East Meadow Herald 03-07-2024

Soulful sounds at the library

Page 3

Earning their badge

Page 4

Making History

East Meadow High School’s girls’

Monday night,

69-66 in the Class AA final at Farmingdale State College. Story, additional photos, page ?

NUMC opens new wing and celebrates an employee

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

There was a lot to celebrate at the Nassau University Medical Center last week with the opening of a new, state-of-the-art surgical patient wing and the honoring of its employee of the month, Daniel Pena, who played an integral role in making the new wing a reality.

On the hospital’s 8th floor, Nassau Healthcare Corporation Chairman Matthew Bruderman and NUMC interim president and CEO Meg Ryan were joined by hospital physicians and staff from dozens of departments on March 1 to officially celebrate the opening of the new surgical wing.

Ryan said when Bruderman first began his role with the healthcare network two years ago, he walked the entire hospital. The 8th

Continued on page 10

East Meadow High senior organizes book drive

By MAHIRA AHMED

Intern

East Meadow High School senior Kshan Pandey recently spearheaded a book drive for the nonprofit Hindi’s Libraries, collecting 1,700 books throughout January.

Hindi’s Libraries was created in August 2018, shortly after the death of Dr. Hindi Krinsky, 32, a mother of five, and an English teacher at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School. There, she was also a curriculum coordinator.

Pandey has been a volunteer for Hindi’s since 2020, and her

contributions have helped expand access to literature for children all over Long Island.

In order to continue Krinsky’s legacy and her love of literature, her family and friends partnered together to donate books to children in need. The success of their mission to continue Krinsky’s good work, through Hindi’s Libraries, has reached children on a global scale from the 50 states to countries like India and Haiti.

“Hindi had a passion for reading and love of literature, so in order to keep such fondness alive, and donate to those from low-income communities, who are often deprived of such

entities, family and friends came together to create Hindi’s Libraries,” Pandey said.

The nonprofit organization has collected more than 400,000 books and partnered with 750 organizations worldwide, since its inception in 2018.

To get the book drive up and running, Pandey worked with the high school’s faculty and students. As president of the school’s Social Studies Honor Society and co-vice president of the National English Honor Society, she was able to reach a wide variety of students from different backgrounds, who pitched in to donate children’s books.

Hindi’s Libraries accepts new and gently used books for children and young adults, including board books, picture books, leveled readers, chapter books, children’s novels, young adult novels and high school literary works. Along with drives run by volunteers, book-drop locations have been set up around Long Island, and these

sites could be found at HindisLibraries.org.

Some include Hart & Soul Dance in Woodmere, Lollibop Cafe & Play in Lawrence and Warren Levi Martial Arts & Fitness in Cedarhurst.

“This drive was important to me for a few reasons,” East Meadow High School senior

Continued on page 13

Media Origin Inc./Herald

basketball team won its first-ever county championship

defeating Manhasset

Nursing home pleads guilty to cover up

By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com

The Fulton Commons Care Center Inc. in East Meadow will pay up to $8.6 million after a settlement with the state Attorney General’s office and agreed to install monitors to reform the nursing home’s health care and financial operations because of years of fraud and resident mistreatment.

The Fulton Commons corporation also pleaded guilty for criminal acts related to covering up the reports of sexual assaults against residents in 2020 and 2022. The company was fined $5,000 and ordered to comply with the conditions imposed by the attorney general.

“For years, residents at Fulton Commons endured despicable mistreatment that left them with traumatic injuries and humiliating living conditions while the owners and operator of the facility pocketed millions of dollars of taxpayer funds instead of investing in critical care,” Attorney General Letitia James said in a news release.

In 2002, James accused the Merrick Avenue facility of fraud and abuse, which she says led to insufficient staffing, resulting in “significant” neglects, mistreatment and abuse. The suit also alleged that the nursing home’s owners used the state’s Medicaid program for them selves rather than the facility. James described a “toxic culture of

deceit” at the nursing home when it came to coronavirus pandemic, including claims of underreporting deaths, and claiming to families the facility was free from Covid-19.

According to James, residents and their families cited many deficiencies in care from the nursing home failing to provide basic bodily and dental hygiene or nutritional management.

Former administrator Cathie Doyle employed what the attorney general called “a dangerous and unlawful policy” that did not report allegations of sexual abuse to law enforcement.

One woman patient missed doses of her medication after foot amputation surgery due to diabetes as the bell she rang for help often went unanswered. Her briefs were soiled for prolonged periods of time. Her remaining foot developed an infection in January 2020 that turned her entire foot black from necrosis. On the day she died in November of 2020, her health care proxy tried to see but was told her condition wasn’t severe enough for an in-person visit.

Another female patient suffering from dementia was admitted to Fulton Commons in 2018. Her son observed an insufficiently staffed facility as only one or two people were available to care for 30 residents at a time. Multiple times he saw the care for his mother was severely lacking from a large bruise on her forehead, to being out of her wheelchair and

crawling on the floor to being tied to the chair with what seemed to be a piece of clothing. She died there in April 2020.

Fulton Commons owners coordinated two separate financial schemes that directed money intended for patients to themselves, according to the attorney general. One was where $14.9 million was paid to the owners through inflated rental payments using Medicare and Medicaid money.

The principal owner and operator, Moshe Kalter, paid bogus salaries totaling more than $16 million to his eight adult children, who were each owned 1 percent of Fulton Commons, for no-show

The Fulton Commons Care Center Inc. in East Meadow will pay up to $8.6 million in fines and have to pay for independent monitors after a settlement with the state Attorney General’s office and pleading guilty to covering up sexual abuse.

jobs at the nursing home, as part of the other scheme.

Should Fulton Commons violate the imposed terms it can be excluded from the Medicaid program. An independent health care monitor must be appointed and paid for by the owners to oversee all operations at the facility and ensues the nursing home proves patient care.

An independent financial monitor must also be appointed and paid for, and will have the power to approve or decline all transactions related to the monitor’s recommendations or another part of the settlement terms. A chief compliance officer will also be appointed.

Mallory Wilson/Herald file

The sounds of soul music and the blues

HooDoo Loungers bring an electric performance to crowd at East Meadow library

If you live in East Meadow and were looking for a concert that was a blend of classic soul and New Orleans Swing, then the only place to be was the HooDoo Loungers performance at the East Meadow Public Library. The group of musicians took to the stage on Feb. 25, performing for a large audience that packed the library’s auditorium.

Drawing inspiration from artists such as like Dr. John, known for his achievements in blues, jazz, funk and R&B, and Fats Domino, known for his swing rock n’ roll music, the HooDoo Loungers present a unique sound to fans. Whether its classic hits or original “musical gumbo,” according to their website, their sound is sure to get people of all ages and backgrounds onto their feet.

The band’s latest album, “SO BEAUTIFUL,” was recorded during the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “It offers a bit of fun and optimism,” the band wrote on its website HooDooLoungers.com, “at a time that we all need it the most.”

With fifteen tracks, 11 of which were written by three of the band’s members, the album is peppy and upbeat.

Its members, including Eric Kay, Dan Koontz, Dawnette Darden, Josh LeClere, Joe Lauro, Doug Dean and Eric Miller had crowds of East Meadow residents entertained all afternoon.

There’s a show nearly every Sunday at the library. For more, visit EastMeadow. info, or visit the library at 1886 Front Street, East Meadow.

–Jordan Vallone

Laura Paul/Herald photos

The HooDoo Loungers consisting of musicians, from left, Eric Kay, Dan Koontz, Dawnette Darden, Josh LeClere, Joe Lauro, Doug Dean and Eric Miller, performed on Feb. 25 in East Meadow.

The HooDoo Loungers, a soul and New Orleans Swing group, performed at the East Meadow Public Library last month, drawing in a packed house.

Dawnette Darden led vocals throughout the performance.

The band draws inspiration from musicians like Dr. John and Fats Domino. On stage, Eric Miller.

HooDoo Loungers recently released an album of original work, ‘SO BEAUTIFUL.’ Above, Eric Kay on stage.

On the keys during the performance was band member Dan Koontz.

Learning about local government

Conor Farrell, Liam Buckley, Timothy Landow and Demarco Hernandez of East Meadow Boy Scout Troop 362 met Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray on Feb. 22 at Hempstead Town Hall. The Scouts were given a tour of Town Hall and briefed on the importance of local government as they work to receive their Citizenship Badge.

