‘Playroom to Podium’ rally calls for child care reform
By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
More than 100 community members gathered at the Innovative Daycare Corp, in Freeport, on Monday for “From Playroom to Podium: A Rally for Child Care Justice,” a vibrant two-hour event calling for equity, funding and recognition for child care providers.
The rally was part of the national Day Without Child Care movement, founded in 2021 by a coalition of early-childhood educators under the umbrella of Community Change, a progressive community-organizing group whose members include IDC’s
founder, Janna Rodriguez.
“We’re here today not just to rally,” Rodriguez told the crowd, “but to remind this country what holds it together, and it’s called care, children and community.”
Rodriguez, a longtime advocate, educator and small-business owner, was central to organizing the only Long Island-based action for the day. The rally featured a lineup of speakers that included elected officials, parents, high school interns and even young children who are enrolled at the day care facility.
Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy attended, and presented Rodriguez with a citation
Continued on page 10
Rotary unites to pack duffels for veterans
By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
Veterans who once served with honor and distinction but now face homelessness will be at the heart of a community effort on Saturday, when volunteers gather at Freeport High School to assemble hundreds of “Dignity Duffel” bags filled with essential items.
The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to noon at the high school, at 50 S. Brookside Ave., is open to the public.
Enie and Susan Sherman founded the organization, and will attend the event alongside local Rotarians and more than 60 expected volunteers, including students from Freeport High School’s Interact Club.
“The day of service is an important project for the community and helps homeless veterans,” Rotary President Jordan Pecora wrote in a text message.
ven a little bit goes a long
way.
D
eRosEttE HARRIsoN manager, Rotary project
The project, led by the FreeportMerrick Rotary Club in partnership with the nonprofit General Needs, is part of Rotary’s nationwide EPIC Day of Service, an initiative that seeks to show the power of collective action with Rotary Clubs across the nation carrying out different service projects in unison.
General Needs, a Long Island-based nonprofit, provides basic necessities to homeless and at-risk veterans while treating recipients with “the utmost dignity.”
Husband and wife duo Lon-
“The Freeport Merrick Rotary club wanted to support this endeavor and has been participating in this event for the past three years.”
“This service project means a lot to our veterans who served our country and provides them with essential items to make their lives better,” Pecora continued.
DeRosette Harrison, a fiveyear Rotary member and the event’s project manager, emphasized the personal meaning behind the work.
“So many of the people receiving this are homeless and maybe not by choice,” Harrison said.
“These men served our coun-
Continued on page 7
Courtesy IDC
Mayor Robert Kennedy presented Janna Rodriguez with a citation of recognition for her leadership and child care advocacy.
Moxey Rigby redevelopment moves ahead
Construction remains on schedule at the Moxey Rigby site, even if progress isn’t immediately visible to passersby.
Demolition has wrapped up at the long-vacant Merrick Road property in Freeport, and construction preparations are now underway as developers move into the next phase of the project.
“The demolition is complete. As we file our permits for the next stage, we’re removing the garbage and preparing the site for the foundations,” says BOSFA’s Development Manager Benjamin Diehl. “We’re at the construction document stage.
“The Village Building Department is reviewing all our documents. Once they approve the foundation permit, we’ll start pouring the foundation. You will see concrete trucks going in and out this summer.”
The redevelopment plan, which aims to breathe new life into the abandoned site, is on track for completion in December 2026, according to Diehl. Originally, the goal was to retain as much of the existing structure as possible, but plans ultimately shifted toward a full interior and exterior renovation. The result will be a modernized, energyefficient apartment complex.
“Elevators, lobbies, and expanded hallways have been added which will make it significantly easier for residents to navigate the building,” Diehl says. “This design will afford ample out-
A rendering shows the future design of the 200-unit Moxey Rigby apartment complex, which will include outdoor gardens, modern amenities, and dedicated housing for veterans, seniors, and working families.
door garden space where residents can gather.”
The completed development will feature 200 apartments with a mix of affordability and amenities. “Elevators, lobbies, and expanded hallways have
been added which will make it significantly easier for residents to navigate the building,” Diehl says. “This design will afford ample outdoor garden space where residents can gather.” Additional offerings include a gym, clubroom, in-
unit washer and dryer, stainless steel appliances, and high-end finishes. The parking setup will include stacked parking with an attendant.
Twenty-five percent of the units will be reserved for veterans, another 25 percent for seniors, and the remaining 50 percent will be designated as workforce housing.
Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy praised the progress, emphasizing both the economic and social benefits of the project.
“We’re really glad that everything is on track,” says Village of Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy. “We had a vacant property that wasn’t generating tax revenue, and now we will have a beautiful site that benefits not just the tenants but all our community.”
The Merrick Road location is within walking distance of Target and other businesses, and officials believe the completed complex will contribute to a broader revitalization of the area.
“A bonus is that with workforce housing, we’ll be able to give more of our young people and young families an option to stay on Long Island,” Kennedy says. “Combine that with the trade school that we’re going to put in The Armory Complex, and people will have even more reasons to come to the Village of Freeport.”
–Mohammad Rafiq
3-Year-Old
Pre-K Lottery Enrolled by lottery
Dual Language offerings available in Kindergarten
Children must be three (3), four (4), or five (5) years old on or before December 1, 2025 to be eligible.
Families must reside in Roosevelt to enroll.
Courtesy BOFSA Management
HERALD SCHOOLS
Freeport’s Dodd Middle School hosted its annual Health and Wellness fair on May 2 with local businesses, school clubs and organizations.
Dodd hosts Mental Health and Wellness Fair
To mark the start of Mental Health Awareness Month, Dodd Middle School held its annual Mental Health and Wellness Fair on May 2, offering students a day of resources, activities, and education focused on emotional well-being.
“It is imperative our students know they have the support they need when it comes to their mental health and wellness,” said Stacie Gustavo-Weaver, physical education teacher and fair coordinator.
More than 20 local organizations took part, alongside a range of interactive stations including painting, bracelet making, hygiene education, dancing, and a photo booth. The activities encouraged students
to engage in creative, hands-on ways of caring for their mental health.
“We are so thankful to the local businesses and our internal clubs and activities for participating in the annual Mental Health and Wellness Fair at Dodd,” said Principal Christopher Porciello. “Ours students’ success goes far beyond academics and this event ensures they have access to the tools and resources they need to achieve their goals.”
The fair is part of Dodd’s broader commitment to supporting students not just academically, but also emotionally and mentally.
–Mohammad Rafiq
Students visited representatives from local organization that provide mental health and wellness resources.
Photos courtesy Freeport Public Schools
Dodd Middle School students participated in a variety of interactive activities that support overall mental health and wellness during the fair on May 2.
More than 20 local businesses and organizations participated in the fair.
Herald file photo
A Forgotten American Treasure
Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac appeared from 1732 to 1758. Amongst other information, it provided pithy sayings and proverbs, many of which have withstood the test of time.
“An empty bag cannot stand upright.”
“Anger is never without a reason, but seldom a good one.”
“Anoint a villain and he’ll stab you: stab him and he’ll anoint you.”
“An old young man will be a young old man.”
“Don’t think to hunt two hares with one dog.”
“Eat few suppers and you’ll need few medicines.”
“Great almsgiving, lessens no man’s living.”
ETTINGER
“Happy’s the wooing that’s not long a doing.”
“He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.”
“If your riches are yours, why don’t you take them with you to the other world.”
“Lost time is never found again.”
“The noblest question in the world is, what good may I do in it?”
“They who have nothing to trouble them, will be troubled at nothing.”
“The sleeping fox catches no poultry.”
“The tongue is ever turning to the aching tooth.”
FIRM
Coast Guard Auxiliary instructors will lead a hands-on boating safety course at the Freeport Recreation Center on May 18, helping participants earn their license and navigate local waterways with confidence.
Boating safety course offered May 18 at Rec Center
The Village of Freeport is inviting residents to take part in a comprehensive boating safety course on Sunday, May 18, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Freeport Recreation Center, 130 E. Merrick Road.
Open to anyone age 10 and older, the one-day, in-person course is taught by members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
The class covers a wide range of essential boating topics, including boat types, engine basics, fueling procedures, trailer setup, navigation buoys, and right-of-way rules.
“You’ll learn everything in this class,’” explains JoEllen Krut, flotilla commander. “All of our instructors are captains. Once you complete the class, you will receive your boating license. If you take the class online, you’ll only get a certificate that you have to get signed, then have it sent to the state and finally when they mail it back, you take that to the Department of Motor Vehicles and get your license. When you walk out of the in-person class, you’ll have your license.”
Krut noted that unlike online courses, which require extra steps to obtain a license, attendees of the in-person
course will walk out with their license the same day. In New York, a license is required to operate a boat and register one — and being caught without it can result in a ticket.
While New York is currently the only state to mandate a boating license, the license issued in this course meets both federal and state standards and is valid nationwide.
Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy, himself a licensed captain, urged residents to consider the course even if they don’t plan to drive a boat.
“If you’re going to be on a boat, it is a good idea to take the class,” says Kennedy, who also is a captain. “This is an excellent class, and when you complete it, you will have your boating license. And, you’ll be surprised how much you’ll know about boating and boating safety. We have beautiful waterways here in Freeport and we want everyone to enjoy them safely.”
The class fee is $50 for adults and $35 for participants ages 10–17. Attendees are encouraged to bring a bagged lunch. To register, call (516) 377-2311.
–Mohammad Rafiq
(Kindergarten
VALENTINA KESABIAN
Clarke Senior Lacrosse
IT’S BEEN AN IMPRESSIVE rise for Clarke’s girls’ lacrosse program since it endured a winless 2022 campaign, and Kesabian has been a major part of the turnaround. Last spring she helped lead the Rams to 10 wins, scoring 26 goals and earning All-Conference honors in the process. This season, both the third-year attack and the team continued to flourish. Kesabian finished with 39 goals and 13 assists, and Clarke won 12 of 15 games.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, May 15
Softball playoffs: First round at higher seed ...................TBA
Boys Lacrosse:
G.N. South at V.S. Central ..........................5 p.m.
Friday, May 16
Boys Lacrosse: Garden City at Carey....................4:30 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Oceanside at Farmingdale................5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Plainedge at South Side ...................5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Massapequa at Syosset ...................5 p.m.
Saturday, May 17
Softball: Nassau quarterfinals at higher seed ................TBA
Monday, May 19
Softball: Nassau semifinals GM1 at higher seed ...........TBA
Tuesday, May 20
Softball: Nassau semifinals GM2 at lower seed.............TBA
Baseball: Nassau Class A quarterfinals GM 3 ................TBA
Baseball: Nassau Class B semifinals GM 2 ...................TBA
Baseball: Nassau Class AAA play-in games ...................TBA
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
Freeport racks up eight victories
By MICHELLE RABINOVICH sports@liherald.com
In her first season at the helm of the varsity Freeport girls’ lacrosse team, Lauren Chimeri brought the program to an 8-5 conference record. With assistant coach Gina Rowan by her side, the Red Devils held their own against some tough competition.
Chimeri noted that the contests against Wheatley, West Hempstead and Malverne were all tight, and because of the difficulty on the field, the players’ true resiliency shone through.
Freeport played the way the Knicks play in playoffs, next to no substitutions. In large part, it was due to injuries, something that nobody has control over. With that, Chimeri was beaming with pride for her players.
“That being said, I am always extremely proud of the girls, they always pull together as a team, give their all and never give up until the final horn,” she said. “They always remain[ed] poised and sportsmanlike even when playing very aggressive teams.”
Freeport finished the year with a three-game win streak, besting Sewanhaka on May 1, Elmont May 5 and Herricks May 8.
In the Herricks victory, senior Ciana Kunen shone, with four goals and an assist for the Lady Devils. The co-captain ended the season with 40 goals in the 2025 campaign.
While Kunen, a midfielder, saw time at the draw control, so did freshman Kiara Perez, another midfielder. She netted 10 goals, and Chimeri said that Perez has lots of potential.
Another key part of the offense was junior Ava Smith, an attacker by nature. She found the back of the net 30 times, and has thrown her support to the midfield when called upon.
Filling out the offensive line were seniors Leah Awalom and Ashley Zavala, who Chimeri noted as significantly stepping up this spring to net goals with a dozen.
