Amityville Herald 09_24_2025

Amityville Ragamuffin Parade coming up Page 8

aMIT yvIllE

Heading back to school in Copiague Page 10

Erik Lee/Herald

Shown above are Amityville musicians Naomi Chavez Duran (15/11th grade) bassist/vocals, Harper DeBruin (12/7th grade) guitarist/drums and Jack Nehring (13/8th grade) guitarist/vocals, of the band ‘Split Signal’ performing for Play Music on the Porch Day at the home of Dave and Annemarie Smith, 133 Richmond Avenue.

Music on Porch brings Amity community together

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

Amityville turned into an open-air concert hall Sat., Aug. 30 as musicians filled porches and front lawns with the sound of live music for the village’s second annual Music on the Porch Day.

The global event, held each year, encourages amateur and professional musicians alike to bring their talents outside—onto porches, stoops, driveways or sidewalks—inviting neighbors and passersby to stop, listen, and connect through music.

“If one person told me, ten told me that this is their favorite event in Amityville,” Mayor Michael O’Neill said. “And, they were not just saying it, they were genuine.”

O’Neill credited his predecessor, former Mayor Dennis Siry, a longtime musician, for introducing the idea to the village. “He saw or heard about [it] someplace else and decided it would be perfect for Amityville,” O’Neill said.

The strong impact of the event on Amityville was pointed out by Amityville resident and Babylon Town Clerk Geri Compitello. She said the village is earning a musical reputation on Long Island. “People see what we’re doing here, and they associate Amityville with the arts,” she said.

Unlike formal concerts with ticketed venues, Music on the Porch Day transforms ordinary spaces into stages, creating a laid-back, spontaneous and community-driven celebration.

REC

Amity PBA Boat Parade to benefit local family’s fight

By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com

The Amityville PBA Guardian Angel Foundation is holding its annual Holiday Boat Parade Sat., Nov. 15 at Amityville Beach followed by a fundraiser at the Unqua Yacht Club. All proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to the Norton Family of Massapequa, whose daughter was recently diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative disease.

“This event brings the community together to celebrate the season while supporting a family in need,” said Amityville PBA President Harold Miller.

The Amityville PBA joins other fire departments throughout Long Island that are holding fundraisers and events to help the Norton family.

For six joyful months, Kaitlin and Gerard Norton lived every new parent’s dream. Their baby girl, Madeline, was healthy and thriving. But after a routine wellness visit, the Massapequa couple received a phone call that changed everything.

Madeline had tested positive for a rare genetic condition called PKAN — Pantothenate KinaseAssociated Neurodegeneration — a progressive neurological disorder that slowly robs children of their ability to walk, talk and eventually, live independently. There is no cure.

“Classic” PKAN, the form Madeline has, is often fatal before age 10.

“We noticed some stiffness but never imagined it would lead to something like this,” Kaitlin said.

Now 9 months old, Madeline is still showing no major symptoms. She loves Mickey Mouse, food, and playing with her dogs, Dasher and Bear. Her days include visits to the local library and coffee shop with her parents — quiet moments that have taken on new meaning.

Rather than retreat, the Nortons are choosing to fight. Kaitlin, 29, and Gerard, 32, launched “Madeline’s Mission,” a social media and fundraising campaign to raise awareness and support for PKAN research. Their GoFundMe has raised more than $55,000 toward a $100,000 goal.

“Every time you talk about it, it does reopen some wounds,” Kaitlin said. “But this is how we’re going to find a cure.”

Charlie Mackie, president of the Massapequa Historical Society and Madeline’s grandfather, said that the slow progression of the disease will give scientists time to hopefully come up with genetic therapy.

“It is around the corner, not only for my granddaughter but for all children suffering from rare genetic diseases,” said Mackie. He added that the way his daughter and son-I,” he said. “And they have taught me a lot about how social media works and how to get the word out to give my granddaughter—and all children like her— the best chance.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Introduction for Northeast Elementary pre-K students

On Sept. 12, Amityville’s youngest learners took the first step in their educational journey during Northeast Elementary School’s annual pre-K orientation.

Throughout the day, students met their teachers and took time to familiarize themselves with their new classrooms. Joined by their parents and guardians, students also participated in arts and crafts, and they got to check out all of the fun, educational tools that their classrooms have to offer.

Students are ready for their educational adventure to begin during the first day of school on Sept. 15.

On Sept. 12, Amityville’s youngest learners took the first step in their

pre-K orientation.

After 40 years of serving as your trusted financial advisor, I am excited to share an important update about my practice. I have joined Lebenthal Financial Services, Inc., an independent broker-dealer based in Jericho, NY, to better serve my clients with expanded resources and greater flexibility.

My commitment remains the same, guided by these core principles:

Understanding your unique financial goals

Researching and recommending the best solutions

Providing ongoing guidance to help you achieve financial success

By joining Lebenthal, I now have:

Access to a wider range of financial products and services

Financial planning services at no additional cost

Greater flexibility to select the most suitable solutions for you

A broader array of investment options to diversify and strengthen your portfolio

I look forward to this next chapter and continuing to help you achieve your financial goals.

Contact Me: 516-606-5752 | Email Me: GSlavin@lebenthal.com Learn More: lebenthalfinancial.com | lebenthal.com

Courtesy Amityville School District

educational journey during Northeast Elementary School’s annual

Suffolk DA adds new cold cases to website to recognize National Cold Case Month

In observance of National Cold Case Month this September, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office is renewing its call for public assistance in solving long-standing investigations, adding three cold cases to its official website.

District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that the new additions include homicides and unidentified remains dating back decades, with the goal of bringing long-awaited closure to victims’ families.

“Each cold case represents a person who matters deeply to someone,” Tier-

ney said. “Adding their cases to our website not only honors the victims’ memory but also provides new pathways for the public to contribute meaningfully to long-standing investigations.”

The DA’s Cold Case Task Force released new details on Sept. 15, including forensic sketches developed in collaboration with Suffolk County Police forensic artist Danielle Gruttadaurio and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The images depict what the victims may have looked like before their deaths.

Marine operator accused of stealing hundreds of thousands from clients

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

A Babylon boat dealer has been indicted on grand larceny and other charges for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from clients who entrusted him to sell their boats, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced.

Rory P. Hogan, 60, owner of Riteway Marine Solutions, 12 Post Pl., Babylon, was arraigned Sept. 5 on charges of second-degree grand larceny, a Class C felony; scheme to defraud, a Class E felony; and issuing bad checks, a Class B misdemeanor.

Prosecutors allege that between October 2023 and April 2025, Hogan accepted boats from more than 10 clients under the false pretense that he would broker sales and remit the proceeds. Instead, authorities said, he sold the vessels and kept the money for himself, often lying to clients about the status of the transactions.

In one case, Hogan allegedly withheld $250,000 from the sale of a client’s boat. In another, he is accused of selling a boat for more than $70,000 and failing to pay the owner, prosecutors said.

“Instead of conducting honest business, the defendant allegedly exploited his cli-

The three cases now featured on the website include:

•”Montauk Mary” — On March 22, 1978, the remains of a white woman in her 60s were discovered in East Overlook Park in Montauk. She had been shot to death. Her identity remains unknown.

•Melville John Doe — On Aug. 8, 1990, the handcuffed and bloodied body of an unidentified Hispanic man was found on Chateau Drive in Melville. He had been shot multiple times.

•Brentwood John Doe — On May 20, 1998, skeletal remains were found near the Brentwood Freshman Center Elementary School. The victim is believed to have been white and/or Hispanic, and between 15 and 17 years old.

A reward of up to $2,000 is being offered for information that helps identify the victims or advance these investigations.

Anyone with information is urged to visit www.suffolkcountyda.org/coldcases, email contactda@suffolkcountyny.gov, or call 631 263-0526. Tips can be submitted anonymously.

ents’ trust, converting thousands of dollars for his personal use while leaving them empty-handed,” Tierney said. “This office will continue to pursue those who prey on consumers through fraudulent schemes.”

Between August 2024 and April 2025, Hogan also allegedly wrote checks to customers and vendors despite having insufficient funds in his accounts, including some drawn from closed accounts, prosecutors said.

Hogan surrendered to authorities Sept. 5 and appeared before District Court Judge Jonathan R. Bloom, who released him without bail under current New York state law, which deems the charges non-bail eligible. Hogan faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top charge. He is represented by attorney Glenn Nugent of Amityville, who declined to comment.

Anyone who believes they may have been defrauded by Hogan is asked to contact the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at 631-853-5602.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Miller of the Financial Crimes Bureau. The investigation was led by Special Investigator Joseph Tobia Jr. of the DA’s office, with assistance from Suffolk County Police.

Funding Opportunities for Small Businesses and Non-Profits

The HIA-LI Small Business Task Force will be presenting “Funding Opportunities for Small Businesses and Non-Profits” on Oct. 21 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the LI Cares Center for Community Engagement in Hauppauge.

Join this seminar to hear directly from banks, the SBA, and other experts about grants, loans and programs available to support the growth of your small business or hto help your nonprofit secure vital funding. To register, visit hia-li.org or call 631 543-5355.

LI Cares Center for Community Engagement is located at 75 Davids Dr., Hauppauge.

Riteway Marine in Babylon

Montauk Mary

Melville John Doe

Brentwood John Doe

Copiague man stabbed in North Amityville

A North Amityville man was arrested Sun., Sept. 14 after police said he stabbed a friend multiple times during an early morning altercation.

Joshua Deluna, 32, was involved in a dispute with a 43-year-old Copiague man outside 104 Madison Avenue around 6:25 a.m., Suffolk County Police said. During the altercation, Deluna allegedly stabbed the man several times.

The victim was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip for treatment of his injuries. Police did not release his identity.

Deluna, who lives at the Madison Avenue address, was charged with seconddegree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He is was arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Sept. 16.

CRIME WATCH

The following incidents have been reported by the Suffolk County Police Department’s 1st and 3rd precincts and other law enforcement and emergency service units.

UNLAWFULLY FLEEING A POLICE OFFICE

Amityville: Police arrested Stiven Cruz Santana, 20, of 4 Waldo St., Copiague on Sept. 10 charging him with unlawfully fleeing police and reckless driving. Police said that Cruz Santana, was operating a moped recklessly on Prospect Street, North Amityville at approximately 4 p.m. that day. When police attempted to pull him over, he fled on the moped. He was later apprehended and charged.

