Baldwin Herald 07-20-2023

Talent show for a cause on July 22

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Book reading at Swiss Bliss

Future Problem Solving program

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Helping to close educational gap among children

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

The Long Island Multicultural Book Fair made a triumphant return to Baldwin last Saturday, and Ama Yawson, co-founder of the publishing group Milestales, used it to help tackle the racial achievement gap, which was widened by the pandemic.

illustrators.

ama Karikai-Yawson with a few of her books she wrote, along with her son Miles Yawson and his book, ‘How to deal with Kids: a guide for adults by a Kid.’

The book fair returned to Baldwin for its fifth year, but for the first time since 2019 — right before the pandemic shutdown occurred. Community members gathered at the Long Island Rail Road station to celebrate diverse children’s literature, as authors read their books out loud and families had the chance to meet the authors and

According to NewAmerica.org, “there is disparity in representation of characters from different racial, ethnic and gender groups,” which is why Yawson wanted to start this event. She said young people are still dealing with the racial achievement gap in reading scores, and she hoped that through events like this one, she can help close that gap.

“Unfortunately, we’re dealing with an educational crisis right now in so many respects,” Yawson said. “So pre-pandemic, we had what was called the ‘word gap’ or the ‘educational gap,’ in which children of poor backgrounds, and very often chilContinued on page 12

South Nassau Water Authority holds first public meeting

By NIColE FoRMISANo nformisano@liherald.com

The atmosphere was tense in the meeting room of the Lynbrook Public Library on July 11 as dozens of South Shore residents gathered for a public meeting of the South Nassau Water Authority — the first since its creation in November 2021.

“I don’t anticipate a very congenial meeting tonight,” Seth Koslow, who is running for county legislator, said. “I think people are going to be upset and loud.”

Koslow was right. The meeting began with John Reinhardt, the authority’s temporary presi-

dent, offering an overview of the timeline for its acquisition of Liberty Water, which provides water to most of Nassau County and is proposing a rate hike of up to 42 percent in some areas.

In March 2022, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin promised the authority $500,000 in funding so it could move forward with acquiring Liberty’s assets. That May, the authority completed the first step in a fourstep process for the takeover outlined by the state Public Service Commission, sending an introductory letter to Liberty Water to make it aware of the authority’s intent to acquire those assets. Over the following weeks, Liber-

ty provided enough information to the authority to begin the valuation process.

Last week’s meeting continued with Bill DeWitt, an attorney representing the water authority, passing several resolutions, including the appointment of Robert York as the authority’s chairman and Michelle Bocci as its treasurer. Nearly in unison, many attendees asked with frustration why York was not at the meeting. When Reinhardt explained that York was on vacation, there were expressions of outrage, and the next several minutes were full of heated cross-talk, which set the tone for the rest of the evening.

The board continued the meeting by announcing the hiring of consultants, including Walden Environmental Engineering, and then adjourned to meet in executive session. This was met with another uproar.

“Why are we here?” one attendee asked.

“They don’t respect our time,” another said.

One man began making chick-

en noises as board members made their way out the back of the room. When they board was gone, David Denenberg, co-director of Long Island Clean Air Water & Soil and a former county legislator, joined by Michael Reid, of the Merrick Fire Department, stood and addressed the gathering.

“We don’t have water service, Continued on page 18

Maureen Lennon/Herald

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Talent show to raise funds for Michael Saintrome

The talent show will take place on July 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Baldwin Harbor Park

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

After Michael Saintrome was severely injured when a van hit him in January, Angela Lucas, founder of Hangout One Happy Place, has been trying to help raise money for his family.

The first fundraiser, which was a bingo event, raised about $1,400 for Saintrome’s family in April.

This came months after Saintrome received 125 staples in his head and part of his skull had to be removed.

Saintrome is currently still in and out of consciousness, as Lucas plans another fundraiser on July 22 at Baldwin Harbor Park at 6:30 p.m.

ANgEl A lucAs founder of Hangout One Happy Place

“Even if we raise only $100, that’s enough for gas money,”

Lucas said about the upcoming talent show event.

“Anything is better than nothing.”

Lucas said that whatever fund will be raised, will go straight to Saintrome’s family.

The people that will perform at the event will be Saintrome’s friends and people that went to school with him.

Lucas was involved in Saintrome’s life for 17 years as she was his teacher at Meadow Elementary School, Baldwin Middle School, and Baldwin High School.

“So he is like family,” Lucas said.

Lucas said she was “horrified” and heart-broken when she heard the news about Saintrome. At first, she heard about the accident on the news, but wasn’t aware that it was Saintrome who was hit by the van.

It wasn’t until she saw Saintrome’s mom at the store where she figured out

How to help Saintrome’s family

■ Send a check to her at Hangout One Happy Place at 2959 Grand Ave, Baldwin

■ Drop money off at Hangout One Happy Place

■ Email Angela Lucas at hangout1happyplace@gmail.com for Venmo information

that it was Saintrome who was hit by the van.

“According to his mom, if you say his name, he’ll reach for you,” Lucas said. “So he’s making some progress.”

Before the accident, Lucas remembers Saintrome being a huge basketball fan. He also was very invested into politics and “was always up for a good argument,” according to Lucas. Lucas said that Saintrome always touched her heart.

Last Wednesday, Saintrome was taken to the ER due to low sodium levels.

Now, more than ever, Lucas is hoping to raise enough money for Saintrome’s family at the talent show.

Lucas said that if you can’t make the fundraiser, you can send a check to her at Hangout One Happy Place at 2959 Grand Ave, Baldwin or you can email her for venmo information at hangout1happyplace@gmail.

Maureen Lennon/Herald Members of Hangout One Happy Place gathered to raise funds for Michael Saintrome, one of their former members, who was struck by a van in January, with a bingo night at Baldwin Harbor Park on March 18.

Even if we raise only $100, that’s enough for gas money, anything is better than nothing.

Courtesy Bridget Downes

— Ben Fiebert

Angela Lucas, the founder and chief executive officer of Hangout One Happy Place.

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Baldwin podcast recognized by the Press Club of Long Island

The Baldwin Bruins Sports Podcast recently received third place in the “Best High School Broadcast” category for the Press Club of Long Island, PCLI, 2023 Media Awards.

The PCLI is a professional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the annual media awards honor the best journalism in the region and have included such winners as Newsday and News 12. Ava Reyer, Aaron Bell, Joey Fullone, as well as Gregg Kelley, the students’ advisor, were recognized during the annual PCLI Media Awards Dinner in June at the Fox Hollow Country Club.

The Baldwin Bruins Sports Podcast focuses on Baldwin High School sports and encompasses interviews with athletes, coaches, as well as experts in the field. The entirely student-produced podcast also features discussions about the past week’s games and upcoming games.

Baldwin High School is the only school on Long Island to host such a podcast, which was founded by class of 2020 graduates, Yaw Bonsu and Tyler Brown, as part of their senior internship program.

Now a senior at Hofstra University, Yaw continues to be lauded for his extraordinary communication and broad-

Taxation of Trusts

Revocable living trusts, where the grantor (creator) and the trustee (manager) are the same person, use the grantor’s social security number and are not required to file an income tax return. All income and capital gains taxes are reported on the individual’s Form 1040.

Irrevocable living trusts come in two main varieties, “grantor” and “non-grantor” trusts. Non-grantor trusts are often used by the wealthy to give assets away during their lifetime and for all income and capital gains taxes to be paid either by the trust or the trust beneficiary but not by them. Gifts to non-grantor trusts are reported to the IRS but are rarely taxable. Currently, the annual exclusion is $17,000 per person per year to as many people as you wish. However, if you go over the $17,000 to any one person you must report the gift to Uncle Sam, but they merely subtract the excess gift from the $12,920,000 each person is allowed to give at death. Most of our clients are “comfortably under” as we like to say. These gifts then grow estate tax-free to the recipient.

Grantor trusts, such as the Medicaid Asset

Protection Trust (MAPT), are designed to get the assets out of your name for Medicaid purposes but keep them in your name for tax purposes. You continue to receive income from the MAPT and pay income tax the same as before. The MAPT files an “informational return” (Form 1041) telling the IRS that all the income is passing through to you.

Gifts to non-grantor trusts take the grantor’s “basis” for calculating capital gains taxes on sale, i.e. what the grantor originally paid and, if real estate, plus any capital improvements.

In the grantor trust, however, no gift is made on the transfer to the trust because the grantor reserves the right to change who they leave it to on death. The gift is therefore said to be “incomplete” until death and is therefore includible in the grantor’s estate. Assets in the grantor’s estate receive a “stepped-up basis”. Instead of the grantor’s original basis, the heirs get the date of death value as the basis, resulting in capital gains taxes being due only on gains arising from the date of death to the date of sale, if any.

casting capabilities by the PCLI. This year, the Baldwin alum garnered five first placements, four second and third place media awards, plus the PCLI College Journalism Scholarship of $1000.

The high school’s podcast program will resume in the fall with a new team consisting of hosts, Aaron Bell, Blaine Harding, Cydney Herrera, and editor/producer, Paul Clement.

To tune into Baldwin High School’s Baldwin Bruins Sports Podcast, visit BaldwinSchools.org/SportsPodcast or visit popular podcast hubs like Spotify, Apple, and Google.

HOW TO REACH US

Our offices are located at 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530 and are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

MAIN PHONE: (516) 569-4000

■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/baldwin

— Ben Fiebert

Courtesy Mary Furcht The 2022-2023 podcast team Blaine Harding, Cydney Herrera, and Aaron Bell.

How to train your brain gues

Turn on the news and expect to be scared. Another senseless school shooting. Global warming hits home. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Threats from China. A new Covid variant. What’s going on here? We want to feel safe. We want our friends and families to be safe. Yet, whenever we hear or read the news, panicinducing stories bombard our brains. Fear can be addictive, destroying our ability to focus on other matters. It promotes panic. It cultivates hopelessness. It’s immobilizing. So how shall we cope when we hear about terrifying events in the world?

First and foremost, you must find the adult voice in your head that’s calming, reassuring, and hopeful. It’s there somewhere!

