HERALD FREEPORT
Woodward kids show culinary skill at luncheon
By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ
mrafiq@liherald.com
Woodward Children’s Center invited the Freeport Chamber of Commerce to the school’s first-ever community luncheon last Tuesday, giving local business leaders a close-up look at a culinary program that has grown into one of its most successful vocational offerings.
The luncheon was the brainchild of Greg Ingeno, Woodward’s executive director, who also serves as the chamber’s vice president.
He said the goal was simple — bring the community in, and let the students shine.
“It’s community relationships,” Ingeno said, “and Woodward has a very extensive culinary program.”
The program has been in operation for about 25 years, but in the past two years, Woodward – located at 201 W Merrick Road – has expanded it significantly by bringing in outside chefs to work directly with students.
Chef Richie Venticinque — who has more than 35 COntinuEd On pAgE 6
Rotary delivers a holiday boost to Long Island Cares
By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
The Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club’s annual effort to support Long Island Cares at Thanksgiving returned last week with renewed urgency, as Rotarians delivered roughly $1,500 worth of groceries to the hunger-relief organization’s Freeport pantry at a time when food insecurity has surged across Nassau County.
The project, now a yearly tradition for the club, culminated last Friday afternoon, when Rotarians gathered at the Costco in Westbury for a coordinated shopping run led by club
Secretary Kerry Hayde.
Though this was her first year heading the operation, Hayde organized the logistics with precision: six members arrived at noon, collected shopping carts and began loading them with turkeys, stuffing, baking supplies, canned items and other holiday staples specifically requested by Long Island Cares.
The effort was structured to ensure that the food would be both fresh and immediately useful. After filling their carts, the Rotarians wheeled the items out to their vehicles, packed their trunks and backseats, and caravanned to Long
Island Cares’ Freeport location, where staff and volunteers awaited the delivery.
The timing was intentional: Long Island Cares needed room to sort the goods and prepare for one of the busiest distribution periods of the year.
“We’re excited to be able to donate to Long Island Cares at a time where food prices keep increasing,” Hayde said. “It’s getting harder and harder for folks to (afford) basic goods.”
She noted that the project is supported by a mix of club fundraising and a Rotary district grant.
While the final breakdown is still being confirmed, the dis-
trict grant, she said, totaled $915, and the remainder was generated by the club’s own charitable efforts.
Hayde emphasized that the project reflects a commitment among members to get involved when community needs rise.
“It’s important to be a part of that community,” she said, “and step in and help when you
have the ability and resources to do so.”
For Hayde, the effort also comes with an awareness of the pressures facing families in need — rising food prices, the instability of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and the effects of economic strain across the region.
COntinuEd On pAgE 7
Holden Leeds/Herald
Woodward culinary students James Eick, Bobby Albano and Orlando Brown prepare meals for the Freeport Chamber of Commerce.
Lester Fieldsa remembered for his service
Former Freeport Fire Chief Lester Fieldsa, a pioneering figure in emergency medical services and a deeply respected member of the department, is being remembered for more than 60 years of unwavering dedication to the community.
Fieldsa, who joined the Freeport Fire Department on April 12, 1966, was among the earliest emergency medical technicians in Nassau County, completing certification training in the early 1970s. He later became one of the department’s most senior firefighters to earn paramedic credentials. Over the course of his service, he received numerous life-saving awards and played a central role in the advancement of EMS operations both locally and countywide.
His funeral was held on Nov. 19 at the firehouse on Pine Street, where generations of firefighters gathered to honor his life and legacy.
Fire Department Executive Director Ray Maguire, who had known Fieldsa since childhood, reflected on the chief’s influence.
“Growing up in the Freeport Fire Department, He was an advisor to the junior fire department,” Maguire said. “When computers were introduced to the Freeport Fire Department, Chief Fieldsa was the one who stepped up to teach all of us how to use this new technology. His example of dedication and commitment is something we all admired and try to emulate.”
Fieldsa held numerous leadership positions throughout his tenure. He served three terms as cap-
Firefighters and emergency personnel line Pine Street as two ladder trucks raise a large American flag in honor of former Chief Lester Fieldsa during his Jan. 19 funeral procession.
tain of Emergency Rescue Company No. 9 — in 1971–72, 1988–89 and 1997–98 — and was elected Assistant Chief in April 1981. He later led the department as Chief of Department from 1984 to 1985. Even at age 92, he continued to report to the firehouse and was actively serving as treasurer of Emergency Rescue Co. No. 9.
Mayor Robert T. Kennedy noted Fieldsa’s devotion to both his community and his country. “Chief Field-
sa served our Country as a veteran of the US Navy. He then went on to serve as a dedicated volunteer firefighter for over 60 years. He will be sorely missed.” Fieldsa’s legacy endures in the generations of firefighters and emergency responders he trained, mentored and inspired.
–Mohammad Rafiq
Bill Kelly/Herald
Lester FieLdsa
Veterans Stand Down helps 600 veterans
By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
The Freeport Armory saw its largest turnout in years this week as close to 600 veterans arrived for the 2025 Nassau County Veterans Stand Down, a preThanksgiving tradition that has grown into one of Long Island’s most significant support events for former servicemembers.
Hosted by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, the Stand Down once again offered winter essentials, food, and access to supportive services — the result of months of coordination.
“We start this probably July to get it coordinated,” said Ralph Esposito, director of the Veterans Service Agency. “We pick a date. It’s always the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.”
He said the Freeport location remains ideal for the drive-through operation, where lines often stretch from the Armory all the way toward the Freeport train station.
“Well worth it,” he added. “Yeah, you go home feeling great.”
Esposito said the most pressing challenges facing local veterans at this time of year include “PTSD, education, jobs — big thing,”
He noted that transportation remains a challenge for some homebound veterans, who often rely on fellow members of VFW, American Legion and DAV halls.
“That’s a brotherhood in itself,” he said.
The Veterans Stand Down was supported by a broad coalition of partners, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, General Needs, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, P.C. Richard & Son, Home Depot, Bedgear, the Nassau County Police Department, Long Island Cares, Island Harvest, My Country 96.1 FM, PSEG Long Island, and Reworld.
Among the largest contributors is General Needs, a veteran-focused nonprofit that coordinates winter essentials for the event.
“This was the most successful stand down we ever had, really,” said General Needs founder Lonnie Sherman. “We had a tremendous amount of people. It’s to give back.”
“We’re giving back to the vets that came to their country.” Sherman said “All it is is a thank you to vets, just a simple thank you for doing what you’ve done for this country.”
Sherman, who has been doing this work since 2008, said the need never seems to shrink.
“It just keeps slowly raising,” he said. He noted that many veterans who are considered “housed” are still living in shelters.
“My definition of homeless, you don’t have your own refrigerator,” he said, adding that many of the veterans they encounter struggle with PTSD and related challenges. “Let’s spend some money and see if we can get the support that these men and women need.”
Long Island Cares, the regional food bank, played a major role again this year,
distributing enough food for veterans to leave with full Thanksgiving meals.
“We gave out over 500 turkeys and packages of turkey fixings, canned vegetables and mashed potato mix and stuff like that,” said Fern Summer, who works with veterans through the organization.
“We probably gave out 590 things of food. We ran out of most turkeys and a significant amount of other things. But I think all the veterans went away happy, and this was a phenomenal event.”
Organizers estimate last year’s total at 525 recipients; this year came just short of 600, marking the event’s continued growth nearly two decades into its run at the Freeport Armory.
For many of the volunteers and supporters, the mission remains simple: to remind veterans that their service is valued and remembered. As Sherman put it, “Thank you for doing what you’ve done for this country, able to have the freedoms we have.”
For more information on veteran support programs, call the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency at (516) 572-6565.
Island Harvest volunteers Colleene Lamb, Karen Abbondondelo, Maureen Byrne, and Karina Hayes, along with veteran Dom Cutal, prepare produce and holiday fixings for distribution.
Bill Kelly/Herald photos
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman joins American Red Cross volunteers and Nassau County Veterans Service Agency staff during the Veterans Stand Down at the Freeport Armory.
Long Island Cares’ Mike Hayes, vice president of government relations, and Justin Berbig, veteran outreach manager, load turkeys and meal kits for veterans.
Members of Military Blue Star Mothers of New York—Andrea Nordgart and Debi Bove— with veteran Carlos Garcia, hand out holiday wreaths and care items to attendees.
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Legislator Debra Mulé is partnering with the Oceanside, Freeport and Baldwin public libraries for a holiday food drive now through Dec. 12.
Food drive for NEST launches with local libraries
Nassau County Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Debra Mulé is partnering with the Oceanside, Freeport and Baldwin public libraries to host a holiday food drive benefitting The NEST at Nassau Community College.
Now through Dec. 12, residents can donate canned goods, dry goods, shelfstable juices and other nonperishable staples during regular business hours at the three participating libraries: Oceanside Library, 30 Davison Ave.; Freeport Memorial Library, 144 W. Merrick Road; and Baldwin Public Library, 2385 Grand Ave.
Contributors may also assemble complete holiday meal baskets. A full list of requested items is available through a QR code on the event flier.
The NEST — Nassau: Empowerment and Support for Tomorrow — is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit that operates a free-choice
pantry offering food, personal-care items and support services to Nassau Community College students, employees and families in need. Campus partners, local hunger-relief groups, corporate donors and community organizations bolster its work. Last year, Mulé secured a $10,000 American Rescue Plan grant to support the pantry’s outreach.
“Through their efforts to deliver vital nutrition assistance for the Nassau Community College community, the NEST continues to shine as an empowering beacon of hope that makes a real impact,” Mulé said in a statement. “Your support will make a tremendous difference. Let’s work together to make sure every Nassau family thrives this holiday season.”
–Abigail
One of the most common and devastating misconceptions about elder law estate planning is that it is too late to save money from nursing home costs. On the contrary, there are crisis planning tools that may save substantial assets from being spent on nursing home costs, even after the client has already entered the nursing home. Almost always, if there are assets left, much can be saved.
There are only three ways to pay for nursing home costs – your own assets, long-term care insurance (owned by less than five percent of the population), or Medicaid provided by the government.