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Cheuk Suen and Karina Chen of East Meadow were married in a ceremony officiated by Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray on Feb. 22 at Hempstead Town Hall. For more information about marriage licenses or scheduling a wedding, call (516) 812-3014 or visit HempsteadNY.gov/marriage.

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by Joan Chittister

Your writer was grateful to find author Chittister’s book, subtitled “Growing Old Gracefully”, written by her at age seventy, the same age your writer turns this year.

A certain serenity sets in.

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Inevitably, we come to see things differently as we age. In “The Gift of Years” these changes in the “capstone years” as she calls them, present the gift of becoming more fully alive than ever. Cicero notes that old age is richer in reflection, force of character and judgement. The maturity and mellowing of character allows the older generation to provide a behavioral model for younger generations showing them the way to a fullness of life.

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Chittister writes “But we are here to depart from this world as finished as we can possibly become. Old age is...exactly the time to grow in new ways [making] sense out of all the growing we have already done. It is the softening season when everything in us is meant to achieve its sweetest, richest, most unique self”.

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Chittister calls it a damping-down time of life where anger, jealousy, envy, and pride subside to awaken another whole level of life.

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Seneca said these years abound with pleasure if we know how to use them. Free of obligations and deadlines, there is freshness in these years. Understanding, enjoyment and love of life all increase, allowing for deeper, richer and more important experiences. The world looks different — more to be treasured, explored and enjoyed.

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“As Agatha Christie put it, we ‘bloom’ as we grow. New abilities emerge, new insights arise. New vision is possible.”

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A certain urgency and intensity in living sets in as we become aware of the presence of time. With forty short chapters on subjects such as Regret, Joy, Possibility, Letting Go, Success, Wisdom, Time and Appreciation, “The Gift of Years” provides an indispensable guide to aging well.

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Courtesy Town of Hempstead

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HERALD SPORTS

Jets soar to first county championship

By BRIAN KACHARABA

sports@liherald.com

The girls’ basketball team will finally have a banner in the East Meadow High School gym.

Junior Allison Twible scored a game-high 20 points and senior Charlotte Viola added 18, including two huge free throws in the final seconds, as the seventhseeded Jets claimed their first-ever county championship after holding off top-seeded Manhasset, 69-66, in the Nassau Class AA title game Monday night at Farmingdale State College.

Freshman Angelina Cronin scored 13 points and sophomore Kayla Lederer had 12 with a key steal in the final minute for East Meadow, which beat the top three seeds en route to the championship. The Jets (195) will return to Farmingdale to face Section XI titleist Westhampton Beach (21-2) for the Long Island Class AA championship Sunday afternoon at 2:30.

“It’s unbelievable,” an emotional Jets head coach Peter Olenik said afterwards. “I can’t describe even what I’m feeling right now other than absolute pride in my girls, pride in this program. No boys or girls’ team has ever been to a county semi, never mind a county final and to take it home is just…right now I can’t even put it into words.”

The Jets were poised for a comfortable victory after taking a 63-49 lead with 4:23 left, but the Indians took advantage of East Meadow turnovers and missed shots and scored 13 of the next 15 points to pull within 65-62 with 1:16 remaining.

Manhasset had the ball down by three with 48 seconds left and were moving it around the half-court when Lederer intercepted an inside pass and drove down the court before being fouled on her drive.

“I was like, ‘I just gotta get this,’ and I just got it and ran,” Lederer recalled.

She hit the first shot, but missed the second, and the Indians took advantage on Amelia LoPinto’s baseline basket that made it 66-64 with 28.5 ticks remaining.

Twible also hit one of two free throws with 24.4 sec-

onds left, but Lauren Perfetto converted an offensive rebound on Manhasset’s ensuing possession to cut the deficit to one with 8.6 seconds left. Viola was quickly fouled and she nailed both free throws to ice the game.

“When I practice free throws, even in my backyard, I say ‘pressure’ in my head,” Viola said. “So I just did that at the line and it kinda flows and blocks out everything else.”

East Meadow began the playoff run with a 70-30 win over No. 10 Roslyn on Feb. 16. The Jets then edged second-seeded Garden City 56-55 on Feb. 22 before stunning No. 3 MacArthur 60-25 in the semifinals at Farmingdale four days later.

“We always knew we had the skill, we always knew we had the players, it was just a matter of it coming together,” Viola said. “I think our game against Garden City, beating the two seed really brought our confidence up to be able to take it all the way.”

Manhasset held an 18-12 lead after the first quarter and a 27-24 advantage with four minutes left in the sec-

ond before East Meadow went on a 12-3 run to end the half. Viola’s 3-pointer from the left arc tied the game and Lederer’s drive put the Jets up by two.

Cronin saved an errant pass in the Jets’ offensive zone which led to Twible’s basket and then drilled a trey from the left corner to make it 34-27. Manhasset’s Danielle Perfetto answered with her own 3-pointer with five seconds left, but that was just enough time for Twible to hit a buzzer-beating shot from the left post to make it 36-30 at halftime.

Photos by Media Origin Inc./Herald

East Meadow completed a Cinderella run to the Nassau Class AA championship Monday night with a 69-66 win over Manhasset.

Junior Allison Twible, right, poured in a game-high 20 points.

Sophomore Kayla Lederer, left, scored 12 points in the historic victory.

Projects, pros honored at REAL Awards

Long Island’s most prolific real estate leaders highlighted at annual event

By Parker Schug

The diverse Long Island real estate scene includes industry experts from every niche specialty from construction and design, to insurance and sales. And the best of the best were honored last week as part of Herald Community Newspapers and RichnerLive’s third annual Real Estate Achievement and Leadership Awards, or REAL Awards.

“It’s a relatively small island, but a lot of things are happening,” said Chris Kelly, the marketing vice president at Tritec Real Estate Co.

Held at The Heritage Club at Bethpage, this year’s awards once again honored many leaders in the space who have been in the game for decades, as well as up-and-coming professionals — all with successful projects and happy clients to show for their work.

Antoinette Biordi, four-time Emmy Award-winning anchor and reporter for News 12, handed out a number of awards split into nearly 30 categories that included Broker of the Year, Construction Group of the Year, and the top residential and commercial broker.

Sara Gore, real estate saleswoman and four-time Emmy Award-winning television host for “Open House” and “New York Live” on NBC, was a keynote speaker and recipient of the special “Trailblazer” award.

“I’ve been in this business for a long time,” Gore said. ”But now to be on the other side of things — and be on the real estate side and really feel like I’ve solidified my place, my stake in this industry — it feels really good to be a part of it.

“I’m so proud to be included within this group of professionals that are here tonight.”

Mel Pulatani and son Dan of MP Construction D — a general contracting company specializing in luxury residential and sophisticated commercial projects — were given the Father & Son Power Team special award.

“I mean it’s obviously an honor to be honored at this event,” Dan Pulatani said. “But I have to give all credit to my father. He’s the real reason we’re here. He’s the guy that makes the dream happen. I’m lucky and honored to be his partner every day.”

Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island, accepted the NotFor-Profit special award.

“The theme of our work is connecting to local communities,” Alexander said. “And that’s how real estate development is successful: When they work with local communities. It means a lot when a number of the other honorees, too, are connected to local communities. I’m in great company.”

Steven Krieger, chief executive of B2K Development, was selected as Power Developer of the Year.

“Hard work leads to luck,” Krieger said. “I’ve been so lucky to meet so many great people in this business.”

Beth Donner, founder of Melvillebased Beth Donner Design, was honored

with the Interior Designer of the Year special award. Christopher Robinson, president of R&M Engineering, accepted the engineering special award, while also celebrating 25 years in the business.

Elisabetta Coschignano, of the Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano law

firm, was among those honored in the commercial real estate category.

“I pride myself on being prepared in the Long Island real estate world, and especially as it relates to zoning and land use,” Coschignano said.

Connie Pinilla, principal agent for the

Connie Pinilla Team at Compass, received the brokers’ award in the residential category for her 21 practicing years.

“I love real estate,” Pinilla said. “It makes me feel on top of the world.”

Gold Sponsors of the event included B2K Development and Beth Donner Design.

Silver Sponsors were All State Abstract, Amazon, Anthony A. Nozzolillo Esq., Breslin Realty Development Corp., Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency, Brown Harris Stevens, Champion Elevators, Cronin & Cronin, Damianos Realty Group, Empire Electrical Corp., GC Advisory Group, Harris Beach PLLC, Long Island Board of Realtors, Men on the Move, Merritt Environmental Consulting Corp., Metropolitan Realty Associates, Mojo Stumer Associates, MP Construction D, PX4 Development, R&M Engineering, Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano, Signature Premier Properties, Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency, the Connie Pinilla Team at Compass, the Crest Group and Tritec.