On the defensive side of the field was junior Julia Mendoza-Pineyro along
with seniors Janiya Hancock and Bryana Quiros. Chimeri highlighted how Mendoza-Pineyro was a great captain leader on the field as a defensive midfielder, wreaking havoc amongst opponents to come up with ground balls and causing turnovers. Her and Hancock went together on that front, helping Quiros, the senior goalie, see as few shots on goal as possible. Quiros ended the season, her second in-net, with over 40 saves.
With no postseason trip, and the school year on the verge of wrapping up, it creates for the perfect opportunity to introspect.
“We will start getting the team together over the winter for indoor practice to prepare for next season. We will focus on strengthening the fundamentals,” Chimeri said. “I think next season looks bright for the lady devils. I already can’t wait to get started.”
That leaves the question of who will be on the field for the 2026 season: Shania Hazel is expected to start in the cage next season for Freeport, as 11 seniors are graduating this year. After that, it comes down to the returners and the talent on the junior varsity squad, something that Chimeri has been eyeing for some time recently.
Paul Grassini/Herald
Ashley Zavala scored a dozen goals to help the Red Devils win eight of 13 games against conference rivals.
Volunteers still wanted for Day of Service
try,” she added. “They played a role in my personal freedom. For whatever reason that they are down, they are not out, and it’s about giving a leg up.”
The endeavor involves volunteers packing the essential items in 240 to 250 duffel bags, which will be distributed to shelters over the coming weeks.
Past recipients of the duffel bags included Long Island Cares in Freeport and shelters in Queens.
Each bag will contain new socks, underwear, undershirts, bath towels, washcloths, and personal care items such as toothbrushes, razors, and 3-in-1 shampoo. Playing cards and nail clippers are also included to offer comfort and a sense of care.
“We’re not changing their life in a day,” Harrison said. “But we can help them today, while they make an effort to figure out the rest of their situation.”
Each participating Rotary Club and partner organization — including Ridgewood Savings Bank and Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Inc. — has pledged to supply at least 240 pieces of each item, for a total of more than 1,000 individual care items.
In addition to the Freeport-Merrick club, other groups involved include the Rotaries of Mineola-Garden City, Floral Park-Bellerose, South Queens, Southwest Queens, and Hempstead-Uniondale.
“I like the fact of giving back to our
community,” Harrison said about what draws her to the Rotary and to volunteering. “To whom much is given, much is required. If I can give back of my time or finances, I’d like to do that.”
Rotary’s EPIC Day of Service brings together more than 800 clubs and tens of thousands of members across the country for a single day of action.
General Needs said the event is a
chance to provide veterans with necessities while inspiring lasting change.
“The urgency of their needs calls for immediate action,” the organization said in a statement. “To help restore their dignity, General Needs has partnered with local Rotary Clubs to address the needs of veterans while inspiring hope and creating meaningful change.”
To volunteer, visit EpicDayofService. org and search for the Freeport-Merrick project.
To learn more about General Needs Ltd. visit GeneralNeeds.org or email info@generalneeds.org.
“It’s a small part,” Harrison said. “To see how they are so grateful, you can see the thankfulness that somebody cared. Even a little bit goes a long way.”
Attend Hofstra’s Virtual
GRADUATE OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, June 7, 2025 10 a.m.
At Hofstra University, graduate students grow the seeds to advance in their career. Hear from representatives across 200 programs that include business, communications, education, engineering, health sciences, nursing, and psychology, and learn all the ways your success can sprout at Hofstra University. Your future awaits.
For event details and to RSVP, visit hofstra.edu/visit
Courtesy DeRosette Harrison
getting together to pack duffel bags at 2024’s epiC day of Service were rotarians ari Case, marc rigeur, michael Harowitz, derosette Harrison, Christopher mcBride, Comfort itoka, Kerry gillick goldberg, volunteer Brittany goldberg, Jordan pecora, Lonnie Sherman, Susan Sherman, and Kerry esmay Hayde, along with volunteer John Hayde.
Chalk S. State crashes up to bad judgment
By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com
Second story in a series on the Southern State Parkway.
Ana Marte, 67, said that a fatal car accident on the Southern State Parkway in January changed her life.
Her grandson Anthonie Marte, 23, was severely injured in a one-car crash shortly after 11 p.m. on Jan. 12, in the eastbound lanes not far from Exit 30, near Farmingdale and Massapequa, according to the New York State Police.
Investigators said that the car in which Marte was a passenger, a black 2016 Dodge Dart, was traveling at a high rate of speed and weaving between lanes before the driver lost control and crashed into a tree.
Two rear-seat passengers, ages 23 and 21, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Jaden Dsouza, 19, of College Point, Queens, and Marte, of East Elmhurst, Queens, who was in the front passenger seat, were both extricated from the vehicle and transported to a nearby hospital in serious condition.
Marte’s grandmother said he suffered major head injuries, and she still takes care of him daily, feeding him and giving him pain medicine. He is slowly recovering, with doctors’ appointments and physical therapy. “He’s like a baby again,” she said. “He doesn’t want to go outside because he’s scared, and all he does is sleep.”
Marte does not remember the accident, his grandmother said.
Dsouza was later charged with one count of driving while ability impaired by drugs, second-degree manslaughter, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault and aggravated vehicular homicide, police said.
Crash data from the New York State Police shows a fluctuating, but persistent, pattern of accidents on the Southern State Parkway over the past six years, with the number of fatal crashes in a year reaching as high as six.
Crashes resulting in serious personal injury in Nassau have remained relatively low throughout the period, with no more than two reported in any given year.
While most incidents are non-fatal, serious crashes often involve an added risk: intoxication. Speed and distraction remain consistent contributing factors, but impairment by drugs or alcohol increases the potential for deadly outcomes.
“It’s on the driver for the most part,” State Police Capt. Mike Rhodes said. “If they’re inattentive, if they’re speeding, if they’re not following the vehicle and traffic law, they do not understand the severity of what could happen.”
Rhodes oversees 56 state troopers and eight sergeants, many of whom patrol the 25.3-mile long Southern State. Most accidents, he said, occur during peak congestion, at around 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Crash data from the state police show a fluctuating but persistent pattern of accidents on the parkway over the past six years, with fatal crashes increasing in 2024.
In 2019, there were 3,127 crashes on the Nassau County stretch of the parkway, including six fatalities. That number dropped to 2,331 in 2020, but rose again in subsequent years, reaching 2,716 in 2022 and 2,725 in 2023. In 2024, state police recorded 2,549 crashes and five fatalities. Thus far this year, there have been 328 crashes and one fatality.
“A lot of these things, they hit every single age category,” Rhodes said.
To combat the persistent problem, state police focus on enforcement and outreach. Not every traffic stop results in a citation; many serve as opportunities for education.
Personal injury attorney Stephen Cohen said that in his more than five decades of handling lawsuits, most of those that involve accidents on the Southern State involve intoxicated drivers.
Cohen, a partner at the law firm Cohen and Jaffe, in New Hyde Park, said that speed, intoxication and reckless driving continue to be the common factors in the region’s most serious accidents.
“I don’t believe road design is an issue at all,” Cohen said. “Posting more signs to slow down isn’t an answer, because when somebody is either speeding or just intoxicated, they don’t really care what the sign says.”
Many collisions during rush hour, he explained, stem from traffic congestion and insufficient braking distance. “People are gliding along, and they hit a certain spot, and all of a sudden they weren’t prepared, because they’re going 70 miles an hour,” Cohen said. “So you
see a lot of rear-end collisions, not necessarily death-related.”
Fatal crashes, he noted, often involve younger drivers, high speeds and intoxication or impairment.
“You don’t see fatalities at 11 o’clock in the morning,” Cohen said. “You just don’t. You may see them at 4 in the morning. When your ability to observe is not sharp because of either impairment or intoxication, the car is going to go airborne. And if there happens to be a tree there, that’s the next thing you’re going to hit.”
In his practice, Cohen said, the firm represents victims or passengers, but not intoxicated drivers.
Under state law, he noted, lawsuits require plaintiffs to meet the “serious injury” threshold defined in insurance law. In cases involving fatalities, death, families must petition a Surrogate’s Court to appoint a representative for the estate before filing a lawsuit. That process can take over a year, he said.
Insurance coverage limits often dictate how quickly a case can be resolved. “If somebody has — let’s say, the responsible party — has a $100,000 policy, that case is going to be over in two seconds,” Cohen said.
Efforts to reform wrongful death laws in New York have repeatedly stalled, despite advocacy from legal organizations.
Despite changes in laws and vehicle technology over the years, Cohen said, the root problems remain unchanged.
“It only seems to get worse because cars are faster than they were 20, 30 years ago,” he said. “There’s more people drinking or doing some sort of drugs. And that’s what you see in all horrific accidents.”
Additional reporting by Mohammad Rafiq.
Accident data from the New York State Police
2019 – Total: 3,987
(3,127 Nassau, 860 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 2 (Nassau)
Fatal: 8 (6 Nassau, 2 Suffolk)
2020 – Total: 2,977
(2,331 Nassau, 646 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 3 (2 Nassau, 1 Suffolk)
Fatal: 9 (6 Nassau, 3 Suffolk)
2021 – Total: 3,566
(2,782 Nassau, 784 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 1 (Nassau)
Fatal: 9 (6 Nassau, 3 Suffolk)
2022 – Total: 3,552
(2,716 Nassau, 836 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury:
5 (1 Nassau, 4 Suffolk)
Fatal: 13 (5 Nassau, 8 Suffolk)
2023 – Total: 3,500 (2,725-Nassau, 775-Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 1 (Nassau)
Fatal: 6 (3 Nassau, 3 Suffolk)
2024 – Total: 3,405 (2,549 Nassau, 856 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury:
2 (1 Nassau, 1 Suffolk)
Fatal: 15 (5 Nassau, 10 Suffolk)
2025* – Total: 426 (328 Nassau, 98 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 0
Fatal: 3 (1 Nassau, 2 Suffolk)
* To date
Tim Baker/Herald
School celebrates health and connection
The Roosevelt Union Free School District recently hosted a lively and uplifting Wellness Fair, bringing students, staff, and families together for a day focused on health, fitness, and community well-being.
From upbeat Zumba classes to calming yoga sessions, the event offered a range of activities that emphasized both physical and mental wellness. Tables filled with nutritious snacks and interactive booths provided handson ways for attendees to explore healthy habits in a fun and supportive environment.
“We are incredibly proud of how our community came together to support and celebrate wellness,” said Superintendent of Schools Shawn Wightman. “Events like these remind us of the power of connection, joy, and taking care of ourselves and each other.”
The fair served not only as a celebration of well-being but also as an opportunity to strengthen relationships across the school community. With engaging demonstrations, wellness resources, and a festive atmosphere, the event underscored the district’s ongoing commitment to holistic student and family support.
District leaders extended their gratitude to everyone who helped make the event possible, including volunteers,
Participants of all ages struck a pose during a family-friendly yoga session held in the gym.
vendors, staff and community partners who donated their time and energy.
To learn more about the Roosevelt Union Free School District, visit roos-
Nine & Dine
Teeing Off for Change
eveltufsd.org or follow updates at facebook.com/RooseveltUFSD.
–Mohammad Rafiq
HONORING MEN & COMPANIES ADVANCING WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
Photos courtesy Roosevelt Public Schools Community members shared healthy snack samples and nutrition tips at the Roosevelt School District’s Wellness Fair.
Rally amplifies urgent call for investment
recognizing her contributions, while Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé and Melissa Figueroa, deputy director of the county Office of Hispanic Affairs, made remarks.
“If we don’t have good child care, everything else grinds to a halt,” Mulé said.
“Child care professionals make it possible,” Figueroa said. “Parents can go to work every day — that directly affects our economy. We’re in full support of the day care workers across the county. You are essential workers, and we want you to know that we extend our deepest appreciation.”
Representatives from the offices of County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Legislator Seth Koslow shared messages of support.
This system is not built for people like me to
Congressman Tom Suozzi also offered his support in a statement, and organizations including Community Change Action and Home Grown had representatives onsite.
And yet we show up every single day for our children.
Janna RodRiguez CEO, Innovative Daycare Corp
Rodriguez, who is studying for a master’s degree in early childhood education at Brooklyn College and working toward a National Association for Family Child Care accreditation for her facility – which if realized would make the IDC the first daycare on Long Island to achieve the distinction – used the rally to spotlight the sector’s core challenges: low wages, underfunded infrastructure, and lack of respect for early-childhood education as a legitimate field.
