Baldwin Herald 02-29-2024

Honoring the veterans Page 3

Baldwin High goes to court Page 5

100 days of learning Page 10

Pitching in for Cooperstown

Baldwin parents unite to send their kids to tournament

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

The parents of Baldwin’s

and when you talk about it, people know about it,” Tephly said, whose son Joseph competes on the team. “It is nice to hear that

Hofstra University

events in the week leading up to the Super

A Baldwin win at Super Bowl

Yaw Bonsu looks back on covering media week

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

As he was gearing up to fly to Las Vegas to cover the Super Bowl for Hofstra University’s radio station, WRHU-FM, Yaw Bonsu, 21, of Baldwin, recalled, work needed to be done, and that meant controlling his emotions.

“There’s a job to do,” he said last week as he looked back on the experience. “Leading up to it, I wasn’t as excited as other people because, you know, at the end of the day, there’s a job to do.”

Bonsu, a 21-year-old senior journalism major with a concentration in sports media at Hofstra’s Lawrence Herbert School of

Communications, is active at WRHU, and directed the station in 2023.

His interest in journalism goes back to his days at Baldwin High School, when he interned at the Herald as a high school senior in the spring of 2020.

But it was his love for sports that attracted him to sports journalism, having sports journalist such as Ernie Johnson, Jen Lada and Stephen A. Smith to thank for, to name a few.

Touching down in Las Vegas on Feb. 4, a week before the game, Bonsu and Michelle Rabinovich, a Hofstra junior who is WRHU’s lead sports editor, learned they would have a spot on radio row at the entrance to the Super Bowl Media Center at the Mandalay

Pitching in for Cooperstown

Baldwin parents unite to send their kids to tournament

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

The parents of Baldwin’s Long Island Royals 12U team are going to bat for their kids — in a spirited bid to send them to Cooperstown to compete in a baseball tournament this summer.

In a display of sportsmanship away from the field, they joined forces by orchestrating a clothing drive so the Baldwin Little League team could compete in the Cooperstown Baseball Tournament Experience, to be held from Aug. 18-24.

Eand when you talk about it, people know about it,” Tephly said, whose son Joseph competes on the team. “It is nice to hear that it is well known and that it is special to go, and I hear that it’s supposed to be phenomenal and a memory for the children.”

Cooperstown stands as the sacred ground of baseball, and is revered as the sport’s birthplace and home to its hallowed Hall of Fame. But for these parents, the upstate tourist destination represents more than just history.

ven if they go other ways in their lives or make other decisions, whether it’s with baseball or not, they’ll always have this.

Julia Tephly and Alicia Lubrin, both from Baldwin, have spearheaded the clothing drive, calling on community members to donate new and gently used clothing, jackets, hats and handbags for Go Green Clothing Recycling, a Long Island-based company that pays for clothes that are collected.

KEViN KURZ 12U coach

The tournament, which dates to 1996, has provided an experience for young boys and girls who love baseball to participate in a world-class facility for teams, families and friends across the country.

In addition to the drive, set for March 16 at 12 p.m. at the Baldwin district office, 960 Hastings St. in Baldwin, a GoFundMe has been launched to raise the $10,000 the team needs for registration fees and to cover the cost of the trip.

“A lot of the parents have heard of it (the tournament),

More than 200,000 players, coaches and umpires have graced the baseball diamond in Cooperstown. Major Leaguers that have participated in the tournament include Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, just to name a few.

Founded in 1953, the Baldwin Little League provides children ages 4 to 18 with an opportunity to join a baseball or softball team in the area.

Photos courtesy Yaw Bonsu

senior and Baldwin native Yaw Bonsu who studies sports journalism, covered

Bowl for Hofstra’s radio station, WRHU-FM.

The Baldwin Lions Club is here to serve

For over 70 years, the Baldwin Lions Club has been a pillar of community service, organizing a variety of events ranging from food drives to fundraisers for prom dresses, ensuring the needs of the community are met.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, leading to a decline in membership. In 2021, the club saw its membership dwindle to just three members, putting a temporary halt to its initiatives.

Naresh Singh, president of the Lions Club in Baldwin, hopes to lead the charge after its hiatus, continuing its services while recruiting new members.

“We all chose to live in Baldwin for a variety of reasons,” he said. “We want to make Baldwin beautiful again and serve the community.”

With over 1.4 million members globally, it is the largest humanitarian service organization in the world, with its origins traced back to 1917. It is the first non-government organization to partner with the United Nations, operating in over 200 countries.

Singh has called Baldwin home for over 20 years. In the two decades, he has seen the community change in terms of the people who call it home, he said. His reasoning for joining the Lions Club is his way of giving back and ensuring his children and others have a safe community.

“We want to make sure the reasons

After a brief hiatus, the Baldwin Lions Club hopes to continue its mission for serving the needs of the community.

why we all moved from the boroughs to Long Island are preserved,” he said, who has two children. “To create a better community for my kids to live in.”

Historically, the Lions Club in Baldwin would be considered an “old boys

club,” Singh said, with members aging out and not opening to new people joining, leading to members eventually dying and the club dormant.

He hopes to change that, continuing with what the club was known for in the

community and worldwide.

“We want to reactive a lot of what was done in the community,” he said. “Food drives, the Leo’s Club for children in the middle and high school.

“One of the great traditions with the Lions Club has are scholarships and we want to get that reactivated,” he added. “In terms of what I’d like to change, I want it to be more representative of what Baldwin is, having a variety of different people, cultures, backgrounds, races and I think the new board is reflecting that.”

Currently, there are over a dozen members and the minimum is 10 for the Lions Club International to reactivate the club.

One member is Maureen Lennon, who serves as the secretary of the board.

“I believe that helping others makes a difference for everyone,” she said. “The new board has been very motivated to get helpful projects going. I love the ideas and the enthusiasm that we all have.”

For its first fundraiser of the year, the Lions Club will have a “Burgers and Basket” at the Baldwin Coach Diner for $20 burgers, fries and drink meal with the opportunity to bid on over a dozen baskets and 50/50 raffles.

The event will be held at 790 Sunrise Highway in Baldwin on March 2 from 4 to 8 p.m.

Courtesy Naresh Singh

Valor Award recipients U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Commander Zachary Bowers, U.S. Marine Corps and Coast Guard Lt. Lars Anderson and U.S. Air Force Captain David C. Bennett and their spouses were recognized during the Nassau County American Legion Ball and Post Commander’s Night.

Nassau County vets honor active-duty aviators

American Legion Military Ball hosts the 69th annual Valor

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

American Legion veterans and auxiliary members all across Nassau County — including members of Post 303 in Rockville Centre — gathered at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck on Saturday for the annual Military Ball and Post Commander’s Night.

This year’s celebration marked the first time that the American Legions of Nassau County hosted the 69th annual Valor Awards presentation for active duty service members of the American Legion Aviators’ Post No. 743.

The program also acknowledged several distinguished guests, including Department Commander Timothy Collmer, Vice Commander Michael Rodriguez, 10th District Commander James Trainor, Nassau County Commander Sean Hood, Suffolk County Commander Kenneth Dolan, Queens County Commander Casey Bileris and Nassau County Legionnaire of the Year Al Ficalora of Baldwin Post 246.

Members of the American Legion

Auxiliary — the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization — the Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Riders were also recognized for their contributions and service.

The first Valor Award was presented in 1953 to United States Air Force General Henry “Hap” Arnold for his leadership during World War II.

Since then, it has become an annual tradition to recognize military aviators who performed a feat of valor, as determined by the Chief of Staff of each of the U.S. Armed Forces.

In recognition of their accomplishments in the line of duty, this year’s Military Ball and Post Commander’s night event recognized three esteemed aviators for their distinguished acts of valor.

