Baldwin Herald 06-08-2023

Courtesy Richard Brodsky

First

Two dangerous diseases, and five marathons

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

Within a span of five years, Richard Brodsky was diagnosed with two life-threatening illnesses, which inspired him to help others. Since 2014, he has been doing that with a 5K race for a special cause in Baldwin.

In 1997, Brodsky, of Atlantic Beach, was told he had HIV, and began taking AIDS medication, which he takes to this day. Then, in 2002, he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, but after undergoing months of treatment, he felt well enough to run the 2003

New York City Marathon. Brodsky, a one-time architect who’s now 70, realized he was extremely fortunate for the medical care he received, and wanted to give back to those in poorer countries with weaker health care systems.

In 2004, he organized the World AIDS Marathon in Mbita, Kenya. The proceeds went to an AIDS orphanage there for children who had lost one or both parents to HIV or AIDS. Brodsky said that he always wanted to host a marathon in Africa, because that’s where AIDS is most common, and he wanted to raise aware-

Continued on page 8

Coming together after some badly timed lousy weather

Following months of planning and two rainouts, 1,500 gather at Grand Baldwin Festival

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

The Community Coalition of Baldwin worked around the clock to bring Baldwin’s biggest festival back after it was postponed last October.

Claudia Rotondo, the coalition’s founder and co-chair, shrugged off the ill-timed rainout in the fall — and another one last month — and made clear that the Grand Baldwin Festival still succeeded in bringing the community together on May 21.

The idea for the festival

dates back to 2011. Rotondo, the director of the Baldwin Council Against Drug Abuse, a drugprevention and awareness agency focused on teaching students about substance abuse, wanted to join a communitywide group, but there was none like what she was looking for in Baldwin at the time. So she sent out invitations to churches, fraternal organizations, PTAs — even groups of medical professions — and invited them to help her create a coalition that would have greater impact in Baldwin, and strengthen residents’ pride in the hamlet.

“One of the purposes with the coalition is to bring people together, so that people have a sense of belonging,” Rotondo said, “and that’s how the coalition got born.”

As the director of the Council Against Drug Abuse, she wanted the new organization to help prevent community members from turning to substance abuse. She hoped that people could turn to other people for comfort instead of drugs.

“At a coalition meeting,” she recalled, co-chair “David Viana said, ‘Let’s highlight the community and let’s bring the com-

munity together. David and I had ideas that just meshed, and this was how the festival was born.” It was Viana’s idea, she emphasized.

The festival made its debut in 2019, behind the Baldwin Public Library, in conjunction with the library’s 50th anniver-

sary celebration.

“They had somebody at the door, clocking people in, and about 3,000 people were in the library,” Rotondo recounted.

“And I’m assuming that more people showed up to the festival throughout the day.”

Continued on page 14

RIcHaRD BRoDsky wITH his wife, Jodi, at a marathon they ran in Miami in 2016.

Are you an ambivert?

As with any dual classification system (smart-stupid, shy-outgoing), most people don’t definitively fit into one category - even if others believe they do. You may be a smart psychologist, yet a really stupid physicist. (Umm, do you imagine I’m talking about me?) Or, you may be shy in one environment, yet outgoing in another.

Personality traits exist on a spectrum. It’s true that some people fall closer to the extremes, most of us, however, are somewhere in the middle. Hence, though others may perceive you as an extrovert, you alone – since you know what’s going on inside of you – may identify as an introvert.

It could be that:

■ You enjoy being social. You like spending time with friends. But every night? Not a chance. It’s simply too much people time, not

enough alone time.

■ You may be enjoying yourself, still yakety, yak, yak talk drains your energy. As the conversation goes on, you’re thinking about how to make a quick exit. Calm environments appeal to you.

Person to Person

you don’t have many friends like extroverts do. Only a few friends, but that’s fine with you. You don’t need lots of people in your life; two or three special friendships will do.

Yet you know in many social situations, you prefer to be quiet, as you’re really more of an introvert.

Baldwin High School, Brookside Elementary are collaborating

Loud noise, frenetic energy, and lots of people overwhelm you.

■ You often feel anxious before an event, worrying about who will be there, who to talk to, what to wear, etc. This anxiety may stretch out to the event itself. Yet, as the event progresses, you usually warm up to people. When people respond positively to you, you relax and reveal more of the extraverted part of your personality.

■ Though you like people,

■ When people cancel plans, you often feel more relieved than disappointed. You now have free time. No worries about the details of getting together. Now you’ll have time to be alone or have quiet time with that special someone in your life.

■ When you’re with people you’re comfortable with, chatting away on topics you’re interested in, you’ll appear to be an extrovert. You may even enjoy being the center of attention, as some conversations energize you.

If you’re relating to my description of introverts that people think are extroverts, know there’s a word that describes you. No, it’s not confused or befuddled. It’s an ambivert. Not an introvert or an extrovert but someone in the middle. An excellent place to be, I believe, since those who occupy the extremes create problems for themselves and others. So smile, you ambivert! And appreciate who you really are!

©2023

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

Baldwin High School students in the Education Academy collaborated with the second graders at Brookside Elementary School on a special project.

The elementary school students were first asked to draw a character from a book they were reading based on descriptive language, or adjectives. The second graders drew a picture of their characters by interpreting that descriptive language and sketching what they envisioned.

Their drawings generated a list of internal and external character traits. These sketches and traits were then shared with the Baldwin High School’s Early Childhood Education class taught by Christina Reilly to create character dolls.

“This project was significant in that this shows our elementary school students that their ideas can come to life if they share their ideas and vision,” explained Reilly.

“As for the high school students, this validates the power of their mentorship as they begin to explore the field of education. They saw firsthand the positive impact their work had on the young elementary school students.”

— Ben Fiebert

Linda Sapadin

Pre-pandemic strength, character found at parade

Some 2,000 people joined Memorial Day Parade that took over Grand Avenue

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

Between 1,100 and 1,200 people participated in this year’s Memorial Day Parade that took place on Monday, May 29.

The parade has been a staple in the Baldwin community since the 1930s. Elected officials, students from Baldwin schools, and community members all showed up on the morning of May 29 to express their appreciation for those who died while fighting for the U.S. The American Legion Post number 246 hosted this parade, as they have done so for over 80 years.

“The parade kicked off right on time at 9:50 a.m.,” Immediate Past-Commander of the Baldwin American Legion said. “It started up near the North Baldwin post office on Grand Avenue.”

The march continued down Grand Avenue, across Sunrise Highway, then over Merrick Road to Silver Lake Park where the parade ended. Then at the park, there was a ceremony, which included a Memorial Day speech by Post Officers, elected officials, musical performances by Baldwin High School students, and recognition of military officers. At the ceremony, special awards were given to the Boy Scout Troops 824 and 182, Baldwin schools, houses of worship, organizations, and Baldwin individuals.

“In addition to the bands, there were a lot of patriotic music that was playing down the route of the parade,” Fare said. “The Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and the Baldwin Republican Club joined together to hand out flags along the entire parade route, as there were people there watching the parade.”

At the ceremony, there was a ceremonial flag folding, where volunteers of the 11th regiment of New York explained the importance of the 13 folds of the American flag. Along with the flag folding, those volunteers participated in a gun salute.

Fare mentioned that these volunteers have been working with the Baldwin American Legion for years now and they do military honors for services all over Nassau County.

Fare was picked by the American Legion Post to serve as the Grand Marshal at the parade this year. He said he was “honored” to be chosen by the post. He wore a gold sash while riding in a Mustang Cobra down Grand Avenue.

“This year, a lot of people who watched our parade for years and years said that we finally got back to the strength and character from pre-pandemic,” Fare said.

ThE GRaNd MaRshall of the 2023 Baldwin Memorial Day Parade Bob Hare riding a Mustang down Grand Avenue at the Memorial Day Parade on May 29.

Maureen Lennon/Herald Photos

MEMBERs oF ThE Baldwin Fire Department, Baldwin American Legion, Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé, Baldwin Board of Education President Susan Cools, and in the center is Ginny Foley, who was honored at the Memorial Day ceremony.

BaldwIN Boy scouTs Troop 824 marching in the Memorial Day Parade.

sTEElE school sTudENTs walking in the parade.

Hempstead town supervisor

Don Clavin, right, with Baldwin resident John Buck, left, at E-Cycle event.

Don Clavin attends e-cycle and shredding event in Baldwin

Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin assisted John Buck of Baldwin during the Town of Hempstead E-Cycle and Shredding Program on May 7 at North Woodmere Park.

All televisions, computers, computer components — including cables, cords, and wiring — monitors, tablets, e-readers, electronic keyboards, mice, fax machines,

scanners, printers, VCRs, DVRs, DVD players, digital converter boxes, cable or satellite receivers, electronic and video game consoles and portable digital music players are accepted for E-Cycling. For more information about upcoming E-Cycling events, visit HempsteadNY. gov/225/E-Cycling.

