A still life of pears, titled “Tasty and Timeless,” highlights Arlene Gomez’s ability to blend realism with expressionism.
Baldwin artist’s work is on display at recreation center
By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
This month, the Long Island Arts Council at Freeport’s Art Alcove, at the Recreation Center, features the work of Arlene Gomez, a Baldwin resident whose journey as an artist has been as rich and varied as the landscapes she paints.
Gomez’s story is one of movement, adaptation and a lifelong search for belonging, both in her community and in her art.
The path that Gomez, 72, took to the Freeport exhibit began with a nudge from her local senior citizens club. She recalls that her tutor, Ralph Cappozzi, encouraged her to submit her work to the council, which was seeking artists to exhibit during Hispanic
Heritage Month, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Although she identifies as “Puerto Rican, Spaniard, American,” Gomez insists that her art is not focused on her heritage. “I do more expressionistic, but then realistic at the same time,” she said, noting that her paintings are primarily landscapes.
Born Arlene Bracero-Vallejo in Brooklyn to a military family, she spent her early childhood in Germany before returning to New York. She describes a childhood shaped by frequent moves, and a close-knit family.
“We traveled to Germany, military-style, and I was raised there until I was about 8 years old,” she explained.
After returning to Brooklyn, her family lived with her grandparents before settling
Coffee and a convo with the superintendent
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Anthony Mignella has launched a unique initiative in his first months as the new superintendent of the Baldwin School District, sitting down with parent leaders for coffee, baked goods and conversation.
The first informal gathering, which took place on Aug. 7, marked the start of Mignella’s Coffee & Conversation series, part of his Listen & Learn initiative aimed at building stronger partnerships with families.
“Our commitment to creating a school district that is innovative and future-focused is one that needs to include our families as partners,” Mignella said in a statement. “These open discussions are invaluable, and I am grateful for this opportunity to engage directly with our community and look forward to continuing these important conversations to ensure that the needs of every student are fully supported.”
PTA across the district joined the inaugural meeting, where they shared aspirations for their children and the schools. Parents and guardians jotted down their thoughts on poster paper during a “gallery walk” exercise, later reviewing one another’s ideas posted around the cafeteria.
I am grateful for this opportunity to engage directly with our community.
ANTHoNy MIGNEll A
Several themes emerged from the session, including a call for stronger family partnerships, more after-school enrichment opportunities, an emphasis on social-emotional learning and safety, and transparent communication from the district. Parents also expressed interest in more cultural and communitybased experiences for students, as well as programs for elementary school students that would make the transition to middle school easier for them.
Sophea Sainsurin, co-president of the Meadow Elementary School PTA, said the session created a unique space for PTA leaders to have an honest
Representatives from each
ConTinued on pAGe 5
Courtesy Arlene Gomez
Diwali celebration expands at Baldwin library
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Baldwin resident Subrina Singh is once again bringing Diwali to the Baldwin Public Library — this time with expanded programming for children and teens.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural “Let’s Learn About Diwali” program, Singh has developed three separate events tailored to different age groups. On Saturday, Oct. 18, the library will host back-to-back programs — one for students in kindergarten through third grade, and another for fourththrough seventh-graders. The following day, Sunday, Oct. 19, a special program for teens will be held.
“This year we’ve been able to really target each age group,” Singh said. “K to three will have a simple story and craft they can do with their parents, while grades four to seven will work on something more advanced and have more of a discussion. And for teens, we’ve created a totally different environment — with food, a mehndi artist, and activities that give them space to connect with friends.”
The Diwali programs, Singh said, are meant to build cultural awareness and inclusivity for all Baldwin students, whether or not they celebrate the holiday.
“I always like to emphasize that these programs aren’t just for those who celebrate Diwali,” she said. “It’s an opportu-
Maureen Lennon/Herald
‘Let’s Learn About Diwali’ will expand from last year’s success at the Baldwin library.
nity for everyone to immerse themselves in a culture and tradition of their peers. For students who do celebrate, it’s validation — they feel seen by their classmates.”
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important Hindu holidays, symbolizing the victory
of light over darkness. This year, the festival begins Oct. 28 and concludes Nov. 2. Singh worked closely with librarians to design age-appropriate crafts, choosing simpler, pre-packaged projects for younger children and more open-ended activities for older students. Teens will also get the chance to engage with Indian culture
through art, food, and attire.
“I’ve known Subrina since high school - we go back almost 20 years - so when I saw how successful her program was with the children’s department, she was really excited to bring that experience to the teen side as well,” Mariel DePalma, head of teens at the Baldwin Public Library said. “There’s a lot to look forward to.”
Last year’s program drew families from across Baldwin, including Sweety Singh, who is not related to Subrina. She said the celebration left a lasting impression.
“The Diwali event was truly amazing!” she said. “It was the perfect way to showcase our culture and feel truly represented. I’m looking forward to celebrating again with our community.”
The expanded programming reflects growing community interest since last year’s event, Singh noted. She also credited Baldwin’s schools and PTA members for helping to bring Diwali into classrooms and assemblies.
“Baldwin really prides itself on being inclusive,” Singh said. “It’s amazing to see students who don’t celebrate Diwali come to these events, because it helps them better understand their peers. And for the students who do celebrate, it’s a moment of pride — they don’t feel on the outside, they feel included.”
Five years of the Grand Baldwin Festival
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
The Grand Baldwin Festival returned this past weekend for its fifth year, bringing food, music, family activities, and community spirit to the heart of the hamlet.
Hosted by the Community Coalition of Baldwin in partnership with the Baldwin Public Library, the event took place on Saturday in the municipal parking lot behind the library on Grand Avenue. Organizers said the festival exceeded expectations.
“It was really beyond my expectations,” said Claudia Rotondo, the coalition’s director. She credited high school volunteers, who arrived early to work shifts lasting until late afternoon, for helping everything run smoothly.
“Voluntering at the Grand Baldwin Festival is certainly one of the highlights of my year,” said David Kreutz, a member of the Baldwin Key Club. “It’s always great to work with my friends in putting a community event together, and the turnout from residents is further proof the heart of Baldwin is alive.”
The festival featured 92 vendors, including food trucks, jewelry makers, local nonprofits, pet groomers, and other businesses
Entertainment included performances by local dance studios, the band Musically Inclined, and students from Hangout One Happy Place. Costumed characters, such as an “ice princess” and a “spider hero,” also made appearances for on-stage performances and meet-and-greets.
“It was such a great experience performing at the Grand Baldwin Festival,” Ronnie Roddy Jr. of Musically Inclined said to the Herald.
“It was truly an amazing experience for them to perform at such a grand event,” Angela Lucas, founder of Hangout One Happy Place said, “and to have the community embrace us.”
The location behind the Baldwin Public Library again proved ideal. Rotondo noted that the library’s cooperation — providing restrooms and drawing visitors inside — helped the festival feel accessible and community-centered.
“They’re very, very cooperative, and that’s really
the ideal place for it, because it’s centrally located,” she said.
The Grand Baldwin Festival began in 2019 to mark the Baldwin Public Library’s 100th anniversary. It has since grown into a community tradition, drawing hundreds of visitors each year and reflecting the mission of the Community Coalition of Baldwin — an offshoot of the Baldwin Council Against Drug Abuse — to strengthen neighborhood pride and promote substance abuse education.
Proceeds from the festival supported scholarships for Baldwin High School seniors who have demonstrated a strong commitment to community service, as well as other community-building initiatives.
“It’s all worth it in the end,” Rotondo said. “We threw a great event.”
BALDWIN
Maureen Lennon/Herald photos
Members of Hangout One Happy Place taking in the fun.
Maria Tapia and her daughter Sophia enjoying the festive spirit.
The Baldwin Historical Society was on full display at their booth.
Long Island Heroes Celebration
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025 | 8:00 A.M. TO 10:00 A.M.
The Heritage Club at Bethpage
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
GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP HERO
COMMUNITY IMPACT HERO
Luv Michael
FIRST RESPONDER HEROES
Officers Timothy Deegan and Matthew Walling
Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize DISASTER HERO
Jennifer Keane
Baldwin woman charged with grand larceny
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
A Baldwin woman was arraigned Wednesday on charges she falsified income records to receive nearly $100,000 in Nassau County day care benefits, Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced.
Shamika Brown, 43, faces charges including second-degree grand larceny and welfare fraud, as well as five counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree. She pleaded not guilty before Judge Ryan Cronin and was released on her own recognizance. Brown is scheduled to return to court Oct. 9. If convicted, she could face 5 to 15 years in prison.
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
An Inheritance is a Gift, Not a Right
Ann Landers, who published her weekly advice column from 1955 to 2002 listed this as one of her top ten most requested columns – republishing it seven times in her long career.
Dear Ann: Let this letter be a wake-up call to all sons, daughters, and grandchildren. The message I want to convey is this: YOUR INHERITANCE IS NOT AUTOMATIC. IT’S A GIFT.
I am an estate planner. Over the last several years, I have seen many clients change their wills, bypassing children and grandchildren, and leave their money to friends, charities, and people they once worked with who were kind and helpful.
