The Nassau Observer 3/13/24 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

Senator Rhoads Wishes Pearl “Dolly” Farrell A Happy 100th Birthday

On February 17, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads joined Oyster Bay Councilwoman Vicki Walsh and Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato in wishing a very happy 100th birthday to Pearl “Dolly” Farrell at a joyful birthday celebration at Somerset Gardens in Plainview. Senator Rhoads wishes Dolly many more years of happiness and good health!

—Submitted by the Office of Senator Steve Rhoads

SUNY Old Westbury ‘Completion Corps’ Helping Students, Families Complete The FAFSA

Farmingdale resident Fida Siddiqui has been named a member of the SUNY Old Westbury FAFSA Completion Corps, a group of students working in the community to help prospective college students and their families understand and complete the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid form and process.

Old Westbury has built a team of students to help prospective students and their families navigate the FAFSA form, which helps determine a student’s eligibility for financial aid. A recent visit to Westbury High School is one of multiple off-site pop-up venues that the team will conduct in the coming months. While at Westbury, the students offered one-on-one guidance with students and parents in preparing for and completing the FAFSA.

“The changes made to the FAFSA have simplified in many ways the process of applying for aid,” said Dr. Bryan Terry, vice president for enrollment management and marketing at SUNY Old Westbury. “For many families, though, and especially those

to help students get all the aid available to them.”

Along with visits like the Westbury event, the team at SUNY Old Westbury is planning office hours, campus events, and both in-person and virtual visits to other regional high schools.

The SUNY Old Westbury FAFSA Completion Corps team is led by Jaclyn Congello, the University’s director of orientation, and is comprised of 10 students. The students participating in the Westbury High School event were: Keshun Stanley Bunn of Brooklyn, Annie Chavez of the Bronx, Nahiyan Islam of Mastic, Paula Mendoza de Escalante of Glen Cove, Sydney Theresa Royal of Elmont, Fida Siddiqui of Farmingdale, and Me’khi Vanterpool of Floral Park.

gram announced last fall where as many as 48 students across six SUNY campuses are being trained to provide FAFSA assistance to high school students, adult learners, and enrolled college students in their region through financial aid nights, working with community organizations, and interacting on campuses.

FAFSA is the starting point for most federal and state financial aid. The updated 2024-25 form, which launched on Dec. 31, expands eligibility for federal student aid, including Pell Grants, and provides a streamlined user experience with fewer questions.

who are sending their first to college, there remain nuances and needs that can be hard to understand. Through these student leaders, our goal is to ease the process and

To arrange a visit by the SUNY Old Westbury FAFSA Completion Corps to your school or community organization, contact Congello at congelloj@oldwestbury.edu.

The Old Westbury students are making this effort as part of the State University of New York FAFSA Completion Corps, a pro-

Approximately 610,000 new students from low-income backgrounds will be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants due to updates to student aid calculations. Plus, applicants will be able to skip as many as 26 questions, depending on their individual circumstances. Some applicants may be required to answer as few as 18 questions, which could take less than 10 minutes.

—Submitted by SUNY Old Westbury

Senator Rhoads (left) with Dolly (bottom, center) on her 100th birthday.

(Contributed photos)

Surrounded by friends and family.

SUNY Old Westbury student Fida Siddiqui provides guidance and advice to a family from Westbury about the new FAFSA.

(Contributed photo)

Town Of Oyster Bay Considers Moratorium For Battery Storage Facilities

JENNIFER CORR

Battery storage systems are essential in the race to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy, according to National Grid.

Battery storage, or battery energy storage systems (BESS), are devices that enable energy from renewables, such as solar or wind, to be stored and then released when needed.

This type of technology is promising, at a time when humanity is facing the imminent threat of climate change; however, like many new inventions, BESS comes with its challenges and risks.

After four fires at BESS facilities across New York State, in Jefferson, Orange, and Suffolk counties, that took place over the spring and summer of 2023, an Inter-Agency Fire Safety Working Group was launched by the state to evaluate both preventative and reactive standards and practices for battery system fire safety, in addition to analyzing the impact of these fires. On Dec. 21, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the initial findings from this Inter-Agency Fire Safety Working Group, which found that there were no reported injuries and no harmful levels of toxins detected at sites of battery storage fires.

The Inter-Agency Fire Safety Working Group, which is made up of representatives from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Office of Fire Prevention and Control, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Public Service and the Department of State, is expected to release draft recommendations for battery system project assessments and fire code reviews for public comment during the first quarter of 2024. Statewide battery storage system inspections are expected to conclude by the second quarter of 2024.

As the state grapples with risks associated with BESS facilities, the Town of Oyster Bay is considering a six-month moratorium on the facilities until all the information is available. The potential moratorium comes after an application was submitted to the town to open a facility at 300 Shore Road in Glenwood Landing.

During a public hearing at the Feb. 27 Town Board meeting, Andrew Thyberg of Bay Environmental Consulting recommended that the Town Board amend the

town code to adopt a new local law for a six-month moratorium on battery storage systems. Thyberg said Bay Environmental Consulting was hired by the town to review zoning codes for concerns related to battery storage systems.

“Battery energy storage systems popularity is growing very fast,” Thyberg said. “There’s interest and there’s incentives in New York State… This is new technology, so there are inherent risks.”

Thyberg, who has been involved with the planning and development stages of battery storage systems on Long Island, stated that the four recent fires at battery energy storage systems in New York have highlighted risks and raised concerns over public safety and the safety of first responders. Environmental concerns, such as air, water, and soil contamination, also exist.

While the preliminary report from the Inter-Agency Fire Safety Working Group proposes that no reported injuries and no harmful levels of toxins are detected at the sites of battery storage fires, the final report is not available yet, and the Town of Oyster Bay should review the report and do their due diligence.

“Since New York State has not finalized their report, it is prudent for us to wait until their report is in,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino summarized of Thyberg’s recommendation.

The record for public comment was left open for a month following the public hear-

ing. The Town Board will vote afterward.

Lisa Cashman, the associate director of the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, attended the public hearing to read a statement from the coalition.

“CSHH supports a moratorium,” Cashman read, later adding, “A moratorium would allow the town to create appropriate procedures and codes to safeguard our community and local environment.”

During the moratorium, CSHH is interested in addressing issues of fire safety and the toxicity of firefighting foams used to contain BESS fires, and coordination with local municipalities and Nassau County to ensure facilities are not built to close too one another. Additionally, CSHH would like to explore the impact that rising sea levels and coastal flooding could have on these facilities.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has adopted science-based sea-level rise projections for Long Island. On the low end, the projected sea-level rise for Long Island in the 2020s is predicted to increase by two inches, and on the high end, by 10 inches. With coastal flooding becoming a regular occurrence on Long Island, along with more frequent and severe storms, utilities located near coastal areas could be in jeopardy.

“Given that even lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles are at high fire risk if exposed to salt water, the risk of coastal saltwater for BESS facilities should be fully assessed before permitting these facilities

near our shorelines,” Cashman read from the statement.

However, according to the statement, CSHH fully supports renewable energy resources and the transition to new technologies needed to support them.

“The CSHH also recognizes that all efforts to supply needed energy to our communities will have an impact on local residents,” Cashman read. “For these reasons, we advocate for a measured and informed process that will minimize adverse impacts and risks.”

Also in attendance at the hearing was Grant Newburger, the director of communications and organizing for The Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau & Suffolk Counties, which opposes the moratorium.

Newburger communicated that the building of battery storage facilities is work for membership.

“Second, we’re building nine gigawatts of off-shore wind here on Long Island,” Newburger said. “It’s incentived by the state; we’re building it, we have members actively offshore right now. Our region only uses 3 ½ to five gigawatts max output. Effectively we’re building about double the electric output we need and so, where do we put it? The simple answer is these battery storage facilities.”

A 5-megawatt lithium-ion battery energy storage system caught fire at the electrical substation on Cove Hollow Road in East Hampton on May 31, 2023. It was among the four fires that took place at BESS facilities in New York State last year.

“We are working diligently to repair the facility, and expect to do so over the coming months,” Mike Mazur, a spokesman for NextEra Energy Resources, said on behalf of that company and its partner on the project, National Grid, in an email to the East Hampton Star. “We will have a more definitive timeline and damage assessment once a thorough review is complete.”

According to Mazur, the water-based fire suppression system operated as designed and quickly contained the fire. No further emergency response was needed.

“The governor’s report is not done yet,” Newburger said during the hearing. “To enact something saying ‘we’re just stopping it until that happens,’ I encourage you to not put a moratorium, but wait for the governor’s report, as it’s finalized, what it will say… My hope is that it will happen before six months.”

Saladino told Newburger that The Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau & Suffolk Counties is “incredible.”

“They build Long Island and they keep us strong and they keep us updated,” Saladino said.

An application was submitted to the Town of Oyster Bay to open a battery storage system at 300 Shore Road in Glenwood, an area populated with utilities along Hempstead Harbor. (Photo by Jennifer Corr)

Pinelawn Arboretum Launches Year-Long Genealogy Initiative

“Uncover Your Family History: A Genealogy Workshop Series” Kicked off March 9

Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum is proud to announce the launch of “Uncover Your Family History: A Genealogy Workshop Series.” The initiative, which launched on March 9, 2024, invites individuals to explore their ancestry with the expert guidance of professional genealogist Kerri Tannenbaum. Intended to bridge past and present, this series provides participants with the tools and knowledge to uncover their family’s history. With a blend of expert-led workshops and hands-on research, attendees will begin their journey to connect with their roots and bring their ancestors’ stories to life.

“A common refrain we hear from many families is that they wish they captured more of their family history before their loved one passed, especially after losing the family matriarch or patriarch,” said Justin Locke, President and CEO of Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum. “We are very excited to offer this educational program to the community. This is a natural extension of the many programs we currently have in place. Learning how to research family history is both exciting and rewarding. We look forward to getting started.”

The eight-part series is set to take place over the course of eight months. Based on Long Island, Kerri Tannenbaum, who is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, National Genealogical Society (NGS), and New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B), is a frequent lecturer and works with families one-on-one to help them learn about their family history. Like a detective, Tannenbaum also investigates clues, connects the dots, and aims to help solve family mysteries.

attend. Early registration is highly recommended. To sign up for the workshop, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ uncover-your-family-history-a-genealogy-workshop-series

At the completion of the series, with Tannenbaum’s guidance, participants will have created a family tree, established newfound connections with relatives, overcome research problems, and potentially located their ancestors’ final resting places. They will also:

•Learn strategies for engaging with family lore and legacy

•Learn more about DNA test results to find relatives

secure the tools needed to move forward in their own research,” said Kerri Tannenbaum. “The study and practice of genealogy is very rewarding to anyone who has an interest in exploring their heritage. I look forward to teaching and collaborating with participants in the upcoming workshop.”

About Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum

To kick off the series, Pinelawn will host “Discovering Your Family History” on Wednesday, March 9 at 5 p.m. as an introductory course that outlines how to use records as a foundation for starting research. Participants who attend the first in-person event will receive specialized tools, references, and worksheets, all intended to open the door to exploration of their ancestral heritage. This free event will be available to attend in person, as well as broadcast over Zoom for those unable to

•Find out about efficient research methods to locate vital records, census data, newspaper articles, and a variety of other documents

•Better understand how to correlate findings into a meaningful narrative

•Learn how to navigate free online resources for genealogical research “I could not be more excited to partner with Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum to help individuals learn more about their family history and to also help them

Located in Farmingdale, New York, Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum is a non-sectarian cemetery prided on creating and maintaining a beautiful and serene environment where families can find tranquility and comfort. Its open and expansive landscape features hundreds of acres of manicured grounds, unique architecture, flowing bronze fountains and flower-lined

walks. Its beautiful memorial gardens offer all who visit, scenic beauty where they can reflect upon their loved ones in peace. For more information on Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum, or to schedule a tour of the property, visit www.pinelawn.com or call 631-249-6100.

—Submitted by Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum (Graphic courtesy of Vectorportal.com)

Island Federal Announces $50,000 In Scholarships For Long Island High School Seniors

Island Federal Credit Union (Island Federal) will award $50,000 in college scholarships to graduating seniors in June 2024. Long Island high school seniors who plan to continue their education at a university, college, community college or recognized vocational school are invited to apply.

The Island Federal Scholarship Program provides scholarships to 11 local high school seniors with 3 recipients receiving $10,000 and 8 receiving $2,500, all selected by random drawing among qualified applicants. There are no essays or transcripts required to enter.

For complete requirements and applications, go to islandfcu.com/scholarship or visit any Island branch. Applications are due no later than Friday, April 19, 2024.

“Island Federal’s mission is to enable Long Islanders to achieve their dreams for themselves and their families; that includes helping them afford a college education. Since the launch of the Island Federal Scholarship Program in 1992, Island has given out $855,000 in scholarships to a total of 363 recipients,” said Craig Booth, Interim President/CEO, Island Federal, who continues, “I look forward to presenting the scholarships to the 2024 recipients this spring.”

About Island Federal Credit Union Island Federal Credit Union, headquar-

tered in Hauppauge, N.Y., is a not-for-profit, full-service financial institution, providing affordable banking products and services to Long Islanders. Founded in 1955, Island’s successful track record can be attributed to consistently delivering the best rates, no hidden fees, and exceptional service to its members. For anytime access, Island offers free 24/7/365 customer service, online

banking, bill payer, and mobile banking services. In 2014, Island announced a 10-year, multifaceted partnership with Stony Brook University that included naming rights of the Island. In addition to the Stony Brook University and Brooklyn locations, Island operates eight full-service branches located on Long Island, in Bellmore, East Setauket, Hauppauge, Hicksville, Massapequa, Riverhead,

Sayville, and Selden. Island Federal Members can also access their Island accounts at more than 5,600 shared credit union branches throughout the country, and over 125,000 no-fee ATM networks worldwide. For more information about Island, stop by any branch, visit their website, islandfcu.com, or call (631) 851-1100.

—Submitted by Island Federal Credit Union

Massapequa Ninth-Graders Learn That Mental Health Matters

Mental health awareness was at the forefront at the Massapequa High School Ames Campus. The Ames Social and Emotional Learning committee, in partnership with the Chiefs Challenge and Active Minds clubs, focused on suicide awareness and prevention.

Social worker Kim Hession and psychologist Dr. Vincent Pennisi hosted presentations in the library, and each English class signed up for a time slot. Through the evidenced-based Signs of Suicide youth prevention program, Ms. Hession and Dr. Pennisi introduced students to ACT – acknowledge, care, tell. These are simple steps that students can take if they become concerned about a classmate or peer.

At the end of each session, students

Ames Campus social worker Kim Hession taught students how to be aware of the mental health of themselves and others during suicide prevention presentations.

(Contributed photo)

YOU CAN SAVE MORE FOR RETIREMENT IN 2024

As an investor, one way you can enhance your long-term retirement security is to fully leverage the potential of taxadvantaged retirement savings vehicles. Each year, the IRS releases new guidelines on the amount of money you can contribute to these accounts. New contribution limits in 2024 allow you to save even more this year through plans such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s and IRAs.

Changes to workplace savings limits

Contribution limits for workplace retirement accounts have been raised by $500 for the year 2024. In 2024, the IRS allows pre-tax employee contributions to 401(k) or 403(b) plans of:

• $23,000 for those under age 50

• $30,500 for those age 50 and older (includes a $7,500 “catch up” contribution).

When combined with employer contributions, a maximum of $69,000 can be directed to your workplace retirement plans in 2024 (plus the $7,500 catch-up contribution for those age 50 and older). Note that total contributions can’t exceed your annual compensation at the company that houses your plan.

If offered by your employer, you may be able to make after-tax contributions to a Roth 401(k). Note that any aftertax contributions are counted toward

the $69,000 total maximum limit for employee and employer contributions to workplace plans. Save an amount that makes sense for you, but it can be bene cial to take full advantage of any matching contribution offered by your employer. For example, if an employer offers to match up to 5% of your income into a 401(k) if you make a similar contribution, it, in effect, means you’re doubling your contribution for your retirement savings, before investment earnings are taken into account. This is a great way for your savings to make a big impact.

New IRA contribution limits

IRA contribution limits move up periodically to re ect cost-of-living changes. 2024 is one of those years.

The new limits are:

• $7,000 for those under age 50

• $8,000 for those age 50 and older.

Note that contributions can’t exceed 100% of your earned income if you earn less than the limits stated above.

Also, these limits apply to total IRA contributions for the year. This is applicable even if you hold multiple IRAs or make contributions to both Roth IRAs (which feature the potential for tax-free earnings growth) and traditional IRAs.

To make fully tax-deductible (pre-tax) traditional IRA contributions in 2024,

your modi ed adjusted gross income cannot exceed:

• $77,000 for single or head-ofhousehold tax lers

• $123,000 for married couples ling a joint return.

Not everyone can make maximum Roth IRA contributions. In 2024, full Roth IRA contributions can only occur if your modi ed adjusted gross income is less than:

• $146,000 for single or head-ofhousehold tax lers

• $230,000 for married couples ling a joint return.

Save diligently, plan wisely

Determining how much to set aside for retirement and in what types of savings vehicles is best determined through careful planning. The start of a new year is a great time to consider if you want to change or start contributions to these types of accounts.

Discuss your retirement strategy with your nancial advisor and consult with a tax professional on all tax-related matters.

were provided with care packages that included inspirational quote cards, the 988 Hotline number, mental health awareness stickers, a purple ribbon to wear on P.S. I Love You Day, and a purple heart 3D-printed charm. P.S. I Love You Day fostered kindness throughout the school.

Faculty and staff attended a Suicide Safety for Teachers training session, which emphasized warning signs and gave an overview of the school’s referral process. An evening workshop for parents provided them with knowledge and tools to recognize and address warning signs, such as indicators of distress in their teens.

