Bellmore Herald 12-15-2022

By JoRDaN ValloNE jvallone@liherald.com

The Bellmore-Merrick community has a lot to look forward to this holiday season, including the second winter concert for Wellington C. Mepham High School’s musical programs and groups.

It is set to be a standout show for a number of reasons, and Mepham’s Symphonic Band and Wind

Ensemble has two special pieces it has been preparing — a song titled “Christmas in Kyiv,” written by senior Samantha Nadler, and a second song, “A Walk in the Park,” composed by a Mepham alumnus, Carl Strommen.

Nadler, 17, of Bellmore, said she took up music composition as a hobby in mid2020, as a way to create music

without needing to be in an in-person ensemble. She plays the clarinet and tenor saxophone, and she didn’t want the coronavirus pandemic to get in the way of her musical experience, she explained.

“I started writing short pieces for all kinds of concert bands,” she said, ”but there was a time when I wanted to share my gift of composition with my community.”

From Saw Mill Road to Fort Myers, Fla.

Partnership with Tunnel to Towers benefits Hurricane Ian recovery

By JoRDaN ValloNE jvallone@liherald.com

Students in the North Bellmore School District have long been giving back to fellow kids in need.

For many years, the district has partnered with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a charitable organization created by the family of Stephen Siller. Siller was a New York City firefighter who died in the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, after running through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel to get to Lower Manhattan.

Since its founding, Tunnel to Towers has helped people in many ways. One thing the organization regularly does is benefit families and children who are living in areas that are recovering from natural disasters.

Partnering with North Bellmore’s schools to collect toys, Tunnel to Towers brings the donations directly to areas of the United States that are recovering from storms. Last week, a dozen

representatives of the organization stopped by Saw Mill Road Elementary School to meet with its sixth-graders and collect hundreds of donations for children in or near Fort Myers, Florida, which is recovering from Hurricane Ian.

Saw Mill Road’s SADD Club — Students Against Destructive Decisions — organized the drive this year, as they have in the past. Though it took place at Saw Mill Road, previous collections have taken place at the district’s other elementary schools, in North Bellmore and North Merrick. The SADD Club of each school is the group that hosts the drive.

Jo Ann Signorelli, a district social worker, said that the schools were first connected to Tunnel to Towers through a former principal in the district, Faith Skelos. “She came to me and shared what they were doing, and we started it as a SADD Club initiative,” Signorelli told the Herald last week. “We’ve been doing this for 17

Tim Baker/Herald SaMaNtHa NaDlER, a senior in Mepham’s Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, composed a song called ‘Christmas in Kyiv,’ which will be played during next week’s winter concert.

Band to play song by senior Samantha Nadler

Nadler said that her band teacher, Anthony Brandofino, suggested she write a piece to complement the song by Strommen, to make the already special concert set even more so.

“I wanted to write a piece that would not only be a fun piece to play, but also a learning experience that connects the music community to current events,” she said. “I was inspired by the ongoing war in Ukraine to create ‘Christmas in Kyiv.’”

The piece is a unique holiday song that blends Ukrainian folk music with the well-known “Ukrainian Bell Carol” — known more commonly as “Carol of the Bells.”

“Working with Samantha over the last four years has been an absolute dream,” Brandofino said. “She has a bit of ‘Midas touch’ — anything in which she involves herself in, both in and outside of music, results in such high quality.

“Samantha’s musicianship is right up there with many professional composers I have chosen to program in past concert performances,” he added. “What is most profound in this accomplishment is Samantha’s thoughtful melding of astute musical creativity with the greater awareness of the world around her.”

Nadler said she thinks music is a great way to raise awareness of a good cause. “We don’t all speak the same language,” she said, “but we can convey all the same emotions through music.”

Last week, every section of the band gathered in the Mepham auditorium to rehearse Nadler’s piece — and it was the first time she’d heard everything come together.

“We have an ensemble of just sophomores, and another of mostly juniors and seniors, and we combine to form a larger ensemble for the winter concert,” she said. “There’s some parts that only one band had, and hearing the two ensembles together for the first time, playing the

piece I worked hard on for the upcoming concert, was really a dream come true.”

As for Strommen’s piece, Brandofino said that its performance has been years in the making. Strommen graduated from Mepham in 1957, and went on to have a successful career as a composer.

“Although it was initially intended to be performed among students from our district’s three high school band programs, we are thrilled to finally bring it back to our stage, and Mr. Strommen’s home,” Brandofino said.

“In ‘A Walk in the Park,’ Mr. Strommen has captured an aura of nostalgia in the music that our students deliver quite nicely.”

Brandofino said that Strommen has worked with the band twice in the lead-up to the concert — even observing the band during last week’s rehearsal — and has been encouraging and supportive along the way, offering pointers when possible.

“It has been very beneficial for our students to learn from the perspective of this seasoned professional,” Brandofino said. “We understand how special it is for Mr. Strommen to be returning back to his roots — we hope we have made him proud.”

Cheryl Fontana, the director of fine and performing arts in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, agreed with Brandofino that the opportunity for Mepham’s students to work with Strommen has been a rewarding one.

“Any opportunity to learn from a professional in the field is invaluable,” Fontana said, “but the fact that he is a Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District alum makes it that much more special.”

Mepham’s first winter concert took place this week, on Dec. 14. The second — which will feature the band and performances by orchestras — is slated for Dec. 20. The orchestras will perform first, beginning at 6:45 p.m., followed by the band, at 8.

Nadler said she was really looking forward to everything coming together next week for one big, final performance.

“With the concert coming up on the 20th, I cannot wait for people outside the Mepham music community to hear ‘Christmas in Kyiv,’” she said. “We have worked so hard to make our winter concert a special night for myself and Mr. Strommen, and hope to share our gifts in the concert.”

Tim Baker/Herald

The band will also play a piece by Carl Strommen, a Mepham alumnus and composer. Last week, he visited the school to hear them play his song ‘A Walk in the Park,’ and offered some tips to make it better.

Following months of build up, bond fails to pass

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

After months of build up and several informational meetings, a $39 million bond failed to pass last week in the North Bellmore School District.

The district, which serves the North Bellmore and a small portion of the North Merrick community across six elementary schools, underwent a mandatory buildings conditions survey in Dec. 2020.

The results were submitted to the state in early 2021, and uncovered the need for some extensive renovations — including a complete overhaul of every building’s HVAC system, the addition of elevators to five of the schools, and new playgrounds.

To cover the cost of these renovations, the district’s Board of Education adopted a bond resolution, totaling just over $39 million, during its October meeting. A detailed presentation was given, detailing the cost breakdown of the project, when certain renovations would take place, and the impact the bond would have on taxpayers if adopted.

It was slated to be paid back over a 15-year period.

Last week, the community took to the polls to decide the fate of the bond, with roughly 45 percent of the voters in favor of it, and 55 percent of the voters against it. Over 1,100 residents cast their votes — 533 voters were in approval of the proposition, and 628 voters rejected it.

On a few community Facebook pages the day before, district residents discussed and debated the bond. There was a general consensus that some things, such as the HVAC overhaul, needed to be done, but some of the smaller, miscellaneous projects just tacked on costs.

In the past, the district was able to cooperate with Parent-Teacher Associations in order to raise money for new

playgrounds. During a recent board meeting, the superintendent of schools, Marie Testa, said the district was no longer allowed to do this for liability purposes.

New playgrounds were added to this bond because of the fact that within the district’s boundaries, there are no public parks. Outside of school hours, the grounds of every elementary school serve as that outdoor space.

A few questioned why one school building, Jacob Gunther Elementary School, was included in the bond, because it is no longer operating as a kindergarten through sixth-grade facility. Testa told the Herald in November that even though the building is not an elementary school, it houses Wee Friends Too nursery school, and several district offices. Being that Wee Friends Too offers spaces to the district’s Universal Pre-K program, there are children living within the North Bellmore community attending the school.

“When the district closed Jacob Gun-

ther as an elementary school,” she added, “the board made a promise to the community that they would upkeep that property, including the school, to keep it at pace with the other schools.”

If the bond had passed, depending on a taxpayer’s home’s assessed value, some residents could see increases of over $400 a year on their tax bills. Testa said the district was understanding of the fact that the bond was costly, and added that she felt like the community had been receptive to the information the district provided.

“I’m just wondering about the cost of it,” she said. “Some may feel it’s very expensive, and they can’t afford it.”

Last week, in a district released announcement which informed the community that the bond didn’t pass, Testa thanked everyone for casting their votes.

“This was a very close margin, with over 45 percent approval to upkeep the district’s aging infrastructure,” she stat-

ThE BiggEsT — and most costly — project inlcuded in the $39 million bond would’ve been an overhaul of every school building’s HVAC system. In response to the bond failing, the district said it would look for other ways to cover the cost of this needed renovation.

ed. “The Board of Education and I appreciate all of the voters who came out, and we look forward to continuing our work on behalf of the North Bellmore community.”

Taxpayers who voted last week were also able to bring their children, if they had any enrolled in North Bellmore’s schools, to vote for a district wide “theme day.”

“It gave us great pleasure to see the children participate in the democratic process,” Testa added. “We look forward to hearing the results from the PTA Coordinating Council, and appreciate their collaboration in this long standing tradition.”

Because the bond did not pass, there are several renovations the district still would like to see through, and Testa said it is committed to working strategically to address necessary capital projects and recommendations as indicated by the buildings conditions survey.

Herald File

ThE NORTh BELLmORE School District’s $39 million bond proposition failed to pass last week. Above, Park Avenue Elementary School in North Merrick.

Courtesy North Bellmore School District

scHools

Kennedy High’s Ty Gelman is named a ‘Rising Scientist’

Ty Gelman, the salutatorian at John F. Kennedy High School in the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District, was named a Rising Scientist during Child Mind Institute’s annual On the Shoulders of Giants Symposium.

The annual celebration of scientific achievement highlights the researchers that form the groundwork for future neu-

roscience discovery.

Gelman was awarded a $2,000 college scholarship for his advanced science research project, “The Concurrent Effects of Exercise and Dietary Restriction on a Drosophila melanogaster Model of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.”

He is one of five students across the nation awarded this designation.

Dowling most influential health care leader

Michael Dowling, who championed innovation to combat the Covid-19 pandemic as president and chief executive of Northwell Health, has been selected as America’s most influential leader in health care by Modern Healthcare magazine.