There are many reasons for changing a will, but the two most common are disrespect and isolation. In some families, the only time the old folks see the grandchildren is when their parents need a favor–usually, it’s money. So, the message the old folks wish to convey is as follows: “You didn’t make time for me when I was lonely and would have enjoyed your company, so why should I leave you the
money I worked for all my life?”
Wake up out there. An inheritance isn’t something that is owed to you. It is a gift of love. When there is no love, there should be no gift. — Manasota, Fla.
We like to say that your “family” are those you love and who love you. The rest are your relatives. Or, put another way, it’s not who you’re related to, it’s who you relate to.
For those who have children, the inheritance is usually left to the children in equal shares. However, there is no legal requirement to do so. One of the first concepts we learned in estate planning is that “there is nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals.” Are some considerably better off than others? Has one been more attentive, more caring, gone out of their way for you? Where distributions will be unequal, we often suggest leaving a letter, to be opened after your death, explaining the reasons for your decision. A discussion with an experienced estate planning attorney often will provide ideas and options that you may not have thought of.
LAW FIRM
Trusts & Estates • Wills & Probate • Medicaid NO-COST CONSULTATION: 516-327-8880 or email info@trustlaw.com 100 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre • 3000 Marcus Ave., Lake Success Other offices in Huntington • Melville • Islandia
According to the charges, Brown applied for child care assistance from the Nassau County Department of Social Services (NCDSS) in May 2019, claiming she earned $25,000 annually working at a Brooklyn business called Hair Studio. She submitted earnings statements purportedly from that business and continued to do so for three subsequent years.
A review by NCDSS in March 2024 found Brown had failed to report employment with American Express, Amazon, and a consulting firm during the same period. Investigators say her actual income ranged from $128,000 to $319,000 per year, well above the threshold for day care benefits.
An NCDA investigation determined that the earnings statements were allegedly fraudulent, that Hair Studio was not a legitimate business or ADP client, and that the listed business address belonged to another salon for which Brown never worked.
As a result, Brown allegedly received
Let us
$99,687 in benefits she was not entitled to. She surrendered to NCDA investigators on Oct. 1.
“Nassau County’s social services benefits exist to help families who truly need financial support, not high-earning residents who dishonestly try to offset their childcare costs,” Donnelly said in a statement. “Shamika Brown allegedly excluded hundreds of thousands of dollars of income she earned over a four-year period and made up a business where she claimed to be employed, stealing taxpayer dollars and undermining a system designed to help support parents and children.”
The case is being prosecuted by Special Investigative Counsel John Hanley of the Major Financial Frauds Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Maureen McCormack, with overall supervision by Executive Assistant District Attorney Rick Whelan. Brown is represented by attorney Eric Prusan.
now
News Brief items including awards, honors, promotions and other tidbits about local residents are welcome. Photographs may be emailed as well. Deadline for submissions is noon Thursday, week prior to publication. Send to execeditor@liherald.com
legalnotices@liherald.com
Herald File photo
A Baldwin woman was charged with grand larceny over day care benefits.
baldwin
Gathering feedback and strengthening partnerships
exchange with the superintendent.
“The recent Coffee & Conversation with the superintendent was a really valuable experience,” Sainsurin said. “Seven Meadow PTA board members were in attendance, and we all appreciated the outreach and opportunity to connect in this way. Meeting with us separately from families created a space for honest dialogue, where we could share perspectives on how to partner more effectively.”
Sainsurin added that what made the event stand out was the way Mignella intentionally structured the session.
“He encouraged us to share needs, challenges and opportunities, and explained that he would be compiling this feedback into a report with next steps,” she said. “That showed this was about more than checking a box — it was about moving forward together.”
She said the PTA leaders left the session feeling encouraged. “The superintendent listened carefully, and it was clear he is committed to building a more collaborative family–school partnership at all grade levels,” she said. “That follow-up alone shows his genuine interest in strengthening connections and supporting PTA leaders as partners in the work ahead.”
District administrators said the conversations are just the beginning of an ongoing effort to hear directly from parents. Future sessions are expected to continue throughout
Courtesy Baldwin School District
istrict Superintendent anthony mignella kicked off his tenure by meeting with parent leaders in august. 5 BALDWIN HERALD — October 9, 2025
CHRISTIAN ANAYA CAREY Senior FOOTBALL
A TWO-WAY LINEMAN for the reigning Nassau and Long Island champions, Anaya completed a rare daily double on the defensive side of the ball for the Seahawks in a 35-14 victory at South Side Sept. 27. His sack in the end zone for a safety put Carey ahead for good in the second quarter. Then, late in the fourth, he scooped up a fumble forced by Justin DePietro and raced 69 yards for the game-sealing touchdown as the team won its 15th straight.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, Oct. 9
Girls Soccer: Elmont at Sewanhaka 4:30 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Long Beach at Kennedy 4:45 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Mepham at Garden City 5 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Clarke at Carey 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Garden City at South Side 5
Girls Soccer: North Shore at Plainedge 5
Girls Soccer: Farmingdale at Baldwin 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Long Beach at Oceanside 6 p.m.
Boys Soccer: South Side at Malverne/ERock 7 p.m.
Girls Soccer: West Hempstead at V.S. South 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10
Football: Malverne at Seaford 6 p.m.
Football: Oceanside at Syosset 6 p.m.
Football: West Hempstead at Plainedge 6 p.m.
Football: Clarke at V.S. South 7 p.m.
Football: Calhoun at Long Beach 7 p.m.
Football: V.S. Central at Glen Cove 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 11
Football: Mepham at Garden City 1 p.m.
Football: South Side at Wantagh 2 p.m.
Football: East Meadow at Baldwin 2 p.m.
Football: Island Trees at Lynbrook 2 p.m.
Football: Herricks at Freeport 3 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
Baldwin in playoff-push mode
By NICK MONGIOVI sports@liherald.com
After another slow start out of the gates for Baldwin’s (3-34) boys’ soccer team, it stares down a similar scenario from a year ago; win two of the last four matches and the Bruins punch their ticket to the playoffs.
That’s easier said than done, with Port Washington (7-2) and Syosset (6-2-1) coming up on the ledger. An emerging Plainview team that is riding a two-game win streak, with one of those wins coming against Uniondale, will host Baldwin this Saturday at 7 p.m.
“Last year, we needed to win four out of our last five games to make the playoffs,” Baldwin coach Chris Soupios said. “We’re going to be playing four really good teams. The truth of the matter is, we’ll know on Thursday if that resiliency really is there for our team.”
While the Bruins started this season 1-3-2, they’re 2-0-2 in their last four. Seniors Emilzon Lovos and Devonte Young scored in a 2-0 victory over Westbury Sept. 20. Six days later, Abraham Orelena and Allan Parades-Morales scored to lead a 2-0 win over Hempstead.
For Soupios in August, resiliency was the key to success. While that may still be true, consistency is needed for Baldwin to make a run.
“I think it’s consistency. We need to make sure that when we’re tired late in the game, we’re staying in our shape, we’re communicating in the second half the same way we do in the first 10 minutes,” Soupios said.
In those crucial moments, two top performers have been leaned on.
“You’re relying on those players consistently to make plays,” Soupios said. “The guys who showed it last year was Matt Alexandre. He was a centerback last year, he’s AllCounty and he’s a midfielder for us this year. When he’s on, he really controls the pace of play and our level of possession.
“You’ve got Erick Ramos, who’s just an absolute workhorse for us,” Soupios said about the senior center-midfielder. “He gives everything he has, every single game he plays and I think you get the same thing from a guy like Lovos. They’re just guys who have a lot of heart.”
Young has made an impact on the attack by leading his team in goals with five and points with 12. On the back end, senior goalkeeper Antonio Lopez-Aguilar has tallied 44 saves in 10 games and a pair of recent shutouts, including an 8-save effort versus Hempstead.
A handful of others have contributed to the success. Parades, sophomore midfielder Lennix Batres, junior defenseman Max Ascencio-Cueva, junior midfielder Michael Grannum, junior defenseman Bryan Martinez and senior center back Oscar Garcia.
Baldwin sits in seventh place in Conference AAA with playoff hopes still alive. A .500 record or better earns you at least a play-in game.
“Goal one is to get in the playoffs,” Soupios said. “That’s a tremendous challenge with the opponents we have coming up, but for us it’s one game at a time.”
Erik Lee/Herald
Abraham Orelena and the Bruins are riding a four-game unbeaten streak (2-0-2) with four games remaining.
Baldwin reacts to MTA approves fare, toll hikes
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ AND BRIAN KACHARABA Of the Herald
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board unanimously approved fare and toll increases that will take effect Jan. 1, raising costs for Long Island Rail Road riders and motorists using the area’s bridges and tunnels.
The vote came during the agency’s Sept. 30 meeting in Brooklyn following a public comment session.
The proposal, released July 30, marks the first round of increases since 2023, when both fares and tolls rose by more than 4 percent. Officials said the changes are needed to maintain service levels and support a transit system still recovering from the financial strain of the pandemic.
