We are disappointed that he is unPeter Zuckerman willing to take a more proactive role by considering zoning changes that would promote mixed-use develop- Scott, a retired police officer who is ment in the town. now a small business owner, water Zuckerman is opposed by Edward commissioner and community advo-

cate running on the Republican and Conservative lines Scott has served as president of the Albertson Square Civic Association since 2012 and commissioner on the Albertson Water District since 2021.

He has run a low-profile campaign with no debate appearances and he turned down an opportunity for a sit-down with Blank Slate Media.

This should be a red flag for any voter.

Scott has said that if elected he would focus on cutting taxes, improving infrastructure and addressing quality-of-life issues in the town.

Zuckerman said he also would focus on cutting taxes, something he and fellow Democrats supported last year. He said he is now considering Republican Town Supervisor Jennifer

DeSena’s proposal for a 10% tax cut.

He also said voters should question DeSena’s claims that under former Democratic Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman, who is now running for his old post, taxes rose by 44% during his 10 years in his post — a charge Kaiman said was untrue.

Voters, Zuckerman correctly said, should take the claim “with a grain of salt.”

Zuckerman also said the town building remains in need of improvement.

Zuckerman has been a strong representative for his district, making himself available to everyone.

We give our strong endorsement to Peter Zuckerman as Town Council member for the Town of North Hempstead’s second district.

Christine Liu for N. Hempstead Town Council District 4 Christine Liu versus Jim Gounaris The race for North Hempstead Town Council District 4 pits Christine Liu against Jim Gounaris.

Liu was an assistant chief counsel for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and currently works for state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti as a community liaison to resolve constituent issues. But she not have experience in elective office.

She has also served as a leader in the PTA, a Little League coach for both baseball and softball, and a Girl Scout leader. Liu is the vice chair of the Nassau County Asian American Advisory Council.

She is running on the Democrat line in a district that includes Herricks, Manhasset Hills, Lake Success,

University Gardens, Great Neck Plaza, Russell Gardens and part of both North New Hyde Park and Garden City Park.

Gounaris, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines, has a more extensive resume in public office.

He was elected to the Herricks School Board in 2011 and is currently serving in his fourth one-year term as president. He is also the coordinator of food and nutrition services and the district registrar for Great Neck Public Schools.

But Gounaris said he would not Christine Liu give up any of those jobs if he is elected to the Town Council.

We see this as one too many hats and work full time on the town counto wear especially when contrasted cil.

Liu, who said she reduced her with Liu, who said she would step down from her position with Sillitti hours with Sillitti to knock on doors

across her district, has also proven a quick study with concrete ideas on the issues.

This included a call for expanding senior housing options in North Hempstead, developing a housing master plan, adding building inspectors to eliminate delays in permits and adopting a policy that approvals for new projects are not delayed if old problems are uncovered during the construction.

She also gets points for not only participating with Gounaris in a meetthe-candidates event but also for a one-on-one with Blank Slate Media.

In the one-on-one, Liu also displayed a good grasp of the town budget, pointing out that property taxes only rose $44.5 for the average taxpayers during the 10 years Jon Kaiman was town supervisor — a major

point of contention in the supervisor’s race.

She was also quick to point out that the town had received a windfall during COVID in the form of increases to mortgage taxes, revenue from online sales and fees for renovated homes.

This, she said, needs to be factored into any discussion about cutting town taxes.

The Herricks School District has done well during Gounaris’ time on the board. We hope he will continue to serve in that capacity.

But we believe Liu has the drive, the smarts and the willingness to commit herself to the town council job needed in the district.

We recommend Christine Liu for the job as North Hempstead Council Member for District 4.

Mariann Dalimonte for Town Council District 6 Mariann Dalimonte versus David Franklin The race for the Town of North Hempstead’s District 6 pits two people with extensive community ties – Democrat Mariann Dalimonte and David Franklin, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

We strongly favor Dalimonte, the current council member.

Dalimonte, a fourth-generation resident of Port Washington, has served in leadership positions in everything from PTAs to the Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District where she worked with local businesses.

She was also the director of development for Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington where she

worked to support educational, environmental, and beautification efforts in the community and was a member of a host of volunteer organizations.

Her extensive background in the community has continued as she became a town council member who sends regular email updates to residents.

She combines this with a conscientious approach to the issues to become a very effective advocate for her district.

Like North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, a Republican, she favors holding the line if not Mariann Dalimonte cutting taxes.

But unlike DeSena, she is taking a cautious approach to make sure tax for increasing the number of buildcuts do not come at the expense of ing inspectors and code enforcers. needed services next year and in folWe would like to see Dalimonte, lowing years. She has rightly called along with other council members,

support policies that would do more to approve needed housing. She said she is “very concerned” about a proposed 7-story, 170-unit development at 145 West Shore Road.

But she suggested bringing in various community groups and organizations, such as local schools, police and community members, to figure out what would work for Port Washington and other communities in the district.

Franklin does not go that far.

He said he believes the district may be “full” and cannot accommodate more housing.

Franklin is making a second run for office, having lost a bid for state Assembly.

He is a member of several community groups, served for nine years as a commissioner for the Port Wash-

ington Police Department and currently serves as a deputy commissioner for the Nassau County Parks and Recreation, and Museum.

But his judgment concerns us.

In his Assembly bid, he said he did not know if Joe Biden actually won the 2020 election bid.

This year he said he was not a scientist so he could not determine if we are experiencing climate change.

We think that is a problem for someone helping to oversee county parks – let alone grapple with the impact of climate change on the Town Council.

We think Dalimonte is an effective voice for the district and offers a sensible approach to Town issues.

We strongly endorse Mariann Dalimonte for North Hempstead Town Council District 6.

16 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

ENDORSEMENTS

Veronica Lurvey for N. Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Veronica Lurvey versus Mary Jo Collins In almost any election, the race for North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes gets very little notice.

The position is mostly technical and has been ably held since 2010 by Charles Berman, a low-key Democrat.

But 2023 is unlike perhaps any other year in North Hempstead history after two years of disputes between Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, who is running for re-election on the Republican line, and the four Democrats who formed the majority of the Town Council.

With control of every other town and county government, Nassau Republicans are perhaps eyeing the North Hempstead races as a chance for a clean sweep in the country — something that would not be very good for voters.

Town Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey, who frequently bumped heads with DeSena, is running on the Democratic line after her seat was essentially removed during redistricting.

She touts her experience and professionalism, having worked at Skad-

den, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP from 1994 to 2012, first as a legal assistant, and then rising to the position of counsel, while raising two sons.

At Skadden, she led teams on a variety of corporate finance, banking, and restructuring transactions, as well as advising companies on their disclosure obligations to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

She is opposed by Mary Jo Collins, a Village of Flower Hill trustee who had a 40-year career in financial services spent mainly in the fixed-income securities markets.

We endorse Lurvey for several reasons.

Both candidates promise to make it easier and possibly less expensive to pay their property taxes and to hold seminars that show taxpayers how to reduce their taxes through exemption and assessment challenges.

The challenges are especially important because of Nassau County’s dysfunctional assessment system in which people who challenge their assessments can count on paying less in taxes than people who don’t challenge their taxes — even if their homes are identical.

Veronica Lurvey This dysfunction is a problem created by Ed Mangano and Bruce Blakeman, two Nassau County executives who never reassessed property in the 10 years they have served.

Blakeman successfully ran against Democrat County Executive Laura Curran, who did reassess all Nassau properties. Blakeman falsely claimed Curran raised taxes by reassessing homes and appears committed to allowing the assessments on which the county bases property taxes to get less

and less accurate.

Lurvey has promised to follow Berman’s example and present errors in tax rolls the county issues to the town on which the town bases its tax bills.

We are not as confident that Collins will be aggressive in pursuing errors made under her fellow Republicans.

Our concern is raised by Collins saying in ads and a submission to this newspaper that her No. 1 focus would be working “alongside Supervisor Jen DeSena and the Town Board to help cut taxes.”

There are three problems with this.

DeSena, a fellow Republican, might lose to Jon Kaiman, a Democrat.

Will she not work with Kaiman?

And by identifying the person and not the position Collins appears to be injecting an element of partisanship that is certainly undesirable in an already divided town.

The second problem is that it’s not the job of the receiver of taxes to participate in discussions about cutting taxes. That is the job of the supervisor, the town board and North Hemp-

stead’s professional staff, which has been fleeing their posts because of the town’s dysfunction.

The third problem is that cutting taxes, which has been the focus of Republican candidates’ campaigns this year, might not be a good idea next year. If nothing else, it raises the possibility of more divisiveness in the town.

Collins also declined to sit one-onone with Blank Slate Media after DeSena was asked if President Biden won in a free and fair election in 2020 and if she would vote for former President Trump if was indicted on one or more of the 91 charges facing him. She said she did not want to face “national” issues in the interview We think anyone who may be asked to swear an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution ought to be willing to answer those questions.

Lurvey has been an effective council member with a strong background in town operations and the needs of North Hempstead. Her legal background also shows she has the capacity to handle the job of receiver of taxes.

We strongly endorse Veronica Lurvey for receiver of taxes in the Town of North Hempstead.

Don Clavin for Town of Hempstead supervisor Don Clavin versus Olena Nicks The choice of Don Clavin to be reelected Town of Hempstead supervisor is an easy one. Perhaps, too easy.

Clavin, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines, spent nearly two decades as receiver of taxes before being elected supervisor in 2019.

As receiver, he served as an oasis of competence in a desert of incompetence and shady deals in the Town of Hempstead.

Clavin was the first in New York State to implement a paperless e-Billing system in New York State, as well as Long Island’s first Autopay tax payment

feature and drive-thru payment options.

Clavin then followed through on a campaign commitment to modernize the Building Department, bringing the department online for the first time and processing applications electronically.

This meant replacing typewriters in the department with computers. In 2019.

Clavin was not the first to come up with this not-so-novel idea of replacing typewriters with computers.

His predecessor, Democrat Laura Gillen, proposed the same thing.

But a seven-member Town Board dominated by five Republicans said no apparently unhappy with Gillen becoming the first Democrat in 100 years to

Don Clavin

get elected town supervisor.

Gillen learned the hard way that town supervisors under state law are just another town council member when making decisions.

So Clavin inherited the opportunity to bring Hempstead’s building department into the 21st century. Which, to his credit, he did.

Clavin has also worked as a trial attorney who practiced in all New York courts as well as United States Federal District Courts and then worked in the Office of the Nassau County Attorney as deputy county attorney. He then worked in private practice.

Clavin is opposed by Olena Nicks, who is running on the Democrat line.

Nicks has worked as a financial analyst and has been active as a member of the Uniondale Fire Department and involved in the policy committee in the Uniondale School District.

She also ran unsuccessfully for town clerk in 2019, losing to Kate Murray.

We appreciate Nick’s willingness to serve but wonder why Democrats did not come up with a stronger choice for Town of Hempstead voters.

Clavin is a formidable opponent.

But that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t face a realistic challenge.

That being said, we strongly endorse Don Clavin for re-election as Town of Hempstead supervisor.

John Giuffre for County Legislature District 8 John Giuffre versus Erica Rico The race for District 8 of the Nassau Legislature pits incumbent John Giuffre, a lawyer who was first elected in 2021, against Erica Rico, a graduate of Nassau Community College who later pursued a bachelor’s in science and psychology at SUNY Old Westbury.

We strongly endorse Giuffre for a district that includes Franklin Square, Garden City, Garden City South, West Hempstead, Carle Place and Stewart Manor.

Giuffre earned his bachelor’s

degree at Columbia College and his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School where he was an editor of the Journal of International Business Law. He is a sustaining member of the Nassau County Bar Association where he serves on the Ethics Committee.

He is also in his community serving as a member of the Floral Park Lions Club, Floral Park Chamber of Commerce, Cover Avenue Chamber of Commerce and New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce.

He is fair-minded, something

John Giuffre

we hope he will bring to fixing Nassau’s dysfunctional and grossly unfair assessment system and increasing transparency and accountability for county police.

We are also confident that he will protect the interests of residents surrounding the proposed Vegas Sands casino resort at the Nassau Coliseum site — one of Rico’s priorities.

To his credit and that of his Republican colleagues, Giuffre approved a relatively fair redistricting plan that actually created 12 of the 19 districts with a Democratic advantage among registered vot-

ers. We will now learn how much party organization and the quality of candidates matter.

Rico has been a longtime community advocate who supports protecting women’s rights, stricter gun laws and middle-class tax relief.

But she is a first-time candidate who has never held elective office.

We strongly recommend John Giuffre for Nassau County Legislature District 8.

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE. VOTE ON NOVEMBER 7.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

17

ENDORSEMENTS

Scott Strauss for County Legislature District 9 Scott Strauss versus Neeraj Kumar The race for Nassau County Legislature District 9 continues what now appears to be a tradition — an experienced candidate with strong credentials representing the Republican and Conservative parties and a little-known Democrat with few credentials who does little campaigning.

This year the candidate representing the Republicans and Conservatives is Scott Strauss, a former New York City detective and mayor of Mineola who is currently vice president of corporate security for Northwell Health.

Strauss is seeking to replace Richard Nicolello, the Legislature’s presiding officer who is retiring after more than two decades in a district that now includes Roslyn Heights, East Williston, Mineola, Garden City Park, North New Hyde Park, Floral Park and Bellerose.

Strauss is opposed is by Neeraj Kumar, of New Hyde Park, running on the Democratic line.

He is a laboratory supervisor at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Medical Center in the Bronx and has a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Sabitribai Phule Pune University in India.

His website said he is running to ensure Nassau County has strict financial oversight, responsible budgeting, and transparency while keeping “important services that affect residents’ daily lives.”

He has communicated little else.

Much more can be said about Strauss.

He has received numerous awards for his bravery and service, including the NYPD’s top Medal of Honor recognition and the prestigious Medal of Valor, ranked third.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Strauss was part of a team that risked their lives to

Scott Strauss rescue two N.Y./N.J. Port Authority Police Officers trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center.

The story of these officers and their rescue was made into a movie directed

by Oliver Stone, entitled “World Trade Center.” Strauss received the NYPD’s

highest award, the Medal of Honor, for his actions that day.

Strauss is a 42-year member of the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department where he was a line officer as well as the department’s chief. He is a two-time recipient of his fire company’s “Firefighter of the Year” award as well as the Town of Hempstead and the Mineola Fire Departments’ “Firefighter of the Year.”

He is also a member of many police, fire and health organizations, participates with other local organizations and knows the community well.

More importantly, as a trustee and the mayor of Mineola, Strauss was a vital part of a village-wide effort to develop a revitalization plan that included transit-oriented, retail and apartments near the LIRR train station.

At a time when many local officials say they should control decisions for much-needed housing but little is done,

Strauss has helped produce hundreds of units that have revitalized Mineola’s downtown. As part of approvals, Mineola received money for important public amenities Strauss was also a savvy negotiator when Gov. Andrew Cuomo pressed plans for a third track running through Mineola that the LIRR had a right to build under the law.

Rather than the knee-jerk reaction of some mayors to oppose the work, Strauss negotiated important public improvements to be made part of the 3rd track work such as eliminating street-level crossings and parking garages.

He is a thoughtful, public-minded person with a good appreciation of how government works and about the community he would serve.

We strongly endorse Scott Strauss for Nassau County Legislature District 9.

Weihua Yan for Nassau County Legislature District 10 Weihua Yan versus Mazi Melesa Pilip The race for Nassau County Legislature District 10 pits businessman Weihua Yan running on the Democratic line against Mazi Melesa Pilip, the incumbent, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

Both candidates have inspiring stories of new Americans contributing to their new country that would be an asset in representing a district that includes Great Neck, all of Manhasset except Flower Hill, Manhasset Hills, North Hills and Roslyn Estates.

Pilip was born in a small poor village in Ethiopia, where she grew up without running water in her home. She immigrated to Israel in 1991 when she was 11 years old, along with her family, as part of Operation Solomon.

She attended high school in Israel, served in the Israeli Defense Forces in the paratrooper unit and graduated

from Tel Aviv and Haifa Universities with degrees in diplomacy, politics and security.

She emigrated to the United States with her husband, Dr. Adalbert Pilip, where she manages his practice and helps raise their children.

Pilip was elected to the Nassau County Legislature in 2021. She is chair of the Legislature’s Towns, Villages & Cities Committee, vice chairwoman of the Health & Social Services and a member of the public safety, senior affairs and veterans committee.

Yan first came to America as a high school exchange student from China in 1987.

He returned to the U.S. to study physics and computer Science at Bowdoin College and Brown University, and eventually put down roots in Great Neck with his wife Carey, where they raised their sons.

Weihua founded several successful software and e-commerce companies

Weihua Yan and currently serves as a partner at Rise Capital and as chief technology officer at Wonder Inc., a food delivery platform that brings top chefs from iconic restaurants to people’s homes.

In 2009, he began volunteering in local groups like the Great Neck Chinese

Association, and he became an active parent leader in his son’s Boy Scout Troop.

He continued his service as an elected trustee of the Great Neck Library, where he served as president through 2022.

Pilip has been a visible presence in the community.

But we are troubled by her lack of independence from Republican Nassau County leaders.

She said she trusted Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to set the timetable for fixing the county’s long dysfunctional assessment system, did not believe there was a need for greater transparency or accountability from Nassau County police and was comfortable with Blakeman’s efforts in dispensing money for combatting opioid use and the environment.

Pilip did acknowledge that President Biden won in a free and fair election in 2020 and that she would not

support former President Trump if he was convicted on one or more of the 91 charges against him.

She also said she supported a community-wide effort to address housing but did not have answers to downtown business districts — a priority she identified in her first run two years ago.

Yan, on the other hand, cited reassessment as one of his main goals noting the unfairness of the current system. He said he wants to “modernize and solve inefficiencies” to fix the system and demand that a reassessment is done.

He also called for more action to address climate change and advocated measures to lower crime rates.

He said he also said he brings expertise and knowledge that would help the county operate more efficiently.

We also believe Yan would add balance to a county government now dominated by the Republican Party.

We endorse Weihua Yan for Nassau County Legislature District 10.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton for County Legislature District 11 Delia DeRiggi-Whitton versus John Stalzer In the race for Nassau County Legislature District 11 between the incumbent, Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, and her opponent, John Stalzer, the difference comes down to experience and knowledge of the community.

DeRiggi-Whitton, who is running on the Democratic line, and Stalzer, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines, offer similar views on the need to keep development in the hands of local officials.

Both cited fiscal responsibility as goals.

And both DeRiggi-Whitton and Stal-

zer, who is an environmental scientist for PSEG Long Island, list the environment as a top priority in representing a district comprised of all of Port Washington, Flower Hill, Roslyn, Roslyn Harbor, Sea Cliff, Glenwood Landing, and Glen Cove.

DeRiggi-Whitton was even the lone county legislator to vote against the Sands Las Vegas agreement with Nassau that allows it to build a casino on the site of the Nassau Coliseum, citing traffic and addiction concerns.

DeRiggi-Whitton has a granular knowledge of her community and the Legislature.

She has served the district for 12 years and is now seeking her seventh term in the county Legislature. She served

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton

on the Glen Cove City Council before that and is the daughter of former Glen Cove Mayor Donald DeRiggi.

Stalzer said his government experience has centered around village governments, including more than 10 years as Sea Cliff’s chair of the environmental commission. None were elective positions.

Another important difference between the two is party affiliation.

Both the executive branch and the Legislature are controlled by Republicans.

The last time this occurred bad things happened.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, his wife, his deputy and then the state Senate majority leader, whose son had

business dealings with Nassau County, all went to jail for political corruption.

DeRiggi-Whitton has also been an effective advocate for aggressively responding to the opioid crisis and for greater transparency and a more collaborative approach from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in determining Nassau’s use of hundreds of millions of dollars the county received through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. DeRiggi-Whitton has the experience needed to help provide some checks and balances in Nassau’s government and to represent the local needs of her constituents.

We endorse Delia DeRiggi-Whitton for Nassau County Legislature District 11.

18 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

ENDORSEMENTS

Arnold Drucker for County Legislature District 16 Arnold Drucker versus James Asmus Arnold Drucker has established himself as a knowledgeable legislator with a strong command of the facts and a reasonable but forceful voice for Nassau County Legislature District 16 since taking office in 2016.

Drucker is seeking re-election on the Democratic line against James Asmus, of Syosset, who is the vice president of strategic planning and sales at Deer Park-based Able Rigging Contractors. He is also serving his third term as commissioner of the Jericho Water District. He is running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

The revised district map includes

Old Bethpage, Plainview, Woodbury, Syosset, Muttontown, Brookville, Old Westbury, and Roslyn Heights.

Within the Legislature, Drucker serves on the Finance, Public Works, and Health & Social Services committees. He is also a ranking member on the Planning, Development, and Environment and Government Services & Operations committees.

Drucker was recently one of five county Democrats to call on Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to fulfill a campaign promise and deliver $128 million in tax relief for this year’s county budget, which did not Arnold Drucker come to fruition.

He has also advocated for fixes ment system, accurately calling the in the county’s dysfunctional assess- county’s Department of Assessment

“a rudderless ship adrift at sea” that needs a qualified county assessor in charge.

“We have inaccurate assessments and that results in grievances, which results in refunds and creates a big economic drain,” Drucker said. “We have to now borrow money each year to pay for these tax refunds.”

He has called for the tax roll to be “unfrozen immediately.”

He has also been a much-needed proponent of affordable housing in Nassau.

“We have an unsustainable economy because of the lack of affordable housing,” he said. “We have the brightest and best minds who are educated in the highest performing

high schools in the country and they never come back because they can’t afford it.”

Drucker was one of the only Democrats in the county Legislature who supported the much-needed push for affordable housing in Nassau based on transit-oriented housing.

This is the kind of smarts and courage needed in the county Legislature.

Asmus has called for Nassau to fix its assessment system and increase police patrols and says he opposes “high-density urban plans” that don’t actually exist.

Blank Slate Media strongly endorses Arnold Drucker for Nassau County Legislature District 16.

Josh Lafazan for County Legislature District 18 Josh Lafazan versus Samantha Goetz If you judge him by the number of negative mailers sent by the New York Republican State Committee, Josh Lafazan is either considered very vulnerable in his bid for re-election in the newly redesigned Nassau County Legislature District 18 or very strong.

Lafazan’s new district includes Williston Park, Manhasset Hills, Albertson, SearingtownEast Hills, Greenvale, Old Brookville, Glen Head, Upper Brookville, Matinecock, Centre Island, Bayville, Mill Neck Oyster Bay, Cove Neck and Laurel Hollow.

It does not include Syosset, where he lived until his hometown was removed through redistricting, which Lafazan is fighting in court.

Lafazan, who is running on the Democratic line, may have also drawn special scrutiny since he had earlier announced his candidacy for the 3rd Congressional seat currently occupied by Republican George Santos.

He has suspended the Congressional campaign while he runs for the Legislature, but did not rule out

resuming the campaign if the opportunity presents itself.

Lafazan who at 23 years old became Nassau’s youngest-ever legislator upon his election in November 2017, offers innovative ideas for some of the county’s protracted issues.

He has advocated for “cool downtowns,” an idea former County Executive Tom Suozzi pushed in the early 2000s to bolster the building of homes within what is reasonable for a community.

He also suggested that given the country’s ongoing inability to accurately assess the value of residential and commercial properties, the responsibility should be turned over to the towns.

He has advocated for Nassau County’s government to go carbon neutral by 2035. A bill to create a task force to push the county toward carbon neutrality by 2035 is currently stalled in the Legislature.

Lafazan wants the county to make further improvements to its infrastructure to address increased heavy rainstorms, electrical grid resiliency, emergency response protocols and sewer leakages.

He is opposed by Samantha

Josh Lafazan Goetz, who currently serves as a deputy county attorney in Nassau County and is running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

Goetz has spent most of her career working as an attorney under Republican administrations. She worked as an assistant town attorney in Oyster Bay from December 2017 to January 2022. From January 2015 to December 2017, she served as deputy Nassau County Attorney She began her career as counsel to Republican state Sen. Carl Mar-

cellino and was responsible for advising the senator on legal implications of legislation, policies, actions, and administrative decisions.

Unsurprisingly, Goetz’s position closely mirrors those of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and other Republican leaders.

To address Nassau’s high cost of living, Goetz says the county should not raise taxes and instead, residents should be educated about tax benefits they are eligible.

She also follows the GOP lead on crime, saying she opposes “defunding” the police — a policy no Nassau Democrat is proposing — and cashless bail.

Most troubling is her accusation in advertising paid for the New York State Republican State Committee that Lafazan raised taxes on 65% of Nassau residents by voting to reassess all county properties.

This claim echoes Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. And it’s untrue.

A reassessment of properties does not raise the amount of property taxes called for in a budget. It does change how much an individual taxpayer will be required to pay.

The reassessment done under

County Laura Curran did find that 65% of Nassau’s properties were underpaying their taxes — and 35% were overpaying their taxes due to the county having an incorrect value of their home.

The false claims by Blakeman and Geotz help make the case for Lafazan’s call for town governments to take over the reassessment of properties if county taxpayers are to ever pay what they really owe. And the depths to which county Republicans and their candidates have sunk.

