Baldwin Herald 03-24-2024

Steinfeld wants to pump kids up Baldwin High graduate urges students, ‘Don’t quit!’

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Growing up in Baldwin, Jake Steinfeld, a 1976 Baldwin High School graduate, considered himself overweight and struggled with a bad stutter. But his life took a major turn when he was 13, and his father bought him his first set of weights.

Since 2012, Steinfeld, chairman of the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils, has been changing the lives of American schoolchildren with his Don’t Quit! fitness campaign, and has given selected elementary and middle schools across the country $100,000 Don’t Quit! Fitness Centers. This year he will do so for three schools in New York State.

Steinfeld, who gained recognition as the chairman and CEO of Body by Jake, has developed brands and businesses within and outside the fitness industry, and created two fitness channels, FitTV and ExerciseTV. He co-founded Major League Lacrosse, and has served as a personal trainer for the likes of Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg.

Steinfeld served as chairman for then California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports during his tenure in 2006, continuing his role into then Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration until 2011. Steinfeld began contemplating building fitness centers in all 50 states.

“I had this idea that I wanted to put fitness centers in elementary or middle schools

Baldwin shines at Carnegie Hall in NYC

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Baldwin High School students Gabriela Lucas and Mikayla Rodriguez answered the age-old joke, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” The duo recently performed at the world-famous venue in the treble choir through the Honors Performance Series.

Established in 2010 to spotlight talented individual student performers on a global stage, the event is exclusive to top-rated performers, hosting more than 400 students from the U.S., Bermuda and provinces in Canada. Through a nomination and selection process, high school students gathered last month in New York City to form the honors choirs and honors instrumental ensembles.

Kristine Costello, Baldwin High School choral director, nominated her two students for the distinction.

“As a music educator, this is one of the highest compliments we can receive,” Costello wrote in an email. “Most of our students have not had the opportunity to be part of an audience at Carnegie, let alone perform on its stage!”

Nominated students were asked to submit a three to fiveminute audition recording, and those who were accepted received an invitation last December. The weeklong event took place from Feb. 7-10, concluding with the Baldwin duo’s performance, following days of rehearsing and bonding with their fellow musicians outside the high school concert choir.

Rodriguez, a 16-year-old junior, has been an enthusiastic singer since childhood. She fondly remembers singing her “heart out” to songs on the radio. Her love for music then blossomed, beginning in elementary school and continuing through three years in the middle school choir.

Joining the high school choir further fueled her passion for music and deepened her commitment to learning and artistic expression.

“Academically, I’ve seen such growth from when I started out to where I am now,” Rodriguez said. “Being able to have these experiences shows the amount of dedication and effort that I myself have put in with the help of my lovely choir teachers.”

For Lucas, an 18-year-old

ContinueD on page 10

Courtesy Jake Steinfeld

Baldwin native Jake Steinfeld is coming back to his home state to give three schools an opportunity to win a Don’t Quit! Fitness Center.

Outside the entrance of Baldwin Public Library stands its newest addition: a digital sign displaying a lineup of upcoming events and programs, inviting community members to stay informed and engaged.

Illuminating community connection

In an age where information is readily accessible and constantly evolving, the Baldwin Public Library introduced a new digital sign to serve the community and enhance communication channels with patrons.

This dynamic display, strategically positioned outside the library building at 2385 Grand Ave. in Baldwin, serves as a vibrant beacon, broadcasting essential information about the diverse array of programs and events available to community members at their local library.

The sign ensures that everyone passing by can stay informed about the latest offerings, from educational workshops, literary discussions, cultural events and children’s activities.

As the sign illuminates the surrounding area with news of upcoming programs and opportunities for enrichment, it becomes a symbol of unity, bridging the gap between the library and its diverse community.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Baldwin Public Library Director Elizabeth Olesh has been recognized as one of the honorees of the American Library Association’s Spectrum Scholarship Program fundraiser. This program is dedicated to promoting racial equity by fostering a diverse community of librarians and supporting their leadership in social justice initiatives.

Miriam Tuliao, the fundraising organizer personally selected Olesh for this honor alongside nine other librarians in the New York area, acknowledging her commitment to diversity and professional excellence.

“I’ve known Miriam for years, and she is one of the finest librarians I’ve met,” Olesh said. “She is truly committed to our profession and to diversity. I was stunned to learn that she had included me in this group of other library professionals whom I greatly respect.”

Tuliao, a senior library marketing manager at Penguin Random House and an adjunct library science instructor at Queens College, has been organizing the annual Spectrum fundraiser for 17 years. She chose Olesh and other honorees as a tribute to their significant con-

As estate planners, we consistently meet with people who are suffering from traumatic relationships with their children or grandchildren. Children themselves may become estranged or at odds with parents or their siblings. Sometimes, an in-law is involved that seems to turn the client’s son or daughter into someone completely different from the child they raised. The pain that these clients are going through is palpable.

Some wise sage once said that all pain comes from resistance. Many of these relationship issues may be difficult or impossible to overcome, but one thing we can all do is work on ourselves — by accepting what is. Accepting what is does not mean agreeing with or condoning certain behavior. What it does mean is that you stop saying to yourself that it is not fair, it “should” be otherwise, etc. That will not do you one bit of good and may do you considerable harm. Stress has been called “the silent killer”.

We recall reading a pithy quote a while back that went something like this “when someone disappoints you, you have two choices, you

tributions to their communities and the field of librarianship.

Tuliao will participate in the 37th Annual Great Saunter on May 4 to raise funds for the Spectrum Scholarship Program. Individuals can support her cause by visiting ec.ala.org/donate and selecting the Spectrum Scholarship Program as the fund they wish to contribute to.

— Hernesto Galdamez

can either lower your expectations or walk away”. What is disappointment but dashed expectations? Those who learn to expect less are disappointed less.

“Accepting what is” cannot be accomplished overnight. It is a concept or thought process that improves your outlook the more you think about it, work on it and form new neural pathways to forge the new outlook.

Estate planners inevitably become “therapists” for their clients, because estate planning involves social relationships. Over the years, we have observed that many social problems occur between the client’s two ears. As Shakespeare said in Hamlet “There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Forget about what’s fair or right and what’s not. You are only hurting yourself. The other person is often blissfully unaware of how you’re feeling. Michael J. Fox, the actor known for his optimism despite suffering from Parkinson’s, put it best when he said “My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations”.

Courtesy Baldwin Public Library

Herald file photo Baldwin Public Library Director Elizabeth Olesh was recognized as one of the honorees of the American Library Association’s Spectrum Scholarship Program fundraiser.

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

HERALD SchoolS

Baldwin Middle School goes underwater

It was magical, just like in the movies, as students at Baldwin Middle School delved into the enchanting underwater kingdom of ‘The Little Mermaid’ from March 14 to March 16.

The musical adaptation of the Disney animated film follows the adventures of Ariel, a young mermaid princess who dreams of life on land and falls in love with a human prince named Eric. With the help of her friends, Flounder and Sebastian, and the cunning sea witch Ursula, Ariel embarks on a captivating journey filled with love, courage, and unforgettable melodies.

The tale teaches viewers lessons about the importance of following one’s dreams, the power of love, and the courage to be true to oneself. It also encourages viewers to embrace diversity, accept others for who they are, and celebrate the uniqueness of every individual, regardless of their background or differences.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Baldwin Middle School student Mia Bryant performed as Ariel in ‘The Little Mermaid’ musical from March 14 to March 16.

Mersisters and mermaids sing ‘She’s in Love’.’

Prince Eric played by Gavin Sorensen and Ariel, Mia Bryant, graced the stage together.

Tim Baker/Herald Photos

The cast of ‘The Little Mermaid’ musical gathers for a group shot on stage.

Diving into DNA Analysis at the DNA Learning Center

Baldwin High School’s Medical and Health Sciences Academy students embarked on an enlightening “Leaving2Learn” journey to the DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Guided by expert instructors, these medical professionals delved into the intricacies of genetic analysis through hands-on laboratory procedures. Using cutting-edge restriction analysis techniques and gel electrophoresis, the students explored the molecular intricacies of DNA samples.

