East Meadow Herald 02-29-2024

STEM learning in kindergarten

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Winter Classic a slam dunk for youth players

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

If you live in East Meadow and you love basketball, chances are you’re familiar with the annual Winter Classic basketball tournament in the gym at St. Raphael’s Roman Catholic Church.

The 10-day event features Catholic Youth Organization, or CYO basketball teams, between fourth- and eight-grade. This year’s tournament ran from Feb. 15 through Feb. 25, with 40 teams participating from throughout Long Island. It gives young athletes a chance to showcase their skills and sportsmanship.

The inaugural tournament tipped off in 2007 with a small number of teams, but has grown into a highly anticipated event that players and fans alike look forward to. Teams that reach the semifinals and finals are given NBAstyle player introductions before games, in which they walk onto the court to a show of strobe lights.

“The winter classic — it’s always just exciting to be

COnTinuEd On pagE 10

Maggie Li and Andrew Cheng are E.M.’s top achievers

By RACHElE TERRANoVA rterranova@liherald.com

The top two students in East Meadow High School’s Class of 2024 have succeeded in much more than academics. Valedictorian Maggie Li and Salutatorian Andrew Cheng have gone above and beyond classroom work, getting involved in a slew of extracurricular and athletic pursuits while collecting academic awards.

The pair never set out to become the top achievers, but thanks to a love of learning and a little competition, they now find themselves at the head of the senior class.

Li was named a National Merit Semifinalist, and earned an AP Capstone diploma. She is also the class vice presi-

dent, editor in chief of both the Jet Gazette and Perspective Literary Magazine, president of the English Honor Society and treasurer of the Math Honor Society. As well, she is a sprint captain of the girls’ track and field team, and was chosen to be a part of East Meadow’s Peer Leader program as she looks forward to majoring in computer science in college.

“I’m really interested in coding a lot — that’s another hobby of mine,” Li told the Herald. “When I found out that I could do it in school, I was like, yeah, that’s what I want to major in. What I like about computer science as a field is that it’s so broad, I can find my specialization.”

What’s most valuable to Li, she said, is the community of support she has

found in East Meadow. Not long after the coronavirus pandemic began, she decided to join the track team to make friends.

“After the pandemic I was like, OK, I need to start talking to more people,” Li said. “I joined a lot of clubs, saw what stuck and what didn’t. And track was a big thing. Over the years I worked hard, I put in the effort, and I saw the rewards of my effort.”

Cheng, the second-ranking senior, is committed to science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, classes. He earned an AP Scholar with Distinction Award, is a National Merit Semifinalist, and was captain of the Math Team and president of the Math Honor Society. He runs for the boys’ track and field team, works at Mathnasium, a tutoring busi-

ness, and directed East Meadow’s Multicultural Show, an annual event that showcases different cultures. Students can wear traditional clothing, or share a performance.

“That really opened up to me the whole community in East Meadow,” Cheng said. “Especially now, with a lot of new students coming in from in the city, Queens, and (other) countries.”

Cheng also wants to study computer science in college, and said he has always been drawn to the problem-solving aspect of the field, and finding ways to translate his love of math into realworld applications.

“I like looking at the intersection between computer science technology and its integration into education,”

Tim Baker/Herald

The St. Raphael’s CYO Winter Classic basketball tournament is one the East Meadow community looks forward annually. Brayden Schwarz, left, on the fifth-grade St. Raphael’s team, tries to manuever around two defenders, during a game on Feb. 24.

Li and Cheng detail their paths to success

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Cheng said, “(and) looking at ways we can ethically use artificial intelligence, or just other programs or works of engineering that can monitor students and give more feedback to teachers.”

Li and Cheng are friends, and relied on each other, as well as their community of friends, for motivation throughout the years.

Just try everything and see what sticks.

“If I hadn’t met our group of friends — if I hadn’t met (Cheng) in AP chemistry in 10th grade,” Li said, “I don’t think I would have been as motivated as I am now to work together with them and create new things, and work hard and see myself to the end of that path.”

Andrew Cheng Salutatorian, East Meadow High School

There is no shortage of friendly competition between the two, but their support system is what was most valuable to their high school experience.

“Especially at East Meadow, it’s really about the connection and collaboration with others when building something greater,” Cheng said. “Something that I’ve noticed with our year is that even though we’re competitive with each other, we try to do better than each other, we really work together to do better.”

Li added, “If there wasn’t that competition, it wouldn’t be as fun.”

Cheng said that devoting your efforts to finding your passion is, at the end of the day, what really mat-

east meadow High School Salutatorian

drew genoino and Christina egan, guidance

counselor michelle merolla, in back.

ters. “Just try everything and see what sticks,” he said. “That’s the real essence of what happens in high school, to build connections and find your passion.”

Li found herself doing just that by taking part in a variety of clubs at the high school in the hope of find-

ing what her true interests.

“I will say there were a lot of clubs I found were not for me,” she said. “I realized I could drop them and focus on the things I was passionate about, and I think that was really valuable.”

Courtesy East Meadow Union Free School District

andrew Cheng and Valedictorian maggie Li, front, with assistant principals

counselor tamara Healy, principal richard Howard, and guidance

What’s UP NEXt DOOR aND aROUND thE

Learning about equal forces at Parkway

Kindergartners in Gabriella Banker’s class at Parkway Elementary School in East Meadow learned about the basics of equal forces through a STEM activity on Feb. 2.

In this hands-on activity, students split up into groups of four and five as they each pulled on a string to put a rubber band around a cup to move and stack the cups. For the rubber band to open correctly, students had to work together as a team to equally pull the strings.

STEM activities — even in kindergarten — have become increasingly more important and popular, as they set a foundation for the future.

STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math, encourages students to approach problems and projects from a multidisciplinary perspective. By integrating concepts from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, students are better equipped to solve real-world problems that often require a combination of skills from these domains.

Kindergarten STEM activities often involve hands-on exploration and experimentation. Children engage in activities such as building with blocks, exploring sensory materials, conducting simple science experiments, and using age-appropriate technology tools like educational apps or interactive learning games.

Leaning often involves collaboration and communication among children. Children work together in small groups to solve problems, build structures, conduct experiments, and share their findings with others. This promotes social skills, teamwork, and effective communication, which are essential skills in STEM fields.

The cup-stacking challenge was a great activity for kindergartners to facilitate teamwork.

–Jordan Vallone

Photos courtesy East Meadow Union Free School District

In this hands-on activity, students split up into groups of four and five as they each pulled on a string to put a rubber band around a cup to move and stack the cups.

The cup-stacking challenge was a great activity for kindergartners to facilitate teamwork.

Activities, such as the cup and string activity at Parkway, promote social skills, teamwork, and effective communication, which are essential skills in STEM fields.

Kindergarten STEM activities often involve hands-on exploration and experimentation.

Kindergartners at Parkway Elementary School in East Meadow learned about the basics of equal forces through a STEM activity on Feb. 2.

What to know about canine respiratory disease

By EDEN GOLDBERG Student correspondent

Have you heard of dog Covid?

The Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center said the disease that affects pets is better known as Canine Respiratory Disease, but can also be referred to as “Kennel Cough.” Symptoms like coughing, sneezing, labored breathing, nose or eye discharge, lethargy, and decreased appetite are now being seen in pets. The symptoms — that are common in diseases like influenza and the coronavirus — sound familiar, because for many people, they are.

Covid has affected everyone’s lives and their health. After four years of people talking about the virus, people didn’t seem to think that animals can go through a traumatic outbreak of sickness too. But unfortunately they can.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health claims that while there is not a known, direct cause of this canine sickness, early results suggest that bacterium may be involved, and many people are on the case with testing the disease and learning more about it. According to PBS, this disease started off with more than 200 case in Oregon over the summer of 2023, and now has spread to 16 states.

This disease is likely to affect young unvaccinated dogs and older dogs. It can be spread through direct or indirect contact; dogs who travel a lot are more likely to get it.

