Freeport Herald 08-07-2025

Paddlers enjoy day out in sun at Canoe Race

By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ

mrafiq@liherald.com

Both the weather and the waves cooperated as more than 70 paddlers took to the water at Cow Meadow Park last Sunday for the annual Freeport Great Canoe Race.

Some say that the day of races dates back more than 25 years, but coordinator Marianne Endo estimated that it’s closer to 40 years old.

Participants came from across Long Island, New York City, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to compete for first-, second- and third-place medals. Among the most anticipated competitors were members of the National Ski Patrol, who won the first race and stayed to volunteer.

An estimated 200 spectators and about 40 volunteers, including water safety personnel, were on hand to cheer on the competitors through about 6 races

ConTinued on page 10

Students learn about the art of angling at SPLASH

By MASHIAT AZMI Intern

This summer, Operation SPLASH teamed up with the Sidney Friedman Foundation, a non-profit organization, to organize a weeklong fishing camp at Freeport’s Nautical Mile, teaching local students about the fine art of angling.

The annual camp, which took place this year from July 28 to Aug. 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 202 Woodcleft Ave., provided 27 students from different schools across the Long Island, ages 12 to 16, with a free educational program led by 10 expert instructors.

Operation SPLASH, or Stop Polluting, Littering, and Save Harbors, is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to improving the quality of Long Island’s south shore bays, waterways and beaches, and its president, Robert Weltner, discussed what inspired the camp.

He said the camp was named after Sidney Friedman, a fisherman who wanted to teach young children about fishing and had funded the camp upon his death. In his will, he left instructions to teach children sustainable fishing techniques.

“Well, the kids get a oneweek intense course on, you know, what type of hooks to

use, and because we want it to be sustainable, circle hooks, they don’t kill the fish when you hook them,” Weltner said. “… And it’s all about, you know, learning how to catch fish.”

The camp’s target species was primarily fluke, a marine flatfish found in the Atlantic Ocean, off the East Coast.

According to Weltner, students spent as much time as possible aboard the four boats assigned to the program.

The camp was designed based on the curriculum which includes how to catch fish safely, responsibility and sustainability, water safety, sun safety, an experienced captain and

other crewmembers from the Freeport area.

In addition to learning fishing techniques, the 27 campers also participated in beach cleaning activities as part of their sustainable lessons.

Paul Lapinski, fishing camp instructor and a licensed captain with 60 years of experience, was involved in the camp

for the second time, aiming to teach children fishing techniques and sustainability.

He emphasized the importance of preserving the environment, especially fisheries and the planet, for future generations.

“I just wanted to share my knowledge with the kids,” Lap-

ConTinued on page 7

Tim Baker/Herald

Teams battled side by side during a high-energy heat, drawing cheers from the shore.

Annual Fluke Shootout to be on Saturday

By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com

Those who enjoy fluke fishing won’t want to miss the Sixth Annual Fluke Shootout, hosted by the Freeport Tuna Club on Saturday, Aug. 9. The tournament runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with weigh-in scheduled between 3 and 6 p.m.

“It always is a fun event,” said Robert “Bob” Dimino, who is coordinating the shootout. “There has been good fluke fishing this summer, but you can never tell. Anybody could come in a winner. Two years ago, a group of women took one, two and three. You just never know when you put the line down. That is what makes it so great.”

Y516-779-3347, or email freeporttunaclub@gmail.com.

“Fluke fishing has been good this summer, so it should be a competitive event,” said Village of Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy, an avid angler and boat captain. “Either way, as the Fishing and Boating Capital of the Northeast, people will have a great time on the waters around Freeport. Tournaments always bring a boost to the local economy, which is also nice. With good weather and a great view, everyone should have a great time. I just want people to be safe and follow the boating and safety advice of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

ou just never know when you put the line down. That is what makes it so great.

ROBeRt DIMInO shootout coordinator

The event includes cash prizes, Calcuttas, and other activities that will be discussed during the captain’s meeting on Friday, Aug. 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Freeport Tuna Club Marina, 275 Hudson Ave. Entry is $50 per angler.

Prizes will be awarded for the three heaviest fluke, the single heaviest fluke, and the heaviest sea robin. Children 12 and under will have a separate weigh-in category. For more information, contact Dimino at 516-765-1555 or Rick Totten at

Founded in 1937, the Freeport Tuna Club now includes over 200 members. The club hosts a range of activities, from educational seminars on fishing techniques and sustainability to social events like Thursday night barbecues and member raft-ups in Zack’s Bay. It operates year-round and owns a marina with 31 rental slips, though some events are members-only. Individual memberships are $275, and family memberships are $300.

“Freeport is one of the better places to fish,” Dimino said. “We are 10 minutes from the ocean, which is unbeliev-

able. It is a great thing for boaters. The club started with just a few guys and we’re up to more than two hundred. Years ago, we didn’t see porpoises or whales like we do now. We’re even catching tuna 10 miles offshore. The water around Freeport is as clean as it was fifty years ago. As a club, we love being on the water, but we also just love getting together as a group. We invite anyone to come down and check us out. You don’t have to own a boat. You just have to enjoy fishing and hanging out near the water.”

Courtesy the Freeport Tuna Club

Last year’s big winners were, from left, Gabriel Gomez and Jayson Smith. This year’s categories include largest fish, largest three fish and largest sea robin.

Groups partnered for National Night Out

A joint effort between the Village of Freeport and local officials, the event was a great success

By MASHIAT AZMI

Intern

Nassau County legislators partnered with the Village of Freeport, the fire department, and the police department to host Freeport’s National Night Out for the third consecutive year.

The event took place at Freeport’s Northeast Park, also known as Bishop White Memorial Park, on Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

National Night Out is an annual nationwide community-building campaign that promotes partnerships between police and communities to create a safer neighborhood for everyone through games and activities.

The event is held on the first Tuesday of August in all 50 states, as well as US territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide.

The Chamber of Commerce and many elected officials, including legislator Seth Koslow, Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, Mayor Robert Kennedy, Executive Director Ray McGuire, Assistant Chief Michael Williams, Deputy Chief Donnetta Cumberbatch, and the entire police department were present at the event to show their support for the community.

The event began with a few words from the elected officials at 5:27 p.m. Robert Kennedy, mayor of the village of Freeport, began his speech by highlighting the significance of National Night Out, and mentioned initiatives undertaken by the police department, such as elder scam prevention.

Nassau County legislator Seth Koslow, whose district includes Freeport, has been serving in this capacity for a long time, having previously worked as a prosecutor in Queens. As an elected official, he’s now doing this event in Freeport every year.

“National Night Out is a cherished American tradition that brings communities together with the law enforcement professionals that serve and protect them daily,” Koslow said. “I’m proud to be once again working with my partners in government and local leaders to present a family-friendly celebration that has something for everyone in the Freeport community to enjoy.”

Koslow expressed the event as an opportunity to give back, celebrate, and spend time with community leaders and first responders.

During the speech, Joey Ramirez, Nassau County regional representative at the New York State Executive Chamber, encouraged the attendees to thank their local police and fire departments. Ramirez presented a proclamation from Gov. Hochul, declaring Aug. 5 as National Night Out to honor and show gratitude to the police department.

Assemblywoman Judy Griffin emphasized the importance of community unity and helping one another Legislator Seth Koslow introduced Myra Lee Martinez, Freeport resident to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and the

National Anthem, and the event transitioned back to fun and games.

Attendees were encouraged to interact with vendors and community leaders.

County legislator Debra Mulè, whose district includes Freeport, has joined the event since becoming a legislator.

“As someone who raised her children in Freeport and has been active in the community for many years, I know how important it is to build bridges between our youth and the men and women of law enforcement–and events like Freeport’s National Night Out provide an ideal venue for achieving that goal,” Mulé said. “I’m thrilled to be working with Legislator Koslow and our community and government partners to host another memorable celebration for our community!”

U.S. Representative Laura Gillen told the Herald that she was proud to cosponsor bipartisan legislation, including the

Invest to Protect Act, which provides funding to local departments, and acts that strengthen penalties for criminals who target police officers.

“Every day, our brave law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect our loved ones and our communities,” said Gillen in a statement.

“National Night Out is a great event that brings together officers and families to celebrate and strengthens the partnership between police and the residents they serve.”

Mayor Kennedy was excited about this year’s National Night Out, and wanted to remind that the village invites community members to an open house at the mayor’s office every Tuesday.

Additionally, he mentioned that the village holds regular meetings with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, to

improve police-community relations.

“You can always have a better relationship between our residents, our police officers, and the youngest kids. We have a cop program where all our police officers Adopt-A-Class in the fourth grade,” Kennedy said. “And it makes a better relationship for the future when they get older, Michael William, assistant chief of Freeport Police Department, stated that the goal of this event was to maintain a sociable presence and demonstrate the police department’s commitment to serving the community.

“I think it allows for a one-to-one interface and a more calm environment for us to see who police officers are as people, instead of somebody that’s just in the street patrolling,” said Joey Cruz, a Freeport resident. “It brings a human aspect to the job, and it lets us see people in a more vulnerable environment.

Joseph and Josephine Morales, both 7, built exciting toys at the Home Depot Stand at National Night Out 2025.

Myra Lee Martinez, a Freeport resident, left, sang the National Anthem, with Mayor Robert Kennedy, Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, legislator Seth Koslow, Executive Director Ray McGuire, and Ken Dookram, president of the Chamber of Commerce.

Joey Cruz and Ace Cruz, 2, met real-life hero Donetta Cumberbatch at this year’s National Night Out, which took place at Freeport’s Northeast Park.

Deliah Roberts/Herald photos Joey Ramirez presented a proclamation from Gov. Hochul to Assistant Chief Michael Williams to honor and show gratitude to the police department.

Donald Clavin resigns from Hempstead supervisor role

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald X. Clavin Jr. resigned during Tuesday’s town board meeting, and Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti was appointed as the interim supervisor.

After a brief recess, Clavin returned to announce that he was stepping down after holding office since 2020.

“I want to say what an honor and a privilege and a friendship all of you have been. And to the residents, you have always been very kind to me,” said Clavin, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve all of you. Even the critics have been the nicest people in the world to me. And I wish all of you the greatest success, and God bless you and God bless America.”

Clavin, who was in his third two-year term, did not state his reasoning for his resignation. In April, he declined the Republican Party’s nomination for a fourth term and is thought to be considering a run for a judgeship. Ferretti was picked to replace him.

After his final words, he exited the meeting with a standing ovation from attendees and former fellow board members. The meeting continued after he left.

Book Review: “SuperAging”

by David Cravit and Larry Wolf

Subtitled “Getting Older Without Getting Old” this new book starts with the premise “... imagine bringing a whole lifetime of knowledge, experience, skills, talent, relationships, wisdom (and, let’s face it, money) to two or three more decades ahead of you in which to leverage all those assets into an ongoing wonderful experience.” With the Baby Boomer generation far outliving and “outhealthing” any prior generation, we are in the era of the “superager”, founded upon seven pillars.

Attitude: Believing in exciting new possibilities, optimism is a major life extender. Purposes and goals are a result of an active curiosity about the potential for the gift of these years. Practice a positive thinking booster program everyday. Search for “positivity apps” and get daily positive quotes. They work!

Awareness: Whereas older adults previously accepted the advice of professionals as gospel, today’s superagers are avid consumers of information. The challenge today is the approach to information gathering and the curating of the “informational torrent”. Tips and techniques for searching and filing your information are provided.

Activity: Keeping fit, mentally and physically delves into the nine components, arising out of the Blue Zones Project, for extending longevity — move naturally, have a purpose (worth an extra 7 years!), downshift, the 80% rule for eating, plant-based diet, moderate alcohol, faith-based community family, social networks.

Accomplishments: Viewing post-65 as a continued opportunity to grow and achieve goals, this section outlines myriad ways to continue personal growth. As the authors point out, “Accomplishment, promoted by longevity, produces even further longevity.”

Attachment: The health risks of loneliness are well documented. Superagers reach for more connection, often digitally. New adult communities are arising right on college campuses, creating exciting new intergenerational possibilities.

Avoidance: Avoiding ageism, especially against oneself, means challenging your own and society’s outdated views on aging — stereotypes as to what older adults look and act like.

Autonomy: The dazzling new array of living options, and various means for affording them are explored, including using the home as an asset. For more, visit superagingnews.com.

In a statement from Nassau County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph G. Cairo Jr., appointing elected officials has been done by officials in the North Hempstead, Hempstead and Babylon towns, the City of Long Beach and other municipalities.

“The Board’s action ensures continuity of representation for residents of America’s largest township,” Cairo said. “What’s more, both Democrat and Republican majorities in control of local governments have employed this practice. I am confident that Supervisor Ferretti will provide excellent leadership for the town, bringing a solid record of reducing taxes and providing high quality services.”

In June, the Democrats lead by Democratic Supervisor candidate Joseph Scianablo unveiled proposed legislation to ban the practice of appointing town

Town Supervisor

resigned on Aug. 5. He declined the Republican Party’s nomination for supervisor in April.

supervisors without a public election.

