Freeport Herald 07-30-2026

HERALD FREEPORT

Also serving Roosevelt

Deliah Roberts/Herald

Shopping at Nautical Mile gift and Craft Fair

Freeport residents and other Long Island locals came to Sea Breeze Park on July 26, for the Nautical Mile Gift and Craft Fair. Kari Seitz, Kristin Young and Aimee Landau of JoJo’s Jewels were one of the many vendors in attendance. Their shop is named after Landau’s daughter Jordyn who died from cancer at the age of 24. The jewels that the women make and sell are in honor of her and go towards helping other cancer patients and survivors. Story, Page 3.

‘Keep

By ANDREW FRANCIS afrancis@liherald.com

A coalition of Long Island environmental organizations, including Freeport’s Operation SPLASH, recently launched its “Keep Long Island Beautiful” initiative during “America’s 250th Birthday Ball Drop” celebration at the Long Island Children’s Museum.

The initiative seeks to provide Long Island residents with means to participate in their own local cleanups, while encouraging them to join larger volunteer efforts with marine conservation groups like Operation SPLASH. Robert Weltner, Operation SPLASH president,

said the organization has already been able to make several meaningful contributions to marine conservation, thanks to the help of its 250 volunteers and more than 4,000 sponsoring members. Operation SPLASH volunteers have reportedly removed more than 3.5 million pounds of debris from Long Island’s South Shore since 1990.

“We cover about 34 miles of coastline, and over 54,000 acres of wetlands, marshes and beaches with our eight boats,” Weltner said. “We’re out there every day, so we have a very good finger on the pulse as to what kind of debris we’re seeing.”

By ANDREW FRANCIS afrancis@liherald.com

At a Freeport Board of Education meeting on July 22, trustees voted to reinstate Fia Davis as superintendent of schools, 15 months after she was placed on paid reassignment. The district has also agreed to settle the lawsuit it filed against Davis in February.

TThe school board, led by President Michael Pomerico, approved two resolutions at last week’s meeting. The first was a “settlement agreement and general release” between the district and Davis. The second authorized Davis to resume her work as superintendent effective Aug. 3, and terminated the district’s employment agreement with Shakirah Miller, who had served as interim superintendent since April 2. Miller’s contract was set to expire on July 30.

Pomerico was elected earlier this month, cast the only dissenting votes.

“The board, along with the school community, are excited to bring Dr. Davis back to work as our superintendent,” Pomerico said after the vote to reinstate her. “I look forward to the district’s rising success.”

o Dr. Davis … welcome back and welcome home

PATRICIA L ANg AN President, Freeport Teachers Association

“We would like to thank the board for taking the task of immediate reform for our district,” Patricia Langan, president of the Freeport Teachers Association, said. “To Dr. Davis, if you are listening, welcome back and welcome home. Very much like the holidays, when friends and family return, boy, do I have a lot to tell you.”

Both resolutions were passed by 4-1 votes. Trustee Sunday Coward, who was the school board president before

Davis was hired as superintendent on Aug. 21, 2024, taking over for longtime district administrator and superintendent Kishore Kuncham. Having served for 15 years as a public school principal in the Bronx and for a combined four years as an assistant superintendent and superintendent there, Continued on page 10

Resident recieves Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently celebrated Freeport resident Mia Lomangino, who was one of 67 young women from across the county that earned the Girl Scout Gold Award this year.

The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouts, and recognizes young women who identify a real problem in their community, build a team and create a sustainable solution. Lomangino and her fellow award recipients were honored at the 2026 Gold Award Ceremony at The Inn at New Hyde Park.

“The 2026 Gold Award Girl Scouts are an extraordinary group of young women, and what they have accomplished goes far beyond the projects they completed,” Rande Bynum, CEO of Girl Scouts of Nassau County, said. “Through this experience, every one of them built real, transferable skills in leadership, problem-solving, public speaking and project management that will give them an edge in college, in their careers, and in every community they are part of for the rest of their lives. We are so proud of each of them, and of the lasting impact they have already made right here in Nassau County.”

Girls in grades 9 through 12 begin their Gold Award projects by identifying a civic or social issue that is meaningful to them. They then assemble a team, develop a plan and lead the implementation of a sustainable solution that continues to make an impact long after the project is completed.

Whether through school-based programs, library book donations, community installations or online resources, Gold Award projects are designed to create lasting change. Throughout the process, participants strengthen their leadership, communication, project management and problem-solving skills while gaining confidence, resilience and the ability to turn ideas into action.

For her Gold Award project, Understanding ADHD in Girls, Lomangino focused on raising awareness about the underdiagnosis of ADHD among girls and women, a problem often linked to limited understanding among parents and educators. She created educational presentations, launched a website and distributed informational brochures explaining how ADHD symptoms can present differently in girls.

According to Girls Scouts of Nassau County, research shows that Girl Scouts who earn the Gold Award are more likely to take on leadership roles in their careers and communities and are more civically

engaged than non-Girl Scouts.

According to the organization, 87 percent of Gold Award recipients said the experience helped them develop skills that have contributed to their professional success, while 72 percent said it helped them earn scholarships.

The impact often extends well beyond high school, with 99 percent of Gold Award recipients reporting that they have gone on to serve in leadership roles throughout their lives.

–Justin Haberman

Courtesy Girl Scouts of Nassau County

The 67 recipients of the 2026 Girl Scout Gold Award gathered for a group photo during the recognition ceremony celebrating the organization’s highest honor for community leadership and service.

Sea Breeze shopping at gift and craft fair

The Nautical Mile Craft and Gift Fair at Sea Breeze Park in Freeport was a bustling scene of commerce this week as vendors and patrons had a wide array of items to peruse. The event was successfully organized by Nassau County Fairs and the Nautical Mile Business Organization.

On July 26, over 30 vendors registered and had various items for sale that represented various needs, interests, and quirks. The fair provided attendees with a welcoming community atmosphere, as fair organizers said their “focus is on continuing to strengthen and grow the event,” according to Alan Finchley of Nassau County Fairs.

“The Craft and Gift Fair is important because it gives local small businesses, artisans and independent vendors an opportunity to showcase and sell their products, Finchley continued. “It also brings residents and visitors together, encourages people to shop locally and helps generate additional activity for the Freeport community. It also gives attendees an opportunity to visit the Nautical Mile and see for themselves what a beautiful place it is.”

The Craft and Gift Fair was unfortunately one of the many community events and initiatives that suffered an extended hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The fair had not been hosted for five years until last year.

“After such a long break, the main challenges involved rebuilding the event from the ground up,” Finchley told the Herald. “This included coordinating vendors, organizing the event logistics, promoting the fair, and making the public aware that it had returned. Re-establishing an event after five years required a great deal of planning and communication.”

Fortunately for Nassau County Fairs, Freeport locals and other Long Island residents have enthusiastically received the return of the Craft and Gift Fair. Richard Branciforte, the executive director of the Nautical Mile Business Organization, stated last summer that “many locals fondly recall when the fair was held throughout the summer months.” The continued success and return bodes well for both the fair itself and the local Nautical Mile businesses the fair generated traffic for.

–Andrew Francis

Sandy and Richard Branciforte, the latter who is the executive director of the Nautical Mile Business Organization, with their own vendor booth.

Deliah Roberts/Herald photos

Gagan Bajaj and Ajay Bajaj of Designer Hood, with Kathleen Gilman and Maria Blank as they shop.

Charily Billups looks through a colorful assortment of pens and other crafts.

Toys, jewelry, clothes and many other items were on sale during the Nautical Mile Craft and Gift Fair on July 26.

Lisa Fritz-Ramos, Cesar Delgado and Denis Delgado were among the many Craft and Gift Fair patrons.

Paula Carey, manager of Nassau County Fairs, showcases some colorful items to Justin Johnson and young Amelia Johnson, 11, and Justin Johnson Jr., 4.

Crime watCh

misChief

On July 13, a person was arrested by the Freeport Police Department after being involved in a verbal dispute with another person and intentionally throwing a bicycle through the other’s bedroom window. The arrested person was transported to Freeport Police Headquarters for arrest processing.

Driving intoxiCateD

On July 12, a person was arrested by Freeport police officers after committing a traffic infraction and being found to be intoxicated while driving. The person was transported to Freeport Police Headquarters for arrest processing.

assault

anD harassment

On July 11, a man who was on his boat and got into an argument with another passenger was arrested by Freeport police officers after he struck the passenger in the head with a tequila bottle, which caused an injury to the victim. The man was transported to Freeport Police Headquarters for arrest processing.

On July 11, the Freeport Police Department received a report of a person slapping a co-worker due to a work-related argument. No injuries were reported and no arrest was requested.

frauD

On July 9, Freeport police officers received a report of an unknown person who was posing as an Amazon employee in order to scam an individual. No arrest has been requested.

