Baldwin Herald 02-22-2024

Keeping the message of MlK Jr. alive

In celebration of Black History Month, students at Baldwin’s five elementary school unite to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Story, and more photos, Page 12.

A fashion show to fight homelessness Annual Bethany House fundraiser set for March 6

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

Next month’s fashion showcase at Rockville Links Club will highlight the beauty — internal and external — that Bethany House brings out in local women who have faced challenges.

The 21st annual Bethany House Fashion Show will take place on March 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. Bloomingdales will donate all the clothes that will be worn in the show by eight local women.

“This event is an evening to celebrate all the wonderful people in the community who helped Bethany House throughout the years,” Lisa King, co-chair of the organization’s Development and

Communications Committee, said.

Bethany House, in Baldwin, provides a safe place for healing and personal growth for women, and women with children, who are experiencing homelessness. The women taking part in the show have either helped the event grow or helped spread the word about Bethany House.

The evening will start with hors d’oeuvres and remarks from new Executive Director Katie Swanson. Heidi Seeling, who was a resident at the house will speak. Afterward, the models will sport their fashion attire during dinner.

“The models are women who have either helped us with the fashion show over the years or

New equipment at Baldwin Public Library

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

The Baldwin Public Library will sport new equipment, thanks to local businesses that donated goods and services, which were raffled off during a recent four-month span.

Friends of the Baldwin Public Library hosted the raffle from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31, raising about $628 for the library, as 28 raffle winners split about $1,600 in prizes.

Friends is a nonprofit comprising a six-member board that provides financial assistance to the library and supports much of the library’s programs. Holding an annual raffle is one of the ways the group helps support the library’s programs and services.

Fit & Fearless, Top Golf, Urban Air Adventure Park, Baldwin Pizza, Royal Roti Shop, Dave & Buster’s, Applebee’s, Let’s Roam, Swiss Bliss, Pat’s Dance Studio, Red Lobster and Sunrise Liquor & Wine.

Some of the raffle prizes featured dinner cards from Applebee’s and Panera Bread, a $50 gift certificate from Top Golf and a Dave & Buster’s gift card for games, according to Keenya PhillipWeekes, president of Friends.

I think it’s wonderful that so many people in the community have a deep enough interest in the library that they decided to purchase raffles…

ElIzABETh olEsh director, Baldwin Public Library

Furnishing the raffle prizes were more than a dozen local businesses, including Panera Bread, OMMA Mixed Martial Arts, Red Tiger Jiu Jitsu RYU,

“I’m really happy that we had so much support,” Phillip-Weekes said.

She explained that the mission of the fundraiser was to continue advocating for the library. The raffle was launched on National Library Week, Oct. 15-21, which is when Friends presented the library with a check for $2,500. The group collected the money through donors, past Continued on page 5

Courtesy Baldwin public schools

Warming hearts and hands for those in need

Baldwin Middle School students collect clothing during ‘Winter Giveback’

Baldwin Middle School’s Student Interest Organization spearheaded an initiative called “Winter Giveback,” aimed at providing warm clothing for the homeless.

Organized by the student government program, SIO, the drive saw students from grades 6 to 8 rallying together to collect over 150 articles of clothing, including gloves, hats, scarves, and socks.

In line with the district’s overarching initiative, Baldwin 2035, which emphasizes fostering positive relationships, citizenship, and collaboration through acts of service and kindness, the “Winter Giveback” directly contributes to creating a culture of compassion within the school community.

Erica Taylor, principal of Baldwin Middle School, championed the idea of a homeless service project for the winter season, underscoring the school’s commitment to instilling values of empathy and altruism among its students.

“This year, Baldwin Middle School students have dedicated themselves to nurturing a culture of kindness within our school community,” Taylor wrote in a news release. “Our Student Interest Organization has extended this culture of kindness beyond our school’s borders. We’ve challenged ourselves to give more than we receive, hoping to inspire others

‘Baldwin 2035’ initiative. This district-wide program

to pay it forward. Every outreach and service project we engage in encourages our students to strive for greater citizenship and compels them to make a meaningful impact.”

150

The Winter Giveback initiative has spurred the SIO to explore additional avenues for community involvement and positive change. Taylor expressed optimism about the initiative’s impact, not-

ing, “In the words of Nelson Mandela, ‘Our society needs to re-establish a culture of caring.’ We’re doing our part!”

— Hernesto Galdamez

Courtesy Baldwin school district Baldwin Middle School students united to gather more than

articles of clothing for the homeless, aligning with the district’s

aims to nurture positive relationships, citizenship, acts of kindness, and service.

And in this ‘Corner’ of the Baldwin Public Library

Teens learn breathing techniques and how to control their emotions at new space

By BEN FIEBERT

bfiebert@liherald.com

A new space for teens to relax, unwind, and not think about schoolwork just opened in the Teen Zone at the Baldwin Public Library.

The area, which is called the Calming Corner, opened on Feb. 7. The Calming Corner is a public space, which was made possible by a $1,100 grant from the Nassau Library System. Once the grant money was received, Mariel DePalma, head of Teen Services at Baldwin Public Library, created the area with items that were carefully curated.

In the space, there are two bean bag chairs, a small table that houses a fidget spinner, a bonsai tree light, a glowing bear lantern, a Rubik’s cube, and other fun gadgets designed to help those who want to destress after a long day.

DePalma, who has been part of the library since 2007, said that the timeframe between the library being accepted into the grant and the creation of the center was about a month. After obtaining the center, DePalma received suggestions by the Nassau Library System on stuff they should buy and put in the relaxation zone.

“We took the advice of what other librarians said and bought bean bag chairs, different sensory toys, so we picked stuff that we knew worked in other libraries,” DePalma said.

Covering the walls of the zone are seven different posters and each one talks about ways to relax. For instance, one poster talks about how to control your thoughts, another one talks about

We’re hoping that our Calming Corner will provide our teens with a safe place to be aware of, to process, to regulate, take responsibility, and be able to express their emotions.

MaRIEl DEPalMa Head of Teen Services at Baldwin Public Library

breathing techniques, and other posters talk about how to cope with certain emotions and feelings.

“Teen mental health has really suffered since Covid,” DePalma. “And it continues to be a challenge. So we’re hoping that our Calming Corner will provide our teens with a safe place to be aware of, to process, to regulate, take responsibility, and be able to express their emotions.”

The goal of this space, according to DePalma, is for teens to be able to manage their stress in a healthier way. She also mentioned that she hopes this new zone will increase teens’ emotional wellbeing, reduce anxiety, and know that it’s okay to take a break. DePalma wants to be able to instill new confidence in the teens for the future so they can be ready to face new challenges.

“Teens have a lot of stress. It’s just a different space to remain calm,” DePal-

A new

a way to help teens deal with their emotions.

ma said. “It’s meant for them to have a safe space and destress for their positive mental health.”

Right when this center opened, DePalma noted that the teens immediately gravitated towards the bean bag chairs. She said that the teens asked her

questions about the items in the zone, which gave DePalma an opportunity to explain healthy coping mechanisms to the teens. DePalma noted that there are sheets of paper in a basket in the zone that lists tips and gives advice to help teens control their emotions.

Courtesy Mariel DePalma

Calming Corner opened up in the Baldwin Public Library earlier this month, as

The Baldwin Public Library received a $1,100 grant from the Nassau Library System to fund the new corner.

The current exemption from New York estate taxes is 6.94 million, indexed for inflation. For most clients this presents no issue – their estates will never approach the exemption. However, for the fortunate few who have assets, including life insurance, that may exceed roughly seven million dollars, there is a significant tax liability. Changes in New York estate tax law in the last few years introduced a “fiscal cliff”. Whereas formerly New York only taxed the amount over the exemption, if you exceed the limit today (by a mere 5%) they tax the whole estate. You’re over the cliff!

The tax is surprisingly large. On a roughly seven million dollar estate, the taxes payable to New York exceed five hundred thousand dollars. An estate over ten million would owe over a million in estate tax.

These New York estate taxes are avoidable if you have a spouse and you create an estate plan using two trusts, which doubles the exemption. Another way to avoid the fiscal cliff is to use the “Santa Clause” providing that you gift to charities of your choice all amounts over the exemption. Gifts to charities are deductible

from estate taxes.

