Bellmore Herald 06-01-2023

Remembering fallen American heroes on Memorial Day

The Bellmore community remembered members of the military who died while protecting the United States at the annual Memorial Day parade, hosted by the Veterans of Foreign War Post No. 2770. The parade route stretched from North to South Bellmore, and hundreds lined Bellmore and Bedford avenues to cheer on the marchers.

American Legion Post No. 1749 members and fire department officials, above, watched the presentation of wreaths during a short ceremony that followed the parade at the Bellmore Veterans Memorial off Bedford. Military Grand Marshal Jack Holzman, right, of the American Legion, spoke about Memorial Day.

Story, more photos, Page 3.

New Alzheimer’s care park opens

Covid past its height, but vets still need help

By MAlloRY WIlSoN & JoRDAN VAlloNE of the Bellmore Herald

As the nation and world turn the corner on what was one of the deadliest global pandemics to date, one thing hasn’t changed: Many U.S. veterans continue to need support, whether with food, housing, mental health services, or other needs.

Gary Glick, the commander of the Department of New York of the Jewish War Veterans — which operates the local Post 652, serving Bellmore, Merrick, East Meadow and several surrounding communities — said he feels the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on veterans mirrors its powerful impact on people in general.

“Covid, I think, did a job on society itself,” Glick said. “It has people thinking. I would say there could be like a half-dozen (veterans) that didn’t come back (in person). It has dropped the attendance down — a lot of these

guys, and I understand, they’re in their 80s, 90s.”

The pandemic, Glick added, has contributed to veterans losing touch with one another.

“Covid did take a toll on us,” he said. “Even when we had the Zooms, the older guys — they won’t do it. They lose touch with each other, and that’s another bad thing. The veterans are my brothers. We treat each other as family.”

The loss of members takes a considerable toll on posts that are already strapped for attendees. Frank Salamino, the quartermaster for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2736 in East Meadow, is constantly looking for new members, and the pandemic hasn’t helped. Two Post 2736 members died of Covid.

“We need every member when we can,” Salamino said. “It was a big loss when they died.”

Ralph Esposito, director of

Continued on page 6

— Jordan Vallone

Jessica Ren/Herald photos

We had a lot of posts, a lot of legions that weren’t able to sustain their membership. RAlph ESpoSIto Director, Nassau County Veterans Service Agency

Living in a world after the Covid-19 pandemic

By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@liherald.com

The country officially returned to normal on May 11 with the end of the federal public health emergency surrounding Covid-19 — but for many, it’s been pretty close to normalcy for months.

Virtually no one asks for proof of vaccination. Masks, while occasionally seen, have found themselves primarily back on the faces of medical professionals. And the floor markings intended to help people put six feet of distance from their neighbors have almost faded into time.

Yet, the federal end to the emergency is far from ceremonial. Washington has stopped buying vaccines and treatment, although plenty of supplies already purchased remain on-hand. It once again became more difficult to qualify for Medicaid — something that has loosened significantly at the height of the pandemic. However, states like New York isn’t expected to address eligibility at the more local level until later this summer.

And, of course, many of the financial assistance programs that had almost become commonplace are long gone, but free vaccines for children remain thanks to efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pfizer and Moderna — the two major pharmaceutical companies that supplied most of the country’s vaccine doses — vow they’ll continue providing free vaccines to those who can’t afford it, or don’t have the insurance to cover it.

Much closer to home, government officials with Nassau County as well as the towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay, had nothing to say about the pandemic. County Executive Bruce Blakeman went after mask mandates — especially in schools — within minutes of being sworn in more than a year ago.

“The governor should adhere to the law, follow the science, and allow local officials to decide what is best for their hometown communities,” Blakeman said at the time. “Nassau is not in crisis, and shouldn’t be painted with the same broad brush as the rest of New York state.”

This week — and in the coming weeks — the Herald is exploring local life in a post-pandemic world. We’re following up on the heroes and the stories that filled these pages from the very beginning of the pandemic lockdown, to the height of the virus invasion, to the aftermath. All with the hope we never have to experience such troubled times ever again.

And more local programs, like the Household Assistance Program that offered a $375 per household grant from federal funds, as well as the Emergency Rental Assistance Program — ended last fall, with a lot of the money unclaimed.

In the end, nearly 6.7 million positive cases were reported statewide, with New York City accounting for nearly half of that with 3.1 million cases. Long Island reported 1.1 million cases, while 5,346 people in Nassau County died.

Nearly 85 percent of people in Nassau received at least one vaccine shot, representing more than 1.1 million people — the best overall percentage in the state, behind the 88 percent from Queens and Manhattan.

One woman the coronavirus would not defeat was Nancy Casale of Wantagh. Last year, the then-95-year-old walked out of the Glen Cove Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation on her own power, after months of fighting Covid-19 and its aftermath.

“Nancy is a wonderful soul, said Lynda Torel from the Glen Cove center. “At 95, she’s energetic, eager and willing — all the qualities that make her a fighter. She’s been on a fantastic journey. She never said ‘no.’”

Laura Lane/Herald file

NANCy CAsALE stops to thank pulmonary rehabilitation director Lynda Torel outside the Glen Cove Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation last July, after battling Covid-19 and its aftermath for months. Nancy never let her age — 95 — stand in the way.

Memorial Day parade remembers the fallen

The streets of Bellmore were abuzz for the annual Memorial Day parade on May 29, honoring fallen members of the United States Armed Forces, who made the ultimate sacrifice in war.

The parade began at the North Bellmore Public Library, where around 10 a.m., it departed south on Bellmore Avenue, before turning and ending at the Bellmore Veterans Memorial at Bedford Avenue and Broadway.

Along the streets of Bellmore, veteran organizations and members of the community donning red, white and blue spirit wear, celebrated the holiday, and paid tribute to those who have died.

Dozens of Bellmore-based organizations, including the Bellmore and North Bellmore Fire Departments, the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, and several veteran organizations, including the VFW and American Legion, took part in the day’s festivities.

School bands from area districts marched along the streets as well, playing patriotic tunes.

A short ceremony and a presentation of wreathes followed the parade at the Bellmore Veterans Memorial off Bedford Avenue, near the Long Island Rail Road station.

— Jordan Vallone

Jordan Vallone/Herald photos

During the annual Memorial Day parade in Bellmore, the Bellmore Fire Department turned the corner onto Bedford Avenue.

Several veteranS incluDing Robert Kohler, commander of the Vietnam War Veterans Association in Bellmore, center above, with his grandchildren, watched the ceremony and presentation of wreaths after the parade.

Several antique carS and sports cars drove down Bedford Avenue, waving to the crowds of patriotic fans.

Military granD MarShall Jack Holzman of American Legion Post No. 1749 in Bellmore led this year’s parade.

the north BellMore Fire Department brought out an antique truck for the Memorial Day festivities. It made its way from the North Bellmore Public Library, where the parade began, to the Bellmore Village, where the paraded ended.

Jessica Ren/Herald

Jessica Ren/Herald

Tractor-trailer hits school bus and several cars, one arrested

One man was arrested on May 25 in North Bellmore after police say he left the scene of a multi-vehicle car crash that caused several injuries.

According to the Nassau County Police Department, a freightliner tractor-trailer delivery truck for Walmart was traveling southbound on Newbridge Road near Falcon Street in East Meadow, when its sideview mirror struck a school bus occupied by 18 student passengers.

The operator of the tractor trailer did not stop and continued southbound, colliding with seven occupied vehicles near Stop & Shop on Jerusalem Avenue in Bellmore, before it overturned in the grocery store’s parking lot.

As a result of the collision with the seven vehicles, four adults and two children suffered minor injuries and were transported to an area hospital for treatment.

A 16-year-old student passenger on the school bus also suffered a minor injury, and was treated at the scene.

The operator of the tractor-trailer, Maxwell Taylor, 56, was arrested without further incident. He suffered minor injuries, and was also transported to a hospital for treatment. Taylor is charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an incident. He was released on an appearance ticket, returnable to the First District Court in Hempstead on June 14.

— Jordan Vallone

Elder Law Misconceptions

One of the most common and devastating misconceptions about elder law estate planning is that it is too late to save money from nursing home costs. On the contrary, there are crisis planning tools that may save substantial assets from being spent on nursing home costs, even after the client has already entered the nursing home. Almost always, if there are assets left, much can be saved.

There are only three ways to pay for nursing home costs – your own assets, long-term care insurance (owned by less than five percent of the population), or Medicaid provided by the government.

Many people know about the “five-year look-back period” and assume nothing can be done without advance planning. The five-year look-back rule means that if you gave any gifts away within the last five years, when asking for Medicaid to pay for expensive nursing home costs, the gift amount creates a penalty period, which results in a period of ineligibility for Medicaid coverage.

