Bellmore Herald 04-20-2023

Long Island Choice Awards Winners

Jeweler celebrates

100th anniversary Page 2

Calhoun grad’s mural goes big at rescue center

By JoRDAN VALLoNE jvallone@liherald.com

For as long as Gary Solorzano-Ruiz can remember, he’s loved visiting the Long Island Aquarium and the NY Marine Rescue Center in Riverhead. Now an aspiring art teacher, he creates pieces that depict vibrant underwater scenes.

Combining his love for art and marine life, Solorzano-Ruiz put pencil — and paint — to paper and created a small-scale mural last summer, entering it in the rescue center’s Local Artist Superstar competition. After a brief voting period, he learned that his piece, titled “Blue World,” was one of only two chosen to be painted inside the center. It will debut at the facility’s 2023 Oceans of Hope Gala on May 12.

A 2021 graduate of Sanford H. Calhoun High

Continued on page 10

Volunteer F.D.s turn up the heat on recruitment efforts

By JoRDAN VALLoNE, MALLoRY WILSoN and MICHAEL MALASZCZYK of the Bellmore Herald

Volunteer fire departments are constantly faced with the challenge of recruiting new firefighters and emergency medical technicians — as call volume increases and the number of active members decreases.

This weekend, fire departments in the Sixth Battalion — which includes Bellmore, East Meadow, Levittown, Massapequa, Merrick, North Bellmore, North Massapequa, North Merrick, Seaford and Wantagh — will open their doors for the

14th annual RecruitNY campaign.

At open houses scattered throughout the area on April 22 and 23, those interested in joining departments will have the opportunity to speak with active volunteers, ask questions and learn about the benefits of becoming a firefighter or EMT.

The Firefighters Association of New York estimates that there are 20,000 fewer volunteer firefighters now than there were 20 years ago. Calls are becoming increasingly more varied, as volunteers are called for medical emergencies, flooded basements, downed power lines, car accidents, as well as fires, the associ-

ation said.

Members of the Sixth Battalion are close-knit, according to chairman Peter Cheswick, the immediate past chief of the East Meadow Fire Department. They meet monthly to discuss business, which also includes ways to recruit new members to their respective fire departments.

“We’re all seeing the same problems,” Cheswick said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s East Meadow, Wantagh, Seaford — we’re all suffering the same problems of low numbers of people wanting to volunteer.”

Cheswick, who started with the East Meadow Fire Department in its junior program when

he was 15, and then officially when he turned 18, said that he began seeing the decline in new volunteers about 10 years ago.

Bellmore Fire Chief Timothy Carroll said he started witnessing a decline in membership in his fire department five to six years ago.

“It’s all relative,” Carroll said. “If you ask a guy from 50 years

ago, he says, ‘Back in the day, people were dying to get in here.’ What’s low to me is almost nonexistent to them.”

“We try to explain as best as possible about how much time it will be once they join,” Cheswick said. “But then people actually sit down and realize how much time is actually taken up, and

Continued on page 4

Jordan Vallone/Herald

CALHouN GRADuAtE GARY Solorzano-Ruiz with a small-scale version of his mural, ‘Blue World.’ The piece was chosen to be painted inside the NY Marine Rescue Center in Riverhead, and will debut next month at the 2023 Oceans of Hope Gala.

Gennaro Jewelers marks 100th anniversary

It’s the 100th year a business for Gennaro Jewelers in Bellmore, and last week, State Assemblyman Dave McDonough, who represents Merrick, Bellmore and surrounding communities, presented a citation to Gennaro’s owner, Gary Hudes, congratulating him on the business’s accomplishment.

According to the business’s website, Gennaro Jewelers was originally owned and operated by expert watchmaker Erwin Von der Heydt, who was born on a farm in North Bellmore in the early 1900s.

Von der Heydt and his wife, Better, opened the jewelery and gift store at its distinctive Bedford Avenue location in Bellmore in 1923. Considered one of finest jewelers on Long Island, Von der Heydt was contracted to install clocks at the West Bathhouse at Jones Beach.

The jewelry shop was purchased by Louis Gennaro in 1962, and the store became known as Gennaro Jewelers in 1968. Gennaro considered to serve the area as a “premier” jeweler on Long Island.

Hudes joined the staff in 1979, and became a partner shortly after. Hudes expanded the business to become what it is today — a store that is also capable

of designing and remounting jewelry, appraising pieces and repairing items.

A former town councilman, Hudes remains very active in many organizations in Nassau County, including the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, Toys for Tots and several law enforcements groups.

The 100-year-old business gives back to the community when it can — donating to schools, little leagues, religious organizations, law enforcement and fire department fundraisers.

And aside from being honored by McDonough, Gennaro Jewelers was also accepted to the state’s Historic Business Preservation Registry, which honors and recognizes historical businesses throughout New York.

“Business like yours are the backbone of our communities,” the letter from the state’s Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation department reads, “and have helped to shape our state’s cultural identity.”

Gennaro Jewelers is located at the same storefront it first opened, at 410 Bedford Ave., Bellmore. For more about the business, visit GennaroJewelers. com.

— Jordan Vallone

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Gennaro Jewelers owner Gary Hudes with State Assemblyman Dave McDonough. McDonough presented a citation to Hudes, congratulating the business for its 100th anniversary.

Gary Hudes

New bill aims to ease property tax burden

Reps. D’Esposito, LaLota, Garbarino introduce SALT tax cap proposal to provide relief to homeowners

By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

Representatives Anthony D’Esposito, Andrew Garbarino and Nick Lalota are pressing for legislation to raise the SALT tax cap — which would allow homeowners to deduct a greater portion of their state and local property taxes. They are introducing a bill that would increase the $10,000 cap, bringing some relief to their constituents. Though Republicans hold a slim majority in the House of Representatives, they said they believe that the SALT Deductibility Act of 2023 would receive bipartisan support.

Garbarino, whose district lands mostly in Suffolk County but covers a portion of Seaford, is a co-chair of the House’s SALT Caucus, a committee created to provide SALT relief to constituents. The caucus comprises 32 representatives, with a delegate from Washington D.C.’s atlarge district as its 33rd member. Including the District of Columbia delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, the caucus counts 23 Democrats and 10 Republicans, two of whom are D’Esposito and LaLota.

“This topic is especially timely with Tax Day next week, marking another year that Long Islanders are getting the short

end of the stick,” Garbarino said during an April 14 news conference held in front of the home of a Franklin Square resident.

“This legislation, named the SALT Deductibility Act of 2023, will amend the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the limitation on state and local tax deductions.

“Long Islanders pay some of the highest property taxes in the country,” Garbarino added. “And for the hard working families in my district and all over Long Island, the $10,000 cap means they are only able to deduct a portion of their real property taxes and income taxes.”

According to Garbarino, the current SALT cap adds to the idea of New York being a “donor state.”

He said that the constituents residing within the districts of the three congressmen pay property taxes far exceeding the $10,000 cap.

LaLota’s district is entirely in Suffolk County, but he stood by his colleagues, as well as Franklin Square resident Ellen Andrasick — during the conference outside of her house — to support the bill. LaLota claimed that New York leads the nation in two categories — outof-state migration and the highest tax burden at 12.47 percent.

Even though LaLota’s out-of-state migration claim is in dispute since

numerous sources put California ahead of New York in that category, LaLota said he hopes the bill would bring relief to New York on both fronts.

Rep. George Santos, who has been under fire for his alleged fabrications and has been publicly denounced by D’Esposito and LaLota for them, has introduced his own bill, the SALT Relief Act, which can be viewed at tinyurl.com/ SantosSALT.

“Overtaxed New Yorkers deserve better policymaking decisions from their federal leaders,” D’Esposito, who represents the Fourth Congressional District, said. “Congress can enact positive change by passing the SALT Deductibility Act.

SALt Deductibility Act of 2023

Those of us behind this podium will fight hard to ensure the SALT cap is repealed and New York neighbors are once again treated fairly by the federal government.” Andrasick, who moved to Franklin Square in 1968, said she could recall a time when property taxes only amounted to $600, as opposed to the $13,000 she spends today.

“The little salaries that we’re making are being taxed,” Andrasick said. “The government is getting better, but we’re getting poorer. We’ve got to get that tax rate back (down) so that people can stay here on Long Island.”

According to Garbarino, the bill was introduced last week, and it could take some time before it is enacted. But the congressman said he hopes it goes through before the current SALT cap expires in 2025.

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald photos JoInIng REp. AntHonY D’Esposito, far right, were Reps. Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino, as well as Franklin Square resident Ellen Andrasick, to introduce the SALT Deductibility Act of 2023.

Introduced by Rep. Andrew Garbarino, whose district represents a portion of Seaford, and co-sponsored by 45 other representatives, this bill aims to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the limitation on deduction for state and local taxes. It can be viewed at TinyURL.com/ SALTDed2023.

overtaxed New Yorkers deserve better policymaking decisions from their federal leaders.

AntHonY D’ESpoSIto U.S. Representative

REp. AntHonY D’ESpoSIto says the current SALT tax cap has devastated his constituents in the Fourth Congressional District.

A growing need for firefighters, EMTs

Continued From Front page

they can’t do it, so they wind up leaving only after a short amount of time.”

The decline also could be attributed to how much more time they need to put into supporting their families. Cheswick said he himself works two jobs, in addition to his work with the fire department.

“You have your family, you have obligations with jobs, maybe two jobs, so it’s harder to keep those members,” Cheswick said. “We’re trying everything we can to lessen the load for people, but it’s hard because you need to train, you need to go to calls, you need to come to meetings and know what’s going on.”

Carroll said, “As the years have gone, the average of the firemen has gotten older. Kids, meaning 18, 19-year-olds, are going away to college, and they’re not coming back.

“It’s so expensive to live here,” he added, “Why would you stay if you can get out of here? People are working two, three jobs, and they don’t have the time anymore.”

Phil Schaaf, a captain in the Wantagh Fire Department’s third station, said the issue is not a decline in numbers, but rather an aging fire department and a lack of younger members.

“Our members are starting to get a little older,” Schaaf said. “So let’s bring in some new — not just younger, but just new — folks to really start to supplement some of those that are not able to be as active due to age and health.”

Fire departments are receiving more calls now due to modern smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that automatically alert local departments. So even though the threat in a home may not be serious enough for a response, firefighters are still summoned anyway.

Each department in the Sixth Battalion renders mutual aid whenever one of its independent fire departments needs assistance. In the past, only certain calls required mutual aid, but now more help is needed since there are fewer volunteers answering calls.

Each fire department covers the cost

to train new volunteers — and it takes about four to five months to complete training.

“If I swore you in today,” Carroll said, “I could get you into academy classes in May, and you’d be through the fire academy by August, September maybe. But if you join in September, I can’t get you into the fire academy until (next) May, because they can’t run outdoor classes in the winter.”

New members are required to respond to 25 percent of all calls their first year, and must attend 50 percent of all training sessions and 50 percent of all meetings.

After the first year, they only need to attend 20 percent of calls, meetings and events, which Carroll estimates is roughly four hours a week.

Fire department volunteers receive benefits, such as college tuition assistance, tax deductions and pension. A volunteer force, as compared to an all-career firefighting force, saves residents $273 million in annual taxes.

Starting ’em young

One of the best ways to recruit and retain volunteers is to get them interested in the fire department at a young age. Most fire departments have a junior fire company, with volunteers starting at age 15 and getting a taste of what it’s like to be a firefighter or EMT.