Then tell the scared child within you to listen to that voice. Really listen. Breathe in those reassuring thoughts and calming feelings.

Isn’t that denial though? Bad things are happening.

Frightening events occur.

Yes, but that doesn’t mean we must immerse ourselves in information overload that escalates our fear.

We can choose what to pay attention to at any moment of the day. Indeed, we must remind our brain that despite all the terrifying headlines and breaking news, we still live in an age where we’re healthier, safer, more affluent and living far longer than previous generations ever dreamed of.

If fear reigns, all the excitement, enjoyment, and juiciness are squeezed out of life.

Then what remains? The everyday, mundane stuff and the terrible tragedies and catastrophes that become headline news.

That is no way to live. So, whatever’s happening in the world, do not allow fear to take up permanent residence in your brain. An occasional visit is okay and may be appropriate.

But that’s it! Hence,

■ Do not exhaust your brain with media overload, worrying about every trouble, problem, and calamity happening in the world. Consciously and calmly determine how much media exposure is good for you. When you’ve had enough, turn your TV and digital devices off.

■ Turn on upbeat music that’s appealing to you. Then let your body and brain move to the music.

■ Since fear is contagious, spend minimal time with fearful, pessimistic doomsayers, more time with positive, optimistic go-getters.

■ Let go of obsessing about dangers you can do nothing about. Instead, focus on what you can do -individually or with group effort- to help alleviate a fearful situation.

■ Tell your brain you won’t allow yourself to live in a helpless, vulnerable posi-

tion. You deserve better! Do all that and your brain and body will forever be grateful to you for helping it focus on the good things in life.

©2023

Linda Sapadin, Ph.D. is a psychologist and success coach in private practice who specializes in helping people overcome selfdefeating patterns of behavior. You can reach her at LSapadin@DrSapadin.com.

Person to Person

Linda Sapadin

First and foremost, you must find the adult voice in your head.

Linda Sapadin Psychologist and success coash

HERALD SPORTS

Ducks rally for first-half championship

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

It was an eventful first half of baseball for the Long Island Ducks, who became the Atlantic League’s all-time winningest franchise (1,581 as of June 17), captured the North Division’s first-half title, and had four player contracts purchased by Major League organizations. Ninth-inning magic in two games July 7 allowed the Ducks to snag first place in their division via a tiebreaker with York. Both teams finished 37-26.

Long Island scored three times in the top of the ninth to defeat Southern Maryland, 4-1, while York allowed two runs to Lexington in the top of the ninth and suffered a 7-6 defeat.

“We had one eye on the scoreboard all night,” Ducks manager Wally Backman said. “While we were up in the ninth inning, Dickerson [Alex] informed me York lost. All the guys knew when we took the field in the bottom of the ninth what was at stake.”

The Ducks closed the first half on a four-game winning streak and allowed only nine runs in the process.

The departures of Brett Kennedy and Stephen Woods Jr. left the starting pitching staff in a state of flux but not thin on talent. Stephen Tarpley, Robert Stock and Matt Solter all produced quality starts under pressure in the final week of the first half, Backman noted. Former MLB reliever Al Alburquerque (0.78 ERA, 0.74 WHIP) has been dominant and picked up the win in the clincher after Tarpley fired six strong innings.

Kennedy was the first Ducks player to depart during the season after signing with the Cincinnati Reds. After a six-week stint at AAA Louisville, Kennedy picked up a W for the Reds July 4. “Congratulations to Brett on this well-deserved opportunity to pitch again in the Major Leagues,” Ducks President/GM Michael Pfaff said of Kennedy, who tossed five solid innings to defeat the Washington Nationals. “We are thrilled to have helped him achieve this milestone in his career.”

On his way to becoming the 29th Ducks alumnus to be promoted to the majors, Kennedy made three quality starts for Long Island and struck out 16 batters in 11 2/3 innings of work with a 3.09 ERA.

Three others had their contracts purchased by Major League or foreign professional organizations this season: Former three-time MLB All-Star and former New York Mets infielder Daniel Murphy (Angels, Triple-A Salt Lake), nine-year MLB infielder Adeiny Hechavarria (Kansas City Royals, Triple-A Omaha) and pitcher Stephen Woods Jr. (Fubon Guardians, China.) The latter was 7-2 with a 3.77 ERA in 11 starts.

“We’re going to roll with a six-man starting rotation and not push anyone too hard in the second half,” Backman said.

“That’s one of the luxuries of winning the first half.”

Murphy played in 37 games with the Ducks. He departed tied for fourth in the Atlantic League with 47 hits, sixth in batting average (.331) and 10th in on-base percentage (.410), all of which lead the Flock. He also totaled two home runs, 19 RBIs, 20 runs, 64 total bases, nine doubles, one triple, 14 walks and an .861 OPS. Murphy compiled a 16-game hitting streak from May 16-June 1, the longest hitting streak by a Duck this season, and a 19-game onbase streak from May 12-June 1.

Hechavarria appeared in 38 games with the Ducks. At the time of his departure to the Royals system, he led all Ducks and was tied for fifth in the Atlantic League with 12 doubles as well as tied for sixth in the league with 34 RBIs. He was also tied for the team lead with seven home runs while totaling 29 runs, 43 hits, 78 total bases, a triple, 21 walks and a .920 OPS. The 34-year-old reached base safely in 24 of his past 26 games going back to May 12, earning at least one hit in 21 of them. In that span, he compiled a .295 batting average with a .911 OPS.

Long Island’s offense in the first half was sparked by first baseman Sam Travis, who played all 63 games and batted .288 with 12 homers and 55 RBIs. He also scored a team-high 50 runs.

“Winning the first half was a lot of fun,” said Travis, who played three seasons with the Boston Red Sox. “We still want to go out and win every game we play. We have a lot of season left. It’s a great group of guys. If it’s not one guy getting it done on a given night, it’s another.”

Dickerson is raking at the plate with a .352 batting average, .637 slugging percentage, 13 homers and 44 RBIs in 49 games. Former highly touted Baltimore Orioles catching prospect Chance Sisco has also been dynamic at the plate with 11 homers and 33 RBIs in only 28 games with a .317 batting average. Outfielder Brian Goodwin, with a dozen years of MLB experience under his belt, batted .300 with 8 homers and 9 steals.

Regardless of what happens in the second half, the four-time league champion Ducks will participate in the Atlantic League playoffs for the 16th time in franchise history starting around Sept. 20.

Photos courtesy Long Island Ducks

First baseman Sam Travis enjoyed a huge first half at the plate with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs.

Al Alburquerque has pitched lights-out (0.78 ERA) and earned the first-half clinching victory in relief.

Living through hottest week in 125,000 years

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

The record for the highest global average temperature since at least 1979 was shattered a few weeks ago — and then that record was broken the next day. And then again two days later.

The Earth’s average temperature hovered around 62 degrees Fahrenheit, which would be a chilly day for the summer. Yet, on a global scale, it was a few degrees warmer than where it should be.

These record temperatures have been, in part, due to the forming a weather phenomenon called El Niño. It’s created when the central and eastern parts of the Pacific Ocean enter a warming phase as part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle.

There have been at least 30 El Niño events since 1900, according to meterologists, but many observers believe each of the seasons are becoming warmer over the years. And they’re blaming that on global warming.

“The first week of July appears to have been the hottest week on record globally,” said Mark Lowery, a climate policy analyst for the state’s environmental conservation department. “During that week, we saw four consecutive days of new records for the Earth’s hottest days.”

What the Earth experienced at the beginning of July was the hottest the Earth has been in more than 125,000 years, Lowery said. This extreme heat is

projected to get even worse over much of the world in the next couple of weeks, and will almost certainly continue into 2024 as El Niño remains intact.

“Once the Earth moves into the El Niño phase, it lasts about two or three years,” Lowery said. “So, we would have every reason to believe that there will be continued release of heat that will continue to accumulate in the atmosphere through 2024.”

That heat will be felt everywhere, even on Long Island. Alison Branco, climate adaptation director for The Nature Conservancy in Virginia, said that as the air warms, the ocean also warms. And when the ocean waters become warmer they expand. This, in turn, will cause the sea level to rise off the coast of Long Island.

“For a long and narrow, very flat island, sea level rise is a major impact of climate change that we need to be thinking about all the time,” Branco said. “Because it’s really going to change the face of Long Island.”

And it affects not only the South Shore, but the North Shore as well, according to reports. Rising tides will create higher waves, which in turn will erode bluffs, causing them to eventually slide into the ocean.

But warmer water and a fear of higher tides aren’t the only things people living and enjoying Long Island have to worry about. Charles Rothenberg, climate and energy attorney from the Connecticut-based advocacy group Save the Sound, says warmer waters are acting as fuel for tropical systems.

“We can anticipate some significant tropical storms and hurricanes in the months ahead,” he said, adding marine life also be affected by these warmer waters. “There’s been a lot of conversations about the decrease in lobster populations.”

Lobsters tend to like water at specific cooler temperatures — something that won’t be much abundance of if ocean waters continue to warm, scientists say. Some believe more than half the lobster population available for fishing could be decimated within the next three decades.

The climate is changing, and despite best efforts to slow it down, it might be too late to stop it. But there are ways people can adapt, Branco said. First and foremost, they will need to start thinking about ways to cool off. That could mean buying air-conditioning systems, fans, or having access to a pool or ocean they can swim in.

“Our government needs to be thinking about these hotter temperatures, too, and making sure that we have the resources to help people cool their homes,” Branco said.

Storms have been coming, and they’ll continue to come, she added. Because of that, following evacuation orders is essential. Families also need a “go” bag ready for if they need to evacuate, Branco added. Also, a plan for the family to meet at a certain location in case of a disaster is very important.

“Investing in energy appliances, which helps reduce the strain on our electric grid during these very hot sum-

Ways to cool off in a hotter planet

■ Invest in an air conditioning unit

■ Buy a fan for your room

■ Go swimming in a pool or the ocean

■ Take cool baths or showers

■ Have water handy at all times

■ Wear loose, lightweight and light-colored clothing

■ Limit outdoor activity

mers, are very critical,” Rothenberg added.