U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Commander Zachary Bowers, a fleet standardization flight examiner and instructor pilot from Sacramento, California, was presented with the 2019 Aviator Valor Award for a Medevac rescue in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, where he and his crew helped transport a 60-year-old man with respiratory failure and high-risk morbidly obese pregnant female who was at risk of bleeding out if she went into labor despite poor visibility, high winds, heavy rain and engine anti-ice failure. Both individuals were successfully transported to a hospital in Anchorage. The 60-year-old man was later diagnosed with tuberculosis. Had he not been transported to the hos-

Awards

pital, he would have died.

Lt. Lars Anderson served both the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard as a flight instructor pilot. He was presented with the 2020 Aviator Valor Award for a non-maritime Medevac rescue of two men in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Throughout the course of his military career he has accrued more than 5,500 flight hours and has received five Humanitarian Service Medals and numerous commendations for his service. He currently works as a commercial airline pilot and resides in Tennessee, with his wife, Kelly, and four kids Bengt, Hannah, Annika and Linnea.

U.S. Air Force Captain David C. Bennett, the operations flight commander of the 40th Helicopter Squadron at the Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, is a UH-1N pilot in support of nuclear defense operations. He was presented with the 2022 Aviator Valor Award for a

search and rescue mission where he rescued an elderly man, who was suffering from a severe medical emergency in his remote mountain cabin. Bennett calculated an optimal fuel state to allow the crew to have largest amount of power to affect the rescue, which proved critical as whiteout and downdraft conditions in the landing zone required maximum torque available for takeoff. Coordinating with local emergency services, Bennett set up a transfer at the international airport, due to the inability to offload at Benefis Hospital. He has served as a resource advisor, chief of scheduling, executive officer and currently holds the rank of instructor pilot.

Hundreds of veterans and their families gathered around to celebrate the accomplishments of these three men, who in the face of danger, showed unparalleled bravery and expertise.

Nassau County American Legion Historian James Randle and Nassau County Commander Sean Hood

Female veterans of the American Legion were recognized during the annual Nassau County Military Ball and Post Commander’s Night on Saturday in Great Neck.

Daniel Offner/Herald photos

In the event of their death, many people wish to provide for the adequate care and feeding of their beloved dog, cat, bird or other pet. Here is an abridged version of New York’s statute authorizing a trust for your pet:

a. The intended use of the principal or income, of a trust for the care of a designated domestic or pet animal, may be enforced by an individual designated for that purpose in the trust instrument. Such trust shall terminate when no living animal is covered by the trust.

b. No portion of the principal or income may be converted to the use of the trustee or to any use other than for the benefit of a covered animal.

c. Upon termination, the trustee shall transfer the unexpended trust property as directed in the trust instrument or, if there are no such directions in the trust

instrument, the property shall pass to the estate of the grantor.

d. A court may reduce the amount of property transferred if it determines that amount substantially exceeds the amount required for the intended use. The amount of the reduction, if any, passes as unexpended trust property pursuant to paragraph (c), above.

e. If no trustee is designated or no designated trustee is willing or able to serve, a court shall appoint a trustee and may make such other orders and determinations as are advisable to carry out the intent of the grantor and the purpose of this section.

If you are interested in setting up a trust for your beloved pet, please make an appointment to see us for a free consultation. Should you have no one to take care of your pet, try PetEstates.com, who will perform this service for you.

The Baldwin Middle School Young Men of Excellence Club recently had the privilege of hosting Rashaun Banjo, a renowned Youth Empowerment Specialist and former professional basketball player, for an unforgettable speaking engagement.

YBanjo, with his inspiring journey to international basketball courts and entrepreneurial success, shared his unique story with students, emphasizing the importance of embracing the ‘squiggle’— the unpredictable, yet rewarding path to personal greatness.

The Young Men of Excellence Leadership Club is open to all the young men of Baldwin Middle School, grades 6 to 8, and provides the support and guidance needed to thrive, helping with developing strong leadership skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making, while building self-confidence and self-esteem. The program also encourages the students to develop positive relationships with their peers and adults and teaches them about the importance of responsibility, integrity, and respect.

“In cultivating the men of our future, our aim is to nurture individuals who will emerge as exemplary sons, supportive brothers, devoted fathers, inspiring mentors, reliable partners, and responsible citizens in their adult lives,” Erica Taylor, principal of Baldwin Middle School, explained. “The

efforts invested today will shape our future, and their character and contributions will positively impact our world.”

During this eye-opening session, Banjo engaged with students, sparking deep conversations about the essence of excellence and the power of self-belief. His narrative of transformation from an athlete to a full-time entrepreneur dedicated to youth empowerment resonated profoundly with the club members. They were particularly inspired by his emphasis on finding inner greatness and were eager to share their own interpretations of the word “excellence” and their club’s motto: “We are not perfect, but we are excellent in all we do,” which even inspired Banjo in such a profound way.

“This event was a testament to the power of shared experiences and mutual inspiration,” Randall Duperval, club advisor and Baldwin Middle School guidance counselor, said. “Rashaun Banjo’s visit not only left a lasting impression on our young minds but also reinforced our club’s commitment to nurturing excellence in every endeavor. His story is a reminder that true success lies in embracing our individual journeys and unlocking the greatness that lies within each of us.”

— Ben Fiebert

Understanding the role and operations of the courts

Baldwin High School’s Law Academy and Senior Experience program participated in the “Justice for All: Courts and the Community Initiative,” organized by the federal courts for the Second Circuit. The initiative aims to enhance public understanding of the courts’ role and operations while fostering closer ties between the courts and the community.

During their visit last month to the Central Islip courthouse, students had the opportunity to explore the second largest courthouse in the nation, housing various court offices and services. They engaged in a question-and-answer session with federal judge Joseph Bianco, interacted with a U.S. Marshal’s Service representative, and even took part in a minimock trial activity in a courtroom.

Gabriella Franza, assistant director for instructional programs at the Baldwin school district, expressed enthusiasm about the students’ eagerness to learn and their embodiment of the initiative’s mission, highlighting the significance of witnessing the growth of understanding and civic responsibility among the students.

“We are so excited that our students were able to visit the Central Islip courthouse, which not only showcased their eagerness to learn but also exemplified the mission to bring courts closer to the community,” Franza wrote in a news release. “I am proud to be witnessing the seeds of understanding and civic responsibility that our students have planted.”

“Justice for All,” established in 2014 by thenChief Judge Robert A. Katzmann, invites students and educators to federal courthouses across the Second Circuit. Beyond courthouse visits, the initiative offers various civic education activities, including teacher professional development, summer programs, naturalization ceremonies, and celebrations of Constitution and Law Day.

Franza emphasized that through their participation in the initiative, Baldwin High School students not only gained insights into the legal system’s intricacies but also became advocates for civic awareness.

“As they explored the corridors of justice and

engaged with the ‘Justice for All’ initiative, our students have not only gained valuable insights into the intricacies of the legal system but have become ambassadors of civic awareness,” she added.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Proudly Serving The Baldwin Community For Over 80 Years

Courtesy Baldwin school district Students from Baldwin High School’s Law Academy and Senior Experience program in the ‘Justice for All: Courts and the Community Initiative’ at the Central Islip courthouse.

Se Habla Espanol

Blakeman defends banning trans athletes

By PARKER SCHUG

pschug@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says he’s protecting athletes in his executive order last week banning some transgender participants in female-centric sports in county facilities. But the action also has raised concerns — and legal questions. Some of which were brought before the Nassau County Legislature on Monday.

We’re confident that as soon as this executive order comes before court, it will be shut down

BoBBy HodGSon director New York Civil Liberties Union

“An individual’s gender is defined as the individual’s biological sex at birth,” Blakeman wrote in his executive order, which demands any sport entities interested in using county facilities to first designate themselves based on male, female or co-ed categories, and then only accept athletes who meet that criteria according to the gender that was originally listed on their birth certificate.