The ballroom filled with guests ready for the ceremony to begin.

Mark Stumer of Mojo Stumer Associates.

Tim Baker/Herald photos Sara Gore, host of Open House NYC, was the keynote speaker for the evening.

Kelly Heck accepts on behalf of Tritec. Eric Alexander of Vision Long Island.

Beth Donner with her crystal award. Christopher Robinson of R&M Engineering.

Joseph Farkas accepting his special award for Real Estate Investment/Development Company of the Year.

Kevin Leatherman of Leatherman Homes and president of LIBOR.

Steven Krieger of B2K Development

Honoree Connie Pinilla, right, at the REAL Awards photo booth.

Honorees Justin Breslin and Elisabetta Coschignano.

Honorees Marco Scarda, left, Daniel Scarda, Chuck Merritt and Cara Cronin at RichnerLive REAL Awards last week.

Father and son power duo Dan and Mel Pulatani.

Natasha Williams of LIBOR with her son.

Holden Leeds/Herald photos Julia Krispeal from Serhant.

Michael Puntillo of PX4 Development.

Jack Martins of Harris Beach PLLC.

Pena named Employee of the Month

Continued from page 1

floor was not used for patients, and housed offices and storage spaces.

“He said ‘Make it patient rooms — let’s do something more for the community,’” she said. “So, over the past year or so, we did that.”

All of the renovation to the space was completed in-house by several of NUMC’s departments that oversee facility maintenance, engineering and construction.

The wing boasts eight new patient rooms, which can care for 16 patients, a new nurse’s station and break rooms for staff, as well as rest areas for families of patients.

We all have a role to play. We all have a job to do. And we are all responsible for one another’s success as well as the success of the hospital

Daniel Pena Supervisor, Nassau Healthcare Corporation

Building Maintenance

Pena, who was recently named the supervisor of the NHCC Building Maintenance at the NUMC, has worked for the hospital since 2008, Ryan said.

“You’re passionate about your work and that shines through — and this is all your work, it’s beautiful,” Ryan said at the ceremony last week, gesturing to the new surgical suite behind her. “Danny and his team have been working hard on creating this beautiful unit. And he did the same thing for our MRI unit that we opened in December. The beautiful craftsmanship that you see behind me is all a result of Danny and his hard work and his teamwork.”

Pena said that the success of the new unit took a lot of “interdepartmental cooperation,” and thanked all his colleagues that helped make it possible.

“It takes a village,” he said. “We all have a role to play. We all have a job to do. And we are all responsible for one another’s success as well as the success of the hospital.”

What made the honor all the more special for Pena is he’s from the same neighborhood the hospital calls home. He grew up just down the road in Westbury, went to W.T. Clarke High School in the East Meadow School District, and was able to see the top of the hospital’s tower from his parent’s back stoop.

Pena was joined at the ceremony by his parents, his wife Dawn, and their sons Joey and Logan.

Bruderman, speaking to Pena’s sons, emphasized the importance their dad’s work, in relation to the new wing. NUMC serves more than 270,00 patients annually, and more than 70 percent are racial minorities. 80 percents of the health care network’s patients are on Medicaid and Medicare.

“Your dad isn’t only doing amazing work here that we’re recognizing him for,” Bruderman said, “but he’s doing it for the people that don’t have access to healthcare in the community. There’s a lot of people that can’t afford to go to a hospital. They can’t see a doctor. Your dad, he’s helping and supporting — and has passion for a hospital that has such a unique mission.”

A carpenter, Pena said when he began working for the hospital, he knew he’d found a place he’d be happy.

“I love being a carpenter at NUMC,” he said. “It has become an outlet for my creativity — a place where you can really grow if you put in the work. I’m blessed to be here. Thank you to the administration for electing me to be the Employee of the Month for March, and thank you to all of my coworkers for working with me and alongside me for all these years.”

Jordan Vallone/Herald photos nassau university medical Center administration and staff, joined by elected officials, and daniel pena, the march employee of the month with his family, celebrated the opening of a new, state-of-the-art surgical patient wing.

a new nurse’s station welcomes patients, staff and visitors to the floor. all of the work done to the floor was completed in-house, hospital administration said.

the surgical patient wing on the 8th floor has eight new rooms, which can care for 16 patients and new rest areas for staff and families.

daniel pena, supervisor of nassau Healthcare Corporation Building maintenance and the march employee of the month, spoke about his career at numC, and how thankful he is to be part of the team.

What’s happening around East Meadow?

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The Council of East Meadow Community Organizations, best known by the acronym, CEMCO, held its first meeting of 2024 on Feb. 20 at the East Meadow Public Library. On the agenda were several key items affecting the East Meadow community, as well as information pertaining to upcoming plans and events in the coming months.

“Thank you all so much for coming, it’s been a while since we’ve held a general meeting,” CEMCO President Joe Parisi said. “We have a number of things that we would like to inform the community about.”

Following a treasurers report, Parisi turned the meeting over to Norma Gonsalves who leads CEMCO’s Crime Watch. The Crime Watch is a subcommittee of the organization that meets with problem-oriented police officers in the precincts that encompass East Meadow, as well as other key leaders in the community.

The East Meadow Union Free School District administration has long been involved in these meetings, but under previous administration, Crime Watch fell out of touch with district officials. Gonsalves was happy to report that under Kenneth Rosner’s leadership, the superintendent of the district since last September, the relationship between

Crime Watch and the schools was restored.

“We have everybody back to the table,” she said. “I am talking about the principal of middle schools and high schools, thanks to the new superintendent Ken Rosner. When I first met him, I said to him ‘You got to do us a favor. We want the principals of the schools at the table.’ Because there are things they see and they bring to our attention, and vice versa.”

On CEMCO’s Facebook page, Gonsalves posts a recap of all Crime Watch meetings, in an effort to share with the public what was discussed, and what they should be looking out for.

WParisi said he wrote to the attorney representing Chick-Fil-A to get an update on the proposal, and she responded.

“The Board of Appeals granted the special exception and the variance application at the public hearing on Nov. 29,” he said, referring to an email he received from the lawyer. “The site plan application was filed thereafter and it is currently working its way through various departmental reviews.”

e have a number of things that we would like to inform the community about.

JOE PARisi President, CEMCO

Agenda items included discussions about the proposal for a Chick-Fil-A to be built on Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow as well as information about the bird sanctuary that CEMCO maintains.

The Chick-Fil-A proposed site is located at the corner of Hempstead Turnpike and Merrick Avenue. There was Town of Hempstead board zoning meeting on Nov. 29 in regards to the proposal, because it needed a few variances in order to be approved.

Concerns about how drive-through lines for the restaurant may bleed out into Hempstead Turnpike and Merrick Avenue, as the intersection is heavily trafficked, were brought up by meeting attendees. However, other attendees cited the parking lot design of the Levittown Chick-Fil-A that opened last year, also on Hempstead Turnpike, which keeps the drive-through line strictly contained to the restaurant.

It is still unclear what design the restaurant will use, as the plans are still in the approval process, but CEMCO will provide updates about the proposal as it continues to be worked through.

CEMCO maintains a bird sanctuary off Tremont Place in East Meadow, just behind Speno Park, which has its front entrance on East Meadow Avenue. The

area of land has been left to the wildlife for more than 25 years, and maintain by CEMCO through cleanups, projects and other community partnerships.

While CEMCO has a cleanup date set for May 4, there’s been consistent vandalism issues within the sanctuary, mainly due to its fences, which Parisi said “are in pretty bad shape.” CEMCO is working with different officials at the town and county level to see if a new fence can be put in, but its been a long process and will likely be costly.

“This particular piece of property is a beautiful area — it really has a lot of wildlife,” he said. “The problem is that it does have water, and that’s why the bird are there. But if a kid gets in there, a young kid especially, that’s the concern.

“It’s no longer about the bird sanctuary,” he added. “It’s about liability for somebody getting hurt, really seriously hurt.”

Parisi announced that East Meadow’s Community Day will take place on June 8 at Speno Park. More details are to follow, but several East Meadow organizations come together to make the day an enjoyable affair for children and families.