Despite the five-year look-back, New York law allows people to protect assets from nursing home costs, even without pre-planning. For single applicants, you may be able to save about half of the assets through the “gift and loan” strategy. For married couples, where one spouse needs a nursing home, “spousal refusal” may protect substantial amounts of assets for the spouse at home. These techniques are discussed in detail at trustlaw.com, under “Practice Areas”, then “Medicaid Strategies”.

The five-year look-back rule does not affect eligibility of Medicaid home care, also known as “community” Medicaid. Currently, an applicant may transfer their assets out of their name and still qualify for home care in the next month.

Many assets, such as retirement accounts, rental properties and the family home in some cases, are exempt from Medicaid. The bottom line is that if someone you love is in failing health, the sooner you consult an elder law attorney the more you will likely be able to save.

Courtesy John Scalesi

A multi-vehicle crAsh, which began in East Meadow and ended in Bellmore, caused several injuries and led to one arrest. A tractor-trailer overturned in the parking lot of the North Bellmore Stop & Shop, after striking several cars, police say.

Moriches Field Brewing Company received $18,750 to revitalize an empty downtown space.

(Cheers to that.)

Revitalization grants are just one of the ways we help businesses on Long Island and in the Rockaways. For Moriches Field Brewing Company, a grant from our economic development program was a perfect fit to help them renovate a previously vacant property. A discount through our Vacant Space Revival Program saved them more than $4,000 on their electric bills, and rebates for upgrading to LED lighting are keeping them saving month after month.

Helping revitalize our Island, one business at a time, is something we’re proud to be part of and something definitely worth celebrating.

Grants | Rebates | Incentives | Assessments | Community Support

For more information, visit PSEGLINY.com/EcoDev

Veterans posts lost members to pandemic

the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, said he saw many posts struggling with the same membership issues.

“We had a lot of posts, a lot of legions that weren’t able to sustain their membership,” Esposito said. “They had a lot of members who never came back and the posts weren’t making any money because there were no parties keeping them alive.

“We lost a lot of vets — a lot passed on, and a lot never went back to their posts.”

During the pandemic, American Legion and VFW posts, among other veterans organizations, lost money — as did many people and businesses. The American Rescue Plan, a stimulus package in response to the pandemic, provided assistance to nonprofits, which have 501(c)(3) status, that were suffering. But it excluded veteran groups, which are 501(c)(19) organizations, because of their tax-exempt status.

A change was formally made by the federal government in regard to veterans organizations recouping money from the American Rescue Plan in March 2022, with corresponding local legislation passed in Nassau County in April 2022.

“(The money) is really tied to the fact that during 2020, veterans halls had significant losses because they weren’t able to rent out their halls,’’ Nassau County Legislator Tom McKevitt told the Herald last year.

When the change was approved by the government, veteran groups received $10,000 each, but at the time, McKevitt said that number could grow as the administration explored where extra Covid funds could be allocated.

Salamino said it was rough, and isolating, not to be

able to have meetings for over a year. They had met at American Legion Post 1082 hall in East Meadow, which was closed.

“A lot of men wouldn’t even go to hospitals because they were scared to get Covid,” he said. “It had a big impact on them without a doubt.”

Glick has long tried to make sure that all veterans understand the benefits to which they’re entitled — and there are a lot of them across Long Island in need of assistance. Glick will frequently help veterans suffering from PTSD, some as old as 80 or 90, who’ve never received help before. Some veterans aren’t even aware they’re eligible for any benefits, he said.

“There’s 130,000 of us out here (on Long Island), and I’ll tell you right now, there’s maybe a handful that know what’s going on,” Glick said.

Esposito, who runs the Vet Mart food pantry for veterans out of the Veterans Service Agency in East Meadow, still sees many people coming for food. The pantry, which served 30 to 40 vets a week before the pandemic, now sees nearly 40 a day, he said.

Neil Miller/Herald file

As the world emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, veterans organizations are still in need of support. Many suffered from monetary losses, among other things, during the height of Covid-19-related lockdowns.

this virus, they think they’re dead.”

“I think it’s because there are still people who are afraid to go out, they think Covid is still out there,” Esposito said. “The older people, you don’t see them out as much because they’re compromised and one sniff of

• A warm, inclusive community fostering a lasting love of Jewish life and learning through a creative curriculum for K-6!

• Engaging activities! Art, Music, Drama, Dance, Jewish Dungeons & Dragons, Cooking, Youth Group for grades 2-6, and more!

It’s been a little harder to get food, Esposito said, but he has some consistent places that donate often to Vet Mart, including the Elmont school district, Island Harvest, Long Island Cares, and a few hospitals and supermarkets.

Lighting the Chanukiah made out of cans of food, collected for charity!

SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting the Town of Hempstead (TOH) and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer.

By participating in structured project and work-based opportunities, Long Island youth are better prepared for careers of the future.

WHAT THE PROGRAM OFFERS

Career Exploration: Hone your research skills and uncover exciting new career possibilities.

Structured Work-based Opportunities: If you're a TOH and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20, you can get paid to learn about different careers and make a positive impact in your community through work-based activities.

Work Experiences: TOH and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20 can develop job readiness skills and explore diverse career pathways through paid summer jobs in various industries throughout Nassau County.

Earn Money: Don't miss out on the chance to earn money while gaining valuable experience and exploring your career options!

WORKSITE PARTNERS

Partner with the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at HempsteadWorks and provide valuable work experience to youth while expanding your business's staff at no cost. The program pays participant wages in full, so there's no financial burden on the hosting employer. As a SYEP worksite, you can play a vital role in the region's economic development and access a pool of talented, hyperlocal youth who are the future workforce.

Please review the important information below for details on this summer's program.

SYEP 2023:

Participants can work up to 30 hours per week

Rate of pay is $16 per hour, paid by the TOH Participants go through physical clearance and drug screening

Worksite Responsibilities:

Ensuring youth time and attendance procedures are followed, and the timesheets are complete and accurate Supervision of participants, along with guidance and training as appropriate Monitoring youth attendance, punctuality, and job performance

Don Clavin Supervisor

HERALD SpoR t S

Goodman’s slam lifts Calhoun over Mepham

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh and Calhoun trailing Mepham by three runs in Friday’s decisive third game of their Nassau Class A baseball semifinal series, Joey Goodman just hoped to make contact at the plate and keep the defending champs alive.

Down to his last strike and with the season hanging in the balance, Goodman swung the ultimate swing. His grand slam over the fence in left gave the second-seeded Colts a stunning 6-5 walk-off victory before a standingroom-only crowd at Joe Corea Field, scoring Ryan Pucella, Jordan Babbo and Brian Sanchez in front of him.

“I wanted to hit the ball hard somewhere,” said Goodman, who was mobbed as part of a wild celebration at home plate. “It felt good off the bat but I wasn’t sure if it had enough to go out,” he added. “I didn’t see it go over the fence but as soon as I rounded first I saw everyone jumping around and going crazy. It was fun.”

Calhoun, which captured Nassau and Long Island Class A titles last spring, advanced to face top-seeded Division in the best-of-three county championship series. Mepham finished 19-5-1.

“This is the most insane ending I’ve ever been a part of,” Calhoun assistant coach Steven DiMarco said. “We had guys on base every inning but couldn’t get any clutch hits. We waited until we were down to our last strike. It was amazing.

“Both teams played their hearts out,” he added. “Great crowds every day and three one-run games.”

Mepham, the No. 5 seed in the 16-team tournament, took the series opener on the road 2-1 May 23 behind pitcher Bryce Bowers, who also started Friday. Bowers tossed a complete game in the win and was backed by a Steven Mulqueen homer.

Calhoun (24-4) evened the series the next day with a 5-4

extra-inning victory. Goodman scored the winning run on an error in the top of the eighth as the Colts overcame another Mulqueen dinger. Pucella knocked in three runs and Kalfas went 3-for-3. Kakalos pitched 7 2/3 to earn the win with Sean DiPaola recording the final out for the save.

Babbo earned Friday’s win in relief of starter Aaron Small, who worked into the fifth inning when the Pirates erupted for four runs after falling behind 1-0 on Chris Imhof’s RBI single in the third. Jeff Decina, Trey O’Neill, Sean Seligman (RBI single), Nick Walker (tworun double) and Bowers (RBI single) all had hits during

the rally.

Babbo’s RBI single cut Calhoun’s deficit to 4-2 in the fifth, but Mepham regained its three-run cushion in the seventh on Kieran Kehoe’s infield RBI single that brought in Michael Cucinella.

The bottom of the seventh began with a ground out to second and a routine flyout to center. It ended with the shot heard ‘round Merrick.

