Bellmore Herald 11-24-2022

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Calhoun wins state volleyball championship

By ToNY BEllISSIMo and BRIAN KACHARABA sports@liherald.com

Calhoun left little doubt as to which high school girls’ vol leyball team is the best in New York state.

After dominating Saturday’s four-team pool play, the Colts completed an extraordinary run to their first-ever state title by dethroning two-time defend ing Class A-champion Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, 25-11, 25-19, 25-19 in Sunday’s final in Glens Falls.

Backed by the inspiring play

of senior co-captains Julia Lawrence, Ella Maldonado and Victoria Zovich and key contri butions from other players in the rotation, the Colts made good on their preseason man tra of “Road to States,” which coach Christina Strezenec said was put on the team’s white board after last season’s Nas sau County finals loss to Want agh.

“We knew it was a dream of ours and we knew we could get it, but it was a matter of how far we were going to get,” Strezenec said after the title

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

By all accounts, Paul Laursen had an infec tious laugh that everyone around town knew. Whether you saw him at a civic association, histor ical society, Chamber of Com merce or Kiwanis meeting, he was always smiling, laughing, and sitting front and center in the audience.

A community fixture and a longtime reporter and photogra pher, Laursen was the editor of

the Merrick and Bellmore Life newspapers, which were pur chased by Richner Communica tions, the parent company of the Herald Community Newspapers, in 2013.

Laursen died on Nov. 15, in his North Bellmore home, of ongoing medical problems. He was 67.

Laursen’s family has long been known around Merrick and Bellmore. His parents, Faith and Johannes Laursen, purchased the Merrick Life in 1958, 20 years after the paper was founded. They started the Bellmore Life

RICHARD KESSEl Chairman, Nassau County IDA

in the 1960s, at the request of the community, and owned the Wantagh-Seaford Citizen and Freeport Baldwin Leader news papers as well, which were also bought by Richner in 2013.

The Laursens passed the newspapers down to Paul and

his sister, Linda Toscano, who served as their publisher. Their brother, John Laursen, is a pro fessor at the University of Cali fornia, Riverside, and lives there with his family.

Born on Dec. 5, 1954, Paul Laursen grew up in Rockville Centre and was a proud graduate

of South Side High School. Much of his childhood was spent in the Life’s office, where he developed a love for news writing and pho tography, which led him to study journalism at American Univer sity in Washington, D.C. He grad uated in 1977.

Liss Phillips/Herald

CAlHouN HIGH SCHool’S girls’ volleyball team made history last Sunday by winning the New York State Class A championship with a sweep of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake in Glens Falls.

A patriotic showing at Lakeside School

Several veterans, including Peter Stanski, Ronald Mazza, Matthew DeGregorio, Thomas Hart, Pat Keane, Kenneth Malia, Max Forcht and Katina Tsahalis visited Norman J. Levy Lakeside School in Merrick earlier this month, along with Hempstead Town Councilman Chris Carini and Town Clerk Kate Murray.

Posh Paws celebrates opening

Though Posh Paws, a dog grooming salon in Bellmore, officially opened its doors last December, it celebrated the accomplis mnet with a grand opening ceremony earlier this month. Shelby Grillo, and her pooch Caopone, met Town Councilman Chris Carini. Posh Paws is at 2694B Merrick Road, Bellmore. Visit PoshPawsLI.com for more.

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

Mepham High School hosts ‘Stairway Climb’

Students climb 110 flights of stairs and raise money for Tunnels to Towers Foundation

Wellington C. Mepham High School in the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District hosted a stairway climb on Nov. 10 in honor and remembrance of lives lost and first responders who made the ultimate sacri fice on 9/11.

For a participation fee of $10, students and staff members climbed the equivalent of 110 flights of stairs up and down the three-story school. Both the varsity foot ball and kickline teams participated.

MephaCapella performed “The Star-Span gled Banner” ahead of the climb. Bell more-Merrick Broadcasting covered the event.

“Today, we will climb the stairs of Mepham High School, as unified Pirates to pay tribute to the 2,997 victims of the Sept. 11th attacks,” explained social stud ies teacher and event co-organizer Kerry Dennis to the crowd of more than 150 stu dents who participated.

The $1,700 raised will go to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which helps fami lies of fallen first responders.

“On Sept. 11, 2001, Stephen Siller, who was assigned to Brooklyn’s Squad 1, had

just finished his shift and was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got word over his scanner of a plane hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Cen ter,” Dennis explained. “Upon hearing the news, Stephen called his wife, Sally, and asked her to tell his brothers he would catch up with them later.

“He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear,” Dennis added. “Stephen drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Bat tery Tunnel, but it had already been closed for security purposes. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back and raced on foot through the tunnel to the World Trade Center, where he gave up his life while sav ing others. The tower climb also pays trib ute to Captain William F. Burke Jr.”

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was created by Stephen Siller’s brother. Social studies teacher Chris Patten also helped organize the event and played the bag pipes outside as motivation for stairway climb participants. The North Bellmore Fire Department created a gigantic Amer ican flag arch for the students to walk under as they completed the climb.

—Jordan Vallone

Photos courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central District The NorTh Bellmore Fire Department created a gigantic American flag arch for the students to walk under as they completed the climb.

Bellmore-merrick BroadcasTiNg, lefT, covered, the event.

mephacapella, Below, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of the climb. The fooTBall Team, bottom left, participated in the climb together.

Remembering a ‘true journalist’ and friend

Richard Kessel, former CEO of the New York Power Authority, current chairman of the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency and a longtime Merrick resident, recalled getting to know Laursen as a boy. When Kessel was a student at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, he worked as a cub reporter for Laursen’s par ents.

“I remember him as a kid — that’s how long we knew each other,” Kessel told the Herald last week. “I got to know him as a reporter. For many years, he covered my career, really from the time I got into government and politics.

“He was a good reporter, a thorough reporter and a fair reporter,” Kessel added. “I think his parents would’ve been very proud of him. He got his facts straight, he asked lots of questions, and that’s all you can ask of a journalist. He was a true journalist.”

Toscano said that her brother was always involved in family gatherings, and that he loved the beach as much as he loved New York City. “He never wanted to live any where but Long Island,” she said, “where he could go to the beach and city when he wanted to.”

The newspapers’ office was Laursen’s home away from home, Toscano said. “As editor of the newspaper, that was his second family,” she said. “He spent many hours there, in the office or out in the community.”

He was more than a writer, his sister added, always offering his help to anyone in town. Outside Merrick, Laursen was involved in organizations in Bellmore, Wantagh and Seaford.

Joe Baker, president of the South Merrick Communi ty Civic Association and a board member of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce, said that Laursen was a dear friend for many years. “We conversed almost on a daily basis,” Baker said. “He was a kind person. He never said anything bad about anyone. His laugh was contagious — even from the least-funny joke, he would get hysterical.”

“It made you feel warm, it made you feel comfortable,” Kessel said of Laursen’s laugh. “You were always happy to be in his presence.”

Kessel called Laursen a “walking historian.” “He remembered so much from so many years ago,” Kessel said. “When I dealt with him, he would talk about things that I did 30, 40 years ago. He had a great memory and a great mind — he was very sharp, and very witty.”

Aside from his love of Long Island and New York City, Laursen was an avid traveler, Toscano said. He had trav eled around Europe extensively, especially Denmark, and had been on press tours to South Africa and China and on church tours to Ireland, Israel, Egypt, Germany and Mexico.

As he got older, and encountered some health prob lems, Laursen had trouble driving, and Baker said he would pick him up and take him to community meetings, because he always wanted to remain involved.

“Looking out in the audience, he was always there,”

Baker said. “I’ll be missing him at our meetings. It’s hard to believe, and it’s something that’s going to take a while to realize that we’re never going to see him again.”

There was no public wake or funeral for Laurs en, but Charles Rosenblum, a Merrick-based law yer, said that Toscano had made arrangements for a Celebration of Life on Nov. 27, from 3 to 6 p.m., at RS Beanery, a coffee and cocktail café that Laursen frequented. Those who plan to attend can stop by any time to share memories and stories of Laursen, and listen to some of his favorite songs. Guests are asked to wear their favorite band T-shirt or bright colors in his honor. RS Beanery is at 153 Merrick Ave. in Merrick.

Tuscano added that her daughter is collecting photos and videos of Laursen to create a tribute for family and friends, and that anyone interested in contributing can email them to cfmtoscano@ gmail.com.

“He was like a walking newspaper,” Kessel said of his friend. “He had his pad, he had his camera, and he was very familiar to the community.

“He was part of history,” he added. “He will be really, really missed.”

Courtesy Linda Toscano

Laursen, the former editor of the Bellmore and Merrick Life newspapers, died last week at age 67. He was a friend to many, and his presence around town, as described by friends and fami ly, will be greatly missed.

Herald file

pauL Laursen, Center, with Barbara and Bill Wood at the 25-acre Faith Laursen preserve, which was established in 1993 in his mother’s name.

GOP, Dems can’t agree on district maps

As comments close, voters beg for more time to decide

By KarINa KOVaC kkovac@liherald.com

Nassau County Republicans and Demo crats remained far apart when it comes to redistricting the county legislature. And as a final map is expected to be released this week — if not already — some who gath ered to see drafts proposals in Mineola seemed displeased, too.