“The average early-childhood educator makes $7.25 an hour in this country,” she told the crowd. “For a family that does not have child-care assistance, they’re paying $25,000 to $30,000 a year for full-time care.
“This system is not built for people like me to succeed,” Rodriguez added. “And yet we show up every single day for our children, for our families and for our community. What we need now is for the system to show up for us.”
She emphasized the urgency of sustaining and expanding funding at both the federal and state levels — and especially preserving and expanding federal support through Child Care and Development Block Grants. She warned that any cuts would further destabilize an already fragile system, called on New York state to match federal contributions and highlighted pay equity as one of the rally’s top demands.
While officials and providers discussed policy, the heart of the rally was the children. Dozens took part in face painting, crafts and games while others — like Haylie Boissard Hernandez and Mia Salome, both 6 — stepped up to the microphone to share their thoughts. Interns and parents also offered testimonials, describing how access to care shaped their lives.
As she closed the rally, Rodriguez delivered a direct appeal to the federal government. “I’m asking President Trump and his administration to prioritize children, to prioritize investment in our community background,” she said. “We need to support our workforce. We need to support our families. And most importantly, we need to uplift our children.”
One of the final speakers was little Haylie, who offered her message in full, unfiltered sincerity. “(The daycare) is important,” she said, “because you take care of people, you take care of babies, you take care of little childs, you give them food where they can grow, like a sun or a flower.”
Rodriguez explained that early-childhood education continues to be undervalued and misunderstood. Too
often, she said, child care providers are viewed as babysitters rather than educators, despite overwhelming evidence that early development is critical to lifelong learning. She emphasized that child care should be treated as essential infrastructure — not as a charitable service.
She was also clear about her bipartisan message. “I just want to really make it super clear that we should not be politicizing child care,” she said. “And we should not be utilizing it as a talking point, because the fact of the matter is, this is a lifeline for many families, and when you take it away, or you just disrupt it, you’re disrupting an entire ecosystem that really feeds a lot of other individuals and a lot of families.”
Janna rodriguez, holding nardelys mendoza, with eric poulson, director of the eoC of nassau, at the child care justice rally on monday.
County Legislator debra mulé, of freeport, attended the rally for the third year in a row, and was heralded as a constant advocate by Janna rodriguez.
a moon bounce and music kept the children at the rally entertained while their parents listened to local advocates speak.
Photos courtesy IDC
not only local elected leaders and advocates gave speeches, but also children who attend the innovative daycare Corp and intern Jordyn perry. from left were anelis torres, Haylie Hernandez, ivy magnus, emily gardiner, perry and mia Salome Contreras.
succeed.
Kepherd Daniel/Herald
Community leaders gathered to a ribbon for a $50 Million Emergency Department which opened last month and includes 54 private patient exam rooms, Level II Trauma Center & dedicated areas for pediatrics and behavioral health patients.
MSSN dedicates about $50 Million to Fennessy
By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
Mount Sinai South Nassau, the clos‑ est hospital for Freeport residents, for‑ mally dedicated its newly renovated Fennessy Family Emergency Depart‑ ment at the hospital’s Oceanside cam‑ pus on May 1, celebrating the comple‑ tion of a five‑year, $50 million project that doubles the size of the previous ED and brings state‑of‑the‑art emergency care to Long Island’s South Shore.
Hundreds of community leaders, elected officials, hospital trustees, staff and supporters gathered for the rib‑ bon‑cutting ceremony, which featured remarks by Dr. Adhi Sharma, President of Mount Sinai South Nassau; Margaret Pastuszko, President and COO of the Mount Sinai Health System; Anthony Cancellieri, Co‑Chair of the South Nas sau Community Advisory Board; and Joseph Fennessy, former Board Chair‑ man and namesake of the new Emer‑ gency Department.
The Fennessy Family ED doubles the department’s footprint to roughly the size of a football field, with 54 private exam rooms, four trauma resuscitation bays, and dedicated “neighborhoods” for pediatrics and behavioral‑health patients. Centralized nursing stations and bedside triage areas improve over sight and throughput, while enhanced air‑handling systems—designed to push infectious air outside and bring in fresh air—incorporate lessons learned during the COVID‑19 pandemic. As a Level II Trauma Center, the new ED also fea tures an adjoining radiology bay to expedite imaging for critically injured patients.
“This beautiful space represents years of planning and community sup‑ port,” said Dr. Sharma. “We built in iso‑ lation‑capable triage rooms, advanced ventilation, sound‑reducing design ele‑ ments and flexible layouts so that wheth‑ er it’s day‑to‑day emergencies or the next
pandemic, our patients, visitors and staff stay safe—and get care quickly.”
Pastuszko praised the collaboration between South Nassau leaders and the broader Mount Sinai Health System.
“It takes a village to create a facility of this caliber,” said Margaret Pastusz‑ ko. “Joe Fennessy’s generosity—and the dedication of our board and leader‑ ship—ensures South Nassau remains the flagship for advanced care on Long Island for decades to come.”
Anthony Cancellieri reflected on the fundraising campaign that generated more than $10 million in community donations toward the ED renovation.
“Joe always says ‘it’s not how much money you have, but what you do with it’—and he put his money where his mouth is,” Cancellieri noted. “We’ll see generations of Fennessys driving by, proud that their family name stands for cutting‑edge care right here in Oceans‑ ide.”
Fennessy—joined by his wife, three daughters and grandchildren—thanked attendees for recognizing the ED as the hospital’s “front door.”
“Every patient’s first impression of South Nassau comes through this emer‑ gency department,” he said. “I’m hum‑ bled that my family name will be associ‑ ated with compassion and professional‑ ism in this leading‑edge facility.”
The ED dedication caps the first phase of the four‑story, 100,000 square foot Feil Family Pavilion, which will open nine new operating rooms and 40 critical‑care suites later this spring. Funded in part by FEMA following Superstorm Sandy, the Pavilion enhanc‑ es resiliency and expands advanced ser‑ vices so area residents need not travel far for complex care.
“So many patients, their first impres‑ sion of South Nassau comes from their trip to the ED,” Fennessy said. “For us to have the kind of facility that facili‑ tates compassionate state‑of‑the‑art care is absolutely terrific,”
A bipartisan effort to protect IVF access
Gillen leads push for bill safeguarding fertility treatments, hoping for congressional momentum
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, a Democrat representing New York’s 4th Congressional District, and Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, of the 17th District, have reintroduced a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting access to in vitro fertilization across the country.
The Access to Family Building Act, which Gillen is shepherding with support from Lawler and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, seeks to federally codify the right to access IVF services. The legislation is in response to growing concerns that reproductive technologies like IVF are being threatened by recent state-level legal developments and court rulings.
During a virtual press conference on May 7, Gillen emphasized the importance of ensuring legal certainty for families relying on reproductive technology. Infertility, she said, is a widespread issue affecting Americans of all backgrounds, and she called for Congress to act swiftly to protect the procedure.
“We believe, like most Americans do, that the right to start and grow family through IVF should be protected,” Gil-
len said. “The Access to Family Building Act will simply ensure that IVF remains accessible to families in every state.”
Lawler echoed Gillen’s sentiments, sharing his own family’s experience with fertility challenges. He reaffirmed his support for protecting IVF access, calling it a nonpartisan issue with widespread public backing. Lawler also referenced other related legislative efforts he supports, including tax credits and insurance mandates to reduce the financial burden of IVF treatments.
“Access to IVF should not be a partisan issue,” he said. “We want to help people through this journey and certainly make sure that their right to IVF is protected.”
The press event also featured Barbara Collura, president and CEO of Resolve: The National Infertility Association, who stressed the emotional and financial toll of infertility and the need for guaranteed nationwide access to IVF.
“There are so many challenges that our communities face in building their families,” Collura said. “Our goal is to reduce and eliminate those barriers. We know firsthand that our communities want to know that IVF is protected in all 50 states.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IVF accounted for nearly 3 percent for U.S. births in 2022, with over 91,000 babies born through assisted reproductive technology.
Democrats that year introduced the Right to Build Families Act, to protect access to IVF and other fertility treatments amid concerns after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The bill was blocked by Senate Republicans.
The lawmakers emphasized the bipartisan nature of the new legislation, with Gillen noting that Republican support like Lawler’s is vital to passing it in the current Congress.
When the Herald asked about the path forward, both lawmakers said they planned to advocate within their parties and with the congressional leadership to advance the bill through committee and onto the House floor.
The legislation comes amid renewed national attention to IVF following recent court rulings in states like Alabama, where embryos created through IVF were legally recognized as children, prompting clinics to suspend services due to the legal risks.
“I think it’s really important to dem-
Representatives Laura Gillen and Mike
announced bipartisan legislation to protect nationwide access to in vitro fertilization at a virtual press conference on May 7.
onstrate that this is not a partisan issue,” Gillen said. “This is an easy one for us to agree on. We want to support couples and individuals who want to bring a child into the world. IVF may be the only way that they can do that.”
RichnerLIVE and Herald Gives Back
On April 8th the Herald and RichnerLIVE hosted the Top Lawyers of Long Island Awards Gala at the Heritage Club of Bethpage. The WE CARE Fund, the charitable arm of the Nassau County Bar Association, which supports a range of local nonprofits was the evening’s charity beneficiary and the recipient of $2000.
From left to right: Herald publisher and CEO Stuart Richner; RichnerLIVE executive director Amy Amato, Elizabeth Post, Jeffrey Catterson and Sandy Strenger of the Nassau County Bar Association.
Herald file photo
U.S.
Lawler
Focusing on
By Maureen Salamon
Gratitude enhances health, brings happiness It may even lengthen lives
Several evenings a week, as Tyler VanderWeele gathers around the dinner table with his wife and two young kids, the family deliberately pauses during the meal to do something simple but profound. Each shares several things for which they’re grateful — an act that VanderWeele, codirector of the Initiative on Health, Spirituality, and Religion at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, feels changes his family dynamic for the better.
“I do think it makes a difference and can be a very powerful practice,” he says. “
Gratitude, health and longevity
How can the power of gratitude affect our lives? Recent research has pointed to gratitude’s myriad positive health effects, including greater emotional and social wellbeing, better sleep quality, lower depression risks, and favorable markers of cardiovascular health. Now, new data from the longterm Nurses’ Health Study shows that it may extend lives.
“Gratitude has been one of the most widely studied activities contributing to well-being, but we couldn’t find a single prior study that looked at its effects on mortality and longevity, much to our surprise,”
says VanderWeele, research co-author. Published July 2024 in JAMA Psychiatry, the new study drew on data from 49,275 women enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study. Their average age was 79. In 2016, participants completed a six-item gratitude questionnaire in which they ranked their agreement with statements such as, “I have so much in life to be thankful for,” and “If I had to list everything I felt grateful for, it would
be a very long list.”
What did the researchers find?
Participants with gratitude scores in the highest third at the study’s start had a 9 percent lower risk of dying over the following four years than participants who scored in the bottom third. This did not change after controlling for physical health, economic circumstances, and other aspects of
mental health and well-being. Gratitude seemed to help protect participants from every cause of death studied — including cardiovascular disease.
But what does this actually mean?
“A 9 percent reduction in mortality risk is meaningful, but not huge,” VanderWeele says. “But what’s remarkable about gratitude is that just about anyone can practice it. Anyone can recognize what’s around them and express thanks to others for what’s good in their life.”
While the study couldn’t pinpoint why gratitude is associated with longer life, several factors may contribute.
“We know that gratitude makes people feel happier. That in itself has a small effect on mortality risk,” he says. “Practicing gratitude may also make someone a bit more motivated to take care of their health. Maybe they’re more likely to show up for medical appointments or exercise. It may also help with relationships and social support, which we know contribute to health.”
Courtesy Premium Health News Service
Photo: Gratitude can be a health game changer. It can be a powerful practice to cultivate, especially for those who struggle with anxiety or depression.
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
Alcohol and cancer — what will you do?
In a recent Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” public health poll, 51 percent of metro area residents said they would consider drinking less as a result of the advisory by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, linking alcohol use to certain types of cancer.
According to the Surgeon General’s advisory, alcohol consumption contributes to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths each year in the United States. Studies show alcohol use increases the risk for breast, colorectal, liver, and esophageal cancer, as well as cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box.
