Baldwin Herald 04-18-2024

Baldwin native Michael White’s work can be seen throughout the community he once called home. Though he now lives in New Jersey, he receives inquiries from people looking for art that depicts their childhood homes.

Now in N.J., but focusing on Baldwin

Michael White remains active on L.I. through his art

By HERNESTO GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Though he now lives in Red Bank, New Jersey, Baldwin native Michael White, 54, maintains a strong connection to his Long Island roots from 70 miles away — through his art.

The works of White, a 1987 graduate of Baldwin High School, adorn the walls of the high school cafeteria and the Baldwin Long Island Rail Road station — a depiction of the beloved Nunley’s Carousel amusement park, which once stood at the corner of Milburn Avenue and Sunrise Highway. The attraction opened in 1940 and operated until 1995, when it closed and the land was sold to Pep Boys.

At the high school, White’s legacy is a

mural that represents the spring season, with sketches of plant life and trees around the high school in an idealized ancient Greek landscape, in Cafeteria B.

In New Jersey, where he is a professional artist, White fields inquiries from residents of Baldwin, Garden City and communities on Long Island, who commission paintings of their childhood homes, business establishments or historical buildings.

This all started eight or so years ago, when White was living in Garden City and was asked to paint a mural for a commercial building in Long Island City. The mural, of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, 20 feet wide and 15 feet high, was painted directly on the sheetrock wall of the building.

New funds for children’s room

$1.3 million in federal money earmarked for project at Baldwin Public Library

By HERNESTO GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

The Baldwin Public Library will receive a new state-of-theart children’s room after Congressman Anthony D’Esposito secured nearly $1.3 million in federal funds for the project, officials said last month.

The library project is part of Republican Congressman D’Esposito’s total of $15 million in Community Project Funding grants that he has obtained for the 4th Congressional District, which encompasses much of the Town of Hempstead, including Baldwin.

Oeral funding will help cover a portion of that.

The planned library improvements include redesigning the children’s room to enlarge the play area and allow more sunlight in, expanding the arts and crafts and teen rooms, creating a community space on the second floor and group rooms for studying or remote work.

ur renovated space will include features that families have asked for.

ElIZABETH OlESH Director, Baldwin Public Library

The library would receive $1.295 million for the children’s room, which Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand also helped support from the House and Senate Appropriations Committee.

Residents approved an $11.6 million referendum for library improvements that includes the children’s room at last year’s Baldwin School District’s budget vote, and the fed-

“An excellent children’s room gives our youngest residents the best start they can get toward becoming successful adults,” Elizabeth Olesh, the library’s director, wrote in an email. “Our renovated space will include features that families have asked for, such as more natural light, a better story time room, and a larger play space.

“Beyond this, an excellent public library, including the best possible children’s room, is a benefit in any community and helps attract new residents,” she added. “We are grateful to Congressman

Courtesy Michael White

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many of michael White’s works depict the nunley’s Carousel amusement park, which once stood at milburn avenue and Sunrise Highway in Baldwin.

White is making homes into works of art

Continued from page 1

White recalled climbing to the roof of a building a block and a half away from the bridge and being surprised by how close it was. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s going to be my mural,’” he recalled.

He worked from photos that he took, and it was his first foray into detailed architectural artwork, igniting a passion that resonates with residents of his hometown and its surroundings who want to capture the essence of their cherished memories.

“I realized I had a certain affinity for this kind of art-making,” White said. “It felt like it came naturally to me. Surrounded by a lot of incredible historical buildings (in Garden City), with some built in the 1870s, I would admire them. I said to myself, you know what? On a nice day, when the sun strikes this building, I’m going to stop and take photos and use one of them for artwork.”

I’m a stickler for being accurate.

One painting eventually became 30, of Garden City homes and municipal buildings, including the Cathedral of the Incarnation, which opened in 1871. Paintings of other historical houses followed.

It wasn’t until last year that White drew his first Baldwin house, his friend Nick Avallone’s childhood home. He had worked with Avallone on the mural in the high school cafeteria when they were seniors there.

Avallone’s sister, Kate Avallone-Serra, contacted White and asked if he could do a painting of their home, once owned by their mother, who died two years ago.

“It was an enormous, emotional time for them,” White said. “They’ve had that house for 60 years or so — six decades.”

White agreed, but ran into some trouble.

“She provided me with a photo of the house as it looked, maybe in the 1960s or ’70s,” he explained. “It used to have these external eaves and certain hedges around it, but this was how she remembered it.”

In order to create the most accurate painting, White came to Baldwin and took a photo of the house himself.

The idea came to them during Thanksgiving dinner in 2022, she added, and they received the finished work early last year.

“You can absolutely see the love in it,” Avallone-Serra said. “It was a very big emotional thing for me, and we had prints made for my siblings, and surprised them with it.”

“I’m a stickler for being accurate,” he said. “I took a trip there, took photos from … the same angle, but more detail, and I could combine the two photos to get a very accurate complete photo.”

As he has done with his other building and house portraits, White started with an ink drawing and eventually added watercolors, a process that took 15 to 20 hours to complete.

“It was the center of our childhood,” Avallone-Serra, who now lives in Albany, said of their home. “It’s a perfect storm of artistry to have Michael do this particular work.”

White has painted four Baldwin homes in the past year, and has fielded inquiries from people in Rockville Centre and Northport as well. But his work encompasses more than just childhood homes. His portfolio is diverse, and the finished products depend on what is asked of him to create.

“They ask for drawings or paintings — mainly paintings,” he said. “It’s one of the lines of my work. I also do portraiture, landmarks in Long Island, and details I remember as a kid.”

“It’s cool stuff, vintage — it’s like childhood-style,” he added. “But the one that was in Baldwin,” he said, referring to Nunley’s, “is the kind of sacred one.”

For more information on White’s work, visit michaelwhitestudio.com.

Courtesy Kate Avallone-Serra

Kate avallone-Serra’s childhood home in Baldwin, recreated in watercolor by michael White.

Photos courtesy Michael White this mural, of a nunley’s Carousel horse, hangs near the Lirr station in Baldwin.

MIchael WhIte Baldwin native

New York Equestrian Center celebrates a century

By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com

It’s the last equestrian center in the Town of Hempstead — and this weekend marks its 100th anniversary. The New York Equestrian Center, in West Hempstead, is holding a birthday bash 100 years in the making.

“The first thing people get out of it is joy,” Alex Jacobson, president of the center, said about horseback riding. “The smiles that the Equestrian Center puts on people’s faces is second to none.”

IThe equestrian center was first established in 1924, when such facilities were common. The building, right off Hempstead State Lake Park, was home to horses that worked with the milkman, the local police department, and even homeland security. The building was one of six equestrian centers around the park — now it’s the last one left.

“It’s important to preserve its history, and recognize what horses have done in our history,” Jacobson said. “And it’s not just about the building — it’s about horses being at this location for the last 100 years, and people being able to come out and enjoy them.”

Now the New York Equestrian Center is home to after school programs and a summer camp. Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops from all over the Town of Hempstead often come to the center for horseback riding activities.

This weekend, as part of its 100th anniversary celebration, the center is open for the entire public to enjoy. They’re offering free pony rides, a bounce house, a mechanical bull and even scenic carriage rides through Hempstead State Lake Park. On top of that, families can watch barrel racing, pole bending and jump-off clinics run by professional trainers and overseen by official United States Equestrian Fed-

eration judges.

“It’s just going to be a whole lot of family fun,” Jacobson said.

But the center isn’t stopping there. On Sunday, they’ll be hosting a horse show. About 200 families come out to the annual event. Young riders show off their skills and earn ribbons — and of course, in the meantime, go back to the pony rides and bounce house for seconds.

Even people who have no horseback riding experience or knowledge can enjoy the weekend festivities. Horses are, as Jacobson puts it, “magical beautiful creatures that let you ride them.” Sometimes it just takes a bit of interaction to be reminded of that fact.

“I think that’s one of the biggest things that people get out of it,” Jacobson said. “The joy, and the history, and being able to be part of something that’s not readily available in our area.”

The celebration is this Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 633 Eagle Ave., West Hempstead.

Christina Daly/Herald photos

The New York Equestrian Center was first established in 1924, and housed horses for the milkman and local police department.