Redistricting happens once every decade, coinciding with the census, and happening at all levels of government. Bat tles raged earlier this year over statewide maps determining congressional districts and state officeholders. And it was no dif ferent last week when the public had a chance to speak out about the maps used to determine who will represent them in the county legislature.

It was, of course, a meeting that also included claims of “gerrymandering,” from people like SUNY Binghamton politi cal science professor Daniel Magleby, who defined the term as districting that typical ly gives one political party “an unfair advantage by diluting opposition’s voting strength.”

“This is a textbook, example of what a packing gerrymander looks like,” Magleby said of the maps, comparing them to the last time the county redistricted, and what he described as an “extreme partisan ger rymander and an outlier relative to this ensemble of maps.

“Both maps — the 2013 map and the Nov. 10 Republican proposal — show pat terns of systematic bias against Democrat ic voters in ways that underweighs their influence on elections in this county.”

Even Francis Moroney, chair of the committee in charge of reviewing the maps, agreed with Magleby.

“We all know that their proposal is bla tantly illegal,” he said. “So it is not surpris ing that they are trying to shield the map from public view, and it made it impossible for the public to understand why they are proposing what they are proposing. We cannot ignore the fact that the severe seg

regation and discrimination in Nassau County is a result of gerrymandered maps.”

But if there was a lack of transparency on the Republican side, it wasn’t much dif ferent than what was happening on the Democratic side, said committee member Peter Bee.

“They ambush you,” he said. “That’s their job. They’re trying to paint a picture that doesn’t exist. From our point of view, a Democratically controlled Assembly, a Democratically controlled Senate, to the Democratic governor enacted a law that said redistricting shall be done in a partic ular manner.”

The main goal, Bee explained, is “one person, one vote,” that is that “each legisla tor should represent roughly the same number of people.”

“I think our map has a smaller devia tion in population than does the Democrat ic map,” Bee said. “The state law also says that you are not to deny racial or language minority groups their participation in pol itics. We do not think that our mapping has done so.”

But each map has its flaws, according to

civil rights lawyer Frederick Brewington, describing those problems with terms like “stacking,” “packing” and “cracking,” which he says creates an unequal balance of power.

“It’s very important for you to under stand that the reason why so many people are here, there is no hope that you’re going to do the right thing,” Brewington said. “But there is hope that we can take this to a place where they will say that you did them wrong. And as a result, we made the record for you, so you can’t say you weren’t warned.”

Brewington implored the committee to think of voters when designing the maps, while also looking inward.

“When you take a look at your own map, please, everybody, look at it in the mirror,” he said. “Look at yourself and evaluate whether or not am I, as a human being with authority and power, will hand this map over to the legislature so that they can do their dirty work?

“And if that’s your vote, shame on you. But God bless.”

The committee was expected to finalize its maps on Monday.

what the people are saying

Proposed redistricting maps for the Nassau County Legislature has drawn mixed reactions from some of the people it

represent.

“Possible 10,000 simulated maps using the gold standards method known as ensemble it was found to be more extremely gerrymandered in favor of Republicans that all of the maps run methodology recognized by the courts. The mapmaker then attempted to debunk the methodolo gy by saying that it doesn’t take pub lic comment into consideration, but neither do his maps. When asked if he believes a map would comply with the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, he said, ‘I don’t have to apply the law to this map.’”

–Arlo Fleischer,

“Last time I spoke to this body, I asked you to redistrict by the interest of the people, not party. It seems that that has gone by the wayside. You’re dividing communities. You’re diluting our community representa tion and our ability to get anything done for our community. I look to our neighbor over in South Hempstead — they’re even smaller than us, and they are three parts. That’s crazy. How you divided up Freeport? Oh my gosh, crazy. I know firsthand the diffi culty of trying to get something done when you are divided up.”

–Karen Montalbano,

Karina Kovac/Herald photos

There were a number of unhappy people attending last week’s meeting in Mineola of the committee in charge of creating districting maps for the Nassau County Legislature. A final decision was expected as early as this week.

POlITICal sCIeNCe PrOfessOr Daniel Magleby tells a Nassau County Legislature redistricting committee last week its maps from both Democrats and Republicans show clear gerrymandering. Final maps determining who will represent who at the county level are expected as early as this week.

would

Nassau County Civil Liberties Union organizer

Baldwin Civic Association government liaiso

That’s right, girls can play hockey, too

Islanders’ elite travel program celebrates Title IX

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

It’s just 37 words long, but its impact has lasted 50 years and counting.

The civil rights law known as Title IX opened the doors to legal equality for women in educational insti tutions — including sports — and was celebrated at Garden City’s Cradle of Avi ation last week when more than 100 girl ice hockey players and their parents gath ered to talk about how this federal legisla tion afforded these girls the opportunity to play a sport that has typically been male-dominated.

They are members of the New York Islanders Girls Elite Hockey program run at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow — the same facility used by the cherished local NHL squad. The teams have girls ranging in ages from 8 to 19,and was started in 2016 by Alexis Moed, the general manager of the Pre mier Hockey Federation’s Connecticut Whale.

“It was just my feeling that things weren’t being done the best way that they could be, or the way that was the most beneficial to the players,” Moed said. “So, I took all of my experiences and what I went through, and taking everything that I didn’t have growing up, and putting it together for them in the program.”

The young players come from all over Long Island. Some started with Girls Elite Hockey, while others might have first dropped pucks in boys’ leagues before eventually finding themselves with the newer league. Either way, the consensus is clear — they like where they are, and they like having their own league.

Debbie Curry started playing with an Oyster Bay town league before joining a travel hockey team with the Long Island Sharks in New Hyde Park. But after three years playing with them, the 12-year-old goalie from Seaford was let go.

“She was so dedicated, and we were very involved,” her dad, Keith Curry said. “And then she got cut along with most of the other girls on the team.”

Moving Debbie to Girls Elite Hockey was the best thing to happen to her, said her mom, Christie.

“She always had a target (on) her for being a girl in a boy sport,” Christie said. “Here she can be recognized and have a chance to go somewhere with hockey in the future because they’re giving the girls a chance to shine. I’ve never seen her so happy, and she can just be herself.”

Debbie wants to eventually go pro, and feels like this Islanders group gives her that chance because “they accepted me much quicker than the boys did.”

Being accepted and feeling more com fortable were common themes.

“I felt welcome on the boys’ teams I played with, but there were definitely some boys who would tell me that they were better than me because I was a girl,” said Emily Stein, a 12-year-old from Bell more. “It’s so much better with girls because you feel more comfortable. And

it’s like a second family.”

Adrianna Morabito says she can com pete at the same level as boys, but cama raderie is what led the 12-year-old Want agh player to the all-girls league.

“At any other organization, I could’ve been at 12U and quit because I didn’t like anyone on my team,” she said. “But because I was here, the friendships have been really good, and they’ve made me a much better player.”

Last week’s panel, moderated by Jamie Hersch of the NHL Network, pre sented perspectives of Title IX’s impact from women in different fields. Among those joining Hersch were Girls Elite Hockey founder Moed along with UBS Arena human resources head Lea Del Rosario, Dr. Amy West from Northwell Health Orthopedic Institute in New Hyde Park, and Kelly Nash, the head coach of Long

ice

JAMIe heRSch, Of the NHL Network, asked each panelist a list of questions for them to give their input on.

AdRIANNA MORABItO, 12, far left, and teammates Megan McCarthy, 14, and Emily Stein, 12, joined those participating in a panel to talk about Title IX’s impact on women in sports at the Cradle of Aviation in Garden City.

hockey team.

“I’m surprised that there hasn’t been more growth in the last 50 years,” Moed said. “But we recognize that the change can be slow. And we’re all committed to pushing that along.”

Island University’s women’s

Tim Baker/Herald photos

MeMBeRS Of the New York Islanders Girls Elite Hockey program joined their parents and coaches celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX last week with a panel of women who spoke about how the groundbreaking law shaped their professional careers.

Fall enrichment program a big success

Throughout the North Merrick School District, students participated in the fall Enrichment for All program, which takes place periodically during the school year.

The students look forward to these enriching projects that build on the everyday curriculum.

This session included mastering tan

grams, taking virtual tours to other countries, dissecting owl pellets, creat ing lava lamps, competing in races, crafting marshmallow towers, and many other hands-on activities.

“It was an exciting, authentic, educa tional experience for all,” Dr. Cynthia Seniuk, the superintendent of North Merrick schools said of the program.

Kiwanis club gives back to the Community Cupboard

The Merrick Kiwanis Club ran its annual holiday food drive on Nov. 19 and 20 at Foodtown and Stop & Shop both located in Merrick.

Over 15 members braved the cold weather, stood in front of both supermar kets for 4 hours each day and collected non-perishable food items for needy fami lies in our community.

Four van loads of food were delivered to the Bellmore-Merrick Central High

School District Community Cupboard on Nov. 21.

“It is always so great to see how gener ous our community is and just how much people donate to help others,” holiday drive chairperson Dave Denenberg said. “Merrick Kiwanis is known as ‘the Club with a Heart’ because we try to live by the motto ‘you make a living by what you make, but you make a life by what you give.’”