Many people know about the “five-year look-back period” and assume nothing can be done without advance planning. The five-year look-back rule means that if you gave any gifts away within the last five years, when asking for Medicaid to pay for nursing home costs, the gift amount creates a penalty period, which results in a period of ineligibility for Medicaid coverage.
Despite the five-year look-back, New York
law allows people to protect assets from nursing home costs, even without pre-planning. For single applicants, you may be able to save about half of the assets through the “gift and loan” strategy. For married couples, where one spouse needs a nursing home, “spousal refusal” may protect substantial amounts of assets for the spouse at home. These techniques are discussed in detail at trustlaw. com, under “Practice Areas”, then “Medicaid Strategies”.
The five-year look-back rule does not affect eligibility of Medicaid home care, also known as “community” Medicaid. Currently, an applicant may transfer their assets out of their name and still qualify for home care in the next month.
Many assets, such as retirement accounts, rental properties and even the family home in certain cases, are exempt from Medicaid. The bottom line is that if someone you love is in failing health, the sooner you consult an elder
the more you will
be able to
Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643
■ PUBlIC NOTICES: Ext. 232 E-mail: legalnotices@liherald.com
Freeport
Grieco
Courtesy office Debra Mulé
Chamber president: ‘food was excellent’
years of industry experience and has owned several restaurants, including Rachel’s on the Nautical Mile — spends two to three days a week giving Woodward students professional instruction in the kitchen, which they wouldn’t ordinarily receive in a traditional classroom.
Twice a week, students in the program prepare full lunches for staff and eligible students. The meals often sell out, with 35 to 40 orders on a typical day.
Alot of them come into the classes — they’ve never even held a knife. And now they’re frying chicken
Woodward students have prepared a range of dishes — from chicken pot pie and curry chicken with rice, to dumplings, chopped chicken parm heros and Cobb salad.
Meliss A Rosenholtz vocational coordinator
The high school aged students have learned everything from knife skills to plating, and they’re graded on both technique and presentation.
Ingeno said the hands-on nature of the curriculum is what makes it so successful.
Students learn a recipe in the classroom, practice prep techniques, and then cook and serve the dish in the school’s café, with many bringing those skills home.
“A lot of the times the kids will prepare the lunches at their home, so they’re bringing that culinary skill back home with them,” Ingeno said.
Melissa Rosenholtz, Woodward’s vocational coordinator, oversees much of the day-to-day training.
She said the program is structured in three tiers: an introductory class, a second-year class and a café team made up of eight students who have progressed far enough to handle full meal service.
Students start with basic safety and knife skills before moving into cooking, service and customer interaction. Those who excel often become candidates for job placements at local businesses like Tropical Smoothie or Montana’s.
“A lot of them come into the classes — they’ve never even held a knife,” Rosenholtz said. “And now they’re frying chicken.”
Some graduates move into culinary
jobs after leaving Woodward — and one former student now manages a Smashburger, Rosenholtz said.
During the inaugural chamber luncheon, students spent the morning pre-
paring the meals and organizing service for roughly 15 to 20 attendees.
Ingeno said the idea fit into Woodward’s growing emphasis on community engagement and allowed the chamber to see the program in action.
“I just thought about it — be a great way for the culinary students to give something back to the community,” he said. “It’s nice for the chamber to come by, and they can actually see the program.”
The luncheon also featured a guest speaker, Amy Fleischer of Harmony Healthcare, who spoke about clinic services available to Freeport residents.
The chamber’s president, Ken Dookram, said the event was a smashing success.
“Lunch went great,” Dookram said. “The food was excellent. The kids who were working as servers, they did a great job.”
Dookram expressed hope that the Woodward-chamber partnership would continue, praising the school for its hospitality and the students for their professionalism.
Vocational coordinator melissa rosenholtz stands with Woodward culinary students James eick, Bobby albano, orlando Brown, georgian Lewis, Sneha Jackson and ray Wynne, who were behind the meal setup for the chamber luncheon.
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
Chamber members, Woodward administrators and culinary students gather for a group photo following the luncheon.
Pantry receives help to meet growing need
Even with the demands of work and family life, she said, she tries to dedicate at least a portion of her week to community service, and sees this project as an essential expression of Rotary’s values.
The timing proved especially critical for Long Island Cares’ Freeport facility, which has seen heavy demand in recent weeks. Site manager Reyna Felix described a pantry operating at full tilt, with shelves restocked in the morning and nearly emptied by the afternoon.
Families that had not needed assistance since 2020 and 2021, during the pandemic, have been returning, driven by benefit cuts, the higher cost of living and the challenges of preparing for the holidays.
Felix said that conditions were particularly strained earlier this month. She recalled that the pantry had been “suffering because SNAP stopped serving, the government shut down, plus (there) wasn’t a lot of food around,” leaving the staff to stretch whatever limited inventory they could secure.
Despite that, Long Island Cares stayed open, and continued to serve every family that came in.
The Rotary’s holiday donation, she said, came at a moment when the pantry was stabilizing after weeks of uncertainty.
Last year, the Rotary contributed about $1,000 worth of food. This year the club increased its support, something Felix said made a noticeable difference in the pantry’s ability to prepare for Thanksgiving distribution.
She noted that the larger community has also played an important role, with private groups and families donating food throughout the week. Felix said she was moved by the number of households that made the effort to help their neighbors.
The pantry’s holiday operations are extensive. This
derosette Harrison, president of the freeport-merrick rotary; reyna felix, Long island Cares’ pantry manager; rotary Secretary Kerry Hayde and two other rotarians gathered boxes of donated food after finishing their annual holiday shopping effort for Long island Cares.
week Long Island Cares distributed turkeys, chicken, pork loins, hams and a full array of Thanksgiving dishes to families from Freeport and surrounding communities.
For Felix, the work is emotionally grounding. The focus, she said, is always on ensuring that every family sitting around a table on the holiday has what they need to celebrate with dignity. “I want to … make sure
every single one that comes here have all they will need for the Thanksgiving dinner,” she said.
The Rotary’s contribution, she added, is one of many examples of what can happen when a community works in unison, with civic groups, elected officials, private organizations and individual residents all playing a role in supporting a food pantry that has become a lifeline for hundreds of local families.
Courtesy Kerry Hayde
Unpacking the roots and rituals of the day
Thanksgiving is a holiday rich with history, traditions, and cultural significance in the United States. Whether you’re gathering with family or taking time to reflect, it’s a time to appreciate the harvest, indulge in hearty meals, and celebrate togetherness. While the holiday is often centered around food and family, it has deep historical roots and a complex legacy. Here are three key things to know that will give you a more complete picture of this beloved holiday. For those wishing to donate there are a number of local instituitons providing that very opportunity to give back, including Long Island Cares in Freeport as well as Island Harvest in Melville.
–Brian Kacharaba
The complex origins: Pilgrims and Native Americans
The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621 at Plymouth Colony, where Pilgrims and Wampanoag Native Americans shared a feast. Though often depicted as a peaceful gathering, the reality was more complex. The relationship between settlers and Native tribes eventually turned into conflict and war, leading to the tragic loss of indigenous lands. The idea of Thanksgiving as a national holiday took centuries to establish, and it wasn’t until Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it in 1863 that it became an official part of American culture, aiming to unite the country during the Civil War.
From venison to turkey: The evolution of the feast
Thanksgiving is synonymous with a hearty feast, but the foods served at the first Thanksgiving in 1621 were quite different from the dishes we associate with the holiday today. There were no mashed potatoes or pumpkin pies at that original gathering—rather, the menu included venison, corn, beans, wildfowl like ducks and geese, and seafood. Over the centuries, Thanksgiving meals evolved as different cultural influences shaped the American diet. Immigrants brought new recipes, and regional specialties, like cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes, were added. Today, turkey has become the iconic centerpiece, reflecting American culinary traditions and regional preferences that have developed over time.
Modern significance: Gratitude, mourning, and reflection
Thanksgiving today serves as a time to gather with loved ones and express gratitude for the blessings of the year. It’s a moment to reflect on health, family, and prosperity, often marked by large meals and festive traditions. For many, it signals the beginning of the holiday season, with parades, football games, and holiday shopping to follow. However, the holiday also carries a complicated legacy for Native Americans. For many Indigenous peoples, Thanksgiving represents a day of mourning, as it marks the start of colonial expansion that led to displacement, loss of culture, and centuries of suffering. The day now encourages reflection on the history and impact of settler-colonialism.
Freeport Police mark historic promotions
By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
The Freeport Police Department reached two historic milestones this week, promoting Sgt. Melissa Rodriguez and Sgt. Jayson Kaulesar—each the first in the department’s history to represent their respective communities in the supervisory ranks.
Rodriguez is now the first female Hispanic sergeant ever promoted in the Village of Freeport. Kaulesar becomes the first Guyanese American sergeant in the department’s history. Both were sworn in during a ceremony at Village Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at around 2 p.m.
Police Chief Michael Smith said the moment reflects not only individual achievement but a broader evolution in what leadership looks like within Freeport law enforcement.
“They both performed exemplary, and we just hope they continue to perform the same way as a supervisor now and become a role model for members of the community,” Smith said.
For Kaulesar, the promotion is deeply personal.
Born and raised in the village, he attended Freeport Public Schools and graduated from Freeport High School in 2001. He went on to Hofstra University, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 2005.
He joined the Freeport Police Department in July 2020. In just four years, he has built a record of leadership and public safety work that includes serving as a Field Training Officer, receiving assignment to the Special Enforcement Team, and earning multiple honors for his contributions.
His awards include the New York State Mothers Against Drunk Driving & Stop-DWI Recognition of Excellence for both 2023 and 2024, as well as an Excellent Police Duty award from the department.
Kaulesar said he is honored not only by the rank
but by the history it represents, becoming the first Guyanese American officer in Freeport to be promoted to sergeant.
Rodriguez’s promotion represents another historic milestone—one that highlights the growing diversity of the department’s leadership.
A 2012 magna cum laude graduate of Farmingdale State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Rodriguez entered law enforcement in 2019 when she was appointed to the Freeport Police Department.
