Great Neck Record 4/03/24 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

Recognizing Champions

Rebels fencing secures both boys and girls Long Island Championship

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On Monday, March 25, the Great Neck South High School girls and boys fencing teams were recognized for their hard work this season that led both teams to secure the Nassau County Championship and Long Island Championship.

Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip invited the teams to the Nassau County Legislature Building to present each player with a Nassau County Legislature Citation honoring their dedication to the team and a successful season.

Great Neck South High School Athletic Director Don Herr, Boy’s coach Joshua Baravarian and Girl’s Coach Catie Sagevick joined the boys and girls fencing teams to celebrate their championship recognition.

“It is with great pride and joy that I was able to honor and congratulate the Great Neck South boys and girls fencing teams for their outstanding performance this season and clinching the prestigious title of Long Island champions at a recent meeting of the Full Legislature,” said Legislator Pilip. “This victory is a testament to the unwavering dedication, hard work, and sheer determination exhibited by each member of both teams.”

In early February, Great Neck North High School hosted the Nassau County boys and girls fencing title where both Great Neck South teams faced Syosset High School’s teams.

According to Cole McDonnell’s reporting of the game for the Great Neck Record, Great Neck South High School girls team came back from a 13-11 deficit to beat Syosset High School. They captured their sixth straight title in a back-and-forth affair where neither team had higher than a three-point lead.

Great Neck went up 11-8 anticipating an easy path to clinch the game but Syosset ripped off five straight wins taking a 13-11 lead, retaking the momentum Great Neck worked to secure.

Great Neck tied the game 13-13 and Justina Hom won the final match-up against Rhea Sood of Syosset 5-3 to take home the title, capping off an undefeated season. This was the sixth consecutive title for the girls.

The Great Neck South boys game followed the intensity of the girls with a 14-13 finish after an extra-time win from Justin Chou over Syosset’s Taranjot Bambara. They were tied up 3-3 and needed a minute of extra time to determine the Nassau boys fencing champions. Great Neck South Boys team won.

“This year was an amazing experience for the teams,” said Coach Baravarian. “For the boys, we had won counties in 2021 and

2022. But then ran into a tremendously talented Syosset team last year and lost. Then we graduated five starters that year and were definitely the underdog this season. We knew we’d be up against a heavily favored Syosset team in the finals this year. But, we are not a team that cares about the odds. We are a team full of heart, determination, and confidence in our teammates to get the job done no matter the odds.”

Both teams went on to the Long Island Championship matches that took place in mid-February at Brentwood High School.

Great Neck South girls fencing defeated Ward Melville High School of East Setauket,

14-12. The boys team beat Newfield High School of Selden, 14-11.

According to the Great Neck Public School District, “This is the first time in Nassau County history that one school has won both titles in the same season. This is the first Long Island Championship for the South High Girls Fencing team, led by Coach Sagevick, capping off an undefeated season and the team’s sixth-consecutive Nassau County title. This is the second Long Island Championship for the South High Boys Fencing team, led by Coach Baravarian, as the team regained the title they last won in 2022.”

Congratulations To The Great Neck South Boys And Girls Fencing Teams

Boys Fencing Team

Coach Joshua Baravarian

Matthew Liu

Preston Hom

Jason Wang

Brandon Reed

Jun Ahn

Dylan Kim

Justin Jiu

Qinrui Zhang

Ethan Lee

Ryan Cheung

Eric Board

Benson Chou

Max Tse

Amir Karimov

Ryan Zhang

Casper Wang

Girls Fencing Team

Coach Catie Sagevick

Alyssa Wong

Lauren Chen

Dana Li

Bella Shi

Josephine Wong

Ella Leung

Anglea Wu

Siying Chen

Francie Xia

Laura Zhang

Annabelle Qi

Kira Nguyen

Avery Ko

Justina Hom

Ashley Nguyen

Michelle Wu

Audrey Gao

Rebecca Xu

Kristy Li

Great Neck South boys and girls fencing teams being recognized at a recent Nassau County Legislature meeting. (Photo from the Office of Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip)

Girls and boys fencing teams secure Long Island Championship (Photo from the Great Neck Public School District Website)

Great Neck South girls fencing team with Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip

Great Neck South boys fencing team with Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip (Photos from the Office of Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip)

Twenty Two Years Of Students Chanting The ‘Gantze Megilla’ At North Shore Hebrew Academy

Twenty-eight Middle School students of Great Neck’s North Shore Hebrew Academy (NSHA)—both Ashkenazic and Sephardic— joined together, on Purim Day, to chant the “Gantze Megillah,” (Scroll of Esther). This program was initiated in 2001 by Dermatologist Dr. Paul Brody. The program is now called the “Dr. Paul Brody Megillah Readers Program,” upon his retirement two years ago.

Cantor Yitzy Spinner instructed the Ashkenazic students and Judaic Studies Middle School Principal, Rabbi Simon Basalely and teacher Shmuel Bitton, instructed the Sephardic students this year. Each student read from the beautiful Megillah that was purchased by NSHA, named the “Dr. Paul Brody Megillah” to be used by all student readers on Purim Day festivities.

Purim is the annual celebration of the salvation of the Jewish People by the Persian Queen Esther, who was Jewish, who beseeched her husband King Achashverosh (Xerxes), at the behest of her uncle Mordechai, to nullify the evil decree of the Persian Prime Minister Haman, who had planned to annihilate all the Jews. The holiday, which this year was celebrated on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24, is particularly significant on the Great Neck peninsula, which has one of the largest concentrations of Persian Jews in the world.

The Ashkenazic NSHA students donned Dr. Brody’s maternal grandfather’s century-old Tallis (Prayer Shawl). It was Dr.

Spring arrived in a vibrant explosion of color at Great Neck’s Cutter Mill Park on Sunday, March 24. The Second Annual Holi Festival, organized once again by Nupur Gupta and Payal Vithlani, drew nearly 50 families from across the community, making it a bigger and brighter celebration than ever before.

After a wet Saturday, the sun shone beautifully on the festivities, turning the park into a canvas of joy. Children and adults alike reveled in the spirit of Holi, throwing colored powder – blues, pinks, greens, yellows, and oranges – that painted the air and everyone in its path. Laughter and playful throws filled the air as friends and neighbors came together in the colorful chaos.

Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors, celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring. It’s a time to shed inhibitions, forget differences, and embrace the simple pleasure of community. This joyous tradition, enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds around the world, was on full display in Great Neck.

Brody’s grandfather, Rabbi Jacob Brown z”l, who convinced him to read the “gantze [entire] Megillah,” after Brody learned the initial Megillah trope at the Cantorial Training Institute (CTI), now the Belz School of Jewish Music, of Yeshiva University.

The Megillah Readers Program has served as a paradigm for other Yeshivas and Day Schools. Several of Dr. Brody’s 400 NSHA students have “lained” (chanted) the whole Megillah by themselves, or shared the reading with one or two other alumni, at various synagogues, nursing homes or private in-

dividuals’ homes, especially helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, on Purim night at the Great Neck Synagogue, Russell Mendelson, whom Dr. Brody instructed in 2007 as a NSHA Middle School student, chanted the “Gantze Megillah,” in a parallel Megillah Reading service led by Dr. Brody, and again on Purim morning.

Among this year’s readers who had siblings taught by Dr. Brody in previous years, were Sam Herz (Riley ‘22) and Justin Levian (Ryan ‘14).

Celebrating Holi

Dr. Brody himself has chanted the “Gantze Megillah” for 52 years, including 30 years at the Great Neck Synagogue, first reading it in 1973 at Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld’s zt”l Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. In 1985, while smuggling Judaica to Jewish “refuseniks,” he read the Megillah illegally at the Great Synagogue of Leningrad, at great peril. “Better Re(a)d than Dead,” he figured! The “Gabboyim” (Sextons) were rumored to be members of the KGB.

—Submitted by the North Shore Hebrew Academy

the joy of the celebration and the vibrant colors swirling around them. This infectious spirit added another layer of vibrancy to the day, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

community together in a celebration of life and togetherness.

The infectious energy of Holi wasn’t limited to the colorful throws. Lively music filled the air, and people of all ages danced freely, their movements reflecting

Payal Vithlani and Nupur Gupta’s dedication once again ensured a successful event, filled with delicious food, refreshing drinks, lively music, and of course, ample supplies of colorful powder. Their efforts not only strengthened the Indian community within Great Neck, but also brought the wider

As the vibrant colors settled and laughter subsided, a warm sense of community lingered in the air. The 2nd Annual Holi Festival served as a joyful reminder of the power of tradition, the beauty of spring, and the importance of celebrating life together. With its growing success, this event promises to become a cherished annual tradition in Great Neck, a vibrant tapestry woven with the colors of joy, community, and togetherness.

Nupur Gupta and Payal Vithlani would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who helped make this event possible! Their hard work and dedication were instrumental in creating a joyful and memorable experience for everyone.

—Written by Rajeev Gupta

Community gathered to celebrate Holi

From the left: Payal Vithlani and Nupur Gupta (Contributed photos)

Back row from the left: Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Kobrin, NSHA Head of School; Cantor Yitzy Spinner, Ashkenazic Megillah Instructor; Dr. Paul Brody, Megillah Program initiator, holding Megillah case; and NSHA Middle School 2024 Megillah Readers, in Purim costumes, proudly unfurling the “Dr. Paul Brody Megillah”. At the far right, Rabbi Simon Basalely, Middle School Judaic Studies Principal and Sephardic Megillah instructor. (Photo from NSHA Photo File)

From the left: Dr. Paul Brody, donning his Grandfather’s century-old Tallit (Prayer Shawl), and Russel Mendelson, Esq., whom Dr. Brody taught to chant the Megillah, as a NSHA Middle School student in 2007. (Photo by BrodyBunch Productions)

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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FRIDAY, APRIL 5-

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

Winter Movie Screenings

County’s Office of Minority Affairs and Human Rights Commission. This seminar will offer important tips on building and improving your résumé and how to create or upgrade your LinkedIn profile for maximum effectiveness. Reservations are required. Please RSVP to mpilip@ nassaucountyny.gov

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10

Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 5 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. (Great Neck House, 14 Arrandale Ave.) Rescheduled from March 22-March 24. The Great Neck Park District presents: The Covenant (2023 | R) During the war in Afghanistan, a local interpreter risks his own life to carry an injured sergeant across miles of grueling terrain. Visit gnparks.org for more information.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

Sunflower Totes

1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. (Gold Coast Arts Center, 113 Middle Neck Rd.) Create your custom Sunflower tote by learning easy techniques to paint big, bold sunflowers in this popular workshop. Makes a great gift! Tuition: $60/Member: $40. Visit goldcoastarts.org/one-day-workshops/ to register.

MONDAY, APRIL 8

Solar Eclipse Glasses

2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. (Great Neck Main Library, Outside Lower Lobby) Stop by and watch the solar eclipse with your friends and neighbors. Pick up viewing glasses from any of our locations in advance or stop by the day of the event. The solar eclipse will begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. and will peak between 3:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The eclipse will reach approximately 90 percent totality here on Long Island.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9

Résumé Writing and LinkedIn Profile Seminar

7 p.m. (Great Neck Library, Parkville Branch) Sponsored by Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip and the

Digital Discovery Zone

6:30 p.m. (Great Neck Library, Main Community Room) The Great Neck Library STEM Lab and the Adult Programming Department, are hosting a program titled “Digital Discovery Zone: Tech Exploration for Neurodivergent Adults and Teens.” It is open to teens and adults with their parents and caregivers. Registration is welcome, but not required. Call 516-466-8055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary. org for more information.

THURSDAY, APRIL 11

Golden Hearts Bingo

12 p.m.-1 p.m. (Roslyn Community Center, 53 Orchard St.) The Town of North Hempstead presents Project Independence for senior residents. Play bingo and receive a free blood pressure screening. Call 311 for more information.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

Defensive Driving Course

9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Clinton G. Martin Park, 1601 Marcus Ave., New Hyde Park) The Town of North Hempstead is hosting AARP Defensive Driving Courses for town residents. Call 311 or visit northhempsteadny.gov to register.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14

Tribute to the Women of Folk and Pop 3 p.m. (Great Neck House, 14 Arrandale Ave.) Great Neck Park District is hosting Patty Shih: Songbirds, a tribute to the women of folk and pop. Visit gnparks. org for more information.

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Death Of LI Cop Ignites Conversations On Policy Change

LAUREN FELDMAN

lfeldman@antonmediagroup.com

On Monday, March 25, NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller of Massapequa Park was fatally shot while conducting a stop in Far Rockaway, Queens. The incident took place when Officer Diller and a second officer were conducting a vehicle stop with two people inside on Mott Avenue at around 5:45 p.m.

Officer Diller was promptly brought to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition but later died.

On Tuesday, March 26, hundreds or thousands of police officers and fire fighters assembled on the Long Island Expressway for symbolic honor guard and procession for Officer Diller. Public vigils and a wake were held for Diller ahead of his funeral, with former president Donald Trump stopping by the wake on March 28.

In the wake of this tragedy, the community has come together to support one another and express their grief. In an X (formerly Twitter) post, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office stated, “Our thoughts are with Police Officer Jonathan Diller’s family, his Massapequa Park community, and the members of the NYPD as they mourn his tragic loss. We will always remember his heroism and bravery.” NYPD Police Commissioner Edward Caban added, “We struggle to find the words to express the tragedy of losing one of our own. The work that Police Officer Jonathan Diller did each day to make this city a safer place will never be forgotten. We pray for his family and brothers and sisters in blue as we cope with this immense loss.”

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Department stated, “Sheriff La Rocco and the men and women of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Department offer their deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of New York City Police Department Officer Jonathan Diller. May he rest in peace.” And from the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, “Our condolences go out to the family of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller and all of our NYPD brothers and sisters during this difficult time.”

State Senator Kevin Thomas released the statement, “We mourn the loss of Police Officer Jonathan Diller, who was shot and killed last night while making a [street] stop. My thoughts and prayers are with the Diller family, P.O. Diller’s friends, and his colleagues. May he rest in peace.”

“Simply devastating. We extend our deepest sympathies to Police Officer Jonathan Diller’s family. May he rest in peace. We will

not condone this act of violence. Standing in solidarity with the NYPD community as we mourn this tragic loss,” said Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages.

Following Diller’s passing, community officials have reignited conversations about criminal reform and gun policies.

The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) released a statement citing the officer’s death was influenced by the ‘Less is More’ parole law. “The man who shot [Officer Diller], Guy Rivera, is a violent felony offender who was released from Parole Supervision in 2022 thanks to a component of ‘Less is More’ called ‘30 for 30.’ For every 30 days without a parole violation, a parolee earns 30 days off his sentence,” said PEF President Wayne Spence, who worked as a New York State parole officer for nearly 20 years before being elected PEF president in 2015.