Even more alarming are mailers attacking Lafazan’s receipt of a student loan from a billionaire couple that he did not report and a personal contribution to his campaign. Fair enough.

But the mailer makes its point by picturing Lafazan, who is Jewish, holding handfuls of money — a common trope used against Jews for hundreds of years. At a time of rising antisemitism, this is very insensitive at best.

Lafazan offers Nassau County the creative ideas it needs for the future.

We strongly endorse Josh Lafazan for Nassau County Legislature District 18.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

19

THE BACK ROAD

Is there an upside for all the users of TikTok?

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or the uninitiated, TikTok is a social media app that allows users to produce, view, and share brief videos from mobile devices or webcams. Worldwide, there are one billion monthly active users, according to SEARCH Statistics.

Following is a summary of some of the critics’ concerns about TikTok use, and then some notes on my positive experiences on the app.

There has been much said pointing to the downside of TikTok, which was created and launched in China in 2016.

For example, I just found two articles published in March 2023 entitled, “What the hell is wrong with TikTok?” and “The Dark Side of TikTok: Concerns over its Impact on Mental Health, Privacy, and Society.”

Most notably, there are concerns with the addictive qualities and mental health fallout (anxiety and depression) generated by excessive TikTok use, especially on image-conscious young people who may be struggling with self-esteem.

Inconsistent content moderation is major concern. While the app has established policies to prevent hate speech, misinformation, disinformation, and other harmful content, it is questionable as to whether this is routinely and uniformly enforced.

Additional red flags point to the Chinese government using the platform to disseminate propaganda and increase its

power worldwide. User data could also be vulnerable to hacking and surveillance.

I knew little about TikTok, so I thought I would sign up, log in, and see what all the fuss was about.

What I found was an entertaining compellation of short video clips. They are creative, provocative, humorous, informative, outrageous, gross, and moving. I could easily scroll through the content for 30 minutes without breaking a sweat.

The content is either professionally produced or homemade. Over time, the brief videos went where I had not anticipated. For example, there are myriad clips of people having excessive wax and other obstructions removed from their ears.

There is no shortage of videos of people of all ages engaged in combat on the street, in the schoolyard, or in a restaurant, with food and chairs flying and tables being flipped over.

There are many quick news bits – breaking news, current events, politics, sports updates, and celebrity gossip. Recent video clips of singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and football star Travis Kelcey’s flirtation were pervasive and continued to be posted for weeks.

Fact-checking is always a good idea.

Is there an upside to TikTok? I think so if it is not used obsessively or destructively. Beyond the passive act

ANDREW MALEKOFF The Back Road

of viewing TikTok, for some young people, it provides a creative outlet to experiment and share their stories and talents by adding content or expressing their point of view on any number of matters.

As for me, what is the upside? For starters, I do get a good laugh from time to time.

For example, Anatole poses as a janitor in a weightlifting gym. He has a thick dark beard and is wearing blue overalls and a cap. He appears to be of average height and build. As he sweeps the floor huge, muscular guys wearing tank tops are deadlifting many hundreds of pounds of weight from the floor.

When one of the brawny guys finishes, Anatole approaches the same

barbell, indicating it must be moved so he can sweep. Rather than ask for help, he casually lifts the still-full barbell and moves it so he can continue to sweep.

When he finishes, he picks up the barbell and replaces it.

The weight lifters are incredulous, mouths agape, no doubt wondering, “How did he do that?” This “act” is repeated over and over.

Obviously, Anatole is a ringer. I could watch this all day long, well maybe not all day, but it does trigger the addictive quality of the app.

What I like most, though, are the videos that unexpectedly move me.

Devon Rodriquez, is a “street artist” whose videos appear on TikTok and elsewhere. He draws or paints portraits of strangers, often while riding the New York City subway.

When he finishes each portrait, he hands it over to his “model” and says, “Here, I drew you.” The unsuspecting model is at first hesitant to take the paper Rodriguez is handing them.

When they finally relent and cautiously accept the portrait, their face transforms with gratitude, for the unexpected gift.

If for even for a few precious moments, the stresses, worries and anxieties of the day seem to melt from their faces, giving rise to a feeling of being valued and celebrated by a talented and generous stranger.

eye.

It never fails to bring a tear to my

And, then there is the guy wearing a concierge uniform who literally rolls out a red carpet on the city sidewalk, inviting walkers to step up onto the makeshift runway for a moment in the sun.

In the “red carpet” videos, Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” is playing in the background.

Some walkers are hesitant, but are persuaded to step up. Others embrace the offer and play along by strutting their stuff. Many complete the walk with a smile on their faces as if they just walked the runway to the Academy Awards ceremony.

I love the clips of military reunions; a military service member returns home and surprises their spouse, children, mom, or dad either in an airport, classroom, or at the front door of their childhood home. Of course, the reunion is orchestrated, but always emotional.

In another set of videos, young children are presented with gift boxes for their birthday or Christmas.

When they open the box, they discover a puppy or kitten inside wrapped in a decorative ribbon. After the initial shock and surprise, the trembling child asks if they can hold it.

They pick it up and with tears streaming down their cheeks they ask, “Can I keep it?”

That one gets me every time.

ON THE RIGHT

New York State’s economic development mess

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ast week I read a disturbing report, “Increasing the Transparency and Accounting of Empire State Development,” issued in July by the fiscal thinktank, Reinvent Albany.

Here’s the study’s finding in a nutshell: “ESD is among the state authorities and agencies most vulnerable to corruption, pay-to-play, and political abuse.

ESD has an amorphous mission that reduces its public accountability, and the board and senior management are completely controlled by the governor and show very few signs of acting independently.

ESD, by design, engages in massive, secretive, sole-source deals totally at odds with basic principles of government spending and procurement that emphasize transparency and competitive bidding.”

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

For those not familiar with the state’s ESD, here is a little historic background. Back in the 1990s, Gov. George Pataki consolidated a number of state agencies and public au-

thorities under one umbrella called ESD. These subsidiary organizations include the Department of Economic Development, the Job Development Authority, and the biggest of all, the Urban Development Corporation, a.k.a. the Empire State Development Corporation.

The UDC leviathan has more than 50 active and inactive subsidiaries and more than 40 housing project-related corporations.

Pataki publicly proclaimed that he found this agglomeration in the name of “efficiency.”

But the reality is that it gave the governor huge power to distribute state subsidies to favored corporations. Since inception, ESD has served business interests before it served the public interests.

A governor rules ESD with an iron fist. Gov. Hochul appoints most of the board members to the various boards—many of them political cronies or contributors.

The governor also “hires and fires the person who is the combined CEO and president of the UDC; the

GEORGE J. MARLIN On The Right president, CEO and chair of the Job Development Authority, and the commissioner of the Department of Economic Development. This person also serves as an ex-officio member of the ESD board and has the ability to hire and fire ESD staff …. The board of directors cannot fire the president and CEO of UDC.” In effect, ESD officers serve at the pleasure of the governor and, as you

might guess, they follow the governor’s orders on grants, irrespective of project merits.

As for the board of directors, they act as rubber stamps. “Projects,” the Reinvent Albany report points out, “are initiated by the governor’s office and presented to the board for a perfunctory and performative vote.”

ESD keeps most of the information about projects under cover. They rarely disclose the amount of grants, cost per job, feasibility studies, or evaluations of the progress and success, or failure of projects.

The criteria for supporting a given project is not spelled out or released for public review. It also “engages in sole-source bidding, a noncompetitive purchasing process that favors a particular company.”

At the end of 2021, ESD reported it had invested in 4,717 loan, grant and tax benefit projects. Taxpayer dollars expended on the programs, many of which have failed (i.e.: the “Buffalo Billion” deal with Tesla) are in the billions of dollars.

In October 2022, for example, Gov. Hochul and Senator Schumer

announced to much fanfare, a deal with Micron to build four chip plants.

Subsidies offered to the company total a staggering $5.5 billion.

When the state and Micron were pushed by fiscal watchdogs to explain the methodology for the grant, Reinvent Albany noted, the REMI Inc. study on the economic and fiscal impact ESD provided, “was a posthoc rationalization for the terms already agreed to buy the aforementioned mention parties.”

As for corruption, readers may recall that two ESD programs have been the subject of federal corruption trials that convicted two of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s former associates.

The Reinvent Albany report concluded that “the governor and legislature use ESD to oversee misguided and discredited programs and projects they manufacture and … do very little to ensure agency success and effectiveness.”

Quite a mess.

Do you think Albany will do anything about the lack of public accountability?

Don’t hold your breath.

For the latest news, visit us at w w w.theisland360.com

20 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

OUR TOWN

How different nationalities cope with stress

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re there differences in the way different nationalities deal with stress? There are obviously personality differences between nationalities so it stands to reason that people of different nations cope with stress in vastly different ways.

Is it true that Germans are perfectionistic? Are Asians really stoic? Are Americans always aggressive? Do Hispanics really like music and dancing as shown in “West Side Story?” I’ve been interviewing folks from different countries recently to find out how each na-

tion copes with stress. There is very little literature which attempts to take an international view of coping. We now live in a global village. Every neighborhood in Nassau County has an intermingling of nationalities from Africa, South America, Central America, Asia, and India. It’s time to think about these differences in character and personality.

Book publishers are now global in nature and they naturally seek to sell books internationally in order to expand their market share. Along those lines, my book publisher (Routledge) asked me to be sure to include sections on how athletes from different countries differ in the way they handle competitive stress.

In case you didn’t know, I’m a sport psychologist and the book I am now writing grapples with the crucial area of how athletes cope with stress by using their defense mechanisms.

I recently explored the way Central American soccer players cope with stress by asking a former soccer player from El Salvador his thoughts about the subject of mental health in his country. He is a thoughtful guy and paused before answering. Then he said, “I think the biggest problem is intergenerational trauma. We have all seen so much violence, murder in the streets and domestic violence that it’s hard to escape from it. We all worry about our parents, our kids and PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM FERRARO our siblings. That’s the way it is.”

He then went on to say “By the way, Marta, considered to be the best soccer has stagnated in El Salvador because of our poverty and our history of female soccer player in history.

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

trauma.” I told you he was a thoughtful guy. His remarks highlight how a nation’s history influences the way its citizens feel, function and relate to each other.

The traumatic nature of the war in Gaza highlights the issue of mental health in Israel. Anyone who is of the Judaic faith has a history of traumatic anxiety that is hard to fathom. According to the Library of Congress Viktor Frankl’s classic “Man’s Search of Meaning” is one of ’the 10 most influential books in America” and has been translated into 24 languages and sold over 10 million copies.

This memoir is about Frankl’s 2 ½ year Jewish experience at Auschwitz. His book is so valuable because of the way it emphasizes that one must find meaning in life, no matter what the circumstances.

Similar to the Oscar-winning film “Life is

Beautiful,” Frankl explores the way humans can use imagination, asceticism, dissociation and humor to overcome anything. Frankl’s work outlines and delineates the power of the most mature and adaptive of human defenses.

I have also interviewed many Japanese, Chinese and South Korean athletes and the most outstanding character trait of the Asian athlete is their unusual ability to withstand pain without complaint.

I did research years ago with a Japanese sport psychologist and we discovered that the Asian athlete uses very few words to describe pain. I recall working with a young South Korean golfer headed for the tour and when I told his father before one event that his son had bad back pain, the father said “No… he does not. He has no back pain.”

This can be described as the defense of either suppression or repression and I have always felt it stemmed from the centurys-old tradition of foot binding which many young girls had to endure in Asia. I believe that the traumatic memory of what young girls had to manage instilled a stoic attitude in the entire continent. I think Asians use suppression and repression to manage many of their feelings.

This leaves us with the question of American defense mechanisms and the way we traditionally cope with stress.

One can easily see that whatever defenses Americans used in the past to manage their stress, these mechanisms seem to be shattering. Evidence of this defense

mechanism breakdown is seen weekly with mass shootings, the latest of which took 18 lives and wounded dozens of others in the staid town of Lewiston, Maine.

Ever since Columbine the world has been aware of the epidemic of mass shootings taking place in American schools, bars, music festivals and malls.

This suggests that underlying feelings of alienation, shame and anger are boiling over and that former inhibitors of restraint are no longer able to contain our rage. America is noted for its sense of freedom, creativity, entrepreneurial drive, and for its money which are the primary reasons that people still flock to our shores.

Each nation has a characteristic manner of dealing with stress. The Central Americans I know are creative and decent but may be encumbered by the weight of tragedy in their past. Israelis and those who practice Judaism have been a chronically targeted group and have emerged with profoundly mature defenses of humor, asceticism, and imagination. Asians have learned how to suppress and repress pain, but Americans over the last 25 years seem to be losing defensive control over their impulses and we see endless occurrences of mass shootings, the latest of which comes from Maine.

We all need to have defenses which help us to cope with our anxiety and it is worthwhile and interesting to see which nation uses what defense and why.

E A R T H M AT T E R S

Environmental injustice – You don’t have to look far

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any of us associate environmental justice (EJ) issues with “fence line” communities surrounding polluting industries or neighborhoods where interstate highways have been constructed too close to homes, or even the poorest countries around the world where we send our garbage to be sorted and salvaged by children.

It’s a sad reality that children are often at the heart of many EJ issues. One that is A particularly troublesome for me is that desperately poor children are spending their days mining for rare metals with their bare hands in crudely dug holes in the earth to meet the needs of the manufacturers of our cell phones and other tech devices.

These examples all meet the dictionary definition of environmental justice – “a social movement to address the unfair exposure of poor and marginalized communities to harms from hazardous waste, resource extraction, and other land uses.”

The first victims of environmental injustice, of course, were the indigenous people who lived peacefully and in harmony with nature for hundreds of years before white Europeans “discovered” the new world. The areas that were set aside for the original inhabitants of our country often became the home of polluting industries. And a practice of “build it first

and fight it out with the tribes later” became common, particularly with oil and gas companies whose drilling sites, compressor stations, and pipelines so often dot or traverse the landscape on tribal lands.

In 2021, indigenous peoples from across the country banded together to bring attention to the exploitation of their lands without their permission and in violation of many treaties. In a campaign called the Red Road, Native Americans from across the country transported a 25foot totem pole from Washington State to Washington, DC, stopping for ceremonies and events in communities which are leading efforts to protect sacred places from exploitive resource extraction and industrial development. But very little has changed.

Such is the cost of our “energy independence,” so often touted by proud politicians who ignore the real cost to our nation’s first residents and others who live in proximity to oil and gas operations. But what about others who live in close proximity to the thousands of industrial sites manufacturing everything from plastic to pesticides, or the millions of people who live in communities bordering incinerators and landfills?

Incineration, of course, doesn’t really solve our solid waste problem. According to the National Institutes of Health,

PATTI WOOD Earth Matters

toxins emitted from incineration include particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), acidic gases (i.e., NOx, SO2, HCl) and acidic particles, certain metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, chromium, arsenic, and beryllium), dioxins and furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In other words, a laundry list of chemicals that are known to cause or exacerbate serious health problems.

As Tatiana Lujan, a lawyer for the non-profit Client Earth observed, “As the world drowns in plastics and countries like China close their doors to foreign

waste, incineration will increasingly be pushed as an ‘easy’ alternative. But waste does not just disappear in a puff of smoke.

The more waste and plastics are sent to be burned, the more our environment and health will suffer in parallel.”

And while incineration leads to increased level of toxins in the air, landfills can produce toxins that make their way into groundwater. Right here on Long Island, a decades-long battle over the Brookhaven landfill has united communities of color and Native Americans who live in the surrounding communities.

For years, an underground plume of PFAS and other dangerous chemicals from the Brookhaven landfill has made its way into the local water supply. After the Suffolk County Department of Health Services detected emerging contaminants PFAS, 1-4 dioxane and other chemicals in the water, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ordered the Town of Brookhaven to clean up the pollution, but solutions are expensive, time-consuming, and not fail proof. Meanwhile, local residents have no choice but to use the contaminated water.

Electric cars may be part of the solution to our energy problems, but they too come with a hidden cost, as does the cost of our modern lifestyle. According to Amnesty International, children as young as 7 are working long days in highly dan-

gerous conditions in the Republic of the Congo to mine the rare mineral cobalt that is needed to make our smart phones, computers, and electric vehicles operate.

So what is the solution to environmental injustice? I think we first have to recognize how each of us may be unwittingly contributing to the problem. Our continued reliance on fossil fuels to heat our homes, produce electricity, power our vehicles and manufacture all the millions of tons of plastic we consume comes at a high price, paid on our behalf not by the oil and gas companies who make billions in profit or the politicians who take their money, but by those whose lives are negatively impacted but lack the considerable resources to fight back.

And let’s reassess the practice of packaging everything in plastic — from vegetables to giant yachts — and understand that living a throwaway lifestyle is creating a completely unsustainable waste stream. Do we consider the impact of our actions when we purchase a case of bottled water or a cucumber wrapped in plastic? Do we need the latest iPhone?

Environmental injustice is a problem which only remains unsolved because of our indifference. As citizens of this fragile and damaged planet, we have to do better.

Letters Continued on Page 58

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

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22 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

Schools

Tips to help student-athletes prepare for winter sports season

W

inter sports season is wildly popular. Sports such as basketball, hockey, swimming, and track and field attract talented student-athletes each winter, making the season one of the most fun times of year for kids, their families and their classmates.

must make sure their grades are good enough to allow them to compete, even if their sport begins mid- to late-semester.

Students can work with teachers, coaches and academic advisors to ensure their grades won’t compromise their eligibility.

• Schedule your physical. A preseason physical exam is mandatory to compete in may scholastic sports, so studentAs the winter sports season approaches athletes or their parents should schedule and begins, student-athletes can take their exams early so they can compete various steps to ensure they’re ready to for a spot on the team and, if they make compete. the team, play once the season begins.

• Ensure your academics are in order.

Physical exams also can shed light on any Students must maintain a minimum grade issues that may require medical treatment point average to be eligible to compete. prior to the start of the season, so the The winter sports season tends to overlap earlier students get their exams, the more semesters in many school districts, so quickly they can address any issues that students preparing for the coming season may compromise their ability to compete.

• Speak with the coaching staff. Coaches may or may not conduct exit interviews upon the completion of a season. Such interviews can be a great chance for student-athletes to learn about what they can do to improve during the offseason.

Student-athletes who didn’t get an exit interview or those who simply want a refresher can contact their coaches in advance of the season to discuss what they need to do to make the team and/or improve on last season’s performance.

• Get in shape. Multi-sport athletes may

already be in shape to compete, which can ensure the transition from fall to winter sports season goes smoothly. Studentathletes who don’t compete in fall sports can use fall as a time to get back in game shape. Start gradually to reduce your risk of injury, ramping up as the body reacclimates itself to physical activity.

Winter sports season is a fun time of year for student-athletes. Preparing before the season begins can ensure student-athletes compete at their highest level in the months ahead.

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Schools

S

23

Unique academy and educational tracks in school

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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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

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Santos pleads not guilty to new charges

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Rep. George Santos blows a kiss to protestors and reporters after leaving court with his attorney Joseph Murray. Santos pled not guilty to 10 new federal charges included in his 23 count overall superseding indictment.

Rep. George Santos pleaded not guilty in federal court Friday to the 10 new charges filed on Oct. 10 in a superseding indictment that includes identity theft, credit card fraud and conspiracy.

Judge Joanna Seybert of U.S. District Court said his trial will likely be held on Sept. 9, 2024 since she is presiding over criminal cases that didn’t waive the right to a speedy trial which take precedence. It would also give time for jury selection, she said.

Santos, 35, wearing a dark suit with red shoes, spoke little in court and left without speaking to reporters, blowing them and protesters shouting at him a kiss before leaving the courthouse.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Harris asked the judge if Seybert’s schedule “opens up” to consider holding the trial earlier in May or June, saying it should only take about three weeks and that it’s of “public interest” since he’s a sitting congressman.

Harris also mentioned the development Thursday of a privilege resolution made in the U.S. House of Representatives to expel Santos from office, a move which forces the chamber to vote on the resolution as early as next week. To expel him would require a two-thirds majority, meaning every Democrat and a dozen Republicans would need to vote yes.

Continued on Page 70

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Santa riding a fire truck will kick off the holidays on Nov. 25!

Annual event to be expanded to 3 Saturdays starting in Nov.

Port Holiday Magic will return to Port Washington with three magical Saturdays instead of one!

There are so many advantages to shopping locally for the holiday season, and Port Holiday Magic will provide tons of extra reasons for you to support our local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve our neighborhoods.

Everyone benefits when we remember “BEFORE YOU CLICK AND BUY, GIVE PORT A TRY.” All three magical days will have the following: STORE SPECIALS. Participating businesses will offer something special for their customers – a discount on merchandise, services or gift cards; a gift with purchase; holiday treats; free gift wrapping; in-store entertainment, and more. Find a list of the offers on www.pwcoc.org and on the Try Port First app. Also look for postings on social media.

FREE TROLLEY RIDES! We will have a picturesque trolley taking shoppers from one end of Main Street to the other, making several stopsin

both directions — for free!

SHOPPERTAINMENT! Lots of things are planned to bring the holiday spirit to our streets. The Port Washington Fire Department will have Santa ride a fire engine throughout town on Nov. 25.

We will have outdoor entertainment, both live and recorded. Other entertainment includes carolers and costumed characters who will greet shoppers. There will be holidaythemed blowups that provide great opportunities for selfies.

FREE PARKING ON MAIN STREET! The Town of North Hempstead Parking District will cover the meters and suspend the on-street parking meter fees on Main Street and certain other streets starting on Small Business Saturday, November 25, and continuing through January 1, 2024.

SIDEWALK SALES! Look for stores selling merchandise outdoors if weather permits.

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS! In addition to beautiful storefront decorations, The BID will install lit snow-

flakes on the utility poles and the Chamber of Commerce will adorn the Main Street lampposts with garland, lights and red bows. Port will look festive and bright both day and night.

The magical days are: November 25 — Port Holiday Magic on Small Business Saturday.

We will have all of the festivities described above including Santa riding through town on a fire truck. On this day, stores will kick off the season with many specials for their customers.

December 2 — Port Holiday Giving Magic when we ask everyone to “SHOP LOCAL, GIVE LOCAL.” We encourage you to make donations to local organizations and to our “Make a Child Smile Toy, Food & Diaper Drive” at participating stores which are listed on the Try Port First app.

You can also visit “Stuff the Bus” at the train station to donate new, unwrapped toys for less fortunate children in our town.

December 9 — Port Holiday Window Magic. Businesses throughout town are showing their holiday spirit

and going all out to decorate their windows. A panel of judges will view the participating windows and cast their votes.

There will also be a “WALK AND WAG” with dogs in costumes and their owners walking around town to admire the window decorations. The window winner will be announced and will receive recognition and photos in the local papers and on social media. A list of all the stores in the contest can be found on the Try Port First app, under EVENTS. Port Holiday Magic raises awareness of the vital role small businesses play in our community and our economy. Shopping locally for the holidays is safe, convenient, and easy.

You are supporting your local merchants who not only appreciate your business but also pay a large share of property taxes and help maintain the economic stability of our community.

They also provide special customer services that the online merchants and big box stores don’t offer and they support requests for donations

for our community organizations like the schools, scouts, religious and civic institutions, and others.

Importantly, online shoppers may not realize that for every $100 you spend in your local small businesses, $68 stays in our community through jobs, taxes, contributions to non-profits and more. For every $100 you spend online, $0 stays in our community.

Help strengthen our community by supporting local businesses that support our town. Shop Local on Port Holiday Magic and throughout the holiday season.

Port Holiday Magic is grateful to our sponsors: Catholic Health’s St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center, The Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District (BID) and The Peter and Jeri Dejana Foundation.

Port Holiday Magic is organized by the BID, the Chamber of Commerce, Landmark on Main Street and Residents Forward. It is supported by the Town of North Hempstead and the Port Washington Police District.

26 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

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HOME DESIGN

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28 HOME & DESIGN • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

Stop organizing your kitchen Better ways make things in your home easy to find and maintain

BY T I N A O ’ K E E FF E

Chief Organizing Officer of Stow and Behold, LLC In my 10 years of organizing homes, I have learned to start with an assessment and then a mini-project.

We assess the house or apartment from top to bottom, take notes, discuss challenges, etc. Then we dive in to do something that will give the client a sense of what the process is like, what I am like and to give them a quick success so that they are inspired to keep going.

So after the assessment, I ask my clients where they want to begin. I ask, “What is bothering you the most?” Or “Where do you find you are the most frustrated?” Nine out of 10 times the answer is “The kitchen.” And 9 out of 10 times, we start somewhere else.

Why? It’s not that I don’t want to organize the kitchen. The kitchen is the brain of the home. It is the command center for many families. It is the room where people spend the most time in their homes besides sleeping in their bedrooms.

We aren’t avoiding the kitchen, but we are addressing the deeper issue: the pantry. A pantry does not have to mean a room in the home that is dedicated to storage. It can be in the basement. It can be a closet nearby. It can be adjacent shelves.

But it is a storage area meant to support and “feed” the kitchen. Yes, even your kitchen needs to be fed because the truth is that all

the food and kitchen appliances are the cause of clutter in your kitchen, the food waste and spoilage due to lack of visibility and frustration when preparing meals.