Courtesy North Merrick School District

StudentS throughout the North Merrick School District participated in a fall enrichment program, dubbed by school officials as an authentic and educational experience for all.

Courtesy Merrick Kiwanis

VolunteerS from the Merrick Kiwanis club braved the cold over the weekend and stood outside of Stop & Shop and Foodtown, collecting food and items for their annual holiday drive.

Calhoun Colts –state champs!

Coach – Christina Strezenec

Ella Maldonado, senior (captain)

Julia Lawrence, senior (captain)

Victoria Zovich, senior (captain)

Gianna Lucchi, junior

Olivia Katz, junior

Amelia Secor, junior

Grace Miller, junior

Johanna Esposito, junior

Cameron Tighe, junior

Gabriella Facciponti, junior

Sofia Monastero, junior

Danielle Lawrence, junior

Ava Giulano, junior

Jaclyn Cunha, junior

Olivia Ruisi, sophomore

Carly Lawrence, sophomore

Amanda Nevins, sophomore

Gianna Wood, freshman

Colts make history with first state title

match. “I’m so happy that that white board message has been with us the past few months.”

During pool play, each of the four Class A teams played the other three in short two-set matches, and the schools with the two best cumulative records in those six sets advanced to the final. Calhoun swept Burnt Hills in the opener, 25-22, 25-21, handing the Spartans their only two loss es during the round robin.

“The girls knew the game plan heading in,” Strezenec said, “and we had posters with the strategies for each team this entire week, and the girls really stuck to that.”

The Colts swept Cornwall, 25-12, 25-22, before splitting with Irondequoit 25-17, 18-25. With a spot in the final already sewn up, Strezenec rested her starters in the last set after a long day of playing.

“We went upstate not knowing what to expect, but I think after Saturday’s pool play we really felt like we could win it,” Lawrence said.

After Calhoun won the first set of Sun day’s championship match comfortably, Burnt Hills began to play a little more aggressively in the second, and even more so in the third, jumping out to a 9-1 lead. But the Colts settled down and took the lead, and Grace Miller’s kill at 24-19 iced the championship.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Zovich said. “We’ve been working so hard all season. It was hard falling asleep Saturday night knowing what was in front of us Sunday. But we did it.”

Strezenec also lauded the play of setter Olivia Katz, who battled through an ankle injury suffered during the tournament;

sophomore Olivia Ruisi, who “rose to the occasion this weekend and outlasted the middies on the other teams”; and junior Amelia Secor, who sparked a number of runs with her strong serving.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Maldonado said. “To be state champs is so special to all of us. Burnt Hills is a very talented team. Every point was a battle, even though the final score didn’t reflect it.”

Calhoun’s road upstate went through Great Neck North, Mepham, defending

Nassau County champion Wantagh, and South Side in the county Class A playoffs. Then came an impressive sweep of Say ville for the Long Island Class A crown.

The Colts claimed their first-ever coun ty title Nov. 9 with a back-and-forth, fourset victory over top-seeded South Side. Two days later, they added the L.I. cham pionship and punched their ticket upstate with a 25-21, 26-24, 25-19 victory over Say ville.

Calhoun won its first six conference

senior ella maldonado, left, was the defensive catalyst throughout Calhoun’s state-title run.

matches as well as two tournaments to open the season before hitting a bump in the road. It lost five of seven matches, including setbacks to eventual playoff opponents Mepham, Wantagh and South Side, before defeating Mineola to go into the postseason on a positive note.

“Winning the last regular-season match was huge,” Maldonado said. “Everything we wanted to accomplish was still in front of us. It really was a dream ride.”

Liss Phillips/Herald photos

The ColTs CelebraTed after beating Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake in the state Class A championship match, 25-11, 25-19, 25-19.

ConTinued from fronT page

sports

Mepham falls short to dominant Garden City

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Mepham lived up to its preseason billing as the second-best football team in Nassau Conference II throughout the regular season, going 7-1.

Last Friday night at Hofstra, the Pirates remained No. 2.

Juggernaut Garden City scored touchdowns on each of its five firsthalf possessions and dominated the Pirates on the way to a 38-7 victory in the county championship game for its seventh straight title.

The Trojans, who outgained Mepham 236 to 11 in the opening half, upped their winning streak to 27 games and advanced to meet Bellport for the Long Island Class II crown on Friday at Hofstra at 4;30 p.m. Garden City is look ing for its 10th L.I. championship.

“It was a rough one,” Mepham firstyear head coach Matt Moody said. “That’s what happens when you have turnovers and bad tackling.”

Three costly Mepham turnovers led to 21 Garden City points in the first half and the margin was an insur

mountable 35-0 at intermission. In the first half alone, Garden City’s Stevie Finnell had 122 yards and two touch downs on just 12 carries and had a 21-yard interception return for another score. Jack Archer added touchdown runs of 31 and 35 yards, both on direct snaps with the latter coming on thirdand-goal.

The Trojans (11-0) have outscored opponents 432-73 this season.

“For the first time all season we dropped our heads a little bit,” Moody said. “I just asked them to give me everything they had for the last two quarters.”

Mepham’s opening drive showed early promise but ended when Garden City’s Tristan Mullahey recovered a fumble on the Pirates’ 38. Four snaps later, Archer busted down the middle for the 31-yard score and the Trojans were off to the races.

RJ Votruba ended Mepham’s sec ond possession with an interception, and Archer capped a 58-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown run from the Wildcat on a third-and-goal after the Pirates pushed them back 28 yards on

the first two plays.

Finnell then scored three times in the second quarter. He scored on a 37-yard run, on a 7-yard run, and then on the Pick-6. Garden City kicker Hayden Minuto went 5-for-5 on extra points in the first half and then booted a 34-yard field goal in the third quarter after Mepham snapped the shutout.

The Pirates got on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Ryan Thier midway through the third quar ter. Thier capped an 8-play, 69-yard drive that featured 50 yards rushing from senior quarterback Dominick Novello, who led Mepham to playoff victories over MacArthur and Long Beach to get to the championship stage.

Novello’s touchdown run in the clos ing seconds gave the Pirates a 14-7 win over MacArthur in the first round. Then, in the semifinals, in a driving rainstorm, he broke a scoreless tie with Long Beach with a touchdown run with 7:58 remaining in the Pirates’ 14-0 win.

“We didn’t accomplish our ultimate goal, but we still had a lot of success and set a school record for wins in a season,” Moody said.

Media Origin Inc./Herald MEphaM’S MIchaEL cucINELLa secured the ball during last Friday’s conference title game defeat to Garden City.

School Daze with Talya Lippman

Food is universal. It alters depending on where you travel around the world, but all food has a shared purpose. It is to be simply eaten and enjoyed.

Food comes in different colors, flavors, and textures — think about an American apple pie, Italian pizza, Indian Naan, or Asian ramen — all foods from around the world. Everyone has a right to their own preference and particular liking to certain types of foods.

Scientifically speaking, food is the fuel for our bod ies. The nutrients we con sume from food supply us with energy to keep our body breathing and alive. In addition, the energy pro vides for movement, warmth, and for growth and repair of tissues. Further more, the immune system is the foundation of your health. This system’s main priority is to shield your body from anything remote ly harmful, including germs and viruses, by directly attacking them once they enter your body.

Maintaining a nutritious diet is a smart strategy to lower the risk of infection and avoid common colds.

And those facts above come directly from my passionate biology teacher.

I know that for myself, a high school stu dent, ‘complete exhaustion’ is the only phrase that comes to mind after a long, full day. Consuming the right foods at the right times drastically improves your ability to perform all the mundane tasks ahead of you.

It has been proven that several foods can brighten your mood. This emotional trans formation takes place as a result of the food’s nutrition helping the body produce serotonin and endorphins, two hormones

that induce feelings of happiness and wellbeing. There are many other foods that con tribute to improved brain function. Eating omega-3-rich foods, such fish, almonds, and avocados, leads to improved brain function, which raises performance and productivity at school or work.

I cannot stress enough how much I look forward to my lunch period. School lunch is essential to student health and wellbeing since it guarantees that they receive the nutrients they need to learn throughout the day. Children and adoles cents who struggle with not keeping up with a steady food intake are more likely to experience behavioral, mental health, and academic issues.

The stress and pressure of academic success is so prevalent in high school. To keep up with a balance of nutritious foods is critical to maintain good grades and an overall good demeanor.

I can say with confidence that after lunch is over and my stomach is full, I’m at least 15 Percent happier than I was before.

Food is essential to keeping up morale and the fundamental happiness of students in school. School lunches allow students to have easy access to food during their lunch period without the worry and stress of hav ing to prepare something the night before. This stress is not only on the students, but also on their parents, for they worry and work hard to ensure their children eat well.

School lunches are a convenient and practical way to guarantee that all students eat nutritionally during the day.

— Talya Lippman Lippman is a student contributor, writing a School Daze column on a bi-weekly basis for the Bellmore & Merrick Heralds.

Talya lippman

STEPPING OUT

Usher in the Thankful for feasting and festivities

By Karen Bloom

Feasting Native American-style

Early on in our nation’s history Native Americans handed down time-honored practices to rejoice over nature’s bounty at harvest time, even though it certainly wasn’t Thanksgiving as we know it. Yet, there was plenty of feasting and festivities as these early Americans gathered to commemorate their harvest before preparing to settle in for the approaching winter.