Dowling was chosen as No. 1 as part of the magazine’s annual list of the 100 mostinfluential people in health care, putting him ahead of national brand leaders like CVS Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Moderna as well as President Joe Biden and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary Xavier Becerra.

The magazine’s ranking is determined by peers and the publication’s editors based on leadership and impact. Dowling has now appeared on the list 16 times, earning a second-place national ranking in 2020, and third last year.

Northwell is New York’s largest health care provider and private employer with 21 hospitals, 850 outpatient facilities and more than 12,000 affiliated physicians.

It’s one that has worked to upend health inequalities Dowling has said were laid bare by the pandemic. One of those initiatives was the Center for Maternal Health, unveiled earlier this year, focused on underserved communities addressing health conditions that can occur before conception through the first year after a baby is delivered.

“This remarkable recognition truly is a reflection of the collaboration and work ethic elicited by thousands of Northwell team members who deliver compassionate care to our patients each and every day,” Dowling said, in a release.

“Of course, our daily focus is on our sickest patients. But to serve our broader community, we also look at health trends both looming on the horizon, and lurking under the cover of darkness.

“That’s why we’ve taken a stand against gun violence. That’s why we’ve opened Northwell’s Center for Maternal Health to reduce maternal mortality — especially among Black Americans.”

Michael Dowling

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Ty GelMan, The salutatorian at John F. Kennedy in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, was named a Rising Scientist from the Child Mind Institute.

Cheers to 100 years of service

Meeting Santa — and the Grinch!

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

Outgoing Merrick Fire Department Captain Jay Greenblatt was presented a Certificate of Recognition at Freindship Engine and Hose Company’s 100th Anniversary Event by members of the Town Board last month at the Milleridge Inn.

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

At the Bellmore Movies ‘Movie with Santa’ event last month, Town Councilman Chris Carini and Town Clerk Kate Murray stopped by to meet some families, and of course Santa Claus and the Grinch.

HempsteadWorks one-stop shop for job seekers

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

Searching for a new job at any stage can be daunting. Among myriad challenges are cold calls, maintaining contact lists, constantly updating social media profiles and customizing resumes, and recruiting references.

It’s enough to give even the most stalwart job hunter a feeling of timidity.

But there are resources available: HempsteadWorks. A joint effort between the Town of Hempstead’s occupational resources department and Long Beach’s city workforce development board, HempsteadWorks is intended to provide assistance at all phases of hunting for that next position.

Those services can include everything from workshops on how to create resumes and write cover letters, how to best approach a job interview, ways to utilize social media sites like LinkedIn, and even training and certification programs.

All for free to anyone living in the town or in Long Beach.

“If someone doesn’t have computer skills, we help them,” said Mary Drangel, a business services representative for HempsteadWorks. “Some don’t have a computer at home, so they can come in and use the computer resource room and work on their resume.”

HempsteadWorks, Drangel said, offers services for a wide range of professions — from truck driving to engineering.

“They are matched with a career counselor,” she said, “and we find out what their needs are and what career path they want to take. From there we have all of the services that they might need.”

While unemployment rates nationally and locally remain near record lows, there are still plenty of people in need of jobs, or even a new job. HempsteadWorks helps not just the unemployed, but the underemployed as well.

“For the adults, we have training and workshops so they can get a certificate or credential in any field,” Drangel said.

HempsteadWorks is especially skilled at helping young

and at-risk job seekers, Drangel said — even those with criminal records. The youth services program is currently helping nearly 150 Hempstead teens and young adults with job training, transportation and child care.

It’s a comprehensive program designed to eliminate potential barriers to getting hired.

“We want them to be self-sufficient,” said Nene Alameda, a co-worker of Drangel. “Some of the youth we work with have been involved with the justice system. We find companies that are willing to give them a second chance. We try to identify barriers and mitigate them. We want to help them find a sustainable wage to live on Long Island.”

The youth services program helps job seekers between 18 and 24 who dropped out of high school, have a criminal record, are homeless, pregnant, or economically disadvantaged. HempsteadWorks also has a program designed to help those trying to escape from the influence of gangs.

“We have a pro bono attorney to help them clean up their rap sheet,” Drangel said.

There are also services for those with physical and learning disabilities, as well as English language learners. Job seekers must, of course, have a legal right to work in the United States.

Job searches would be fruitless without jobs. Drangel and Alameda said that HempsteadWorks develops great relationships with businesses to meet their needs, and not just the needs of those looking for jobs.

A recent job fair in Freeport, for example, attracted 1,500 job seekers and 70 companies.

“I always feel like we’re a bit of a professional matchmaker,” Alameda said. “We work with companies to understand their needs, but we’re also working with participants who have workforce needs. How do we find that perfect fit?”

Drangel changes leadership, not her priorities

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

One of Hempstead’s most influential employment recruiters will soon find herself out of a job.

But on her terms.

Mary Drangel will retire from HempsteadWorks as a career center representative on Jan. 31, after 14 years of service.

But the Oceanside resident has a much longer resume with the Town of Hempstead, with jobs that include purchasing and procurement, the tax receiver’s office, and real estate. Drangel’s passion has been helping people find a job, and she exudes excitement when talking about helping them overcome the hurdles.

“It has been challenging, but also rewarding at the same time,” Drangel said. “I have to say, I feel proud of what I’ve done here.”

Drangel is getting ready for warmer temperatures with plans to move to Florida with her husband, Scott. He recently retired from the New York City’s environmental protection department. Their son, Michael, is a Rockville Centre resident, and Mary’s mother and two sisters live locally, so the couple plan to spend plenty

of time visiting back home.

Drangel plans to continue her passions for nature photography and hiking.

Drangel’s replacement, Nene Alameda, has been a part of HempsteadWorks since

June, and is intimately aware of all the programs and resources the office provides. Still, she is only grudgingly celebrating Drangel’s retirement. “When they invent the machine for

downloading of brains, I want to connect to Mary and keep downloading everything she knows,” Alameda joked. “Everything she touches turns to gold.”

Alameda has been largely responsible for HempsteadWorks’ social media campaign designed to attract younger job seekers.

She also added QR codes — two-dimensional bar codes people can scan with their smartphones taking them to specific websites.

“Our flyers are very dynamic,” Drangel said. “When you look at them, you’re attracted right to them. Nene is phenomenal at creating flyers.”

While Drangel has had good things to say about her successor, Alameda credits Drangel for much of HempsteadWorks’ success — especially after Covid-19.

“I said, ‘Why don’t we just think out-ofthe-box and do a job fair on Zoom?’” Drangel said. When asked how she was going to do that, Drangel had a simple answer.

“I said, ‘I don’t know. I’ll figure it out’” she said. “And it turned out that it really took off.”

“Who would have thought that a job fair online right after the pandemic started would take off,” Alameda said. “I don’t want her to leave.”

Mark Nolan/Herald

NENE ALAMEDA, LEFT, and Mary Drangel reviewed plans for upcoming job fairs offered by the Town of Hempstead’s occupational resources department through its HempsteadWorks Career Center.

Mark Nolan/Herald

HEMPSTEADWORKS CAREER CENTER employees Lily Dou, far left, Tamia Anderson, Maria Reed, Kurt Rockensies, Eric Mallette, Mary Drangel, Nene Alameda, Christopher DeRita and Jeanie Robano-Stocker provide comprehensive career services for Hempstead town residents.

sports

Hofstra seeks CAA championship run

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

The Hofstra men’s basketball team is poised for another high finish in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and hopes it can carry over regular season success into the postseason.

The Pride won eight of nine games last year to end the CAA schedule, but was quickly bounced in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament by College of Charleston as the third seed.

“The goal is always to win a championship,” said head coach and former Pride star Speedy Claxton, who guided Hofstra to a conference title and NCAA Tournament as a star point guard in 2000. “We put together a tough non-conference schedule to prepare us for the physical teams we will face in conference play.”

Hofstra returned redshirt senior guard Aaron Estrada, the reigning CAA Player of the Year who Claxton says has a potential to become an NBA player. Estrada, who transferred to Hofstra from Oregon last year, scored 33 points in the Pride’s 85-80 home win against George Washington on Nov. 14.

“He is our hardest worker,” Claxton said of Estrada. “He is our best player for a reason because he is always in the gym working on his game.”

Estrada was sidelined by an ankle injury for the Pride’s Dec. 7 road trip to fourth-ranked Purdue and in his absence saw the emergence of red-shirt freshman guard Amar’e Marshall, who scored 24 against the Big Ten power.

Hofstra (6-4) opened the season with an 83-77 come-frombehind win at Princeton on Nov. 7 in which Estrada scored 27 points and the Pride ended the

game on a 10-1 run. The game also saw an emergence of sophomore guard Jaquan Carlos, who hit the eventual game-winning three pointer, the first of many clutch baskets he has made this season.

Sophomore Darlistone Dubar, a second-year Hofstra player after transferring from Iowa State, is making strides early this season averaging 10.9 points through the first 12 games. Redshirt senior guard Tyler Thomas, a Sacred Heart University transfer, has also provided an offensive spark, averaging 12 points a game including 26 in an 83-78 win against Iowa at home on Veterans Day.

Hofstra was picked second in the CAA preseason coaches poll behind Towson. The Pride’s CAA home opener is slated for New Year’s Eve at 1 p.m. against league newcomer North Carolina A&T. The Pride’s home conference schedule is highlighted by a Feb. 4 matchup against Long Island rival and CAA newcomer Stony Brook for a 4 p.m. tipoff.

pride women off to promising start

The Hofstra women’s basketball team is making strides early on in the new season after an 8-20 record in the 2021-22 campaign.

The Pride already achieved half of last year’s win total with a 56-53 home win against Army West Point on Dec. 7 that put the team at 4-4. It nearly got win number five last Saturday, but dropped a 62-61 overtime heartbreaker at Loyola (Md).

“I’m excited for what this season is going to hold,” said fourthyear head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “I truly believe we have a team that wants it and they’re willing to work for it.”

Hofstra returned six from last year’s team that reached the

CAA quarterfinals including AllCAA Defensive team selection Rosi Nicholson, who also displayed her offensive ability with 16 points in a season-opening 73-68 loss to Big Ten foe Rutgers. Senior Sorelle Ineza is also back after starting 11 games as a junior.

