East Meadow residents, veterans and local organizations gathered for the community’s annual Memorial Day ceremony. Above, Liz Fries and Dolores Rome, the event’s organizers, with Joe Parisi, president of the Council of East Meadow Community Organizations. Story, more photos, Page 3.
$286.8M spending plan funds added academic offerings
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
East Meadow voters approved the school district’s $286.8 million budget for the 2026-27 school year on May 19 — a spending plan district officials said maintains current programs while adding new career-focused opportunities for students.
The budget passed by a vote of 1,279 to 436, or roughly 74.5 percent. Voters also re-elected Board of Education President Jessica RiccoSimeone and Trustee David Carl, who both ran unopposed for new three-year terms. Ricco-Simeone received 1,115 votes, while Carl received 1,056 votes.
The approved spending plan totals $286,776,667, a $15.5 million, or 5.71 percent, increase over the current year’s budget. The tax levy will rise 2.86 percent, within the district’s allowable limit under the state’s tax cap formula. District officials said the budget was designed to expand opportunities for students while remaining mindful of the tax impact on residents. The district received a 1 percent increase in state aid for the coming year, requiring officials to balance resources while sustaining and enhancing student programs, according to the district’s budget newsletter. The budget maintains all current instruction-
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com
For those struggling with substance abuse and other addictions, help is always around the corner. While hotlines, support groups and personal counseling are available, two experts in the field are pioneering a new, modern method.
Spencer Cook of East Meadow and Frantz Michel of Baldwin are partners in the addiction treatment platform SoberIn40, a digital program that offers special, automatically tailored courses and challenges to help people in need get through tough times.
This month, they announced a new initiative to take the effort farther than ever before: anyone who can achieve 40 days of sobriety from alcohol or other substances can receive a $200 reward and a complimentary dinner for two at a restaurant partnered with SoberIn40. The challenge officially launched May 21 and will continue through May 21, 2027.
personal. Each of them faced spent time inside the federal prison system for drug-related offenses and spent years learning how to undo the damage through research, mentorship programs and teaching various classes. When the two men were released, they sought to take these ideas farther and help people stay out of trouble and avoid being behind bars altogether.
SPENCER COOK Founder
Cook, the founder of SoberIn40, was arrested in a multiagency operation in 2014. Initially facing a 20-year prison sentence, Cook was commuted under the Second Chance Act for a reduced sentence. In 2020, after six and a half years of incarceration and a year under house arrest, he dedicated his new lease on life to becoming sober.
Participants will use the SoberIn40 platform for accountability, daily check ins, and motivation throughout the experience.
The two men’s motivation in combatting addiction is deeply
“I’m going to do everything in life that is completely opposite from what I’m used to and what feels normal,” he recalled thinking. “In order for me to do that successfully long term, I needed to understand my disease on a scientific level.”
Michel is the director of criminal justice partnerships at SoberIn40. He was serving
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
By JORDAN VALLONE
jvallone@liherald.com
East Meadow Public Library will welcome June with a mix of reading, art and family programming,
n Adult Summer Reading Club begins
East Meadow Public Library’s Adult Summer Reading Club will kick off Monday, June 8, with in-person registration in the library lobby from 10 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “Unearth a Story,” inviting adult readers to spend the summer discovering books, programs and library activities. Participants who complete the program by submitting two reviews will be invited to an end-of-summer party featuring author John Searles, who will discuss his most recent book, “Single Girls.” Those who cannot attend the kickoff may register online or at the reference desk any time before July 27. More information is available on the library’s reader services webpage.
including the start of its Adult Summer Reading Club, a community lecture on artist Marc Chagall and a children’s celebration marking America’s 250th birthday. The month’s offerings include programs for adults,
n Meadowbrook Women’s Initiative hosts art talk
The Meadowbrook Women’s Initiative will host speaker Debbie Wello for a program on the art of Marc Chagall on Thursday, June 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the library’s Community Room. The organization promotes lifetime learning, community service and fundraising for local causes, including the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Feinstein Institutes. The June program offers residents a chance to learn more about Chagall, the influential artist known for his colorful, dreamlike works and use of Jewish, folk and modernist imagery. No registration is required for the program, making it an easy afternoon option for adults interested in art, culture and community learning.
families and children, with some events requiring registration and others open to the public without advance sign-up.
n Library celebrates America’s 250th birthday
Families can mark America’s 250th birthday at the library on Tuesday, June 30, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Children’s Story Hour Room. The program, “America’s Birthday Party,” will feature music, crafts, balloons and other activities for families with children up to fifth grade. The event is geared toward early childhood, family and school-age audiences and is listed as part of the library’s children’s programming. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 16. The program gives children and caregivers a chance to celebrate the nation’s milestone anniversary ahead of Independence Day with a festive, hands-on morning at the library.
Just off the Cross Island Parkway, shop designer fashion finds from Coach, lululemon, Valentino, and more, at up to 65% off every day.
Dine at award-winning restaurants, stroll through pedestrian-only streets, and turn a quick trip into a day’s escape.
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Rain forced the cancellation of East Meadow’s Memorial Day parade on Monday, but veterans, families, civic groups and residents still gathered for the community’s ceremony of remembrance.
The annual observance, organized with support from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2736, Jewish War Veterans Post 652 and American Legion Post 1082, honored the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces. Though the parade did not step off because of the weather, the ceremony continued with the same solemn purpose at Veterans Memorial Park.
Memorial Day festivities have been organized by Dolores Rome and Liz Fries for 27 years.
Instead of the customary march through the neighborhood, attendees gathered directly at Veterans Memorial Park, where the Memorial Day service paid tribute to all veterans and centered the day on remembrance.
Community organizations still took part in the observance, with many purchasing wreaths to honor veterans during the ceremony. Their presence, alongside residents and local groups, underscored the strong community support for East Meadow’s annual Memorial Day tribute.
Wreaths were placed at the veterans memorial in a quiet and formal moment of reflection, and organizers thanked Liz Fries and Dolores Rome for their work with the veterans and the Town of Hempstead in helping make the service possible despite the weather.
Even without the parade, the ceremony drew a strong turnout and served as the day’s final tribute, thanking those who attended while honoring the veterans who paid the ultimate price for the nation’s freedom.
Although the parade was canceled because of rain, residents, veterans and local organizations still came together for the memorial service, preserving the spirit and purpose of the community’s Memorial Day observance.
Subtitled “The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half”, this book reflects the natural progression of our desire to increase our lifespan (the number of our years), to increasing our healthspan (the number of our healthy years), to increasing our joyspan (the number of our joyful years). The author defines joy as an inner feeling of well-being or contentment, as opposed to happiness, which comes and goes, often according to external circumstances.
Burnight writes, “To thrive in old age means to live a fulfilling, purposeful, and satisfying life despite the challenges of aging. It involves maximizing physical health, cognitive function, emotional well-being, social connections, and a sense of meaning. Thriving doesn’t mean being free of all health problems or challenges, rather, it emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and the ability to find joy and value in life.”
Research shows that those who thrive late in life:
Grow: They continue to explore and expand
Connect: They put time into new and existing relationships
Adapt: They adjust to changing and challenging circumstances
Give: They share themselves
As a Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Dr. Burnight was struck by the radical difference in how people experienced their own aging process. “For some it is a frustrating, degrading, painful trajectory of ever-increasing decline. For others, there is visible delight, spirituality, and joy in occupying their eighth, ninth, and tenth decades.”
The thieves of joy are (1) comparison with others (2) frustration with health and mobility limitations (3) feeling like you are a burden (4) feeling heartbroken over the loss of a loved one, and (5) feeling defeated as if your best days are behind you. Nevertheless, she says, “Like the sun, joy is always there. But when it’s hidden by clouds, we mistakenly say it’s gone. Joy is resilient and can break through the clouds because it’s an innate part of the human experience.”
“One might say that following this doctor’s prescription will increase your “joyspan” and decrease your “oyspan”!
First the vacation as we knew it morphed into the staycation. From a marketing perspective the staycation was ingenious for local tourism that embraced the idea of a pseudo-getaway and addressed the unwieldy costs and process of getting packed and getting out of the neighborhood for several days.
Now, as we watch rain and cold demolish the spring season and any real hopes for outdoor activity, I suggest that it is the “inside” vacation that offers a brand-new option.
Given the tedium of a highly structured weekday, the chance to sit on the couch is actively incorporated into the “inside” vacation. It’s scheduled time: for pleasure reading and chocolate eating, for watching the Knicks (win), the Mets (lose), and the Wienie 500 prevail (a race that’s a precursor to the Indy 500, thanks to Oscar Meyer).
