Amityville Herald 07_02_2025 by Richner Communications, Inc

AMITYvIlle

Renna defeats Cullinane in GOP primary

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

RJ Renna, the Babylon Town GOP pick to run for Suffolk County’s 14th Legislative District in November, fended off a primary challenge last week from fellow Republican Shawn Cullinane.

Unofficial results show Renna received 1,000 votes to Cullinane’s 497 in the June 24 contest.

Both candidates were competing for the Republican line in the general election, a seat currently held by Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey, who is termlimited.

Calling the outcome a “marked victory,” Renna said his focus now is on party unity and addressing local concerns.

“I think what happens next is that we have to make sure we bring this party back together and address the issues that concern the people,” Renna said at his election night gathering at the Belfast Gastropub in Linden -

hurst.

Renna is a Lindenhurst native who serves as deputy mayor on the Lindenhurst Village Board. He also holds leadership roles in several civic and community organizations, including the Lindenhurst Chamber of Commerce, the Christina Renna Foundation and the local Knights of Columbus council.

“I really appreciate the endorsement from the community and their support and that they trust me to work hard for them,” Renna said.

Joe Barone, the Babylon Town Republican leader, called the results a “resounding victory.

“This was a strong message from Republican voters,” said Barone. “What we have to do now is get that 33 percent on board and unify the party and move forward.” He said the GOP approach is to unify, move forward and stick with the plan. “We go on to victory

Carolyn Jamest/Herald

Tracy Ann Astin with her belongings

South Bay Shopping Center.

RENNA

Pichichero.

Renna defeats Cullinane in GOP primary for Suffolk’s 14th Legislative District

and have RJ follow in Kevin McCaffrey’s footsteps in the legislature,” he added.

Cullinane, an attorney and longtime Lindenhurst resident, currently serves as prosecutor for the Village of Brightwaters Justice Court and gener -

al counsel to the Wyandanch Public Library. He previously served for 28 years as Lindenhurst village clerk/ treasurer, the longest tenure in village history.

Renna will face Democratic candidate Matthew McDonough, a local attorney, on Election Day, Nov. 4.

Vacant West Babylon storefront becomes a ‘safe’ refuge for some local homeless

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

After Joann’s Fabric and Craft store shuttered its doors at 735 Montauk Highway last year, the empty storefront at the east end of the Great South Bay Shopping Center became an unlikely refuge. Several homeless individuals began using the site for shelter, finding a small measure of safety in the alcove of the vacant building.

“It’s not too bad,” said Tracy Ann Astin, who is homeless and keeps all her belongings in a shopping cart. “I lost everything after I had an accident and couldn’t keep up,” she explains.

Her friend, who only identified himself as Scott, is also unhoused and said he has struggled for years with mental and emotional health issues. Though he tries to get by, he often finds himself sleeping in and around the shopping center.

“It’s not too bad in this weather, but it is very difficult in the winter,” he said.

Neighbors in the area said they have noticed the group spending nights near the vacant building. While many expressed sympathy, they also voiced concerns.

“I am concerned about them and also about how this could impact our safety, our community and our home values,” said a nearby resident, who asked not to be identified.

Shopkeepers shared similar sentiments—a blend of compassion and unease.

“They don’t really bother us,” said Bella Gambino, an employee at a local store. “They’re not usually around during the day.”

Sal Gambino, the owner of Alitalia’s restaurant on the west end of the shopping center, said he had contacted the property’s landlord about the issue.

“They’re not really bad people, but this is my business,” he said.

Astin and Scott said they receive Supple-

mental Security income but cannot afford stable housing. They avoid area shelters, describing them as unsafe.

“They are scary,” Astin said. “I couldn’t sleep there; it’s dangerous.”

Both have received offers of help from local agencies but said they prefer to manage on their own, despite harsh weather and the instability of living outdoors.

“We manage,” Scott said.

Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer said that after learning of the situation, town workers were dispatched to the site to check on the individuals and offer services. He acknowledged the uneasy balance local governments face.

“It’s difficult sometimes,” Schaffer said. “We want to help them, but there’s really not much we can do if they refuse that help.”

Beyond that, he added, there’s little the town can do—other than to ask them to move on as town officials did.

Homeless in Suffolk County

The annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the official measure of homelessness. The latest available data is from January 2022, which estimated 1,117 homeless individuals in Suffolk County.

Help for the homeless

Long Island Coalition for the Homeless 600 Albany Ave., Amityville 631-464-4314

Courtesy Babylon GOP

RJ Renna, fifth from left. with Lindenhurst Village Mayor Michael Lavorata, S.C. Legs. Steven Flotteron and Kevin McCaffrey, Babylon Town Republican leader Joe Barone, Lindenhurst Village Trustees Douglas Madlon and Patrick M.

Cuban Giants honored for their Babylon beginnings

By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com

One hundred and forty years after the formation of the Cuban Giants, the country’s first professional all-Black baseball team, the Village of Babylon honored its local history with a commemorative sign marking the team’s roots at the former Argyle Hotel.

Officials from the Village of Babylon, the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame, and the Town of Babylon gathered near Argyle Lake in late May to install the new historical marker. The site is where the Cuban Giants began their journey in 1885 as a team founded by the headwaiter at the hotel.

The new sign, designed and installed by the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame under the direction of President Chris Vaccaro, stands out with a red trim and eyecatching design that town historian Mary Cascone called “really unique.”

“I think people will stop and say, ‘Wait a minute, that’s not just another historical marker—there’s something different about that one,’” Cascone said. She praised the Hall of Fame for stepping in as an outside organization to help spotlight local history.

Vaccaro emphasized the importance of preserving such landmarks.

“It’s a really important location in history,” he said. “To be able to designate this spot through the Hall of Fame, in partnership with the Village of Babylon, is special for anyone who drives or walks by and reads the sign.”

Vincent Lospinuso, social media manager for the Hall of Fame, added that the day was all about honoring the legacy of the New York Cuban Giants.

“Everyone knows how important Black baseball has been to the culture and history of the sport,” he said.

Cascone gave a historical presentation on the Cuban Giants and how they got their name. In the 19th century, “Cuban” was often used by the press as a euphemism for Black athletes, labeling them as Cuban, Spanish or Arabian.

Cascone said the team only stayed in Babylon for one season, playing while working at the Argyle Hotel. But that season launched a historic legacy. Just six weeks later, the team—then officially named the Cuban Giants—was playing against New York City’s top teams. Local papers reported that Babylon residents traveled to the city to watch the games.

“Now, every book about Black baseball in America has ‘Cuban Giants, Argyle Hotel, Babylon’ somewhere in the first few pages,” Cascone said. “We couldn’t be prouder. Hopefully, we’re giving some of that honor back by continuing to share their story.”

Community members came out to witness the unveiling. Dawn Losee attended with her husband after spotting the sign at the historical society. Cindy Marino came with relatives, including her baseball-fan brother-in-law.

“It’s a beautiful day,” Marino said. “We all thought this would be an interesting and cool thing to do.”

Vaccaro said the Hall of Fame has recently expanded its efforts to commemorate not

Chris Vaccaro,

only people but also historic places.

“I can’t think of a more significant site than where the first all-Black professional baseball team in American history played,” he said. “Long Island and Suffolk County continue to be a beacon of incredible history.”

Village of Babylon Mayor Mary Adams reflected on the moment by referencing the local Babylon Bombers, a team of undefeated 7-year-old girls.

“Watching those girls run around the bases and hearing the cheers made me think: what did the Cuban Giants endure?” Adams said. “Were they ridiculed? Told they would never amount to anything? And yet they persevered—and did it very well.”

She encouraged residents to remember the Cuban Giants whenever watching a baseball game, whether it’s the Bombers, Mets or Yankees.

“Even if they didn’t always get along, they endured and made a name for themselves that will never go away in this village,” Adams said. “In Babylon Village, where history is made.”

Wayne Horsley, historian for the Village of Babylon Historical Society, challenged claims that the Cuban Giants had to feign broken Spanish to be accepted in the area.

“I believe everyone in Babylon Village knew who they were,” he said. “They lived here, worked here, and we were proud of them and their athleticism. They helped shape baseball into what it is today.”

Following the dedication, the Village of Babylon Historical and Preservation Society hosted a community event titled “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” featuring hot dogs, refreshments and exclusive Cuban Giants merchandise raffles.

“Baseball is a fun activity everyone can enjoy, and we’re proud to celebrate the joy the Cuban Giants brought to this community,” said Judy Skillen, president of the society.

•Allen, Frank – Hometown unknown

•Boyd, Benjamin (infielder) – born in Maryland

•Frye, John (first baseman) – hometown unknown

•Govern, Stanislaus K. (Manager) –native of St. Croix, Danish West Indies

•Harrison, Abe (shortstop) – hometown unknown

•Holmes, Ben (captain/3rd baseman) – born in King or Queen County VA.

•Miller, Frank – born in Cumberland, MD

•Parago, George (pitcher/outfielder) -born in Charlottesville, VA

•Thomas, Arthur (catcher and first baseman) -born in Washington, DC

•Trusty, Shep (pitcher) – born in Hamilton, NJ

•Whyte, William (picher/outfielder) hometown, Bristol, RI

•Williams, George (infielder) – hometown unknown

•Williams, Clarence (catcher) -born in Harrisburg, PA.

—Courtesy Babylon Historical Society

More About the Team

America’s first all-black professional baseball team, the New York Cuban Giants, had their roots on Long Island. The team was founded during the Long Island’s “hotel era,” from the 1870s to early 1880s when many luxury hotels sprang up, attracting Manhattanites to Long Island for weekend getaways.

