East Meadow Herald 02-02-2023

Mini-clubs let middle-schoolers try new activities

By MAlloRY wIlsoN mwilson@liherald.com

Trying out a new skill or wanting to learn something different can be daunting, especially if you’re not sure you want to commit the time to a class or year-long club.

Luckily for middle school students at Woodland and Clarke, they can take part in the district’s new mini-club program, and give a new activity a shot for just six weeks.

Rosen’s students ‘sang for him’

East Meadow High School’s beloved music teacher dies

By MAlloRY wIlsoN mwilson@liherald.com

Paul Rosen’s life was filled with music, sailing, and learning. He was always true to himself, and instilled that sentiment into others. Whether it was with his family or the hundreds of students he taught throughout his years at East Meadow High School, Rosen never ceased to share his love for life.

Rosen died on Dec. 30, of complications of a stroke. He

was 92. He leaves behind his wife, Susan, his sons David and Peter, from a previous marriage, and Jeremy and Adam, along with nine grandchildren. He is also remembered by many of his students for being a wonderful teacher and chorale director.

“He lived a long time, and you can fit a lot into 92 years, but even in the first half of his life he had done so much,” Adam Rosen said. “After he died, we started going through a lot of his stuff and

sharing memories, and I really, for the first time, kind of learned the scope of his impact as a teacher.”

Rosen started teaching at East Meadow High School in 1960. He was known best for directing the senior chorale — a select chorus chosen from those who auditioned. He also taught orchestra, and music, theory and started a glee club. He was a talented musician, and brought all he

Continued on page 20

The idea of miniclubs sprang from the minds of the middle school principals, and the funds came from the American Rescue Plan money the district received. The state was very specific about what the ARP funds could be used for.

The ARP State reserve grants, totaling nearly $1.6 million, called for 5 percent to be allocated to learning loss, 1 percent for summer activities, and 1 percent for after-school

activities.

According to Dave Casamento, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, middle school principals looked for activities for the students because participation in sports drops in the winter. Casamento told the school board on Jan. 11 that mini-clubs are just one of the new ideas that the ARP money allowed them to try out.

“(The middle schools had) kids who start losing those connections to the schools,” Casamento said. “So each of the principals went to their teachers and said, ‘What kinds of activities would you want to run?’ and so the teachers put forth things that they would like to do with kids.”

Most of the miniclubs started in October or November, and lasted five or six sessions. Each middle school offered roughly 10 activity

Continued on page 4

Courtesy Adam Rosen

The mini clubs are a great way for our students to have an opportunity . . . and feel more connected to Clarke Middle School.

AlYssA MARINo guidance counselor, Clarke Middle School

Peter King debuts new opinion column

Former congressman has no intention of slowing down in retirement

By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@liherald.com

Not even retirement can slow down Peter King. After 28 years in the U.S. House — including a two-year stint as chair of the House Homeland Security Committee — as well as more than two decades serving on both the Hempstead town council and as Nassau County comptroller, King finds himself busier than ever.

He’s working with a Washington law firm, and does consulting work for Northwell Health. He makes regular appearances on the Newsmax cable channel, as well as John Catsimatidis’s 77WABC radio station.

But now King is adding one more job to that list as a new regular columnist for Herald Community Newspapers. The former congressman’s first official piece appears in this week’s Opinions pages.

“It’s not like I have to catch a plane to get to Washington, or I’m at the whim of what’s the last vote going to be on Thursday night or Friday night,” King said. “I pretty much plan my own schedule. And the best feeling I had — and it took me about a month to get used to — is waking up in the morning and knowing I can go back to sleep if I want to.”

These days, King finds himself solely

Jack Healy/Herald file

FORMER U.S. REP. Peter King has kept himself busy since retiring from Congress in 2021, from his regular appearance on 77WABC radio, to now becoming a regular opinion columnist for Herald Community Newspapers. His first official piece — singing the praises of freshman U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito — can be found in this week’s Opinions section.

focused on life here at home. But for nearly three decades, the congressman was caught between the two worlds of Washington and his district back in New York.

The trick in the beginning was making

sure he never lost sight of why he was on the House floor in the first place.

“When you’re in Washington, you’re still responsible for a lot of local issues, because the local mayors and supervisors

and town boards — they’re going to be calling you and reaching out for help,” King said. “I think with a number of members of Congress, they’re so concerned with the international and national aspects of it, they forget the guy living down the block.

“The guy that lives in Highland Park. The guy that lives in Seaford. That’s where you base comes from. So, really, the challenge is to keep all of those things in your mind, and be able to sort through them all.”

King has made no secret about his support of U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, whose congressional district covers much of what King’s did back in the day. In fact, his first column focuses on the high hopes King has of his protégé, and how the sky’s the limit for the former town councilman.

“I mean, Anthony, we talk several times a week,” King said. “I don’t want to sound like I am telling him what to do, or giving him some great advice. But maybe one thing I can be most helpful on is telling him early on which members of Congress you can pay attention to, and which others to just ignore.

“Some of them you try to take seriously, but then you realize after a month or two that these guys are cranks, and nobody else is listening to them, except you.”

67th installation for East Meadow Chamber

The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce celebrated a new year of business and community at its 67th installation dinner on Jan. 27. The room at the Inn at New Hyde Park was energized with the possibilities of a new year, new board, and new opportunities.

James Skinner Jr., was installed as the new president. Roxanne Rose was installed as second vice president, and Anthony Bott as second vice president. Taleen Krug will be treasurer, and Ross Schiller will be secretary. County legislator Tom McKevitt also took part in the ceremonies.

Immediate Past President Richie Krug Jr., will be chairman of the board. The advisory board includes Kardim Brown, Michael Carroll, Lyndsey Gallagher, Joshua Malament, Lauren Maslov, Ryan Parkman, Maureen Pye, Lawrence Rutigliano, Mitchell Skoller, and Linda Walsh. Christine Mooney will be returning as the executive secretary.

Lyndsey Gallagher was honored as person of the year by the chamber. Gallagher is the Chief Financial Officer for Coldwell Banker American Homes. She was chamber treasurer for two years, and now sits on the board of directors. She has been involved with numerous chamber committees including the well-loved Culinary Delights.

Linda Walsh was honored with the Dave Rothbaum Silver Fox award, an award given to someone who has shown outstanding service to the chamber throughout the year and Frank Camarano was honored with the Marvin Bernstein Humanitarian award, for those who have shown outstanding service to the East Meadow community and its neighbors.

Deliah Roberts/Herald photos

richie KruG Jr., outgoing chamber president, thanked Mitchell Allen for his help over the years.

franK camarano, Left, was honored with the Marvin Bernstein Humanitarian award, presented by Richie Krug Jr., at the chamber’s 67th installation.

Linda WaLsh, Left, and Bill Yearsley attended the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce installation on Jan. 27. Walsh was honored with the Dave Rothbaum Silver Fox award.

James sKinner Jr., right, is taking over the role as chamber president from Richie Krug Jr., left.

Lyndsey GaLLaGher, Left, was presented with the East Meadow Chamber’s person of the year award. Gallagher and Dana Schmid, right, attended the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce installation.

Socializing, and learning something new

continued from front page

options. F lyers and morning announcements spread the word.

Coming back from the pandemic, miniclubs give students the opportunity to socialize more, and get back into in-person activities.

“It’s been nice after Covid, kids can sit next to each and touch each other’s bracelets and help each other,” said Lauren Clarke, a sixth and seventh grade special education and math teacher at Woodland who decided to do a mini-club about bracelet making. “It’s almost like a little therapeutic session, the kids pick out different music to play in the background and meet each other, and just relax and learn a new thing.”

Clarke said over 40 students showed up to learn how to make bracelets, which she chose because she loved doing it when she was young.

“It was good because the kids learned to help each other,” she said. “They were making new friends and also helping each other which was really nice to just observe them talking to each other.”

Each club is open to any student grades six through eight. They meet weekly for an hour after school. Students can go one for meeting or all of them, there’s no pressure.

Shahla Momtahan, a seventh and eighth grade technology teacher at Woodland decided to do a coding club. For the first couple of sessions, students made a personalized emoji.

“The environment was very, very friendly, I always put a lot of chocolates just to make it feel like home,” Momtahan said. “The result was amazing.”

She explained she’s always had trouble getting girls to want to code, but she found many came to her club. She entered two of the girls in a computer science competition where the eighth grade girls excelled in problem solving.

Guidance counselors at both Clarke and Woodland designed clubs that focused on mental health and wellness.

Alyssa Marino, a guidance counselor at Clarke started a wellness awareness club with teacher Marge Caughey where students went on nature walks, practice beginner’s yoga, learned breathing activities and spread wellness around the building.

counselors, focuses on teaching the students healhy ways to de-stress.

“I think kids should understand the importance of wellness in regard to mental, physical and emotional wellness,” Marino wrote to the Herald. “The mini clubs are a great way for our students to have an opportunity to join in a variety of

activities and feel more connected to Clarke Middle School.”

At Woodland, guidance counselors Kristen Sweeney and Logan Cole started the COPE mindful activities club where students made stress jars, sun catchers,

completed different coloring patterns and puzzle, and at their latest meeting they made lavender scented playdough.

“It’s just to teach them different strategies, or what they could do when they’re feeling stressed or uncomfortable feelings,” Sweeney said. “They could bring these things home and do them at home too, so basically every club meeting they leave with a tool.”

Mini-clubs and regular clubs differ in length. Mini-clubs are intended to add extra socializing time for students since the pandemic.

“These clubs are great for their social skills and mental health because they lost out on a lot of opportunities,” Sweeney explained. “So when we came back full time in-person this year we definitely saw a regression in the social skills of students of all ages so the mini-clubs are just our district’s way of trying to add more.”

Allison Lim, a sixth-grader, said that she liked the club because it gave her something else to do other than going home, and because she likes peaceful things. She uses some of the techniques at home, such as coloring.

Usually 10 students show up for the COPE club. They spend the time chatting and completing a relaxing activity.

Mallory Wilson/Herald photos

The mini-clubs are open to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, and there are multiple options for students to sign up for. The COPE mini-club, which ran for five sessions, was just one option.

sixTh-graders esTher roy, far left, Olivia Biju and Delila Stevens measure salt to make lavender-scented playdough for their COPE mini-club at Woodland. The club, run by two guidance

Sc H ool S

Second-graders track down artifacts at Parkway

Second-graders at Parkway Elementary School in East Meadow teamed up to track down the legendary artifacts of the “King’s Request” as part the school’s Submerge Storytelling program during the week of Jan. 9.

