HERALD FREEPORT
Pirate Fest’s voyage sets sails with fun debut
By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ
mrafiq@liherald.com
Even though no landlubbers were forced to swab a deck or walk a plank, the Nautical Mile in Freeport was energized on Sunday, at the first-ever Pirate Fest.
Organizers of the inaugural event described it as a major triumph for Freeport’s waterfront commercial row, and expressed hope that Pirate Fest would become an annual tradition, helping to keep the Nautical Mile bustling with visitors year-round and inspiring future off-season festivals and events.
The festival was organized by a coalition of local vendors, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Nautical Mile Business Organization, bringing families and visitors together for an afternoon of pirate-themed fun, entertainment and community spirit.
The festivities began at noon with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the chamber office, followed by a boat parade featuring private and commercial vessels
Long Island Cares pantries adjust operating hours
By ANGElINA ZINGARIEllo azingariello@liherald.com
Grocery prices in the United States have reached their highest level in three years, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture reporting increases of roughly 2 to 3 percent over the past year. Rising costs for essentials such as meat, produce and dairy are putting pressure on household budgets, and on Long Island, the effects are being felt deeply in Freeport and beyond.
Reyna Felix, program center coordinator at Long Island Cares’ Nassau Center for Collaborative Assistance in Freeport, says the rising cost of
food and the federal government shutdown have put significant pressure on their pantry.
The Freeport location has adjusted its operations, closing on Thursdays to allow staff to restock. Donations are consumed quickly, with food often moving from delivery to distribution in a single day. Many clients now visit the pantry first before shopping at supermarkets, in order to stretch their budgets to cover bills and household expenses.
“It’s a lot of movement, with the food coming in the same time it goes,” Felix said. “I have a lot of people who donate from their pockets. They decide to go
to the supermarket, they get what they can get for themselves and the rest they donate to us. It’s something very helpful, but at the same time it goes out quickly, so we’re doing our mission and vision, but it’s been a challenge, because we’re not always fully stocked, and we cannot serve families with the same quality.”
The demographics of pantry clients, Felix said, have shifted slightly. While some Spanishspeaking families have returned less frequently due to immigration-related issues, working families and seniors who are still employed but struggling financially are
increasingly relying on pantry services. Coordinators say maintaining adequate stock and providing consistent quality food is a daily challenge, especially as the quantity of donations from the community has declined, even though the number of donors remains steady.
At the Valley Stream Long
Island Cares facility, Nicole Rojas, Community Center program coordinator, says the rise in grocery prices has created new challenges for the pantry’s mission to feed the community. While the pantry continues to receive steady donations, some regular contributors have not been able to give as much,
Skye Margies/Herald
Children and families boarded a pirate-themed boat for a ride through Freeport’s waterways during the inaugural Pirate Fest.
Police push for answers in 1982 homicide
By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
The decades-old homicide case of 15-year-old Susan Mann, whose body was found in a Freeport dumpster more than 40 years ago, has gained new momentum after advances in DNA technology and a renewed public appeal for information.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Stephen Fitzpatrick, detective captain and commanding officer of the Nassau County homicide squad, described the case’s grim local connection.
Mann, who lived in Hollis, Queens, was last seen on May 17, 1980.
“Susan left the house that day on a bicycle looking to locate her sister’s pocketbook that she had borrowed to take the school,” said Fitzpatrick. “While at school, somebody stole that from her, and on the following day, she was attempting to recover that for a sister.”
Her remains were recovered on Nov. 4, 1982, in a dumpster behind Cantor Glass Works in Freeport.
For decades, she was buried as a Jane Doe — meaning unidentified — until new DNA testing linked her to her family in 2023.
Mann was buried in Holy Rood Cemetery as an unidentified Jane Doe.
I
connections in March 2025.
Detectives collected DNA samples from relatives, and further analysis confirmed that the women tested were Mann’s sisters — officially identifying the victim as Susan Mann.
Fitzpatrick said investigators are now seeking help from anyone who may have been in Freeport during that period.
f you know anybody that recalls a certain area that was getting developed in 1982 or 1981, please get in touch with us and give us a call.
StepHen FItzpAtRIck detective captain
In 2023, authorities obtained a court order to exhume her remains for advanced DNA testing.
Through the FBI’s New York investigative genealogy program the program identified possible family
“We’re looking for anybody that would have known her would have been in the Freeport area during that time in 80-82,” he said. “Or anybody that thinks they have some kind of information that would lead to a suspect or any investigative leads towards an arrest.”
Investigators believe that after Susan Mann was killed, her body may have been buried in a different location, and then in 1982 it was moved to the dumpster site.
They ask people to remember that she could have been killed and hidden elsewhere for years before her body was relocated.
As for a possible motive regarding the moving of the body, Fitzpatrick suggested that some sort of construction-related excavation could have prompted the killer to move Mann’s body to cover their tracks.
“If you know anybody that recalls a certain area that was getting developed in 1982 or 1981, please get in touch with us and give us a call,” he said. “We can look into that area.”
She was about five feet one inch tall and weighed around 120 pounds.
The last time she was seen, she was wearing a
FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Susan Mann, 15, whose body was discovered in a Freeport dumpster in 1982, was only recently identified through advanced DNA testing.
striped top, blue jeans, and sandals, and she was riding a bicycle that was never found.
Mann’s family, who “always were wondering what happened,” experienced “a total spectrum of emotion,” upon the new identification according to Fitzpatrick.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Se Habla Espanol
Courtesy NCPD
Rotary joins Walk to End Alzheimer’s
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO & MOHAMMAD RAFIQ
Of the Freeport Herald
Purple, yellow, blue and orange flowers filled the Promise Garden at Eisenhower Park on Oct. 4, as hundreds came together for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Among them was the Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club, whose members once again showed their deep commitment to the cause.
“We usually do the Alzheimer work, because, you know, Alzheimer’s is something that affects every family. And so we, the club, usually do a fundraiser. We make a donation, and then we also solicit people to join and make donations to the work,” explained Comfort Itoka, president of the FreeportMerrick Rotary.
The club’s dedication is rooted in personal experience.
“Almost everyone in our club lost someone to Alzheimer’s, more than one person to Alzheimer’s,” Itoka said. “And with some of us that are aging, we are also concerned, because anyone could develop it.”
“I lost my sister in August,” she added. “She completely could not have a conversation with me. She had lost it. She had Alzheimer’s and she was 88 years old. It hurts to lose your family while they are alive, because that’s why Alzheimer’s is. You have a family member who cannot recognize you, that you cannot have a conversation with. It hurts.”
The Freeport-Merrick Rotary has been involved in the walk for about five years, with last year’s group including about 15 people, including students from Freeport High School’s community effort.
This year, the club had its own table at the event. The Freeport-Merrick club meets monthly at Bobby Q’s in Freeport, having finally found a local meeting spot after an extended period of hosting their meetings in Rockville Centre.
The annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the organization’s largest fundraiser, fueling cutting-edge research while also giving families and caregivers a chance to honor loved ones and show solidarity in the fight against the disease. Participants carried flowers of various colors — each one symbolizing a personal connection to Alzheimer’s — during the moving Promise Garden ceremony.
Tinamarie Hardekopf, the association’s director of development and director for walks in Babylon, Eisenhower Park and Fire Island, said this year’s event reflected the continued growth of the movement.
“We definitely grow every year, in numbers of attendees and as well as fundraising,” she said. “It’s really important for people to come out because it gives them an opportunity to show their support for a world without Alzheimer’s — they can also memorialize a loved one they’ve lost, or they can support someone that they’re caring for at this time.”
Post-walk, Hardekopf extended her thanks to this year’s walk participants, volunteers and sponsors.
“The funds raised will help fuel disease research while also providing critical care and support to individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia,” she said in a release shared with the Herald.
The Alzheimer’s Association Long Island Chapter not only raises money for research but also provides a vital support network for people with Alzheimer’s, their families, friends and caretakers.
“We consider our walks the largest support group,” Hardekopf added. “Everyone comes together and they
each carry a flower that shows their connection to the disease.”
For Tanya Eldemeyer of Rockville Centre, the walk carried deep personal meaning. Her father passed away last year from dementia, and she continues to stand as a strong advocate for the cause.
“I basically was his sole caregiver,” she said. “It was such a difficult road… There are people out there that are in the same situation, and I felt like this was a way that I could continue my dad’s legacy and help those that may not have someone fighting and advocating for them.”
Eldemeyer carried a purple flower during the Promise Garden ceremony, symbolizing the loss of her father.
Courtney Henley, an advocate with the organization whose father died form early-onset Alzheimer’s said, “My family has been attending the Nassau Walk for more than 20 years and it has grown tremendously. The sense of community and enthusiasm is inspiring to see, motivating you to make a difference in your local community. It is such a fun walk with alot of incredible people.”
According to the Long Island Chapter, more than 426,500 New Yorkers aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s Dementia, and over 7 million across the country. While symptoms of the disease often appear later in life, the brain changes that cause Alzheimer’s can begin decades earlier — making early awareness and intervention critical.
Ed Miller, vice chair of the Alzheimer’s Association Long Island Chapter Board of Directors, has played a leading role in Nassau County’s walk for the past three years. He joined the chapter after his own father was diagnosed with dementia in 2019, and he said the community’s involvement provides real hope.
“There’s been a lot of breakthroughs that have come out in the news over the course of the last couple of years,” Miller said in a prior conversation with the Herald. “These are treatments that aren’t going to eradicate the disease at this point, but they are treatments, and there is hope.”
As of press time, this year’s walk has raised over $349,000 toward the chapter’s $385,000 goal — already 84 percent of the way. For more on the organization and its efforts, visit Act.ALZ.org/Nassau. Donations are accepted through Dec. 31.
Additional reporting by Jordan Vallone.
Walkers passed through the finish line arch in Eisenhower Park.
Stu Goldman/Herald photos
The Alzheimer’s Association’s Long Island Chapter hosted its annual walk in Eisenhower Park on Oct. 4. Volunteers Bella Leogas, Kelly Donegan, Holly Rubin, Kristin Leogas, Maxine Wardzower, Dave Manara, Evelyn Morales and Kate Leogas handed out flowers to represent a personal connection to the disease.
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An Inheritance is a Gift, Not a Right
Ann Landers, who published her weekly advice column from 1955 to 2002 listed this as one of her top ten most requested columns – republishing it seven times in her long career.
Dear Ann: Let this letter be a wake-up call to all sons, daughters, and grandchildren. The message I want to convey is this: YOUR INHERITANCE IS NOT AUTOMATIC. IT’S A GIFT.
I am an estate planner. Over the last several years, I have seen many clients change their wills, bypassing children and grandchildren, and leave their money to friends, charities, and people they once worked with who were kind and helpful.