On July 10, Freeport police officers received a report of an unknow person who attempted to scam a person by claiming they won a prize and had to claim said prize by writing a check, taking a picture of it and sending it a phone number. No financial loss occurred.

lost ProPerty

On July 23, they had lost a collection of keys while walking in the area. Five keys, one red, one yellow, one green, one blue and one silver in a ‘GMAC’ key holder may have fallen on one of the roads south of Merrick Road and north of Casino Street in Freeport. Please contact the Freeport Police Department if you find them.

People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.

Making the World a Better Place

The late Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, wrote extensively on making the world a better place. In his book, “To Heal a Fractured World”, he writes, “I have spent much of my life thinking about life, observing people, reading books, searching for teachers and exemplars...I make no claim to wisdom, but this I have learned:”

“That what counts is not how much wealth we make but how much of what we have, we share.”

“That those who spend at least part of their lives in the service of others are the most fulfilled and happiest people I know.”

“That moral health is no less important to the quality of a life than physical health.”

“That the best do good without thought of reward, understanding that to help others is a privilege even more than it is an opportunity.”

Two stores subject to FDA recall on cheese item

Local stores carrying a requeson cheese product are being subjected to a recall due to a possible serious contamination. The U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) states that listeria monocytogenes, a sometimes fatal infectious organism, may be in the product.

Nelson and Isa Lacteos LLC., a wholesale grocery company based in Bayshore, is specifically recalling one pound packages of requeson cheese from over a dozen locations across Long Island. The recalled requeson cheese was sold in retail locations in New York from May 15 to 28 this year, including Plaza Centro at 46 South Main Street and Mi Tiendita at 282 North Main Street, both in Freeport.

U.S. Food and Drug

“That self-interest is simply uninteresting.”

“That pain and loneliness are forms of energy that can be transformed if we turn them outward, using them to recognize and redeem someone else’s pain or loneliness.”

“That putting others down, we diminish ourselves; lifting others, we lift ourselves.”

“That nothing is gained by less-thanethical conduct. We may gain in the short term but we will lose in the long, and it is the long term that counts.”

“That the ability to give to others is itself a gift.”

“That the privilege of wealth lies not in what it allows us to do for ourselves, but what it enables us to do for others.”

“That the world is a book in which our life is a chapter, and the question is whether others, reading it, will be inspired.”

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy people may suffer only short-term symptoms such as a fever, headache, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, the FDA has advised extreme caution, as the infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women as well.

The contamination was discovered after sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Market Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis by the Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in an 18 pound plastic container of “Clover Hill Dairy Requeson Cheese” that was repackaged into the

recalled one pound packages.

Bakeries, grocery stores and other food vendors have had to recall the products. The FDA has said that the cheese was sold at stores in Bay Shore, Brentwood, Central Islip, Copiague, Hempstead, Long Beach, Riverhead, Southold, South Farmingdale and Uniondale.

Last month, the FDA reported receiving no complaints or illnesses in connection to the requeson cheese. Consumers who have purchased one pound packages of the cheese product are urged not to consume it, and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions can contact Nelson and Isa Lacteos LLC. at 631-334-1055 during normal business hours.

–Andrew Francis

Courtesy

Administration Plaza Centro and Mi Tiendita on Freeport’s Main Street are the two locations impacted by the cheese product recall.

Flood relief funding advances in Congress

A bipartisan water infrastructure bill moving through Congress would authorize $3.3 million for a new stormwater pumping station in Freeport. The $125 million in total funding would be aimed at reducing flooding that has affected neighborhoods, roadways and critical infrastructure in the village and surrounding areas.

The funding is included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, which advanced unanimously out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on July 22.

The legislation authorizes funding for water infrastructure and coastal resilience nationwide, though Congress must still appropriate the money before the projects can advance.

CThe legislation also includes language directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite the Nassau County Back Bays Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, a long-running study focused on protecting South Shore communities, including Freeport, from flooding and coastal erosion.

regular basis

Laura GiLLen Representative, New York’s 4th Congressional District

Congresswoman Laura Gillen, the representative for New York’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Freeport, secured the authorization as part of the bill. The project would support the installation of additional stormwater pumping stations to help reduce flooding caused by high tides and severe storms.

“For a decade, the Army Corps has been engaged in a study to examine how we can reduce storm damage, flooding and coastal erosion in Nassau County’s back bays,” Gillen said during committee consideration of the bill.

She noted that communities like Freeport “deal with severe flooding on a regular basis.” Village of Freeport officials did not respond to the Herald’s request for comment before it went to print.

Gillen said the measure would require the Army Corps to provide an update on the project’s status and move it closer to construction.

“My amendment would require the Army Corps to report on the current status of the project and to expedite and advance this crucial project one step

Congresswoman Laura Gillen spoke before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on July 22 in support of the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, which would authorize $3.3 million to help reduce flooding in

further to protect us from the next storm,” she said.

In addition to the Freeport project, the bill authorizes funding for water infrastructure improvements in Long Beach, Garden City and Nassau County, along with studies examining additional flood mitigation and coastal resilience.

–Justin Haberman

Courtesy Office Laura Gillen

Freeport.

Crossovers fuel Nassau County football

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Kickoff for the Nassau high school football season is just over a month away.

On Aug. 17, all 51 public high school football programs in the county will begin preparations for the upcoming season, scheduled to open Thursday, Sept. 3 with a Conference IV battle between Island Trees and Oyster Bay. The vast majority of openers will take place the following Thursday.

The biggest news of the offseason came in the spring when East Rockaway and West Hempstead announced it would be joining forces. Longtime Rocks head coach Russ Pajer adds Dom Carre, who served as the head coach at West Hempstead since 2010, as defensive coordinator. Carre played for Pajer at East Rockaway in 1997 and ‘98.

“Our JV teams combined last year and it was a great experience,” said Pajer, who enters his 32nd season as head coach. “West Hempstead’s numbers are down to less than 20, so it was a no-brainer. It was a seamless process with both superintendents on board. It’s a good thing and we expect to have a strong team.”

East Rockaway/West Hempstead is seeded fifth in Conference IV and opens at Valley Stream North. Three of its home games will be played under the lights at East Rockaway beginning Sept. 18 against defending county champion Seaford. West Hempstead will be the site of the Week 3 crossover against Elmont, and the game will serve as Homecoming. A Homecoming will also take place in East Rockaway Oct. 9. In 2025, the Rocks went 2-6 while the Rams finished 4-4 and qualified for the playoffs.

“We expect to have between 30 and 35 kids on varsity,” Pajer said.

Crossover games add intrigue

Seaford, along with three-time defending Long Island champion Massapequa (Conference I), ninetime defending county champion Garden City (II) and South Side (III) are the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.

Massapequa and Garden City will clash in a muchanticipated crossover game Sept. 26 on the Chiefs’ home field at 1:30 p.m. The Trojans enter the season riding an amazing 66-game winning streak. The showdown, along with all the other crossovers between Conferences I and II, and III and IV, will carry a lesser power-ranking weight than the other seven games, Carey head coach Mike Stanley said.

Some of the other Week 3 matchups feature Carey at Oceanside, Long Beach at Farmingdale, South Side at Seaford, Plainedge at Lynbrook, and Freeport at Roosevelt (Thurs., Sept. 24 at 5 p.m.)

Seven teams switch conferences

Plainedge and Carey lead a group of six teams switching conferences for this season based on enrollment and size breakdown of each conference. Plainedge finished first in the regular season in Conference IV a year ago, going undefeated in the process, and bumps down to III. Carey was in III last fall but jumps up to II, essentially changing places with Glen Cove. East Meadow is no stranger to the top conference and heads there after a brief stay in II. Floral Park, Valley Stream North and Valley Stream South moved to IV from III.

Few coaching changes

Legendary Plainedge head coach Rob Shaver retired

10 games to watch

Sept. 10 Long Beach at Carey

Sept. 10 Wantagh at Plainedge

Sept. 10 Lynbrook at Seaford

Sept. 19 Mepham at Calhoun

Sept. 26 Carey at Oceanside

Sept. 26 Garden City at Massapequa

Oct. 10 Oceanside at Massapequa

Oct. 17 Plainedge at South Side

Oct. 24 Massapequa at Farmingdale

Oct. 31 South Side at Wantagh

at the end of last season and the Red Devils are now led by former assistant Adam Hovorka. They’ll kick off at home versus defending Conference III champion Wantagh. And for the third time in four seasons, East Meadow has a new head coach with Matt Castaneda taking over. The Jets are seeded seventh in their return to Conference I and open at home against Hicksville. Former Elmont head coach Jay Hegi is the new head coach at Division.

Lucas DiDio and Oceanside take on Carey in what promises to be an exciting crossover game Sept. 26.

Michelle Ebel/Herald photos

Chaminade’s Luka Tomaszweski was on the move during 7 on 7 drills at Oceanside.

Village leaders to host National Night Out

Iam thrilled that National Night Out has become a cherished tradition

Debra Mulé Nassau County Legislator

Nassau County Legislature Debra Mulé is partnering with Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy, the Freeport police and fire departments, several businesses, not-for-profit agencies and community stakeholders to host National Night Out 2026 at Freeport’s Bishop Frank O. White Memorial Park, also known as Northeast Park, on Tuesday, Aug. 4. In pursuit of “police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live,” Thousands of communities have hosted National Night Out events on the first Tuesday in August.

