Franklin Square/Elmont Herald 04-03-2025

HERALD Franklin square/elmont

Dept. of Ed. cuts ordered by Trump, parents fear fallout

By RENEE DeloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com

Elmont and Franklin Square parents are growing more concerned over the looming dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. They worry that President Trump’s March 20 executive order to close the department indicates that equal access to education will collapse on Long Island.

A previous order, on March 11, reduced the department’s workforce by nearly 50 percent.

A Department of Education news release said that it would continue to enforce programs and initiatives in its jurisdiction, but acknowledged that all divisions of the department were impacted by the staff cuts, and would require “significant reorganization.”

Katherine Dalton, of Elmont, who teaches

English Language Arts and English as a New Language at Atlas High School in Long Island City, said that the reduction in funding and staff would lead to systemic inequality across Long Island.

“I think a cut to education this large is a disaster,” Dalton said. “I’m bracing for a tough year.”

Federal funding, she pointed out, supports programs that serve high-needs groups such as special-education students.

Linda McMahon, the new secretary of education, released a statement on March 20, writing, “Taxpayers will no longer be burdened with tens of billions of dollars of waste on progressive social experiments and obsolete programs.” Programs such as the Office of Special

Continued on page 12

Sewanhaka and Bellmore will continue to play

By RENEE DeloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com

Sewanhaka school district students will continue to play sports against teams in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, Superintendent Regina Agrusa said during the Sewanhaka Board of Education meeting on March 25. The district’s decision came after parents expressed ongoing concerns of alleged racist behaviors by Bellmore-Merrick students targeted at Black Elmont students. A town hall meeting was held at Elmont Memorial High School on Feb. 26 requesting the alleged offending school district be removed from the game schedule.

Pstudents’ safety during games against Bellmore-Merrick.

When the Herald requested additional details of Sewanhaka’s plans with Bellmore-Merrick, both districts declined to comment further.

lease protect our children. That’s all we ask.

VAlERy AIfuoBhokAN coach, LI Knights

Volley Ball Club

According to Agrusa, a plan is being implemented across both the Sewanhaka and Bellmore-Merrick school districts to handle any future racially charged incidents.

Parents then pressed Agrusa and the board for more details on the plan to help ensure the

“We are pleased with the Sewanhaka Central High School District’s decision to continue competing against our athletic teams.” Bellmore-Merrick Superintendent Michael Harrington said in a statement. “We look forward to competitive games with all schools on our schedule and will continue to foster an environment that promotes sportsmanship, mutual respect and a shared love of the game.”

Many parents were unsatisfied with the response, and felt their concerns were dismissed because of the district’s hasty decision to continue competing against Bellmore-Merrick.

“While I recognize that not all people may be in favor,” Agrusa said, “I do believe that this decision is in the best inter-

Continued on page 4

Herald file photo

a March 20 executive order by president trump cut the u.S. department of education staff in half, which parents say will make it harder for students to receive equal access to education.

Community League of Garden City South 2025 plans

By RENEE DeLORENZO rdelorenzo@liherald.com

Yossi Oren, the newly inaugurated president of Community League of Garden City South, shared

May 26: Memorial Day Parade

The Memorial Day parade is officially on! The community league will be one of the parade’s sponsors on May 26. The parade will begin at VFW Post 2718 on Lincoln Road in Franklin Square, travel along Hempstead Turnpike, and end in Rath Park on Naples Avenue. The parade will include the Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department, veterans from VFW Post 2718, elected officials from the Town of Hempstead and, of course, local residents! Oren said a few classic car clubs might make an appearance, as well. After the parade concludes in the park, residents are welcome to stay for a Memorial Day service featuring speeches by local officials, members of the clergy, and veterans. Oren also encouraged residents to line the streets of the parade path in support of those who served in the military.

details of their upcoming plans for 2025. The league, which serves Franklin Square and nearby town residents, boasts itself as the first civic on Long Island after being incorporated in 1929. The community league’s board works on public initiatives across the

town and acts as a liaison between residents and elected officials. Oren welcomes all to their meetings, which occur on the first Wednesday of each month at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2718 on Lincoln Road in Franklin Square.

June 13: Murder Mystery Dinner This fall: The Ragamuffin Parade

Back by popular demand, the league is returning for their third annual Murder Mystery Dinner on June 13 at St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus in Lynbrook. In this fun twist on their fundraising dinner, guests will take part in a special, immersive wedding-themed performance by the Murder Mystery Company called “Til Death Do Us Part.” Oren said they’re currently selling tickets, which are $85, through May 28. The community league encourages guests to wear their best wedding attire — wedding gowns, tuxes, bridesmaid dresses, etc. — and engross themselves in the evening’s festivities. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in raffles and a “best-dressed” competition, as well. Oren said the money raised will be used to sponsor other initiatives, events and causes in the community.

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Franklin

The Ragamuffin Parade is returning this upcoming fall season! While no tentative date has been set, Oren said it would coincide with the H. Frank Carey High School’s homecoming parade. Children are encouraged to dress up in costumes and parade around the streets of Franklin Square in this anticipatory celebration of the Halloween season. Oren said the fun isn’t just for the kids, and parents can join the parade in costumes, too! The parade will end in the Garden City South Community Park, where children will have the opportunity to pick pumpkins, parade around the park, and participate in a costume competition judged by local officials. Oren said kids would be given small snacks and goody bags, as well. Check their Facebook page, Community League of Garden City South Inc., for updates!

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Square Forward committee meets

The Franklin Square Forward steering committee met for their second community meeting on March 20 at the Plattdeutsche Park Restaurant to share the latest news about their efforts to revitalize the town. According to a news release about the meeting, approximately 40 local residents were in attendance.

The news release said Katherine Tarascio, the recording secretary for the Franklin Square Civic Association, welcomed attendees and announced the committee’s next meeting on April 17 at 7 p.m. She said the committee has arranged a meeting space at John Street School in the small gym and cafeteria.

Anyone still interested in joining the committee can attend the next meeting, Tarascio said.

Anthony Passarella, an executive director for the civic association, shared some ideas for “streetscaping” and tree planting, the news release continued. He also briefly described an AARP grant that the committee has applied for to get funding for work in these areas.

Darren Boerkel, also an executive director for the civic association, shared

the latest news on their ongoing effort to purchase the Franklin Square Theatre. He said a GoFundMe account has been organized to collect funds for the project. According to the news release, there was a crowd photo opportunity at the theatre on March 22, which many residents were a part of. The photo will be used to show community interest to reopen the theatre, the news release said.

At the end of the meeting, there was a Q&A session for attendees to ask questions and make comments.

The news release said residents expressed interest in getting involved planting trees, cleaning up the downtown area, and getting the large fountain across from the Plattduetsche Restaurant — next to the Bolla Gas Station — cleaned up and working.

One Franklin Square resident shared that many buildings are up for sale in the Franklin Avenue area, the news release said. He also shared that Valley Catering is up for sale, and unless another owner is interested in buying, it will be closed in a few months.

–Renee DeLorenzo

You’ve filed your 2026-27 tax grievance. Now what?

By RENEE DeLORENZO rdelorenzo@liherald.com

Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages hosted a tax grievance workshop at Elmont Memorial Library on March 27 in preparation for the 2026-27

1It can take up to six months to hear back from the county.

Yes, it can take up to six months to hear back from the county regarding your tax grievance, says Gold. He recommends checking your mailbox or email regularly so you don’t miss the ARC’s letter of determination, in which the county will make a formal offer. Once you receive your letter, you must formally accept or deny the offer in order to receive your reduction.

2

You can request a second review if you’re unhappy with the offer.

If you’re unhappy with the determination and choose to deny it, you can request a second review. At this

tax grievance filing deadline, which was April 1. The workshop was led by Jeff Gold, a managing partner of the Gold Law Firm in Bellmore, who educated attendees about filing tax grievances and showed demonstrations of the process on NassauCountyNY.gov.

point, you will attend Nassau County Small Claims Court for a Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) hearing. Gold says if you’re unsure of whether to accept your offer or not, you can either consult with an attorney or visit his Facebook group, “Nassau Grieve Your Tax Assessment – Free,” for advice.

3

Your reduction will be reflected on your property tax bill.

Keep in mind that tax reductions will only be reflected on your school tax bill and general tax bill, says Gold. You will not be receiving your reduction in the form of a check. The only time you get the reduction in the form of a refund is if your determination was made through a SCAR

However, there’s important information homeowners in the county should be aware of while they wait for their determination from the Assessment Review Commission. Here’s four things to know, whether you filed this year or plan on filing next year.

hearing after next year’s bill has already been issued, according to property tax reduction group Maidenbaum.

4

Even if you filed this year, you should keep filing every year.

According to Solages, it’s important to keep filing tax grievances every year in order to sustain your savings long-term. The county’s records of tax assessments are outdated, he said, particularly after the county froze the tax assessment rate at 0.1 percent two years ago, until 2029. Updating your assessment every year means your five-year average home value and real estate taxes will be lower, which Solages says maximizes savings.

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

Herald file photo

For more information on filing tax grievances, join Jeff Gold, of Gold Law Firm in Bellmore, in his Facebook group, “Nassau Grieve Your Tax Assessment – Free.”

HERALD SchoolS

Robotics team advances to world championship

The Robopandas, Sewanhaka Central High School District’s robotics team, competed at the FIRST Tech Challenge Long Island Regional Championship at Great Neck South High School on March 16.

According to a news release about the event, the challenge involves teams designing, building and programming robots to compete on a 12-by-12-foot field in an alliance format against other teams. The robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by Android technology and programmed using Java-based languages. At the regional championship, the news release said, the Robopandas achieved a perfect 5-0 record in the qualification round and were ranked as the No. 2 seed for the elimination round. The news release said due to their outstanding performance, the team earned the Inspire Award and were recognized as the Finalist Alliance Captain.

Sewanhaka High School student

Hailey Sethi and New Hyde Park Memorial High School student

Zarif Abrar were named FIRST Dean’s List semifinalists, which the news release said recognizes their leadership and dedication.

Robotics team coach Jack Chen, the career and technical education pre-engineering teacher at Sewanhaka, received the Compass Award.

According to the news release, the award recognizes an adult coach or mentor who has provided outstanding guidance and support to a team and exemplifies “Gracious Professionalism.”

The Robopandas qualified to compete at the FIRST Robotics World Championships in Houston in April.

“This marks the first time since 2017 that our students will be competing at that level,” said Patrick Dunphy, the director of career and technical education. “It’s a huge achievement for our program, and the students are incredibly excited.”

–Renee DeLorenzo

Courtesy Sewanhaka Central High School District Sewanhaka Central High School District’s robotics team, from left, Club Adviser Jack Chen, New Hyde Park student Yashivi Singh, New Hyde Park student Zarif Abrar, Floral Park student Ian Tallini, New Hyde Park student Ethan Lin, Floral Park student Ainsley Cunningham, New Hyde Park student Shohom Chakraborty and Sewanhaka student Taaboja Brown.

Concerns over alleged racism in sports rise

est of our student athletes.”

Agrusa said she met and spoke with 45 students, a dozen parents, and several coaches, administrators, members of Section VIII (the coordinating arm of Nassau County athletics), leaders from Bellmore-Merrick and Nassau County superintendents to discuss the incidents.

She said that Elmont student athletes have been heard, validated and respected.

“We are committed to ensuring that our students receive access to a public school experience that is hostile free, inclusive and safe,” Argusa said. “Measures will be taken to accompany our student athletes to away games to ensure that competitions are safe for all participants.”

When the meeting was opened to public participation, several parents spoke out against the district and demanded details of their plan.

Tito Gunner, a member of the Elmont Dads Club, asked Agrusa how the district will be ensuring a safe environment for all students, and raised concern over the amount of time — six years — it took the district to begin seriously addressing it.

“It sounds like the statement says the district is committed now,” he said. “Were you not committed before?”

“Why did this ruling come so quickly?” asked Jon Johnson, president of the Men of Elmont mentorship club. He worried the districts hadn’t fully investigated

the issue and did not devise a wellthought out plan of action.

William Leder, president of the Sewanhaka Board of Education, said he believed the school district would do everything they can to protect Elmont athletes.

He then reiterated the district’s stance on a recent incident during a February girl’s basketball game at John F. Kennedy High School, in which Elmont played against Bellmore-Merrick. He said the incident was an athletic incident, not a racial one.

“I’m not going to treat every one of those incidents in my mind as a racial incident,” Leder said.

However, Johnson fired back, saying, “Now, you might not see it as racial, but others do.”

Johnson restated Elmont parents’ previous request from the Feb. 26 meeting to form a committee, which would include community members, to have an ongoing dialogue about racial concerns.

Terrance Campbell, a co-director for LI Knights Volleyball Club, a sports organization based in Valley Stream that includes Sewanhaka athletes, said he, as a coach and referee, is responsible for everything that happens on the court. He asked if the referee from the Kennedy game would be reprimanded for his faulty decision — in which a Black student was ejected from a game before a white student on Kennedy. Ultimately,

both were removed from the court, and the incident was deemed “an athletic dispute.”

Matthew McLees, the Sewanhaka director of athletics, said Section VIII had information regarding the referee in question, but he could not speak publicly about whether or not the referee faced consequences because he personally did not know.

Leder admitted there might be implicit bias among the school’s referees, which he said they would try to address.

Sarah Campbell, the club director for LI Knights Volley Ball Club, said she agreed with the school district’s decision to continue to play against Bellmore-Merrick. She said her two daughters, who both attend Elmont Memorial High School and play on sports teams, also want to continue playing against the school.

“The only thing is there needs to be a plan in place,” she said.

Valery Aifuobhokan, a coach for the LI Knights, pointed out the psychological impact these incidents have on their student athletes.

When she asked her daughter, who participates in Elmont sports, how she feels playing against Bellmore, her daughter says she doesn’t like to enter the “lion’s den,” referring to the treatment she endures from Bellmore-Merrick students during games.

“Please protect our children,” Aifuob-

hokan said. “That’s all we ask.”

Sheldon Meikle, an Elmont resident and former Sewanhaka board trustee, shared a similar experience to Aifuobhokan with his own son. He noticed his son, who played on Elmont sports teams over six years ago, wouldn’t tell him about the racial discrimination he was experiencing until Meikle asked him directly.

When Meikle questioned why his son hadn’t spoken up about the incidents before, his son said he’s just “used to it.”

Meikle explained to the school board that not every incident is being reported because it’s so common, and students are afraid of repercussions being benched during games, for example if they were to speak up. And, he added, it isn’t clear to everyone that Dignity for All Students Act forms, which are used to report racial incidents through the New York State Education Department, are available to file complaints in the event of racial discrimination.

Agrusa said it is important for all voices to be included in the solution, and she pointed out retaliation is prohibited by law. She said they speak with all students at the beginning of the school year to inform them of DASA forms. “Nobody should be silenced,” she said, adding the dialogue between the districts is ongoing.

Have an opinion on the alleged racist behaviors against Elmont athletes? Send letter to rdelorenzo@liherald.com.

The Five Steps to an Elder Law Estate Plan

Elder law estate planning provides for (1) your care in the event you become disabled as you age, and who will be in charge of that care, and (2) the passing of your assets on death to whom you want, when you want, the way you want, with the least amount of taxes and legal fees possible. These are the five steps to creating an elder law estate plan.

Step One: Understanding the Family Dynamics. Clients often overlook the inestimable value of getting to know the family dynamic. We are firm believers that the social goes first and the legal should serve the social. Too often it is the other way around. Once we understand who’s who and everyone’s interpersonal relations with each other, we are far better able to craft a plan that will work socially as well as legally. The failure to address the social aspects has led to many a plan tearing the family apart.

Step Two: Reviewing the Client’s Assets. IRA’s and other “qualified” assets (i.e. tax deferred) are treated quite differently, on death or disability, from “non-qualified” assets. The determination of the amount and value of all assets, who owns them, and whether they have named beneficiaries are of the utmost importance in planning correctly,

including saving legal fees and taxes.

Step Three: Reviewing Existing Estate Planning Documents: Not having been prepared by an elder law estate planning attorney, clients’ documents rarely have adequate provisions to take advantage of the many benefits the law provides for our aging population. Wills instead of trusts have often been prepared either because the client was considerably younger and a trust was not needed or a trust was needed but the general practice lawyer was unfamiliar with the specifics of preparing a trust.

Step Four: Developing the Elder Law Estate Plan. We are now in a position to determine which persons are best suited to handle your legal, financial and medical affairs on disability or death, what type of plan should be used and how the estate should be distributed -- keeping in mind the preservation of harmony in the family.

Step Five: Executing and Maintaining the Plan. Legal documents are explained and executed, assets are retitled and beneficiaries on assets changed in keeping with planning objectives. The client is called in to the law firm every three years to ensure the plan meets the client’s current wishes and conforms with any law changes.

Mount Sinai South Nassau is Improving Health Care on the South Shore

The new Fennessy Family Emergency Department at Mount Sinai South Nassau doubles the size of our previous emergency department, o ering 54 private exam rooms with clear lines of sight for physicians, nurses, and support sta . Our new emergency department also o ers a separate triage area, dedicated areas for children and behavioral health patients, and has been designed to reduce wait times and improve patient outcomes.

The Fennessy Family Emergency Department is located within the new Feil Family Pavilion, opening later this year, which will have 40 new critical care suites and nine new operating rooms, designed to support the most complex surgeries on the South Shore.

To learn more visit www.mountsinai.org/feilpavilion

Honoring Premier Business Women of L.I.

By Christie Leigh Babirad

An empowering evening of camaraderie, gratitude and celebration, the sixth annual Premier Business Women of Long Island Awards on March 19, at the Heritage Club at Bethpage, presented by RichnerLive, drew close to 400 attendees, and more than 50 women were honored for their accomplishments across a wide range of industries on Long Island.

The event was organized by Amy Amato, RichnerLive’s executive director of corporate relations and events, who said that it was a privilege to be there with such a talented and driven group of dynamic and fearless women.

“Your presence here displays the countless accomplishments that women have made and will continue to make,” Amato said, “and it’s a pleasure to welcome you all to the Richner family.”

Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications Inc. and publisher of Herald Community Media, said that the night was intended to celebrate remarkable women by honoring what they have achieved in their careers as well as their communities.

“Looking around the room, I am truly humbled by the caliber of our award winners,” Richner said. “These extraordinary women represent diverse fields, from health care to finance to education and entrepreneurship, yet share common traits of vision, resilience and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

He added that his mother, Edith Richner, who founded Richner Communications with Stuart’s father nearly 60 years ago, would undoubtedly be proud of all the women leaders being honored at the event, because in her time, she was almost always the only woman at the table.

The keynote speaker, and the winner of the Trailblazer Award, was Linda Armyn, president and CEO of FourLeaf Federal Credit Union and the creator of the initiative Money Like a Woman, which she said was conceived to celebrate all of the values that women bring to the table. “We want to put them up on a pedestal and say, you know what, women have all these great talents that they use every day,” Armyn said, “to multitask, to be a mom, be a businesswoman, be an innovator, entrepreneur, and we don’t celebrate that enough. Money Like a Woman is all about celebrating those great traits and sharing them with the rest of the world.”

She added that the night was a wonderful way to celebrate women and all of their accomplishments, and that man of them are making a difference not only on Long Island, but well beyond.

Guests enjoyed drinks, appetizers and dinner at the event, as they mingled with award winners, family members and friends.

Honoree Laura D’Amato, Apple Bank’s first vice president and assistant marketing director said that it felt amazing to be honored as a Premier Business Woman of Long Island. “I’m totally humbled to be in the same room with so many amazing women,” D’Amato said.

PSEG Long Island’s manager of customer and community partnerships, Honoree Veronica Isaac, echoed those sentiments, and said that an event like this inspires her to keep doing what she’s doing.

Another honoree, Jennifer Baxmeyer, executive director of the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, said that an award means a lot, but that you’re only as good as your team.

Celine M. Gazes, CFO at Suffolk Regional Off Track Betting Corp. Jake’s 58 Hotel and Casino, said that the award felt “validating.”

Susan Johnson, acting superintendent of Hempstead schools, said that she was truly humbled to be honored. “People believing you can do it and reaching out to you that you are making a difference, it means so much,” said Johnson.

“It’s so incredibly special, and such a unique oppor-

tunity, to see all the different industries helping to move women forward,” Mary Fu, chief advancement officer at People’s Arc of Suffolk, said.