“There’s no clock in baseball and we needed three outs,” Mepham coach Eric Passman said. “It hurts. These kids left it all on the field.”

Kennedy nets magical run to tennis title

By BRIaN KaChaRaBa sports@liherald.com

In his spare time, Kennedy boys’ tennis coach Ari Bisk enjoys the art of magic and teaching it to others at various Long Island libraries. But he manages to save some of his wizardry for his teams.

Bisk and the Cougars captured their first conference title in five years on the strength of a 13-1 record in 2B play. Of their 13 wins, which were two more than last year, five were by 7-0 sweeps and six more were split evenly between 6-1 and 5-2 scores.

The magical run unfortunately ended with a 7-0 loss to Herricks in the first round of the playoffs May 17, but Bisk didn’t let the setback diminish his team’s performance this spring.

“We had a really successful season,” Bisk said. “We had a handful of seniors towards the top of the lineup that led the team [and] a group of guys that made some big jumps from last year to this year. We really had a nice well-rounded team where if our singles couldn’t get the job done, our doubles teams were able to come through and pick us up.”

That wasn’t more evident than the Cougars’ two 4-3 victories of the season, where all of the wins were recorded by the doubles teams in separate matches against Lynbrook. The third doubles team that day of junior David Rovensky and eighthgrader Nicholas Veraga battled to a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 victory at home on April 21 before the second pair of sophomore Matthew Stone and freshman Daniel Heandy rallied for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 road triumph on

May 8.

“Lynbrook had the best singles and they had to just find one doubles win,” Bisk recalled. “At home it was pretty comfortable, but on the road, I told the doubles we knew we didn’t have any room for error.”

The three singles competitors of seniors Nicholas Papazis and Zachary Boas and sophomore Dylan Lady combined for over 30 wins this season, with Lady leading the way with 12 in third hole. All three players earned All-Conference honors for their efforts.

Papazis has the team’s strongest and most consistent serve, according to Bisk, and is solid on the baseline. Boas made the move to second singles this year and showed tremendous improvement while posting 10 wins and Lady was an “automatic win” in his singles debut.

On the surface, a first doubles team that consists of a senior and eighth-grader wouldn’t expect to garner many positive results, but Nicolas Magliano and David Krass debunked that theory by going 13-1 on the season.

“I knew that Magliano would be a good role model and set an example with David coming in from junior high,” Bisk said.

Stone and Heandy also finished 13-1 and Jacob Franklin moved down from second doubles last year to third this season and formed a solid pairing with Vergara. Bisk had to overcome several injuries with the bottom pair to get victories from players such as Connor Barath, Ben Schreiber, Mark Rovensky, Ben Dubs and alternates David Greenberg and Aidan Weaver.

Ron Manfredi/Herald CaLhOuN’S JOEY GOOdMaN provided the ultimate drama last Friday with a series-winning walk-off grand slam in the semifinals against Mepham.

Neil Miller/Herald

SENIOR NIChOLaS PaPazIS held down the top singles spot for the Cougars, who earned their first conference title in five years.

SportS LacroSSe

Garden City edges Calhoun for title, 7-6

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Calhoun’s Jake Lewis already had a hat trick including a pair of highlight-reel goals in Tuesday night’s Nassau Class B boys’ lacrosse championship game when he made a last-second move towards the Garden City cage with visions of forcing overtime.

After weaving his way around the defense once again, Lewis attempted a leaping shot that appeared to find its way over the goal line but a crease violation preceded the attempt and the Trojans escaped with a hard-fought 7-6 victory at Hofstra for their third straight county title and 15th since 2000.

Top-seeded Garden City, which defeated the Colts handily, 16-8, April 21, had its hands full this time and got the decisive goal with 1:48 remaining in regulation off the stick of Carson Kraus. The Trojans, who advanced to face West Islip for the Long Island Class B crown Saturday at Stony Brook University, played a man down over the final 40 seconds.

“These are the moments you play for and we had 19 seniors that never wanted this season to end,” Calhoun coach Jim Femminella said. “We came in a much better team than we were six weeks ago when we last saw them. We were very confident in our game plan and the kids really battled. It was a big step up from when we reached the finals last year. We weren’t afraid.”

The Colts, who lost last year’s county championship game to Garden City by a 12-5 margin, led Tuesday’s rematch for much of the first half and received a huge effort between the pipes from junior goaltender Mark Restivo, who made 13 saves. Senior Jayden Findelstein scored twice and senior A.J. Molinari, who missed last Friday’s semifinal win over South Side win an injury, suited up and added a goal.

Lewis’ first goal of the night gave No. 3 Calhoun a 3-2 lead just 24 seconds into the second quarter. Finkelstein’s second made it 4-2, but Garden City answered with a James Paisley goal just before halftime.

The Trojans tied it early in the third on Stevie Finnell’s second tally and led for the first time, 5-4, with 8:58 remaining in the quarter on Paisley’s second of the game. Lewis made it 5-5 with 3:04 left when he plowed through the entire defense and beat goalie Denis Fargione.

Calhoun trailed 6-5 midway through the fourth when Lewis did the same, breaking through multiple defenders to create the fifth and final deadlock of the night. Fargione made two tremendous stops in crunch time — one on the doorstep with three minutes to go and the other during the late delayed penalty.

Andrew Ottomanell added two goals for Garden City. “Calhoun is a tough team and they brought their best game,” Fargione said. “We knew they would come to play and we needed to work hard to win.”

Calhoun squeaks by South Side in semis

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Dating back to last spring, no group of high school athletes in Nassau County has enjoyed more success than Calhoun’s.

Last Friday, hours after the Colts’ baseball team closed out its semifinal series against neighboring Mepham in the most dramatic fashion, Calhoun boys’ lacrosse flipped the switch on a South Side team that defeated it by a five-goal margin earlier in the month.

Jayden Finkelstein had a hat trick and an assist and junior goaltender Mark Restivo made 13 saves to propel the third-seeded Colts to a 6-5 victory — same score as baseball’s win — over the second-seeded Cyclones in a Nassau Class B semifinal at Hofstra. Jake Lewis, Braden Garvey and Shaun Walters also scored for Calhoun, which advanced to face Garden City in the title game.

“Playoff time is when we want to hit our stride,” said Restivo, who made numerous point-blank stops and has earned the nickname of “playoff Mark,” coach Jim Femminella said. “We all trust each other and have each other’s backs,” Restivo added.

Owen West and Cole DiPietro had two goals apiece and Michael Melkonian dominated draws for South Side, which handed Calhoun a 10-5 defeat May 10 and opened the playoffs with a 17-goal effort against Mepham.

“We played our hearts out but didn’t execute as well as we wanted to,” Cyclones coach Steve DiPietro said. “It just came down to a couple of plays here and there, and they made a few more than we did.”

Neither team scored in the fourth quarter. The

eventual winning goal came with 6.4 seconds remaining in the third off the stick of Finkelstein. “We watched a lot of film from our first matchup and what other teams did against South Side,” said Finkelstein, who had a takeaway and end-to-end rush to score with 14 seconds remaining in the first half to give the Colts a 4-3 lead at intermission. “We implemented a zone defense that really helped.”

The Colts, who were missing two key offensive weapons in AJ Molinari and Connor Faughnan, overcame an early 2-0 deficit and are returning to the county final stage where they fell to Garden City 12-5 a year ago.

“Very happy with how the kids stuck to the game plan and made enough plays for us to win,” said Femminella, who lauded the stellar play of Restivo and defensive efforts from Xander Megias, Peter Thomann, Matthew Baci, Matthew Araneo, Kyle Auty and Keith Presti.

“South Side is a strong team that played in the Class C final last year,” Femminella added. “We knew today was going to be difficult. We have 19 seniors who did not want this to end yet.”

South Side’s Ryan Mayerhofer scored with 2:39 to go in the third quarter to create the fourth deadlock of the afternoon. The Cyclones had multiple possessions in the fourth, including one in the final minute, to pull even again but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Calhoun fell to Garden City 16-8 April 21. South Side played the Trojans to a hard-fought 9-8 loss 12 days later.

“We’re going to enjoy this one and go back to the drawing board and get ready for Garden City,” Finkelstein said.

Eric Dunetz/Herald photo

JakE LEwIS ScOrEd three goals but the Colts fell just short in Tuesday night’s Nassau Class B championship game, losing 7-6 to Garden City.

Tony Bellissimo/Herald photo

JaYdEN FINkELSTEIN, SEcONd from left, had a hat trick including the game-winning goal in last Friday’s Nassau Class B semifinal win over South Side.

Minority Millennials declare they are future

By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com

They come from all walks of life, with diverse backgrounds and even more diverse plans for their individual futures. They are Minority Millennials, and they visited Hofstra University recently as a way to prepare to become tomorrow’s leaders.