But the best part of this kind of vacation is that there are no demands that can lead to exhaustion before, during and after a standard vacation. No organized excursions, curated food tours or extra suntan lotion. No need to renew passports or ensure enough medication for overseas travel. There is a deliberate attitude with the “inside” vacation – a release from
guilt whether it is ignoring the tasks that have gone unanswered for months on some yellowing paper “ToDo” list or the excuse to ignore diets, formal clothes or overdue library DVDs for a few more days. If anything can absolutely wait, it must. It’s not exactly anarchy, but more like controlled chaos to respect the “inside” vacation’s mood and purpose.
Vacations are hard to come by. We live so deeply 24/7 and too often the motivation to travel stops abruptly at the TSA checkpoint. However, we are more familiar with the “inside” vacation than one would think. Last winter we experienced an unexpected “inside” vacation thanks to two feet of snow. And if and when the warm weather really arrives, our families and friends will be brought together by bursts of cool, indoor air conditioning. It will get us through the way no travel, even to the FIFA World Cup finals, ever would.
A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is a direct marketing/advertising executive who teaches marketing fundamentals as well as advertising and marketing communications courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology and SUNY Old Westbury.
Not many people reach the age of 100, but at the United Methodist Church of East Meadow, the congregation is blessed with three women who are all celebrating their 100th birthdays this year.
Joy Geist, née Simmons; Gloria Mace, née Joel; and Pavalam Selvaratnam, née Arulambalam, were all born
in 1926 and remain active members of the church.
The church will celebrate their long and wonderful lives on May 31. Community members are invited to attend the 9 a.m. service, followed by fellowship, to pay tribute to the three women.
— Jordan Vallone
ADOPTION
Find your new best friend!
FOOD Treats & samples!
GIVEAWAYS
Fun prizes & suprises!
SALES
Great deals you’ll love!
FUN!
Activities for all
vities ages!
JUNE 5TH - JUNE 7TH
For nearly 50 years, Mutts & Butts has been a trusted, family-run staple in Merrick, growing from humble beginnings into one of the community’s go-to destinations for pet care. Founded in 1976 as a small shop selling pet food alongside beverages and cigarettes, the business quickly recognized the rising demand for quality pet products. Over time, the founders shifted their focus entirely to pet supplies, expanding their offerings and building a loyal customer base.
By the mid-2000s, Mutts & Butts had transformed into an impressive 8,000-square-foot pet superstore, serving generations of local pet owners with dedication and expertise. As they celebrate 50 years in business, the team at Mutts & Butts extends heartfelt gratitude to their customers and community for decades of support and looks forward to continuing to provide exceptional service for many years to come.
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Nassau County’s free summer entertainment series is returning with concerts, movie nights and international celebrations at Eisenhower Park and parks across the county.
The 2026 Nassau County Free Summer Fun Guide, presented by County Executive Bruce Blakeman and the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums, features live music, family-friendly movies and cultural events throughout the summer. Most Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre concerts at Eisenhower Park begin at 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
“Enjoy live music and family-friendly movies under the stars at Eisenhower Park’s Lakeside Theatre and parks across Nassau County,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman wrote. “Join us all summer long for unforgettable nights of entertainment.”
Some of the biggest names on the schedule include Cole Swindell on Friday, Aug. 7; Loud Luxury on Friday, Aug. 21; Flo Rida on Monday, Aug. 31; ZZ Top on Tuesday, Sept. 1; The Lords of 52nd Street on Thursday, Sept. 3; and Los Lobos on Friday, Sept. 4.
The Lakeside Theatre lineup also includes Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Blessid Union of Souls on Sunday, June 7; a
freestyle and salsa night featuring Brenda K. Starr, Tito Puente Jr., TKA/K7, Joey Cruz, La Sonora 495 and Forever Freestyle Band on Saturday, June 27; and reg-
gae night with Inner Circle, Wayne Wonder and IRIEspect on Sunday, June 28. Dozens of additional shows will take to the stage throughout the duration of the
summer. A Celebrate America fireworks and drone show is scheduled for Thursday, July 2, at 5:30 p.m., with live music by Glenn Strange, Chicken Head and Let Freedom Rock. The rain date is Friday, July 3.
Families will have several options beyond concerts. Movie nights at Eisenhower Park include “Elio,” “Gabby’s Dollhouse,” “A Minecraft Movie,” “Bad Guys 2,” “Zootopia 2,” “Freakier Friday,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Wicked” and “Wicked for Good.” Movies begin at dusk.
International Nights at Lakeside will celebrate a range of cultures, including Ukrainian American, Indian American, Israeli American, Greek American, German American, Creole American, Italian American, Caribbean, Irish American, Bangladeshi American, Pakistan American, African American, Chinese American, Turkish American, Korean American and Latino American nights.
Neighborhood concerts and movie nights will also be held at Wantagh Park, Cedar Creek Park, Grant Park and North Woodmere Park. The county will also offer noontime concerts Wednesdays from noon to 2 p.m. at Eisenhower Park’s mobile stage near Field 1.
For updates, call Nassau County Parks at (516) 572-0200 or visit NassauCountyNY.gov/parks.
The East Meadow School District’s 2026-27 budget was approved by voters on May 19. Along with maintaining all district curriculum, the spending plan will allow East Meadow to offer new coursework in realty, social media and other career-connected learning experiences.
al and co-curricular programs and services, including athletic and fine arts offerings, and keeps class sizes within district guidelines. It also funds several new academic offerings, including a two-year medical assisting pathway at both East Meadow High School and W.T. Clarke High School, along with two new medical assisting labs. New courses in real estate and social media will also be added to expand students’ exposure to career-connected learning.
The medical assisting program is among the district’s larger planned instructional investments. The budget includes $250,000 for a medical assisting lab at W.T. Clarke Middle/High School and another $250,000 for a lab at East Meadow High School, according to the district’s capital projects list.
The spending plan also sets aside $3 million for capital projects and facility upgrades, including updated flooring and equipment for cardiovascular fitness rooms at both high schools. Other projects include roof repairs, flooring replacements, gym and cafeteria upgrades, parking lot work, new front signs at both high schools, a wrestling room at East Meadow High School and districtwide sitework and classroom renovations.
At W.T. Clarke, the budget also includes funding for the creation of the Clarke Café, a planned space intended to provide REACH program students with real-world learning experiences in a supportive environment. The district’s budget mailer described the project as a way to create meaningful, hands-on opportunities for students while adding a welcoming space on campus.
The budget approval comes two months after a $71.5 million bond was passed by district taxpayers. The bond will fund a wide-ranging capital improvement plan that will impact every school building in the district. Major projects include security upgrades, athletic facility improvements and infrastructure projects across East Meadow schools. Renovations and projects under the bond are
considered “big ticket” items that cannot be financed under the annual budget.
On Facebook forums with the Herald since March, some voters expressed support for district spending plans to maintain East Meadow’s programs and create new opportunities for students. However, some complained that neither the bond nor the budget was well-publicized.
After the bond passed, Jeanette Santos, a resident of the district, said supporting spending plans encourages taxpayers to stay involved and expect transparency. “Supporting improvements to our schools and demanding transparency are not mutually exclusive,” she said. “We can absolutely do both — it doesn’t have to be one or the other.”
Karen Cohen, a parent of a former East Meadow student, said she was disappointed with the lower voter turnout for the budget vote.“This speaks volumes,” she stated in an email to the Herald. “If it wasn’t for someone mentioning it to me, I would not have known. The bond had very little exposure also.”
Ricco-Simeone and Carl were both first elected to the board in 2023. RiccoSimeone, a lifelong Salisbury resident and educator in the Westbury School District, said before the election that serving on the board had been one of the greatest honors of her life. Carl, a longtime East Meadow resident and attorney, serves as bureau chief and deputy county attorney for Nassau County’s social services legal bureau.
“My work here is not finished,” Ricco-Simeone said, “and I look forward to dedicating my time to this district for another three years.”
During her first term, Ricco-Simeone said the board focused on expanding student opportunities, strengthening district leadership, supporting finances and increasing community engagement. She pointed to the launch of careerfocused pathways, new district leadership hires, involvement in athletics, theater and music programs, and the district’s “Flags for Freedom” tradition.