Officials attend Little League opening day

Hempstead Town Councilwoman Laura Ryder and Town Clerk Kate Murray greeted members of the Orioles team during the Baldwin Little League opening day Ceremony on May 6 at Baldwin Park.

–Ben Fiebert

Courtesy Mike Russo

Courtesy Greg Blower

Students take top prize in Spark! challenges

Students in Baldwin High School’s Medical & Health Sciences Academy won first place in the Northwell Health Spark! Challenge video competition.

The district competed against at least 58 schools across Long Island. This year’s project theme was “Raising Health Through Career Pathways.” Each team chose a specific career to highlight and then was required to create a poster and a video showcasing that profession. The winning Baldwin students focused on the career of a phlebotomist.

“We are extremely proud of the Baldwin High School students winning first place in Northwell Health’s annual Spark! Challenge,” said Shari Camhi, superintendent of Baldwin schools.

Baldwin High School’s Phlebotomist Team partnered with Natalie Barnofsky, Sr. Manager of Volunteer Activities of the New York Blood Center, for inspiration and a deeper understanding of what it means to be a phlebotomist. The students included a quote in their poster from Nicole Bryant, manager of NYBC collections, and Joelle Morris, director of NYBC Collections, who, too, shed light on the essence of phlebotomy. Their mentorship also provided insight that the team leaders used to create the script for their winning video.

At the awards ceremony, which took place at the Cradle of Aviation, several Northwell Health judges for the competition approached the Baldwin High School

students and faculty to express how impressed they were and how they enjoyed learning about the mechanisms behind a blood bank. Before the winners were announced, students participated in breakout sessions in the Cradle of Aviation to hear more about healthcare professions. They also heard from Jason Naidich, SVP Chief Innovation Officer, who was the keynote speaker at the event.

The winning Phlebotomist Team consisted of team leaders, Ayanna Gouldbourne, Thalia Kontoleon, and Kayla Bennett, and team members, Gabrielle Per-

cival, Layla Bazile, Indrawattie Raghunandan, Maranda Dhanraj, Anasja Thomas, Condeleeza Apollon, Kayla LeeSang, Darielle Miller, Melany Mendoza, Kayla Anderson, Faith Wright, and Dilpreet Kaur. Lindsey Stevens, a science and medical academy teacher, served as their advisor. Shawn Moran, teaching assistant, also provided expert advice on the students’ script, filming, and editing.

A total of two teams from Baldwin High School competed in this year’s challenge. The other team, under their advisor, Rebecca Seepersad, Baldwin High

School science teacher, chose nurse practitioner as their career to showcase. The team members consisted of Darien Ward, Sage Delone, Ian Chan, Rihanna Hodge, Solhaine Thera, Jadyn Culbreath, Neena McKenzie, Gabriela Lucas, Erinn Blanchard, Toni Smith, Taleah Cameron, Judy Lazarre, Makaila Abney, Adina Turner, Chassity Collazo, and Madison Bolds.

Throughout this competition, students were given a unique opportunity to preview various career paths

— Ben

Fiebert

Qualifying for Medicaid to Pay for Long-Term Care

$75,000 and $130,000 in assets. If the spouse at home makes more than $3,700 per month, she may have to contribute some of the excess to the spouse’s cost of care. For married couples, the residence, up to value of about $1,000,000 and one car are exempt (not counted as assets). Everyone can have a burial trust worth up to $1,500 or any amount in an irrevocable pre-paid

Community Medicaid and institutional Medicaid also differ in “look-back” and gift rules. An institutional Medicaid application asks if you transferred (gifted) any assets in the last five years, hence the “five-year look-back period.” If the answer is yes, the transfer creates a penalty period, which causes a period of ineligibility for Medicaid

Community Medicaid does not currently have a look-back period, so you may transfer assets out of your name this month and qualify for Medicaid next month. New York is considering imposing a new thirty month lookback for community care in 2024. Now is the time to act to protect your assets.

Courtesy Mary Furcht

The phleboTomisT group’s winning photo after they won first place in Northwell Health’s Spark! challenge.

OBITUARIES Julie Manck dies at 93

Julie Manck, 93, of Thaxton, Virginia, formerly of Bronx and Baldwin died on Tuesday, May 30.

Manck was a first generation American since her mother was German. Manck was born on October 28, 1929 in Manhattan. She was the only child of the late Julie Binder and Otto Brunner and lived in the Bronx for 21 years.

Manck graduated from Walton High School, then worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for nearly six years. She then was married to Edward Manck for 61 years, who preceded her in death on November 30, 2012. She also worked for the Baldwin school district for 16 years until she retired at age 65.

Manck and her husband first lived in Stuyvesanttown, New York for nearly six years. They had their three children there. Then, they lived in Baldwin for 33 years before moving to Bedford, Virginia for 28 years.

Manck is survived by her children

Richard Manck, Kenneth Manck and wife Christine, Nancy Kartowski and husband Robert, four grandchildren, Rebecca Cullop and husband Geoffrey, Christian Manck and wife Angel, Matthew Kartowski and Nicole Kartowski, one great-grand-

Clare Gehlich joins the Baldwin Herald

daughter, Arabella Cullop, cousins, Lucille De Vane — deceased — and husband Bill, Roman Binder and wife Elsbeth and their two sons, Matthias and Achim Binder of Goppingen, Germany and Walter Ohlrogge also of Goppingen, Germany, and nieces Joan Canto, Jane Colgan, and husband Ed.

Manck belonged to Thaxton Baptist Church for many years. She loved the Lord and her wonderful family.

In Baldwin, she belonged to the PTA, Homemaker’s Council, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and 4-H.

She also loved working in her garden, loved animals — especially cats and dogs —she loved crafts and handwork, crocheting, knitting, embroidery, and she loved to sing. She sang in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church choir in the Baldwin Thaxton Baptist Church choir for nine years and with the Silver Notes, a singing group in Thaxton, Virginia.

A funeral service was held at 3:00 p.m., on Sunday, June 4 at Thaxton Baptist Church with Rev. Ethan Strickler and Rev. Randy Krantz officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Family received friends one hour prior to the service.

The arrangements were made by Burch-Messier Funeral Home in Bedford.

Clare Gehlich, student from Stony Brook University, joins the Long Island Herald as an intern.

Gehlich, who is 20 and from Merrick, will be writing stories in the Baldwin Herald paper. She is looking forward to writing profiles and local features. At Stony Brook, Gehlich’s major is journalism and her minor is political science. Gehlich is also the assistant arts and culture editor at The Statesman, a newspaper at Stony Brook University.

She will bring her talent to the Herald as she works here for the next couple of months.

— Ben Fiebert

CRImE BRIEf

Man arrested after illegally entering building

Officers of the first precinct arrested Brian Guiadeen for a burglary that occurred this past Saturday at 1:00 a.m. in Baldwin.

According to detectives, officers were dispatched to the Coral House at 70 Milburn Ave. due to an activated alarm. Upon arrival, officers located Guiadeen, 24, unlawfully inside one of the dining

rooms. Guiadeen caused damage throughout the building and was arrested.

Guiadeen is charged with third-degree burglary and second-degree criminal mischief. He will be arraigned on Sunday, June 4 at First District Court, 99 Main Street in Hempstead.

UNIONDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT Our Promise

Enrolling your children in public schools provides them with the opportunity to receive a well-rounded education in a diverse and inclusive environment, with a range of programs and resources. Uniondale Public Schools are also accountable to the community and operate under strict regulations, ensuring that every child receives a quality education regardless of their background or circumstances. With highly qualified teachers, a commitment to academic excellence, and a focus on equity and inclusion, our schools offer a comprehensive education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life.

Julie Manck

Courtesy Clare Gehlich

–Ben Fiebert

The 5K AIDS and Cancer Run Walk returns on Sunday

ness of the disease.

Now, two decades since he ran his first marathon, Brodsky is still running. He enters five marathons a year, he said, and despite his illnesses and his age, he feels healthy. After doing some research, he said he is the only American he knows of with both HIV and brain cancer who runs marathons.

“The doctors didn’t think I was going to survive for more than two or four years after I was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2002,” Brodsky said. “And 21 years later, I’m still running marathons.”

He said that his drive to continue to run is fueled by the opportunity to help others.

Over the years, he estimates, he has helped save the lives of about 1,000 Kenyan orphans. He doesn’t just send money there, he said; he gets involved on the ground.

“We go there, we get to take pictures, we dance with the orphans, and we feed them,” Brodsky said. “And it’s so rewarding.”

in America?’ So that’s when we decided to sponsor our first 5K AIDS and Cancer Run Walk,” in Baldwin.