Leading the experience was program founder Cory Levine, who transformed the school’s computer lab into a “realm” where students were able to explore the story world of “Trevor Cool” to draw conclusions about the story’s characters, plot and themes.

The multifaceted lesson taught students important life skills and values through text-to-self literary connections, and it employed interactive learning strategies to foster a sense of individuality, camaraderie and community.

During the week of Jan. 9, second-graders at Parkway Elementary School in East Meadow teamed up to track down the legendary artifacts of the ‘King’s Request’ as part the school’s Submerge Storytelling program.

Photos courtesy East Meadow School District

LeaDing the experience was program founder Cory Levine, who transformed the school’s computer lab into a ‘realm’ where students got to explore the story world of ‘Trevor Cool.’

spotlight athlete

Clarke rocks a winning tune

By MaRC BeRMaN sports@liherald.com

Fraternal twins Avika and Aanya Mehta spent last week in Disney World with the Clarke High School band at an Orlando competition.

It was symbolic for the Mehta twins and a handful of teammates who play in the band. They are also making sweet music for the girls’ basketball team, which is on the cusp of an historic season.

BeNJaMiN VelasQUeZ

MacArthur Senior Wrestling

a CoUNtY seMiFiNalist last winter and eventual third-place finisher in the 189-pound weight class, Velasquez is looking to cap his high school career with a Nassau wrestling crown. Heading into this Saturday’s county qualifier tournament at Bellmore-JFK, he is ranked No. 1 in the county at 215 pounds. After winning 21 of 30 matches last winter, his record this season stands at 36-3.

gaMes to WatCh

thursday, Feb. 2

Girls Basketball: Carey at Roosevelt 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Mineola at Wantagh 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Syosset at Freeport 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: West Hemp at East Rockaway 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 3

Boys Basketball: South Side at Kennedy 4:30 p.m.

Boys Basketball: G.N. South at Calhoun 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: V.S. Central at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: East Rockaway at West Hemp 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Port Washington at Oceanside 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: MacArthur at Long Beach 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Locust Valley at Seaford 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: North Shore at Clarke 7 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Jericho at Mepham 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Westbury at Baldwin 7 p.m.

saturday, Feb. 4

Wrestling: Nassau County Division 1 Qualifying Tournaments hosted by Long Beach, Hewlett, Bellmore-JFK, Plainedge and Uniondale 9:30 a.m.

Girls Basketball: Lynbrook at Mineola 12 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Kennedy at South Side 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Clarke at North Shore 12 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Long Beach at MacArthur 12 p.m.

With one more victory, Clarke will clinch a playoff berth for only the second time in 19 years – the last being 2019. Last season, the Rams struggled in Conference A5, posting a 2-10 record. Now they are 10-4 overall; 4-3 in conference games.

“It would just show how hard we worked as a team - we worked all offseason,’’ Avika Mehta said in a phone call from Orlando. “Our team chemistry is very good. We work very well together. We came to practice every day with one goal in mind – make the playoffs.’’

The Mehtas, both juniors, are the team’s two best defenders. Their roles on offense are different – with Avika playing point guard as floor general. Aanya is a taller, 5-8 role player, never really touching the ball much. Neither are point-getters.

“We definitely understand our role on the team,’’ Avika said. “We just play hard on defense, knowing if we can stop the ball, our other people on the court can get us some points offensively. So we do our part on defense.’’

This is a junior-laden squad without much hype entering the season, considering Clarke’s history.

“Clarke isn’t a program that’s been in the playoffs very often,’’ head coach Shaun Fean said. “My expectations are where I thought we’d be. Outside expectations, people are a little surprised at the success we’ve had. We met that challenge. It’s really special for our kids. It doesn’t happen often here so they’re very excited.’’

The leading scorer is junior Michelle Diaz, averaging 13.5 points. But the team’s most valuable piece may be Avika Mehta, as evidenced by when she missed the Island Trees’ rematch and the Rams got blown out. In the first contest, Clarke was

within 2 points in the final minute.

“She gets us settled as the calming influence,’’ Fean said. “She’s our best defender. Her impact goes far behind statistics.’’

Her sister, Aanya , is a defensive force at the bottom of Clarke’s 1-3-1 zone in her first year on varsity. “That’s the toughest position to play in that defense,’’ Fean said. “A lot of territory to cover.’’

Another first-year varsity player is junior Madeline Millman, known for her intangibles. The coach compares Millman to ex-Knick power forward Charles Oakley for “taking charges, rebounding, setting screens.’’

Fean said of Aanya and Millman,

“They’re maturation more than anything of becoming varsity players and learning how to play at this level has really helped us be as successful. We don’t run deep but the 6, 7 who play consistently accepted and perfected roles.’’

The two key seniors are Rina Visvanathan, their second-leading scorer (8.5 ppg), and Julia Khashan, third-leading scorer (7.5). Khashan is their best 3-point shooter and the coach likes how she can bust a zone.

But as Fean said, “We don’t score a ton. We’re more a defensive-focused team.’’ And that’s where the Mehtas come in. Avika plays the baritone, Aanya the tuba, and they both play great defense.

Paul Grassini/Herald

JUNioR MiChelle DiaZ (13.5 points per game) sets the offensive tone for the Rams, who need one more win to secure a playoff spot.

THE TOP 3 FINALISTS IN

KIDS & EDUCATION

ADULT EDUCATION - CONTINUING ED:

Hempstead Adult & Community Education Program

Hofstra University

Molloy University

ART SCHOOL:

Hue Studio

Long Island High School for the Arts

The Art Studio

BEAUTY SCHOOL:

Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute

Long Island Beauty School

Nassau BOCES Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center

CHARTER/PAROCHIAL/PRIVATE:

Bellmore United Methodist Nursery School

Kellenberg Memorial High School

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

COLLEGE PREP SERVICES/ADVISORS:

College Connection

Lockwood College Prep

Pinnacle College Consultants

COLLEGE PRESIDENT:

Dr. Susan Poser - Hofstra University

James Lentini - Molloy University

Maria P. Conzatti - Nassau Community College

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY:

Hofstra University

Molloy University

Nassau Community College

DANCE SCHOOL:

Dance Workshop

Hart & Soul Performing Arts and Dance School

Long Island Academy of Dance

DAY CAMP:

Big Chief Day School & Camp

Coleman Country Day Camp

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

Rolling River Day Camp

DAY CARE:

Big Chief Day School & Camp

Five Towns Early Learning Center

Our Kids Place

DRIVING SCHOOL:

Bell Auto Driving School

East Meadow Driving School

Prosperity Auto Driving School, Inc

GYMNASTICS CENTER:

All Stars Gymnastics Inc

Gold Medal Gymnastics Center

Platinum Athletic

B&B/INN:

Hampton Inn Jericho-Westbury

Holiday Inn Westbury

Ram’s Head Inn

Southampton Inn

EVENT VENUE:

Barnum Ballroom

Bayview Catering on the Water Venue

Epic Escape Rooms LI

HOTEL:

Allegria Hotel

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL:

Alexandra Greenberg - George W. Hewlett H.S.

Jennifer Lagnado-Papp - Lawrence H.S.

Richard Schaffer - East Rockaway H.S.

KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES:

Epic Escape Rooms LI

Long Island Children’s Museum

Royal Princess Prep Party Company

LEARNING CENTER/TUTOR:

Cornerstone Behavioral Services

Mathnasium

The Coder School

MARTIAL ARTS:

Champions Martial Arts

Uly Karate & Fitness

Warren Levi Martial Arts & Fitness

MUSIC SCHOOLS/CLASSES:

Our Kids Place Hewlett

School of Rock

The Children’s Orchestra Society

NURSERY SCHOOL:

Bellmore United Methodist Nursery School

Our Kids Place Hewlett

United Church Nursery School

SPORTS CAMP:

Hofstra University

Sportime Lynbrook

The Sports Arena

PEOPLE & PLACES

LOCAL TOURIST ATTRACTION:

Jones Beach State Park

Montauk Point Lighthouse

Nunley’s Carousel

MUSEUM:

Cradle of Aviation Museum

Long Island Children’s Museum

Raynham Hall Museum

PLACE TO HAVE A PARTY:

The Bayview

PLACE TO WORSHIP:

Temple Avodah

Temple B’nai Torah

Temple Beth El

WEDDING VENUE:

The Bayview

Swan Club On The Harbor

Westbury Manor

Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa

The Garden City Hotel

Epic Escape Rooms LI

Kombert Caterers

CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK FOR THE TOP IN SERVICES AND SHOPPING!

Congrats to all the Top 3 Finalists in the 2022 Herald Long Island Choice Awards presented by PSEG Long Island! Check back each week for the Top 3 Reveal in each category leading up to the Oscar-style awards ceremony in April 2023. Did your favorites make it to the top? Visit www.LiChoiceAwards.com! *Finalists are listed alphabetically, not in order of placement.

All aboard for Grand Central Madison Limited — and temporary —Long Island Rail Road shuttle service from Jamaica opens

By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com

To the casual observer, it was just any other day at Jamaica’s Long Island Rail Road station.

But just after 10 a.m., commuters rushed aboard a shuttle train destined for Manhattan, the familiar busy choreography of squeezing through, wedging past, running in to nab a seat.

Families holding their kids in tow. Couples and solo riders clutching their baggage. All of them packed into train cars, filling the aisle seats within minutes. Other late arrivals stood standing. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

But the air — even for a late-morning train ride — was unusually abuzz with chatter. Some kept conversation below a whisper. Others, not so much. But everyone was alive with a quiet knowing that this was no ordinary train ride. Instead, taking place, was a moment in history.

A history that was finally connecting Long island with Manhattan’s East Side.

For the better part of a century, for as long as anyone can remember, LIRR commuters relied on Penn Station to get them into the heart of New York City. So long in fact, it seemed the day for an alternative would never come.

But within the span of 22 minutes, that would all become history.

As the train came to its final stop 150 feet below ground in the bedrock of Midtown Manhattan, the low rattling of the train cars stopped, followed by silence. No one dared to move. Breaking the stillness was the sound of the cheery conductor’s voice coming over the loudspeaker whose five words said it all:

“Welcome to Grand Central Madison”

Applause erupted from the train cars. It was a watershed moment for the MTA as passengers set foot for the very first time on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Manhattan East Side station. A moment that encapsulated six decades of planning, nearly 20 years of construction, and roughly $11.6 billion.