The next CEMCO meeting will take place on March 20 at 7 pm. at the East Meadow Public Library. The library is at 1886 Front Street, East Meadow. For updates, visit the group’s Facebook page, Council of East Meadow Community Organizations.

Fed Bank leader says Long Island is recovering

By MICHAEL HINMAN mhinman@liherald.com

We’ve heard a lot about the economy in the years coming out of the coronavirus pandemic — and those conversations will only get louder as we head into what is expected to be a rather contentious presidential election.

But when it comes to the economy on Long Island — at least for now, it’s rebounding. At least according to the man whose collection of gold in Manhattan far exceeds what’s found in Fort Knox.

John Williams, president and chief executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, paid the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Uniondale a visit last week, sharing the state of the economy with members of the Long Island Association. And there’s plenty to talk about.

“As business leaders, you all know all too well the impacts the pandemic had on our communities in our economy,” Williams said “In many way, Long Island’s economy mirrors New York City’s, and both were hit especially hard in 2020. In fact, much harder than what we saw in the rest of the country.”

Inflation was rampant, the job outlook was unstable, and the supply chain was struggling to regain its once super-efficient form.

But an important milestone was reached last year, Williams said: total employment numbers returned to what they were before the pandemic.

“Last year was also a turning point for the U.S. economy overall,” Williams said. “The economy grew far faster than anyone expected a year ago, boosted by increases in the labor force and productivity.”

The fact that the financial market has held for the past two years also is significant, Williams said, since that’s the longest stretch in five decades.

And although inflation continues to be a concern, at least as far as personal consumption expenditures go,

numbers are falling from the 40-year high experienced just a couple years ago to levels considered far more stable.

Williams visited with the LIA as part of an overall Long Island tour that included stops in Suffolk County as well as at Hofstra University. Although monetary policy itself is decided on Capitol Hill and the White House, the Reserve Bank of New York is where the nation’s monetary policy is implemented as part of the larger Fed.

Williams visited Long Island at a time when the economy here has stabilized, according to LIA president and chief executive Matthew Cohen.

“Our gross domestic product is $200 billion,” Cohen said. “About 45 percent of adults have a college degree — which is higher, actually, in both New York City, and the state as a whole. And, as a region, we have a low unem-

ployment rate.”

That’s pretty significant for a region that is larger than 15 states. Which is why it’s important businesses on Long Island work together, Cohen added, to lead the rest of the nation in the ongoing recovery.

“We need to work together — everyone in this room, everyone in our region — to create new good-paying jobs to support the growth of both legacy sectors and these emerging industries,” he said. It’s also important to “cultivate entrepreneurship so that the next Apple can be built here.”

Over the decades, Long Island and the country has proven to itself it can weather a number of storms. But the economy is ever-changing, Williams said, and the pandemic proved it’s important to strengthen the country’s financial infrastructure.

“It’s kind of a recognition of our limits to that resiliency,” Williams said. “Supply chains have become extremely complex.

“That’s one of the lessons — that when you have extreme movements in demand supply … things can crack in that system. People are recognizing that, in terms of businesses, of having more resiliency.”

Williams can’t make predictions of what the economy will bring, but can say the world we live in now is already different, and will continue changing as we move forward. Like the movement of more and more people to continue working from home, or maintaining hybrid work environments where they may only be in the office a couple times a week.

A potential solution?

“To do office space in the modern world, you have to invest a lot to make that office space attractive,” Williams said. “It’s just one of those kinds of evolutions that is jarring that we go through in cities like New York where things have changed, and we need to adjust to that. I’m confident we will be able to do that.”

Michael Hinman/Herald

John Williams, right, president and chief executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, joined Long Island Association president and chief executive Matthew Cohen for a discussion on Long Island’s economy during a visit to the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Uniondale last week.

Books will touch the lives of L.I. children

Continued from page 1

Wenxi Hu said. “The main one being that I grew up reading books and sharing children’s books with my sisters. The sharing of books continued on when I began working in daycares and in middle school. So as someone who can’t always afford to donate anything, books were my way of sharing.”

The collaboration of students and staff working together to collect 1,700 book donations for Hindi’s Libraries apparently made Pandey beam with pride.

“Though it was a slow start, my favorite part was watching the donations grow enormously, overflowing the bins,” Pandey said.

Students were eager to help donate books, including childhood favorites like “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and “Smile.”

“When we were picking up the books and putting them into the car, a lot of childhood memories came back to me after seeing a lot of books that I used to read as a child,” Ariana Vasquez, another senior at the high school, said. “After hearing about the purpose of the book drive, I wanted to donate some books of my own to help out.”

After the January drive was completed, the books were donated to one of the nonprofit’s locations in Hewlett on Feb. 4. The efforts of the East Meadow com-

munity will impact the reading experiences of many children, according to volunteers for Hindi’s.

Pandey’s efforts, as well as the contributions of the East Meadow community, were recognized on Hindi’s Libraries’

Facebook page.

“Thanks to Kshan,” Hindi’s Libraries wrote, “and the entire East Meadow community for contributing to our donation efforts.”

Pandey said, “Literature is the best

gift any child can ever receive as they open doors to the world, allowing children to grow, whether it be the world of knowledge, education or adventure. Books can be one’s best friend.”

Photos courtesy Kshan Pandey Kshan pandey, a senior at east meadow High School, led a book drive for the nonprofit Hindi’s Libraries during January.

Kshan pandey, right, with guidance counselor nicole Leibowitz, in front of one of the donation boxes at east meadow High School.

BUILDER

Aquacade Pools

Big Becks Pools & Pavers

Brothers 3

TITLE COMPANY

Fidelity National Title Group

Liberty National Title

MacGregor Abstract Corp.

TREE SERVICE COMPANY

Greencare Tree Service

We Care Tree Service

Wonderland Tree Care + Landscapes, Wonderland Tree Care + Landscapes

UPHOLSTERY

A & B Upholstery

East Meadow Upholsterers Corp.

Tony’s Decorating-Upholstering

WINDOWS COMPANY

Marcor Construction

Panther Siding & Windows, Inc. Unified Home Remodeling

KIDS & EDUCATION

ADULT EDUCATIONCONTINUING EDUCATION

Hofstra University

Molloy University

Nassau Community College

ART SCHOOL

ARTrageous Studio, LLC

Hue Studio

The Art Studio

BEAUTY SCHOOL

Brittany Beauty Academy, Levittown

Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute

Nassau BOCES

CHARTER/PAROCHIAL/ PRIVATE SCHOOL

East Woods School

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

St. Anthony’s High School

COLLEGE PREP

SERVICES/ADVISORS

Chaminade High School College Connection

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

Adelphi University

Hofstra University

Molloy University

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

PRESIDENT

Christine M. Riordan, PhD, Adelphi University

James Lentini, DMA, Molloy University

Susan Poser, PhD, Hofstra University

DANCE SCHOOL

Dance Mechanix Hart & Soul Dance and Performing Arts

Sarah Beth Academy

DAY CAMP

Bellmore United Methodist Nursery School

Bright Star Academy

Hofstra Summer Camps

DAY CARE

Bright Star Academy

Five Towns Early Learning Center

Our Kids Place Hewlett

DRIVING SCHOOL

Bell Auto Driving School

East Meadow Driving School

Suffolk Auto Driving School

GYMNASTICS CENTER

CATS (Children’s Athletic Training School)

KidStrong, Carle Place

LI Elite Gymnastics

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Alexandra Greenberg, George

W. Hewlett High School

Hank Williams, Lawrence

Woodmere Academy

Richard Schaffer, East

Rockaway High School

KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Epic Escape Rooms Long Island

Krafty Hands

Long Island Children’s Museum

LEARNING CENTER/TUTOR

Cornerstone Behavioral Services

Long Beach Public Library

Tutoring Club of Bellmore

MARTIAL ARTS

Goshinkan Jujitsu Dojo

Pakua Martial Arts

Warren Levi Martial Arts & Fitness

MUSIC SCHOOLS/CLASSES

Center Stage Music Center

Long Beach Guitar School

The Children’s Orchestra Society

NURSERY SCHOOL

Bellmore United Methodist Nursery School

Bright Star Academy

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

SPORTS CAMP

Beach Baseball Camp and Clinics

CATS (Children’s Athletic Training School)

Hofstra Summer Sports Academy Camps

PEOPLE & PLACES

B&B/INN

Ram’s Head Inn

Southhampton Inn

The Ocean Bay House

EVENT VENUE

Epic Escape Rooms Long Island

Kombert Caterers

Long Island Children’s Museum

HOTEL

Hampton Inn & Suites Rockville Centre

The Garden City Hotel

Uniondale Marriott

LOCAL TOURIST

ATTRACTION

Long Island Aquarium

Nunley’s Carousel

Raynham Hall Museum

MUSEUM

Cradle of Aviation Museum

Long Island Children’s Museum

Raynham Hall Museum

PLACE TO HAVE A PARTY

Epic Escape Rooms Long Island

Kombert Caterers

Long Island Children’s Museum

PLACE TO WORSHIP

First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove

Temple Avodah

Temple Israel - Lawrence

WEDDING VENUE

Bridgeview Yacht Club

Crest Hollow Country Club

Swan Club On The Harbor

SERVICES

ADVERTISING AGENCY

Austin Williams

Creative Focus Designs, Inc.