With the rise of wholesale purchasing from stores like BJs and Costco, individuals are buying in bulk and then struggling to store and use these items. Pantry or pantrylike storage is the place where this happens.

Sometimes a pantry already exists and the system needs to be refined. Other times we are creating a pantry: finding a place in the home where we can house the overflow that belongs in the kitchen but cannot always reside there permanently like kitchen appliances, dry goods or event root vegetables.

Building a pantry does not always mean construction. It can mean repurposing an existing space. It may mean building shelves or cleaning out a cluttered closet to use for storage.

How do you “build” a pantry?

Locate a space in your home that can be used as a pantry. A closet, existing shelves or an area where shelves can be installed. Think a hall closet, the area at the bottom of the basement stairs or a part of the kitchen that is being underutilized.

Organize your pantry area. If items are residing there now, take them all out, evaluate them, decide what is being kept and return those items to the pantry. Dispose of what is not being kept. Of the items being kept/ stored in your pantry, ask yourself: “How

are these purchased and in what quantity?”

Determine how much space is necessary to house that volume of intake. If you buy toilet paper in bundles of 24, will they fit here when you return from the store? Make sure that you are accounting for the full bundle when you size the area that will house them.Label the shelves. Labels help to make sure that you are keeping the space dedicated for these items.

Labels also ensure that all those living in the household are aware of what belongs where.

If things need to flex and change, use labels that can be redone like chalkboard plaques or sleeves where paper can be inserted. Keep the labeling supplies nearby for easy update and changes.

Measure the shelves. Before buying bins, totes or baskets to help organize your pantry, make sure to measure the space and buy products that actually fit. Too many times clients buy product first because they are excited only to find that the products actually don’t fit in the space or are not the right solution.

Once you have identified, organized and planned your pantry situation, you are ready to tackle your kitchen, now with a keen eye for alternative storage for items that are not being used on a daily or even weekly basis.

You also have a backup area to store items that come in large quantities. One roll of paper towel is “active” in the kitchen, a second roll is stored under the sink for quick access when the active roll runs out and then the rest of the paper towels live in the pantry.

When you run out of your active roll, replenish with your second and then replenish that back up from the pantry. And now you have a functioning system.

A pantry allows the kitchen to function more freely and efficiently. It allows inventory to be seen more readily. And, finally, it allows the heart of the home, the kitchen, to beat more steadily.

Reduce clutter. Optimize space. Restore happiness. That is the result of a great pantry solution.

In 2013, Tina O’Keeffe founded Stow and Behold to help others get organized. She is a writer, a returned Peace Corps volunteer (Ukraine), and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (Go Quakers!). Stow and Behold provides professional organizing services to clients who seek to reduce clutter, optimize space and restore happiness to their homes and offices. Stow and Behold offers clients trust, reliability and efficiency in a friendly, approachable style. The business focus of Stow and Behold is to donate items to charity so clients feel good about letting things go.

Tina’s husband Thomas is the person who told her to start her own organizing business so he gets credit here. They live in Stewart Manor with their three daughters. And if you know what three girls are like, you know you had better be organized! To learn more about Stow and Behold, check out www.stowandbehold.com.

SCAN OR CALL 631-882-2946 to speak with our expert Kimberly about your next window or door project.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023 • HOME & DESIGN

29

30 HOME & DESIGN • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

3 modern kitchen features to consider I t’s well documented that kitchens are the most popular rooms in many homes.

Kitchens are where families tend to congregate during holiday celebrations, and many a child has tackled their homework as mom or dad prepares dinner just a few steps away.

With so much time spent in the kitchen, it’s no wonder kitchen renovations are popular.

In fact, data from the National Association of Home Builders indicates kitchens are the most popular room to remodel. Whether homeowners are planning a full scale remodel or a few tweaks to update the room, the following are three popular features of modern kitchens.

2. Deep sink The popularity of farmhouse style sinks is proof that large and deep sinks are soughtafter among today’s homeowners. Farmhouse sinks may be best suited to a particular aesthetic, but a 2021 study from the NAHB found that side-by-side double sinks and walk-in pantries were the most popular of 30 listed kitchen features. That study surveyed more than 3,200 recent and prospective home buyers. Deep sinks are especially useful for

1. Kitchen island A recent survey from the interior design experts at Houzz found that kitchen islands are popular for a variety of reasons. Fifty-eight percent of respondents indicated they enjoy eating at kitchen islands, while 49 percent reported they like islands for entertaining.

Forty-five percent of respondents like socializing around kitchen islands. Islands provide a versatile functionality that comes in handy when preparing meals on typical weeknights and when hosting friends and family on special occasions like the holidays and birthdays. Islands come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be customized to fit just about any space. Mobile islands can be utilized in small kitchens when homeowners want the extra prep space but think the kitchen would be too cramped if a permanent island were added.

people who love to cook, making them a solid addition to any kitchen where home chefs ply their trade most nights of the week.

3. Storage As the NAHB study indicated, kitchen storage space is sought after among modern homeowners. As home cooks expand their culinary horizons and cook more elaborate meals, they need extra places to store specialty pots and pans, ingredients and other materials.

Homeowners looking to add more storage in the kitchen can consult with a local contractor about how to create such space. A walk-in pantry can do the trick, but homeowners with kitchens where space is more limited may need to get a little more creative. Slidingdoor pantries and roll-out shelving in existing cabinets can add functional space in kitchens with close quarters.

Modern kitchens are visual marvels and highly functional spaces. A new island, a deep sink and some extra storage space can help homeowners transform their existing kitchens into spaces that cater to their every need.

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32 HOME & DESIGN • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

5 luxury features buyers desire The real estate market has been something of a roller coaster ride over the past few years. Historically low interest rates coupled with a surging interest to move to communities with more outdoor space during the height of the pandemic led to a lot of movement and inventory — as well as some of the highest home prices in some time.

The tides have started to change in recent months, as the housing market has been tepid at best since interest

rates have increased. In the week ending August 24, 2023, the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate pushed to 7.23 percent, while the National Association of Realtors said the median existing-home sales price was expected to surpass the all-time high of $413,800. The stagnation of the market is caused by high interest rates, sellers not wanting to budge on prices, individuals wanting to sell but not being able to afford other homes, and a general decline in inventory

rooms or take down walls to recreate building. Advanced home tech, like related to each of these factors. fixedwho mortgage rate to 7.23 percent, these features.3. Outdoor kitchen: facial recognition for doors, intuitive while Individuals are in position to pushed home assistants, smart lights and buy right now may be more selective the National Association of Realtors said the still a major 3. Outdoor kitchen: A luxurydraw for outlets to control appliances from a in what they are seeking in homes, indoor kitchen is still a major draw median sales app, price was expected are seeking pro smartphone and similar offerings forto particularly if they’reexisting-home spending top buyers, butpeople increasingly people are can make a home more attractive. dollar. Current homeowners planning seeking properties that also maximize surpass all-time of $413,800. The outdoor entertaining s to put their homes onthe the market may high outdoor entertaining spaces. Having 2. Modern open floor plans: want to stagnation consider these fiveof luxury kitchen with built-in g the market is caused an outdoor kitchen with built-in grill, Even though there has by beenhigh some interest renovations to set their properties sink, counters for food preparation, shift to buyers wanting homes with to budge on prices, and a refrigerator preparation, and a refr apart. rates, sellers not wanting or wine chiller may delineated borders, most still are

individuals wanting sell butwith notopen being able to be ancoveted.

When an be coveted. When outdoor kitchen drawn to those concepts.

1. Smart home features: It’s now to is near amenities like a spa, grand Those who are selling may want to common for new home builders to homes, a general amenities like a spa, g patio, pool, and other outdoor living investigate where theydecline can open upin include afford smart homeother technology when and spaces, the home really will beckon inventory related to each of these factors. other outdoor living s buyers.

Individuals who are in position to buy right now 4. Saltwater beckon buyers. pools: Pools cons at resale. may be more selective in what they are seekinghave inboth pros4.andSaltwater pools: P Therefore, sellers should speak homes, particularly if they’re spending top dollar. with a realtor before installingTherefore, a at resale. s pool simply to make a home more Current homeowners planning to put their homes realtor before appealing. However, if there already installin on the market may want to consider these five is a pool, converting the set-up to appealing home more a saltwater system may win over luxury renovations to set their properties apart.buyers. Saltwater systems converting rely on a pool, the

chemicals and proponents say 1. Smart home features: It’s now common forfewer winandover the water feelsmay more silky less buyers. irritating. new home builders to include smart home fewer chemicals and p 5. Upgraded owner’s suite: An technology when building. Advanced home tech, more silky and less irr owner’s suite complete with luxury closet with built-in like facial recognition for doors, intuitive homespa bath, walk-in Upgraded storage, sitting5. area, and potentially owner’s assistants, smart lights and outlets to control access to an outdoor space willwith win luxury complete appliances from a smartphone app, and similarraves with buyers. built-in storage, sitting Selling a home today is a bit more offerings can make a home more attractive. challenging, but home featuresspace w toluxury an outdoor

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he real estate market has been something of a roller coaster ride over the past few years.

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34 HOME & DESIGN • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

2023 GUIDE A Blank Slate Media Special Section • November 3, 2023

36 ELECTION GUIDE • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

2023 ELECTION GUIDE Early voting began in Nassau County on Oct. 28 and will continue through Sunday, Nov. 5 The hours for early voting are:

Thurs, November 2 — 10 am to 7 pm* Fri, November 3 — 10 am to 6 pm Sat, November 4 — 9 am to 6 pm Sun, November 5 — 9 am to 6 pm

The locations include:

FLORAL PARK RECREATION CENTER, 124 Stewart St, Floral Park GREAT NECK HOUSE, 14 Arrandale Ave, Great Neck NASSAU COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, 240 Old Country Rd, Mineola MICHAEL J TULLY PARK, 1801 Evergreen Ave, New Hyde Park PORT WASHINGTON LIBRARY, 1 Library Dr, Port Washington GAYLE COMMUNITY CENTER, 53 Orchard St, Roslyn Heights YES WE CAN COMMUNITY CENTER, 141 Garden St, Westbury

Town of North Hempstead • Supervisor

Jennifer DeSena

Jennifer DeSena was elected the 38th Supervisor of the Town of North Hempstead in November 2021, her first time holding elective office.

Before seeking elective office, DeSena was an attorney and a leader of nonprofit organizations supporting family health and safety.

During her legal career, DeSena was an Enforcement Attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prior to joining the SEC, she worked on complex insurance litigation.

Most recently, DeSena

served as the executive director of the Manhasset Coalition Against Substance Abuse, educating and empowering parents to protect their families from the risks of alcohol and other drugs and unsupervised access to social media.

DeSena is a graduate of Boston College and St. John’s University Law School.

She resides in Manhasset with her husband, Ralph, sons Robert and Michael, now college students, and their dog, Sandy.

In her spare time, she is an avid runner and triathlete

Jon Kaiman Democrat

Republican, Conservative

Since 2017, Kaiman has served as the Deputy County Executive of Suffolk County.

He works closely with Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone to oversee the county’s $3.8 billion annual budget, manage a 10,000-member workforce, and provide services to a total 1.5 million residents.

In his tenure, he has launched Suffolk’s 311 Call Center, implemented a county-wide municipal service sharing program to reduce costs, and created a Suffolk School recycling program.

In 2013, Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed Kaiman to lead the clean-up and recovery efforts following Superstorm Sandy.

Kaiman helped build the New York Rising relief program, working with communities and constituents to navigate the challenges of rebuilding in the aftermath of the

storm.

The same year, Kaiman was named as the chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the organization tasked with maintaining Nassau County’s fiscal responsibility.

Kaiman served as North Hempstead Town Supervisor from 2004 to 2013.

In 1999, Kaiman was elected to a judgeship on the Nassau County District Court; presiding over criminal, civil, and landlord and tenant cases.

In his tenure, Kaiman received the highest possible rating from the Nassau County Bar Association’s Judicial Screening Committee Kaiman began his career in public service as North Hempstead’s public safety commissioner, overseeing emergency management, animal control, and the town’s harbor patrol.

Town of North Hempstead • District 2 Candidates vying for the North Hempstead Town Board and Nassau County Legislature will be running in recently revised districts.

North Hempstead’s Councilmanic District 2 now includes Albertson, East Hills, North Hills, Searingtown, Glenwood Landing, Greenvale, Roslyn Harbor and part of both Roslyn Heights and Mineola.

Peter Zuckerman Democrat

North Hempstead Town Councilman Peter Zuckerman, candidate for re-election, was appointed in January 2014 represent the to 2nd Council District. He was elected to a four-year term in 2019.

Before serving on the Town Board, Zuckerman served 11 years as a trustee for the Village of East Hills.

Since 2004, Peter has been a partner in the Uniondalebased firm of Peter Zuckerman, Attorney, P.C. Peter formerly served as general counsel to Century 21 Laffey Associates in Greenvale and is currently the board counsel to The Long Island Board of Realtors. He also clerked for State Supreme Court Judge Patricia Collins after college.

Peter grew up in East Hills, attended Roslyn’s schools and played soccer and baseball for Roslyn High School. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Roslyn Little League and Roslyn Booster Basketball.

Zuckerman is a graduate of Emory University and New York Law School. He resides in East Hills with his wife and three children.

Top Issues: • Prioritize lowering taxes for North Hempstead residents • Improving infrastructure • Lead the charge against noise pollution in the area from low-flying airplanes

Ed Scott Republican, Conservative

Edward Scott is a retired police officer who is now a small business owner, water commissioner and community advocate.

He has served as president of the Albertson Square Civic Association since 2012 and commissioner on the Albertson Water District since 2021.

Together with his neighbors, Scott advocated for the funds needed to improve the public space known as the Albertson Triangle.

He also secured neighborhood landscaping improvements to town-owned property, construction of a Vietnam Memorial to honor our veterans with members of Roslyn Heights, and restoration of a crumbling gazebo in the center of town.

Through his advocacy efforts, a dormant sump was transformed

into Reflection Park, which now features a clock tower, trees benches and landscaping on Willis Avenue in Roslyn Heights and Albertson.

A New York City Police Department officer for 20 years, Scott rose through the ranks from a uniformed patrol officer to sergeant.

On 9/11 he evacuated people from lower Manhattan and spent the following weeks as a rescue and recovery worker at Ground Zero.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Scott and his wife live in Albertson where they raised their children.

If elected, Scott would focus on • Cutting taxes • Improving infrastructure • Proactively addressing quality of life issues in the town

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023 • ELECTION GUIDE

Christine C hristine has has a plan plan ffor or North North Hempstead Hempstead Increase public safety by working with law enforcement Support our local businesses and revitalize our downtowns Protect our families from all forms of racism and hate Expand senior programming and housing options Promote fiscal responsibility District D istrict 4 n needs eeds a v voice! oice!

Iw ill b e tthat hat v oice ffor or y ou. will be voice you.

Early Voting for October 28 - November 5 Election Day November 7

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38 ELECTION GUIDE • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

2023 ELECTION GUIDE Town of North Hempstead • District 4 Candidates vying for the North Hempstead Town Board and Nassau County Legislature will be running in recently revised districts.

North Hempstead’s Councilmanic District 4 includes Herricks, Manhasset Hills, Lake Success, University Gardens, Great Neck Plaza, Russell Gardens and part of both North New Hyde Park and Garden City Park.

James Gounaris Republican, Conservative

James Gounaris, of Manhasset Hills, was elected to the Herricks School Board in 2011 and is currently serving in his fourth one-year term as president.

He has decades of privatesector business experience in the restaurant industry and is the coordinator of food and nutrition services and the district registrar for Great Neck Public Schools.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gounaris set up emergency food sites. He and his food services team at Great Neck operated these food sites for families struggling to feed their children and themselves.

Gounaris is a member of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, which is dedicated to replacing hate with education across the country.

He has been involved with the Sons of Pericles as a past National Supreme President, Boy and Cub Scouts as a former leader, and the Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee.

He also served on the Clinton G. Martin Pool renovation committee and is a member of the Nassau County Police Commissioner’s Community Council.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from St. John’s University.

Christine Liu Democrat

Top issues: Prioritize cutting taxes for North Hempstead residentsImproving infrastructureGiving law enforcement the tools they need to combat crime.

Christine Liu lives in New Hyde Park with her husband of 20 years, her two children, and her beloved pup Sunny. She moved from Queens in 2011.

She has served as a leader in the PTA, a Little League coach for both baseball and softball, and a Girl Scout leader. Liu is the vice chair of the Nassau County Asian American Advisory Council.

She is the founder and president of the Herricks Chinese Association which purchased personal protective equipment for hospitals and delivered meals to seniors and those in need during the pandemic. She

has organized rallies, peace vigils and self-defense classes to combat Asian hate throughout the town and county.

As an attorney, Liu was assistant chief counsel for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and currently works for state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti as a community liaison to resolve constituent issues.

Top Issues Prioritize working with law enforcement agencies to increase public safetyCombating all forms of hateExpanding senior housing options in North Hempstead.

Town of North Hempstead • District 6 Candidates vying for the North Hempstead Town Board and Nassau County Legislature will be running in recently revised districts.

North Hempstead’s Councilmanic District 6 includes the Port Washington peninsula, Flower Hill, Roslyn and Roslyn Estates.

Dave Franklin Republican, Conservative

Dave Franklin of Port Washington is the Republican candidate for North Hempstead Town Council District 6, which includes the Port Washington peninsula, the Villages of Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, and Flower Hill.

Franklin is a former Commissioner of the Port Washington Police Department and remains active as member of a number of community service-based organizations including Kiwanis, Hibernians, Sons of Italy, and Knights of Columbus.

Franklin worked at MSG Networks for two years, and in 1983 accepted a job as an operations technician for HBO in Hauppauge.

Franklin spent 36 years at the company, moving up to a

position as a radio frequency technician, then an operations supervisor, working nights to raise his sons during the day. In 2010 Franklin ran for a seat on the Port Washington Police District’s Board of Commissioners, where he served until 2019.

He graduated from Jersey Academy in Jersey City and spent some time at Saint Louis University in Missouri before attending Manhattan’s New School for Social Research, studying TV and radio.

Franklin’s top three issues: • Lowering tax rates to mitigate rising costs of living • Alleviating town board tensions • Keeping the budget in check

Mariann Dalimonte Democrat

Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte, a fourth-generation Port Washington resident, was elected to the 6th Council District in November 2019.

She previously served as executive director of the Port Washington BID and as director of development for Residents Forward (formally Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington).

As executive director, she collaborated with local businesses and residents, organizing the first restaurant week, as well as other popular programs.

She also served as treasurer of the Pride in Port Committee and sat on the boards of the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce, advisory board for the Ed Foundation and Port Washington Senior Citizens Center.

She was also the past president of the John Philip Sousa Elementary HSA, Weber Middle School HSA, and former board member of the Schreiber HSA. In 2021, Mariann also co-chaired the Schreiber Gambol.

Dalimonte, was a recipient of the 2012 Port Washington Chamber of Commerce Appreciation Award, the 2017 Town of North Hempstead Woman’s Roll of Honor, and was selected as the 2018 Pride in Port Community Honoree.

Dalimonte, earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from LaRoche University in Pittsburgh, Penn.

Dalimonte’s top three issues are: • Lowering the cost of living • Addressing the changing environment and effects of flooding • Protecting the local quality of life

Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past.

Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.

— John F. Kennedy

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023 • ELECTION GUIDE

2023 ELECTION GUIDE Town of North Hempstead • Receiver of Taxes

Mary Jo Collins Republican, Conservative

Mary Jo Collins is a candidate for Receiver of Taxes for the Town of North Hempstead, running on the Republican and Conservative lines in the Nov. 7 election.

Collins, and her husband Sean, have two sons, Sean Jr. a CPA and manager in the advisory practice at PWC and Matthew, a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, currently stationed in Norfolk VA, serving as a Seahawk SH-60 pilot.

She and her husband have resided in Flower Hill since 2012 having moved from Manhasset where they lived since 1995.

Collins is a trustee for the Village of Flower Hill, a role she has held since 2020. She currently serves as an independent trustee for Direxion, a financial services firm known for its leveraged and nonleveraged ETFs and mutual fund offerings.

Collins retired last December from a 40-year career in financial services spent mainly in the fixedincome securities markets.

Her roles in sales, trading, and management give her valuable knowledge of risk management and credit analysis, two skills that will be very useful in the receiver of

taxes role. She began her career as a teacher in Princeton, N.J. Collins holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Douglass College, Rutgers University and an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Issues The four most important issues I would focus on when elected: • Work alongside Supervisor Jen DeSena and the Town Board to help cut taxes.

• Make paying taxes more convenient and offer more payment options. This would include expanding online options as well as extending payment hours and locations.

• Present frequent tax-reducing seminars to show taxpayers how to reduce their taxes through exemptions they are entitled to and assessment challenges. These seminars would serve as a guide to help taxpayers navigate the forms and processes necessary to claim exemptions and file a grievance.

• Improve the receiver of taxes communication to homeowners to help avoid unnecessary late payment penalties.

Veronica Lurvey Democrat

A native of the North Shore, Veronica Lurvey is now a councilwoman representing District 4 of the Town of North Hempstead, having been elected to a four-year term in 2019. She is running for the receiver of taxes.

Lurvey’s parents immigrated to the United States in 1965 as political refugees from Czechoslovakia. She and her husband are raising their children in Great Neck.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Chicago and graduated on the Dean’s List of the Georgetown University Law Center.

Lurvey worked at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP from 1994 to 2012, first as a legal assistant, and then rising to the position of counsel, while raising two sons.

At Skadden, she led teams on a variety of corporate finance, banking, and restructuring transactions, as well as advising companies on their disclosure obligations to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

She was a member of the Village of Kensington Zoning Board of Appeals. She also served

the co-founder and former copresident of North Shore Action, a non-partisan community action group that advocates on local, largely bipartisan issues such as pedestrian safety, mental health, gun safety and protection of the local environment.

She served Temple Israel of Great Neck as a member of the executive committee and as vice president of programming.

Before moving to Great Neck, she was also elected co-president of the Parent Teacher Association of the Solomon Schechter School of Queens where she also served on the board.

After moving to Great Neck, she has been involved in the PTA and was part of the team redrafting the mission and vision statements of the Schechter School of Long Island.

Donald X. Clavin, Jr. was elected Hempstead Town Supervisor in November of 2019 after serving 18 years as the town’s receiver of taxes for America’s largest township.

Clavin was re-elected to a second term as supervisor in November of 2021.

As receiver, Clavin was the first in New York State to implement the first paperless e-Billing system in New York State, as well as Long Island’s first Autopay tax payment feature and drive-thru payment options.

As supervisor, Clavin followed through on a commitment to modernize the Building Department, working with his colleagues on the Town Board to bring the department online for the first time and streamline services by eliminating multiple trips to Town Hall and processing applications electronically.

Earning his Bachelor of Arts from Canisius College in Buffalo, Clavin received his doctorate of jurisprudence from Hofstra University School of Law. He gained experience working as a trial attorney who practiced in all New York courts as well as United States Federal District Courts.

Clavin then worked in the Office of the Nassau County Attorney as

deputy county attorney.

There, he was responsible for defending various agencies of government ranging from the Department of General Services to the Nassau County Police Department.

After leaving the County Attorney’s office, Clavin entered the private sector and went on to represent various corporations including Home Depot and General Motors.

Clavin is a lifelong resident of the Town of Hempstead, where he and his wife, Nancy, are raising their two daughters and son. Clavin’s mother was the first woman to ever serve as Valley Stream Village trustee and his father served as district court judge.

Clavin is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Garden City, Irish Americans in Government, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, the Nassau County Bar Association and the Knights of Columbus. Clavin also served as a volunteer on the Valley Stream Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee in the Village of Valley Stream.

Clavin said he is running for reelection to • Continue giving Hempstead residents financial relief • Preserve the town’s suburban character • Lower crime

Lurvey said as receiver of taxes she would: • Prioritize making the receiver’s office more accessible for residents • Expand tax workshops for nonnative English speakers • Mobilize tax collection units throughout the town

Town of Hempstead • Supervisor

Olena Nicks Democrat

Olena Nicks, a lifelong Uniondale resident, has served as a public servant for a number of years, holding various roles and titles throughout her career.

Nicks is the first woman captain of Manor Company No. 3 in the Uniondale Fire Department after serving multiple positions over a 12-year span.

Nicks has engaged in policy and lobbying work. She has been actively involved in the policy committee in the Uniondale School District.

Other than public service, Nicks has financial analytical

expertise in the public and private sectors and has overseen budgets exceeding $70 million.

She pursued her undergraduate studies at CUNY Baruch, earning a bachelor’s degree in business operations, and subsequently attained an MBA from American University.

Nicks said top priorities are to • Focus on addressing Long Island’s housing shortage.

• Hempstead’s quality of life.

• Environmental issues in Hempstead.

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE. ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 7.

POLLS OPEN 6AM TO 9PM.

Don Clavin Republican, Conservative

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40 ELECTION GUIDE • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

2023 ELECTION GUIDE Nassau County Legislature • District 8 Candidates vying for the North Hempstead Town Board and Nassau County Legislature will be running in recently revised districts.