“Mr. Rivera was hardly a model parolee,” Spence continued. “He was first incarcerated in 2011 for Attempted Assault in the First Degree, during which he also discharged

a firearm at his victim. In 2016, Rivera was released on parole and soon rearrested for selling drugs. Five years later, in 2021, he was granted parole again and when ‘Less is More’ became New York State law in 2022, he was given credit for 10 months of good behavior despite not complying with the board-imposed stipulations of his parole. This misguided law put a violent felon back into the community without regard to the community’s safety, and now the Diller family doesn’t have a husband or a father.”

Spence continued, “Sadly, Mr. Rivera’s story is not unique. ‘30 for 30’ has allowed 20,000 parolees to be released from community supervision without successful completion of the very programs that are intended to help them maintain productive lives – things like substance abuse, mental health and sex offender treatment. It is time for the New York State legislature to amend ‘Less is More’ and return power to the State’s parole officers, who want nothing more than to help parolees get back on their feet and reintegrate into their community.”

Keshia Gilyard, who identified herself as Rivera’s mother, said she hasn’t spoken to her son in five months, but has a lot of questions for him and the police: What happened in Monday night’s shooting? How did the encounter escalate? Why was her son traveling with a gun? “There a lot of questions I have for my son,” said Gilyard, 56, of Long Island City, Queens, in an interview with Newsday. “I love him and just want to know what happened. I just want to know why he would go as far as to fire a firearm at an officer.”

Tensions also rise with new efforts from Nassau County members such as Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is currently working on policies to deputize armed residents during declared emergencies. As gun shootings — even those of armed officers — escalate nationwide, officials and citizens alike are demanding reforms to better ensure the safety of their communities. Though for now, it seems there is no consensus as to how this might best be accomplished.

NYPD members salute Diller farewell. (Photo credit NYC Police Benevolent Association on Facebook)

Diller was well-liked by fellow officers. (Photo credit NYPD 105th Precinct on Facebook) Officer Diller out on assignment. (Photo credit NYPD 105th Precinct on Facebook)

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WFreshwater Fishing In Nassau

AMANDA OLSEN

aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

hile our region is famed for its salt water opportunities, Long Island also boasts some decent freshwater fisheries. Most people fishing in New York need a New York State fishing license. There are three ways to get a fishing license in New York. You can visit an official license issuing agent, order over the phone, or order online through the DEC website. A license is required for anyone over the age of 16. While statewide limits and regulations apply, there are some spots that also have their own rules. Be sure to check before you go out.

Please help prevent the spread of invasive species. After visiting a water body, take an extra moment to remove any plant debris that you see on your clothing or fishing gear. If you use waders in a water body where invasive species exist, wash them and allow the waders to dry completely before wearing them in another water body.

Before keeping fish for eating, be sure to check the DEC website for health advisories.

Here is a selection of freshwater fishing spots in Nassau county. More information can be found at dec.ny.gov under “places to go.”

Wishing you tight lines and bent rods

Forest City Park Pond

Forest City Park Pond in Wantagh is one of Nassau County’s lesser known bass-sunfish ponds. Shoreline access is limited, and steep drop offs make wading a challenge, but patient anglers could be rewarded with some decent largemouth bass catches.

Town: Hempstead

Access:

Hempstead Lake

Access is through Forest City Community Park (Town of Hempstead).

Shoreline access only (boats are prohibited)

Forest City Park Pond is located just west of the Wantagh State Parkway, north of Jerusalem Avenue, and south of the Southern State Parkway.

Fish Species:

Largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, carp, brown bullhead, American eel

Fishing:

The pond has a plentiful largemouth bass population dominated by fish less than 12 inches in length. The bass population is a slow growing, stunted population. Pumpkinseed sunfish are also plentiful, but also tend to be smaller, averaging under five inches in length. Other species are present, but in lower densities.

Located in Hempstead Lake State Park, this lake is the largest freshwater body in Nassau County.

Town: Hempstead

Access:

New York State Park. Access to the lake is via many dirt footpaths located around the perimeter of the lake.

Directions: Take the Southern State Parkway to exit 18 off the Southern State Parkway. Make a right at the stop sign on the end of the exit ramp (coming from either the east or the west) to enter the park.

Restrictions: Canoes, car top boats and electric trolling motors are permitted; however, a boat permit must first be obtained from the park. For more information call the park at (516) 766-1029. Additionally, boat must be hand launched, no trailers are permitted. Park closed from dusk till dawn.

Fish Species:

Largemouth bass, chain pickerel, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie, yellow perch, carp, goldfish

Fishing: Historically, Hempstead Lake was one of the top fisheries on Long Island. In the summer of 2002 Hempstead Lake completely dried up due to the extreme temperatures and low precipitation levels. The Region 1 Fisheries Unit restocked the lake in 2003 with black crappie, yellow perch, bluegill sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, banded killifish, golden shiners, and chain pickerel. In 2004 largemouth bass were stocked. In 2012 a fisheries survey was conducted to assess health of the fish community eight years after stocking. Juveniles were caught from all of the stocked species except golden shiner and banded killifish, indicating continued natural reproduction. Common carp were not stocked by DEC, but were also captured during the survey. Anglers wishing to target larger fish should try for carp, as the other fish species in the lake are typically small. ......................

Lower Twin Pond, Wantagh

Town: Hempstead

Access: Access is through a Town of Hempstead Preserve.

Directions: Lower Twin Pond is located immediately west of the Wantagh State

Parkway just north of Sunrise Highway. Take the Wantagh State Parkway south to Exit W5 (Sunrise Highway) west. At the first traffic light make a right onto Old Mill Road. Go past one stop sign and make a right onto Park Avenue. Park on the south side of the road. Lower Twin Pond is south of Park Avenue.

Fish Species:

Fishing:

Restrictions: Boats are prohibited, but shoreline access is available.

Largemouth bass, chain pickerel, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie, brown bullhead, American eel.

Lower Twin Pond is well known as a great chain pickerel fishing spot in Nassau County. Some fish are reported over 24 inches long. This is also a good place to target largemouth bass. During the most recent survey of Lower Twin Pond in 2014, the catch rate of Largemouth bass above 15 inches was more than 10 fish per hour. Anglers can also enjoy a plentiful sunfish population if the bass and pickerel are not biting. This pond has dense aquatic plant life in the summer, so be prepared for weeds when you fish it. Lower Twin Pond also holds one catch and release angler achievement award for a largemouth bass measuring over 20 inches long.

Town: Oyster Bay

Access:

Nassau County Park

Massapequa Lake, Massapequa

Directions: Massapequa Lake is located in the Massapequa Preserve just north of Merrick Road. Take Merrick Road a few blocks east of Route 107. The lake will be on the north side of Merrick Road.

Restrictions: Boats are prohibited, but shoreline access is available.

Fish Species:

Largemouth bass, chain pickerel, bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, brown bullhead, common carp, white perch

Fishing:

Massapequa Lake has a no-kill black bass regulation which was implemented in 1998. Since then the Largemouth Bass population in the lake has improved greatly. Patient anglers will have a chance at bass over 15 inches long. The lake also supports a very strong bluegill and yellow perch population. During the most recent survey of Massapequa Lake, the catch for both species was over 80 fish per hour. Good sized panfish are abundant in the lake, but anglers should expect to catch many more small fish. The lake becomes difficult to fish during the summer due to heavy growth

Forest

Massapequa

Hempstead Lake

Oyster

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of spatterdock and water chestnut, an invasive species. These plants grow out of the water creating dense mats of vegetation that anglers cannot fish through. Targeting the edges of these mats should reward bass anglers with a few large fish. Common carp also grow very large in Massapequa Lake, with fish over 10 pounds reported often.

Massapequa Reservoir, Massapequa

Town: Oyster Bay

Access:

The entire reservoir is located inside a Nassau County Preserve. Public access is via foot paths around the reservoir.

Directions: The reservoir is located just south of Clark Street and north of Sunrise Highway (Route 27) with Lake Shore Drive and Parkside Boulevard bordering to the east and west. Park on Lake Shore Drive or in a dirt turnoff area off Sunrise Highway just east of the Massapequa Train Station. This lake is easily accessible by train from the LIRR Babylon Branch at the Massapequa Train Station.

Restrictions: Boats are prohibited, but shoreline access is available.

Fish Species:

Naturally reproducing: largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, bluegill, brown bullhead, carp, American eel

Stocked:

Brown trout and rainbow trout are stocked in the spring and fall

Fishing:

Massapequa Reservoir is a very popular fishing spot in Nassau County that may be the most heavily fished pond on Long Island. Located within a Nassau County Preserve, it is stocked with trout in the spring and fall, which draws heavy crowds of people, especially on the weekends. The reservoir is one of the better largemouth bass fishing locations in Nassau County. The eastern half of the pond is dominated by coontail and spatterdock (aquatic plants) that make it very difficult to fish, but is worth it if you can. Water chestnut is also present here. The western half of the pond is more open, making it an ideal spot to try to catch sunfish or bass during the summer. Carp are plentiful as well, and provide a good tug on the line when hooked.

Oyster

Bay Mill Pond, Oyster Bay

Oyster Bay Mill Pond is one of the few public freshwater fishing spots on the north shore of Nassau County.

Town: Oyster Bay

Access: Pond is located on a United States Fish and Wildlife Preserve.

Directions: Located in the village of Oyster Bay south of West Shore Road. Park

on the south side of West Shore Road east of the pond or in Roosevelt Memorial Park and walk to the pond.

Restrictions: Boats are prohibited, but shoreline access is available.

Fish Species:

Largemouth bass, chain pickerel, carp, brown bullhead, American eel, brown trout, rainbow trout.

Fishing:

Most people fish Oyster Bay Mill Pond for the trout that are stocked in the spring and the fall. There is also a good population of largemouth bass in the lake, but they tend to be small (less than 12 inches). A few carp are present. There are also a few bullhead in the lake up to about 15 inches. The lake can become difficult to fish during the summer due to heavy growth of water chestnut. Water chestnut grows out of the water creating dense mats of vegetation that anglers cannot fish through. Targeting the edges of these mats should reward bass anglers with some fish.

Ridders Pond, New Hyde Park

Located in a small suburban park in the Town of North Hempstead, Ridders Pond has a stone bulkhead and is surrounded by a manicured lawn, shrubs, bushes, and trees.

Town: North Hempstead

Access:

Town of North Hempstead

Directions: Take either the Long Island Expressway or the Northern State Parkway to New Hyde Park Road. Go south on New Hyde Park Road to Marcus Avenue and make a left. Make the next left onto Meadow Farm Road and park in the designated parking.

Restrictions: Boats are prohibited. However, the entire shoreline is accessible.

Fish Species:

Pumpkinseed, carp, brown bullhead, goldfish

Fishing:

The primary fish in Ridders Pond are carp and goldfish which can reach 18 inches in length. There are a few brown bullheads that can reach 10 inches. Any sunfish present are small, less than four inches in length. It is a good pond for the neighborhood kids to enjoy a little fishing.

......................

Upper Twin Pond, Wantagh

Town: Hempstead

Access:

Access is through a Town of Hempstead Preserve.

Directions: Upper Twin Pond is located just west of the Wantagh State Parkway and north of Lower Twin Pond. Take the Wantagh State Parkway south to Exit W5 (Sunrise Highway) west. At the first traffic light make a right onto Old Mill Road. Go past one stop sign and make a right onto

Park Avenue. Park on the south side of the road. Upper Twin Pond is north of Park Avenue.

Restrictions: Boats are prohibited, but shoreline access is available. Preserve closed from dusk to dawn.

Fish Species:

Largemouth bass, chain pickerel, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie, yellow perch, carp, brown bullhead, American eel, brown trout, rainbow trout

Fishing:

Upper Twin Pond is the second most fished water in Nassau County. It gets a barrage of anglers during the spring and fall due to the trout stockings. Largemouth bass are plentiful in the lake. Since the Nassau County catch and release only black bass season went into effect (1998), the bass population has responded and is now the best bass fishing lake in Nassau County. Bass in the 15 to 18 range are common with some elusive 20+ inch fish thrown in. The sunfish are plentiful with many fish larger than six inches. There are chain pickerel in the pond, but they tend to be on the small side with few fish reaching over 15 inches. Like Lower Twin Pond, just to the south, be prepared to fish around the weeds through the summer months.

Wantagh Mill Pond, Wantagh

Previously called Jones Pond, Wantagh Mill Pond is a popular fishing spot. A paved path winds its way along the shoreline, providing easy fishing access to most of the pond.

Town: Hempstead

Access:

Nassau County Park

Directions: Wantagh Mill Pond is located in Wantagh just to the west of the Wantagh State Parkway on the north side of Merrick Road.

Restrictions: Boats are prohibited, but shoreline access is available.

Fish Species:

Largemouth bass, chain pickerel, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie, yellow perch, white perch, carp, brown bullhead, American eel, black bullhead.

Fishing:

Wantagh Mill Pond has one of the most diverse fish communities in Nassau County. Anglers can target bass, pickerel, or the abundant bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish. Most of the fish in the pond tend to be smaller than other Nassau County waters. For the largest fish, target carp near the edges of spatterdock (an aquatic plant) which grows out of the water in dense clusters. Use heavy line, as these fish will try to get you tangled in the weeds. One special note about Wantagh Mill Pond, is that it was the home of a New York State record fish! In August, 1993 a state record 7lb. 7oz black bullhead was landed here. The record still holds today.

—List compiled from NYS DEC

FISHING from page 4A

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BY JULIE PRISCO

In 2016, the insanely popular app TikTok launched. Users started out posting 15 second videos dancing to popular songs and funny skits. The app’s ability to curate a feed specific to an individual user’s interests, humor and song preferences led TikTok to quickly gain traction and become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world.

What started out as a video sharing app quickly became so much more. Now, not only can users post videos as long as 10 minutes and photo slideshows, the content available has increased in quality and diversity. TikTok users share more than trending dances and comedy skits, now some users visit the app as a source for easy recipes, style tips, movie and show recommendations and reviews. In addition, the app has become a marketing tool for large businesses to spread information on their company and for small businesses to promote themselves.

While the app is wildly popular amongst children, teens and adults, the U.S. has raised questions about the app’s security. In mid-March, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a measure that gives ByteDance (the Chinese internet company that developed TikTok) a choice to sell within six months or lose access to

EDITORIAL: OUR OPINION

Questioning The Future Of TikTok

the app stores and web-hosting services in the U.S.