For more than 40 years, the goal has been to enhance relationships between law enforcement and communities by bringing police and residents together in a fun and welcoming atmosphere.

“As someone who raised her children in Freeport and been active in the community for many years, I am thrilled

that National Night Out has become a cherished tradition that strengthens, connects and forges authentic partnerships with the local first responders that keep us safe,” Mulé said. “It is wonder-

ful once again to be working with our local partners in law enforcement, government and the community to bring National Night Out to Freeport, and I hope you’ll be a part of it!”

Individuals interested in becoming a vendor can contact Mulé’s office at 516571-6206 or dmule@nassaucountyny.gov

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DRONE AND TWILIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

• HOME PREP & STAGING

• CLEAN AND MOVE OUT SERVICES

Why rent when you can own! Time to buy in the highly sought-after “ambassador building” in the peaceful & residential, prime area of freeport. King size studio unit w/ alcove room, situated on the top floor (4th floor) elevator building. Parking spot included. Steps to LIRR.

Fully renovated and bight, Junior 4, 1 bedroom unit offers a beautiful new kitchen with ss appliances, updated bath, hw floors, recessed lighting, ample closet space. Indoor swimming pool with an attendant, a party room. Parking space is included.

–Justin Haberman

Christina Daly/Herald

Barbecue has been a staple of the Freeport’s annual Night Out festivities.

FREE SUMMER CONCERTS

THURSDAY,

6 7:00PM

Great Canoe Race to return to Freeport waters

By ANDREW FRANCIS afrancis@liherald.com

The Freeport Canoe Race will be celebrating its 50th edition at Cow Meadow Park on Aug. 2, starting at 10 a.m., where residents and community members are welcomed to participate on land or in the water.

Associate Village Justice Susan Lyons has taken up the mantle of overseeing this year’s races after being heavily involved in the canoe races as a participant or organizer. She estimates that she has had a role in the Freeport Canoe Race in about 40 out of the 50 years of the event’s existence, which included a notable streak of ten consecutive wins in female heats.

“I love my village,” Lyons said. “It’s important to me because I want to see the village get together and incorporate all villagers into community events. Also, I’ve been brought up on the water. I have salt water in my veins, and I love any kind of activity involving our local waters in our bays, and to create awareness of the waterfront opportunities.”

Lyons expressed that the Freeport community has already begun showing its supportive of the canoe races in various ways.

“I reincorporated what we had done years ago, and the different businesses are sponsoring to have their employees go in and race,” Lyons said.

The entry fee to join the Freeport Canoe Race is $30 per person, with two people allowed for each canoe team. Participants will be allowed to be a part of unlimited races in their assigned heats, get a custom t-shirt and have the choice of a hamburger or hot dog included in the registration fee.

■ Children’s Heat

■ Freeport Firehouses Heat

■ Winning Firehouse vs Freeport Police Race

■ Adult Heat

■ Male-Female Heat

■ Parent-Child Heat

■ Freeport Police Athletic League Heat

For those who would like to enjoy the races from dry land, the same food and water is available to them, plus they can enjoy the music provided by DJ Lindell and bust a move with a featured dance instructor. A special “Dunk Your Favorite Dignitary” dunk tank will also be a part of the festivities, with several Freeport officials and community leaders expected to volunteer to take the chance of being dunked by residents for an additional cost.

For interested racers, the canoes, life jackets and paddles will be provided. At least 70 teams are anticipated to partake in the event, with registration still open for those who have not signed up yet. To sign yourself and a partner up for the Freeport Canoe Race, please contact the Freeport Chamber of Commerce at 516-223-8840 or via email at office@freeportchamberofcommerce.org.

Tim Herald/Herald

Ed Eccker and Bill Andrews paddled hard during last year’s Freeport Great Canoe Race, earning first place in their heat.

AUGUST 13 • 10AM-12:30PM

CONGREGATION OHAV SHOLOM

145 S MERRICK AVE, MERRICK

FREE community event focused on health, wellness, and lifestyle

Meet trusted local exhibitors and service providers

Take advantage of on-site health screenings

Enjoy lively entertainment, fitness demonstrations and interactive experiences

Win raffles, prizes, and giveaways

Snack station for all

Hear from experts during a panel discussion with Q&A

*Boxed lunches for first 150 attendees

All designed to help you stay active, informed, and engaged at every stage of life.

School district reinstates superintendent

Davis was initially welcomed with enthusiasm by the school board.

Drama and confusion soon began, however. On April 21, 2025, exactly eight months after her hiring date, the district announced that it was placing Davis on paid administrative reassignment. She continued to receive salary and benefits while reassigned to an undisclosed position in the district.

Soon after the announcement of her reassignment, Alice Kane, a former assistant superintendent in the district who had retired in 2023, was appointed interim superintendent. Kane held the job until April 1 of this year, when she decided to return to retirement, and was subsequently replaced by Miller. Kane was initially given only a fourmonth contract for $94,000, but had to be retained for an additional eight months.

During the 15 months that Davis was reassigned, the district continued to pay her and an interim simultaneously.

Davis’s reassignment created a great deal of confusion and outrage among Freeport teachers and parents, because the district did not publicly explain the decision for nearly a year before it announced that it was suing Davis. The district has not yet disclosed the amount of the settlement, and whether Davis or the district will pay it.

The decision comes on the heels of yet another controversial legal matter. After the school board meeting on July 1, Miller called 911 to report that Pomerico had tapped or poked her in the arm. Miller appeared to have attempted to initiate an investigation into the incident, but both the Freeport Police Department and the Nassau County district attorney’s office told the Herald that no charges were being filed against Pomerico, and there was no active investigation.

Neither Miller nor Davis attended last week’s school board meeting. Miller’s assigned seat was farther from Pomerico’s than it has been at past meetings, when the two sat next to each other.

After the Herald’s initial reporting on the story, many community members and local leaders voiced support for Davis’s reinstatement. Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, who represents the 21st District, which includes parts of Freeport, was among them.

“Excellent news,” Griffin wrote on Facebook. “[I am] so glad that Fia Davis will be reinstated as superintendent and that the district will no longer be paying two superintendents.”

Some observers, however, have questioned the school board’s decision, and Davis’s ability to lead. Kelly Steele, a teacher who worked at the Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts in Harlem for five years while

freeport’s newest school board members made resolving the davis situation a priority, so the district would no longer have to pay for two superintendents, but leaving questions about whether davis’s return is the right decision.

Davis was the principal, described problematic behavior in her leadership.

“While I was there we had so much teacher turnover,” Steele wrote in an email to the Herald. “In the five years I taught there we had about 40 teachers leave. Now keep in mind this is a small school.”

Steele also claimed that Davis was at

one point accused of using atypical disciplinary measures, including corporal punishment and forcing students to clean her office.

As of press time, Davis, the Freeport school district and the New York City Department of Education had not responded to the Herald’s requests for comment.

Freeport superintendent timeline

July 2023 — Alice Kane retires as assistant superintendent for educational and administrative services.

Dec. 6, 2023 — The Freeport school district accepts the resignation of Superintendent Kishore Kuncham, who plans to retire, effective Aug. 20, 2024.

Aug. 21, 2024 — Fia Davis is hired as superintendent.

April 21, 2025 — The Board of Education announces that it is placing Davis on paid reassignment.

April 28, 2025 — Alice Kane is appointed interim superintendent.

Feb. 9, 2026 — The district announces that it is filing a lawsuit against Davis for over $400,000.

March 20 — Kane announces her return to retirement, effective April 1.

April 2 — Shakirah Miller is appointed interim superintendent.

July 1 — Miller calls the police to report Board President Michael Pomerico’s “poking” after a board meeting.

July 22 — The school board announces that it is reinstating Davis as superintendent on Aug. 3, and terminating its agreement with Miller.

Andrew Francis/Herald

Herald file photo

residents and stakeholders wait to see what further changes the new-look school board may implement with the start of classes only a few weeks away.

ShAkir Ah Miller

Courtesy Freeport Public Schools freeport teachers association president patricia Langan spoke favorably of returning Superintendent f ia davis after the announcement of her reinstatement.

Environmental initiative provides cleanup kits

“Thousands of bottle caps” from litterers are some of the most common types of debris Weltner and Operation SPLASH volunteers find along the southern shore of Long Island, he added. He also stressed the danger of this kind of pollution, stating that animals often mistake such small pieces of plastic as food, which can harm or even kill them when they try to swallow the debris.

30 DIY cleanup kits were supplied to Suffolk County public libraries, with more available for request, so that residents can initiate their own smaller scale cleanups in their communities, in a bid to further support the efforts of Operation SPLASH and other conservation organizations based in Wantagh, Bellmore, Merrick, Massapequa, East Rockaway and other Long Island communities. The kits, which were made available on July 1, contain litter grabbers, yellow safety vests, gloves, trash bags and additional resources.