—Submitted by the Massapequa School District

Richard Rothenberger, CLU®, CLTC®, CEPA®, is a Financial Consultant, Insurance Specialist with Halcyon Financial Partners, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC in Garden City. He specializes in fee-based nancial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 31 years. To contact him, www.ameripriseadvisors.com/ richard.rothenberger, 401 Franklin Avenue, Suite 101 Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 345-2600

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Anne Frank Performance Is Powerful For Wantagh Eighth-Graders

Wantagh Middle School eighth-graders experienced history like they never have before. On Feb. 2, they attended a performance in the high school auditorium of Conversations With Anne, a one-act solo show featuring excerpts from The Diary of Anne Frank.

Actress Bre Tomey portrayed Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who spent two years in hiding during the Holocaust and kept a diary about life in the Secret Annex. Her diary was later found, given to her father and published. Every year, Wantagh eighth-graders read, study and act out The Diary of Anne Frank in English language arts classes, in addition to studying World War II in social studies.

Reading teacher Dr. Ariel Adrian coordinated the performance of Conversations With Anne from the Anne Frank Center USA. It was funded by grants from the Wantagh Foundation for Educational Excellence and the Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Center, named in honor of a Holocaust survivor. She also used the grant funds to purchase additional Holocaust education books for the school.

Dr. Adrian explained that the performance helped the students better understand the historical context behind the book. The knowledge they gained will enrich classroom discussions as their immersion into Anne Frank continues.

“It allows them to feel a deeper sense of

Wantagh Middle School eighth-graders attended a performance of Conversations With Anne, performed by actress Bre Tomey, seated center, to support their unit on The Diary of Anne Frank.

(Contributed photo)

empathy about this person we are studying, who isn’t a character in a book but an actual girl,” Dr. Adrian said. “It helped the students comprehend that this was a real event.

Because World War II was eight decades ago, there are few Holocaust survivors who can come to schools and speak to students. Performances like Conversations With Anne are another way to make an impact on the historical significance of the Holocaust.

“This is a teaching artist that studied Anne Frank for a living,” Dr. Adrian said of Ms. Tomey, noting the historical accuracy of her performance as well as her attention to detail.

“Allowing the students to see this live performance makes everything we do in the

classroom feel so much more real for them.”

Following her performance, Ms. Tomey stayed in character and answered student questions as Anne Frank, based on her deep understanding of the diary. She and Alexandra Gellner, associate director of education for the Anne Frank Center, then took questions about the performance.

Dr. Adrian explained that teaching about the Holocaust is a heavy topic, but is purposeful. Teachers want students to emerge from the unit with a greater sense of acceptance, empathy, inclusivity and respect.

“We want to inspire our students to treat people well,” she said.

—Submitted by the Wantagh School District

Terrific Kids At Salk Middle School

Recently, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads joined Legislator John Ferretti and the Levittown Kiwanis Club for the Levittown Kiwanis Terrific Kids Ceremony at Jonas E. Salk Middle School in Levittown. Senator Rhoads congratulated the students on being thoughtful, kind, and

caring individuals - underscoring how the Terrific Kids program serves as a reminder that small acts of kindness and good character can make a big difference in the world.

—Submitted by the Office of Senator Steve Rhoads

(Contributed photo)

Troubled Foundation

Changes to school funding calculation add up to uncertainty for many districts

AMANDA OLSEN JENNIFER CORR

aolsen@antonmediagroup.com jcorr@antonmediagroup.com

Foundation Aid, first enacted in 2007-08, is the largest unrestricted aid category supporting public school district expenditures in New York State. This year it represents approximately 68.4 percent of the total State Aid received by districts statewide. Foundation Aid is the package of funding the state provides each school district. It is based on a complicated formula that takes enrollment, need, and federal and local contribution into account, among other factors. This past year is the first where Foundation Aid has been fully funded. Additionally, parts of the formula for Foundation Aid have not been updated for more than 15 years.

The state is facing a $4.3 billion dollar shortfall in the coming fiscal year. The two biggest expenditures for the budget are healthcare and public education, making them the first places considered for cuts. The state office of the budget stated that the decision to change the formula and eliminate the save harmless provision was based on a number of factors. “This budget attempts to solve for a $4.3 billion budget gap and we need to make decisions on where to spend state resources. With regard to public schools, they’ve never been more well-resourced. In a time when we are paying $35 billion for schools, we have to ask, ‘are we investing it appropriately?’ Are we making sure our high need students are getting the resources they need and that districts that are growing in size have the resources they need, while also getting to a number that is sustainable in the State’s financial plan,” asked New York State Budget Director Blake Washington.

At a budget hearing at the end of January, New York State Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa did not approve of the governor’s plan to do away immediately with “save harmless,” also known as “hold harmless,” and the establishment of an inflation factor of 2.4 percent for Foundation Aid. She stated that she preferred the elimination of “save harmless” be phased in to give the districts time to make adjustments and find other funding.

“We do not support this position because it impacts 337 districts. It’s been so abrupt and the conversations have not taken place. Our position has been that in order to do this, you really should have a three-to-fiveyear plan, where we have opportunities to get a new formula, where we have opportunities to look at the impact across the entire state in the various districts and make sure that the new formula informs the study and

the new formula informs the work,” Commissioner Rosa said in her testimony.

The loss of federal funding from COVIDera aid is also compounding the issue. Rosa stated that she had been warning districts to be ready for this funding “cliff” for some time. “We have been warning districts about the fiscal cliff from last year, the year before, knowing that the additional financials that we received for learning loss that were added, with staffing and everything else (were ceasing.) I think a lot of districts were caught off guard, knowing that we’re going through that process of the Federal financial cliff, and then having this also happen. This has really created distress for districts. Now they have to rethink how they deal with personnel issues, delivery of services for our students, as well as looking at what are the decisions that they’re going to have to make this spring.”

This budget attempts to solve for a $4.3 billion budget gap and we need to make decisions on where to spend state resources.

Steve Rhoads, Senator Patricia CanzoneriFitzpatrick, Senator Jack Martins, Senator Alexis Weik and Assembly Members Ari Brown and Brian Curran, have responded to the proposed changes. The group gathered at the beginning of the month to call on the governor to reconsider and have also started a petition. (See Full Run page 2a for details.)

—New York State Budget Director Blake Washington

“There were superintendents there from across Nassau County,” Martins said. “Whether they’re on the South Shore, whether they’re on the North Shore, they all have the same concern: if the state is going to provide us with these mandates… it’s time that the state takes on the responsibility of properly funding education here on Long Island.”

al and the rolling back of the ‘hold harmless,’ is basically saying, ‘we’re going to cut back on our funding’ when effectively it doesn’t change the budget for that school district,” Martins said. Martins also expressed concern about the Consumer Price Index piece of the formula for calculating Foundation Aid.

“The governor decided because we’ve had a rough inflationary period, rather than increasing to inflation, she would actually take an average over the last several years,” Martins said. “That inflation has impacted every one of our school districts, their cost of energy, materials, everything they do has been impacted by that cost of inflation”

Martins added that because of the tax cap, and these rises in costs, districts have to rely on the state to “pay its fair share.”

“They’re not getting the fair proportionate share of their budget from the state, but all of these mandates come down from the state every year,” Martins said. “And I’ve heard that from every superintendent across this district.”

Martins said that the New York State Senate and Assembly will be releasing their own budgets.

“There will be alternatives there,” Martins said. “And I think you’ll see that both the Assembly and the Senate will address education differently.”

Other public officials have also weighed in on the changes. “For the past three years, New York State has made a historic commitment to fully fund Foundation Aid, and these investments should not be undermined now. I will not let that happen. I am committed to joining my colleagues in the Democratic Assembly and Senate Majorities to remove the proposed cuts from the final budget. Similar to past years’ negotiations, this would be done during the final budget process. While others make statements and hold press conferences, I will be working with my colleagues in the Assembly Majority to put forth a budget that makes sure our schools receive the critical funding they need. As we have always done,” said Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti in a statement.

A number of representatives from Nassau County, including New York State Senator

Martins cited an example of the state withholding funding if there’s a decline in enrollment, explaining that a loss of, say, 20 students in various grades wouldn’t change the district’s budget .

“The state, through the governor’s propos-

The New York State Union of Teachers is also concerned about the impact the recalculation will have on education in the state. “Call them what you want; these are cuts,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person. “Once again, the state is turning its back on its support for our students and our communities. It took less than a year after the legacy victory of fully funding Foundation Aid for that promise to be broken, and we now return to the same old fight for the resources all our schools desperately need. To say we are profoundly disappointed is an understatement.”

For more information on the budget, visit budget.ny.gov.

Jack Martins

(Anton Media Group file photo)

New York State Capitol Building (Photo by Getty Images)

Commissioner Betty Rosa (Photo by the office of the Commissioner of Education)

Saladino Announces Lifeguard Employment Opportunities At Town Pools And Beaches

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino announced lifeguard employment opportunities at Town Pools and Beaches throughout the Town. Opportunities for this summer once again include a competitive starting salary of up to $18 per hour for all lifeguards, as well as openings for 15-year olds at community pools.

“From having the opportunity to work at one of the town’s fantastic summer facilities and building confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills, to making new friends and helping others, working as a lifeguard is one of the best summer jobs around,” Supervisor Saladino said. “Our lifeguards provide an invaluable service in protecting our residents and have helped save countless lives in both pool and ocean waters. We encour-

age you to take the first step in making this summer your best one yet by applying to be a Town of Oyster Bay lifeguard today.”

guards, Lifeguard Instructors and Lifeguard Managerial positions.

“The Town of Oyster Bay is making it easier than ever to become a lifeguard. We’re offering all the certification and training courses you need to apply, covering the fees of these courses for successful candidates, welcoming 15-year olds to our lifeguard ranks at town community pools, and offering competitive pay in recognition of the life-saving work they do,” added Supervisor Saladino.

Town lifeguards are hired for the summer season, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Positions are available at all Town pools and beaches. For all inquiries about lifeguard employment and classes, please call 516-797-4131 or email aquatics@oysterbay-ny.gov.

—Submitted by the Town of Oyster Bay (Getty Images)

The town is accepting lifeguard applications from candidates who possess Nassau Lifeguard Certification and a current CPR/ AED for the Professional Rescuer. Additionally, the Town is offering Red Cross Lifeguard Training and Nassau County Certification courses for residents who are not certified, but would like to be. Upon successful completion of these two courses, residents will be eligible for employment as a lifeguard with the Town of Oyster Bay and the Town will then pay all fees for both courses. There are also many future opportunities for advancement, including as Water Safety Instructors, Swim Team Coaches, Swim Lesson Teachers, Head Life-

Town Launches Pet Food & Supply Drive In Partnership With LI Cares

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilman Tom Hand announced that the Town of Oyster Bay will once again host a Pet Food & Supply Drive in partnership with Long Island Cares. The drive will take place from March 1 to March 31 with a focus on collecting for the family members most vulnerable to hunger, residents’ pets. Long Island Cares formed Baxter’s Pet Pantry in 2009 to assist in feeding dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, caged pets, fish, reptiles and all others considered family members.

“Unfortunately, many pets are oftentimes placed into shelters or given away because families cannot afford the necessary food and supplies,” said Supervisor Saladino. “When struggling families have to make choices to heat their homes, buy medica-

tion or feed their own families, pets can become an afterthought. Pet food drives like this one can be a real lifesaver for both pets and their families.”

The creation of Baxter’s Pet Pantry by Long Island Cares has helped distribute over one million pounds of pet food, all of which has been donated through pet food drives like this one and corporate donations.

“These pet food and supply donation drives can help countless animals stay at home with their loved ones,” said Councilman Hand. “The Town is proud to once again partner with Long Island Cares for this important cause.”

Those interested in supporting the Town’s Pet Food & Supply Drive can place donated items in drop-off boxes located at both Town Hall offices, including Town Hall

North at 54 Audrey Avenue in Oyster Bay, and Town Hall South at 977 Hicksville Road in Massapequa, during regular business hours.

Town Hall locations are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. For more information, visit www.licares.org or call the Town’s Public Information Office at 516-6246380.

—Submitted by the Town of Oyster Bay

Town Seeks Counselors For Summer Recreation Program

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilman Steve Labriola announced that the Town is seeking counselors ages 16 and older for the 2024 Summer Recreation Program. The six-week program provides a rewarding employment experience for counselors as they work with children and make a difference.

“This great summer job is ideal for residents age 16 or older who are looking to build their résumé,” said Supervisor Saladino. “Our summer recreation counselors get real-world experience while having fun, making memories, and making a difference in the lives of others.”

Applicants must be available for the duration of the program, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning July 1st through August 9th. Orientation will take place the week of June 24. Summer Recreation Program participants take part in trips, tournaments, shows and athletic events, including the TOBAY Games, making being a counselor a great first job for many residents.

Employment opportunities are offered at Marjorie R. Post (Massapequa), Plainview-Old Bethpage and Syosset-Woodbury Community Parks, Ellsworth W. Allen Town

Park in Farmingdale, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park and Beach in Oyster Bay, and Tappen Beach in Glenwood Landing.

“The Town has positions available for counselors, coordinators, leaders and assistant leaders at all locations, especially at our north shore facilities at Theodore Roosevelt Park and Tappen Beach,” said

Councilman Labriola. “Spots fill quickly and we encourage all interested residents to fill out an application today.”

For more information, prospective counselors should contact Town’s Department of Parks at (516) 797-7945 or visit www. oysterbaytown.com/summerrecreation.

—Submitted by the Town of Oyster Bay

(Photo courtesy the Town of Oyster Bay)

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

To place an item in this space, send information two weeks before the event to editors@antonmediagroup.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 14

Filipino Cuisine Cooking with Chef Adora Penn

6:30 p.m. Fee: $6 per person. Join Chef Adora Penn as she demonstrates how to cook and prepare Filipino food. She will discuss the culture and food influences, and will prepare a set of appetizers, a main dish and a dessert. Recipes will be provided with a tasting! Preference given to UFSD #22 residents. This event is taking place at the Farmingdale Public Library, 116 Merritts Rd.

St. Patrick’s Day Crafts

FRIDAY, MARCH 15

Shamrocks and Pot of Gold Cookies with The Baking Coach

4:30 p.m. For children in grades 1 - 5. Decorate a pot of gold and lucky shamrock cookies! Open to residents in SD #21 ONLY. Register in the Children’s Room or online with your Bethpage Public Library Card. This event is taking place at the Bethpage Public Library, 47 Powell Ave.

Flower Garden Design Basics

SUNDAY, MARCH 17

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Once More Once Jazz Ensemble Concert

TUESDAY, MARCH 19

Flowers and Vegetables for the Early Spring Garden

5:30 p.m. For grades K-5. Join Miss Juliana to make shamrock picture frames and pot o’ gold rainbows. Registration is required. Each child must be registered separately. This event is taking place at the Hicksville Public Library, 169 Jerusalem Ave.

2 p.m. Have you always wanted a flower garden but don’t know where to start? Join the master gardeners from Nassau County’s Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn about the key elements you want to think about when designing your garden including height, color, texture and site. Get ready for your flower garden to flourish! This is an in-person program taking place at Hicksville Public Library, 169 Jerusalem Ave. Registration required.

2:30 p.m. Join us for an unforgettable afternoon with Once More Once, a fabulous 18-piece band, serenading you with show tunes and iconic charts from legends like Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Ella Fitzgerald, Maynard Ferguson, and more. Get ready to be transported through the golden eras of jazz and swing – a musical journey you won’t want to miss! Part of the Town of Oyster Bay Distinguished Artist Series. Seating tickets available at the Reference Desk starting at 2p.m. on the day of concert. No registration required. This event is taking place at the Farmingdale Public Library, 116 Merritts Rd.

MONDAY, MARCH 18

The Women of Ireland

1:00 p.m. Celebrate Women’s History Month and St. Patrick’s Day with a multi-media showcase of stories and songs about Irish women from the ancient Celts to current day. For more information, contact (516)731-5728 ext. 244 or email pr@levittownpl.org. This event is taking place at the Levittown Public Library, 1 Bluegrass Lane.

2 p.m. Paul Levine (a.k.a., Pauley the Plant Guy) discusses plants and vegetables that will be great for your garden in late March and early April. Get great tips for planting and growing a garden that will be the envy of the neighborhood! Also join us for Pauley’s plant raffle. Register online in advance if interested. This event is taking place at the Massapequa Public Library, 40 Harbor Lane.

UPCOMING

Class Reunion in Massapequa

A. G. Berner High School Class of 1974 is hosting their 50th-year reunion at Captain Bill’s in Bay Shore on Saturday, Oct. 12th, 7:30 to 11:30pm. Tickets are limited, so order yours early! Cost is $100 per person. For more information, email: Berner1974reunion@gmail.com

General Meeting of the League of Women Voters of East Nassau March 20 at 3 p.m. The League of Women Voters will meet at the Levittown Public Library, 1 Bluegrass Lane. There will be a presentation by historian Claire Bellerjeau on her book Remembering Liss

(Image credit The Hicksville Public Library)

(Image credit The Hicksville Public Library)

(Getty Images)

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Preservation Long Island To Host Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit

Cold Spring Harbor museum explores democracy with a “small d”

aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

“Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” presented by the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street, in cooperation with the Museum Association of New York (MANY), examines the nearly 250-year-old American experiment of a government “of, by and for the people,” and how each generation since continues to question how to form “a more perfect union.” Opening at the Preservation Long Island Exhibition Gallery in Cold Spring Harbor, New York on March 22, 2024, “Voices and Votes” will be on view through May 3, 2024.

Preservation Long Island, a regional not-forprofit organization headquartered in Cold Spring Harbor that maintains and interprets historic sites and collections pertaining to Long Island’s history, has been chosen by MANY to be the first venue in New York State to host the “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” exhibition. This initiative is all part of the Museum on Main Street program—a partnership to bring exhibitions to small town and rural cultural organizations across America. The exhibition will tour twelve communities across New York from March 22, 2024 through January 2026.