Lawmakers have tried to regulate the app due to its ties to China. In 2020, Former President Donald Trump publicly attacked TikTok, threatening to ban it from the U.S. on the grounds that the Chinese Communist Party could use data gathered on its users to spy on U.S. citizens. U.S. Senators have questioned the safety of children using the app. In the U.S. TikTok users under the age of 13 have a limited experience with additional safety features.

With the app under scrutiny again, lawmakers are again arguing that the app threatens national security because the Chinese government could use TikTok to spy on Americans or weaponize it to influence the U.S. public by amplifying or suppressing certain content.

Popular TikTokers and TikTok enjoyers across the U.S. are worried about the future of their favorite app and entertainment source being taken away from them or sold to a new company that will make too many changes to the app.

As an avid TikTok fan myself, I share worries about TikTok’s future. Many people see TikTok as a distraction and waste of time.

But for the majority of TikTok’s users, the app is a way to decompress after a long day with a couple of laughs. I can go on TikTok

after the work day and scroll for twenty minutes and be in a completely different head space; away from the stress of the day and ready to get back into the things I enjoy in my free time.

Losing access to the TikTok users’ and fans’ love not only means losing a source of entertainment, it is losing an online community. Since TikTok curates the users’ feed based on previously watched videos, what a user is linking and commenting on and actively searching up, it’s easy to find a community of others that enjoy the same jokes, pop culture, entertainment and more.

Fans of popular TV shows can find other super fans and share videos about their favorite characters. Avid video game players can find others to learn tips and tricks from. Aspiring chefs learn different cooking methods and recipes. Students can find videos sharing studying resources. College graduates can find videos on résumé design and interview skills.

Personally, I have found a community of book lovers. I follow accounts that read the same books I do and post videos about their favorite scenes, plot theories or share other media similar to

the books I can’t get enough of.

As a TikTok user, I hope the app can be

Dept. Of Labor Commemorates Anniversary Of Shirtwaist Fire

In solemn remembrance of the 113th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) held a commemoration ceremony. This historic event, which tragically claimed the lives of 146 workers in 1911, remains a powerful reminder of the need for stringent workplace safety standards and labor protections. NYSDOL Commissioner Roberta Reardon attended and spoke at the ceremony in New York City, reinforcing the department’s dedication to upholding the rights and safety of all workers.

Commissioner Reardon emphasized the importance of the Department’s mission, stating,

“The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire challenges all of us to continue to do our part. To stand together. To unite.

To fight for the safety of our workplaces. And that is one of the top priorities at the Department of Labor, because we believe that no worker should ever suffer this tragic fate again.”

The ceremony, organized by Workers United and Service Employees International Union (SEIU), included

FDNY’s ceremonial ladder raising and the laying of 146 flowers to honor the victims, most of whom were young immigrant women. This tragedy highlighted the urgent need for reform and catalyzed significant advancements in labor law and workplace safety regulations.

In the wake of the fire, the public’s outcry led to vital reforms, including the establishment of regulatory agencies to oversee workplace health and safety. These changes have laid the groundwork for modern labor protections, emphasizing

the importance of continuous vigilance and improvement in labor standards.

In addition to enforcing labor laws, NYSDOL offers free on-site safety and health consultations for businesses. This service is designed to help employers identify potential hazards and implement safety and health management systems, further ensuring the safety and health of New York’s workforce. We are also emphasizing our commitment to protecting our youngest workers through the Youth Worker Pledge and our comprehensive

Child Labor Hub, designed to educate employers, young workers, and their guardians about the rights and protections specific to youth employment in New York.

NYSDOL remains committed to upholding these standards and ensuring that every worker in New York State has a safe and fair workplace. We encourage anyone who believes their rights have been violated or has concerns about workplace safety to reach out to our Labor Standards team or file a complaint.

—Submitted by NYSDOL

Senators Hope Tax Credits Will Preserve Local Journalism

Journalists who have been looking for something good to report on may soon be able to turn the lens on themselves as the New York State Senate advances tax credits to local news outlets for the employment of community-oriented news journalists in its One-House budget proposal.

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act, sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and co-sponsored by Senator Monica R. Martinez, would provide news organizations with a 50 percent refundable tax credit against the first $50,000 of each newsroom employee’s salary, up to $200,000 per outlet. This benefit would be limited to print and online newspapers and broadcasters with 100 employees or fewer that cover local

community news.

“Local journalists tell the stories of America’s communities,” said Senator Martinez. “They highlight the achievements of our neighbors, the successes of our school teams, and the efforts of our public officials. Unfortunately, with the contraction of local media over the past decade, these stories are being lost, and in their absence, misunderstanding and mistrust have taken hold. These narratives unite us, and without them, we will continue to drift further apart.”

According to a study issued by the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University, an average

of 2.5 local newspapers per week ceased operations in 2023. This has resulted in over half of all U.S. counties now having limited access to reliable local news, and more than 200 counties are considered “news deserts.” In New York State, that decline has been even more pronounced, with 190 weekly newspapers closing down since 2004 in this, the media capital of the world.

Pew Research Center findings also support this trend, with its reporting stating that the share of U.S. adults following the news closely has been in decline, resulting in shrinking audiences for several older types of news media, such as local TV stations, most newspapers, and public radio.

—Submitted by the Office of Monica Martinez

How are owls different from other birds? They evolved to hunt at night and because of this they have large areas of their brain just for sight and for hearing. Owls’ eyes face forward unlike most birds. Notice their faces are round like humans. They have special edges on their wings so that they make no noise when they fly unlike all other species of birds. They eat prey whole and then regurgitate what are called pellets that contain the bones and fur or other parts of their prey that cannot be digested. They appropriate often the nests of other birds and do not build their own nests. Read Jennifer Ackerman’s book, What the Owl knows to learn much more. There are interviews with her on YouTube that are also enlightening.

If you want to see owls one of your best chances is to go on an evening night walk led by an experienced bird leader. North Shore Audubon Society offers one on Tuesday, April 23, at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve. Your can check their website or NorthShoreaudubon.org for the time. Also Sands point Preserve and Science Museum of Long Island both offer Owl Prowls.

COLUMNS Owls Are Different

ALL ABOUT BIRDS

Peggy Maslow North Shore Audubon Society

Otherwise you won’t find locations of owls widely listed because of the fear that people might harass them during the day. I could usually find a snowy owl at Jones Beach, West End 2, by locating the photographers gathered by the dunes. I have seen the photographers get too close and cause the bird to fly away. eBird, the listing app run by Cornell Lab, will not show the locations of owls in real time or even later with some species.. I tried to find the locations for barn owls and eBird does not post any on Long Island though I know there are two owl houses occupied at Jamaica Wildlife Refuge.

Most likely the owls you will see and hear in this area are great

horned owls and Eastern screech owls. At dawn and dusk I hear great-horned owls frequently from my house during their breeding season which is over by April. Last December I went with friends to Guggenheim Preserve to hear Eastern screech owls calling at night. Saw whet owls can be found in this area with great difficulty in the winter in evergreen trees. I have seen only one in my 20 years of birding. Snowy owls inhabit the sand dunes in winter and there are barn owls at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

To see breeding owls you need to find their nests. In the past there were great-horned owl nests along the the Meadowbrook and Wantaugh parkways on the way to

Jones Beach. In the past there was one at Sands point Preserve. Since Owls do not build their own nests, they use abandoned large nests or parts of large trees. Or some use owl boxes. For years Jim Jones installed large bowls in trees, most recently at Bethpage State Park with the help of electric company trucks.

There are many other species of owls that live in other parts of North America and around the World. I have listed the few that live or visit this area. It’s important to mention that owls worldwide face many challenges leading to a large decrease in their populations from habitat loss and climate change.

The big astronomical event for this month is the total solar eclipse on April 8. If you would like to see the totality, hopefully you have already made your plans. Our area will see about 90 percent coverage. Be sure to use authentic viewing glasses or a camera obscura to observe the eclipse. The totality will last up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds in certain spots, twice as long as the full solar eclipse that darkened U.S. skies in 2017.

If you have animals, it can be interesting to observe their behavior during an eclipse. Many animals will react as if it is night, for obvious reasons. Dolphins have been observed breaching the surface to watch these events in the past.

I will be traveling to Maine to view the eclipse. Please see the 4/17 Full Run for the details on my experience.

April 8 - Total Solar Eclipse. A

Look Up

total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks the Sun, revealing the Sun’s beautiful outer atmosphere known as the corona. This is a rare, once-in-alifetime event for viewers in the United States. The last total solar eclipse visible in the continental United States occurred in 2017 and the next one will not take place until 2045. The path of totality will begin in the Pacific Ocean and move across parts of Mexico and the eastern United States and Nova Scotia. The total eclipse will be visible in parts of Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

April 22, 23 - Lyrids Meteor Shower. The Lyrids is an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust particles

left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861. The shower runs annually from April 16-25. It peaks this year on the night of the night of the 22nd and morning of the 23rd. These meteors can sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. Unfortunately the glare of the full moon will block out all but the brightest meteors this year. But if you are patient, you may still be able to catch a few good ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

April 23 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated.

May 6, 7 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Eta Aquarids is an

above average shower, capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. Most of the activity is seen in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet Halley, which has been observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from April 19 to May 28. It peaks this year on the night of May 6 and the morning of the May 7. The nearly new moon means dark skies for what should be an excellent show this year. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

—By

Amanda Olsen with information from SeaSky.org

Contributing Editor Joe Scotchie

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Great horned owl Screech owl (Photos by Peggy Maslow)

DiNapoli: LIRR Must Better Prepare For Severe Weather To Prevent Service Disruptions And Costly Damages OPED

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) needs to do more to properly prepare for severe weather events, according to an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The audit found the LIRR delayed a critical weather-related systemwide risk assessment of its infrastructure for over a decade and failed to complete several resiliency projects on-time following Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

“Severe weather is becoming more common and a failure to properly plan and be prepared will cause more commuter headaches like train delays and service disruptions,” DiNapoli said.

“While extreme weather such as blizzards, heavy rain, wind storms or heat waves cannot be prevented, railroad officials need to be prepared to minimize its impacts. The LIRR is the busiest train system in North America and is the primary means of transit from Long Island to New York City which means it must be prepared to operate as effectively as possible during all weather conditions.”

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) oversees the LIRR, which serves about 200,000 customers on weekdays. The LIRR has 700 miles of track, stretching from Montauk on Long Island to Penn Station and Grand Central in Manhattan to Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn and Hunters Point Avenue station in Queens. The audit review period was from April 2009 to January 2023.

Snow Removal Equipment Could Not Be Located

To address the impacts of a winter storm, certain equipment is required to be on hand. However, auditors found instances where generators, chainsaws, light towers, and front loaders to remove snow were not at their designated locations as required. LIRR officials said much of the equipment was being used in the field but there was no documentation to show their location.

Auditors also found equipment to remove snow and clear tracks

was not properly maintained, inspected, or tested. On a review of 13 pieces of snow-fighting equipment, there was no documentation to support they were ready to be used for at least one of the five seasons reviewed.

Systemwide Risk Assessment Delayed

Auditors found that a systemwide weather-related risk assessment of the LIRR’s transportation facilities to identify and address how to lessen the impacts of severe weather had not been completed as of February 2024. This delay left the agency at risk and their system vulnerable to damage if hit by another major storm. The LIRR said the risk assessment would be completed by the end of 2023.

Superstorm Sandy Projects Delayed

In 2012, Superstorm Sandy shut down LIRR service systemwide for days and cost the rail line millions of dollars in damages. Following the Superstorm, the LIRR started 15 capital projects totaling over

A Project of YES Community Counseling Center

$568 million to repair damages and to improve resiliency efforts. Auditors reviewed four of the projects, including a rebuild of the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel and resiliency improvements at the Long Island City and West Side Storage Yards. They determined none of the projects were completed on time and two exceeded their respective budgets.

Extreme Weather Plans Not Updated Regularly

Auditors found the LIRR is not regularly updating their extreme weather plans, which are meant to guide employees in how to safely maintain service during severe weather. From January 2018 through January 2022, important recommendations following severe weather events were often not included in the guidance or documented if implemented. DiNapoli recommends the LIRR:

• Complete its systemwide risk assessment;

• Update its extreme weather guidance and verify newly added recommendations are

implemented;

• Improve winter weather monitoring and tracking;

• Revise its Hurricane Guide to include written procedures and required steps in preparation for the season and ensure compliance;

• Expand written procedures to account for the supply, maintenance and location of equipment, and locate missing equipment items;

• Establish clear and complete written procedures to address the maintenance, inspection and testing process of equipment. In response, the MTA said the systemwide risk assessment was not delayed, but underway and steps have been taken to identify, access, analyze and test weather-related risks. The MTA also added that the Superstorm Sandy projects were not behind schedule and extreme weather guidance for employees has been updated based on lessons learned from the storm.

—Submitted by the Office of the New York State Comptroller

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Unau

Animal Fact!

Let‛s Get Crafty: Pressed Flowers

The Unau, or two-toed sloth, is a species of sloth from South America, found in Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil north of the Amazon River. There is now evidence suggesting the species‛ range expands into Bolivia. It is the largest living sloth species.

upside down all the time.

Unau live in tropical rainforests that are hot and humid. They tend to live in areas where there is a lot of vine growth so they can easily travel from tree to tree in the canopies of the forests. They mainly eat leaves, but we don‛t know much about them because they are nocturnal and hard to

Have you ever found a really pretty ower and wished you could keep it forever? With just a few things you probably already have, you can! Spring is a great time to nd and identify owers, and with this simple craft you can preserve them for years to come. Be sure to only pick owers in non-protected areas. Ask a grownup if you aren’t sure.

You will need:

A heavy book, like a dictionary paper towels contact paper scissors (optional) owers

a space of about an inch between each set.

Males and females are the same size, growing to lengths of approximately 21” to 35” (not including the tail) and weigh 9 to 24 pounds. Their fur color ranges from a brownish yellow to a pale tone of brown, but sometimes in the wild it turns green because of algae that grows on their fur during the rainy season. Their belly fur is slightly lighter in color than the body. Unau fur grows down from the middle of their belly, instead of their back, because they are

Unau, or two-toed sloth

(Photo by Tony Hisgett via wikimedia commons)

After you have picked your owers, bring them home and place them on paper towels outside for a little while to give any insects the opportunity to escape. Next, place a fresh paper towel between the pages of your heavy book. If you have a lot of owers to press, be sure to leave space for them or get out more than one book. Arrange your ower on the paper towel; Remember, it will be squashed at, so be sure to lay the petals and leaves the way you want them. You can trim with scissors if necessary. Close the book carefully. If you are pressing more owers, leave

Now you will have to wait for the moisture to be squeezed out of the owers. This can take several months. Be patient!

When they are completely dry you can place them on clear contact paper or use a laminator to seal them.

Question:

The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I? Answer: Footsteps.

