Bellmore Herald 01-26-2023

Celebrations

costs

Another year of Regeneron scholars at Kennedy High

By JoRDAN VALLoNE jvallone@liherald.com

Two seniors at John F. Kennedy High School, in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, have been named semifinalists in the 2023 Society for Science & Public Science Talent Search competition, sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Regeneron. The talent search is among the most prestigious science competitions in the U.S.

Tyler Bissoondial and Luke Feldman both dedicated hundreds of hours to their projects, while enrolled in Kennedy’s Advanced Science Research program under the leadership of teacher

Teens transform shirts into toys for local animal shelters

By JoRDAN VALLoNE jvallone@liherald.com

Local animal shelters can always use the public’s help — whether it’s through volunteering or donating supplies. Teens Ryan Levinter and Charlie Matos recognized that need, and the two dog lovers started Tees to Toys, an organization that transforms old T-shirts into rope toys, to be donated to local shelters.

“We saw there were a lot of lockdowns in the world in 2020 and 2021, and there still are,” Ryan said. “There were just all these animals going into the shelters when people started going back to work. (Shelters)

weren’t able to give every single dog a toy, so we decided, why not try and do something?”

Last weekend, Ryan, 15 of Merrick, and Charlie, 14, of Bellmore, hosted their first workshop at the Merrick Library. Using space in the community room of the library, the workshop was open to fellow teens to volunteer for an hour to learn how to make the toys. In turn, they received credit for 1½ hours of community service.

A sheet handed out at the workshop detailed the process: After the shirt was cut into several long, thin sections, they were shaped into four braids.

The braids were then weaved together using the box method, a type of knot most common in lanyards, to create a tight, compact rope toy. Depending on the size of the shirt and the thickness of the braids, there were toys of all different shapes and sizes, for all ages and breeds of dogs.

Ryan’s mother, Dory Levinter, explained that her son had read a news article about shelters being crowded beyond their capacity. “During Covid, a lot of people got animals, but now that they’re back to their normal life, they can’t care for these dogs and are dumping them,” Dory

said. “Since we cannot adopt hundreds of animals, Ryan thought the next best thing is to help the shelters as much as possible.”

Coordinating with Last Hope

The boys selected Last Hope Animal Rescue, in Wantagh, to be one of the first local shelters to work with because of its prox-

imity to Bellmore and Merrick. Charlie said that his family has made donations to Last Hope over the years.

JoAnne Anderson, the shelter’s outreach coordinator, said that people returning dogs to shelters post-Covid wasn’t something that rescue workers had seen. “If they’re coming back,

Jordan Vallone/Herald

LUKE FELDMAN, LEFt, and Tyler Bissoondial were named semifinalists in the 2023 Society for Science & Public Science Talent Search competition, sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Regeneron.

From cop to Congress: D’Esposito settles into D.C.

By ANA BORRUTO aborruto@liherald.com

If there was a common theme in Anthony D’Esposito’s career, it would be progression.

From police officer to New York Police Department detective. An 18-year-old volunteer firefighter to fire chief. And now Hempstead town councilman to congressman, the 40-year-old Island Park native describes looking back at his journey as a surreal experience.

“One of the first weeks of orientation, walking out of the Capitol building for the first time, walking down those steps and looking back you — it definitely makes you think, ‘How did I get here?’” D’Esposito said.

The congressman does not forget where he comes from, and who supported him along the way. Through his volunteerism and public service, he has made lifelong friends who never shy away from cheering him on. D’Esposito’s official in-district swearing in attracted hundreds of his loved ones, fellow elected officials, law enforcement colleagues and neighbors.

To the country, he is a U.S. congressman. But to the small, close-knit community of Island Park, D’Esposito is “still the same guy,” he said. He credits his experience as a first responder for shaping the person he is today.

“I’m not a lifelong politician,” D’Esposito said. “I’m someone that has had that real life experience — so much, if not all, of my adult life has really been centered around public service and the public safety world.”

He joined the NYPD in 2006, becoming a highly decorated detective with more than 600 arrests under his

belt. He described working in some of the most violent communities — not just in New York, but across the nation.

D’Esposito pays homage to his law enforcement background with his signature logo of a police badge with an outline of Long Island in the center, and “NY-4” written on the bottom, for his congressional district.

“When creating our brand and what we are about, I don’t think anything really sums me up more than that shield,” D’Esposito said. “I’m proud to have worn the uniform.”

The Island Park Fire Department was known as a central location to “everything and anything that went on” in the neighborhood. As soon as he turned 18, D’Esposito signed on as a volunteer. By 2009, he was the fire department’s chief — one of the youngest to have been elected at the time. He was also the first person to run a second term as chief, and later ran for third assistant chief.

D’Esposito has proven his ability to move up the ranks and make his mark in the communities he served. Once he reached what he describes as “the pinnacle,” his first thought was not to slow down, but see what he could try next.

He was appointed to the Hempstead Town Board in 2016, taking over the seat formerly held by Anthony Santino. During his tenure, D’Esposito embedded himself in the community, established himself as an accessible figure day and night, and was even willing to work with those on the other side of the aisle.

At his congressional swearing-in ceremony — where former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D’Amato led the oath — D’Esposito made it clear his arm is extended to everyone and anyone who wants to help deliver for his constituents.

U.S. REP. ANTHONY D’Esposito stands to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at his in-district swearing in ceremony at the David S. Mack Center for Training & Intelligence.

D’Esposito is off to a quick start representing the 4th Congressional District, ready to try out his brand of bipartisanship in Washington.

“I think the qualities of a good leader are making sure you’re at the forefront, being humble, always learning new things,” D’Esposito said. “But most importantly, you have the willingness to work and never mind getting your hands dirty.”

Tim Baker/Herald

I ’m proud to have worn the uniform.

ANTHONY D’ESPOSITO U.S. Representative

‘An opioid addiction does not discriminate’

Community

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Narcan

training

held

to combat rise in overdoses and deaths nationwide

At the Bellmore-Merrick Community Parent Center’s Narcan Training last week in the Brookside School, one thing was abundantly clear: an opioid overdose can effect anyone. With the number of overdoses and opioid-related deaths on a steady rise post-coronavirus pandemic, prevention is crucial, as is knowing how to spot an overdose, and how to administer naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of an overdose.

Naloxone, more commonly known by the brand name, Narcan, comes in the form of a nasal spray, and is easy to administer to someone overdosing on an opioid. The parent center, in partnership with the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, the hamlets’ four elementary school districts, several local politicians, and the Tempo Group, a counseling center, hosted a Narcan training for community members on Jan. 18.

In a presentation hosted by Wendy Tepfer, director of the parent center, and Cindy Wolff, executive director of the Tempo Group, nearly 100 attendees learned vital information about the opioid epidemic, and how to safely and effectively deliver a dose of Narcan.

“We’re in the midst of an opioid epidemic,” Tepfer said at the training. “It has caused a record number of overdoses and fatalities across Long Island, which mirrors what’s happening across our state and across our country.

“An opioid addiction does not discriminate,” she added. “To combat the number of Long Islanders that are dying from fentanyl, heroin, and other opioid overdoses, we really have tried over the years to educate parents and teens about the dangers of substance abuse, opioid addiction, and to offer tips on how to recognize signs and symptoms.”

Wolff, the director of the Tempo Group since 2016, shared that it has offices located directly within the district, at the Brookside School. A community counseling and addiction treatment center, it hosts various workshops with students and parents throughout the year on a variety of topics.

At the training, Wolff explained that the rise in opioid-related deaths and overdoses began in the 1990s, with a second wave starting in 2010. The third wave began in 2013 because of synthetic opioids, particularly illicitly manufactured fentanyl, which is 50 times more potent that heroin.

Opiods are painkillers, Wolff explained, and many can be found in homes, because they are prescribed by medical professionals to people recovering from surgeries, or to those dealing with other conditions. Because they can be found in homes, Wolff added its important to discard medications properly if they are no longer being used, in effort to avoid an accidental overdose.

Oxyocodone, hydrocodone, morphine and methadone are just some commonly

known and prescribed opioids. When one overdoses on an opioid, including illegal ones — like heroin or fentanyl — it can appear as shallow breathing, clammy skin, vomiting or gurgling noises, or blue fingertips and lips. Oftentimes, someone overdosing cannot be awakened and is unable to speak.

An overdose occurs when one’s body becomes saturated in an opioid, Wolff explained. The brainstem, and receptors within a body become flooded with whichever opioid was taken.

“The market for illicitly manufactured fentanyl continues to change,” Wolff said, “and it can be found in combination with heroin, counterfeit prescriptions, cocaine, and actually now, with tons of other prescription medications — kids on Aderall or other prescribed medications are getting fake pills that are laced with fentanyl.”

Aderall is a commonly prescribed medication to those with attention deficit disorders, but it has been known to circulate schools and college campuses, as kids without a prescription will take it to help them focus on an assignment. But sometimes, if its coming from an unknown source, consequences can be dangerous — and deadly.

Wolff said the Covid-19 pandemic led to a significant and steady rise in overdoses, and unfortunately, most are seen among young adults.

“This is incredibly troubling,” Wolff added. “You do not need to be addicted to an opioid to have an overdose. Part of what’s going on is that kids are thinking they’re getting something else — but they’re getting fentanyl. They are purposely being targeted. We know that drug dealers are not equitable.”

Wolff said Narcan is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for a known or suspected overdose.

If you’re around someone who you sus-

pect is overdosing, Wolff said before Narcan is even administered, it is crucial that 911 is called. Even if someone arouses from an overdose, they are still in need of medical attention.

The person receiving Narcan should be flat on the ground, and with a simple push of your thumb, the entire dose of it will come out of the spray nozzle. Even if it appears that the person is not breathing, Wolff said the Narcan should still work.

Everyone in the audience received a kit, which included two doses of Narcan, because oftentimes, a second — or even third dose — has to be given in order to reverse the effects of an overdose. A CPR mouth guard was included, in case the person administering the dose was certified in mouthto-mouth resuscitation.

Wolff stressed that Narcan will only work on an opioid overdose — it cannot reverse the effects of a different type of overdose. With that said, she added that Narcan will not harm someone if they are overdosing on a different type of drug.

Prevention is key, Wolff said. For any parents in the room, Wolff encouraged them to have open conversations with their children about drug use.

“I am in the business of treatment,” Wolff said. “I am a firm believer that the best medicine is prevention. Have conversations now — do not wait for something to happen. There should be no doubt about how you feel.”

The Tempo Group has their Merrick offices at 1260 Meadowbrook Road. If kits expire, Wolff said they are happy to resupply them, with a quick refresher training.

To learn more about opioid addiction, the treatment center, services offered, and outreach within Bellmore-Merrick schools, call the Tempo Group at (516) 3743671.

EVERyONE WhO ATTENDED received a kit containing two doses of Narcan, which come in the form of a nasal spray.

Neil Miller/Herald photos

ThE BROOksiDE schOOL’s board room was packed last week at the Bellmore-Merrick Community Parent Center’s Narcan Training.

ciNDy WOLff, ExEcuTiVE director of the Tempo Group, a community counseling center that provided the training, demonstrated how naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of an overdose, is used.

Three years of work lead to the semifinals

Barbi Frank.

Being named a semifinalist is no easy feat — out of nearly 2,000 applicants, only 300 received the title. They were each awarded $2,000, and a shot at being named a finalist.

The school will also receive $2,000 per student. This is the 19th consecutive year that at least one student in Kennedy’s program has been named a semifinalist.