But in the end, if people really want to help, they should support policies that help curb the impact of climate change, Rothenberg said. It’s vital to address the root cause of global warming, and that can only happen through collective action.

Nassau County is part of the Climate Smart Communities Program, intended to reduce greenhouse gases said to cause global warming on a local scale. But this was an effort supported by former county executive Laura Curran. Her successor, Bruce Blakeman, is not known to have taken advantage of the program, or instituted any of its recommendations.

Ben Fiebert/Herald

The Earth set consecutive record-breaking temperatures during the first week of July, and it’s

not expected to get any better. El Niño is expected to affect weather through next

year, meaning more hot temperatures are on the way.

Student-produced music video selected at film festival

Baldwin High School students Jason Brady, Ryan Clarke, Nia Green, Richard Katz, Jared Lopez Agurcia, Josue Mondragon, Kingston Patterson, and Bryant Reyes-Alvarez were invited to take part in The WNET Group’s 2023 Youth Collective Film Festival for their studentwritten, -directed and -edited music video entitled, “Democracy – A Musical Production.”

Baldwin High School was represented among the thirteen films selected out of more than two hundred submissions and over sixty countries. The inaugural New York City-based film festival was open to filmmakers, ages 13 to 25. In accordance with this year’s theme of “Democracy,” all genres were encouraged, from fiction to non-fiction to comedy to animation.

In 2019, The WNET Group, New York’s flagship PBS station, founded the Youth Collective—a Generation Z media and education initiative powered by public media that aims to amplify youth voice and provide a platform for young people to engage in the important work of building a more ethical world. Since then, the Youth Collective has produced annual youth convenings, media created by, with, and for youth, and ethics educa-

tion resources for young people, in partnership with the Prindle Institute for Ethics.

The Youth Collective Film Festival competition was launched this spring and hosted at Lincoln Center’s landmark state-of-the-art Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center in June. There, films were judged for special awards and recognition, including consideration for distribution on public media.

“Students who attended the Youth Collective Film Festival were exposed to an enriching experience for themselves as young filmmakers,” said Baldwin High School teacher Vincent Leis, who teaches TV Studio and Video Production and oversaw this endeavor.

“This competition offered our students a unique opportunity to discover new films, engage with the creative minds behind those features films, and immerse themselves in the world of cinema. As young filmmakers, I don’t think there is a greater honor than having their work selected and screened at their very first film festival submission, and we could not have been prouder.”

Baldwin High School was the first

out of the thirteen films to be viewed by attendees following keynote speaker Chelsea Miller. The students then participated in a question & answer session with their audience. In addition, film festival participants engaged in unique networking opportunities with peers, public media professionals, and much more.

“Our high school students were able to interact with directors, actors and

Baldwin High School students partook in The WNET Group’s 2023 Youth Collective Film Festival.

other individuals involved in the filmmaking process during the Q&A sessions. These sessions provided insights into the creative process, production challenges, and the themes explored in the films screened,” Leis added.

Overall, Baldwin High School’s creative concept and original song was well received.

— Ben Fiebert

Courtesy Mary Furcht

Redefining the conversation on police-community Adrian Goodwin sparks dialogue on police officers and diversity with her book

By CLARE GEHLICH Intern

Adrian Goodwin redefines the conversation about police and the community they serve in her 28-page vibrant picture book, “Twins in the City: Let’s Learn About Police Officers,” which holds personal significance.

Goodwin, a veteran of the New York City Police Department, recently held a book signing for her picture book at Swirl Bliss on Grand Avenue. The choice of Swirl Bliss as the venue was intentional, as it aligned with the values and mission of the 28-page picture book. Swirl Bliss, the family-owned frozen yogurt shop, believes in giving back to the community, like Goodwin’s book. The book also aims to spark an open dialogue about law enforcement and diversity that represents police as well as the people they serve. Goodwin mentioned that positive feedback poured in from educators, teachers, and parents.

“I hope that not only children learn from it, but parents learn from it,” Goodwin said about her book. She explains that conversations among parents, children, faculty, and students help contribute to the understanding of the roles along with responsibilities of active police officers.

“Twins in the City: Let’s Learn About Police Officers” revolves around Goodwin’s reallife twins, Madison and Mia, who, during an outing in the bustling city of New York, encounter a police officer and ask about their profession. The twins discover that police officers are more than just guardians of safety and emergency responders, but that officers become immersed in community connections in a kaleidoscope of different cultures.

Goodwin’s background as an 18-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, an educator at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a current Detective Investigator and Hostage Negotiator influenced her perspective of “Twins in the City.” At John Jay, Goodwin mentors students who are first-generation law enforcement officers. Her experiences as a mother further shaped the book’s focus, as she weaves a tapestry of diversity and community spirit.

Recognized for her community service and overall impact, Goodwin is a recipient of the prestigious 2022 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest Community Service Award anyone can receive. She is also a member of the board of the Uniondale Police Activity League, the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Nassau County, among other organizations. Goodwin actively contributes to uplifting communities using various resources and initiatives.

According to Goodwin, the significance of highlighting diversity within law enforcement at an early age coincides with the effort to diversify law enforcement. By showcasing stories like “Twins in the City,“ children can envision themselves as future policewomen or policemen, fostering a more diverse and representative law enforcement community early on.

Through the colorful illustrations of “Twins in the City,” the book shows police officers interacting with the community in ways that can reflect the diversity within community departments. Goodwin emphasizes that having representation plays a critical role in empowering different cultural groups and aims to change the paradigm of law enforcement alongside her husband, Christopher

Goodwin, a retired Black police officer. Before Christopher Goodwin’s retirement in 2018, he worked in Brooklyn North Narcotics and Adrian Goodwin worked at the Detective Squad in Brooklyn, investigating major crimes, such as assaults, robberies, grand larcenies, and shootings.

“We can’t change the world at the snap of a finger. But we can change our perception on how people think and feel about each other just based on how we treat them,” Adrian Goodwin said about embracing diverse thoughts and perspectives surrounding police officers and fostering community relationships. “That’s just an important message that extends beyond law enforcement, just living in a world where it’s just civility, how important that is being kind to one another.” For Goodwin, storytelling is a powerful tool that can shape young minds.

While the book signing was a significant milestone, Goodwin’s journey continues. She plans to embark on a book tour across Long Island in the coming months, conducting workshops on cyber etiquette, respect, and effective communication skills. She aims to strengthen community dialogue through kindness within these communities by promoting inclusivity to build stronger connections in young children.

“I hope it’s going to bring about colorful dialogue, just about people in general and just about the acceptance of others,” Goodwin said. “It’s truly a blessing to be able to create a story that was sparked not only by my 8-year old daughters, but by my role as a mom, as a wife, as a law enforcement officer and an educator.”

About the author, Adrian Goodwin

■ Adrian Goodwin is an 18-year veteran of the New York Police Department

■ She was an educator at John Jay College of Criminal Justice

■ She was a recipient of the presigious 2022 Presidential lifetime award

■ She is a member on the board of the Uniondale Police Activity League

■ She is on the board of directors for Girl Scouts of Nassau County

■ She is a mother to two twins, Mia and Madison, who are both 8-years-old

On June 4, author Adrian Goodwin promoted her new picture book alongside Carline Dickens, Owner of Swirl Bliss, at the frozen-yogurt shop in Baldwin.

We can’t change the world at the snap of a finger. But we can change our perception on how people think and feel about each other just based on how we treat them.

AdRIAn GoodWIn Author

Courtesy Adrian Goodwin

Last month author Adrian Goodwin sat down beside seven children for a read-aloud at Swirl Bliss in Baldwin.

Fifth annual Multicultural Book Fair promotes literacy

dren of minority backgrounds, were behind in reading and education.”

Yawson explained that the word gap exists partly because certain groups of children are not hearing enough words per day. She added that children in wealthier families would be exposed to more conversations with their parents and, therefore, learn new things compared to children in poorer families. Yawson said the poorer child may sit in front of a television all the time or be watched by a relative who may not know English that well, which would hamper the child’s education.

“A child can spend a lot of time watching TV, or the child is at a daycare center that may not be high quality, and they let the child watch TV all day,” Yawson said. “And so this creates a word gap.”

decreased,” Yawson said. “And virtual learning is not up to par and has taken a toll on families.”

Yawson added that it is so important to host a book fair so that children can discover new language. At the event, children met authors, talked with various people and read books. Also, the event partnered with Cedarmore Farms in Freeport, which provided fresh foods for children to eat while they read their books — all in the name of promoting literacy.

AmA YAwson co-founder, Milestales publishing group

“So what sparked this event was that my company actually partnered with Cedarmore in various educational capacities before,” Yawson said. “And so they approached me and said that they were having a farmer’s market event and wanted to have some type of artistry involved.”

This problem was prominent before the pandemic, Yawson said, but now the word gap has widened even more. She said that children became “less exposed” to new language and words that they would have picked up at places like a library. According to Yawson, the word game and education gap is even more “exacerbated.”

“So now, we have a situation where the language exposure has actually

After brainstorming with Cedarmore, Yawson said she believed that a book fair would add a great element to the farmer’s market.

She said she wanted this to be a fun occasion and by attracting more than 100 children and their relatives to previous events, she felt like she was able to accomplish that.

After the book fair took a hiatus from 2020 to 2022, Yawson said she is “so grateful” for this event to come back this year.

Maureen Lennon/Herald authors renee Williams, left, Jason Spencer edwards and Kateline gresseau with several of their books.

STEPPING OUT

The Sixties Show

That influential decade comes alive in the form of the Sixties Show. This dynamic night of nostalgia features all the sights and sounds of the decade, with a lively ensemble of accomplished musicians who know their way around the beloved hits of the ‘60s. You will be grooving along to note-for-note recreations of some of the greatest songs of that memorable era. Take a trip back to another time and place that was the 1960s, where an AM radio is blasting out the latest sounds from a convertible, on a warm summer starlit Saturday night on any street USA.