OTHER ARRESTS

Driving While Intoxicated/Impaired: Ronald Ventura, 36, of 10 Jensen Rd., Bay Shore; William Urban, 44, of 1191 E. 3 rd Ave., Bay Shore; Petit Larceny: Maria Rivera, 49, of 51Malta St., Copiague; Katherine Lee, 34, of 317 March St., West Babylon; Jason Porter, 47, of 30 Carlough Rd., Bohemia; Jeffrey Edwards, 49 Somerset Rd., East, North Amityville;Joshua Williams, 32, of 618 Grand Blvde., Deer Park;

Fleeing a Police Officer: Franco Calla, 24, of 325 Brook Ave., Bay Shore; Grand Larceny: Giliante Pasculli, 53, of 1088 Connetquot Ave., Central Islip; Daniel Tarantibno, 42, of 427 36 th St., Lindenhurst;

Assault: Andrew Perez, 33, of 45 Brown Blvd., Wheatley Heights.

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.

Self Help/Crisis Hotlines

Bereavement Support Group

Bereavement Support Group hosted by Our Lady of Grace Church, 666 Albin Ave., West Babylon, every Saturday through November 8, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. For more information, contact John Laszewski 631 874-0210.

Food Pantry/Clothing Closet

Offered by Hands Across Long Island, Inc. (HALI), Food Pantry and Clothing Closet work together to alle-

viate hunger, address food insecurity, and fulfill the basic need for clothing within the surrounding community. By offering a diverse selection of food items and clothing options, we support individuals and families facing economic challenges while promoting dignity, sustainability, and community support in times of adversity. For more information, go to: www.hali88. org or call 631-234-1925. HALI is at 159 Brightside Ave., Central Islip.

■ WEB SITE: www.amityvillerecord.com / www.liherald.com/Amityville

■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: cjames@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl

Kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville planted American flags during Patriot Day.

Students, teachers in Amityville recognize Patriot Day

On Sept. 11, kindergartners and teachers at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville celebrated unity and patriotism during Patriot Day.

In recognition of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Northeast held a special ceremony as they planted American flags around the school building. Additionally, many

of the students wore red, white and blue as they gathered together to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Northeast Principal Dr. Pauline Collins also held an as-

sembly in the school’s gymnasium in which she shared an age-appropriate slideshow to educate kindergartners about the Twin Towers.

Courtesy Amityville School District

Youthful Amityville finding its footing

By NIKO SCARLATOS sports@liherald.com

Amityville’s boys soccer program has built a proud tradition under longtime head coach Mike Abbondondolo, who is now in his 13th season leading the Tide.

This fall, Abbondondolo faces a new challenge of shaping a younger roster filled with fresh varsity players into a championship contender.

From the moment last season ended, many players committed themselves to training together since December, a testament to the culture Abbondondolo and his staff have instilled. “The expectation every year is to compete for a championship,” Abbondondolo emphasized. “This group has shown incredible commitment, but with a young team comes learning curves. The key is channeling that energy and growing from every challenge.”

The Tide’s season has already been a rollercoaster with an overall mark of 3-3-2. After starting with wins over Southhampton and Mt. Sinai, Amityville was shutout in consecutive games by Hampton Bays and Shoreham-Wading River. After struggling to find consistency early, Amityville has managed to string together some important wins. A statement 2-1 victory over John Glenn Sept. 16 helped swing momentum back in its favor and reminded the group of what it’s capable of when locked in.

Leadership has been a cornerstone, with senior captains Aiden Johnson, Anthony Salvador, and Justin Mendez setting the tone. “Johnson provides steady composure, Salvador energizes the group with his drive, and Mendes has emerged as a vocal leader both on and off the field.,” said Abbondondolo. Together, the trio balances responsibility with mentorship for their younger teammates.

Johnson scored both goals in the win over Glenn.

The underclassmen, meanwhile, bring a spark of talent and potential. Juniors Xavian “X” Jackson and Alex Ayala are key contributors in the midfield and attack, while junior goalkeepers Christian Araque and Cesar Hernandez anchor the back end. “Christian has taken the starting role, but both keepers have proven capable and de-

HERALD SPORTS West Babylon building strong foundation

Erik Lee/Herald

Senior captain Aiden Johnson scored twice for the Tide in an important 2-1 win over John Glenn Sept. 16.

pendable between the posts,” Abbondondolo said.

Depth continues with juniors like midfielder Jimmy Sanchez, sophomores Nico Annunziato-Green, Ricky Washington, Osahon Ojo, and Kevin Vanegas, all players Abbondondolo expects to grow with experience. Perhaps most exciting is the presence of 8th grade forward Bautista Moreno, who represents the program’s future and has already impressed by competing at the varsity level.

As the season progresses, Amityville’s growth will depend on how quickly the younger players adapt and how effectively the seniors guide them through adversity.

The win over John Glenn served as a reminder of the group’s ceiling when playing together as one, a glimpse of the Warriors’ true potential.

For Abbondondolo, the formula is clear: hard work, accountability, and family. If this youthful roster can continue to embrace those values while maturing through each test, the Tide has every reason to believe it can go far.

By NIKO SCARLATOS sports@liherald.com

West Babylon’s girls’ soccer team is in the middle of an important chapter in its program’s growth.

Under coach Jennifer Ohman, now in her second year at the helm after spending one year previously at the JV level, the Eagles are laying down the foundation for both present success and long-term development.

From the outset of preseason, Ohman set clear goals for her squad. “We are putting huge emphasis on building a sense of family and chemistry,” she said. “We are challenging our players to step into leadership roles and sharpen communication on and off the field.”

While the Eagles opened the season slowly with an 0-4-1 start, Ohman says the team is finding its rhythm and showing steady improvement.

Leadership has been a cornerstone of that progress. The Eagles are guided by senior captains Sam Serrano and Melanie Jastrzebski, along with junior Izzie Sjoholm. Together, they form what Ohman calls a great dynamic. “Sam brings unmatched grit and energy, embodying the spirit of the team,” Ohman said. “Melanie provides the brains, a steadying presence who keeps teammates calm in tense moments while Izzie has emerged as both a role model for the younger players and one of our sharpest readers of the game.”

The senior and junior captains are far from the only standouts. Nandini Ramesh and Talia Acevedo, the starting goalkeeper, have established themselves as reliable contributors and key starters. Their consistency has been critical as the Eagles build toward the future.

In the junior class, Jenna Anson and Gia Coladonato have been difference-makers, forming a close bond with Soho that has earned them the nickname “the Three Musketeers.” Their chemistry, developed both on and off the field, has been a spark for the Eagles’ attack and possession play.

The program has also seen growth from the Dunsmore twins, as both Adrianna and Alyssa have stepped into bigger roles this season. Once quieter presences on the roster, the twins have found their voice and

Media Origin Inc./Herald

Junior Gia Colandonato and the Eagles will look to a strong second half as they build a solid foundation for the future.

earned significantly more playing time. Their development reflects Ohman’s mission of empowering players to take ownership of their growth.

Perhaps the most remarkable story of the season has been freshman Maddie Sienna. Despite her youth, Sienna has impressed the coaching staff with relentless work ethic and versatility. “She’s one of the hardest-working players I’ve ever come across,” Ohman said. “She puts her life on the line for the team and can play any position we ask.” Her fearless approach and adaptability have already made her an integral part of the roster.

Looking ahead, Ohman and her team are focused on taking things one game at a time. The Eagles have struggled to score much on offense, tallying just one goal in the first five games. But each match provides an opportunity to identify gaps and work toward improvement. More importantly, the coach wants her players,not herself, to be the voices guiding the Eagles.

“I don’t want to be the one who leads,” Ohman explained. “I want the girls to be the voice of reason. Gaining that confidence is key for us.”

Healthy habits that can benefit seniors over the long haul

Food fuels the body throughout the day, ideally providing the energy people need to make the most of each day. But the foods people eat are more than just fuel. Indeed, a delicious meal is hard to forget, and that underscores how significant a variable flavor can be when people choose the foods they eat.

Flavor is certainly important when choosing and preparing meals, but it cannot be the only variable that determines what people eat. That’s true for everyone, and especially notable for seniors. Age-related changes to the body should affect seniors’ approach to diet. The National Council on Aging notes that metabolism slows as bodies grow older, which means seniors require fewer calories to fuel their daily activities than they needed when they were younger. That’s just one of the many notable things seniors should consider when designing their daily diets.

• Plan a well-rounded diet. School children learn the basic food groups as youngsters, and it’s good for seniors to keep those long-ago lessons in mind when planning their daily diets. The American Heart Association notes the importance of incorporating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and proteins into dai -

ly diets. In regard to dairy, the AHA advises consuming the equivalent of three cups of low-fat (1 percent) or fat-free dairy each day. When picking a protein source, the AHA identifies eggs, fish, lean meat, legumes, nuts, and poultry as healthy and protein-rich foods. Even polyunsaturated and monounsaturated oils like olive oil and peanut oil can be healthy.

• Resolve to read more labels. Aging adults need not study nutrition to identify what they’re putting into their bodies each time they take a bite. The NCOA notes that food labels are useful sources of information that can indicate how much fat, sodium and added sugars are in a given item. Seniors should be especially vigilant when trying to avoid foods that contain a lot of added sugars, which can contribute to weight gain. That’s notable given seniors’ naturally slower metabolisms.

• Practice portion control. It’s not necessarily the foods seniors eat but how much they eat that can derail their efforts to maintain their overall health. Seniors’ recommended daily calorie intake varies by both gender and activity levels. Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes women 61 and over who are mod -

erately physically active should consume roughly 1,800 calories per day, while those living an active lifestyle are advised to eat around 2,000 calories per day. Moderately active men age 66 and older are advised to eat 2,400 calories per day, while active men between the ages of 61 and 75 should aim for 2,600 calories per day. When reading food labels, pay attention to calories per serving, as that can act as a useful guide to con -

Join Us!

trol portions. The National Institute on Aging recognizes it can be hard to control portion sizes when dining out, and recommends seniors share an entrée or order from the appetizers menu when picking their main course.

The right daily dietary habits can help seniors live longer, healthier and happier lives, and picking the right foods does not require sacrificing flavor.

For more than 100 years the American Red Cross on Long Island has helped the community prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.

HONORING

COMMUNITY IMPACT HERO

Luv Michael

FIRST RESPONDER HEROES

Officers Timothy Deegan and Matthew Walling

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP HERO

Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025

8:00 A.M. TO 10:00 A.M.

