Steve Sachs/Herald
The Bellmore community gathered for a menorah lighting on Dec. 29, next to the Bellmore Long Island Rail Road Station. James Kase, with Kaylee on his shoulders, with Cathryn Levesque, Jamie Kase and Aiden Kase, all came out to celebrate the festival of lights. Story, more photos, Page 10.
By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
At Calhoun High School in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, the Community Clubboard stands as a testament to the power of student leadership and service.
Since its founding in 2018, the Clubboard has supported the Bellmore-Merrick Community Cupboard, a food pantry that provides essential resources to more than 145 local families. On average, 50 families rely on the cupboard’s services every two weeks. The pantry operates at the Brookside School in North Merrick, the district’s headquarters.
The Clubboard’s mission extends beyond providing food — it’s about creating a culture of giving, service and compassion that inspires others,
according to its faculty adviser and Calhoun’s assistant principal, Mark Melkonian.
“The Clubboard organizes community-service events, markets initiatives and inspires younger students to continue its mission of positive community impact,” Melkonian said.
That mission is upheld by a dedicated group of 34 students, including leaders who are siblings of the founding members, ensuring the Clubboard’s sustainability.
Strength through community collaboration
The Clubboard thrives thanks to partnerships with organizations and individuals committed to making a difference. Local supporters such as the St. Barbara’s Philoptochos chapter at Merrick’s St. Demetrios Church, led by Patty Sarantakos,
By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
The Chabad of Merrick-Bellmore-Wantagh recently held its fifth annual “Be a Match — Spark the Light” fundraising campaign, bringing in more than $420,000 to benefit community members in need.
“We live in a great community, the people are very generous and charitable,” Rabbi Shimon Kramer, the Chabad’s director, said.
ERabbi Kramer and his wife, Chanie, organized the fundraiser, which was held from Dec. 17-19, to cover the cost of the Chabad center’s operations for 2025. The fundraiser attracted almost 500 donors, who contributed to the three-day campaign.
“It’s not only the amount that was given, we’re also impressed by the amount of people who gave it in three days for charity,” Rabbi Kramer said. “It’s a great feeling to know that there are so many friends out there that value the importance of being here for others during this holiday season.”
The Chabad center is a nonprofit dedicated to helping community members through spiritual guidance, education and social services around the clock, from finding doctors and hospitals to connecting people with financial advisors.
verybody should consider doing
their part.
R ABBi SHimoN KRAmER Director, Chabad
of MerrickBellmore-Wantagh
The initial goal of the event was to raise $300,000 within the three-day period, but two families, Alan and Tatyana Forman, and Eliezer and Yetta Putter, matched each donation. Alan Forman is a Bellmore-based entrepreneur who founded Altronix, a global electronics manufacturing company.
“We’re very, very grateful that the community got together and everybody contributed in whatever they had,” he said. “We’re glad that it went the way it went.”
Forman said he was motivated to combat hunger in the local community and to support Chabad’s educational programs.
“His school is unparalleled,”
Continued on page 6
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By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Families from Merrick, Bellmore, and Wantagh gathered on Dec. 25 to celebrate Hanukkah in a lively and heartwarming event hosted by the Chabad Center for Jewish Life. The Hanukkah Experience, a cherished community tradition, brought together hundreds of attendees for an evening filled with joy, light, and togetherness.
NThe festivities began at 5 p.m. at the Merrick Gazebo with the 19th Annual Grand Menorah Lighting. Students from the Alan & Tatyana Forman Jewish Early Learning Center Preschool and the Chabad Hebrew School captivated the audience with their special Hanukkah performances.
ow more than ever, coming together as a community is essential.
R ABBi KRAmER
Director
Chabad Center for Jewish Life
County Executive Bruce Blakeman was part of this year’s menorah lighting ceremony, as was Alan Forman and Eliezer Putter, both longtime Chabad supporters, who were donation matchers in the Chabad’s end-of-year campaign which raised over $400,000. Forman and Putter were both honored and thanked during the menorah lighting.
At 5:20 p.m., the Great Menorah Parade set off from the gazebo, winding through the streets of Merrick as participants made their way to the Chabad Center for Jewish Life. The parade featured decorated vehicles that delighted spectators along the route.
Once at the Chabad Center, attendees enjoyed a warm and welcoming Kosher Hanukkah Chinese dinner at 5:30 p.m. The meal included traditional Hanukkah treats such as crispy latkes and sweet donuts. Activities for all ages followed, with guests choosing between three movie rooms tailored to adults, school-age children, and preschoolers, or participating in creative Hanukkah crafts.
“Hanukkah is a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition,” Rabbi Shimon Kramer, director of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, said. “In ancient times, our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. This year, through the Hanukkah Experience, we hope to rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place. We are thrilled to share the light and joy of Hanukkah with the community through parades, performances, and meaningful gatherings.”
Kramer also emphasized Hanukkah’s universal message, which transcends faith and culture: The triumph of good over evil, freedom over oppression, and light over darkness. As part of Chabad’s global Hanukkah outreach initiative, the Merrick celebration joined thou -
sands of similar events organized worldwide — from major cities like New York and Hong Kong to remote areas in Africa and South America.
“Now more than ever, coming together as a community is essential,” Kramer said. “Our event is warm, friendly, and open to all, with no synagogue membership or affiliation required. We are proud to offer a space where everyone can feel included in the spirit of the holiday.”
The parade and experience was a joyful occasion that celebrated tradition, unity, and the power of community, leaving attendees with memories to cherish and the promise of light in the year ahead.
Between food, music and additional festivities — such as thisd guessing game — there was plenty of fun and
and the Merrick Community Nursery School, directed by Christine Cicero, have played crucial roles in organizing food drives and replenishing the pantry’s shelves.
Within Calhoun High School, the Clubboard collaborates with groups like the leadership classes and the National Honor Society to coordinate seasonal food drives, Valentine’s Day basket donations and other initiatives.
At the heart of the Clubboard’s success are its leaders, seniors Niko Sarantakos, Samantha Chaiken and Jack Gavnoudias, who have each made lasting contributions to the organization’s success.
Niko Sarantakos
Sarantakos has strengthened the partnership between the pantry and St. Barbara’s Philoptochos, a philanthropic society of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, leading food drives and ensuring consistent donations.
“By volunteering for the BellmoreMerrick Community Cupboard, I feel I am making a meaningful difference in the lives of people in my community who are experiencing hunger and insecurity concerning food,” Sarantakos said in a district press release. “Through my involvement, I had the opportunity to lead food drives, coordinate with donors, shop for supplies, stock shelves and col-
laborate with my peers to make a meaningful impact for our community. Volunteering for the cupboard has shown me how fortunate I am, and what a great feeling it is to be able to help other people.”
As he looks ahead to college, Sarantakos plans to continue his commitment to charitable organizations.
Samantha Chaiken
Chaiken has played a pivotal role in organizing food drives and volunteering at the pantry. Her leadership has brought students together to serve the community in meaningful ways.
“The community cupboard has given
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me more than I ever thought a club would,” she said in the same district release. “Doing service allows me to give back to those who deserve to have just as much as any other person in our community, and I’m able to send love by volunteering my time for just an hour, sometimes less, to change someone’s day. I’ve learned life lessons I will forever be grateful for, and I continue to do service beyond these four walls of Calhoun and in my life.”
