East Meadow Herald 02-09-2023

HERALD

East Meadow’s new senator

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Big winner in the Stock Market game

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FEBRUARY 9-15, 2023

EMFD: stay safe this winter

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$1.00

Teaming up to fght cancer

East Meadow and Bellmore students collaborate to raise money

By MAlloRY WIlSoN mwilson@liherald.com

A group of East Meadow High School students will not let anything stop them from raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. On Feb. 2, their team, dubbed Funding the Cure, kicked off an effort to raise $12,000 over seven weeks for people battling blood cancers.

The three juniors leading the group, Ryan Monahan, Andrew Ignatiou and Benjamin Krieger, are candidates for the LLS Student Visionaries of

the Year campaign. Their high school team has more than 30 students members, and is part of the Long Island Chapter of the society, which pits them against roughly 20 other teams. Student Visionaries of the Year is a philanthropic leadership development program for high school students. During the campaign, students learn what it’s like to grow their entrepreneurial, marketing, managerial and organizational skills.

The campaign builds to a grand finale on March 23. All

Continued on page 20

E.M., Westbury LIRR commuters weigh in on new terminal

By MAlloRY WIlSoN mwilson@liherald.com

After years of planning, construction, and deadline changes, Grand Central Madison finally opened to the public on Jan. 25.

The 700,000-square-foot modern, sleek and clean station is expected to save Long Island Rail Road passengers 40 minutes on their trips, according to the MTA website.

The terminal runs along Madison Avenue between 43rd and 48th streets and accommodates all 11 LIRR lines. The benefits include less crowding at Penn Station and the nearby subway stations, and easier access to the

East side of Manhattan.

East Meadow residents have mixed opinions on whether or not the new terminal will benefit their commute.

Limited shuttle service will be operating between Grand Central and Jamaica until midFebruary. Trains will run hourly during peak periods and every 30 minutes during middays and weekends. Riders looking to go to Grand Central Madison can use their Penn Station tickets, which are the same price.

“This is a trial period that’s why it’s only departing from Jamaica and taking longer,”

Roselle Koutsogiannis, a Westbury resident, wrote to the Her-

ald. “I took a look at the schedule. I think my commute from Westbury will be a few minutes quicker. The only good thing for me is it’s a much more doable walk from (Grand Central) and I can avoid the subway.”

The first ride from Jamaica to Grand Central Madison was a big event with. Gov. Kathy Hochul was joined by trainenthusiasts, railway commuters, and MTA representatives for the first ride to the new station.

With new terminals, comes plenty of trial and error. With limited train schedules, some East Meadow and Westbury riders had differing opinions about whether the new station will

have a positive impact on their ride to and from work.

Alexandra Munoz from East Meadow, who took a train out of Grand Central Madison back to the Bellmore station, wrote that she liked it because, “I don’t have to get in the subway. It works for me. It’s a big station, very nice. There were a lot of LIRR employees around assisting customers.”

Regina Isakova from East Meadow said that the commute in the mornings from Bellmore or Merrick makes the trip longer. “The wait between the trains to GCM can be up to 30 minutes. Who has that kind of time to waste?” Isakova wrote. “There are several express trains to Penn Station in the morning that Continued on page 2

Courtesy Ryan Monahan

ANDREW IgNAtIoU, lEFt, Benjamin Krieger and Ryan Monahan are the team leaders of the East Meadow High School ‘Funding the Cure’ team.

Beneft for local train riders yet to be seen

continued from front page

are more convenient to take.”

Some riders wrote about a lack of signage in the terminal guiding people where to go. Others commented about the length of the station’s escalators.

“The signs in GCM are very vague. My first time it took me a while to find the tracks.” Isakova wrote. “Yes, the folks were there to help, but when you walk, the signs were a bit confusing. Now the famous escalators are very steep. One can really get hurt there if in a rush. My advice is to just not run through them and just stand to take you all the way down.”

Wendy Chan from Westbury said more signs are needed because she was “totally lost.”

“Had to leave work earlier and added extra 20 minutes to my commute back home,” Chan wrote. “At the moment not beneficial. Will wait for direct trains and no transfer at Jamaica. And the escalator to the station was like terror especially if you are trying to catch the train at the last minute.”

Roselle Koutsogiannis

Tunneling began for this project in 2007. With a price tag of over $11 billion, the project features 13 miles of tunnels and 40 miles of new track.

“Big waste of billions,” East Meadow resident Jeffrey Rosen wrote. “It’s too close to Penn Station for it to make much of a difference. If they were going to add another line to Manhattan they should have went to lower Manhattan.”

Juan Lasso/Herald file

RideRs fRom east Meadow and Westbury are skeptical about whether their commute to Grand Central Madison is worth it. A downside of the terminal, they say, is the long escalator ride.

t he only good thing for me is it’s a much more doable walk from (Grand Central) and I can avoid the subway.

LIRR commuter

RHoAdS, top Row, second from right, has already made inroads in the state capitol, championing the ‘Rescue New York’ plan.

Rhoads says he’s ready to deliver in Albany

Newly drawn district encompassing East Meadow has a new state senator

By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

When he was a seventh-grade student from Wantagh, Steve Rhoads volunteered to work on Assemblyman Frederick Parola’s campaign to get extra credit in his social studies class. As a result, Rhoads fell in love with politics.

Years later, Rhoads, who now resides in Bellmore, is the new Republican state senator for the fifth district, representing East Meadow, Wantagh, Seaford, Bellmore, Merrick, as well as other surrounding neighborhoods.

Rhoads won the election in the newly drawn district in November, unseating incumbent Democrat Sen. John Brooks by winning 58 percent of the vote. Rhoads had previously served as a Nassau County legislator for the 19th district, and now represents many of those same constituents in Albany. A special election will be held to determine who will win Rhoads’ vacant seat in the legislature, but the candidates are not currently known.

“There is a tremendous amount of overlap,” Rhoads said. “Obviously, there are many new areas that we’re in now because the senate district is so much larger, but I’m very grateful that most parts of my legislative district are still with me. I am sorry to have lost a little bit of Freeport, though. Freeport is a great community.”

While the election was not particularly close, Rhoads is keenly aware that a chunk of his constituents voted for his opponent.

“I’m a state senator for Republicans, for independents, for Democrats,” Rhoads said. “My job is to represent the 325,000 people that are in my district regardless of what their political affiliation is. I hope that everyone would feel comfortable giving the office a call, and we’ll get to work on those issues. We may not agree on

everything, but we’ll find common ground and come up with solutions.”

Rhoads ran on a platform of lowering taxes and being tough on crime. Two key issues include bail reform and congestion pricing. Prior to the November election, Rhoads told the Herald that his platform would be easier to push through if Republican Lee Zeldin had won the gubernatorial election over Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“Coalition building now becomes much more important,” Rhoads said. “We now have to look at compromises. We’ll get a bail reform bill on the floor, but Democrats will likely not pass it. So we will have to look at the worst elements of bail reform, which is taking away judges’ discretion, and see if we can get enough Democrats to work with us on that.”

Working across the aisle appears to be one of Rhoads’ strengths as a politician.

The legislature is located in the county’s capitol building, with Republican offices on one side and the Democrat offices on the other. When Rhoads was elected to the legislature, there was no room on the Republican side, so he took an office on the other side. Rhoads told the Herald that this was a blessing because it allowed him to build relationships with politicians from the other party.

Rhoads said he has been making his rounds on the senate floor in Albany to get to know everybody.

Rhoads said he ran for office, in part, because of his love for Long Island, as a lifelong resident.

“Where else could you be half-an-hour away from what used to be one of the greatest cities and 10 minutes away from the beach?” Rhoads said. “But now a lot of young people can’t stay here, because of the lack of quality jobs and the high

taxes. What we’re going to have to do is find a way to control property taxes, and a good part of that is school taxes. And try and create opportunities for economic growth and business development that are going to produce the kind of jobs that will enable young people to stay.”

Despite his call to slash school taxes, Rhoads said he still wants to see public schools receive funding and simply believes it’s a matter of properly allocating the money.

As a volunteer on Parola’s campaign, Rhoads said he learned how to be a very active politician at the grassroots level.

“Fred used to walk his entire assembly district,” Rhoads said. “Whether or not he was running, he was always in contact with his residents.”

Rhoads’ constituents said they see that same thing in the newly minted state senator.

“Steve comes to all of our events,” Jeff Newman of the Jewish War Veterans said. “Everybody loves Steve.”