“A lot was learned from Covid in terms of how easily and fast viruses can spread,” Shelby Grillo, the owner of Posh Paws Pet Spa and Boutique in Bellmore said. “At this time, the best thing we can do to protect our pets is to avoid excess exposure. Pets should only leave the home for necessary services. In the event that symp-

The disease has spread to 16 states since it was first seen in Oregon, and is more likely to impact young unvaccinated dogs and older dogs.

toms of illness arise, call your vet for medical advice.”

If you think your dog has the virus or is showing signs of illness, vets can administer a PCR test, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dogs can also be tested through serologic testing, but it can take a long time to get results, while PCR results come in quicker.

The veterinary association says there’s no specific treatment for the disease, but supportive care is recommended. This includes fluids to manage dehydration, nutritional supplementation, Antimicrobials, and Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

For more information, visit AVMA.org, or talk to your pet’s veterinarian.

Eden Goldberg is a student contributor for the Bellmore, Merrick and East Meadow Heralds.

Estate Planning for Pets

In

pet. Here is an

version of

York’s statute authorizing a trust for your pet:

a. The intended use of the principal or income, of a trust for the care of a designated domestic or pet animal, may be enforced by an individual designated for that purpose in the trust instrument. Such trust shall terminate when no living animal is covered by the trust.

b. No portion of the principal or income may be converted to the use of the trustee or to any use other than for the benefit of a covered animal.

c. Upon termination, the trustee shall transfer the unexpended trust property as directed in the trust instrument or, if there are no such directions in the trust

instrument, the property shall pass to the estate of the grantor.

d. A court may reduce the amount of property transferred if it determines that amount substantially exceeds the amount required for the intended use. The amount of the reduction, if any, passes as unexpended trust property pursuant to paragraph (c), above.

e. If no trustee is designated or no designated trustee is willing or able to serve, a court shall appoint a trustee and may make such other orders and determinations as are advisable to carry out the intent of the grantor and the purpose of this section.

If you are interested in setting up a trust for your beloved pet, please make an appointment to see us for a free consultation. Should you have no one to take care of your pet, try PetEstates.com, who will perform this service for you.

Since last summer, veterinarians have been learning more about a canine respiratory disease that is affecting dogs in the same way the coronavirus affects humans. Symptoms like coughing, sneezing, labored breathing, nose or eye discharge, lethargy, and decreased appetite are now being seen in pets

Photos courtesy Metro

Crime watCh

auto LarCeny

A victim reported that a Handicap Permit was stolen from her vehicle, while parked at Recreation Hall at 1150 Seamans Neck Road in Wantagh on Feb. 9.

A victim reported that a book bag was stolen from her vehicle while parked at the Walmart in East Meadow on Feb. 16.

Petit LarCeny

Michael Nappie, 49 of East Meadow, was arrested on Jan. 26 for shoplifting from the A. Holly Patterson Home in Uniondale.

A victim reported that a subject removed a package from their home on

Edgewood Drive in Westbury on Feb. 8.

arrests

Manuel Miras Dehoy, 20, of Wantagh, was arrested for shoplifting at the Stop & Shop in Seaford on Feb. 13.

Dwi

Josmin Esquivel, 23, of East Meadow, was arrested for driving while intoxicated at the intersection of Jerusalem Avenue and Winding Road in Hicksville on Feb. 18.

Randy Griggs, 65, of North Merrick, was arrested for driving while intoxicated at the intersection of Merrick Avenue and Lee Avenue in Merrick on Feb. 20.

People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.

Crime briefs

Man assaults nurse, physician at NUMC

A nurse and physician were assaulted on Feb. 25 at the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, around 1:10 p.m.

According to Nassau County Police Department detectives, Vincent Petrillo, 55, of Mineola, was being treated as a patient at the hospital, when he became violent with hospital staff.

He allegedly swung a wheel chair foot rest at 68-year-old male nurse, causing an injury to his right hand. As hospital staff were attempting to restrain Petrillo, a 60-year-old female physician sustained an injury to her right knee.

Officers responded, and placed Petrillo under arrest without further incident.

Petrillo is charged with three counts of assault. He will be arraigned at the First District Court in Hempstead when medically practical.

Car arson on Nancy Drive in East Meadow

The Nassau County Police Department responded to a case of arson on Feb. 19 in East Meadow.

According to arson and bomb squad detectives, an unknown subject walked up to an empty 2007 Mercedes parked on Nancy Drive.

The subject then pulled out an ignited object and threw it at the Mercedes,

causing it to go up in flames. The subjects then fled the scene.

The East Meadow Fire Department responded to the scene and put out the flame.

No injuries were reported.

The investigation is ongoing.

–Jordan Vallone

–Jordan Vallone

Herald file photo

A male patient, Vincent Petrillo, allegedly assaulted a nurse and physician at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow on Feb. 25.

Blakeman defends banning trans athletes

By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says he’s protecting athletes in his executive order last week banning some transgender participants in female-centric sports in county facilities. But the action also has raised concerns — and legal questions. Some of which were brought before the Nassau County Legislature on Monday.

We’re confident that as soon as this executive order comes before court, it will be shut down

BoBBy HodGSon director New York Civil Liberties Union

“An individual’s gender is defined as the individual’s biological sex at birth,” Blakeman wrote in his executive order, which demands any sport entities interested in using county facilities to first designate themselves based on male, female or co-ed categories, and then only accept athletes who meet that criteria according to the gender that was originally listed on their birth certificate.

There are nearly 100 facilities in the county that will be impacted, Blakeman told reporters last week.

But Bobby Hodgson — director of LGBTQ rights litigation at New York Civil Liberties Union — says those impacts may not be felt long.

“Were confident that as soon as this executive order comes before court, it will be shut down,” Hodgson said.

The executive order primarily targets athletes born biologically male, but who now identify as female, from participating in teams intended only for girls or women. Blakeman’s order does not require facilities to ban athletes born female and now identifying as male from joining male-centric teams.

Blakeman, however, was quick to add last week, that trans athletes identifying as females aren’t completely banned — they will still be able to participate in co-ed leagues as well as male competitive leagues.

Nassau County Legislator Samantha Goetz backed Blakeman’s directive, citing safety and integrity.

“This is about protecting our female athletes,” said Goetz, whose district primarily represents Oyster Bay. “This is about making sure they’re not denied opportunities for scholarships, or any type of opportunity that comes with playing sports, recognition and things like that.”

Eva Nordman, an 8-year-old who plays basketball, softball and soccer, said it was also about keeping sports equitable.

“Boys have different chromosomes than girls and that makes them stronger,” Nordman said. “It’s not fair if they

college, whether it’s high school, whether it’s just a community league — and it is an unfair advantage for someone who’s a biological male to compete against a biological female.”

Dawn Foster — a former deputy county attorney and an Oceanside resident — stopped by Mineola on Monday to speak out against Blakeman’s executive order in front of the county legislature on behalf of her family.

“In 2021, when I finally stopped fighting against myself and accepted that I was a woman and needed transition, we felt fortunate to live in Nassau County,” Foster said, calling the executive order unlawful, and condemning what she described as efforts to demonize trans women. “That feeling was shattered last week.

“Blakeman and Goetz press conference was a total of repudiation of the humanity of trans people, implying that we are cheaters, liars and bullies.”

compete against us.”

Protesters gathered outside of Blakeman’s news conference last week led by Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of Gender Equality New York, chanting, “Trans kids are our kids.” They will get some support from the NYCLU — a notfor=profit legal right group — say they will consider taking Nassau County to court over what Hodgson described as a disregard of state human rights and civil rights laws.

An amendment to the state’s human rights law in 2019 outlawed gender identity and expression discrimination in employment, housing, places of public accommodation, and non-religious schools, according to state officials.

Hodgson is not alone. State attorney general Letitia James condemned Blakeman’s order, calling it “transphobic and

deeply dangerous.”

“In New York, we have laws that protect our beautifully diverse communities from hate and discrimination of any and every kind,” James said, in a statement. “My office is charged with enforcing and upholding those laws, and we stand up to those who violate them and trespass on the rights of marginalized communities. We are reviewing our legal options.”