“This appointment is an insult to every voter in the Town of Hempstead,” Scianablo said in a statement. “Ferretti will now enjoy the perks of office, cars, gas, glossy mailers, and free publicity, all paid for by taxpayers, to run a campaign that was rigged from the start, not to mention a $60,000 raise.”

Nassau County Legislator Seth Koslow, the Democratic candidate for county executive, aimed his anger at his Republican opponent, incumbent County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

“Don Clavin just stepped down as Hempstead supervisor — exactly as we predicted last week — so that Blakeman’s chosen crony could gain an advantage in the upcoming election,” Koslow said in a statement. “This is a shameful attempt to circumvent the will of the voters and dismantle the democratic process.”

Ferretti represented Levittown, Bethpage, North Massapequa and parts of Farmingdale. The Republican candidate for the 15th Legislative District Kayla L. Knight and the Democratic candidate is Stephen Richard Hellman.

Freeport

Herald file

Hempstead

Don Clavin

Two indicted for alleged arms trafficking

Two men have been indicted for allegedly possessing and selling firearms—including untraceable ghost guns—in Nassau County between April and May 2025, Nassau County.

Rubenny Duran, 29, of Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, and Jose Moncion, 29, of Kings County, New York, were arraigned before Judge Helene Gugerty on July 29 and August 4, respectively. The charges against them include multiple counts of both Criminal Sale of a Firearm and Criminal Possession of a Weapon.

Torres Duran faces additional charges, including eight more counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm, four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon, one count of Criminal Sale of a Ghost Gun, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon.

Both men pleaded not guilty.

Bail for Torres Duran was set at $300,000 cash, $750,000 bond, and $1.25 million partially secured bond.

Torres Moncion’s bail was set at $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, and $500,000 partially secured bond.

Torres Duran is due back in court on Sep. 9. Torres Moncion is scheduled to appear the following day, on September 10. If convicted, both men face up to 25 years in prison.

“My office has zero tolerance for illegal gun sales in Nassau County and the

trafficking of dangerous untraceable ghost guns specifically designed to dodge law enforcement detection,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “These two defendants, cousins working together to allegedly deal firearms in our communities, put lives at risk. Trafficking in our communities must stop, and I am committed to continuing the important work of ending the flow of these illegal weapons into the county with our local and federal

law enforcement partners and holding offenders accountable who make our neighborhoods less safe.”

According to the indictment, Torres Duran allegedly sold four firearms in Freeport and Baldwin on three separate occasions during the two-month span.

The weapons included three semiautomatic pistols and one ghost gun, which were allegedly trafficked into Nassau County from Pennsylvania.

The loaded pistols were sold for

between $900 and $1,540 each.

On June 11, Nassau County Police arrested both men in Baldwin. The two were in a vehicle driven by Torres Moncion, parked in a lot on Grand Avenue. Officers recovered five ghost guns from the vehicle’s trunk—four 9mm semiautomatic pistols and an assault rifle—as well as large-capacity ammunition feeding devices for the assault rifle and one pistol.

Through June 2025, law enforcement in Nassau County had seized approximately 149 crime guns.

The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office credited the Nassau County Police Department Gang Investigations Squad, the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their assistance.

Chief Paula Cajdler of the Firearms Suppression and Intelligence Unit, within the Narcotics, Firearms, and Gangs Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Bureau Chief Nicholas Mauro and Executive Assistant District Attorney Rick Whelan. Torres Duran is represented by Kevin Maccarone. Torres Moncion is represented by Vincent Bianco. The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.

–Mohammad Rafiq

ROOSEVELT CHILDREN’S ACADEMY CHARTER

Herald file photo

Anne Donnelly announced the indictment of two men and Jose Moncion for the alleged sale of weapons in Freeport and Baldwin.

Nassau HOF class of 2025 announced

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

The Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame will hold its 2025 induction ceremony Oct. 7 at the Crest Hollow County Club. For more information and tickets, go to www.sectionviii. org. Here’s a list of local honorees.

Ray Adams (Long Beach)

For the past 28 seasons, the Long Beach wrestling program has achieved remarkable success under the direction of Baldwin alum Adams. During that span, the team has a dual meet record of 328-110-1, winning the New York State Dual-Meet championship in 2016 and 2017. Adams has led Long Beach to an incredible 16 Conference titles and five Nassau County crowns.

Adams’ dedication to developing athletes at a very high level is palpable by the 168 All-County wrestlers he has coached. Of those, 11 went on to become state champions, 48 became Nassau County champions, and 42 were AllState wrestlers. Adams’ impact on wrestling goes beyond wins and championships. A member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 2022), has been greatly recognized for his contributions, earning him Nassau County Coach of the Year three times.

Steve Costello (MacArthur)

Costello has been one of Nassau County’s elite baseball coaches for more than three decades at MacArthur High School. His teams have consistently won and have experienced deep playoff runs, resulting in three Nassau County championships, two Long Island titles and a New York State Class B title in 1994 with a record of 29-0.

Costello’s incredible success throughout the past 32 seasons has made him one of the premiere baseball coaches in county history. He is in the top five all time in career wins with over 575. He also earned the Michael Kostynick Memorial Award Coach of the Year honors three times. Additionally, Costello would take over the role as MacArthur’s varsity girls soccer coach in 2022. It was no surprise that in his first year at the helm, the Generals would go 15-1-2 and capture Nassau and L.I. Class AA championships.

Gina, Vicky and Rosie DiMartino (Massapequa)

It is a genuine honor to have one member of a family become a high school soccer star.

So what is there to say about a family that produces not one, not two, not three, but an astounding four All-Long Island players. That’s what made the DiMartino sisters so special. Each was a star in her own right. Each led teams to

championships. Each earned multiple individual honors. Gina, Vicky and Rosie DiMartino followed elder sister Christina into soccer stardom. Each proved to be winners while leading Massapequa to Nassau and New York State crowns.

Gina was a sensation at Massapequa. She led the Chiefs to two state soccer titles. She set the school scoring record. She won the Mike Clarke Award as the best player in the county. She was a two-time All-Long Island selection and has been inducted into the Long Island Soccer Players Hall of Fame. Victoria (Vicky) was an All-Long Island firstteam selection as a junior in 2005 and led Massapequa to the county, regional and state titles as a senior. She was chosen for the United States Under-17 World Cup team in New Zealand.

Ronald Gustafson (Wantagh)

A common theme runs throughout

the career of “Gus” Gustafson when competed as a member of Wantagh High School’s cross-country and track & field teams: Unprecedented success. As “leader of the pack”, Gustafson’s running career was impeccable. In cross country, he led the Warriors to two Nassau County Class B team championships and he was a three-time individual champion from 1962-64. Wantagh would win the New York State cross country team title in 1962 and he would win the NYS individual championship in 1963 and 1964. In track, Gustafson was a threetime Nassau County champion in the 3200-meter race.

William ‘Bill’ Hedgecock (Wantagh & Lynbrook)

Hedgecock was a fixture in Nassau County track & field and cross country for 41 years. His former players describe Coach Hedge as more than a coach –he’s a legend, a mentor, and someone

who left a lasting impact on everyone lucky enough to know him. He exhibited an extensive knowledge of both sports at Lynbrook and Wantagh. His career began at Lynbrook for 11 years from 1969-80.

In 1981, Hedgecock moved over to Wantagh, where he was the head coach in cross country and spring track for the next three decades. During his tenure, Bill’s teams amassed a staggering 1,207 wins (819 in XC and 388 in track) with only 102 losses. He led his teams to 50 undefeated seasons, two New York State cross country championships at Wantagh (boys in 1986, girls in 1992) and 37 Nassau titles between the two schools.

Quint Kessenich (Lynbrook)

Aside from being an extraordinary three-sport star at Lynbrook, Kessenich, a 1986 graduate, was also a bit of an introvert. All of which is ironic since he is now a vocal ESPN broadcaster for lacrosse, wrestling, football and other sports. Kessenich was an outstanding athlete in high school. He starred as a soccer player and was a two-time Nassau wrestling champion for the Owls. However, it was on the lacrosse field that he was truly extraordinary.

Kessenich was considered to be the top high school lacrosse goaltender in the country as a junior and senior, and twice was named All-American. He starred at the collegiate level at Johns Hopkins, becoming a rare four-time AllAmerican for the Blue Jays. He also was twice the recipient of the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Award, given to the best goaltender in collegiate lacrosse.

Courtesy Levittown Schools Steve Costello has racked up more than 575 wins and three county titles as MacArthur’s baseball coach.

Courtesy Nassau County Athletics

Lynbrook’s Quint Kessenich was a three-sport star for the Owls and one of the top lacrosse goaltenders in the country in the mid-1980s.

Free fishing camp held at Nautical Mile

inski said. “And more importantly, about sustainability, keeping the fishery going, the environment, cleaning up our beaches.”

Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy demonstrated his support for the fishing camp by visiting the campsite.

“When I visited, we talked about fishing, water safety and sustainability, all things that are important for anyone who enjoys water sports,” Kennedy remarked via text.

Weltner discussed safety measures for students out at sea, which include a pair of sunglasses, a sun shirt, a hat, a life jacket, and some nautical knowledge.

Although catching fish is fun, safety is always the number one priority, according to Weltner.

“We teach them about the wind direction, current and the tide,” he said. “So we try to get them, you know, as well-versed in nautical knowledge as possible.”

Weltner added that the camp benefits local businesses and passes on fishing knowledge from one generation to another.

“It was shown to me when I was a kid, and I feel like I need to share it with other kids, you know,” Lapinski said.

Liam Zawrotny, a 13-year-old from Connecticut, joined the camp for the first time, as a recommendation from his grandfather, Captain Skip Zawrotny, who works at Operation SPLASH.

Liam, who caught five fish, including three fluke and two sea robins, said he enjoyed his camping experience and would recommend it to others.

“I would recommend it because it’s super fun and there’s some nice people that teach you really well,” he said.

Bryce Rauschenbach, a 14-year-old from Merrick,

joined the camp to enhance his skills, particularly in boat handling and tying knots.

“I would definitely recommend it, because it’s so fun,” Bryce said. “You get to learn everything about fishing, and all the captains like to take you exactly where the fish are, and you get to learn a lot.”

Weltner said catching that first fish is always a thrill, helping boost their confidence.

“We do it for the satisfaction of passing on knowledge that’s taken some of us, you know, 50 years of fishing to learn and passing it on to the next genera-

Roosevelt Children’s Academy Charter School

The Roosevelt Children’s Academy Charter School today announced an amendment to its policy for serving meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 2025-2026 school year, which would allow for all children at all schools/sites to be served meals at no charge.

For additional information please contact the following person: Roosevelt Children’s Academy Charter School Attention: Katherine Diaz-KDiaz@rcacs.org

tion so they can pick up where we leave off,” Weltner said.

Weltner expressed hope that the students would “respect Mother Nature, respect the fish” even after the camp, since its ultimate goal is to protect the ocean and the sea creatures.

“As the fishing and boating capital of the Northeast, the beauty and the health of our waters is important aesthetically and economically,” Kennedy said. “Part of the camp also focuses on how we all can take better care of this natural resource.”

High School Football Preview is coming!

Get ready for an action-packed season with the 2025 High School Football Preview. Your ultimate guide to the upcoming year in local high school football. This special section highlights the teams, standout players, key matchups, and expert analysis of what to expect under the Friday night lights. Don’t miss out, advertising in the Football Preview. Call your Marketing Representative today at 516-569-4000 x 250!

Ad deadline - August 28th Issue date - September 18th

Mashiat Azmi/Herald photos

robert Weltner, president of operation SpLaSH, stands in front of the fishing camp, which provided a free weeklong educational program led by 10 expert instructors.

Students and instructors enjoyed their last day at the fishing camp as they engaged with one another.

RichnerLive Gala celebrates

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

Herald Community Media held its first ever Health & Beauty Awards of Long Island Gala, presented by RichnerLive on July 16, people from across the Island flooded into the ballroom of The Heritage Club at Bethpage to get a glimpse of the beautiful honorees this year’s had to offer.

“This evening we celebrate the people and organizations shaping the future of health and beauty,” said Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications and publisher of Herald Community Media, “Those whose innovation, leadership and dedication are making a lasting difference in our community.”

Regarding launching this new program, RichnerLIVE Executive Director Amy Amato shared, “This is a remarkable group of professionals who do more than just excel at what they do. They uplift, empower, and heal our community every single day. Whether helping someone feel beautiful, recover their strength, or simply feel seen and supported, this work touches lives in profound ways. It’s an honor to recognize that impact here tonight.”

Over 40 honorees were presented with awards in various categories pertaining to the health and beauty industry on Long Island, including Spa 505, Tranquility 3 Spa & Salt Cave and more.