The opening came after a month of delays caused by a faulty ventilation fan. Yet, despite the acknowledged roadblocks, delays and missteps along the way, Grand Central Madison is finally here.

“Grand Central will dramatically change the transportation of the region,” said Janno Lieber, the MTA’s chair and chief executive. “It’s going to benefit Long Islanders with shorter commutes, 40 percent more service, and help Long Island business recruit people from the city with reverse commuting.”

And for Niurka Maldonado of Queens —riding with daughters Nora and Paulina — the prospect of having faster access to Manhattan’s East Side is nothing short of exciting.

“We have several friends that work in that area, and I love some of the restaurants in there,” she said. “So, we’re going to definitely be doing more trips to Grand Central and everything around there.”

Grand Central Madison direct LIRR schedule

For roughly three weeks, shuttle service trains between Jamaica and Grand Central Madison are running every 30 minutes during off-peak hours and on weekends, and once per hour during peak times.

Service runs between 6:15 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays, and between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. on weekends.

Long Island Rail Road riders looking to Grand Central Madison can use their Penn Station tickets, which are the same price.

It will likely be a month before full service comes online, replacing the simple commuter trains. For now, riders looking for a fast way between Jamaica and Manhattan’s East Side can find trains every 30 minutes during off-peak hours, and every 60 during peak times.

“I just want to see if it saves me time going to my office on the East Side,” said Francesco Giovannetti of Glen Head. “I’m hoping to save about 20 to 30 minutes being two blocks away from Grand Central. I want to get acclimated to the station.”

Then there was Ruthanne Terrero of Malverne, sitting placidly with her tote bag in hand, taking in the significance of the moment of new train service to Manhattan.

“It’s just really glorious to see that we have something really beautiful,” Terrero said. “I think a lot of people work on the East Side, and I think it’s also really important that people see that New York is progressing.”

And more progress is still to come. Whether this project was worth its price tag, worth the commuting disruption, and worth the extended wait will be up to the riders themselves. Some have already taken to social media to point out certain mishaps like escalators shutting down midway, and some finding trouble making their way into the LIRR concourse at Grand Central.

It is no doubt looking to be a work in progress.

But Mitchell Schwartz and brother Steven — two young MTA train enthusiasts from Roslyn — wouldn’t have wanted this once-in-a-lifetime moment any other way.

Phyllis Levine, pounced on the chance to hop on the shuttle train to Grand Central if it meant saving time getting to her pharmacology appointment.

“I’m not a subway person, and I gen-

erally like to drive everywhere,” the Queens resident said. “But the easiest way to get to Manhattan from Queens is the express bus or the Long Island Rail Road. So, I figured I should try the ride to Grand Central. See how it goes.”

“Just try wrapping your head around the fact that we are the first of millions to ride a train toward something that has been proposed for over half a century,” Mitchell said. “It’s just an amazing occasion.”

Additional reporting by Andre Silva.

Juan Lasso/Herald photos

COMMUTERS, ENVELOPED UNDER a glass ceiling, take the roughly 3,000-foot escalator between the Long Island Rail Road concourse and the mezzanine at Grand Central Madison station on opening day of service that will eventually create a direct link between Manhattan’s East Side and Long Island.

COMMUTERS FROM JAMAICA station boarded the first passenger Long Island Rail Road train to Grand Central Madison inaugurating the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s long-awaited East Side access that will soon provide LIRR service out of Grand Central Terminal.

Tim Baker/Herald

Money for a good cause

The EAC Network — a Garden City-based social service agency that empowers, assists and cares for people in need — receives a $2,000 donation from RichnerLive. The money was from a portion of ticket sales from last year’s Herald Excellence in Healthcare Awards Gala, which honored heroes and leaders within the health care industry. Neela Mukeriee Lockel, EAC’s president and chief executive, along with Robert Stricoff — the group’s chief development officer — accepted the donation from Herald Community Newspapers publisher Stuart Richner and RichnerLive executive director Amy Amato. From left, Herald Community Newspapers deputy editor Jeffrey Bessen, Stricoff, Richner, Amato, executive editor Michael Hinman, and Lockel. To find out more about EAC — and how to donate — visit EAC-Network.org.

Rabinowitz joins Alzheimer’s foundation board

Stuart Rabinowitz, the former president of Hofstra University, has joined the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America board, bringing an extensive background of education, business and law into his new role.

Rabinowitz is a senior counsel to Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone in Mineola after 50 years at Hofstra, that began as a law professor in 1972, and rising to law school dean in 1989. Rabinowitz was appointed president of Hofstra in 2001.

During his time there, Rabinowitz created several new schools, including the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, as well as the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science. He also brought Hofstra to the national stage as host of three different presidential debates in 2008, 2012 and 2016 — the only university to ever do so.

Before joining Hofstra, Rabinowitz worked at Rosenman & Colin, as well as an associate law professor at this alma mater, Columbia Law School.

He currently serves on the Long Island Association board, and is co-vice chair of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council. He’s also a member of the New York State commission of Continuing Legal Education.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of Ameri-

Special Needs Children and Grandchildren

Parents or grandparents of a disabled child should leave assets in a Special Needs Trust, to avoid the child being disqualified from government benefits, such as SSI and Medicaid. The reasoning behind these Special Needs Trusts is simple — prior to the protection now afforded by these trusts, parents would simply disinherit their disabled children rather than see them lose their benefits. Since the state wasn’t getting the inheritance monies anyway, why not allow it to go to the disabled child for his or her extra needs, above and beyond what the state supplies.

These trusts, however, offer traps for the unwary. Since payments to the child will generally reduce their SSI payments dollar for dollar, trustees of such trusts should be advised to make payments directly to the providers of goods and services. Preserving SSI benefits is crucial since eligibility for SSI determines eligibility for Medicaid.

In other words, if SSI is lost the recipient also loses their Medicaid benefits. In addition, any benefits previously paid by Medicaid may be recovered. As such, one also has to be mindful of bequests from well-meaning grandparents. Similarly, if a sibling dies without a will, a

share of their estate may go to the special needs brother or sister by law. The Special Needs Trust must be carefully drafted so that it only allows payments for any benefits over and above what the government provides.

There are two kinds of Special Needs Trusts – first party and third party. The first party trust is set up by a parent, grandparent, legal guardian or court using the child’s own money, either through earnings, an inheritance that was left directly to them or, perhaps, a personal injury award. Recent changes in the law allow the special needs child to establish their own first party Special Needs Trust if they are legally competent to engage in contractual matters. These first party trusts require a “payback” provision, meaning that on the death of the child beneficiary, the trust must pay back the state for any government benefits received.

A third party trust is usually set up by a parent or grandparent, using their own money. Here, no “payback” provision is required because it was not the child’s own money that funded the trust and the parent or grandparent had no obligation to leave any assets to the child. On the death of the child beneficiary, the balance of the trust is paid out to named beneficiaries.

Herald file photo

Stuart rabinowitz, the immediate past president of Hofstra University has joined the board of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, a national non-profit that provides support, services, and education to those affected by Alzheimer’s.

ca is a national non-profit with a mission of providing support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It also funds research for better treatment, and a cure.

For more information, visit AlzFdn.org.

Town redistricting falls short of new map

Recommendation not enough, civic groups say

By ANA BORRUTO & JUAN LASSO of the Herald

After several rounds of blistering public hearings and politically pressurized back-and-forths, a temporary redistricting commission’s efforts to explore how new political lines should be drawn for the Town of Hempstead ended last month with its final recommendation. Their choice? Nothing.

After weighing the options between a preliminary map pitched by Hempstead town officials, or alternatives by local civic and law groups, the three-member commission officially urged town lawmakers to produce a final map that keeps communities of interest intact. Still, it stopped short of putting forward an actual map for the town to consider.

MIMI PIERREJOHNSON

founder, Elmont Cultural Center

“We really sat, each one of us, and it truly was a hearing,” commission chair Gary Hudes told the audience. “We listened.

“I think, in both cases, there is a common thread we are seeing, and that is the idea of keeping communities whole and making them more compact.”

The move was met with a sharp uproar from the small crowd, dashing expectations for a final green light for a town council map.

Mimi Pierre-Johnson, the founder of the Elmont Cultural Center, felt the commission had turned a corner by formally acknowledging the faults of the town’s proposal. But they fell short when they did not deliver on a solid recommendation.

“Our hopes (were) snatched by the fact that they refused to stand behind one of the proposed alternative maps and tweak it as needed,” Pierre-Johnson said. “The resolution is not enough to satisfy everything the public raised a concern to.”

Since the first day of the redistricting process, concerns raised by voters and community activist groups circle back to a single theme: District lines should be redrawn to have a more balanced demographic representation of up to three “minority-majority” districts, and compact historically and culturally whole communities. This is something the Elmont Cultural Center and Legal Defense Fund said they ensured with their five alternative maps.

Commission members admitted that not a single proposed map addressed all the issues people have put forth at various meetings, but claimed the recommendation was enough to communicate the gist of everyone’s concerns.

As it stands, the current map produced

by the town-hired Skyline Demographic Consultants ensures the town’s 22 villages — with the exception of the Village of Hempstead — remain whole in accordance with the municipal “home rule” law. And communities such as East Meadow, Franklin Square, North Valley Stream, Baldwin, Uniondale and Woodmere each contain portions of two council districts, while West Hempstead contains portions of three.

Critics, however, raised doubts about the map’s compliance with federal and state voting rights protections — specifically the Voting Rights Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York,

signed last summer by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Michael Pernick of the Legal Defense Fund, civil rights attorney Frederick Brewington, Randolph McLaughlin and LatinoJustice PRLDEF argued splitting the Black and Latino communities in Elmont and Valley Stream into two separate majority-white districts dilutes minority voting power.

“Over 38 percent of the population in the Town of Hempstead is Black or Latino,” the law professionals wrote in a letter to the commission. “But this demographic can only elect the candidate of their choice in one out of the six districts.”

Pernick and Brewington warned that

Ana Borruto/Herald photos

THE PROPOSED MAP from Hempstead town officials showing where town council districts will be placed was created by Skyline Consulting. It has drawn criticism from civic groups and law experts for what they claim violate federal and state voting rights protections, saying the map fails to keep communities whole, and continues to crack minority neighborhoods into multiple districts.

THE ELMONT CULTURAL Center’s ‘Blue Bird Plan’ keeps Elmont and Valley Stream in one minoritymajority district when it comes to representation on the Hempstead town council, while maps proposed by Hempstead town officials do not.

if Hempstead finalizes the current map as it stands, it could expose the town to costly litigation — all at taxpayers’ expense.