But Blakeman told reporters last week he knew of no state policy that could threaten his executive order

“This is not precluding anybody from participating in sports,” Blakeman wrote in his executive order. “What it is, is identifying that there are women and girls who spent a tremendous amount of time and effort to excel and compete in their sports that are women’s sports whether it’s the WNBA, whether it’s

Foster already had support from some county legislators like Carrié Solages and Delia DeRiggi-Whitton.

“I have never, in my many years of government service, had a constituent or parent complain to me about this issue,” Solages said, “making it clear that this embarrassing and illegal order is just another attempt by County Executive Blakeman to distract from the many issues that plague Nassau County.”

But Blakeman is not going to let those efforts dissuade him.

“We are finding out, in the last few months, there was a movement for biological males to bully their way into competing in sports or leagues or teams that identify themselves — or advertise themselves — as girls, or female or women’s teams or leagues,” the county executive said last week. “We find that unacceptable. It’s a form of bullying.”

Parker Schug/Herald photos

Victoria Argueta, from left, Sophia Argueta, Eva Nordman, Julia Nordman and Jenna Nordman join Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman at a news conference, telling reporters he’s banning some transgender athletes from participating in female-centric sports in county facilities.

Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of Gender Equality New York, front, protests outside a Mineola news conference last week where Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced he was banning some transgender athletes from participating in female-centric sports in county facilities.

HERALD SchoolS

A royal affair at Meadowbrook Elementary

Kindergarteners at Meadowbrook Elementary School in East Meadow celebrated the end of their Kings & Queens unit with a royal ball on Feb. 15.

Learning about kings and queens means that student listen to read-aloud texts, both fiction and nonfiction, about kings, queens and royal families. The selections build students’ understanding of responsibilities and customs

On Feb. 15, kindergartners at Meadowbrook Elementary School in East Meadow celebrated the end of their Kings & Queens unit with a royal ball.

associated with royalty throughout history.

Students and teachers gathered in the school’s all-purpose room dressed in crowns along with colorful suits and dresses. Additionally, kindergartners were excited when Cinderella surprised them with a special visit. She taught Meadowbrook’s young kings and queens how to waltz, curtsy and bow.

Al Kanfei Nisharim (AKN) is a registered 501c3 organization that supports Single Mothers. These women can rely on Al Kanfei Nisharim to provide support, resources and guidance to help them achieve independent financial stability.

Photos courtesy East Meadow Union Free School District

Meadowbrook Elementary School Principal Danielle Lasher, far left, and Assistant Principal Meredith Broxmeyer, far right, joined kindergarten teachers in the school’s royal ball festivities.

HERALD SPORTS

East Meadow rolls into championship game

By TONY BELLISSIMO

tbellissimo@liherald.com

East Meadow’s girls’ basketball team had already made history before it took the court for Monday night’s Nassau Class AA semifinal playoff matchup against a conference rival it lost to twice during the regular season.

But the Jets, who upset No. 2 seed Garden City Feb. 20 to advance to the Final Four for the first time in program history, kept their feet on the gas and proved once again how difficult it is to beat a rival three times.

Senior Charlotte Viola had a game-high 19 points, freshman Angelina Cronin poured in 17 and sophomore Kayla Lederer 11 as seventh-seeded East Meadow blew out No. 3 MacArthur, 60-25, at Farmingdale State College.

“Coming into the playoffs we thought we had a good chance to go far,” Viola said. “We have a special team and beating Garden City gave us a lot of confidence. We knew we could hang with MacArthur after they beat us in two close games.”

The Jets (18-5) will try to capture their first-ever county championship next Monday at 5 p.m. at Farmingdale State when they face top-seeded Manhasset, which won last year’s Class A title. The Indians (18-3) held off No. 4 South Side, 44-38, in the other semifinal.

Sophomore Ysabelle Perillo led MacArthur (18-4) with 8 points. The Generals won their fourth consecu-

fought opening quarter ended with them leading 7-5.

“We had a bit of a slow start with seven turnovers in the first quarter, but after that we played near perfect,” East Meadow head coach Peter Olenik said. “Offensively we moved the ball very well and hit shots. It’s an unselfish group and we’re playing our best basketball of the season at the right time.”

East Meadow scored the first 11 points of the second quarter and then six straight after sophomore’s Meghan Campbell’s basket temporarily stopped the bleeding for MacArthur, which defeated No. 6 Division in the quarterfinals.

Viola drained a pair of three-pointers late in the half and the lead swelled to 30-14 at intermission. It was the second-lowest scoring half of the season for the Generals, who averaged 66 points in two wins over the Jets.

“There wasn’t anything we were looking to do different tonight than we did against them in the regular season,” Olenik said. “MacArthur is a strong team. Tonight we were able to force a lot of turnovers and once we got a good lead, we didn’t let them back in it.”

tive conference crown this winter and went undefeated in the process, knocking off East Meadow twice. But it was all Jets Monday night after a hard-

As they did in the 56-55 playoff win at Garden City by scoring 15 points apiece, Cronin and junior Allie Twible carried East Meadow in the third quarter, combining for 10 points to up the lead to 43-23 heading into the fourth. Viola scored the first eight points of the final quarter.

“Charlotte was incredible tonight,” Olenik said. “They all were, really.”

East Meadow falls to Elmont in quarterfinals

By ANDREW FANTUCCHIO sports@liherald.com

The Elmont boys’ basketball team remembers the feeling of losing in the Nassau County semifinals last season.

“We were all there when we lost,” Cassius Moore said. “We know the emotions we had, and we turned that into motivation. We put in the work day in and day out and live with the results.”

On Feb. 20, the results fell in Elmont’s favor as it went on the road and defeated East Meadow in front of a packed house by a final of 80-54 in a Class AA quarterfinal playoff matchup.

Moore led the fifth-seeded Spartans with 26 points, knocking down five field goals, including four from beyond the three-point arc.

“He’s scoring the ball, and he’s also locked in on defense,” Elmont head coach Ryan Straub said. “Obviously, he’s scoring from all over the place, but he’s making everybody around him better.”

Elmont had four players score in double figures as Ebubenna Nwabudu contributed 11 points, while Nassir Edwards and Osagie Ekhator tacked on 10 each. But the offense didn’t come easily to start.

In a highly physical contest, Elmont and East Meadow traded blows early as the much smaller Jets stepped up to the Spartans from the opening tip.

“That’s what we do to everybody,” East Meadow head coach Tom Rottkamp said. “We try to attack the rim and then cave the defense in and kick it out to our three-point shooters.”

Point guard Will Casseus led fourth-seeded East

Meadow with 14 points, flying around the floor before darting to the rim, where has was able to finish with both hands.

But near the end of the half, Elmont’s size and use of the full-court press was too much for East Meadow to handle. Methodically, the Spartans broke down the Jets (16-6) bit by bit and eventually pulled away with a 12-0 run in the third quarter.

“Everything starts with defense for us,” senior Kymani Dias said. “We got to make sure our defense is very good so we can turn it into offense.”

Although he was limited to just nine points, Dias provided the exclamation for Elmont as he ran in from the corner and soared through the air, slamming home an alley-oop feed from Moore late in the game.

“I was hyped, but I see it all the time in practice,” Moore said. “He’s the most athletic dude on the team. I just throw it up there and watch him go get it.”

With their season now over, the young East Meadow squad now sits where Elmont once was: defeated but motivated for more.

“It’s historic for this school to get to this level,” Rottkamp said. “You saw the size of the crowd. Let’s face it, I’m coming back with 10 Seniors next year, all with great experience at this level. This is only the first half of the process.”

Meanwhile, Elmont (18-4) carries on and will face Conference AA4 rival Sewhanaka in the semifinals next Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Farmingdale State College, still trying to make up for last year.

“We talk about it, but, of course, you got to take it one game at a time,” Straub said. “We have big goals. We’re focused on making a run to the championship.”

Media Origin Inc./Herald East Meadow’s Brendan Cronin, left, took on Elmont’s Gemere Frias-Walsh during a Nassau Class AA quarterfinal matchup Feb. 20.