For LIRR riders, monthly and weekly ticket prices will rise by an average of 4.4 percent, excluding city zones. Even with the increase, the MTA said the cost of a monthly ticket will remain under $500, still lower than pre-pandemic levels.
Outside the Baldwin LIRR station last week, riders shared mixed reactions to the increase to the Herald.
“I take the train into Penn Station five days a week, and I already feel like I’m stretched thin,” said Caridad Robles, a Baldwin resident and educator in Manhattan. “It’s not a huge jump compared to owning a car, but when you add this to groceries and everything else going up, it really does make a difference.”
Kevin Greene, who rides the train several times a week, said he viewed the fare hike as a necessary compromise. “I’d rather pay a few extra dollars and know the trains will run on time,” Greene said. “If the money helps maintain the system and avoid cuts, then it’s worth it.”
The MTA had considered shortening the validity of
one-way tickets to four hours after purchase, but after hearing customer feedback, tickets will instead remain valid until 4 a.m. the following day. Riders must activate tickets before boarding, and those purchased on board will carry an additional $2 surcharge. Discounts will expand as well. The MTA will reduce ticket prices for seniors, people with disabilities and Medicare recipients, regardless of travel time. Children ages 5-17 may ride for $1 when accompanied by a fare-paying adult, including during the morning peak.
A new day pass will replace the round-trip ticket and will also be valid until 4 a.m. the next day. On weekdays, the pass will cost 10 percent less than two
one-way peak tickets; on weekends, it will cost the same as two one-way off-peak tickets.
The 10-trip ticket will be discontinued in favor of a “pay-as-you-go” mobile discount. After 10 peak or offpeak trips within 14 days, customers using mobile tickets will receive an 11th one-way trip free in the same period. Unlike the current plan, the new option does not require riders to pre-pay for discounts.
“Transit is one of the few things that makes New York affordable,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber. “And I respect those who oppose the fare increase. But we’re talking about something that is 15 percent of the cost of owning an automobile. In New York, I think the gap between transit and auto ownership is even larger, and because of that, New Yorkers spend a lot less of their household income on transportation than people in the rest of the country. We are determined to keep it that way while also making sure we can fund our operation.”
Tolls at the RFK, Whitestone, Throgs Neck and Verrazzano Bridges, as well as the Queens-Midtown and Hugh L. Carey Tunnels, will rise 52 cents to $7.46 with E-ZPass. The Cross Bay and Marine Parkway Bridges will go up 20 cents to $2.80.
Board member Melva Miller voted for the increases but said she struggled with the decision.
“On one hand, I know our operating budget depends on these revenues, and as a board member, I recognize the importance of this and that approving this increase is the fiscally responsible thing to do and, ultimately, necessary to ensure the long-term health of the MTA,” she said. “But I also know firsthand that I’ve lived the realities of people who ride our system every single day and haven’t always had financial security, myself included, sometimes as I was only a few paychecks away from real vulnerability.”
Herald File Photo
The MTA board voted Sept. 30 to approve fare and toll increases that take effect Jan. 1.
HERALD
Carelus is focused on a changing District 1
By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
Jean-Baptiste Carelus’s campaign for the District 1 council seat in the Town of Hempstead began not with personal ambition, but with a call from his community.
Carelus, 55, was approached by the members of the West Hempstead Republican Club, and after discussing it with his wife, he decided to step forward.
“She said, ‘Yeah, why not? You have some good ideas,” Carelus recalled in a conversation with the Herald. “And so I said, evidently, this might be the best time, since I was approached.”
Carelus’s roots in the area run deep. His family immigrated to the United States from Haiti in 1977, settling first in Westbury and then in Hempstead. He graduated from Hempstead High School in 1987, and later earned a master’s degree in economics from CUNY Brooklyn College.
His professional career spans over two decades in financial services, including roles in public and structured finance and consulting. Currently, he works with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, focusing on the risks and regulations of the insurance industry.
Beyond Carelus’s professional life is a wealth of community involvement that demonstrates his commitment to public service. For nearly three decades, he has
served as a lector at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Five years ago, at age 50, he became a volunteer firefighter and later an EMT, and has earned the honor of EMT of the Year twice.
He explained that he had the time and ability to give back, and there was a need for volunteers during the day, when most people are working.
“The biggest thing that they want, just like at the fire service, when there’s a call, respond, show up and work with everyone there to make sure that the issues are addressed,” he said of his potential constituents.
Carelus’s campaign is grounded in the issues that he believes matter most to District 1 residents: housing, taxes, education and equitable access to services. He is particularly passionate about increasing the availability and affordability of housing.
He points to innovative models like the Uniondale Community Land Trust, which helps keep homes affordable by retaining ownership of the land while families pay own the homes themselves. He is also interested in exploring programs that prioritize first responders and working families for affordable housing opportunities.
Tax fairness is another central concern for Carelus. He notes that many residents of District 1 are either unaware of their rights to grieve property taxes or are unable to attend semi-
tions — the parks, the services, infrastructure, everything else, senior enrichment, all those things.”
“There are services that are being denied to these communities, (and) all the while the burden of the taxes have increasingly fallen on them,” Carelus added, pointing out that infrastructure in some areas of District 1, such as Roosevelt, is in dire need of improvement.
nars due to inconvenient scheduling. He points out that applications for tax grievances are not only filed less frequently in the district, but are also more likely to be denied.
“The combination over time — not applying at the same rates, being turned down when there is an application at higher rates,” he said, “begins to disproportionately place the burden on those communities of paying for our obliga-
Carelus’s personal story also informs his advocacy for education and family support. When his adopted son, who has special needs, required services that were not available in Hempstead, Carelus moved his family just four blocks, to West Hempstead, so they could have access to better educational opportunities. The experience fuels his commitment to ensuring that all families have access to the resources they need.
As he campaigns, Carelus is determined to raise awareness about the changes facing District 1, including recent redistricting, and to fight for fair investment in infrastructure, services and economic development. With a blend of professional acumen, community service and empathy, he is, he says, deeply focused on residents’ needs and the challenges they face.
For Goosby, a unique re-election challenge
By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ
mrafiq@liherald.com
For more than a quarter-century, Dorothy Goosby, 86, councilwoman of District 1, as well as deputy supervisor, has been a pillar of public service and a trailblazer for minority representation in the Town of Hempstead.
She is now running once again for reelection.
Goosby’s journey into public office began with a fight for fair representation. In the late 1980s, she was the lead plaintiff in a landmark lawsuit challenging Hempstead’s at-large voting system, which had long prevented minority communities from electing their own representatives.
“We started in ’88 and it took us to 1999 in order to finally win the suit,” Goosby recalled to the Herald.
The victory led to the creation of councilmanic districts, ensuring that every community had a voice at the table.
Goosby became the first African American woman to serve on the board, representing neighborhoods like Hempstead, Uniondale, Roosevelt, and Freeport.
“I go to all of them, and I check to see what’s going on,” she says.
This year, Goosby’s re-election bid differs from races prior in one notable
way: she does not have Nassau Democratic Party backing.
Rather, the party declined to carry her petitions, citing her alignment with the Republican majority and former Supervisor Don Clavin, as well as calls for younger candidates to step in.
Instead, a grassroots effort was launched by Goosby’s closest supporters to get the necessary signatures of her own accord. In the final analysis, that effort garnered more than twice the 4,000 signatures required to get on the ballot.
In keeping with the theme of not being redirected by resistance, she told the Herald that the most important lesson that she’d learned in her 25-year political career has been “to make sure that whatever it is I need, I get it.”
“And I do,” she added, “because they don’t like to hear from me.”
Whether it’s addressing dumping on vacant lots or advocating for safer public spaces, Goosby’s leadership is rooted in direct engagement with her constituents. Education and youth development are also central to her mission. For over 20 years, she has organized a summer reading program that brings children and parents together, fostering a love of learning and community involvement.
“The kids love this, and it’s helping them,” she explained.
She is an opponent, according to her
attorney, of high-density housing developments that she believes threaten the character and resources of local neighborhoods.
“We’re working with the water,” she said, when asked about whether there is a water crisis on Long Island. “And because we have somebody now that we’re starting with that, we have a big problem in the Village of Hempstead, because we have somebody there not taking care of us with the water.”
“And some places, they do take care of it,” she added. “So we’re still trying to work on that, to get that straight(ened) up. Has to do with the mayor and some people like that.”
Goosby’s approach to governance is defined by bipartisanship and collaboration. As the lone Democrat on the sevenmember Town Board, she has built relationships across the aisle with her fellow council members.
In her wide-ranging conversation with the Herald, she preferred to recount specific anecdotes of constituent service her office provided when district residents approached her in need, rather than to pontificate on the broader issues facing the district. It was unclear at times whether Goosby could recall specific details about the services rendered, and she seemed, understandably, to have difficulty with names of places and people. She depended on the
Dorothy Goosby, longtime Hempstead councilmember and community advocate, says she has learned important lessons in 25 years of public service.
help of her attorney and a longtime friend in answering questions. At 86, what compels Goosby to keep going is her love of service. “I am really helping people,” she said. “They need it, and they don’t want me to leave.”