Sunday, June 7th
FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS AND BLESSID UNION OF SOULS
Thursday, June 11th - 6:00pm
Senior Afternoon Concert
featuring Amber Ferrari and Debra Toscano
Thursday, June 18th
Juneteenth Celebration – Earth Wind & Fire Tribute by D’votion, Gospel Choir and DRIFT featuring members of TAUK and MJT
Friday, June 19th - 3:00pm
FIFA World Cup Watch Party USA vs. Australia
Monday, June 22nd - 6:00pm
Senior Afternoon Concert
The Chiclettes and Vinnie Medugno
Friday, June 26th
The Allmost Brothers BandAllman Brothers Tribute, Sons of Skynyrd –Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute
Saturday, June 27th
FREESTYLE MEETS SALSA –
featuring BRENDA K. STARR, TITO PUENTE JR., TKA/K7, JOEY CRUZ, LA SONORA 495 AND FOREVER FREESTYLE BAND
Sunday, June 28th
REGGAE NIGHT WITH INNER CIRCLE, WAYNE WONDER AND IRIEspect
Thursday, July 2nd – 5:30pm
TD PRESENTS CELEBRATE AMERICA FIREWORKS & DRONE SHOW with Live Music By: Glenn Strange, Chicken Head and Let Freedom Rock
Friday, July 3rd
Fireworks Rain Date
Thursday, July 9th
Oldies Night with E’stefano DiSanto, Johnny Farina, Bobby Wilson, Vito Picone & The Elegants and The Brooklyn Bridge
Saturday, July 11th
Disco Unlimited
Thursday, July 16th
Harry Chapin Day – Corey Rieman and The Dilemma Band with Scarborough Fair - Simon & Garfunkel Tribute
Saturday, July 18th
Simply Stapleton –Chris Stapleton Tribute
Sunday, July 19th - 6:00pm
Last Exit – Pearl Jam Tribute Foo For All – Foo Fighters Tribute
Thursday, July 23rd
LANIE GARDNER & BROOKE MORIBER
Friday, July 24th
ZBTB – Zac Brown Band Tribute and Guys with Guitars
Saturday, July 25th - 6:30pm JEFFERSON STARSHIP, ATLANTA
RHYTHM SECTION, FIREFALL AND PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE
Sunday, July 26th - 4:00pm
Family Day On The Lake, featuring Beauty and The Beat, Princesses and wide-ranging entertainment for children and families
Thursday, July 30th
3 Decades Rewind
Rock Hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s
Friday, July 31st
Half Step – Grateful Dead Tribute
Saturday, August 1st
SALUTE TO VETERANS with Desert Highway – Eagles Tribute and American Bombshell
Sunday, August 2nd
Lovesong – 80s New Wave Tribute
Thursday, August 6th
THE OUTLAWS
Friday, August 7th
COLE SWINDELL
Saturday, August 8th
Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway
Monday, August 10th - 6:00pm
Senior Afternoon Concert
Gerry Ferretti and the Mutant Kings and Jenna Esposito
Thursday, August 13th
Neil Diamond Tribute
Friday, August 14th
Swingtime Big Band
Saturday, August 15th
MIDTOWN MEN
ORIGINAL CAST OF JERSEY BOYS
Thursday, August 20th
Let’s Sing Taylor – Taylor Swift Tribute
Friday, August 21st
LOUD LUXURY with OPENING BY DJS CAFFEINE ACADEMY, DJ DENNIS THE MENACE AND JUST JOE
Sunday, August 23rd
WORLD RENOWNED PUERTO RICAN SALSA ORCHESTRA
Thursday, August 27th
Long Island’s American Idols featuring Constantine Maroulis, Kevin Covais and Robbie Rosen with Special Guests
Friday, August 28th
Dancing Dream – ABBA Tribute
Monday, August 31st FLO RIDA
Tuesday, September 1st
ZZ TOP
Thursday, September 3rd
THE LORDS OF 52ND STREET
Friday, September 4th
LOS LOBOS
Saturday, September 5th
Streetfighter – Rolling Stones Tribute, Who’s Next – The Who Tribute
With late third-period rally, Jerusalem Capitals capture Challenge Cup, defeating HC Tel Aviv 6-5
By HAILEY FULMER hfulmer@liherald.com
No matter who scored, fans throughout UBS Arena jumped to their feet, waving Israeli flags, proudly cheering on competitors from the Israeli Elite Hockey League last week during the Challenge Cup championship between the Jerusalem Capitals and HC Tel Aviv. In a thrilling game, the Capitals mounted a late comeback to win 6-5.
The Challenge Cup, originally scheduled for February but postponed because of a blizzard, finally brought the two teams together on the ice in Elmont for a hard-fought game.
The atmosphere inside the arena on May 17 felt like more than just a hockey game. Families packed the stands dressed in blue and red, and there was loud chanting and spirited flag-waving throughout the crowd, creating a strong sense of pride and unity among fans celebrating both the sport and Israeli culture.
“It’s nice when you get to see support a lot for Jews and the country,” said spectator Hillel Kober, who was rooting for HC Tel Aviv.
Brooklyn resident David Silverberman said the game provided a comforting atmosphere amid a culture of rising antisemitism. “It’s a good game,” he said.” It’s very competitive scoring, but not too much. The fans are into it. It’s an exciting day, and you know, if you’re Jewish, there’s so much antisemitism going on right now, it feels very comfortable to be here. It’s nice to see the families too.”
The IEHL, founded in 2020 and approaching its sixth season this summer, was founded by Marc Brunengraber, a former goaltender for the Israeli national team. Brunengraber said the league was created not only to develop hockey talent in Israel, but also to highlight another side of the country.
“The goal is to raise Israel from the world championship Division II level to Division I,” Brunengraber said. He added that the league aims to positively represent Israel beyond the conflict-focused narratives that often dominate coverage of the country, emphasizing that its citizens continue to live everyday lives as ordinary people.
The championship game was intense from start to finish, marked by heavy physical play, shifting momentum and a UBS Arena crowd that fed off every moment of drama. Tel Aviv controlled play for much of the first two periods, keeping Jerusalem players on their heels and forcing them to fight just to stay within reach heading into the third.
Capitals player Nathanel Peretz described the surreal feeling of stepping onto the ice at UBS Arena.
“There’s kids growing up dreaming of this moment, and you’re seeing Jerusalem against Tel Aviv, and a bunch of Jewish people just playing the sport they love,” he said.
Peretz admitted that the locker room atmosphere was tense after the second period with Jerusalem trailing by two goals. “It’s the second year that we [were down by] two goals going into the third,” he said. “We trusted our coaches, we trusted our captain, we trusted our players, and we got out there in the third.”
Late in the third period, the Capitals suddenly took over. Two goals came just seconds apart, and suddenly Tel Aviv was scrambling to keep up. The energy in the arena flipped instantly as fans rose to their feet, and the game intensified dramatically in the final minutes.
Capitals head coach Craig Brunengraber said the team had to manage intense emotions to complete the comeback. “You have a lot of strong personalities,” he said. “At the end of the day, we won the game, and that’s the hardest part about being a coach.”
He also praised Peretz’s performance, saying, “Peretz is all heart and soul. He shows the world he can do this on a world stage.”
Despite the loss, Tel Aviv captain Mike Gennello reflected on the broader meaning of the game. “Guys can get on the ice and it can be an absolute war out there, and then we get off and it’s all smiles,” he said.
As Jerusalem celebrated its comeback victory on the ice, fans throughout the arena remained standing, waving Israeli flags, giving the scene a powerful sense of pride in their country — and the game of hockey.
two life sentences in federal prison before his sentence was commuted after about 15 years.
“I made some poor choices,” he said. “While I was incarcerated, I got to understand the effects of drugs on the community. I wasn’t a drug user, I didn’t drink, but I got to understand how my personal choices affected the community and selling narcotics. And from there, my journey began.”
The two men met thanks to their shared interests and mutual friends in the rehabilitation field.
“We’re always talking about how our lives led us to this journey where we can make a difference,” Michel said. “That’s why this app, SoberIn40, is so important; it’s because we know we can touch millions of lives.”
The SoberIn40 program is designed to “hijack the mind,” he said. He boiled his struggle with addiction down to two problems: cognitive dissonance and emotional bias.
Cook invested $700,000 of his own money after three years working in various sales roles into working with therapists and psychologists to develop the program after his incarceration.
Courtesy
Spencer Cook offers his SoberIn40 program to anyone in need, including people in prison looking to make a change.
“It’s a new industry — computational psychology,” he explained. “We ‘learn’ you in real time, and our algorithms figure out what you’re struggling with. Our course and content changes with what you’re struggling with in real time.”
N.G. Berrill, a forensic psychologist and founder of New York Forensic, was one of the first medical professionals who got involved with SoberIn40’s development. “It sounded like he had an interesting idea,” Berrill said of Cook, “something that was innovative, and
would provide to individuals struggling with substance abuse a method of intervention that doesn’t really exist at the present time.”
Berrill described the program’s use of machine learning, combined with the work of clinicians, as a “very positive” development in the field of substance
abuse treatment.
“Substance abuse is just so destructive,” he said. “It’s so terrible for people’s lives, their families … rather than turn away, I think the real (solution) is to turn toward this.”
The first phase of the SoberIn40 program lasts 40 days, takes about an hour a day and consists of videos, questions and more. It is followed by a 120-day, half-hour-a-day after-care program, and after that it opens up to 300 maintenance courses.