Students join the ASR program as a sophomore, following an extensive application process. Around two dozen students are accepted into the program each year, although not everyone completes the course. Fifteen seniors finished and submitted projects this year, a simply amazing number, Frank stressed.

“They all completed impressive, graduate-level work,” Frank said. “It takes someone really special to be able to go all the way through the three-year program, and the idea that we have 15 seniors this year, really is an impressive number.”

Tyler’s project

Bissoondial, 17 of Bellmore, is no

stranger to completing research projects.

Bissoondial’s father, Terrence, has a Ph.D. in molecular biology, and is a research teacher at Hewlett High School. From a young age, he had always been interested in science and in putting his skills to the test, participating in several other competitions throughout the years.

Bissoondial explained that he wanted his research for ASR to directly help people — and his project, which studied nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and its development into a type of cancer — did just that.

Working with a mentor at the Angion Biomedica Corporation, he completed his research on mice, which were fed a high-fat diet that induced fatty liver disease. “I did a lot of microscopic analysis, and found that this high-fat diet was able to even induce the cancerous stage, which is known as hepatocellular carcinoma” or HCC, he said. “I found that this cancer stage has little to no approved treatment options, and it’s very difficult to diagnose tumors.”

Further research allowed Bissoondi-

al to discover a type of gene — specifically a type of micro RNA, he said — that has the ability to regulate other genes. He learned this gene can indicate the development of HCC.

“It suggests basically a network of genes that could be responsible for the progression of early stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to HCC,” he further explained.

Bissoondial’s research not only impressed Regeneron’s judges, but it has been published in three scientific journals.

He said when he saw his name on the list of semifinalists, he could hardly comprehend the moment.

“When we scrolled through, my head was still buffering, I didn’t know what was going on,” he said. “It was the most surreal moment, probably in my entire life.”

Luke’s project

Feldman, 17 of Merrick, said leading up to high school, he always knew he wanted to participate in ASR. His project focused on something he was interested in but hadn’t explored much: biology.

For many years, Feldman said he visited his grandmother at a nursing home, where a friend of hers was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS, a neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure. “As I continued to visit,” he said, “I would kind of see how his body was starting to break down. At the time, maybe I didn’t understand what I was seeing, but looking back, it was pretty scary.”

Remembering those moments, Feldman said, gave him the umbrella idea of studying neurodegenerative diseases, and he ultimately settled on ALS, and a chemical, sulforaphane.

“It’s a chemical that’s found in many cruciferous vegetables, like kale, broccoli, broccoli sprouts,” he said, “and this chemical is shown to have some positive

effects on the expression of neurodegenerative diseases, but not much research had been done on ALS specifically.”

Completing his research under a mentorship at LIU Post, Feldman cross-bred fruit flies to express a genetic disorder that is similar to the expression of ALS in humans. From there, he put the sulforaphane to the test. Flies with the genetic disorder that were fed sulforaphane-rich foods performed better than flies with the genetic disorder who consumed a normal diet.

Feldman said on the day semifinalists were announced, and the seniors were gathered waiting to read the list, he was flooded with emotions.

“We’re scrolling down, trying to find New York, and then out of the corner of my eye, zooming past, I end up seeing my name,” he said. “At first, it was overwhelming, but the realization that I actually made it this far — I succeeded in getting this far — it was just a rush like no other.”

Program takeaways

“It is really an experience you can’t get anywhere else in the entire school,” Feldman said of ASR. “You walk in on the first day, there’s no desks, you have these smooth tables set up in a pattern than promotes closeness and camaraderie. The idea of passing down information and knowledge and wisdom is entirely stressed, and of utmost importance.”

Forty Regeneron finalists were announced at noon on Jan. 24, but Bissoondial and Feldman were not among the winners. Regardless, they’ll have the opportunity to enter their projects into other competitions and can work to have their research published in journals.

“I think ASR taught me a lot about how to be independent,” Bissoondial said. “Even though I have my mentors, my dad, teaching me many different things, I really just developed my own personality, which I think was very important.”

Courtesy Barbi Frank

The AdvAnced Science Research program, under the leadership of teacher Barbi Frank, had 15 seniors complete and submit graduate-level research projects for the competition.

First round of donations to go to Last Hope in Wantagh

they’re coming back at the regular rate, but not because (of the pandemic),” Anderson said. “There was only one incident, in the whole time of the pandemic, where I could say it was directly related that we knew of.”

Anderson noted that Last Hope has maintained a high standard for animal adoptions since its inception to minimize returns of adoptees. “If you don’t lower your standards, the chances of this happening are less,” she said. “That’s one factor. Another is, we’re not puppy-based. We get puppies, but not often.

“When you have dogs that are a little bit older, you know a little bit more about what their temperament is like,” Anderson added. “If we’re getting them back, we’re getting them back for the same reasons, you know, like allergies, or it’s not a good fit, or it’s more responsibility than they thought.”

Adopting a pet from Last Hope involves getting a recommendation from a veterinarian, if those interested in adopting were previous pet owners. Anderson added that if it would be a family’s first pet, or if it had been years since they last owned one, not having a recommendation would not count against them.

Last Hope also takes other references into account, and conducts virtual

home checks. Adopting a pet, Anderson stressed, is something people need to be absolutely sure of. “It has to be a lifetime commitment,” she said. “It has to be.”

Last Hope, she said, actually saw an increase in both dog and cat adoptions last year, and of course welcomes all donations — especially toys.

What’s next for Tees to Toys?

Tees to Toys is just getting started, but Ryan and Charlie have high hopes for the future. Though they are starting by donating to Last Hope, they hope to connect with other local rescues in the future.

Dory Levinter said that news about upcoming events and workshops would be put online, at TinyURL.com/ TeesToToys. Joining Tees to Toys’ mission, she said, is simple — there’s no cost and all that’s required is old shirts and safety scissors.

“As a parent, it’s for a good cause — all the dogs they’re going to be helping,” she said, “and they’re not on their phones for an hour. They have to be social, so it’s great.”

Tees to Toys will feature anyone who offers support to the cause, and has a pet at home, on its site, as a thank-you. Email teestotoys@gmail. com to learn more, or to send a photo of your pet.

Jordan Vallone/Herald

Charlie MaTos, 14, left, and Ryan Levinter, 15, started Tees to Toys, which turns old T-shirts into rope toys for animals in shelters.

spotlight athlete

Herald sports

Calhoun aims to avenge key loss

By MaRC BeRMaN sports@liherald.com

The Calhoun girls’ basketball team has only one regret to its 2022-23 season.

Calhoun is 8-7 overall after a difficult non-league schedule and 6-1 in Conference A1. Its lone loss occurred on Jan. 10 – a 55-52 heartbreaker against first-place MacArthur.

The rematch is Feb. 7 and Calhoun can’t wait. The Colts rallied from a 14-point hole to trail by 2 in the final 30 seconds. But it couldn’t get all the way back.

DoMiNiC oBUKWelU V.S. North Junior Basketball

aN all-CoNFeReNCe seleCtioN last season as a sophomore when he averaged 10 points per game and played a role in the Spartans’ deep run in the Class A playoffs, Obukwelu has picked up where he left off. On Jan. 16, his layup at the buzzer gave Valley Stream North a 50-40 victory at Bethpage and capped a 16-point performance. It was the 13th time in 15 games he’s scored in double figures this season.

gaMes to WatCh

thursday, Jan. 26

Boys Basketball: Mepham at Calhoun 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Elmont at Kennedy 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 27

Boys Basketball: Garden City at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: MacArthur at New Hyde Park 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Lawrence at V.S. South 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Kennedy at Elmont 5 p.m.

Wrestling: Oceanside at Lynbrook 5:30 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Long Beach at Jericho 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: V.S. North at Lynbrook 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: V.S. South at Lawrence 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Carey at Hewlett 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Floral Park at Wantagh 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Calhoun at Mepham 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: New Hyde Park at MacArthur 7 p.m.

saturday, Jan. 28

Wrestling: South Side Tournament 9:30 a.m.

Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Carey 11:45 a.m.

Boys Basketball: Freeport at Massapequa 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Westbury at East Meadow 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Seaford at West Hempstead 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: West Hempstead at Seaford 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Oceanside at Baldwin 4 p.m.

“We ran out of time,’’ Calhoun head coach Dan Catapano said.

Free-throw shooting doomed Calhoun as it went 2 of 12 from the line in the loss –an indication of an offense that “comes and goes,’’ in Catapano’s words. But the second-place standing has virtually clinched the Colts a second straight playoff berth – the first time Calhoun has made back-to-back appearances in five years.

“I’m really proud of (the record),’’ said senior shooting guard Mia Licari, the team’s leading scorer at 10.7 points. “We’re already in the playoffs and only halfway through. It’s definitely stressing the next MacArthur game. We can totally come out on top for the next game. We could tie for the conference championship) if we beat them.’’

After the loss, Catapano has stepped up practicing free throws under pressure, setting up various charity-stripe competitions and giving weekly awards to the best player at practice.

“I think our free throw shooting is great,’’ Licari said. “Sometimes the pressure gets to everyone. We need to work on being under pressure. We all really want this. We want it so much the pressure gets to us. We do a lot during practice dealing with pressure and being able to handle it.’’

Though Licari’s scoring average could be higher, she’s known as their best twoway player with her knack for steals. “I feel good about it, but I can be doing more,’’ Licari said. “I’ve been working on my shooting. It’s not only how many points I put up but it’s my defense too. I’m usually guarding one of the best players.’’

The season’s start was rough with all

the non-conference games and losses to rugged Lynbrook, Garden City, Plainedge and Division. “It’s a tough non-league schedule,’’ Catapano said. “Hopefully that will prepare us for the playoffs.’’

This is a team built on defense as the Colts are scoring just 38 points per game. “Scoring’s been up and down,’’ Catapano said. “But our transition play has been good. We’re doing a nice job running the floor.’’

The largest revelation has been at center with senior Marissa Lewis, averaging a double-double (10.1 points, 10.0 rebounds). Last season, Lewis didn’t start playing until late January after a severe ankle sprain but had a big offseason.

While Licari is the squad’s best outside

shooter, junior Ashleigh Coyne has competently filled the point guard position after being Sixth Man last season. Senior small forward Margaret Casimano is also averaging 8.5 points. “The three (Licari-CoyneCasimano) are holding it together for us as returners,’’ the coach said.

While Brianna Deputy and power forward Dana Wauchope have contributed, Calhoun is recently getting an unexpected boost from an eighth-grader, Angelica Kasimatis, who is earning a bigger role at the “4’’ after two 10-point outings.

“It’s a group with varsity experience but not a lot of minutes,’’ Catapano said. “They’re kind of finding themselves right now. We’re hoping to get hot at the right time.’’

Eric Dunetz/Herald seNioR MaRgaRet CasiMaNo is averaging 8.5 points for the Colts, who had only one blemish on their conference record through seven games.

Changing a person’s life trajectory for the better

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

That age-old conundrum for young job seekers — to get your first job you need experience — remains a hurdle for many. Teens and young adults in the Town of Hempstead, however, have an advantage.

Thanks to a number of programs offered through the HempsteadWorks Career Center, young adults up to 24 years old can get help finding that first job, especially the one that ultimately leads to a career with a sustainable living wage.

In fact, the amount of assistance offered through the HempsteadWorks’ youth programs is indicative of just how far career counselors go to help younger job seekers — and those with less than stellar backgrounds — obtain work.