While the Federal estate tax exemption of 13.61 million is “portable”, i.e. if the first spouse doesn’t use their exemption or any part of it, it passes to the surviving spouse, New York does not allow for portability. It’s use it or lose it.

The Federal exemption is expected to be reduced from the 13.61 million exemption, passed by the Trump administration, to the 6.94 million, adjusted for inflation, that New York uses, at the end of 2025. For larger estates, there remains a planning opportunity by making gifts while the higher exemption is in place. You may use any of your Federal estate tax exemptions to make gifts while you are living. These gifts are reported to the IRS and get subtracted from what you may give at death.

One added attraction to gifting is that New York does not tax gifts -- so that gifts may also be used to avoid onerous New York estate taxes at death. There is a minor exception that gifts made within three years of the death of the donor are brought back into the donor’s estate for New York estate tax purposes.

PERSON TO PERSON

Small numbers, substantial results

There’s something I like about small numbers. Especially 1, 2 and 3. For me, more than 3 is typically unmanageable. Everything I need to do, and everything I want to remember, should be no more than 3 at any one time.

Let me give you 3 examples to illustrate what I mean:

If you’re running around trying to get 101 things done during the day, stop! Ask yourself what the 3 most important tasks are that you need to take care of today. Then get them done. 3 is manageable; 101 is not. If you finish the 3 and still have energy for more, do another 1. When you finish a task, take a moment to pat yourself on the back and say, “I’ve done it!”

only so much you can absorb at any one time. So, don’t read on until you’ve digested the first 3 ideas. Then, and only then, are you ready for more.

psychWisdom

Let’s say you’ve read an article entitled, “25 Ways to Get More Organized.” Twenty-five, are you serious? The author must think you’re just sitting around with nothing to do except master her obsessive-compulsive techniques. No, no, no! You’ve got a life to live. So, either throw that magazine out (1 task accomplished) or skim that article for an idea or two that might be helpful to you. Just 1, 2, or 3 will suffice.

If you’re having difficulties with technology, feeling like an idiot because you don’t understand a whole lot on your new digital device, stop! It’s all too much. Learn 1 thing, only 1! When you figure out this one feature, you’ll feel less tech challenged. Success is created with 1 accomplishment at a time!

LInda SapadIn

Big numbers can interfere with weight loss. If you want to lose weight, aim for 1, 2, or 3 pounds this week. Whatever you accomplish, that’s great! Next week, lose another pound or two. That’s it! You put on 1 or 2 pounds at a time; you take them off the same way!

Instead of enumerating all the faults of another as your anger revs up, choose 1 trait that’s most annoying to you. Then suggest a good time to discuss it. Fingers are not to be used to tally up the wicked, nasty, stupid things others do. Your fingers are meant for better things.

If you’ve had a frustrating day and are ready to explode, don’t try to calm your anger by counting to ten. That doesn’t work. When you’re furious, counting to ten takes seconds and then wham, you erupt with more fury than before. Instead, take 3 deep breaths, inhaling slowly, exhaling slowly. If you still haven’t calmed down, take another 3 deep breaths. Then say something reassuring to yourself. Appreciate the closure as you put your frustration behind you.

Okay, have you gotten those suggestions down pat? If not, reread them, till they sink into your brain. I don’t care how many gray cells you have; there’s

That’s all folks; enough is enough! I hope you spend the rest of this day enjoying yourself. Not enough of us do.

©2024

Linda Sapadin, Ph.D., psychologist, coach, and author specializes in helping people improve their relationships, enhance their lives, and overcome debilitating anxiety, procrastination and depression. Contact her at DrSapadin@ aol.com. Visit her website at www.PsychWisdom.com.

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Friends group collects financial donations

fundraisers and membership dues from the organization.

“I think it’s wonderful that so many people in the community have a deep enough interest in the library that they decided to purchase raffles and have participated in other Friends’ fundraisers,” Elizabeth Olesh, the library’s director, said.

Some of the money has been used to supply the library with a telescope, pickleball set, VHS-to-digital converter, and more, and the items are part of the Baldwin library’s Library of Things collection.

This marked the second year that the raffle took place, Phillip-Weekes said, adding that last year’s fundraiser only involved a 50/50 raffle and only 20 participants took part. This year was more successful in giving back to the community, she added.

“With people continuing to renew their membership and donating to the Friends’ nonprofit, we were able to provide a really big gift to the library,” Phillip-Weekes said. “And we just collaborated with the library to make sure we supplied them with things that they needed, and we decided to help fund the Library of Things collection.”

She stressed that whatever Friends raises goes towards the library, noting that the goal of the group is to “help in

whatever way” it can by supporting enriching services in the library.

“The mission of the Friends is to support the Library through fundraising, awareness, and advocacy,” according to BaldwinPL.org/friends. “We help enrich Library services by raising funds for special projects and activities, such as author visits, enhanced spaces, and new technologies.”

Olesh said the library had been functioning without a Friends group for a long time. “The establishment of the group is significant because a Friends group can solicit monetary donations, which the library cannot, and can advocate for us in the community as well as at the local, state and national levels.”

One of the biggest fundraisers the group has hosted was a shoe drive in November of 2022, working alongside the organization Funds2Org. As a result of the shoes that were donated — about 1,375 pairs — the library received a financial donation.

“We got recognition from local legislators for our efforts from this drive,” Phillip-Weekes said.

Friends of the Baldwin Public Library meets quarterly, and the next meeting is scheduled for April 11 at 8 p.m. via zoom. To find out more about supporting the group’s efforts to raise more money for the library, visit BaldwinPL.org/friends.

Artificial intelligence through the years:

OpenAI, an artificial intelligence and research company, publicly released ChatGPT-3 on Nov. 30, 2022. Now, a little more than a year later, the sophisticated chatbot — with more than 180 million monthly users — is seemingly developing faster than users can keep up. To understand how this language model became one of the most technologically advanced virtual assistants in the world, you have to go back nearly 75 years.

Imagining classrooms — and a future

By Ben Fiebert, Parker Schug & Nicole Wagner

First part in a series exploring the presence of artificial intelligence in our schools, and over time, in society as a whole. Thoughts? Questions? Ideas?

Email us at execeditor@liherald.com.

Artificial intelligence — it all starts with an idea. One developed by a computer programmed to mimic the human intelligence process through learning, reasoning and self-correction.

AI is already deeply ingrained in society. Whether it be smartphones with virtual assistants like Siri and Bixby, search engines making suggestions for what we’re looking for online, to even the spam filtering and email categorization in email platforms like Gmail.

The fast-growing advancements of AI may be hard to keep up with, especially as more and more platforms develop that specialize in AI like ChatGPT and Canva.

Television and news outlets focus more on how AI can turn your dog into a Muppet, or how it can instantly write a sonnet about someone’s favorite desserts.

But AI is finding its way into more and more of our everyday lives and it’s something that has institutions like our public schools racing to find the best ways to not only adapt, but to appropriately integrate AI into the classroom.

receives,” ChatGPT responded when asked what it was designed for.

It’s commonly used to answer a variety of questions, or brainstorm ideas. It can help draft emails and compose essays. It can help with extensive research, and even translate text from one language to another.

And for those looking to be a little less serious, ChatGPT can tell jokes, strike up a casual conversation, and even participate in storytelling and roleplaying scenarios.

But it can also write term papers, or essays. Or complete homework. And detecting when AI is being used is virtually impossible. That has created some concerns for school administrators, while at the same time tasking them to redevelop curriculum that prepares future minds for a future where AI is prevalent.

Ting Wang, a Stony Brook University associate professor who also directs its Algorithmic Learning, Privacy and Security Lab, describes the original conception of AI as “a feeble attempt to recreate intelligence and to help humans achieve specific tasks.” He believes developers have come a long way in achieving success doing just that.

ChatGPT is a popular example of this. Launched in late 2022, the software describes itself as an online interface that is “like having a conversation with a very knowledgeable and helpful friend — except this friend is actually a computer program.” It has been trained on swaths of data, making it capable of completing many different tasks ranging from gathering information, getting some helpful advice, or even looking to simply have a friendly chat.

“ChatGPT is designed for generating human-like text based on the input it

“From the academic perspective, I think one of the challenges is that it’s becoming harder and harder to obtain these AI models because they’re super expensive, the training costs, and have a requirement of huge amounts of data,” Wang said. “Those type of resources are not so accessible for the academia world.”

Where is AI?