The primary objective of this experience was to provide students with a firsthand understanding of the methodologies employed by researchers to analyze and identify unknown genetic material in laboratory settings. By engaging in these sophisticated laboratory techniques, students gained practical insights into the diagnostic and investigative processes essential to the field of medical research and practice.

Baldwin High School’s Medical and Health Sciences Academy students embarked to a trip at the DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Embracing, learning cultural diversity

Baldwin Middle School recently held its annual Multicultural Festival, a tradition spanning nearly two decades, showcasing the diverse tapestry of cultures within its student body.

The event, which takes place every March, treated attendees to a culinary voyage featuring tantalizing aromas from around the globe, alongside performances ranging from traditional melodies to contemporary rhythms. Commencing with a stirring rendition of the national anthem by students, the festival unfolded with a kaleidoscope of multicultural performances that captivated the audience, reflecting the array of cultures represented within the school community.

From vibrant traditional dances to mesmerizing musical acts, each presentation highlighted Baldwin’s cultural diversity. Beyond providing entertainment, the festival underscored the importance of embracing and celebrating different cultures, fostering unity and appreciation among students and attendees.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Courtesy Baldwin school district

— Hernesto Galdamez

Photos courtesy Baldwin school district

Medical professionals guided Baldwin students into the intricacies of genetic analysis.

Baldwin Middle School students celebrated its annual Multicultural Festival showcasing array of cultures within the school community.

Caitlyn Jenner backs Blakeman’s transgender athlete ban

By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com

Caitlyn Jenner wouldn’t be allowed to participate in women-focused team sports on Nassau County property — but she’s OK with that.

The transgender former Olympic gold metal-winning decathlete joined County Executive Bruce Blakeman in Mineola Monday to express her support for Blakeman’s ban on transgender girls and women participating in teams geared exclusively toward girls and women on county property.

“I have empathy for all LGBT people, and I have a thorough understanding of all the struggles, no matter how different our circumstances,” Jenner said.

Jenner — who transitioned into a woman in 2015 had a six-year career in the Olympic men’s decathlon, taking the gold at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Before, Jenner played college football for the Graceland Yellow Jackets.

She recounted her time training and competing in the Olympics, and the saliva tests that the International Olympic Committee used to test for biological male and femaleness.

“It is done in a matter to protect the integrity of the competition,” Jenner said. “Today, the problem is even more clear. Trans women are competing against women, taking valuable opportunities from the law-protected class under Title IX, and causing physical harm.”

Jenner talked about a North Carolina high school volleyball player who said she was injured after a transgender opponent spiked the ball on her during a game.

“In volleyball, we think of it as a non-contact sport,” Jenner said, “but these are the statistics.”

The women’s net is 7.5 inches lower than the men’s net, making it easier to spike, she said. Men also tend to

be 8 inches taller than women on the volleyball scene, and can jump 6 inches higher.

“The average spike for the men, a good spike, is 82 miles an hour,” Jenner said. “The average spike for women, 64 miles per hour, 30 percent greater velocity playing a man. And that’s why we have to protect women’s sports.”

Since her transition, Jenner has become a transgender rights activist, and has starred in her own reality television show, “I Am Cait,” documenting her transition.

Jenner ran as a Republican for California governor during the 2021 unsuccessful recall election, earning just 1 percent of the vote.

But not everyone agrees with what Jenner stands for — even in the LGBTQ+ community. David Kilmnick, president and founder of Long Island-based LGBT Network, said Jenner’s support of Blakeman’s executive order is a contradiction to her own identity.

“Embracing policies or ideologies that undermine the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals is not only hypocritical, but also harmful,” Kilmnick said, in a statement. “Jenner’s alignment with such positions not only perpetuates discrimination, but also adds fuel to the rising number of violent and hate incidents committed against transgender individuals.”

Blakeman signed his executive order last month demanding sports, leagues, organizations, teams, programs or sport entities operating in county facilities designate themselves based on male, female or co-ed, and then only accept athletes who meet that criteria according to what was originally listed on their birth certificate.

While those born male would not be allowed to participate in female teams, the order does not ban females from joining male teams.

“My executive order has one goal, and that is to make sure that competition is fair and safe in Nassau County,” Blakeman said. “That we protect women and girls, so that when they train for an athletic competition — when they train to get on a team, when they’re in a meet or tournament — they have the ability to compete fairly.”

Attorney General Letitia James sent a cease-anddesist letter to Blakeman earlier this month, demanding he rescind his executive order, calling it not only transphobic, but also illegal under the state’s human rights and civil rights laws.

Blakeman responded a few days later by joining Mark Mullen, a Nassau County parent of a female athlete, to file a federal lawsuit contesting the order.

Parker Schug/Herald Caitlyn Jenner joins Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to support his executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports in Nassau County.

Embracing AI — but in a responsible way

By Rachele Terranova, Parker Schug & Brendan Carpenter

Continuing a series exploring the presence of artificial intelligence in our schools — and, over time, in society as a whole. Thoughts? Questions? Ideas? Email us at execeditor@liherald.com.

What place does artificial intelligence have in schools? Should it be feared? Embraced? Somewhere in between?

These are conversations that didn’t even exist a year ago — at least as far as education is concerned. But as AI becomes more and more accessible, students and teachers alike are finding they can use software to ask questions, find answers, and even complete their work faster — and maybe even better — than they ever could.

But no matter how some may feel about AI — or simply not even understand what AI is — the tool is making its way into schools and curriculum. How fast and how much depends on the district. But at this point, it seems teachers and administrators on Long Island are accepting AI rather than running from it.

Revolutionizing teaching and learning

One of those districts is Bellmore-Merrick Central High School, which is not just introducing AI to its students — it’s already turning it into a college-level course.

Offered through the computer science department at Calhoun High School in Merrick, the magnet course partners with Long Island University to offer the college credit to not only Calhoun students, but also those from Kennedy and Mepham high schools in Bellmore, too.

“Each project is aligned with artificial intelligence topics that showcase the practical applications of AI,” said Danielle Caliendo, the district’s mathematics and computer science chair.

Students learn the Python programming language while creating AI chatbots. They also program a robot created by a French technology company to use AI features like facial recognition. And they fly drones.

Students also completed a linear regression project designed to make predictions based on existing data, like how public company stocks might perform.

Each project is aligned with AI topics that showcase the tool’s practical applications.

Joe Innaco, who leads the district’s administrative and instructional technology efforts, sees technologies like ChatGPT— a free chatbot system designed to provide a human-like response to a prompt— as fascinating possibilities.

try class.

“If you look at the history, there was a lot of resistance because it would eliminate all the thinking of doing trigonometry,” he said. “It was used, and it was embraced. And it saves more time for creative thinking and innovation.”

“Our vision is of opportunity and innovation,” he said. “That’s how we see technologies like these. Opportunities and innovations for teachers. We want to provide training. We want to encourage exploration in model classrooms, spotlight success, and really host conversations about it.”

Embracing AI goes right to the stop of the Bellmore Public Schools district, where superintendent Joe Famularo already serves on several AI advisory boards at institutions like Adelphi University, New Tech Institute and LIU. He also participates in think tanks conducted to discover how to incorporate AI into the classroom in a safe and responsible way.

While change might be daunting to many, Famularo points out that it’s not unprecedented. Just think about how much opposition there was to bringing something as simple as a slide ruler into a trigonome-

Eventually came scientific calculators, and then the internet. Both received significant pushback, but now who could imagine a classroom without them?

Learning responsible use of AI Instructors at Lawrence Woodmere Academy in the Five Towns are guiding students there in to use AI responsibly. John Tiliakos — who teaches computer science in the middle and upper schools — tends to let his students lead discussions surrounding AI.

AI is coming into his middle schoollevel engineering and technology classes, as well as his more high school-level courses in aviation, aerospace and computer programming.

But even before that, Tiliakos was spreading the word about AI, teaching a class at LWA on how artificial intelligence works in our world.