Library upgrade could attract new patrons

page

D’Esposito as well as Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for this funding.”

Architectural plans have been submitted to the State’s Education Department and are awaiting approval, officials said.

The additional funding would also allow the library to expand the original scope of work, Olesh said.

In February, the library unveiled the “Calming Corner” in the Teen Zone after it received a $1,110 grant from the Nassau Library System.

The space provides library patrons with beanbag chairs, a table that houses fidget spinners, a bonsai tree light, a glowing bear lantern, a Rubik’s Cube, and other gadgets to help those who want to de-stress.

In addition to the library improvements, as part of the $15 million in federal money for his district, D’Esposito has obtained funding to bolster local law enforcement training, support infrastructure development and improve educational resources.

“I am immensely proud to have been able to secure critical federal funds to benefit my neighbors in New York’s 4th Congressional District, and I look forward to seeing this infusion of resources benefit our community for years to come,” D’Esposito said in a statement. “From funding enhancements at area libraries, providing local law enforcement professionals with added tools, and equipping South Shore students with additional educational resources, I am pleased that these projects I have secured funding for will pay dividends long into the future.”

the Baldwin public Library will receive $1.3 million in federal funds from Congressman anthony d’esposito through a Community project funding grant.

Nearby projects include an emergency operations center, police technology and equipment, both for Freeport, a transit-oriented development project in Island Park and police license plate readers in Rockville Centre.

Along with D’Esposito, Long Island’s Republican Reps. Andrew Garbarino of Bayport and Nick LaLota of Amityville have sought funds for projects within their respective congressional districts. Additionally, Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand, in the House and Senate Appropriations Committee, have asked for funding for more than 50 projects across Long Island. These efforts have resulted in nearly $87 million in federal funding, reflecting a concerted bipartisan endeavor to address various regional needs and priorities, they said.

SPOTLIGHT ATHLETE

GARRET GATES

North Shore Senior Baseball

GATES AND THE VIKINGS couldn’t have scripted a better start to 2024. In the March 25 opener, the hard-throwing southpaw who quarterbacked North Shore’s football team to the playoffs, pitched a perfect game against Herricks. Even more impressive was he needed minimal help from the defense, as he struck out 20 of 21 batters. An All-Conference selection last spring, Gates fanned 12 in his next start and blanked Manhasset over five innings.

GAMES TO WATCH

Thursday, April 18

Baseball: V.S. South at Sewanhaka 4:30 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Calhoun at MacArthur 4:45 p.m.

Softball: North Shore at West Hempstead 5 p.m.

Softball: Elmont at Lynbrook 5 p.m.

Baseball: Seaford at Clarke 5 p.m.

Baseball: Baldwin at V.S. Central 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Baldwin at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Oceanside at Long Beach 5 p.m.

Friday, April 19

Baseball: Malverne at Lynbrook 4:45 p.m.

Girls Flag Football: Lynbrook at West Hempstead 5 p.m.

Softball: Carey at Wantagh 5 p.m.

Softball: East Meadow at Calhoun 5 p.m.

Softball: V.S. Central at Uniondale 5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Baldwin at Hewlett 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Calhoun at Carey 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Oceanside at Freeport 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Somers at South Side 6 p.m.

Saturday, April 20

Softball: Freeport at West Hempstead 10 a.m.

Softball: Sewanhaka at V.S. North 10 a.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Seaford at Long Beach 10 a.m.

Girls Lacrosse: MacArthur at Oceanside 10 a.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information:

Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

Optimistic start for youthful Baldwin

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Baldwin had a difficult time keeping up with the competition in Nassau Conference AA-2 baseball last spring, especially when it came to putting runs on the board.

The Bruins suffered nine shutout losses, including five of the last six games of a trying 2-16 campaign. They managed an 11-7 win over East Meadow and a 6-5 victory over Plainview, and it was no coincidence Michael Jazylo was smack in the middle of both.

Jazylo got his senior year and Baldwin’s off to a nice start with a 5-2 decision over Syosset in the March 26 opener. He was the winning pitcher and also helped his own cause with a homer whilst sophomore third baseman Ryan Healey knocked in three runs a bases-loaded double.

“He’s our best pitcher and our best hitter,” Baldwin coach Frank Esposito said of Jazylo, who last spring earned All-Conference honors after an All-County 2022 season. “He doesn’t think he has to overpower every hitter,” he added. “He knows situations and knows when to attack. He’s also an excellent fielding first baseman, but due to an injury he’s played some center field and made some big plays out there.”

Esposito is trying to remain optimistic senior Giancarlo Estevez can return to action and patrol center after suffering a shoulder injury in the second game of the season March 28 at Oceanside. He’s also Baldwin’s leadoff hitter. “Giancarlo was a backup middle infielder last year and now he’s an everyday player either in center or first base,” Esposito said. “We’re going to be scrambling if he’s out for any length of time.”

Senior Mario Garcia is off to a strong start both at the plate and behind it. He’s an experienced catcher and clean-up batter. “He has a great arm and we’ll even use him as a relief pitcher,” said Esposito, who noted junior Jayden Peralta would move from the outfield to catch Garcia.

Sophomore Chris Marano had some success on varsity a year ago and will serve as the No. 2 starting pitcher and play left field. “He’s scrappy at the plate and working to be a more consistent hitter,”

Ross Farber/Herald Senior Michael Jazylo homered and was the winning pitcher as the Bruins opened 2024 with a 5-2 victory over Syosset.

Esposito said. “On the mound he’s got a heck of a slider and can bring the heat.”

Junior Ryan Jazylo is following in his older brother’s footsteps and made his pitching debut April 10 against Port Washington and impressed with a 2-1 victory. He’s moved into the leadoff spot and is expecting to be the program’s starting shortstop for the next two years, Esposito noted.

Healey is a returning starter at the hot corner and could return as the No. 3 starting pitcher based on arm health. Fresh-

man Ryan Nunez has taken over at second base with freshman Gabriel Estevez also contributing. Up from JV, sophomore Liam Mugford plays first base and outfield, and sophomore Jacob Lopez is getting time in right.

“We’re a young team with only four seniors and two juniors,” Esposito said. “We have five sophomores and four freshmen, so we’ll see how it goes and how well everyone comes along.”

Baldwin (2-4-1) faces Valley Stream Central in a three-game series this week.

Fire departments rally to recruit new volunteers

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

“Firefighting is all about passion,” said Oyster Bay town supervisor Joe Saladino. “Do you have a fire in you?”

That’s the question being asked across Nassau County by the 69 volunteer fire departments that protect them. It’s all part of a renewed push from the Firefighters Association of the State of New York in its annual RecruitNY campaign to find more volunteer firefighters and EMTs.

To help support those efforts, County Executive Bruce Blakeman declared last week as a volunteer firefighter and ambulance worker recruitment week. That includes the launch of a new website, NassausBravest.com, providing information on volunteering in the county.

“Exactly 30 years ago in 1994, there were 10,000 firefighters here on Long Island. There are now 6.000, so we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Blakeman said. “It’s not just community service. That’s important, and it’s very rewarding to give back to your community, but it’s about the camaraderie between firefighters and EMT’s.”

Steve Klein knows exactly how rewarding it is. He joined the Oceanside Fire Department when he was 18, just a couple years after his father died from a heart attack. Now 77, Klein has decades of volunteer service under his belt, and is even the former president of state firefighters association.

Still, Klein will never forget how it was volunteer firefighters who responded to his father’s medical emergency. And it proves how important these types of services are. That’s why his statewide agency worked so hard to adopt more universal firefighting training methods.

“Anything we want to do, it’s going to cost money,” Klein said. “But the offshoot of that is that the volunteer fire service in the state of New York saves the taxpayers approximately $3.5 billion in taxes every year. We need to have trained people available to respond to emergencies.”

Much of that money is saved in sala-

ries, which volunteers obviously do not collect. Departments also look to fundraise as ways to avoid tax levies needed for purchasing, maintaining and operating firefighting equipment.

But there are benefits to volunteering beyond just doing the right thing. Volunteers get free training and equipment, as well as tax breaks and insurance coverage. All of that is provided by the Volunteer Firefighter Benefits Law, first passed in 1957.