In the years since, she has served across several key units: patrol, Field Training Officer, Community Affairs, Traffic Enforcement, the Community Response Unit, and the Detective Division. She has
also been part of the Adopt-A-Cop program since 2020. Rodriguez has been recognized with a commendation and a meritorious award for her dedicated service to the village.
The simultaneous promotions of Rodriguez and Kaulesar mark a significant step forward for representation in the village’s police leadership. Both officers now step into supervisory roles as examples for the next generation of Freeport residents—many of whom share their backgrounds, neighborhoods, and lived experiences.
Their promotions signal not just personal achievement, but a milestone in Freeport’s ongoing effort to build a department that reflects the diverse community it serves.
Sparkle on Stage brings Oz to the village
By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ
mrafiq@liherald.com
Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center transported audiences to the magical world of Oz this past weekend, filling its Woodcleft Avenue theater with the music of The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz during a lively fundraising concert.
“This past weekend audience were engaged and entertained as Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center was transformed into Oz,” said Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center owner Robyn Workman. “With songs from both The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz performed by the cast of 7, (the audience went) on a magical journey.”
The intimate performing arts theater used lighting, staging, and costuming touches to create a warm, nostalgic atmosphere that resonated across generations.
The cast of seven delivered a selection of beloved standards from both productions, leaning into harmonies and character-driven vocals. Workman said the music shaped the emotional experience of the night.
The concert also marked a meaningful moment in the organization’s long-term plans. Sparkle on Stage is raising funds to purchase the building it currently
rents and solidify its future as a permanent home for local performing arts.
“This concert was a fundraiser to
help the performing arts theater raise funds to purchase the building they currently call home,” said Workman. “We
are excited to be able to bring these wonderful songs to life to an audience of all ages.”
Workman added that the heart of Sparkle on Stage’s mission is its commitment to creative opportunity. The theater regularly opens its stage to performers of all ages, offering workshops, concerts, and stage productions that nurture emerging talent. “
That commitment was on full display with the directorial debut of Cora Jones, a Freeport High School senior and student at the Long Island High School for the Arts. Jones led the concert with confidence and vision, earning praise from both cast and audience.
“Oz in concert was my directorial debut, Sparkle was a safe space for me to learn how to be a leader and create art and we ended up with a beautiful product,” said Jones. “We had an amalgamation of artists from 8 year olds to veterans of the industry and I think that made it so much more creative because everyone could learn from everyone.”
As Sparkle on Stage continues its efforts to secure a permanent home on the Nautical Mile, events like this remind the community of what the arts bring to Freeport: joy, connection, and a stage where young talent can grow.
Courtesy Village of Freeport
Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy, assistant chief Donnie Ethier, new officer Matthew Ranaldo, Sgt Victor Reyes, Det. Sgt. Melissa Rodriguez, Sgt. Jason Kaulesar, detective lieutenant Vincent Kennedy, Deputy Chief Joseph China, and Chief Michael Smith at the swearing in ceremony on Nov. 18 which featured two historic appointments.
Courtesy Alina Kuehn
The full cast of Sparkle on Stage’s Oz concert poses on the yellow brick road set after the show, featuring characters from both The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz.
Independent pharmacies warn of collapse
By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com
Howard Jacobson sat in his car outside a Long Island rehab center, holding a box of medication that cost him more than he would be reimbursed to dispense it. The longtime pharmacist, who owns Rockville Centre Pharmacy and West Hempstead Pharmacy, said that moments like this have become routine in an industry he once believed had room for sustainable community care.
For Jacobson, a pharmacist for nearly four decades, the crisis is no longer abstract. It is existential.
Independent pharmacists across New York describe the same pattern: reimbursement rates from pharmacy benefit managers — the middlemen known as PBMs — frequently fall below the cost of the drugs they dispense. PBMs negotiate prices on behalf of insurance plans, adjudicate claims and determine how much pharmacies get paid. But with three companies controlling nearly 90 percent of the national market, pharmacists say they have little leverage.
“They pay me what they want,” Jacobson said. “Many times now they’re paying us below my cost of the medication.”
Jacobson said that as a result, he has cut hours, trimmed staff and subsidized losses out of his own pocket.
On some drugs, he said, the reimbursement rates defy logic. “Yesterday I
did a prescription for 46 cents,” he said.
State lawmakers, backed by hundreds of pharmacists, are now pushing the Patient Access to Pharmacy Act, which would establish minimum reimbursement standards for commercial insurance plans and increase oversight of PBMs. Legislators say it mirrors a costplus model that New York’s Medicaid program implemented in 2023, and that independent pharmacies credit with stabilizing state spending.
Assemblywoman Judy Griffin said she had heard the same warnings from
pharmacists in her district for years.
“They really have limited incomes, like our seniors,” Griffin said, referring to the patients who rely most heavily on local pharmacies. “Getting the drugs at a cheaper price is really important.”
Griffin is co-sponsoring the bill, which has more than 80 supporters in the Assembly. Pharmacy closures, she said — including dozens on Long Island — have already strained communities that depend on them for guidance, delivery and everyday care. “It’s nice when your pharmacist knows you,” she said.
The bill would set a minimum reimbursement rate tied to the cost of acquiring and dispensing medication, and impose transparency requirements on PBMs and restrict practices that critics say steer patients toward PBMowned mail-order pharmacies or chains.
At a rally last week outside Rockville Centre Pharmacy, Jacobson warned lawmakers plainly: “No business can afford to operate at a loss.”
“We’re offered one-sided contracts, and it’s take it or leave it,” he added. “If you leave it, then not only are you telling your patients you don’t care about them, you’re leaving a network.”
Critics of the bill — including some insurers, employer groups and PBMs — argue that mandating reimbursement floors could increase premiums, reduce negotiating flexibility and drive up pharmaceutical spending. They warn that cost-plus models can weaken market competition, and could ultimately shift financial burdens onto employers and consumers.
CVS Caremark, the PBM owned by CVS Health, did not respond to a request for comment.
Griffin said she sees the legislation as part of a broader effort to protect not just small businesses, but a key piece of the state’s health care infrastructure.
“I am really at my wits’ end on how to keep my business going,” Jacobson said. “I don’t want to concede defeat.”
Courtesy Office Judy Griffin
Assemblywoman Judy Griffin joined dozens of pharmacists at Rockville Centre Pharmacy on Nov. 18 to urge fellow lawmakers to pass the Patient Access to Pharmacy Act.
Donation expands women’s health services
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Nassau University Medical Center has received a $1 million anonymous donation to expand women’s health services, funding advanced 3D mammography and bone density technology that will improve early detection and preventive care for patients across Long Island.
The gift, secured by NuHealth Board Chairman Stuart Rabinowitz, will allow the hospital to acquire new 3D mammography systems with biopsy capability and an updated bone density scanner. Both are expected to transform care for two of the most significant health issues affecting women — breast cancer and osteoporosis.
“This extraordinary act of generosity will help us detect breast cancer and osteoporosis earlier, treat them more effectively, and save countless lives,” said Dr. Richard Becker, interim chief executive officer at NUMC. “This is an investment in every woman who entrusts her care to NUMC.”
Rabinowitz said the new equipment will modernize critical services at the East Meadow hospital.
“We are deeply committed to ensuring accessible care for every member of our community,” he said. “This investment will help us deliver on that promise for generations to come.”
The donation comes as NUMC’s exist-
ing mammography equipment, first installed in 2010, reaches the end of its serviceable life. The hospital serves as a key healthcare provider for underserved communities on Long Island, offering equitable, high-quality care to women who may otherwise face barriers to preventive screenings. According to global data, more than 2.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and nearly 700,000 die from the disease. On Long
Island, approximately one in eight women will face a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime — with higher rates reported among low-income populations.
Early detection is critical. The new Hologic 3D mammography systems will generate high-resolution images that improve accuracy, reduce unnecessary biopsies, and lower callback rates by nearly 50 percent. The systems also feature self-controlled compression for improved comfort and allow both
screening and biopsy on the same platform.
NUMC’s Mobile Mammography Unit, which already brings 3D technology into the community, will continue to provide outreach and screening services, while the new in-hospital systems will expand capacity and streamline diagnostic care.
The donation will also fund a Hologic Horizon DXA system, replacing an outdated bone density scanner. The new device uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density, assess fracture risk, and evaluate body composition with greater precision. Early detection of bone loss, particularly in postmenopausal women, can play a major role in preventing osteoporosis and related health complications.
Together, the new systems will provide a full spectrum of advanced imaging for women, combining faster, more accurate, and more comfortable screening experiences with NUMC’s ongoing mission of health equity.
Nassau University Medical Center, operated by the Nassau Health Care Corporation, is a public teaching hospital in East Meadow. As a leading safetynet institution, it provides compassionate, high-quality care to all, regardless of ability to pay, and serves as a regional leader in emergency medicine, women’s health, and preventive care.
For more, visit NUMC.edu.
NEW YORK’S WRONGEST RUNNING COMEDY!
Herald file
Nassau University Medical Center received a $1 million anonymous donation, which will allow the hospital to expand women’s health services.
Rejection of NCC leader sparks opposition
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Nassau Community College’s board of trustees and local leaders expressed strong opposition after State University of New York trustees formally rejected the nomination of Maria Conzatti as the college’s next president. The unanimous 12-0 vote on Nov. 14 — the first of its kind in SUNY history — has heightened tensions over governance, autonomy and college leadership.
“SUNY does not comment on personnel issues,” a spokesperson told the Herald. “Community colleges are essential engines of student success and upward mobility, and SUNY is committed to excellent leadership for all of our campuses.”
Jerry Kornbluth, NCC’s vice president of community and governmental relations, called the decision “extremely upsetting,” citing Conzatti’s accomplishments during her tenure. Under her leadership, Kornbluth said, the college eliminated $14 million in debt and increased enrollment by 3 to 7 percent annually. As previously reported in the Herald, NCC also secured full eight-year accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
“Here you have a president who has done everything possible to move the college forward, implementing all the things SUNY would want her to do,”
Kornbluth said. “The board and most of the faculty are fully behind her.”
County Executive Bruce Blakeman also criticized SUNY’s decision. “Once again, SUNY has taken local control away from the suburbs by refusing to confirm the duly selected president, Maria Conzatti, put forth by the Nassau Community College Board of Trustees,” Blakeman stated in a news release.