An annual holiday event — one that has been popular here for more than 25 years now — takes place at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve yearly around Thanksgiving.

• Garvies Preserve Native American Festival, Nov. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove

• For information, contact (516) 571-8010 or GarviesPointMuseum.com

• Old Westbury Gardens

Shimmering Solstice, select dates through Jan. 1, beginning 5:30 p.m.

71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

Saturday’s hands-on program — held both indoors and out — gives visitors a first-hand look at Native American life through a glimpse of how the state’s earliest inhabitants lived. Everyone can participate in tool and pottery-making, stone drilling and the use of the atlatl (a spear-throwing tool). Primitive fire building (without matches!) and some on-site cooking are among other activities always enjoyed by all who take part.

• For tickets/ information, contact ShimmeringSolstice.com or OldWestburyGardens.org or (516) 333-0048

Families can also explore the process of creating “dugout” canoes, along with corn grinding and storytelling (at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.) with Chief Redfeather of eastern Long Island’s Montaukett tribe. Also check out displays of artifacts from the museum collection and the authentic reproduction of a wigwam, always a favorite with kids and parents.

While there, be sure to take a look at the museum’s permanent exhibits, which showcase Long Island’s Native American culture and archaeology, as well as the geology of Long Island and New York state.

Shimmering Solstice

The famed lush grounds that define Old Westbury Gardens are festively lit up for the holiday season. The walk-through seasonal light show, “Shimmering Solstice,” returns for a second year, opening Friday, through Jan. 1.

This year more visuals have been added, including a re-designed interactive area with three new exhibits to engage adults and children alike; seasonal music throughout the expanded illuminated path, along with an illuminated water element on the West Pond. Also the Garden of Appreciation will be turned into a comfortable warming area with a concession stand for seasonal snacks and drinks.

The custom-built experience — created by Lightswitch, a collective of internationally recognized lighting, media, and visual designers — has been specially fashioned to highlight Old Westbury Gardens’ uniquen characteristics.

“Shimmering Solstice was designed to be a celebration of our space,” says Maura Brush, director of horticulture at Old Westbury Gardens. “The features that define Old Westbury Gardens such as the formal allées, ponds, and statuary are all illuminated so visitors can view them in a completely different light. Instead of flowers, the gardens will be blooming with light. This is truly an enchanting combination of the beauty of the gardens and the magic of the season.”

The family-friendly experience is intended to be explored at your own pace. For the exciting finale, everyone will be dazzled to see Westbury House’s south facade come alive with magical lights and seasonal sounds. And this year an exciting twist is promised, according to the design team.

The Doo Wop Project

The Doo Wop Project begins at the beginning: tracing the evolution of Doo Wop from the classic sound of five guys singing harmonies on a street corner to the biggest hits on the radio today. Featuring stars from Broadway hits ‘Jersey Boys,’ ‘Motown: The Musical’ and ‘A Bronx Tale,’ The Doo Wop Project brings unparalleled authenticity of sound and vocal excellence to recreate — and in some cases entirely reimagine — the greatest music in American pop and rock history.

It’s a musical journey featuring foundational tunes from the Crests, Belmonts and Flamingos through the vocal artistry of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Seasons all the way to ‘DooWopified’ versions of modern hits from Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz, Maroon 5, and Sam Smith.

Sunday, Nov. 27, 3 p.m. $40-$65. Madison Theatre, Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

Straight No Chaser

It’s been 25 years since Straight No Chaser introduced their signature style of a cappella to the world. If the phrase ‘male a cappella group’ conjures up an image of students in blue blazers, ties, and khakis singing traditional college songs on ivied campuses ... think again. These gents are neither strait-laced nor straight-faced, but neither are they vaudeville-style kitsch.

They have emerged as a phenomenon with a massive fan base and a long list of accomplishments including two RIAA Gold Certified albums, over 1.5 million concert tickets sold, over 1 billion streams on Pandora, and over 2 million albums sold worldwide. SNC is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music — and with a sense of humor Now, these delightful fellas are on tour celebrating their milestone anniversary.

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m. $99.50, $79.50, $69.50, 59.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

WHERE WHEN

Courtesy Garvies Point Museum

Photos: Garvies Point Museum’s annual Native American Fall Festival is a seasonal tradition.

Now that we’ve enjoyed the big feast, all the spectacle and delights of the festive season have arrived. Yes you can head out and start that holiday shopping — or venture out to explore some of the many holiday-themed events nearby.

Courtesy Old Westbury Garden

Photo: Old Westbury Gardens’ meandering paths along the famed Walled Garden, the Rose Garden, and the South Lawn are aglow with holiday splendor.

THE SCENE

Dec. 3

Heide Family Fundraiser

The Heide Family — famously featured on national television for their epic holiday display — will hosts their annual Santa Night on Saturday, Dec. 3. Stop by their home at 2509 Yale Place, Merrick from 6 to 9 p.m. to meet Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch. Free gifts and refreshments will be available for the first 400 children. The family is proudly supporting the Freeport-based Bobbi & The Strays Animal Shelter. For more information, visit BobbiAndTheStray.org or contact MrPhillipHeide@ gmail.com.

SMCCA General Meeting

On stage

Plaza Theatrical continues its season with “Grumpy Old Men: The Musical,” Saturday, Nov. 26, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 27, 2:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2 p.m. Also Dec. 1-4. Based on the beloved 1993 film, which starred Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret, this stage adaptation captures the lovably crotchety characters through twinkling humor, great songs, and the affectionate depiction of a small town that feels like home to everyone. It’s performed at Plaza’s stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $49, $45 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Volunteer Opportunity

The actor-entertainer bring his “Standards & Stories” concert to Tilles Center, Friday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., performing a selection of his favorites from the Great American Songbook while interweaving stories about his life and personal connection to the music. In this joyous evening of glorious songs and personal storytelling, on the LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, Danza combines timeless music with wit, charm, storytelling, and a dash of soft shoe and ukulele, backed by a four-piece band.Tickets are $62, available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

The South Merrick Community Civic Association holds its next general meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m., at Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse, 2550 Clubhouse Road. All residents welcome. Call (516) 978-8310 for info.

Want to brush up on your farming techniques, and contribute to a community garden? Every Wednesday, 3 to 5 p.m., and every Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon, visit the Garden at St. Francis, 1692 Bellmore Avenue, North Bellmore, to help with garden tasks. Open to everyone, regardless of physical abilities. For more information, call (516) 679-1184.

Tony Danza

On exhibit

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

Tom Polito & Friends

Tom Polito & Friends will be at the North Bellmore Public Library, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2 p.m., to play a mix of holiday favorites and classic songs in pop, swing and R&B. The show, at 1551 Newbridge Road, Bellmore, is guaranteed to put you in the festive spirit. Call (516) 7856260 for more information.

Art talk

Join Nassau County Museum Director Charles A. Riley II, PhD, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m. He’ll discuss “Photography: Beauty and Truth,” in a session that examines the intensely emotional approach to photography taken by many of the greats, including Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans, and the analytic, formal path of the Bechers, Struth, Hofer and many Contemporary artists. Participation is limited; registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Holiday fun

Visit the streets of 19th century London during the darkest days of the year, in this adaption of the classic “A Christmas Carol,” with the Experiential Theater Company, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25-26, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; also Wednesday, Nov. 30, 10:15 a.m. and noon, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. Meet the Cratchit family, Mr. Scrooge, and the ghosts of past, present and future in this interactive show that weaves together music, humor, puppetry and collaboration. Celebrate the change of seasons through this beloved literary tale. Performances continue through December. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Having an event?

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.

Hot Cocoa time

As the weather turns colder, turn to a soothing hot cocoa. Visit Long Island Children’s Museum and make some hot cocoa in a jar, at the drop-in program, Saturday, Nov. 26, noon2 p.m. Pick your own toppings and decorate your jar. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

On stage

Everyone’s favorite candy man lights up the stage, in Plaza Theatrical’s family-friendly production of “Willy Wonka,” Saturday, Nov. 26, 11 a.m. This scrumdidilyumptious musical features the enchanting songs from the film starring Gene Wilder. Tickets are $16. Grab your golden ticket and visit the Plaza stage at the Elmont Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Hofstra law dedicates Abrams Fensterman Lobby

For 16 years, the law firm provided money to support students at Hofstra University’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law. And now the lobby there will be named after the firm.

The dedication of the new Abrams Fensterman Lobby is part of Hofstra Law’s Vision 2020 campaign. Samuel Fer rara, executive partner at the Lake Suc cess-based firm, was a member of the campaign’s leadership board.

“We as a firm are truly honored by this recognition from Hofstra Law,” said Howard Fensterman, the firm’s manag ing partner, in a release. “We are proudly committed to continuing our support of the law school and their talented and ded icated students.”

The first law school campaign was suc cessfully completed more than 22 years ago — around the same time Abrams Fensterman was founded, and has since raised nearly $22 million, surpassing its initial goals of $12.5 million, and even its “stretch” goal of $17.5 million. The cam paign was created as part of the law school’s 50th anniversary.