The program now has 2,200 incarcerated people participating in 16 state and federal facilities, and about 400 members on mobile devices using the program’s app.
“This is my calling,” Cook said. “You really do find purpose when your life is at its lowest.”
“If someone has a sickness, you go to the doctor, but with drugs, people are afraid to make that first step: to ask for help,” Michel said. “We’re trying to bring something that that’s right in the home where there’s no stigmas attached. We’re two people that been through it.”
SoberIn40 is an outpatient care program — not a replacement for urgent treatments or medical emergencies. A free version of the program is available, and the full program can be accessed for $39.99 a month. To learn more, visit SoberIn40.com.
Students at Meadowbrook Elementary School in East Meadow recently rolled up their sleeves and put their green thumbs to work during the school’s annual Beautification Day, helping bring new color and life to the school grounds.
Working together, students carefully planted a variety of flowers and plants throughout the school property, taking pride in helping to create a welcoming and vibrant environment for the entire school community. The event encouraged teamwork, responsibility and hands-on learning as students contributed to the beautification of their school.
In addition to planting, students also learned about the important role plants play in supporting a healthy ecosystem. Through the activity, they explored how flowers and greenery contribute to the environment and help promote sustainability and wellness in the community.
Beautification Day continues to be a meaningful tradition at Meadowbrook, giving students the opportunity to connect with nature while making a positive impact on their school grounds.
—Jordan Vallone
In addition to planting, students also learned about the important role plants play in supporting a healthy ecosystem.
Working together, students carefully planted a variety of flowers and plants throughout the school property, taking pride in helping to create a welcoming and vibrant environment for the entire school community.
East Meadow educators were among those featured at the Nassau BOCES Regional Showcase on April 24, where teachers and administrators from across Nassau County gathered to share innovative instructional practices and collaborative learning strategies.
The showcase highlighted interdisciplinary instruction and provided educators with an opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from one another across multiple subject areas.
East Meadow’s LITA leadership team presented on the role of arts integration in elementary classrooms, focusing on how music, visual art and creative expression can be incorporated into core academic subjects. The presentation explored how interdisciplinary instruction can strengthen literacy skills, increase student engagement and support deeper learning experiences.
District officials said the presentation reflected East Meadow’s continued commitment to innovative teaching practices and collaborative learning opportunities for students.
The East Meadow team included George McVey Elementary School teachers Lois Petrucci and Jessica Harmon; Meadowbrook Elementary School Principal Danielle Lasher; Meadowbrook teacher Shayna d’Auteuil; district Director of Music and Art Kelly Nixon; and LITA Program Liaison Nancy Richner. — Jordan Vallone
This spring, 125 students from throughout Nassau County were named Students of the Quarter for the thirds quarter by Nassau BOCES Barry Tech and GC Tech career and technical education high schools. All were honored for their grades, attendance, work ethic and preparedness. Students of the Quarter have taken the initiative on class projects and are role models for their fellow students, in both the classroom and the workplace.
In Baldwin, the Students of the Quarter were Elizabeth Albrecht, Barry Tech Cosmetology; Ashaunti Mosley, Barry Tech Veterinary Science; Analia Perez, Barry Tech Cosmetology; Anthony Cruz Ramos, Barry Tech Animation & Digital Media Skills; and Ethan SolanoMadera, Barry Tech Auto Skills.
Bellmore-Merrick’s Student of the Quarter was Sean Schettino, CG Tech Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.
In East Meadow, the Students of the Quarter were Sandra Flores Garcia, Barry Tech Physical Therapy Aide and Rehab Medicine; Yiannis Kakavas, Barry Tech Carpentry; Bryan Lai, Barry Tech Computer Game Design & Programming Skills; Aidan Lehmann, GC Tech Automotive Technology; Gabriel Martinez Cruz, Barry Tech Animation & Digital Media Skills; Joshua Rubinfeld, Barry Tech Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Administration; Isabella Schaefer, Barry Tech Health Care Skills; and Kaylee Fuentes, Barry Tech Culinary Arts.
In Levittown, the Students of the Quarter were Isabella Bonano, GC Tech Medical Assisting; Antonia Bruno, GC Tech Medical Assisting; James Carr, Barry Tech Computer Game Design & Programming Skills; Thomas Cukro, GC Tech Construction Electric; Sarah Florentin, GC Tech Cosmetology; Luis Guerrero, GC Tech Automotive Technology; Caeli Mugno, GC Tech Esthetics and Skin Care; and Kyle Russo, Barry Tech Plumbing.
Nassau BOCES GC Tech Students of the Quarter, Antonia Bruno, Jordyn Lessne,
Wipperman, Aidan Lehmann, Kanye Ray, Logan McClancy and Robert
In Wantagh, the Students of the Quarter were Emma Bush, Barry Tech Child Care Skills; Margaret Conti, Barry Tech Dental Assisting; and Peyton Garrett, Barry
By Christie Leigh Babirad
Art, nature and imagination come together this summer at Old Westbury Gardens with the arrival of Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects Made with LEGO Bricks, an outdoor exhibition that transforms familiar scenes from the natural world into larger-than-life works of art.
Now on display through Sept. 7, the exhibit features 17 larger-than-life intricate sculptures crafted entirely from LEGO bricks, many inspired by the landscapes, wildlife and beauty found throughout the historic gardens. Blending creativity with environmental themes, the installation invites visitors of all ages to experience the grounds in a fresh and unexpected way.
For Maura Brush, president and CEO of Old Westbury Gardens, bringing the exhibition here has been especially rewarding after years of planning and anticipation.
“We’re really excited to be hosting this exhibit,” Brush says, explaining that whenever she and her team choose a temporary exhibit, they strive for the display to blend with the grounds — and this does exactly that.
“When you see the exhibit and you see the sculptures it really fits so beautifully within the landscape,” she continues. “Old Westbury Gardens is home to foxes, butterflies and hummingbirds, and to see these exaggerated, large-scale sculptures in the landscape, it feels like it fits pretty beautifully.”
All of the displays are tucked into natural places throughout the garden areas where visitors might see these creatures and flora naturally. Each includes is a sign that indicates how many bricks were used, how many hours it took the artist to make each one and facts about the creature or flora.
Angela and Martin Pavlovic attended the preview opening with their 5-year-old son Niko who was excited to see the hummingbird and gave rave reviews for the wheel barrel made completely out of LEGOs.
“I like the wheel barrel,” Niko enthused. “It’s a 10 out of 10.”
Anne Caminiti, who attended with her daughters Nina and Mia, noted their eagerness to see the exhibit as her eldest daughter loves LEGOs.
“I’m excited to see this display in one of our favorite places and see how many LEGOs it took to make each one,” Caminiti says, adding that she appreciates how many great family programs are offered at Old Westbury Gardens.
Ashley Friel, spokesperson for Imagine, which manages the exhibit, explains that Sean Kenney, who has been involved with Imagine for over 10 years now, is an artist who likes to invoke a sense of whimsy and fun for the whole family.
• Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects open daily, except for Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., through Sept. 7
• 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• For more information and program/events schedule visit oldwestburygardens.org or call (516) 333-0048
“Nature Connects is a super inspiring show and really about how the beauty of nature is interconnected in the same way that LEGO bricks are,” Friel says.
She added that she is eager to hear visitors’ reactions to the sculptures and hopes the exhibit encourages guests to see the natural world through a new and more imaginative lens.
The fun does not stop with the sculptures. Throughout the Nature Connects’ duration, Old Westbury Gardens will host a series of LEGOthemed events and programs designed to inspire creativity and bring together visitors of all ages.
Laura Erwin, education manager, explained that the exhibit will be complemented by a variety of special events, including Family Nights and the Seasonal Sprouts program, held on select Wednesdays from July 1 through Sept. 2. Created for children ages 4 through 10, Seasonal Sprouts combines exploration and creativity through guided outdoor tours of the exhibit followed by hands-on activity in a LEGO free-play space.
“There are a lot of fun events coming up and the Family Nights are going to be big,” Erwin says.
Another preview visitor, Claudine Krause, stopped by with her son Tatum, who she said loves LEGOs and goes to all the master LEGO events and has been following Sean Kenney’s work.
“There’s a lot you can learn through LEGOs and they have a lot of great events for children here,” Krause says.
Adults can also join in the creativity when Bricks and Brews returns on Aug. 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The adults-only evening pairs art and socializing, beginning with a guided tour of the exhibition and continuing at the Barn at Orchard Hill, where guests will build with official LEGO Botanical Daisies kits while enjoying refreshments in a relaxed setting.