“This is a slap in the face to every local board in New York State. Maria has done an excellent job educating our students and increasing enrollment at our college.”
NCC has been without a permanent president since 2022, and Conzatti has led the college since January of that year, despite SUNY guidelines recommending that temporary appointments last no more than six months. In the spring of 2023, the NCC board gave her an “iron-clad” five-year contract, extending through Dec. 31, 2028, which remains in effect.
Despite the SUNY vote, NCC Trustee Elliot Conway confirmed the board’s full support for Conzatti.
“I find it an upside-down world where the leader of the college with the highest enrollment increase is deemed unacceptable by the SUNY board,” Conway said.
In June, SUNY trustees began implementing a rule that would limit interim appointments of an administrator-in-
charge to one year, effectively blocking Conzatti from continuing in her role. Conway has voiced concerns about what he calls state overreach into local governance.
Speaking at a SUNY listening session in August, Conway said, “SUNY’s proposed rule, giving the chancellor final say over presidential appointments, salaries and contracts, is unnecessary overreach. Centralizing control would harm responsiveness, equity and the partnership that makes our programs succeed.”
At the session, Conway highlighted Conzatti’s contributions, including balancing budgets, adding vocational programs and improving campus civility. He also noted that Nassau County contributes more funding to the college than the state, asserting that local trustees should retain oversight.
“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” Conway said, calling for SUNY to confirm Conzatti as president.
The dispute unfolds amid a long-running, bitter conflict with the faculty union, which has opposed Conzatti’s leadership, citing department consolidations and other governance changes.
“The Board of Trustees’ decision is a responsible and necessary step toward restoring stability and confidence in Nassau Community College leadership,” Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers, said in
since January 2022.
a statement. “Visionary, sustainable leadership cannot be built on prolonged interim arrangements.”
SUNY has sent a letter to NCC regarding a new presidential search, and a SUNY representative will work with the campus on the process.
Herald file photo
Maria Conzatti has been leading Nassau Community College in an interim capacity
STEPPING OUT
‘Nutcracker’ sweets
Decades of holiday magic with Leggz Ltd. Dance
‘
By Abbey Salvemini
Tis the season: Those Sugar Plum Fairies and various figments of a young girl’s imagination come alive once again on local stages. Sacred Heart Academy started it all off recently with its student-run production, now the holiday classic is thrust into the spotlight throughout December.
Rockville Centre-based Leggz Ballet, with Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts, brings sparkle to the Madison Theatre stage as ‘Nutcracker’ season dances on. This year’s production is especially meaningful for the studio’s founder Joan Hope MacNaughton, her staff and students: Leggz celebrates 30 years bringing this beloved classic to life. With MacNaughton’s artistic direction and choreography, accompanied as always by the beloved South Shore Symphony Orchestra, the theater is filled with the wonder of the delightful ballet that showcases Tchaikovsky’s mesmerizing score. You might say it’s one of the most memorable holiday soundtracks ever composed.
With over four decades leading Leggz, the 30-year milestone is both deeply personal and artistically meaningful for MacNaughton.
• Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.: Dec. 6, 5 p.m.; Dec. 7, 4 p.m.
• Tickets are $35-$65; available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or call the box office at (516) 323-4444
• Madison Theatre, Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
“Something that was a dream many, many years ago to have my own Nutcracker came true,” she says. MacNaughton reflects on how the production has grown in scale, professionalism and reach since its first performance, then on the South Side High School stage in Rockville Centre.
“From the costumes to all the dancers, it evolved dramatically. It started with dancers from my studio doing the solo parts. Then, I brought in professionals from the dance world to fill the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy, Dewdrop and Snow Queen.”
Dancers from renowned companies — including Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, also Broadway — are now integral to the production.
MacNaughton — who danced professionally prior
Mark Tremonti
Sings Frank Sinatra ‘Christmas Special’
From redefining rock to reimagining Sinatra, Grammy-winning musician Mark Tremonti, backed by members of Frank Sinatra’s original orchestra, brings his timeless swing and holiday spirit to the Paramount. The lights go down. Familiar horns pipe up from a world-class orchestra as piano twinkles like the jackpot lights on a winning slot machine. Then, the voice kicks in. It has all of the smoky splendor those first few notes hinted at, but it ain’t Ol’ Blue Eyes. In a tailored suit with microphone in hand, it’s Mark Tremonti. The multiplatinum musician sounds just as at home paying homage to the catalog of Frank Sinatra as he does fronting Tremonti or shredding his soul out as the guitarist for Alter Bridge and Creed. Tremonti’s influence on rock music is undeniable. Now, witness a new side of his artistry as he pays heartfelt tribute to the legendary Frank Sinatra.
to opening her studio — attributes their interest in joining her production to her both network and her artistic standards.
“I have a lot of friends who are dancers in Manhattan, so I reached out to them for professional roles,” she says.
Yet, the heart of the show remains the young dancers, who include talented kids residing in Rockville Centre, Oceanside, Baldwin, among other communities. A cast of over 50 young dancers in all, from throughout the metro area, join the guest dancers in this dynamic staging.
“It doesn’t matter what school they come from,” MacNaughton emphasizes. “They all really love dance and know what a quality production is like.”
Performing alongside the South Shore Symphony adds another layer of magic. The orchestra, MacNaughton explains, elevates the performance for both dancers and the audience, adding a unique energy and richness that recorded tracks can’t match.
“There’s nothing more exciting for a dancer than performing with live music. Watching the musicians play is a treat, you’re getting both the dance and the music.”
Her goal is that kids in the audience or who step onto the stage for the first time will continue to find inspiration in “The Nutcracker.” Keeping the beauty of dance alive is what’s behind MacNaughton’s decades of running her studio and producing the show each year.
Among the newest generation of dancers is 7-year-old Emma Lavas, of Rockville Centre, who’s making her first appearance in the ballet, continuing a family tradition. Her mom, Meg Guido, danced in the very first Leggz production, continuing for 12 years. Recalling the thrill of being on stage, she’s delighted, of course, that her daughter is now stepping into that role.
“It’s such a beautiful thing to see her dancing and smiling,” Guido says.
“She teaches me a lot of moves,” Lavas says, about her mother, as she carries forth with the family legacy.
Another Rockville Centre dancer, 14-year-old Analiese Cartier shares: “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to do this each year.”
For 15-year-old Paige McDaid, who also lives in Rockville Centre, the show has been as much about friendship as dancing.
“I’ve built some of my life-long friends and I’m so grateful for them.”
She wants audiences, whether returning or seeing it for the first time, to feel that same magic she experiences onstage.
“It’s such a beautiful performance, and we put so much effort into it,” McDaid adds, enthusiastically.
Celebrating three decades of Nutcracker, Leggz Ltd. has filled the Madison Theatre with music, movement and holiday spirit. From the youngest dancers to world-class professionals bringing the choreography to life, the production captures the essence of the season. It explains why this timeless performance continues to draw everyone back each year.
Saturday, Dec. 11, 8 p.m. $108.75, $86.50, $71.25, $59.75, $54.25, $43.75.The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Just ‘Wild About Harry’ redux
Everyone has another chance to go “Wild About Harry” when over 30 of Long Island’s top musicians and songwriters gather for another concert in tribute to the beloved Harry Chapin. Groove along to 18 acts — including concert organizer Stuart Markus and his trio Gathering Time — that perform Chapin classics including “Taxi” and “Cat’s in the Cradle,” plus many lesser hits and fan favorites like “Mr. Tanner.” The concert is concsdered a “Birthday Bash,” as Chapin would have turned 83 on Dec. 7. As they’ve done for the past 20 years, participating artists are encouraged to put their own interpretations on his songs. Long Island music “royalty” is turning out in force to support this most worthy cause. All revenues above production costs will be donated to Long Island Cares, the food bank Chapin founded. Long Island Cares will also be collecting non-perishable food donations.
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m. Minimum $20 suggested donation per ticket. Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
Courtesy Leggz Ltd.
The Snow Queen (Ella Titus, Miami City Ballet) and Snow King (Mauricio Vera Nunez, National Ballet Of Cuba) begin Clara’s Dream.
The Snowflake Corps dazzle in the intricate Waltz of the Snowflakes, the grand finale of Act I.
Tim Baker/Herald Evelyn Strouse and Paige McDaid in rehearsal.
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR
Juried Photography Show
Freeport Memorial Library hosts the 43rd annual show.
View color and black-and-white photographs from professional and amateur artists across the tristate area, sponsored by the Long Island Arts Council at Freeport.
• Where: 144 W. Merrick Road
• Time: Ongoing, through Nov. 28
• Contact: freeportlibrary.info or (516) 379-3274
On Exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art invites visitors into a world where reality is uncertain, dreams take shape and the line between fact and imagination disappears. From dreamlike landscapes and uncanny portraits to images so exact they look like photographs, works in “Real, Surreal, and Photoreal” challenge what we see and what we believe. The exhibit explores how artists across generations have reimagined “the real” in strikingly different ways. Works from both American and European artists are featured. On view through March 8.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
Special EFX AllStars in concert
Special EFX All-Stars, led by guitar virtuoso Chieli Minucci, takes the stage for one extraordinary night of genredefying fusion. He’s joined his bandmates Lin Rountree, Eric Marienthal, Jay Rowe, Dave Livolsi, Joel Rosenblatt, Alan Grubner & Emedin Rivera. For over 40 years, Minucci has been a driving force in modern electric jazz, co-founding Special EFX and releasing more than 30 albums that blend rock, Latin rhythms and contemporary jazz into a signature sound. A three-time Emmy Award winner, he has collaborated with musical greats from Celine Dion and Lionel Richie to Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber, Omar Hakim, even Bernie Williams, and others.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
‘Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! The Musical’
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes back this delightful production, based on Mo Willems’ award-winning “Pigeon” picture
Allman Betts Family Revival
Get ready for an unforgettable night of music at the 9th Annual Allman Betts Family Revival! This extraordinary live music experience is hosted by Devon Allman and Duane Betts, the sons of Allman Brothers Band legends Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts. Inspired by the legendary Last Waltz, this tour features a revolving cast of top-tier artists from the realms of blues, Americana, country, and rock, all coming together to honor the timeless legacy and rich catalog of the Allman Brothers Band.This year’s amazing lineup features the Allman Betts Band, the iconic Jimmy Hall, former Wet Willie singer and Allman Brothers alumni; alongside Robert Randolph, Amanda Shires, G. Love, Judith Hill, Jimmy Hall, Cody & Luther Dickinson, Alex Orbison, and others. Special guests may also join in. Set against the backdrop of the famous Allman Brothers Brotherhood of Light show, blending electrifying music with stunning visuals. This unforgettable night that honors the rich history and timeless catalog of the Allman Brothers Band is a musical family reunion that promises to lift your spirits as you enjoy an authentic Allman Brothers musical experience. $108.75, $64.75.
