By ANDRE SILVA asilva@liherald.com
CJ Cascio, 17, started collecting birthday party favors in December. Now his living room is filled with packages full of all things birthday.
To get to his dinner table, where he does his homework, Cascio needs to walk past his living room, which has been turned into a impromptu warehouse, as evidenced by the
Kimberly Malone was sworn in earlier this month as the Baldwin Civic Association’s president.
Malone, 52, a real estate agent, said she would now focus on economic development and downtown revitalization projects in Baldwin.
was laid off not long after the Sept. 11 attacks, but she eventually returned to Chase to work in human resources, before becoming a real estate agent in 2006.
“I’ve had a composite career,” she said. “I do real estate, I’m a life insurance agent, a registered investment representative. I’ve got a lot going on.”
stacks of boxes and drawstring bags full of food and party decorations around the perimeter of the room. He’s taken it upon himself to collect, organize and distribute these items for his Eagle Scout project, called Celebrate You.
Cascio, a Baldwin High School senior and a member of Boy Scout Troop 824, partnered with Feed Long Island and Donate Anything, a Facebook group dedicated to feeding
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Baldwin
Originally from Chicago, Malone studied history and sociology at Dartmouth College, graduating in 1992. She took part in JPMorgan Chase’s management training program, and became a branch manager for the bank at age 24, and then a recruiter for the management program, before going back to school at Columbia and earning an MBA in 2000. Afterward she worked for the bank’s internal managing consulting group, where she helped clients enhance their businesses.
Malone’s entire department
She lived in Brooklyn for most of her career, but moved to Baldwin in 2004, after she married Kenneth Bobb in 2001. They had two children, a daughter, Kourtney and a son, Kenneth Jr.
Malone got involved with the Baldwin Civic Association in 2019, when Darien Ward became the organization’s president, leaving his position as economic development chair role, and Malone was recommended to replace him. She had been the economic development chair of the Nassau Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. a nonprofit
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
it, but was concerned
Not even retirement can slow down Peter King. After 28 years in the U.S. House — including a two-year stint as chair of the House Homeland Security Committee — as well as more than two decades serving on both the Hempstead town council and as Nassau County comptroller, King finds himself busier than ever.
He’s working with a Washington law firm, and does consulting work for Northwell Health. He makes regular appearances on the Newsmax cable channel, as well as John Catsimatidis’s 77WABC radio station.
But now King is adding one more job to that list as a new regular columnist for Herald Community Newspapers. The former congressman’s first official piece appears in this week’s Opinions pages.
“It’s not like I have to catch a plane to get to Washington, or I’m at the whim of what’s the last vote going to be on Thursday night or Friday night,” King said. “I pretty much plan my own schedule. And the best feeling I had — and it took me about a month to get used to — is waking up in the morning and knowing I can go back to sleep if I want to.”
These days, King finds himself solely
focused on life here at home. But for nearly three decades, the congressman was caught between the two worlds of Washington and his district back in New York.
The trick in the beginning was making
Jack Healy/Herald file
sure he never lost sight of why he was on the House floor in the first place.
“When you’re in Washington, you’re still responsible for a lot of local issues, because the local mayors and supervisors
and town boards — they’re going to be calling you and reaching out for help,” King said. “I think with a number of members of Congress, they’re so concerned with the international and national aspects of it, they forget the guy living down the block.
“The guy that lives in Highland Park. The guy that lives in Seaford. That’s where you base comes from. So, really, the challenge is to keep all of those things in your mind, and be able to sort through them all.”
King has made no secret about his support of U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, whose congressional district covers much of what King’s did back in the day. In fact, his first column focuses on the high hopes King has of his protégé, and how the sky’s the limit for the former town councilman.
“I mean, Anthony, we talk several times a week,” King said. “I don’t want to sound like I am telling him what to do, or giving him some great advice. But maybe one thing I can be most helpful on is telling him early on which members of Congress you can pay attention to, and which others to just ignore.
“Some of them you try to take seriously, but then you realize after a month or two that these guys are cranks, and nobody else is listening to them, except you.”
Baldwin school parents presented a Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration at the Baldwin High School last week.
The Baldwin School District invited Concern Parents of Baldwin, a local school parent’s organization, students, and their family members to the first Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration at the school since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, on Jan. 16.
The school district said they brought back the celebration with an “extra-special” presentation this year, by inviting students from the high school, middle school and elementary schools to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and birthday. The school district said as students and their families entered the High School, and into the commons, they were treated to a performance by the high school’s string ensemble, Quintessence, before enjoying an afternoon of speeches, poetry and musical performances.
The school district said Concerned Parents of Baldwin was formed in 1980 and is made up of parents whose children attend the Baldwin schools. Dr. King’s birthday was included as a holiday to be observed by schools in 1981.
The school district said the Committee for Concerned Parents of Baldwin determined that this holiday would not be just another holiday, but instead would highlight and honor Dr. King.
The school district said the committee created a program, which was designed to appeal to a large cross section of Baldwin residents, and involved Baldwin students from elementary through high school. The school district said the programs have been presented in the Baldwin High School Auditorium since 1982.
The school district said Breanna Henry, DJ Ward, two high school students, were this year’s Master and Mistress of Ceremonies. Sheree Lyndsey, a Baldwin school parent, and member of the concerned parents group, then summarized the theme of this year’s event — “The Marathon Continues”
Guests enjoyed musical performances like “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “Will the Circle be Unbroken” by the Baldwin High School Chamber Singers. Choirs from other schools also gave performances, like the Plaze Emelentary Special Chorus’ rendtion of “And His Name Was Martin Luther King” or Meadow Elementary School’s Special Chorus’s performance of “Joyful, Joyful”.
The string quartet Quintessence performed again, this time on the auditorium’s stage, and played “Adoration.” To end the ceremony, Jada Taylor, a Baldwin High School student, recited her powerful spoken word, “How Many More.”
GStudents and their families then gathered in the high school’s
for a final reception.
underprivileged families in Nassau County, and the group’s administrator, Lorrie Prager, to collect items for children’s birthday parties — cakes, icing, candles and everything else necessary for firstclass birthday celebrations.
“The thing I took most from being in the Boy Scouts is leadership,” Cascio said. “How to make the right choices, not only for yourself, but also for other people.”
Celebrate You is the first Feed Long Island and Donate Anything imitative aimed at providing underprivileged families everything they need to host birthday parties for their children.
“As a kid, we always look forward to our birthdays, and I thought it was particularly sad that some kids can’t have a birthday party for financial reasons,” Cascio said. “My job is to give them a birthday.”
Feed Long Island and Donate Anything helps South Shore families in need in a number of ways. Members of the organization have shopped for groceries for the needy and elderly, collect-
ed school supplies for children and donated gifts on Christmas and Easter. Cascio got in touch with Prager in December.
Prager, of Rockville Centre, has worked with Brooke Diamond, the founder of Feed Long Island and Donate Anything, since March 2020, collecting and distribute donations to those in need in Nassau County. Prager has also known Cascio and his family since he was in kindergarten, and wasn’t surprised when she heard about his project.
“I was humbled and impressed, but not surprised,” Prager said. “This is who CJ and his family are.”
Prager said that Cascio reached out to her to ask for her assistance on the project, and to help him distribute the bags of birthday party favors. Families in need, she said, can apply to receive a bag on Feed Long Island’s Facebook page, and if they qualify, Cascio and Prager make the delivery.
Cascio said that when he was thinking about his Eagle Scout project, initially planned to raise funds for victims of the war in Ukraine, but he liked the
idea of helping children in his community better.
Helping the less fortunate is a value that scouting and his family instilled in him, he added.
Since he started Celebrate You, he has been reaching out to community members, friends and family members to help him collect and organize donated materials.
He visited Hangout One Happy Place on Jan. 24, a Baldwin nonprofit that provides recreational activities for people of all abilities, and its founder, Angela Lucas, to ask for their help in collecting donations. He left an empty bag at Hangout headquarters, and at press time, its collection of cake mix, icing and other birthday supplies was growing.
Cascio said he found the most success in collecting donations when he created an Amazon Wish List, which encourages people to buy items from a list that can be delivered directly to him.
His mother, Kimberly Cascio, said the project has grown so large, and the community has been so supportive, that they haven’t needed to reach out to any other organizations to help raise donations.
The next step in the project, CJ said, is to collect all of the donated items in pre-packaged party bags. He said he now plans on spending his time organizing the donated items into drawstring bags — filled with everything you need for a party — which can be distributed to families in need.
MAIN PHONE: (516) 569-4000
■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/baldwin
■ E-MAIl:
The thing I took most from being in the Boy Scouts is leadership. How to make the right choices, not only for yourself, but also for other people.
CJ CASCIO creator Celebrate You
Nassau County may have illegally declared a state of emergency for cybersecurity — a declaration that was not even known until revealed in a letter to a reporter by a county official.
Deputy County Attorney Gregory Kalnitsky confirmed the existence of a state of emergency in response to a request for more information on a cybersecurity contract approved by the county legislature’s rules committee last December. The Herald as sought basic information about the agreement, including who the contract is with, and how much it will cost taxpayers.
“The county executive and Nassau County Legislature enacted a local state of emergency with respect to the county of Nassau’s cybersecurity and information technology assets,” Kalnitsky wrote in his letter, without providing further details.
State law generally requires a government body like a county legislature to announce the need of an executive session during a public meeting, provide a specific reason for such a
session, and then hold a public vote on whether to allow such a session to take place.
While New York state laws are a bit broad on what can be discussed in executive session, they generally prohibit any action by formal vote that would spend public dollars.
A review of the December public meeting does include an announcement of executive session and a vote. All that was provided for its reason, however, was a control number for the cybersecurity contract the legislature was set to approve.
“It is a clear violation of the open meetings law to appropriate public funds in a closed-door private meeting, if that is what occurred,” said Paul Wolf, president of the independent New York Coalition for Open Government.
“Any vote to spend taxpayer dollars — even in an emergency situation — should occur in public.”
The contract came on the heels of a massive computer network hack in Suffolk County that shut down government services there temporarily, and is said to have cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
Nassau lawmakers voted unani -
mously to enter into executive session on Dec. 5 to discuss “E-137-22,” which was listed in the agenda as a shared services agreement between the county’s information and technology department and an unnamed vendor. After an hour of deliberation behind closed doors, the legislature reconvened without publicly discussing the contract, or anything else — including a state of emergency declaration.
But that declaration is exactly what lawmakers were deciding on in secret, according to one county source who declined to be identified because of the legal nature of executive sessions. No documents regarding a state of emergency were filed with the county clerk, according to the source, which is typically a required procedure.