Nassau County’s Legislative District 8 includes Garden City, Garden City South, Carle Place, Stewart Manor, Franklin Square and part of both West Hempstead and Elmont.

Erico Rico, of Franklin Square, is a graduate of Nassau Community College and

pursued a bachelor’s in science and psychology at SUNY Old Westbury.

John Giuffre

Erica Rico

Republican, Conservative

Democrat

John Giuffre, of Stewart Manor, was first elected to the Nassau County Legislator in 2021. He is the owner and founder of Giuffré Law Offices, P.C. in Stewart Manor.

He earned his bachelor’s degree at Columbia College and his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School where he was an editor of the Journal of International Business Law. Giuffre was admitted to the New York bar in 1988 and is admitted to practice

in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, as well as the federal courts in New York City and Long Island.

He is a sustaining member of the Nassau County Bar Association where he serves on the Ethics Committee.

Giuffre is running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines.

Giuffre is a member of the Floral Park Lions Club, Floral Park Chamber of Commerce, Cover Avenue Chamber of Commerce and New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce.

Town of North Hempstead • District 9 Candidates vying for the North Hempstead Town Board and Nassau County Legislature will be running in recently revised districts.

Nassau County’s Legislative District 9 includes Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, East Williston, Floral Park, Garden City Park, Mineola, New Hyde Park and part of both Roslyn Heights and North New Hyde Park.

Neeraj Kumar, of New Hyde Park, is a laboratory supervisor at NYC Health + Hospitals/ Lincoln Medical Center in the Bronx.

He has a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Sabitribai Phule Pune University in India.

Top Issues: Ensure Nassau County has strict financial oversight, responsible budgeting, and transparency whileKeep important services that affect residents’ daily lives.

Scott Strauss

Neeraj Kumar Democrat

Republican, Conservative

Informed Voters Trust Newspapers* Community Newspapers are the top information source. * National Newspaper Association Survey

Scott Strauss is vice president of corporate security for Northwell Health, New York’s largest private employer and healthcare provider with 21 hospitals and more than 850 care centers servicing an area of over 11 million people.

His responsibilities include the supervision of all investigations and the coordination of local, state and federal law enforcement entities with the health system. He is also charged with developing, organizing, planning, coordinating and enforcing all security policies and programs, as well as mitigating all major incidents within the health system.

Strauss is a retired detective from the Emergency Service Unit of the New York City Police Department.

He has received numerous awards for his bravery and service, including the N.Y.P.D.’s Medal for Valor.

On September 11, 2001, Scott was part of a team that risked their lives to rescue two N.Y./N.J. Port Authority Police Officers trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center.

The story of these officers and their rescue was made into a movie directed by Oliver Stone, entitled “World Trade Center.” Strauss received the N.Y.P.D.’s highest award, the Medal of Honor for his actions that day.

Strauss served four terms as

mayor of the Village of Mineola before stepping down in 2022.

He previously served as a village trustee.

Strauss is a 42-year member of the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department where he was a line officer as well as the department’s chief. He is a two-time recipient of his fire company’s coveted “Firefighter of the Year” award as well as the Town of Hempstead and the Mineola Fire Departments’ “Firefighter of the Year.”

He is a member of many community-based organizations and a Life Member of Mineola’s Volunteer Ambulance Corps. He is also an Eagle Scout from Troop 45 in Mineola where he grew up.

Strauss is a member of many professional organizations, including the N.Y.P.D.’s Honor Legion, New York State Shields Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Firefighters Association of the State of New York, American Society for Industrial Security, the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety and the N.Y.P.D. Shield program.

Top 3 issues: · Preserve our suburban way of life · Target quality of life crimes/ issues · Hold the line on taxes

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023 • ELECTION GUIDE

Vote Veronica Lurvey to put transparency and taxpayers first.

As your Receiver of Taxes, I pledge to: Bring Honesty, Transparency, Accountability Protect Taxpayers: Stop over taxation by the Nassau County Assessment Department Expand Services: Extended office hours, online access, and mobile tax collection Community Outreach: Expand access to tax grievance and educational workshops Language Access: Implement a language access line for translation services

Early Voting from October 28-November 5

Election Day November 7 www.veronicalurvey.com

PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF VERONICA LURVEY

41

42 ELECTION GUIDE • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

2023 ELECTION GUIDE Nassau County Legislature • District 10 Candidates vying for the North Hempstead Town Board and Nassau County Legislature will be running in recently revised districts. Nassau County’s Legislative District 10 includes Great Neck, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, Roslyn Estates, Munsey Park, the Plandomes and part of both the unincorporated area of Port Washington and North New Hyde Park.

Mazi Melesa Pilip Republican, Conservative

Mazi Melesa Pilip was elected to the Nassau County Legislature in 2021. She is chair of the Legislature’s Towns, Villages & Cities Committee, vice chairwoman of the Health & Social Services and a member of the public safety, senior affairs and veterans committee.

Pilip was born in a small poor village in Ethiopia, grew up without running water in her home. She immigrated to Israel in 1991 when she was 11 years old, along with her family, as part of Operation Solomon.

The operation was an Israeli military operation that covertly airlifted over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in a day and a half. She has three sisters, all of whom live

in Israel. She attended high school in Israel.

After graduation, she served in the Israeli Defense Forces in the paratrooper unit. She graduated Tel Aviv and Haifa Universities with degrees in diplomacy, politics and security.

She emigrated to the United States with her husband, Dr. Adalbert Pilip. She lives in Great Neck, raising their seven children.

She was a member of the Great Neck Architectural Review Board, vice president of her synagogue, a coach in youth soccer, outreach coordinator for Jewish and Ethiopian causes as a national speaker. She currently manages her husband’s cardiology practice.

Weihua Yan Democrat

Weihua Yan first came to America as a high school exchange student from China in 1987.

He returned to the U.S. to study physics and computer Science at Bowdoin College and Brown University, and eventually put down roots in Great Neck with his wife Carey, where they raised their sons.

Weihua founded several successful software and e-commerce companies and currently serves as a partner at Rise Capital and as chief technology officer at Wonder Inc.,

a food delivery platform that brings top chefs from iconic restaurants to people’s homes.

In 2009, he began volunteering in local groups like the Great Neck Chinese Association, and he became an active parent leader in his son’s Boy Scout Troop.

He continued his service as an elected trustee of the Great Neck Library, where he served as president through 2022.

Yan’s top three issues: • Tax reassessment • Public safety • Addressing climate change

Nassau County Legislature • District 11

Delia DeRiggiWhitton Democrat

Delia M. DeRiggi-Whitton, 55, of Glen Cove, is seeking her seventh term on the Nassau County Legislature.

A Hofstra University graduate, DeRiggi-Whitton is a former senior claims adjustor for State Farm and previously served on the Glen Cove City Council before being elected to the Legislature in 2011.

She is married and has three adult daughters. She additionally served as the Council’s liaison to the City’s Senior Center, where she also served on their Advisory Board.

DeRiggi-Whitton also serves as a member of the Sage Golf Outing Committee, which raises money for the Glen Cove Center.

Throughout her adult life, Delia has been involved in various health and human services and continues to maintain a “hands-on” relationship with local tenants and building owners to ensure concerns are addressed.

She is also the co-chair for Long Island’s U.S. Marine Corp Toys for Tots, which has grown to become the largest one-day toy collection event in the United States.

She also helped to establish the Sidney Canarick Foundation for Glen Cove Ltd., which conducts various sports programs to engage City youth.

DeRiggi-Whitton also serves

as a member and on the Board of Directors of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation.

The organization’s annual “Cook for a Cure” and car show fundraisers with which she is deeply involved have helped to raise more than $1 million toward DRI research grants.

DeRiggi-Whitton charitable and community organization involvement includes her membership in the Sons and Daughters of Italy and Kiwanis International.

DeRiggi-Whitton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hofstra University. She lives in Glen Cove with her husband Richard Valicenti, and has three daughters and a stepson. Delia is the daughter of former Glen Cove Mayor Donald DeRiggi and noted local historian Dr. Mildred DeRiggi.

John Stalzer

John Stalzer, of Sea Cliff, is an environmental scientist for PSEG Long Island who grew up in Manhasset.

Stalzer has spent over 10 years as Sea Cliff’s chair of the environmental commission. He has degrees in environmental biology from Long Island University’s Southampton campus and in computer/information

science from LIU’s C.W. Post campus.

Stalzer said his top priorities would be to: • Focus on environmental issues • Provide more common sense in the county’s Legislature • Focus on localizing developments to preserve community character

Republican, Conservative

DeRiggi-Whitton’s top issues are 1. Environmental initiatives.

2. The opioid addiction crisis.

3. Greater transparency and a more collaborative approach from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in determining Nassau’s use of hundreds of millions of dollars the county received through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE. ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 7.

This country with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023 • ELECTION GUIDE

2023 ELECTION GUIDE Nassau County Legislature • District 16 Candidates vying for the North Hempstead Town Board and Nassau County Legislature will be running in recently revised districts.

Nassau County’s Legislative District 16 includes Old Westbury, Brookville, Muttontown, Syosset, Woodbury, Plainview, Old Bethpage and part of Bethpage.

Arnold Drucker Democrat, Working Families Arnold W. Drucker was elected to the Nassau County Legislature in a special election in November 2016 and is now serving his third full term representing the 16th Legislative District, which currently encompasses Plainview, Old Bethpage, Jericho, Syosset, Woodbury, Hicksville, Old Westbury, and Roslyn Heights.

The new district will include Old Bethpage, Plainview, Woodbury, Syosset, Muttontown, Brookville, Old Westbury, and Roslyn Heights.

Within the Legislature, Drucker serves on the Finance, Public

Works, and Health & Social Services committees. He is also a ranking member on the Planning, Development, and the Environment and Government Services & Operations committees.

In response to the “Long Island Divided” housing discrimination exposé by Newsday, Drucker led the establishment of a housing discrimination hotline and co-sponsored legislation to create a searchable database of discriminatory property covenants.

Drucker successfully pushed for legislation requiring sexual harassment training for elected officials and department heads within the Nassau County government.

He previously served on the Board of Trustees of Nassau Community College.

Drucker is a lifelong Plainview resident who has served on various boards and participated in local chambers of commerce, including the Plainview Jewish Center’s Board of Trustees. He is an active member of the Plainview-Old Bethpage and Syosset Woodbury Chambers of Commerce.

He and his wife, Franny, enjoy walks throughout the area. They have two grandchildren, adult children, and an extended family.

Drucker is an attorney who received New York State Bar Association Pro Bono Service Awards. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University Law School and is admitted to the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Drucker, who is fluent in Spanish, has owned and operated a successful law practice in Queens since 1982, where he serves a primarily Hispanic clientele.

He has lectured over the years on home-buying and real estate transactions and is also a two-time recipient of the New York State Bar Association’s Pro Bono Service Award in recognition of his commitment to providing fair and equal access to legal representation for all.

Drucker said his top three issues are: • He wants to hold Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s administration accountable for distributing nearly $270 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds • Correct inaccuracies in the tax roll from the Department of Assessment • Hold the line on taxes for residents.

James Asmus, of Syosset, is the vice president of strategic planning and sales at Deer Parkbased Able Rigging Contractors.

He is also serving his third term as commissioner of the Jericho Water District.

Asmus has a bachelor’s degree in technology from the New York Institute of Technology and an

MBA in finance from Long Island University Post.

Asmus said his top issues are to: • Hold the line on taxes • Fix Nassau County’s assessment system • Increase police patrols • Combat hate crime • Oppose high-density urban housing plans

James Asmus Republican, Conservative

VOTE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2023 Polls Open 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Nassau County Legislature • District 18 Candidates vying for the North Hempstead Town Board and Nassau County Legislature will be running in recently revised districts.

Nassau County’s Legislative District 18 includes Albertson, East Hills, Herricks, part of Roslyn Heights, Searingtown, Williston Park, Bayville, Centre Island, Cove Neck, East Norwich, Glen Head, Greenvale, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Locust Valley, Matinecock, Mill Neck, Old Brookville, Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove, Upper Brookville and part of Glenwood Landing.

Samantha Goetz Republican, Conservative

Samantha Goetz says she was inspired to public service by her mother came to the United States from Cuba.

A graduate of New York Law School and Binghamton University, Goetz has held numerous senior positions in government.

She currently serves as a deputy county attorney in Nassau County.

Goetz previously served as an assistant town attorney in Oyster Bay from December 2017 to January 2022.

From January 2015 to December 2017, Goetz served as deputy Nassau County Attorney.

She began her career as counsel to state Sen. Carl Marcellino and was responsible for advising the senator on legal implications of legislation, policies, actions, and administrative decisions.

She also served as the senator’s community representative.

A lifelong Long Islander, Goetz attended St. Dominic’s High School in Oyster Bay and played basketball at the varsity level there for four years.

She returned to St. Dominic’s Chapel in 2015 to marry her husband Jon, and they’re now raising their two young daughters in Locust Valley.

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE. ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 7.

POLLS OPEN 6AM TO 9PM.

Josh Lafazan Democrat

Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan, at 23 years of age, became Nassau County’s youngest-ever legislator upon his election to the Nassau County Legislature in November of 2017.

He is currently serving his second term, where he represents Nassau’s 18th Legislative District.

Lafazan graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a Master’s Degree in Education Policy and Management in May 2017, and from the Cornell University ILR School with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations in May 2016. Josh is currently pursuing his Doctoral Degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

In May 2012, at the age of 18, Lafazan became one of the youngest elected officials in the history of New York State when he was elected to the Syosset School Board of Education. Josh was elected with 82% of the vote one month before he graduated from Syosset High School, and was re-elected by his constituents in 2015.

Lafazan’s community service began before he ran for the school

board. In 2011, Lafazan became the founder and CEO of Safe Ride Syosset, a community outreach program dedicated to ensuring that no Syosset teenager gets behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated, or is the passenger in a car with a drunk driver.

Lafazan and his volunteers safely drove home over 350 students in 2012, and there was not a single teenage drinking and driving accident in Syosset on the nights Safe Ride was operating.

Lafazan is also a college professor, where he is the youngest faculty member at Long Island University.

Lafazan’s courses teach young candidates how to run for public office in their communities, and young entrepreneurs on how to start a venture.

If re-elected, Lafazan’s priorities would be pushing for increased housing in Nassau County, carbon neutrality in the county government and addressing climate change.

Lafazan’s top three issues: • Public safety • Taxes and fees • Tackling corruption

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44 ELECTION GUIDE • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

2023 ELECTION GUIDE

New district maps for town and Nassau Candidates vying for the North Hempstead Town Board and Nassau County Legislature will be running in recently revised districts.

North Hempstead’s Councilmanic District 2 now includes Albertson, East Hills, North Hills, Searingtown, Glenwood Landing, Greenvale, Roslyn Harbor and part of both Roslyn Heights and Mineola.

North Hempstead’s Councilmanic District 4 includes Herricks, Manhasset Hills, Lake Success, University Gardens, Great Neck Plaza, Russell Gardens and part of both North New Hyde Park and Garden City Park.

North Hempstead’s Councilmanic District 6 includes the

Port Washington peninsula, Flower Hill, Roslyn and Roslyn Estates.

Nassau County’s Legislative District 8 includes Garden City, Garden City South, Carle Place, Stewart Manor, Franklin Square and part of both West Hempstead and Elmont.

Nassau County’s Legislative District 9 includes Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, East Williston, Floral Park, Garden City Park, Mineola, New Hyde Park and part of both Roslyn Heights and North New Hyde Park.

Nassau County’s Legislative District 10 includes Great Neck, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, Roslyn Estates, Munsey Park, the Plandomes and

part of both the unincorporated area of Port Washington and North New Hyde Park.

Nassau County’s Legislative District 16 includes Old Westbury, Brookville, Muttontown, Syosset, Woodbury, Plainview, Old Bethpage and part of Bethpage.

Nassau County’s Legislative District 18 includes Albertson, East Hills, Herricks, part of Roslyn Heights, Searingtown, Williston Park, Bayville, Centre Island, Cove Neck, East Norwich, Glen Head, Greenvale, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Locust Valley, Matinecock, Mill Neck, Old Brookville, Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove, Upper Brookville and part of Glenwood Landing.

Judges on Ballot Candidates for New York State Supreme Court Justice John J. Andrews Conservative, Republican Gary M. Carlton Conservative, Democrat and Republican Christopher T. McGrath Conservative, Democrat and Republican Alison J. Napolitano Conservative and Republican There are four seats open for election.

Nassau County Court Judge Joseph Girardi Conservative, Democrat and Republican Colin F. O’Donnell Conservative, Democrat and Republican There are two seats open for election.

Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.

— Franklin D. Roosevelt

Nassau County Family Court Judge Segal Blakeman Conservative, Democrat and Republican Eric P. Milgrim Conservative, Democrat and Republican There are two seats open for election.

Nassau County District Court in the 2nd District Maxine S. Broderick Conservative, Democrat and Republican Party Anthony W. Paradiso Conservative, Democrat and Republican Party There are two seats open for election.

Nassau County District Court Judge in the 4th District Madelein Petrara-Perrin, Conservative, Democrat and Republican Party lines.

There is one seat open for election.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023 • ELECTION GUIDE

2023 ELECTION GUIDE BALLOT PROPOSITION 1 Voters across New York will be asked to amend the state Constitution, Section 4 of Article VIII, to eliminate the limit on how much debt small districts can build through borrowing. The state Constitution defines a small school district as a district partly or fully within a city with less than 125,000 inhabitants.

The amendment states no county, city, town or village shall be allowed to contract any indebtedness for any purpose or in any manner which, including existing indebtedness, shall exceed an amount equal to the following percentages of the average full valuation of taxable real estate of such county, city, town or village: a. 10% for the county of Nassau, for county purposes b. 7% for any county, other than the county of Nassau, for county purposes c. 10% for the city of New York, for city purposes d. 9% for any city, other than the city of New York, having 125,000 or more inhabitants according to the latest federal census, for city purposes e. 7% for any city having less than 125,000 inhabitants according to the latest federal census, for city purposes f. 7% for any town, for town purposes; and g. 7% for any village for village purposes A “yes” vote supports the amendment to eliminate the constitutional debt limit for the districts while a “no” vote keeps the constitutional debt limit and can only be surpassed if 60% of voters in the district approve a measure to do so.

BALLOT PROPOSITION 2 Voters across New York State will be asked to vote on Proposition 2, Exclude Indebtedness for Sewage Facilities Amendment, which extends an existing provision in the New York Constitution, Article VIII, Section 5, Paragraph E, that would otherwise expire.

The provision was first designed to exclude constitutional debt limits in relation to the construction or maintenance of sewer facilities and was first authorized in 1963. New Yorkers last voted to extend the provision in 2013, with 62% in favor of the proposition.

A “yes” vote supports allowing municipalities to exclude from their constitutional debt limits indebtedness for the construction or reconstruction of sewage facilities for an additional ten years starting in 2024.

A “no” vote opposes allowing municipalities to exclude from their constitutional debt limits indebtedness for the construction or reconstruction of sewage facilities for an additional ten years starting in 2024.

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46 ELECTION GUIDE • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023 • HOME & DESIGN

Tips avoidthe thebuildup buildup clutter Tips to to avoid of of clutter Donating clothing that is no longer worn is a simple way to avoid the buildup of clutter at home.

C

lutter has a way of taking over a home. As time goes by, items that are not stored or discarded when they’ve lost their utility can gradually take over a space, creating a claustrophobic, cluttered feeling that can affect how people feel in their homes.

Clutter is not something to be taken lightly. A 2010 study published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that women who characterized their

living spaces as cluttered or marked by unfinished projects were more likely to experience fatigue and depression than women who described their homes as restful and restorative. Though clutter is often discussed in terms of removing it, there’s also many ways to prevent it in the first place.

• Schedule weekly cleaning sessions. Cleaning is a chore few look forward to, and that reluctance may be a byproduct of infrequent

cleanings. The less a home is cleaned, the longer cleaning sessions take when individuals get around to it. Weekly cleaning sessions can help prevent items from stockpiling and creating a cluttered look.

• Discard items when they’re no longer used. Holding on to items you no longer use will eventually contribute to the buildup of clutter.

That’s a lesson parents know well, as kids outgrow toys, which can then pile up and contribute to overcrowded toy chests and play rooms. Adults also have a hard time discarding their own toys, including old devices. As kids outgrow toys, let them choose which ones to discard before they’re replaced with new items. The same goes for adults, who can wipe old devices like tablets, smartphones and laptops clean and discard them once they’ve purchased replacements.

• Make it easy to find stored items.

Even the most well-organized person can fall victim to clutter if stored items prove difficult to find. When revamping storage systems, choose clear, stackable drawers so you won’t make a mess as you look for stored

• PAGE 7

items you can’t find. Clear, stackable plastic bins and drawers make it easier to find what you’re looking for, reducing the likelihood that items will end up on the floor or strewn about. If you don’t want to replace existing storage bins, label them if they’re not clear to make it easier to identify what’s inside.

• Donate clothing. Much like kids’ toys and adults devices should be discarded when they’re no longer used, old clothes can be donated to create more storage space and prevent the buildup of clutter. Clutter is often described as something visible to the naked eye, but clutter can also build up in dresser drawers and behind closet doors. Periodically go through closets and dressers and remove items you no longer wear, donating them if they’re still in good shape and discarding them if they’re not.

Clutter can quickly take over a home.

A proactive approach that emphasizes clutter prevention can make for a more relaxing and restful home.

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49

Furnish a home for comfort

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he pandemic changed much about the way people live, including a propensity for spending more time at home. In 2020, people spent far less waking time, roughly an hour and a half less on average, with people outside of their own households.

Though restrictions that limited social interactions have long since been lifted, spending at home has remained popular. More than twothirds of Americans are spending more time at home, according to the American Time Use Survey from the U.S. Department of Labor. Inflation and the looming threat of a possible recession are undoubtedly keeping more people at home. With all that extra time on their hands, respondents have been poring their energy into fixing up their homes.

Lawns, kitchens and living rooms are popular spaces to renovate.

As people continue to fix up their homes, they may be interested in ways to make them more comfortable. Certain furnishings can ensure living spaces are comfortable places to pass the time.

• Ensure an abundance of light.

One stark overhead light will not create a cozy environment.

Introduce groupings of illumination where you hope residents and guests will congregate to engage in conversation. Utilize different lighting sources, such as task lighting, table and floor lamps, recessed or ambient lighting, and even candles. Warm temperature light bulbs will add to that comfortable feeling.

• Coordinate designs for each season. Crisp cotton and breezy linens are great for the warm weather, but when the colder temperatures arrive, it’s time to swap for flannel or jersey. Folded quilts or throws on the sofa also can be handy for chilly evenings. Make subtle changes to the home as the temperature changes to epitomize comfort in your spaces.

• Splurge on your sofa and bed.

Much time will be spent lounging on the couch or sleeping in your bed.

It’s worthwhile to invest in pieces that are durable and, above all else, comfortable. While these items may be more expensive up front, the comfort they provide will be well worth it.

• Soften harsh lines. Tricks like incorporating round area rugs or using oval or round pillows can break up the straight line of rooms and even modern furniture pieces.

Opt for soft and inviting textiles as well. Textural elements, such as woven decor baskets, also can soften harsh lines.

• Introduce organic elements.

Home entertaining expert Julie Blanner says plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables bring life to a space.

Choose easy care plants if you do not have a green thumb, or swap out freshly cut blooms in vases as pops of color and fresh elements are needed.

• Utilize warm paint colors. Cooltoned paints can make a space seem colder and more utilitarian or clinical. When looking at swatches, select paints that have warm undertones. Eggshell and satin sheens will be more inviting and evoke a cozy feel more effectively than flat or matte finishes.

These are just a few ways to build a cozy and comfortable home.

Working within these parameters, homeowners can customize their interior spaces to maximize comfort.

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50 HOME & DESIGN • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

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n owner’s suite is a sanctuary for homeowners.

It’s a place where adults can retreat, relax and unwind after a busy day. It’s expected that a bed and some other furniture will take up residence in a standard bedroom, but certain elements can help homeowners create stunning spaces.

While the largest bedroom in the home typically is dubbed the “owner’s suite,” it cannot be classified as a suite unless there is an adjoining bathroom. An owner’s suite also may have many more unique features that individuals may want to incorporate into a remodel.

Here are some ideas to consider.

Upgraded closet

Those who will be overhauling the walls and layout of the bedroom can configure the space to make room for a serious closet overhaul. A spacious, walk-in closet that has built-in shelves, drawers and rods can improve the functionality of the bedroom. Draw dividers and other components also can optimize space.

Sitting area

In large suites, homeowners may have the potential to set up a sitting area in one portion of the room away from the bed. This area can have a sofa, chairs, chaise, or other furniture and make for an ideal spot to read and lounge. Some people also enjoy having a television adjacent to the sitting area so they can watch a show in the privacy of the bedroom.

Fireplace

Fireplaces add a unique ambiance to bedrooms and make for cozy spaces in which to cuddle up. While a traditional, roaring wood fire is one option, there is much less mess and fuss with a gas fireplace. Some gas fireplaces may not even have to be vented, and they can be turned on with the flip of a switch.