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
• Where: 144 W. Merrick Rd., Freeport
• Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m.
• Contact: freeportlibrary.info or (516) 379-3274
Fourth Annual World AIDS Day Gala
Join in the community fundraiser and awareness event honoring World AIDS Day, with speakers and live entertainment at The Factory.
• Where: 124 Woodcleft Ave.
• Time: Noon-3 p.m.
• Contact: (347) 234-3084
DEC
1
Board of Trustees
Meeting
The Village of Freeport Board of Trustees convene for a public session to discuss municipal matters and community affairs.
• Where: Freeport Village Hall, 46 N. Ocean Ave.
• Time: 5:30 p.m.
DEC
2
Cream and Tea at Westbury House’
books. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party. It’s not easy being the Pigeon; you never get to do anything. But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird can do something. Featuring an innovative mix of songs, and feathers, this show is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also Nov. 29, Dec. 3-Dec. 4
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 2245800
29
3 The Hard Way showcase Stop by Prestige Palace for a late-night DJ showcase featuring Lucan Silver, DJ Gerber, and Hurricane Sound. $33.85.
• Where: 40 W. Merrick Rd., Freeport
• Time: 10 p.m.-4 a.m.
• Contact: (516) 240-1616 NOV
1863 Thanksgiving Step back in time at Old Bethpage Village Restoration for some
holiday fun. Immerse yourself in the sights and smells of the festive season, as those early years of our national day of feasting and giving thanks comes alive. Imagine that it’s 1863 and you’re preparing a holiday meal, following President Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation of the first official national holiday of Thanksgiving Day. The restored site bustles with activity as it readies for an old-fashioned Thanksgiving: wood-burning stoves, beehive ovens and hearths are fired up to prepare foods and baked goods made from 19thcentury recipes. Culinary exhibits include the “spitting” and roasting of turkey in a tin reflector oven beside the Williams House hearth and preparation of pies at the Powell House. Also on display are 19th-century methods of food preservation employed for late fall crops. Historical period music adds to the festive atmosphere each afternoon. $15, $12 seniors and children 5-12.
• Where: 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage
• Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Contact: oldbethpagevillage restoration.org or call (516) 572-8409
Jolly Jamboree
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes everyone to a festive family night filled with merriment
for all ages. The museum is transformed into a winter wonderland to celebrate the start of the holiday season. Among the highlights: Snap a festive family photo with Santa, join Rudolph and Miss on the dance floor for a holiday dance party, create keepsake holiday crafts to take home or give as gifts, decorate a cookie and design a special plate perfect for Santa’s visit, enjoy classic holiday tunes performed by carolers throughout the galleries. Also take in some “sock skating” on the museum’s indoor rink and meet the Ice Queen, and more. Come dressed in your holiday best: sparkles, pajamas, reindeer antlers, or your favorite holiday character costume! $16 per person ($14 members). Advance purchase is recommended as space is limited.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Freeport Listening Room Concert
Enjoy an intimate acoustic concert with singer-songwriter Tal Naccarato at Freeport Library’s ongoing Listening Room series.
Savor a traditional Cream Tea featuring freshly baked scones with Devonshire cream, assorted sweets, and a fine selection of teas. The experience concludes with a guided tour of beautifully decorated Westbury House. $28, discounts for members and groups.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m.; also Dec. 3-4 and ongoing
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
Having an event?
Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@ liherald.com.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 601794/2022 COUNTY OF NASSAU
WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND
SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR OCWEN LOAN ACQUISITION TRUST 2023-HB1, Plaintiff, vs.
CLAUDIA CAYNE, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JACQUELINE FRANCES
CAYNE; ALFRED CAYNE AKA ALFRED CAYNE JR, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JACQUELINE FRANCES
CAYNE; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF JACQUELINE FRANCES
CAYNE, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands,
widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, “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 Subject Property described in the Complaint, Defendants.
Plaintiff designates NASSAU as the place of trial situs of the real property
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Mortgaged Premises: 89 ELMWOOD AVENUE, ROOSEVELT, NY 11575
Section: 0055, Block: 00460-00, Lot: 00260
To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other
than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF
SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $420,000.00 and interest, recorded on June 25, 2014, in Book M 39762 at Page 308, of the Public Records of NASSAU County, New York., covering premises known as 89 ELMWOOD AVENUE, ROOSEVELT, NY 11575. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. NASSAU County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be
entered and you can lose your home.
Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated: October 8th, 2025
ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC
Attorney for Plaintiff Matthew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590
516-280-7675
156708
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON
SAVINGS FUND
SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF STANWICH MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST J, Plaintiff, vs. EDISON A. VALENCIA, ET AL., Defendant (s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 5, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 9, 2025, at 2:00 PM, premises known as 18 PRESIDENT STREET, FREEPORT, NY 11520. All that certain plot,
piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 62, Block: 52, Lot: 495. Approximate amount of judgment is $789,341.06 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 613757/2022. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee’s attorney, or the Referee. For Sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.
SCOTT SILLER, Esq., Referee Roach & Lin, P.C., 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 185, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff 156706
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF NASSAU JR LARES GROUP INC., Plaintiff, v. LORNA G. PROPERTIES, INC., LORNA GRAY, ET. AL. Defendant(s) Index No. 610061/2022
NOTICE IS HEREBY
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON
SAVINGS FUND
SOCIETY, FSB, AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF THE RESIDENTIAL CREDIT
OPPORTUNITIES TRUST VIII-B, Plaintiff, vs. GARTH DRAX A/K/A GARTH DRAX, JR., ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 7, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 18, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 26 Gordon Place, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements
GIVEN pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 8, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York 11501, ‘Rain or Shine’ on DECEMBER 10, 2025 at 2:30 P.M., (1) premises known as 80 Connecticut Avenue, Freeport, New York 11520, All those certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Village of Freeport, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, Section 54, Block 55, Lots 177 and 187 and (2) premises known as 231 Beechwood Avenue, Roosevelt, New York 11575, All those certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in Roosevelt, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, Section 55, Block 551, Lot 7 (“collectively referred to as “Both Premises”). Approximate Amount of Judgment is $1,010,166.33 plus interest, fees, and costs. Both Premises will be sold subject to the terms and conditions and provisions of filed Judgment Index No. 610061/2022 and terms of sale. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF AUCTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES DARICE GUZMAN PIOTROWSKI, ESQ. –REFEREE. THOMPSON LAW GROUP, P.C., Attorneys for Plaintiff 190 Jericho Turnpike Mineola, New York 11501. 156698
thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Freeport, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 62, Block 58 and Lot 107. Approximate amount of judgment is $515,700.51 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600079/2024.
Jerry A. Merola, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 233603-1 156817
LEGAL NOTICE SUMMONS-SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAUGITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS SEPARATE TRUSTEE OF GITSIT MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST BBPLC1, Plaintiff, -againstCRYSTAL EASON AND CANDICE K. EASON, AS HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE DECEDENTS LETHA EASON AND GEORGE EASON A/K/A GEORGE K. EASON; THE UNKNOWN HEIRS-ATLAW, NEXT-OF-KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS AND PARTIES HAVING OR CLAIMING, UNDER, BY OR THROUGH THE DECEDENTS LETHA EASON AND GEORGE EASON A/K/A GEORGE K. EASON, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN AND TO THE PREMISES DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE ; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT); “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #10” inclusive, the names of the ten last name Defendants being fictitious, real names unknown to the Plaintiff, the parties intended being persons or corporations having an interest in, or tenants or persons in possession of, portions
of the mortgaged premises described in the Complaint, Defendants - Index No. 608727/2025 Plaintiff Designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject premises is situated in Nassau County. To the above named DefendantsYOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your Answer or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance upon 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. If you fail to so appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. That this Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated October 16, 2025. NOTICE-YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOMEIf you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (GITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS SEPARATE TRUSTEE OF GITSIT MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST BBPLC1,) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable Jeffery A. Goodstein A.J.S.C.
Public Notices
Dated: October 16, 2025 Filed: October 29, 2025. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 455 Babylon Turnpike, Freeport, NY 11520.
