Members of the Environmental Club at Shore Road School in the Bellmore School District displayed their leadership skills as they guided activities inspired by sustainable living with their younger Winthrop Avenue School peers.
The Environmental Club visited Stacey Reiner’s class and broke out into groups with third graders. First, they read various stories based on environmental sustainability, such as “The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle,” and held engaged discussions about the stories’ messages.
Above, Environmental Club members gathered after a successful day of leading activities. Right, groups of children engaged in activities focused on environmental sustainability.
Holocaust film screened at TOH golf course
By REI WolFSoHN Correspondent
Producer and former educator Vince Marmorale was surprised to discover Livia Delessio, who survived the Holocaust in the care of a convent in Italy, at his recent showing of “My Italian Secret,” a film about Jewish Holocaust survival in Italy, which was screened at the Town of Hempstead’s Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse on April 30.
“My Italian Secret” covers the story of the Catholic refugee network and the Jews that it saved. Delessio, an attendee of the screening, shared her story with the audience.
“It was a miracle,” Delessio said. “God, somehow he must have inspired my mother on what to answer the German Nazi that came to the door.” Delessio was saved by her town’s convent, which allowed her and her sister to spend their days there. The caveat was that they required that the girls be baptized. Their mother agreed because she cared more about saving their lives.
“So, I was also baptized, but my heart is still Jewish,” Delessio said. “No matter what they do, it’s like a root to a tree, you can’t change.”
‘My Italian Secret’
In World War II, the Nazis arrived at Delessio’s door and asked her mother for their papers. Her mother provided their old papers, without religious designation. When the Nazis asked where her husband was, she said he was working for the Nazis in Germany and she saluted Hitler — and they left her alone with her two daughters.
That wasn’t an issue for most Jews, saved by the network of 26 monasteries and convents in Italy, which provided false identities and shelter for those fleeing Nazis.
The film features the stories of many heroes, including Dr. Giovanni Borromeo. He ran a hospital across the river from the Jewish quarter in his city in Italy. Borromeo came up with a disease that he called “K” which he described horrifi-
Continued on page 20
Courtesy Bellmore Public Schools
Bellmore, N. Bellmore board of eds. uncontested
By Jordan Vallone jvallone@liherald.com
Bellmore, North Bellmore, and Bellmore-Merrick residents will vote on their respective 2025–26 school district budgets on Tuesday, May 20. Each of the proposed spending plans reflects a commitment to academic excellence, student well-being, and fiscal responsibility, while staying within the state-mandated tax levy caps. Voters must cast their ballots at their designated polling locations: residents of the Bellmore Union Free School District will vote at Shore Road School, 2801 Shore Road, from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., while North Bellmore residents will vote at Newbridge Road School, 1601 Newbridge Road, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
In North Bellmore, the Board of Education has proposed a $70,332,774 budget with a 2.55 percent tax levy increase. The plan ensures continued support for a rich curriculum that nurtures students’ academic, social, and emotional development. Investments in technology, safety, long-term planning, and facility upgrades—including electrical improvements and repairs at Newbridge
Bellmore, North Bellmore and Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District taxpayers will approve their respective district’s budgets on May 20.
Road School — are key components of the proposal. A second proposition on the ballot would authorize the district to use $3,348,000 from its capital reserve fund to enhance ADA accessibility and renovate bathrooms across the district, at no additional cost to taxpayers.
Two incumbent board of education members, Rosemarie Coreless and Christopher Nardo, are up for re-election. The races are not contested.
The Bellmore Union Free School District is proposing a $42,174,160 budget that carries a 2.48 percent tax levy
increase. The spending plan focuses on strengthening instructional programs, upgrading technology, and expanding educational opportunities while maintaining fiscal discipline. As a recognized Lighthouse Leadership District and a member of the League of Innovative Schools, Bellmore continues to prioritize innovation and leadership development for its “Community of Learners.”
Two incumbent board of education members, Maryann Kelly and Janet Goller, are also seeking re-election. The races are not contested.
In the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, the proposed budget totals $204,015,039 with a 2.82 percent tax levy increase. The plan supports expanded offerings in STEAM, research and writing, career and technical education, and student support services, including the arts, athletics, and mental health. It also includes funds for renovations to boys’ locker rooms at both middle schools. A second proposition seeks voter approval to use $3 million from the district’s capital reserve for improvements at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, such as roof and masonry repairs and classroom renovations — again, with no added tax burden to residents.
Bellmore-Merrick’s school board is a component board, made up of representatives from Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick and North Merrick. Following the re-election cycle in the elementary districts, members will be appointed to serve on the high school district’
Each district’s budget proposal aims to uphold high standards in education while remaining sensitive to the financial concerns of taxpayers.
Calhoun duo recognized as county track champs
Two seniors at Sanford H. Calhoun High School clinched Nassau County championships in their respective events during the winter track and field season. At the May 7 Board of Education meeting, Milan Alexander and Dana Wauchope were honored for their athletic achievements.
Alexander delivered an outstanding performance by winning the county championship in the triple jump. She secured 10 out of the 14 points she scored for the team during the meet. Alexander also racked up an impressive 24 points at the Conference Championship.
“As a leader among our hurdlers and jumpers, she is constantly supporting her peers, offering advice, sharing techniques and cheering louder than anyone,” Board Trustee Ed Corona said at the meeting. “She leads not just with her performances, but with her heart and has left a permanent mark on this team.
“Milan’s dedication and consistency have made her a cornerstone of the team, and her performances in the triple jump have established her as one of the best in the county,” coach Joseph Migliano said.
Alexander plans to study marketing and entrepreneurship at Howard University in the fall.
Wauchope was named the
Milan Alexander was honored at the May 7 Board of Education
attend although her accomplishments were still noted and recognized.
county and conference champion in weight throw and placed third in the Long Island championship.
“As team captain, Dana has been more than just a leader; she’s been a mentor,” Corona added. “Whether it’s the shot put, discus, or weight throw,
Dana isn’t just competing… she’s teaching, guiding and inspiring the next generation of throwers. Her work ethic and competitive drive have caught the attention of college coaches, with schools like USC reaching out to learn more about this remarkable young
woman. Dana’s legacy here will last long after she graduates.”
Wauchope plans on studying health and human science at the University of Southern California in the fall.
—Jordan Vallone
Milan alexander
dana Wauchope
Photos courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District
meeting. Dana Wauchope was unable to
Herald file
Certified sustainable: Library a beacon for the future
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com
North Bellmore Public Library celebrated its status as the first Certified Sustainable Libraries in Nassau County, based on assessments from the Sustainable Library Initiative on April 30.
“It’s a proud day for us to celebrate being Nassau County’s first and only certified sustainable library,” said Brandon Gimpelman, member of the library’s board of trustees.
During the celebration, Gimpelman encouraged attendees to take complimentary plants home, including tomato plants, white pine saplings and other seed packets.
The Sustainable Libraries Initiative is a nonprofit guiding libraries in environmental stewardship, social equity and environmental feasibility. The group’s programs offer mentorship and best practices for a sustainable facility.
Jim Luberto, assistant director of the library, helped make these plans a reality.
“We joined the sustainable library initiation program in 2023, so it was a two year process, which we’re still ongoing right now,” he said.
The library has undergone many changes to make it more beneficial for the environment and more accommodating for its community members.
One new renovation, the sensory nook, serves as a comfortable alcove for overstimulated children.
“It’s a good escape, where they can go in and just hang out, do schoolwork, read whatever they feel comfortable with,” Luberto said.
Near the nook is a box with three recently hatched chicks who can teach young people about caring for animals.
Clerk Kate Murray, Library Director Jessica Tymecki, Legislator John Ferretti Jr. and Kelly Sepa.
One of the core aspects of the library’s sustainability is its relationship with the environment. The library has recycled over 2000 pounds of material, is in the process of planting native species of plants, and hands out free seeds for families to grow their own gardens.
Among its future plans is to create a seedling library and a pollinator garden, offering beneficial insects a safe haven in a densely populated region of the island.
The library’s mission is to “make sure we have diverse programming, make sure everyone is accounted for in all the interests of our communities,” Luberto said.
The library also prioritizes care for community members directly. For people inside the building, the
A Forgotten American Treasure
Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac appeared from 1732 to 1758. Amongst other information, it provided pithy sayings and proverbs, many of which have withstood the test of time.
“An empty bag cannot stand upright.”
“Anger is never without a reason, but seldom a good one.”
“Anoint a villain and he’ll stab you: stab him and he’ll anoint you.”
“An old young man will be a young old man.”
“Don’t think to hunt two hares with one dog.”
“Eat few suppers and you’ll need few medicines.”
“Great almsgiving, lessens no man’s living.”
“Happy’s the wooing that’s not long a doing.”
“He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.”
“If your riches are yours, why don’t you take them with you to the other world.”
“Lost time is never found again.”
“The noblest question in the world is, what good may I do in it?”
“They who have nothing to trouble them, will be troubled at nothing.”
“The sleeping fox catches no poultry.”
“The tongue is ever turning to the aching tooth.”
library improved indoor air quality with its regularly cleaned HVAC filters and dehumidifiers to absorb air pollutants. To reduce plastic waste, a new filtered water bottle filler was installed.
So far, the library has given away 500 pounds of food donated to veterans, as well as hundreds of clothes. Another initiative was to donate to the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, and participate in the Crayola initiative by repurposing crayons and giving them to children who have been hospitalized.
For more information about the Sustainable Libraries Initiative, visit SustainableLibrariesInitiative.org. For more on the North Bellmore Public Library and its sustainability initiatives, visit NorthBellmoreLibrary. org/Sustainability.
Joseph D’Alessandro /Herald
On the bottom row, Joseph Ramirez of the Governor’s office, second from left, Legislator Seth Koslow, Library Trustee Brandon Gimpelman, Assistant Director James Luberto, County Comptroller Elaine Phillips, Hempstead Town
VALENTINA KESABIAN
Clarke Senior Lacrosse
IT’S BEEN AN IMPRESSIVE rise for Clarke’s girls’ lacrosse program since it endured a winless 2022 campaign, and Kesabian has been a major part of the turnaround. Last spring she helped lead the Rams to 10 wins, scoring 26 goals and earning All-Conference honors in the process. This season, both the third-year attack and the team continued to flourish. Kesabian finished with 39 goals and 13 assists, and Clarke won 12 of 15 games.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, May 15
Softball playoffs: First round at higher seed ...................TBA
Boys Lacrosse: Freeport at
Boys Lacrosse: Elmont at
Baseball: Elmont at West Hempstead
Baseball: Roosevelt at Uniondale .............................5
G.N. South at V.S. Central ..........................5 p.m.
Friday, May 16
Boys Lacrosse: Garden City at Carey....................4:30 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Oceanside at Farmingdale................5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Plainedge at South Side ...................5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Massapequa at Syosset ...................5 p.m.
Saturday, May 17
Softball: Nassau quarterfinals at higher seed ................TBA
Monday, May 19
Softball: Nassau semifinals GM1 at higher seed ...........TBA
Tuesday, May 20
Softball: Nassau semifinals GM2 at lower seed.............TBA
Baseball: Nassau Class A quarterfinals GM 3................TBA
Baseball: Nassau Class B semifinals GM 2 ...................TBA
Baseball: Nassau Class AAA play-in games ...................TBA
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring 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.
HERALD SPORTS
Mepham prepares for postseason
By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
The Mepham boys’ lacrosse is fully battle tested heading into the Class B playoffs.
As the top seed in Conference II, Mepham faces stiff competition during the regular season facing Nassau County’s top teams in the Power League with the rigorous schedule concluding against Syosset on May 14. The Pirates took defending Long Island Class A champion Farmingdale to overtime and knocked off Conference I foe Oceanside as part of the grueling slate of games that second-head head coach Ryan Walsh hopes pays dividends in the postseason.
“I think it has made us better getting tested in those games and playing the better teams,” said second-year Mepham coach Ryan Walsh. “It has definitely made us a little bit better for these games coming up.”
Mepham got a confidence boost with a 7-5 win against Oceanside on May 7 in which senior midfielder Owen Heller and junior attackman Steven Zweigbaum both tallied two goals apiece and sophomore goalie Vinny Chiro registered 12 saves.
Two days later, the Pirates fell 11-10 in overtime to Lynbrook, which is 10-1 in Conference II. Heller and senior midfielder Cameron Lubrano each recorded three goals in a game where Lynbrook goalie Luca Palleschi registered 23 saves.
The UMass-bound Heller has had a solid senior season for the Pirates with 37 points after earning All-County
honors as a junior.
Senior lefty attackman Alessandro Walaitis has also stepped up big in his final season of high school lacrosse with 28 goals following a 2024 season in which he received honorable mention All County accolades.
Sophomore Connor O’Rourke leads the team in scoring with 39 points including four goals in an 11-9 loss to first place Long Beach on April 26.
Walsh said opposing defenses keying in on Heller and Walaitis have opened more scoring chances for O’Rourke. Lubrano, Zweigbaum and sophomore James
Schmitt have also emerged as scoring options this spring.
The defense has been anchored by Chiro, who has had several double-digit save performances including 15 stops in a 15-9 victory against Plainview on April 9.
“He’s been lights out in cage and has been keeping us in a lot of games,” Walsh said of Chiro. “He’s very good with those close up shots”
The defense in front of Chiro has been led by Jack Weber, Matt Biscardi and Joe Sorrentino. Weber along with defensive midfielders Nick Gampero and Paul Genovese. Weber, a reigning All-Conference honoree, is committed
to play on the collegiate level at Penn State next year.
Senior faceoff specialist Braedon Kehoe, an Iona University commit, has also been a big part of Mepham’s success so far with one of the draw-percenteges in the county.