Baldwin native Brandy Thomas, a graduate student who transferred from nearby Long Island University (LIU), has become the team’s leading scorer early on averaging 13.3 points per game including 22 in a 76-68 loss at Wagner on Nov. 26.

“She’s very competitive and pushes everyone else to be competitive as well,” said Santos Atkinson of Thomas, Junior 6-3 center Zyheima Swint is the third leading scorer early in the season and gives the Pride a strong inside presence to complement its perimeter game.

The Pride’s roster features seven newcomers including Zaniyyah Ross-Barnes, a Stony Brook transfer who is the team’s fourth leading scorer. Junior guard Ally Knights, an Australia native who transferred from North Florida, is a key rebounder and defender also capable of hitting big jump shots.

New additions to the team this season also includes freshman Emma Von Essen of Rockville Centre, who shined as a four-year member at Long Island Lutheran. Von Essen is quickly gaining minutes and got her first start in a 74-71 victory against LIU on Dec. 3 in a game where she netted season-high 17 points.

Hofstra was picked to finish last in the 13-team CAA and will look to prove the doubters wrong starting with its league opener at Delaware on Dec. 30. The Pride’s CAA home opener is scheduled for New Year’s Day against Stony Brook at 2 p.m.

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications PRiDE REDshiRt sENiOR guard Aaron Estrada, right, is the reigning CAA Player of the Year.

hOfstRA’s WOmEN’s tEAm is making early strides and aims to prove the preseason rankings wrong.

Hislon's Holiday Tips on Caring for Watches and Gems

By ALEXA ANDERWKAVICH aanderwkavich@liherald.com

Oprah’s list and the latest gadget on TikTok always seem to put a select set of holiday gifts in the spotlight each year, but few presents are as consistently timeless as jewelry. Necklaces, bracelets, watches, rings ... there’s a good chance you’ve been on the giving or receiving end (or both) at some point, and you know that these are the kinds of gifts that keep on giving.

“Oh, that’s so nice,” you might exclaim, but we’re all striving for more than nice, right? Often what separates something “nice” from something magnificent is the attention to detail: that goes not only for selecting and wearing a particularly piece of jewelry, notes Jeff Kaspar, owner of Hislon Jewelers in Merrick, but perhaps more important in the long run, what you do with it when nobody’s looking.

Kaspar has been in the industry for decades — his family has deep roots there as well, and the Hislon name became renowned with the Hislon watch craze in the 1960s — and understands the concept of timelessness when it comes to jewelry. When purchasing fine jewelry or watches, we take into account the look and how it makes us feel when it is adorning a neck or a wrist, for all the world to see.

At home, however, it might be best to resist the temptation to put your jewelry on display like a curio or piece of art. The ideal place to keep it is actually out of sight.

“All the jewelry should be kept in boxes,” Kaspar says, “which prevents dust and moisture from sticking to the jewelry and overall keeps it looking really nice.”

Of course, storage is only one step. Care and cleaning are also paramount, Kaspar notes, for long-term enjoyment and preservation. Automatic watches, for example, which work off movement, including the motion of your body (as opposed to battery operated timepieces), need constant vigilance. “If you don’t wear your automatic watch for a few days, it stops,” Kaspar says. “In order to set the time and make it work again, just give it a quick shake and you’ll see the second hand begin to tick. The last step is to set the time and enjoy."

“In our store, we like to keep our automatic watches working at all times because they have oils in them,” Kaspar adds. “They are like cars, and if an automatic watch sits for too long those oils dry out. So the next time you wear it, it may damage the movement due to the dry oils forcing the motions.”

As far as cleaning your precious items, at-home care is a balancing act. The idea that less is more is certainly at play, but the amount of care should never dwindle. Watches should be wiped clean, to keep fingerprints and other debris off them, but if you’re looking for something more thorough, then a professional polishing would be the best bet, Kaspar says.

Jewelry, however, begs for a different kind of attention. There are plenty of store- bought sprays that can clean jewelry well, but the brushes that often come with the cleaner can do more harm than good, especially to jewelry with stones and settings.

“I never recommend using a brush, they can loosen the prongs and may result in a stone getting loose and falling out,” Kaspar warns. “So I always tell people if you’re nearby or have time, stop in because we offer free steam cleanings, and with that you’ll have your jewelry nice and refreshed.”

Hislon's jeweler, ibo Tuzcu hard at work repairing, creating and taking care of watches and jewels. Hislon pays close attention to detail to ensure all their products are quality-made and that each customer leaves happy.

jeff kaspar pHotograpHed with his grandmother, Ritta Hisarli (middle) and his mother, Bianca Kaspar (right) at one of the display cases. The Hislon staff finds joy in all they do — whether it's helping a couple find the perfect ring, a special gift or restoring an item back to its former glory. The Hislari family tradition lives on!

Photos by TIM BAKER

Legislature approves secretive cyber contract

By MARK NOLAN mnolan@liherald.com

A cybersecurity services contract unanimously approved by the Nassau County Legislature’s rules committee on Dec. 5 has raised the eyebrows of an open government expert since this approval came in secret.

Yet, such discretion is necessary, county officials, said, since they believe not giving away the game plan is the best way to protect sensitive data from hackers.

At issue is a contract for Nassau County’s massive computer network. But it’s not just how the vendor will operate that remains cloaked, but also how much it will cost — and who the vendor is. All of this, according to the expert, is standard information courts have ruled the public has a right to.

The crippling malware attack on Suffolk County’s network on Sept. 8 sent shockwaves through government offices nationwide charged with protecting computer systems. Nassau officials immediately urged the legislature to act, which is exactly what its rules committee did a few months later.

A full vote of the legislature is not required under county law for contracts.

But why a secret? It’s simple, rules committee vice chair Howard Kopel said: ransomware.

“The vendor suggested (secrecy) would be a very important thing,” the legislator said. “We don’t want the crooks to know who (the vendor is) and what their methods of operation are.”

Ransomware is when someone remotely locks up a computer network or servers, releasing them only after the owners of those networks pays a monetary ransom.

Yet, is computer security enough to keep the details of a taxpayer-funded project secret? Shoshanah Bewlay, executive director of the state’s Committee on Open Govern-

ment, disagrees. If the contract has been finalized and signed, Bewlay said, there is no reason not to disclose who the vendor is and how much taxpayer money is being paid.

“I can’t imagine what FOIL exemption would apply to permit the county to withhold the name of the vendor and value of the contract,” Bewlay said, referring to the Freedom of Information Law. “‘Cybersecurity’ isn’t on the list of exemptions to FOIL disclosure.”

Kopel said legislators were advised by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s staff it could be against the

law to provide more details about the contract.

They “told us not only is it unwise to release this information, but it’s potentially improper — potentially even illegal,” Kopel said. “We questioned the administration very closely for well over an hour, which is very unusual for a contract. We did vet this as closely as we could. We’re satisfied they did follow procedures properly.”

Blakeman spokesman Christopher Boyle defended the secrecy.

“This contract pertains to the cybersecurity of the county, and has been vetted by a committee composed of representatives from the office of the inspector general, county attorney, district attorney and police department to ensure its effectiveness and integrity,” Boyle said, in an email statement.

Public scrutiny of government contracts is a vital part of maintaining open government, Bewlay said. With the Nassau cybersecurity contract, the public does not know who the vendor is or how much they are being paid, or if the vendor is reputable or insured.

“Nobody wants hackers to compromise anybody’s systems,” she said. “But again, it is difficult to imagine how disclosing the name of a vendor — and the value of the contract for the vendor’s services — reveals the county’s critical infrastructure information such that it would be exempt from FOIL disclosure.”

Kopel agreed government needs better defenses against hackers, but also believes the public should trust the county that it is taking steps to protect the computer systems at the expense of details.

“What the public should know is that this is a huge problem,” Kopel said. “It is an ongoing, ever-present problem. Crooks will typically look for the easiest opportunity, the fastest buck.

“If we make it really, really hard, maybe they will go somewhere else.”

BEST

White House Home 288 Hempstead Ave, Malverne, NY 11565 (516) 887-1288 www.white-house-home.business.site

BEST LOCAL JEWELRY STORE

WINNER: Ritz Jewelry 3574 Long Beach Rd, Oceanside, NY 11572 (516) 255-0465 www.ritzjewelryinc.com

FINALISTS: Hewlett Jewelers 1344 Broadway #6, Hewlett, NY 11577 (516) 374-3950 www.hewlettjewelersny.com Matthew

Tim Baker/Herald NAssAu COuNty LegisLAtuRe’s

Buy a Brick

Celebrate or honor your loved ones this holiday season and give the gift of a lasting legacy in the Mount Sinai South Nassau garden, located at the corner of Oswald Court and One Healthy Way. Purchase an engraved brick, tree, or garden bench, or name the entire plaza and garden space that thousands of patients, visitors, and employees will see every year as they enter and exit the hospital’s front entrance

Honor a loved one or someone who made a di erence in your life. Remember a special person or celebrate a special occasion. Support Mount Sinai South Nassau’s mission and vision for a healthier tomorrow.

For more information visit southnassau.org/buyabrick or call 516-377-5360.

Blessings this Hanukkah season

Hanukkah is about giving thanks to Gd for His wonders and miracles.

Today, we offer heartfelt thanks to G-d for the freedom of religious practice that our wonderful country provides. This is not unlike the freedom won by the Maccabees at the time of Hanukkah.

Each of us, regardless of what religion we practice, is a partner with Gd and it’s a partnership which began at the dawn of history, with the goal to make the world a home for Gd and a place of justice, compassion, human dignity and the sanctity of life.

These are hardly religious ideals. These are ideals for life.

The Hanukkah candles symbolize

this partnership. When we light the Hanukkah candles in our homes, they represent the light of goodness & Gdliness that warms our hearts and illuminates our lives even during trying times. They emphasize our common bond with each other, not just our fellow Jews, but also our fellow Americans, and indeed the entire family of humanity; we are all one –bound together with the common gift of life; endowed to each of us by the One Creator of life; who entrusted us all with the common purpose: The story is told that when the Maccabees came into the desecrated Holy Temple they could not find any pure oil for the menorah. All the oil

had been defiled by the Greeks. Miraculously, they found one small jug of pure, holy, un-defiled oil, enough to illumi-

Holiday Message

G-d.” Every one of us has a divine soul within us that shines brightly.