This year’s event will take place in Baldwin Park on Sunday, and participants will make their way around the part twice.

the doctors didn’t think I was going to survive for more than two or four years after I was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2002. And 21 years later, I’m still running marathons.

richard Brodsky Run Walk organizer

Brodsky used to be an architect, but gave it up after his doctor advised him to be less stressed. As his focus turned to helping others, he started the 5K AIDS and Cancer Run Walk.

“We’ve pretty much been going to Kenya every year to do marathons there,” he said. “And around 2008, people started to ask, ‘What are you doing to help people

Brodsky noted several organizations that are donating to the event — Hangout One Happy Place, the Five Towns Community Center, Harmony Healthcare Long Island, Northwell Health, Options for Community Living, Gino’s Pizza in Baldwin, and the 2162 Grand Ave. Commissar Foundation.

Just like the marathons in Kenya, all of the proceeds will go to organizations that help patients with AIDS or cancer, including the Long Island Minority AIDS Coalition and North Shore University Hospital, which are on a long list of organizations that can be viewed at RichardMBrodsky. Org.

Gala Fresh Supermarket will give $20 gift certificates to 30 Baldwin families who bring a child.

“We have a lot of really good food at the 5K,” Brodsky said. “We have Starbucks, coffee, muffins, and bagels.”

As of press time on Monday, 120 runners and walkers had registered to take part.

There will also be two people participating virtually, in Wyoming and Germany. Brodsky expected at least 200 to register by race day.

Courtesy Richard Brodsky

5K AIDS and Cancer Run Walk in Baldwin Park in 2016.

continued from front Page

SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting the Town of Hempstead (TOH) and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer.

By participating in structured project and work-based opportunities, Long Island youth are better prepared for careers of the future.

WHAT THE PROGRAM OFFERS

Career Exploration: Hone your research skills and uncover exciting new career possibilities.

Structured Work-based Opportunities: If you're a TOH and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20, you can get paid to learn about different careers and make a positive impact in your community through work-based activities.

Work Experiences: TOH and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20 can develop job readiness skills and explore diverse career pathways through paid summer jobs in various industries throughout Nassau County.

Earn Money: Don't miss out on the chance to earn money while gaining valuable experience and exploring your career options!

WORKSITE PARTNERS

Partner with the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at HempsteadWorks and provide valuable work experience to youth while expanding your business's staff at no cost. The program pays participant wages in full, so there's no financial burden on the hosting employer. As a SYEP worksite, you can play a vital role in the region's economic development and access a pool of talented, hyperlocal youth who are the future workforce.

Please review the important information below for details on this summer's program.

SYEP 2023:

Participants can work up to 30 hours per week

Rate of pay is $16 per hour, paid by the TOH Participants go through physical clearance and drug screening

Worksite Responsibilities:

Ensuring youth time and attendance procedures are followed, and the timesheets are complete and accurate Supervision of participants, along with guidance and training as appropriate Monitoring youth attendance, punctuality, and job performance

Don Clavin Supervisor

First-ever Baldwin basketball alumni game

Money raised for scholarships expected to be announced Thursday

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

Over 200 people watched 40 alums play basketball this past Saturday at Baldwin High School.

Sheree Lindsay, president of the Baldwin High School Booster Club, partnered with Darius Burton, the varsity basketball coach and Baldwin High School alum from class of 1993, to host a basketball game with alumni students dating back to 2002 to 2022. The game also collected funds for scholarships, the Booster Club, and the basketball team at Baldwin High School. The scholarship money will be announced later today at a dinner that will celebrate all Baldwin sports teams. This dinner is also hosted by Lindsay and she welcomes varsity athletes to come free of charge.

“This is the very first one of its kind, but we hope it’s the first of many,” Lindsay said about the alumni game.

Lindsay mentioned that her goal with this game was to give everyone a fun time where they can “meet up with old friends and enjoy basketball.” This is exactly what happened Saturday evening as two alumni teams, the blue team and the gold team, competed against each other. The blue team won by six points.

“The blue team were the players that graduated in even years and the gold team were the players that grad-

uated in the odd years,” Lindsay said. “It was an awesome game. The blue team won 135 to 129 and they were down by more than 25 points.”

According to Lindsay, there were some sponsors at the event. The Booster Club took care of the concession and there were raffles as well. Lindsay says that she is still counting the funds collected, but at the game, the adults were charged $10 and $5 for students as well as

children under 12.

“We are grateful to our sponsors, who helped to make this possible,” Lindsay said.

Lindsay plans on making this basketball game an annual event. Along with the basketball game, she is planning an event in the summer with the Baldwin Civic Association. She plans on it being a “back to school” event.

Cruz-Guzman honored for outstanding achievement

Melanye Cruz-Guzman of Baldwin, who attends the Nassau BOCES Adult Education Program, earned the prestigious George Farber Outstanding Student Award this year.

The award celebrates a variety of Cruz-Guzman’s remarkable attributes including passion, perseverance, enthusiasm, outstanding character, scholarship, and a willingness to help others. Board members, administrators, staff, and family were on hand to celebrate at a special ceremony earlier this spring.

Cruz-Guzman is committed to pursuing a career in dentistry. When she came to the Adult Education Program, she was attending college and already had a full schedule. Undaunted, she moved classes around in order to make room for dental assisting courses at Nassau BOCES, where she diligently dove into her studies.

She dutifully applies herself to the course content and asks insightful questions, pours over handouts in depth, and reads ahead in the text in order to better master the material. As a result, she has emerged as a class leader with test scores consistently in the 90s.

Cruz-Guzman assisted her teachers with the set up of Google Classroom, where she regularly posts her class notes. She brings her artistic talents to bear when creating her notes to include accurate color illustrations of dental anatomy, periodontal structures, dental instruments and devices, and other relevant

materials. She also translates these notes into Spanish for her classmates who are not as comfortable with the English language. She arrives early to class each day and stays after, helping to clean up when needed, putting away dental demonstration models and arranging desks.

“Ms. Cruz-Guzman is honest, diligent, compassionate and helpful, and her energy and enthusiasm are evident in everything she does. She is an outstanding student whose contribution to the class is exceptional, yet she is humble about her accomplishments and accepts praise

gratefully,” said her award nominator. “Melanye gives her all to everything I’ve ever seen her do. She is thoroughly dedicated to the field of dentistry, and I have no doubt she will be promoted throughout the course of her career. She is a passionate student, and her classmates and I are fortunate to have her.”

“Not only do these students demonstrate the very best of Nassau BOCES, each of them has also shown the true spirit of George Farber,” said James Widmer, Deputy Superintendent. “They all have passion, determination, enthusiasm,

outstanding character, scholarship, and willingness to help others. Their collective stories are an inspiration to us all.”

For the past 16 years, outstanding students have been earning this award in memory of former Nassau BOCES Board President George Farber, whose passion for improving the lives of students was surpassed only by her love and care for them. Farber was the longest-serving board member in Nassau County, having served from 1971 to 2009.

–Ben Fiebert

Courtesy Nina Green BaldwIN HIgH ScHool’S first alumni basketball game with 40 alums was hosted this past Saturday.

This is the very first one of its kind, but we hope it’s the first of many.

SHEREE lINdSay president of the Booster Club

Courtesy Office of Information at Nassau BOCES

MElaNyE cRuz-guzMaN oF Baldwin proudly displays her George Farber Outstanding Student Award, surrounded by administrators, faculty, family, and Nassau BOCES Board President Susan Bergtraum, left of Ms. Cruz-Guzman, at a recent celebration.

STEPPING OUT

by the basketful

Adventures await in local strawberry fields

By Karen Bloom

Get outside and get pickin’. Strawberry season has arrived, and those luscious berries beckon. So gather up your gang and venture out to one of the many “u-pick” growers for a day in the berry patch.

Strawberry season reaches its peak here with the transition from spring to summer, as the fruit grows and ripen throughout May and June. Of course, local is always best, so skip the California and Florida fruit from the supermarket and pick your own.

When you return with your bounty, settle in to whip up some yummy strawberry treats. These fresh gems are always terrific on their own, of course. But when used in a recipe? They’ll jazz up any meal.

in strawberry puree until blended. Pour batter into cooled pan. Bake cheesecake about 1 hour 20 minutes, or until edges are just set and center jiggles slightly. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack 5 minutes.

Stir together sour cream and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium bowl. Spread sour cream mixture on top of cheesecake in an even layer. Return to oven and bake 5 minutes longer. Turn oven off and prop the door ajar with the handle of a wooden spoon. Let cool in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven and cool completely. Place in refrigerator and chill until cold throughout, 4 to 6 hours, or overnight.

Using the remaining strawberries, halve them and arrange in concentric circles on top of cheesecake to serve.