Jillian’s Circus

ANIMAL ADOPTION/ RESCUE SERVICES

North Shore Animal League America

Ruff House Rescue

Terry Animal Hospital

APPLIANCE REPAIR STORE

Home Appliance

Reliable Appliance

The Appliance Doctor

ARBITRATION & MEDIATION FIRM

Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP

Resolute Systems, Inc.

Vaz Law, PLLC

ARCHITECT

Katherine Serrano Sosa, Rooted Architecture Studio

Long Island Architecture Studio

Stephen G. Hayduk, P.E., Hayduk Engineering LLC

CAR WASH

Majestic Auto Spa

Seaford Car Wash & Detail Center

Ultimate Express Car Wash

CAR/LIMO SERVICE

Broward Limousines

Executive Limousine of Long Island

Long Island Elite Limousines

M&V Limousines, Ltd.

CEMETERIES

Huntington Rural Cemetery

Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum

St. Charles / Resurrection Cemeteries

CORPORATE LAW FIRM

Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP

Love Law Firm, PLLC

Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.

DIVORCE ATTORNEY

David Mejias, Mejias, Milgrim & Lindo, P.C.

Marina Moreno, Law Office of Marina Moreno, PLLC

Robert Keilson, Esq., Garden City Law Firms

DRY CLEANER

American Drive-In Cleaners

Delta Cleaners

Old Country Cleaners

ELDER LAW ATTORNEY

Jennifer B. Cona, Cona Elder Law

Marina Moreno, Law Office of Marina Moreno, PLLC

Wendy K. Goidel, Goidel Law Group

EMPLOYMENT AGENCY

Express Employment Professionals

NRGUSA

PrideStaff

ESTATE PLANNING

ATTORNEY

Jennifer B. Cona, Cona Elder Law

Marina Moreno, Law Office of Marina Moreno, PLLC

Stephanie D’Angelo, D’Angelo Law Associates

FAMILY LAW FIRM

Joseph Law Group, P.C.

Law Office of Marina Moreno

Mejias Milgrim Alvarado & Lindo, P.C.

FEMALE MENTORING GROUP

Girl Scouts of Nassau County

Miss Long Island Pageants

Moxxie Network

FUNERAL HOME

Gutterman’s Funeral Homes

N. F. Walker Funeral Home

Towers Funeral Home, Inc.

GREEN BUSINESS

Green Home Logic

Green Team LI Winters Bros. Waste Systems

HEALTH CARE LAW FIRM

Cona Elder Law PLLC Harris Beach

The Rizzuto Law Firm

LABOR LAW FIRM

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP

The NHG Law Group P.C

LAUNDROMAT

Bayport Laundromat

Laundry Palace

Lynbrook Laundry

Standard laundromat

LAW FIRM (OVERALL)

OVER 35 EMPLOYEES

Miller and Caggiano, LLP

Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.

The NHG Law Group P.C

LAW FIRM (OVERALL)

UNDER 35 EMPLOYEES

Cona Elder Law PLLC

Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP

The Rizzuto Law Firm

LITIGATION/BUSINESS

LITIGATION LAW FIRM

Levitt LLP

Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC

The Rizzuto Law Firm

MATRIMONIAL LAW FIRM

Law Office of Marina Moreno

Mejias Milgrim Alvarado & Lindo, P.C.

Picarello & Saciolo, P.C.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Hewlett House

Long Island Children’s Museum

Temple Avodah

PERSONAL INJURY

ATTORNEY - FIRM

Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP

The Rizzuto Law Firm

The Selvin Law Firm

PET GROOMER

Kelly, Spaw Pet Salon of Westbury

Maria - The Barrie Inn

Posh Paws Pet Spa & Boutique

PHOTOGRAPHER

Brian Ozegovich, Park Ave Studio

Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, GSM Communications

Jonathan Ortiz, Creative Focus Designs

PROPERTY TAX

REDUCTION SERVICES

Herman Katz

Maidenbaum Property Tax

Reduction Group, LLC

Tax Correction Agency

PUBLIC RELATIONS

COMPANY

Ingrid Dodd Public Relations

Marketing Works

ZE Creative Communications

REAL ESTATE LAW

ATTORNEY

Anthony Nozzolillo, On Point Land Services Corporation

Gilbert Balanoff, Law Offices of Gilbert L. Balanoff, P.C.

Marina Moreno, Law Office of Marina Moreno, PLLC

REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM

Ackerman Law PLLC

Law Office of Marina Moreno

The Law Offices of Gilbert L. Balanoff, P.C.

SELF-STORAGE COMPANY

CubeSmart Self Storage

Freeport Self Storage

Men On The Move Moving & Self Storage

TAX LAW FIRM

Barnes & Barnes, P.C.

Maidenbaum & Sternberg, LLP Tenenbaum Law, P.C.

TRAVEL AGENCY

Magical Dad Vacations - Keith Voets

Superior Travel Consultants

Vitas Travel Service

VETERINARIAN

Gabrielle Pimento, DVM, Bond Vet: Merrick

John Foy, DVM, Terry Animal Hospital

Timothy Sheppard, DVM, Sayville Animal Hospital

WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Jamaica Ash & Rubbish Removal

Long Island Waste Services, LLC

National Waste Services, LLC Winters Bros. Waste Systems

SHOPPING

ANTIQUE STORE

Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Garden City Antiques & Fine Arts, Ltd.

THE SHOPPE by Trubee Hill

APPLIANCE/HOME ELECTRONICS STORE

Appliance World P.C. Richard & Son

Reliable Appliance BOUTIQUE

Jolie Fleur

Trois Jours Boutique Etc.

Uniquely Yours

BRIDAL STORE

Blossom Brides

Bridal Reflections

Estelle’s Dressy Dresses

CARPET STORE

Carpet Depot

Dee-Jay Carpet Co., Inc.

Glen Floors

COIN STORE

Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Long Island Rare Coin & Currency

COLLECTIBLES STORE

Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Living Legends Memorabilia & Collectibles

Remember Yesteryears Vintage Center

CONSIGNMENT/ THRIFT STORE

LuxeSwap

National Council of Jewish

Women Thrift Shop

Worth Repeating, Worth Repeating

EYEWEAR STORE

Eyeglass House

Eyes On Broadway

Mt. Sinai Optical

FARMERS MARKET

Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s

Deep Roots Farmers Market

Meyer’s Farm & Greenhouses

FLORIST

Central Florist

Feldis Florist & Flower Delivery

Pedestals Floral Decorators

FURNITURE STORE

Bob’s Discount Furniture and Mattress Store

Furniture Gallery of Long Island

Raymour & Flanigan

GIFT SHOP

Dolce Confections

Pampered Professional

The SHOPPE by Trubee Hill

GOURMET MARKET

Grace’s Marketplace Sons of a Butcher

The Original Salpino’s of Wantagh

GROCERY/SUPERMARKET

Holiday Farms Stew Leonard’s

Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace

LOCAL CHILDREN’S

CLOTHING

Denny’s Fashion, Style, For All Koukla Children’s Boutique

Mur-Lees, Men’s & Boy’s Shop

LOCAL HARDWARE STORE

Costello’s Ace Hardware

Millers True Value

Schaefer’s Ace Hardware

LOCAL JEWELRY STORE

Hislon Jewelers

North Shore Gold & Diamond

Unicorn Jewels

LOCAL MEN’S CLOTHING

B2bespoke Custom Clothier

Mur-Lees, Men’s & Boy’s Shop Standard Thread

LOCAL WOMEN’S CLOTHING

A.J. & MOS

Trois Jours Boutique Etc.