There are nearly 100 facilities in the county that will be impacted, Blakeman told reporters last week.

But Bobby Hodgson — director of LGBTQ rights litigation at New York Civil Liberties Union — says those impacts may not be felt long.

“Were confident that as soon as this executive order comes before court, it will be shut down,” Hodgson said.

The executive order primarily targets athletes born biologically male, but who now identify as female, from participating in teams intended only for girls or women. Blakeman’s order does not require facilities to ban athletes born female and now identifying as male from joining male-centric teams.

Blakeman, however, was quick to add last week, that trans athletes identifying as females aren’t completely banned — they will still be able to participate in co-ed leagues as well as male competitive leagues.

Nassau County Legislator Samantha Goetz backed Blakeman’s directive, citing safety and integrity.

“This is about protecting our female athletes,” said Goetz, whose district primarily represents Oyster Bay. “This is about making sure they’re not denied opportunities for scholarships, or any type of opportunity that comes with playing sports, recognition and things like that.”

Eva Nordman, an 8-year-old who plays basketball, softball and soccer, said it was also about keeping sports equitable.

“Boys have different chromosomes than girls and that makes them stronger,” Nordman said. “It’s not fair if they

college, whether it’s high school, whether it’s just a community league — and it is an unfair advantage for someone who’s a biological male to compete against a biological female.”

Dawn Foster — a former deputy county attorney and an Oceanside resident — stopped by Mineola on Monday to speak out against Blakeman’s executive order in front of the county legislature on behalf of her family.

“In 2021, when I finally stopped fighting against myself and accepted that I was a woman and needed transition, we felt fortunate to live in Nassau County,” Foster said, calling the executive order unlawful, and condemning what she described as efforts to demonize trans women. “That feeling was shattered last week.

“Blakeman and Goetz press conference was a total of repudiation of the humanity of trans people, implying that we are cheaters, liars and bullies.”

compete against us.”

Protesters gathered outside of Blakeman’s news conference last week led by Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of Gender Equality New York, chanting, “Trans kids are our kids.” They will get some support from the NYCLU — a notfor=profit legal right group — say they will consider taking Nassau County to court over what Hodgson described as a disregard of state human rights and civil rights laws.

An amendment to the state’s human rights law in 2019 outlawed gender identity and expression discrimination in employment, housing, places of public accommodation, and non-religious schools, according to state officials.

Hodgson is not alone. State attorney general Letitia James condemned Blakeman’s order, calling it “transphobic and

deeply dangerous.”

“In New York, we have laws that protect our beautifully diverse communities from hate and discrimination of any and every kind,” James said, in a statement. “My office is charged with enforcing and upholding those laws, and we stand up to those who violate them and trespass on the rights of marginalized communities. We are reviewing our legal options.”

But Blakeman told reporters last week he knew of no state policy that could threaten his executive order

“This is not precluding anybody from participating in sports,” Blakeman wrote in his executive order. “What it is, is identifying that there are women and girls who spent a tremendous amount of time and effort to excel and compete in their sports that are women’s sports whether it’s the WNBA, whether it’s

Foster already had support from some county legislators like Carrié Solages and Delia DeRiggi-Whitton.

“I have never, in my many years of government service, had a constituent or parent complain to me about this issue,” Solages said, “making it clear that this embarrassing and illegal order is just another attempt by County Executive Blakeman to distract from the many issues that plague Nassau County.”

But Blakeman is not going to let those efforts dissuade him.

“We are finding out, in the last few months, there was a movement for biological males to bully their way into competing in sports or leagues or teams that identify themselves — or advertise themselves — as girls, or female or women’s teams or leagues,” the county executive said last week. “We find that unacceptable. It’s a form of bullying.”

Parker Schug/Herald photos

Victoria Argueta, from left, Sophia Argueta, Eva Nordman, Julia Nordman and Jenna Nordman join Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman at a news conference, telling reporters he’s banning some transgender athletes from participating in female-centric sports in county facilities.

Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of Gender Equality New York, front, protests outside a Mineola news conference last week where Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced he was banning some transgender athletes from participating in female-centric sports in county facilities.

It was a ‘super’ experience for Yaw Bonsu

Bay Convention Center, where media from around the world converged.

But as the two walked through the doors at Allegiant Stadium for the event’s Opening Night on Feb. 5, Bonsu said that all the preparation they had gone through “went out the window.”

“We all had all these interviews going on … around us,” he recounted. “I didn’t know it was going to be like this.”

Based on information the NFL had sent to the media on who would be there, Bonsu had prepared a list of players — and fellow journalists — he wanted to interview, and had reached out to the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers about the possibility of interviewing them.

But when he saw that the players were accessible and walking around freely, he quickly adjusted.

Iinterviewing media personalities who cover the NFL.

From NFL officials to former players like J.J. Watt, Bonsu shared the opinions of the experts covering the big game with his WRHU listeners.

“I can confidently say that 95 percent of them were not planned,” he said of his interviews. “We ended up getting upwards of 20 interviews — (Fox Sports Radio host) Rob Parker, Michael Holley from NBC Sports, a sports anchor from Kansas City — it was crazy.”

t’s one of the moments where it’s like, ‘Wow, you know, we really got to do this.’

Yaw Bonsu Baldwin

“I had my camera, tripod and equipment ready on hand,” Bonsu said. “I did an interview with Jerick McKinnon of the Chiefs. Then I got another player, then two offensive linemen, and that’s when things started getting crazy.

“It was like (McKinnon) and everyone was expecting people like us to come up and talk with them,” Bonsu added.

As he began to understand the flow of the event, the following day, Tuesday, would be the same, with the only difference that he would be

In 2022, when Bonsu was a student at Syracuse University before transferring to Hofstra, he applied to the NFL to cover the Super Bowl between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals virtually — but he passed up that chance and applied two years later.

Bonsu and Rabinovich were the first Hofstra students in the history of the communications program to cover the event on-site. Although they didn’t stay to cover the game, Bonsu said he was optimistic that current and future students in the program will have the chance to do even more at Super Bowls to come.

“It’s one of the moments where it’s like, ‘Wow, you know, we really got to do this,’” he said. “While we’re still students, it meant that much more just to have that faith and trust in ourselves.”

Courtesy Yaw Bonsu

Yaw Bonsu and michelle rabinovich, a Hofstra junior who is WrHu’s lead sports editor, were the first students at the university to cover Super Bowl festivities on-site.

HERALD SPORTS

Baldwin one win away from Three-Peat

By TONY BELLISSIMO

tbellissimo@liherald.com

The common theme to beating twotime defending Nassau County boys’ basketball champion Baldwin this winter has been to force the Bruins to play from behind.

Port Washington did it twice and will attempt to do the unthinkable —knock off Baldwin three times in the same season — this Saturday when the top two seeds meet for the Class AAA title at Farmingdale State College at 5:45 p.m.

The second-seeded Bruins, who defeated the Vikings in last year’s Class AA final by a six-point margin, advanced with a 60-42 victory over No. 6 Hempstead on Sunday night, thanks in large part to junior Chase Timberlake’s 18 points and freshman Peyton Howell’s 14.

“Port Washington has a great team and more size and experience than we do, but it’s hard to beat someone three times and we’ll be ready,” Baldwin head coach Darius Burton said. “We need to get off to a good start. That’s been a sticking point all season, although late-

ly we’ve having better first quarters. We’re a pretty young team but our defense keeps us in every game.”

Port Washington, which squeezed by No. 8 Westbury in the first round and took down Syosset in Sunday’s earlier semifinal, defeated Baldwin 59-46 at home Jan. 17 and also 52-42 on the Bruins’ home floor Feb. 6.

“We like playing on the bigger court, it allows us to use our quickness and spread the offense,” Timberlake said. “I thought we played pretty well tonight. They made a little run in the third quarter, but aside from that I thought we were consistent.”