A statement released by the commission acknowledged the Skyline proposal was “problematic in that it splits Hempstead and Uniondale, Baldwin, East Meadow, Franklin Square, West Hempstead and North Valley Stream. It fails to keep the communities of North Valley Stream and Elmont together, and fails to put the communities of Merrick and North Merrick into a single district.

“It is not sufficiently compact, and compactness is an important redistricting criteria under the ‘home rule’ message.”

The resolution is not enough to satisfy everything the public raised a concern to.

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A wing-eating challenge for a special cause

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

For one East Meadow mom, watching her stepdaughter lose her own mother was tough. So when Jessica Schiavone found out about a wing-eating contest in benefit of Camp Good Mourning — a camp that provides free grief camp programs for kids coping with the death of a parent or sibling — she knew she wanted to take part in it, in memory of her stepdaughter’s mother.

Bianca was 13 years old when her mother, Jennifer Schafer, died in April 2021 from a long battle with several health conditions at the age of 38. The two were very close, and lived together in Oceanside with Schafer’s mother. But after Bianca’s mother died, she came to live with her dad, Mark, and Jessica, along with her two stepsiblings John and Sophia Cereoli, 16 and 13, respectively, and one half-sister, Lucy, 8, in East Meadow in July 2022.

“We’re trying to make it a good adjustment to East Meadow,” Jessica said. “I’m very involved with East Meadow Kiwanis and helping the community, so I’m trying to keep her spirits high and start a new life for Bianca here in East Meadow.”

Jessica found out about the wing-eating contest through East Meadow Kiwanis. She and Mark will be participating in Camp Good Mourning’s third annual Chicken Wing Eating Challenge on Feb. 4 at Levittown Hall. All money raised goes to CGM.

“It’s been such a hard transition, but I told her that we would be doing it in memory of her mother,” Jessica said. “I want her to know that we know she’s coping and that we’re doing it for her mother.”

Bianca —now 14 and a freshman at East Meadow High School — has been transitioning into life in East Meadow. She does dance and even joined EMHS’s track team.

“It was kind of hard at first, but some people made it better,” Bianca said. “I joined track before school started

so that helped me too.”

Bianca and her mom were best friends, Jessica said. So to help the transition even more, the two try to do activities that keep the memory of Schafer alive.

“My mom was very kind and would always do everything for others and rarely think about herself,” Bianca said. “She loved to bake and do art stuff with me.”

Bianca said one of her favorite memories was going

BREAKING DOWN BOUNDARIES WITH CANCER BREAKTHROUGHS

help the family raise money

Want to help Jessica and Mark raise money for Camp Good Mourning?

If you want to donate visit: TinyURL.com/schiavones or their Go Fund Me page: GoFundMe.com/f/biancas-cause

out for “girls days” with her mom. They would go to Artrageous, a pottery store in Rockville Centre, where you can decorate your own pottery.

Now, Jessica tries to take Bianca as much as she can to Artrageous to try to keep Jennifer’s memory alive.

Bianca also spends a lot of time baking, another activity she used to do with her mom. “Right now I love making cookies,” Bianca said. “I make sugar cookies and chocolate chip.”

This isn’t the first time that Mark has been in a food eating challenge, and Bianca thinks he’s going to win. “He’s crazy,” she joked. “But I think he’s going to win.”

“I’m no stranger to winning eating competitions,” Mark said. “My first pie eating contest, I think I was eight or nine, and I won the kids divisions so my parents decided to enter me in the adults one and I won that one too.”

He doesn’t seek them out, he said, but if they go out and see a food eating challenge, he’ll do it. “I’ve done less than 10,” he said. “But I’ve won them all.”

Bianca won’t be participating on Feb. 4 because she’s vegan, but she’ll be cheering on Jessica and her dad. “I think it’s a good cause, I thought it was good that they’re doing something for mommy.”

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Courtesy Jessica Schiavone BIANcA SchIAvONe, Left, was only 13 when her mother, Jennifer Schafer, right, died after struggling with several health conditions. Pictured here in 2017, they were very close.

STEPPING OUT

Score big on Super Sunday on Get your

By Karen Bloom

It’s the biggest sports day of the year. Classic commercials, historic plays and friends are all quintessential elements of the perfect game-day get-together. Whether your gang includes football fanatics or just a few fans, the big game — on Feb. 12 — is a great excuse for casual winter entertaining.

And while there may be a game on the big screen, a lot of the action takes place around the table — keeping everyone well-fed is a sport in itself!

• 1/4 tsp. onion powder

• 1 tsp. smoked paprika

• 1 cup hummus

Whisk first seven ingredients together (vinegar through paprika). Add hummus and combine thoroughly. Be creative with your dipping options. Potato and tortilla chips go hand-in-hand with tailgating festivities, but beyond these standards is a whole world of other dipping options. For a Mediterranean touch, go with flatbread, pita bread or pita chips. Or opt for more texture with multi-grain crackers that include raw flax, chia or sesame seeds. Or go for double the Buffalo wing flavor by dipping your wing, instead of the traditional blue cheese.

Cajun Buffalo Chicken Wings

Here’s a zesty take on the football-watching favorite.

• 2-1/2 pounds chicken wing pieces

• 1/2 cup any flavor Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wings Sauce

• 1/3 cup ketchup

• 2 tsp. Cajun seasoned spice blend

Bake wings in foil-lined pan at 500° F on lowest oven rack for 20 to 25 minutes until crispy, turning once.

Mix buffalo wings sauce, ketchup and spice blend. Toss wings in sauce to coat.

Tip: You may substitute 1/2 cup red hot sauce mixed with 1/3 cup melted butter for the Wings Sauce.

Alternate cooking directions: Deep-fry at 375° F for 10 minutes, or broil 6 inches from heat 15 to 20 minutes turning once.

Darlene Love

Darlene Love is always a welcome stage presence. For more than 50 years, she’s been making rock and roll’s world go ‘round. Since the early ‘60s, as part of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound hit factory, this songstress has done it all — from movies like the ‘Lethal Weapon’ series to Broadway hits like ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Grease.’ She even starred as herself in ‘Leader of the Pack,’ credited as Broadway’s first ‘jukebox musical.’ Love’s career and legacy reached new heights, as a result of being featured in 2013’s acclaimed documentary ‘20 Feet from Stardom,’ when she became the best known ‘unknown”’ in rock history. She continues to captivate audiences with her warm, gracious persona and dynamic performances. Her timeless, soaring voice remains as powerful as ever. Rolling Stone magazine has proclaimed Love to be ‘one of the greatest singers of all time,’ and that certainly rings true, but perhaps Paul Shaffer says it even more concisely: ‘Darlene Love is rock and roll!”

Friday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m. $88, $78, $68. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Hummus Buffalo Wing Dip

A warm batch of Buffalo wings pairs well with this smoky and spicy dip.

• 1 tsp. red wine vinegar

• 1 tsp. olive oil

• 1 tbsp. tomato paste

• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard

• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Touchdown Italian Sausage Chili

• 1 package (19.76 ounces) Italian sausage links

• 1 cup onion, chopped

• 3 celery ribs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

• 1 large sweet red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 tbsp. garlic, minced

• 3 tbsp. olive oil

• 1 large yellow pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 large green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 3 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) Italian recipe stewed tomatoes

• 1 can (16 ounces) dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

• 1 can (15 ounces) butter beans, rinsed and drained

• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

• 3/4 cup black olives, sliced

• 1/4 cup cream sherry (optional)

• 1 tbsp. fresh basil, chopped

• 1 1/2 tsp. baking cocoa

• 1/2 to 1 tsp. pepper

Cook sausage according to package directions; cut into half moon slices and set aside.

In soup kettle, saute onion, celery, sweet pepper and garlic in oil until tender. Add sausage and remaining ingredients; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until flavors are blended.

Sprinkle chili with grated asiago, romano, parmesan cheese — or any cheese of your choice — before serving. Makes 12 servings.

Lviv National Philharmonic

The National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine was established in Lviv in1902, a city known as one of the great cultural centers of eastern Europe, The orchestra has evolved over the years to become one of that nation’s largest and most internationally known ensembles, now under the baton of principal guest conductor Theodore Kuchar. It reminds us of how music can bridge cultures and bring people together. Their 2023 American tour is a testament to the power of music to overcome adversity. Their program for this powerful concert includes: Ukrainian composer Yevhen Stankovych’s Chamber Symphony No. 3 for Flute and String Orchestra; Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16; and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92. Pianist Oksana Rapita is the featured soloist.

Saturday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m.; with 6:45 p.m. Arts Insider preperformance preview. $79, $59, $44. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. (516) 299-3100 or TillesCenter. org..

THE SCENE

Feb. 23

Art talk

Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her popular “Brown Bag Lecture” live, via Zoom, Thursday, Feb. 23, 1 p.m. She’ll discuss the current exhibition, “The Big Picture: Photography Now.” Participants are invited to ask questions at the end of the program. Register at least 24 hours in advance to receive the program Zoom link. Also Feb. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Learn to dance HipHop

Feb. 17

Zoë Keating

Cellist and composer Zoë Keating visits the Landmark stage, Friday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m. Considered a “one woman orchestra,” she uses a cello and a foot-controlled laptop to loop layer upon layer of cello, creating intricate, haunting, and compelling music; Keating has spent the last 20 years exploring the landscape of sounds a string instrument can make. She coaxes sounds out of the very edges of her cello, adeptly layering them into “swoon inducing” (San Francisco Weekly) music that is unclassifiable yet “a distinctive mix of old and new” (National Public Radio). She is known for her use of technology — which she uses to record and sample her cello onstage and in the studio – and for her DIY approach — composing, recording and producing her works on her own terms, without the help of a record label. $41, $35, $27. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Get your groove on at Salsa Latina Dance Studio, at 388 Merrick Avenue, in East Meadow every Thursday to learn how to Latin Hip-Hop dance with Matt at 6:30 p.m. There is a free trial class for all new students. No partner, and no experience needed to enjoy this experience. Parking is in the back of the studio. For more information, contact Edwin at (516) 902-7368 or email edwinguerrero352@gmail.com.