Madison Gusler/Herald
Jean-Baptiste Carelus is a longtime community volunteer and a candidate for the Hempstead Town Council seat in District 1.
Tim Baker/Herald
things to know about CoViD-19 anD Loss of smeLL
New research conducted by NYU Langone
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
n COVID-19 can cause long-term smell loss.
A new study led by researchers at NYU Langone Health and the National Institutes of Health’s RECOVER initiative found that 80 percent of people who noticed changes in their sense of smell after Covid-19 scored low on a formal scent test two years later. Nearly a quarter of this group were severely impaired or completely anosmic. Even those who did not notice smell changes often tested poorly.
n Formal testing may help guide treatment.
Researchers at NYU Langone used the 40-odor University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) to measure olfactory function. Experts suggest routine smell testing for post-covid care and are exploring therapies like olfactory training and vitamin A to restore function.
n Loss of smell has real health implications.
Hyposmia, or reduced ability to smell, can affect quality of life, mental health, and safety—making it harder to detect smoke, gas leaks, or spoiled food. It has also been linked to weight loss, depression, and may signal early neurodegenerative disease.
A new study led by researchers at NYU Langone found that some people have noticed changes in their sense of smell after Covid-19.
Courtesy Metrocreative
Girl Scouts mark silver award with garden project
Girl Scout Troop 2324 celebrated the completion of their Silver Award project at the Baldwin Community Garden on Sept. 20 with the installation of a colorful planter inspired by the beloved children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
To mark the occasion, the scouts hosted a story time, reading aloud from the classic Eric Carle tale to families and community members gathered at
the garden. The new planter, designed and built by the troop, is both a creative addition to the space and a reflection of the scouts’ commitment to literacy, community, and environmental stewardship.
The Silver Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, recognizing leadership, teamwork, and dedication to lasting community impact.
— Hernesto Galdamez
Celeste Iraola and Xavier Kaiser made their caterpillar craft with Girl Scouts.
Zoe Muschett, Celeste Iraola, Xavier Kaiser, Autumn Kaiser, Zoe Fray and Charlene Jackson getting creative with their caterpillar craft.
Nyla Exama assists Liam and Amalia Carrera with their art.
Maureen Lennon/Herald photos
Girl Scouts read the beloved children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Volunteer Fair connects residents with community causes
By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
The inaugural Freeport Volunteer Fair, held Sept. 18 at the Freeport Recreation Center, showcased the depth and diversity of organizations that keep the community strong, and Baldwin based organizations were in attendance.
From civic engagement to education, health care, and social services, the fair offered residents a unique chance to learn how they could lend their time and talents.
Among those seeking volunteers were the local fire department, which serves as a constant presence, not only in emergencies but also in fire safety education and community support, and the Nassau County Board of Elections, which was on hand to recruit poll workers and promote voter outreach.
The Solidarity Group invited residents to join its coat drive and grocery distribution program, while ENGin encouraged locals to connect virtually with Ukrainian learners to help them practice English.
Education-focused nonprofits such as Literacy Nassau, Moore 4 You Community Development Center, and the Girl Scouts of Nassau County promoted programs designed to build skills, inclusivity, and leadership among youth and
adults alike.
Health and medical organizations including the American Cancer Society, LiveOnNY, and Hewlett House emphasized the importance of advocacy, education, and personal support for those facing cancer or awaiting
Sunday, October 19, 2025 Garvies Point*
9am: Registration • 10am: Walk Begins
*Starting Point: Garvies Point Brewery & Restaurant
life-saving organ transplants.
On the social service front, Bethany House, Hangout One Happy Place, PLUS Group Homes, and Eager to Serve Inc. highlighted their work supporting vulnerable populations, from families facing homeless-
ness to young adults with developmental disabilities.
Environmental stewardship was represented by the Environmental Rotaract Club of Nassau, while civic and service groups such as Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority’s Beta Psi Sigma Chapter underscored the importance of leadership and advocacy.
The wide range of participants reflected how volunteering touches nearly every aspect of daily life, from emergency response to literacy, housing, and community wellness.
The event was spearheaded by Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé, with support from fellow legislators Seth Koslow and Judy Griffin, State Sen. Siela Bynoe, and the Village of Freeport.
“As a social worker and an elected official, I have had a front-row view of the vital services that not-for-profit agencies provide – and the essential role volunteers play in delivering those resources to families in need,” Mulé said.
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
Deliah Roberts/Herald photos
Zhu Lian, Mei Lian, Jina Lian, Maria Lian 9, with ENGin encourage attendees to join their program, which connects English speakers with Ukrainian learners.
BALDWIN HERALD — October 9, 2025
Davis prioritizes connecting with constituents
By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
Scott Davis is no stranger to public service — though it wasn’t always part of his plan. A longtime Rockville Centre resident who grew up in Hempstead, Davis was first elected in 2023 to represent Legislative District 1, which covers Rockville Centre and Hempstead.
Now seeking re-election, he reflects on a first term defined by community outreach, legislative advocacy and fighting for equity in a County Legislature where Democrats remain in the minority.
Davis, 63, lives in Rockville Centre with his wife, and they have three children, all college graduates. A first-generation college student himself, he became a criminal defense attorney, where he works to educate and advise his clients about their cases and the criminal justice process. His early years, growing up biracial in Hempstead and losing his mother when he was young, shaped his belief in perseverance and giving back, as he described to Herald reporters during a Roundtable interview.
“In my first term as a legislator, all that concern, all of that desire to do good, it’s presented a platform for me where I can actually do that,” he said. “I get access to resources, I get access to information, and probably one of my favorite things of all that I really, really like to do is I’ve gone everywhere in my district and I’ve developed relationships, and I’ve been able to create a synergy of putting different people together for a good end.”
Davis said his proudest legislative achievement was securing $1.75 million in clean-water funding for Hempstead after learning about contamination issues, particularly the elevated presence of the carcinogen 1,4-dioxane.
Legislator Scott Davis, the incumbent in Nassau County’s 1st District, is looking to push for more infrastructure and community projects if re-elected.
“It took us nine months, but I got the money, and (as) a first-time legislator, to be able to have the minority caucus get together and prioritize that as an issue — it’s recognizing that issue, and then it’s fighting for that issue,” he said. “And people were sick of me, because everywhere I went, I talked about it, and it was a great day to be able to get that money.”
Nine months of advocacy, including joint efforts
with now-State Sen. Siela Bynoe, eventually paid off. Davis believes that work also helped shine a light that led to a later $37 million allocation by the state.
District 1 was redrawn for the 2025 election, and now encompasses Rockville Centre, South Hempstead, Roosevelt and parts of Baldwin and Hempstead. Davis emphasizes showing up — in churches, libraries and schools — to understand his constituents, both old and new, because “you can’t effectively represent anybody unless you know who they are.”
“I go everywhere all the time, and it’s for a reason, and it’s not for the photo ops,” he said. “It’s to learn, to develop relationships, to do my job the best way that I can.”
Davis said that progress is slowed by partisan gridlock, and that the minority caucus of Democratic legislators struggles to get its capital project requests granted.
Despite these challenges, he said, if re-elected, he plans to keep fighting for equal access to county resources, improve infrastructure and support local nonprofits addressing food insecurity, youth services and education.
Davis’s vision includes renovating Mirschel Park in Hempstead, installing exercise stations at the Rockville Centre Recreation Center and expanding summer camps for underserved children.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to do my job, and do it well,” he said.
Thompson aims to be voice for the community
By KELSIE RADZISKI
kradziski@liherald.com
Charlene Jackson Thompson has worn many hats — attorney, government official, consultant and community advocate. Now, she’s running as the Republican candidate in Nassau County’s 1st Legislative District, hoping to bring her experience and network to a newly redrawn district.
Thompson, 59, grew up in Roosevelt and graduated from Uniondale High School in 1984 before attending the College of William and Mary, where she became the university’s first Black Homecoming queen. She later earned a law degree from Howard University. She currently serves as a deputy county attorney, representing Nassau County in child welfare cases. In this role she works with Child Protective Services, family support organizations and the court system to advocate for the safety, stability and long-term wellbeing of children. Her legal work is guided by a trauma-informed approach that combines compassion with legal insight.
Thompson has worked under both Democratic and Republican county executives, including roles in economic development and housing. She served as commissioner of the Community Development Agency in Hempstead and later joined the Nassau County attorney’s office, where she prosecutes child abuse and neglect cases. She also has a consulting firm focused on economic development, grant writing and regulatory compliance.
She is running for the 1st District seat as a way to make sure her voice stays in the conversation.
Tim Baker/Herald
Charlene Jackson Thompson, who is running as the Republican candidate in Nassau County’s 1st Legislative District, shared her goals of working on housing and infrastructure development if elected.
“I don’t shy away from hard discussions. I have the courage of my convictions because I am more conservative,” she told Herald reporters during a Roundtable interview. “And that hasn’t been easy when I was a student at Howard University, and it hasn’t been easy in
this environment, but I made a difficult decision, even as an African American woman, a woman (who is) a descendant of slaves — I made the difficult decision that I was going to stay a part of the Republican Party, because I feel we do a disservice when we all flock to one party.”