“We wanted to make environmental stewardship feel genuinely accessible and something any resident, family or student could do on a Tuesday afternoon without needing to sign up for anything,” said Maureen Early, lead community relations specialist at waste management company Reworld. “The library kit pilot program is about removing every barrier between a Long Islander and the simple act of making their community cleaner.”

The “Keep Long Island Beautiful” initiative is organized by a steering committee that includes Reworld and other conservation organizations, including Balloon Mission, Save the Great South Bay and the Long Island South Shore Waterkeeper. The launch of the campaign in July was intentionally

timed to coincide with the celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary of its independence, seeking to unify existing environmental stewardship efforts across Long Island under a streamlined network.

“There’s so much good work happening on Long Island, and this campaign brings it all together,” Merrick resident Cynthia Seibold, founder of Balloon Mission, stated. “By giving people simple tools and opportunities to participate, whether through organized cleanups and restoration projects, or DIY in their own neighborhoods, we’re empowering each person to appreciate and preserve our Long Island.”

Asked how he would like Freeport and Long Island residents to further support local conservation efforts, Weltner said that people need to be aware that littering on land has a tremendous impact on the waste that is later found in the water.

“Our hardest part is getting people on Long Island to understand they live on an island, and any street trash will eventually become bay trash, ocean trash or Long Island Sound trash once it goes down a storm drain,” he said. “All the storm drains lead to water, and that’s the biggest deposit of trash out in the water.”

To join Operation SPLASH or any other beautification and clean-up efforts, residents and visitors can go to beautifyli.org/about to view the calendar of environmental events that will be held across Long Island.

Weltner and his fellow Long Island conservationists said they hope that enough of their neighbors continue to fight local pollution and littering on land and in the water to “put them out of business” permanently, securing a truly beautiful Long Island.

FRIDAY,

Courtesy Maggie Smith

the “Keep Long island Beautiful” initiative made accessible volunteer kits that contain cleanup supplies for residents to use in their local communities.

Freeport Armory to receives $300K grant

The Freeport Armory will be getting much needed renovations thanks to $300,000 in funding coming to the Village of Freeport from a recent Nassau County grant. The funds will address building concerns and plans for programs at the location.

On July 27, Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé helped secure the unanimous passage of a Community Revitalization Program grant for Freeport, which will provide funding for the renovations. The funds will be applied toward continuing work to establish a trade school on the property, address asbestos testing and monitoring, provide window, door and roof replacements and install electrical and heating services in the building.

The Freeport Armory was initially donated by the Village of Freeport in 1949 for U.S. Army and Navy personnel to use. The National Guard used the Armory afterwards, until the property fell into disrepair and the National Guard closed it in 2011. Following nearly a decade of vacancy and disputes over ownership of the property between the Village of Freeport and the Cedarmore Corporation, a local nonprofit organization, village officials were granted ownership of the property.

Since then, gradual renovations have taken place. In recent years, the location has been largely used as a site for various community events, including the annual Nassau County Veterans Stand Down event, a charitable effort for local veterans.

Initial phases of the renovation project have made way for the Armory to host the Rising Stars Youth Foundation, which seeks to change the lives of local youth and their families through team sports and education. Rising Stars utilizes 16,000 square feet of the Armory, where they host activities including basketball, volleyball, pickleball and more, serving as a com-

The National Guard Armory in Freeport was vacant for nearly 10 years due to military personnel closing it in 2011 and a long legal dispute over the property between the Village of Freeport and the Cedarmore Corporation.

munity sports hub for Freeport and surrounding communities.

“Freeport’s Armory has unlimited potential to become a multifaceted hub for the Village and our greater region, and these funds will help prepare this historic site for its next phase of service,” Mulé said. “I thank my colleagues for unanimously supporting

this latest investment in our community’s future.”

According to legal documents authorizing the grant provided by the Office of Debra Mulé, the Village of Freeport has been given a five year term to oversee and complete the work on the Armory.

–Andrew Francis Herald

STEPPING OUT

For Michelle Taplin, seen here at a spring showcase, theater is about more than performance. Through Tap Into Your Passion, she is helping young actors develop the confidence, resilience and skills to succeed both onstage and off.

Opening doors to the stage

By Iris Wiener

Michelle Taplin has spent much of her life immersed in the performing arts, but her greatest role may be helping the next generation discover their own voices. What began as a longtime dream has grown into Tap Into Your Passion, a thriving coaching and arts education company that, more than a year after its official launch, is already making a lasting impact on aspiring performers across the region.

As Tap Into Your Passion marks its first year and a half, Taplin celebrates the milestone with a special fundraising gala on Aug. 10 in The Green Room 42 in New York City that reflects the heart of her mission: making quality theater education accessible to everyone.

For Taplin, the journey started long before she opened her Rockville Centre-based business. Growing up in Oceanside, she balanced voice lessons, dance classes, gymnastics, and community theater while nurturing two lifelong ambitions: becoming a theater educator and one day opening her own company. Inspired by Oceanside High School theater teacher Laura Gallo, she pursued degrees in theater and business at Muhlenberg College before earning an MA in theater education from Adelphi University. Along the way, she gained experience as a performer, director, choreographer, stage manager, and arts administrator while also spending six years with the Sunrise Association, where she developed an inclusive teaching philosophy serving children with cancer and their siblings. Those experiences continue to shape every lesson she teaches today.

Taplin continues to wear many hats. She teaches theater at both the middle and high school in Oceanside, and directs productions with the school district and community theaters, including Plaza Theatricals. She also advises student organizations and mentors countless young performers. Tap Into Your Passion has become a natural extension of everything she loves most about teaching.

“Tap Into Your Passion’s mission is to provide theater education without costing an arm and a leg,” Taplin says, explaining that she wanted to remove financial barriers for students pursuing careers in the performing arts. She offers three primary services: private coaching for performers ages nine and up; a comprehensive college audition program that guides students through every step of the competitive application process; and a monthly master class series featuring accomplished Broadway performers, choreographers, casting directors, and other industry professionals.

The response has been exceptional. Taplin credits much of Tap Into Your Passion’s early success to the generosity of the artists who have shared their time and expertise. Taplin explains that each workshop has

Theater coach celebrates a milestone

reinforced the lessons she teaches her students while helping to build a supportive network where young performers can learn directly from professionals working in the industry.

Rather than molding students into “cookie-cutter performers,” Taplin encourages them to embrace their individuality. She believes there is no single path to success in theater and exposing students to a wide variety of artistic voices helps them discover the techniques and perspectives that resonate most authentically.

That philosophy has attracted students from throughout Long Island and Manhattan. Students from Floral Park, Oceanside, Lynbrook, Sewanhaka, Elmont, Rockville Centre, East Rockaway, Garden City, and New York City, among other places, create a diverse community connected by a shared love of theater.

“Michelle always makes sure to put care and respect into all of her students’ work sessions,” says Kevin Kirley, a student from Rockville Centre who now attends New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. “She has also been so integral to my journey throughout the college audition process. Her teaching has been extremely influential to me as a working actor, and I will take what I have learned throughout my training into my artistry.”

For Taplin, arts education extends well beyond singing, dancing or acting. She advocates that theater teaches empathy, collaboration, resilience, confidence, communication, and determination — life skills that benefit students regardless of whether they ultimately pursue careers on stage.

“It’s what the process teaches you,” she says, emphasizing that the personal growth students experience is often more valuable than the performances themselves.

Those values will be front and center shortly when Tap Into Your Passion hosts its Broadway Gives Back gala. The evening will feature performances by many of the Broadway artists and teaching professionals who have led Taplin’s master classes, each sharing a song that inspired their own theatrical journey. Beyond celebrating the company’s growth, the fundraiser will support Taplin’s goal of keeping coaching and master classes affordable for aspiring performers while demonstrating to students the passion that fuels successful careers in the arts.

As Tap Into Your Passion enters its second year, Taplin aims to continue expanding its reach while maintaining the close-knit community that has become its hallmark. She envisions welcoming more students, introducing them to even more accomplished professionals, and reminding every young artist that there is room for their unique voice in the theater world. Looking back on Tap’s remarkable beginning and the theater community’s willingness to help, Taplin relates that the experience has reinforced one lesson above all others: “The answer will always be ‘no’ if you don’t ask.”

It is a philosophy that has helped transform a childhood dream into a flourishing business, and one that continues to inspire the students following in her footsteps.

Visit TheGreenRoom42.VenueTix.com for tickets or more information about Where It All Began: Broadway Gives Back.

Double Vision: The Foreigner Experience

Comprising a group of exceptionally talented musicians and die-hard Foreigner fans, Double Vision has perfected the art of bringing to life the unforgettable hits that have defined generations. From “I Want to Know What Love Is” to “Cold as Ice,” Their renditions are a harmonious blend of passion, precision, and nostalgic energy. Drawing inspiration from Foreigner’s unmistakable sound and stage presence, Double Vision delivers a performance that pays homage to the band’s legacy while infusing their own charisma and enthusiasm. Their commitment to authenticity is matched only by their unwavering dedication to creating an electrifying experience for their audiences.