While that class no longer exists, Tiliakos said he and the other teachers at LWA are still focusing on the same values of providing knowledge for proper use of the technology.

“AI is a great tool,” Tiliakos said. “There’s nothing wrong with it, if it’s used in a positive way.”

That’s why he focuses so much of his attention on inputs — the written instructions given to AI systems. Tiliakos believes that inquisitive nature of teenagers could lead to devious uses of the technology — like writing term papers and the like.

His responsibility, Tiliakos said, is to direct students toward feeding AI prompts that result in helpful information to be used for beneficial causes.

“When you use AI, you see scenarios based on what you did,” he said. “Every action is a reaction.”

But some teachers — even at LWA — aren’t too keen about the AI presence.

“I don’t think it’s positive or negative,” said Christopher Clark, a senior at the school. “It just depends on how you use it.”

One unlikely way of putting AI to use is through another somewhat newer technological offering: podcasting.

“AI is still new. But for podcasting, it’s still very, very new,” said Henry McDaniel, a theatre arts and oration teacher at LWA. “What it can do is help you write a script for your podcast.”

Podcasting students also can use AI to reproduce their own voice to read their scripts, McDaniel said. They then post the productions online.

“Our motto here is ‘at home with the world,’” he said. “What we’re trying to do is give them skillsets, but (also) teach them the responsible way of using those skillsets.”

Testing the waters

Implementing AI has been a little slower going in Long Beach, where the discussion on how best to use it continues.

Lorraine Radice, the school district’s literacy director, has worked to alleviate many of the fears some Long Beach teachers might have when it comes to AI, while looking for ways they could try to implement the technology into their respective classrooms.

“Over the summer, I taught two professional development courses in the district and taught teachers how to use ChatGPT,” Radice said. “I surveyed teachers in the fall across the district as to who was using ChatGPT and who knew about it. Even in the fall after about nine months of ChatGPT being in social media circulations and in the news — not as many people had used it as I expected.”

While Radice would very much like developing ways on how AI chatbots like ChatGPT can be used in classrooms, a lot of her time is still focused on educating teachers what exactly the AI software is.

“So, part of the goals of those summer professional development courses was to raise awareness of how to use it,” Radice said,” and then to really start to support teens in thinking about how it could be used from the planning side of being a teacher. And then also how it can be used as a tool to provide support and equitable access to writing and generating ideas for

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

New to schools in Bellmore and Merrick is a college-level artificial intelligence course. Partnering with Long Island University, the class is offered at Calhoun High School, where students can earn college credit by learning about the emerging technology.

Some teachers worry AI goes a little too far

ConTinued From PreViouS PAge

kids.”

Having access to AI has impacted classrooms already by allowing students to use it to aid research, while many teachers worry they could go too far and have AI completely answer questions and even write essays for them.

But that just means adapting.

A I is a great tool. There’s nothing wrong with it, if it’s used in a positive way

John TiliAkos teacher, Lawrence Woodmere Academy

“A teacher raised a great question during a session when talking about using artificial intelligence tools to analyze classical texts,” Radice said. “The same question has been asked so many times, and she asked, ‘If I could just get the answer from a tool like ChatGPT, then what’s the point of even asking this type of question?’

“That’s a great thing for people to think about. What is the point of this question? Can I rephrase this question that really puts the student at the center of the thinking, and not so much (a) media tool?”

But there is still a ways to go before AI becomes more commonly accepted in classrooms, Radice said. At least on Long Beach.

“I wouldn’t say that there is a push,” she said. “I think part of that is because of the privacy. We want to make sure that we’re using tools that are safe to use in school. And once we do that, then it can become a more consistent part of our practice.”

Parker Schug/Herald

Lawrence

HERALD SPORTS

Hofstra pushes for CAA playoff berth

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

After an up and down nonconference schedule, Hofstra women’s lacrosse gets a chance to hit the reset button with the start of conference play.

Hofstra entered the start of the Coastal Athletic Association portion of its schedule with a record of 3-4 and kicked off the league slate on an uplifting note with a 13-10 win at Campbell last Saturday.

The Pride is now looking to qualify for the four-team CAA tournament in early May after missing out on the postseason for the first time since 2018 last spring.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for a new season and I think we have started to find out a lot about ourselves and who we are as a team,” said 12th-year Hofstra head coach Shannon Smith. “Overall we have started to play better and we’re starting to hit our stride at the right part of our season when we go into conference play.”

The Pride have already equaled their win total from last season when Hofstra went 4-12 with two of those victories coming prior to a seasonending knee injury to rookie phenom Nikki Mennella. The now redshirtfreshman attacker is back healthy and is third on the team with 16 goals despite missing two games.

Graduate student Taylor Mennella, the older sister of Nikki, is tied for first on the team in scoring with 29 points on 19 goals and 10 assists. Hofstra has also gotten a boost from graduate student attacker Melissa Sconone, a University of North Carolina (UNC) transfer who also has 29 points.

“She brings a lot of leadership and a lot of experience and a calming presence,” said Smith of Sconone, who tal-

lied 35 goals during her UNC career and was part of the Tar Heels’ 2022 national championship team. “She’s been nothing but a tremendous addition and asset to our team.”

Senior midfielder Kerry Walser has provided key veteran leadership in her final season with —- goals so far. The Bay Shore native was an integral part of the 2021 Hofstra team that received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament her freshman season.

The Hofstra defense– led by Trinity Reed, Brynn Hepting, Ashlyn McDonald and Christine Dannenfelser— held Wagner scoreless for three quarters in a dominating 15-2 win on March 5. Sophomore goalie Luchianna Cardello is starting in net for the second straight season and recorded 10 saves in a season-open-

ing 13-5 victory against Long Island University on Feb. 10.

The Pride’s roster features plenty of Long Island players including senior attacker Grace Pupke, who was a standout at Seaford High School. Pupke registered an assist late in the Wagner win and is often utilized in the player-up situations on the offense.

“Grace is one of our hardest workers on our team,” said Smith of Pupke, who registered 44 goals and 16 assists during her final high school season at Seaford in 2019. “She’s a great person and a great teammate and brings a lot of energy to our practices.”

Hofstra will host William & Mary in its CAA opener this Friday, March 22 at 5 p.m. before returning home Sunday to face Elon at noon. The Pride will also

host Monmouth on April 12 at 5p.m. and close the conference schedule on April 27 versus Drexel at noon. The remaining road league schedule is highlighted by an April 21 visit to Long Island rival and defending CAA champion Stony Brook at noon.

“Every game that you play is a backyard brawl and anyone can win on any given day in our conference,” Smith said. “I’m just super excited for the journey that we’re about to go on with our team for conference play.”

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications Grad student Taylor Mennella is off to a sizzling start for the Pride with 29 points through seven games.

Redshirt freshman Nikki Mennella has found the back of the net 16 times already this spring.

Exhibit celebrates local Black Artists at Westbury Arts

BY ANTHONY JOHNSON

Special to the Herald

In celebration of the Long Island Black Artist Association’s 55th anniversary, Westbury Arts is the host of an exhibition that highlights more than five decades of talent from local artists.

Several members of the association from across Long Island were present Feb. 4 to commemorate the occasion and launch the exhibition.

Westbury resident Marcia OdleMcNair has been a member of the Long Island Black Artist Association for two years. She also sits on Westbury Arts’ board of directors, a position which allowed her to write a proposal for the venue to host the exhibition.

“There’s still lifes, representational art, abstraction, ink works, and watercolors,” Odle-McNair said. “There’s everything. We all come together.”

The association was founded in 1968 by artists James Counts, Ernest Snell, Raymond Miles and Charles Winslow.

ist Association, which covers the counties of Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk. When holding meetings for the group, he positions all members to sit in

“Putting everyone in a circle allows people to recognize that they each have an equal space,” he said. “They each have something to offer, and we can share information and learn from one

The art that is displayed in the exhibition has been influenced by the per-

two pieces in the exhibition. One painting, titled “Winter Sunset,” was inspired by the former Oceanside School District art educators’ passion for nature.