Environment as RT

STEPPING OUT

Creative advocacy

By Karen Bloom

By Karen Bloom

n original and compelling voice in contemporary art, Courtney M. Leonard’s artistic perspective takes root in her heritage as a member of the Shinnecock Nation.

Her work amplifies Indigenous knowledge and expresses reverence for the earth and sea while advocating for their protection.

Trained as a ceramic artist, Leonard — who received an advanced degree from Rhode Island School of Design — has evolved her practice to reflect her many interests and pursuits, all in an effort to investigate narratives of cultural viability.

A sculptor, painter and filmmaker in addition to her calling as a ceramicist, Leonard is known for her immersive installations that immediately command attention.

Now her art comes into focus in the first retrospective of her work, “Courtney M. Leonard: Logbook 2004-2023” at the Heckscher Museum of Art, which also is her first solo museum exhibition in the New York metro region.

WHERE WHEN

• Now through Nov. 12

• Open Thursday through Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

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

project Breach, which she began in 2014. Conceived on the model of records kept by 18th century whaling ships, each “logbook” of Breach records — in ceramic, paint and video — one year of the artist’s experiences of “environmental fragility, shifting adaptations, and/or the ability to simply become anew.”

Pat McGann

The high-energy show is a largescale ambitious multimedia stage production, powerfully dramatized with a combination of special effects, narration, ‘60s archival audio, and newsreel footage and light show — a reminder of how uniquely inspirational, entertaining and historically significant the music and events of the ‘60s were and continue to be. It’s all meticulously recreated, combined with authentic period costumes and ‘60s-era staging and narration.

Friday, July 21, 8 p.m. $40-$55. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

• Emily Lowe Hall Gallery, South Campus, Hempstead. For information and to RSVP, call (516) 463-5672, or visit Hofstra.edu/museum

• $5 suggested admission non-members; members and children under 13 free

• Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington • (631) 380-3230 or Heckscher.org

“When We All Stand,” Hofstra University Museum of Art’s new exhibition, examines the collective power of the arts in society.

Curated by Alexandra Giordano — the museum’s assistant director of exhibition and collection — the exhibit underscores artists’ civic responsibility and influence.

“Her work is extremely beautiful and visually engaging,” says Heckscher Museum curator Karli Wurzelbacher. “It’s so well-made and deeply meaningful. So many important concepts are embedded within each piece.”

The two dozen pieces on view take over three of the museum’s galleries. Of particular note is the debut of her significant new work commissioned by the museum for its permanent collection. Titled “Contact 2,023…,” the approximately eight-foot-long wall hanging focuses on the moment of colonial contact on Long Island, by mapping the contours of the island with thousands of individual clay thumbprints resembling shells.

Sewn onto a cotton canvas with artificial sinew, each thumbprint becomes a “maker’s mark” indexing the artist’s contact with the earth.

A single installation contained in an entire gallery, Breach: Logbook 23|Alluvion takes its name from a legal term meaning the action of the sea or a river in forming new land by depositing sediment. Connecting the concepts of erosion and alluvion, Leonard explains:

“The purple and white of the quahog shell are formed by the water and minerals of a specific place. Alluvion speaks to the history of land, water, place, and to the displacement or disruption from loss of land due to erosion or imposed law. Yet it also speaks to the resiliency of our Shinnecock people and of our shoreline to heal itself.”

“It highlights the vital role that artists have in activating democratic values that promise equality and freedom, encouraging civic engagement, and cultivating unity,” Giordano says. “Artists often lead the charge and expose truths that may otherwise be ignored. The artists in this exhibition take a stand and call out injustices through their art and activism on issues such as immigration, gender, reproductive rights, mass incarceration, voting rights, racial bias, gun violence, and promises unfulfilled. They all combine the making of art with public service that has a grassroots approach in the hope of mobilizing their communities and the nation to ignite movement, create awareness, and inspire others to stand with them.”

Concurrently with the Heckscher exhibit, Leonard created a site-specific outdoor installation for Planting Fields State Park in Oyster Bay, located in the Taxus Field, on display now through summer 2024.

“We’ve integrated the installation into the landscape,” says Planting Fields’ president and chief executive Gina Wouters. There, Leonard has expanded on her Breach: Logbook 23 concept, with full-sized shipping container integrated into the ground. The shape of the container structure itself is meant to evoke the body of a whale. As you enter through the jaws of a Northern Right Whale, you move through the whale’s body.

“It’s one amazing work with over 1,000 components,” Wurzelbacher notes.

This exhibit, which runs through July 28, is in conjunction with Hofstra’s 13th presidential conference on the Barack Obama presidency coming up in April.

This monumental creation is a sister piece to two other artworks in Leonard’s Contact series. The two earlier works both map New York state. She created the first, “Contact 1,609… (2009),” on the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s “discovery” of Manhattan and what is now called the Hudson River. It is co-owned by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The Autry Museum of The American West in Los Angeles. The second, “Contact 2,021… (2021),” was recently on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and will next be shown at the New York Historical Society beginning in August.

“We were interested in the idea that the artist has a civic responsibility,” says museum director Karen Albert. “The initial idea for this exhibition was inspired by an Obama Administration White House briefing that took place on May 12, 2009, where more than 60 artists and creative organizers met with administration officials to discuss the collective power of the arts to build community, create change, and chart a pathway for national recovery in the areas of social justice, civic participation and activism.”

“It’s essentially a root cellar, which was a natural refrigeration system and means of food sovereignty for indigenous people,” Wouters says. “She added to that the idea of a shipping container, bringing in the theme of whaling, so important to coastal Indigenous groups, yet abused by colonists. It’s an impressive, ambitious installation because of its scale. It’s wonderful to have this collaboration with the museum, and interpreted into our historic landscape.”

Brandi Carlile

Pat McGann is quickly rising as one of the sharpest stand-ups on the comedy scene. A relative latecomer to comedy, he began doing standup at 31 after realizing he was not very good at selling packaging. He hustled his way to become the house emcee at Zanies Chicago, where he distinguished himself as especially adept at working the crowd. A husband and father of three young children, McGann’s appeal stems from his quick wit and relatable take on family life and marriage. In 2017, McGann began touring as the opening act for Sebastian Maniscalco, moving with him from clubs to theater, to arenas, including four soldout shows at Madison Square Garden. McGann’s relatively short, but impressive resume, includes Montreal’s famed Just For Laughs Festival, Gilda’s LaughFest, The Great American Comedy Festival, and more. McGann still calls Chicago home.

Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. $40, $35, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

The folk rocker is back on tour, appearing on the Tilles Center stage. Singer, songwriter, producer, activist, humanitarian, best-selling author — she’s done it all. Since the release of her breakthrough album ‘By the Way, I Forgive You’ in 2018, Carlile has won Grammy awards, earned Billboard’s Women in Music Trailblazer Award, and received several Americana Music Association accolades. She was honored with her seventh, eighth and ninth Grammys this year, winning for best Americana album with ‘In These Silent Days.’ Her song ‘Broken Horses’ won both best rock song and best rock performance. Don’t miss an evening of iconic songs such as ‘The Story,’ ‘That Wasn’t Me’ and ‘The Joke.’ Seemingly everywhere, Carlile has transitioned from an Americana powerhouse to a major headliner beloved by the industry and the public. Carlile’s career has been on a steep upward trajectory and her ‘Bramily’ — as her fans are known — is with her every step of the way.

Yarn/Wire

To that end, unlike other recent exhibits that showcased the museum’s permanent collection, Giordano reached out to contemporary artists who loaned the museum their selected works. Some 36 pieces are on view — representing all media — from Emma Amos, Molly Crabapple and the Equal Justice Initiative, For Freedoms, Miguel Luciano, Michele Pred, Hank Willis Thomas, and Sophia

Another important exhibit component extends Leonard’s ongoing

Friday and Saturday, July 21-22, 8 p.m. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets are $51.50-$481.50; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Now in its 18th year, Adelphi University’s ‘new music’ series welcomes Yarn/Wire. The intrepid New York-based piano-percussion quartet has forged a singular path with

Courtesy Heckscher Museum of Art

Top photo: Courtney Leonard’s large scale map of Long Island is made up of thousands of individual porcelain thumbprints resembling shells.

Courtesy David Almeida/Courtesy Planting Fields Foundation

Right photo: The artist’s first outdoor installation, at Planting Fields, intermingles her art with the landscape.

Can art change the world? It’s a question that’s been at the focus of our collective culture for centuries. Now as society navigates the complexities of modern life, art as a path for social change is at the forefront of artistic expression.

Courtney Leonard brings Long Island’s Indigenous tradition into focus

THE Your Neighborhood

July 28

Penn & Teller

The famed duo steps away from their Las Vegas residency to bring their act on tour, appear on the Tilles Center stage, Friday, July 28, 8 p.m. Penn & Teller’s brand of awe-inspiring illusions mixed with buddy-comedy shtick has kept the duo at the very top of the magic profession for the past 45 years. Their trademark is the updating of worn out or archaic routines, such as bullet catching or their recent adaptation of the classic bag escape trick (their version involved a trash bag and lots of helium). From humble beginnings busking on the streets of Philadelphia to acclaimed sold–out runs on Broadway to the longest running and one of the most-beloved resident headline acts in Vegas history, magic’s legendary duo continues defy labels—and at times physics and good taste — by redefining the genre of magic and inventing their own very distinct niche in comedy. Constantly evolving and refining their unique take on illusion, the pair’s slight of hand is always amazes, whether it’s a fresh take on an old “trick” or something altogether new. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets are $94, $84, $58, $48; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

On exhibit

View the landmark exhibition “Modigliani and the Modern Portrait,” opening at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, July 22. Devoted to the way that Modigliani powerfully re-defined the art of portraiture, the show includes his masterworks along with paintings and drawings by his Parisian contemporaries (Picasso, van Dongen, Laurencin). Modigliani’s enduring influence on artists even in our own time is shown in a selection of Contemporary paintings by such important figures as David Hockney, Eric Fischl, Elizabeth Peyton and others. The exhibition is being curated by Dr. Kenneth Wayne, founder of The Modigliani Project, which authenticates paintings and drawings (two of the works in the show have been recently approved by the committee). Through Nov. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

July 27

Life Science of Summer

Kids ages 6-9 can tour Old Westbury Gardens and examine how science is all around us in nature, Thursday, July 27, 2 p.m. Learn how plants grow and take home your own plant, as you participate in experiments of the water cycle and how we can use science to change the color of a flower both naturally and artificially. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

Baldwin Car Night

Stop by Atlantic Avenue for Car Night at Fireman’s Field, every Thursday, 5-9 p.m. With a DJ, hotrods and classics, antique, and trucks. $3 donation per carload for the Firefighter Stephen Barry Memorial Scholarship fund. Enjoy an evening of cars, tunes, and conversation Sponsored by Hook & Ladder Company Two, Baldwin Fire Department. For more information, call (516) 2236858.