The beloved orchestra, under direction of Adam Glaser, returns to St. Agnes Cathedral for its annual spring concert, joined by St. Agnes combined choirs, directed by Michael Bower. The inspiring program showcases beloved masterworks, including Mozart’s Regina Coeli, and Bach’s Mass in B Minor: Dona Nobis and Beethoven’s Christ on the Mount of Olives: Hallelujah.The evening culminates with Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 9, the groundbreaking 1824 masterpiece that transformed symphonic music by introducing a chorus in its final movement and giving voice to Friedrich Schiller’s enduring “Ode to Joy,” a celebration of unity and shared humanity. More than 65 musicians and approximately 75 vocalists join acclaimed soloists soprano Risa Renae Harman, mezzosoprano Elizabeth Sarian, tenor Eric Finbarr Carey, and baritone Scott Lefurgy. Admission is free, with donations requested.
Friday, May 29, 7:30 pm. 29 Quealy Place, Rockville Centre. Visit sssymphony.org for more.
The blues-rock guitarist-singersongwriter has built a reputation as one of the most exciting live performers of his generation. Blending electric blues, rock, soul, R&B, and hints of hip-hop, Clark’s sound is both rooted in tradition and boldly modern. His guitar tone often recalls legends like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, but his songwriting, socially aware lyrics, and willingness to experiment make him stand out as a contemporary artist. On stage, he is known for extended solos, dynamic arrangements, and emotionally charged vocals that move from soft falsetto to gritty growls, making every concert feel unforgettable. Anyone who has listened to a Gary Clark Jr. album or watched the four-time Grammy Award winner perform live knows that he’s a gifted multiinstrumentalist, songwriter and performer.
Wednesday, June 3, 8 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
See the comedy musical, set in the 1590s, which follows two playwright brothers competing with William Shakespeare as they attempt to create the world’s first musical. From tap dancing eggs to beautiful love stores, this musical really has it all. Songs include “A Musical!,” “It’s Hard to Be the Bard,” and “Welcome to the Renaissance.” The cast is comprised of New York City professionals, including David Hibbard, who was in the original Broadway production, with CAP21 alumni and current students. Performances are scheduled throughout the fourday run.
• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: Varied times, through May 31
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond the first floor corridor. Now go beyond the door and discover “Secrets of the Service Wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour. Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Go along the corridors to the butler’s pantry and silver cleaning room then descend the 17 steps to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage rooms located on the ground floor. Reservations required.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: Noon-1 p.m., also May 29 and May 31
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
Old Westbury Gardens welcomes families to discover the fascinating world of bugs during this special after-hours experience. Explore Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects exhibit, a hands-on bug information station, the LEGO free-play area, along with a live bug show. Participants will meet incredible insects up close and learn what makes them so amazing, plus the bug station for further exploration and
7
Theatre, Field 6/6A, East Meadow
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: Visit UCCA Long Island Chapter on Facebook
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to celebrate the opening of the H2Oh! Water Play exhibit by creating a floating boat. Put your boat to the test in a water tub to see if it sinks or floats at the drop-in program. For ages 3+.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: Noon-2 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Criminals and Blessid Union of Souls bands.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.
Get ready to jump! Diamond Dave is back! The iconic, high-flying frontman of Van Halen is bringing his legendary swagger and a massive arsenal of rock anthems to the Paramount stage. Fans can expect a high-octane night packed with timeless hits like “Jump,” “Panama,” and “Runnin’ with the Devil.” This tour marks a massive return for the rock legend, who officially ended a five-year hiatus from the stage last May with a triumphant, headlinemaking debut at the M3 Rock Festival. Far from a stripped-down nostalgic act, Roth is backing up his signature showmanship with a powerhouse new eight-piece band to perfectly replicates those massive, classic Van Halen harmonies. Between the fresh musical muscle and Roth’s undiminished, charismatic stage presence, this promises to be an unforgettable night of nostalgia and high-energy rock ‘n’ roll. If you’re looking for a night of pure, unadulterated arena-rock energy right in our own backyard, this is the ticket of the season.
discovery. Registration required. $34, $24 children (20% member discount).
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 5-8 p.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
Families can dig in and get their hands dirty at Long Island Children’s Museum. The museum welcomes all to celebrating all the beautiful May flowers by planting your own at the drop-in program. Take it home and watch it grow!. For ages 3+.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: Noon-2 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
‘Plant Man’ at the library East Meadow Public Library hosts Paul Levine, the library’s resident “plant man” for a topical June lecture: Herbs and More.
• Where: 1886 Front St.
• Time: 2 p.m.
• Contact: EastMeadow.info JUN
2
Harmonize With Long Island Harmonizers
Love to sing? So do the Long Island Harmonizers. The chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society is a chorus of more than 20 singers, now welcoming new members. The ensemble performs fourpart a cappella harmony in the barbershop style, entertaining audiences at libraries, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and local events. All are welcome to visit one of their weekly rehearsals. Come listen, meet the chorus, and — if you’d like — join in and sing. No musical experience is necessary, just a love of singing and a desire to have fun making music together.
• Where: Faith Lutheran Church, 231 Jackson Ave, Syosset
• Time: Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
• Contact: Call: Rich, (516) 521-4779, or Dennis, (516) 680-8036, or visit longislandharmonizers.org
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
Saturday of every month at the East Meadow Library. Each meeting features powers, followed by open mic.
• Where: 1886 Front St., East Meadow
• Time: 1 p.m.
• Contact: EastMeadow.info
Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a Storybook Stroll. Little listeners are invited to participate in a guided stroll through the Gardens, with a reading of “The Secret Garden” by Callista Brill (based on Frances Hodgson Burnett) Along the way, discover nature’s wonders, in the formal gardens. The tour ends at the Thatched Cottage with a story and handson craft for each child to take home.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
The Performance Poets Association meets the first
Celebrate Ukrainian culture in Eisenhower Park with performances and more.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 572-0200
The Kiwanis Club welcomes all to a reverse raffle and dinner at Borrelli’s. $40 per ticket; only 200 tickets available; dinner an extra $25.
• Where: 1580 Hempstead Tpke.
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: Debbie Kirsh at dkirsh01@aol.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.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE IGLOO SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. CLAUDIA RIVAS A/K/A CLAUDIA BARRERARIVAS AS ADMINISTRATRIX AND HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ABEL RIVAS A/K/A ABEL ANTONIO ORANTES-RIVAS A/K/A TONY RIVAS, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 8, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 11, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 61 Dorothy Drive, East Meadow, NY 11554. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at East Meadow, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 45, Block 338 and Lot 22. Approximate amount of judgment is $288,374.24 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 615937/2022.
Jjais A. Forde, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.:222196-1 160049
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 622973/2025 COUNTY OF NASSAU
BANK OF NEW YORK
MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. SHAWN HUGH GLENN, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF LETHIA GLENN; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF LETHIA
GLENN, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE-DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, Defendants. Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Mortgaged Premises: 157 NEW YORK AVENUE, WESTBURY, NY 11590
Section: 11, Block: 30, Lot: 81 and 89
To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other
than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT
THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $367,500.00 and interest, recorded on May 28, 2010, in Book M 34871 at Page 552, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 157 NEW YORK AVENUE, WESTBURY, NY 11590. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.
NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated:January _____,
2026
ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC
Attorney for Plaintiff Matthew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 159961
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU RIDGEWOOD SAVINGS BANK
Plaintiff, Against LAURA L. PIERCE A/K/A LAURA PIERCE, et al., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 07/06/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 6/17/2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 24 Cedar Road, Westbury, New York 11590, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Westbury, Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 0011 Block 00414 Lot 00027 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $330,879.28 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 608239/2019 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.
Janine Lynam, Esq., Referee.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 4/6/2026 File Number: 19-300909 CA 160155
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. CARLOS DERAS, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on February 10, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 12, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 682 Lowell Street, Westbury, NY 11590. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 10, Block 37 and Lot 9. Approximate amount of judgment is $641,333.19 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #612141/2024. Cash will not be accepted.
Jjais A. Forde, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 160142
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
INDEX NO.: 618669/2025
Date Filed: 08/29/2025
SUMMONS
Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial.
Designation of Venue is based upon the situs of the Subject Property. Subject Property: 2341 Devon Street, East Meadow, New York 11554.