Private patio or balcony

Owners who want to go the extra mile in owner’s suite renovations can incorporate outdoor spaces into the plans. Many homes are now being built with owner’s suites on the first floor, facilitating the possibility of aging in place at home.

With this layout, the bedroom can be opened up to the outdoors by way of a sliding door or French doors.

Decking or a patio can be outside of the room, or even a covered space similar to a Florida room. Those with second-floor suites may want to consider a small deck or balcony where bistro seating can be placed.

Luxury bath

Owners can turn the en suite bathroom into something out of a spa. A steam shower; heated floors; separate area for the toilet, closed off from the rest of the bathroom; and dual vanities and sinks can make this a place that screams luxury and comfort. Do not forget dimmer switches for lighting, and even the inclusion of some new aromatherapy technology for increasing the potential for relaxation.

Many different features can improve the functionality and luxury of an owner’s suite.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023 • HOME & DESIGN

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• PAGE 11

HOME & DESIGN • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

Reap the rewards of a Florida room in your home

Plan a spa bathroom remodel

M

any health and wellness Incorporate regimens include natural materials treatments that promote When decorating the space, use relaxation and comfort. According to natural materials like stone, wood IBIS Worldwide, revenue for health and marble rather than plastic or and wellness spas across the United metal. This can add to the luxury States has risen at a rate of 1.1 appeal. percent over the past five years, reaching $23.3 billion in 2023. The Install a rainfall International Spa Association said Advertiser Here shower head that while spa visits fell in 2020, Upgrade fixtures to make them more likely due to the global pandemic, luxurious. Multi-head shower visits rebounded a year later. fixtures and rainfall shower heads The popularity of spa visits is one can help anyone unwind and relax. indicator that people enjoy being Rain showers can evoke calmness pampered and frequently make time and relaxation as they gently cascade for treatments. While visiting a spa is down. Additional shower upgrades one way to rest and recharge, can include steam functions, individuals may be able to enjoy soothing lights and aromatherapy. similar perks if they incorporate these spa-like features in their Keep the tub homes.

While many adults admit to not bathing nearly as much as they Hang artwork shower, there are benefits to having a Any space is made more welcoming deep, spa-like tub. Soaking away the and classy with the addition of some stresses of the day, lounging in the anyHang health and wellness artistic touches. pictures that tub with aIncorporate good book and listening to regimens include natural will create a relaxing atmosphere, music while enjoying materials a bubble bath such as floral prints or beachscapes. treatments that promoteare all ways to slow down and eke When decorating the space, use Integrating large or a gallery quiet, personal time relaxation andprints comfort.

Accordingouttoa bit more natural materials liketostone, wood wall can add a different dimension to unwind.

Tubs can be outfitted with IBIS Worldwide, revenue for health and marble the bathroom. waterfall features to addrather to the than plastic or erhaps due to spas across the United and wellness This can add to the luxury ambiancemetal. even further.

INSULATION COMPANY

W

hen the sun is shining and the weather is warm, who doesn’t want to be outside enjoying all Mother Nature has to offer? The great outdoors often beckons, but it also has bugs.

Insects, particularly nuisance bugs like mosquitoes or biting flies, are unwanted visitors when enjoying the great outdoors.

Weather also can put a damper on outdoor plans. It’s challenging to get fresh air and enjoy the yard when it’s raining or conditions are especially humid. Instead of limiting time spent outdoors to those occasions when conditions are favorable, homeowners can install Florida rooms to maximize their outdoor living potential.

The term “Florida room” calls to mind different things. Some define it as a walled extension of a home that features a roof — such as a covered patio, or lanai. According to Tripod Aluminum, Inc., a manufacturer of aluminum building products, a Florida room also may be a screened-in enclosure that surrounds a pool area and is designed to keep bugs and wildlife out of the water.

People also may consider a Florida room a sunroom, and it may be screened or feature actual windows that can be opened, according to the resource from Farmhouse to Florida.

Those thinking about renovating to include Florida rooms can consider the following details.

• You don’t need to live in Florida.

Florida rooms may be most associated with the Sunshine State, but you don’t need to live there to

have one. Consider your climate and build a Florida room that will meet your needs. Do you want to enjoy the space year-round? If so, you might need some sort of heating or cooling to keep things comfortable.

• Decide on the right location.

While Florida rooms traditionally are in the backyard, select a spot that works for you. If you want to maximize morning sunrises, for example, locate the room on the side of the home that faces east. If a view from another side of the house is particularly striking, place the Florida room there.

• Determine your needs. Will you be cooking or entertaining in the Florida room? If so, design a space that will feature cooking and eating areas. Ensure plenty of ventilation for a grill, and consider other appliances to reduce the need to make trips into the house. Although the Florida room creates some measure of weather protection, choose furniture and fixtures that can stand up to outdoor conditions.

• Add privacy as needed. Curtains, greenery, shades, and other details can create privacy when you don’t want to be visible to neighbors.

Florida rooms add useful space to a home and can help residents connect with nature even when conditions outside are less inviting.

M

P

changing weather Change the color States has risen atscheme a rate of 1.1 appeal. patterns that Spas are typically clean percent over have thebright pastand five years, Invest in quality linens madeand Mother evokeNature feelingsasof purity. This When stepping out of the shower or reaching billion in 2023. The Install a rainfall unpredictable as$23.3 ever, can be achieved by choosing white, the bath, individuals can wrap International Spa shower head towels off-white pale grayAssociation in the color saidthemselves Florida roomsorare wildly in thick, luxurious that while spa visits fell in 2020, scheme.

An all-white design for Upgrade fixtures to make them m or robes.

Guests also will appreciate popular. These rooms, fixtures and tiles also makes it easy comfortable towels if they come likelyreferred due to the sometimes to global pandemic, luxurious. Multi-head shower whenlater. the to swaprebounded out accessories to visit. fixtures and rainfall shower heads as “sunrooms,” visits a year mood strikes.

Certain features can transform home enable a home’s The popularity of spa visits is onebathrooms can anyone and relax intohelp spa-like retreatsunwind with inhabitants to take the indicator thatinpeople enjoy being a few touches.

Rain showers can evoke calmnes beauty of nature and evenfrequently on pampered make time and relaxation as they gently casc those days when the weather outside is less than welcoming. The cost of a for treatments.

While visiting a spa is sunroom addition varies greatly and is affected by adown. host ofAdditional variables, shower upgrade one way to rest structure and recharge, include steam functions, including the existing and whether or not can homeowners aspire to individuals may be able to enjoy soothing and aromatherapy utilize the room year-round or during the three seasons when lights temperatures perks if theyAccording incorporate are atsimilar their most moderate. to HomeGuide, the cost to install an 8 x 10these three-season room averages betweenKeep $6,000the and $18,500. spa-likeFlorida features in their tub The same size room built to be enjoyed year-round can cost between homes.

While many adults admit to not $16,000 and $28,000. Homeowners may choose tobathing create larger Florida nearly as much as they rooms, but theartwork cost will increase with each square foot added to the Hang shower, there are benefits to havi Such costs are Any space is made more welcomingproject. deep, spa-like tub. Soaking away considerable, but and classy with the addition of somehomeowners stressesshould of theknow day, lounging in th artistic touches. Hang pictures that that adding a good book tub with square footage to and listenin will create a relaxing atmosphere, a home music while enjoying typically increases the a bubble ba such as floral prints or beachscapes.home’s value,tomeaning areresale all ways slow down and ek recoup a personal tim Integrating large prints or a gallery it’s likely out athey bit can more quiet, percentage of wall can add a different dimension toconsiderable unwind. Tubs can be outfitted wit their Florida room investment the bathroom. waterfall features to add to the when selling their home. ambiance even further.

Plan a spa bathroom remodel

Change the color scheme

M

Spas are typically bright and clean Invest in quality linens any health and wellness Incorporate and evoke feelings of purity.

This stepping out of the shower regimens include naturalWhen materials can be treatments achieved that by choosing the bath,theindividuals promote white, When decorating space, use can wrap

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023 • HOME & DESIGN

53

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Fri 11/03

Featured

Featured

Editor's Voice

The Tenors

The Great Pumpkin Smash Fall Festival Featuring Daisy the Great

@ 7pm NYCB Theatre At Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd, Westbury

@ 1pm / Free-$15 Science Museum of Long Island, 1526 North Plandome Road, Manhasset. info@smli.org, 516-627-9400

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Ali Stroker in Concert @ 8pm / $54 Tony Award winning actress Ali Stroker will be performing vari‐ ous songs in concert. Tilles Center, LIU Post College, 720 Northern Boulevard, Greenvale

@ 8pm / $29.50-$79.50 The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Huntington

Why dispose of your pumpkins when you can smash them at the Science Mu‐ seum of Long Island instead?!?!?! The Great Pumpkin Smash Fall Festival Featur‐ ing performance by Daisy the Great.

Brian Regan

@ 7pm / $49.50-$85 The Paramount, 370 New York Ave, Hunting‐ ton //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Jim Breuer

Sunday Nov 5th

Featured

Lez Zeppelin with Almost Queen at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury

Featured

Turnpike, Belmont Park - Long Island

Featured

NYCB Theatre At West‐ bury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd, Westbury

Featured Midori and Festival Strings Lucerne

Survive the Wild Family Workshop on the Leeds Pond Preserve @ 10am / $20 Our Family workshops are fun for the whole family and a great way to be involved in your child's science educa‐ tion while rediscovering your own inner child!

Science Museum of Long Island, 1526 North Plandome Road, Man‐ hasset. info@smli.org, 516-627-9400

@ 8pm / $40 Honegger: Pastorale d’été Dubugnon: Caprice IV ‘Es muss sein!’ Schumann: Violin Concerto Beethoven: Romance No. 2 Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 Tilles Center, LIU Post College, 720 Northern Boulevard, Greenvale

shows of all time has been adapted into a stage show to give more fans access and more chances to win at “Wheel of Fortune LIVE!” Tilles Center, LIU Post College, 720 Northern Boulevard, Greenvale

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@ 8pm / $35

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Mon 11/06

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Fri 11/10 Wilderness Explorers Holiday Workshop at SMLI

Mat Kearney: The Acoustic Trio Tour

@ 10am / $90 Put your outdoor skills to the test and learn new ones as we head out into the 'wilderness' of Leeds Pond Preserve. Science Museum of Long Island, 1526 North Plandome Road, Man‐ hasset. info@smli.org, 516629-9400

@ 7:30pm / $55 Nashville-based, Ore‐ Teddy Kumpel and gon-born Mat Kearney @ 7pm / $48-$88 Nome Sane? at Still is back with his new The Paramount, 370 New York Partners studio album January Ave, Huntington ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Annual Members @ 8pm //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Flower. Jeanne Rimsky Patriot & Unity 5K Meeting Still Partners, 225 Sea Cliff Ave, Theater, 232 Main Run/Walk Sea Cliff Ecosystem Restora‐ Street, Port Washing‐ @ 10am / $35 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// tion Presentation ton. boxof�ce@land Mitchel Field Stadium, 1 Spotlight Huntington: @ 12pm / Free Featured markonmainstreet.org, Charles Lindbergh Blvd, Union‐ Will Leet, Pan Arcadia, Be a Part of Ecosystem dale. events@elitefeats.com 516-767-6444 Sarah Gross ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Restoration at the Sci‐ @ 10pm Tigres del Licey vs. ence Museum of Long Spotlight NY Huntington, 370 Águilas Cibaenas Island!! Join the Sci‐ Talk on Sports and New York Ave, Huntington @ 6pm ence Museum of Long //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Wildlife Photography Citi Field, 123-01 Roosevelt Av‐ Island for our annual @ 7:30pm enue, Flushing membership meeting The Photography Club of L.I. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// featuring a special pre‐ (PCLI) invites you to the Port Jimmy Carr: Terribly Washington Public Library on sentation on the stew‐ Funny Wed., Nov. 8 at 7:30 PM for an ardship Science Mu‐ @ 7pm / $37.50-$57.50 exciting presentation by sports seum of Long Island, The Paramount, 370 New York and wildlife photographer, 1526 North Plandome Ave, Huntington Strange Science David Schamis. Port Washing‐ Road, Manhasset. info ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ton Public Library, 1 Library Holiday Workshop at @smli.org, 516-627Joni Mitchell 80th Drive, Port Washington. susan SMLI 9400 Birthday Tribute featur‐ tiffen@hotmail.com, 516-484@ 10am / $90 2711 ing the Joni Project with Science can be strange //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Featured special guest Harvest sometimes. From @ 8pm / $39 creepy creatures with An Evening of Celebrating the unique adaptations, to Birthdays of Joni Mitchell and Changing the non-newtonian solu‐ Neil Young! Jeanne Rimsky Conversation: Caregiv‐ tions, we'll explore the Theater, 232 Main Street, Port ing in the 21st Century Washington. boxof�ce@land stranger side of sci‐ @ 8:30am / Free markonmainstreet.org, 516ence. Science Museum This summit is for formal and 767-6444 of Long Island, 1526 informal caregivers, providers, ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// North Plandome Road, researchers, policy makers and the young people currently en‐ Manhasset. info@ John Oliver Live Calendar information is pro‐ gaged in half the caregiving vided by event organizers. All smli.org, 516-629-9400 @ 7:30pm / $69.50work done in the U.S. Sondra events are subject to change $149.50 New York Islanders vs. or cancellation. This publica‐ and David S. Mack Student NYCB Theatre at West‐ Minnesota Wild tion is not responsible for the Center, Hempstead. agefriend bury, 960 Brush Hollow @ 7:30pm / $19-$200 accuracy of the information lyglencove@gmail.com contained in this calendar.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

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58 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

VIEW POINT

War can only end with Netanyahu and Hamas gone

I

had little sympathy for Gazans after the Oct. 7 massacre of 1,400 Israelis

by Hamas, the equivalent of 10 Sept.

11ths given Israel’s tiny population.

Gazans were complicit, for decades celebrating murderous terrorists as heroes after every atrocity, which seemed timed for whenever Israel got close to negotiating actual peace which would have relieved the very occupation they despise but unifies them in hate.

The latest, most horrendous, evil attack on Oct. 7was timed to disrupt normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia.

But now, I also blame Netanyahu – for the decades of policy that was designed to make a peace agreement impossible in order to keep his own power and empower an increasingly right-wing government.

Since 2016, when he was desperate to stay in power in order to stay out of prison, his actions to neuter Israel’s judiciary and end the rule of law, prompted months and months of protests and resignations from the military and government leadership.

Then in order to cement his own power, he surrounded himself with loyalists, sycophants and lackeys instead of competent leaders, diverted attention and propped up a false sense of security that left Israel vulnerable and exposed, as apparently its own military and security warned but who were ignored. (See New York Times: How Years of Israeli Failures on Hamas Led to a Devastating Attack) Most of all, Netanyahu should be blamed for squandering the goodwill of the international community and (again) turning Israel into the face of evil, pro-

viding the excuse and fuel for rising antiIsrael, antisemitic attacks in the United States and around the world.

But each time the Gazans, 1.1 million of them shoved south where Israel told them to go to be “safe,” plead for Israel to restore electricity and water, Israel should say: Return the 220 hostages and electricity and water will be restored.

The onus should be on Hamas to reinforce the fact that every day this terror group dedicated solely to the annihilation of Israel and Jews fails to return the hostages, it is Hamas, not Israel, that is causing the suffering of the so-called “innocent” Gazans.

Each time they plead for Israel to stop the bombardment, Israel should say: When Hamas lays down its arms, stops firing its rockets, and agrees to a new government, we will stop the bombardment.

Each time they blame Israel for bombing their apartments, hospitals and mosques, they should remind that Hamas has built its terror infrastructure under those structures – Hamas boasts 300 miles of tunnels (half the length of the NYC subway system) built with concrete and steel funded by diverting the aid that should have built solar energy farms, desalinization plants and a vibrant, productive middle-class, instead of an impoverished society dependent upon 400 trucks each day delivering humanitarian aid.

How is Hamas able to amass tens of thousands of rockets but not able to get food, water and medicine through those channels? It is Hamas who has oppressed the Gazans and by extension the Pales-

KAREN RUBIN View Point

tinians on the West Bank who have been denied their own state, not Israel which (reminder) unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005, forcibly removing its own settlers. So much for “land for peace.” So much for a wall.

And so much for prisoner exchanges: The mastermind of the Oct. 7 atrocity, the worst single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust that had been in the planning for a year, was one of 1,000 prisoners exchanged in 2006 for one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, held by Hamas for five years.

But as much as Hamas has used and fueled hate-filled tension that has resulted after every terror attack in order to preserve its own power (and profit), Netanyahu has done everything possible to stoke that tension to take any two-state solution off the table, put peace out of reach and keep his far-right government

in power.

He “tolerated” Hamas while their attacks were considered “manageable,” because he could claim Israel did not have a credible partner to negotiate a secure peace with. Hamas’ declared mission is to annihilate Israel and all Jews – there is no interest in peaceful coexistence but to take it all.

Of course, Hamas and the Palestinians have benefitted from sophisticated agitprop, disinformation, and propaganda campaigns.

But even stripping away the lies and disinformation, such as Israel bombed the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital (it was an errant bomb from Palestine Islamic Jihad), the beleaguered nation faced an international surge in anti-Israel, antisemitic attacks and the humanitarian crsis in Gaza’s south that undermines Israel’s position.

These forces have literally pushed Israel off the high road of justifiable selfdefense.

It would seem that Hamas’ savagery was aimed at deliberately provoking an over-reaction from Israel in order to incite the “Arab Street” – the masses of people – against the rulers of Jordan, Egypt and the Abraham Accords’ signatories — United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan, Bahrain, and now Saudi Arabia — from daring to support Israel.

And Iran (which finances Hamas and Hezbollah) and Russia (increasingly dependent upon Iran’s support in its brutal war to destroy Ukraine) are celebrating.

Meanwhile, the far-left Democrats (Justice Democrats, Socialist Democrats of America), which have long supported

Palestinians against Israel (piggybacking anti-Zionism with antisemitism), are jeopardizing support for Israel in Congress and even threaten President Biden’s re-election by weakening support in key Electoral College states (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin).

How happy will Putin and Xi be if Biden falls to Trump or, for that matter, any Republican. The absurdity (irony) is that Trump has pledged to renew his Muslim Ban. At the same time, Republicans are capitalizing on Biden’s call for humanitarian aid and Israel’s restraint to energize their base.

But that’s the difference with a true leader who has a moral compass and convictions. If anyone can create the necessary coalition to replace Hamas in Gaza and the infrastructure for a two-state solution, it is Biden.

How does this end? Not by a brutal invasion, bombardment and unending occupation. Biden is correct to summon up the mistakes of Iraq and Afghanistan as reactions to the Sept. 11 terror attack.

Netanyahu (who should step down or be forced out for putting self-interest above Israel’s), should be replaced by a leadership that has the credibility, competence and desire to negotiate true peace with security.

Hamas must be replaced by a governing coalition led by Arab League nations.

And the Palestinians have to give up their deal-breaking demands for a unified Jerusalem in the Palestinian state and the Right of Return to Israel and agree to a truly secure peace.

MY TURN

Our vote is our voice, we should all be heard

D

emocracy as a functioning governing system assumes choice – informed choice — as a fundamental premise. We can choose which political party to prefer, which candidate to support, and which policy proposals to choose. However, we seem to have more safeguards on product safety than on the right to vote. Why are there so many efforts to limit access to voting?

For a country obsessed with ranking of sports teams and colleges, it is outrageous that we are satisfied with ranking #31in voter turnout of those eligible among 49 other countries, according to the Pew Research Center in 2020. That’s a choice too.

The 2020 Presidential election campaigns spent almost $14 billion, and turnout was higher than any other in 120 years – yet one-third of eligible voters stayed away. Some were deemed ineligible by local election officials, and others lacked access or were afraid of the unofficial “marshals” monitoring voting sites.

Still, others didn’t think their vote mattered or were dissuaded from voting by false advertising on the mainstream media and disinformation spread

through social media. An irony of this is that the public airwaves used to disseminate inaccurate information are allocated by Congress, the elected representatives of the public.

Across the country, efforts are underway to curtail voters and voting and reduce the impact of citizen voices.

According to the Brennan Center, twenty states have imposed new restrictions. These efforts include limiting the days and hours of voting, restricting mail-in voting, keeping even those who paid for their crimes with prison from voting, and disinformation campaigns to discourage voting and create false impressions of candidates and views.

The effect is to limit who can vote, when they can vote, and how votes will be counted.

We claim to have a representative democracy but tolerate efforts to limit representativeness. What are we afraid of? Other Western democracies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom have more flexible systems for voting.

If we worry that Americans are not smart enough or knowledgeable enough, the answer is to strengthen the teaching of civics, U.S. History, and the meaning and methods of our Constitu-

ROBERT A. SCOTT, Ph.D. My Turn

tion. It has been called, after all, our nation’s “Owner’s Manual.”

We have plenty of opportunities to practice democracy: local neighborhood elections, school board elections, fire district elections, and town, county, state, and federal elections. We need to reduce limitations to voting, control efforts at disinformation, help voters learn the truth, and ensure the integrity of elections. We can do more to ensure informed choices at the ballot box. But

not choosing to do so is itself a choice, a choice that can lead to the demise of democracy.

That is what happens in authoritarian regimes, even though they may not start that way. For example, Putin was elected by popular vote first in 2000 and proceeded to institute changes in 2018 that allow him to remain in power.

The insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, resulted from a disinformation campaign that persists to this day.

For democracy to survive, for there to be “a more perfect union,” we need an informed citizenry that understands and appreciates critical thinking, information literacy, and the instruments of democracy. We need reliable, trustworthy, non-partisan journalism as the source of news.

It is encouraging to learn about volunteer groups that meet and question candidates, write postcards to encourage voter registration and voting, and generate donations to civic groups that encourage support of our democracy.

While news media focus on the big donations to Political Action Committees, candidates, and parties, it has been shown over and over that many small

donations build up in big ways.

We need more flexibility in voting to meet the needs of our modern world. Voting by mail, absentee ballots, and early voting are steps forward but not the only steps we could take. Why is general election voting limited to the first Tuesday in November?

Wouldn’t it make sense to allow voting over several days, as in some other countries? What about holding elections on a weekend, when fewer people would have to take time off from work in order to vote?

What about requiring paid time off for voting? In some countries, voting in mandatory and fines can be imposed on those who do not vote.

Our vote is our voice. Voting is an act of choice and the exercise of our voice in expressing our values and priorities. We should make it easier to learn about candidates and issues, and for citizens to fulfill their civic duty by voting.

It is intended to be a personal act for the common good.

Robert A. Scott, President Emeritus, Adelphi University, and author, How University Boards Work, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2018

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

59

READERS WRITE

Mangia Bene story well done

B

ravo on Karina Kovac’s coverage of the harassment of Mangia Bene restaurant in Great Neck in the issue of Oct. 20. It was good to see the News call out these false allegations of pro-Hamas sentiments on the Facebook page of this longtime business.

I hope the police are able to identify the bigoted perpetrators. Ms. Kovac’s reportage was exemplary in its details of the incident and its impact.

Ron Gross Great Neck

The Apple Trees in Eden The real is nourished in the space between things.

In the theater of the real, look around, hate, violence, cruelty quarrying veins of stupidity— that intricate dance.

Abject, regnant ideologies in someone’s idea of the enlightened, though I never found it, but you can buy and sell the sunrise.

How do you regard the stars in the cold dark?

Ah, dreamer, they’re a long way off.

And the dappled light, then the dreams.

The sliver moon pours thin light on the shadow.

There’s nowhere to hide while the world transforms itself… riven one way, another.

Last thing, I’m the blind one yearning.

Infinite sadness.

Stephen Cipot Garden City Park Author’s note. What began as a Tanka kept going. After I finished writing and checked it over a few times I consider the poem to be a quasi-Midrashic story. It also brought to mind a short story I read as a teenager by the British astronomer and writer Arthur C. Clarke, “The Nine Billion Names of God.” Mr. Clarke is best known for his seminal “2001, A Space Odyssey,” which was directed and produced as a movie by Stanley Kubrick. Mr. Kubrick also produced and directed “Eyes Wide Shut,” starring Nicolle Kidman and Tom Cruise, written

by Frederick Michael Raphael, another challenging favorite author of mine.

Mr. Clarke was a prolific short story writer. Short stories used to be widely published by the mainstream book publishers and in newsprint but have since fallen out of favor due to economic and cultural reasons; short stories do not sell well enough to fill gaping cavernous bottom lines and the readership has decreased precipitously—a Catch 22 for short stories.

This is more than a shame. For one American authors had perfected the narrative that we are familiar with today. And because good short stories are compact and can pack a powerful punch. I consider it a great loss that we’re all a little poorer for.

In the case of Clarke’s “The Nine Billion Names of God,” we’re asked to consider what is the purpose of “man?”

Why exactly are we here? The protagonists of the story assumed that salvation would automatically be proffered upon them when they had uncovered all of the possible names of God. Though upon completing the noble task were ready to celebrate only to be completely surprised, looking up into the night sky they saw that one by one the stars were going dark.

And that’s when the problems really started.