“Preservation Long Island is excited to serve as the inaugural site for “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” said Alexandra Wolfe, Preservation Long Island Executive Director. “The exhibition’s focus on freedom, civic participation, and political engagement resonates strongly with our commitment to making the past relevant to the present.”

“Voices and Votes” explores what democracy demands as Americans continue to question how to shape American values. Wolfe explained that the exhibit is meant to both provoke a response and engage the public in an ongoing discussion of what democracy means and what role each individual plays in it. “What is this idea of democracy, a place that is run for and by and of the people? What is the mechanism that makes that work? It’s not always easy because you have to adapt and think about everybody’s interests. How do you synthesize all of that and make a community work? And then through a community working, how do you make the next level municipality work, how do you make a state work and how do you make a federal government work? It starts at the low level and works its way up.”

The exhibition will include art and artifacts drawn from Preservation Long Island and other local collections. Among the local highlights in the exhibition is an original essay by Jupiter Hammon (1711–ca. 1806), America’s first published African American poet, written while he was enslaved

Alison Turnbull Hopkins pickets the White House, 1917.

(Image courtesy of the National Woman’s Party at the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument)

at Joseph Lloyd Manor in Lloyd Harbor shortly after the American Revolution, advocating for the citizenship of Black New Yorkers in the new nation. “One of our historic houses is directly connected to this individual, an enslaved person who is writing about these ideas of freedom while during the Revolutionary War. It’s this nexus of so many different things. He’s really thinking about it as someone who is very old, who is experiencing not just the big ideas, but their implementation. He actually hesitates to say that he would consider being emancipated himself, but he hoped for it for the future,” Wolfe said of the essay.

Other items include a bracelet and ring made from scrap sheet metal by women aircraft factory workers on Long Island as the United States fought to preserve democracy abroad during World War II, and the drawings and models for the national monument to African American civil rights leader and women’s rights activist, Mary MacLeod Bethune (1875–1855), created by Long Island artist Robert Berks (1922–2011) in 1974.

The series of local exhibition-related programming and free events include a community quilt project. Wolfe sees the quilt as a fantastic metaphor for democracy, where people of different backgrounds assemble small pieces into larger ones, which then becomes an object that can provide a service. “We’re featuring a quilt that was assembled by the Dutch Reformed Church in Manhasset during the Civil War. It’s called an 1860s piece quilt. The core of democracy is that you have to build community; you have to sort out your differences. If the governance is by consensus, you have to kind of create a community. People gather and they put together a quilt. You are creating a thing out of individual parts. And the thing about the 1860s quilt is that people signed their names on it. They gave their own identity to a little square of decorated fabric, that then got assembled into a larger fabric, that then covers a bed which is something that provides safety and security. We thought that a good way to relate an 1860s quilt is to do another quilt. The new one is based on the same design. It’s a whole different community that has come together around an idea.” Both quilts will be on display in the exhibit.

Designed for small-town museums, libraries, and cultural organizations, “Voices and Votes” will serve as a community meeting place for conversations about democracy, the freedoms, and responsibilities of citizens, participating in government, and more. “The Museum Association is helping small museums grow into better museums,” Wolfe said. “This exhibit looks back into history and explores all the ways that issues have been addressed, argued, resolved, and how it has evolved as well. So it’s interesting and compelling in the sense that this is a history of something that is never going to be finished.”

Signature pieced quilt, ca. 1862, Cotton. (Photos by Preservation Long Island)

Bracelet and Ring made of scrap metal from a WWII Aircraft, ca. 1945, Sheet metal

Voices and Votes Signature Pieced Community Quilt (2024) in process.

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D“It’s Breathtaking” Dune: Part Two Delivers

The multipart cinema experience continues to dazzle

COLE McDONNELL

une: Part Two has delivered and lived up to the hype that its predecessor bestowed upon it. The first Dune saw the downfall of House Atreides and spent most of the movie building to what was to come in the second movie. This movie felt monumental, it felt historic, it felt important to go to the theater and have this special experience. Denis Villeneuve has captured the essence of going to the theater and making it important.

“It’s breathtaking,” Paul Atreides, played by Timothee Chalamet, says sitting on the sand hills of Arrakis with Chani, played by Zendaya. Breathtaking is the perfect word to sum up this movie. The scenery and detail in each are just captivating. You find yourself constantly in awe of the desert planet. This movie relies on the sandy atmosphere whereas the first movie just scrapes the barrel of what’s to come. Villeneuve puts everything the Fremen have on display. The scenes where they hide in the sand and jump out to attack their enemies are beyond sensational. Each time I saw it I got fired up ready for the next attack. Fremen riding on sandworms with sand blasting in their face like they are surfing in the ocean was just another example of the amazing visuals in the film.

you are there. There is the sand blowing in the wind, the thumpers pounding to attract the sandworms, the explosions and shouting of war, the Fremen lunging out of the sand, and even the water being extracted from the dead. We hear it all. The IMAX experience is a necessity for Dune: Part Two. The ominous soundtrack, part of the fantastic score by world-renowned composer Hans Zimmer, accompanying Paul in many scenes is catchy yet also jarring.

Atreides goes through his own hero’s journey in this film where he must become a Fremen and also get them to believe in him as the Lisan al Gaib, a messiah. He helps them take down spice Harvesters and earns a Fremen name, becoming fully embraced by them. Throughout the film, Paul is haunted by visions and dreams of a holy war that begins when he moves south; he sees Chani burn alive and refuses to go south in hopes to avoid his dreams coming to fruition. Gurney Halleck, played by Josh Brolin, tries to explain to Paul that he must use his name and get the power

In contrast with the orange Arrakis, we visit Geidi Prime, home of the Harkonnens. Villeneuve uses the Black Sun to flip the colors of this environment and give us a dark world where the villains in the movie live. We are introduced to Feyd-Rautha, nephew to Baron Harkonnen. He is a sick and twisted individual who kills his servants and killed his mother. Feyd-Rautha is played by Austin Butler who gained mainstream fame starring as Elvis Presley in Elvis Butler gives a great performance as the psychotic Harkonnen prodigy. The emotion he portrays in his facial expressions drew me to him. I loved every scene he was in because of the unpredictability of his character.

Baron Harkonnen strips Rabban Harkonnen of his position, giving it to Feyd-Rautha who revels in it and immediately puts plans into motion to attack the Fremen of Arrakis.

Along with the beautiful visuals of Dune: Part Two, the sound adds just as much to the film. Every sound effect is enhanced to make you feel like

to take down the Harkonnen. He says to Paul that he sees the visions “because you lose control,” to which Paul responds, “because I gain it.”

Chalamet does a fantastic job selling this inner battle that Paul has, constantly fighting the pressures of his mother and the burden of losing his great house, not diving headfirst into all-out war. After a war council is called in the south and he gets a dream where he sees his sister telling him to drink the Water of Life, he decides to go south and do what he must. In a fantastic scene with Zendaya, he tells her “If I go south, I might lose you.” She assures him but also does some foreshadowing by saying “You will never lose me Paul Atreides, not as long as you stay who you are.”

Later having drunk the Water of Life his whole demeanor changes. He gains foresight and sees everything. In the war council, he uses his new powers to intimidate but also inspire the Fremen. He puts on a passionate display of power and confidence, promising a green paradise. Whether that is because it is what he sees

or it is something that he knows the Fremen want to hear to manipulate them is up to us as the viewers to interpret.

The shot of Chalamet standing tall over the Fremen army shouting “Long live the fighters” was an excellent example of how amazing this movie was put together. Paul and Feyd-Rautha come face-to-face in a duel to determine the next emperor and who will take Princess Irulan’s hand in marriage, the Emperor’s daughter. The final fight scene was done, in my opinion, perfectly. Drowning out any other sound besides some gasps from the crowd, Atreides and Feyd-Rautha fight with their blades and all we hear are their grunts and the blades hitting each other. Atreides gets stabbed twice and the deep breaths that Chalamet lets out make you feel how much pain he is in. He winds up taking a blade out of his body and kills Feyd-Rautha, becoming the next Emperor.

The movie ends with the news that the great houses will not accept Paul as the emperor and Chani riding off on a sandworm. The holy war that Paul wanted to avoid is what we will see in the third installment.

Scenes from Dune: Part Two. (images from IMDB)

Our Forests

Forests in New York cover 18.6 million acres of land, making the State 61 percent forested. Whether it’s hiking, hunting, camping, or birdwatching, these forest lands provide recreational opportunities for millions of residents and others visiting the state’s scenic regions. New York’s forests also provide employment and bolster the state’s economy through the production of timber. New York’s forests are made of a variety of forest types, mostly maple and other hardwoods, along with pine, oak, and eastern hemlock.

Forest Damage

Insects

Asian longhorned beetle (ALB)

New York State has been managing ALB since the insect was first found in Brooklyn in 1996. Since then, ALB has been eradicated from all five New York City boroughs. The single remaining quarantine area is in Central Long Island, covering 53 square miles. When ALB is found, infested trees are cut down and destroyed, while healthy nearby trees are sometimes treated to prevent future infestation.

Elm Zigzag Sawfly (EZS)

EZS was first detected in New York in 2022 in St. Lawrence County, the area with the

2023 New York Forest

highest density of elm in the state. Later in 2022, EZS was detected in an additional 22 counties via ground surveys and public reports. Even though this species appears to be widespread, damage detected so far has been minor. Research is ongoing to learn more about how this species may impact our ecosystem. This year, we learned that EZS had three generations in northern New York, and that green assassin bugs and exotic ladybugs

were the most predominant predators. We also learned that yellow sticky traps are the most effective way to capture the insect.

Hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA)

In 2023, DEC treated hemlocks with systemic insecticides at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Lake George Wild Forest, Glen Island Campground, Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, Hearthstone Campground, Peck Hill

State Forest, and Rockwood State Forest to protect sensitive hemlock ecosystems and high public-use areas. DEC supports the New York State Hemlock Initiative at Cornell University to conduct HWA biological control work across the state, which uses the natural predators of invasive species to reduce their populations. In 2023, predators of HWA were released at Hearthstone Point Campground, Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Battle Island State Park, and Schenectady’s Plotterkill Preserve among other locations. Chemical treatments help to buy time for biological control to become established and effective across the landscape.

Southern Pine Beetle (SPB)

SPB continues to cause significant pine mortality on Long Island. To respond to this threat, in 2023 DEC thinned 175 acres of pine forest in Suffolk County to restore a healthy, naturally sparse pine barrens that are resistant to SPB outbreaks. Outside of Long Island, DEC traps for SPB throughout eastern NY to monitor potential spread of the beetle and to learn more about SPB’s behavior at the northern edge of its current distribution. We are learning how SPB is responding to warmer winters, and how their populations are impacted by our native, natural predators.

Forest Health sta Meaghan Schwartz and Tim Koski manually controlling

Health Highlights Summary

Spongy Moth

Spongy moth outbreaks occur every 7 to 10 years and cause severe defoliation of oaks and other hardwoods. When populations get exceptionally high, moths will also feed on conifers like white pine and hemlock. Hardwoods can often recover from 1-2 years of defoliation, but may succumb if they are defoliated for multiple years. Conifers do not rebound well, and may die after just 1-2 years of defoliation. The current outbreak began in 2020 in the Finger Lakes region and spread to many areas of the state, peaking in 2021. In 2023, the heaviest defoliation was observed throughout the Hudson Valley from Westchester County to Albany. DEC mapped approximately 188,291 acres of damage in the Hudson Valley during aerial surveys in July 2023. Outbreaks typically collapse after 3 to 5 years, and so we are hopefully nearing the end of this outbreak.

Pathogens

Beech leaf disease (BLD)

BLD was first found in New York in 2018. In 2023, there was significant rapid expansion of the disease. It was found in 12 new counties including Albany, Broome, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, New York, Onondaga, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Seneca, Ulster, and Warren. Currently, there is no known treatment for BLD. DEC, funded by the U.S.

Forest Service, is testing potential treatment strategies including canopy thinning and understory removal to see if the impacts of BLD can be mitigated by forest management. Trial treatments began in the winter of 2023, and are slated to continue into 2024.

Invasive Plants

Giant Hogweed

Giant hogweed plants have been managed since 2008 and are present in 52 counties,

with the largest and densest number of sites located in the western portion of New York State. At sites where giant hogweed plants are found, a mix of manual and/or chemical control methods are used. Sites that have previously been treated for giant hogweed continue to be monitored until no giant hogweed plants are found for a total of nine years, at which point they are considered eradicated. Information is available for landowners and the public through our giant

hogweed/invasive plant information line, outreach materials, and website. Because of our control efforts over 60 percent of historical giant hogweed sites in New York no longer have these invasive plants.

Kudzu

Kudzu plants have been managed since 2014 and are present in 14 southeastern counties. Because of our control efforts kudzu has been eradicated from over 30 percent of New York sites where it was historically present. Sites that have been successfully managed are monitored for nine years until no more kudzu plants are found, at which point the kudzu is considered eradicated.

Forest Health Diagnostic Lab

The DEC Forest Health Diagnostic Lab continues to provide insect and forest pathology diagnostic services to New Yorkers and promotes research and survey methods development within the various Forest Health programs. The lab responded to 641 diagnostic requests to date and conducted six public site visits in 2023. General insect identification remains the most frequently inquired subject across the state, while oak wilt inquiries had the most significant increase due to 2023’s late season frost causing oak decline symptoms.

—Submitted by NYS DEC

Forest Health sta members Allison McKenna and Bob Slocum thinning trees for pine barrens ecosystem health. (Photos by the New York State Department of Conservation)

This column is going to focus on great opportunities for amazing photographs right here at Jones Beach. I have many wonderful memories of plays performed at the Northwell Theatre (then called Jones Beach Marine Theater) with refreshments and live music after in gigantic tents throughout my childhood. Of course I also have beach memories of sunburns, walking on burning hot sand, dragging chairs and coolers etc. A few years ago, I decided to rediscover Jones Beach and I am really glad I did. From a photography perspective, it offers a plethora of opportunities for great pics.

The easiest and most obvious choice is sunset pics. The secret is that there has to be something other than just the sunset in the pic. If you go to the parking lot next to the Nature Center or park there and walk a little left, there is a path that leads to a building with benches where you can take great sunset photos with the dunes at the bottom. It’s super easy to get great shots of the tower with the sunset in the background. There are usually some ships far out in the water which look great with a sunset. Just make sure they are not too far out that they are unrecognizable. Everyone will say “Hey what is that?” and really bug you.

Nature photography is also fantastic at Jones. Starting at the Coast Guard Station there are gulls and assorted shore birds. The gulls perch for pics right on the pilings. Canada geese are always strolling around looking for food. There are different levels of walkway there and a cool trick is to take some photos at the geese’s eye level. In doing this, you automatically pick up more details of the bird and it makes for a better photo. Also, across from the Coast Guard parking lot is a multitude of twisted greenery. The wind at the beach has transformed the trees and bushes into cool shapes that look good alone or with some bird perched on them.

Do not discount going out on what would seem a bad photography day if you are in the mood. Take advantage of the weather and you can get some really good looking special effects that would only be available on programs like Lightroom

Look Local, Look To Nature

or Photoshop. Any random shot taken with the shadowy background really pops. Having a blurred background is a very desirable effect and can require a good bit of effort to attain. Many times in photography competitions, a hazy background can actually raise your point scores. Many judges feel a blurry background enhances the photo by keeping your eye on the subject and not on background diversions. I once received a great score for a Canada goose picture taken on an exceptionally hazy day. The judge thought I had put gargantuan effort into an

small. Walk along the shore, find any interesting shells or wood or kelp etc. Get your camera real close and shoot. It is quite amazing the beautiful spirals and designs provided by Mother Nature. Whelk shells-everywhere at Jones- have unbelievable spirals and colors that transform into unusual abstract photos for your home. Not long ago, the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan had an entire Macro photography exhibit entitled “Extinct and Endangered” which showcased butterflies and bugs.

Potential works of art can come from anywhere. Again Jones Beach is full of photo ops. Each fall, thousands of monarch butterflies continue their southward journey through the park. Many people flock there with really expensive camera equipment for the migration but you can get really great pics in the area behind the basketball courts. There are a lot of shrubs that the butterflies like. It is fairly easy to get some great shots while still keeping a respectful distance. Many times I will take just random shots at the beach for one reason or another. Sometimes I snap photos of large groups of birds or piles of shells and blow them up on my laptop.

The most important thing to remember is to enjoy photography however you choose to do it. Some people really enjoy delving into a hobby full force with very expensive equipment and extensive editing programs; others like to use a cell phone. Whatever camera you use, just enjoy yourself and have some fun.

Karl

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effective background to highlight my subject. In actuality, it was a two-second photo where nature did all the work. I kept my secret to myself and took the great score.

Another way to get really interesting shots at the beach is macro photography. This type of photography is all about showcasing a subject larger than it is in real life- an extreme close-up of something

—Mary Borowski is a member of the Manhasset-Great Neck Camera Club

(Photos by Mary Borowski)

BY JENNIFER CORR jcorr@antonnews.com

At the beginning of the year, I decided to sharpen a tool I’ve acquired over the past couple of years: bartending.

JEN ABOUT TOWN

Taking A Bartending Certification Course

I’ve done some bartending on the side here and there. I really enjoy mixing cocktails, hearing people’s stories and watching people when they are letting loose and having fun, all of which bartending provides. I’ve learned how to make some drinks along the way, like Long Island Iced Teas and margaritas, but I’ve realized that there are a lot of drinks I don’t know, which made me want to take a bartending course.

I did some research and found 1800-Bartend, located in Farmingdale. I signed up for the two-week course, which took place Mondays through Thursdays. Wednesday classes took place at a bar in Coram, giving students a chance to go behind the bar and make drinks for guests under the guidance of the instructor and the bartender.

I walked in on my first day in late January, not really knowing what to expect. The room had a bar with several stations and bar seats. I noticed an assortment of liquor bottles behind the bar but quickly learned they were just water with food coloring inside them. There were already students behind the bar, practicing making “drinks.”