There are many reasons for changing a will, but the two most common are disrespect and isolation. In some families, the only time the old folks see the grandchildren is when their parents need a favor–usually, it’s money. So, the message the old folks wish to convey is as follows: “You didn’t make time for me when I was lonely and would have enjoyed your company, so why should I leave you the
money I worked for all my life?”
Wake up out there. An inheritance isn’t something that is owed to you. It is a gift of love. When there is no love, there should be no gift. — Manasota, Fla.
We like to say that your “family” are those you love and who love you. The rest are your relatives. Or, put another way, it’s not who you’re related to, it’s who you relate to.
For those who have children, the inheritance is usually left to the children in equal shares. However, there is no legal requirement to do so. One of the first concepts we learned in estate planning is that “there is nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals.” Are some considerably better off than others? Has one been more attentive, more caring, gone out of their way for you? Where distributions will be unequal, we often suggest leaving a letter, to be opened after your death, explaining the reasons for your decision. A discussion with an experienced estate planning attorney often will provide ideas and options that you may not have thought of.
Crime watCh arrests
On Sept. 25, police arrested a person after investigating a theft from a local business. The person was found to have removed items without authorization and was processed at Freeport Police Headquarters.
On Sept. 29, police arrested a person who was stopped for a traffic infraction and found to be operating a motorcycle while intoxicated. The individual was processed at Freeport Police Headquarters.
On Sept. 29, police arrested a person who had taken property from a local business without permission. The individual was processed at Freeport Police Headquarters.
LarCeny
On Sept. 27, a person attempted to return merchandise before paying for it. A report was taken for documentation. No arrest was requested.
On Sept. 29, a report was taken after someone removed miscellaneous items from a local business without permission. No arrest was requested.
misCeLLaneous
On Sept. 27, a report was filed after someone attempted to cash a fraudulent check using another person’s bank account. No arrest was made.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
news briefs
One charged in criminal mischief incident
A Freeport man was arrested following an investigation into an incident in which an explosive device was thrown onto a residential lawn last month, Nassau County police said.
Officers responded to a home on Broadway around 7:10 a.m. on Sept. 8 after receiving reports of a man damaging property by tossing an explosive device onto the grass. Detectives from
the Arson and Bomb Squad conducted an extensive investigation that led to the arrest of Michael S. Brown, 52, of 106 Liberty Park Drive, on Oct. 4. Brown was charged with first-degree criminal mischief and was scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 5 at First District Court in Hempstead.
–Mohammad Rafiq
Man accused of assaulting police officers
A Roosevelt man was arrested after allegedly threatening police officers with a metal object and injuring two of them during a disturbance at a home, according to Nassau County police.
Officers were called to a residence on Brookside Avenue around 2:53 p.m. on Oct. 3 after reports of a disturbance. Police said Shabaz Hall, 32, became irate, picked up a metallic object, and raised it toward officers in a threatening manner. When officers attempted to
take him into custody, Hall resisted arrest and a struggle ensued, leaving two officers injured. Both were treated at a nearby hospital. Hall was charged with two counts of assault, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, and harassment. He was scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 4 at First District Court in Hempstead.
–Mohammad Rafiq
&
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Price surges expected to increase demand
reflecting the financial pressures faced by working-class families. That has made it increasingly difficult for the pantry to maintain sufficient inventory to meet the growing demand.
needs.
“If we could all come together as one community, we could assist in the fight to feed individuals and families in need,” Rojas said. “That’s my main concern, us fighting together like a team.”
M“My biggest concern is not being able to provide enough food for the community,” Rojas said. “Basically, we rely on those donations, we rely on the federal funding, and it would be just a travesty if we can’t feed the community around us.”
Rojas notes that more residents are turning to the pantry for help, as job losses and financial strain make it harder for families to afford food. To navigate these challenges, the Valley Stream pantry has organized additional food drives and encouraged financial contributions, while relying on support from local businesses and organizations.
Both coordinators stress that community support is crucial, and that residents can help by donating food, money or time. Volunteers are also encouraged to sign up online, with opportunities available at pantry locations and the organization’s warehouse.
y biggest concern is not being able to provide enough food for the community.
Nicole Rojas Community Center program coordinator
Federal programs that supplement pantry resources, such as the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, are also a concern. They provide emergency food and nutritional assistance to lowincome families and individuals, and coordinators fear that a continuing government shutdown could disrupt funding, making it more difficult to meet the community’s
The combination of rising grocery prices and potential disruptions to federal programs highlights the importance of local food pantries as safety nets. Felix and Rojas both emphasize that coordinated community efforts, from schools and businesses to individual donors, can help ensure that residents facing hunger continue to receive support.
As the holiday season approaches, pantries are preparing for sustained demand. Rising costs, reduced donations and uncertainty over federal funding highlight the ongoing need for community contributions. Coordinators say they hope that with continued local support, Long Island Cares can maintain services and prevent food insecurity from worsening across the region.
Courtesy Reyna Felix food pantry shelves show limited stock as rising grocery costs and economic uncertainty drive increased demand across Long island.
CHRISTIAN ANAYA CAREY Senior FOOTBALL
A TWO-WAY LINEMAN for the reigning Nassau and Long Island champions, Anaya completed a rare daily double on the defensive side of the ball for the Seahawks in a 35-14 victory at South Side Sept. 27. His sack in the end zone for a safety put Carey ahead for good in the second quarter. Then, late in the fourth, he scooped up a fumble forced by Justin DePietro and raced 69 yards for the game-sealing touchdown as the team won its 15th straight.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, Oct. 9
Girls Soccer: Elmont at Sewanhaka 4:30 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Long Beach at Kennedy 4:45 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Mepham at Garden City 5 p.m.
Boys Soccer: Clarke at Carey
Girls Soccer: Garden City at South Side
Girls Soccer: North Shore at Plainedge 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Farmingdale at Baldwin 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer: Long Beach at Oceanside 6 p.m.
Boys Soccer: South Side at Malverne/ERock 7 p.m.
Girls Soccer: West Hempstead at V.S. South 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10
Football: Malverne at Seaford 6 p.m.
Football: Oceanside at Syosset 6 p.m.
Football: West Hempstead at Plainedge 6 p.m.
Football: Clarke at V.S. South 7 p.m.
Football: Calhoun at Long Beach 7 p.m.
Football: V.S. Central at Glen Cove 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 11
Football: Mepham at Garden City 1 p.m.
Football: South Side at Wantagh 2 p.m.
Football: East Meadow at Baldwin 2 p.m.
Football: Island Trees at Lynbrook 2 p.m.
Football: Herricks at Freeport 3 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
Freeport building winning culture
By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
The Freeport girls’ soccer team is nearing the completion of first-year coach Lauren Gates-McGee’ first season ahead of schedule in her quest to build a competitive program that can consistently compete for playoff spots.
The Red Devils entered the week 7-1-2 in Conference V with a young team making big strides since preseason practices commenced in August. The wins have been piling up despite graduating 12 seniors with a number of underclassmen stepping into various roles on the pitch.
“I I have a couple of sophomores and freshmen that are just super flexible where I can stick them in any spot where we have a need whether we have an injury or we’re trying out a different formation,” said Gates-McGee, a former women’s college soccer player at SUNY Oneonta who was an assistant coach last season. “Having those versatile players have been invaluable to us this season.”
Freeport ended a successful month of September with a 3-1 win against Westbury Sept. 30 that featured goals by eighth grader midfielders Khloe Salcedo and Wendy Villeda and freshman forward Jerelyn Arevalo.
The Westbury win came three days after a 1-1 tie with Malverne-East Rockaway in which Salcedo gave Freeport a point by striking for the tying goal midway through the second half. Gates-McGee said the comeback effort underscored the improvement her team has shown since another 1-1 with Mal -
verne-East Rockaway on Sept. 4 in which the Mules missed a late penalty kick
that would have resulted in a loss for the Red Devils.
“We tied in our first game
with them by the skin of our teeth and I think the growth has been super evident from that first game to this game,” Gates-McGee said.
The Freeport offense has been explosive throughout the season led by 14 goals and six assists from Arevalo. The eighth-grade duo of Salcedo and Villeda have also played like veterans generating scoring chances from the midfield.
The defense has shined this fall holding opponents to a goal or less in eight matches led by senior captain Ava Smith. “She’s been the rock and foundation of our team for quite some time,” said Gates-McGee of Smith.
Freeport visits Hempstead this Thursday for a 5 p.m. match before hosting Valley Stream Central on Saturday at 10 a.m. The season will then conclude with road matches at Roosevelt on Tuesday and at Uniondale on Oct. 16.
While unbeaten Valley Stream Central has the lone playoff spot locked up in Conference V, Gates-McGee is excited to see how her team looks the second time around against the league’s top team who handed Freeport its lone loss, 5-1 on Sept. 15 in a match that ultimately bonded the team closer together as one unit.
“That Valley Stream game was a turning point for us because we realized we hadn’t built the necessary bridges for each other,” said Gates-McGee, who leads the team with first-year assistant coach Sarah Campbell. “When we come up against adversity both on and off the pitch we’re able to come together and lift each other.”
Tony Bellissimo/Herald
Senior Ava Smith and the Red Devils are enjoying a phenomenal season with only one setback in 10 games against Conference V rivals.
Nassau County voters can vote early, by mail and in-person ahead of this year’s general election on Nov. 4.
Hw to vote early, in-person for Nov. general election
Early voting for the upcoming general election in Nassau County will take place from Saturday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 2. All polling sites are accessible to voters with physical disabilities, and any eligible voter residing in the county may vote at any early voting location during the designated days and hours. Voters who cast a ballot during early voting will not be permitted to vote again on Election Day.
Voting hours are scheduled as follows: Oct. 25 and 26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Oct. 27 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Oct. 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the Board of Elections remaining open until 8 p.m. on those two days; and Oct. 30 through Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Election Day, Nov. 4, voters must go to their assigned polling place to cast a ballot.
Early voting sites across the county include Temple Beth Am in Merrick, the Freeport Recreation Center, Massapequa Town Hall South, St. Frances de Chantal Church in Wantagh, the West Hempstead Public Library, and the Yes We Can Community Center in Westbury, among others. A complete list of early voting locations is available at NassauVotes.com or by calling (516) 571-8683.
Voters who wish to register for the
Long Island Heroes Celebration
HONORING
general election must do so by Oct. 25, 2025. Registration applications submitted by mail must be received by the Nassau County Board of Elections by that date, and in-person registration is available at the board’s offices or participating state agencies through Oct. 25. To learn how to apply to vote, visit Elections.NY.gov.
Any registered voter may also apply for an early mail ballot. Applications must be received by the board of elections no later than 10 days before the election, or in person by Nov. 3. Ballots will be mailed beginning 46 days before the election and will continue to be sent immediately after completed applications are processed. Voters may apply for an early mail ballot online through the state’s Early Mail Ballot Request Portal, in person at the Nassau County Board of Elections at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola, or by designating another person to deliver and return their application. Visit Elections.NY. gov/request-ballot for more.