Chris Boyle, spokesman for County Executive Bruce Blakeman, has not responded to requests for comment. County officials in the past said they would not reveal any details about its new cybersecurity plan — including the vendor’s name or cost — over claims it would make the county vulnerable to attack.
Shoshanah Bewlay, executive director of New York’s Committee on Open
Government — a state-sponsored watchdog on government transparency — said specific details of the contract, if made public, could provide hackers with information to mount a cyberattack. However, more broad details about the agreement — like cost — don’t enjoy that level of shielding, and should be made available to public review under state law.
“While a portion of the contract may be exempt from disclosure for one or more statutory reasons, in my opinion, certain portions of the record should be made available,” said Bewlay, who can only operate in an advisory capacity, and cannot force Nassau County to comply.
Regarding the county’s Dec. 5 executive session, Bewlay agreed with Wolf that votes to spend public money must be made in public.
“The open meetings law makes it clear that you cannot vote to appropriate public money behind closed doors in executive session,” Bewlay said. “You can certainly discuss it. However, upon reaching agreement on the matter in the executive session, the board would have to come back on the record and vote to approve the contract in open session.”
organization of college-educated women committed to constructive development and public service. In that role, she helped organize an annual Small Business Crawl, during which the sorority used its network to patronize local businesses on the South Shore, as well as facilitated financial literacy workshops. A neighbor noticed her efforts and recommended Malone for the position in the civic association.
“When I was appointed to the economic development chair, just before (Gov. Andrew Cuomo) came to (Baldwin) High School to announce the $10 million downtown revitalization grant,” Malone recalled. “This was timely, because as the economic development chairwoman, I would be paying attention to the developments in Baldwin.”
After working as the association’s economic development chairwoman, Malone became its vice president in 2021. Before Ward finished his second term as president this month, Malone was approached by the group’s election committee and asked to run for president.
“I was really excited about it, but was concerned from a time perspective,” said Malone. “I had a daughter who just got into college, and a son about to graduate. After a number of conversations, I felt confident enough to make the time commitment.”
Since being sworn in, Malone said, she has set several goals for herself. The first goal is to sway the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County to make fair and inclusive election redistricting maps, which, she hopes, would keep Baldwin in one district. She also said she wants to work with town officials to guide Baldwin’s downtown revitalization, which includes projects such as Breslin Realty’s recently approved development, the Grand at Baldwin.
“For the last two years, we’ve been trying to bring the downtown revitalization initiatives into fruition,” Malone said. “Now that some projects have been approved, the next couple of years will focus on implementation.”
LIJ Medical Center is in the top 10% of hospitals nationally for oncology, according to U.S.News&WorldReport.
Our doctors are raising health by pioneering innovative approaches to cancer from novel chemotherapy techniques to first-in- the-nation robotic mastectomies with minimal scarring. Because when it comes to cancer, there’s no status quo. There’s only “how far can we go?”
Northwell.edu/NoLimits
Courtesy Kimberly MaloneADULT EDUCATION - CONTINUING ED:
Hempstead Adult & Community Education Program
Hofstra University
Molloy University
ART SCHOOL:
Hue Studio
Long Island High School for the Arts
The Art Studio
BEAUTY SCHOOL:
Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute
Long Island Beauty School
Nassau BOCES Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center
CHARTER/PAROCHIAL/PRIVATE:
Bellmore United Methodist Nursery School
Kellenberg Memorial High School
Lawrence Woodmere Academy
COLLEGE PREP SERVICES/ADVISORS:
College Connection
Lockwood College Prep
Pinnacle College Consultants
COLLEGE PRESIDENT:
Dr. Susan Poser - Hofstra University
James Lentini - Molloy University
Maria P. Conzatti - Nassau Community College
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY:
Hofstra University
Molloy University
Nassau Community College
DANCE SCHOOL:
Dance Workshop
Hart & Soul Performing Arts and Dance School
Long Island Academy of Dance
DAY CAMP:
Big Chief Day School & Camp
Coleman Country Day Camp
Lawrence Woodmere Academy
Rolling River Day Camp
DAY CARE:
Big Chief Day School & Camp
Five Towns Early Learning Center
Our Kids Place
DRIVING SCHOOL:
Bell Auto Driving School
East Meadow Driving School
Prosperity Auto Driving School, Inc
GYMNASTICS CENTER:
All Stars Gymnastics Inc
Gold Medal Gymnastics Center
Platinum Athletic
B&B/INN:
Hampton Inn Jericho-Westbury
Holiday Inn Westbury
Ram’s Head Inn
Southampton Inn
EVENT VENUE:
Barnum Ballroom
Bayview Catering on the Water Venue
Epic Escape Rooms LI
HOTEL:
Allegria Hotel
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL:
Alexandra Greenberg - George W. Hewlett H.S.
Jennifer Lagnado-Papp - Lawrence H.S.
Richard Schaffer - East Rockaway H.S.
KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES:
Epic Escape Rooms LI
Long Island Children’s Museum
Royal Princess Prep Party Company
LEARNING CENTER/TUTOR:
Cornerstone Behavioral Services
Mathnasium
The Coder School
MARTIAL ARTS:
Champions Martial Arts
Uly Karate & Fitness
Warren Levi Martial Arts & Fitness
MUSIC SCHOOLS/CLASSES:
Our Kids Place Hewlett
School of Rock
The Children’s Orchestra Society
NURSERY SCHOOL:
Bellmore United Methodist Nursery School
Our Kids Place Hewlett
United Church Nursery School
SPORTS CAMP:
Hofstra University
Sportime Lynbrook
The Sports Arena
LOCAL TOURIST ATTRACTION:
Jones Beach State Park
Montauk Point Lighthouse
Nunley’s Carousel
MUSEUM:
Cradle of Aviation Museum
Long Island Children’s Museum
Raynham Hall Museum
PLACE TO HAVE A PARTY:
The Bayview
PLACE TO WORSHIP:
Temple Avodah
Temple B’nai Torah
Temple Beth El
WEDDING VENUE:
The Bayview
Swan Club On The Harbor
Westbury Manor
Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa
The Garden City Hotel
Epic Escape Rooms LI
Kombert Caterers
CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK FOR THE TOP IN SERVICES AND SHOPPING!
To the casual observer, it was just any other day at Jamaica’s Long Island Rail Road station.
But just after 10 a.m., commuters rushed aboard a shuttle train destined for Manhattan, the familiar busy choreography of squeezing through, wedging past, running in to nab a seat.
Families holding their kids in tow. Couples and solo riders clutching their baggage. All of them packed into train cars, filling the aisle seats within minutes. Other late arrivals stood standing. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
But the air — even for a late-morning train ride — was unusually abuzz with chatter. Some kept conversation below a whisper. Others, not so much. But everyone was alive with a quiet knowing that this was no ordinary train ride. Instead, taking place, was a moment in history.
A history that was finally connecting Long island with Manhattan’s East Side.
For the better part of a century, for as long as anyone can remember, LIRR commuters relied on Penn Station to get them into the heart of New York City. So long in fact, it seemed the day for an alternative would never come.
But within the span of 22 minutes, that would all become history.
As the train came to its final stop 150 feet below ground in the bedrock of Midtown Manhattan, the low rattling of the train cars stopped, followed by silence. No one dared to move. Breaking the stillness was the sound of the cheery conductor’s voice coming over the loudspeaker whose five words said it all:
“Welcome to Grand Central Madison”
Applause erupted from the train cars. It was a watershed moment for the MTA as passengers set foot for the very first time on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Manhattan East Side station. A moment that encapsulated six decades of planning, nearly 20 years of construction, and roughly $11.6 billion.
The opening came after a month of delays caused by a faulty ventilation fan. Yet, despite the acknowledged roadblocks, delays and missteps along the way, Grand Central Madison is finally here.
“Grand Central will dramatically change the transportation of the region,” said Janno Lieber, the MTA’s chair and chief executive. “It’s going to benefit Long Islanders with shorter commutes, 40 percent more service, and help Long Island business recruit people from the city with reverse commuting.”
And for Niurka Maldonado of Queens —riding with daughters Nora and Paulina — the prospect of having faster access to Manhattan’s East Side is nothing short of exciting.
“We have several friends that work in that area, and I love some of the restaurants in there,” she said. “So, we’re going to definitely be doing more trips to Grand Central and everything around there.”
For roughly three weeks, shuttle service trains between Jamaica and Grand Central Madison are running every 30 minutes during off-peak hours and on weekends, and once per hour during peak times.
Service runs between 6:15 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays, and between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. on weekends.
Long Island Rail Road riders looking to Grand Central Madison can use their Penn Station tickets, which are the same price.
It will likely be a month before full service comes online, replacing the simple commuter trains. For now, riders looking for a fast way between Jamaica and Manhattan’s East Side can find trains every 30 minutes during off-peak hours, and every 60 during peak times.
“I just want to see if it saves me time going to my office on the East Side,” said Francesco Giovannetti of Glen Head. “I’m hoping to save about 20 to 30 minutes being two blocks away from Grand Central. I want to get acclimated to the station.”
Then there was Ruthanne Terrero of Malverne, sitting placidly with her tote bag in hand, taking in the significance of the moment of new train service to Manhattan.
“It’s just really glorious to see that we have something really beautiful,” Terrero said. “I think a lot of people work on the East Side, and I think it’s also really important that people see that New York is progressing.”
And more progress is still to come. Whether this project was worth its price tag, worth the commuting disruption, and worth the extended wait will be up to the riders themselves. Some have already taken to social media to point out certain mishaps like escalators shutting down midway, and some finding trouble making their way into the LIRR concourse at Grand Central.
It is no doubt looking to be a work in progress.
But Mitchell Schwartz and brother Steven — two young MTA train enthusiasts from Roslyn — wouldn’t have wanted this once-in-a-lifetime moment any other way.
Phyllis Levine, pounced on the chance to hop on the shuttle train to Grand Central if it meant saving time getting to her pharmacology appointment.
“I’m not a subway person, and I gen-
erally like to drive everywhere,” the Queens resident said. “But the easiest way to get to Manhattan from Queens is the express bus or the Long Island Rail Road. So, I figured I should try the ride to Grand Central. See how it goes.”
“Just try wrapping your head around the fact that we are the first of millions to ride a train toward something that has been proposed for over half a century,” Mitchell said. “It’s just an amazing occasion.”
Additional reporting by Andre Silva.
It’s certainly been an interesting process getting acclimated to Washington, and his new role as a congressman. But U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito is happy to finally get to settle down and tackle his new role on Capitol Hill.
From police officer to detective in the New York Police Department. An 18-year-old volunteer firefighter to fire chief. And now Hempstead town councilman to congressman, the 40-year-old Island Park native describes looking back at his journey as a surreal experience.