Google, Bing and other search engines have used forms of artificial intelligence for years, but more recently began making its integration more obvious. Google integrated what it calls “generative AI” into its systems some 20 years ago, which typically predicts the next word in a search phrase.

ChatGPT also can edit certain articles, blog posts or other forms of writing. If someone asks ChatGPT to write an email with specific requirements, for example, the AI can handle it because its “training” has covered these sort of scenarios. What makes ChatGPT unique from other AI platforms, Wang said, is the massive amounts of data that “trains” it.

“You can see many artists, especially digital artists, using this program to create content that you cannot easily create manually,” Wang said.

Brett Tanzer — a product management vice president for Microsoft’s cloud platform, Azure — says models created by AI developers are installed in products like Bing and Microsoft Copilot, an

Nicole Wagner/Herald

A reporter asks ChatGPT to describe not only itself, but the artificial intelligence language model that powers it. AI has gone from science-fiction to science-fact, and schools are among a number of institutions around the world working to adapt.

AI companion technology which utilizes ChatGPT among other language models, to aid users in their day-to-day lives.

This helps users brainstorm alternatives for ideas on a given issue if they get stuck.

“It’s already being applied to help people reduce workforce time,” Tanzer said.

Creatives aren’t the only ones utilizing AI for their work. Many in the health care industries are using AI products like those offered by Microsoft to accelerate medical research for advanced treatment and diagnosis of diseases.

“That’s really helping practitioners and doctors in their day-to-day experiences with patients,” Tanzer said.

Educators are utilizing AI in classrooms around Nassau County. In Franklin Square, for example, a robot named Milo interacts with students to help them hone their social and emotional skills.

Pamela Taylor, Franklin Square’s pupil personnel services director, said at the time the school had done a lot of

training to bring Milo into the classroom.

While Milo is the first robot of its kind to be used in a Long Island classroom, its ability to work with students on their confidence in emotional skills is something Taylor is eager to spread throughout the district.

“We are looking to expand,” she said, “because he’s appropriate for all learners.”

An artificial intelligence elective course at Bellmore-Merrick school district’s Sanford H. Calhoun High School is teaching students about the basic principles of AI through exposure to machine-learning algorithms in Python computer programming language.

Danielle Caliendo, a math and computer science chair at Calhoun, says this course prepares students for careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“It also equips them with the skills necessary for today’s world where artificial intelligence is shaping the way we live and work,” Caliendo said, in a

The term ‘artificial intelligence’ is coined by John McCarthy. Computer scientist Arthur Samuel develops a program called ‘Samuel’s Checker Players’ to play checkers, which is the first to ever learn the game independently.

Edward Feigenbaum and Joshua Lederberg create the first ‘expert system’ called Denral, which was AI programmed to replicate the thinking and decision-making abilities of human experts. The purpose of this program was to map the structure of molecules, and to help chemists identify unknown organic molecules.

MIT professor Joseph Weizenbaum creates the first chatbot called Eliza to simulate human conversations. The program was designed to mimic human conversation, utilizing words users entered into a computer, and then pairing them to a list of possible scripted responses.

The U.S. government

little interest in continuing to fund AI research.

1970s:

1980s:

AI is booming. Government funding led to breakthroughs in research. The use of the expert system program becomes more popular, allowing computers to learn from their mistakes and make independent decisions. This leads to the development of the Fifth Generation Computer project, with a goal of creating computers that could converse in human language and express reasoning on a human level.

1997:

2011:

2016:

2014:

2020:

Seeing artificial intelligence in daily life?

recent interview.

What does the future hold for AI?

Overall AI research at Stony Brook is intended to maximize the practical impact of artificial intelligence. Wang works on AI’s resilience against malicious manipulations, preserving privacy among users, and making the data written by AI more transparent and interpretable to users.

“People don’t have a great understanding of what AI can and can’t do,” Wang said. “I think people use AI as a magical box, and it actually may not work as expected for normal users.”

Yties to transform power in engineering, productivity, health care and cybersecurity.

Wang envisions ChatGPT becoming even more customizable and personalized than it is now. Although it’s already quite adaptable, users have their own individual requirements and writing styles that ChatGPT is not necessarily trained to understand.

ou can see many artists . . . to create content that you cannot easily create manually

TIng W Ang associate professor Stony Brook University

As AI models become more sophisticated, Tanzer said, Microsoft has its sights set on developing models with advanced capabili-

“You may want the program to draft an email in your own style and have your own specific writing requirements,” Wang said, “and currently, the chatbot may not be able to do that.

”It’s an ever-evolving landscape,” Wang said. “I think from the perspective of classroom teaching, people are still trying to figure out what is the best way to harness the power of AI, and at the same time kind of limit and curve the harmful impact of this technology.”

third-grade students at franklin Square’s John Street School learn how to hone their social and emotional skills with the help of milo the robot. equipped with adaptive artificial intelligence, milo is designed to read facial cues from those around him to teach students techniques to cope with their emotions.

showed

Deep Blue — a computer run by the AI program alpha–beta search algorithm and developed by IBM — beats world chess champion Gary Kasparov, becoming the first computer program to beat a human chess champion. This kickstarts an era introducing AI into everyday life through innovations such as the first Roomba and speech recognition software on Windows computers.

Apple releases Siri, the first popular virtual assistant, found primarily on the company’s iPhones.

Amazon releases the Echo, powered by a voicecontrolled intelligent personal assistant named Alexa. These devices are smart speakers equipped with microphones for voice commands.

Google releases the Google Assistant and its voice-activated speaker: the Google Nest.

OpenAI starts beta testing GPT-3, a model that uses deep learning — a method of AI that teaches computers to process data in a way that mimics the human brain — to create code, poetry and other writing tasks.

Rei Wolfsohn/Herald file

HOST

ANTOINETTE BIORDI

4X AWARD-WINNING REPORTER NEWS 12 ANCHOR/REPORTER

KEYNOTE

SARA GORE TVHOST, NBC UNIVERSAL LUXURYREALESTATESPECIALIST, SERHANT.

SPECIAL AWARDS

BROKER OF THE YEAR

Ron Koenigsberg

President American Investment Properties

CONSTRUCTION GROUP OF THE YEAR

The Kulka Group

FATHER & SON POWER TEAM

Dan Pulatani

Vice President

MP Construction D, Inc.

Mel Pulatani

President

MP Construction D, Inc.

ENGINEERING

Christopher W. Robinson, PE

President R&M Engineering

INTERIOR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Beth Donner

Founder

Beth Donner Design

NOT-FOR-PROFIT

Eric Alexander

Director Vision Long Island

POWER DEVELOPER OF THE YEAR

Steven Krieger, Esq.

CEO

B2K Development

POWER REAL ESTATE DUO

Kathy Kirby-Viard

Owner & Broker

Signature Premier Properties

Peter Morris

Owner & Broker

Signature Premier Properties

PROJECT OF THE YEAR

TRITEC Real Estate

Shoregate Project

PROJECT REDEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR

Michael F. Puntillo

President

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REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT / DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

ATTORNEYS

Marna E. Bernstein, Esq.

Partner

Cullen and Dykman LLP

Elisabetta T. Coschignano, Esq.

Member

Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano PLLC

Jack M. Martins, Esq.

Partner

Harris Beach PLLC

Jacquelyn L. Mascetti, Esq.

Partner Herman Katz LLP

BROKERS

Paul Leone

Senior Vice President

CBRE

David B. Sargoy

Director-Commercial Real Estate Division

Brown Harris Stevens Commercial Real Estate

DEVELOPERS

Pelops Damianos

Principal Damianos Realty Group LLC

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Brad Griggs

Senior Manager, Economic Development

Amazon

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

International Empire Electrical Corp.

ELEVATOR

Donald Gelestino

President & CEO

Champion Elevator Corp.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Chuck Merritt

President/LEED AP

Merritt Environmental Consulting Corp.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

Lisa M.G. Mulligan

CEO

Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency (IDA)

Kelly Murphy

Acting Executive Director

Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency (IDA)

TAX CERTIORARI

Cara P. Cronin, Esq.

Partner

RichnerLIVE’s third annual R.E.A.L. Awards will spotlight entrepreneurs, professionals, and visionaries in Long Island’s real estate and related industries who have achieved success in their respective roles while also being actively involved in community contributions and advocacy.

To

PRODUCED BY

A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit a local charity.