The summit — which took place at the school’s David S. Mack Complex — was known as “We are the Future,” featuring sessions and presentations from a lineup of today’s thought leaders that included elected officials the state’s lieutenant governor, a number of New York City councilmembers, and Assemblywoman Taylor Darling.

The summit featured workshops and panel sessions designed to emphasize the importance of civic power, financial literacy, and taking on leadership roles. It featured live programming aimed to promote civic power and economic freedom, all while educating and empowering Black and brown young people from across the five boroughs and Long Island.

Minority Millennials is a nonprofit civic and youth development organization founded in 2017, and serves as a resource for emerging generations of color as they seek equity in social, political and economic developments.

“We created Minority Millennials and

now the We are the Future summit to bridge the gap between policy culture,” said Dan Lloyd, founder and president of Minority Millennials, in a release.

“We firmly believe the fundamental piece to economic freedom is ensuring young people of color are educated about the value of civic engagement.

Once a person understands their role in society and how powerful their voice is within a larger democracy, their leverage of power shifts, and their ability to develop both personally and professionally dramatically increases.”

In an effort to access inter-generational networking opportunities, the summit

included panel sessions and keynote presentations from New York City public advocate Jumaane Williams, as well as Suffolk County police commissioner Rodney Harrison, and Gen-Z activist Chelsea Miller.

“Coming up, the people who had the biggest impact on me and my future were the people who looked like me. Who gave me a chance. And who led by example,” said Brooklyn borough president Antonio Reynoso, in a release. “I’m glad to see the We are the Future summit creating this opportunity, not just for young adults, but for the adults who have a responsibility to empower the next generation of change-makers.”

AT&T was a major supporter of the summit, providing 1,000 free tickets for Long Island, Bronx, and Brooklyn high school students to attend.

“AT&T is proud to support such an important and meaningful summit, and applauds the organizers and all of the esteemed presenters for their commitment to engage in meaningful conversation about the importance of civic responsibility,” said Magdalonie ParisCampbell, a spokeswoman for AT&T, in a release. “As a company that connects people across all aspects of life, we are thrilled to support this effort to engage so many New York City and Long Island youth with the opportunity to inspire them to be the next generation of changemakers and civic leaders.”

Courtesy Daniel Lloyd

MINoRIty MILLENIALs fIRst We are the Future summit at Hofstra University, emphasized to Black and brown young people the importance of civic power, financial literacy and taking on leadership roles.

Superintendent writes a song for moms

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Coming from a musical background, Joseph Famularo, superintendent of schools in the Bellmore Public School District, has always enjoyed playing music — particularly the guitar — and being creative in general. Recently, he composed a song, dedicated to the type of person that is influential in most people’s lives: moms.

“Family is so important to everyone,” Famularo told the Herald last week. “Family is just critical for you know, raising children, creating security, nurturing and support — helpful for a child’s self-esteem, resilience and emotional well-being. That’s the foundation.”

Famularo said his own mom is 94, and an inspiration to his family. “I wrote this song, and it’s really an expression of gratitude towards her and all the mothers for their sacrifices, love and care they give throughout their entire life,” he said. “That’s where it came from.”

Famularo has been playing the guitar since he was 7 and has encouraged his family members to have music in their lives as well. “Many of my family members play instruments, we’re always playing music around the house,” he said. “I think it’s a great way to express your self, reduce stress. I love creating and writing — I’ve done that my whole life.”

His song for moms, titled “Thank You Mother,” was

not the first time Famularo has written a piece. “My daughter got married last summer, so I wrote the fatherdaughter dance, and that was really special,” he explained. “So this was really just an opportunity to just thank my mom and all moms for what they do each and every day. That’s what the expression of this song was.” Famularo had some help getting the piece together. His cousin, Paul Paoli, provided vocals, his other cousin

he noted. “You would make your first draft, and then you start a second draft. And then you have some melodies in your mind that you write some songs with, so it’s a process and it’s really just my hobby.”

Reflecting on some components of the song, Famularo said: “One of the lines in the songs is ‘I know I should’ve said it some more, you never judge me, so I wrote this song for you to simply say thank you,’ and I think that’s

JOsEph FAmuLARO, supERiNtENDENt of schools in the Bellmore Public School District, left at microphone, comes from a musical background, and recently wrote a song dedicated to moms called ‘Thank You Mother.’

Family is so important to everyone.

THE SCENE

Iris Dement

The Americana singersongwriter visits the Landmark stage, Friday, June 9, 8 p.m., with her timeless songs that blend traditional folk, country, and gospel influences. Iris DeMent is considered one of the finest singer-songwriters in America today, with an inimitable voice as John Prine described, “like you’ve heard, but not really.” Her unforgettable melodies are rooted in hymns, gospel and old country music. Praised for her storytelling and songwriting abilities, her career has spanned over three decades, seven studio albums and collaborations with John Prine, Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle, among others. On her transcendent new record, “Workin’ On A World,” DeMent faces the modern world — as it is right now — with its climate catastrophe, pandemic and epidemic of violence and social injustice — and not only asks us how we can keep working towards a better world, but implores us to love each other, despite our very different ways of seeing. Her songs are her way of healing our broken inner and outer spaces. $43, $38, $33. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

June 1

Whale of a Drink fundraiser

On exhibit

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

Support The Whaling Museum by participating in Sandbar restaurant’s Whale of a Drink, Whale of a Cause fundraising effort, now through June 21. Enjoy the Sandbar’s iconic cocktail, the Whalebone, and a portion of the purchase will be donated to the museum. A “mocktail” version is also available. To help promote the fundraiser, mixologist Dan Leopold will offer a mixology demonstration and Whalebone tasting at the Museum’s Whales & Ales event on June 3, 2:303 p.m. Funds will support the Whaling Museum’s community education programs during its 2023 summer season. 55 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor. For information, visit SandbarColdSpringHarbor.com.

Passion for Pride

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

Art talk

Join Nassau County Museum

Director Charles A. Riley II, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, June 20, 4 p.m. He’ll discuss “Baldessari and the Making of the Avant-Garde.” John Baldessari’s roster from Cal Arts featured famed artists, from Eric Fischl (who never technically took a class with him) to David Salle, James Casebere, Tony Oursler, Ericka Beckman, Ross Bleckner, Carrie Mae Weems, James Welling and so many other art stars. Examine not only Baldessari’s own art but some of the famous assignments offered by the man many consider the most influential art school teacher of the 20th century. Participation is limited; registration required. $40, $20 members. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org or call (516) 484-9337.

Mobile office hours

Steve Rhoads is hosting mobile office hours at the Bellmore Memorial Library, Saturday, June 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. 2288 Bedford Ave., Bellmore. To schedule an appointment, call (516) 882-0630. Appointments are required, but walk-ins, if times permits, are welcome.

June 6

Civic Association Meeting

The South Merrick Community Civic Association is hosting its monthly meeting, Tuesday, June 6, at the Merrick Gold Course Clubhouse. The NCPD will be joining the association regarding an active shooter situation. Dominick Palma, superintendent of Merrick Schools, will also be present. There will be a short question and answer. Residents are encouraged to attend and a donation would be greatly appreciated. 2550B Clubhouse Road, Merrick. For more, contact Berta Weinstein at (516) 578-0649.

Father’s Day Car Show

The 15th Father’s Day Car Show, sponsored by the Nassau County Sheriff’s COBA, is set for Sunday, June 18, at the Merrick LIRR Station. Stop by from 9 a.m. to 3 pm. This is a non-judged event; trucks and motorcycles also welcome. Food trucks will be on site. Admissions for cars is $15 if pre-registered, $20 day of. Visit NassauCOBA.com for more.

Having an event?

Storybook Stroll

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a storybook adventure, Saturday, June 3, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stroll the gardens and listen to Arnold Lobel’s “Frog and Toad Are Friends.” Later create a unique take home craft. For ages 3-5. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information visit OldWestburyGardens.org or contact (516) 333-0048.

Temple B’Nai Torah Garden Party

Wantagh’s historic Temple B’Nai Torah is part of the cause to provide pantries and shelters with fresh produce, Mark your calendar and join in a garden party on June 10. For more information send an email to rfauci@gmail.com.

Annual Plant Sale

The Merrick Garden Club of the Federated Garden Clubs of New York holds their annual plant sale, Saturday, June 3, with a rain date of June 4. Primarily perennials are available for purchase. It’s at 150 Woodpecker Lane in Merrick.

Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.