Following the VIP cocktail hour which offered networking and a shopping and vendor experience for attendees, event emcees Krista Bennett DeMaio, founder of Pretty Local and Mae Caime, CEO and transformational architect of aMAEzing Midlife and Beyond kicked off the evening’s program and ceremony with a panel discussion on the industry.

Featured panelists included Dr. Luis Fandos, founder and CEO of Alluring Age Anti-Aging and Wellness Center, Dr. Helen Hsieh, founder and medical director of Vibrance 360, and Catherine Canadeo, CEO and founder of Health and Wellness Corp, who all also received awards later in the evening.

“With the new technology that we now have available, we can identify abnormal cellular processes that are going on,” Fandos said, “And by correcting those, any beauty treatments that you do will have a much longer lasting effect.”

Hsieh discussed common myths within the health and beauty industry. “More is not always better. Just the right amount is better than more. If you eat too much, it’s not good for you,” she said.

Canadeo mentioned the importance of addressing stress for one’s health. “It’s very important to be mindful of ourselves. We get distracted on a day to day basis and our emotional wellbeing is crucial. It is essential to glow from within,” she said.

Atul Bhatara, founder and CEO of Atul Skincare was amongst the honorees for the Achiever category. His skin-

care focuses on using safer ingredients in their products. Being born with cerebral palsy, he’s been able to defy the odds and be a voice for the disabled community.

“Throughout this journey, a lot of people didn’t believe in me. Don’t let somebody else’s opinion of you become your reality,” Bhatara said, “You control your own reality. Fear is false evidence appearing real, fear does not exist. It’s just something that comes up in your mind when you get overwhelmed.”

Constance Korol, CEO of Meta 180, received an award in Holistic Integrative Health. Her business centers around helping individuals dealing with issues from anxiety to physical ailments with a holistic approach both in-person and virtually. “Most of my clients, when I’m with them for some time, they’ll say ‘I just never knew that I could feel this way.’ That’s really the best part is seeing my clients grow,” Korol said.

Honoree, Dr. Linda Harkavy, was a recipient of the Science & Skin award. Harkavy is the president and medical director of Form & Function Aesthetics

and Wellness, which uses different devices and equipment to treat various physical issues. Harkavy said, “It’s a broad based aesthetic and wellness practice. The aesthetics came along with me because looking beautiful is a part of feeling great.”

These honorees were nominated not only by RichnerLive, but by people with-

in their communities as well. To see a complete list of the winners, visit RichnerLive.com/health-beautyawards/2025-honorees.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to The Maurer Foundation. For more information on the event or other events by RichnerLive, visit RichnerLive.com.

Photos by Tim Baker/Herald

EMCEE’s and Honorees (Left) Mae Caime and (Far right) Krista Bennett DeMaio speak with our panelists: (Left to right) Dr. Luis Fandos, Catherine Canadeo, and Dr. Helen Hsieh.

Our lovely gift bags sponsored by our amazing honorees

Attendees at the Heath & Beauty Awards

Health and Beauty innovators

Melissa Baptiste/Herald

Atul Bhatara from Atul Skincare.

Melissa Baptiste/Herald Alice Khalkad from House of Skin.

Tim Baker/Herald Jim Wang from Spa 505.

Melissa Baptiste/Herald

Linda Mashkabova, FNP from The Beauty Cellar NY.

Tim Baker/Herald Tom Amigdalos from PureCare Pharmacy and Wellness.

Melissa Baptiste/Herald

Linda Harkavy, MD from Form and Function Aesthetics and Wellness.

Tim Baker/Herald

Sarah K. Girardi, MD, FACS from Tideline Center for Health & Aesthetics.

Melissa Baptiste/Herald Meredith Vandegrift, MD, FACS from Vandegrift Plastic Surgery.

Melissa Baptiste/Herald Sharon Grasso, Ingrid Dodd, Dana Persico from the Rebranding Menopause Postcast.

Tim Baker/Herald

Luis Fandos, MD, FAAAM, FABAPM from Alluring Age Anti-Aging and Wellness Center with Amanda Fandos, Jessica Jordan, Pina Prainito and Jasmin Joya.

Melissa Baptiste/Herald Ali Artz from Ambiance Salon and Spa.

Melissa Baptiste/Herald

Samara S. Churgin, MD, FACS from Churgin Plastic Surgery.

Tim Baker/Herald Marisa Russell from Meadow & Bark.

Melissa Baptiste/Herald Donna Arigo from ISDIN USA.

Tim Baker/Herald

Leticia Huston from HER Spa Room & Benefit Cosmetics/LVMH.

Melissa Baptiste/Herald

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS from Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery.

Tim Baker/Herald

Ladies from Tranquility 3 Spa & Salt Cave: Therese Montanile, Angela Cui (honoree), Angela Wang and Maria Spatola.

Canoe races involved seventy participants

throughout the day.

One of the participants was Mayor Robert Kennedy, joined by his secretary Janell Muir.

“The race is always a lot of fun,” said Kennedy, adding that Cow Meadow Park is one of the areas that make it clear why Freeport is called the Boating and Fishing Capital of the Northeast. “It’s an enjoyable way to spend a morning. I didn’t place this year, but we still had a great time. One of the nice things about the race is it shows off Cow Meadow Park’s beach area. It’s a great place to launch a canoe, kayak or paddleboard.”

The 171-acre park also features a water spray area, new playground equipment, updated fencing and lighting, and separate dog parks for large and small breeds.

Open to both novices and experienced paddlers, the race donates all proceeds to the Freeport Police Athletic League. It is co-sponsored by the league and the Chamber of Commerce. PAL paid for the canoes and medals, and the participants’ T-shirts were donated by Montana Restaurant.

“It’s a longtime Freeport tradition, and we take the opportunity to expose our kids to water sports,” PAL Executive Director Victor Reyes said.

“The Annual Freeport Canoe Races at Cow Meadow Park was an incredible celebration of community spirit, team-

Paddlers dug in during close race featuring competitors of all ages.

work, and local pride,” Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, who attended, said in a statement. “This longstanding tradition brings together local businesses, families, first responders, and elected officials for a fun-filled day of friendly competition and connection.”

Many village staff members volun-

teered to help the event run smoothly. Steve’s Prime Meats provided hamburgers and hot dogs, and Bobby Ford, chef and owner of Bobby Q’s in Freeport, volunteered his culinary skills.

“It’s a great time for everyone involved,” Endo said. “It doesn’t matter whether you place first, second or third or just get across the finish line, everyone is cheered as they make it through the course and back to the shore. The race grows bigger and bigger each year. I just want to thank everyone who comes out to help, to compete and to cheer the paddlers on.”

Festival will celebrate life of Jimmy Buffet

Through the magic of music, the Nautical Mile will be transformed into “Buffettville” on Sunday, Aug. 10, as Freeport pays tribute to the life and legacy of music icon Jimmy Buffett.

The Nautical Mile Business Organization is hosting the Buffettville Festival from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., featuring six of the top Jimmy Buffett tribute bands performing throughout the day along the waterfront.

Jimmy Buffett, born on Christmas Day in 1946, built an extraordinary career that spanned music, literature, Broadway, hospitality, and lifestyle branding—from his beloved Margaritaville restaurants to retirement communities bearing his name.

Rolling Stone Magazine said, “ Jimmy Buffett has written some truly exceptional songs steeped in rock, folk, reggae and country.”

This will be a truly magic day, filled with good vibes, and great music.

Rich

Crowd favorites expected to be performed during the day include “Margaritaville,” “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” and “Fins,” the latter inspiring the signature “Parrothead salute”—palms together above the head, resembling a shark’s fin.

Hurricane Harry’s featuring the band Fins Up. At 1 p.m., the celebration moves to Bayview on the Water with Buffett tribute performer Bobby Bahama. The party continues at 4 p.m. with Pete Mann performing at Otto’s, followed by Stu Markus at 5 p.m. at Off The Hook. Also at 5 p.m., attendees can board a sunset cruise aboard the yacht The Sapphire, once again with Fins Up performing onboard. The day wraps up with The Second Street Band playing as Halfway Down while the sun sets.

“This will be a truly magic day, filled with good vibes, and great music showing the audiences the beauty of The Freeport Waterfront area and The Nautical Mile,” Branciforte added.

BRanicfoRTe executive director, NMBO

In addition to live music, attendees are invited to relax at Sea Breeze Park with a picnic lunch or hop aboard the Freeport Water Taxi. Local eateries will be serving special offerings, including Bracco’s, Catchers, Secret Thai Kitchen, Taco Tuesdays, and Sam’s Scoops/Sparkle, where visitors can enjoy limited-edition Buffett-themed ice cream treats.

“I had this idea about two years ago, right after Jimmy passed. This is going to be a day of family fun and great music. All Buffett all day!” said Rich Branicforte, executive director of the Nautical Mile Business Organization. “We hope to make it n annual event.”

Festivities begin with brunch at 11 a.m. at

“Stop by Sparkle to pick up a list of the full festival schedule,” the organizer explained. “Put on those flip flops and get transported to the Keys for a day. Jimmy Buffett may have passed on September 1, 2023, but his music will live on forever!” For more information, call Rich at 516-2802100.

–Mohammad Rafiq

Courtesy Second Street Band

The Second Street Band, a cover band the performs rock and roll hits, will perform at the festival.

Tim Baker/Herald photos ed eccker and Bill andrews paddled hard toward the finish line, on the way to taking first place in their heat at the freeport great Canoe race.

Firefighters convention returns to Long Island

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

The Firefighters Association of the State of New York will host its 153rd Annual Convention Thursday through Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Long Island, in Hauppauge.

The event is expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees, including volunteer firefighters from across New York, vendors and dignitaries. It will mark the 15th time the association has held its convention on Long Island since the organization was founded in 1872.

“We are very happy for the return of the FASNY convention to the Long Island region,” the organization’s president, Eugene Perry, said. “We are proud to welcome firefighters and guests from across New York state back to our vibrant and historic convention.”

Organizers estimate that the three-day event will generate about $1.1 million in economic activity for Suffolk County, with nearly 1,500 hotel-room nights expected to be booked as well as dining, social events and other spending.

The association is partnering with Discover Long Island, the region’s official tourism agency, to support the convention.

“Our organization is committed to driving economic impact through tourism, and our dedicated sales team works year-round to bring major meetings and events like these to Long Island,” Discover Long Island’s interim CEO, Mitch Pally, said. “We are proud to host these dedicated individuals who serve communities across the state, and look forward to showcasing Suffolk County’s hospitality, natural beauty and distinctive appeal.”

Perry, president of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, right, spoke at last year’s convention with Ed Tase, a former FASNY president.

The convention will open with the annual golf tournament at the Wind Watch Golf & Country Club, adjacent to the Hyatt Regency. Attendees will also take part in training sessions, FASNY’s annual meetings and ceremonies honoring outstanding service.

A highlight of the event will be a keynote address by Chief Patrick Kenny, author of “Taking the Cape Off: How to Lead Through Mental Illness, Unimagina-

ble Grief and Loss.” Kenny will speak on first responder mental health.

“I’ve heard him speak before, and his story is very moving,” Perry said. “Attendees should be ready with tissues.”

Other scheduled events include the annual Heroes Awards and a Friday-evening Tailgate for Heroes and scholarship fundraiser, featuring the Long Islandbased band Peat Moss and the Fertilizers.

Michael Barry, president of the Suffolk County Fire Chiefs Council and a 41-year member of the Medford Fire Department, said the convention is about more than celebration and tourism.

“We hope this event brings out people and they can understand the value of a volunteer fire service and all that it does,” Barry said. “It’s about compromise and sacrifice — giving up time from family to complete training and respond to calls, all to help your community.”

Perry agreed. “This year’s convention promises to be a meaningful celebration of service, tradition and unity,” he said. “We look forward to a memorable and successful event that honors firefighting and inspires the future of volunteer service.”

Perry added that the members of the FASNY board were pleased that Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine recently approved legislation that gives volunteer firefighters preference for affordable housing in the county, which will enable many young recruits to stay on Long Island, make their homes here and continue their volunteer fire service.

FASNY represents approximately 80,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel statewide. For more information about the convention, visit fasny.com/ events/2025-annual-convention.

Courtesy FASNY

Eugene

Stay Connected

Finding a network of business on Long Island

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

What began as a modest dinner meet-up has grown into a Long Island-wide hub nearly 50 business people from every sector of the area economy, including a number from Freeport, gather in the banquet room of the Oceanside IHOP, on Long Beach Road, for the monthly meeting of Let’s Meet and Network on Long Island.”

From health insurance to home care to direct mail, business owners and employees from Freeport to Oceanside to Valley Stream to and beyond make friends, swap referrals and share well-earned advice.

Founder and organizer Mark Greenberg, of Oceanside, a web designer for his company, OceansideLocal.com, is a member of several other networking organizations, and the idea to start Let’s Meet grew out of a desire to see more people get together to expand their businesses.

“Our motto for this group is, ‘Do a good deed by simply helping another business owner succeed,’” Greenberg said. “This networking group came about as a way for me to help my clients meet other clients, and for my clients to stay in business. If they stay in business, then I stay in business. So it’s like a winwin situation here.”