And Susan Gatti, of Disruptive Spark Business Academy, wanted to thank RichnerLive for bringing together women of all different ages and industries. “It’s humbling, and such an opportunity to reflect, since you’re always so busy,” Gatti said. “It’s nice to know that you’re going in the right direction, and to celebrate with so many other amazing women.”

In keeping with RichnerLive’s commitment to giving back, a portion of the proceeds from the event were donated to Hair We Share, a nonprofit that offers wigs at no cost to those experiencing medical hair loss. Its mission to restore dignity and confidence aligns

with the spirit of the honorees. More information about its work can be found at hairweshare.org.

Event sponsors included FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, People’s ARC of Suffolk, Apple Bank, CSD Net, Reworld, Maidenbaum, Whisper Woods of Smithtown, Eclectic Psychotherapy, Mending Hearts Counseling, Premier HR Consulting, Farmingdale State College, Jake’s 58, Optimum Business, Disruptive Spark Academy, PSEG Long Island, Dime Community Bank, C Squared, Family Children’s Association, Certilman Balin, St. Joseph’s University, the Cradle of Aviation, Vandegrift Plastic Surgery, Suffolk Regional Off Track Betting Corp. and ConnectOne Bank.

For a complete list of honorees and photos, visit RichnerLive.com.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Nearly 400 people attended the awards dinner.

Veronica Isaac, of PSEGLI, with Stuart Richner.

Keynote speaker and Trailblazer Award winner Linda Armyn, of FourLeaf Federal Credit Union.

Holden Leeds/Herald photos

Mary Fu, People’s Arc of Suffolk

Megan C. Ryan, Esq., Nassau University Medical Center

Stavroula Savelidis, Ph.D., Nassau County Medical Society Kristy Uvena, Optimum Business

Jennifer Baxmeyer, Cradle of Aviation Museum

Susan Johnson, Hempstead Union Free School District

Paige O’Brien, Family and Children’s Association

Susan Nielsen, Eclectic Psychotherapy Group of Nassau County

Carrie Adduci, Esq., Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP Maureen Early, Reworld

Monica LaCroix-Rubin, Dime Community Bank

Dawn Harmon, Reworld

Amy Madmon, Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC Laura D’Amato, Apple Bank Terry Going, ConnectOne Bank

Desiree Krajnyak-Baker, Whisper Woods of Smithtown

Anne Petraro, Mending Hearts Counseling and Eclectic Psychotherapy

Susan Gatti, Disruptive Spark Business Academy

Laura Joseph, EdD, Farmingdale State College

Dr. Maria Fletcher, PhD, RN, CNE, St. Joseph’s University

EmpowerHER event raises funds for women

By RENEE DeLORENZO rdelorenzo@liherald.com

Franklin Square resident Meghna Soni and RAF Strength and Fitness, a gym in Valley Stream, collaborated for EmpowerHER, a Women’s History Month event that collected donations for Mommas House, a Levittown-based homeless shelter for women with young children.

Soni said this was their third annual event at the gym, and about 40 women attended on Sunday.

Guests participated in exercise activities, networked with female business owners, and celebrated women’s power in the local community.

Each guest also donated $25, Soni said. The gym collected over $1,000 and will be donating the funds to Mommas House.

Mommas House provides transitional housing and emergency shelter to homeless mothers and their babies. Mothers and children can stay at the shelter for up to two years while the shelter’s team works on finding permanent housing and resources.

Through case management, the shelter assists mothers and finds community resources, education, employment, childcare, housing, legal assistance, and medical care including mental health and substance abuse treatment.

The purpose of the event, Soni said, was for women to help other women in need.

She said uplifting other women is an important lesson she wants to instill in her 3-year-old daughter, Shakti Patel. Teaching her daughter acts of kindness through events like EmpowerHER is one of the many ways she shows Shakti what it means to give back to the community.

“The goodie bags are from my daughter’s own hands,” Soni said. “I want to teach her kindness and giving.”

Ways to donate to Momma’s House

Online

Visit MommasHouse.org and choose to make either a one-time donation, or donate monthly to their Lullaby Monthly Giving Fund.

Mail-In

Make check donations payable via post to Mommas House, 3100 Hempstead Tpke, Levittown, NY 11756.

Phone

Phone donations can be made to Mommas House by calling (516) 781-8637. The main office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Host a Fundraiser

Visit Facebook.com and create a fundraiser for Mommas House with no fees. A link can be found on the Mommas House website, or you can create one on Facebook.

Each bag contained lotion, chapstick, makeup pouches, candy and positive women’s messages.

In a video posted to Instagram, Reyna Batista, one of the Zumba instructors at the gym, said the event was empowering and transformative for women to partake in.

On top of Zumba dance classes, weightlifting and yoga, Batista said, networking with other women who are entrepreneurs or business owners is an opportunity for women to connect and

lift each other up.

“It was so much fun,” Soni said. “It’s good for the community, and I want to spread this message. A lot of people need help.”

According to the Momma’s House website, MommasHouse.org, anyone interested in donating to the charity can do so online, via phone, via check, or by hosting a fundraiser through Facebook.

Young mothers in need of shelter and resources can also visit the website or call (516) 781-8637 for more information.

Goodie bags packed by Meghna Soni and her daughter, Shakti Patel, included items such as lotion, chapstick, makeup pouches and candy, and were given out to guests at the end of the event.

Photos courtesy Meghna Soni

RAF Strength and Fitness celebrated Women’s History Month with EmpowerHER, a special fundraiser and donation drive that collected supplies for homeless women and their babies currently staying at Momma’s House, a homeless shelter in Levittown, on March 30.

Zumba instructor Reyna Batista, left, with Franklin Square resident Meghna Soni, right, and Soni’s daughter, Shakti Patel, during the Women’s History Month event at RAF Strength and Fitness.

BANKRUPTCY & COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

MICHAEL S. AMATO

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BUSINESS LITIGATION

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CIVIL LITIGATION

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Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP

CONSTRUCTION & REAL ESTATE LITIGATION

NEIL DISKIN

Counsel

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CORPORATE

JOSEPH G. MILIZIO ESQ.

Managing Partner Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP

ASHLEY MISTRETTA

Counsel Nixon Peabody LLP

CHARLES SKOP

Shareholder Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P C

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

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Law Office of Daniel W Russo Nassau County Bar Association

DIVORCE & FAMILY LAW

JASON A. ISAACSON

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Sunshine Isaacson Hecht, LLP

DEBORAH A. KELLY ESQ.

Lawyer

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CYNTHIA A. AUGELLO

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Augello Law Group

ELDER LAW & ESTATE PLANNING

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Owner and Principal Attorney D'Angelo Law Associates, P.C.

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Founding Partner Mesidor PLLC

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WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

She’s all about improving people’s lives

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Continuing a series of interviews with influential area women. Lisa Burch is president and chief executive of the EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies.

Herald: Tell me about yourself.

Burch: I have a master’s degree in public health education and have worked in the nonprofit space my entire career. I always knew I wanted to do something in the helping profession, so I started working to help women who were victims of domestic violence in college. Throughout my career, I’ve moved into different positions related to other types of helping fields — substance use, counseling, health education, criminal justice, mental health. I’ve always wanted to be in a position where I knew that the work I was doing was impacting and improving people’s lives.

Herald: As CEO, what you do?

Burch: My role is to make sure that the organization is stable and following guidelines and regulations. When I first started this position, not a lot of people had heard of EPIC Long Island despite it being around since 1953, so part of my job as the CEO was to get our name out there and the work that we do. There are always going to be individuals with

intellectual and developmental disabilities, individuals struggling with mental health and substance use, and individuals who have epilepsy. We provide group homes and day programs where people with developmental disabilities can come and socialize. We also provide important counseling, therapy, and treatment to help people deal with lifealtering substance and mental health issues.

Herald: What has challenged you in your career so far, and what keeps you going/inspires you?

Burch: In my current role, some challenges are with donor fatigue, people not knowing how to support organizations or how to spread their resources among various organizations. Donors are what help our organization grow. It doesn’t deter the work, because all I have to do is leave my office and go downstairs to our day program, where we have around 150 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities come every day who are just happy to be here and happy to see each other. It reminds me why I’m here and why I put up with some of the struggles that keep coming our way.

Herald: What have been the proudest moments in your life?

Burch: On a personal level, watching

my children grow up and develop as humans has been the greatest joy. Professionally, I’ve spent a lot of time mentoring young women, in particular, and trying to encourage them and help them grow personally and professionally in their careers. At EPIC Long Island, my goal is to bring vitality to our organization. People are happy to be here and are really enthusiastic about what we’re doing. I like to think that my presence has had some impact on that.

Herald: What advice do you have to offer? What work is left to be done?

Burch: I think that despite all of the progress we’ve made as women, and especially as women who work outside of the home, there’s still a level of criticism that you’re not doing enough if you aren’t home with your kids, or you’re not doing enough work if you do stay home. That “you can’t have it all” kind of mentality has caused a lot of stress and anxiety, and young women now are still trying to navigate that. I think you can, and it’s just learning how to balance it, and learning who your supporters are, how to rely on people, and giving people the flexibility to be able to do both.

My advice for young women is don’t wait for somebody to give you something. If there’s something you want, go

“Don’t be afraid to take chances” is Lisa Burch’s advice to young women.

out and get it. Don’t be afraid to take chances. Your career is not going to be a stepladder up in one direction. It’s going to be a twisty, windy road, and you should take every single turn that comes at you and embrace it, learn from it, and then just move on to the next.

For more information on EPIC Long Island, go to epicli.org.

Defending the environment, for all of us

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

Adrienne Esposito is executive director and a cofounder of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a nonprofit organization fighting for stronger environmental policies.

Herald: Tell me about yourself.

Esposito: I grew up in Copiague, and I literally grew up with one foot in the water and one foot on the land. As a kid, we went crabbing and fishing and to the beach, and my mom would bring us blueberry-picking in the Pine Barrens. And my dad was a really tremendous fisherman and outdoorsmen, so we grew up on the water. So I think that that really connects you to the natural world and impresses upon you the beauty of it and the need to protect it.

Herald: Why do you do what you do?

Esposito:Citizens Campaign is now a 40-year old environmental and publichealth-protection organization, and we do this because it’s necessary to do. Everybody drinks water, everybody breathes the air, and everybody has to be nurtured from the earth. So we feel that we fill a niche that puts a lot of pressure on government to clean up toxics and prevent contamination from

occurring in the future. Industry and polluters are all lobbying for their own corporate interests, and we counter that by lobbying for the public interest.

Herald: What has challenged you in your career so far, and what keeps you going/inspires you?

Esposito: One challenge was making sure the organization was financially viable. We started 40 years ago, so environmental groups were not as popular as they are today. We survived on $10 donations from the public. It was quite challenging, and we had to be very wise, frugal and efficient.

Also, many times — most times — I was the only woman in the room at meetings and advocating. I would walk into a room not only as a woman, but as a 5-foot-2 woman who was an environmentalist. In some cases there would be snickers and laughing, because they didn’t take me seriously. Luckily, being a little woman was God’s disguise, because I’m very smart, and those around me quickly learned there was nothing to laugh about. I look back at it now, and it makes me chuckle, because there was a lot of arrogance by older men, a lot of ignorance on their part that the world was changing.

Herald: What have been the proudest moments in your life?

Esposito: It’s been that we never give up. To me, there is a big amount of satisfaction knowing you’re representing the public, people who maybe don’t have a voice or are too timid to speak up. So such campaigns as stopping Broadwater, which was a Shell Oil and Trans Canada project — everyone told me I would never win. Everyone told me there was no way an environmental group would win against global fossil-fuel industries. And yet we organized in Connecticut and New York, and we empowered the public to speak up. I remember when we won, I opened my email and hundreds of people emailed me saying how excited they were, and how they cheered in their living room when they heard the news. This is how attached people got to that campaign.

Herald: What advice do you have to offer? What work is left to be done?

Esposito: When I started, the environmental movement was looked down upon as if it was just a bunch of hippies. Now surveys say 88 percent of the public considers themselves environmentalists. We’ve changed the perspective. So what I would say to the young is get off your phone and get out there. Gain skills that allow you to be able to talk to diverse groups of people and fight, fight, fight. Don’t worry about fail-

“Protecting the earth should always be a human health issue,” Adrienne

says.

ing or people who don’t agree with you. Protecting the earth should always be a human health issue. And do not fall into the trap where it becomes a Democratic or Republican issue. Remember, it’s everyone’s concern.

For more information about Citizens Campaign for the Environment, visit CitizensCampaign.org.

Courtesy Lisa Burch

Courtesy Adrienne Esposito

Esposito

Power Up Your Business: Energy Savings, Rebates & Expert Tips

Join us on April 23rd at 6pm for a dynamic webinar to learn

What is an Energy Assessment? – Learn about PSEG Long Island’s free energy assessment, what it includes, and how it can help identify energysaving opportunities tailored to your business.

Cut Your Energy Costs – Get expert tips on simple, low-cost ways to start reducing your energy bills immediately.

Maximizing Rebates & Incentives – Explore available rebates and incentives to make energy-efficient upgrades more affordable.

Live Q&A with Energy Experts – Ask questions and get real-time answers from PSEG Long Island specialists on how to optimize your energy efficiency efforts.

MAUREEN FITZGERALD Herald Community Newspapers

Michael Voltz, P.E. Director, Energy Efficiency and Renewables

Locals wonder what’s next for L.I. schools

Education, the Every Student Succeeds Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Act and Title I are all funded by the education department. That’s why, parents said, they feel unease over Trump’s orders to remove staff, and resources, for students most vulnerable to systemic inequality.

McMahon wrote that the decision to return power over education to states and communities would empower them to better serve students, families and educators. But local parents say they are feeling anything but empowered.

Danielle Sukman, who co-chairs the Special Education Parent Teacher Association in Franklin Square, said she was worried about maintaining access to her son’s special-education program. He is in fifth grade in the Washington Street School Transitional Learning Center, which she said is integral to his everyday life. According to the district website, the special-education program teaches students essential life skills including daily living, intellectual functioning, adaptive behavior, social development, and motor and sensory development.

“Special education finds itself on the chopping block a lot,” Sukman said. “I can’t imagine how parents in lesser-funded districts are feeling right now.”

And funding is only one of her worries. Her main concern, Sukman said, is the elimination of federally supported student protections. The Department of Education governs protections for children with disabilities, she explained, as well as their Individualized Educational Plans. These two components of federal support, she said, are now at risk.

Sukman said there are already lots of backlogs in important services for special-education students on both the state and federal levels. In her experience, she

Some local parents say president trump’s executive order to dismantle the u.S. department of education is a misguided way of handling department inefficiency.

said, access to special-education programs requires months of paperwork, which is processed by the department’s staff.

According to an August 2023 report by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, the education department failed to deliver mandated special-education services to over 13,000 students, and another 10,000 preschool students missed out on their required services entirely.

Some parents said they recognized the need for the department’s resources, but felt the “red tape” that barred students from accessing some programs warranted concern, as well. Emmanuelle Jeanlouis, an Elmont parent, said she believed that dismantling the

department was a better alternative than its current wasteful spending.

“I’m OK with them removing the funding,” Jeanlouis said. “It has not been used in the manner that it should have been used.”

As a paraprofessional, teacher and guidance counselor in the State Education Department from 2010 to 2023, Jeanlouis saw firsthand, she said, how poorly funding was allocated from the state to special-education programs. Disabled students with Individualized Education Programs were not getting the help they needed, so eliminating the funding in order to control wasteful spending makes sense.

“What’s the point of them giving you money if you’re not even using it correctly?” Jeanlouis said, adding that local communities should have more control over resources, and could potentially generate funds without federal and state oversight.

Several local elected officials, including Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, said the community could not plug the budget hole caused by large cuts in federal funding through taxes and supplemental funding from the state.

Sukman agreed with Jeanlouis that federal funds are being misused, but she said she strongly disagreed with the way the Trump administration was handling it. Instead, she said, there needs to be a concrete plan to address the issue, and eliminating the department altogether isn’t the answer.

“This is not the way to do it,” Sukman said. “You’re throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”

Have an opinion on the recent budget and staff cuts to the U.S. Department of Education? Send a letter to rdelorenzo@liherald.com.

Small business tax credit gains momentum

By CASEY FERBER

Special to the Herald

Albany rally highlights bill that would provide Franklin Square and Elmont small businesses with up to $4,000 for marketing in community media.

A first-of-its-kind tax credit to give small businesses in Franklin Square and Elmont some much-needed financial support is gaining momentum in Albany.

Earlier this month, a large bipartisan group of New York State legislators joined business leaders and local news organizations in person at the State Capitol in support of the Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally (LOCAL) Act, which would establish a new $10 million tax credit for small businesses advertising in local media outlets. Sponsored by State Senator Monica R. Martinez and Assemblymember Jennifer Lunsford, the LOCAL Act aims to maximize the reach of small businesses’ advertising dollars, while supporting the work of the media outlets New Yorkers rely on every day for critical information.

“Communities are built on connections with neighbors, and the same is true for small businesses. The LOCAL Act supports this relationship by encouraging these community-based businesses to advertise with the media outlets already trusted by the neighbors

they are committed to serving,” Martinez said at the March 11 event.

The LOCAL Act now has four cosponsors in the State Senate and seven in the Assembly, several of whom attended the rally. Ahead of the rally, nearly 20 major business groups across New York – including the National Federation of Independent Business, Upstate United and the Queens Chamber of Commerce – sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul and state leadership urging them to support the LOCAL Act.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, driving job creation and

growth in communities across New York. However, they continue to face significant financial challenges…This is pragmatic legislation that will help –and be tremendously appreciated by –the thousands of small businesses that make New York the world’s preeminent place to start and operate a business,” the letter reads.

Championed by the Empire State Local News Coalition, the LOCAL Act also has the staunch support of the coalition’s more than 200 local newspapers across the state. More than twoand-a-half U.S. newspapers disappear

per week, and here in New York, several counties have only one local news outlet.

“The LOCAL Act is a win-win-win for local businesses, local news, and local communities,” Zachary Richner, founding member of the Empire State Local News Coalition, said. “These institutions are intricately connected and work together to create the vibrant communities that New Yorkers love.”

Under the LOCAL Act, a minority-, woman- or veteran-owned business, as well as any business with 10 employees or fewer, would be eligible to receive a refundable tax credit of 80% of its first $5,000 of local advertising for a maximum credit of $4,000 per year. The program would be capped at $10 million annually.

“The LOCAL Act is about more than just advertising – it’s about investing in the economic health of our local community and investing in the kind of local journalism that we need now more than ever,” Lunsford said.

“Every dollar invested in a local community business or newspaper circulates several times,” Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, who represents Assembly District 22, said. “This is a common sense bill that allows local businesses to advertise in local newspapers, which means our communities are strengthened.”

The bill is expected to be voted on later this year.

Herald file photo

Courtesy Empire State Local News Coalition the Lift our Communities, advertise Locally act, which would establish a new $10 million tax credit for small businesses advertising in local media outlets.

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Hofstra seeks to exceed expectations

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

Hofstra baseball kicked off the 2025 season on the biggest of stages on Valentine’s Day at defending national champion Tennessee. Fourth-year head coach Frank Catalanotto hopes the opening series weekend where the Pride had an opportunity to play before a crowd of more than 6,000 serves as an omen for another chance to compete in a big-game environment in the NCAA Tournament if the team can capture the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) title.

“It was a great experience going there and playing against the best of the best,” said Catalanotto, who guided Hofstra to the NCAA Tournament in his first season leading the program in 2022 after winning the CAA’s automatic bid. “It was nice playing in front of all those fans.”

Hofstra will have to prove the doubters wrong in order to reach just the school’s second Division NCAA tourney appearance with the Pride picked to fin-

ish ninth in the 12 team CAA) preseason rankings. The Pride began its quest to reach the six-team CAA Tournament to give itself a chance to earn an NCAA bid by taking two of three in a series at Monmouth from March 21-23.

The Pride returned 14 players to its 37-man roster from last year’s 24-33 team that received the sixth seed in the CAA tourney including last season’s leading hitter, junior second baseman Dylan Palmer. The reigning Second Team All-CAA selection hit. .383 as a sophomore and entered the final week of March as the team;s offensive leader again with a .388 average through the first 23 games.

“He’s the same guy day in and day out and very rarely goes into slumps,” said Catalanotto of Palmer. “He’s putting the ball in play and using his legs to get on base and stealing bases so it’s nice to have him there at the top of the lineup to get things going.”