On stage

Back by popular demand, families will enjoy a musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Thursday and Friday, June 1-2, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Saturday, June 3, 2 p.m. Elephant and Piggie storm the stage in a rollicking musical romp filled with plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense perfect for young audiences. Together with nutty backup singers, The Squirrelles, the comedic duo even gets the audience involved in the action. $9 with museum admission ($7 members), $12 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.

‘The Beautiful and Damned’

Enjoy a musical interpretation of the classic novel at Westbury House, Friday, June 9, 7-10 p.m.

Before there was Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote “The Beautiful and Damned”: a story that delves into the psychological tribulations of, at first, having everything you’ve ever wanted.

What first presents itself as a beautiful love story quickly turns harrowing as the characters struggle to keep themselves afloat. As New York City tumbles into the Jazz Age, Fitzgerald’s characters tumble down a financial and psychological spiral they may never recover from. This adaptation by Long Island native, Brooke Di Spirito combines Fitzgerald’s meticulously detailed novel with the elements of a stage musical: a brand new script, score, choreography. Reservations required. $40. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

State parks prepare for busy summer of sharks

By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

Excited about summer, but nervous about sharks? There are a few things to know.

Above all, state officials have a comprehensive plan they say will ensure swimmers and boaters will be safe from sharks this summer. Joining forces to make that happen are the state’s parks, recreation, and historic preservation office, along with the environmental conservation department and the state police. All will increase surveillance along every state park beach.

“With New Yorkers and visitors alike preparing to enjoy our beautiful Long Island beaches all summer long, their safety is our top priority,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said, in a release. “I encourage all New Yorkers to listen to local authorities, follow guidance, and take precautions to ensure a safe and responsible beach trip this summer.”

How state officials will patrol parks deserves a big thanks from technology. Some 18 drones will monitor beaches for sharks — up from eight last year, Nearly three-dozen state staffers — from police to lifeguards — have or will be trained, all by Fourth of July weekend.

Two new Yamaha WaveRunners — what many might know as jetskis — have been assigned to lifeguards to patrol both Jones Beach and Robert Moses state parks.

To keep swimmers away from high levels of fish activity — where sharks are more likely to prowl — buffer zones will be created between swimming areas and surf fishing areas.

“The action being taken along the South Shore of Long Island will give us eyes in the sky and along the coastline,” state parks commissioner Eric Kulleseid said. “Over the past two seasons, we’ve learned that drones are the most effective mecha-

nism to detect environmental conditions that could attribute to shark activity.”

Those environmental conditions include areas with seals, schools of fish, diving birds, and murky water. Shark activity also can be higher at dusk, night and dawn, according to experts.

Should a shark be sighted at any beach, swimming will be suspended for at least one hour. That sighting then will be referred to the Long Island Coastal Awareness Group,

an environmental organization which consists of more than 200 people from municipalities, agencies, and private beach operators from Queens and Long Island.

There was higher-than-usual amount of shark activity off of Long Island last summer, including one documented shark attack on Jones Beach. Other places on the island with confirmed shark attacks included two on Smith Point Beach, and one each on Ocean Beach, Seaview Beach, and Fire Island.

The Ocean Beach attack was identified as a sand tiger shark, which is native to Long Island’s waters. Typically docile, these are the sharks one might see on a trip to the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead.

One of the attacks at Smith Point Beach was confirmed to be a tiger shark — most likely a juvenile.

None of the attacks were fatal, but the increased activity prompted the environmental conservation department to ease fears. State biologists Jim Gilmore and Chris Scott made two things clear to reporters last year — shark activity is not as dangerous as “Jaws” might lead you to believe. And shark activity means the environment of Long Island waters is doing well.

According to Gilmore and Scott, Long Island beachgoers may have let their guard down in recent years because the environment had not been thriving enough to support normal levels of shark activity.

“Many of our coastal shark species are protected now because they had declined,” Gilmore said, at the time. “And they were an important predator in the marine environment. So overall, this is good news for the marine environment and our ecosystems.”

Scott emphasized that seeing these ocean predators at Long Island beaches is completely normal.

“If you went to the woods in Alaska, you might see a bear,” he said. “If you go to the ocean here on Long Island,

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald file THErE CouLd BE sharks lurking in this choppy water off of Jones Beach’s West End. But if there are, there’s a few things to know — like the state is putting resources into protecting swimmers from sharks, and that shark activity is a sign of a healthy environment.

you make yourself change?

W“e know what we are, but know not what we might become.” Those are Shakespeare’s words. Yes, many people are pleased with themselves, yet recognize they’ve got a way to go to become the person they want to be. Not aiming for perfection, just mak ing changes that will enhance your life, career, health or relationships.

Of course, you can initiate change but soon enough revert back to your old ways. If that has been your pattern, you may feel discouraged, giving up on the idea that you can make yourself change. Scratch that negative thinking! I’m here to tell you that you can change - without threats, self-blame or harsh criticism. The key to a lasting transformation is motivating yourself to want to change. Then you automatically gravitate toward your goal like a flower turning to the sun for nourishment.

If you’re looking for ways to inspire yourself to stay on track, (even if a part of you feels like giving up), read on!

Remind Yourself Why You Want to Change

The beginning of change is relatively easy. You’re upset; you want to do better, so you decide to make a change. In contrast, the middle of the change process is harder. You’re no longer revved up. It just feels arduous, burdensome. Who needs this?

Now is the time to have a sit-down talk with yourself. Remind yourself why you initiated this change. Do you have goals that won’t be actualized unless you alter your behavior? Do you want to feel better about yourself? Do you wish to avoid negative consequences that are sure to occur if you fall off track?

Make Your Mantra “I Won’t Give Up!”

Though you want to change, a part of you doesn’t want to (i.e. it’s too hard, it takes too much effort.) If your mantra is “I Won’t Give Up,” you keep challenging yourself to move ahead despite any resistance or fear.

An example: you want to ask a VIP for

Ignore negative reflections on your character, such as “What’s wrong with you?” Instead focus on critiques that will help you perform better.

Reward Yourself for Progress

Is it easier for you to criticize or praise yourself? I hope your answer is praise! I hope you’re monitoring your progress, celebrating your successes and patting yourself on the back for staying on track. So how about creating an ongoing reward system for yourself, much like some businesses do? Stay on track for two months, reward yourself with a massage. Keep your anger in check for three months, treat yourself to a mini-vacation. Get the idea? I hope so! Once you’re moving toward achieving your goal, I hope you beam with pride.

©2023

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

One of the best. Once again. Right here in Oceanside.

High Performing in Nine Areas of Care

New Alzheimer’s respite care park offers some peace

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

A new space dedicated exclusively to those with Alzheimer’s disease and their families has been added to Eisenhower Park.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and Nassau County opened a new respite care relief park to help those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, as well as their caregivers. The Eisenhower Park location is the second one of its sort in the country — the only other one is in the Town of Babylon.

More than 50,000 people on Long Island — or 3 percent — live with Alzheimer’s disease. Across the country, that number jumps to 6.2 million people — or one in every 53 — said Chuck Fuschillo, president and chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. There are more than 100,000 caregivers.

We created “a respite relief park to give them a place to get out in the open,” Fuschillo said. “Obviously in the beautiful park that’s here in Eisenhower Park, but also for the caregivers to come to a safe setting to avoid caregiver burnout. The caregivers in this county — and throughout the island — really are our heroes.”

The park was created both to serve those living with the disease, and to recognize the caregivers. It includes educational information about dementia and Alzheimer’s, along with benches, a brick walkway, a gazebo, and greenery. Its purpose is to enable a caregiver to have much-needed relief, and learn more about what resources are available for them.

It’s also a place for a caregiver and their individual with Alzheimer’s or dementia to come and chat in a peaceful, outdoor area.

“This is an integral part of what this park is about,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. “It’s not just about sporting events, it’s not just about cultural

events, it’s not just about entertainment — it’s about a place where people can go to be with nature, in a peaceful setting. And it’s incredibly important to those who have been afflicted with Alzheimer’s and dementia.”

Blakeman heard from many who have family members with Alzheimer’s or dementia about how disrupting it is for those families.

“They need places to go. They need programs. And that’s what the American Alzheimer’s Foundation does,” the county executive said.

“They create these programs. They create an environment to help not only people who are afflicted, but also those people who are living with it each and every day — the families and the caregivers.”

Private donors funded the park’s creation. Other money came from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, a charitable organization that gives money for health care and health-related initiatives in New York. The foundation helped fund the Town of Babylon location, and a new one that will be built in Yonkers this fall.

Fuschillo thanked county legislator Tom McKevitt for taking the lead on the project after the legislature approved the park.

“Alzheimer’s is not only so tough for the person who’s going through it, but especially to the family and caregivers — it’s completely consuming to their life,” McKevitt said. “They want to have a place where they can go with their relative, with their loved one, and have a few moments of peace.”