Those tax breaks could include income tax credits of $500 to $1,000 per year, as well as property tax reductions of up to 10 percent — assuming local gov-

ernments have opted in.

There also are possibilities to earn a pension, as well as tuition reimbursement and scholarships.

Eugene Perry first joined the Patchogue Fire Department in 1979, thanks to his father — even those he was never a firefighter himself.

“My uncles were both in the fire service, but my father … took me to one of the tournament drills they had in Patchogue, and it was something that piqued my interest and got me to come in the door,” Perry said. “I learned quickly after that, that that’s not the whole aspect of the volunteer fire service.”

Perry has been an administrative officer for many years and is involved in fundraising efforts for the fire department and companies and is hoping to help even more through efforts at the state level, encouraging, even more, to receive benefits from the fire service in more ways than one.

“I’m still an active interior firefighter,” Perry said. “It’s still the rush of being in a firehouse and getting on a fire truck and going to a fire trying to help somebody.”

And that’s a big reason why there is so much longevity in this line of work, Blakeman said.

“You have a built-in family when you join a firefighting service,” the county executive said. “You have friends that share a love of protecting the community.”

Kepherd Daniel/Herald

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman was joined by firefighters in Plainview to share how important these volunteer departments are — and why solid recruitment this month is vital, for residents of all ages.

Lopez takes over county’s social services

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Jose Lopez has stepped in as the new acting commissioner for Nassau County’s social services department, filling the absence left by Nancy Nunziata.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to serve, to work with the county executive,” Lopez said. “To work with all the employees at the DSS. And to build a team that has a sense of morale, and more importantly, a sense of trust that the administration understands that what they do is vital to everyone that we serve.”

Lopez has spent the last three years as the county’s labor relations director, settling more than 8,000 bargaining agreements with Nassau County employees. He also guided more than 40 county departments in their negotiations with unions, and even served a member of the county’s health care committee.

At DSS, Lopez is now responsible for a department focused on supporting local families with day care, housing and homelessness prevention. He also will oversee the county’s management of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, that assists low-income, disabled or senior citizen residents with needed financial support to purchase food.

ers and court liaisons. Child victims are brought to Nassau’s Child Advocacy Center, where they share information and receive various support services from the Coalition Against Child Abuse and Neglect.

“Jose Lopez has demonstrated through his many assignments in government that he has the intellect experience and work ethic to take on important challenges,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, in a statement. “Protecting our neighbors in their time of vulnerability is of paramount importance to me as county executive.”

Nunziata, appointed in 2019 by then-county executive Laura Curran, abruptly resigned last month, according to reports, after she says she was asked to fire someone in her office from an official in the county executive’s office. Nunsiata left over a disagreement over policy with the county executive.

Blakeman had no knowledge of the request, according to Boyle, who told a news outlet the employee in question was later transferred to a different department. The county executive also said he received no communication from Nunziata about why she stepped down.

“The role is to make sure that we serve the constituency of Nassau County, and to provide services that are very much needed,” Lopez said. “At the same time, you provide an opportunity for those working with the county to do their best.”

Lopez’s experience includes a decade as the human resources director for the Western Beef supermarket chain, where he oversaw more than 2,000 employees across 22 stores and three warehouses.

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ple, including more than a dozen former cops to help manage the department’s ever-growing workload.

Lopez also will lead Child Protective Services, child support enforcement, and accommodating the Abandoned Infant Protection Act, which provides a safe way for those with unwanted infants to part with them. It’s with CPS Lopez would like to add more peo-

These new hires will assist caseworkers after undergoing a six-week training period — largely calling upon prior experience as first responders, according to reports.

CPS is responsible for investigating neglect and all kinds of child abuse. The service employs casework-

He’s also a former deputy commissioner of Nassau County Parks, Recreation and Museums, and also oversaw key functions of Eisenhower Park Aquatic Center, including staffing and event planning.

Lopez intends to reduce the amount of staff training occurring upstate, preferring to train them within Nassau instead. He also intends to broaden the services the department provides, although he has yet to share details.

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Many a spouse has advised us that they simply cannot afford to live on the allowances that Medicaid provides. This is where spousal refusal comes in. We start by shifting excess assets into the name of the “community spouse”. He or she then signs a document which the elder law attorney prepares and files with the county indicating that they refuse to contribute their income and assets to the care of the ill spouse since they need those income and assets for their own care and well-being. Note that you may not refuse your spouse’s own income over the $3,850 per month exemption as it is not coming to you.

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Once the “community spouse” invokes their right to refuse, and all of the other myriad requirements of the Medicaid application are met, the state Medicaid program must pay for the care of the institutionalized spouse.

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Courtesy Nassau County Jose Lopez is the new acting commissioner for the Nassau County’s social services department.

Lisa Ortiz jumps into politics with Assembly run

By NICOLE FORMISANO nformisano@liherald.com

It’s her first time running for office, but Lisa Ortiz is confident she can give her Lakeview community the voice it needs in the Assembly.

“I bring commitment,” Ortiz said. “And not just commitment, but someone who’s going to deliver for the community — making sure that we have someone who is representing the community, someone who’s wanting to ensure that the community’s needs and concerns are being addressed. And every decision that I make is going to benefit the community at large.”

Ortiz decided to pursue the Assembly seat as a Democrat after learning Taylor Darling plans to run for state Senate. That leaves a district serving North Baldwin, Freeport, Lakeview, Uniondale, and Hempstead village, among others, needing someone new to step in.

Ortiz may indeed be new to working in Albany, but she’s a veteran when it comes to representing her community. In fact, she can sum up her approach with a popular saying: “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” It’s how she went from being any other neighbor in Lakeview, to someone ready to make a difference.

She prioritizes accessibility to local programs, she said. The library, for example, offers business seminars and health workshops.

Through that, Ortiz “developed a passion for making sure that people in this community had someone that they could depend on to deliver whatever their needs were and whatever their concerns were,” she said.

“Service is at the core of who I am.”

Ortiz herself is a small business owner. She opened Creative Little Learners in 2018 after spending a decade as a portfolio analyst for the Commercial London real estate company. This, too, was inspired by her own experiences — she needed more accessible care for her two children, and took it upon herself to fill that need herself.

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Ortiz was elected to the Lakeview Public Library board six years ago, and now serves as its president. She also was one of the seven neighbors who came together in 2020 to create the Lakeview Civic Association, an organization focused on supporting and advocating for the community in lieu of a local village government.

As an Assemblywoman, Ortiz says she would continue to focus on needs like ensuring access to lead-free water, ensuring local schools have the money they need to run extracurricular activities while keeping up quality education, and also making sure there is equity among the communities represented in the Assembly.

She also wants to keep Long Island affordable; especially for senior citizens she says who are being priced out of their homes because of high taxes. Ortiz also plans to address the lack of local health care in the district — especially since the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow is on the brink of closing.

She also wants to advocate for environmental sustainability and an expansion in Medicaid.

“The most important thing is continuing to address

our quality of life concerns,” Ortiz said. “We have to find ways to address affordability and quality of life at the same time. To protect Long Island for everyone, and build up Long Island.”

Primaries are scheduled for June 25, with the general election set to take place Nov. 5.

Photos courtesy Lisa Ortiz Lisa Ortiz is making her first run for office, looking to succeed Taylor Darling in the Assembly, but she has community experience not only as a library board president, but also as co-founder of the Lakeview Civic Association.

What’s up next door and around the corner

HERALD neighbors

A night of prizes and community spirit

The Baldwin Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual “reverse raffle” event at the Baldwin American Legion on April 11, drawing in a crowd eager for an evening of excitement and prizes.

Attendees were greeted with a buffet dinner featuring a variety of culinary delights, accompanied by an array of beverages including beer, wine, and soda. Dessert added a sweet touch to the affair.

The highlight of the evening was the chance to win

big, with $4,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs. Participants eagerly awaited the draw, hoping to be the lucky recipients of the coveted rewards.

The event brought together members of the community for an enjoyable evening while also supporting the initiatives of the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, a volunteer organization helping to promote the Baldwin business community.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Chamber of Commerce Secretary Nancy Capozzi with her husband, James, pull the raffles.

Valerie Beaudry Geasor won a raffle prize with multiple gift cards and prizes.

Jodi, left, and Richard Brodsky attended the annual reverse raffle hosted by the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce wearing custom made jackets.