Iris DeMent

The Americana singer-songwriter Iris DeMent visits the Landmark stage with her timeless songs blending traditional folk, country and gospel influences. With an inimitable voice as John Prine described, ‘like you’ve heard, but not really,’ and unforgettable melodies rooted in hymns and old country music, Iris DeMent is considered one of the finest singer-songwriters in America today. Praised for her storytelling and songwriting abilities, her career has spanned more than three decades, seven studio albums, and collaborations with Prine, Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle, among others. On her new record, ‘Workin’ On A World,’ DeMent faces the modern world — as it is right now — with its climate catastrophe, pandemic and epidemic of violence and social injustice — and implores us to love each other, despite our very different ways of seeing.

Friday, June 9, 8 p.m. $43, $38, $33. Jeanne Rimsky

Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444, or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble

• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1-1/2 cups sugar

• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 2 pounds rhubarb, strings removed, stalks cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices

Double Strawberry Cheesecake

A classic cheesecake takes on added flavor with the addition of some luscious berries.

Graham cracker crust

• 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 9-1/2 crackers)

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling and topping

• 16 ounces strawberries

• 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature

• 1-1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 4 large eggs

• 1 cup sour cream

Prepare graham cracker crust:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Stir graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar together in a medium bowl. Press into bottom and at least 1-inch up sides of a 9-inch non-stick springform pan (if pan is not nonstick, brush first with melted butter). Bake until crust is golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Reduce oven to 300° F.

Then prepare filling and topping:

Hull 1/2 of the strawberries and puree in a blender or food processor. You should have about 3/4 cup puree. Beat cream cheese and 1-1/4 cups sugar in an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, on low speed, beating well after each addition, and scraping sides of bowl as needed. Beat

• 4 pints strawberries, sliced

Preheat an oven to 375°F.

In a food processor, pulse together 1-1/2 cups of the flour, 3/4 cup of the sugar and the salt until combined. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs. Add the oats and pulse to combine. Transfer to a bowl.

In another bowl, stir together the rhubarb, strawberries, the remaining 1/4 cup flour, and the remaining 3/4 cup sugar. Spread the fruit filling in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Using your fingers, press the topping into large clumps and scatter it over the fruit. Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden and crisp, about 1 hour. Alternatively, divide the fruit and topping among eight 1/2-cup ramekins and bake for 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 6 to 8.

Strawberry

Smoothie

• 1 cup coconut milk (or almond milk or your preferred milk)

• 1 cup strawberries (tops removed)

• 1 banana

• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks

Combine all of your ingredients in your blender in the order that they are listed (liquid on the bottom and frozen on top). Blend until smooth.

His ‘Bronx Tale’

Chazz Palminteri is back on the Paramount stage with his solo version of ‘A Bronx Tale.’ The powerful one-man stage play depicts his bruising childhood, which included witnessing a gangland killing in the Bronx when he was 9. Palminteri plays 18 characters — friends, enemies and family all come alive on stage. ‘A Bronx Tale’ became a hit after he wrote it in 1989, and the most sought after property since ‘Rocky.’ This is the original show he wrote and performed that made him an in-demand character actor and served as the basis of the acclaimed movie and Broadway musical. In the tradition set forth in the 1970s by such icons as director Martin Scorsese and actors Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, Palminteri has brought grit, muscle and an evocative realism to the sidewalks of his New York neighborhood, violent as they are and were.

Sunday, June 11, 7:30 p.m., $99.50, $89.50, $79.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Visit Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com for tickets/information.

THE SCENE

June 23

June 8

The Bacon Brothers

That ‘Footloose’ feeling comes alive when Kevin Bacon takes to the stage, Friday, June 23, 8 p.m., as one-half of the Bacon Brothers, at The Space at Westbury. Bound by blood and a mutual love of American roots music, Michael and Kevin Bacon have spent the past quarter-century in a creative whirl, funneling their shared DNA into a genre-bending sound. They call that sound “Forosoco” — a blend of folk, rock, soul, and country influences, delivered by two songwriters who were born to collaborate — and it’s taken the siblings across the world, from shows in Japan to performances at American landmarks like Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. The Bacon Brothers turn a new page with their 11th release, “Erato,” whose five songs showcase the duo’s dynamic contrasts: quiet moments and big payoffs, organic instrumentation and electronic textures, self-penned songs and high-profile collaborations. Ticket are $45-$80; available at TheSpaceAtWestbury.com. The Space, 250 Post Ave. Westbury.

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Eye And Mind: The Shin Collection,” highlights the extraordinary collection masterworks assembled by 31-year-old connoisseur Hong Gyu Shin, an internationally recognized figure in the global art world. He shares his treasures, including works by Whistler, Lautrec, Boucher, Daumier, Delacroix, Klimt, Schiele, Balthus, Warhol, de Kooning, Gorky and many other important names from art history provocatively juxtaposed with the painting and sculpture of our own time from both Asia and the West. On view through July 9. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Sushi & African Spice Fundraiser

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and Rho Omega Zeta invites you to Sushi & African Spice, Saturday, June 10, 8-10 p.m., at Island Buffet Hibachi Grill. This event is a fundraiser to help build the Nketia Primary School in Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa. The all-you-can-eat buffet offers Chinese, Cantonese, American, and Japanese food. Selections include Ribs, BBQ Beef, Coconut shrimp, Sushi, Hibachi, salad, fruit, and dessert. 1874 Grand Ave. Tickets are $45; available atAllEvents.In/Baldwin. Call (516) 868-2888 for more information.

Passion for Pride

Support PFY, a division of Long Island Crisis Center, at a 30th Anniversary Benefit celebration, Tuesday, June 13, 6-10 p.m. With drag bingo and performances by Ivy Stalls and Syn; also special guest honoree actor-authoractivist Maulik Pancholy. The event, honoring PFY’s 30 years serving Long Island/Queens’ LGBTQ+ communities, is at Westbury Manor, 1100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury. For more information and tickets, go to tinyurl.com/pfyevent2023.

Breastfeeding Support Group

Mercy Hospital offers a peer to peer meeting for breastfeeding support and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms are welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 7052434 to secure you and your baby’s spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.

15th annual 5K AIDS Cancer Run Walk

Participate in the 15th annual 5K AIDS Cancer Run Walk Sunday, June 11. 1247 Mara Court, Atlantic Beach. For more information, call (516) 7707724.

Having an event?

Celebrate Israel

Salute Israel and celebrate the nation’s 75 years of independence, while welcoming Eisenhower Park’s summer concert season, when Sid Jacobson JCC joins the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island for IsraelFest, Sunday, June 11 Enjoy family activities, 4-6 p.m., followed by concert with Israeli pop singer-songwriter Harel Skatt, 6-8 p.m. The Long Island Cantors Ensemble also performs. Bring seating. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For more information, visit SJJCC.org/israelfest.

Baldwin Car Night

Enjoy an evening of cars, tunes, and conversation sponsored by Hook & Ladder Company Two and the Baldwin Fire Department, Thursday, June 8, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 689 Atlantic Ave. Call (516) 223-6858 for more information.

Father’s Day DIY Coasters

Decorate a set of coasters with paint pens for the special father, grandpa, or uncle in your life as a Father’s Day gift, at Baldwin Public Library, Monday, June 12, 4-4:45 p.m. 2385 Grand Ave. For information, visit BaldwinPL.org.

Whale of a Drink fundraiser

On stage

Families will enjoy another musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, June 9, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Wednesday through Friday, June 14-16, 10:15 a.m. and noon. This musical comedy adventure stars Willems’ beloved character The Pigeon, who is eager to try anything and everything. When a bus driver takes a break from the route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take the driver’s place — a pigeon. The audience is part of the action, in this innovative mix of songs, silliness and feathers. $9 with museum admission ($7 members), $12 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

‘The Beautiful and Damned’

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.

Support The Whaling Museum by participating in Sandbar restaurant’s Whale of a Drink, Whale of a Cause fundraising effort, now through June 21. Enjoy the Sandbar’s iconic cocktail, the Whalebone, and a portion of the purchase will be donated to the museum. A “mocktail” version is also available. To help promote the fundraiser, mixologist Dan Leopold will offer a mixology demonstration and Whalebone tasting at the Museum’s Whales & Ales event on June 3, 2:30-3 p.m. Funds will support the Whaling Museum’s community education programs during its 2023 summer season. 55 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor. For information, visit SandbarColdSpringHarbor.com.

Enjoy a musical interpretation of the classic novel at Westbury House, Friday, June 9, 7-10 p.m.

Before there was Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote

“The Beautiful and Damned”: a story that delves into the psychological tribulations of, at first, having everything you’ve ever wanted. What first presents itself as a beautiful love story quickly turns harrowing as the characters struggle to keep themselves afloat. As New York City tumbles into the Jazz Age, Fitzgerald’s characters tumble down a financial and psychological spiral they may never recover from. This adaptation by Long Island native Brooke Di Spirito combines Fitzgerald’s meticulously detailed novel with the elements of a stage musical: a brand new script, score, and choreography. Reservations required. $40. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

Rain delayed festival, but it proved worth waiting for

The event was canceled in 2020, amid the pandemic, and didn’t return until the fall of 2021. The plan was to bring it back at the beginning of October 2022, but it was rained out. “The remnants of Hurricane Ian drenched the entire weekend,” Rotondo said.