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF GSAMP TRUST 2006-SD2, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-SD2, Plaintiff,against- CHRISTINA MCCAFFERY AS HEIR
AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN TO JOHN MCCAFFERY A/K/A
JOHN J. MCCAFFERY; THOMAS MCCAFFERY AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN TO JOHN MCCAFFERY A/K/A
JOHN J. MCCAFFERY; TIMOTHY MCCAFFERY AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN TO JOHN MCCAFFERY A/K/A
JOHN J. MCCAFFERY; SAMANTHA MCCAFFERY AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN TO JOHN MCCAFFERY A/K/A
JOHN J. MCCAFFERY; JOHN DOE AND JANE DOE 1 THROUGH 50, INTENDING TO BE THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, DISTRIBUTEES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, TRUSTEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, AND ASSIGNEES OF THE ESTATE OF JOHN MCCAFFERY A/K/A
JOHN J. MCCAFFERY, WHO WAS BORN IN 1961 AND DIED ON JUNE 24, 2024, A RESIDENT OF NASSAU COUNTY, WHOSE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS WAS 2341 DEVON STREET, EAST MEADOW, NEW YORK 11554, THEIR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST IF ANY OF THE AFORESAID DEFENDANTS BE DECEASED, THEIR RESPECTIVE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF THE AFORESAID CLASSES OF PERSON, IF THEY OR ANY OF THEM BE DEAD, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE HUSBANDS, WIVES OR WIDOWS, IF ANY, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES, ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the Subject Property described in the Complaint, Defendants. TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is
not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until sixty (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.
NOTICE: YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF GSAMP TRUST 2006-SD2, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-SD2) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. McCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC By: MELISSA S. DICERBO, ESQ. Attorneys for Plaintiff One Huntington Quadrangle, Suite 4N25 Melville, NY 11747 631-812-4084 8 55-845-2584 facsimile File # 18-301439 HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE: NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE
FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT: YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE: The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and nonprofit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services at 1-800-342-3736 or visit the Department`s website at www.dfs.ny.gov. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS: YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME AT THIS TIME. You have the right to stay in your home during the foreclosure process. You are not required to leave your home unless and until your property is sold at auction pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale. Regardless of whether you choose to remain in your home, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY and pay property taxes in accordance with state and local law. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS: Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner`s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed.
May 28, 2026 — EAST
State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303 NOTICE 16-12-20* 160200
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU
Index No.:
603446/2023
Date Filed: 05/07/2026 SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial. Designation of Venue is based upon the situs of the Subject Property. Subject Property: 7 Hyacinth Road, Levittown, New York 11756.
HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED NOTEHOLDERS OF RENAISSANCE HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST 2006-3, Plaintiff,against- COLIN CAUSEMAN HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF DONNA CAUSEMAN; BRIANNE CAUSEMAN HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF DONNA CAUSEMAN; “JOHN DOE” AND “JANE DOE” 1 THROUGH 50, Intending To Be The Unknown Heirs, Distributees, Devisees, Grantees, Trustees, Lienors, Creditors, And Assignees Of The Estate Of DONNA CAUSEMAN, Who Was Born In 1960 And Died on JULY 7, 2025, A Resident Of Nassau County, Whose Last Known Address Was 7 Hyacinth Road, Levittown, NY 11756-2312, Their Successors In Interest If Any Of The Aforesaid Defendants Be Deceased, Their Respective Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, And Successors In Interest Of The Aforesaid Classes Of Person, If They Or Any Of Them Be Dead, And Their Respective Husbands, Wives Or Widows, If Any, All Of Whom And Whose Names And Places are unknown to the Plaintiff; LVNV FUND LLC A/P/O CAPITAL ONE; EQUABLE ASCENT FINANCIAL LLC; DIANE
REUTHER; TRAGER FUEL OIL CO. INC; CLERK OF NASSAU COUNTY; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to the plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the Subject Property described in the Complaint, Defendants. TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until sixty (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE: YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING
A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED NOTEHOLDERS OF RENAISSANCE HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST 2006-3) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. This action was commenced to foreclose a mortgage against real property located at 7 Hyacinth Road Levittown, New York 11756.
McCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC By: Caren Bailey, Esq. Attorneys for Plaintiff One Huntington Quadrangle, Suite 4N25 Melville, NY 11747 631-812-4084 8 55-845-2584 facsimile HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE: NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT: YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE: The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and nonprofit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services at 1-800-342-3736 or visit the Department`s website at www.dfs.ny.gov. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS: YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME AT THIS TIME. You have the right to stay in your
home during the foreclosure process. You are not required to leave your home unless and until your property is sold at auction pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale. Regardless of whether you choose to remain in your home, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY and pay property taxes in accordance with state and local law.
FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS: Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner`s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303 NOTICE 16-12-20* 160326
legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT, Town of WANTAGH, County of NASSAU, State of New York, on the 18th day of MAY, 2026, subject to permissive referendum as provided for by the Town Law. An extract of the resolution is as follows: THE WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT SHALL SELL A 2013 FORD BRAUN AMBULANCE NO LONGER NECESSARY FOR THE DISTRICT’S USES AND PURPOSES VALUED AT MORE THAN TWENTY THOUSAND ($20,000.00) DOLLARS, BUT LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND ($100,000.00) DOLLARS, SUBJECT TO MARKET FORCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN THE BOARD
The Kiwanis Club of East Meadow is collecting new and gently used children’s books through June 3 as part of a community-wide book drive supporting East Meadow Community Day.
Organizers said the goal is to provide a free book to every child attending the annual event. Donations are being accepted for readers ages 3 through young adult, with collection boxes placed at East Meadow School District elementary schools. Books may also be dropped off during weekly Kiwanis meetings.
The drive began May 10 and is focused on encouraging literacy while helping local families build home libraries through community donations.
“We are pleased to announce the East Meadow Kiwanis Book Drive, held in support of East Meadow Community Day,” organizers said in a statement. “Our objective is to provide a children’s book to every child attending the event.”
The club also thanked the Kiwanis Children’s Fund for providing a grant that allowed organizers to purchase an initial supply of books and materials for the effort.
Adult books are not being accepted.
Organizers asked residents to donate only new or gently used books in good condition suitable for children and teens.
Courtesy Kiwanis Club of East Meadow
The Kiwanis Club of East Meadow is collecting books ahead of Community Day.
OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS UNDER SECTION 176 SUBDIVISION 23 OF THE TOWN LAW. Sale of said vehicle is subject to a permissive referendum as required under Section 176 subdivision 23 of the Town Law and in accordance with procedures for permissive referendums as described in the General Municipal Law.
By Order of the BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT
TOWN OF WANTAGH Attested May 18th 2026: Brendan J. Narell Superintendent Wantagh Fire District 160422
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, GITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS SEPARATE TRUSTEE OF
GITSIT MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST BBPC1, Plaintiff, vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF MARIAN B. MARIN0 A/K/A MARION B. MARINO, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April 15, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 2228 1st Street, East Meadow, NY 11554. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at East Meadow, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 50, Block 213 and Lots 10, 11, 12, and 13.
Approximate amount of judgment is $776,344.00 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #601775/2025.
Linda S. Agnew, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 242972-2 160435
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, PEAK GARDEN WESTBURY TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. DEIJH, INC., ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 7, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100
Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 1, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 195 Garden Street, Westbury, NY 11590. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Westbury (outside the Incorporated Village) in the Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 11, Block 503 and Lot 25. Approximate amount of judgment is $627,379.58 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #607687/2023. Brian Carmody, Esq., Referee Vallely Mitola Ryan PLLC, 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 165, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff 160429
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Full Time/Part Time Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multi-task, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $17 per hour to $20 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com
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Full Time and Part Time Positions Available! Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
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Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover
For access to the very best of living in the village of Rockville Centre, this gracious Colonial is ideally situated just moments from popular shops, restaurants, and vibrant downtown amenities, while also zoned for the award-winning Oceanside School District. Built in 1926, this beautifully maintained home showcases timeless architectural character, including high ceilings and hardwood floors throughout, paired with the spacious interior today’s buyers desire. Offering approximately 2,674 square feet of interior living space, the residence features five generously sized bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, and an office and den, providing exceptional comfort for everyday living and entertaining alike. This extraordinary home additionally offers ample outdoor space on an expansive quarter-acre property. Additional highlights include a large finished basement, walk-up attic, and detached two-car garage, all contributing to the home’s versatility and appeal. Filled with warmth, charm, and classic appeal, this is a rare opportunity to own a truly special home in a premier village location.
Christine Ferramosca Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Mobile: 516-835-8468 Office: 516-669-3700
Christine.Ferramosca@elliman.com Douglas Elliman Real Estate. 304 Merrick Road Rockville Centre, NY 11571
Q.. I planned and started building a stack stone wall in my front yard, but I was stopped by a building inspector. He told me the wall was structural, and needed a professional plan to be approved before I could do the rest of the work. It’s just a landscape wall instead of a fence or hedges at my front sidewalk, so why should it matter? A lot of my neighbors have them, and he told me to file a complaint, and he would check the others out, but I don’t want to tell on my neighbors. What do you suggest?
A. Continuing my answer from the last column, which addressed the technical issues, the approval side is often more complicated, especially when we attach the stigma of living among neighbors in this condition we refer to as “civilization.”