Orientation for incoming congressional members like D’Esposito began the Sunday after Election Day — a point where some candidates were still waiting for their races to be called. Still, freshmen members of the House undergo a two-week icebreaker period where they get to know one another and learn how everything we see on C-SPAN operates.
“In politics in general — but specifically in Washington — you look at where people sit on the (House) floor, and it’s literally divided by an aisle,” D’Esposito said. “When we went to orientation, you walked into the hotel or you walked into different events, everyone just had a nametag on.”
It said who they were and where they were from, but there was no “D” or “R” labelling them as Democrats or Republicans.
“I think it gave (us) the opportunity to really meet people with an open mind,” he said.
D’Esposito is now almost a month into office, serving on three House committees: Homeland Security, Transportation and Infrastructure and House Administration.
When it comes to homeland security, the congressman believes the biggest issue the country faces is taking
place at the U.S.-Mexico border. There have been a large number of migrants coming to the United States seeking asylum, or at least a better life. While D’Esposito believes everyone should have the opportunity to come to America, it still must be “done correctly.”
That means more funding for border patrol agents and the resources they need to keep the country’s borders safe.
Getting onto the Homeland Security Community meant earning a top-secret security clearance. Before leaving the NYPD in his previous life, D’Esposito was in
the process of transferring to the department’s joint terrorist task force.
“In addition to my 20 or so years as a first responder, I think having someone from Long Island and New York on Homeland Security is super important,” D’Esposito said. “We need to carry that mantle of Peter King, who was the chair of Homeland Security following 9/11. And we need to make sure we are able to provide the resources that we need to our local law enforcement agencies — not only here, but throughout the country.”
D’Esposito’s responsibilities with the Committee of House Administration include overseeing management of House operations, federal elections, key congressional offices, and Capitol Complex security — which extends to supervising the U.S. Capitol Police and its management.
The former police officer expressed his excitement in the opportunity to utilize his law enforcement experience when collaborating with officers sworn to protect one of the nation’s three branches of government.
But even with all that work on his plate, D’Esposito still finds himself talking about one of his fellow freshman colleagues from a neighboring congressional district — U.S. Rep. George Santos, and the ongoing reports and investigations into his past and how he raised money for his campaign.
D’Esposito won’t back down on his calls for Santos to resign, and is prepared to provide whatever services constituents in Santos’ district might need, but not comfortable approaching the embattled congressman about.
“People voted for a George Santos that they don’t even know — they voted for the George Santos that George created,” D’Esposito said. “You call, you’re looking for help, regardless of where you live, regardless of where you’re from, what you look like or what party you’re affiliated with — we’re here to help you.”
Tim Baker/HeraldThe Baldwin girls’ basketball team has found its usual winning form this season after overcoming adversity before the first practice.
MacArthur Senior Wrestling
A COUNTY SEMIFINALIST last winter and eventual third-place finisher in the 189-pound weight class, Velasquez is looking to cap his high school career with a Nassau wrestling crown. Heading into this Saturday’s county qualifier tournament at Bellmore-JFK, he is ranked No. 1 in the county at 215 pounds. After winning 21 of 30 matches last winter, his record this season stands at 36-3.
Thursday, Feb. 2
Girls Basketball: Carey at Roosevelt 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Mineola at Wantagh 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Syosset at Freeport 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball: West Hemp at East Rockaway 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 3
Boys Basketball: South Side at Kennedy 4:30 p.m.
Boys Basketball: G.N. South at Calhoun 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: V.S. Central at East Meadow 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: East Rockaway at West Hemp 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Port Washington at Oceanside 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: MacArthur at Long Beach 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Locust Valley at Seaford 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball: North Shore at Clarke 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Jericho at Mepham 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Westbury at Baldwin 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4
Wrestling: Nassau County Division 1 Qualifying Tournaments hosted by Long Beach, Hewlett, Bellmore-JFK, Plainedge and Uniondale 9:30 a.m.
Girls Basketball: Lynbrook at Mineola 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Kennedy at South Side 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Clarke at North Shore 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Long Beach at MacArthur 12 p.m.
The Lady Bruins (11-1) lost two starters for the season from last year’s team that reached the state finals including reigning All-State center Dallysshya Moreno and All-Long Island shooting guard Renelle Grannum, who suffered torn ACL tears during the offseason prior to their senior year. Baldwin was also without senior All-County point guard Kateylyn Simpson early in the season after she dislocated her kneecap over the summer.
“It’s definitely been a unique year and a challenging one,” said longtime Baldwin head coach Tom Catapano. “We have really never experienced anything like this before in my 13 years as head coach.”
Despite the big losses, the Bruins have roared through its schedule so far posting blowout margins in most of its 11 wins including a 60-20 victory at Valley Stream Central on Jan.17 where Baldwin led 35-8 at halftime. Baldwin’s recent dominance was also evident in a 78-37 victory at East Meadow in which sophomore guard Payton Dulin scored 22.
Dulin has emerged as an offensive leader in her second season starting in the backcourt with key veteran players sidelined. She has versatility and will often switch between the point and shooting guard roles during games.
“She is a combo guard who will go back and forth between handling the ball and also playing on the wing,” Catapano said of Dulin. “She’s had multiple 20-point games and is playing really well for us.”
Simpson returned to the lineup from her knee injury in mid-December and has shined with seven double-digit games including 20 points along with five assists in a 73-39 win at Port Washington on Dec. 17. She is the team’s top defender who will often guard the other team’s best player.
Baldwin has also gotten strong play in the frontcourt from sophomore Toni Smith, who was the first player off the
bench during last year’s run to a Long Island Class AA title. Smith registered a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds in a 65-52 win at Plainview JFK on Jan. 11.
With the Bruins winning most games conveniently, it has enabled Catapano to play his entire roster, which he said is key in terms of keeping players fresh for the playoffs and developing for future seasons.
“The kids work extremely hard at practice and the end result is that they’re going to play in most of the games,” Catapano
said. “It is also great for us because we get a chance to see what they can do in some live action and being as extremely young as we are I think that that experience has been really, really valuable for us.”
Catapano has pieced together a challenging non-league schedule to prepare his team for the upcoming playoffs where Baldwin is aiming for a ninth straight county crown. The Bruins only two losses were a 58-43 setback to Bishop Scanlan in the Bronx last Friday and 56-43 to Maryland’s Bullis School on Jan. 15.
Members of the Baldwin High School Robotics team received their kit and parts from FIRST Long Island last week.
Baldwin High School students attended this year’s kickoff event for the 2023 FIRST Robotics Competition, sponsored by FIRST Long Island and hosted by LIU Post on Jan. 7., where they gathered with more than 40 participating high schools at LIU Post’s Krasnoff Theater for a presentation.
Each team received a kit of parts, which they will use, along with other materials, to build a 120 pound robot for the upcoming competition taking place on March 20 at Hofstra University.
With support from over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies and more than $50 million in college scholarships, the non-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition for students in from freshman to senior year, the FIRST Tech Challenge for grades 7 to 12, and FIRST LEGO League from Pre-K to eighth grade.
FIRST Long Island is a fully volunteerrun non-profit organization founded in 1984 by Fred Breithut with the goal of developing partnerships between local high schools and businesses, to provide students with practical experience and curriculum development, while helping the business community develops its future workforce.
In 1999, the inaugural FIRST Long Island
Since January of 2020, over 175,000 COVID-19 related GoFundMe campaigns were created, raising more than $416 million. While donors may be feeling charitable, they should know that their contributions are likely not taxdeductible. Likewise, campaign organizers should also be wary of the potential tax implications of those donations. Donations on GoFundMe or other crowdfunding sites are usually made to individuals or groups, not IRS-designated charities. The contributions are considered ‘gifts’ by the donor and are not tax-deductible. On GoFundMe, there are two exceptions to make your donation tax-deductible:
• Qualified 501(c) Organization: Donations to a qualified charitable organization listed on GoFundMe are considered tax-deductible. The web site provides a link to certified charities so Donors can know they are making a qualified, taxdeductible contribution directly to the intended nonprofit.
• “GoFundMe Causes:” GoFundMe created “GoFundMe Causes” and GoFundMe.org where qualified charitable organizations are grouped by their general “cause.” Donors make a taxdeductible donation to the cause of their choice (i.e. environment, COVID relief, animal rescue, etc.). GoFundMe then sends the donations directly to the verified fundraisers and charities in that cause.
Gift Tax Consequences
Because a contribution (other than those specified above) is a gift, donors should be aware of the IRS reporting requirements for gifts. Those who give more than the annual gift tax exclusion ($15,000 for the 2021 tax year) may be required to file a gift tax return. While exceptions exist for gifts to medical or educational expenses, contributions on GoFundMe rarely go directly to the institutions, as is required for the exception.
robotics tournament featured just eight FIRST Robotics Competition high school teams. Since then, the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition has grown into two events, with over 80 competing teams.
FIRST Long Island also hosts its annual FIRST LEGO League Qualifying and Championship Tournaments and the FIRST LEGO League Junior Expos, where over 2,000 elementary and middle school students from Nassau and Suffolk Counties take part each year. In 2016, the FIRST Tech Challenge was added to its roster of programs.
Robotics team received their kit and parts for from FIRST Long Island last week.
— Andre SilvaDemanding fair contracts with affordable health care costs, dozens of Nassau Community College faculty members rallied outside of the county legislature last week.
They were part of a broader protest from the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers, an educators union representing NCC’s full-time faculty, speaking out against higher health care insurance premium costs. They gathered on the steps of the county legislature carrying signs like “We’d rather be teaching right now,” demanding better wages and fair contracts, targeting both the Nassau Community College Board of Trustees and the county itself.
They weren’t out on the steps long before some of the union members were ushered inside the Mineola building with a chance to state their case with county legislators.
The educators union and trustees board have been negotiating full-time faculty contracts since last July, hoping to work out a deal before their contracts expired in August. The union has rallied multiple times since then, expressing frustration with the negotiation process.
As recently as Dec. 13, Siminioff and the union asked the trustees to include salary increases to keep up with rising inflation, as well as include paid sabbaticals. But then, last week, health insurance premium costs jumped for full-time faculty at NCC.
The increase came about thanks to the trustees enacting an old clause in their contracts — written decades ago — allow-
ing the board to charge faculty members working under an expired contract with increased health insurance premiums. The insurance increases, Siminioff said, could cost faculty members between $2,500 and $5,000 — effectively acting like a pay cut.
“So, we’re not getting we’re not getting a wage increase. Our promotions have all been frozen. We’re not getting our sabbaticals. We’re not getting anything. But they’re imposing this on us,” Siminioff said. “I think this provision has been there for 30 years and they have never invoked it. They want to punish the faculty and force us through economic strongarming.”