Jack Gavnoudias
Gavnoudias has embraced a leadership role in the Clubboard, working to expand its impact. Alongside his peers,
he has planned and executed food drives and other initiatives that support local families.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for helping those in need, and thought this would be an effective way of helping,” he said in a news release shared with the Herald. “Throughout the years, the Community Cupboard has taught me so much about not only the importance of community service, but also the importance of teamwork and collaboration. Volunteerism has proven to be very significant in the changing of people’s lives, which is why I believe that volunteering to help others is so important.”
The Clubboard’s work extends beyond meeting immediate needs — it’s about fostering a legacy of empathy, leadership and positive change. As its members graduate and move on to new chapters of their lives, they leave behind a strong foundation for future students to build on.
Melkonian praised the leaders and members of the organization for their dedication and passion. “These students exemplify dedication, advocacy and leadership,” he said. “They have demonstrated the value of volunteerism and the profound impact of service, both within themselves and their community. Their leadership ensures the continued success of the Clubboard and the families it serves.”
By the numbers
■ Founded: 2018
■ Members: 34, including four leaders who are siblings of founding members
■ Families served: Over 145 in Bellmore and Merrick
■ Biweekly service: An average of 50 families
Key initiatives and partnerships
■ Community events: Food drives, Val-
entine’s Day baskets and seasonal initiatives
■ Community partners: St. Demetrios Church’s Barbara Philoptochos chapter and Merrick Community Nursery School, among many others
Impact beyond high school
■ Clubboard leaders emphasize the life lessons gained from volunteering, inspiring members to continue their service in college and beyond
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
On the heels of successful events that rang in the New Year at Bellmore-Merrick’s libraries, there’s a lot of events to look forward to as they embark into January.
At the Bellmore Memorial Library, young patrons and their families will enjoy a relaxing morning, during the library’s “Read to a Dog” event. Geared for children between the ages of 4 and 12, Therapy Dogs of Long Island will be at the library throughout the morning with trained therapy dogs. Children can share an age-appropriate book with a dog, practicing their reading skills with an extra special listener.
There are several time slots available to register for between 10 and 11 a.m. on Jn. 18, and the portal to sign up opens on Jan. 2 at 9:30 a.m. for Bellmore Memorial’s patrons.
Fun continues later in the month on Jan. 26, as children between the ages of 4 and 8 will have an opportunity to relax and play board games with older teens during “Board Game Buddies.” From 2 to 3 p.m., teen volunteers will be around to play a board game with children from either the library’s collection or their own homes. This event will serve as both a way for children to enjoy an afternoon with older peers, and as a way for teens to
There’s plenty of activities ahead this January at Bellmore-Merrick’s libraries. Whether geared for relaxation or entertainment, patrons are sure to find something for everyone to enjoy.
earn volunteer hours.
The library is at 2288 Bedford Ave., Bellmore.
Kick off the New Year with a fun concert, featuring the Hambones, at the North Bellmore Public Library on Jan. 12. From 2 to 3:15 p.m., the musical group will perform a tribute to Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks,” marking its 50th anniversary. The program will feature an insightful overview of the album’s themes and historical context, followed by a full performance of the album in its original track order. The concert will conclude
with a lively discussion and question-andanswer session.
The North Bellmore library is at 1551 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore. Have something from the holidays you may not need? The Merrick Library will host its first-ever Grinch Swap on Jan. 11 from 12 to 2 p.m. From Jan. 4 through Jan. 9, library patrons can bring their unwanted gift to the library for inspection, and staff will categorize it by value, and give you a ticket for a corresponding category.
Once the gift is surrendered, it will remain at the library, and on Jan. 11,
patrons can return with their ticket and select new gift from that category matching their ticket.
Patrons must be 18-years-old or older to sign the gift swap agreement, and there are any younger participants, an adult must sign on their behalf.
Gifts must be new, unused and in original packaging. The maximum value is $50, and if a patron misses the gift swap event on Jan. 11 after dropping off their unwanted gift, their gift is forfeited and cannot be returned or swapped for something else.
The Merrick Library is at 2279 Merrick Ave., Merrick. No registration is required for the Grinch Swap.
For those looking to start off their New Year in a crafty direction, the North Merrick Public Library is hosting a morning crochet event on Jan. 27, starting at 11 a.m. Those interested in attending can spend the morning crocheting alongside peers, learning new skills and strengthening existing ones. The North Merrick Library is at 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick.
Whether looking to volunteer, learn new skills, or simply enjoy entertainment with neighbors, residents can find plenty of opportunities to engage with BellmoreMerrick’s libraries as they begin the New Year. For more information about these and other upcoming events, residents are encouraged to contact their local branch directly.
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he said. “The enrichment and the education and the socialization and the values that they’re taught definitely will pay everybody back — our society is going to thrive.”
Forman’s wife supported the center’s initiative to provide clothing for women undergoing cancer treatments.
By using a donor-matching system, each dollar contributed by a community member would be functionally tripled, supporting crucial programs and services that strengthen the Merrick, Bellmore and Wantagh communities.
“When you donate, you become the match that sparks the light,” Rabbi Kramer said in a news release.
“We found that crowdfunding is very powerful,” he added. “A donor likes to see that other people are giving according to whatever they’re able to give. They’re incentivized to match donations, and other people are encouraged to donate when they know that their donation is being maximized.”
Chabad’s educational program, which teaches about 100 preschool students, needs funding for several initiatives and projects in the upcoming year.
Rabbi Kramer said he would like to see a new playground built for infants, toddlers and young people in the center’s Alan and Tatyana Forman JELC Preschool and for participants in Camp Gan Israel, a program that offers safe spaces for young children to develop their physical and social skills, according to a news release provided by the center.
“Thanks to these campaigns, we built a beautiful facility,” Rabbi Kramer said. “We added many more classrooms because of tremendous growth.”
“We need a second playground that’s going to be catered to the younger children, infants and toddlers, and to triple the size of the food pantry,” the rabbi added.
The Chabad also serves the community through the Bernard Pechter Kosher Food Pantry, which distributes food to the hungry every Thursday.
In addition, the Chabad, partnering with the Cindy Knoll Circle of Hope Dress for Recovery, will provide a comfortable environment for those undergoing breast cancer treatments, as well as a new lounge for educators involved in the center’s many education programs.
For students, the center offers scholarships for the Alan and Tatyana Forman JELC Preschool, Ckids After School Program, Chabad Hebrew School, and Camp Gan Israel of Merrick — allowing more young people to receive an education in the Jewish way of life.
“To educate a child when they’re young has an impact on them for their entire future,” Chanie Kramer said.
“I can honestly say, from a financial point of view, this is the greatest investment one can make,” Rabbi Kramer said. “Their investment triples within three days. You’re investing in children, investing in people who need food, people who need special clothing, people who need it. There’s no loss.”
The Chabad accepts donations year-round — although further donations will not be matched, but will continue to support the center and its work in helping the community.
“Everybody should consider doing their part in helping those less fortunate,” Rabbi Kramer said.
Chabad of Merrick-Bellmore-Wantagh the Chabad of merrick-Bellmore-Wantagh celebrated a successful end-of-year fundraiser, drawing in $420K for its 2025 programs. above, the Chabad celebrated Hanukkah, with a parade on dec. 25, where it also honored some of its key donors.