Learn to salsa and bachata

Head to Salsa Latina Dance Studio at 388 Merrick Avenue in East Meadow every Wednesday, for beginner salsa classes from 7:30 to 8:30, and beginner bachata from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. There is a free trial class for all new students. There is no partner, and no experience needed to enjoy this experience. Parking is in the back of the studio. For more information, contact Edwin at (516) 902-7368 or email edwinguerrero352@gmail.com

On stage

Mo Willems’ popular The Pigeon comes alive on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Saturday, Feb. 11, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sunday, Feb.12, 2 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, Feb. 15-17, noon. Pigeon is eager to try anything, with the audience part of the action. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Bingo at Beth-El

Get your game on at a weekly bingo game at East Meadow

Beth-El Jewish Center at 1400 Prospect Ave., in East Meadow, starting at 6 p.m. Prizes, progressive games, bell jar prizes and refreshments will be provided. Proof of vaccination is required. For information, contact (516) 483-4205

Feb. 3

In perfect harmony

The SingStrong A Cappella Festival returns to the New York area, hosted by Adelphi University, Friday through Sunday, Feb. 3-5. Professional a cappella groups perform along with collegiate and high school ensembles. A variety of musical genres are represented, including re-imaginings of barbershop, pop, R&B, jazz, and more. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 8774000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

Paint and sip

Head over to Greene Turtle

Sports Bar and Grille, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 6:309:30 p.m., for a Valentine’s Day themed activity. 1740 Hempstead Tpke., East Meadow. $35 per person; a food and drink purchase is required. Any questions, call/text Erica at (631) 397-0099. For tickets visit tinyurl.com/vdaygt.

Having an event?

Cubing competition

East Meadow Library, hosts a cubing competition, Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m-12:30 p.m. Events include 3x3 cubes, 2x2 cubes, and pyraminx. Prizes will be given out to the builders. To register visit EastMeadow.info. For first time cubers, watch this video tinyurl.com/cubingempl.

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.

Ellen Allard Concert

Temple B’nai Torah in Wantagh will be welcoming Ellen Allard Feb. 3 -5. Allard is an award-winning performer, music educator, composer, and recording artist. The first performance will be on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m., 2900 Jerusalem Ave. Ticket information is available at tbtwantagh.seatyourself.biz.

4H School Break Program

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau offers a February break program for kids at East Meadow Farm, Tuesday through Friday, Feb. 21-24. Youngsters can participate in varied educational activities during school break, at 832 Merrick Ave., in East Meadow. Children in grades K-6 will explore environmental science, healthy living, agriculture, and S.T.E.M., while developing the soft skills that will help them succeed in life. It is both indoors and outdoors so participants must dress for the weather. (In the event of rain/ snow bring boots, snow pants and gloves) The activities for the week include: animals, cooking, arts and crafts, STEM, and more. To register go to tinyurl.com/4hemfarm.

“A GUT- BUSTING HIT!

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 Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 4849337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Pat McGann

Pat McGann, quickly rising as one of the sharpest stand-ups on the comedy scene, appears at The Paramount, Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. A relative latecomer to comedy, he began doing stand-up at age 31 after realizing he was not very good at selling packaging. He hustled his way to become the house emcee at Zanies Chicago, where he distinguished himself as especially adept at working the crowd. A husband and father of three young children, his appeal stems from his quick wit and relatable take on family life and marriage. In 2017, McGann began touring as the opening act for Sebastian Maniscalco, moving with him from clubs to theater, to arenas, including four sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden. $40, $35, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

RichnerLIVE is “Fealing” Good

(From left to right) Jodi Turk, event, marketing and brand strategist, and Amy Amato, executive director of corporate relations and events, visited the Barasch & McGarry office to deliver a check to John Feal, founder and president of the FealGood Foundation, and Sara Director, partner at Barasch & McGarry who handles 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) claims and a Top Lawyer Honoree. RichnerLIVE donated a portion of ticket proceeds from the Herald Top Lawyers of Long Island Awards Gala to the foundation. The FealGood Foundation protects and assists all emergency personnel injured on the job or in their personal lives through offering financial aid, basic home utilities, medicine and more. On Sept. 12, 2001, Feal was called to assist in the cleanup of ground zero when his foot was crushed and forced to be amputated. After dealing with the hurdles that came with the accident, he decided that no one should struggle after helping with ground zero. Visit www.FealGoodFoundation.com for more information on the organization and how you can help.

Photo Courtesy of Barasch & McGarry

”

D’Esposito gets to work on Capitol Hill

By ANA BORRUTO aborruto@liherald.com

It’s certainly been an interesting process getting acclimated to Washington, and his new role as a congressman. But U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito is happy to finally get to settle down and tackle his new role on Capitol Hill.

From police officer to detective in the New York Police Department. An 18-year-old volunteer firefighter to fire chief. And now Hempstead town councilman to congressman, the 40-year-old Island Park native describes looking back at his journey as a surreal experience.

Orientation for incoming congressional members like D’Esposito began the Sunday after Election Day — a point where some candidates were still waiting for their races to be called. Still, freshmen members of the House undergo a two-week icebreaker period where they get to know one another and learn how everything we see on C-SPAN operates.

“In politics in general — but specifically in Washington — you look at where people sit on the (House) floor, and it’s literally divided by an aisle,” D’Esposito said. “When we went to orientation, you walked into the hotel or you walked into different events, everyone just had a nametag on.”

It said who they were and where they were from, but there was no “D” or “R” labelling them as Democrats or Republicans.

“I think it gave (us) the opportunity to really meet people with an open mind,” he said.

D’Esposito is now almost a month into office, serving on three House committees: Homeland Security, Transportation and Infrastructure and House Administration.

When it comes to homeland security, the congressman believes the biggest issue the country faces is taking

WITH THE HELP of his 3-year-old niece Sailor, U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito takes the oath of office from former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D’Amato. The congressman finds himself on three House committees, including one for homeland security that requires him to get top-secret clearance.

place at the U.S.-Mexico border. There have been a large number of migrants coming to the United States seeking asylum, or at least a better life. While D’Esposito believes everyone should have the opportunity to come to America, it still must be “done correctly.”

That means more funding for border patrol agents and the resources they need to keep the country’s borders safe.

Getting onto the Homeland Security Community meant earning a top-secret security clearance. Before leaving the NYPD in his previous life, D’Esposito was in

the process of transferring to the department’s joint terrorist task force.

“In addition to my 20 or so years as a first responder, I think having someone from Long Island and New York on Homeland Security is super important,” D’Esposito said. “We need to carry that mantle of Peter King, who was the chair of Homeland Security following 9/11. And we need to make sure we are able to provide the resources that we need to our local law enforcement agencies — not only here, but throughout the country.”

D’Esposito’s responsibilities with the Committee of House Administration include overseeing management of House operations, federal elections, key congressional offices, and Capitol Complex security — which extends to supervising the U.S. Capitol Police and its management.

The former police officer expressed his excitement in the opportunity to utilize his law enforcement experience when collaborating with officers sworn to protect one of the nation’s three branches of government.

But even with all that work on his plate, D’Esposito still finds himself talking about one of his fellow freshman colleagues from a neighboring congressional district — U.S. Rep. George Santos, and the ongoing reports and investigations into his past and how he raised money for his campaign.

D’Esposito won’t back down on his calls for Santos to resign, and is prepared to provide whatever services constituents in Santos’ district might need, but not comfortable approaching the embattled congressman about.

“People voted for a George Santos that they don’t even know — they voted for the George Santos that George created,” D’Esposito said. “You call, you’re looking for help, regardless of where you live, regardless of where you’re from, what you look like or what party you’re affiliated with — we’re here to help you.”

My mother may soon be applying for Medicaid. How does this affect funeral arrangements?

The latest Medicaid regulations now permit individuals to set aside a portion of their assets in an irrevocable trust account in order to have funds for future funeral expenses.

When an individual approaches the time when Medicaid coverage seems likely, social workers generally advise families to look into this funeral pre-funding option.

Here’s how we can help:

• The Family will make an appointment with us to discuss just what we are to do when the death occurs.

• We discuss options and record their wishes not just about preferred funeral home services but cemetery, church, monument inscription, newspaper notices, etc. We inform the family of exactly what the funeral home and third party costs are at the present time.

• Funds to cover those expenses can then deposited in our FDIC insured PRE - PLAN Trust. The Trust pays sufficient interest to allow us to guaranty those future funeral home costs into the future.

• While the funds remain in the name of the individual going on Medicaid, eligibility to receive Medicaid coverage is not affected.

Tim Baker/Herald

NCC union rallies after health care costs rise

By ANDRE SILVA asilva@liherald.com

Demanding fair contracts with affordable health care costs, dozens of Nassau Community College faculty members rallied outside of the county legislature last week.

They were part of a broader protest from the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers, an educators union representing NCC’s full-time faculty, speaking out against higher health care insurance premium costs. They gathered on the steps of the county legislature carrying signs like “We’d rather be teaching right now,” demanding better wages and fair contracts, targeting both the Nassau Community College Board of Trustees and the county itself.

They weren’t out on the steps long before some of the union members were ushered inside the Mineola building with a chance to state their case with county legislators.

The educators union and trustees board have been negotiating full-time faculty contracts since last July, hoping to work out a deal before their contracts expired in August. The union has rallied multiple times since then, expressing frustration with the negotiation process.

As recently as Dec. 13, Siminioff and the union asked the trustees to include salary increases to keep up with rising inflation, as well as include paid sabbaticals. But then, last week, health insurance premium costs jumped for full-time faculty at NCC.

The increase came about thanks to the trustees enacting an old clause in their contracts — written decades ago — allow-

ing the board to charge faculty members working under an expired contract with increased health insurance premiums. The insurance increases, Siminioff said, could cost faculty members between $2,500 and $5,000 — effectively acting like a pay cut.

“So, we’re not getting we’re not getting a wage increase. Our promotions have all been frozen. We’re not getting our sabbaticals. We’re not getting anything. But they’re imposing this on us,” Siminioff said. “I think this provision has been there for 30 years and they have never invoked it. They want to punish the faculty and force us through economic strongarming.”

John Gross, an Ingerman Smith attorney representing Nassau Community College, said the New York State Health Insurance Plan — which provides insurance to all college employees — raised premiums on Jan. 1 by 15 percent for family coverage. That’s about $5,000 each year. Individual coverage rose more than 12 percent, which could cost upward of $4,000 over the next 12 months.

A provision in NCC’s full-time faculty labor contract states if the cost of health insurance premiums increases after a contract expires, Gross said, it’s up to the individual employees to shoulder those costs through payroll deductions.

“The union knew it was in the labor contract because one of the proposals in our current negotiations is to remove the clause,” Gross said. “The board didn’t wake up one day and said, ‘You know what? We’re going to impose these increases on the union.’”