John Gross, an Ingerman Smith attorney representing Nassau Community College, said the New York State Health Insurance Plan — which provides insurance to all college employees — raised premiums on Jan. 1 by 15 percent for family coverage. That’s about $5,000 each year. Individual coverage rose more than 12 percent, which could cost upward of $4,000 over the next 12 months.
A provision in NCC’s full-time faculty labor contract states if the cost of health insurance premiums increases after a contract expires, Gross said, it’s up to the individual employees to shoulder those costs through payroll deductions.
“The union knew it was in the labor contract because one of the proposals in our current negotiations is to remove the clause,” Gross said. “The board didn’t wake up one day and said, ‘You know what? We’re going to impose these increases on the union.’”
Siminioff said many faculty members
feel the college has strained them to their limits, and has not properly supported them financially. Aside from the imposed health insurance premiums, NCC’s faculty has experienced an average wage increase just over 1 percent in the past decade.
“The starting salary for an instructional faculty member is approximately $60,800, and the starting salary for a noninstructional faculty member is $55,900,” Siminioff said. “According to the MIT wage calculator, a middle-class family of three needs about $96,000 to be middle class in Nassau County.”
Faculty members are teaching more students in larger classes over the past few years, Siminioff said. When she first
started teaching at NCC some 25 years ago, she taught an average of 110 students each semester. Now, professors are being asked to educate an average of 160 students each semester — which Siminioff feels is unfair.
Aside from low starting wages, it typically takes 15 to 18 years for someone on the faculty to start earning $100,000, Siminioff said. Anyone hired now would earn $55,000, taking 15 years to climb to $100,000.
“By the time you get 15 years of employment, it’s still not enough to live middle class in Nassau County,” Siminioff said. “So, they’re condemning college faculty to never being middle class. That’s the bottom line.”
T hey want to punish the faculty and force us through economic strong-arming.
FAREN SIMINIOFF president, Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers
It’s the biggest sports day of the year. Classic commercials, historic plays and friends are all quintessential elements of the perfect game-day get-together. Whether your gang includes football fanatics or just a few fans, the big game — on Feb. 12 — is a great excuse for casual winter entertaining.
And while there may be a game on the big screen, a lot of the action takes place around the table — keeping everyone well-fed is a sport in itself!
• 1/4 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1 cup hummus
Whisk first seven ingredients together (vinegar through paprika). Add hummus and combine thoroughly. Be creative with your dipping options. Potato and tortilla chips go hand-in-hand with tailgating festivities, but beyond these standards is a whole world of other dipping options. For a Mediterranean touch, go with flatbread, pita bread or pita chips. Or opt for more texture with multi-grain crackers that include raw flax, chia or sesame seeds. Or go for double the Buffalo wing flavor by dipping your wing, instead of the traditional blue cheese.
Here’s a zesty take on the football-watching favorite.
• 2-1/2 pounds chicken wing pieces
• 1/2 cup any flavor Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wings Sauce
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 tsp. Cajun seasoned spice blend
Bake wings in foil-lined pan at 500° F on lowest oven rack for 20 to 25 minutes until crispy, turning once.
Mix buffalo wings sauce, ketchup and spice blend. Toss wings in sauce to coat.
Tip: You may substitute 1/2 cup red hot sauce mixed with 1/3 cup melted butter for the Wings Sauce.
Alternate cooking directions: Deep-fry at 375° F for 10 minutes, or broil 6 inches from heat 15 to 20 minutes turning once.
Darlene Love is always a welcome stage presence. For more than 50 years, she’s been making rock and roll’s world go ‘round. Since the early ‘60s, as part of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound hit factory, this songstress has done it all — from movies like the ‘Lethal Weapon’ series to Broadway hits like ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Grease.’ She even starred as herself in ‘Leader of the Pack,’ credited as Broadway’s first ‘jukebox musical.’ Love’s career and legacy reached new heights, as a result of being featured in 2013’s acclaimed documentary ‘20 Feet from Stardom,’ when she became the best known ‘unknown”’ in rock history. She continues to captivate audiences with her warm, gracious persona and dynamic performances. Her timeless, soaring voice remains as powerful as ever. Rolling Stone magazine has proclaimed Love to be ‘one of the greatest singers of all time,’ and that certainly rings true, but perhaps Paul Shaffer says it even more concisely: ‘Darlene Love is rock and roll!”
Friday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m. $88, $78, $68. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.
A warm batch of Buffalo wings pairs well with this smoky and spicy dip.
• 1 tsp. red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 package (19.76 ounces) Italian sausage links
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 3 celery ribs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 large sweet red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 tbsp. garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 large yellow pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 large green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) Italian recipe stewed tomatoes
• 1 can (16 ounces) dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (15 ounces) butter beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 3/4 cup black olives, sliced
• 1/4 cup cream sherry (optional)
• 1 tbsp. fresh basil, chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking cocoa
• 1/2 to 1 tsp. pepper
Cook sausage according to package directions; cut into half moon slices and set aside.
In soup kettle, saute onion, celery, sweet pepper and garlic in oil until tender. Add sausage and remaining ingredients; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until flavors are blended.
Sprinkle chili with grated asiago, romano, parmesan cheese — or any cheese of your choice — before serving. Makes 12 servings.
The National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine was established in Lviv in1902, a city known as one of the great cultural centers of eastern Europe, The orchestra has evolved over the years to become one of that nation’s largest and most internationally known ensembles, now under the baton of principal guest conductor Theodore Kuchar. It reminds us of how music can bridge cultures and bring people together. Their 2023 American tour is a testament to the power of music to overcome adversity. Their program for this powerful concert includes: Ukrainian composer Yevhen Stankovych’s Chamber Symphony No. 3 for Flute and String Orchestra; Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16; and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92. Pianist Oksana Rapita is the featured soloist.
Saturday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m.; with 6:45 p.m. Arts Insider preperformance preview. $79, $59, $44. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. (516) 299-3100 or TillesCenter. org..
Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular “Brown Bag Lecture” live, via Zoom, Thursday, Feb. 23, 1 p.m. She’ll discuss the current exhibition, “The Big Picture: Photography Now.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program. Register at least 24 hours in advance to receive the program Zoom link. Also Feb. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Cellist and composer Zoë Keating visits the Landmark stage, Friday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m. Considered a “one woman orchestra,” she uses a cello and a foot-controlled laptop to loop layer upon layer of cello, creating intricate, haunting, and compelling music; Keating has spent the last 20 years exploring the landscape of sounds a string instrument can make. She coaxes sounds out of the very edges of her cello, adeptly layering them into “swoon inducing” (San Francisco Weekly) music that is unclassifiable yet “a distinctive mix of old and new” (National Public Radio). She is known for her use of technology — which she uses to record and sample her cello onstage and in the studio – and for her DIY approach — composing, recording and producing her works on her own terms, without the help of a record label. $41, $35, $27. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.
Mo Willems’ popular The Pigeon comes alive on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Saturday, Feb. 11, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sunday, Feb.12, 2 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, Feb. 15-17, noon. Pigeon is eager to try anything, with the audience part of the action. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.
See the romantic comedy about what happens when an African American and a Latina college student fall in love, presented by Nassau Community College Theater and Dance Department and the Africana Studies Department, Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 7-11, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m. Also Feb. 16-19, with talkback session with playwright David Lamb, immediately following final performance. Threaded by the culture of hip-hop, the lovers defend their relationship, as friends and family learn that this “food fight” calls for fusion instead of feud. Nassau Community College’s Mainstage Theatre, Garden City. Tickets $10; NCC students free with valid ID; $8 veterans, alumni, seniors 60+, students and NCC employees. For tickets/information, visit NCC. edu or call (516) 572-7676.
Sonny’s Canal House invites everyone to enjoy the band “Contraband” play classic rock, blues, and radio-friendly originals, Friday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m. Visit the restaurant at1 Jefferson Pl. in Baldwin. For more information call (516) 867-9833.
BabyJam and Jungle Bungle invite children, parents and caregivers to join them, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 9:30-10:30 a.m., at the Baldwin Public Library, for singing, dancing, and learning activities in the community room, 2385 Grand Ave. For more information, visit BaldwinPL.org.
The SingStrong A Cappella Festival returns to the New York area, hosted by Adelphi University, Friday through Sunday, Feb. 3-5. Professional a cappella groups perform along with collegiate and high school ensembles. A variety of musical genres are represented, including re-imaginings of barbershop, pop, R&B, jazz, and more. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 8774000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.
Baldwin Public Library invites children to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m. With stories, songs and Valentine’s Day craft, in the Children’s arts and crafts room, 2385 Grand Ave. Register at BaldwinPL.org.
Items on The Scene 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 thescene@liherald.com.
The Baldwin Bowl and Lounge invites the community to dance and bowl every Thursday night to reggae and Afro beats at the bowling center, 2407 Grand Ave., 8 p.m.2 a.m. For information, visit BaldwinBowl.com.
Photography’s ascent in the art world is an international phenomenon. Nassau County Museum of Art’s star-studded exhibition spans the historical roots of the medium. View works by Ansel Adams and his generation and the thrilling, large-format color works of such contemporary masters as Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth, James Casebere and Gregory Crewdson, among others. From the documentary to the painterly, images bear witness to the times. On view through March 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Baldwin Civic Association holds a board meeting at the Baldwin Public Library, Thursday, Feb. 2, 7:30-8:30 p.m., in the community room, 2385 Grand Ave. For more information contact Erika Hill at (404) 840-0537.
Pat McGann, quickly rising as one of the sharpest stand-ups on the comedy scene, appears at The Paramount, Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. A relative latecomer to comedy, he began doing stand-up at age 31 after realizing he was not very good at selling packaging. He hustled his way to become the house emcee at Zanies Chicago, where he distinguished himself as especially adept at working the crowd. A husband and father of three young children, his appeal stems from his quick wit and relatable take on family life and marriage. In 2017, McGann began touring as the opening act for Sebastian Maniscalco, moving with him from clubs to theater, to arenas, including four sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden. $40, $35, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
(From left to right) Jodi Turk, event, marketing and brand strategist, and Amy Amato, executive director of corporate relations and events, visited the Barasch & McGarry office to deliver a check to John Feal, founder and president of the FealGood Foundation, and Sara Director, partner at Barasch & McGarry who handles 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) claims and a Top Lawyer Honoree. RichnerLIVE donated a portion of ticket proceeds from the Herald Top Lawyers of Long Island Awards Gala to the foundation. The FealGood Foundation protects and assists all emergency personnel injured on the job or in their personal lives through offering financial aid, basic home utilities, medicine and more. On Sept. 12, 2001, Feal was called to assist in the cleanup of ground zero when his foot was crushed and forced to be amputated. After dealing with the hurdles that came with the accident, he decided that no one should struggle after helping with ground zero. Visit www.FealGoodFoundation.com for more information on the organization and how you can help.