Spring Forward

Cultivating joy in every corner of your blooming garden oasis

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

As the last frost melts away and the first green buds begin to unfurl, gardeners everywhere know that spring has arrived, bringing with it the promise of lush landscapes and bountiful harvests. However, this promise is accompanied by a list of essential garden chores that must be tackled to ensure the health and beauty of your outdoor oasis. From preparing the soil to planting and beyond, springtime gardening tasks set the foundation for a thriving garden. Here’s your comprehensive guide to springtime garden chores.

1Clean Up and Clear Out

Spring cleaning isn’t just for the indoors. Begin your gardening season by clearing out the debris winter has left behind. Rake away leaves, twigs, and any other detritus that has accumulated over the colder months. This not only tidies up your garden but also minimizes hiding spots for pests and diseases. Be gentle with your cleaning, though, as beneficial insects may still be hibernating in the debris.

2Soil Preparation

Healthy soil is the cornerstone of a successful garden. Start by testing your

soil to determine its pH and nutrient levels, which will guide your amendment process. Most garden plants thrive in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Depending on the results, you may need to add lime to raise the pH or sulfur to lower it. Incorporate organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure, enhance nutrient content, and boost its water-retention capabilities.

3Pruning and Trimming

Early spring is the ideal time for pruning many types of perennial plants, trees, and shrubs. Pruning stimulates growth, removes dead or diseased branches, and helps shape the plant. However, be aware of the best pruning times for specific plants; some may prefer fall or immediately after flowering. Always use clean, sharp tools to make precise cuts that heal quickly.

4Weed Management

Addressing weeds early in the season can save you a lot of trouble later on. Pull weeds by hand or use a hoe to dislodge them while they’re still young, and before they have a chance to set seeds. Applying a layer of mulch can help suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, and regulate soil temperature.

5Mulching

Mulch serves multiple purposes: it conserves moisture, keeps weeds at bay, adds aesthetic appeal, and contributes to soil health as it breaks down. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around your plants, taking care not to pile it against the stems to avoid rot.

6Planting

Spring is the time to plant bare-root trees, shrubs, and perennials, as well as cool-season vegetables and annuals. Wait until the danger of frost has passed before planting tender annuals and vegetables. When planting, ensure proper spacing to allow for air circulation and growth, reducing the risk of fungal diseases and pests.

7Pest and Disease Control

Early detection and intervention can prevent pests and diseases from taking over your garden. Inspect your plants regularly for signs of trouble, such as discolored leaves, sticky residues, or chewed foliage. Use environmentally friendly pest control methods where possible, such as introducing beneficial insects, using neem oil, or employing barriers and traps.

8Watering Wisely

Spring weather can be unpredictable, with periods of rain followed by dry spells.

Water your garden as needed, focusing on the base of the plants to reduce evaporation and prevent leaf diseases. Installing a rain barrel can be an excellent way to collect and conserve water for your garden.

9Support Structures

Early spring is the perfect time to set up trellises, stakes, and other support structures before plants become too large. Climbing plants, in particular, will benefit from having support from the start, encouraging upward growth and maximizing garden space.

10Enjoy and Observe

Lastly, take time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Walk through your garden daily, not only to monitor plant health and growth but also to appreciate the beauty and serenity it offers. Gardening is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.

Springtime garden chores might seem daunting at first, but they are essential steps on the path to a rewarding gardening season. Each task, from soil preparation to planting and pest control, builds upon the last to create a healthy, vibrant garden. With patience, diligence, and a bit of elbow grease, you can transform your outdoor space into a thriving haven that brings joy throughout the growing season and beyond.

Photo Getty Images

Dandelions: Nature’s Golden Symphony

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

Dandelion wine is more than just a beverage; it’s a time-honored tradition, a golden elixir that captures the essence of spring in a bottle.

Made from the bright yellow flowers that dot meadows and fields in the early days of the season, dandelion wine embodies the spirit of renewal and abundance. With its delicate floral notes and subtle sweetness, it’s no wonder that this homemade libation has been cherished for generations.

The process of making dandelion wine is as simple as it is rewarding. It begins with a leisurely stroll through fields and meadows, basket in hand, in search of the humble dandelion. These cheerful blooms, often dismissed as weeds, are the stars of the show, their petals bursting with vibrant color and flavor. Carefully plucking the flowers, one by one, we gather nature’s bounty, mindful of the potential hidden within each delicate blossom.

Back in the kitchen, we gently separate the petals from the green sepals, taking care to discard any stems or debris. The petals are then steeped in boiling water, releasing their essence into the liquid, which takes on a brilliant hue reminiscent of sunshine itself. As the petals infuse the

water with their floral aroma, we add sugar and citrus, balancing the sweetness with a hint of tartness.

Once the mixture has cooled, we strain out the petals, leaving behind a fragrant liquid that forms the base of our dandelion wine. To this, we add yeast, the catalyst that will transform our simple infusion into a lively fermentation. As the yeast works its magic, consuming the sugars and releasing carbon dioxide and alcohol, our dandelion wine begins to take shape, bubbling away in anticipation of its transformation.

Over the course of several weeks, we

watch and wait as our dandelion wine matures, its flavors deepening and mellowing with time. With each passing day, the liquid clarifies, shedding its youthful exuberance in favor of a more refined character. And finally, when the time is right, we bottle our dandelion wine, sealing it away like a secret treasure to be discovered and savored in the days to come.

But the true beauty of dandelion wine lies not just in its flavor, but in the memories it evokes and the connections it fosters. It’s a symbol of the simple pleasures of life, a reminder to slow down and appreciate the

Simple Dandelion Wine Recipe

4 cups dandelion petals, carefully separated from the green sepals

8 cups water

4 cups granulated sugar

2 lemons, thinly sliced

1 orange, thinly sliced

1 packet wine yeast

In a large pot, bring the water to a boil. Add the dandelion petals, lemon slices, and orange slices, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the pot from heat and stir in the sugar until dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, strain out

the dandelion petals and citrus slices, and transfer the liquid to a fermentation vessel. Sprinkle the wine yeast over the liquid and cover the vessel with a clean cloth or lid fitted with an airlock. Allow the mixture to ferment at room temperature for 4-6 weeks, or until fermentation slows and the wine clears. Once fermentation is complete, siphon the wine into clean bottles, leaving behind any sediment at the bottom of the vessel. Seal the bottles and store them in a cool, dark place for at least 6 months before enjoying.

abundance that surrounds us. Whether shared with loved ones on a warm summer evening or enjoyed alone in quiet contemplation, dandelion wine has the power to transport us back to a time when the world seemed infinite with possibility.

And so, as we raise our glasses in toast to the golden elixir that is dandelion wine, letus also raise our hearts in gratitude for the fleeting moments of joy and beauty that enrich our lives.

BY ANTON MEDIA GROUP specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

Spring celebrations herald a season of renewal, joy, and appreciation for the natural world around us. Among the myriad festivities that grace this time of year, three stand out as pillars of tradition and reflection: Easter, Mother’s Day, Passover, Purim and Earth Day. Each holds its own significance, weaving together threads of spirituality, familial love, and environmental stewardship to create a rich tapestry of revelry.

Easter, perhaps the most widely recognized of the three, is a time of spiritual renewal and rebirth for many around the world. Rooted in Christian tradition, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, symbolizing hope, redemption, and the promise of new beginnings. From solemn Good Friday observances to jubilant Easter Sunday services, the holiday is marked by a spectrum of rituals and customs, each imbued with profound meaning.

Central to Easter celebrations are

vibrant displays of color and life, mirroring the awakening of nature after the long slumber of winter. Pastel-hued eggs, adorned with intricate designs and patterns, serve as symbols of fertility and new life, while fragrant blooms such as lilies and tulips adorn churches and homes alike, filling the air with their sweet perfume. Families gather for festive meals and egg hunts, sharing laughter and joy as they come together to honor this sacred day.

Following closely on the heels of Easter is Mother’s Day, a time to honor and celebrate the maternal figures in our lives. While the origins of Mother’s Day can be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman festivals honoring mother goddesses, the modern incarnation of the holiday emerged in the early 20th century as a tribute to the selfless love and sacrifice of mothers everywhere.

On Mother’s Day, we shower our mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures with tokens of affection and appreciation, from handwritten cards

Seasonal Celebrations

and bouquets of flowers to thoughtful gestures and acts of kindness. It’s a day to reflect on the countless ways in which mothers enrich our lives, offering unconditional love, guidance, and support through every triumph and trial. Whether gathered around the family table or sharing cherished memories from afar, Mother’s Day is a time to express gratitude for the remarkable women who shape our world.

Passover, a significant Jewish holiday, commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. Traditions include the Seder meal, retelling the Exodus story, and refraining from eating leavened bread.

Purim, a joyous Jewish holiday, celebrates the triumph of Queen Esther and the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman’s plot. Festivities include feasting, costumes, and the giving of gifts.

Earth Day serves as a solemn reminder of our responsibility to protect and preserve the planet we call home.

On Earth Day, people come together t o participate in myriad activities aimed at promoting sustainability and conservation, from tree plantings and beach cleanups to educational workshops and eco-friendly initiatives. It’s a day to reconnect with the natural world, to marvel at its beauty and diversity, and to rededicate ourselves to the cause of environmental stewardship. By joining forces to protect the planet, we honor not only the Earth itself but also future generations who will inherit the world we leave behind.

In the tapestry of springtime celebrations, each stands as beacons of hope, love, and renewal. Each in its own way invites us to pause, reflect, and appreciate the myriad blessings that surround us, from the warmth of family to the beauty of nature. As we embrace these cherished traditions, let us also reaffirm our commitment to creating a world filled with joy, compassion, and abundance for all.

BY ANTON MEDIA GROUP specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

Springtime allergies, while often considered a nuisance, serve as a reminder of the vibrant renewal that accompanies the change of seasons. As nature awakens from its winter slumber, pollen fills the air, triggering sneezes and sniffles for many.

Amidst the pollen clouds and itchy eyes, spring offers a plethora of opportunities to embrace outdoor fitness activities, indulge in seasonal produce, and nurture mental well-being.

For those who suffer from allergies, outdoor fitness activities can present a double-edged sword. On one hand, the allure of fresh air and sunshine beckons us outdoors, enticing us to lace up our sneakers and hit the trails. On the other hand, the pollen-laden atmosphere can pose a challenge, exacerbating allergy symptoms and dampening our enthusiasm for outdoor exercise.

With a bit of strategic planning and preparation, it’s possible to enjoy outdoor fitness activities while minimizing the impact of allergies. Choosing the right time of day to exercise can make a world of difference; early morning or late evening workouts may offer respite from

peak pollen levels. Opting for activities that take place away from heavily wooded areas or grassy fields can help reduce exposure to allergens.

It’s Allergy Season

Activities such as hiking, biking, and jogging along paved trails or urban pathways provide an opportunity to soak up the sunshine and fresh air without venturing into allergy hotspots. Alternatively, indoor fitness options such as yoga, Pilates, or strength training can offer a welcome reprieve for allergy sufferers on particularly high pollen days. By listening to our bodies and adapting our fitness routines accordingly, we can stay active and healthy throughout the spring season.

Incorporating seasonal produce into our diets is another way to embrace the joys of spring while supporting our overall health and well-being. As the earth awakens from its winter slumber, it yields a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables bursting with flavor and nutrients. From crisp asparagus and tender baby greens to juicy strawberries and tangy rhubarb, the possibilities are endless.

Not only does consuming seasonal produce provide a delicious way to nourish our bodies, but it also offers a natural antidote to springtime allergies.

Many seasonal fruits and vegetables, such as citrus fruits, berries, and leafy greens, are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support immune function and reduce inflammation. Incorporating these nutrient-dense foods into our meals can help strengthen our bodies’ defenses against allergens and promote overall wellness.

Spring presents an opportunity to prioritize mental well-being and self-care. After months of hibernation, the longer days and warmer weather beckon us outdoors, inviting us to reconnect with nature and cultivate a sense of inner peace and tranquility. Whether it’s taking a leisurely stroll through a botanical garden, practicing mindfulness in a sun-dappled park, or simply enjoying a picnic beneath a blossoming cherry tree,

spending time outdoors can have a profound impact on mental health. Engaging in activities that nourish the soul, such as gardening, painting, or journaling, can provide a creative outlet for self-expression and reflection. By carving out moments of quietude amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, we can cultivate a sense of balance and resilience that carries us through the challenges of allergy season and beyond.

While springtime allergies may pose a temporary inconvenience, they need not overshadow the myriad joys that accompany the arrival of spring. By embracing outdoor fitness activities, indulging in seasonal produce, and nurturing mental well-being, we can fully embrace the beauty and vitality of the season while supporting our health and happiness along the way.

Recently Sold HOMES

This Tudor-style single-family home at 66 Broadway in Garden City Park sold on Feb. 21 for $885,000. This meticulously maintained four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, offers hardwood floors and charming red cedar closets that exude character. With spacious rooms and a thoughtfully designed floor plan, every corner of this residence feels like home. Recent updates to the kitchen and bathrooms provide a perfect blend of classic charm and contemporary convenience. The exterior showcases renewed roofing and stucco, along with new windows that enhance the property’s overall appeal. Stay cozy all year round with steam heating, and enjoy the convenience of a two-car garage, a lengthy driveway, and a spacious backyard. This home is located in a desirable neighborhood, conveniently located within a short distance to the Merillon Avenue and Nassau Boulevard LIRR stations; Manhattan commuting is a breeze. Top-rated schools, nearby shopping, and dining options are convenient.

This spacious Garden City Park Colonial at 29 Park Ave. sold on Feb. 5 for $850,000. This home is located just blocks from the Merillon Ave. LIRR Train Station, MTA busses and shopping. It is situated on a 5,000 square-foot lot, offering plenty of space. The home has four bedrooms, with the option to convert back into five bedrooms. The home also has two bathrooms, full kitchen, dining room, living room and two recreational rooms. The basement is finished and has a beautiful bar, a huge cedar-lined closet, laundry, storage and utilities. The home has three entrances, one on each level. The home has six

is located within the New Hyde

HOME & DESIGN

Plan A Backyard Vacation

Your backyard, always a great for your health and well-being, can do even more for families this summer by being a place to hold a staycation. With the pandemic keeping more people closer to home, a backyard vacation can be a fun way to spend time together and build new memories as a family while spending time in green space.

Make a plan

Put together a gentle schedule with a mixture of activities that your family will enjoy like dining, camping and games. Add a theme for the week, day or evening. A luau theme can be carried through with costumes, food and activities. A sports theme can have everyone in team jerseys and doing sports activities.

Map it out

A lawn area may be the site of a soccer game, bocce ball or croquet, but it can also double as an overnight camping zone for the kids in a family tent. The fire pit can be used for roasting hot dogs for lunch or s’mores at night. Time for crafts, potting plants, and eating can happen at a picnic or dining table.