They can earn the opportunity to attend Camp Fahrenheit 516, a weeklong camp held during the summer at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Old Bethpage, where they are trained on a variety of practices they need to know to become a firefighter.

In addition, Nassau BOCES operates EMT training courses for high school students. Cheswick said East Meadow Fire Department officials have been try-

ing to speak at more East Meadow School District career days to show students what’s available to them. Carroll said the Bellmore Fire Department also visits John F. Kennedy High School for the same purpose.

“ We’ve been really adamant about trying to push the school districts to let us in on their career days,” Cheswick said, “so that we can show them what the volunteer service has to offer.”

Seaford’s fire department only has one firehouse, but former chief George Kern said its doors are open to young people who want to make a difference in the community.

“We’re a big family,” Kern said. “We’re community-oriented. We’re looking for firefighters, paramedics, and we’re even recruiting for our junior firefighter program, which is for middle school and high school students. They can also be very helpful in getting the word out about us.”

From volunteer to career

For college-aged kids, free tuition at Nassau Community College is available for those who volunteer at their local fire departments.

All that is needed is a signed letter from the chief showing involvement within the fire district.

Two of Cheswick’s children, Kasey, 21, and Connor, 19, took advantage of this program. Connor is currently studying emergency management at NCC, and Kasey turned her EMT training from the fire department into a full time EMT gig for New York State at Jones Beach.

The free training received at the local fire department can be taken with members if they want to move on to a paid career in the New York City EMS, NYPD, FDNY or EMT.

■ Bellmore Fire Department: April 22 and 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 230 Petit Ave., 2670 Bellmore Ave., and 2455 Newbridge Road.

■ North Bellmore Fire Department: April 22, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., at 1550 Newbridge Road and 829 Newbridge Road.

■ North Merrick Fire Department: April 23, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at 2095 Camp Ave.

■ The Merrick Fire Department has ongoing recruitment efforts. Visit MerrickFD.org for more.

Life-long friendship and brotherhood

According to both Schaaf and Kern, volunteer firefighters are wrapped up in a sense of community and purpose.

“It’s about helping the community and helping your neighbors,” Schaaf said. “There’s a lot of family fun, as well as parades and barbecues that families can partake in. There’s a lot there to kind of, to help each other out, as well as kind of build that camaraderie.”

State Sen. Steve Rhoads, who counts three decades of service in the Wantagh Fire Department, said, “The 30 years I’ve spent in the volunteer fire service has been among the most rewarding experiences in my life. The ability to answer the call of a neighbor in their time of need builds a sense of community that can’t be duplicated in any other way.

“We are all called upon to serve and use our gifts and talents to benefit others, and whether you join as a firefighter or fire medic, it’s a great way to make a difference in people’s lives in a direct and personal way.”

the ability to answer the call of a neighbor in their time of need builds a sense of community that can’t be duplicated

Steve rhoadS State senator

Benefit concert helps children who need it most

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

It’s been a few years since SIBS Place, a nonprofit based in Rockville Centre, has been able to host a benefit concert, due to the coronavirus pandemic. But this weekend, that all changes, as the concert returns in full blast on April 21, at the Bellmore Playhouse.

SIBS Place, an affiliate of Mount Sinai South Nassau, has one mission: to provide support to children with traumatically ill siblings or parents. Founded in 2000, by a group of 10 families, SIBS Place Board President Lowell Frye said the organization has grown drastically and expanded tremendously to offer a wide breadth of services to the families that need it most.

The nonprofit offers everything from therapy to bereavement services, for children ages 5 through 17, and their families. Joanna Formont, the executive director of SIBS Place, whose been involved with the organization since 2004, said she’s really seen it become a second family for the children and families it treats.

“It’s really a lifelong connection, because they feel understood,” she said. “When their friends at school are complaining about whatever their problems are, you know, they’ll say, ‘Well it’s not like my problems.’ No one really gets that, other than the other children coping with an illness.”

Frye is an amateur guitarist, who plays in local bands, and came up with the idea of a benefit concert, as a way to have another major fundraiser during the year. SIBS Place also has a gala and annual auction, that are large sources of funding.

This is the first time the benefit concert will take place at the Bellmore Play-

of wherever we could,” Formont said. “And now we have this beautiful venue, the Bellmore Playhouse, so it’ll really be like a concert-type atmosphere.

“It’s always good to raise awareness about the program and try to, you know, find a new audience and let people know about our services because they’re free to

Despite being an affiliate of Mount Sinai, the services are open to any child or family, no matter where their relative is being treated. Therapy and counseling can take place virtually now too, making it easy for therapists to connect with families near and far.

Tickets for the benefit concert are $50, and it includes food and two performances. The first act will be the band, Trainwreck, which Frye plays in, followed by another local band, Live Vinyl. The show runs from 7 to 10 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at EventBrite.com or by calling (516) 374-3000.

The Bellmore Playhouse is located at 525 Bedford Ave., Bellmore.

Lowell said while one goal of the concert is to raise money, SIBS Place is also really trying to raise awareness for the services offered.

“When families are going through a tough time with sick children or parents, there’s people there to help them,” he said. “There are services like this that are available. People don’t always know where to look, so we want to build awareness.”

“We’re just super excited to do this event,” Formont added. “We have one major gala each year, but we’re really sup-

Courtesy SIBS Place

SIBS PLAcE, A Rockville Centre nonprofit that supports children with traumatically ill siblings or parents, is hosting a benefit concert this weekend at the Bellmore Playhouse.

spotlIgHt AtHlete

Mepham adjusting to new norm

By BRIAN KACHARABA sports@liherald.com

High school sports dynasties tend to be cyclical sometimes, with graduation slowly chopping away at successful rosters. The Mepham softball team is unfortunately starting to experience that trend but could still be laying the foundation pieces for another run.

peteR tHomANN

Calhoun Senior Lacrosse

A loNg stICK midfielder who helped the Colts reach the Nassau Class B championship game last spring, Thomann leads Calhoun’s defensive effort and was Honorable Mention AllAmerican in 2022. The two-time AllCounty selection is headed to play at the University of North Carolina. “Peter is the heart and soul of the squad,” coach Jim Femminella said. “He has size, skill, speed and strength, and plays with an edge.”

gAmes to wAtCH

thursday, April 20

Baseball: Island Trees at Wantagh 4:45 p.m.

Baseball: Oceanside at Baldwin 5 p.m.

Baseball: V.S. South at Malverne 5 p.m.

Baseball: Long Beach at Mepham 5 p.m.

Baseball: South Side at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.

Girls Flag Football: Roslyn at Bellmore-Merrick 5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Hicksville at Freeport 5 p.m.

Softball: Kennedy at Oceanside 5 p.m.

Softball: Calhoun at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Boys Tennis: Wantagh at Oceanside 5 p.m.

Girls Flag Football: Valley Stream at MacArthur 7 p.m.

Friday, April 21

Girls Flag Football: Westbury at Freeport 4:30 p.m.

Baseball: Floral Park at Hewlett 5 p.m.

Baseball: V.S. Central at West Hempstead 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Garden City at Calhoun 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Baldwin at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Oceanside at Mepham 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Seaford at Carey 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Elmont at Clarke 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: South Side at Wantagh 5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Bethpage at Lynbrook 5 p.m.

Boys Tennis: Massapequa at South Side 5 p.m.

The two-time defending Long Island Class A/Southeast Regional champions and three straight county titlists find themselves in unfamiliar territory in 2023 with a much younger roster that features just three seniors and a combined 10 eighth graders, freshmen and sophomores. The result has been a 2-5 record, but three of the losses have been by one run.

The Pirates have come on lately with two wins in their last three games, including a nail biting 4-3 win at Plainview April 13. Coach Tom Simone cited inexperience and a shaky defense for the slow start but believes those things can improve as the season progresses.

“We have nine girls that never played varsity softball,” Simone said. “I think they’re a little hesitant in showing what they can really do. I think they’re a little nervous, not knowing me as well as the other five girls do. They’re afraid to make mistakes and they make mistakes.”

The biggest hit of the season came from freshman third baseman Deanna Cinquemani, who hit a three-run double to break a scoreless tie and help the Pirates beat Syosset 3-1 on April 4 for their first victory following an 0-4 start.

“All I basically told her was, ‘Just get something in the outfield. I don’t need a home run here. Get something on the grass and let’s just get one run at a time,’” Simone recalled. “And she came through.”

Mepham almost won its next game a week later against Oceanside but allowed a game-tying three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning and the Sailors scored again in the final frame for a stunning 6-5 victory. The Pirates stranded the tying run at second base in the bottom of the seventh.

Mepham faced a similar scenario

against Plainview when it carried a 4-0 lead into the seventh. The Hawks scored three times and later loaded the bases in the frame, but star pitcher Giselle DeLutri came on in relief and induced a gameending popup.

Finding a way out of jams is nothing new for the junior. During last year’s Long Island championship game against East Islip, she escaped a bases-loaded, nobody out conundrum that protected a 1-0 lead and later resulted in a 8-3 win.

“One player on my team that I ride the

hardest is Giselle, because I know what she’s capable of,” Simone said. “Putting her in tough spots, that builds character.”

DeLutri’s heroics April 13 helped eighth-grader Keira Ulmschneider earn her first pitching victory. Ulmschneider has been getting the bulk of the starts so far, and even blasted a home run against Massapequa on March 31.

Freshman outfielder Avery Betancourt has provided the most exciting at-bats on the team with her ability to work the count and foul off pitches.

Tony Bellissimo/Herald photo DANIellA DAmAto Is one of only three seniors on the roster for the Pirates, who suffered three one-run defeats in the early going.

The silent killer

Okay fine, just one hit. I hear those words all around me as many other teenagers are experimenting with different drugs such as marajuana and vapes. But just one hit leads to another, and the another leads to addiction. That one hit you take from a vape has a high chance of being laced with fentanyl which comes as a shock to many. Fentanyl can be disguised in marajuana, opioids, heroin, vapes, and cocaine. Fentanyl is a silent killer as it is not in every drug but no one can tell which drug is laced with it as it does not have a distinct smell or taste. The only way to tell if something is laced with fentanyl is to use a fentanyl test strip.

According to the DEA, six out of 10 fake prescription pills seized and analyzed across the country in 2022 contained a fatal dose of fentanyl. Symptoms of fentanyl exposure include euphoria, loss of consciousness, choking sounds, and pinpointed pupils. If you have been exposed, call 911 immediately. Not only is fentanyl toxic to the victim but it is also toxic to the first responders as they have a chance of getting exposed too. FORGE Health claims “First responders are most likely to encounter manufactured fentanyl. Skin contact can cause toxicity as inhalation or accidentally being exposed to it anywhere on a person’s body that cannot be seen. Even with training, it is not possible to always avoid exposure.” In this case Narcan training can be useful to help save lives.

Naloxone — known by the brand name, Narcan — is the only opioid overdose reversal drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

From April 17 to May 23, the Town of Hempstead EMS staff will be providing Narcan training for those interested in learning how to save victims of overdose. According to Verywell Mind, an information source on mental health topics, “Statistical modeling from 2020 estimates that 21% of opioid overdose deaths could be avoided with high rates of naloxone distribution in a community, largely driven by everyday people knowing how to use the medication and having it on hand.”

Fentanyl that is not prescribed and bought from a pharmacy is very likely to contain fentanyl. Fentanyl can be prescribed as a pain reliever or anesthetic. Illegal fentanyl can be used as a nasal spray, blotting paper, injection, eye droppers, or rainbow pills. Dr. Andrew Kolodny, medical director of opioid policy research at Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management claims that “Now that the drug supply is so dangerous, all it takes is trying an illicit opioid just once and you can easily die of an overdose.”