The Heritage Club at Bethpage

DISASTER HERO

Jennifer Keane

MILITARY HERO

Mel Cohen

YOUTH HEROES

Charlie Dubofsky and Sydney Hassenbein

The American Red Cross Heroes Celebration is the signature fundraising event for the American Red Cross on Long Island, serving Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Event Co-chairs: James Quent, Greg Lavine, and Jennifer Solomon

For tickets, sponsorships, journal ads and to learn more, please visit redcross.org/LIheroes

Courtesy/Metro Creative Connection

24, 2025

Amityville’s Haunted Harvest

Amityville’s Haunted Harvest returns on Oct. 4 from 1 to 7 p.m. in the village. The event will include vendors, delicious food, live music and entertainment for all ages.

Hosted by the Amityville Chamber of Commerce, a rain date will be scheduled for October 5. For more information, please call 631 552-5673.

Amityville Rotary Apple Festival

The Amityville Rotary Club will be hosting their annual Apple Festival on Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 140 Park Ave., Amityville. The event will feature

apple desserts, fresh picked apples and crafts. Entry is free. For more information, please call 631 926-6196 or email joegmorin@aol.com.

DID YOU KNOW?

A 2023 meta-analysis published in the journal Reviews on Environmental Health found that excessive screen exposure may be a significant contributor to the development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The report analyzed nine studies that examined more than 81,000 children, including nearly 29,000 who had been diagnosed with ADHD. The analysis found that children exposed to more than two hours of screen time each day had significantly higher rates of ADHD than youngsters whose daily screen time was limited to two hours or less. Researchers behind the analysis ultimately concluded reducing children’s screen time could prevent the occurrence of ADHD.

2025 Thomas H. Smith

Ragamuffin Parade

The annual Ragamuffin Parade, sponsored by the Amityville PBA, will be taking place once again this year on Oct. 18 at 10 a.m., with a rain date of Oct. 19. The parade will begin at 9/11 Memorial Park. 9/11 Memorial Park is located at 259 Broadway, Amityville.

For more information, please call 631 264-6000.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

•Amityville Rotary Club Meeting: 8 a.m., Brownstones Coffee, 55 Merrick Road, Amityville. For more information, please call President Carolyn Dodd at (631) 374-8712.

•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

•Town of Babylon Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting: 6 p.m., Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst. For more information, call (631) 957-3012.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

•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.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

•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.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

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

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

•Town of Babylon Planning Board Meeting: 7 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. New-

mann III Administrative Offices at Copiague Middle School, 2650 Great Neck Road, Copiague. For more information, please call (631)-842-4015.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

•Emotional Health Recovery and Support 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 12step 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

•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, call (631) 957-7468.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1

•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) 3320552 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.

•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

COMING UP

•The Amityville Historical Society is having its annual meeting and election of officers on Wed., Oct. 8, 7;30 p.m. at the Lauder Museum, 170 Broadway Amityville. A powerpoint presentation regarding historic preservation and its benefits will be given by Richaed Handler. All are welcome! 631 598-1486.

•On Sat. Oct. 4, the Amityville Historical Society is having a multi-vendor Antique sale in the Lauder Museum parking lot from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Something for everyone! The Museum will be opened during this time. 631 598-1486.

Calendar items are printed for non-profit organizations, as space permits, or when an event, service or information is being sponsored by a profit-making organization without charge to readers. Submit items to us at Richner Communications, attn: Record Herald Editor, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530; or email: dconsola@liherald.com at least two - three weeks prior to the publication date in which the item must appear. Sorry, but open-ended requests without the specific dates of the events are not acceptable. While we make every attempt to accommodate each request, we cannot guarantee publication of any items. For more information, call 516-569-4000.

an event coming up? Need publicity? Send informatioin to us at cjames@liherald.com or call 516-569-4000

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A lively first day for Copiague students

The excitement was unmistakable across the Copiague School District as students returned to classrooms on Sept. 3, officially marking the start of the 2025-2026 school year. From kindergarten through high school, the first day was filled with eager smiles and warm welcomes.

At each of the district’s schools, teachers and staff greeted students as they arrived, setting a positive tone for the year ahead. The buzz of new beginnings filled the hallways as students met their teachers, reunited with classmates and became familiar with their schedules and routines.

As the 2025-2026 school year begins, Copiague School officials said the district remains dedicated to fostering student achievement, strengthening school-community partnerships and preparing students for future success.

Courtesy of the Copiague School District

Ryder Cup set to tee off at Bethpage Black

Governor Hochul announces that the course will host two PGA championships in next eight years

By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com

After years of preparation, the Ryder Cup is about to begin at Bethpage Black. And Long Island golf fans can anticipate even more championship golf coming to one of the country’s most popular public courses.

While visiting the Farmingdale course on Sept. 17, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that Bethpage Black will also host the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2028, and the PGA Championship in 2033.

“I don’t look at it just as an economic boost,” Hochul said. “I look at it as a point of pride.”

Hochul, who added that the PGA Championship will be played at Oak Hill Country Club, in Rochester, in 2035, said that she “could not be prouder,” that the state is a home to golf “and always will be.”

Bethpage Black hosted its first PGA Championship in 2019, when Brooks Koepka won his second PGA title. The last time the women’s championship was played in the state was at the Westchester Country Club in Harrison, in 2015; this is the first time it will be played at Bethpage Black.

“Bringing the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to Bethpage Black is a significant milestone,” PGA of America President Don Rea said, adding that it reflects the PGA’s “commitment to staging this event at premier courses in major markets.”

PGA of America, based in Frisco, Texas, hosts the Ryder Cup and other major golf tournaments in the United States. This year’s biennial tournament, a matchup of the top golfers in the U.S. and Europe, is set for this weekend, beginning Friday.

A week before the first competitors teed off, Ryder

S.T.O.P

Cup Shops hosted a grand opening for the public, last Friday through Monday. Team U.S. fans can choose from over 1,500 items from more than 50 vendors at the 61,800-square-foot temporary pavilion, near Bethpage Black’s main spectator entrance. Tournament tickets are not required, and this week the shops will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Ryder Cup Shops has 70 registers and a large queuing area for customers, so fans can pick up merchan-

Stop Throwing Out Pollutants

The Town of Babylon is holding a Stop Throwing Out Pollutants (S.T.O.P.) collection day along with the Cleanup Day. This program allows residents to bring household hazardous wastes to the Town of Babylon Residential Recycling Center for safe disposal. Participation in this program is vital to insure safe drinking water and a healthier environment for the future. All materials must be bagged or boxed and labeled so STOP workers can remove them from your vehicle while you remain inside.

Unacceptable Materials under the STOP program or at the Residential Recycling Center that must be disposed of legally and safely are Ammunition, Asbestos, Explosives and Radioactive Materials. S.T.O.P. Collection Day

Saturday, October 11, 2025 Town of Babylon Residential Recycling Center 57 Field Street West Babylon, N.Y. 11704

The following are examples of household hazardous wastes accepted by the Town:

• Acids • Aerosols • Antifreeze • Automotive fluids/ care products • Chlorine • Cleaning products

• Driveway sealer • Fluorescent bulbs • Freon canisters • Full propane cylinders. • Gasoline

• Granular fertilizer containing insecticide • Herbicides.

• Mercury containing products

• Oil paints and stains

• Pesticides/insecticides • Pool Chemicals. Solvents • Thinners and reducers. The following items will not be accepted under the STOP program but may be brought to the Residential Recycling Center Monday through Friday between 8:00 am. and 3:00 p.m.: • Alkaline and rechargeable batteries

• Construction and demolition debris from residents • Kerosene • Latex paint • Nonhazardous recyclable materials. • Tires.

For further information or questions regarding acceptable or unacceptable household waste materials, please call the Town of Babylon Residential Recycling Center at (631) 249-9347. For information on proper disposal of the unacceptable items, please contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at (631) 444-0375.

** Automobile batteries, empty propane tanks, and used motor oil may be brought to the Town of Babylon Recycling Center during normal business hours.

Rich Schaffer Supervisor Antonio Martinez Deputy Supervisor/Councilman DuWayne Gregory Councilman

Anthony Manetta Councilman

Terence McSweeney Councilman

Babylon Town Hall

Highway

N.Y. 11757 (631) 957-3072

dise and get back to the competition quickly. There are 10 full-time staffers, 20 interns and 1,200 volunteers, according to Michael Quirk, the chief commercial officer of merchandising for Legends Global, the company overseeing tournament merchandise.

“We’ve been told the expected number (of fans) for the Ryder Cup is north of 50,000” per day, Quirk said. “When we talk about a structure this big, there’s a reason for it. This is a machine that is really built to make sure that the best premium retail experience is actually possible this week.”

Luke Feeney/Herald

At Bethpage Black on Sept. 17, Gov. Kathy Hochul — above with Derek Sprague, CEO of PGA of America — announced that the course will also host the 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the 2033 PGA Championship.

With new Time-of-Day Rates, 3 PM to 7 PM is now “me time.” By doing chores that use a lot of electricity before or after those hours on weekdays, you take advantage of the times when energy costs less to produce. So, think laundry at 12 PM. Read a book or catch up on emails at 4 PM. Dishes at 8 PM. It’s all about timing your savings and saving your time. Some of the appliances that use the most energy are shown below. For

Learn more. Scan the QR code or go to psegliny.com/timeofday.

mountsinai.org/southnassau

Whiskers: The Swiss Army Knife of Cat Senses

Whiskers do far more than add to a cat’s cuteness.

These tactile hairs help cats understand and navigate the world around them. Sensitive to even the subtlest air currents and vibrations, whiskers act as built-in measuring tools, letting cats know whether they can squeeze through tight spaces.

Pets, Pets, Pets...

Whiskers are more complex than they look. Besides the familiar set beneath the nose, cats also have whiskers above their eyes, on their ears, along the jawline, and even behind their front legs. Those over the eyes act like human eyebrows, shielding the eyes from debris. And although cats can’t see well in total darkness, whiskers help them move confidently in low light — detecting nearby objects with remarkable accuracy.

JOANNE ANDERSON

Think of it as a cat having “fingers” extending from its face and body.

NATURE’S BUILT-IN RADAR

Whiskers also serve as danger detectors. By sensing shifts in air currents, cats can anticipate the movement of predators or prey. The muzzle whiskers — generally as wide as the cat’s body — help gauge whether a cat can fit through a space. The small whiskers on the back of the forelegs assist with climbing, jumping, and landing with feline finesse.