Joseph A. Farkas

CEO & Founder

Metropolitan Realty Associates LLC

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL BROKER

Gina Coletti

Licensed Real Estate Broker

GC Advisory Group Inc

RISING STARS

Daniel Scarda

Director of Corporate Finance

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Director of Business Development

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Jonathan Schuman

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Blue Island Homes

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Vice President

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ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Stephen Cadorette

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Sara Gore

TV Host

NBC Universal

Luxury Real Estate Specialist

SERHANT.

ARCHITECT

COMMERCIAL

Mark Stumer

Principal Mojo Stumer Associates

Cronin & Cronin Law Firm, PLLC

TITLE INSURANCE

Angelo Santomauro

Senior Partner & Vice President

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RESIDENTIAL AGENTS

Michelle Keegan

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Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Julia Krispeal

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SERHANT.

Deborah Pirro

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Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty

ATTORNEY

Anthony A. Nozzolillo, Esq.

Attorney at Law

Anthony A. Nozzolillo, Esq.

BROKERS

Michael Foley

Licensed Real Estate Broker

Frontline Realty Group

Dr. Sharon R. Frank

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Sharon R. Frank Real Estate LLC

Kevin Leatherman

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Leatherman Homes

Connie Pinilla

Principal Agent

The Connie Pinilla Team at Compass

Natasha Williams

Licensed Real Estate Broker

Cornelius Group Real Estate

SILVER

GOLD

Helping women transition out of homelessness

advocated for the Bethany House,” King explained.

Last year, the show raised around $20,000. King said that it sells out every year, and attracts 180 to 200 people. “Our fundraisers that we do go directly to helping the women and children at Bethany House,” she said.

King noted that the fundraisers have helped support the organization’s programs. Its goal is to help women transition out of homelessness permanently — to break the cycle of homelessness.

“The women come to Bethany House to learn skills that maybe they were missing,” King said. “We help them, for instance, with computer knowledge. We also have financial advisers come and help the women learn how to balance their finances.”

Tare growing at Bethany House and see that they’re ready to transition out of homelessness, but they’re not quite able to live on their own.”

his event is an evening to celebrate all the wonderful people in the community who helped Bethany House throughout the years.

Lisa

King

co-chair, Bethany House’s Development and Communications Committee

One program helps women go back to school. Another service the organization has implemented is called Safe Ground for Families.

“We now have a transitional house, on Demott Avenue in Baldwin,” King said, “where we put women who we see

With the cost of living so high on Long Island, King said that Safe Ground for Families will help lift the financial burden for women transitioning out of Bethany House. At the Demott Avenue home, they can regain their footing and grow even more. They are provided with a room, but are responsible for their groceries and other needs.

“They pay only what they can afford,” King said. “And not more than a certain amount of money.”

King said she has seen 20 to 30 women transition out of Bethany House and into apartments in the 17 years she has worked there. She noted that before it offered a range of programs, there simply wasn’t enough funding to help women break free of homelessness.

“All of these programs have happened recently and within the last three years,” King said. “So all these programs are still sort of in their infancy.”

And they are working, she said, as

ates — walked the runway at the organization’s annual fashion show at the rockville Links Club on march 15, 2023.

evidenced by women who have come back after transitioning out of the facility to tell King and the staff how they’re doing now. King sees them in their own apartments, thriving, and that’s how she knows that Bethany House has made a

huge difference in their lives.

With about 100 fashion show tickets sold so far, King said she hoped more people would buy tickets to support the house and the programs it offers. To purchase tickets, go to BHNY.org/events.

Tim Baker/Herald

Bethany House models Shira Benedetto, teresa Little, Lisa Lowe, Kia moore, Kerry punzi, gloria romanowski, Vicki rhodes and Lisa umansky — Bethany House affili-

What’s up next door and around the corner HERALD neighbors

Whole lot of love at Coral House in Baldwin

On the most romantic day of the year, what better way to reaffirm your love than with vow renewals at the Coral House in Baldwin?

Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray orchestrated the renewal of vows for 116 couples, totaling 232 Town of Hempstead residents on Feb. 14. Several vow renewals were of couples who had been together for decades alongside those with just one year.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Photos courtesy Town of Hempstead

Baldwin’s Kashinath and Rita Batheja have been married for 46 years.

Married for over 53 years, Donato and Marie Regina of Baldwin renewed their vows.

William and Lynda Stevenson of Baldwin have been married for over 46 years.

Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, left, standing alongside Baldwin couple Porter and Linda Kirkwood of 25 years as they renewed their vows on Feb. 14. Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Laura Ryder is to the right.

“The Vacant Space Revival Program qualified us for on-bill credits that really help me manage costs.”

—George Karatzas, James Cress Florist, Smithtown

Unoccupied business spaces are an opportunity to help bring vitality to downtown areas. For George Karatzas, owner of James Cress Florist, staying downtown was a priority, but costs were prohibitive. Then George applied for our Vacant Space Revival Program, which has provided $2,462 in bill credits to help offset his overhead.* And Smithtown continues to have a business that brings warmth and charm to the area. It’s a beautiful thing to see come together—just like George’s floral arrangements.

psegliny.com/EcoDev

*Incentives, grants, and savings will vary with every project.

Honoring, remembering Dr. King’s message

The Baldwin school district united its five elementary schools in a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through the annual poster contest.

Hosted by the school district and inspired by The Concerned Parents of Baldwin—a group of parents with children in the district—the event aimed to honor Dr. King’s legacy of service by channeling students’ creativity through art.

Principals and art teachers from each school

served as judges, evaluating the posters created by the students. Winners were recognized with certificates for their contributions.

As February marks Black History Month, the posters will serve as reminders of Dr. King’s impact and be on display at the District Office at 960 Hastings St. in Baldwin, throughout the month for the community to admire and reflect.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Courtesy Baldwin public schools

Throughout February, student posters honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are on display at the Baldwin District Office, located at 960 Hastings St. in Baldwin, in celebration of Black History Month.

BROOKSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Rebecca Bennett

Gianna Jacinto

Jadelyn Peralta

Anthony Thomas

LENOX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Amalia Brown

Kayleigh Foster

Morgan Gabriel

Luis Moran Ticas

Arvin Persaud

Kourtney Smith

MEADOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Amelia Bittner

Daina DeFreitas

Jayce Escobar

Tyler Gibbs

Christian James

Jovany Lazo Jr.

Helena Nunez

Disla

Aaron Roodal

Liv Santiago

Lance Young

PLAZA

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Kaitlyn Brown

Nicholas

Duncan

Caiden Finn

Gavin Gardner

Danielle

Generoso

Aiden Hernandez

Escalante

Alexander Jorge

True Lee-Wright

Zion Lion

Michael

Pasquarelli

Skylar Rogers

Avri Simon

Melanie Thomas

Penelope Vargas

STEELE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Zoe Anduray

Carranza

Milan George

Mason Houston

Camila Mack

Daniel Rahat

Bacchus

Brayan Videz

—Courtesy Baldwin school district

STEPPING OUT

Become a bookish

Discover Eric Carle’s tiny world of insects in new sensory adventure

By Danielle Schwab

In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf.

That’s how the journey started for Eric Carle’s Very Hungry Caterpillar, the beloved character from his acclaimed picture book of the same name. Now, Long Island Children’s Museum takes the magnifying glass to Carle’s curious bugs in its newest exhibit, “Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit.”

Created by the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, it’s a follow-up of sorts to last year’s popular Mo Willems exhibit, which also encouraged kids to step into the creative imagination of a beloved author-illustrator.

Visitors find themselves inside the pages of Carle’s colorful books. His “Very” series — all illustrated in his hand-painted tissue paper collage technique — introduces five special insects who take journeys of discovery. Each story is a testament to Carle’s love of nature along with his recurring themes of friendship, creativity, and the power of imagination.

The colorful picture books — more than 70 in all — have been captivating young children since Carle’s first publishing effort, the counting book “1,2,3 to the Zoo,” in 1968.

From there, his “Very” books took off the following year, beginning with the one that started it all, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” of course. Families were immediately captivated by Carle’s little bugs with big emotions.

There’s a deep-felt connection to the insects, according to Ashley Niver, the museum’s education director.

“Children have a fascination with things that are even smaller than they are because they’re usually the ones looking up at the world,” she said. “I find that they have a lot of care and concern for these small living things. They enjoy the roleplay of being a friend of one or becoming one, like wearing the wings of a butterfly and flying around.”