Sophomore shortstop Michael Brown is also shining offensively and was second on the team in hitting with a .300

average in late March. Catalano is also getting offensive production early this season from freshman second baseman Tyler Castrataro, who is also hitting above. 300.

Redshirt junior Tyler Cox, who plays center field, has also emerged as a new lefthanded offensive threat in the lineup after transferring from West Virginia. The Clarke High School product was hitting in .279 as of March 28 and recorded two hits in Hofstra’s 5-2 loss to Fordham on March 19.

“He brings calmness to the team,” said Catalano of Cox, whose Mark Cox was a two-sport standout in football and lacrosse at Hofstra. ‘“He hasn’t even tapped into his potential yet.:”

The pitching staff suffered a blow when 2024 First-Team All-CAA honoree Carlos Martinez was lost for the season. The team regained Tristan Nemjo, a graduate student from Troy, N.Y. who missed last season and has assumed one of the starting pitching spots. The starting rotation for weekend conference games also includes 6-5 junior Jackson

Bauer and 6-1 junior Sean Hamilton.

The bullpen features 6-4 graduate student Danny Kelleher, a Rockville Centre native who has recorded 16 strikeouts in 19 innings of relief work so far. The former South Side High School standout earned the win in Hofstra’s 13-12 win at Monmouth on March 22 after allowing one hit in 2 ⅓ innings.

“He’s been showing a lot of toughness because he’s been hurt and is battling through it,” said Catalano of Kelleher. “I think he is going to help us down the stretch.”

Freshman Michael Heyman is another local bullpen arm who arrived at Hofstra after a stellar high career at Hewlett. He recorded three strikeouts in the late stages of Hofstra’s 16-3 loss at Kent State on March 14.

Hofstra will host its first CAA games of 2025 this weekend for a series against UNC-Wilmington starting Friday. The home conference slate also includes a series against Long Island rival Stony Brook from April 18-20, Elon from May 2-4 and Towson from May 9-11.

Tyler Cox, a Clarke High School grad, transferred to Hofstra from West Virginia and patrols center field.

STEPPING OUT

Rockin’ with Jason Scheff and Tommy DeCarlo

outdoors Thinking ‘green’

Get out there and prep to enjoy your personal

By Karen Bloom

Now that we’ve stepped forth into spring — and Earth Month — the moment has arrived to think about how you embrace the season — and months ahead of being fully present in our natural world. Specifically in your personal environment.

Give some thought to the way in which you want your yard to serve your family, pets and wildlife. Maybe you’re aiming to have the best yard on the block or expand your entertaining options. Perhaps your kids or pets could use a better play space.

Spring and backyarding — the act of bringing indoor activities such as dining, entertaining, even exercising, out into our backyards — surely go hand in hand.

A little planning and preparation now can mean colorful flowers, fresh crops and beautiful garden scenery later down the line. Good gardening starts long before you sow the first seed, so let’s get started!

“With the season’s first signs appearing, this is surely the time to get your garden ready for a great season,” garden design expert Fiona Jenkins says. She offers some common-sense advice on creating a low-maintenance garden full of beautiful, healthy plants all year round without taking your time away from the other things life throws at us.

Limit flowerbed size and plant variety

When considering the size of your flowerbeds, the smaller ones are better if you are looking for a low-maintenance solution, as larger ones will require a lot more initial planting and upkeep.

“Sticking to flower beds that are only one to two feet wide will make them much more manageable,” Jenkins says.

Once you have set the size, think about what plants you want to put in them. Jenkins suggests limiting the variety of your plants to around five different ones. This way, you will easily learn and memorize the requirements of each, and caring for them will be a lot simpler.

Simple, low-maintenance plants are ideal to start with, especially for those who have little spare time or don’t feel very confident in gardening. Hardy perennials such as geraniums and peonies, as well as evergreen shrubs, are great options as they can survive the winter frost and won’t need replanting every year.

“Once settled in, these plants can bring years of color and beauty to your garden,” Jenkins notes. “There are other factors to consider, such as how often a plant will need feeding, watering, and pruning — only purchase a plant when you are certain you can keep on top of its needs.”

Invest in good soil and mulch

Good quality, rich, organic soil allows plants to thrive with minimum need for frequent watering and fertilizing. Add organic matter such as compost to your soil yearly, which you can even make yourself.

“Mulching is a great way of protecting your soil and making it last longer by helping to maintain moisture levels and prevent weeds from growing,” she advises.

A layer of organic materials such as bark chips, dead leaves or compost will improve soil as it breaks down.

Invest in hard landscaping

Hard landscaping, such as decking or paving, elevates your outdoor space

and helps to define different areas of your garden. It forms the backbone of a well-designed yard, providing structure and aesthetic appeal.

One of the most popular choices for hard landscaping these days is omposite decking, which offers a sleek, modern look while being durable and low-maintenance. Unlike traditional wooden decking, composite boards resist fading, warping and moisture damage, meaning you won’t need to worry about sanding, staining, or sealing them over time. This makes them an excellent longterm investment to create an elegant yet practical outdoor area.

If you prefer paving, consider materials such as natural stone, concrete or even porcelain tiling, all of which provide a clean and sophisticated finish.

Beyond aesthetics, hard landscaping also contributes to functionality. Paved walkways make navigating your garden easier, while decking extends your living space outdoors. For an added touch of luxury, consider incorporating built-in lighting into your design, illuminating paths and seating areas for a cozy ambiance during the evenings.

Also consider adding a lower-maintenance rock garden. “This feature will look very visually appealing if done correctly and will pretty much take care of itself, “ according to Jenkins.

Achieving the look of a stunning rock garden is simple: plant some alpine plants and succulents and surround with a mix of larger rocks and smaller pebbles to cover the soil completely.

“This will bring interesting textures to your garden space,” Jenkins adds.

Make use of raised beds

Utilizing raised beds, whether on top of your existing soil or over hard landscaping, can give you more control over your plants.

“A raised flowerbed will stop them from spreading out of control and add a focal point of interest to your garden,” Jenkins says.

Embrace the wild

Another interesting option, which certainly cuts down on lawn maintenance, is to embrace what Jenkins describes as the “wild look.”

“This isn’t to say you should let it grow completely out of control, but your garden can look beautiful with the aesthetic of a grassy meadow rather than an urban space,” she says.

To enhance this effect, try

To enhance this effect, try sprinkling some wildflower seed mixes onto your grass. These flowers won’t need any maintenance, come in a range of beautiful colors, and are a real treat for our beloved garden friends, such as bees and butterflies.

Get set for backyard bliss. Refresh your backyard with vibrant blooms, cozy outdoor spaces and even a touch of nature’s wild charm.

Chicago frontman Jason Scheff is joined by Tommy DeCarlo, Boston’s former lead vocalist for their The Lead Singers of Classic Rock tour. They team up for a night of unforgettable classic rock spanning the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. Their musical tribute features two great sets of classic hits with Chicago’s timeless ballads the guitar-driven rock of Boston. Over 15 million fans have attended a live concert of both bands over a 32-year span featuring either Jason or Tommy’s signature high-tenor lead vocals. Scheff joined Chicago in 1985 and went on to perform thousands of live concerts spanning four decades during a non-stop touring and recording career with the band. DeCarlo joined Boston in 2008 after the passing of Brad Delp was lead singer on every tour thereafter, These pair is backed by a top band of touring professionals.

Saturday, April 5, 8 p.m. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville.

The Wallflowers

Grab those leather jackets, and rock on! The Wallflowers bring their sound to the Paramount stage, with special guest Jackson Melnick. For the past 30 years, the Jakob Dylanled act has stood as one of rock’s most dynamic and purposeful bands — continually honing a sound that meshes timeless songwriting and storytelling with a hard-hitting and decidedly modern musical attack. That signature style has been present through the decades. In recent years, Dylan — the Wallflowers’ founding singer, songwriter and guitarist — has repeatedly stepped outside of his band. Now the band has made its triumphant return, with “Exit Wounds,” their new studio offering. The much-anticipated record finds that signature sound — lean, potent and eminently entrancing — intact, even as Dylan surrounds himself with a fresh cast of musicians.

Sunday, April 6, 8 p.m., $75, $45, $35, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.

THE Your Neighborhood

Joan Osborne sings Dylan

The seven-time Grammy nominee brings her extraordinary voice and artistic depth to the timeless music of Bob Dylan, on the Landmark stage, Friday, April 11, 8 p.m. Best known for her multi-platinum hit “One of Us,” Osborne has spent over 25 years captivating audiences with her fearless exploration of genres ranging from rock and blues to soul, gospel and country. Her critically acclaimed 2018 album, “Songs of Bob Dylan,” and her live performances showcase her ability to reimagine Dylan’s iconic works, offering fresh interpretations that highlight the emotional resonance and poetic brilliance of his music. Osborne first began her journey with Dylan’s catalog in 2016 with a series of “Dylanology” concerts. These performances deepened her appreciation for his vast and varied repertoire and inspired her to put her own stamp on his songs. Her renditions are both reverent and inventive, blending her soulful delivery with the rich textures of her band to bring new life to classics like “Tangled Up in Blue” and “Highway 61 Revisited.”

With a voice hailed as one of the most powerful and versatile of her generation, Osborne invites audiences to rediscover Dylan’s masterpieces through her singular lens. Her take on the “Dynalogy” reflects her reverence for iconic musician who remains forever young in the hearts and minds of his fans and the music world. The recent biopic, “A Complete Unknown,” brings Dylan to the forefront once again. Osborne turns back the clock with her artistic and soulful reinterpretations exuding passion, emotion and energy. $59, $55, $48, also special VIP package. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Celebrate Holi

Long Island Children’s Museum invites families to participate in Holi, the Festival of Colors, Sunday, April 6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Originating in India, this Hindu festival marks the end of winter and the arrival of the colorful spring season. During this joyous celebration, families eat sweets, dance to traditional folk music and throw colorful powder made from flowers called gulal.

Crafts, color throwing and dancing will be part of this vibrant event. Welcome spring’s arrival with Holi. Participants are encouraged to wear clothes that they won’t mind getting messy.

Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. Go to licm.org or call (516) 224-5800 for more information.

Goals for Good

Join Angels of Light for their Goals for Good event supporting families facing lifethreatening illnesses during the NY Islanders game against the NY Rangers, Thursday, April 10 , 7:30 p.m. at UBS Arena. With a3 p.m. pre-skate event and a 4:30 p.m. bus pickup to transport attendees to the event. Donation minimum is $250 and includes a ticket to the game, round trip transportation, one-hour open bar and more. For more information visit AngelsOfLightHV.org. 2400 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont.

Tunes with Dancing Dream

Plaza Theatricals welcomes the ABBA tribute band, Sunday, April 6, 2:30 p.m. This act takes you back to the days when Swedish disco group ruled the airwaves with their great pop hits and memorable performances. Come experience the glitter of the ‘70s. $40, $35 seniors. Groove along at Plaza’s stage at Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit plazatheatrical.com.

Franklin Square Museum Open House

Bring the family to the Franklin Square Historical Society Museum’s open house, Sunday, April 6, 2-4 p.m. Admission is free. 861 Naple Ave., Franklin Square. Call (516) 775-7260 for more information or visit fshistoricalsociety.org.

Are you game?

Bring some friends and make some new ones during game night at Elmont Memorial Library, Wednesdays, 1:30-4:30 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. There are tons of games to choose from! No registration required. First-comefirst-seated. Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. For more information, visit elmontlibrary. org or call (516) 354-5280.

Superintendent meet and greet

Participate in a coffee session with Franklin Square Superintendent Jared Bloom and Library Director Aviva Kan, Monday, April 7, 7 p.m. at Franklin Square Public Library. Ask questions, share feedback and learn more about their goals! For more information, visit franklinsquarepl.org or (516) 488-3444. 19 Lincoln Rd., Franklin Square.

Daisy Parent Info Night

Know a girl who wants to be a Girl Scout? Girl Scouts of Nassau County invites families to an information session, Tuesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m., in the John Street School cafeteria. 560 Nassau Blvd, Franklin Square. Register for the event online at GSNC. Wufoo.com.

Senior Chat

Join fellow seniors for companionship, Fridays, at 10 a.m. at Elmont Public Library. Participate, or just listen, to casual discussions on special interests, concerns, and whatever happens to come up. Next meeting is Friday, Jan 3 in room 01. 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. For more information, visit elmontlibrary.org or call (516) 354-5280.

‘Listen to the Music’

Join L.I. Cabaret Theatre for their latest performance, Saturday, April 5, 2 p.m., at the Elmont Library Theatre stage. In this spirited show, the plotline follows the startup of a TV network and streaming service. A cast of 30 keeps the action moving along, with original choreography, and band accompaniment.

Singers and dancers perform current hits, oldies and also tunes from the Broadway stage. Free admission. Elmont Memorial Library Theater, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. Visit elmontlibrary. org or call (516) 354-5280 for information.

Night At The Races

Spring Dog Festival

Get ready to wag those tails, at Old Westbury Gardens with your pooch (leashed of course), Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Bring your canine companions for a scenic stroll through grounds bursting spring’s first blooms. Browse a selection of local dog-friendly vendors offering unique products and services for your furry friends, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit oldwestburygardens.org.

Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department hosts their annual fundraiser, A Night at the Races, Saturday, April 5. Doors open at 6 p.m.; the first race begins at 6:30 p.m. Entry is $30. 841 Liberty Pl., Franklin Square. For more information, contact Lou Sabatino at (516) 523-9628 or email FSMFDEngine3@gmail.com.

Having an event?

Items on The Scene 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 thescene@liherald.com.

On Exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) which publicly launched the movement. The direct followup to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. The exhibit encompasses significant cultural advancements during Long Island’s Roaring Twenties/ Jazz Age movement, including votes, jobs, and the automobile for women, the beginnings of suburbia with commutation for work, and planned residential communities, which all defined the era, while the following decade brought economic reversals and the WPA program. Works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Fernand Léger, Guy Pène du Bois, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, and Reginald Marsh, among others, along with art deco stylists of poster art and graphics, and photography will convey the Art Deco spirit along with its furniture, decorative arts, and fashion.

Like “Our Gilded Age,” the social scene of Long Island’s Gold Coast, and its personalities — both upstairs and downstairs — will be portrayed, along with the ongoing relationship with the immediate urban context of New York with its skyscrapers and deco-styled architecture. On view through June 15. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Hempstead House tour

April 13

Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Sunday, April 13, noon-1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. Visit the grand rooms inside the massive 50,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion, the former summer residence of Gilded Age financier Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim. Tours are limited in size and tend to sell out. Arrive early to purchase tickets. $10. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

Nassau County hosts Israeli Elite hockey

By MICHELLE RABINOVICH sports@liherald.com

No fan bases are more divided than the Rangers, Islanders and Devils.

But on March 23, those bitter rivals, who have spent decades split by hatred and animosity, were bound together by blood, heritage and creed. United under the flag of Israel, draped around many like Superman’s cape, hundreds of spectators came together to watch the Jerusalem Capitals and HC Tel Aviv, the top teams in the Israeli Elite Hockey League (IEHL), as they participate in the USA Challenge Cup at UBS Arena.

“It’s a historic moment for Israeli hockey,” said Jerusalem assistant coach David Warsofsky. “The night in general was a huge success and I hope the fans enjoyed it as much as we did coaching it.”

The event started with IEHL cofounder and co-commissioner Marc Brunengraber greeted spectators with a welcome speech, with the league on the precipice of entering its fifth season later this year. Brunengraber said that the evening’s events were about more than just hockey, but about sharing love for the sport by growing it exponentially over the last five years, a sentence one of the star players harmonized with.

“Four years ago, we played four-onfour and look where we played now, in an NHL arena,” said Jerusalem forward Nikita Zitserman. “It’s just going to go

higher from here.”

“We’re showing everyone how great [Israeli hockey] is,” said Tel Aviv head coach Stuart Gourdji.

Gourdji pointed to the fact that this was an atmosphere unlike anything he’d ever experienced because of the unique mix of the Israeli background of the staff and players, and the same energy from the fans.

“This is a dream, coaching in front of eight thousand people,” he said. “The music and the Israeli flags, you see that a lot in soccer but it’s the first time I’ve ever seen something like that It wasn’t an NHL game as we’re used to it: the Israeli anthem was sung before the Star-Spangled Banner. The Islanders goal horn rang every time the puck found the back of the net, but it wasn’t

fans chanting “Islanders, Islanders, yes, yes, yes” when the home team scored. When Tel Aviv scored, the loud speakers played Tel Aviv by Omer Adam; when Jerusalem scored, the audience was serenaded with Naomi Shemer’s Yerushalayim shel Zahav.

Other than that, it was a typical NHL hockey game: three 20-minute periods and a pair of 20-minute intermissions in between them, junior hockey teams facing off during intermissions, trashtalking before a fight on the ice and penalty minutes in the Sin Bin. Ironically, after both players sat their penalty, they fist bumped each other on their way to the bench.

Nearly 120 combined shots on goal made for a nail-biting game, one that went to overtime until Jerusalem’s Denis Zaychik netted his one-timer in one of the biggest stages he’s ever played on. The Capitals won, 7-6, in overtime.

“Feeling amazing,” Zaychik said, adding the fact that he’s never played in an arena this large before. “Fans of Israel and fans of hockey and together it’s a very good mix.”

“It was my dream since I was a kid,” Zitserman admitted. “I can only remember that I just wished to play in an NHL rink.”

Sports proved to be a unifier once again. Match 23 might have been the most Hebrew that the halls of UBS Arena heard. Sports proved to be a unifier in an increasingly divisive world.

Yonatan Resinger tended the goal for Jerusalem.

HC Tel Aviv’s Kirill Polozov’s blasted a slap shot.

Eric Dunetz/Herald photos

The Jerusalem Capitals beat HC Tel Aviv in overtime March 23 at UBS Arena in Elmont as the top teams in the Israeli Elite Hockey League were on display.

L.I.’s representatives discuss the issues

There was laughter, there were opposing views and there were reflective answers to questions about major issues as Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association, moderated the organization’s fourth annual What’s New in Washington panel with Republican Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota and Democrats Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury last Friday.

Congressional District 1, which is represented by LaLota, stretches east from western Suffolk County to encompass both the North and South forks of Long Island. Garbarino represents the 2nd District, along the South Shore, which includes parts of Suffolk and a small portion of southeastern Nassau County.

Suozzi’s 3rd Congressional District includes a portion of Queens, expands along the North Shore of Nassau and extends to several communities in the middle of the eastern portion of the county. District 4, represented by Gillen, extends along the South Shore of Nassau, from the Queens border through several central communities to Seaford.

“Because of the times we live in, it’s almost impossible that the delegations are 50-50 Republicans and Democrats — that’s not the case here on Long Island,” Cohen said. “Our delegation didn’t hesitate to say yes when we invited them to this event.”

Cohen asked the panel several questions, ranging from bipartisanship efforts to House Speaker Mike Johnson, the state and local income tax deduction, commonly known as SALT, and President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Garbarino on bipartisanship:

“We try to work with everyone, and have broad conversations, with many different ideas,” Garbarino said. “There are a lot of egos, but we try to get everyone on the same page before we leave the room.”

Garbarino and LaLota bucked their party by supporting the SALT extension. “Our party is asking how we can support this when we’re growing the state budget by $13 billion,” Garbarino said. “It goes against our argument. We could use some help from Albany on this.”

Both have met with Trump at Mar-aLago, and said that Trump told them, “We are going to fix this.”

On offshore wind:

“We have to bring jobs back home, but one, we need power, and two, we need to generate as much power as possible,” Garbarino said. “That is good for keeping local energy costs down for Long Island and our constituents.”

On DOGE:

Garbarino, like LaLota, acknowledged that mistakes have been made, but expressed confidence that the Trump administration is committed to addressing them.

“I have called the White House and told them, ‘There’s a mistake here,’ and

“I think the American people are sick of hyperpartisanship in Washington,” Gillen said. “They just want us to do our jobs and get things done.”

every time I’ve called, they’ve responded by saying, ‘OK, we’ll have someone look into it,’” Garbarino said. “This is a better response than I’ve ever gotten under the Biden administration.

Gillen on working across the aisle:

“The best way to get things done is by reaching out to the other side,” she said.

“I’m the rookie here — the freshman — and during orientation, we had a lot of events where Democrats and Republicans did events together. I had plenty of time to get to know people on my side of the aisle and make the effort to meet my freshman colleagues who were Republicans and build relationships with them.