“For some of them, this is their first time working,” said youth services coordinator Myesha Arvon. “That’s pretty exciting.”

Arvon has helped Hempstead young adults find sustainable, interesting jobs for 20 years. Adults she helped as teens return with their children seeking advice.

And a big part of that ability to establish deep, longterm relationships with people is Arvon’s own experience. She herself struggled with employment as a young person. Her authenticity when speaking to others in a similar position is just one reason she can’t even come close to approximating how many she has helped over the years.

The program’s main goal is to provide young adults a genuine opportunity to establish a career, Arvon said — regardless of their background. HempsteadWorks helps many teens and young adults who struggle with myriad issues.

Those barriers are often significant: teen pregnancy, homelessness, economic disadvantages, criminal justice

issues, to name just a few.

“The biggest piece they’re missing is that support,” Arvon said. “I become that support. Whatever it is that they’re coming in dealing with, they can talk to me because I’ve dealt with it, and I’m never going to sugarcoat anything.”

When she first meets someone looking for help. Arvon performs an informal assessment. She finds out what type of people they are friends with, and if they’re living at home or not —all to determine what services they need.

“Even before I find out why they’re here, I speak to them and get them to open up,” Arvon said. “Just them

coming here is huge. Just literally walking in the door. It’s all about that first step.”

Nene Alameda, a business services representative at HempsteadWorks who oversees many of the office’s programs, said youth services is especially important to Hempstead because the program improves lives.

“The change is not just that individual,” Alameda said. “It’s generational change. If we change one person, we can change the trajectory of not only their life, but their future children.”

The summer youth employment program is a six-week paid work experience for those between 16 and 20 who are either Hempstead town residents, or live in Long Beach. They also have to meet low-income criteria.

HempsteadWorks offers both out-of-school and inschool programs for young people — an especially important helping 14- and 15-year-olds.

The youth services branch of HempsteadWorks provides academic tutoring, career exploration sessions and more for teens who may not have a concrete concept of their future.

“We start by just giving them tools they need to succeed,” Arvon said. “They may not necessarily need a job immediately, so we break it down to them that these are the different careers available. It gets them thinking about jobs they may not have ever thought about.”

While the programs and support are designed to give teens and young adults the greatest chance of success, ultimately, each individual must work for their own future. At some point, Arvon says, she must step back.

“Some people ask me, ‘How do you not get involved in their personal life?’” Arvon said. “That’s where my boundary comes in. I can help you to a certain point. I can give you guidance. I can tell you what I think would be best.

“But ultimately, you’re going to have to make that decision. And some don’t make the right decision.”

Source: HempsteadWorks.com

Faith-based education

Students put moral values to work in their lives every day

Strong spiritual guidance is an essential part of daily activities at Long Island’s Catholic schools, creating a special sense of community among children, families, teachers, and the local parish, which reinforces moral values and an abiding respect for others. Resourceful instructors use powerful spiritual teachings and realworld experiences to bring these values to life for children, while our smaller classes allow for more personalized and productive interaction between students and teachers.

Applying strong values in many selfless ways

Catholic school students apply the moral and spiritual lessons they learn in the real world by participating in charitable community initiatives throughout the year and by responding every day to others in a respectful and helpful manner. This spirit of caring and community in our students helps to give them the enduring moral foundation to become active, contributing members of society.

Through faith we grow

A strong Catholic identity as taught in Long Island’s Catholic schools matters. These schools are uniquely empowered to help children in some very important ways. Catholic schools:

√ Help socialize children in a positive way.

√ Reinforce the positive values that you live in your family.

√ Reassure children that they are safe and loved, and that God loves them.

√ Teach children that their value is not based on how others see them.

√ Feature teachers who are models of the faith.

CELEBRATIONS

ready for your special day

Announce that occasion in style

Invites still make an impact

In the modern world of digital communication and personal web sites, some might think mailing invitations isn’t necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The fact that we usually rely on technological communication is precisely the reason paper invitations are still so popular. Getting a physical invitation stands out from the normal sea of digital event invites, alerting guests to the fact that this is an important event and they should take notice. It’s a way of marking the event as a milestone. This also lets guests know how important it is to you that they attend which makes them more likely to prioritize your event over others.

Printed invitations get guests excited about the celebration to come and set the tone for your memorable day. Invitations let guests know what you’re celebrating, what you’re serving and how to dress as well as the date, time and location.

Custom printed invitations show your personality and the type of event you are having casual, formal, modern or traditional.

An emailed invitation might get guests to come to your party, but mailing personalized invitations to your guests still serves as an announcement of your event.

It’s all about your style

Your invitation defines your style and the tone of the celebration. If it is a formal affair, your invitation should convey that with the style of invitation chosen, the paper, layers, ribbons, formal fonts or hand calligraphy on envelopes, the reason for the party (wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, etc.), the time of day or evening and location of the party all give guests clues as to how they should dress and is their first glimpse of your event.

For a casual affair, a more relaxed invitation, playful fonts, colors and graphics as well as reason for the party, location and time, also indicate to guests what you have planned.

Wording: Don’t get wordy. Only the party details, RSVP info belongs on the invitation. Do not include directions, accommodations or where you’re registered. Those details, if you must include them, should be on a separate insert card.

RSVP: Set your RSVP date for three to four weeks after your guests wouldreceive formal invitations. Remember to put a stamp on the RSVP cards. Typically, the envelopes are addressed to come back to the host, but in the case of a wedding, if the bride is keeping track of the replies instead of her parents, her name and address can be on the response envelopes.

have been on your guest list or you have a “B-list” of guests, and you will also want keepsakes for yourself.

Registry: In the case of registry, the only place to list this is on a wedding website and/or for baby showers or other events that use registries, give the information to the hostess, your mother, sisters, best friends, so they can relay the information if asked. If you include your registry information on the invitation, it appears you are more concerned with getting gifts than seeing guests at your event.

Reception menu: Many venues ask that the hosts give them a ballpark figure as to how many of their guests will prefer each type of entrée available at the reception. Include menu options within your invitation package, ideally on your reply card, so you can easily provide this information for your vendor.

Etiquette still matters

Even if no children are invited, do not put that on your invitations. The place to state who is invited to the party is on the invitation envelope. Make it clear who is invited by writing each guest’s name on the envelopes: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Miss Jessica Smith would include the daughter too; Mr. Jason Clark and Guest, would indicate that Mr. Clark can bring a guest; Ms Carrie Jones would indicate she is the only person invited, no plus-one is invited. If you have guests that reply that they are bringing more people than you invited, or their children, politely let them know that you only have room for the number of guests invited or that it is adult party and you hope they will still be able to attend without their children or without their additional plus-ones or -twos.

When it comes to creating a guest list, invite the people who are in your lives. Don’t invite people out of obligation or just because you went to their wedding, birthday, graduation, baby shower and then have yet to see them in years. It’s easy to say don’t stress over inviting your best friend from high school you haven’t seen for years versus your BFF you hang with at work everyday, but go with your heart.

According to etiquette rules, if you attended a social event of some significance, as a guest, you are obligated to send a thank you note to the hosts and also to extend a similar invitation to them. So, technically, if you have attended a wedding or significant celebration within the last three to four months, and your budget can take it, consider adding those people to your event’s guest list.

Postage: Don’t buy postage until you weigh one of your invitations. If your invitations are anything more than the invitation and an envelope or if they are square or an unusual size, take one to the post office complete with all the inserts and have them weighed to ensure you use the correct postage. For fancy, formal invitations or wedding invitations that could be ruined by the post office’s automatic processing equipment, ask about getting your invitations hand cancelled with hand stamping that shows your envelopes have been processed by hand.

Dress code: Your invitations are a clue as to what type of party you have planned. While it is not proper to put this information on your invitation, you could include it in a small font as the last line on an invitation, include the information on your response card or if for a wedding, on your wedding website.

Order extra: It is expensive and time consuming to order more invitations after the fact. If your event is a wedding or other formal occasion, you will want to order at least 25 extra invitations.

Even for casual parties, by the way, order extra. You might need to resend an invitation, you forgot someone that should

When to mail: A general rule of thumb is to mail wedding or formal event invitations six to eight weeks in advance. Casual invitations can be mailed two to three weeks ahead of the party date.

If you want to give your guests extra notice of your party or the party date is also around a holiday or yearly special event like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, you can send save the date cards to guests several months before your event and indicate that an

invitation

Thank you notes: Order thank you notes at the same time as invitations. For wedding gifts received early, do not use stationery printed with your married name before the ceremony. You may want to order two sets of thank you notes, one with your maiden name for bridal shower gifts and early wedding gifts and a set as husband and wife with your married name.

Invites are one of the most important elements in that memorable day because they provide guests with crucial information. And while some details of the event may not follow a strict set of rules, invitations do have certain requirements that need to be adhered to.

Settling on the answer for these basic questions isn’t easy, but they’ll guide you through the process. Your completed wedding registry will then provide everything required to begin married life, while perhaps even adding a few personal indulgences. If you’re unsure how to get started, or want to doublecheck that you haven’t forgotten anything, check out this handy list of “do’s and don’ts.”

Do

Create the registry together. This should be a shared moment where you and your future spouse mesh your own personal styles. Discuss color and pattern preferences so that these foundational gifts build toward a look and feel that you both find comfortable and enjoyable. Many vendors have created programs which allow any registry items that are left unselected to be purchased at a discount after the wedding and that’s another opportunity to bond.

Do

Set up your registries early and check in on them regularly. If you haven’t registered when you announce the date, or haven’t completed your registry, eager friends and family may purchase something from somewhere else that may not fit into your shared vision. As gifts are purchased, consider adding other things into the registry so that there are always gifts representing a variety of price points for other guests who may log on later.

Don’t

Overlook needed everyday items. You have you own space, and so does your future spouse. In some cases, you may already be living together. That can lull couples into thinking that they already have these common household purchases

covered. But what about the pot with the bad handle, or those old bath towels that need upgrading?

Now is the time to think about small luxuries like the thread count on your bed sheets.

Do

Register at multiple outlets. This is important because some of your guests may have a personal preference for a specific retail store. They also may live nearer to one store location, and prefer not to shop online.

Don’t

Request cash. Instead opt for a cash registry website like

Honeyfund or Zola. They have the same look and feel as a traditional online registry, but offer you an opportunity to raise needed funds.

Do

Write personal thank you notes as promptly as possible.

Photo: Although it may seem easier to register in one place only, it’s important to make things easy on your wedding guests by having options.

Pick the perfect flowers

Blooms that wow

The flower you choose for your event will greatly depend on what type of event you’re organizing, your target audience, and your venue. Whether you’re looking for flower arrangements for events or blooms for a birthday party, they will need to be carefully considered to set the atmosphere of your event and dress up its appearance. With so many different flowers to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice when beautifying your event, but you might notice there are particular blooms that are popular all year round and go well with a variety of settings.

Cherry Blossoms. These fragrant pink branches are always welcome and an attention-getter.

Baby’s Breath. This delicate flower is popular because it can be added to virtually any floral arrangement yet still looks lovely on its own.

Roses. Fish bowls, mason jars, and wide-based vases are all great receptacles for arrangements that include this classic flower.

Orchids. Stylish all year round, orchid arrangements should never be placed in the fridge. Instead, spruce them up by cutting off a little bit more stem.

Bells of Ireland. Given their relative height, Bells of Irelands make a dramatic addition any vase, drawing the eye upwards towards the event venue’s ceiling.