Rhoads also enjoys good relationships with Congressman Anthony D’Esposito and Councilman Christopher Carini, giving him the right resources to help his constituents at both the local and federal levels.

“Steve Rhoads has always been there for his constituents,” Carini said.

“Steve is always on top of every issue. As a volunteer firefighter, Steve has taken care of first responders every step of the way. Our local firefighters, EMTs and law enforcement could always count on Steve. We will champion Steve fighting for safe, affordable neighborhoods in our state’s capitol.”

Rhoads said he remains committed to delivering results in Albany.

“I know that it’s a tremendous amount of trust that the voters have placed in me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve,” Rhoads said.

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald

StEvE RHoAdS, tHE newly elected senator representing the fifth district, wasted no time getting to work in Albany.

Courtesy Christopher Dalton

with Michael and Suzanne Ettinger Attorneys-at-Law

Spousal Refusal - Just Say No

Spousal refusal is a legally valid Medicaid planning option in New York. By way of background, certain income and assets are exempt from Medicaid if there is a spouse. Generally, the spouse at home, known as the “community spouse” may keep about $3,700 per month of the couple’s combined income and up to about $150,000 of the assets or “resources”. Not included in those fgures are any other exempt assets, such as a home (up to about $1,000,000 of the equity only) and one automobile. The spouse who is being cared for in a facility is known as the “institutionalized spouse”.

Many a spouse has advised us that they simply cannot afford to live on the allowances that Medicaid provides. This is where spousal refusal comes in. We start by shifting excess assets into the name of the “community spouse”. He or she then signs a document which the elder law attorney prepares and fles with the county indicating that they refuse to contribute their income and assets to the care of the ill spouse since they need those income and assets for their own care and well-being. Note that you may not refuse your spouse’s own income over the $3,700 per month exemption as it is not coming to you.

Once the “community spouse” invokes their right to refuse, and all of the other myriad requirements of the Medicaid application are met, the state Medicaid program must pay for the care of the institutionalized spouse.

After Medicaid has been granted, the county may institute a lawsuit seeking to recover the cost of care from the refusing spouse. Nevertheless, there are a few reasons why spousal refusal makes sense, even in light of this risk. First, in many instances, the county never invokes this right. Secondly, these lawsuits are often settled for signifcantly less than the cost of care provided. Thirdly, the payment to the county can sometimes be deferred until the community spouse dies. As one county attorney told us when agreeing to such an arrangement, “the county is going to be around for a long time”. Finally, even though the county may seek recovery, it is only for the Medicaid reimbursement rate and not the private pay rate. For example, if the private pay rate is $18,000 per month, which is what you would have to pay, the amount Medicaid has to pay is generally a quarter to a third less. The county may only pursue you for the amount they actually paid.

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

Surge in catalytic converter thefts alarms offcials

A surge in the theft of catalytic converters on Long Island has officials worried organized crime might be targeting Long Island driveways.

Senator Chuck Schumer announced startling numbers at a Jan. 30 event in Mineola with local officials. Schumer said catalytic converter theft has risen 385.6 percent since 2021 in Nassau County.

“This is out of control,” Schumer said. “Dangerous at the worst and maddening at the least.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman joined with Schumer in calling for federal resources to help local law enforcement.

Schumer specifically called on the Department of Justice to create a specialized team to investigate ties to organized crime and the converter thefts.

A catalytic converter, part of a vehicle’s exhaust system, contains precious metals such as rhodium, palladium, and platinum. The value of these precious metals is extremely high—as of March 2022, rhodium is valued at $20,000 per

ounce; palladium at $2,938 per ounce; and platinum at $1,128 per ounce, as reported by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Theft of catalytic converters is costly to auto dealers, as well as the driving public. It can cost a dealer $2,000 to $3,000 to replace a stolen converter in order to fix damage to a vehicle’s undercarriage, fuel line, and electric lines in the process of a theft. In December, Blakeman announced the culmination of “Operation CatTrack”, a yearlong investigation with Nassau County police, U.S. Homeland Security, Nassau District Attorney, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. That investigation netted more than $4 million in cash, $3.2 million in bank accounts, and thousands of catalytic converters.

“It is becoming clear that the potential for organized crime or a theft ring is what is behind all of this,” Schumer said, “and we have to get to the bottom of who it is and where the converter cash is going.”

–Mark Nolan

Courtesy Senator Schumer

SENATOR CHUCk SCHUMER, joined with local officials, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, left, is seeking federal assistance.

Herald Sc H ool S

Eighth-grader wins big in the ‘stock market’

Woodland Middle School eighthgrader Alyssa DeCampi won first place in the Stock Market Game, according to the East Meadow School District.

The Stock Market Game is sponsored by Washington, D.C.-based Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, a trade group for broker-dealers, investment banks and asset managers. It introduces students to the benefits of the global marketplace and the relevance of investing. Alyssa invested in multiple companies as she placed first in the middle school division, which comprises 300 Long Island teams. She is also ranked 43 out of 4,222 teams statewide.

The district congratulates Alyssa on earning first place in the Stock Market Game.

The easT Meadow School District is proud to announce that Woodland Middle School eighth-grader Alyssa DeCampi won first place in the Stock Market Game.

Recognizing exceptional student-athletes

The East Meadow School District’s Board of Education recognized several student-athletes during their Jan. 11 meeting at the Leon J. Campo Salisbury Center.

Kristi Detor, the district’s director of physical education and medical services, presented citations to more than a

dozen student-athletes from both East Meadow High School and W.T. Clarke High School for earning accolades in their chosen sports. With honors ranging from All-County and All-State, to NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athletes, the district commends its student-athletes from the fall season.

With over 70 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs, we combine academic excellence and leadership with personal mentoring.

Here, you’ll think about your future in a whole new way.

Courtesy East Meadow School District

Courtesy East Meadow School District The easT Meadow School District’s Board of Education recognized several studentathletes during their Jan. 11 meeting at the Leon J. Campo Salisbury Center.

Molloy College is now Molloy University.

spotlight athlete

East Meadow strong in qualifer

By toNY BellissiMo tbellissimo@liherald.com

East Meadow will have at least a dozen representatives at the Nassau County Division 1 wrestling championships this weekend at Hofstra following a strong performance at last Saturday’s qualifier.

aMaNDa MoRRis

East Meadow Sophomore Bowling

a FoURth-YeaR vaRsitY bowler, Morris has earned a third All-County award and on Feb. 11 will try to repeat as Nassau’s individual champion. Last winter, she averaged 197 and earned AllState honors. So far this season, Morris has bowled 19 games over 200 and leads the county with a 210.4 average over 36 games. She rolled 18 consecutive strikes in a match Jan. 5, closing one game with 11 straight and starting the next with 7 in a row.

gaMes to WatCh

The Jets crowned three champs and had two other finalists at the qualifier hosted by Uniondale and finished second behind Wantagh in the eight-team event with 310.5 points.

“It was a pretty good showing and now we’ll look to get some guys on the podium [AllCounty] and into the state tournament,” East Meadow coach Vin Romanotto said.

Senior Matt Coffey (160 pounds) and juniors Matthew Rodriguez (152) and Joseph Arbitello (285) finished atop their respective weight classes in the qualifier to pace East Meadow, which enjoyed an 11-3 dual meet season highlighted by a victory over Kennedy in the second round of the playoffs.

Rodriguez and Arbitello pinned their way through the qualifier with four pins apiece, while Coffey earned a pair of pins and two convincing decisions.

Rodriguez, the team’s captain, is 36-0 this season and looking to make major noise on the county stage after falling one win shy of All-County (top six) last winter. He pinned Wantagh’s Brandon Rice in 4 minutes, 33 seconds in the qualifier final. “Matthew’s just a great kid who works hard in the room every day,” Romanotto said. “He spent more time wrestling this offseason than ever before and it helped him

reach another level.”

Coffey, who has won 32 of 34 matches, battled the flu bug last February and was nowhere near 100 percent for the county tournament, Romanotto explained. Coffey earned a 7-2 decision over Wantagh’s Michael D’Amico in the qualifier title bout. “It’s Matt’s fifth year in the program and he has just as much county tournament experience as anyone,” the coach said. “He’s definitely capable of going far and punch a ticket to the state tournament.”

Arbitello is 31-8 and has suffered some narrow defeats to county contenders along the

way. He took down Roosevelt’s Chris Robinson in the qualifier final in 5:24. “Joe has been right there with some really good opponents,” Romanotto said. “We’re looking for him to turn those close losses into wins and make an All-County run.”

