Bellmore Herald 05-16-2024

United for Eid

Neighbors from Merrick, Bellmore and beyond came together at the Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse on May 11 for a potluck celebration in honor of Eid, important festivals in the Islamic religion.

Those attending brought a slew of delicious dishes, and children were able to take part in several activities, such as face painting, henna tattoos, a variety of games and more.

Above, Mohammad Arshad, who is in the Merrick Fire Department, with fellow department members James Bain, Stefan Oberman and Mike Sankovsky. Right, Aaira Chohan, 4 of North Bellmore, showed off her balloon creation.

Story, more photos, Page 10.

Voters to decide on $197M budget for 2024-25

By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com

Voters in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District will head to the polls on May 21 to cast their ballots on a proposed nearly $197.5 million budget for the 2024-25 school year.

Last month, a detailed presentation was given on the spending plan, which is $8,587,082, or 4.55 percent, more than the current budget.

decisions we make now are sustainable for the future,” Mikaela Coni, the district’s assistant superintendent for business, said.

The district’s aim is to be efficient, maintain fiscal stability and optimize performance to account for fluctuations in state aid, inflation and increased costs associated with health benefits and pensions.

The budget’s goals are the key to everything that keeps the district flourishing for students, Coni said.

MIkAEl

District administrators said the goal is to maintain current programs and services, address an increasing need for student support services, maintain and upgrade infrastructure, while continuing to provide safety and security for students and staff in the district’s five school buildings — John F. Kennedy, Sanford H. Calhoun and Wellington C. Mepham high schools, and Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue middle schools.

A CoNI Assistant

superintendent for business, BellmoreMerrick Central High School District

“It’s important to do what we always do when we make our budget, and that’s make sure the

“(The budget is) maintaining our programs, providing enhanced learning opportunities for our students, addressing increasing needs and student support, and ensuring our facilities provide a safe and secure environment for all of our students, faculty and staff, (while) continuing to be successful in the digital age by making sure our budget includes network infrastructure upgrades and device upgrades,”

Continued on page 2

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Two additional propositions are on the ballot

Coni said.

The plan includes an increase in the tax levy, the total amount of money that will be collected from taxpayers in the district, of 2.55 percent. The tax levy for the budget for the coming school year is $133,188,420.

The tax levy is responsible for about two-thirds, or 67.45 percent, of the budget’s total revenue. State and federal aid represents about a quarter, or 25.97 percent, with the rest coming from financial reserves or local sources.

“It’s not an easy task to make sure we’re able to afford all of these opportunities for our students,” Coni said. “But thanks to the collaboration of our administrative teams, our central office teams, and the leadership of our board of education, it helps us do everything we can.”

The district will allocate about 75 percent of the budget to fund various programs, 13 percent for capital expenses and 12 percent for administrative expenditures.

The budget for curriculum and instruction almost doubled, increasing by $198,391, or 96.26 percent, with the largest changes earmarked for equipment, supplies and materials, including AI desktops, a 3D printer and tools for metal and woodworking.

Scott Bersin, the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said he sees new opportunities for how to prepare students for the future with modern technology and teaching techniques.

“Some of the enhancements include increasing the number of students in the middle level getting into our accelerated programs, because that increases their opportunities a great magnitude,” he said.

The district is continuing to incorporate STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art and math — into its curriculum, as well as pursuing online learning oppor-

in the Bellmore-merrick Central High School district will vote on a proposed $197.5 million budget for the 2024-25 school year, a spending plan that will maintain district programs and keep students’ successful in contemporary society.

tunities.

“We’re trying to build career pathways at the same time,” Bersin said. “We are working on our one-to-one online learning opportunities, the massive refresh of our devices and all the backbone information on our technology, and we’re working on wellness and emotional learning.”

In addition to the school budget, residents will vote on two other propositions on the May 21 ballot — the approval of a $2.1 million upgrade and replacement plan for various facilities in Kennedy High School over the

Budgets by district

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s proposed 2024-25 budget is $197,450,603.

To learn more about the budgets in the elementary districts, visit: Bellmore Public School District: Bellmore.k12.ny.us

North Bellmore School District: NorthBellmoreSchools.org

Merrick Union Free School District: Merrick.k12.ny.us

North Merrick Union Free School District: NMerrickSchools.org

summer of 2025, using existing capital reserves, and the establishment of a capital reserve with a maximum funding of $10 million, with a term of 12 years.

Taxpayers will also vote on May 21 to approve the budget for their elementary school district in either Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick and North Merrick. Polling sites are determined by which elementary district a voter lives in.

For the most up-to-date information on this year’s budget, and to listen to the budget presentation from last month, visit Bellmore-Merrick.k12.ny.us.

Who’s running for the N. Bellmore Board of Ed.?

By Joseph D’AlessAnDro jdalessandro@liherald.com

Four candidates will vie for two seats on the North Bellmore School District’s board of education next week. Polls are open on Tuesday, May 21 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Newbridge Road School, at 1601 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore.

Ahead of the election, the Herald asked the candidates about their goals and the issues facing the district.

Herald: Why did you decide to run (or run again) for the Board of Education?

Nina Lanci (incumbent): I continue serving to provide a voice for the 21,000 North Bellmore residents who have a vested and financial interest in the decisions this board makes. Our community’s ideas, challenges, and concerns must be considered as essential as the needs of our staff, students, and parents. Serving as an integral part of many organizations that contribute to this community, including the Bellmore Lions Club and the Chamber of Commerce, people know me in North Bellmore. They feel comfortable approaching me at fundraising events, community projects and school functions. They share their ideas and concerns with me because they know they are being heard, and the financial burdens of this community are taken into consideration, along with the needs of our students. I want to run for re-election because I want to continue to be their voice.

Melissa Cmar-Grote (incumbent): I am running for re-election for the Board of Education in North Bellmore because over the past nine years we have made tremendous progress in taking our district from good to great. Helping to improve the lives of children has always been my passion, this became apparent to me when I began volunteering with the Saw Mill Road School PTA where I served two terms as co-president and two terms as advisor. I continue to work on the behalf of children through the Bellmore Lions Club’s annual Polar Express Party.

Elizabeth Rolston: I am running for the North Bellmore Board of Education to bring a new and fresh perspective to the board. I have two children in the area districts, a fifth grader at Park Avenue Elementary and an eighth grader at Grand Avenue Middle School. I have been a member of the PTA board since 2016, a member of the North Bellmore SEPTA board and Coordinating Council and I am actively involved in our schools.

Alex Kushnir: I’ve been considering running and have been actively attending meetings to better understand the district’s operations and areas for improvement. My wife and I have been dedicating more time to volunteering, and we find it extremely rewarding. We are motivated to offer our time and expertise to improve our community. I think it’s extremely important to have parents with active kids in our schools on the

board because of the connection to the children, parents, and teachers that it brings to addressing issues. Recognizing the importance of strategic planning in schools, my experience gives me the understanding and skills necessary to contribute and avoid the many pitfalls that other districts are facing by simply spending down their grants, and reserves, followed by painful cuts. I have experience in budgets, capital projects, programs and believe there may be room for improvement in the oversight and finding efficiencies within our capital programs.

Herald: What are the main goals and issues you wish to address if you are elected?

Lanci: I plan to continue working on the initiatives of the district and the goals set by the board. We have a strategic plan consisting of capital projects to improve our buildings and grounds. We are expanding opportunities within the computer science program by offering advanced innovative instructional experiences for students, aligning our curriculum with current research and best practices, and strengthening our mental health and wellness program, which has already received State accolades. In addition, I look forward to partnering with local law enforcement and personnel to continue to foster the relationship our district has with our police department and keep our staff and students safe.

Cmar-Grote: My goals for my next term include continuing to improve our safety and security measures and focusing on the mental health of our students. Over the past few years, we have enhanced security by adding security guards, security vestibules, exponentially increasing the numbers of cameras in and around our buildings and installing door alarms to further ensure the safety of our students. I will continue to continue to add mental health and wellness resources and personnel to our already outstanding program to address the needs of our students all while presenting budgets under the New York State tax cap.

Rolston: I believe in a stronger emphasis

on Special Education, especially in reading disorders such as dyslexia. We need more certified teachers in Wilson and Orton Gillingham reading strategies to help our students succeed. We also need better strategies dealing with student mental health to prevent bullying and social isolation.

Kushnir: Improved transparency and communication to parents and the community, improved efficiency in our capital projects and budget programs, and strategic planning for our budgets and sustainability mandates. This is not about just the next year, or the full threeyear term. It’s about setting up the district for continuous success and improvement. We can’t just settle for being good. That’s stagnant, we should always be looking for what we can do better. Even just a fraction better each day, will make a tremendous lasting impact.

Herald: Why do you feel you are qualified for the position you are running for?

Lanci: Most successful and impactful school boards are comprised of school parents and active members within the community. I have dedicated myself to this position. My relationships with residents, North Bellmore school families and community leaders are all rooted in building a better school district and better community, reflecting the voices of all those I serve. I have an unyielding work ethic, hold myself to the highest standards, and seek to enrich the lives of our students who are the future of this community. My experience on the North Bellmore and Bellmore Merrick Central High School Boards has helped build the relationship between the districts to foster the growth of our students to achieve a 99 percent graduation rate. I embrace the diverse community that is North Bellmore and I look forward to making sure our mission and core values continue to remain at the heart of all decisions.

Cmar-Grote: I am highly qualified for this role. I have a vast amount of knowledge and experience from serving on the North Bellmore and Bellmore-Merrick

CHSD boards of education. I have extensive knowledge and deep understanding of school district budgeting, strategic planning and capital projects. This knowledge has supported the district in presenting budgets within the tax cap, enhancing buildings and grounds, creating innovative instructional programs. My voice at the table represents all constituents. I am well-versed in the regulations that guide school boards in relation to policy, finances and best instructional practices. Every decision I make is viewed from all perspectives including that of retired community members, current district families, students, faculty and staff. While it is a delicate balance to ensure the needs of all stakeholders are met, my voting record proves I have done so. I vow to continue serving the community with the best interest of all constituents in mind.

Rolston: I believe in a strong curriculum including strengthening social studies and science. I also believe in more art, performing arts and foreign language programs for our students. I am passionate about helping others and hope to be a voice for the parents in the district.

Kushnir: I believe it is increasingly important to have parents with children currently attending the schools actively as Trustees. This fosters proper connection of the current educational landscape, given the changing nature of society and technology. I enjoy being part of the PTA, volunteering, and also coaching my daughter’s PAL team, which has been an inspiration in my consideration to run. The presence of practical experience and perspectives on the board is vital to success. We have an educator and a finance professional currently serving and my unique professional and education experiences will contribute to a better North Bellmore School Board. I’m experienced in budgets, capital projects, and a network with the community and elected officials. Both will be vital as we look to navigate our academic excellence during a time of increased mandates, costs, and the uncertainty of what the State’s funding commitments will be in coming years.

Tim Baker/Herald

Voting will take place on May 21 at Newbridge Road School in North Bellmore.

Students published in prestigious poetry anthology

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

The Birch Pages Writing Club has been judged among the year’s best poets on Long Island, winning a first-place award in the annual student poetry contest hosted by the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association. The club was honored at the Whitman museum in Huntington Station on May 5.

Eight fourth-grade students in the Birch Pages club, from the Merrick Union Free School District’s Birch School, were selected as the winners in one category of the competition from a pool of over 4,000 submissions. The writing club was created by Birch teacher Crystal Lopez earlier this school year, for students in lower grades.

The ceremony took place at the Walt Whitman Birthplace Museum, the historic home of Long Island author and poet Walt Whitman, who is known for his renowned works, such as “Leaves of Grass,” and is considered one of the most influential American poets.

The poetry contest intends to promote literacy, poetry and history among students, according to the association’s website.

“This is our 38th annual student poetry contest,” the association’s education director, Lisa Pulitzer, said at the ceremony. “The contest is centered around Walt Whitman’s birthday, which is in the end

of May. So we celebrate his birthday with the big poetry contest, and the winners of the poetry competition are going to read their poems today. It’s very prestigious.”

The theme of this year’s competition was “Song of the Open Road,” named for a Whitman poem. Students were challenged to use their poetic voice to show judges, in 30 or fewer lines, “their own road.”

The beginning of the event featured Poet in Residence Linda Gregerson, author of collections including “The Selvage” and “Canopy: Poems,” who recited a poem she wrote for the occasion.

Afterward, the student winners in a number of categories read their poetry aloud to the attendees. The contest has 10 categories, for individual poems and class anthologies at several grade levels. The Birch Pages club won category G, class anthologies compiled by third- and fourth-graders.

“I am so incredibly proud of them and the effort they put into getting this anthology together,” Lopez said. “They did such a fantastic job, I couldn’t be more proud.” She added that the writing club was formed to inspire students to be creative, and to use poetry as a means of expressing themselves.