Tulips. While gorgeous, tulips tend to droop so they’ll need to be tightly packed in their vase.

Bouvardia. You’ve probably already seen examples of this in real life but this flower type is often used as filler in bridal bouquets.

Rajnigandha. This flower is culturally significant to India and is used in particular ceremonies, giving it a rich and interesting backstory.

Delphinium. These flowers pair beautifully with hydrangeas.

Chrysanthemums. Some flower designers suggest using dried chrysanthemums instead of fresh ones, depending on your event aesthetic.

Dusty Miller. Most often used a greenery filler, the dusty miller blooms during the summer and is an understated addition to the rest of your floral design.

Lilies. In case you give away your arrangements at the end of the event, let guests know that lilies are quite toxic for cats so be sure to keep your furry friends away from them.

Daisies. Daisies are simple enough to compliment your event decor, but bold enough that they can really hold their own and still make your venue look colorful.

Gladioli. If you’re working with this flower, make sure to put their stems in lukewarm water immediately after you receive them to maintain their look and freshness.

Holly. Budget-friendly and festive, holly makes a great addition to any winter event.

Evaluate the venue

If your event is taking place in a small venue, flower arrangements can be displayed subtly on tables tall designs will be more effective than wide ones, and delicate flowers like ruffled roses are ideal for letting guests see their beauty up close. By contrast, bigger venues will have room for more elaborate decorations, and grand displays packed full of foliage will fill any empty space in spectacular fashion. Choosing the right flower arrangements for events appropriate to the venue is a great part of your success.

Match the tone of your event

The florals you choose will depend on the type of event you’re planning, as they need to complement the style and atmosphere of your occasion. For instance, large red flowers may be suitable for a Valentine’s party, while a conference will probably be better accompanied by more subtle arrangements of lighter shades.

For formal events

Elegant and striking flowers like orchids, tropical leaves, anthuriums, or line flowers like poppies and full of texture ferns work beautifully at formal events, such as a wedding. Arrangements should be subtle and carefully chosen overdoing it could distract your guests from the matter at hand. Also remember that all flowers have deeper meanings, so while roses look amazing, their status as a symbol of love might not make them the best fit for a business event. However, purple irises, which symbolize wisdom, and orchids, which represent maturity and refinement, are both suitable.

Even the flowers you use for a business product launch will depend on the wider theme and aesthetic some opt for luxury flower walls and arched entrances with beautiful blooms to make a glamorous statement.

For casual events

Anniversaries, baby showers and birthdays will benefit more from smaller, more whimsical flower arrangements. For casual events, there’s a range of options to play with for instance, they can be personalized to the individual for whom you’re hosting the function. You could use their favorite colors and flowers for inspiration, or follow a specific theme, It also lets you experiment with location, which could impact your choice of flowers. A beach party, for instance, could open your decorations up to a host of tropical flowers.

Anniversaries, baby showers and birthdays will benefit more from smaller, more whimsical flower arrangements. For casual events, there’s a range of options to play with for instance, they can be personalised to the individual for whom you’re hosting the function. You could use their favourite colours and flowers for inspiration, or follow a specific theme, it also lets you experiment with location, which could impact your choice of flowers. A beach party, for instance, could open your decorations up to a host of tropical flowers.

Photo: Decorations are one of the most essential features of any event, and a floral display is a great way to make a real statement at your function.

Optimize your flower budget

Floral décor is foundation of your event space

Flowers are arguably the single most important element of décor for that special moment. They provide color, life and uniqueness, setting the tone for a memorable and enjoyable affair. If the national average is any indication, they’ll be a big part of your expenses, too.

Before you spend thousands on high-priced blossoms, however, carefully consider your options. The wrong choice can lead to unneeded expense, and there are lots of creative ways to the get the most of your flower budget.

Go seasonal

We all have that special favorite flower. Often, however, this single decision can raise the costs substantially. You can save money by blending in seasonal foliage, which will be less expensive since it’s readily available. Ask a florist or someone with the local extension service office more about area plants and when they’re in bloom.

Go big (once)

If your budget doesn’t allow for multiple showy arrangements, focus your florist’s attention on one show-stopper. Put it in a prominent place where it will receive the most notice, then down shift into less-expensive settings elsewhere.

You can also pair flowers that have bigger blooms with a mix of structural items like branches that will fill out the arrangements without breaking the bank.

Make a deal

Look for sales at local florists, or consider buying from a wholesaler. A word of caution: Buying in bulk means you can save a little, but you’ll also need to find someone with a florist’s expertise to arrange everything into something worthy of your big day.

Get personal

A great way to stretch your flower budget is to pair fewer blooms with more personal items. Take some time when still in the planning stages of your wedding to dig out beloved keepsakes or small pictures to give the space a more intimate, one-of-a-kind feel. Images from younger days are always a big hit. Look for photographs of departed family members, since that’s a great way to share the occasion with them.

Get creative

Many venues offer their own beauty, and that’s something money can’t buy. Be aware of the backdrop when setting up outside. Consider incorporating elements found on the grounds into your arrangements, settings and even your hair. Eve open the windows or doors to showcase more of nature’s wonder. Take advantage of lighting options, or bring your own lamps, candles or other illumination. They’ll add just the right touch of ambiance, at no cost.

STEPPING OUT

Friends of the Brothers

It’s time to go, go

Inside the paintings

By

mmerse yourself in Vincent Van Gogh’s world. For those haven’t yet, now’s the time. The popular art exhibition, which fi rst came to the attention of the New York metro area in various incarnations in 2021, now makes its way to Long Island.

Friends of the Brothers visit the area with their dynamic tribute to the Allman Brothers Band. Their powerful celebration of the Allman Brothers, featuring musicians closely associated with the original band, continues the brotherhood with passion, committed to the ideals of every night being special and unique. Their firsthand experience with the Allman Brothers Band and their deep knowledge of the repertoire, its roots and heritage allows them to play with an unrivaled depth. They honor the music, while playing the tunes as if they were their own. Hear songs from every stage of the Allman Brothers’ career, backed by these inspirational, veteran players, including drummers Dave Diamond (Zen Tricksters, Bob Weir, Robert Randolph) and Lee Finkelstein (Tower of Power, Blues Brothers), bassist Craig Privett (Half Step) and keyboardist Mike Katzman (Leslie Mendelsohn, The Electrix).

Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m. $33, $28. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

• Feb. 3 - April 2

• Tuesday-Thursday, Sunday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

• Tickets start at $45.99 adult; $29.99 ages 5-15; available at VanGoghLongIsland.com

• Samanea New York

“Beyond Van Gogh” arrives at Samanea New York — the retail/ entertainment complex that was formerly the site of the Mall at the Source — in Westbury on Feb. 3. This latest Van Gogh showcase was created by French-Canadian visual designer Mathieu St-Arnaud — executive creative director and founder of Montreal’s Normal Studio — with his team of multimedia specialists and artists. Their pairing of digital technology with the artworks enhances light and hues, allowing spectators to completely immerse themselves in the images, accompanied by a lively soundtrack.

1500 Old Country Road, Westbury

It’s a look at Van Gogh’s art — freed from its frames you might say — that puts the observer front and center, incorporating both still and moving art. Some 300 masterpieces — including, of course, such classics as “The Starry Night,” “Sunflowers” and “Café Terrace at Night” — come alive, appear and disappear, flowing across multiple surfaces, the minutiae of details enveloping visitors’ heightened senses. The show is projected on every surface around you, making you feel as though you have stepped directly into a Van Gogh painting.

Occupying more than 300 square feet, the intent of “Beyond Van Gogh” is to represent the full scope of the artist’s creative life.

“We are telling a narrative,” says art historian Fanny Curtat, who consulted on the project. “There’s a natural and chronological progression in Van Gogh’s work that resonates strongly with the core of this show, which was to go beyond the darkness of Van Gogh’s legend. We all know that he’s famous for cutting his ear and his mental health issues. But out of the darkness he turned to light and beauty. Our focus is on the sheer power of the work itself. There’s an irony to the fact that Van Gogh tends to be remembered for the darkness of his life when most of his work is filled with bright colors and beauty.”

The evolution of his creative output comes though as visitors

experience the images, moving from one room to another. The Education Room leads into the unique Waterfall Room that flows into the Immersive Experience Room. The paintings appear on projection-swathed walls, inviting guests to fully involve themselves in the incredible detail of his work and be enveloped in his ever-shifting, swirling and colorful flowers, cafes and stunning landscapes. And, hearing the artist’s own dreams, thoughts and words set to a symphonic score completes the experience.

“It is so clear when you look at his whole production, that he goes from darkness to light,” Curtat adds. “His work centered on joy, and you’ll see a sense of purpose. He goes from darker shades, when he starts to paint, to a brighter palette. Then when he gets to Paris and sees the Impressionists there’s an explosion of vibrant colors. And when he gets to the south of France he really develops his own style, which is so easily identifiable.”

The 19th century meets 21st century in this compelling artistic journey.

Mike DelGuidice and Big Shot

Mike DelGuidice and his band always give it their all, especially when playing Billy Joel’s iconic songs. DelGuidice leads his band, Big Shot, in a rousing concert that highlights the Piano Man’s decades of hits. Like his idol, DelGuidice has become one of the area’s most celebrated performers, balancing his schedule between performing with Big Shot and touring with Joel. DelGuidice, as with Joel, grew up mastering several instruments including bass guitar, guitar, piano, and drums. He’s renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of the Joel catalog, which caught the attention of Joel himself, who ultimately brought him on stage with him. DelGuidice and his band pack hit after chart-topping hit in a high energy show that’s always a crowd pleaser.

Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3-4, 8 p.m. $60, $40, $30, $25, $20. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com.

Courtesy Paquin Entertainment

Photos: Van Gogh’s masterpieces come to life through projection technology.

Karen Bloom

THE SCENE

Art talk

Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular “Brown Bag Lecture” live, via Zoom, Thursday, Feb. 23, 1 p.m. She’ll discuss the current exhibition, “The Big Picture: Photography Now.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program. Register at least 24 hours in advance to receive the program Zoom link. Also Feb. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

All-Star Comedy Show

Governor’s Comedy Club and GovsRadio.com offer a showcase of the finest comedy acts from Long Island, New York City and beyond, Thursday, Feb. 16, doors open 6 p.m. This is a rare opportunity to see the best comics in one, big show. Tickets are $14. Must be 16 and older to attend, 2 item minimum per table. 2792 Merrick Road, Bellmore. Call (516) 781-5233.

Gotcha Covered

Musiscal duo Gotcha Covered performs at the North Merrick Library, Sunday, Feb. 19, 1:30 p.m. Enjoy tunes from the 70s through the 2000s, including rock and folk hits of the last 50 years. 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick. Call (516) 378-7474 for more information.

Eric Neumann

Andy Falco and Travis Book

767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Rabbit Care

Do you have a pet rabbit? Or are you thinking about getting one? The Long Island Rabbit Rescue Group will be at the Merrick Library, Saturday, Jan. 28, to teach all attendees about rabbit care, adoptions and fostering. 2279 Merrick Ave., Merrick. Call (516) 3771108 for information.

Eric Neumann, a rising standup comic who made his debut on The Tonight Show, performs at the Brokerage in Bellmore, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25. Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $25. Must be 16 and older to attend, 2 item minimum per table. 2792 Merrick Road, Bellmore. Call (516) 781-5233.