Media Origin Inc./Herald

Junior Allie Twible and the Jets upset the No. 2 and 3 seeds in the Nassau Class AA playoffs to reach the championship game.

Events to close out winter in East Meadow

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

As winter comes to a close, the East Meadow Public Library is hosting a slew of events to wrap up the season and usher in spring. Whether its regularly scheduled programs, or something new, there’s something for everyone.

On March 10, the library welcomes the musical group NyMBVS 5, which is comprised of a group of five conceptually unique Long Island musicians, who all find joy in creating and playing original music. The group prides itself on its ability to connect with any audience, and offers entertainment and education with a performance calls for it.

The concert will take place at 2 p.m., and registration is open on the library’s website.

The second installment of the Python Coding Workshop will take place on March 13. Four East Meadow High School teen scholars are giving an introductory course to computer programming at the library through April 24. They will be at the library from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and during these hours will give one-on-one help for those currently in high school and need help in computer programming.

Registration is not required, but is strong recommended. Those who attend are asked to bring their school issued

Chromebook to the program. The event will take place in the Young Adult Room.

To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, on March 15, the library will host a special Friday concert, “Fiddler’s Green.”

There will be an afternoon of Irish

music, fiddle playing, beautiful tenor voices and more. The concert kicks off at 1 p.m.

For teens looking to put their brainpower to the test, the library will hold a “Who Wrote It? Puzzles” event on March 18. No registration is required, and any-

one can stop by and see if they can figure out quotes that were written by a famous singer, poet or author.

The event begins at 7 p.m. in the Young Adult Room.

Transition to spring on March 19, what better way to begin a new season than with a class that details the basics of rooting and growing plants? The library will lead a simple and hands on program about hydroponics at 7 p.m. in the Young Adult Room. Registration will be open as March 5 at 9:30 a.m.

There’s an excellent community service opportunity scheduled for March 26 at the library — preteens and teens can earn one hour of community service for assembling shower rolls to be given to those who are homeless. They can also earn additional service hours by contributing travel size shampoo and conditioner bottles, travel sized toothpaste and bars or soap, lotion, toothbrushes and razors. Items for hotel stays are suggested — or something of similar sizing.

All items will be donated to those in need through the Mary Brennan Inn.

The community service opportunity begins at 7 p.m. on March 26 in the Young Adult Room. Registration opens on March 12 at 9:30 a.m.

The East Meadow library is located at 1886 Front Street, East Meadow. For more information on events and more visit EastMeadow.info.

Whether

Tournament calls East Meadow home

Continued from page 1

down here,” said Dave Hudzik, the director of St. Raphael’s CYO basketball program. “For most of these kids, this is going to be the highlight of their lives, athletic-wise, getting the same treatment that a professional basketball player would get. So it’s a really big deal.”

Hudzik has directed the St. Raphael’s CYO program for the last five years, and has been involved with the program for over a decade. He guided it through the coronavirus pandemic, and on the side, he runs a basketball training business called Mindset Basketball Training.

The popularity of the Winter Classic and the effort that goes into making it the spectacle that it is, grows every year, Hudzik explained. The event has a DJ, and local businesses donate raffle items. All the money that is raised goes back to the basketball program, to support local youth players in East Meadow and beyond.

Teams register to play in the tournament by early December, Hudzik said. The tournament takes place during a holiday break for schools, sometimes coaches are away, and Hudzik said the more popular the tournament becomes, parents end up volunteering to lead a team.

“I’ve received more phone calls the past few years from moms and dads saying ‘My son’s in sixth-grade and we play at St. Francis. Can we play in the tournament?’” Hudzik said. “As great as coaches are, in every single parish, they’re all volunteers. You have coaches that obviously have busy lives, and they sacrifice their time to help the kids play.

“The parents are now beginning to pick up the slack,” he continued. “(The tournament) has kind of amalgamated into its own creature, where we don’t have to go out and say to people, ‘Hey, come play in our tournament.’ They know about it. And we take a lot of pride in that.”

The tournament creates nostalgia with a lot of people and former players that have long been involved in CYO, Hudzik added.

“There are kids that are in college now, that are like ‘Oh, I remember Coach Dave announcing my name and it was so cool and it was so fun to play the game after that,’” he said. “The introduction is the one thing kids always remember. So it always turns into a real positive experience.”

And on multiple occasions, the tournament welcomed a special guest who came down to interact with players — whether it be a former NBA player, or people with connections to college teams in the area, such as St. John’s University.

What’s started in the East Meadow community has grown into something appreciated by parishes, players and parents everywhere.

“The energy that the tournament gives off and the looks on the kids faces, it’s just a great atmosphere,” he said. “We turned it into a community event, even though it’s other communities. The gym is always packed.”

the Winter Classic has developed a positive reputation on Long island, as it offers tournament style play for youth players. Jaxen pesquira, of St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Westbury, moves the court.

the CYo program at St. raphael’s is run by dave Hudzik. Hudzik, left, with Jack tobon.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

players await the outcome of a shot during a game on feb. 24.

the 10-day tournament culminates in finals, played last weekend. above, teams from St. Kilian’s Catholic Church in farmingdale and St. William the abbot Catholic Church in Seaford.

Coalition formed to advocate for local journalism

A statewide group of local news organizations — comprising of more than 100 newspapers across New York — have launched The Empire State Local News Coalition, a joint advocacy effort to advance a legislative package intended to deliver long-term sustainability to the sector.

The coalition launches at a watershed moment for the journalism industry as well as democracy. More than 3,000 newspapers have shuttered across the country since 2005, resulting in thousands of layoffs and countless communities losing essential platforms for sharing their stories.

In New York state alone, newspapers have declined 40 percent between 2004 and 2019. Since then, the number of journalists has halved, and there has been a 60 percent decrease in overall circulation.

There is a growing number of communities with little to no access to local newspaper coverage. More than a dozen New York counties are down to just one newspaper, and Orleans County in Western New York is the first with no local newspaper at all.

The decline of local journalism is a threat to the health of our democracy, as research from the Democracy Fund shows there is a direct correlation between the breadth of local media coverage and levels of civic engagement — an especially significant factor in an election year.

If newspapers continue to shutter, communities across the state risk being effectively disenfranchised, losing the ability to shape policy conversations, and hold local officials accountable.

“The Empire State Local News Coalition is dedicated to advancing a legislative package with bipartisan support aimed at providing a lifeline to newspapers across the state,” said founding member Zachary Rich-

More than 3,000 newspapers have closed across the country since 2005, resulting in countless communities losing essential platforms for sharing their stories. The Empire State Local News Coalition intends to reverse that by advancing new legislation and initiatives that would protect jobs, and incentivize small business to advertise.

ner — director of Richner Communications, the parent company of Herald Community Newspapers — in a release. “All New Yorkers deserve to have their voices heard, and hometown newspapers are key to that mission.

“We urge government officials and local stakeholders to rally behind us, safeguarding democracy, and bolstering the future of local journalism in New York.”

The Empire State coalition is championing what it describes as a robust legislative package intended to

ensure local papers survive through the 21st century and beyond. Key priorities include:

• The Local Journalism Sustainability Act (S.625B, A.2958C) — Sponsored by state Sen. Brad HoylmanSigal, the bill would provide tax credits to local news outlets for the employment of local journalists, while providing job stability and paving the way for more hiring opportunities, and an expanded workforce in the future.

• Incentivizing small businesses to advertise in local media — This win-win proposal, according to organizers, would encourage local businesses to advertise in local media, driving revenue for hometown papers, while connecting businesses with their customers.

“Democracy places a responsibility on citizens to be informed so they can effectively participate in the electoral process, and in local government,” said Bill Shumway, editor and publisher of North Country This Week in Potsdam, in a release. “A trusted local news source is essential for that to happen. Healthy communities need an unbiased news organization to connect, enrich and inform citizens.”

“The bottom line is that this proposed legislation would be a major game changer,” said Mark Vinciguerra, president of Capital Region Independent Media out of Clifton Park. “We would be able to increase the number and type of journalists we have on staff. It would allow us to cover more beats, do more video reporting, investigative reporting, and expand our ‘Good News’ initiative we have started.”