At that point, she explained, she couldn’t find an indoor venue that would fit all of the originally planned 100 vendors — Baldwin High School had strict insurance policies, and couldn’t be used — so coalition members decided to reschedule the event in April.

“People would ask, ‘Why don’t you just reschedule this event for next week?’” Rotondo said. “Just because it’s called a ‘pop-up’ doesn’t mean it pops up. There’s a lot of planning that goes on, and a lot of red tape.” Not to mention months of Zoom calls among coalition members.

The festival was scheduled for April 29, but it was washed out again. Rotondo and her colleagues tried to find an indoor venue for the following day, but couldn’t in time. The weather failed to cooperate yet again on May 20, but the next day — this time a planned rain date — the skies cleared, and hundreds crowded the municipal parking lot behind the library.

There were a few more headaches that morning, not quite constituting a rain delay. The storms the day before left large puddles, and it took some energetic volunteers to make them disappear before the vendors started showing up.

“My son got a team together with big brooms, and starting in the middle of the parking lot, they pushed the water out of the area,” Rotondo said. “It looked like a dance routine.”

As if that wasn’t enough, there were seven cars in the lot that had been parked there illegally overnight.

Rotondo and her team worked with local police to get them moved before the vendors began arriving.

There were a total of 75 vendors — down from the original count of 107, due to the challenges of rescheduling — but over the course of the day, an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people attended.

Some of the festival’s proceeds will fund three $500 scholarships for graduating Baldwin High School seniors who have been active community service. The coalition will use the remainder of the money to fund other community events.

Despite all the obstacles, Rotondo was glad that the festival finally took place, and said she “had a lot of fun.”

Maureen Lennon/Herald

About 75 vendors and 1,500 people showed up for this year’s festival.

one of the purposes with the coalition is to bring people together.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

Mortgage Assets Management, LLC, Plaintiff

AGAINST

Nassau County Public Administrator, as the Limited Administrator of the Estate of Marion Kelly; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

duly entered March 23, 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 June 20, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2358 Rockwood Avenue, 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 of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section: 54 Block: 465 Lot: 108 & 109. Approximate amount of judgment $543,701.60 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 011487/2014. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Glenn R. Jersey, III, Referee

LOGS Legal Group LLP

f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff

175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624

(877) 430-4792

Dated: April 13, 2023

139534

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S.

Bank National Association, as Trustee, for Residential Asset Securities Corporation, Home Equity Mortgage

Asset-Backed PassThrough Certificates, Series 2006-EMX8, Plaintiff AGAINST The

Estate of Tillie Campbell

a/k/a Tillie F. Campbell, et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

duly entered February 3, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 20, 2023 at 4:00PM, premises known as 522 Woodland Estates Drive, Baldwin a/k/a North Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and

improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York,

SECTION: 36, BLOCK: 547, LOT: 22.

Approximate amount of judgment $626,384.98 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #609161/2018. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held

“Rain or Shine”. Farshad

David Saed, Esq., Referee

Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-075709-F00 75963 139522

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S.

BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff AGAINST THOMAS BRADY, LORI BRADY, ET AL., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

duly entered July 24, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 22, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 950 WASHINGTON STREET, 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 of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION 54 BLOCK 388 LOTS 2072, 2073. Approximate amount of judgment $707,075.86 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #001956/2017. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the

time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Ellen Durst Blair, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 17-000548 76013

139668

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 6/14/23 at 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M.

402/23. BALDWINLeonardo & Sandra Lopez, Variances, subdivision of lot, lot area, maintain dwelling & detached garage on a lesser lot., E/s Fargo St., 101.27’ N/o Pilgrim Ave., a/k/a 1849 Fargo St.

403/23. BALDWIN - New York Land Development II Corp., Variances, subdivision of lot, lot area, front width from & on street line to front setback line, lot area occupied, construct dwelling with garage., W/s Voshage St., 100’ N/o Pilgrim 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.

139909

LEGAL

NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016 SC6 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. DONNOVAN EVANS, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April 4, 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 July 11, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 720 West Carl Avenue, 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 541 and Lot 32. Approximate amount of judgment is $791,917.73 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 607354/2020. 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.

Maria Scheuring, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 193370-1 139923

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 PASS THROUGH TRUST

2005-04, MORTGAGE

PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES

2005-04, Plaintiff, Against VALERIE POWELL, CHARLES POWELL, et al.

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered on 2/9/2016, 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. 11501. This Auction will be held rain or shine

Students learn financial literacy and the gift of giving through baking business

At Lenox Elementary School, the first graders in Renee MacDermott’s class had a eureka moment one afternoon. They asked, ‘why not turn their toy baker’s cart into a fully operational confectionary venture.’

The little entrepreneurs, with the help of their teacher, took the business plan for their newly founded bakery one step further and decided to donate the proceeds to a local charity. A new cause is donated to each month based on the latest awareness event or theme. The entire class votes on their charity of their choice.

In addition to promoting philanthropy, spreading kindness, and becoming more civic-minded, the Lenox ‘bakers’ strengthen their financial literacy and math competences through their bakeshop. Other than the actual baking of the cookies, which is handled by their teacher, the Lenox bakery is an entirely student-led production.

“This is such an authentic experience for students. It closely models a bona fide business in a way that a firstgrade student can understand,” said MacDermott, first grade teacher at Lenox Elementary School, who is also a New York State approved home food processor.

Since December, the students have raised nearly $150 a month, with the earnings going to John Theissen Chil -

dren’s Foundation Toy Drive in December, Last Hope Animal Shelter in January, Bethany House in February, Camp Anchor in March, Nassau Suffolk Autism Society in April, and Family and Children’s Association in May.

The entire school is now involved and looks forward to seeing the first graders in their white aprons and baker’s caps distributing the delectable snacks. For instance, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, for March, Lenox staff fancied the “Shamrock Shake” cookies, while brownie-stuffed red velvet cookies filled the bags in February for Valentine’s Day.

The students push their bakery-onwheels through the halls with great enthusiasm, stopping at each classroom along the way to place cookie orders. Aligned to the math curriculum, they keep track of each request and take charge of the monetary transactions. Then on delivery day, the Lenox ‘bakers’ load their cart with the bagged treats and visit their loyal patrons, who encompass faculty, administrators, security guards, and assistants.

“We are incorporating so many math elements throughout the whole process, and it has truly been boosting the students’ financial literacy skills,” MacDermott.

Public Notices

on 7/10/2023 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 3386 Bertha Drive, Baldwin, NY 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.

Harold F. Damm, Esq., Referee. McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573 Dated: 5/8/2023 File Number: 253-0039NY LD 139925

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 July 12, 2023 at 3:00 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

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

May 30, 2023

JANE SHRENKEL, ESQ., Referee

Adam E. Mikolay, P.C. Attorney for Plaintiff 400 Garden City Plaza Suite 405 Garden City, New York 11530 516-222-2050 139906

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE FW SERIES I TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. WILHELMINA O’BRIEN A/K/A WILHELMINA O’BREIN, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order

Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April 12, 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 July 13, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 557 Irving Place, North Baldwin, NY a/k/a 557 Irving Place, 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 416 and Lot 135. Approximate amount of judgment is $478,065.92 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 602813/2021. 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.

— Ben Fiebert

DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS NOW HIRING !!

No Experience Necessary. Flexible Hours. Paid Training.

Requir ements: Valid NYS Driver's License

High Sc hool Diploma or GED

Complete Bac kground Screening

Community Mainstreaming (CMA) www.communitymainstreaming.org | 516-683-0710, ext 256

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School

Assistant Secondary Principal

The successful candidate should possess: Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.

Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000

SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp. as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

DRIVING

OUTSIDE SALES

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School High School Principal

The Monticello CSD is seeking forward thinking and dynamic School Building Principal who can lead MCSD’s highly engaged faculty, staff, parents, students, and community. The successful candidate will have a vision of educational excellence, be highly motivated, and demonstrates an ability to impact student learning.

Starting Salary: $150,000 NYS SDA/SAS/SBL Certification Required plus 2 yrs. of previous administrative leadership and 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

Assistant Elementary Principal

The successful candidate should possess:

Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.

Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000

NYS SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred. Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

EDITOR/REPORTER

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.