Senior Brandon Kebreau (172) and eighth-grader Nico Rodriguez (110) were runnersup in the qualifier. Kebreau has posted 27 wins and was ranked in the top six during the regular season, and Romanotto believes he has AllCounty potential. Rodriguez is a scrappy 28-7. “Nico hates to lose and goes hard every sec-

ond of every match,” the coach noted.

Sophomore Matthew Montamedian (118) was instrumental in East Meadow’s dual meet success and took third in the qualifier, winning four of five matches. “He was probably in the toughest weight class,” Romanotto said.

Senior Liam Koudelka, considered by Romanotto to be the Jets’ most-improved wrestler, also took third. Freshman James Galiano (126) had two pins to attain his goal of reaching the county tournament, while junior Brady Hohlman (138) needs one more win to reach 30.

Paul Grassini/Herald JUNioR MattheW RoDRigUez was one of three qualifying tournament champions for the Jets, who went 11-3 in dual meets this winter.

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.

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Nassau rolls dice on Coliseum casino plans

Las Vegas developer with

By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com

It could be one of the largest private endeavors in Nassau County’s history — and already one of its most controversial.

The Las Vegas Sands resort company wants to develop the 80 acres of vacant land surrounding the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum — an investment that could well exceed $1 billion. While some have championed a new commercial center complete with a hotel, celebrity chef restaurants, a convention center and a live performance venue, it’s the casino element some aren’t sure is worth the gamble.

Like Hofstra University president Susan Poser.

“So many people in our community are expressing the idea that this is already a done deal, and therefore not understanding that we are at the beginning of a competitive and quite lengthy process,” Poser told the hundreds of people who packed her school’s Monroe Lecture Hall on Saturday.

Poser has made her opposition to the casino project no secret, writing in one published opinion piece that it was a “very bad idea.”

The New York Gaming Facility Location Board opened the window last month for the bidding of three downstate casino licenses. Four licenses are already available upstate. To be successful, a bidder must win approval from a local community advisory committee made up of appointees by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, state Sen. Kevin Thomas, Assemblyman Edward Ra and Hempstead town supervisor Don Clavin.

Joe Harrison, for one, hopes a casino project at the Hub moves forward.

“For economic growth, it’s going to be a great thing for the area,” said Harrison, vice president for Local One Elevator Constructors. “We’re looking for families to stay and earn living wages.”

The gaming location board explained to those attending the forum how the application process would work. Las Vegas Sands, for example, would have to demonstrate positives in several categories that include local impact, workforce enhancement, and how it will ensure diversity.

Most of the attention, however, will be on economic activity and development. Anyone developing through one of these licenses must work to provide as much tax revenue for state and local governments as possible, and must prove the benefits of the specific site they want to develop. They must also already have expertise in developing and operating a quality gaming facility, as well

international reach looks to beat odds

as be able to have the project come to fruition in years, not decades.

Founded by the late Sheldon Adelson in the late 1980s, Las Vegas Sands is considered one of the largest casino companies in the world, although much of its holdings are now in Asia rather than the United States. It reports assets of well over $20 billion.

Local impact examines how such a development will help — or hurt — businesses immediately surrounding the project, as well as those nearby. Workforce enhancement examines how a developer would utilize the existing labor force in Nassau County, providing an estimated number of construction jobs and developing training programs that serve the unemployed.

One of those training projects is expected to be based at Nassau Community College, with Las Vegas Sands providing, in turn, internships and potential jobs.

That, Sands officials have said, could also help develop its diversity framework, which requires the company in its application to examine workforce demographics of unemployed minorities, woman and service-disabled veterans.

But it’s not neighbors Las Vegas Sands would have to convince, but Nassau’s community advisory committee. Without a thumbs up from them, it will be a hard no from the gaming location board. Approval requires a two-thirds majority.

John Kaman, Suffolk County’s deputy executive, said residents and institutions within the town and surrounding areas should understand one another’s needs, and the impact they have on one another.

“We need to make sure that everybody’s listening, everybody’s participating,” Kaman said. “If something like this was going to go forward or not depends upon what the larger community wants to see in their county, in their town, and their neighborhood.”

Geraldine Hart, who leads public safety efforts at Hofstra, worried about the potential increase in crime.

“There’s a number of criminal activities that are associated with human trafficking,” she said. “They include illegal drug sales, kidnapping, extortion, money

GERALDINE HART, WHO leads public safety efforts at Hofstra University, shared with a community forum over the weekend what she says are risks communities face when casinos — like the one planned for the Nassau Hub — are built. Hart gave an overview of many instances of human trafficking and auto accidents — including some she personally witnessed — she says have direct ties with casinos.

laundering, prostitution, racketeering and gang related crime.”

Hart also cautioned that the Hempstead Turnpike — one of the most popular roadways traveled in Nassau — was also designated the fourth-most dangerous road in the state last year based on average number of fatalities. Hart cited a Journal of Health Economics study claiming a link between casino expansion and alcohol-related fatal traffic accidents.

Neyrely Munoz, a sophomore majoring in television and film at Hofstra, says she’s also concerned about safety, but much closer to home.

“Near a campus with college students, it doesn’t sound like the best idea,” she said. “I feel as though that the women on campus will feel a lot less safe.”

Tim Baker/Herald photos

HUNDREDS ATTENDED A community forum at Hofstra University to discuss the fate of the Nassau Hub, and the potential for a casino to become part of the community there. It’s a plan that has garnered mixed reactions from neighbors, including from Hofstra and nearby Nassau Community College.

W e need to make sure that everybody’s listening, everybody’s participating ... the larger community wants to see in their county, in their town, and their neighborhood.”

JOHN KAMAN Suffolk County deputy executive

Deciding among the options

Although we are still a while off from the warm weather, it’s never too early to being thinking about summer camp. Since the most popular camps typically fill their rosters long before the first signs of spring, the earlier you begin the process, the more options your family will have available.

When choosing a camp or summer program, reputation and word of mouth are meaningful resources; however, a terrific match for one child and family might not be the best match for your child or family. The best advice is to think about your child’s interests and temperament, and make a list of camp features that are most important to your family and child.

Staff: The staff will play a crucial role in how much your child enjoys himself over the summer. A qualified staff is adept at making all children feel welcome, and will be experienced in making everyone’s time at camp as enjoyable as possible.

When connecting with camps, ask about staff and how the staff is assembled. What education and training is required of the staff? Does the camp run criminal background checks on its staff? A good staff will be trained in first aid and have some type of background in child counseling or education. Camps that simply hire recommends that 80 percent of a camp’s

staff should be 18 or older.

Camp goals: Camps can differ greatly with what they hope to offer a child. Camps can focus on religion, sports, music, recreation, or a host of other interests. If you’re looking for a sports camp, ask about affiliations with any local colleges or professional teams. If it’s a musical camp, ask about what your child can expect to learn from staff.

It’s also important to determine the general temperament of a camp. Does the camp foster a laid back or more competitive environment? This can be a big help in choosing the right camp for your child. For example, a child who isn’t very competitive likely will not enjoy a camp where competition is heavily emphasized, whereas a child who is competitive might not get much out of a camp that is more recreational.

Daily schedule: While some camps might be specialized, most parents send their children to recreational camps that they hope offer their kids a well-rounded experience. Ask to see the schedule from a typical day, and ask about how flexible that schedule is. Will kids be able to choose from different activities each day, or is every day regimented? Remember, kids will be spending their summer vacations at camp, and for many kids camp is an opportunity to relax

and spend some time doing what they want. Camps that feature strict schedules might not be the best fit.

Referrals: Chances are some of your child’s classmates attend camp in the summer. Ask around and seek some advice on what are the top options. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to send your child to a summer camp that some of his classmates also attend, which should make it easier for your child to adapt to camp, especially if it’s a first summer away from home. If you can’t find any personal referrals, ask a

camp for a list of references. These references shouldn’t weight too heavily in your decision, as a camp director is obviously not going to give you names of parents whose children didn’t have a good time. But the parents should be able to provide an accurate portrayal of how the camp conducts itself and how your child might fare should he attend that camp.

Photo: It’s much more than s’mores and sing-alongs: Camps can provide lifelong memories and skills.

For many families, the morning rush isn’t the most chaotic time of the day. Instead, the sanity-buster is that long stretch from the time school lets out until the final activity ends and everyone is home.