You wondered why neighbors have gotten away with building their walls and fences without permits, and yet you are being called out for your venture into building without approvals they didn’t seem to need. You may also wonder why the inspector suggested you file a complaint so that there is cause to look into violations created by your neighbors the same kind of violation you feel singled out for. We, collectively, wonder why this happens. It is a regular occurrence to be taken to a potential customer’s door and pointed out violations others have, completely visible to all, which are either prohibited or require building permits and zoning variances. Things like extra-tall fences, pools, sheds, decks and porches extended into front yards even garages and “temporary” carports. I know that once I have to explain the rules and regulations, it isn’t convincing, and I may be dismissed, mainly because the neighbors are “getting away with it, so why should I have to spend all this money and time when they didn’t have to?”
You, like most, believe that if an inspector sees a violation, they will act. In many incorporated villages, that is the case. In the larger jurisdictions, however, that isn’t always the case. You are requested to file a complaint. People I have spoken to won’t do that, because that pits neighbor against neighbor, even if the authorities tell you that your complaint is confidential. The violator immediately becomes suspicious, and when I get called to meet and try to clear a violation, the first part of the conversation is spent by the owner pointing at the suspected neighbor’s property, and vindictive language follows.
I never really had a name for it until recently, when the phrase “The system is rigged” prevailed. Now I understand, as you should, too, that the way violations are handled actually creates stress among neighbors and goes against public safety, as more and more of us want to do uncertified, unsafe construction without approvals. Financially, those municipalities that double their fees for already-built work benefit from the violations they encourage. If public safety is most important, it’s overshadowed by administration. Good luck!
© 2026 Monte Leeper
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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Long Island’s suburbs weren’t created by accident. They were built to offer families a place to grow, to feel safe, and to put down roots in communities that reflect shared values and a commitment to quality of life. In the Town of Hempstead, we take that responsibility seriously.
Right now, however, that way of life is being challenged from two directions: Albany’s push to override local zoning authority, and unchecked overdevelopment that threatens the character of our neighborhoods. I want to be clear that my administration is not opposed to growth. We understand the need for more housing, including more affordable housing, to ensure that the next generation can stay on Long Island. But growth must be thoughtful, balanced and locally driven. It can never be dictated by Albany bureaucrats who neither live in nor understand our communities.
Governor Kathy Hochul’s latest plan to circumvent local zoning regulations is a direct threat to suburban Long Island. It is a one-size-fits-all mandate
that ignores the unique needs, infrastructure and character of towns like Hempstead. Local zoning exists for a reason. It allows communities to plan responsibly to ensure that roads, schools, public safety services and utilities can support new development. Stripping that authority away undermines decades of careful planning and silences the voices of the very residents these policies impact.
Decisions about our neighborhoods should be made by the people who live here and the officials they elect, not by distant policymakers focused on solving problems specific to New York City. Long Island is not Manhattan, and it should not be treated as such.
A lbany’s plan to curcumvent local zoning is a direct threat to suburban L.I.
At the same time, we have taken decisive action at the local level to protect the integrity of our neighborhoods. In Levittown, one of the most iconic suburban communities in America, we recently passed a zoning reform to address the rise of so-called McMansions. Often built by developers looking to maximize profit, these oversized homes, which dwarf neighboring properties and fundamentally alter the character of entire neighborhoods, have been replacing modest, affordable houses.
Levittown was built as a symbol of opportunity. After World War II, it provided affordable homes for returning veterans and their families. It was a place where the American Dream was within reach and where legacy mattered. We listened when residents came forward, voicing concerns about privacy, overcrowding, infrastructure strain and the loss of neighborhood character.
After extensive public hearings and community input, the Town Board unanimously voted to reduce the allowable building area on residential lots to align it with the majority of residential zoning restrictions in the Town of Hempstead. This strikes a balance between allowing homeowners to improve and modernize their properties and preventing overdevelopment that erodes the very charm that makes these neighborhoods special. When modest homes are replaced with million-dollar structures, we aren’t expanding opportunity. Rather, we are pricing families out and changing the fabric of our neighborhoods in ways that cannot be undone.
These two issues — Albany’s overreach and local overdevelopment — are connected by the need to protect our suburbs from decisions that prioritize
volume over value and expediency over community.
We also cannot ignore the broader context. As Albany struggles to pass a budget, we see proposals that include record spending increases, bailouts that disproportionately benefit New York City, and little meaningful relief for Long Island taxpayers. At a time when families are already feeling the pressure of rising costs, this approach is simply unsustainable.
I am proud to stand with many of Long Island’s leaders to say to Albany that enough is enough. We need a state government that respects local control, exercises fiscal responsibility and recognizes that Long Island deserves its fair share and should not be left as an afterthought in a city-centric agenda.
Protecting the suburbs doesn’t mean resisting all change. It means guiding change in a way that preserves what works while addressing what doesn’t. It means building housing that is attainable, not excessive. It means empowering local communities, not overriding them.
The Town of Hempstead will continue to stand firm on these crucial matters. We will defend our neighborhoods, uphold local decision-making and ensure that our suburbs remain places where families can thrive today and for generations to come.
John Ferretti is the Town of Hempstead supervisor.
“Long Island Naval History in Wartime” was the title of a recent presentation by Bill Bleyer, the author of “Long Island and the Sea,” from which much of his talk was drawn. It is among seven books written by Bleyer published by The History Press. For 33 years, Bleyer was an award-winning Newsday reporter with a specialty in history and maritime issues. He has a deep personal involvement in the marine world, literally — as a diver. Indeed, in his talk earlier this month he told of diving to and exploring several boats sunk in waters off Long Island. Also, on the surface of area waters he has long operated a sailboat.
Bleyer, of Bayville, is a former president of the Press Club of Long Island. His gave his talk at the Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum. It came as the museum features a number of events tied to the nation’s semiquincentennial. Bleyer will be back
at the museum on June 28, speaking on “Long Island in the American Revolution.”
He started his most recent talk by relating the first naval battle in Long Island history, which was also the first amphibious landing of troops in U.S. history. The British, Bleyer said, were using Gardiners Bay, and taking provisions from lands around it. So, George Washington, commander and chief of the Continental Army, ordered a landing of troops on Plum Island to remove livestock that otherwise would be taken by the British.
Tschooner, removing most of those on board but leaving four, including a free African American, William Tillman, the steward. They told Tillman they would sell him as a slave for $1,000 or more when they reached Charleston, S.C.
he naval battles fought off our shores? Sunken ships? He knows about them.
Bleyer detailed the subsequent Meigs Raid, also called the Battle of Sag Harbor, in which, in 1777, Continental soldiers, under the command of Lt. Col. Jonathan Meigs, a veteran of Bunker Hill, journeyed from Connecticut and attacked a British outpost in Sag Harbor.
During the Civil War, the Confederacy deployed “commerce raiders” to prey on Union shipping — including off Long Island. Bleyer spoke of the Confederate ship Jefferson Davis snaring the schooner S.J. Waring in 1861, southeast of the Island. The southerners, he said, put a five-man crew of their own on the
Subsequently, Bleyer related, Tillman led the recapture of the vessel, grabbing a hatchet on the boat and killing the Confederate captain and two officers with it. The ship went on to New York and, Bleyer said, Tillman’s actions and the recapture were celebrated throughout the North at a time when the Union had few victories to celebrate.
It was on Long Island in the late 19th century, Bleyer said, that submarines, and torpedoes that could be fired from them, were developed. He told of how submarine builder John P. Holland worked in New Suffolk, which became America’s first submarine base. Meanwhile, to the south, the E.W. Bliss Company was experimenting with torpedoes in Noyac Bay, off Sag Harbor.
During World War I, the only sinking of a U.S. capital, or main, warship by the enemy happened eight miles off Fire Island, Bleyer said. The vessel was the
USS San Diego, a cruiser that ran into a mine laid by a German U-boat.
Bleyer noted how, during World War II, there was an “unorthodox” U.S. wartime move: the formation of the Picket Patrol. With the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard short on warships and intense German U-boat activity in the region, a fleet of civilian sailboats, longer than 50 feet, were used. The absence of engines allowed them to patrol silently without detection by U-boats. They were painted battleship gray, and crewed by Coast Guard Reserve members who were connected by radio to military forces.
Meanwhile, this area became a major center for the construction of landing craft, minesweepers and rescue boats. They were built in Freeport, Greenport, Huntington, Oyster Bay and Port Washington.
“Long Island and the Sea” goes way beyond the Island’s wartime history and is a great read, full of photos, like Bleyer’s excellent talk. He’s on the lecture circuit — he told me he has 68 bookings ahead on subjects he has written about. Catch a talk — and his books.