Saturday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.

Vishal & Sheykhar

Brace yourself for a high-octane night with Bollywood’s most electrifying music duo – Vishal and Shekhar! VishalDadlani and Shekhar (formerly Shekhar) Ravjiani return to the states, following a completely sold-out U.S. run in 2025. Experience the energy and excitement of The Superhit Tour as acclaimed music duo Vishal and Sheykhar take the stage. Known for creating some of Bollywood’s biggest hits, the duo brings a powerhouse performance filled with fan-favorite songs, dynamic production and a concert atmosphere that will have the entire audience singing along. Expect a night packed with unforgettable music, stunning visuals, and the signature sound that has made them global sensations.

Sunday, Aug. 2, 7 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter. org or (516) 299-3100. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville.

Photos courtesy Michelle Taplin

Student Bella Romero performs at the spring showcase at The Green Room 42.

Broadway’s Krystina Alabado, right, leads a master class.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

jul 30

Family Fun Nights

Cedarmore Corporation, in partnership with Big Brothers Association hosts its Unity in the Community Family Fun Nights in Bishop Frank O. White Memorial Park every Thursday. With family activities, meetings with local agencies serving youth and adults, and participation in Cedarmore’s youth basketball tournament and summer reading program.

• Where: 100 Parsons Ave.

• Time: 6-8 p.m.

• Contact: cedarmore.org

jul 31

Roosevelt HS Class of 1976 Reunion

Roosevelt High School Class of 1976 celebrates its 50th anniversary with a class reunion at Coral House in Baldwin. Proceeds from donations and other expenses will go towards Roosevelt scholarships and programs. More information can be found on the Roosevelt LI Community Facebook group.

• Where: 70 Milburn Ave., Baldwin

• Time: 7-11 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 662-1521

Roosevelt HS Class of 1981 Reunion

Roosevelt High School Class of 1981 cel ebrates its 45th anniversary with a class reunion at the Freeport Yacht Club. Proceeds from donations and other expenses will go towards Roosevelt scholarships and programs. More information can be found on the Roosevelt LI Community Facebook group.

• Where: 533 Guy Lombardo Ave.

• Time: 7-11 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 662-1521

Roosevelt HS Class of 1986 Reunion

Roosevelt High School Class of 1986 celebrates its 40th anniversary with a class reunion at St. Vladimir’s Parish Center in Uniondale. Proceeds from donations and other expenses will go towards Roosevelt scholarships and programs. More information can be found on the Roosevelt LI Community Facebook group.

• Where: 226 Uniondale Ave., Uniondale

• Time: 7-11 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 662-1521

‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’

The Madison Theatre’s production

Franz Ferdinand

Long Island Jazz on the Nautical Mile Sparkle on Stage hosts the Mala Waldron Duo. $15 in advance, $20 at door.

• Where: 195 Woodcleft Ave.

• Time: 3-4:30 p.m.

• Contact: sparkleonstage.org or (516) 240-1188

Family theater

Lance the Eagle welcomes families to “A Semi-QuincentenEAGLE Birthday” on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. In this original production, families are invited to celebrate his birthday. His message: As the national bird, this party will be happening throughout the whole month of July. Come to think of it, I did hear something about a birthday for the United States of America as well. Hmm... must be a coincidence! I’ll be throwing a parade through LICM’s galleries and a celebratory spectacle in the Theater. Come ready to party!” Keep an eye out 30 minutes before each show for a special interactive pre-show! For ages 3+. $5 with museum admission ($4 members), $10 theater only.

• Time: 8 p.m.

The Scottish band brings their Greater Glasgow European Cultural Exchange Tour to the Paramount stage, in support of their latest album, “The Human Fear,” which dropped in January. Since emerging from Glasgow’s art-school scene — where the band famously staged illegal parties in abandoned buildings — Franz Ferdinand has built a reputation for bold sharp hooks, infectious riffs and a fearless approach to reinvention. The band’s sixth studio album explores the emotions that define the human experience, transforming fear from something to avoid into something that awakens us. From the vulnerability of new relationships to the courage required to embrace change, “The Human Fear” channels those moments of uncertainty into songs packed with energy, urgency and unmistakable Franz Ferdinand style. Following the retrospective collection “Hits To The Head,” their latest album marks a new chapter for the group — one that honors its signature sound while pushing forward. Expect a high-energy performance filled with the clever songwriting, driving rhythms and irresistible beats that have made Franz Ferdinand one of the most influential bands of its generation. At this point in their career, Franz Ferdinand definitely know who they are, and are relishing the vigor that comes with accepting that

of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” brings the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical to the stage, retelling the biblical story of Joseph, his colorful coat and his rise from slavery to Pharaoh’s trusted advisor. Told entirely through song, the family-friendly production features memorable numbers including “Any Dream Will Do,” “Close Every Door” and “One More Angel in Heaven,” blending musical styles from calypso to country-western. Suitable for audiences of all ages, the show continues to be one of the world’s most frequently performed musicals.

• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

• Time: Various dates and times, through Aug. 2

• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444

Summer grooves

Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series welcomes Grateful Dead tribute band Half Step. The Long Island-based band are dedicated fans and “students” of the Grateful Dead, capturing the spirit, improvisation, sound and complexity of Grateful Dead music. Half Step has been

mastering their craft since 2004 while winning over crowds of veteran Deadheads, newcomers and non-Dead fans alike. Like the Grateful Dead themselves, the band is constantly pushing the envelope, growing together as musicians and performers.

• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200

1

Alumni Barbecue/ Party Reunion

A joint reunion of Roosevelt High School’s graduating classes of 1976, 1981 and 1986 includes a day-long anniversary celebration at Roosevelt Park. $30 registration required. An alumni night party follows at Freeport Yacht Club, 533 Guy Lombardo Ave., with $40 registration required. With cash bar and light food. Electronic payment for both can be made on Cash App, Venmo or Zelle to Robert Dixon. Proceeds go towards Roosevelt scholarships and programs. More information can be found on the Roosevelt LI Community Facebook group.

• Where: 242 Elmwood Ave., Roosevelt

• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

• Time: 1-5 p.m. barbecue, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. evening party

• Contact: (516) 662-1521

Summer sounds

Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series continues with the annual Salute to Veterans show. Desert Highway performs an Eagles tribute. American Bombshell also appears.

• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200

Canoe Race

The 50th Annual Freeport Canoe Race, organized by the Freeport Chamber of Commerce and Freeport Police Athletic League, provides plenty of fun in Freeport’s Cow Meadow Park. $30 fee, includes unlimited races, with canoes, paddles and life jackets provided, a custom t-shirt and a choice of a hamburger or hot dog.

• Where: 701 South Main St.

• Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 223-8840

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. also Aug 5

• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

sep 26

50th Class Reunion

Freeport High School Class of 1976 celebrates its 50th reunion at the Freeport Yacht Club, with all graduating members invited to attend. Register for the event at luma.com/event/manage/ evt-sHnBL62p5tU094B prior to attending. Ticket deadline is Sept. 12

• Where: 533 Guy Lombardo Ave.

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: admarkfl@gmail.com

Having an event?

Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@ liherald.com.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, not in its individual capacity, but solely as owner trustee of CSMC 2019-RPL5 Trust

Plaintiff, Against Wilfredo Osorio and Maria A. Osorio if living, and if he/she any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or generally or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors; administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; The People of the State of New York, The United States of America; Dilcia Hernandez (JOHN DOE #l); Luis Salinas (JOHN DOE #2); Osman Anibal Mazanares Hernandez (JOHN DOE #3); JOHN DOE #4 (Name Unknown); JOHN DOE #5 (Name Unknown); JOHN DOE #6 (Name Unknown) Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 04/24/2026, 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 8/18/2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 4 Andrews Avenue, Roosevelt, New York 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 at Roosevelt, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Section 55 Block 280 Lot 248

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $299,376.25 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 612713/2024

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.

Christy Marie Demelfi, Esq., Referee. SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Dated: 6/9/2026 File Number: 39951 CA 161248

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR CARRINGTON MORTGAGE LOAN, TRUST, SERIES 2005OPT2, ASSET BACKED PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2005-OPT2 Plaintiff, Against CYNTHIA CRAIG A/K/A CYNTHIA A. CRAIG, et al Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 06/18/2025, 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 8/20/2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 153 Connecticut Avenue, 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 0055 Block 00388.00 Lot 00198

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $830,747.82 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 612946/2018 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. Georgia Papazis, Esq., Referee.