Use what you have Lounge chairs, sports and play equipment can be used for their original purposes, but they can also become part of an amazing obstacle course. The wheelbarrow used

for gardening and yard work can become part of a family field day.

Spruce it up

Mow the lawn and trim the bushes. Tidy overgrown areas. Add flowering plants and rearrange planters for visual appeal. Put delicate flowers in pots and out of the way of foot traffic.

Organize for fun

Identify zones for different activities. Dining, lounging and reading may be best in shady spots. Sports, family yard games and tossing a ball to your dog may be better on a lawn that can handle rough and tumble play. Hammocks, lawn chairs, swings, picnic blankets and air mattresses can all provide a place for people to sit down and cool off.

Include teachings

Ask kids to take an inventory of the many birds, butterflies and other wildlife they see, looking up their species and background. Put up a bird feeder or plant a butterfly garden, as well as potted flowering plants to support birds and pollinators.

Green space games

Hold a nature scavenger hunt that’s fun, educational and tests your family’s observational skills. Create a “drive-thru” movie theater by bringing laptops outside or a projector to show them on a sheet hung outside.

—TuffMutt Foundation

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.

air conditioning window units, a detached garage and two patios. It

Park school district and has potential to be converted into a mother-daughter style home.

DEC Releases Eligibility Guidelines For Climate Smart Communities Grant Projects

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently released for public comment proposed new eligibility guidelines to support projects funded through the State’s successful Climate Smart Communities (CSC) grant program under the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. The guidelines will support the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050 and help communities prepare for the effects of climate change.

The CSC grant program is a competitive statewide grant program open to local governments to support the implementation of climate change mitigation and adaption projects. Bond Act funding may only be used for certain capital projects. Other activities eligible for CSC grants may be eligible for State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) investments. DEC will use public input on these draft eligibility guidelines to inform development of the Bond Act-funded CSC grant program.

The draft eligibility guidelines available for comment enable the public to provide input on the implementation of Bond Act funding as part of the $400 million directed towards‘Climate Change Mitigation.’ Once finalized, the criteria will guide funding allocations DEC will use to select Climate Smart Community projects.

• Construction of new, or expansion of existing, facilities to process food scraps;

• Establishing and implementing easily replicated renewable energy projects, including solar arrays, heat pumps, and wind turbines in public low-income housing;

• Reducing fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions from refrigeration, chillers, and air-conditioning equipment through replacement or retrofit; and

• Land acquisition (in-fee) required to implement the proposed greenhouse gas mitigation project (excludes acquisition by eminent domain).

Eligible climate change adaptation project types include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Increasing or preserving natural resilience, such as construction of living shorelines and other nature-based landscape features to decrease vulnerability to the effects of climate change;

• Flood-risk reduction, including but not limited to, strategic relocation or retrofit of climate-vulnerable critical municipal facilities or infrastructure to reduce future climate change-induced risks to those facilities;

• Replacing or right-sizing flow barriers;

• Extreme-heat preparation, including but not limited to construction of cooling centers and permanent shade structures;

The CSC grant program makes awards of between $50,000 and $2 million each to support locally administered projects to adapt to climate change and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions outside the power sector, as described below. Since the program’s inception, DEC has awarded more than $60 million from the EPF to municipalities in support of local climate mitigation and adaptation projects. Bond Act resources will augment ongoing EPF funding, with grant opportunities made available via the same request for applications.

Eligible projects in the mitigation category must reduce greenhouse gas emissions outside the power sector. Eligible greenhouse gas mitigation project types include, but are not limited to the following:

• Construction of on-road or off-road facilities for non-motorized forms of transportation that facilitate commuting or access to daily needs (recreational trails are not eligible);

• Emergency preparedness, including but not limited to, purchase and installation of emergency warning systems; and

• Land acquisition (in-fee) required to implement the proposed climate change adaptation project (excludes acquisition by eminent domain).

The Bond Act requires that disadvantaged communities shall receive no less than 35 percent, with the goal of 40 percent, of the benefit of total Bond Act funds. Disadvantaged communities are those identified by the Climate Justice Working Group, pursuant to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

Public comments on the draft guidelines may be submitted in writing to: Myra Fedyniak, Office of Climate Change, NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 122231030 P: (518) 402-8448, Email: cscgrants@ dec.ny.gov (Place “Bond Act” in the subject line).

Public comments will be accepted through Friday, April 12, 2024.

—Submitted by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Rev Your Engines

The car show returns to New York

Ushering in the latest automotive trends, the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) showcases an incredible collection of cutting-edge design and extraordinary innovation. More than two floors of displays from the world’s automakers, featuring the newest vehicles, will be brought to the NYIAS.

Some of this year’s specialty exhibits include celebrity vehicles, custom cars, The Downey Dream Cars exhibit, hometown heroes, car clubs (GTO, Mustang, hot rods), trucks rigs, test tracks, autonomous experience, kids’ driving academy, and more.

Held at the Jaco Javits Convention Center, the show is easy to get to from anywhere in the tri-state area. There are many parking facilities in the area, plus mass transit (subway, buses, LIRR, NY Waterway Ferry, Metro North, NJ Transit, Amtrak). It is approximately a 15-minute walk from Penn Station.

Show dates are from Friday, March 29 through Sunday, April 7. Show hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. General admission is $22 for adults, $8 for children. Early access admission on

show dates is also available for an additional fee. The show offers guided tours and discounted group rates.

Jacob Javits Convention Center is located at 429 11th Ave. in Manhattan, near Hudson Yards. The main entrance to the show is located at 35th Street and 11th Avenue. An additional entrance is located on 37th Street and 11th Avenue. The convention center does have a food court, in addition to hundreds of great venues within walking distance.

Although closed indefinitely to close public access, check out the nearby art installation “The Vessel,” a stairway to nowhere, which continues to attract hundreds of marvellers and selfie-takers. Also, take a leisurely 30-minute stroll across The High Line, the elevated railroad path that has been meticulously preserved and converted into a beautiful, handicapped-accessible art and nature walk.

Visit www.autoshowny.com for more information about the New York International Auto Show or check out the show’s Facebook and Instagram pages for special offers.

—Christy Hinko

According to the New York State Bar Association, “medical aid in dying is a medical practice that has been adopted in ten US jurisdictions (WA, MT, VT, CA, CO, D.C., HI, ME, NJ, NM) that allows a terminally ill, mentally capable adult with a prognosis of six months or less to live to request from their doctor a prescription for medication they can decide to self-ingest to die peacefully in their sleep.” New York’s MAID law will be considered by the legislature this year.

Protections in the proposed law include (1) a requirement that two physicians confirm the person is terminally ill with a prognosis of six months or less months to live, (2) the individual is informed of palliative care and hospice options, (3) there is a mandatory mental health evaluation if either physician has any concerns about the person’s mental capacity, (4) the request be in writing witnessed by two people, neither of whom stand to benefit from the person’s estate, and (5) anyone attempting to coerce a person will face criminal prosecution.

MAID is inextricably tied to hospice and palliative care, of which a core value is patient dignity and autonomy. New York ranks last in the country for hospice utilization due to health providers failing to provide information and counseling on these end of life options. Options will now be required to be discussed under a provision requiring “informed consent”.

Public and organizational support for MAID is widespread. Gallup reports that 74% of US adults believe that doctors should be allowed to end the life of a patient with an incurable disease “by some painless means”. By a margin of 50% to 26% New York physicians support MAID.

Taking into account the sensibilities of those health professionals who oppose MAID (formerly known as “physician assisted suicide”) on moral or religious grounds, by allowing them to opt out without penalty, the proposed law will offer an end to needless end of life pain and suffering for countless New Yorkers.

2024 Chevy Corvette Stingray (Photos by Christy Hinko)

2024 Lexus LC 500 Convertible

1933 Ford Sedan Tudor

Bethpage Federal Credit Union Provides Small Business Recovery Grants To Three Long Island Not-For-Profit Organizations

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society, and Ladles of Hope each awarded $10,000

Bethpage Federal Credit Union, as a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY), has helped to facilitate grants in the amount of $10,000 each to three local not-for-profits under the 2023 Small Business Recovery Grant (SBRG) Program. Bethpage has delivered the grants to Pal-OMine Equestrian, the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society, and Ladles of Hope.

The FHLBNY created the SBRG program as a way for its members to assist the nonprofits they work with. The grants are intended to support the financial security and health of organizations that have faced economic challenges due to the rate environment, inflation, supply-chain constraints, and/ or rising energy costs. Bethpage selected the not-for-profit organizations and applied for the grant on their behalf.

“We are so thankful for the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York’s (FHLBNY) Small Business Recovery Grant (SBRG) Program that has allowed us to provide these grants to our community not-for-profit organizations,” said Brian Bugge, Senior Vice President of Accounting and Finance, Bethpage Federal Credit Union.

“Pal-O-Mine, the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society, and Ladles of Hope are all shining stars within Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s existing nonprofit partner network, and all worthy of being recognized as organizations whose great work has an enormous impact on the communities we serve. When this program was presented to us, we jumped at the opportunity to offer additional support to these organizations, and we will continue to partner with them through volunteerism and board stewardship throughout the year.”

“The FHLBNY is honored to work with members to help the communities we all serve. We are appreciative of our members

for their continued use of these programs, which enhance our ability to help make a positive impact,” said Adam Goldstein, Chief Business Officer, FHLBNY. “Small businesses and non-profits are the cornerstones of communities across our region, and we are grateful for the opportunity to support the vital work they continue to do every day. Recognizing this vital role local organizations play in the community is the first step to supporting continued opportunities and economic growth within our district.”

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian began in 1995 as a therapeutic horseback riding program for individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable populations, using horses to facilitate growth, learning and healing. The Islandia-based notfor-profit supports children and adults with disabilities, those who have been abused or neglected, the military and the impoverished. Pal-O-Mine Equestrian plans to use their grant to increase and support staff hiring and retention.

“Operating a 13-acre, 20-stall horse farm is no easy task. Beyond the staff needed to maintain the facility and the health and safety of our animals, we also have teams of mental health professionals, riding instructors, teachers, vocational job coaches, speech pathologists, occupational and

and provide supplies to help them get back on their feet. We thank Bethpage for selecting us to receive this grant and appreciate all they do to support us on a regular basis.”

physical therapists, and nurses to help support the people we serve,” said Lisa Gatti, Founder and CEO, Pal-O-Mine. “We are so grateful to Bethpage for their generosity and ongoing support in selecting us for this grant.”

Since its inception in 1982, the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society’s directive has been to preserve, through education and capital improvements, the nautical heritage of Fire Island and Long Island and to ensure that the Fire Island Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters/ Visitor Center remain an integral part of Long Island maritime history. The SBRG grant will be used to create and/or support community programs such as educational programs, workshops and tours related to the historical nature of the Fire Island Lighthouse.

“When the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society took over the maintenance and operation of the Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters/Visitor Center in 1996, our mission has been to increase visitor services and programs for schools and other interested groups. Today, thousands of guests visit throughout the year to experience the 182-step tour to our gorgeous panoramic view and learn more about the life of a lighthouse keeper and the rigorous demands

of preserving the Lighthouse,” said Tony Femminella, Executive Director, Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society. “Bethpage has been an amazing supporter and partner for us, helping to ensure the Fire Island Lighthouse remains an integral part of the nautical heritage of Fire Island and Long Island for years to come.”

—Submitted by Bethpage Federal Credit Union

Ladles of Hope is a Seafordbased not-for-profit that operates soup kitchens and pantries offering to-go lunches and clothing for those in need in Nassau County, NY. The organization is 100percent volunteer-based and plans to use the grant to start offering a much-needed food pantry in Freeport and Roosevelt to provide clothing, toiletries, and meals to those in need.

“We are so thankful and proud of the work our volunteers do every week to prepare the to-go meals and groceries for our soup kitchens. It means a lot to us to be a fully volunteer based organization, including our board of directors, with many working with us for more than 20 years,” said Fran Hanly, Secretary, Ladles of Hope. “This grant will allow us to open two new food pantries to help feed our neighbors in need

The FHLBNY has awarded $5 million in grants to over 100 members to help small businesses and non-profits throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands to benefit organizations facing economic challenges due to the rate environment, inflation, supply-chain constraints, and/or rising energy costs.

About Bethpage

Bethpage Federal Credit Union is a premier community financial institution committed to enriching the lives of its members, employees, and the communities it serves for the past 80 years. Bethpage is the largest credit union in the Northeast Region, and the 15th largest in the nation.

As a not-for-profit credit union, Bethpage is committed to its members and the communities it serves. In addition to giving back to its members in the form of great rates and low fees, the Bethpage Cares program invests heavily in local, high-impact community programs that serve with an eye towards creating better communities through diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Bethpage is a federally chartered credit union, available to people nationwide who open a $5 dollar membership account. Bethpage offers a robust digital platform that allows members to bank from anywhere. Bethpage is a part of the national CO-OP network that gives members access to their accounts at over 30,000 free ATMs and 5,000+ shared branches across the U.S. For more information visit www.lovebethpage.com or call 1-800- 628-7070.

—Submitted by Bethpage Federal Credit Union

Fire Island Lighthouse

(Photo by Cory Olsen)

Pal-O-Mine

(Photo by Bethpage Federal Credit Union)

Syosset Coach, 22, Charged With Rape Of Student Dies By Suicide

jcorr@antonmediagroup.com

On Friday, March 22, at approximately 10:35 p.m., the Metropolitan Transit Authority Police Department responded to a scene where a male had intentionally stepped in front of a train traveling from Huntington to Penn Station at the Woodbury Road crossing in Syosset, east of the Long Island Rail Road station.

“The train struck the male, who was pronounced deceased at the scene,” said MTA Police Department Spokesperson Michael Cortez. “Upon joint investigation with the Nassau County Police Department, the subject was identified and determined to have left behind a suicide note.”

The male was identified as Jason Maser, 22, of Syosset, who had been arrested at his residence on March 21. He was charged with two counts of Rape in the Third Degree, two counts of

Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

According to Nassau County Police Department detectives, Maser sexually assaulted a 15-year-old female juvenile while employed as a girls’ volleyball coach for Sacred Heart High School in Hempstead and B & B Volleyball in Albertson. The assaults allegedly took place on Feb. 7 and March 7 in Albertson.

He had been reportedly released on $75,000 bail the morning of his suicide.

Sacred Heart High School stated to the media that it took immediate steps to ensure that Maser had no further access to its premises or any school activities. Further, Maser’s employment was terminated.

B&B Volleyball also cut ties with Maser and immediately notified parents.