Mepham is slated to be the No. 7 seed for the upcoming Class B playoffs and will be looking to make at least the quarterfinal stage for a second straight season.
“If we play good team defense and keep winning those faceoffs and limit turnovers, I think we can make a little bit of a run,” Walsh said.
Jeff Wilson/Herald
Mepham’s Cameron Lubrano, left, worked against Lynbrook’s Tyler Berke during last Friday’s OT battle won by the Owls.
Pope Leo XIV is the first pope from the United States
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Cardinals in the Vatican have selected Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Prevost, 69, who has adopted the papal name Pope Leo XIV, is the first pope from the United States.
The conclave, comprising of 133 cardinal electors, reached the required two-thirds majority in just over a day, signaling their decision with the traditional white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney on May 8.
Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago, and received a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University. A member of the Order of St. Augustine, he took his first vows in 1978 and his solemn vows in 1981. He earned a master’s degree in divinity in 1982 from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
He has spent much of his career as a missionary in Peru, eventually becoming a naturalized Peruvian citizen and serving as Archbishop of Chiclayo. In 2023, he was appointed by Pope Francis to lead the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops, an important role in overseeing the selection of bishops around the globe.
Upon his first appearance as pope on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV greeted the thousands assembled with the words, “Peace be with you” in Italian and Spanish.
AP News reported that Pope Leo XIV was formerly the leader of the Order of St. Augustine, formed in the 13th century as a
community dedicated to poverty, service and evangelization.
Pope Leo XIV is expected to continue efforts toward modernization and inclusivity within the Catholic Church.
As well-wishes poured in from global and local leaders, The Most Reverend John Barres, Bishop of Rockville Centre, said: “With my brother bishops, the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, I give thanks to the Almighty God for the gift of our new Holy Father, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.
“As the 267th Successor of Saint Peter, we pray Pope Leo XIV will receive every grace to strengthen the Church in unity and peace, preach Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and confirm the Faith.
“With years of global missionary experience in Peru and leadership in his Augustinian community here in the United States, we pray, too, that his evangelizing pastoral charity and wisdom will guide the mission of the Church he now serves as Supreme Pontiff.”
County Executive Bruce Blakeman said: “Congratulations Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope and proud son of Chicago. His election marks a new chapter of hope, unity and spiritual leadership for Catholics around the world.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we pray for Pope Leo XIV as he begins his sacred mission to guide the Church with wisdom, compassion and strength.”
Saturday, June 7, 2025 10 a.m.
At Hofstra University, graduate students grow the seeds to advance in their career. Hear from representatives across 200 programs that include business, communications, education, engineering, health sciences, nursing, and psychology, and learn all the ways your success can sprout at Hofstra University. Your future awaits.
For event details and to RSVP, visit hofstra.edu/visit
Courtesy Press Office of the Holy See
After a conclave that lasted just over a day, Robert Francis Prevost, 69, from Chicago, was selected as the next pope. He selected the papal name Pope Leo XIV.
Chalk S. State crashes up to bad judgment
By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com
Second story in a series on the Southern State Parkway.
Ana Marte, 67, said that a fatal car accident on the Southern State Parkway in January changed her life.
Her grandson Anthonie Marte, 23, was severely injured in a one-car crash shortly after 11 p.m. on Jan. 12, in the eastbound lanes not far from Exit 30, near Farmingdale and Massapequa, according to the New York State Police.
Investigators said that the car in which Marte was a passenger, a black 2016 Dodge Dart, was traveling at a high rate of speed and weaving between lanes before the driver lost control and crashed into a tree.
Two rear-seat passengers, ages 23 and 21, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Jaden Dsouza, 19, of College Point, Queens, and Marte, of East Elmhurst, Queens, who was in the front passenger seat, were both extricated from the vehicle and transported to a nearby hospital in serious condition.
Marte’s grandmother said he suffered major head injuries, and she still takes care of him daily, feeding him and giving him pain medicine. He is slowly recovering, with doctors’ appointments and physical therapy. “He’s like a baby again,” she said. “He doesn’t want to go outside because he’s scared, and all he does is sleep.”
Marte does not remember the accident, his grandmother said.
Dsouza was later charged with one count of driving while ability impaired by drugs, second-degree manslaughter, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault and aggravated vehicular homicide, police said.
Crash data from the New York State Police shows a fluctuating, but persistent, pattern of accidents on the Southern State Parkway over the past six years, with the number of fatal crashes in a year reaching as high as six.
Crashes resulting in serious personal injury in Nassau have remained relatively low throughout the period, with no more than two reported in any given year.
While most incidents are non-fatal, serious crashes often involve an added risk: intoxication. Speed and distraction remain consistent contributing factors, but impairment by drugs or alcohol increases the potential for deadly outcomes.
“It’s on the driver for the most part,” State Police Capt. Mike Rhodes said. “If they’re inattentive, if they’re speeding, if they’re not following the vehicle and traffic law, they do not understand the severity of what could happen.”
Rhodes oversees 56 state troopers and eight sergeants, many of whom patrol the 25.3-mile long Southern State. Most accidents, he said, occur during peak congestion, at around 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Crash data from the state police show a fluctuating but persistent pattern of accidents on the parkway over the past six years, with fatal crashes increasing in 2024.
In 2019, there were 3,127 crashes on the Nassau County stretch of the parkway, including six fatalities. That number dropped to 2,331 in 2020, but rose again in subsequent years, reaching 2,716 in 2022 and 2,725 in 2023. In 2024, state police recorded 2,549 crashes and five fatalities. Thus far this year, there have been 328 crashes and one fatality.
“A lot of these things, they hit every single age category,” Rhodes said.
To combat the persistent problem, state police focus on enforcement and outreach. Not every traffic stop results in a citation; many serve as opportunities for education.
Personal injury attorney Stephen Cohen said that in his more than five decades of handling lawsuits, most of those that involve accidents on the Southern State involve intoxicated drivers.
Cohen, a partner at the law firm Cohen and Jaffe, in New Hyde Park, said that speed, intoxication and reckless driving continue to be the common factors in the region’s most serious accidents.
“I don’t believe road design is an issue at all,” Cohen said. “Posting more signs to slow down isn’t an answer, because when somebody is either speeding or just intoxicated, they don’t really care what the sign says.”
Many collisions during rush hour, he explained, stem from traffic congestion and insufficient braking distance. “People are gliding along, and they hit a certain spot, and all of a sudden they weren’t prepared, because they’re going 70 miles an hour,” Cohen said. “So you
see a lot of rear-end collisions, not necessarily death-related.”
Fatal crashes, he noted, often involve younger drivers, high speeds and intoxication or impairment.
“You don’t see fatalities at 11 o’clock in the morning,” Cohen said. “You just don’t. You may see them at 4 in the morning. When your ability to observe is not sharp because of either impairment or intoxication, the car is going to go airborne. And if there happens to be a tree there, that’s the next thing you’re going to hit.”
In his practice, Cohen said, the firm represents victims or passengers, but not intoxicated drivers.
Under state law, he noted, lawsuits require plaintiffs to meet the “serious injury” threshold defined in insurance law. In cases involving fatalities, death, families must petition a Surrogate’s Court to appoint a representative for the estate before filing a lawsuit. That process can take over a year, he said.
Insurance coverage limits often dictate how quickly a case can be resolved. “If somebody has — let’s say, the responsible party — has a $100,000 policy, that case is going to be over in two seconds,” Cohen said.
Efforts to reform wrongful death laws in New York have repeatedly stalled, despite advocacy from legal organizations.
Despite changes in laws and vehicle technology over the years, Cohen said, the root problems remain unchanged.
“It only seems to get worse because cars are faster than they were 20, 30 years ago,” he said. “There’s more people drinking or doing some sort of drugs. And that’s what you see in all horrific accidents.”
Additional reporting by Mohammad Rafiq.
Accident data from the New York State Police
2019 – Total: 3,987
(3,127 Nassau, 860 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 2 (Nassau)
Fatal: 8 (6 Nassau, 2 Suffolk)
2020 – Total: 2,977
(2,331 Nassau, 646 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 3 (2 Nassau, 1 Suffolk)
Fatal: 9 (6 Nassau, 3 Suffolk)
2021 – Total: 3,566
(2,782 Nassau, 784 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 1 (Nassau)
Fatal: 9 (6 Nassau, 3 Suffolk)
2022 – Total: 3,552
(2,716 Nassau, 836 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury:
5 (1 Nassau, 4 Suffolk)
Fatal: 13 (5 Nassau, 8 Suffolk)
2023 – Total: 3,500 (2,725-Nassau, 775-Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 1 (Nassau)
Fatal: 6 (3 Nassau, 3 Suffolk)
2024 – Total: 3,405 (2,549 Nassau, 856 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury:
2 (1 Nassau, 1 Suffolk)
Fatal: 15 (5 Nassau, 10 Suffolk)
2025* – Total: 426 (328 Nassau, 98 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 0
Fatal: 3 (1 Nassau, 2 Suffolk)
* To date
Tim Baker/Herald
A century of Gatsby glamour comes to life
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby, the North Merrick Public Library transformed into a roaring 1920s speakeasy on April 24 for a Great Gatsby-themed murder mystery party.
Patrons dressed to impress in Gatsbyera attire — flapper dresses, feathered headbands, pinstripe suits and fedoras — as they stepped into the Cat’s Meow, the hottest gin joint in town. Politicians, socialites, actors, musicians and even criminal bosses filled the lively speakeasy, but the jazz and glitter soon gave way to suspense when a shocking crime took center stage. Guests worked in teams to uncover clues, solve puzzles and unravel secrets to discover which larger-than-life character was guilty of cold-blooded murder.
The event was held in honor of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, published on April 10, 1925. Set during the Jazz Age on Long Island, the novel tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a wealthy and mysterious man obsessed with rekindling a past romance with Daisy Buchanan. Through lush prose and sharp social commentary, Fitzgerald explores themes of love, wealth, illusion, and the decline of the American Dream.
Though not a success in Fitzgerald’s lifetime, The Great Gatsby is now widely considered one of the greatest American novels ever written, regularly studied in classrooms and celebrated in pop culture. Its 100th anniversary is being marked by literary institutions, libraries and readers across the country.
A century after Gatsby’s green light first glowed across the bay, the North Merrick Public Library proved that the spirit of the Jazz Age — with all its glamour, mystery and intrigue — still captivates readers. For one thrilling night, fiction and reality collided in the stacks, reminding patrons that great stories never go out of style.
— Jordan Vallone
Holden Leeds/Herald Photos
Riley Nadeau, a librarian, Walt Frasier, and Taylor Smith, a librarian, celebrated the 100th anniversary of ‘The Great Gatsby’ on April 25.
Ron and Helene Phillips celebrated the glitz and glamour of the beloved novel with props.
Marion Fountain with her daughter, Priscilla Milito, came dressed to the nines in flapper-style clothing.
Walt Frasier, improv theater artist, integrated Preston Barsh and Estelle Barsh into the murder mystery parry.
Marty Schlosser, right, took part in the show.
Focusing on
By Maureen Salamon
Your
Gratitude enhances health, brings happiness It may even lengthen lives
Several evenings a week, as Tyler VanderWeele gathers around the dinner table with his wife and two young kids, the family deliberately pauses during the meal to do something simple but profound. Each shares several things for which they’re grateful — an act that VanderWeele, codirector of the Initiative on Health, Spirituality, and Religion at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, feels changes his family dynamic for the better.
“I do think it makes a difference and can be a very powerful practice,” he says. “
Gratitude, health and longevity
How can the power of gratitude affect our lives? Recent research has pointed to gratitude’s myriad positive health effects, including greater emotional and social wellbeing, better sleep quality, lower depression risks, and favorable markers of cardiovascular health. Now, new data from the longterm Nurses’ Health Study shows that it may extend lives.
“Gratitude has been one of the most widely studied activities contributing to well-being, but we couldn’t find a single prior study that looked at its effects on mortality and longevity, much to our surprise,”
says VanderWeele, research co-author. Published July 2024 in JAMA Psychiatry, the new study drew on data from 49,275 women enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study. Their average age was 79. In 2016, participants completed a six-item gratitude questionnaire in which they ranked their agreement with statements such as, “I have so much in life to be thankful for,” and “If I had to list everything I felt grateful for, it would
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mental health and well-being. Gratitude seemed to help protect participants from every cause of death studied — including cardiovascular disease.
But what does this actually mean?
“A 9 percent reduction in mortality risk is meaningful, but not huge,” VanderWeele says. “But what’s remarkable about gratitude is that just about anyone can practice it. Anyone can recognize what’s around them and express thanks to others for what’s good in their life.”
While the study couldn’t pinpoint why gratitude is associated with longer life, several factors may contribute.
be a very long list.”
What did the researchers find?
Participants with gratitude scores in the highest third at the study’s start had a 9 percent lower risk of dying over the following four years than participants who scored in the bottom third. This did not change after controlling for physical health, economic circumstances, and other aspects of
“We know that gratitude makes people feel happier. That in itself has a small effect on mortality risk,” he says. “Practicing gratitude may also make someone a bit more motivated to take care of their health. Maybe they’re more likely to show up for medical appointments or exercise. It may also help with relationships and social support, which we know contribute to health.”
Courtesy Premium Health News Service
Stress management — Zen and the art of heart-brain harmony HEALTH MEMO
What’s one of the most significant contributors to heart troubles and brain fog? You guessed it, stress. It is a pesky little thing that seems to sneak into our lives when we least expect it. But fear not; Dr. Keith Darrow, Ph.D., CCC-A, has a treasure trove of stress-busting strategies to share with you.