Baldwin (17-5) outscored the Tigers in every quarter on the way to giving Burton his 400th career coaching victory. The Bruins led 14-10 after the first quarter, 24-17 at halftime, and 37-28 after the third.

“It’s a great milestone that I’ll think about more when I’m retired,” said the 23rd-year head coach. “Right now I’m just excited about getting back to the county championship game.”

Hempstead held Baldwin off the scoreboard for the first 3:30, but once

the Bruins shook off the nerves and rust, they never trailed again after a Howell trey and Timberlake layup put them ahead 5-4.

It was 22-10 early in the second quarter after senior Shane Mauldin came off the bench to hit five straight points. The largest lead of the night came midway through the third after sophomore Gabe Phillips hit two baskets and set up one by senior Chauncey Saint Jean to make it 37-21.

Hempstead, which was led by senior Ziyair Jones’ 16 points but went just 11 of 23 from the line, closed the third with seven straight points, but 6-foot-6 sophomore Dylan Cudjoe scored all six of his points in the fourth and helped control the boards with the 6-3 Phillips.

“Rebounding will be a key against Port,” Burton said.

The Bruins opened the playoffs Feb. 17 with a workmanlike 52-29 home win over No. 7 Uniondale. Timberlake, with 20 points, was their lone double-digit scorer in a game the defense dominated. Sophomore Ethan Sainsbury added 8 points and Saint Jean pulled down 8 rebounds.

Eric Dunetz/Herald Baldwin freshman point guard Peyton Howell scored 14 points in Sunday night’s 60-42 win over Hempstead in the Class AAA semifinals.

Newspapers form coalition to advocate for local journalism

A statewide group of local news organizations — comprising of more than 100 newspapers across New York — have launched The Empire State Local News Coalition, a joint advocacy effort to advance a legislative package intended to deliver long-term sustainability to the sector.

The coalition launches at a watershed moment for the journalism industry as well as democracy. More than 3,000 newspapers have shuttered across the country since 2005, resulting in thousands of layoffs and countless communities losing essential platforms for sharing their stories.

In New York state alone, newspapers have declined 40 percent between 2004 and 2019. Since then, the number of journalists has halved, and there has been a 60 percent decrease in overall circulation.

There is a growing number of communities with little to no access to local newspaper coverage. More than a dozen New York counties are down to just one newspaper, and Orleans County in Western New York is the first with no local newspaper at all.

The decline of local journalism is a threat to the health of our democracy, as research from the Democracy Fund shows there is a direct correlation between the breadth of local media coverage and levels of civic engagement an especially significant factor in an election year.

If newspapers continue to shutter, communities across the state risk being effectively disenfranchised, losing the ability to shape policy conversations, and hold local officials accountable.

“The Empire State Local News Coalition is dedicated to advancing a legislative package with bipartisan support aimed at providing a lifeline to newspapers across the state,” said founding member Zachary Richner — director of Richner Communications, the parent company of Herald Community Newspapers — in a release. “All New Yorkers deserve to have their voices heard, and hometown newspapers are key to that mission.

“We urge government officials and local stakeholders to rally behind us, safeguarding democracy, and bolstering the future of local journalism in New York.”

The Empire State coalition is championing what it describes as a robust legislative package intended to ensure local papers survive through the 21st century and beyond. Key priorities include:

• The Local Journalism Sustainability Act (S.625B, A.2958C)

Sponsored by state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, the bill would provide tax credits to local news outlets for the employment of local journalists, while providing job stability and paving the way for more hiring opportunities, and an expanded workforce in the future.

• Incentivizing small businesses to advertise in local media — This win-win proposal, according to organizers, would encourage local businesses to advertise in local media, driving revenue for hometown papers, while connecting businesses with their customers.

A 2022 analysis found more than 350 newsrooms across the state would benefit from the local journalism payroll tax credit. This includes 53 newsrooms in New York City, with 21 of them being ethnic media outlets.

To learn more about the efforts, visit SaveNYLocalNews.com.

Baldwin’s Annie Doresca is recognized

As February celebrates Black History Month, Legislator Debra Mulé took a moment to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Baldwin School Board Trustee Annie Doresca as she was acknowledged for her leadership and dedication to community service at the Feb. 7 school board meeting.

Mulé presented Doresca with a Nassau County Legislature Citation. The citation served as a symbol of deep appreciation for Doresca’s efforts in promoting educational excellence and fostering a spirit of inclusivity within the Baldwin community.

“Annie’s enduring commitment to public education and her profound understanding of its pivotal role in honoring and celebrating our diverse heritage have had a profoundly positive impact on the youth of Baldwin,” Mulé wrote in a news release. “Through her collaborative approach and visionary leadership, Annie has been instrumental in shaping a brighter and more inclusive future for our community. It was truly a pleasure to honor her as a trailblazer during this meaningful observance of Black History Month.”

The recognition of Doresca serves as a testament to her leadership and the contributions she has made to Baldwin’s educational landscape.

— Hernesto Galdamez

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

HERALD SchoolS

Celebrating 100 days at Steele Elementary

Steele Elementary School in Baldwin was brimming with enthusiasm and joy as it celebrated a significant milestone—100 days of learning and growth. On Feb 9th, students and staff united to commemorate the 100th day of the academic year, donning creative costumes and embracing the spirited theme of ‘100 years old.’

From imaginative dress-ups to engaging activities such as writing 100 words, students immersed themselves in a day with fun and learning. The celebration served not only as a joyful occasion but also as a valuable opportunity for students to reflect on their academic journey thus far and set goals for the remainder of the school year.

As laughter filled the hallways and colorful decorations adorned the school, Steele Elementary students embraced the significance of their collective achievement, energized and ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Activities for the Feb. 9 day at school included writing 100 words.

Photos courtesy Baldwin school district

100 days is a long time and students at Steele School Elementary School in Baldwin celebrated 100 days of school on Feb. 9 dressed as ‘100 year olds’ to celebrate the special occasion.

‘Smarty pants’ and ‘kid genius’ are just a few of the sayings the elementary students were called based on their outfits.

Roaming the hallways were handmade posters to celebrate 100 days.

Experience could be ‘once in a lifetime’

Continued from page 1

Kevin Kurz, who leads the 12U team, said that playing in Cooperstown would be more of an experience of a lifetime than a baseball tournament for the team.

“They would get to be with each other, bond, be 12-year-old kids and meet others from around the world,” Kurz said.

“It gives them the experience to mingle with other kids and gives them the opportunity to go up against all these other kids and see where they are developmentally.”

Tephly said, “To be part of a team and going up there, it shows teamwork. I think they would grow, learn and see other teams and how they play, incorporate that into their own team.”

Lubrin’s son Daren Junior, or D.J., plays on the team, and agreed that the experience for the team would be once in a lifetime.

“It can help them learn how to work together,” she said, “like a family.”

Other fundraising initiatives are also being discussed, such as a popcorn sale and a potential pancake breakfast at Applebee’s in Baldwin.

“Even if they go other ways in their lives or make other decisions, whether it’s with baseball or not,” Kurz said, “they’ll always have this. They’ll always have like a little piece of each other.”

To donate, visit gofund.me/c98742c4.

Courtesy Kevin Kurz

parents of the Long island royals 12u team of Baldwin hope

their kids to a trip to Cooperstown. top row, from left: Bennett ackerman, Jordan Bell, dJ Lubrin, Jayden Villalta, Luca Bologna and ayden alvarez. Bottom: madison Kurz, mia peou, frankie Kurz, Joey tephly, emmanuel Stephen and ronald Clarke.