As these fentanyl overdoses are becoming more frequent in society, narcan training should be taught in every school to both students and teachers in order to prevent future overdoses. Adolescents should be more aware of what they are using as most only think fentanyl is in pills but it can also be in vapes and marajuana.

Don’t take that one hit, as that one hit can lead to your last breath.

Clean Sweep set for this weekend

The South Merrick Community Civic Association will host its annual ‘Spring Clean Sweep’ on Earth Day weekend, with the help of any volunteers wishing to participate.

Clean ups will start at 10 a.m., at the intersection of Merrick Avenue and Broadcast Plaza on April 22, and on Merrick Road behind Bagel Boss on April 23. The civic is promoting Earth Day and National Volunteer Month. For more, call (516) 978-8310 or (516) 578-0649.

Eden Goldberg is student contributor, a sophomore at John F. Kennedy High School.

Jordan Vallone/Herald file

There’s nothing kids look forward to more than vacation, especially summer vacation. But summer can also be a prime time for the “summer slide” when students forget the reading and math skills they learned during the school year, according to the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL).

Kids not exposed to ongoing summer learning, such as reading and solving math problems, can lose anywhere from one to three months of what they learned in the previous grade. When that happens, children start the next year playing catch up. If they suffer the slide continually in the early years, it creates a potentially life-long problem. We already know that children who are not reading proficiently by third grade tend to stay behind in future grades, and that they are four times less likely to graduate from high school.

The summer slide is especially devastating to children from low-income families. Summers without academic practice contribute to the big achievement gap that exists between disadvantaged kids (who qualify for free or reduced lunch) and their more advantaged peers.

That learning gap forces teachers to play catch-up when school starts again in the fall.

“Parents can play critical roles in ensuring children maintain their academic skills in reading and other subjects over the summer,” the NCFL emphasizes .”The key is to associate learning with fun activities.”

The good news is, there are many rewarding, enriching educational experiences for families to halt the summer slide. Reading is the single most impactful activity for children in the summer. A summer reading program helps maintain and advance reading and language comprehension from one grade to the next grade. Make it a family effort with siblings, parents and relatives devoting regular time to reading and reading aloud to young children.

Encourage Bright Spots

Parents and students often associate the summer with remedial classes. But encouraging your children’s interests and strengths is a great way to associate fun with learning. Try enrolling them in classes or camps that focus on their strengths and let them develop lifelong hobbies that are fun and good for them.

Be creative: A quick search online should yield a lot of great suggestions for creative, fun learning activities both online and off. For example, the nonprofit website Wonderopolis. org encourages children and parents to explore the things they wonder about with daily content, like “Why Do You Get Ice Cream Headaches?” or “How Can You Be a Human Compass?”

You and your children can also nominate your own “Wonder of the Day” on Wonderopolis. org by submitting your own curious question. You can even create your own video and include the link to it in your submission.

Let them run wild — in the library: Make a big deal out of frequent trips to the library where kids can pick out anything they want to read that is age-appropriate. Experts say reading four or five books over a summer will maintain reading skills, so long as the selections are challenging enough.

Plan learning adventures: Take excursions to museums, national parks, zoos or aquariums. Or try a hike that focuses on birds, plants or any special theme. Tie a book or educational program to the adventure (either before or after), so your child will connect real life to learning. Alternatively, you can expose a child to a new piece of music before a concert the whole family can enjoy.

Embrace Family Time

Enjoy excursions to museums, parks, local historical sites, the beach, etc. as a family. Challenge your child to think about what they learned from the experience by describing interesting details of what they learned or what they still want to know. Ask them questions

that stretch their thinking, such as “Why do you think that?” or “What would happen if…?”

Cook together and have the children reference the recipes and make shopping lists using their creativity and emerging writing skills, even if they are only able to draw pictures and “scribble”. Each one of these early steps prepares them for writing in school.

While at the grocery store, challenge your children to find items on the shelves by looking for the first letter in the title or a picture of the item. Ask children to guess how many pasta shells are in a box or ask them questions about what they notice – like the cold and warms parts of stores.

Whatever you do, make it fun and interactive. Your child will enjoy new adventures, especially if they are with the people they love most in this world their parents and families.

Photo: That break from the school year routine is great time to relax and let loose, but it’s still essential to keep kids’ minds working during when school’s not in session — and throughout the year.

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be focused Consider strategies success. home by assignments, for that study haphazard ners books up don’t space a set tines. regular breaks). play, and what’s end-of-school be ners

Spring Open House

Saturday, April 29th OR Thursday, May

10am-12pm 6pm-8pm

Academically Rigorous: College

Preparatory

All-Girls: A Lifetime of Sisterhood

Catholic High School Matters

360-Degree Support: In and Out of the Classroom

Leadership and Confidence Grow Here

6th, 7th and 8th Grade Girls and their parents choose from 15-minute workshops on topics such as:

Why Catholic HS Makes a Difference College Prep Starts Now

5 Reasons All-Girls Schools Lead Choosing an Academically-Rigorous Path

Full-circle moment for aspiring art teacher

School, Solorzano-Ruiz, 19, of Merrick, said he has been drawing since he was old enough to do so, and that Pixar movies sparked his interest in art. A subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, Pixar Animation Studios has created beloved childhood movies, like “Toy Story” and “Monsters, Inc.”

“Once a movie would end, I would then watch all the bonus features and see all the animators, the work they do, and the process it takes to make one of these movies,” he said. “I just loved it.”

An art education major with a minor in animation at Adelphi University, Solorzano-Ruiz said the characters in his artwork today still have an “animated” look. In his college classes, he’s learning everything from 3D design to photography, but his favorite media for creating his artwork are paint, colored pencil and markers, or a combination of all three.

“I find that I’m able to get really cool textures or looks when I combine different materials,” he said. “Paint is probably my favorite, mainly because there’s so much you can do with it. You’re able to really create a lot of different illusions — I feel like paint is really able to get the colors that I imagine in my head onto the canvas.”

For the mural, Solorzano-Ruiz created an underwater scene that included humpback whales, dolphins, sea turtles and fish, with the logo for the rescue center in

the middle of the canvas.

“The piece that I did — I wasn’t too sure what the wall size was going to be, where it was exactly going to go,” he explained of the process. “So I had to make the piece in a way that I was able to basically reshape it in any way.”

Over the course of a few weekends in March and early April, Solorzano-Ruiz used both wall paint and acrylics to complete the mural at the rescue center. He lightly sketched the general shape of the animals, he said, but in the end created the mural mostly freehand.

“I wanted to show how beautiful these creatures are — how majestic and grand and almost awe-inspiring they are,” he said. “That’s how (they) should be — living happily, and not dealing with all the pollution that you unfortunately find in a lot of places.”

The aquarium is a place he feels connected to, Solorzano-Ruiz said. “I never get bored of it,” he went on. “I just love the ocean, and there I have the opportunity to have a glimpse of what it’s like underwater. It just feels like a much larger second home.”

While the rescue group and aquarium are separate entities, they work together closely, he added.

Inside the aquarium is a mural with two orcas that he replicated on the walls of his bedroom. “I painted my walls, based off that mural,” he said. “So now it’s pretty cool to have my painting repli-

cated on one of their walls. It’s almost like a full-circle moment for me.”

Solorzano-Ruiz said he owes a lot of his success to the people around him — his parents, who have supported his journey in art, and his younger brother, 14-year-old Joseph, also an artist, who

inspires him, too.

“He always blows me away every single time he shows me a new drawing or painting he did,” Gary said of his brother. “He’s so young, but so talented.”

His art teachers — even the ones who taught him at Calhoun — have influenced him, too.

“He was a wonderful student whose passion for the subject matter set him apart from his peers,” Linda Seckler, Solorzano-Ruiz’s former AP Art teacher at Calhoun, emailed the Herald. “He has been artistically preparing for a challenge (such) as this his whole life, and I am so happy and proud of his accomplishment.”

“Students like Gary are those rare gems that embody the talent, the drive, the kindness, and the genuine desire to bring joy and goodness into the world,” another teacher, Joan Gonzale, emailed. “In the classroom, Gary would leave his classmates in awe with his paintings of seascapes or self-portrait journeys.”

Solorzano-Ruiz said he’s thankful for all those who voted for his piece, giving him the opportunity to create the mural. The rescue group and aquarium do tremendous work, he added, for the animals there and in Long Island’s waterways.

Creating something for the rescue group, a place with a lot of sentimental value to him, is special. “It’s a place that I always really look forward to going to,” he said, “and now it’s even better that I’ve left my mark there.”

Jordan Vallone/Herald Gary Solorzano-ruiz’S Style of art features animation-like characters, often in realistic backgrounds. Above, the completed mural at the NY Marine Rescue Center.

D’Esposito introduces cops ‘bill of rights’

By KARINA KOVAC kkovac@liherald.com

He’s calling it the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights, a direct jab at what he calls the “defund the police” movement. And as a former cop himself, U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito says his new legislation introduced on Capitol Hill last week is exactly what police departments need to move forward in a new world.

The Republican lawmaker surrounded himself with officials from the local Police Benevolent Association union at their Mineola headquarters to share details of H.R. 285, which has already attracted a dozen GOP cosponsors — including U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino.

The bill, if passed, is intended to give privileges and securities to officers not offered before, D’Esposito says, such as the right to self-defense against physical threats and legal recourse if a civilian attempts to assault them. The congressman hopes other lawmakers will follow suit on the state level to create similar bills.

“It condemns calls to defund, disband, dismantle or abolish any police agency,” D’Esposito said. “It encourages dialogue between law enforcement and their communities to improve public safety, and engage all of the society’s stakeholders. And lastly, it respects the rights of police officers to carry out their duties, to protect our communities with integrity, and have essential protections during investigations.”

D’Esposito quoted a statistic from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund that found 224 law enforcement officers died in 2022. He also claimed many more are at risk of being hurt because of the “defund the police movement” in minority communities, where officers keep seeing “body bag after body bag removed.”

The most recent significant calls for police reform emerged following the death of George Floyd while being arrested by Minneapolis police officers in May

2020. One of the police officers was later found guilty of murder and manslaughter, and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison.

The number of officer fatalities in 2022 has remained slightly above levels in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s save the early 2020s, which included a large number of deaths related to Covid-19.

Thomas Shevlin, president of the Nassau County PBA, said it’s time to “get back to common sense.” He also called on politicians from both sides of the political aisle to support the bill.

Brian Sullivan, the president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, said that for years he and other law enforcement and court officers have been sounding the alarm about the harm of bail reform, discovery reform, and the implications of the reforms endangering not only officers, but society. He said the issue shouldn’t be seen as law enforcement against liberals, and that what matters is helping the general public

who is suffering because of previous litigation.

“We have a very low headcount,” Sullivan told the crowd that gathered for the news conference about the population behind bars. “What does that tell you? You see it in that the proof is in the pudding, the criminals are in the streets. We need to mobilize the base of the citizenry to support their law enforcement and realize what’s going on behind the scenes here.”

Sullivan cited the “insanity” of bail reform by offering an example he saw in the news recently where a Bronx judge, Naita Semaj, let the accused killer of a teenaged boy go free on his own recognizance without bail.

“The judge in the Bronx, because of what’s going on in this state, disregarded the cries and the pleas of not only the prosecutors,” Sullivan said, “but of the boy’s mother to hold this guy in jail.”