“We are so proud of our students and our teachers for advising them,” Birch Principal Kerri Galante said. “We are always looking to promote education for children. This is one example of children

Health Benefits of Forgiveness

Each one of us experience countless injustices in the course of everyday living. Like other experiences, it is not the experience itself so much that counts, but how you process it. The Mayo Clinic addresses the health benefits of “forgiveness” which they define as “an intentional decision to let go of resentment and anger”. Letting go of grudges and bitterness can lead to:

• Healthier relationships

• Improved mental health

• Less anxiety, stress and hostility

• Fewer symptoms of depression

• Lower blood pressure

• A stronger immune system

• Improved heart health

• Improved self-esteem

• Better sleep

Everett Worthington, Profession Emeritus of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, provides a free workbook at evworthington-forgiveness.com to aid those

for whom forgiveness may be difficult (most of us!), focusing on the REACH method.

Recall: Recall the hurt. Look at the incident in an objective way and don’t try to push aside your feelings.

Empathize: Empathize with the offender without excusing the action or invalidating your own feels. Maybe the person was having a bad day or was raised in dire circumstances.

Altruistic gift: Give the altruistic gift of forgiveness. Think about a time when you were rude or harsh, and recognize that everyone has shortcomings.

Commit: Make a decision to forgive. You can write a letter that you don’t send to help yourself make the commitment.

Hold: Hold on to forgiveness. Memories of the transgression or event won’t change. But how you react to those feelings will.

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned”. Buddha

being able to express their creativity through writing, and if you listen to their poems, you’ll know how creative and inspirational they are.”

“I like poetry because you can just let out all of your emotions,” club member and fourth-grader Kaley Mohan said. “It was fun to work with my classmates, because they can help me and I can help them.”

“You get to use your imagination — that’s what poetry’s all about,” a fellow fourth-grader Joshua Shestakovsky said. “I feel like I’m very blessed to be here.”

Writing poetry with his fellow club members made him feel comfortable physically and mentally, Joshua said in a news release from the school district.

All of the contest winners had their pieces published in an anthology, also titled “Song of the Open Road.” The collection starts with Whitman’s poem of the same name, and includes a poem from Gregerson as well as the work’s of the winners and a list of honorable mentions.

“We worked really hard, in this small time frame, to get their books published for them to have it to take home,” Bonnie Meder, the accounting bookkeeper for the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association. “The quality of the poems, from third grade to 12th grade, is amazing.”

To find out more about the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association and the student competition, visit www.WaltWhitman.org.

left, with his father, Dmitry Shestakovsky, right, before the event on May 5.

Joseph D’Alessandro/Herald Writing club member Joshua Shestakovsky,

A Message From

VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE AT

Bellmore USFD

6:30 am - 9 pm

Charles A. Reinhard

Early Childhood Center 2750 South St. Marks Ave.

Merrick UFSD

7 am - 9 pm

Merrick District Office - Katherine E. Reif Administration Center, 21 Babylon Road

North Bellmore UFSD

6 am - 9 pm

Newbridge Road School, 1601 Newbridge Road

North Merrick USFD

6:30 am - 9 pm

North Merrick Library, 1691 Meadowbrook Road

MAY 21st 6AM-9PM

LEILA PAZ

Carey Senior Lacrosse

A FOUR-YEAR STARTING midfielder, Paz has been front and center in the Seahawks’ resurgence this spring and reached a milestone May 2 in a hard-fought 12-11 defeat to Herricks. Paz netted all but two of Carey’s goals, giving her 50 on the season to go along with 11 assists. Her nine goals was a singlegame high, topping her previous mark of eight set April 4 against Jericho. She ranks in the Top 10 of Nassau County scorers.

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 16

SOFTBALL: Nassau Class AAA quarterfinals at higher seed

SOFTBALL: Nassau Class AA quarterfinals at higher seed

Nassau Class A quarterfinals at higher seed

LACROSSE: Nassau Class A quarterfinals at higher seed

BOYS LACROSSE: Nassau Class C quarterfinals at higher seed

FLAG FOOTBALL: Nassau Division 1 semis at higher seed

FLAG FOOTBALL: Nassau Division 2 semis at higher seed

Friday, May 17

BOYS LACROSSE: Nassau Class B quarterfinals at higher seed

GIRLS LACROSSE: Nassau Class A quarterfinals at higher seed

Saturday, May 18

GIRLS LACROSSE: Nassau Class C quarterfinals at higher seed

Monday, May 20 (at Long Beach Middle School)

FLAG FOOTBALL: Nassau Division 1 final 4:30 p.m.

FLAG FOOTBALL: Nassau Division 2 final 7 p.m.

Wednesday, May 22 (at Adelphi University)

GIRLS LACROSSE: Nassau Class B semis 6 & 8 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

Calhoun’s winning culture continues

By ANDREW FANTUCCHIO sports@liherald.com

At the start of the season, coach Jim Femminella was cautiously optimistic for Calhoun’s boys’ lacrosse team. He had heard what many around the county thought about the Colts after falling short in last year’s county championship game and graduating 23 seniors.

The players heard it, too, and they let it fuel them.

“The seniors and juniors had a chip on their shoulders because they heard around the county that not much was expected from them,” Femminella said. “They became a tighter-knit group because of it.”

The Colts remain the talk of the county but are so now with a 15-1 record atop Conference B, picking up where last year’s team left off.

“It’s never a different group as long as you keep to what your principles are. Our expectations stay high,” Femminella said. “We told them just because all those seniors graduated doesn’t mean we were going to coach them less. It doesn’t mean we’re not going to work as hard as coaches. We’re going to continue to work as hard as we can and we expect the same thing from you guys.”

Junior attackman Harley Finkelstein headlines the team with 70 points and 43 goals, working in tandem with senior Sean Walters (44 points) and sophomore Nicholas Voll (54 points) to lead an offense that has more than doubled the output of its opponents. Junior midfielder Braden Garvey has 41 points.

Of anyone, Voll has added the most substance, using grit to chisel out his own role as one of the younger members of the varsity team.

“He’s going to get down on every ground ball, he’s going take slashes and he’s going give them,” Femminella said. “He’s going to be the hardest worker on the field for us. The thing that has been the most impressive for Nick, as a sophomore, has been his ability to find his teammates and get assists. His vision has definitely exceeded what I had seen from him in the preseason. His ability to do that, in transition or just at the six-on-six, has been

Ron Manfredi/Herald Sophomore Nicholas Voll, who registered 54 points during the regular season, is a vital part of a Colts’ offense that more than doubled opponents’ output.

great.”

Longtime starter Xander Megias has stabilized the backend, pairing with fellow senior and standout newcomer Brandon Sherman to lock down opposing offenses in front of goalie Mark Restivo. Not that he’s needed much help, though. In his final season at Calhoun, Restivo is having one to remember, stopping 68 percent of the shots he’s faced while allowing just 56 goals.

Even with all going so well, Femminella knows there are still areas to improve before the postseason, as he wants to see more fluidity from his offense.

Having already put together one of its best regular seasons ever, a 14-2 win for Calhoun in its finale May 7 against MacArthur was the perfect way to punctuate a regular season that began with so much speculation from those on the outside. As for the Colts themselves, they never felt the need to prove anything.

“This group is very even-keeled,” said Femminella. “They never get too high, and they never get too low. This group just stays level-headed the whole time. They know that they’re never out of a ballgame.”

Sophomore a finalist in ‘Poetry Out Loud’

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Calhoun High School sophomore, Ryan Karis was one of 18 finalists at this year’s Poetry Out Loud Competition in Manhattan. Poetry Out Loud is an arts education program that encourages the study of poetry in high school students across the country at dynamic recitation competitions.

Karis was named a finalist at the competition which took place in March.

Karis started with the Poetry Out Loud competition last year as a freshman. She had a wonderful experience, she said, as she advanced to the second round of the Nassau County competition.

“It was an amazing experience, and this year I was so happy to win second place at (the) county and make it to the state level,” said Karis.

R“Picking out the poems was kind of difficult because you want to make sure you’re able to memorize them but also have something that represents well,” Karis said. “The whole competition is based on how you deliver the poems emotionally and physically.”

Karis volunteered and expressed her interest in participating in this year’s competition. She received assistance from English teacher Dawn Boland on picking out her first two poems for the competition. Boland offered her unconditional support and cheered on Karis all the way.

yan is a very smart, very driven young person.

DAwN BoLAND

English teacher, Calhoun High School

To reach the state level, the students first competed at regional semifinals in February. At both semifinals and finals, participants recited works from classic and contemporary poets and were scored by a panel of judges that included poets and educators.

Since its establishment in 2005, Poetry Out Loud has grown to reach more than 4.1 million students and 68,000 teachers from 17,000 schools across the country.

Karis performed three poems “When You Are Old,” by William Butler Yeats, “Whenever You See A Tree,” by Padma Venkatraman, and her personal favorite, “Once The World Was Perfect,” by Joy Harjo.

“Ryan is a very smart, very driven young person and it almost goes without saying that she’s going to do everything she can in her power to be successful,” said Boland.

With Calhoun High School being the more arts forward of the three schools in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, Karis’s achievement speaks volumes for students who are interested in poetry recitation and for the English department.

Calhoun hosted a school-wide competition in December and each year they have student’s move on to the higher levels of competition. According to Kim Serpe, a Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District English Chairperson, Calhoun has not had a student make it to the state level in four years.

“It pulls a very specific type of student who likes that thing (poetry), it’s not a sport, instrument, it’s something that’s very specific that supports the English language arts specifically,” Serpe said.

Attend Hofstra’s Virtual

GRADUATE

OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, June 1, 2024 10 a.m.

At Hofstra University, graduate students grow the seeds to advance in their career. Hear from representatives across 200 programs that include business, communications, education, engineering, health sciences, nursing, and psychology, and learn all the ways your success can sprout at Hofstra University. Your future awaits.

For event details and to RSVP, visit hofstra.edu/visit

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Ryan Karis at the regional competition of Poetry Out Loud at the Walt Whitman Birthplace Museum on Feb. 12.

In Bellmore, North Merrick board of eds. uncontested

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Two of Bellmore-Merrick’s elementary districts have uncontested board of education elections for the 2024-25 school year. Taxpayers will still take the polls on May 21 to re-elect the incumbents on the ballot, and either to approve or disprove the budgets of Bellmore Public Schools and the North Merrick Union Free School District.

In Bellmore, Leslie Cerverizzo and Marion Blane, both incumbents of the board of education, are up for reelection.

Cererizzo has been a dedicated member of the board for the last three years, and has resided in the community with her husband, Chris, for 23 years. Their daughters, Kaitlyn and Julia, thrived in Bellmore’s elementary schools, and are students at Grand Avenue Middle School and John F. Kennedy High School.

She’s had an action-oriented leadership styles, and held various rolls in Bellmore’s Parent Teacher Associations. As a parent and community member, she understands the importance of a strong education foundation, and she’s eager to serve another three-year term on the Bellmore board of education.

Blane has resided in Bellmore for 38 years, and her children graduated from Bellmore’s elementary schools

Courtesy Metro

Voters will take to the polls on May 21 to re-elect incumbent board of education members in Bellmore Public Schools and the North Merrick Union Free School District. They will also vote to approve of disprove these district’s budget.

to be a member of the Bellmore community, working closely in conjunction with exceptional colleagues in various roles within the school district.

In North Merrick, the incumbents up for re-election are Kathy Moran and Mary Keene.

Moran spent many years working in the North Merrick School District, after her youngest child entered kindergarten in 1996. She has since retired, but is excited that she still has input in the district that she loves.

She said it has been an honor to work with a school board and administrators who work tirelessly to bring in new programs and improvements that benefit the students of North Merrick, and she is proud of the wonderful school district.

Keene has lived in the North Merrick community for two decades. A community advocate, who’s worked with the parent teacher association in various roles, she’s well

connected to North Merrick residents.

Finishing her first term as a trustee this school year, she said she’s honored to serve the North Merrick community as a trustee once again. She’s running to continue to advocate for North Merrick residents of all ages, especially those who lived on a fixed income and don’t have family members attending schools in the area. She told the Herald she’ll continue to advocate for shrinking the district’s high administration costs.

Bellmore’s proposed budget for next school year is $40,768,742. It aims to maintain a balance between providing high-value education and being fiscally responsible.

The 2024-24 educational plan will maintain current programs and class sizes, and continue technology advancements. There will be some curriculum projects, facility improvements and the district will build upon its Bellmore Rising Stars pre-kindergarten program, as well as its theatre arts program. Visit BellmoreSchools.org for more information on the budget.

The vote will take place at Reinhard Early Childhood Center from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

North Merrick’s proposed budget for next school year is $40,277,614. If approved by voters, just over $30 million will be directed toward the district’s program budget, which includes expenses for instruction, physiological services, health services, guidance, co-curricular activities and more. Visit NMerrickSchools.org for more on next year’s budget.

The administrative budget and capital budget are both just over $5 million.

Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the North Merrick Public Library at 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick.

At their elementary district polls, voters will also vote to either approve or disprove the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s budget. A breakdown of that budget can be found on LIHerald.com.