Karl Grossman has been an investigative reporter in a variety of media for more than 50 years. He is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.
as summer approaches on Long Island, our communities eagerly embrace the joys of swimming, boating and waterfront leisure. From backyard pools to the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, aquatic activities are woven into our seasonal traditions.
With those pleasures, however, comes a paramount responsibility: ensuring water safety for all.
New York ranks fourth in the nation in drowning deaths. The state now requires all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, to possess a valid boating safety certificate. The requirement, established as part of Brianna’s Law — named in memory of 11-year-old Brianna Lieneck, who lost her life in a 2005 boating accident in the Great South Bay — is intended to make waterways safer.
Boaters can enroll in approved safety courses available in person and online. The BoatUS Foundation offers a free, state-approved online course, and the New York State Parks Adventure License program encourages boaters to add an anchor icon to their driver’s license to indicate completion of the course.
Water safety extends well beyond boats, to backyard and public swimming pools and Long Island’s many miles of beaches. Drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death
To the Editor:
among children.
Suffolk County reported 24 drownings in 2024, a 60 percent increase over the prior year, based on statistics from Stony Brook University. Experts noted what they called an “alarming shift,” with 66 percent of drownings happening in backyard pools rather than open water, driven largely by a post-pandemic surge in pool installations. Nationwide, drowning remains a leading cause of unintentional-injury deaths among children ages 1 to 4.
To reduce the risks:
■ Always supervise children closely when they are in or near water. Avoid distractions, even when lifeguards are present.
■ Install fences with self-latching gates around pools to prevent unsupervised access. State law requires fences to be at least 4 feet high and to fully enclose pools.
■ Teach children to swim, learn yourself if you never have, and understand basic water safety rules.
■ Ensure that supervising adults are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation so they can respond effectively in emergencies.
■ State law requires children under 12 to wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejackets on boats smaller than 21 feet.
Re Joseph Scianablo’s op-ed, “We can’t solve a housing crisis with hypocrisy or politics,” in the May 14-20 issue: Scianablo, the Democratic candidate for Hempstead town supervisor, clearly stated the issues involved in dealing with the housing crisis. He also delineated steps that need to be taken to solve the problem.
One must wonder, what has the town’s leadership, under Supervisor John Ferretti, been doing about this housing crisis? No cogent plan has been followed to deal with the shortage of housing that’s affordable for young families or seniors wanting to downsize. A predictable pattern has developed, which we have witnessed with the Woodmere Country Club and Inwood/North Hempstead projects: A project is proposed by developers, there is an outcry from community residents who have reasonable concerns, and then there is expensive litigation, paid for with taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars.
Ferretti and the Town Board should have had a forward-looking housing plan in place. As proposed by candidate Scianablo, stakeholders
Lifejackets accessible to all passengers are essential on any vessel.
■ At public pools and beaches, pay attention to lifeguards, who are trained to identify hazards such as rip currents — fast-moving channels of water that can quickly pull swimmers away from shore.
■ Ask lifeguards about dangerous conditions, and swim only in designated areas. If caught in a rip current, stay calm and swim parallel to shore until free of the current.
Another major danger is after-hours swimming. When lifeguards are off duty, swimmers who are inexperienced, overconfident or impaired are left unmonitored, and that is when many drownings occur.
Early-season swimmers should also remember that ocean water remains dangerously cold well into late spring. Cold water quickly drains energy and increases the risk of distress, even for strong swimmers.
Water safety is everyone’s responsibility. Whether you’re watching children at a pool, enjoying a day at the beach or heading out on a boat, a few simple precautions can mean the difference between a close call and a tragedy. Long Island’s waters are meant to be enjoyed, but only if we treat them with the respect they demand.
including developers, union workers and residents must be engaged in planning housing projects for the needs of each unique community.
Instead of blaming Albany, our town
to deal with the housing crisis.
somewhere in Washington right now, custom bourbon bottles etched with FBI Director Kash
Patel’s name and title are being distributed as tokens of power and prestige at taxpayer expense. Strange as it sounds, those bottles tell a much larger story about contemporary politics and politicians.
You don’t have to be a political historian to know that democracies have always produced their share of vain, incompetent and corrupt political opportunists. What feels different now is the brazenness — the complete disappearance of embarrassment and restraint among leaders, as well as citizens’ expectations that public officials at least appear to be answerable to the people they serve.
At a moment when millions of Americans are struggling to afford groceries, gasoline, rent, medication and health insurance, our “leaders” parade openly in a spectacle of self-glorification, ideological theater, open self-interest and flat-out contempt. The examples arrive almost daily:
A White House “ballroom” project that began as a supposedly privately
funded $200 million undertaking has steadily ballooned to a taxpayer-supported $1 billion monument to one man’s excesses.
A sitting president and his family are profiting from business ventures made possible only through political power. Airports, cultural institutions, public spaces and even passports are being renamed and revised in ways that elevate and glorify that president.
Patel’s custom bourbon bottles are etched with his name while taxpayers absorb the costs of an increasingly theatrical government culture.
Those personalized bourbon bottles seem sadly emblematic of the moment.
Other cabinet officials and agency heads appear openly hostile to, or ignorant of, the very missions of the departments they oversee.
A secretary of health and human services attacks scientific consensus, vaccine trust and established medical knowledge during a period of growing public health anxiety.
A secretary of defense speaks less like a sober administrator than a cablenews warrior wannabe posturing for cameras and political allies. Presidential social media tirades are aimed at journalists, critics, political opponents and private citizens — many dismissed as “low IQ,” “stupid,” dishonest, even treasonous.
Voters deserve to hear more from the candidates on housing
To the Editor:
Mr. Scianablo is half right. Politics is the only means we have to reconcile civil issues. What is required is the sort of politics Mr. Scianablo describes, where leadership seeks to “rise above the noise” and “tell the truth” to promote “honest conversations” and form “partnerships” that will work toward “thoughtful, community-driven planning.” That would mean a constructive confrontation with some hard words.
Nassau County’s leaders must acknowledge the truth that the housing issue can’t be “solved” at the county level, but progress can be
facilitated. Candidates for leadership must dismiss the noise to center the honest conversations on those few factors and limited partnerships within their purview and jurisdiction. This means devising a thoughtful plan for changes in zoning to encourage density at sites that provide transportation and public services — which will encourage builders and bankers to construct affordable units that make Nassau attractive to buyers, preferably families with children.
There are hard words here, but voters deserve to hear from each candidate some opening position from which they will begin their honest conversation, and what their vision is for a Nassau community plan to ameliorate its portion of the “crisis.”
Meanwhile, we are told every day that all is well, the economy is strong, the war is won, and that public concerns are exaggerated. Republican Sen. Tim Scott proclaimed on Fox Business last month that “You can even feel in our environment how good things are getting. Gas prices continue to come down, which means that your groceries will come down a little bit as well.”
As Scott spoke, gas and grocery prices were rising dramatically in his home state of North Carolina and around the country. Without embarrassment, he invented a picture of America that has no basis in reality.
That same day, on CNBC, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said, “You go back two years ago, we were paying almost $6 a gallon for gasoline.” Two years ago, in mid-2024, the nationwide average price of gasoline was $3.66 per gallon. Without embarrassment, he made up a price easily disproved.
More and more Americans no longer believe what they are being told, because their own lives tell them otherwise. And alongside all of this come the vanity projects, the public self-glorification, the open profiteering, the personalized institutions, the theatrical insults and the endless performances of loyalty and power.
The deeper cultural shift isn’t simply these behaviors themselves, but how little civic alarm they now produce. Why, we should ask, do these officials feel no shame, or even just a little embarrassment? But mostly we don’t ask. Too often we give up on demanding competence, dignity and social awareness in our leaders.
Why? Or maybe the question should be how? How can people who call themselves leaders act with so much contempt toward the people who put them in positions of authority? A healthy republic depends on leaders understanding that public office carries obligations larger than ego, profit, loyalty rituals and selfcelebration. It depends on some continuing sense that, at the very least, public suffering should impose limits on displays of extravagance and self-interest.
Evidently, our leaders feel no such constraints; they feel not one shred of embarrassment about the lies and excesses that have come to characterize them. For many of them, holding office means little more than having permission to engage in public spectacle, branding, self-celebration and acts of contempt in plain sight.
Which may be why those personalized bourbon bottles feel oddly — and sadly — emblematic of the political moment itself.
Michael Blitz is professor emeritus and former chair of interdisciplinary studies at City University of New York.
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At Mount Sinai South Nassau, patient safety isn’t just a priority— it’s a standard, one we work on every day. And the experts agree.
We’ve earned national recognition for patient safety, including an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group and the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award.
That means better outcomes for our patients with lower risk of infections or hospital acquired conditions.
When it comes to your health, nothing matters more than knowing you’re in a place where patient safety matters most.
Learn more at mountsinai.org/southnassau