Thompson emphasizes deep roots and connections in each of the communities in District 1, from serving on civic associations in Baldwin to helping coordinate downtown revitalization initiatives in Roosevelt, Westbury and Hempstead. She says her long track record of cross-sector collaboration is what sets her apart.
“I have always looked at government as a way to find information, to bring it to the people,” she said. “That’s because I put community first, and I meet people wherever they are.”
If elected, Thompson said, her priorities include increasing access to workforce housing, especially by repurposing so-called “zombie homes” and expanding partnerships with local land trusts. She also wants to improve water and sewer infrastructure, ensure community involvement in large-scale projects like the Propel NY corridor in Rockville Centre, and boost civic education and transparency.
“I will be a voice and advocate for the needs of my community, and make sure that I have a seat at the table to voice those concerns,” she said.
While Thompson identifies as a conservative, she said she has always sought to find common ground with those of differing political persuasions. “My philosophy, as shown by my over 30 years of community service now, has always been community first,” she said. “That’s how I work. That’s how I live.”
Tim Baker/Herald
STEPPING OUT
Autumnal adventures
Reel in some hauntingly good fun
By Karen Bloom
Spooky season is casting its spell — and whether you’re ready for a scare or just some seasonal flair, there’s much to check out.
The Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns
Pumpkin patches have their moment, but a pumpkin trail is even better. The wooded site of Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts in Wheatley Heights is the evocative setting for a spooky 4,200 foot loop of over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins and illuminated objects (10,000 in all) that light up the grounds all month long.
The Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns is now in its 12th season on Long Island, delighting visitors with all sorts of seasonal delights, from those carved pumpkins — of all sizes — to inflatables and even a space to show off some dance moves, complete with disco lights and music.
You may recall Rise from its first eight seasons at Old Westbury Gardens. Its current home at Usdan accommodates a longer trail that enhances the immersive experience.
“We found this trail to be perfect,” says Mike Pollack, Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns’ executive producer, who proclaims this to be “the spookiest walk on Long Island.”
Spooky, most definitely, but not haunted. You won’t find any frightful creatures popping out along the path. As Pollack puts it: “No scares.”
This family-friendly event is designed to get everyone in the spirit of the season, appealing to all ages.
A team of 100 handpicked artists carve their individual pumpkins with facial expressions ranging from scary to silly.
“The artistry of these pumpkins is spectacular and you will not see anywhere else,” Pollack says enthusiastically.
The 40,000 visitors annually would seem to agree. Rise is open on weekends and select weeknight through Nov. 1. All tickets must be purchased online at jackolanterns. com; no tickets are available on site. Rise is located at 185 Colonial Springs Road, Wheatley Heights.
Spooky Fest
Creatures of all kinds inhabit the woods, and ghosts and ghouls come out to play at Tanglewood Preserve, home to the Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL), in Rockville Centre. A seasonal tradition for area families, the spectacle takes over CSTL’s grounds every weekend through Nov. 2.
Each year the festival offers a spirited fun-filled slate of activities on the preserve’s 16 acres — both scary and not so scary — to appeal to all ages and fright levels. The wooded paths are transformed for the season, with eerie lighting, special effects and characters along the way.
Whether you and the kids are looking to be spooked or not, the choice is yours. This time of year the preserve’s woods are definitely haunted, as those who venture along the scary walk will find out. This quarter mile hike through
the woods is not for the faint of heart, it may leave some younger kids clinging to their parents legs. Step into the darkness of the Haunted Woods where you’ll stumble upon a deserted graveyard and more — you never know what is lurking around the next turn. Be scared if you dare!
“Adults will come out crying and the kids will be laughing,” CSTL Educator Michele Anselmo,says, somewhat bemused. “You need to know your fear factor before you enter.”
As always, the not-so-spooky Enchanted Walk is welcoming haunt for the younger set. Friendly Halloween characters — including witches, fairies, aliens, ghosts, butterflies, and scarecrows — greet visitors. This year a pirate ship with a band of pirates has made its way here to get in on the action. Other activities include holiday-themed arts and crafts, and the return of the Mystic Den, with a fortuneteller and face painting. And, of course, the glow tent, is another popular spot where everyone heads to make “slime.” Just be sure to take the goopy stuff home; “sliming” those nearby is frowned upon.
Costumes are always encouraged. And in the spirit of Hallowen season, kids may find some treats to pick up as they wander about.
“There’s always something for everyone here,” Anselmo says.
Find out what’s lurking in the woods at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning, 1 Tanglewood Road, Rockville Centre. Visit cstl.org for information and tickets.
Gone Fishing
Anglers — novice and skilled — will be on the scene once again when the Fall Fishing & Children’s Festival returns to Hempstead Lake State Park. Presented by the Department of Environmental Conservation’s “I Fish NY” program, on Oct. 18, the annual event offers an ideal way to make the most of the season with a mix of fishing, fun and family activities.
The day kicks off at 10 a.m., with a fresh stock of trout in the park’s South and MacDonald Ponds to help introduce families to the sport of freshwater fishing. Everyone can take part in fly-fishing instruction, casting practice, fish-cleaning demonstrations, and even borrow rods and bait free of charge.
“All ages are encouraged to attend to enjoy this wonderful fishing experience,” says George Gorman, State Parks’ Long Island regional director. “We hope festival attendees also take the opportunity to explore the beautiful Hempstead Lake State Park and all it has to offer.”
But the fun doesn’t end at the water’s edge. Young visitors can enjoy pumpkin decorating, a magic show, reptile exhibit, and a playful casting contest where the “catch” could be a pumpkin or a prize. Whether you’re an avid angler or just looking for a day outdoors with the kids, the Fall Fishing & Children’s Festival reels in plenty of reasons to drop by.
The fishing license requirement for all anglers over the age of 15 is suspended for this festival, and admission and parking are free. Check out the activities at the park’s MacDonald and South Ponds, also in Rockville Centre. Visit parks.ny.gov for more.
Jessie’s Girl
Break out the neon, dust off those leg warmers and tease up your hair — the ultimate ‘80s party returns to the Paramount stage. Jessie’s Girl, a band of New York City’s top rock and pop musicians, returns with their high-energy Back to the Eighties show, guaranteed to turn back the clock. Fronted by powerhouse vocalists who transform into the decade’s biggest icons, Jessie’s Girl delivers the hits that defined an era. Add in bold costumes, playful choreography, audience participation, and plenty of extras — bubbles, confetti, and props galore — and the result is part concert, part theater and all ‘80s spectacle. These talents each have dozens of credits performing with authentic ‘80s icons who made the music famous to begin with. With over-the-top renditions of memorable songs, Jessie’s Girl captures the glitz and sheer energy of the decade like no one else.
Friday, Oct. 10, 8 p.m. $64.75
$52.25, $49.25, $48.50, $37.25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Kate Kortum: The Music of ‘Wild Woman’
Tilles Center’s Atrium becomes an intimate lounge, showcasing 23-year-old Kate Kortum, one of the jazz world’s most exciting breakout artists. Hailing from Houston, Texas, her warm, distinctive sound blends bebop, blues, the Great American Songbook, and musical theater with captivating, story-driven lyrics. Her artistry bridges tradition and innovation, offering audiences a fresh, contemporary take on the jazz vocal legacy. Critics have praised her ability to revitalize jazz with authenticity and daring. “Wild Woman,” her sophomore album, features reimagined standards and originals that explore a woman’s relationship with complex emotions.
Thursday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Courtesy Mike Pollack
Thousands of Jack O’Lanterns illuminate the season, hand carved to perfection.
Courtesy CSTL
Some fascinating spooks have taken up residence at Center for Science Teaching and Learning’s Spooky Fest.
Courtesy NYS Parks
Let’s fish: Cast those lines at annual Fall Family Fishing Festival held at Hempstead Lake State Park.