If you’re planning to vote in person on Election Day, visit VoterLookUp.Elections.NY.gov.
–Jordan Vallone
Courtesy Metro
Davis prioritizes connecting with constituents
By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
Scott Davis is no stranger to public service — though it wasn’t always part of his plan. A longtime Rockville Centre resident who grew up in Hempstead, Davis was first elected in 2023 to represent Legislative District 1, which covers Rockville Centre and Hempstead.
Now seeking re-election, he reflects on a first term defined by community outreach, legislative advocacy and fighting for equity in a County Legislature where Democrats remain in the minority.
Davis, 63, lives in Rockville Centre with his wife, and they have three children, all college graduates. A first-generation college student himself, he became a criminal defense attorney, where he works to educate and advise his clients about their cases and the criminal justice process. His early years, growing up biracial in Hempstead and losing his mother when he was young, shaped his belief in perseverance and giving back, as he described to Herald reporters during a Roundtable interview.
“In my first term as a legislator, all that concern, all of that desire to do good, it’s presented a platform for me where I can actually do that,” he said. “I get access to resources, I get access to information, and probably one of my favorite things of all that I really, really like to do is I’ve gone everywhere in my district and I’ve developed relationships, and I’ve been able to create a synergy of putting different people together for a good end.”
Davis said his proudest legislative achievement was securing $1.75 million in clean-water funding for Hempstead after learning about contamination issues, particularly the elevated presence of the carcinogen 1,4-dioxane.
Legislator Scott Davis, the incumbent in Nassau County’s 1st District, is looking to push for more infrastructure and community projects if re-elected.
“It took us nine months, but I got the money, and (as) a first-time legislator, to be able to have the minority caucus get together and prioritize that as an issue — it’s recognizing that issue, and then it’s fighting for that issue,” he said. “And people were sick of me, because everywhere I went, I talked about it, and it was a great day to be able to get that money.”
Nine months of advocacy, including joint efforts
with now-State Sen. Siela Bynoe, eventually paid off. Davis believes that work also helped shine a light that led to a later $37 million allocation by the state.
District 1 was redrawn for the 2025 election, and now encompasses Rockville Centre, South Hempstead, Roosevelt and parts of Baldwin and Hempstead. Davis emphasizes showing up — in churches, libraries and schools — to understand his constituents, both old and new, because “you can’t effectively represent anybody unless you know who they are.”
“I go everywhere all the time, and it’s for a reason, and it’s not for the photo ops,” he said. “It’s to learn, to develop relationships, to do my job the best way that I can.”
Davis said that progress is slowed by partisan gridlock, and that the minority caucus of Democratic legislators struggles to get its capital project requests granted.
Despite these challenges, he said, if re-elected, he plans to keep fighting for equal access to county resources, improve infrastructure and support local nonprofits addressing food insecurity, youth services and education.
Davis’s vision includes renovating Mirschel Park in Hempstead, installing exercise stations at the Rockville Centre Recreation Center and expanding summer camps for underserved children.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to do my job, and do it well,” he said.
Thompson aims to be voice for the community
By KELSIE RADZISKI
kradziski@liherald.com
Charlene Jackson Thompson has worn many hats — attorney, government official, consultant and community advocate. Now, she’s running as the Republican candidate in Nassau County’s 1st Legislative District, hoping to bring her experience and network to a newly redrawn district.
Thompson, 59, grew up in Roosevelt and graduated from Uniondale High School in 1984 before attending the College of William and Mary, where she became the university’s first Black Homecoming queen. She later earned a law degree from Howard University. She currently serves as a deputy county attorney, representing Nassau County in child welfare cases. In this role she works with Child Protective Services, family support organizations and the court system to advocate for the safety, stability and long-term wellbeing of children. Her legal work is guided by a trauma-informed approach that combines compassion with legal insight.
Thompson has worked under both Democratic and Republican county executives, including roles in economic development and housing. She served as commissioner of the Community Development Agency in Hempstead and later joined the Nassau County attorney’s office, where she prosecutes child abuse and neglect cases. She also has a consulting firm focused on economic development, grant writing and regulatory compliance.
She is running for the 1st District seat as a way to make sure her voice stays in the conversation.
Tim Baker/Herald
Charlene Jackson Thompson, who is running as the Republican candidate in Nassau County’s 1st Legislative District, shared her goals of working on housing and infrastructure development if elected.
“I don’t shy away from hard discussions. I have the courage of my convictions because I am more conservative,” she told Herald reporters during a Roundtable interview. “And that hasn’t been easy when I was a student at Howard University, and it hasn’t been easy in
this environment, but I made a difficult decision, even as an African American woman, a woman (who is) a descendant of slaves — I made the difficult decision that I was going to stay a part of the Republican Party, because I feel we do a disservice when we all flock to one party.”
Thompson emphasizes deep roots and connections in each of the communities in District 1, from serving on civic associations in Baldwin to helping coordinate downtown revitalization initiatives in Roosevelt, Westbury and Hempstead. She says her long track record of cross-sector collaboration is what sets her apart.
“I have always looked at government as a way to find information, to bring it to the people,” she said. “That’s because I put community first, and I meet people wherever they are.”
If elected, Thompson said, her priorities include increasing access to workforce housing, especially by repurposing so-called “zombie homes” and expanding partnerships with local land trusts. She also wants to improve water and sewer infrastructure, ensure community involvement in large-scale projects like the Propel NY corridor in Rockville Centre, and boost civic education and transparency.
“I will be a voice and advocate for the needs of my community, and make sure that I have a seat at the table to voice those concerns,” she said.
While Thompson identifies as a conservative, she said she has always sought to find common ground with those of differing political persuasions. “My philosophy, as shown by my over 30 years of community service now, has always been community first,” she said. “That’s how I work. That’s how I live.”
Tim Baker/Herald
Pirate-themed festival draws hundreds
that were transformed into pirate ships sailing through Freeport’s canals and bays. Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed a range of activities, including a scavenger hunt that led them to various restaurants and businesses along the Nautical Mile. Those who completed their maps collected prizes and gift certificates, while children received their own “pirate booty” at Sparkle on Stage.
WMany festivalgoers dressed in full pirate attire, competing for prizes for the best-dressed adults and children. A catamaran at the esplanade offered lessons on sail wrapping, and the Freeport Water Taxi gave short scenic tours. In addition, Sparkle on Stage hosted a Kids Cove filled with crafts, games and karaoke, keeping young visitors entertained.
e absolutely are planning on doing it again next year.
Robyn
WoRkman
Organizer, Pirate Fest
A highlight of the festival was a series of four magic shows performed by the costumed duo Captain Alexander and Captain Melissa, who captivated audiences at Halfway Down, My Little Town Childcare, Sparkle on Stage and the esplanade.
“The magic show was a big, big hit up and down the mile,” Robyn Workman, owner of Sparkle on Stage and one of the festival’s organizers, said.
“We had a great band, and (at) Halfway Down there were kids dressed up as pirates — there were some adults dressed up as pirates,” Workman added. “All the restaurants were hopping. The people who participated had a great time.”
The pirate them, she said, was a big hit, and she described the festival as “a great idea to drum up business on the Nautical Mile.”
“I think it’s something that we definitely do annually,” Workman said. “It was a great way to let people know, because everybody went into different businesses, and even if they didn’t eat there yesterday, they will go back.
“So I think in all, it was a very successful event,” she concluded. “We absolutely are planning on doing it again next year.”
The festival drew strong support from local businesses, including Puerto Plata, Halfway Down, My Little Town Childcare, Scoops, Sparkle on Stage, the Water Taxi, Captain Lou’s Fleet, Sapphire Yacht, Being Calm Wellness and Catamaran Services.
Pirate Fest was designed to extend the vibrancy of Freeport’s waterfront district well beyond the summer months.
“I would say that our first annual Treasure Island Pirate Fest on the Nautical Mile was a success,” event organizer Jennifer Winters-Runolfsson, of Being Calm Wellness, wrote in an email.
robyn Workman, owner of Sparkle on Stage Cultural arts Center, and Ken dookram, president of the Chamber of Commerce, center, and fellow organizers led the ribbon-cutting ceremony to kick off pirate fest.
a sailboat decked out with a pirate flag cruised through freeport’s canals during the festival’s boat parade.
“Almost everyone who participated in the treasure hunt had a blast, won prizes, and got to see the inside of businesses along the Nautical Mile that they normally would walk by on their way to their favorite restaurant.
“Albeit, the pirate parade, anticipated to have close to twelve boats, only had the water taxi, Being Calm Wellness’ catamaran, and one other boat,” Winters-Runolfsson added. “As in true pirate fashion, the other pirate crews went in search of the all elusive treasure tuna on the open seas. I am proud to say we have started a great tradition, and look forward to all of the improvements as we reorganize, regroup and get ready to set sail for next year.”
a crew of pirates and boat owner nick malacuso, far left, aboard their festively decorated vessel along the nautical mile docks.
Stella and Jordan Kaulesar, ages 6 and 3, with mom and aunt Stephanie Kaulesar and Jaimie narain, took part in the scavenger hunt along the nautical mile, collecting clues to claim their “secret treasure.”
Skye Margies/Herald photos
Students experience golf at annual Ryder Cup
A group of Roosevelt High School students recently had the unforgettable experience of attending the 45th annual Ryder Cup at the Bethpage Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale. This marked the first year that Long Island hosted the worldrenowned golf tournament. Representing their school and district with pride, the Rough Riders witnessed championship-level golf up close and gained inspiration and insight into the global game.
“This was more than just a trip to a sporting event,” said Superintendent of Schools Shawn Wightman. “It was a chance for our students to engage with history in the making and to witness the power of unity, competition, and professionalism on a global stage.”
The trip gave students the rare opportunity to watch elite athletes from Team USA and Team Europe compete in a high-stakes, highenergy environment. Surrounded by thousands of passionate fans
on a world-class course, they learned lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship, and the logistics behind major international sporting events.
Joined by Principal Keith Saunders Sr., students also participated in golf demonstrations, interviews, and other interactive experiences.
The day sparked excitement among students while deepening their appreciation for golf, global culture, and potential careers in sports management, media, communications, and event coordination.
Roosevelt High School commended the students for representing the district with enthusiasm, respect, and Rough Rider spirit throughout the trip.
To learn more about the Roosevelt Union Free School District, visit rooseveltufsd.org, or follow district updates on Facebook at facebook.com/RooseveltUFSD.
–Mohammad Rafiq
Courtesy Roosevelt Public Schools
Roosevelt High School Principal Keith Saunders Sr., left, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shawn Wightman, right, joined by staff and a familiar baseball mascot, represented the district with pride at the 45th annual Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Carelus is focused on a changing District 1
By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
Jean-Baptiste Carelus’s campaign for the District 1 council seat in the Town of Hempstead began not with personal ambition, but with a call from his community.