For more information, visit ChabadJewishLife.org/ match or call the center at (516) 833-3057 ext. 0. The Chabad is at 2174 Hewlett Ave., Merrick.
East Meadow Senior Basketball
AFTER HELPING LEAD the Jets to a historic 2023-24 season that ended in the state semifinals, Twible got her senior campaign off to a roaring start by reaching the 1,000-career point milestone Dec. 10. She was named Frist Team All-Long Island as a junior and was a major part in East Meadow’s first-ever Nassau County and L.I. championship teams. Twible has avearged close to 20 points per game over the past two seasons.
Thursday, Jan. 2
Wrestling: Plainedge at MacArthur 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Sewanhaka at Manhasset 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 3
Boys Basketball: Friends Aca. at Long Beach 12 p.m.
Wrestling: Kenndy at Hewlett 4 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Farmingdale at West Hemp 5 p.m.
Wrestling: Lawrence at North Shore 6 p.m.
Wrestling: Lynbrook at Clarke 6 p.m.
Wrestling: East Meadow at Long Beach 6 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Freeport at Seaford 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Oceanside 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Oceanside at South Side 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 4
Girls Basketball: Plainedge at Lynbrook 10 a.m.
Girls Basketball: Calhoun at Division 11 a.m.
Girls Basketball: Malverne at Mineola 11 a.m.
Boys Basketball: Plainedge at Clarke 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Jericho at Kennedy 1 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 6
Wrestling: North Shore at Wantagh 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Carey 5 p.m.
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a winter sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
By MARC BERMAN sports@liherald.com
The Calhoun wrestling program rises each season and it looks like that trend will continue.
Calhoun has a whopping amount of freshmen in the program. But it is the upperclassmen who plan to do damage in 2024-25, led by All-County returnees, Sean Gallagher and Bobby Bello.
Both seniors finished sixth in the county meet last season. Calhoun earned a ninth-place overall finish in the Division I Nassau County Championships. Three years ago, the Colts were 11th and two years ago 10th.
Coach Peter Marques is aiming for a top-5 county finish, hoping at least three Calhoun wrestlers qualify for the states, with Gallagher and Bello favorites.
“As a team, we want to finish top 5,’’’ Gallagher said. “I think we can. We have a good dual-meet roster and are strong at most weight classes.’’
At the prestigious “Battle of The Beach’’ tournament at Long Beach High in December, Gallagher captured first place at 116, winning in overtime over Wantagh’s Cole Delany. Two tournaments were staged that weekend so Calhoun sent only its top nine wrestlers to the high-powered event.
“It’s good to get off the season on the right foot,’’ Gallagher said. “The team wrestled great. We looked good, didn’t look rusty. We only brought nine guys but still finished in the top 10.’’
Marques says Gallagher is a “very technical, very fast paced” wrestler and feels he and Bello can vie for an individual county championship.
Gallagher is also striving to hit 100 career wins as he’s been on the varsity since freshman year. He currently has 74 dual meet/tournament triumphs.
As for Bello, he also placed sixth in the counties last year and is destined for a top 3 – which would get him to states. Bello missed Long Beach with an injury but reached the finals in the Sprig Gardner Tournament Dec. 14.
“(Bello) is super athletic and a gamer,’’ Marques said. “He gets up for
programs this season.
the bigger matches. They both have chance of going to county finals.’’
Senior Dom DiRico, at 145, was one match victory from being All-County and this season he figures as a countyfinals contender. “He’s really offensive on his feet and explosive,’’ Marques said.
Two sophomores, James Chicco (152) and Zac Gubba (101), are projected as winning forces, as is junior Dylan Nichols at 131.
Senior Carter Tenenbaum is another touted grappler looking to make the next step of an all-County finish (top 6 for Division I).
“We have a lot of new wrestlers and the new guys are starting to get it and the seniors are being good leaders,’’ Gal-
lagher said.
Calhoun graduated a gaggle of stout wrestlers in Dan Fauci, Ryan Nicholson, Jayce Joosten and Devin Nichols. Two years ago, the Colts lost Ray Adams, who now wrestles for Duke in the ACC.
But the replenishments are at an alltime high with 75 wrestlers on the roster, including 30 freshmen.
“We had a really good offseason as a team,’’ Marques said. “Everyone got better. With the guys we have coming back and with a very good young group, we could be top 5. The freshman group is the best I’ve had since I’ve been here. (The freshman class) has never been that big.’’
Bellmore residents Xavier Guerrero and Rossula Martillo were married last month at Hempstead Town Hall, with the ceremony officiated by Town Clerk Kate Murray. Residents seeking marriage services can reach the Town Clerk’s Office at (516) 812-3014 or visit HempsteadNY.gov/marriage.
Merrick resident Chris Psillis participated in the Town of Hempstead Stop Throwing Out Pollutants Program last month at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. Supervisor Don Clavin assisted Psillis as he safely disposed of harmful pollutants, supporting environmental sustainability.
The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores hosted its annual Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony on Dec. 29 at the Bellmore train station, featuring a 10-foot silver menorah. Religious leaders from Congregation Beth Ohr led the prayer service.
Students from local Hebrew and nursery schools performed traditional Hanukkah songs during the celebration. The Chamber distributed complimentary Hanukkah -themed items to attendees.
The festive gathering brought together residents of all faiths, embodying the spirit of community and light that Chanukah represents. As the menorah illuminated the winter evening, families and neighbors shared in the joy of the holiday celebration.
The Hanaukkah celebration wouldn’t have been complete without some furry friends attending the lighting with their owners.
Second graders learned that the greatest gift is the one they give to others during a community service project at Martin Avenue Elementary School in the North Bellmore School District. On Dec. 13, students were joined by their parents to make cards for residents of the nursing home at the Northport Veterans Administration Medical Center.
The tables in the cafeteria were covered in art supplies as children from Antonietta Fischetti and Lori Lennihan’s class and Mary Carrea’s class got to work. Parents were invited to come and help out or make a card beside their children.
All of the materials were provided including construction paper, print outs of various holiday images, bows, glitter and pom poms. Children also had crayons, colored pencils and glue to make the cards colorful and creative. When it was over, students and their parents finished about 60 cards.
Carolyn Weakley worked with her mother, Jacqueline, on a handmade card.
Fischetti said that prior to making the cards, there were classroom discussions and story read alouds about holiday traditions and the importance of giving back. The card decorating was both – this was the fourth year the second grade classes have done the charitable deed.
“We want to involve the children in an act of community service,” Fischetti said, “to being a smile to people who are away from their families for the holidays.”
—Jordan Vallone
Hot Wheels Monster Truck Live Show is back at Nassau Coliseum for another year of car-smashing, ramp jumping, wheel-revving action
By Danielle Schwab
Get ready, everyone. Gather up the kids and shake up those January doldrums when the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow party lights up Nassau Coliseum once again. Witness the raw power of epic machines when the iconic Hot Wheels toy vehicles transform into unstoppable monster trucks for the “Glow-N-Fire” competition.
“Kids” of all ages can watch their favorite Hot Wheels trucks come to life when the action returns to Long Island, Jan. 18-19. As the arena darkens for this glow-in-the-dark party, each truck revs up with its unique LED lights. And, in true “It’s Not The Same Without The Flame” fashion, pyrotechnic effects light up the arena, adding even more intensity to the action.
• Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18-19; times vary
• Tickets start at $63.85 adults, $35. 15 children (also “Me + 3” family discount option); available at ticketmaster.com and hotwheelsmonstertruckslive. com
• Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale
It’s an especially big day for one particular truck: The classic blue vintage-style pick-up Bigfoot turns 50. Everyone is invited to the birthday bash. Plus, have the chance to be celebrated alongside the iconic monster truck. Bigfoot would love to see everyone’s creativity — so fans are encouraged to bring homemade birthday cards to wish Bigfoot a happy birthday. And show off those homemade birthday signs at the show for a chance to win prizes during the bash.
“Bigfoot is known as the original monster truck because this monster truck is what started monster trucks in general,” says Caleb Janezich, Bigfoot’s driver since July.
Owner-operator Bob Chandler first began building Bigfoot in 1975, and a legend was born. The modified 1974 Ford F-250 started its career at local mud runs and truck and tractor pulls. It quickly launched a worldwide phenomenon and its legions of fans. Chandler continued to make improvements and modifications until it grew into the massive behemoth known and loved today by multiple generations of fans.
“There are people that come up to us and the dad knows who Bigfoot is, and then maybe the kids are exposed to Bigfoot for the first time. Even the grandpas come up and they remember Bigfoot,” says Janezich, on Bigfoot’s popularity.
There’s surely no better way to commemorate the original monster truck than with incredible stunts performed by Bigfoot along with all his mechanical monster pals, including Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, HW 5-Alarm, Boneshaker, and Gunkster.
Expect to see wheelies, donuts, and long jumps, along with a freestyle Motocross demonstration.
And of course, be prepared for plenty of good ol’ car crushing!
Also witness as the show unleashes its newest addition, Skelesauraus, a truck that takes the spine-chilling form of a giant skeleton head.
This is Janezich’s first time appearing at Nassau Coliseum, however he is no stranger to the Hot Wheels monster truck circuit. An avid collector of Hot Wheels since childhood, Janezich worked as a Bigfoot crewmember before taking up the driver’s seat.
“Bigfoot was always my favorite. I grew up around pickup trucks and four-wheel drives. My dad got me into it.” he says.
“It’s pretty humbling, and it’s really a dream come true. Honestly, they say, ‘if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life’ and that’s pretty much what I live by now.”
While the trucks may seem invincible, it take a dedicated team behind the scenes to keep them crushing to the max.
“The stuff that can be challenging is the unknown. You never know what these trucks are going to do sometimes, and the biggest challenge sometimes can just be just keeping them going and just making sure that we’re ready for the next show all the time, which we try to do very well,” Janezich adds.
Opportunities to go behind the action add to the spectacle. At the Pre-Show Party, held two-and-a-half hours prior to every performance, get up close and see the outrageous designs and epic size of the Hot Wheels behemoths on the arena floor. Meet favorite drivers and performers. Also check out the new VIP Backstage Experience. It’s a behind the scenes guided tour of what goes on before all the smashing and crashing.
Everyone becomes a kid at the show, which is geared to five to 10-year-olds.
“That’s the part that’s always cool because families are coming down and the parents get involved. When the parents are having fun, the kids are having fun, that’s what keeps them coming year after year,” Janezich says.
Courtesy Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Photos: Bigfoot, driven by Caleb Janezich, headlines the latest edition of the spectacle. The iconic truck is joined by many Hot Wheels favorites to thrill fans with exciting car-crunching feats, flying more than 35 feet in the air. Plus, the fiery Skelesaurus roars into the arena ready to “chomp.”
‘Cold Beer on a Friday Night’
Keep those winter doldrums at bay with Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band. It may seem like we’ve got too long to wait ‘til we’re back on the beach, but Kenny comes to the rescue. Join in their “Ultimate Beach Party Tribute” to Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band. Parrotheads, No Shoes Nation and the Zamily. The Long Island-based band — guided by Paul C. Cuthbert (aka Jimmy Kenny) on lead vocals/ acoustic guitar, with Linn DeMilta (aka Lovely Linn), lead and backing vocals, Luis Rios, lead guitar/backing vocals, Frank Stainkamp, keyboard/ backing vocals, Dan Prine, bass, and drummer Mike Vecchione — gets everyone into the groove as only they can.
Friday, Jan. 3, 8 p.m. $35, $25, $20, $15. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
‘…Your voice is heard’ Broadway comes to Tilles Center. “Dear Evan Hanson,” the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it, has struck a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere. If you’ve yet to see it, now’s your opportunity. Declared “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history” by the Washington Post, it’s the first musical to take a groundbreaking look — from the point of view of both the parents and young people — at our complex, interconnected, and social media-filled lives. It features an uplifting score, including some of the most iconic musical theatere songs from the last decade: “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through A Window,” and “For Forever.”
Thursday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m. Tickets start at $35. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Jan. 10
The kings of ‘70s tribute hit the road with an authentic throwback to the era, on the Paramount stage, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11, at 8 p.m. Yacht Rock Revue, hailed by Rolling Stone as the “world’s premier soft-rock party band,” invites listeners on a nostalgic voyage through the sun-soaked melodies of the ‘70s and ‘80s. The dynamic Atlanta-based 10-piece ensemble blends impeccable musicianship with a deep reverence for the yacht rock genre. Their original album “Escape Artist” is a bold homage to this iconic sound. Each side of the album encapsulates the band’s ability to transport audiences to a simpler, more carefree time. Lead singles like “Tropical Illusion” and “Passengers” set the tone, evoking sunsets and salty breezes with their lush instrumentation and ethereal vocals.
Collaborations with yacht rock legends Elliot Lurie and Robbie Dupree underscore the band’s status as innovators within their genre.YRR continues to captivate audiences nationwide with their infectious energy and unabashedly joyous performances. Since their humble beginnings in 2007, YRR has emerged as a pivotal figure in revitalizing yacht rock, sharing stages with icons and garnering a devoted following of “Anchorheads.” Whether performing in intimate venues or rocking arenas, their concerts promise an immersive musical journey that celebrates the timeless allure of smooth grooves. $55, $40, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
Nassau BOCES, Long Island’s stateof-the arts career and technical education high school, opens its doors to all students with a passion for hands-on careers, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 6-7:30 p.m. Nassau BOCES GC Tech prepares students for a future in the workforce by providing them with the skills, knowledge and professional qualities they will need to be successful in their chosen career fields. The school boasts a new spa where aspiring estheticians learn skin care and massage techniques. There is also a newly revamped auto shop.
Prospective students and families from Nassau County are invited to tour the GC Tech campus and to meet with expert teachers, counselors and administrators. Additional open house sessions are offered in February and March. Interested students and their families can register at nassauboces.org gctech or call the school for more information at (516) 604-4200. 150 Abbey Lane, Levittown.
Merrick Flea Market
Brave the cold this winter and hit up the Merrick Winter Sunday Flea Market, Sunday, Jan. 12, at the Merrick LIRR. Shop a wide range of arts, crafts, gifts, antiques and more. Admission is free and food will be available for purchase. The vendor fair opens at 8 a.m., and will close at 5 p.m., weather permitting.