A 2022 analysis found more than 350 newsrooms across the state would benefit from the local journalism payroll tax credit. This includes 53 newsrooms in New York City, with 21 of them being ethnic media outlets.

To learn more about the efforts, visit SaveNYLocalNews.com.

STEPPING OUT

Her theatre life

Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller directs Off-Broadway’s ‘The White Chip,’ a play about alcoholism and recovery

By Iris Wiener

When Valley Stream native Sheryl Kaller was 12, she knew she wanted to be a director. It was 1973. She went to a Sunday matinee of “Pippin,” and Ben Vereen sang “Magic to Do,” immediately clinching her dream.

“I always knew theatre was the only place where we can authentically use our imaginations,” she says. “I had the Spidey sense of knowing that it was a collaborative art.”

It was the start to a journey that would lead her to a Tony nomination as she directed Broadway (“Next Fall,” “Mothers and Sons”) and Off-Broadway plays, including “The White Chip,” which follows a theatre director who finds himself spinning out of control with an addiction to alcohol. The play, exploring his journey to recovery, runs through March 9, at MCC Theater.

“Broadway and Off-Broadway always felt like my community,” Kaller says. “My parents were very vigilant about getting me in to see theatre all the time. It informed my exposure to the art and my love of New York City.”

As Kaller grew up in the Green Acres community of Valley Stream, she performed in community theatre with her mother, while her father — who repaired car seat covers for a living — would use his knowledge of sewing to design costumes for the shows. (“They were horrible actually,” Kaller says, laughing at the fond memories.)

In her senior year at Valley Stream South High School, Kaller got her first taste of directing. After landing the role of Rosie in “Bye Bye Birdie,” she realized a big number — “The Telephone Hour” — could use some major help.

“I said to the director, who was great, ‘With all due respect, may I redo (the number)?’ So I redid the whole ‘Telephone Hour.’ That’s when I knew I was much better at directing than acting, and it led me to go to Emerson College — as a director, not as an actor.”

In 2019, Kaller directed “The White Chip” at OffBroadway’s 59E59 with the support of acclaimed playwright Terrence McNally, who, much like the play’s narrator, was

• Now through March 9

• Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space, 511 W. 52nd St., Manhattan

• Tickets available at WhiteChipPlay.com

a recovered alcoholic. When McNally died during the pandemic, Kaller knew she had to bring the play back to the New York theatre community.

“In the world of Covid and in the world of losing community, we felt it was really important to bring it back because ‘The White Chip’ is a hopeful sobriety story, and a serio-comedy. There’s a lot of fun things in it,” she says of the play, which found its new home at the MCC Theater. “We are building community and doing service with this show, while entertaining at the same time.”

According to Kaller, after the pandemic, alcoholism in women doubled, while in men it was up a third.

“AA and addiction meetings were all on Zoom, and everybody kind of fractured,” she says. “This is a story that makes you laugh and cry. It also talks about how there’s no shame in being an addict. Shame touches everybody’s lives in one way or another.”

In deciding to take the piece on again, it didn’t hurt that Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford was at the show’s helm as producer.

“She’s very magical,” says Kaller of Ashford, who recently starred in Broadway’s “Sweeney Todd” opposite Josh Groban.

“The White Chip” has such an important message that it also boasts celebrity supporters and producers Jason Biggs, John Larroquette, Edie Falco and Hank Azaria. The pandemic even inspired playwright Sean Daniels to create The Recovery Project, an initiative working to heal the stigma of addiction and recovery through the development of new plays, theatre education programs, and outreach.

“All of our fancy producers are sober people,” says Kaller, of the importance of the play and the initiative. “Every producer who came on board financially was incredibly gracious. They don’t have the best deal in the world because a lot of the money is going into The Recovery Project. If you’re an actor, a designer, in the PR department, if you’re cleaning the toilets, you need resources. At all of our performances so far, at least one person has asked us for help. We have a QR code that gives them resources whether or not they have health insurance.”

The play continues to remind Kaller of the importance of community, a lesson that harkens back to her roots on Long Island.

“One thousand Long Islanders showed up to my dad’s funeral,” she recalls. “I grew up in such a beautiful community there. My heart will always be on the ‘Guyland.’ I got the wonderful suburban, great education at Valley Stream South, and yet I got to go into the city all the time. But I will always remember all of these people who showed up for my family.

“I wish Long Islanders would start coming back to New York theatre because we really do build a lot of beautiful community in the city and it’s worth it. It is apparent with ‘The White Chip’ and with so much more.”

Tusk

Tusk goes their own way, with their dynamic tribute to Fleetwood Mac. Since forming in 2008, Tusk has prided themselves on being the ultimate tribute to the ‘70s supergroup. No fancy tricks, no gimmicks, just five musicians recreating the music of Fleetwood Mac to perfection with note-fornote renditions. Seasoned musicians who go back some 25 years, their attention to detail, talent and reverence of their subjects has been critically acclaimed, resulting in their accolades as the premiere purveyors of ‘Mac. Time, trust, and close friendship have cultivated an intimate familiarity with each other’s musical nuances, shaping every performance with precision. More than a band, they are a family. Made up of Kathy Phillips (as Stevie Nicks on vocals), Scott McDonald (as Lindsey Buckingham, guitar and vocals), Kim Williams (as Christine McVie, keys and vocals), Randy Artiglere (as John McVie, bass) and Tom Nelson (as Mick Fleetwood on drums) the five-piece band transports you back to the group’s glory days.

Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. $63, $53, $45. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 7676444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

The Irish Tenors

These gents will warm your soul with the beauty of Irish music. The Irish Tenors have been the acknowledged Celtic music kings since bursting upon the scene during a 1998 television special. With 10 bestselling albums to their credit, they share company with the likes of The Three Tenors and Andrea Bocelli as the biggest money makers PBS has presented. They’ve since become a part of the Irish movement in America, with plenty of talented Irish acts coming after them. They have stood the test of time — audiences of all ages love the Irish Tenors. Now comprised of classically trained tenor Anthony Kearns, doctor-turned-vocalist Ronan Tynan, and tenor Declan Kelly, their repertoire is wide-ranging and they also introduce — or reintroduce — their audiences to Ireland’s exquisite jigs, reels and ballads.

Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $70. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com,TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Crystal Dickinson, Joe Tapper, and Jason Tam star in playwright Sean Daniels’ autobiographical comedy, a wry theatrical journey of recovery.

Photos by Jenny Anderson

Sheryl Kaller in rehearsal.

THE Your Neighborhood

March 8

Janeane Garofalo

The comedianactress, who reigns as the queen of the alt-comedy scene, is eager to speak her mind on her current stand-up tour, when she visits the Landmark stage, Friday, March 8, 8 p.m.

Considered by many as an American institution since she first burst on the scene in 1992, the outspoken activist has plenty to say, in her own inimitable comedic style. Known for her incisive, cynical sense of humor, the SNL alum has branched out into many memorable film and TV roles, including “The Truth About Cats and Dogs,” “Wet Hot American Summer,” “Ratatouille,” “Steal This Movie,” “Reality Bites,” “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion,” “Mystery Men,” “The Ten” and “The Cable Guy,” along with including the final season of NBC’s “The West Wing.”

Garofalo’s informed opinions and unflinching honesty on topics ranging from everyday life to pop culture inspire laughs and strikes a chord with audiences everywhere. Often a lightening rod for controversy, Garofalo finds a way to get her point across with her trademark sense of humor. Known and respected worldwide, Garofalo was also instrumental in the successful launching of the first liberal radio network, Air America Radio, where she hosted her own talk show, “The Majority Report.” A lightning rod for controversy, her opinions and candor have inspired laughs, as well as striking a chord with the left, right and everyone in between. $33, $28. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Family theater

Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s stories, this clever adaptation puts the audience front and center, literally, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Friday, March 1, 10:15 a.m. and noon, Saturday, March 2, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, March 5-7, 10:15 a.m. and noon. Kids become cast members, singing dancing, and acting onstage alongside the professional cast.