Let’s start with a classic: Deep Breathing. It might sound simple but taking a few moments to focus on your breath can work wonders for your stress levels. Close your eyes, inhale deeply through your nose, hold for a few beats, and then exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat as needed and feel that tension melt away.
Next up: The Power of Movement. While we already know that exercise is where it’s at, there are stress-reducing exercises that can be gamechangers. Whether you’re hitting the yoga mat, going for a jog, or dancing around your living room like nobody’s watching, getting your body moving is a surefire way to lift your spirits and soothe your soul.
And a favorite of mine: Self-Care. Whether it’s treating yourself to a bubble bath, curling up with a good book, or spending time with loved ones, finding activities that bring you joy and relaxation is key.
Here’s one you might not have thought of: The Power of Perspective. Sometimes, all it takes to conquer stress is a shift in mindset. Try reframing negative thoughts into positive affirmations, practicing gratitude, or simply reminding yourself that you’re doing the best you can with what you’ve got. Trust me, a little bit of positivity can go a long way.
Last but certainly not least: The Importance of Boundaries. Learning to say no, setting realistic
expectations for yourself, and carving out time for rest and relaxation are all essential components of stress management. Remember, it’s okay to put yourself first sometimes you can’t pour from an empty cup!
So, there you have it an easy toolkit to get you started on stress-busting strategies to help you keep your heart happy and your brain sharp. Pick and choose what works best for you, and don’t be afraid to experiment until you find your perfect stress-relief formula. After all, when it comes to living our best lives, nobody has time for stress to get in the way!
Dr. Amy Sapodin, Au.D., F-AAA, CCC-A
Dr. Alison Hoffmann, Au.D., F-AAA, CCC-A
Photo: Gratitude can be a health game changer. It can be a powerful practice to cultivate, especially for those who struggle with anxiety or depression.
Alcohol and cancer — what will you do?
In a recent Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” public health poll, 51 percent of metro area residents said they would consider drinking less as a result of the advisory by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, linking alcohol use to certain types of cancer.
According to the Surgeon General’s advisory, alcohol consumption contributes to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths each year in the United States. Studies show alcohol use increases the risk for breast, colorectal, liver, and esophageal cancer, as well as cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box.
The poll, sponsored by Four Leaf Federal Credit Union, has sparked a debate over the benefits of reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption, highlighting the tough road ahead for public health experts trying to shift behaviors. Although 58 percent of respondents agree that alcohol can lead to overeating and smoking, fewer than half—46 percent—said they believe it increases the risks of cancer. Meanwhile, 58 percent believe there is a safe level of alcohol that can be consumed without raising one’s risk of cancer.
“Alcohol is a carcinogen, so the more alcohol a person drinks — particularly over time — the greater their risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer,” said Adhi Sharma, MD, President of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “It would be prudent to add the cancer risk to the warning label, which could have a dual effect of reducing alcohol-related accidents as well as a range of serious health complications, such as liver and heart disease, stroke, depression, and brain damage.”
Studies show that alcohol may increase cancer risk by disrupting cell cycles, triggering chronic inflammation, damaging DNA (which controls cell growth and function), and elevating hormone levels, including estrogen, which plays a role in breast cancer development.
“As a hepatologist and gastroenterologist, I remind my patients
that while complete abstinence is the safest path, reducing consumption (no more than 1 standard drink for women and no more than 2 for a man), staying hydrated, avoiding binge drinking, and supporting liver health with a balanced diet might help mitigate some of alcohol’s toxic effects,” said Pruthvi Patel, MD, Associate Program Director of Outpatient Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai South Nassau, and Associate Professor of Medicine (Liver Diseases), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “But there’s no completely safe level when it comes to cancer risk.”
According to the American Association of Cancer Research’s 2024 Cancer Progress Report, 40 percent of all cancer cases in the United States are associated with modifiable risk factors like alcohol consumption. The Surgeon General affirmed in the advisory that, “The largest burden of alcohol-related cancer in the United States is for breast cancer in women, with an estimated 44,180 cases in 2019, representing 16.4 percent of the approximately 270,000 total breast cancer cases for women.”
Adding the cancer risk warning to alcohol labels may be the inspiration some need to quit drinking alcoholic beverages, as 54 percent of poll respondents say they generally trust warning labels on food and beverages. Seeing the warning in print could provide the motivation for the 20 percent (of those who said they drink alcoholic beverages) to act on their desire to cut back on alcohol.
“I strongly encourage everyone to make it a priority to consider whether they should reduce the amount of alcohol they drink,” said Aaron Glatt, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau. “Additional benefits of drinking less include lowered blood pressure, weight loss, a healthier complexion, sharper mental clarity, balanced mood, reduced anxiety, and better liver function.”
Mount Sinai South Nassau has provided behavioral health and substance use disorder services to Nassau County residents for more than 50 years. The hospital is committed to providing the highest-quality treatment and support to children, adults, and
A recent Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” public health poll revealed that 51 percent of metro area residents said they would consider drinking less as a result of the advisory by former U.S. Surgeon General, linking alcohol use to certain types of cancer.
families with a wide variety of symptoms and diagnoses, from substance abuse to anxiety and depression to attention deficithyperactivity disorder and more.
The hospital counseling centers offer outpatient, in-person, and telehealth services in Baldwin and Hempstead; they accept a variety of payment options and use a sliding scale for uninsured patients. Treatment is provided in English and Spanish, as well as in more than 100 other languages via interpreter services. Call (516) 3775400 to schedule an appointment.
Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff. One Healthy Way Oceanside, NY 11572 • 877-SOUTH-NASSAU (877-768-8462) • www.mountsinai.org/southnassau
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Mount Sinai South Nassau is Improving Health Care on the South Shore
The new Fennessy Family Emergency Department at Mount Sinai South Nassau doubles the size of our previous emergency department, o ering 54 private exam rooms with clear lines of sight for physicians, nurses, and support sta . Our new emergency department also o ers a separate triage area, dedicated areas for children and behavioral health patients, and has been designed to reduce wait times and improve patient outcomes.
The Fennessy Family Emergency Department is located within the new Feil Family Pavilion, opening later this year, which will have 40 new critical care suites and nine new operating rooms, designed to support the most complex surgeries on the South Shore.
To learn more visit www.mountsinai.org/feilpavilion
A bipartisan effort to protect IVF access
Gillen leads push for bill safeguarding fertility treatments, hoping for congressional momentum
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, a Democrat representing New York’s 4th Congressional District, and Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, of the 17th District, have reintroduced a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting access to in vitro fertilization across the country.
The Access to Family Building Act, which Gillen is shepherding with support from Lawler and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, seeks to federally codify the right to access IVF services. The legislation is in response to growing concerns that reproductive technologies like IVF are being threatened by recent state-level legal developments and court rulings.
During a virtual press conference on May 7, Gillen emphasized the importance of ensuring legal certainty for families relying on reproductive technology. Infertility, she said, is a widespread issue affecting Americans of all backgrounds, and she called for Congress to act swiftly to protect the procedure.
“We believe, like most Americans do, that the right to start and grow family through IVF should be protected,” Gil-
len said. “The Access to Family Building Act will simply ensure that IVF remains accessible to families in every state.”
Lawler echoed Gillen’s sentiments, sharing his own family’s experience with fertility challenges. He reaffirmed his support for protecting IVF access, calling it a nonpartisan issue with widespread public backing. Lawler also referenced other related legislative efforts he supports, including tax credits and insurance mandates to reduce the financial burden of IVF treatments.
“Access to IVF should not be a partisan issue,” he said. “We want to help people through this journey and certainly make sure that their right to IVF is protected.”
The press event also featured Barbara Collura, president and CEO of Resolve: The National Infertility Association, who stressed the emotional and financial toll of infertility and the need for guaranteed nationwide access to IVF.
“There are so many challenges that our communities face in building their families,” Collura said. “Our goal is to reduce and eliminate those barriers. We know firsthand that our communities want to know that IVF is protected in all 50 states.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IVF accounted for nearly 3 percent for U.S. births in 2022, with over 91,000 babies born through assisted reproductive technology.
Democrats that year introduced the Right to Build Families Act, to protect access to IVF and other fertility treatments amid concerns after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The bill was blocked by Senate Republicans.
The lawmakers emphasized the bipartisan nature of the new legislation, with Gillen noting that Republican support like Lawler’s is vital to passing it in the current Congress.
When the Herald asked about the path forward, both lawmakers said they planned to advocate within their parties and with the congressional leadership to advance the bill through committee and onto the House floor.
The legislation comes amid renewed national attention to IVF following recent court rulings in states like Alabama, where embryos created through IVF were legally recognized as children, prompting clinics to suspend services due to the legal risks.
“I think it’s really important to dem-
legislation to protect nationwide access to in vitro fertilization at a virtual press conference on May 7.
onstrate that this is not a partisan issue,” Gillen said. “This is an easy one for us to agree on. We want to support couples and individuals who want to bring a child into the world. IVF may be the only way that they can do that.”
Herald file photo
U.S. Representatives Laura Gillen and Mike Lawler announced bipartisan
Water providers are tested in taste contest
By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
What’s the best-tasting tap water on Long Island?
That was the question posed to students at Farmingdale State College during the Long Island Water Conference’s 37th annual drinking water tasting contest, held during National Drinking Water Week.
The conference, also known as LIWC, is made up of members of public and private water suppliers across Long Island. According to LIWC Commissioner Robert McEvoy, the event has taken place at the Farmingdale campus for the past four years, sparking student interest in water quality.
“It draws in a lot of the students,” McEvoy said. “They’re interested in where the water comes from, and if there’s any variance in taste. We also try to promote tap water as being the most regulated and tested, even more so than bottled water.”
The finals, held on May 7, featured 16 Long Island water providers competing for the title of best-tasting drinking water in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Students, faculty and staff on campus participated in a blind taste test, sampling water from each provider and casting their votes.
The Oyster Bay Water District won the Nassau County competition, while
Charles Shaw/Herald
Oyster Bay Water District Secretary Michael Rich, second from right, and Treasurer Nick Niznik offered samples to students during the Long Island Water Conference’s annual water tasting event at Farmingdale State College.
the Greenlawn Water District took the top spot in Suffolk. Both districts will advance to the New York State Regional Metro Tap Water Taste Contest in New York City in August, where they will compete for a spot in the statewide competition held later that month at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse.
LIWC representatives at the event also took the opportunity to educate attendees about the water supplied to their homes, and assured them that Long Island’s drinking water remains of high quality.
McEvoy, who is also a commissioner
Nine & Dine Teeing Off for Change
and the chairman of the Oyster Bay Water District, said that frequent testing is conducted by the state Department of Health to ensure the water’s quality.
“It’s safe, it’s highly regulated and it’s extremely affordable,” McEvoy said. “It’s something that should be utilized by the public, and it’s a far greater value than bottled water.”
Michael Rich, a commissioner and the secretary of the Oyster Bay district, has taken part in the competition for the past 10 years, educating the community about local water supplies.
“It’s great to come out to the commu-
nity and have everyone get involved with local water,” Rich said.
He noted that most people aren’t aware of where their water comes from. On Long Island, drinking water comes from an aquifer system, a naturally formed underground storage area.
In an aquifer system, unwanted chemicals are capable of seeping into the water supply. The LIWC urges residents to dispose of hazardous household waste properly at designated town drop-off sites and never pour it down drains, into storm sewers or on the ground.
“Anything that we put on the ground will ultimately find its way into the aquifer,” Rich stated.
Lawn irrigation, he said, accounts for much of Long Island’s water use. He urged residents to follow odd/even watering schedules, watering on days that match their house numbers. He also highlighted the importance of leak detection, noting that undetected leaks can waste hundreds of thousands of gallons each month, making it vital for both residents and water providers to monitor and address them.
Rich added that it doesn’t take much water to maintain a healthy lawn.
“You don’t have to water your lawn for a half-hour a day,” Rich said. “You’ll get the same results 15 minutes a day, so we try to stress that.”
For more information on the local water supply, visit liwc.org.
HONORING MEN & COMPANIES ADVANCING WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
STEPPING OUT
Young imaginations shine
Little Learners Art Lab at Long Island Children’s Museum is filled with year-round creativity
By Danielle Schwab
Long Island Children’s Museum transforms into a colorful hub of creativity for some of its smallet visitors, every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. Its Little Learners Art Lab welcomes young artists — and the grownups with them — for a handson art adventure designed to spark curiosity and imagination.
Whether it’s painting, planting or playing with textures, sessions offer an inviting space where toddlers and preschoolers can explore the world through art. This is more than about creating something beautiful — it’s about growing minds and nurturing self-expression.
“We try to infuse in all of the themes different mediums, exposure to different artists and different approaches to art,” says Ashley Niver, the museum’s director of education.
Each week, children are introduced to artists, techniques, and styles through engaging projects and materials, led by museum educators. Parents and grandparents are welcome to join in the fun, making it a bonding experience that’s as enriching for adults as it is for kids. Through these immersive projects, the tots explore their creativity and even make new friends.
“Around a third of our visitors are under the age of five. It’s important for early childhood development to have activities that are process-focused to give them that expressive freedom [to create],” Niver explains.
In each class, young learners are encouraged to ask questions, try new things and take the lead in their creative journey. The program mixes play with gentle guidance, helping children explore big concepts in age-appropriate ways.
The activities act as a gateway to talk about new concepts for young learners as they discover the world around them, combining inquisitive thinking with instructional supervision. On the schedule, May 22, families can explore the lifecycle of a plant while decorating terracotta pots during Art In Bloom. Kids will plant seeds in those pots and take their tiny gardens home to watch, water and nurture as litle sprouts grow into blooming plants.
That’s followed by Crystallized Creations on May 29. The salt-based art project allows kids experiment with textures and observe how salt and paint interact — adding a rocky twist to their creativity.