The bill was officially introduced April 10, and was immediately referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

with Michael and Suzanne Ettinger Attorneys-at-Law

If You Don’t Understand the Plan, You Don’t Have a Plan

So many people who come in to see us do not understand the estate plan they have or do not know what is in their current plan. Some of the reasons for this are (1) time has inevitably blurred their memories, (2) the plan may be written in legalese and was never properly explained to them, (3) they may have misconceptions and misunderstandings of what their plan is; and (4) their lawyer may have lacked the knowledge required to find the right solution for their family in the event of death and disability. To this we say, “if you don’t understand the plan, you don’t have a plan.”

Ettinger Law Firm developed a process, in use for over thirty years, to avoid these problems. First, we offer a free initial consultation to go over the pros and cons of having a will or a trust and the differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts. So many people have misconceptions about trusts based on what friends have said or what they have read on the internet. For example, many clients are afraid to create an irrevocable trust because they think they will lose control. We explain why that is incorrect and how you can still

change the trustee, change who you leave it to, take money out and even how you can revoke an irrevocable trust!

After the overview provided in the initial consultation, we give you a copy of our plain English book, “Elder Law Estate Planning”, and advise which chapters apply to your situation -maybe an hour or so of reading. We also invite you to watch the thirty minute estate planning video at trustlaw.com.

We arrange for you to come in about two weeks later for a second free consultation to have any remaining questions answered, draft an estate plan together with the new “knowledgeable” you and give you a written proposal. Once you accept, we arrange for the signing and completion of your estate plan two or three weeks later. From start to finish the process usually takes about eight weeks.

Finally, we call you in for a free review every three years to review your plan, refresh your recollection and update where necessary so your estate plan works when you need it.

Karina Kovac/Herald

U.S. Rep. ANthONy D’Esposito introduces his Law Enforcement Bill of Rights legislation alongside local police and correction officer benevolent associations at the Police Benevolent Association headquarters in Mineola last week.

Attorney

STEPPING OUT

Asbury Short Film Concert

The latest edition of the short film showcase has made its way back to Long Island. With a lineup of classic shorts from Asbury’s past combined with film festival winners currently on the circuit — and in many cases, featuring up-and-coming filmmakers — audiences can get a peek at these “smaller” films that don’t often get a big-screen showing. The eclectic mix of films offers a look at the best in short film comedy, drama and animation, highlighting emerging filmmakers along with seasoned directors. The fast-paced evening includes such stand-outs as ‘The Waiting Room,’ produced, directed and written by former Nassau County film commissioner Debra Markowitz. The multiple festival award-winning 12- minute dramatic comedy reunites a woman and her exhusband in heaven.

home of

As seen through the artists’ eyes

By Karen Bloom

Our spaces have taken on a new importance in recent years. “Home,” in all its variations, has inspired us — and renewed us. Heckscher Museum of Art explores the spaces we inhabit in its latest offering, “Raise the Roof: The Home in Art,” on view through March 2024.

Friday, April 21, 7:30 p.m. $15. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

STEPPING OUT

Home.

personalities and the values of the people who lived there.

Creative advocacy

“It’s a life-size piece that takes up an entire wall,” Bennett says. “It makes you feel immediately at home. “Everyone responds to it. They recognize the scenes and tell us it reminds them of their own house.”

The exhibit — featuring more than 50 works — reflects the many meanings of home, as it delves into how artists creatively define life at home.

“This exhibit came out of the pandemic,” says Justyce Bennett, the museum’s curatorial assistant. “The idea of home really shifted. It became our office space, our leisure place, our everything. The same thing happened with artists, it became their studios. Over the past four years, we’ve deepened our understanding of what home looks like.”

From that shift in how we live, an exhibit evolved.

“The majority of the artworks on view were created before the pandemic, demonstrating the central role that our homes have always played in our lives and in art,” says curator Karli Wurzelbacher. “In light of the recent pandemic, home continues to evolve. And we connect to this artwork with new eyes.”

The exhibit includes what Bennett describes as “old favorites” with never-before-seen works. “This show combines the tried-and-true with new art — the classics and recent additions to our collections”

Raise the Roof debuts significant works by contemporary artists such as Courtney M. Leonard, Kenji Nakahashi and Stella Waitzkin. Never-beforeexhibited photographs by Larry Fink, prints by Robert Dash, along with works by Romare Bearden, Salvador Dali, Olafur Eliasson, Miriam Schapiro, and Esphyr Slobodkina are also featured.

“She also remembered the artwork her grandparents had in that house, so it represents art in art — in a really cool way.”

Englishtown Project

By Karen Bloom

Centerport-based Pat Ralph, an artist with a longtime connection to the museum as a trustee collections committee member, is represented with “The Visit Home.” Bennett describes the piece, which shows a man reclining in his childhood home, as”bright and dreamy.”

Also of note is Robert Carter’s mixed media painting “Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More.” It’s a powerful maternal work that pays tribute to the role of mothers.

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

“Robert also has a long history with the museum and this is only the second time it’s been on view,” Bennett says.

“We’re so happy to show his piece. It’s my personal favorite in the show.”

WHERE WHEN

• Now through March 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Visitors are immediately drawn to the exhibit’s anchor, Becky Suss’s large-scale painting “Living Room,” a recent acquisition (actually six paintings) that is based on Suss’s memories of her grandparents’ house in Great Neck. The array of artwork and objects she depicts captures the

Englishtown Project visits the Landmark stage with their dynamic tribute to a classic unforgettable concert. This all-star jam band commemorates one special concert. The group — featuring members of New Riders of the Purple Sage, Zen Tricksters, and Max Creek, recreates the legendary Sept. 3, 1977, show in Englishtown, New Jersey, which was headlined by the Grateful Dead, who had just completed its legendary Spring/Summer 1977 tour featuring a batch of new material from ‘Terrapin Station.’ They were joined by the Dead family’s New Riders of the Purple Sage, and the good-time, southern rock Marshall Tucker Band. This tribute extravaganza includes healthy ‘doses’ of selections from each band’s sets that day in a relaxed, festival-style program.

•

•

“It highlights the vital role that artists have in activating democratic values that promise equality and freedom, encouraging civic engagement, and cultivating unity,” Giordano says. “Artists often lead the charge and expose truths that may otherwise be ignored. The artists in this exhibition take a stand and call out injustices through their art and activism on issues such as immigration, gender, reproductive rights, mass incarceration, voting rights, racial bias, gun violence, and promises unfulfilled. They all combine the making

Saturday, April 22, 8 p.m. $35, $30. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444, or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Courtesy Heckscher Museum of Art

• Top left: Becky Suss, Living Room from the Collection of Ninah and Michael Lynne.

Top right: Pat Ralph, The Visit Home, 1983.

Bottom right: Robert Carter, Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More, 2007.

It’s where the heart is, where our lives unfold — and where imagination takes flight.

THE SCENE

Itzhak Perlman

The reigning virtuoso of the violin makes his long-awaited return, appearing on the Tilles Center stage. Sunday, May 7, 4 p.m. Experience his impeccable musicianship as never before. The intimate performance gives Perlman fans a deeply personal glimpse into his boyhood in Tel Aviv and New York, and the earliest years of his long and celebrated career. Enjoy an afternoon of music and storytelling as Perlman presents rarely seen archival photos and videos and shares memories, stories, and musical selections that you won’t hear anywhere else. On stage and performing with Perlman for this unforgettable afternoon is his longtime collaborator, pianist Rohan DeSilva, who’s been a constant presence by his side over the years. Tickets are $150, $100, $75: available at TillesCenter. org or (516) 299-3100. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville.

April 20

Meet State Senator Steve Rhoads

State Senator Steve Rhoads continues his mobile office hours around Bellmore and Merrick. Visit North Merrick Public Library, Saturday, May 6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Call (516) 882-0630 for additional information.

Rock for SIBS

On exhibit

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

Bellmore Playhouse is hosting a Rock for SIBS concert, Friday, April 21, 7 to 10 p.m. SIBSPlace is a free, therapeutic support program for children ages 5-17 who have a sibling with cancer or another severe illness, or a parent with cancer, affliated of Mount Sinai South Nassau. Tickets for the benefit concert and dinner are $50. This event, at 525 Bedford Ave., is for adults only. Call (516) 374-3000 for more or email sibsplace@snch.org.

Passion for Pride

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

Art talk

Join Nassau County Museum

Director Charles A. Riley II, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, May 23, 4 p.m. He’ll discuss ‘Balthus and Neo-Classicism,” in a session that is keyed to Balthus, along with Derain and such figures as Nijinsky and Prokofiev, who were experimenting with the re-invention of classical forms and motifs, notably those of the Renaissance. A decadent in the manner of Wilde, an Old Master painter among the Cubists (Picasso considered him a great talent), Balthus also became associated with the fiction of Nabokov, a literary connection that will also be considered. Participation is limited; registration required. $40, $20 members. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org or call (516) 484-9337.

Deni Bonet in concert

Deni Bonet and Chris Flynn, singer/songwriter and violinist, Saturday, April 22, 2 p.m., at Bellmore Memorial Library. 2288 Bedford Ave., Bellmore. Free tickets are available at BellmoreLibrary.org/calendar. Call (516) 785-2990 for more.

April 26-27

Dancing into spring

Adelphi Department of Dance students present their semi-annual dance showcase on the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center stage, Wednesday through Friday, April 26-27,

7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 29, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 30, 2 p.m. Dancers are working with guest artist Alberto “Tito” del Saz, artistic director of The Nikolais/Louis Foundation for Dance, to present “Four Brubeck Pieces,” featuring music from Dave Brubeck’s classic album “Time Out.” The performance also features choreography by dance faculty members Frank Augustyn, Orion Duckstein, Adelheid B. Strelick, and adjunct faculty Bivi Kimura. The show will be livestreamed during the Saturday matinee and evening performances. Tickets are $30, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Livestream access is $20. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

Having an event?

April 22

Spring Clean Sweep

The South Merrick Community Civic Association meets Earth Day weekend for its annual Spring Clean Sweep, with volunteers wishing to participate in a local clean up, Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. Meet at Merrick Avenue and Broadcast Plaza, near the gazebo; also Sunday, April 23, 10 a.m. on Merrick Road, at the parking lot behind Bagel Boss. For more, call Joe Baker at (516) 978-8310 or Berta Weinstein at (516) 578-0649.

S.T.O.P. Collection

Dispose of hazardous materials such as antifreeze, drain cleaners, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs,and more, at the Town of Hempstead’s collection, Saturday, May 13, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 2600 Newbridge Road, South Bellmore, Visit HempsteadNY.gov for more.

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.

On stage

Back by popular demand, families will enjoy a musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, April 21, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Sunday, April 23, 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, April 26-27, 10:15 a.m. and noon. Elephant and Piggie storm the stage in a rollicking musical romp filled with plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense perfect for young audiences.

Cautious Gerald and playful Piggie share a day where anything is possible. Together with nutty backup singers, The Squirrelles, the comedic duo even gets the audience involved in the action. $9 with museum admission ($7 members), $12 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

Kids Fest

Kids Fest, an annual carnival with the Merrick Chamber of Commerce, returns Friday through Sunday, April 28-30

Rides will be open on Friday from 6 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Merchants and professional displays will be open on the weekend from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It all happens at the Merrick Long Island Rail Road parking lot, at Sunrise Highway and Merrick Ave. For more, visit MerrickChamber.org.

Baldwin Homemakers Annual Auction

Craft Beer, Cocktails, Wine & Spirits.