Victor Sookdeo, president of the Baldwin Chamber with several members of his family and friends.

Unlocking the origins of Passover

The very first holiday experienced by the Israelites in the Bible unsurprisingly marked their long awaited liberation after centuries of slavery under the oppressive pharaohs. In Exodus we are told that the Almighty ordered Moses to command the people to remember this watershed anniversary as a festival that should be kept throughout all generations into eternity. Some 3,300 years later, Passover in 2024 will begin at sundown on Monday April 22.

Interestingly the name given for the celebration in Exodus, Leviticus and elsewhere in the Torah is Chag HaMatzot, the Festival of Matzah (unleavened bread). So how is it that we know it as “Passover?”

In Hebrew the word

the start of the tenth and final plague, when the Hebrews slaughtered a lamb, smeared its blood on the doorposts of their homes so that the Angel of Death would pass over their homes and only strike the Egyptians. For millennia the Jews of the Levant would bring the Pesach lamb offering to the altar of the Grand Synagogue in Jerusalem. However, after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in the year 70, no longer was there the place nor the ability to carry out the ritual of the Pesach-Passover sacrifice. This is why from the first century till now we call the holiday of dinner and matzah, “Passover”, in honor of the animal sacrifice that was at the heart of

the remembrance.

But why was a sacrifice deemed so significant so as to cause a nation to transform the name of the day its members memorialized their freedom?

According to the Jewish mystics it was because of the underlying philosophical and theological concept of sacrifice. They began by noting that the word for sacrifice in Biblical Hebrew is korbon, which means “to draw near”. We all know this intuitively. When we give something of value to others we become closer to the recipient. A parent, a spouse, even a businessperson or employer is aware of this basic truth. The encoded broader lesson is clear and so meaningful, especially in our time.

Passover stands as an eternal reminder to reach out to all people and give- sacrifice your time, talent, experience, and when necessary any of your resources so as to reflect your genuine care, concern and respect.

In this way you bond, you become close in a manner that results in seeing the dignity and humanity within each human. Instead of fear, animosity, xenophobia, violence, war and enslavement, if we create an opportunity for emotional proximity, a nexus of sincere connection the world has a better chance of being a place of peace and freedom.

For individuals of any and all faiths this message of Passover is needed in our country and around the globe now more than ever.

Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft is the spiritual leader at Temple Emanu-El, 455 Neptune Blvd., in Long Beach.

J ack Z anerhaft

STEPPING OUT

Cultivating the future at Crossroads Farm

By Danielle Schwab

Vegetables, fruits, and honey, oh my!

Melissa Errico

With the growing season now upon us, Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s is ready to welcome visitors again. The historic 5.5-acre site hosts its annual season-opening event, next Saturday, April 27. It’s a day to enjoy being outdoors, and partake of family-friendly activities, delicious eats, farm-fresh items to purchase, and, naturally, a wealth of information on planting.

Crossroads Farms at Grossmann’s has a long tradition that’s been shared by generations of folks from throughout Nassau County and beyond. Since 1895, it’s been a go-to for produce, plants and related agricultural products. Owned and cultivated for more than 100 years by the Grossmann family, it was purchased by Nassau County through the Nassau Land Trust to preserve the acreage as an open farm space. It’s one of the closest farms to New York City.

“One of the big things for the Grossmann family was that Long Island Rail Road runs directly through the back of the farm,” Crossroads operations manager Michael D’Angelo says. “Back in the early 1900s, that was huge. Instead of having to use a horse and cart to go to Manhattan to sell their produce, they were able to load up onto the train that would then go right into the city.”

With more than 75 products offered, the farm produces diverse and beloved selection of organic produce for its loyal patrons. This includes best sellers like tomatoes and greens, along with turmeric, and even loofas — among the many items

Crossroads also showcases its crops at the Long Island Fair. Its tradition of excellence is evident with strong finishes in the agricultural competition.

“We put in like 50 entries last year, and 90 percent of our crops placed first, second or third,” adds Peter Notarnicola, Crossroads’ field

This year, Crossroads is doubling its production by planting on twice as much of its land. Anything that can’t be grown or produced in-house is obtained through a barter system with other farms and sold at the farm store.

Melissa Errico appears on the Landmark stage with pianistarranger Billy Stritch for her new show ‘The Life and Loves of a Broadway Baby.’ Errico sets her own life to the Broadway songs that she has sung and owned in this theatrical tour de force. She presents both a sensational set of beloved standards and a series of witty and sometimes wicked stories about an ingenue’s life passed on the Great White Way. Its sexy, sublime study of American songs — ranging from Cole Porter to Harold Arlen, Lerner & Loewe to Taylor Swift, with a substantial peek at Melissa’s new Sondheim album, ‘Sondheim in the City’ — with songs like ‘Everybody Says Don’t,’ ‘Take Me to the World,’ and ‘Being Alive.’ A woman of stage, screen and song, Errico has been acclaimed as ‘the Maria Callas of American musical theatre’ by Opera News, referencing both her silken voice and dramatic, expressive intensity.

Friday, April 19, 8 p.m. $63, $53, $43. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 7676444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

• Saturday, April 27, noon-4 p.m.

• $10 per person or $25 per family, kids younger than 3 free

• Farmstand hours: Tuesday and Friday, 1-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

• 480 Hempstead Ave., Malverne

• XRoadsFarmLINY.com

either are first or second generation, or are foreign-born themselves. They ask for specific products that may be hard for them to find,” D’Angelo says. “And that is always exciting for us. We love hearing and catering to the way people cook different things.”

Crossroads also has a presence at local establishments. You’ll find Crossroads products incorporated into the menu at Malverne eateries such as Uva Rossa Wine Bar and Kookaburra Coffee Co.

While the season is just beginning, there will be no shortage of activities to occupy everyone on opening day. A ribbon-cutting ceremony kicks off the festivities, followed by entertainment, farm tours, hayrides and food vendors on hand with some tasty bites. Check out Rockin Roots, South Shore Brewery and Beach Barbecue, among the participating vendors.

Kids can keep busy visiting farm animals and taking in an ATV ride, along with puppetry and face painting. The youngsters can also gather around a maypole and chase down colorful ribbons.

Mike DelGuidice

Another popular product is the result of a collaboration with millions of special farm workers — worker bees that is. Their buzzy effort supplies the farm with rich tasty honey.

“It’s a family fun day to come down and just enjoy the farm,” D’Angelo says.

Crossroads is so much more than simply a place to visit. Its valued community partner can be relied up to support many endeavors.

“Fresh produce, fresh flowers, educational opportunities and entertainment space truly make Crossroads Farm unique” Maria Casini, Malverne Chamber of Commerce co-president, adds.

Among the projects she’s involved in with Crossroads, the farm has partnered with LIJ-Valley Stream Northwell Hospital to introduce a”Food is Health” program tackling nutrition and hunger.

“We got about a million ladies that work on the farm, and they’re the bees,” D’Angelo jokes.

is of buzzy jokes.

D’Angelo and Notarnicola are always on the go, planning and moving forward with new ideas — and crops. They maintain a close dialogue with visitors.

The farm also offers an interactive Sunshine program to introduce kids up to 11 to agriculture.

“A lot of people don’t know the process that it takes for food to get to their table,” Notarnicola says. “To see that hands-on, I think for someone who didn’t grow up with planting, is eye-opening.”

From a tiny seedling to your dinner plate, it’s a team effort to get it all there.

Mike DelGuidice, one of Long Island’s most celebrated singer/ songwriters continues his ‘residency’ at the Paramount. Mike DelGuidice and his band always give it their all, especially when playing the iconic Billy Joel songs. DelGuidice leads his band in a rousing concert that highlights the ‘Piano Man’s’ decades of hits. Like his idol, DelGuidice has become one of the area’s most celebrated performers, balancing his schedule between doing his own thing and touring with Joel all over the world. DelGuidice, as with Joel, grew up mastering several instruments, including bass guitar, guitar, piano and drums. He’s renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of the Joel catalog, which caught the attention of Joel himself, who ultimately brought him on stage with him. DelGuidice and his band pack hit after charttopping hit, along with his own tunes in a high-energy show that’s always a crowd pleaser.