Hang out with some Long Island Children’s Museum’s “residents,” Sunday, Jan. 5, 1:30-2 p.m., at the dropin program. Join an animal educator in the Yellow Studio’s Feasts for Beasts Gallery to learn what goes into the care of LICM’s animal “residents.” Observe animal bath time. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.
BOE meets
Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s Board of Education next meets on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 7:30 p.m. All meetings take place at the Brookside School. To view the agenda, visit Bellmore-Merrick.k12. NY.us, and visit the Board of Education tab. Meeting recordings are posted on the district’s website. 1260 Meadowbrook Road, N. Merrick.
Get ready to enjoy all the thrills of the snowy season, while staying warm and cozy as Long Island Children’s Museum’s popular “Snowflake Sock Skating rink returns, through Jan. 7. Slip on “sock skates” and take a spin on the indoor rink, made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface that lets kids slide around without blades. Kids can stretch, twirl and glide. As visitors step off the “ice” they can jump into winter dramatic play in Snowflake Village. Become a baker in the holiday sweet shop, step inside a giant snowman and serve up some hot cocoa, take a turn in the rink “ticket booth” and “warm up” around a rink side “fire pit.” Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.
‘Frozen Jr.’
Sunrise Theatre Company stages “Frozen Jr.” at the Bellmore Movies and Showplace, through Sunday, Jan. 5. This show is recommended for children in grades K-5. $14 for general admission. For more on the show and to buy tickets, call (516) 218-2782 or email sunrisetheatreli@gmail.com. 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore.
There’s no better time to adopt a new pet than during, “Home for the Holidays” at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter. All fees are waived and include free spaying/neutering, vaccinations, microchipping, now through Sunday, Jan. 5. Licensing feels still apply. Prospective adopters can browse photos and profiles at hempsteadny.gov/179/ animal-shelter and also on the shelter’s Facebook page. 3320 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh. For more information, call (516) 785-5220.
Having an event?
The South Shore Audubon Society welcomes all to join its members for another in its series of bird walks, at Hempstead Lake State Park, Sunday, Jan. 5, starting at 9 a.m. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The group will meet The group will meet in parking lot #3, off Exit 18 of the Southern State Parkway.
To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. No walk if rain or snow. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit ssaudubon. org.
Jam out with local musicians at a School of Rock showcase, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 11-12, at the Bellmore Movies and Showplace. The event is free to attend, and music will be played between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. both days. For more information, visit SchoolofRock. com. 222 Petitt Ave., Bellmore.
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.
Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition
“Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition spans various world cultures through a range of media.
It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority. Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. On view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Sands Point Preserve’s reserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for the 2025 unique chamber music series, “Four Seasons in Music,” Sunday, Jan. 12, 3 p.m. The duoJalal ensemble-in-residence led by Kathryn Lockwood on viola, with percussionist Yousif Sheronick, violinists Deborah Buck and Emma Frucht and cellist Caroline Stinson presents a German flavored. Celebrating Germany’s rich history of extraordinary composers, including Bach, Mozart, Schubert and Brahms, to the less traditional, this concert will warm you up on a winter afternoon.
A reception follows. $56, $45 members. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For tickets and information, visit sandspointpreserveconservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.
Richard Ginsburg, chair of the theater and dance department at Nassau Community College, at the Dec. 17 luncheon hosted by the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers.
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of Permissive Referendum
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Bellmore Fire District in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, New York, at a regular business meeting held on the eleventh day of December 2024, duly adopted the following resolution, subject to a permissive referendum.
Resolution # 1
A resolution authorizing the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Bellmore Fire District in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, New York to expend monies from the Capital Reserve fund to perform renovations at the administration office located at 2450 Newbridge Road Bellmore N.Y. to the specification and conditions as the Board of Fire Commissioners may determine. Said costs shall not exceed SevenHundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00).
Be it resolved by Board of Fire Commissioners of the Bellmore Fire District in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, New York as follows:
Section 1. Pursuant to section 6 - G subdivision 7 of the General Municipal Law, the monies authorized for this expenditure shall be paid from the Capital Reserve Fund.
By order of the Board of Fire Commissioners
John M. Fabian
Secretary Bellmore Fire District
December 11, 2024
150784
By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Students and faculty at Nassau Community College are voicing their frustration over the lack of course offerings and departmental cuts.
Faculty packed the college’s multipurpose room to hear colleagues and students voice their concerns at the annual winter luncheon on Dec. 17.
The event was hosted by the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers, a local union affiliated with New York State United Teachers. Frustrations over course cuts and departmental reductions were highlighted.
According to NCCFT president Faren Siminoff, the campus is not meeting its mission, which is to offer a “robust offering of courses” scheduled throughout the day for students.
ILEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS
Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 01/08/2025 at 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:
THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 24/25. - 26/25. BELLMORE - Michael & Maria Vogelsang, Trustees of the Michael & Maria Vogelsang Trust, Variances, side yard, side yards aggregate, construct 2nd floor addition to dwelling with side yard variance for two (2) proposed a/c units attached to dwelling; Variance, lot area occupied, maintain deck attached to dwelling & surrounding pool; Special exception to convert detached garage to home gym & storage (2nd accessory structure) higher & larger than permitted & exceeding horizontal maximum on all sides., E/s Bergen St., 395.08’ N/o Wilson Ave., a/k/a 2065 Bergen St. 1301/25. BELLMORENorth Bellmore Fire District, Special exception to construct 1-story building in conjunction with existing firehouse, located in Res. “B”
district with lot area occupied variance, side yards & rear yard variances; Waive offstreet parking, special exception to park in Res. “B” district & permission to park in front yard setback., E/s Newbridge Rd., 480.01’ S/o Belmond St., a/k/a 815 Newbridge Rd. 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 Bellmore 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 at 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. 150771
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, d/b/a Christiana Trust, not individually but as trustee for Pretium Mortgage Acquisition Trust, Plaintiff AGAINST
Daniel Forth; April Forth a/k/a April Irene Forth a/k/a April I. Forth; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 26, 2023 I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 4, 2025 at 2:30PM, premises known as 2518 Bristol Drive, North Bellmore, NY 11710. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 56 Block 239 Lot 62. Approximate amount of judgment $246,159.26 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 612468/2018. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Melissa D. Mohan, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC
Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: December 13, 2024
150760
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com
reportedly cancel a course offering early, sometimes a week or two after registration opens, even though students register weeks later.
“If there’s nothing there for them, they’re not going to register,” Siminoff said. “This is totally counter to the rhythm and needs of the community that uses this college.”
Joining students and staff were County Legislators Thomas McKevitt and Siela Bynoe, who spoke of the importance that community colleges provide for middle-class students. Bynoe was elected to state senate in November.
McKevitt said he wished people could see the college’s potential as a place where students, who might not be able to afford tuition for private institutions, can succeed and be tomorrow’s leaders.
Administrators have doubled since last year, she said, but the college has eliminated 21 departments, cut funding to student services and clubs, all while limiting its schedule of classes.
Jerry Kornbluth, the vice president for Community and Government Relations at Nassau Community College, said in a statement that the college aims to preserve and expand course offerings while retaining tenured professors despite a nationwide decline in college enrollment. He noted that the college has reduced its budget deficit from $14.8 million to $4.8 million, while boosting enrollment by 8% over the past year.
f there’s nothing there for them, they’re not going to register. This is totally counter to the rhythm and needs of the community that uses this college.