Funds were raised through alumni, friends, organizations, faculty and staff members. Hofstra also hosted a hall of fame and 50th anniversary celebration that supported the campaign.

Money is used to fund recruitment efforts as well as provide scholarships while expanding cutting-edge programs in areas such as legal technology. Funds

were also used to create new interdisci plinary programs within Hofstra’s gradu ate schools.

The current campaign has been underway the last four years and has

been credited with increasing support to more than 200 named scholarships and fellowships. That includes the Dean’s Legal Tech Fellowship Program for law and engineering students to work on arti

ficial intelligence projects within the school’s research lab while adding five new legal tech courses to the curriculum.

The campaign also supported faculty scholarship and hiring, and adapted to virtual and hybrid teaching during the coronavirus pandemic with upgraded “lecture capture” technology in newly modernized classrooms with a new stu dent lounge and public event spaces.

Attorneys from Abrams Fensterman — including more than two-dozen Hofs tra Law alum — routinely serve as adjunct professors and guest speakers. They also participate in the law school’s mentorship programs and mock inter view events.

The firm was founded in 2000 and has offices in Brooklyn, White Plains, Albany and Rochester.

The Abrams Fensterman Lobby is a multifunction space where students study, collaborate, and gather for law school receptions and communityfocused events.

“We are grateful for visionaries like Howard Fensterman, and everyone at Abrams Fensterman for their investment in Hofstra Law and their commitment to mentoring, training and hiring our stu dents,” said Gail Prudenti, dean of Hofs tra Law, in a release. “Their support ensures these efforts will continue to grow far into the future.”

–Kepherd Daniel

Courtesy Brooke Walker

The main enTryway into the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is now known as Abrams Fensterman Lobby after the Lake Success-based firm that has provided money and instruction at the school. Joining in the dedication were, from left, Abrams Fensterman managing partner Howard Fensterman, Hofstra Law dean Gail Prudenti, and Abrams Fensterman executive partner Robert Abrams.

Herald ScHoolS

An ‘Academic Field Day’ for Kennedy’s students

on Nov. 8, students at John F. Kennedy High School, in the Bellmore-Merrick Central School District, were scheduled for a half-day. In lieu of traditional instruc tion, the school hosted a special day that allowed administrators, teachers and staff to offer a workshop on topics of their choice.

“We are extremely fortunate to have so many teachers and administrators who are so supportive of student initiatives like Academic Field Day,” wrote Student Gov ernment President Rachel Oppenehim in a thank-you message to teachers and admin istrators. “The success of the event was due mostly to the wide selection of work shops that you generously spent your time preparing for us. Additionally, as a student in the leadership program, I can confident ly say that the activity was an extremely rewarding experience.

Students signed up for workshops based on their interests and the event was sched uled and organized by students in the School and Community Leadership course.

“Behind the scenes, students in our School and Community Leadership class were able to learn about the logistics of

planning an event of this magnitude,” said Principal Gerard Owenburg.

“Academic Field Day opened up the door for me to enjoy and engage with our school in new ways, such as connecting to teachers that I don’t have,” said Tara Brown, a Leadership II student.

Leadership II student Maxwell Izen said the program was a “great way for students and teachers to come together through similar interests and learn in a different, interactive way.”

The experience was designed to allow students to connect with teachers and administrators to perhaps find someone at Kennedy with whom they didn’t know they had something in common.

“That connection can be through a shared culture or family history, an inter est in a particular movie or music genre, a mutual passion for food or fitness or trav el, or an appreciation for an era of history or a certain period of art,” explained teacher/faculty organizer Brad Seidman.

“Aside from learning something new, I was so happy to see our students and staff building strong relationships in such a stress-free environment,” added Owen burg.

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

Teacher John reilly offered students an array of tapas from Spain in his work shops.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE Annual Audit Report

Notification

Notice is hereby given that the fiscal affairs of Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District for the period beginning on July 1, 2021 and ending on June 30, 2022, have been examined by an independent public accountant, and that the report of, or management letter prepared in conjunction with the external audit by the independent public accountant has been filed in my office where it is available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons.

Pursuant to §35 of the General Municipal Law, the governing board of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District may, in its discretion, prepare a written response to the report of external audit or management letter by independent public accountant and file any such response in my office as a public record for inspection by all interested persons no later than February 1, 2023.

By Pattianne Guccione District Clerk

Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, North Merrick, New York 135603

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 11/30/22 at 9:30 A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 773/22. BELLMORENorth South Construction Services Corp. (Barry C. Nelson), Use variance for proposed apartment; Variance, height, construct 2nd story addition to building; Variance in off-street parking with insufficient maneuvering aisle., N/s Pettit Ave., 175’ W/o Pettit Pl. running thru to Grand Ave., a/k/a 220 Pettit Ave.

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES, I TRUST 2004-AC6, ASSET BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-AC6, V. MARIA ABIKZER, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

N.Y. 11501. This Auction will be held rain or shine on 12/9/2022 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 1438 Coolidge Street, Bellmore, NY 11710, and described as follows:

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in thein the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York. Section 0056 Block 00210-000 Lot 00032.

be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Cristina Prieto, Esq., Referee

Polsinelli PC, Amy E. Hatch, Esq., 600 Third Avenue, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10016, Attorneys for Plaintiff 135306

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

CULLEN AND DYKMAN LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff One Battery Park Plaza, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10004

{* BELLMORE L*} 135518

LEGAL NOTICE

Annual Audit Report

Notification

Notice is hereby given that the fiscal affairs of North Bellmore Union Free School District for the period beginning on July 1, 2021 and ending on June 30, 2022, have been examined by an independent public accountant, and that the report of, or management letter prepared in conjunction with the external audit by the independent public accountant has been filed in my office where it is available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons.

Pursuant to §35 of the General Municipal Law, the governing board of the North Bellmore Union Free School District may, in its discretion, prepare a written response to the report of external audit or management letter by independent public accountant and file any such response in my office as a public record for inspection by all interested persons no later than February 1, 2023.

By Laurice Gunnels District Clerk

North Bellmore Union Free School District, Bellmore, New York 135601

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 78/22. - 779/22. BELLMORE - Vincent Farrell, Variance, lot area occupied, construct addition & screened porch both attached to dwelling; Variance, front yard average setback, maintain roofed over open porch attached to dwelling., W/s Washington Ave., 240’ S/o Clarendon Ave., a/k/a 312 Washington Ave.

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Bellmore within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 135591

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated May 12, 2022, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein U.S BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES, I TRUST 2004-AC6, ASSET BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-AC6 is the Plaintiff and MARIA ABIKZER, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on December 6, 2022 at 2:30PM, premises known as 116 BEACH AVE, BELLMORE, NY 11710: Section 63, Block 223, Lot 14:

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

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 003163/2016. Michael Langer, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 135131

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Plaintiff, Against SERDAR KARAGOZ, et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 12/11/2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola,

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $606,171.92 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 4375/2008

If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagees attorney. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction.

Dominic A. Villoni, Esq., Referee.

Leopold & Associates, PLLC, 80 Business Park Drive, Suite 110, Armonk, NY 10504

Dated: File Number: 6985697 PCO 135166

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU, TOORAK CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. MB HOLDINGS 7B, INC., ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 27, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on December 12, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 7 Belt Street North a/k/a 7 Belt Street, Bellmore, NY 11710. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 56, Block 260 and Lot 23. Approximate amount of judgment is $404,903.97 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #609535/2021. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU BNB BANK, formerly known as THE BRIDGEHAMPTON NATIONAL BANK successor by merger with FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF NEW YORK, successor in interest to MADISON NATIONAL BANK, Plaintiff -against- BARRY DAVID COHEN A/K/A BARRY COHEN; JILL DONNA COHEN A/K/A JILL D. COHEN A/K/A JILL COHEN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated March 18, 2019 and entered on March 19, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on December 21, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at point on the Southerly side of Rebecca Street, distant 317.59 feet Easterly from the extreme end of an arc of a curve connecting the Southerly side of Rebecca Street with the Easterly side of Judith Drive; being a plot 60.00 feet by 100.00 feet by 60.00 feet by 100.00 feet. Section: 63 Block: 337 Lot: 6

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale, including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering the deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules issued by the Supreme Court.

Said premises known as 2654 REBECCA STREET, BELLMORE, NY Approximate amount of lien $607,993.91 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

This foreclosure sale is subject to a first mortgage in an unknown principal amount. Index Number 16-008771

DAVID W. GRABER, ESQ., Referee

LEGAL NOTICE Notice of formation of SLATE STREET TALENT LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 10/25/2022. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC 2896 Court St., N. Bellmore, NY 11710. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 135388

LEGAL NOTICE Notice of Permissive Referendum Notice is hereby given that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Bellmore Fire District in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, New York, at a regular business meeting held on the ninth day of November 2022, duly adopted the following resolution, subject to a permissive referendum. Resolution # 11-01 A resolution authorizing the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Bellmore Fire District in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, New York to expend monies from the Equipment Reserve Fund in the amount of twenty-six thousand dollars for the purchase of new AEDS. Be it resolved by Board of Fire Commissioners of the Bellmore Fire District in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, New York as follows:

Section 1. Pursuant to section 6 - G subdivision 7 of the General Municipal Law, the monies authorized for this expenditure shall be paid from the Equipment Reserve Fund.