The group also gathers monthly at IHOP in a morning Breakfast Club, online on Zoom calls and in an everexpanding business-card directory at lmnoli.com.

“We started out going on every Wednesday in the morning, and it was just a small group,” Greenberg recalled. “This group has been around about a year. We decided to do an evening event at IHOP, but the original group started in the morning, every Wednesday morning at 7:30, 8 o’clock.”

Greenberg, a member of the Oceanside and Baldwin chambers of commerce, builds websites for local businesses and, through his work, meets all kinds of people. With his connections and involvement in other networking circles, he decided to form another one.

“There’s no initial cost, he said. “You have breakfast, you pay, and that’s it. They give you a discount,” he added of IHOP. “So it works out really well, and you get to meet a lot of lovely local people and people that want to help.”

Greenberg opened the most recent meeting, on July 30, by reminding attendees of the group’s rules. A bell signaled when a member’s 30-second introduction was up. Phones were silenced, and participants were urged to step out of their comfort zones.

Many networking groups are hyperlocalized or focus on a profession, but Greenberg is hoping to achieve a larger network of business owners dedicated to providing the best advice possible

“Everybody who’s ever been here has dropped their business card in their raffle to win the door prize,” Greenberg said. “Those cards … get alphabetized on a first-name basis. Why? Because we all need to know each other’s first name. It’s like a little family that we have here.”

The group rotates member spotlight presentations during its monthly meetings based on monthly raffle winners, giving attendees the chance to showcase their business or services in more depth. Before presentations, members zipped through lightning-round conversations. At one table, two bank branch managers, Baldwin resident Lyndell Senior, of Ridgewood Savings, and Freeport resident Valerie Shepherd, of Flagstar Bank, swapped notes on expanding local business accounts.

Senior, a member of the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, attends the meetings to broaden his network of referrals. “I told two of my clients about this event, and they came tonight,” he said. “That’s the power of just talking to new people.”

One of those clients, Michelle Rivera, a real estate broker from Freeport specializing in homeownership for people of color, attended with her son, Michael, and called Let’s Meet an essential springboard for her mission.

“My focus was to help my own people — people of color — become homeowners,” Rivera said. “But I work with everyone. Here I met an insurance broker who’s already referred two clients to me.” For Shepherd, this was the first inperson dinner meeting after three months of attending the Wednesdaymorning breakfasts.

“I keep coming back, meeting new people, connecting with people, because you never know when you’ll be able to help somebody or someone’s going to be able to help you,” she said. “It’s like a family. I find when I come here, I know them, they know me.”

Kepherd Daniel/Herald Mark Greenberg has created a group of allies through his networking organization.

Gillen visits air traffic control in Westbury

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

Staffing shortages, safety concerns, the need to update equipment and aircraft noise were the topics when U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen met with Federal Aviation Administration officials and air traffic controllers in Westbury last week.

“I think everyone can agree TRACON/N90 and other air traffic control towers are understaffed, have outdated technology, long hours and compulsory overtime, which is contributing to wider spread burnout and fatigue,” Gillen said on July 29 outside the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control facility that is known by its acronym.

TRACON/N90 manages aircraft approaching and departing from the metropolitan area’s airports, generally within a 30- to 50-mile radius.

in Philadelphia.

“I’m so glad the inspector general is finally looking into the impact of moving N90 air traffic controllers, and what this has done to New York airport cancellations and the safety of our passengers,” Gillen said.

I will continue to work with Secretary Duffy in a bipartisan fashion to make sure we are keeping the skies over the busiest airways in the country safe.

LAuRA GILLeN

U.S.

Representative

Gillen put pressure on the FAA and federal Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that resulted in an audit of a decision last year to relocate a dozen air traffic controllers from TRACON/N90 to an air traffic control center

The FAA relocated air traffic controllers who monitored Newark Liberty Airport, one of the busiest in the country, from TRACON/ N90 to Philadelphia. Controllers overseeing Newark subsequently experienced a roughly 90-second blackout of radar and radio contact with air traffic due to a burned copper wire on April 28. Another 90-second outage followed on May 9, caused by failures of communication infrastructure.

“The FAA’s reckless decision to relocate Newark air traffic controllers from N90 on Long Island to Philadelphia put our safety at risk and made it more difficult for our air traffic controllers to manage the nation’s busiest airspace,” said Gillen.

The incidents raised concerns about system redundancy, controller staffing and training and operational resilience. The audit will also review the FAA’s

planning and risk-assessment process and its operation response to flight delays, safety incidents and cancellations.

Gillen said she was also determined to address the issue of low staffing of air traffic controllers and the risks it poses to passenger safety.

“I will continue to work with Secretary Duffy in a bipartisan fashion to

make sure we are keeping the skies over the busiest airways in the country safe — safe for passengers, and to minimize cancellations and delays,” she said.

During a discussion of air traffic safety at a July 16 hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Duffy said, “Our goal is to make air travel not just safer, but also more efficient.”

Courtesy Office of Laura Gillen

U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen responded to questions from reporters outside the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control facility in Westbury on July 29.

Your HealtH and Wellness — with a

In the business of staying healthy Motivation

By Kristen Castillo

for working out after work

Once your day is done, you’re probably tired from work, meetings, phone calls, and more. While you’re not necessarily in the mood to go work out after clocking out, the benefits of exercise — burning calories, flexibility, de-stressing, etc. — can leave you feeling healthy and rejuvenated and ready to take on the next workday. So how do you stay motivated to hit the gym instead of hitting happy hour or the couch? Fitness experts say putting structures in place is key to keeping your after-work fitness plans on track.

Be Ready

Bring your exercise clothes, shoes, a water bottle and snacks with you to work. That way you won’t have take extra time to stop home and potentially get sidetracked or find excuses. Joey Daoud is the founder and CEO of New Territory Fitness, an online fitness coaching company that works with office workers and companies remotely. He says if it takes you more than 15 minutes to get to a gym, that could be reason enough for you to skip working out.

“When exercising after work, you want to keep things as easy and decision free as possible,” he says.

Make It Convenient

Hit the gym right after work, especially if your employer offers it, or choose a gym location that’s close to your office or home.

“If your office has a gym, take advantage of it,” says Crystal McFerran, a senior vice president at an IT support company. She works out before leaving the office.

“Our office has a phenomenal gym, saving me money on

a gym membership and making it incredibly convenient to work out after work.”

Schedule It

Make an appointment with yourself to sweat. Pilates instructor Caroline Topperman urges you to book fitness into your schedule.

“We don’t often skip doctor appointments, so think of the gym as just that,” she says. “This is an appointment for your health and it’s written in your calendar.”

Structured time keeps you accountable and allows you to look forward to an hour of self-care.

HEALTH MEMO

TSuccessful Start

Starting a steady routine ensures that you won’t burn out or drop your plans altogether.

“You can’t just go from zero to hero, or five days a week hardcore,” says certified personal trainer Cat Kom.

Two to three days a week is a reasonable and maintainable goal that will likely help you see fitness time as a treat, rather than a burden.

Community

Set yourself up for success by finding a fitness community to keep you accountable. That could mean working out with a buddy or signing up for group spinning or dance classes.

“Sweating it out together and being able to relate to one another, is key to sticking to a routine,” says Kom. “It also helps you to know you’re not alone throughout the fitness process.”

Think of exercise as an opportunity to disconnect from your desk and connect with people.

Focus On Feeling Great

Even if you dread working out, and regardless of the intensity of the workout, it’s almost undeniable that you feel accomplished just from sticking to your plan and moving your body. Use that mood and energy boost to keep you motivated.

Working out has many physical benefits, but it’s also great for your brain.

“It’s a great way to decompress after the day, gather your thoughts, process any difficult challenges and take some personal care time,” says Daoud.

If you give yourself time to manage your physical wellbeing, the benefits will show up in all other areas of life as well.

Photo: Treat working out after work as a priority, similar to a doctor’s appointment or any other important meeting.

Keep Yourself Safe From Ticks Before a Hike, Run, or Round of Golf

icks are on the march and heading for you and your family—unless you take precautions.

The Fordham Tick Index, which assesses the risk of encountering ticks in the New York area, was at its highest level of 10 on a 10-point scale as of mid-July, based on an increase in the tick population and the diseases they carry, most notably Lyme disease.

Over the last three years, New York State has averaged more than 17,500 new cases of Lyme disease each year, with more than 19,000 cases reported in 2023, according to the state’s Department of Health. What is more, Suffolk County reported the highest number of Lyme disease cases in the country between 2019 and 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Long Island’s tick season runs from spring through fall, with peak activity from May to June and again from August to November. Aaron E. Glatt, MD, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Chief of Infectious Diseases and Chair of the Department of Medicine, recommends the following steps to protect yourself from illnesses spread by ticks (and mosquitoes):

• Apply EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to clothing and exposed parts of your body (be sure to follow the instructions on the product label for safe and effective use).

• When hiking or gardening, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes/sneakers to reduce exposed skin areas. For extra protection, tuck your pants into your socks when in wooded terrain or thick vegetation.

• Wear light- or bright-colored clothing, like white, tan, yellow, or orange, which makes it easier to spot ticks.

• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin insecticiderepellent. Do not apply on the skin.

• Ticks congregate in grassy and wooded areas, so stay in the

Aaron E. Glatt, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau recommends using fine-tipped tweezers to remove a tick and cleaning the site and your hands thoroughly after removal.

center of trails. Avoid tall grass and leaf litter. Golfers need to be aware of their increased risk when searching for balls in heavy rough and untamed parts of the course.

• After concluding outdoor activities, check your clothing, hair/head and hairline, armpits, between and toes, and entire body for ticks.

• Take a shower as soon as possible, which can help wash off unattached ticks, and consider putting the clothing in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any attached ticks. To remove a tick, Dr. Glatt recommends the following steps:

• Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking the tick. Dispose of the tick by wrapping it in tape or flushing it down the toilet.

• After removing the tick, clean the bite site and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

If you are bitten by a tick, Dr. Glatt says to be on guard for these symptoms of a tick-borne illness: fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, or a rash.

“In 60-80 percent of Lyme disease cases, a rash with a bullseye center will appear around or near the site of the bite,” said Dr. Glatt. “If this rash develops as well as any other symptoms, schedule an appointment with your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment will prevent more serious complications, including chronic severe headaches, painful arthritis, swelling of the joints, and heart and central nervous system problems.”

The Long Island flagship hospital of the Mount Sinai Health System, Mount Sinai South Nassau operates 911-receiving emergency departments at its Oceanside and Long Beach campuses and is the only Trauma Center on the South Shore of Nassau County. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

For more information about Mount Sinai South Nassau or a physician referral, call (516) 632-3000 or visit mountsinai. org/southnassau.

mountsinai.org/southnassau

Your HealtH and Wellness — with a focus on fitness for life

Mind yourself

Focusing on your physical and emotional wellness

By Kristen Castillo

Not so long ago self-care was considered somewhat self-indulgent. Then the pandemic altered our reality and ever since we’ve turned attention on how we engage with our world and practices to be our best, healthy selves. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself and your well-being.

“Self-care is vitally important because if you don’t take the time to stop and care for yourself, your body will stop you,” says mental health advocate Mark Henick. “If you never let your foot off the gas, you won’t keep driving forever — you’ll either run out of gas or crash. The same is true for the body and mind.”

Henick says self-care is a choice to rebalance your internal resources so you can bounce back from stressors.

Loving yourself

Self-care can range from taking “me time” breaks in your day or chatting with a friend to yoga, exercising, of course, or meditating.

“Often, we posit that self-care is about doing less, but sometimes it is about doing more — at the end of the day, it is about responding to the needs of ourselves before others,” says Darren Pierre, Ph.D., author of

“The Invitation to Love.”

“The work is difficult because we can become easily distracted from focusing on ourselves,” Pierre says, urging people to “remain disciplined in the practice of selfcare.”

Honoring your life

“Self-care is choosing to honor your inner wants and needs in order to fulfill your potential,” says therapist Kimberly Hershenson.

One of her self-care recommendations is to make a daily gratitude list. “Focusing on what is good in your life as opposed to what is ‘going wrong’ helps relieve stress,” says Hershenson, who also suggests reading positive affirmations every morning.

Snooze

Self-care isn’t necessarily tough to do, but finding the time to take care of yourself can be challenging.

“Sleep is one of the best forms of self-care because it gives your body and mind some uninterrupted time to simply repair itself,” says Henick.

Write it down

Author Carrie Aulenbacher, a busy work-

ing mom, uses journaling as a self-care tool.

“Making time to take care of me is hard,” she says.“But journaling helps me unload and address issues that affected me but got pushed aside throughout the day.”

She says everything ranging from serious writing to doodling to making lists is helpful and counts as journaling.

The business of self-care

This increased interest in self-care is a

business boom, too.

According to the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness industry is a $6.3 trillion market, including fitness, mind and body; healthy eating, nutrition and weight loss; and spa treatments.