The team was officially founded in 1885 by Frank Thompson, headwaiter at Babylon’s Argyle Hotel. His teammates were drawn from other hotel staff, as well as recruits from other amateur teams. In their first season, the team, then known as the Babylon Athletics, hit the ground running, enjoying a 10-game winning streak against local white teams.

This attracted the attention of promoter Walter Cook, who was so impressed that he decided to take the team professional. They earned the title of “Colored Champions” in 1887 and 1888, and “Eastern Champions” in 1894.

Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald

president of the S.C. Sports Hall of Fame, unveils the historical marker near Argyle Lake in Babylon with Babylon Village Mayor Mary Adams recognizing the origin of the Cuban Giants. Also shown is Babyon Town Councilman Tony Martinez, Babylon Village Trustee Sean Goodman, Town Historian Mary Cascone, and Babylon Historical Society President and Vice President Judy Skillen and Wayne Horsley.

The following incidents have been reported by the Suffolk County and Amityville police departments and other local law enforcement and emergency services units:

OFF-DUTY SC OFFICER CHARGED WITH DWI

Suffolk: An off-duty Suffolk County police officer, a Babylon resident, was arrested early Saturday and charged with driving while intoxicated after he allegedly struck a pedestrian in Huntington, seriously injuring him, according to Suffolk County police. Police gave this account:

Jorge Alfaro, 28, of Huntington Station, was running west across New York Avenue at Carver Street when he was struck by a southbound 2012 Chevrolet Camaro at about 2:30 a.m., authorities said. Alfaro was transported to Huntington Hospital with serious injuries.

The driver, Alexander Vargas, 30, who is assigned to the Second Precinct, was arrested at the scene and charged with DWI. He has been suspended without pay.

CRIME WATCH

Major Case Unit detectives are asking anyone with information about the incident to call 631-852-6553.

FIRE AT HOUSE

Amityville: Amityville police responded to a fire at a home at 64 Robbins Avenue shortly before 7:30 p.m. June 20. Upon their arrival they quickly determined that the fire was caused by some grease in a pan on the stove. It was extinguished. No injuries were reported.

ANIMAL LEFT IN CAR

Amityville: A resident called police at approximately 3 p.m., June 16 to report that a dog was left in a vehicle on Bayview Avenue. Police responded and noted that the windows were open and that despite the heat, the dog did not appear to be in stress. Police checked with a nearby resident who told them that the car had not been parked there long. They left but committed to checking back on the situation.

PEDESTRIAN STRUCK

Amityville: A woman was struck by a vehicle that was backing up at Broadway and Sterling Place. The incident occurred June 12 at approximately 10:45

People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.

a.m. When police arrived, the woman declined rescue or medical treatment telling police she was fine.

SMOKE CONDITION

Amityville: Police responded to Merrick Road June 2, shortly before 8 p.m., after receiving reports of smoke condi-

tions at 170 Merrick Road. A woman was seen fleeing from the scene and police eventually stopped her; she was uncooperative. The smoke was the result of some burning food at that location. The building inspector was notified of the situation.

Officers don’t duck a rescue duty

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Courtesy Suffolk County Police Suffolk Marine Officers John Rodriguez and Robert Mroczkowski with ducklings

Suffolk County Marine Bureau officers rescued nine ducklings that fell into a storm drain in Gilgo Beach Monday night, June 23.

Police said Officers John Rodriguez and Robert Mroczkowski were on beach patrol at Gilgo Beach when passersby flagged them down and

told them there were ducklings in a storm drain on Broadway. The officers pried open the storm drain grate using a crowbar and dropped down into the drain and rescued all nine ducklings.

The mother duck was waiting nearby, and the officers reunited the

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16

The Heritage Club at Bethpage 99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale

SPECIAL AWARDS

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

SUNNY KANG

Co-Founder and COO Earth Therapeutics

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Founder & CEO

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GEORGIA & THOMAS AMIGDALOS

Registered Nurse & President PureCare Pharmacy and Wellness

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ALI ARTZ

Salon and Spa Owner/ Beauty Entrepreneur

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BATOOL F. RIZVI, DDS

Practice Owner Holistic Dental Wellness Group

DR. HOWARD GOODMAN, DC

Best Weight Loss Doctor Long Island Weight Loss Doctor

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NIKKI CESTARO

Author of “SuperHairo”, Hairstylist/Owner

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formation

NY renters face longest debt repayment timeline in the U.S.

New Yorkers take the longest time in the nation to pay off consumer debt, with renters needing an average of 107.71 months—nearly nine years— to clear balances totaling $94,598.

The findings come from a new study by Chicksx.com, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, which analyzed consumer debt levels across all 50 states. The study calculated how long it would take the average resident to become debt-free based on income,

High costs, high debt: New York’s lengthy repayment period is driven by its high cost of living and substantial debt loads, despite a relatively high average annual income of $65,907.

Regional trends: The Northeast and West Coast dominate the rankings, with eight of the 10 most debt-burdened states located in those regions.

Hawaii tops for homeowners: Hawaii is the most debt-burdened state for homeowners, requiring an average of 138.27 months—more than 11.5 years—to pay off debt.

Oklahoma pays fastest: Renters in Oklahoma need just 25.55 months to become debt-free—the shortest repayment timeline in the

country and less than onequarter of the time it takes in New York.

Other low-debt states: Ohio (25.97 months), Alabama (26.89 months) and Texas (27.23 months) also rank among the states with the shortest repayment timelines

cost of living and typical housing expenses.

Here are five key takeaways from the report:

Don’t miss this year’s fireworks extravaganza at Jones Beach

The annual fireworks extravaganza above the shores of Jones Beach State Park simulcast to a musical array of patriotic songs wi ll be held July 4 beginning at 9:30 p.m.

Arrive early as parking lots fill up fast. It takes place at Jones Beach State Park, 1 Ocean Pkwy, Wantagh, in the beach’s Cent ral Mall. Parking fee is $10.

Annual Father’s Day celebration at Northeast Elementary School

On June 6, families came together at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville for the school’s annual pre-K Father’s Day celebration.

Students and their fathers or special guests enjoyed the beautiful, sunny

weather as they participated in activities together in the school’s courtyard. They painted birdhouses, played ring toss, arts and crafts, participated in hula-hoop contests, they blew bubbles and played hopscotch.

Recently, Northeast Elementary School’s pre-K students in Amityville

with their fathers as part of the school’s annual Father’s Day celebration.

Creative Metro

Courtesy Amityville school district

painted birdhouses

Fathers at Northeast participated in a hula-hoop contest.

The Father’s Day celebration featured numerous games such as ring toss.

12 Amityville HS students selected for special youth summit

Twelve students from Amityville Memorial High School were named as finalists in the 2025 Long Island Youth Summit.

The Long Island Youth Summit is a year-round educational program that is a partnership between St. Joseph’s University, Vision Long Island, National Grid, and several other public and private organizations. The program features roughly 300 students from numerous Long Island school districts who are selected to participate in the summit’s annual conference. Students who have submitted the best projects go on to take part in the annual

conference where they work with top experts to develop solutions to a host of socio-medical, environmental and social challenges. To become finalists, students must submit original projects to the Summit’s Selection Committee and be selected to participate based on the quality of their projects.

Because of the advocacy done by Amityville business educator Diane Impagliazzo for many years, the Long Island Youth Summit has provided Amityville’s students an opportunity to showcase their projects and empowered them to voice their concerns and opinions under

the direction of experienced professionals. It is a college-level experience where students can attend small group workshops with other students from Long Island schools and address topics such teen mental health, climate change, diversity, community issues and leadership.

The following students were accepted as finalists and participated in the summit on April 4: Lizette Acosta, LGTBQ Issues; Shani Bramwell, Mental Health; Armando Castillo Hernandez, Environmental Issues; NyGeria Chaneym, LGBTQ Rights; Cesia Guervara Melendez, Mental Health Issues; Elidid Laquidara,

Body Image Issues/Teen Mental Health; Alessandra Pons, Mental Health; Emma Reme, Climate Change; Eric Francisco, Mental Health/Body Image; April Kenny, Teen Mental Health; and Jesus Barrios and Cristian Reyes, Artificial Intelligence.

Additionally, eight of the high school’s 12 candidates were award recipients. Some of the scholars received awards between $100 and $200 while Shani Bramwell was awarded two Southwest Airline tickets to anywhere in the country.

Courtesy Amityville school district.

‘Tails’ behind naming shelter pets over four decades

“Is Trevor your son?” the pharmacist asked while filling a prescription written by my veterinarian.

“No, he’s my Afghan Hound,” I replied with a chuckle.

That conversation happened years ago, but the question was understandable.

According to an Associated Press-Petside.com poll of more than 1,000 pet owners, 49% had given at least one of their dogs or cats a human name. After all, pets are our furry relatives.

Pets,

Pets...

JOANNE ANDERSON

I’ve been writing “Pets” for 42 years now. In the past, I gave names to the featured shelter pet in each column. These anonymous waifs needed visibility, as dogs in town shelters faced limited time before being euthanized. Giving them human names—some specific, some quirky—was a Madison Avenue approach to encouraging adoptions.

“Vinny Testapuppy,” a Shepherd mix, was one of the hits. A Jets fan couple seeking the breed rushed to Babylon Shelter to adopt him. (Today, shelters name each homeless pet.)