FAREn SImInoFF President, NCCFT
Department mergers, he said, were carefully planned in alignment with union agreements to improve efficiency. In addition, Kornbluth stated that the theater and dance department will not be eliminated, and will continue to offer majors and seasonal productions, ensuring its ongoing presence on campus.
“Our priority remains preserving and enhancing the affordable, high-quality education that Nassau Community College is known for,” Kornbluth said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to be a place where students thrive, whether they are entering the workforce or transferring to a four-year institution.”
Siminoff claims that students have found it difficult to find courses that fit their busy schedule, especially for those who work. The college, she said, would
Richard Ginsburg, chairman of the theater and dance department at NCC, claimed administration planned to “deactivate” the program. Ginsburg had instructed and guided students for over 40 years throughout the department’s 61-year history, adding that the arts are essential to education, and the state owes it to itself to sustain and encourage such programs.
Simran Gil, an international student and president of the Filipino Cultural Society, said at the beginning of this semester, her club allegedly received “zero dollars in funding” despite submitting all their paperwork on time.
Gil said her club addressed this issue to the Faculty Student Association and Student Government Association and eventually received $250, which Gil said was “far too little” to support the club’s activities, which was half of what they received in 2021, she added.
Bynoe is a graduate at Nassau Community College, who worked full-time while attending courses in the evening. She described her experience as a foundation that led her to a master’s in public administration at Long Island University and wants the college to be sustainable for current students and generations to come.
“We want to make sure that their children and their children’s children have an opportunity to have an affordable, quality education,” Bynoe said, “One that can allow them to springboard to other universities and go into vocations of their choice.”
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Help Wanted
Amityville UFSD Food Service Workers PT/FT
Responsibilities- Food preparation & service, sanitation awareness, other duties as assigned by the District.
Qualifications- Knowledge and experience with cooking, inventory, cashiering, recordkeeping, customer service, computer skills **Suffolk County Food Manager's Certificate preferred. Salary range starting at $20,980. Email resume to: humanresources@amityvilleufsd.org or apply online at www.olasjobs.org/longisland
Amityville UFSD
Substitute/Permanent Substitute Teachers Elementary & Secondary Level
Qualifications: NYS Certification Salary: $150 per day Application: Interested candidates please apply online at www.olasjobs.org/longisland
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE
Full Time/Part Time Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $16.50 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com
Full Time and Part Time
Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K
To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour.
Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $34,320 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits,
Welcome to an extraordinary waterfront home that masterfully blends contemporary design with unmatched resilience. Constructed on 42 pilings with steel-reinforced block concrete, this 5,600-square-foot residence is built for exceptional energy efficiency and minimal maintenance. Inside, you'll find 5 spacious bedrooms, 3.5 luxurious baths, and three expansive decks, two front-facing and one rear, complete with a gas hookup. The open
Q. After much research, we chose brick for our new house. It has been a nightmare getting satisfaction from the mason who did the work. We noticed after only a few months that there were white powder-like streaks across the brick walls in many places. We spoke with the brick manufacturer, who said it sounded like an installation problem or streaking from other materials around it. The mason came back and looked at it. He used acid and brushed one spot and it lightened up but didn’t go away. He seemed annoyed with us, and said he could “send someone” to brush and put more cleaner on, but the whiteness would remain and it would have to “weather” after that. We had a sample wall built to make sure the color was right, and really went to a lot of effort for our choices. We are upset that the mason acted like it was our fault for complaining. We selected brick for high durability, weather resistance and low to no maintenance, and now we have this problem. What could have caused it, and is there any other remedy?
A. Brick was a great choice for all the reasons you described, and will outlast generations of occupants if installed correctly. The whiteness may be caused in a few ways. You have to first know what caused it.
Trim materials, above and around brick, will streak from the wrong paint on roof-edge or topof-wall trim. If the paint used was interior latex water-soluble paint, it will separate and run. Prefinished metal, factory finished, will also start to chalk and run. If a highly pigmented paint with low-resin binder was used, then the same results occur. The brick will be somewhat cleanable, but will have to be exposed to many cycles of rain, heat, freezing, etc., also known as weathering.
Because the mason did not mention the runoff of paint from trim, I suspect that your problem is the worst-case scenario, and all the cleaning with muriatic acid and a steel brush will not solve the staining entirely. Wire brushing or high powerwashing actually harms brick, because that amazingly strong fired-finish on the brick, the reason brick is such a good resister of the elements, is now going to be broken down to a grainy finish that can harbor mildew.
Sadly, the issue was completely preventable, either by using trim that did not lose color or by the brick installation. Yes, the brick installation. It starts with not having the correct width of the foundation to carry the brick, so it is installed too close to or right against the exterior plywood. That airspace is supposed to be 2 inches, clear, behind the brick, so rain that gets sucked into the mortar joints can drop behind the brick and “weep” from weep holes at the bottom of the wall. If you do not have weeps, then the wall was installed incorrectly and the problem will continue. Good luck!
© 2025 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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After Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed the Planned Offshore Wind Transmission Act in the fall of 2023 due to local opposition to a wind farm’s high-voltage cables, the state had a trick up its sleeve.
The bill would have required the State Energy Research and Development Authority to establish transmission planning for the offshore grid, coupled with a requirement to conduct a costbenefit analysis that included the impact on ratepayers. In essence, the bill would have, for the first time, given New Yorkers insight into the true cost of implementing offshore wind projects and their transmission lines.
The question is, why did Hochul veto the bill? In addition to local opposition, I believe the answer is that if the public knew the true cost of these plans, people would begin to question the wisdom of investing millions of dollars in reworking a power grid that wasn’t broken in the first place. They would ask hard questions about where money was being spent, and who was benefiting — questions the governor obviously doesn’t
Gwant raised.
In its infinite surreptitious reach, the state concealed in its latest budget the Renewable Action through Project Interconnection Deployment, or RAPID, Act, granting it the authority to overrule local and public input. The state Office of Renewable Energy Siting would have final say on project siting, even over community objections.
iGroups of so-called environmentalists, influenced by Hochul’s green agenda, have received millions of dollars to push the narrative that we need to move off fossil fuels now because the Earth is on fire. Before we go scorched-Earth, Let’s look at facts.
ties in residential and commercial areas.
Long Island water comes from aquifers that, if polluted, would jeopardize the health of millions. Hydrogen fluoride gas produced in these fires turns acidic when mixed with water, becoming acid rain. This acid, in large enough concentrations, can dissolve concrete. Would you or your children want to drink water this contaminated? Apparently, Hochul doesn’t care about such consequences in her drive to rapidly implement green-energy projects.
t’s a mistake to plan for wide-scale solar and wind power in New York at this point.
The state took away local municipality and public involvement in the siting of renewable-energy projects and paused congestion pricing. Further, a report by the state’s Fire Safety Working Group falsely concluded that fires last year at three battery energy storage system facilities in New York state — which store the energy that wind turbines create — had no environmental impact, neglecting to include test results of hydrogen fluoride levels in the air, soil or water at those sites. What is even more disturbing is that the working group has written an inadequate code that allows for placement of BESS facili-
This act-now-and-monitor-later mentality, regardless of the consequences, does nothing to put minds at ease. To date, no robust engineering analysis suggests that Hochul’s RAPID Act plan will work. There has been no rigorous analysis. Instead, evidence seems to indicate that the state’s planned installations of solar arrays, wind turbines, battery facilities and transmission cables will not reliably power the grid, and will not prove safe or affordable.