Over the two weeks, we learned the recipes

for mixed drinks, shots, shooters, rock drinks and martinis; how to pour count (translating seconds to ounces); what types of glasses to use for different drinks; about the various types of liquors and liqueurs; how to provide good customer service and most importantly, how to keep yourself and customers safe through the Alcohol Training Awareness Program.

We learned how to decline service to someone who we suspect to be under the age of 21 or someone who is intoxicated and that if someone is drunk, you’re partly responsible for making sure they get home safely, meaning you have to make a meaningful effort to arrange a safe ride home for them. Bartenders and establishments can get sued.

My favorite part of the course was practicing making drinks behind the bar. This ability to practice is quite unique because you don’t have to worry about wasting liquor if you make a mistake. The guest bartending night in Coram was a lot of fun as well. Two of my friends came out, and I was able to make drinks for them and get to know my classmates in a more social setting. At the end of the class, we all had to take a test. Our instructor would call out drinks, and we had to make them for him in a timely manner. I did well on the test and received my certificate. I felt very proud.

Overall, I recommend this class to anyone who wants to bartend.

The ‘classroom’ at 1800-Bartend. All the bottles are filled with water and food coloring, not alcohol. (Photo by Jennifer Corr)

Check Your Vehicles For Recalls

Safety recalls affected more than 34 million vehicles in 2023 according to new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This included more than 4.7 million vehicles recalled with advisories urging drivers to park outside away from structures due to fire risk.

To mark Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, AAA Northeast is urging owners to check their vehicles and related equipment-tires and child car seats-for open recalls. Only 64.7 percent of vehicle recalls issued in 2022 have been completed, and in the last two weeks the latest NHTSA safety recalls affected more than 1.4 million vehicles.

“Every vehicle recall involves a safety-related issue, which means it’s critical to get the repair done as soon as possible,” said Robert Sinclair, Jr. of AAA Northeast. “Vehicle owners can help protect themselves and others on the roads by checking for recalls at least twice a year and taking advantage of free repairs on all recalls.”

AAA offers the following guidance for vehicle owners:

• Check for open recalls today: Take advantage of tools like NHTSA’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Look-Up Tool and the SaferCar app to check your vehicles and automotive equipment for open recalls. All you’ll need is your vehicle’s VIN, which can be found on the lower portion of the vehicle’s windshield on the driver’s side, and on your registration.

• Repair quickly: Millions of recalls go unrepaired every year, putting drivers, passengers, pedestrians and others on the road at risk. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, visit a local dealership immediately for free repairs.

• Report safety-related defects: believe your vehicle may have a safety-related defect that is not included in a current recall, contact NHTSA online at NHTSA. gov or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

—AAA Northeast

This Baxter Estates home at 54 Hillview Ave. sold on Feb. 16 for $1,730,000. It is a luxurious 3,500 squarefoot Colonial nestled in the heart of Port Washington. This charming home is truly a dream home. From the spacious open floor plan to the gleaming quartz counters in the kitchen, every aspect of this home speaks of comfort and style. It’s the perfect canvas for culinary escapades, complete with stainless steel appliances that add a sleek, modern appeal. A welcoming den beckons with its cozy fireplace, creating the ideal ambiance for relaxation or hosting gatherings. The generous natural light filtering through the home illuminates the tasteful interiors. And convenience is never an issue with a well-situated second-floor laundry room. All four bedrooms are generously sized, but the crown jewel is the primary bedroom. Here, you’ll find two large closets and an en suite bath creating a spa-like retreat for ultimate relaxation. This home extends its luxury beyond interior aesthetics. A fully finished basement, armed with a complete bath, offers extra living space or potential for a recreational room. Outdoors, enjoy the privacy of a completely fenced-in yard and a detached one-car garage, enhancing security and comfort. Living here means enjoying all the perks of being centrally located in a sought-after area. With just a short distance to Main Street, shopping destinations, and the train station, convenience is at the doorstep.

This beautifully renovated colonial home at 7 Virginia Ave. in the Baxter Estates section of Port Washington sold on Nov. 3 for $1,160,000. It has tasteful and elegant finishes. This lovely home is spacious and has four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The bedroom on the first floor could be used as an office and has access to a full bathroom with a shower. This home has a large open concept design that includes the living room, dining area, and the kitchen. The den is conveniently located right off the kitchen as well. The basement is a full legally finished basement and has an open floor plan, a laundry room, a large storage area, a utility room, a full bathroom, and an exit to the garage.

Homes shown here represent closed sales, sold by a variety of agencies and are selected for their interest to readers by the Anton Media Group editor. Except where noted, data and photos are provided courtesy of Multiple Listing Service of Long Island, Inc. and Zillow.

An entirely new way to see this legendary period.

The multidisciplinary exhibition brings the era to life through works by John Singer Sargent, William Merritt Chase, Mary Cassatt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Alfred Stieglitz, among others, plus fashion, sculpture, photographs, furnishings, memorabilia and decorative objects.

The Museum mansion, itself, provides the authentic backdrop as it was both the opulent home of the wealthy Bryce and Frick families - and the livelihood for the work force needed to sustain it. The Mansion

See It Now

Purchase exhibition tickets at the museum or online NassauMuseum.org/exhibitions

Experience

More as a Museum Member

at the museum or online NassauMuseum.org/membership

Crafting Literary Havens

Unveiling the art and trends of designing a home library sanctuary

BY ANTON MEDIA GROUP specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

Designing a home library is a dream for many book lovers, o ering a personal sanctuary that houses their favorite reads and provides a comfortable space for hours of uninterrupted reading. However, creating the perfect home library involves more than just assembling bookshelves and stacking books. It requires thoughtful consideration of design elements, functionality, and current trends to ensure the space is both beautiful and practical. Here are key factors and trending ideas to consider when designing your home library.

Space and Location

The first consideration is the allocation of space within your home. A home library doesn’t necessarily require a large, separate room; it can be integrated into smaller spaces or dual-purpose rooms, such as a home office or a reading nook in your living room or bedroom. The location should ideally be quiet, well-lit, and somewhat secluded to provide a peaceful retreat for readers.

Shelving and Storage

Bookshelves are the heart of any library, and there’s a wide range of options to choose from. Floor-to-ceiling shelves make a dramatic statement and maximize storage space, while built-in shelves can offer a seamless look that integrates well with the room’s architecture. Modular shelving systems provide flexibility, allowing you to rearrange or expand your collection over time. Consider incorporating shelves of

different heights to accommodate books of various sizes, as well as cabinets or drawers for storing rare or valuable items that need protection from dust.

Seating

Comfortable seating is crucial in a home library, as it invites you to linger and lose yourself in a book. A plush armchair or a sofa with soft, deep cushions is ideal. For a more dynamic setup, include a variety of seating options, such as a reading nook with a window seat, a cozy loveseat, or even a chaise lounge. Position seating to take advantage of natural light during the day, complemented by warm, artificial lighting for evening reading sessions.

Lighting

Good lighting is essential in a home library to prevent eye strain and create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Aim for a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting. Floor

lamps and table lamps provide focused light for reading, while track lighting or picture lights can highlight artwork or specific sections of your book collection. Trending now are smart lighting systems that allow you to adjust the brightness and color temperature to match the time of day or your mood.

Decor and Personal Touches

A home library is a reflection of your personality and interests, so incorporate elements that make the space uniquely yours. Artwork, photographs, and memorabilia can add character and warmth to the room. Trending in home library design is the inclusion of bold, statement pieces such as a striking piece of art or a unique piece of furniture that adds a pop of color or texture to the room.

Versatile Design

With the rise of digital media, today’s home libraries often serve multiple purposes. Many are designed to accommodate not just books but also media equipment, offering a place to enjoy films, music, and digital reading. Including a small desk or a comfortable chair with a swivel table can also transform part of your library into a workspace or a study area, making it a versatile addition to your home.

Trending Themes

In terms of design themes, there’s a move towards creating spaces that feel personal and collected over time. This includes mixing vintage or antique furniture with modern pieces, displaying collections of objects alongside books, and incorporating plants or natural elements for a touch of greenery. Themed libraries, such as those dedicated to a particular genre of literature or period of history, are also gaining popularity, offering a tailored escape into the worlds contained within your books.

Sustainability is another key trend, with a focus on using eco-friendly materials and lighting, as well as sourcing furniture and decor from ethical and sustainable sources. This reflects a growing awareness of environmental issues and a desire to create spaces that are not only beautiful but also kind to the planet.

Designing a home library is a deeply personal project that combines aesthetics, functionality, and a love of books. By considering space, storage, seating, lighting, and personal touches, you can create a haven that not only houses your book collection but also reflects your personality and reading habits. With the current trends towards versatility, sustainability, and personalized design, there’s never been a better time to create a home library that you’ll cherish for years to come.

(Getty Images)

Designing Your Home Entertainment Room

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

Designing a home entertainment room has evolved from the traditional setup of a television and a couch to a multifaceted space that caters to a wide array of digital entertainment needs. As technology advances and consumer preferences shift, the trends in designing these spaces have become more sophisticated, focusing on immersive experiences, multifunctionality, and personalization. Here are some of the key trends shaping the design of home entertainment rooms today.

Immersive Technology Integration

One of the most significant trends is the integration of immersive technologies to enhance the viewing and gaming experience. This includes the adoption of large, ultra-high-definition TVs and projectors that offer 4K and 8K resolutions, providing crystal-clear images that bring movies and games to life. Surround sound systems and advanced audio setups, such as Dolby Atmos, create a 3D sound environment, enveloping the room in high-quality audio that matches the visual fidelity. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) setups are also becoming more common, offering a completely immersive experience that transforms the way we interact with digital content.

Smart Home Connectivity

The modern home entertainment room is increasingly connected to the broader smart home ecosystem. Voice-controlled assistants and IoT (Internet of Things) devices allow users to control lighting, sound, and visual components with simple voice commands or through a centralized app. This connectivity enhances the ease of use and allows for the creation of preset entertainment modes, adjusting the environment to the perfect settings for movies, gaming, or listening to music with a single command.

Aesthetic Integration

The design of home entertainment rooms is also seeing a trend towards aesthetic integration within the overall home decor. Gone are the days when these rooms were

relegated to basements or spare rooms with little thought to design. Today, homeowners are incorporating their entertainment spaces into their living areas, with a focus on sleek, minimalist designs that blend seamlessly with the rest of the home. Hidden storage solutions, in-wall speakers, and concealed wiring help maintain a clean and uncluttered look, while customizable LED lighting adds a touch of sophistication and ambiance.

Personalized Themes and Luxury Comforts

Personalization is key in the design of home entertainment spaces, with individuals seeking to reflect their personalities and preferences in the decor. This can include

themed rooms based on favorite movies, sports teams, or video games, offering a unique and engaging environment that enhances the entertainment experience. Additionally, luxury comforts such as high-end recliners, adjustable lighting, and temperature control, along with snack and beverage stations, ensure that these rooms offer the ultimate in comfort and convenience.

The trends in designing home entertainment rooms reflect a broader shift towards more immersive, flexible, and personalized living spaces. With a focus on quality, connectivity, and personal expression, the home entertainment room of the future promises to be a central hub of digital leisure and enjoyment.

Popular DIY Trends

Home DIY decorating trends have taken a vibrant turn, reflecting a mix of comfort, sustainability, and personal expression. The rise of social media platforms and the desire for customized living spaces have fueled these trends, making home decor more accessible and imaginative. Here are 10 popular DIY decorating trends that have captured the imagination of homeowners worldwide:

Upcycling Furniture: T his sustainable trend involves repurposing old furniture into something new and exciting, adding a unique touch to any room without breaking the bank.

Statement Walls: Whether it’s through bold paint colors, wallpaper, or intricate murals, statement walls serve as focal points, injecting personality into spaces.

Indoor Plants: Bringing the outdoors in, a variety of indoor plants not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of a home but also improve air quality, contributing to a healthier living environment.

Floating Shelves: They offer a minimalist and practical solution for displaying decor, books, and plants, maximizing space in smaller rooms.

Vintage Accents: The charm of vintage decor lies in its ability to add character and timelessness to modern interiors, making thrifted items highly sought after.

Handmade Pottery: Items like vases, pots, and decorative pieces, crafted by hand, introduce a layer of artisanal beauty and authenticity.

Textured Fabrics: Incorporating textured fabrics through throw pillows, curtains, and rugs adds depth and warmth, inviting a cozy atmosphere.

Smart Lighting: Adjustable and smart lighting systems allow homeowners to customize ambiance settings for different times of the day or specific activities, enhancing both functionality and mood.

Eco-friendly Materials: The shift towards sustainability has made eco-friendly materials like bamboo, cork, and recycled goods popular choices for both construction and decoration, reflecting a growing consciousness about environmental impact.

DIY Home Office Spaces: With remote work becoming more prevalent, creating a personalized and efficient home office space has become a priority for many.

These trends highlight a collective move towards more personalized, sustainable, and functional living spaces, allowing individuals to express their styles while being mindful of the environment.

—Anton Media Staff

Maximizing Comfort And Style

Take a look at some of the most purchased home décor items this year

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

e landscape of home décor continually evolves, re ecting broader trends in design, technology, and societal values. is year, certain items have surged in popularity, driven by a blend of aesthetic appeal, functionality, and the ongoing in uence of global events on our living spaces. From creating cozy, multipurpose areas to integrating nature within our walls, here’s a look at the most purchased home décor items this year and the trends they represent.

With many people continuing to work from home, there’s been an uptick in the demand for multifunctional furniture. Pieces that can serve multiple purposes, such as sofa beds, extendable tables, and desks with built-in storage, are particularly popular.

with modern décor, offering sleek designs that complement rather than detract from the aesthetic of a room.

metals are not only trendy but also align with the values of eco-conscious consumers. This shift towards sustainability reflects a broader desire to reduce one’s carbon footprint and support ethical manufacturing practices.

The integration of technology into our living spaces continues to be a major trend, with smart home devices becoming a staple in home décor shopping lists. Smart lighting systems, voice-activated assistants, and innovative climate control devices offer both convenience and energy efficiency. These gadgets are designed to blend seamlessly

Bringing the outdoors in has been a persistent theme this year, with a significant rise in the purchase of indoor plants and stylish planters. Greenery has become a must-have in home décor. This trend is not only about aesthetics; it’s also tied to well-being, as plants are known to boost mood, improve air quality, and connect us to nature. As awareness of environmental issues grows, so does the demand for sustainable home décor. Items made from recycled, upcycled, or sustainably sourced materials have become highly sought after. Bamboo furniture, jute rugs, and décor items featuring recycled glass and

Embracing Imperfection

The charm of used and mismatched china sets captivates home decor enthusiasts

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

In recent years, a fascinating trend has emerged in the world of home décor and dining aesthetics: the embrace of used and mismatched china sets. is movement, steeped in nostalgia and a desire for sustainability, re ects a broader cultural shift away from the pristine and uniform towards a more eclectic and personalized approach to table setting. e trend not only champions the unique beauty found in imperfection but also embodies a conscious e ort to reduce waste and promote recycling. Here’s a deeper look into the charm and rise of used and mismatched china sets.

The allure of mismatched china lies in its inherent uniqueness and the stories each piece can tell. Unlike uniform sets that offer a seamless aesthetic, mismatched collections bring together a tapestry of designs, eras, and histories, creating a table setting that’s rich in character and warmth. This imperfection is celebrated, as it reflects real life’s diversity and complexity, making dining experiences more personal and engaging.

A significant driver behind the popularity of used and mismatched china is

the growing awareness and concern for environmental sustainability. By choosing used items, consumers actively reduce the demand for new products and the resources required to produce them, decreasing their environmental footprint. This trend aligns with the broader movement towards thrift shopping and the circular economy, where the focus is on reusing and repurposing rather than discarding and buying new.

Opting for used and mismatched china also offers economic benefits.

There’s been a growing appreciation for craftsmanship and uniqueness in home décor, with consumers gravitating towards artisanal and handmade items. These purchases often support small businesses and craftspeople, adding a story and a touch of authenticity to the home. Handwoven textiles, handmade pottery, and unique art pieces allow homeowners to personalize their spaces in a way that mass-produced items cannot. To add personality and warmth to interiors, shoppers are turning to soft furnishings featuring bold patterns, vibrant colors, and rich textures. Throw pillows, area rugs, and blankets in eye-catching designs can

High-quality, new china sets can be prohibitively expensive, but by collecting individual pieces over time, consumers can curate their unique sets at a fraction of the cost. Thrift stores, estate sales, and online marketplaces have become treasure troves for those looking to expand their collections without breaking the bank, making beautiful tableware accessible to a wider audience.

Each mismatched set tells a story, reflecting the personal taste and creativity of its collector. People take pride in hunting for pieces that catch their eye, whether it’s a floral-patterned plate from the 1950s or a fine bone china teacup adorned with intricate artwork. This process of selection allows individuals to express themselves through their table settings, turning every meal into an opportunity for storytelling and aesthetic exploration.

transform a room, making it feel cozy and inviting. This trend also allows for easy and affordable seasonal updates to a home’s décor without committing to major changes.

Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood of a space, and this year, minimalist lighting fixtures have been in high demand. Sleek, simple designs that focus on functionality and clean lines fit well with the modern, clutter-free aesthetic that many consumers are striving for. LED lights with adjustable brightness and color temperatures allow for customization of ambiance, enhancing the overall feel of a home.

The trend also taps into a broader desire for connection and authenticity in a digitized world. In an age where social interactions are often mediated by screens, a thoughtfully set table with mismatched china serves as a reminder of the value of personal touch and the beauty of shared experiences. It encourages conversations about the origins of each piece, the memories they evoke, and the personal significance they hold, enriching the communal dining experience.

While the trend of used and mismatched china sets is largely positive, it does come with its challenges. Ensuring the cleanliness and safety of used items, particularly with older pieces that may contain lead or other harmful substances, is crucial. While the eclectic look is part of the charm, creating a cohesive yet diverse collection requires a discerning eye and a bit of patience.