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America was founded in 2002 by Bert Brodsky, whose mother lived with Alzheimer’s disease between 1980 and 1992. At the time that he was caring for her, Brodsky found there was not a lot of information out there regarding the disease, and he struggled with how to find support.

Now, the foundation helps hundreds of thousands of people annually.

“I never thought I could affect anybody’s life but my own, but I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to start the foundation and help those families that are dealing with this terrible, terrible disease,” Brodsky said.

“The respite park is a perfect example of what could happen when you put your mind to something, and you try and make the world just a little bit better.”

Mallory Wilson/Herald BeRt BROdSkY, the founder and board chair of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, shares his experience of taking care of his mother, who had Alzheimer’s, during the unveiling of a respite care relief park at Eisenhower Park’s Field 6.

SMCCA reflects on changes, Berta Weinstein is sworn in

By JESSICA REN

Intern

Berta Weinstein, former vice president of the South Merrick Community Civic Association, was sworn in by State Assemblyman David McDonough last month, succeeding the former president Joe Baker. Weinstein has been an active member of the SMCCA for over 16 years.

“It feels different,” Weinstein said. “Unexpected. But I hope I can do as good a job as the previous president.”

The SMCCA is also seeking new members after the coronavirus pandemic.

“We want to rebuild after Covid,” Weinstein said. “We want to rebuild our civic, get lots of new members and young people, young people with children, middle aged or older people as well. We just want to build our community. We want to keep our community safe and healthy, and nice for other families to move in.

“We didn’t have meetings, so no one could do anything,” Weinstein added. “Things were just very flat. Nothing was done, no one was around. No one was able to do anything. We would help the community as much as we could by possibly helping a neighbor or helping a friend, or a family member that was living around in the area. We couldn’t have our meetings to see who needed help or what neighborhood. Everything was word of mouth, and it was very difficult. It was a really hard time.”

After the pandemic, the association began holding meetings again last year and continues encouraging residents to reach out and be more involved in the community.

“We had a lot of members before Covid, but as Joe (Baker) mentioned, some of the members passed away,” Weinstein said. “The older members passed

away, peope moved out, and young people didn’t really know much about us. Through the youth club, we got some new members. We had new people coming in and they found out about us. The kids from the high school got credit for school when we did the cleanups.

“We’re not gone, we’re still here, but we want to rebuild,” Weinstein went on. “We want to reestablish it. We want to make it stronger than it was before, and we want to rebuild it so we can all be working together to make our community the way we want it to be.”

Tracey Morgan, an active member of SMCCA for two years, who has lived in Merrick for over 58 years and the owner of Budd Morgan Central Station Alarm in Bellmore, was also sworn in onto the board by McDonough.

“I want to give back,” Morgan said. “I want to do something for my community. My family and I have four children and they’ve all gone through the same schools that I went through. My interest here was to see what I could do to lend a hand and help out, to make this community a better place.”

“(SMCCA) really needed some help, so I said I’d be willing to lend a hand,” Morgan added. “My business has served the community here since the 1960s, so the community has been very good to us. Now this is our chance to be very good to it. It’s very unusual to have so many people come back into our community but we have multigenerational families here, so someone’s got to do this. The more hands, more ideas, the better our community will be.”

SMCCA encourages residents of all areas in Merrick to take part in the association. For more information, visit SouthMerrickCivic.org or visit the South Merrick Community Civic Association page on Facebook.

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, as Trustee for Freddie Mac Seasoned Credit Risk Transfer Trust, Series 2017-2, as Owner of the Related Mortgage Loan, Plaintiff AGAINST The Estate of Antonio Aliberti a/k/a Anthony Aliberti, et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 15, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 13, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 106 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: 345, LOT: 67, Lot Group 67-68. Approximate amount of judgment $723,582.11 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #613754/2018. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Georgia Papazis, Esq, Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-087658-F00 75937 139367

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 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF NASSAU COUNTY AS ADMINSTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ELAINE SCHARF, RICHARD CRAIG SCHARF AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELAINE SCHARF, ALLISON KORMAN AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELAINE SCHARF, JULIE MIRKIN AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELAINE SCHARF, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 9, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 27, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2741 SOUTH STREET MARKS AVENUE, 2741 SOUTH SAINT MARKS AVENUE, 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 63, Block 273, Lot 23. Approximate amount of judgment $860,165.95 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #601256/2020. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 16-006294 76147 139670

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff

AGAINST

Nassau County Public Administrator, as the Limited Administrator of the Estate of Thomas Danetti a/k/a Thomas J. Danetti a/k/a Thomas Danetti, Sr.; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

duly entered March 3, 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 27, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2739 Lee Place, Bellmore, NY 11710. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 63 Block 225 Lots 21 & 22. Approximate amount of judgment $613,854.67 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 612949/2018. 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.”

Mary Ellen Divone, 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 24, 2023

For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 139616

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 6/07/23 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 352/23. BELLMOREThomas & Mary Donato, Renewal of grant to maintain 2-family dwelling., S/s Grand Ave., 350’ E/o Newbridge Rd., a/k/a 2470 Grand Ave. N.C.P.C. Local determination. 360/23. - 361/23. N. BELLMORE - Irving & Annette Myones, Variance, side yard, maintain a/c unit attached to dwelling; Variance, side yard, maintain wood deck attached to dwelling., W/s Liberty Ave., 314.63’ N/o Kampfe Pl., a/k/a 1390 Liberty Ave. N.C.P.C. Local determination.

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

This notice is only for new cases in 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. 139794

Jessica Ren/Herald

JoE BAkER EmBRACINg Berta Weinstein as he passes down his presidency to the former vice president of SMCCA.

Employment HERALD

Administrative Opening Monticello Central School High School Principal

H ebrew Academy of Long Beach seeks educators to join our exceptional school faculty in fostering a culture of academic exploration and excellence and dedication to spiritual, intellectual, and personal growth of all students. We are currently looking for candidates in the following divisions:

Lev Chana Early Childhood: Early Childhood Assistant Teachers

HALB Elementary School: Assistant Teachers

Part Time Morah

Middle School Morah

Full Time Rebbe

Middle School Math Teacher

DRS Yeshiva High School for Boys:

English Teacher

Science Teacher

Learning Center Teacher

Assistant College Guidance Counselor

SKA High School for Girls:

Graphic Design Teacher

Ivrit Teacher

Halacha Teacher

AP Computer Science Teacher

To learn more about our school community, please visit www.halb.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

Please send resumes or inquiries to resumes@halb.org

The Monticello CSD is seeking forward thinking and dynamic School Building Principal who can lead MCSD’s highly engaged faculty, staff, parents, students, and community. The successful candidate will have a vision of educational excellence, be highly motivated, and demonstrates an ability to impact student learning.

Starting Salary: $150,000

NYS SDA/SAS/SBL Certification Required plus 2 yrs. of previous administrative leadership and 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred.

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Administrative Opening

Assistant Elementary Principal

The successful candidate should possess: Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.

Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000

NYS SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus 3 yrs. exp as a classroom teacher preferred.

Please apply online by June 15th at https://monticelloschools.tedk12.com/hire or OLAS EOE

Assistant Secondary Principal

The successful candidate should possess: Knowledge of research-based instructional programs & practices; exp. w/ teacher supervision & evaluation; a record of successfully improving learning experiences and enhancing school to home communication; and can provide a supportive environment with knowledge of social-emotional competencies, restorative practices, and promote a culturally responsive educational climate.

Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000

SDA/SDL/SBL Certification Required plus

yrs. exp. as a classroom teacher preferred.

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The finer points of roofing

Q. We finally found a home and have fixing-up to do. The first thing is new roofing. We interviewed roofers. One told us he “cuts” in the valleys where the roof meets, and another said he would not recommend that. What do you recommend, and are there other things we should know? The gutters are old and sagging, and not really draining, either.

A. A roof is one of the first things any home buyer should look at before a purchase. The slope of the land and the roof condition are very important.

Ask The Architect Monte Leeper

Roof shingles are chosen depending on the slope of the roof. For example, a steeper slope will get greater wear due to the velocity of the running water, so a heavier architectural shingle is my first choice. Thinner shingles can be used on less sloped roofs, although I recommend the longerlasting, more heavily constructed shingles for steep and low slopes anyway, because they tend to last longer.

If the slope of the roof is less than 3 inches vertically for every 12 inches horizontally, called a 3-in12 pitch, then you should pay more attention to the underlayment. You should pay more, and get the self-adhering, flexible membrane, often referred to as “ice and water shield,” although that is actually a trade name of W.R. Grace. The code refers to the membrane as “ice barrier underlayment.”