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR
9
On Exhibit Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “At Play,” surveys artists’ perennial fascination with entertainment in all forms. Framing this topic between the nineteenth century Belle Époque and today, the exhibit includes works by Pablo Picasso, Reginald Marsh, Everett Shinn, and Max Beckmann among many others. The works are gathered to represent a wide range of expressions, from entertainment-related activities to the fascinating personalities involved. It encompasses dance, music, theater, movies, circus, boating, and beach scenes, along with horseracing and various sports, both active and passive Also featured are archival items from The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, including costumes by Marc Chagall for Die Zauberflöte, vintage fashion items by such designers as Alfred Shaheen, and iconic costumes from the FoliesBergère in Paris. On view until Nov. 9.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
OCT 10
Sculpture Stroll
Visit Nassau County Museum of Art for hour for discovery and conversation. Explore a selection of sculptures sited across the museum property. Each stop on the tour delves into the choices, inspirations and material of the artists and their sculptures. Registration required. $20, $10 members
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 5-6 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
Garden Harvest
Visit Old Westbury Gardens for a farm-to-table event with local food growers and purveyors. Savor artisan, wood-fired pizza with seasonal Long Island farmsourced ingredients and toppings grown at Old Westbury Gardens, paired with locally grown salads, desserts, and Long Island wines. Also participate in lawn games, and garden strolls during this festive autumn evening, along with entertainment. $125 family of four, $50 adult, $20 child. Reservations required. Held rain or shine.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 5:30-8 p.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
OCT 18
Anthony Rodia
Anthony Rodia is back “Laugh Till It Hurts” tour, an all-new stand-up showcase that’s refreshingly genuine and quick witted. Building on the success of his previous outing, this is his biggest and most ambitious yet. A first-generation Italian-American born and raised in Westchester, Rodia came out of the womb making people laugh. In his 20s he tried a few open mics, but ultimately took a different career path as a finance manager of a luxury car dealership. In 2019, Rodia returned to comedy and left his day job to become a full-time stand-up comic. With a background steeped in family traditions, Italian-American culture and the ups and downs of modern life, Anthony’s comedy feels like a conversation with your funniest friend. His blend of observational humor, self-deprecation and witty impressions has led him on his path as one of the most exciting rising stars on the comedy scene. Anthony’s comedic career skyrocketed thanks to his viral social media videos, where he brought his hilarious, larger-than-life characters and relatable commentary to millions of fans. His most iconic characters, including his over-the-top Uncle Vinny persona, quickly became fan favorites, making him a social media sensation and establishing a loyal following. His ability to turn everyday situations — family gatherings, parenting, and even the quirks of his own Italian heritage —into laugh-out-loud moments has earned him widespread recognition and a rapidly growing fanbase. Tickets are $144.75, $108.75, $98.25, $86.50, $76.25, $6475.
Cooking with Maria’s Mexican Learn to marinate beef and elevate your taco night at Baldwin Public Library.
• Where: 2385 Grand Ave.
• Time: Noon-1:30 p.m.
• Contact: baldwinpl.org or call (516) 223-6228 OCT 11
Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Kids in grades 6-12 are invited to stop by Baldwin Public Library for some seasonal fun. Decorate a pumpkin with whatever theme you like. Teens will get to choose the winner! All pumpkins will be displayed in the Teen Zone for the month. Decoration supplies are provided by the library. Bring your own pumpkin. Registration required
• Where: 2385 Grand Ave.
• Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m.
• Contact: baldwinpl.org or call (516) 223-6228
‘Saltwater Stories’ Festival
Families are invited to Long Island Children’s Museum’s special opening weekend festival to
celebrate the launch of Saltwater Stories, the new permanent exhibition celebrating Long Island’s coastal heritage. Meet local fisherfolk, explore hands-on activities for all ages, and dive into the rich traditions of our bays and beaches. Enjoy storytelling, crafts, and demonstrations that bring Long Island’s maritime history to life! All activities included with museum admission.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
OCT 18
Korean Culture Day
Celebrate the vibrant traditions of Korea at Old Westbury Gardens at the 3rd Annual Korean Culture Day Celebration. This family-friendly event brings together the sights, sounds and flavors of Korea in the beautiful garden setting. Enjoy authentic Korean foods and flavors, dance performances, Tae Kwon Do demonstrations, and more. Whether you’re discovering Korean culture for the first time or reconnecting with cherished traditions, this afternoon offers something for everyone. Free with
OCT 23
‘Brown Bag’ Art Conversation
Join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular Brown Bag Lecture. Experience the museum’s exhibition “At Play: Artists & Entertainment” through a lively and informative presentation. Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program. Registration not required. First come, first seated.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 1 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
OCT
25
Zombie makeup effects workshop
Kids in grades 3-5 can zombify themselves at Baldwin Library. With a step-by-step process, be transformed into a zombie. Using special effects techniques applied in movies, create cuts, tears, wounds, and other forms of zombification. Also learn about the history of zombies as you turn into the living dead! Registration required.
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 7 and 9:30 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
Gardens admission.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 2-5 p.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
Oktoberfest
Baldwin Civic Association welcomes all to the 7th annual Oktoberfest. Enjoy the seasonal celebration.
• Where: 1980 Grand Ave.
• Time: 2-6 p.m.
• Contact: baldwincivic.org
Enchanted Forest
Nassau County Museum of Art invites families to another Super Family Saturday program. This magical adventure includes hands-on art activities themed around transformation, fantasy, and discovery, plus a special trail through the site’s fall forest.. $20 non-member adults, $10 members and children.
• Where: Manes Center, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Session 1, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; Session 2, 1-2:30 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
• Where: 2385 Grand Ave.
• Time: Noon- 1:30 p.m.
• Contact: baldwinpl.org or call (516) 223-6228
Pumpkin Fun Families can stop by Baldwin Library for fun and fast-paced activities that celebrate the season.
• Where: 2385 Grand Ave.
• Time: 10 a.m.-10:45 p.m.
• Contact: baldwinpl.org or call (516) 223-6228
Halloween Pet Parade
Visit Nassau County Museum of Art for a parade of r beloved costumed friends around the museum’s grounds. The event includes food, family art making, and more. Awards will be given for the most creative and inventive costumes! $25 per family, $20 members.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
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.
Nature’s mystery and beauty inspires artist
in Manhattan’s Lower East Side projects. Her father was a sergeant in the army, and Gomez remembers her upbringing as lower income. In 1972, after she married Ivan Gomez, now 75, they moved to Baldwin, where they raised two sons.
Arlene credits her early interest in art to inspiring teachers and mentors.
“I had a teacher there that inspired me with her art,” she recalls of her junior high years JHS 60 Beha on the Lower East Side. While at Washington Irving High School she attended summer programs in art at Pratt and Cooper Union, and later studied design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, launching a career in textile design that lasted 15 years.
Her work in textiles took her to studios and mills across the country, where she created designs and ensured that clients got “exactly the color that he or she wanted.”
Gomez took a break from her career to raise her children, and returned to freelance work once they were older. Art, however, was always part of her life. She continued sketching and painting, but it wasn’t until she joined the Baldwin Senior Citizens Club’s oil painting group six years ago that she began to take landscape art more seriously.
Her landscapes are inspired by the natural world around her. She is drawn to the “rich colors that nature gives us,” she said, and strives to “put my own expression to it.” Landscapes are, for Gomez, a way to feel “more free and appreciative to what the Lord has given us.”
She finds still lifes less compelling, saying, “Still life you can, you know, put a pot and some vegetables or flowers and, you know, it’s just OK, it’s there. But nature itself, it’s mysterious and beautiful at the same time, and still dangerous.”
One of her favorite works was inspired by a photo her nephew took upstate. She was captivated by fog coming in over the hills, and enhanced the scene with her own colors and vision. Gomez’s sense of belonging has evolved over time. Growing up in New
York City, she was always surrounded by family. “We lived with them in their brownstone,” she says of her grandparents describing a childhood where she was rarely alone. Safety and community were paramount, and she noted that “everybody watched over everyone else.”
Today, she said, that sense of community is harder to find, especially in the city.
Her multicultural background sometimes made her feel like an outsider. She recalls not being “accepted by my own because I was fair” and having a “little German accent” as a child. But over time, she learned to navigate multiple languages and cultures, speaking German, Italian and Spanish as well as English, she said.
Having her art displayed in Freeport is deeply meaningful for Gomez. “It made me feel welcome,” she said. “It made me feel I belong to, in other words, to a tribe.”
As she grows older, she finds comfort in her heritage and the community she has found through art, and Baldwin, and Long Island, offer a sense of safety and beauty that she treasures. “It’s beautiful — you see a lot of nature,” she said. “It’s not a lot of concrete, like in
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE FW SERIES I TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. DANIEL FERNANDEZ, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April
17, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 13, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 840 Kings Parkway, Baldwin a/k/a North Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in Baldwin, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 36, Block 132 and Lots 196-198. Approximate amount of judgment is $919,807.64 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604647/2024. Brian J. Davis, Esq.,
the city. The people are very friendly. I just feel safe, and it was great for my sons to grow up.”
It’s the perfect setting for an artist whose work is rooted in the landscapes around her, and this month the Art Alcove at the Rec Center will be the perfect place to see the world through Gomez’s eyes.
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A heron at sunset anchors “Jamaica Bay Serenity,” one of Gomez’s nature-inspired works.
“Streaming the Silver mine Lake” captures the serenity of nature with Gomez’s signature attention to color and light.
Courtesy Arlene Gomez
Baldwin artist Arlene Gomez worked on a village scene at her easel, preparing pieces for her Freeport exhibit.
misty hills and rustic fencing create a quiet atmosphere in “mountain’s Silent Veil.”
in “Gazing Beyond the Harbor,” a figure looks across the water at a glowing skyline, blending portraiture and landscape.
A 16 x 23 mixed-media fashion illustration by Gomez, reflecting her earlier career in textile design.
HomesHERALD
An architect for a sunroom?