The poll, sponsored by Four Leaf Federal Credit Union, has sparked a debate over the benefits of reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption, highlighting the tough road ahead for public health experts trying to shift behaviors. Although 58 percent of respondents agree that alcohol can lead to overeating and smoking, fewer than half—46 percent—said they believe it increases the risks of cancer. Meanwhile, 58 percent believe there is a safe level of alcohol that can be consumed without raising one’s risk of cancer.
“Alcohol is a carcinogen, so the more alcohol a person drinks — particularly over time — the greater their risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer,” said Adhi Sharma, MD, President of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “It would be prudent to add the cancer risk to the warning label, which could have a dual effect of reducing alcohol-related accidents as well as a range of serious health complications, such as liver and heart disease, stroke, depression, and brain damage.”
Studies show that alcohol may increase cancer risk by disrupting cell cycles, triggering chronic inflammation, damaging DNA (which controls cell growth and function), and elevating hormone levels, including estrogen, which plays a role in breast cancer development.
“As a hepatologist and gastroenterologist, I remind my patients
that while complete abstinence is the safest path, reducing consumption (no more than 1 standard drink for women and no more than 2 for a man), staying hydrated, avoiding binge drinking, and supporting liver health with a balanced diet might help mitigate some of alcohol’s toxic effects,” said Pruthvi Patel, MD, Associate Program Director of Outpatient Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai South Nassau, and Associate Professor of Medicine (Liver Diseases), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “But there’s no completely safe level when it comes to cancer risk.”
According to the American Association of Cancer Research’s 2024 Cancer Progress Report, 40 percent of all cancer cases in the United States are associated with modifiable risk factors like alcohol consumption. The Surgeon General affirmed in the advisory that, “The largest burden of alcohol-related cancer in the United States is for breast cancer in women, with an estimated 44,180 cases in 2019, representing 16.4 percent of the approximately 270,000 total breast cancer cases for women.”
Adding the cancer risk warning to alcohol labels may be the inspiration some need to quit drinking alcoholic beverages, as 54 percent of poll respondents say they generally trust warning labels on food and beverages. Seeing the warning in print could provide the motivation for the 20 percent (of those who said they drink alcoholic beverages) to act on their desire to cut back on alcohol.
“I strongly encourage everyone to make it a priority to consider whether they should reduce the amount of alcohol they drink,” said Aaron Glatt, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau. “Additional benefits of drinking less include lowered blood pressure, weight loss, a healthier complexion, sharper mental clarity, balanced mood, reduced anxiety, and better liver function.”
Mount Sinai South Nassau has provided behavioral health and substance use disorder services to Nassau County residents for more than 50 years. The hospital is committed to providing the highest-quality treatment and support to children, adults, and
A recent Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” public health poll revealed that 51 percent of metro area residents said they would consider drinking less as a result of the advisory by former U.S. Surgeon General, linking alcohol use to certain types of cancer.
families with a wide variety of symptoms and diagnoses, from substance abuse to anxiety and depression to attention deficithyperactivity disorder and more.
The hospital counseling centers offer outpatient, in-person, and telehealth services in Baldwin and Hempstead; they accept a variety of payment options and use a sliding scale for uninsured patients. Treatment is provided in English and Spanish, as well as in more than 100 other languages via interpreter services. Call (516) 3775400 to schedule an appointment.
Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff. One Healthy Way Oceanside, NY 11572 • 877-SOUTH-NASSAU (877-768-8462) • www.mountsinai.org/southnassau
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Water providers are tested in taste contest
By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
What’s the best-tasting tap water on Long Island?
That was the question posed to students at Farmingdale State College during the Long Island Water Conference’s 37th annual drinking water tasting contest, held during National Drinking Water Week.
The conference, also known as LIWC, is made up of members of public and private water suppliers across Long Island. According to LIWC Commissioner Robert McEvoy, the event has taken place at the Farmingdale campus for the past four years, sparking student interest in water quality.
“It draws in a lot of the students,” McEvoy said. “They’re interested in where the water comes from, and if there’s any variance in taste. We also try to promote tap water as being the most regulated and tested, even more so than bottled water.”
The finals, held on May 7, featured 16 Long Island water providers competing for the title of best-tasting drinking water in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Students, faculty and staff on campus participated in a blind taste test, sampling water from each provider and casting their votes.
The Oyster Bay Water District won the Nassau County competition, while
Charles Shaw/Herald
Oyster Bay Water District Secretary Michael Rich, second from right, and Treasurer Nick Niznik offered samples to students during the Long Island Water Conference’s annual water tasting event at Farmingdale State College.
the Greenlawn Water District took the top spot in Suffolk. Both districts will advance to the New York State Regional Metro Tap Water Taste Contest in New York City in August, where they will compete for a spot in the statewide competition held later that month at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse.
LIWC representatives at the event also took the opportunity to educate attendees about the water supplied to their homes, and assured them that Long Island’s drinking water remains of high quality.
McEvoy, who is also a commissioner
and the chairman of the Oyster Bay Water District, said that frequent testing is conducted by the state Department of Health to ensure the water’s quality.
“It’s safe, it’s highly regulated and it’s extremely affordable,” McEvoy said. “It’s something that should be utilized by the public, and it’s a far greater value than bottled water.”
Michael Rich, a commissioner and the secretary of the Oyster Bay district, has taken part in the competition for the past 10 years, educating the community about local water supplies.
“It’s great to come out to the commu-
nity and have everyone get involved with local water,” Rich said.
He noted that most people aren’t aware of where their water comes from. On Long Island, drinking water comes from an aquifer system, a naturally formed underground storage area.
In an aquifer system, unwanted chemicals are capable of seeping into the water supply. The LIWC urges residents to dispose of hazardous household waste properly at designated town drop-off sites and never pour it down drains, into storm sewers or on the ground.
“Anything that we put on the ground will ultimately find its way into the aquifer,” Rich stated.
Lawn irrigation, he said, accounts for much of Long Island’s water use. He urged residents to follow odd/even watering schedules, watering on days that match their house numbers. He also highlighted the importance of leak detection, noting that undetected leaks can waste hundreds of thousands of gallons each month, making it vital for both residents and water providers to monitor and address them.
Rich added that it doesn’t take much water to maintain a healthy lawn.
“You don’t have to water your lawn for a half-hour a day,” Rich said. “You’ll get the same results 15 minutes a day, so we try to stress that.”
For more information on the local water supply, visit liwc.org.
STEPPING OUT
Young imaginations shine
Little Learners Art Lab at Long Island Children’s Museum is filled with year-round creativity
By Danielle Schwab
Long Island Children’s Museum transforms into a colorful hub of creativity for some of its smallet visitors, every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. Its Little Learners Art Lab welcomes young artists — and the grownups with them — for a handson art adventure designed to spark curiosity and imagination.
Whether it’s painting, planting or playing with textures, sessions offer an inviting space where toddlers and preschoolers can explore the world through art. This is more than about creating something beautiful — it’s about growing minds and nurturing self-expression.
“We try to infuse in all of the themes different mediums, exposure to different artists and different approaches to art,” says Ashley Niver, the museum’s director of education.
Each week, children are introduced to artists, techniques, and styles through engaging projects and materials, led by museum educators. Parents and grandparents are welcome to join in the fun, making it a bonding experience that’s as enriching for adults as it is for kids. Through these immersive projects, the tots explore their creativity and even make new friends.
“Around a third of our visitors are under the age of five. It’s important for early childhood development to have activities that are process-focused to give them that expressive freedom [to create],” Niver explains.
In each class, young learners are encouraged to ask questions, try new things and take the lead in their creative journey. The program mixes play with gentle guidance, helping children explore big concepts in age-appropriate ways.
The activities act as a gateway to talk about new concepts for young learners as they discover the world around them, combining inquisitive thinking with instructional supervision. On the schedule, May 22, families can explore the lifecycle of a plant while decorating terracotta pots during Art In Bloom. Kids will plant seeds in those pots and take their tiny gardens home to watch, water and nurture as litle sprouts grow into blooming plants.
That’s followed by Crystallized Creations on May 29. The salt-based art project allows kids experiment with textures and observe how salt and paint interact — adding a rocky twist to their creativity.
“Science isn’t just happening behind the scenes. It can
‘Murr’ goes solo
Get ready to laugh — and laugh you will. Prepare for an unforgettable night filled with comedy, chaos and wild antics as Impractical Jokers’ James “Murr” Murray hits the stage on The Errors Tour. Known for his outrageous pranks, laugh-out-loud moments and unpredictable humor, Murr brings the party to you with a show packed full of hilarious stories, ridiculous mishaps and plenty of jaw-dropping moments. With his signature style of comedy and a few unexpected surprises, Murr will have you in stitches from start to finish. It’s surely a non-stop ride of comedy, antics and pure fun you won’t want to miss. For more than a decade, Murr and his lifelong Friends — Sal, Joe and Q — have been making audiences laugh across the country, and now he’s bringing the laughs to you. Murr Live is hysterical — of course, interactive — stand-up comedy, in true Impractical Jokers style. Hangout with Murr as he tells funny stories, shows off his own personal never-before-seen videos from Impractical Jokers and plays Jokers “live” on stage with the audience.
• Weekly Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-noon
• Admission: $18 adults and children over 1 year old, $16 for seniors, free to members and under one year; additional fees for theater and special programs may apply
• For more information, visit licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
happen when you’re mixing paint and looking at changes in color or how, for instance, the salt disperses the paint pigment,” Niver says.
Other sessions examine techniques like pointillism or even introduce self-portraits in a thoroughly kid-friendly approach.
“When the parents see these ‘sticky moments’ for younger kids where they’re ingrained in these memories and these experiences, they are right there for the ride,” Niver adds.“They’re going through it with their children, and seeing their children light up and experience joy and learning of these new concepts connects the parents to the activities.”
Of course, art doesn’t have to happen in a classroom or museum space, it can also be done right at home! Niver encourages families to use these classes as an accessible way to bring the creativity back to their households.
“We want to give the opportunity for parents to incorporate making art in easy forms at home that may be less daunting for them,” Niver says.
And often, the youngsters can try materials and methods they may not have access to elsewhere. The sessions offer an introduction to new media as well.
“We also try to balance with materials that maybe they wouldn’t be exposed to normally at home. We could bring in easels one day and have the kids do canvas painting,” she adds.
The fun doesn’t stop when class ends. The museum’s exhibits and upcoming events are often tied into the weekly themes. So, when the class concludes, there’s plenty more to explore!
For example, in celebration of National Zoo and Aquarium Month, in June, kids can make majestic underwater creatures using recycled materials and bubble wrap. This is a creative “sneak peek” teaser what’s to come as the museum prepares to open its newest permanent exhibit, “Saltwater Stories,” in October.
Accessibility is another important component of the museum’s approach to arts programming. Little Learners Art Lab provides families with high-quality early childhood education at a fraction of the cost of private art classes or specialized preschool programs, according to the leadership team. The program’s affordability ensures that all children in the community have access to enriching artistic experiences that contribute to cognitive, social, and emotional development.
“Our whole point is to bring people in, and celebrate and cater to the audience that is coming to us daily, and that is the early childhood audience,” Niver says.
“We hope that for years to come families will bring back other children in their family, as their family grows, and continue to value the museum.”
Photos courtesy LICM
Kids and their adult partners play and create together at the Art Lab. Artistic inspiration involves developing young motor skills as everyone fully engages in the moment.
Friday, May 16, 7 p.m. $65, $55, $45, $35. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
and Chad Hoopes
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artistic Directors David Finckel (piano) and Wu Han (cello) have assembled a scintillating collection of works that reveal the joy and depth of the chamber music literature. Starting as frequent collaborators, Finckel and Han have been married since 1985. As a duo, they began to tour regularly while retaining residencies in New York. In this program, volin sonatas from the Baroque and Classical eras are performed by the young virtuoso Chad Hoopes, followed by Mendelssohn’s invigorating Second Sonata for cello and piano, a gem of the Romantic era. The art of romantic music hits a high point in the concluding work, in which all combine for a trio by the founder of Czech music, Bed�ich Smetana.
Sunday, May 18, 3 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
David Finckel, Wu Han
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
MAY
15
Hug a happy tree
K&A Tree Service offers free tree inspections throughout Long Island. Tree professionals will visit in person to inspect tree and provide free advice to help treat your tree right and make it happy.