“The family is devastated for obvious reasons,” Maser’s defense lawyer, John Carman, told Newsday. “While they process what has occurred, they are concerned for the young woman involved.”

A view of Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead. (Via Sacred Heart Academy’s Facebook)

Local Pols Still Against Congestion Pricing

New York State Senator Steve Rhoads and Assemblyman Ed Ra introduced an amendment (S.5934) to congestion pricing that would force the issue of tolling to come back to the legislature to approve any recommended toll amount that is established before such toll amounts are established and adopted by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority Board. This bill would also require the Traffic Mobility Review Board to recommend a privacy risk plan in relation to the collection, processing, transfer, and disclosure of personal data. In the technological age, Senator Rhoads and Assemblyman Ra are committed to protecting residents’ private data. The bill is currently in the Senate Transportation Committee and the Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee.

During Senator Rhoads’ impassioned plea for the amendment on the Senate floor, he emphasized the importance of accountability as elected leaders in government. The residents of New York State who send their elected officials to Albany have the right to expect that their elected officials will own it when these congestion pricing tolls are established. Senator Rhoads said, “turning that responsibility over to random people who most of the public will never have the opportunity to meet instead of taking responsibility for a policy that the legislature created to actually establish those tolls is shirking our responsibility and this amendment will place the responsibility back where it lies – with the elected officials of the legislature.”

The MTA is $48 billion in debt and Congestion Pricing is expected to generate $1 billion. This revenue is already earmarked to the MTA capital program, which currently already has a funding shortfall of $3 billion. The predicted money generated by Congestion Pricing is just a drop in the bucket in comparison to the actual needs of the MTA. With this evident mismanagement in mind and fare-hikes coming soon, Senator Rhoads renewed his calls for a forensic audit of the MTA, which he refers to as “Money Thrown Away.”

Senator Rhoads added, “Congestion Pricing is nothing more than a money grab with a facade of environmental justice that allows the MTA to take advantage of Long Island residents and businesses. This proposed amendment (S.5934) ensures residents have a voice in setting toll amounts – through their elected Albany representatives – and puts the safety of the taxpayers first by requiring the implementation of a data privacy plan. Tolls should not be left up to an unelected board of Albany bureaucrats. There needs to be accountability. The MTA Board has not historically been a vigilant watchdog for consumers or riders,

but has been nothing more than a lap dog for the governor and a lap dog for the radical policies that are often passed by the State Legislature under one-party rule. While residents continue to grapple with the State’s self-inflicted migrant crisis, soaring crime, rising food costs, and one-party control in Albany continuously imposing heavy taxes, Congestion Pricing serves as yet another assault on the suburbs to fund the MTA’s evident incompetence and lack of responsibility. Instead of going after the fare-evaders that cost the MTA $700 million, the MTA is making it more difficult for first responders, essential workers, non-profit workers, teachers, as well as residents driving into Manhattan for work, education, medical appointments, or leisure activities. It is high time for this senseless cycle to come to an end and put the hardworking taxpayers first.”

“Congestion pricing is a flawed idea to further tax suburban taxpayers under the guise of environmental protection. Imposing further financial strains on residents already struggling with an affordability crisis should never be the default approach. Long Island taxpayers are tired of being treated like an ATM. To do so without even making an effort to heed the voices of those affected is negligent at best and devious at worst. Policies like congestion pricing must prioritize the well-being of all New Yorkers, and that is precisely the principle guiding our proposed amendment,” said Assemblyman Ed Ra, 19th Assembly District.

—Submitted by the office of Senator Steven Rhoads

Leaders Unite As Brown Calls For Adequate CHIPS Funding

Assemblyman Ari Brown (R,Cedarhurst) was joined by Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (R,C-9th Senate District) and local village mayors and officials ahead of the budget vote to advocate for adequate Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding from the state for vital infrastructure needs, such as road and bridge repair.

Local governments maintain nearly 87percent of New York’s roads, yet the governor’s proposed budget reduces CHIPS funding by $60 million, which is a slap in the face to her constituency.

“Gov. Hochul’s budget proposal completely neglects the urgent need for infrastructure investment, though she talks a big game of building new housing.

“Cutting $60 million from CHIPS funding exacerbates an already dire situation, disregarding a $2.0 billion annual shortfall and soaring construction costs. With $89 billion in unmet infrastructure needs, we cannot afford to undermine our roads and local communities any longer.

“CHIPS funding is not just about roads; it’s about investing in communities, ensuring safety and fostering

economic growth. The funds are available, we simply must reallocate the $2.4 billion intended for those who have never contributed to our society and have come here illegally and give back to those who have given,” said Brown.

“One of the most tangible uses of New Yorkers’ hard-earned tax dollars is the quality of our roads. Unfortunately, many New Yorkers do not believe the quality of our roads is at all reflective of our taxes, which are among the highest in the nation. As we have seen an increase in the national average of construction costs of nearly 60percent since 2022, I am baffled that the governor would propose a significant cut to CHIPS while proposing to spend billions of dollars to put a Band-Aid on the self-imposed migrant crisis. This critical funding is essential to enable our local governments to maintain and update our transportation infrastructure. Our state budget needs to reflect New Yorkers’ priorities and the efforts that will make the most positive impacts on everyday New Yorkers’ lives, and I will continue to fight to ensure our final enacted budget does exactly that,” said Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick.

—Submitted by the Office of Ari Brown

Senator Ed Ra (Photos by the Office of Steven Rhoads)

Senator Steven Rhoads

State Outreach Connects Communities To Increase Access To Clean Water Funding

On World Water Day, Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted the success of New York’s Community Assistance Teams initiative as part of her long-term strategy to help local governments across the state address their water infrastructure needs. Since Governor Hochul launched this program in February 2023, the inter-agency teams have worked one-on-one with 85 municipalities by request and hosted 18 regional webinars and events, drawing participation from more than 500 local government representatives. This outreach has state experts working shoulder-to-shoulder with municipalities to help them assess their water infrastructure needs, identify solutions, and access funding. The program is being expanded as part of the clean water agenda in Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State, including increasing grants for small, rural, and disadvantaged communities.

Many communities face water infrastructure challenges, including aging systems, workforce shortages, increasing costs, and declining rate bases. These challenges can be compounded in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities.

The Community Assistance Teams serve an important role in helping to ensure that historically underserved communities receive the help they need to jumpstart their projects and submit acceptable funding applications. The teams are coordinated by the State Environmental Facilities Corporation in partnership with the Departments of Environmental Conservation, Health, and State, and the Division of Homes and Community Renewal. Providing central access to the agencies that provide water funding helps communities access solutions that fit their unique needs.

The teams offer one-on-one meetings either on-site in the community or virtually. When a community requests a meeting, staff offer consultations to discuss their water infrastructure needs and connect them to programs based on eligibility. Staff help communities effectively prepare to submit applications by explaining processes, deadlines, and the types of supporting documentation they must submit to be competitive.

For example, any community that’s applying for low-cost loans from the State Revolving Funds must submit an acceptable engineering report for their project. These reports identify best-fit solutions for advancing well-designed, resilient, and fiscally sound projects to construction. The Community Assistance Teams connect eligible communities to EFC’s Engineering Planning Grant program that

project is shovel ready.

The teams are also helping communities that are further along in the planning

process, such as providing guidance about how to improve funding applications for eligible projects or connecting them to additional State programs or resources. It is expected even more communities will start applying for grants and listing their projects for financing, with the first full funding cycle underway since the initiative launched. The deadline is June 14 for State water grant applications as well as project listings for the State Revolving Funds. Any community that needs help with its water infrastructure is encouraged to request a meeting at www. efc.ny.gov/cat.

Disadvantaged Communities will receive at least 35 percent of the benefits of Bond Act funding, with a goal of 40 percent. The first round of funding under the Environmental Bond Act was awarded by EFC in December through the WIIA/ IMG programs, when Governor Hochul announced $479 million in grants to 156 projects across New York State.

—From the office of Governor Kathy Hochul

World Water Day 2024 Sees Progress On PFAS

For all the work to be done removing PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more familiarly known as “forever chemicals”—from our waterways and our drinking water, the key to addressing this pervasive contamination crisis is keeping them out in the first place. We must turn off the tap on these toxins.

“Several efforts toward testing and mitigation are in motion,” said Long Island Soundkeeper Bill Lucey. “The problem is we keep introducing PFAS into these areas that we’re trying to clean up in order to keep our fish and drinking water toxin-free.”

It’s a vicious cycle. PFAS are found in the water we drink and the fish we eat, and wind up getting back into our waterways every time we flush our toilets. They’re in products we interact with every day, from the carpets we walk on to the couches we sit on, right down to our stain-resistant clothing; we put those clothes in our washing machines, and the PFAS-contaminated water discharges back into our rivers, lakes, and the Sound.

Once they’re out there in the water sources and our food chain, they stay there. PFAS are biopersistent (they don’t break down) and bioaccumulative (their presence builds up over time), which means the health risks to people, wildlife, and the environment don’t go away on their own. Those risks include increased risk of certain cancers; infertility, birth defects, and low birth weight; liver damage; decreased vaccine

response; high cholesterol; and diabetes.

This U.N. World Water Day, we are seeing positive signs around the Long Island Sound region that the spigot, finally, is in the process of being shut down. On Wednesday, the Environment Committee of the Connecticut Legislature unanimously passed SB-292, an act concerning the use of PFAS in certain products. New York’s most comprehensive bill seeking to prohibit the sale of certain consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS (S5648C) currently waits to be passed by the Senate Environmental Conservation committee.

Both bills face a long road ahead to becoming law, but they generally follow the model set forth by states that have already passed such legislation. Maine, Minnesota, and Washington have set the precedent, and have begun to phase out everyday products that contain intentionally and unnecessarily added PFAS. The list of products in Connecticut and New York don’t exactly match the other states or each other, but both are seeking to require many of the same kinds of products—certain apparel, carpets, cookware, cosmetics, cleaning products, fabric treatments, textiles, ski wax, among others—be PFAS-free by January 1, 2026.

“We’re encouraged to see Connecticut and New York taking a more comprehensive approach,” said David Ansel, our vice president of water protection. “Save the

Sound is working in both states toward a more aligned policy that ultimately would provide the same protections for everyone across the Long Island Sound region.”

Lawmakers across the country are acting with increased urgency as the scope of PFAS contamination becomes apparent. According to USA Today, drinking water for more than 70 million Americans contain PFAS levels “that require reporting to the Environmental Protection Agency.”

Back in January, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced two lawsuits seeking injunctive and monetary relief from 28 manufacturers responsible for contributing to PFAS contamination in state waterways. Last summer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand came to Long Island— where more than one million people are drinking water with at least trace levels of PFAS—to introduce the Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2023. And last month, Senator Richard Blumenthal announced the EPA had awarded $18 million to combat PFAS in Connecticut, where as many as 700 sites could be contaminated.

In New York, we continue to advocate that the state legislature include $600 million in the budget for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, which provides essential funding for communities to upgrade their wastewater and drinking water infrastructure and launch projects related to PFAS filtration and mitigation. .

—Submitted by Save The Sound

Photo by Getty Images can help them develop an engineering report, which helps set the stage for a successful funding application when the

WORD FIND

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, there will be 23 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll strike a lovely balance between assertiveness and restraint. In fact, your approach in this regard is so nuanced, it’s like a blend of spices all your own. You might be inspired to think of your thought processes as proprietary, like the secret recipe of Coca-Cola, or the original recipe of Col. Sanders.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Because you know your own power, you have no need to engage with obstacles that do not engage with you. Keeping your distance from trouble is wise. ere are only two reasons worthy of your involvement -- to defend the defenseless or to protect your own interests. Mostly, these will not come into play.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You are always interested in self-development. What you’re not always sure about is which direction you want to take it. You’ve been known to say “yes” to things that scare you because you sense they will also grow you in just the right way. You’ll do it again this week.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’re a master of focus this week and will feel empowered to zoom in or out as needed. is helps you understand where you are in relation to other things. ere are many around you who can’t connect the dots because they don’t recognize them as “dots” to begin with. You’ll help people see the big picture.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Why are you attracted to some people and not others? Resonance. Someone’s presence vibrates within your own depths. Do not chastise yourself for being attracted to the “wrong people.” ere’s no such thing. You’re drawn to your soul’s best education. You will evolve from every interaction, as well as every conscious choice not to engage.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Love has many forms, tones and aspects. ough it’s a force of goodness, it’s also an uncontrollable force. is is a time to go slowly. Trust small doses of a ection to build. Love often inspires you to choose what’s good for the relationship over your own interests. Let this be a gradual move, not one big decision.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). e more you like someone, the warier you are about saying the wrong thing or making an undesirable impression. Dare to share an unvarnished version of yourself. at’s how you’ll learn whether it’s really a good t. Regardless, you can bet that the real you is more lovable than anyone you could try to be.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). At rst, you took on a task because it paid you. And though you may still be paid, perhaps better than ever, you’re driven by something entirely di erent from money. You love how people bene t from what you give. Being useful feels wonderful, and making a di erence feels even better.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You know what you want and you’ll keep going for it. When one way doesn’t work, try it on repeat. Next, change up the intensity, recipe or approach. No matter how many times you change tactics, you’ll stick to the same goal. Because you’re willing to come at it from di erent angles, you’ll be successful.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). When you’re in the swirl of a problem, you’re losing some of your power to it. Can you detach? To take a step back mentally is a movement in stillness. It allows you to observe with greater scope and objectivity. It’s a way to conserve energy or even to fortify yourself.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Even though you are perfectly capable of self-reection, you are not the ideal mirror for yourself. It’s like using a hand mirror. You can only see one small view at a time and then you have to mentally piece together a bigger picture -- a process that is sure to bring distortions. Rely on friends, coaches and wise counsel.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re on a quest to know and express yourself, to realize your full potential and to get the most out of your experiences you possibly can. Your path will intersect with one on a similar quest, and you’ll walk together for a stretch. Collectively, you’ll come up with e ective solutions neither of you could have made work on your own.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS

A year in which your mind grows in power, your body in vitality, your personality in magnetism. Your main way of bringing resources to yourself and others aligns closer and closer to your purpose. You’ll o er clarity in the midst of confusion. Your counsel will be appreciated, and you’ll be well compensated for it. More highlights: You’ll be naturally drawn to the people who need you and who have much to give back. is emotional balance allows a clear channel of joy to ood into your world.

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND

Gameshows past and present

Solution: 23 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 23 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Gameshows past and present

Solution: 23 Letters

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

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

ADbc Answer Brain Cost Download Event

Exciting Fast Flashback Forget

Funny Greed

Hard Have a Go I Do, I Do

Jigsaw Language Man ‘O’ Man

Memory

Money Obscure

Pot Luck Quest Quiz

RocKwiz Rowdy Say G’day Sport

Steam Punks!