Surviving the afternoon activities juggle is all about planning and time management and it’s also an opportune time to teach kids some valuable skills.

“The opportunity with activities is it’s a great time for kids to learn time management,” says Carolyn Dalgliesh, a professional organizer who specializes in helping kids who are anxious or distracted. “It’s a skill that will help them throughout their lives.”

Without preparation, the activities crunch can get kids and parents on a quick path to burnout and exhaustion.

Consider these tips from the experts for making your child’s after-school activities a fun and rewarding part of childhood and for teaching your child the skill of time management.

Choose the right activities. There is no need for everyone to run ragged getting to volleyball practice if your child no longer enjoys it. “We talk about mindful choices,” Dalgliesh says. “You want your child to get value out of any activity, whether it’s a great social outlet or a chance to run off a lot of energy.”

Consider timing. If you’re lucky enough to have choices in times, choose wisely. “Think about how well your child does with transi-

tions,” Dalgliesh says. “For some kids, coming home triggers wind-down time, [so] parents may want to go to the library after school to do homework instead of stopping by the house.”

CAMP & SCHOOL – A guide to programs and activities Johny tutor 3pm Johny tutor 3pm Johny tutor 3pm February 9, 2023 — EAST MEADOW HERALD

Honor the family meeting. There is a central principle when it comes to family time management: Everyone must get together once a week, with calendars in hand, to plan out the next week. Figure out how each kid will get to and from each activity, and make plans for meals and snacks. When doing the planning, try to carve out at least one night when the family can have dinner together. Make your weekly meeting fun by following it with a family movie or game night. Or, suggests Grey, dole out allowance and lunch money at the end of the meeting.

Maintain a family calendar. Each family member needs his or her own week-at-a-glance calendar, and you also need a family calendar. Yes, that’s a lot of calendars, but it will help ensure all activities are well-planned.

Get the activity bags ready. Get your kids in the habit of packing their activity bags on Sunday night. Designate a place for them to hang or store their bags. For activities requiring a lot of gear, use a checklist to make sure nothing gets left behind.

Embrace meal planning. It’s important to plan simple, consistent meals, especially if you’re a busy family with a lot of activities. For example, kids love theme dinners such as “Taco Tuesday,” and can help with preparation and

5

your son’s evening hockey game, pack a cooler and enjoy a picnic supper in the bleachers, at a park, or anywhere else you can find.

Be flexible. Even the most carefully made plans can be rendered useless by a thunderstorm that cancels soccer practice, a sick child, or an unexpected work disaster.

For 2023

assembly. Also plan snacks, making sure to have high-protein nibbles available for kids before they embark on a strenuous activity.

Make it portable. Keep healthy drinks and snacks in a car cooler. After all, “we’re a portable society,” Dalgliesh says. In addition to food, keep an “activities bin” for kids to rummage through while hanging out at big brother’s karate practice but only then. “Those activities are special, and they only get pulled out when kids are waiting,” Dalgliesh explains.

Make car time special. If you spend a lot of time driving to and from activities, make that time count. Try an audiobook, choosing a story everyone in the family can enjoy. Dalgliesh plays a conversation game with her children. She has a set of cards with prompts such as, “What is the worst meal you ever had in a restaurant?” or “What is your favorite vacation memory?” She passes the deck to her kids has them pick one. “It’s about finding those moments to connect,” she says.

Have a picnic. If you have to race from your daughter’s after-school soccer practice to

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Empower your kids. Give your kids as much control over their own planning and scheduling as they can handle. Different kids need different tools. Especially as kids get older, they need to own their organization system. Some kids like to do everything electronically, others like pretty paper notebooks and calendars. Some kids like to use the latest apps and color-coded pens to stay organized, and others take a minimalist approach, scribbling basic information only.

Electronics and computers. Our devices became our lifelines during the pandemic , and for many it’s a hard habit to break. It’s easy to rely on electronic games and social media during the activities crunch, especially for siblings who are waiting or when you arrive at an activity early. But set limits and use electronic toys as a reward for good behavior, with exceptions to those limits when the tech tool is needed for a school project.

By teaching your kids the skills they need to manage their life inside and outside of school, you’ll equip them for grade school, college, and beyond. You’ll also create a family life that allows all members the opportunity to reach their potential.

Photo: Keeping kids busy after school is a good thing, but participating in many activities without advance planning is inviting miscommunication, forgotten homework, and cranky families. Instead, enlist your kids’ efforts each week in planning their time.

STEPPING OUT

Creative advocacy

By Karen Bloom

WHERE WHEN

• Saturday and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Emily Lowe Hall Gallery, South Campus, Hempstead. For information and to RSVP, call (516) 463-5672, or visit Hofstra.edu/museum

“When We All Stand,” Hofstra University Museum of Art’s new exhibition, examines the collective power of the arts in society.

Curated by Alexandra Giordano — the museum’s assistant director of exhibition and collection — the exhibit underscores artists’ civic responsibility and influence.

“It highlights the vital role that artists have in activating democratic values that promise equality and freedom, encouraging civic engagement, and cultivating unity,” Giordano says. “Artists often lead the charge and expose truths that may otherwise be ignored. The artists in this exhibition take a stand and call out injustices through their art and activism on issues such as immigration, gender, reproductive rights, mass incarceration, voting rights, racial bias, gun violence, and promises unfulfilled. They all combine the making of art with public service that has a grassroots approach in the hope of mobilizing their communities and the nation to ignite movement, create awareness, and inspire others to stand with them.”

This exhibit, which runs through July 28, is in conjunction with Hofstra’s 13th presidential conference on the Barack Obama presidency coming up in April.

“We were interested in the idea that the artist has a civic responsibility,” says museum director Karen Albert. “The initial idea for this exhibition was inspired by an Obama Administration White House briefing that took place on May 12, 2009, where more than 60 artists and creative organizers met with administration officials to discuss the collective power of the arts to build community, create change, and chart a pathway for national recovery in the areas of social justice, civic participation and activism.”

To that end, unlike other recent exhibits that showcased the museum’s permanent collection, Giordano reached out to contemporary artists who loaned the museum their selected works. Some 36 pieces are on view — representing all media — from Emma Amos, Molly Crabapple and the Equal Justice Initiative, For Freedoms, Miguel Luciano, Michele Pred, Hank Willis Thomas, and Sophia Victor.

“The way our climate is now, this exhibit could not be more timely than at this moment,” Albert adds.

Among the highlights, she points to the series of prints from the collective For Freedoms. Their four large scale photos are based on Norman Rockwell’s 1943 oil paintings inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 State of the Union address that outlined what he considered the essential four democratic values freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. For Freedoms has interpreted these iconic works for our era.

“It’s the same composition,” Albert says. “From 1940s America, these (works) show what America is today, our diversity and what we look like now.”

As always the museum offers additional programming to enhance the exhibit experience. Upcoming events include an artist panel on Feb. 23, which examines the role of the artist as activist, and a gallery tour with Alexandra Giordano, March 16.

Pat McGann

Pat McGann is quickly rising as one of the sharpest stand-ups on the comedy scene. A relative latecomer to comedy, he began doing standup at 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, McGann’s 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 soldout shows at Madison Square Garden. McGann’s relatively short, but impressive resume, includes Montreal’s famed Just For Laughs Festival, Gilda’s LaughFest, The Great American Comedy Festival, and more. McGann still calls Chicago home.

Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. $40, $35, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Yarn/Wire

Now in its 18th year, Adelphi University’s ‘new music’ series welcomes Yarn/Wire. The intrepid New York-based piano-percussion quartet has forged a singular path with endlessly inventive collaborations, commissions and performances that have made a significant contribution to the canon of experimental works. The quartet features founding member Laura Barger and Julia Den Boer on piano and Russell Greenberg, also a founding member, and Sae Hashimoto playing percussion. Barger is a frequent guest with many top American contemporary ensembles. French-American Den Boer performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. Greenberg is in demand with varied ensembles. Hashimoto, the newest member, contributes a unique approach to performance cultivated by her intensive classical training .

Friday, Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m. $30 with discounts available to seniors, students, alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

Can art change the world? It’s a question that’s been at the focus of our collective culture for centuries. Now as society navigates the complexities of modern life, art as a path for social change is at the forefront of artistic expression.