Baldwin residents attend Jeanine Driscoll’s Tax Forum
The Hempstead Town Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll hosted the town’s Taxpayer Forum, which explains to residents how they can lower their property tax bills on Jan. 11 at Baldwin Park located on 3232 Grand Ave.
Sandra Morse, of Baldwin, Jack and
Tom Bergamino, of Baldwin, and Teresa Bowman, of Freeport, met with Driscoll during the Taxpayer Forum, where they learned how to apply for tax exemption programs, and also an overview of new payment features, paperless billing, payment reminders, tax discounts and more.
The Baldwin Public Library featured a large collection of photos, speeches, and literature in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King and the great-
Parents or grandparents of a disabled child should leave assets in a Special Needs Trust, to avoid the child being disqualified from government benefits, such as SSI and Medicaid. The reasoning behind these Special Needs Trusts is simple — prior to the protection now afforded by these trusts, parents would simply disinherit their disabled children rather than see them lose their benefits. Since the state wasn’t getting the inheritance monies anyway, why not allow it to go to the disabled child for his or her extra needs, above and beyond what the state supplies.
These trusts, however, offer traps for the unwary. Since payments to the child will generally reduce their SSI payments dollar for dollar, trustees of such trusts should be advised to make payments directly to the providers of goods and services. Preserving SSI benefits is crucial since eligibility for SSI determines eligibility for Medicaid.
In other words, if SSI is lost the recipient also loses their Medicaid benefits. In addition, any benefits previously paid by Medicaid may be recovered. As such, one also has to be mindful of bequests from well-meaning grandparents. Similarly, if a sibling dies without a will, a
share of their estate may go to the special needs brother or sister by law. The Special Needs Trust must be carefully drafted so that it only allows payments for any benefits over and above what the government provides.
There are two kinds of Special Needs Trusts – first party and third party. The first party trust is set up by a parent, grandparent, legal guardian or court using the child’s own money, either through earnings, an inheritance that was left directly to them or, perhaps, a personal injury award. Recent changes in the law allow the special needs child to establish their own first party Special Needs Trust if they are legally competent to engage in contractual matters. These first party trusts require a “payback” provision, meaning that on the death of the child beneficiary, the trust must pay back the state for any government benefits received.
A third party trust is usually set up by a parent or grandparent, using their own money. Here, no “payback” provision is required because it was not the child’s own money that funded the trust and the parent or grandparent had no obligation to leave any assets to the child. On the death of the child beneficiary, the balance of the trust is paid out to named beneficiaries.
er civil rights movement at their themed display on the first floor of the library last month.
This Valentine's Day Give The Luxurious Gift of Time
25 % OFF All Jewelry
Plus Free watch replacement battery and free Jewelry cleaning with purchase.
After several rounds of blistering public hearings and politically pressurized back-and-forths, a temporary redistricting commission’s efforts to explore how new political lines should be drawn for the Town of Hempstead ended last month with its final recommendation. Their choice? Nothing.
After weighing the options between a preliminary map pitched by Hempstead town officials, or alternatives by local civic and law groups, the three-member commission officially urged town lawmakers to produce a final map that keeps communities of interest intact. Still, it stopped short of putting forward an actual map for the town to consider.
“We really sat, each one of us, and it truly was a hearing,” commission chair Gary Hudes told the audience. “We listened.
“I think, in both cases, there is a common thread we are seeing, and that is the idea of keeping communities whole and making them more compact.”
The move was met with a sharp uproar from the small crowd, dashing expectations for a final green light for a town council map.
Mimi Pierre-Johnson, the founder of the Elmont Cultural Center, felt the commission had turned a corner by formally acknowledging the faults of the town’s proposal. But they fell short when they did not deliver on a solid recommendation.
“Our hopes (were) snatched by the fact that they refused to stand behind one of the proposed alternative maps and tweak it as needed,” Pierre-Johnson said. “The resolution is not enough to satisfy everything the public raised a concern to.”
Since the first day of the redistricting process, concerns raised by voters and community activist groups circle back to a single theme: District lines should be redrawn to have a more balanced demographic representation of up to three “minority-majority” districts, and compact historically and culturally whole communities. This is something the Elmont Cultural Center and Legal Defense Fund said they ensured with their five alternative maps.
Commission members admitted that not a single proposed map addressed all the issues people have put forth at various meetings, but claimed the recommendation was enough to communicate the gist of everyone’s concerns.
As it stands, the current map produced
by the town-hired Skyline Demographic Consultants ensures the town’s 22 villages — with the exception of the Village of Hempstead — remain whole in accordance with the municipal “home rule” law. And communities such as East Meadow, Franklin Square, North Valley Stream, Baldwin, Uniondale and Woodmere each contain portions of two council districts, while West Hempstead contains portions of three.
Critics, however, raised doubts about the map’s compliance with federal and state voting rights protections — specifically the Voting Rights Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York,
signed last summer by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Michael Pernick of the Legal Defense Fund, civil rights attorney Frederick Brewington, Randolph McLaughlin and LatinoJustice PRLDEF argued splitting the Black and Latino communities in Elmont and Valley Stream into two separate majority-white districts dilutes minority voting power.
“Over 38 percent of the population in the Town of Hempstead is Black or Latino,” the law professionals wrote in a letter to the commission. “But this demographic can only elect the candidate of their choice in one out of the six districts.”
Pernick and Brewington warned that
Ana Borruto/Herald photos
THE PROPOSED MAP from Hempstead town officials showing where town council districts will be placed was created by Skyline Consulting. It has drawn criticism from civic groups and law experts for what they claim violate federal and state voting rights protections, saying the map fails to keep communities whole, and continues to crack minority neighborhoods into multiple districts.
THE ELMONT CULTURAL Center’s ‘Blue Bird Plan’ keeps Elmont and Valley Stream in one minoritymajority district when it comes to representation on the Hempstead town council, while maps proposed by Hempstead town officials do not.
if Hempstead finalizes the current map as it stands, it could expose the town to costly litigation — all at taxpayers’ expense.
A statement released by the commission acknowledged the Skyline proposal was “problematic in that it splits Hempstead and Uniondale, Baldwin, East Meadow, Franklin Square, West Hempstead and North Valley Stream. It fails to keep the communities of North Valley Stream and Elmont together, and fails to put the communities of Merrick and North Merrick into a single district.
“It is not sufficiently compact, and compactness is an important redistricting criteria under the ‘home rule’ message.”
The resolution is not enough to satisfy everything the public raised a concern to.MIMI PIERREJOHNSON founder, Elmont Cultural Center
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff, vs. JOHN TAYLOR A/K/A JOHN W. TAYLOR III, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF JOMARCEL TAYLOR A/K/A JOMARCEL M. TAYLOR, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Amended Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 24, 2015, as amended by an Amended Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 27, 2022, and a Short Form Order duly entered on July 20, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola 11501, NY on March 7, 2023 at 3:00 p.m., premises known as 59 Woodland Estates Drive, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 36, Block 547 and Lot 68. Approximate amount of judgment is $379,201.26 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 007762/2013. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.
Charles J. Casolaro, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 212719-1
137019
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT.
NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. BIBI RAMZAN, et al, Defts. Index #612845/2021. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered April 11, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on March 7, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. prem. k/a Section 36, Block 534, Lot 30. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale and the right of the United States of America
to redeem within 120 days from the date of sale as provided by law. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the sale.
RUSSELL S. BURMAN, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #100044
137015
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT: SUFFOLK COUNTY. CRYSTALLYN INC LLC, Pltf. vs. VICTORINO NUNEZ A/K/A VICTORINO
as 3500 Steven Road, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin Harbor, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 54 Block 581 Lot 25.
Approximate amount of judgment $529,402.98 plus interest and costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 004841/2016. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 611424/2018. George Esernio, 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.
136845
ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as Section: 54 Block: 283 and Lot: 116
All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction.
information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/526/CountyTreasurer
MARK
D. NUNEZ, et al, Defts. Index #13-013423. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale dated June 30, 2022 and order substituting referee entered in Sept. 7, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the north side front steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on February 14, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., prem. k/a 817 Southard Street, Baldwin, NY a/k/a Section 54, Block 482, Lot Group 18-19. Said property located in Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of NY, known and designated on a certain map entitled, “Map of property at Baldwin, Nassau County, New York, owned by Lynbrook Land Company, surveyed 1904 by D.S. Denton, East Rockaway, L.I.” and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on March 4, 1904 as Map No, 43, as and by Lots No. 18 and 19 in Block 1. Approx. amt. of judgment is $1,124,052.07 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the auction.
RICCIARDI, Referee. MARGOLIN, WEINREB & NIERER LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 165 Eileen Way, Ste. 101, Syosset, NY. #100034
136595
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST Michael Bailey; Karen Bailey; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 30, 2017 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 22, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known
Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Malachy Lyons, Jr., Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC
Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: December 14, 2022 74534
136708
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK -
COUNTY OF NASSAU
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MASTR
ASSET-BACKED
SECURITIES TRUST 2006-
NC2 MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-NC2,
V. TONYA HUBBARD A/K/A
TONYA K HUBBARD, ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated November 14, 2022, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MASTR ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES TRUST 2006-
NC2 MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-NC2 is the Plaintiff and TONYA HUBBARD A/K/A TONYA K HUBBARD, 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 February 28, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 1535 MATTISON ST, NORTH BALDWIN, NY 11510 A/K/A 1535 MATTISON AVE, BALDWIN, NY 11510: Section 36, Block 482, Lot 142, 143, 244 & 341: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN BALDWIN, STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAU
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY. DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE, FOR CARRINGTON MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2005-NC1 ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, Pltf. vs. ALISON KUPISZ, et al, Defts. Index #7427/2012. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale dated Feb. 5, 2019 and order appointing substitute referee dated March 24, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the north side front steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Dr., Mineola, NY on February 28, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. prem. k/a 2164 Grove St., Baldwin, NY 11510. Said property located at the corner formed by the intersection of the northerly side of Brooklyn Ave. with the westerly side of Grove St., being a plot 75 ft. x 125 ft. Approx. amt. of judgment is $619,491.71 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the auction. MARK RICCIARDI, Referee. MARGOLIN, WEINREB & NIERER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 165 Eileen Way Suite 101, Syosset, NY. #100037 136843
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU
EMIGRANT BANK F/K/A
EMIGRANT SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff -againstSTEPHEN J. KING, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on November 3, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on February 27, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Said premises known as 2715 CENTRAL AVENUE A/K/A 27-15 CENTRAL AVENUE, BALDWIN, NY Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.