Lunch & Dinner Menu, Sushi and Brunch with Weekly Specials!

Trivia Tuesday Nights & Taco Tuesday Specials. Happy Hour ½ off Apps 4-6pm Weekdays. Inquire for Your Next Private Event on our Website. Tasting Room & Dining Room with dock & dine access. Visit Us on Open Table to make a reservation.

Taproom Hours: Mon-Thurs: 2pm-9pm | Friday-Saturday: 12pm -11pm | Sunday: 12pm-9pm

Restaurant Hours: Monday: Closed | Tuesday-Thurs: 5pm-9pm | Friday: 12pm-10pm | Saturday: 12pm-10pm | Sunday: 12pm-9pm

April 26

The Baldwin Chapter of Homemakers invites everyone to their annual auction, Wednesday, April 26, starting at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 and includes one front table raffle ticket. With coffee, cake and a door prize, at Baldwin Middle School, 3211 Schreiber Place, Baldwin. Additional raffles tickets can be purchased. For more information, call (516) 341-1986.

PRESENTED

Crime watCh

Larceny

■ On North Queens Avenue in North Massapequa, a man reported that $10 were stolen from his parked vehicle on April 6. On that same street on April 6, another man reported that sunglasses were stolen from his parked vehicle as well.

■ CVS, located on Wantagh Avenue in Wantagh, reported that an unknown male stole various items from their store on April 6.

■ An individual reported that an unknown male stole a package on April 7, at Tiptop Lane in Hickville.

■ On Monika Court in Bethpage, an individual reported that a FedEx package was stolen on April 10.

■ Town of Oyster Park parking garage, located on Duffy Avenue in Hickville, reported that a fire extinguisher was stolen from their located on April 10.

■ Marshall’s, located on Hicksville Road in North Massapequa, reported that an unknown female stole several purses from their store on April 10.

■ 7-Eleven, located on Merrick Avenue in East Meadow, reported that an unknown male stole two cases of beer from their location on April 12.

Arrests

■ Willian A. Bonilla Romero, 41, of Levittown, was arrested for an alleged DWI at the intersection of Grassy Lane and Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown on April 7.

People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.

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It was enough fentanyl to kill 2 million people

By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com

Three kilograms of pure fentanyl might not seem like a lot. But as a powerful synthetic opioid that is at least 50 times more potent than morphine — that much fentanyl can kill. A lot.

That’s likely why the Nassau County Police Department and county officials are calling the arrest of Juan Cruz, who they say was holding all three kilos, a “historic seizure of pure fentanyl.”

“This is a story about triumph and tragedy,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. Tragedy that young people are unwitting victims to peddled pills. Triumph in the form of stopping those pills from hitting the street.

The 50-year-old Cruz lives in the Bronx, but is said to be a citizen of the Dominican Republic. Police reportedly stopped him after Second Squad detectives received a tip that he was bringing the drug into the county last week, police commissioner Patrick Ryder said.

A single kilo of fentanyl has the potential to kill up to 500,000 people, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Three times that could kill the entire population of Nassau County, with

enough fentanyl left over to kill 100,000 more.

“Fentanyl is cheap,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. “It’s plentiful. And it’s coming into the county in droves.”

Cruz pleaded not guilty to felony counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a narcotic drug, as well as a traffic infraction for operating an unregistered vehicle. He is being held behind bars without bail.

Cruz was not known to Nassau detectives before his arrest Wednesday, Ryder said, but they now believe he is a “major dealer” operating in the county.

The drugs reportedly come from Mexico and South America — something Blakeman says supports his position of stopping immigration.

unless we close our borders,” Blakeman said. “We have crime rings that are oper ating here from south of the border. They’re stealing cars. They are stealing catalytic converters. They’re doing orga nized burglaries. And of course, they are dealing in very, very, very dangerous drugs.”

NASSAu COuNty ExECutIvE Bruce Blakeman, far left, joined Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly, Nassau County Legislator Tom McKevitt, Nassau County Police Department commissioner Patrick Ryder, and county legislator Rose Walker to share news of what they described as a historic seizure of fentanyl.

police to identify him because he had burned his fingertips, they said, mutilating his fingerprints. Doing that was a way Cruz had hoped not to be deported again something officials last did in 2012. Because it’s an active investigation,

Donnelly said she was “extremely limited” on what she could comment on.

“What I will tell you is this,” she said. “Defendants like Juan Cruz are peddling this poison in our neighborhoods to our children.”

Roksana Amid/Herald

Juan Cruz

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

AVISO SOBRE LA REUNIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA DE DISTRITO SOBRE LA BIBLIOTECA BELLMORE MEMORIAL

PUEBLO DE HEMPSTEAD CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se realizará una reunión extraordinaria de distrito con los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Bellmore Union Free en el pueblo de Hempstead, condado de Nassau, Nueva York, en la biblioteca Bellmore Memorial, sita en 2288 Bedford Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, el miércoles 26 de abril de 2023 a la 1:00 p. m., hora en vigor, con el objetivo de votar, con boleta electoral impresa y urna, sobre los siguientes asuntos:

(1) Adoptar el presupuesto anual de la biblioteca Bellmore Memorial para el año fiscal 2023-2024 y autorizar que la parte requerida de este se recaude con impuestos sobre la propiedad sujeta a tributación del distrito escolar.

(2) Elegir un

(1) fideicomisario para la junta de la biblioteca Bellmore Memorial a fin de que ocupe el cargo durante un período de cinco años, que comenzará el 1 de julio de 2023 y finalizará el 30 de junio de 2028.

POR EL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, para la votación en dicha reunión el 26 de abril de 2023, las urnas estarán abiertas entre la 1:00 p. m. y las 8:00 p. m., hora en vigor, y que la votación se realizará en la biblioteca Bellmore Memorial, sita en 2288 Bedford Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York.

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que cualquier residente del distrito escolar podrá obtener de la biblioteca, sita en 2288 Bedford Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York y durante el horario de atención habitual, una copia de la declaración de la cantidad de dinero que será requerido por la biblioteca Bellmore Memorial para el año siguiente, exclusivamente a los fines de fondos públicos, durante los catorce (14) días inmediatamente anteriores a dicha reunión, excepto los domingos.

POR EL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que las solicitudes para nominar candidatos para el cargo de fideicomisario de la biblioteca Bellmore Memorial se presentarán ante el UFSD de Bellmore, Oficina del Distrito, 580 Winthrop Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, antes de las 5:00 p. m., hora en vigor, del lunes 27 de marzo de 2023.

Cada solicitud debe estar dirigida a la Secretaría del

Distrito, contar con la firma de al menos veinticinco (25) votantes calificados del distrito e incluir la residencia de cada suscriptor y el nombre y la residencia del candidato.

POR EL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, en virtud de las disposiciones de la Ley de Educación, se requiere la inscripción personal de los votantes. A su vez, ninguna persona tendrá el derecho a votar en la reunión si su nombre no aparece en el registro del distrito escolar en el que se preparó. Todas las personas que se hayan inscrito anteriormente para alguna reunión anual o extraordinaria del distrito, y que hayan votado en una reunión anual o extraordinaria del distrito llevada a cabo en cualquier momento durante los cuatro (4) años calendario previos al 26 de abril de 2023, tendrán el derecho al voto en esta reunión extraordinaria del distrito. Además, todas las personas inscritas para votar en la Junta de Elecciones del condado de Nassau en virtud del artículo 5 de la Ley de Elecciones tendrán derecho a votar en dicha reunión extraordinaria del distrito.

POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE, TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que las solicitudes de boleta electoral por ausencia para la elección de la biblioteca Bellmore Memorial y el voto del presupuesto se deben completar en un formulario elaborado por la Junta Electoral de su estado, el cual se puede obtener en el sitio web del Departamento de Educación del estado de Nueva York (http://www.counsel.nyse d.gov/common/counsel/fil es/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructions-english.pdf, http://www.counsel.nysed .gov/common/counsel/file s/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructions-spanish.pdf), el sitio web del UFSD de Bellmore (www.bellmoreschools.or g) o poniéndose en contacto con la Secretaría del Distrito por correo electrónico (ryee@bellmoreschools.or g) o por teléfono (516-679-2910). Las solicitudes completas deben recibirse al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si la boleta electoral se enviará por correo al solicitante o hasta el día anterior a la elección si la boleta electoral se entregará personalmente al solicitante o a la persona que designe. La Secretaría del Distrito no aceptará solicitudes de boleta electoral por ausencia antes del 27 de marzo de 2023. Habrá una lista de todas las personas para las que se emitieron boletas electorales por

ausencia, que estará disponible en la oficina de la Secretaría del Distrito durante los cinco días previos a la elección, excepto el domingo, y únicamente con cita entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 12:00 p. m. del sábado anterior a la elección.

POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE, TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados de la biblioteca Bellmore Memorial pueden pedirle una solicitud de boleta electoral militar a la Secretaría del Distrito de la biblioteca por correo electrónico (ryee@bellmoreschools.or g) o por teléfono (516-679-2910). En dicha solicitud, el votante militar puede indicar su preferencia sobre la recepción de la solicitud por correo, fax o correo electrónico. El votante militar debe devolver la solicitud original de boleta electoral militar por correo a la oficina de la Secretaría del Distrito en la biblioteca Bellmore Memorial. Las solicitudes de boleta electoral militar recibidas conforme a lo mencionado anteriormente se procesarán de la misma manera que las solicitudes de boletas electorales no militares, en virtud de la sección 2018-b de la Ley de Educación. La solicitud de boleta electoral militar debe incluir la preferencia del votante militar de recibir dicha boleta por correo, fax o correo electrónico.

POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE, TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la boleta electoral militar original de los votantes militares debe devolverse por correo a la Secretaría del Distrito de la biblioteca, sita en 580 Winthrop Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York. Las boletas electorales militares se escrutarán si el secretario electoral de la biblioteca las recibe: (1) antes del cierre de las urnas el día de la elección y con una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o de un país extranjero, o con un endoso fechado de recepción por otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos, o (2) antes de las 5:00 p. m. del día de la elección, firmadas y fechadas por el votante militar y un testigo del acto, con una fecha que comprueba que no son posteriores al día previo a la elección.

POR EL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, de conformidad con lo dispuesto por la Ley de Educación, los votantes calificados que se vean gravemente imposibilitados de comparecer personalmente en el centro de votación debido a una enfermedad permanente o una discapacidad física, y cuya acta de registro

incluya la designación “con discapacidad permanente” de la Junta Electoral, podrán recibir una boleta electoral por ausencia, de conformidad con las disposiciones de la Ley de Educación, sin necesidad de presentar una solicitud por separado para dicha boleta electoral por ausencia.

ASIMISMO, POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se llevará a cabo una audiencia pública informativa en la biblioteca Bellmore Memorial, sita en Bellmore, Nueva York, el martes 18 de abril de 2023 a las 7:00 p. m., con el objetivo de debatir el gasto de los fondos para el año fiscal 2023-2024.

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE FIDEICOMISARIOS BIBLIOTECA BELLMORE MEMORIAL

Randy Yee, secretario del distrito FECHADO: marzo de 2023 BELLMORE, NUEVA YORK 137674

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SPECIAL DISTRICT MEETING OF THE BELLMORE MEMORIAL LIBRARY

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special District Meeting of the qualified voters of the Bellmore Union Free School District, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, will be held in the Bellmore Memorial Library, 2288 Bedford Avenue, Bellmore, New York, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. prevailing time, for the purpose of voting, by paper ballot and ballot box, upon the following items:

(1) To adopt the Annual Budget of the Bellmore Memorial Library for the fiscal year 2023-2024, and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the School District; and

(2) To elect one (1) Trustee to the Bellmore Memorial Library board to fill a five year term commencing July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2028.