• Where: 555 Albany Ave., Amityville
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: (516) 208-3131
Garden Days
Garden lovers, green thumbs and spring seekers: Old Westbury Gardens’ beloved Garden Days return. Four vibrant days are filled with plants, programs, and purpose, highlighted by the muchanticipated Plant Sale Preview Party on Friday evening. On May 16 (6–8 p.m.), guests are invited to sip, shop and stroll through the gardens during this exclusive first-look event, featuring live music, sweet and savory treats, and early access to a lush array of rare perennials and signature plants grown right here on Long Island. The two-day plant sale runs May 17–18, (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), where shoppers can select from a curated selection of garden favorites with expert guidance from the Gardens’ horticulture staff. Addition highlights include a panel discussion, Guided walks and garden tours and spring celebration chamber concert.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury
• Time: Ongoing, May 15-18
• Contact: Visit oldwestburygardens.org/2025garden-days for full schedule and ticket details
On Exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) that publicly launched the movement. The direct 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. On view through June 15.
• Where: 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: (516) 484-9337 or nassaumuseum.org
‘Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!’
The beloved musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo
MAY 24
Jon Lovitz
Comedy legend Jon Lovitz brings his signature wit and unforgettable characters to the Paramount stage for a night of nonstop laughs. Best known for his Emmy-nominated run on SNL and roles in hit films like “A League of Their Own” and “The Wedding Singer,” Lovitz has been a staple of comedy for over 30 years. He got his start acting in high school productions, developing his skills at the University of California, Irvine where he earned a B.A. in Drama. He also studied acting with Tony Barr at the Film Actors Workshop. At the advice of Tony Barr, Jon decided to concentrate solely on comedy. From there his trajectory took off. He began taking classes with the famed improv comedy group The Groundlings in 1982. One year later, Jon got his first acting job on the television show “The Paper Chase: the Second Year.” Two years followed and then he was accepted into The Groundlings main company. In March 1985 The Groundlings appeared on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” where Jon premiered his character “Tommy Flanagan of Pathological Liars Anonymous. SNL and numerous other offers followed and Jon was on his, working non-stop since. Along with his comedy, Jon is well known for his distinctive voice. It has served him will in his varied TV and film career. He is one of the few performers to start as an actor and then become a stand-up comedian who successfully headlines venues nationwide. Jon’s humor is unique, which is attributable to his quirky personality, and he is sure to entertain. $59.50, $49.50, $39.50, $29.50.
Willems’ beloved award-winning, best-selling children’s books, is back on stage at Long Island Children’s Museum. Willems’ classic characters Elephant and Piggie storm the stage in a rollicking musical romp filled with plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense perfect for young audiences.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: Also May 17 and May 20-22, times vary
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
LIMEHOF Summer Band Camp
High school vocalists and musicians can participate in the Summer Band Camp Program. Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, LIMEHOF, hosts its first All-Star Band Camp for high school students in grades 9-12. The week-long program runs from July 28 through Aug. 1, 9-11:30 a.m. each day and concludes with a final concert on Aug. 3 at 3 p.m. $350 fee. To apply, email student’s name, age, specific instrument or vocalist, and contact information to Tom Needham. Deadline is June 1.
• Contact: (631) 689-5888, info@limusichalloffame.org.
MAY
17
EPIC Day of Service
Rotary Club of Freeport-Merrick seeks volunteers to help sort and pack bags of necessities for homeless veterans during the annual EPIC Day of Service. Donations of new bath towels, washcloths, socks, men’s underwear, and T-shirts are encouraged.
• Where: 50 S. Brookside Ave., Freeport
• Time: 9 a.m.-noon
• Contact: Visit epicdayofservice. org to register
Spring Fling Dog Walk
EPIC Family’s South Shore Guidance Center encourages everyone and their four-legged companions to participate in the annual walk for mental wellness. With face painting, games, raffles, and more. Free t-shirts while supplies last. Registration requested.
• Where: Cow Meadow Park, Freeport
• Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Contact: p2p.onecause.com/ springfling2025
Art Explorations
Converse, collaborate and create at Nassau County Museum of Art.
and some seriously bad puns. $20, $10 youth. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at door.
• Where: Garden City Community Church, 245 Stewart Ave., Garden City
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: lics.org or call (516) 652-6878
Delta Gamma Rho Memorial Barbecue
Join with Delta Gamma Rho for their 6th annual Memorial Barbecue. Enjoy food, fellowship, and a group photo at 2 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring a side dish and BYOB. Rain or shine.
• Where: Waterfront Park, 957 S. Long Beach Ave.
• Time: Noon-5 p.m.
• Contact: Bobby Mac at (774) 722-1811
In concert
MAY
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
Kids and their adult partners can talk about and make art together. Enjoy reading and play in the Reading Room, and contribute to The Lobby Project, a collaborative art installation. Registration required.
• Where: 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor
• Time: noon-3 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 484-9337 or nassaumuseum.org
Concert of Contrasts
Join the Long Island Choral Society and Music Director Michael C. Haigler for their final concert of the season. “From the Sublime to the Ridiculous”, offers the beautiful melodies of Johannes Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes as well as the ridiculous antics of P.D.Q. Bach’s Liebeslieder Polkas. Liebeslieder translates as Love Song and this concert will give two very different visions of musical expressions of love. Act I features Brahms lush waltzes, scored for 4-hand piano and sure to elicit emotions and romantic memories through its lush melodies and sublime poetry. Act II presents P.D.Q. Bach’s interpretation of love songs through energy driven polkas scored for 5-hand piano in such a manner as to create chaos, musical mayhem, visual hijinks
18
Sands Point Preserve’s reserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for the latest edition of its unique chamber music series, “Amami in primavera” (Love me in Spring).” A trip to Italy is a good idea any time of the year, but spring is the best. There is love in the air and new life everywhere. With a little Puccini, Donizetti, Verdi and more, it will be a “bel pomeriggio di Musica (a beautiful afternoon of music).” duoJalal ensemble-in-residence featuring Kathryn Lockwood, viola and Yousif Sheronick, percussion, with violinists Karla Donehew Perez and Rebecca Fischer, and cellist Raman Ramakrishnan, are joined by vocalist Abby Brodnick. With wine reception following. $56, $45 members.
• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901
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Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, FIRST GUARANTY MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff, vs. JENNIFER JONES, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Default Judgment and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, Amendment of Caption and Nunc Pro Tunc Relief duly entered on November 7, 2019, 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 May 27, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 38 Frankel Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54, Block 209 and Lot 151. Approximate amount of judgment is $345,498.96 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604903/2019. Cash will not be accepted. Charles Casolaro, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 153125
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. FIRST START, LLC, Pltf. vs. TRIDENT EQUITIES LLC, et al, Defts. Index #600121/2023.
Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Oct. 1, 2024, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on May 29, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. premises k/a 325 South Main Street, Freeport, NY 11520 a/k/a Section 62, Block 44, Lot 430. Approximate amount of judgment is $370,585.75 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are
other health of safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Sale will be held, “rain or shine.” MERIK AARON, Referee. MARGOLIN, WEINREB & NIERER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 575 Underhill Blvd., Ste. 224, Syosset, NY 11791. #102239 153127
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff, vs. RICOT PAILLANT, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale After Inquest and Appointment of Referee duly entered on January 27, 2020, 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 May 27, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1395 Circle Drive West, North Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 36, Block 468-02 and Lot 48. Approximate amount of judgment is $485,221.39 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #602216/2019. Cash will not be accepted. Ellen Durst, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 153123
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Wilmington Trust, NA, successor trustee to Citibank, N.A., as Trustee f/b/o holders of Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Inc., Bear Stearns ALT-A Trust 2006-8, Mortgage PassThrough Certificates, Series 2006-8, Plaintiff AGAINST Sergia M. Minaya, Julio Estevez, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 15,
2018, 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 May 27, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 34 Grand Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 55., Block: 23601, Lot: 222. Approximate amount of judgment $565,937.88 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sol d subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #001309/2015. Andrew K. Preston, Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-029399-F01 85254 153070
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU JPMORGAN CHASE
BANK, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST DIANA J. BARNES A/K/A DIANE
CARTER A/K/A DIANA CARTER; ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 7, 2017, 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 May 28, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 39 Lessing Place, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 55 Block: 377 Lots: 1267, 1268, and 1269. Approximate amount of judgment $331,470.41 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #011584/2007. Janine T. Lynam, Esq., Referee Fein, Such & Crane, LLP 28 East Main Street Rochester, NY 14614 NSRNC625 85306 153074
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES I TRUST 2007-HE2, ASSET BACKEDCERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-HE2, Plaintiff against NINA DEMOSTHENES, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered November 25, 2019, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 915 Van Buren Street, Baldwin, NY 11510. Sec 54 Block 386 Lot 7. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Approximate Amount of Judgment is $530,475.40 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 000879/2016. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Andrew K Preston, Esq., Referee File # SPSNY448 153282
To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST AS TRUSTEE FOR PNPMS TRUST I, Plaintiff, Against DONALD ALLEN; and “JOHN DOE#1” through “JOHN DOES #10,” said names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, intended to be possible tenants or occupants of the premises, or corporations, persons, or other entities having or claiming a lien upon the mortgaged premises, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 11/15/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 6/2/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 61 Lincoln Avenue, Roosevelt, NY 11575, 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 55 Block 484 Lot 10
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $106,568.64 plus interest and costs. This notice is for a second mortgage.
The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale. 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; Index # 601167/2022 Jane Shrenkel, Esq., Referee.
THE FRANK LAW FIRM P.C., 333 GLEN HEAD ROAD, SUITE 145, OLD BROOKVILLE, NY 11545
Dated: 4/29/2025
File Number: 00319 MB 153280
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE UNDER THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2005, GSAMP TRUST 2005-WMC1, Plaintiff, Against DOMINIC VILLONI, ESQ., AS GUARDIAN AD LITEM AND MILITARY ATTOREY ON BEHALF OF UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF JOHN A. FIORITO A/K/A JOHN FIORITO, ET AL. Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 08/02/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 6/4/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 148 Meister Boulevard, Freeport, New York 11520, 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 Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 0054 Block 00330-00 Lot 00015 And 00016. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $464,006.92 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 005733/2015 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. Ellen Durst, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 MIDLAND AVENUE, SUITE 205, PORT CHESTER, NY 10573
Dated: 4/29/2025
File Number: 560-4138 MB 153276
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Specialized Loan Servicing LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST Nora Salvagni, Individually and as Administratrix of the Estate of Daniel Salvagni, Sr a/k/a Daniel H. Salvagni a/k/a Daniel Salvagni; Daniel Salvagni Jr.; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 27, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 11, 2025, at 2:00PM, premises known as 587 Miller Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. 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 Freeport, Town of Hemstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 62 Block 179 Lots 3 & 444. Approximate amount of judgment $892,977.81 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 011471/2012. Foreclosure auction will be held “Rain or Shine”.
Brian Davis, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: April 30, 2025 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2831 153356
Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST, -againstHALEY M. CURRY, IF LIVING, AND IF SHE/HE BE DEAD, 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 11, 2025, wherein BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST is the Plaintiff and HALEY M. CURRY, IF LIVING, AND IF SHE/HE BE DEAD, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on June 10, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 28 CONLON ROAD, ROOSEVELT, NY 11575; and the following tax map identification: 55-527-20. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT ROOSEVELT (UNINCORPORATED) AREA IN THE TOWN HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 604167/2021. Matin Emouna, 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. 153376
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
May 15, 2025 —
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
Public Notices
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU FLAGSTAR BANK, FSB Plaintiff, Against ALCIDES CURTIS; et al Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 12/08/2016, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 6/9/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 28 Archer Street, Freeport, NY 11520, 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 Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Section 62 Block 48 Lot 1 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $505,778.66 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 6561-14 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.