John M. Fabian Secretary Board of Fire Commissioners Bellmore Fire District 2450 Newbridge Road Bellmore, NY 11710 135602

LEGAL NOTICE

Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action Supreme Court Of The State Of New York County Of Nassau Action to Foreclose a Mortgage Index #: 611058/2019 Statebridge Company, LLC, Plaintiff, vs Hans Koopman If Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim To Have An Interest In, Or General Or Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To Be Included In Wife,

Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or Title To Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them, Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands, Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committe es, Lienors, And Assigns, All Of Whom And Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, Vera Koopman, People Of The State Of New York, United States Of America

“John Doe #1” through “John Doe #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendant(s). Mortgaged Premises: 408 Florence Place Bellmore, NY 11710 To the Above named Defendant: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Supplemental Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Nassau. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. TO Hans Koopman Defendant In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. David P. Sullivan of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the Twenty-Fourth day of October, 2022 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, in the City of Mineola. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage upon the premises described below, dated March 7, 2002, executed

by Hans Koopman and Vera Koopman to secure the sum of $186,000.00.

The Mortgage was recorded at Book 22125, Page 534 in the Office of the Nassau Count y Clerk on March 28, 2002. The consolidated mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed January 1, 1900 and recorded on July 31, 2012, in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk at Book 37512, Page 436.

Plaintiff is also holder of a mortgage dated July 2, 2012 executed by Hans Koopman and Vera Koopman to secure the sum of $2,217.45 and recorded at Book 37512, Page 438 in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk on July 31, 2012. Said mortgage was consolidated with the mortgage referred to at Book 22125, Page 534 by a Consolidation, Extension and Modification Agreement executed by Hans Koopman and Vera Koopman dated July 2, 2012 and recorded July 31, 2012 at Book 37512, Page 452 in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk to form a single lien in the amount of $157,839.00. Said Mortgage was subsequently modified by a Loan Modification Agreement executed on October 6, 2015 and recorded October 27, 2015 in Book 40786, Page 807 in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk. The cons olidated mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed June 10, 2016 and recorded on May 24, 2017, in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk at Book 42139, Page 685. The consolidated mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed January 10, 2020 and recorded on April 7, 2020, in the Office of the Nassau County Clerk at Instrument Number 2020-31068 Book 44130, Page 55; The property in question is described as follows: 408 Florence Place, Bellmore, NY 11710 HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT

Thank you, Jack, for 50 years of service

Merrick F.D.’s Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 honors dedicated fireman with impressive run

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

When John Dziedzic — better known as Jack — joined the Merrick Fire Depart ment’s Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 in 1972, he likely didn’t realize how quickly 50 years would go by.

An ex-captain and company trustee for 30 years, Dziedzic has lived in Merrick his whole life — he gradu ated from Sanford H. Calhoun High School in 1968, married his high school sweetheart, Emily, in 1970, and raised their children Jennifer and John in the com munity. Starting as just a custo dian for what was then Central District 3, Dziedzic later became the Director of School Facilities for the Bellmore-Merrick Cen tral High School District, a role he remained in for many years.

pAuL WAtERmAN Ex-chief

On Saturday, the company gathered at a special ceremony, filled with lots of laughs and cheers, at the Coral House in Baldwin to pay homage to Dziedzic for his commit ment to Merrick, and honor him for being an active member of the department for 50 years.

His career at the department has been full of many successes, Paul Waterman, an ex-chief and leader of the ceremony explained. In 2001, Dziedzic was part of a com mittee to help build a new firehouse.

“Guided by his extensive knowledge of public works projects, Jack led the way, and in 2005, the company dedi cated our beautiful new firehouse,” Waterman said.

The firehouse, which the company still occupies, was so beautiful, it received national recognition in 2007 by Fire Chief Magazine, he added.

More than just a public servant, Dziedzic always lends a hand to his friends and fellow department members.

“He’s always there for us,” Waterman said. “Jack’s work connections and generosity have given many young men the start to a good, honorable career.”

Speaking directly to Dziedzic at the ceremony, Water man said he’s a reason the firehouse stays running.

“Your untiring dedication and devotion to our compa ny is extraordinary,” he said, “but you look at it as just doing your job. I’m blessed to know you and your beauti ful family, our company has been so fortunate to have you, and we are also very appreciative of what you did and continue to do.”

Aside from Waterman, many company members took time during the ceremony to present Dziedzic with gifts, and thank him for all his years of service and leadership. Dziedzic was given an Honorary Chief title, and the pin was placed on Dziedzic’s uniform by his grandson Lukas.

The Firefighters Association of the State of New York also honored Dziedzic for his many years of service, and presented him a plaque. Jose DaRocha, who serves on the association’s board, shared a few thoughts.

“The Firefighters Association of the State of New York extends its thanks and appreciation to (Jack) for 50

Public Notices

YOURSE LF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE

The state encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services at 1-800-342-3736 or the Foreclosure Relief Hotline 1-800-269-0990 or visit the department’s website at WWW.DFS.NY.GOV.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME AT THIS

TIME. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO STAY IN YOUR HOME DURING THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS.

YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME UNLESS AND UNTIL YOUR PROPERTY IS SOLD AT AUCTION PURSUANT TO A JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE AND SALE. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO REMAIN IN YOUR HOME, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY AND PAY PROPERTY TAXES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAW.

FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to “save” your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner’s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such

promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303

NOTICE NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceedi ng against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is

pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: October 26, 2022 Gross Polowy, LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221 The law firm of Gross Polowy, LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 74086 135233

LukAs DziEDzic piNNED an honorary chief badge on his grandfather.

years of loyalty to New York’s volunteer fire service and his community,” DaRocha said. “The association conveys to (Jack) its congratulations and very best wishes.”

The Merrick F.D. is made up of three companies, including Friendship Engine and Hose Company No. 2 and Empire Hose Company No. 3. Representatives from each also took part in the ceremony to thank Dziedzic for his commitment to not just Hook & Ladder, but the department as a whole.

At the end of the ceremony, Dziedzic took to the podi um to then extend his thanks to his company, friends and family for always supporting him, and for coming out to celebrate his achievement.

“I want to thank everybody for showing up today,” he said. “I really appreciate it. I’ve been a member here for 50 years, and I love it. I love the guys — everybody works together.

“Everybody has their differences here and there, but we’re one,” he added. “And that’s why we’re Company No. 1.”

Tim Baker/Herald photos

JAck DziEDzic, Ex-cAptAiN and a trustee for Merrick Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, was honored this week end for 50 years of service to the community. Dziedzic, with his wife, Emily.

He’s always there for us.

DziEDzic’s fRiEND, Ex-cHiEf Paul Waterman, left, led the ceremony at the Coral House in Baldwin.

DRIVERS WANTED

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

ADMINISTRATIVE

Richner Communications - a rapidly growing multimedia company and publishers of the Herald newspaper grouphas several administrative job openings: Receptionist (P/T), Accounts Receivable/Billing Collections Clerk

Multi-Media Coordinator (Hours Flexible)

Qualified candidates are fast learners with good organizational and people skills - entry level ok.

Role requires working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to learn custom software programs.

If you would like to join a communitydriven, fast-paced environment, please send your resume to: careers@liherald.com.

ASSISTANT TEACHER

Needed For Early Childhood Education And Care Center

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Full Time Position High School Diploma Needed E-mail Resume: rlychildhoodctr@aol.com Call 516-536-5674

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

STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

EDITOR/REPORTER

The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

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What’s the best way to clear the air?

Q. I saw an article in a magazine about how I may be able to add air and water purifiers in my office to minimize sickness and infections. Is this for real? Can air purifiers limit things like Covid, and does it pay to put in a full water purifier instead of just having a bottled-water cooler station, even in my home or in my office (for my employees)?

A. There is a lot of misinformation and mis understanding about levels of purification and, depending on the source of the information, like an advertisement instead of research reports, the facts are unclear. I couldn’t tell anyone, definitively, what works best, or even the spe cifics as to why, only that there are systems that are required and units that do have benefits for employers and homeowners, accord ing to industry reports.

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

For example, it almost always comes up during the design phase of offices and retail spaces that the owner wants to put in a bottled-water cooler instead of a drinking fountain, but the plumbing code, which is a law, states that two drinking fountains or a dual unit, the high and low kind, are required to be installed. (The reason for the low drinking fountain is to avoid discrimination, along with many other regu lations, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into federal law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990.) A bottle station is nice to have but not required.

Water purification will be a healthy solution for your employees and family, since it removes chlorine, sediments and multiple trace minerals. There are many different types of purifiers on the market. For commercial purposes, consider a cartridge-type puri fier specific to your commercial space, and for a resi dence, a whole-house system such as the ones from PurifiedSolutions.net, which use a seven-stage reverse-osmosis process. Just remember, these sys tems all require the replacement of filters, so factor in replacement costs so you aren’t surprised later.

As for the bigger question, air purification, it is a much broader and more questionable issue, since dif ferent systems filter air in different ways, and even though advertisements tout all the wonderful particu lates that can be removed, virus particles aren’t nec essarily one of them. Smoke from cigarettes and dust have a much larger mass, and are more easily removed with high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filters than bacterial or viral-laden particles. Even though microscopic-sized allergens can be removed, unless they are treated with either damag ing light or chemical containment, just catching the allergens doesn’t necessarily get rid of them. Make sure you find out what the filtration unit will do from an independent testing source report before spending the money on one.