Carelus, 55, was approached by the members of the West Hempstead Republican Club, and after discussing it with his wife, he decided to step forward.
“She said, ‘Yeah, why not? You have some good ideas,” Carelus recalled in a conversation with the Herald. “And so I said, evidently, this might be the best time, since I was approached.”
Carelus’s roots in the area run deep. His family immigrated to the United States from Haiti in 1977, settling first in Westbury and then in Hempstead. He graduated from Hempstead High School in 1987, and later earned a master’s degree in economics from CUNY Brooklyn College.
His professional career spans over two decades in financial services, including roles in public and structured finance and consulting. Currently, he works with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, focusing on the risks and regulations of the insurance industry.
Beyond Carelus’s professional life is a wealth of community involvement that demonstrates his commitment to public service. For nearly three decades, he has
served as a lector at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Five years ago, at age 50, he became a volunteer firefighter and later an EMT, and has earned the honor of EMT of the Year twice.
He explained that he had the time and ability to give back, and there was a need for volunteers during the day, when most people are working.
“The biggest thing that they want, just like at the fire service, when there’s a call, respond, show up and work with everyone there to make sure that the issues are addressed,” he said of his potential constituents.
Carelus’s campaign is grounded in the issues that he believes matter most to District 1 residents: housing, taxes, education and equitable access to services. He is particularly passionate about increasing the availability and affordability of housing.
He points to innovative models like the Uniondale Community Land Trust, which helps keep homes affordable by retaining ownership of the land while families pay own the homes themselves. He is also interested in exploring programs that prioritize first responders and working families for affordable housing opportunities.
Tax fairness is another central concern for Carelus. He notes that many residents of District 1 are either unaware of their rights to grieve property taxes or are unable to attend semi-
tions — the parks, the services, infrastructure, everything else, senior enrichment, all those things.”
“There are services that are being denied to these communities, (and) all the while the burden of the taxes have increasingly fallen on them,” Carelus added, pointing out that infrastructure in some areas of District 1, such as Roosevelt, is in dire need of improvement.
nars due to inconvenient scheduling. He points out that applications for tax grievances are not only filed less frequently in the district, but are also more likely to be denied.
“The combination over time — not applying at the same rates, being turned down when there is an application at higher rates,” he said, “begins to disproportionately place the burden on those communities of paying for our obliga-
Carelus’s personal story also informs his advocacy for education and family support. When his adopted son, who has special needs, required services that were not available in Hempstead, Carelus moved his family just four blocks, to West Hempstead, so they could have access to better educational opportunities. The experience fuels his commitment to ensuring that all families have access to the resources they need.
As he campaigns, Carelus is determined to raise awareness about the changes facing District 1, including recent redistricting, and to fight for fair investment in infrastructure, services and economic development. With a blend of professional acumen, community service and empathy, he is, he says, deeply focused on residents’ needs and the challenges they face.
For Goosby, a unique re-election challenge
By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ
mrafiq@liherald.com
For more than a quarter-century, Dorothy Goosby, 86, councilwoman of District 1, as well as deputy supervisor, has been a pillar of public service and a trailblazer for minority representation in the Town of Hempstead.
She is now running once again for reelection.
Goosby’s journey into public office began with a fight for fair representation. In the late 1980s, she was the lead plaintiff in a landmark lawsuit challenging Hempstead’s at-large voting system, which had long prevented minority communities from electing their own representatives.
“We started in ’88 and it took us to 1999 in order to finally win the suit,” Goosby recalled to the Herald.
The victory led to the creation of councilmanic districts, ensuring that every community had a voice at the table.
Goosby became the first African American woman to serve on the board, representing neighborhoods like Hempstead, Uniondale, Roosevelt, and Freeport.
“I go to all of them, and I check to see what’s going on,” she says.
This year, Goosby’s re-election bid differs from races prior in one notable
way: she does not have Nassau Democratic Party backing.
Rather, the party declined to carry her petitions, citing her alignment with the Republican majority and former Supervisor Don Clavin, as well as calls for younger candidates to step in.
Instead, a grassroots effort was launched by Goosby’s closest supporters to get the necessary signatures of her own accord. In the final analysis, that effort garnered more than twice the 4,000 signatures required to get on the ballot.
In keeping with the theme of not being redirected by resistance, she told the Herald that the most important lesson that she’d learned in her 25-year political career has been “to make sure that whatever it is I need, I get it.”
“And I do,” she added, “because they don’t like to hear from me.”
Whether it’s addressing dumping on vacant lots or advocating for safer public spaces, Goosby’s leadership is rooted in direct engagement with her constituents. Education and youth development are also central to her mission. For over 20 years, she has organized a summer reading program that brings children and parents together, fostering a love of learning and community involvement.
“The kids love this, and it’s helping them,” she explained.
She is an opponent, according to her
attorney, of high-density housing developments that she believes threaten the character and resources of local neighborhoods.
“We’re working with the water,” she said, when asked about whether there is a water crisis on Long Island. “And because we have somebody now that we’re starting with that, we have a big problem in the Village of Hempstead, because we have somebody there not taking care of us with the water.”
“And some places, they do take care of it,” she added. “So we’re still trying to work on that, to get that straight(ened) up. Has to do with the mayor and some people like that.”
Goosby’s approach to governance is defined by bipartisanship and collaboration. As the lone Democrat on the sevenmember Town Board, she has built relationships across the aisle with her fellow council members.
In her wide-ranging conversation with the Herald, she preferred to recount specific anecdotes of constituent service her office provided when district residents approached her in need, rather than to pontificate on the broader issues facing the district. It was unclear at times whether Goosby could recall specific details about the services rendered, and she seemed, understandably, to have difficulty with names of places and people. She depended on the
Dorothy Goosby, longtime Hempstead councilmember and community advocate, says she has learned important lessons in 25 years of public service.
help of her attorney and a longtime friend in answering questions. At 86, what compels Goosby to keep going is her love of service. “I am really helping people,” she said. “They need it, and they don’t want me to leave.”
Madison Gusler/Herald
Jean-Baptiste Carelus is a longtime community volunteer and a candidate for the Hempstead Town Council seat in District 1.
Tim Baker/Herald
mountsinai.org/southnassau
Rep. Gillen speaks on stalled funding bill
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com
With the federal government currently in shutdown, U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, who representes New York’s Congressional District 4, offered a bipartisan solution.
Gillen shared her perspective on the federal government’s shutdown at the Family and Health Center office in Uniondale on Oct. 2, calling for her Republican colleagues in the house to hear Democrats’ concerns about the budget.
Health care spending is at the center of the disagreement in the House. The budget Congress had attempted to pass, up until Oct. 1 at midnight, includes cuts to a selection of programs that Gillen called “the largest cut to health care in America’s history.”
Gillen called for both parties to seek a bipartisan solution before rising health costs contribute to the financial burden of families across her district.
“If House Republicans governed responsibly, they would have met with us,” she said. “Instead, they’ve chosen to throw our health care system into further crisis, just months after they voted to gut Medicaid for millions of children, seniors and people with disabilities.”
The “Big Bad Bill,” according to Gillen, includes cuts that would significantly raise premiums for people who
US!
have plans under the Affordable Healthcare Act.
“A middle class family of four could see their health care bills rise by an additional $3,200 next year,” she explained. “This is really going to hurt people. We are already struggling with the cost of living crisis, and Long Islanders cannot afford another increased bill.”
A shutdown occurs when congress
does not pass a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which is Oct. 1 for the federal government. During a shutdown, nonessential departments are halted, while vital institutions must continue working without pay.
The last government shutdown was in 2019.
Gabriel Pedeira is the legislative and political organizer for the American Federation of Government Employees
— the largest federal labor union in the country with 800,000 members. In the previous shutdown, Pedeira saw federal workers struggle with delayed pay.
“We had people going to food banks,” he said. “We had people who could not pay their utility bills at the time. We had families who couldn’t pay for childcare at the time. We had people who were forced to go to work and literally couldn’t afford the gasoline.
“This is not something that should be happening in a developed nation like the United States of America,” he continued. “I know we can do better.”
Jeffery Reynolds, president and chief executive of Family & Children’s Association, explained that suicides, divorces and other civil disruptions have been on downward treand postcoronavirus pandemic, but that progress could be at risk.
“I worry that the threats to Medicaid, the threats to the ACA to the grants that we hold here at FCA put all of that in jeopardy,” he said.
Vanessa Barid-Streeter, president and chief executive of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, urged for healthcare spending to remain a priority in the federal budget.
“They are lifelines for people, for communities and for individuals,” she said. “If we let these credits expire, we will all feel it deeply, personally and collectively.”
Joseph D’Alessandro/Herald
CEO Jeffrey Reynolds, left, House Representative Laura Gillen and CEO Vanessa Baird-Streeter spoke on the importance of healthcare to Long Islanders on Oct. 2.
HERALD
ATTENTION STUDENTS:
THE HERALD IS HOLDING A CONTEST TO DESIGN HOLIDAY WRAPPING PAPER
THE WINNING DESIGNS WILL BE PRINTED AS HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP IN 12/4/25 & 12/11/25 ISSUES OF YOUR HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
CONTEST RULES:
Who can enter: There will be 2 categories:
Students in grades k-5. Students in 6-12
One entry per student
Deadline: Entries must be received by 5 p.m.
Friday, October 31, 2025
Grand prize: Winners will have their design printed as wrapping paper in the Herald and will be featured in an article in their local Herald newspaper.
Entry format: Please use an 8 1/2 by 11 inch piece of unlined paper. All entries should have the student’s name, age, address, telephone number, email, grade and school printed on the back. Design can be reflective of all religious holidays. Entries will not be returned.
Mail or hand-deliver to:
Wrapping Paper Contest
Herald Community Newspapers 2 Endo Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530 OR Scan and email to: ekimbrell@liherald.com
(No Photos of Artwork Will Be Accepted).
Winners will be notified by email or phone by November 14
HELPFUL HINTS
• Must use 8 1/2 x 11” unlined paper, copy paper or construction paper.
• Be creative & original.
• Use bright colors.
• Fill the entire page.
• Choose paint, crayon, chalk, markers, pens, or other creative materials.
• Remember your design will be used to make a real sheet of wrapping paper.
10.29.25
6:00-9:00PM
THE HERITAGE CLUB AT BETHPAGE
99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale NY
Today, green businesses play a vital role in mitigating environmental challenges and driving economic growth by fostering innovation, reducing carbon emissions, and creating sustainable jobs.
The HERALD GreenBIZ Awards serves as a powerful catalyst for environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices. This inaugural event not only recognizes and honors innovative businesses committed to eco-friendly operations but it exemplifies the idea that responsible business can coexist with profitability.