This figure represents a significant portion of the global economy, exceeding 6 percent of global GDP, according to the GWI. Furthermore, the industry is projected to reach $9 trillion by 2028.

That means increased opportunities for consumers to invest in themselves and their wellbeing. The wellness industry features countless self-care options, ranging from buying vitamin infused waters to planning wellness retreat vacations to scheduling fitness classes like yoga, dance and cycling.

Calendar

item

“Schedule self-care time on your calendar,” says Anza Goodbar, a coach, speaker and trainer for entrepreneurs. “If it is not scheduled, it most likely won’t happen.”

She suggests starting a self-care routine in small steps, such as getting up 15 minutes early to start your day with meditation or a quiet cup of coffee or tea.

“The bottom line is to be intentional about taking care of yourself through the different stages of life,” Goodbar says.

Photo: Taking time for yourself, such as meditating or even getting a massage, is healthy, not selfish. Your body and mind will be recharged.

MEMO

Compassionate care that enriches lives HEALTH

The only skilled nursing facility in Oceanside, Oceanside Care Center is a 100-bed rehabilitation and nursing center that has been a part of the community’s fabric for more than 50 years. Their unique approach allows them to provide patient-centered care in a way that no other facility can. OCC specializes in an array of different services, from short-term rehab to long-term care.

Oceanside Care Center provides unrivaled residentcentered care. Under the guidance of the highly skilled, professional staff, the team customizes a care plan matched to specific needs and abilities. The nursing team consists of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants who are driven to build warm and compassionate bonds with residents.

The unique and intimately sized facility attracts many residents who enjoy a meaningful relationship forged between devoted staff members, residents and their families. Many staff members have worked at Oceanside Care Center for over

25 years and take great pride in the compassionate care they provide every single day.

With private and semi-private rooms, OCC offers many comforts that create a homelike atmosphere, including complimentary flat screen TVs in every room and three home cooked meals a day. Residents enjoy numerous activities and

events that take place daily, and the kind and caring staff make it feel as if they never left home. The comfortable setting allows residents to focus on regaining their strength and independence while empowering them to enjoy fruitful lives with their families and friends.

Come in for a tour today!

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STEPPING OUT

Long Islander adds “JOY” Off-Broadway

By Iris Wiener

Jerome Vivona knew from a young age that he was meant to tell stories. From performing at his Bayville elementary school, to “West Side Story” and “Guys and Dolls” at North Shore High School, he found there was a freedom in theater that was especially unique.

An accomplished performer, writer, producer, director, and choreographer, Vivona (Broadway’s “Seussical,” “Kiss Me Kate”) returns to the New York stage, Off-Broadway, in “JOY: A New True Musical.” Running now through Aug. 17, it’s based on entrepreneur Joy Mangano. Vivona plays Judge Jeremiah Abernathy (an integral figure in Mangano’s life), and is also a standby for other roles.

Vivona is right at home with JOY, which is mostly set at Mangano’s childhood residence on Long Island. As a teenager, Vivona was an avid athlete working part-time at an East Norwich ski shop (where he once helped Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley), and initially decided to attend college on a soccer scholarship; however, thanks to the encouragement of his teachers, he found that the calling to be a dancer was stronger.

At age 17 he entered a Sea Cliff studio and said, “I want to be a professional dancer.” He trained privately for six to eight hours each day for six months until he had caught up with the more experienced dancers.

“I worked very hard, and with the studio’s tutelage I ended up at the Joffrey Ballet School,” says Vivona. “[Afterwards,] I was very fortunate to tour with ballet companies.”

His life took another incredible turn when, at 23, he first met Jerome Robbins, for whom he was about to audition for “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway.”

“He took a liking to me and I took private rehearsal sessions with him in which I learned all of the ‘West Side Story’ choreography. Working with him and his believing in me was a seminal part of my career.”

Vivona went on to tour with Robbins’ show nationally and internationally, which was followed by a turn in the Paris production of “West Story,” where he met his wife, performer and dancer Michelle Vivona. It wasn’t long before he made his Broadway debut in “Guys and Dolls.”

“JOY” entered his life through the connections and friends he’s made through the years.

Jerome Vivona’s commanding presence is well suited to his latest project.

“My relationships are what brought me back and my friends having a belief that I would be the right fit. I’m really thrilled that [director] Lorin Latarro and choreographer Joshua Bergasse gave me the opportunity because the show is beautiful, powerful and uplifting.”

As he puts it: ‘JOY’ is about the dynamics of a family and how that can change your trajectory in life if you let it. It’s a powerful story about one woman who found herself in a situation where she had her back up against a wall, and she was able to create this mop that allowed her to change her family’s life and the lives of countless others. It really is ‘joy,’ and I think that what we need right now is a story that makes us feel good about humanity.”

As the only native Long Islander in “JOY,” Vivona helped with the authenticity of the actors’ dialect.

“During rehearsals we had a dialect coach who was going to play a recording for the actors to help with their speech,” Vivona says. “Instead … I was the reference for them. Whenever Betsy [Wolfe, who plays Mangano] said, ‘How do you say this?’ they would look for me and ask how to say ‘mop’ or ‘car door.’ They even asked me to record my mom saying a couple of things.”

Vivona also spoke with the production team about local towns, mascots and street names.

“Any time there was something that didn’t ring true to Long Island, I would mention it,” he says. “It feels like home [on stage], and it feels good to be representing Long Island in a show about Long Island and someone as successful as Joy. I’m proud to be telling her story.”

At 58, Vivona stands by the same values he held true when he was raising his children, who graduated from the East Meadow School District.

“I’ve always taught them that you should follow your dreams and believe in what your impact can be,” he says.“This show has taught me that I can continue to believe in myself and that being on stage telling a story is what I’m all about.

When Vivona is not performing, he and Michelle can be found in Mineola, where they own and operate American Theatre Dance Workshop, an award-winning conservatory-type performing arts school.

With new projects on the horizon, Vivona surely wouldn’t mind seeing “JOY” head to Broadway.

“I don’t think you leave the theater without a smile on your face and maybe a tear in your eye.”

“JOY: A New True Musical” is at the Laura Pels Theatre, 111 West 46th St., New York. Tickets are available at joythemusical.com or by calling (833) 274-8497.

‘My Son The Waiter’

Brad Zimmerman celebrates the 10th anniversary of his hit comedy “My Son The Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy, with a sequel; “My Son The Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy & Still Not Famous! His long journey to follow his show biz dream and his parents who suffered through it continues with plenty of laughter along way. Brad moved to New York and “temporarily” waited tables for 29 years, while pursuing his career as an actor. After many years, he finally got a role on the Sopranos and work as a comedian opening for Joan Rivers, George Carlin and Brad Garrett. He tells of his pursuit, along with stories about his childhood, family, and misbegotten love life with warmth, wit, self-deprecating humor, and wicked charm. Zimmerman also examines the trials and tribulations of waiting on tables — particularly for someone not exactly invested in that career, and with little tolerance for persnickety diners.

Friday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 2, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 3, 2 p.m. Through Aug. 24. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org.

‘The Rocketman Show’

Remember when rock was young? You will when you blast off into the stratosphere with this electrifying tribute to the Rocketman himself. With a nostalgic setlist, this is a must-see for Elton John fans — of all generations. Rus Anderson, Elton John’s official body double for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour launch, recreates an early Elton concert complete with flamboyant costumes actually worn by Elton himself. Elton’s greatest hits, wildest outfits and outrageous stage antics come to life again as Anderson brings you the magic and live persona of a young Elton like no other. He storms around the stage with a fun-loving sense of flamboyance; part diva, killer vocalist, fierce piano player, all rock ‘n roller. This is a detailedv version of Elton John’s ‘70s shows that’s not to be missed. Anderson’s painstaking attention to detail includes wearing Elton’s iconic boots, glasses and jumpsuits from 1973, as well as a sparkly Swarovski tuxedo from ‘84.

Friday, Aug 8, 8 p.m. $82, $71.75, $60.25, $49.25, $37.25, $35. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Courtesy Daniel G. Weiss

Production photos courtesy Joan Marcus

The true story of entrepreneur and inventor Joy Mangano now comes to life on stage, with Betsy Wolfe, top right, in the title role.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

Back-to-School Supply Drive

Legislator Seth I. Koslow partners with Freeport, Merrick and North Merrick libraries to host a school supply drive supporting local students. Donations of backpacks, notebooks, folders, pens, pencils, lunchboxes, glue sticks, and other school essentials can be dropped off during regular library hours, through Aug. 18.

•Where: 144 W. Merrick Road

•Contact: Leg. Koslow’s office at (516) 571-6205 or skoslow@nassaucountyny.gov Aug

‘Summer of Love’ Pet Adoption

The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter welcomes summer with the return of its “Summer of Love” pet adoption program. Now through Sept. 1 all pet adoption fees will be waived, making it easier than ever to adopt a pet. Each adoption includes free spaying/neutering, vaccinations and microchipping. Additionally, there is only a $10 licensing fee for dogs. This summer, spread the love and provide a fur-ever home to these shelter animals. Check out the friendly faces of the dogs and cat before arriving at shelter. Browse photos and profiles at hempsteadny.gov/179/ animal-shelter or on the shelter’s Facebook page.

•Where: 3320, Beltagh Ave., Wantagh

•Time: Ongoing

•Contact: at hempsteadny. gov/179/animal-shelter or (516) 785-5220

Rhythm Hues ‘n Blues

Check out Freeport Library’s exhibit, presented by the Long Island Black Artists Association. It showcases works by local Black artists in a range of mediums. Through Aug. 28.

•Where: 144 W. Merrick Road

•Time: 9 a.m.-9 p.m., ongoing daily

•Contact: freeportlibrary.info or (516) 379-3274

On Exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “At Play,” surveys artists’ perennial fascination with entertainment in all forms. Framing this topic between the nineteenth century Belle Époque and today, the exhibit includes works by Pablo Picasso, Reginald Marsh, Everett Shinn, and Max Beckmann among many others. The works are gathered to represent a wide range of expressions, from entertainmentrelated activities to the fascinating personalities involved. It encompasses dance, music, theater, movies, circus, boating, and beach scenes,

The Midtown Men

adventure “Paddington in Peru.” Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey. Starring Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Ben Whishaw.

•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

• Time: Movie begins at dusk

•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

Aug

14

Breastfeeding Support Group

Mercy Hospital offers a peer-to-peer breastfeeding support group facilitated by a certified counselor. Open to new moms with babies from newborn to 1 year. Registration required.

•Where: St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre

•Time: Ongoing Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

•Contact: Call Gabriella Gennaro at (516) 705-2434

•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow

• Time: 7 p.m.

•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

Former stars of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning jukebox musical “Jersey Boys,” reunited as The Midtown Men, are back with their ‘60s vibe at Eisenhower Park. During their time in the mega-hit musical, these talented artists — Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer — shared the stage for over 1,000 performances. The highoctane musical tour de force that took the Jersey Boys phenomenon to Broadway and beyond, is now rocking the stage as a concert. These Broadway veterans, with their powerhouse band, are realizing the dream they brought to life as the iconic Four Seasons. The dynamic foursome now celebrates the music that defined the 1960s. The Midtown Men is the next chapter for these accomplished entertainers, making them the first vocal group ever formed by the principal cast of a high-profile Broadway show. Not only have they continued to win over audiences of all ages in nearly 2,000 live shows, their selftitled debut album, The Midtown Men: Sixties Hits was met with critical acclaim and garnered five star album reviews across iTunes and was followed by their first radio single “All Alone On Christmas” with producer Steven Van Zandt and members of Springsteen’s E Street Band.

along with horseracing and various sports, both active and passive Also featured are archival items from The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, including costumes by Marc Chagall for Die Zauberflöte, vintage fashion items by such designers as Alfred Shaheen, and iconic costumes from the FoliesBergère in Paris. On view until Nov. 9.

•Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

•Time: Ongoing

•Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337

Aug

8

Rock on at the park

Get in the groove with The Boss Project, the Bruce Springsteen tribute band at Eisenhower Park.

•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

•Time: 7 p.m.

•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

SNUG Day 2025

Aug

9

Family & Children’s Association, a leading nonprofit organization serving Long Island families, welcomes all to a family-friendly community celebration at Kennedy Memorial

Park in Hempstead. FCA’s SNUG (Should Not Use Guns) program is an evidence-based initiative focused on reducing violence and promoting safer communities. The SNUG program empowers credible messengers — trusted individuals with lived experience — to work directly alongside neighbors striving to build better futures. Together, they foster resilience, renewal, and positive change. SNUG Day combines fun, food, entertainment, and community resources for residents to connect with local organizations working to reduce gun violence and strengthen neighborhoods. The free event includes interactive activities for all ages, giveaways, music, and access to information on services that support families, youth development and public safety. Rain date is Aug. 16.

•Where: 335 Greenwich St., Hempstead

•Time: 1-5 p.m.

•Contact: fcali.org

Unbox A-Saurus for Us!