Dated: April 22, 2025 Filed: April 23, 2025 Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, Attorney for Plaintiff, By: Mark R. Knuckles, Esq., 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591 Phone: (914) 345-3020 156815
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR C-BASS TRUST 2006-CB9, CBASS MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-CB9, -againstBEVERLY CASON, 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 November 20, 2024, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR C-BASS TRUST 2006-CB9, CBASS MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-CB9 is the Plaintiff and BEVERLY CASON, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on December 16, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 187 SOUTH OCEAN AVENUE, FREEPORT, NY 11520; and the following tax map identification: 62-109-2. ALL THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND SITUATE IN FREEPORT, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 7079/2016. Jane P. Shrenkel, 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. 156821
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. JACOB POST INC., et al, Defts. Index #609725/2024. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Feb. 27, 2025, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on December 17, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. premises k/a Section 62, Block 92, Lot(s) 328-300, 461. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. The foreclosure sale will be held “rain or shine.” GEORGIA PAPAZIS, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY 11021. #102634 156819
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2006-24CB, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-24CB, Plaintiffagainst- LORRAINE MASSIAH; INGRID FRAY, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated December 14, 2017 and entered on December 15, 2017, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on December 16, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at Freeport, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as Section 62 Block 94 Lot 114. Said premises known as 23 JEFFERSON STREET, FREEPORT, NY 11520
Approximate amount of lien $539,430.38 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 006907/2013. ANDREW K. PRESTON, ESQ., Referee Pincus & Tarab Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556 {* FREEPORT LEADER*} 156724
LEGAL NOTICE Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX #: 608574/2025 MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC Plaintiff, vs MARVIN SIMMONS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA DOLLIE M. SIMMONS, TROY SIMMONS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA DOLLIE M. SIMMONS, JACQUETTA WASHINGTON, JR. AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA DOLLIE M. SIMMONS, EUGENIA HAYES AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA DOLLIE M. SIMMONS, UNKNOWN HEIRS OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA DOLLIE M. SIMMONS IF LIVING, AND IF HE/SHE BE DEAD, ANY AND ALL PERSONS UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, CLAIMING, OR WHO MAY CLAIM TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN, OR GENERAL OR SPECIFIC LIEN UPON THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THIS ACTION; SUCH UNKNOWN PERSONS BEING HEREIN GENERALLY DESCRIBED AND INTENDED TO BE INCLUDED IN WIFE, WIDOW, HUSBAND, WIDOWER, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DESCENDANTS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, CREDITOR S, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS, AND ASSIGNEES OF SUCH DECEASED, ANY AND ALL PERSONS DERIVING INTEREST IN OR LIEN UPON, OR TITLE TO SAID REAL PROPERTY BY, THROUGH OR UNDER THEM, OR EITHER OF THEM, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE WIVES,
WIDOWS, HUSBANDS, WIDOWERS, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DESCENDANTS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS, AND ASSIGNS, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES, EXCEPT AS STATED, ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE IRS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, CLIFTON SYLVESTER SIMMONS AKA TONY SIMMONS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA DOLLIE M. SIMMONS, AMELIA C. SIMMONS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA DOLLIE M. SIMMONS, CHRISTOPHER A. SIMMONS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA DOLLIE M. SIMMONS, FELICIA A. SIMMONS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA
DOLLIE M. SIMMONS, JEMELL S. WALKER AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA DOLLIE M. SIMMONS, KEITH O. MURRAY, JR. AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA DOLLIE M. SIMMONS, DEMETRIA C. MURRAY AKA CLARA DEMETRIA SEWARD AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA DOLLIE M. SIMMONS, RENEE SIMMONS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF DOLLIE SIMMONS AKA DOLLIE M. SIMMONS, “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 Subject Property described in the Complaint, Defendant(s).
MORTGAGED
PREMISES: 54 Pleasant Avenue Roosevelt, NY 11575 To the Above named Defendant: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Supplemental Summons, to serve a
notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after t he service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Nassau. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. TO Unknown Heirs of Dollie Simmons AKA Dollie M. Simmons Defendant In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON.
Jeffrey A. Goodstein of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the Twenty-Ninth day of October, 2025 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, in the City of Mineola. The object of this action is to foreclosure a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by Dollie Simmons AKA Dollie M. Simmons (who died on October 23, 2024, a resident of the county of Nassau, State of New York) dated the December 20, 2007, to secure the sum of $544,185.00 and recorded at Instrument No. 058973 in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk on January 23, 2008. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed January 26, 2010 and recorded on March 9, 2010, in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk at Book M 34657, Page 237. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed April 7, 2025 and recorded on April 17, 2025, in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk at Instrument Number 2025-24209 Book M47936, Page 1.
The property in question is described as follows: 54 Pleasant Avenue, Roosevelt, NY 11575 NOTICE YOU
ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this Foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
DATED: November 3, 2025 Gross Polowy LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221
The law firm of Gross Polowy LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 87989 156744
LEGAL NOTICE REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC, Plaintiff - againstJUAN ROSADO, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on September 16, 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 12th day of December, 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 144 East Seaman Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. (Section: 55, Block: 250, Lot: 86) Approximate amount of lien $355,360.31
plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.
Index No.
608083/2024. Sean C. Acosta, Esq., Referee. Stein, Wiener & Roth LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 1400 Old Country Road, Suite 315 Westbury, NY 11590 Tel. 516-742-1212
ROSADO, JUAN-80762
Dated: September 24, 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. Auction Locations are subject to change. 157737
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
Supreme Court County of Nassau Deutsche Bank National Trust Company as Trustee for GSAA Home Equity Trust 2006-8 AssetBacked Certificates Series 2006-8, Plaintiff AGAINST Estate of Elizabeth Angilette, et al, Defendant Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 30, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, North sides of the steps, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM premises known as 31 East Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Nassau, State of New York, SECTION: 62, BLOCK: 76, LOT: 9. Approximate amount of judgment is $265,400.96 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold
subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 604190/2024. For sale information, please visit XOME at www.xome.com or call (844) 400-9633. Jaime David Ezratty, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISS WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-099158-F00 87737 156741
LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the regularly scheduled meeting of the Site Plan Review Board for December 9th 2025 at the Municipal Building, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, HAS BEEN CANCELLED. BY ORDER OF THE PLANNING BOARD Pamela Walsh Boening, Village Clerk 156985
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee for the RMAC Trust, Series 2018 G-CTT, Plaintiff -againstTiffany Cousar Individually, as Heir and as Administrator for the estate of Dawn Renee Nelson, Perry Nelson as Heir to the estate of Dawn Renee Nelson and Dawn Renee Nelson’s unknown 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 said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right, title or interest in the real property described in the complaint herein, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, United States of AmericaInternal Revenue Service, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Defendants. Index No.: 614128/2019
Filed: 11/19/2025
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the
Public Notices
mortgaged premises is situated.
TO THE ABOVE-NAMED
DEFENDANT(S):
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your Answer or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the attorneys for the plaintiff within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service; or within thirty (30) days after service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York; or within sixty (60) days if it is the United States of America. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO ELECTRIC USERS
SOUGHT
THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $123,117.00 and interest, recorded in the office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on April 02, 2010 in Liber 34727, Page 28 covering premises known as 28 Leonard Avenue, Freeport, NY 11520. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the
court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: Bay Shore, New York November 15, 2024 Frenkel, Lambert, Weiss, Weisman & Gordon, LLP
By:
Keith Abramson Attorneys for Plaintiff 53 Gibson Street, Bay Shore, New York 11706 (631) 969-3100 Our File No.:
01-060092-F01 156980
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…
To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a license for NYS Application ID: NA-0138-25-136667 for an eating place beer license has been applied for by NG Dominican Delights Inc. to sell beer at retail in a delicatessen under the ABC Law at 170 N Main St. Freeport, NY 11520 for on premises consumption. 156978
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
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Incorporated Village of Freeport, New York, Freeport Electric that on November 21, 2025, it issued and filed with the Public Service Commission of the State of New York revised leaves to its Schedule for Electric Services, P.S.C. No. 9 - Electricity, to become effective on and as of March 1, 2026, encompassing the following changes:
Service Classification No. 1: Residential
Service Rate - Per Meter, Per Month Winter Summer
Customer Charge
First 250 kWh
$9.44 $9.44
12.022 cents/kWh 12.022 cents/kWh
Next 750 kWh 12.022 cents/kWh 13.604 cents/kWh
Over 1000 kWh
Minimum Charge
12.022 cents/kWh 14.429 cents/kWh
$9.44 Per Meter, Per Month
Electric Water Heating Charge: 10.678 cents per kWh during the Winter period 11.877 cents per kWh during the Summer period
Electric Space Heating Charge In Excess of 1,000 kWh Per Meter Per Month During Billing Periods Between November 1 and May 31, inclusive, will be 10.678 cents per kWh.
All Electric Residential (where the above two charges apply), the rate for consumption in excess of 500 kWh per meter per month will be 10.678 cents per kWh for every month of the year and the rate for consumption between 500 kWh and 1,000 kWh per meter per month during the billing periods between November 1 and May 31, inclusive, will be 11.072 cents per kWh.
Service Classification No. 2: General Service
Customer Charge - Per Meter, Per Month:
Monthly Charge
$12.24 Non-Demand Customers
$47.12 Demand Rate Customers
Demand Rate - Per Meter, Per Month: Winter Summer
First 5.0 kW of Demand
$10.84/kW $10.84/kW Over 5.0 kW of Demand $10.84/kW
Energy Rate - Per Meter, Per Month:
Minimum Charge:
Non-Demand Customers $12.24 Per Meter, Per Month Demand Rate Customers $47.12 Per Meter, Per Month
Service Classification No. 3: Outdoor Area Lighting
The charge for service for each calendar month shall be the sum of the following: Charges per Lamp per Month - Metal Halide
20,000 Lumens, 250 Watts $27.62
36,000 Lumens, 400 Watts $34.44
Charges per Lamp per Month - High Pressure Sodium
25,000 Lumens, 250 Watts $27.72
40,000 Lumens, 400 Watts $34.77
The changes are designed to produce an overall revenue increase from all Service Classifications of $7,130,736 (representing an increase of 17.40% over fiscal year 2025 total revenue and a 25.31% increase in base delivery revenue). Under the proposed revisions, the rate increase would be spread equally across all rate classes.
Freeport has requested this rate change due to mandatory increases in contractual wages, increased insurance and pension costs, inflation and general increases to the upkeep of the utility. Freeport has also proposed to establish a Pole Attachment Rental Rate of $16.75 per pole for the use of space on poles wholly-owned or jointly owned by Freeport. Details of these changes may be found in the revised Schedule P.S.C. No. 9, a copy of which may be consulted at Village Hall, 46 N. Ocean Ave., Freeport, New York 11520.
INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FREEPORT
FREEPORT ELECTRIC 156986
Joseph D’Alessandro/Herald Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, center, led a group of other elected officials and business leaders to form the Long Island Coalition of Business and Political Leader to oppose corporate tax increases.
Legislators say ‘no’ to new corporate tax hike
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com
Nassau County’s legislative leaders have a message for Gov. Kathy Hochul about New York City’s Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani’s tax plan: this would not be good for the state.
To oppose the Democratic-driven plan to increase New York’s corporate tax rate, the officials — all Republicans —formed the new Long Island Coalition of Business and Political Leaders, a collection of elected officials and business organizations.