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

Dated: 6/12/2026 File Number: 18-300586 CA 161250

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, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff, vs. LARRY D. GREENE, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April 16 2024 and an Order Appointing Substitute Referee duly entered on September 27, 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 August 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 230 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, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 62, Block 117 and Lot 9. Approximate amount of judgment is $962,283.15 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of

filed Judgment Index #004351/2013. Howard Colton, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 255899-5 161186

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that license for NYS Application ID: NA-0340-26-120427 for on premises liquor has been applied for by Rincon Dominican Restaurant & Bar Corp. to sell liquor at retail in a restaurant under the Alcohol Beverage Control Law at 85 Henry St. Freeport, NY 11520 for on premises consumption. 161346

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

CO-OP APARTMENT

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that pursuant to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, STEPHAN G. MARCELIN, Auctioneer, RICHIE SCHULTZ, Auctioneer, or MICHAEL CAMPBELL, will sell at public auction with reserve to the highest bidder, on the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 18, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., security consisting of 300 shares of 100 SOUTH OCEAN AVE REALTY CORP., in the name of NICHOLE HENRIQUEZ, and all right, title and interest in and to a Proprietary Lease for Cooperative, located in a building known as and by the street address 100 SOUTH OCEAN AVE, UNIT 4H, FREEPORT, NEW YORK 11520, NICHOLE HENRIQUEZ, as Lessee, and 100 SOUTH OCEAN AVE REALTY CORP., as Lessor. This sale is held to satisfy an indebtedness of the unpaid principal balance, interest, attorney fees, and advances through August 18, 2026, and to enforce the rights of NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING (the “Secured Party”), arising under a Security Agreement dated October 5, 2021, executed by and between NICHOLE HENRIQUEZ and NEW REZ LLC. The Secured Party reserves the right to bid.

The Co-op Apartment will be sold “AS IS”, subject to open common charges, and possession is to be obtained by the purchaser.

DATED: July 15, 2026 Knuckles & Manfro, LLP Attorneys for SECURED PARTY 120 White Plains Road Suite 215 Tarrytown, NY 10591 (914) 345-3020 161323

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR CSMC 2018-RPL6 TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. ALAN RICHARTZ, JR., ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 24, 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 August 25, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 443 Atlantic 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 54, Block 312 and Lot 71. Approximate amount of judgment is $430,074.10 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #620789/2023.

Lawrence M. Schaffer, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 222487-1 161327

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff against

MARIA P. ZAPATA

F/K/A MARIA P. BONILLA, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern & Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016 and 1131 Route 55, Suite 1, Lagrangeville, NY 12540.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered June 23, 2026, 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 August 27, 2026 at 2:30PM. Premises known as 15 Scherr Place, Roosevelt, NY 11575. Sec 55 Block 476 Lot 10 and 516. 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. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $700,198.77 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 608710/2023. For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. 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.”

Howard E Colton, Esq., Referee File # NY202200000796-1 161321

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, and a Decision and Order on Motions duly entered May 29, 2024, 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 August 20, 2026 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 90621 161176

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 Freedom Mortgage Corporation, Plaintiff AGAINST Wacey Benjamin, Oluwatoyin Huguley, et al, Defendant Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 8, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, North sides of the steps, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 26, 2026 at 2:30 PM premises known as 14 Lenox 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 County of Nassau, State of New York, SECTION: 55, BLOCK: 275, LOT: 28-29. Approximate amount of judgment is $392,922.43 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 600283/2020. This sale may be subject to the US Dept of the Treasury’s Financial

Crimes Enforcement Network Real Estate Reporting Rule. In such event, all purchasers are required to provide the information needed for proper reporting in accordance with the terms of sale. For sale information, please visit XOME at www.XOME.com or call 844-400-9663. Heather D. Crosley, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-093218-F00 90472 161292

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff AGAINST MADISON RESOURCES, LTD., ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 22, 2026, 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 August 26, 2026 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 88 Colonial 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 Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55, Block 363, Lot 622 & 623. Approximate amount of judgment $608,882.94 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600625/2019. Only Bank or Certified check payable to the Referee will be accepted for the downpayment. No third party check or cash will be accepted. Lisa Segal Poczik, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 19-006552 90784 161317

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE RELATING TO J.P. MORGAN MORTGAGE ACQUISITION CORP. 2005-FRE1 ASSET

Public Notices

BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES

2005-FRE1

Plaintiff, Against JOHN F ESPINOZA A/K/A JOHN ESPINOZA; ELIZABETH BIZELLAESPINOZA A/K/A

ELIZABETH BIZELLA A/K/A ELIZABETH ESPINOZA; et al

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 05/04/2026, 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 8/25/2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 256 Westside Avenue, 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 0062 Block 00032-00 Lot 00125 and 00226. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $423,361.84 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 001155/2017

If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.

Paul L. Meli, Esq., Referee.

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

Dated: 7/8/2026 File Number: 16-303573 CA 161337

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 24th day of August 2026, at 5:30 P.M., to consider the re-zoning application

for 126 Cary Place (Section 54 Block 319 Lot 242); 128 Cary Place (Section 54 Block 319 Lot 241); 130 Cary Place (Section 54 Block 319 Lot 240); 136 Cary Place (Section 54 Block 319 Lots 93-95); 117 Cary Place (Section 54 Block 319 Lots 45-50); 123 Cary Place (Section 54 Block 319 Lots 51-52); and the vacant lot east of 127 Cary Place (commonly known as 125 Cary Place; Section 54 Block 319 Lots 53-56) from Marine Industrial District to Residence Apartment District, and further requests the Village Clerk to publish the notice in the Freeport Herald.

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 24th day of August 2026 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 27th day of July 2026.

Pamela Walsh Boening Village Clerk

Dated:Freeport, New York

July 27, 2026 161452

LEGAL NOTICE

Freeport Housing Authority

Request for Qualifications

Section 18 Disposition and Redevelopment

Consulting Services

July 20, 2026

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Freeport Housing Authority (“the FHA”) solicits Request for Qualification (“the RFQ” to provide to Section 18 Disposition and Redevelopment

Consulting Services

The RFQ 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 August 28, 2026 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: July 20, 2026 161451

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the regularly scheduled meeting of the Site Plan Review Board for August 11th 2026 at the Municipal Building, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, HAS BEEN CANCELLED. BY ORDER OF THE PLANNING BOARD

Pamela Walsh Boening, Village Clerk 161454

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to §128-5 of the Freeport Village Code, a Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Freeport will be held to conduct public hearings on Monday, August 10, 2026 at 5:30 P.M., in the Municipal Building, Board of Trustees Conference Room, 46 North Ocean Avenue, 2nd Floor, Freeport, NY adjacent to the Mayor’s Office.

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU CALCON MUTUAL MORTGAGE LLC DBA ONETRUST HOME LOANS, Plaintiff AGAINST MARTECH LLC, PARKER HART LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 14, 2025 and the Substitute Referee Order duly entered June 21, 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 September 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 335 South Main Street, 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 44 Lot 391. Approximate amount of judgment $647,773.64 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600764/2023. Jaime David Ezratty, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-003831 90768 161399

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU COUNTY.

News brief

Jazz performances on the Nautical Mile

The Sparkle on Stage Cultural Center will be hosting a series of jazz music events, where acclaimed performers will be putting on a show for local audiences.

On Aug. 2, Mala Waldron will be performing at 3 p.m. at Sparkle on Stage.

The New York City native is a jazz vocalist, pianist and composer, who has lent her talents to several bands and tours. Waldron has performed on stages across Europe, venues across New York City and even at the prestigious Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Millennium Stage in Washington D.C.

email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

Pamela Walsh Boening Village Clerk Issue Date: 7/30/2026 161453

CITIMORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff -against- ROY SINGH AKA ROY R. SINGH, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated November 13, 2017, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being near the Village of Freeport, Nassau County, New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the southerly side of West Fourth Street, distant 890 feet westerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the

On Aug. 16, the Andrew Ahr Duo will perform at 3 p.m. at Sparkle on Stage. Ahr is a New York based guitarist and composer who performs across Long Island and New York City. He recently released two singles, “Susan” and “They Grow Up So Fast,” on YouTube as a part of the Andrew Ahr Trio.

Tickets for both performances are available for online presale starting at $15 at sparkleonstage.org. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door for $20.

–Andrew Francis

Public Notices

southerly side of West Fourth Street with the westerly side of South Main Street; RUNNING THENCE South 7 degrees 11 minutes 38 seconds west, 100.50 feet to a canal; THENCE along said canal the following two courses and distances: 1. North 88 degrees 31 minutes west, 20 feet; 2. northwesterly along the arc of a curve bearing to the right a distance of 112.20 feet; THENCE north 61 degrees 18 minutes 02 seconds east along said last mentioned line, 93.79 feet to the southerly side of West Fourth Street; THENCE along the southerly side of West Fourth Street the following two courses and distances: 1. northeasterly along the arc of a curve bearing to the left, having a radius of 35.00 feet and a distance of 44.49 feet; 2. south 88 degrees 31 minutes east, 5.51 feet to the point or place of BEGINNING.

Said premises known as 2 WEST 4TH STREET, FREEPORT, NY 11520 Approximate amount of lien $1,031,379.40 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the

Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. Index Number 10206/2014.