HERALD neighbors

School

and

Day

Earth buddies contemplate and color in North Bellmore

Once a month, kindergartners in Sarah Mazeika’s class at Park Avenue Elementary School in the North Bellmore School District have some special visitors in their room. The VIPs are sixth graders from Amanda DiMonda’s class, who help out their younger friends with various projects.

The buddy visits are beneficial to both groups. The kindergartners gain knowledge from the school’s senior students, while the sixth graders develop their leadership skills in serving as role models. On May 9, they got together for an Earth Day project, with kindergartners making Earth mobiles to take home.

Together, the students colored in a picture of the Earth. Then, on three paper hearts, they wrote ways they could help the planet by reusing, reducing and recycling. After cutting out all of the pieces, the three hearts were connected to the Earth with pieces of yarn.

CONTEST! Design

runs May 1-31, 2024

Show off your artistic talents by designing a bookmark celebrating the 2024 Summer Reading Club theme: ADVENTURE BEGINS AT YOUR LIBRARY!

Winning bookmarks will be printed and distributed at the library, posted on social media and shown on the library’s website All entries must be received by May 31 Open to BML cardholders only One entry per person Entry forms may be picked up at the library or downloaded from our website Submissions will be divided into 3 age categories: 5-12 years, 13-17 years and 18+ Voting on the finalists in each category will take place at our annual Summer Reading Club Kick-Off event

SUMMER READING CLUB SUMMER READING CLUB KICK-OFF EVENT KICK-OFF EVENT

Saturday, June 1 from 11:00am-1:00pm

Come join the Bellmore Memorial Library in kicking off our annual Summer Reading Program with a party for the whole family!

Our parking lot will be closed off for this event We will have a live DJ, ice cream truck, snacks, petting zoo, raffles, and giveaways! Registration is open at www bellmorelibrary org This event will occur rain or shine

www.bellmorelibrary.org 516-785-2990 ask@bellmorelibrary.org

Photos courtesy North Bellmore School District

Park Avenue Elementary

kindergartners

sixth graders worked together to make Earth

mobiles highlighting ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Scarlett Sannicandro had help from sixth graders Reagan Tyskowski, center, and Addison Munch in assembling her project.

Adrianna Ellinger, left, Kevin Quinton, center and Camren Burke, all helped color in the Earth.

Eid potluck unites Merrick, Bellmore communities

The Muslim community of Merrick and Bellmore hosted an Eid potluck last weekend, inviting neighbors from all backgrounds to join them in honoring an important holiday in Islam.

Eid is celebrated by Muslims worldwide. There are two main Eids. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. It’s a joyous holiday, where Muslims come together to celebrate with prayers, feasting and giving gifts and charity to those in need. Eid al-Fitr took place on April 9 this year.

Later in the spring, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha. During the festival, it is customary to eat sheep, goat, cow or camel. Meat is distributed to family, friends and those in need. The festivals brings together communities. Eid al-Adha will take place on June 16.

At the community potluck on May 11, families celebrated with games, face painting, henna tattoos, goody bags, cotton candy, popcorn and more at the Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse. The Merrick Fire Department also stopped by, participating in the day’s events.

There was a lot to celebrate — and lots of food to enjoy — as the communities embraced the holy festivals.

— Jordan Vallone

The Merrick and Bellmore communities celebrated Eid last weekend with a potluck, meaning people brought food with them for everyone to enjoy. Syed Bukhari spoke at the Eid celebration.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are significant holidays in Islam. Children enjoyed various activities at the May 11 celebration.

Amal Rehman, 3 of Massapequa, had her face painted at the event.

Mohammad Arshad and Raja Babar helped make the day’s festivities possible.

Who we are, what we’re about, and what we stand for is based on memory. Thus, when we experience problems with our memory, it’ll probably feel frightening. If we can’t recall someone’s name, if we can’t locate our keys, if we don’t remember what we were talking about, we may think, “Uh, oh, I’m losing it. Is dementia setting in? Could I have a brain tumor? Is it high anxiety or just too much on my plate? What’s happening?”

There’s no easy answer to those questions. Memory failures are complicated and varied. When a kid claims that he forgot his homework, we tend to blame it on apathy or inattention. Yet, when older adults forget to do something, we tend to think it’s something more ominous. Though it’s certainly possible that forgetting may be a sign of brain cells deteriorating, most likely it’s simply a sign of how the brain works.

Here are some common problems with memory that happen to everyone.

Tip of the Tongue Phenomenon

I know his name, I know it, I know

Memory problems PERSON TO PERSON

it, I can’t believe I don’t remember it. It begins with an S. Is it Sam, Scott, or maybe Stan? I know where I know him from, I know where he lives, I know his kids, but I can’t remember his damn name. Of course, ten minutes later, his name pops into your head. This is a memory retrieval problem that occurs more frequently as we age. It’s hard to catch the name because it’s encoded in the brain in a different place from where you’re looking. It’s like a misplaced file. The more you keep searching in the place you think it should be, the more frustrated you become. Let it go, and the answer will come to you!

Memory Distortions

to-be ex. No matter your age, memory is not an objective scientific journal. It’s much more like a subjective diary you rewrite to fit how you’re thinking at this moment in time. If you believe what you remember is precisely how it was, think again. Study after study indicates that people of all ages have strong biases that distort their memories. What you remember is probably only an approximation of what actually occurred.

Misattribution

Many arguments occur because of memory misattributions. An example: I told you I’ll be unable to join you on Saturday.

No, you never said that.

When a couples in love, they remember everything terrific about their partner. Yet when they’re in the lawyer’s office, they remember only the miserable things about their soon-

I distinctly remember telling you that.

No, you didn’t.

You never listen to me.

You don’t know what you’re talking

about.

Is this a problem of one or both parties lying, being inattentive, or having a memory lapse? We don’t always know. It’s often true, however, that you remember something you thought you did or planned to do but didn’t do. Or you’ve told a different person, not the person you thought you told. Or you told them you were going away last weekend, not this weekend.

Do these memory problems seem familiar? If so, welcome to the club. Memory frequently tricks us. We remember things we want to forget, forget things we want to remember, and change bits and pieces of what we do remember.

©2024

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

LinDa SaPaDin

Learning about cops, straight from the source

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

For nearly a century, the men and women of the Nassau County Police Department have put themselves on the line, protecting the communities they love. But how exactly do they do it?

Some 2,400 students from 23 schools across the county found out last week, as they were all invited to an open house at the police department’s David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence in Garden City.

Students ranging from kindergarten to those about to graduate high school received an opportunity to interact with law enforcement officers and learn about police work. Detective Lt. Richard LeBrun emphasized that interaction between students and officers was central to what the police department was trying to achieve.

“It’s all about community engagement,” he said. “Interaction with the students, exchanging ideas, and answering their questions. That’s the big thing because there’s a lot of myths about police work, and we bring out the truth. They get it right from somebody who’s actually a police officer.”

Each day of the open house featured a variety of activities as well as various demonstrations and exhibits — from watching the SWAT team in action, to interacting with K-9 units, to interacting with exhibits from the arson and bomb

squad, emergency services unit and highway patrol bureau.

“It’s cool to be here this year,” said

Karen Barrins, a fifth-grade teacher from Newbridge Road School in North Bellmore. “The kids can see all the different

units where they could perhaps become involved in future careers with aviation, the K-9 unit, or the mounted unit.

“It’s important for them to know there are so many people that are willing to help them and that support them every day. If anything ever happens, we could always depend upon Nassau County police officers — but it gives them opportunities to think about their future. Being a police officer doesn’t just mean being in a car. There’s so many different things that they could do.”

Kyle Kelly, a forensics and special education teacher from Division Avenue High School in Levittown, brought his class to the open house for the first time. Many of his students are interested in forensic science.

“They have an opportunity to talk to people who have gone through the process before and see what different career opportunities there are within the police department,” Kelly said.

One of Kelly’s students, high school junior Justin Gesualdo, is interested in forensic psychology. The open house, he said was great to display the variety of different roles available in law enforcement.

“There are a lot more options than just being a cop, and there’s a lot of different things here,” Gesualdo said. “It’s definitely helping a lot of people out, so I think it’s a cool opportunity for us to get here and take the tour.”

Are You Ready to Make an Impact?

The ReImagine Conference is a day dedicated to professional women, filled with opportunities for connection, growth, learning, and boundless inspiration.

This event will challenge the status quo, driving us toward a world where diversity fuels success and authenticity is the cornerstone of leadership.

Kepherd Daniel/Herald

The Nassau County K-9 unit shows local kids what they can do during the recent Nassau County Police Department open house at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence.

Warmer days mean it’s time to get that ‘cue going

By Karen Bloom

Summertime is soon headed our way, when the grillin’ is easy. If you’re already reaching for the tongs, well then, it’s time to get in the grilling groove.

With Memorial Day weekend around the corner — or whether you just want to enjoy being outdoors with family and friends — forgo the oven and step outside.

Serving your gang the most mouth-watering grilled entrees with ease requires a little know-how and a few crowd-pleasing recipes. From versatile chicken to hearty ribs to tender seafood, it’s never been more fun to incorporate new flavors into grilled cuisine. Find some inspiration with these recipes.

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Take a break from the burger and kick your grilling chops up a notch with new take on Buffalo chicken.

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (if thick, cut horizontally into two even pieces)

• 1 bottle (12 ounces) Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wings Sauce, divided

• 1/4 cup blue cheese or ranch dressing

• 4 hard rolls, split

• 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles

• Lettuce leaves (optional)

• Tomato slices (optional)

• Red onion rings (optional)

Marinate chicken in 6 ounces Buffalo wings sauce for 30 minutes, or up to 3 hours.

Mix remainder of Buffalo wings sauce and dressing together. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

Grill chicken 12 minutes, turning once, or until no longer pink in center. Place 2 tablespoons of mixed sauce on each roll half. Place chicken on top of roll half and top with 1 tablespoon blue cheese crumbles. Add lettuce, tomato and onion rings, if desired. Top with second roll half. Repeat for remaining sandwiches.

Sweet Chili Ribs

As the temperatures rise, focus on flavor to take your backyard barbecue to a whole new level. Sweet and tangy, fall-off-the-bone ribs are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

• 2 full racks spareribs, trimmed (about 6 pounds)

• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 bottle (12 ounces) Frank’s RedHot Sweet Chili Sauce, divided

OUT

Heat grill to 250° F and prepare for indirect cooking. Spread ribs with ginger and garlic. Place ribs on rib rack or in foil pan. Cook on covered grill for 2 hours.

Spread 6 ounces sweet chili sauce evenly over ribs then cook another hour, until tender.

Baste ribs with remaining sweet chili sauce during last 15 minutes of cooking. If desired, at end of cooking time grill ribs over direct heat to char slightly.

Sweet ‘n Savory Teriyaki Kabobs

Kabobs are a tasty, healthy way to enjoy many of your favorite fresh flavors in a single meal. The potential combinations of meat, vegetables and fruit on a kabob are nearly endless.

• 3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-1/2 to 2-inch cubes

• 18 medium shrimp, shelled and deveined (1/2 to 3/4 pound)

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1/2 cup prepared mango chutney, chopped if coarse

• 1/2 cup bottled teriyaki sauce

• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

• 18 large bamboo or metal skewers (about 12 inches long)

• 1 medium yellow onion, cut into 1/2-inch wedges

• 1 medium red onion, cut into 1/2-inch wedges

• 2 firm, ripe mangos, peeled, pitted and cut into large cubes

• 1 large green bell pepper, halved, trimmed, seeded and cubed

• Nonstick cooking spray, as needed

Place chicken and shrimp in shallow glass pan or large re-sealable plastic bag. For marinade, combine oil, chutney, teriyaki sauce and vinegar in small bowl with lid. Pour half of marinade mixture over chicken and shrimp. Cover or seal and marinate in refrigerator at least 3 hours, preferably overnight. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade for basting.

If using bamboo skewers, soak in water at least l hour before using.

To prepare kabobs: Drain and discard marinade from meat. Thread chicken, yellow and red onion, mango, green pepper and shrimp alternately onto skewers. Be sure to keep enough room at one end of each skewer for a “handle.”

Coat grill grate with nonstick cooking spray. Place skewers over medium coals, and grill for 12 to 15 minutes or until meat is done and vegetables are tender. Brush often with reserved marinade and turn skewers until cooked through. If needed, use spatula to gently loosen skewers before turning as they may stick.

Arrange skewers on a platter and serve with Serve with dipping sauce of your choice. Makes 4 to 6 servings

Internationally Ellington

Tilles Center continues its collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, when the Future of Jazz orchestra visits the Tilles Center stage. This all-Ellington showcase features a hand-picked ensemble of some of the greatest young musicians in jazz meeting the challenges posed by one of jazz’s great composers, Duke Ellington. Led by music director Joe Block — a recent Juilliard graduate and Essentially Ellington composition winner — this 15-piece band will keep everyone swinging all evening long. Ellington’s music is so elegant, so dynamic, so intimately detailed, that it takes a group of musicians with a genuine collaborative spark to fully bring out its inner magic. And that is what you will experience at this concert. You’re guaranteed to enjoy its timeless genius when the next generation of jazz leaders bring their fresh energy to it.