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

LINE COOK: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 10am-6pm. Sandwiches/ Salads. Beach Restaurant. Great Summer Job. 516-835-2819

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. We offer salary, commission, bonuses, health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Will consider part time. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Will Consider Part Time. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME Pressroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for a 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. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

UP TO $20.70 NYC, $20.00 L.I., $16.20

Upstate NY! If you need care from your relative, friend/ neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No Certificates needed. 347-713-3553

Childcare Offered CHILDCARE AVAILABLE

BR, 2 Bth Coop in Garden Town. Gourmet Kit W/Thermdore St Steel Appl Opens Into DR & LR. Primary BR w/Bth Plus Spac 2nd BR. W/D in Unit. New Self Controlled CAC. Oak Flrs, LED Lights. Near LIRR. Parking Avail. SD#14. You Don't Want to Miss This...$359,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA 1534 Broadway #205, Open House By Appt, BIG REDUCTION!! MOTIVATED SELLER!!Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom(Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living...$579,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA 1638 RIDGEWAY DR.

FIRST TIME ON MARKET Well Maintained 6 BR, 3.5 Bth 3500 Sq Ft Exp CH Colonial on Beautiful St. LR/Fpl, Spac Fam Rm/Fpl, FDR, EIK & Sun Rm Overlooking 1/3 Acre Resortlike Prop w/ IG Lap Pool, Hot Tub,Bar & Gazebo. Fin Bsmt. 2 Car Gar. SD#20...$1,149,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BAY PARK BA,190 Meadowview Ave Ever Dream of Living in A Castle? This 8000 Sq Ft Mansion is Full of Character. Amazing Architectural Details, Soaring Ceilings, Stained Glass Windows. 5 BR, 6.55 Bths. Sprawling 1.3 Acre Prop with IG Gunite Pool. SD#14.Near All. Must See This Unique Home!..$3,200,00 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas elliman 516-238-429 ba

HEWLETT HARBOR BA 1299 Seawane NEW! Move Right Into This Beautiful 4 BR, 3 Bth Exp Ranch with Open Layout in Prime Location. LR, FDR, State of the Art Kit & Great Room Overlooking Magnificently Landscaped æ Acre Property. SD #14...$1,799,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Open Houses

WOODMERE BA, 504 Saddle Ridge Rd., FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Move Right Into This Renovated 4 BR, 2 Bth Split with Open Layout in Prime Location! Granite/Wood EIK Opens to Dining Room & Living Room. Lower Level Den. HW Flrs, Gas Heat, CAC. Oversized Property! SD#14.Near

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School

Want to Miss This REDUCED! $359,000

1599 Lakeview Dr, BA, 4 BR, 3 Bth Exp Ranch on Tree Lined St in SD#14. Spacious LR, DR & Family Rm, EIK & Fin Bsmt. Att Garage. HW Flrs. Near Park, Trans, Shops & Houses of Worship REDUCED! $799,000

1534 Broadway #103, BA, Magnificent New Renovation! One of a Kind Ranch

Style Living in Luxurious Jonathan Hall Condominium with Doorman & Elevator.

Just Move into This Gut Rvated, Spacious 2 BR, 2 Bath Apt with Open Layout. Large Designer Eat in Kitchen with Sep Pantry & Laundry Rm. Master BR Boasts Gorgeous Bth & Walk in Closet. Terrace Faces into Courtyard. Garage Parking Incl REDUCED & MOTIVATED!! $599,000

1534 Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom (Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath

Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/Dryer

Removing a deck to add a room

Q. We started planning a project to add a room, 303 square feet, in 2015, and due to many delays, we received approval for a permit only in January of this year. The costs from when we originally started planning until now increased from an estimated $80,000 to almost $200,000. Part of the work was to remove the previous owner’s handicapped-accessible deck with a permitted roof, which, thankfully, we don’t need. We got an alternative estimate for a paving-block patio, which we understand doesn’t need a permit in our town if it’s on the ground. The contractor even said we could cover the entire yard. We still want to keep the roof, so do we need a permit for the patio, and do we need a permit for the footings to continue supporting the roof we want to keep?

IA. You can see, firsthand, what has happened with the economy and costs. Fortunately, you have an alternative to save money. People who are planning enclosed rooms aren’t as fortunate in the economy we’re now facing.

Avenue Rockville Centre NY, 11570 516.678.1510

I have always recommended patios, properly drained, supported and finished, over the other choice of decking, where possible, not just because many jurisdictions don’t require a permit for the paving, but also because the maintenance is less for a patio, and it will last much longer than a deck system. Some communities have regulations for a permit to be filed for paving to show the authorities that the paving is “permeable” — that it still allows rain to seep into the ground to recharge the water supply deep in the earth below. Your location is in a town that doesn’t require a permit for anything that’s built less than 8¼ inches above the ground. Incidentally, the magic of 8¼ inches isn’t arbitrary; it’s the maximum height of a step in the building code.

I just returned from a trade fair where I had the opportunity to discuss material pricing with many suppliers, and the consensus is that prices for commodity materials such a raw lumber and cement will begin to fluctuate downward, but many said that they don’t anticipate manufactured items to come down again. Just as real estate has seen a dramatic increase, so now have materials and construction in general.

The biggest concern we should all have, if we care about the next generation and the health of our economy, is whether they will ever be able to afford what their parents had. Currently, only 9 percent of the next generation of American families own or have a mortgage on a home, while the majority of the generation has had to find alternatives, such as multi-generational living arrangements or apartments, trailers or recreational vehicles as permanent living, according to Building magazine, among other building information resources. I hope the existing deck roof already has a correct supporting footing in the ground. If not, good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper

Ask

Monte

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

Autos Wanted ***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highest$

Ca$h Paid$. All Years/ Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199. Call LUKE 516VAN-CARS. 516-297-2277

DRIVE OUT BREAST Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Garage Sales LONG BEACH HISTORICAL SOCIETY Yard Sale 226 W. Penn St. Sat. June 10th 10am-5pm. Call For More Information 516-432-1192.

Garage Sales NORTH MERRICK: SATURDAY 6/10, 8AM-4PM, RAINDATE SUNDAY 6/11, WENSHAW PARK, BRIAN DRIVE, BRUCE LANE, CLARK STREET, EARL DRIVE, JENKINS STREET, ROSE LANE, SHAW DRIVE, SYDNEY DRIVE, WINIFRED DRIVE AND WHITTIER AVENUE. ANNUAL Community Garage Sale! Something for Everyone!

ROCKVILLE CENTRE 6/10, 10-4PM, 85 South Forest Ave, Furniture,, Treadmill, Holiday Decor, Guitar, Something For Everyone !

Announcements

WITNESS WANTED To The Accident That Occured On May 15th around 2pm At The Intersection Of Lakeville Road And Marcus Avenue. Please Call 347-235-0525

MERCHANDISE MART

Antiques/Collectibles

We Buy Antiques, Fine Art, Coins & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464 SERVICES

Brick/Block/Concrete/Masonry

*MICHAEL LO BAIDO CONSTRUCTION*

Cement Specialist, Brickwork, Interlock Bricks, Belgium Blocks, Stoops, Patios, Driveways, Sidewalks, Basement Entrances, Pavers, Waterproofing. Quality Work, Lic./ Ins. Owner Always Onsite Free Estimates 516-354-5578

Decks

DECKS DECKS Our Only Business COMPOSITES/WOOD Excellent References & Many Photos Lic./Ins. Free Estimates C & S DECKS 516-729-5859

Electricians

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

Handyman

HANDYMAN Repairs and Installations for the Household. Careful and Reliable and Vaccinated. Licensed and Insured. 30-Year Nassau County Resident. Friendly Frank Phone/Text 516-238-2112 E-mail-Frankcav@optonline.net

Home Improvement

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636

HANDY DANDY HOME IMPROVEMENTS

* Full Or Partial Kitchens/ Baths *Painting *Sheetrock *Taping/ Spackling *Installations Ceramic/ Vinyl Tile *Carpentry *Alterations *Repairs/ More. FREE ESTIMATES. Dan 516-342-0761

LITO CONSTRUCTION

Home Improvement/ Construction

10% OFF ANY JOB OVER $2,000 Masonry, Brick Work, Stone Decor, Pointing, Tile, Driveways, Sidewalks, Steps, Framing, Foundations, Remodel Interiors, Extensions, Bathrooms, Basements.

Licensed/ Insured. Free Estimates. 516-564-8315, 516-376-9365

ROOFING GREAT PRICES ! NEW ROOF SPECIALS SIDING- Best Prices RENOVATIONS & ALL REPAIRS SUPER COMPETITIVE PRICES! Licensed / Insured. Free Estimates Nassau License. # H-0102710000 Call John - 516-852-9830

WIREMAN/CABLEMAN/HANDYMAN FLAT TVS mounted, Phone, TVs&Computer wiring installed & serviced, camera &stereos , HDTV – Antennas- FREE TV www.davewireman.com Call Dave 516-433-WIRE (9473) 631-667-WIRE (9473) or Text 516-353-1118

Miscellaneous

BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year Price Guarantee! $59.99/mo with 190 channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation! Call 888-508-5313

Painting

OLD SALT PAINTING Small Job Specialist Great Rates, Free Estimates 516-312-9643

Power Washing

POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. . ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641

Tree Services

T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE

*Tree Removal *Stump Grinding *Pruning *Roof Line Clearing. Residential and Commercial. "We Beat All Competitors' Rates." Lowest Rates. *Senior Discount. Free Estimates. *516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com

Sprinkler Syst./Irrig.Wells

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Education

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM!

Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now!

Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 844-947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required.

TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440. (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required

Satellite/TV Equipment

DIRECTV. NEW 2-YEAR Price Guarantee. The most live MLB games this season, 200+ channels and over 45,000 on-demand titles. $84.99/mo for 24 months with CHOICE Package. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24. 1-866-595-6967

Now pitching, after five weeks on the injury list ...

Last week I had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch before a Long Island Ducks game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The game was played at the Ducks’ home field, the Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. The Ducks played well, and won 9-2. A normal person reading this might say, that’s nice, but no big deal.

Real baseball fans, however, don’t fit the definition of normal.

For one thing, they never really grow up, and being on a professional baseball field, even just to throw one pitch before the game has even begun, is for many a childhood dream.

But living this dream includes living through and overcoming incredible tension and fear of failure. This is especially true if you happen to be a politician who knows that no matter how beloved you think you might be, there are thousands of fans just waiting to see you suffer the ignominious fate of bouncing the

pitch before it crosses home plate and settles into the catcher’s mitt. I know of several otherwise courageous politicians who will never accept the offer (or challenge) to throw out the first pitch. Or if they do develop some nerve, they throw the ball from well in front of the rubber, which, of course, is atop the pitcher’s mound, 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate.

To me, that shortened version doesn’t count as a real first pitch, so I always summoned the courage — more than I ever needed to deliver a major speech on the floor of Congress — to pitch from the rubber, and always succeeded, except for the one time, which I will never forget and always regret, when the ball faded away at the last instant and drifted off at the front of the batter’s box, forcing the catcher to make what looked like a hockey goalie’s acrobatic save.

Last week’s first pitch was particularly stressful. I had been successfully operated on for stomach cancer less than five weeks before, during which part of my stomach was removed and I was left with a 9-inch-long incision that

had to heal. The surgeon, who probably considered referring me to a psychiatrist, consented to my first-pitch antics if I threw it “softly” from in front of the mound. Reluctantly I agreed to those terms and conditions. Walking to the mound, I felt more tension than when I was being wheeled into the operating room.

But both times, my prayers were answered. The surgery had been successful, the pitch was over the plate, and the incision didn’t reopen.

Separate from my baseball delusions, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate being able to associate with the Ducks organization. The team and its owner, Frank Boulton, have been a Long Island institution for a quarter century. Playing in the Atlantic League, the Ducks bring a solid, high level of baseball to Long Island.

Their roster invariably includes future and past major leaguers, the most current and prominent being their designated hitter, former Mets great Daniel Murphy. Also notable is their manager, Wally Backman, the star second base-

man on the Mets’ 1986 World Series champion team. No one, though, has been more beloved in Ducks history than Bud Harrelson, the Mets’ All-Star shortstop when they won the 1969 Series, who was a Ducks coach and team vice president for so many years until he had to step aside because of Alzheimer’s.

The Ducks are an integral part of the Long Island community, being active in charitable and veterans events and making their home games family-friendly and affordable. Being at a Ducks game is like viewing a Norman Rockwell painting depicting real America: kids, parents and grandparents enjoying an afternoon or evening of baseball; members of local organizations singing the pre-game national anthem; veterans, police officers and firefighters being honored on the field. All this and so much more makes me appreciate the Ducks and what they mean to Long Island.

Boulton initially invited me to throw out a first pitch at a game back in 2002, and it has been an honor to be invited back over the years. I’m proud to call Frank my friend and proud to be a loyal Ducks fan. Play ball!

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

No, I don’t have time to answer your survey

You don’t have a moment, and neither do I, but what does that matter? Ubiquitous, intrusive and endless surveys are a good idea gone rogue.

Suddenly, all of life’s experiences are followed up with an emailed questionnaire asking you to rate your doctor, car rental, pet groomer, colorist, breakfast cereal, political candidate, wine, motel, coffee or underpants. Have a moment? Have a moment? Have a moment?

vey popped up on my phone before I even left the premises. It was pages long and asked my input on everything from the hygiene of the location to the friendliness of staff at all levels and my thoughts about ever returning to that center or recommending it to others.

meal

The basic idea of soliciting people’s opinions about service and products and experiences is sound. But, as with many decent ideas today, folks are beating it to death with overuse. You can’t make simple purchases without the inevitable survey landing in your inbox.

RANDI KREISS

Let’s agree that there are surveys you will consider answering and some you delete immediately for very good reason.

Example: I hurt my wrist last week and went to a local urgent care. The sur-

I was impressed with the place, the efficiency and the kindness of the staff and the thoroughness of the doctor. I was not so happy with one of the medical support people who poked around my wrist with some indifference to my pain level, and there was a place on the form to say so. I gladly filled out the online survey and happily signed my name. I will probably not go back there again, because I have my own doctor. That’s why I felt safe to relinquish anonymity.

A few days later, I had a follow-up appointment with my physician to check my wrist. I see him twice a year. I chose him as my doctor because I like him and the way he works with patients. By the time I got into my car, swish, the survey popped up.

In the most suspicious part of my

brain, I believe my doctor somehow can access the surveys and find out who threw him under the bus. I can imagine him in the evenings, poring over the surveys, tracking the patients who mentioned how freezing the examining rooms are or how frustrating the office phone system can be. He’s the guy with the needles and potions and sharp instruments at his disposal; I would never put anything online that wasn’t in the order of high praise. No. No surveys for me at my doctor’s office.

Open Table, the restaurant reservation website, sends surveys all the time, soliciting consumers’ opinions about everything from food to service to ambience. In one happy exchange, I wrote a seriously negative review of a restaurant we frequent, explaining that our experience seemed to be an anomaly but it was awful, and I wanted the owner to know. I signed my name.

The owner called me and invited us back for a free dinner. We went. It was great. I said so in a follow-up survey. Good. Good.

Now, if I had nothing to do in my life

but fill out surveys, I would be giving feedback to Chukar Cherries, my food gift outlet of choice; Optum RX, my mail order drug company; Amazon; The Washington Post; BridgeBase, my online game site; UPS; Marriott Hotels; Chewy, my go-to store for pet supplies; American Airlines; and every magazine to which I ever subscribed.

But I have a busy life, and in order to discover how well I’m doing in my own arena, I developed a small survey for my son and daughter to complete. Just five easy-to-answer questions, which I emailed to them last week:

1. Did you have a happy childhood?

2. Do you have any memories of the time I flipped out, took the car and ran away from home when you were 5 and 2?

3. Why don’t you call more often?

4. Have you ever told a therapist any family secrets?

5. What are your feelings about adult children taking in their parents?

No surprise: There has been a complete communication blackout. I guess answering anonymously wasn’t an option.

Copyright 2023 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

But we got a free

when I complained about an eatery we frequent.

This time I had no choice but to throw from in front of the mound.

Our armed forces need your help

there were more than a dozen of them — some wearing caps denoting their military service, others in full uniform. They were veterans of various conflicts over the past several decades, many of them members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2736 in East Meadow. They paid a visit to East Meadow High School ahead of Memorial Day to ensure that the true meaning of the annual observance of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom was not forgotten.

“We wanted to come here and tell the high school students what it was like to serve,” one veteran, Frank Belardo, said. “We wanted to do this before Memorial Day to teach the students, and honor those who did not come home.”

But that wasn’t the only thing on the minds of the veterans as they met with social studies classes that day.

“It seems like less kids are going down that route of joining the military,” Navy veteran Tom Kelly said. “So you just have to keep reminding them about the commitment to America, and how proud we are. It’s something that should be carried on. It seems like it’s a dying art these days, but I hope not.”

Kelly wasn’t exaggerating. America’s military forces are struggling to recruit new members. The Army, for example, missed its recruiting goal by 25 percent last year, according to the military industry news outlet War on the Rocks. In fact, the Army believes its overall forces will be reduced by 20,000 soldiers by September — part of an overall downward trend across the branches.

Young people just don’t see the military in the same light that previous generations did. They are bombarded by images of war, death and gruesome injuries, as well as many soldiers returning home and dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Yet that’s not the only factor causing a drain of personnel in the armed forces. The nation’s low unemployment rate means there’s less incentive for many to seek out the military. And the sheer number of people eligible to serve is lower than ever.