At times we might feel uninspired spiritually - that our oil has been defiled. We might feel that we’ve become too materialized, that we’ve lost our sensitivity to the spiritual, in our daily experience.

is a miraculous little jug, which can light up our lives and brighten up our daily experience with spirituality.

Holiday Recipe

Savory, tomato zaatar doughnuts

Rabbi Mickey bauM

nate the Temple for one night.

A miracle took place. The tiny jug of oil lasted for 8 nights.

In Proverbs (20:37) we read: “The human spirit is the light of

Within every one of us there is a small jug of pure, holy oil. Our Gdly soul, the spark within us, the part of us that feels warm inside every time we do a good deed; the part deep inside of us that gets upset each time we hear of a tragedy.

That jug of pure, holy oil is our essence, it’s who we are, and it’s undefileable. And although it may be small in quantity, it

Friends, let’s make a miracle in 2023! As we each kindle our own Hanukkah menorahs in our homes, let us be inspired to add more good deeds to our lives, allowing that inner spark, that tiny jug of pure oil, to light up our inner Hanukkah menorahs to shine and illuminate our lives with Gdliness and goodness.

From my family to yours, I wish you all a Happy Hanukkah!

Rabbi Mickey Baum is the spiritual leader of Temple Beth-Am, the Reform Jewish Congregation of Merrick and Bellmore.

Doughnuts are a traditional Hanukkah treat, and there’s lots of ways to prepare them — either savory or sweet. Try this recipe for savory, tomato-based doughnuts.

Ingredients:

■ Rhodes frozen dinner rolls or make your own dough

■ Oil for frying

■ Tomato Confit for filling

■ Zaatar for topping

Directions:

Allow dough to defrost and rise according to the instructions on the back of the bag. Heat oil in a pot or deep fryer to 350 degrees. Fry doughnuts for a minute or two on each side, until the outside is golden and the center is cooked through.

Remove with a slotted spoon and set on a cooling rack or a plate lined with paper towels. Immediately roll doughnut in zaatar spice. Allow doughnuts to cool. Use a serrated knife to cut the doughnut in half horizontally. Cut about three-quarters of the way through. Spoon in the tomato confit.

Serve immediately, and enjoy.

This recipe is from Chabad.org.

Grand Central Madison deadline looms large

By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com

Only a few months ago, all signs were pointing to the imminent opening of Grand Central Madison — Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s new, fully operational terminal in Manhattan’s East Side meant to redefine the way commuters get around by putting the Long Island Railroad to full use with a new terminal station.

The MTA has conducted a number of public meetings explaining new commuting patterns in the wake of updated train schedules. Top MTA and LIRR executives hosted private leadership events enlisting the help of business leaders and local leaders to hammer home the message: Grand Central Madison is coming by the end of this year, so get ready.

Passengers might have been ready, but the MTA apparently may not. Yet, the state organization has not veered from its message — the latest flurry of public advertisements relaying the sweeping words “All aboard for Grand Central!”

With the end-of-the-year deadline looming and still no official word about when Grand Central Madison might open, some observers have begun to question whether commuters will have to reset expectations about what they’re getting. At least while the calendar still reads 2022.

One thing is certain: it has been a complicated final stretch of construction for

the $11.6 billion mega-project.

The MTA cleared a regulatory hurdle last month that would have otherwise derailed any hopes of opening train service thanks to a federal waiver that pushed the deadline for engineers to install new federally mandated safety technology meant to prevent Amtrak trains from entering East River tunnels until February.

MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan says passengers should be rest-assured technology is already in place that helps prevent trains from speeding, colliding or derailing. In the meantime, the MTA will have to submit weekly safety reports to the Federal Railroad Administration, and conduct tests before the terminal goes online.

Then came a project update that parts of the LIRR’s concourse and facilities at Grand Central won’t be completed until February. That, at least, according to a capital program committee meeting report from last month citing the need for additional time.

“Opening a facility this size is an enormous task,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, president of MTA Construction & Development, during that meeting. “It is a 700,000-square-foot terminal station with three-and-a-half tunnels to Queens attached to it. It’s like laying the Chrysler Building on its side to get a sense of the complexity of the systems that need to operate to make this concourse, terminal and platforms function.”

Torres-Springer is, nevertheless, hold-

ing fast to the MTA’s promise that passenger trains will run at Grand Central by the deadline.

“I want to emphasize that the terminal is complete in every visible and functional way,” he said. “The escalators and elevators are running, and the fire alarm is installed. So the project is looking great, and we’re confident about opening service this year.”

Torres-Springer noted, however, that while systems are installed, they are currently undergoing testing and commissioning to ensure the project meets safety and operational standards. A major challenge currently at play is finalizing the test of the terminal’s airflow system.

“This is to confirm that we can move air quickly throughout the platform and the concourse in the event of a smoke condition,” he said. Testing “becomes very complex, and there’s a lot of (professionals) involved to make sure the system is safe.

“Obviously we won’t open our facilities before we are signed off on the safety of the system.”

Over the weekend, LIRR took over operational control of Grand Central Madison, making the terminal and tunnels federally regulated railroad territory. MTA officials described that as a significant step to getting the station up and running before the end of the year.

The MeTrOpOLiTAN TrANSpOrTATiON Authority is entering the final hours before opening passenger train service from Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central Terminal ahead of its endof-year deadline despite hurdles and concerns over its completion.

Courtesy Metropolitan Transportation Authority

STEPPING OUT

Toss off those shoes and skate away

By Karen Bloom

f you’ve never tried “sock skating” you’re definitely missing out. Yes, there’s plenty to enjoy about putting on skates and zipping along the ice, but sometimes the effort of dealing with the cold feet, etc., may seem a bit much for a family outing.

Long Island Children’s Museum’s indoor version enables everyone to stay warm and content while experiencing plenty of skating fun. The museum’s “ice rink,” which first made a brief appearance in Summer 2021, is back for the holiday season in a big way, through Jan. 8.

“This idea grew out of the many (post-pandemic) requests we received for physical activity for the kids,” says Maureen Mangan, the museum’s communications director. “There is a need to get kids off their screens and into some physical play. This is a great way to burn off energy and an opportunity to have a winter experience inside — warm and cozy.”

In fact, it’s been so well-received that the museum plans to make this an annual event during the holiday season.

The 800-square-foot indoor Snowflake Sock Skating rink (the equivalent size of a four-car garage) opened in mid-November to the delight of the museum’s young visitors — and their adult companions, who are just as keen to be in on the action.

“The kids are eager to get on the ‘ice,’ Mangan says. “And the parents are, too. They go out with them. You’ll see them twirling and spinning.”

WHERE WHEN

• Now through Jan. 8, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• $15 admission

• View the LICM events calendar at LICM.org for additional information, or call (516) 224-5800.

•

The rink is made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface that lets everyone slide around without blades, ringed by candy cane-striped posts topped with a “snowball.” Right outside, blue-hued bean bag chairs of various sizes have been placed so the “skaters” can take a break as needed.

Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City.

“We frequently see kids fling themselves on the chairs for a quick rest before jumping back on the ‘ice,’” Mangan notes.

Off the “ice” a Snowflake Village beckons.

“We expanded on the concept to include plenty of experiential activities,” Mangan says. Kids can become a “baker” in the holiday sweet shop, step inside a giant (nine-foot) snowman and serve up some hot cocoa, take a turn in the rink’s “ticket booth” and “warm up” around the rink-side virtual “fire pit” where the entire family can relax, sit on a “tree stump” share stories and make some “s’mores.”

Adds education director Aimee Terzulli: “Kids use their imaginations as they take on roles associated with these familiar winter activities.”

Winter at its best — without the chill and the need to bundle up.

Photos courtesy Long Island Children’s Museum

Families can slip on sock skates”’ and take a spin — whatever the weather — on the museum’s seasonal skating rink, with plenty of activities to occupy their ‘off-ice”’ time.

Buddy is back!

Step into the world of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole, in this special production of the holiday musical. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toymaking abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New Yorkers remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Directed by Madison Theatre artistic director Angelo Fraboni — a Broadway veteran — the charming show features a versatile cast of Broadway professionals and Molloy University CAP21 Theatre Arts students, with Matteo Mennella, of Rockville Centre, and Malverne’s Brady Schumacher sharing the role of young Michael Hobbs.

Saturday, Dec. 17, 3 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 and 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2 and 7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, Dec. 22-23, 7 p.m. Madison Theatre, Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444, or MadisonTheatreNY.org.

Eileen Ivers

The Grammy-winning fiddler and her band return to the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center stage for a lively holiday show, ‘Eileen Ivers: A Joyful Christmas.’ Ivers captures her Irish and American roots in a concert that blends traditional, story-filled, ageold Wren Day songs, poems, foot stomping, and hollerin’ roots music. Ivers and the ensemble combine their numerous instruments and voices in what surely is a soulful celebration capturing the true spirit and joy of the season. She continues to push the fiddling tradition boundaries from folk music staples to a fiercely fresh, powerfully beautiful, intense world stage experience, celebrating the glorious story of Christmas with unbridled joy.

Sunday, Dec. 18, 4 p.m. Tickets start at $50, with discounts available to seniors, students, alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 8774000 or Aupac.Adelphi.edu.

Photo:

THE SCENE

Baby Shark Live: The Christmas Show!

Splash along with Baby Shark and Pinkfong, on the Tilles Center stage, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 6 p.m., as they journey into the sea for the holidays to sing and dance through some of your favorite songs. This immersive experience, on the LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, specially appealing to ages 2-6, will have families dancing in the aisles. Join Baby Shark and friends for exciting adventures into the jungle and under the sea to explore shapes, colors, numbers and more. Enjoy hit songs in this dazzling kids spectacular, including “Baby Shark,” “Five Little Monkeys,” “Wheels On The Bus,” and “Monkey Banana Dance,” as well as holiday classics such as “Jingle Bells.” Tickets are $69.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50; available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Art talk

Join Nassau County Museum Director Charles A. Riley II, PhD, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 4 p.m. He’ll discuss “Photography: Beauty and Truth,” in a session that is keyed to the photojournalism of Robert Capa and the Magnum group as well as the pioneering work of Walker Evans and Lewis Hine. He’ll compare their approach with the digital manipulation of images (including video) in the media of our time and consider the relationship between the photographer as documentarian and as artist who holds the mirror up to nature. Participation is limited; registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Winter Wonderland Wine Glasses

Want to get creative? The North Merrick Public Library hosts a paint night, Thursday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m., for attendees to create a winter wonderland on a wine glass. All supplies will be included. 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick. Registration is required. Visit NMerrickLibrary. org for more information.