JANE SHRENKEL, ESQ., Referee David A. Gallo & Associates LLP Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030 File# 5025.1045 {* long Island Graphic*} 161383

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF THE TRUMAN 2021 SC9 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. DANIELLE E. LAGUERRE AKA DANIELLE LAGUERRA PAULIN, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 15, 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 September 1, 2026 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 38 Connecticut 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 56 and Lots 59 and 60. Approximate amount of judgment is $356,526.89 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604348/2018. Joseph Trotti, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 220997-1 161449

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS CERTIFICATE TRUSTEE OF BOSCO CREDIT II TRUST SERIES 2010-1, Plaintiff against DARIO RODRIGUEZ A/K/A FRANCISCO J. RODRIGUEZ, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Kelley Kronenberg, 111 Broadway, Suite 1205, New York, NY 10006, (800) 484-4381. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered June 23, 2026, 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 September 1, 2026 at 2:00PM. Premises known as 117 Washington Avenue, Roosevelt, NY 11575. Sec 55 Block 485 Lot 13. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Roosevelt in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $172,988.37 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 609585/2019. 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.”

Christy Demelfi, Esq., Referee File # 02308607 161443

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Do we have to submit complete house plans just for a garage?

Q. We were recently told that our permit plans, to be approved, were going to have to include plans of the entire house, not just the garage area we are bumping out on the side. We were wondering if you have heard of this or whether we are being singled out. Our architect said that it may be because we have to go to the zoning board. Is this the reason, or did we say something wrong and are being punished? We asked, several times, for an update, because things are moving very slowly and we get the impression the building department just wants us to go away. They work for us and I think we deserve better service, frankly.

A. Trust but verify is now a common expression, and with good reason. What I have noticed over the years is that complete information is more often required, showing unrelated areas of the home, because many people have not been truthful about building changes or about how much work they have done, without permits, in other parts of the home. Because of this issue, many plans examiners ask for the big picture, not just the area you are interested in. It is obvious, when looking at file records in building departments and then comparing them to the actual dwelling during a walkthrough.

Your dilemma is due to the lack of trust between the authorities and the public. If the building inspector notices that the plans and the home don’t exactly compare, they can ask for “revised” plans to be submitted. It is frustrating, right at the end of a project, when people are ready to move on with their lives, to find out that the “simple, little changes” and side work they did require revised plans to be submitted to their building department. It is much worse to learn about changes or not following plans many years later.

Contractors and owners may get away with not communicating in the short term, but it does not pay, in the long run, to hide information. When someone realizes they bought a house with inherited, hidden issues which they are now responsible for, they feel taken advantage of. Worse than that are the costly corrections that have to be made because something that has existed for years may not be code-compliant. It happens all too often that unrelated portions of the building become a stumbling block to getting approvals for what you are really looking to do.

You are probably not being singled out, but you have been put in this position by previous workers and owners who did not take the record-updating seriously. People have told me, with a grin, that “By the time anyone notices, we’ll all be long gone.” I just came from a jobsite where work was done 16 years prior, the plans were not followed, and a structural failure is occurring that is going to be expensive to fix. The whole picture, not just part, is, therefore, important. Good luck!

© 2026 Monte Leeper

Readers

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The documentary on Steven McDonald is a must-see

Recently I saw a screening of the documentary about the late NYPD detective Steven McDonald, “Saint of the City.” McDonald was a true hero. In 1986, as a young police officer, he was shot and permanently paralyzed by 15-year-old Shavod Jones, whom he was questioning about a series of bicycle thefts in Central Park.

Jones shot McDonald three times, the third time while he was lying on the ground, shattering his spine and leaving him a quadriplegic, needing a ventilator to breathe. McDonald not only survived, but forgave Jones and went on to live more than 30 heroic years of dedicated service, without complaint or self-pity, until his death in 2017.

Steven and his wife, Patti Ann, lived in Malverne during that time with their son, Conor, who was born just months after his father was shot. Patti Ann went on to serve two terms as Malverne’s mayor. “Saint of the City” was written by veteran Emmy-award winning WPIX-TV reporter Mary Murphy

and produced by Erin Mulvey, a former DEA agent. Filled with facts, emotion and perspective, the film captures the essence of McDonald as an outstanding human being who inspired so many.

I met with him over the years at various police events, at his home in Malverne and in Congress. Those meetings made vividly clear to me just how devastating his injuries were. He was not only confined to a wheelchair, but incapable of moving any party of his body except his head, and he had no sense of feeling anywhere. Once when he gave me a book he had written, he inscribed it for me with a Sharpie he held between his teeth.

The NYPD detective forgave the teen who shot him, leaving him a quadriplegic.

His breathing was labored, and required a ventilator. At any time he could be struck with severe spasms lasting 30 seconds to a minute. These were difficult to observe, never mind having to endure them.

As the film depicts, McDonald persevered through all of this. He regularly spoke at high schools and to young cops.

He was also an articulate voice for peace and justice in Northern Ireland, not just attending events in New York, but traveling to Northern Ireland to

Iurge those on all sides — Catholics and Protestants, pro-British and pro-Irish — to resolve their differences and pursue the path to peace. McDonald’s efforts were particularly beneficial in the months following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, when radicals attempted to shatter the peace accord with a horrific bombing attack in Omagh, Northern Ireland, that killed 29 civilians and injured more than 200. His presence at such a critical time delivered a strong message about the necessity of maintaining peace and allowing the agreement to be implemented.

I remember when Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern addressed a joint session of Congress and singled out McDonald, who was seated in the House gallery. At a reception later that day, Sen. Ted Kennedy asked me to introduce Ahern to McDonald.

The film also highlights how McDonald was sustained by his Catholic faith, and particularly by the advice and consolation he received from Father Mychal Judge, the chaplain of the FDNY who died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, and Cardinal John O’Connor, who McDonald told me would visit him at his Malverne home

to help him through tough moments. McDonald also organized prayer groups that met regularly.

The “Saint of the City” screening took place at the Marymount School, in Manhattan. Among those in attendance were former NYPD Commissioners Ray Kelly and Keechant Sewell, former Detective Bo Dietl and many high-ranking police officials and officers who worked with McDonald or got to know him over the years. Magee Hickey of WPIX, WINS reporter Juliet Papa and Daily News columnist Michael Daly were also there.

From the sports world there was Mets all-time great relief pitcher Jesse Orosco, who, after pitching the final innings of the Mets’ final 1986 World Series game against the Red Sox, had thrown his glove high in the air. Days later, Orosco gave the glove to McDonald, a longtime Mets fan.

Most notable among the attendees, of course, were Steven’s widow, Patti Ann, and their son, Conor, who is now a captain in the NYPD. Both personify and carry on the inspirational legacy of Steven McDonald, who was truly a saint among us. Once it is distributed, be sure to see “Saint of the City.”

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

Why is the U.S. picking a fight with its best friend?

don’t know much about the tariff system, but I know enough about economics and politics to say that President Trump’s new proposed 50 percent tariffs on Canada would be the most foolish things ever done by a president in recent American history. I know these proposals are always subject to negotiation, but why pick on our second-largest trading partner at the worst possible time?

The Canadians have been our best friends for as long as I can remember. They were there for us during World War II, when they lost over 40,000 men in battle. They have contributed soldiers to many of our wars, and have stood up for us at the United Nations and around the world. One of the reasons behind the latest insanity is the president’s statement that he is mad at Canada because of the smoke that has drifted south to the United States.

The best way to describe the latest tariff proposal is that it would be a self-

inflicted wound that would hurt American consumers the most. There is a basic fact that we fail to understand. The average reader may think that new tariffs would punish Canadians, but when new duties are imposed on Canadian autos, wine, hockey sticks, dairy products and cement, American distributors have to pay them, and then they pass the cost on to American consumers. The family in Levittown that buys Bobby a hockey stick pays extra because of the tariff hike.

Tariffs on Canada in retaliation for wildfire smoke that drifted south? Really?

Lots of other bad things happen when new tariffs are imposed. Canada, in retaliation, has imposed its own 25 percent counter-tariffs on U.S. vehicles, steel and aluminum. These tariffs hurt American builders and potential homebuyers who can’t afford higher costs when they’re seeking to purchase their first home. Tariffs on auto parts disrupt production lines and costs manufacturing jobs on both sides of the border.

Tariffs have another impact on countries like Canada. China is eager to establish new relationships with nations that will buy its goods. In 2025,

Canada announced a new comprehensive trade agreement with China that, among other things, will allow the sale of Chinese autos in Canada. Industry specialists say that Chinese cars are high quality and much lower in price, and will be a potential threat to American auto manufacturers.

One of the worst results of our feud with Canada is its impact on American businesses. Tourism in many of our northern border states has been badly damaged by this unnecessary battle. And one of the biggest losers has been Las Vegas. Hotel operators have seen a 70 percent drop in Canadian visitors, which has caused large layoffs of hospitality employees.

When arbitrary tariffs are imposed on a friendly nation, there are other consequences. Other countries watch American actions and conclude that we can’t be trusted if we economically attack a longtime friend. To add to our unreliability, the U.S. has a trade agreement, negotiated by Trump six years ago with Canada and Mexico, which was scheduled to be renewed this month.