“Science isn’t just happening behind the scenes. It can
‘Murr’ goes solo
Get ready to laugh — and laugh you will. Prepare for an unforgettable night filled with comedy, chaos and wild antics as Impractical Jokers’ James “Murr” Murray hits the stage on The Errors Tour. Known for his outrageous pranks, laugh-out-loud moments and unpredictable humor, Murr brings the party to you with a show packed full of hilarious stories, ridiculous mishaps and plenty of jaw-dropping moments. With his signature style of comedy and a few unexpected surprises, Murr will have you in stitches from start to finish. It’s surely a non-stop ride of comedy, antics and pure fun you won’t want to miss. For more than a decade, Murr and his lifelong Friends — Sal, Joe and Q — have been making audiences laugh across the country, and now he’s bringing the laughs to you. Murr Live is hysterical — of course, interactive — stand-up comedy, in true Impractical Jokers style. Hangout with Murr as he tells funny stories, shows off his own personal never-before-seen videos from Impractical Jokers and plays Jokers “live” on stage with the audience.
• Weekly Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-noon
• Admission: $18 adults and children over 1 year old, $16 for seniors, free to members and under one year; additional fees for theater and special programs may apply
• For more information, visit licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
happen when you’re mixing paint and looking at changes in color or how, for instance, the salt disperses the paint pigment,” Niver says.
Other sessions examine techniques like pointillism or even introduce self-portraits in a thoroughly kid-friendly approach.
“When the parents see these ‘sticky moments’ for younger kids where they’re ingrained in these memories and these experiences, they are right there for the ride,” Niver adds.“They’re going through it with their children, and seeing their children light up and experience joy and learning of these new concepts connects the parents to the activities.”
Of course, art doesn’t have to happen in a classroom or museum space, it can also be done right at home! Niver encourages families to use these classes as an accessible way to bring the creativity back to their households.
“We want to give the opportunity for parents to incorporate making art in easy forms at home that may be less daunting for them,” Niver says.
And often, the youngsters can try materials and methods they may not have access to elsewhere. The sessions offer an introduction to new media as well.
“We also try to balance with materials that maybe they wouldn’t be exposed to normally at home. We could bring in easels one day and have the kids do canvas painting,” she adds.
The fun doesn’t stop when class ends. The museum’s exhibits and upcoming events are often tied into the weekly themes. So, when the class concludes, there’s plenty more to explore!
For example, in celebration of National Zoo and Aquarium Month, in June, kids can make majestic underwater creatures using recycled materials and bubble wrap. This is a creative “sneak peek” teaser what’s to come as the museum prepares to open its newest permanent exhibit, “Saltwater Stories,” in October.
Accessibility is another important component of the museum’s approach to arts programming. Little Learners Art Lab provides families with high-quality early childhood education at a fraction of the cost of private art classes or specialized preschool programs, according to the leadership team. The program’s affordability ensures that all children in the community have access to enriching artistic experiences that contribute to cognitive, social, and emotional development.
“Our whole point is to bring people in, and celebrate and cater to the audience that is coming to us daily, and that is the early childhood audience,” Niver says.
“We hope that for years to come families will bring back other children in their family, as their family grows, and continue to value the museum.”
Photos courtesy LICM
Kids and their adult partners play and create together at the Art Lab. Artistic inspiration involves developing young motor skills as everyone fully engages in the moment.
Friday, May 16, 7 p.m. $65, $55, $45, $35. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
and Chad Hoopes
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artistic Directors David Finckel (piano) and Wu Han (cello) have assembled a scintillating collection of works that reveal the joy and depth of the chamber music literature. Starting as frequent collaborators, Finckel and Han have been married since 1985. As a duo, they began to tour regularly while retaining residencies in New York. In this program, volin sonatas from the Baroque and Classical eras are performed by the young virtuoso Chad Hoopes, followed by Mendelssohn’s invigorating Second Sonata for cello and piano, a gem of the Romantic era. The art of romantic music hits a high point in the concluding work, in which all combine for a trio by the founder of Czech music, Bed�ich Smetana.
Sunday, May 18, 3 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
David Finckel, Wu Han
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
Garden Days Garden lovers, green thumbs and spring seekers: Old Westbury Gardens’ beloved Garden Days return. Four vibrant days are filled with plants, programs, and purpose, highlighted by the muchanticipated Plant Sale Preview Party on Friday evening. On May 16 (6-8 p.m.), guests are invited to sip, shop and stroll through the gardens during this exclusive first-look event, featuring live music, sweet and savory treats, and early access to a lush array of rare perennials and signature plants grown right here on Long Island. The two-day plant sale runs May 17-18, (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), where shoppers can select from a curated selection of garden favorites with expert guidance from the Gardens’ horticulture staff. Addition highlights include a panel discussion, Guided walks and garden tours and spring celebration chamber concert.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury
• Time: Ongoing, May 15-18
• Contact: Visit oldwestburygardens.org/2025garden-days for full schedule and ticket details
Hug a happy tree
K&A Tree Service offers free tree inspections throughout Long Island. Tree professionals will visit in person to inspect tree and provide free advice to help treat your tree right and make it happy.
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: (516) 208-3131
On Exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) that publicly launched the movement. The direct follow-up to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. On view through June 15.
• Where: 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: (516) 484-9337 or nassaumuseum.org
‘Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!’
The beloved musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved award-winning, best-selling children’s books, is back on stage at Long Island
MAY 24
Jon Lovitz
Comedy legend Jon Lovitz brings his signature wit and unforgettable characters to the Paramount stage for a night of nonstop laughs. Best known for his Emmy-nominated run on SNL and roles in hit films like “A League of Their Own” and “The Wedding Singer,” Lovitz has been a staple of comedy for over 30 years. He got his start acting in high school productions, developing his skills at the University of California, Irvine where he earned a B.A. in Drama. He also studied acting with Tony Barr at the Film Actors Workshop. At the advice of Tony Barr, Jon decided to concentrate solely on comedy. From there his trajectory took off. He began taking classes with the famed improv comedy group The Groundlings in 1982. One year later, Jon got his first acting job on the television show “The Paper Chase: the Second Year.” Two years followed and then he was accepted into The Groundlings main company. In March 1985 The Groundlings appeared on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” where Jon premiered his character “Tommy Flanagan of Pathological Liars Anonymous. SNL and numerous other offers followed and Jon was on his, working non-stop since. Along with his comedy, Jon is well known for his distinctive voice. It has served him will in his varied TV and film career. He is one of the few performers to start as an actor and then become a stand-up comedian who successfully headlines venues nationwide. Jon’s humor is unique, which is attributable to his quirky personality, and he is sure to entertain. $59.50, $49.50, $39.50, $29.50.
Children’s Museum. Willems’ classic characters Elephant and Piggie storm the stage in a rollicking musical romp filled with plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense perfect for young audiences.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: Also May 17 and May 20-22, times vary
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Sha Bar-B-Q
MAY 16
Merrick Jewish Centre celebrates Lag Ba Omer and hosts a Hebrew School Open house.
• Where: 225 Fox Blvd., Merrick
• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Contact: merrickjc.org
MAY 17
Spring Fling Dog Walk
EPIC Family’s South Shore Guidance Center encourages everyone and their four-legged companions to participate in the annual walk for mental wellness. With face painting, games, raffles, and more. Free t-shirts while supplies last.
• Where: Cow Meadow Park, Freeport
• Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Contact: p2p.onecause.com/ springfling2025
Concert of Contrasts
Join the Long Island Choral Society and Music Director Michael C. Haigler for their final concert of the season. “From the Sublime to the Ridiculous”, offers the beautiful melodies of Johannes Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes as well as the ridiculous antics of P.D.Q. Bach’s Liebeslieder Polkas. Liebeslieder translates as Love Song and this concert will give two very different visions of musical expressions of love. Act I features Brahms lush waltzes, scored for 4-hand piano and sure to elicit emotions and romantic memories through its lush melodies and sublime poetry. Act II presents P.D.Q. Bach’s interpretation of love songs through energy driven polkas scored for 5-hand piano in such a manner as to create chaos, musical mayhem, visual hijinks and some seriously bad puns. $20, $10 youth. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at door.
• Where: Garden City Community Church, 245 Stewart Ave., Garden City
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: lics.org or call (516) 652-6878
Merrick Chorale
The Merrick Chorale presents its spring concert, “‘Soul to Swing,” at Merrick Library.
• Where: 2279 S. Merrick Ave., Merrick
• Time: 2 p.m.
• Contact: (416) 377-6112 or merricklibrary.org
In concert
Sands Point Preserve’s reserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for the latest edition of its unique chamber music series, “Amami in primavera” (Love me in Spring).”
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
Art Explorations
Converse, collaborate and create at Nassau County Museum of Art. Kids and their adult partners can talk about and make art together. Enjoy reading and play in the Reading Room, and contribute to The Lobby Project, a collaborative art installation. Registration required.
• Where: 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor
• Time: noon-3 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 484-9337 or nassaumuseum.org
MAY 18
Lions Club Flea Market Stop by the Bellmore Train Station for a flea market.
• Where: Bedford Avenue and Sunrise Highway
• Time: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Contact: Call Nina, (516) 783-1471
Craft Brunch
Make a flower wood slice wreath, frame or pendant at American Beauty Bar & Grill in Bellmore. $40 fee, with additional charges. Food/ beverage purchased separately.
• Where: 2560 Sunrise Highway, Bellmore
• Time: Noon
• Contact: paintpartyli.com
A trip to Italy is a good idea any time of the year, but spring is the best. There is love in the air and new life everywhere. With a little Puccini, Donizetti, Verdi and more, it will be a “bel pomeriggio di Musica (a beautiful afternoon of music).” duoJalal ensemble-in-residence featuring Kathryn Lockwood, viola and Yousif Sheronick, percussion, with violinists Karla Donehew Perez and Rebecca Fischer, and cellist Raman Ramakrishnan, are joined by vocalist Abby Brodnick. With wine reception following. $56, $45 members.
• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901
MAY
Chamber General Meeting
The Chamber of the Commerce of the Bellmores holds a general meeting. No fee for members; dinner optional for $10 per person.
• Where: 1550 Newbridge Road, North 7 p.m.
• Contact: bellmorechamber.com
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.
Crime Brief
Narcotics related arrest made
An Amityville man was arrested on drug charges following a string of incidents in Nassau County.
According to detectives, members of the Narcotics/ Vice Squad were conducting an investigation in the parking lot of 6207 Sunrise Highway at about 9:04 p.m. when they observed Joseph Jones, 35, in possession of and selling a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine.
Joseph Jones
When detectives attempted to arrest Jones, he fled on foot, police said. After officers caught up with him, he allegedly resisted and injured five officers. One officer required surgery for his injuries.
Police said Jones was also the subject of three prior alleged drug sales involv-
ing a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine: Feb. 23 on William Street in North Merrick; March 12 on William Street in North Merrick; and April 5 at 5204 Sunrise Highway in Massapequa Park.
Jones is charged with four counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, four counts of thirddegree criminal possession of a controlled substance, assault of a police officer, three counts of second-degree assault and resisting arrest.
He was arraigned on April 22 at First District Court in Hempstead.
— Jordan Vallone
1-800-244-TIPS
Nassau County Crime Stoppers
The public is asked to call Crime Stoppers if they have any information about any crimes.
Holocaust survivor shares her story with attendees
cally to the Nazis, and it stopped them from entering the hospital where the Jews were hidden.
Marmorale told attendees that he first learned about the Holocaust when he was a young boy growing up in East New York, an area of Brooklyn that housed many Southern Italians and Eastern Europeans. One day, he was invited to lunch to meet the new tailor’s son. The woman who served them had a concentration camp tattoo on her arm.
“Back then, this was a long time ago, they were bright, they were clear as a bell, like they’d just been tattooed yesterday,” Marmorale said.
In 1982, Marmorale attended a Holocaust remembrance seminar. It inspired him to develop a program to share the story of three survivors who lived in Sachem, and an area of Suffolk County to which he had moved. Eventually, he was invited all over Long Island to show other educators how to teach about the Holocaust.
“When I was a boy, it was never discussed, because the story was so terrible,” Marmorale said. “After a time, nobody knew the story. That’s when many of the survivors started speaking out. Because if they weren’t going to talk about it, it was going to disappear.”
Years later, he said, a man named Walter Wolf called him and told him the story of how he survived the Holocaust in Italy, including that knew six other people who had similar stories.
To Marmorale, it’s because of a lack of respect for authority that Italians were motivated to defy the Nazis. “What happened in Italy couldn’t have happened unless they had this kind of mindset,” Marmorale stated.
He also believes Italy had far less antisemitism than other places. “Some of the most prominent leaders were Jews,” Marmorale said. “It’s as though
we were to kill the descendents of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.”
Marmorale explained to attendees of the screening why Delessio’s story is so important.
“You become a witness when you listen to a survivor,” Marmorale said. “Which is why this story is so important. Only because there was goodness in the worst of times. Unfortunately, in most places that wasn’t true. I think it’s a remarkable story.”
Continued from page 1
Rei Wolfsohn/Herald photos
Vince marmorale, producer of ‘my italian Secret,’ met Holocaust survivor Livia delessio at the local showing of his film about the Holocaust in italy.
Vince marmorale presented about his film and the Holocaust at a screening and lecture at the town of Hempstead’s golf course in merrick.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. BUPM NJ ASSETS LLC, Plaintiff -against- KENT HONG, JOSIE HONG, CHESTER HONG, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated April 7, 2025 and entered on April 9, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction “Rain or Shine” on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 4, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the Westerly side of Newbridge Road, distant 250 feet Northerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the Westerly side of Newbridge Road to the Northerly side of Orange Street; being a plot 131.87 feet by 45.47 feet by 132.47 feet by 54.46 feet.