“There’s something about winter that I’ve always liked,” Scott said. I just enjoy nature. I grew up in an area where we used to have lots of deer. There’s always been a lot of animals around, maybe less than there used to be. But there’s still those things that are part of nature that are around.”

Photos taken by Mary Rano, another

Philly,” and focuses on an oil refinery that she observed while stuck in traffic.

“It was 7 in the summer, and the sun was going down,” Rano said. “The light was reflecting off of the metal and pipes. It struck me as really pretty. There was something beautiful about it.”

Members also shared their reflections on what 55 years of the Long Island Black Artist Association means to them.

“We’ve lasted the test of time,” OdleMcNair said. “What I really appreciate about this group is the fellowship. There’s no judgment.”

Bisserup Jr. talked about his hopes for the future of the association.

“Part of the joy is recognizing that I’m a part of something,” he said. “My main mission is to keep the artists engaged and keep our family unit together so that we can move as a unit when it comes to exhibiting the different artworks that we have mastered.”

The Long Island Black Artist Association’s 55 Years of Black Creativity exhibition runs through March 22 at Westbury Arts.

Anthony Johnson is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local

Freeport resident Aaron L. Scott’s ‘Winter Sunset’ on display at the Long Island Black Artist Association’s exhibition.

Photos courtesy Anthony Johnson

‘I-95 at Phily’ by Mary Rano, from Freeport, being showcased at the Long Island Black Artist Association’s exhibition.

Deadline to apply for fitness center is April 5

around the country,” he said in a phone interview with the Herald. “The simple reason for this is if you give the schools the tools, it’s amazing to see what happens, and I believe that if you put a fitness center in a school, it becomes the hub of a community.”

A decade later, Steinfeld had solicited funding for fitness centers in 46 states, with only Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and New York remaining to fulfill his goal.

Ibelieve that if you put a fitness center in a school, it becomes the hub of a community.

Jake SteInfeld Baldwin

“In 2024, we are fulfilling our mission of putting fitness centers in every state of this great nation of ours, including my home state of New York,” he said in a news release. “For the last 40 years, I’ve led the charge regarding the importance of physical activity as a way to combat childhood obesity. Not only are we seeing increased academic scores, but we are also seeing confidence and self-esteem skyrocket.”

The fitness centers are financed through public-private partnerships with companies like Coca-Cola, Elevance Health and Nike, and schools apply to the fitness councils foundation. Each center is suitable for young people as well as adults, and designed for total body fitness, equipped with body weight training equipment and cardio machines.

To qualify, a school must be a public or charter school, with students between ages 9 and 14, and have 900 to 2,000 square feet of available room. Along with the application, school officials and students must submit a video illustrating the community’s culture, challenges and successes.

The deadline for a school in New York to apply for a fitness center is April 5. Winners will be announced in May.

This year, Steinfeld is collaborating with his friend

Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the National Hockey League, to add some high-profile heft to his mission of “coming home” to New York.

tion of Jake’s generosity.”

“This is all about kids,” he said. “We’re already getting so many applications from the state of New York. This is my mission, and we don’t quit, and it’s turning out to be so much fun.” Continued from page 1

“Jake has always been an industry leader in the fitness world for decades, and his DON’T QUIT! Campaign is a wonderful endeavor that the NHL is happy to participate in,” Bettman said in a news release. “Promoting exercise and healthy living is paramount, but to step up and actually provide the physical fitness centers in these communities for our young people, who might not have the opportunity, is truly a reflec-

After collaborating with governors across the country, New York was the first state where Steinfeld encountered some difficulty, finding it challenging to reach Gov. Kathy Hochul. Despite that, Steinfeld said the response from New York schools has been “sensational” since Bettman got involved instead.

Lucas, Rodriguez take it all in during performance

Continued from page 1

senior, music has always been a part of her life, listening to gospel music at church and attending Sunday school listening to the choir.

When Costello nominated her, it came as a shock.

“I knew I could sing, but I didn’t know I was that good at it,” Lucas said with a chuckle. “I would just sing for fun and think, ‘Oh, it sounds nice here and there,’ but I didn’t think that other people thought I could sing so well to the point that they thought I would deserve such an opportunity.”

Lucas auditioned as a sophomore going into her junior year but didn’t get accepted. Despite the denial, she applied again as a junior going into her senior year.

“I felt like I wasn’t as prepared last year,” she explained. “So, I was like, ‘let’s try and change that.’”

Opened in 1891, Carnegie Hall is best known for its interior, elliptical shape, extended stage and domed ceiling, which produces a sound that can’t be compared to other halls.

Lucas said that she experienced some nervousness, but when it came time to sing, she was all business.

“At that moment, when you’re standing there, everyone is there,” Lucas said. “Like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re about to do this, we’re about to sing,’ and then the conductor had us ready and we were locked in, trusting each other.”

Embracing the performance and fully immersed in the moment, Rodriguez seized the opportunity to absorb the rare and captivating sound that few are fortunate enough to experience.

“When you’re in that space (at Carnegie Hall), it is so breathtaking,” Rodriguez said. “The acoustics in that space are just one of the best that I’ve ever felt. Whenever people come together for music and in a hollow space, it’s beautiful, and the way that everything feels is incredible.”

Courtesy Jake Steinfeld the fitness centers are suitable for young people as well as adults, designed for total body fitness, with body weight training equipment and cardio machines.

Herald file photo

Baldwin High School students gabriela Lucas and mikayla rodriguez performed at Carnegie Hall last month after being nominated by Kristine Costello, Baldwin High School choral director.

STEPPING OUT

An artistic revolution on view at Hofstra Museum Unlocking the

By Danielle Schwab

Dreams collide with reality and the subconscious reigns supreme. That’s the essence of the transformative approach of the avant garde artists at the forefront of the Surrealist Movement. Inspired by André Breton’s 1924 Surrealist Manifesto in France, artists, writers and filmmakers diverged from conventional thought to explore ideas such as the unconscious and the irrational.

Step into the fascinating creativity of the surrealists at Hofstra University Museum of Art’s new exhibit “Les Visionnaires: In the Modernist Spirit.” It’s a deep dive into what became a new movement that transformed how artists moved on from rigid historical styles to invent new ways to respond to their world.

The exhibit commemorates the 100th year of the Surrealist Manifesto, which forever changed artistic practice. More than 70 works from 1924 through the 1970s — sourced from the Museum’s permanent collection and the Howard L. and Muriel Weingrow Collection of AvantGarde Art and Literature from Hofstra University Special Collections — are on view.

something powerful,” Giordano adds. “Their partnerships and collective approach captured the realities and hopes of modern society.”

She cites Salvatore Dalí’s lithograph “Untitled from Memories of Surrealism,” (a suite of 12 prints he created in 1971 reflecting on his long artistic career) as a prime example of the movement’s significance.

Rick Wakeman

Keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman is headed back on the road for one last jaunt, ‘The Final Solo Tour.’ Known for his incredible talents, sense of humor, and multitudinous back catalog, expect to hear some of his best-known hits from both his solo career and his collaborations with Yes, Bowie and more among musings and hilarious tales from his 50-plus years in the music industry. Wakeman — who has become almost as well-known for his intimate piano shows as his prog rock extravaganzas — has decided that after a decades spanning career spanning he is calling a halt to lengthy American one-man show tours, in order to concentrate on composing, recording and collaborating with other musicians. In addition to his musicianship, Wakeman has evolved into a well-loved television presenter and author, with his bawdy British wit endearing him to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

Friday, March 22, 8 p.m. $75, $5, $45, $29.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

• Now through July 26

• Saturday and Sunday, noon4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Emily Lowe Gallery, Hall, South Campus, Hempstead.

“The manifesto is important because artists from this time period are breaking away from the French Academy,” Alexandra Giordano, Hofstra University Museum of Art’s director and co-curator of the exhibit, explains. “It’s a concrete way to unify artists working in different styles. The manifesto really engages the unconscious mind, the importance of dreams and free association, the rejection of rational thought. It’s revolutionary because it’s really about the liberation of the imagination.”