Andy Falco and Travis Book, members of the Grammy award-winning bluegrass band The Infamous Stringdusters, visit the Landmark stage with their tribute to Jerry Garcia, Saturday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m. Inspired by their love of the music of Jerry Garcia, the duo branches off on their own for occasional tours to celebrate Garcia’s timeless songs. While their musical influences run the gamut, the bandmates are bound to Garcia and share that passion with their fans. $36, $31. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516)

Jan.

Lunar New Year

Jan. 26

The Best of the Eagles

Get into the Eagles’ groove when the tribute band visits

The Paramount stage, Thursday, Jan. 26, 8 p.m. With special guest Fleetwood Macked. This authentic recreation features individual bandmates taking on the persona of the original Eagles members. $39.50, $29.50, $19.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 7453000 or Ticktmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Jan. 29

His ‘Bronx tale’

Bachata Lessons

Do you want to learn how to dance the bachata? Visit the Nieves Latin Dance School to learn just that, Friday, Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m., 1389 Jerusalem Ave., North Merrick. Beginner bachata classes are offered every Friday. There are no contracts, no partner needed and no experience required. Visit NievesDanceStudio.com for more.

On exhibit

Photography’s ascent in the art world is an international phenomenon. Nassau County Museum of Art’s star-studded exhibition spans the historical roots of the medium. View works by Ansel Adams and his generation and the thrilling, large-format color works of such contemporary masters as Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth, James Casebere and Gregory Crewdson, among others. From the documentary to the painterly, images bear witness to the times. On view through March 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. (516) 4849337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Having an event?

Chazz Palminteri returns to Long Island with his one-man version of “A Bronx Tale,” Sunday, Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m. His autobiographical coming-of-age story, which became a movie and then found its way to Broadway, tells of a young New Yorker torn between the temptations of organized crime and the values of his hardworking father. $99.50, $89.50, $79.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster. com or ParamountNY.com.

‘The Automat’ Film Screening

Director Lisa Horowitz will be at North Bellmore Public Library for a screening and Q&A session on her documentary “The Automat,” Thursday, Feb. 2, 2-4 p.m. Visit NorthBellmoreLibrary.org for more and to register. 1551 Newbridge Road, North 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.

Bring the family to Long Island Children’s Museum for a Lunar New Year celebration, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 28-29, 12-4 p.m. Enjoy dance performances including the traditional Lion Dance, folk dances, and Peking opera; view demonstrations of Tai Chi martial arts, sugar painting, dough sculpting and calligraphy; make your own Riddle Lantern, a tradition that goes all the way back to the Han Dynasty; explore music from the sounds of the ancient Chinese instrument guzheng to traditional and contemporary songs; also make a Rabbit Lantern to celebrate the year of the rabbit; play Jegichagi to honor the Korean Lunar New Year known as “Seollal,” and make your own Jegi to play with; among other activities. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

In concert

Chris Barron, Spin Doctors frontman, performs, Friday, Jan. 27, at My Father’s Place supper club. An accomplished guitar player, master songwriter, and virtuoso singer, his solo show is compelling, full of storytelling and raw musical power that is poignant, extremely amusing, and utterly satisfying. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert is at 8 p.m. The Metropolitan, 3 Pratt Blvd., Glen Cove. For tickets/information, visit MyFathersPlace.com or call (516) 580-0887.

LIPA rolls out plan to lower electric bills

Customers could get a break depending on when they use power

By BEN FIEBERT bfiebert@liherald.com

Anyone who’s taken a ride-hailing service like Uber likely knows all about surge pricing — too much demand, not enough drivers equal higher rates.

If it works for getting around, why can’t it work for electricity? At least that’s what the Long Island Power Authority is thinking, introducing a plan it says could modernize electricity rates by making it cheaper for homes to use power when there’s the least demand on the grid.

It’s called the time-of-day rate — something LIPA hopes to roll out next year. It offers one rate for times when demand is high, but lower rates for periods when not so many people are using electricity.

The new system, according to LIPA, could mean eight out of every 10 customers will pay the same or even less on the new system without making a single change on how or when they use electricity.

“Starting in 2024, the time-of-day rate will become the standard rate,” said Justin Bell, LIPA’s vice president of public policy and regulatory affairs. “Our goal is that most of our customers will go on a time-of-day rate. We’re also going to be transitioning our existing customers, but

How time-of-day rates would work

The Long Island Power Authority wants to implement a time-of-day rate program beginning next year as a way to encourage customers to spread out their electrical usage throughout the day and night.

It’s intended to make rates cheaper during off-peak hours like from 6 a.m., to 3 p.m., and again from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. A ‘super off-peak’ schedule would run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

they will also have the option to choose the regular flat rate.”

The name of the program — “time-ofday” — says it all.

“For the standard offering, there’s going to be two prices,” Bell said. “There will be one peak price from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and then all other hours will be a lower price.”

There also will still be a flat rate, which is the same structure customers already pay today, But then there is a third option, Bell added, with what’s being called a “super off-peak period,” which will provide a rate for electricity

Protecting Your Future

In Wills We Trusted

Ask most people if they’ve done their estate planning and a common answer is, “Yes, I have a will.” However, estate planning is not just a plan for death. It’s a plan for life that addresses what happens if you become disabled. About half of us will eventually becoming disabled. You can choose ahead of time who will be in charge of your affairs if you become disabled through a power of attorney, health care proxy, and a trust.

A will cannot provide for disability. A will tells the world where you want your assets to go when you die. A will is probated, which means proven, in court, and becomes a public document. Those without their own living trust plan, with their personal choices for who will be in charge if they become disabled, risk getting the state’s plan of guardianship proceedings where the court chooses who will handle your affairs if you become disabled.

Probate court proceedings can go smoothly but they may also be complicated, such as having a special needs child or disinheriting a child. Also, if you own property

in another state, a trust makes more sense than a will because you may deed the out-of-state property into the name of your trust, and avoid both a New York probate and a probate in the other state.

Having a will as an estate plan does nothing to protect your assets from long-term care expenses for either care at home or in a nursing facility. Without a trust to protect your assets from long-term care costs, by the time you pass there may be no assets left for your heirs.

Trusts can also protect inheritances from children’s divorces, lawsuits and creditors and pass those assets by blood instead of by marriage. In today’s world, a “simple will” often does more harm than good by giving the client a false sense of security that their affairs are arranged.

Elder law estate planning addresses the issues mentioned above, plus many more, including funeral and burial instructions, organ donation, and final instructions to the family.

Peak times would run weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m., except on federal holidays. Customers not sure about the new system could try it with LIPA’s 12-month ‘bill protection guarantee.’ If an electric bill is higher on the time-of-day and super off-peak rate than it would’ve been on a flat rate at the end of 12 months, LIPA will refund the difference.

–Ben Fiebert

used when demand is lowest — typically between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The new structure could ultimately save money, Bell said, simply by making small changes in their daily routine. For instance, someone could save $4 each month simply by doing their laundry late at night. They can save another $43 by charging their electric car when most others are asleep.

These are rates that not only benefit customers, Bell said, but also the environment.

“The peak period is one of the most carbon-intensive times in terms of ener-

gy production,” he said. “So, by getting folks to use more electricity at other times and less at the peak time, we can reduce the carbon that we generate in the power grid, and it also lowers our future investment needs.”

Some of the moves are coming ahead of an impending state law that requires New York to generate 70 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2030, and to actually zero-out power sector emissions by 2040.

Achieving that will likely require some major capital investments from utilities like LIPA, but it’s one way, Bell said, Long Island can stay ahead of the game.

“If we are able to avoid putting all of that new demand on the peak, then we can save everybody a lot of money by avoiding expensive infrastructure upgrades to our transmission and distribution system,” he said.

LIPA has scheduled a pair of public hearings on Tuesday, Feb. 21, and will accept written public comments until Monday, Feb. 27 by emailing todpubliccomments@lipower.org. When and where the meetings will be held have not yet been announced.

The LIPA board could approve the new rate plan during its March 29 meeting in Uniondale.

Patrick Mulvey Genevieve Paolillo Emma Pulliza Chase Schmitt Daniela Sicignano

Phoebe Clancy Gianna Cuomo Kristina Ippolitti Karim Kessba Larry Kinkela Lindsay Nashtatik Jesse Osborne Jillian Tuttle Ryan Wexler

Josh Amiel Preston Bowman Jonathan Griffiths Billie Lombardo

Robert Bello Kara Dobbs Ben Knigin Hannah Lewis

Sebastian Fu Samantha Nadler Liam Osborne Nicole Saraceni

Grand Avenue Middle School John F. Kennedy High School

Prep Academy

Wellington C. Mepham High School

Merrick Avenue Middle School

Sanford H. Calhoun High School

Meadowbrook Alternative Program

Attorney advertising

with Michael and Suzanne Ettinger Attorneys-at-Law

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY

WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF UPLAND

MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST A, Plaintiff against LAWRENCE PESCE, et al Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 1400 Old Country Road, Suite 103N, Westbury, NY 11590. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered January 22, 2019, I will sell atpublic auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 7, 2023 at 2:00

PM. Premises known as 2726 Clarendon Avenue, Bellmore, NY 11710. Sec 56 Block 345 Lot 57,58,59. 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.

Approximate Amount of Judgment is $511,724.23 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 005308/2013.

The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules.

The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Jennifer Ettenger, Esq., Referee CARN298 136486

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF STANWICH MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST A, Plaintiff, AGAINST KEVIN PACHECO, JACKELINE PACHECO, et al. Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on February 16, 2022.

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 2, 2023 at 2:00 PM premises known as 123 Mitchell Street, Bellmore, NY 11710.

Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County and

the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, in the County of Nassau, State of New York. Section 56, Block 162 and Lot 26.

Approximate amount of judgment $583,487.15 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #004618/2014.

Mark S. Ricciardi, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 136453

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee for the Certificateholders Park Place Securities, Inc., Asset-Backed PassThrough Certificates Series 2004-WCW1, Plaintiff AGAINST Jeanne L. Yandolino, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 3, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 3, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 3058 Susan Road, Bellmore, NY 11710. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Bellmore in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION: 63, BLOCK: 312, LOT: 3. Approximate amount of judgment $907,810.62 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #003312/2012. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Irene V. Villacci, Esq., Referee

Weisman

LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-026095-F01 74346 136443

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE`S FINANCIAL REALTY MORTGAGE SECURITIES TRUST, SERIES 2006-1, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-1, V. JILL BRANDT, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated January 15, 2020, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE`S FINANCIAL REALTY MORTGAGE SECURITIES TRUST, SERIES 2006-1, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-1 is the Plaintiff and JILL BRANDT, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on February 21, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 2250 LEGION STREET, BELLMORE, NY 11710: Section 63, Block 200, Lot 164:

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT BELLMORE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 003765/2016. Ralph J. Madalena, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 136730

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE OF THE CHALET SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. ROGER F. LANGAN A/K/A ROGER LANGAN, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale and Other Relief duly entered on November 3, 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 February 7, 2023 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 2575 Natta Boulevard, Bellmore, NY 11710. 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 56, Block S03 a/k/a 503 and Lots 918-919. Approximate amount of judgment is $435,731.19 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #6933/2015. 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.