Section: 56 Block: 203 Lot: 102 Said premises known as 2312 NEWBRIDGE ROAD, BELLMORE, NY 11710
Approximate amount of lien $721,140.91 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 613262/2023.
MARIA SIDERIS, ESQ., Referee KRISS & FEUERSTEIN LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 360 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10017 {* BELLMORE L*} 153178
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking On Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 27th day of May 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside
certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations:
BELLMORE
OCEAN AVENUE - west side, starting at a point 393 feet south of the south curbline of Merrick Road, south for a distance of 14 feet.
(TH-177/25)
ELMONT MADISON STREETnorth side, starting at a point 416 feet west of the west curbline of Cross Street, west for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-156/25)
(NR)VALLEY STREAM LAW STREET - east side, starting at a point 532 feet south of the south curbline of Stuart Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-176/25) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:
ELMONT
MURRAY HILL STREETnorth side, starting at a point 43 feet east of the east curbline of Biltmore Avenue, east for a distance of 22 feet.
(TH-37/14 - 9/16/14)
(TH-3/25)
TRAVIS AVENUE - east side, starting at a point 74 feet south of the south curbline of Surprise Street, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-115/19 - 5/23/19)
(TH-173/25) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: May 13, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk
153510
In accordance with provision of Section 103 of the General Municipal Law, the Board of Education of the Bellmore-Merrick Transportation Consortium hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for:
Bellmore-Merrick Cooperative Summer 2025 Bid
Bellmore-Merrick Cooperative 2025-2026 School Year Bid Bids will be publicly opened and read at the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Business Office, 1260 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 10:00 am. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained from the office of Tom Volpe, Director of Transportation, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.
The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities in or to reject in whole or in part all bids or to accept any bid which in its judgment is in the best interest of the school district. By order: Board of Education
BELLMORE-MERRICK
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
BELLMORE U.F.S.D.
MERRICK U.F.S.D.
NORTH BELLMORE
U.F.S.D.
NORTH MERRICK
U.F.S.D. 153564
NATTA BOULEVARD (TH 169/25) North Side - NO PARKING
BETWEEN 8 AM TO 2 PM EXCEPT
SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS & HOLIDAYS - starting at a point 11 feet west of the west curbline of Clemons Street, west for a distance of 53 feet.
ELMONT
SECTION 202-19
MURRAY HILL STREET (TH 167/25) North Side - THREE HOUR
PARKING - starting at a point 43 feet east of the east curbline of Biltmore Avenue, east for a distance of 22 feet.
ALSO, to REPEAL from Chapter 202 “REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking from the following locations:
MERRICK Section 202-11
LOINES AVENUE (TH 236/09) North SideTWO HOUR PARKING 7 AM to 4 PM EXCEPT
SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS and HOLIDAYSstarting at a point 176 feet east of the east curbline of Hewlett Avenue, east for a distance of 34 feet. (Adopted 8/04/09) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid. Dated: May 13, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Superviso KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 153507
with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 63, Block: 276, Lot: 42. Approximate amount of judgment $1,429,409.42 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #012937/2006. For sale information, p lease visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Fay Mattana, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-021589-F00 85513 153491
Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 153525
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING, PUBLIC HEARING, ELECTION, AND REGISTRATION OF VOTERS
NORTH BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
gymnasium of the Newbridge Road School. Copies of the proposed 2025/26 budget will be available at each of the offices of the school houses in the district, J. G. Dinkelmeyer School, Newbridge Road School, Park Avenue School, Saw Mill Road School and Martin Avenue School between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on each day other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday during the fourteen (14) days preceding the Annual Vote, and on the school’s website.
LEGAL NOTICE
BELLMORE-MERRICK
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
BELLMORE U.F.S.D.
MERRICK U.F.S.D.
NORTH BELLMORE
U.F.S.D.
NORTH MERRICK
U.F.S.D.
TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU
NOTICE TO BIDDERS:
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 27th day of May, 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Chapter 202 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE and REPEAL
“REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at the following locations:
BELLMORE Section 202-15
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU The Bank of New York Mellon FKA The Bank of New York as Trustee for the Benefit of the Certificateholders of the CWABS, Inc. AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2004-2, Plaintiff AGAINST Frank Rosse, Kitty Rosse, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 1, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 16, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 2812 Judith Drive, Bellmore, NY 11710. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land,
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, -againstMICHAEL C. POLISENO A/K/A MICHAEL POLISENO, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on February 26, 2025, wherein BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION is the Plaintiff and MICHAEL C. POLISENO A/K/A MICHAEL POLISENO, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on June 17, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2619 ALICE AVENUE, NORTH BELLMORE, NY 11710; and the following tax map identification: 56-242-5 & 242. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT BELLMORE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 609755/2023. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants
NORTH BELLMORE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK
Pursuant to Section 1716 of Education Law a Public Hearing for discussion of the proposed 2025/26 School District Budget, and such other business as may come before the meeting, will be held on May 06, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Building on Martin Avenue, Bellmore, New York. A copy of the state of the amount of monies which will be required for the 2025/26 school year for school purposes may be obtained, upon request, by any school district resident commencing May 1, 2025 during the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. except for Saturdays, Sundays or holidays.
FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Vote of the qualified voters of the North Bellmore Union Free School District will be held at the Newbridge Road School, North Bellmore, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 for the following purpose:
A. To vote upon the Annual School Budget for the school year 20252026 and to authorize levying of a tax upon the taxable property of the North Bellmore School District for such purposes.
B. The election of two (2) members of the Board of Education.
C. To vote upon such other propositions as may properly come before the meeting.
Voting will be by ballot on voting machines and the polls will remain open for voting from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., and as much longer as may be necessary for all voters then present to cast their votes.
Voting will be in the
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 495, an exemption report detailing exemptions from real property taxation shall be available and appended to any tentative, preliminary or final budget.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the election of members of the Board of Education will be as follows: Two (2) members of the Board of Education; for full terms of three (3) years, commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2028. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that nominating petitions for candidates for the Board of Education must be filed with the District Clerk between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. not later than April 21, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Each petition shall state the name and residence of each signor, shall state the name and residence of the candidate, and must be signed by not less than thirty-nine (39) qualified voters of the school district for election of members of the Board of Education. Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that at the Annual Vote, qualified voters of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District shall vote for the following purposes:
A. To vote upon the annual budget of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District for the year 2025-2026 and to authorize the levying of a tax upon the taxable property of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District for such purposes.
B. To vote upon such
other propositions as may properly come before the voters. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Education Law §2014 personal registration of voters is required, and no person shall be entitled to vote at the District Meeting whose name does not appear on the register of the District. Voter registration for the District will be ongoing through and including Thursday, May 15, 2025, from 9:00 o’clock A.M. until 3:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time), on all school days of the school year, at the office of the District Clerk, for the purpose of preparing a register of the qualified voters of the District for said District Meeting, at which time any person shall be entitled to have his/ her name placed upon such register, provided that he/she is known or proven to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at said District Meeting for which such register is prepared. Immediately upon its completion, the register will be filed in the office of the District Clerk, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District between the hours of 9:00 o’clock A.M. and 3:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on each of the five (5) days prior to the District Meeting for which it was prepared, except Sunday, and on Saturday, May 17, 2025 by appointment only. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Education Law §2018a and Education Law §2018-e applications for absentee and early mail ballots may be applied for at the office of the District Clerk. The District Clerk must receive applications for absentee and early mail ballots no earlier than thirty (30) days before the election. Furthermore, the District Clerk must receive such application at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed absentee or early mail ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application, by no later than six (6) days before the vote. No absentee or early mail voter’s ballot will be canvassed unless it has
Public Notices
been received in the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 P.M. (prevailing time) on the day of the election.
A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots shall have been issued will be available in the office of the District Clerk, 2616 Martin Avenue, North Bellmore, New York, commencing with the issuance of the first absentee or early mail ballot and during regular business hours on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. (Prevailing Time), except Sunday and on Saturday, May 17, 2025 by appointment only. Such list will also be available at the polling place on the date of the vote. No absentee or early mail voter’s ballot shall be canvassed unless it shall have been received in the office of the District Clerk of the North Bellmore Union Free School District not later than 5:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on the day of Annual District Meeting.
NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a person shall be entitled to vote at the annual meeting and election who is a citizen of the United States, eighteen years of age, a resident of the District for a period of thirty days next preceding the election he offers to vote and registered to vote for said election. A person shall be registered to vote if he or she shall have permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections or with the Board of Registration of the school district. Only persons who shall be registered shall be entitled to vote.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Board of Registration will meet during the hours of voting on May 20, 2025 at the polling place of the school district for the purpose of preparing a register for District meetings or elections to be held subsequent to May 20, 2025. Said register shall include (1) all qualified voters of the school district who shall present themselves personally for registration; and (2) all qualified voters permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military
voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk of the school district no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated to be not later than the day before the election.
BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Laurice Gunnels District Clerk
This information is provided in Spanish in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 152663
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE AVISO DE REUNIÓN ANUAL, AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA, ELECCIÓN, Y REGISTRO DE VOTANTES DISTRITO ESCOLAR LIBRE DE NORTH BELLMORE UNION NORTH BELLMORE, CIUDAD DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK
De conformidad con la Sección 1716 de la Ley de Educación, el 06 de mayo de 2025, a las 7:30 p.m., se llevará a cabo una Audiencia Pública para la discusión del Presupuesto del Distrito Escolar 2025/26 propuesto para la discusión, y otros asuntos que puedan presentarse antes de la reunión, en el Edificio de Administración en Martin Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York. Cualquier residente del distrito escolar a partir del 1 de mayo de 2025 puede obtener, previa solicitud, una
copia del estado de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año escolar para fines escolares a partir del 1 de mayo de 2025 durante las horas de 9:00 a.m. y 3:00 p.m., excepto sábados, domingos o días festivos.
POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL de que la Votación Anual de los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre de North Bellmore Union se llevará a cabo en la Escuela Newbridge Road, North Bellmore, el martes 20 de mayo de 2025 con el siguiente propósito:
A. Votar sobre el Presupuesto Escolar Anual para el año escolar 2025-2026 y autorizar la imposición de un impuesto sobre la propiedad imponible del Norte Distrito Escolar de Bellmore para tales fines.
B. La elección de dos (2) miembros de la Junta de Educación.
C. Votar sobre las demás proposiciones que se presenten a la reunión. La votación será por cédula en las máquinas de votación y las urnas permanecerán abiertas para votar desde las 6:00 a.m. hasta las 9:00 p.m., y tanto tiempo como sea necesario para que todos los votantes presentes en ese momento emitan su voto. La votación será en el gimnasio de la escuela Newbridge Road. Copias del presupuesto propuesto para 2025/26 estarán disponibles en cada una de las oficinas de las casas escolares del distrito, la Escuela J. G. Dinkelmeyer, la Escuela Newbridge Road, la Escuela Park Avenue, la Escuela Saw Mill Road y la Escuela Martin Avenue entre las 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m. todos los días que no sean sábados. Domingo o feriado durante los catorce (14) días anteriores a la Votación Anual, y en el sitio web de la escuela.
TENGA EN CUENTA que de conformidad con la Sección 495 de la Ley de Impuestos sobre Bienes Inmuebles, un informe de exenciones que detalla las exenciones de impuestos sobre bienes inmuebles estará disponible y se adjuntará a cualquier presupuesto tentativo, preliminar o final.
TENGA EN CUENTA que la elección de los miembros de la Junta de Educación será la siguiente: Dos (2) miembros de la Junta de Educación; por períodos completos de tres (3) años, comenzando el 1 de julio de 2025
y finalizando el 30 de junio de 2028. SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que las peticiones de nominación para candidatos a la Junta de Educación deben presentarse ante el Secretario del Distrito entre las 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m. a más tardar el 21 de abril de 2025 a las 5:00 p.m. Cada petición deberá indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada signador, deberá indicar el nombre y la residencia del candidato, y debe estar firmada por no menos de treinta y nueve (39) votantes calificados del distrito escolar para la elección de miembros de la Junta de Educación. Las vacantes en la Junta de Educación no se consideran oficinas separadas y específicas; los candidatos se postulan en general. Las peticiones de nominación no describirán ninguna vacante específica en la Junta para la cual el candidato está nominado.
TENGA EN CUENTA que en la Votación Anual, los votantes calificados del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore-Merrick votarán por los siguientes propósitos:
A. Votar sobre el presupuesto anual de la Preparatoria Central Bellmore-Merrick Distrito Escolar para el año 2025-2026 y autorizar la percepción de un impuesto sobre la propiedad imponible de la Escuela Secundaria Central Bellmore-Merrick Distrito para tales fines. B. Votar sobre las demás proposiciones que se presenten apropiadamente ante la Votantes.
SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que, de conformidad con la Ley de Educación §2014, se requiere el registro personal de los votantes, y ninguna persona tendrá derecho a votar en la Reunión del Distrito cuyo nombre no aparezca en el registro del Distrito. El registro de votantes para el Distrito estará en curso hasta el jueves 15 de mayo de 2025, inclusive, desde las 9:00 a.m. hasta las 3:00 p.m. (hora prevaleciente), en todos los días escolares del año escolar, en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito, con el propósito de preparar un registro de los votantes calificados del Distrito para dicha Reunión del Distrito, en cuyo momento cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre sea incluido en dicho registro, siempre que se
sepa o se demuestre que tiene derecho a votar en dicha Reunión de Distrito para la cual se prepara dicho registro. Inmediatamente después de su finalización, el registro se archivará en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, y estará abierto para la inspección de cualquier votante calificado del Distrito entre las 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m. (hora prevaleciente) en cada uno de los cinco (5) días anteriores a la Reunión de Distrito para la cual se preparó. Excepto el domingo, y el sábado 17 de mayo de 2025, solo con cita previa.
SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que, de conformidad con la Ley de Educación §2018-a y la Ley de Educación §2018-e, las solicitudes de boletas de voto en ausencia y por correo anticipado, pueden solicitarse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito. El Secretario del Distrito debe recibir las solicitudes de boletas de voto en ausencia y por correo anticipado, no antes de treinta (30) días antes de la elección. Además, el Secretario del Distrito debe recibir dicha solicitud al menos siete días antes de la elección, si la boleta se va a enviar por correo al votante, o el día antes de la elección, si la boleta se va a entregar personalmente al votante o a su agente designado. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna de una boleta de voto en ausencia o por correo anticipado, el Secretario del Distrito enviará la boleta a la dirección establecida en la solicitud, a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la votación. No se realizará el escrutinio de ninguna boleta de voto en ausencia o de votante anticipado por correo, a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. (hora prevaleciente) el día de la elección. Una lista de todas las personas a las que se les habrán emitido boletas de voto en ausencia y por correo anticipado estará disponible en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 2616 Martin Avenue, North Bellmore, Nueva York, comenzando con la emisión de la primera boleta de voto en ausencia o por correo anticipado y durante el horario comercial regular en cada uno de los cinco (5) días anteriores al día de la elección entre las 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m. (hora
prevaleciente), excepto el domingo y el sábado 17 de mayo de 2025 solo con cita previa. Dicha lista también estará disponible en el lugar de votación en la fecha de la votación. Ninguna boleta de voto en ausencia o por correo anticipado será escrutada a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar Libre de North Bellmore Union a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. (hora prevaleciente) el día de la Reunión Anual del Distrito.
TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO de que una persona tendrá derecho a votar en la reunión y elección anual que sea ciudadano de los Estados Unidos, dieciocho años de edad, residente del Distrito durante un período de treinta días inmediatamente anteriores a la elección que ofrece votar y se registró para votar para dicha elección. Una persona estará registrada para votar si se ha registrado permanentemente en la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau o en la Junta de Registro del distrito escolar. Solo tendrán derecho a votar las personas que estén inscritas.
SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que la Junta de Registro se reunirá durante las horas de votación el 20 de mayo de 2025 en el lugar de votación del distrito escolar, con el propósito de preparar un registro para las reuniones o elecciones del Distrito que se llevarán a cabo después del 20 de mayo de 2025. Dicho registro incluirá (1) a todos los votantes calificados del distrito escolar que se presentarán personalmente para el registro; y (2) todos los votantes calificados registrados permanentemente en la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau.
SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que los votantes militares que no están registrados actualmente pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Los votantes militares que son votantes calificados del distrito escolar pueden presentar una solicitud para una boleta militar. Los votantes militares pueden designar una preferencia para recibir un registro de votante militar, una solicitud de boleta militar o una boleta militar por correo, transmisión de fax o correo electrónico en su solicitud de dicho registro, solicitud de boleta o boleta. Los formularios
de registro de votantes militares y los formularios de solicitud de boletas militares deben recibirse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito escolar a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. del 2 al 4 de abril de 2025. No se realizará el escrutinio de ninguna boleta militar a menos que (1) se reciba en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito antes del cierre de las urnas el día de las elecciones y muestre una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o muestre un endoso fechado de recepción por otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) recibido por la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. el día de las elecciones y firmado y fechado por el votante militar y un testigo del mismo, con una fecha asociada a no más tarde del día antes de la elección.
POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN Laurice Gunnels Secretario de Distrito Esta información se proporciona en español de conformidad con la Ley de Derechos Electorales de 1965. 152665
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT VOTE OF THE BELLMOREMERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual vote of the qualified voters of the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District, Nassau County, New York, will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the several polling places designated by the Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore, and North Merrick Union Free School Districts, as follows: BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, at the Shore Road School, 2801 Shore Road, Bellmore, New York between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, at the Merrick District Office-Katherine E. Reif Administration Center, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, New York, between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. NORTH BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, at the Newbridge Road School, 1601 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore, New York, between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, at the North Merrick Public Library, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. For the following purposes:
PROPOSITION NO. 1CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, is authorized to expend the sums in the General Fund Appropriate of two hundred four million, fifteen thousand, thirty-nine dollars ($204,015,039) to be raised through taxation in the several districts included with the Central High School District after first deducting the monies available from state aid and other sources.
PROPOSITION NO. 2 - CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Bellmore Merrick Central High School District is hereby authorized to expend $3,000,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund established in May, 2024 for the purpose of performing the following projects; (1) roof and masonry repairs over the library, (2) replace auditorium curtains and rigging, (3) replace wood gym door partitions with curtains, (4) repair west wall B-wing masonry, (5) repair gym ceiling and masonry, (6) replace vacuum boiler feed remote stations, and (7) remove and replace floor and ceiling tiles from several second/third floor classrooms at the Sanford H. Calhoun High School, all of the foregoing to include all labor, materials, equipment, apparatus and incidental costs related thereto. Since the funds to be expended hereunder come from the Capital Reserve Fund, approval of this proposition will not require a tax levy upon the real property of the district. This Proposition shall be independent of Proposition No. 1. AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that registration shall be conducted at the several polling places stated above by the Boards of Registration of the several component districts as follows: the Bellmore Union Free School District at the District Office, Winthrop Avenue School, 580 Winthrop Avenue, Bellmore, New
Public Notices
York, on all school days of the school year until five (5) days preceding the vote between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; the Merrick Union Free School District at the Administrative Office, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, New York on all school days of the school year until five (5) days preceding the vote between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.; the North Bellmore Union Free School District at the Office of the District Clerk, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, New York, on all school days of the school year until five (5) days preceding the vote between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; and the North Merrick Union Free School District at the Harold D. Fayette School, 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York, on all school days of the school year until five (5) days preceding the vote between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for the purpose of preparing a register of the qualified voters entitled to vote at the school meeting and election for which such register is prepared, in the manner provided by law. The register, as so prepared, will be filed in the office of the clerk at each of the respective Union Free School Districts as set forth in this notice of meeting and such register is to be open for inspection at reasonable times for at least five (5) days prior to the date set for voting on the budget and election, except Sunday, and by appointment on the Saturday prior to the election at each elementary district.
AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a person shall be entitled to vote at the annual meeting and election who is a citizen of the United States, eighteen years of age, a resident of the Union Free School District in which he intends to vote for a period of thirty days next preceding the election he offers to vote and registered to vote for said election. A person shall be registered to vote if he or she shall have permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections or with the Board of Registration of the component Union Free School District in which he resides. Only persons who shall be registered shall be entitled to vote. AND NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Boards of Registration of the several compo-
nent Union Free School Districts will meet during the hours of voting on May 20, 2025 at the polling places in each of the Union Free School Districts for the purpose of preparing a register for district meetings or elections to be held subsequent to May 20, 2025; said register shall include (1) all qualified voters of the Union Free School Districts, who shall present themselves personally for registration; and (2) all qualified voters permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections.
AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purposes (school budget) and copies of propositions involving expenditure of moneys and the operation of the school system for the ensuing year, may be obtained by any resident in the District during the fourteen days immediately preceding the annual vote except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, at school district offices and any schoolhouse within the district and on the district’s website. AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that applications for early mail voting and absentee ballots for the school district election may be applied for at the Office of the Clerk of the District. Applications for early mail voting and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than thirty (30) days before the election. Furthermore, such application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application by no later than six (6) days before the vote. No early mail voting or absentee voter’s ballot will be canvassed unless it has been received in the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 P.M. (prevailing time) on the day of the election. A list of all persons to whom early mail voting and absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available for inspection at the Office of the Clerk until the day of the vote.
AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk of the school district no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated to be not later than the day before the election.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
BELLMORE-MERRICK
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
DISTRICT
PATTIANNE GUCCIONE
DISTRICT CLERK
The above notice will be published in the Bellmore Herald and Merrick Herald newspapers on Thursday, April 3, 2025, April 17, 2025, May 1, 2025 and May 15, 2025. 152984
LEGAL NOTICE
AVISO DE VOTO ANUAL DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR
BELLMORE-MERRICK
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
DISTRICT
CIUDAD DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK
EL AVISO SE HA DADO
AQUI que el voto anual de los votantes calificados del Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, el Condado de Nassau, Nueva York, se llevará a cabo el Martes, el 20 de mayo de 2025, en los varios lugares de votación designados por el Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore y
North Merrick Union Free School Districts, de la siguiente manera:
BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, en el Shore Road School, 2801 Shore Road, Bellmore, New York, entre las 6:30 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m.
MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, en la Merrick District OfficeKatherine E. Reif Administration Center, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, Nueva York, entre las 7:00 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m. NORTH BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT en la escuela Newbridge Road, 1601 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore, Nueva York, entre las 6:00 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m.
NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, en la Biblioteca Pública de North Merrick, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, Nueva York, entre las 6:30 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m.
Para los siguientes propósitos:
PROPUESTA NUMERO
1- PRESUPUESTO DEL DISTRITO CENTRAL DE LA ESCUELA SECUNDARIA
SE RESUELVE, que la Junta de Educación del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias (CHSD) de BellmoreMerrick, ciudad de Hempstead, condado de Nassau, está autorizada a gastar las sumas apropiadas del fondo general de doscientos cuatro millones quince mil treinta y nueve dólares ($204,015,039) que se recaudarán mediante impuestos en los distintos distritos incluidos dentro del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias después de deducir, primero, los fondos disponibles correspondientes a la ayuda estatal y otras fuentes.
PROPUESTA NUMERO 2 - PROYECTOS DE MEJORAS DE CAPITAL
SE RESUELVE que, se autoriza a la Junta de Educación del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore Merrick a gastar $3,000,000 del fondo de reserva de capitales establecido en mayo de 2024 para ejecutar los siguientes proyectos: (1) reparación del techo y la mampostería de la biblioteca; (2) reemplazo de las cortinas y el aparejo del auditorio; (3) reemplazo de las mamparas de madera de las puertas del gimnasio con cortinas; (4) reparación de la mampostería del muro oeste del ala B; (5) reparación del techo y la mampostería del gimnasio; (6) reemplazo de
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las estaciones remotas de alimentación de la caldera de vacío; y (7) remoción y reemplazo de las placas del piso y el techo de varias aulas del segundo/tercer piso de la Escuela Secundaria Sanford H. Calhoun. Todo lo anterior incluye mano de obra, materiales, equipos, aparatos y costos incidentales relacionados. Dado que los fondos que se invertirán provienen del Fondo de Reserva de Capital, la aprobación de esta propuesta no requerirá un gravamen fiscal sobre los bienes inmuebles del distrito. Esta Propuesta será independiente de la Propuesta No. 1. Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que el registro se llevará a cabo en los lugares de votación indicados anteriormente por Las Juntas de Registro de los varios distritos componentes de la siguiente manera: la Bellmore Union Free School District en la Oficina del Distrito, Winthrop Avenue School, 580 Winthrop Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, en todos los días de clases del año escolar hasta cinco (5) días anteriores a la votación entre el horario de 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m.; la Merrick Union Free School District en la Oficina Administrativa, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, Nueva York, en todos los días de clases del año escolar hasta cinco (5) días anteriores a la votación entre las horas de 9:30 a.m. y 3:30 p.m.; la North Bellmore Union Free School District en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, y en todos los días de clases del año escolar hasta cinco (5) días anteriores a la votación entre el horario de 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m.; y la North Merrick Union Free School District en la escuela Harold D. Fayette, 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, Nueva York, en todos los días escolares del año escolar hasta cinco (5) días antes de la votación entre las 9:00 a.m. y 4:00 p.m. con el fin de preparar un registro de los votantes calificados con derecho a votar en la reunión de la escuela y la elección para la que
dicho registro es preparado, en la forma prevista por la ley. El registro, como así preparado, será archivado en la Oficina del Secretario (District Clerk) en cada uno de los respectivos Distritos Unión Libre como se establece en este aviso y dicho registro sera abierto por inspección en horas razonables hasta cinco (5) días antes de la fecha establecida para votar sobre el presupuesto y la elección del distrito, excepto el domingo, y por cita el sábado anterior de la elección en cada distrito elemental.
Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que una persona quien es cuidadano de Los Estados Unidos, tenga diez y ocho años de edad y es residente del Distrito Escolar de la Unión en el que se tiene la intención de votar a favor un período de treinta días antes de la elección y esta registrado para votar para la elección dicha tendrá derecho a votar. Una persona debera ser registrada para votar si el o ella han registrado permanente con La Junta de Elecciones del Condado de Nassau (Nassau County Board of Elections) o con La Junta de Registro (Board of Registration) del distrito donde el o ella reside. Solamente las personas que estan registradas tienen el derecho para votar.
Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA que Las Juntas de Registro (Boards of Registration) de las varias escuelas componentes tendran una reunion el 20 de mayo 2025 durante las horas de votación en los lugares de votación en cada escuela para el propósito de preparer el registro para que las elecciones tendran lugar despues del 20 de mayo 2025; El Registro incluirá (1) todos los votantes calificados de las escuelas, quines se presentáran personalemente para registro; y (2) todos votantes calificados permanente registrados con la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau (Nassau County Board of Elections).
Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que una copia de la declaración de la
cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año siguiente para fines escolares (presupuesto escolar) y copias de las propuestas que involucran gastos de dinero y el funcionamiento del sistema escolar para el año siguiente , puede ser obtenido por cualquier residente del Distrito durante los catorce días inmediatamente anteriores a la votación anual, excepto sábados, domingos o días festivos, en las oficinas del distrito escolar y en cualquier escuela dentro del distrito y en el sitio web del distrito. Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que las solicitudes de votación anticipada por correo y boletas en ausencia para las elecciones del distrito escolar se pueden solicitar en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito. Las solicitudes de votación anticipada por correo y de voto en ausencia deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito no antes de treinta (30) días antes de la elección. Además, dicha solicitud debe ser recibida por el Secretario de Distrito al menos siete días antes de la elección si la boleta se enviará por correo al votante, o el día antes de la elección si la boleta se entregará personalmente al votante o a su agente designado. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna de una boleta por correo, el Secretario del Distrito enviará la boleta por correo a la dirección indicada en la solicitud a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la votación. No se escrutará ninguna boleta de votación anticipada por correo ni de votante ausente a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. (horario predominante) del día de la elección. Una lista de todas las personas a quienes se les habrá emitido la votación anticipada por correo y el voto en ausencia estará disponible para su inspección en la Oficina del Secretario hasta el día de la votación.
Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO de que los votantes militares que no están registrados actualmente pu-
eden registrarse como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del distrito escolar pueden presentar una solicitud para una boleta militar. Los votantes militares pueden designar una preferencia para recibir un registro de votante militar, una solicitud de boleta militar o una boleta militar por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico en su solicitud de dicho registro, solicitud de boleta o boleta. Las formas de registro de votantes militares y las formas de solicitud de boletas militares deben ser recibidas en la oficina del secretario de distrito del distrito escolar no más tarde que a las 5:00 p.m. el 24 de abril de 2025. No se escrutará ninguna boleta militar a menos que (1) se reciba en la oficina del Secretario de Distrito antes del cierre de las urnas el día de las elecciones y que muestre una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o de un servicio postal de un país extranjero, o mostrando un endoso fechado de recibo de otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) recibido por la oficina del secretario de distrito no más tarde que las 5:00 p.m. el día de la elección y firmada y fechada por el votante militar y un testigo del mismo, con una fecha que se asocia a no ser mas tarde del día anterior de la elección. POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN BELLMORE-MERRICK
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
PATTIANNE GUCCIONE SECRETARIO DE DISTRITO
El aviso anterior se publicará en los periódicos Herald de Bellmore y Herald de Merrick el Jueves, el 3 de abril de 2025, el 17 de abril de 2025 y el 1 de mayo de 2025 y el 15 de mayo de 2025. 152986
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Redoing a basement, Part 3
Q. We bought our home three years ago, and are finally ready to finish our basement to make a family room, guest bedroom and a bathroom while enclosing our laundry. Right now it’s just a big open space with a lot of columns. The ceiling is low, and we’ve had estimates to cut down the basement floor. It seems like a lot of money to do all these things at once, but we understand that we need to do it before the prices for materials, as we’ve been warned, go a lot higher. We want to know what needs to be done if we want to lower the floor, take out two columns so our recreation room is bigger, and put in a bathroom. Is there any way to save money?
A. This third column ties together the previous two to state that, basically, you get what you pay for, and sometimes less. I explained that basement bathrooms may not be allowed to have a bathing fixture, tub or shower, depending on the municipal requirements, and that many communities also won’t allow a bedroom in a basement, for safety reasons. I also outlined the process for figuring out beams so that columns can be removed, and that while “guessers” may save you some money up front, repairs can erase the savings.
Now we’re up to lowering the basement floor. “Saving money” and “lowering a basement floor” should rarely be in the same sentence, except for when writing an answer as to why. In general, you want more living space, structurally sound and waterproof. Both of those needs are hard to achieve if any part of the process is left out.
It’s always best to gain the most amount of interior space, and I can often tell when either saving money was the focus or amateur work was done when I see a foundation wall projecting into the basement like a concrete bench. To avoid this look and to get the most use out of the space, you have to start with knowing where the underground water table is. Unless you dig a hole or order a soil-boring test from a professional company, you may soon find out why the floor wasn’t lower to begin with. This test could save you great expense.
The process of correctly supporting the exterior concrete foundation walls is called “underpinning.”
The excavation can be done from the interior side of the foundation wall if the exterior isn’t accessible. Either way, the underpinning process must be done in sections, not all at once. There would be complete collapses of walls and floors above if entire foundations were removed at one time. When this is done, it usually causes tremendous damage, possible death and news coverage.
Engineered sections, with waterproofing to the exterior, have to be planned. The old sections are carefully cut out, and then replaced several feet apart before the next sections are removed. Good luck!
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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Local voices matter, and the RAPID Act listens
Last month, a handful of Nassau County town supervisors stood in front of a firehouse on Barnum Island and took the low road, whipping up fear, distorting facts and conflating fallacy and fantasy with reality to try to block progress. Their target was the Renewable Action through Project Interconnection and Deployment, or RAPID, Act, a new state law designed to streamline the approval process for large-scale renewable energy and electric transmission projects.
The RAPID Act creates a more efficient and transparent process for reviewing the major infrastructure projects we desperately need. If we’re serious about clean energy, grid reliability and energy security, this is our path toward resiliency and sustainability. It’s good for consumers and developers because the streamlined process reduces costs, making investments in the grid more affordable. Unfortunately these days, facts don’t seem to matter much to some. But here are the facts.
Before the RAPID Act became law in April 2024, New York state had a patchwork of laws that made siting energy
projects difficult, confusing and expensive. Today there is a clear, easy-to-follow, streamlined system under the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission. The new system saves time and money, increases consistency, and gives communities a meaningful voice from the very beginning.
Here’s how it works.
Before even submitting an application, developers are required to consult with local officials. Throughout the process, the public is invited to comment. Each project must have meaningful community outreach in which residents are invited to participate, along with ORES.
Tfor clean, reliable energy.
The reality is that most projects comply with local laws almost entirely, and the few disputes thus far have largely been resolved through mutual agreement. Waivers aren’t done casually. They must be fully justified. And towns can challenge them. As of last month, only five towns in the entire state had appealed such rulings, and all five rulings were upheld.
here have been over 50 energy project siting hearings across the state.
To date, there have been over 50 hearings across the state. That’s not secrecy. That’s real public engagement. Your comments have been heard, as have developers — who often modify projects in response to public feedback.
Another fallacy is how the RAPID Act treats local laws. It did not create new authority for the state to waive local laws — that ability has been part of the siting process in New York for decades. The act was designed to make those waivers less likely by addressing points of conflict early. And the law allows ORES to waive those laws only when they are unreasonably burdensome and conflict with the state’s goals
If that sounds like a heavy-handed state bulldozing towns, you might want to check the script the town supervisors are reading from, because it’s fiction. What we saw last month was not thoughtful concern for our future infrastructure needs. It was a political strategy that assumes that every environmental policy from Albany is a threat, every clean-energy initiative a conspiracy and every step forward something to block. Lumping everything together and crying foul to whip up outrage doesn’t benefit the New Yorkers that we public servants are here to serve. Meanwhile, our infrastructure is aging, and doing nothing is no longer an option. The RAPID Act moves us forward. It helps make sure our homes have power during extreme storms. It helps reduce pollution. It helps create good-paying jobs in clean energy. That
should be something we can all get behind.
If the supervisors want to sit down and talk seriously about how to improve the process, our door is always open. But yelling about non-existent dangers doesn’t help anyone. It misleads the public. It slows progress. And it makes it harder to build the kind of energy future Long Island deserves and desperately needs.
We believe in transparency, community input and in building a future in which Long Island is stronger, safer and cleaner. The RAPID Act is a big step in that direction.
It’s time to stop the political games. Time to stop pretending that doing nothing is somehow safer. I know firsthand that Long Islanders care about their communities, and the environment. They’re smart enough to see through rhetoric designed to instill fear, and they deserve better: They deserve leadership that tells the truth about the very real needs and demands of our infrastructure and its impacts on growing our economy. As I’ve said in countless hearings and committee meetings, the RAPID Act isn’t about taking power away from towns. It’s about keeping the lights on, making sure everyone has a seat at the table, and making sure we’re ready for the future.
Let’s move forward together.
Rory Christian is chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission.
Companies that produce packing waste must recycle it
Consumers have changed our shopping habits across New York state. The transition to online shopping has significantly increased plastic, paper and cardboard packaging waste. Those materials go to Reworld, which takes our trash, and are turned into ash. The ash needs to go somewhere, but where?
On Long Island, most of the ash goes to Brookhaven Landfill, but that clock is ticking. The Brookhaven facility will soon reach its capacity for ash, and that means it will close in the next few years, leaving towns such as Hempstead and North Hempstead with no ash-disposal options on Long Island. As packaging waste increases, recycling rates remain lackluster, which adds to our solid-waste burden. The good news is that we can reduce packaging waste and increase recycling rates to help address this challenge. Citizens Campaign for the Environment
chairs a statewide coalition of environmental leaders, local governments, stakeholders and elected officials who have joined to back state legislation called the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. This important bill is urgently needed.
p ass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act!
New York is experiencing a solid-waste crisis, with skyrocketing costs to municipalities, abysmal recycling rates, and plastic pollution littering our communities and waterways. Our state generates more than 17 million tons of municipal solid waste annually. Long Island is responsible for 1.6 million tons per year, 205,000 tons of which go to landfills off Long Island, and 1.4 million tons are sent to waste-toenergy facilities, resulting in 400,000 tons of ash that must be landfilled. There is currently no plan to manage this ash once the Brookhaven landfill is closed. The one wise choice everyone agrees on is to reduce our waste stream, and this legislation would do just that.
The financial burden of managing recyclable waste falls on local taxpayers. Municipalities are struggling with
recycling costs and outdated infrastructure that significantly limits the volume of materials that are recycled. It is estimated that local governments statewide spend more than $200 million each year to keep local recycling programs going. That is not sustainable.
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would revolutionize New York’s approach to solid waste by shifting the responsibility of managing plastic, paper and packaging waste to corporations, not taxpayers and local governments. Those that put packaging into the waste stream are best positioned to reduce the amount of packaging that’s created in the first place.
The measure would require large corporations to reduce consumer packaging by 30 percent in 12 years, increase post-consumer recycled content in packaging and invest in new reuse/ refill infrastructure. The bill includes strong oversight and enforcement provisions to ensure that corporations comply.
Other states, including California,
Colorado, Maine and Oregon, have passed such laws, and similar policies have been in effect in parts of Europe and Canada for over 30 years. Where fully implemented, recycling rates exceed 70 percent, and the cost of consumer goods has not increased one penny.
It is time for corporations take out their own trash! Each year, companies ship billions of products with excess packaging, exacerbating the solid-waste crisis, yet they bear no responsibility for managing the waste they create. This sensible legislation promises to save money for municipalities and taxpayers, remove toxic substances from packaging, increase recycling and require producers to reduce waste.
We need to modernize New York’s recycling system and make producers take responsibility for managing their packaging waste. We need the governor, the State Senate and the Assembly to support this critical bill and get it signed into law this year. Every year we do nothing is another year we waste money, and allow our solid-waste management problem to grow.
We can do this!
RoRY CHRisTiAn
Adrienne Esposito is executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
We must restore Musk’s cuts of the 9/11 health fund
it is essential that Congress do all it can to fully restore the World Trade Center Health Program. I commend Long Island Congressmen Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota for leading a bipartisan effort to undo the damage, intentional or not, to this program by Elon Musk’s chainsaw cuts of government health programs.
During my years in Congress, no issue was more vital or intensely personal to me than ensuring that all of the surviving victims of the attacks of Sept. 11 — police officers, firefighters, emergency responders, construction workers and civilians — receive the care they require and deserve for the illnesses caused by the toxins they breathed in at ground zero in the days, weeks and months afterward.
It wasn’t until several years after 9/11 that evidence emerged of a growing number of blood cancers and lung and breathing disorders suffered by 9/11 first responders and nearby residents and students. The concern was bipartisan. Democratic Representatives Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney and
ARepublicans Vito Fossella and I were the original prime advocates. We introduced legislation in 2005 and again in 2007 to establish and fund a 9/11 illness detection and treatment program.
ed a rare and fatal blood cancer after working together at ground zero. The chances of this being a coincidence were infinitesimal. And there were countless similar situations.
session, our efforts paid off: Zadroga passed both the House and Senate.
TToday we know that more people have died from 9/11 illnesses than from the attacks, but in those early years, the numbers of victims weren’t yet especially high, and there was no proof of direct linkage to 9/11, which made it difficult to generate strong interest or support outside the New York and New Jersey congressional delegations.
hey’re causing many of the 9/11 doctors and experts to be terminated.
Soon enough, however, there was too much evidence to ignore. Anecdotally, I would see FDNY and NYPD neighbors who had worked at ground zero wearing oxygen masks as they watched their kids’ Little League games or stopped by 7-Eleven for coffee. Those scenes were repeated across Long Island and the entire downstate region, and there would eventually be victims among rescue workers who had come to New York from almost all 50 states. To make our case, we asked 9/11 heroes to visit Congress to make direct appeals to individual members. I particularly recall NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly sitting in my Washington office telling me about two cops who contract-
The enormity of what was becoming a 9/11 health crisis could no longer be denied. In 2008, we thought our legislation — named the Zadroga Bill, after James Zadroga, who was believed to be the first NYPD officer to die from a 9/11 illness — would be included in a large year-end package of legislation agreed on by Congress and the White House. Unfortunately the combined tumult of a Presidential election and a stock market collapse prevented it from coming to a vote, and there was no opportunity to salvage it.