Dr. Patricia Osiris visits with young paleontologists-in-training at Long Island Children’s Museum’s new stage production. This interactive theatrical experience invites visitors to join the eccentric paleontologist (a.k.a. “Dr. Patti”) as she attempts to reveal a never-before-seen dinosaur specimen — if only she can figure

out how to open the crate it’s locked in. Along the way, the audience becomes key players in solving problems, sparking laughter and exploring the world of dinosaurs in a lighthearted “scientific” comedy that blends imagination and learning. $5 with museum admission, $10 theater only.

•Where: Museum Row, Garden City

•Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also Aug 20

•Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

Aug

Jimmy Buffett Tribute Cruise

Set sail for a threehour dinner cruise with live Jimmy Buffett tribute band Fins UP.

Includes buffet, beer, wine, soda, and house liquor. $109 plus tax per person.

•Where: 11 Richmond St., Freeport

• Time: 5-8 p.m.

•Contact: shorturl.at/8bKYI

Aug 13

Family movie night

Enjoy a movie under the stars at Eisenhower Park. See 2024’s live-action animated

Summer vibes

Relax by the water with the sounds of the Drake Colley Quintet on the Nautical Mile, hosted by the Long Island Arts Council at Freeport.

•Where: Nautical Mile Esplanade, Woodcleft Ave.

•Time: 7 p.m.

•Contact: liacfreeport.org or call (516) 223-2522

Summertime tunes

Eisenhower Park welcomes the neo-traditional country music trio The Castellows.

•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

•Time: 7 p.m.

•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

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

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU OCWEN LOAN

SERVICING, LLC, -againstRALPH MAISONNEUVE, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on December 24, 2018, wherein OCWEN LOAN

SERVICING, LLC is the Plaintiff and RALPH MAISONNEUVE, ET AL., are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on August 20, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 182 EVANS AVENUE, FREEPORT, NY 11520 and the following tax map identification 55-101-39.

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, STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 010553/2014; Irene V. Villacci, Esq., as Referee; Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 154669

LEGAL NOTICE

SURROGATE’S COURT, NASSAU COUNTY CITATION

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO:Grassi Advisory Group, Inc Office of the New York State Attorney General

Jasper Surety, Attorn in Fact, SureTec Insurance Company

Elisabeth Korner any and all unknown persons whose names or parts of whose names and whose place or places of residence are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained, distributees, heirs-atlaw and next-of-kin of the said Gabrielle E. Schneider, deceased, and if any of the said distributees named specifically or as a class be dead, their legal representatives, their husbands or wives, if any, distributees and successors in interest whose names and/or places of residence and post office addresses are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained.

A petition having been duly filed by Public Administrator of Nassau County, who is domiciled at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York 11501. YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Nassau County, at 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York, on September 10, 2025, at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, why the account of Public Administrator of Nassau County, a summary of which has been served herewith, as Administrator of the estate of Gabrielle E. Schneider, should not be judicially settled.

[X] Further relief sought (if any):

1.Releasing and discharging the Petitioner from all liability, responsibility and accountability as to all matters set forth in the account of proceedings;

2.Allowing the commissions of the Petitioner in the amount of $ 5,992.60 pursuant to SCPA 2307(1) and the reasonable and necessary expenses of the office in the amount of $ 1,248.15 pursuant to SCPA 1207(4);

3.Fixing and determining the attorney’s fees and disbursements of Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC attorney for petitioner in the amount of $ 28,750.00 as and for legal fees and disbursements, of which $ 3,750.00 has been paid and $ 25,000.00 is unpaid;

4.Fixing and

determining the accounting fees of Grassi Advisory Group, Inc. in the amount of $ 6,250.00 of which $ 250.00 has been paid and $ 6,000.00 is unpaid;

5.Releasing and discharging the surety;

6.Directing each of you claiming to be a distributee of the Decedent to establish proof of your kinship, and show cause why the balance of said funds should not be paid to said alleged distributees upon proof of kinship or deposited with the New York State Comptroller on account for the unknown next of kin of Gabrielle E. Schneider, decedent, should said alleged distributees default herein or fail to establish proof of kinship;

7.Granting such other and further relief as to the Court is just and proper.

Dated, Attested, and Sealed, July 2, 2025 (Seal) HON. HON. MARGARET C. REILLY

Surrogate s/ Debra Keller

Leimbach

Chief Clerk

Signature of Attorney Richard T. Kerins, Esq. Print Name of Attorney Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC Firm Name (516) 538-1111 elephone 254 Nassau Boulevard South, Garden City South, New York 11530 Address rkerins@mmkolaw.com

Email (optional)

NOTE: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you, and you or your attorney may request a copy of the full account from the petitioner or petitioner’s attorney. 154671 LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF NASSAU

ONEWEST BANK N.A., -againstWELLINGTON ROY

MAHONEY, JR., ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on May 6, 2025, wherein ONEWEST BANK N.A., is the Plaintiff and WELLINGTON ROY MAHONEY, JR., ET AL., are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, NORTH SIDE STEPS, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on August 18, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 176 MIRIN AVENUE, ROOSEVELT, NY 11575, tax map identification 55-469-53-55, and description: 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, STATE OF NEW YORK . Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 005727/2014; Jaime D. Ezratty, Esq., as Referee; Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 154667

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE UNDER THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER l, 2006, GSAMP TRUST 2006-HE7, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-HE7 Plaintiff, Against FRAZIER EDWARDS A/K/A FRAZIER EDWARDS, JR, et al Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 06/10/2025, 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 8/26/2025 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 30 Porterfield Pl, Freeport, New York 11520, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, and State of New York.

Section 54 Block 91 Lot 209

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $635,724.65 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 000576/2017 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. Jared Kasschau, Esq., Referee.

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

Dated: 7/3/2025 File Number: 560-3683 CA 154757

and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. The foreclosure sale will be held “rain or shine.” GEORGIA PAPAZIS, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY 11021. #102386 154761

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO.: 601960/2024

COUNTY OF NASSAU

SELENE FINANCE LP, Plaintiff, vs. SHEDDRICK B. PRESTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JUDY WALKER A/K/A JUDY

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. JACOB POST INC., et al, Defts. Index #609725/2024. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Feb. 27, 2025, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on August 28, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. premises k/a Section 62, Block 92, Lot(s) 328-300, 461. Sold subject to terms

ANN WALKER; LAKESHIA K. DANDY, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JUDY WALKER A/K/A JUDY ANN WALKER, if living, and if she/he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF JUDY WALKER A/K/A JUDY ANN WALKER, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action;

such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; P.T.R.C., INC.; CAVALRY PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC, A/A/O CALVARY SPV I, LLC, A/A/O SPRINT; MK CLEANING INC S/H/A MK CLEANING INC DBA SERVPRO OF GARDEN CITY/HEMPSTEAD; MIDLAND FUNDING LLC; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; TERRILL WEST; EYLON PRESTON; MYLA LOPEZ; PRECIOUS MCCLEARY, “JOHN DOE #5” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last eight names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Mortgaged Premises: 93 EAST MILTON STREET, FREEPORT, NY 11520

Section: 55, Block: 254, Lot: 60 and 61

To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action

and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $241,452.00 and interest, recorded on December 23, 2009, in Liber Book M 34456 at Page 727, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 93 EAST MILTON STREET, FREEPORT, NY 11520. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.

7, 2025 —

Public Notices

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: May 1st, 2025 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC

Attorney for Plaintiff Christopher McKenna, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590 516-280-7675 154741

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

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

-------------------------X

INC. VILLAGE OF FREEPORT, Plaintiff, SUMMONS

Index No.:312357/2025

Date Purchased: 6/10/25 - againstJOHN DOES 1-10, Representing unknown parties claiming any right, title or interest in the real property known as 220 West Sunrise Highway, Village of Freeport, County of Nassau, Defendants.

----------------------------X

To the above-named Defendants: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorneys within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. Nassau County is designated as the venue of this proceeding on the basis that it is the County where the real property that is the subject of this action is located.

This is an action for quiet title pursuant to Article 15 of the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law pertaining to any party claiming an interest in the property known as 220 West Sunrise Highway, Freeport, NY a/k/a Section 54, Block 73, Lot 50

Dated:Garden City, New York June 6, 2025 McLAUGHLIN & STERN, LLP

Attorneys for Plaintiff By:/s/_____________

CHRISTIAN BROWNE, ESQ. 1122 Franklin Avenue, Suite 300 Garden City, New York 11530 (516) 829-6900 154325

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU TRUMAN CAPITAL HOLDINGS, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST SHERRIL BAEZ AKA

SHERRIL S. BAEZ; ET AL., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 4, 2022, 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, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 808 South Ocean Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 62 Block: 180 Lot: 429. Approximate amount of judgment $769,435.71 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #614142/2019. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Tromberg, Morris & Partners, PLLC 39 Broadway, Suite 1250 New York, NY 10006 25-000 600 86314 154707

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. Bank, N.A., successor Trustee to LaSalle Bank National Association, on behalf of the Holders of Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I Trust 2005-HE11, Asset-

Backed Certificates Series 2005-HE11, Plaintiff AGAINST Fred Gross A/K/A Frederick Gross A/K/A Frederick M. Gross, Herminia Gross, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 11, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM, premises known as 53 Tyler 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 Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 62, Block: 105, Lot: 312. Approximate amount of judgment $511,041.15 plus interest and co sts. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #007888/2009. Michael G. Postiglione, Referee Frenkel Lambert Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-080399-F00 86028 154779

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 COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR SECURITIZED ASSET BACKED RECEIVABLES LLC TRUST 2006-WM1, Plaintiff, Against CLAUDIA YON, ISAIAS YON, JOSE VASQUEZ, Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 08/18/2022, 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 9/9/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 169 Meister Boulevard, Freeport, New York 11520, and described as follows:

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 54 Block 331 Lot 32

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $823,369.16 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 602090/2019 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Ellen Durst, Esq., Referee.

SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Dated: 6/23/2025 File Number: 35520 CA 154962

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

BANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST, -againstRONALD BISHOP, AS ADMINISTRATOR HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF VERA DIANE ARRINDELL, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on June 23, 2025, wherein BANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST is the Plaintiff and RONALD BISHOP, AS ADMINISTRATOR HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF VERA DIANE ARRINDELL, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public

auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on September 9, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 46 SAGAMORE STREET, FREEPORT, NY 11520; and the following tax map identification: 55-376-1210, 1211, 1212, 1213 & 1214. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOTS, PIECES OR PARCELS OF LAND SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FREEPORT, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 611585/2021. Scott H. Siller, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 154927

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016 SC6 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. JAMES VICTOR, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 3, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 9, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 17 Leonard Street a/k/a 17 Leonard Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead,

County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55, Block 369 and Lots 259-260. Approximate amount of judgment is $945,194.77 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #003714/2016.

Massimo Santoli, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 211883-1 154966

PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES

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LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2006FM1, ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, Plaintiff, Against PAMELA FLEARY Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 05/12/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 9/8/2025 at 2:30PM, premises known as 127 Wilson Place, Freeport, New York 11520, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Freeport, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 54 Block 493 Lot 43 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $934,892.40 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 004842/2015 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.

Paul L. Meli, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

LEGAL NOTICE CITATION

File No. 2010-361923/A-B

SURROGATE’S·COURTNassau,COUNTY CITATION

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

Dated: 7/9/2025 File Number: 17-300038 CA 154964 LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2019-GS7, Plaintiff -againstEULALEE PARKER; RAMON PARKER, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated July 26, 2023 and entered on July 28, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on September 9, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the southerly side of Morton Avenue, distant 125 feet easterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the southerly side of Morton Avenue with the easterly side of Brookside Avenue; being a plot 50 feet by 100 feet by 50 feet by 100 feet.

SBL# 0054-00299-00281

Said premises known as 61 MORTON AVE, FREEPORT, NY 11520

Approximate amount of lien $632,558.32 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 608057/2020.

CHESTER H. GREENSPAN, ESQ., Referee Kosterich & Skeete, LLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 707 Westchester Ave, Suite 302, White Plains, NY 10604

{* FREEPORT LEADER*} 154850

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO Howard Clemons, Jr., or if he be dead, the names or parts of the names, and place or places of residence, of any and all unknown persons, who are the respective executors, administrators, heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, legatees, devisees, husbands or wives, or successors in interest of said deceased person. A petition having been duly filed by ,JAMAR..GREEN, who Is domiciled at 1621

GEORGE WASHING’TON WAY, APT 238, RICHLAND, WA 99354

YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Nassau County, at 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York, on September 24, 2025 at 9:30 o’clock In the forenoon of that day, why a decree should not be made In the estate of CATHERINE CLEMONS lately domiciled at 590 Fulton Ave, Apt 601 Hempstead, NY 11550

a)Revoking Letters of Administration issued to Howard Clemons, Jr. b)Granting Letters of Administration d.b.n. to Jamar Green or to such other person or persons having prior right as may be entitled thereto.

c)That Letters of Administration d.b.n. be issued to Jamar Green to serve without bond.