Cats may be night-vision champions, but even they struggle in pitch black. In such cases, whiskers become their primary navigation tool. Blind cats, too, can rely on their whiskers to help them understand where

they are and move with confidence.

A CLOSER LOOK AT WHISKERS

Whiskers are more like skin than fur. Called vibrissae (from the Latin word for “to vibrate”), each one is two to three times thicker than regular hair and is embedded deeper into the cat’s body. At the root lies a nerve-rich follicle that sends sensory information straight to the brain.

There’s even a special organ at the tip of each whisker that picks up vibrations. It’s no exaggeration to say that whiskers function like feline radar.

NEVER TRIM A CAT’S WHISKERS

Cutting, bending or pulling whiskers can be painful and disorienting for cats. It can even throw off their balance. Whiskers must be left their full length to function properly. While cats do shed and regrow whiskers naturally, trimming them should never be an option.

Most cats have about 12 whiskers on each side of the face — and they rely on every single one.

WHISKERS AS EMOTIONAL BAROMETERS

A cat’s whiskers also signal its mood. When a cat is calm, the whiskers rest loosely on either side of the face. A frightened or defensive cat will pull them back tightly, flattening them against the cheeks. When hunting or on high alert, the whiskers point forward, ready to track prey.

For a complete picture of your cat’s emotional state, look at other body cues — ears, tail, posture, and vocalizations — alongside

those expressive whiskers. YES, WHISKER FATIGUE IS REAL

It might sound funny, but whiskers can experience sensory overload — a condition known as whisker fatigue. This happens when whiskers are overstimulated, even from everyday things like brushing against the sides of a deep food bowl.

Over time, too much stimulation can make a cat feel stressed or agitated.

Signs of whisker fatigue include refusing to eat or drink from the usual bowl, pacing in front of food, meowing plaintively, pawing at the food or water, or even devouring treats from your hand but ignoring food in the dish.

In response, many pet supply companies now offer whisker-friendly dishes — wide and shallow bowls designed to avoid whisker contact. A simple ceramic plate or saucer at home can work just as well. However, if your cat’s eating issues persist, it’s time to see the vet.

One cat lover called whiskers the “Swiss Army knife of a cat’s sensory and communications toolkit.” That’s a purrfect description.

Close-up of a tuxedo cat’s muzzle whiskers. CATS FOR ADOPTION AT BABYLON ANIMAL SHELTER

The shelter is located at 80 New Highway, North Amityville. For more information, call 631-643-9270.

Meet Flower (#5-361), a 3-month-old female gray tabby. Or Cindy (#5-410), a smudgednose calico between 1 and 2 years old. Both are waiting for loving homes.

Babylon

Animal Shelter

Poster Cats for Adoption:

Community effort underway to save children’s lives

CONTINUED FROM COVER

They are fighting for everybody, not just our family.”

A registered nurse at Stony Brook Hospital, Kaitlin said going public with their story wasn’t easy — especially for two people who rarely ask for help.

“We’re stepping out of our comfort zone, but it’s for Madeline,” Gerard said.

All donations from Madeline’s Mission go directly to the Loving Loic Foundation, based in Bozeman, Montana. The nonprofit was founded by Sherine Blackford after her son, Loic, was diagnosed with PKAN in 2023. The foundation is leading efforts to develop gene therapy, which researchers believe could eventually correct the genetic defect in the brain.

“We’re hopeful,” Gerard said. “That’s the biggest asset we have right now.”

The Nortons are also advocating for access to an experimental medical food designed to slow the onset of symptoms. The product is currently awaiting FDA approval. With Madeline still symptom-free, timing is critical.

“If we can get that medication approved, we can give it to her before she starts to regress,” Gerard said.

Both Kaitlin and Gerard grew up in Massapequa and said they couldn’t imagine raising Madeline anywhere else. The support from their community,

family and neighbors has been overwhelming — from kind words to donations to simple acts of care.

“People we don’t even know have brought us bagels and meals,” Kaitlin said. “They don’t have to do anything, but they do — out of the goodness of their hearts.”

Madeline recently began early intervention physical therapy. One day, her therapists demonstrated how to crawl. The next, she was “all over the place,” Kaitlin said with a smile.

“We are blessed to be in the situation we’re in — as hard as it is,” Gerard said. “This could be a lot worse. We’re lucky to have each other and this community. Everybody here is like family.”

For now, the Nortons are focusing on the present and cherishing every moment.

“We’re just taking it one day at a time,” Gerard said. “You don’t know what the future holds. But right now, she’s here, she’s happy, and she’s crawling around. That’s what we hold on to.”

To support Madeline’s Mission, visit GoFundMe. com/f/madelines-mission-help-fight-rare-childhood-disease-pkan. Follow @madelines.mission on Instagram and TikTok or search “Madeline’s Mission” on Facebook.

To learn more about PKAN and the Loving Loic Foundation, visit lovingloic.org.

SHOW US YOUR GAME DAY!

How do YOU watch Sunday football?

Whether you're decked out in team colors, surrounded by game day snacks, or have the ultimate fan cave setup –We want to see it all!

Upload photos of your Sunday football experience: your lucky jersey, famous wings, decorated living room, tailgate spread, or whatever makes your game day special.

The best photos will be featured in the Herald – and the WINNER will be chosen at random to win 2 tickets to an Islanders game!

Contest runs through midnight October 12, 2025

Scan Here to submit

Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald Kaitlin and Gerard Norton with Madeline.

Madeline Norton

Music brings Amityville together

CONTINUED FROM COVER celebration. Residents strolling through the neighborhood could hear everything from rock and classical to folk and jazz drifting out of driveways or backyards.

Jack Nehring, 13, a guitarist and vocalist with “Split Band,” has been playing the guitar and singing since he was 10. “I like music because it makes me feel better if something is bothering me,” he said. “It cheers me up. Nehring hopes to study music in college.

Another local musician with “Split Band,” is Harper DeBruin who said she met the other members of the ban in school and have been practicing together all summer. “This was the first time in public,” she said, adding that she was nervous at first but quickly felt comfortable after the first song.”

She is on the high school JV soccer team, splitting her time between music and athletics.

The event began in 2013 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has since spread across the globe. Many participants share their performances on social media, amplifying the spirit of connection beyond local blocks.

But for O’Neill and others, it’s the in-person moments that make the day meaningful. “There’s just something special,” he said. “You stop what you’re doing, you listen, and you remember what it feels like to be part of a community.”

Above: Jack Nehring, 13, 8th grade, vocal and guitar for the band ‘Split Signal’ during Amityville’s Music on the Porch Day.

Harper

and drums

Amityville community gathered at to enjoy performances for Play Music on the Porch Day.

Above: Amityville community gathered to watch Csaba Gyenis performing on the roof for Play Music on the Porch Day at home of the Hurme Family, 112 Ocean Avenue.

Above:

DeBruin (12/7th Grade) guitarist

from Amityville for the band ‘Split Signal’ performing for Play Music on the Porch Day.

STEPPING OUT

Totally 80s Tribute To The Legends

American Chamber Ensemble at 60

A legacy of harmony

By Abbey Salvemini

The American Chamber Ensemble (ACE), Hofstra University’s esteemed ensemble-in-residence, reaches a musical milestone: its 60th anniversary. To commemorate six decades of musical excellence, ACE invites everyone to special anniversary concert.

The celebratory performance, upcoming on Oct. 12, at Hofstra’s Helene Fortunoff Theater, is sure to be vibrant musical occasion that exemplifies what the ensemble does so well.

ACE was founded in 1965 by two visionary young Long Island mothers — pianist Blanche Abram and clarinetist Naomi Drucker, a proud member of Hofstra University’s Class of 1957. Driven by a shared passion for music and a desire to continue performing while raising their families, then young mothers Abram and Drucker began presenting intimate concerts in local libraries and churches.

“Touring wasn’t an option for them,” explains current ACE director pianist Marilyn Lehman ’75, who is also on Hofstra’s music faculty. “ACE was the compromise that allowed them to share their artistry with audiences here on Long Island.”

What began as a grassroots effort quickly blossomed into something much greater. Over the decades, ACE evolved into a nationally acclaimed ensemble, with performances gracing prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and the National Gallery of Art. Despite this widespread recognition, both founders remained deeply rooted in their community. Abram and Drucker often expressed that the ensemble’s growth and longevity were made possible by the unwavering support of their local audiences — a loyal and appreciative community they credited as the heart of ACE’s enduring success.

“American Chamber Ensemble has been bringing diverse programs to Hofstra University, combining strings, winds, piano and voice for decades,” Tammy Hensrud, coordinator of vocal studies and adjunct professor of voice at Hofstra, shares. Hensrud has been with ACE since its founding and will also be performing that day.

Throughout the decades, the ensemble has delivered exceptional chamber music, while nurturing Hofstra talent and promoting local composers.

“It feels fantastic that we can carry on with our work,” Lehman says. Lehman and Mindy Dragovich — ACE’s clarinetist and assistant director — both studied under Drucker and Abram, who were also their instructors during their time at Hofstra. Both women, who are also mothers, continue to carry on the legacy of their mentors, who balanced motherhood with their musical careers and inspired a new generation to do the same.

The audience can look forward to a diverse repertoire and perfomances at this concert — featuring dancers, a chorus and current students. ACE offers up a dynamic program, including Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Make Our Garden Grow,’ as well as works by Beethoven, André Messager, Steven Gerber and Schumann. A special highlight is an eight-hand piano piece from Faust, showcasing the ensemble’s collaborative spirit. The performance also includes dancer Jessica Levin, who has choreographed a work to accompany Gerber’s Cocktail Music for solo piano.

• Sunday, Oct. 12, 3 p.m.

• Helene Fortunoff Theater, Hofstra University’s Monroe Lecture Center, California Avenue, South Campus

• Admission is free; registration requested

• Visit events.hofstra.edu or call (516) 463-5669

Special guest artists include the Hofstra Chamber Choir directed by Dr. David Fryling; mezzo-soprano Hensrud, soprano Karen DiMartino ’07, baritone Andrew DiMartino, and violist Todd Lowe.

“I wanted to have a collaboration with the music department because they have supported us for all these years. So I brought back some of my students to perform,” Lehman adds.