The current building code allows for roofing shingles on a 2-inch to 12-inch pitch, but be mindful that building codes establish the minimum requirement, and failure can easily occur on a lower sloping roof when ice forms and water pools and backs up under the shingles and through the hundreds of nail holes that were made when the shingles were nailed into place. Flexible membrane underneath has performed very well over the life of roofing, and grips the nails to limit leaking, but be safe and have the membrane installed across the entire roof. The code requires only that the membrane be installed around the perimeter edges of the roof and on either side of the roof ridge.

As for cutting the valleys — the troughs where the roofs join — I understand that many roofers like the look and believe that seeing the clean metal valley is better because the water runs faster, but the tradeoff is that any time you cut a material and create a joint, the possibility for water penetration is increased. Ice and snow buildup in the valley can cause water to dam and get into the roof.

I recommend weaving the valleys by alternating the shingles and not exposing the valley trough, which should still be installed underneath the woven shingles, over membrane, because, as I have often written, redundancy is the most important thing in construction to prevent leaks. Have the gutters installed so that the downspouts are attached at corners, on trim. It’s a cleaner look. Good luck in your new home!

© 2023 Monte Leeper

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Long Islanders have all kinds of non-romantic love affairs. They love their school boards, their teachers and their garbage collectors, and they even show some love for their utility companies. But when things go wrong, the love affair is over. That applies especially to the companies that provide electricity, gas or cable service. The shortest of the love affairs is when the lights go out for a long period of time.

The problems with lighting companies date back to the early 1960s, when the Long Island Lighting Company was Public Enemy No. 1. Those of you who were living on Long Island at the time should remember that just uttering the word LILCO would get somebody mad. It was a powerful organization that had many friends in high places, but it made mistake after mistake, and its ratepayers wanted heads to roll. The company’s biggest calamity was when power was knocked out for weeks while its chair-

OpINIONS

The PSEG love affair is over

man was in Italy. He didn’t come home until it was too late, and that was the moment of truth.

For the following 20 years, ratepayers demonstrated, howled, screamed and went to war against LILCO, demanding that the state take it over. In 1988, Gov. Mario Cuomo signed a bill establishing the Long Island Power Authority, whose sole purpose was to take over LILCO and keep the lights on forever. LIPA bought out LILCO, and took over its workforce and operations. LIPA did a decent job, but it was always understood that someday the Long Island operation would be contracted out to a larger utility company.

Around 2010, LIPA decided to publicly ask the utility industry to consider operating on the island. Two companies, Con Edison and Public Service Electric and Gas, offered to become the power provider. Con Ed was well known, but many new arrivals from New York City had a bad taste in their mouths from its service, and PSEG began to get serious consideration. It had a lot of friends in high places, and in a short time won the con-

tract to provide electrical power to Long Island’s 1.3 million residents. The utility got a bad break when, two days after its contract took effect, the Island was hit with a major snowstorm, but we Islanders can be very forgiving, and PSEG was spared any criticism.

The romance with PSEG continued for quite some time, until we had three 100year storms in one year. Thousands of ratepayers were without power for weeks, and the company’s response was slow and inefficient. Part of the reason it was unable to get its customers post-storm relief was the aged power system. Its communication operation, as well, was antiquated, and the grid had to be made stronger and more efficient. That took money, and that meant rate increases. PSEG began taking long-overdue steps such as massive tree trimming, but the bonds of love had already broken.

Over the past few years, there has been a new effort to get the state to consider letting the power system be managed locally again, but with a whole new approach: municipalization, which means that LIPA would be overseen by a

whole new bunch of local citizens who would be responsible for its operation. The state created a commission and gave it $2 million for hearings and consultants. To date, the process has fallen flat, and it will be some time before it gets moving ahead again.

There are two things wrong with the drive to let John Q. Citizen run the power system. First of all, why not sit down with other power companies and see if they are willing to be the operators? It’s possible that we can find a company with the credentials to keep the lights on without jumping into some untested, citizenrun operation.

Second, even if we can’t immediately find a suitor, giving a group of local neighbors the power to dictate to professionals is a very dangerous move. Long Islanders don’t ask for much in the course of the average day. They need their lights to stay on, and the best way to accomplish that is to have people running our system who know what they’re doing.

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

Summer reading: To escape or go deep?

Of course, we must have a summer to take up the subject of summer reading. Which reminds me of a great book about Krakatoa, which was blown to oblivion in 1883 when a volcano erupted, creating what became known as the year without a summer. The book “Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded,” by Simon Winchester, explains that the massive volume of debris thrown into the atmosphere darkened the world for months, not just in Indonesia, but around the globe.

of those people who eventually combusts from the pressure of awful news in the world and starts screaming at the TV or running down the street with my hair on fire. When I was a kid, my escape from stress was reading, and it still is. Still, it’s so hard to concentrate when I see with my own eyes glaciers the size of Rhode Island breaking off the Antarctic continent.

Possibility of Life,” by Jaime Green, on the search for other life in the universe. Think of it as the ultimate escape: Who’s out there, and how can we make contact? Spoiler alert: They won’t come in human form.

nonfiction account of an American soldier who goes back to Afghanistan after the war. His mission is to find the man who worked with him in country and help him escape.

RANDI KREISS

Anyway, what I was saying is that we’ve had plenty of chill winds this spring, but the days ahead look promising. If you’re still in indoor mode, you might pick up Winchester’s book and commiserate with the millions of people in the 19th century who lived in the shade of Krakatoa. I would put that book in the category of “escape,” and I would add a few to the list for those reading to run away. Heaven knows, many of us have our traveling pants on. I feel as if I could become one

But we must persist. Add to the escape literature a blockbuster by a prince of a guy, Harry, the Duke of Sussex. He narrates “Spare,” the audible version of his memoir, in a warm and ironic voice. His tone is intimate and his affect is humble. The royals are an endless source of skullduggery and palace intrigue. This book is infused with tasty morsels of delicious gossip.

Also, pick up “Priestdaddy,” by Patricia Lockwood, the comic memoir of her childhood in a rectory as the daughter of a priest. She uses her own life as copy, and she gets why it would be an entertaining subject even for those of us whose fathers aren’t priests but just fathers.

One more on that list would be “The

If distraction and escape aren’t possible, if you’re too consumed by the political and cultural moment, then just give in and read deeply and widely so you can broaden your base of information and at least understand why the world is going to hell.

I’m leaning toward nonfiction and short stories these days. Try “The Great Leveler,” by Walter Scheidel. In this wellreviewed nonfiction book, he argues that only catastrophes like pandemics and great, violent upheavals like world wars can ever address economic inequality. Hey, you’re depressed anyway — might as well be educated as to why.

“The Soul of America,” by the great Jon Meacham, is a glorious history that basically asks, over many illuminating pages: How do we save our democracy?

“The Naked Don’t Fear the Water,” by Matthieu Aikins, is a timely and telling

“Tenth of December,” on the other hand, is both escapist and deep. The short stories by George Saunders — author of the popular and weird “Lincoln in the Bardo” — are challenging, but you can do it. They require concentration and focus, and that’s a good thing, because it means you may be able to tune out the news. I can’t begin to explain the stories; they defy summarizing. But I urge you to read them and absorb what Saunders has to say about our American culture.

Finally, you can read any number of books about the rise of Donald Trump, the end of civility in America, the undermining of our democracy and the threat of totalitarianism. But if you truly want to examine the real possibilities of the past serving as prologue to the present, try a nonfiction masterpiece, “Hitler,” by Ian Kershaw. One critic called it “mesmerizing,” and said that what was most amazing was the number of opportunities when Hitler might have been stopped in his mad rise to power. Nuf said.

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

Broaden your base of info, and understand why the world is going to hell.

B ut giving neighbors the power to dictate to professionals is dangerous.

JERRY KREMER

Learn about dementia, for your sake and others’

Memory loss is common as we get older. Going to the grocery store and forgetting what you went there for. Trying to remember the name of an actor from your favorite movie. Even panicking because you have no idea where you left your keys.

These are experiences many people can relate to, especially once you reach your 50s.

But memory loss may be more than just a sign of aging. It can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s.

June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. More than 55 million people worldwide live with the disease or another type of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Now is a great time to get checked, because early detection could make a major difference in how the disease progresses.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but doctors recommend medications like galantamine, rivastigmine and donepezil. They’re helpful, according to the National Institute on Aging, because they prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is important for memory and learning.

Put simply, the drugs help nerve cells communicate.

There are opportunities for everyone to observe Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. Spreading the word about the

letters

D’Esposito punted on Santos

To the Editor:

importance of being tested for the disease as well as learning about the different types of dementia is something everyone should do.