Index Number 604243/2020.
JOHN G. KENNEDY, ESQ., Referee Terenzi & Confusione P.C. Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 401 Franklin Avenue, Suite 304, Garden City, NY 11530 {* BALDWIN HE*} 136696
LEGAL NOTICE
PUBLIC
OF
Notice is hereby given that commencing on February 21st, 2023, will sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 16th, 2023 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property. Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six-month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code.
Effective with the February 2019 lien sale Ordinance No. 175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale.
Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased. Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further
Should the Treasurer determine that an inperson auction shall be held, same will commence on the 21st day of February 2023 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer. A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/527/Annual-TaxLien-Sale
A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 08th, 2023. Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audiotape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 ext. 1-3715.
Dated: January 25, 2023
THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, NewYork TERMS OF SALE
Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts.
However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.
The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of
same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act(FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et.seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC) receivership.
The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed.
The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk.
The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County
Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale.
Furthermore, as to the bidding,
1. The bidder(s) agree that they will not work with any other bidder(s) to increase, maintain or stabilize interest rates or collaborate with any other bidder(s) to gain an unfair competitive advantage in the random number generator in the event of a tie bid(s) on a tax certificate. Bidder(s) further agree not to employ any bidding strategy designed to create an unfair competitive advantage in the tiebreaking process in the upcoming tax sale nor work with any other bidder(s) to engage in any bidding strategy that will result in a rotational award of tax certificates.
2. The tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) bid, will be arrived at independently and without direct or indirect consultation, communication or agreement with any other bidder and that the tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) to be bid, have not been disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder, and will not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder prior to the close of bidding. No attempt has been made or will be made to, directly or indirectly, induce any other bidder to refrain from bidding on any tax certificate, to submit complementary bids, or to submit bids at specific interest rates.
3. The bids to be placed by the Bidder will be made in good faith and not pursuant to any direct or indirect, agreement or discussion with, or inducement from, any other bidder to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive bid.
4. If it is determined that the bidder(s) have violated any of these bid requirements then their bid shall be voided and if they were the successful bidder the lien and any deposits made in connection with said bid shall be forfeited.
Dated: January 25, 2023
Jay Rivera and Taylor Darcy, two Baldwin high School seniors, received d the Nassau Zone of the New York State AHPERD Award this month.
Rivera and Darcy, were selected as the 2022-23 recipients of the “Outstanding Physical Education Students of the Year” award bestowed by the Nassau Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Each year, the award recognizes one
Nassau County should make public superficial details of its secretive cybersecurity contract that won’t jeopardize safety, according to the New York State Committee on Open Government.
The county’s rules committee unanimously adopted a cybersecurity contract at its Dec. 5, 2022 meeting but publicly provided no details other than the contract’s existence. The county denied both a freedom of information law request and appeal made by the Herald.
In response, the Committee on Open Government issued an advisory opinion Jan. 18 regarding the Herald’s request for broad details of the contract such as what the contract is for and how much taxpayer money is being spent.
In the advisory opinion, Shoshanah Bewlay, executive director of the
boy and girl student in the graduating class who best exemplifies outstanding physical performance, scholastic ability, leadership qualities and a passion for fitness as well as an active lifestyle.
The association honored both students during an awards ceremony, and they join an extensive list of Baldwin alumni who have been recognized over the years with this honor.
— Andre Silva
DEBORAH S. SHEIGE AKA
DEBORAH GOLDMAN AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF GERTRUDE SCHEIGE;
GARY E. SCHEIGE AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF GERTRUDE SCHEIGE; UNKNOWN HEIRS TO THE ESTATE OF GERTRUDE SCHEIGE, 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; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NASSAU COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; and JOHN DOE AND JANE DOE #1 through #7, the last seven (7) names being fictitious and unknown to the Plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or parties, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the mortgaged premises described in the Complaint; DefendantsIndex No. 002905/2016
Plaintiff Designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject action is situated in Nassau County. To the above named
Defendants-YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if
the complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated December 14, 2022. 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 ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable David P. Sullivan, J.S.C.
Dated: December 14, 2022
Filed: December 16, 2022. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 3408 Carey Lane, Baldwin, NY 11510.
Dated: December 14, 2022 Filed: December 23, 2022. Pincus Law Group, PLLC., Attorney for Plaintiff, By: George J. Weissinger, Esq., 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, New York, NY 11556 (516) 699-8902 136724
To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
committee on open government, wrote that the county is allowed to withhold portions of the contract that could lead to an increased risk of a cyberattack.
However, the county should not issue a blanket denial, Bewlay wrote. “FOIL requires that the County disclose” information that would not be damaging if made public. “It is not clear how the disclosure of other information contained within the contract … would enable a person to adversely impact an agency’s electronic information or IT systems.”
The committee on open government issues advisory opinions and does not have enforcement power.
A county spokesperson did not respond to several requests for comment.
— Mark NolanThe EAC Network — a Garden Citybased social service agency that empowers, assists and cares for people in need — receives a $2,000 donation from RichnerLive. The money was from a portion of ticket sales from last year’s Herald Excellence in Healthcare Awards Gala, which honored heroes and leaders within the health care industry. Neela Mukeriee Lockel, EAC’s president and chief executive, along with Robert Stricoff —
the group’s chief development officer — accepted the donation from Herald Community Newspapers publisher Stuart Richner and RichnerLIve executive director Amy Amato. From left, Herald Community Newspapers deputy editor Jeffrey Bessen, Stricoff, Richner, Amato, executive editor Michael Hinman, and Lockel. To find out more about EAC — and how to donate — visit EAC-Network.org.
We HiRe tHe Best 1202116
Homes HERALD To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
NEW
Big Bus $27.18/hr. Non-Benefit Rate
VALLEY STREAM UFSD #13 WILLOW ROAD SCHOOL GREETER Candidate will be responsible for monitoring the main entrance of the school. NYS Fingerprinting required. $15-hour, candidate hired through Kelly Services Please email Résumé to: recruit@valleystream13.com Application Deadline: January 31, 2023 1202804
BUSDRIVERSWANTEDDoN’T MISS The Bus! EDU c ATI o NAL BUS TRANS po RTATI o N 516.454.2300
STARTING SALARIES Van $24.41/hr. Non-Benefit Rate
$2,500.00 for CDL driver bus and van $500.00 for non CDL drivers. Will train qualified applicants Sign On Bonus *Some restrictions may apply. EOE One phone call, one order, one heck of a good price to run your ad in any state, or across the country Call the USA Classified Network today! 1-800-231-6152
staff THE CHEF'S TABLE LYNBROOK is Seeking Part Time Experienced Servers, Bartender, Seasoned Line Cook for Upscale Italian Restaurant. Walk in interviews: Sunday , Tuesday - Friday Between 5 and 9pm or Call 63- 694-7515 Ask for Sammy.
Erit Gridnev
516-238-429 Employment HERALD 1128595
Erit Gridnev is a savvy real estate agent with over 15 years of experience in marketing and sales. Specializing in relocations, she understands the importance of finding the perfect property for her clients. Because she knows that moving to a new house is a very big change, Erit takes the time to get to know her clients and their specific needs. With a B.A in Human Services, she is able to provide valuable insight into community life and what to expect from different neighborhoods. Her wit and humor make her an enjoyable person to work with, and her expertise ensures that her clients are always satisfied with their purchase. Contact Erit at 510-584-6350 or by email eritg@vipropertiesny.com
Realtors are encouraged to send briefs and photographs to: Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd.., Garden City, NY 11530.
Open Houses
Open Houses WOODMERE BA, 29 Woodmere Blvd, #3B, New To Market! Move Right Into This Sunny, Renovated 2 BR Coop Apt in Heathcote Bldg. Updtd Gran/Wood Kit w/ Stainless Steel Appl, LR w/Coffered Ceiling, Dining Area, Spacious Primary BR, Updtd Bth & 2nd BR. RecRuiting a great team is Really simple. a growing multi media company Based in garden city is Hiring: • Receptionist • Reporter/editor • sales • multi media coordinator • Drivers • pressman/press Helper to join our team, please email your resume to careers@liherald.com or call 516-569-4000 ext #235
CEDARHURST BA, 332B Peninsula Blvd, Move Right Into This Updated 3 Br, 2.5 Bth Coop Townhouse. LR, DR, Gran/Wood Kit w/ Stainless Steel Appl. Trex Deck Off LR.Primary Ste Features Updtd Bth & WIC. Att Gar Plus 1 Pkg Spot incl in Maintenance. W/D in Unit.Pull Down Attic.SD#15. Convenient to Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship...$449,00 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299
HEWLETT 257 WILLARD Dr SUNDAY, 2/5, 12-1:30, REDUCED!! Spacious 5 BR, 3 Bth Exp Ranch With Open Layout.Main Floor Mstr Ste Plus Potential Mstr Ste on 2nd Flr.LR/Fpl, FDR, EIK & Sundrenched Family Rm w/ Doors to Deck. Fin Bsmt. Att Gar. Loads of Updates!! SD#20(Lynbrook)No Flood Insurance Req. MUST SEE THIS!..$1,025,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299
Reduction! Move Right Into This Completely CLASSIFIED Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460 E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads. Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of your ad. Please check your ad at the first insertion. Credit will be made only for the first insertion. Credit given for errors in ads is limited to the printed space involved. Publisher reserves right to reject, cancel or correctly classify an ad.
Ronnie To pLACE your AD CALL 516-569-4000 - press 5
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
Arare, one of a Kind “AQUA PH.” This penthouse features private elevator to stone floor foyer, magnificent views of the city and Atlantic Ocean from expansive windows. This home boasts utility room with washer/dryer and laundry sink, recessed lighting, hardwood floors in great room and hallways, fire protection sprinkler system, individually controlled high efficiency air-conditioning and heating system, re-circulating hot water system, cable television and telephone outlets. The custom kitchen features European hardwood cabinetry with custom hardware, Quartzite stone floor, distinctive granite countertops and mosaic glass tile backsplash, Wolf gas stove, Sub-Zero refrigerator and wine cooler, Miele dishwasher, Dacor microwave, Undermount kitchen sink with dual compartments, under cabinet lighting. The luxurious master bedroom suite features spacious walk-in closet and terrace, designer Kohler bathroom fixtures including whirlpool tub, walk-in shower with mosaic tile accents, marble appointments, European hardwood cabinetry with custom hardware. There are two parking spots “covered” with bike room and storage. You will enjoy spending a relaxing time in the Hot Tub.