Uniquely Yours

NURSERY & GARDEN

CENTER

Atlantic Nursery & Garden Shop

Dees’ Nursery And Florist

Hicks Nurseries

PAWN SHOP

Collectors Coins & Jewelry

Matthew James Jewelers

Pawn Express

WINDOW TREATMENT STORE

Blinds To Go

Homestead Window Treatments

The Blind Spot Inc.

SPORTS

BICYCLE STORE

Brands Cycle & Fitness

Oceanside Cycle

Trek Bicycle Massapequa

BOXING CENTER

Fit Theorem

iLoveKickboxing

Kayo Boxing

CROSSFIT GYM

CrossFit Merrick

CrossFit Seize The Day

Fit Theorem

GYM & FITNESS CENTER

Fit Theorem

Fit4Life Studios, Inc.

The Bodysmith Fitness & Massage

ICE SKATING RINK

Grant Park Skating Center

Newbridge Arena

Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center

KIDS’ SPORTS LEAGUE

East Coast Football Club

East Rockaway Raiders Football

Hewlett Lawrence Soccer Club

PERSONAL TRAINER

Ava Donaldson, Fit4Life Studios

Leah Stukov, FitX50

Taylor Costello, CSCS, MMP, LMT, The Bodysmith Fitness and Massage

PERSONAL TRAINING

FACILITY

Fit Theorem

Fit4Life Studios, Inc.

Personal Training Institute of Rockville Centre PILATES

Club Pilates Merrick

Fit4Life Studios, Inc.

The Pilates Studio, Inc.

PLACE

Bay Shore

Michael’s

By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

A number of state electeds are calling on the governor to slow down her plans to make school buses electric by 2035 — something they say could have a devastating impact on district finances.

Some like state Sen. Steve Rhoads and state Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick joined Assemblyman John Mikulin and other officials handling fire and safety at schools at the Levittown Public School bus yard in Wantagh last week hoping they can convince Gov. Kathy Hochul to extend the deadline for that mandate deeper into the future to ensure it’s affordability for communities like those in Nassau County.

“There’s nothing magical about this New York state school bus mandate,” Rhoads said.

Citing the main character from the popular children’s television animated series “The Magic School Bus,” Rhoads said “even Ms. Frizzle herself would agree that this burdensome mandate takes chances, makes mistakes, and gets messy.”

The state’s current budget mandates all school buses must have no environmental impact through emissions by 2035, with districts only allowed to purchase electric school buses by mid-2027.

The idea, according to Hochul, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050. The state’s environmental conservation department blames the transportation sector overall as one of New York’s largest sources of emissions, which contributes to climate change impacts such as increased heat waves, sea level rise and flooding.

“Old school buses are putting children’s health at risk, spewing toxic fumes and pollutants into the air that are proven to have negative health impacts,” Hochul’s office said, in a statement. “After New York vot-

ers approved an Environmental Bond Act that allocated $500 million for zero-emission school buses, Gov. Hochul is working with communities across New York to allocate these funds and ensure they are fully utilized.”

But Rhoads says the mandate does not account for the logistical and financial challenges that school districts, bus companies and power companies will face in implementing the plan. A new, full-sized electric bus costs as much as $450,000 — triple the price of a conventional.

With some 45,000 school buses on the road in the state, Rhoads says the full conversion by 2035 would cost in the neighborhood of $20 billion.

The Levittown school district — with a fleet of 80 buses — is in the beginning stages of the mandate. Superintendent Todd Winch said it would cost the district as much as $32 million to replace their fleet, and will purchase its first electric bus this year.

“We don’t replace a whole fleet for maybe 20 years, but now they’re asking us to replace the whole fleet from 2027 to 2035,” Winch said. “Now you’re talking about a very short time period to replace the whole fleet, which would be very, very difficult.”

In addition, the Levittown bus yard would require 40 charging stations, each one costing between $30,000 and $50,000, Winch added.

The state has offered to help, but Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said the $500 million offered would only cover a little more than 1,200 buses. The rest would have to paid for by local taxpayers — and that’s not even including infrastructure and charging stations.

“Where’s the rest of that money coming from?” the state senator asked. “You, from the taxpayers, because that’s what the school districts will be forced to do to meet this mandate.”

But the current high costs associated with electric buses are expected to come down over time, Hochul said. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority announced last September it believes the price of an electric school bus should be on-par with a gasoline-powered bus as early as 2027 thanks to advances in battery technology, more manufacturing, as well as lower fuel and maintenance expenses.

Rhoads calls Hochul’s mandate a rushed plan.

“We all want to see a greener future,” he said. “There is no question about that. But we have to make sure that if our goal is providing affordable, safe, and reliable transportation to our students, we have to make sure we have a plan which gets us to that future, but still accomplishes that primary goal.”

Charles Shaw/Herald

STEPPING OUT

FOREVER A) ‘

By Karen Bloom

Laughing along with Joe Gatto

All roads lead back to Lynbrook it seems. Certainly for Joe Gatto.

He’s stepped away from his comfort zone — “The Impractical Jokers” — to the dismay of many folks. His loyal cadre of fans came to know him from the popular improvisational hidden camera show, which he hosted with his buddies Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Murr” Murray, and Sal Vulcano, for nine seasons.

Fans were certainly disappointed when he moved on from Q, Murr and Sal in 2021 to focus on co-parenting his two kids, Milana and Remington (now 9 and 7).

But you needn’t fret. Gatto is doing just fine — as is “Jokers,” now in its 10th season.

Since leaving his pals to carry on “Jokers” without him, the jokes certainly continue as Gatto’s taken his energy — and his comedic talents — to the stand-up circuit.

His tour, “Joe Gatto’s Night of Comedy,” arrives Friday at The Paramount in Huntington. Minus his friends, fans get an hour of Gatto, as he riffs on life, his family, and probably even his dogs.

“I’m extremely proud of this hour of comedy I’ve put together, and am so excited to film it at the first theater I performed on this tour back in February 2023,” Gatto says. “It also happens to be one of my favorite theaters, too, which is nice since it’s in my ‘hometown’ of Long Island.”

Of course, there were some nerves involved in going solo.

“After my time with ‘Jokers,’ I needed to figure out the next step in my career,” Gatto reflects.

• Friday, March 8, 7 and 9:30 p.m.

• $59.75, $39.75, $29.75

• Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com

• The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington

“I needed to figure out different ways to make people laugh because that’s what I love to do. Stand-up presented itself as a way to do that. My agents and managers were like, ‘Why don’t you give stand-up a shot?’”

And so he did, on a winter’s evening in a small club in Appleton, Wisconsin, in January 2022, for a brief 35 minutes.

“I enjoyed it right from the get-go,” he says. “It quickly graduated into an hour show, and I moved up to theaters. Fans were coming out, and we’re having a great time. Telling stories of my life and thinking about different ways that I could express myself to get people to know me a bit better has been a really fun journey.”

Gatto readily admits it’s been a learning experience.

“It was a different format that I wasn’t necessarily versed in, so I was a little nervous,” he says. “The biggest thing for me was I had never performed live before. For 20 years, I was part of an ensemble, stand-up being its own art was a thing I needed to adapt to. I quickly took to it.

“The challenge of writing the hour, curating it, and thinking of what stories I want to tell and how to tell them and punch up the jokes, was fun to do.”

Everyone’s in on the fun right along with him.

“I’ve always been pretty open on ‘The Impractical Jokers,’”

talk about parenting, I’ve got lots of stories of my kids, also

he says. “I was always myself. I didn’t play a character, so when people watched it, they really to got to know the sense of me, my personality. Even a lot of my personal life was in that show as well. People who come to my show know me already from that. But here I get to tell different stories. I talk about parenting, I’ve got lots of stories of my kids, also the craziness of animal rescue with my dogs, growing up with my crazy Italian mother on Staten Island, and of course, my friends, the Jokers. There’s no shortage of stories.”

Janeane Garofalo

Oh yes, about those dogs. There are nine of them in the Gatto household, all older rescues.

“It’s like a pack mentality,” he says, laughing, insisting his four-legged companions “pretty much follow the house rules.”

Eventually the Gattos realized they couldn’t rescue every dog in need. Hence their nonprofit Gatto Pups & Friends, which facilitates adoptions for mainly senior and disabled dogs, opened in Glen Head in November 2022.

“We wanted to do it in our neighborhood,” he says. “We love being around here. We found a cool space for the storefront, right across the street from one of our favorite places for lunch. It just all aligned.”