The president has stated that he won’t honor the terms of that agreement.

The crowning touch to the U.S.-Canada breach has been Trump’s threats to make Canada our 51st state, and his frequent statements deriding Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Trump supporters will say this is just the president doing his thing, and that he isn’t really serious, but words have consequences, and many Trump watchers around the world don’t have such an expansive sense of humor.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled that the president didn’t have the unilateral authority to impose sweeping, open-ended tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and that only Congress has that power. Trump is now using a 1930 law to justify his actions, which will likely be challenged in court.

At a time when the nation is juggling a war with Iran, higher gasoline prices and the continuing issue of affordability, fighting with Canada is just plain dumb.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm.

Also serving Roosevelt Established 1935

Incorporating the Freeport Leader in 2013 Andrew FrAncis

John LAibAch

There’s always someone downwind

there’s a particular quality to the light when the smoke arrives. It goes flat and white, the sun turns into a coin you can look at directly, and the air smells faintly like someone three houses down is burning leaves. It has happened enough times now that Long Islanders recognize it.

The fires are in Canada. Ontario mostly, sometimes the prairie provinces — a thousand miles and more from here, far enough that the smoke spends days in transit before it reaches us. And it reaches us anyway. It settles over Rockville Centre and Garden City and Long Beach. It gets into the lungs of kids at day camp in Merrick who have never heard the phrase “boreal forest.”

There is something clarifying about that, if you let it be.

We are accustomed to thinking of our lives as local, and with good reason. This newspaper exists because the things that shape a day here — the school calendar, the traffic on Sunrise Highway, whether the field will be playable Saturday morning — are decided close to home by people you might run into at the deli. That proximity is the texture of life in a place like ours. The distance between a thing and its cause is usually short enough to walk.

letters

Town supervisor candidate Scianablo deserves a serious look

To the Editor:

Barely a day goes by that I don’t receive at least one mailing from John Ferretti expounding on all of his successes as Town of Hempstead supervisor. He claims that he is hard at work for the people of the town. He claims to have lowered town taxes, that he is working to ensure that our water is safe to drink, and is working with Nassau County to protect religious institutions. Just because he makes these claims doesn’t mean they aren’t just alternative facts.

The truth is that since he became supervisor — with the questionable means by which he was made the incumbent for his election — town taxes have increased 12 percent, our

Smoke from a forest a thousand miles away is a different phenomenon. It did not come from anything anyone here did or failed to do. And at the end of that very long chain sits your daughter’s soccer practice.

Why more of it, and why now? Because the climate is warming and the northern forest is drying out as a result. Spring snowpack melts earlier than it used to. Summers run longer and hotter, and the peat and duff beneath the trees turn into something that holds fire the way a sponge holds water — slowly, deep down and for a very long time.

Fires that once burned themselves out now smolder underground through the winter and surface again in spring. More fire, more smoke. And the same atmospheric machinery that has always carried Canadian cold fronts down to the Northeast now carries the smoke with them.

The smoke isn’t doing anything unusual. It is riding the same currents that have brought us our weather since before there was a Long Island to bring it to — the northwest flow behind a front, the same air that gives us a crisp October morning and the frigid air of January. We have always been downwind of Canada. We simply had no occa-

sion to notice.

That’s what makes this worth sitting with. Not the fires themselves, but what they reveal about connection. Something we didn’t do, in a place most of us have never been, is now a feature of summer on Long Island.

And what we do continues downwind. The exhaust from the Meadowbrook, the fertilizer that leaves a lawn in Wantagh and ends up in the bay, the plume from a stack in Island Park — none of that stays put, either. Our runoff is someone else’s smoke.

There is a version of this line of thinking that curdles into helplessness, and we would steer away from it. Being connected to a place you cannot influence isn’t the same as being powerless. It is mostly an invitation to pay attention — to the bay, to the air, to the small local things that are, somewhere downwind, someone else’s inherited condition.

The sky has cleared — but it will haze over again. If not this summer, then next. And each time it does, it is worth taking a moment to notice the strangeness: that we are downwind of a forest we will likely never see, and that somewhere, someone we will never meet is downwind of us.

Donnie Kreiss, ‘I

carry your heart

with

me’

My husband, Donnie Kreiss, died on July 12, at home, just days after our 58th anniversary. He was 80, and had been living with pancreatic cancer since it was diagnosed in 2023.

Donnie did not go gently. As Dylan Thomas wrote, he raged against the dying of the light, from the moment he knew he had this relentless cancer until two Sundays ago, when he drew a quiet breath and then no more. Our son and daughter were with him.

My sister, Meryl Greenbaum, was with us. The loving good wishes of everyone he knew were with us.

He had been drifting away for the previous 10 days, suffering the side effects of three years of treatment. Still, in early June he was walking laps in our building, and in April the family had gathered for his birthday dinner. He pushed his athlete’s body beyond anyone’s expectation, and the night he died, we rang the bell for him, because every single day he lived since 2023 was a tribute to his courage.

Letters

water rates are up 33 percent, and our energy rates continue to climb. Due to the lack of transparency, we have no idea where our hard-earned tax dollars are going or to whom.

I met Ferretti’s opponent, Joe Scianablo, for the first time when he attended a parlor meeting at my home. I was impressed not only with his background, but also his sincerity and his desire to continue serving the public. Scianablo has spent his entire adult life as a public servant. He served multiple deployments in the Marines in East Timor, Eritrea, and Iraq, then was a New York City police officer, focusing on domestic violence cases, in which helped victims find safety and justice. He is a former prosecutor in the Queens district attorney’s office, where he advocated for survivors of domestic violence.

I believed Scianablo when he said his focus would be to ensure that our tax dollars and resources benefit all the people in the Town of Hempstead, not just the favored ones. He isn’t a career politician, but will be a politician who has made a career of service. I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to meet him to do so. I think you will come away as impressed as I was.

CHERIE FEINBERG Lawrence

triumph over adversity.

HDonnie never felt sorry for himself. In his last days on earth he was reaching out to friends who had heartache, relationship woes, business setbacks or medical problems. He preached a gospel of positivity, insisting on finding threads of hope. He left a legacy of goodness and generosity, changing the lives of so many people along the way.

e always found the best in others because, truly, that was all he saw.

Donnie was a native Lawrencian. He was born in 1946 at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital to Lillian and Jack Kreiss, who lived at 16 Muriel Ave. in Lawrence. When he was 2, he contracted bacterial meningitis, which was usually fatal in those days. He was in isolation at St Joseph’s Hospital, in Far Rockaway, for two months. That was the first of his medical miracle recoveries, which included a fractured skull when he was 10, heart attacks at 40 and 50, bypass surgery, congestive heart failure and cervical spine surgery. He recited his near-misses enthusiastically, as if they were a resume, not of suffering but of

Donnie was a gifted athlete who ran track and played varsity football, basketball and golf. He was a beautiful man, and we fell hard in love as teenagers. We graduated together in 1964 from Lawrence High. When we married and settled in Woodmere, his second home was the Lawrence Golf Club, where his father was president and then, 50 years later, he was president. In recent years his home course was on Longboat Key, Fla., where last year he was named Most Inspirational Golfer of the Year, an award they created for him.

Don started his own business in 1969, selling slippers and bras and panties. He loved selling, and he was the best salesman because he could out-wait, out-talk and outlast any buyer he encountered.

He always found the best in others because, truly, that was all he saw. He drew on a deep well of generosity and kindness.

Our children, Jason, Rochelle, Jocelyn and Josh, were, as Auden said, his north, south, east and west. His grandchildren, Sabrina, Jacob, Elijah and

Emi, brought light and delight into his life. “Did you talk to the kids today?” was his mantra.

Despite his lifelong medical issues, Don was a rough and ready traveler, up for any adventure. We spent five summers exploring Montana when the kids were teenagers, and then for decades we traveled the world, from Komodo Island, in Indonesia, to the Alaska wilderness, from Bali to Singapore to Tasmania and New Zealand. Nothing stopped him.

Obituaries are the last public words written about someone. I never expected to write Donnie’s obituary, which I hope is more like telling the story of his life. Which is also the story of my life. As Cummings wrote, I carry his heart in my heart.

He trusted me to shepherd him through these last years, to get to the right doctors, to hold hands as we heard the diagnoses that limited his days. He wanted time, he said over and over again. I did my best, but time was not in my hands. I believe he would have wanted me to write this, the last words about him, from a place of love and longing, happy remembrance, and sadness that he did not have more days to grace our lives.

Copyright 2026 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

FraMework

by Tim Baker

My Morning Jacket performed at the Great South Bay Music Festival, in Patchogue’s Shorefront Park, last Sunday.

8.04.2026 • 8:30AM - 3:30PM •

EMCEE

KRISTIN THORNE Emmy-Award Winning Investigative Reporter

SUZETTE GORDON President & CEO SCO Family of Services

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ELISA DE JESUS Senior Vice President, Private Client Advisor Bank of America

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