Worth noting, in this critical context, is the Vineyard Wind offshore debacle off the coast of Nantucket last July, when a single turbine blade selfdestructed, dropping 60 tons of plastic into the ocean and wreaking havoc, closing beaches and impacting marine life,
fishing, local businesses and communities. How future offshore wind catastrophes will affect shore towns, wildlife and commercial fishing isn’t known. But New Yorkers should realize that it’s a mistake, at this point, to plan the construction, let alone the funding, for dozens of gigawatts of solar and wind power — along with batteries 100 times the size of the world’s largest existing battery — and new transmission lines to tie all this to the existing grid.
Instead, we might better ask, first, who thought this was possible? and second, from empirical examples of places with significant intermittent energy — California and Germany — why did anyone think this would enable New York to cut fossil-fuel use and reliably and affordably power the grid?
Given the egregious overreach of Hochul’s RAPID Act, there should be an immediate halt to all of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting work as well as a prohibition on placing any renewableenergy facilities within residential communities and near schools. Taxpayers don’t want to be the subjects of a largescale energy experiment, or a classaction lawsuit, as a result of the “next big idea.”
Christina Kramer, a professional photographer and an adjunct professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, is the founder and president of Protect Our Coast – Long Island, New York.
ov. Kathy Hochul has been presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save one of our planet’s greatest unsung heroes, the horseshoe crab. Early in 2024, the State Senate and Assembly passed a bill that would prohibit taking horseshoe crabs from New York waters for bait or for biomedical use.
Hochul has until the end of the month to sign the bill into law, and time is running out for us to persuade her to do so.
Horseshoe crabs have existed relatively unchanged for roughly 450 million years — 200 million years longer than dinosaurs — and they have survived five mass extinctions. They are a keystone species, which means that if their populations were to dwindle to numbers that are unsustainable, the repercussions for other species would be devastating. Every year, numerous species of migratory shorebirds rely on horseshoe crab eggs for food on their long journey to
their breeding grounds in the Arctic.
For half a century, humans have depended on horseshoe crabs for our survival, because they have played a major role in modern medicine. Their unique copper-based blue blood contains a clotting agent that immediately forms a clot when it comes into contact with bacteria. Because of this, horseshoe crab blood has been used for decades by the biomedical industry to test for infection-causing bacteria in injectable drugs, intravenous solutions, vaccines and medical implants. Their blood was also used to develop the Covid-19 vaccines that have saved millions of lives. Luckily, a synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood has been developed and approved for biomedical use, but the changeover in the industry has been slow.
t his keystone species helped scientists develop the Covid vaccines.
sive animals, grazing across the seafloor like ancient vacuum cleaners, looking for the small aquatic insects, mollusks and detritus on which they feed. There are four species of horseshoe crabs, and the Atlantic coast is the only place in the Western Hemisphere that is home to one of those species, the Atlantic horseshoe crab, or Limulus polyphemus
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s benchmark stock assessment of horseshoe crabs in 2019, and the recently updated stock assessment in 2024, both show the crabs’ stock status in New York as poor. Of all the states on the Atlantic coast, New York is the only one where that is the case, and there is no evidence that the population is rebounding.
the crabs, which puts even more pressure on the New York stock and puts them at a higher risk of poaching by outof-state fishermen. Bait alternatives exist, but fishermen won’t be compelled to use them unless a ban is enacted.
Entrusting the state Department of Environmental Conservation to regulate the harvesting of horseshoe crabs is a mistake. Regulation depends on enforcement, and with only 30 to 40 environmental conservation officers patrolling the entire Long Island coastline, there is ample opportunity for overharvesting and poaching to take place.
Although there are misconceptions that they are poisonous or that they use their tails as weapons, horseshoe crabs are completely harmless. The tail serves a very important purpose: to flip a crab over if it gets turned upside down. That’s why you should never pick one up by its tail. They are completely pas-
Horseshoe crabs cannot legally be harvested for biomedical use in New York state. Their dwindling population here is due mostly to their harvesting for use as bait in the eel and conch fisheries as well as the loss of their spawning grounds due to sea level rise and shoreline hardening. New Jersey and Connecticut have both banned the harvest of
Friends of the Bay is asking you to urge Governor Hochul to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law Friends of the Bay is an environmental conservation and advocacy organization headquartered in Oyster Bay. Our mission is to preserve, protect and restore the ecological integrity and productivity of the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Estuary and the surrounding watershed. Please visit friendsofthebay.org/ horseshoe-crab-protection-act to learn how you can help, and to get a copy of a sample letter that you can sign and mail, or email, to the governor.
anew year always arrives freighted with emotion. It carries the accumulated hopes, frustrations and lessons of the previous 12 months, paired with the tantalizing possibility of transformation.
This year, as we look ahead, we find ourselves grappling with familiar challenges while daring to believe in the promise of better days.
One challenge we must confront is the growing fragmentation of our shared experiences. Increasingly, the global and local spheres seem to exist in parallel universes. A catastrophe halfway across the world — whether a climate disaster, political upheaval or humanitarian crisis — has the power to shape economies and policies closer to home, yet often feels distant, reduced to a fleeting headline.
Meanwhile, our more local and personal concerns — the cost of living, caring for family and doing well at work — demand urgent attention but risk being overshadowed by the constant churn of global issues. Bridging this gap requires a recalibration of priorities. The new year demands both outward-looking empathy and a renewed focus on strengthening the foundations of our own communities.
Economically, the year ahead will likely test the resilience of all levels of
To the Editor:
our government. Trust in institutions has eroded, but there are also glimmers of progress worth celebrating: advancements in green technology, a renewed emphasis on workers’ rights, and shifting societal attitudes toward mental health and well-being. These trends suggest that positive change, while slow, is possible.
We need to be optimistic, but that demands resolve. The climate crisis, for instance, is no longer a future threat but an immediate reality, underscored by the fires, floods and record-breaking temperatures of recent years. The urgency to act cannot be overstated, and yet real solutions remain politically fraught and logistically complex. We face the challenge of balancing personal responsibility with the recognition that systemic change requires collective action.
At the same time, the new year also offers a chance to reimagine what progress means. Growth, long equated with economic expansion, is being reconsidered in light of its environmental and social costs. These ideas challenge deeply entrenched narratives about success and prosperity, but they also open up the possibility of more inclusive, equitable futures.
Many of us also enter 2025 grappling with uncertainty. The relentless pace of
I agree with everything that Peter King wrote in “Like many other devotees, I’ll miss ‘Blue Bloods’ dearly” (Dec. 19-25). Though I never had the chance to meet the cast of “Blue Bloods,” they did feel like family. There has to be a show for people like us — born in Queens, my grandfather was with the Manhattan mounted police in the late 1920s, my cousins were with the Port Authority Police during the Colin Ferguson bloodbath on the LIRR and on Sept. 11.
We love the Police Department and everything they stand for. They are our angels on earth in these crazy times. I appreciated grace before meals as a practicing Catholic. So there are many people who loved “Blue Bloods,” but I’m sure the network needed to try to make even more money! No one cares about the audience, just the dollar sign.