Las Posadas Poinsettias

Celebrate Las Posadas, the popular Latin American tradition, at Long Island Children’s Museum, Saturday, Dec. 17, 1-3 p.m. Learn about the story of La flor de Nochebuena and the significance of poinsettias during this holiday, at the drop-in program. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

New Beginnings with Marla Matthews

The North Bellmore Public Library is again hosting a discussion with Marla Matthews. Wednesday, Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m. If you’re divorced, widowed, single or an empty nester over 50 who would like a new beginning, Matthews has been helping people get inspired, meet friends, and learn new skills for years. 1551 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore. Advance registration required. Visit NorthBellmoreLibrary.org for information and to register.

Dec. 20

Mepham Winter Concert

Mepham High School holds thri second winter concert, Tuesday, Dec. 20 Among several performances, the symphonic band and wind ensemble will perform a piece by Mepham alumnus and prolific music composer Carl Strommen, and well as a piece composed by current senior, Samantha Nadler. For more on the concert and times, visit Bellmore-Merrick.K12.ny.us.

Mepham High is at 2401 Camp Avenue, Bellmore.

On exhibit

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

Having an event?

Holiday fun

Visit the streets of 19th century London during the darkest days of the year, in this adaption of “A Christmas Carol,” with the Experiential Theater Company, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 15-16, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18, 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 21-22, 10:15 a.m. and noon, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. Meet the Cratchit family, Mr. Scrooge, and ghosts of past, present and future in this interactive show that weaves together music, humor, puppetry and collaboration. Celebrate the change of seasons with this beloved classic tale. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

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

Santa Night with the Heide Family

The Heide Family in Merrick has rescheduled their Santa Night. Stop by the epic display, Saturday, Dec. 17, 6 p.m., at 2509 Yale Place, Merrick. Rain date Dec. 18. Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch will be giving out gifts and refreshments to all of the kids. There will also be an epic snowball fight between Santa and the Grinch all night long. The family is again collecting for Bobbi and The Strays Animal Shelter; visit BobbiAndTheStrays.org for more information. If you can’t make the event, feel free to swing by the house all season long for a display worth seeing.

Matinee time

Join crafty Jack Frost on a magical, musical winter adventure, in Plaza Theatrical’s production of “Jack Frost,” Saturday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m. The story, narrated by the groundhog Pardon-Me-Pete, tells about the immortal winter sprite, who falls in love with a human girl named Elisa after rescuing her. Tickets are $15. Bring the kids to the Plaza stage at the Elmont Public Library Theatre, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Self-sabotage, are you your own worst enemy?

E ach of us has an inner critic which might be functioning well or too stridently. When it works well, it provides you with a healthy dose of reality. You selfcorrect by amending your assumptions, altering your behavior, editing your work and upgrading your assessments.

When it works stridently, however, it pounces on you, inflicting injury, constricting spontaneity, bawling you out for a mistake you made, and diminishing whatever you’ve already accomplished. Now that’s a problem. It’s tough enough battling with others but when you’re also battling with yourself, you’re making it ten times worse.

Heather typifies harsh self-criticism. “If something doesn’t work out right, I don’t simply tell myself I made a mistake. I call myself an idiot and some other choice words I’m too embarrassed to repeat. Yeah, I know I shouldn’t do this, but I can’t help it; I’m my own worst enemy.”

Identify with Heather? Here are some ways for you to keep your inner critic in check:

■ Accept your weaknesses. We’ve all got them. Some folks brag about them while others keep them to themselves. Having deficiencies and shortcomings doesn’t make you an awful person. You’re simply a regular person who is still growing and learning.

Person to Person

■ If your weaknesses upset you, work to strengthen your skills. There’s no magic wand to make your weaknesses disappear; you must put in time and effort. Even if you think you’ve got a muddled brain, two left feet, and no time to spare, you can still learn to do anything you put your mind to. You may never reach an expert or even intermediate level but you can still learn to be good enough.

■ Accept that you’ll make mistakes — like everyone else. You’re not a perfect person, nor do you need to be. Scratch the idea that you have to do everything right or be better than everybody else.

■ You’re still learning. That’s a good thing, so don’t denigrate yourself for not knowing everything. Tone down your selfcriticism and it becomes easier to learn new skills that’ll make your life less stressful.

■ Clarify what skills you need to learn. You may not think of them as skills, but they are. You may need to know when to be assertive and when to be quiet; when to curb your temper and when to speak up; when to start working and when to take a break even if your work’s not completed. These are skills people actively learn; we’re not born with such knowledge.

■ Speak compassionately about your mistakes. Scratch those harsh words. Chase away the name-calling. Own up to your mistakes using gentle words and a caring voice. “Yup, I miscalculated those numbers. Overlooked a detail. Ignored my hunch. Lost my cool. Broke the shade. I goofed. I messed up. I made a blunder.” You are not just playing a game with yourself by altering your choice of words and tone of voice. Rather, you’re constructing a kinder, more accurate accounting of your mistakes.

Use these ideas to cut yourself some slack, give yourself a break and keep that inner critic of yours in check. Mark Twain’s advice might assist you as well: “An occasional compliment is necessary to keep up one’s self-respect.

When you cannot get a compliment any other way, pay yourself one.”

©2022

Linda Sapadin, Ph.D. is a psychologist, coach and author in private practice who specializes in helping people become the best they can be. You can reach her at LSapadin@DrSapadin.com Visit her website at www.PsychWisdom.com.

Student helps save lives

Bellmore-Merrick student Ashlee Moran, third from left, is studying medical assisting at Nassau Boces Barry Tech, and helped collect a total of 158 pints of blood during a recent blood drive.

Linda Sapadin

Courtesy Nassau Boces

Decade-long partnership makes a difference

years — that’s my gift for everything they’ve done, to make sure that we can continue this legacy.”

Thomas O’Connor, a retired New York City Fire Department lieutenant who’s on the Tunnel to Towers board, said that Frank Siller, Stephen Siller’s father, created the organization with the goal of helping people in small ways. But after Louisiana was decimated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the organization decided to step up the reach of its aid.

“Hurricane relief is a small part of what we do,” O’Connor said. “In ’05, Frank Siller saw the damage along the coast — he contacted me and through a bunch of channels, we started running supplies down. It morphed into a toy distribution for the children, because not only did these kids not have a tree to put a present under, they didn’t have a house to put a tree in.”

For years after Katrina, Tunnel to Towers continued to provide relief to Louisiana, and it didn’t end there. When Texas was hit by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the organization was there to help. When a massive tornado ripped through areas of Kentucky last year, again, it stepped up to the plate.

And now, as Florida recovers from Ian, Tunnel to Towers is making sure those families — and children — can celebrate the holidays.

“The devastation that I saw when I was down in Fort Myers is as bad as anything I’ve ever seen,” O’Connor said. “It looks like they actually sent a bombing mission

“This is just our way of trying to live up to the motto

The representatives of Tunnel to Towers visited Saw Mill Road on Dec. 6. By the end of last week, the trucks that came to the school to collect the donations arrived in

“It’s a great lesson for the students, and I love that they actually come here and talk with the kids,” Signorelli said. “They get to pack up the toys, put them on the truck, and they see that this truck is going to Florida — like it’s really happening. And I think that’s really important.”

Keara McNamara, a school counselor at Saw Mill Road, said the toy drive embodies SADD’s mission. “It’s a really great thing, because SADD is Students Against Destructive Decisions,” she said. “The best way to combat destructive decisions is by making good choices.”

Clare Malloy, 11, is a sixth-grader who is a member of SADD. “This is the first year back for the SADD Club

since Covid hit,” Clare said. “This is our biggest project we’ve worked on yet.”

Clare and her friends Elizabeth O’Toole and Cadance Greene, both 11, said they felt like they learned a lot from taking part in the project.

To let their schoolmates know about the drive, they hung posters around the school and made announcements.

“We did posters to let everyone know that we were doing a big thing for everyone in Florida,” Elizabeth added. “Doing the toy drive just means so much to me, because I feel good when I help others, and they’re going to feel good too.”

Courtesy North Bellmore School District

the SChool diStriCt has partnered with Tunnel to Towers for over a decade to bring relief to areas of the U.S. impacted by natural disasters.

youNgsters showcased their balloons as they walked through the halls. They made their bright creations at home with their families, before bringing them to school to the parade of a lifetime.

Parade of balloons uplifts Newbridge Road students

An idea born from the minds a few sixth graders at Newbridge Road Elementary School in the North Bellmore School District became a reality, when students walked through the hallways with their customized balloon designs.

The event was their take on the popular Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City. Sixth graders read “Balloons Over Broadway,” a book about the puppeteer who invented the giant balloons that are synonymous with the parade. A few students then asked Principal Amanda Licci about doing something similar at their school.

Balloons Over Broadway at Newbridge soon became a reality. A video of sixth graders reading the inspirational book was created and shared with the other grades to give students some background about their upcoming task. Licci

said that every child was invited to make a balloon creation at home for the parade, noting that it was a great way for families to get involved.

“The balloons reflected their personalities,” Licci said, noting that the creations celebrated holidays, favorite sports teams, movie and cartoon characters, animals and more. “It was great to see the smiles on the kids’ faces when they came to school with their balloons and marched proudly through the halls.”

Licci said that this was the inaugural Balloons Over Broadway at Newbridge and the hope is for it to become an annual event. In addition to being fun, she explained, it is also educational as it combines art and engineering, and promotes teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Illuminate the world this Chanukah

Looking at events today, you wonder: That Hanukkah story of a little light pushing away frightening darkness, of human empathy overcoming terror—does that power still exist?

Then you consider the dawn of each day as sunlight breaks through the night. You think about the cry of a newborn child, of a blade of grass rising from the soil. You think of every decision to be kind where there is cruelty, to be positive where there is despair and you recognize the eternity of the Chanukah miracle. It is alive and it is within us.