Antisemitic ads against Kaiman

M

any of us recently received a flyer from Jen DeSena that highlighted a doctored photo of her opponent, Jon Kaiman, holding “fistfuls of cash.”

This is blatantly antisemitic. Depicting Jewish candidates holding wads of money is not a new tactic.

In fact, it’s been used by many candidates to signal to their constituents that their opponent is Jewish.

Using antisemitic stereotypes are always hurtful, but they are particularly painful at this moment in time.

The Town of North Hempstead prides itself on being part of the Not In Our Town movement to “stop hate, racism and bullying, and build safe, inclusive communities for all.”

I had hoped that wasn’t just an empty slogan.

Christine Monterosso Manhasset

Doing better than Dave Franklin

R

ecently, a local right-wing newspaper published an outrageously false article claiming that a bus full of “migrants” had been transported from New York City to the Port Washington and Roslyn Long Island Railroad stations.

That article was quickly debunked by the Port Washington Police Department, and many of the “facts” – and even the picture used – were found to be taken from a real event that occurred thousands of miles away in Los Angeles this past August.

The newspaper has since removed the article from its website.

Without making any apparent effort to verify the sources, Dave Franklin, who is running on the GOP ticket led by Supervisor Jennifer DeSena for a seat on the North Hempstead Town Board presently held by Mariann Dalimonte, shared the article in a post to his campaign’s social media page.

Mr. Franklin later acknowledged that the article was indeed false, but did not immediately delete his post despite comments from multiple individuals (myself included) urging him to do so.

That evening, Mr. Franklin appeared to hide those critical comments and did not take the post down until several hours later.

To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Franklin has made no public statement condemning the newspaper for publishing a false story or apologizing for sharing it.

Mr. Franklin’s decision to share this dubious article, and not to remove it from social media immediately upon discovering that it was false, is unacceptable for an individual seeking to hold public office.

To be clear, there is legitimate room for disagreement over what we can or should do to support individuals who have crossed the United States border illegally while they are awaiting action by immigration authorities.

But peddling misinformation to North Hempstead residents suggesting that this issue has already come right to their doorstep can only be intended to sow division, anger, and fear.

This is part of a worrying trend for Mr. Franklin, who has also refused to confirm that Joe Biden was legitimately elected president in 2020 or that climate change is real. The people of North Hempstead deserve better.

This November, I will be voting for Mariann Dalimonte, a proven leader who has dedicated herself over the past four years to improving life in North Hempstead. I urge others in this district to do the same.

Marc Sittenreich Port Washington

Ships (friendships and those that pass in the night) Alas, I’ve come to my final ode To find the man on Welwyn Road It’s hard to say adieu, I’m writing this to find you It was August first in Thomaston That’s where you said you are from Actually, you said from India you derive A white Mercedes you did drive You said I looked nice, you said it twice I said I was flattered but none of it mattered Until I did a double take Then I knew I’d made a mistake I thought maybe you’re a mensch But, of course, there was a wrench If I could go back in time your info I should have requested So we could swap cars as you suggested I forgot to get your name and you didn’t get mine I may write in February a Valentine You could be a total prince But I haven’t seen you since Maybe you are on vacation Or now hang out at the Great Neck station Or go to Diwan for Indian food I like it when I’m in the mood Tikka masala and tandoori too I like creamed spinach with vindaloo Maybe I’ll see you on Middle Neck Rd Then we will reap what we’ve sowed But meanwhile, still need to look Maybe you’re in the library reading a book Or seeing the sights at Steppingstone Park But for now, I’m in the dark Unless the Steppingstones lighthouse shines on this poem And you read it while at home Here I write for the last time After this I can’t make it rhyme If I get no reply when this I write I’ll chalk it up to “two ships in the night” Summer is nice, but I love Fall Here’s my number, hope you call Leslie Feldman Great Neck

60 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

READERS WRITE

No hummanitarian aid should go from U.S. to Hamas

P

resident Biden’s call to send $100 million of our tax dollars to Gaza for humanitarian relief is naive. Gaza is governed by Hamas. They are the same terrorists responsible for the loss of 1,400 Israeli citizens murdered at the hands of Hamas.

This would be the equivalent of America losing 50,000 babies, children, teenagers,

adults and seniors. Hamas recorded their barbaric acts of death and bodily mutilation against babies, children, adults, seniors and Israeli soldiers on cell phones and video for all to see.

There is no question about the atrocities committed by Hamas as they were proud to document their evil work.

Hamas has a long history of diverting hu-

manitarian aid for military purposes. This included building a network of three hundred miles of underground tunnels in Gaza.

First things first, Hamas should release all hostages from Israel, the United States and other nations around the world.

Any humanitarian aid after that needs to be administered by the International Red Cross supplemented by outside observers.

This is the only way to ensure that aid goes to civilians in need versus Hamas terrorists.

Don’t pay for it by adding $100 million to our long-term $33.6 trillion national debt.

Instead, reduce our aid to the useless proPalestinian United Nations by $100 million.

Larry Penner Great Neck

Lurvey didn’t represent her district adequately

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e in unincorporated Allenwood depend on our town councilperson.

We have not been adequately represented the last two years because

Lurvey spent her energy fighting with DeSena. We Veronica didn’t even have the grace or savvy bothered to walk our neighborhood or even didn’t even know what district we were in as she to say goodbye, thank us for our support and (hold) a Zoom rally. and Dems redistricted it to form a district heavily guide us to her successor.

Steven M. Walk Asian, the news reported.

Now, with a Town turning red, you never Great Neck

Why Israel is reacting the way it is to Hamas

S

ix million Jews and 5 million non-Jews died in concentration camps during World War II. The concentration camps were infamous for appalling conditions, starvation and widespread disease. The Nazis had 23 main concentration camps and each camp had subcamps, nearly 900 in total.

The photo below shows the Mass Grave 3 at one

such camp, Bergen Belsen. It was the final resting place for some of the more than 35,000 people who died there under indescribable, horrible conditions.

Did they ever teach that to you boys and girls in college or high school? One picture is worth 1,000 words or in this case, 35,000 people.

Perhaps the youth of America really don’t know everything. Check out the photo below and see if

you are able not to throw up.

How many bodies do you think can be recognized? The phrase or slogan of “Never Again” is associated with the lessons of the Holocaust by the Israeli people. Check out the bodies again.

This is what you get with one crazy but all powerful dictator who can talk their people into doing whatever he wants them to do .Can this happen

in America? Only if truth is beaten down by lies.

Your eyes and ears should not be deceived. Fascist America!

Pray now. You might not be able to do so later.

God help us. He couldn’t do it the last time.

Alvin Goldberg Great Neck

Jen DeSena has earned your vote in N. Hempstead

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have been actively involved in the North Hempstead community since 1975, as former president of the Herricks Board of Education, currently co-president of the Herricks Community Fund and mayor of Williston Park.

I personally feel that this upcoming election is extremely important for all residents of North Hempstead.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, we have the privilege and right of voting for the re-election of Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jen DeSena.

I believe it is important for all to get out and vote for my good friend and colleague. Jen has worked extremely hard for all the constituents

of North Hempstead and has been a great asset to our great Village of Williston Park.

She has been accessible, listens to our concerns and is anxious to work for all. She has had difficulty in implementing changes due to resistance from members of the Town Council.

She is bipartisan in nature and is willing to work with both “sides of the aisle,” unlike her opposition.

Jen proposed a 10% tax cut last year but her opposition held the tax cut to 5 %. When Governor Hochul pushed to take local zoning control from our village, Jen was there from the start to push back on the unacceptable plan, which had the possibility of restricting and changing the

character of our village and surrounding communities.

Because of her concerns and efforts to help keep Nassau County, the “Safest County in the Country,” she has received the endorsement of every major Nassau Country law enforcement union.

She understands the distinctive character of Nassau County communities, especially when dealing with Villages, including the Village of Williston Park.

She is a bright, articulate individual with the determination to move the Town of North Hempstead forward.

I ask all to get out and vote for the re-elec-

tion of Jen DeSena and her running mate Mary Jo Collins for Receiver of Taxes.

Their election will provide North Hempstead with positive leadership during these challenging times.

Please cast your vote on Nov. 7 for North Hempstead Supervisor Jen DeSena and Receiver of Taxes, Mary Jo Collins, Jim Gounaris for Town Council and Ed Scott for Town Council Paul Ehrbar, Mayor Village of Williston Park Early voting will take place between Oct. 28 and Nov. 5.

Jennifer DeSena is draining savings for ‘tax cut’

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orth Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena did not and has not made any progress on cutting expenditures.

She is, however, successfully draining a Town of North Hempstead savings account to claim an intellectually dishonest “tax cut.”

You need not trust my statement, just trust the numbers she discloses each year in the Town of North Hempstead General Fund

budget.

Expenditures for the last three years have risen from $87.3 (2022) to $89.2 (2023) to $91.9 (2024).

In 2023 she drained $2.4 million from the Town of North Hempstead General Fund savings account and in 2024 will drain $6.2 million to justify wildly misleading statements about tax cuts.

Make no mistake, we will see a similar draining of funds in 2025 if she is re-elected and then we will be left with a huge tax increase and no extra savings in the bank in 2026. She is fiscally reckless.

I wouldn’t run my household budget like this, would you?

A real, sustainable tax cut requires expenditures to drop meaningfully. Don’t be fooled

by her accounting tricks that she explains in a video posted 10/11/22 on her FB page.

Jenn DeSena is as big a fraud as her friend George Santos. Fire them both at the ballot box before their fiscal recklessness harms us more.

FOR THE LATEST IN COMMUNITY NEWS, VISIT US 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK AT

WWW.THEISLAND360.COM

Scott Carroll Manhasset

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

61

COMMUNITY NEWS

JCC cancer 5K raises record $314K On Sunday, Oct. 22, members of Sid Jacobson JCC and the surrounding community participated in the JCC’s annual Stronger Than Cancer 5K in East Hills, which raised more than $314,000 for the Nancy Marks Cancer Wellness Center, a record amount.

The Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center’s specialists seek to improve the well-being of those affected by cancer.

Emotionally, the center provides

support services such as discussion groups, a writing group, short-term individual counseling, and information and referral services for survivors and their families. In addition to our general cancer discussion group, the center has targeted discussion groups that focus on specific populations, including breast and gynecologic cancer survivors currently in treatment, caregivers, male cancer survivors, and survivors of metastatic, advanced, or recurrent cancer.

PHOTO BY RON MANFREDI

Starting line of Sid Jacobson JCC’s “Stronger Than Cancer” 5K on Oct. 22, which raised more than $314,000 for the JCC’s Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center – the most ever.

Honoring Revolutionary War patriots On Saturday, Nov. 11 at 8:30 a.m., as part of the commemoration of Veteran’s Day, The Town of North Hempstead and Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society invite the community to participate in a ceremony honoring the service of 12 American Revolutionary War Patriots buried in Monfort Cemetery. During the ceremony, special markers and American flags will be placed at the gravesites of the local patriots.

The Monfort Cemetery is located at the intersection of Port Washington Boulevard and Main Street, just behind and up the hill from the post office. The cemetery usually closed to the public, is a town landmark and is on the State and National Registries of Historic Places.

An active burial ground from at least 1737 to the cemetery is hilly and contains tree roots & 1892 the site contains some of the town’s earli- low-level stones, so appropriate footwear is adest settlers including the Onderdonk, Hegeman, vised at all times on the site.

Dodge, Rapelje, and Schenck families. The For More Information: Monfort Cemetery was cared for until 1984 by About the Town of North Hempstead Burtis Monfort and then deeded to the town by Ross Lumpkin, Town Historian him. lumpkinr@northhempstead.ny.gov Currently, the Town of North Hempstead’s historian Ross Lumpkin and town officials have joined volunteers from the Cow Neck Peninsula PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS BAIN, COW NECK Historical Society in an ongoing effort to raise PENINSULA HISTORICAL SOCIETY the funds needed to restore the deteriorating gravestones, as well as to preserve and honor the Colonial and American historical legacy in Tombstone of Adrian Onderdonck who the cemetery. The community is advised that died on Jan. 20, 1794.

Northwell cardiac programs named among best in U.S. Four Northwell Health hospitals have been named among America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery by Healthgrades, a leading resource for consumers to find a hospital or doctor. Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore and Staten Island University Hospital were each recognized as top cardiac destinations nationally, according to a 2024 analysis by Healthgrades at 4,500 hospitals in 16 of the most common specialty care areas.

The four hospitals, in conjunction with the Northwell Cardiovascular Institute, also earned recognition as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention, alongside Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park.

Northwell delivered more cardiac care than any other health system in New York State in 2022 with 660,000 ambulatory visits, 38,000 inpatient discharges, 8,700 coronary interventions, 3,900 thoracic surgeries, 3,300 cardiac surgeries and 2,800 cardiac ablations.

“I’m proud to say that no one delivers more cardiothoracic care – or does it better in the region – than Northwell’s team of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and the entire cardiovascular team of providers,” said Dr. Alan Hartman,, senior vice president and executive director of Cardiothoracic Services at Northwell Health. “These

Healthgrades accolades showcase the depth and breadth of the amazing work being done all over the health system.”

Lenox Hill Hospital, named among the top 5 percent nationally for Overall Cardiac Services, received several accolades. The Upper East Side institution was named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care, the only hospital in the state to earn the honor for the 11th straight year (2014-2024).

Lenox Hill earned Healthgrades’ Cardiac Care Excellence Award™, Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award™ and Coronary Intervention Excellence Award.

Lenox Hill also was selected as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgeries and earned Healthgrades’ Gastrointestinal Surgery Excellence Award™ and 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award.

Staten Island University Hospital is the lone facility in Richmond County to earn both 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery and 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention Procedures. SIUH received the Coronary Intervention Excellence Award for the sixth straight year (2019-2024) and Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award for the fourth year in a row (2021-2024).

The Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital at North Shore University Hospital, the only hospital in Nassau County named to the 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Sur-

gery list and the only full-service cardiac hospital on Long Island, was selected one of the 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention for the 13th consecutive year (2012-2024) and is rated among the top 5% nationally in that category. NSUH received the Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award™ and Coronary Intervention Excellence Award™ and 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award™.

Elsewhere in Nassau, Long Island Jewish Medical Center earned Healthgrades’ Coronary Intervention Excellence Award for the 17th year in a row (20082024).

“Our incredible, hard-working, multidisciplinary teams work seamlessly to pro-

vide the best cardiac care at the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital and across the Northwell System. We are laser-focused on quality as well as patient and provider experience and accolades such as these highlight our great outcomes,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kuvin, senior vice president of cardiology, co-director of the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital, chair of cardiology at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center at Northwell Health. “We take such pride in our care and treat patients like they’re part of our family – and in some cases, they are.”

In Suffolk County, South Shore University Hospital earned the 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery for the seventh

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHWELL HEALTH

Northwell Health cardiac programs have been recognized in several categories by Healthgrades.

year in a row (2018-2024), the only hospital in county to do so.

And for the second straight year, SSUH was named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care and among the top 5 percent of hospitals nationally for Overall Cardiac Services. In addition, SSUH earned 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention Procedures honors and received the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award™.

Also in Suffolk, Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead earned Healthgrades’ Coronary Care Excellence award for the third straight year (2022-2024) and is among the top 10 percent nationally in Cardiology Services and Coronary Interventional Procedures. Peconic Bay also earned awards for Pulmonary Care Excellence and Gastrointestinal Care Excellence. Meanwhile, Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson received the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award™ for the ninth straight year (2016-2024).

In Westchester, Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco received the Coronary Intervention Excellence Award™, making its program among the top 10 percent in the nation. It also earned the Critical Care Excellence Award. Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow was one of just four facilities in the state to earn the Healthgrades’ Surgical Care Excellence Award™ and received the 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award.

62 The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

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Recent Real Estate Sales in the

243 Cornwell Avenue, Williston Park

652 Concord Avenue, Williston Park

5 bd, 5 ba, 2,650 sqft, Sold On: 8/28/23, Sold Price: $1,450,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Herricks

4 bd, 3 ba, Sold On: 9/1/23, Sold Price: $730,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Herricks

254 Wardwell Road, Mineola

449 Emory Road, Mineola

3 bd, 2 ba, 1,172 sqft, Sold On: 9/13/23, Sold Price: $577,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Mineola

4 bd, 2 ba, 1,541 sqft, Sold On: 9/14/23, Sold Price: $780,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Mineola

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

The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

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63

Control of towns and Legislature at stake Continued from Page 1 The race has become intense both online and in person during candidate forums, where the two candidates clashed sharply over a number of issues.

Mailers targeting Kaiman attack his previous record as supervisor and work as the head of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, while advertisements targeting DeSena are critical of her endorsement of U.S. Rep. George Santos.

Republicans currently hold the majority on the Towns of Hempstead’s and Oyster Bay’s boards and flipping North Hempstead would give the party a majority in every town in Nassau County.

North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes North Hempstead Democrat Council Member Veronica Lurvey, of Great Neck, is running against Village of Flower Hill Trustee Mary Jo Collins.

The two are running for the seat currently by Democrat Charles Berman, who is not seeking re-election after serving since 2010.

If elected, Lurvey said she would prioritize making the receiver’s office more accessible for residents, expanding tax workshops for non-native English speakers and mobilizing tax collection units throughout the town.

If elected, Collins said she would work alongside DeSena to help cut taxes, make paying taxes more convenient, offer more payment options and tax-reducing seminars throughout the town.

North Hempstead District 2 Democrat incumbent Peter Zuckerman is running for re-election against Republican challenger Edward Scott.

Zuckerman has served on the town board since 2014 and is running for a third four-year term.

Scott has served as commissioner in the Albertson Water District since 2021 and president of the Albertson Square Civic Association since 2012.

North Hempstead’s Councilmanic District 2 includes Albertson, East Hills, North Hills, Searingtown, Glenwood Landing, Greenvale, Roslyn Harbor and part of both Roslyn Heights and Mineola.

North Hempstead District 4 Herricks Board of Education President James Gounaris and community liaison for state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (D-Port Washington) Christine Liu are running for the vacant seat for North Hempstead’s District 4.

The seat is currently held by Lurvey, who was taken out of her district as a result of new maps the town board approved last year.

Gounaris, of Manhasset Hills, is running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines and Liu, of New Hyde Park, is running on the Democratic Party line.

North Hempstead’s Councilmanic District 4 includes Herricks, Manhasset Hills, Lake Success, University Gardens, Great Neck Plaza, Russell Gardens and part of both North New Hyde Park and Garden City Park.

North Hempstead District 6 Democrat Incumbent Mariann Dalimonte is running for re-election against Republican challenger Dave Franklin for the district that includes the Port Washington peninsula, Flower Hill, Roslyn and Roslyn Estates.

Dalimonte, of Port Washington, was first elected to the board in 2019 and is seeking a second four-year term. Prior to serving on the town board, Dalimonte was the executive director of the Port Washington Business Improvement District.

Franklin, also of Port Washington, served as Port Washington Police District commissioner from 2011-2019.

Nassau County All 19 Nassau County Legislature seats are up for election this November.

Republicans currently hold a 12-7 majority and are looking for a supermajority.

Of the 38 total candidates running, 15 are incumbents.

County legislators serve two-year terms.

New districts will go into effect in January after the Legislature approved new maps for the next 10 years earlier this year in February. Over the summer, the Nassau Democratic Committee and

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CANDIDATES

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, left, and exSupervisor Jon Kaiman, right.

21 registered voters filed a lawsuit to void the map, but they will still be in place for this November.

Nassau County Majority Leader Rich Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) will not be running for re-election after serving in the county since 1996. County Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) is also not seeking re-election after serving in the county since 2002.

Democratic enrollment outweighs Republicans in 15 of the 19 recently approved Nassau County legislative districts, a data analysis done by Blank Slate Media shows. Districts 1-7, 9-11, 13, 14, 16-18 all had more registered Democratic voters in 2022 than Republicans, according to data obtained by Blank Slate Media.

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

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

More than 238,000 Nassau residents are not registered to a specific party, an

average of 12,575 per district, according to the data. Each district also averages 2,147 residents enrolled as Conservatives, Working Families Party members or another affiliation.

Nassau County District 8 Republican incumbent John Giuffré is running for re-election against Democrat challenger Erica Rico. The district includes Garden City, Garden City South, Carle Place, Stewart Manor, Franklin Square and part of both West Hempstead and Elmont.

Nassau County District 9 Republican Scott Strauss, the exmayor of the Village of Mineola, is running against Democrat Neeraj Kumar for the seat left vacant by Nicolello. The district includes Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, East Williston, Floral Park, Garden City Park, Mineola, New Hyde Park and part of both Roslyn Heights and North New Hyde Park.

Nassau County District 10 Republican incumbent Mazi Melesa Pilip is running for re-election against Democrat challenger Weihua Yan for the district that includes Great Neck, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, Roslyn Estates, Munsey Park, the Plandomes and part

of both the unincorporated area of Port Washington and North New Hyde Park.

Nassau County District 16 Democrat incumbent Arnold Drucker is running for re-election against Republican candidate James Asmus.

The district includes Old Westbury, Brookville, Muttontown, Syosset, Woodbury, Plainview, Old Bethpage and part of Bethpage.

Nassau County District 18 Democrat incumbent Josh Lafazan is running against Republican challenger Samantha Goetz. The district includes Albertson, East Hills, Herricks, part of Roslyn Heights, Searingtown, Williston Park, Bayville, Centre Island, Cove Neck, East Norwich, Glen Head, Greenvale, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Locust Valley, Matinecock, Mill Neck, Old Brookville, Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove, Upper Brookville and part of Glenwood Landing.

Eligible voters can vote in-person between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Nov. 7 at their assigned polling location. Registered voters can find their assigned location through the New York State Board of Elections voter lookup website by inputting their personal information.

Early voting will begin Oct. 28 and be held until Nov. 5 at various locations and times.

Here are a list of early voting polling locations, which are subject to change: Floral Park Recreation Center, 124 Stewart St., Floral Park, NY 11001 Glen Cove City Hall, 9 Glen St, Glen Cove, NY 11542 Great Neck House, 14 Arrandale Ave., Great Neck, NY 11023 Nassau County Board of Elections, 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501 Michael J Tully Park, 1801 Evergreen Ave., New Hyde Park, NY 11040 Port Washington Library, 1 Library Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050 Gayle Community Center, 53 Orchard St., Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 Every location is accessible to individuals with physical disabilities.

Town set to vote on budget on eve of election Continued from Page 2 The tax levy for the town outside village fund will also decrease by 10% from the current year.

Taxpayers who pay both general and town

outside village fund taxes would save an averThis is the second time in as many years search process, resigned in August. age of $183.12 and those who pay only general that the tentative budget was submitted without Paul Wood, the town’s finance director, was fund taxes would save an average of $38.06, ac- a full-time comptroller. Kristen Schwaner, who appointed as interim comptroller, similar to last cording to the supervisor’s office. was hired earlier this year after a long bipartisan year.

Millions in funds unspent by Nassau County Continued from Page 3 Also found in the county’s reserves are the federal funds for COVID-19 relief.

The American Rescue Plan was a federal $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill distributed to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds can be allocated to COVID-19-related relief, which includes investments in water, sewer and

broadband infrastructure.

DeRiggi-Whitton said the county is doing financially well at this moment and she advocated for the disbursement of the federal pandemic relief money to small businesses, not-for-profits and even residents.

“A lot of people really suffered during COVID,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “It would help get them

caught up.”

DeRiggi-Whitton said she assisted Sea Cliff in using the federal funds to install sewers through parts of the village. She said this also reimbursed homeowners the $7,500 fee to hook up to the sewer lines.

She said this is the only project in Nassau County she knows of that has used the federal funds.

DeRiggi-Whitton said the county is using the funds for its own benefit, which is not the purpose of those funds.

The county has until the end of 2024 to allocate the federal COVID-19 relief funds, and until the end of 2026 to spend them. If it does not meet those deadlines, the county will be forced to return the money.

For the latest news, visit us at w w w.theisland360.com

64 The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

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‘Amazin Maze’ added to Wall of Honor Continued from Page 1 When Mazur became chief the juniors had less than 10 members and he asked fellow firefighter Bill Gresalfi to help build it up.

By Christmas of 1998, Gresalfi had recruited 20 new members for the junior ranks. One of the biggest things the two instituted was having the juniors come to the department more often, instead of just the two meetings a month for a meeting and drill, Connolly said.

The training regimen also changed where with parental permission, juniors who had six months of training could respond to fire calls with full members and assist them during their operations.

In 2005, the Mineola Junior Fire Department began a relationship with the Stellingen-Hamburg Fire Department in Germany. Stellingen-Hamburg advisers and junior firefighters came to the village to observe and participate in training with Mineola’s department in 2006 and 2007.

In 2008, the village’s junior fire department traveled to Hamburg, Germany, to complete their half of the program.

Mazur thanked the department members and elected officials for being at the village hall to recognize him and saved the rest of his words for the PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VILLAGE OF MINEOLA dinner afterward held in his honor.

The wall, established in 2015 and named after Mineola firefighters Rob Connolly, left, Gary Mazur, middle, and Mayor Paul Pereira.

DaVanzo, the longtime Mineola official nicknamed

“Mr. Mineola,” honored longtime scoutmaster of the village’s Troop 45 Steven Grosskopf last year.