STEPPING OUT

Her theatre life

Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller directs Off-Broadway’s ‘The White Chip,’ a play about alcoholism and recovery

By Iris Wiener

When Valley Stream native Sheryl Kaller was 12, she knew she wanted to be a director. It was 1973. She went to a Sunday matinee of “Pippin,” and Ben Vereen sang “Magic to Do,” immediately clinching her dream.

“I always knew theatre was the only place where we can authentically use our imaginations,” she says. “I had the Spidey sense of knowing that it was a collaborative art.”

It was the start to a journey that would lead her to a Tony nomination as she directed Broadway (“Next Fall,” “Mothers and Sons”) and Off-Broadway plays, including “The White Chip,” which follows a theatre director who finds himself spinning out of control with an addiction to alcohol. The play, exploring his journey to recovery, runs through March 9, at MCC Theater.

“Broadway and Off-Broadway always felt like my community,” Kaller says. “My parents were very vigilant about getting me in to see theatre all the time. It informed my exposure to the art and my love of New York City.”

As Kaller grew up in the Green Acres community of Valley Stream, she performed in community theatre with her mother, while her father — who repaired car seat covers for a living — would use his knowledge of sewing to design costumes for the shows. (“They were horrible actually,” Kaller says, laughing at the fond memories.)

In her senior year at Valley Stream South High School, Kaller got her first taste of directing. After landing the role of Rosie in “Bye Bye Birdie,” she realized a big number — “The Telephone Hour” — could use some major help.

“I said to the director, who was great, ‘With all due respect, may I redo (the number)?’ So I redid the whole ‘Telephone Hour.’ That’s when I knew I was much better at directing than acting, and it led me to go to Emerson College — as a director, not as an actor.”

In 2019, Kaller directed “The White Chip” at OffBroadway’s 59E59 with the support of acclaimed playwright Terrence McNally, who, much like the play’s narrator, was

• Now through March 9

• Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space, 511 W. 52nd St., Manhattan

• Tickets available at WhiteChipPlay.com

a recovered alcoholic. When McNally died during the pandemic, Kaller knew she had to bring the play back to the New York theatre community.

“In the world of Covid and in the world of losing community, we felt it was really important to bring it back because ‘The White Chip’ is a hopeful sobriety story, and a serio-comedy. There’s a lot of fun things in it,” she says of the play, which found its new home at the MCC Theater. “We are building community and doing service with this show, while entertaining at the same time.”

According to Kaller, after the pandemic, alcoholism in women doubled, while in men it was up a third.

“AA and addiction meetings were all on Zoom, and everybody kind of fractured,” she says. “This is a story that makes you laugh and cry. It also talks about how there’s no shame in being an addict. Shame touches everybody’s lives in one way or another.”

In deciding to take the piece on again, it didn’t hurt that Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford was at the show’s helm as producer.

“She’s very magical,” says Kaller of Ashford, who recently starred in Broadway’s “Sweeney Todd” opposite Josh Groban.

“The White Chip” has such an important message that it also boasts celebrity supporters and producers Jason Biggs, John Larroquette, Edie Falco and Hank Azaria. The pandemic even inspired playwright Sean Daniels to create The Recovery Project, an initiative working to heal the stigma of addiction and recovery through the development of new plays, theatre education programs, and outreach.

“All of our fancy producers are sober people,” says Kaller, of the importance of the play and the initiative. “Every producer who came on board financially was incredibly gracious. They don’t have the best deal in the world because a lot of the money is going into The Recovery Project. If you’re an actor, a designer, in the PR department, if you’re cleaning the toilets, you need resources. At all of our performances so far, at least one person has asked us for help. We have a QR code that gives them resources whether or not they have health insurance.”

The play continues to remind Kaller of the importance of community, a lesson that harkens back to her roots on Long Island.

“One thousand Long Islanders showed up to my dad’s funeral,” she recalls. “I grew up in such a beautiful community there. My heart will always be on the ‘Guyland.’ I got the wonderful suburban, great education at Valley Stream South, and yet I got to go into the city all the time. But I will always remember all of these people who showed up for my family.

“I wish Long Islanders would start coming back to New York theatre because we really do build a lot of beautiful community in the city and it’s worth it. It is apparent with ‘The White Chip’ and with so much more.”

Tusk

Tusk goes their own way, with their dynamic tribute to Fleetwood Mac. Since forming in 2008, Tusk has prided themselves on being the ultimate tribute to the ‘70s supergroup. No fancy tricks, no gimmicks, just five musicians recreating the music of Fleetwood Mac to perfection with note-fornote renditions. Seasoned musicians who 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 every performance with precision. More than a band, they are a family. 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 transports you back to the group’s glory days.

Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. $63, $53, $45. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 7676444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

The Irish Tenors

These gents will warm your soul with the beauty of Irish music. The Irish Tenors have been the acknowledged Celtic music kings since bursting upon the scene during a 1998 television special. With 10 bestselling albums to their credit, they share company with the likes of The Three Tenors and Andrea Bocelli as the biggest money makers PBS has presented. They’ve since become a part of the Irish movement in America, with plenty of talented Irish acts coming after them. They have stood the test of time — audiences of all ages love the Irish Tenors. Now comprised of classically trained tenor Anthony Kearns, doctor-turned-vocalist Ronan Tynan, and tenor Declan Kelly, their repertoire is wide-ranging and they also introduce — or reintroduce — their audiences to Ireland’s exquisite jigs, reels and ballads.

Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $70. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com,TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Crystal Dickinson, Joe Tapper, and Jason Tam star in playwright Sean Daniels’ autobiographical comedy, a wry theatrical journey of recovery.

Photos by Jenny Anderson

Sheryl Kaller in rehearsal.

THE Your Neighborhood

March 8

Janeane Garofalo

The comedianactress, who reigns as the queen of the alt-comedy scene, is eager to speak her mind on her current stand-up tour, when she visits the Landmark stage, Friday, March 8, 8 p.m.

Considered by many as an American institution since she first burst on the scene in 1992, the outspoken activist has plenty to say, in her own inimitable comedic style. Known for her incisive, cynical sense of humor, the SNL alum has branched out into many memorable film and TV roles, including “The Truth About Cats and Dogs,” “Wet Hot American Summer,” “Ratatouille,” “Steal This Movie,” “Reality Bites,” “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion,” “Mystery Men,” “The Ten” and “The Cable Guy,” along with including the final season of NBC’s “The West Wing.” Garofalo’s informed opinions and unflinching honesty on topics ranging from everyday life to pop culture inspire laughs and strikes a chord with audiences everywhere. Often a lightening rod for controversy, Garofalo finds a way to get her point across with her trademark sense of humor. Known and respected worldwide, Garofalo was also instrumental in the successful launching of the first liberal radio network, Air America Radio, where she hosted her own talk show, “The Majority Report.” A lightning rod for controversy, her opinions and candor have inspired laughs, as well as striking a chord with the left, right and everyone in between. $33, $28. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Family theater

Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s stories, this clever adaptation puts the audience front and center, literally, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, March 1, 10:15 a.m. and noon, Saturday, March 2, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, March 5-7, 10:15 a.m. and noon. Kids become cast members, singing dancing, and acting onstage alongside the professional cast.

One of our most interactive shows at LICM Theater, this production received rave reviews in its prior run. Going beyond the traditional telling of the Oz stories, “Journey to Oz” uses personal journal entries and historic newspaper headlines to bring the history of author L. Frank Baum and illustrator W.W. Denslow to life. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion take the audience with them on this lively, playful trip down the yellow brick road. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, 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.

Solar Eclipse Observer

Teens can prepare for the April 8 total solar eclipse and obtain community service credit. Eclipse sunglasses are available at the Baldwin Public Library Circulation Desk for free while supplies last.

When you visit EclipseSoundscapes.org/observer, you will find a form to complete the day of the eclipse and submit to Eclipse Soundscapes to receive a certificate of completion. Prepare now by taking the 15 to 30 minute observer training course any time before April 8.