Jane Shrenkel, Esq., Referee.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 4/7/2025 File Number: 17-301715 CA 153350
LEGAL NOTICE
SUMMONS Supreme Court of New York, Nassau County GITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS SEPARATE TRUSTEE OF GITSIT MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST BBPLC1, Plaintiff, -againstUNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF MARJORIE CHAPMAN; ANNETTE CHAPMAN, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MARJORIE CHAPMAN; ALICIA ROBERTS, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF
THE ESTATE OF MARJORIE CHAPMAN; DEIDRA CHAPMAN, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MARJORIE CHAPMAN; MARK CHAPMAN, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MARJORIE CHAPMAN; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT) O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; “JOHN DOE” AND “JANE DOE” said names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, Defendants Index No. 621094/2024
Mortgaged Premises: 1 Scherer Place Roosevelt, NY 11575 a/k/a 1 Scherr Place Roosevelt, NY 11575
Section: 55 Block: 476 Lot: 9 a/k/a Section: 55 Block: 476 Lots: P/O 505 and 9 TO THE ABOVE NAMED
DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above captioned action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. 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 OBJECTIVE of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a reverse mortgage to secure $450,000.00 and interest, recorded in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office on February 10, 2006, in Liber Book M 30091, Page 159, covering the premises known as 1 Scherer Place, Roosevelt, NY 11575 a/k/a 1 Scherr Place, Roosevelt, NY 11575. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the
mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located.. 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. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160 Garden City, NY 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff. 153333
To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff AGAINST DUANE CHANDLER, BARBARA MARTINEZ, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 3, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 487 South Bayview Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 62., Block 143., Lot 0110. Approximate amount of judgment $580,986.29 plus
interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #603833/2018. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-007158 85377 153337
LEGAL NOTICE SITE PLAN REVIEW BOARD MEETINGMAY 27, 2025 NOTICE IS HEREBY given that a Public Hearing will be held before the Site Plan Review Board on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 7:00 P.M., in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Main Conference Room, 46 N. Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, on Site Plan applications as they appear on the calendar; public comment invited. The Board will meet at 6:00 P.M. in the Trustees Conference Room to discuss cases not requiring a public hearing; open to the public, no public comment.
INTERESTED PROPERTY OWNERS and other persons should appear at the above time and place to have questions answered and to voice opinions.
SP-3822 - 360 Atlantic Avenue, Section 65/Block 36/Lot 153-155. Business A. Sachin Shah. New façade on existing new building.
SP-3824 - 67 S Main Street, Section 55/Block 205/Lot 19. Business B. 67 South Jara LLC. Maintain 55 sq. ft. front addition on first floor.
BY ORDER OF THE PLANNING BOARD
Pamela Walsh Boening, Village Clerk 153582
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…
To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232
LEGAL NOTICE
Freeport Housing Authority Request for Proposal General Counsel Services
Issued May 8, 2025
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Freeport Housing Authority (“the FHA”) seeks proposals from qualified firms to provide General Counsel services for the FHA.
The Request for Proposal (“the RFP”) documents may be obtained by visiting the FHA offices during regular business hours, 8:30AM - 4:30PM, at 100 North Main Street Administration Building, Freeport, NY 11520. The RFP documents are also available on the FHA website www.FreeportHousing NY.org..
The deadline for submission of proposals is June 13, 2025, at 4:00PM
The FHA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals
The FHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
By Order of the Board of Commissioners
Freeport Housing Authority
Dated: May 8, 2025
Tel. 516.623.2508 153581
LEGAL NOTICE
Freeport Housing Authority
Request for Proposal
Landlord / Tenant Legal Services
May 8, 2025
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Freeport Housing Authority (“the FHA”) solicits proposals to provide landlord-tenant legal services for the FHA.
The RFP documents may be obtained by visiting the FHA offices during regular business hours, 8:30AM4:30PM, at 100 North Main StreetAdministration Building Freeport, NY 11520. The RFP documents are also available on the FHA website www.FreeportHousing NY.org..
The deadline for submission of proposals is June 13, 2025 at 4:00PM
The FHA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals
The FHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
By Order of the Board of Commissioners
Freeport Housing Authority
Dated: May 8, 2025
Tel.516.623.2508 153580
LEGAL NOTICE
The Roosevelt Union Free School District, located in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, hereby invites the submission of sealed proposals for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Vendors. Seeking a produce vendor which will provide fresh fruits and vegetables to the district on a weekly
basis for the 2025-2026 school year. Sealed proposals will be received at the Grants and Funded Program Department, 240 Denton Place, Roosevelt, New York 11575, on or before Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 12 PM Noon. The proposals will be opened on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 1 PM. There will be no discussions at the time of the opening of the proposals. Request for Proposals (RFP) documents may be obtained by contacting the Grants and Funded Programs via email at etendyke@rufsd.org. Any proposal received after the stated date and time will be returned to the sender unopened. The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities in the proposals, to reject any or all proposals, or to accept any proposal which, in the opinion of the Board, is in the best interest of the School District. 153467
To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE
The resolution, a summary of which is published herewith, has been adopted on April 7, 2025, and an abstract thereof has been published and posted as required by law and the period of time has elapsed for the submission and filing of a petition for a permissive referendum and a valid petition has not been submitted and filed. The validity of the obligations authorized by such resolution may be hereafter contested only if such obligations were authorized for an object or purpose for which the Village of Freeport, in the County of Nassau, New York, is not authorized to expend money or if the provisions of law which should have been complied with as of the date of publication of this notice were not substantially complied with, and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty days after the date of publication of the notice, or such obligations were authorized in violation of the provisions of the constitution.
Pamela Walsh Boening Village Clerk
BOND RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE OF FREEPORT, NEW YORK, ADOPTED OCTOBER 3, 2022 AND AMENDED APRIL 7, 2025, AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF VARIOUS SEWER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VILLAGE, STATING THE ESTIMATED MAXIMUM COST THEREOF IS $787,500, APPROPRIATING SAID AMOUNT FOR SUCH PURPOSE, AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $787,500 TO FINANCE SAID APPROPRIATION
The object or purpose for which the bonds are authorized is the construction of various sewer improvements in the Village, at the estimated maximum cost of $787,500. The period of usefulness is forty (40) years. The maximum amount of obligations authorized to be issued is $787,500.
A complete copy of the bond resolution summarized above shall be available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Village Clerk, at the Village Hall, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York.
Dated: April 7, 2025 Freeport, New York 153584
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…
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LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Freeport, by virtue of the authority invested by law, shall conduct a public hearing to be duly held on the 19th day of May 2025, at 5:30 P.M., to consider a Water Rate Change in the Village of Freeport. FURTHER RESOLVED, that the foregoing notice of public hearing shall be entered in the minutes of the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Freeport, and published in the Freeport Leader and a printed copy thereof posted conspicuously in at least three (3) public places in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Nassau County, New York.
STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAU, VILLAGE OF FREEPORT, ss: I, PAMELA WALSH BOENING, Clerk of the Village of Freeport, Nassau County, New York, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of said notice duly authorized by the Board of Trustees of the said Village at a meeting of the Said Board of Trustees, calling for a public hearing to be duly held in the Main Conference Room of the Municipal Building of the Village of Freeport, 46 N. Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York on the 19th day of May 2025 at 5:30 P.M., and of the whole thereof, as entered upon the minutes of the proceedings of the said Board kept by me as Village Clerk. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Corporate Seal of said Village this 5th day of May 2025.
Pamela Walsh Boening Village Clerk Dated:Freeport, New York May 5, 2025 153583
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…
To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, PSB FUNDING CORPORATION, Plaintiff, vs. CHRISTINE SCHMIDT, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 18, 2023 and an Order Extending Time to ReCalendar Foreclosure Auction Sale duly entered on April 3, 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 June 18, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 481 Archer Street, Freeport, NY 11520. 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 Freeport, County of Nassau and State of
Public Notices
New York, Section 54, Block 309 and Lots 269 and 270. Approximate amount of judgment is $248,214.26 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #611658/2021.
Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee Taroff & Taitz, LLP, Attorneys at Law, 630 Johnson Avenue, Suite 105, Bohemia, NY 11716, Attorneys for Plaintiff 153576
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, M&T BANK, Plaintiff, vs. STEWART TAFFE, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order
Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on February 26, 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 June 16, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 15 Mirin Avenue, Roosevelt, NY 11575. 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 55, Block 453 and Lot 9. Approximate amount of judgment is $492,551.91 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604764/2023. Cash will not be accepted.
Kenneth Gartner, Esq., Referee
Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 153568
Anthere Motayne, if he be living or if he be dead, his spouses, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; The United States of America acting through The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and “JOHN DOE”, said name being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, and any parties, corporations or entities, if any, having or claiming an interest or lien upon the mortgaged premises, Defendants.
PROPERTY ADDRESS:
48 Lester Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520 TO THE ABOVE NAMED
DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or a notice of appearance on the attorneys for the Plaintiff within thirty (30) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. TO THE ABOVE NAMED
DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Rhonda E. Fischer, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, entered May 2, 2025 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office.
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. Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is situated.
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: February 13, 2025
Steven M. Palmer, Esq. Foreclosure Attorney LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF NRZ PASS-THROUGH TRUST XI-B, Plaintiff, vs. SONIA M. TORRES A/K/A SONIA TORRES, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale After Inquest and Appointment of Referee and Amendment of Caption duly entered on November 3, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 17, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 104 East Pennywood Avenue a/k/a 104 Pennywood Avenue, Roosevelt, NY 11575. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Roosevelt, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55, Block 443 and Lots 200-202. Approximate amount of judgment is $516,170.54 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604308/2018.
Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 191802 153570
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
News brief
Memorial Day Parade to launch on May 26
The Freeport Memorial Day Parade will feature nearly 300 participants, including the Freeport Fire Department’s color guard, as it steps off at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 26, 2025, from Freeport High School, located at 50 S. Brookside Ave.
The parade will proceed down Merrick Avenue to the Freeport Memorial Library at 144 Merrick Ave., where a ceremony will take place.
The ceremony will include remarks from Village of Freeport Mayor Robert
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU
SUPPLEMENTAL
SUMMONS AND NOTICE
Index No. 617743/2023
Date Filed: 5/9/2025
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Plaintiff, -against-
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Consolidation and/or Modified Mortgage (hereinafter “the Mortgage”) to secure $419,596.97 and interest, recorded in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office on January 25, 2013, at Book M 38222 of Mortgages, page 648 covering premises known as 48 Lester Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520 a/k/a Section 54, Block 334, Lot 48, 49 & 50.
Attorneys for Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624
(585) 247-9000
Fax: (585) 247-7380
Our File No. 23-094873 #102311 153475
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR THE IGLOO SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. NADINE BARNES, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 30, 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 June 17, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known
Kennedy, NYS Senator Siela Bynoe, NYS Assemblyman Noah Burroughs, and Deputy Hempstead Town Supervisor Dorothy Goosby.
The public is invited to join the parade, with participants asked to arrive at the Freeport High School parking lot at least 15 minutes prior to the start time.
For more information, please call 516697-9900.
–Mohammad Rafiq
Public Notices
as 228 Manhattan Avenue a/k/a 228 Manhattan Street, Roosevelt, NY 11575. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Roosevelt, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55, Block 295 and Lots 451, 452 and 479. Approximate amount of judgment is $470,393.22 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #617812/2022. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New
York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 223255-1 153578
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, JOVIA FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION F/K/A NASSAU EDUCATORS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, Plaintiff, vs. MARK A. MCMILLIAN A/K/A MARK A. MCMILLAN, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 17, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau
County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 17, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 183 Moore Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. 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 Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55, Block 101 and Lot 148. Approximate amount of judgment is $156,591.88 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #603963/2023. The sale of this property
and clear title are subject to a superior lien dated December 10, 2002 and recorded on December 24, 2002 in the Office of the Clerk of Nassau County, State of New York, under Liber Book 23338 and Page 102. Michael W. Alpert, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 231848-1 153574
Courtesy Randy Milteer/Village of Freeport Freeport firefighters march proudly in last year’s Memorial Day Parade.
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MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
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Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $34,320 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
Beautiful Briarcliff Area
This stunning 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath Colonial is the kind of home that turns heads and captures hearts. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by soaring 9-foot ceilings, rich hardwood floors, and detailed wainscoting that adds warmth and character throughout. The showstopper? A 22-foot-wide
Redoing a basement, Part 3
Q. We bought our home three years ago, and are finally ready to finish our basement to make a family room, guest bedroom and a bathroom while enclosing our laundry. Right now it’s just a big open space with a lot of columns. The ceiling is low, and we’ve had estimates to cut down the basement floor. It seems like a lot of money to do all these things at once, but we understand that we need to do it before the prices for materials, as we’ve been warned, go a lot higher. We want to know what needs to be done if we want to lower the floor, take out two columns so our recreation room is bigger, and put in a bathroom. Is there any way to save money?
A. This third column ties together the previous two to state that, basically, you get what you pay for, and sometimes less. I explained that basement bathrooms may not be allowed to have a bathing fixture, tub or shower, depending on the municipal requirements, and that many communities also won’t allow a bedroom in a basement, for safety reasons. I also outlined the process for figuring out beams so that columns can be removed, and that while “guessers” may save you some money up front, repairs can erase the savings.