“We have customers from all different backgrounds, some who

Interested in become a part of the farm family? Crossroads Farms welcomes volunteers to help out. Various volunteering options include working in the fields planting and harvesting, or participating in education and fundraising programming.

Friday and Saturday, April 19-20, 8 p.m. $60, $40, $25, $20. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000. Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com.

beloved selection of organic produce for its loyal patrons. This you’ll find here. manager.

Michael D’Angelo, operations manager, is ready to reopen the popular farm for another busy season.

Photos courtesy Crossroads Farm Crossroads field manager Peter Notarnicola tends to his plantings.

THE Your Neighborhood

April 26

Chris Ruggiero

Experience the magic of Chris Ruggiero’s new show, “Teenage Dreams and Magic Moments.” The dynamic vocalist visits the Landmark stage, Friday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. Ruggiero is an old soul. Still in his 20s, the music that speaks to him is the music of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, breathing new life into the timeless classics that form the soundtrack of our lives. His approach to performing is more in line with that of a bygone era, bringing to the stage the panache of Frank Sinatra or Paul Anka, coupled with the energy of Jackie Wilson. Ruggiero first came to national attention when he performed in concert on a PBS coast-to-coast special and was featured on Good Morning America. Since then, he has traveled the country, delivering his unique brand of vintage rock and roll and sharing his passion for the classics.

On stage

Senior Health & Beyond Expo

He has shared the stage with artists such as Bobby Rydell, The Duprees and The Drifters. It seems almost preordained that the young man who loves the special sounds of an era is now performing on the same stages as those he admires most. The young singer was a 2020 East Coast Music Hall of Fame nominee and at the 2019 induction ceremony, he performed alongside Tito Puente Jr. singing the iconic song Tito’s father wrote, “Oye Como Va.” In his new show, “Teenage Dreams and Magic Moments,” Ruggiero tells his story by breathing ew life into the timeless music of the eras he loves, enhanced with a six-piece band and live brass. Songs like “Unchained Melody,” “My Cherie Amour,” “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “This Magic Moment” come to life with unique interpretations of these classics and more, with new orchestrations by Charlie Calello, arranger for the Four Seasons and known in the industry as “The Hit Man.” Chances are you’ll know every word of every song. $59, $49, $39. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Families will enjoy another musical adventure, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!”ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, April 19, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Monday through Friday, April 20-26, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Back by popular demand after a sold-out 2023 run, see Pigeon, Bus Driver, and some zany passengers sing and dance their way to helping The Pigeon find his “thing” in this upbeat, energetic comedy based on four of Mo Willems’ popular Pigeon books. Featuring a live band to bring Deborah Wicks La Puma’s jazzy score to life, audiences will thoroughly enjoy singing and flapping along with The Pigeon and friends. The audience is part of the action, in this innovative mix of songs, silliness and feathers. It’s an ideal way to introduce kids to theater and the humorous stories from Willems’ books. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Families, caregivers and people of all ages are invited to the Senior Health & Beyond Expo, hosted by Richner Live, Thursday, April 25, 10 a.m.1 p.m., at Rockville Centre Recreation Center. With over 40 exhibitors in health care, insurance, finance, estate planning, caregiver services, travel, fitness and more. Hear from the experts during a panel discussion, followed by a Q&A session. Learn from senior service providers about programs and recreational opportunities available for seniors. To register, call (516 569-4000 Ext. 253 or email AAnderwkavich@LIHerald.com. 111 N. Oceanside Road.

Baldwin Historical Society Spring Fest

Baldwin Historical Society invites all to its first Spring Fest, Saturday, May 4,, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Baldwin Historical Society and Museum. Browse an array of retail delights including exquisite jewelry, clothing and accessories, artisanal candles, soaps, and lotions, captivating home goods. Also paintings, photography, and other artistic wonders. 1980 Grand Ave. Visit BaldwinHistoricalSociety.com for more information.

Baby shower for moms-to-be

Mercy Hospital hosts this free event for expecting moms-to-be, Saturday, May 11, noon to 2 p.m., in the lower level cafeteria. With raffles, giveaways for mom and baby, and meet and greets with physicians, lactation specialists, mother/baby nurses, games and more. For moms only. 1000 N. Village Ave. Email Elizabeth.Schwind@chsli.org to register. For more information, visit CHSLI.org/mercy-hospital or call (516) 626-3729.

5K Aids + Cancer run walk

Participate in the 17th annual 5K AIDS/Cancer Run/Walk, Sunday, June 2, 9 a.m., at Baldwin Harbor Park. Raise awareness and funds for the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, supporting AIDS and cancer research. Registration is $25 if you register by May 13; after May 14, $28. 3232 Grand Ave. To register, visit 5KAidsCancer.com.

Annual Autism Walk

Mark your calendars and get ready to walk at the annual Autism Walk on Saturday, April 27, at 1 p.m. The walk, hosted by Hangout One Happy Place, starts at Baldwin Harbor Town Park. With raffle baskets, 50/50 raffle, food, local vendor participation, and more. For more information and if you want to support Hangout in this yearly event, call (516) 375-1102.

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, April 20, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.

Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for to register or call (516) 484-9337.

Baldwin Homemakers Annual Auction

All are welcome to join Baldwin Homemakers for their annual auction, Wednesday May 1, 7 p.m., at Baldwin Middle School. $5 admission includes 1 front table raffle ticket. With coffee, cake and door prize. Additional raffle tickets will be available for sale. 3211 Schreiber Place, Baldwin.

Having an event?

Eglevsky Ballet Gala

Eglvesky Ballet presents “Live from Studio 4,” an intimate evening of classical and contemporary ballets, Saturday, April 20, 7 p.m. The program features new and existing repertory works chosen to showcase the dancers unique ability to transfer from classical to neo-classical to contemporary with ease and mastery of their techniques. Eglevsky Ballet Studio, 700 Hicksville Road, Suite 102, Bethpage. For information and tickets, visit Eventbrite.com/e/ live-from-studio-4-tickets859994295087?aff=oddtdtc.

Meet some animals

Families can visit with animals at Baldwin Public Library, Friday, April 26, 2:30 p.m. Wildlife Center of Long Island presents a program suitable for ages 3 and up. Learn about the different classes of animals and their characteristics while meeting these reptiles, mammals, and feathered birds. Registration required. 2385 Grand Ave. Register at BaldwinPL.org or call (516) 223-6228 for more information.

Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.

Spring Dog Festival

Enjoy the glorious grounds of Old Westbury Gardens with your pooch (leashed of course), Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. With varied vendors and activities. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens. org.

Fun with pretzels

Celebrate National Pretzel Day, courtesy of Baldwin Public Library. Kids in grades 6-12 can enjoy the occasion with Chef Rob Scott’s Brooklyn Style Pretzel Take Home Kit, available for pick up in the Teen Zone, Sunday through Saturday, April 21-27. Access the recipe and instructional video on the library website. One kit per family, no registration required; available on a first-come, first-served basis. 2385 Grand Ave. Visit BaldwinPL.org or call (516) 2236228 for more information.

Friday Afternoon Movie

Hair cuts available

Hair cuts for men/boys are provided by student barbers-in-training working toward a state Barbering Technician license, under the supervision of barber J. Mestizo at Baldwin High School. Call (516) 434-6991 Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. to schedule appointments.yourgroup.

Enjoy a movie on Baldwin Public Library’s big screen, Friday, April 19, 1-4 p.m. See the 2023 thriller “The Marsh King’s Daughter.” A woman is called to the home of her estranged father to speak with the police about his disappearance. When new information about her mother comes out, she decides to drop everything and find out who was responsible for her kidnapping. The path will take her down a haunting reminder of her past. Starring: Daisy Ridley, Ben Mendelsohn, Garrett Hedlund, Gil Birmingham, Caren Pistorius. Rated R. 2385 Grand Ave. Visit BaldwinPL.org or call (516) 223-6228 for more information.

Breastfeeding Support Group

Mercy Hospital offers a peer-to-peer breastfeeding support and resources, Thursdays, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 to secure your baby’s spot. St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.