The trend of used and mismatched china sets is more than a passing fad; it’s a reflection of changing attitudes towards consumption, sustainability, and beauty. It champions the idea that perfection is overrated and that there’s value and joy to be found in the eclectic and the environmentally conscious. As this trend continues to grow, it encourages us to rethink not only our aesthetic choices but also our impact on the planet, one beautifully mismatched plate at a time.

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(Photo by Cathy Bongiorno)

(Photo by Cathy Bongiorno)

HEALTH & FITNESS

Experience Makes The Difference With Award-Winning Celebrity Plastic Surgeon

As a renowned, award-winning plastic surgeon, Stephen T. Greenberg, M.D., F.A.C.S. is continually expanding the aesthetic arena by combining the use of cutting-edge surgical techniques with the latest technology.

“As a cosmetic plastic surgeon, I work both on the inside and the outside of a patient’s skin every day. I understand patients’ needs and the best method for achieving superior results,” said Dr. Greenberg.

An Ivy-League trained double board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Greenberg takes great pride in restoring patient confidence by actively working with each patient to set realistic expectations and create bespoke treatment packages to provide the most natural outcomes possible for his patients.

I am part surgeon and part artist, and I appreciate the opportunity to play an important role in the lives of my patients.

—Dr. Steven T. Greenberg

“Over the years I have enjoyed treating thousands of women and men with a personal and individualized approach,” said Dr. Greenberg. “I am part surgeon and part artist, and I appreciate the opportunity to play an important role in the lives of my patients.”

Offering everything from injectables and fillers to laser treatments, breast augmentation, liposuction, facelifts and nose jobs, Dr. Greenberg’s offices are perfect locations to accomplish a lunchtime mini-lift or a more extensive, life-altering transformation to the face or body.

With his vast expertise and

unique methods, Dr. Greenberg pioneered his Rapid Recovery programs in order to have his patients enjoying their new look within a matter of days. Dr. Greenberg’s perfected Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation System utilizes sophisticated mini-incision techniques to provide patients with a true 24-hour experience. Using 3-D computer imaging, Stephen T. Greenberg, M.D., F.A.C.S. helps each patient select the appropriate implant size for their unique physique. Patients experience minimal pain, swelling, and bruising, coupled with a notably decreased recovery time. Dr. Greenberg is proud to offer this ultra-modern approach to breast augmentation surgery at his state-ofthe-art Manhattan and Woodbury surgical centers which have both met the stringent criteria for AAAASF accreditation.

Dr. Greenberg is frequently recognized for his remarkable work and is continually voted one of the best plastic surgeons in New York. Dr. Greenberg takes great pride in his doctor-patient relationships and sees this connection as key to providing the best patient experience.

“After 30 years in practice, I still receive great satisfaction from helping my patients reach their aesthetic goals,” said Dr. Greenberg. “Once they are happy with how they look, their entire demeanor changes. It is amazing how important these improvements can be to a patient’s state of mind.”

CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE

Dr. Greenberg is currently writing his second book, as a follow up to A Little Nip, A Little Tuck . His radio show Nip Tuck Today with Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg garners thousands of listeners on Sundays at 10 a.m. on 710WOR, listen live at 710WOR. iHeart.com. Dr. Greenberg collaborates with the latest anti-aging and skincare procurement companies to produce premium products that elevate results.

His Plastic Surgeon’s Ultimate Scar Gel is clinically proven to reduce the appearance and discoloration of old and new scars as well as stretch marks. His scar gel, along with his anti-aging skincare system Cosmetic Surgeon in a Jar, is formulated to redefine daily routines. He calls it Beauty Made Simple and has curated his collection to enhance skin’s natural radiance.

Dr. Greenberg is in high demand from media outlets for his plastic surgery expertise. He has recently been featured on Good Day New York , WABC, The New York Post and has appeared on CBS, Fox News, NBC and News12 Long Island. He has also appeared in national magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan , More, Elle , as well as in The New York Times and Newsday

When asked what his most common procedure requests are, he said, “Most patients opt for my Rapid Recovery procedures. My unique approach to face and body procedures ensures that my patients have reduced downtime coupled

with minimal pain and bruising. I provide my patients with customizable programs that specifically match their anatomy. My plasma liposuction technique allows for increased fat removal, better skin retraction, and a very quick recovery. Combining surgical procedure with amazing new technologies provides more dramatic results. These days I also see guys seeking liposuction of the abdomen, love handles and male chest. Facelifts, mini-facelifts, eyelid lifts and hair restoration are very

Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg Neil Tandy

Dr. Greenberg’s Woodbury office

popular for both men and women. Of course, cosmetic injectables are more popular than ever before.”

At the apex of his craft, Dr. Greenberg is something of a legend. Because he has performed literally thousands of procedures, he has evolved them to achieve specialized results, often with uncommon downtimes. Said Dr. Greenberg, “It’s not magic—it’s science, talent and skill that can give you a magical result.”

Join Dr. Greenberg for your complimentary consultation at his Woodbury, Southampton, Manhattan, Scarsdale, Smithtown or Boca Raton locations. Visit greenbergcosmeticsurgery.com or call 516-364-4200.

—Submitted

by Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery

Blakeman Files Suit Ahead Of Attorney General’s Deadline

ANTON MEDIA GROUP STAFF

editors@antonmediagroup.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has filed suit aiming to protect his February executive order stating that trans women and girls cannot participate in women’s and girls’ sports leagues and events.

Early last week, ahead of a Friday deadline to rescind his order issued by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Blakeman filed a 12-page suit in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York seeking a declaratory judgment on the matter.

As Gothamist reported, Blakeman’s lawsuit cites Title 9 of the U.S. Constitution, which protects people from discrimination based on their sex in education programs that get federal monies, as well as the 14th Amendment, which establishes that no U.S. state shall “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Attorney General James previously called Blakeman’s order “blatantly illegal” and “transphobic and discriminatory.”

Responding to the lawsuit in a statement, a spokeperson for James’ office said that the matter is “not up for debate,” adding that the executive order “is illegal, and [will] not stand in New York.”

Days earlier, after James’ office instructed Blakeman to rescind the order, Blakeman held a press conference where he said he believed the order to be lawful and hinted that the issue was headed to court.

More than 100 sports facilities are potentially impacted by Blakeman’s February 22 exectuive order, which went into effect immediately, leading to widespread criticism from LGBTQ+ and human rights

advocates.

On Thursday, February 22, Blakeman held a small rally, with the stated intent to “protect girls’ sports,” before unveiling the executive order.

According to the order, “any sports, leagues, organizations, teams, programs, or sports entities must expressly designate [male, female, or co-ed] based on the biological sex at birth of the team members/ participants when applying for a use and occupancy permit to utilize Nassau County Parks property for the purposes of organization a sporting event or competition.” It goes on to state that the Nassau County Department of Parts, Recreation and Museums “shall not issue any permits for the use and occupancy of Nassau County Park’s property for the purposes of organizing a sporting event or competition that allows athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls to include biological males … [but] may issue permits … that allow athletic teams or sports for males, men, or boys to include biological females.”

Blakeman’s order went on to state that an athlete’s birth certificate would be acceptable proof for establishing their gender for the purposes of playing sports in Nassau (specifically making reference to the sex designated therein), and noted that a birth certificate issued at or soon after a person’s birth would be accepted.

In response to Blakeman’s order, one local high school teacher who spoke to Anton Media Group in February expressed concern about not only the order’s impact on trans students but also the entire student body of local schools, not that “policing this [matter] requires sometimes intrinsic questions and inspections and things like that, because sometimes it isn’t immediately clear who is, or who isn’t, trans.” She added, “This really affects the privacy of all students.”

County Executive Bruce Blakeman poses with his executive order and some local residents on February 22, 2024 at the county seat. (Credit: Anton Media Group)

Environmental Scholarships Offered

The South Shore Audubon Society is offering two $1,000 scholarships for College juniors, seniors, or graduate students earning a degree in the areas of biological or environmental science. This includes wildlife management, forestry, animal behavior, ecology, marine biology, oceanography, mammalogy, ornithology or the field of sustainable and renewable energy. Previous winners have used their scholarships to help purchase books, to pay for travel expenses to field sites, for specialized equipment or other educational needs.

To be eligible for the Scholarships, applicants must be residents of one of the areas listed at www.ssaudubon.org/areaswe-serve.asp and/or attend a college in

Nassau or Suffolk County. One scholarship is funded by Evelyn Bishop and her family, and one is funded by Jay Koolpix.

Applications are available at the South Shore Audubon website, www.ssaudubon. org or by contacting Professor Betsy Gulotta at 516-546-8841, Betsy.Gulotta@ ncc.edu . Applications are due by April 30, 2024, and should be emailed to either Betsy Gulotta, or Betty Borowsky, bborow@ optonline.net, or sent by regular mail to Betsy Gulotta, 2 Anding Ave, Merrick, NY 11566.

For more information and for assistance with application forms, do not hesitate to contact Betsy Gulotta or Betty Borowsky at the email addresses above.

—Submitted by South Shore Audubon Society

Rabbi Honored By Jewish War Veterans

“Elder Law Estate Planning” is an area of law that combines features of both elder law (disability planning) and estate planning (death planning) and relates mostly to the needs of the middle class. Estate planning was formerly only for the wealthy, who wanted to shelter their assets from taxes and pass more on to their heirs. But today estate planning is also needed by the middle class who may have assets exceeding one million dollars, especially when you consider life insurance in the mix.

Estate planning with trusts became popular starting in 1991 when AARP published “ A Consumer Report on Probate ” concluding that probate should be avoided and trusts should be used to transfer assets to heirs without the expense and delay of probate, a court proceeding on death. Trusts are also widely used today to avoid guardianship proceedings on disability, protect privacy, and reduce the chance of a will contest in court.

As the population aged, life expectancies increased, and the cost of care skyrocketed, the field of elder law emerged in the late 1980’s to help people protect assets from the cost of long-term care by using Medicaid asset protection strategies.

We have been practicing “elder law estate planning” together for over thirty years to address these needs:

• Getting your assets to your heirs, with the least amount of court costs, taxes and legal fees possible.

• Keeping your assets in the bloodline for your grandchildren and protecting those assets from your children’s divorces, lawsuits and creditors.

• Protecting your assets from the costs of long-term care and qualifying you for government benefits to pay for your home care or facility care.

• Avoiding guardianship proceedings if you become disabled and probate court proceedings on death.

World War II, the Korean conflict and Vietnam. Rabbi Vernon knew one of the Jewish Chaplains killed during the Vietnam War. The plaque is part of a legacy that goes with holding the office of President of LIBOR. The plaque will be passed on to each succeeding President of LIBOR.

—Submitted by Jewish War Veterans Post 652

Commander Gary Glick and Ed Freeberg of the Jewish War Veterans Post 652 (Merrick) presented a plaque to Rabbi Art Vernon during his inauguration as President of the Long Island Board of Rabbis. The presentation took place at Congregation Shaaray Shalom in West Hempstead. The original plaque is at Arlington National Cemetery. The plaque honors Jewish Chaplains (Rabbis) who were killed during

Rabbi Art Vernon, Edward Freeberg, and Commander Gary Glick.

(Photo by Edward Freeberg)

Photo Getty Images

HOROSCOPES By Holiday Mathis

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have pleted the puzzle,

ARIES (March 21-April 19). e early stage of a relationship is steeped in projection and fantasy. You imagine who the other person is, and they do the same with you. e ideas here are usually based in wishes and fears. Reality corrects the fallacies and educates willing pupils as to everyone’s true essence, and expectations can be set accordingly.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). If the e orts are strong but the plan is weak, the results will fail. If the e orts are weak but the plan is strong, there won’t be much result to speak of. You’ll be the pro who checks things from many angles. Knowing what you don’t know and being humble enough to ask is half the battle. You’ll gather opinions, insights and observations, and get it right.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Gather more in uences. It’s good to have a few inspirational examples to model your work after. Twelve examples will make you more of an expert, with a body of research to show for it. Twenty examples give you a sophisticated eye. And when you have 50 examples, you’ll earn the discerning perspective of a professional.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You are sensitive to the subtleties of human bonding. You know what emotional and spiritual connection feels like. You can tell when it’s strong and when it’s barely there at all, and most of all, you can sense when it’s broken. You’ll give yourself over to its healing this week, which is a process that takes tenderness and time. It can’t be rushed.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). From where you stand, you can see the tools and resources a orded to others, but it’s unnecessary to turn an envious gaze that direction. You have everything you need. If you had more, it would only complicate things and steal from the wonderfully unique work you’re doing. Rest assured, you can achieve greatly using nothing more than what you already have.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). is week, the education you seek will be particularly relevant to the action, and it will all seem to click in at once. Said the great acting teacher Uta Hagen: “ e knowledge that every day there is something more to learn, something higher to reach for, something new to make for others, makes each day in nitely precious. And I am grateful.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). In the movies, courage is tested in the face of obvious danger. Real life features tests of courage that come pretty much on the daily in the form of extending oneself socially, pitching and presenting work, taking a chance by sharing real feelings and truths, and putting your heart on the line. e uncertainties of life will bend to your bravery.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll let go of the need to impress someone or manage how they think of you. You’ll move forward with the intent to be fully yourself and experience the moment as only you can. And though you do not aim to change anyone’s mind or opinion, your pleasure and joy in simply being alive has more impact than you might expect.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You approach your work with two distinct parts of yourself. One is like a lm director with a big vision for the scenes of your life. e other is an emotional and impulsive actor who won’t learn the lines and keeps playing it loose and wild. e tension between these two aspects of your personality makes your life a work of art.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Emotional communication is tricky, as we are each wired a little di erently in this regard. What one person thinks is a reasonable interaction can be a confusing code to someone else. Feel your way through. Listen with your whole self, not just to the words spoken but to the needs that ring through, and echo in their surrounding silence.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). e positive energy propelling your relationships will culminate in arrangements that really serve you well. e universe is conspiring to make the nancial aspects of a deal much easier for you. So, when people o er to pay you, treat you or handle the bill, all you have to do is let them. is will happen more than once this week.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It only takes seven ri es to completely shu e a deck of cards, but cutting the deck even once is enough to wholly alter the game. Relatedly, whether it seems like it or not, your impact is real this week. You’ll make your moves and, in the best way possible, because of those choices, nothing will be the same.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS

: It’s a year of ight. Once you learn to trust your “wings,” you can take o from any perch, and so you will. You’ll launch from the ground or from the treetop and get to the elevation that feels best to you. e surge of health and vitality you feel will attract fun friends and interesting work. You’ll be paid very well to solve a problem. You’ll excel among equal but di erent talents. Associations with air signs (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius) will launch a certain ebullient luck in the realm of relationships and leisure.

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND WORD FIND

there will be 27 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Darling Downs

Solution: 27 Letters

WORD FIND

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction but always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 27 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Darling Downs

Solution: 27 Letters

© 2024 Australian Word Games Dist. by Creators Syndicate Inc.

Airport Allora Boonah

Bull

Bushfire

Cecil Plains

Coal

Cunningham

Dalby Drought Ewes

Farm

Feedlots

Fertile Field Flowers Forest Fruit

Gatton Herd

© 2024 Australian Word Games Dist. by Creators Syndicate Inc.

Museum

Holiday Lambs

Maranoa Meat Megafauna Milk

Airport Allora Boonah Bull Bushfire Cecil Plains Coal Cunningham Dalby Drought Ewes Farm Feedlots

Fertile Field Flowers Forest Fruit Gatton Herd Holiday Lambs Maranoa Meat Megafauna Milk

Nanango Nobby Notice Oakey Rams Rich Ripe Sheep Sorghum Sown Warwick

Museum Nanango Nobby Notice Oakey Rams Rich Ripe Sheep Sorghum Sown Warwick

Solution: South East Queensland foodbowl

Solution: South East Queensland foodbowl

Creators Syndicate

Creators Syndicate

737 3rd Street Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-337-7003 info@creators.com

737 3rd Street Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-337-7003 info@creators.com

Date: 3/13/24

Date: 3/13/24

Luck

not the only factor

When the success of a contract appears to depend upon a finesse — essentially a 50-50 proposition — your first obligation is to look for another method of play that will raise your chances to perhaps 60%, 70% or even 100%.

If you study the present case carefully, it becomes apparent that you can improve your prospects to well beyond 50% by allowing for the possibility that West originally held only one or two trumps.

Accordingly, after taking the diamond ace at trick four, you lead a trump to your king and play the queen of hearts. As it happens, West has no more trumps, which allows you to discard a club from dummy.

The rest of the play is easy enough. You cash the ace of clubs, ruff a club in dummy, ruff a diamond and then ruff your last club in dummy to bring home the contract.

up with the ace and must take the rest of the tricks. At this point, it might seem that the outcome depends entirely on a successful club finesse. However, there is a good rule to follow in situations of this sort.

Note that if, when you lead the queen of hearts, West produces a trump — having been dealt three or more of them — you can overruff in dummy and still have the club finesse to fall back on. It doesn’t cost anything at all to play the hand this way.

Weekly Sudoku Puzzle

Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.

Answer to last issue’s Crossword Puzzle

Answer to last issue’s Sudoku Puzzle

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EMPLOYMENT

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Town Of Oyster Bay Receives Green Innovation Grant Projects in store for the town

SYDNEY KUHNEL

editors@antonmediagroup.com

The Town of Oyster Bay was recently awarded a $435,000 grant through the Green Innovation Grant Program. The grant is part of a larger program through New York State which aims to promote the implementation of green infrastructure projects across the state. The larger goal of the program is to limit the effects of climate change. Oyster Bay is one of 10 applicants to be given awards through the program, and one of two in the Long Island region along with Riverhead. The grant awardees were announced in mid-February by Governor Kathy Hochul. The grants awarded by the state are done so by application only and are highly competitive.