Although firmly ensconced in Glen Head, the South Shore still calls out to him. Gatto frequently visits Lynbrook, where he lived between 2014 and 2017, and where his sister still resides.

His family ties bring him frequently back to visit.

“I love Lynbrook,” he says.“I had such a great experience there. There’s always something special about your first home.”

Plus, “Vincent’s is still one of my favorite pizzerias,” he adds.

You’ll even find him hanging out at Lynbrook’s Regal, taking in a movie with his niece and nephew.

“I go there all the time with them,” he shares. “They’re movie buffs like me, and that’s our go-to movie theater.”

In fact, a film may be in his future.

“I’m doing pretty good, enjoying my ride right now,” Gatto says. “But I’ve always wanted to write and direct film. That’s actually why I got into entertainment. So that’s what I’m focusing on now. That’s what’s left on the bucket list, along with always creating and thinking of new ways to make people smile.”

And as for his outing at The Paramount, it’s being filmed for a comedy special.

“I’ve been working to two years on the thing,” he says, “so I don’t it want it to just go away.”

And there’s always the possibility of another collaboration with his “Jokers” buddies.

“I never un-united with them,” he says. “They’re still my friends. We’re just not ‘friends from work’ anymore. I love creating with those guys, so who knows what the future holds.”

The comedian-actress, who reigns as the queen of the alt-comedy scene, is eager to speak her mind when she visits here with her latest stand-up tour. 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 film and television, including ‘The Truth About Cats and Dogs,’ ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ and ‘Ratatouille,’ among her memorable roles. Garofalo’s informed opinions and unflinching honesty on topics ranging from everyday life to pop culture inspire laughs and strike a chord with audiences everywhere. Often a lightning 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.’

Friday, March 8, 8 p.m. $33, $28. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at LandmarkOnMainStreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

‘Greatest Show On Earth’

The circus is back. The iconic Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey spectacle returns after a hiatus, re-imagined as a 360-degree experience that brings fans into the action. Packed with explosive excitement, ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ begins and ends with a bang. Lauren Irving, Alex Stickels and Jan Damm join forces as Aria, Stix and Nick Nack, who serve as its soul, rhythm and funny bone. The trio, appearing as show guides, encounter never-before-seen stunts, acrobatic displays, and comedic acts along the way. An international cast of 75 performers take on a variety of enthralling circus acts, including new stunts like the Triangular Highwire, led by the Lopez Family, sixth-generation circus artists hailing from Mexico and Chile. There are also comic clowning, extreme sports, and acrobatic aerial feats — all enhanced with original music.

Friday through Sunday, March 8-10, times vary. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, or Ringling. com. UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont.

Courtesy Joe Gatto

Joe lives his life by a code of pastry and family, loving his wife, two children, cannolis — and his dogs.

Photo by Jonathan Thorpe

THE Your Neighborhood

March 16

JigJam

When virtuoso Irish playing jumps the pond running through the wide open fields of Bluegrass and Americana, JigJam is born. This Offaly and Tipperary-born band has started the Irish invasion of Americana with a brand new band member from Glasgow injecting the magic of Scottish folk music. The lads bring their foot-stomping sound to the Landmark stage, for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Saturday, March 16, at 8 p.m. Described as ‘The best Irish band in bluegrass’ and ‘sparkling, infectious’ these gents have been hailed as ‘Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival’. Founding members from Offaly Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (5 string banjo and Dobro) were joined by Tipperary-born Gavin Strappe (mandolin and tenor banjo) in 2016. They’ve since added Glasgow native Danny Hunter (fiddle) to make up this iGrass (Irish Bluegrass) quartet. They’ve been hailed as “Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival,” with a sound that has its roots in Irish music and Irish immigration. iGrass and JigJam is what happens when the Irish find their prodigal son. $38.14-$49.48. 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 8, 10:15 a.m. and noon, Sunday, March 10, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, March 13-14,10:15 a.m. and noon. Kids become cast members, singing dancing, and acting on stage 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.

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art, Saturday, March 9, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.

Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Pot of Gold 3x2 relay

Participate in the LIRRC Pot of Gold relay, Saturday, March 9, in Eisenhower Park. The event begins, rain or shine, at 8:30 a.m. in Field 2. Advance registration costs $30, and $40 on race day. For more, visit EliteFeats.com.

Line Dancing

Dance, exercise and meet new friends at line dancing at St. Raphael’s Roman Catholic Church in East Meadow. The next set of classes is offered Saturday, March 9 and 16, 1-4 p.m., in the school’s auditorium. There’s a $7 donation to the parish for participation; light refreshments served. 600 Newbridge Road, East Meadow. For more, call (516) 781-9003 or (516) 640-0066.

Breastfeeding Support Group

Mercy Hospital offers a peer to peer meeting for breastfeedingsupport and resources, facilitated by a certified breastfeeding counselor, every Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Bring your baby (from newborn to 1 year) to the informal group setting. All new moms are welcome, regardless of delivering hospital.

Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 to secure your spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org/ mercy-hospital.

Mah Jongg

Enjoy Mah Jongg and canasta, Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at East Meadow Beth El Jewish Center. $5 contribution. No outside food allowed. Bring your own games and cards. Lessons available. 1400 Prospect Ave. Call (516) 483 4205 for more information.

Having an event?

March 10

Bird walk

See some birds with the South Shore Audubon Society. All are welcome to join members for another in its series of bird walks, at Massapequa Lake, Sunday, March 10, starting at 9 a.m. Massapequa Lake is at the south end of Massapequa Preserve, between Lakeshore Boulevard and Ocean Avenue. Use street parking on the westbound side of Merrick Road.

Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The group will meet at the gazebo. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. No walk if rain or snow. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit SSAudubon.org.

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

Forest Bathing

Take a meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo, Sunday, March 10, 2-4 p.m. Based on the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, a wellness practice developed in the 1980s, the walk, on the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim, inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. $40, $35. Registration required. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

In concert

Icon and superstar Whitney Houston, has left a lasting legacy that is celebrated an exhilarating spectacle. “Queen of the Night, A Musical Tribute to Whitney Houston,” Saturday, March 9, 8 p.m., at NYCB Theatre at Westbury. An exhilarating tribute to Houston’s remarkable musical repertoire, the electrifying production, which premiered on London’s West End, honors her timeless songs with sensational vocalists and a full live band. Named after the swaggering hard rock single from “The Bodyguard” soundtrack, the show celebrates 30 years of hits sung by the superstar, from “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and “Saving All My Love for You” to “How Will I Know,” “Greatest Love of All” and, of course, “I Will Always Love You.” With the accompaniment of a dynamic band, backing vocalists and dancers, “Queen of the Night” fully conveys the essence and persona of Houston in a captivating production has been described as “a powerhouse performance that delivers on every level.” NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. Tickets available at LiveNation.com or call (516) 247-5200.

Best of Broadway

Adelphi University Performing Arts students celebrate the music of Broadway during their semi-annual Best of Broadway concert, Sunday, March 10, 4 p.m. The theme of this season’s concert is a royal one, paying tribute to the kings, queens, “Aladdin,” “Camelot, “ “Six,” “Frozen,” “Anastasia,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Cinderella,” and more. $30, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

and held February 13th, 2024, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 9-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 9-2024, amending Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations.

Dated: February 13, 2024 Hempstead, New York

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor

KATE MURRAY

Town Clerk 145253

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

LOCAL LAW NO. 10-2024

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

Separate & independent bids must be received on or before Wednesday, April 17th, 2024@ 12:00

PM by the WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT at the DISTRICT OFFICES located at 2045 Wantagh Avenue, Wantagh, New York 11793 at which time all bids received will publicly be opened and read aloud @ 12:00 PM in accordance with §103(2), of the General Municipal Law. No bids will be accepted thereafter.

reserves the right to waive any informalities in, to accept or reject any or all bids, to award the contract to other than the lowest bidder or to advertise anew if in the judgment of the Wantagh Fire District it is in their best interests to do so. No bidder shall withdraw his bid within 45 days after the formal opening thereof.

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 ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

LOCAL LAW NO. 9-2024

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called

that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held February 13th, 2024, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 10-2024, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 10-2024, amending Section 197-5 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include “ARTERIAL STOPS” at various locations

Dated: February 13, 2024

Hempstead, New York

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.

Supervisor

KATE MURRAY

Town Clerk 145254

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO BIDDERS

NOTICE is hereby given that the WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT will receive separate & independent bids for the following categories:

Contract No. 1 - General

Construction and Related Work For the Ramp and Boiler Replacement to the WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT STATION #1 located at 3470 Park Ave, Wantagh, NY 11793.