And knowing the signs of Alzheimer’s can help you help others. The most obvious, of course, is memory loss — specifically about recent events. Difficulty completing tasks that were once part of your routine is another. And sometimes people’s personalities change, and they may become more aggressive, angry or hopeless.

Not being able to find the right word to express oneself is often another sign, as is an inability to do tasks that were once routine.

And while it might not seem related, it really is important to prevent and address hearing loss, even if it involves buying hearing aids. According to Johns Hopkins, hearing loss is estimated to account for 8 percent of dementia cases. Scientists believe hearing loss may actually be a cause of dementia. When you can’t hear, your brain works overtime as it strains to hear and fill in the gaps, which comes at the expense of other thinking and memory systems.

Researchers are also finding that hearing loss causes people to be less engaged. We can all think of a relative who sits in a corner and doesn’t participate at family functions, complaining they can’t hear

The Herald seemed intent on misleading its readers as to the actions of U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito in last week’s story “D’Esposito wants George Santos out of Congress.”

The article stated that D’Esposito “spoke out in support of a resolution to expel his fellow Long Island Republican representative,” leaving the impression that he did all he could to remove Santos from Congress.

What the article left out, however, is that D’Esposito did not vote to expel Santos. Instead, he introduced the resolution that resulted in the matter of expulsion being referred to the House Ethics Committee, which has been investigating Santos since March.

D’Esposito disingenuously defended this vote by claiming that it would be the “quickest way” to rid Congress of Santos. Of course, that is false. The quickest way would have been for the majority of House Republicans — including all those who have called for Santos’ removal — to vote for his expulsion.

Instead, a direct vote on expulsion was blocked by the D’Esposito resolution. While D’Esposito’s rhetoric on Santos is welcome, actions speak louder than words. The people of Long Island and the nation deserved better.

JAy K. GOLDBERG Woodmere

This Floridian agrees with Kremer about DeSantis

To the Editor: Re Jerry Kremer’s column “Something’s going wrong in Florida” (May 18-24): I totally agree with his observations. Back in the 1970s, I was a Nassau County

what’s being said.

Don’t ignore them. It’s important for them to be socially engaged, because they need to remain intellectually stimulated in order to avoid dementia. A little patience and encouragement from those around them can go a long way.

If you do find out you have early signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia, don’t give up. Find ways to train your brain to fight the disease. Do crossword puzzles, word searches, Sudoku. Play chess, or even video games. Challenge yourself to learn new information or skills, like how to knit. Enroll in a class.

And for those who can still find their keys, reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia by getting enough sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and managing your blood sugar.

Looking for a way to make a difference? Help people with Alzheimer’s by volunteering. The Long Island Alzheimer’s and Dementia Center, in Westbury, often has volunteers helping at its day program. They act as companions, and help people with memory loss be creative in arts and crafts. It can be a very rewarding experience.

Until there is a cure for Alzheimer’s, it’s important to take care of yourself by being tested and helping those around you who may need that little push. And it’s important to take care of yourself, too.

Democrat. I spent many days at headquarters in Mineola. Today I’m living in St. Augustine, Florida. When we moved to this area, Ron DeSantis was our congressman. Then, amazingly, Trump propelled him to the governor’s mansion.

I agree totally with Kremer’s assessment of the person I call “DeMentis” because he’s so crazy. With a compliant and willing legis-

Why Nassau needs a strong inspector general’s office

as a legislator who served during the height of corruption in Nassau County and witnessed the indictment of former County Executive Ed Mangano, I know firsthand how important it is to have mechanisms in place to protect taxpayer money from the pitfalls of waste and fraud.

Over the past few years, I have worked closely with my colleagues in the County Legislature’s Democratic minority caucus to strengthen the integrity of Nassau’s procurement system and make the process of awarding contracts as fair and secure as possible. We did so by increasing the rigor of our contract reviews; requiring vendors to submit the names of all principals and any political contributions they have made; and mandating the disclosure of any violations an applicant may have been issued.

Soon afterward, we created the Office of the Inspector General and appointed the county’s first inspector general, Jodi Franzese, with unanimous bipartisan

support following an extensive search. After the fights and scandals of the previous years, this was a truly proud moment in my legislative career, and represented real progress in our ongoing efforts to root out corruption in the county.

Operating as an independent official, the inspector general and their team promote transparency and increase the accountability of county operations by reviewing each contract to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and the abuse of taxpayer money in county procurement. Continued support for the office is critical to ensure the integrity of our procurement system — one that encompasses hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

At a time when the county has received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds and tens of millions more in settlements from the opioid manufacturers and distributors who flooded our communities with dangerous, addictive prescription drugs, I believe this function is especially vital. And with the Legislature’s vote on May 22, the county is also likely to face an array of substantial contracts in the not-too-distant future relat-

Letters

lature, he is turning Florida into our country’s leading autocracy. This state is a stark contrast to what it was when we first moved here in 1992. At that time it was affordable, safe and sane. Today it is expensive, dangerous and crazy.

Kremer is correct in his commentary on the sad social and political conditions in Florida in 2023 under the misguidance of Ron DeMentis. I do not believe he can or will win the 2024 Republican nomination, but I am fearful that he can persuade the state legislature to change the twoterm governorship limit. That would be devastating to a state his policies have already crippled.

RICHARD CORTELL St. Augustine, Florida

Post-pandemic, we need a new way forward

To the Editor:

During the coronavirus pandemic, New York froze. In particular, health care services froze in their tracks under the strain and demand, and shifted to responding to the new threat to the population’s health.

Unfortunately, health care services and interventions not related to Covid-19 were put on the back burner. As a result, nonCovid health issues were not prioritized, resulting in people getting sicker for a variety of reasons.

Although the pandemic was a prioritizing focus for health departments and the government, other issues did not need to be pushed to the side.

One issue that was left behind was the focus on reducing rates of sexually transmitted diseases, with an increase in infections reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2020. Due to the pandemic restrictions imposed to make people safer, many sexual health clinics and health care providers reduced service or close entirely.

Additionally, government resources previously dedicated to reducing STD rates were redirected to address the pandemic.

This allowed rates of STDs such as syphilis and gonorrhea to increase. This scenario is most harmful to adolescents and young adults, who are at disproportionately greater risk of testing positive for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, as the CDC recommends routine testing for this age group. But the pandemic disrupted this routine for many.

In addition, disparities for marginalized communities, such as people of color and men who have sex with men, were exacerbated, with men of color who had sex with men disproportionately testing positive for STDs during the pandemic.

Although the government was required to redirect national health initiatives to address the crisis, a new way forward is needed, because these disparities persist, and there are proven methods of

ed to the redevelopment of the Nassau Hub in Uniondale, the outcome of which will profoundly shape our county for a generation.

However, it appears that there are efforts being made to weaken this crucial government watchdog at a time when I believe it is needed the most.

After her four-year term expired at the end of 2022, Franzese worked for months without being reappointed by the Legislature, putting herself and the entire office in an uncertain position. Without the protection of being formally appointed by a bipartisan, 13-vote supermajority, her ability to accomplish her mission of serving as an independent watchdog was inherently weakened. Our minority caucus introduced legislation in April to extend her contract through 2026. Unfortunately, the majority rejected our proposal.

I can’t help but wonder whether political considerations were a factor in the decision to stall Franzese’s reappointment. Consider this fact: If Republicans capture just one more seat in November, they will establish a 13-vote supermajority in the Legislature. With that, they

would have full control of every arm of county government, and could feasibly install an inspector general who would rubber-stamp whatever contracts come before the Legislature, undermining its ability to provide checks and balances as a truly coequal branch of government.

Such an atmosphere would be a tremendous disservice to county taxpayers.

I fear it would also create a fertile breeding ground for a return to the troubles of our recent past at a time when those taxpayers simply can’t afford to go backward.

For all these reasons, I am passionate about preserving and enhancing ethics safeguards like the inspector general’s office. Not only do such entities protect taxpayer money from waste, fraud and abuse, but they also deter future bad actors and help to ensure that elected officials have all the information they need to reach informed decisions. The minority caucus will continue to fight tirelessly to improve the procurement process to make it more open, inclusive and cost-effective, because it is essential for Nassau County to continue down the path of good government and transparency.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, of Glen Cove, represents Nassau County’s 11th Legislative District.

Framework by Tim Baker

addressing them. Targeted interventions are required to eliminate these disparities, making better use of our local communities to keeping us healthier going forward.

Redirecting funding back to local organizations and health care providers that are addressing these issues is an impor-

tant start. Go get tested, and stay safe!

DANIEL MORALES

The author is studying for his master’s degree in public health and management at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.

Illuminated art, projected onto a wall of the high school — Baldwin

It appears there are efforts to weaken this crucial government watchdog.

DeLIa

DerIGGI-wHItton