And, naturally, the insatiable caterpillar holds a special place in everyone’s hearts.

“We’ve had parents mention that they read ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ as a child and now they are reading it to their child,” Niver says. “The messaging is something that resonates.”

The exhibit may be indoors, but the focus is fully on the outside world, exploring the diversity of the insect kingdom through Carle’s imagination.

“A lot of people relate to ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar,’

• Now through May 12, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• $17 museum admission, $16 seniors 65 and older; additional fees for theater programming

• View the events calendar at LICM.org for additional information, or call (516) 224-5800

• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City.

but there are a lot of other lovely stories,” Niver says. “I don’t think that everyone is as well-versed in some of his other books, so I’m happy that this features some more of them.”

Tumble in the grass, weave a web, find a friend, and even become a butterfly during your visit.

Upon arrival, visitors can follow the Very Hungry Caterpillar’s path on a journey through largerthan-life pages of the book, eating foods on the way to becoming a butterfly. Once the end is reached, you’re now ready to spread your wings.

The Very Busy Spider component includes a giant, web-like structure to step through. This activity tests dexterity, strength and flexibility as kids move across the challenging surface.

At the Very Busy Spider’s Weaving Wall everyone can try to spin their own web on the large wall, experimenting with a variety of stringy materials.

Master new skills at the Very Clumsy Click Beetle Playscape. Here, visitors rummage across a pile of pebbles, crawl through tall blades of grass, step across stepping stones, and walk across the stem of a poppy flower in this playful landscape. Step up to the challenge and persevere like The Very Clumsy Click Beetle.

Also try to catch some light at the Very Lonely Firefly “Find Your Light” interactive station. Move hands and body to lure a firefly toward you. Even work with others to attract multiple fireflies and try to form a group of the beautifully lit insects.

At another component, kids can touch The Very Quiet Cricket and his friends on a relief mural to trigger a sound and create a one-of-a-kind musical composition. The various insect sounds harmonize together to make a “symphony” comprised of rhythms and sounds found in nature.

The exhibit’s studio portion offers up facts about Carle’s life and artistic process.

“Yellow was his favorite color,” Niver says. “Yellow was always the most challenging for him, which I thought was a cool fact. He only mastered four shades of yellow.”

After all that busyness being a bug, families may want to relax by taking a moment to read some books. The nook area is a cozy spot where everyone can nuzzle up in a reading cocoon and read the “Very” stories together.

Through his stories, Carle reminds us: “Simplify, slow down, be kind. And don’t forget to have art in your life — music, paintings, theatre, dance and sunsets.”

Audra McDonald

Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both singer and actor. Experience her inimitable talent in a spellbinding evening of song that showcases her extraordinary vocal range. Winner of six Tony Awards, two Grammys and an Emmy, McDonald possesses a ‘lustrous lyric soprano’ (The New York Times) and an incomparable gift for dramatic truth-telling. This stage and screen icon lends her luminous voice and committed stage presence to an intimate concert of Broadway favorites, standards, seldomheard gems, and so much more, accompanied by pianist Jeremy Jordan. With Tony wins in all four eligible acting categories, countless other theatre honors — and a National Medal of Arts conferred by President Barack Obama in 2015, among her other accolades — McDonald is among the most lavishly awarded performers of our time.

Friday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Flogging Molly

Celtic-punk rockers Flogging Molly have hit the road with their ‘Road to Rebellion’ tour, sure to rouse audiences with their anthemic odes to the Emerald Isle. Formed in L.A. in 1997 by Irish expat Dave King, the band got its start (and its name) from local bar Molly Malone’s, where they performed, grew their following, and laid down the blueprint for eventual success. Their infectious Celtic-tinged reels are perfect for dancing along to, for those who love their Irish heritage, and those who just want a good time. Expect an eclectic mix of old favorites, sing-a-longs, rare acoustic numbers and new material — all strung together by King’s cheeky tales and jokes and first-rate musicianship. With numerous latenight television appearances, a soldout Salty Dog Cruise through the Caribbean, and a yearly St. Patrick’s Day Festival in L.A., the band’s juggernaut continues.

Sunday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. $79.50, $49.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Photos courtesy Long Island Children’s Museum

From caterpillar to butterfly, spider and cricket beetle, Eric Carle’s insects hold a special place in everyone’s childhood. Each element in the gallery relates to specific books in the ‘Very’ series.

THE Your Neighborhood

Tusk

March 1

Tusk goes their own way, visiting the Landmark stage with their dynamic tribute to Fleetwood Mac,, Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. Since forming in 2008, Tusk has prided themselves on being the ultimate tribute to ‘70s supergroup. No fancy tricks, no gimmicks, just five musicians recreating the music of Fleetwood Mac to perfection with note for note renditions With Tusk it’s all about respect and authenticity. A group of seasoned musicians that go back some 25 years, their attention to detail, talent and reverence of their subjects has been critically acclaimed, resulting in their accolades as the premiere purveyors of ‘Mac. Time, trust, and close friendship have cultivated an intimate familiarity with each other’s musical nuances, shaping each performance with such precision that even the slightest variation, virtually imperceptible to all but the five musicians sharing the stage, is met with a wink and a nod, and usually an inside joke. Tusk is more than a band; they are a family. So if you’re jonesing for your fix of Fleetwood, you’re in the right place! Made up of Kathy Phillips (as Stevie Nicks on vocals), Scott McDonald (as Lindsey Buckingham, guitar and vocals), Kim Williams (as Christine McVie, keys and vocals), Randy Artiglere (as John McVie, bass) and Tom Nelson (as Mick Fleetwood on drums) the five-piece band will transport you back to the group’s glory days with a set list including hits such as the “The Chain,” “Dreams,” ‘Go Your Own Way,” and more, alongside rare gems fans will love hearing again. $63, $53, $45. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Family theater

It’s a beautiful sunny summer day in the meadow. Leo Lionni’s beloved children’s books come to life once again, in “Frederick,” on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, Feb. 23, 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 6:15 p.m. (sensory-friendly performance); Saturday, Feb. 23 ,11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Mouse friends Nellie, Sunny, Baby, Ernest, and Frederick are playing their musical instruments and having fun singing, until a leaf falls from the sky — autumn is here! Winter will be coming soon. All the mice get to work gathering supplies for winter, except, where is Frederick? He is gathering supplies, too, in his own unique way.

With toe-tapping Americana music inspired by bluegrass, gospel, and folk, this is an engaging tale about the power of the arts, community, and that no mouse gets left behind. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Our Gilded Age,” examines the appearances and the realities of an era that mirrors our own in many ways. Like the nation’s economy, American art and literature flourished during the Gilded Age. The art of John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam, Louis Comfort Tiffany and others adorned palatial residences designed by Stanford White and Ogden Codman Jr., architect of the museum’s own quintessential Gilded Age mansion.

Drawing heavily upon the local literary history of Long Island, including William Cullen Bryant, Mark Twain (who named the Gilded Age), Walt Whitman, Edith Wharton and others, the exhibition will include paintings, fashion, decorative arts including period silver and china, photographs, manuscripts, first editions and other historic memorabilia.

The “Upstairs, Downstairs” approach to the life of a country house brings to life not only the storied conspicuous consumption for which the Gilded Age was infamous, but also the real lives of these many individuals who maintained the palatial estates where that lifestyle was enjoyed. On view through March 10 Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Bird walk

The South Shore Audubon Society welcomes all to join its members for another in its series of bird walks, at Hempstead Lake State Park, Sunday, Feb. 25, starting at 9 a.m. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The group will meet in parking lot #3, off Exit 18 of the Southern State Parkway. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. No walk if it rains, snows or the temperature is below 25 degrees. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org.

Nellie McKay performs

The effervescent multiinstrumentalist singer-songwriter returns to My Father’s Place with music from her recently released album, “Hey Guys, Watch

This,” Friday, March 1, 8 p.m.

Recorded in Charleston, West Virginia with The Carpenter Ants and a roving retinue of musical compadres, her album traces the haunted sounds of Appalachia to a renaissance of revelry.

Doors open at 6 p.m., concert is at 8 p.m. 221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn. For tickets/information, visit MFPProductions.com or call (516) 580-0887.