Q. I’m buying a sunroom for my breakfast room on the back of my split-level house, about 8 feet off the ground. I’m being told by the contractor that I need an architect and sealed plans. Since it’s basically a kit of parts that will go on my existing deck, why do I need this? It seems like a lot of extra expense the sunroom people didn’t tell me about. If I already have a permit for the deck, it should be allowed, right? I haven’t bought the sunroom yet. I’m just trying to be sure I know the whole story before I do this, probably by spring, when the weather is better for construction. Any advice would be helpful.
A. Do things once, the best way. A deck isn’t habitable, but a sunroom is, and a permit is required. Plans have to show structural support, energy and building code compliance. Rain, moisture and ice are your primary concerns. You need the whole story without the sales part. Just like any purchase, issues you might not expect are still important, like finding out what kind of oil to add to your snow blower before the engine seizes or that windows without factory tinting can allow ultra-violet sunlight rays to fade your carpet. As an architect for a largely popular sunroom manufacturer in the 1980s and ’90s, I experienced many issues with their construction.
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Pre-engineered panel systems are designed by the company, hopefully by engineers, and should come with plans, from the manufacturer, that can be sealed and signed by their in-house engineer. If not, plans may need to be drawn from scratch by an architect or engineer that you hire so those plans can be integrated with your house. Integrated means that the company generally just sells you a product and doesn’t necessarily give any indication of how to support the unit or how to attach the unit system to your house so that it won’t leak or move.
This is the general failing of the system, since, as I experienced with most of the installations, the part I could detail was free of leaking or movement, but the units themselves leaked nearly every time. We could detail how the edges of the unit could be sealed and redundantly weather-stripped and flashed, but the frames around the glass and wall edges would unseal and leak. I even met with the corporate president/ owner and identified the specific problems. Promises to correct leak issues were made but not kept, and eventually I gave up.
I looked at a two-year-old system while discussing other work for a home recently. The owner described the back-and-forth misery he and his family were experiencing with their sunroom and the company. Even 25 years after I gave up, the same company is still doing things the same way. You need a detail-oriented architect and installer, even if you think you don’t. The cost of doing things twice is much greater. Good luck.
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We need to crack down on visa overstays
What’s wrong with the federal government finally stepping up to track down the millions of people who are overstaying their visas on American soil?
The Trump administration should be applauded for taking this issue seriously. Yet if you look at the ridiculously biased articles on the subject, you’d think the crackdown is designed to quash the free speech of innocent people.
Many have been amazed to discover that there are over 50 million people in the United States on visas. At this point, we don’t know how many of them have illegally overstayed the privilege of being here based on approvals they received for a few weeks for a vacation or a business trip, but we know it’s a substantial number.
In fact, roughly 40 percent of all
those here illegally did not arrive by way of an illegal border crossing, but rather by overstaying visas that were granted to them as a privilege.
Part of the crackdown is to target those fermenting dissension on American soil, as was the case with the Columbia University graduate student who was organizing protests that wound up cutting off access for Jewish students on campus, and, in some cases, harassing them. But there shouldn’t have to be a predicate beyond the overstay that warrants the deportation of these people. Someone who overstays a visa doesn’t get to say they’re entitled to stay here forever simply because they haven’t committed a crime since they came onto American soil. The mere fact that they’ve overstayed is grounds enough to deport them. Failing to enforce the time limits on visas sends the message that we have an open border, which is why millions come here deliberately on temporary visas with the intent to stay forever.
Roughly 40 percent of all those here illegally did not cross a border illegally.
The articles opposing the crackdown often quote immigration attorneys and far-left advocacy groups that have been known to promote illegal immigration. Nowhere are there quotes from those in American society who are deleteriously impacted by these overstays. There are no quotes from those who have been denied jobs because those here illegally took them. No quotes from those who have had their wages suppressed because of illegal labor. No quotes from those who have had to wait longer for doctor’s appointments, or who saw their rents soar because so many people who overstay their visas are competing for a limited housing supply.
Once again, the media has portrayed those who come to stay here illegally as the good guys — the innocent victims — and those trying to enforce the law as the bad guys who are exploiting the underdog immigrants.
Let’s not forget that the Egyptian national who fire-bombed and killed
Jews a few months ago had illegally overstayed his visa, along with his family. The salt in the wound is that the Biden administration gave working papers to this individual who was here illegally.
Then there was the man from India who overstayed his visa and wound up getting a commercial driver’s license in both California and Washington, despite the fact that he was here illegally and didn’t understand the English-language road signs. He got involved in an accident that led to the deaths of three American citizens.
We are committing national suicide by not enforcing our immigration laws. Good for the administration for getting tough, and shame on those in the media who make law-enforcement officials look like the bad guys.
Steve Levy is president of Common Sense Strategies, a political consulting firm. He served as Suffolk County executive, as a state assemblyman and as host of “The Steve Levy Radio Show.” He is also the author of “Solutions to America’s Problems” and “Bias in the Media.”
SteveLevy.info, Twitter @SteveLevyNY, steve@commonsensestrategies.com.
Libraries are precious, and must be treated with care
Some of my most enduring memories involve libraries. Attending “Story Hour” at the local library with my mother as a child. Working my way through college staffing the Circulation desk and re-shelving books. Viewing the special exhibits at Oxford University’s Bodleian Library while serving as a visiting scholar after retiring from Adelphi. Writing my book on university governance while serving as an Allen Room Scholar at the New York Public Library. Showing the Gutenberg Bible to a grandson while visiting the Morgan Library.
Libraries are precious homes for books and other materials that preserve and interpret the past, stir curiosity and the imagination, and nurture future generations. They are celebrated worldwide on International Literacy Day, Sept. 8.
Andrew Carnegie recognized the importance of libraries over a century ago, when he began supporting free public libraries as places of congregation and education. Carnegie believed that access to information and knowledge
would help those from limited household circumstances advance in careers and civic engagement. That certainly was the case for me.
The heart of a library is the librarian. Librarians are licensed professionals with graduate degrees. They are experts in collecting sources of information and ensuring that valid and valuable knowledge is available. They monitor access to age-appropriate materials and make decisions based on evidence, not emotion.
Jtargeted books focus on sexual identity and racism, including slavery.
The lone Supreme Court ruling against book bans, from Long Island, no less, was Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District No. 26 v. Pico, in 1982. Some think it could be overturned by a new case from Texas focusing on the removal of 17 books deemed “obscene” and “pornographic,” including Maurice Sendak’s childhood classic, “Where the Wild Things Are.”
ust like doctors and scientists, the expertise of librarians is now questioned.
Librarians build collections according to mission and library type. They not only promote literacy, foster education and encourage critical thinking, but also offer free access to technology. They support teachers and effective teaching. Businesspeople and professionals as well as students use libraries, and seek the help of librarians, for research assignments of all kinds.
But these temples to truth are being threatened by initiatives to ban books and dismantle the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. PEN America, a nonprofit literary and freeexpression advocacy group, found 10,046 instances of book bans in the 2023-24 school year. It noted book bans in 29 states and 220 public school districts, including on Long Island. Most of the
Banning books denies freedom of speech. In the past, such efforts were isolated and local. Now these campaigns are national, and simply compile lists of books to be banned whose subjects or authors — especially Black authors — are deemed questionable without any evidence. In years past, books such as Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” and Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” were banned, until successful lawsuits returned them to library shelves.
On Long Island, there are 120 public libraries and 125 public school districts with 656 schools. Public libraries are governed by boards of trustees and funded by fundraising, tax revenue and government grants. They are essential to high-quality schooling and are vital community resources, especially in
rural and low-income regions.
According to one national report, “the American library . . . is a barometer of where we currently stand as a society when it comes to access to knowledge and information.” Libraries host listings of employment opportunities, provide health care bulletins, are sources of election information, make textbooks available for free, lend audio books for the hearing-impaired, offer citizenship classes, and open their rooms for community gatherings.
It seems that increasing numbers of people question the expertise of librarians, just as they question the expertise of doctors and scientists. None of these professions is infallible, of course. What sets them apart is that they are honorbound by professional codes of ethics, and change their conclusions when new evidence is uncovered. For the librarian, this means curating as well as collecting and storing sources of information, whether on discs, in the cloud or in books.
The Swedish designer Josef Frank said, “The world is a book, and the person who stays at home reads only one page.” The librarian is our travel guide to new vistas through books, and libraries are our vehicles. We should treat them with care.
Robert Scott is president emeritus of Adelphi University and co-author, with Drew Bogner, of “Letters to Students: What it Means to be a College Graduate.”
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Long Island’s creative spark deserves investment
long Island is known for its beaches, its vineyards and its suburban sprawl. But a new report reminds us of something too often overlooked: The arts are one of the region’s most powerful economic engines.
According to the Center for an Urban Future, jobs in arts and culture on Long Island grew by a stunning 21.6 percent between 2014 and 2024. That’s five times faster than the region’s overall economy. The number of independent artists nearly doubled during the same period, fueling downtown revitalization, driving tourism and supporting small businesses. From muralists in Patchogue to theater productions in Huntington, creativity is reshaping the Island’s identity, and its bottom line.
And yet, just as this growth is transforming local communities, warning signs are flashing. The same report shows that the average arts worker on Long Island earns just $46,500 annually — barely half the regional average income. The number of performing-arts jobs remains more than 13 percent below pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, the costs of housing and living have skyrocketed, with housing prices alone climbing more than 60 percent in the past decade.