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that for the purpose of voting at such meeting on April 26, 2023 the polls will be open between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. prevailing time, and the voting will be held in the Bellmore Memorial Library, 2288 Bedford Avenue, Bellmore, New York; and

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for the Bellmore Memorial Library’s purposes, exclusive of public

monies, may be obtained by any resident of the School District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding said meeting, except Sunday, from the Library, located at 2288 Bedford Avenue, Bellmore, New York, during regular business hours; and

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Trustee of the Bellmore Memorial Library shall be filed at the Bellmore U.F.S.D. District Office, 580 Winthrop Avenue, Bellmore, New York not later than 5:00 p.m. prevailing time Monday, March 27, 2023. Each petition must be directed to the District Clerk, must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District, and must state the residence of each signer and the name and residence of the candidate; and

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to the provisions of Education Law, personal registration of voters is required, and no person shall be entitled to vote at the meeting whose name does not appear on the register of the School District prepared thereof. All persons who shall have been previously registered for Annual or Special School District Meetings and who shall have voted at any such Annual or Special Meeting held or conducted at any time within the four (4) calendar years prior to April 26, 2023 shall be entitled to vote at this Special District Meeting. In addition, all those who are registered to vote with the Board of Elections of Nassau County pursuant to Article 5 of Election Law shall be entitled to vote at this Special District Meeting.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that absentee ballot applications for the Bellmore Memorial Library election and budget vote are to be completed on a form prescribed by the state board of elections by visiting the NYS Education Department’s website (http://www.counsel.nyse d.gov/common/counsel/fil es/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructions-english.pdf, http://www.counsel.nysed .gov/common/counsel/file s/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructions-spanish.pdf), the Bellmore UFSD website, (www.bellmoreschools.or g), or by contacting the District Clerk by email (ryee@bellmoreschools.or g) or phone (516-679-2910). Completed applications must be received at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the

applicant, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the applicant or to his or her designated agent. Absentee ballot applications will not be accepted by the District Clerk before March 27, 2023. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots have been issued will be available in the District Clerk’s office on each of the five days prior to the election except Sunday, and by appointment only from 9:00 to 12:00 noon on the Saturday prior to the election.

NOTICE IS FURTHER

GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the Bellmore Memorial Library may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk by email (ryee@bellmoreschools.or g) or phone (516-679-2910). In such request, the military voter may indicate his/her preference for receiving the application by mail, fax or email. A military voter must return the original military ballot application by mail to the Office District Clerk at Bellmore Memorial Library. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a non-military ballot application under Section 2018-b of the Education Law. The application for a military ballot should include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax or email.

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a military voter’s original military ballot must be returned by mail to the District Clerk, 580 Winthrop Avenue, Bellmore, New York Military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the District Clerk: (1) before the close of the polls of election day and showing a cancellation mark of the U.S. postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the U.S. government; or (2) not later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election; and

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a qualified voter whose ability to appear personally at the polling place is substantially impaired by reason of permanent illness or physical disability and whose registration record has been marked “permanently disabled” by the Board of Elections pursuant to the provisions of the Election Law, shall be entitled to receive an

absentee ballot pursuant to the provisions of the Education Law without making separate application for such absentee ballot.

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public information hearing will be held at the Bellmore Memorial Library, Bellmore, New York on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of discussion of the expenditure of funds for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BELLMORE MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Randy Yee, District Clerk

DATED: March 2023 BELLMORE, NEW YORK 137672

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU OCWEN LOAN SERVICING LLC, V. EVAN LEFKOWITZ, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated December 13, 2018, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein OCWEN LOAN SERVICING LLC is the Plaintiff and EVAN LEFKOWITZ, 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 May 2, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 1841 DECATUR AVE, BELLMORE, NY 11710: Section 50, Block 277, Lot 51:

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS

THEREON ERECTED, SITUATED, LYING AND BEING AT NORTH MERRICK, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 001326/2015. Anthony Francis Altimari, 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. 138382

To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. ELSIE ARCOS, et al, Defts. Index #611979/2021. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered March 7, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on May 1, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. prem. k/a Section 63, Block 205, Lot 185. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the sale. FAY MATTANA, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #100246 138380

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU US Bank National Association, as Trustee for Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp., Home Equity Asset Trust 2006-7, Home Equity Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-7, Plaintiff AGAINST

Robert Cullen a/k/a

Robert J. Cullen; Barbara Cullen a/k/a Barbara L. Cullen; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 8, 2019 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 10, 2023 at 3:00PM, premises known as 2032 Bergen Street, Bellmore, NY 11710. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the west side of Bergen Street, Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 56 Block 142 Lots 819 & 820. Approximate amount of judgment $867,267.40 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 011407/2014. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Jane Shrenkel, Esq, Referee

LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff

175 Mile Crossing Boulevard

Rochester, New York

14624

(877) 430-4792

Dated: March 10, 2023

138599

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC

AUCTION Supreme Court of New York, Nassau County. U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016 SC6 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff,against- HENRY OSORIO, JR.; MARITZA OSORIO

A/K/A MARITZA A. OSORIO; JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; MIDLAND FUNDING LLC; MIDLAND FUNDING OF DELAWARE LLC; AMERICAN EXPRESS CENTURION BANK; FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY LLC. Index No. 611370/2018. Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgement of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated March 17th, 2023 and entered with the Nassau County Clerk on March 22nd, 2023, John G. Kennedy, Esq., the CourtAppointed Referee, will sell the premises known as 1294 Poplar Street, Bellmore, New York

11710 at public auction at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York 11501, on the 15th of May, 2023 at 02:00 P.M.

The sale will occur, rain or shine. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health concerns, then the Referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in North Bellmore in the Township of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York known as Section: 56; Block: 220; Lot: 19 will be sold subject to the provisions of filed Judgment, Index No. 611370/2018. The approximate amount of judgment is $243,284.88 plus interest and costs.

FRIEDMAN VARTOLO LLP

85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff.

138778

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR RESIDENTIAL FUNDING

MORTGAGE SECURITIES

I, INC., MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-S10, V.

ANTHONY MELE A/K/A

ANTHONY F. MELE, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated November 26, 2018, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR RESIDENTIAL FUNDING MORTGAGE SECURITIES

I, INC., MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-S10 is the Plaintiff and ANTHONY

MELE A/K/A ANTHONY F. MELE, 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 May 15, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2675 BELLMORE AVENUE, BELLMORE, NY 11710: Section 63, Block 224, Lot 335:

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, STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 022953/2009. 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.

138744

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 4/26/23 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 250/23. BELLMOREBryan McManus, Install pool & pool equipment not permitted in the side yard., S/s Shelly Ct., 96.72’ E/o Shore Rd., a/k/a 2466 Shelly Ct.

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

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

509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/

576/Live-Streaming-Video

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

138893

LEGAL NOTICE

BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

DISTRICT

BELLMORE U.F.S.D.

MERRICK U.F.S.D.

NORTH BELLMORE U.F.S.D.

NORTH MERRICK U.F.S.D.

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU

NOTICE TO BIDDERS:

In accordance with provision of Section 103 of the General Municipal Law, the Board of Education of the Bellmore-Merrick Transportation Consortium hereby invites the submission of sealed proposals for:

The Boards of Education of the Bellmore and Merrick School Districts ( Bellmore-Merrick CHSD, Bellmore UFSD, Merrick UFSD, North Bellmore UFSD, North Merrick UFSD), Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, hereby invites the submission of sealed proposals for pupil transportation (Transportation RFP) for the 2023-2024 school year to be received by 2:00pm on Friday, May 5, 2023 at the Administration Building of the Bellmore-Merrick CHSD, 1260 Meadowbrook Rd., North Merrick, NY 11566, at which time proposals will be publicly received.

Specifications and proposal forms may be obtained at the Transportation Office located in the Administration Building.

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or to accept any proposal, which in the opinion of the Boards of Education will be in the best interest of the School Districts.

By order: Board of Education

BELLMORE-MERRICK

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

BELLMORE U.F.S.D.

MERRICK U.F.S.D.

NORTH BELLMORE

U.F.S.D.

NORTH MERRICK U.F.S.D.

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU

138700

LEGAL NOTICE

BELLMORE-MERRICK

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

NOTICE TO BIDDERS VENDOR_____________

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Education, BellmoreMerrick Central High School District, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, Merrick, New York at the Business Office, 1260 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York 11566-1500, for the following categories up to the times on the dates indicated:

Bread, Rolls, Bagels May 9, 2023 10:00 a.m. School Lunch Printing and then at said office publicly opened and read aloud. All information for the bidders, specifications and bid forms may be obtained at the abovementioned address. The Board of Education, Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, reserves the right to waive any informalities in, or reject any and all bids, or to accept that bid, or any part of that bid, which in its judgement is for the best interests of the School District. All bid awards are pending budget approval.

The School District may receive bids for the above listed items periodically during the 2023-2024 school year if necessary. These bids will not be readvertised for this purpose. The frequency of bid solicitations will be determined by operating requirements.

By order: Board of Education Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

By: Joanne Finelli 138701

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. HARVEY WEISMAN, Pltf. vs. REYNALDO BERRIOS, et al, Defts. Index #019536/2010. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Dec. 12, 2022 and order dated Feb. 28, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on May 23, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. prem. k/a 2476 Hart Avenue, North Bellmore, NY 11710 a/k/a Section 51, Block 536, Lot 7 a/k/a and by Lot Nos. 10 and 14 inclusive and part of lots 22 and 23 as shown on a certain map entitled “North Bellmore Terrace, situated at Bellmore, N.Y.

Fashion show raises $60,000 for FCA

More than 200 people showed up recently to not only celebrate Women’s History Month, but to support a charity as well, raising more than $60,000 for Family & Children’s Association.

It was all part of FCA’s second annual Long Island Women in Philanthropy breakfast and fashion show that honored present-day philanthropist and social activist Leah Fisher. She is senior vice president of special projects at the Uniondale-based Arbor Realty Trust Inc.

Fisher is a heroine and champion of women in her own right as a founding member of “Conversations For Change,” a podcast exploring social activism through challenging conversations. Topics are selected based on overt areas of strife and inequity, current events, and what women experience in everyday life.

“FCA was founded on the ideas and ideals of philanthropic-minded women nearly 140 years ago,” said Jeffrey Reynolds, FCA’s president and chief executive, told attendees, which included former New York governor David Paterson. “Today, women continue to play an important role in FCA’s leadership, staff, volun-

teers and donors. Together they work to help and strengthen individuals, communities and each other to fulfill their potential, and give back.”

FCA’s original orphanage, the Temporary Home for Friendless Children, was spearheaded in 1984 by Louisa Lee Schuyler — a great-granddaughter of Alexander Hamilton — and a group of like-minded women committed to the welfare of vulnerable children.

Today, FCA has six predominantly women-led divisions ranging from addition prevention and recovery, to children’s mental health and wellness, to family support. Each of the divisions were represented in the fashion show by client and volunteer models whose lives were positively impacted by FCA programs.

Altar’d State, which operates out of Roosevelt Field Mall, provided the fashion, while Sewanhaka High School’s cosmetology department provided hair and makeup.