HON.MARGARET C. REILLY

Dated, Attested and Sealed, July 17, 2025 (Sealed)

Surrogate

DEBRA KELLER LEIMBACH

Chief Clerk

Christopher Thompson, ESQ.

Attorney For Petitioner 6319838830

Telephone Number

33 Davison Lane East, West Islip, NY 11795

Address of Attorney

[Note: This citation Is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear, If you fall to appear it will be assumed you do not object to the relief requested. You have e right to have an

Jordan Vallone/Herald

Public Notices

attorney appear for you.} 154774

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

PUBLIC & 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

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, -againstNIMBOKO B. MILLER, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on June 11, 2018, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION is the Plaintiff and NIMBOKO B. MILLER, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on September 9, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 352 WESTSIDE AVENUE, FREEPORT, NY 11520; and the following tax map identification: 62-66-299.

ALL THAT 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

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 006688/2015.

Peter Levy, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 154919

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. MTGLQ INVESTORS, LP Pltf. vs. SHANAI L. JACKSON A/K/A SHANAI JACKSON, et al, Defts. Index #012297/14. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered January 23, 2019, I will sell at public auction on the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on September 9, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises k/a 150 Pennsylvania Avenue, Roosevelt, NY 11575 a/k/a Section 55, Block 423, Lot 4. Said property beginning at a point on the Easterly side of Pennsylvania Avenue, distant 246.00 ft. Northerly from a point formed by the intersection of the Easterly side of Pennsylvania Avenue and the Northerly side of Debevoise Avenue when measured along the Easterly side of Pennsylvania Avenue, being a plot 44 ft. x 89.56 ft. x 44.04 ft. x 87.78 ft. Approximate amount of judgment is

$318,860.51 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. MARIA SIDERIS, Referee. HILL WALLACK, LLP, Attys. for Ptlf., 261 Madison Avenue, 9th Fl. - Ste. 940-941, New York, NY 10016. File No. 20021-01397#102397 154907

LEGAL NOTICE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ETHICS

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Board of Ethics of the Incorporated Village of Freeport is scheduled for Friday, August 8, 2025 at 3:00 P.M. at Village Hall, 46 N. Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York 11520, Board of Trustees Conference Room, adjacent to the Mayor’s office. Pamela Walsh Boening Village Clerk DATED: August 7, 2025 155033

LEGAL NOTICE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PUBLIC HEARING - August 21, 2025

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that a Public Hearing with the Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 6:00 P.M. in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Main Conference Room, 46 N. Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York on the appeals and applications of cases as they appear on the calendar; residential applications that do not extend their prior nonconforming status may be called first; public comment invited. It is anticipated that the Board will adjourn the Legislative Session and enter into Executive Session until 6:30 P.M.

Dems demand answers about NUMC matters

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Nassau County Democrats are continuing to press Republican lawmakers for answers about Nassau University Medical Center, raising a long list of concerns that stretch back to the spring — before New York state officials initiated the takeover of the hospital and its parent organization, the Nassau Health Care Corporation.

Legislature’s majority, and one by its minority.

INTERESTED PROPERTY OWNERS and other persons should appear at the above time and place to have questions answered and to voice opinions. All applications are non-conforming with zoning regulations herein specified for the districts in which they are located.

Application #2025-929 West Sunrise Highway, Business BSection 55/ Block 21/ Lot 20 - Marcelo Kohan - Change of use to Medical Office.

Variances: Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-172 Required Parking Spaces. Application #2024-2019 Suffolk Street, Marine CommerceSection 62/ Block 176/ Lots 325, 326, 327, 328, 329 - BGC Properties INCConstruct 19,996.77 SF addition to existing building and change of use to Residence Apartment for 20-unit apartment building.

Variances: Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-238B Prohibited Uses, §210-239 Building Height, §210-48 Lot area; Apartments, §210-49BCD Lot Coverage, §210-51ABC Required Yards, §210-52 Parking space for apartment building, §210-54 Front yards of apartment building & §210-241 Plots abutting or directly across a street from single- family residence districts. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Pamela Walsh Boening, Village Clerk 154997

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

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Following a July 29 Newsday report that former health care executives charged a $1,400 Manhattan restaurant bill to the hospital in late May, Democratic Legislators Seth Koslow and Delia DeRiggi-Whitton announced the referral of the allegations to local, state and federal prosecutors. Koslow is running for county executive, and DeRiggiWhitton leads the legislature’s minority caucus.

We

State officials have filled their allotted seats, with Stuart Rabinowitz, former president of Hofstra University, being named the board chairman by Hochul. Dr. Richard Becker, a system executive from Northwell Health, was named interim president and chief executive by the board. Blakeman has not yet designated his appointees, having expressed his frustrations with the state’s overhaul in June.

“While Nassau’s only safety-net hospital was drowning in $1.4 billion worth of debt,” DeRiggi-Whitton said at a July 29 news conference in Mineola, “top executives were treating themselves to lavish lobster dinners, luxury hotels and first-class perks. NUMC exists to save lives. It’s not a luxury funding entity for politically connected insiders.”

deserve a hospital that puts patients first — not lavish lifestyles for high paying executives.

The public hospital in East Meadow, according to a news release from the minority caucus, is $1.4 billion in debt. Interim leadership at NUMC, appointed over the last two months by state officials, have accused the hospital’s former president and chief executive Meg Ryan of authorizing $3.5 million in improper severance payments, including at least $1 million in excess of hospital policy. Ryan and her legal team have rebuffed the claims, with Ryan announcing her intent to sue NHCC alleging wrongful termination, lost wages and intentional reputational damage last month.

SEth KOSLOW

Nassau County legislator, District 5

“Every single dollar for every perk that was used and every impromptu payout that was spent of these executives are taxpayer dollars that should have been used to help the people of Nassau County,” Koslow said. “There are 300,000 residents that use the hospital every single year. Every single dollar spent on these lavish expenses could have been used to help those patients.”

“The payments she authorized were permissible under hospital policy and consistent with years of established practice by the CEOs who preceded her,” Alex Hartzband, an attorney with Grubin Law Group representing Ryan said in a release, adding that she “did absolutely nothing wrong.”

Ryan maintained that during her time as president and chief executive, the hospital system “expanded services, improved quality of care, and reduced expenses.”

“My top priority has always been giving people the best possible health care and protecting our dedicated employees,” she said.

Provisions in New York’s budget that passed in May allowed the state to begin taking over parts of the hospital system and changing its leadership structure. The move shifted control from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Democrats.

The restructured board includes six members appointed by the governor — including one recommended by the state Assembly speaker and state Senate president — two appointed by the Nassau County executive, two by the county

In three certified correspondences sent on July 29 to the offices of Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, the minority caucus requested an investigation into the “lavish and questionable” spending by former NUMC executives; the allegations against Ryan and the “improper” payouts; and the “unexplained theft and recovery” of documents from former board chairman Matthew Bruderman’s home, shortly before his abrupt firing in April.

“We’re not going to stand for this,” Koslow said. “We believe it’s public corruption. That’s why we are referring these issues and these incidents for further and full investigations.

“These matters must be investigated for the sake of taxpayers, for the sake of this government and for the sake of our people in Nassau County,” he added. “We deserve a hospital that puts patients first — not lavish lifestyles for high paying executives. This goes deeper than what we see today, and that’s why we’re calling on our state and federal officials to investigate this alongside our county district attorney’s office.”

In a Newsday story on the same matter, a spokesperson from the Nassau DA’s office stated the office has “previously initiated an investigation into NUMC mismanagement,” adding that it remains active and ongoing.

Nassau County legislators Seth Koslow and Delia DeRiggi-Whitton expressed their frustrations over events that transpired at Nassau University Medical Center over the last few months, calling for local, state and federal prosecutors to investigate.

Help Wanted

Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!

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Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must.

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EDITOR/REPORTER

Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com

Grill Person F/T

Counter Person F/T-P/T Experience Preferred Busy Lido Beach Deli Call Peter or Evelyn 516-432-2736

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $34,320 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours

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Is a doorbell camera enough? Part 2.

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Q. We have a doorbell camera, and understand that it’s a deterrent to would-be burglars, but as we’re renovating our home, can we “design” in other ways to keep people from robbing it? We keep seeing reports on the neighbor app of our door camera about people checking out houses in the area, and we’re very concerned. Any ideas would be appreciated.

A. Continuing from last week, I recommend hurricane glass windows, which are a costly upgrade that resist high winds, flooding and flying debris from blowing in the window and creating instant havoc. Although fire rescue has to use a special tool to get the windows open, since they’re hard to break, the windows will deter a robber by costing them time, if they’re even successful at doing more than creating a small hole in the reinforced panes.

Remember, anything that can delay a burglar for more than 60 seconds is an advantage, because a robber wants to get in and out quickly. Bars on windows can be avoided by using hurricane glass, and I only advise installing them on basement windows, where they are less seen but useful.

If your area is considered a high-crime vicinity, steel security shutters can also be employed. To keep the appearance of your home from being compromised to look like the county jail, steel roll-down shutters can be designed into overhangs above the windows and doors, to be employed when the home is unoccupied. But I think it adds to the message that you’re away, and only advise installing them if it’s your last resort for protection.

Garages are a great entry point, often neglected. Consider that you increase a burglar’s time frame to enter with an attached garage. They lift the door, spend whatever amount of time they need to break the lock on the interior door, and once the garage door is back down, they now have a staging area to sort your jewelry, medications and expensive computers and appliances before packing up to move out. With a cellphone in hand, their getaway car is at the ready, waiting for the call. Installing security pins or locks by drilling into the garage door track(s), and remembering to use them when you’re away for a prolonged time, is a very important deterrent.

If there are roofs under upper-story windows, install alarm devices there as well when you install alarms on first-floor openings. Even though 80 percent of break-ins occur on ground floors, the other 20 percent are either basements or second floors. Burglars dressed as painters and carrying ladders often go unnoticed. According to the National Center for Policing Innovation, 40 percent of breakins use no force at all.

Clear concealing landscaping from the exterior walls of the home, especially near windows and doorways. Limit greenery to no more than two feet in height, and only install fences of the see-through variety.

There’s still more to be covered next week.

© 2025 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City,

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pEnough with our obsession with conspiracies

olitics has always been marked by conspiracy theories. There was the theory that President Franklin Roosevelt had prior knowledge of the attack on Pearl Harbor, but allowed it to happen to force the United States to enter World War II. In the 1950s, the founder of the John Birch Society wrote a manifesto concluding that President Dwight Eisenhower was a Soviet agent. More recently, there was the Sept. 11 “truther” theory that the administration of President George W. Bush had advanced notice of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and might have actually planned them.

Today, with social media and artificial intelligence, conspiracy theories are more rampant than ever. What allows these theories to thrive is that, by their very nature, they are inherently difficult, if not impossible, to disprove. They are based on assorted often unrelated facts, rumors, conjecture and speculation.

The ongoing furor over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case is a classic example of a conspiracy theory run amok and creating a conspiracy on top of itself. For years the Trump camp peddled rumors that the Biden administration was hiding FBI files to protect prominent Democrats who were involved in the Epstein scandal, and that Epstein’s jail-cell suicide was actually an inside-job murder. Once in office, however, with complete access to all Justice Department and FBI files and records, Trump administration officials had to announce that they could find nothing irregular: There was no secret list of names, and Epstein had in fact committed suicide.

no one was more surprised when Donald Trump was elected than Vladimir Putin.

The illogic of all this was, of course, that if the “files” did incriminate Trump, why didn’t the Biden administration disclose that when it had full access to the Epstein records? If congressional Democrats are so dedicated to transparency and so concerned about full disclosure, why did they do and say nothing when they were in control? And why would candidate Trump have made an issue of Epstein if he thought it would remotely incriminate him? Hopefully the Trump camp will learn that trafficking in unverified conspiracy theories is not only wrong, but it can come back to bite them.

below ground in the Capitol. There wasn’t one bit of evidence connecting the Trump campaign to Russia. There was, of course, the salacious and thoroughly discredited “Steele dossier,” which was in fact a political opposition memo prepared for Hillary Clinton’s campaign and based on false information from a former Russian spy. Yes, Russia had attempted to interfere in the 2016 campaign, as it always has. But Russia’s intention was to weaken Hillary Clinton’s expected presidency.

This caused apocalyptic shrieks of outrage from the fringes of MAGA world, led by the likes of Tucker Carlson. Now Trump officials were being accused by the president’s own supporters of likely collusion with myriad coconspirators such as former President Joe Biden, Israel and Mossad. The Democrats also feigned outrage, insisting that Trump must be covering his own guilt.