Siminioff said many faculty members

feel the college has strained them to their limits, and has not properly supported them financially. Aside from the imposed health insurance premiums, NCC’s faculty has experienced an average wage increase just over 1 percent in the past decade.

“The starting salary for an instructional faculty member is approximately $60,800, and the starting salary for a noninstructional faculty member is $55,900,” Siminioff said. “According to the MIT wage calculator, a middle-class family of three needs about $96,000 to be middle class in Nassau County.”

Faculty members are teaching more students in larger classes over the past few years, Siminioff said. When she first

started teaching at NCC some 25 years ago, she taught an average of 110 students each semester. Now, professors are being asked to educate an average of 160 students each semester — which Siminioff feels is unfair.

Aside from low starting wages, it typically takes 15 to 18 years for someone on the faculty to start earning $100,000, Siminioff said. Anyone hired now would earn $55,000, taking 15 years to climb to $100,000.

“By the time you get 15 years of employment, it’s still not enough to live middle class in Nassau County,” Siminioff said. “So, they’re condemning college faculty to never being middle class. That’s the bottom line.”

Tim Baker/Herald photos

MEMBERS OF THE Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers, an educators union supporting the school’s full-time faculty, gathered at the Nassau County Legislature to demand fair contracts after learning their health care insurance premiums were going up.

FAREN SIMINIOFF, PRESIDENT of the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers union, gathered protesters outside the Nassau County Legislature, demanding better wages and fair contracts from the Nassau Community College board and the county.

T hey want to punish the faculty and force us through economic strong-arming.

FAREN SIMINIOFF president, Nassau

Community College Federation of Teachers

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

AD FOR BID REQUESTS DOORS, WINDOWS, ACCESS CONTROL AND PANIC BUTTONS

A non-profit religious organization located in Merrick, NY is seeking sealed bids for sales and installation of security related enhancements. The project includes obtaining and installation of:

1. New solid interior doors with new frames and automatic closing and locking hardware to replace selected interior doors.

2. New double pane locking security windows with shatterproof glass & limited opening hardware

3. Video intercom and physical access control equipment, including remote lock release capability that is compatible with our current systems for selected interior doors.

4. Acquire and install panic buttons in selected areas of the building Selection criteria will be based on knowledge of doors, door installation, security windows & installation, and security systems. Experience and specific knowledge of all or some of items 1, 2, 3 & 4 listed above, adherence to projected work schedules, prior experience, references, and cost. Bids will be accepted for either individual items listed above or any combination of those items.

Specifications and bid requirements can be obtained by contacting us at bidstbame@gmail.com.

All firms who intend to bid and are interested in receiving the bid requirements must provide the following information in your email request: firm name, owners’ names, business address, primary contact, telephone, fax, and email address by no later than 5:00pm Friday February 24, 2023.

Bids will be accepted until 5:00pm on Friday March 17, 2023. Work is to commence by Monday April 24, 2023 and be completed by August 15, 2023

137033

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, DLJ MORTGAGE CAPITAL, INC., Plaintiff, vs. MARJORIE E. RODRIGUEZ A/K/A MARJORIE RODRIGUEZ, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on November 16, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 7, 2023 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 75 Merrick Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in East Meadow, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 50, Block 485 and Lot 9. Approximate amount of judgment is $709,047.25 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 008030/2016. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

George P. Esernio, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 170938-1

137068

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being At East Meadow, In The Town Of New Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York.

Section 50 Block 461 Lot 26

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $328,351.89 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 10660/2012

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 Glenn R. Jersey, Esq., Referee.

McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573 Dated: 1/23/23 File Number: 560-5930 LD 137070

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE OF THE HOME EQUITY

MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED TRUST SERIES INABS 2005-C, HOME EQUITY MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES INABS 2005-C, Plaintiffagainst - THOMAS A. BOHM, et al Defendant(s).

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

Dated: December 27, 2022

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

136984

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, NA, Plaintiff, AGAINST RUTH AGUILAR, et al.

Defendant(s)

PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-R2, Plaintiff, vs. AURELIA F. VILLEGAS, ET AL., Defendant(s).

LEGAL NOTICE

WELLSPRINGS CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK, PLLC. Art. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 04/11/22. Office: NASSAU County. SSNY designated as agent of the PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the PLLC, 446 EAST MEADOW AVENUE, #723, EAST MEADOW, NY 11554.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

137072

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, Against LINDA PINIZZOTTO, ET AL.

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 12/06/2018, 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 on 3/7/2023 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 1619 Midland Drive, East Meadow, New York 11554, And Described As Follows:

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on April 17, 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 “Rain or Shine” on the 2nd day of March, 2023 at 2:30 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at East Meadow, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Premises known as 351 E Meadow Avenue, East Meadow, (Town of Hempstead) NY 11554.

(Section: 50, Block: 420, Lot: 11)

Approximate amount of lien $700,839.68 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 012937/09.

Janine Lynam, Esq., Referee. Davidson Fink LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

400 Meridian Centre Blvd, Ste 200 Rochester, NY 14618 Tel. 585/760-8218

Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on June 15, 2018. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 17, 2023 at 2:00 PM premises known as 2542 5th Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554. Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County, and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at East Meadow, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 51, Block 23 and Lot 13, 14 and 15. Approximate amount of judgment $568,165.18 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #0003161/2013. Lisa Singer, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747

136722

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 22, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 27, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1902 Freeman Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 50, Block 12 and Lot 1-4. Approximate amount of judgment is $607,754.64 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 014586/13. Cash will not be accepted. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Ellen Durst, Esq., Referee Knuckles, Komosinski & Manfro, LLP, 565 Taxter Road, Suite 590, Elmsford, NY 10523, Attorneys for Plaintiff 136910

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 613459/2019. Mark Ricciardi, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 136922

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE OF NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER’S SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE

Should the Treasurer determine that an inperson auction shall be held, same will commence on the 21st day of February 2023 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer.

A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at:

https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/527/Annual-TaxLien-Sale

A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 08th, 2023.

being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act(FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et.seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC) receivership.

The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed.

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF9 MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST, V. ADAN SALGUERO, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated November 14, 2022, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF9 MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST is the Plaintiff and ADAN SALGUERO, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on February 28, 2023 at 2:30PM, premises known as 740 BARRY PLACE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553: Section 50, Block 360, Lot 23:

Notice is hereby given that commencing on February 21st, 2023, will sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 16th, 2023 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property. Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six-month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code.

Effective with the February 2019 lien sale

Ordinance No. 175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale. Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased. Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/526/CountyTreasurer

Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audiotape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 ext. 1-3715.

Dated: January 25, 2023

THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, NewYork

TERMS OF SALE

Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts.

However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.

The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to

The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk.

The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal

A life filled with music, sailing and learning

continued from front page

knew to the students of EMHS.

During his time at the high school, he brought students to sing at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the city’s Town Hall, and NBC’s Today Show. He even arranged for them to perform at the New York State School Music Association’s All State Festival at the Concord Hotel in upstate where they got to record their own vinyl.

Some students of his went on to do great things in the music and entertainment industry, like Neil Miller, who worked as a production stage manager for Radio City Music Hall, director of entertainment for Caesars in Atlantic City, and Universal Studios in Florida, and is now the executive director of entertainment at The Palazzo at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.

“He treated us all like small adults. It wasn’t really a traditional teacher-student relationship which was great, he was extraordinarily dedicated,” Neil Miller, who had Rosen as a director from ’69 to ’72, said. “He was an extraordinary musician. The musical taste that came out his classes that I took with me to these other places, which became the basis of my musical underpinning, that all came from Paul.”

He had a way of making his students want to do the best they could for him, Miller recalled.

“It was an honor to sing for Paul, and to sing with him,” Karen Cirino-Barone, a former student said. “I know that sounds so weird since he was my teacher in high school but it was a privilege really to sing with him, but the best part was that it was a joy to know him.”

Students fondly remember the vinyl that they made during their trip to the Concord, and Cirino-Barone even used it to play for her son to fall asleep at night. Another well-loved memory was singing the Hallelujah Chorus by Handel Messiah, which the chorale sang every year.

“Paul Rosen was probably one of the most beloved teachers that East Meadow High School ever had,” Nancy Widman, a former student said. “He touched every student that he had in his class in a great way. We sang for him.”

LEME2

Early years

Rosen was born in the Bronx in 1930. He was a musician early on, and attended the High School of Music and Art where he auditioned on trumpet. He went on to be a

Public Notices

incidents of the sale.

Furthermore, as to the bidding,

1. The bidder(s) agree that they will not work with any other bidder(s) to increase, maintain or stabilize interest rates or collaborate with any other bidder(s) to gain an unfair competitive advantage in the random number generator in the event of a tie bid(s) on a tax certificate. Bidder(s) further agree not to employ any bidding strategy designed to create an unfair competitive advantage in the tiebreaking process in

the upcoming tax sale nor work with any other bidder(s) to engage in any bidding strategy that will result in a rotational award of tax certificates.

2. The tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) bid, will be arrived at independently and without direct or indirect consultation, communication or agreement with any other bidder and that the tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) to be bid, have not been disclosed, directly or indirectly, to

any other bidder, and will not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder prior to the close of bidding. No attempt has been made or will be made to, directly or indirectly, induce any other bidder to refrain from bidding on any tax certificate, to submit complementary bids, or to submit bids at specific interest rates.

3. The bids to be placed by the Bidder will be made in good faith and not pursuant to any direct or indirect, agreement or discussion with, or inducement from, any

other bidder to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive bid.

4. If it is determined that the bidder(s) have violated any of these bid requirements then their bid shall be voided and if they were the successful bidder the lien and any deposits made in connection with said bid shall be forfeited.

Dated: January 25, 2023

THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER

Mineola, New York

136839

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

music and education major at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. After his graduation in 1952, he toured with the Robert Shaw Chorale for a year, and sang with the Amato Opera. From 1953 to 1955, he served as a bandsman in the U.S. Army, singing and playing the trumpet.

While teaching at East Meadow, he earned his master’s degree in music education from Columbia University.

He and his wife Susan married in 1967 after meeting three years earlier at East Meadow High School during a theater rehearsal. Susan was there to speak with the drama teacher Bob Huber, because she was friends with his wife

“I didn’t think I’d meet my husband that day,” Susan said. “He was very thoughtful and very bright, and he was not one to blow his own horn, but he really affected a lot of people, and that’s the wonderful thing about being a teacher.”