For more information on how to support FCA programs, reach out to Paige O’Brien at (516) 746-0350, Ext. 4320, or at pobrien@fcali.org.

August 1926, Birdsall Jackson, Inc. Civil Engineer and Surveyor, Wantagh, N.Y.” and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on July 17, 1928 under file number 655, Case Number 778. Sold subject

Courtesy Family & Children’s Association

Family & Children’s Association hosted its second annual Long Island Women in Philanthropy breakfast and fashion show during Women’s History Month. More than $60,000 was raised at the event, which was led by FCA president and chief executive Jeffrey Reynolds, left, and attended by former New York governor David Paterson.

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CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.

STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.

For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

DRIVERS WANTED

LIBRARY CIRCULATION CLERK P/T,

Up to 17 hours per week at the Baldwin Public Library, depending on Library’s needs. May include mornings, afternoons; includes at least 1 evening per week, rotating Saturdays. This is a non-competitive Civil Service position. $15.50 / hour.

Please send resume to: dkelly@baldwinpl.org, by August 5.

DRIVING INSTRUCTORS

OUTSIDE SALES

REAL ESTATE

MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

EDITOR/REPORTER

The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team!

This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry.

To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

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

Call 516-569-4000 X286

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off.

Will Consider Part Time.

Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

Open Houses

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME Pressroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for a motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

Open Houses

HEWLETT BA, 1599 Lakeview Dr, NEW! 4 BR, 3 Bth Exp Ranch on Tree Lined St in SD#14. Spacious LR, DR & Family Rm, EIK & Fin Bsmt. Att Garage. HW Flrs. Near Park, Trans, Shops & Houses of Worship...$829,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT BA 257 WILLARD Spacious 5 BR, 3, 4/2, 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!..$1,025,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETTE 1608 RIDGEWAY Dr, BA, Drastic Reduction! Motivated Seller!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...$1,399,000 ALSO AVAILABLE FOR RENT $6,500 per month Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

LYNBROOK 4/23, 12-1:30, 125 Sherman St, FIRST TIME ON MARKET! Immaculate, Well Maintained 3 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Cape in the Heart of Lynbrook.Spacious Entry Foyer Leads to LR w/ Fpl, Formal DR & Updtd Gran/Wood Kit w/ Stainless Steel Appl. 2 Main Flr BR & Upper Level Primary Ste/Full Bth/WIC.Full Fin Bsmt. 2 Car Det Gar. Manicured Yard w/ Brick Patio.

SD#20 (Lynbrook)...$629,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman RE 516-238-429

ROCKVILLE CENTRE 4/23, 2-3:30, 55 Lenox Rd, # 2J, FIRST SHOW! Spacious 2 Bedroom Coop in Prestigious Bldg in the Heart of RVC. Corner Unit Features Large Entry Foyer, Living Rm/Dining Rm & EIK. Loads of Closet Space. HW Flrs. Assigned Pkg. New Elevator.. Close to Shops, Restaurants, LIRR.RVC School District. Won't Last!...$359,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-

House For Sale

POINT LOOKOUT: WATERFRONTLargest Selection of Beach Homes, Sale/ Rent. Our Home Listings Sell FA$T! VIDEOS. HUG R.E. 516-431-8000 www.hugrealestate.com

Houses For Rent

FRANKLIN SQUARE COMPLETLY RENOVATED Cape 4bds, 1.5bths,

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

Hewlett Bay Park

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New and fully renovated 8,919 square foot home, including basement, beautiful amenities, and convenience. This home is located on a large .78 acre lot. You couldn’t ask for more! A stunning seven bedroom, seven and a half bath modern Colonial that features many upgrades and luxury finishes; creating the perfect combination of opulence and livability. Top-quality porcelain radiant flooring flows from one impressive room to another, highlighted by the abundance of natural light pouring in through the high end windows. The quiet cul-de-sac neighborhood is located minutes from top-performing schools and shopping, The Seawane Club, Atlantic Beach clubs, and area businesses allow entertainment and work to be convenient but far enough away to enjoy your privacy.

Sara Abikzer

Signature Premier Properties

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Cell-516-984-6798

Office-516-741-4333 info@saraabikzer.com @SaraSellsLI

Are windowstriple-pane worth it?

Q. We’re planning to replace our old windows, and are doing research online to make sure we make the right decision. I saw that there’s an option for “triple pane” windows instead of double panes. It appears to be much more money, but the writer of one article says it’s well worth it. Are you familiar with triple panes, do we need permits to change our windows and is it worth the expense? We’ve lived in our current home for five years and plan to be here for the rest of our lives, hopefully a long time, while we raise our family. What do you think?

A. I could simply say that you get what you pay for, but I’m certain you need more of an explanation, since you’ve taken the time to investigate and educate yourself. In your investigation, I’m sure you saw engineering data, lots of comparative numbers and U-values, the rating acronym for glass unit values. The lower the U-value, the better the insulating value of the glass.

Because the majority of heat or cool transmission or loss of energy is through the windows, while the walls, floor and roof are more insulated, it’s most important to do something to prevent losing all that energy you’re paying to create. Whether it’s your air conditioning or your heat, the outside of your house, referred to simply as the “envelope,” is of critical importance to insulate, especially with ever-rising energy prices. While most building departments don’t require a permit for changing out the windows “in kind,” meaning in the same size and location, some will require a permit for any little thing, like sanding your floors or adding closets, and I’m not kidding, so it’s best to check their rules online, or call your local building department directly.

Another thing to be aware of is that changing windows can trigger fire safety escape rules, referred to as egress windows, and most up-anddown, or double-hung colonial windows don’t meet the requirement if you don’t have at least one window in every habitable room with a size of 5.7 square feet. The window must have a clear escape opening of 20 inches in width and a minimum height of clear opening of 24 inches. Remember that a large fire rescuer must be able to save you.

Triple pane is a great value, because you’re always losing costly energy, so the return on investment, especially if this is your long-term home, makes it well worth it. Windows lose the most energy at the edges, so the type of gasket joining the windows to the frame is critical. The most effective frames have insulation blocking, not just a thermal break in the frame. A thermal break is usually a thin gasket between the outside and inside frames. Adding insulation, instead of leaving open air spaces in the frame, saves more energy, so it’s important to look for.

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

Monte

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JB MASONRY : Driveways, Patios, Stoops, Sidewalks, Retaining Walls, Pool Areas, Stucco, Cultured Stone, Brick Work, All Types Pavers, All Concrete Slabs Restorations. FREE Estimates. 516-428-6388

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‘The Things They Carried,’ and the lessons they taught

I’m known as a surly crank. I’m blunt but honest, satirical yet sympathetic. I can be both acerbic and considerate.

In my 20s, I was called “curt and condescending” in an employee evaluation. My parents laughed. I wore it like a medal.

Time hasn’t tempered my temper.

So when Vietnam War veteran Carl Johnson of West Hempstead told me that an Army lieutenant — a “real schmuck” — was the reason why it has been hard for him, as a civilian, to go along to get along, I knew I had met a fellow crank.

Johnson said the lieutenant’s ineptitude resulted in the deaths of Johnson’s three best friends in combat one day in 1970. “That lieutenant really screwed me up mentally,” Johnson recalled, “with the ability to tell the difference immediately whether somebody was really sharp, and someone I wanted to work for, or not.”

On April 27, 1970, while Johnson was on jungle patrol, one of the soldiers near him was shot. Johnson was the

radio operator, and he asked the lieutenant for orders to radio the captain. “He’s frozen,” Johnson said of the lieutenant. “We’re laying on the ground and he can’t talk because he’s so shaken.”

When Johnson had time to reflect on the battle, he realized his platoon shouldn’t have been on point that day. But because the lieutenant was what the soldiers called “shake ’n bake” — a noncommissioned officer who wore his lieutenant bar visibly despite the danger of being identified by snipers — he put the platoon in danger.

“He was a jerk, to put it mildly,” Johnson said. “He’s the reason my three buddies got killed.”

When he came home, there were no parades or bands greeting him at the airport. Johnson earned a degree from Adelphi University, and shifted jobs over the years. “Sometimes I would get in trouble,” he said. “My wife says it’s hard for me to take orders.”

Johnson got married, raised children, and learned how to cope with his grief. He became active in veterans organizations, and continues to help his fellow veterans — even those he meets by chance. He has spent decades volunteering with veterans groups. He initiat-

ed and researched a Vietnam War Memorial at Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, his alma mater, to honor nine of its graduates who were killed in Vietnam.

He talks about his war experience as a cathartic and therapeutic way of coping.

A few years ago, Johnson was asked by a Sewanhaka student to speak to her AP literature class. The class was reading the Vietnam War novel “The Things They Carried,” by Tim O’Brien — a book about the possessions soldiers kept with them and the emotions they grappled with.

Johnson agreed, of course, to help teach the students about the meaning of service to country.

Johnson prayed in Vietnam, and carried a Bible he passed on to his grandson, who is now enrolled in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He said the war made him a flag-waver. He tears up when he sees the flag.

As I sat in the dining room of the Johnsons’ home, I heard earnest concern in Carl’s voice as he talked about the country he defended with literal blood, sweat and tears. He spoke of fractured friendships because of his political beliefs. One friend got up and walked

away after Johnson made a political comment.

Carl and I talked about how the Pledge of Allegiance isn’t required in school, and how kids don’t salute the flag. We agreed on the meaning of the quote often attributed to Voltaire — “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” — even though we realized we aren’t cut from the same political cloth.

We agreed that the pervasive divisiveness in the country is dangerous, though we likely disagree on the causes of that divisiveness.

Carl and I share an inability to suffer fools and a love of country. We agreed that if there is a way to repair the deep divide between Americans, it begins with being able to find things that we have in common.

At a time when every comment is scrutinized through a political prism, it was refreshing to be able to have an honest and respectful conversation with someone with different views.

Carl defended my right to disagree with him. I do so with profound respect, and an inability to ever repay his debt of service.

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

Living the life between alone and lonely

Last week, a woman described as an “extreme athlete” emerged from a cave in Spain after 500 days in total isolation. A human being — in this case, Beatriz Flamini, a 50-year-old woman — had voluntarily descended into a 70-meter-deep cave when she was 48 and popped out a year and a half later.

RANDI KREISS

She had spoken to no one, had no showers, heard no other human voices (aside from auditory hallucinations), and spent her time reading, knitting and exercising. She said she lost track of time after two months. That was 16 months ago!

According to the BBC, she was monitored by researchers, but no one made contact.

What if everyone on earth had been wiped out by a virus or an asteroid while she was underground? But that’s a different movie, I guess.

Was this purely an endurance challenge, pushing the boundaries of experience to an extreme? Or did it also suit her on some level to disappear and be alone,

buried away from the world?

We’ve heard cave survival stories before. In 2010, 33 miners spent 69 days trapped underground before being rescued from a copper and gold mine in Chile. In 2018 the whole world witnessed the rescue of an entire team of teenage Thai soccer players trapped in a flooded mine. The thing is: These people all wanted to get out. Their entrapment was horrific. The Spanish spelunker shut the door on the world.

Some of us want to turn down the noise and enjoy being alone. But 500 days in a cave?

What would make a person choose this challenge? I can only recall the time my kids were 6 and 4, and they were both heaving with a nasty stomach virus and my husband was on a business trip and it was snowing and the dog came back from the groomer with fleas. No question, I would have dived into the cave thing. In a heartbeat I would have been underground, knitting sweet little nothings and reading books.