Uniondale resident and Hofstra student violinist Jared Mercado earned the opportunity to play with the ensemble through a competitive audition. He joins Lehman on stage to perform a Beethoven sonata. It’s a fun and inspiring experience for everyone, especially for those students in the audience who see their classmates and music faculty perform together.

Neither ACE’s founders nor its current musicians have ever considered their Hofstra residency to be perfunctory.

“Having our home base at Hofstra means students aren’t just sitting in an audience at our concerts,” Lehman says. “They know us. They learn and perform with us, and we build meaningful relationships with them.”

She further emphasizes the value of having a dedicated cultural space within the community where local folks can experience classical chamber concerts.

“Our mission was to bring professional artists and traditional repertoire up close and in the neighborhood,” Lehman continues.

As the ensemble celebrates this milestone, its members also look ahead with renewed purpose. The group remains committed to its founding ideals: bringing world-class chamber music to the community, fostering the next generation of musicians and building meaningful connections through performance.

This 60th anniversary concert is not only a tribute to the past but also a joyful step into the future of an ensemble that continues to inspire, educate and unite through the power of music.

Prepare to crank up the volume and turn back the clock for a high-energy night of neon nostalgia at Totally 80s — a celebration of the decade that gave us big hair and bigger hits. Featuring powerhouse performances by Bon Journey NY, Rock of 80’s and All About Joel, this electrifying concert takes you through the greatest ‘80s hits, from arena rock to synth-pop and everything in between. Keeping the party going between sets, DJ Jeff Nec spins some tracks. In the spirit of honoring creative excellence, the evening also spotlights the recipient of the Ted Fass Music Scholarship, awarded to an incoming music student at Molloy University who exemplifies the legacy of Ted Fass — a pioneer and visionary in the entertainment industry, and cornerstone of the Rockville Centre community.

Saturday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $55. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444.

‘…We will rock you’ Get ready to sing along — Queenmania is back on Long Island. Almost Queen, the acclaimed tribute band, returns to the Paramount stage, bringing with them the soaring vocals, electrifying guitar riffs, and theatrical flair that defined one of rock’s most legendary groups. Not just another cover band, their performances are carefully crafted to honor the spirit of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon, and Roger Taylor while delivering a concert experience that feels fresh and alive. The lineup features Joseph Russo as the dynamic and charismatic Mercury, Steve Leonard as guitar virtuoso May, Randy Gregg as bassist Deacon, and John Cappadona as drummer Taylor. Together, they recreate Queen’s iconic sound with impeccable four-part harmonies, precise musical interludes, and the kind of stage energy that pulls audiences to their feet.

Saturday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m.

$108.75, $98.25, $76.25, $64.75, $54.25, $48.75. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Photos courtesy Marilyn Lehman

Mindy Dragovich, left, Erika Sato, Chris Finckel, Marilyn Lehman, and Deborah Wong carry forward the legacy started by its founders.

The American Chamber Ensemble with Blanche Abram, left, current ACE director Marilyn Lehman and Naomi Drucker.

Photo courtesy Hofstra University

Marilyn Lehman at the piano.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

SEPT

25

Wendy Klemperer: Wrought Taxonomies

Vanderbilt Museum welcomes everyone to enjoy the exhibition of outdoor sculpture at the historic summer estate of William Kissam Vanderbilt II. Klemperer’s sculptures. a haunting assemblage of animal forms that span imaginary, endangered, familiar, and exotic species, celebrate natural history and the nonhuman world through evocative interactions with the surrounding environment. Using materials salvaged from scrapyards, she composes ecological narratives that respond to the history and collections of Suffolk County’s first public park and museum. Her brilliant use of gestural lines captures the spectator’s attention and invites museum-goers to reflect on the relationship between an interest in animal life and the incessant push of human industry. Visitors are encouraged to picnic on the grounds.

• Where: 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport

• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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

SEPT

26

Amityville Fire Department

Open House

Amityville Fire Department welcomes all to their open house. With live firefighting and fire safety demonstrations, as well as hands-on activities for kids. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to tour the fire engines and ambulances, meet with local firefighters and EMTs and learn about volunteering and educational opportunities for both adults and children.

• Where: 55 W. Oak St., Amityville

• Time: 6 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 691-9081

Children’s movie and pizza

Kids in preschool to grade 5 are welcome to visit Copiague Memorial Public Library for a showing of “A Minecraft Movie.” Four misfits are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into a bizarre cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination in the 2025 fantasy adventure. To get back home they’ll have to master this world while embarking on a quest with an unexpected expert crafter. Starring Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Sebastian Hansen. Registration is required. Children must be accompanied by a chaperone 16 or older. A Copiague library card is required.

• Where: 50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague

Yes: ‘The Fragile 2025 Tour’

appointment at Amityville Public Library for your complimentary photo. Meeting slots are eight minutes in length. Registration is through Grow By Three and not the library. Contact the library if you need assistance registering.

• Where: 19 John St., Amityville

• Time: 12:30-3:30 p.m.

• Contact:growbythree.com/ tmsheadshots or (631) 264-0567

Amityville

OCT

1

Chamber of Commerce meets

Amityville Chamber of Commerce holds their monthly general meeting with guest speaker Laurelle Scarpelli. $25 fee.

Get ready to experience an unforgettable evening of Yes at its best, on the Paramount stage, featuring its existential prog masterworks and instrumental pyrotechnics. A pioneer of progressive rock, Yes has achieved worldwide success through a prolific and enduring music career spanning 45 years and 20 studio albums. With an ever growing fan base, Yes continues to electrify audiences with its daunting virtuosity, cosmic lyrics, complex musical textures and powerful lead vocals. The band — currently comprising Steve Howe on guitars and vocals, Geoff Downes on keyboards, Jon Davison on vocals and acoustic guitar, Billy Sherwood on bass guitar and vocals, and Jay Schellen on drums — performs their iconic 1971 album “Fragile” in its entirety as part of this tour. Fans can look forward to hearing classic tracks such as “Roundabout,” “Long Distance Runaround,” and “Heart of the Sunrise,” alongside other gems from their extensive and celebrated catalog.

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

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

“Fragile” holds a special place in Yes’s discography, as it not only propelled the band to headline status in the U.S. but also distinguished itself with its unique blend of musical artistry. According to Steve Howe, the collaboration with co-producer Eddie Offord during this period helped the band reach new creative heights. This tour romises to merge the auditory and visual aspects that have always distinguished Yes as a band. The concert features a video wall displaying AI-generated interpretations of Roger Dean’s iconic album artwork, designed back in 1971. Tickets are $152.25, $129.75, $118.75, $108.75, $86.50. OCT

• Time: 4:30-6:30 p.m.

• Contact: copiaguelibrary.org or call (631) 691-1111

Kickball for a Cause

Come down to Venetian Shores Park softball fields for a Battle of the Badges to raise awareness of Domestic Violence. The teams include LIADV, Nassau and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk Probation and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Tickets are $10 for adults. Children 12 and under are free, and all proceeds will go toward LI Against Domestic Violence.

• Where: 817 Granada Parkway, Lindenhurst

• Time: 6-9 p.m.

• Contact: shorturl.at/HG3SF

Doggie U K9 Academy

Howl-O-Ween Open House Event

Visit Doggie U K9 Academy for some monstrous fun. Bring your family, friends and tail-wagging pooch for lots of fun. Admission is free and the event will include a costume contest, photo ops

raffles, agility and rally tryouts, meet the trainers, AKC CGC/ CGCA and Trick Dog Testing and a doggy craft.

• Where: 1515 5th Industrial Court, Bay Shore

• Time: 5-8 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 968-7972

SEPT

27

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

Science of Spirituality Meeting

Join the Science of Spirituality for a meditation and spiritual gathering with video selections and readings, followed by a vegetarian meal weekly.

• Where: 79 County Line Road, Amityville

• Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Contact: Stephanie Goldreyer at (631) 822-7979 ext. 3, infotristate@sos.org

‘Eagles Nest’ and the Vanderbilts’ Treasures

Take an intriguing walking tour of the Vanderbilt Estate with knowledgeable museum educators. Learn about the history of the Eagle’s Nest estate; Warren & Wetmore’s design and exterior architectural details of the 24-room Spanish Revival mansion; also the striking ironwork of Samuel Yellin, considered the greatest iron artisan of the early 20th century, and visit the marine, natural history, and cultural artifact collections. $16, $15 seniors/students, $14 children 5-17.

• Where: 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport

• Time: Noon and 1:15 p.m., also Oct. 19

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

SEPT

Secure your new headshot

In our current digital age, having an upto-date, professional headshot can be transformational for your online presence. While obtaining quality headshots can be costly, The Magnetic Section at Grow by Three, a consulting firm focused on cultivating professional and organizational growth, has you covered. Register to reserve an

• Where: Raimos Brick Oven Pizza and Trattoria, 45 Merrick Road, Amityville

• Time: Noon-1:30 p.m.

• Contact: amityvillechamberof commerce.org or (631) 6083260

OCT

2

Amityville Rotary Club meets

Are you interested in joining the Amityville Rotary Club? Come to their weekly meeting at Brownstones Coffee.

• Where: 55 Merrick Road, Amityville

• Time: 8 a.m.

• Contact: President Carolyn Dodd at (631) 374-8712.

OCT

3

Amityville Memorial High School Sports Hall of Fame Dinner

Amityville Memorial High School hosts their Sports Hall of Fame Dinner in the Fred Williams Gymnasium. $35 in advance, $45 at door.

• Where: 250 Merrick Road, Amityville

• Time: 6 p.m., meet and greet; 7 p.m. ceremony/dinner

• Contact: Angelique L. Shannon at (516) 982-9825 or Jerry Pollack at (516) 273-4898

Having an event?

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

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

Mortgage Assets Management, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST Suffolk County Public Administrator, as Limited Administrator of the Estate of Josephine Parrino; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 21, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, NY 11757 on October 6, 2025, at 9:00AM, premises known as 240 Pioxi Street, Copiague, NY 11726. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Copiague, in the Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk, State of New York, District 0100 Section 177.00 Block 02.00 Lot 072.000. Approximate amount of judgment $416,323.77 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 607884/2015.

Jeffrey A. Spinner, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 25-374. 9/3, 10, 17, 24

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

OCWEN LOAN

SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff, Against YINKA

DANIEL, TOWN SUPERVISOR

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 07/19/2022, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, at Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, NY 11757, on 10/8/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 31 Croydon Road, Amityville, New York 11701, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Amityville, in the Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk and State of New York.