The Maccabee victory was won not through arrogant tyranny but with steadfast pride and purpose in the Jewish mission to restore light and direction to the entire world.

holiday message

our nation lives proudly on. The king may not be seen or heard, but the people—you and I—can recreate the unity and rejoice in our Jewishness. In the tradition of Hakhel, we suggest that you gather with as many family members and friends as possible during Chanukah, which begins Sunday, Dec. 18 through Dec. 25.

Light the menorah together, lighting one candle on Dec.18 and adding an additional candle each night. For instructions on how to light the menorah, visit ChabadJewishLife. org/Chanukah.

Rabbi Shimon KRameR

This year, this message holds special significance. In Temple times, a unique gathering would take place every seven years called Hakhel— “Assemble!”

The entire Jewish nation—men, women and children, infants and the elderly—would go up to the Jews’ holy Temple in Jerusalem. The royally bedecked king of Israel would ascend a platform and read sections of the Torah. The nation was inspired and invigorated. A display of unity and a statement of purpose refocused this diverse people.

Though our Temple does not stand,

We also invite you to you join us for the mega Hakhel Chanukah Experience & Menorah Lighting at the Merrick LIRR on Dec. 18, beginning with a walking parade from Chabad of Merrick at 3:15 pm. For more information or for a free menorah lighting kit, contact Chabad Center for Jewish Life at (516) 833-3057 or email programs@chabadjewishlife.org.

By standing together to ignite our own souls, we know others will follow until we illuminate the entire world, one flame at a time.

Rabbi Shimon Kramer is the director and spiritual leader of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life of Merrick-Bellmore-Wantagh. For assistance, he can be contacted by email at rabbik@chabadjewishlife.org or by phone at 516-833-3057 x 100.

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR FREMONT HOME LOAN TRUST 2005-D, MORTGAGE-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-D

Plaintiff, Against MICHAEL BROWN, et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/09/2018, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501. This Auction will be held rain or shine premises known as 1855 Madison Avenue, Bellmore, New York

11710, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 56 Block L Lot 21. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $992,729.74 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 5261/09. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction.

Louis B. Imbroto, Esq., Referee. McCabe, Weisberg &

Conway, LLC, Suite 205, 10 Midland Ave, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 11/3/2022 File Number: 17-300073 PCO 135941

legalnotices@liherald.com

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

Bellmore Fire District 2450 Newbridge Road Bellmore, New York 11710

Bellmore Fire District

The annual organizational meeting of the Bellmore Fire District of the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, New York will be held on the 8thday of January 2023at 9:00a.m. at 2450 Newbridge Road Bellmore, NY 11710.

This notification is being given to the news media pursuant to the provisions of Section 94 of the Public Officers Law of the State of New York.

By order of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Bellmore Fire District. John M. Fabian Secretary Bellmore Fire District 135899

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

Photos courtesy North Bellmore School District Newbridge road elemeNtary School held its first even Balloons Over Broadway at Newbridge Road Elementary School. Joining Principal Amanda Licci, students were a couple special guests.

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.

American Software Resources Inc. is seeking 1 FT professional (40 HW) for the position of Data Engineer II at 4 Brower Ave, Ste # 4, Woodmere, NY 11598 for competitive salary. Data Engineer II: Analyze, Design, Develop & Test general computer applications software using Power BI, Tableau, Alteryx, Microsoft Project/Excel/Access/Visio, SQL Server, Power Apps, Sharepoint, SQL, Snowflake, Microsoft Analysis Services, Database Management, Spend Analytics, Supply Chain & Logistics Management, Accounts Receivable/Payable, Project Costing, Asset Management, Billing, Purchasing, Supplier Relationship Management, Root Cause Analysis, Lean Six Sigma. Educational & Exp Requirements: Masters in Comp Sci or Tech Mgt in Engg Tech or Info Tech + 12 months of experience as Comp Software Professional. We offer comprehensive benefits. Travel within the USA is required for the position. To apply send your resume to the above address.

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

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

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

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

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

HIRING MAIL SORTERS $16.00-$17.00, Pickers/ Packers Springfield Gardens, $17.00. Mystery Shoppers Ages 21-25 $20.00. 860 Long Island Ave., Deer Park NY 631-586-4699

OFFICE MANAGER/ RECEPTIONIST: Private Dental Practice Far Rockaway/ Lawrence. Insurance Experience Necessary. Great Salary/ Benefits. jonfriedmandds@gmail.com 917-435-7138

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Will Consider Part Time. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X286

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP

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

RECEPTIONIST EXPERIENCED P/T Seasonal. Jan- Mid April. Franklin Square. CALL: 516-358-9455. FAX RESUME: 516-358-9483. E MAIL: ed@loturco.com.

2 Car Att Gar. MUST SEE!! SD#20 $1,599,000

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

1534 Broadway #205, BA, Extra Large 2000 Sq Ft, 2 Bedrooms (Originally 3 BR), 2 Bath Condo in Prestigious Jonathan Hall with Doorman & Elevator. Updtd Wood/Quartz Kit, LR & DR. Washer/ Dryer in Unit. Underground Pkg. Loads of Closets. Terrace Faces Back. Easy Ranch Style Living BIG REDUCTION!! $699,000

E a ST ROCK aWay

8 Acorn Rd, 2-3:30, 5 BR, 3 Bth Front to Back Split on Beautiful Quiet St in Lynbrook SD#20. Fin Bsmt, Att Gar. CAC, Gas Ht, HW Flr. REDUCED! $749,000 8 Howland Rd, BA, 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Beautiful Tree Lined St in SD#20. LR, DR, EIK, Den & Enclosed Porch. Full Fin Bsmt., 1 Car Gar. CAC, Gas Ht, HW Flrs. Update to Your Taste! $699,000 Fa R ROCK aWay 33-47 Bay Ct., BA, Enjoy The Waterviews in This Bayswater 4 BR, 1.5 Bth Split Tucked Away in Cul de Sac. Fin Bsmt. Att Gar. O/S Resortlike Yard on the Bay. Opportunity to Make This Your Dream Home! REDUCED $675,000

Open Houses

Apartments For Rent

Cemetery Plots

Home Sales

A sampling of recent sales in the area

Baldwin $580,000 Edwards Street. Cape. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Updated eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. First floor bedroom. 2 car garage. Central location near all.

Taxes: $15,290.84

Bellmore $695,000 Oak Street. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. New eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Spacious living room. Formal dining room. Many updates. Taxes: $11,737.22

Cedarhurst $940,000 Harbor Drive. Hi Ranch. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Den/family room. Deck and enlarged driveway. Security system.

Taxes: $8,470

East Meadow $580,000 Harton Avenue. Cape. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. New eatin kitchen with quartz countertops. Open floor plan. Formal dining room. Den/family room and exercise room. Many updates, including whole house water filtration. Oversized property. Convenient location near LIRR and park.

Taxes: $8656.81

East Rockaway $599,000 Thixton Avenue. Contemporary. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Updated eat-in kitchen with quartz countertops and ample storage. L-shaped dining room. Den/family room and home office. 2 gas fireplaces and cathedral ceiling. Screened Trex deck.

Taxes: $14,931.77

Franklin Square $729,000 Craft Avenue Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in chef’s kitchen with cherry cabinets, granite countertops and high-end appliances. Open floor plan. Living room with vaulted ceiling. Large master bedroom. Den/family room.

Taxes: $15,077

Freeport $566,500 Maryland Avenue. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Updated eat in kitchen with granite countertops. Living room with fireplace. Formal dining rom. Large bedrooms. Oversized property with patio and Trex deck. Second deck over 2 car garage.

Taxes: $11,596.47

Long Beach $620,000 W. Hudson Street. Colonial. Westholme neighborhood. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Formal dining room. Covered front porch. Spacious yard with fire pit. Central air conditioning. Parking for 5+ cars. Convenient location near LIRR, restaurants, shopping.

Taxes: $9,499.90

Oceanside $615,000 Davis Street. Ranch. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. L-shaped dining room. Den/family room.

Taxes: $13,090.82

Source: The Multiple Listing Service of Long Island Inc,, a computerized network of real estate offices serving Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Brooklyn.

Are you raising a grandchild, young relative or child of a family friend in the absence of the biological parents?

Are you raising a grandchild, young relative or child of a family friend in the absence of the biological parents?

Costs in the postpandemic world

Q. We are concerned we may have waited too long because of inflation. It seems nearly impossible to afford our renovation. We got “ballpark” estimates, and just look at each other in wonder when we think about how things changed from before the pandemic. Do you see prices coming down? Should we wait, rethink or do the repairs to our roof that led to doing the bigger job and just live with it? Are some cost increases real or made up?

Ask The Architect

Then you’re a Kinship Caregiver!

Are you raising a grandchild, young relative or child of a family friend in the absence of the biological parents?

Then you’re a Kinship Caregiver!

Want to keep your family healthy and safe?

NYS Kinship Navigator provides information, referral and assistance with financial needs, legal options, school enrollment, kinship law and other resources.

A. Your decision will be made based on what you’re willing to pay, not on what you can afford. Some prices are dropping, slightly, but as a window representative said recently, if you were a trucker being paid more to haul perishable groceries than windows, which would you choose? Across the board, as the pandemic waned and people went back to work who were being paid not to work, they had to be enticed with higher wages at the same time that the world economy shifted due to war and sanctions. Who could have guessed that the U.S. would become the largest oil producer in the world?

Want to keep your family healthy and safe?

Help is just a phone call away. 877-454-6463

NYS Kinship Navigator provides information, referral and assistance with financial needs, legal options, school enrollment, kinship law and other resources. Help is just a phone call away. 877-454-6463

NYS Kinship Navigator can help. nysnavigator.org

TTY: NY Relay 711 or 1-800-421-1220 nysnavigator.org

TTY: NY Relay 711 or 1-800-421-1220

NYS Kinship Navigator provides information, referral and assistance with financial needs, legal options, school enrollment, kinship law and other resources. Help is just a phone call away. 877-454-6463

TTY: NY Relay 711 or 1-800-421-1220

NYS Kinship Navigator can help. nysnavigator.org 1194471

People often look back in their lives and ask themselves, “How did we do it?” when pondering some of the most seemingly unmanageable situations. This is not to suggest that you gamble, but you must project the terms: whether you will need to earn more, and how, borrow more and work longer to pay, settle for a little less, change or abandon the goal.