Hot Diggity Dog

It’s barbecue season and Long Island Children’s Museum is feeling in the spirit, Kids can celebrate National Hot Dog Month by making a customized hot dog craft to bring home, at the drop-in program, Sunday, July 30, 1-3 p.m. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Aug. 17

Write on: College essay workshop

Not sure how to get started on your college essay? The Hofstra University Admission Office is offering a virtual workshop to help high school students learn the skills to tell their story in a way that helps them stand out. The final workshop, Thursday, Aug. 17, 4-5 p.m., is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Hear from Hofstra Admission counselors about how to brainstorm topics, and compose a thoughtful essay that shows your personality, talents and interests. For more information about Hofstra Admission’s other virtual summer workshops, go to Admission.Hofstra.edu/portal/ virtual_admission_webinars. To schedule a summer in-person visit go to: Hofstra.edu/visit.

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.

Food Truck Fridays

Stop by Baldwin Community Garden, Friday, Aug. 4, 5:30-8 p.m. Enjoy varied foods and entertainment. Participating food trucks include Waffle Chic, Kool Kat, Amped Panadas, NY Sausage, Kannoli King, and The Big Cheese. First Friday monthly. 1980 Grand Ave For more information, call (516) 274-9008.

Having an event?

July 21

Summer tunes

It’s night of tributes to musical icons at Eisenhower Park, Friday, July 21, 8 p.m. Enjoy Lamar Peters as Elvis Presley and Beyond Fab with their take on the great Beatles tunes. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

Talent Show Fundraiser For Michael

Support the talent show fundraiser, Saturday, July 22, at 6:30 p.m., hosted by Hangout One Happy Place, at Baldwin Harbor Town Park. Proceeds benefit Michael, who was hit by a van in January and suffered severe head trauma. The funds collected will go to his family to help with transportation and anything else they may need. For more information, call (516) 375-1102.

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.

Westbury House Tour

For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond the first floor corridor. Now go beyond the door and discover “secrets of the service wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour, Friday, July 21, noon; Sunday, July 23, 1:30 p.m.; Monday, July 24, noon; Wednesday and Thursday, July 26-27, noon. Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Go along the corridors to the butler’s pantry and silver cleaning room then descend the 17 steps to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage rooms located on the ground floor. Reservations required. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

July 27

Mindful mornings

Practice the “art” of looking at art at Nassau County Museum of Art, Thursday, July 27, 10-11 a.m., with NCMA Director of Education Laura Lynch. Mindful looking invites you to observe, question, and calmly reflect in a relaxed and supportive environment free of distraction. It’s an opportunity to experience and enjoy the art in the galleries or sculpture garden, together, making personal connection. $10. Space is limited and registration required. Also Aug. 3. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

On stage

Plaza Theatricals brings the iconic musical “Rent,” back to the stage, Friday, July 21, 7:30 p.m. The acclaimed reimagining of “La Vie Boheme,” loosely based on Puccini’s opera and set on East Village streets, fire escapes, tenements, and cafes. This groundbreaking roller coaster ride depicting the joys and sorrows of an eclectic, diverse group of young artists and activists is always captivating. It’s performed at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $35, $30 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Newest defense against sharks? Drones

By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK Special to the Herald

The water is getting warmed along the southern shorelines of Long Island — the kind of water that attracts all kinds of marine life, including sharks.

The aquatic creatures have made their presence known in recent years, and 2023 was no exception. In fact, state officials warned Long Island beaches in particular could see a lot more sharks — and the sharks delivered.

There already have been five sharkrelated incidents on Long Island beaches this year, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul — most of them occurring around July 4. And there is still plenty of summer left.

Last year, there were eight shark bites on Long Island — for the entire season.

“We went from having one shark encounter in 2012 to eight just a decade later,” Hochul shared at a news conference last week at the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center. “Sharks are coming closer, and this is good news because the water is pristine, it’s cleaner than it was 50 years ago. But it’s also something that we need to be on-guard about.”

Lifeguards have access to Yamaha WaveRunner jetskis to better patrol the waters, and there has been more training for police and lifeguards on how to deal with sharks. And technology will come into play as well, with Hochul announcing 60 new drones will be deployed to supple

“We want to make sure that none of our communities ever appear on ‘Shark Week,’ which premieres at the end of the month,” Hochul said of the popular Discovery Channel series.

Various shark species can migrate to Long Island, according to the state’s environmental conservation department, including the feared great white shark featured in Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws.” But the most common sharks on Long Island

How to avoid sharks

■ Stay close to shore in designated swimming areas

■ Avoid swimming in areas with schools of fish, diving birds, or seals

■ Do not swim at dawn, dusk, or nighttime

an integrated way of monitoring all the shark movements,” he said. “If you take proper precautions like swimming in a protected area, if you don’t go in the water where this schools of fish or seals, you’re going to be completely safe. But on top of that, we in Nassau County have our helicopters in the air, and all-terrain vehicles that are available.”

What’s driving the shark activity on Long Island in recent years? Hochul has two theories — not necessarily at odds with one another.

are sandbar sharks, dusky sharks, and sand tiger sharks.

Sand tiger sharks —the species featured at Riverhead’s Long Island Aquarium — are typically docile, but have been identified as reportedly responsible for a few of the bites this year.

These measures are important for keeping Long Island beaches safe, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. “We have a very unified group that has

“Over the last 50 years, extraordinary measures have been taken to clean up the water here to make sure that it’s safe for swimmers and deal with the pollutants,” the governor said. “As a result, the sea creatures that are consumed by sharks are moving in closer — the sharks are following their dinner. I don’t know if this is proven, but the fact that the waters are warmer due to climate change may also be a driver.”

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

Flanked by Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages and state Sen. Kevin Thomas, Gov. Kathy Hochul shows off some of the drones that will be used to survey the waters on Long Island’s South Shore for sharks.

The county’s finances are better than ever

Nassau County finished 2022 with more money than it expected — $435 million more, in fact.

And taxpayers can credit sound fiscal management as well as higher-thanexpected sales tax revenue, according to Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips. The county actually spent $40 million more than the $3.9 billion it brought in last year, but $475 million in other financing sources more than offset it.

At the same time, the county stopped deferring mandatory pension contributions, paying off $123 million in past deferrals, and another $30 million that remained. Because of that, Nassau is current on its pension obligations for the first time in more than a decade.

The county also settled its lawsuit with Long Island Power Authority/ National Grid last year over taxes on two of the utility’s properties. This ultimately reduced the county’s long-term viability from $707 million in 2021 to $383 million at the end of last year.

The news could mean the end is near for the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority, which was created in 2000 following the government economic issues of the county in the 1990s. The county’s finances have improved so dramatically over the last several years, Phillips said, the county actually no longer meets the conditions that would require the oversight.

Crime

Man arrested for driving while under the influence

Baldwin resident David Dorsey was arrested last Sunday for driving while intoxicated in Baldwin.

According to police, an officer on routine patrol observed a grey 2020 Hyundai Sonata commit multiple vehicle traffic violations and conducted a vehicle and traffic stop on Clyde Road. The officer approached the vehicle and observed the driver, who had glassy eyes and the odor of alcohol emanating from his breath.

Further investigation revealed the driver to have blood shot, watery eyes, and to be unsteady on his feet resulting in positive results on the sobriety test.

Dorsey was placed under arrest without incident. No injuries were reported. The vehicles passenger, a 10-year-old, was released into the custody of a family member that responded to scene.

Dorsey is charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated under the Leandra’s Law, endangering the welfare of a child, driving while intoxicated, first degree of aggravated unlicensed operation, and multiple vehicle and traffic infractions. Dorsey was arraigned this past Monday at First District Court, 99 Main Street Hempstead.

— Ben Fiebert

Health care and social assistance makes up 23 percent of Nassau’s employment sector — more than 140,000 people — with retail trade and government the only other employers accounting for more than 10 percent of the workforce.

The median household income in Nassau County is just below $127,000, compared to $75,000 across the rest of the state, while unemployment is just above 3 percent. The rest of New York is just over 4.5 percent.

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.

ELAINE PHILLIPS

Few public updates since board’s creation

yet we pay taxes for a service we don’t get,” Denenberg said to the crowd, referring to those in Liberty’s service area who pay utility and other taxes to the county and town, but do not receive public water. Reinhardt said later that Denenberg’s statement was inaccurate, as those in Liberty’s service area do not have a water line on their tax bill, while those in public water districts do.

Denenberg introduced Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, who sponsored a bill to provide the water authority with $1 million in funding for the acquisition. She was met with a round of applause.

“The intention was to make sure the burden of financing is not on the citizen,” Solages said. “We’ve had many feasibility studies, even done by the state of New York, and we know this is possible. Let’s move forward and get it done.”

After 20 minutes, the board returned from its executive session, and the meeting was opened to public questions and comments. Denenberg asked why it had taken 17 months for the authority to hold a public meeting while the North Shore’s has had four.

“We are well ahead of the North Shore Water Authority,” Reinhardt said. “They’ve had four meetings so far where they’ve come forward and said, ‘We have nothing.’ Their website says everything is ‘to be determined.’ They’ve taken no action.”

Reinhardt later added that the South

Nassau board didn’t want to hold a public meeting without having information available to present because it could create an “angry situation.”