After close but disappointing nearmisses over the next two years, primarily because of opposition from Republicans in Southern and Western states, I and others fought furiously to get Zadroga passed. I had no tolerance for opposition from the crowd who primarily represented states and districts that received disproportionate levels of federal assistance at the expense of donor states like New York, which effectively subsidized them. Finally, on Dec. 22, 2010, the last day of the congressional
Unfortunately the bill had a five-year limit, so we had to wage the fight again in 2015. This time the struggle wasn’t as difficult, and Zadroga was extended. But then, in 2019, we learned there were many more victims than expected, and the fund was running short. With the bipartisan support of Democrats like then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and House Republicans like then Whip Steve Scalise and Representatives Doug Collins and Mike Johnson, Zadroga was extended to the end of the century. I was proud to be with President Trump when he signed this legislation at a ceremony on the White House lawn.
Now the fund is seriously threatened by Musk’s misplaced cuts, which, probably made unknowingly, are causing many of the 9/11 doctors and experts to be terminated, including program Director Dr. John Howard.
Though the White House has promised to fully reinstate the program, so far it has not been done. Victims are being denied necessary testing. This insanity must end. Our nation’s commitment to the victims of 9/11 must be honored!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
The new state budget is a victory for Hochul
merica is fixated on picking winners and losers. We use that term every day, applying it to sports, the stock market and every other field of endeavor. I heard it during the trial of O.J. Simpson, and I remember hearing it as far back as the 1960s, when, following a massive snowstorm, some parts of Queens were the last neighborhoods in New York City to see snowplows. Winners and losers are proclaimed extensively in politics, because politicians are tested on an almost daily basis.
Which leads to a discussion of the long-delayed New York state budget. Over the years, when there was an agreement between the three leaders — the governor, the leader of the State Senate and the Assembly speaker — they would all show up at a much-heralded news conference, at which each would take credit for some portion of the budget bill. For the past few years, that practice has changed, because the only person who has been taking the
media spotlight is Gov. Kathy Hochul. Before talking about winners and losers, it’s worth looking at this year’s budget process. The new spending plan budget is the latest to be finalized since 2010. Since the April 1 deadline, there have been 11 legislative extensions, which assures state employees that they can collect their paychecks.
LCould the governor have refused to delay the passage of an agreed-on budget and submitted her own spending plan on a take-itor-leave-it basis? The answer is yes. During the administration of Gov. David Paterson, the courts decided that if the Legislature can’t agree on a budget by March 31, the governor can force a vote on his or her own plan with no further delays.
cation, housing, mental hygiene and tax reform. When the dust settled, the two leaders got their asks, but the governor got the lion’s share of what she proposed back in January.
ooking to next year’s election, she set aside money for every region of the state.
But in the spirit of harmony, succeeding governors have chosen to go through the arduous process of countless meetings and formal extensions until all of the parties sign on to a final accord. This year, Hochul made it clear that she had a long list of priorities, and had no plans to give in on them. She presented the Assembly and Senate with a long list of programs covering criminal law, edu-
With an eye on next year’s election, Hochul set aside money for every region of the state. She addressed subway crime, and sided with the state’s district attorneys on their demand for reforms that will allow them to prevent the dismissal of pending cases. Taxpayers can anticipate expansion of childcare tax credits and many other goodies, including $400 checks for families on limited incomes. School districts will get a hefty increase in education aid, and students won’t be unable use their cellphones from the first school bell to the last.
During a typical give-and-take that is part of the negotiating process, each of the parties shows some willingness to bend on their key issues. But this time, the governor stuck to her guns and yielded on very few issues. Facing what could be a very tough re-election campaign next year, Hochul dug in on almost every proposal she made and
gave little ground, which added to the delays. Albany insiders were surprised at her insistence on winning on so many issues, but she has powers, and used them.
An outsider might wonder why budgets take so long these days, compared with the process 20 and 30 years ago, when spending plans were adopted days and weeks before the deadline. Once upon a time, the state budget was strictly a numbers game. The leaders would promote their pet programs, and possibly sneak in a new program or two. But in the late 1980s, the leaders began to introduce items that were controversial and had little to do with the budget. Wrapped up in one big bill, these nonfiscal items would pass, because the members would have no choice but to swallow the whole document.
Is there a chance that state budgets will once again become just a numbers package? That’s highly unlikely, because all of the leaders have developed an appetite for inserting proposals in the budget that would have no chance of passing as stand-alone bills.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. Comments about this column? jkremer@ liherald.com.
Jordan Vallone
d’alessandro
Welcoming home your freshman
as college dorm rooms empty across the nation, millions of parents are preparing for a significant homecoming. Your freshman is returning — perhaps changed, certainly tired, and undoubtedly with more laundry than you thought humanly possible. This transition marks the beginning of a new chapter in your family story, one that requires delicate navigation, open communication, and occasional deep breaths as you adjust to your evolving relationship.
The transformation that occurs during college’s freshman year is nothing short of remarkable. The timid student who needed reminders about deadlines may return with strong opinions about political systems you’ve never discussed. The picky eater might come home raving about kimchi or curry. The once-shy teenager might stride through your door with newfound confidence and independence. Your child has spent months making independent decisions, forming new social circles, and discovering aspects of themselves that may surprise you — and them.
What parents sometimes fail to acknowledge is that we’ve changed, too. We’ve adjusted to quieter evenings, reclaimed bathroom counter space, and perhaps discovered new routines or even aspects of our identities that had been subsumed by active parenting. Your student’s return disrupts not just their new normal, but yours as well.
The first summer home represents uncharted territory for both generations. Your student has grown accustomed to complete autonomy — deciding when to eat, sleep, study and socialize without consultation or explanation. Meanwhile, you’ve maintained a household with certain rhythms and expectations. Within the first few days of your college student’s homecoming, have a detailed conversation with them about expectations to prevent misunderstandings.
letters
We have to be cautious while supporting sustainability
To the Editor:
What routines did they develop at college? What do they need to feel comfortable at home? How will household responsibilities be shared? This opens the door to compromise rather than confrontation.
For many freshmen, college is their first opportunity to define themselves beyond their family context or high school reputation. They’ve experimented with new identities, beliefs and social circles. Coming home can feel like stepping backward, especially if you still see them as the person they were before they left.
This identity navigation works both ways. Your student may struggle to integrate their college self with their home self. They might seem different with college friends than with family. They might challenge family traditions or political views that once went unquestioned. These explorations, while sometimes uncomfortable, represent healthy development and should be met with curiosity rather than defensiveness.
Don’t be surprised if your student spends the first week home sleeping extraordinary hours, eating everything in sight, or displaying emotional volatility. Freshman year is physically and emotionally exhausting — particularly its conclusion, with final exams, packing and goodbyes to new friends. The transition home often reveals the school year’s toll. Students maintain a frantic pace during the semester, running on adrenaline and caffeine. When they finally reach the safety of home, their bodies and minds demand recovery time. Parents should view excessive sleeping or emotional sensitivity as necessary healing, not regression or laziness.
The social landscape for your adult child has likely shifted dramatically as well. High school friendships that once seemed permanent may have drifted. New romantic relationships may have formed. Your student might spend little
As communities across New York and the nation explore ways to transition to cleaner energy, there is growing momentum behind battery energy storage systems, particularly those using lithium-ion technology. However, we must not let the promise of sustainability blind us to the inconvenient truths of our present reality.
The concept of a circular battery economy — in which batteries are reused, repurposed, and ultimately recycled to recover key materials — is a commendable goal. Yet we are far from achieving it. Our current
time at home as they reconnect with local friends or process the changes in these relationships. Alternatively, they might seem isolated if their primary social connections now exist at school. Both scenarios require your patience and understanding.
And while your instinct might be to recreate family traditions exactly as they were before, this summer presents an opportunity to develop new ways of connecting that honor your student’s developing adulthood. Ask them to teach you about their newfound passions. Take them to places that were once offlimits — a sophisticated restaurant, an art exhibit — that signal your recognition of their maturation. When they share stories about college experiences, practice active listening without immediately offering advice. Questions like, “How did you handle that?” communicate respect for their problem-solving abilities and invite deeper conversation. There’s a poignant truth most parents discover during this first post-college summer: Each homecoming from now on will be temporary. Your child’s primary residence increasingly exists elsewhere — in dorms, apartments and, eventually, their own home. The full nest you’ll experience this summer will empty again, with each cycle of departure becoming more permanent.
This realization, while sometimes painful, also brings opportunity. The time-limited nature of these summers encourages making the most of the moments you share. Rather than focusing on the inevitable goodbye at summer’s end, embrace the gift of time together, even if it seems fleeting.
What awaits in these summer months is a delicate dance of holding close and letting go — a choreography that, when performed with grace, becomes the foundation for a relationship that will sustain you both long after the last box is packed for sophomore year.
Wnal, someone and deserves is far more during have a sonal experience of the behind My arrived hope and HerNesto GaldaMeZ
opinions
Not all immigrants are criminals
when we hear the term “illegal immigrant,” it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that the individual is a criminal, someone who has broken the law, and deserves punishment. But the truth is far more nuanced. For many immigrants, coming to the United States without legal documentation isn’t an act of criminality, but an act of survival — an effort to escape violence, political persecution or a situation so dire that the only option is to flee. As the child of immigrants who fled El Salvador during its civil war in the late 1980s, I have a perspective that is shaped by personal experience and an understanding of the deeper human motivations behind these decisions.
My parents, both from El Salvador, arrived in the U.S. with nothing but hope and fear for their lives. They
understood the risks they were taking by entering this country without legal documentation, but the alternative was staying in a country where the government was killing its own people.
FEl Salvador’s civil war, which began in 1979, was marked by brutal violence, corruption and ruthless repression. The Salvadoran government, heavily supported by U.S. military aid, waged war against leftist insurgents and civilians it accused of being sympathetic to them. Throughout the conflict, military and paramilitary forces committed countless atrocities — massacres, forced disappearances and the destruction of entire villages. Thousands of innocent civilians were murdered or disappeared simply for being suspected of opposing the government.
wasn’t just about seeking a better life; it was about survival. It was about fleeing a government that viewed its citizens as expendable.
or my parents, staying in El Salvador meant living in constant fear.
This is not to say that I support illegal immigration or that breaking the law should be excused. But I believe it’s essential to understand the perspective of those who make the difficult decision to flee their homeland. My parents did not come here to exploit the system or cause harm. They came to escape unimaginable violence, and to find a place where they could live without the constant threat of death.
the mechanic, my father was the only one in his family to leave, and he never got the chance to see his parents again. A few years ago, he and I stood at their graves for the first time — a painful reminder that the cost of leaving isn’t just physical, but deeply emotional and enduring. His journey wasn’t about breaking the law; it was about survival.
It’s easy to forget that behind every “illegal immigrant” label is someone with a story, and usually with pain, sacrifice and hope for a better future. These people don’t come here to break the law. They come to escape the laws and systems that were oppressing them. And for every immigrant like my father or that mechanic, there are countless others who face the same impossible decision every day.
For my parents, like many others, staying in El Salvador meant living in constant fear — fear of being killed, of losing loved ones, or of being caught in the crossfire of a war they had no part in starting. Their decision to leave
Letters
infrastructure for battery recycling is still in its infancy, and the environmental and economic costs of lithium extraction remain extraordinarily high.
Lithium mining is not benign — it consumes vast amounts of water, devastates ecosystems, and often occurs in regions with poor labor and environmental protections. Meanwhile, the lack of cost-effective and widely available recycling facilities means that today’s lithium-based storage systems could become tomorrow’s toxic waste problem.
Until we have robust recycling infrastructure, updated fire and safety codes, and enforceable end-oflife regulations for BESS, policymakers must exercise caution. Approving large-scale lithiumbased projects now, without these safeguards, risks trading one environmental crisis for another.
Sustainability must be more than a buzzword. It requires fullcycle accountability — from cradle to grave and, ideally, cradle to cradle. Let’s not build the clean-energy future on the unstable foundation of unresolved waste and extraction.
These are my beliefs as a private citizen, and do not reflect the official stance or opinion of the Village of Sea Cliff.
BrUCE KEnnEdy Glen Cove Sea Cliff village administrator
We must urge Israel to cease its military campaign
To the Editor:
I am not a Jew, but I am a Zionist, in that I support Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign state.
I regard Hamas as a terrorist organization guilty of a barbaric attack on Israeli civilians in October 2023 as well as vicious repression of the people it purports to represent. Hamas must free all hostages immediately and unconditionally.
But the time has come for American Jews and gentiles alike who share these views to publicly urge the Israeli government to cease its military campaign in Gaza. Our voices can be powerful — if we exercise our moral duty to speak out.
Even if Hamas has inflated the death count, it is incontestable that many thousands of non-combatant Palestinians, including children and aid workers, have been killed in Israeli strikes. It is likewise certain that civilian suffering, already acute, is intensifying as a result of Israel’s two-month-long blockade of food and medicine deliveries to Gaza. And any escalation of the war is sure to further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages, according to the Israeli forum of families of the hostages.
There’s nothing antisemitic
My father eventually found work managing an apartment complex in roslyn, contributing to society, paying taxes, and respecting the country that took him in, belying the false narrative that immigrants don’t pay taxes or contribute to the economy.
My parents’ story is far from unique. not long ago, I met a mechanic who had fled Venezuela to escape violence — just as my father had decades earlier. Like
Framework by Tim Baker
So, I ask: If you were living in a country where your government was killing its own people, where staying meant a likely death, would you remain and accept your fate, or would you flee in search of safety? Would you risk breaking the law for a chance at survival?
Hernesto Galdamez is editor of the Baldwin Herald.
about opposing Israel’s disproportionate response to Hamas’s atrocities. Indeed, this stance should rest firmly upon the core Jewish values of rachamim (mercy and compassion) and chesed
Alex Candon and her momentarily airborne daughter, Lilli, at the L.I. Marathon — East Meadow