“I think the American people are sick of hyperpartisanship in Washington. They just want us to do our jobs and get things done,” she said, drawing applause from the audience.

On DOGE:

“I agree, we need to tighten governments’ belts,” she said. “There’s a ton of waste in government. But it’s a wrecking-ball approach. We should do it in an

organized, deliberative, thoughtful fashion. That’s how they should go forward.”

LaLota on SALT:

“As you can imagine,” LaLota said, “the president did 80, 90 percent of the talking, but heard us in our seriousness about how we need a higher SALT deduction.”

On DOGE:

“For 25 years, neither Republicans nor Democrats in Washington have balanced the budget,” LaLota said. “You have a president who’s a disruptor — a self-admitted disruptor. “He is doing what he promised to do, maybe in a manner that is disruptive to us. But let’s acknowledge the moment we’re in — 25 years, we haven’t balanced the budget.”

On tariffs:

“The president’s objective in much of it, especially in the reciprocal tariffs, is to create better competitive fairness for American manufacturers,” LaLota said. “The long-term objective is to reduce the trade deficits we have with a lot of our trading partners, especially in

China, where we have $200 billion trade deals. We’re sending way more to China than they’re sending back.”

Suozzi on SALT:

“Let me first say I want to give credit to Andrew and Nick, because they’re going against their party on this,” he said. “They stood up … and they’re saying that they’re not going to support this reconciliation package unless it’s resolved.”

On offshore wind:

“We have to figure out how can we protect our zeal to protect the environment, to address climate change, and do the stuff that we believe are important to do,” Suozzi said. “We’ve got to get stuff done, because we can’t get things done (in our country) because we’ve passed all these rules and regulations over the years. And people are fed up with the bureaucracy.”

On DOGE:

“I think it’s been reckless,” he said. “When they laid off people who were responsible for overseeing the nuclear stockpile and said, oh, that was a mistake. And then they had a hard time getting the people back because they had cut them off their emails. They fired the people responsible for overseeing avian flu.”

On tariffs:

“I think that tariffs against China I support, especially when they’re targeted,” Suozzi said. “I’m very concerned about the tariffs that have been proposed for Canada and Mexico and the effects it’s going to have right here on Long Island as well as the rest of the country. I think it’s sending a bad message that our two biggest trading partners are being stifled in this way.”

Roksana Amid, Jeffrey Bessen, Hernesto Galdamez, Carolyn James and Jordan Vallone reported this story.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Long Island’s congressional delegation at the Long Island Association’s March 28 What’s New in Washington panel discussion. From left were Republican Reps. Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino, and Democrats Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

In accordance with Section 103 of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York, notice is hereby given that the Board of Education of the Elmont Union Free School District will accept sealed offers at the Elmont Road School, Business Office, 2nd floor, 135 Elmont Road, Elmont, New York 11003, until Thursday, May 8, 2025 at the specified times shown below, at which time said bids will be opened and publicly read aloud, for the furnishing of the following: BID DESCRIPTION OPENING DATE OPENING TIME

2-25/26 Bread & Bagels

3-25/26 Snacks & Ice Cream

4-25/26 Paper Goods/Cleaning Supplies

5-25/26 Produce

6-25/26 Grocery

April 3, 2025 —

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

5/8/25 10:15 a.m.

5/8/25 10:30 a.m.

5/8/25 11:00 a.m.

5/8/25 11:30.m.

5/8/25 12:00 p.m.

Specifications and bid forms for the above items may be secured at the School Lunch Office between the hours of 8:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. on weekdays starting April 7, 2025. Bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope. The outside of the envelope must be clearly marked with the Bid # and Description.

If you should require additional information, please contact Ms. Diane Tool at (516) 326-5500 extension 42013.

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any and all offerings in part or whole and to waive any informality and to accept the offering which is in the best interest of the Elmont Union Free District. By Order of the Board of Education

Dated: April 7, 2025

Anna Barbagallo District Clerk 152599

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, CARRINGTON

MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. GARY

R. KRUG, 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 April 15, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 217 Locust Street, Floral Park, NY 11001. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Floral Park, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 32, Block 209 and Lots 61 & 62. Approximate amount of judgment is $370,516.75 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #616915/2022. See page two for legal description.

Michael Sepe, Esq., Referee Greenspoon Marder, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2200, New York, NY 10105, Attorneys for Plaintiff SCHEDULE A - LEGAL DESCRIPTION

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING, AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FLORAL PARK, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK,

KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS AND BY LOT NOS. 61 AND 62 IN BLOCK 45 ON A CERTAIN MAP ENTITLED. “REVISED MAP OF PROPERTY SECTION J SITUATED AT FLORAL PARK, NASSAU COUNTY, N.Y., OWNED BY NATION WIDE HOME BUILDERS CORP. SURVEYED JUNE 1925 BY GEO A. FAIRFIELD, C.E.” AND FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE COUNTY OF NASSAU ON AUGUST 4TH, 1925 AS MAP NO. 570, NEW NO. 3496, AND WHICH SAID LOTS WHEN TAKEN TOGETHER ARE MORE PARTICULARLY BOUNDED AND DESCRIBED ACCORDING TO SAID MAP FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT A POINT ON THE EASTERLY SIDE OF LOCUST STREET, DISTANT 420 FEET SOUTHERLY FROM THE CORNER FORMED BY THE INTERSECTION OF THE EASTERLY SIDE OF LOCUST STREET WITH THE SOUTHERLY SIDE OF MILLER AVENUE; RUNNING THENCE EASTERLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO LOCUST STREET, 100 FEET; THENCE SOUTHERLY PARALLEL WITH LOCUST STREET, 40 FEET; THENCE WESTERLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO LOCUST STREET, 100 FEET TO THE EASTERLY SIDE OF LOCUST STREET; THENCE NORTHERLY ALONG THE EASTERLY SIDE OF LOCUST STREET, 40 FEET THE POINT OR PLACE OF BEGINNING Section 32, Block 209, Lots 61 & 62 Property Address: 217 Locust Street, Floral Park, NY 11001 152123

LEGAL NOTICE Notice of Sale Supreme Court: Nassau County T11 Funding v Joseph Fusco, et al. Defts Index 615980/2019. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale filed and entered October 20, 2022, I will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Dr. Mineola NY 11501 on April 17, 2025 at 3:30 pm premises known as School District 17, Section 35, Block 623 Lot 32, Town of Hempstead , County of Nassau, State of New York Sold subject to the terms of sale and filed judgment of foreclosure. Bank Checks Only, must be payable to the Referee for 25% of Bid Price, No Cash Accepted. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Covid-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health and safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Adrienne F. Hausch, Esq., Referee 152259

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR GSAA HOME EQUITY TRUST 2007-3, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-3, Plaintiff, Against JUAN S. ARBOLEDA A/K/A JUAN ARBOLEDA, ET AL., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 03/07/2023, 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 4/23/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 267 Seidman Place, Franklin Square, New York 11010, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 0033 Block 00603 Lot 85 And 86. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $814,558.58 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 608829/2017 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.

Peter Kramer, Esq., Referee. (516) 510-4020

MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 3/3/2025 File Number: 16-300038 CA 152253

Freedom Mortgage Corporation, Plaintiff, -againstElizabeth Palma, as Heir to the Estate of Douglas Palma, Olivia Palma, as Heir to the Estate of Douglas Palma, Natassia Palma, as Heir to the Estate of Douglas Palma, Nicholas Palma, as Heir to the Estate of Douglas Palma, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, United States of America - Internal Revenue Service, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Douglas Palma’s unknown heirs-at-law, next-ofkin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right, title or interest in the real property described in the complaint herein, Anthony Palma, John Doe (Refused Name, John Doe (Refused Name), Defendants. Index No.: 609763/2023

Filed: March 7, 2025 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises are situated.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S): 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 attorneys for the plaintiff within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service; or within thirty (30) days after service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York; or within sixty (60) days if it is the United States of America. 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 OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $381,562.00 and interest, recorded in the office of the clerk of the County of Nassau on January 06, 2015 in Liber M40139, Page 424 covering premises known as 49 Mckee Street, Floral Park, NY 11001. Thereafter, the loan was modified pursuant to a Loan Modification Agreement made between Douglas Palma and Freedom Mortgage Corporation dated July 11, 2019 recorded on December 12, 2019 in Liber M43870 Page 702 which created a lien in the amount of $321,997.60. 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.

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 your mortgage company will not stop this 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: Bay Shore, New York March 7, 2025 Frenkel, Lambert, Weiss, Weisman & Gordon, LLP /s/BY: Karen Sheehan Attorneys for Plaintiff 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, New York 11706 (631) 969-3100

Our File No.: 01-096515-F01 152226

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Citibank N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST Kathleen Brancaleone, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 27, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 29, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 497 Tulip Avenue, Floral Park, NY 11001. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Floral Park, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 32, Block: 273, Lot: 26. Approximate amount of judgment $542,666.53 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #609197/2019. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-091795-F00 84695 152385

AND LEGAL NOTICES…

BROADWAY - east side, starting at a point 261 feet north of the north curbline of Saratoga Boulevard, north for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-64/25)

NORTH BELLMORE DAVENPORT PLACEnorth side, starting at a point 249 feet east of the east curbline of Newbridge Road, east for a distance of 31 feet.

(TH-115/25)

ROOSEVELT

PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE - east side, starting at a point 120 feet north of the north curbline of Hudson Avenue, north for a distance of 19 feet.

(TH-544/24)

VALLEY STREAM CHARLES STREETwest side, starting at a point 94 feet south of the south curbline of Oliver Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-119/25) LAW STREET - west side, starting at a point 420 feet south of the south curbline of Stuart Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-116/25) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:

FRANKLIN SQUARE CRAFT AVENUE - north side, starting at a point 195 feet west of the west curbline of Hall Street, west for a distance of 22 feet.

(TH-426/23 - 10/3/23)

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking on Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 8th day of April, 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations: (NR)ISLAND PARK

(TH-121/25) OCEANSIDE LAWRENCE AVENUEeast side, starting at a point 30 feet north of the north curbline of Montgomery Avenue, north for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-33/22 - 3/22/22) (TH-120/25) ;and, BE IT FURTHER ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: Hempstead, New York March 25, 2025 BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 152591

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC

HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 04/09/2025 at 9:30

A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30

A.M.

156/25. FRANKLIN SQUARE - Muhammad Mukhtar Ahmad, Variance, side yard, construct addition attached to dwelling., S/s Naple Ave., 220.49’ E/o Lincoln Ave., a/k/a 1011 Naple Ave. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

This notice is only for new cases in Franklin Square within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.go v/509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.go v/576/Live-StreamingVideo

Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 152593

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, -againstKENNETH RUNG, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on February 6, 2025, wherein BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION is the Plaintiff and KENNETH RUNG, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on May 6, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 845 SOUTHERN DRIVE, FRANKLIN SQUARE, NY 11010; and the following tax map identification: 35-524-1.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING NEAR FRANKLIN SQUARE, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 613387/2021.

Heather D. Crosley, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 152600

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION OF THE FRANKLIN SQUARE UFSD NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a Public Hearing of the qualified voters of the Franklin Square UFSD, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, will be held in the Washington Street School, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York in said district on Tuesday, May 6, 2025,

at 8:00 p.m., prevailing time, for the transaction of business as authorized by the Education Law, including the following items:

1. To present to the voters a detailed statement of the amount of money which will be required for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

2. To discuss all the items hereinafter set forth to be voted upon by voting machine at the Budget Vote and Election to be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to Education Law of the State of New York and acts amendatory thereto.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a budget hearing of the qualified voters of the Franklin Square UFSD will be held by the Franklin Square Public Library at 19 Lincoln Road, Franklin Square, New York in said district on Monday, May 12, 2025 at 6:30 p.m., prevailing time, for the purpose of presenting to the voters a detailed statement of the amount of money which will be required by the Franklin Square Public Library for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required to fund the School District’s budget for 2025-2026, exclusive of public moneys, may be obtained by any resident of the District beginning May 6, 2025, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays at the Office of the District Clerk, 760 Washington Street School, Franklin Square, New York, at the Franklin Square Public Library, and on the District’s internet website. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that said Budget Vote and Election will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in the John Street School, Polk Street School and Washington Street School, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, at which time the polls will be opened to

vote by voting machine upon the following items:

1. To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2025-2026 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.

2. To elect one member of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term commencing July 1, 2025, and expiring on June 30, 2028, to succeed Stephen Toto, whose term expires on June 30, 2025.

3. To elect one member of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term commencing July 1, 2025, and expiring on June 30, 2028, to succeed Maura Lewinger-Torres, whose term expires on June 30, 2025.

4. To authorize the Board of Education of the Franklin Square Union Free School District to undertake certain capital improvements consisting of improvements to and reconstruction of the fields at Polk Street Elementary School, including equipment replacement and upgrades, all at an estimated maximum aggregate cost of $2,000,000 and to appropriate and expend such amount from the Franklin Square UFSD Capital Reserve Fund B.

5. To vote upon the Franklin Square Public Library Budget Appropriation for the fiscal year 2025-2026 as submitted and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised on the taxable property of the Franklin Square Union Free School District in accordance with Section 259 of the Education Law.

6. To elect one (1) member of the Board of Trustees of the Franklin Square Public Library for a five (5) year term commencing July 1, 2025, and expiring on June 30, 2030, to fill the position previously held by Maxine Yarczower.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law, the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report,

which will also become part of the final budget, will show how the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by the statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. In addition, said exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the Clerk of said School District at her office in the District Administrative Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, not later than April 21, 2025, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. Each petition shall be directed to the Clerk of the District; must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District; must state the name and residence of each signer, and, must state the name and residence of the candidate and shall describe the specific vacancy for which the candidate is nominated. Each vacancy upon the Board of Education to be filled shall be considered separate specific vacancies. A separate nominating petition is required to nominate a candidate to each separate specific office. The petition shall describe at least the length of the term of office and contain the name of the last incumbent. To nominate a candidate for the office of Trustee of the Franklin Square Public Library Board, each petition must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) voters of the District.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law, or pursuant to Article 5 of the Election

Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law and has voted at an annual or special district meeting within the last four (4) calendar years, he or she is eligible to vote at this election. If a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article 5 of the Election Law, he or she is also eligible to vote at this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, the voters may register with the Clerk of said School District at her office in the District Administration Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., when school is in session at any day prior to May 15, 2025 to add any additional names to the Register to be used at the aforesaid election, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register provided that at such meeting with the Clerk of said School District he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of the Clerk of said School District to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such election for which the Register is prepared. The Register so prepared pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk, at her office in the District Administration Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on Thursday, May 15, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., prevailing time, on each day prior to the day set for the election, except Sunday, and at the polling place(s) on the day of the vote. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. An application for registration as a military voter can be requested from the office of the District Clerk at her office in the District Administration Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, between the

hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., when school is in session. The application is also available on the Franklin Square District website under “voter information.” The application for registration must be received in the office of the clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 25, 2025. In the request for an application for registration, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for registration by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the district may submit an application for a military ballot during school business hours from the District Clerk at her office in the District Administration Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York. The application is also available on the Franklin Square District website under “voter information.” Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025. In the request for an application for a military ballot, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for a military ballot, and the military ballot, by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. All qualified military voters’ ballot application and military ballot must be returned by mail or in person.

Ballots for military voters shall be distributed to qualified military voters no later than twenty-five days before the election, April 25, 2025. Military ballots must be received by the District Clerk one (1) day before the close of the polls, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, and must show a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or must show a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or (2) not later than 5:00 pm on the day of the election and be signed and dated by the military voter and one witness, with a date ascertained to be not later than the

day before the election. A list of persons to whom military ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the Office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 15, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., prevailing time, on each day prior to the day set for the annual election, except Sunday, on Saturday by appointment, and on May 20, 2025, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for early mail ballots and absentee ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk beginning April 22, 2025. The application is also available on the Franklin Square School District website https://www.franklinsq uare.k12.ny.us/ under “voter information.” Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than April 22, 2025 and at least seven (7) days before the election, May 13, 2025, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, May 19, 2025, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Early mail ballots and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

A list of persons to whom early mail ballots and absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the Office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 15, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., prevailing time, on each day prior to the day set for the annual election, except Sunday, on Saturday by appointment, and on May 20, 2025, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon

April 3, 2025 —

Public Notices

appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. A challenge to an absentee ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an early mail ballot.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with Section 2035 of the Education Law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the Clerk of the Board of Education at the District Office, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York in sufficient time to permit notice of the proposition to be included with the Notice of the Public Hearing, Budget Vote and Election required by Section 2004 of the Education Law or on or before April 21, 2025, at 3:30 p.m., prevailing time; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least 40 qualified voters of the District (representing 5% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the School Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, which is unlawful, or any proposition which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition, or where other valid reason exists for excluding the proposition from the ballot.

Dated: Franklin Square, New York, April 03, 2025 By Order of the BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE Franklin Square UFSD Franklin Square New York Laura Langstrand, District Clerk 152578

LEGAL NOTICE AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA, VOTACIÓN PRESUPUESTARIA Y ELECCIONES DE FRANKLIN SQUARE UFSD CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se hará una Audiencia pública de votantes calificados del UFSD de Franklin Square, ciudad de Hempstead, condado de Nassau, Nueva York, en Washington Street School, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York en ese distrito el martes, 6 de mayo de 2025, a las 8:00 p. m., hora local, para los acuerdos de negocios según lo autorice la Ley de Educación, que incluyen:

1. Presentar a los votantes una declaración detallada de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año fiscal 2025-2026.

2. Debatir todos los puntos que se establecen a continuación sobre los que se votará mediante máquina de votación en la votación presupuestaria y en las elecciones que se harán el martes 20 de mayo de 2025.

3. Tramitar cualquier otro asunto que pueda plantearse de forma debida en la reunión de acuerdo con la Ley de Educación del estado de Nueva York y sus enmiendas.

Y ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, que en la Franklin Square Public Library, ubicada en 19 Lincoln Road, Franklin Square, New York, en ese distrito, hará una audiencia presupuestaria con votantes calificados del UFSD de Franklin Square el lunes 12 de mayo de 2025 a las 6:30 p. m., hora local, con el propósito de presentarles una declaración detallada de la cantidad de dinero que requerirá la Franklin Square Public Library durante el año fiscal 2025-2026.

Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA que cualquier residente del Distrito podrá obtener una copia de la declaración con la cantidad de dinero requerida para financiar el presupuesto del Distrito Escolar 2025-2026, excluyendo los fondos públicos, a partir del 6 de mayo de 2025, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00

p. m., hora local, excepto los sábados, domingos o días festivos, en la Secretaría del Distrito, 760 Washington Street School, Franklin Square, New York, en la Franklin Square Public Library y en el sitio web del Distrito. Y ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, que dicha votación y elecciones presupuestarias se harán el martes 20 de mayo de 2025, en John Street School, Polk Street School y Washington Street School, entre las 8:00 a. m. y las 9:00 p. m., hora local, momento en el que se abrirán los centros de votación para votar por máquina sobre los siguientes puntos:

1. Adopción del presupuesto anual del Distrito escolar para el año fiscal 2025-2026 y autorización para la recaudación mediante impuestos sobre la propiedad imponible del Distrito.

2. Elección de un miembro del Consejo de Educación por un período de tres (3) años a partir del 1 de julio de 2025 y hasta el 30 de junio de 2028, para reemplazar a Stephen Toto, cuyo mandato finaliza el 30 de junio de 2025.

3. Elección de un miembro del Consejo de Educación por un período de tres (3) años a partir del 1 de julio de 2025 y hasta el 30 de junio de 2028, para reemplazar a Maura LewingerTorres, cuyo mandato finaliza el 30 de junio de 2025.

4. Autorizar al Consejo de Educación del Franklin Square Union Free School District para que haga ciertas mejoras de capital, que consisten en la renovación y reconstrucción de los campos en Polk Street Elementary School, incluyendo la renovación y mejora de equipos, todo con un costo adicional máximo calculado de $2,000,000 y asignar y gastar esa cantidad del Fondo de reserva de capital B de UFSD de Franklin Square.

5. Votar sobre la asignación presupuestaria de la Franklin Square Public Library para el año fiscal 2025-2026, según fuera presentada, y autorizar que la parte requerida se recaude de la propiedad imponible de Franklin Square Union

Free School District, de acuerdo con el Artículo 259 de la Ley de Educación.

6. Elección de un (1) miembro de la Junta de Fiduciarios de la Franklin Square Public Library por un período de cinco (5) años a partir del 1 de julio de 2025 y hasta el 30 de junio de 2030, para ocupar el cargo que anteriormente ocupaba Maxine Yarczower.