Louis B. Imbroto, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 192380-1 136488

FARMERS AVENUE - west side, starting at a point 258 feet south of the south curbline of Merrick Road, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-579/22)

INWOOD MAPLE ROAD - north side, starting at a point 16 feet east of east curbline of Elm Road, east for a a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-576/22)

OCEANSIDE CORNWELL PLACE - east side, starting at a point 112 feet north of the north curbline of Foxhurst Road, north for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-599/22)

ROOSEVELT

EAST CENTENNIAL AVENUE - north side, starting at a point 272 feet east of the east curbline of Babylon Turnpike, east for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-608/22)

WILLIAM STREET - north side, starting at a point 185 feet west of the west curbline of Rose Avenue, west for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-592/22)

UNIONDALE NEWPORT ROAD - east side, starting at a point 450 feet north of the north curbline of Braxton Street, north for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-586/22)

WEST HEMPSTEAD BALDWIN DRIVE - south side, starting at a point 40 feet east of the east curbline of Dogwood Avenue, east for a distance of 22 feet. (TH-594/22) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:

ELMONT

LITCHFIELD AVENUEeast side, starting at a point 103 feet south of the south curbline of Bruce Street, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-194/20 - 9/22/20) (TH-131(B)/22)

by February 16th, 2023 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property.

Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six-month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code.

Effective with the February 2019 lien sale Ordinance No. 175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale. Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased. Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/526/CountyTreasurer

Should the Treasurer determine that an inperson auction shall be held, same will commence on the 21st day of February 2023 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer.

A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/527/Annual-TaxLien-Sale

Dated: January 25, 2023

THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, NewYork

TERMS OF SALE

Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts.

However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.

The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act(FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et.seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC) receivership.

where the purchased tax lien is at risk. The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale.

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking on Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion.

Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 7th day of February, 2023, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations: BELLMORE

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard in person on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: January 24, 2023 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 136859

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE OF NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER’S

SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that commencing on February 21st, 2023, will sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer

A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 08th, 2023.

Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audiotape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 ext. 1-3715.

The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed.

The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case

Furthermore, as to the bidding, 1. The bidder(s) agree that they will not work with any other bidder(s) to increase, maintain or stabilize interest rates or collaborate with any other bidder(s) to gain an unfair competitive advantage in the random number generator in the event of a tie bid(s) on a tax certificate. Bidder(s) further agree not to employ any bidding strategy designed to create an unfair competitive advantage in the tiebreaking process in the upcoming tax sale nor work with any other bidder(s) to engage in any bidding strategy that will result in a rotational award of tax certificates.

2. The tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) bid, will be arrived at independently and without direct or indirect consultation, communication or agreement with any other bidder and that the tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) to be bid, have not been disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder, and will not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder prior to the close of bidding. No attempt has been made or will be made to, directly or indirectly, induce any other bidder to refrain from bidding on any tax certificate, to submit

Frenkel Lambert Weiss

& Gordon,

Remembering MLK with a Week of Service

Students across the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District once again honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with multiple educational and service-based opportunities.

Classes began learning about MLK and his impact on Long Island in their social studies classes on Jan. 13.

“The MLK Day of Service lesson was designed to teach the students about Martin Luther King Jr.’s several visits to Long Island during the 1960s as he spread his message of equality and fought for civil rights,” explained Robyn Einbinder, a social studies chairperson.

At the high school level, the Ambassadors and Leadership students taught a lesson, showed a video and read from the book, “MLK & LI” by Allison Singh. Singh was present at the lessons at Sanford H. Calhoun High School.

Nearly all hands raised when asked if they had learned something new about MLK during these lessons.

“That’s what’s fun about learning,” said Singh.

At the middle school level, student ambassadors packaged up donations.

“Our focus this week is on his words, ‘life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” explained Grand Avenue Principal Carlo

Conte.

“As in years past, we in the BellmoreMerrick community are celebrating his legacy of service and working toward improving the community by helping others.”

Grand Avenue school community collected two pallets of canned foods for the district’s food pantry, the Community Cupboard.

Each school in the district was assigned a different need for the pantry.

At Merrick Avenue, the Art Club and the International Buddy Club met to create an MLK banner.

Heather Cordeira’s Art Club members along with Denise Schleith’s International Buddy Club members worked collaboratively to decorate and share the dreams and messages they have for the world to honor Dr. Martin Luther King.

“Students wrote messages in both English and the language they study or their native language,” added Principal Katelyn Dunn.

The banner is hung by the cafeterias for all students and staff to read.

The lesson was meant to kick off a week of events and inspire students to perform service, and then subsequently spread kindness through these various events through the week.

complementary bids, or to submit bids at specific interest rates.

3. The bids to be placed by the Bidder will be made in good faith and not pursuant to any direct or indirect, agreement or discussion with, or inducement from, any

other bidder to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive bid.

4. If it is determined that the bidder(s) have violated any of these bid requirements then their bid shall be voided and if they were the successful bidder the lien and any

be

Photos courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

Student AmbASSAdorS At Grand Avenue Middle School organized boxes of donated goods into boxes.

LeAderShip StudentS SophiA Jones and Nickolas Mascary read ‘MLK & LI’ by Allison Singh to Beth Finnegan and Carly Sacco’s 9th grade Global History class at Calhoun. Afterwards. they caught up with the author.

KierAn Kehoe And Nick Walker, students in leadership classes at Mepham High School addressed Matt Moody’s class about MLK leading a movement to help end segregation in schools.

RECEPTIONIST/

Opening

Monticello Central School

516-547-7828. Email Resume vjl1030@yahoo.com

Help Wanted

Senior Acquisitions Associate (Cedarhurst, NY) Perform underwriting & due diligence of real estate acquisitions under contract, incl performing mkt analysis, bldg condition & depreciation reviews, etc. & prep fin'l real estate models using modeling techniques. Bach in Real Estate, Real Estate Dvlpmt, or Real Estate Finance & 18 mos exp in job or 18 months exp in real estate investment transactions, incl acquisitions, advisory &/or transactional svcs. Postal Realty, LP, Attn: Carrie Herz, 75 Columbia Ave, Cedarhurst, NY 11516.

START THE NEW YEAR Right At Shiny & Brite. If You Have Passion For Cleaning And Like Physical Work This Is The Job For You. Full Time Position. Willing To Train. Call BIll at 516-678-5943

Help Wanted

HEWLETT BA, 1608 RIDGEWAY Dr, Move Right Into This Completely Gut Renovated 4 BR, 3.5 Bth Col on 1/4 Acre Prop. New Kosher EIK, FDR, LR w/ Fpl, Den & Enclosed Porch. Full Fin Bsmt. 2 Car Att Gar. SD#20...$1,469,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Open Houses

HEWLETT 1/29, 12-1:30, 1608 RIDGEWAY Drive, Drastic Reduction! Move Right Into This Completely Gut Renovated 4 BR, 3.5 Bth Col on 1/4 Acre Prop. New Kosher EIK, FDR, LR w/ Fpl, Den & Enclosed Porch. Radiant Htd Flrs. Full Fin Bsmt. 2 Car Att Gar. MUST SEE!! SD#20...$1,469,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA, 257 Willard Dr, NEW TO MARKET!! Spacious 5 BR, 3 Bth Exp Ranch With Open Layout.Main Floor Mstr Ste Plus Potential Mstr Ste on 2nd Flr.LR/Fpl, FDR, EIK & Sundrenched Family Rm w/ Doors to Deck. Fin Bsmt. Att Gar. Loads of Updates!! SD#20(Lynbrook)No Flood Insurance Req. MUST SEE THIS!..$1,098,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Yusupov

Oceanside

The Price Is Right!

Welcome to a move right in beautiful Colonial, nestled on a quiet block with beautiful views. This spacious home boasts large rooms and open floor plan from living room, formal dining room, eat in kitchen, stainless steel appliances and lots of cabinets. It also has a family room with radiant heated floors, sky lights and gas fireplace plus sliding glass doors out to the deck. There is also hardwood floors throughout.. Upstairs features the en suite with cathedral ceilings and beautiful new bathroom which is bright and airy. There are 4 nice size bedrooms, one used as a walk in closet! Washer and dryer are also on this level. It has a full finished basement and beautiful landscaped grounds. This home is great for entertaining with paver walkway and bi level deck and fencing. You will also enjoy in ground sprinklers, attached garage, lots of storage, new boiler and 200 AMP service. Asking $849,999.

A vibrating floor is a concern

Q. We are redoing our largest bathroom, and our interior designer and contractor are planning to put 12-inch-square tiles on the walls and the ceiling across the room. It should be nice, but we’re wondering if there’s something that needs to be done that we should know about, since we wonder if the tile can’t come down. The floor above is bedrooms and bathrooms, and we notice a little shaking in the floor when people are walking around. Should we be concerned?

Denise Azzato

Associate Broker

Cell: 516-644-3929 Office: 516-223-2525 dazzato@cbamhomes.com

Coldwell Banker American Homes 493 Atlantic Ave. Oceanside, NY 11572

Pull Down Attic. SD#15. Convenient to Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship $449,000

HEWLETT

1608 Ridgeway Dr, 12-1:30, Move Right Into This Completely Gut Renovated 4 BR, 3.5 Bth Col on 1/4 Acre Prop. New Kosher EIK, FDR, LR w/ Fpl, Den & Enclosed Porch. Radiant Heated Flrs. Full Fin Bsmt. 2 Car Att Gar. MUST SEE!! SD#20 DRASTIC REDUCTION! $1,469,000 257 Willard Dr, BA, NEW TO MARKET!! Spacious 5 BR, 3 Bth Exp Ranch With Open Layout. Main Floor Mstr Ste Plus Potential Mstr Ste on 2nd Flr. LR/Fpl, FDR, EIK & Sundrenched Family Rm w/ Doors to Deck. Fin Bsmt. Att Gar. Loads of Updates! SD#20 (Lynbrook) No Flood Insurance Req. MUST SEE THIS! $1,098,000

1534 Broadway #103, BA, Magnificent New Renovation! One of a Kind Ranch Style Living in Luxurious Jonathan Hall Condominium with Doorman & Elevator. Just Move into This Gut Rvated, Spacious 2 BR, 2 Bath Apt with Open Layout. Large Designer Eat in Kitchen with Sep Pantry & Laundry Rm. Master BR Boasts Gorgeous Bth & Walk in Closet. Terrace Faces into Courtyard. Garage Parking Incl REDUCED $699,000

2 Bedroom (Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in

Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000

Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz

Retail Space For Rent

GREENPORT: NORTH FORK commercial/retail. Prime main street village location. 857 sq. ft. Original floors and architectural details. Excellent exposure. Owner, 516-241-8135.

MoneyTo Lend

Apartments For Rent

CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

A. Yes. As with any construction, you should always be concerned, or at least educated enough to be confident, about what others are doing to your home. Never take for granted that the people you hire just know it all. Nobody knows it all, and with the internet, it’s possible to see examples to answer your question. The funny thing is that I went to the internet to see if anything has changed with tile adhesives and best materials before answering your question. What I found were a number of different how-to videos, and nearly every one of them left out important information. People only tell you what they know.

There are multiple steps to installing wall and floor tile, and ceiling tile installation is similar, with the exception that a few more steps are required. The backing material attached to your ceiling joist structure, referred to as the substrate, must be non-porous and not typical sheetrock (gypsum board), because sheetrock is laminated with a facing of paper that will saturate and peel off. Most internet videos didn’t mention that. I’ve seen entire walls, covered with tiles, suddenly drop to the floor, sometimes years after installation, ending up in a messy heap.