MEET THE 2025 HONOREES*
CONSTRUCTION & SOLAR
Gina Farese CEO
Marcor Construction & Marcor Solar
EDUCATION
Neal Lewis Executive Director
Molloy University Sustainability Institute
Richard Murdocco
Adjunct Professor/CMO SUNation Stony Brook University
ENERGY
Sammy Chu CEO Edgewise Energy
ENGINEERING
Emtec Consulting Engineers
Billy Haugland CEO Haugland Group
R&M Engineering
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING
Chuck Merrit
President/LEED AP
Merrit Environmental Consulting
Environmental Innovation
Marshall Brown Co-Founder and Principal Long Island Conservancy / Spadefoot Ecosystem Solutions
LAW
Todd Kaminsky
Shareholder Greenberg Traurig, LLP
NOT-FOR-PROFIT
Adrienne Esposito Executive Director Citizens Campaign for the Environment
Build Green Long Island (USGBC-LI)
ORGANIC ENERGY
Long Island Compost
RECYCLING
Christine Kiourtsis
President Renewable Recycling, Inc.
Erik Helgesen
President PayMore Stores
RENEWABLE ENERGY
ACE NY / NYOWA
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Brian Herrington Vice President External Affairs & Foundation President Scotts Miracle-Gro
TRANSPORTATION
Marlon Taylor President New York & Atlantic Railway
UTILITIES
Carrie Meek Gallagher CEO LIPA Long Island Power Authority
Paraco Gas
WASTE RECYCLING
Karen Blumer Co-Convenor TALZ, Taking a Lead on Zero Waste
WASTE SOLUTIONS
The Reworld Team
STEPPING OUT
Autumnal adventures
Reel in some hauntingly good fun
By Karen Bloom
Spooky season is casting its spell — and whether you’re ready for a scare or just some seasonal flair, there’s much to check out.
The Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns
Pumpkin patches have their moment, but a pumpkin trail is even better. The wooded site of Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts in Wheatley Heights is the evocative setting for a spooky 4,200 foot loop of over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins and illuminated objects (10,000 in all) that light up the grounds all month long.
The Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns is now in its 12th season on Long Island, delighting visitors with all sorts of seasonal delights, from those carved pumpkins — of all sizes — to inflatables and even a space to show off some dance moves, complete with disco lights and music.
You may recall Rise from its first eight seasons at Old Westbury Gardens. Its current home at Usdan accommodates a longer trail that enhances the immersive experience.
“We found this trail to be perfect,” says Mike Pollack, Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns’ executive producer, who proclaims this to be “the spookiest walk on Long Island.”
Spooky, most definitely, but not haunted. You won’t find any frightful creatures popping out along the path. As Pollack puts it: “No scares.”
This family-friendly event is designed to get everyone in the spirit of the season, appealing to all ages.
A team of 100 handpicked artists carve their individual pumpkins with facial expressions ranging from scary to silly.
“The artistry of these pumpkins is spectacular and you will not see anywhere else,” Pollack says enthusiastically.
The 40,000 visitors annually would seem to agree. Rise is open on weekends and select weeknight through Nov. 1. All tickets must be purchased online at jackolanterns. com; no tickets are available on site. Rise is located at 185 Colonial Springs Road, Wheatley Heights.
Spooky Fest
Creatures of all kinds inhabit the woods, and ghosts and ghouls come out to play at Tanglewood Preserve, home to the Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL), in Rockville Centre. A seasonal tradition for area families, the spectacle takes over CSTL’s grounds every weekend through Nov. 2.
Each year the festival offers a spirited fun-filled slate of activities on the preserve’s 16 acres — both scary and not so scary — to appeal to all ages and fright levels. The wooded paths are transformed for the season, with eerie lighting, special effects and characters along the way.
Whether you and the kids are looking to be spooked or not, the choice is yours. This time of year the preserve’s woods are definitely haunted, as those who venture along the scary walk will find out. This quarter mile hike through
the woods is not for the faint of heart, it may leave some younger kids clinging to their parents legs. Step into the darkness of the Haunted Woods where you’ll stumble upon a deserted graveyard and more — you never know what is lurking around the next turn. Be scared if you dare!
“Adults will come out crying and the kids will be laughing,” CSTL Educator Michele Anselmo,says, somewhat bemused. “You need to know your fear factor before you enter.”
As always, the not-so-spooky Enchanted Walk is welcoming haunt for the younger set. Friendly Halloween characters — including witches, fairies, aliens, ghosts, butterflies, and scarecrows — greet visitors. This year a pirate ship with a band of pirates has made its way here to get in on the action. Other activities include holiday-themed arts and crafts, and the return of the Mystic Den, with a fortuneteller and face painting. And, of course, the glow tent, is another popular spot where everyone heads to make “slime.” Just be sure to take the goopy stuff home; “sliming” those nearby is frowned upon.
Costumes are always encouraged. And in the spirit of Hallowen season, kids may find some treats to pick up as they wander about.
“There’s always something for everyone here,” Anselmo says.
Find out what’s lurking in the woods at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning, 1 Tanglewood Road, Rockville Centre. Visit cstl.org for information and tickets.
Gone Fishing
Anglers — novice and skilled — will be on the scene once again when the Fall Fishing & Children’s Festival returns to Hempstead Lake State Park. Presented by the Department of Environmental Conservation’s “I Fish NY” program, on Oct. 18, the annual event offers an ideal way to make the most of the season with a mix of fishing, fun and family activities.
The day kicks off at 10 a.m., with a fresh stock of trout in the park’s South and MacDonald Ponds to help introduce families to the sport of freshwater fishing. Everyone can take part in fly-fishing instruction, casting practice, fish-cleaning demonstrations, and even borrow rods and bait free of charge.
“All ages are encouraged to attend to enjoy this wonderful fishing experience,” says George Gorman, State Parks’ Long Island regional director. “We hope festival attendees also take the opportunity to explore the beautiful Hempstead Lake State Park and all it has to offer.”
But the fun doesn’t end at the water’s edge. Young visitors can enjoy pumpkin decorating, a magic show, reptile exhibit, and a playful casting contest where the “catch” could be a pumpkin or a prize. Whether you’re an avid angler or just looking for a day outdoors with the kids, the Fall Fishing & Children’s Festival reels in plenty of reasons to drop by.
The fishing license requirement for all anglers over the age of 15 is suspended for this festival, and admission and parking are free. Check out the activities at the park’s MacDonald and South Ponds, also in Rockville Centre. Visit parks.ny.gov for more.
Jessie’s Girl
Break out the neon, dust off those leg warmers and tease up your hair — the ultimate ‘80s party returns to the Paramount stage. Jessie’s Girl, a band of New York City’s top rock and pop musicians, returns with their high-energy Back to the Eighties show, guaranteed to turn back the clock. Fronted by powerhouse vocalists who transform into the decade’s biggest icons, Jessie’s Girl delivers the hits that defined an era. Add in bold costumes, playful choreography, audience participation, and plenty of extras — bubbles, confetti, and props galore — and the result is part concert, part theater and all ‘80s spectacle. These talents each have dozens of credits performing with authentic ‘80s icons who made the music famous to begin with. With over-the-top renditions of memorable songs, Jessie’s Girl captures the glitz and sheer energy of the decade like no one else.
Friday, Oct. 10, 8 p.m. $64.75
$52.25, $49.25, $48.50, $37.25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Kate Kortum: The Music of ‘Wild Woman’
Tilles Center’s Atrium becomes an intimate lounge, showcasing 23-year-old Kate Kortum, one of the jazz world’s most exciting breakout artists. Hailing from Houston, Texas, her warm, distinctive sound blends bebop, blues, the Great American Songbook, and musical theater with captivating, story-driven lyrics. Her artistry bridges tradition and innovation, offering audiences a fresh, contemporary take on the jazz vocal legacy. Critics have praised her ability to revitalize jazz with authenticity and daring. “Wild Woman,” her sophomore album, features reimagined standards and originals that explore a woman’s relationship with complex emotions.
Thursday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Courtesy Mike Pollack
Thousands of Jack O’Lanterns illuminate the season, hand carved to perfection.
Courtesy CSTL
Some fascinating spooks have taken up residence at Center for Science Teaching and Learning’s Spooky Fest.
Courtesy NYS Parks
Let’s fish: Cast those lines at annual Fall Family Fishing Festival held at Hempstead Lake State Park.
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR
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 entertainment-related activities to the fascinating personalities involved. It encompasses dance, music, theater, movies, circus, boating, and beach scenes, 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
Senior Health Expo
The Village of Freeport and State Sen. Siela Bynoe sponsor a free senior health expo featuring wellness information, screenings, and resources.
• Where: Freeport Recreation Center, 130 E. Merrick Road
• Time: 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Contact: freeportny.org
OCT
10
Panacea at Sparkle on Stage
Panacea returns to Freeport with an energetic mix of Latin, swing, bossa nova, and more. A night of exciting live music at Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center.
• Where: 195 Woodcleft Ave.
• Time: 7:30-9 p.m.
• Contact: sparkleonstage.org
Sculpture Stroll
Visit Nassau County Museum of Art for hour for discovery and conversation. Explore a selection of sculptures sited across the museum property. Each stop on the tour delves into the choices, inspirations and material of the artists and their sculptures. Registration required. $20, $10 members.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 5-6 p.m.
OCT
18
Anthony Rodia
Anthony Rodia is back “Laugh Till It Hurts” tour, an all-new stand-up showcase that’s refreshingly genuine and quick witted. Building on the success of his previous outing, this is his biggest and most ambitious yet.
A first-generation Italian-American born and raised in Westchester, Rodia came out of the womb making people laugh. In his 20s he tried a few open mics, but ultimately took a different career path as a finance manager of a luxury car dealership. In 2019, Rodia returned to comedy and left his day job to become a full-time stand-up comic. With a background steeped in family traditions, Italian-American culture and the ups and downs of modern life, Anthony’s comedy feels like a conversation with your funniest friend. His blend of observational humor, self-deprecation and witty impressions has led him on his path as one of the most exciting rising stars on the comedy scene. Anthony’s comedic career skyrocketed thanks to his viral social media videos, where he brought his hilarious, larger-than-life characters and relatable commentary to millions of fans. His most iconic characters, including his over-the-top Uncle Vinny persona, quickly became fan favorites, making him a social media sensation and establishing a loyal following. His ability to turn everyday situations — family gatherings, parenting, and even the quirks of his own Italian heritage —into laugh-out-loud moments has earned him widespread recognition and a rapidly growing fanbase. Tickets are $144.75, $108.75, $98.25, $86.50, $76.25, $6475.
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 7 and 9:30 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
invites families to another Super Family Saturday program. This magical adventure includes hands-on art activities themed around transformation, fantasy and discovery, plus a special trail through the site’s fall forest. $20 non-member adults, $10 members and children.