NANCY ALBERTELLI East Meadow
To the Editor:
My father, like Mr. King’s, wore NYPD’s blue. Like Mr. King, I consider ‘Blue Bloods’ more nuanced than many cop shows. But his speculations about imagined oppo-
technological change, the aftershocks of a pandemic and the simple unpredictability of life can feel overwhelming. Yet amid this turbulence, we find moments of connection and meaning. A neighbor’s kindness, a shared laugh, the rediscovery of an old passion — these small, often overlooked moments remind us why we persevere.
How do we handle the bad while making room for the good? We need to balance action with rest and contemplation, and ambition with gratitude. This requires recognizing that while we cannot solve every problem, we can contribute to their solutions.
As we step into the new year, we should resolve to move beyond empty platitudes. Instead of vague aspirations for “better days,” let’s strive for tangible progress: a stronger sense of community, a commitment to justice, and a willingness to adapt to changing realities. We should allow ourselves moments of joy, not just as a distraction from life’s difficulties, but also as a reminder of its possibilities.
It isn’t easy. There are always setbacks and frustrations, but there are also breakthroughs, large and small, that remind us of our capacity to endure, to grow and to create a better future. The new year’s gift gives us the opportunity to begin anew.
nents of the show, and his “unanswered questions,” are dubious. No doubt, the cast members are all outstanding people and first-class actors, but they were performers acting out dramatic scripts. It’s all fiction, and we can enjoy “as if” for the hour, but to extend the imaginary past the credits is delusional.
Americans generally tend to romanticize both our lawmen and our criminals, clouding our view of reality. Our fiction is out of sync with our nonfiction, and we get confused. If real police were “Blue Bloods” police, we would not have had a Bernie Kerik as commissioner; there would be no need for civilian complaint review
as the season of giving comes to a close, it’s important to reflect on not just all we have to be thankful for, but on those who still need our support. While there are certainly plenty of domestic issues, and Americans in need, we cannot forget the people of Ukraine, who are nearing the end of their third year of war with Russia.
The conflict, which has cost the lives of roughly 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers and over 11,000 civilians, has put on display the very real threat authoritarianism is posing to democracies all around the world today. And the people of Ukraine, who spent decades under Soviet rule and centuries under czarist rule before that, know how important their right to self-determination is, because they know what it means to live under a regime without rights. Here in America, where we’ve had the luck and privilege to live under a democratic government for our entire history, it can be easy to brush aside these kinds of conflicts by claiming that certain areas or certain cultures
are used to conflict. We hear it about the Middle East all the time: so-called “experts” who assert that the region has “always been at war,” and that one ethnic group or another “doesn’t understand democracy.”
I don’t buy it.
As our Founding Fathers knew too well, human beings are born with an innate desire, and a right, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While we may think of these words as uniquely American, I’ve always believed that they were written not just with our country’s population in mind, but as a fundamental fact of the human condition.
wmyr Zelensky chose to stay in Kyiv in 2022, when the capital city refused to fall, and every day since, his people have had one message for Putin and the world: We will not go quietly.
e can’t turn our backs on a country that is fighting for its sovereignty.
When our nation was in its infancy and fighting for its existence, we relied heavily on the support not only of foreign nations like France and Spain, but on the extraordinary efforts of individuals from around the world who recognized that our fight for independence wasn’t just a local conflict, but a global one, that of freedom vs. tyranny.
There are hundreds of international charitable groups that are on the ground in Ukraine providing humanitarian aid, from UNICEF to the Red Cross. Other organizations, such as United Help Ukraine, Nova Ukraine and Razom for Ukraine, provide medical aid to tens of thousands of people and soldiers across the country.
And the people of Ukraine have shown their desire for these universal rights with a determination and tenacity that has allowed this country of only 37 million to face down, and frequently defeat, a richer and larger nation with nearly five times its population. And Ukrainians are fighting not just for their own rights and sovereignty. They are the first line of defense against the deranged, ahistorical and plutocratic worldview that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian oligarchs are so desperate to spread.
When Ukrainian President Volody-
boards, body cameras and millions spent on misconduct settlements; and less turnover in the top brass. “Courtesy cards” would be in museums, not wallets.
Distractions from reality allow speculations like Mr. King’s suggestion that scriptwriters were pressured “to portray cops in a negative light,” as if any producers care at all about what viewers see between the commercials. There are other shows for that. Equally dangerous is his question about the series’ cancellation. Instead of noting the fact that the noble cast accepted a 25 percent pay cut to subsidize season 14, Mr. King conjures the demon of “woke” from nothing.
It’s true that the show’s fans will always have the memories, but we must hope our nostalgia doesn’t distract from the realities of 21st century law and its enforcement.
BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre
To the Editor:
Long Island Rail Road commuters should be concerned about insufficient funds being earmarked to bring bridges,
viaducts, tunnels and other basic infrastructure that are in poor or marginal condition up to a state of good repair in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposed $68 billion 2025-2029 Five Year Capital Plan. This also applies to Metro-North Railroad and New York City Transit.
It’s questionable whether $600 million is sufficient funding for LIRR critical infrastructure projects under the proposed plan. Can this eliminate the growing backlog of critical infrastructure repair? Too many critical capital assets remain in daily service beyond their anticipated useful life. There is still a $33 billion shortfall to fully fund the plan.
Safety, state of good repair, and reliable, on-time performance with a minimum of service disruptions at a fair price should be higher priorities than system expansion projects. The $7.7 billion Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, the $5.5 billion Brooklyn-Queens light-rail Interborough Express and the $3.1 billion Metro North Bronx East Penn Station Access projects all need to be put on hold. Funding for all three would be better spent on critical infrastructure projects benefiting over 4 million NYC Transit subway, 200,000-plus LIRR and 200,000plus Metro North daily commuters. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and board members have a fiduciary responsibility to
The analogy isn’t perfect. Ukraine isn’t fighting to win its independence from its mother country, but is fighting instead to maintain its sovereignty in the face of foreign aggression. But the fact remains that its people, who have seen family members’, friends’ and loved ones’ lives destroyed by the aggression of a brutish dictator, deserve not only our respect and admiration, but our help.
You may think, “But I’m only one person — what could I possibly do?” And obviously, no one person can end this conflict overnight (except maybe Rocky Balboa). But there are plenty of ways for us to do our part.
There are also nearly 300,000 Ukrainian refugees now living in the United States, part of a diaspora of nearly 4 million Ukrainians, predominantly women, children and seniors, who have been forced to flee their homes in the face of ruthless Russian aggression. While many of these people have been kindly fostered by Americans, Europeans and people everywhere, there are always more people in need.
To learn more about how to host Ukrainian refugees, visit SupportUkraineNow.org.
Ukrainians are fighting not just for their own right to exist, but for the rights of people around the world struggling against conquest and the threat of extermination. As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously declared, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” — and we can all do more to help Ukrainians restore peace in the country they love.
Will Sheeline is an editor covering Glen Head, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? WSheeline@liherald.com.
Framework by Tim Baker
protect the interests of riders and taxpayers.
LARRY PENNER
Great Neck
Larry Penner is a transportation advo-
cate, historian and writer who previously served as a director of the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.
mountsinai.org/southnassau