All about AI

Baldwin Public Library hosts a session on AI, Monday, Feb. 26, 7-8:30 p.m. Learn what ChatGPT is and how it correlates to artificial intelligence, how to navigate the app, how to use the chat safely, and much more. No prerequisites. Register to obtain the Zoom link. 2385 Grand Ave. Visit BaldwinPL.org or call (516) 223-6228 for more information.

Girls Who Code

Students in grades 3-6 can build the foundational skills and understanding of computer science concepts through reading, discussion, coding activities, and sisterhood, at Baldwin Public Library. The group meets Tuesday, Feb. 27, 6-7 p.m. 2385 Grand Ave. Visit BaldwinPL.org or call (516) 223-6228 for more information.

Having an event?

Art talk

Join Scott Defrin, owner of European Decorative Arts in Greenvale for Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibit related program “Collecting Decorative Arts During the Gilded Age; Connoisseurship vs. Decoration,” Sunday, Feb. 25, 3 p.m.

New York was the center for collecting during the Gilded Age. More money was spent on fine art, decorative art and interior decoration than at any time in American history. From Carnegie to Frick, and Morgan to Vanderbilt, Defrin discusses the different approaches to collecting among these magnates and how their fortunes helped establish the permanent collections of today’s museums.

Limited seating with registration required.1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.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.

On stage

Princesses and other enchanting heroes and heroines take to the stage, when Plaza Theatricals presents its Winter Princess concert, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24 , 11 a.m. Take part in an interactive singa-long featuring an array of everyone’s favorite winter characters. $15. See it at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore (Friday) or at Elmont Memorial Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont (Saturday). For tickets, visit PlazaTheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870.

Cardiac screening

You only have one heart. Getting your coronary calcium score can save your life. Mercy Hospital offers free cardiac screening, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. A coronary calcium score is like a ‘mammogram’ for the heart to screen for blockage(s). This simple, non-invasive test can indicate coronary artery disease before the onset of symptoms or heart attacks. For eligibility, you will need to meet any of the following criteria: Be between the ages of 40-70 years old; history of smoking, high cholesterol or blood pressure (even if controlled), diabetes, overweight with BMI >25, family history of heart disease. Limited appointments available. 1000 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre. call (516) 626-3729 to register or visit CHSLI.org/mercy-hospital.

Free haircuts for the community Haircuts will be provided by student barbersin-training working toward a New York State Barbering Technician license under the supervision of Barber J. Mestizo at Baldwin High School @ Shubert. Services include haircuts for men and boys, facials, and a beard and eyebrow trim. Call (516) 434-6991 Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to schedule appointments for your group.

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWMBS, INC., CHL MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH TRUST

2005-04, CHL MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-04

Plaintiff, Against VALERIE POWELL, CHARLES POWELL, ET AL

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 2/09/2016, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501on 3/13/2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 3386 Bertha Drive, Baldwin, New York 11510 And Described As Follows:

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York.

Section 54 Block 551 Lot 54

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $897,754.32 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 08-007502

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

Harold F. Damm, Esq., Referee.

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

Dated: 12/20/2023 File

Number: 253-0039ny CA 144688

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. BRIAN CURRAN, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF NASSAU COUNTY, AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF KAREN

RULAND A/K/A KAREN A.

RULAND, DECEASED, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order

Confirming Referee Report, Amend the Caption, and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 6, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme

Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 12, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 859 Jefferson Street, 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 54, Block 536 and Lot 3082. Approximate amount of judgment is $523,970.87 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 605221/2022. 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.

Russell S. Burman, Esq., Referee

Greenspoon Marder, 590 Madison Avenue, Suite 1800, New York, NY 10022, Attorneys for Plaintiff 144684

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY: MAYFAIR CARE

CENTER NURSING HOME LOCATED AT 100 BALDWIN ROAD HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550, A PARTICIPANT IN THE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PROGRAMS DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE IN ITS POLICIES

REGARDING ADMISSIONS, EMPLOYMENT OR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES BECAUSE OF RACE, CREED, COLOR, AGE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABILITY, SPONSORSHIP, MARITAL STATUS, CITIZENSHIP OR NATIONAL & ETHNIC ORIGIN 144925

LEGAL NOTICE

“Notice hereby given that a license, number 1364268 for Liquor, Wine, Beer and Cider has been applied for by the undersigned to sell Liquor, Wine, Beer and Cider at retail in a Bar/Tavern under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 2413 Grand Avenue, Baldwin, NY County of Nassau for On Premises

Consumption. YA AND KA BILLIARDS CORP. 144993

Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York

10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 200539-1 144983

News briefs

Over a dozen honorees to be awarded for their contributions to education

This spring, Nassau BOCES will honor 11 individuals and three organizations that have had profound effects on public education in Nassau County.

Island High School for the Arts

Michelle Pineda-Rodgers, Director of Bilingual Education and World Languages, Hempstead UFSD

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (BROOKLYN)

Green Mountain Holdings (Cayman) Ltd.; Plaintiff v. Roy Jemmison, et al; Defendants

Attorneys for Plaintiff: Hasbani & Light, P.C., 450 7th Ave, Suite 1408, NY, NY 10123; (212) 643-6677

Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale granted herein on 9/7/2023, I will sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder in the EDNY-Brooklyn, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

On March 7, 2024 at 1:00 pm. Premises known as 820 School Drive, Baldwin, NY 11510

Section: 36 Block: 508

Lot: 3

All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Baldwin, County of Nassau, State of New York.

As more particularly described in the judgment of foreclosure and sale. Sold subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in said judgment and terms of sale.

Approximate amount of judgment: $307,841.29 plus interest and costs.

Case Number: 2:23cv-02988-BMC

Susan E. Rizos, Esq., Referee 144853

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, CHONDRITE ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. 34 DRIVE CORP., ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order

Confirming Referee

Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 19, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 28, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 3498 Bertha 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 54, Block 590 and Lot 6. Approximate amount of judgment is $883,031.27 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #607423/2021. 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.

David S. Dikman, Esq., Referee

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MASTR ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES TRUST 2006NC2 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 2006NC2 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 March 27, 2024 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 Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 611424/2018. George Esernio, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900

The Nassau BOCES Education Partner Awards program pays tribute to outstanding educational leaders, organizations, school administrators and staff, students, teachers, Nassau BOCES employees, and other champions of education. This year’s honorees will be recognized on May 7 at the 17th Nassau BOCES Education Partner Awards Gala, hosted by the Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation.

The Foundation is an independent, community-based organization devoted to enhancing educational opportunities for students who take part in Nassau BOCES schools, services or programs. It supports initiatives that are beyond the scope of the agency’s budget.

During the past 17 years, over 211 individuals and organizations have been honored with the partner award, which recognizes those who have made a substantial impact on public education in Nassau County. A strategic education partner with local school districts since 1967, Nassau BOCES created the award to pay tribute to those who share its commitment to enabling students of all ages and abilities to achieve their maximum potential.

Following are the 2024 Education Partner Awards honorees, by category.

Education Partners:

Robert Connolly, Lieutenant/Commanding Officer, Homeland Security, Nassau County Police Department

Vera Feuer, Assistant Vice President, School of Mental Health, Northwell Health

Jerry Nobile, Student Support/Admissions/Educator, Nassau BOCES Long

Stephanie Ralton, School Counselor, H. B. Mattlin Middle School, PlainviewOld Bethpage CSD

Danielle N. Williams, Director of Alternative Programs, Valley Stream CHSD

Nassau BOCES Employees:

Laura Bagdziunas, Teacher, Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts

Dawn Haskell-Carbone, Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired/Curriculum Coordinator, Nassau BOCES Vision Services

Organizations:

The Museum of American Armor Herstory Writers Network

For the Love of Pete’s Pantry

Students:

Alexia Vitsos, Twilight Program, from Bellmore-Merrick CHSD

Tiffany Wong, Elmont Memorial High School, from Sewanhaka CHSD

Teacher:

The late Gina Pellettiere, Wind Ensemble and Marching Band Director, Farmingdale High School; Lead Teacher Music, from Farmingdale UFSD

For additional information about the Nassau BOCES Education Partner awards, including profiles of prior year honorees and information about this year’s gala, visit NassauBOCES.org/educationpartner.