Public Notices

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: 821 Atlantic, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 3/15/24 NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to:2888 Shore Road Bellmore, NY 11710

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 145684

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 614778/2021 COUNTY OF NASSAU

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A

CHAMPION MORTGAGE COMPANY Plaintiff, vs. ZAKAR RAEL EDWARDS, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF DUNCAN EDWARDS, if living, and if she/he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF DUNCAN EDWARDS any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property

by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NASSAU ANESTHESIA

ASSOCIATES, P.C.; THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; MERCEDES FRAISER AS JOHN DOE #1; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #2; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME)

AS JOHN DOE #3; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME)

AS JOHN DOE #4; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME)

AS JOHN DOE #5; “JOHN DOE” (REFUSED NAME)

AS JOHN DOE #6, “JOHN DOE #7” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last six names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Mortgaged Premises: 1764 BROWNING STREET, BALDWIN, NY 11510 Section: 36, Block: 408, Lot: 427 & 428

To the above named Defendants

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of

$615,000.00 and interest, recorded on January 05, 2011, in Liber M 35550 at Page 863, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 1764 BROWNING STREET, BALDWIN, NY 11510.

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.

NOTICE

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: March 11th, 2024

ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff

Matthew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 145837

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 607640/2023 COUNTY OF NASSAU UNITED SHORE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC D/B/A UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, Plaintiff, vs. DEORANIE SHARMA; KEVIN IVY; NICO

SEEPERSAUD, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GURNAUTH SEEPERSAUD; DEOMATIE BEEPAT SEEPERSAUD AKA DEOMATIE B RAMOTAR AKA

CHANDROUTY SEEPERSAUD, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF GURNAUTH

SEEPERSAUD; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF GURNAUTH

SEEPERSAUD, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; NEW YORK

STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants.

Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Mortgaged Premises: 3426 BERTHA DRIVE, BALDWIN, NY 11510 Section: 54, Block: 551, Lot: 78

To the above named Defendants

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment

may be entered against you.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $673,200.00 and interest, recorded on December 22, 2020, in Liber M, Vl 44848 at Page 515, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 3426 BERTHA DRIVE, BALDWIN, NY 11510.

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.

NOTICE

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated:April 1st, 2024

ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff Oluwatobi Adedokun, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 146165

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST

Charles Gioe; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 2, 2018 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 21, 2024 at 2:00PM,

premises known as 889 Milburn Court, North Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 54 Block B Lots 806 & 807. Approximate amount of judgment $301,178.30 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 001173/2017. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Anthony Russo, Esq., Referee

LOGS Legal Group LLP

f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff

175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: March 26, 2024 146162

LEGAL NOTICE

STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. Plaintiff, vs. LEARIE YUILLE, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS PROPOSED EXECUTOR TO THE ESTATE OF CLIFTON D. BERTRAND; Any unknown heirs to the Estate of CLIFTON D. BERTRAND, next of kin, devisees, legatees, distributees, grantees, assignees, creditors, lienors, trustees, executors, administrators or successors in interest, as well as the respective heirs at law, next of kin, devisees, legatees, distributees, grantees, assignees, lienors, trustees, executors, administrators or successors in interest of the aforesaid classes of persons, if they or any of them be dead, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff; KAMWATIE PRABHAR GARIB; LISA BERTRAND-BRATHWAITE A/K/A LISA BERTRAND A/K/A LISA N. BERTRAND; MICHAEL BERTRAND; MARTIN BERTRAND; AMERICAN EXPRESS NATIONAL BANK; and “JOHN DOE” and “MARY DOE,” (Said names being fictitious, it being the intention of plaintiff to designate any and all occupants, tenants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises being foreclosed herein.) Defendants.

Filed: December 29, 2022__________ Index No.: 618403/2022

SUMMONS Mortgaged Premises: 1279 Forest Avenue Baldwin, (Town of Hempstead) NY 11510 TO THE ABOVE NAMED

DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is for the foreclosure of: Mortgage bearing the date of July 12, 2003, executed by Clifton D. Bertrand to Fleet National Bank, Principally Located in Rhode Island to secure the sum of $71,000.00, and interest, and recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Nassau County on May 27, 2004 in Book M26848 Page 990. Bank of America, N.A., is successor by merger to Fleet National Bank. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the Mortgaged Premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. The basis of venue is the County in which the Mortgaged Premises is situated. Section:36 Block:528 Lot:14 DATED: December 28, 2022 Rochester, New York NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the Mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your Mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER

DESCRIPTION All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as and by the Lot Number 14 in Block Number 528 on a certain map entitled, “Map of Linkwood Homes, situated at Baldwin, Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, Mclean & Frommholz, Engineers & Surveyors, Wantagh, New York, May 1954” and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on October 11, 1954 as Case Number 6269, which said lot is more particularly bounded and described according to said map as follows: Beginning at a point on the Easterly side of Forest Avenue, distant 205.32 feet Northerly from the extreme Northerly end is a curve connecting the Easterly side of Forest Avenue with the Northerly side of Clyde Road ; Running thence North 11 degrees 09 minutes 27 seconds West along the Easterly side of Forest Avenue, 67.26 feet; Running thence South 89 degrees 36 minutes 37 seconds

East 105 feet; Running thence South 2 degrees 22 minutes 57 seconds

East 61.39 feet; Running thence South 87 degrees 37 minutes 03 seconds

West 94.62 feet to the Easterly side of Forest Avenue at the point or place of beginning. Said premises being known as 1279 Forest Avenue, Baldwin, New York 11510 and being the same premises described in deed made by Sylvester Homes, Inc. to the party of the first part, Orville V. Locklin and Beatrice Locklin, his wife, dated 8/18/1955 and recorded 8/26/1955

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Abilities, Inc. is looking for Direct Support Professionals to provide support services to successfully integrate individuals with developmental disabilities into their communities. Transport and accompany Program Participants to recreational activities — bowling, movies, volunteering — and other socialization activities. Additional duties, such as assisting with personal care needs, may be required. $20.00/hr.

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How can I earthquakeproof my house?

Q. Since the recent earthquake, I have looked all over my house and see some small cracks in corners and a few in ceilings. Some of the cracks were there before, but it made me concerned about whether my house is protected from earthquakes, and what can I do to make it safer. Of course, nobody can predict earthquakes or how strong they’ll be, but if there is anything you can suggest, please tell me.

Nestled on a peaceful cul-de-sac

A. I was surprised by the number of questions I got about this. Obviously, the unknown is scary, because people feel helpless against the power of nature. Your home, unless it’s made of extremely rigid masonry (concrete or brick) without any reinforcement, is already fairly flexible. Unfortunately, seismic design of residential structures isn’t very well understood, either by designers or builders, because there are very few threatening earthquakes in our region.

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

Our safety factor on Long Island is the ground we are built on, which is very sandy along the shorelines, and becomes a little more rigid moving inland, but not enough to put us in a more restricted category. There are charts and graphs in the New York State Residential Building Code that show what categories to follow when designing a building, and what restrictions and exceptions there are to various conditions.

If your home, for example, has interior walls that are perpendicular to exterior walls, bracing the exterior walls, and if the exterior walls are generally in the same plane, from foundation to roof, you have met some of the first requirements for strength in an earthquake. The exterior walls are sheer walls, and the interior perpendicular walls are brace walls that help resist inward and outward movement in a high-wind or an earth-shaking event.

Many people have opened up the interiors of their homes, making the kitchen, dining room and living room, for example, one big open space. In doing so, especially without the benefit of having included a trained professional architect or engineer in the design, they may have subjected themselves to problems with a lack of bracing or sheer design. Just having a beam connecting an outside wall where a wall used to connect to an interior wall across the room usually isn’t enough to resist extreme seismic or high-wind conditions. But because we rarely have either of these two events, most people ignore the possibility. That makes everything much more difficult when a licensed professional has to mop up the mess from when a homeowner only hired someone who didn’t know the whole scope of different regulations.

Cracks in walls and ceilings are often caused by movement, but there are multiple types of movement, from heating and cooling resulting in expansion and contraction, humidity and settling. There is little you can do to strengthen your home’s conditions without the knowledge of a trained professional, engineer or architect, because you may just be adding weight in the wrong places.

© 2024 Monte Leeper

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

Migrants get more government support than veterans

Many corners of New York continue to deteriorate thanks to the left-wing policies instituted by radical ideologues in the White House, the governor’s mansion and City Hall — but prioritizing the financial well-being of migrants over American military veterans who served our nation should be a step too far, and a rallying cry for Empire State residents fed up with the status quo instituted by the Democratic “leaders” of New York.