The structure must be rigid, and not moving as you described. Not one of the videos questioned whether the structure or backing material was correct for the job. In the building codes, the amount of floor sag, called deflection, can’t be more than a half-inch over the entire length of the structure. If you have floor movement, the floor must first be calculated and stiffened before the substrate boards are added. The “experts” seemed to take that for granted. Maybe because it is perceived that it would cost too much to know by hiring someone qualified to figure that out.

If the structure isn’t stiffened correctly, movement will potentially loosen tiles and, aided by gravity, those ceiling tiles can fall. The substrate I recommend is a cement board, fiberglass reinforced (to lighten the load). There are several available. The most common are Wonderboard or Durrock. These boards have slightly rough surfaces to receive mastic which will be applied, and adhere well by increased surface “teeth” texture.

The mastic, as described by manufacturers, should be a lightweight, “no sag” adhesive. Not one mastic manufacturer I investigated even mentioned ceilings in their directions or warranty, for obvious reasons. So have the structure evaluated and continue to ask questions before you start. Good luck!

© 2022 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.

Antiques/Collectibles

We Buy Antiques, Fine Art & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid.

SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464

Miscellaneous For Sale

TORO POWER-MAX SNOWBLOWER: Model #826OAE. New. Original $1300. Asking $900. Call Arnold 516-432-1492

FINDS UNDER $100

Finds Under $100

ADULT TRICYCLE: VERY good, with a few rust spots, valued at $250. $99.00 firm. 516-458-6729

CRYSTAL STEMWARE (MACY'S). Gorgeous Wine , Water, Champagne. Brand new original boxes $95. 516-225-9191

NEW HYUNDAI SUV adjustable roof rails. cost $319- Selling for $99 firm (516)524-3617

PREVAIL PADS XTRA long super absorbent pack- 39, $12 ea. Box of 4 $38. 516-546-0275

TWIN BEDROOM SET: Excellent Condition, Blonde Modern Headboard, 3 Dressers, Corner Piece. $99. 516-840-6081

BAR

KITCHEN SET: Table/ chrome pedestal. 4 chairs with chrome and black vinyle seats. 5ft x 4ft smoked glass table.$200 Neg. 516.668. 8877

TREADMILL GYM SIZE Great Condition. $300 516 668 8877

WHEEL CHAIR, DRIVE: Large, A1 Excellent Condition. $349.99. 516-437-7046

SERVICES

Cleaning Services

MARINA'S

Handyman

ALL HOUSEHOLD REPAIRS

Interior and Exterior Services Painting, Plumbing, Carpentry, Electrical, Tile work, Pressure Washing, Flat Screen TV Installation Others Services Available Call 516 578 6980

HANDYMAN

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

Home Improvement

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

CARPENTRY & PAINTING: Residential/ Commercial. All Phases. Licensed/Insured. FREE ESTIMATES! Anthony & J Home Improvements 516-678-6641

Electricians

E-Z

DON'T PAY FOR Covered Home Repairs Again! American Residential Warranty covers ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE/ $100 OFF POPULAR PLANS. 833-398-0526

HANDY DANDY

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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

Home Improvement

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

Miscellaneous

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

Plumbing

PLUMBER! PLUMBER! PLUMBER! FREE ESTIMATES! Heating, Repairs, Installations. $25 OFF New Customers. 24 Hour Emergency Response. 516-599-1011

Tile

TILE INSTALLATION: 25 Years In Business. FREE Estimates. We Specialize In Quality Work. Broadway Tile Company. Call Jeff 516-647-2604 Or email estimating@broadwaytileco.com

Satellite/TV Equipment

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-595-6967

GET DIRECTV FOR $64.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Save an additional $120 over 1st year. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1-888-534-6918

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

The 2024 election: 1912 all over again?

Is there anyone on stage — and can I see hands? — who is unwilling tonight to pledge your support to the eventual nominee of the Republican Party, and pledge to not run an independent campaign against that person?”

That was a question that Bret Baier, of Fox News, asked 10 presidentially hopeful Republicans at a debate in August 2015. On the stage, only one person raised his hand — Donald Trump. The rest is history. Trump won the 2016 primary, and we didn’t have to endure an election in which Trump ran as a third-party candidate after losing. But we could be approaching that scenario soon.

similar phenomenon with Roosevelt. They also had something in common that’s even more important for an election: a dedicated following that was loyal to them over any party. Both have been described as presidents who had “cults of personality.” Trump’s is apparent every day. I have yet to see a truck drive by with 20 bumper stickers and two flags praising President Biden. Roosevelt’s still manifests to this day in some ways. When talking politics, you can say “Teddy” and everyone knows who you’re talking about.

MICHAEL MALASZCZYK

I imagine that if televised debates existed in 1912, then former President Theodore Roosevelt would have had a similar response to that question. Roosevelt was running against his successor, William Howard Taft — whom he had handpicked, but with whose results as president Roosevelt was disappointed.

What did Teddy Roosevelt and Donald Trump have in common? Ego. It’s hard for anyone to get a word in edgewise with Trump, and historical accounts suggest a

Of course, Roosevelt and Trump are complete opposites on the political spectrum. Teddy was seen as a progressive leader for his time, while Trump is considered right wing. But as former presidents with ambitions of returning to the White House, the similarities between Roosevelt, in 1912, and Trump, in 2023, can’t be ignored.

Trump’s path to next year’s nomination is questionable — many Republicans have made it clear that they want nothing more to do with him. Ever since the candidates he backed performed poorly in November’s midterms, Trump’s lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in polls has shrunk. Even more concerning for Trump is that these are multi-candidate

polls in which he holds a plurality. If other candidates drop out and throw their weight behind DeSantis, Trump is in trouble.

But given his apparent inability to concede fair elections, it’s difficult to imagine Trump bowing out of the race and endorsing DeSantis against Biden. A more feasible scenario is Trump running as a thirdparty candidate.

That would be great news for Biden.

In 1912, Taft won the Republican nomination over Roosevelt, but refusing to concede, Roosevelt ran under the banner of the Bull Moose Party.

The result? The quiet, reserved Democratic nominee, Woodrow Wilson, swept the election. Despite winning only 41 percent of the popular vote, Wilson received 435 electoral votes and carried 40 states. Roosevelt finished second, with 88 electoral votes. Taft won only eight.

Taft’s and Roosevelt’s votes combined would have crushed Wilson. But the Republicans couldn’t unite, and the Democrat pulled off a landslide.

The parallels with 2024 aren’t all the same. There was a Republican incumbent in 1912; next year it will be a Democrat. And views on the issues were different then than they are now. Economically,

Wilson would be to the left of Bernie Sanders, but socially, he’d be to the right of Marjorie Taylor Greene.

But the parallels are too significant to ignore — most notably, the Roosevelt and Trump diehard voters. And Taft was a respected leader who had once been seen as the heir to Roosevelt’s legacy. DeSantis is a well-known governor who is seen by many as a successor to Trump as the leader of his movement. Wilson may have been lacking in adoring fans, but he had the votes to win — like Biden may.

Republicans in 1912 couldn’t rally around the winner of their primary because one candidate with an ego refused to lose. And if the vote for speaker of the House 111 years later showed us anything, it’s that the divisions in today’s Republican Party over Donald Trump consist of a lot more than personal disagreements. In a three-way, Biden-DeSantis-Trump scenario, only Biden, and a unified Democratic Party, stand to gain.

Republicans are not one party right now. No promises have been made on their end to ensure that Biden won’t coast to victory. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Republicans had better get it together, and fast, or they’ll be “Woodrow Wilsoned” by Biden in 2024.

Michael Malaszczyk is a Herald reporter covering Wantagh and Seaford. Comments about this column? mmalaszczyk@ liherald.com.

A.I. is sucking the life out of us

Who am I? Ask Siri. I don’t know where she ends and I begin.

When my iPhone alarm went off at 6:30 this morning, it was to remind me I needed to hustle to my dentist appointment at 8 a.m. Getting dragged out of a deep sleep was especially painful because my wake-up music is “My Shot,” from “Hamilton.”

es and our tastes. I hear you saying, “But we were the ones who decided to buy the phone or the Fitbit or the Alexa,” and that is true. But I believe we humans have been naïve, vulnerable and unprepared for the seductive intrusion of technology into every moment of our waking hours.

line popped up, which told me that to read more about a titillating news story, I needed to click the message.

dle purchases, I suppose.

RANDI KREISS

Lin Manuel Miranda’s repetitive assertion to thumping music is singularly irritating. But I clicked the wrong music alarm button three years ago, and inertia has kept it in place. So I shut off the phone and moved into my day.

A half-hour later, a “reminder” popped on my phone to take my thyroid meds and my vitamins. It was only 7 a.m., and I’d already been told what to do twice by my techno masters. Slowly but inexorably, we are relinquishing free will and allowing technology to determine our decisions and our actions, our exercise habits, our purchas-

Take me. The alarm was just the beginning. After I obediently took my meds, I saw a reminder pop up to take the chicken out of the freezer for dinner. I also had several “sticky notes” on my phone to call the dog groomer, prepare for a book group, set up a service call for the car and try calling JetBlue one more time to follow up on a refund. In pre-tech days, I would have these reminders on a piece of paper (remember when Post-its were so cool?), but responding to a pop-up feels like it’s in control, not me. Old-school notes on paper are just quieter.

In the time I’ve been writing this, I got a notification from Open Table to confirm a reservation. It told me that I must press 1 to confirm. I obeyed. Then, from an entirely different source, a shocking head-

Because I almost bought a sweater from Bloomingdale’s a year ago, the store keeps telling me I “forgot” an item in my cart. It’s a technological nudge that distracts me in the moment and makes me think about the sweater, thus hijacking my attention.

This happens all day.

I don’t wear a smartwatch or tracking device because I don’t want another boss in my life. Nevertheless, my iPhone has started telling me how many steps I take. I don’t care. I don’t want to know, and I don’t want to get locked into obsessively quantifying my exercise.

At some point in my day, I will get a message from one or another of my apps, advising me that I need to change my password because somewhere in the Ethernet there has been a “breach.” It suggests that I add three security questions and a “rescue” email.

Then up pops a text advising me which books to purchase next, based on my Kin-

I downloaded the app Calm some time ago to learn meditation techniques for a more relaxing sleep experience. Now the word is out, and other apps are messaging me, offering bedtime stories read by boring narrators guaranteed to induce a good snooze. Every action on the phone or computer opens a door to thousands of other intrusions.

If I buy a pair of jeans online, I am hounded by competing clothing companies that want my business. Press here, click here, send us your email for a 10 percent discount. Send us your phone number for a freebie.

I was with a friend for a planned interlude of just sitting around and reading our books in my house. We would have companionable silence, sip our coffee and be at peace. Except that she has a thingie on her smartwatch that buzzes and tells her to get up and walk every 20 minutes. And she does. It’s probably good for her circulation, but it’s definitely bad for her sense of free will.

Slowly, we are giving ourselves over to technology and giving up personhood, frogs in water slowly coming to a boil.

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

M y phone has

started telling me how many steps I take. I don’t care.

Will Donald Trump repeat Teddy Roosevelt’s third-party misadventure?

Donating blood benefits others — and you

January is National Blood Donor Month, first established a half-century ago. And it’s a good thing that declaration stuck, because blood is often in short supply, as it is today, even in our post-pandemic world.

And January is the worst month when it comes to blood shortages. That’s probably because people are busy in November and December, preparing for, and then enjoying, the holidays, with little time to donate blood. Then, what follows those family gatherings and parties with friends are often colds and the flu — and Covid-19 — all of which keep people home, and far away from making muchneeded blood donations.