“This is bad for New York state, and we are going to fight very hard against that,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said on Nov. 17.
The mayor-elect’s plan is to increase to the corporate tax rate in New York City, bumping the top rate from 7.25 percent to 11.25 percent, aiming to support social programs with money sourced from the region’s highest earning businesses.
Blakeman bristled at the thought, expressing concern that higher taxes will drive out business, jobs and residents.
“We are on the border of New York City,” he said, “many of our people commute to the city to do business. What I’m concerned about is the deleterious effect that this will have on Nassau County and the rest of the state.”
Blakeman alleged that tax increases would be passed along to consumers and has heard some business leaders threaten to leave the city if taxes increase, which in turn could be a financial burden to the city’s middle class residents. He suggested the state and city cut spending on undocumented migrant programs as an alternative method to retain revenue.
“We don’t have a deficit in Nassau County,” he said. “For the past four years, we’ve had surpluses because we know how to manage money in Nassau County, and we’ve gotten seven bond upgrades, but that’s one of the ways that we can spend money on programs that benefit our residents.”
Sarafina Chitika, the spokesperson for the Hochul campaign, disputed the County Executive’s assertions.
“Governor Hochul cut middle class taxes while putting inflation refund checks in New Yorkers’ pockets,” she wrote in a statement. “Bruce Blakeman is the number one fanboy for Trump’s tariffs that are raising costs for families and making everything more expensive for small businesses – while the governor remains laser-focused on lowering costs, Blakeman’s shilling for Donald Trump’s tariff tax hikes.”
Meanwhile, Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association, called the tax proposal “a real problem.”
“It’s really incumbent upon us to push back against this plan as much as possible,” he said. “We have an affordability crisis in this country, but nowhere is it more acute than here on Long Island. And when you’re driving out businesses, when you’re driving out jobs, that’s going to make it worse, not better.”
Frank Camarano, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, highlighted the way New York City policies affect neighboring counties and businesses.
“Small businesses don’t have the wherewithal to try and work around this,” he said. “A strong New York City is a strong Nassau. If New York City is gonna propose things like this, it’s gonna be like an everyday occurrence, trying to work around it, and it’s going to be difficult.”
State Sens. Jack Martins, Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Steve Rhoads joined the chorus of critics.
“This is dumb, plain and simple,” Martins said. “The fact that the governor is even thinking about this is a disgrace. We urge the governor to say no. We urge the leaders in Albany to say no.”
The coalition supports a move towards a 5 percent corporate tax rate, according to Blakeman. The fiscal year for the state will begin on April 1, and no business tax policy changes have been confirmed.
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Some strange suggestions from the Building Department
Q. I went to my Building Department, because, as you suggested, I should get an idea from them as to what to do and how to go about it. After discussing the problems I would have to overcome, they suggested certain people, drafting services, and also told me that if I use an architect, I should only use the ones they suggest, because others might not be “acceptable” to them. I thought this was kind of strange. Should they do that, and is that acceptable practice?
A. That is not only strange, but also illegal.
Putting limits on who provides a state-licensed professional service is, at the very least, a restriction-oftrade issue that I am sure would turn into a legal matter if the jurisdiction you live in ever tried to enforce the practice. Maybe you could finance your project by going through that process, getting hassled for the reasons you describe, and then suing the individuals and department that created the scenario. Of course, you would have to show hard evidence, such as documents and/or recordings of this kind of exchange. Or you could just go along with them, if you feel comfortable with the racket they’re running.
Lately I have seen more situations like this occurring, and it’s disheartening, as a professional, but many officials have commented, over the years, that certain architects only like to handle, or are only capable of handling, the “small stuff.” Clearly they don’t recognize the situation created by their own jurisdictions, where you’re required to have an architect’s or engineer’s professional seal on the submitted drawings when applying for a permit. Instead they encourage people to get an unlicensed person to prepare plans, and then that unlicensed individual gets a retired professional who could use the extra money to just sign and seal.
Even worse than that is the problem created during the pandemic, when an electronic seal was issued by the state to architects and engineers, creating the opportunity to just electronically float a seal onto plans, with or without the licensed professional’s permission.
It seems that people have forgotten what that seal represents. Not only does it represent a level of trained expertise — it also represents safety. Protection of public safety was once the paramount objective of local governments. And aside from the skirting of enforcement of licensed professionalism, safety is still important, but money, favoritism and territorial behavior make you wonder what you’re really dealing with.
I know so many people who are sincerely trying to enforce public safety in their government jobs, people who are equally disgusted with the ones who make their profession look bad. Defying the public trust or manipulating the public should not be tolerated. Thirty years ago, the state attorney general’s office did an investigation, and concluded that this practice was widespread — but investigators candidly admitted that they did not have the resources to pursue prosecutions, leaving the public to decide. Good luck!
© 2025 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd.,
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Thanksgiving couldn’t come at a better time
The spirit of Thanksgiving is particularly welcome and needed this year. Times are turbulent. Discord appears to be almost everywhere. Prices are still too high. The federal government has just gone through its longest and most bitter shutdown ever, with another one threatened in less than three months.
The political divide continues, as Democrats scored overwhelming victories across the country, while Nassau Republicans, led by County Executive Bruce Blakeman, swept every countywide office and retained control of the county’s three towns and two cities — including Long Beach, where the GOP won every elective office for the first time since 1971. And while Nassau was voting bright red, New York City went deep blue, electing a committed socialist, Zohran Mamdani, as its mayor, promising to upend the city’s political and social structures as we’ve known them.
Ideally in a time of discord and stress, the citizenry turns to sports as an escape, as an island of refuge in a sea
of turmoil. This time, though, no such luck. At least not yet. The Yankees were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, while the Mets, with their astronomically high payroll, didn’t even make it to the postseason, eliminated for the final playoff slot by the unheralded, low-income Cincinnati Reds.
Not even New York sports offer an island of refuge in our current sea of turmoil.
Granted, there was temporary relief for baseball fans, as the World Series confrontation between the Dodgers and Blue Jays provided intense drama right down to the final out of the climactic seventh game. But that moment of escape was soon overtaken by what portends to be Major League Baseball’s biggest and worst gambling scandal since the Black Sox scandal in 1919: Two relief pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians were arrested and charged with colluding with organized crime on “micro bets” — wagers on what type of pitches they would throw. This scandal, like the NBA betting scandal that preceded it just weeks earlier, is expected to expand, because of professional sports’ extensive, and misguided, business dealings with the gaming industry.
Thank God for the arrival of Thanksgiving! Taking time to celebrate the spirit of the holiday, which gives us the opportunity to step back and reflect on
what we should be thankful for, is a true American tradition. As we learned in our early school days, legend has the earliest Thanksgiving being celebrated in 17th-century Colonial times between by the Pilgrims and native Indians in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The national celebration of Thanksgiving in November was proclaimed by President George Washington in 1789. During the darkest days of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln certified the final Thursday of November as the official day for celebrating Thanksgiving. Later, after Americans endured the depths of a Depression and as we got involved in the tragedy of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt reaffirmed the significance of Thanksgiving while officially declaring the fourth Thursday of November to be the day of celebration. These actions by Lincoln and Roosevelt should be guideposts for Americans. Neither the absolute horror raging through our country during the Civil War, nor the economic devastation of the Depression, nor the carnage and suffering of World War II, would prevent Americans in those years from being thankful for, and appreciating, the blessings of living in this great land. Not to minimize our current hard-
ships, but we should take the time to show our thanks for all that we do have. America is not at war. It provides more opportunity for its people than any other country on earth, as demonstrated by the tens of millions of people from all over the world who want to live here.
During my years in Congress, I traveled to many countries, mainly in Europe but also in parts of Asia and North Africa. There was no country that could match America for our ingenuity, industriousness and opportunity for generations of people to move upward and thrive. Often we fail to remember that the United States was the first nation to experiment with democracy since Greece many centuries ago, and how that experiment has worked so successfully.
There are reasons why America has the world’s strongest economy and strongest military. That success results from our commitment not just to free enterprise but to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and freedom of opportunity, which allow the human spirit to fully develop and thrive. So let’s enjoy our blessings and give thanks for living in this great land. Happy Thanksgiving, and God bless America.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
Weekly newspapers are a great community asset
When you’re a news junkie like me, you reach out for a large variety of sources of information. Finding and digesting the offerings of all these many outlets takes a lot of time, but there is one resource that I constantly rely on: the weekly newspaper.
My love for the weekly goes back as far as when I was a bold 12-year-old who walked into the offices of the Long Island Independent and offered my services as a writer. Rather than usher me out the door, the publisher, the late Paul Jackson, gave me an assignment: to read all of the social announcements and to distill them into a few short paragraphs.
By the time I turned 15, I was a paid employee, enjoying my $10-a-week stipend, and I went on to become the principal reporter for the Independent and
the Long Beach Life. Later, during my years in the Assembly, I kept close working relationships with all of the weekly papers in my district, and assigned a full-time staff member to keep the weekly papers informed about my activities in Albany.
Every Friday, I make it a point to look for the latest news in the Herald. I read about the goings-on in five or six communities and read the opinion pages. I offer these details because many residents of our region don’t always take advantage of the many items published in their local papers that are genuinely of interest.
of our schools.
N ational news is great, but I learn the important stuff from the weeklies.
While I have the greatest respect for the mass media, I learn from the weeklies about local athletes who may someday wind up on the national sports pages. Today’s high school track star could eventually become a member of an Olympic team. People complain a lot about high taxes, but if they read their local paper, they would know that 60 percent of their tax bill is for the operation
I like to stay in touch with old friends, and sometimes I find out that they have experienced some great family events thanks to my weekly paper. I also frequently learn that some potential countywide political battle has its roots in an action taken by a village or another municipal entity. So many people would be surprised to learn how much they can find out about local politics by subscribing to a weekly.
On a more somber note, I learn from weeklies that someone I met and liked has died. Too often we learn about family tragedies weeks and months after they occur, and realize that if we’d checked out a weekly paper, we would have known much sooner to reach out to the bereaved family.