Courtesy Hofstra Universally Museum of Art

Photos: Norman Rockwell’s celebrated ‘Four Freedoms’ are reinterpreted as photos by Hank Willis Thomas and Emily Shur in collaboration with Eric Gottesman and the Wyatt Gallery.

Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.

Sculpture: Hank Willis Thomas, ‘Lives of Others,’ 2014, made from black urethane resin and standing 57 inches tall

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

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

Alan Doyle

The prolific Canadian singer-songwriter visits the Landmark stage, Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m. From the moment he burst onto the scene in the early 1990s with his band Great Big Sea, Canadians fell in love with the pride of Petty Harbour, Newfoundland, whose boundless charisma and sense of humor was eclipsed only by his magnetic stage presence. His influence is now being heard in a new generation of artists as his solo work continues to endear him to roots music fans everywhere. That’s clearly evident on Alan’s latest EP “Rough Side Out, “which finds him collaborating with Canadian country music superstars Dean Brody and Jess Moskaluke, while at the same time offering his own distinctive interpretation of contemporary country. $41, $37, $29. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

MEET THE 2023 HONOREES*

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.

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

Family theater

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.

4H School Break Program

Taco Tuesday

Head down to Chipotle, at 2312 Hempstead Turnpike, in East Meadow, Tuesday, March 7, to benefit East Meadow High School’s “Funding the Cure” Leukemia and Lymphoma Society team. The students are raising money to help those who are battling blood cancer. Grab a meal between 4 and 8 p.m. to help them reach their goal.

Having an event?

The beloved fairy tale springs to life in a delightful musical romp, presented Plaza Theatrical Productions, Monday, Feb. 20, 11 a.m.; Friday, Feb. 24, 11 a.m.; Sunday, Feb. 26, noon. All the ingredients that have made this story a perennial favorite are here, including Cinderella, a zany Godmother, a trip to the royal ball, and a glass slipper. Tickets are $16. Visit the Plaza stage at The Showplace at Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore. For information/ tickets, go to PlazaTheatrical. com or call (516) 599-6870.

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.

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.

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.

Author talk

Mary Calvi, an Emmy awardwinning journalist and national anchor for WCBS-TV and weekend anchor of Inside Edition, visits Molloy University to discuss her book, “If a Poem Could Live and Breathe: A Novel of Teddy Roosevelt’s First Love,” Wednesday, Feb. 15, 7-8:30 p.m. Her novel is an indelible portrait of the authenticity of first love, the heartache of loss, and how overcoming the worst of life’s obstacles can push one to greatness never imagined. $35, includes signed copy of the book. 1000 Hempstead Ave., Larini Room, 2nd Floor of Public Square Building, Rockville Centre. For tickets and information visit MadisonTheatreny. org or call (516) 323-4444.

Long Island Nets Basketball Clinic

The Long Island Nets invites kids to a full day of basketball fun, hosted by the Town of Hempstead, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 1-2:30 p.m. The team will be leading a free clinic for ages 8-14, offering tips and tricks to help the young athletes improve their skills, at Nassau Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike. Each clinic participant will receive a voucher for 4 free tickets to the Long Island Nets vs. Fort Wayne Mad Ants game. To register, visit TinyURL.com/TOHLINBA

EMFD commissioners offer winter safety tips

With winter upon us, extreme cold weather is almost certain to occur. Staying warm and dry is essential when temperatures drop below freezing at 32 degrees, and wind chills make it feel even colder.

There are several things that you can do to help yourself and others stay safe when the temperatures fall.

■ Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. CO is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause severe injury and even death. All homes are required by law to have CO alarms on every level in the house.

■ Never use a gasoline or propane-fueled generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage — even if doors and windows are open. Instead, keep generators outside and far away from windows, doors, and vents. When using a generator, read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

■ Never use charcoal grills or camp stoves indoors. Deaths and serious injuries may occur by burning charcoal or using camp stoves in enclosed spaces, producing dangerous, lethal CO levels.

■ Do not heat your home with a gas or electric stovetop or oven.

■ Exercise caution when using candles. If possible, use flashlights instead, or con-

sider using LED candles. If you must use candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire. Never leave burning candles unattended. Extinguish candles when you leave the room or go to bed.

■ Keep emergency supplies in your car, including jumper cables, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, gloves, hats, bottled water, and nonperishable snacks. In addition, a snow shovel and bag of sand can come in handy.

■ Don’t venture out if weather-related advisories are issued to stay off the roads — shelter in place at your home or business.

■ Stay indoors and limit your time outside as much as possible. If you must go out, wear layers of clothing and restrict physical activities. Also, use snow and ice melting products or sand to provide traction on slick steps, walkways and ramps.

■ If it is safe, check on your neighbors who may need assistance — older adults and people with disabilities are more at risk in extreme cold.

■ Keep pets indoors as much as possible.

■ Monitor the media for updated information on the storm and actions to take. Then, follow the directions provided by

local or state officials regarding emergency actions.

■ When clearing snow from your driveway and sidewalk, please remember to do your part by clearing a path around a fire hydrant that may be on or near your property. By doing so, you can help the East Meadow Fire Department locate and utilize the nearest hydrant in the event of a fire.

For more safety tips and other important information, visit.eastmeadowfd.com.

The East Meadow Fire Department, which covers East Meadow and parts of Levittown and Westbury (Salisbury), is always looking for new members to join their ranks as firefighters or emergency medical personnel, no experience is necessary. The fire department provides the training required. There are numerous benefits associated with volunteering, including

The eMFd says to never use charcoal grills or camp stoves in the home.

tax breaks, college scholarships, annual health checkups, life insurance, and a service award pension program, all at no cost. For more information on volunteering with the East Meadow Fire Department, visit eastmeadowfd.com, or call (516) 542-4565.

Photos courtesy Metro Commons

The easT Meadow Fire Department wants residents to stay safe this winter by always checking their carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.

Public Notices

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

Notice is hereby given that I shall, commencing on February 21, 2023, sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on real estate herein-after described, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party-ininterest in such real estate shall pay to the County Treasurer by February 16, 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 per cent per six month’s 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 21, 2023 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.nassaucountyny.gov/526/County-Treasurer

Should the Treasurer determine that an in-person 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.

The liens are for arrears of School District taxes for the year 2021 - 2022 and/or County, Town, and Special District taxes for the year 2022. The following is a partial listing of the real estate located in school district number(s) 8, 10 in the Town of Hempstead only, upon which tax liens are to be sold, with a brief description of the same by reference to the County Land and Tax Map, the name of the owner or occupant as the same appears on the 2022/2023 tentative assessment roll, and the total amount of such unpaid taxes.

IMPORTANT

THE NAMES OF OWNERS SHOWN ON THIS LIST MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS OWNING THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT. SUCH NAMES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE 2022/2023 TENTATIVE ASSESSMENT ROLLS AND MAY DIFFER FROM THE NAMES OF THE OWNERS AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. IT MAY ALSO BE THAT SUCH OWNERS ARE NOMINAL ONLY AND ANOTHER PERSON IS ACTUALLY THE BENEFICIAL OWNER.

TOwN OF HEMPSTEAd SCHOOL:3 EAST MEAdOw UFSd

These students are trying to ‘Fund the Cure’

continued from front page

funds raised will benefit the LLS mission, — to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

The team specifically chose to donate their money to the patient support sector of the mission.

The three students have their reasons as to why they joined the effort and decided to lead their team. Ignatiou, for example, joined to honor his uncle.

“I joined this year’s campaign in memory of my uncle George Ignatiou,” Ignatiou said. “In 1990, he passed away after a battle with nonHodgkins lymphoma. While I didn’t get the chance to meet him, I saw what his loss did to my family, and I don’t want any other family to lose someone to cancer.”

To get the ball rolling, the team organized fundraisers selling squares for the Super Bowl, selling candy bars, and collecting change.

“There’s not a certain amount of fundraisers we need to do, but it’s about getting involved,” Monahan said. “How much you do, how much you put in, is what you get out of it.”

The team has already raised over $2,000.

They will host a “Taco Tuesday” night fundraiser at the East Meadow Chipotle at 2312 Hempstead Turnpike on March 7 from 4 to 8 p.m. They will also collaborate

with John F. Kennedy High School seniors from Bellmore, Beverly Kleinman and Alison Wohlstetter. There will be a bingo fundraiser at the North Merrick firehouse at 2095 Camp Ave., in Merrick on March 4 at 7 p.m.