A savant in and out of the classroom

Rosen resided in Northport for most of his time on Long Island. He loved sailing, and the family owned multiple sail boats throughout the years that they would take out every summer for a few weeks. They

PAul RosEn, FouRth from left, moved to Virginia in 1994 after his retirement. He liked to sail, write poetry, and spend time with family.

raced a boat they kept at the Northport Yacht Club.

“It was only for a couple weeks a summer,” Susan said. “But it’s what we looked forward to all year.”

Rosen even acquired his Captain’s license from the Coast Guard.

“The story goes, his love of the sea began as a very small child riding his tricycle through puddles making waves,” Adam joked. “That’s what I was told.”

He always had a song for everything, Adam said, and would wake the brothers up with a song. Adam also remembers summers where the windows were down and the whole block could hear his parents singing opera.

“Sometimes when you’re a kid, it’s embarrassing, but then it becomes a part of his personality,” he said. “In the middle of a conversation, something would remind him of some lyric of some song that he would start singing or he would make up some songs to fit the moment.”

Always learning, Rosen studied mental health counseling at C.W. Post College, now Long Island University. He went on to study psychotherapy at the Gestalt Center of Long Island in Huntington Station.

“At first, he took classes because he was interested in it,” Susan said. “But he got so interested in it that he decided to get a degree.”

He had his own private practice in Mental Health for roughly 10 years after retiring from EMHS in 1985.

Rosen and Susan moved to Virginia in 1994 after the two retired. They chose Virginia so that they could keep sailing at the Chesapeake Bay. They moved around a few times before settling in Staunton.

He continued to be active, and gave powered-parachute flying, and riding motorcycles a try. “He always said he wanted to try these things before he got old,” Susan joked. “But I think he was already too old to try them.”

Rosen spent his later years writing poetry, according to Susan, and some of them were about making music. “He just loved it,” she said. “He always knew that that was what he wanted to do.”

RosEn tAught At East Meadow High School from 1960 to 1985. He took his chorale students on many trips, including to the Concord Hotel where they made their own vinyl.

Photos courtesy Adam Rosen

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Real estate IN BRIEF

V.I.Properties Welcomes

Erit Gridnev

Erit Gridnev is a savvy real estate agent with over 15 years of experience in marketing and sales. Specializing in relocations, she understands the importance of finding the perfect property for her clients. Because she knows that moving to a new house is a very big change, Erit takes the time to get to know her clients and their specific needs. With a B.A in Human Services, she is able to provide valuable insight into community life and what to expect from different neighborhoods. Her wit and humor make her an enjoyable person to work with, and her expertise ensures that her clients are always satisfied with their purchase. Contact Erit at 510-584-6350 or by email eritg@vipropertiesny.com

Realtors are encouraged to send briefs and photographs to: Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd.., Garden City, NY 11530.

REAL ESTATE

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My pickup truck has damaged the garage floor

Q. Can you solve a debate I have been having with my contractor about replacing the cracked floor in my garage? The problem is that I want to have steel bars in the slab and make it extra thick, since the existing slab is cracked and damaged from my heavy pickup truck, sometimes filled with heavy construction items. The concrete guy keeps telling me it’s overkill and that just the concrete, 5 inches thick, with a rollout wire mesh, is enough. Can you explain which one I need, and why he keeps telling me that the driveway is concrete, not cement? I want to do this job as soon as it warms up.

A. The first problem to solve is who should be designing the correct slab. Yes, we all know it’s just a slab, but you’ve already seen what happens when someone unfamiliar with the engineering design of even the simplest concrete slab doesn’t apply the correct preventive details.

Concrete is very strong in compression, meaning you can press on it to extremes before it even shows small signs of failure.

Unfortunately, concrete has no tensile strength. Zero. Zip. This means you can easily pull it apart, or bend it to the point of cracking without much force.

Structural engineers and architects, to a lesser extent, are trained to apply specific formulas that predict the success (and failure) of even a slab of formed concrete. Knowing how a slab fails allows professionals to apply the right reinforcement in the right places. Otherwise you’re just guessing.

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There’s a difference in the description of the slab, which is made up of several materials, such as sand, lime, and something called “Portland cement.” Portland Cement is a mixture of mined calcium silicates and a lesser amount of calcium aluminates that form a chemical reaction in the presence of water. The chemical reaction causes the mixture to harden and give off heat, called the heat of hydration. It was patented in England in 1824 by bricklayer Joseph Aspdin, and got the name Portland because when it hardened, it appeared to look very similar to the white Portland stone quarried along the Portland Isle coast of Dorset in southern England. Sorry, Oregon, you get no credit here.

When other silicates, such as sand or different sizes of stone, are added, the characteristics change, and the setting times and strength change as well. Ash has been added in some mixes, and glass fibers, another form of silica, have made our latest bridge and roadway construction projects extremely long-lasting and stronger.

Portland cement can be a part of concrete. To determine the reinforcing, the loads need to be applied to formulas, along with the amount of time and other forces, such as expansion and contraction (due to temperature changes), support material strength, shrinkage and internal stress — in other words, it would be irresponsible to throw some guess at you without knowing more. Keep in mind, more concrete is not better. Good luck!

© 2022 Monte Leeper

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

Ask The Architect

Monte Leeper

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The era of ‘Marcus Welby, M.D.’ is over

I’ll bet very few readers remember television shows like “Dr. Kildare” and “Marcus Welby.” Those popular shows featured physicians who made house calls and performed miracles of all kinds. There may be a few of these doctors left, but it’s only a matter of time until such dedicated physicians are no longer in existence. Like it or not, the business of medicine is changing rapidly, and not for the benefit of the average patient.

I recently experienced this sea change in medicine, when two of my doctors announced their retirement. One was my internal medicine doctor, who served me faithfully for 32 years, and the other was a neurologist who had monitored me for about five years. It was obvious from our parting conversations that they were exhausted and tired of the day-to-day stresses of serving patients. If you visit almost any doctor’s office, you’ll notice that there are walls and

walls of files on display. They may signify how many patients your doctor serves, but they are also evidence of the amount of paperwork the average doctor must do to get paid by an insurance company. Once upon a time, insurance companies gave doctors an appropriate amount of money for the services they performed, but not anymore.

If you’re a doctor in New York City, you may get $1,000 for a medical procedure. But if you practice in, say, Smithtown, you may get paid $180, if you’re lucky. Geography makes a difference in reimbursement, and no rational observer of medicine will defend such an abominable system. These days, doctors need experienced staff members who have to deal with endless piles of documents, many of which are for small reimbursements. The daily practice of medicine isn’t a 9-to-5 operation. Many doctors take their charts home, to review medical histories and also to protect themselves from malpractice litigation. The business of suing doctors is a major enterprise, and the volume of litigation forces doctors to pay

outrageous fees for malpractice coverage. I’ve heard quite a few stories about doctors who quit the practice because they simply couldn’t afford the high premiums.

One way that a doctor can avoid some of these headaches is to become an employee of a hospital. That spares you the high insurance premiums, but life isn’t a bowl of cherries for the employed doctor, either. Large hospitals have rules upon rules, and they can mean plenty of paperwork, and having to handle a much larger caseload of patients then you ever had when you were on your own. One of my longtime, highly respected doctors has taken a leave of absence, because he’s now in his 80s and just can’t handle the caseload he’s been given. But hospitals are businesses, and they have every right to demand a high level of activity of their doctors.

There are many dedicated, newly minted doctors graduating from medical schools, but quite a few of them approach medicine much differently today than their forebears. Many young

doctors would prefer to work five days a week, with no weekend duty. They are willing to take less compensation and have more time for family, golf and vacations. They may be brilliant practitioners, but they don’t want to be so many Marcus Welbys.

And when we talk about medicine, we can’t forget about nurses. The recent strike at some major city hospitals was no surprise. I was in an ER recently, and found out that my nurse had 15 patients assigned to her. She was on the verge of a physical breakdown, but soldiered on, handling all of them with grace and patience. No doubt, she will get a large pay increase and a smaller patient workload, but it’s only fair to give her those benefits.

Like it or not, medicine is changing dramatically. In the next 10 years, we will see changes that we never dreamt of. Some will be good, and others bad. Let’s hope there are more good than bad.

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.

Folks scramble as the price of eggs soars nationwide

You can believe the hype. Last week, a boutique grocery on Manhattan’s Upper East Side was selling eggs for $17.99 a dozen. They weren’t Faberge eggs, dripping in diamonds and gilt. They were ordinary chicken-hatched, single-yolk, large “organic” eggs.

This news flash is courtesy of The Guardian newspaper in England, which loves to point out the crass and the crazy in American culture. It is given to gloating through stiff upper lips. Still, it has a point.

RANDI KREISS

Egg prices are heating up due to inflation, a surging avian flu epidemic and, some say, price gouging.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one year ago you could buy a dozen eggs for $1.72. Now, nationwide, the price averages $3.59. In some states like California, the average price is more than $7. Apparently in Manhattan, consumers have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. No more cheap, go-to weekday omelet dinners.

The current epidemic of avian flu is

the worst in history, according to NBC News. More than 53 million birds have died of the virus or been put to death. As so-far survivors of the coronavirus pandemic, we must wonder how vulnerable we humans are to this flu.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we’re probably safe. That’s not totally reassuring, but the avian flu has jumped to humans in only rare instances, and has passed from an infected person to other people in only extremely rare cases. Those who’ve contracted the flu after working around infected birds generally experienced mild symptoms, but the disease has been serious in a few people.

of Mexico to the U.S. I don’t know if it’s a Sinaloa cartel operation, but really? Smugglers in competition with the Easter Bunny?

Inflation?

I take my eggs very seriously. Omelets are a regular dinner in my home. I eat an egg every single day, over well, yolk broken. Lillybee the dog gets half a yolk.

Avian flu?

Price gouging?

No more cheap, go-to weekday omelet dinners.

Somehow, I want to believe human beings should be OK, but after the waves of half-information and misinformation informing our health decisions in the midst of Covid, I want to keep an eye on this H5N1 virus. Even though it might seem cost-effective now to start raising chickens in our backyards, nah, it’s probably not a good idea.

Last week it was widely reported that dealers have been running eggs out

I had to give up eggs recently and temporarily (for a month) after my friend cracked an egg and discovered a tiny, blackened mini-chicken inside. So gross! I didn’t actually see the monstrosity, but I can’t get the image out of my head. She was so traumatized by the visitation that she gave up eggs forever.

We move on. The most expensive egg product I ever purchased was a painted $25 ostrich eggshell I brought back from South Africa to present to my granddaughter on her 13th birthday. I was feeling quite high-minded about the symbolism of feminism and new beginnings and eternal life. But she sat on it, and that was that.