Y ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, que en virtud del Artículo 495 de la Real Property Tax Law (Ley de impuestos sobre bienes inmuebles), el Distrito escolar está obligado a adjuntar un informe de exención al presupuesto propuesto. Ese informe de exención, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará cómo el valor total tasado después de las exenciones usado para el proceso presupuestario está exento de impuestos, indicará las exenciones concedidas por la autoridad estatutaria y mostrará el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención, la cantidad acumulativa que se espera recibir como pagos en lugar de impuestos (PILOT) y el impacto acumulativo de todas las exenciones concedidas. Además, ese informe de exención se publicará en todos los tableros de anuncios que tenga el Distrito para avisos públicos y en cualquier sitio web que tenga el Distrito.

Y ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, que las peticiones que nominan candidatos para los cargos de miembro del Consejo de Educación deberán presentarse en la Secretaría de ese Distrito escolar, Oficina Administrativa del Distrito, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, a más tardar el 21 de abril de 2025, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 5:00 p. m., hora local. Cada petición deberá dirigirse a la Secretaría del Distrito; deberá estar firmada por al menos 25 votantes calificados del Distrito; deberá indicar el nombre y la dirección de cada firmante, y, deberá indicar el nombre y la dirección del candidato y describir la vacante específica para la que se propone al

candidato. Cada una de las vacantes del Consejo de Educación se considerará como una vacante específica separada que debe cubrirse. Se requiere una petición por separado para la nominación de candidatos para cada uno de los cargos vacantes. La petición deberá describir al menos la duración del mandato y contener el nombre del último titular. Para designar a un candidato para el cargo de Fideicomisario de la Junta de la Franklin Square Public Library, cada petición debe estar firmada por al menos veinticinco (25) votantes del Distrito.

Y ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, que se requiere el registro personal de los votantes de acuerdo con el Artículo 2014 de la Ley de Educación, o con el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral. Si un votante se ha registrado de acuerdo con el Artículo 2014 de la Ley de Educación y ha votado en una reunión anual o extraordinaria del distrito dentro de los últimos cuatro (4) años calendario, será elegible para votar en estas elecciones. Si un votante está registrado y es elegible para votar según el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral, también será elegible para votar en estas elecciones. Todas las demás personas que quieran votar deberán registrarse.

Y ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, que los votantes pueden registrarse en la Secretaría de ese Distrito escolar, Oficina Administrativa del Distrito, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, entre las 8:00 a. m. y 3:30 p. m., cuando la escuela esté en sesión, y cualquier día anterior al 15 de mayo de 2025 para agregar nombres adicionales al registro que se usará en las elecciones antes mencionadas, momento en el que cualquier persona tendrá derecho a hacer que su nombre se agregue a ese Registro, siempre que en esa reunión con la Secretaría del Distrito escolar, se sepa o se demuestre, a satisfacción de la Secretaría de ese Distrito escolar, que esa persona tiene

derecho ahora o lo tendrá de aquí en adelante de votar en las elecciones para las que se preparó el Registro. El Registro así preparado de acuerdo con el Artículo 2014 de la Ley de Educación se archivará en la Secretaría del Distrito, Oficina de Administración del Distrito,

760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, y estará disponible para para cualquier votante calificado del Distrito a partir del jueves, 15 de mayo de 2025, entre las 8:00 a. m. y las 3:30 p. m., hora local, cualquier día antes del día de las elecciones programadas, excepto el domingo, y en los centros de votación el día de la votación. Y ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, que los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente podrán solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Se puede pedir una solicitud de inscripción como votante militar en la Secretaría del Distrito, Oficina de Administración del Distrito, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, entre las 8:00 a. m. y las 3:30 p. m., cuando la escuela está en sesión. La solicitud también está disponible en el sitio web del Distrito de Franklin Square en “información para votantes”. La solicitud de inscripción debe recibirse en la Secretaría a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. del 25 de abril de 2025. En la solicitud de inscripción, se permite al votante militar designar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud de inscripción, ya sea por correo, transmisión por facsímil o correo electrónico. Y ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, que los votantes militares calificados del distrito pueden enviar una solicitud para recibir una boleta de voto militar durante el horario de atención de la Secretaría del Distrito, Oficina de Administración del Distrito, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York. La solicitud también está disponible en el sitio web del Distrito de

Franklin Square en “información para votantes”. Las solicitudes completadas deben recibirse en la Secretaría del Distrito antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 24 de abril de 2025. En la solicitud de boleta de voto militar, se permite al votante militar designar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud de boleta de voto militar, y la boleta misma, tanto por correo, transmisión por facsímil o correo electrónico. La solicitud de boleta de voto militar y la boleta de todos los votantes militares calificados deben devolverse entregarse por correo o en persona. Las boletas para votantes militares se distribuirán a los votantes militares calificados a más tardar veinticinco días antes de las elecciones, el 25 de abril de 2025.

La Secretaría del Distrito deberá recibir las boletas con el voto militar un (1) día antes del cierre de las urnas, el martes, 20 de mayo de 2025, y deberán tener el sello del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o de un país extranjero, o un endoso fechado mostrando que otra agencia del Gobierno de Estados Unidos lo recibió; o (2) a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. del día de las elecciones y deberán estar firmadas y fechadas por el militar que vota y por un testigo, con una fecha comprobada que no sea posterior al día anterior a las elecciones. Una lista de las personas a las que se les han emitido boletas de voto militar estará a disposición de los votantes calificados del Distrito para su inspección en la Secretaría del Distrito a partir del jueves, 15 de mayo de 2025, entre las 8:00 a. m. y las 3:30 p. m., hora local, todos los días anteriores al día fijado para las elecciones anuales, excepto los domingos, los sábados con cita previa y el 20 de mayo de 2025, día fijado para las elecciones. Cualquier votante calificado presente en ese momento en el centro de votación puede oponerse a la votación de la boleta por los motivos apropiados, dando a conocer los motivos de su oposición al Inspector de elecciones antes del

cierre de las urnas. Y ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA, que las solicitudes de voto por correo y en ausencia por anticipado se podrán obtener durante el horario escolar en la Secretaría del Distrito a partir del 22 de abril de 2025. La solicitud también está disponible en el sitio web del Franklin Square School District https://www.franklinsq uare.k12.ny.us/ en “información para votantes”. La Secretaría del Distrito deberá recibir las solicitudes completadas no antes del 22 de abril de, 2025 y por lo menos siete (7) días antes de las elecciones, el 13 de mayo de 2025, si la boleta se debe enviar por correo al votante, o el día antes de las elecciones, el 19 de mayo de 2025, si la boleta se debe entregar personalmente al votante. La Secretaría del Distrito deberá recibir las boletas de voto por correo y en ausencia por anticipado a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m., hora local, el martes, 20 de mayo de 2025. Habrá una lista de las personas a quienes se les emitan boletas de voto por correo y de voto en ausencia por anticipado disponible para que los votantes calificados del Distrito verifiquen en la Secretaría del Distrito a partir del jueves, 15 de mayo de 2025, entre las 8:00 a. m. y las 3:30 p. m., hora local, todos los días anteriores al día fijado para las elecciones anuales, excepto los domingos, los sábados con cita previa y el 20 de mayo de 2025, día de las elecciones. Cualquier votante calificado presente en ese momento en el centro de votación puede oponerse a una boleta de votación por los motivos apropiados, dando a conocer los motivos de su oposición al Inspector de elecciones antes del cierre de las urnas. La impugnación de un voto en ausencia no puede basarse en que el votante debería haber solicitado un voto anticipado por correo.

Y ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que, de acuerdo con una norma adoptada por el Consejo de Educación en virtud del Artículo 2035 de la Ley de Educación, toda

Public Notices

consulta popular o propuesta para enmendar el presupuesto, o que de otro modo se someta a votación en dichas elecciones, debe presentarse en la Secretaría del Consejo de Educación, Oficina del Distrito, 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, New York, con tiempo suficiente para permitir que el aviso de la propuesta se incluya en el Aviso de la audiencia pública, votación del presupuesto y elecciones exigida según el Artículo 2004 de la Ley de Educación o antes del 21 de abril de 2025, a las 3:30 p. m., hora local; debe estar mecanografiada o impresa en el idioma inglés; debe estar dirigida a la Secretaría del Distrito Escolar; debe estar firmada por al menos 40 votantes calificados del Distrito (lo que representa el 5 % de los votantes que votaron en las elecciones anuales anteriores); y debe indicar de forma legible el nombre de cada firmante. Sin embargo, el Consejo Escolar no considerará la presentación de ninguna petición a los votantes sobre una propuesta cuyo propósito no esté dentro de las facultades de los votantes determinar, que sea ilegal, o que no incluya una asignación específica cuando la propuesta requiera el gasto de dinero, o cuando exista otra razón válida para excluir la propuesta de la boleta de voto.

Fechado en: Franklin Square, Nueva York, el 3 de abril de 2025

Por orden del CONSEJO DE EDUCACIÓN DE UFSD de Franklin Square Franklin Square, Nueva York

Laura Langstrand, secretaria del distrito 152580

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, ANNUAL DISTRICT ELECTION, AND BUDGET VOTE OF VALLEY STREAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT THIRTEEN, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK

TO BE HELD ON MAY 20, 2025

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Education of Valley Stream Union Free School District Thirteen shall hold a public hearing for the purpose of discussion of the proposed budget of expenditure of funds for the school year 2025-2026; that such public hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the vote by the qualified voters of Valley Stream Union Free School District Thirteen upon the following propositions and elections will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at the polling places set forth herein, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Daylight Savings Time on said day.

PROPOSITION NO. 1 DISTRICT THIRTEEN BUDGET

The vote upon the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures of Valley Stream Union Free School District Thirteen for the school year 2025-2026 and authorizing the levy of taxes to meet the estimated expenditures of money during said school year will be held on May 20, 2025 as set forth herein. Copies of the proposed budget, together with the text of any resolution which will be submitted to the voters as well as copies of the estimated expenditures of Valley Stream Central High School District for the school year 2025-2026 may be obtained by any taxpayer of the School District at the Principal’s Office of each school building on each school day, during the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., during each of the 14 days preceding the voting day, except on Saturday, Sunday or holidays, and at such annual election.

Notice is further given that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law, the District is required to attach to its proposed

budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how the total assessed value on the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by the statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted.

PROPOSITION NO. 2 DISTRICT THIRTEEN EXPENDITURE FROM CAPITAL RESERVE RESOLVED, that upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education hereby authorizes the placement of a proposition to expend monies from the District’s Capital Reserve Fund, established on May 15, 2018, at the Annual Budget Vote and Election on May 20, 2025, and directs the District Clerk to place said proposition in the Annual Notice of said Vote and Election: SHALL the Board of Education of the Valley Stream Union Free School District Thirteen be authorized to expend from the Capital Reserve Fund which was established on May 15, 2018, for the following capital improvement project of improving the field at Wheeler Avenue School, the playground at Willow Road School, the prekindergarten playground at Howell Road School, security fencing District wide, replacing the main play structure at Wheeler Avenue School, and upgrading door security District-wide and other improvements, additions, renovations and other work required in connection therewith; and to expend from the Capital Reserve Fund therefor, including preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto an amount not to exceed the estimated total cost of $1,200,000.

PROPOSITION NO. 3

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET

SHALL the proposed budget of expenditures of Valley Stream Central High School

District, Nassau County, New York for the year 2025-2026 be approved in the amount of $166,848,681, and that the sum be raised through a levy upon the taxable property in the Valley Stream Central High School District, after first deducting the monies from state aid and other sources, as provided by law.

PROPOSITION NO. 4

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

VOTER PROPOSITION 2025

SHALL the Board of Education hereby authorize the placement of the following voter proposition at the Annual Budget Vote and Election on May 20, 2025 and directs the District Clerk to place said proposition in the Annual Notice of said Vote and Election: SHALL the Board of Education be authorized to appropriate and expend the maximum amount of $4,500,000 as follows from fund balance for the purpose of completing capital improvements as follows:

Restoration of Valley Stream South Streambank, Renovation of District Offices and Renovation of Classrooms. All of the above to include labor, materials, equipment, apparatus and incidental costs.

PROPOSITION NO. 5

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT CAPITAL RESERVE

PROPOSITION 2025

SHALL the Board of Education hereby authorize the placement of the following voter proposition at the Annual Budget Vote and Election on May 20, 2025 and directs the District Clerk to place said proposition in the Annual Notice of said Vote and Election: RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Valley Stream Central High School District is authorized to acquire by purchase that certain real property and improvements known as 10 Fifth Street, Valley Stream, New York, Section 39 Block 27 Lot 4-7 & 418, at a cost not to exceed $6,400,000.00 dollars, and said sum is hereby appropriated for out of the District’s Capital Reserve Fund established on May 15,

2018 and unappropriated fund balance.

ELECTION OF TRUSTEES

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that for the purpose of electing two members of the Board of Education of the Valley Stream Union Free School District Thirteen, an election will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at the same times and at the same polling places as set forth herein.

The following are the vacancies to be filled on the Board of Education:

a) The office of Vincent Caposio, a member of the Board of Education, for a three-year term commencing May 21, 2025 and expiring June 30, 2028.1

b) The office of Milagros Vicente, a member of the Board of Education, for a three-year term commencing July 1, 2025 and expiring June 30, 2028.

NOMINATION PETITIONS

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that each vacancy is a separate, specific office and a separate petition is required to nominate a candidate to each separate office. Each petition must be directed to the Clerk of the District, must be signed by at least 26 qualified voters of the District, must state the residence of each signer, must state the name and residence of the candidate, and must describe the specific vacancy for which the candidate is nominated, including at least the length of the term of the office and the name of the last incumbent. Petitions nominating candidates for the office of the Board of Education must be filed with the Clerk of the District between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. except that on the thirtieth (30th) day preceding the date set for election of trustees, namely Monday, April 21, 2025, nominating petitions may be filed between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The deadline for submitting petitions is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 21, 2025. No person shall be nominated for more than one separate office on the Board of Education. A nomination may be

rejected by the Board of Education if the candidate is ineligible for office or declares his/her unwillingness to serve. In the event of the physical absence of the District Clerk from the District, nominating petitions are to be received and acted upon by the Acting District Clerk in the same manner as required of the District Clerk. Voting machines will be used for the tabulation of all votes upon propositions and the election of Trustees. The meeting and the election will be conducted according to the Education Law and the rules previously adopted by the Board of Education.

REGISTRATION

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT qualified voters may register at the James A. Dever School, Howell Road School, Wheeler Avenue School and Willow Road School any day up until Tuesday, May 13, 2025 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. except Saturday, Sunday, and school vacations and at such times that the school facilities are open.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Board of Registration of this School District shall meet on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the James A. Dever School, Howell Road School, Wheeler Avenue School and Willow Road School for the purpose of preparing a register of the qualified voters of this District for said annual District election, at which time any person shall be entitled to have his/her name placed upon such register provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration, he/she is known, or proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration, to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the annual District election for which such register is prepared.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the register shall include (1) all qualified voters of the District who shall personally present themselves for registration; and (2) all previously qualified voters of the District who shall have been previously registered for any annual or special District meeting

or election and who shall have voted at any annual or special District meeting or election held or conducted at any time within the four calendar years (2021-2024) prior to preparation of the said register; and (3) voters permanently registered with the Board of Elections of the County of Nassau.

The register shall be filed in the office of the District Clerk at James A. Dever School, 585 N. Corona Avenue, Valley Stream, New York where it shall be open for inspection by any qualified voter between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on each of the five days prior to the day set for the election, except Sunday, and between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on Saturday, May 17, 2025; and at each polling place on election day.

EARLY MAIL AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that applications for absentee and early mail ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk beginning March 21, 2025. Completed applications may not be received by the District Clerk earlier than April 21, 2025, and must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or to the agent named in the absentee or early mail ballot application. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

A list of persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued, and a list of all persons to whom early mail voter’s ballots shall have been issued, will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 15, 2025, between the hours of 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election and on May 20, 2025, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter

may, upon examination of such lists, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such lists, stating the reasons for such challenge. Any such written challenge shall be transmitted by the District Clerk or a designee of the Board of Education to the inspectors of election on election day. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the Valley Stream Union Free School District 13 by requesting and returning a registration application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to districtclerk@valleystre am13.com. The request for the registration application may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the registration application by either mail or email. Military voter registration application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the Valley Stream Union Free School District 13, may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk and return such military ballot application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to districtclerk@valleystre am13.com. In order for a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., on April 24, 2025. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a nonmilitary ballot application under Section 2018-a of the Education Law. The application for military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail or email. A military voter’s original military ballot application and military ballot must be returned by mail or in person to the office of the District Clerk at 585 N. Corona Avenue, Valley Stream, New York 11580.

April 3, 2025

Public Notices

AND FURTHER NOTICE

IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the District Clerk before the close of polls on May 20, 2025 showing a cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or received not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2025 and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.

ELECTION DISTRICTS

The boundaries of the four election districts are as previously adopted by the Board of Education by a resolution adopted on January 28, 1959, and which resolution is filed in the minutes of the District Clerk’s Office.

The places of voting and the general boundaries of the election districts are:

Election District One

The place of voting will be the Wheeler Avenue School, Wheeler Avenue and Rockaway Parkway, Valley Stream. Said District is the area in the vicinity of the Wheeler Avenue School and the southwesterly portion of the District.

Election District Two

The place of voting will be the James A. Dever School, 585 N. Corona Avenue, Valley Stream. Said District is the area in the vicinity of the James A. Dever School and the southeasterly portion of the District.

Election District Three

The place of voting will be the Howell Road School, Howell Road and Dana Avenue, Valley Stream. Said District is the area in the vicinity of the Howell Road School and the northwesterly portion of the District.

Election District Four

The place of voting will be the Willow Road School, Willow Road and Catalpa Drive, Franklin Square. Said District is the area in the vicinity of the Willow Road School and the northeasterly portion of the District.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that this Board shall convene a special meeting thereof within twenty-four hours after the filing with the District Clerk of a written report of the

results of the ballot for the purpose of examining and tabulating said reports of the result of the ballot and declaring the result of the ballot; that the Board hereby designates itself to be a set of poll clerks to cast and canvass ballots pursuant to Education Law 2019-a, subdivision 2b at said special meeting of the Board.

Dated: March 27, 2025 Valley Stream, New York BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, VALLEY STREAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT THIRTEEN, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK

Jennifer Mercatante District Clerk 152582

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

TO PLACE AN AD CALL

516-569-4000 x 232

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

TO PLACE AN AD CALL

516-569-4000 x 232

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

TO PLACE AN AD CALL

516-569-4000 x 232

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, REGISTRATION AND ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING

SEWANHAKA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT ELMONT, FLORAL PARK, FRANKLIN SQUARE AND NEW HYDE PARK, IN THE COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK

NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to the Education Law, a public Budget Hearing of the Sewanhaka Central High School District of Elmont, Floral Park, Franklin Square and New Hyde Park in the County of Nassau, New York, will be held at Sewanhaka High School, within said district, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that at the Annual District Meeting to be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, a vote

upon the propositions hereinafter set forth will be held at the times and places hereinafter set forth.

(a) Within the area of New Hyde ParkGarden City Park Union Free School District from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Michael J. Tully Park, 1801 Evergreen Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY.

(b) Within the area of Franklin Square Union Free School District, in the John Street School, Polk Street School and Washington Street School between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

(c) Within the area of Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the John Lewis Childs and Floral Park-Bellerose Schools.