When I meet some young man or woman who has decided to run for public office, one of the first things I tell them is not to ignore their weekly newspaper, and to make an effort to meet with its editors so they know about their
candidacy. And I don’t restrict my advice just to budding candidates. I frequently advise federal and state officeholders to keep in touch with their weeklies.
A few years ago, a large group of weekly newspaper owners and editors converged on Albany in an effort to change how state laws govern those local weeklies. Not surprisingly, they were welcomed by members from both sides of the aisle who had learned well and understood the power of those news outlets. If you want to do the right thing, subscribe to your local paper. (If you’re reading this, I’d like to think you already have.) And if you’re a local business owner, think about buying an ad. I’ve been fortunate enough to be an unpaid columnist for the Herald for over 20 years, and I’ve wanted to write this tribute to weekly papers for the longest time. They need your support, and like any business that serves the community, they also merit your help in keeping them as a great asset.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. Comments about this column? jkremer@ liherald.com.
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This Saturday, shop local
eld each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving — Nov. 29 this year — Small Business Saturday encourages consumers to shift their attention from big-box and giant online retailers to the locally owned businesses that are the backbone of our neighborhoods. These local businesses create jobs, spark innovation and keep more dollars circulating in the local economy, strengthening the very places we call home.
Founded by American Express in 2010 and embraced by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Saturday has grown into a nationwide tradition. It’s nestled between the commercial frenzy of Black Friday and the digital deals of Cyber Monday, and it’s crucial that all of us make a concerted effort to shop at our favorite corner store or buy a gift card for our beloved neighborhood restaurant.
The impact of Small Business Saturday, of course, reaches far beyond economics. When people support a local bookstore, bakery, boutique or service provider, they’re investing in relationships and affirming the value of personal connection — the friendly wave from a shop owner who knows your name, the sense of pride in discovering a one-of-akind product crafted nearby, the feeling of belonging that comes from familiar streets buzzing with activity. These are experiences you simply can’t replicate
letters
Mamdani is on to something, Republicans
To the Editor:
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s electoral appeal, centered on his affordability agenda, has prompted some of his opponents to start emphasizing this issue. Republican State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick is among those proposing actions to rein in New York’s cost of living in her Herald commentary last week, “The cost of living is driving families out of New York.”
Some of her suggestions make sense and, if adopted, might make Long Island living marginally more affordable. But CanzoneriFitzpatrick offers only Band-Aids for the hemorrhaging housing crisis that forces young families to look elsewhere for starter homes. As a professed capitalist, the senator should understand that a grossly inadequate supply of housing cannot meet demand, thus causing prices to spiral ever upward. The solution is obvious: build thousands of new homes.
with anonymous online transactions.
Small Business Saturday reminds us that thriving communities don’t happen by accident — they grow through intentional support and shared commitment. By shopping local, we help build vibrant neighborhoods where businesses and residents lift one another up, strengthening the community fabric, one small shop at a time.
Small businesses account for a significant portion of job creation across the country, and on Long Island they are essential to the economic ecosystem. When shoppers choose small over large, more money stays in the community. Studies show that when you shop at a small, locally owned business, more of your money stays here on Long Island — supporting infrastructure, schools and friends, and even reducing your tax burden. For every $100 spent at a small business, about $67 stays in the community. At a large chain, only about $43 does.
But most importantly, small businesses help define the identity of a place. Neighborhoods with bustling local shops tend to have stronger social ties, safer streets and greater civic engagement. Choosing to support a local business is choosing to support a stronger, more connected community.
Participating in Small Business Saturday is simple and enjoyable. Consumers explore local shops, take part in spe-
cial promotions, share their experiences on social media and leave positive reviews of their favorite spots. Spot a great bargain? Tell a friend! These small actions have big ripple effects, helping local entrepreneurs gain visibility, attract new customers and employ local workers.
Business owners can prepare for Small Business Saturday by using free marketing materials provided by the SBA and American Express, such as fliers, posters and social media graphics. Local governments, chambers of commerce and community groups also do their part by organizing events, hosting holiday markets, and creating interactive maps to guide residents to participating businesses. Many of the best local businesses and deals can be found right here, on the pages of the Herald, or at LIHerald.com.
This Saturday, Long Islanders have the opportunity to demonstrate what makes our communities so special: We show up for our neighbors and they show up for us. Our local small businesses are the ones donating to school fundraisers, sponsoring youth sports teams, hosting community events, providing teenagers with summer jobs, and paying taxes that help keep our local downtowns alive.
So shop local, Long Island — because when small businesses thrive, we all prosper.
Step up now to fight hunger in Nassau County
Earlier this month, I toured the Mary Brennan Interfaith Nutrition Network, in Hempstead, with my staff. At a time when their work of serving Nassau County’s homeless and hungry populations grows more challenging by the day, it is essential for all who can to support them and organizations like theirs this holiday season — and throughout the year.
Starting in 1983 as a small soup kitchen in Hempstead, the INN soon began offering emergency shelter for the homeless, and built an interfaith network of organizations equipped to reach families in need wherever they might be.
The Mary Brennan INN remains the beating heart of this network, having served over 211,000 meals to nearly 4,500 Long Islanders in 2022 and continuing to coordinate vital “wraparound” services, including referrals for medical and mental health care, housing, assistance with securing government documents and applying for Social Security, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and heat benefits.
The
All of these noble efforts are guided by one core principle: that every person who visits the INN will be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve as children of God. Its mission resonates deeply with the lessons of my own Catholic faith, and Paul’s words to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:35: “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
tion’s refusal thus far to extend Affordable Care Act premium subsidies for 22 million American families.
All of this serves as a stark reminder that we all must do our part to provide support and stability to our neighbors. There are some bright spots to report, but there is still more work to be done.
Mary Brennan
INN remains the heart of a network that helps the needy.
Feeding the hungry and housing the homeless has always been a challenging, selfless endeavor. But as 2025 draws to a close, the headwinds are stronger than ever because of rapidly weakening federal support. The Trump administration’s destructive megabill this summer gutted $300 billion in SNAP funding and slashed nearly $900 billion from Medicaid over the next 10 years.
During the government shutdown, the administration demonstrated remarkable callousness in its willingness to use emergency nutrition funding as a bargaining chip. Moreover, working- and middle-class families still face the threat of soaring health care premiums because of the administra-
lETTErs
But Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick has nothing to say about the extreme nimbyism that makes it so difficult to build housing anywhere in Nassau County. It’s particularly egregious that right-wing politicians have succeeded in blocking transit-oriented developments. Building housing near Long Island Rail Road stations would help make Long Island more affordable without worsening traffic congestion.
Republicans should adopt a variation on a mantra favored by their leader: “Build, baby, build!”
KEVIN J KELLEY Atlantic Beach
Trump’s ‘outrageous’ commutation of Santos
To the Editor:
Re Jerry Kremer’s column in the Oct. 30-Nov. 5 issue, “Presidents make mistakes, but this one was a doozy”: What
message was being sent to hardworking, honest people when President Trump excused former Rep. George Santos from serving a seven-year prison term after only three months? Santos was proven to be a liar, a cheat, a thief — a dishonest individual who harmed and deceived many people by falsifying everything he touched.
How do we know that he didn’t fabricate the conditions of his prison stay, inasmuch as he is a pro at making up stories? It appears that Trump commuted his sentence due to his being a good Republican supporting Trump.
In my eyes, Santos’s crimes are worse than those of a bank robber. His deceit is now being forgiven, and will Trump, in his generosity, assume the more than $300,000 in restitution that Santos is liable for? It is ludicrous that the president of the U.S. takes his time from government affairs to release an admitted criminal back into society. Outrageous indeed.
GRACE SEARBY Oyster Bay
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Send letters to the editor to execeditor@liherald.com
When federal SNAP funding lapsed on Nov. 1, Gov. Kathy Hochul admirably stepped in and declared a state of emergency, providing a crucial bridge of support for New York families in need. Nassau’s Democratic legislative caucus has also worked to deliver resources. Last year we successfully fought to have $15 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds set aside for eligible nonprofit organizations across the county. That facilitated the delivery of hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of resources to local food pantries, including $50,000 for the INN, secured by my colleagues Legislator Scott Davis and State Sen. Siela Bynoe.
In District 6, I was thrilled to deliver $50,000 in ARPA funding for the food pantry at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church in Baldwin; over $22,000 for Ladles of Hope, based at Our Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Freeport;
and $10,000 for the NEST at Nassau Community College, a nonprofit that operates a food pantry for students, employees and families.
But on the grass-roots level, there is no force more powerful than the generosity of Nassau County residents. Whether you support the regional efforts of Long Island Cares or Island Harvest, major events such as the biannual Nassau County Veterans Stand Down at the Freeport Armory, or the food ministry at your church, every contribution helps deliver crucial support for families working to rebuild their lives.
To amplify these efforts, my office is hosting a food drive for the NEST through Dec. 12. If you would like to make a contribution, please visit the Freeport Memorial Library (at 144 W. Merrick Road), the Baldwin Public Library (at 2385 Grand Ave.) or the Oceanside Public Library (at 30 Davison Ave.) during normal business hours.
As we take stock of our blessings this holiday season and prepare for a new year, it’s my hope that each of us will carry this message of charity with us in our hearts — and, because hunger knows no season, make giving back a yearlong routine.
Debra Mulé represents Nassau County’s 6th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s alternate deputy minority leader.
FramEwork by Tim Baker
Singing “Master of the House” in Hewlett High School’s production of “Les Misérables.”
Be a part of our life-saving mission
Bring Heart Home This Holiday Season
We will be bringing Mount Sinai’s top-ranked open heart surgeons to Oceanside beginning next year, so patients and their families don’t have to travel to NYC or to the North Shore for advanced cardiac care.
The Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital at The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan ranks No. 2 nationally for Cardiology, Heart, and Vascular Surgery, according to 2025 U.S. News & World Report ® That expertise is coming to our Oceanside campus.
If you or a loved one have suffered a cardiac event, consider making a donation in their name today.
Scan the QR code, visit bringinghearthome.org , or call Anne Fernandez in our Development Office at 516-377-5360 to learn more.
Donate today.
Together, we can bring the of Mount Sinai home to the South Shore.