The cost of any project is the number one question I get, and the most unpredictable, since, even before the life-changing pandemic, construction bids were generally all over the place. It isn’t uncommon to get an extremely low bid against an extremely high one and wonder why. The four primary factors in a contractor’s bid are overhead, labor, material cost and profit. Labor, and the choice of how much to add in for profit, would seem to be the most controllable, while overhead costs and material prices are often not controllable.

As I go about the everyday tasks of building design and construction, I speak with a whole range of people, from real estate salespeople to bankers, developers, contractors and tradespeople to lawyers, material representatives and the end users. The whole picture of where costs are going is influenced by many factors, and trying to pinpoint the cause of fluctuations is based more on people trying to simplify something extremely complex than on looking at a much broader picture.

Energy production dropped and costs increased. Fewer people were driving or working, so debt and prices increased. Add to this a world in conflict and the huge debt of war, and you begin to see that the project you want to do is affected by issues that are far beyond your control. Design can reduce some costs, finish material choices can save money, but only you can determine your willingness to “settle” or go for it. Good luck!

Monte Leeper

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

KING

CHRISTMAS

DOLLS, DOLL HOUSE MINIATURES & ACCESSORIES. Under $99.00. Call Joy Evenings, 917-743-7695 Leave Message

EARLY AMERICAN COFFEE Table: 48"x28", Shelf on bottom of table, Nutmeg Finish, $55.00. 516-781-1520

GIRLS CLOTHES SIZES 5 & 8: New with tags. Tops, Jeans. $8 each. 917-420-5814

GOLDTONE LIGHTER BY Colibri, Brand new with butane refill, vintage $20,00 take all (516)579-9089

HENRI BENDEL BACKPACK & Wallet. Maroon, B/W Stripe. Ltmd edition, Brand New. $99 516-320-1906

HUMMEL : LOST sheep $45, the brother $40. Mint condition 646.206.4610

HUMMELS: CELLIST, THINKER, each $50. mint condition 646.206.460

MANY NEW CHRISTMAS items, vases, musical statues, much more, everything under $10.00 (516)579-9089

WICKER COFFEE TABLE: 30"Wx18"Dx18"H, Brown Wicker Table, $25.00. Ginny 516-781-1520

Finds $100-$350

BODY CRAFT ROWING MACHINE: Folds For Storage, Original Over $1000. New Condition. $350. bbj1407@aol.com 516-889-3042

KITCHEN

516.668. 8877

Finds $100-$350

MASSAGE TABLE: BRAND New. Still In Box. Asking $165.00. Call Anthony 516-872-8486

TREADMILL GYM SIZE Great Condition. $300 516 668 8877

SERVICES

Electricians

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

Handyman

HANDYMAN

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

Heating

AROUND THE CLOCK REFRIGERATION INC. Specializing In Gas Furnaces/ Ductless Heat Pump Installations/ Repairs. $99 Annual Gas Furnace Maintenance/ Inspection. FREE Estimates. Gregory 516-214-0178 gregory@clockhvac.com

Home Improvement

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

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

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

HANDY DANDY

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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

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

Miscellaneous

BEST SATELLITE

Plumbing

PLUMBER!

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

Autos For Sale

ACURA 2003, 3.2 CLS, 2 door, Silver, Black Interior, 160K Plus. Needs Battery. $2100 516-668-8877

VOLKSWAGON 2012 BEETLE, Red Black Interior, 98K, Excellent Condition, Original Owner. $8000 516-302-7745

Autos Wanted

DONATE YOUR CAR TO BREAST CANCER RESEARCH RECOVERY! Tax Deduction Receipt Given Upon Pick-up, Free Towing. 501c3 Charity. 631-988-9043 breastcancerresearchrecovery.org

DRIVE OUT BREAST Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

Autos Wanted

WHEELS FOR WISHES benefiting MakeA-Wish® Northeast New York. Your Car Donations Matter NOW More Than Ever! Free Vehicle Pick Up ANYWHERE. We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not. 100% Tax Deductible. Minimal To No Human Contact. Call: (877) 798-9474. Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. www.wheelsforwishes.org.

Cars Wanted

TILE

Tile

Satellite/TV Equipment

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

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

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Education

855-543-6440. (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required

Health & Fitness

ATTENTION VIAGRA USERS: Generic 100mg blue pills or generic 20mg yellow pills. Get 45 plus 5 free $99 + S/H. Call Today. 877-707-5523

Beware the lure of DeSantis

Former President Donald Trump has been hit with a barrage of bad news in the past few weeks. It’s also clear that his popularity is taking a hit due to the failure of his anointed candidates to win a number of contests around the country last month. With each passing day, more Republican voices are raising their fears of a potential wipeout in 2024, and are promoting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a possible presidential candidate. Having closely followed the actions of DeSantis, my advice to the party is to be careful what you wish for.

him. Some call him “tough” and others describe him as “forceful,” but none of his admirers are able to articulate what makes him so great.

issue, and cruise ship owners were forced to shut down for months.

may be forced to hire people who are unlicensed and have no formal training.

JERRY KREMER

There is no question that DeSantis is a true conservative, and that he is outspoken on many issues. My friends who spend their winters in Florida rave about him. A number of them have chosen to become permanent residents, primarily to avoid New York state taxes. But I have yet to find one fan of DeSantis who can spell out specifically what they like about

There is no question that he comes off as a bold leader of his state. He embraces issues that he thinks will eventually make him popular beyond Florida, but he has been careful not to announce any presidential ambitions. If you take a close look at his record, you will find him to be anti-business, and reckless in his views on public education. One good example of his antibusiness attitude is the way he has treated Florida’s two biggest money generators.

At the height of the Covid scare, DeSantis decided that it was good politics to be anti-mask and impose no government health restrictions. Florida residents liked the idea that there should be no mandates, but many tourist industry leaders felt differently. The heads of the three biggest cruise lines insisted that their passengers wear masks when they were in public areas of the ships. DeSantis made numerous threats over this

Yes, left and right,

Standing in the doorway of 2023, with the holidays ahead, I want to focus on the ways we Americans connect and love one another. This is a challenge during our great political divide, but my hope is that we can disagree peacefully, argue with civility, and celebrate our common appreciation for millions of things, from the majesty of our Rocky Mountains to same-day delivery by Amazon.

the problem. They feel loyal to the former administration.

The Walt Disney Company fiasco is another example of DeSantis’s poor judgment. Disney is the largest taxpaying business in the state, and its top attraction. The former Disney chief executive Bob Chapek criticized DeSantis for his position on gay education restrictions. DeSantis decided that Disney had no right to speak out and had the company’s special legislative status revoked. In the end, it isn’t Disney that will suffer as much as the communities that surround the park, which will be forced to pay for costly fire, police and health facilities in 2023.

DeSantis has decided that his administration must be the only voice on the education of Florida’s students. His education commissioner has recommended all types of restrictions that have frightened teachers around the state. Numerous teachers have left the Florida system for fear that they might be punished for teaching subjects that are not stateapproved. Next year, Florida will have a shortage of thousands of teachers, and

And, of course, DeSantis was anxious to get in on the program of sending immigrants to liberal northern cities as a protest against the Biden administration. In September he approved a plan to fly 50 immigrants who were detained in Texas to Martha’s Vineyard. They were not on Florida soil, and DeSantis used unauthorized federal funds for the trip. Even Maryland’s Republican Gov. Larry Hogan called the stunt a “terrible idea.” There are countless other DeSantis actions that merit some daylight, but it’s fair to say that most people outside Florida have no clue as to how reckless he is. You can bet that the national press corps will have a field day when he throws his hat into the ring of the presidential campaign sometime next year. For now, his is just a name being used by the “anyone but Trump” faction of the party, but if he’s the ultimate choice to run, the DeSantis story will not be a pretty one.

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

more alike than not

stand why many people are reactive to our brave new world and want to go back to simpler times. Life has been unfair to large swaths of people across America. I understand it, but the “simpler times” refer to a whiter, male-dominated heterosexual culture with little room for people who were different. Our world has changed, not fast enough for some people and too fast for others.

keep our elders safe through the holidays.

Across America, people of every stripe and every polka dot and from every corner of every small town, east, west, north and south, will be traveling, feeling the love of family, and sharing food at common tables.

There will be the inside family jokes and the debate over eggnog and the best recipes for chocolate chip cookies.

There has always been open and lively conflict across America, but we are witnesses, today, to disturbing political and cultural warfare, real threats to democracy. This time around could be the last time around if we don’t figure out a way forward.

The former president, now a 2024 presidential candidate, spoke last week about dissolving the Constitution. He hosted a dinner two weeks ago at Mar-a-Lago at which two guests felt empowered to indulge in antisemitic slurs. Perhaps we are reaching a tipping point. We need room for people to re-evaluate their loyalties and reconsider their alliances with people like the men and women who participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

RANDI KREISS

That said, I own every single word I have written about former President Donald Trump and his extremist followers. I believe with all my heart that his MAGA movement has already compromised our democracy, but not irreparably. I acknowledge — and I have the letters to prove it — that many readers see things differently. They see President Biden as

I have not yet heard any Trump loyalist defend his comments about the Constitution. The principles of this document are our reason for being as a democratic country. The words matter. How does anyone reconcile his verbal attack on the Constitution?

I believe in the possibility of change. As voters and our law enforcement agencies move toward holding the former president accountable, we will have time and space to find the best in one another again. May the accountability unfold with dignity and gravitas.

Looking at the rapid shifts in our society and culture, it is possible to under-

We can likely agree that political sideshows on all sides are unproductive and self-serving. We need to get behind quality candidates who can check off the basic boxes: Honest? Skilled? Work well with others? See themselves as public servants?

Let’s take a breather over the holidays.

Hanukkah is coming up, with remembrances of hope and heroism going back to ancient times. Jewish people and their friends will light the candles and eat the latkes and give their children food and goodies over the eight days.

Christmas and Kwanzaa approach with people feeling more comfortable gathering with family, especially with vaccines and healthy protocols in place. Some of us will mask up, not as a political statement, but as a sensible way to

This is the season of miracles. It shouldn’t take one to bring together a people who settled a new country, fought wars for freedom together, laughed at the same movies, cried together on 9/11 and suffered together during the terrible years of the pandemic. We should be able to get it together, literally and figuratively.