Once you have your certificate after the eclipse, email teens@ baldwinpl.org or go to the Teen Zone to show a staff member and you will receive two hours of community service. 2385 Grand Ave. Visit BaldwinPL.org or call (516) 223-6228 for more information.

Story time

Baldwin Public Library offers story time for children ages two to four with a parent or caregiver, Thursdays, through March 21, at 11:15 a.m. Enjoy stories, songs and crafts. The session is in the Library’s children’s arts and crafts room.

Registration required. 2385 Grand Ave. Visit BaldwinPL.org or call (516) 223-6228 for more information.

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) 4346991 Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to schedule appointments for your group.

Shabbat Across America

Hundreds of synagogues across take part in Shabbat Across America, when North American jews come togther for spiritual unison. Participate at Congregation Shaarei Shalom South Baldwin Jewish Center, Friday, March 1. Services at 6:30 p.m., dinner follows. $25 per person. 2959 Grand Ave. Visit SBJC.net or call (516) 223-8688.

Having an event?

Bethany House fashion show

Support Bethany House, the local organization that houses and supports women, and women with children, experiencing homelessness, at its 21st Annual Fashion Show fundraiser, Wednesday, March 6, 6-9 p.m., at Rockville Links Club. With cocktails and fabulous fashion show. $150. Register at BHNY.org/events.

Nellie McKay performs

The effervescent multiinstrumentalist singersongwriter 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.

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.

Baldwin Lions Club ‘Burgers and Baskets’

Enjoy a tasty meal at Baldwin Lions Club ‘Burgers and Baskets’ benefit, Saturday, March 2, 4-8 p.m., at Baldwin Coach Diner. Obtain a burger, fries and drink for $20, also bid on baskets and raffles. Proceeds support Lions Club community service effort. 790 Sunrise Hwy., Baldwin..

Board of Education meeing

Obtain the latest insight into what’s going on the school district. The Baldwin Board of Education meets, Wednesday, March 13, at Baldwin Middle School. 3211 Schreiber Place. For more information, call (516) 434-6000.

Forest Bathing

Take a meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Sunday, March 10, 2-4 p.m. Based on the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35. Registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, March 2 and 9, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

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 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

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

Rolling

Baldwin

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

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 Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 200539-1 144983

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

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 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.

144974

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS LEGAL

TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016 SC6 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. MARGARET A. BURCH A/K/A MARGARET A. MILLS A/K/A MARGARET A. GREEN, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order

Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 4, 2023 and an Order Appointing Successor Referee duly entered on January 29, 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 27, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1459 Prince Street a/k/a 1459 Prince Avenue, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of

With February being American Heart Month, Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé collaborated with the Baldwin Fire Department to host a blood drive on Feb. 21.

Mulé, along with dozen of community members, spearheaded efforts to address the nationwide blood shortage by rolling up their sleeves for this cause.

“Whether you donated blood, volunteered at the event, or helped spread the word, your contributions have made a significant impact in addressing the ongoing demand for blood,” she wrote in a news release. “Each pint of blood collected serves as a lifeline for patients in need, and the unwavering support from our community underscores the compassion and generosity of Baldwin residents.”

— Hernesto Galdamez

News Brief items including awards, honors, promotions and other tidbits about local residents are welcome. Photographs may be emailed as well. Deadline for submissions is noon Thursday, week prior to publication. Send to execeditor@liherald.com

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 373 and Lot 69. Approximate amount of judgment is $454,243.16 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 609911/2019. 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.

Kenneth Gartner, Esq., Referee

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

10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 190226-2 144981

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST Nassau County Public Administrator, as the Limited Administrator c.t.a. of the Estate of Franklin Durand; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 12, 2023 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 April 2, 2024 at 3:00PM, premises known as 964 Lydia Place, Baldwin, NY

11510. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, in the Town

Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business.

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

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

MEDICAL SECRETARY FT: Far Rockaway. Front Desk, Experienced, Insurance Verification, Patient Collections, Computer Skills. Bi-lingual Spanish/ English. Starting $17-$18/Hr. Send Resume: freyecare220@gmail.com

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Call 516-569-4000 X286

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long

or Email joyceprince990@gmail.com

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Our floor is expanding

Q. Last fall we had the walls removed between our living room, dining room and kitchen. We had a new kitchen installed with an island plus a wall of cabinets. Now the new flooring is rising at the seams, everywhere. We have a heated floor, and the flooring was specially chosen because it clicks together and “floats.” We were told that with the floor being able to move, it would be better with the heated floor. What caused this, and what can we do?

A. Your floor is expanding, and the ridges at the seams are rising, because the floor has nowhere else to expand to. This problem is common, and was caused by the floor being limited from expanding because the cabinets and island, along with heavy furniture placed over the finished floor, keep the floor from expanding when the heat is on. Wetting the floor to clean it also causes expansion, and should be limited or not done with water at all.

Solving this problem is easier said than done. Basically, anywhere the floor is unable to move defeats the purpose, and only by freeing up the floor will the problem work itself out. There’s a simple wall molding that our ancestors used that seems to be generally forgotten. Even though I include this detail in most of the drawings I prepare, I rarely see this last little strip of molding being installed. What the molding does is act like a gap cover, since properly installed flooring has a quarter- to halfinch gap at the edges of the floor, including around a fixed island and around the room’s perimeter. The whole perimeter will need to be cut so the trim molding will need to be added, unless the vertical trim board has been installed with a space, in which case the flooring has to be able to float (slide back and forth) under the vertical wallboard trim.

Our ancestors were very observant of nature, and skilled finish carpenters passed along their knowledge of the way materials behave. I worked for a finish carpenter while in high school, and learned that molding and trim weren’t just a finishing touch, but also a necessity to hide the places where materials needed room to expand and contract, at ceilings, floors, stairs and doors. Miracle materials have come along since then that were supposed to change the industry, like plastic moldings that are more temperature stable, but nature never disappoints. Natural or not, materials all have to work together, whether it’s the way they react to moisture, sunlight, heat or cold.

You’re going to need to get the contractor to organize the flooring installer and the finish carpenter to coordinate cutting the floor, and either install the shoe molding or space the vertical trim baseboard so the floor moves and adjusts underneath, even at the island and kitchen cabinet bases. Hopefully, the flooring was installed over a moisture-proof expansion membrane. Then enjoy your floor.

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Reflections on the special election

It isn’t often that a congressional race becomes the center of national attention. But that was the case in the campaign between Tom Suozzi and Mazi Pilip to succeed the disgraced George Santos in the 3rd Congressional District.

In less than 12 months in office, Santos became a joke — a very sick joke. After the House of Representatives voted to expel him in December, Gov. Kathy Hochul set a special election for Feb. 13.

pETER KInG

Under state election law, candidates in a special election are selected by party leaders. Not surprisingly, Democrats selected Tom Suozzi, a seasoned veteran of the political wars who had represented the district in Congress for three terms before giving up his seat to make an unsuccessful gubernatorial primary run against Hochul in 2022.

Nassau GOP Chairman Joe Cairo set up a selection committee (that I was part of) that interviewed 22 potential candidates, and overwhelmingly recommended Pilip. Not wanting to repeat the Santos calamity, Cairo had Pilip vetted by several firms, and she passed with flying colors.

IIOrdinarily it would be a gamble for a relative newcomer who had served barely one term in the County Legislature to run against a veteran like Suozzi, but Pilip personified the American dream. She’d escaped from Ethiopia to Israel with her family when she was 12, and served in an elite parachute unit in the Israel Defense Forces. She was highly educated, married a Ukrainian cardiologist, moved to the United States and raised seven children in Great Neck. She was the first Republican ever re-elected in the 10th Legislative District.