Success

Television

The Cube

The Cube

Tic-Tac-Dough

Tic-Tac-Dough

Tricky Vidiot

Wrong

Solution: Some perennial favourites

Creators Syndicate

Solution: Some perennial favourites

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: 4/3/24

Date: 4/3/24

Famous Hand

bid at his second turn was the cause of the failure to reach game. True, to some extent he made amends for his underbid by bidding three hearts later on, but this did not stir Wohlin into action.

Larsen probably thought there was little chance for game after both opponents had bid, but a jump to three hearts at his second turn would certainly have come closer to representing the full value of his hand. That bid would almost surely have induced Wohlin to bid three notrump.

When Ted Lightner of the U.S. held the South hand, the bidding went:

EastSouthWestNorth Pass 1 ♥ 1 ♠ Pass

2 ♣ 2 NT Pass 3 NT

Larsen wound up in three hearts, made four and could also have made three notrump.

Undoubtedly, Larsen’s two-heart

Lightner’s two-notrump bid was certainly unusual, since he did not rebid his powerful suit. But he was more concerned with representing the game-potential of his hand than he was with spelling out the details. In his view, a nine-trick game seemed more likely to make than a 10-trick game. North, holding an ace and a king, was then delighted to raise to three notrump, against which there was no defense.

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

Su olk County NY nonpro t seeks sealed bids for sales and installation of security enhancements. You may bid on one or more of the following projects. Request proposal documents with scope of work and selection criteria from CQRDXQ@gmail.com. You must sign for proposal documents and provide contact info. Bids will be accepted until 5:00 PM on April 18, 2024. Work commences on or about May 1, 2024

247071 M

A nonprofit organization in Great Neck, NY is seeking sealed bids for sales and installation of security related enhancements. This is a New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services grant funded project. The project includes (i) installation of one or more: technology (such as CCTV, access control, alarms, sensors), security film, doors, locks, windows, bollards, planters, (ii) training programs, and (iii) security personnel. Bids will be accepted until 5:00 PM on April 12, 2024. Work is expected to commence by the week of May 1, 2024, and be completed by July 1, 2025. All interested vendors will be required to demonstrate preliminary qualifications and licensing for this work, acknowledge receipt of the proposal documents, and provide company name, business address, telephone, fax and email address, and primary contact name. Selection criteria will be based on knowledge of surveillance and security, adherence to projected work schedule, prior experience, references, and cost. Specifications and bid requirements can be obtained by contacting us at contracths2021@gmail.com

seeking sealed bids for the sale and installation of the following security related enhancements for NY state and federal grants: Exterior and interior doors to meet forced entry resistance standards with security glass or lm on sidelights and windows in doors; video access control system; bullet resistant lm on windows; polycarbonate-stained glass window protection, install exterior lighting and upgrade alarm system, vehicle arrest barriers, exterior surveillance camera system. You can bid on some or all projects. The selection criteria will be based on knowledge of security, adherence to projected work schedule, prior experience, references, and cost. Speci cations and bid requirements can be obtained by contacting us at seccomm20@gmail.com SDVOB and M/WBE’s are encouraged to apply. All quali ed applicants will be a orded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or marital status.

Vendors will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement and provide a primary contact, telephone, and email address.

Bids will be accepted until 6pm on May 1, 2024. Bids will not be accepted after the bid deadline. Project to start July, 2024 and complete by April 30, 2025.

We, Edward & Lisa Castellano, bring forth our land patent bene ts. The complete Patent can be viewed at landpatentpower.com

ATTORNEY

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COMPANIONS / ELDERCARE

Interested vendors must demonstrate quali cations and licensing for this work. Selection criteria based on material quality, knowledge of surveillance and security, timeliness of work, prior experience, references, and cost. Projects 1416, 1267, 1256, 1601, 1552, 1553, 1554, 1609, 1301 installation of one or more technology (such as CCTV, access control, alarms, sensors, X-ray machines, magnetometer, handheld radios), security lm, doors, locks, windows, bollards, booth, planters, barriers, lighting, fencing, privacy fencing, gates. Projects 1256A, 1601A, 1554A training programs. Projects 1601B security personnel. Projects 1609A cybersecurity.

FINANCE

TAX PROBLEMS: IRS/NYS. Business/ Personal. Tax Letters. Audits. Unfiled Returns. Wage & Bank Levies. Call TaxKingUSA.com at 631743-4829 for a Solution and Peace of Mind.

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Fifth-graders from Saddle Rock, JFK, Baker and Lakeville Elementary Schools gathered at the Andrew Stergiopoulos Ice Rink for the neon skate spectacular. The students enjoyed ice skating, a live DJ, giveaways, candy and food with friends at the Great Neck Park District’s ice rink.

—Information from the Great Neck Park District

LEGALGREAT NECK

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Plaintiff

AGAINST

Mehdi Gabyzadeh a/k/a Mehdi Gabayzadeh; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 21, 2019 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 17, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 5 Pheasant Run, Kings Point, NY 11024. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Kings Point, New York, in the Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 1 Block 178 Lot 48. Approximate amount of judgment $2,848,401.13 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed udgment nde 003161/2007. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Malachy Lyons, Jr., Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: February 12, 2024 4-3; 3-27-20-13-2024-4T-

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF BEHALF OF AND FOR THE BENE-

Graffiti Glow

FIT OF MEB LOAN TRUST VII, Plaintiff - againstYEFIM ARANBAYEV, et al

Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on October 13, 2023. 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, N.Y. 11501

“Rain or Shine” on the 18th day of April, 2024 at 2:30 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Great Neck, Town of North Hempstead, State of New York.

Premises known as 35 West Terrace Road, Great Neck, NY 11021.

(Section: 2, Block: 289, Lot: 1 and 10)

Approximate amount of lien $1,177,876.89 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed udg ment and terms of sale.

Index No. 010727/2014. Janine Lynam, Esq., Referee. McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170

Tel. 347/286-7409

Dated: February 8, 2024

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.

4-10-3; 3-27-20-2024-4T-

LEGAL NOTICE

PROBATE CITATION

File No. 2022-2857 SURROGATE’S COURT

NASSAU COUNTY SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,

By the Grace of God Free and Independent

TO: Jacqueline Silver A petition having been duly filed by DANIEL AKERIB, who is domiciled at 1535 California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304.

YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Nassau County, at 262 Old Country Road Mineola, New York 11501, on May 22, 2024, at 9:30 A.M. of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of Josephine Akerib lately domiciled at 38 Knightsbridge Road, Apt. 3i, Great Neck Village, NY, 11021, United States admitting to probate a Will dated September 17, 1980 (and Codicil(s), if any, dated N/A), a copy of which is attached, as the Will of Josephine Akerib deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that: Letters Testamentary issue to Letters of Trusteeship issue to [X] Letters of Administration c.t.a. to DANIEL AKERIB

Further relief requested (if any):

NOTICE: THIS CITATION IS SERVED UPON YOU AS REQUIRED BY LAW. A Dated, Attested and Sealed, 3/11/24

Seal Surrogate Hon. Margaret C. Reilly

Chief Clerk Debra Keller Leimbach

Donna Furey, Esq.

Print Name of Attorney

Law Office of Donna Furey

Firm Name

44-14 Broadway, New York, New York 11103

Address (347) 448-2549

Telephone dfurey@fureylaw.net

Email (optional)

PROOF OF SERVICE SHALL BE FILED ON OR BEFORE THE SECOND DAY PRECEDING THE RETURN DATE. IN COMPUTING SUCH PERIOD TWO DAYS, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND LEGAL HOL-

IDAYS SHALL NOT BE

LEGAL NOTICE VILLAGE OF KENSINGTON

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE the Board of Trustees of the Village of Kensington will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 8:00pm, in the Village Hall, 2 Nassau Drive, Great Neck, NY 11021 to consider the following local law:

Section One. Kensington Code Chapter 64 entitled “Building Construction” is hereby amended by the addition of a new Article IV entitled “Multiple Dwelling and Nonresidential Occupancy Licenses” to read as follows:

Article IV Multiple Dwelling and Nonresidential Occupancy Licenses. $64-67. Legislative intent. The Board of Trustees seeks to be in compliance with New York State Law by requiring inspections of Multiple Dwellings and Nonresidential Occupancies Premises to ensure compliance with the New York State Fire Prevention and Building Code and the New York State Multiple Dwellings Law. The Code provisions herein will serve to safeguard the public health, safety, welfare, and good working order of Multiple Dwellings and Non-Residential Occupancies Premises throughout the Village.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that the proposed local laws are available for inspection and copying at Village Hall during regular business hours.

At the time and place aforesaid, all interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard. Those persons planning to attend any meeting of the Kensington Board of Trustees and who require listening devices and/or a sign language translator are requested to notify the Village Administrator no less than 48 hours prior to the meeting

BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

INC. VILLAGE OF KENSINGTON

Susan Lopatkin, Mayor

Melissa R. McComb, Village Clerk

April 4, 2024

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

VILLAGE OF KENSINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that the Board of Trustees of the Inc. Village of Kensington will receive separate sealed bids for seven used board room chairs. Chairs are all a classic style, tufted green leather bound, arms with nail heads and a swivel bottom.

The chairs will be sold in “as is” condition. Chairs can be inspected at the Village Hall Monday-Friday 9am-4pm

Pick up in Great Neck only.

The starting bid $500.00 Bids must be sent certified or hand delivered to the Village Clerk at the Village of Kensington, 2 Nassau Drive, Great Neck, NY 11021 by 2:00pm on April 12, 2024. Please mark envelopes Attn: Chair Bid. The bids will be publicly opened and read at the Board of Trustees meeting on April 17, 2024 and will be awarded by the Board of Trustees as soon thereafter as practicable to the highest bidder. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

INC. VILLAGE OF KENSINGTON

Melissa R. McComb, Village Clerk

Dated: April 4, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that the Board ofZoning and Appeals of the Village of Great Neck Plaza will hold a scheduled public hearing on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the Village Hall, Two Gussack Plaza, Great Neck, New York to consider an application from Bob Einsidler Great Neck, NY for a variance of the Village’s Code as follows:

.1 Section 225-99 B. A fence erected or maintained in the side and/or rear yard of any lot or premises shall not exceed four feet in height.

Al of 50 Hillpark Avenue, Great Neck, NY 11021 also known as Section 2, Block 254, Lot 16 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that al those persons

interested in said application will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public meeting.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ZONING AND APPEALS OF THE VILLAGE OF GREAT NECK PLAZA

Jeffrey Schwartz, Chairman Kenny Gunacar Building Dept. Assistant

LEGAL NOTICE

Invitation to Bidders

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Great Neck Union Free School District

The Board of Education of the Great Neck Union Free School District (hereinafter “the School District”), in accordance with Section 103 of Article 5-A of the General Municipal Law, hereby invites reputable and qualified bidders to submit sealed bids for the following: Heating System Water Treatment Service (BID # 2024-25-6)

Bid specifications may be obtained from the School District’s Purchasing Office, which is located in the Phipps Administration Building, 345 Lakeville Road, Great Neck, New York, 11020, Monday through Friday, excluding school holidays, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., or by contacting the purchasing agent via email (jmartin@greatneck.k12.ny.us) or phone (516-441-4070).

Bid submissions will be received by the School District, at the same address, until 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at which time and place they will be opened and read aloud. There will be no discussion at the time of bid opening. Bids submitted after this time and date will not be considered. Incomplete bids may not be considered.

The School District reserves the right to waive any informalities in the bids, reject any or all bids, and/or make a full or partial award. The School District further reserves the right to consider experience, service, and reputation in connection with the services to be rendered. In addition, the School District reserves the right to consider the financial responsibility and specific qualifications of

the prospective bidders, as set forth in the bid specifications, in its evaluation of the bids and award of the contracts.

LEGAL NOTICE

Invitation to Bidders BOARD OF EDUCATION

Great Neck Union Free School District

The Board of Education of the Great Neck Union Free School District (hereinafter “the School District”), in accordance with Section 103 of Article 5-A of the General Municipal Law, hereby invites reputable and qualified bidders to submit sealed bids for the following:

Tree Pruning, Removal, and Care Services (BID # 2024-25-5)

Bid specifications may be obtained from the School District’s Purchasing Office, which is located in the Phipps Administration Building, 345 Lakeville Road, Great Neck, New York, 11020, Monday through Friday, excluding school holidays, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., or by contacting the purchasing agent via email (jmartin@greatneck.k12.ny.us) or phone (516-441-4070).

Bid submissions will be received by the School District, at the same address, until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at which time and place they will be opened and read aloud. There will be no discussion at the time of bid opening. Bids submitted after this time and date will not be considered. Incomplete bids may not be considered.

The School District reserves the right to waive any informalities in the bids, reject any or all bids, and/or make a full or partial award.

The School District further reserves the right to consider experience, service, and reputation in connection with the services to be rendered. In addition, the School District reserves the right to consider the financial responsibility and specific qualifications of the prospective bidders, as set forth in the bid specifications, in its evaluation of the bids and award of the contracts.

Continued on page

(Photos from the Great Neck Park District)

North Hempstead Town Supervisor

Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board are hosting the Town’s 2nd Annual Shrink Wrap Recycling Program in April. The program allows boaters and Town residents to recycle their shrink wrap materials, helping reduce waste and protect the environment at no cost to the Town of North Hempstead. Last year’s inaugural program was a tremendous success, ultimately collecting 3.65 tons, or 7,300 pounds of shrink wrap material.

This year’s Shrink Wrap Recycling Program will run from Monday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 30. Collections will be accepted daily at Manorhaven Beach

Free Narcan Training For Residents Second Annual Shrink Wrap Recycling Program At Manorhaven Beach Park

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board are pleased to announce that the Town is partnering with Northwell Health to hold a free opioid overdose prevention workshop for residents on Monday, April 8 at 3 p.m. at the “Yes We Can” Community Center, 141 Garden St., Westbury.

“There’s no doubt that the opioid epi-

Continued from page 7

“the School District”), in accordance with Section 103 of Article 5-A of the General Municipal Law, hereby invites reputable and qualified bidders to submit sealed bids for the following:

Unarmed Security Guard Services (BID # 2024-25-3)

Bid specifications may be obtained from the School District’s Purchasing Office, which is located in the Phipps Administration Building, 345 Lakeville Road, Great Neck, New York, 11020, Monday through Friday, excluding school holidays, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., or by contacting the purchasing agent via email (jmartin@greatneck.k12.ny.us) or phone (516-441-4070).