After the holiday parties, we have work to do. We have children way behind in their academic studies; teenagers psychologically traumatized by lockdowns; people, including hurricane survivors and immigrants, who need safe places to live and jobs and acceptance. If we are pulling in different directions, it will be challenging to move forward.

Two things can be true at once. We are divided, and we share values and traditions. We can try to stand in one another’s shoes instead of stepping on one another’s toes.

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

we are

This is the season of miracles. It shouldn’t take one to bring us together.

Most people outside Florida have no clue how reckless the governor is.

Fusion can augment clean-energy creation

it existed for just five seconds — but it was enough to power a home for an entire day.

It was a result of nuclear fusion, taking place last February in Culham, England, a village of barely 500 people not far from the University of Oxford. A machine there called a tokamak created heat measuring upward of 270 million degrees Fahrenheit — 10 times hotter than the core of the sun — and used a series of high-powered magnets to contain it.

It produced 59 megajoules of energy, but like many experiments before it, it used more energy than it ultimately yielded.

All of that changed on Dec. 6, when U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm revealed that scientists working at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California had accomplished what no others had done before: created a fusion reaction that resulted in a net energy gain.

All of this might not seem substantial, but the breakthrough is extraordinary. Especially in a world where new, cleanenergy sources are crucial for breaking our dependence on fossil fuels, which is rapidly destroying our environment.

Fusion would be just that: clean energy. When we hear about anything nuclear, we think either weapons, or dangerous — and highly wasteful — ways of generating power. Today’s nuclear power plants depend on a process that harnesses energy from splitting the atom, a highly radioactive process that just isn’t sustainable long-term.

But fusion is different. Instead of splitting atoms, scientists smash them togeth-

er. Unlike fission, we wouldn’t need uranium. Instead, fusion depends on isotopes of hydrogen like deuterium and tritium — both naturally available in seawater.

Of the two, tritium is radioactive. But the amount of fuel needed to create fusion is so small that very little waste is generated. Even better, fusion doesn’t produce carbon dioxide — the primary contributor to our planet’s so-called greenhouse effect — meaning that instituting technology like this could be the very means needed to reduce global warming.

Yet as much as all of this is being hailed as a breakthrough, don’t start planning for your fusion-powered car or home anytime soon. We are still years, if not decades, away from putting fusion to practical use. The Culham experiment lasted only five seconds, because that’s how long the magnets could withstand the heat. The Livermore experiments had better results, but it’s still only the beginning. Creating something that can become a regular part of our lives still requires far more research and development.

And the Earth might not have that long. The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says we have to move out society to a “net-zero” carbon emission system in a little more than 25 years. To even have a shot at reversing the climate change damage, we need to cut our current greenhouse emissions in half before this decade ends.

Fusion might not be here yet, but alternative energy sources are — like wind and solar. Our focus on electric vehicles is also a significant step, but not if we have to use

coal or other fossil fuels to generate the electricity to power them in the first place.

New York enacted the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in 2019, requiring 70 percent of electricity consumed in the state to come from renewable sources by 2030, with the hope of being completely carbon-neutral by 2040.

It’s one of the most aggressive laws in the country, and one that PSEG Long Island — through the Long Island Power Authority — has been working around the clock to achieve. A number of projects are also well underway, including wind farms planned for 15 miles or so off the coast of Long Island.

Projects like that are certainly not without controversy. Fishermen fear that the wind farms will disrupt their livelihood and affect natural habitats. Closer to home, some Island Park residents have challenged plans of the Norwegian energy company Equinor to build a substation for wind energy in their neighborhood, rather than up the road a bit at the E.F. Barrett Power Station.

Achieving our renewable-energy goals will take a lot of work, as well as give and take, from both sides. And no matter what, we can’t lose focus on the end goal: To leave a beautiful planet for our children and grandchildren. The same beautiful planet we enjoy now.

But it will only stay beautiful if we make changes now. Otherwise, by the time we can turn five seconds of fusion power into something sustainable, there might not be a planet left to benefit from it.

letters

Should government manage electricity?

To the Editor:

Thank you for publishing the opinion piece by Ronald J. Rosenberg (“Energy efficient may become a contradiction in terms,” Dec. 1-8). Rosenberg clearly explained the importance of our upcoming decision regarding whether to name LIPA to oversee PSEG.

The public continues to see increases in rates and lower service. Management of both LIPA and PSEG give themselves large pay increases. Will the government do a better job at managing our electricity? The correct direction for the immediate future is unclear to me. I hope Albany will handle this situation wisely. The future will tell if we selected the correct direction for the public interests.

It’s a strange time to be a Jew, but when isn’t it?

igrew up in a non-religious family, but it was always important to my parents that we knew we were Jews, and my family followed certain traditional rituals. My father went to work on Saturdays, and the only religious holidays on which he shut his luncheonette were Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. My younger brother and I were bar mitzvahed, and attended youth services on Saturdays and holidays. The rule in our family was, no synagogue Saturday morning, no ball playing that afternoon; no synagogue on Jewish holidays, then you go to school.

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My wife and I used to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas with our children, who are grown now and have kids of their own. For Hanukkah, we invited the staff and families from her day care center for a latkes festival in our apartment, where I turned 20 pounds of potatoes and four pounds of onions into potato pancakes and told the story of the Maccabees as a freedom struggle. After Hanukkah, we set up a Christmas tree with a giant origami peace crane as its crown and pres-

ents underneath, to be opened on Christmas morning.

As an adult, I’m a confirmed atheist. I joke that I’m an evangelical atheist because I recruit. I can’t support Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands on the West Bank of the Jordan River, and its treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and Israel proper. I believe Israel has the right to exist, but not as a religious state, and not as an occupying power, and I won’t visit the country while these policies are in place. But I always identify as a Jew — a secular Jew, a Jew by birth, a Jew by history, and a Jew by tradition. I call myself a Jew, not Jewish, because I know that in many households in this country, the word Jew is still used as a curse.

Today there is a lot of antisemitism in the air in the U.S., and I feel that it’s important to publicly be a Jew. The losing gubernatorial candidate in Pennsylvania, Republican Doug Mastriano, said he wanted America to be a Christian nation, and attacked his opponent, Democrat Josh Shapiro, who won, as an “elitist,” but we knew he meant Jew. In the past, attacks on the “Rothschilds” for supposedly controlling global banking were really claims that Jews somehow

Letters

She’ll take O’Connell’s agenda

To the Editor:

Excellent column by John O’Connell (“I’ll take the GOP agenda — without Trump — any day,” Nov. 24-30). The headline was deadon, and very refreshing. (The Herald’s liberal slant is relentlessly consistent, and regularly has me gnashing my teeth.)

The Republicans have to move on from Donald Trump, and they need to do it decisively and quickly. If Trump would put the country above his ego, he would step into a background role and let new leaders take the reins and reassert many of the policies his administration instituted. That would win the next election.

I fear we’ll have him as a Republican nominee or a third-party candidate, and either scenario is a loser. I Hope I’m wrong, but we’re running out of time to get our country back on track.

LINDSAY ANDERSON Glen Cove

Modernize the ‘Bottle Bill’

To the Editor:

Concerned citizens across the state are pushing for a modernization of New York state’s 40-year-old bottle deposit law. The proposal would increase the deposit from a nick-

secretly ran the world. Few people remember the Rothschilds, so now the antisemites blame George Soros, another Jew, and claim he is the evil puppet master conspiring with his co-religionists.

Kanye West has declared that he was “going death con 3 on Jewish people,” and basketball player Kyrie Irving tweeted a link to a book and movie that denies that Jews are really Jews. These claims echo positions taken by a small group that calls itself the Black Hebrew Israelites. West and Irving may be nuts, but it’s dangerous to dismiss deep antipathy toward Jews as the work of cranks.

Former President Donald Trump has been very cozy with antisemitic groups, and we know what happened in Europe in the 1930s.

Recently I attended a play about the Holocaust, and I suspect that very few non-Jews were in the audience. It was a one-actor show about the life of Jan Karski, a Polish Christian who put his life at risk to help European Jews, and it was excellent. As a teacher, as I sat there with tears in my eyes, I wondered how relevant the Holocaust and the murder of European Jews is to American students today who aren’t Jewish. The Holocaust

happened over 75 years ago, and for students, that’s ancient history. Since then there have been so many other horrific events — genocides in Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia and the Congo and wars and the forced displacement of populations all over the world — that the near-extermination of European Jewry no longer stands out, at least for me, as a topic that deserves a special place in the school curriculum.

Politically, I’m on the left. I can’t support the Israeli occupation, and I don’t agree with expanding Holocaust education. But I am a Jew, and I know that if antisemites take power, my family and I will be threatened. I am a Jew, which is why I am compelled to fight for rights for all people — for sexual, ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities, and for immigrants and refugees, no matter their legal status. I fight for their rights as the best way to protect my own and my family’s. Shalom.

Dr. Alan Singer is a professor of teaching, learning and technology and the director of social studies education programs at Hofstra University. He is a former New York City high school social studies teacher and editor of Social Science Docket, a joint publication of the New York and New Jersey Councils for the Social Studies. Follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/ AlanJSinger1.

Framework by Tim Baker

el to a dime and would expand the types of containers recycled to include sports drinks, iced teas, juices, wine and liquor. Dairy products and infant formulas containers would be exempt.

Enacted in 1982, the New York State Returnable Container Act, commonly known as the “Bottle Bill,” has been extremely successful in boosting the state’s recycling rates, and has reduced litter. But expansion of the types of bottles recycled would bring immediate and long-lasting financial and environmental benefits to solid-waste programs. It is essential that New York City’s Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management support efforts to improve the Bottle Bill and call on our elected officials in Albany to act now.

As it stands, the bill requires a 5-cent refundable deposit to be placed on eligible beverage containers. When it was passed, the law covered only beer and soda bottles, but it was subsequently expanded to cover wine coolers and water bottles. It requires retailers who sell covered beverages to accept returns of empty containers for the products they sell and to refund the deposits. It also requires beverage distributors to compensate retailers for the cost of collecting and recycling empty containers by paying them a small handling fee per container.

JOSEPH M. VARON West Hempstead

Varon is a volunteer with the Long Island Chapter of Food & Water Watch and a member of the Jewish Climate Action Network.

Horse and carriage rides at the Christmas tree lighting — Bellmore

my wife and I used to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas with our children.