Friday, May 17, 8 p.m. Tickets are $42; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville.

Musical memoir

See the inspirational documentary ‘Left Alone Rhapsody: The Musical Memoir of Pianist John Bayless,’ at a special concert screening. At 25, Leonard Bernstein protégé John Bayless made his Carnegie Hall debut performing ‘Rhapsody in Blue.’ At 54, a left-brain stroke immobilized his entire right side. The music stopped. John’s magical ‘first act’ disappeared. Award-winning independent filmmaker Stewart M. Schulman chronicles John’s rise from four-year-old Texas prodigy to international stardom, capturing his talent and his humanity, as he pushes himself to recover and reinvents himself as a storyteller-entertainer who plays only with his non-dominant left hand. What happens in a person’s brain that allows this kind of transcendence? The film provides some insight. It’s followed by a Q&A with Schulman and Bayless, along with a short concert.

Sunday May 19, 7 p.m. $40. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet. org or (516) 767-6444. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington.

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Sweet Chili Ribs

Sweet ‘n Savory Teriyaki Kabobs

Courtesy Hugh Kretschmer

THE Your Neighborhood

Aztec Two-Step

This unique and entertaining music and multimedia event chronicles the extraordinary career of Simon & Garfunkel, on the Landmark stage, Friday, May 31, 8 p.m. The music speaks for itself, anchored by Rex Fowler, co-founder of the renowned folk/rock duo Aztec Two-Step, and his wife, Dodie Pettit, an original cast member of Broadway’s “The Phantom of The Opera.” Multi-instrumentalist Steven Roues, multi-horn player Joe Meo, and drummer/percussionist Peter Hohmeister round out the band.The show’s storyline was originally created by Pete Fornatale, the late great pioneer of progressive FM radio and author of Simon & Garfunkel’s Bookends biography. Now telling the stories, emceeing and directing the engaging and amusing multimedia show is Fornatale’s dear friend and protégé, Tony Traguardo, WCWP-FM radio host, noted rock music historian, podcaster and founding board member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Nostalgia and laughter abound, and a sing a-long is always in the mix! $42, $37. $33. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Family theater

Families will enjoy another musical adventure, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, May 17, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Saturday, May 18, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sunday, May 19, 2 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, May 21-23, 10:15 a.m. and noon. Back by popular demand after a sold-out 2023 run, see Pigeon, Bus Driver, and some zany passengers sing and dance their way to help Pigeon find his “thing” in this upbeat comedy based on Willems’ popular Pigeon books. Featuring a live band to bring Deborah Wicks La Puma’s jazzy score to life, audiences will thoroughly enjoy singing and flapping along with The Pigeon and friends. The audience is part of the action, in this innovative mix of songs, silliness and feathers. It’s an ideal way to introduce kids to theater and the humorous stories from Willems’ books. $10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

On exhibit Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Urban Art Evolution,” is a comprehensive exhibit featuring a diverse range of compositions from the 1980s through the present by creators who were based in the rough and tumble downtown area of New York City known as Loisaida/LES (Lower East Side/East Village) and close surrounding neighborhoods.

Artists pushed the boundaries of what was considered “art” with a primary focus on street/graffiti art. The exhibit’s scope, guest curated by art collector/gallerist Christopher Pusey, offers an even broader view from other creative residents, who worked inside their studios but still contributed to the rich fabric of the downtown art scene from different vantage points and aesthetics.

Works include sculpture, paintings, photography, music, and ephemera from many noted and influential artists. On view through July 7. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Bird walk

See some birds with the South Shore Audubon Society. All are welcome to join members for the next in its series of bird walks, at the west end of Jones Beach State Park, Sunday, May 19, starting at 9 a.m. The group meets at the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station Parking Area. The entrance for the Coast Guard Station and West End Boat Basin is on Bay Drive going west.

Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. To register, text name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. No walk if rain. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org.

Walk MS:

Long Island 2024

Support the National MS Society at that annual walk at Jones Beach, Saturday, May 18 Everyone is welcome at Walk MS, with no registration fee or fundraising minimum. While there is no fee to participate, every dollar raised helps to lift up those living with MS and their supporters. Visit WalkMS. org and use the search bar to find the donation page, or call (855) 372-1331.

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, May 19 noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for to register or call (516) 484-9337.

Camps ‘R’ Us Open House

Camps ‘R’ Us holds an open house at its Bellmore location, Saturday, May 18, starting at noon. Join camp directors for a fun, informative open house. Families will learn important information about the upcoming season. 2341 Washington Ave., Bellmore. Call (516) 935-2267 for more information.

Having an event?

‘Thomas & Friends’ Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to experience its newest exhibit, Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails!, opening Saturday, May 28. Participate in fun activities celebrate the arrival of this traveling exhibit, 1-3 p.m., during the drop-in programs. Step onto the Island of Sodor, where visitors can climb aboard a large model of Thomas the Tank Engine, race trains along a giant track, work together to sort and load cargo and maintain engines.

Kids engage in a variety of STEM challenges from simple sorting and shape identification to more complex engineering obstacles. As they test their abilities, the smiling faces of Thomas, Percy, Victor and others are there to offer encouragement and remind children how “really useful” they all are. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

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.

Westminster’s top dogs

Long Island Kennel Club welcomes families and their four-legged companions to its spring show, Sunday, May 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Planting Fields

Arboretum. This year’s Long Island Kennel Club show follows the annual acclaimed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show earlier in the week.

Many canine contenders are expected to leave the Big Apple and then head east to compete at the annual spring dog shows (Friday through Sunday, May 17-19, all held at the same venue. The three days celebrate everything canine, from impeccable show dogs and trick-dog demonstrations to doggie dock diving and an agility obstacle course. Events and attractions make this festival a treat for anyone who loves dogs. Sunday also features a special demonstration by the NYPD Transit Bureau Canine Unit, at 11 a.m. Dogs must be leashed at all times. No prong collars, retractable leashes or head halters. $20 admission per car load includes all-day access. 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay. Visit LongIslandDogsShows.com or call (516) 776-0923 for more information.

In concert

Sands Point Preserve’s reserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for the latest edition of it’s unique chamber music series, “A Tour de France,” Sunday, May 19, 5 p.m. Feast your ears with French composers, old and new, when the duoJalal ensemblein-residence is joined by violinists Deborah Buck and Min-Young Kim, cellist Caroline Stinson and soprano Abigail Brodnick. With wine reception following. $56, $45 members. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For tickets and information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

Paint Nite and More

Visit Bluebird Kitchen in Bellmore, Tuesday, May 21, for a fun evening of painting and more. Attendees will be creating floral resin coasters. Supplies are included; attendees must be of legal drinking age. $55.

2405 Merrick Road, Bellmore. Visit PaintNite.com for more information.

Bellmore Spring Fest

Stop by Bellmore Spring Fest at the LIRR station on Pettit Avenue, Saturday and Sunday, June 8-9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Hosted by Nassau County fairs, there will be an outdoor craft fair with local vendors and more. For more on the event, visit NassauCountyFairs.com.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

AVISO DE VOTO ANUAL

DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR

BELLMORE-MERRICK

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

CIUDAD DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

EL AVISO SE HA DADO

AQUI que el voto anual de los votantes calificados del BellmoreMerrick Central High School District, el Condado de Nassau, Nueva York, se llevará a cabo el Martes, el 21 de mayo de 2024, en los varios lugares de votación designados por el Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore y North Merrick Union Free School Districts, de la siguiente manera:

BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, en el Charles A. Reinhard Early Childhood Center, 2750 South St. Marks Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, , entre las 6:30 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m.

MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, en la Merrick District OfficeKatherine E. Reif Administration Center, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, Nueva York, entre las 7:00 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m.

NORTH BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT en la escuela Newbridge Road, 1601 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore, Nueva York, entre las 6:00 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m.

NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, en la Biblioteca Pública de North Merrick, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, Nueva York, entre las 6:30 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m. Para los siguientes propósitos:

PROPUESTA NUMERO 1PRESUPUESTO DEL DISTRITO CENTRAL DE LA ESCUELA SECUNDARIA SE RESUELVE, que la Junta de Educación del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore-Merrick, Ciudad de Hempstead, Condado de Nassau, está autorizada a gastar las sumas apropiadas del Fondo General de ciento noventa y siete millones cuatrocientos cincuenta mil seis ciento tres dólares ($197,450,603) que se recaudarán a través de impuestos en los diversos distritos incluidos en el Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias después de deducir primero el dinero disponible de la ayuda estatal y otras fuentes.

PROPUESTA NUMERO. 2PROYECTOS DE MEJORA DE CAPITAL SE RESUELVE, que por la presente se autoriza a la Junta de Educación del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore-Merrick a gastar $2,100,000 del Fondo de Reserva de Capital establecido en mayo de 2016 con el propósito de realizar los siguientes proyectos; mejoras en el sonido, la iluminación y el

montaje del escenario del auditorio John F. Kennedy HS; Actualizaciones de HVAC de John F. Kennedy HS; Repavimentación/reempla zo de vías de la escuela secundaria John F. Kennedy; Reconstrucción del estacionamiento y de las aceras de Merrick Avenue MS; Reformas interiores en todo el distrito; Reconstrucción de la envolvente exterior del edificio en todo el distrito; Reemplazo de pisos/techos en todo el distrito; Reconstrucción de HVAC en todo el distrito; Reconstrucción eléctrica en todo el distrito; Reconstrucción de plomería en todo el distrito; Reducciones en todo el distrito de todo lo anterior para incluir toda la mano de obra, materiales, equipos, aparatos y costos incidentales relacionados con los mismos. Dado que los fondos que se gastarán en virtud del presente provienen del Fondo de Reserva de Capital, la aprobación de esta propuesta no requerirá un impuesto sobre los bienes inmuebles del distrito. Esta Propuesta será independiente de la Proposición Numero 1. PROPUESTA NUMERO 3FONDO DE RESERVA DE CAPITAL SE RESUELVE que de conformidad con la Sección 3651 de la Ley de Educación, la Junta de Educación del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias de BellmoreMerrick está autorizada por la presente a establecer un Fondo de Reserva de Capital con el fin de financiar los siguientes proyectos de mejoras de capital: mejoras de espacios educativos y no educativos/ renovaciones/actualizacio nes (incluidas, entre otras, mejoras/renovaciones/act ualizaciones de aulas y/o adiciones a instalaciones existentes), renovaciones de auditorios, renovaciones de gimnasios, renovaciones de cafeterías, renovaciones de bibliotecas/centros multimedia, renovaciones/reconstrucci ones exteriores, actualizaciones de computadoras/tecnología , mejoras/renovaciones/act ualizaciones del sistema de seguridad, mejoras/renovaciones/act ualizaciones de plomería, mejoras/renovaciones/act ualizaciones eléctricas, mejoras/renovaciones/act ualizaciones de HVAC, mejoras/renovaciones/act ualizaciones de eficiencia energética, incluida la instalación de energía solar, mejoras/renovaciones/act ualizaciones, reemplazo del tanque de combustible , renovaciones requeridas para cumplir con los

requisitos de la ADA, renovaciones de preparación vocacional y profesional, reemplazo y/o compra de aulas portátiles, reemplazo de techos/canalones/líderes, reemplazo de ventanas, renovaciones estructurales que incluyen reemplazo de mampostería, ladrillos y acero, reemplazo de pavimentos y concreto, interiores y Reemplazo de puertas/entradas exteriores (incluido el hardware), renovaciones de baños, mejoras de iluminación, reemplazo de techos, reemplazo de pisos, reemplazo de paredes, reemplazos de calderas, ascensores, renovaciones de carpintería, compra de edificios/terrenos, renovaciones/reconstrucci ón de sitios, incluida la repavimentación de vías y césped. reemplazo de campo, palco de prensa/piragua/mejoras/r enovaciones/actualizacion es de la casa de campo, mejoras/renovaciones/act ualizaciones de las gradas, mejoras de letreros, renovaciones/reconstrucci ón de campos deportivos, renovaciones de canchas de tenis, renovaciones de parques infantiles, renovaciones de casilleros/vestuarios, megafonía/reloj público reemplazo de sistemas, mejoras del sistema de sonido, actualizaciones del sistema telefónico, remediación de materiales peligrosos, renovaciones de espacios de almacenamiento, mobiliario y equipo, incluida la compra de vehículos.

El monto máximo del citado Fondo de Reserva de Capital será de $10.000.000, más los ingresos por inversiones.