Now we’re up to lowering the basement floor. “Saving money” and “lowering a basement floor” should rarely be in the same sentence, except for when writing an answer as to why. In general, you want more living space, structurally sound and waterproof. Both of those needs are hard to achieve if any part of the process is left out.
It’s always best to gain the most amount of interior space, and I can often tell when either saving money was the focus or amateur work was done when I see a foundation wall projecting into the basement like a concrete bench. To avoid this look and to get the most use out of the space, you have to start with knowing where the underground water table is. Unless you dig a hole or order a soil-boring test from a professional company, you may soon find out why the floor wasn’t lower to begin with. This test could save you great expense.
The process of correctly supporting the exterior concrete foundation walls is called “underpinning.” The excavation can be done from the interior side of the foundation wall if the exterior isn’t accessible. Either way, the underpinning process must be done in sections, not all at once. There would be complete collapses of walls and floors above if entire foundations were removed at one time. When this is done, it usually causes tremendous damage, possible death and news coverage.
Engineered sections, with waterproofing to the exterior, have to be planned. The old sections are carefully cut out, and then replaced several feet apart before the next sections are removed. Good luck!
© 2025 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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Local voices matter, and the RAPID Act listens
Last month, a handful of Nassau County town supervisors stood in front of a firehouse on Barnum Island and took the low road, whipping up fear, distorting facts and conflating fallacy and fantasy with reality to try to block progress. Their target was the Renewable Action through Project Interconnection and Deployment, or RAPID, Act, a new state law designed to streamline the approval process for large-scale renewable energy and electric transmission projects.
The RAPID Act creates a more efficient and transparent process for reviewing the major infrastructure projects we desperately need. If we’re serious about clean energy, grid reliability and energy security, this is our path toward resiliency and sustainability. It’s good for consumers and developers because the streamlined process reduces costs, making investments in the grid more affordable. Unfortunately these days, facts don’t seem to matter much to some. But here are the facts.
Before the RAPID Act became law in April 2024, New York state had a patchwork of laws that made siting energy
projects difficult, confusing and expensive. Today there is a clear, easy-to-follow, streamlined system under the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission. The new system saves time and money, increases consistency, and gives communities a meaningful voice from the very beginning.
Here’s how it works.
Before even submitting an application, developers are required to consult with local officials. Throughout the process, the public is invited to comment. Each project must have meaningful community outreach in which residents are invited to participate, along with ORES.
Tfor clean, reliable energy.
The reality is that most projects comply with local laws almost entirely, and the few disputes thus far have largely been resolved through mutual agreement. Waivers aren’t done casually. They must be fully justified. And towns can challenge them. As of last month, only five towns in the entire state had appealed such rulings, and all five rulings were upheld.
here have been over 50 energy project siting hearings across the state.
To date, there have been over 50 hearings across the state. That’s not secrecy. That’s real public engagement. Your comments have been heard, as have developers — who often modify projects in response to public feedback.
Another fallacy is how the RAPID Act treats local laws. It did not create new authority for the state to waive local laws — that ability has been part of the siting process in New York for decades. The act was designed to make those waivers less likely by addressing points of conflict early. And the law allows ORES to waive those laws only when they are unreasonably burdensome and conflict with the state’s goals
If that sounds like a heavy-handed state bulldozing towns, you might want to check the script the town supervisors are reading from, because it’s fiction. What we saw last month was not thoughtful concern for our future infrastructure needs. It was a political strategy that assumes that every environmental policy from Albany is a threat, every clean-energy initiative a conspiracy and every step forward something to block. Lumping everything together and crying foul to whip up outrage doesn’t benefit the New Yorkers that we public servants are here to serve. Meanwhile, our infrastructure is aging, and doing nothing is no longer an option. The RAPID Act moves us forward. It helps make sure our homes have power during extreme storms. It helps reduce pollution. It helps create good-paying jobs in clean energy. That
should be something we can all get behind.
If the supervisors want to sit down and talk seriously about how to improve the process, our door is always open. But yelling about non-existent dangers doesn’t help anyone. It misleads the public. It slows progress. And it makes it harder to build the kind of energy future Long Island deserves and desperately needs.
We believe in transparency, community input and in building a future in which Long Island is stronger, safer and cleaner. The RAPID Act is a big step in that direction.
It’s time to stop the political games. Time to stop pretending that doing nothing is somehow safer. I know firsthand that Long Islanders care about their communities, and the environment. They’re smart enough to see through rhetoric designed to instill fear, and they deserve better: They deserve leadership that tells the truth about the very real needs and demands of our infrastructure and its impacts on growing our economy. As I’ve said in countless hearings and committee meetings, the RAPID Act isn’t about taking power away from towns. It’s about keeping the lights on, making sure everyone has a seat at the table, and making sure we’re ready for the future.
Let’s move forward together.
Rory Christian is chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission.
Companies that produce packing waste must recycle it
Consumers have changed our shopping habits across New York state. The transition to online shopping has significantly increased plastic, paper and cardboard packaging waste. Those materials go to Reworld, which takes our trash, and are turned into ash. The ash needs to go somewhere, but where?
On Long Island, most of the ash goes to Brookhaven Landfill, but that clock is ticking. The Brookhaven facility will soon reach its capacity for ash, and that means it will close in the next few years, leaving towns such as Hempstead and North Hempstead with no ash-disposal options on Long Island. As packaging waste increases, recycling rates remain lackluster, which adds to our solid-waste burden. The good news is that we can reduce packaging waste and increase recycling rates to help address this challenge. Citizens Campaign for the Environment
chairs a statewide coalition of environmental leaders, local governments, stakeholders and elected officials who have joined to back state legislation called the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. This important bill is urgently needed.
p ass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act!
New York is experiencing a solid-waste crisis, with skyrocketing costs to municipalities, abysmal recycling rates, and plastic pollution littering our communities and waterways. Our state generates more than 17 million tons of municipal solid waste annually. Long Island is responsible for 1.6 million tons per year, 205,000 tons of which go to landfills off Long Island, and 1.4 million tons are sent to waste-toenergy facilities, resulting in 400,000 tons of ash that must be landfilled. There is currently no plan to manage this ash once the Brookhaven landfill is closed. The one wise choice everyone agrees on is to reduce our waste stream, and this legislation would do just that.
The financial burden of managing recyclable waste falls on local taxpayers. Municipalities are struggling with
recycling costs and outdated infrastructure that significantly limits the volume of materials that are recycled. It is estimated that local governments statewide spend more than $200 million each year to keep local recycling programs going. That is not sustainable.
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would revolutionize New York’s approach to solid waste by shifting the responsibility of managing plastic, paper and packaging waste to corporations, not taxpayers and local governments. Those that put packaging into the waste stream are best positioned to reduce the amount of packaging that’s created in the first place.
The measure would require large corporations to reduce consumer packaging by 30 percent in 12 years, increase post-consumer recycled content in packaging and invest in new reuse/ refill infrastructure. The bill includes strong oversight and enforcement provisions to ensure that corporations comply.
Other states, including California,
Colorado, Maine and Oregon, have passed such laws, and similar policies have been in effect in parts of Europe and Canada for over 30 years. Where fully implemented, recycling rates exceed 70 percent, and the cost of consumer goods has not increased one penny.
It is time for corporations take out their own trash! Each year, companies ship billions of products with excess packaging, exacerbating the solid-waste crisis, yet they bear no responsibility for managing the waste they create. This sensible legislation promises to save money for municipalities and taxpayers, remove toxic substances from packaging, increase recycling and require producers to reduce waste.
We need to modernize New York’s recycling system and make producers take responsibility for managing their packaging waste. We need the governor, the State Senate and the Assembly to support this critical bill and get it signed into law this year. Every year we do nothing is another year we waste money, and allow our solid-waste management problem to grow.
We can do this!
RoRY CHRisTiAn
Adrienne Esposito is executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
We must restore Musk’s cuts of the 9/11 health fund
it is essential that Congress do all it can to fully restore the World Trade Center Health Program. I commend Long Island Congressmen Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota for leading a bipartisan effort to undo the damage, intentional or not, to this program by Elon Musk’s chainsaw cuts of government health programs.
During my years in Congress, no issue was more vital or intensely personal to me than ensuring that all of the surviving victims of the attacks of Sept. 11 — police officers, firefighters, emergency responders, construction workers and civilians — receive the care they require and deserve for the illnesses caused by the toxins they breathed in at ground zero in the days, weeks and months afterward.
It wasn’t until several years after 9/11 that evidence emerged of a growing number of blood cancers and lung and breathing disorders suffered by 9/11 first responders and nearby residents and students. The concern was bipartisan. Democratic Representatives Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney and
ARepublicans Vito Fossella and I were the original prime advocates. We introduced legislation in 2005 and again in 2007 to establish and fund a 9/11 illness detection and treatment program.
ed a rare and fatal blood cancer after working together at ground zero. The chances of this being a coincidence were infinitesimal. And there were countless similar situations.
session, our efforts paid off: Zadroga passed both the House and Senate.
TToday we know that more people have died from 9/11 illnesses than from the attacks, but in those early years, the numbers of victims weren’t yet especially high, and there was no proof of direct linkage to 9/11, which made it difficult to generate strong interest or support outside the New York and New Jersey congressional delegations.
hey’re causing many of the 9/11 doctors and experts to be terminated.
Soon enough, however, there was too much evidence to ignore. Anecdotally, I would see FDNY and NYPD neighbors who had worked at ground zero wearing oxygen masks as they watched their kids’ Little League games or stopped by 7-Eleven for coffee. Those scenes were repeated across Long Island and the entire downstate region, and there would eventually be victims among rescue workers who had come to New York from almost all 50 states. To make our case, we asked 9/11 heroes to visit Congress to make direct appeals to individual members. I particularly recall NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly sitting in my Washington office telling me about two cops who contract-
The enormity of what was becoming a 9/11 health crisis could no longer be denied. In 2008, we thought our legislation — named the Zadroga Bill, after James Zadroga, who was believed to be the first NYPD officer to die from a 9/11 illness — would be included in a large year-end package of legislation agreed on by Congress and the White House. Unfortunately the combined tumult of a Presidential election and a stock market collapse prevented it from coming to a vote, and there was no opportunity to salvage it.
After close but disappointing nearmisses over the next two years, primarily because of opposition from Republicans in Southern and Western states, I and others fought furiously to get Zadroga passed. I had no tolerance for opposition from the crowd who primarily represented states and districts that received disproportionate levels of federal assistance at the expense of donor states like New York, which effectively subsidized them. Finally, on Dec. 22, 2010, the last day of the congressional
Unfortunately the bill had a five-year limit, so we had to wage the fight again in 2015. This time the struggle wasn’t as difficult, and Zadroga was extended. But then, in 2019, we learned there were many more victims than expected, and the fund was running short. With the bipartisan support of Democrats like then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and House Republicans like then Whip Steve Scalise and Representatives Doug Collins and Mike Johnson, Zadroga was extended to the end of the century. I was proud to be with President Trump when he signed this legislation at a ceremony on the White House lawn.
Now the fund is seriously threatened by Musk’s misplaced cuts, which, probably made unknowingly, are causing many of the 9/11 doctors and experts to be terminated, including program Director Dr. John Howard.
Though the White House has promised to fully reinstate the program, so far it has not been done. Victims are being denied necessary testing. This insanity must end. Our nation’s commitment to the victims of 9/11 must be honored!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
The new state budget is a victory for Hochul
merica is fixated on picking winners and losers. We use that term every day, applying it to sports, the stock market and every other field of endeavor. I heard it during the trial of O.J. Simpson, and I remember hearing it as far back as the 1960s, when, following a massive snowstorm, some parts of Queens were the last neighborhoods in New York City to see snowplows. Winners and losers are proclaimed extensively in politics, because politicians are tested on an almost daily basis.
Which leads to a discussion of the long-delayed New York state budget. Over the years, when there was an agreement between the three leaders — the governor, the leader of the State Senate and the Assembly speaker — they would all show up at a much-heralded news conference, at which each would take credit for some portion of the budget bill. For the past few years, that practice has changed, because the only person who has been taking the
media spotlight is Gov. Kathy Hochul. Before talking about winners and losers, it’s worth looking at this year’s budget process. The new spending plan budget is the latest to be finalized since 2010. Since the April 1 deadline, there have been 11 legislative extensions, which assures state employees that they can collect their paychecks.