Previous award recipients include first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ann Galante, Mineola’s first female trustee, mayor and former North Hempstead receiver of taxes, Lou Sanders, Ed Smith, Stanley Krause, Robert Hinck and Lou Santosus.

Recipients are chosen by a committee made up of village trustees, chamber of commerce board members and a designated resident.

As part of the award, a black-and-silver plaque of Mazur will be on the wall in the village hall lobby where DaVanzo once sat at a desk and greeted those who came in.

DaVanzo was a Mineola resident his entire life, graduating from Mineola High School in 1938 before serving on the USS Glennon from 1943 to 1946, during which he survived D-Day. In 1947, DaVanzo joined the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department, serving as captain of Engine Company 1 from 1953 to 1955. He received the National Volunteer Firefighter of the Year award in 2004 and was named an honorary chief in 2007.

DaVanzo served a total of 43 years as a village trustee, deputy mayor, North Hempstead town councilman and town clerk combined as well as being named New York State Clerk of the Year in 1986.

Strauss touts record as mayor in Legislature bid Continued from Page 2 “In my opinion, and I see it in healthcare, people are more aggressive, they’re driving more aggressive,” Strauss said. “I’m a believer in the broken window theory: if you take care of the small things they’ll be taken care of before they become big things.”

Strauss added that the police should be as transparent as possible and that he personally is embarrassed when seeing negative press about

police misconduct anywhere.

On New York’s migrant crisis, Strauss said more screening has to be done to make sure people seeking asylum are coming into the country and that it would be hard to ask taxpayers to pay the cost of housing any migrants in Nassau.

Strauss continued to say the federal government should have a plan and have done a better job preparing.

Strauss said he is in favor of the county ap-

proving a lease to permit the Sands Las Vegas casino to be built in Uniondale because it was the proposal that was put in front of them and the current Legislature did its due diligence to make the best decision for Nassau.

“This is better than vacant land and becoming an eyesore,” Strauss said.

Strauss said the 9th District should vote for him to be their next county representative because of his record as mayor and lifelong commitment to

public service. The ex-mayor said he’s ready after 1 1/2 years removed from his mayorship in Mineola to continue giving back to the community.

“I’ve been in community service since I was probably a cub scout,” Strauss said. “At the end of the day, I believe I am the guy that could do the job and that I could work together with everybody.”

Strauss’ interview with Blank Slate Media can be found on YouTube.

Red Cross honors Manhasset couple for work Continued from Page 4 Robbie Donno accepted the award at the ceremony held in the Cradle of Aviation entrance way.

“When you intercede in somebody’s life, you make a difference to them,” Robbie Donno told the audience. “And that’s an indelible mark on their heart and in the spirit of which they live, your spirit lives on in them.”

Not only does it make a difference to those affected, but the generations that come, he said.

“It is truly humbling to be recognized for our efforts to make our community in the world

a better place,” said Barbara Donno, noting the couple has been together for 56 years, after meeting at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

“What a journey it has been,” she said of their mutual efforts, also thanking their children for supporting them through it all.

“Service has become a family affair and you’ve always understood and encouraged our efforts,” Barbara Donno said of their children, “You have enriched our lives in ways words cannot express.”

She also acknowledged the dedicated staff and board of trustees in the Village of Plandome

Manor for their pivotal role in driving positive changes within their community.

Robbie Donno’s journey, rooted in the close-knit Manhasset community he grew up in where helping neighbors was a way of life, has always inspired him to make a difference in people’s lives. This ethos led him to join the Manhasset Rotary Club in 1971 and later become its president.

During his presidency, he laid the groundwork for the Gift of Life foundation, bringing 5-year-old girl Grace Agwaru from Uganda to St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn for life-saving sur-

gery in 1975, the same year the organization was started.

Barbara Donno said she’s enjoyed “every minute” of serving as village mayor for 17 years.

During her tenure, she has focused on improving infrastructure, zoning, and providing services to the residents of her village through improved roads, sanitation services, and enhanced quality of life.

“It’s great to be able to help our residents and to provide the services that our residents want and actually deserve,” she told Blank Slate Media.

CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK AT FACEBOOK.COM/THEISLAND360 AND TWITTER: @THE ISLAND360

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Medicare awards $5.7M to Northwell Health program In its eighth year in a demonstration program through the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services, Northwell Health’s House Calls program was awarded $5.7 million in federal incentives based on its superior home-based primary care to chronically ill and frail seniors at home.

Known as Independence at Home (IAH), the federal pilot program, as part of the Affordable Care Act, was established in 2012 with 19 programs. CMS analyzed program performance data from Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec., 31, 2021, the most recent time period for which data is available.

According to Dr. Zenobia Brown, associate chief medical officer and senior vice president of Population Health Care Management at Northwell Health Solutions, “Northwell led the nation for quality and cost savings, which are core to our House Calls program. It delivers patientcentered care effectively with a specialized multidisciplinary team working together to reduce unnecessary emergency department and hospital visits that are inherently costly and unwanted by the patient if their care can be effectively delivered at home.”

While many patients and families enrolled in Northwell’s program were already accustomed to using remote technologies including telemedicine, this was accelerated by the COVID pandemic, Brown noted.

“With an otherwise totally disrupted healthcare system and communities being urged to ‘stay at home,’ our House Calls program was able to keep fully connected with our patients and address

clinical and social needs during the pandemic, including implementing a homebound vaccination program in order to reduce the risk of patients contracting and later being hospitalized with COVID,” said DBrown.

In addition to improving health outcomes in older patients with complex health needs, Northwell’s clinicians reduced costs during the program’s eighth year to $44,820 per patient per year – a 33 percent total cost of care reduction.

That represents an overall savings to Medicare of more than $8.5 million.

During the most recent year of the demonstration project, Northwell’s House Calls practice provided care through its IAH program to 582 patients in Manhattan, Nassau, Suffolk and Queens.

Through a highly responsive clinical model that includes continuous access, same-day appointments and a community paramedic program, House Calls reduced cost of care to $3,735 per month.

Northwell had the highest savings performance among the seven demonstration sites nationwide.

After accounting for Medicare withholds, Northwell earned more than $5.7 million in incentive payments. CMS awarded a total of $12.4 million in incentive payments to all seven of the participating practices nationwide that succeeded in reducing Medicare costs and met quality goals.

Currently, Northwell serves approximately 2,000 homebound patients, having increased over 30 percent in the last year fueled by need and partly geography, with plans for expansion. Patients are served in Staten Island, Brooklyn,

Dr. Konstantinos Deligiannidis visits a patient at home for a checkup.

Westchester, Queens, Manhattan and Long Island.

To date, Northwell’s House Calls program has been awarded a total of $21.5 million in incentive payments while realizing a total cost savings of $35 million to CMS. All federal incentives received are reinvested back into the House Calls program.

“We partner with patients and caregivers to develop individualized treatment plans so they can live in accordance with their wishes,” said Dr. Konstantinos Deligiannidis,, Northwell’s House Call’s medical director. “The pandemic tested us, but with our creative and resilient team, we were able to provide an intense level of service to vulnerable patients. Programs like Independence at

Home are only successful because they involve integrated teams of health care professionals working in concert to deliver high-quality care, at the right level, at the right time and in the right place of care.”

Patients enrolled in the House Calls program receive coordinated care, such as ultrasounds, radiology, electrocardiogram, lab work, physical exams, occupational and speech therapy, social work services and prescription refills.

Physicians, nurse practitioners and other clinicians are available for urgent, same-day visits during the week. The team is also accessible 24/7 to answer clinical questions from patients and caregivers. In addition, Northwell’s Center for Emergency Medical Services works

with the program to bring highly trained community paramedics to patients’ homes to assess and treat them, helping to avoid unnecessary emergency department visits or hospitalizations.

Deligiannidis noted that House Calls’ top performance in IAH was achieved through collaboration with key programs across Northwell, including its Nurse Clinical Call Center, Center for Emergency Medical Services, Home Health Care Agency and Hospice.

“House Calls’ high-touch model addresses acute and chronic medical issues quicker; we intervene early to reduce exacerbations of chronic medical conditions and reduce hospitalizations and ED visits through proactive action in a systematized way – this is built into our DNA. We guide patients and their loved ones throughout their health care journey,” said Deligiannidis.

To qualify for incentive payments, IAH practices must meet three of six performance measures; Northwell’s House Calls achieved all six quality measures.

They include follow up contact within 48 hours of a hospital admission, hospital discharge or emergency department visit as well as medication reconciliation upon returning home; documentation of patient preferences; hospital readmissions within 30 days for ambulatory care sensitive conditions; and emergency department visits for ambulatory care sensitive conditions.

For more information about the federal Independence at Home program, visit: https://innovation.cms.gov/innovation-models/independence-at-home

Sandra Lee gets candid on diagnosis at Northwell event More than 100 breast cancer survivors, loved ones, physicians and researchers came together for a recent community forum held at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in collaboration with several Northwell Health comprehensive breast cancer programs.

Experts discussed advancements being made in breast cancer, early detection, genetics, treatment and research.

Emmy-winning television host and bestselling author Sandra Lee told the audience when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 after a routine mammogram: “I knew my purpose was to communicate something I didn’t expect to happen to me.”

She decided to film her breast cancer story in an HBO documentary, allowing filmmakers unrestricted access to follow her through aggressive treatment, including a double mastectomy.

The film, “Rx, Early Detection, A Cancer Journey,” gave her an opportunity to become a prominent advocate to help others.

Ms. Lee, the event’s keynote speaker, joined Dr. Karen Kostroff,

chief of breast surgery at Northwell Health, for a candid conversation about her breast cancer journey.

“It’s important to share tools, wisdom and experience with others going through the same thing— you never know what someone will take or need to hear and that’s why events like these are vital,” said Lee.

Kostroff, who has been a breast surgeon for over 35 years, said, “Breast cancer is basically a curable disease; we are trying to get the message out that screening and early detection helps people live longer.

Sandra Lee has a been a tremendous advocate in promoting breast screening and getting legislation

Drs. Susan Palleschi, Karen Kostroff, Neil Tanna, Heather Zinkin, Sandra Lee, Mark Smith, Jane Carleton and Nina Vincoff.

passed in New York State for no-cost mammograms and improving access to care.”

One in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime; it is the second most common cancer in women.

Dr. Mark Smith, system vice chair of surgery at Northwell Health, noted the education event held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October is important in the fight against the disease and for the community to know about the resources available to them. “We want people to understand that they have a team of providers working closely together – breast surgeons, reconstructive surgeons, radiologists, medical and radiation oncologists, social workers and support staff, integrating all the services patients need to get the best outcomes,” Dr. Smith explained.

As a reconstructive plastic surgeon, Smith said, “I’m focused on restoring patients to making them whole again and bringing a number of new techniques, some pioneered at Northwell, so that options match a patient’s choices and priorities

best.” Dr. Smith also serves as executive director of the Friedman Center for Breast and Lymphatic Surgery, a premier practice for breast reconstruction surgery at Northwell Health.

In her closing remarks, Lee said, “I hope for the future a cure for breast cancer, which will hopefully be soon, but in between now and then, we all have a responsibility to support each other, to share our experiences, to help facilitate a cure and to help someone else,” adding, “Northwell is an amazing place and it’s wonderful to get to be a part of this family.”

The community event, Navigating the Journey of Breast Cancer Through Research & Education was a collaboration between TheKatz Institute for Women’s Health, the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, The Friedman Center for Breast Surgery, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

For more information about cancer services or to reach a nurse navigator through Northwell’s Cancer Care Direct, call 833-223-4732, or email: cancercaredirect@northwell. edu.

66 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

Business&RealEstate

Outside purchasers of U.S. real estate We still have the largest economy on the globe and are still the Promised Land for the immigrants who desire to come here legally, whether for education, jobs or just to relocate permanently. However, we also have a very serious illegal immigration problem and it is not being addressed in the proper fashion as both parties are at loggerheads in how to resolve and deal with the issues.

The people who are able to immigrate here see the vast array of possibilities and opportunities that they cannot obtain sufficiently in their own countries. Our doors seem to be always open for those who have the money and capabilities to invest in a vast pool of quality real estate, whether they are residential or commercial.

The 2023 Profile of International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate was performed by the National Association of Realtors (1.4 million brokers and agents). The survey focused on Realtor transactions with international clients who bought and sold U.S. residential properties between April 2022 and March 2023.

The compilation of this information was derived from an online survey

from April 3, 2023 to May 8, 2023.

The survey was sent out arbitrarily to 150,000 selected Realtors and to members of local associations who also conducted their own surveys of foreign buyers. It was created

by NAR to keep a balance of the actual numbers of its members by each state as of May 2023. The results came from 7,425 Realtor (a “Realtor” was anyone who was part of a local real estate board in good standing) responses of which 951 reported completing a transaction with an international purchaser. Attributes of those international clients were based on the most recently closed transactions of those responding over that 12-month time span.

There were two types of international buyers: Non-residential foreigners, e.g., non-U.S. citizens with permanent residences outside of the U.S. Resident foreigners, e.g.,non U.S. citizens who are recent immigrants who were less than two years at the time of the sale); or non-immigrant visa holders who had resided for more than six months in the U.S. for professional, educational, or other reasons.

The study is quite long and there

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

is not enough space in this column to provide all the details,so I will highlight the most crucial statistics which I believe are the most important: There was a $53.3 billion volume of foreign buyer residential purchases during April 2022-March 2023. This was 2.3% of the $2.3 trillion of the total dollar of existing home sales.84,600 foreign buyer home purchases (1.8% of 4.73 million existing-home sales)51% foreign buyers who resided in the U.S.

(recent immigrants: 2 years at time of sale or non-immigrant visa holders)$396,400 median purchase price(compared to $384,200 for all U.S. existing homes sold)42% of foreign buyers paid cash (compared to 26% among all existing home buyers50 foreign buyers who bought for a vacation home, rental, or both (compared to 16% of all existing buyers) In the past, Canada was always the No. 1 country whose people had put their money into U.S. real estate.

Over the years there have been some drastic changes. When the survey was completed the information was analyzed and the following showed who purchased the most residential property: Chinese buyers made up 13% ($13.6 billion)Mexico (11% of foreign buyers, 4.2 billion)Canada (10% of foreign buyers, $6.6 billion) India (7% of foreign buyers, $3.4 billion)Colombia (3% of foreign buyers, $0.9 billion) The top destinations were as follows: Florida (23%)California (12%) Texas (12%)North Carolina (4%)Arizona (4%)

So you can see that foreign purchasers were and are a very integral part of our real estate economy.

Besides those purchases, they also buy other items, like refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers etc. that add to our overall economic activity. Foreigners know the value of owning residential property in the U.S. and the freedoms that are enjoyed here without government interference in their daily lives.

They are able to start businesses here with the least amount of hassle and delays. Our legal immigrants and foreign nationals are a multifaceted group and owning residential real estate in the U.S. is coveted as an extremely valuable asset in creating and expanding their wealth. It is a safety net in the challenging and tumultuous world that we live in.

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.Li-RealEstate.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

Business&RealEstate

67

First Central Savings celebrates milestone First Central Savings Bank has announced that Michelle Socias, executive vice president and director of Residential Mortgage Originations and Capital Markets, and her residential lending team surpassed $1 billion in residential loan originations as of September 2023.

This accomplishment exemplifies FCSB’s commitment to delivering unparalleled financial lending services and underscores the bank’s position as a trusted partner in the communities we serve, the bank said in a press release.

Ken Sapanski, SEVP chief credit officer and director of Mortgage Banking expressed his deep praise to the residential team.

“Since joining FCSB in November 2019 and assembling the residential team, we have had great success in developing lend-

ing products for our customers and partners. We look forward to building additional relationships in the mortgage banking industry and continuing our success in growing FCSB,” Sapansk said. “The remarkable milestone of $1 billion in loan originations speaks volumes about FCSB’s robust loan growth and its steadfast position in the market.”

Chairman Joseph Pistilli expressed his admiration and congratulations on behalf of FCSB’s Board of Directors to Michelle Socias and her team, stating, “We congratulate Michelle Socias and the entire residential lending team for their unwavering dedication and exceptional performance that led to this momentous achievement. Their expertise and relentless commitment to excellence have been critical to our continued success.”

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GUIDE TO MANHASSET NOVEMBER 17

Comprehensive coverage of village/county/ town governments, schools, civic associations and more!

Reserve your space today!

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Sport Psychology Dr. Tom Ferraro has specialized in sport

psychology for 20 years and works in the fields of golf, tennis, soccer, baseball, football, wrestling, lacrosse, figure skating, gymnastics, softball, fencing and more. He has helped professional teams, Olympians and elite young athletes learn how to manage the intense pressure of competitive sports. He appears on both TV and radio and has sport psychology columns in 5 different newspapers and has been featured in The New York Times, Wall street Journal and the London Times. Golf Digest includes him in their list of top mental game gurus in America. For a consultation see below: Williston Park Professional Center 2 Hillside Ave, Suite E. Williston Park NY 11596 (building parallel to E. Williston railroad station)

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68 The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

WT

COMMUNITY NEWS Notice of Formation of Patel Law Associates, PLLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 202309-26. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to The Firm: 151 Nassau Drive Albertson NY 11507. Purpose: Any lawful purpose

Notice of Formation of GradeAconvo . Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 202306-29. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to LegalZoom: 7014 13th Avenue 202 Brooklyn NY 11228. Purpose: Any lawful purpose

PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF APPEALS INC. VILLAGE OF EAST WILLISTON

Notice of Formation of Lillis.

Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2016-06-21. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY should mail process to Thomas C. Haberlack : 600 Old Country Rd Suite 328 Garden City NY 11530. Purpose: Any lawful purpose

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Incorporated Village of East Williston will convene to hold a public hearing on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at 7:30 PM at Village Hall, located at 2 Prospect Street, East Williston, New York, on the following applications: New Cases: Application of Mr. & Mrs. Cavallaro for variances of Chapter 160, Article IX Sections 160-32C (setbacks) requesting 4’3” where 5’0” is permitted; & 160-32D (Driveways) requesting wider than 12’0” where 12’0” is permitted, of the Code of the Village of East Williston, to maintain existing use of the garage and the nonconforming driveway, on the property owned by them in a Residence RAA District and located at 23 Robbins Drive, East Williston, New York 11596, also known as Section 9, Block 545, Lot 31 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map. Application of Mr. Windisch for a variance of Chapter 160, Sections 160-33A(1) (lot coverage) where 59% or 653 Sq Ft is being requested, 40% or 444 Sq Ft. is permitted, of the Code of the Village of East Williston, to maintain cellar entry and a patio, on the property owned by them in a Residence RA District and located at 1 High Street, East Williston, New York 11596, also known as Section 9, Block 565, Lot 460 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map. Continued Case: Application of Mr. Gorlewski for a variance of Chapter 160, Article IX Supplementary Use and Dimensional Regulations Section 160-32 Subsection D (1) (c) (Placement of Accessory uses and buildings) of the Code of the Village of East Williston, to change the configuration of a driveway such that it would be set back at a varying amount of 1' from the side line to 2'11" from the side line where a 5' minimum is required on the property owned by them in a Residence RA District and located at 38 Ridge Road, East Williston, New York 11596, also known as Section 9, Block 525, Lot 280 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map. The applications, plans and specifications are on file at the Office of the Village Clerk, 2 Prospect Street, East Williston. At said time and place of Hearing as aforesaid stated all persons who wish to be heard will be heard.

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MICHAEL HOLLAND, CHAIRMAN JOANNA E. PALUMBO, VILLAGE CLERK October 23, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF MINEOLA PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Mineola will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 6:30 p.m., at the Village Hall, 155 Washington Avenue, Mineola, New York 11501, or at some other location to be hereafter designated by the Board of Trustees, in order to receive public comment upon the following: APPLICATION KELLY MIRRO FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 550 OF THE CODE OF THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF MINEOLA, ENTITLED “ZONING”, SECTION 550-12 ENTITLED “B-1 DISTRICTS”, SUBSECTION (B) ENTITLED “SPECIAL USES” TO ESTABLISH A CENTER FOR COMMUNITY SKILLS UPON THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS 44 JERICHO TURNPIKE, UNIT E, MINEOLA, NEW YORK, KNOWN AND DESIGNATED ON THE NASSAU COUNTY LAND AND TAX MAP AS SECTION 9, BLOCK 662, LOT 18.

The Village of Mineola does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in administration or access to or employment in its projects and activities. Bryan L. Rivera, Village Clerk has been directed to coordinate compliance with nondiscrimination requirements of the Federal Revenue Sharing regulations.

At this scheduled meeting of its Board of Trustees, reserved decisions from previous meetings, if any, may be acted upon by the Board of Trustees.

At the aforesaid time and place, all interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard.

By Order of the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Mineola Bryan L. Rivera Village Clerk Dated: October 25, 2023

FOR YOUR LOCAL NEWS VISIT US ONLINE AT

theisland360.com

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Town of North Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals 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, November 15, 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 #21468 – William and Rachel Cowan; 101 Oak Ridge Ln., Albertson; Section 7, Block 209, Lot 4; Zoned: Residence-C Variances from §§ 70-50.C, 7051.A, & 70-52.3.A to construct a new dwelling on an existing foundation being too close to the street, too close to a side property line with not enough total (aggregate) side yards, and within the required sky exposure plane.

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, R.A., Chairman; Board of Zoning Appeals INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF EAST WILLISTON LEGAL NOTICE AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED LOCAL LAWS PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that the Board of Trustees (Board) of the Incorporated Village of East Williston (Village) will hold a public hearing on Monday November 13, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. in the Village Hall located at 2 Prospect Street, East Williston, NY 11596 to consider the adoption of: 1. a Local Law amending Chapter 109 of the Village Code entitled “Public Conduct” in order prohibit: (1) the vaping, ingestion or smoking of cannabis in public spaces; (2) public urination, and (3) disorderly conduct; and 2. a Local Law amending Chapter 53 of the Village Code in order to provide for the setting of fees for Village matters by resolution,

LEGAL NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Appeals of the Village of Williston Park will hold a public hearing as follows: DATE: Wed., November 15, 2023 TIME: 7:30 p.m.

PLACE: Village Hall 494 Willis Avenue Williston Park, NY SUBJECT: To consider an Application filed by Lakshmanan Veerappan at the premises known as 28 Goodrich Street, Williston Park, New York 11596, also known as Section 9, Block 167, Lot 34 of the Municipal Tax Roll, for the construction of a one story rear extension 20’ x 25’11” requiring Variances to the Municipal Zoning Code as follows: 1.Section 230-7D – East side yard encroachment.

2. Section 230-7H – Maximum lot coverage permitted at 25%, proposed at 32.05%.

All Interested parties may hear and be heard at the aforesaid time and place, and said application is available for review at the Village Hall.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS Brian Cunningham, Chairman Dated: October 31, 2023 NOTICE TO BIDDERS EXTERIOR REPAIRS TO VILLAGE HALL FORTHE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF EAST WILLISTON NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK Notice is hereby given that the Village Clerk of the Incorporated Village of East Williston, New York will receive sealed proposals for “EXTERIOR REPAIRS TO VILLAGE HALL" until 11:00 A.M. on Friday, November 17, 2023 in the Main Conference Room of Village Hall, 2 Prospect Street, East Williston, New York, 11596, at which time and place they will be opened publicly and read aloud.

Specifications, proposal and proposed contracts may be obtained by visiting the Village website at www.eastwilliston.org or obtained at the Village Hall, 2 Prospect Street, East Williston, New York, 11596, from 9:00 A.M. on Monday, November 3, 2023 until 4:30 P.M. Thursday, November 16, 2023. There is no fee for a set of bid documents.

The project calls for exterior repairs to 2 Prospect Street, East Williston, N.Y. The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bid proposals received and subject to these reservations, shall award the contract to the lowest qualified and responsible bidder. Bids which, in the opinion of the Board, are unbalanced shall be rejected.

In submitting a bid, bidders agree not to withdraw their bid within forty‑five (45) days after the date for the opening thereof.

Joanna E. Palumbo Village Clerk Village of East Williston Dated: October 31, 2023

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES JOANNA E. PALUMBO, VILLAGE CLERK Dated: October 31, 2023

ADVERTISE HERE

516.307.1045

Events at the W.P. Library From the Director Thank you to everyone who donated pet food and supplies to Baxter’s Pet Pantry for our Great Give Back, 2023.

We are once again asking everyone to NOT put donations in the book bins outside the library. They are for library materials only. Donations will be accepted inside the library during regular business hours.

New titles added to the collection: Secret of Elephants—Vasundra Tailor Long Game—Elena Armas Brynn & Sebastian Hate Each Other: A Love Story—Bethany Turner Musical chairs—Amy Poeppel Wingmen: The Unlikely, Unusual, Unbreakable Friendship between John Glenn & Ted Williams—Adam Lazarus In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters during Life’s Final Moments—Hadley Vlahos, RN Elon Musk—Walter Isaacson Build the Life You Want—Arthur C. Brooks & Oprah Winfrey 12 Months to Live—James Patterson & Mike Lupica Enemy beside Me—Naomi Ragen Adult Programs Reiki—November 2 & 16—6 p.m. in the Assembly Room of Village Hall. $10 p/person; p/session. Call the library (742-1820) or email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register.