Indeed, recent reporting has uncovered that in many cases, illegal migrants who have made their way to New York City are receiving more public assistance than disabled veterans. What’s even more jarring is that there seems to be no appetite for correcting this glaring misplacement of priorities among Democratic lawmakers.

Reporting by Newsweek revealed that “a family of four migrants in New York City receives more monthly funding than a family of four that includes a military veteran who receives disability compensation.” Many migrants who have arrived in New York City are receiving prepaid debit cards that can be used to cover a wide range of expenses. Indeed, many migrant families of four are receiving debit cards preloaded with $1,400 a month — courtesy of taxpayers. This dwarfs the amount received by a family of four utilizing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which averages $713 monthly.

Too many elected officials believe in open-border, pro-migrant policies.

The assistance for migrants is also higher than military veterans’ disability compensation in many cases: A veteran who has a 50 percent disability rating, a spouse and one child receives only $1,255 every four weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

These infuriating statistics are just the latest iteration of New York’s proillegal migrant record. In fiscal year 2023 alone, the Big Apple welcomed over 175,000 migrants and shelled out

over $1.45 billion to shelter, feed and provide services to these lawbreakers. Thanks to New York City’s progressive “right to shelter” legislation, there is reportedly no end in sight to the droves of migrants consuming taxpayer resources at an unsustainable rate. Indeed, if the current rate of migration holds, the city alone could spend around $12 billion to support migrants by fiscal year 2025.

While President Biden, Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City progressives continue to facilitate the migrant cost crisis with their open-border and pro-migrant policies, over 35,000 veterans had no permanent housing in the United States in 2023, and the number continues to rise. It’s time we place the priorities of veterans, and all Americans, ahead of migrants whose first action in this country was breaking our immigration laws.

Correcting Democrats’ horrific migrant policies in New York will require a multifaceted approach, starting at the municipal level and ending at the White House. New Yorkers and all

Americans must elect leaders committed to ending the migrant crisis, and not merely “managing” it.

In Congress, I was proud to join my fellow House Republicans in passing a comprehensive border-security bill last year. This sweeping legislative package is the strongest bill in a generation, and would provide a large infusion of resources to support our Border Patrol agents and enhance security infrastructure along our southern border — tools that would end the migrant crisis. The Democratic majority in the Senate has refused to vote on the legislation, and instead attempted to sell the American people a bag of fake goods in the form of their “compromise” border security plan, which would have merely codified the current migrant crisis, not ended it.

We can stop the prioritization of migrants’ well-being over that of veterans and all Americans by rejecting the radical immigration policies of a Democratic Party that has been captured by its progressive base from the top down, and demanding that Democratic leaders join Republicans in placing the interests of Americans first once again.

Spring cleaning: Forget the brooms and mops

My clothes closet is a throwback, a collection from a past life. Who bought all these clothes, I wonder. Whose life was dressed in these costumes? What woman, aside from the extravagantly shod Imelda Marco, could possibly think she needed so many pairs of shoes?

I stand in awe at the bizarre items hanging inside. I cannot connect to the life these clothes adorned. There is a floorlength, multi-colored, layer-cake skirt that I bought and last wore on a trip to Africa, when it was only marginally appropriate, even in Mozambique. Truth? There are two of these skirts. I also have a bright, bright red, heavily embroidered Chinese jacket I bought in Shanghai in 2003. It’s lovely, and it fits, but it is so, so pre-Covid life.

I see shirts I bought 25 years ago, when big, padded shoulders were de rigueur. They still have paper stuffed into the sleeves from the last time I had

them cleaned, several decades ago.

It’s like wandering through Pompeii. Who was this person? I wonder. The big belts, the silk shawls, the long velvet pants for formal attire add to the sense of disconnection. A hot pink cocktail dress?

Today I could keep my wardrobe in a paper sack. Since the pandemic and the collapse of the social life we once enjoyed, I dress down. Way down. Still, there are four pairs of spiked heels on the shelf. A walk in those babies would be a suicide mission.

On another shelf in the closet is the crocheted blanket that I started with my mother-in-law, who has been dead 40 years. Any day now I guess I’ll take up crocheting again. The bejeweled handbag I bought in the gift shop at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore doesn’t go with my mom jeans.

perfect symbol of all that is tucked away, out of sight.

With that in mind, I want to springclean my mind of the addictive behaviors brought on by the deprivations and anxieties of the coronavirus. The superkiller is done, and we’re still standing. The virus, no doubt, is here to stay, but with the appropriate vaccines, we will go on. What remains is our pathological obsession with devices that intensified during the pandemic, and that needs to be treated.

S ince the pandemic and the collapse of the social life we once enjoyed, I dress down.

You get my point. I hereby publicly vow to use this spring to fling out the old and give away the wardrobe of the woman who once lived a very different life from mine. My new life requires five hangars and a drawer.

There’s more. Closets are a metaphor, are they not? Clichéd, but still the

For example, I thought I had a clear mind when I sat down to write this. Then I glanced at an incoming text. My sister wanted a recipe, so I stopped writing and looked up the ingredients of sheet pan lasagna. But wait — as I searched, there was “incoming”: A new sale by Eileen Fisher, so I checked it out, and was about to buy a new T-shirt to stash in the aforementioned closet when, blip, there were notices from a dozen charities offering to match my donation today if I made them right now. I started to give my $25 to Planned Parenthood when, whoosh, there was a text from my granddaughter, who was turning in a paper in three

minutes that she wanted me to edit.

So, what was I doing? Writing my column — right, that’s it. But sister texted back, thanking me for the lasagna recipe, and then my husband texted to ask which lettuce to buy at the supermarket. I had to tell him romaine, right? Or he might come back with iceberg.

What did I sit down here to do? Oh yes, I want to focus on spring cleaning, but the news and the texts and the endless notifications are a disorienting sound-and-light show signifying nothing but distraction.

But, really, hold on a minute, can I afford to ignore a text from a company that will help me control upper-arm fat? Can I write about spring cleaning this week, when Donald Trump is possibly eating a puppy online in another magic MAGA moment? (Relax, I made that one up.)

What practical steps will I take to clean up the psychological and technological distractions? I will stop “notifications” and turn off my phone when I write. Next time. I really will do that, I promise, but first I have to check out two tiny must-read urgent news flashes: the best undiscovered beaches in Newfoundland and photos of an ancient worm that grew to 37 feet long. Copyright

Anthony D’Esposito represents the 4th Congressional District.

Weaving a future of peace, harmony and justice

as the vibrant hues of spring emerge, so, too, do the sacred observances of Easter, Passover and ramadan — each offering a tapestry of traditions woven with threads of renewal, redemption and hope.

Christians and Muslims have completed their observances of Easter and ramadan, and now Jews are set to celebrate what they call Pesach — a holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites in ancient Egypt, and their eventual exodus to the Promised land.

When it comes to the tapestry of humanity, however, all of these celebrations serve as poignant reminders of our shared quest for spiritual uplift and communal solidarity, transcending cultural boundaries and religious affiliations.

At the heart of Easter lies the profound narrative of resurrection, symbolizing the triumph of life over death, and the promise of renewal. Christians around the world gathered to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, finding solace in the belief that, through faith and redemption, new beginnings are possible.

Letters

There’s ‘my-partisanship’ far from D.C., Jerry

To the Editor:

Similarly, Passover holds a special place in the hearts of Jewish communities. Through rituals steeped in tradition, families gather around the Seder table to retell the story of Exodus, passing the torch of remembrance down from one generation to the next. Passover embodies the timeless themes of liberation and redemption, inspiring people to break free from the shackles of oppression and embrace the promise of a brighter future.

Amid the tapestry of religious diversity, ramadan shines as a beacon of spiritual devotion and self-discipline for Muslims worldwide. During this holiest month of the Islamic calendar, believers fast from dawn to dusk, engaging in prayer, reflection and charity. Through the rigor of fasting, Muslims seek purifications of the soul and a deepened connection with the divine — finding strength and solace in the collective journey of faith.