A Pentagon study last year determined that 77 percent of America’s 17- to 24-yearold population wouldn’t qualify without some kind of waiver. Many are overweight. Others abuse drugs and alcohol. And then there’s the growing number of young people who wouldn’t qualify because of mental and physical health issues, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 44 percent, the study concluded, would be disqualified for more than one reason.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, a ranking Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, shared during a hearing last year that “every single metric tracking the military recruiting environment is going in the wrong direction.”

“To put it bluntly, I am worried we are now in the early days of a long-term threat to the all-volunteer force,” Tillis said, according to Military.com. There is “a small and declining number of Americans who are eligible — and interested — in military service.”

So, what can be done? Many military leaders and lawmakers are trying to figure that out. The branches already offer a number of incentives to new recruits — from signing bonuses to education funding, solid (and free) medical care, room and board allowances, and a month of vacation every year, among other things.

But we must do more — and maybe we can, right here, closer to home. The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps has been a fixture in thousands of high schools — and even some middle schools — across the country since 1916. It gives young people a taste of what it’s like to serve, without leaving home. And it has been instrumental in not only providing stability for many young people over the decades, but recruiting for military service as well, since nearly half of them eventually do that.

The problem? There aren’t enough JROTC programs, especially in New York. Especially on Long Island. The vast majority are concentrated in the Southeast, according to the Rand Corp. South Caroli-

na and Georgia, for example, boast JROTC programs in far more than half their schools. New York? It’s less than 10 percent.

JROTC has been great at addressing demographic representation by being in many schools with larger ethnic diversity, Rand says. But geographic representation is severely lacking. Just 16 percent of young people live in states with high numbers of JROTC programs, while more than half of the total population of teenagers are in 28 states like New York where such programs are lacking.

More schools need to offer JROTC, but they can’t do it alone. Congress needs to expand JROTC overall — and pay for that expansion, retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David Barno and Johns Hopkins professor Nora Bensahel say. At the same time, members of Congress — on both sides of the aisle — need to stop using the military as a political football.

“Painting the entire U.S. military as either woke or extremist undermines public support for the institution and the people in uniform, and often deflects examination of concrete problems that are affecting military capabilities and readiness,” Barno and Bensahel told War on the Rocks. “Elected officials should stop making broad assertions about the entire force, and instead focus their legitimate oversight role on the senior officials who testify in front of Congress.”

The brave men and women — like those who visited East Meadow High School — should forever be honored by all of us. But let’s not let their service and sacrifice become part of a dying breed.

Why I voted for a casino at the Coliseum

since 2014 I have had the privilege of representing the residents of the 2nd District at the Nassau County Legislature. Throughout that time, I have contemplated and made decisions on a full spectrum of controversial and consequential issues. Deciding whether or not to execute a lease transfer agreement between the county and Las Vegas Sands was one of the most difficult decisions I have been confronted with to date.

What made it so challenging is the fact that I don’t have the luxury of analyzing this or any other issue that comes before me as a lawmaker through a one-dimensional lens.

Because I am entrusted with overseeing and safeguarding Nassau County’s fiscal future, I had to carefully considering the tax revenue, economic development and job creation opportunities presented by the resort and casino Las Vegas Sands has proposed building at the

Nassau Hub. The last two factors are especially vital for the economically disadvantaged communities that I serve as a legislator.

As a policy maker, I must always be aware of the legislative atmosphere in which I am operating — and in New York state, legal gambling is a growing reality. Online sports betting became legal in January 2022, and in a 2013 statewide referendum, 67 percent of Nassau voters cast ballots in favor of the siting of seven new casinos throughout the Empire State.

As a community advocate, I researched, vetted and deliberated on the heartfelt concerns my constituents expressed about potential impacts of the Hub development on public safety, traffic and behavioral health. One especially important element of advocacy is robust community engagement.

To get the pulse of the communities I represent, I took part in numerous events in Hempstead, Uniondale and Westbury. In Uniondale — the host community for any development at the Hub — I met with leaders of the public

Letters

Give neighbors a chance to manage L.I.’s electricity

To the Editor:

Re Jerry Kremer’s column last week, “The PSEG love affair is over”: Mr. Kremer opposes “giving a group of local neighbors the power to dictate to professionals” operating a Long Island power company.

“Dictate” may be hyperbole, but it identifies the general problem: unaccountable power. The history provided — LILCO, LIPA, PSEG — demonstrates consistently inadequate infrastructure, a focus on shareholders over ratepayers, the interference of friends in high places, and the general disdain for customer concerns characteristic of near-monopolies. We can agree that “John Q. Citizen” ought not “dictate” to professional operators, but Mr. Citizen is also a ratepayer, dissatisfied by the “professionals’” history of mismanagement, and now seeks greater transparency, accountability and responsiveness.

Dictatorship by professionals is well known, and is what must be curbed. So long as the primary interests remain short-term corporate goals, the future delivery of Long Island’s electrons will replicate its past. Municipalization may not be the answer, but our history of failures suggests we try a new arrangement.

BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

Clearing the air about marijuana

To the Editor:

Since the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act was enacted in New York in March 2021, confusion remains about marijuana’s legal and medical realities. As part of the North Shore Coalition Against Substance Abuse efforts to reduce the use and abuse of substances by our youth, we offer below some information on marijuana so you can inform yourself and your family.

The law allows those 21 and older to use cannabis wherever smoking tobacco is permitted, except in a motor vehicle or where the Clean Air Act is in effect. Specifically, it allows for adult possession of up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of cannabis concentrate. An adult may grow up to three marijuana plants at home, and homes with more than one adult may grow up to six plants (three mature, three immature).

So, does that mean that adults can purchase adult-use marijuana locally now?

The answer may surprise you: no. Most Nassau County municipalities have opted out of permitting retail sales of marijuana in their jurisdictions. For a complete review of what is legal and illegal, go to government sites including NewYorkStateCannabis.org.

As important as legality is to the conversation about marijuana, equally critical is the discussion of its impact on teen health. Marijuana potency has steadily

library, the Fire Department, the Nassau County Land Bank and other key stakeholders to ascertain the community’s concerns and needs. I listened intently to public commentary presented through various media, and read dozens of emails we received from across the county to gain a fuller understanding of public sentiment.

During the Legislature’s May 8 Rules Committee hearing, it became abundantly clear to me that the lease transfer agreement would pass on May 22 with or without my vote. Given that fact, my charge was to ensure that the communities that would be most directly impacted by development at the Hub would not have to wait until its completion to receive the public benefits they were promised.

Following extensive and fruitful negotiations, I was pleased that Las Vegas Sands agreed to enhance its community benefits package by $25 million — $10 million for Uniondale, $10 million for East Meadow and $5 million for Hempstead Village. At least half of these funds would have to be disseminated during the construction of the proposed inte-

grated casino resort. Throughout that process, the collaboration with my legislative colleague Tom McKevitt, who represents East Meadow, which directly abuts the Hub, was invaluable in navigating the issues related to securing this funding for our respective constituents.

After balancing the array of public comments, completing a painstaking review of the more laudable elements of the Las Vegas Sands proposal, and factoring in the company’s agreement to invest tens of millions of dollars in bolstering crucial services and activities in the most directly impacted communities, I decided to vote in favor of the lease transfer agreement.

While the Legislature’s action on May 22 represents an important benchmark, there are many steps that must be completed before any construction begins. As this process continues to unfold, make no mistake: I will remain vigilant and focused on the series of actions to follow, and I will hold the entities associated with this project accountable for meeting their contractual obligations and fulfilling the commitments they made to the residents of Nassau County.

Siela A. Bynoe, of Westbury, has represented the 2nd District in the County Legislature since 2014.

Framework by Tim Baker

increased in the past decades, up from about 4 percent THC levels in the 1980s to an average of 15 percent today. More disconcerting is that marijuana extracts, used in dabbing and edibles, contain, on average, 50 percent THC, and can go as high as 90 percent.

Research suggests that kids who use cannabis may face greater mental health risks, such as worsened depression and anxiety, poor attention and memory problems. Specifically, using a cannabis product with a THC potency of over 15 percent

is linked to a three-fold increase in the likelihood of experiencing mental health and other problems. Studies also suggest that 17 percent of those who start using marijuana in their teens will become dependent on it.

Given these risks, it’s important that parents know the facts and talk to their kids. For more info, go to NSCASA.org.

Rocco, Myles and Lily Pad hanging out at the Memorial Day Parade — Wantagh

Iwanted to ensure that the communities most impacted would receive promised benefits.

ALISON CAMARDELLA KEVIN McGILLOWAY President and vice president, NS-CASA

Mount Sinai South Nassau Health Fair on the Long Beach Boardwalk

• Anxiety and depression

• Balance testing

• Blood pressure

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

• Diabetes risk assessment

• Head and neck cancer screening

• Limited podiatry exams

• Memory screening

• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)