LCould the governor have refused to delay the passage of an agreed-on budget and submitted her own spending plan on a take-itor-leave-it basis? The answer is yes. During the administration of Gov. David Paterson, the courts decided that if the Legislature can’t agree on a budget by March 31, the governor can force a vote on his or her own plan with no further delays.
cation, housing, mental hygiene and tax reform. When the dust settled, the two leaders got their asks, but the governor got the lion’s share of what she proposed back in January.
ooking to next year’s election, she set aside money for every region of the state.
But in the spirit of harmony, succeeding governors have chosen to go through the arduous process of countless meetings and formal extensions until all of the parties sign on to a final accord. This year, Hochul made it clear that she had a long list of priorities, and had no plans to give in on them. She presented the Assembly and Senate with a long list of programs covering criminal law, edu-
With an eye on next year’s election, Hochul set aside money for every region of the state. She addressed subway crime, and sided with the state’s district attorneys on their demand for reforms that will allow them to prevent the dismissal of pending cases. Taxpayers can anticipate expansion of childcare tax credits and many other goodies, including $400 checks for families on limited incomes. School districts will get a hefty increase in education aid, and students won’t be unable use their cellphones from the first school bell to the last.
During a typical give-and-take that is part of the negotiating process, each of the parties shows some willingness to bend on their key issues. But this time, the governor stuck to her guns and yielded on very few issues. Facing what could be a very tough re-election campaign next year, Hochul dug in on almost every proposal she made and
gave little ground, which added to the delays. Albany insiders were surprised at her insistence on winning on so many issues, but she has powers, and used them.
An outsider might wonder why budgets take so long these days, compared with the process 20 and 30 years ago, when spending plans were adopted days and weeks before the deadline. Once upon a time, the state budget was strictly a numbers game. The leaders would promote their pet programs, and possibly sneak in a new program or two. But in the late 1980s, the leaders began to introduce items that were controversial and had little to do with the budget. Wrapped up in one big bill, these nonfiscal items would pass, because the members would have no choice but to swallow the whole document.
Is there a chance that state budgets will once again become just a numbers package? That’s highly unlikely, because all of the leaders have developed an appetite for inserting proposals in the budget that would have no chance of passing as stand-alone bills.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. Comments about this column? jkremer@ liherald.com.
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aWelcoming home your freshman
s college dorm rooms empty across the nation, millions of parents are preparing for a significant homecoming. Your freshman is returning — perhaps changed, certainly tired, and undoubtedly with more laundry than you thought humanly possible. This transition marks the beginning of a new chapter in your family story, one that requires delicate navigation, open communication, and occasional deep breaths as you adjust to your evolving relationship.
The transformation that occurs during college’s freshman year is nothing short of remarkable. The timid student who needed reminders about deadlines may return with strong opinions about political systems you’ve never discussed. The picky eater might come home raving about kimchi or curry. The once-shy teenager might stride through your door with newfound confidence and independence. Your child has spent months making independent decisions, forming new social circles, and discovering aspects of themselves that may surprise you — and them.
What parents sometimes fail to acknowledge is that we’ve changed, too. We’ve adjusted to quieter evenings, reclaimed bathroom counter space, and perhaps discovered new routines or even aspects of our identities that had been subsumed by active parenting. Your student’s return disrupts not just their new normal, but yours as well.
The first summer home represents uncharted territory for both generations. Your student has grown accustomed to complete autonomy — deciding when to eat, sleep, study and socialize without consultation or explanation. Meanwhile, you’ve maintained a household with certain rhythms and expectations. Within the first few days of your college student’s homecoming, have a detailed conversation with them about expectations to prevent misunderstandings.
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We have to be cautious while supporting sustainability
To the Editor:
What routines did they develop at college? What do they need to feel comfortable at home? How will household responsibilities be shared? This opens the door to compromise rather than confrontation.
For many freshmen, college is their first opportunity to define themselves beyond their family context or high school reputation. They’ve experimented with new identities, beliefs and social circles. Coming home can feel like stepping backward, especially if you still see them as the person they were before they left.
This identity navigation works both ways. Your student may struggle to integrate their college self with their home self. They might seem different with college friends than with family. They might challenge family traditions or political views that once went unquestioned. These explorations, while sometimes uncomfortable, represent healthy development and should be met with curiosity rather than defensiveness.
Don’t be surprised if your student spends the first week home sleeping extraordinary hours, eating everything in sight, or displaying emotional volatility. Freshman year is physically and emotionally exhausting — particularly its conclusion, with final exams, packing and goodbyes to new friends. The transition home often reveals the school year’s toll. Students maintain a frantic pace during the semester, running on adrenaline and caffeine. When they finally reach the safety of home, their bodies and minds demand recovery time. Parents should view excessive sleeping or emotional sensitivity as necessary healing, not regression or laziness.
The social landscape for your adult child has likely shifted dramatically as well. High school friendships that once seemed permanent may have drifted. New romantic relationships may have formed. Your student might spend little
As communities across New York and the nation explore ways to transition to cleaner energy, there is growing momentum behind battery energy storage systems, particularly those using lithium-ion technology. However, we must not let the promise of sustainability blind us to the inconvenient truths of our present reality.
The concept of a circular battery economy — in which batteries are reused, repurposed, and ultimately recycled to recover key materials — is a commendable goal. Yet we are far from achieving it. Our current
time at home as they reconnect with local friends or process the changes in these relationships. Alternatively, they might seem isolated if their primary social connections now exist at school. Both scenarios require your patience and understanding.
And while your instinct might be to recreate family traditions exactly as they were before, this summer presents an opportunity to develop new ways of connecting that honor your student’s developing adulthood. Ask them to teach you about their newfound passions. Take them to places that were once offlimits — a sophisticated restaurant, an art exhibit — that signal your recognition of their maturation. When they share stories about college experiences, practice active listening without immediately offering advice. Questions like, “How did you handle that?” communicate respect for their problem-solving abilities and invite deeper conversation. There’s a poignant truth most parents discover during this first post-college summer: Each homecoming from now on will be temporary. Your child’s primary residence increasingly exists elsewhere — in dorms, apartments and, eventually, their own home. The full nest you’ll experience this summer will empty again, with each cycle of departure becoming more permanent.
This realization, while sometimes painful, also brings opportunity. The time-limited nature of these summers encourages making the most of the moments you share. Rather than focusing on the inevitable goodbye at summer’s end, embrace the gift of time together, even if it seems fleeting.
What awaits in these summer months is a delicate dance of holding close and letting go — a choreography that, when performed with grace, becomes the foundation for a relationship that will sustain you both long after the last box is packed for sophomore year.
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Fighting for Nassau University Medical Center’s future
when you show up at the doors of Nassau University Medical Center, there’s only one thing on your mind: Will I get the immediate care that I need?
For thousands of Nassau County residents, NUMC serves as their safety-net hospital. It is one of the only facilities equipped to treat third-degree burns, and maintains designated centers for stroke, hypertension, diabetes and vascular disease. It’s particularly well equipped to treat cancer patients, rare and advanced infections and autoimmune disorders, as well as tackling the increasing number of mental health and substance-abuse cases.
This advanced treatment is only possible thanks to NUMC’s highly trained medical staff. The facility also functions as a teaching hospital with numerous educational affiliates, training the next generation of providers to continue offering the gold standard of care. As a newly elected state senator rep-
resenting parts of Nassau County, and as an alumna of the County Legislature, I came to Albany to fight tooth and nail for the unique needs of our community. NUMC’s years of financial disarray, mismanagement by its board and longoverdue infrastructure upgrades directly jeopardized its own future, and the reliability of care for county residents. We knew that swift action needed to be taken. That’s why I immediately went to battle for provisions that actually deliver what NUMC needs: financial guardrails, community input, and future investments in the facility.
iproudly secured $50 million for future infrastructure upgrades, earmarked for release with the completion of the board’s financial plans. With these elements, NUMC’s final budget language will take into account the realities on the ground, while balancing the need for reforms from within.
led the charge to ensure that nine of the 11 board appointees will be county residents.
I led the charge to ensure that nine of the 11 NUMC board appointees will be county residents, as a way to preserve the irreplaceable voices of those that it serves. At least one of the board appointees will be made by the Senate majority leader, an important measure to ensure that state-level appointees are fairly balanced. The final state budget language that I negotiated will also require ample input from the community itself on the future of the hospital as the new board puts together future spending plans, further prioritizing the voice of Nassau residents in this process. Finally, I
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infrastructure for battery recycling is still in its infancy, and the environmental and economic costs of lithium extraction remain extraordinarily high.
Lithium mining is not benign — it consumes vast amounts of water, devastates ecosystems, and often occurs in regions with poor labor and environmental protections. Meanwhile, the lack of cost-effective and widely available recycling facilities means that today’s lithium-based storage systems could become tomorrow’s toxic waste problem.
Until we have robust recycling infrastructure, updated fire and safety codes, and enforceable end-of-life regulations for BESS, policymakers must exercise caution. Approving large-scale lithiumbased projects now, without these safeguards, risks trading one environmental crisis for another.
Sustainability must be more than a buzzword. It requires full-cycle accountability — from cradle to grave and, ideally, cradle to cradle. Let’s not build the clean-energy future on the unstable foundation of unresolved waste and extraction.
These are my beliefs as a private citizen, and do not reflect the official stance or opinion of the Village of Sea Cliff.
BrUCE KENNEDy Glen Cove Sea Cliff village administrator
We must urge Israel to cease its military campaign
To the Editor:
I am not a Jew, but I am a Zionist, in that I support Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign state.
I regard Hamas as a terrorist organization guilty of a barbaric attack on Israeli civilians in October 2023 as well as vicious repression of the people it purports to represent. Hamas must free all hostages immediately and unconditionally.
But the time has come for American Jews and gentiles alike who share these views to publicly urge the Israeli government to cease its military campaign in Gaza. Our voices can be powerful — if we exercise our moral duty to speak out.
Even if Hamas has inflated the death count, it is incontestable that many thousands of non-combatant Palestinians, including children and aid workers, have been killed in Israeli strikes. It is likewise certain that civilian suffering, already acute, is intensifying as a result of Israel’s two-month-long blockade of food and medicine deliveries to Gaza. And any escalation of the war is sure to further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages, accord-
The budget also incorporates an additional $500 million, allocated by the Senate, to the Distressed Hospital Fund. Upon NUMC’s adherence to the Department of Health’s Corrective Action Plan, it will qualify to access a portion of the $1.5 billion aimed at enhancing its financial management and long-term strategic planning.
As a state senator, I know firsthand how important NUMC is to our community and the thousands of patients it serves, many of whom will have nowhere else to turn if this hospital fails. To me, the success of the hospital is personal. It’s where my grandmother sought medical care and ultimately took her last breath. It’s where my high school best friend received treatment for a rare form of cancer. The brave staff at NUMC looked after them with dignity and compassion, as I know they have
done for countless others in their darkest moments.
We know what’s at stake if the hospital’s course is not corrected, including for the more than 80,000 emergency patients that are treated there annually, and the 270,000 patients overall who seek care at NUMC, 70 percent of whom come from minority and low-income communities. Many of them are my constituents.
Now the behaviors that put NUMC in this position to begin with are over. A system that has long been riddled with nepotism, and a misguided fiduciary responsibility, which has left the staff and patients in a state of constant uncertainty, is coming to an end. Now it’s the good people of Nassau County who will have a direct say in the future of our beloved hospital, who will help shape its future financial plan, who will be responsible for keeping the needs and interests of the community at the center of its operations, and who will breathe life back into this system.
I am very proud to have won a budget deal that centers Nassau County in the future of NUMC, and charts a path forward that will ensure the financial solvency needed for it to continue caring for our residents.
Siela Bynoe represents the 6th State Senate District.
Framework by Tim Baker
ing to the Israeli forum of families of the hostages.
There’s nothing antisemitic about opposing Israel’s disproportionate response to Hamas’s atrocities. Indeed, this stance should rest firmly upon the
core Jewish values of rachamim (mercy and compassion) and chesed (loving kindness).
Alex Candon and her briefly airborne daughter, Lilli, at the L.I. Marathon — East Meadow
sieLa BYnoe
KEVIN J. KELLEy Atlantic Beach