Halloween Cocoa Sticks—Tuesday—November 14—6 p.m. in the Assembly Room of Village Hall. $6 material fee p/person. Call the library (742-1820) or email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register.

Thanksgiving Side Dishes with Barbara Sheridan—Wednesday—November 15—6 p.m. in the Assembly Room of Village Hall. $5 p/person due at registration. Call the library (742-1820) or email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register.

Stack of Gingerbread Ceramic—Wednesday—December 6—6-8 pm in the Library. $15 material fee due at registration. Call the library (7421820) or email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register.

Book Discussion—Wednesday—December 6—7 pm in the Assembly Room of Village Hall and via Zoom. TITLE CHANGE—Copies of 12 Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas by James Patterson are available at the Circulation Desk. https://adelphiuniversity.zoom.us/j/96885670 102?pwd=VGtSYnkyUW9acVJyV0tyNUtUZnMyZz09 Meeting ID: 968 8567 0102 Passcode: WPBookClub or just call 1-929-205-6099 on your phone and it will ask for the meeting id and password above Reiki—December 7 & 21—6pm in the Assembly Room of Village Hall. $10 p/person; p/session. Call the library (742-1820) or email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register.

St. Francis Outreach Bus—Thursday—December 14—10 am-2 pm in front of the library. No registration is necessary. Free health screenings for adults 18+.

Children’s Programs Story Time with Miss Beth—TIME CHANGE—Tuesdays—November 7, 14, 21, & 28; December 5 & 12—12:00-12:45 pm in the Children’s Room. Limited to 15 participants. No Walk-Ins! Email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com or call the library (742-1820) to register.

STEM Lego QR codes—Monday—November 10—4-5pm in the Children’s Room for grades 3-6. Call the library (742-1820) or email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register.

Yayoi Kusama Flower with Doris Benter—Saturday—November 18— 10-11am in the Children’s Room for grades 1+. Call the library (7421820) or email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register.

Minecraft Thanksgiving Turkey Building with TD3 Innovative Gaming—Saturday—November 25—11am-12:30pm in the Children’s Room for ages 7+.Per vendor, limited to 10 children. Parent/guardian must stay with their child. Call the library (742-1820) or email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register.

STEM: DIY Fake Snow with Lisa Colon—Friday—December 8—45pm in the Children’s Room for ages 5+. $5 material fee due at registration. Call the library (742-1820) or email willistonparkprograms@ gmail.com to register.

DIY Chemistry Lab with Stemtastics—Tuesday—December 26—11amNoon in the Assembly Room of Village Hall for grades K-8. $5 material fee due at registration. Per vendor, limited to 15 participants. Call the library (742-1820) or email willistonparkprograms@gmail.com to register.

PEN PAL PROGRAM The library is proud to work with Kayla, of Girl Scout Troop 1825 on her Gold Award. She has established a Pen Pal Program for children in grades 1-8. If any children are interested, parents are welcome to stop by the Reference Desk to complete a small registration form. This is not a sponsored library activity; Kayla will be in charge of the project. All information is confidential.

The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

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69

COMMUNITY & SCHOOL NEWS

Herricks gets gift from Nicaraguan artisans Herricks Middle School students who spearheaded a fundraiser in support of Central American artisans last year recently received an unexpected thank you gift that helped them understand the significance of their donation.

The students in Spanish Language Immersion classes partnered with the non-profit Pulsera Project and raised over $2,000 selling colorful, handwoven bracelets and bags. The bracelets, called “pulseras” in Spanish, and bags were handmade by Guatemalan and Nicaraguan artisans. The money raised through the fundraiser is reinvested in Central American communities to help

raise awareness of native art and social justice issues.

As a thank you for the efforts and generous donation, the school received a package containing a pair of handmade maracas, along with a photo of the Nicaraguan artisan women who carved the intricate designs and handpainted them.

The colorful and meaningful maracas are proudly displayed at Herricks Middle School as a reminder of the global impact that students can have and as an inspiration of what can be achieved when we work together as a community to help others.

Herricks volleyball raises $1,200 for breast cancer The Herricks High School volleyball teams recently hosted “Dig Pink Night”, the annual breast cancer fundraiser that aims to help “spike out” breast cancer.

The Herricks teams were joined

by Great Neck North High School boys and Elmont High School girls

volleyball teams for this year’s event, which saw the Herricks High School gymnasium transformed into a veritable sea of pink as both spectators and team members turned out in support.

The event raised over $1,200 for the Side-Out Foundation, a

non-profit organization that raises awareness and funds for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer primarily through volleyball-related events. This year’s donation brings the total raised by the Herricks school community to over $15,000 since 2009.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Herricks Middle School student Alexander Chen shows off the “Herricks Middle” maracas received as a thank you for their partnership with the Pulsera Project.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Herricks High School girls volleyball hosts “Dig Pink Night” to raise money to help fight breast cancer.

Day of Service and Mineola Chamber welcomes Learning in E.W. Go Greek to home in village High schoolers from East Williston’s The Wheatley School participated in different projects as part of a Day of Service and Learning on Oct. 19. The special day included selfcare/wellness activities, guest speakers from local charity organizations and team building activities.

The day kicked off with a special assembly that featured speakers from the Hance Family Foundation, the Al-

zheimer’s Association and the Henry Viscardi Center.

Founded on the principles of service that were done following the events of Sept. 11th, the students and staff worked together to help the community in more than 40 community service activities, including crocheting baby hats, making pillow cases, and assembling hygiene bags and packages for birthday wishes.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EAST WILLISTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Wheatley School’s staff and students participated in a Day of Service and Learning on Thursday, Oct. 19.

The Mineola Chamber of Commerce was busy again on Thursday night welcoming our newest eaterie, Go Greek to 147 Mineola Blvd.

If you’re in the neighborhood, stop in and see Gabriella and try some of their Greek specialties. our state, county, town, and village elected officials were with us enjoying some of Go Greeks delicious selections.

Go Greek, Mineola’s newest restaurant

For your latest community news, visit us at www.theisland360.com

70 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

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Continued from Page 24 Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, who made the motion said, “while George Santos is entitled to his day in court to plead his innocence, the people of New York’s 3rd Congressional District deserve a representative who is solely focused on serving the public and not spending the majority of their time combating 23 federal charges such as wire fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds. We must remove this conman from Congress.”

Santos withdrew his contention that Joseph Murray, his lawyer, who has an office in Great Neck, was in violation of conflict of interest law. The congressman said Murray, dubbed person No. 1 in the indictment, and Nancy Marks, Santos’ former campaign treasurer, discussed representation with him.

Murray told the judge he is “taking every precaution”against it.

Murray, who ran in 2019 for Queens district attorney, had Marks help him with campaigning. “That’s the extent of my relationship” with her, Murray told Seybert.

The judge let Santos retain Murray rather than ordering a federal defender to take on the case.

Marks pleaded guilty earlier in October to fraudulently reporting hundreds of thousands in fake loans that Santos claimed he raised during his campaign.

Together they “devised and executed a fraudulent scheme to obtain money for the campaign by submitting materially false reports to the FEC on behalf of the campaign in which they inflated the campaign’s fund-raising numbers for the purpose of misleading the [Federal Election Commission], a national party committee, and the public,” according to prosecutors.

The financial reports allowed Santos to reach the benchmarks needed to receive financial support from the national party committee, court documents reveal.

Santos was initially charged in May with 13 counts including wire fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.

He pleaded not guilty and was released on a $500,000 bond.

Seybert said since Murray attested there is no conflict of interest, Santos’ defense cannot change their minds later and cite it as an issue in the case.

Murray called Marks an “indispensable witness” they anticipate calling on to testify since finances are a big part of the indictments. Marks is “such a critical witness” he said, she is necessary “so my client can have a fair trial.”

“Not much I can do about that,” Seybert said, and set a conference date for Dec. 12, giving the parties time to “make sure we have everything ready to go.”

When Santos left the courthouse over a dozen hecklers screamed at him, “hey, hey, ho, ho Santos has got to go,” “put that liar in the firer” and “you killed my dog.”

A press conference held by Concerned Citizens of NY after court drew speakers from numerous districts, all upset at Santos and their representation in Washington for not doing more to rid of from the House.

“We knew he was a liar, we knew he was a criminal, but we didn’t really think he was that stupid. He’s looking at over 20 years in prison, so why didn’t he plea? It’s probably because he loves playing congressmen, he likes being in the room where it’s all happening and most especially because he likes collecting his salary of $174,000,” said volunteer Jody Kass Finkel of Great Neck.

“The Republicans in Congress have failed us,” Finkel said, “It’s been 10 months since we have had representation. So we have been looking to the judiciary to help us. But the fact that the judge can’t make room in her schedule until the fall possibly is really a huge disappointment.”

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

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GOP mailers called antisemitic Continued from Page 6 “To not at least recognize at a time of rising antisemitism fueled in part by Israel’s war with Hamas is at least very insensitive if not worse,” Blank said.

Blank said it is the responsibility of any newspaper to comment on or respond to incidents that fuel hate speech.

In the committee’s statement to Blank Slate, they say that “the Island 360’s editors should be ashamed of themselves” for reporting on this issue and not other examples of antisemitism on behalf of the Democratic Party.

“Clearly, The Island 360 is only interested in baseless charges of antisemitism against Republican candidates, as opposed to clear and irrefutable evidence of antis0emitism by Democrats,” the committee stated.

These examples provided by the committee include the Town of Oyster Bay Democratic Committee posting a picture of

a pig with a swastika-shaped anus stomping on an American flag, multiple North Hempstead Democratic candidates campaigning with the Yale College Democrats who previously condemned Israel in a 2021 letter and Democratic candidate for the Nassau County Legislature Weihua Yan who had fired a campaign employee for prior statements that were anti-Israel.

The Island 360 was not aware of these claims prior to the Republican Committee’s statement, hence why we did not previously report on them. The Island 360 also does not cover the Town of Oyster Bay. Blank Slate asked Kaiman’s campaign about the supposed canvassing with the Yale group but his campaign denied to provide comment at the time. His campaign directed Blank Slate to Kaiman’s statement on Israel, where he expressed support and solidarity with the country amidst war and “mass murder.”

“The horror of what happened in Israel

will never be forgotten,” Kaiman stated.

“Our love and commitment to Israel rises now as never before as it grapples with unthinkable pain and distress.”

North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, who is campaigning against Kaiman for re-election, did not provide comment prior to publication but her campaign was asked for one by Blank Slate.

Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip said in an interview with Blank Slate Friday that DeSena is a friend and a supporter of Jewish people, present with Pilip at synagogue after Hamas’ attack.

“She was the one who was with me [at] almost every rally I went [to] to support our Jewish residents,” Pilip said.

She said the mailers do not feed into Jewish stereotypes and that DeSena is not antisemitic, but people are welcome to perceive it that way.

“But I promise you, she is with the Jewish students,” Pilip said. “She feels our pain.”

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Continued from Page 10 The exchange was stoked by a Democratic amendment to the budget proposing the usage of $128 million from the county reserves to reduce the property tax levy and result in a $400 cut in county property taxes for a household.

But that would have thrown county finances out of balance, Nicolello said, backed up by Andrew Persich, Nassau’s budget director, who said the county shouldn’t use reserve funds to pay the tax cut.

“At least stand on your position to be able to say we didn’t support them for X, Y, Z reasons, everybody would support that,” Abrahams said, “but it seems like to me you don’t even want the vote to happen. That to me boggles the mind because you give away your opportunity to explain your no vote.”

The Republican Party, maintaining their 12-7 majority, introduced their own amendment to the budget which would increase the number of police officers, superior officers, and assistant district attorneys. Specifically, this amendment incorporates the addition of 10 police officers, four superior officers, and two assistant district attorneys.

The 2024 budget maintains the property tax status quo by neither increasing nor decreasing property taxes. In terms

of county spending, the budget allocates $180 million more than the previous year’s approved budget. With the Republican amendment now in place, it also includes provisions to recruit an additional 30 police officers.

“The zero-tax increase budget is a result of the solid fiscal management policies put into practice by the Legislative Majority and County Executive Bruce Blakeman that have also led to Nassau’s economic condition being in the best in shape in years,” the Majority Caucus, Republicans wrote in a press release. “Proof of that comes from a recent financial report from the State Comptroller’s Office that placed Nassau County among the top-ranked fiscally sound counties throughout New York State for the second year in a row.”

Wall Street’s leading credit agencies have upgraded the county’s bond ratings to their highest levels since 2005.

“Despite record high inflation impacting the cost of all services, I froze property taxes for two straight years while keeping my promise to cut $120 million in Democrat planned tax hikes and put more cops on the street than ever before,” Blakeman wrote on Facebook, “Yesterday, the county Legislature approved my second taxpayer protection budget. Promises made, promises kept!”

Some, however, were not pleased with the outcome.

“Today, the Republican Majority didn’t just say no to the Minority’s plan for tax cuts and more police for Nassau residents – they didn’t even have the courage to hold a vote,” said Abrahams in a press release. “Instead, they used unprecedented procedural tricks to shield their members from voting against our plan to cut property taxes by $128 million and fund 100 additional police officers – 25 of whom would have focused on addressing the spike in hate crimes in our county and across the nation.”

The Republican Legislative Majority has adhered to a steady tax record for 14 consecutive years. Not only have property taxes remained stagnant during this period, but they have successfully reduced the 2022 budget by $70 million.

Planned tax increases for 2023, 2024, and 2025 have been averted, resulting in a substantial property tax cut of $200 million, a report from the Nassau Interim Finance Authority states.

The reduction is projected to persist until 2027.

The budget is now headed to the NIFA finance board for final approval, once approved, Blakeman will sign and officiate the amended budget.

74 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

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

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Contact Contact Debbie Flynn Contact Debbie Debbie Flynn ContactAdvertising Debbie Flynn Flynn Classified Classified Advertising Manager Classified Advertising Classified Advertising Manager Manager 22 Planting Field Rd, Manager 516-307-1045 218 22 Planting Field Rd, 516-307-1045 Ext. 218 516-307-1045 Ext. Ext. 218 Roslyn Heights, 11577 516-307-1045 Ext. 218 Roslyn Heights, 11577 dflynn@theisland360.com dflynn@theisland360.com dflynn@theisland360.com www.theisland360.com dflynn@theisland360.com www.theisland360.com

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78 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 3, 2023

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JUMPING TO CONCLUSION Senior Keira McCaffrey leads Herricks to volleyball heights

BY M I C H A E L J . L E W I S There was no crackling on the phone line when Keira McCaffrey said her stunning remark.

No background noise or muffling of other sounds, either.

But surely, there must’ve been some miscommunication or misunderstanding when Mineola High School’s star senior volleyball player answered the routine question: What music do you listen to to get psyched up before a game?”

“You know, I really really like ‘Come on Eileen,’” she said with a laugh.

“She’s our offense and our defense, and she handles it all so well.

She’s just a kid you love to have around, and the other kids love having her around.”

— Yana Park

HERRICKS HEAD COACH

What? A teenager in 2023 referencing the campy, not at all “motivational” 1983 pop tune by forgettable one-hit wonder band Dexy’s Midnight Runners?”

“I don’t know why but I like it,’” McCaffrey said, before even more incredulously adding, “I like some Abba, too.”

OK, so while the middle hitter/blocker’s taste in pump-up music might be extremely different from most her age, what is most certainly current is her phenomenal ability inside the white lines of the court.

A four-year player on varsity for the Mustangs, the 6-foot-1 McCaffrey is currently finishing off her career in style with another outstanding fall season.

Through the end of the regular season the 17-year-old has crushed 204 kills this autumn, while leading her team to a 12-2 regular season

record and a share of the conference title.

McCaffrey has also recorded 50 blocks and 28 aces as Mineola enters the playoffs as the No.1 seed in Class A, looking for their first-ever county crown at that level.

“She’s the kind of athlete any coach or parent would ever want,” said Mineola head coach Yana Park. “She’s the complete package: motivated, hard-working, great vision and a great teammate.”

McCaffrey’s love of volleyball came to her at an early age while watching sister Meaghan, five years Keira’s senior, star on club and school teams.

Keira was the proverbial “me too” kid, tagging along to her sister’s basketball and volleyball games, and soaking up as much as she could.

“She was on a really competitive team when I was little, and I saw how much fun she was having at both sports,” Keira said. “I was torn between the two, but I was better at volleyball and seemed to like it a little more.”

Beginning with CYO volleyball when she was about 10, and now playing for a club out of Sportime Bethpage, McCaffrey and many of her current teammates rose through the ranks to form an outstanding team these last few years; in 2022 the Mustangs fell in the county semifinals.

And Keira McCaffrey said she learned a ton from her sister.

“Just balancing athletics with academics, and making sure I have time to spend with my friends and still working hard when it’s time to work hard,” Keira said. “When you’re a varsity athlete and trying to do well in school, too, time management is so important.”

For a volleyball player, height is pretty important, too, and McCaffrey’s verticals and jumping ability give her a big edge on the court.

“She’s tall but she’s also amazing at the read and tracking the ball so well so she knows where to be and where the defense is,” Park said. “She’s super loud on the court with her communication, and that’s important, especially with the setter.”

McCaffrey said the knowledge of her teammates and how close they are, having been together for years, is a big reason for her success.

But her dominance at the net is something other teams have trouble game-planning for.

“They put two blockers on her and she’s able to communicate and her teammates let her

PHOTO BY LEAH DESENA

Mineola High School senior hitter Keira McCaffrey (center) has had a stellar career and hopes to lead the Mustangs to a county title this season. know where the opponents are,” Park said.

What does it feel like to crush the ball on an opponent with a spike? McCaffrey sheepishly said she sometimes “feels bad” for the other girl.

“It is exciting to get a kill, especially after a long point,” McCaffrey said. “And turning around to my teammates and seeing everyone get so excited, that is really fulfilling.”

McCaffrey’s volleyball skills are only part of her success at Mineola; she’s also in the National Honor Society (she’s the secretary) and is a vice-president of student government at the school as well.

She plans to attend Misericordia University in Pennsylvania, a Division III school, next year, the same place Meaghan starred on the basketball court.

“I wanted to find a school that felt like home, and a place that had a good business school and a good volleyball program,” said McCaffrey, who said she wants to go into business “or maybe the FBI” when she gets older.

“Helping others is really, really important to me,” McCaffrey added. “Trying to put others in front of myself is what I’ve always tried to do.”

That may be true, but if McCaffrey can lead the Mustangs to a county title, there likely won’t be anyone in front of her by the end.

“She’s our offense and our defense, and she handles it all so well,” Park added. “She’s just a kid you love to have around, and the other kids love having her around.”

The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

WT

79

COMMUNITY NEWS

Zucker School holds annual White Coat Ceremony The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell held its thirteenth White Coat Ceremony at the Long Island Marriott Grand Ballroom on Oct. 13.

Surrounded by family, friends, mentors, faculty, and school administrators, 101 first-year medical students came forward to be individually “cloaked” in the iconic white coat — the representative emblem of the medical field.

Established in 1993 by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, the White Coat Ceremony is a traditional rite of passage celebrated by medical schools throughout the country and represents a major step in the careers of medical students, marking their transition from students to medical professionals.

Unlike most medical schools, the Zucker School of Medicine presents the white coat to first-year students upon completion of their first course and emergency medical training, rather than at the beginning of their educational journey.

This is done to recognize the students as not just new learners but also as colleagues in medicine.

“We chose this path to provide extremely useful clinical skills, as well as symbolize our commitment to the integration of clinical medicine and science from the very first minutes of medical school through graduation.

We at the Zucker School of Medicine believe that we are supporting and nurturing our students along a transformative path from person to professional,” explained Dr. David L. Battinelli, dean and Betsey Cushing Whitney Professor of Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine and executive vice president and physician-in-chief, Northwell Health. “To celebrate the first step on this journey, we perform the White Coat Ceremony at this time because they have earned this privilege.” With their Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certifications fresh in hand, the first-year students recited an adaptation of the Hippocratic Oath, pledging to “do no harm” while donning their white coats for the very first time during the ceremony.

Susan Poser, president of Hofstra University, also joined the ceremony and had the chance to address the Class of 2027.

“Today you receive your white coat, a symbol of humanism, that healthcare is all about people, about people in need. Today, you pledge to keep healthcare human and to care for your patients with dignity, compas-

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY

sion, empathy, and respect,” said Poser.

“As you take that oath, may you be encouraged and reassured by all of these people who surround you here today, as well as those who could maybe not be here in person, that you will be very well supported in this journey, along with your family members, friends, mentors, faculty, peers and the entire community at Hofstra University.”

As Poser mentioned, the ceremony also emphasizes the value of humanism, which has been at the core of the medical profession since its inception.

Taranjeet Ahuja is the director of Humanism in Medicine, Communications co-leader and assistant professor of Science Education and Pediatrics at the Zucker School of Medicine and had the honor of coating the students during this year’s ceremony.

“The moment I don my white coat before seeing patients, I am reminded of the great responsibility the white coat brings forth. It is a reminder of the responsibility I carry for the health of others in my hands. It is a reminder of the person-centered care each of my patients deserves and seeing the patient in front of me as a person with a journey, a story, and not an illness,” emphasized Ahuja, who is also the chair of Pediatrics at Plainview Hospital, Northwell Health. “It’s important for students to remember the oath that they take during each patient interac-

tion. It is a privilege to be given access to the most vulnerable details of a patient and we must handle each person with genuine respect and care. Coating the next generation of physicians, whom I will trust with the care of my family and loved ones, is an absolute honor.”

Comprised of 101 students, the Zucker School of Medicine’s Class of 2027 is a highly diverse group with students from a mix of socioeconomic backgrounds, academic/career experiences, and walks of life.

The class represents 16 states and 47 colleges and universities across the country.

Rahul Ramanathan is a student in the BS-BA/MD 4+4 program at Hofstra University. This highly selective program allows students to earn their bachelor’s degree at Hofstra University while fulfilling all premedical course requirements and then automatically matriculate at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell upon completion of the bachelor’s degree.

Ramanathan credits his experience in the program for allowing him to explore fields outside of healthcare, which allows him to bring a unique lens to his current studies in healthcare.

“As a 4+4 student, I was able to explore fields outside of STEM — enabling me to develop a unique think-

ing pattern,” said Ramanathan, who earned his BS in biomedical engineering. “Since I did not need to worry as much about extracurriculars, as compared to a traditional medical school applicant, I was able to take classes in philosophy, religion, and fine arts which made me appreciate and view healthcare in a different light entirely.

I am honored, excited, and so happy to be receiving my white coat.”

Echoing his sentiments, fellow classmate Priscilla Lee believes that the ceremony is an empowering step in many aspects of her life.

“I am incredibly excited to be receiving my White Coat, something that marks a significant milestone in both my academic, professional and personal journey. The white coat is representative of a solemn commitment between the healthcare provider and the patient: a promise that I will do my utmost best to provide, protect, and do good for my patients,” explained Lee, who hails from Roslyn.

“I am primarily passionate about empowering patients to become their biggest advocates in healthcare decisions through the promotion of health literacy and emphasis on patient-centered decision-making. I am pursuing a career as a physician to promote health equity for all people.”

For many of the students, like Louis Aghanwa, receiving the iconic white

coat exemplifies a lifelong dream come true. “Receiving the white coat validates the little boy in me who had dreams and would look into the future where everything seems so far away.

The white coat represents opportunity, learning and dreams that I questioned if I’d ever be able to fulfill,” reflected Aghanwa, a Queens Village native.

Aghanwa is also a graduate of the Medical Scholars Pipeline Program at the Zucker School of Medicine, which seeks to expose and immerse underrepresented in medicine (URM) high school students from the five boroughs of New York City and Long Island to the numerous career paths available in the healthcare industry while enhancing the necessary skills for success. “I will always thank MSPP for the exposure to a career in healthcare. Those three summers that I spent in the program was something that opened my eyes to a future that was actually possible and one for me to be excited to be a part of,” said Aghanwa, crediting the MSPP for reaffirming his decision to pursue a career in medicine.

Among this dynamic group of students are also 11 first-generation college graduates, many of whom are also the first in their families to pursue a career in medicine. Tasnia Tabassum is a first-generation college student whose pursuit of an MD degree signifies a milestone for her entire family.“As a first-generation college student, the path to applying to medical school presented numerous hurdles. While my parents did their best to support me, the medical field was uncharted territory for both of them,” explained Tabassum who is currently most interested in focusing on women’s health. “These challenges, however, only served to fortify my determination and unwavering resolve to become a physician and have strengthened the bond I have with my family, especially my parents.”

Tabassum went on to explain, “Donning the white coat represents the fruits of my parents’ labor and my entire family’s unwavering support in me. It shows that I am pushing forward in pursuit of a dream we all share. It’s a testament to their sacrifices and belief in me, and I am forever grateful for their constant encouragement and faith in me as I pursue a career that I hope will allow me to make a positive impact in the lives of others.”

To learn more about the Zucker School of Medicine, please visit the website. Go to our website to watch the 2023 White Coat Ceremony livestream.

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80 The Williston Times, Friday, November 3, 2023

WT

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