• For information, and to RSVP to related events, call (516) 463-5672 or visit Hofstra.edu/ museum

Suddenly, artists whose work was tethered to the French Academy, established in 1635, realized that new modalities, mediums, and methodologies were a more appropriate way to respond to the rapidly changing world in which they lived. “Political, economic and cultural shifts inspired a new forward-thinking attitude in artists who, in turn, discovered radical innovations in aesthetic forms, techniques and content. Paris was the epicenter. Artists were drawn to the city, where a drive for pushing boundaries and sharing their transformative vision thrived,” Giordano explains in the forward to the exhibit catalog.

Jean Arp, Marc Chagall, Jean Cocteau, Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst and Joan Miró are among the 25 artists and writers represented here. Besides the artworks, first-edition books are on display including an original copy of the Surrealist Manifesto. Françoise Gilot, who had a tumultuous, decade-long partnership with Picasso and is the mother of two of his children, also figures prominently in the exhibit. Gilot had a close association with Hofstra and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1982. She was an honorary conference chair of the 1985 Hofstra Cultural Center conference “Toward a Reappraisal of Modernism,” a program on avant-garde art and literature.

The Surrealist movement emerged in response to shifting political and societal landscapes.

“You had World War I and World War II that were devastating events, but at the exact same time you had Sigmund Freud’s interpretation of dreams,” Giordano says. “All of these new ideas were being explored, juxtaposed to these scary world events. Artists were responding to it all.”

Paris became a hub for artists to collaborate — sharing ideas, living spaces, lovers, and friends.

“They show us how we can work with our peers to produce

“It reflects on the stream of consciousness with this out-of-body experience,” she says. “You have this large eye in the background, there’s a clock on the pupil and (in the forefront) there’s butterflies. It captures otherworldliness.”

Not only was a change of ideas happening at the time, but also a change of mediums.

“They focused on interdisciplinary vision using a lot of different materials,” Giordano says. “In addition to this dream-like quality and imagery, there is also this idea of collaboration for bookmaking, photography, collage, poetry, set design and film. These artists created these new ideas towards art, which was a deviation from the expected outcome.”

One of the ‘Les Visionnaires’ as they were known, was filmmaker and artist Jean Cocteau, who directed the 1946 adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast” (La Belle et la Bête). Based on the original fairytale with a surrealist twist, the film is a testament to bringing the traditional to reinvention. Visitors can view portions of the film throughout the exhibit.

As always, related programming enhances the exhibit. For those who want a more in-depth look, join Giordano for a guided exhibit tour and discussion, Tuesday, April 16, at 5 p.m. During the tour, as Giordano puts it, participants will learn all the “juicy tidbits.”

As Long Island’s only nationally accredited public-facing academic museum, Hofstra Museum is an important local resource.

“Our neighboring communities don’t realize that they don’t have to travel to New York City to see wonderful art, they can come here,” Giordano adds. “They can be nose-to-nose with important artists, and experience this beautiful art in their backyard.”

The exhibit includes Salvador Dalí’s etching and lithograph, Untitled, from Memories of Surrealism, Portfolio, 1971. A gift of Benjamin Bickerman. Also Françoise Gilot’s lithograph IX, from On the Stone: Poems and Lithographs (Sur La Pierre: Poemes et Lithographies), 1972. Courtesy of Special Collections, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, Hofstra University.

Comedy’s ‘Ivy League’

The Ivy League of Comedy arrives on Long Island with their elite brand of clever humor. Carmen Lynch (above), Ryan Reiss and Shaun Eli deliver the laughs in this fast-paced evening of stand-up. Lynch, who made it to the semi-finals of NBC’s ‘Last Comic Standing,’ is known for her deadpan delivery and riffs on life. A rising star from a bilingual family, who lived in Spain as a child, she’s appeared on a string of latenight television shows,’Inside Amy Schumer,’ and more. Funnyman Reis, also a writer-actor, began his career while attending NYU, and quickly became a favorite act on the scene. His quick wit and instant likability have made him one of the most sought-after comics on the club circuit. Eli has rightfully been called one of America’s smartest comics. Whether it’s a story about dining with a vegetarian or successfully fighting a parking ticket in criminal court, master storyteller Eli shows you that there’s hilarity in the ordinary if you approach life with a comedic warp. For just about anything he’s experienced he has hilarious stories at the ready.

Saturday, March 23, 8 p.m. $45-$50. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or (516) 323-4444.

Francois Gilot

Salvador Dali

March 27

Literary conversation

Poet-essayist Elizabeth Schmermund, who is an assistant professor of English at SUNY Old Westbury, reads from her works, as part of Hofstra University’s Great Writers Great Readings series, Wednesday, March 27, 4:30 p.m.

Her work has appeared in The Independent, Mantis, and Gyroscope Review, among other venues. Her first poetry chapbook, “Alexander the Great,” is published by Finishing Line Press. Free and open to the public. Guthart Cultural Center Theater, Axinn Library, South Campus, Hempstead. Register in advance at events.hofstra. edu or call the Hofstra Cultural Center at (516) 463-5669 for more information.

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Baldwin Troop 824 hosts its annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, Saturday, March, 23, 8-10 a.m., at Applebee’s. Enjoy pancakes, sausage, scramble eggs, coffee and juice. With raffle baskets. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased through PayPal at paypal. me/bsatroop824baldwin. 684 Sunrise Highway.

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito Mobile Office

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito is bringing his district office’s resources directly to residents by hosting mobile office hours at Baldwin Public Library, Tuesday, March 26, 2-6 p.m. Mobile office hours are an opportunity for residents to meet with D’Esposito and his staff to express their concerns, get answers to questions, and share suggestions. No reservations are required and residents are encouraged to drop in and have their voices heard in a casual and welcoming setting. 2385 Grand Ave. Visit BaldwinPL.org or call (516) 223-6228 for more information.

Spring Swing & Bazaar

Baldwin Civic Association celebrates spring at Baldwin Harbor Park, Saturday, March 30, noon-3 p.m., with Easterthemed activities. With Easter Egg Hunt, entertainment, carnival, game, food and more. Rain date is April 6. 3232 Grand Ave.

Having an event?

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, March 23, 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 adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for to register or call (516) 4849337.

Baldwin Board of Education Meeting

Baldwin Board of Education meets, Wednesday, April 17, at Meadow Elementary School. 880 Jackson St in Baldwin. For more information, call (516) 4346000.

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.

In concert

Plaza Theatrical welcomes spring with a lively tribute to The Temptations, Saturday, March 23, 7:30 p.m. Groove along with The Fellas, in their concert “Just My Imagination,” a powerful salute to the Motown icons. Enjoy all those great tunes, including “Just My Imagination,” “My Girl,” “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and more. See the concert at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre. 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Get hoppy

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes spring when it opens its doors for an after-hours celebration, “Spring EGGstravaganza,” Saturday, March 23. Peter Cottontail greets families, 6-9 p.m., with a night of engaging activities celebrating iconic symbols of the season. Children can start their evening by decorating a Cool Carrot goody bag to collect items throughout the night. Activities include the creating such spring-themed items as a Bunny Puppet Pal, How Does your Garden Grow planter, an Everywhere a Chick Chick necklace and a Spring has Sprung hat. Also test your skills in egg relay races and take part in a museum-wide scavenger hunt. All that celebration got you egghausted? Make a sweet treat to recharge your energy.

The LICM Theater hosts eye-popping performances of BubbleMania Jr. with bubbleologist Jim Napolitano (6:15, 7:05 and 8 p.m.) Sit back and witness fascinating bubble sculptures being crafted and discover soap bubble tricks, with plenty of comedy and audience interaction woven into this spell-binding show. Dancing bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, arches and a bubble fountain on display create a truly memorable performance. (Additional ticket required for theater performance.) $15 per person ($13 members); BubbleMania Jr. ticket fees are $4 with EGGstravaganza admission ($3 members). Advance tickets are recommended for this popular event. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Heart association, Anthem trains lifesavers in new CPR Debra Mulé celebrates Read Across America Day

The Elevance Health Foundation worked with both the American Heart Association and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield recently to train neighbors in Nassau County with hands-only CPR.