District 0100 Section 175.00 Block 01.00 Lot 008.000

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $453,494.35 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 620212/2017

James A. Pascarella, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 8/5/2025 File Number: 17-301761 CA 25-375. 9/3, 10, 17, 24

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK NEW REZ LLC

Public Notices — Your right to know

F/K/A NEW PENN FINANCIAL LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT

MORTGAGE

SERVICING, -againstBEVERLY V. DOWD, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk on March 10, 2023, NEW REZ LLC F/K/A NEW PENN FINANCIAL LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT

MORTGAGE SERVICING is the Plaintiff and BEVERLY V. DOWD, ET AL., are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the BABYLON TOWN HALL, 200 EAST SUNRISE HIGHWAY, NORTH LINDENHURST, NY 11757, on October 9, 2025 at 9:30AM, the premises known as 81 PURDY LANE, AMITYVILLE, NY 11701; tax map identification 0101-012.0005.00-030.001; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE VILLAGE OF AMITYVILLE, TOWN OF BABYLON, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, STATE OF NEW YORK . . Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 606513/2016. Arthur E. Shulman, Esq., as

Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing.

*LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/ CLERK DIRECTIVES.

25-379. 9/10, 17, 24, 10/1

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE TOWN OF BABYLON ACCESSORY APARTMENT REVIEW BOARD Pursuant to provisions of Local Law # 9 of the Babylon Town Code, notice is hereby given that the Town of Babylon Accessory Apartment Review Board will hold a public hearing in the Town Board Meeting Room in the East Wing of Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New York on Tuesday eve, September 30, 2025. Public hearings begin 6:00pm. NEW

APPLICATIONS:

•Olha Fostakovska & Serhiy Yelistratov 918 6th Street West Babylon, NY 11704

SCTM#0100-1324-25

•Nicholas Colasacco & Liana D’Amico 147 Waldo Street Copiague, NY 11726

SCTM#0100-1793-78

•Waqar Sarwar 383 Grand Blvd

Deer Park, NY 11729

SCTM#0100-62-272

•Ramanpreet Kaur and Singh Ranbir 1010 7th Street West Babylon, NY 11704

SCTM#0100-1322-123

•Saban Tetik 456 Lido Pkwy Lindenhurst, NY 11757

SCTM#0100-2275-57

•Ermine Koc 228 3rd Street Lindenhurst, NY 11757

SCTM#0100-129-5117

•Ahmet G. Durmaz 11 Spindle Court Deer Park, NY 11729

SCTM#010091-2-22

Printing

Instructions: RENEWALS BY AFFIDAVIT APPLICANTS, ARE NOT REQUIRED TO APPEAR. ALL NEW CASES WILL BE HEARD IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE ADVERTISED. All interested persons should appear at the above time and place by order of Sandra Thomas, Chairperson, Accessory Apartment Review Board, Town of Babylon, North Lindenhurst, Suffolk County, New York.

Amityville Record: Wednesday, September 24th, 2025 25-385. 9/24

Get into the spooky spirit

this Halloween

Come October 31, there is extra mischief in the air, and who knows what might be lurking around those dim corners? Halloween is a time when the line between having fun and being scared is easily blurred.

While trick-or-treating and attending parties are ways to enjoy the final day of October, there are plenty of other ways to make Halloween more fun.

• Read some scary stories. There’s something to be said about reading scary stories or poems on Halloween. Readers’ imaginations take over on Halloween as they envision scary characters and scenarios. Edgar Allen Poe, author of many notably macabre works, is a popular read come Halloween.

• Go pumpkin picking. Most people already make pumpkin picking an annual treat. Don’t overlook mishappen pumpkins that can be carved into spooky jack-o’-lanterns. Also, enhance Halloween decor with pitted and warty gourds that lend that scary appeal.

• Create a haunted house. Instead of going elsewhere to get chills and thrills, transform your house or yard into a spooktacular vision and invite neighbors to explore.

• Make creepy crafts. Children can get a kick out of crafting Halloween decorations. Drape a piece of muslin over a beverage bottle and spray it with laundry starch. Let sit and the muslin will stiffen when it dries. Paint on black circles for eyes and hang your “ghost” from a string.

• Whip up Halloween treats. Candied apples, extra-rich brownies and mini hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls to look like mummies are just some of the ways to create a scary Halloween feast.

• Have a costume theme. Everyone in the household can get in on the fun by planning costumes to fit a theme. For example, everyone can dress like the Addams family.

• Host a Halloween book club. Those who love to read can ensure the October gathering of a book club is one that features a discussion of a scary book. Those looking for a scare can explore horror authors like Stephen King, Anne Rice, Dean Koontz, Clive Barker, Shirley Jackson, and Tananarive Due.

• Host an outdoor movie. Projectors can now be hooked up to smartphones and tablets, so it’s easier than ever to watch movies outside. Simply project a device onto a screen, white fence or even a bedsheet. Since it gets dark somewhat early in October, the movie doesn’t have to start very late. Depending on the audience, choose a movie that is very scary or only mildly so if children will be viewing.

• Organize a Halloween treat exchange. Similar to a Christmas “Secret Santa,” participants put together a wrapped gift of homemade or store-bought foods and exchange with others.

Halloween can be made even more entertaining with some extra activities that appeal to people of all ages.

LAMI2

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 on 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, OCTOBER 9, 2025

BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M.

6:00 p.m.

1. Application #25169 of Tatiana M. Viloria & Mark A. Ricketts, 1565 Herzel Boulevard, West Babylon, NY. Permission to increase total building area from 30% to 46.6% (over by 1,666.5 sq. ft.). All in connection with the installation of a pool with a spa and patio. Property located on the south side of Herzel Boulevard, 800’ east of Fifteenth Avenue, West Babylon, NY.

SCTM#0100-1381-32.002

Zoning District: Residence B

6:05 p.m.

2. Application #25164 of Viviane Valdes, 355 New Highway, Amityville, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 14.4’; allow 2’ roof overhang encroachment. All in connection with the erection of a secondstory addition and front porch. Property located on the east side of New Highway, 165.43’ south of Watkins Terrace, Amityville, NY.

SCTM#0100-1243-25

Zoning District: Residence B 6:10 p.m.

3. Application #25171 of Ceyhun Dagde-

Public Notices

viren & Lauren Russo, 136 Bond Street, West Babylon, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 24.1’; increase total building area from 20% to 26% (over by 666 sq. ft.). All in connection with a proposed secondstory addition and front covered porch. Property located on the west side of Bond Street, 600’ north of Barnum Street, West Babylon, NY.

SCTM#0100-1072-40

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

4. Application #25167 of Raymond & Samantha Berke, 19 Alexander Avenue, East Farmingdale, NY. Permission to diminish total side yards from 25’ to 21.7’. All in connection with a proposed second floor addition and to legally maintain a finished basement and install a new side yard egress window. Property located on the north side of Alexander Avenue, 397.51’ east of Melville Road, East Farmingdale, NY.

SCTM#0100-31-19

Zoning District: Residence C 6:20 p.m.

5. Application #25166 of Nayrobi J. Justiniani & Samuel Burke, 1201 Herzel Boulevard, West Babylon, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 21’ – 10’’ on Herzel Boulevard (for front porch); diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 29’ – 10’’ on 12th Avenue. All in connection with a proposed secondstory addition and covered front porch. Property located on the southwest corner of Herzel Boulevard and 12th Avenue, West Babylon, NY.

SCTM#0100-1351-75

Zoning District: Residence B 6:25 p.m.

6. Application #25168 of Annettie McCullough, 7 Banbury

Court, Amityville, NY. Permission to diminish east side yard setback from 10’ to 3.1’; diminish total side yards from 25’ to 24.1’; increase total building area from 30% to 32.11% (over by 168.42 sq. ft.); diminish distance to rear lot line from 2’ to 0’ (for shed); diminish distance to rear lot line from 2’ to 0’ (for patio); diminish distance to east lot line from 2’ to 0’ (for patio). All in connection with a proposed two-story addition and to legally maintain a shed and patio. Property located on the north side of Banbury Court, 175’ west of Albany Avenue, Amityville, NY.

SCTM#0100-1673-28

Zoning District: Residence C 6:30 p.m.

7. Application #25165 of Wan Tong Real Estate LLC, 15 Davison Lane West, West Islip, NY. Permission to diminish off-street parking from forty-eight (48) stalls required to nine (9) stalls provided. All in connection with interior alterations to an existing building. Property located on the northwest corner of Route 109 (Farmingdale Road) and 4th Avenue, West Babylon, NY.

SCTM#0100-1291-83.003

Zoning District: Business E

Subject Premises: 749 Farmingdale Road (Route 109), West Babylon, NY

6:35 p.m.

8. Application #25170 of Just Salads; Uncle Giuseppe’s (catering) and Link Physical Therapy (tenants)/ GRI Sunset Plaza, LLC (prop. owner), 7200 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD. Permission to diminish off-street parking from one thousand four hundred and seventy-nine (1,479) stalls required to one thousand one hundred and

seven (1,107) stalls provided. All in connection with a portion of an existing building. Property located on the southwest corner of Deer Park Avenue (Route 231) & Woods Road, North Babylon, NY.

SCTM#0100-1142-77.003

Zoning District: Business Ea

Subject Premises: 1112-1239 Deer Park Avenue (Route 231), North 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

September 15, 2025 25-386. 9/24

Notice of Formation of SHOREBOUND USA LLC

Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on August 4, 2025. Office located in Suffolk County, NY.

SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to: Mike Mulcahy, 455 Sunrise Hwy, Ste 1, West Islip, NY 11795.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 25-387. 9/24, 10/1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Travel to these destinations for a good scare this Halloween

Those who want to make the most of Halloween can include travel plans in their schedules. North America boasts plenty of locations that have scary-sounding monikers, are supposedly haunted, or have attractions that will appeal to those looking for a few extra chills and thrills.

SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS

Salem is a prime spot to spend Halloween because of the events that took place there in 1692-93 surrounding the Salem Witch Trials. Mass hysteria among the area’s Puritans resulted in accusations, convictions and executions of people purported to be witches. Given witches’ relationship to Halloween, Salem is popular among tourists year-round, and especially so in October.

SCREAMS HALLOWEEN THEME PARK

Visitors to Dallas, Texas may be expecting to see cows, horses or even oil rigs, but they also can visit a theme park devoted to Halloween fright. Screams Halloween Theme Park visitors can see five haunted attractions and additional entertainment.

TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA

This is the quintessential Wild West town made famous by Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. Resident ghosts are said to haunt the theater, and there are haunted hotels where visitors can stay. Some walking ghost tours can make a visit even more frightful.

HELL’S GATE, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Hell’s Gate is located on the Fraser River at a point where it narrows and becomes whitewater rapids. Visitors can take an Airtram down into the canyon to see Hell’s Gate up close or traverse a suspension bridge.

GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY, BROOKLYN, NY

Many historic cemeteries offer tours around Halloween and at other times of the year. Green-wood in the borough of Brooklyn is one of them. Walk the winding paths on your own, or sign up for a private tour. While you’re in the area, take the Verrazano Narrows Bridge into Staten Island to visit the spooky-sounding Great Kills area. “Kill” comes from the old Dutch term meaning “creek.” Staten Island also has Arthur Kill and Kill Van Kull, which sound equally ominous.

SLEEPY HOLLOW, NEW YORK

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is a classic story by Washington Irving featuring the fabled Headless Horseman. The real Sleepy Hollow is a small town along the Hudson River. During Halloween season, visitors can tour Gothic mansions and enjoy haunted hayrides, blazing pumpkins and more. Make sure you cross the Headless Horseman Bridge with plenty of time to spare to make it out of town before sunset.

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

Tourists in Savannah will find the city is billed as “America’s most haunted city.” There are a wide range of architecture styles and plenty of spots that would be right at home in horror flicks. Tours let visitors explore the city’s haunted happenings. Halloween is a time to enjoy the cool weather by traveling to locations with scary names and scenery.

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A better-heated kitchen, please

Q. Our kitchen is being redone, and we’re expanding into our breakfast area. We’re trying to figure out which kind of heat to put in, since our radiators will have to go to make way for the cabinets. Parts of the kitchen were always cold, and we don’t want to repeat that if we can find a better way. Our contractor said he can put in “toe space” heaters that blow warm air. Our plumber said we could do that, but they can be noisy after the break-in period. He also suggested installing either electric heat mats or water piping in-floor heating, but it could cost a lot. What’s your experience, and what do you recommend we do?

A. Keeping kitchens warm is more complicated than other spaces in your home. Of course, you could always just go stand in the corner, because most corners are 90 degrees! The most important factor in heating a kitchen is making certain kitchen walls and ceilings are well insulated, so that whatever system you choose will be the most effective for staying warm.

Old radiators were oversized as a rule of thumb, because, relatively speaking, energy sources were lower costing. Between larger radiators and smaller rooms, older home occupants were satisfied to walk around in sweaters to compensate. Today we want open spaces, removing the walls in the way to achieve a more spacious look.

Many people fear the cost and effort of a radiant floor, but radiating floors are my first choice, and the best solution. Yes, the initial investment is more, but not so much more that it’s cost-prohibitive. When you consider the time period to pay back the system, based on energy savings, it makes sense.

The other solutions are still concentrated places around the kitchen, and radiant heat is uniform to the room. Toe-kick heaters have a horizontal “squirrel cage” fan that rotates like a gerbil’s wheel, and eventually needs lubricating or replacement, unless you don’t mind the whirring sound.

Radiant heat, whether you choose a piping system or the electric matt type, distributes heat silently, and so comfortably that you can walk barefoot on the floor. People have even told me they lie on the floor and warm their sore back like a heating pad. The best part is that it’s the second most efficient type of heat distribution, after radiators (because they warm up the floor structure — even wood flooring — and retain and give off heat slowly after the boiler pauses). Together with a great insulation enclosure in the floor, below the heat, walls and ceiling, the radiant system works best.

Incidentally, the energy codes are moving to a higher performance standard as of January 2026, officials have informed me. There will be stricter adherence to proof, with calculations, of heating and cooling efficiency. Gone are the days of oversizing heating and air-conditioning or, for that matter, paying for more than you need and wasting energy. Good luck!

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A journalist becomes a character in a nuclear-age play

Live long enough, and interesting things happen. I received the script last year of a play in which I’m a character. The play is called “Atomic Bill and the Payment Due.”

It is soon to have its premiere staged reading as a featured presentation in the 50th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Peace Resource Center at Wilmington College, in Ohio. It is by playwright and podcaster Libbe HaLevy, who spent 13 years writing it. She is already fielding requests for other presentations in the U.S. and overseas.

HaLevy has a long background in theater and as a playwright, with more than 50 productions of her plays and musicals, and a number of awards.

How did I get involved as a character in a play?

The play is described in its program notes as “a true story about media manipulation at the dawn of the Atomic Age and the New York Times reporter who sold his soul to get the story.” The

ireporter was William Laurence, a Pulitzer Prize-winning science reporter at The Times.

In 1945, General Leslie Groves, director of the Manhattan Project, arranged with Times Publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger and Edwin James, its managing editor, to have Laurence secretly embedded in the Manhattan Project. He was the only journalist inside the crash program to build the first atomic bomb.

She was staying in a house one mile away from the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania when it reported a meltdown in 1979. She authored a book on her experience. For the past 14 years she has hosted the widely aired podcast “Nuclear Hotseat.”

My character weaves through Libbe HaLevy’s ‘Atomic Bill and the Payment Due.’

In his four months with it, Laurence witnessed the Trinity test of a nuclear device in New Mexico, and even wrote the press release for the Manhattan Project claiming that only an ammunition dump had exploded, and no one had been hurt. He had arranged a seat on the Enola Gay for its dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, but missed getting on the plane — a big disappointment. But he did fly on a plane that followed the B-29 that dropped the second bomb on Nagasaki. When the war ended, Laurence wrote articles in The Times glorifying the Manhattan Project and promoting nuclear energy — ignoring the deadly impacts of radioactivity.

HaLevy has links not only with theater, but also with nuclear technology.

It was while working on a 2012 episode, focusing on the Trinity test and journalistic anomalies at it, that HaLevy called me for more information. I referred her to Beverly Ann Deepe Keever, who wrote the book “News Zero: The New York Times and the Bomb.” Keever, a longtime journalist, was a journalism professor at the University of Hawaii when she wrote “News Zero.”

In the book, she details how, in his stories for The Times, Laurence “served as a scribe writing government propaganda” to cover up the harmful effects of atomic bombs, radiation and radioactivity.

HaLevy did extensive research on Laurence. In “Atomic Bill” Laurence interacts with Australian journalist Wilfred Burchett, the first reporter to enter Hiroshima after the bombing, who traveled unescorted through the destruction “where Hiroshima used to be” and wrote an article headed “The Atomic Plague.” He exposed the lethal effects of radiation

otherwise being denied by military authorities. It was published in the London Daily Express and elsewhere.

Articles by Laurence appeared in the month after the bombing on the front page of The Times, “Atomic Bill” relates, “for two full weeks in September 1945, ten articles, 20,000 words” and “use(d) the word ‘radiation’ only four times, not once mentioning its dangers.”

There are interactions between Laurence and Burchett and Edward Teller, the “father of the hydrogen bomb,” and J. Robert Oppenheimer. My character weaves through the play.

Tanya Maus, director of the Wilmington Peace Resource Center, says the play reveals the way in which individuals get caught up in the powerful forces of governments seeking to produce false narratives to gain public support for nuclear weapons use and development, and leads the audience “to reflect upon its own assumptions about nuclear weapons and nuclear power and their continued destructive impact today on human lives in the United States and throughout the world.”

Carl Grossman has been an investigative reporter in a variety of media for more than 50 years. He is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury whose courses include investigative reporting and environmental journalism.

Is our democracy suffering growing pains?

n recent months, and perhaps for the first time in our adult lives, many of us have been worrying about the viability and survivability of the great American experiment known as democracy. It has been the only government we have known, and we assumed, perhaps naively, that freedom would ring forever across our land.

I did. I remember my young self, hand across my heart at an elementary school assembly, looking at the flag and reciting the pledge. It was such serious business. My devotion was uncomplicated. I grew up knowing I was lucky to have been born in my time and place.

My dad schooled us early and often on the opportunity America offered his immigrant parents, who fled pogroms and antisemitism in Eastern Europe. I never traveled overseas without coming back through customs and immigration thinking, “God bless America.” I never visited another country that beckoned me for more than a week or two. I

think of myself as a patriot.

When I was a college student and we philosophized about democracy, there seemed only a few and very sensible boundaries. Like don’t yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater. Otherwise, free speech felt like a particularly American right. As kids we chanted, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names can never harm me.”

W

e thought of ourselves as a fairly egalitarian society in the pre-MAGA era.

Now, increasing restrictions on speech are disorienting. Our democracy feels destabilized. How do we speak up and support the least powerful and most in need of American justice without fear of reprisals? How have words — just words, compilations of simple letters — become “triggers” or a forbidden form of expression? Why take a word like d-i-v-e-r-s-i-t-y and scrub it from policy language as if it were an epithet? It means, “The practice of including people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds” — a quintessentially American concept we historically have embraced. These days, I don’t recognize us.

America on its best day is far from perfect. As an educated adult, I know this. Any country that sanctioned slavery and the internment of citizens car-

ries that brand forever. But we also preserved freedom in World Wars I and II, beat back dictators and welcomed millions of immigrants who helped build the greatest country in the world. We educated the best scientists and led the world in developing vaccines for the most dreaded diseases.

The good, the bad — all of it is true, and the fabric of our nation today is richly threaded with our triumphs. We are all the stronger because we have survived dark times, like the Civil War, and built a society that has been a beacon for freedom around the world.

Within the generous embrace of America’s democratic government there have always been imperfections. Some argue that hard work pays off; others say that not everyone has equal access to either higher education or good jobs. Corruption sometimes tilts the playing field.

I don’t know how to resist the current threats to democracy, except to write and talk about them, to vote and encourage others to vote, to support fair elections. I do know we have to pay attention. Continuing to educate ourselves and encouraging open political discussions among

others can only be a good thing.

We Americans thought of ourselves as a fairly egalitarian society in the preMAGA, pre-billionaire era. There was a real thriving middle class when I was growing up, attainable through higher education or apprenticeship and hard work. Nothing seemed out of reach. The deal was that people in business or professions or trades could buy homes for growing families.

Today that deal is broken. Homes are out of reach for many young couples. Food prices are eating up family budgets.

Now, only 250 years after the Declaration of Independence, we observe increasing class distinction in many elements of our culture.