There was an uptick in Covid infections at this time last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s too early to tell how this month will shake out, but because the current strain — kraken — is highly contagious, the CDC predicts that as people attend gatherings inside during the winter months, more people will get sick.

Recent months have also seen outbreaks of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Although it’s more serious among infants and older adults, anyone can get RSV, and doctors are finding that people

letters

If not Albany, who will deliver affordable housing?

To the Editor:

Re last week’s editorial, “We don’t need Albany’s concrete fist in Nassau”: Well, perhaps we do. We are told, “It’s not that our local government officials don’t want affordable housing.” Yet is it not those very entities that established and maintain the conditions that have driven 300,000 people from New York in a single year, and have proposed nothing to slow the continuing daily average of 820 departures?

The thousands willing to move into Nassau would benefit from the application of some goad, prod, or spur of any kind to overcome Nassau County’s inertia in dealing with our problem of too little middle/working class housing.

BRIAN KEllY Rockville Centre

Where did you find this guy?

To the Editor:

Dear 3rd House District of New York: CNN reports, “Two New Jersey veterans say nowCongressman George Santos promised to

of all ages do.

Why is donating blood so important? Because every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood or platelets, according to the American Red Cross. And roughly 29,000 units of red blood cells, 5,000 units of platelets and 6,500 units of plasma are needed every day.

Because blood and platelets cannot be manufactured, donors are needed. And often. Add to this the fact that red blood cells expire after 42 days, and platelets must be used within a week.

But don’t get lost in the numbers. Donating even once produces a pint of blood, which the Red Cross counts as three units. That can help save three lives — or one life, of someone who is seriously injured. Car accident victims can require as much as 100 units of blood, and those fighting cancer and blood diseases need even more.

What peopless may not realize is that donating blood can benefit donors beyond just feeling good that they’ve made a difference. It offers a mini-physical, because part of the process includes the taking of vital signs, which might uncover conditions like high blood pressure or even a heart arrhythmia.

Doctors say that donating blood regu-

larly reduces cardiovascular risk factors and is linked to lower blood pressure and minimizing the chance of a heart attack. How? If the donor’s hemoglobin is too high while blood is being drawn, doing so will help reduce the “viscosity” of the blood, which causes blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.

There aren’t many requirements to join the fight to save lives, other than being healthy. According to the New York Blood Center, candidates must be at least 16 years old and not have donated blood within the past 56 days. Those younger than 18 must have a signed permission slip from a parent or guardian. People older than 75 can donate, too, with a letter confirming sound health from a doctor.

And those who have had Covid can donate if they have been symptom-free, and have not tested positive, for two weeks.

Find out how you can donate today by contacting the New York Blood Center, at NYBC.org. You can also schedule a donation at (800) 933-2566.

January is when we celebrate those who donate blood and platelets. But giving the gift of life is something all of us can do all year long.

We must remember — and teach — the Holocaust

when I was growing up, it was hard not to notice the numbers tattooed on her wrist. Children are often very observant, and I was curious about what they meant.

My grandmother Judith Mandel grew up in a small town called Hatvan, a few miles outside Budapest, Hungary. She was an ordinary girl, but she learned quickly that her heritage made her different when her classmates began to taunt her for being Jewish.

Following German forces’ annexation of Austria in 1938, they set their sights on Hungary, and they invaded in March 1944. A few weeks later, my great-grandmother Ilona Kalman and my grandmother were forced into a ghetto at a sugar factory.

Judith was 16 when she and her mother were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp, in occupied Poland, that June. When they arrived, Judith was separated from her mother and forced to work in the camp, while my great-grandmother was put to death in the gas chamber.

My grandmother would survive, but

not before being put to work at the Krakow-Plaszow, Seeshaupt and Dachau camps. When she was liberated by American troops from Dachau in May 1945, she weighed 45 pounds.

After the war, she married Ernest Mandel, and in 1948 they emigrated to the United States. They settled in the Bronx and raised three daughters.

Having witnessed the atrocities of the Holocaust, my grandmother had a difficult time adjusting to her new life. For many years she was afraid to plug things into electrical sockets because of her experience with electrified fences, and would overfeed her first-born daughter, my mother, so she wouldn’t starve. She struggled to learn English.

Her story had a profound impact on me. When I was a child, she often told me about her experiences. She took me to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. I learned that being Jewish was part of my identity, and that while we lived in a country that was founded on the principal of freedom from religious persecution, this wasn’t the case in other parts of the world.

That’s why it is so important to remember the Holocaust, as we will this Friday,

Letters

raise funds for lifesaving surgery for one of their dogs in 2016, then became elusive and took off with the money.” This is what you elected to Congress? Really? The guy steals money from a homeless veteran’s dog, which has a tumor?

I think this, above all else, tells us about the values of the wealthy. No humanity. No compassion. No concern for anything beyond their own income and comfort.

I would strongly recommend that you voters in the 3rd District get yourselves a copy of “A Tale of Two Cities” and read it cover to cover. And I would strongly recommend you recall this clown. He has no business being in D.C. Or anywhere else, for that matter.

PATRICK NORTHWAY Traverse City, Michigan

vs. mirage” (Jan. 12-18): I have to vehemently disagree with the authors’ statement that “heat pumps and Long Island are a match made in heaven.” I purchased heating pumps at the recommendation of Green Team Long Island, and took part in the state loan program. I seriously regret my decision, because the heating pumps don’t work as promised.

Basically, they blow cool air throughout my living room, creating a draft that I never had before. They are so ineffective that I dress in layers and need a blanket to cover my legs when I sit at my dining room table. I have to look for a corner of the living room where these ridiculous pumps aren’t blowing. If I don’t want them to blow cool air, then I have to turn them down so low that it’s like having no heat at all.

Combating climate change should be our number one priority, but the products that are being promoted and sold need to work before they are put on the market.

which is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is important never to forget the 6 million lives lost simply because of their religious, ethnic, gender or genetic differences, because history has a wicked way of repeating itself.

Over the past year alone, there has been so much hateful rhetoric on Long Island. The pamphlets of antisemitic literature being circulated across our communities, and the reports of those harmed for their beliefs, are enough to make many of us sick.

While I’m thankful that I live in a nation where, for the most part, we embrace one another’s differences, it is important to remember, and understand, why the Holocaust happened, in order to prevent anything like it from ever happening again. That is why it is so important to teach children about it — so we, and they, never forget what took place. Books like “Number the Stars,” by Lois Lowry, and “Daniel’s Story,” by Carol Matas, shouldn’t be deemed too “controversial,” because their subject matter is the human condition.

Banning literature — as the Nazis did generations ago — will only open a path to more of the kind of prejudice that can poison our society.

This has already happened in one

Texas school district, where, in 2021, teachers were advised to include reading that offered “opposing” views on controversial topics. What makes this so despicable isn’t just the fact that when it comes to the Holocaust, there are no reasonable opposing views, because any literature that denies that it happened is itself hate speech — but also that people have become so sensitive that they believe there has to be an alternative to accounts of violence and death to educate others about real events in history.

That is why it is so important to teach children about the Holocaust. We must never forget the lessons the world learned. Yes, the Holocaust showed us the worst of humanity, but banning its honest examination in the classroom will only perpetuate the type of ignorance that allowed such horror to happen in the first place.

We must continue to encourage this chapter of history to be a part of our children’s education. They deserve to know the unfiltered truth, so they will never be taken in by the false rhetoric that has been perpetuated by Holocaust deniers.

My grandmother’s struggle, and that of so many others who came here seeking refuge from persecution, cannot have been for nothing.

Daniel Offner is the senior editor of the Rockville Centre Herald. Comments? doffner@liherald.com.

To the Editor:

Re “Long Island’s energy future: vision

In the story “Alumni association announces Hall of Fame inductees,” published in last week’s issue, Joseph Baker’s was incorrectly identified as Edward Baker.

In the story “Talented musicians earn All-County nod,” which also appeared last week, Kailin Connizzo’s name was misspelled Kailin Connizz.

Framework by Tim Baker

Taking flight from Veterans Memorial Park over Reynolds Channel — Long Beach

Heat pumps? No, thanks.

LISA GOLDBERG Oceanside

o n Friday the world will reflect on the horror, and I’ll honor my grandmother.

DanieL oFFner

Dart Awnings

Rainbow Awnings NY, Inc.

Rollup Awnings

BASEMENT SERVICES: Complete Basement Systems

Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing

Vulcan Basement Waterproofing

CARPET CLEANING COMPANY: All Clean Carpet, Inc.

All Pro Carpet Cleaning, Inc. BOWA Carpet Cleaning

GK Carpet Cleaning, Inc.

CESSPOOL SERVICE: Help Cesspool & Sewer

Imperial Cesspool Cleaning Co Cesspool Pros

CHIMNEY CLEANING SERVICES: All Access Chimney & Fireplace Inc Augie’s Chimney Sweeping B&P Chimney Co.

CLEANING SERVICE: Merry Maids of Nassau County, NY Molly Maid of Central Nassau County

The Organized Guy, Inc.

EGRESS COMPANY: Jenson Brothers Long Island Egress Pros

Vulcan Basement Waterproofing

ELECTRICAL COMPANY: Duffy Electric

Premier Electric & Design Inc

Top Class Electric

ELECTRICIAN: Duffy Electric

E.H. Haines Electric

Premier Electric & Design Inc

HOME & HOME SERVICES

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE: C2G Environmental Consultants Ecology Tree & Lawn Spraying

Jetmore Fireplace and Barbeque Center

PEST CONTROL COMPANY:

A&C Pest Management

Arrow Exterminating Company, Inc.

Knockout Pest Control

PLUMBER:

Chivalry Plumbing & Heating

Charles Krull & Son, Inc.

Plumb Pro Plumbing & Heating Corp

POOL STORE & SUPPLY: Big Becks Pools & Pavers Brothers 3 Pools

Leslie’s

Family Fuel & Heating Service

Petro Home Services

HOME BUILDER DEVELOPER: Beechwood Homes Engel Burman Y-NOT Home Improvement Corporation

HOME CONTRACTOR/REPAIR/ REMODELING COMPANY: Gibraltar Home Improvements OZ General Contracting Co Inc. RSM Building HOME SECURITY: ADT Security Services Budd-Morgan Alarm Co Inc Central Tech

INTERIOR DESIGN: Liv Interiors NY Marilyn H. Rose Interiors Marlaina Teich Designs KITCHEN & BATH: OZ General Contracting Co Inc.

Tony DiStefano Landscape Garden Center

ROOFING COMPANY: A1 Roofing

Gibraltar Home Improvements

King Quality Construction Inc.

SIDING COMPANY: King Quality Construction Inc. Lanzello

Unified Home Remodeling

SOLAR COMPANY: EmPower Solar

Harvest Power LLC | Solar Panel Installation

SUNation Energy

STONE/MASONRY:

Barry Bros Landscape Design LLC

Casoria & Sons Masonry & Landscape Designs

Paschette Landscape Design

SWIMMING POOL BUILDER: Big Becks Pools & Pavers

Haven Pools

South Shore Pools Inc

TREE SERVICE COMPANY: All Island Tree Service Corp

Francisco’s Tree Service T & M Greencare Inc

UPHOLSTERY:

A & B Upholstery

East Meadow Upholsterers

Tony’s Decorating-Upholstering Hewlett

WINDOWS COMPANY:

King Quality Construction Inc.

Unified Home Remodeling

Window World of Long Island WindowRama

Men On The Move Moving & Self Storage