Recent studies do show the workplace benefits for having enhanced ventilation and filtration. Some 90 percent of maintenance costs are for keeping people productive at work, increasing profits by reducing infection, sickness and missed days by employees. Choose systems wisely and it will benefit you. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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SERVICES

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OpINIONS

I’ll take the GOP agenda — without Trump — any day

Like most people, I don’t like Trump. I’ve disdained him ever since then-developer Donald demanded drastic concessions at my beloved Jones Beach State Park so he could build a catering hall at the main mall to make more big bucks. He revealed an unappealing, obnoxious acquisitiveness.

It was all about his deal, with a disregard for the good and welfare of generations of us lesser mortals. Worse, he wanted residents and state officials to believe he was doing us all a favor, but his mendacity was obvious. It took Superstorm Sandy to sweep away his avaricious plan and his oily conceit.

Trump’s personality, I had absolutely zero doubt about how duplicitous and deceitful Hillary Clinton was. Trump was openly, shamelessly vain. Clinton was a backstabbing, secretive, supercilious, lying, characterless cypher. I could trust him to act to benefit my country as long as it also served him self. I couldn’t trust her (and her malign cabal) with any thing, least of all my coun try. And more important, I opposed all of the national policies she embraced.

gieg-Ilhan Omar ticket vs. Trump-Kristi Noem or Trump-Nikki Haley or TrumpJoni Ernst or Trump-Winsome EarleSears? Any of those GOP teams would destroy Buttigieg-Omar.

JOHN O’CONNELL

And yet I voted for him in 2016. His promises, the possibility of gaining origi nalist Supreme Court nominees and his declared support of conservative causes were consistent with my social, cultural and political preferences. We Trump vot ers realized it would take an arrogant bully to barge through the rock-solid bureaucracy that Washington had become. He’d be our bully, as it were.

And besides, as insufferable as I found

Now he’s running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. I wish it were not so. Trump is a minor-league version of lit erature’s classic tragic fig ure: a man who — while accomplishing great things — destroys himself with his own hubris.

If Trump gets the GOP nomination (and I think that’s a big if), whom the Democrats choose will be critical for the country. Obviously it shouldn’t be Presi dent Biden. If they pick a far-left version of Trump, someone like California Gov. Gavin Newsom or Biden’s useless trans portation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, most voters, sick of liberal Democrats’ failed leadership, will gag violently and go for Trump. (Even if, again, he can’t win the popular vote, he could prevail in the Elec toral College.) Can you imagine a Butti

I mean, really, look at how unappealing the Democrats’ presidential and vice-presidential bench is: Kamala Harris, Adam Schiff, AOC, Stacey Abrams, John Fetterman, Cory Book er, Hillary, Rashida Tlaib, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand (New York’s invisible sena tor), Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, Bill de Blasio and others who are so light they defy gravity. Puhleeze! How about the quintessentially Democratic bicoastal, affir mative-equity pairing, Harris-Hochul?

Non-radical Americans, i.e., almost all of us, want someone smart, articulate and tough who’ll try to keep us out of wars, reduce inflation, faithfully and fairly exe cute the laws, defend the Constitution, support the police, keep taxes as low as possible, respect and care for our veter ans, spend prudently, regulate only when required, maintain a strong national defense, trade well but with a sharp eye on national security, curb the domestic abuses of the so-called intelligence com munity, and put a hard stop on our dan gerously wide-open southern border.

Someone who salutes America’s great ness. That definitely won’t be the Demo crats’ platform in 2024. It certainly will be the GOP’s agenda, and Trump would sell it. He’s usually good at selling things (his Jones Beach fiasco notwithstanding). I mean, he sold the Abraham Accords, a peace treaty among Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, for heaven’s sake.

We will be voting again in 24 months (unless I missed something and early vot ing starts next week). Actually, the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire prima ry are in January 2024. No one knows what will happen in the world between now and then. Will Biden finish his term? Will Kamala visit the wizard in Oz and get what she needs? How disastrous will Trump’s self-inflicted stumbles on the campaign trail be? Will better, brighter lights shine in either party?

For newsies like me, it will be a fasci nating and important two years. I hope everyone, young folks particularly, find serious, un-opinionated journalism and read and think critically about all the pol itics. We must use these two years to brush up on our civics studies and see how America is supposed to work. Then learn how it really works, and vote to try to make it better than that.

John O’Connell is a former executive editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? oconnell11001@yahoo.com.

Flying the not-so-friendly skies

Iwrote to Pete Buttigieg this week. I thought that the head of the U.S. Department of Transportation should know what’s up.

Last week, Secretary Buttigieg announced some $600 million in fines against the airlines for bad behavior dur ing the continuing pandemic. It’s a start.

on our wedding trip in 1968, we flew East ern Airlines to Bermuda. I wore a match ing coat and dress, white gloves, high heels and a hat. The “stewardesses” wore perky outfits and heels and little cha peaus, and they were all super-attractive and into providing excellent service to the customers.

Seen through today’s lens, it was sexist and white and stiffly formal. We enjoyed tasty little meals served on individual trays, even in coach, and the crew happily did all the heavy lifting. We have fallen out of the sky, in terms of standards for pas sengers and crew.

But that’s a low bar, right? The crews are nice enough, which isn’t nice enough. No crew member offers a hand to help place a suitcase in the overhead bin. Then they try to sell you stuff. You get your drink when the wagon rolls by, and a dis mal choice of snacks. Heav en help us, the Terra Blue potato chips, basically the most compelling reason to fly JetBlue, are gone.

That’s when I decided to write to Butti gieg.

First, no customer should have to wait 90 minutes to speak to an agent. If they can’t run the airline better than that, with all the money they got from us, they should shut down and turn the planes into affordable housing.

Apparently, the airlines took bil lions of bailout dollars, and failed to pass on the goodwill or the big bucks to their cus tomers. In fact, they canceled or delayed oodles of flights and didn’t refund the fees to passengers. Some times — and this took chutzpah — they rebooked folks on other flights with out finding out whether those new book ings were good for the travelers.

Supply chain issues? The airlines got a gazillion dol lars from the government. Open a damn potato chip factory!

RANDI KREISS

I hate to pick on JetBlue, but I must, because that’s the only airline I’ve flown recently.

But let’s back up the plane. My bias is that my airline experience began when flying was a special treat. When we went

Two weeks ago, I flew Jet Blue back and forth from New York to Florida. While I was waiting for my flight, an announcer at the gate said that the flight before mine, on the same route, would be turbulent, passengers should expect to stay seated, and there would be no bathroom breaks. This is bad, I thought. I’m about to get on this flying tube to ride 1,500 miles at 600 mph at 36,000 feet into a hurricane. I nearly bolted, but I talked myself down.

Turns out, we were on time, and there were no violent outbursts by passengers or inappropriate behavior by crew members.

My real and serious issue is with the JetBlue website and its reservation process. In recent months, the web site has been buggy. The fees for “extras,” like being able to bring a carry-on in “basic blue,” are excessive.

When I needed to change my flight on the return, it took two hours online to book the change and pay for a seat. Then I got a message that I had the flight but no seat. I tried to call. It was a 90-minute wait to speak to a person, and I was informed that booking or changing or canceling a flight on the phone with a human being would cost me $25.

Second, how dare they charge $25 to speak to someone to book a flight? I know many people, especially older folks, who don’t use computers. They don’t know how to book a flight online. They need to talk to a real person, and they can’t wait 90 minutes on the phone. This is unfair to fli ers who don’t have the necessary technolo gy skills. Why should they be penalized with a $25 fee for what should be a basic service to a paying customer?

Years ago, I wrote to JetBlue in the name of my dog, requesting frequent flier points for her even though she traveled under the seat. They had a sense of humor. They said they couldn’t offer points, but they did give Zoe and me a free flight. Just like that. Goodwill.

JetBlue needs to drop the $25 phone fee, hire enough agents to reduce the phone wait time, and please, please, bring back the Terra Blues.

Copyright 2022 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

O ne slight after another led me to drop a line to Secretary Buttigieg.

Trump is a minorleague version of literature’s classic tragic figure.

50 years of a better world thanks to Title IX

He’s a man you’ve likely never heard of. The son of an Indiana State University basketball coach who excelled in sports himself — primarily as a boxer and a col legiate baseball player — Birch Bayh was sworn in as a U.S. senator from his home state on Jan. 3, 1963.

Bayh spent 18 years in that office, becoming the only non-Founding Father to author two amendments to the U.S. Constitution: the 25th Amendment, han dling presidential succession, and the 26th, which lowered the federal voting age to 18.

But it was his days playing sports that occupied the senator’s mind. Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 tackled all kinds of discrimination when it came to employment and public accommodation, it bothered Bayh that the bill failed to address sex discrimination at schools.

He set out to change that, crafting the 37 words that would make up what we now know as Title IX: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimi nation under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assis tance.”