Q. Can you solve a debate I have been having with my contractor about replacing the cracked floor in my garage? The problem is that I want to have steel bars in the slab and make it extra thick, since the existing slab is cracked and damaged from my heavy pickup truck, sometimes filled with heavy construction items. The concrete guy keeps telling me it’s overkill and that just the concrete, 5 inches thick, with a rollout wire mesh, is enough. Can you explain which one I need, and why he keeps telling me that the driveway is concrete, not cement? I want to do this job as soon as it warms up.
A. The first problem to solve is who should be designing the correct slab. Yes, we all know it’s just a slab, but you’ve already seen what happens when someone unfamiliar with the engineering design of even the simplest concrete slab doesn’t apply the correct preventive details.
Concrete is very strong in compression, meaning you can press on it to extremes before it even shows small signs of failure.
Unfortunately, concrete has no tensile strength. Zero. Zip. This means you can easily pull it apart, or bend it to the point of cracking without much force.
Structural engineers and architects, to a lesser extent, are trained to apply specific formulas that predict the success (and failure) of even a slab of formed concrete. Knowing how a slab fails allows professionals to apply the right reinforcement in the right places. Otherwise you’re just guessing.
FDR, EIK & Sundrenched Family Rm w/ Doors to Deck. Fin Bsmt. Att Gar. Loads of Updates!! SD#20 (Lynbrook) No Flood Insurance Req. MUST SEE THIS! REDUCED!! $1,025,000 1608 Ridgeway Dr, BA, Move Right Into This Completely Gut Renovated 4 BR, 3.5 Bth Col on 1/4 Acre Prop. New Kosher EIK, FDR, LR w/ Fpl, Den & Enclosed
Porch. Radiant Heated Flrs. Full Fin Bsmt. 2 Car Att Gar. MUST SEE!!
SD#20 DRASTIC REDUCTION! $1,469,000
1534 Broadway #103, BA, Magnificent New Renovation! One of a Kind Ranch Style
Living in Luxurious Jonathan Hall Condominium with Doorman & Elevator. Just Move into This Gut Rvated, Spacious 2 BR, 2 Bath Apt with Open Layout.Large Designer Eat in Kitchen with Sep Pantry & Laundry Rm.Master BR Boasts Gorgeous Bth & Walk in Closet. Terrace Faces into Courtyard. Garage Parking Incl REDUCED
There’s a difference in the description of the slab, which is made up of several materials, such as sand, lime, and something called “Portland cement.” Portland Cement is a mixture of mined calcium silicates and a lesser amount of calcium aluminates that form a chemical reaction in the presence of water. The chemical reaction causes the mixture to harden and give off heat, called the heat of hydration. It was patented in England in 1824 by bricklayer Joseph Aspdin, and got the name Portland because when it hardened, it appeared to look very similar to the white Portland stone quarried along the Portland Isle coast of Dorset in southern England. Sorry, Oregon, you get no credit here.
When other silicates, such as sand or different sizes of stone, are added, the characteristics change, and the setting times and strength change as well. Ash has been added in some mixes, and glass fibers, another form of silica, have made our latest bridge and roadway construction projects extremely long-lasting and stronger.
Portland cement can be a part of concrete. To determine the reinforcing, the loads need to be applied to formulas, along with the amount of time and other forces, such as expansion and contraction (due to temperature changes), support material strength, shrinkage and internal stress — in other words, it would be irresponsible to throw some guess at you without knowing more. Keep in mind, more concrete is not better. Good luck!
© 2022 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
MERCHANDISE MART
Antiques/Collectibles
We Buy Antiques, Fine Art & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464
Finds Under $100
COLE HAAN MEN'S Chelsea Boots Black Leather, 7W. Excellent $90 516-320-1906
HEALYS WHEELED SNEAKERS Boys size 7 black and yellow new in box $18. (516) 462-2656
NEW HYUNDAI SUV adjustable cross roof rails. cost $319. $99 firm (516)524-3617
ONE RECTANGULAR GLASS coffee table and two glass/brass octagon end tables, good cond. $99.99. 516-623-5696
STATIONARY EXERCISE BICYCLE -good condition -- $30. 516-826-3727
TWIN BEDROOM SET: Excellent Condition, Blonde Modern Headboard, 3 Dressers, Corner Piece. $99. 516-840-6081
TWIN WOOD TRUNDLE bed excellent condition $99 call/ text for pictures (516) 462-2656
Finds $100-$350 TREADMILL
Home Improvement
BATH &
Tree Services
T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE
*Tree Removal *Stump Grinding *Pruning *Roof Line Clearing. Residential and Commercial. "We Beat All Competitors' Rates." Lowest Rates. *Senior Discount. Free Estimates. *516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com
Satellite/TV Equipment
OFF POPULAR PLANS. 833-398-0526
HANDY DANDY HOME IMPROVEMENTS
* Full Or Partial Kitchens/ Baths *Painting *Sheetrock *Taping/ Spackling *Installations Ceramic/ Vinyl Tile *Carpentry *Alterations *Repairs/ More. FREE ESTIMATES. Dan 516-342-0761
Miscellaneous
BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price
Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! Call 888-508-5313
Plumbing
PLUMBER! PLUMBER! PLUMBER! FREE ESTIMATES! Heating, Repairs, Installations. $25 OFF New Customers. 24 Hour Emergency Response.
516-599-1011
GET DIRECTV FOR $64.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Save an additional $120 over 1st year. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1-888-534-6918
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Education
COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM!
Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 844-947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required.
TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440. (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required
Health & Fitness
VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills
SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 855-413-9574
AUTOMOBILE & MARINE
Autos For Sale
ACURA 2003, 3.2 CLS, 2 door, Silver, Black Interior, 160K Plus. Needs Battery. $1800 516-668-8877 runs great
Autos Wanted
***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highest$ Ca$h Paid$. All Years/ Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199. Call
I’ll bet very few readers remember television shows like “Dr. Kildare” and “Marcus Welby.” Those popular shows featured physicians who made house calls and performed miracles of all kinds. There may be a few of these doctors left, but it’s only a matter of time until such dedicated physicians are no longer in existence. Like it or not, the business of medicine is changing rapidly, and not for the benefit of the average patient.
I recently experienced this sea change in medicine, when two of my doctors announced their retirement. One was my internal medicine doctor, who served me faithfully for 32 years, and the other was a neurologist who had monitored me for about five years. It was obvious from our parting conversations that they were exhausted and tired of the day-to-day stresses of serving patients.
If you visit almost any doctor’s office, you’ll notice that there are walls and
walls of files on display. They may signify how many patients your doctor serves, but they are also evidence of the amount of paperwork the average doctor must do to get paid by an insurance company. Once upon a time, insurance companies gave doctors an appropriate amount of money for the services they performed, but not anymore.
If you’re a doctor in New York City, you may get $1,000 for a medical procedure. But if you practice in, say, Smithtown, you may get paid $180, if you’re lucky. Geography makes a difference in reimbursement, and no rational observer of medicine will defend such an abominable system. These days, doctors need experienced staff members who have to deal with endless piles of documents, many of which are for small reimbursements. The daily practice of medicine isn’t a 9-to-5 operation. Many doctors take their charts home, to review medical histories and also to protect themselves from malpractice litigation. The business of suing doctors is a major enterprise, and the volume of litigation forces doctors to pay
outrageous fees for malpractice coverage. I’ve heard quite a few stories about doctors who quit the practice because they simply couldn’t afford the high premiums.
One way that a doctor can avoid some of these headaches is to become an employee of a hospital. That spares you the high insurance premiums, but life isn’t a bowl of cherries for the employed doctor, either. Large hospitals have rules upon rules, and they can mean plenty of paperwork, and having to handle a much larger caseload of patients then you ever had when you were on your own. One of my longtime, highly respected doctors has taken a leave of absence, because he’s now in his 80s and just can’t handle the caseload he’s been given. But hospitals are businesses, and they have every right to demand a high level of activity of their doctors.
There are many dedicated, newly minted doctors graduating from medical schools, but quite a few of them approach medicine much differently today than their forebears. Many young
doctors would prefer to work five days a week, with no weekend duty. They are willing to take less compensation and have more time for family, golf and vacations. They may be brilliant practitioners, but they don’t want to be so many Marcus Welbys.
And when we talk about medicine, we can’t forget about nurses. The recent strike at some major city hospitals was no surprise. I was in an ER recently, and found out that my nurse had 15 patients assigned to her. She was on the verge of a physical breakdown, but soldiered on, handling all of them with grace and patience. No doubt, she will get a large pay increase and a smaller patient workload, but it’s only fair to give her those benefits.
Like it or not, medicine is changing dramatically. In the next 10 years, we will see changes that we never dreamt of. Some will be good, and others bad. Let’s hope there are more good than bad.
Jerry Kremer was an assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
You can believe the hype. Last week, a boutique grocery on Manhattan’s Upper East Side was selling eggs for $17.99 a dozen. They weren’t Faberge eggs, dripping in diamonds and gilt. They were ordinary chicken-hatched, single-yolk, large “organic” eggs.
This news flash is courtesy of The Guardian newspaper in England, which loves to point out the crass and the crazy in American culture. It is given to gloating through stiff upper lips. Still, it has a point.
RANDI KREISS
Egg prices are heating up due to inflation, a surging avian flu epidemic and, some say, price gouging.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one year ago you could buy a dozen eggs for $1.72. Now, nationwide, the price averages $3.59. In some states like California, the average price is more than $7. Apparently in Manhattan, consumers have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. No more cheap, go-to weekday omelet dinners.
The current epidemic of avian flu is
the worst in history, according to NBC News. More than 53 million birds have died of the virus or been put to death. As so-far survivors of the coronavirus pandemic, we must wonder how vulnerable we humans are to this flu.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we’re probably safe. That’s not totally reassuring, but the avian flu has jumped to humans in only rare instances, and has passed from an infected person to other people in only extremely rare cases. Those who’ve contracted the flu after working around infected birds generally experienced mild symptoms, but the disease has been serious in a few people.
of Mexico to the U.S. I don’t know if it’s a Sinaloa cartel operation, but really? Smugglers in competition with the Easter Bunny?
I take my eggs very seriously. Omelets are a regular dinner in my home. I eat an egg every single day, over well, yolk broken. Lillybee the dog gets half a yolk.
No more cheap, go-to weekday omelet dinners.
Somehow, I want to believe human beings should be OK, but after the waves of half-information and misinformation informing our health decisions in the midst of Covid, I want to keep an eye on this H5N1 virus. Even though it might seem cost-effective now to start raising chickens in our backyards, nah, it’s probably not a good idea.
Last week it was widely reported that dealers have been running eggs out
I had to give up eggs recently and temporarily (for a month) after my friend cracked an egg and discovered a tiny, blackened mini-chicken inside. So gross! I didn’t actually see the monstrosity, but I can’t get the image out of my head. She was so traumatized by the visitation that she gave up eggs forever.