• Where: Manes Center, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Session 1, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; Session 2, 1-2:30 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
South Shore Arts Festival
Celebrate Long Island’s creative community at this indoor festival spotlighting original works by local artists. Fine art for sale includes painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and more. Meet the artists and support homegrown talent at Freeport Recreation Center.
• Where: 130 E. Merrick Rd., Freeport
• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Contact: liacfreeport.org or (516) 223-2522
OCT
23
‘Brown Bag’ Art Conversation
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
11
‘Saltwater Stories’ Festival
Families are invited to Long Island Children’s Museum’s special opening weekend festival to celebrate the launch of Saltwater Stories, the new permanent exhibition celebrating Long Island’s coastal heritage. Meet local fisherfolk, explore hands-on activities for all ages, and dive into the rich traditions of our bays and beaches. Enjoy storytelling, crafts, and demonstrations that bring Long Island’s maritime history to life! All activities included with museum admission.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800 OCT
Whimsical Wizard School
Families are invited to Old Westbury Gardens for a wizarding adventure. It all begins the moment you’re sorted into one of the enchanted Nature Houses. Create your own wand, adding
colors and decorations that reflect your style. Step into a magical herbology class, where you’ll discover the plants that inspire fantasy and design your own terrarium herb garden. Join wizard professors on a Wizard Quest through the gardens, solving riddles and uncovering hidden icons along the way. Celebrate the spooky season with games, crafts, and enchanting surprises in the most magical way possible. For ages 5-10. Registration required. $18, $12 children
• Where: The Barn at Orchard Hill, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
Arty Party
OCT 16
The Long Island Arts Council at Freeport hosts its annual “Arty Party” fundraiser, supporting local arts programming with music, food and community celebration.
• Where: The Bayview, 395 Woodcleft Ave.
• Time: 6:30-10 p.m.
• Contact: liacfreeport.org or (516) 223-2522
Little Learners Art Lab
Each week in this engaging workshop, participants are introduced to hands-on materials, artmaking, and inspiration from artists and techniques. Young kids, ages 2-5, build critical thinking skills, expand vocabulary, and support imaginations as they play, create and explore. This week create one-of-a-kind wave paintings with a sensory twist. $4 with museum admission.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 11:30 a.m.-noon
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
OCT
18
Community Resource Fair
Connect with local nonprofits and service agencies at Freeport Memorial Library to discover valuable services and volunteer opportunities in the Freeport area. Open to all, no registration required.
• Where: 144 W. Merrick Rd., Freeport
• Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Contact: freeportlibrary.info or (516) 379-3274
Join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular Brown Bag Lecture. Experience the museum’s exhibition “At Play: Artists & Entertainment” through a lively and informative presentation. Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program. Registration not required. First come, first seated.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 1 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
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.
Enchanted Forest Nassau County Museum of Art
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU
U.S. BANK TRUST
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCAF ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST MITCHELL PENDARVIS INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF VALARIE COLLIER, KAYLA SIGMORE AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF VALARIE COLLIER, ET AL., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 13, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 5, 2025 at 3:00 PM, premises known as 58 Weberfield Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55 Block 207 and Lot 24. Approximate amount of judgment $451,981.90 plus interest and costs. Prem ises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #615127/2023. Ellen N. Savino, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-003027 87258 155985
LEGAL NOTICE REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE TRUST 2006-3, ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGEBACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-3, Plaintiffagainst - SANDRO COLLADO, et al Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on August 22, 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 the 30th day of October, 2025 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Premises known as 213 North Long Beach Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520.
(Section: 54, Block: 55, Lot: 3)
Approximate amount of lien $603,189.32 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.
Index No. 618335/2023. Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee. McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409
For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832
Dated: September 4, 2025
During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 155976
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU
HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Trustee, in trust for the registered holders of ACE Securities Corp., Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2006-NC3, Asset Backed PassThrough Certificates, Plaintiff AGAINST Christopher Prescott; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 18, 2018, amended August 22, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee,
will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 5, 2025, at 2:00PM, premises known as 205 New York Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at New Cassel, in the Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 11 Block 30 Lot 79 (Lot Group 79 and 80). Approximate amount of judgment $708,798.90 plus interest and costs. Premises wil l be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 003168/2014. Jason P. Sackoor, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: September 16, 2025 For sale information, please visit Servicelinkauction.com or call (866) 539-4173 87156 155987
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO USA HOLDINGS, INC., -againstERNESTINA DELVALLE, AS ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF BARBARA A. ROLLINS A/K/A BARBARA ROLLINS, 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 April 14, 2023, wherein WELLS FARGO USA HOLDINGS, INC., is the Plaintiff and ERNESTINA DELVALLE, AS ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF BARBARA A. ROLLINS A/K/A BARBARA ROLLINS, 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 November 3, 2025 at
2:30PM, the premises known as 20 LILLIAN AVENUE, FREEPORT, NY 11520; tax map identification 55-447-103; and description: 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
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 602944/2018. Oscar A. Prieto, 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. 156000
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, -againstANDREA BATTLE A/K/A ANDREA BATTLEBROWN, 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 July 7, 2025, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST is the Plaintiff and ANDREA BATTLE A/K/A ANDREA BATTLEBROWN, 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 October 31, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 572 MILLER AVENUE, FREEPORT, NY 11520; tax map identification 62-182-239; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED 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.: 602567/2020. Edward Andreas Vincent, 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. 155996
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, JOVIA FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION F/K/A NASSAU EDUCATORS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, PLAINTIFF, VS. MARK A. MCMILLIAN A/K/A MARK A. MCMILLAN, ET AL., DEFENDANT(S).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 17, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 10, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 183 Moore Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55, Block 101 and Lot 148. Approximate amount
of judgment is $156,591.88 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #603963/2023. The sale of this property and clear title are subject to a superior lien dated December 10, 2002 and recorded on December 24, 2002 in the Office of the Clerk of Nassau County, State of New York, under Liber Book 23338 and Page 102. Michael W. Alpert, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 231848-1 156148
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR MLM 13648 TITLE TRUST, PLAINTIFF, VS. PANTHER ENTERPRISES INC., ET AL., DEFENDANT(S). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on February 18, 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 November 12, 2025 at 3:00 p.m., premises known as 305 Roosevelt 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 62, Block 152 and Lots 5 & 6. Approximate amount of judgment is $859,190.66 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #614107/2023. Peter L. Kramer, Esq., Referee 516-510-4020
Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 234193-1 156146
LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS INDEPENDENT AUDITING SERVICES For THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FREEPORT NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK
The Incorporated Village of Freeport is hereby requesting proposals from qualified firms of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to conduct the annual audit of the finances of the Village of Freeport. Specifications may be obtained at the Office of the Purchasing Agent, Municipal Building, 1st Floor, and 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, 11520 or on the Village website, www.freeportny.gov, from 9:00 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025 until 4:00 p.m. Friday, October 31, 2025. Completed proposals are to be delivered to Mrs. Taylor D’Orta, Purchasing Agent, Incorporated Village of Freeport, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York 11520. All proposals must be received by 4:00 p.m. Friday, October 31, 2025.
The Board reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. In submitting a proposal, Vendors agree not to withdraw their proposal within fortyfive (45) days after the date required to submit.
The Incorporated Village of Freeport is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and does not discriminate against vendors on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, disability, marital status, familial status, veteran status or any other basis protected under federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.
Taylor D’Orta Purchasing Agent Village of Freeport VILLAGE OF FREEPORT Issue Date - October 9, 2025 156220
LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AUDITING AND FINANCIAL COMPLIANCE SERVICES
For THE FREEPORT COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK
The Freeport Community Development Agency is hereby requesting proposals from qualified firms of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to conduct the annual audit of the finances of the Freeport Community Development Agency. Specifications may be obtained at the Office of the Freeport Community Development Agency, 11 Richmond Street, Freeport, New York, 11520 or on the Village website, www.freeportny.gov/2 0/CommunityDevelopment-Agency 9:00 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025 until 4:00 p.m. Friday, October 17, 2025. Completed proposals are to be delivered to Ms. Jeanne Jordan, Executive Director, Incorporated Freeport Community Development Agency 11 Richmond Street, Freeport, New York 11520. All proposals must be received by 4:00 p.m. Friday, October 17, 2025 The Board reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. In submitting a proposal, Vendors agree not to withdraw their proposal within fortyfive (45) days after the date required to submit.
The Freeport Community Development Agency is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and does not discriminate against vendors on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, disability, marital status, familial status, veteran status or any other basis protected under federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.
Jeanne Jordan Executive Director Freeport Community Development Agency VILLAGE OF FREEPORT Issue Date – October 9, 2025 156215
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 Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
The Freeport Housing Authority will be holding a Public Meeting on October 22, 2025, at 5:00PM, at 100 North Main Street, Community Center, Freeport, NY 11520. 156216
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
NASSAU COUNTY
SANTANDER BANK, N.A., Plaintiff against SALVATORE
SANTAMARIA, et al
Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered May 31, 2018, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 31 Buchanan Street, Freeport, NY 11520. Sec 54 Block 334 Lot 19, 20 & 21. 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, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Approximate Amount of Judgment is $675,326.70 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 001428/2009. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee File # YDHJN001 156186
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERIFICATE HOLDERS OF CWMBS, INC., CHL MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH TRUST 2006-19, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-19, Plaintiff, vs. KERWIN STEPHENS AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE DECEDENT PETER STEPHENS A/K/A PETER G. STEVENS A/K/A PETER GORDON STEVENS, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Discharging the Guardian Ad Litem, Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on July 28, 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 October 23, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 4 Maxson 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, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54, Block 55 and Lot 6. Approximate amount of judgment is $614,736.67 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #601622/2019. Cash will not be accepted. Michael Langer, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 155823
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2006-CW1, ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, Plaintiff against RONY LUNDY, et al Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s) McCalla Raymer Leibert
Pierce, LLC, 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840, New York, NY 10170.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered March 10, 2020, and amended on January 5, 2023, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 365 Wallace Street, Freeport, NY 11520. Sec 55 Block 397 Lot 232 and 233.
All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Approximate Amount of Judgment is $484,478.30 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 000740/2016. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
For sale information, please contact XOME at www.Xome.com or call (844)400-9633.
Rita Solomon, Esq., Referee File # 21-03756NY 155831
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU SABR MORTGAGE LOAN 2008-1 REO SUBSIDIARY-1 LLC, Plaintiff, Against PATRICK BROADNAX AS ADMINISTRATOR AND HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF LORAINE RIZO; RAFAEL RIZO AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF LORAINE RIZO; TONY RIZO AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF LORAINE RIZO; ERIC RIZO AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF LORAINE RIZO; et al. Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and
Sale, duly entered 09/28/2023, 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 10/21/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 5 2nd Place, Roosevelt, New York 11575, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Roosevelt, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 0055 Block 00450 Lot 00142 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $379,163.30 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 006711/2016 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.