New York State has distributed over $15 million through the Green Innovation Grant Program. To qualify for the grant a region must demonstrate plans for a project which will “utilize green stormwater infrastructure design and green technologies,” and “mitigate the effects of climate

change” according to the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation.

Specifics of what practices qualify for the grant include green stormwater infrastructure, energy efficiency, water efficiency and environmental innovation.

The projects in Oyster Bay include “the installation of nine floating wetlands, 1200

The Blitz Is Returning To Island Trees

LAUREN FELDMAN

lfeldman@antonmediagroup.com

Raffle-fanatics and bingo-lovers get ready; the Island Trees Blitz is officially coming back to put the FUN in FUNdraising!

The Blitz is an annual event hosted by the Island Trees School District in collaboration with the elementary school PTA and various town businesses. This year’s Blitz is on Friday, March 15 at 5:30 pm at the Island Trees Middle School. Come on down for an evening of bingo and enter to win some amazing raffles! This year’s raffles include field-level seats donated by the Yankees, an overnight stay at Oheka Castle, and more!

The Blitz is Island Trees’ biggest fundraiser, and helps sponsor a plethora of programs throughout the year. These include the Pick a Reading Partner (PARP) program, a cultural arts program which brings in different educational and fun assemblies for the kids, a blow-up planetarium show in April, Spirit Day, the school supplies program, and much much more!

linear feet of wetland restoration, and oyster reefs to mitigate stormwater runoff from a multi-jurisdictional watershed covering approximately 1850 acres” as well as the addition of porous pavers to the beach parking lot. These improvements fall under the New York State defined categories of permeable pavement and establishment or restoration of wetlands which are approved projects for the grant. These improvements are vital for Oyster Bay, as they contribute to the efficient flow of water resulting in less pollution, less water runoff, and less flooding.

The funds from the grant will be distributed following a contract agreement between the town and New York State. The project provides funding for the implementation of the wetlands and oyster reefs, and the funding to plan permeable pavement for the parking lot at Beekman Beach. The floating wetlands and oyster reefs are an innovative measure by the town and according to deputy commissioner Colin Bell “the first of its kind here in Nassau County.” The town is not only relying on new innovative techniques to introduce green infrastructure in Oyster Bay. The introduction of porous pavers is an example of the town and current administration “finding ways to incorporate environmental initiatives

into standard public works projects.”

The introduction of floating wetlands to the area will contribute to treating stormwater runoff. These wetlands have the potential to remove pollutants in sediment from water by collecting what could be harmful to the water and turning it into another product. Additionally, these wetlands help prevent flooding by retaining some water that would otherwise flood, as well as slowing the rate at which flood waters flow. Porous pavers, or permeable pavement, can limit storm water runoff by allowing water to flow through the pavers into a reservoir where the water can be collected and infiltrate the soil below.

The Green Innovation Grant will allow Oyster Bay to make many green infrastructure improvements to the area. The improvements will be seen at Beekman Beach and the Mill River Outfall. Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said of the project “This grant represents a significant investment in the future of Oyster Bay Harbor.” Saladino hopes the project will inspire the rest of the region to follow suit in implementing greener practices. The belief is that Oyster Bay is “set[ting] a precedent for sustainable water management practices that can be replicated across the region.”

“Our annual Blitz fundraiser is the perfect demonstration of community engagement, and school spirit,” said Dr. Penny Fisher, principal of J. Fred Sparke Elementary School, and Allison Ackerman, principal of Michael F. Stokes Elementary School.

“Each year, our PTA works tirelessly to host a successful event that brings together our close-knit community and helps raise funds to help us continue to provide enriching programs and experiences for our Island Trees students. In addition to our dedicated PTA members, the event would not be possible without the support of our local business community, vendors, and dozens of hardworking volunteers.”

Lori Wood, a PTA member who has been hard at work to prepare the Blitz, expressed the importance of the event in providing opportunities and memories for the students. “School should be about education but it should also be about fun and experiences, memories with friends,” she said. “It should be that every kid can have the same experiences no matter what, regardless of their financial situations. Everybody should get to do the same things and have the same experiences.”

For more information on the Blitz, visit https://www.facebook.com/ITELEMENTARYPTA

If it’s important to you, it’s important to us.

What does the word “details” mean to you at a funeral? Is it the way the guestbook is displayed? Is it how carefully the owers have been arranged? Is it that nothing seems out of place? We understand there are things that should go unnoticed at a funeral service— that’s why we take pride in taking care of the details, so that you won’t have to notice them, or have to mention them. Some call it “fussy.” We call it “committed.”

Beekman Beach will benefit from the Green Innovation Grant Program. (Photo by Jennifer Corr)

BETHPAGE

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF BETHPAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Board of Trustees of the Bethpage Public Library hereby gives notice that a Special District Meeting of the qualified voters of the Bethpage Union Free School District will be held at the Bethpage Public Library, 47 Powell Avenue, Bethpage, New York, on the 8th day of April, 2024 from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. prevailing time, for the purpose of voting by paper ballots upon the following propositions:

1. To adopt the Annual Budget of the Bethpage Public Library for the fiscal year 2024-2025 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the Bethpage Union Free School District; and

2. To elect one (1) member of the Board of Trustees, who will serve a term commencing on July 1, 2024 and expiring on June 30, 2029, which is currently encumbered by Mary Macaluso.

A petition shall be required to nominate such candidate to the office of Library Trustee. Petitions shall be directed to the District Clerk at the School District Administration Offices Cherry Avenue and Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, New York, and shall be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District. Vacancies on the Board of Trustees are not considered separate specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the oard for which the candidate is nominated. Petitions shall be available at the Office of the District Clerk at the School District Administrative Offices, Cherry Avenue and Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, New York. In the event that any such nominee shall withdraw his or her candidacy prior to the election, such person shall not be considered a candidate unless a new petition nominating such person in the same manner and with the same limitations applicable to other candidates is filed with the District Clerk. Each petition shall be filed in the office of the District Clerk between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (excluding Saturdays and Sundays), through March 11, 2024 and not later than March 11, 2024.

REGISTRATION

FURTHER NOTICE IS GIVEN that pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law, personal registration of voters is necessary and no person shall be entitled to vote at said Special District Meeting of April 8, 2024 unless such person has personally registered.

Each person may register for the said Special Meeting by appearing personally before the Board of Registration of the School District on April 1, 2024, as hereinafter stated. The Board of Registration will meet for the purpose of personal voter registration and the preparation of a register of the qualified voters of said School District, on April 1, 2024 between the hours of 4:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M. at the School District Administrative Offices during which time and at which place members of the Board of Registration shall place upon the School District Register the names of all qualified voters personally appearing before them, provided they are known to be or proven to the satisfaction of such Board of Registration that they are entitled to vote at the above specified Library Special District Meeting. Such register, upon its completion, will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk at the School District Administrative Offices, Cherry Avenue and Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, New York, and will remain on file at such office and will be open for inspection between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. on each of the five (5) days prior to the meeting or election for which it was prepared, except Saturday and Sunday. Voters may register for voting at subsequent Library special district meetings on the day of the April 8, 2024 Special District Meeting. All persons who have voted at any Special or Annual Meeting or Election or at any general election within four (4) years prior to the preparation of the register, or who are registered to vote at any general election, pursuant to Section 5-210 of the Election Law of the State of New York need not re-register to vote at the Special District Meeting of April 8, 2024. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, the voters may register with the Clerk of said School District at her office in the School District Administrative Offices, Cherry Avenue and Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, New York, between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. when school is in session at any day prior to April 3, 2024 to add any additional names to the Register to be used at the aforesaid election, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register provided that at such meeting with the Clerk of said School District he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of the Clerk of said School District to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such election for which the Register is prepared. The Register so prepared pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk, at her office in the School District Administrative Offices, Cherry Avenue and Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, New

York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District between 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. on each of the five (5) days prior to the day set for the election, except Saturday and Sunday, and at the polling place(s) on the day of the vote.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. An application for registration as a military voter can be requested from the Board of Education at the Bethpage Administration building and must be returned to the Office of the District Clerk, at 10 Cherry Avenue, Bethpage NY 11714, or by contact the District Clerk at 516-6444002. The application for registration must be received in the office of the clerk no later than 5:00 P.M. on March 13, 2024. In the request for an application for registration, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for registration by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the district may submit an application for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk at 10 Cherry Avenue, Bethpage NY 11714, or by contact the District Clerk at 516-644-4002 and returning the application in person or by mail to the Office of the District Clerk at 10 Cherry Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714, no later than 5:00 P.M. on March 13, 2024. In the request for an application for a military ballot, the military voter is permitted to designate his/ her preference for receiving the application for a military ballot, and the military ballot, by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. All qualified military voters ballot application and military ballot must be returned by mail or in person. Ballots for military voters shall be distributed to qualified military voters no later than March 14, 2024. Military ballots must be received by the District Clerk (1) before the close of the polls, on Monday, April 8, 2024, and must show a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country s postal service, or must show a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or (2) not later than 5:00 pm on the day of the election and be signed and dated by the military voter and one witness, with a date ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.

A list of all persons to whom military voters ballots have been issued shall be available during regular office hours at the Office of the Clerk of the Bethpage Union Free School

LEGAL NOTICES

District on each of the five days prior to the day set for the Special District Meeting, except Sunday, and on April 8, 2024 at the polling place during the Special District Meeting. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls

FURTHER NOTICE IS GIVEN, that in accordance with Education Law Section 2018a and 2018-f, applications for absentee ballots and early mail voter ballots for the Special District Meeting may be applied for at the Office of the Clerk of the Bethpage Union Free School District. Such applications must be received by the Board of Registration no earlier than March 11, 2024 and at least seven (7) days prior to the Special District Meeting if the absentee ballot or email mail voter ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the Special District Meeting, if the absentee ballot or early mail voter ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. The Board of Registration shall make a list of all persons to whom absentee voters ballots have been issued and a list of all persons to whom early mail voter ballots have been issued, and have such lists available during regular office hours on each of the five days prior to the day set for the Special District Meeting, except Sunday, and on April 8, 2024 at the polling place during the Special District Meeting. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballots upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. No absentee voter ballot or early mail voter ballot shall be canvassed unless it is received not later than 5:00 P.M. on the day of the Special District Meeting.

Dated: Bethpage, New York January 8, 2024

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BETHPAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY

John McCarthy, President AVISO LEGAL AVISO SOBRE LA REUNIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA DE LA BIBLIOTECA PÚBLICA DE BETHPAGE

Por medio del presente, la Junta de Fideicomisarios de la Biblioteca Pública de Bethpage notifica que se realizar una reunión extraordinaria de distrito con los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Bethpage Union Free en la Biblioteca Pública de Bethpage, 47 Powell Avenue, Bethpage, Nueva York, el 8 de abril de 2024 desde las

2:00 p. m. hasta las 8:00 p. m., hora en vigor, para votar con boletas electorales físicas sobre las siguientes propuestas:

1. Adoptar el presupuesto anual de la Biblioteca Pública de ethpage para el a o fiscal 2024-2025 y autorizar que la parte requerida de este se recaude mediante impuestos sobre la propiedad sujeta a tributación del Distrito Escolar Bethpage Union Free; y 2. Elegir un (1) miembro de la Junta de Fideicomisarios que cumplir un mandato que comenzar el de julio de 2024 y finalizar el 30 de junio de 2029, que actualmente est a cargo de Mary Macaluso. Se necesitar una solicitud para nominar a dicho candidato para el cargo de fideicomisario de la biblioteca. Las solicitudes deber n dirigirse al secretario del distrito en las oficinas administrativas del distrito escolar, en Cherry Avenue y Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, Nueva York, y deber n estar firmadas por, al menos, veinticinco (25) votantes calificados del distrito. Los puestos vacantes de la Junta de Fideicomisarios no se consideran cargos espec ficos ni independientes; los candidatos se presentan en general. Las solicitudes de nominaci n no deber n estipular ningún puesto vacante espec fico en la Junta para la cual esté nominado el candidato. Las solicitudes estar n disponibles en la oficina del secretario del distrito en las oficinas administrativas del distrito escolar, en Cherry Avenue y Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, Nueva York. En caso de que cualquiera de dichos nominados se retire de la candidatura antes de la elección, esa persona no se considerar un candidato a menos que se presente ante el secretario del distrito una nueva solicitud de nominación de esa persona de la misma forma y con las mismas limitaciones que los dem s candidatos. Cada solicitud deber presentarse en la oficina del secretario del distrito entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 5:00 p. m. (exceptuando s bados y domingos), hasta el 11 de marzo de 2024 y no después de esta fecha. REGISTRO SE NOTIFICA, ADEMÁS, que, en conformidad con la sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación, es necesario que los votantes se registren personalmente, y ninguna persona podr votar en la mencionada reunión extraordinaria de distrito del 8 de abril de 2024 a menos que se haya registrado personalmente. Cada persona puede registrarse para dicha reunión extraordinaria present ndose personalmente ante la Junta de Registro del distrito escolar el 1 de abril de 2024, como se indica a continuación. La Junta de Registro se reunir a los efectos de registrar personalmente a los votantes y preparar un registro de los votantes calificados de dicho

distrito escolar el 1 de abril de 2024 de 4:00 p. m. a 8:00 p. m., en las oficinas administrativas del distrito escolar, momento y lugar en que los miembros de la Junta de Registro incluir n en el Registro del distrito escolar los nombres de todos los votantes calificados que se presenten personalmente ante ellos, siempre que se sepa o se demuestre, a satisfacción de dicha Junta de Registro, que estos tienen derecho a votar en la reunión extraordinaria de distrito de la biblioteca que se especifica anteriormente. Dicho registro, una vez finalizado, se archivar en la oficina del secretario del distrito en las oficinas administrativas del distrito escolar, en Cherry Avenue y Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, Nueva York, y permanecer archivado en dicha oficina y abierto para su inspección de 9:00 a. m. a 3:00 p. m. en cada uno de los cinco (5) días previos a la reunión o a la elección para la que se prepar , excepto los s bados y domingos. Los votantes pueden registrarse para votar en las siguientes reuniones extraordinarias de distrito de la biblioteca el día de la reunión extraordinaria de distrito del 8 de abril de 2024.

Todas las personas que hayan votado en cualquier reunión o elección anual o extraordinaria o en cualquier elección general dentro de los cuatro (4) años anteriores a la preparación del registro, o que estén registradas para votar en cualquier elección general, de conformidad con la sección 5-210 de la Ley Electoral del estado de Nueva York, no necesitan volver a registrarse para votar en la reunión extraordinaria de distrito del 8 de abril de 2024.

POR EL PRESENTE, TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes pueden registrarse en la oficina del secretario de dicho distrito escolar que se encuentra en las oficinas administrativas del distrito escolar, en Cherry Avenue y Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, Nueva York, de 8:30 a. m. a 3:30 p. m. cuando la escuela esté en sesión en cualquier día anterior al 3 de abril de 2024 para agregar cualquier nombre adicional al registro que se utilizar en la elecci n mencionada. Durante ese horario, toda persona tendr derecho a que su nombre se incluya en el registro, siempre que en la reunión con el secretario de dicho distrito escolar se sepa o se demuestre, a satisfacción del secretario de dicho distrito escolar, que esa persona tiene derecho a votar en la elección para la cual se prepara el registro. El registro preparado según la sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación se presentar en la oficina del secretario del distrito en las oficinas administrativas del distrito escolar, en Cherry Avenue y Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, Nueva York, y estar abierto para que cualquier votante calificado del distrito pueda inspeccionarlo entre

las 9:00 a. m. y las 3:00 p. m. en cada uno de los cinco (5) días previos al día establecido para la elección, excepto el s bado y el domingo, y en el centro de votación el día de la votación.

POR EL PRESENTE, TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Se puede pedir una solicitud de registro como votante militar a la Junta de Educaci n en el edificio administrativo de Bethpage, y se la debe enviar a la oficina del secretario del distrito, en 10 Cherry Avenue, Bethpage NY 11714, o poniéndose en contacto con el secretario del distrito a 516-644-4002. La solicitud de registro debe recibirse en la oficina del secretario antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 13 de marzo de 2024. En el pedido de solicitud de registro, el votante militar puede designar de qu manera prefiere recibir la solicitud de registro: por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico.

POR EL PRESENTE, TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del distrito pueden presentar una solicitud de boleta electoral militar pidiendo una solicitud al secretario del distrito en 10 Cherry Avenue, Bethpage NY 4, o comunic ndose con el secretario del distrito a 516-644-4002 y enviando la solicitud en persona o por correo a la oficina del secretario del distrito, en 10 Cherry Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714, antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 13 de marzo de 2024. En el pedido de solicitud de boleta electoral militar, el votante militar puede designar de qué manera prefiere recibir la solicitud de boleta electoral militar y la boleta electoral militar: por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico. Las solicitudes de boleta electoral y las boletas electorales militares de los votantes militares calificados se deben entregar por correo o en persona. Las boletas electorales para los votantes militares se distribuir n a los votantes militares calificados antes del 14 de marzo de 2024. El secretario del distrito debe recibir las boletas electorales militares (1) antes del cierre de la votación, el lunes 8 de abril de 2024, y deben tener una marca de cancelación del Servicio Postal de los Estados Unidos o el servicio postal de un país extranjero, o un endoso fechado de recepción por parte de otra agencia del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2), a m s tardar, a las 5:00 p. m. del día de la elección debiendo estar firmadas y fechadas por el votante militar y un testigo, con una fecha que establezca que no es posterior al día previo a la elección. En la oficina del secretario del Distrito Escolar Bethpage Union Free se pondr a dis-

Continued on page 13

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posición una lista de todas las personas a las que se les han otorgado boletas electorales militares durante el horario de atención habitual en cada uno de los cinco días previos al d a fijado para la reuni n extraordinaria de distrito, excepto el domingo, y el 8 de abril de 2024, en el centro de votación durante la reunión extraordinaria de distrito. Cualquier votante calificado presente en ese momento en el centro de votación podrá objetar la votaci n de la boleta electoral por los motivos que considere oportunos, presentando su objeci n y las razones de esta al inspector de la elección antes del cierre de las urnas.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, de conformidad con la sección 2018 a y 2018 f de la Ley de Educación, las solicitudes de boletas electorales por ausencia y las boletas electorales por correo anticipado para la reunión extraordinaria de distrito pueden pedirse en la oficina del secretario del Distrito Escolar Bethpage Union Free. La Junta de Registro debe recibir estas solicitudes después del 11 de marzo de 2024 y, al menos, siete (7) días antes de la reunión extraordinaria de distrito, si la boleta electoral por ausencia o la boleta electoral por correo electrónico se enviará por correo al votante; o bien, el día antes de la reunión extraordinaria de distrito, si la boleta electoral por ausencia o la boleta electoral anticipada por correo se entregará personalmente al votante. La Junta de Registro hará una lista de todas las personas a las que se han otorgado boletas electorales por ausencia y una lista de todas las personas a las que se han otorgado boletas electorales por correo anticipado, y tendrá dichas listas a disposición en el horario de atención habitual en cada uno de los cinco d as previos al d a fijado para la reunión extraordinaria de distrito, excepto el domingo, y el 8 de abril de 2024, en el centro de votación durante la reunión extraordinaria de distrito. Cualquier votante calificado presente en ese momento en el centro de votación podr objetar la votaci n de las boletas electorales por los motivos que considere oportunos, presentando su objeci n y las razones de esta al inspector de la elección antes del cierre de las urnas. No se escrutarán boletas electorales por ausencia ni boletas electorales anticipadas por correo, a menos que se reciban, a más tardar, a las 5:00 p. m. del día de la reunión extraordinaria de distrito.