One of our most interactive shows at LICM Theater, this production received rave reviews in its prior run. Going beyond the traditional telling of the Oz stories, “Journey to Oz” uses personal journal entries and historic newspaper headlines to bring the history of author L. Frank Baum and illustrator W.W. Denslow to life. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion take the audience with them on this lively, playful trip down the yellow brick road.

$10 with museum admission ($8 members), $14 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “Our Gilded Age,” examines the appearances and the realities of an era that mirrors our own in many ways.

Like the nation’s economy, American art and literature flourished during the Gilded Age. The art of John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam, Louis Comfort Tiffany and others adorned palatial residences designed by Stanford White and Ogden Codman Jr., architect of the museum’s own quintessential Gilded Age mansion.

Drawing heavily upon the local literary history of Long Island, including William Cullen Bryant, Mark Twain (who named the Gilded Age), Walt Whitman, Edith Wharton and others, the exhibition will include paintings, fashion, decorative arts including period silver and china, photographs, manuscripts, first editions and other historic memorabilia.

The “Upstairs, Downstairs” approach to the life of a country house brings to life not only the storied conspicuous consumption for which the Gilded Age was infamous, but also the real lives of these many individuals who maintained the palatial estates where that lifestyle was enjoyed.

On view through March 10 Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

LEME1 0229

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCOUNTY OF NASSAU

UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR LVS TITLE TRUST 2018-1, V. INA I. ABELIS ESPOSITO, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated September 25, 2023, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, wherein UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR LVS TITLE TRUST 2018-1 is the Plaintiff and INA I. ABELIS ESPOSITO, 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 March 12, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 283 MERRICK AVENUE, EAST MEADOW, NY 11554: Section 50, Block 462, Lot 4: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATED, LYING AND BEING AT EAST MEADOW, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

LEGAL

COMPANY. NAME:

Macela Santos A. International LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 01/06/2021.

NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to 1630 Powers Ave, East Meadow - NY 11554.

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity 144784

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016 SC6 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. JANET ROBERTS, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 11, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 28, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1167 Warwick Street, Uniondale, NY 11553. 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 7 and Lots 91-92. Approximate amount of judgment is $408,344.99 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 616060/2019. 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 Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York

10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No. 201214-1

144989

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking on Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 12th day of March, 2024, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations:

LEVITTOWN

PERIWINKLE ROADnorth side, starting at a point 70 feet east of the east curbline of Violet Lane, east for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-37/24)

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: February 27, 2024 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.

Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 145116

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC

HEARING

BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the

BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 3/6/2024 at 9:30 A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.

131/24. EAST MEADOWHassan T. Butt (2175 Clover Ct. LLC), Renewal of grant to maintain pool equipment with less than required side yard setback & 5’ & 6’ high fence larger than pool installation area., N/s Clover Ct., 126’ E/o Abbott St., a/k/a 2175 Clover Ct.

Courtesy Anthony Johnson

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M.

161/24. EAST MEADOWWhite Diamond Lounge, Inc., Variance in off-street parking (proposed Bar/Restaurant in existing building)., N/s Hempstead Tpke., 172’ E/o Conti Square Blvd., a/k/a 20472085 Hempstead Tpke.

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING

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

This notice is only for new cases in East Meadow within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 145107

place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com Legal Notices are everyone’s business

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Exhibit honors local Black Artists at Westbury Arts

In celebration of the Long Island Black Artist Association’s 55th anniversary, Westbury Arts is the host of an exhibition that highlights more than five decades of talent from local artists.

Several members of the association from across Long Island were present Feb. 4 to commemorate the occasion and launch the exhibition.

Westbury resident Marcia OdleMcNair has been a member of the Long Island Black Artist Association for two years. She also sits on Westbury Arts’ board of directors, a position which allowed her to write a proposal for the venue to host the exhibition.

“There’s still lifes, representational art, abstraction, ink works, and watercolors,” Odle-McNair said. “There’s everything. We all come together.”

The association was founded in 1968 by artists James Counts, Ernest Snell, Raymond Miles and Charles Winslow. The organization aims to help local African-American artists find venues to exhibit their work.

The association’s art has been exhibited in places such as museums, universities, libraries and churches. Some work has been displayed internationally in continents such as Africa and Europe.

Galvin Bisserup Jr. is the current president of the Long Island Black Artist Association, which covers the counties of Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk. When holding meetings for the group, he positions all members to sit in a circle.

“Putting everyone in a circle allows people to recognize that they each have an equal space,” he said. “They each have something to offer, and we can share information and learn from one another.”

The art that is displayed in the exhibition has been influenced by the personal interests of different members.

Freeport resident Aaron L. Scott has two pieces in the exhibition. One painting, titled “Winter Sunset,” was inspired by the former Oceanside School District art educators’ passion for nature.

“There’s something about winter that I’ve always liked,” Scott said. I just enjoy nature. I grew up in an area where we used to have lots of deer. There’s always been a lot of animals around, maybe less than there used to be. But there’s still those things that are part of nature that are around.”

Photos taken by Mary Rano, another Freeport resident, are also showcased. One of those pieces is titled “I-95 at Philly,” and focuses on an oil refinery that she observed while stuck in traffic.

“It was 7 in the summer, and the sun was going down,” Rano said. “The light was reflecting off of the metal and pipes. It struck me as really pretty. There was something beautiful about it.”

Members also shared their reflections on what 55 years of the Long Island Black Artist Association means to them.

“We’ve lasted the test of time,” OdleMcNair said. “What I really appreciate about this group is the fellowship. There’s no judgment.”

Bisserup Jr. talked about his hopes for the future of the association.

“Part of the joy is recognizing that I’m a part of something,” he said. “My main mission is to keep the artists engaged and keep our family unit together so that we can move as a unit when it comes to exhibiting the different artworks that we have mastered.”

The Long Island Black Artist Association’s 55 Years of Black Creativity exhibition runs through March 22 at Westbury Arts.

Anthony Johnson is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.

Aaron L. Scott, left, Marcia Odle-McNair, Mary Rano, and Galvin Bisserup Jr., all members of the Long Island Black Artist Association, at the 55th anniversary exhibition’s opening reception at Westbury Arts.

Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business.

Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

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Our floor is expanding

Q. Last fall we had the walls removed between our living room, dining room and kitchen. We had a new kitchen installed with an island plus a wall of cabinets. Now the new flooring is rising at the seams, everywhere. We have a heated floor, and the flooring was specially chosen because it clicks together and “floats.” We were told that with the floor being able to move, it would be better with the heated floor. What caused this, and what can we do?

A. Your floor is expanding, and the ridges at the seams are rising, because the floor has nowhere else to expand to. This problem is common, and was caused by the floor being limited from expanding because the cabinets and island, along with heavy furniture placed over the finished floor, keep the floor from expanding when the heat is on. Wetting the floor to clean it also causes expansion, and should be limited or not done with water at all.

Solving this problem is easier said than done. Basically, anywhere the floor is unable to move defeats the purpose, and only by freeing up the floor will the problem work itself out. There’s a simple wall molding that our ancestors used that seems to be generally forgotten. Even though I include this detail in most of the drawings I prepare, I rarely see this last little strip of molding being installed. What the molding does is act like a gap cover, since properly installed flooring has a quarter- to halfinch gap at the edges of the floor, including around a fixed island and around the room’s perimeter. The whole perimeter will need to be cut so the trim molding will need to be added, unless the vertical trim board has been installed with a space, in which case the flooring has to be able to float (slide back and forth) under the vertical wallboard trim.

Our ancestors were very observant of nature, and skilled finish carpenters passed along their knowledge of the way materials behave. I worked for a finish carpenter while in high school, and learned that molding and trim weren’t just a finishing touch, but also a necessity to hide the places where materials needed room to expand and contract, at ceilings, floors, stairs and doors. Miracle materials have come along since then that were supposed to change the industry, like plastic moldings that are more temperature stable, but nature never disappoints. Natural or not, materials all have to work together, whether it’s the way they react to moisture, sunlight, heat or cold.