The East Meadow students were first introduced to Kleinman and Wohlstetter at an LLS event for all of the teams in November. They decided to collaborate because the girls’ team — “Good Vibes Save Lives” — is only composed of a few members. Kleinman has been a candidate for the student visionary campaign for the past three years.

“It’s about helping each other and our towns are so close,” Monahan said. “It allows us to kind of cooperate there and it’s about raising as much money as you can, so the more people, the better.”

Ignatiou said that the tips that the girls have given them have helped them to reach out to businesses to secure sponsors, manage their social media presence, and stay organized.

“Even in our biggest year we had maybe 17 members,” Wohlstetter said. “It’s really exciting to see how many people really want to contribute to this type of fundraising, and I’m really excited to work with them to figure it out.”

For Wohlstetter and Kleinman, it’s all about community activities. They’ve done bake sales, Zumba classes, art classes and other fundraisers. So far they’ve raised

Public Notices

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 fled Judgment. Index #0003161/2013.

Lisa Singer, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747

136722

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 Offce 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:

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 fled 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 NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR AMERIQUEST MORTGAGE SECURITIES INC., ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-R2, Plaintiff, vs. AURELIA F. VILLEGAS, ET AL., Defendant(s).

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 fled 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

over $800. Over the years their efforts have generated over $20,000.

“Beverly’s been involved with the campaign way longer than us so it’s all about helping each other and giving ideas,” Monahan said. “It’s a like a mentorship.”

Although the campaign journey has just started, the teams have definitely learned valuable skills.

“Public speaking is a very important trait,” Krieger said. “We went to a carnival at Eisenhower Park and there was businesses there and I would get really nervous to speak to people because it’s tough, but Beverly taught us that we just have to accept the “no.” You should always ask, because if you don’t, you won’t know what they would’ve said.”

Leadership, organizational skills, and confidence are what the students needed

Want to support the east Meadow team?

Help Ryan Monahan, Andrew Ignatiou, and Benjamin Krieger meet their goal by scanning the QR code or by visiting TinyUrl.com/ fundingthecure to purchase shirts and hoodies to benefit the cause.

most in order to run a successful campaign.

“The best part about it,” Ignatiou said, “is that we have the opportunity to make an impact on a patient’s life and be one step closer to a cancer-free world.”

News brief

CEMCO to host special TOH water meeting

The Council of East Meadow Community Organizations will be hosting a special meeting on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. The topic of discussion will be the quality of East Meadow’s water. Representatives of the Town of Hempstead Water Department will be there to give a presentation and answer any questions.

The meeting will take place at the East Meadow Library located at 1886 Front St., in East Meadow. Head down to be in the know about East Meadow’s water. Any questions contact President Joe Parisi at (516) 542- 7609.

Courtesy Beverly Kleinman

John F. Kennedy High School seniors Alison Wohlstetter, left, and Beverly Kleinman have joined forces with the team from East Meadow High to raise money for the LLS.

CeMCo is hosting a special meeting with representatives from the Town of Hempstead Water Department to discuss the status of East Meadow’s water.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE

Real estate IN BRIEF

V.I.Properties Welcomes Corrine Hachmon!

We are happy to welcome Corrine Hachmon to team Rozana and Sara at V.I.Properties.

FULL TIME LIBRARY AIDE Are you customer-service focused? Do you love libraries? Apply for a FT Library Aide position at the Baldwin Public Library. This is a rare opportunity that does not require a Civil Service exam. Job is 35 hours per week with at least one night per week and rotating on Saturdays. $30,000-40,000 depending on qualifications and experience. Possibility of Sunday hrs. Send resume and cover letter to dkelly@baldwinpl.org.

MEDICAL SECRETARY/ ASSISTANT PT/ FT: Garden City. Responsible, Reliable. Good Salary. Computer Experience Helpful, Will Train. Call 516-739-0333: Fax 516-739-0344

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FT: RVC. Administrative Work, Answering Phones, Computer Skills – Microsoft, Excel, Outlook, Financial background helpful. Ask For Fran 516-763-9700 frances.difede@lpl.com

ASSISTANT BOOKKEEPER Valley Stream, NY

We are a small real estate management firm looking for support to our Accounting Department. Must have previous Accounts Payable and Receivable experience. This full-time position will require knowledge of Microsoft Excel. Will also include light clerical work.

To apply, please email Alyson at alyson@dewseven.com with a brief intro letter and resume

AUTO TECHNICIAN FT

Experienced And Reliable. NYSI A Plus. Busy Merrick Shop. Call 516-781-5641

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS Assist General Contractor Drivers License. Knowledge Of Construction. Call Mike. 516-887-8877.

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR Company Car, Bonuses For Good Work. Must Have Clean Driving Record, Will Train. Eastern Queens & Nassau County. Retirees Welcome! Please call Bell Auto School At 516-365-5778 10am- 6pm Or Email: info@bellautoschool.com

DRIVING INSTRUCTORS WANTED

Will Certify And Train HS Diploma NYS License Clean 3 Years Call 516-731-3000

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PART TIME ASSISTANTS Garden City Childcare Center Monday through Friday $15 per hour HS Diploma Required Call 516-572-7614

RECEPTIONIST & CLERICAL Positions P/T. Seasonal. Franklin Square. Call: 516-358-9455. Fax Resume 516-358-9483 E Mail: ed@loturco.com.

RECEPTIONIST/ P/T: SEASONAL, Warm, Friendly, Excellent People Skills, Office Work/ Customer Service, Beach Club. 516-239-2150

SECRETARY CHURCH OFFICE P/T $17/p.h. Tues, Weds, Thurs 9am-12pm. Clerical & Computer Skillls Required. Immed.. 516-547-7828. Email Resume vjl1030@yahoo.com UP TO $20.70 NYC, $20.00 L.I., $16.20 Upstate NY! If you need care from your relative, friend/ neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No Certificates needed. 347-713-3553 wait staff THE CHEF'S TABLE LYNBROOK

Corinne has always had a passion for sales and fashion. She was born and raised in Israel, and has been living in the Five Towns for the last 7 years. For the last 5 years she's been working as a real estate agent. Corinne is devoted to her family. She's a wife and mother of 3 beautiful children. She also enjoys giving back to her community, and is involved with local Chabad organizations. When it comes to real estate, Corinne is an expert listing agent and a strong buyers agent. She loves helping people relocate to the area, buy their first house, upsize or downsize. She prides herself on being able to provide top-notch customer service that exceeds her clients' expectations. Contact Corrine at 857.800.1533 or by email ch@rozana-sara.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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Open Houses

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Rockville Centre

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Nailing down the permits

Q. We completely rebuilt in 1996, and are ready to retire and sell. Our real estate agent told us they checked our permit records and it was never signed off. Although it’s a long story, our first contractor went to jail and destroyed our original permit papers. The second contractor never got a plumbing permit or electrical sign-offs, even though they had people do the work. Is this going to be a big problem to get everything signed off, because we want to sell within the year to take advantage of the market right now? What can you advise?

A. Sounds like you went through a lot. Most people tell me they could write a book about their experience. You need to see your building department records and get copies of the signed and sealed plans. Many municipalities keep records either in paper form, which you may have to pay for copies of, or microfilm or computer files.

Nanci-sue Rosenthal CBR C: 516.316.1030 Nrosenthal@bhhslaffey.com

Stacey Simens CBR C: 516.455.8152 Ssimens@bhhslaffey.com

Then speak with your inspector to find out what they think needs to be done. Most will be very helpful, and allow for the process to continue, asking you to hire a plumber to get a permit, which involves your notarized signature so you know it’s being done. In way too many cases, the plumber or contractor says it was done when it really wasn’t, so most municipalities require the owner’s signature on permit applications so the building department and owner are aware that the process is being done and is not false.

The plumber needs to see your bathrooms, kitchen, heating equipment and any other plumbing to be sure it meets the plumbing code (and building code). The same process must be done with an electrician, but most building departments ask for a certification from a private agency, not your electrician, since most building departments don’t have an electrical inspector. The reason for this is that one of the two leading causes of fire is electrical (the other being use of the kitchen) so your local government wants nothing to do with the liability for fire safety.

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You’ll find that almost everyone in this process wants to avoid responsibility as much as possible. You may have to either call for an inspection agency yourself or, if you suspect that there could be questionable electrical work, hire a licensed electrician to inspect and correct before hiring an agency to detect, if you elect. The private agency charges a few hundred dollars, usually, depending on the number of rooms and outdoor items, like air conditioning condensers, pool equipment and landscape lights, which must also be inspected. After all this is done, you may be able to get a final inspection and a sign-off and certificate from your building department, unless … your building department makes you get plans and a new survey redrawn and updated to the most recent code, which is complicated, time-consuming and expensive — in the thousands of dollars — before you can get a final inspection. Allow plenty of time.