While we might see Title IX today as a law focused on sports, what Bayh and his House counterpart, U.S. Rep. Edith Green, pushed through Congress did more than that. No more could schools legally favor one gender over another in any respect, including pay and employment opportuni ties. If it was good enough for a man, it was good enough for a woman.

But yes, some of the most visible impacts came in the world of sports,

letters

Thanks to all who uplift and help others

To the Editor:

changing what was once a male-dominat ed enterprise into something that could be enjoyed by anyone. Like Elizabeth Serra, who just finished her first season with the Woodland Middle School football team in East Meadow.

Elizabeth scored 16 points as a kicker, and even broke a tie to give Woodland a final win over the Seaford Vikings. Yet being the only girl on the team didn’t faze her a bit.

“I was a little bit nervous, but then I realized what I really wanted to do,” the 13-year-old said. “I just really wanted to play football. So it didn’t really bother me that much.”

Even a few years ago, a girl kicking field goals for a football team was consid ered a novelty. Today it’s just another day on the gridiron. Elizabeth is far from alone.

Before Title IX, just 300,000 girls took part in high school sports, according to a report last summer by NPR. Today that number is 3.5 million. And while Title IX focuses on schools, it has a much wider reach.

Like with the New York Islanders Girls Elite Hockey program, started in 2016 by Alexis Moed, the general manager of the Connecticut Whale, a team in the womenfocused professional Premier Hockey Fed eration. Working with the NHL’s Island ers, the league is filled with girls ages 8 to 19, all playing on the same ice at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Mead ow as the four-time Stanley Cup champi ons.

The league has become a second home for Debbie Curry, a 12-year-old from Sea ford, who started her hockey career on boys’ teams.

“She always had a target (on) her for being a girl in a boy sport,” Debbie’s moth er, Christie, said. “Here she can be recog nized and have a chance to go somewhere with hockey in the future, because they’re giving the girls a chance to shine.

“I’ve never seen her so happy, and she can just be herself.”

Title IX has helped girls come a long way, but the fight is far from over. Many schools still don’t know how to properly enforce Title IX compliance, while others have chosen to cut programs rather than expand them to include everyone. Retalia tion runs rampant, and the U.S. Depart ment of Education believes there are more areas of improvement needed, including the end of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics.

Birch Bayh died in 2019, at age 91. But he lived long enough to see the impact his 37 simple words had on the lives of mil lions. An impact that literally brought him to tears.

Kelly Krauskopf is an assistant general manager of the Indiana Pacers. But in 2000, she made her mark helping to bring the Indiana Fever into existence in the WNBA. They sold out their first game with 16,000 people filling the arena, and Krauskopf invited Bayh to join her on the hardwood before the tipoff.

“I said to him, ‘Look at this place. Can you believe this?’” she told the Indianapo lis Star. “‘This would never have happened had it not been for you.’

“He looks at me and he has these big tears in his eyes. And he said he had no idea (Title IX) would have this kind of impact. It was just one of the coolest moments.”

In this season of hope and gratitude, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to all Long Islanders who give of themselves to help others here in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and beyond.

Nearly every day, Red Cross volunteers are at the scene of fires, floods and other disasters that occur all too regularly on Long Island, providing urgent assistance to those coping with loss and uncertain ty. In addition to responding to local emergencies, this past year, many of my colleagues traveled far from home to offer a helping hand following wild fires in California, tornadoes and flash floods in Kentucky and, most recently, Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in Florida. Our volunteers also work to prevent future disas ters by installing free smoke alarms, providing fire

Millions in opioid-fighting funds are still available

nassau County continues to hold Big Pharma accountable in the courts for the wave of destruc tion that the pharmaceutical companies’ highly addictive opioid drugs unleashed on families and children across the country, and right here in our own backyards.

mately $2.4 million per year was immedi ately earmarked, with the lion’s share going to Nassau University Medical Cen ter. The remaining $12.6 million per year will be awarded to agencies that respond to a Request for Expressions of Interest that closed on Monday.

tions as a family to instill vigilance as they navigate the world. As parents, we do so motivated by awareness of the stark reality that addiction is an indiscrimi nate killer — that there is no race, creed, religion, sex or economic background that substance abuse does not impact.

edy of losing a child to the disease of addiction.

DeriGGi-wHitton

On Nov. 7, the county took the first leg islative step toward approving a $68.25 million settlement with Actavis LLC and Actavis Pharma Inc., Watson Labo ratories Inc., Anda Inc., Teva Pharma ceutical Industries Ltd., and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA. Once this settlement is approved by the full Legislature and County Executive Bruce Blakeman — which I anticipate will occur this month — it will supple ment the $70.4 million the county has already received through various Big Pharma settlements.

Drawing from the funds now at the county’s disposal, Blakeman in mid-Sep tember announced plans to distribute $15 million per year for the next four years to agencies that offer addiction prevention, treatment or recovery services. Approxi

Above and beyond Blake man’s announced plans, there is still approximately $10.4 million that has not been designated. The Teva Pharmaceutical settlement will add significantly to that sum, as will the pro ceeds of future settlements as additional pharmaceuti cal companies are held responsible for their gross negligence and complicity in this ongoing public health crisis.

While I have consistently expressed my frustration with the slow pace of allo cating these funds, this influx of new resources gives us a golden opportunity to proactively plan for how we can get life-saving resources where they need to be as expeditiously as possible. My frus tration is amplified by my concern for all our friends, loved ones and neighbors who are suffering at this very moment.

I’m a mother of three daughters who are now young adults, and the opioid drug crisis remains one of my greatest fears. We have had countless conversa

wIn Glen Cove, I have grown close to a group of women who have estab lished a local chapter of Families Anonymous, an organization that gives peo ple navigating the trauma of living with a loved one suffering from addiction a safe space to meet and share their experiences, strength and hope with one another. I have introduced friends to Families Anonymous, and the warmth, support and generosity of spirit they received was truly remarkable, and life-affirming.

Several members of the organization came to the Legislature on Oct. 24 and courageously shared their stories. They have seen their children arrested and sent to prison, and fought with insurance companies to secure long-term treatment upon their release. Several have seen their loved ones come through the tem pest one day at a time and achieve longterm, sustainable sobriety. Sadly, far too many have endured the unthinkable trag

What they shared offers some impor tant insights into our next steps. With the funds from our opioid lawsuit settle ments, Nassau County would be wise to look closely at supporting organizations that provide drug rehabilitation pro grams with longer terms of stay beyond the customary 28-day term; dual-diagno sis approaches that get to the complicated and often intertwined root causes of the disease; and aggressive early-interven tion strategies.

It is also crucial to keep talking openly about addiction, so we can continue chip ping away at the stigmas that can hinder people from seeking the help they need. Addiction is a public health crisis, not a moral failing.

Thanks to its advocacy and willing ness to confront Big Pharma in the courts, Nassau County has created tre mendous opportunities for progress.

Armed with these resources and more on the way, it is more important than ever for us to work together as parents and leaders to act on decisions that will make a significant, lifesaving impact on the tra jectory of the opioid addiction crisis.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, of Glen Cove, a Nassau County legislator representing the 11th District, is the ranking member of the legislature’s Committee on Health & Social Services.

safety and emergency preparedness edu cation and teaching first aid and CPR.

Through our Service to the Armed Forces program, a dedicated Red Cross team provides 24/7 support for military members, veterans and their families at home and around the world.

The life-changing work our volunteers carry out day in and day out would not be possible without our financial donors and our civic-minded partners. I want to recognize them as well for their generosi ty and community spirit.

Finally, I want to give special thanks to our military heroes, who sacrifice so much, and to our first responders, who work to ensure our safety and well-being.

As we enter this holiday season, let’s give special thanks to all those who make our communities stronger and safer all year long.

Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving!

JOSE DOMINGUEz CEO, American Red Cross on Long Island

Shop local this weekend

To the Editor:

In these difficult economic times, as a result of inflation, it is especially impor tant to patronize your neighborhood

Lettersbusinesses. Do it not only on annual Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26, but every day of the year.

I don’t mind occasionally paying a lit tle more to help our local stores survive. The employees go out of their way to help find what I need. Customer service is their motto.

Independent mom-and-pop stores don’t have bulk-buying purchasing power that Amazon or large national chain stores have. The owners can’t negotiate lower prices from suppliers. They’re at the mercy of those suppliers, especially third-party brokers, who con trol the prices they have to pay for mer chandise. That’s why they sometimes charge a little more. But it’s worth the price to avoid the crowds and long lines at larger stores in exchange for the con venience and friendly service your neighborhood store offers.

Remember, these people are our neigh bors. They work long hours, pay taxes and keep as many employed as possible. Many maintain the tradition of offering job opportunities to students during the holidays and over the summer.

Customers also patronize other com mercial establishments on the block. Foot traffic is essential for the survival of any neighborhood commercial dis trict. If we don’t patronize our local stores and restaurants to shop and eat,

they don’t eat, either. We help keep our neighbors employed and the local econo my growing.

The owners of independent, momand-pop stores are the backbone of our

neighborhood commercial districts. Show your support by making a pur chase.

LARRy PENNER Great Neck

Framework by Tim Baker

A flapping, chattering gathering — Long Beach

e have a golden opportunity to get life-saving resources where they need to be.

DeLia

Find a doctor today at mountsinai.org/southnassau