To me, the most baseless — and insidious — theory was the false narrative that there was Russian collusion with the Trump campaign during the 2016 election. The main propagators of this “Russia hoax” were former CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI Director James Comey and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. I was on the Intelligence Committee during this saga, and sat through endless months of testimony in a secure committee room three floors

Buyer’s remorse is no consolation

Have you ever heard of the term “buyer’s remorse”? It’s been a while since I’ve heard those words, but lately I’ve been hearing them from some of my friends who are Republican members of Congress when they refer to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. He wanted it passed by July Fourth, and he got his way. Now that it is law, some of the Republicans who voted for it are confessing to me that maybe it went a little too far in cutting agencies and programs.

Having served in the State Legislature, I can understand what happens when a member is confronted with having to support a bill that’s nearly a thousand pages long. You may know about some of the provisions, but it’s impossible to know every section when you only have a few hours before the final vote. One of the reasons why these bills are crafted to be so thick is

because leadership knows that some parts of them couldn’t pass if they were presented as single bills. My friends in Congress aren’t alone in their misgivings about the Big Beautiful Bill. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley agonized for weeks over its deep Medicaid cuts, because hundreds of thousands of his state’s voters rely on Medicaid to survive. Hawley was agonizing on behalf of those hardworking citizens who don’t deserve to lose their benefits. Despite wringing his hands and suffering sleepless nights, he voted for the bill when it reached the Senate.

B ut what happens when all these budget cuts are the hot topic next year?

Two more cases in point are Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Both went public with their concerns about the cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which provides food assistance to more than 40 million people nationally. For days on end, the two senators expressed their concerns about their constituents losing access to food stamps that are a life-or-death necessity. But when push came to shove, they both voted for the cuts.

No one was more surprised when Donald Trump was elected than Russian President Vladimir Putin. It’s only now, with much of this information declassified, that I can discuss details that I learned at the time. This hoax was a true threat to democracy, undermining a duly elected president and tying down his administration with intrusive investigations for more than half of his first term of office.

It’s time for Americans to ignore the conspiracy nuts on all sides and address the real and serious issues that confront our nation.

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

for the losers

Hawley must have had buyer’s remorse, because a few weeks after the bill became law, he introduced his own bill, which would restore many of the Medicaid cuts. Obviously Hawley’s upset was hypocritical, because you don’t vote for such far-reaching cuts and then introduce a bill restoring them. This was a good example of the lack of conscience surrounding the actions that were taken.

The SNAP program has for years been a target of conservatives who maintain that it and other safety-net programs like it are abused and unnecessary. And there is no doubt that some SNAP beneficiaries have used food stamps to buy beer instead of milk and bread. But the vast majority of people who get food stamps are the aged or have disabilities, and who meet the tests for approval. In the months and years ahead, it will be no consolation to those who lose their benefits that their representatives in Congress voted in favor of the Big Beautiful Bill and then had pangs of guilt about its impact.

There is also no doubt that there are

some parts of the bill that are worthy of support, but mixing the good with the bad results in mostly bad for the needy and good for the people who won’t have any sleepless nights about the tragedies that will happen on the other end of the income spectrum. Few House members who voted for the bill will suffer at the ballot box. Many serve in districts that would elect Attila the Hun if he were nominated for the seat.

The problem for fair-minded House and Senate members is that the program cuts are not a secret, and will be publicized extensively next year at election time. The latest national polls show that the legislation has high negative numbers, which won’t fade from the minds of the people who are the victims of the cuts, or many other voters.

I was surprised that about a half-dozen members of Congress from New York and surrounding states expressed their unhappiness in the Big Beautiful Bill to me. Sadly, however, their buyer’s remorse may be too little, too late come November 2026.

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

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tSupport your local volunteer firefighters

he Firefighters Association of the State of New York will hold its 153rd annual convention in Hauppauge from Thursday to Saturday. While the event is an opportunity to celebrate the service and sacrifice of New York’s 80,000 volunteer firefighters, it is also a moment for reflection — a chance to confront the urgent challenges facing fire protection services in our communities.

Volunteer fire departments have long been essential to public safety across the state, which has more than 1,600 of them. On Long Island alone there are nearly 180 volunteer departments, which respond to emergencies of every kind, from house fires and highway accidents to natural disasters and medical calls. And they do it all without pay. It’s no exaggeration to say that these volunteers — and the emergency medical technicians and paramedics who work alongside them — are among the most selfless public servants we have.

Yet despite their critical importance, these departments face steep recruitment and retention challenges. The number of active volunteer firefighters in New York state has declined markedly in recent decades, from roughly 120,000 in the early 2000s, even as call volumes have nearly doubled over the past 30 years, from 750,000 to 1.4 million annually, according to state figures, and training demands continue to rise due to expanded safety regulations.

Balancing work, family and extensive training is no small feat, especially for volunteers. The result is that many departments are stretched thin, struggling to maintain robust crews and

letters

We need more open-minded politicians like

To the Editor:

Tom Suozzi

ensure timely responses to emergencies.

That’s where the state firefighters association steps in — and why its convention deserves more than ceremonial attention. For over 150 years, the organization has served as the voice and support system for volunteer fire service statewide.

FASNY advocates for funding, offers educational resources and legal guidance, provides mental health support, and promotes recruitment campaigns such as Is There a Fire In You?, which encourages everyday New Yorkers to consider joining their local department.

The Hauppauge convention will bring together more than 1,000 firefighters, instructors and leaders. Discussions will focus not just on tactics and technology, but on issues such as firefighters’ mental health, peer support programs and the evolving needs of a modern volunteer force. These conversations matter. They have real-world implications for the safety of firefighters and the resilience of the communities they serve.

Mental health, in particular, is an area that demands greater attention. Of course firefighting is dangerous, but it is also emotionally taxing. Volunteers often respond to traumatic events involving neighbors and loved ones — a severe house fire that kills or injures its occupants, or a disaster like Hurricane Sandy. Without proper support systems in place, these experiences can take a huge toll on emergency responders. FASNY has made great strides in breaking down the stigma around mental health care in the fire service, but continuing community awareness of the

Re U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi’s op-ed, “Why I care about immigration — and why all of us should,” in last week’s issue: Suozzi voiced a clear understanding of the immigration issues and called, once again, for a bipartisan solution to a problem that impacts everyone in this country. He has taken this bipartisan stand on many issues for as long as I’ve been following him, including his previous time in Congress.

I, and many others, are re-energized that Mr. Suozzi returned to Congress. Yes, I would have loved to have him replace Kathy Hochul as our governor, but he can, hopefully, do so much more good if he can generate a following in Congress for more bipartisan solutions to the problems we face.

I consider myself one of those independent voters who try to see both sides of an issue. There are times when I agree with the Democratic platform, such as

challenges these men and women face is crucial as well.

How can you show support for these selfless volunteers?

First, get to know your local department. Attend an open house. Follow its social media accounts. Volunteer departments rely on community awareness to grow their ranks and raise funds.

Second, support the volunteers’ fundraising efforts. Many departments operate on limited budgets, depending heavily on donations and local drives to raise the money to pay for essential equipment. Whether it’s from a resident or a business, a contribution — financial or in-kind — can go a long way toward ensuring their readiness.

Third, talk to young people about the value of volunteerism. FASNY’s Junior Firefighter programs are an excellent way to introduce teens to public service and give them a sense of civic responsibility.

Finally, consider whether you might have “the fire in you.” Even if running into burning buildings isn’t for you, departments have many support roles — from administrative help to public education — for which willing hands are always needed. Simply stop in at a local firehouse or call them to learn more.

Volunteer firefighting is a tradition rooted in community, courage and compassion. As Long Island continues to grow, the need for well-supported fire departments becomes more urgent. The FASNY convention is a timely reminder that while these men and women may serve without pay, they should never serve without appreciation, resources or help.

iThe town supervisor’s seat belongs to the people

magine preparing to vote in an important election. You do your homework, weigh the positions of the candidates, and are set to make your voice heard. But before you can cast your ballot, you find out that the decision has already been made behind closed doors, without your input, without a vote, and without any accountability. That is exactly what is happening right now in the Town of hempstead. Supervisor Donald clavin stepped down early, on Tuesday. That is his decision. But what is unacceptable, and frankly unethical, is the Town Board’s plan to skip over the voters and appoint clavin’s handpicked successor, Nassau county Legislator John Ferretti, to the job just months before an election. That is not leadership; it is manipulation.

The strategy is clear. Ferretti is already running for town supervisor in November. Appointed now, he will get to run as an incumbent. That means the full benefits of the job — the title, taxpayer-funded mailers, public appearances and media coverage — all before he has earned a single vote. It is a political cheat code, and it is rigged against the public.

As this plan moves forward, it won’t be the first time. In fact, it will mark the seventh time in the last 11 successions that a hempstead town supervisor was chosen not by voters, but by party insiders. This is not an isolated incident; it is a pattern. And it should concern anyone who values democracy and transparency. When people say the system is rigged, this is exactly what they’re talking about.

w ay too often in the Town of Hempstead, the party bosses usurp the voters.

supervisor. So why look outside the board to appoint a new supervisor? Because a sitting supervisor controls the town’s messaging, appears on every official mailer and gets to shape the public narrative. Giving that platform to one candidate while denying it to the other is not just unfair, it is anti-democratic.

The truth is, this kind of one-party rule is exactly what brought us the largest tax hike in recent history. While the insiders maneuver for power behind closed doors, the public is left with the bill — literally. The same group that wants to install a supervisor without your vote just passed a property tax increase on your home of over 12 percent. That is the cost of unchecked control, and it is time we said “enough.”

reform to ban these kinds of appointments in the future. Under my proposal, if a supervisor steps down early, the deputy supervisor would serve as the interim replacement, and the voters, not the board, would choose a new leader in the next scheduled election or a special one.

Simple, fair, democratic. It is similar to what former supervisor, now U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen proposed, but was rejected by clavin’s allies on the board. That’s why we need new blood.

When the same party holds power for decades, it gets comfortable and careless. It stops asking for your vote and starts making decisions in the shadows. But democracy demands more than backroom deals and power swaps. It demands accountability. It demands integrity. And most of all, it demands that we trust the voters to decide who leads them.

Let’s be clear. There is already someone in place who should step in: Senior councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, the longest-serving member of the Town Board and the current deputy

Letters

on gun control, where we have absurdly allowed guns to proliferate across our nation into the hands of criminals and, worse, the mentally ill who are the predominant perpetrators of mass shootings.

And there are times I agree with Republican stands, including the recent government spending cuts, which the bipartisan Government Accountability Office has been touting for years. No, I don’t condone all of the cuts, and I’m hopeful that some will be restored as a clearer picture of what is being done comes into focus.

But the overspending that we have allowed our federal government to do for the past 50 years, under both Democratic and Republican presidents, is absurd. We need to get past the anger at President Trump, who can easily infuriate even Republicans with his outlandish rhetoric, and see that much of what he is doing will benefit the majority of people.

We need to look at the math, and whether it adds up or dilutes the benefits to all of us. I’m not convinced that Trump has done that, but shaking things up and making cuts is long overdue.

And last, I would like Suozzi to run for president in 2028. The Democrats do not have a viable candidate right now, so let me be one of the first, for whatever it’s worth, to endorse Suozzi. We need someone like him, with a vision of bringing both sides of the political spectrum to the table.

If you look at the history of our elec-

tions over the past 75 years, you’ll see that fringe candidates don’t win presidential elections, no matter on which side of the aisle they sit. On the other hand, some of our most effective presidents were those like John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan, who fostered bipartisan politics.

RIchARD S. KAhN Glen Cove

How about some new ideas, Jerry?

To the Editor:

Jerry Kremer’s column in the July 24-30 issue, “It’s long past time to shut down the cellphone,” highlighted exactly what is wrong with the Democratic Party today. Mr. Kremer spend the first half of his op-ed bemoaning current politics — in particular, the devastating “One Big Beautiful Bill,” especially for the most vulnerable among us — but offered no hint of a remedy. If he is illequipped to lead or advise the next generation of voters, perhaps he should step aside and allow someone who can. Instead, Kremer spent the second half of his column belittling a dynamic young Democratic candidate, Zohran Mamdani, who has energized voters with policy ideas that address the real needs of New Yorkers — many of whom are the prime targets of the cuts that so distress Kremer. If Mamdani is inexperienced, our veteran Democrats should

This town deserves better than secret deals and insider politics. The supervisor’s office belongs to the people, not the party bosses. That’s why I have proposed straightforward ethics

To every resident in the Town of hempstead: Your vote should never be treated as a formality. It should be the only thing that matters. Let’s make sure it stays that way.

Joe Scianablo is the Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead supervisor.

Framework by Tim Baker

be throwing their weight behind him and offering support and expertise.

I cannot fathom why institutional Democrats such as Kremer would prefer Andrew cuomo, a sexual predator, or Eric Adams, an indicted alleged criminal, over a, yes, young, but moral, galvanizing upstart. Younger Demo-

crats do not want corrupt, lecherous and unrepentant leaders, and we do not want complacency. If Kremer can’t see that, perhaps he should shut down his phone and put down his pen.

At the Great Canoe Race in Cow Meadow Park — Freeport

KATE SchWEchERL Rockville Centre

Joe sCianaBLo