(d) Within the area of Elmont Union Free School District from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at your designated polling place. For the purpose of voting upon the following two (2) Propositions: BUDGET RESOLVED, that the proposed budget of expenditures of Sewanhaka Central High School District of Elmont, Floral Park, Franklin Square and New Hyde Park, in the County of Nassau, New York for the year 2025-2026 for the purpose shown in the statement of estimated expenditures adopted by the Board of Education, be and the same hereby is approved and the amount thereof shall be raised by a levy of a tax upon the taxable property within said Sewanhaka Central High School District, after first deducting the monies available from state aid and other sources as provided by law; and upon any other matter which might be properly brought before the Annual Meeting of the Sewanhaka Central High School District. 2025 CAPITAL RESERVE FUND SHALL the Board of Education of the Sewanhaka Central High School District, pursuant to Education Law Section 3651, be authorized to establish a Capital Reserve Fund known as the “2025 Capital Reserve Fund” (the “Fund”) which shall be for the purpose of paying all or a portion of the costs of the following: performing capital improvements at the District’s buildings, facilities, and athletic facilities and fields, including masonry

renovation, plumbing upgrades, electrical up-grades, mechanical upgrades (including heating, ventilation and air conditioning), replacement of underground storage tanks, security upgrades, technology upgrades, telephone upgrades, roof re-placements, door replacements, window replacements and glazing, site work, classroom and corridor renovations, furnishings and equipment, purchase of district vehicles, all of the foregoing to include all labor, materials, equipment, apparatus and incidental costs related thereto. The ultimate principal amount of the Fund shall be $15,000,000.00, plus accrued interest and investment earnings thereon. The probable term is to be ten (10) years; the source of the funding to be surplus monies or unexpended unassigned fund balances in the general fund at the end of the current and future fiscal years and/or other legally available reserve funds that may be placed into said Fund, sufficient to fund said ultimate principal amount.

The voting will be by ballot on voting machines as provided by the Education Law and the polls will remain open during the hours above stated for each Component District and as much longer as may be necessary to enable the voters then present to cast their ballots. A qualified voter shall vote within the election district of the Component District in which he/she resides.

The Sewanhaka Central High School District has been divided into thirteen election districts: one for New Hyde Park-Garden City Park; three for Franklin Square; two for Floral Park-Bellerose and seven for Elmont, numbered 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, 16-4, 16-5, 166, 16-7. The second portion of this number indicates the election district within Elmont.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law requires the School District to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary

process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. In addition, said exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on the District’s website.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that for the purpose of preparing a register of the qualified voters within each of the following school districts: New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Union Free School District, Franklin Square Union Free School District, Floral ParkBellerose Union Free School District and Elmont Union Free School District (each hereinafter referred to individually as a “Component District” and collectively as the “Component Districts”), the Board of Registration of each of said Component Districts will meet as follows:

In New Hyde ParkGarden City Park Union Free School District, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at Manor Oaks-William R. Bowie School.

In Franklin Square Union Free School District, on Mondays through Fridays between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., when school is in session, in the Office of the District Clerk at 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square New York prior to May 15, 2025.

In Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District, registration will take place on May 8, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Floral Park-Bellerose School and John Lewis Childs School.

In Elmont Union Free School District, open registration in the office of the school within their election district on any school day, on or before Monday, May 12, 2025, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Last day to register to vote is Monday, May 12, 2025, between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

A qualified voter must present himself or herself in person for

registration in the Component District in which he or she resides and in Elmont and Floral ParkBellerose Union Free School Districts within the election district of such Component Districts in which he or she resides and the board of registration shall place his or her name upon the register provided he or she is known or proven to be such qualified voter for the district meeting or election for which said register is prepared. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law and has voted at any annual or special district meeting or election within the prior (4) calendar years, such voter is eligible to vote at this election. If the voter is registered and eligible to vote pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law, such voter is also eligible to vote at this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register. Immediately upon the completion of each register, said registers will be filed in the respective office of the District Clerk of each Component District, and will be open for inspection at all reasonable times thereafter by any qualified voter of each respective Component District or of this school district as follows:

In New Hyde ParkGarden City Park Union Free School District, the register so prepared will be filed with the Clerk of the district and such Register will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday in the Superintendent’s Office at the Manor OaksWilliam R. Bowie School, on each of the five (5) days prior to and on the day of election, except Saturday and Sunday.

In Franklin Square Union Free School District, in the Office of the District Clerk, beginning on Thursday, May 15, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., prevailing time, on Saturday by appointment only, on each day prior to the day set for the election, except Sunday, and at the polling place(s) on the day of the vote.

In Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District, each register, upon its completion, will be filed in the District

Clerk’s office, and will be open for inspection from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on each of the five (5) days prior to the meeting or election for which it was prepared, except Saturday and Sunday by appointment only.

In Elmont Union Free School District, in the Office of the District Clerk at the Elmont Road School beginning May 13, 2025, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on each day thereafter, including the day of the annual election, except that on Saturday the hours shall be 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and the school will not open for the said inspection on Sunday. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for early mail ballots and absentee ballots for said Annual District Meeting may be obtained at the office of the District Clerk of the Component District in which the voter resides beginning April 21, 2025 as follows:

In New Hyde ParkGarden City Park Union Free School District, in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, in the Manor Oaks-William R. Bowie School, 1950 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park, N.Y., on school days, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The applications are also available on the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park District website. In Franklin Square Union Free School District, will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk beginning April 22, 2025. The application is also available on the Franklin Square District website https://www. franklinsquare.k12. ny.us/ under “voter information.”

In Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District, in the office of the District Clerk (Administrative Offices, 1 Poppy Place, Floral Park, New York), or by contacting the District Clerk by email, sclifford@fpbsd.org or phone (516) 434-2728.

In Elmont Union Free School District, at the Office of the District Clerk, Elmont Road School, 135 Elmont Road, Elmont, N.Y. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk of each Component District in which the voter resides at least seven (7) days before the vote/election if the absentee or early

mail ballot is mailed to the voter, or the day before the vote/election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. No absentee or early mail ballot shall be canvassed unless it is received in the office of such District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2025. No absentee or early mail ballot will be accepted more than 30 days prior to the election. A list of all persons to whom absentee or early mail ballots have been issued will be available in said office of the District Clerk of each Component District, beginning at least five (5) days prior to the vote/election during office hours as set by each Component District. Any qualified voter present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making their challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. A challenge to an early voting ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an absentee ballot.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that pursuant to Education Law Section 2018-d, any person serving in the military, including a spouse, parent, child or dependent accompanying or being with such voter, may register to vote in the upcoming school district election no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025. A military voter who is a qualified voter may obtain a registration form by contacting the District Clerk of the Component District in which the voter resides as follows: In New Hyde ParkGarden City Park Union Free School District, in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, in the Manor Oaks-William R. Bowie School, 1950 Hillside Ave-nue, New Hyde Park, N.Y, or on the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park District website www.nhp-gcp.org. In Franklin Square Union Free School District, at the Office of the District Clerk at 760 Washington Street, Franklin Square, N.Y., or on the Franklin Square District website https:// www.franklinsquare. k12.ny.us/ under “Voter Information.” In Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School

Public Notices

District, at the Office of the District Clerk, 1 Poppy Place, Floral Park, N.Y., by telephone (516434-2728), facsimile (516-434-2739), email (sclifford@fpbsd.org), mail (One Poppy Place, Floral Park, NY 11001), or in person (dur-ing regular office hours or between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.).

In Elmont Union Free School District, at the Office of the District Clerk, Elmont Road School, 135 Elmont Road, Elmont, N.Y.

A military voter who is duly registered may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the Component District Clerk. Completed applications must be personally delivered or mailed to the Component District Clerk and received no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025. Completed military ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2025, if signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto with a date which is not later than the day before the election, or not later than the close of polls on May 20, 2025 if postmarked or endorsed by an agency of the United States government.

A military voter may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration form, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile or electronic mail in the request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Such designation will remain in effect until revoked or changed by the voter. If no preference is designated, the District will transmit the military voter registration by mail.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that qualified voters with disabilities who seek information about access to polling places may, in advance of the day of the vote, contact the Component District Clerk for information about accessibility.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that copies of the estimated expenditures of the Sewanhaka Central High School District during the school year 2025-2026 shall be completed at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the public hearing and will be made available upon request to residents

within the district during the period of fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the Annual District Meeting at all of the high schools within the district, as well as the elementary schools of the component districts, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on each day oth-er than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday.

The boundaries of the seven (7) separate election districts and the voting places within the boundaries of the Elmont Union Free School District are as follows:

ELECTION DISTRICT 1. The place of registration and voting will be the STEWART MANOR SCHOOL, Stewart Manor, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point in the north line of School District No. 16 where the same adjoins School District No. 22 at the intersection of Third Avenue (which point is approximately 50 feet south of the south line of the main line of the Long Island Railroad); running thence along the boundary line between School District No. 16 and School District No. 22 as it runs generally south, then generally east and again south crossing the Hempstead Branch of the Long Island Railroad; thence continuing east and south along such boundary line to Tulip Avenue; thence southerly along the Covert Avenue center line for about 100 feet and continuing southeasterly 100 feet south of and parallel to Tulip Avenue to the easterly boundary line of School District No. 16; thence continuing in a general northerly direction along the easterly boundary of School District No. 16 to the northeast corner of the School District; thence westerly along the northerly boundary line of School District No. 16 to the point or place of beginning. In addition the said Election District shall include the following: a point commencing at a point on the boundary line between School District No.16 and School District No. 22 at the intersection of the center line of Memphis Avenue and a line about 100 feet North of and parallel to Chelsea Street; thence continuing easterly along this line to its intersection with the extension

of a line midway between and parallel to Fredrick Avenue and Arthur Avenue; thence proceeding north easterly along said line to the boundary between School District No.16 and School District No. 22; thence north westerly along the said boundary line and continuing north westerly along the said boundary line to the point and place of beginning.

ELECTION DISTRICT 2.

The place of registration and voting will be the COVERT AVENUE SCHOOL, Elmont, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point midway between and parallel to Frederick Avenue and Arthur Avenue and proceeding south along this line to its intersection with the center line of Makofske Avenue; thence south in a straight line to the intersection of the center line of Hempstead Turnpike at a point midway between Emporia Avenue and Stone Street; thence continuing easterly along the Hempstead Turnpike center line to a point 100 feet west of Butler Boulevard; thence continuing southerly along a line 100 feet west of and parallel to Butler Boulevard to a line approximately 100 feet north of Omega Street; thence easterly along the said line 100 feet north of and parallel to Omega Street to a line approximately 25 feet east of South Covert Avenue thence southerly along the said line 25 feet east of and parallel to South Covert Avenue to the intersection of an extension of the Elliott Street center line thence easterly along the Elliott Street center line to an intersection with the Sun Avenue center line; thence continuing along the Sun Avenue center line to an intersection with the Meacham Avenue center line; thence proceeding south along the Meacham Avenue center line midway between E Street and F Street; thence proceeding north easterly and continuing northerly along the District No. 16 boundary line to a point about 100 feet south of Tulip Avenue; thence proceeding in a northwesterly direction along a line about 100 feet south and parallel to Tulip Avenue to the center line of the District No. 16 western boundary

where the center line of Covert Avenue and Tulip Avenue intersect; thence continuing on the boundary line, southeasterly, southerly and westerly on a line approximately 100 Feet south of Webster Street to a line midway between Fredrick Street and Arthur Street approximately 50 Feet south of the point or place of beginning.

ELECTION DISTRICT 3. The place of registration and voting will be the CLARA H. CARLSON SCHOOL, Elmont, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point midway between Emporia Avenue and Stone Street on the center line of Hempstead Turnpike; thence continuing easterly along the Hempstead Turnpike center line to a point approximately 100 feet west of Butler Boulevard; thence continuing southerly along the said line 100 feet west of and parallel to Butler Boulevard to a line approximately 100 feet north of Omega Street thence easterly along the said line 100 feet north of Omega Street to a line approximately 25 feet east of South Covert Avenue; thence southerly along the said line 25 feet east of and parallel to South Covert Avenue to the intersection of an extension of the Elliott Street center line; thence continuing easterly along the Elliott Street center line to an intersection with the Sun Avenue center line; thence continuing along the Sun Avenue center line to an intersection with the Meacham Avenue center line; thence proceeding south along the Meacham Avenue center line to a point midway between Collier Avenue and Star Avenue; thence proceeding westerly on a line midway between Collier Avenue and Star Avenue to the boundary of Beth David Cemetery; to an extension of the easterly boundary of the Beth David Cemetery; thence north westerly along the northerly boundary of the Beth David Cemetery; then, northerly along the boundary of the Beth David Cemetery to a point midway between Emporia Avenue and Stone Street; thence northerly along the midway line between Emporia Avenue and Stone Street to the point or place of beginning.

ELECTION DISTRICT 4.

The place of registration and voting will be the ELMONT ROAD SCHOOL, ELMONT, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point in the boundary line between School District No. 16 and School District No. 22 at the intersection of the center line of Plainfield Avenue and a line approximately 100 feet north of and parallel to Chelsea Street; thence continuing easterly along this line to the intersection of Chelsea Street and Makofske Avenue thence south in a straight line to the northern boundary of Beth Da-vid Cemetery; thence westerly along the northern boundary of Beth David Cemetery to the center line of Elmont Road; thence northerly along the center line of Elmont Road to the intersection of Elmont Road and the Hempstead Turnpike; thence westerly along the center line of the Hempstead Turnpike to the intersection of the Hempstead Turnpike and Plainfield Avenue, thence northerly along the center line of Plainfield Avenue to the point or place of beginning.

ELECTION DISTRICT 5.

The place of registration and voting will be the GOTHAM AVENUE SCHOOL, Elmont, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point on the westerly boundary line of District No. 16 at its intersection with the center line of Hempstead Turnpike; thence easterly along the center line of Hempstead Turnpike to its intersection with the Elmont Road center line; thence south along the center line of Elmont Road to the extension of a line forming the northerly boundary of Elmont Memorial High School; thence westerly along said line to a point 25 feet west of Kirby Road north westerly to a point approximately 25 feet east of Rye Street northerly on a line parallel to Rye Street to a point approximately 25 feet north of Baylis Avenue to a point approximately 100 feet west of 4th Street; thence north to the southerly side of Hathaway Avenue west on a line formed by the southerly side of Hathaway Avenue to the north along the westerly boundary of School District No. 16 to the point and place of beginning.

ELECTION DISTRICT 6.

The place of registration and voting will be the DUTCH BROADWAY SCHOOL, Elmont, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point on the Linden Boulevard center line where it intersects the Elmont Road center line; thence proceeding southeasterly along the Linden Boulevard center line and continuing on a projection of this line along the Southern State Parkway to its intersection with the District No. 16 easterly boundary line; thence continuing in a northeasterly direction along the District No. 16 easterly boundary line, to the intersection of Meachem Avenue and F Street; thence northerly along a center line of Meacham Avenue to a point approximately 20 feet northerly of Star Avenue; thence westerly along said line to the eastern boundary line of the Beth David Cemetery; thence southerly along the east boundary line of Beth David Cemetery; thence westerly along the south boundary line of Beth David Cemetery to its intersection with the Elmont Road center line; thence continuing in a southwesterly direction along the Elmont Road center line to a line formed by the extension of the Northerly Boundary of Elmont Memorial High School; thence westerly said line to a point 25 feet west of Kirby Road; thence north westerly to a point 25 feet north of Renfew Avenue; thence westerly on a line approximately 25 feet north and parallel to a point approximately 25 feet east of Rye Street northerly on a line parallel to Rye Street to a point approximately 25 feet north of Baylis Avenue to a point approximately 100 feet west of 4th Street; thence north to the southerly side of Hathaway Avenue continuing west on a line formed by the southerly side of Hathaway Avenue to the western boundary of School District No. 6 and then south along the western boundary of School District No. 16 to the center line of Dutch Broadway; thence last along the center line of Dutch Broadway to the intersection of Dutch Broadway and Elmont Road; thence south along the center line of Elmont Road to the point and place of beginning.

ELECTION DISTRICT 7. The place of registration and voting will be the ALDEN TERRACE SCHOOL, Valley Stream, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point in the westerly boundary of District No. 16 at its intersection with the center line of Dutch Broadway; thence southerly along the westerly boundary line of School District No. 16; to the intersection of Elmont Road and Sobro Avenue thence southeasterly along the center line of Sobro Avenue continuing southeasterly then northeasterly along the boundary of School District No. 16 to the northerly side of the Southern State Parkway thence westerly along the Southern State Parkway to the center line of Linden Boulevard thence westerly along the center line of Linden Boulevard to the intersection of Linden Boulevard and Elmont Road thence northerly along the center line of Elmont Road to the intersection of Elmont Road and Dutch Broadway thence westerly along the center line of Dutch Broadway to the point or place of beginning. The boundaries of the two (2) election districts located within the Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District are as follows: FIRST ELECTION DISTRICT. From the easterly side of Tulip Avenue and Jericho Turnpike, east to Keene Avenue, following the boundaries of U.F.S.D. 22, Northeast to Hillside Avenue and Cherry Lane, the Southwest side of Cherry Lane, even numbers from 34 to 284, to Jericho Turnpike, then South between Sycamore and Lewis Avenues, including both sides of Sycamore Avenue. Boundary continues south of Long Island Railroad Main Line along Easterly side of Floral Park Village Playground and Discharge basin to Hempstead branch of Long Island Railroad. Easterly to School District line south on Westerly side of Covert Avenue to Tulip Avenue, both sides of Tulip Avenue, Northwesterly to Birch Street. Birch Street Southwest to Carnation Avenue, all even numbers 6 through 68 on the Westerly side of Birch, then Northwesterly

on Carnation Avenue, then to Tulip to Jericho Turnpike. Generally, with a few exceptions, parents of children attending John Lewis Childs School will vote in the First Election District.

All voting and registration within this election district shall take place at the John Lewis Childs School, Elizabeth Street, Floral Park.

SECOND ELECTION DISTRICT. From the Easterly corner of 225th Street and Jericho Turnpike, east along the Northern border of the school district to Tulip Avenue and Jericho Turnpike. All the even numbers on Jericho Turnpike. This takes in the area of Bellerose Terrace and Bellerose south of Jericho Turnpike, Southeast on Tulip Avenue, to Carnation Ave-nue, then generally Southeast on Carnation Avenue to Birch Street, all the even numbers on Carnation Avenue from 2 to 342, then Northeasterly on the East side of Birch to Tulip, numbers 1 through 69, then East South to Tulip Avenue to Landau Avenue, South on Landau Avenue along District Line to Webster Street, West on Webster Street, both sides of Webster Street along the southern boundary of District 22 to 225th Street, then north to Jericho Turnpike, to place of beginning. The areas east of Birch Street on Aspen, Oak, Cypress Streets, and Carnation Avenue are included in the second district; Aspen Street from 155 to 260, Oak Street from 126 to 237, Cy-press Street from 93 to 222, Carnation Avenue from 348 to 480. Generally, with a few exceptions, parents of children attending Floral Park-Bellerose School will vote in the second election district. All voting and registration within this election district shall take place at the Floral Park-Bellerose School, Larch Avenue, Floral Park.

The boundaries of the three (3) election districts located within the Franklin Square Union Free School District, are as follows: FIRST ELECTION DISTRICT: The place of registration and voting will be the John Street School Beginning at the point of intersection of the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the west side of

April 3, 2025

Public Notices

Claflin Boulevard projected northerly to the center line of Hempstead Turnpike; thence easterly along said center line to the easterly boundary line of the school district; thence southerly and westerly along the said boundary line to the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the west side of Dogwood Avenue; thence northerly along said rear line to its intersection with the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the north side of Plato Street and the projection thereof easterly; thence westerly and along the said projection and the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the north side of Plato Street to the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the east side of Jefferson Street; thence northerly along said rear lot line and along the center line of the brook and projection thereof northerly to the center line of Naple Avenue, thence easterly along said center line to the projection southerly and the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the westerly side of Claflin Boulevard; thence northerly along said projection and the said rear lot line to the point or place of beginning (excluding Jackson Street).

SECOND ELECTION DISTRICT: The place of registration and voting will be the Polk Street School Beginning at the intersection of the westerly boundary line of the school district and the intersection of the center line of Hempstead Turnpike; thence easterly along said center line of Hempstead Turnpike to the intersection of the back lot line of Claflin Boulevard; thence southerly along the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the westerly side of Claflin Boulevard to the center line of Naple Avenue; thence westerly along the said center line to the center line of the brook; thence southerly along said center line and the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the easterly side of Jefferson Street including properties fronting on Jackson Street to the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the northerly side of Plato Street; thence easterly along said rear lot line and the projection thereof easterly to the rear lot line of the properties fronting on the west side

of Dogwood Avenue; thence southerly along said rear lot line to the southerly boundary line of the school district; thence westerly and northerly along the said boundary line to the point or place of beginning.

THIRD ELECTION

DISTRICT: The place of registration and voting will be the Washington Street School Beginning at the northwesterly corner of the school district (at Fernwood Terrace); thence easterly along said boundary line to the northeasterly corner of the school district; thence southerly along the easterly boundary line of the school district to the center line of Hempstead Turnpike; thence westerly along the said center line to the intersection of the westerly boundary line of the district; thence northerly along said line to the point of origin.