You’re going to need to get the contractor to organize the flooring installer and the finish carpenter to coordinate cutting the floor, and either install the shoe molding or space the vertical trim baseboard so the floor moves and adjusts underneath, even at the island and kitchen cabinet bases. Hopefully, the flooring was installed over a moisture-proof expansion membrane. Then enjoy your floor.

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Reflections on the special election

It isn’t often that a congressional race becomes the center of national attention. But that was the case in the campaign between Tom Suozzi and Mazi Pilip to succeed the disgraced George Santos in the 3rd Congressional District.

In less than 12 months in office, Santos became a joke — a very sick joke. After the House of Representatives voted to expel him in December, Gov. Kathy Hochul set a special election for Feb. 13.

pETER KInG

Under state election law, candidates in a special election are selected by party leaders. Not surprisingly, Democrats selected Tom Suozzi, a seasoned veteran of the political wars who had represented the district in Congress for three terms before giving up his seat to make an unsuccessful gubernatorial primary run against Hochul in 2022.

Nassau GOP Chairman Joe Cairo set up a selection committee (that I was part of) that interviewed 22 potential candidates, and overwhelmingly recommended Pilip. Not wanting to repeat the Santos calamity, Cairo had Pilip vetted by several firms, and she passed with flying colors.

Ordinarily it would be a gamble for a relative newcomer who had served barely one term in the County Legislature to run against a veteran like Suozzi, but Pilip personified the American dream. She’d escaped from Ethiopia to Israel with her family when she was 12, and served in an elite parachute unit in the Israel Defense Forces. She was highly educated, married a Ukrainian cardiologist, moved to the United States and raised seven children in Great Neck. She was the first Republican ever re-elected in the 10th Legislative District.

IPilip was the new running against the old. She was coming off a solid victory against the odds in a Democratic district, while Suozzi had lost badly to Hochul in the primary. Pilip was the legal immigrant who supported strong border security, challenging the candidate of the party that had allowed more than 8 million illegal migrants into the country, many of whom were overwhelming New York City and the parts of Queens that fall in the 3rd District. She was the candidate who was endorsed by the Border Patrol Agents’ union, while Suozzi had recently boasted of throwing Immigration and Customs Enforcement out of Nassau County when he was county executive. Pilip, a

trained soldier, supported strong defense at a time when Israel was at war with Hamas, Russia had invaded Ukraine and China was threatening Taiwan.

Though the Democrats had a significant registration edge over Republicans, 39 percent to 28 percent, President Biden’s popularity was at record lows, and Suozzi was on record saying he supported Biden “100 percent.”

heard there was real concern in the Suozzi camp right up to Election Day.

Pilip campaigned tirelessly, and was making strong inroads. Suozzi countered by separating himself from prevailing Democratic positions on immigration, border security and support for police and didn’t seek Biden’s endorsement.

In the campaign’s closing days, every published poll had the race within the margin of error. A Republican poll had Pilip up by 5 points. Suozzi never got above 50 percent in any poll, a bad sign for a virtual incumbent. Democratic sources and some friendly reporters told me there was real concern in the Suozzi camp right up to Election Day. When the numbers were in, though, Suozzi won, 54 percent to 46 percent.

It’s still early, but my preliminary thoughts are that:

■ The snowstorm on Election Day hurt Republicans, but not enough to make the

A journey of the heart

February is American Heart Month, and this is a story about my heart — literally and figuratively. It’s the reason I am where I am today.

sETH I. KosLoW

I was born with a significant heart defect called dextrocardia, as well as a ventricular septal defect. Basically, my heart was on the wrong side of my chest cavity and inverted — and it had a hole in it. When I was 3 months old, my doctors told my parents that I needed openheart surgery to close the hole. At the time, however, my mother was pregnant with my sister. My parents decided to wait until my sister was born before I underwent surgery. But somehow, for some reason, my heart decided that it had to be whole, and the hole I was born with began to close. My heart could stay as it was — imperfect and misplaced, but untouched.

Growing up, I found that I was doing a lot of things half-heartedly, so to speak. Schoolwork wasn’t heartening, and there were few things that excited me. I dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but I couldn’t muster up the resolve to pursue that dream — LSATs, law school, internships, thousands of dollars in loans, six more semesters of school, and years of building a professional profile.

Deterred by these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, I remained listless through my early 20s. For a few years after college, I worked in sales. I was good at it, but my heart was definitely in a different place.

That is, until it wasn’t.

went more than a dozen cardioversions to restore the heart’s regular rhythm, and tried various cocktails of medications, all to no avail.

A fter openheart surgery, I decided there was nothing I couldn’t make it through.

In my early 20s, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, or AFib, also known as an irregular heartbeat. It’s fairly common among senior citizens, but as a 20-something in college, I was now a member of a not-so-enviable exclusive club. Over the next several years, I battled my irregular heartbeats, under-

Eventually I met a cardiologist who specialized in adults with congenital heart defects — adults like me. He informed my family and me that the hole in my heart had reopened, and that it was substantially larger than it was when I was a child. This was causing my irregular heartbeat, and it would at last need to be closed. At age 25, because of the placement of my heart, I was about to undergo a potentially first-of-its-kind open-heart surgery.

On March 15, 2007, after five hours of surgery, I awoke with a heart that was beating normally for the first time in almost five years. Making it through that operation sparked something in my soul. Instead of whining about what I had to do to get to where I wanted to be, I decided to ball my fists up, dig in and do it. After all, I had just made it through open-heart surgery. Was there

difference.

■ Suozzi effectively managed to separate himself in the eyes of the voters from the sins of his party on immigration and support for the police.

■ Democratic congressional campaign committees provided extensive financial support to Suozzi early on.

■ Though Pilip actually garnered a higher percentage of votes against Suozzi than former President Donald Trump did against Biden in 2020, she couldn’t overcome the built-in Democratic registration edge.

■ Cairo and the Nassau Republican organization worked hard and effectively, but Pilip didn’t receive financial support from national Republicans comparable to what Suozzi received from Democrats.

■ Pilip was handicapped by having to campaign against the backdrop of the antics of congressional Republicans like Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Green, who come across as a gang that can’t shoot straight.

Suozzi won. No complaints. No excuses. But Pilip ran an excellent and courageous campaign, and has an excellent political future.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

anything I couldn’t make it through? I finally sat for the LSAT and got myself into law school.

That’s the attitude that’s gotten me to where I am today. When I was burning the candle at both ends, cramming for law school exams and eventually the bar exams, I would remind myself that I was getting stronger. When I was struggling to build my own law practice while juggling my responsibilities as a husband and father, I would remind myself of all that my heart could handle.

Naturally, when I saw an opportunity to run for office, a chance to represent and fight for all the communities our local government has left behind, I knew that I could take the heartburn of an arduous campaign, and that I could win over hearts and minds. That’s the mentality that I bring to my law practice, and to my work with my fellow legislators.

The arc of my life’s journey is proof that we are all stronger than we know — that we are all more capable than we can comprehend.

Seth I. Koslow represents Nassau County’s 5th Legislative District.

HeraLd editoriaL

Let’s be sure we don’t relive some of our history

Black History Month is a chance for us to celebrate the many contributions African-Americans have made to the country. They’ve done this despite discrimination and oppression — something even Long Island, in the past, was not immune to.

For example, when we think of slavery, we think of the Deep South before the Civil War. In fact, slavery existed in New York until 1827, and the state had more enslaved people than all the New England states combined, many of them on Long Island.

At the start of the American revolution, there were roughly 10,000 enslaved Black Americans living on Long Island — nearly half of the state’s total enslaved population. While they were allowed more mobility and financial opportunities than their counterparts in the South, the claim that slavery wasn’t as bad in the North is largely inaccurate.

Throughout the 1700s, New York lawmakers created the Black Codes, which historian and author richard Moss — in his book, “Slavery on Long Island” — claimed were “the harshest criminal laws and penalties enacted by northern colonists.” Punishments for striking a white person included two weeks’ imprisonment and corporal punish-

Letters

Leave trans kids alone

To the Editor:

ment.