El plazo probable será de doce (12) años. Los fondos deben transferirse de los excedentes de dinero que quedan en el fondo general, el fondo de capital y/o en otras reservas que no excedan los $4,500,000 del presupuesto 2023-2024 y, posteriormente, en una cantidad anual que no supere los $4,500,000 para cada año restante del término. Por la presente se ordena al Superintendente de Escuelas o su designado que deposite el dinero de este fondo de reserva en una cuenta bancaria separada que se conocerá como el “Programa de mejora de instalaciones 2024”.

Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que el registro se llevará a cabo en los lugares de votación indicados anteriormente por Las Juntas de Registro de los varios distritos componentes de la siguiente manera: la Bellmore Union Free School District en la Oficina del Distrito, Winthrop Avenue School, 580 Winthrop Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, en

todos los días de clases del año escolar hasta cinco (5) días anteriores a la votación entre el horario de 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m.; la Merrick Union Free School District en la Oficina Administrativa, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, Nueva York, en todos los días de clases del año escolar hasta cinco (5) días anteriores a la votación entre las horas de 9:30 a.m. y 3:30 p.m.; la North Bellmore Union Free School District en la Oficina Administrativa, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, y todas las escuelas del distrito en todos los días de clases del año escolar hasta cinco (5) días anteriores a la votación entre las horas de 9:00 a.m. y 3:00 p.m.; y la North Merrick Union Free School District en la escuela Harold D. Fayette, 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, Nueva York, en todos los días escolares del año escolar hasta cinco (5) días antes de la votación entre las 9:00 a.m. y 4:00 p.m., y además, el miércoles el 15 de mayo de 2024, en la Escuela de Fayette D. Harold entre las horas de 4:00 p.m y 8:00 p.m. con el fin de preparar un registro de los votantes calificados con derecho a votar en la reunión de la escuela y la elección para la que dicho registro es preparado, en la forma prevista por la ley. El registro, como así preparado, será archivado en la Oficina del Secretario (District Clerk) en cada uno de los respectivos Distritos Unión Libre como se establece en este aviso y dicho registro sera abierto por inspección en horas razonables hasta cinco (5) días antes de la fecha establecida para votar sobre el presupuesto y la elección del distrito, excepto el domingo, y por cita el sábado anterior de la elección en cada distrito elemental.

Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que una persona quien es cuidadano de Los Estados Unidos, tenga diez y ocho años de edad y es residente del Distrito Escolar de la Unión en el que se tiene la intención de votar a favor un período de treinta días antes de la elección y esta registrado para votar para la elección dicha tendrá derecho a votar. Una persona debera ser registrada para votar si el o ella han registrado permanente con La Junta de Elecciones del Condado de Nassau (Nassau County Board of Elections) o con La Junta de Registro (Board of Registration) del distrito donde el o ella reside. Solamente las personas que estan registradas tienen el derecho para votar.

Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA que Las Juntas de Registro (Boards of Registration) de las varias

escuelas componentes tendran una reunion el 21 de mayo 2024 durante las horas de votación en los lugares de votación en cada escuela para el propósito de preparer el registro para que las elecciones tendran lugar despues del 21 de mayo 2024; El Registro incluirá (1) todos los votantes calificados de las escuelas, quines se presentáran personalemente para registro; y (2) todos votantes calificados permanente registrados con la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau (Nassau County Board of Elections).

Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que una copia de la declaración de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año siguiente para fines escolares (presupuesto escolar) y copias de las propuestas que involucran gastos de dinero y el funcionamiento del sistema escolar para el año siguiente , puede ser obtenido por cualquier residente del Distrito durante los catorce días inmediatamente anteriores a la votación anual, excepto sábados, domingos o días festivos, en las oficinas del distrito escolar y en cualquier escuela dentro del distrito y en el sitio web del distrito.

Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que las solicitudes de votación anticipada por correo y boletas en ausencia para las elecciones del distrito escolar se pueden solicitar en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito. Las solicitudes de votación anticipada por correo y de voto en ausencia deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito no antes de treinta (30) días antes de la elección. Además, dicha solicitud debe ser recibida por el Secretario de Distrito al menos siete días antes de la elección si la boleta se enviará por correo al votante, o el día antes de la elección si la boleta se entregará personalmente al votante o a su agente designado. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna de una boleta por correo, el Secretario del Distrito enviará la boleta por correo a la dirección indicada en la solicitud a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la votación. No se escrutará ninguna boleta de votación anticipada por correo ni de votante ausente a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. (horario predominante) del día de la elección. Una lista de todas las personas a quienes se les habrá emitido la votación anticipada por correo y el voto en ausencia estará disponible para su inspección en la Oficina del Secretario hasta el día de la votación.

Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO de que los votantes militares que no están registrados actualmente pueden registrarse como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del distrito escolar pueden presentar una solicitud para una boleta militar. Los votantes militares pueden designar una preferencia para recibir un registro de votante militar, una solicitud de boleta militar o una boleta militar por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico en su solicitud de dicho registro, solicitud de boleta o boleta. Las formas de registro de votantes militares y las formas de solicitud de boletas militares deben ser recibidas en la oficina del secretario de distrito del distrito escolar no más tarde que a las 5:00 p.m. el 25 de abril de 2024. No se escrutará ninguna boleta militar a menos que (1) se reciba en la oficina del Secretario de Distrito antes del cierre de las urnas el día de las elecciones y que muestre una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o de un servicio postal de un país extranjero, o mostrando un endoso fechado de recibo de otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) recibido por la oficina del secretario de distrito no más tarde que las 5:00 p.m. el día de la elección y firmada y fechada por el votante militar y un testigo del mismo, con una fecha que se asocia a no ser mas tarde del día anterior de la elección.

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT PATTIANNE GUCCIONE SECRETARIO DE DISTRITO El aviso anterior se publicará en los periódicos Herald de Bellmore y Herald de Merrick el Jueves, el 18 de abril de 2024 y el 2 de mayo de 2024 y 16 de mayo de 2024. 145963

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT VOTE OF THE BELLMOREMERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK

BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, at the Charles A. Reinhard Early Childhood Center 2750 South St. Marks Avenue, Bellmore, New York between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, at the Merrick District OfficeKatherine E. Reif Administration Center, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, New York, between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

NORTH BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, at the Newbridge Road School, 1601 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore, New York, between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, at the North Merrick Public Library, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. For the following purposes:

PROPOSTION NO. 1Central High School District Budget RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, is authorized to expend the sums in the General Fund Appropriate of one hundred ninety-seven million, four hundred fifty thousand, six hundred three dollars ($197,450,603) to be raised through taxation in the several districts included with the Central High School District after first deducting the monies available from state aid and other sources. PROPOSITION NO. 2Capital Improvement Projects RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Bellmore Merrick Central High School District is hereby authorized to expend $2,100,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund established in May, 2016 for the purpose of performing the following projects; John F. Kennedy HS auditorium sound, lighting and stage rigging upgrades; John F. Kennedy HS HVAC upgrades; John F. Kennedy HS track resurfacing/replacement; Merrick Avenue MS parking lot and sidewalk reconstruction; Districtwide interior alterations; District-wide exterior building envelope reconstruction; Districtwide floor/ceiling replacement; Districtwide HVAC reconstruction; Districtwide electrical reconstruction; Districtwide plumbing reconstruction; Districtwide abatements all of the foregoing to include all labor, materials, equipment, apparatus

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual vote of the qualified voters of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, Nassau County, New York, will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the several polling places designated by the Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore, and North Merrick Union Free School Districts, as follows:

and incidental costs related thereto. Since the funds to be expended hereunder come from the Capital Reserve Fund approval of this proposition will not require a tax levy upon the real property of the district. This Proposition shall be independent of Proposition No. 1. PROPOSITION NO. 3Capital Reserve Fund RESOLVED that pursuant to Education Law Section 3651, the Board of Education of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District is hereby authorized to establish a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of funding the following capital improvement projects: instructional and noninstructional space improvements/renovation s/upgrades, (including but not limited to classroom improvements/renovation s/upgrades and/or additions to existing facilities), auditorium renovations, gymnasium renovations, cafeteria renovations, library/multi media center renovations, exterior renovations/reconstructio n, computer/technology upgrades, security system upgrades, plumbing improvements/renovation s/upgrades, electrical improvements/renovation s/upgrades, HVAC improvements/renovation s/upgrades, energy efficiency improvements/renovation /upgrades, including the installation of solar power, improvements/ renovations/upgrades, fuel tank replacement, renovations required for compliance with ADA requirements, vocational and career preparation renovations, portable classroom replacement and/or purchase, roof/gutter/leader replacement, window replacement, structural renovations including masonry, brick and steel replacement, paving and concrete replacement, interior and exterior door/entry ways replacement (including hardware), toilet room renovations, lighting upgrades, ceiling replacement, floor replacement, wall replacement, boiler replacements, elevators, carpentry renovations, purchase of buildings/land, site renovations/reconstructio n including track resurfacing and turf field replacement, press box/dugout/ field house improvements/renovation s/ upgrades, bleacher improvements/renovation s/upgrades, upgrades of signs, athletic field renovations/reconstructio n, tennis court renovations, playground renovations, lockers/locker room renovations, public address/clock system replacement, sound system upgrades,

Public Notices

telephone system upgrades, hazardous material remediation, storage space renovations, furnishings and equipment, including the purchase of vehicles. The maximum amount of the aforesaid Capital Reserve Fund shall be $10,000,000, plus investment income. The probable term is to be twelve (12) years. The funds are to be transferred from surplus monies remaining in the general fund, capital fund, and/or in other reserves not to exceed $4,500,000 from the 2023-2024 budget and thereafter in an annual amount of not more the $4,500,000 for each remaining year of the term. The Superintendent of Schools or his designee is hereby directed to deposit monies of this reserve fund in a separate bank account to be known as the “Facilities Improvement Program 2024.” AND NOTICE IS ALSO

GIVEN that registration shall be conducted at the several polling places stated above by the Boards of Registration of the several component districts as follows: the Bellmore Union Free School District at the District Office, Winthrop Avenue School, 580 Winthrop Avenue, Bellmore, New York, on all school days of the school year until five (5) days preceding the vote between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; the Merrick Union Free School District at the Administrative Office, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, New York on all school days of the school year until five (5) days preceding the vote between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.; the North Bellmore Union Free School District at the Administrative Office, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, New York, and all district schools on all school days of the school year until five (5) days preceding the vote between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; and the North Merrick Union Free School District at the Harold D. Fayette School, 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York, on all school days of the school year until five (5) days preceding the vote between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and additionally on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at the Harold D. Fayette School between the hours of 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the purpose of preparing a register of the qualified voters entitled to vote at the school meeting and election for which such register is prepared, in the manner provided by law. The register, as so prepared, will be filed in the office of the clerk at each of the respective

Union Free School Districts as set forth in this notice of meeting and such register is to be open for inspection at reasonable times for at least five (5) days prior to the date set for voting on the budget and election, except Sunday, and by appointment on the Saturday prior to the election at each elementary district.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO

GIVEN that a person shall be entitled to vote at the annual meeting and election who is a citizen of the United States, eighteen years of age, a resident of the Union Free School District in which he intends to vote for a period of thirty days next preceding the election he offers to vote and registered to vote for said election. A person shall be registered to vote if he or she shall have permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections or with the Board of Registration of the component Union Free School District in which he resides. Only persons who shall be registered shall be entitled to vote

AND NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Boards of Registration of the several component Union Free School Districts will meet during the hours of voting on May 21, 2024 at the polling places in each of the Union Free School Districts for the purpose of preparing a register for district meetings or elections to be held subsequent to May 21, 2024; said register shall include (1) all qualified voters of the Union Free School Districts, who shall present themselves personally for registration; and (2) all qualified voters permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purposes (school budget) and copies of propositions involving expenditure of moneys and the operation of the school system for the ensuing year, may be obtained by any resident in the District during the fourteen days immediately preceding the annual vote except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, at school district offices and any schoolhouse within the district and on the district’s website. AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that applications for early mail voting and absentee ballots for the school district election may be applied for at the Office of the Clerk of the District. Applications for early mail voting and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than thirty (30) days before the

election. Furthermore, such application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application by no later than six (6) days before the vote. No early mail voting or absentee voter’s ballot will be canvassed unless it has been received in the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 P.M. (prevailing time) on the day of the election. A list of all persons to whom early mail voting and absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available for inspection at the Office of the Clerk until the day of the vote. AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot.

Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk of the school district no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 25, 2024. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the office of the District Clerk by no 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 associated to be not later than the day before the election.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

BELLMORE-MERRICK

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

DISTRICT

PATTIANNE GUCCIONE DISTRICT CLERK

The above notice will be published in the Bellmore Herald and Merrick Herald newspapers on Thursday, April 18, 2024, May 2, 2024 and May 16, 2024. 145961

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: LJE Automotive Consulting, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 09/18/2023. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to 54 State Street, Suite 804, Albany, N.Y. 12207, USA Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 146193

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

LEGAL NOTICE AVISO DE REUNIÓN ANUAL, AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA, ELECCIÓN, Y EL REGISTRO DE VOTANTES DISTRITO ESCOLAR LIBRE DE LA UNIÓN DE NORTH BELLMORE NORTH BELLMORE, LOCALIDAD DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

De conformidad con la Sección 1716 de la Ley de Educación, el 09 de mayo de 2024, a las 7:30 p.m., se llevará a cabo una Audiencia Pública para la discusión del Presupuesto del Distrito Escolar 2024/25 propuesto, y otros asuntos que puedan presentarse antes de la reunión, en el Edificio de Administración en Martin Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York. Cualquier residente del distrito escolar a partir del 2 de mayo de 2024 puede obtener, previa solicitud, una copia del estado de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año escolar para fines escolares, durante las horas de 9:00 a.m. y 3:00 p.m., excepto sábados, domingos o días festivos.

POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL de que la Votación Anual de los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre de North Bellmore Union se llevará a cabo en la Escuela Newbridge Road, North Bellmore, el martes 21 de mayo de 2024 con el siguiente propósito: Un. Votar sobre el Presupuesto Escolar Anual para el año escolar 2024-2025 y autorizar la imposición de un impuesto sobre la propiedad imponible del Norte Distrito Escolar de Bellmore para tales fines. B. La elección de dos (2) miembros de la Junta de Educación.

C. Votar sobre las demás proposiciones que correspondan a la reunión.

La votación será por papeleta en las máquinas de votación y las urnas permanecerán abiertas para votar desde las 6:00 a.m. hasta las 9:00 p.m., y tanto tiempo como sea necesario para que todos

los votantes presentes en ese momento emitan su voto. La votación será en el gimnasio de la Escuela Newbridge Road. Copias del presupuesto propuesto para 2024/25 estarán disponibles en cada una de las oficinas de las escuelas del distrito, la Escuela J. G. Dinkelmeyer, la Escuela Newbridge Road, la Escuela Park Avenue, la Escuela Saw Mill Road y la Escuela Martin Avenue entre las 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m. en cada día que no sea sábado, domingo o feriado durante los catorce (14) días anteriores a la Votación Anual. y en el sitio web de la escuela.

TENGA EN CUENTA de conformidad con la Sección 495 de la Ley de Impuestos sobre Bienes Inmuebles, un informe de exención que detalla las exenciones de impuestos sobre bienes inmuebles estará disponible y se adjuntará a cualquier presupuesto tentativo, preliminar o final.

TENGA EN CUENTA que la elección de los miembros de la Junta de Educación será la siguiente: Dos (2) miembros de la Junta de Educación; por períodos completos de tres (3) años, a partir del 1 de julio de 2024 y hasta el 30 de junio de 2027.

ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que las peticiones de nominación de candidatos para la Junta de Educación deben presentarse ante el Secretario del Distrito entre las 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m. a más tardar el 22 de abril de 2024 a las 5:00 p.m. Cada petición deberá indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada señor, deberá indicar el nombre y la residencia del candidato, y debe estar firmada por no menos de treinta y dos (32) votantes calificados del distrito escolar para la elección de los miembros de la Junta de Educación. Las vacantes en la Junta de Educación no se consideran cargos separados y específicos; Los candidatos se postulan en general. Las peticiones de nominación no describirán ninguna vacante específica en la Junta para la cual el candidato es nominado. TENGA EN CUENTA que en la Votación Anual, los votantes calificados del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore-Merrick votarán por los siguientes propósitos: Un. Votar sobre el presupuesto anual de la Escuela Secundaria

Central Bellmore-Merrick Distrito Escolar para el año 2024-2025 y autorizar la imposición de un impuesto sobre la propiedad imponible de la Escuela Secundaria Central Bellmore-Merrick Distrito para tales fines. B. Votar sobre las demás proposiciones que se

presenten a la Votantes. ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA que de conformidad con la Ley de Educación §2014, se requiere el registro personal de los votantes, y ninguna persona tendrá derecho a votar en la Reunión del Distrito cuyo nombre no aparezca en el registro del Distrito. El registro de votantes para el Distrito se llevará a cabo hasta el jueves 16 de mayo de 2024, inclusive, desde las 9:00 a.m. hasta las 3:00 p.m. (hora prevaleciente), todos los días escolares del año escolar, en la Oficina del Distrito, la Escuela Primaria J. G. Dinkelmeyer, la Escuela Primaria Newbridge Road, la Escuela Primaria Park Avenue y la Escuela Primaria Saw Mill Road, con el propósito de preparar un registro de los votantes calificados del Distrito para dicha Reunión de Distrito, momento en el cual cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se coloque en dicho registro, siempre que se sepa o se demuestre que tiene derecho a votar en dicha Reunión de Distrito para la cual se preparó dicho registro. Inmediatamente después de su finalización, el registro se archivará en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, y estará abierto para su inspección por cualquier votante calificado del Distrito entre las 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m. (hora prevaleciente) en cada uno de los cinco (5) días anteriores a la reunión del distrito para la cual fue preparado. excepto el domingo, y el sábado 18 de mayo de 2024 solo con cita previa. ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que, de conformidad con la Ley de Educación §2018-a y la Ley de Educación §2018-e, las solicitudes de boletas de voto en ausencia y por correo anticipado se pueden solicitar en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito. El Secretario del Distrito debe recibir las solicitudes de boletas de voto ausente y por correo anticipado no antes de treinta (30) días antes de la elección. Además, el Secretario del Distrito debe recibir dicha solicitud al menos siete días antes de la elección si la boleta debe enviarse por correo al votante, o el día antes de la elección si la boleta debe entregarse personalmente al votante o a su agente designado. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna de una boleta de voto ausente o por correo anticipado enviada por correo, el Secretario del Distrito enviará la boleta por correo a la dirección establecida en la solicitud a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la votación. No se realizará el escrutinio de ninguna boleta de votante ausente o por correo anticipado a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. (hora prevaleciente) del día de la elección. Una lista de todas las personas a las que se les habrán emitido boletas de voto ausente y por correo anticipado estará disponible en la oficina del Secretario de Distrito, 2616 Martin Avenue, North Bellmore, Nueva York, a partir de la emisión de la primera boleta de voto ausente o por correo anticipado y durante el horario comercial regular en cada uno de los cinco (5) días anteriores al día de la elección entre las 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m. (hora prevaleciente), excepto el domingo y el sábado 18 de mayo de 2024 solo con cita previa. Dicha lista también estará disponible en el lugar de votación en la fecha de la votación. No se realizará el escrutinio de ninguna boleta de voto ausente o por correo anticipado a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar Libre de North Bellmore Union a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. (hora prevaleciente) del día de la Reunión Anual del Distrito. TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO de que una persona tendrá derecho a votar en la reunión y elección anual que sea ciudadano de los Estados Unidos, dieciocho años de edad, residente del Distrito por un período de treinta días inmediatamente anterior a la elección en la que se ofrezca a votar y se registre para votar para dicha elección. Una persona estará registrada para votar si se ha registrado permanentemente en la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau o en la Junta de Registro del distrito escolar. Sólo tendrán derecho a votar las personas que estén inscritas.

ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA que la Junta de Registro se reunirá durante las horas de votación del 21 de mayo de 2024 en el lugar de votación del distrito escolar con el fin de preparar un registro para las reuniones o elecciones del Distrito que se llevarán a cabo después del 21 de mayo de 2024. Dicho registro incluirá (1) a todos los votantes calificados del distrito escolar que se presentarán personalmente para el registro; y (2) todos los votantes calificados registrados permanentemente en la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau.

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN Laurice Gunnels Secretario de Distrito Esta información se proporciona en español de conformidad con la Ley de Derechos Electorales de 1965. 146268

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AND AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING, PUBLIC HEARING, ELECTION, AND REGISTRATION OF VOTERS

NORTH BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTH BELLMORE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

Pursuant to Section 1716 of Education Law a Public Hearing for discussion of the proposed 2024/25 School District Budget, and such other business as may come before the meeting, will be held on May 09, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Building on Martin Avenue, Bellmore, New York. A copy of the state of the amount of monies which will be required for the

ADEMÁS, SE DA AVISO de que los votantes militares que no están registrados actualmente pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Los votantes militares que son votantes calificados del distrito escolar pueden presentar una solicitud para una boleta militar. Los votantes militares pueden designar una preferencia para recibir un registro de votante militar, una solicitud de boleta militar o una boleta militar por correo, transmisión de fax o correo electrónico en su solicitud de dicho registro, solicitud de boleta o boleta. Los formularios de registro de votantes militares y los formularios de solicitud de boletas militares deben recibirse en la oficina del Secretario de Distrito del distrito escolar a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. del 2al 5 de abril de 2024. No se realizará escrutinio ninguna boleta militar a menos que (1) se reciba en la oficina del Secretario de Distrito antes del cierre de las urnas el día de las elecciones y muestre una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o muestre un endoso fechado de recepción por otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) recibido por la oficina del Secretario de Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. del día de las elecciones y firmado y fechado por el votante militar y un testigo del mismo, con una fecha asociada a no más tarde del día anterior a la elección.

May 16, 2024

Public Notices

2024/25 school year for school purposes may be obtained, upon request, by any school district resident commencing May 2, 2024 during the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. except for Saturdays, Sundays or holidays.

FURTHER NOTICE IS

HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Vote of the qualified voters of the North Bellmore Union Free School District will be held at the Newbridge Road School, North Bellmore, on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 for the following purpose:

A. To vote upon the Annual School Budget for the school year 2024-2025 and to authorize levying of a tax upon the taxable property of the North Bellmore School District for such purposes.

B. The election of two (2) member of the Board of Education.

C. To vote upon such other propositions as may properly come before the meeting.

Voting will be by ballot on voting machines and the polls will remain open for voting from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., and as much longer as may be necessary for all voters then present to cast their votes. Voting will be in the gymnasium of the Newbridge Road School. Copies of the proposed 2024/25 budget will be available at each of the offices of the school houses in the district, J. G. Dinkelmeyer School, Newbridge Road School, Park Avenue School, Saw Mill Road School and Martin Avenue School between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on each day other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday during the fourteen (14) days preceding the Annual Vote, and on the school’s website.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 495, an exemption report detailing exemptions from real property taxation shall be available and appended to any tentative, preliminary or final budget.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that the election of members of the Board of Education will be as follows: Two (2) members of the Board of Education; for full terms of three (3) years, commencing July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2027. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that nominating petitions for candidates for the Board of Education must be filed with the District Clerk between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. not later than April 22, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Each petition shall state the name and residence of each signor, shall state the name and residence

of the candidate, and must be signed by not less than thirty-two (32) qualified voters of the school district for election of members of the Board of Education. Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that at the Annual Vote, qualified voters of the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District shall vote for the following purposes:

A. To vote upon the annual budget of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District for the year 2024-2025 and to authorize the levying of a tax upon the taxable property of the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District for such purposes.

B. To vote upon such other propositions as may properly come before the voters.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Education Law §2014 personal registration of voters is required, and no person shall be entitled to vote at the District Meeting whose name does not appear on the register of the District. Voter registration for the District will be ongoing through and including Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 9:00 o’clock A.M. until 3:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time), on all school days of the school year, at the District Office, J. G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School, Newbridge Road Elementary School, Park Avenue Elementary School and Saw Mill Road Elementary School, for the purpose of preparing a register of the qualified voters of the District for said District Meeting, at which time any person shall be entitled to have his/her name placed upon such register, provided that he/she is known or proven to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at said District Meeting for which such register is prepared. Immediately upon its completion, the register will be filed in the office of the District Clerk, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District between the hours of 9:00 o’clock A.M. and 3:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on each of the five (5) days prior to the District Meeting for which it was prepared, except Sunday, and on Saturday, May 18, 2024 by appointment only.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Education Law §2018-a and Education Law §2018-e applications for

absentee and early mail ballots may be applied for at the office of the District Clerk. The District Clerk must receive applications for absentee and early mail ballots ballots no earlier than thirty (30) days before the election. Furthermore, the District Clerk must receive such application at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed absentee or early mail ballot , the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application by no later than six (6) days before the vote. No absentee or early mail voter’s ballot will be canvassed unless it has been received in the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 P.M. (prevailing time) on the day of the election. A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots shall have been issued will be available in the office of the District Clerk, 2616 Martin Avenue, North Bellmore, New York, commencing with the issuance of the first absentee or early mail ballot and during regular business hours on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. (Prevailing Time), except Sunday and on Saturday, May 18, 2024 by appointment only. Such list will also be available at the polling place on the date of the vote. No absentee or early mail voter’s ballot shall be canvassed unless it shall have been received in the office of the District Clerk of the North Bellmore Union Free School District not later than 5:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on the day of Annual District Meeting.

NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a person shall be entitled to vote at the annual meeting and election who is a citizen of the United States, eighteen years of age, a resident of the District for a period of thirty days next preceding the election he offers to vote and registered to vote for said election. A person shall be registered to vote if he or she shall have permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections or with the Board of Registration of the school district. Only persons who shall be registered shall be entitled to vote.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Board of Registration will meet during the hours of voting on May 21, 2024 at the polling place of the school district for the purpose of preparing a register for District meetings or elections to

be held subsequent to May 21, 2024. Said register shall include (1) all qualified voters of the school district who shall present themselves personally for registration; and (2) all qualified voters permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk of the school district no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 25, 2024. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the office of the District Clerk by no 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 associated to be not later than the day before the election.

BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Laurice Gunnels District Clerk

This information is provided in Spanish in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 146267

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 26, 2023 I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 4, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2518 Bristol Drive, North Bellmore, NY 11710. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Bellmore, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 56 Block 239 Lot 62. Approximate amount of judgment $246,159.26 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 612468/2018. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Melissa D. Mohan, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: April 18, 2024 146504

NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 19-007424 80201 146427

elementary school building. This exemption request is being made to the New York State Department of Education. Please forward your comments regarding this exemption in writing to business@bellmoreschool s.org. 146857

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:

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, d/b/a Christiana Trust, not individually but as trustee for Pretium Mortgage Acquisition Trust, Plaintiff AGAINST Daniel Forth; April Forth a/k/a April Irene Forth a/k/a April I. Forth; et al., Defendant(s)

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff AGAINST SHAWN WHALEN, JANET WHALEN, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 7, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 30, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 402 MARLE PLACE, BELLMORE, NY 11710. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 56, Block 351, Lot 87-89. Approximate amount of judgment $417,139.32 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600417/2020. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR FREMONT HOME LOAN TRUST 2005-D, MORTGAGE-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-D Plaintiff, Against MICHAEL BROWN, ET AL, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/09/2018, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 6/3/2024 at 3:00PM, premises known as 1855 Madison Avenue, Bellmore, New York 11710, And Described As Follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Bellmore, Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York. Section 56 Block L Lot 21 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $992,729.74 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 5261/09 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine. Louis B. Imbroto, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 3/28/2024 File Number: 17-300073 CA 146502

LEGAL NOTICE The Bellmore UFSD intends to request an exemption for the 2024-25 school year from the mandate of establishing a breakfast program in each

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 bids for:

Bellmore-Merrick Cooperative Summer 2024 Bid

Bellmore-Merrick Cooperative 2024-2025 School Year Bid

Bids will be publicly opened and read at the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Business Office, 1260 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 10:00 am. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained from the office of Tom Volpe, Director of Transportation, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities in or to reject in whole or in part all bids or to accept any bid which in its judgment is in the best interest of the school district.

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. 146858

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 5/22/2024 at 9:30 A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.

1383/24. BELLMOREKiwanis Club of the Bellmores, Amusement Rides (Special Event) duration June 7, 2024June 9, 2024 with tents., N/E cor. Centre Ave. & Sunrise Hwy., a/k/a Town of Hempstead Parking Lots B-2 & B-3. 336/24. - 337/24. N. BELLMORE - Bair Cadet, Special exception to maintain shed exceeding horizontal maximum; Variance, side yard, maintain two (2) a/c units attached to dwelling., E/s Pea Pond Rd., 456.02’ N/o Holiday Ct. running thru to Montgomery St., a/k/a 1509 Pea Pond Rd. THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 348/24. BELLMOREDominick & Ann Marie Buglione, Variances, lot area occupied, side yard, side yards aggregate, rear yard, maintain upper & lower rear decks & front portico, all attached to dwelling., N/s Barbara Rd., 257.05’ E/o Bellmore Ave., a/k/a 2775 Barbara Rd. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Bellmore within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available 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. 146786

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF FINANCE OF AMERICA STRUCTURED SECURITIES ACQUISITION TRUST 2019-HB1, -againstVASILIOS THEODORAKATOS, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on November 13, 2019, wherein WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF FINANCE OF AMERICA STRUCTURED SECURITIES ACQUISITION TRUST 2019-HB1 is the Plaintiff and VASILIOS THEODORAKATOS, ET AL.

NUMC treats serious burns of injured deputy chief Fire academy instructor sustains injuries during

training exercise, is expected to make full recovery

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow provided life-saving care to a deputy fire chief last week, after he was seriously burned in an accident at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Old Bethpage.

Any burn is very serious.

According to Michael Uttaro, the Nassau County Fire Marshal, around 10:30 a.m. on May 9, the deputy chief, who works as an instructor at the academy, was setting up an exercise called a “shipboard fire training.”

DR. GRAcE TiNG Chief medical officer

Nassau University Medical Center

Firefighters learn how to extinguish a live fire on a prop of a boat or ship, Uttaro explained.

“As they were setting up to get ready for the live fire portion of that training, there was combustible liquids that were ignited, causing a flash fire,” Uttaro said. “The deputy chief instructor sustained serious burns.”

The fire was quickly extinguished, and the Plainview Volunteer Fire Department transported the injured instructor to NUMC, which has a 12,000-square foot burn center.

Aside from Stony Brook University Hospital in Suffolk County, NuHealth — the health care organization that oversees NUMC’s operations — offers the only other center on Long Island that can effectively treat serious burns. Additional burn units are in Brooklyn and Queens.

“The Plainview fire department was quickly on the scene, which his part of their protocols, and transported him here to NUMC, which is our primary burn center here in Nassau County — and that’s why we’re happy he’s here,” Uttaro said. “He was here within just a couple of minutes. He was treated in the emergency room, he was evaluated, and he was quickly brought up to the burn center at NUMC for evaluation and further treatment.”

Uttaro was asked at a news confer-

ence on May 9 if these sorts of incidents occur frequently at the training facility.

“Things happen like this from time to time — I couldn’t really comment on how often it happens,” he said. “But when you’re dealing with firefighter experiences, whether it is a live fire in a building or a house, or training, especially a live fire training, there’s always inherent dangers.”

Uttaro added the county and training facility have a slew of safety protocols in place, so that if incidents do occur,

Public Notices

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 June 20, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 3200 LYDIA LANE, BELLMORE, NY 11710; and the following tax map identification: 63-312-18.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT BELLMORE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.:

602638/2018. John G. Kennedy, 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

those on the scene are equipped to quickly deal with them.

“Sometime, the students may receive some type of a burn or a minor medical issue,” he added, “but is definitely not a common occurrence that occurs.”

The instructor, who was not identified, sustained first, second and third degree burns to his hands, thighs, and torso, and is expected to survive, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Grace Ting said.

He did not suffer smoke inhalation related injuries, so he did not need to be treated in the hospital’s hyperbaric chamber, which is an enclosed space filled with high-pressure oxygen.

“He’s in good spirits,” Uttaro told reporters last week. “He’s awake an alert and talking to people. His family and folks from the fire academy are here as well.”

The Nassau County Fire Service Academy is utilized by volunteer fire departments across the county. The property and facility are owned by the county, but it is operated by the Nassau County Vocational Education Extension Board, also known as VEEB. The instructor who sustained burns is an employee of VEEB.

According to Ting, the instructor’s injuries can be treated with certain

types of dressings that cover the wounds, as well as strict isolation of the wounds, to prevent infections. It is too early to tell if he will need a skin graft, she added.

“Any burn is very serious,” Ting said. “And from what I heard of the situation there, he’s very lucky that he’s with us.”

“Today is another prime example of how NUMC is prepared to handle situations that occur, like this that happened earlier today,” NUMC chief executive and president Meg Ryan said. “NUMC has a world class burn unit, and we have the only multichambered hyperbaric in Nassau County. Every day, and especially today, I’m extremely proud of our staff and their great work.”

When serious injuries occur during fires, Uttaro said people immediately think the worst — but he said he knows the protocols in place at the fire academy are solid and helped save the instructor’s life. It is still unclear what caused the fire, he added, and it is under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office.

“The right things were in place, and the right things were happening,” he said. “There’s a silver lining to the story, that fact that his injuries weren’t more severe.”

HERALD — May 16, 2024

Jordan Vallone/Herald

Nassau County Fire Marshall Michael Uttaro spoke outside of the Nassau University Medical Center on Thursday, after a deputy chief sustained serious burns at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy last week.

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3 Plots. Separate Or All Together. Graves 18, 25, and 32. Purchase Separate $4000; Purchase Together $11000. Negotiable. Call 845-641-7316

Lynbrook $650,000

Everett Street. Split Level. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Updates include skylight.

Taxes: $18,491.37

Merrick $1,200,000

Carroll Avenue. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Eatin kitchen with granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Ample storage. Updates include cathedral ceiling.

Taxes: $14,235.08

Oceanside $565,000

5th Street. Colonial. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Open layout. Den/family room. Updates include cathedral ceiling and skylight.

Taxes: $13,946.83

Rockville Centre $1,700,000

S. Marion Place. Victorian. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with pantry. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Taxes: $30,600.33

Woodmere $1,130,000

Norman Way. Split level. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Gourmet eat-in kitchenwith granite countertops. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Sauna/ steam room.

Taxes: $23,646.91

How can we keep rising costs down?

Q. I was told by a contractor that the cost of construction has been increasing over the years due to many more requirements that, if we didn’t have them, would keep costs a lot lower. He said they make us put in a lot of extra metal to connect the wood wall studs and rafters, even in decks, and that it adds about $10,000 just for that. Plus he said that we have to use a lot more insulation than we used to, and the foam insulation, especially, really raises the price, up to $16,000 to $20,000 more. I know this is necessary, but are there alternatives to keep prices lower? We have plans we paid for, and now we may not even be able to build. What can you suggest?

A. The connectors for wood can be eliminated almost entirely if you build with metal wall studs, metal rafters and ceiling joists with metal screws. Metal to metal is strong. There are two reasons that people don’t build with metal more often, one being the ease of working with wood, because you can trim and adjust a wood cut to fit more easily, and not have to be so exact, and most people building residential construction don’t have the right tools or training to switch easily to metal.

You see, screws and nails are metal. Wood … is not. Because screws and nails don’t grab wood as well, the connections can pull apart more easily in high winds. Metal connectors brace wood connections with a lot of redundancy, making it harder for a home to pull apart in a high wind. Watch any news report this spring and summer, as homes rip apart from tornadoes, and you’ll see why insurance companies pushed for these regulations, to have better bracing of wall connections to roofs and floors. Metal actually would cost less if more people used the products.

The ease of putting down a metal track and fastening the top plate and wall studs is faster and lighter than working with lumber, but traditions die hard. Metal doesn’t burn easily, will not warp, twist or rot, and you don’t have to treat it with cancer-causing toxins to resist insect damage. Metal is generally stronger and more efficient to work with, and waste is minimal.

Other than that answer, I only know of certain connections utilizing long screws to avoid these connectors, and people in construction would need training to know where and when these types of long fasteners can be used. Even the metal braces widely used have multiple holes for nails, because every hole must have a nail filling it, yet I often see where some holes are not filled.

Insulation, just like metal, will come down in price as more is applied, but better insulation is one of the few products that pays for itself in energy savings. Higher insulation value was debated for years before becoming code. It’s a necessary reality that actually saves money in the long term. Good luck!

© 2024 Monte Leeper

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

Ask The Architect Monte Leeper

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opInIons

What if you had to vote right now?

Last week, we were treated (or subjected, in one instance) to two presidential events unfolding simultaneously in different places. As the day progressed, I understood that if we see and hear nothing else during the campaign, we will realize, as sentient beings and patriots, that only one man deserves the honor of serving as our president. Only one man is intellectually and temperamentally fit for the job.

The first image we saw on May 9 was President Biden speaking at a Holocaust remembrance at the Capitol, a sacred moment of tribute to the dead and a promise to the living to fight a robust resurgence of antisemitism. The flip screen, on the same day and time, was of former President Donald Trump in a New York City courtroom, where an adult entertainment star testified against him, offering lurid details of their alleged affair. The testimony was part of the ongoing trial of the ex-president for an alleged hush money cover-up.

The data is clear: Kids spending more time online and on social media is detrimental to their mental health.

In many ways, this is by design. The algorithms tech companies create for their platforms are meant to keep you glued to your feed, conveying visual information that can severely damage self-esteem and increase levels of anxiety and depression. These findings, confirmed by multiple studies from the National Institutes of Health, show that these problems are worse for young people. Children are especially susceptible to falling into algorithmic rabbit holes, because they are more easily swayed by prominent social media influencers looking to sell a certain product or lifestyle.

Earlier this year, we held a roundtable with state Attorney General Letitia James in Floral Park, to discuss the impacts of social media use on young

As Peter Baker observed in The New York Times, we were whiplashed by the images of the candidates: Biden recalling taking his grandchildren to Dachau to bear witness to the horrors of Nazi death camps, and Trump listening to Stormy Daniels describe him “sitting on a hotel bed in his boxer shorts waiting for sex.”

Imagine if, on May 9, you had just dropped onto our planet from another world where the arc of the moral universe does indeed bend toward justice, and good guys win, and presidents are held to high ethical standards, and you had to decide that very day whom would get your vote.