Pets with disabilities were given subtle, politically correct names. “Cyrus,” a kitten with two fractured legs, was named after the country singer’s hit song. “Sandy,” a oneeyed kitten, was named for Sandy Duncan. “Marie,” a dog with a severe embedded collar wound, got her name from Marie Antoinette. Another one-eyed kitten, “Moise”—named after the late Israeli leader—would likely spark controversy today.

Sometimes names reflected when, where, or why the animals needed help. “Mama Mia” raised nine puppies in Babylon’s maternity ward. “Jefferson,” a hound, was a stray found on the Fourth of July. “Natale,” a retriever, was hit by a car around Christmas. “Jerry,” a kitten with congenital

THURSDAY, JULY 3

•Amityville Rotary Club Meeting: 8 a.m., Brownstones Coffee, 55 Merrick Road, Amityville. For more information, please call President Michele Camilleri at (631) 598-1700 or email amityvillerotaryclub@gmail.com.

• The Long Island Dahlia Society: 9 a.m., Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway, Great River. All are welcome. Come and learn how to care for your dahlias. Tubers will be available for sale starting in April. For more information call (631) 972-8829 (leave message) or visit longislanddahlia.org.

•Church Attic Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. For information, call (631) 264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 4

•Simpson United Methodist Church Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 Locust Ave., Amityville. For more information, call (631) 789-2569.

•St. Mary’s Thrift Shop: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 175 Broadway, Amityville, enter from rear parking lot. Lots of collectibles, glassware, clothing and other gently used items. For information, call (631) 464-4899.

liver disease, was rescued from a pool on the day Jerry Garcia died.

My three-legged cat, “Veto,” was discovered outside U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio’s office, but his hitman demeanor reminded me of “The Godfather’s” Vito Corleone—hence the double entendre.

Some shelter pets bore uncanny resemblances to celebrities: “Lorre,” a bug-eyed Pug; “Clooney,” a handsome Labrador; and “Garbo,” an aloof Afghan who preferred solitude. Garbo even vanished under the seat of my car during her ride from Brookhaven Shelter—I thought I had lost her.

Names sometimes reflected age, like “Hazel,” “Edna” and “Harriet”—all older shelter dogs. Others matched the breed’s ethnic origin: “Bonaparte,” a Standard Poodle; “Luigi,” an Italian Greyhound; “Mr. Miyagi,” a Siamese kitten; and “Schweitzer,” a German Shorthaired Pointer. Admittedly, not all were geographically accurate. Poodles originate from Germany, not France. And Albert Schweitzer was born in Alsace-Lorraine, not Germany.

Some pets entered what I call the rescue’s “Witness Protection Program.” In 1992, I adopted an Afghan Hound from the Oyster Bay Shelter. Someone had reportedly been importing Afghans from Russia or Poland and dumping them. This majestic black hound, found running on the Southern State Parkway, wore a dirty bandanna labeled “Cochise.” While the name was great, I wanted him to have a new identity.

We chose “Alan”—an atypical name. It turned out to be perfect. During therapy dog visits, nursing home residents often remarked that their husband or brother had

been named Alan. (Keep this under your hat—“Clooney” the Lab was in Witness Protection too.)

Needy pets deserve a dash of panache. Literary names can give down-and-out dogs a touch of class. My English Toy Spaniel from an SPCA seizure was named “Charlotte,” after Charlotte’s Web. “Edgar Afghan Poe,” taken from a New Mexico hoarder with 67 Afghans and 25 parrots, started out living on the dark side.

About 30 years ago, another stray Afghan landed at Babylon Shelter. I bailed him out on Good Friday. I regretted not naming him “Barabbas.” Instead, I chose “Raoul”—a flamboyant name. Coincidentally, Afghan Rescue later placed him with a woman who had previously owned an Afghan named Raoul. What are the odds?

Babylon Animal Shelter Dogs for Adoption

Call 631-642-9270 or visit 80 New Highway, North Amityville.

• Alex (#25-260): A handsome male Siberian Husky with one blue and one brown eye. Husky experience preferred.

Cyrus the Last Hope kitten had two achy, breaky leg fractures.

• Jimmy Dean (#25-263): A senior 10-plusyear-old male Maltipoo or Shih-tzu. He has been groomed at the shelter.

BABYLON SHELTER POSTER PUPS:

ALEX- 2- year -old Male Siberian Husky

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SATURDAY, JULY 5

•Amityville Village Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. For more information, call (631) 264-6000.

•Church Attic Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. For information, call (631) 264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail.com

•St. Mary’s Thrift Shop: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 175 Broadway, Amityville, enter from rear parking lot. Lots of collectibles, glassware, clothing and other gently used items. For information, call (631) 464-4899.

• The Long Island Dahlia Society: 9 a.m., Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway, Great River. All are welcome. Come and learn how to care for your dahlias. For more information call (631) 972-8829 (leave message) or visit longislanddahlia.org.

TUESDAY, JULY 8

•Town of Babylon Accessory Apartment Review Board Meeting: 6 p.m., Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst. For more information, please call (631) 957-7468.

•Emotional Health Recovery and Sup-

port Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9592, 55 Hickory Lane, Levittown. Free weekly, in-person meeting of Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. For more information, call Steve at (631) 332-0552 or Jill at (516) 220-7808. All calls are confidential.

•Church Attic Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. For information, call (631) 264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9

•Town of Babylon Town Board Meeting: 10 a.m., Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst. For more information, call (631) 957-4292.

•Town of Babylon Rental Board Meeting: 6 p.m., Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst. For more information, call

(631) 957-4434.

•Copiague School District Board of Education Meeting: 7 p.m., Everett E. Newmann III Administrative Offices at Copiague Middle School, 2650 Great Neck Road, Copiague. For more information, please call (631)-842-4015.

•Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Free weekly, virtual meeting of Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. For more information, call Steve at (631) 332-0552 or Jill at (516) 220-7808. All calls are confidential.

• The Long Island Dahlia Society: 9 a.m., Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway., Great River. All are welcome. Come and learn how to care for your dahlias. Tubers will be available for sale starting in April. For more information call (631) 972-8829 (leave message) or visit longislanddahlia.org.

Left:

Right: JIMMY DEANsenior male Maltipoo or Shih-tzu

Flag disposal and cell phone donation drive underway

With Independence Day approaching, Suffolk County Legislature Minority Leader Jason Richberg and Town of Babylon Councilman DuWayne Gregory are reminding residents that their offices serve as drop-off locations for American flags that are no longer suitable for display.

Residents can bring worn or damaged flags to Richberg’s district office at 44 Station Drive in Wyandanch or to Babylon Town Hall at 200 E. Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst. The flags will be collected and properly disposed of by the American Legion through burning

and burial — the preferred methods of flag retirement that demonstrate respect and prevent misuse.

In addition, Richberg’s office is accepting donations for Cell Phones For Soldiers, a nonprofit organization that helps keep military families connected. Donated cell phones are recycled, and proceeds are used to purchase international calling cards for active-duty service members and veterans. Since 2004, more than 25 million phones have been donated to the program.

For more information, call 631-8541111.

Amityville Chamber of Commerce offers business showcase on Friday

The Amityville Chamber of Commerce will have a tent set up at each Fridays on the Greene event, weather permitting, and the Chamber will be offering members the opportunity to showcase their business.

Each week, three spots will be available for members to reserve space at the Chamber table to promote their business, distribute information or offer giveaways. The table and tent will

be provided by the Chamber.

Spots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Note, you mut be an active Chamber member to reserve a space.

To reserve your spot, sign-up under the date on the calendar: amityvillechamberofcommerce.org/events/.

For more information, call (631) 5525673.

Read the Amityville Herald Record for all your community news.

Courtesy Jason Richberg’s office Babylon Town Councilman DuWayne Gregory, left, and S.C. Legislator Jason Richberg, with retired U.S. flags at Babylon Town Hall=

HERALD NEIGHBORS

Historic documents on liberty take spotlight in new exhibit for nation’s 249th birthday

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 249th birthday, a new historical exhibition on Manhattan’s Upper East Side is offering a rare glimpse into the nation’s founding through some of the most politically significant documents in American history.

The exhibit, curated by renowned historical document expert Seth Kaller, features over 100 artifacts and original papers tied to the country’s birth and evolution. Located at the Arader Gal lery, 29 East 72nd Street, the exhibition offers a timely reflection on civil liberties and executive power as national debates over democracy and constitutional rights intensify.

“These aren’t just relics,” Kaller said. “They are blueprints for liberty and warnings against tyranny. In 2025, they are as relevant as they were when they were drafted.”

Among the highlights is a rare July 1776 broad side of the Declaration of Independence, printed in New Hampshire just weeks after the Continental Congress approved the document. Only 10 copies of this version are known to survive. It is listed for $3.12 million.

Other items include a 1789 letter by George Washington emphasizing public service and character in government, a biting 1832 antiJackson cartoon titled King Andrew the First, and a landmark account of the 1735 trial of printer John Peter Zenger, whose acquittal helped lay the foundation for freedom of the press.

Also featured is an original copy of Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense,” the influential pamphlet that helped ignite support for American independence.

“These documents remind us that democracy isn’t guaranteed,” Kaller said. “We’re not just displaying history. We’re encouraging people to reconsider these documents and events and bring them into the conversation as we all ask what the next chapter will look like and what our role is in writing it.”

The gallery is open week-

days from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and by appointment.

Looking ahead to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, Kaller plans to expand the exhibit under the title “Promise of Liberty.” The national tour will open at the Peoria Riverfront Museum in Illinois, with filmmaker Ken Burns serving as guest curator. It will include documents, artifacts, and art on loan from institutions and private collections, with additional venues in New York and other cities to follow.

More information is available at www.sethkaller.com

Courtesy Seth Kaller Inc.