Despite their distinct cultural expressions and theological nuances, Easter, Passover and ramadan converge on the shared terrain of universal values and aspirations. Across these sacred seasons, the themes of renewal, redemption and hope serve as bridges that

Jerry Kremer’s good heart, I fear, is overly generous for our current moment (“Washington: where bipartisanship goes to die,” April 11-17). His desire for bipartisanship is currently unfashionable, not only in Washington but right here in Massapequa. Our former honorable representative and gentleman, Peter King, is now willing to pronounce on the political qualifications of mourners attending services for an NYPD officer lost in action.

The lawbreaking, felon-praising Donald Trump is noted for his “dignity” at Jonathan Diller’s memorial, while a rumor of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s being snubbed is pandered. Other notable Democrats are named and shamed with King’s party’s “anti-police” canard. Thus was Diller’s memorial stained with gratuitous my-partisanship. Bipartisanship is often a corpse, Mr. Kremer, before it departs for Washington.

BrIAN KEllY Rockville Centre

unite humanity in its quest for transcendence and meaning.

In the tapestry of diversity, we find unity in our shared humanity, transcending the boundaries of creed and nationality. As we reflect on the timeless messages of these three observances, let us embrace the richness of our religious heritage, and celebrate the mosaic of traditions that adorn the fabric of our collective existence.

In the face of adversity and uncertainty, these sacred days remind us of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of faith to sustain us through life’s trials.

Together, let us embrace unity in diversity, forging bonds of understanding and compassion that transcend the barriers of ignorance and prejudice. And may we find strength in our shared humanity, and hope in the process of a brighter tomorrow.

As the spring sun rises, let us embark on a journey of spiritual renewal and communal solidarity, guided by the timeless wisdom of Easter, Passover and ramadan. In this tapestry of diversity, may we weave a future of peace, justice and harmony for generations to come.

ed to “allow” state school funding to remain status quo, I sent the following sentiments to my Board of Education as well as lobbyist/membership organizations that advocate for school boards, including the Nassau-Suffolk and New York State school boards associations. The crime of this state aid funding game is that districts ran around in a

frenzy and a state of panic for the past six weeks, each looking to make changes and cuts, all for nothing! This disturbing yearly exercise of dangling money like a carrot is getting old and tiresome. A new method must be put in place, immediately.

Perhaps it’s as simple as educating district boards with the understanding

opinions

How will we discuss the presidential campaign in class?

amajor goal of teachers, especially secondary school social studies teachers, is to help students learn to evaluate multiple perspectives on issues by weighing evidence, separating fact from fiction, examining underlying assumptions and then formulating their own informed opinions. As a teacher, I generally withhold my opinion on a topic — but I have no problem asserting that slavery, genocide, racism, dictatorship and antisemitism are bad. There are no upsides.

J.

On any given topic, I give students documents to evaluate that include things I agree with and things I don’t. In class, my primary role is to ask questions that promote respectful discussion of the issues. I use this approach whether we’re talking about the past — say, the causes of the American Revolution — or current issues, such as the role of human action in climate change, whether a military campaign constitutes war crimes, or whether a group’s behavior should be identified as terrorism.

This fall, one important topic of discussion will be the Biden administration’s record on foreign policy, the economy, the climate, and the migrant/refu-

gee “crisis.” Another will be whether Biden’s age should be an issue in the election, whatever your evaluation of his first term.

The big problem in September will be what to do about former President Donald Trump. How do you manage a balanced, unbiased analysis of a candidate who makes outrageous, hateful and blatantly false statements?

the big problem in September will be what to do about you know who.

Trump is facing scores of criminal indictments, has been found guilty of defamation and fraud, tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election, continues to claim that the election was stolen, dismisses any accusations against him as politically motivated, and demands immunity from prosecution as a former president.

November’s election will be a major focus in middle school and high school social studies classes. I’m not neutral about slavery, genocide, racism, dictatorship or antisemitism, and I’m not neutral about the threat Trump poses to the future of democracy in the United States and the country’s constitutional foundation. I won’t use unsubstantiated conspiracy theories, propaganda websites, and Trump-sycophantic reports in document packages and pretend that students are evaluating legitimate sources.

Even an exercise in fact-checking Trump statements can leave a teacher

Letters

that they can run their budgets like a business. Not only can they, they should! We are the fiduciary stewards of the taxpayers’ money. Let’s teach boards to be fiscally responsible.

The issue with most administrations, which is no fault of their own, is that they don’t earn the money they’re in charge of. Our schools are multi-million-dollar businesses, and there’s a very different understanding of how to spend money when you’re responsible for generating the business and chasing down the receivables. When you’re responsible for making payroll, and paying worker’s comp, insurance and all other fixed costs each week, you spend differently. When fixed costs rise, they eat into your profits, but in the educational world we just raise everyone’s taxes and ask for more. The mindset is vastly different.

The long and short of it is that the entire state just spent six weeks of budget season — the busiest time of year, when we’re planning for next year — wasting time, energy, manpower and productivity, only to be told, don’t worry, you really do have the money. It is counterproductive, cruel,

open to accusations of injecting opinions into class dialogue and trying to influence students’ ideas. But a teacher’s job is to influence students’ ideas. Our responsibility to promote civic discourse supported by evidence in an election year means we must encourage students to think critically about the campaign and the candidates, and if that means presenting an accurate picture of the threat Trump poses, we’ll have to live with the consequences.

There will be students in every class who support Trump, which is their right. They should be welcomed into the discussion and encouraged to offer evidence to support their positions, but they can’t be permitted to shout down or intimidate other students, which I witnessed in 2016 and 2020.

Trump has recently said some scary things, some of which he has backtracked on and some of which he has not. Any one of them should disqualify him from being president. He told American Jews, who already face a rising tide of antisemitism, that “Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion. They hate everything about Israel, and they should be ashamed of themselves.” He has accused immigrants of “poisoning the blood of our country,” echoing the ideas of Adolf Hitler, and promises mass deportations, in violation of constitu-

tional guarantees of due process.

Trump lowers the character of political speech as he raises the level of hostility. He has warned of a “bloodbath” if he isn’t elected, threatens to withdraw the United States from, or sharply reduce U.S. financial support for, NATO, which has helped prevent broader European wars since tens of millions of people died in World Wars I and II, and to withdraw the U.S. from global efforts to minimize climate change. He has repeatedly expressed admiration for authoritarian leaders like Russia’s Putin, China’s Xi and North Korea’s Kim.

In his speeches, Trump continuously lies about his record as president. He didn’t build the greatest economy or pass the biggest tax cut in U.S. history. He didn’t do more for African Americans than any president since Lincoln. He didn’t defeat ISIS or increase government revenue — and he wasn’t reelected in 2020.

Teachers shouldn’t tell students who to vote for or how they themselves will vote, but they will be remiss if they don’t help them understand who Trump is and what he represents. Those who are unsure how to do this can have students read and debate the points raised here. Students can evaluate whether they raise legitimate concerns, or are just anti-Trump propaganda.

Dr. Alan Singer is a professor of teaching, learning and technology and the director of social studies education programs at Hofstra University.

Framework by Nicole Formisano

bad business and a cycle that has become accepted by all! We succumb to this every year, praising the governor for giving us our money back.

Our leadership at the state level — the education commissioner, Board of Regents members and elected officials on both sides of the aisle — needs to start having hard conversations with the governor’s office about their modus operandi. This disaster needs to stop.

Any successful businessperson understands that when an organization is kept in constant crisis mode, it affects every operation. The permacrisis in which this administration keeps our education system is slowly killing public education. So I’m not thankful that the governor let us “keep” our taxpayers’ money. Personally I’m disgusted, and I’m waiting for those who can to advocate for real change.

MARgARET MARCHAND President, Locust Valley Board of Education Founder, Coalition of New York State School Boards

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Attend our upcoming UNDERGRADUATE

OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Campus Tour times: 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., Noon, 1:30 p.m.

Hofstra University is a community designed with your future in mind.

During this year’s Spring Open House, speak with Hofstra’s world-class faculty and learn about its 175 undergraduate programs, various student services, clubs, organizations, and NCAA Division I athletics, all while touring a stunning 244-arce campus filled with cutting-edge facilities and research labs, and residence halls that will make you feel at home.

In-person and virtual tours are available. For event details and to RSVP, please visit hofstra.edu/visit