Pilip was the new running against the old. She was coming off a solid victory against the odds in a Democratic district, while Suozzi had lost badly to Hochul in the primary. Pilip was the legal immigrant who supported strong border security, challenging the candidate of the party that had allowed more than 8 million illegal migrants into the country, many of whom were overwhelming New York City and the parts of Queens that fall in the 3rd District. She was the candidate who was endorsed by the Border Patrol Agents’ union, while Suozzi had recently boasted of throwing Immigration and Customs Enforcement out of Nassau County when he was county executive. Pilip, a

trained soldier, supported strong defense at a time when Israel was at war with Hamas, Russia had invaded Ukraine and China was threatening Taiwan.

Though the Democrats had a significant registration edge over Republicans, 39 percent to 28 percent, President Biden’s popularity was at record lows, and Suozzi was on record saying he supported Biden “100 percent.”

heard there was real concern in the Suozzi camp right up to Election Day.

Pilip campaigned tirelessly, and was making strong inroads. Suozzi countered by separating himself from prevailing Democratic positions on immigration, border security and support for police and didn’t seek Biden’s endorsement.

In the campaign’s closing days, every published poll had the race within the margin of error. A Republican poll had Pilip up by 5 points. Suozzi never got above 50 percent in any poll, a bad sign for a virtual incumbent. Democratic sources and some friendly reporters told me there was real concern in the Suozzi camp right up to Election Day. When the numbers were in, though, Suozzi won, 54 percent to 46 percent.

It’s still early, but my preliminary thoughts are that:

■ The snowstorm on Election Day hurt Republicans, but not enough to make the

difference.

■ Suozzi effectively managed to separate himself in the eyes of the voters from the sins of his party on immigration and support for the police.

■ Democratic congressional campaign committees provided extensive financial support to Suozzi early on.

■ Though Pilip actually garnered a higher percentage of votes against Suozzi than former President Donald Trump did against Biden in 2020, she couldn’t overcome the built-in Democratic registration edge.

■ Cairo and the Nassau Republican organization worked hard and effectively, but Pilip didn’t receive financial support from national Republicans comparable to what Suozzi received from Democrats.

■ Pilip was handicapped by having to campaign against the backdrop of the antics of congressional Republicans like Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Green, who come across as a gang that can’t shoot straight.

Suozzi won. No complaints. No excuses. But Pilip ran an excellent and courageous campaign, and has an excellent political future.

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

Check your Medicare statement carefully

f a poll were to be taken, I would have to be the last person on this planet who thinks that government is a perfect institution. I respect the FBI and the CIA, and I even trust the IRS. As a senior citizen, I have always considered Medicare one of the finest agencies we have, but some new facts have emerged that have convinced me that it is a sloppy and careless government behemoth.

JERRY KREMER

My loss of faith in the folks who run Medicare started about three months ago, when I opened up my wife, Suzan’s, periodic statements of money spent on her medical needs. I quickly noticed that Medicare had approved $14,300 for a Texas company named Pretty in Pink Boutique. There was a claim for the sale of 600 urinary catheters over a 60-day period to my wife.

I’m happy that Suzan is physically well and by no means has any need for a warehouse full of catheters. Within minutes of discovering that Medicare had approved and paid for all of them, I

placed a call to the agency’s general number. I was connected to a woman named Gladys, who listened patiently to my complaint and, at my request, I was transferred to a Fraud Unit.

The person there noted my complaint, and assured me that it would be passed up the bureaucratic chain, to make sure there was a record of the payment, which was obviously fraudulent. A few days, later I received my periodic Medicare statement, and immediately noticed that Medicare had paid a company in Chicago for a coronavirus vaccine that I had allegedly received. That seemed strange, because I had gotten my shot at a local pharmacy, not connected to any company in Illinois.

In a farreaching scam, people everywhere are getting billed for catheters.

It seems that a woman named Linda Hennis, a resident of suburban Chicago, was checking her January Medicare statement when she noticed that a company she had never heard of had been paid about $12,000 for 2,000 catheters. She had never needed, or received, any catheters. They had been sold by a company called, guess what, Pretty in Pink Boutique.

the catheter billings. She would not confirm whether the claims had been paid. She described Medicare billing scams as “one of these problems that is ever-present and ever frustrating.”

Not to be deterred, I placed another call to the Medicare Fraud Unit, and they dutifully noted my concern about another improper payment for medical services. Satisfied that I had performed my civic duty, I turned my attention back to my law practice and other pursuits. My satisfaction lasted about 48 hours, until I spotted a New York Times article titled “Staggering Rise in Catheter Bills Suggests Medicare Scam.”

It seems that Ms. Hennis and my wife are among the 450,000 Medicare beneficiaries whose accounts were billed for catheters in 2023, up from 50,000 in previous years. It turns out that the massive increase in billing for catheters included $2 billion charged by seven high-volume suppliers, which was the equivalent of nearly one-fifth of all Medicare spending on supplies in 2023. Doctors, state insurance departments and health care groups around the country said this spike in claims for catheters that were never delivered suggests that it is not only a scam, but a far-reaching one.

What is the government doing? Dara Corrigan, who runs Medicare’s Center for Program Integrity, declined to say whether the agency was investigating

It turns out that Pretty in Pink Boutique billed Medicare at least $267 million for catheters between October 2022 and December 2023. The vast majority of the suspicious claims came from seven companies, many of which had shared executives. One of the businesses had a working phone number, but no calls were returned. The Pretty in Pink Boutique has a telephone number connected to a body shop.

Other scams are getting public attention, such as phony Covid vaccine claims, which are slowly surfacing. Regardless of its denials or bureaucratic double-speak, Medicare is failing the millions of Americans who rely on the system to be accurate and honest. Every dollar lost to some con artist is a dollar meant to pay for a legitimate health care claim.

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.

HeraLd editoriaL

Telling the full story of Black History Month

Black History Month is a chance for us to celebrate the many well-deserved successes of African-Americans throughout the nation’s history. We honor trailblazers and barrier-breakers in the sciences, arts, sports, and every other aspect of American life.

An important aspect of that history is the way Black Americans have been discriminated against, and what — and who — the sources of that oppression were, and are.

Take, for example, the word Tuskegee. When many of us hear it, we think of courageous Black pilots flying through war-torn Europe, battling the Luftwaffe in intense dogfights.

Less well known to many Americans is the appalling Tuskegee syphilis study, conducted between 1932 and 1972, when the U.S. Public Health Service infected nearly 400 African-American men with syphilis to study the effects of the disease when left untreated. The participants were lied to about the purpose, and roughly 100 died as a result of the syphilis injections. This, too, is an indelible part of the fabric of American history.

Long Island’s history is itself deeply tied to racism and enslavement, despite the notion that slavery was only an issue in the Deep South before the Civil War. In fact, until slavery ended in New York in 1827, the state had more enslaved people than all of the New England colonies combined, many of them on Long Island.

At the start of the American Revolution, there were roughly 10,000 enslaved Black Americans living on Long Island — around half of New York’s entire enslaved population. While they were allowed more mobility and financial

Letters

Leave trans kids alone

To the Editor:

opportunities than their counterparts in the South, the claim that slavery wasn’t as bad in the North is largely inaccurate.

Throughout the 1700s, New York lawmakers created the Black Codes, which historian and author Richard Moss, in his book “Slavery on Long Island,” claimed were “the harshest criminal laws and penalties enacted by northern colonists.” Punishments for striking a white person included two weeks’ imprisonment and corporal punishment.

Enslaved people were forbidden from gathering in groups of more than three, and prevented from owning property. Children born to enslaved mothers were automatically enslaved at birth, and testimony by enslaved people was inadmissible in court.

One of the most inhumane practices in supposedly tolerant Long Island and New York at the time was that of shipping unruly African-Americans to the Caribbean slave colonies. Conditions on islands such as Barbados and Jamaica were particularly brutal, with less than a third of slaves surviving on some plantations.