Above: original copy of the Declaration of Independence

Left: Anti Andrew Jackson cartoon: King Andrew the First

Right: Newspaper article recounting the trial of John Peter Zenger

Babylon Soldier Ride taking place July 18

The annual Soldier Ride in Babylon will take place on July 18.

Take part in this 25-mile cycling event as you ride alongside the men and women who served our country and support their journey to recovery. If you register up until June 30, the cost for an adult is $75 and a t-shirt is included. For children ages 6

through 17, the cost is $25 per child. Day of registration, July 1, is $100 for adults with a t-shirt included, and $40 for children.

To register and for more information, visit soldierride.org/babylon.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, contact communitysr@woundedwarriorproject.org. .

Amityville 1975 Class Reunion, Oct. 12

The Amityville “Warriors” Class of 1975 is hosting its 50th high school reunion on Sun., Oct. 12 at the Unqua Yacht Club. For more information, email davesberg-

er@hotmail.com or go to the Facebook page: Amityville High School Class 75-50 Year Reunion.

Town of Babylon blood drive, July 8

The Town of Babylon Blood Drive will be taking place on July 8 from 9 to 3 p.m. in the Town Hall boardroom.

To schedule your donation, contact Councilman DuWayne Gregory’s office at

(631) 957-3127.

For more information, visit nybc.org.

The Town of Babylon Town Hall is located at 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst.

Movie night on the beach Aug. 12

The Town of Babylon will be presenting a family movie night at Overlook Beach on August 12. The feature will be Disney and Pixar’s “Finding Dory.” Entry is free and the movie will begin after sunset. Bring blankets and chairs. The

beach club will also be open for snacks and food during the movie.

For more information, call (631) 9574292.

Overlook Beach is located at Ocean Parkway, Babylon.

One lucky member of the audience will WIN 2 TICKETS to watch New York Mets vs San Fransisco Giants at Citi Field.

Sunday, August 3 at 1:40 p.m.

Contest ends July 27 at midnight with the winner chosen on July 28

Directions for ticket acquisition will be explained when winner is contacted.

SWEEPSTAKES

One lucky member of the audience will WIN 4 TICKETS to watch Long Island Ducks vs Hagerstown Flying Boxcars at Fairﬁeld Properties Ballpark.

Sunday, August 17 at 5:05 p.m.

Contest ends August 10th midnight with the winner chosen on August 11th

Directions for ticket acquisition will be explained when winner is contacted.

Scan this QR code

https://www.liherald.com/mets-tickets-contest.html?#//

New medical facility offers range of care

Mount Sinai South Nassau set to begin opening $70 million Wantagh ambulatory center this month

By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

Nearly a decade after Mount Sinai South Nassau purchased property in Wantagh, a new multi-specialty medical care facility is set to open this month, bringing expanded access to health services for Long Islanders.

The 63,000-square-foot, four-story facility, at 2020 Wantagh Ave., will offer specialty services including infusion, cardiology, women’s health, digestive health and orthopedics. The building, a $70 million investment by Mount Sinai South Nassau — a nonprofit teaching hospital in Oceanside with regional facilities across Long Island — is expected to serve roughly 1,200 to 1,500 patients a day, according to hospital officials.

The medical director will be Dr. Sunil George, who served as associate medical director at Mount Sinai’s location in Greenlawn, in Suffolk County.

Dr. Adhi Sharma, president and CEO of Mount Sinai South Nassau, said the facility will provide comprehensive and collaborative care, making it possible for patients to receive all the services they need under one roof while enabling physicians to work closely together.

“This space is a healing space, a welcoming space, a warm space for patients to come, oftentimes at a point of despair in their care journey,” Dr. Sharma said during a preview tour of the facility on June 25. “So, hopefully, they’ll feel the love and energy that was put into this space by our architects and designers.”

The hospital’s board of directors purchased the property in 2016, intending to convert an office building into a stateof-the-art medical facility. Mount Sinai addressed concerns about parking and traffic before finally receiving zoning approval from the Town of Hempstead in 2022.

Joseph Fennessy, a hospital board member and a Wantagh resident, said the board recognized the need for the facility. The vision, he said, was to replicate the level of care found in Manhattan hospitals while offering Long Island residents shorter commutes.

“We have a magnificent, beautiful facility,” Fennessy said. “Great specialties are going to be in here. Lots of people are going to be able to access great care.”

The facility features more than 70 patient consultation and examination rooms, as well as a hospital-grade air-filtration system to maintain a hygienic environment.

The fourth floor houses the infusion center for chemotherapy, along with labs for blood tests and a pharmacy. The infusion rooms are open spaces — by design, according to Kenneth Long, senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Mount Sinai Health System.

“Patients don’t like to be isolated — they don’t want to be in a room by themselves.” Long said. “So they actually,

functionally, form their own support group for each other as they come in, because they often come in a couple times a week over some cadence of time, and they get to know each other.”

According to Long, 22 percent of Mount Sinai’s infusion patients come from east of the Wantagh facility. It will be Mount Sinai’s third infusion center on Long Island, joining locations in Greenlawn and Oceanside.

Examination rooms for surgery, endocrinology, rheumatology, hematology and oncology are also on the fourth floor.

The third floor will house the cardiac suite, which will offer imaging services

including CT scans, nuclear imaging and echocardiograms, along with care in neurology, urology and gastroenterology.

The second floor will focus on women’s services, offering mammography, densitometry and ultrasound. It will also include orthopedic pain management and neurosurgery examinations, as well as OB-GYN and gynecologic oncology care, while imaging and radiology services will be located on the first floor.

Geri Barish, founder of Hewlett House, a nonprofit community learning resource center for cancer patients and their families in Hewlett, said it was “phenomenal” to have a facility nearby

to support early detection through mammography screenings.

“What Mount Sinai has brought into the community — education, understanding, the relationship — they remove the fear,” Barish said.

The facility will open in phases, with the fourth floor set to open first on July 15, followed by the third floor the following week and the second floor the week after that. The first floor is expected to open Sept. 9, at which point the facility will be fully operational.

The Wantagh location will be the fifth Mount Sinai ambulatory multi-specialty center of its kind on Long Island, joining sites in Long Beach, Carle Place, Manhasset and Greenlawn. Hospital officials expect the new center to bring roughly 200 jobs to the community.

Hours of operation are expected to be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with expanded weekday hours phased in over time based on patient demand, Long said. The facility is not an urgentcare center. It is by appointment only, with no hospital beds for overnight stays and no emergency services offered.

Dr. Rajiv Datta, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s surgery department chair and the medical director of its cancer program, said that, years ago, patients had to travel to Manhattan for cancer care, often spending an entire day getting to and from appointments. The new facility, Datta noted, will enhance collaboration among physicians while creating a welcoming environment for commuting patients.

“Cancer care has completely changed,” Datta said. “Now it’s coming back to the community, and this is what the center can provide. Most of the patients can be seen here, with all the specialists and trials.”

Stu Goldman/Herald photos

Mount Sinai South Nassau is opening a new $70 million multi-specialty medical facility in Wantagh this month, bringing expanded health services, and hundreds of jobs, to Long Island.

Kenneth Long, senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Mount Sinai Health System, left; Dr. Sunil George, medical director of the Wantagh facility; and project manager Sarah Long at a preview of the new Mount Sinai multi-specialty center in Wantagh.

STEPPING OUT

July 4th entertaining al fresco-style

By Karen Bloom

Barbecue season is heating up! Whether fireworks are part of your holiday weekend plans, certainly some time at the grill will be very much on the agenda. There’s no better way to celebrate than with good food, great company and a sizzling grill. Whether you’re planning a backyard bash or a cozy cookout, make this year’s Fourth of July feast one to remember.

Sure, burgers and hot dogs are always a hit — and a holiday standard — but why not kick things up a notch? Impress your guests with flavorful additions like chorizo sausages, ribs, or maybe some spice-up marinated chicken. If that’s a bit too exciting for you, then you can always spruce up the classics by going for unique flavors. Jalapeño hotdogs, anyone?

Make sure to marinade: Don’t underestimate the power of a good marinade. Prepping your meat a day or two ahead lets those bold flavors soak in — and yes, even hot dogs and burgers can benefit from a tasty soak. Marinating your meat before you grill can seriously enhance its flavors. Don’t forget your vegetarian friends and family: Got vegetarian friends or just want to lighten things up? Grilled vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers and asparagus add vibrant color and bold flavor to your spread. Try veggie kebabs or marinated portobello mushrooms as hearty meatless options. Keep it healthy (but delicious): Unlike the other holidays that we associate with eating (such as Thanksgiving), it’s totally possible to keep your feast healthy. Fourth of July doesn’t have to mean food coma. Use clean ingredients and simple swaps — think avocado-oil mayo in your coleslaw or a touch of honey instead of sugar in cornbread. Add a big salad, fresh fruit and grilled corn for balance.

Put a twist on the standards: Whatever you choose, you can seriously wow your guests by putting a modern take on a traditional recipe. For instance, if you’re making coleslaw this time around, then you can experiment with different flavors, such as jalapeño, apple, or even spicy Thai peanut. You can add the same variation to different dishes, such as baked beans, mac and cheese, and even your condiments.

Turn your grill into a flavor playground — and serve up a celebration your guests won’t forget.

Zesty Steak

• 1/4 cup soy sauce

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1 tablespoon orange juice

• 1 tablespoon Montreal Steak Seasoning (or any spicy season of your choice)

• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

• 2 pounds boneless beef sirloin or flank steak

turn to coat well.