We move on. The most expensive egg product I ever purchased was a painted $25 ostrich eggshell I brought back from South Africa to present to my granddaughter on her 13th birthday. I was feeling quite high-minded about the symbolism of feminism and new beginnings and eternal life. But she sat on it, and that was that.
Two weeks ago, I cracked an egg and discovered it was a double yolker. According to Cackle Hatchery, double yolks are quite rare. They hardly ever
result in two chickens being born, because the eggshell can’t accommodate twins. Still, they are prized for eating. Some boutique chicken farmers specialize in double yolkers, the source of which is a genetic mutation. You can hold a candle to an egg and see what’s inside if you really need to know. If you really want to know.
Hardboiled eggs are worth a book of their own. I always have a few hardcooked eggs in my fridge, you know, in case of nuclear attack or tornado strike. I read about an 83-year-old hiker years ago who hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine, eating hardboiled eggs he cooked on a tiny camping stove.
In the 1967 movie “Cool Hand Luke,” an outrageously defiant prisoner played by Paul Newman choked down 50 hardboiled eggs on a dare. A few people in real life tried to imitate the feat, and one died. But Joey Chestnut, the renowned competitive eater, consumed 141 eggs in eight minutes in a contest. Miki Sudo broke the women’s world record, eating 104 eggs.
Chestnut, who, remarkably, is still alive — I checked — took home a $1,500 grand prize, which seems not nearly enough.
Copyright 2023 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
It was obvious from chats with my retiring doctors that they were exhausted.JERRY KREMER
It was like having security cameras in every room of a house but one. That’s how Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone described to reporters the decentralized, hodgepodge security infrastructure of the county’s computer network, which more than 10,000 government employees, in dozens of departments, depended on.
It was a single unguarded entryway that let hackers in last September, essentially shutting down all operations and reportedly costing Suffolk millions of dollars.
Such an intrusion is enough to scare any business or government entity into fortifying defenses. But is there such a thing as being too scared?
In the days following Suffolk’s revelation that it had been hacked, Bellone’s counterpart, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, bent over backward to ensure that the same thing won’t happen here. Or at least we think he has, given that the details of those efforts are a closely held secret.
What we do know is that the Legislature has hired a cybersecurity consultant. And that’s about it. Who that consultant is, what they have to offer — and, most important, how much it’s going to cost taxpayers — is information only a very select few know.
Revealing too many details about the new cybersecurity efforts could be troublesome, of course. The more information hackers have, the more likely they can
To the Editor:
Re Daniel Offner’s column last week, “We must remember — and teach — the Holocaust”: Offner’s description of his grandmother, “When she was liberated by American troops from Dachau in May 1945, she weighed 45 pounds,” brought back an old memory to me. I remember my dad speaking of two cousins, who somehow made it to America after surviving one of those Nazi killing centers in Poland. He described them as two young guys, each over six feet tall and weighing 200 pounds — combined.
They didn’t last much longer than a year here. The Nazis killed them; they just didn’t die immediately.
And now we have Holocaust deniers, in spite of the films, photos and documents that exist, in addition to the survivors, and the living veterans who aided in their liberation and survival. We also have politicians in both parties telling us lies daily. Now we even have to be aware of a “journalist’s” political affiliations, agenda and beliefs. Sadly, as Offner pointed out, the same goes
find ways to slip past Nassau’s defenses. Yet county officials refuse to say how revealing simple bits of information — like who the vendor is, and how much they’re charging — would help these cyber menaces. And they aren’t budging.
As well, the Herald learned last week that a closed-doors executive session called by the Legislature produced an emergency cybersecurity declaration — its mere existence classified.
It’s perfectly understandable why county officials are on edge, and they should be commended for acting quickly to build Nassau’s technological defenses. And while many of those details should be kept secret, not all of them should be.
There is a reason why who our government does business with — and at what cost — should be out in the open, for all to see. We bear the financial cost of that business, and have every right to ensure that every dollar is being spent appropriately.
Everything about the county’s contract with this mystery cybersecurity firm could be perfectly fine. And it most likely is. But the taxpayers’ right is absolute assurance, not a preponderance of confidence. We have the right — by law — to make sure the Legislature is doing an arm’s-length deal with the right company for the right price.
How was the firm chosen? How was its compensation negotiated? What is the county getting in return? Even if we can’t have specifics, there’s no reason we can’t be clued in on at least some general
aspects.
Shoshanah Bewlay, executive director of the state-funded Committee on Open Government, shared in an advisory opinion last month that details of the contract — like information technology schematics, blueprints, pricing or systems methodologies, and the types of IT monitoring or remediation — can indeed be kept quiet. “However, in our view,” Bewlay added, “it is not clear how the disclosure of other information contained within the contract — such as the name of the selected vendor, or value of the executed contract — would enable a person to adversely impact an agency’s electronic information or IT systems.”
Don’t get us wrong — we honestly believe there is no ill intention on the county’s part to withhold this information. Officials are scared that revealing any of it — even if it’s deemed safe — could upend all their efforts to protect the network. But they have to lift the cloak just enough to let the taxpayers — their true bosses — get a peek to assure themselves that all of this is on the up-and-up.
Nassau County is letting all of its hard work to build these defenses get obscured by this simple request to know who it is working with, and how much they are being paid for that work. That’s basic information that taxpayers shouldn’t even have to ask for.
But they are asking for it, and the county must do the right thing and provide the answer.
Earlier this month I had the privilege of speaking at the ceremonial swearing-in of newly elected U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito. Sitting on the stage that evening, I thought back to when I was first sworn in 30 years ago, and how different this night was from that one, and how different the world had become. This ceremonial event was held at the Nassau County police training center, in East Garden City, instead of in Washington, D.C., and the oath was administered by former Senator Al D’Amato instead of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
D’Esposito had been officially sworn in by McCarthy the week before, but that was at 2 a.m. on Jan. 7, following over four days and 15 ballots of voting in the most acrimonious contest for speaker since the 1850s, the decade preceding the Civil War. During my 28 years in Congress, I cast 14 ballots for speaker — one every two years. D’Esposito exceeded that total in his very first week in Congress!
This rancor and chaos is a sign of what Congress has become, and what D’Esposito must work through. Don’t get me wrong — Congress wasn’t all peace, love and harmony when I was elected. Soon-to-be House Speaker Newt Gingrich and President Bill Clinton were firing political rockets at each other, and fiery cable news shows were emerging. But there wasn’t this level of intra-party disunity.
Nonetheless, D’Esposito’s situation isn’t entirely different from what I faced. We have several things in common. We both won close, hard-fought races. I won by 8,000 votes, a margin of 3 percent; D’Esposito by 10,000, or 3.9 percent. The bulk of my district was in the Town of Hempstead and Long Beach. D’Esposito’s district is entirely within those boundaries. And the challenges he will confront are similar to what I faced during my latter 20 years in Congress: preventing another Sept. 11, and fighting to get New York and Long Island their fair share of revenue. Fortunately, D’Esposito’s committee assignments — Homeland Security and Transportation & Infrastructure — position him well for the struggles
for our educational institutions.
I was lucky. The U.S. Navy took me to dozens of foreign nations. If you were born here, count your blessings. There are many tougher places to grow up in. Our most precious resource is America’s children. If we give them our honest best, freedom will reign.
JOHN SCHULTZ OceansideTo the Editor:
At a news event on Jan. 11, a parade of Nassau County Republicans took the extraordinarily courageous step of calling on their colleague, U.S. Rep. George Santos, to resign. They suggested that he was not welcome at either their headquarters or their events. They indicated that their other congressional representatives would take it upon themselves to provide representation to the people of the 3rd District — the people Santos was elected to represent.
On Jan. 18, I received an email from my old friend Rep. Andrew Garbarino, who represents the 2nd District, in Suffolk County, advising me that I was one of his “new constituents” and assuring me that I could rely on his office’s
resources. Along with everyone else in northern Nassau and Queens, I live in Santos’s district. I am not officially a constituent of Garbarino’s.
In response, I emailed Andy Garbarino, “While I appreciate you reaching out, you are not my Congressional representative and I am not your ‘new constituent.’ George Santos, with whom and for whom you campaigned, is my Congressional representative. That fact is truly shameful. Thanks again and wishing you well.”
So, to Congressman Garbarino, with whom I worked in the Assembly before he was elected to the House of Representatives, I simply say, “Thanks but no thanks.” For better or worse, Santos is our congressman, and I expect him, perhaps unrealistically, to make some effort to try to live up to his responsibilities.
I am not inclined to reach out to the same Republican politicians who offer assistance but are simply attempting to shield themselves from criticism. As the old saying goes, once bitten, twice shy.
Should Santos be unresponsive to any requests I may have for assistance to the people I represent, I will reach out to Senators Chuck Schumer or Kirsten Gillibrand, or to any number of Democratic congressional representatives.
CHARLES Assemblyman, 13th Districtahead.
The Homeland Security Committee was created in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 to coordinate federal, state and local counterterrorism efforts, and to provide necessary funding to areas at highest risk. Every threat analysis showed the New York City-Long Island region as the highestranked terrorist target in the country. Yet we had to fight off other states, which had zero threat levels, for every penny. As a former New York City police detective and Island Park fire chief, D’Esposito has the credentials and the gravitas to win those funding fights, and also to ensure that the committee’s legitimate concern about border control and illegal immigration doesn’t distract attention from the still very serious terrorist threat.
He will have similar struggles on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, to get fair and necessary funding for Long Island’s roads, highways, beaches and waterways.
Over the years, New York has been consistently shortchanged in federal funding, sending far more money to Washington than we get back. My short-
hand political analysis for this inequity was that Democrats took New York for granted and Republicans felt they couldn’t win it, so our hard-earned tax dollars were disbursed elsewhere — most notably, and disproportionately, to southern states. This shortfall in turn increased our state and local tax burden, which was exacerbated when a Republican Congress voted to dramatically reduce our SALT income tax deduction. D’Esposito has pledged to fight hard to restore that deduction.
Besides Homeland Security, infrastructure funding and restoring the SALT deduction, he will have to deal with countless other issues, including senior citizen and veterans benefits, 9/11 health care, tax relief for hardworking middle-income families and supporting law enforcement.
Being a member of Congress, and representing the people of Long Island and addressing their needs and challenges, was the experience of a lifetime for me. No one is more connected to his constituents than Anthony D’Esposito, and I know he will take their thoughts and concerns to the halls of Congress and get the job done. Good luck, Congressman.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
FRAMEWORK by Tim Baker
In a normal winter, this would be a skating rink — East Rockaway
LAVINE
A newcomer to Congress has two solid committee assignments.PETER KING