“Most people feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they don’t know how to perform CPR, or they may be afraid,” said Wendy Dominguez, community outreach manager for Anthem, in a release. “But the training and education provided can help people acquire a comfort level and confidence with performing CPR, which may make the difference for someone they know or love.”

Hands-only CPR has two steps: When you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, dial 911. After that, push hard and fast in the center of their chest — to a rhythm of about 100 to 120 beats per minute — until help arrives.

Elevance, Anthem and the heart association delivered more than two-dozen kits to their community service center on Fulton Avenue in Hempstead. Each kit included a mannequin and instructional video to practice compression skills.

Joining in the training included the Nassau County Office of Hispanic

Affairs, Hispanic Counseling Services, Betty’s Breast Cancer Foundation, Circulo de la Hispanidad, and Family First Community Center.

More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital each year in the United States, and some 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests due, according to the heart association.

CPR — especially if performed immediately — could double or triple a person’s chance of survival. Yet, less than half of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims receive CPR from a bystander.

“With about 70 percent of cardiac arrests occurring at home, a person will likely be trying to save the life of someone they know and live if they’re called on to perform hands-only CPR,” said Lidi Flores, a community relations representative for Anthem. “The American Heart Association urges the public to get trained in CPR because we need more lifesavers in our communities to be prepared to take action if they see a person suffer a cardiac emergency.”

To learn more about the Nation of Lifesavers initiative as well as handsonly CPR, visit Heart.org/nation.

In celebration of Read Across America Day, Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé celebrated by reading to a thirdgrade class at New Visions Elementary School in Freeport on March 14.

“It’s inspiring to see young minds eager to explore the world of books,” Mulé wrote in a newsrelease. “Thank you to everyone at New Visions Elementary School for inviting me to join this special day!”

Mulé represents the 6th Legislative District, which encompasses, Baldwin, Roosevelt, South Hempstead, Freeport and Oceanside.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Office of Debra Mule Nassau County Legislator Debra Mule read to a third-grade class at New Visions Elementary School in Freeport.

Public Notices

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

Court at

Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 2, 2024 at 3:00PM,

known as 964 Lydia Place, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain

Ralph Madalena, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the

175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: February 8, 2024

For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 145104

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. LUTHER NICHOLAS A/K/A LUTHER M. NICHOLAS, Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 31, 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 April 10, 2024 at 4:00 p.m., premises known as 896 School Drive, North Baldwin a/k/a Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 36, Block 508 and Lot 15. Approximate amount of judgment is $281,125.47 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #612280/2022. Cash will not be accepted. 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.

Melissa D. Mohan, Esq., Referee

Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff 145288

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON, F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR NOVASTAR

MORTGAGE FUNDING

TRUST, SERIES 2005-2, NOVASTAR HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-2, V. AGRIPINA HERNANDEZ, ET AL.

INTEREST TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR NOVASTAR MORTGAGE FUNDING

TRUST, SERIES 2005-2, NOVASTAR HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-2 is the Plaintiff and AGRIPINA HERNANDEZ, 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 April 11, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 2614 MILBURN AVE, BALDWIN, NY 11510: Section 0054, Block 00211-00, Lot 00034: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT BALDWIN, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 609620/2017. David W. Graber, 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. 145296

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR SC PARK LANE II TRUST 2019-1, Plaintiff, vs. 134TH BUYERS GROUP, LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order

357 and Lots 837 and 835. Approximate amount of judgment is $884,143.74 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 615605/2019. 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.

Peter L. Kramer, Esq., Referee (516)510-4020 Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.

191959-1 145286

1.Releasing and discharging the Petitioner from all liability, responsibility and accountability as to all matters set forth in the account of proceedings;

2.Allowing the commissions of the Petitioner in the amount of $ 8,069.62 pursuant to SCPA 2307(1) and the reasonable and necessary expenses of the office in the amount of $ 1,767.41 pursuant to SCPA 1207(4);

3.Fixing and determining the attorney’s fees and disbursements of Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC attorney for petitioner in the amount of $ 29,924.19 as and for legal fees and $ 1,051.62 as and for disbursements, for a total of $ 30,975.81, of which $ 5,975.81 has been paid and $ 25,000.00 is unpaid;

4.Fixing and determining the accounting fees of Grassi & Co, CPA’s, PC in the amount of $ 6,950.00, of which $ 950.00 has been paid and $ 6,000.00 is unpaid;

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR MFRA TRUST 2014-2, Plaintiff, vs. MAUDLYN DIXON, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order

Said premises are sold subject to the terms and conditions of the filed Judgment and the Terms of Sale. Approximate amount of Judgment $458,613.61.

Dated: Garden City, New York

March 4, 2024

JANE SHRENKEL, ESQ., Referee

Adam E. Mikolay, P.C.

LEGAL NOTICE

Baldwin Union Free School District 960

Hastings Street

Baldwin, New York 11510

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to:891 Hastings ST. Baldwin , NY 11510 Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity.

145070

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated September 12, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR IN

Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 30, 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 April 9, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1130 Van Buren Place, Baldwin a/k/a Baldwin Harbor, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54, Block

LEGAL NOTICE

SURROGATE’S COURT, NASSAU COUNTY CITATION

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,

By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO:New York State Office of the Attorney General

Claudette Clark

Eugene Manzione

Jean Lisa

Grassi & Co. Jasper Surety and any and all unknown persons whose names or parts of whose names and whose place or places of residence are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained, distributees, heirs-at-law and next-ofkin of the said Paulette Planchechmela , deceased, and if any of the said distributees named specifically or as a class be dead, their legal representatives, their husbands or wives, if any, distributees and successors in interest whose names and/or places of residence and post office addresses are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained.

A petition having been duly filed by Public Administrator of Nassau County, who is domiciled at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York 11501.

YOU ARE HEREBY CITED

TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Nassau County, at 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York, on April 24, 2024, at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, why the account of Public Administrator of Nassau County, a summary of which has been served herewith, as Administrator of the estate of Paulette Planchechmela, should not be judicially settled.

[X] Further relief sought (if any):

5.Releasing and discharging the surety;

6.Directing each of you claiming to be a distributee of the Decedent to establish proof of your kinship, and show cause why the balance of said funds should not be paid to said alleged distributees upon proof of kinship or deposited with the New York State Comptroller on account for the unknown next of kin of Paulette Planchechmela, decedent, should said alleged distributees default herein or fail to establish proof of kinship; and

7.Granting such other and further relief as to the Court is just and proper.

Dated, Attested, and Sealed, February 28, 2024 (Seal)

HON. HON. MARGARET

C. REILLY

Surrogate s/ Debra Keller Leimbach

Chief Clerk

Signature of Attorney Richard T. Kerins, Esq.

Print Name of Attorney Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC

Firm

Name(516) 538-1111

Telephone 254 Nassau Blvd. South, Garden City South, New York 11530

Address rkerins@mmkolaw.com

Email (optional)

NOTE: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you, and you or your attorney may request a copy of the full account from the petitioner or petitioner’s attorney. 145276

Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 31, 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 April 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 764 Allwyn 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 Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54, Block 575 and Lot 11. Approximate amount of judgment is $400,108.55 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #614087/2019. 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.

Mary Ellen Divone, Esq., Referee

Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 171801-2 145284

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF NASSAU.

WISDOM VENTURES LLC, Plaintiff, v. FONSECA DEVELOPMENTS LLC, et al., Defendants. Index No. 606392/2022

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale granted herein on May 8, 2023, I the undersigned, the Referee in said Judgment named, will sell at public auction at the North side steps of the Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, County of NASSAU, State of New York on April 15, 2024 at 2:30 pm of that day, the premises directed by said Judgment to be sold and therein described as follows: Said premises being known as and by street address 3350 COLONY DRIVE, BALDWIN, NY 11510 Section 54 Block 348 Lot 25-26

Attorney for Plaintiff 400 Garden City Plaza Suite 405 Garden City, New York 11530 516-222-2050 145398

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 3/27/2024 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED

STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.