Responding to the questions about the time that had passed since the board’s creation with seemingly no action taken, Reinhardt said, “You don’t buy a house without having it inspected, without

knowing the condition of the house. This is a half-a-billion-dollar house that we’re buying.”

“This is this board moving forward potentially with buying a utility company in the names of you and all the other ratepayers in the room,” he added. “We’re doing that after we do due diligence to make sure that there aren’t massive liabil-

ities out there.”

Rabbi Howard Nacht, of Merrick, told the board, “I urge you to move forward expeditiously to accomplish (the acquisition).

“Bring us in line with the other 97 percent of people who are paying for water in this state,” he added, referring to residents who receive public than private water service. Nacht’s comments were applauded by the crowd.

“Right now we’re paying these extreme prices for water, and the ratepayers are suffering,” Solages said, also suggesting that the board request emergency funding from Albany for the takeover. “We have an affordability crisis, and we really need to work expeditiously to ensure that we are saving the ratepayers money.”

Fred Harrison, a volunteer for the environmental group Food and Water Watch, commended the board’s previously unknown efforts in the acquisition process.

“We’ve waited an awful long time, and that’s why the frustrations are boiling out, even though you gave us good news,” Harrison said. “Because there is good news. I wish I knew that this commission had done that process. I had no idea that you had authorized any investigation.”

“I wish you well, but we’re going to be watching,” he added. “And I know we’re all going to be here at future meetings.”

Those meetings will be announced on the South Nassau Water Authority’s website, SouthNassauWater.org.

Nicole Formisano/Herald John reinhardt, temporary president of the South nassau Water authority, explained the lack of public meetings.

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Formation: Instincts Media LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 06/05/2023. Office: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 891 N. William St. Baldwin, NY 11510. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 140124

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU US

BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST DARREN WAINER, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 24, 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 July 27, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 19 EDNA COURT, 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 54, Block 104, Lot 31. Approximate amount of judgment $353,428.02 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #606607/2021. 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”. Hayley

R. Greenberg, Esq, Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221

19-004430 76516

104200

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 RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff, vs. VICKIE REINA, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 24, 2019, 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 August 8, 2023 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 3186 Grand Avenue, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54., Block 566 and Lot 37.

Approximate amount of judgment is $702,079.43 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 1788/2017. 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. No cash will be accepted.

Ellen Savino, Esq., Referee

Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 180341-1 140460

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY FSB, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLEY AS TRUSTEE FOR FINANCE OF AMERICA STRUCTURED ACQUISTION TRUST 2019-HB1, Plaintiff, vs. GERI F. NUSSBAUM AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN OF IRWIN NUSSBAUM, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 9, 2020 and an Order for Extension of Time to Conduct Foreclosure Sale duly entered on January 9, 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 August 8, 2023 at 3:00 p.m., premises known as 1000 Howard Court, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54, Block 583 and Lot 22.

Approximate amount of judgment is $447,979.56 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #001179/2017. 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.

Lisa Segal Poczik, Esq., Referee Greenspoon Marder, 590 Madison Avenue, Suite 1800, New York, NY 10022, Attorneys for Plaintiff 140427

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff - against - FADJAH SANON-JULES A/K/A

FADJAH SANON JULES, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on December 6, 2022. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 “Rain or Shine” on the 15th day of August, 2023 at 2:00 PM.

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.

Premises known as 1245 Lynne Street, Baldwin, NY 11510.

(Section: 36, Block: 538, Lot: 2)

Approximate amount of lien $1,063,723.35 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 007600/2015.

Mark S. Ricciardi, Esq., Referee. McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170

Tel. 347/286-7409

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

Dated: June 13, 2023

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent

closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.

140636

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff, vs. JOHN TAYLOR A/K/A JOHN W. TAYLOR III, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF JOMARCEL TAYLOR A/K/A JOMARCEL M. TAYLOR, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Amended Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 27, 2022 and a Short Form Order duly entered on July 20, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 15, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 59 Woodland Estates Drive, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 36, Block 547 and Lot 68. Approximate amount of judgment is $379,201.26 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 007762/2013. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Charles J. Casolaro, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.

212719-1

140665

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,

Meadow places second in international competition

Students from Meadow Elementary School were among the top winners in this year’s Future Problem Solving Program International, FPSPI, annual competition at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, taking home second place in the junior division.

The five-day international competition drew at least 2,500 problemsolving champions from the over 250,000 students who competed at local and regional levels throughout the school year from 37 states and 14 countries, including Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.

This was the first time Baldwin Union Free School District placed at the international level.

To be granted the opportunity to compete at the highest level in problem solving, students had to win first place at the state championships in order to advance to FPSPI.

Meadow had previously won the New York Future Problem Solvers, NYFPS, competition along with Baldwin Middle School.

Under the supervision of their school advisors Emily Clark and Pria Das, the fourth and fifth graders placed second at both the state and international competitions for their unique book sharing program, which aims to instill a love for reading in children, especially for those who

cannot easily access books. Called Project B.A.L.D.W.I.N., or Books Available for Lending and Distributing Within our Ideal Networks, the free lending libraries created by the Meadow future problem solvers can be found on the official “Little Free Library” location site.

The students also designed a website featuring read-alouds performed by Meadow teachers.

Additionally, Baldwin students may opt to keep any books they discover in the lending libraries that they especially enjoy reading to help foster this love of reading.

The Meadow students were decorated with medals and honored with a shimmering emerald trophy during the FPSPI awards ceremony following the global competition.

Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 7/26/23 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 468/23. BALDWIN - Leivy Pena, Special exception to maintain accessory structure (gazebo) higher & larger than permitted & exceeds horizontal maximum on both sides., W/s Park Ave., 74’ N/o Robin Ct., a/k/a 2500 Park Ave. N.C.P.C. Local determination.

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.

140782

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE

DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE #23-JA-10

COUNTY OF GRANVILLE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

IN RE: M.J. (FILE #23-JA-10)

TO: Kearra Shantelle Josephs as to your male child born 01/17/2012 (23-JA-10).

TAKE NOTICE that pleadings seeking relief against you by the Granville County Department of Social Services have been filed in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief sought is adjudication as to your

male child born 01/17/2012 (23-JA-10), to be a dependent juvenile. You are required to make defense to such pleadings not later than August 29, 2023 and upon your failure to do so; the party seeking relief against you will apply to the court for the relief set out hereinabove.

This the 11th day of July, 2023 Gerald

— Ben Fiebert

Courtesy Mary Furcht Students from Meadow Elementary School placed second in this year’s Future Problem Solving Program International annual competition.

PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT

EAST ROCKAWAY JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (2 POSITIONS)

12 Month Position

Starting Salary $48,044–$50,462; increase pending contract negotiations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS PER NASSAU COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE

PArAProfeSSioNAlS f/t: $23,736 - $24,286

Salary Commensurate with School Related Experience

fooD Service helPer P/t SubStituteS: $15.58/hr.

cleANer SubStituteS: $18.00/hr.

buS Driver SubStituteS: $22.50/hr.

SecuritY AiDeS (DAYS & eveNiNgS): F/T (7 hours) $22.28/hr.

NYS Security Guard Licensing required, law enforcement background preferred

mAiNtAiNer (7:00 A.m. – 4:00 P.m.)

Salary commensurate with experience

Send Cover Letter & Resume to: egomez@bmchsd.org or eric gómez

Assistant Superintendent – Personnel & Administration

1260 meadowbrook road, N. merrick, NY 11566

Additional information can be found on our website at: www.bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

ASSISTANT TEACHERS: For Yeshiva

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Bellmore-Merrick

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To Arrange For An Interview

Civil Project Engineer: Involve in document control, safety reports, billings, contracts, subcontract, award letters, bid tabulations, executive summaries. Understand construction process and MEP equipment.

Assemble project turnover requirements submittals, O&M manuals, warranties/guarantees. Coordinate and involve in regular schedule and budget updates; monthly report preparation; and coordination of daily activities. Prepare safety reports. Track daily reporting; assist in monitoring LEED submissions. Prepare and coordinate presentations. Change order tracking; review monthly payment requisitions. Work loc: Port Washington, NY. Travel & relocation possible to unanticipated locs throughout

Training and Experience

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university, AND

Four years of satisfactory administrative staff experience, which must include participating in budget preparation, and/or personnel and/or procurement activities.

NOTE: 1. Experience, as outlined above, in excess of the four-year requirement, may be substituted for college education on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of four years.

2. A Master’s degree from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university may be substituted for one year of the experience as outlined above.

Anticipated Start Date: Upon Civil Service Approval

Please submit letter of interest and resume to: Ms. Diane Drakopoulos Personnel Clerk 443 Ocean Avenue East Rockaway, NY 11518 516-887-8300, x1-441 Email: ddrakopoulos@eastrockawayschools.org

Manager On Duty

At Blaze, Old Bethpage Village Outdoors From September Through November 5-8 Hour Shifts. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For All Issues That May Occur During The Event, Seeing Each Through To Resolution. Serve As The Primary Point Of Contact For Emergency Personnel Hourly Rate $25-$30 To Apply: https://hudsonvalley.org/ employment/

MEDICAL FRONT DESK Monday- Thursday 9am- 6:30pm. Computer Literate. Valley Stream. Fax Info to 516-295-0017

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

Part Time, Various Shifts. Retirees Welcome. Duties include: \Patrols throughout the Village, issuance of code violation citations. Qualifications: HS graduate or equivalent. Valid driver’s license with satisfactory driving record. Contact: Inc. Village of Atlantic Beach 516-371-4600 e-mail office@villageofatlanticbeach.com

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PROFESSIONAL TAILOR For Dry Cleaners In Merrick. Flexible Days And Hours. Call 646-593-1357

VALLEY

SCHOOL DISTRICT #24

75 Horton Avenue • Valley Stream, NY 11581

The Board of Education is seeking qualified applicants for the position of:

DISTRICT CLERK

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Good Clerical and Computer Skills, including Microsoft WORD, and speed writing

• Part-time Position – Approximately 15 to 20 hours per week, plus two evenings per month

• Principal responsibility includes preparing all Agendas, taking Minutes at all Board meetings, copying of all documents for Board and maintaining Board of Education records.