Fechado: Bethpage, Nueva York 8 de enero de 2024

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE FIDEICOMISARIOS BIBLIOTECA PÚBLICA DE BETHPAGE

John McCarthy, presidente 3-13-6; 2-28-21-2024-4T#245819-NOB/BETH

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, pursuant to Article 7 of the Public Officers Law, the BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS of the BETHPAGE FIRE DISTRICT in the Towns of empstead and Oyster ay, will hold its 2024 public monthly meetings of the Board at 7:30pm on the following dates and times:

January 24th, February 7th , February 21st, March 6th, March 20th, April 10th, April 24th, May 8th, May 22nd, June 12th, June 26th, July 17th, August 14th, September 10th, September 25th, October 9th, October 23rd, November 20th, December 11th . All meetings will be held at the District Office located at 225 roadway, ethpage, NY 11714. Additional meetings/ cancellations will be published as required by law.

DATED: January 10, 2024

By Order of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Bethpage Fire District Towns of Oyster ay and Hempstead

ATTEST:Mary Jo Bella District Secretary

3-13-2024-1T-#246518NOB/BETH

FARMINGDALE

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SPECIAL DISTRICT MEETING OF THE FARMINGDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY

BUDGET VOTE AND TRUSTEE ELECTION

APRIL 2, 2024

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a Special Meeting of the qualified voters of the Farmingdale Union Free School District of the Towns of Oyster Bay and Babylon, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York, will be held at the Farmingdale Public Library, 116 Merritts Road, Farmingdale, New York (the “Library”) on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, for the purpose of voting upon the following items:

1. To adopt the annual budget of the Farmingdale Public Library for the fiscal year 2024-2025 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District; and

2. To elect one (1) member to the Library Board of Trustees for a five (5) year term commencing July 1, 2024, and expiring on June 30, 2029, as a result of the expiration of the term presently held by Therese Rudden.

FURTHER NOTICE IS GIVEN, that the Library Board of Trustees will hold a public information meeting for the purposes of discussion of the proposed 2024-2025 Library Budget on March 19, 2024 at 4:00pm, in the Library (address above). All residents of the Library District are invited to attend. A copy of the proposed Library Budget, together with the text of any

resolution to be presented to the voters, may be obtained in the Library (address above) between the hours of :00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. beginning March 12, 2024, except Sunday or holidays.

FURTHER NOTICE IS GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Library Trustee shall be filed in the Library usiness Office, located within the Library (address above) between the hours of :00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., not later than 5:00pm on Monday, March 4, 2024. Each candidate must be a qualified voter of the Library District, and must reside in the area served by the Library. Each petition shall be directed to the Clerk of the Library Vote; must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District, must state the name and residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate.

FURTHER NOTICE IS GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law or pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law and has voted at an annual or special district meeting within the last four (4) calendar years, he or she is eligible to vote at this election. If a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article 5 of the Election Law, he or she is also eligible to vote at this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register.

FURTHER NOTICE IS GIVEN, that the Board of Registration will meet for the purpose of conducting a registration of all qualified voters of the District pursuant to 20 4 of the Education Law at the Library (address above) on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Anyone who is known or proven to the satisfaction of said Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such election for which the register is prepared shall have their name added to the register. The register of voters will be filed in the Library usiness Office (address above), where it will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District on each of the five days prior to April 2, 2024, excluding Sundays and holidays, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

FURTHER NOTICE IS GIV-

EN, that applications for early mail and absentee ballots will be obtainable during school business hours in the Library usiness Office beginning March 1, 2024. Completed applications must be received in the Library usiness Office at least seven (7) days before the election, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Early mail and absentee ballots must be received by the Clerk of the Library Vote (located in the Library) not later than

5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. A list of persons to whom early mail and absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the Library usiness Office on each of the five days prior to the vote, except Sundays and holidays, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

FURTHER NOTICE IS GIV-

EN, that a qualified voter whose ability to appear personally at the polling place is substantially impaired by reasons of permanent illness or physical disability and whose registration record has been marked “permanently disabled” by the Board of Elections pursuant to the provisions of the Education Law shall be entitled to receive an absentee ballot without making separate applications therefore.

FURTHER NOTICE IS GIV-

EN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the Library District. Military voters who are qualified voters of the Library District may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot applications must be received in the Library usiness Office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday March 8, 2024. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is received by the Library usiness Office no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the election.

Copies of this notice and other election information are available in Spanish and English at www.farmingdalelibrary.org.

Dated: Farmingdale, New York February 16, 2024

By Order of the BOARD OF TRUSTEES FARMINGDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY Farmingdale, New York CHRISTA LUCARELLI, Director 3-27-13; 2-28-21-2024-4T#245837-NOB/FARM

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST JEAN CRISPINO INDIVIDUALLY AND AS SURVIVING SPOUSE OF JAMES CRISPINO, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 19, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 4, 2024 at 3:00PM, premises known as 26 Paula Drive, Farmingdale, NY 11735. All that

certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being near Farmingdale, in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 53, Block 207, Lot 4. Approximate amount of judgment 425, 85.2 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #610730/2021. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Ralph J. Madalena, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 5 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 20-000852 79274 3-27-20-13-6-2024-4T#245960-NOB/FARM

HICKSVILLE

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLICHEARING CALENDAR

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 24612 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on MARCH 21, 2024, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals: BYORDER OFTHE ZONINGBOARDOF APPEALS

APPEAL NO. 24-7

HICKSVILLE

ALAN LEE: (A) Variance to construct 44.1 ft. by 46.4 ft. new dwelling on partial new and partial existing foundation having less aggregate side yards, roof pitch and exceeding maximum gross floor area than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow existing driveway having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. E/s/o Bamboo Ln., 241.50 ft. S/o Blueberry Ln., a/k/a/ 15 Bamboo Lane, Hicksville, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-22

HICKSVILLE CRISTINA L. GISONDA: (A) Variance to construct 28 ft. by 4 ft. new dwelling on partial existing and partial new foundation having less side/front yard setback (Salem Gate), rear yard setback (Jerusalem Avenue) and exceeding maximum gross floor area than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to park in required front yard. (C)

Variance to erect 6 ft. high vinyl fence and allow existing 6 ft. high fence exceeding maximum height across front yards (Jerusalem Avenue & Salem Road) than permitted by Ordinance. (D) Variance to erect 6 ft. high vinyl fence exceeding maximum height within 30 ft. of intersection than permitted by Ordinance.

SE/ cor. of Salem Gate & Salem Rd., a/k/a 1 Salem Gate, Hicksville, NY

APPEAL NO. 23-617

HICKSVILLE

KULWANT SINGH: Variance to construct detached garage exceeding maximum building coverage than permitted by Ordinance.

N/s/o Colony St., 70 ft. E/o Ketchams Rd., a/k/a 39 Colony Street, Hicksville, NY

MARCH 11, 2024

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK

3-13-2024-1T-#246226NOB/HIX

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, V.

KATHRYN DASSAU, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated July 26, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION

TRUST is the Plaintiff and KATHRYN DASSAU, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on April 11, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 35 FOURTH STREET A/K/A 35 4TH STREET, HICKSVILLE, NY 11801: Section 46, Block 171, Lot 50-51:

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT HICKSVILLE, TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 603121/2019. Scott H. Siller, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310,

estbury, New York 5 0, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

4-3; 3-27-20-13-2024-4T#246366-NOB/HIX

LEVITTOWN

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of Equanimity Holdings LLC. Articles of organization filed with Secretary of State of New York on /24/24. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated agent upon whom process maybe served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: 931 Barry Drive West, Valley Stream , New York 580. Purpose: any lawful act.

3-13-6; 2-28-21-14-7-20246T-#245425-NOB/LEV

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of Barretta Foods LLC. Arts of Org filed with the Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/22/2023. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against LLC to 24 2 ayview Ave, antagh, NY 3. Purpose: any lawful act.

3-13-6; 2-28-21-14-7-20246T-#245507-NOB/LEV

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff AGAINST CAROL MANDRACCHIA, DONALD MANDRACCHIA, IF LIVING, AND IF HE BE DEAD, HIS HEIRSAT-LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, TRUSTEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, ASSIGNEES AND ALL SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID DEFENDANTS; ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 17, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 27, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 0 TANAGER LANE, LEVITTOWN, NY 11756. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Levittown, near icksville, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 45, Block 262, Lot

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LEGAL NOTICESLEGAL

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15. Approximate amount of judgment $332,413.22 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #001399/2015. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Karen C. Grant, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 17-001466 79446

3-20-13-6; 2-28-2024-4T#245879-NOB/LEV

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST JASON VAUGHAN, KRISTA VAUGHAN, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 29, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 1, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 63 ANCHOR LANE, LEVITTOWN, NY 11756.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Levittown, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 51, Block 182, Lot 31. Approximate amount of judgment $589,375.95 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #001988/2015. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Malachy Lyons Jr., Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 15-000728 79525

3-20-13-6; 2-28-2024-4T#245930-NOB/LEV

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE OF COOPERATIVE APARTMENT

SECURITY BY VIRTUE OF A DEFAULT

In a Loan Security Agreement dated February 22, 2013 executed by Richard J. Chery, debtor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and then to State of New York Mortgage Agency, secured party via assignment, will cause a public sale of the security consisting of 182 shares of stock plus Parking Space and/ or Garage, if applicable, of Valley Park Estates Owners Corp. all right title and interest in and to a Proprietary Lease between said Corporation and debtor for Apartment 3 in the building known as 1004 ROTTKAMP STREET, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580 together with all fixtures and articles of personal property now or hereafter affixed to or used in connection with said apartment on March 28, 2024 at 9:30am on the North Facing Front Steps of the Nassau County Courthouse, 262 Old Country Road, Mineola NY 11501, in satisfaction of an indebtedness. Apartment is sold “AS IS” AND POSSESSION TO BE OBTAINED BY THE PURCHASER. Said sale is subject to: payment of all sums due, if any, to Valley Park Estates Owners Corp. and the consent if necessary, of said corporation; any existing tenancy; payment of all expenses and fees of the secured party with respect thereto; terms of sale and auctioneers fees; flip tax; State, City and County transfer tax. The secured party reserves the right to bid. Terms: an official bank or certified check made payable to Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC., for ten (10%) percent of the price bid. No cash accepted. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC.

900 MERCHANTS CONCOURSE WESTBURY, NEW YORK 11590 (516) 280-7675

3-20-13-6-2024-3T-#246108NOB/LEV

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. Bank N.A., as trustee, on behalf of the holders of the J.P. Morgan Mortgage Acquisition Trust 2006-WMC3 Asset Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-WMC3, Plaintiff AGAINST Gilberto Lopez, Eliana Rodriguez, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 28, 2016, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 9, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 36 Elves Lane, Levittown, NY 11756. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Levittown in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION: 51, BLOCK: 343, LOT:

13. Approximate amount of judgment $745,632.13 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #006465/2013. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website ( https://ww2.nycourts.gov/ Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. James Donald Leonard, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-080415-F00 79660 3-27-20-13-6-2024-4T#245965-NOB/LEV

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of HomeHydrationIV LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/09/24. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail a copy of process against LC to: 3244 Cherrywood Drive, Wantagh, NY 11793. Purpose: any lawful act. Matthew Bustruc 3244 Cherrywood Drive, Wantagh, NY 11793 (516)-456-0239

Nassau Observer

4-10-3; 3-27-20-13-6-20246T-#246208-NOB/LEV

LEGAL NOTICE

LLC Notice for Publishing - Bright Eyed Photo NY, LLC

Notice of formation of Bright Eyed Photo NY, LLC, a limited liability company. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 1/23/24. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to: 1765 Merikoke Avenue, Wantagh, NY 11793. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

4-10-3; 3-27-20-13-6-20246T-#246291-NOB/LEV

MASSAPEQUA

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR OPTION ONE MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2007-5 ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-5, V. EMANUEL BUCKVAR A/K/A EMANUEL W. BUCKVAR, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final

Judgment of Foreclosure dated February 21, 2019, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein WELLS FARGO BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR OPTION ONE MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 20075 ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-5 is the Plaintiff and EMANUEL BUCKVAR A/K/A EMANUEL W. BUCKVAR, ET AL. are the Defendant(s).

I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on March 25, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 11 PARK LN, MASSAPEQUA, NY 11758: Section 48, Block 522, Lot 5: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT MASSAPEQUA, TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 000305/ 2010. George P. Esernio, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 3-13-6; 2-28-21-2024-4T#245775-NOB/MASS

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU EMIGRANT BANK, successor by merger with EMIGRANT SAVINGS BANKLONG ISLAND, Plaintiff -against- PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF NASSAU COUNTY AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ANNA MARIE STACEL A/K/A MARIE STACEL, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on October 17, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on March 26, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as Section 52 Block 186 and Lot 1584.

Said premises known as 74 JERUSALEM AVENUE,

MASSAPEQUA, NY 11758

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 16500/2009.

JANINE LYNAM, ESQ., Referee Terenzi & Confusione P.C. Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 401 Franklin Avenue, Suite 304, Garden City, NY 11530 3-13-6; 2-28-21-2024-4T#245829-NOB/MASS

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2007-HY6 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-HY6, Plaintiff -against- JASON ANZELONE, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated January 2, 2024 and entered on January 3, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on April 2, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in Massapequa, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as SBL: 66, 65 and 99-104. Said premises known as 255 W SHORE DRIVE, MASSAPEQUA, NY 11758

Approximate amount of lien $3,125,216.84 plus interest & costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 015660/2009.

BRIAN DAVIS, ESQ., Referee

Pincus Law Group, PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556 3-20-13-6; 2-28-2024-4T#245877-NOB/MASS

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR ABFC ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2003OPT1, Plaintiff, AGAINST ANTHONY PRICE, et al. Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on December 20, 2023.

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 2, 2024 at 2:00 PM premises known as 67 Colonial Dr, Massapequa, NY 11758.

Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County and the COVID 19 Health Emer-

gency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in Amityville, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 53, Block 002 and Lot 16-18.

Approximate amount of judgment $439,901.24 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #008046/2015.

Peter T. Bauer, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLP - Attorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 3-20-13-6; 2-28-2024-4T#245880-NOB/MASS

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR MFRA TRUST 2015-1, Plaintiff, vs. DAWN TORREY A/K/A DAWN MARIE TORREY A/K/A DAWN RIVERS A/K/A DAWN M. RIVERS, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 6, 2023 and an Order Appointing Successor Referee duly entered on January 26, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 9, 2024 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 50 Prentice Road, Levittown, NY 11756. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Levittown, near Hicksville, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 46, Block 448 and Lot 38. Approximate amount of judgment is $546,936.29 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #601847/2020. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Brian Carmody, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 182363-1

3-27-20-13-6-2024-4T#246329-NOB/MASS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 24612 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on MARCH 21, 2024, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals:

BYORDER OFTHE ZONINGBOARDOF APPEALS

APPEAL NO. 24-2

MASSAPEQUA

MICHAEL PALADINO:

(A) Variance to allow existing 12.8 ft. by 6.2 ft. shed having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow existing outdoor counter having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (C) Variance to allow existing shed with attached roof over having less rear yard setback than permitted by Ordinance.

(D) Variance to allow existing 12.8 ft. by 6.2 ft. shed with attached roof over exceeding maximum height than permitted by Ordinance.

W/s/o Park Ln., 60 ft. S/o Massachusetts Ave., a/k/a 166 Park Lane, Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-8

MASSAPEQUA

KEVIN GUNTHER: (A)

Variance to construct 35.9 ft. by 61.66 ft. new dwelling on existing foundation having less side yard setback, aggregate side yards, roof pitch, exceeding maximum gross floor area and building lot coverage than permitted by Ordinance; also encroachment of eaves and gutters. (B) Variance to allow existing shed having less side yard setback and aggregate side yards than permitted by Ordinance.

W/s/o Stillwater Ave., 900 ft. S/o S. Bay Dr., a/k/a/ 75 Stillwater Avenue, Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-9

MASSAPEQUA

ZACHARY KACHMAR:

Variance to allow existing 6 ft. high fence exceeding maximum height across front yard than permitted by Ordinance.