211/24. BALDWIN - Marie Destine, Mother/Daughter Res. (2nd Kitchen)., S/W cor. Milburn Ave.& Pacific St., a/k/a 3110 Milburn Ave.

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

This notice is only for new cases in Baldwin within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available a t https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video

Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 145547

On behalf of a cooperative of school districts in Nassau County, the Board of Education of the Baldwin Union Free School District, Baldwin, New York, in accordance with Section 103 of General Municipal Law, hereby invites the submission of sealed bids from reputable and qualified contractors for the provision of labor and materials for the following contract: Cooperative Bid for General Roofing Repair Bid Opening March 25th 2024 at 11:00am Bids will be received for use in the abovereferenced school districts up until hour of prevailing time and date as stated above at the Baldwin UFSD Business Office, 960 Hastings Street Baldwin NY 11510, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained at the Facilities Office or via e-mail request to randazzor@baldwinschoo ls.org.

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or to accept that bid which, in the Board of Education’s judgment, is in the best interest of the Baldwin Union Free School District.

Bids must be presented on the standard proposal form in the manner designated and as required by the specifications. All bids must be enclosed in sealed envelopes which are clearly marked on the outside:

“Baldwin Union Free School DistrictCooperative Bid for General Roof Repair” Bids shall remain firm for a period of forty five (45) days following the date of the bid opening.

Each Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities in or to reject any or all bids, or to accept that bid which, in the Boards of Education’s judgment, is in the best interest of the School District. The Boards of Education further reserve the right to consider experience, service, and reputation in the above referenced fields. In addition, the Boards of Education further reserve the right to consider the financial responsibility and specific qualifications, set forth in the bid specifications, of the prospective bidder in evaluation of the bids and award of contracts.

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Baldwin Union Free

District By: Pamela Pratt, District Clerk This

Cooperative bid.

Golf courses added to Lifetime Liberty Pass

Disabled veterans to receive extra perks around Town of Hempstead

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The Town of Hempstead officials announced a new program Monday at the Merrick Golf Course that will allow qualifying, disabled veterans to play golf for free, at courses throughout the township.

The resolution was adopted at the Town Board meeting on March 12 and was officially launched Wednesday.

Joined by local veterans, golf enthusiasts and representatives from the Metropolitan PGA Foundation, Town Supervisor Don Clavin and other members of the Town Board, shared the details of the program. Representatives from PGA HOPE — which stands for Helping Our Patriots Everywhere — were also present.

PGA HOPE is an adaptive golf program offered to veterans free of charge, to introduce to them to the game in effort to enhance their overall quality of life. While the program is open to all veterans, it is geared specifically towards those suffering with disabilities.

In the Town of Hempstead, there are two golf courses — a 9-hole course in Merrick, and an 18-hole course in Lido Beach. Each course has a driving range. Veterans currently pay $10 for every round of weekday golf, and $12 on the weekends. Non-veterans pay $20 on weekdays, and $23 on weekends.

“A number of our veterans have pointed out a great program in New York state called the Lifetime Liberty Pass, and it gives an added bonus for veterans who have a disability of 40 percent or more,” Clavin said. “I’m happy to announce that after the advocacy of our wonderful veterans, and of course Town Board members, we’ll be passing legislation where we will be adding the town facilities, particularly our golf courses, to the Lifetime Liberty Pass.”

The Lifetime Liberty Pass permits qualified New York state veterans with disabilities discounted use of state parks, historic sites and recreational facilities. It includes free vehicle entry to most state parks and other facilities.

To qualify, a veteran must reside in the state and have a 40 percent or greater service-connected disability, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans who have been awarded an allowance by the feder-

al government towards the purchasing of an automobile because of their disability at any time in their life may also be eligible.

Once the pass is issued, it never expires.

“This is a piece of legislation that makes sense,” Clavin said. “How do you say thank you to the men and women who put their lives out there? And now for those who have disabilities — they want to enjoy our town facilities, and they will.”

Town Councilman Dennis Dunne, who represents Levittown and parts of Bellmore, East Meadow, Merrick, Sea-

Public Notices

ford and Wantagh, played a major part in introducing the program to the board. A United States Marine Corps veteran, who served in the Vietnam War, Dunne has been at the forefront of advocating for veterans while in public office. He was previously a Nassau County legislator, before his appointment to the Town Board in 2017.

“If you have a 40 percent disability or more, you’re entitled to this free pass,” he said. “We’re including our golf courses in it, which means a lot, because (there’s) a short period of time in our lives where we’re going to be able to physically play golf without the pain.

This is for the guys and gals that are serving right now, and the guys and gals that have served, that still have the ability to get out on the course.”

Dunne said the program is all about helping people.

“I love what we’re all about — helping people, helping disabled (people) and especially helping the men and women who served our country,” he said.

Clavin said veterans who want to apply for the pass must also go through the state. Visit ParksNY.gov/Admission/Lifetime-Liberty-Pass.aspx for more information on the program and to learn how to apply.

“We’re working very closely with the state,” Clavin said. “If anybody ever has a question, where to get it from the state, you can talk to any of our teams at any of our town facilities, and we’ll direct you there.”

Clavin said the program is just one small part of what the Town of Hempstead has done, and will continue to do for veterans.

“We can never do enough to thank our vets,” he said. “This is just a small step and if anybody has any other ideas about what we should be doing more of, we always will embrace it.”

For more on the town’s golf courses, visit HempsteadNY.gov/274/Golf-Courses.

Jordan Vallone/Herald photos

Town Supervisor Don Clavin recently announced a new program at Town of Hempstead golf courses, allowing veterans with disabilities to play golf for free.

The program is made possible through the New York state Lifetime Liberty Pass, which allows disabled veterans to use state parks and other facilities for free. Town Councilman Dennis Dunne, a Vietnam War veteran, spoke on the benefits of the program.

Members of the Town Board were joined by local veterans, golf enthusiasts and representatives from the Metropolitan PGA Foundation at the Merrick Golf Course on March 11.

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We asked for a variance and were turned down

Q. After a lot of delays, due partly to Covid, we were turned down for a zoning variance and are wondering what to do. We have a café that has been operating for over 20 years, which we bought from a couple who were retiring, and everything seemed to be legal. Our building department told us that we needed a variance because we didn’t have enough parking, and that we had 20 seats instead of 12. Twelve seats was a takeout, but these days, if you don’t have enough seats, you won’t stay in business very long. So we asked for a variance, and we were turned down. Also, our plans didn’t show that we do have parking on the street, and use a public lot and some other businesses nearby. What can you tell us about our situation? We don’t want to lose our location, and anything we do will need plans, and we realize our architect had never dealt with this before.

A. As common as this problem is, you would need to appeal your case by filing for the appeal with the court, with an attorney, within 30 days, in what is referred to as an Article 78. In order to make your case, you would need accurate plans, plus what you already have, the minutes of your hearing for an attorney to review, plus any documentation you already had through the process of the building application over all the time you described.

Ask The Architect

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Celebrating L.I.’s rich Irish-American heritage s

t. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, but there is much more to this annual holiday than just the vibrant green decorations, festive parades, pints of beer and corned beef. It is an opportunity to celebrate the rich tapestry of Irish-American heritage, deeply woven into the fabric of Long Island and its communities.

The journey of Irish immigrants and their descendants is a narrative of resilience, contribution and cultural vibrancy. The Long Island portion of that history stretches back centuries, marked by waves of newcomers who left their homes in search of the American dream.

The potato famine in the 19th century led nearly 800,000 Irish immigrants to travel across the Atlantic in search of new opportunities in the United States. Many entered through Ellis Island before finding their way to Long Island, drawn by construction and agricultural work.

Many of those new pioneers faced adversity and discrimination because of their heritage, their religion, and their immigrant status. Still, they persevered, carving out a place for themselves in their adopted homeland.

Legal immigrants make our economy stronger

To the Editor:

The letter from Joseph Varon, “Immigrants make our economy stronger,” in the March 7-13 issue, asks us to “stop the anti-immigrant rhetoric.” What anti-immigrant rhetoric?