• Responsible for all aspects of Annual School District Budget Vote and Election of Board members

Send cover letter and resume to: Board of Education Valley Stream School District 24 75 Horton Avenue Valley Stream, NY 11581

1222852

RECEPTIONIST FULL TIME: Busy OBGYN Office Rockville Centre. Answering Phones, Filing, Checking Insurance. Maureen 516-764-1095

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Can I just start putting up walls?

Q. I’m doing a commercial space to expand my business, and I’m in a quandary about a lot of things I wasn’t expecting. First, the landlord is only giving me two months to build out the space, and I’m being told that’s not enough time to get plans and permits, which the landlord doesn’t seem to care about. If I just start putting up walls, is that acceptable? Will I get a violation if I get caught? Also, I was told I need a plumbing permit for a new sink and toilet — the ones that are there are disgusting. If I hire an expeditor to get the plans and permit, can they also get the plumbing permit so I can do the work myself? I was hoping this would go smoothly, but I can see there are going to be problems. What can I expect?

A. You didn’t say what the business was, and the first step is to confirm, with a search of records, whether the use is permitted. For example, some uses require special approvals, and each jurisdiction has limitations.

Tattoo parlors, animal sales and boarding, auto body work — these are a few of the many types of businesses that require special review, sometimes by a zoning board, a village, town or city board or both in the same municipality.

Just a heads-up: Your landlord only wants to rent the space. A landlord was put on the phone recently while I was going over a similar circumstance, and told me he expected the tenant would eventually get the permit, but it isn’t his problem. To answer your question, if you did get caught, the landlord or owner of the property is the responsible party, and can face violations in court, fines and, in extremely rare cases, conviction and jail for serious violations, especially calamities leading to death. Those are the ones we hear about in the news.

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An expeditor generally won’t be your first choice, since expediting is the handling of paperwork and filing. You need professionally prepared and sealed plans showing the space, fully noted and dimensioned, with code references to specific safety issues for the use. A pharmacy will have different requirements and licensing than a beauty salon or a day care, for example. Usually, a ceiling plan showing locations of lighting, emergency equipment, sprinkler heads, emergency lights and exit signs is required, along with heating and air conditioning vents and diffusers.

Depending on the locality, you may not be allowed to do your own construction or plumbing work, and if you were to ask, local building departments expect the licensed plumber to get their own permit, showing proof of licensing to do work in that community. I know, and building officials are well aware, that work goes on all the time without the delay of the permit process. Just keep in mind that public safety is everyone’s responsibility. Verify that the work is safe and code-compliant. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper

question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

Ask

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At this dinner, true patriotism was on vivid display

Recently I attended the annual Patriot Award Dinner hosted by the Seaford High School 9/11 Memorial Committee. This event, and other 9/11 programs in Seaford, are administered by the Memorial Committee, which was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, with the commitment to “always remember.”

Communities across Long Island were devastated by 9/11. None, however, has been more consistent or wideranging in its dedication to preserving the memory and legacy of that day and its victims than Seaford.

In November 2002, a commemorative plaza was constructed at the entrance to Seaford High School, dedicated to the alumni who lost their lives: New York City Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom Haskell, FDNY Firefighter Tim Haskell, New York City Police Officer John Perry, Robert Sliwak and Michael Wittenstein.

Each year on Sept. 11, more than 1,000 people attend a memorial at the plaza — last year, undaunted by a driving rain. Since 2002, Patriot Award scholarships

totaling more than $235,000 have been given to 112 Seaford High seniors who reflect the values of the graduates who died on 9/11. Honorary Patriot Awards have been presented to 59 people who selflessly service the Seaford community.

District students make field trips to the 9/11 Memorial at ground zero.

This year’s dinner was held at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. As always, there was a large turnout, more than 300 people. The mood in the room was a mix of energy and respect. There was the energy of people who have been working for two decades to ensure that the memories and legacy of that day are preserved, along with respect for those who died and their family members, who were at the dinner, as they have been at so many commemorations over the years.

Among those sitting at my table were Monsignor Steve Camp and members of the Haskell family. Camp, now the pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Huntington, was a priest at St. William the Abbot in Seaford in September 2001. He officiated at funerals for victims of the attacks, and with his compassion and concern that did so much to help not only the victims’ families, but the Seaford community as well.

Tom and Tim Haskell were heroic FDNY members, as was their brother, Ken, who survived that day, and has dedicated so much to the Memorial Committee as its president. With Ken at the table were his mother, Maureen; his wife, Genene; their sons Kenny and Ryan; Ken’s sister, Dawn; and Tom’s widow, Barbara. No family has endured more than the Haskells. Somehow their spirit remains as strong as ever — as does the spirit of the other 9/11 families.

Seeing so many neighbors, friends and other familiar faces, I was pleased and reassured by the number of young people who were there who weren’t yet born on Sept. 11, 2001. I also gave a special hello to my sister, Barbara, a Seaford High graduate who put so much effort into making the dinner a success.

The student scholarship winners were very impressive, as were the Honorary Patriot Award recipients. Longtime Seaford High officials Tom Condon and Ray Buckley, who played strong leadership roles in forming the Memorial Committee and have continued their efforts to this day, spoke movingly, and then led everyone in an emotional and spirited rendition of “God Bless America.”

All these good, hardworking people gathered to show their unfailing dedication and commitment to their community and country more than two decades after America’s darkest hour exemplify patriotism at its best.

As I left that night, I thought about how wonderful it would be if the spirit of selfless dedication and commitment that these Seaford residents still demonstrate could once again predominate in our divided country. If the sense of unity and respect that Americans had in the days, weeks and months after the attacks could somehow be re-established. If we could work together on issues where we agree, try to find common ground where we disagree and do so respectfully, always remembering that we are Americans.

The terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 could not destroy us or break our spirit. Instead we emerged more united. We owe it to our nation, and all those who were murdered that day, not to divide against ourselves, but rather to do all we can to recapture the unity we had then, and never forget that we are still the greatest nation on earth. As the hundreds of Seaford residents proudly sang at the conclusion of the Patriot Award Dinner, let us all proudly proclaim, “God Bless America!”

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

Chimps face N.Y. court test of ‘personhood’

W“hen you meet chimps, you meet individual personalities. When a baby chimp looks at you, it’s just like a human baby. We have a responsibility to them.”

–Jane Goodall, animal right activist

U.S. Some 850 live in laboratories. About 250 chimps are in accredited zoos, 600 in sanctuaries, and 250 in private hands, such as carnivals and low-end zoos.

rarely accelerated new discoveries or the advancement of human health.”

The report added, “The majority of NIH-owned chimpanzees should be designated for retirement and transferred to the federal sanctuary system.”

Randi is on a brief leave. This column was originally published June 11-17, 2015.

Chimpanzee stories invite cheap shots, jokes and memories of J. Fredd Muggs (a regular on “The Today Show”), but the true story of these primates in modern times is both shameful and tragic. The continuing abuse of chimpanzees in research, and a New York state lawsuit arguing the “personhood” of chimps, demand our focused attention and action.

Chimpanzees are one of the four great apes, along with gorillas, bonobos and orangutans. But chimps are closer to humans in their DNA than they are to any of their ape brethren. They know how to use tools, have opposable thumbs and can learn sign language. They pass the “mirror” test, recognizing themselves in reflective glass, and they are self-aware; express grief, depression and joy; and play jokes on one another.

RANDI KREISS

Chimpanzees share 95 to 98 percent of our DNA. They are native to Africa and they are endangered, with only 180,000 to 300,000 remaining. Fifty years ago, there were probably a million chimpanzees roaming Africa. Deforestation, poaching and some people’s taste for bush meat have depleted the population.

Nearly 2,000 chimpanzees live in the

Yet for decades, these animals have been used for research in the U.S., by the National Institutes of Health and by medical schools and pharmaceutical companies. This research rests on the presumption that as higher beings, we have the right to subject other living creatures to pain and suffering to improve our own health and longevity.

The awful irony is that in 2011, the National Academy of Sciences concluded, “Most current biomedical research use of chimpanzees is not necessary.” In addition, a 2013 NIH report confirmed, “Research involving chimpanzees has

We are the only developed country in the world that continues to use chimpanzees in invasive experiments. A number of countries, including Australia, the European Union, Japan and New Zealand, have banned the use of all great apes in experiments.

What got me thinking about the shameful legacy of abuse of chimpanzees was the news in April of a lawsuit filed by the Nonhuman Rights Project seeking “personhood” status for two chimpanzees, Hercules and Leo, now being held at Stony Brook University.

If the apes are freed, they will go to Chimp Haven, a sanctuary for retired and rehabilitated chimpanzees in Florida. According to a spokesman, NhRP is not seeking personhood for apes so they can roam the streets. It is seeking only one specific right: the right to one’s bodily freedom, the freedom not to be taken and kept involuntarily for any purpose.

When I brought this subject up for dis-

cussion at a dinner table this week, the reaction of my friends — all kind, wellinformed people — was complete lack of concern for or interest in chimpanzees, abused or otherwise. They trotted out the old argument about it being OK to experiment on animals so people can live better lives. They said they just couldn’t care about what happens to chimpanzees. They asked where I would draw the line. OK to experiment on dogs? Rats? Fruit flies?

I do draw a line. No experimentation on any higher-functioning animal that is sentient, but self-aware and capable of emoting feelings and socialization. I can be OK with experimenting on mice and rats and fruit flies and other lower life forms.

We don’t have the moral right to experiment on chimpanzees. The systematic torture of chimps, once considered “research” and now discredited by the NIH as inhumane and ineffectual, must stop. Please join me in supporting Jane Goodall’s work to save and rehabilitate chimpanzees. Go to janegoodall.org, where you can learn, donate or volunteer.

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

The U.S. continues to use chimpanzees in invasive experiments.

We need to rekindle the sense of unity we had in the days after 9/11.

HERALD

Staying safe from shark close encounters

it won’t be long before the iconic film “Jaws” turns 50 — a fact that’s just difficult to imagine.