— Ben Fiebert

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Represen-

learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

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None of this has anything to do with the kitchen or patio, which we hoped to have by summer. We suspect our architect made this much more complicated for us, but now we can’t undo what he did. Naturally, he gets more money to do more plans and permits, which we also think is rather sneaky and uncalled for. Can we report the architect for doing this to us, and can we pull back the permit so we can make all this go away and just do our kitchen?

A. So you believe everyone is out to get you, including your architect, and you have the right to “pull back” your permit, ignoring the conditions of your house. It doesn’t work that way.

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Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

Unfortunately, even though most local governments know that most homes have violations, the governments choose not to prosecute every homeowner, since it would be bad for the business of getting re-elected, so code violations go on without a word until you make the first move, which you did, by coming to the attention of the building officials whose job is public safety.

Every day of the week, people ask if we can’t just look the other way. We absolutely can look the other way, but eventually who will believe us for lying or not doing our job? The issues of your home easily come up by simply bringing up satellite images, on-line accessible documents, including tax department records, showing what is in the home and whether the third floor was finished. Your building official doesn’t need the architect or you to figure out the truth about the illegalities in your home. When your architect shows the actual conditions, which he is required to do, including walls removed, walls finished in rooms that the building department has no previous record of, or other changes, he’s only doing his job. Imagine the scrutiny an architect would receive if a building official walked in to check the conditions and discovered that you and the architect had lied.

I have stated in this column, many times, the statistic that only five people out of 100 will survive a fire on the third floor. Ninety-five people will die of smoke inhalation or burns. So do the right thing and follow through, whichever way you choose. I’m pulling for you.

© 2024 Monte Leeper

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February is American Heart Month, and this is a story about my heart — literally and figuratively. It’s the reason I am where I am today.

I was born with a significant heart defect called dextrocardia, as well as a ventricular septal defect. Basically, my heart was on the wrong side of my chest cavity and inverted — and it had a hole in it.

SETH I. KoSLoW

When I was 3 months old, my doctors told my parents that I needed openheart surgery to close the hole. At the time, however, my mother was pregnant with my sister. My parents decided to wait until my sister was born before I underwent surgery. But somehow, for some reason, my heart decided that it had to be whole, and the hole I was born with began to close. My heart could stay as it was — imperfect and misplaced, but untouched.

A journey of the heart

Growing up, I found that I was doing a lot of things half-heartedly, so to speak. Schoolwork wasn’t heartening, and there were few things that excited me. I dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but I couldn’t muster up the resolve to pursue that dream — LSATs, law school, internships, thousands of dollars in loans, six more semesters of school, and years of building a professional profile.

Deterred by these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, I remained listless through my early 20s. For a few years after college, I worked in sales. I was good at it, but my heart was definitely in a different place.

That is, until it wasn’t.

went more than a dozen cardioversions to restore the heart’s regular rhythm, and tried various cocktails of medications, all to no avail.

A fter openheart surgery, I decided there was nothing I couldn’t make it through.

In my early 20s, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, or AFib, also known as an irregular heartbeat. It’s fairly common among senior citizens, but as a 20-something in college, I was now a member of a not-so-enviable exclusive club. Over the next several years, I battled my irregular heartbeats, under-

Eventually I met a cardiologist who specialized in adults with congenital heart defects — adults like me. He informed my family and me that the hole in my heart had reopened, and that it was substantially larger than it was when I was a child. This was causing my irregular heartbeat, and it would at last need to be closed. At age 25, because of the placement of my heart, I was about to undergo a potentially first-of-its-kind open-heart surgery.

On March 15, 2007, after five hours of surgery, I awoke with a heart that was beating normally for the first time in almost five years. Making it through that operation sparked something in my soul. Instead of whining about what I had to do to get to where I wanted to be, I decided to ball my fists up, dig in and do it. After all, I had just made it through open-heart surgery. Was there

anything I couldn’t make it through? I finally sat for the LSAT and got myself into law school.

That’s the attitude that’s gotten me to where I am today. When I was burning the candle at both ends, cramming for law school exams and eventually the bar exams, I would remind myself that I was getting stronger. When I was struggling to build my own law practice while juggling my responsibilities as a husband and father, I would remind myself of all that my heart could handle.

Naturally, when I saw an opportunity to run for office, a chance to represent and fight for all the communities our local government has left behind, I knew that I could take the heartburn of an arduous campaign, and that I could win over hearts and minds. That’s the mentality that I bring to my law practice, and to my work with my fellow legislators.

The arc of my life’s journey is proof that we are all stronger than we know — that we are all more capable than we can comprehend.

Seth I. Koslow represents Nassau County’s 5th Legislative District.

It’s Library Lovers Month — borrow a book

Iread “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” my first banned book, when I was 12. My friend lent me the book, and I found the good parts by the dogeared pages. The experience did not compromise my moral compass or corrupt me in any way I can discern. I am not recommending the book for today’s 12-year-olds, because it’s a pretty boring read, but I am advocating that a broad spectrum of books be available to students who choose to read them.

This month, Library Lovers Month, I want to push back hard against the selfappointed literature vigilantes across our country, who are removing books from school library shelves and banning them from classrooms under the guise of protecting children from inappropriate subject matter.

It’s called censorship, and the problem, of course, is who gets to decide what is appropriate or not. In the past, librarians have had full discretion in selecting books. They are trained for the job and trusted in their choices. In

the best libraries, the books reflect all the ways that children and teenagers can be in the world, including gay or trans or identified with any race or religion or socio-economic group.

work for vulnerable kids.

I don’t know if a book has ever saved someone’s life, but I know for sure that battles over books are endangering lives by keeping young people from information and stories that might validate their choices in important ways.

book-ban list, by definition, express feelings, experiences and political views that the prevailing culture prefers to pretend do not exist.”

SFor some young people, the school library is the only place they can read about kids just like themselves. They can learn that others share their confusion or anxiety or fear of being different.

tudents need open access to all kinds of books by all kinds of writers.

I don’t believe that a teenager can “catch” being gay or trans from reading about it, the underlying prejudice being that there is something wrong with that identity. We can’t scrub young adult literature for references to slavery or minority struggles or even violence, because the best writing reflects real life.

A couple of weeks ago, The New York Times told the story of a librarian in Idaho who organized a “Rainbow Squad,” welcoming children of different backgrounds to read and talk about books. A local church group protested, and the community is battling over whether the Rainbow Squad should be banned, along with the books they’re reading.

I wonder how this group threatens anyone, even as it creates a support net-

In The Washington Post last week, columnist Kate Cohen wrote about the school board in her hometown, Rockingham, Virginia, deciding to ban 57 books in the school library. One-third of the books feature gay or trans characters. Cohen wrote, “Freedom to read is the closest thing we have to freedom to think.”

This month, there can be no more pressing public business than to guarantee age-appropriate, open access to all kinds of books by all kinds of writers, for students across the land.

What can we do? Each of us can become familiar with our school and community libraries, stay informed about the books available to teens and oppose efforts by any groups of book police to decide what teenagers should read. In some communities in Florida, a single parent’s complaint about a book in a school library can get it banned.

As Cohen wrote, “The books on any

I think how lonely and desperate teenagers trying to figure out their lives without access to books must feel. Wellwritten books on racism or sexuality or addiction are a far better source for our kids than TikTok.

We read books for many reasons beyond wanting to be entertained — to solve the mysteries in our lives, to be dazzled or outraged by the way others live. Sometimes we can find our beliefs and lives affirmed in the pages of a new book.

The reason authoritarian entities, be they runaway school boards or governments, ban books is to limit access to ideas that might challenge their power.

We resist by reading and sharing.

The New York Public Library is offering free access to banned books for teenagers anywhere in the country through SimplyE, its e-reader app. The latest banned book pick is “All American Boys,” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. It is available to all readers ages 13 and older.

There are worlds out there to be explored. I have had this joy in my life, and I want the same for every reader.

Copyright 2024 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

RAnDI KREISS

HeraLd editoriaL

Thank you for the snow day

in the past couple of weeks, we’ve been getting a lot of something we haven’t seen much of over the past couple of years: snow.

So much, in fact, that schools in our communities had no choice but to close. And because of that, we have just one thing to say to our school districts in Nassau County: Thank you for the snow day.

Yes, education works best when it’s rigorous and on a schedule. If the young minds loading buses each day were robots, then we’d probably be hesitant to interrupt the routine. Thankfully, our children are living, breathing people. And all of us can use a break from time to time — especially one we didn’t expect.