The place of registration in the New Hyde ParkGarden City Park Union Free School District will be at the Manor Oaks-William R. Bowie School, on May 7, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Voting will be at Michael J. Tully Park, 1801 Evergreen Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Only qualified voters who are registered to vote will be permitted to vote.

BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Dated: February 25, 2025

Joanne Murnane District Clerk 152527

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ANNUAL ELECTION ELMONT UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to the Education Law of the State of New York, and pursuant to Resolution adopted by the Board of Education of the Elmont Union Free School District, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, on February 11, 2025 to vote on the school budget, and to vote on the library budget, and pursuant to Resolution duly adopted by the Board of Education of Central High School District No. 2 of the Town of Hempstead and North Hempstead, Nassau County, the vote on the school budget

and capital reserves of said Central High School District will take place on MAY 20, 2025 in the seven (7) separate election districts as hereinafter in this notice stated and provided.

NOTICE IS HEREBY

FURTHER GIVEN that for the purpose of electing THREE (3) members of the Board of Education of the Elmont Union Free School District; one (1) member for a term of THREE (3) YEARS to the seat now occupied by MICHAEL A. JAIME, whose term expires on June 30, 2025; one (1) member for a term of THREE (3) YEARS to the seat now occupied by DR. TAMEKA BATTLEBURKETT, whose term expires on June 30, 2025; and one (1) member for a term of THREE (3) YEARS to the seat now occupied by TRECIA WONG, whose term expires on June 30, 2025.

NOTICE IS HEREBY

FURTHER GIVEN that for the purpose of electing TWO (2) members of the Board of Library Trustees of the Elmont Library; one (1) member for a term of FIVE (5) YEARS to the seat now occupied by LIVINGSTONE YOUNG, whose term expires on June 30, 2025; and one (1) member for a term of FIVE (5) YEARS to the seat now occupied by SUZANNE SCHATZ, whose term expires on June 30, 2025.

NOTICE IS HEREBY

FURTHER GIVEN an election will be held on MAY 20, 2025, between the hours of 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM, voting to take place in the seven (7) separate election districts at the polling places hereinafter stated, and for the further purpose of voting upon the following propositions:

PROPOSITION NO. 1

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

BUDGET

RESOLVED, that the amount of the estimated expenses for the school year 2025-2026, as presented in writing by the Board of Education of the Elmont Union Free School District, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, shall be raised by tax upon the taxable property of this school district after first deducting the estimated monies available from State Aid and other sources.

PROPOSITION NO. 3

LIBRARY BUDGET RESOLVED, that Elmont Union Free School District of the Town of Hempstead,

Nassau County, New York, appropriate the amount of estimated expenses for the school year 2025-2026, as presented in writing by the Board of Trustees of the Elmont Public Library, to be levied and collected annually as are other general taxes for the equipment, support and maintenance of the existing free public library including its existing branches.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to the Education Law of the State of New York and pursuant to Resolution adopted by the Board of Education on February 11, 2025, a public hearing for the purpose of discussion of the proposed budget to be voted upon May 20, 2025 will be held on May 13, 2025 at 8:00 PM at Clara H. Carlson School.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that no person will be entitled to vote at the annual election whose name does not appear on the register of the Elmont Union Free School District prepared for such annual election. Otherwise, qualified residents may have their names placed upon such register at the office of the school within their election district on any day school is in session between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM up to MAY 12, 2025. In addition, the Board of Registration of each separate election district will meet at the Registration place herein above stated on MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025, between the hours of 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM, at which time any person shall be entitled to have his/her name placed upon such register, provided that upon such meeting of the Board of Registration he/she is known or proved to the satisfaction of such Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such election for which such register is prepared. The register of the qualified voters of the said school district prepared at the last annual election and for any subsequent school district meetings or elections in said school district shall be used by said Board of Registration as the basis for the preparation of the register for this annual election. Any person whose name appears on said register prepared at and for said district meetings

and elections will not be required to register for said annual election to be held on MAY 20, 2025, between the hours of 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the registrar of voters shall include (1) all qualified voters of the District who shall personally present themselves for registration; (2) all previously qualified voters of the District who shall have been previously registered for any Annual or Special District Meeting or Election and who shall have voted at any time within the four calendar years prior to preparation of the said register; and (3) voters permanently registered with the Board of Elections of the County of Nassau.

The register will be filed on May 13, 2025, in the office of the District Clerk at the Elmont Road School and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the school district between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM on each day thereafter, including the day of the annual election, except that on Saturday the hours shall be 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and the school will not open for the said inspection on Sunday.

Commencing May 21, 2025, otherwise qualified residents may have their names placed upon such register at the office of the school within their election district on any day school is in session between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, for the purpose of preparing a register for elections held subsequent to May 20, 2025.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS:

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that applications for absentee ballots for voting on said Proposition may be applied for at the Office of the District Clerk. Such application must be received by the District Clerk, completed at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or by 5:00 PM on the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter.

A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk and available for public inspection during regular business hours

on each of the five (5) days (except Sunday) prior to the day of said vote and such list will also be posted on the day of the voting at the Office of the District Clerk, Elmont Road School.

MILITARY BALLOTS:

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that pursuant to Education Law Section 2018-d, any person serving in the military, including a spouse, parent, child or dependent accompanying or being with such voter, may register to vote in the upcoming school district election no later than 5:00 PM on April 24, 2024. A military voter who is a qualified voter may obtain a registration form by contacting the District Clerk.

A military voter who is duly registered may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk. Completed applications must be personally delivered or mailed to the District Clerk and received no later than 5:00 PM on April 24, 2025. Completed military ballots must be received by 5:00 PM on May 20, 2025, if signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto with a date which is not later than the day before the election, or not later than the close of polls on May 20, 2025, if postmarked or endorsed by an agency of the United States government. A military voter may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration form, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile or electronic mail in the request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Such designation will remain in effect until revoked or changed by the voter. If no preference is designated, the District will transmit the military voter registration by mail.

EARLY MAIL VOTING BALLOTS: NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that pursuant to Section 2018-e of the Education Law, applications for early mail ballots may be obtained at the Office of the District Clerk of the School District, during all days in which the School District is in session. Completed applications must be

received by the District Clerk no earlier than April 21, 2025, and by May 13, 2025, if the early mail ballot is to be mailed to the voter. If the early mail ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter at the Office of the District Clerk the completed application must be received by the District Clerk no later than May 19, 2025. No early mail voter’s ballot will be canvassed unless it has been received in the Office of the District Clerk of the School District no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2025. A list of all persons to whom early ballots have been issued will be available in the Office of the District Clerk during office hours on May 14, 2025, including the day of the annual election, except that on Saturday the hours shall be 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and the school will not open for the said inspection on Sunday.

A challenge to an early voting ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an absentee ballot.

The boundaries of the seven (7) separate election districts and the voting places for each of said separate election districts as established by the Board of Education are as follows: ELECTION DISTRICT 1. The place of registration and voting will be the STEWART MANOR SCHOOL, Stewart Manor, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point in the north line of School District No. 16 where the same adjoins School District No. 22 at the intersection of Third Avenue (which point is approximately 50 feet south of the south line of the main line of the Long Island Railroad); running thence along the boundary line between School District No. 16 and School District No. 22 as it runs generally south, then generally east and again south crossing the Hempstead Branch of the Long Island Railroad; thence continuing east and south along such boundary line to Tulip Avenue; thence southerly along the Covert Avenue center line for about 100 feet and continuing southeasterly 100 feet south of and parallel to Tulip Avenue to the easterly boundary line of School District No. 16; thence continuing in a general northerly

direction along the easterly boundary of School District No. 16 to the northeast corner of the School District; thence westerly along the northerly boundary line of School District No. 16 to the point or place of beginning. In addition the said Election District shall include the following: a point commencing at a point on the boundary line between school District No.16 and School District No. 22 at the intersection of the center line of Memphis Avenue and a line about 100 feet North of and parallel to Chelsea Street; thence continuing easterly along this line to it’s intersection with the extension of a line midway between and parallel to Fredrick Avenue and Arthur Avenue; thence proceeding north easterly along said line to the boundary between School District No.16 and School District No. 22; thence north westerly along the said boundary line and continuing north westerly along the said boundary line to the point and place of beginning.

ELECTION DISTRICT 2.

The place of registration and voting will be the COVERT AVENUE SCHOOL, Elmont, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point midway between and parallel to Frederick Avenue and Arthur Avenue and proceeding south along this line to its intersection with the center line of Makofske Avenue; thence south in a straight line to the intersection of the center line of Hempstead Turnpike at a point midway between Emporia Avenue and Stone Street; thence continuing easterly along the Hempstead Turnpike center line to a point 100 feet west of Butler Boulevard; thence continuing southerly along a line 100 feet west of and parallel to Butler Boulevard to a line approximately 100 feet north of Omega Street; thence easterly along the said line 100 feet north of and parallel to Omega Street to a line approximately 25 feet east of South Covert Avenue thence southerly along the said line 25 feet east of and parallel to South Covert Avenue to the intersection of an extension of the Elliott Street center line thence easterly along the Elliott

Street center line to an intersection with the Sun Avenue center line; thence continuing along the Sun Avenue center line to an intersection with the Meacham Avenue center line; thence proceeding south along the Meacham Avenue center line midway between E Street and F Street; thence proceeding north easterly and continuing northerly along the District No. 16 boundary line to a point about 100 feet south of Tulip Avenue; thence proceeding in a northwesterly direction along a line about 100 feet south and parallel to Tulip Avenue to the center line of the District No. 16 western boundary where the center line of Covert Avenue and Tulip Avenue intersect; thence continuing on the boundary line, southeasterly, southerly and westerly on a line approximately 100 Feet south of Webster Street to a line midway between Fredrick Street and Arthur Street approximately 50 Feet south of the point or place of beginning.

Public Notices Public Notices

along the Meacham Avenue center line to a point midway between Collier Avenue and Star Avenue; thence proceeding westerly on a line midway between Collier Avenue and Star Avenue to the boundary of Beth David Cemetery ; to an extension of the easterly boundary of the Beth David Cemetery; thence north westerly along the northerly boundary of the Beth David Cemetery; then, northerly along the boundary of the Beth David Cemetery to a point midway between Emporia Avenue and Stone Street; thence northerly along the midway line between Emporia Avenue and Stone Street to the point or place of beginning.

ELECTION DISTRICT 4.

Road to the extension of a line forming the northerly boundary of Elmont Memorial High School ; thence westerly along said line to a point 25 feet west of Kirby Road north westerly to a point approximately 25 feet east of Rye Street northerly on a line parallel to Rye Street to a point approximately 25 feet north of Baylis Avenue to a point approximately 100 feet west of 4th Street; thence north to the southerly side of Hathaway Avenue west on a line formed by the southerly side of Hathaway Avenue to the north along the westerly boundary of School District No. 16 to the point and place of beginning.

ELECTION DISTRICT 6.

parallel to Rye Street to a point approximately 25 feet north of Baylis Avenue to a point approximately 100 feet west of 4th Street; thence north to the southerly side of Hathaway Avenue continuing west on a line formed by the southerly side of Hathaway Avenue to the western boundary of School District No. 6 and then south along the western boundary of School District No. 16 to the center line of Dutch Broadway; thence last along the center line of Dutch Broadway to the intersection of Dutch Broadway and Elmont Road; thence south along the center line of Elmont Road to the point and place of beginning.

John Street School visits Commerce Plaza

In a news release, John Street School announced that their fifth graders participated in an engaging, hands-on experience at Commerce Plaza in Levittown on March 11. Students dressed in their finest business attire roleplayed various jobs within a simulated bank environment. They wrote checks, paid bills online, visited the ATM machine and worked an assigned job.

ELECTION DISTRICT 3. The place of registration and voting will be the CLARA H. CARLSON SCHOOL, Elmont, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point midway between Emporia Avenue and Stone Street on the center line of Hempstead Turnpike; thence continuing easterly along the Hempstead Turnpike center line to a point approximately 100 feet west of Butler Boulevard; thence continuing southerly along the said line 100 feet west of and parallel to Butler Boulevard to a line approximately 100 feet north of Omega Street thence easterly along the said line 100 feet north of Omega Street to a line approximately 25 feet east of South Covert Avenue; thence southerly along the said line 25 feet east of and parallel to South Covert Avenue to the intersection of an extension of the Elliott Street center line; thence continuing easterly along the Elliott Street center line to an intersection with the Sun Avenue center line; thence continuing along the Sun Avenue center line to an intersection with the Meacham Avenue center line; thence proceeding south

The place of registration and voting will be the ELMONT ROAD SCHOOL, ELMONT, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point in the boundary line between School District No. 16 and School District No. 22 at the intersection of the center line of Plainfield Avenue and a line approximately 100 feet north of and parallel to Chelsea Street; thence continuing easterly along this line to the intersection of Chelsea Street and Makofske Avenue thence south in a straight line to the northern boundary of Beth David Cemetery; thence westerly along the northern boundary of Beth David Cemetery to the center line of Elmont Road; thence northerly along the center line of Elmont Road to the intersection of Elmont Road and the Hempstead Turnpike; thence westerly along the center line of the Hempstead Turnpike to the intersection of the Hempstead Turnpike and Plainfield Avenue, thence northerly along the center line of Plainfield Avenue to the point or place of beginning.

ELECTION DISTRICT 5.

The place of registration and voting will be the GOTHAM AVENUE SCHOOL, Elmont, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point on the westerly boundary line of District No. 16 at its intersection with the center line of Hempstead Turnpike; thence easterly along the center line of Hempstead Turnpike to its intersection with the Elmont Road center line; thence south along the center line of Elmont

The place of registration and voting will be the DUTCH BROADWAY SCHOOL, Elmont, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point on the Linden Boulevard center line where it intersects the Elmont Road center line; thence proceeding southeasterly along the Linden Boulevard center line and continuing on a projection of this line along the Southern State Parkway to its intersection with the District No. 16 easterly boundary line; thence continuing in a northeasterly direction along the District No. 16 easterly boundary line, to the intersection of Meacham Avenue and F Street; thence northerly along a center line of Meacham Avenue to a point approximately 20 feet northerly of Star Avenue; thence westerly along said line to the eastern boundary line of the Beth David Cemetery; thence southerly along the east boundary line of Beth David Cemetery; thence westerly along the south boundary line of Beth David Cemetery to its intersection with the Elmont Road center line; thence continuing in a southwesterly direction along the Elmont Road center line to a line formed by the extension of the Northerly Boundary of Elmont Memorial High School ; thence westerly said line to a point 25 feet west of Kirby Road; thence north westerly to a point 25 north of Renfrew Avenue; thence westerly on a line approximately 25 feet north and parallel to a point approximately 25 feet east of Rye Street northerly on a line

ELECTION DISTRICT 7.

The place of registration and voting will be the ALDEN TERRACE SCHOOL, Valley Stream, New York, with said Election District commencing at a point in the westerly boundary of District No. 16 at its intersection with the center line of Dutch Broadway; thence southerly along the westerly boundary line of School District No. 16; to the intersection of Elmont Road and Sobro Avenue thence southeasterly along the center line of Sobro Avenue continuing southeasterly then northeasterly along the boundary of School District No. 16 to the northerly side of the Southern State Parkway thence westerly along the Southern State Parkway to the center line of Linden Boulevard thence westerly along the center line of Linden Boulevard to the intersection of Linden Boulevard and Elmont Road thence northerly along the center line of Elmont Road to the intersection of Elmont Road and Dutch Broadway thence westerly along the center line of Dutch Broadway to the point or place of beginning.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that nominations for the office of members of the Board of Education and members of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library shall be made by petition, which petition shall name the specific seat the candidate seeks by naming the Board member who occupies the seat and whose term expires on June 30, 2025 and which petition shall be subscribed by

not less than THIRTYEIGHT (38) qualified voters of the school district, addressed to the District Clerk and filed with the District Clerk at her office no later than 5:00 PM on Monday, APRIL 21, 2025. Please be advised that the schools and district offices will be closed the week of April 14, 2025. Said petitions to run for a seat on the Board of Education and the Library Board will be available in the District Office at 135 Elmont Road, on any day school is in session between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM and on Monday, April 21, 2025 until 5:00 PM.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that copies of the written estimates of expenses for the school year 2025-2026 (proposed budgets) to be voted on, together with the text of any resolution which will be presented to the voters will be available on request to any qualified voter of the district on and after May 13, 2025, and may be obtained at each school building of the District between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM on each school day on and after such date.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that any proposition or question to be placed upon the voting machines shall be submitted in writing by petition subscribed by at least 1,000 qualified voters of the District and filed with the office of the District Clerk between

the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, not later than the 30th day preceding the meeting or election at which time such question or proposition shall be voted upon, except that this rule shall not apply to those questions or propositions which are required to be stated in the published or posted notice of the meeting or to those propositions or questions which the Board of Education has authority by law to present any Annual or Special Meeting of the District.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Chapter 258 of the Laws of 2008, Section 495 was added to the Real Property Tax Law and requires the School District to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. In addition, said exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the district for public notices and on any website maintained by the

District.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Board authorizes the District Clerk to appoint qualified persons as Chairpersons for the annual District elections at the following locations:

Election District No. 1

Election District No. 2

Election District No. 3

Election District No. 4

Election District No. 5

Election District No. 6

Election District No. 7

The Board authorizes the District Clerk to appoint qualified persons as Co-Chairpersons for the annual District elections at the following locations:

Election District No. 1

Election District No. 2

Election District No. 3

Election District No. 4

Election District No. 5

Election District No. 6

Election District No. 7

The Board authorizes the District Clerk to appoint qualified clerks to assist the District Clerk, the Board of Registration, and the Inspectors of Election on the registration day and at the annual District elections at the following locations:

Election District No. 1

Election District No. 2

Election District No. 3

Election District No. 4

Election District No. 5

Election District No. 6

Election District No. 7

The Board authorizes the following qualified person to be appointed, as Coordinator, for the annual District election:

Diana Delahanty

The District Clerk shall attend on registration day and on Election

Day each of the seven (7) separate election districts.

The Superintendent of Schools is authorized to arrange with the County Board of Elections for use of voting machines at such annual district election; and counsel is authorized to have the candidate labels and the proposition labels printed for the voting machines.

By order of the Board of Education

ANNA BARBAGALLO

Dated: 2/11/2025

District Clerk

I, ANNA BARBAGALLO, District Clerk of the Elmont Union Free School District of the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, hereby certify that the foregoing annexed extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Board of Education of said School District duly called and held on February 11, 2025 has been compared by me with the original minutes as officially recorded in my office in the Minute Book of said Board of Education, and is a true, complete and correct copy thereof, and of the whole of said original minutes so far as the same relate to the subject matters referred to in said extract.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the corporate seal of said School District this 11th day of February 2025. ANNA BARBAGALLO DISTRICT CLERK 152448

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A. Officially, it matters. Correct descriptions are important for legal reasons, and there should be no confusion when it comes to legal descriptions, because it affects whether you will have a problem with having to file for something over again in the future, or even your taxes and insurance. For example, let’s say that your old survey describes the screen room as a patio. Some surveyors, many years ago, would refer to a screened room as a patio because that was a common sales term. Unfortunately, it implies a hard ground surface material and not an actual building, causing some homeowners to spend money reapplying for a permit for an already approved screened room because the records didn’t reflect what was actually there.

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In a toxic D.C., bipartisanship is the only way forward

Acore part of my mission in Congress is bipartisanship. That may sound quaint these days, but I believe it’s what the people I represent — and, more broadly, the American people — want and deserve.

It’s also getting harder to achieve. The current climate in Washington is more toxic and polarized than I’ve ever seen. As the Democratic co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus — which is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans — I work every day to find common ground. But I can’t pretend it’s easy in an environment where performative politics too often replaces problem-solving.

Nonetheless, I’ll continue to work across party lines, and when I must, buck my own party, if it means getting things done for my constituents. Why? Because those constituents tell me to. They’re sick and tired of the partisan bickering and political point-scoring. They want results, and that’s what I’m here to do. My philosophy is as it has always been: I’ll work with anyone, regardless of party, who’s serious about delivering for the American people, but

I’ll never sacrifice my core values.

And let me be clear: there are some things this administration is doing that I cannot support, and that require relentless pushback.

The reckless budget cuts proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency are putting everything from national security to public health at risk. They not only haphazardly fired officials in charge of overseeing our nuclear stockpiles, but they’ve proposed slashing funding for pandemic preparedness, and fired those in charge of monitoring measles and avian flu, just as we face outbreaks of both. Once they realized this was a major mistake, they had a difficult time rehiring these people because they didn’t have their emails. This episode put on full display the cavalier approach DOGE is taking.