Yet this single movie, from a then unknown director named Steven Spielberg, singlehandedly created the summer blockbuster model many studios work to recreate every year, and proved the big screen could deliver big thrills.

But “Jaws” had another, more lasting effect on society. It made many people fearful — or, at least, more cautious — about going to the beach. And it turned sharks, like the great white featured in Spielberg’s film, from ocean predators to living, breathing and biting beasts of pure evil.

Humans are a land species. Put us in the water and we’re at a clear disadvantage against anything that might mean us harm living in that environment. Especially something that can weigh more than two tons while boasting more than 300 teeth. Vigilance when in the water is essential — but demonizing an animal for simply acting on its nature is not.

In the years following the release of “Jaws,” many fishermen set out to hunt the great white, deeming the slaughter that came with it — cutting the population nearly in half — a way to rid the world of a man-eating predator.

But sharks are sharks, and for us to enjoy the ocean, we have to find ways of sharing it with these creatures, and everything else living below the waves. No one wants to be bitten, and hopefully most of us would rather stay as far away from

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Randi’s tribute to journalists still rings true — even today

To the Editor:

Keep your distance from the sharks

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in Florida where more than half of the country’s shark attacks happen each year says it’s always good to stay in groups, since sharks are more likely to bite someone swimming alone. Also, don’t wander too far from shore especially if it isolates you from other swimmers. It also takes you farther away from any help you could receive from land. Avoid the water at twilight or after dark. Those are the hours when sharks are most active. Even during the day, if the water is murky, be extra careful. And most important, stay in areas watched by lifeguards.

sharks as possible. Yet the cleaner, warmer waters splashing onto the beaches of Long Island will indeed attract all kinds of aquatic life, and sharks won’t be far behind.

Drones certainly make a difference, with the state tripling the number of the flying camera-equipped contraptions patrolling local beaches. They can cover more territory in a short time, rather than simply putting lifeguards on WaveRunners, and beachgoers are getting the added protection of both.

Long Island beaches attract a number of species of sharks, although few of them, other than dusky sharks and the great whites featured in “Jaws,” pose any immediate danger. But it’s still imperative to stay away, because if a shark did decide to turn on you, it’s a battle you likely wouldn’t win.

Sharks are the ocean’s dominant predator for sure — and humans should stay far away from them — but they aren’t evil. We shouldn’t be happy when a shark is killed, or wish for a world in which they don’t exist.

In the end, sharks are a key component to our very fragile marine ecosystem. And they are dying, with few people standing up to defend them because of the fear perpetuated by movies like “Jaws” and annual television events like Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week.”

Even Spielberg regrets how the great white was portrayed in his 1975 film. When a British radio personality asked him last year how he’d feel if he lived on a desert island surrounded by sharks, the Oscar-winning director said it’s something he fears. “Not to get eaten by a shark,” he added, “but that sharks are somehow mad at me for the feeding frenzy of crazy sport fishermen that happened after 1975.”

Sharks may not actually hold grudges, but we can share the ocean with them, and keep ourselves safe, by steering clear of them. It’s the only way we can have the fun, relaxing summer we’ve always enjoyed on Long Island beaches.

Re Randi Kreiss’s column last week (reprised from Sept. 11-17, 2014), “Journalists become targets for jihadists”: We, in the field, doing the coverage and writing the story and taking the photographs, know the truth. The courage lies in the reporting of that truth.

Many of us are doing local, community news coverage, and our readers (and viewers) want our presentation of the facts and our intelligent analysis. We are in the same tradition of those who report the news from abroad. We must take chances to offer the public the facts.

I am one of an old breed. It is my personal and deep passion to (try to) make a difference. Whereas building a house, or representing others in court, or even serving as an elected official, can be meritorious, I take photographs. I offer them to news sources all over the world. I imagine when they are displayed in some newspaper, someone, somewhere, may say: “This is truth.”

However, this hopeful wish on my part may be completely false. As more and more photos are cre-

ated and offer images of terrible events in the world, the public may become numb, and people may say, “I can’t change anything in the world, and these terrible photos just make me feel really sad.”

Professor Lauren Walsh, of New York University, wrote about this common public reaction recently in an article in the global documentary magazine Zeke. “What is the value of a photojournalist?” Walsh wrote. In

You have no idea what teachers deal with

His name was David, and he killed himself in my second year of teaching.

The Long Island high school stopped functioning that day. David was an enormous personality. A terrific athlete with a giant grin. Some of his basketball friends read poems they wrote about him at his funeral.

David ended his life 11 years ago, and I still remember him now and then. The time I beat him in an impromptu rap battle between classes. He bounded down the hall, yelling, “Nolan is nice!”

The time I pranked him by pretending that a phone call from the main office directed him to pack his stuff and go to the principal’s office. (David was a habitual linecrosser.)

Or how I tried to teach him about selffulfilling prophecies, perhaps out of some intuition of the storm that surely raged within him.

I see his face, remember specific moments. David was a gifted athlete — not a great student, but what a personality. I spoke at his wake about how he brought people together. He knew every-

one, and everyone knew him. He was kind to other students.

His death remains the single worst experience I had as a teacher. I sought help for him, but I was a second-year teacher and didn’t realize how much danger he was in. No one did, not even his friends. I tried to put the pieces together afterward, to see how I missed any signs, but I only found more questions.

Two weeks ago, a former student of mine died in a dirt-bike crash. Last month, the murderer of a student I knew was sentenced. A year before his murder, two students I knew were attacked in the woods by a group wielding machetes, and left with scars on their necks and scalps.

When I started teaching, I quickly realized how many kids were suffering. Neighbors don’t always fully grasp the depth of hardship in their own communities. Students deal with abusive and drugand alcohol-dependent parents, incarcerated siblings, and violence in their neighborhoods — in addition to run-of-the-mill adolescent angst, which can be turbulent enough.

My wife teaches elementary school, and has come home crying because of the stress some of her students — some as young as 5 — have had to bear.

One time she asked a little girl why

Letters

the end, she stated that it is to offer visual evidence — evidence that offers proof when atrocities are committed by autocratic leaders, and that allows legal action to be taken to compensate the oppressed.

Thus, the photojournalist bears witness to the truth with visual evidence. I offer that critical truth, and I may actually change the world: I take photographs to protect the oppressed! And those overseas reporters, journalists and photojournalists — I believe, in my heart, they are in agreement.

If you want to do your own research on journalists abroad, look into the Committee to Project Journalists, at cpj.org.

JOe ABATe Writer/photographer Island Park

Two bills could expand recycling

To the editor:

New York has a chance to pass two bills that could significantly reduce the state’s plastic waste and improve its current recycling system: the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A.5322/S.4246) and the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill (A.6353/S.237A).

If passed, the Packaging Reduction

and Recycling Infrastructure Act would be the most progressive extended producer responsibility law in the country. The law would reduce packaging by 50 percent over 12 years, and remove 12 toxic chemicals from packaging — including PFAS, lead, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants.

It would also prevent “chemical recycling” — or incineration — to count as recycling.

New York City spends $448 million to export its waste out of the state. Some of this waste ends up at the Covanta incinerator in Newark, where it pollutes an environmental justice community. By shifting the responsibility of recycling costs from taxpayers to packaging companies, the law would also ensure investments in reuse and refill systems and funding to improve recycling.

The Bigger, Better Bottle Bill would expand the current law, first passed in 1982. It would help reduce waste from common containers not currently under the law. To date, there are only nickel deposits on soda, beer and water. This bill would add non-carbonated containers like lemonade, iced tea, liquor and wine.

Moreover, the bottle bill would increase the deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents, which has proven to increase recycling rates and reduce bottle waste in states that have passed similar laws. It would also increase

she looked so tired. The answer? Her family had been huddled together all night in a corner of their basement, hiding from a gang that threatened to shoot up the house.

Another year, my wife taught a boy who, as a toddler, had been found by police sleeping on his murdered father’s chest. A group of teens had broken into the house and shot the dad.

This is part of education on Long Island. You can be certain that in just about every school there are students dealing with unimaginable grief and stress.

The mental, and at times physical, stress of helping children cope with grief can be overwhelming for a teacher. Knowing a child will go home — if he has a home — to an empty pantry, a house filled with trash or walls marked by bullet holes isn’t something you can just shelve at the end of the day.

A big part of 21st-century education is emotional learning. Mindfulness is a focus in classrooms, in the form of yoga and lessons on empathy and expressing emotions. Teachers benefit by learning these techniques, and being part of the conversation with their students.

During and after the pandemic, schools were, and still are, stretched to near the breaking point. Teachers have

endured ridiculous stress levels with pandemic-mandated changes, drops in highstakes test scores, being under fire by political groups for myriad illogical reasons, and more.

Yes, other professions are stressful. Highlighting the hardships of one job doesn’t exclude or diminish others. Law enforcement, first responders, social workers, landscapers, nurses, drivers — they all face stress and job-related hardship.

But there is a misconception that teachers are overpaid for four hours of work a day and summers off. How could that be stressful? Some people overlook the fact that teaching is more than time in a classroom, and involves more than helping a student learn the significance of Bastille Day.

Most teachers I know use the summer to decompress, and then plan and reimagine their classroom and teaching style. They take courses, read deeply, and contemplate better ways to motivate students.

As summer kicks into high gear, take a moment to thank a teacher and wish them a well-deserved break. It won’t be long before they’re helping a student with much more than long division.

Mark Nolan, the editor of the Lynbrook/ East Rockaway and Malverne/West Hempstead Heralds, taught high school English for 11 years. Comments? mnolan@liherald.com.

the handling fee from 3 cents to 5 cents per bottle — an increase that would vastly improve the livelihoods of thousands of recyclers known as “canners.”

Passing both bills is crucial, because they would work together to enhance

waste management in New York, leading to substantial waste reduction, improved recycling, and reduced landfill and incinerator use.

MARíA

Framework by Tim Baker

Oohing and aahing at the fireworks show overhead — Rockville Centre

In virtually every school on Long Island, there are students suffering with grief and stress.