Refrigerate 1 hour or longer for extra flavor. Remove steak from marinade. Discard any remaining marinade.

Grill over medium-high heat 6 to 8 minutes per side or until desired doneness.

For added flavor, try a tasty topper on your meat.

Dijon Mustard Aioli: Blend Dijon and whole-grain mustard with creamy Greek yogurt, garlic, tarragon and white pepper for a rich, tangy topping.

Mushrooms and Blue Cheese: Mix hearty mushrooms and full-flavored blue cheese with your favorite savory spices and a splash of sherry wine

Smoky Bacon Jam: Start with the finest cuts of bacon browned to crispy perfection then add caramelized onion and an accent like brown sugar or balsamic vinegar.

Tomato Jam: Experiment with your favorite varieties to find the perfect balance of crushed tomatoes, sweet gherkins and seasonings.

Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Skewers with Lemon-Cucumber Salsa

• 8 skewers

• 1 pineapple

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 3/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1-inch pieces

Lemon-Cucumber Salsa

• 1 lemon, supremed

• 1 cucumber, diced

• 1/2 red onion, diced

• 1 tablespoon wildflower honey

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Soak wooden skewers for 15 minutes prior to grilling. Heat grill to medium-high heat. Remove rind from pineapple and dice into 1-inch pieces. In small bowl, combine oil, salt and pepper. Add chicken and pineapple; toss to coat.

Alternating chicken and pineapple, pierce onto skewers. Grill skewers 8 minutes each side, or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

To make Lemon-Cucumber Salsa: In medium bowl, combine lemon, cucumber, onion, honey and pepper. Serve lemon-cucumber salsa over cooked chicken skewers

Rick Springfield

We’re gonna party like it’s 19801989! Rocker (and ageless heartthrob) Rick Springfield gave us the soundtrack of our glory days: “Jessie’s Girl,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “An Affair of the Heart,” “Love Somebody,” “Human Touch,” “On the Dark Side,” and many more of the most iconic songs of that era. The Grammy-winning musician is back on the road this summer with the 2025 edition of his I Want My 80s Tour. This time around he brings along special guests John Waite, Wang Chung and Paul Young. Over the past four decades, he’s worn many hats as an entertainer and performer. The creator of some of the finest ‘80s power-pop, he’s sold 25 million albums and scored 17 U.S. Top 40 hits. Also an accomplished actor and an author, both his candid 2010 memoir “Late, Late at Night” (which Rolling Stone named one of the 25 greatest rock memoirs of all time) and his 2014 comedic novel “Magnificent Vibration” earned rave reviews and spots on the New York Times Best Sellers’ list.

Thursday, July 10, 7:30 p.m. $40, $30. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington.Tickets at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444. Welcome the nation’s birthday in good taste

Wednesday, July 9, 7 p.m. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. Tickets available at livenation.com.

He said, she said

Share in some lively repartee when four comedians — two men, two women — sling barbs at one another in The Ivy League of Comedy’s “Skirmish of the Sexes.”Laugh the night away with tales of love and not-love, bad dinners and good dates, broken cars and unbroken dreams. Check out this take on the age-old dichotomy of who’s right and who’s wrong. The lineup features Tony Deyo, known for his sharp, quick material and near-perfect timing; Calise Hawkins, a single mom who stands out with her hair, but also her smile and onstage likability. Also Shaun Eli, rightfully called one of America’s smartest comics. Whether it’s a story about dining with a vegetarian or fighting a parking ticket in criminal court, master storyteller Shaun shows you hilarity in the ordinary. And Ophira Eisenberg, who delivers a unique blend of smart irreverent standup and storytelling.

Mix soy sauce, honey, orange juice, steak seasoning and ginger in small bowl. Place steak in large resealable plastic bag or glass dish. Add marinade;

Tip: Supreme citrus fruit by cutting off top and bottom of fruit then cut away peel and pith, leaving no white on outside of fruit. Slice each segment into wedges by cutting toward center of fruit along membrane.

Zesty Steak

Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Skewers

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

JULY

Babylon Soldier Ride

Registration is now open annual Soldier Ride in Babylon on July 18. Take part in this unique 25-mile cycling event as you ride alongside the brave men and women who served our country and support their journey to recovery.

• Contact: soldierride.org/Babylon

BACCA TV

Join the launch of BACCA TV. The Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts, BACCA, is assembling a team of visionary content creators and video producers for their new digital platform. It’s free to join. Tackle fresh creative challenges, premiere your work on their online channel and be honored at the inaugural BACCA TV Video Awards. Put “BACCA TV” as the subject line in your email.

• Contact: info@babylonarts.org

Celebration and Street Fair

Amityville Village hosts a July 3rd Celebration and Street Fair. Enjoy music by the Byrne Unit.

• Where: Amityville Village

• Time: 5-10:30 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 552-5673

Stargazers

Join members of the Astronomical Society of Long Island for a nighttime skywatching session at Old Westbury Gardens. Free with admission.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

JULY

Farmers Market

The Amityville Village Farmers Market is ongoing Saturdays until Oct. 25 at First United Methodist Church.

• Where: 25 Broadway, Amityville

• Time: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 264-6000

JULY

Summer sounds

Town of Babylon Summer Concert Series continues with The Chiclettes: Pop Divas Through The Decades at Overlook Beach. In the event of inclement weather, check the Town of Babylon Parks Facebook page for concert status.

JULY

The Gin Blossoms

seniors and children under 12.

• Where: Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport

• Time: 8 p.m., also Sunday and Wednesday, through Aug. 3

• Contact: vanderbiltmuseum. org or call (631) 854-5579

JULY

19 Courtyard Concert

Vanderbilt Museum welcomes all to the first Courtyard Concert of the season with We May Be Right. The Billy Joel tribute band delivers hit after hit along with some of Billy’s best deep cuts — bringing audiences to their feet, singing along to all the classics. Pack a picnic and bring a lawn chair. $45, $40 members.

• Where: Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport

• Time: Gates open 6 p.m., concert begins at 7 p.m.

• Contact: vanderbiltmuseum. org or call (631) 854-5579

• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

Take a trip down memory lane with Gin Blossoms when their highly anticipated 2025 tour visits Long Island. With their timeless hits, infectious melodies, and nostalgic vibes, Gin Blossoms promises to deliver a concert experience that will transport fans back to the heyday of ‘90s alternative rock. The band rose to fame in the ‘90s with hits like “Hey Jealousy,” “Found Out About You,” and “Til I Hear It from You,” that still resonate today. Their jangly guitars, catchy hooks and heartfelt lyrics captured the spirit of the decade and earned them a dedicated following that continues to grow. With their dynamic stage presence and infectious energy, Gin Blossoms knows how to keep the crowd on their feet and singing along to every word. Their latest tour is a nostalgic journey through the band’s greatest hits, as well as new songs that are sure to captivate. Whether you’re reliving the memories of the ‘90s or discovering Gin Blossoms for the first time, their music will leave a lasting impression. And, of course, one of the highlights of any Gin Blossoms concert is the connection they share with their fans. Whether it’s through their heartfelt lyrics or their engaging stage banter, Gin Blossoms creates a sense of camaraderie that makes every concert feel like a reunion with old friends. $82, $71.75, $60.25, $49.25, $37.25.

• Where: 200 Ocean Parkway East, Babylon

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

The World of Sharks

It’s shark week! Join a member from Atlantic Marine Conservation Society at Copiague Memorial Public Library and learn about the amazing world of sharks. Find out about the largest and smallest sharks in the world and the various shark species that can be found in New York waters. Also discuss ongoing conservation projects and the threats shark face around the world. Registration required.

• Where: 50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague

• Time: 6:30-8 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 691-1111 or copiague.librarycalendar.com/ event/world-sharks-53444

JULY

Live

Aid:

The Show Heard Around the World

and crew members. Go backstage at the legendary benefit concert that featured Queen, U2, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Phil Collins, Elton John, Madonna, Bob Dylan, and dozens more. Discover how they overcame adversity to create one of music’s greatest events. Registration required.

• Where: 50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague

• Time: 6:30-8 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 691-1111

JULY 9

Summertime tunes

Town of Babylon Concert Series invites all to Rolling on the River: Celebrating the Iconic Music of Tina Turner at Tanner Park. In the event of inclement weather, check the Town of Babylon Parks Facebook page for concert status.

• Where: 400 Baylawn Ave., Copiague

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 893-2100

Supper By The Bay

• Time: 6-9 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 552-5673

JULY

Library Outing: Day trip to Foxwoods Casino

Groovin’ tunes Town of Babylon Concert Series welcomes The Men of Soul to Brennan High School.

• Where: 500 Mount Ave., West Babylon

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 893-2100

JULY

Fridays on the Greene

Come out for some outdoor music, featuring One Night Band. With food and craft beers from local establishments. Enjoy a night of live entertainment and food, Amityville-style.

• Where: Greene Ave., and Broadway, Amityville

• Time: 6-10 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 552-5673

• Contact: (631) 893-2100 Shakespeare in the Courtyard The Carriage House Players perform “Othello,” in the Vanderbilt Mansion’s beautiful Spanish Revival Courtyard. Enjoy theater under the stars. $20, $15,

Amityville Public Library hosts a bus trip to Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Connecticut. Enjoy lunch, gambling, shopping and fun! Dine at Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen for some fine dining or grab a quick bite to eat at Junior’s, the choice is yours. There is also a Tanger Outlet located inside Foxwoods so you can shop till you drop. Registration required. $60 per registrant.