Long Island, where many of us never heard a hateful word or experienced any kind of ostracism related to our faith. Now the rise of extremism, fueled by lies pumped out by social media, has put Jewish Americans in the cross hairs, along with any other group seen as a threat to a MAGA America.

I magine if you had just dropped onto our planet from another, more just, world.

On one hand, you see Biden, a seasoned leader, vowing to fight antisemitism in America, stating that anti-Jewish rhetoric demands “our continued vigilance . . . and outspokenness.” You see him in action on just this one day, addressing hate speech and violence toward Jews, which he said is “ferociously” surging.

You hear him say that Jews will always have a safe place in America, a notion that many Jewish people in my age group have never questioned. We grew up in welcoming communities on

You witness Biden communicating his full support for the Jewish people and for Israel, and for peaceful college protesters on both sides, while pushing back against some of Israel’s most aggressive war tactics in its battle against Hamas. You are seeing impossible political and humanitarian dilemmas, in which no one answer is good or easy, in which any comment is instantly parsed and shredded by multiple raging influencers, ordinary citizens and political opponents.

You see Biden, a determined leader who knows himself and knows justice when he sees it, and knows how to move through this minefield.

That same day, when you drop into our country, you also see the former president, also an old man. You see Trump on TV coming and going from a

Protecting our kids online

people and to call for new legislation to regulate how tech companies present information through their feeds. Social media feeds are designed to be infinite, making it easy for any user to sit and scroll for hours on end through a constant stream of content and information. Parents spoke about the negative effects that extensive social media use has on their children, while pediatricians were reporting more instances of mental health struggles among their young patients.

One of the bills we are advocating for in the Assembly is the Child Data Protection Act, which would ban the collection and sale of personal data online for users under age 13 without the consent of a parent, and for users between ages 13 and 18 without their consent. The mass collection of personal data has become a lucrative business online, and companies are willing to pay to learn more about their customers and potential customers. This helps them target content and advertising to maximize viewership, which feeds into the addictive nature of endless scrolling

courtroom where he is on trial for allegedly covering up an affair he had with a porn star so that his 2016 presidential campaign would not be affected.

Stay with me. You just landed here from a better place. You see the two men in action that day. You know nothing about their respective policies on the economy or the environment or foreign trade or inflation or immigration. You know nothing about Trump’s presidency, when he alienated our allies abroad and denied the coronavirus pandemic even as it killed a million Americans. You never heard the speeches in which he called migrants “animals,” or suggested injecting bleach for a deadly virus, or said there were good people on both sides when white Christian nationalists marched in Charlotte chanting, “Jews will not replace us!”

You have not witnessed, in the past few years, the complete erosion of women’s reproductive rights and the diminishment of our Supreme Court.

You are just here this one day, May 9. Listen to Biden’s Holocaust speech. Look at defendant Trump, contemptuous and contemptible, an abject failure as a human being, not to mention a world leader.

Who gets your vote?

Copyright 2024 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

that is such a big problem for young people using social media. By placing these restrictions on access to children’s data, we can stop online platforms from precision-targeting their content to maximize the time kids spend online.

p arents, doctors and psychologists agree: Excessive social media use isn’t good.

Another key piece of legislation is the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act, or SAFE. If enacted, the bill would limit algorithms’ capacity to introduce new content from accounts a user isn’t following. Users under 18 would see content only from accounts they follow. As well, children wouldn’t receive notifications from social media platforms between midnight and 6 a.m., and parents would be allowed to block their kids’ access to social media between these hours. Only parental consent would allow those restrictions to be lifted.

The bill would also empower the attorney general to enforce these provisions by imposing a $5,000 fine on companies for each violation. And parents and guardians would be able to sue for damages.

These algorithms should not influence what children see online. It should be up to parents and their children to decide what kind of content they want to see.

These bills provide reasonable protections for kids using social media, without regulating speech or expression. The mental health crisis impacting young people across the country requires thoughtful public-policy solutions, and that includes holding online platforms accountable for pushing addictive content onto young people’s social media feeds at a pivotal time in their emotional and social development.

Parents, doctors and psychologists all agree that there are negative consequences associated with excessive social media use. We should be encouraging responsible use, and working collaboratively with parents and the tech industry to chart a new way of approaching how kids use online platforms. New York can take a leadership role in protecting kids online, which could go a long way toward alleviating the mental health crisis that has been worsening since the pandemic.

Michaelle Solages represents the 22nd Assembly District.

MIchaeLLe c. soLages

HeraLd editoriaL

With hurricane season coming, be prepared

the looming possibility of natural disasters — such as hurricanes and other severe storms — poses a significant, and ongoing, threat to Long Island, and particularly for those living in more vulnerable coastal communities, like Long Beach and Freeport, which are most susceptible to damage caused by high winds and surging floodwaters.

With hurricane season set to begin June 1, it is vital for all of us — especially those in communities with the highest risk — to take proactive measures to prepare. Resilience requires a strategy for severe weather conditions that are often unpredictable. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, that means:

■ Developing an evacuation plan

■ Assembling disaster supplies — including food, water, batteries, chargers, a radio and cash

■ Getting an insurance checkup and documenting your possessions

■ Creating a communication plan with a hand-written list of contacts

■ Strengthening your home

Letters

Vote for Grote and Lanci on Tuesday

To the Editor:

As a former school board trustee deeply invested in the welfare and progress of our district, I am reaching out to implore each and every one of you to exercise your right to vote in the upcoming election on Tuesday, at Newbridge Road School, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

If you’ve been around this school district for as long as I have, you’re familiar with the dedication and forward-thinking approach of our board trustees and district administration. For years, dedicated community members have closely followed the actions of both the board and administration, witnessing firsthand their unwavering commitment to progress. Through regular updates on their website, newsletters, board meetings and other channels, the community has remained informed about the collective journey of education in North Bellmore.

Reflecting on the district’s achievements thus far, it’s evident that fiscal responsibility, a commitment to instructional success, and the establishment of a strong academic foundation in our K-6 district have been among

From a government standpoint, preparedness often begins with comprehensive planning and investment in resilient infrastructure. Following the damage wrought by tropical storms Irene and Lee in 2011 and Sandy in 2012, many coastal protection measures have been put into effect, including seawalls and reinforced jetties and dunes.

For instance, after Sandy decimated the boardwalk in Long Beach, the structure was strengthened when it was rebuilt, and sturdier dunes were constructed as an added layer of protection.

Collaborative initiatives involving local governments, community organizations and emergency responders foster a culture of resilience, strengthening the collective ability to withstand and recover from disasters.

In addition, having a robust earlywarning system and evacuation plans in place can be essential in ensuring the safety of residents in the event of a major storm.

The disasters resulting from previous storms continue to serve as a glaring reminder, however, that even the best preparations may not be enough. It’s hard to forget the images of homes sub-

merged, fallen trees damaging cars and blocking roadways, and long lines of vehicles at gas pumps.

So it never hurts to have additional plans of action. Remember to store some extra gas to provide power to emergency generators. Store backup batteries and chargers. Prepare to-go bags in an easyto-access location. Have your home, auto and flood insurance information at the ready, just in case.

In the aftermath of any natural disaster, swift and coordinated recovery efforts are crucial. Having timely access to emergency services, temporary shelters and essential supplies is paramount to ensure the well-being of our communities.

And, as a storm approaches, it is of the utmost importance to listen to authorities, familiarize yourself with all available evacuation routes, and stay tuned for updates.

And always take warnings seriously. These storms cannot only destroy, they can kill. Being prepared, knowing what to do when a storm is on its way, and putting a plan in motion when the time comes is essential to staying safe and secure.

this board’s top priorities. This commitment is reflected in our students’ continued success as they progress through their higher education, as evidenced by BMCHSD’s high graduation rates.

If you know, you know: Melissa Grote and Nina Lanci’s accomplishments stand as evidence of their collective efforts for our community, students and district. Engaged community members will recognize their tireless work that has propelled our district forward, fostering growth and achievement. Together with the

opinions

New state budget doubles down on a bad bet

“You’ve got to know when to hold ’em. Know when to fold ’em.”

Those lines, from Kenny Rogers’ iconic recording of “The Gambler,” contain a valuable lesson: Sometimes the right move is throwing your cards away. Chasing a bad bet because you’re stubborn, arrogant or simply in denial can leave you in serious trouble.

Regrettably, that seems to be a lesson that Albany’s leadership refuses to learn. Rather than admit that what they’ve done isn’t working — as evidenced by the fact that New York state has the highest population loss, the second-highest taxes and the second-worst business climate of any state in the county, according to Forbes magazine — Gov. Kathy Hochul

and the New York City politicians who control the State Legislature are doubling down on their bad bets in the new state budget. Even worse, it’s our money they’re gambling with.

slegislators are spending those dollars on (and what they’re not) is the other part.

pending

in

Amid an escalating affordability crisis — and despite dire warnings from the state comptroller about needing to rein in state spending increases because of a catastrophic budget gap projected over the next few years — the recently adopted 2024-25 state budget spends a whopping $237 billion, the largest budget in New York’s history. That’s an alarming $8 billion increase over the current spending plan, and above the 2 percent tax cap. It’s also an increase of more than 30 percent over the last pre-Covid budget. Since the current leadership in the Legislature gained control in 2018, state spending has soared by a whopping $70 billion. Exorbitant spending of taxpayer dollars is only part of the problem. What

Albany has soared by a whopping $70 billion since 2018.

We’re paying over $2 billion to support illegal immigrants, but not providing more than $350 million in state funding owed to the Nassau County Medical Center — funding that Nassau’s only safety-net hospital desperately needs in order to remain operational.

We’re spending billions more on initiatives that don’t positively advance the interests of the state of New York — all at the expense of hardworking taxpayers. We’re implementing more restrictive rights on property owners, pouring more money into the Metropolitan Transportation Authority without oversight, coddling criminals, tip-toeing around Tier 6 pension improvements, and changing access to the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program for senior and disabled state residents, just to name a few.

Letters

administration, they have been integral in transforming NBUFSD into a premier district, and their dedication ensures that North Bellmore will never stop striving for excellence.

VOTE 2 and 4 in ’24: Melissa Grote and Nina Lanci for board trustees. Your vote matters, and your support is crucial for the continued success and advancement of our district. Let’s come together on Tuesday and ensure that North Bellmore remains a beacon of excellence in education.

JO-ANN ERHARD North Bellmore

Liberty customers, tell Albany to stop the hidden taxes!

To the Editor:

For over two years, Liberty has been working hard to convince New York state to eliminate the Special Franchise Tax applied to utility water service so that we can remove that cost from our customers’ monthly bills. It represents a pass-through of the tax we are required to remit to the state government, and does not benefit Liberty in any way. And in many cases, it comprises a significant portion of your monthly water bill. Your support of this initiative this spring has put us in a position to see real change, and eliminate the SFT from your monthly water bills as we

work with officials in Albany this legislative session. While we have great momentum, we need our customers’ help to push this initiative past the finish line.

Stopthehiddentax.org provides details on the tax and the actions Liberty is taking to remove it from customers’ bills. On the site, customers can click the Take Action button to let their local legislators know that they want the tax eliminated. Nearly 2,000 Liberty customers have already taken action through the site, which has resulted in more than 30,000 letters being sent to key decision makers in the state. This is great, but we still need more support.

Between 30 and 50 percent of our customers’ bills comprise taxes that provide no benefit to the water system itself. While they do help fund local taxing jurisdictions, it is our firm belief that it is inappropriate and unjust for these taxes to be collected through your water bill. To make matters worse, our customers are the only ones in Nassau County who pay this excessive tax.

The only advantage Liberty stands to gain in pursuing this legislative change is happier customers, and providing water rates that accurately reflect the true cost of providing highquality water service. That’s it. We have dedicated ourselves to improving the customer experience, and this kind of rate relief will benefit all of our customers.

It takes only a couple of minutes to visit stopthehiddentax.org, click Take

While the budget delivers a few wins for New Yorkers, like answering our calls to oppose cuts in school foundation aid, making minor fixes to Tier 6 pensions, and making robust investments in our Department of Environmental Conservation and infrastructure, it falls short when it comes to providing meaningful relief to struggling families and businesses, and misses countless opportunities to make transformational and fundamental changes to turn our state around and point it in the right direction. It includes no tax relief plan, no plan to address the enormous financial shortfalls, and no plan to improve the business climate. In short, it totally ignores three major problems we face.

As the song goes, “Every gambler knows that the secret to survivin’ is knowin’ what to throw away and knowin’ what to keep.” Albany’s leaders need to recognize that their policies are failing, and they’re making a bad bet. It’s time to throw away these cards before we go broke.

Steve Rhoads represents the 5th Senate District.

Framework by Tim Baker

Action and fill in the information to have your voice heard. As a local Long Islander, I encourage you to take the time to tell your elected officials to remove this onerous tax from your water bill during the 2024 legislative session. Working together, we can make a difference.

The fountain in Andrew J. Parise Park — Cedarhurst

DEBORAH FRANCO President, Liberty New York Water

steVe rHoaDs