Tiffany D. Frigenti, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 9/5/2025 File Number: 17-301421 CA 155829
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU
INDEX NO.:
607624/2024
DATE FILED: 4/9/2025
SUMMONS
L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Plaintiff, -againstANNIE TUCKER and KIMBERLY TUCKER, if they be living, if they be dead, their respective heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming, under, by or through ANNIE TUCKER and KIMBERLY TUCKER, if they be dead, whether by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise,
including any right, title or interest in and to the real property described in the complaint herein, all of who and whose names and places of residence are unknown to plaintiff, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER; 341 EAST LLC; MORET LLC; NOYACK GATE LLC; UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; TD BANK USA N.A., “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12”, the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants.
TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action, to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with the summons, to serve notice of appearance, on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the date 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 failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.
TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Jeffrey A. Goodstein, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, dated Sept. 4, 2025 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office.
THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a tax lien and to recover the amount of the tax lien and all of the interest, penalties, additions and expenses thereon to premises k/a Section 55, Block 260, Lot 12. Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. The basis of venue is the location of the subject property.
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 tax lien holder 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 tax lien holder will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (TAX LIEN HOLDER) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated: April 8, 2025 LEVY & LEVY
Attorneys for Plaintiff 12 Tulip Drive Great Neck, NY 11021 (516) 487-6655 BY: JOSHUA LEVY, ESQ. #102526 155827
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAU
DEYANISSA
BONIFACIO PAEZ, Plaintiff - againstJESUS DELEON, Defendant, Index No. 604616/2023. Pursuant to an Order of Reference dated August 27, 2024 and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on August 29, 2024, and a Supplemental Amended Order of Reference dated May 29, 2025 and filed in the Office of the Clerk
of the County of Nassau on June 2, 2025, the undersigned Successor Referee gives notice that the Court has ordered that each person not a party to the action who, as of August 27, 2024, had a lien upon any undivided share or interest in the property known as 23 West Seaman Avenue, aka 23 W. Seaman Avenue, Freeport, New York 11520, in the Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section: 55, Block: 259, Lot: 10, to appear before the undersigned referee, Ellen Savino, at the office of Sahn Ward Braff Coschignano PLLC, 333 Earle Ovington Boulevard, Suite 601, Uniondale, New York 11553, on October 15, 2025, at 10: 30 am to prove his/her lien and the true amount due or to become due to him/her by reason thereof. Please call the referee, Ellen Savino, at 516-228-1300 prior to appearing to advise of your intention to appear. Ellen Savino, Referee. 155821
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Wilmington Trust, NA, successor trustee to Citibank, N.A., as Trustee f/b/o holders of Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Inc., Bear Stearns ALT-A Trust 2006-8, Mortgage PassThrough Certificates, Series 2006-8, Plaintiff AGAINST Sergia M. Minaya, Julio Estevez, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 15, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 23, 2025 at 2:30 pm, premises known as 34 Grand Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, together 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: 23601, LOT: 222. Approximate amount of judgment $565, 937.88 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #001309/2015. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Andrew K. Preston, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-029399-F01 87192 155867
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU CALCON MUTUAL MORTGAGE LLC DBA ONETRUST HOME LOANS, Plaintiff AGAINST MARTECH LLC, PARKER HART LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 14, 2025, 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 October 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM, premises known as 335 South Main Street, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 62 Block 44 Lot 391. Approximate amount of judgment $647,773.64 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600764/2023. Jaime David Ezratty, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-0038 31 87077 155863
HomesHERALD
An architect for a sunroom?
Q. I’m buying a sunroom for my breakfast room on the back of my split-level house, about 8 feet off the ground. I’m being told by the contractor that I need an architect and sealed plans. Since it’s basically a kit of parts that will go on my existing deck, why do I need this? It seems like a lot of extra expense the sunroom people didn’t tell me about. If I already have a permit for the deck, it should be allowed, right? I haven’t bought the sunroom yet. I’m just trying to be sure I know the whole story before I do this, probably by spring, when the weather is better for construction. Any advice would be helpful.
A. Do things once, the best way. A deck isn’t habitable, but a sunroom is, and a permit is required. Plans have to show structural support, energy and building code compliance. Rain, moisture and ice are your primary concerns. You need the whole story without the sales part. Just like any purchase, issues you might not expect are still important, like finding out what kind of oil to add to your snow blower before the engine seizes or that windows without factory tinting can allow ultra-violet sunlight rays to fade your carpet. As an architect for a largely popular sunroom manufacturer in the 1980s and ’90s, I experienced many issues with their construction.
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Pre-engineered panel systems are designed by the company, hopefully by engineers, and should come with plans, from the manufacturer, that can be sealed and signed by their in-house engineer. If not, plans may need to be drawn from scratch by an architect or engineer that you hire so those plans can be integrated with your house. Integrated means that the company generally just sells you a product and doesn’t necessarily give any indication of how to support the unit or how to attach the unit system to your house so that it won’t leak or move.
This is the general failing of the system, since, as I experienced with most of the installations, the part I could detail was free of leaking or movement, but the units themselves leaked nearly every time. We could detail how the edges of the unit could be sealed and redundantly weather-stripped and flashed, but the frames around the glass and wall edges would unseal and leak. I even met with the corporate president/ owner and identified the specific problems. Promises to correct leak issues were made but not kept, and eventually I gave up.
I looked at a two-year-old system while discussing other work for a home recently. The owner described the back-and-forth misery he and his family were experiencing with their sunroom and the company. Even 25 years after I gave up, the same company is still doing things the same way. You need a detail-oriented architect and installer, even if you think you don’t. The cost of doing things twice is much greater. Good luck.
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opinionS
We need to crack down on visa overstays
What’s wrong with the federal government finally stepping up to track down the millions of people who are overstaying their visas on American soil?
The Trump administration should be applauded for taking this issue seriously. Yet if you look at the ridiculously biased articles on the subject, you’d think the crackdown is designed to quash the free speech of innocent people.
Many have been amazed to discover that there are over 50 million people in the United States on visas. At this point, we don’t know how many of them have illegally overstayed the privilege of being here based on approvals they received for a few weeks for a vacation or a business trip, but we know it’s a substantial number.
In fact, roughly 40 percent of all
those here illegally did not arrive by way of an illegal border crossing, but rather by overstaying visas that were granted to them as a privilege.
Part of the crackdown is to target those fermenting dissension on American soil, as was the case with the Columbia University graduate student who was organizing protests that wound up cutting off access for Jewish students on campus, and, in some cases, harassing them. But there shouldn’t have to be a predicate beyond the overstay that warrants the deportation of these people. Someone who overstays a visa doesn’t get to say they’re entitled to stay here forever simply because they haven’t committed a crime since they came onto American soil. The mere fact that they’ve overstayed is grounds enough to deport them. Failing to enforce the time limits on visas sends the message that we have an open border, which is why millions come here deliberately on temporary visas with the intent to stay forever.
Roughly 40 percent of all those here illegally did not cross a border illegally.
The articles opposing the crackdown often quote immigration attorneys and far-left advocacy groups that have been known to promote illegal immigration. Nowhere are there quotes from those in American society who are deleteriously impacted by these overstays. There are no quotes from those who have been denied jobs because those here illegally took them. No quotes from those who have had their wages suppressed because of illegal labor. No quotes from those who have had to wait longer for doctor’s appointments, or who saw their rents soar because so many people who overstay their visas are competing for a limited housing supply.
Once again, the media has portrayed those who come to stay here illegally as the good guys — the innocent victims — and those trying to enforce the law as the bad guys who are exploiting the underdog immigrants.
Let’s not forget that the Egyptian national who fire-bombed and killed
Libraries are precious, and
Some of my most enduring memories involve libraries. Attending “Story Hour” at the local library with my mother as a child. Working my way through college staffing the Circulation desk and re-shelving books. Viewing the special exhibits at Oxford University’s Bodleian Library while serving as a visiting scholar after retiring from Adelphi. Writing my book on university governance while serving as an Allen Room Scholar at the New York Public Library. Showing the Gutenberg Bible to a grandson while visiting the Morgan Library.
Libraries are precious homes for books and other materials that preserve and interpret the past, stir curiosity and the imagination, and nurture future generations. They are celebrated worldwide on International Literacy Day, Sept. 8.
Andrew Carnegie recognized the importance of libraries over a century ago, when he began supporting free public libraries as places of congregation and education. Carnegie believed that access to information and knowledge
would help those from limited household circumstances advance in careers and civic engagement. That certainly was the case for me.
The heart of a library is the librarian. Librarians are licensed professionals with graduate degrees. They are experts in collecting sources of information and ensuring that valid and valuable knowledge is available. They monitor access to age-appropriate materials and make decisions based on evidence, not emotion.
JJews a few months ago had illegally overstayed his visa, along with his family. The salt in the wound is that the Biden administration gave working papers to this individual who was here illegally.
Then there was the man from India who overstayed his visa and wound up getting a commercial driver’s license in both California and Washington, despite the fact that he was here illegally and didn’t understand the English-language road signs. He got involved in an accident that led to the deaths of three American citizens.
We are committing national suicide by not enforcing our immigration laws. Good for the administration for getting tough, and shame on those in the media who make law-enforcement officials look like the bad guys.
Steve Levy is president of Common Sense Strategies, a political consulting firm. He served as Suffolk County executive, as a state assemblyman and as host of “The Steve Levy Radio Show.” He is also the author of “Solutions to America’s Problems” and “Bias in the Media.”
SteveLevy.info, Twitter @SteveLevyNY, steve@commonsensestrategies.com.
must be treated with care
targeted books focus on sexual identity and racism, including slavery.
The lone Supreme Court ruling against book bans, from Long Island, no less, was Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District No. 26 v. Pico, in 1982. Some think it could be overturned by a new case from Texas focusing on the removal of 17 books deemed “obscene” and “pornographic,” including Maurice Sendak’s childhood classic, “Where the Wild Things Are.”
ust like doctors and scientists, the expertise of librarians is now questioned.
Librarians build collections according to mission and library type. They not only promote literacy, foster education and encourage critical thinking, but also offer free access to technology. They support teachers and effective teaching. Businesspeople and professionals as well as students use libraries, and seek the help of librarians, for research assignments of all kinds.
But these temples to truth are being threatened by initiatives to ban books and dismantle the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. PEN America, a nonprofit literary and freeexpression advocacy group, found 10,046 instances of book bans in the 2023-24 school year. It noted book bans in 29 states and 220 public school districts, including on Long Island. Most of the
Banning books denies freedom of speech. In the past, such efforts were isolated and local. Now these campaigns are national, and simply compile lists of books to be banned whose subjects or authors — especially Black authors — are deemed questionable without any evidence. In years past, books such as Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” and Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” were banned, until successful lawsuits returned them to library shelves.
On Long Island, there are 120 public libraries and 125 public school districts with 656 schools. Public libraries are governed by boards of trustees and funded by fundraising, tax revenue and government grants. They are essential to high-quality schooling and are vital community resources, especially in
rural and low-income regions.