Enslaved people were forbidden from gathering in groups of more than three, and prevented from owning property. Children born to enslaved mothers were automatically enslaved at birth. And testimony by enslaved people was inadmissible in court.

One common practice at the time on Long Island and New York was shipping unruly African-Americans to the Caribbean slave colonies. Conditions on islands such as Barbados and Jamaica were particularly brutal, with less than a third of slaves surviving on some plantations.

Even after slavery ended in New York, discrimination did not. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the number of AfricanAmericans in the Town of Oyster Bay dwindled from roughly 17 percent to less than a half-percent as racist real estate practices and federal policies prioritized homeownership for whites while driving Black Americans — and other minorities — from the area through a mix of intimidation, legislation, and rising property rates.

When Levittown — long touted as the model of the modern American suburb — was created in 1947, non-whites were expressly forbidden from owning any of the 17,400 new homes, with the deeds

Bruce Blakeman couldn’t care less about girls’ sports.

By signing an executive order to ban teams that allow transgender girls and women from playing in Nassau County athletic facilities last week, Blakeman continued to distract from his shirking of responsibilities as Nassau County Executive.

Since his marginal win over Laura Curran in 2021, after campaigning on the promise of $128 million in tax cuts, Blakeman has rejected every cut in annual budget proposals.

In 2022, amid the highest rates of new Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in the county, he issued a series of orders against mask mandates in schools.

What has he been doing instead in his capacity as executive? Attacking the participation of the county’s small percentage of transgender girls and women in athletics, a right that is supported by experts in the field, including the National Women’s Law Center. Blakeman’s order does not mention transgender boys and men — instead he hides his under-researched and dangerous order behind a thin veil of Victorian-era patriarchal values and personal opinion.

“Part of good government is listening to your constituents,” Blakeman said in a recent interview. Listen to this constituent, Bruce: Do your job, and leave trans kids alone.

CArTEr ALLEN Garden City

themselves preventing ownership by “any person other than members of the Caucasian race,” according to a 2011 research paper by Baruch College Sociology professor robert Courtney Smith. robert Moses, the urban planner and public official who is best known today for creating Jones Beach State Park and the state parkway system, designed Long Island parkways to make them impassable for buses, frequently the only mode of transportation for non-white and lowincome families. While some latter-day historians question the validity of this claim, Moses was also known to have fought against integrating public swimming pools in the 1920s.

African-Americans have continuously defied the odds and obstacles set against them — whether it be Jackie robinson playing Major League Baseball, or mathematicians Creola Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson helping NASA put men on the moon. recognizing those contributions — and learning from our mistakes of the past can open the door for even greater accomplishments in the future, as we look to remove more barriers.

The late Maya Angelou once said that “history, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived. But if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”

Kreiss’s column

last week, “It’s Library Lovers Month — borrow a book.” Libraries are the greatest thing. They open the world to anyone willing to look. Not everyone bothers to look, but those who want to have the opportunity.

Writing climate change into the K-12 curriculum

we are living in the midst of a climate emergency, with the expectation that conditions will significantly worsen in the near future. In January, NASA and the National oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed that 2023 was the hottest year ever recorded. In New York state, climate change is impacting the environment, society and the economy as extreme weather events increase in frequency and intensity. Floods are more frequent, and the growing season for crops is changing. Climate disasters have cost the northeastern United States over $80 billion since 1980.

In response to the threat of a climate catastrophe, there is a renewed push to include climate awareness in the K-12 school curriculum. New Jersey was the first state to mandate climate change lessons in its public schools. New York State Senate Bill S278A would amend state education law, “establishing a course of instruction and learning expectations on climate education in all public pre-kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools.” There is a com-

panion bill in the Assembly, A1559A.

over 200 educational professionals and organizations representing tens of thousands of members have signed a letter in support of the state legislation. It reads in part:

“New York State has set ambitious climate change adaptation and mitigation goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). This Act commits the state to 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040, and a reduction of at least 85% below 1990-level (greenhouse gas) emissions by 2050. The CLCPA implementation plan recognizes that actions to address climate change will be needed at scale and across all sectors of the state, including ‘the need for P-12 curricula to include climate change education,’ as well as ‘a coordinated effort on outreach and education across all sectors of the economy.’ Addressing climate change is an educational project, and we stand ready as educational professionals to assist New York State as it addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapidly changing climate.”

tincludes a guide for teaching about climate and climate change. The Climate and resilience Education Task Force offers a toolkit for supporting climate action and education.

he New York City Department of Education isn’t waiting for legislative action.

While New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and California want to expand student understanding of the threat of climate change to the world as we know it, a number of states governed by republican Party climate change deniers, including Florida, Texas and Virginia, are committed to ignorance and obfuscation. In Connecticut, republican State rep. John Piscopo is demanding that lessons on climate change include unsupported challenges to the scientific consensus that human action and the emission of fossil fuels into the atmosphere are the primary engine of global warming. Piscopo charges that scientists and teachers who want a climate-awareness curriculum are trying to indoctrinate students.

different grade levels, such as “rain School,” by James rumford, a picture book for kindergarten through thirdgrades about children living in the town of Kélo, in the Central African country of Chad. Every year their school must be rebuilt because the building is destroyed by powerful storms.

Monica Pagan-Guzman, who teaches third grade at Public School 83 in East harlem and took part in the program, started a lunch club in which students discuss climate change.

This month, the Department of Education and the United Federation of Teachers co-hosted a climate change training session for up to 500 educators.

The National Wildlife Federation is already asking teachers to pledge to teach at least 10 hours a year to promote climate change awareness. Its website

Letters

We need to keep that going, and not be controlled by closed-minded people.

You may not know that about one-third of Nassau County libraries allow adult patrons to borrow a telescope just like a book. I have been promoting the Library Telescope Program for almost eight years now, and I work with 17 Nassau County libraries so far.

Everything I do is free to the library. It just needs to buy the telescope and various accessories directly from vendors, totaling about $450. I help by modifying the telescope to make it easy to use and transport, and provide maintenance as needed. I also provide staff and patron training on how to handle and use the telescope, as well as periodic astronomy-related presentations. In March I will be doing eclipse presentations at eight libraries, and occasionally I do Moon Parties as well. All at no cost.

There are now over 1,000 libraries running the Library Telescope Program, mostly in the U.S. and Canada, but also in other countries.

ToM LYNCh Lynbrook

A neighborly winter surprise

To the Editor:

Looking out my bedroom window, noticing the snowfall had just about stopped, I decided to gear up and start the removal process. As I was clearing off the car, readying to start the shoveling, I noticed that part of my front walk has been cleared. Looking even closer, I saw a body working on the front entranceway. My neighbor has often started snow removal for me as I have done for him, so I thought for sure it was either him or one of his sons helping out.

As I got closer to the sidewalk, I realized for sure that this helper, a young man, was unknown to me. I asked why he was helping, and he said, “I got up early, noticed the snowfall and decided to do some shoveling.” he was finishing up the last section of sidewalk, so I went inside to grab some cash to give him, but when I came back outside, he was gone. off to job No. 2, I suppose. Whoever you are, thank you!

PhIL GrELLA

Rockville Centre

The New York City Department of Education isn’t waiting for legislative action. Last summer, 39 city elementaryschool teachers took part in a four-day training on “Integrating Climate Education in N.Y.C. Public Schools.” The workshop included children’s literature that teachers can use in their classrooms at

Since the start of the Industrial revolution, human-caused climate change has impacted the globe with the burning of fossil fuels. The debate in classrooms and the political realm should not be over whether climate change is happening, or to what extent it puts human civilization at risk, but rather how societies and individuals should respond. on my website, alansinger.net, I have high school-level lesson material aligned with my book “Teaching Climate history: There is No Planet B.” The package includes documents for use in both science and social studies classes.

Dr. Alan Singer is a professor of teaching, learning and technology and the director of social studies education programs at Hofstra University.

Framework by Tim Baker

At Ogden Elementary School’s Father-Daughter and Special Person Dance — Valley Stream

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