The math doesn’t add up. We are asking artists to do the impossible: generate enormous economic and cultural value for the region while surviving on wages that barely cover rent.
The problem isn’t talent or ambition. It’s support — or rather, the lack of it. Despite being home to 14.7 percent of New York state’s population, Long Island
letters
But Mamdani is giving people hope, Jerry
To the Editor:
receives just 2.8 percent of grants awarded by the state’s Council on the Arts. Less than 1 percent of federal National Endowment for the Arts funding in New York finds its way here.
And while state economic development councils are investing more than ever in arts projects statewide, only 3.1 percent of Long Island’s recent allocation went to the creative sector.
This chronic underinvestment has created what researchers call a “negative feedback loop.” Because the region has historically been overlooked, its institutions lack the resources to compete effectively for competitive funding, which in turn reinforces low funding rates. It’s a cycle that limits growth and puts Long Island’s creative vitality at risk.
The solutions are clear, and the payoff could be enormous. The Center for an Urban Future’s recommendations should be a wake-up call to policymakers.
Among them: dedicating 1 percent of county budgets to arts programming and operations, expanding the state arts budget, and creating a Long Island Grant Academy to strengthen the capacity of local organizations to win state and federal support.
The report also suggests converting underused commercial properties into cultural spaces, integrating the arts into tourism planning, and even embedding artists directly into government initiatives, as upstate Erie County has done successfully.
These aren’t fringe ideas. They’re pragmatic strategies to sustain a sector that has already proven itself indispensable. Arts and culture are not luxuries to be funded only in good times. They are
infrastructure — just as essential to the region’s economic vitality and community well-being as roads, schools and hospitals.
Consider the ripple effects: thriving downtowns anchored by galleries and theaters. Restaurants and shops boosted by performance-goers and festival crowds. Tourists are drawn to more than just beaches and wineries, while young families choose to stay because their communities feel vibrant and alive. At a time when many Long Island towns struggle with empty storefronts and affordability crises, creativity has been a rare and steady growth engine.
To jeopardize this progress through neglect would be shortsighted. As Jonathan Bowles, the center’s executive director, put it: “Unless county leaders and the state step up, Long Island risks losing the very creativity that is powering its success.”
Leaders in Nassau and Suffolk counties must recognize that a modest investment today could safeguard the region’s cultural and economic future. Allocating just 1 percent of county budgets to the arts —around $80 million annually — would not only stabilize existing organizations but also unlock additional state and federal dollars. That kind of leverage is how Long Island can finally get its fair share.
The arts have already proven what they can do for Long Island. The question now is whether Long Island will do right by the arts. If we want downtowns that hum with life, economies that diversify and communities that feel worth staying in, then investing in creativity is not optional. It’s essential.
Re Jerry Kremer’s column in last week’s issue, “There are many reasons not to embrace Mamdani”: Nassau residents’ concern over Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, is curious, as we have no vote on the matter. Perhaps we sense the specter in our basement.
There are, I think, two reasons people embrace Mamdani — desperation and hope. Consider the central issues: housing, homelessness and “affordability,” increasingly enmeshed and worsening to the point of crisis. That’s desperation.
Housing, specifically urban housing, has been in decline since Ronald Reagan was president. Successive New York state and New York City administrations have failed to address the problem, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s and Mayor Eric Adams’s. Curtis Sliwa has no plan. They all focus on the flip side of
opinions
Balanced energy policies will keep our lights on
For too many families and small businesses in New York, high energy bills have become a serious threat to their stability and success. But that burden is not shared equally. A recent study by Binghamton University found that Black and brown households spend a disproportionate share of their income on average utility expenses. That same pressure is felt by the restaurants, retailers and other small businesses that anchor our communities, for whom higher bills mean tighter margins and fewer dollars to reinvest in jobs and growth. Rising costs hit our communities twice — once at the kitchen table, and again on Main Street.
Our elected leaders, however, have the opportunity to reorient the state’s energy policies to lower bills and protect our communities. To keep families
rfinancially stable and local businesses thriving, policymakers must support a multi-pronged energy strategy to reduce overall costs, lessen disparities and foster a more reliable grid. If energy affordability and equity are left unaddressed, high costs will continue to threaten household budgets and the survival of the very enterprises that drive opportunity in our neighborhoods. The ripple effects are enormous. When families are forced to spend more on basic energy needs, they have less to spend in local shops, less to save for education and less to invest in their future. When small businesses face higher utility bills, they are forced to cut back on hiring, scale down expansion — or in some cases, shut their doors altogether.
existing inequities. For Long Island, that could mean more families in financial distress and more businesses shutting down.
sources are vital to our future, but they can’t meet the demand alone.
As someone who has dedicated his career to bolstering our local economy, I have great concern about the longterm impact of sky-high utility bills. If households are squeezed and small businesses cannot survive, job creation stalls, local wealth declines and entire communities lose ground. Lawmakers must take this seriously.
impose the steepest costs on those least able to afford them.
For Long Island’s business community, the stakes could not be higher. Rising energy bills risk driving entrepreneurs away and weakening our competitiveness. For families, the burden threatens financial stability and quality of life. For both, the wrong policies could deepen historical disparities.
There is no question that New York must do its part to advance sustainability, but the avenues we take to pursue that mission matter. We need a path forward that considers all factors before making decisions that could limit energy resources and further drive up costs.
This is why energy policy cannot be treated as one-size-fits-all. Communities differ in infrastructure, housing stock and business needs. Policies that ignore those differences risk driving up costs, reducing reliability and exacerbating
Letters
housing, speaking of “involuntary commitments” to “treatment” in facilities that don’t exist.
That totally ignores the tens of thousands of shelter-living students who need no treatment beyond a stable home address. The candidates speak of police and clearing the streets, but not of where this refuse would go. Cuomo’s plan is, again, only poetry in future tense while the desperation is now. A “rent freeze” is not “moderate,” but “moderate” has failed. The point is to keep people in their homes, now.
“Socialism” has worked well for the wealthy — maybe it should work a little for the poor as well. For all the obvious obstacles of Mamdani’s proposals, he alone names the problem, addresses its immediacy, acknowledges its multiple entwined factors and sees the human families entangled in those larger forces. That’s where the hope comes from, reflected in votes. It is a hope readily transferable to any other willing leader, but if hope comes only in Muslim garb …
BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre
It’s Democrats who are threatening our democracy
To the Editor:
Re Randi Kreiss’s column in the Sept. 25-Oct. 1 issue, “Is our democracy suffering growing pains”: The United States is approaching the 250th anniversary of
this political experiment. Kreiss’s op-ed attempted to place the blame on MAGA for the decline in our country, and I respectfully disagree.
■ Standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance has always been a mainstay of our country, until people on the left attempted to turn any display of national pride into a signal of racism.
■ Many on the left applauded the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was simply engaging young college students in active, respectful debate.
■ Not knowing who was running our country as Joe Biden was in mental decline was a huge threat to our democracy. Who used the autopen? Who issued the pardons? Who ran our country?
■ The Democrats wrote the book on using the Department of Justice to go after political opponents, and now have the nerve to complain when it is used against them. They weaponized the FBI to arrest political opponents like Gen. Michael Flynn, Peter Navarro, Roger Stone, Steve Bannon and Paul Manafort, to name a few. Now the Republicans have indicted Jim Comey as the tip of the spear, with many more to follow. Thank you, Democrats, for paving the way.
■ Arresting a former president for the first time in our nation’s history and attempting to incarcerate and bankrupt him is more proof that Democrats are more of a threat to our democracy.
■ If they gain control of both chambers of Congress, we can look forward to mak-
That means pursuing a balanced energy strategy — one that lowers costs and ensures reliability while advancing toward a greener future. Renewable energy is vital to our future, and requires sustained investments. But renewables alone cannot meet demand without driving costs higher. Natural gas, nuclear, hydro, wind, solar and emerging technologies all play important roles in powering New York. Phasing out reliable sources prematurely would destabilize the system and
The Empire State has always risen to meet big challenges. By adopting a balanced energy strategy that values every resource, invests in innovation and never loses sight of affordability, we can do so again — and set a national example in the process.
Phil Andrews is president of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, New York state’s largest African American chamber. He is also a member of the Long Island Power Authority’s Community Advisory Board.
by Tim Baker
ing Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., states, packing the Supreme Court, and reopening our borders. Another B.S. impeachment will follow. Sounds undemocratic to me.
■ I could go on, but I will only add one more thing. I challenge you to put on a red “Make America Great Again” hat and walk the streets of Manhattan — especially the Upper West Side — and report back on your First Amend-
ment right of freedom of speech and expression. To all the people on the hard left, if you want to see the real threat to democracy, simply look in the mirror. I enjoy the fact that President Trump lives rent free in the heads of the liberal left. God bless America.
Framework
Yup, these pages are magical: at the Magic at Coney Show at Temple Beth Am — Merrick
TOM O’CONNOR North Bellmore