Two weeks ago, I cracked an egg and discovered it was a double yolker. According to Cackle Hatchery, double yolks are quite rare. They hardly ever

result in two chickens being born, because the eggshell can’t accommodate twins. Still, they are prized for eating. Some boutique chicken farmers specialize in double yolkers, the source of which is a genetic mutation. You can hold a candle to an egg and see what’s inside if you really need to know. If you really want to know.

Hardboiled eggs are worth a book of their own. I always have a few hardcooked eggs in my fridge, you know, in case of nuclear attack or tornado strike. I read about an 83-year-old hiker years ago who hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine, eating hardboiled eggs he cooked on a tiny camping stove.

In the 1967 movie “Cool Hand Luke,” an outrageously defiant prisoner played by Paul Newman choked down 50 hardboiled eggs on a dare. A few people in real life tried to imitate the feat, and one died. But Joey Chestnut, the renowned competitive eater, consumed 141 eggs in eight minutes in a contest. Miki Sudo broke the women’s world record, eating 104 eggs.

Chestnut, who, remarkably, is still alive — I checked — took home a $1,500 grand prize, which seems not nearly enough.

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

It was obvious from chats with my retiring doctors that they were exhausted.

JERRY KREMER

E-mail: emeadoweditor@liherald.com

The tricky balance of fear and openness

it was like having security cameras in every room of a house but one. That’s how Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone described to reporters the decentralized, hodgepodge security infrastructure of the county’s computer network, which more than 10,000 government employees, in dozens of departments, depended on.

It was a single unguarded entryway that let hackers in last September, essentially shutting down all operations and reportedly costing Suffolk millions of dollars.

Such an intrusion is enough to scare any business or government entity into fortifying defenses. But is there such a thing as being too scared?

In the days following Suffolk’s revelation that it had been hacked, Bellone’s counterpart, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, bent over backward to ensure that the same thing won’t happen here. Or at least we think he has, given that the details of those efforts are a closely held secret.

What we do know is that the Legislature has hired a cybersecurity consultant. And that’s about it. Who that consultant is, what they have to offer — and, most important, how much it’s going to cost taxpayers — is information only a very select few know.

Revealing too many details about the new cybersecurity efforts could be troublesome, of course. The more information hackers have, the more likely they can

letters

Offner was on the mark

To the Editor:

Re Daniel Offner’s column last week, “We must remember — and teach — the Holocaust”: Offner’s description of his grandmother, “When she was liberated by American troops from Dachau in May 1945, she weighed 45 pounds,” brought back an old memory to me. I remember my dad speaking of two cousins, who somehow made it to America after surviving one of those Nazi killing centers in Poland. He described them as two young guys, each over six feet tall and weighing 200 pounds — combined.

They didn’t last much longer than a year here. The Nazis killed them; they just didn’t die immediately.

And now we have Holocaust deniers, in spite of the films, photos and documents that exist, in addition to the survivors, and the living veterans who aided in their liberation and survival. We also have politicians in both parties telling us lies daily. Now we even have to be aware of a “journalist’s” political affiliations, agenda and beliefs. Sadly, as Offner pointed out, the same goes

find ways to slip past Nassau’s defenses. Yet county officials refuse to say how revealing simple bits of information — like who the vendor is, and how much they’re charging — would help these cyber menaces. And they aren’t budging.

As well, the Herald learned last week that a closed-doors executive session called by the Legislature produced an emergency cybersecurity declaration — its mere existence classified.

It’s perfectly understandable why county officials are on edge, and they should be commended for acting quickly to build Nassau’s technological defenses. And while many of those details should be kept secret, not all of them should be.

There is a reason why who our government does business with — and at what cost — should be out in the open, for all to see. We bear the financial cost of that business, and have every right to ensure that every dollar is being spent appropriately.

Everything about the county’s contract with this mystery cybersecurity firm could be perfectly fine. And it most likely is. But the taxpayers’ right is absolute assurance, not a preponderance of confidence. We have the right — by law — to make sure the Legislature is doing an arm’s-length deal with the right company for the right price.

How was the firm chosen? How was its compensation negotiated? What is the county getting in return? Even if we can’t have specifics, there’s no reason we can’t be clued in on at least some general

aspects.

Shoshanah Bewlay, executive director of the state-funded Committee on Open Government, shared in an advisory opinion last month that details of the contract — like information technology schematics, blueprints, pricing or systems methodologies, and the types of IT monitoring or remediation — can indeed be kept quiet. “However, in our view,” Bewlay added, “it is not clear how the disclosure of other information contained within the contract — such as the name of the selected vendor, or value of the executed contract — would enable a person to adversely impact an agency’s electronic information or IT systems.”

Don’t get us wrong — we honestly believe there is no ill intention on the county’s part to withhold this information. Officials are scared that revealing any of it — even if it’s deemed safe — could upend all their efforts to protect the network. But they have to lift the cloak just enough to let the taxpayers — their true bosses — get a peek to assure themselves that all of this is on the up-and-up.

Nassau County is letting all of its hard work to build these defenses get obscured by this simple request to know who it is working with, and how much they are being paid for that work. That’s basic information that taxpayers shouldn’t even have to ask for.

But they are asking for it, and the county must do the right thing and provide the answer.

D’Esposito will get the job done in Washington e

arlier this month I had the privilege of speaking at the ceremonial swearing-in of newly elected U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito. Sitting on the stage that evening, I thought back to when I was first sworn in 30 years ago, and how different this night was from that one, and how different the world had become. This ceremonial event was held at the Nassau County police training center, in East Garden City, instead of in Washington, D.C., and the oath was administered by former Senator Al D’Amato instead of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

D’Esposito had been officially sworn in by McCarthy the week before, but that was at 2 a.m. on Jan. 7, following over four days and 15 ballots of voting in the most acrimonious contest for speaker since the 1850s, the decade preceding the Civil War. During my 28 years in Congress, I cast 14 ballots for speaker — one every two years. D’Esposito exceeded that total in his very first week in Congress!

This rancor and chaos is a sign of what Congress has become, and what D’Esposito must work through. Don’t get me wrong — Congress wasn’t all peace, love and harmony when I was elected. Soon-to-be House Speaker Newt Gingrich and President Bill Clinton were firing political rockets at each other, and fiery cable news shows were emerging. But there wasn’t this level of intra-party disunity.

Nonetheless, D’Esposito’s situation isn’t entirely different from what I faced. We have several things in common. We both won close, hard-fought races. I won by 8,000 votes, a margin of 3 percent; D’Esposito by 10,000, or 3.9 percent. The bulk of my district was in the Town of Hempstead and Long Beach. D’Esposito’s district is entirely within those boundaries. And the challenges he will confront are similar to what I faced during my latter 20 years in Congress: preventing another Sept. 11, and fighting to get New York and Long Island their fair share of revenue. Fortunately, D’Esposito’s committee assignments — Homeland Security and Transportation & Infrastructure — position him well for the struggles

Letters

for our educational institutions.

I was lucky. The U.S. Navy took me to dozens of foreign nations. If you were born here, count your blessings. There are many tougher places to grow up in. Our most precious resource is America’s children. If we give them our honest best, freedom will reign.

JOHN SCHULTz Oceanside

It’s Santos, for better or worse

To the Editor:

At a news event on Jan. 11, a parade of Nassau County Republicans took the extraordinarily courageous step of calling on their colleague, U.S. Rep. George Santos, to resign. They suggested that he was not welcome at either their headquarters or their events. They indicated that their other congressional representatives would take it upon themselves to provide representation to the people of the 3rd District — the people Santos was elected to represent.

On Jan. 18, I received an email from my old friend Rep. Andrew Garbarino, who represents the 2nd District, in Suffolk County, advising me that I was one of his “new constituents” and assuring me that I could rely on his office’s

resources. Along with everyone else in northern Nassau and Queens, I live in Santos’s district. I am not officially a constituent of Garbarino’s.

In response, I emailed Andy Garbarino, “While I appreciate you reaching out, you are not my Congressional representative and I am not your ‘new constituent.’ George Santos, with whom and for whom you campaigned, is my Congressional representative. That fact is truly shameful. Thanks again and wishing you well.”

So, to Congressman Garbarino, with whom I worked in the Assembly before he was elected to the House of Representatives, I simply say, “Thanks but no thanks.” For better or worse, Santos is our congressman, and I expect him, perhaps unrealistically, to make some effort to try to live up to his responsibilities.

I am not inclined to reach out to the same Republican politicians who offer assistance but are simply attempting to shield themselves from criticism. As the old saying goes, once bitten, twice shy.

Should Santos be unresponsive to any requests I may have for assistance to the people I represent, I will reach out to Senators Chuck Schumer or Kirsten Gillibrand, or to any number of Democratic congressional representatives.

CHARLES LAvINE Assemblyman, 13th District

ahead.

The Homeland Security Committee was created in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 to coordinate federal, state and local counterterrorism efforts, and to provide necessary funding to areas at highest risk. Every threat analysis showed the New York City-Long Island region as the highestranked terrorist target in the country. Yet we had to fight off other states, which had zero threat levels, for every penny. As a former New York City police detective and Island Park fire chief, D’Esposito has the credentials and the gravitas to win those funding fights, and also to ensure that the committee’s legitimate concern about border control and illegal immigration doesn’t distract attention from the still very serious terrorist threat.

He will have similar struggles on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, to get fair and necessary funding for Long Island’s roads, highways, beaches and waterways.

Over the years, New York has been consistently shortchanged in federal funding, sending far more money to Washington than we get back. My short-

hand political analysis for this inequity was that Democrats took New York for granted and Republicans felt they couldn’t win it, so our hard-earned tax dollars were disbursed elsewhere — most notably, and disproportionately, to southern states. This shortfall in turn increased our state and local tax burden, which was exacerbated when a Republican Congress voted to dramatically reduce our SALT income tax deduction. D’Esposito has pledged to fight hard to restore that deduction.

Besides Homeland Security, infrastructure funding and restoring the SALT deduction, he will have to deal with countless other issues, including senior citizen and veterans benefits, 9/11 health care, tax relief for hardworking middle-income families and supporting law enforcement.

Being a member of Congress, and representing the people of Long Island and addressing their needs and challenges, was the experience of a lifetime for me. No one is more connected to his constituents than Anthony D’Esposito, and I know he will take their thoughts and concerns to the halls of Congress and get the job done. Good luck, Congressman.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Framework by Tim Baker

a newcomer to Congress has two solid committee assignments.