© 2022 Monte Leeper Readers

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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MERCHANDISE MART

Antiques/Collectibles

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Electricians

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WHEELS

Those horrifc videos, and what they show

“Icouldn’t bear the thought of people being horrified by the sight of my son,” Mamie Bradley, the mother of 14-year-old Emmett Till, a Black kid from Chicago who was tortured and murdered by white racists in Mississippi in 1955, told the press at the time.

“But on the other hand, I felt the alternative was even worse,” Bradley continued. “After all, we had averted our eyes for far too long, running away from the ugly reality facing us as a nation. Let the world see what I’ve seen.” Bradley had refused to close the lid of her son’s coffin.

What Bradley had to say then has echoed through the decades, and helped inspire America’s civil rights movement.

Her words are still relevant today.

I’ve heard many people say they “can’t look” at the televised footage of the Memphis police beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old who died a few

days after he was brutally assaulted by five police officers, who have been charged in his death. The footage has been shown and re-shown. And you could say that seeing it once is enough.

And I agree. But I know of others who refuse to look at all.

Many are the same people who refused to look at the images of the police as they suffocated George Floyd in 2020. They also didn’t want to look at the flag-draped coffins of American service members who had been killed in Afghanistan or Iraq.

The first Bush administration banned photos or video of the caskets of dead returning veterans. That decree wasn’t overturned until the Obama administration.

Some ask why we should look at any of it. What good does it do? To some, it’s similar to the almost unavoidable glances at an auto accident that attracts rubberneckers. Common decency should overcome the morbid desire to slow down to a crawl.

But it’s unacceptable to refuse to look at the images of Floyd as he lay gasping for breath, or of Eric Garner, who died in a prohibited police choke-

hold in 2014, or of Nichols as he was beaten.

In 1955, what Bradley saw was the horribly battered body and the crushed face of her son, who had traveled to the small town of Money, Mississippi, to spend a summer with his sharecropper great-uncle Moses Wright.

WAfter work one night, young Emmett and some friends stopped at a grocery store. Accounts vary, but some say that Till whistled at the store’s white cashier, Carolyn Bryant. In the early-morning hours of Aug. 28, Roy Bryant, Carolyn’s husband, and J.W. Milam, Bryant’s half-brother, broke into Wright’s home and dragged Till out.

He was severely beaten. One of his eyes was gouged out. His nose was so bent out of shape, his mother said, that it resembled an S. Then he was taken to the Tallahatchie River, where he was shot in the head. His body was dumped into the river.

Wright reported the kidnapping to the police the following day, and Bryant and Milam were arrested. The only way police were able to identify Till was by

a monogrammed ring he wore that had belonged to his father.

At the funeral, relatives asked Bradley to close the casket, but she refused. Photos of her son’s body appeared in Jet magazine and the Chicago Defender, two of the most important Black publications in the United States.

Bryant and Milam were acquitted by an all-white jury that deliberated for only four hours. Years later, the FBI extracted a deathbed confession from Milam’s brother, Leslie, who admitted his own involvement. By that time, however, Bryant and J.W. Milam were long dead.

Till’s mother’s decision to let the public see what had been done to her son still resonates today.

Those who ask why we should look at any of these disturbing images say, what good does it do? The footage of Floyd, Garner and, now, Nichols, is more than painful to watch, I agree. But the cameras don’t lie. They force us to see things we don’t want to see, but must see. When we turn away, we are lying to ourselves about the reality of what happens so often to members of minorities in this, our America.

James Bernstein is editor of the Long Beach Herald. Comments? jbernstein@ liherald.com.

Hot love, cold love, new love, old love

These days, when my husband and I share affairs of the heart, there is usually anesthesia and a sameday procedure involved. For us, Valentine’s Day, the fire sale of romantic love, doesn’t speak to a 55-year relationship. Heart-shaped cakes, red roses, pink balloons and chocolates have become cheap (although not inexpensive) symbols of love. We subscribe to a more expansive view of love that includes authentic moments, nourishing memories and new experiences in the world. We learned during the pandemic that a brilliant TV movie or a sighting of a comet in a dark sky can trigger the same endorphins as “love.” It all counts. One of the unintended consequences of living in the time of Covid-19 is an impatience with posturing and a desire for genuine emotion. Let’s sift through the dross of recent weeks for the gold nuggets. Think for a moment of the intense super-joys that give value to your days — the gifts that Hallmark and

Godiva cannot confer.

These past few weeks, I have been leading a book discussion group. I do this all the time, but suddenly this year the group is intensely wonderful. The people in our circle jelled. The talk is fast, funny and wicked smart. Maybe it seems odd to think of this meet-up in terms of love, but we need all the love we can gather, and we each get to define our own experiences.

Other random love bombs:

RANDI KREISS

Last week I caught a glimpse of the green-hued comet that last visited earth in prehistoric times. It was a momentary sighting, but I thought to myself, “Be still my heart” when I spotted the ball of dust and ice that won’t swing by this way again for 55,000 years. What a show.

Two weeks ago, I saw “Shades of Spring,” a new ballet choreographed by Jessica Lang. During a fairly dull week of subpar weather, a week I would give a C+, the evening of dance was a breakout moment. The performance captivated every sense and held our attention until the last bow. It was love.

Then there is Rachel Maddow. She

makes my Mondays, which are the only days she’s on the air at MSNBC with commentary about the dreaded news. An investigative pit bull with a smile on her face and a crisp sense of humor, Maddow helps mitigate the despair I feel after an intemperate eruption from Marjorie Taylor Greene. Maddow’s wit is dead on, and she is rigorous in her craft. I would not want to be in her sights, but I love being in her audience.

My life would be different, and less joyful, without Lillybee, our 5-year-old Coton. I don’t need to explain this to dog lovers. And I can’t explain it to non-dog-lovers. We celebrated her birthday Feb. 1 with a heavy spoonful of shredded pork in her kibble. I heard her whisper, “Be still my heart.”

I love our expanding daylight, which translates to elevated moods, for me and everyone else. There is just no boogying to the 4:30 p.m. Sunset Blues. The happy dance must wait for the sun to travel closer, and it is, by the minute, and I love it.

Another love bomb in my life is pasta al dente, still the most delicious, cheap-

est meal in America. When I’m ready to take on some carbs, a half-box of pasta with olive oil, parsley and garlic is sublime. Anytime we lust for linguine, we have this, right here in all our lives, and it is an affair of the heart as much as the belly.

Great books are the red roses that never fade. Consider the books I talked about this month: “The All of It,” by Jeannette Haien; “The Glass Hotel,” by Emily St. John Mandel; “Lila,” by Marilynne Robinson; and “Drag your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead,” by Olga Tokarczuk. The joy of disappearing into a book, giving up one’s grounding in time and space, is a gift. Then to talk about it with like-minded readers? Enchanting.

Wordle and Spelling Bee, my twin obsessions, have the best words. For the uninitiated, these are New York Times daily word games. And they’re like crack. You can’t stop. When you figure out the puzzle, the rush is unmistakable and familiar: love.

From the ridiculous to the sublime: I embrace my friends on Valentine’s Day and every day, don’t you? They can love anybody, and they choose you, and me. Hold them close, every precious one.

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

Even a comet in a dark sky can trigger the same magical endorphins.

e don’t want to see the images of Floyd, Garner and, now, Nichols. But we must.

JAMES BERNSTEIN

Established 2001

Incorporating:

Meadowbrook Times 1963-2001

Getting what you pay for in the classroom

When we think of the most influential people in our lives growing up, we’re likely to point out our parents, some members of our extended family, maybe even a religious leader or two.

HERALD

But no list is complete without teachers. It’s a role so important in our development that we spend nearly 13,000 hours of our childhood in front of teachers — whether we’re learning long division, the Civil War, natural selection, Newton’s laws of motion, or even where, exactly, New York is on the planet.

Education is vital, and we depend on teachers more than anyone else to deliver it. Yet when it comes time for us to show our gratitude for their extraordinary contribution to our lives, we instead focus on debates on whether teachers are overpaid, underworked and demanding just too much.