Americans, personally, and the United States, officially, are very immigrant-friendly. For many years, the U.S. has admitted hundreds of thousands of immigrants each year, issuing them green cards, which grant permanent residency, and if you want, you can become a citizen in five years, as long as you don’t commit a felony — sooner if you marry an American citizen or serve in the military. That’s an admission policy unmatched by any other country.

Members of my family and my wife’s family have married immigrants. A legitimate case can be made for raising the limit on immigrants due to America’s decreasing birth rate.

I hear no complaints about legal immigrants — only about the illegals and the unvetted, let in, regardless of the costs of housing them and the brutality of the crimes committed, by an administration bent on countering the population loss of blue states caused by their irresponsible fiscal policies. It’s an exodus that would otherwise cause these states a loss of congressional seats and Electoral Col -

Their legacy and contributions to Long Island’s growth and development span many generations, shaping the landscape and leaving an indelible mark on the region’s cultural identity. From building the infrastructure that connects communities, to establishing businesses and institutions, Irish-Americans played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of Long Island.

St. Patrick’s Day serves as a poignant reminder of this heritage. It is a day when people come together to honor their Irish roots and celebrate the legacy of those who came before them. The festivities are a testament to the enduring spirit, camaraderie and pride that characterizes the community. Parades wind through the streets. Music fills the air. And traditional Irish fare delights the senses, adding to an atmosphere of joy and unity.

Beyond the revelry of the holiday, Long Island is home to a vibrant tapestry of Irish-American cultural organizations, events and businesses that enrich the community year-round.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians — the oldest Irish-Catholic fraternal organization in the country — boasts numerous divisions across Nassau and Suffolk

counties. Long Island is also home to several Irish dance troupes and Gaelic sports clubs. They preserve tradition, and foster a sense of belonging among generations of Irish-Americans, providing avenues for cultural expression, education and camaraderie, and ensuring that the legacy of Irish heritage continues to thrive.

Local businesses also play a crucial role in promoting Irish-American culture, offering cuisine, crafts and products that pay homage to the traditions of the Emerald Isle.

Whether it’s a cozy pub serving up a hearty Irish stew or a shop brimming with Celtic jewelry and knick-knacks, these establishments serve as ambassadors of Irish culture, inviting many to experience all that Ireland has to offer without ever leaving home.

Although this year’s St. Patrick’s Day is now behind us, let us not forget all of the contributions and traditions of Irish-Americans that resonate throughout our communities every day.

So, a toast to all of the pioneers who paved the way. The traditions that bind us together. And the legacy of IrishAmerican heritage on Long Island. Sláinte!

lege votes.

The “billions” in taxes quoted, unfortunately, are buying more people in to failing systems that will pay out even more billions than are paid in. I fail to see a hero in one who puts in a dollar and takes out two.

And the illegal ones are costing us dearly

To the Editor:

Joseph Varon’s letter sang the praises of immigration and why we shouldn’t look down on it. yes, the greatest country

opInIons Whose are the votes that count?

In the United States, there are elections because of our Constitution.

There is political bantering over everything, including whether the U.S. is much of a democracy or not.

But make no mistake, starting from the Declaration of Independence, when Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed,” the vote has always been important, and who, what, when, where, why and how people vote has always been controversial.

wIm LaVen

country for a long time. The practice predates the establishment of the U.S., was common practice until 1926, when it was banned state by state, and was not explicitly prohibited by federal law until the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. State laws for non-federal elections still vary, and there are states where illegal immigrants can vote for local and state offices and referenda.

stution mean what it appears to say, or can legal experts manipulate the language and obfuscate it out of practical application?

The challenge is real. On one hand, we have legal requirements that must balance competing values and principles. On the other, we have clear interests and desires, and people regularly disagree about what they want.

afe states receive little campaign attention, and in 2020 there were 33 safe states.

There is no shortage of questions about electoral politics.

Speaking with a friend recently, I heard about a supposed plot to steal the election by allowing immigrants to vote. It struck me for both how unremarkable the claim was (complaints about immigrants and illegal immigrants voting are common — Former President Donald Trump and others have complained regularly since 2016), and how ignorant of history such claims are.

Alien suffrage — the voting of noncitizens — was the norm for most of the

Then there are the cases about whether states can remove Trump from the ballot. Politics changed after the Civil War. In a nutshell, the arguments being made to keep Trump off the ballot use rules put in place to prevent officials of the Confederacy from attempting to return to elected office, because they could not be trusted to honor sworn oaths.

It is not some liberal conspiracy: In Colorado, six voters — four Republicans and two unaffiliated — brought a lawsuit. The lead plaintiff is a 91-year-old Republican, Norma Anderson, who said, “Our democracy is too precious to let a Donald Trump be president and destroy it.”

It’s easy to forget that Trump v. Anderson is a test of legal principles. Does the 14th Amendment of the Consti-

Letters

in the world, the USA, became that because so many of its citizens are immigrants, or children of immigrants. They came mostly from civilized countries, and came legally.

With the Industrial Revolution booming, America needed skilled and unskilled workers, and they came in droves. Most were checked over at Ellis Island, and all were required to become citizens. Yes, we quarantined the sick for a couple of weeks, in not the most luxurious accommodations, but it worked.

We do not need the number and the caliber of those coming across our borders in illegal fashion. We don’t need the crime, and we don’t need what they turn our cities into. We can’t afford to clean up the world, and we aren’t all in desperate need of gardeners, but rather skilled welders, carpenters, etc.

Having these illegal immigrants among us costs us money, and destroys our school systems. They don’t even try to blend in — they dress, act and expect us to learn their culture. Sometimes the raw truth hurts, but they are the only ones benefiting from their crime of crossing our borders illegally.

Politicians? Guilty.

ROBERT CASAlE Glen Head

We thought Randi was gone

To the Editor:

My wife and I, loyal readers of the Merrick Herald, are among Randi Kreiss’s biggest fans, and we were thoroughly dismayed when we thought she disappeared last year. But a letter to the editor in the Feb. 29-March 6 issue, “At your library, borrow a book — or a telescope,” which mentioned her column on libraries, made us realize that Randi is still here!

We have now read all her monthlies since she started them in September. What an ordeal she and her husband have been through. We wish both of them all the best, and are beyond delighted that Randi’s observations on our society, her humor, her book recommendations, and her overall words of wisdom can continue to be part of our lives.

KARIN SPENCER & MARISA HOHEB Merrick

Ideally, we would be able to trust in due process, but the Supreme Court is now stacked. A quick review of several landmark cases in our history showcases the Court’s appalling willingness to allow the prejudicial restriction of rights and freedoms at times, depending on its makeup.

Why should anyone expect fair judicial review from justices who’ve lied about things like reproductive rights?

Our presidential election is a practice unlike any other. Candidates compete for electors, and the candidate who wins the popular national vote may not win the election. Hillary Clinton beat Trump by 2.8 million votes in 2016, but lost the Electoral College vote, and four others have lost the popular vote but won election: John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison and George

W. Bush.

More and more, I wonder whose votes count. If you measure voter importance by attention from candidates, you discover a hyper-focus on swing states. It makes sense that candidates spend their time trying to earn the votes of voters who will make the most difference. The closer the polling, the more attention the geography will receive. But safe states receive virtually no campaign attention, and in 2020 there were 33 safe states.

It’s winner-take-all, and it’s good to be a winner. I just fear that this all further drives the polarization that is tearing our social fabric apart.

There are many voices expressing legitimate grievances and fears about a candidate who has declared an interest in being a dictator. It’s worth remembering that when We the People disagree, we can petition the government and force change. If we decide that we want all our votes counted equally, we can demand an end to the Electoral College. If we want to keep insurrectionists off the ballot, we can demand that Congress enforce the 14th Amendment.

People power will always win. But it has to be exercised, not simply left on the table for others to grab.

Wim Laven, Ph.D., syndicated by PeaceVoice, teaches courses in political science and conflict resolution.

Framework by Tim Baker