According to one national report, “the American library . . . is a barometer of where we currently stand as a society when it comes to access to knowledge and information.” Libraries host listings of employment opportunities, provide health care bulletins, are sources of election information, make textbooks available for free, lend audio books for the hearing-impaired, offer citizenship classes, and open their rooms for community gatherings.
It seems that increasing numbers of people question the expertise of librarians, just as they question the expertise of doctors and scientists. None of these professions is infallible, of course. What sets them apart is that they are honorbound by professional codes of ethics, and change their conclusions when new evidence is uncovered. For the librarian, this means curating as well as collecting and storing sources of information, whether on discs, in the cloud or in books.
The Swedish designer Josef Frank said, “The world is a book, and the person who stays at home reads only one page.” The librarian is our travel guide to new vistas through books, and libraries are our vehicles. We should treat them with care.
Robert Scott is president emeritus of Adelphi University and co-author, with Drew Bogner, of “Letters to Students: What it Means to be a College Graduate.”
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STUaRT
Long Island’s creative spark deserves investment
long Island is known for its beaches, its vineyards and its suburban sprawl. But a new report reminds us of something too often overlooked: The arts are one of the region’s most powerful economic engines.
According to the Center for an Urban Future, jobs in arts and culture on Long Island grew by a stunning 21.6 percent between 2014 and 2024. That’s five times faster than the region’s overall economy. The number of independent artists nearly doubled during the same period, fueling downtown revitalization, driving tourism and supporting small businesses. From muralists in Patchogue to theater productions in Huntington, creativity is reshaping the Island’s identity, and its bottom line.
And yet, just as this growth is transforming local communities, warning signs are flashing. The same report shows that the average arts worker on Long Island earns just $46,500 annually — barely half the regional average income. The number of performing-arts jobs remains more than 13 percent below pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, the costs of housing and living have skyrocketed, with housing prices alone climbing more than 60 percent in the past decade.
The math doesn’t add up. We are asking artists to do the impossible: generate enormous economic and cultural value for the region while surviving on wages that barely cover rent.
The problem isn’t talent or ambition. It’s support — or rather, the lack of it. Despite being home to 14.7 percent of New York state’s population, Long Island
letters
But Mamdani is giving people hope, Jerry
To the Editor:
receives just 2.8 percent of grants awarded by the state’s Council on the Arts. Less than 1 percent of federal National Endowment for the Arts funding in New York finds its way here.
And while state economic development councils are investing more than ever in arts projects statewide, only 3.1 percent of Long Island’s recent allocation went to the creative sector.
This chronic underinvestment has created what researchers call a “negative feedback loop.” Because the region has historically been overlooked, its institutions lack the resources to compete effectively for competitive funding, which in turn reinforces low funding rates. It’s a cycle that limits growth and puts Long Island’s creative vitality at risk.
The solutions are clear, and the payoff could be enormous. The Center for an Urban Future’s recommendations should be a wake-up call to policymakers.
Among them: dedicating 1 percent of county budgets to arts programming and operations, expanding the state arts budget, and creating a Long Island Grant Academy to strengthen the capacity of local organizations to win state and federal support.
The report also suggests converting underused commercial properties into cultural spaces, integrating the arts into tourism planning, and even embedding artists directly into government initiatives, as upstate Erie County has done successfully.
These aren’t fringe ideas. They’re pragmatic strategies to sustain a sector that has already proven itself indispensable. Arts and culture are not luxuries to be funded only in good times. They are
infrastructure — just as essential to the region’s economic vitality and community well-being as roads, schools and hospitals.
Consider the ripple effects: thriving downtowns anchored by galleries and theaters. Restaurants and shops boosted by performance-goers and festival crowds. Tourists are drawn to more than just beaches and wineries, while young families choose to stay because their communities feel vibrant and alive. At a time when many Long Island towns struggle with empty storefronts and affordability crises, creativity has been a rare and steady growth engine.
To jeopardize this progress through neglect would be shortsighted. As Jonathan Bowles, the center’s executive director, put it: “Unless county leaders and the state step up, Long Island risks losing the very creativity that is powering its success.”
Leaders in Nassau and Suffolk counties must recognize that a modest investment today could safeguard the region’s cultural and economic future. Allocating just 1 percent of county budgets to the arts —around $80 million annually — would not only stabilize existing organizations but also unlock additional state and federal dollars. That kind of leverage is how Long Island can finally get its fair share.
The arts have already proven what they can do for Long Island. The question now is whether Long Island will do right by the arts. If we want downtowns that hum with life, economies that diversify and communities that feel worth staying in, then investing in creativity is not optional. It’s essential.
Re Jerry Kremer’s column in last week’s issue, “There are many reasons not to embrace Mamdani”: Nassau residents’ concern over Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, is curious, as we have no vote on the matter. Perhaps we sense the specter in our basement.
There are, I think, two reasons people embrace Mamdani — desperation and hope. Consider the central issues: housing, homelessness and “affordability,” increasingly enmeshed and worsening to the point of crisis. That’s desperation.
Housing, specifically urban housing, has been in decline since Ronald Reagan was president. Successive New York state and New York City administrations have failed to address the problem, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s and Mayor Eric Adams’s. Curtis Sliwa has no plan. They all focus on the flip side of
FBalanced energy policies will keep our lights on
or too many families and small businesses in New York, high energy bills have become a serious threat to their stability and success. But that burden is not shared equally. A recent study by Binghamton University found that Black and brown households spend a disproportionate share of their income on average utility expenses. That same pressure is felt by the restaurants, retailers and other small businesses that anchor our communities, for whom higher bills mean tighter margins and fewer dollars to reinvest in jobs and growth. Rising costs hit our communities twice — once at the kitchen table, and again on Main Street.
Our elected leaders, however, have the opportunity to reorient the state’s energy policies to lower bills and protect our communities. To keep families
rfinancially stable and local businesses thriving, policymakers must support a multi-pronged energy strategy to reduce overall costs, lessen disparities and foster a more reliable grid. If energy affordability and equity are left unaddressed, high costs will continue to threaten household budgets and the survival of the very enterprises that drive opportunity in our neighborhoods. The ripple effects are enormous. When families are forced to spend more on basic energy needs, they have less to spend in local shops, less to save for education and less to invest in their future. When small businesses face higher utility bills, they are forced to cut back on hiring, scale down expansion — or in some cases, shut their doors altogether.
existing inequities. For Long Island, that could mean more families in financial distress and more businesses shutting down.
sources are vital to our future, but they can’t meet the demand alone.
As someone who has dedicated his career to bolstering our local economy, I have great concern about the longterm impact of sky-high utility bills. If households are squeezed and small businesses cannot survive, job creation stalls, local wealth declines and entire communities lose ground. Lawmakers must take this seriously.
impose the steepest costs on those least able to afford them.
For Long Island’s business community, the stakes could not be higher. Rising energy bills risk driving entrepreneurs away and weakening our competitiveness. For families, the burden threatens financial stability and quality of life. For both, the wrong policies could deepen historical disparities.
There is no question that New York must do its part to advance sustainability, but the avenues we take to pursue that mission matter. We need a path forward that considers all factors before making decisions that could limit energy resources and further drive up costs.
This is why energy policy cannot be treated as one-size-fits-all. Communities differ in infrastructure, housing stock and business needs. Policies that ignore those differences risk driving up costs, reducing reliability and exacerbating
Letters
housing, speaking of “involuntary commitments” to “treatment” in facilities that don’t exist.
That totally ignores the tens of thousands of shelter-living students who need no treatment beyond a stable home address. The candidates speak of police and clearing the streets, but not of where this refuse would go. Cuomo’s plan is, again, only poetry in future tense while the desperation is now. A “rent freeze” is not “moderate,” but “moderate” has failed. The point is to keep people in their homes, now.
“Socialism” has worked well for the wealthy — maybe it should work a little for the poor as well. For all the obvious obstacles of Mamdani’s proposals, he alone names the problem, addresses its immediacy, acknowledges its multiple entwined factors and sees the human families entangled in those larger forces. That’s where the hope comes from, reflected in votes. It is a hope readily transferable to any other willing leader, but if hope comes only in Muslim garb …
BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre
It’s Democrats who are threatening our democracy
To the Editor:
Re Randi Kreiss’s column in the Sept. 25-Oct. 1 issue, “Is our democracy suffering growing pains”: The United States is approaching the 250th anniversary of
this political experiment. Kreiss’s op-ed attempted to place the blame on MAGA for the decline in our country, and I respectfully disagree.
■ Standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance has always been a mainstay of our country, until people on the left attempted to turn any display of national pride into a signal of racism.
■ Many on the left applauded the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was simply engaging young college students in active, respectful debate.
■ Not knowing who was running our country as Joe Biden was in mental decline was a huge threat to our democracy. Who used the autopen? Who issued the pardons? Who ran our country?
■ The Democrats wrote the book on using the Department of Justice to go after political opponents, and now have the nerve to complain when it is used against them. They weaponized the FBI to arrest political opponents like Gen. Michael Flynn, Peter Navarro, Roger Stone, Steve Bannon and Paul Manafort, to name a few. Now the Republicans have indicted Jim Comey as the tip of the spear, with many more to follow. Thank you, Democrats, for paving the way.
■ Arresting a former president for the first time in our nation’s history and attempting to incarcerate and bankrupt him is more proof that Democrats are more of a threat to our democracy.
■ If they gain control of both chambers of Congress, we can look forward to mak-
That means pursuing a balanced energy strategy — one that lowers costs and ensures reliability while advancing toward a greener future. Renewable energy is vital to our future, and requires sustained investments. But renewables alone cannot meet demand without driving costs higher. Natural gas, nuclear, hydro, wind, solar and emerging technologies all play important roles in powering New York. Phasing out reliable sources prematurely would destabilize the system and
The Empire State has always risen to meet big challenges. By adopting a balanced energy strategy that values every resource, invests in innovation and never loses sight of affordability, we can do so again — and set a national example in the process.
Phil Andrews is president of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, New York state’s largest African American chamber. He is also a member of the Long Island Power Authority’s Community Advisory Board.
Framework by Tim Baker
ing Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., states, packing the Supreme Court, and reopening our borders. Another B.S. impeachment will follow. Sounds undemocratic to me.
■ I could go on, but I will only add one more thing. I challenge you to put on a red “Make America Great Again” hat and walk the streets of Manhattan — especially the Upper West Side — and report back on your First Amend-
ment right of freedom of speech and expression. To all the people on the hard left, if you want to see the real threat to democracy, simply look in the mirror. I enjoy the fact that President Trump lives rent free in the heads of the liberal left. God bless America.
Yup, these pages are magical: at the Magic at Coney Show at Temple Beth Am — Merrick
TOM O’CONNOR North Bellmore