Sometimes I want to escape a large gathering where there’s just too much noise and chatter signifying nothing. But a cave? For 500 days? One hopes this extraordinary feat may yield good data. When it comes to isolation, I see people

divided into camps, determined most probably by genetics. My husband, for example, does not like being alone. As soon as he finds himself in a room with no possibility of immediate plans, he turns on the TV, cranks up the iPhone and flips open the computer, preferably all at once. Lots of noise. Chatter to the level of chaos.

My hunch is that people who need people all the time and in big numbers often partner up with people who get easily overwhelmed by too much talk and socializing. I don’t know why. But caves are a unique challenge.

Fifteen years ago, we were on a driving trip in the Lascaux area of France. I persuaded my husband, who is awfully good-natured about these things, to join me on a tour of one of the caves that have prehistoric drawings. One problem was that the tour was in German, but I thought, how difficult can that be? Lots of German words are similar to English. I told my husband I thought I could translate.

We were a group of about 20 (18 Germans, two Americans). We descended 40 steps into a dark, narrow passage. I heard

the sound of the massive wooden doors slamming shut at the top of the stairs.

“I’m out of here,” I said to my husband.

“You can’t leave,” he said. “I can’t speak German.”

But I was on automatic pilot, in the grip of a panic attack. I ran up the stairs and banged on the door until someone opened the vault. My husband was stuck on the tour, and got to see the petroglyphs, but the spiel? Nein!

The cave woman in Spain said her experience was “excellent” as she stepped into the light. I want to hear more of her story, to know what it was like without having to do it myself.

Apparently, some of us just want to mix it up, go out to a bar, invite 20 people for dinner, and some of us want to turn down the noise and enjoy being alone.

But a cave for 500 days? Nein.

Much has been written about loneliness and isolation, and its effects on teenagers and older people locked down by the pandemic. Perhaps the significant factor is choice. What feels like loneliness to many is the peace of aloneness to others.

Thoreau had his cabin in the woods, and he said that nothing was as companionable as solitude.

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

Carl Johnson prayed in Vietnam, and carried a Bible he passed on to his grandson.

HERALD

Lithium-ion batteries pose a real threat

Buyer beware. Many of today’s most popular electronics — including Tesla cars, e-scooters and smartphones — are powered by lithium-ion batteries, due to their ability to store large quantities of energy in a small space.

If used correctly, these products are harmless. Many are laboratory tested to be safe, and have functions that can detect when they have received enough juice to hold a charge.

It’s a modern marvel to use the internet from almost anywhere in the world using a portable device and the push of a button, or travel to work without the impact of harmful carbon emissions. But no product is without its faults. As more and more of us come to rely on these batteries for energy, the potential for fires — and in some instances, even explosions — increases.

The growing popularity of micromobility products like electric scooters and bikes has created some concern, particularly in New York City, where, in the past year, more than 200 fires were started by lithium-ion batteries, killing six people and injuring nearly 150 others. But the trend extends beyond the boroughs.

Last September, a woman died in Hempstead in a fire caused by a lithiumion battery. Another home burst into flames in Rockville Centre in January.

“It has absolutely been a problem here on Long Island,” James Hickman, Nassau County’s assistant chief fire marshal, said. “With lithium-ion batteries,

letters

Randi goes to Mars!

To the Editor:

What a cruel joke Randi Kreiss played on me (I cannot speak for others) as I read her op-ed, “It’s a go for the voyage of a lifetime” in the March 30-April 5 issue.

I was filled with glee as she announced that her chances of going to Mars were excellent. I was almost weightless as I read that she made it through psychological and psychiatric screenings at the space center last spring. I grabbed a table to hold myself down and read on.

Food allergies? Gastrointestinal disorders? I knew Randi would soar over those obstacles. Have you read any of her recipes?

I smiled as I read that she’d received permission to go public with the information about her trip to outer space. I wondered how many hundreds, or thousands, of Herald readers would have highly recommended that she be taken on this Mars mission. Or to the moon.

I thought of Randi putting together green salads as she discovered lichens on the Martian sur-

when they fail, they burn very quickly, and very hot . . . and will ignite nearby combustibles.”

The biggest concern about the batteries, according to fire officials, is the use of after-market batteries and chargers. They are typically not manufactured to the same safety standards as name-brand products.

In order to prevent such fires from occurring, Nassau County firefighters recommend purchasing batteries and chargers from reputable companies, and always following their safety instructions. If they need to be repaired, make sure they are returned to the manufacturer, and only use the battery designed for the device.

It is important not to store electronics near anything that could catch fire or help a fire spread. This includes leaving laptops or other electronic devices on a bed. Even under the best circumstances, these products will get warmer, because the heat from the battery doesn’t have a chance to dissipate. That’s why, in the event that something goes wrong, it’s safer to keep them away from household items that are easily combustible.

And with summer approaching, it is highly recommended not to store any electronics in direct sunlight. Not only can this damage a device and cause it to fail, but it can trigger a chemical reaction known as a “thermal runway,” where the temperature of the battery increases faster and faster until it catches fire.

Another safety tip is to make sure not to charge electronics near your front

door. This could cut off an entrance and exit in the event of an emergency.

Damaged lithium batteries are extremely volatile. They emit harmful gases that can speed up the spread of a fire, and in some cases even reignite one, making it challenging to extinguish.

“Sometimes we’re our own worst enemies,” Hickman said. “We have to charge everything these days.”

While the batteries themselves can be a fire hazard, plugging in too many devices at once — overloading the power supply — can exacerbate the danger. Surge protectors can be helpful in keeping this from happening, but they, too, can be ineffective if they’re off-brand or counterfeit. Plugging in certain electronics — particularly portable space heaters — is a leading cause of fires nationwide.

The National Fire Prevention Association recommends that you stop using a battery at the first sign of odor, change in color, overheating, change in shape, leaking or odd noises. If it is safe to do so, move the device away from anything that can catch fire and call 911.

To properly dispose of a lithium battery, do not put it in the trash. Take it to a battery recycling location, or contact community officials for proper e-waste disposal instructions. A number of retailers also accept these batteries for disposal, like select Home Depot, Walmart and Macy’s stores, according to state officials. Visit Call2Recycle.org/locator for more.

For more safety tips on lithium ion batteries, visit NFPA.org, or contact your local fire department.

Time to give the Five Towns some respect

Long Island is made up of hundreds of communities that proudly proclaim their famous past and any special historical facts that would attract new homeowners. The Five Towns has always stood out as an affluent and well-respected region in southwestern Nassau County. But its political status has been overlooked.

According to Wikipedia, the informal grouping of Cedarhurst, Hewlett, Inwood, Lawrence and Woodmere has been called the Five Towns since 1931. The name was born when Community Chest groups, organized for charitable giving, banded together to form the Five Towns Community Chest. Over the years, all manner of organizations have embraced the Five Towns designation. Many other local communities have, too, including Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor, Hewlett Neck and Woodsburgh. Ask any residents of North Woodmere what geographic conglomerate they’re part of, and they’ll

claim the name Five Towns as well.

There is lots of fascinating history associated with the area. Many buildings there date their origins to the early 1920s, when developers built summer homes in Hewlett. Alexander Cartwright, a Woodsburgh resident, published the first rules of baseball in 1845 for the New York Knickerbockers. Mobster Arnold Rothstein opened a casino in Hewlett Harbor in 1916. Between 1937 and 1941, the Five Towns hosted the professional Negro league baseball teams the Black Yankees and the Brooklyn Royal Giants.

Some real estate brokers eager to associate themselves with the Five Towns named their enclave West Lawrence, as distinct from Far Rockaway. Over the past 20-plus years, a large number of Orthodox families have been attracted to the Five Towns, which has caused a major jump in real estate values. Anyone who has followed the history of the area can attest to the fact that “Back Lawrence,” as it was once called, has been home to many wealthy bankers and developers.

Every decade, based on the latest U.S.

Letters

face, and mixing them in white plastic trays filled with NASA-green pasty spacecraft foods as her fellow astronauts looked like they’d just bitten into lemons. Remember guys: In space, no one can hear you scream.

Other pleasurable visions came to mind, but they all crashed to earth when I read, “Happy April Fools’ Day.” Randi, you had me over the moon for you. I have to thank you for that.

JOHN SCHULTz Oceanside

Every vehicular mistake, caught on camera

To the Editor:

I thought now would be a good time to update you on the latest and greatest in regard to Nassau County’s ongoing venture into dystopia. A few years back, I was advocating against red-light and speed cameras. Let’s repeat upfront: Nobody is advocating for lawlessness. That’s why we have police officers. I said good luck regaining a right you’ve given up, so let’s fight for it.

The silence was deafening.

So what do you say we update where our local surveillance state is today? I do so hope you’re enjoying those $150 redlight tickets. The actual fine is $50, but ya

gotta love those added fees. It seems that in 2015 and 2016 (the only years I could find numbers for; I didn’t do a deep dive), Nassau pulled in, get ready for it, $82.2 million of our money. Were you then surprised to see that that time you didn’t make a complete stop on red before turning at 3 a.m. on a completely empty road got you another $150 bill? Fun stuff.

We’re getting our pockets picked for millions. But did you really think that was going to be the end of it once the powers that be saw the money they were raking in? You’re better off trying to take blood away from a vampire.

So, to update, have you checked out a school bus lately? That’s right, they now have cameras on the sides, and should you pass one with its stop signs deployed, wait by your mailbox for the $288 bill.

But wait, there’s more. Now there are proposals for not only speed cameras, but license plate-reading cameras on the Southern State Parkway as well. And you wonder why our children can’t move away from here fast enough?

Heck, the absolute least they could do would be to install countdowns clocks underneath every traffic light where there’s a camera, to give us half a chance of avoiding a ticket — and getting rearended!

I don’t want to be an I-told-you-so, but who are we kidding? I told you so.

FRED GEFEN Woodmere

census figures, the legislative district lines of the Five Towns have been redrawn, and elections for the Assembly, State Senate and Nassau County Legislature have been dramatically impacted. Once upon a time, the Five Towns was treated with the greatest respect by government mapmakers. Sadly, however, it has been carved into many pieces, and it no longer has the political clout that it once claimed.

power base. The Herald Community Newspapers, now read across Nassau County and beyond, were born in the Five Towns.

state

I recall many political names that were connected to the Five Towns. Presiding Supervisor Palmer D. Farrington, along with U.S. Rep. Herbert Tenzer, Town Councilman Eugene Weisbein, State Sen. Karen Burstein and Assemblyman Eli Wager were among its prominent elected officials. In the mid-1960s, Barbara Boxer deserted the Five Towns for California and eventually became a U.S. senator.

From 1972 to 1989, I had the honor of representing the Five Towns in the State Assembly. I knocked on hundreds of doors as a candidate, and attended dozens of events sponsored by the Community Chest and other worthy charities. I viewed the Five Towns as an important

The reason for this walk down memory lane is to lodge an informal protest that no current local elected official has ever aggressively fought to keep the Five Towns as one political unit. The Assembly and Senate district lines, as well as the County Legislature, have been crafted with no respect for the historical identity of these very closely knit communities. This isn’t some form of snobbism; just a commentary on why people who want your vote don’t speak out at the time when new voting districts are created.

We should hope that in 2030, when the next federal census takes place, some dynamic local official will take up the cause of once again making the Five Towns into one united political region. Its great history deserves some extra respect.

Jerry Kremer was an Assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.

Framework by Tim Baker

A momentary pose in Arthur J. Hendrickson Park — Valley Stream

County and

district lines have divided these closely knit communities.

JerrY kremer

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