• Where: Leaves from Sunrise Mall, Massapequa

• Contact: amityvillepubliclibrary.org or call (631) 264-0567

Having an event? Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The

Join author Clive Young at Copiague Memorial Public Library to discuss the wild true story of Live Aid. Learn how it happened, based on years of research and personal interviews with artists

Amityville Chamber of Commerce hosts “Supper By The Bay,” featuring the Ed Travers Band, a Jimmy Buffet Tribute.

• Where: Amityville Beach, Amityville

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF SUFFOLK U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST GEORGE TORRUSIO, KIMBERLY TORRUSIO, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 20, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, NY 11757 on July 9, 2025 at 10:30 AM, premises known as 90 30th Street, Copiague, NY 11726. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk and State of New York, District 0100 Section 200.00 Block 03.00 Lot 043.001. Approximate amount of judgment $581,835.16 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #611879/2024. Richard Lavorata, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Wi lliamsville, NY 14221 24-000685 85699 25-334. 6/11, 18, 25, 7/2

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF SUFFOLK HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR NOMURA ASSET ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1, Plaintiff AGAINST CHRIS -

TINE SPENCE INDIVIDUALLY AND AS SURVIVING SPOUSE OF WILLIAM SPENCE, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 4, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, NY 11757 on July 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM, premises known as 41 Madison Avenue, Amityville, NY 11701. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk and State of New York, District 0100, Section 164.00, Block 03.00, Lot 049.000. Approximate amount of judgment $639,422.62 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #611124/2015. Richard Lavor ata Jr., Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 15-003253 85861

25-335. 6/11, 18, 25, 7/2

NOTICE is hereby given that the PLANNING BOARD of the Village of Amityville will hold a Public Hearing in the Court Room of Village Hall, 21 Ireland Place, Amityville, NY at 6:00 P.M. on THURSDAY, July 10, 2025.

Application of Raymond Reddy on behalf of Don Jerimiah of Yoga Anand Ashram Inc. Applicant seeks review and approval for the proposed installation of an additional wall sign pursuant to Section 24-6 A (1) (j) of the Village of Amityville Code.

Premises located on the North side of Merrick Road approximately 60 feet East of Broadway (Route 110) in a “B-2 Business” District, known as 152-154 Merrick Road a/k/a SCTM #101-7-5-7.5. Application of Kevin P Bertolini on behalf of Kimberly Coffey. Applicant seeks site plan and architectural review and approval for the proposed construction of a 4-unit multiple dwelling pursuant to Sections 24-16 A. (1), (4), and (5), as well as 24-6 A. (1) (b) and (h) of the Village of Amityville Code. Premises located on the Southwest corner of West Oak Street and Ketcham Avenue in a “Residential B” district known as 95 West Oak Street a/k/a SCTM #1015-1-10. Application of G&R Building Corp on behalf of Ian Campbell Laing Revocable Trust. Applicant seeks approval to subdivide (2) existing parcels which contain a single family dwelling, garage, and shed on (1) parcel and (1) vacant parcel into a (3) conforming parcels which will maintain the existing structures on (1) parcel and create (2) parcels for the construction of (2) new single family dwellings as well as the site plan and architectural review of (1) proposed single family residence pursuant to Section 183-136 (B), 24-6 A. (1) (a), 24-6 A. (1) (b), and 24-6 A. (1) (h). Premises located on the South side of Sterling Place approximately 716 feet East of County Line Road in a “Residential B” district known as 126 Sterling Place a/k/a SCTM # 101-

Public Notices

3-3-10 and North side of Willis Avenue approximately 312’ West of Burch Avenue known as SCTM # 101-3-3-9.2. By Order of the Planning Board, Village of Amityville Catherine Murdock, Clerk/Treasurer 25-344. 6/25, 7/2

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Notice of Complete Application Date: 06/23/2025

Applicant: JOANNE TEKULA-KAVANAGH

Facility: TEKULAKAVANAGH PROPERTY 70 STUART AVE

AMITYVILLE, NY 11701

Application ID: 1-4720-04873/00001

Permits(s) Applied for: 1 - Article 15 Title 5 Excavation & Fill in Navigable Waters 1Section 401 - Clean Water Act Water Quality Certification 1 - Article 25 Tidal Wetlands Project is located: in BABYLON in SUFFOLK COUNTY

Project Description: The applicant proposes to replace 24 linear feet of existing bulkhead, close an existing boat slip by installing 16 linear feet of new bulkhead, dredge an area of 10 x 40 square feet, using dredge spoil as backfill for bulkhead work, and remove and replace existing boardwalk capping landward of the bulkhead. Work is proposed within the littoral zone of Gardiner Canal. The property is located at 70 Stuart Avenue, Amityville, in the Town of Babylon, Suffolk County. SCTM# 13-7-14

Availability of Application Documents: Filed application documents, and Department draft permits where applicable, are available for inspec-

tion during normal business hours at the address of the contact person. To ensure timely service at the time of inspection, it is recommended that an appointment be made with the contact person.

State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Determination

Project is an Unlisted Action and will not have a significant impact on the environment. A Negative Declaration is on file. A coordinated review was not performed. SEQR Lead Agency

None Designated State Historic Preservation Act (SHPA) Determination

The proposed activity is not subject to review in accordance with SHPA. The application type is exempt and/or the project involves the continuation of an existing operational activity.

Coastal Management

This project is located in a Coastal Management area and is subject to the Waterfront Revitalization and Coastal Resources Act.

Availability For Public Comment

Comments on this project must be submitted in writing to the Contact Person no later than 07/18/2025 or 16 days after the publication date of this notice, whichever is later.

Contact Person HEATHER W LEONARD NYSDEC

SUNY @ Stony Brook|50 Circle Rd Stony Brook, NY 11790-3409 (631) 444-0404 25-350 7/2

The Town of Babylon Rental Review Board will hold a Public Hearing at The Town of Babylon, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New York

(East Wing Board Room) on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at 6:00pm NEW APPLICATION

1. CB 1E LLC

28 State Ave. Wyandanch NY 11798

SCTM NO: 010080-1-92

2. CB 1C LLC

29 Lake Dr. Wyandanch NY 11798

SCTM NO: 010058-6-3.002

3. CB 1A LLC 763 Bayview Ave. Copiague NY 11726

SCTM NO: 0100-169-3-86

4. CB 1C LLC

43 Beech St. Wyandanch NY 11798

SCTM NO: 0100-83-2-99

5. CB 1D LLC 10 S. 22nd St. Wyandanch NY 11798

SCTM NO: 010055-2-44

6. CB 1A LLC 3352 Great Neck Rd. Amityville NY 11701

SCTM NO: 0100174-2-4

7. CB 1C LLC 65 S. 26th St. Wyandanch NY 11798

SCTM NO: 010055-1-75

8. CB 1A LLC 13 Walnut St. Wyandanch NY 11798

SCTM NO: 010083-1-95

9. Baljeet & Jasdeep Sandhu 41 Holmes Ave. North Babylon NY 11703

SCTM NO: 0100150-2-41

RENEWALS

1. Gumbrecht Living Trust

60 Cortland St. Copiague NY 11726

SCTM NO: 0100-198-1-12

2. John & Athena Iliou

12A&B Evergreen St.

West Babylon NY 11704

SCTM NO: 0100217-1-91.003

3. John & Athena Iliou

14A&B Evergreen St. West Babylon NY 11704

SCTM NO: 0100217-1-91.003

Rental Review Board Agenda, July 9, 2025 25-347 7/2

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF Suffolk, Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as Owner Trustee of the Residential Credit Opportunities Trust VI-A, Plaintiff, vs. Richard Epps III, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 11, 2024 and an Order Extending Sale Deadline and Other Relief duly entered on May 29, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, North Lindenhurst, NY 11757 on August 5, 2025 at 9:30 a.m., premises known as 231 Columbus Boulevard, Amityville, NY 11701. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk and State of New York, District 0100, Section 172.00, Block 02.00 and Lot 007.004. Approximate amount of judgment is $487,817.73 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #619049/2019. Michelle Aulivola, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo

LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 212727-1 25-348. 7/2, 9, 16, 23

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be conducted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Amityville on Monday, July 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM in the third floor Court Room of Village Hall, 21 Ireland Place, Amityville, NY for Introductory Local Law No. 4 of 2025, a local law to amend §95-3 of the Village Code regarding garage sales, and Introductory Local Law No. 5 of 2025, a local law to amend Article III of Chapter 107 of the Village Code regarding sales from vehicles. By Order of the Board of Trustees Village of Amityville Catherine C. Murdock Village Clerk/Treasurer

7/2/2025 2 x 25-349. 7/2, 9

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TOWN OF BABYLON - ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to Chapter 213, Article II of the Building Zone Ordinance of the Town of Babylon, notice is hereby given that the Town of Babylon Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a Public Hearing at TOWN BOARD ROOM

(Located in the East Wing) at Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New York

on THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025

BEGINNING AT 6:00

P.M

6:00 p.m.

1. Application #25-109

Jonathan Biello and Leonard Marino, 15 Hawthrone Avenue, West Babylon, NY.

Permission to diminish front yard setback from 40’ to 25.2’; diminish side yard setback from 15’ to 4.8’. All in connection with a second-story addition. Property located on the east side of Hawthrone Avenue, 100’ south of Beverly Road, West Babylon, NY.

SCTM#0100-212-220

Zoning District: Residence A

6:05 p.m.

2. Application #25103 Ryan V. Helfest and Lucas Pascale, 35 County Line Road, Farmingdale, NY. Permission to diminish south side yard from 12’ to 9.3’; diminish north side yard setback from 12’ to 9.6’; diminish total side yards from 30’ to 18.9’. All in connection with a proposed one-story rear addition. Property located on the east side of County Line Road, 255.5’ north of Parkway Court, Farmingdale, NY.