Even after slavery ended in New York, discrimination did not. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the number of AfricanAmericans in the Town of Oyster Bay dwindled from roughly 17 percent to less than a half-percent as racist real estate practices and federal policies prioritized homeownership for whites while driving Black Americans from the area through a mix of intimidation, legislation and rising property rates.

When Levittown, long touted as the model of the modern American suburb, was created in 1947, non-whites were expressly forbidden from owning any of

Bruce Blakeman couldn’t care less about girls’ sports.

By signing an executive order to ban teams that allow transgender girls and women from playing in Nassau County athletic facilities last week, Blakeman continued to distract from his shirking of responsibilities as Nassau County Executive.

Since his marginal win over Laura Curran in 2021, after campaigning on the promise of $128 million in tax cuts, Blakeman has rejected every cut in annual budget proposals.

In 2022, amid the highest rates of new Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in the county, he issued a series of orders against mask mandates in schools.

What has he been doing instead in his capacity as executive? Attacking the participation of the county’s small percentage of transgender girls and women in athletics, a right that is supported by experts in the field, including the National Women’s Law Center. Blakeman’s order does not

the 17,400 new homes, with the deeds themselves preventing ownership by “any person other than members of the Caucasian race,” according to a 2011 research paper by Baruch College Sociology Professor Robert Courtney Smith.

Robert Moses, the urban planner and public official who is best known today for creating Jones Beach State Park and the state parkway system, designed Long Island parkways to make them impassable for buses, frequently the only mode of transportation for non-white and lowincome families. While some latter-day historians question the validity of this claim, Moses was also known to have fought against integrating public swimming pools in the 1920s.

African-Americans have continuously defied the odds and obstacles set against them, whether it be Jackie Robinson playing Major League Baseball, or mathematicians Creola Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson helping NASA put men on the moon.

And unless we acknowledge the darker side of American history, these successes will mean nothing if the country refuses to learn from the mistakes that caused them. Racism and racist institutions are still alive and active in this country, and not just in the South.

When we condemn Black Lives Matter, when we say Black people should protest “the right way, like Martin Luther King Jr.,” and when we act as if Black history is highlighted mostly by successes and downplay the fact that it was racist people they succeeded against, we do a disservice to that history, and help whitewash the struggles that African-Americans have faced — and continue to face — to this day.

The problems with bumper-sticker governance

Bumper-sticker slogans and politics have always been inseparable, like peanut butter and jelly. throughout the history of campaigning, politicians have employed succinct, often widely known but ambiguous sayings to seek the approval of prospective voters. But these slogans’ recent transition from catchy phrases to foundational theories of governmental policy has had negative consequences, particularly in new York.

take, for instance, “tax the rich — Pay Your Fair Share.” as the son of a bus driver and a bank teller, I have never been, and likely will never be, a member of the “rich” club. the notion of millionaires and billionaires paying more taxes has an inherent appeal. In a progressive tax system, like new York’s, those with larger incomes pay a larger share of taxes. But the challenge lies in the undefined concept of one’s “fair share.” It’s effective as a bumper-sticker slogan, but it lacks the precision needed for sound governmental policy.

Politicians, driven by an insatiable desire to appease their constituents, inevitably expand municipal budgets

— which necessitates additional taxes. on the surface, what solution could be more universally acceptable than increasing taxes on the rich to fill budget gaps? the problem arises when the gap remains unfilled, and the “rich” begin contemplating leaving new York. the exodus of a relatively few wealthy residents can create a massive budget hole.

wnew York, one of the highest taxed states, has witnessed a historic outward migration over the past two decades. In 2023 alone, the state lost over 100,000 residents, the most in the country. Since 2020, new York has bid farewell to 10 billionaires. Currently, the top 1 percent of taxpayers in the state contribute 42 percent of its tax receipts, with billionaires facing the highest income tax rate of 14.8 percent.

and increased fares for mass transit. the strategy attempts to make middleclass earners believe in the tax-the-rich slogan while in fact increasing their taxes and cost of living.

hen it comes to taxes, for instance, how do we determine our ‘fair share’?

another problematic slogan is “new York is a sanctuary for all immigrants.” along with several other blue states, new York declared itself a sanctuary state, directly conflicting with federal law. Former Gov. andrew Cuomo embraced this idea, branding Immigration and Customs enforcement agents “a bunch of thugs” and refusing to cooperate with the agency.

Given albany’s reluctance to seriously consider cutting spending, politicians are left with a delicate task: increasing taxes on the remaining wealthy without prompting further departures. So they may raise their taxes slightly while devising alternative means to generate revenue from the “little guy” — the euphemistically described “middle class.”

examples of these alternative revenue sources include congestion pricing, commuter taxes, the home heating tax,

Letters

mention transgender boys and men — instead he hides his under-researched and dangerous order behind a thin veil of Victorian-era patriarchal values and personal opinion.

“Part of good government is listening to your constituents,” Blakeman said in a recent interview. Listen to this constituent, Bruce: Do your job, and leave trans kids alone.

Carter aLLen Garden City

people.

While the policy was initially seen as “virtue signaling” by Democratic politicians, the consequences have been obvious. With a federal open-border policy and the governors of texas and Florida transporting migrants to sanctuary states, new York now faces an unprecedented migrant crisis. new York City alone has received over 180,000 migrants, and, under a consent decree, is obligated to provide them with shelter and basic needs.

the fiscal implications of the migrant problem are staggering: It is projected to cost the city over $12 billion through 2025. Gov. Kathy hochul recently proposed $2.3 billion in spending to deal with the crisis, making budget cuts

in other areas, such as state aid for public schools. Schools are being repurposed as migrant shelters, and health care funds are being diverted from veterans to migrants. new York City Mayor eric adams aptly declared that “the migrant issue will destroy new York City,” but it extends beyond the city, and may jeopardize the state and country. one more bumper-sticker slogan to consider is “Universal health care is a human right.” It’s a noble sentiment, but the reality is that universal health care is financially unsustainable, and could bankrupt any state attempting to implement it. even Vermont abandoned its plan for universal health care in 2014, because it would have doubled the state’s budget and necessitated crippling tax increases.

a more pragmatic approach involves lowering health care costs for all by realistically addressing the overall cost of providing health care.

obviously, slogans can’t serve as the foundation for workable governmental policies. While those like “no taxation without representation” and “one person, one vote” have led to meaningful policies, they’re the exception rather than the rule. Voters must be discerning, and ensure that candidates with bumper-sticker slogans comprehend the issues before they give them their support.

At your library, borrow a book — or a

to the editor:

telescope

I enjoyed randi Kreiss’s column last week, “It’s Library Lovers Month — borrow a book.” Libraries are the greatest thing. t hey open the world to anyone willing to look. not everyone bothers to look, but those who want to have the opportunity. We need to keep that going, and not be controlled by closed-minded

You may not know that about onethird of nassau County libraries allow adult patrons to borrow a telescope just like a book. I have been promoting the Library telescope Program for almost eight years now, and I work with 17 nassau County libraries so far. everything I do is free to the library. It just needs to buy the telescope and various accessories directly from vendors, totaling about $450. I help by modifying the telescope to make it easy to use and transport, and provide maintenance as needed. I also provide staff and patron training on how to handle and use the telescope, as well as periodic astronomy-related presentations. In March I will be doing eclipse presentations at eight libraries, and occasionally I do Moon Parties as well. all at no cost.

t here are now over 1,000 libraries running the Library t elescope Program, mostly in the U.S. and Canada, but also in other countries.

toM LYnCh Lynbrook

Framework by Tim Baker

At Ogden Elementary School’s Father-Daughter and Special Person Dance — Valley Stream

Brian Curran represents the 21st Assembly District.

BrIaN CUrraN

“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

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

—George Karatzas, James Cress Florist, Smithtown