Even members of the far-right Freedom Caucus are saying enough is enough.

Problem Solvers colleague, Rep. Don Bacon, has called for targeted spending reforms, not reckless, across-the-board cuts. Another Republican, Mario DiazBalart, stresses congressional oversight, asserting that “Congress still has the power of the purse, and I zealously protect it.” And Republican Rep. Troy Balderson said President Trump’s executive orders are “getting out of control.”

Even members of the far-right Freedom Caucus are saying enough is enough. Rep. Gary Palmer argued that dismantling the Department of Education “can’t be done by executive order.” Sen. Lisa Murkowski put it simply: “That’s outside the bounds of the executive.”

our 9/11 first responders.

Opposing these efforts isn’t about partisanship; it’s about protecting our country. And many Republicans agree.

Two weeks ago, Republican Sen. Susan Collins joined Democratic Sen. Patty Murray in calling out the administration’s attempt to block emergency spending authorized by Congress. They reminded us all: “We must follow the law as it is written, not as we would like it to be.”

Across the Capitol, Republicans are standing up for our institutions. My

The national security implications are just as alarming. Reports that top officials were discussing war plans over Signal, a commercial messaging app, triggered bipartisan outrage. Republican Senators John Thune and Lindsey Graham both sounded the alarm about the serious risks posed by these lapses in judgment.

On Long Island, there have been positive examples of bipartisan cooperation to stand up for what’s right. When DOGE tried to make drastic cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program, Rep. Andrew Garbarino publicly pushed back, standing up to DOGE on behalf of

small businesses are the backbone of Long Island, fueling local economies and creating jobs.

But despite their vital role in empowering Long Islanders and enhancing local main streets, small businesses are struggling. Countless mom-and-pop shops are still reeling from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, and small-business owners are grappling with inflation and facing fierce competition from corporate giants with massive marketing budgets.

Last month I took a major step to support Long Island’s small-business community by introducing the Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally, or LOCAL, Act in the State Senate. The LOCAL Act, which was also introduced in the Assembly by member Jen Luns-

ford, would establish a tax credit for small businesses to promote their goods, products and services in local media outlets, from print and digital to television and radio.

The goal of the LOCAL Act is simple yet powerful: to help small businesses stretch their marketing dollars while connecting with their most important audience, their neighbors.

The LOCAL Act would level the playing field for Long Island’s small businesses by making marketing more affordable. It would also support local news outlets, which provide the journalism our communities rely on but that are struggling to stay afloat. As advertising revenue shrinks, more newsrooms are being forced to cut staff or shut down altogether, leaving neighborhoods without the local reporting they count on. The LOCAL Act directly addresses this issue head-on by encouraging small businesses to invest in these news outlets, providing a mutually beneficial lifeline for economic

When it comes to the state and local tax deduction, all four members of the Long Island delegation sit on the Congressional SALT Caucus, with Garbarino and I serving as co-chairs. And I commend my Republican colleagues for holding their party’s feet to the fire on this crucial Long Island issue; they have made clear to Speaker Mike Johnson that they won’t vote for legislation that doesn’t include raising the SALT deduction.

Internationally, Republican leaders like Sen. Roger Wicker and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick have shown courage by continuing to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. They understand that peace doesn’t come from appeasement — it comes from strength and unity.

These Republicans aren’t breaking with their party for political gain. They’re doing it because they know what’s at stake.

We need to encourage other Republicans to speak out — to find the courage to stand up not only for their constituents, but also for the country. We need more courage, more cooperation, more commitment to doing what’s right. I will keep fighting for results alongside my colleagues, no matter their party. We have to work together. The stakes are too high for either party to go it alone.

Tom Suozzi represents the 3rd Congressional District.

The LOCAL Act: a lifeline for L.I.’s small businesses opinions

growth.

i t would level the playing field for them by making marketing more affordable.

When small businesses thrive, so do their communities. The LOCAL Act would focus on supporting any business with 10 or fewer employees as well as minority-, woman- and veteran-owned businesses of any size. For many owners of these businesses, the ability to advertise affordably in trusted, community-driven platforms like local newspapers would be a gamechanger. Local media outlets are well positioned to connect businesses with their neighbors and loyal customers who are eager to shop locally and uplift their communities.

Small businesses do more than drive economic growth — they strengthen the neighborhoods they serve, sponsor local initiatives and reflect the cultural identity of their communities. For this reason, The LOCAL Act has already garnered strong support from business groups across Long Island and the state, including the Long Island Association,

the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business and the thousands of small businesses each organization represents, as well as the more than 200 newspapers that make up the Empire State Local News Coalition. This is a testament to the urgency and importance of this legislation.

The LOCAL Act is a clear benefit for all New Yorkers. It’s a chance to make sure every dollar invested in marketing can help Long Island foster a vibrant economic environment where small businesses can grow and communities can prosper.

State legislators have a real chance to invest in solutions that make a difference for businesses and local economies across New York this year. By working alongside the Long Island business and local news community to pass this transformative bill, we will empower small businesses, uplift local journalism and create stronger, more vibrant communities for generations to come.

ToM sUoZZi

Monica Martinez represents the 4th State Senate District.

opInIons

Just when you thought we

At a time when extreme political partisanship threatens to divide our nation, it is reassuring to realize that there are those who can engage people across the political aisle without sacrificing or surrendering their principles. The classic example of working to find solutions to serious issues while disagreeing amicably was the storied relationship between President Ronald Reagan and House Speaker Tip O’Neill in the 1980s.

Reagan was the most staunchly conservative president of the past 80 years, and O’Neill as liberal as any speaker ever. I use the term “relationship” rather than “friendship” because people who worked for O’Neill didn’t share the genuinely warm feelings Reagan had for him. But that didn’t prevent these two larger-than-life, strong-minded leaders of their respective political parties from respecting the office the other held and accepting their joint responsibility to find ways to get things done. Probably the best-known example of this cooperation was their agreement on Social Security, the “third rail” of poli-

Itics, which saved the system and strengthened it for another 40 years.

Though not as cordial, President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich found ways to work together in the mid-1990s, achieving successes for the country on such critical issues as welfare reform and the only balanced budget in a half-century. But that didn’t come easily. For the first two years of Gingrich’s speakership, after leading Republicans in 1994 to their first control of Congress in 40 years, he and Clinton were bitter, partisan rivals.

were

hopelessly divided . . .

calmly about politics and serious issues, including the direction of the country.

A

t King Umberto’s in Elmont, diners show a highprofile Democrat some love.

Then, when Clinton stalemated Gingrich by being re-elected in 1996, both realized that it made more governmental, and political, sense to find common ground. And they did.

It wasn’t anywhere near the same magnitude, but a similar bipartisan spirit prevailed last week, when my wife, Rosemary, and I had dinner with former Gov. David Paterson and his wife, Mary, at King Umberto’s in Elmont. Paterson is a lifelong Democrat whose father was a well-known state senator and Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. Despite our party differences, David and I have been friends over the years, and can talk

At King Umberto’s the conversation and the food were great, and, adding to the bipartisanship, Nassau County Republican Chairman Joe Cairo came by to say hello and exchange words of friendship and respect with Paterson. So here you had Cairo, the most successful political chairman in the country, having led the Republicans to more victories throughout Nassau than at any time since 1971, and Paterson, a former Democratic governor, displaying friendship and respect to each other in full view of a restaurant full of diners.

As we got up to leave, I was stopped by a number of customers who said hello and wished me well. I appreciated their kind words but wasn’t that surprised — not because I’m universally acclaimed, but because they were Republicans, and I’d been in elective office for 45 years. In fact, all told me they had voted for President Trump. What did surprise me were the universal expressions of friendship and support for Paterson:

“We need more Democrats like you.”

“Is there any way you could run for mayor this year?”

“I always respected you as governor.”

That’s how it went, from table to table, as we made our way to the door. I realize that was only a snapshot in time, and not a scientific survey. But as a political practitioner for all these years, I was pleasantly surprised that in these extraordinarily partisan times, a lifelong Democrat would receive such a warm response from a strong Republican crowd.

It could well have been that Paterson reminded them of a time that was more civil, that he was never known to be an extreme partisan or maybe just that he seemed so comfortable spending an evening with Republicans. Whatever the reasons, it was a signal to me that there’s still a place for bipartisanship. Nassau is in many ways the ultimate politically competitive county. There are 100,000 more registered Democrats here, but Trump carried Nassau by 30,000 votes, and Republicans hold every county office and control all three towns and two cities. At the same time, Democrats hold the majority of the state legislative districts. But with all the political infighting and the close balance of power, Joe Cairo and I are proud to show our friendship with and respect for a prominent Democrat like Paterson. Could be a good model for the country.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

The Voice of America has been silenced

love old war movies. The battle scenes that have been colorized help bring old films back to life. I enjoy spy movies that feature brave private citizens using makeshift radio transmitters to relay the enemy’s battle plans. Many of the heroes are eventually captured and put to death, but their valor is praised and monuments are created in their memory. These old memories came alive when I learned that the U.S. Agency for Global Media was defunding Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. These two agencies reach an average of 47.4 million people a week in locations around the world. Their staff of 1,700 has programs that communicate in 27 languages to 23 countries. Their voice is heard in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Middle East. They were founded in 1950, with the blessing of President Dwight Eisenhower. If you live in Levittown or Long Beach, your initial reaction might be, why should anyone care about broadcast-

ing to countries that are controlled by dictators? No one in our region wants us to be engaged in another war, but if we can spread truthful information around the globe, words can be more important than bullets. China, Russia and Iran spend billions of dollars telling people what a bad country America is.

We get our daily news from traditional media, podcasts and outlets like Facebook, X and Instagram. People who live in the Ukraine or Iran have found ways to make contact with Radio Free Europe, their only source of real news. Without it and Radio Liberty, they are inundated with propaganda telling them about the “Evil Americans” who will desert them if there is any conflict. Up to a month ago, the two networks were working 24 hours a day to tell the world about America’s technological successes and our many new business achievements. They were also working to help free independent journalists from countries controlled by our political enemies. In fact, it was the Trump administration that helped free the journalist Andrey Kuznechyk from captivity in Belarus, a victory for the West.

F or dictators, there’s great news about Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.

Dictators around the world want to see Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty go out of business because they get in the way of their propaganda machines. In 1981, a terrorist bomb exploded at the Munich headquarters of the two groups, injuring six and causing over $1 million in damage to the building.

After that episode, many Europeans thought maybe it was time to shut down their operations. When it looked like the groups would cave in and shut down for good, the Russians ramped up their efforts to downgrade America, and support for the networks strengthened again.

During the failed Soviet overthrow of some of its neighbors, then President Boris Yeltsin decided that the two companies provided helpful information for his country, and they received official accreditation. For a short time the networks operated offices in Moscow. When it was suggested that the Moscow offices be closed, they relocated to Prague, Czechoslovakia, with the blessings of then President Vaclav Havel. History will show that changing events kept the two groups alive.

Following the violent breakup of Yugoslavia, RFE/RL began broadcasting in Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian so they could be of service to the people in that region. A bureau was established in North Macedonia, for Albanians and Macedonian, in 2001. Once again there was pressure for a shutdown, but a series of armed aggressions by Russia brought about an increase in the networks’ operations.

With this history, it’s hard to understand why our new Department of Government Efficiency, run by billionaire Elon Musk, decided that the funding for these nonprofits should be eliminated. Clearly Musk knows nothing about theses two operations, their successes and the role they have played in fighting for democracy around the globe.

The good news is that the Czech government has stepped forward to provide funding for them. This short-term solution will help send the message of the West to the East and Far East. But the failure of America to step up is a sign of an administration that is truly out of touch with reality.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. Comments about this column? jkremer@ liherald.com.

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tCelebrating the vitality of our libraries

he 54 public libraries in Nassau County and the 53 in Suffolk have long been pillars of knowledge and civic engagement.

More than just buildings filled with books, they are hubs of learning and connection. As we celebrate the 67th annual National Library Week — April 6 to 10 — it is important to recognize the invaluable role libraries play in our society, providing resources, fostering literacy, and hosting a range of community events.

Each day of National Library Week highlights a different aspect of their significance, underscoring their multifaceted contributions to their towns. While reading remains at the core of their mission, 21st-century libraries offer a vast array of services that cater to diverse community needs. From digital literacy programs to job-search assistance, they help people of all ages navigate an increasingly digital world. Free access to computers, and with them internet and research databases, empowers those who might otherwise lack these essential tools.

Libraries also serve as community centers, offering classes in everything from new languages to financial literacy. Programs for children, such as story time and summer reading challenges, foster a love of books and learning from an early age.

Most libraries also offer services for senior citizens, including technology training and social gatherings that keep them from becoming isolated. The inclu-

sivity of those services ensures that everyone, regardless of age, education or socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to learn and grow.

In a time when access to information is more important than ever, libraries remain steadfast in their commitment to education and community. They provide safe spaces for learning as well as opportunities for career advancement. Every day next week emphasizes a different facet of their importance:

Monday, April 7: Right to Read Day. The freedom to read is fundamental to democracy, yet book bans and attempts at censorship continue to threaten access to diverse perspectives. Right to Read Day serves as a rallying call for readers and library lovers and advocates to defend intellectual freedom.

The American Library Association marks the occasion by releasing its annual State of America’s Libraries report. By promoting open access to information, libraries empower their patrons to explore new ideas and think critically about the world around them.

Tuesday, April 8: National Library Workers Day. Every library has a team of dedicated professionals who make its services possible. This day is an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the efforts of librarians, archivists and support staff, who not only manage collections but also offer patrons guidance, research assistance and technological support. Their work ensures that libraries remain welcoming spaces for learn-

ing and discovery.

Wednesday, April 9: National Library Outreach Day

Libraries are not confined to physical buildings; they extend their services to underserved populations through outreach programs. Whether it’s bookmobiles bringing literature to rural areas, mobile internet access for remote communities or library partnerships with schools and shelters, outreach initiatives ensure that no one is excluded from the benefits of library resources. National Library Outreach Day celebrates these efforts and the professionals dedicated to meeting patrons where they are.

Thursday, April 10: Take Action for Libraries Day

Libraries depend on advocacy and support to continue their mission. On this day, their patrons are encouraged to speak up for policies and funding that sustain library programs.

From securing government funding to rallying local support, Take Action day reminds us of the power of collective action in protecting and expanding library services. Whether creating petitions, attending town hall meetings or simply spreading awareness, everyone can play a role in strengthening libraries for future generations.

This year’s Library Week theme is “Drawn to the Library,” with the goal of bringing more people from the community into libraries. If you haven’t been to your library recently, stop by. You can check out a book — and so much more.

It’s up to us to minimize the damage to history

To the Editor:

Re last week’s editorial, “History should not be a political casualty”: History, as history teaches, is inseparable from politics, and thus constantly in opinions’ crossfire, sometimes becoming a specific issue. As history also reveals, efforts to suppress or over-write reality mostly fail.

The musketeers in the Trump administration who are assigned to sniff out any aromas of diversity, equity and inclusion are one line of attack in MAGA’s self-described “culture war.” The current social, economic, political and religious hierarchies are to be reconstructed, which requires construction sites to be created and cleared. That demolition is underway, and will damage the fabric of American history.

In war, as Winston Churchill noted, truth is often the first casualty, and that is what uprooting DEI is all about. But because

opinions We must protect our immigrants

the current threat of deportation for many of long island’s immigrants is unjust, unwise and cruel. Members of Pax Christi long island, representing the Catholic peace movement, urge our community to recognize the long tradition of Catholic social teaching that guides us to the command of Jesus in Matthew 25 that we “welcome the stranger.”

as a devout Jew, Jesus knew well the command of leviticus 19:33-34: “When an alien resides with you in your land, do not mistreat such a one. you shall treat the alien who resides with you no different than the natives born among you …”

Catholic bishops:

Our belief in the dignity of the human person demands that we treat immigrants with respect and recognize their great contributions. But our nation imposes quotas and bureaucracies that make legal immigration overwhelmingly difficult, and brands those who flee their troubled homelands as “illegals.”

at this time, our nation seems to be both shunning and relying on immigrants. as a new surge of poisonous nativism creates fear among the immigrant communities, Pope Francis has spoken clearly in a letter to american

“i have followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations. The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality. at the same time, one must recognize the right of a nation to defend itself and keep communities safe from those who have committed violent or serious crimes while in the country or prior to arrival. That said, the act of deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness. . . . The true common good is promoted when society and government, with creativity and strict respect for the rights of all — as i have affirmed on numerous occasions — welcomes, protects, promotes and integrates the most fragile, unprotected and vulnerable.”

Letters

“casualty” does not always mean “fatality,” it is up to us to minimize the damage, end the assault and repair the fabric. That task is also underway. Join in.

Brian Kelly Rockville Centre

Trump’s EPA can’t ignore reality of greenhouse gases

To the editor:

i am a concerned citizen calling for urgent action regarding President Trump’s stance on global warming and the environment. The administration’s proposal to reconsider the environmental Protection agency’s endangerment finding is reckless, anti-science, and a huge step backward for climate action. This decision isn’t just about politics — it puts our health, environment and future on the line.

The endangerment finding, established in 2009, is based on clear scientific evidence that greenhouse gases harm public health and the planet. it’s been the legal backbone for policies that reduce emissions from cars, power plants and industry. Without it, we lose a key tool for fighting climate change — and that’s exactly what polluters want.

The reality is, climate change isn’t some distant threat. it’s here. We’re see-

as long island residents, we have deep connections with the immigrant community. They are family members, friends, classmates, neighbors and coworkers. Our decades of experience show that most immigrants are hardworking and law-abiding. The immigration research institute reports that immigrants account for 22 percent of long island’s economic output. across new york state, undocumented immigrants contribute $1.1 billion in state and local taxes.

We value and respect local law enforcement officers. We remind them that enforcing federal policy on immigrants is the responsibility of the federal government. We urge local law enforcement to refrain from collaboration with federal immigration agencies, such as immigration and Customs enforcement, unless a person is detained because of a criminal act or has a criminal record. We also remind local law enforcement that:

ship have always been respected as places of refuge. no law enforcement agency should be allowed to violate those spaces without probable cause.

■ People reporting crimes should not be forced to prove their identity before they are helped. This is especially true in cases of domestic violence.

■ Minors should not be intimidated or questioned unnecessarily; rather, they should be protected.

Pax Christi long island stands with our immigrant community because it’s the right thing to do. We acknowledge their sizable contribution to the health and welfare of long island. We ask all long islanders to embrace and protect them nonviolently from injustice and abuse. We hope to remain true to our religious tradition and the universal standard of decency, by treating all people the way we would like to be treated.

ing record-breaking heat, wildfires, floods and hurricanes that devastate communities. Our state is not immune to these catastrophes, and the administration’s actions would reverse progress.

Gutting this policy ignores science and common sense at a time when we need stronger action, not more rollbacks.

This also sends a terrible message to the rest of the world. While other countries are working toward clean energy solutions, the U.S. risks becoming a climate laggard instead of a leader.

We can’t let this happen. We need to push back against this dangerous move and demand real climate solutions. The health of our planet — and future generations — depends on it. The e Pa should scrap its plan to undo this regulation and maintain the rules that are protecting all of us, and the air and water we rely on.

Kaili DeSanTiS Oyster Bay

‘We must make our voices heard’ on Social Security

To the editor: Social Security isn’t a handout — it’s a promise that millions of us older a mericans have paid into with every paycheck. This administration is dis-

■ no one can enter a private dwelling unless they have a warrant signed by a judge. an administrative order signed by iCe does not meet legal criteria for entering a private dwelling.

■ Hospitals, schools, and places of wor-

Pax Christi Long Island members Sister Mary Beth Moore and Sister Evelyn Lamoureux are Catholic nuns who have worked with immigrants for decades. Pax Christi Long Island can be contacted at catholic peaceli@gmail.com.

Framework by Tim Baker

mantling an essential program, closing offices, cutting hotlines, and spreading misinformation to justify these attacks. We elders deserve dignity, not broken promises.

We must stand together and make

our voices heard. We cannot allow our american way of life to be decimated, and all the promises we believed in to be broken.

Two members of the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve welcoming committee — Merrick

DOnna PaOlinO Bellmore

marY BetH moore

eVeLYn LamoUreUX