It’s not that exploring whether teachers are appropriately compensated isn’t important — in the public sphere, at least, it’s taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars that pay their salaries. However, such discussions must be done in a way that not only provides an accurate and complete look at educator salaries, but also still respects the essential role teachers fill.

A recent analysis conducted by Newsday found that more than half of all teachers on Long Island — 31,000 of them — are making at least $100,000 a year. A handful of them earned even more — upward of $300,000 and even $400,000. Numbers, we assume, we should be outraged about.

letters

Why ‘Santos, for better or worse’?

To the Editor:

Assemblyman Chuck LaVine’s letter, “It’s Santos, for better or worse,” which appeared in last week’s issue, has me perplexed. The black cloud that U.S. Rep. George Santos finds himself under is clearly his doing, and his alone. If I were a constituent of his, I would welcome a call or email from another representative who understands our Long island issues.

While Lavine said he appreciated Rep. Andrew Garbarino reaching out, the tone in his reply was less than respectful. It seems that Lavine is up to his old tricks by attempting to cast shade on an otherwise respected member of Long Island’s congressional delegation, as well as the Nassau Republican Party. Here’s a concept you might not be familiar with, Chuck: Instead of bickering, try working together, for the people MIKE SCHNEIDER

But those specific large amounts were anomalies, not the norm. Three teachers — two with more than four decades in the classroom — retired from the Central Islip school district with a mountain of sick days for which they were due compensation. These are teachers who were in the classroom nearly every day, providing consistency for their students and saving their district the need to hire substitutes.

Making this more atypical is that Central Islip has a rather unique — and far more generous — benefits package compared with other districts on Long Island.

On average, however, teachers on Long Island made a little more than $110,000 per year. That’s what the Empire Center for Public Policy told Newsweek, pointing out that that average is higher than any other region in the state, and higher than average salaries in other states. Three of the 11 school districts with the highest wage earners were in Nassau County — Jericho, Great Neck and Syosset.

Teachers have built-in holiday breaks —including the entire summer. They are done teaching by early afternoon. Their jobs aren’t physical. Who hasn’t heard these cries about teachers whenever discussions about compensation crop up?

But we also cannot forget that teachers take work home with them. They are there after school, many times giving an extra hand to our kids, helping them get the most out of their educational experience through sports or other extracurricular activities.

And while some might argue that

teachers make up for lower pay than their private-sector counterparts with better benefits, even that can be a tricky mound to stand on. A 2021 report from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College concluded that while teachers might earn the same as those with similar educational backgrounds in the private sector, ongoing across-the-board benefits cuts through pension reform means that new teachers have a far bleaker economic outlook than their more experienced colleagues.

That’s bad. “Uncompetitive compensation may make it harder to recruit highquality individuals into the teaching profession,” the report stated. Low-quality teachers — or worse, simply not enough teachers — means potentially low-quality education.

For a country struggling to keep up with many of our international competitors, an educational system in decline will only make the situation worse.

The United States already falls below the global average in math test scores, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. That put us well behind Singapore, Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. And while our children’s science scores are higher than the global average, the United States remains behind Singapore, Macao, Estonia, Japan and Finland.

We must keep our public schools costs under control — absolutely. But just like anything else, we get what we pay for. And if we pay for high-quality teachers here on Long Island, we’ll continue to get them.

A useful way to enshrine a name we’d sooner forget

“make lemonade out of lemons” is a saying ingrained from an early age in students across the country to teach perseverance in the face of adversity. In essence, when we’re faced with a bad situation, we navigate the circumstances to imagine a positive outcome.

When it comes to U.S. Rep. George Santos, it’s far easier to imagine a steady stream of lemon juice squirted directly into our eyes than successfully following this elementary maxim. Each new day seems to bring a new Santos lie with it, one more outrageous than the next. From a fake resume to a fake address to a fake religion and more, Santos remains as defiant as ever in the midst of his fictional masterpiece: the most sophisticated web of lies ever created in the history of American politics.

The good news is that people of good conscience all across New York state’s 3rd Congressional District, regardless of political affiliation, are exasperated by the Talented Mr. Santos, and have had enough. Calls for him to resign ring out from the headquarters of both the Nassau Republicans and county Democrats. But being outraged isn’t a solution to our Santos problem.

Santos is an issue for the nation, but let’s not forget that he is a problem of our local creation. Therefore, the burden lies with us here in the 3rd District not just to destroy Frankenstein’s monster, but also to ensure that the next George Santos is barred from ever getting his, or her, name on the ballot.

In the meantime, what Santos — the long-lost brother of fake German heiress Anna Delvey? — has shown us is that guardrails to prevent charlatans and liars from running for office simply don’t exist in the 21st century.

That’s why I’ve proposed the

Letters

My grandparents never talked about the Holocaust

To the Editor:

Great op-ed by Daniel Offner, “We must remember — and teach — the Holocaust (Jan. 26-Feb. 1), about his childhood memories of his grandmother, her history and what she went through.

I can really relate to it, but on my side, my grandparents would never, ever talk about what they lived through in Europe, while they raised their five children (my mom and her four siblings). The only piece of information I know is that all five of them were born in different countries while the family kept running from country to country to try and avoid Hitler. I know my grandparents were in camps, because they both had numbers on their arms, but they never, ever talked about it.

MICHAEL GILLER West Hempstead

Honor Damar Hamlin by learning CPR

To the Editor:

Last month on “Monday Night Football,” we all witnessed a horrific event when Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac

arrest on the field. Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the world. Each year, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States. Almost three out of four of them happen at home.

If you’re called on to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation, you will likely be saving the life of someone you love. The members of our community need us. Our children need us. Our neighbors need us. Our co-workers need us.

The American Heart Association recognizes this need, and has a plan to help. You can be the difference, by learning CPR to save a life. The American Heart Association is committed to being the leader in resuscitation science, education and training.

This month — American Heart Month — the American Heart Association is specifically focused on helping people learn the life-saving skill of CPR, and we want every family and home to have someone who knows it. With the help of local supporters, we can help more of our community be prepared when called on in an emergency.

I encourage you to Be the Beat by learning CPR to be the difference and save a life. To find a class near you, visit cpr.heart.org.

DR. LAWRENCE KANNER Chief of cardiology, and director of electrophysiology/arrhythmia Services Mount Sinai South Nassau

GEORGE Package here in Nassau County, a series of laws named for Mr. Santos: Get Egregious Officials Removed from Government Elections. It features several proposals to keep people like Santos from ever getting elected in the first place. They include:

■ Mandatory background checks for all candidates, just like any employee of any company is subjected to.

■ Barring anyone with an open foreign arrest warrant from holding office.

■ Making it a misdemeanor for a candidate to lie about his or her education, employment history, address or income sources.

The GEORGE Package would not be a guarantor against politicians lying to get elected. It would, however, offer voters more peace of mind that they have an honest choice between two candidates, and assurance for those voters that if candidates don’t play by the rules, they, like us, will be held

accountable.

When James Madison created the framework for the Constitution, never in the wildest dreams of our founders did they envision needing laws like the GEORGE Package on the books. But just as the Constitution is a living document, our governments also must continue to evolve with the times.

And in the age of George Santos, when many politicians take an ends-justify-the-means approach to elevate lies over the truth and perpetrate fraud against the voters in order to win elections, these safeguards are needed now more than ever to protect our democracy.

My hope is that versions of the GEORGE Package pass in Mineola, in Albany and in Washington. If they do, voters across the state will be able to breathe a collective sigh of relief that no matter which candidate wins, no one who is as morally reprehensible as George Santos will be representing them.

Santos may be the lemons, but the GEORGE Package would be our lemonade. Let’s drink up.

Framework by Tim Baker

Josh Lafazan is a Nassau County legislator representing the 18th District.

we must ensure that the next George Santos is barred from getting his, or her, name on the ballot.

JosH LaFaZan

Award-winning heart care, right here in Oceanside.

For care and treatment of the heart, including your valves and blood vessels, Mount Sinai Heart at Mount Sinai South Nassau offers leading-edge diagnostics and treatment close to home. Mount Sinai South Nassau is proud to be rated high performing by U.S. News & World Report for care in heart attack and heart failure.

We have also been recognized by Healthgrades with their Coronary Intervention Excellence Award and they have named Mount Sinai South Nassau among the Top 10% in the nation for Coronary Interventional Procedures in 2023.

Learn more at southnassau.org/cardiology

One Healthy Way Oceanside, NY 11572

516-632-3670