Can we grow through this?

Can we agree that anyone who wants an education can still get it, and that people starting out can find affordable housing? All of it can be true and workable, but we can’t call ourselves a democracy when free speech and economic opportunity are threatened. A democracy embraces all its citizens, and in the best of worlds, welcomes newcomers. In my lifetime, our imperfect democracy had room for everyone and was moving, in starts and stops, toward inclusivity. Now it seems stalled.

Copyright 2025 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

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Next month, adopt a loving four-legged friend

october is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, a time to bring attention to the countless animals in need of loving homes. On Long Island we’re fortunate to have strong networks of shelters working to give dogs, cats and other animals a second chance at life. Yet despite their tireless efforts, too many pets remain behind kennel doors, waiting.

The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, Town of Oyster Bay Animal Shelter and Town of Babylon Animal Shelter are major lifelines for rescue pets. There are smaller but equally dedicated operations in Long Beach and on the North Shore.

Animal shelters — such as those in our towns — are typically run by municipalities, and house stray, abandoned or surrendered pets. They are often required to take in all animals brought to them. Shelters may have paid employees, but also rely on volunteer support. Animal rescues, on the other hand, are usually nonprofit and volunteer-run. Rescues can be more selective about the animals they accept. Together, shelters and rescues form a network of care that helps countless animals find safe, loving homes.

The message next month is clear: adopt, don’t shop. And even better, adopt from your local shelter.

When people turn to breeders — or worse, puppy mills — for their next pet, they overlook the many dogs already in need of homes. These are animals with plenty of love to give, that simply need someone to open their heart and their home. Shelter pets may not always be purebred, and some may come with personality quirks, but they often make the most loyal companions. Their gratitude is evident in every wagging tail and every snuggle.

Some people worry that adopting from a shelter is expensive. In fact, it’s often the opposite. The cost of adopting a dog can be less than $100, and cats are typically under $70. Many shelters also offer

letters

Find your local shelter

Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter

3320 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh Phone: (516) 785-5220

Website: HempsteadNY.gov/179/ Animal-Shelter

Town of Oyster Bay Animal Shelter

150 Miller Place, Syosset

Phone: (516) 677-5784

Website: OysterBayTown.com/ AnimalShelter

Town of Babylon Animal Shelter

80 New Highway, Amityville Phone: (631) 643-9270

Website: TownOfBabylonNY. gov/132/AnimalShelter

Long Beach Animal Shelter (Operated by Posh Pets Rescue)

770 Park Place, Long Beach Phone: (516) 431-7674

Website: PoshPetsRescueNY.org

special promotions for veterans, seniors and first responders, bringing those prices down even further. When you consider what’s often included — spaying or neutering, vaccinations and microchipping — adoption is not only the compassionate choice, but also the practical one. Of course, not everyone is in a position to adopt. That doesn’t mean you can’t help. Shelters and rescues rely heavily on community support. Volunteers are always needed to walk dogs, play with cats, or simply give animals

Support the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center

To the Editor:

In this critical moment for the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, we invite the community to join us in our Flash Membership Drive as we celebrate our 31st anniversary.

For more than three decades, the center has educated over half a million people about the lessons of the Holocaust and the importance of tolerance. Today, that mission is more urgent than ever. With rising antisemitism and hate crimes, your support is vital in helping us spread awareness, strengthen understanding and foster compassion.

the human interaction they crave. Fostering is another option, offering an animal a temporary home while the shelter supplements the costs of its care. Foster homes are especially critical for pets that don’t thrive in a kennel environment or who need extra attention before they’re ready for adoption. Fostering a pet doesn’t just save that one animal. It also opens up space for a shelter to take in another one in need.

Then there are the basic supplies that shelters are always in need of: food, blankets, toys. Monetary donations go a long way in offsetting these facilities’ medical bills for sick or injured animals. Even the smallest contribution can make a big difference.

Adopting a dog can change its life forever, and will likely improve yours. Studies cited by the American Heart Association have found that dog ownership is linked to a lower risk of death from all causes, offering benefits to both heart health and overall well-being.

While October focuses on shelter dogs, it’s worth remembering that they aren’t the only ones waiting. Cats — from kittens to seniors — make up a large portion of shelter populations. If you’re considering adding a furry friend to your family, keep an open mind about who that might be.

Next month is a call to action. For anyone thinking about a new pet, consider visiting a local shelter before contacting a breeder. For those who can’t adopt, find a shelter to volunteer with, foster for or donate to. Every effort helps lighten shelters’ load and brighten the future of the animals they care for.

“Saving one dog won’t change the world,” Karen Davison, an animal advocate, rescue supporter and author, likes to say, “but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.” Next month, let’s make that change happen — one adoption, one act of kindness and one wagging tail at a time.

Back-to-school eye exam can set your child up for success

protecting a child’s vision is a crucial part of their overall health and development. Just like regular checkups for their teeth and ears, early eye screenings are essential. Many common vision problems in kids can go completely unnoticed, because a child might not even realize that their vision is blurry or that something is wrong. Catching and treating these issues early is the key to preventing longterm problems that could affect their learning, behavior and social life.

The warning signs of vision problems that parents shouldn’t ignore include squinting at objects; holding books or devices too close; eye misalignment — one or both eyes turning inward or outward, particularly when tired; head tilting; avoidance of near tasks — a reluctance to read, draw or do homework; excessive tearing or light sensitivity, which may signal allergies or inflammation; and difficulty in school — struggling with reading, skipping lines or losing track while studying.

Even one of these signs can indicate that urgent treatment is necessary.

A closer look at nearsightedness in kids. Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is one of the most common eye conditions in children. It’s when a child can see things up close just fine, but things far away appear blurry.

safer than regular glasses. These should be considered essential equipment, just like helmets or mouth guards.

CIf your child’s vision is worsening quickly, there are treatments that can help slow it down. Low-dose atropine eye drops have been shown to be effective in slowing the progression of nearsightedness. And certain types of contact lenses are designed to help slow the worsening of a child’s vision. These treatments can make a big difference in a child’s eye health as they grow.

lear vision is about more than just seeing the board at school.

Contact lenses for kids. For active children, especially those involved in sports, contact lenses can be a game-changer. They eliminate the risk of broken glasses on the playground or field, and can give kids more confidence. That said, not every child is ready for the responsibility. Children must be mature enough to remove contacts before sleeping, and to clean and store them properly every day.

Eye safety in sports. Sports are one of the leading causes of eye injuries in children. To help reduce risks, experts recommend polycarbonate sports glasses, which are impact-resistant and far

Letters

Membership offers more than a year of free access to our permanent and special exhibits — it is a commitment to education and action. Every membership directly supports programs that reach over 30,000 Long Island students annually, as well as training for law enforcement, educators and nurses. These efforts empower our community leaders to make a positive difference in confronting prejudice and promoting inclusivity.

Members can also participate in group tours and classes that bring history to life and deepen the conversation about tolerance. Together we can be a beacon of hope, ensuring that the lessons of the past guide us toward a more compassionate future. Join us today and stand with the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County.

Dr. BErNIE FUrSHPAN Board vice chair, marketing director, HMTC Glen Cove

None of us deserves harm for our beliefs

To the Editor:

I write today outraged at the sense-

Protecting young eyes from the sun. Parents are well aware of the importance of sunscreen, but many forget that UV rays can damage children’s eyes, too. In fact, most lifetime UV exposure happens during childhood.

Wearing 100 percent UVprotection sunglasses when outdoors — especially near water, sand or snow, which reflect UV rays — can prevent damage that may later lead to cataracts or macular degeneration. Making sunglasses a daily habit helps ensure healthier eyes for life.

The dangers of eye rubbing. You may not realize it, but frequent eye rubbing can be a big problem. For kids with allergies, constant rubbing can actually damage the cornea, the clear front part of the eye.

This can lead to a condition called keratoconus, in which the cornea becomes so thin that it bulges forward into a cone shape. This causes blurry vision that can’t be fixed with regular glasses or contacts.

What can we do about it? The good news is that if keratoconus is caught early, there are treatments. A procedure

called corneal collagen cross-linking can help stop the condition from getting worse. Also, using allergy eye drops or oral medication can reduce the itchiness and the urge to rub, protecting the eyes from further damage.

A clear message for parents. Protecting a child’s vision is one of the greatest gifts parents can give. The bottom line is straightforward:

■ Screen early — ideally by age 3 to 5.

■ Watch for warning signs like squinting, head tilting or school difficulties.

■ Protect young eyes from injuries and UV damage.

■ Seek treatment early for conditions such as myopia or keratoconus.

An eye exam for your child is quick and painless, but it can make a difference that lasts a lifetime. Don’t wait for your child to complain about their vision — catching problems early is key. Add an eye exam to the list of things to do early in the school year. Clear vision is about more than just seeing the board at school; it’s about giving every child the best chance at success, safety and healthy eyes for life.

Dr. Carolyn Shih is an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and works at South Shore Eye Care, a member of the Northwell Health Eye Institute.

less murder of Charlie Kirk. When did we, as a nation, decide that political disagreement should be met with fists, bullets and blood instead of words? Debate used to be the cornerstone of democracy. Now too often it feels like dissent is treated as a death sentence.

In the late 1980s, I traveled to London, and stumbled on Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park. Anyone could climb onto a soapbox and speak their mind — on politics, faith or even hatred itself. Crowds heckled, argued and mocked, but they did not silence or assault the speaker. The unarmed Bobbies stood by only to keep the peace. It was a living model of what free expression should look like: passionate, messy, even uncomfortable — but never violent.

Charlie Kirk was a lightning rod, and at times I disagreed with his ideas — sometimes very strongly — but other times I agreed with him. That’s how democracy works: We weigh arguments, we challenge one another, we debate. But disagreement is not justification for violence. When I thought he was wrong, I wished for dialogue and enlightenment, not harm.

Instead, we are letting ourselves be manipulated by sensationalist media, rage-driven podcasts and toxic social media that thrive on division. Too many Americans now view someone who holds a different opinion not as a neighbor but as an enemy. That is poisonous — and deadly. None of us deserves harm for our beliefs. If America is to endure as a free

society, we must relearn how to argue fiercely without killing one another. Violence cannot be the answer. Debate must be.

Framework by Tim Baker

The Cowboy Biker Band, carved out of wood, at the Cradle of Aviation Museum — Garden City

CaroLYn sHiH

BrUCE KENNEDY Glen Cove