Bid submissions will be received by the School District, at the same address, until 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at which time and place they will be opened and read aloud. There will be no discussion at the time of bid opening. Bids submitted after this time and date will not be considered. Incomplete

Park from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Shrink wrap is a popular plastic material used to protect boats and other outdoor equipment during winter months. Unfortunately, the waste generated from a typical boat wrapping can result in more than 15 pounds of plastic. This plastic is bound for landfills where it can take hundreds of years to break down.

“One of my priorities is the preservation of this beautiful, natural environment that North Hempstead calls home,” said Supervisor DeSena. “So, for several years we’ve worked on a number of projects that enhance our green spaces, limit fossil fuel usage, and create healthier ecosystems, both

on land and in the water. It’s up to us, that’s why I encourage my neighbors throughout North Hempstead to take advantage of this innovative program come April.”

Council Member Mariann Dalimonte who initiated the shrink wrap program last year added, “This is a great opportunity for our community to come together and make a positive and lasting impact on our environment. By recycling these materials, we reduce waste and ensure our planet remains a beautiful place to live for future generations.”

The Shrink Wrap Recycling Program is designed to provide a convenient and environmentally friendly way for residents

to dispose of shrink wrap. Recycling this low-density polyethylene (LDPE) allows it to be pelletized and reused in a variety of materials including lawn edging, plastic lumber, carpet, even shrink wrap again.

The program is open to all members of the community, and participants can drop off their shrink wrap at designated recycling containers in the parking lot of Manorhaven Beach Park at 158 Manorhaven Blvd.

To learn more about the Shrink Wrap Recycling Program, or any Town of North Hempstead initiative, please call 311.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead

demic is one of the most pressing issues we face in this country today and Long Island is not immune to it. It seems as if every community has experienced these tragedies,” said Supervisor DeSena. “That’s why North Hempstead has joined our long-time partners in care at Northwell to teach our residents how to use Narcan. The course is open to anyone, but if you do know some-

bids may not be considered.

The School District reserves the right to waive any informalities in the bids, reject any or all bids, and/or make a full or partial award.

The School District further reserves the right to consider experience, service, and reputation in connection with the services to be rendered. In addition, the School District reserves the right to consider the financial responsibility and specific qualifications of the prospective bidders, as set forth in the bid specifications, in its evaluation of the bids and award of the contracts.

4-3-2024-1T-#247074-GN

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that a meeting wil be held as to the following

Agency: Board of Appeals

Village of Great Neck Estates

Date: April 18, 2024

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Place: Village Hall, 4 Atwater Plaza, Great Neck, New York

Subject: (Case #1-2024) Application of Nisha and Rajiv Yadlapalli, 31 Mirrielees Circle, Great Neck Estates, New York, to construct a swimming pool and wood deck, which construction requires variances of the following Village Code sections: (a) 230-8(F) and 230-30, to permit the pool to be 30 feet and the pool surround 23 feet

from the rear property line, where a minimum of 48 feet is required, (b) 230-8(G), to permit an aggregate side yard setback of 30 feet, where a minimum setback of 35 feet is required, and (c)230-39, to permit an impervious surface coverage of 7,056 square feet, where a maximum of 6,654 square feet is permitted.

Premises are designated as Section 2, Block 4, Lots 110 and 115 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map.

At the said time and place, all interested persons may be heard with respect to the foregoing matters.

Any person having a disability which would inhibit attendance at or participation in the hearing should notify the Village Clerk at least three business days prior to the hearing, so that reasonable efforts may be made to facilitate such attendance and participation.

Al relevant documents may be inspected at the office of the Village Clerk, 4 Atwater Plaza, Great Neck Estates, New York, during regular business hours.

Dated: March 27, 2024

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Dave Eschagoff, Chair 4-3-2024-1T-#247093-GN

one with an opioid addiction, this might help you save their life.”

The program will teach participants how to prevent, recognize, and respond to an overdose. All who complete the program will be provided a free Narcan (Naloxone) kit. Narcan is a prescription medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose in persons with breathing problems, severe sleep-

iness or when the person is not responsive. It works by attaching itself to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of opioids, quickly restoring normal breathing to a person whose respiratory function has slowed due to the overdose.

To learn more, please call 311.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead

Robert Stephen Bernstein

Robert Stephen Bernstein, 85, of Lake Success, NY, passed away on March 26, 2024. He was born on March 13, 1939, in Rockville Centre, NY.

Bob served honorably in the US Navy and Navy Reserve for 27 years, retiring as a Navy Captain. He was a dedicated veteran who exemplified commitment and courage throughout his military career.

He was the proud owner of Zenith Graphic Supply, providing offset printing supplies to the publishing industry. Bob was a respected businessman known for his professionalism and integrity.

Bob was an active member in Masonry for over 50 years, achieving the rank of Right Worshipful Master in New York State. In 1984, he was elected as a Village of Lake Success Trustee which was followed by his election to Mayor of the Village for four successive terms. In recent years, he was very active in Veterans affairs and local environmental issues. He was also a lifelong Knicks season ticket holder and fan, celebrating life events at MSG when the Knicks were playing.

He is survived by his loving wife, Carol Bernstein; sister, Carolyn Wachtel; sons, Michael Bernstein (Veronica) and Alexander Harrow (Vivian); daughter, Sharon Harrow (Fabio Pinat); grandchildren, Maxwell Harrow, Miriam Harrow, Lucas Bernstein, Jacob Bernstein, and Bekah Bernstein.

Bob worshipped at Central Synagogue in Rockville Centre, NY, and Temple Beth El in Great Neck, NY.

A funeral service was held at Riverside North Chapel in Great Neck, NY, on March 28, 2024.

He was the proud dog daddy to Pippa; therefore, In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the North Shore Animal League in Bob’s memory.

Riverside North Chapel in Great Neck, NY, assisted with the funeral arrangements.

NORTH HIGH JUNIOR PLAYERS TO PRESENT CAPTIVATING SPRING PLAY

The North High School Fine and Performing Arts Department’s Junior Players are proud to announce their upcoming spring play, Can I Tell You a Secret? Performances are scheduled for Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. in the Bernard Kaplan Auditorium at North High, 35 Polo Rd.

“The students are really excited about this play. It’s a unique theatrical experience unlike anything you’ve ever seen,” says Chris Giordano, North High theatre director. “In my second year at North High, I’m excited to present a piece that pushes the boundaries of traditional theatre.”

Can I Tell You a Secret? is a thrilling production that promises to captivate audiences with its unique blend of Documentary Theatre and Horror elements. It debuted at the 2018 International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska. In its short existence, it has taken the educational theatre world by storm with over 424 productions to date. “I’m thrilled that North High is just the sixth school in New York to produce it thus far,” adds Mr. Giordano.

In a small California town, an inexplicable incident unfolds during

a high school play, where every member of the audience, save one, falls into unconsciousness. Drawing from interviews with witnesses, first responders, and investigators, the play unfolds in a documentary-style format, weaving together the threads of this mysterious event. As the narrative unfolds, audiences will find themselves drawn deeper into a web of intrigue and danger, discovering that the events of the past may not be as dormant as they seem. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this unnerving, exhilarating, and wildly inventive production brought to life by the talented students of North High.

The show is produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)

Limited tickets are available for purchase in advance through the North High website: www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/Page/15417. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens (65+). Tickets may also be available for purchase at the door, cash only.

While all are welcome to attend, please note that this production is a psychological thriller, suitable for ages 10 and up. For more information, contact Mr. Giordano at cgiordano@greatneck.k12.ny.us.

—Submitted by the Great Neck Public School District

FOUR GNPS ENSEMBLES PERFORM IN REGIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION

Four chamber music ensembles from the Great Neck Public Schools were selected to perform in the seventh annual Long Island Regional Young Musicians Concert, sponsored by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. South High School was honored to host this year’s concert in the school’s Ruel E. Tucker Auditorium on March 21.

The Young Musicians Program is a competition for advanced high school musicians offered by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. This regional concert featured ensembles representing several high schools across Long Island, including two chamber ensembles from North High School and two chamber ensembles from South High School.

Ensembles from North High are: Man Chun Han, Mizuki Natsu, and Su Qi Tian performing Suite for 2 Violins and Piano, Op. 71; and Nina Bikhman, Owen Flood, Samuel Friedmann, Mizuki Natsu, and Kajal Ramphul performing Six Quartets for Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass with Piano, Op. 112, no. 1, Sehnsucht.

Ensembles from South High are: Hugh Choi, Selena Lu, and

Sarah Sun performing Trio No. 1, I. Andante – Moderato; and Dylan Kim, Victoria Lin, and Erin Wong performing Piano Trio No. 2, Movt. 4, Allegretto-Adagio.

To be considered for participation in the Long Island Regional Young Musicians Concert, chamber music ensembles submitted applications and recordings through their school music department. Ensembles that performed in the regional concert are eligible for an invitation to the Young Musicians Concert at Alice Tully Hall

at Lincoln Center.

The North High chamber music program is coordinated by Dr. Pamela Levy, fine and performing arts department chair/vocal music teacher, and Dr. Esther Noh, instrumental music teacher. The South High chamber music program is coordinated by Michael Schwartz, performing arts department chair/instrumental music teacher, and Dr. Janine Robinson, vocal music teacher.

—Submitted by the Great Neck Public School District

SCHOOL NEWS

NORTH MIDDLE SIXTH-GRADER ADVANCES TO NATIONAL SPELLING BEE

North Middle School sixth-grader Zelong (Victor) Yang came in second place at the 2024 Scholarskills Long Island Westchester Scripps Spelling Bee on March 21 and will advance to the National Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Victor’s journey to the national competition started at the North Middle School Spelling Bee on Jan. 11, where he won first place after 25 challenging rounds of competition. He excelled on subsequent computer-based exams that tested his spelling skills against other students from across Long Island, which earned him an invitation to the Scholarskills Long Island Westchester Scripps Spelling Bee.

This year’s regional spelling bee included the top spellers from 50 schools across Long Island, with contestants ranging in age from fifth through eighth grades. The grueling competition lasted over 4 hours. After 21 rounds of spelling, Victor was victorious once again, with an impressive second-place finish.

For 2024, the top three winners from the regional competition qualify for the National Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. This is the second consecutive year that a North Middle student will represent the region at the national competition.

—Submitted by the Great Neck Public School District

NORTH HIGH STUDENTS LOBBY FOR TEEN MENTAL HEALTH

On March 13, four students from North High School joined members of Northwell Health on a trip to Albany to advocate for mental health issues related to students in New York State. Students and Northwell staff received a briefing on relevant bills up for consideration at the State Congress.

North High senior Layla Malekan and juniors Talia Elyaho, Isabelle Ku, and Jimmy Li participate in the Cohen Strong Mental Health program through Northwell Health’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center. Through this program, students become certified in teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) and participate in monthly trainings with staff from Cohen Children Medical Center, culminating in a research project and presentation in their own community.

Students from North High School are supported by psychiatrists Vera Feuer, MD, and Scott Falkowitz, DO, from Northwell Health.

—Submitted by the Great Neck Public School District

North High School Junior Players will present Can I Tell You a Secret? on April 5-7. (Contributed photo)

North Middle School sixth-grader Victor Yang is congratulated by the North Middle English faculty following his win at the school spelling bee in January. (Contributed photo)

Students from North High School visit Albany (Contributed photo)

Four chamber music ensembles from the Great Neck Public Schools (Contributed photo)

World-Famous Broadway Composer Recognized On Long Island

Stephen Schwartz inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame

BY JENNIFER CORR jcorr@antonnews.com

Stephen Schwartz, the fourtime Grammy and threetime Oscar award-winning composer behind hit musicals such as Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin, was inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame on March 23. The celebration included theater stars performing his songs and recorded messages of congratulations from celebrities like Kristin Chenoweth and Victor Garber, who worked with Schwartz.

“My parents are finally proud,” Schwartz, who grew up in Williston Park and graduated from Mineola High School, jested. “I told them, ‘I’m going to get this Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame,’ and they were like, ‘ At last.’ They were very pleased; they were very excited.”

While attending high school, Schwartz studied piano and composition at the Julliard School. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in drama.

After graduating, he returned

to New York to work as an artist and repertoire producer for RCA Records, but shortly after began working on Broadway. His first major credit was the title song for the play “Butterflies Are Free.:

By age 26 in 1974, Schwartz had three hit musicals on Broadway simultaneously: Godspell, Pippin and The Magic Show. Schwartz is also well-known for the hit Broadway musical Wicked, which opened in 2003 and is currently running on Broadway and in several productions worldwide.

“[Long Island] was a great place to grow up if you wanted to do what I did,” Schwartz said. “First of all, of course, the proximity to New York City, but then I just went to a public high school. It wasn’t a fancy private school. It was Mineola High School. They had a great drama department, great music… I came out with really such a solid base in the humanities from high school and some of my friends from high school are here tonight.”

In fact, the Mineola High School chorus class recorded a message that was displayed during the ceremony, congratulating Schwartz for his accomplishment.

Beyond the stage, Schwartz is also known for film. He collaborated with composer Alan Menken for the songs in Disney’s Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Enchanted. He also provided songs

be a singer-songwriter, and he got a hold of me and kind of molded me into a music director.”

Similarly, Paul Shaffer, in 1972, went to the audition for the Toronto production of Godspell to provide piano accompaniment for his friends trying out. Because Schwartz noticed his skills, his life would change forever.

for DreamWorks’ first animated feature, The Prince of Egypt. And on Nov. 27, 2024, part one of the film adaption Wicked will be released in theaters.

“To have a big two-part movie of one of my shows is really exciting,” Schwartz said. “It’s been so much fun to work on so far.”

One of the central messages of the evening is just how much Schwartz has changed the trajectory of fellow theater professionals’ lives, including that of Paul Shaffer and Stephen Reinhardt.

“I owe a good chunk of my life to his opening that door for me,” said Reinhardt, the keyboard player and musical director for Godspell and The Magic Show. “I had been a professional dancer and singer on Broadway and decided I wanted to

“I played one song for a girlfriend of mine and Stephen Schwartz said, ‘I want to talk to that piano player,’” Shaffer explained. “And he said, can you stay for the rest of the day and play the auditions?’ And I did and at the end of it, he said ‘Do you think you can get a band together and conduct a show?’ I never did anything like that before.”

Shaffer went on to play piano for The Magic Show and then Saturday Night Live, followed by serving as musical director for David Letterman’s Late Night and Late Show. He has served as musical director and producer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony since its inception in 1986.

Tom Needham, the second vice chair of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame who served as a producer on this induction, explained that Schwartz always pays tribute to his Long Island roots.

“It’s really encouraging to us because that’s what we’re celebrating,” Needham said.

WHERE THE STARS ARE STALLERCENTER FOR THE ARTS

WHERE THE STARS ARE STALLERCENTER FOR THE ARTS

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

Stephen Schwartz. (Image via PhilipRomanoPhoto, Wikimedia Commons)

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