Anyone who grew up in a climate susceptible to winter almost assuredly experienced at least one snow day in their life, if not several. They go all the way back to the 19th century, when schools became gathering points children would flock to — and where safety would become paramount.

In places like Long Island, where crews are adept at clearing roads, even the best can be overwhelmed by significant storms and heavy snowfalls. And while it might feel like a free day off for many of our young learners, nearly all school districts have built snow days into the schedule — meaning any unexpected days off will be made up later in the spring.

We here on Long Island understand

Letters

the value of snow days, but not everyone shares those values. In fact, there is a growing contingent of education leaders right in our backyard who have been working hard to wipe snow days from existence.

It’s not that New York City has it out for an occasional unscheduled school closing. It’s just that the city’s education department has capitalized on the expansion of technology necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic, which made remote learning for all not just possible, but practical.

For the 1.1 million students who attend more than 1,800 schools in the city, instead of sitting inside a classroom to learn on days when it snows, they are sitting in their living rooms and bedrooms instead. All while other people their age, living just a few miles away, grab their snowsuits and sleds and enjoy the winter beauty Mother Nature has delivered.

Learning is important, but snow days are valuable. Quite valuable, in fact. Beyond safety, they provide a muchneeded mental health break — not just for students, but also for the adults responsible for their learning.

The pressure of academic demands and extracurricular activities can be intense. That can lead not just to stress, but even to burnout.

Snow days give all of us a chance to recharge and relax with some unscheduled playtime outdoors. And that’s important, too. We hear too much about

In fighting fires, amateurs are pros

To the Editor:

We are professional firefighters!

I take exception to the comment made by writer Brandon Cruz in his article “Long Island needs more volunteer firefighters” (Feb. 8-14) that our volunteer firefighters are not “professionals.” Cruz reports that if new volunteers don’t join local fire departments, communities will need to hire “professional” firefighters.

Our volunteers are professional firefighters, just not paid for what we do for our communities. We, as volunteers, don’t just put on turnout gear and rush into a burning building without the needed, required and constant training provided by the Nassau County Fire Service at its training facility in Bethpage, and here in Lynbrook, our own department’s training and drills at our training facility in Wilcox Alley.

Back some 44 years ago, the Lynbrook Fire Department was facing a firefighter shortage, and formed the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department for youngsters 12 to 17, to interest them in firefighting, with the goal of becoming firefighters when they turned 18.

During their time as juniors, the youngsters learn basic firefighting methods without actually fighting fires.

how video games, computers and television keep so many of our kids indoors. But freshly fallen snow is irresistible, and will almost assuredly get them outside to have some fun. It’s good for their physical health in a way that sitting in front of a computer, watching a teacher on Zoom, just can’t provide.

And a snow day is a chance to build community. Families come together to shovel sidewalks, or maybe help neighbors in need. Children get together, working to build snow forts, or even a snowman, complete with a carrot nose and a top hat.

And who doesn’t love an impromptu snowball fight?

All of that comes with many parents still working remotely, which helps mitigate child-care issues and costs that might otherwise accompany snow days.

Just remember that these days are not breaks for everyone. Let’s not forget the municipal workers who wake up early to plow the snow, as well as the brave souls at utility companies, hospitals, and fire and police departments who, as first responders, are always prepared for the worst.

Each one of our children will spend more than 1,200 days in class through high school. Let them have a break. And let’s show New York City yet another reason why more and more people choose to live and work here on Long Island.

Because on Long Island, snow days are cool.

It’s time we find common ground on ‘Raise the Age’

Long Island has become the center of new York’s — and the nation’s — political conversation. In recent elections, state and local policies have had an enormous influence on nassau and Suffolk County campaigns that ultimately played a decisive role in determining control of Congress.

But while politicians and party operatives struggle to find a political advantage in laws passed by Albany or our County Legislature, real people affected by these policies are waiting for those of us in office to find common ground on issues that should bring us together, not divide us.

Look at the raise the Age law, for example. In 2017, I was proud to join both my Democratic and republican colleagues in support of ending new York’s shameful status as one of the last two states to prosecute all 16- and 17-year-olds as adults. Today, thanks to the law, a large majority of young people’s cases move through family court, where the goal is rehabilitation through effective intervention rather than criminalization.

raise the Age is a crucial component in building a healthy, sustainable future. It allows young people to get the services they need to get their lives on track. It also allows them to access quality jobs and fully contribute to our society without convictions from when they were teenagers holding them back.

sContrary to false claims labeling family court a “slap on the wrist,” young people may face mandatory programs, supervision by law enforcement, pretrial detention, and placement in residential facilities. But when the system is working well, they are connected with a range of community-based services and resources, which aim to address the underlying factors that led them to commit crimes. And they can use of those services — and the opportunities they provide — without the burden of an adult criminal record.

reduction in shootings with injuries from 2021 to 2023.

As a former public defender, I know firsthand how crucial services like SnUG are to the health and safety of our young people and their communities. By targeting the crux of the issue, they reduce recidivism and help struggling youth become wellfunctioning, productive members of their communities.

etting young offenders straight without burdening them with adult criminal records.

Since raise the Age took effect, thousands of young people who would otherwise have spent months or even years of their childhood in adult jails and prisons have had access to services designed to help them improve their lives and avoid future interactions with the criminal legal system. For some, this is the first time they have had trusted adults whom they can rely on and turn to for guidance.

vices, serious crimes perpetrated by those under 18 decreased by 12 percent in nassau County and a stunning 57 percent in Suffolk. These statistics demonstrate the efficacy of, and critical need for, community-based programming to make our neighborhoods safer.

Despite raise the Age’s success, its implementation has received a mere fraction of the funding state leaders promised. It’s been reported that as of 2022, only $270 million of the $800 million that was appropriated for it had been invested in community-based programs and services for young people around the state. Think of how much more successful raise the Age could be if the state adequately funded it, and community-based organizations and service providers could apply for and receive that funding directly.

one such service is the SnUG Street outreach program, which uses a public health model to reduce gun violence throughout the state by mediating conflict, mentoring youth, and working with local partners to make our streets safer. The 13 communities that are home to the program — including Hempstead — reported a 36 percent

Letters

When they turn 18, they join one of our fire companies, begin formal basic training at the county Fire Service Academy and are considered probationary firefighters for one year while they complete additional training.

Yes, we always need more volunteers, but our junior program is helping to fill our ranks.

Many area fire departments have also formed junior programs, based on ours, to help fill their own ranks.

Admittedly, the juniors aren’t always enough, and some years are better than others. Lynbrook’s chief of department and three assistant chiefs came through our junior program. This isn’t the first time that all four chiefs have been former juniors. Many of our current volunteers came through our junior program.

There are now 30 youngsters in the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department. Two former juniors joined fire companies last month alone when they turned 18. It is estimated that over 40 percent of our juniors go on to become Lynbrook firefighters.

STeve GroGAn Lynbrook

Grogan is a 56-year member of the Lynbrook Fire Department and an

ex-captain and honorary chief. He co-founded the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department, and is the department’s public information officer.

We need more governance, less politics

To the editor:

re County Legislator Delia DeriggiWhitton’s column “Stop playing petty political games with county resources” last week: The difference of opinion between the legislative minority leader and the majority leader illustrates the difference between governance and politics. nassau would benefit from more of the former and less of the latter.

The millions of dollars in American rescue Plan Act funds at issue, having not been spent as intended, present a “windfall.” Shall we have Bruce Blakeman billboards or firehouse funds? Are we improvident grasshoppers or prudent and ant-like? Shall we squander millions on a 125th-birthday party or prudently invest in libraries, cybersecurity and clean water?

BrIAn KeLLY Rockville Centre

In recent years, I’ve been disappointed by how many of my misinformed colleagues have attempted to blame raise the Age for an increase in crime on Long Island, especially when the data say otherwise. This should be a law that unites us.

From the law’s implementation in 2018 through 2022, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice Ser-

It’s high time that we rise to the occasion and demand more for the most vulnerable members of our communities, and that starts by calling on Albany to invest in our youth by fully funding raise the Age and supporting evidence-based strategies that create pathways for our young people’s rehabilitation, growth and opportunity. Let’s not let fear-mongering and political mudslinging talk us out of public policy that is proven to work — and that lifts all of us up.

Framework by Tim Baker

Charles Lavine represents the 13th Assembly District.

CHarLes LaVINe