NW/ cor. of Highland St. W. & Sunset Rd., a/k/a 23 Highland Street, Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-16

MASSAPEQUA EILEEN & JOHN FROLE:

Variance to allow existing rear second story deck having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. S/s/o Ocean Ave., 140.31 ft. W/o Dolphin Dr., a/k/a 9 Ocean Avenue, Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-24

MASSAPEQUA CHRISTOPHER CARTOLANO: (A) Variance to construct cellar entrance having less side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to construct rear roof over exceeding maximum building coverage and

Continued on page 15

Continued from page 14

gross floor area than permitted by Ordinance.

E/s/o elair Dr., 32.3 ft. N/o Redwood Ln., a/k/a/ 2 4 elair Drive, Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 23-378

NORTH MASSAPEQUA

MOHAMMED CHOWD-

HURY: Variance to allow existing ft. high fence and 5 ft. high fence exceeding maximum height across front yard than permitted by Ordinance.

N/s/o N. Poplar St., 00 ft. /o N. Park Ave., a/k/a 2 5 N. Poplar Street, North Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-15

NORTH MASSAPEQUA

KENNETH CAMPAGNA:

Variance to allow existing ft. high PVC fence and 5 ft. high PVC fence exceeding maximum height across side/ front yard (N. ay Avenue) than permitted by Ordinance.

N / cor. of N. Albany Ave. N. ay Ave., a/k/a 24 N. Albany Avenue, North Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 23-659

MASSAPEQUA

LORI BLITZER: (A) Variance to construct 3. ft. by 5.5 ft. rear deck, 2 . ft. by . ft. deck attached to existing above-ground swimming pool and deck square off having less rear yard setback and exceeding maximum building coverage than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance to allow existing above-ground swimming pool attached to proposed 2 . ft. by . ft. deck attached to dwelling having less rear yard setback and side yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (C) Variance to allow existing shed located in southeast corner of property having less side yard setback and rear yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (D) Variance to allow existing shed located in southwest corner of property having less rear yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (E) Variance to allow existing pool equipment having less front yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. S/s/o N. eech St., 550 ft. E/o N. Pine Dr., a/k/a 84 N. eech Street, Massapequa, NY

APPEAL NO. 23-529 -

AMENDMENT

MASSAPEQUA

SCOTT CUNNINGHAM:

Amend Specific Plans as presented for Appeal No. 2 -4 and granted by Decision of the oning oard of Appeals, dated February 25, 202 and for Appeal No. 20-20 and granted by Decision of the oning oard of Appeals, dated July 23, 2020 and for Appeal No. -442 and granted by Decision of the oning oard of Appeals, dated October , , to construct two-story deck.

N/s/o Stillwater Ave., 5. 3 S/o aterview Ave., a/k/a 8 Stillwater Avenue, Massapequa, NY

MARCH 11, 2024

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, OYSTER BAY,

NEW YORK

3- 3-2024- T-#24 225MASS

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S.

AN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN

20 SC TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. STEVE OSMAN A/ /A STEVEN OSMAN, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on February 2, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 00 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 50 on April , 2024 at 4:00 p.m., premises known as 4 Eagle Chase, Unit 4, oodbury, NY . All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being part of a Condominium in oodbury, Town of Oyster ay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 3, lock 4 and Lot a/k/a Lot U together with an undivided .03 percent interest in the Common Elements. Approximate amount of judgment is ,04 ,0 0.45 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 0 53 /20 . This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID- safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Richard L. Farley, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 road Street, Suite 50 , New York, New York 0004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 2524-3; 3-2 -20- 3-2024-4T#24 2 -NO /MASS

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY STATE RIDGE COMPANY, LLC, Plaintiff against C RISTOP ER TEJA, JR. A/ /A C RISTOP ER J. TEJA, JR. A/ /A C RIS TEJA, JR., et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 0 0 and 3 Route 55, Suite , Lagrangeville, NY 2540. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered October 3, 20 , I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 00 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 50 on April 5, 2024 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 4 erkley Place a/k/a erkeley Place, Massapequa, NY 58. Sec 5 lock

2 Lot 34. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being at Massapequa, Town of Oyster ay. Approximate Amount of Judgment is 44 ,2 . 8 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 4 05/20 8. For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. During the COVID- health emergency, idders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least -feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. idders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID- ealth Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held Rain or Shine. Malachy Lyons Jr., Esq., Referee

File # NY20 800000 2-2 4-3; 3-2 -20- 3-2024-4T#24 554-NO /MASS

LEGAL NOTICE

To the Taxpayers of the Massapequa Fire District NOTICE IS ERE Y

GIVEN that a resolution was duly adopted by the oard of Fire Commissioners of the MASSAPEQUA FIRE DISTRICT, Town of Oyster ay, County of Nassau, State of New York, on the th day of March, 2024, subject to permissive referendum as provided by Town Law. An extract of the resolution is as follows:

T E MASSAPEQUA

FIRE DISTRICT S ALL SELL A 2022 C EVROLET SILVERADO VE ICLE NO LONGER NECESSARY FOR T E DISTRICTS USES AND PURPOSES VALUED

AT APPRO IMATELY

T IRTY ONE T OUSAND FOUR DOLLARS AND ERO CENTS ( 3 ,004.00)

IN ACCORDANCE IT

T E AUT ORITY VESTED IN T E OARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS

UNDER SECTION

SU DIVISION 23 OF T E

TO N LA .

Sale of such vehicle is subject to permissive referendum as required under Section subdivision 23 of the Town Law and in accordance with procedures for permissive referendums as described in the General Municipal Law.

Dated: March , 2024 OARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS

MASSAPEQUA FIRE DISTRICT

TO N OF OYSTER AY

ATTEST:

JOANNE RIGGIO

Secretary 3- 3-2024- T-#24 0NO /MASS

PLAINVIEW/ OLD BETHPAGE

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Deutsche ank National Trust Company, as Trustee for Morgan Stanley I IS Real Estate Capital Trust 200 -2 Mortgage PassThrough Certificates, Series 200 -2, Plaintiff AGAINST Elizabeth Alexander, Scot Alexander, Scot Alexander, Jr, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered August 0, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 00 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 50 on March 25, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as Round Swamp Road, Old ethpage, NY 804. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Township of Oyster ay, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION: 4 , LOC : , LOT: 4 . Approximate amount of judgment ,403,0 3.55 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 0 32 /20 . The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID- Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website ( https://ww2.nycourts.gov/ Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. For sale information, please contact OME at www. ome.com or call (844) 400- 33. Scott . Siller, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert eiss eisman Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street ay Shore, NY 0 0 -0 345-F00 458 3- 3- ; 2-28-2 -2024-4T#245 22-NO /PLVO

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Formation of FOA M LLC filed with SSNY on JULY , 2023. Office: NASSAU County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: The LLC, 52 PLAINVIE ROAD, PLAINVIE , NY 803. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 4-3; 3-2 -20- 3- ; 2-282024- T-#24 0 -NO /PLV

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of MJAJ OLDINGS LLC. Arts of Org filed with the Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/ 3/23. Office location: Nas-

sau County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: 2 Central Park Road, Plainview, NY 803. Purpose: any lawful act. 4-3; 3-2 -20- 3- ; 2-282024- T-#24 204-NO /PLV

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Self Storage Sale

Please take notice Safeguard Self Storage # 0 located at 522 Old Country Road Plainview NY 803 intends to hold a sale of the property stored in the below listed Storage Spaces. The public sale shall occur as an online auction via www.storageauctions.com on 3/25/2024 at 2:00PM. Unless listed below, the contents consist of household goods and furnishings. Ayana N luiett unit # 3 ; Tishawri Tate unit #2 3 ; Earl Edwards unit #3 08. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. See manager for details. 3- 3- -2024-2T-#24 028NO /PLV

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU The ank of New York Mellon fka The ank of New York, as Trustee (C ALT 200 - T ), Plaintiff AGAINST on Shin Oh, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 25, 20 8, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 00 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 50 on April 3, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 80 Elmwood Street, Plainview, NY 803. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster ay, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION: 2, LOC : 00 , LOT: 0. Approximate amount of judgment 820,452.4 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #0 03 /200 . The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID- Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website ( https://ww2.nycourts.gov/ Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction. com or call (800) 280-2832. Eugene Gamache, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert eiss eisman Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street ay Shore, NY 0 0 -032 -F00 544

3-2 -20- 3- -2024-4T#245 3-NO /PLV

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SU-

PREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU The ank of New York Mellon F A The ank of New York, as Trustee for the Certificateholders of C M S, Inc., C L Mortgage Pass-Through Trust 2004-2 , Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series

2004-2 , Plaintiff AGAINST The Estate of Juan orbon a/k/a Juan orbon Sr., et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February , 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 00 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 50 on April 3, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 8 Morton lvd., Plainview, NY 803. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Plainview, Town of Oyster ay, County of Nassau, and State of New York, SECTION: 4 , LOC : , LOT:

33. Approximate amount of judgment ,20 , 08.33 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #0 3 48/20 3. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID- Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website ( https://ww2.nycourts.gov/ Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 2802832. Referee s phone number: (5 ) 5 0-4020. Peter ramer, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert eiss eisman Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street ay Shore, NY 0

0 -02 2 -F0 0

3-2 -20- 3- -2024-4T#245 4-NO /PLV

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLICHEARING CALENDAR NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 24612 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on MARCH 21, 2024, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals: BYORDER OFTHE ZONINGBOARDOF APPEALS

APPEAL NO. 23-523

PLAINVIEW

KENNETH WEINBERG: (A) Variance to construct second floor addition and modified front porch having less front yard setback than permitted by Ordinance. (B)

Variance to construct second floor addition exceeding maximum gross floor area than permitted by Ordinance.

E/s/o Randy Ln., ft. N/o Grace St., a/k/a 3 Randy Lane, Plainview, NY

APPEAL NO. 24-64

PLAINVIEW MAG RE HOLDINGS

PLAINVIEW LLC: (A)

Variance to construct addition having less rear yard setback and exceeding maximum building coverage than permitted by Ordinance. (B) Variance for the reduction of off-street parking spaces. Reduction of spaces to 2 when 3 parking spaces are required.

S/s/o S. Service Rd., 450 ft. /o Newtown Rd., a/k/a/ 5 S. Service Road, Plainview, NY

APPEAL NO. 23-621

PLAINVIEW ALAN HEIMANN: Variance to erect ft. high fence exceeding maximum height across side/front yard than permitted by Ordinance.

NE/ cor. of irch Dr. Oak Dr., a/k/a irch Drive, Plainview, NY

MARCH 11, 2024

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK

3- 3-2024- T-#24 22NO /PLV

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLICHEARING CALENDAR

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 246, Section 24612 of the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, notice is hereby given that the Zoning Board of Appeals has scheduled a public meeting, which will take place in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, New York, on MARCH 21, 2024, at 7:00 P. M., to consider the following appeals: BYORDER OFTHE ZONINGBOARDOF APPEALS

APPEAL NO. 24-1

OLD BETHPAGE

LAURA CASCARELLA:

(A) Variance to construct a second kitchen in a one-family dwelling for use as a PARENT/CHILD residence. (B) Variance to construct an accessory unit for a PARENT/ CHILD residence exceeding maximum number of bedrooms than permitted by Ordinance. (C) Variance for the reduction of off-street parking spaces. Reduction of spaces to 2 when 3 parking spaces are required. (D) Variance to construct cantilevered second floor addition and front roofed-over porch exceeding maximum building coverage than permitted by Ordinance.

(E) Variance to construct cantilevered second floor addition exceeding maximum gross floor area and having

Continued on page 16

Registration Opening For Spring Town Youth Ice Hockey Program

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino announced that registration for the Town’s Spring Youth Ice Hockey Program will begin soon for boys and girls ages 8U- 16U. This program includes full House League games, practice schedule and playoffs. Clinics spanning 10 weeks in duration will also be available for registration including all girls clinics, 6U clinics, adult learn to play clinics and advanced skill clinics. Programs will begin on April 3, 2024.

ing, participants will make new friends and create lifelong memories.”

“This recreational and instruction program is designed to give youngsters a great way to learn the correct fundamentals of one of America’s most popular sports,” said Supervisor Saladino. “In addition to receiving instruction on the proper techniques of skating, stickhandling and shoot-

Registration will open online for Town of Oyster Bay residents on March 4th and March 5th at www.oysterbaytown.com/portal beginning at 9:00 am; online registration will be available to non-residents starting on March 6th at 9:00 am. All registrants must provide a copy of their birth certificate, proof of residency, and payment for registration. A parent or legal guardian must be present for registration. All participants must provide their own equipment, and should have some skating ability. For more information, call the rink at (516) 433-7465, x 8234 or visit www.oysterbaytown.com/ hockey.

—Submitted by the Town of Oyster Bay

Imbroto Announces Toddler Sports Program For Spring 2024

Oyster Bay Town Councilman Louis Imbroto announced that the Toddler Sports Program will return this spring, beginning April 1st. This 6-week program offers sports classes at the Hicksville Athletic Center for children ages 3 and 4.

“The Town’s Toddler Sports Program is a fantastic way to teach your toddler the fundamentals of sports in a fun and social environment,” said Councilman Imbroto. “This program is sure to be a hit with children and parents alike, as youngsters are given the opportunity to learn the basics of various different sports such as tee-ball, flag football and more along with children their own age.”

The Toddler Sports Program begins April 1st and is 6 weeks in duration. Residents who sign their toddler up for the program must choose one class per week, per child. Classes will take place on:

Tuesdays at 10am or 11am at the Hicks-

ville Athletic Center in Hicksville; and Thursdays at 10am or 11am at the Hicksville Athletic Center in Hicksville.

Registration will take place ONLINE through the Town’s registration portal, available at oysterbaytown.com/portal on March 4th at 9:00 am. Space is limited- first come, first serve. Registration will close when the program reaches full capacity.

Each class is approximately 50 minutes. The cost of the program is $75 per child who is a Town resident, and $90 per child whose care giver is a Town resident but not the child. The child’s birth certificate and a tax or utility bill will be required to validate age and proof of residency. A guardian must be present during the class. The child MUST be 3 years old by the start of the program.

The Toddler Sports Program is run by the Town’s Parks Department, Recreation Division. For further information, please call (516) 797-7945.

—Submitted by the Town of Oyster Bay

(Image courtesy of Town hockey promotional material)

BY CHRISTY HINKO chinko@antonmediagroup.com

Andrew Dice Clay is coming to The Paramount on Sunday, June 9, for a special one-night performance. Recently, I had a chance to speak with the Diceman. He was chatting from his cellphone while in Columbus Circle, probably filming some of his current social media shorts that have earned him some impressive viewership stats. They don’t call him the “Undisputed Heavyweight King of Comedy” for nothing. Here’s what he had to say.

CH: What can you say about your success?

DICE: The New York Times used to write about me. It was at a time when no one would even let me be on the same block as Carnegie Hall [Dice performed at Carnegie Hall last month on Feb. 15]. I think the headline back then said, “The Demise of Western Civilization” or something like that. Last year was a game-changer for me. Now, everything I’ve been doing, A Star Is Born, working with Scorsese; it is unreal. Now the headlines say I am this great performance artist.

CH: What is the secret to staying relevant?

DICE: Believe in yourself and what you do. Achievement and accomplishment are very possible with hard work. You know, people always say, “You’re really lucky,” and I say yeah, I guess, if you want to call hard work “lucky.” I have strived and bridged a lot of generations to finally have the career that I have always wanted.

CH: Did you believe that you were funny, then?

DICE:I couldn’t care less back then; I did not care about stand-up comedy. I just cared about being a performer. Why go to acting school once a week when I could get up and perform seven nights a week. My comedy chops grew. Now I really love it. I understand it. I have grown with the times. I am not doing the material I did 45 years ago, except the Mother Goose poems, because that’s the signature piece. It’s iconic. It’s memorable and the whole audience still does it with me. Other than that, I do not want to do material from 1980 in

Outrageous And Legendary Andrew Dice Clay at The Paramount on June 9

2024. It was unheard of for a comedian to sell out arenas. I am the only comic to ever open for Guns N’ Roses; I opened with “Little Miss Muffet...” and they went berserk.

CH: How has your content changed?

DICE: I am still edgy, but the material has changed. I am older; I have learned things: I have seen things. My comedy, I’d say, is more self-deprecating now; it’s relatable. I watch clips of a 25-year-old Dice and it was so cartoony and robotic, even the way I talked back then; I never broke character. Don’t get me wrong, it was a lot of fun, but now, I put more of myself into my material.

CH: Why do we collectively need comedy?

DICE:I don’t get into politics, but you see what goes on around the world, everybody fighting everybody. I had a very smart mother. She said three things. Never talk politics. Never talk religion. And never bad-mouth Frank Sinatra. I did meet Sinatra in Vegas; I think we were shooting The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. He told me what it was like for him to be a grassroots phenomenon. He told me to never back down and keep moving forward. He said no matter what gets in my way, there will always be deterrence, but to do whatever it takes, go around it, go under it, go over it. He told me, “A guy like you is going to survive it.” I could not believe the things he told me. To this day, it is still surreal.

Recently I went to see my friend Bill Burr perform. The minute I walked into his dressing room, he said, “Dice, you’re going to do some time up there tonight, right?” My stomach dropped and initially I said, “No, I didn’t come here tonight to do that.” He said, “You got to do something; you gotta go up.” That lit the switch for me again. If you call yourself the “Undisputed Heavyweight King of Comedy” when you get on stage, you got to prove it. I’ll never retire; I’ll never be out there playing pickleball. Fans can get tickets to the Sunday, June 9, show at The Paramount (www.paramountny.com). Visit www.andrewdiceclay.com for more.

WHERE THE STARS ARE STALLERCENTER FOR THE

Patti LuPone/Broadway Wynton Marsalis/Jazz Itzhak Perlman/Classical Vic Dibitetto/Comedy

Leslie Odom, Jr./Broadway

Andrew Dice Clay Troy Conrad Photography

Patti LuPone/Broadway Wynton Marsalis/Jazz Itzhak Perlman/Classical Vic Dibitetto/Comedy Leslie Odom, Jr./Broadway