SCTM#0100-121-112

Public Notices

Zoning District:

Residence B

6:10 p.m.

3. Application #25104 Lynwood and Pamela Ware, 135 West 23rd Street, Deer Park, NY. Permission to diminish rear yard setback from 30’ to 23’-10’’; diminish total side yards from 25’ to 17’-9’’; increase total building area from 30% to 35.9% (over by 356.07 sq. ft.). All in connection with the erection of a rear one-story addition. Property located on the east side of West 23rd Street, 280.55’ south of Grand Boulevard, Deer Park, NY.

SCTM#0100-59-328

Zoning District: Residence C 6:15 p.m.

4. Application #25105 William Mahoney and Thomas Locascio (applicant)/West Adams Realty LLC, (prop. owner), 131 Church Road, Great River, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 25’ – 1’’; diminish south side yard setback from 10’ to 2’ – 8 ½’’; diminish total side yards from 25’ to 10’ – 2 ¾’’. All in connection with a proposed secondstory addition. Property located on the east side of William Street, 132.88’ north of Garden Street, Copiague, NY.

SCTM#0100-1794-37

Zoning District: Residence C Subject Premises: 36 William Street, Copiague, NY 6:20 p.m.

5. Application #25-107 Eric and Stacey M. Abney, 20 Autumn Lane, Amityville, NY. Permission to diminish side yard setback from 12’ to 8’; diminish total side yards from 30’ to 20.8’; increase total building area from 20% to 32.2% (over by 1,220.35 sq. ft.). All in connection with the erection of a one-story

garage expansion and to legally maintain a shed. Property located on the west side of Autumn Lane, 764.27’ north of Melody Lane, Amityville, NY.

SCTM#0100-1731-41

Zoning District: Residence B

6:25 p.m.

6. Application #25108 Joseph P. Ghiuro Jr. and Paula Lecuna Huelmo, 32 Wall Street, East Farmingdale, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 17.3’; diminish north side yard setback from 10’ to 4.5’; diminish total side yards from 25’ to 19.2’. All in connection with a proposed front porch, and a second-story addition, second-story deck with stairs. Property located on the east side of Wall Street, 150’ north of Secatogue, East Farmingdale, NY.

SCTM#0100-47-158

Zoning District: Residence B

6:30 p.m.

7. Application #25106b (Lot #2) 44 Sawyer Avenue Corp., 1071 Tooker Avenue, West Babylon, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 23.4’; diminish west side yard setback from 10’ to 9.1’; diminish rear yard setback from 30’ to 28’; increase total building area from 30% to 34.80% (over by 360.08 sq. ft.); diminish distance to east side lot line from 6’ to 4.3’ (for garage). All in connection with the proposed subdivision of one lot into two (2) lots and to legally maintain the existing dwelling and detached garage. Property located on the south side of Sawyer Avenue, 100’ west of Norton Avenue, West Babylon, NY.

SCTM#0100-2102-48

Zoning District: Residence C

Subject Premises: 44 Sawyer Avenue, West Babylon, NY ALL PERSONS OR THEIR DULY APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE MUST APPEAR IN PERSON AT THE ABOVE HEARING. ALL CASES WILL BE HEARD IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE ADVERTISED, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ADJOURNED CASES. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

MICHAEL KANE, CHAIRMAN

Dated:

Babylon Town Hall Lindenhurst, New York

June 23, 2025

25-351. 7/2

NOTICE

Action by New Montefiore Cemetery located at 1180 Wellwood Ave, West Babylon, NY 11704, to declare abandoned and reacquire certain unused grave sites on the grounds of CHEVRA RODFEH SHOLEM ANSHE RUBZEWITZ, Burial Society pursuant to NY CLS NPCL 1513-a. Contact information: New Montefiore Cemetery c/o Anthony Biolsi (631-249-7000) 25-352. 7/2, 9, 16

Multicultural Fair festivities at Amityville Memorial High School

Amityville Memorial High School recently celebrated numerous cultures during the school’s Multicultural Fair. Held in the high school’s cafeteria, the event brought together students from a variety of countries as they celebrated the heritage of their families. The celebration featured dance, music, traditional games, and

foods from several geographic regions. Students also crafted display boards which shared the history of their families’ countries. Additionally, the fair featured raffled prizes such as decorative festival masks. The district would like to thank all of the students and staff members who contributed to this festive event.

Courtesy /Amityville school district.

Waterfront Elegance

The architect made our project sound so complicated

Q. I met with an architect whom my contractor recommended, and I’m now very upset and confused. We need to get our job done by the end of the summer, and the building department said I should speak to an architect, get plans and they could process my permit. It sounded a lot simpler than the architect said. What seemed like a simple job — to do plans for a small bump-out back dormer to match the front one — has been made to sound like a major project. Why is there such exaggeration of the things the architect says need to be done? This shouldn’t take so long, and the cost is a lot more than we planned. What should I expect, minimally, to get plans and a permit?

A. I’m not sure if your building department still has the posted signs showing a person bent over, laughing, with the caption, “You want it when?” Or the one that says, “Your failure to plan ahead does not constitute an emergency on our part.”

As if that wasn’t enough of an explanation, I usually have to spend an hour or so — with a consultation fee, since I’m not a public service (and they are) — to explain, as fully as I can, what you didn’t get from your building department. Smaller building departments, I find, have a better track record at going over things with you, but bigger ones don’t have the time, so they refer you to an architect to lay the groundwork, often creating friction about what you’ll need.

The architect’s outline of what you can encounter is rarely an exaggeration, but most people are dazed and in disbelief, often saying that the building department made it sound a lot simpler, and the full explanation sounds like a con job.

Unfortunately, most people — including the first people you speak to at a building department, your contractor or a friend — are not producing or responding to the myriad code requirements, so they may not be fully aware of the big picture. For example, when you read a book, it can take several days to get through it, but that doesn’t mean it only took several days to write.

Someone showed me photos they rushed to take of a home they want to buy. I immediately spotted five violations in the pictures. Two of the violations were ceiling height (too low) and an electric panel next to a bathroom sink. Just the ceiling height could cause a six- to nine-month delay in filing documents and applying to the State Code Board for a hearing or review.

Then there was the fact that the dormer had a nearly flat roof and the wrong kind of roofing. Add in the under-minimum distance in front of the toilet and the lack of ceiling height in the shower with the wrong kind of sink trap, and you realize that just that one bathroom creates great time and expense. More to come next week.

with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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opinions

Invest Social Security funds smarter to save the system

When Social Security was established in 1935, there were 42 workers supporting each retiree. Today that number is down to just two or three. If nothing changes, the system is projected to reduce benefits by 21 percent starting in 2033.

To prevent that, some policymakers have proposed painful fixes: tax hikes on all workers, raising the retirement age or increasing taxes on Social Security recipients. But there’s a smarter, more sustainable path forward. For years, economists and analysts have argued that allowing a portion of Social Security funds to be invested in the stock market could dramatically improve the program’s solvency. Yet this idea has repeatedly been dismissed due to fears of market volatility and political backlash.

These fears, however, are largely unfounded. A basic analysis shows just how much the system has lost by avoiding equities. If just a portion of the Social Security Trust Fund had been

Hinvested in an S&P 500 index fund starting in 2005, it would be flush with an additional $6.4 trillion today. Privatizing 25 percent of the fund would have generated roughly $13,775 more per person.

In 2005, the trust fund held $1.81 trillion. By 2025, it had grown to $2.8 trillion — an increase of 55.6 percent, or just 2.2 percent annually.

Meanwhile, the S&P 500 rose an average of 9.82 percent annually over the same period. The index climbed from 1,181 in 2005 to 5,979 by 2025 — a 406 percent increase.

There are two realistic strategies to inject higher returns into the system:

pers and grows.

International examples show success. Sweden’s Premium Pension system, launched in 2000, offers individuals the choice to invest part of their public pension in funds. The default fund, managed by the government, has averaged 14 percent annual returns. In 2021, 2023 and 2024 alone, returns were 31.5 percent, 18.4 percent and 27.3 percent, respectively.

olitical fears and outdates assumptions are jeopardizing retirees’ finances.

1. Individual control of a portion of contributions. A concept advocated by former presidential candidate Steve Forbes, this plan would allow younger Americans to divert a fraction of their payroll taxes into personal retirement accounts similar to 401(k)s. Those accounts would grow over time based on market performance, giving individuals more control and potentially larger nest eggs.

Fears of market crashes wiping out retirement savings are overblown. Investments wouldn’t be made or withdrawn all at once. Even in volatile years, long-term performance typically recov-

2. Diversify trust fund investments. The idea of allocating a portion of the trust fund into equities isn’t new. In 1996, a federal panel — the Social Security Advisory Council — recommended such action. Had the U.S. acted on that advice then, or even as late as 2005, today’s fiscal outlook would be far more optimistic.

Since 2020, the trust fund’s reserves have already declined from $2.908 trillion to about $2.721 trillion in 2024 — a loss of $187 billion in just four years. Doing nothing is not an option.

New York State’s flush pension fund has grown exponentially, compared with the Social Security fund. That’s because its sole fiduciary, the state comptroller, diversifies the fund’s investments. Bonds constitute a mere 22.07 percent of the overall investments, and real estate

investments diversify the portfolio to an even greater extent. Despite the fact that 57 percent of the fund is invested in equities, there has never been a point at which the fund was in jeopardy. The rate of return for the state pension system from 2005 to 2025 was a relatively healthy 4.2 percent, as opposed to 2.2 percent for Social Security. In 2023-24, the fund had a rate of return of over 11 percent.

A typical financial adviser recommends that retirees keep some money in conservative bonds while also maintaining a portion in growth-focused assets. Our government should take the same balanced approach. If we began by investing even 25 percent of the trust fund in a broad-based index like the S&P 500, we could significantly reduce the need for future benefit cuts or tax increases.

The time for delay is over. Political fears and outdated assumptions are jeopardizing the financial stability of millions of current and future retirees. A diversified, market-based investment strategy would not only preserve Social Security — it could strengthen it for generations to come.

Steve Levy is executive director of the Center for Cost Effective Government, a fiscally conservative think tank. He has served as Suffolk County executive and as a state assemblyman, and hosts “The Steve Levy Radio Show.”

Reading to repair our hearts and minds

ow does what we read every day affect our lives?

Daily newspapers and TV news drown us with torrents of repetitive and sometimes conflicting accounts of events across America and the world. The best of them are stanchions of democracy, and we need these dailies to offer a wide-angle lens, to see what we cannot see from our own front yards.

We need our weeklies to bring us stories about people we know in our communities, a narrower lens that focuses on local events and individuals. Weeklies are the lifeblood of community life — the pages where our neighbors are hailed as heroes, and school athletes have their moment in the sun. Newspapers in this country struck their roots in liberty, and until the Trump era, citizens could rely on the accounts of events they read in the paper. Today, with overt threats against freedom of the press and news outlets coopted by political power players, we need

to double down on the demand for honest and unbiased reporting. (It’s useful to note here that my column is by definition an opinion piece, my own views, not the policies of the Herald).

So we push, push for our free press against an incoming tide of political pressure. We need journalists to challenge the leaders in whom we put our faith and trust. We need the pragmatists and the idealists and the investigators to keep our newspapers relevant and alive.

p

u t down the phone.

Pick up a book. Stand in someone else’s shoes.

From my perch, an even greater need is for more people to read books, any books, all books, nothing banned. The impulse to ban a book comes from a place of intolerance and ignorance. No one ever became gay or trans or hypersexual because they read a book on the subject. Book banning comes from a small place, fear of someone different or a way of life that doesn’t conform to the majority.

Why are school libraries being thinned and censored? Why was a reference to Jackie Robinson’s military service temporarily removed from the U.S. Department of State website? Apparently, part of a sweep to remove any references

to diversity, equity and inclusion. How did these values become dirty words? These days, various media compete for our attention. Teenagers, especially, are vulnerable to the sound and light shows coming from their phones. It’s hard to curl up with a book when the phone gives you games and shocking fake news and social media to keep you jacked up. Parents who used to read to their young children are often distracted themselves by their phones and other devices.

As our political world spirals into confusion and mistrust, and as our president and his minions draw the country in and out of real and threatened violence here and overseas, where can a thinking person turn for comfort? What can help keep us grounded and hopeful as we celebrate our democracy on the Fourth of July?

Put down the phone. Pick up a book. Stand in someone else’s shoes, in another time and place. Escape the political convulsions of this moment and feel buoyed by a character’s life and loves; feel grounded by the universal values humans share.

I’m not sure how you become a reader

of books if you never have been, but I do know it’s possible. I know folks in their adulthood who finally found the peace and the time to start reading. It’s comforting, it’s edifying, and the connection between reader and character can be profound.

The books I’m reading this summer fall under the banner of “repairing the world,” which comes from the concept in Judaism to work toward making the world better. John Steinbeck wove the theme of repairing the world into his great novel “East of Eden,” exploring the tension between free will and destiny in human experience. Gorgeous stuff.

The books on my list are “Twist,” by Colum McCann, a story about a team of seamen who fix underwater internet cables around the globe; “Prophet Song,” by Paul Lynch, a novel about a fight against a totalitarian takeover in Ireland; “The Return,” by Hisham Matar, a man’s search for his father, who was “disappeared” by the Qaddafi regime; and “Western Lane” by Chetna Maroo, a debut story of summoning strength while moving through grief.

These books explore the boundary places in our lives, the broken places, and offer visions for doing good in a fractured world.

RAnDi KREiss

offiCe

Phone: (516) 569-4000

Fax: (516) 569-4942

Web: www.liherald.com

E-mail: amityeditor@liherald.com

HERALD

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The Declaration of Independence was first published on July 6, 1776, in a newspaper, the Pennsylvania Evening Post. We are proud to commemorate that high point in American journalism by reprinting that historic document.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at

places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness of his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our Government:

For suspending our own legislature, and declaring themselves invested with Power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy of the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free People.

Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.

The Declaration was signed first by John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, and then by 55 others representing the 13 original states.

LFighting for fair school taxes in Suffolk County

iving in the suburbs brings with it many familiar sayings about human nature, including “The grass is greener on the other side of the fence” and “wanting what your neighbors have.” But for some residents along the Nassau-Suffolk county line, these old sayings reflect a frustrating reality when it comes to local school taxes. The levies being paid by residents on either side of the county line are not equal. They are borderline unfair.

In the Farmingdale and Amityville union free school districts, which span the Town of Babylon, in Suffolk County, and the Town of Oyster Bay, in Nassau, residents see dramatically different school tax bills depending on which side of the county line they live on. This year alone, Suffolk homeowners in these districts had

increases of up to 17 percent. Meanwhile, their Nassau neighbors saw little or no change. In some cases, they even had a decrease.

The reason is simple. Suffolk keeps its property assessments current, while Nassau does not. But the state still applies a single equalization rate to these multi-county school districts. That approach has forced Suffolk homeowners to cover the full cost of recent increases in the school tax levy. In the Farmingdale district, this meant that Suffolk residents paid roughly $5 million more, while Nassau residents paid about $1 million less. In Amityville, Suffolk residents paid nearly $3 million more.

tax bills vary drastically depending on which side of the county line you’re on.

ments and ensure that each taxpayer is paying his or her fair share. But when one county’s assessments are up to date and another’s have been frozen for years, the system stops working. It creates unnecessary tension between neighbors, undermines trust in the process, and hurts working families that are simply trying to stay afloat.

The bill passed the Senate, but unfortunately, the Assembly did not act on it before the end of the session. That, however, will not stop us. Assembly sponsor Kwani O’Pharrow and I will keep working together to make sure that the families we represent are not penalized based on which side of the county line their property is on.

All of this is happening within the same school districts.

Equalization rates are supposed to make school taxes fair when districts cross municipal borders with different property values. They are designed to account for differences in local assess-

Letters

Mamdani’s lessons for Long Island

To the Editor:

Zohran Mamdani’s unexpected and resounding victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary holds some important lessons for Long Island.

But for them to be learned, it is first necessary to discard stereotypes and appraise Mamdani’s views with an open mind. Automatic negative reactions are unhelpful and unthinking. Such is the case with South Shore Democratic Congresswoman Laura Gillen’s contention that Mamdani “is too extreme to lead New York City. His entire campaign has been built on unachievable promises and higher taxes…” Gillen also detects “a disturbing pattern of unacceptable antisemitic comments” on Mamdani’s part.

If they look past the scary label of “democratic socialist,” Long Islanders may find that Mamdani bears some resemblance to … Donald Trump! The Queens assemblyman began his long-shot campaign by soliciting the views of New York City voters who had supported Trump in 2024. The top reason many expressed was Trump’s emphasis on affordability. And so Mamdani made that the centerpiece of his effort to forge the broadest possible electoral coalition.

“Both Donald Trump and our

campaign can see the disillusionment in politics, the inability for so many to celebrate crumbs that cannot feed themselves and their families,” Mamdani told The New York Times in a post-primary interview.

The presumptive Democratic mayoral nominee offered solutions for unaffordability — a rent freeze, accelerated housing construction, reduced-price public transport, free day care — that would likely appeal to many Long Islanders. As Herald readers know, Nassau and Suffolk are becoming wildly unaffordable for middle-income families, with the result that many are moving away. Maybe suburban politicians should consider adopting versions of what Mamdani proposes. They might find future election results to be surprisingly favorable.

On the issue of antisemitism, it’s essential to acknowledge that criticism of the Israeli government’s policies does not, a priori, equate with disrespect for Jews. Mamdani has in fact called Hamas’s Oct 7, 2023, murders of Jews “a horrific war crime.” And he has indeed condemned the Netanyahu government’s conduct of its war on Gaza.

It is to be hoped that Long Islanders of good will can take advantage of the opportunity Mamdani presents for an overdue and respectful discussion of Israel’s military actions.

KEvIN J KELLEY Atlantic Beach

Legislation I introduced earlier this year would address this problem. It would require the state commissioner of taxation and finance to create separate equalization rates for the Suffolk and Nassau portions of the Farmingdale and Amityville school districts. This change is intended to correct existing imbalances and help ensure that each homeowner’s share more fairly reflects actual local property values. The bill would also give local assessing jurisdictions the ability to challenge the equalization rate being used by the neighboring county, something that is currently not allowed.

This is a question of fairness. And, as Assembly member O’Pharrow puts it, “No family should bear an unfair burden simply because their county updates property assessments more responsibly.”

Despite the session’s being over, this fight is not. Taxpayers expect fairness in their assessments, and when those determinations are made without consistency, we have a responsibility to act.

As Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer said, “Together we will keep pushing for accountability and relief for our community.” I could not agree more, and will keep pushing until Suffolk taxpayers get the fairness they deserve.

Monica Martinez represents the 4th State Senate District in southwestern Suffolk County.

Framework by Tim Baker