A MANDATORY pre-bid conference walkthrough for potential Bidders and other interested parties will be held on Wednesday, April 3rd 2024 at 10:00 AM at the Wantagh Fire District Station #1 located at 3470 Park Ave, Wantagh, NY 11793.

Complete digital sets of Bidding Documents, drawings and specifications, may be obtained online as a download at www.revplans.com for a non-refundable fee of $100.00 (One Hundred Dollars) starting on Wednesday, March 20th 2024. All bids must be accompanied by either a) a certified check payable to the “Wantagh Fire District” in the amount of 5% of the bid price, orb) a bond with sufficient sureties to be approved by the “Wantagh Fire District” in the amount of 5% of the bid price. If the bid is accepted, the bidder will enter into a contract in accordance with the bid and will furnish a suitable security bond in the sum of the amount of the contract, conditioned for the faithful and prompt completion of the work specified in the contract.

If the bidder neglects or refuses to execute the contract and furnish the bonds, the deposit of 5% of the bid price shall be forfeited and retained by the Wantagh Fire District as liquidated damages or, in the case of a bid bond, the Wantagh Fire District shall enforce payment of the bond for its benefit.

Performance, Labor and Material payment bonds on the forms within the Specifications Book for the full amount of the contract are required and shall be included in the bid price.

Exclude from all bids New York State Sales Tax on materials or supplies purchased for this project.

Pursuant to §220 of the Labor Law, the contract will contain a provision that every mechanic, laborer and workman employed in or about the work contemplated by the contract shall be paid not less than the prevailing rate of wages and provided with not less than the prevailing supplement which are set forth in the Bidding Documents.

Bids are to be enclosed in a separate sealed envelope, which shall be clearly marked:

Wantagh Fire District Station #1 3470 Park Ave, Wantagh, NY 11793

Contract No. 1 - General Construction and Related Work.

The Wantagh Fire District

By Order of The Board of Fire Commissioners Brendan J. Narell Superintendent 145202

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 3/13/2024 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED

STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 166/24. - 167/24. NR

WESTBURY - Joseph A. & Lisa Randazzo, Renewal of grants: Maintain pool equipment not permitted in front yard & maintain 5’ high fence larger than pool installation area; Maintain living fence varying in height from 8’ to 10’., N/W cor. Plum Tree Rd. West & Regent Dr., a/k/a 969 Plum Tree Rd. West

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 Westbury 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 a t 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.

145247

To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

State Senator Steve Rhoads and Military Blue Star Mother NY 14 are funning a professional clothing drive through the month of March.

Donate professional clothes for veterans

State Senator Steve Rhoads is teaming up with Military Blue Star Mothers NY 14 to help young veterans in need of professional clothes. Military Blue Star Mothers NY 14 is a local organization dedicated to supporting and honoring our military service members and their families.

From March 1 through April 1

Rhoads and Military Blue Star Mothers NY 14 will be collecting professional clothes to support young veterans in New York looking to start their professional careers and dress for success. New or lightly used dress clothes will be accepted like dress shirts, dress pants, ties, suits, overcoats, sports jackets, blazers, dress socks, dress shoes, vests, and belts.

This initiative aims to not only provide these young veterans with the necessary attire to succeed in their job interviews and professional settings, but also to show our support and appreciation for their service to our country. Rhoads and Military Blue Star Mothers NY 14 hope to make a positive impact on the lives of these young veterans and help them transition into civilian life with confidence and success.

Rhoads encourages everyone to take a moment to clean out their closets and donate to this worthy cause, because

every little bit helps in making a difference in the lives of our veterans.

“We are going to make it a March to remember our military heroes,” Rhoads said. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our freedoms, and it is our duty to support them in any way we can. This professional clothing drive is just one small way we can give back to those who have given so much.

“The drive will not only benefit the veterans, but it will also bring the community together to support our heroes as well as serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by our brave service members and the importance of giving back to those who have defended our country.”

There will be five drop off locations within the 5th Senate District, including Seaford Public Library, 2234 Jackson Ave. No. 4, Seaford; Bellmore Memorial Library, 2288 Bedford Ave., Bellmore; Wantagh Public Library 3285 Park Ave., Wantagh; Levittown Public Library, 1 Bluegrass Lane, Levittown; and Rhoads’ District Office, 4326 Merrick Road, First Floor, Massapequa.

For more information on the Professional Clothing Drive or any legislative matter, contact Rhoads’ office at (56) 8820630 or email rhoads@nysenate.gov.

–Jordan Vallone

Courtesy Office of State Sen. Steve Rhoads

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SMaking an old home newer

Q. We are suing our contractor and need some advice. A year ago, we finished our second-floor addon and first-floor kitchen and rear family room remodel by opening up walls to join them. Everything seemed fine until it rained the first time. The windows began to leak at the bottom, and then around the tops and sides. Our new sliding glass door did the same. The basement flooded, and we are not in a flood area. Then the air-conditioning company said somebody disconnected the ducts, and when we opened the ceilings, more water poured down. The house is now filled with mold, which we clean with bleach where we can get to it, but we couldn’t move out and have two small children under age 4.

Although we have many questions and hired an attorney, we’re wondering whether we should hire an architect to go over all the problems and identify them, with remedies, or hire one of the contractors who said they could fix the problems, or wait until the lawsuit is finished to make it possible for a jury to see the damage. The job architect, whom we never met, has now had their license revoked for the next two years, but we wouldn’t go to them, anyway.

A. Ugh! This is more common than you would think. It starts with not having the architect working for you and instead working for the contractor. I can guess that the contractor was contacted first, and you hired them to get their architect and provide plans. That was your first mistake.

Monte

Next, people are lazy, expecting that anyone they hire knows all the best techniques to build and knows all the rules, codes and laws. That was mistake number two. Even though you hire people, you should have gone over critical details, especially about waterproofing and structural techniques on the plans, to make sure that the building owner looks for those steps to be carried out. You, the building owner, I always say, are the “eyes and ears” on the job, since the architect often isn’t there at critical times, when waterproofing membranes and materials are joined.

Mistake number three was not doing a water test with a garden hose when the finish siding, windows roofing, etc., had been applied. Simulating rain by pointing a hose skyward so that the water cascades down — not a direct fire-hose hit — tells you right away if something is failing.

You’re going to need a licensed expert — an architect or an engineer — to work with your attorney. Document everything with videos during simulated or storm events to show the water coming in and whatever other failures, such as leaking and disconnected air ducts, and hire people who can do the job correctly as soon as you can. You need to have a healthy home for your family, and a lawsuit could take years while you possibly get sick from the mold and the chlorine you’re breathing. Good luck!

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Why I joined the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus

Growing up in Island Park, I was always acutely aware of how lucky I was to be surrounded by beautiful beaches, bountiful waterways and stunning coastlines. Preserving Nassau County’s coastal environs has been a main priority of my tenure in public office, and I am proud to represent so many community partners who share in that goal. Indeed, the pristine nature of our South Shore was recently threatened by a largescale offshore wind turbine project proposed by Equinor, but thanks to unified community opposition, this dubious plan appears to have stalled — for now.

The growing national push to advance offshore wind energy has clearly reached Long Island, and while Equinor’s plan was defeated due to the corporation’s failure to properly liaise with local stakeholders, there will certainly be other developers attempting their own offshore wind projects mov-

ing forward.

Now more than ever, it is vital that our communities make their voices heard on any projects that would impact our coastline, which is why I am proud to announce that I have been made a co-chair of the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus. This bipartisan panel provides members of Congress from across the country a forum to discuss the growing utilization of offshore wind energy, compare notes on offshore wind projects being advanced, and strategize on how best to approach future development questions. What’s more, my leadership role in the caucus also provides neighbors in the 4th District with an enhanced voice when the panel communicates with turbine developers — ensuring that the thoughts, concerns and opinions of South Shore residents are made known.

We’ve seen interest from other developers seeking to take Equinor’s place.

residents of the Long Beach barrier island, Island Park, Oceanside and beyond during the development of its Empire Wind 2 offshore wind turbine plan. This lack of engagement justifiably led to distrust among community members, and fueled the successful grass-roots campaign to quash the project.

Like my neighbors along the South Shore, over the course of several meetings, Equinor representatives failed to provide me with adequate information on the long-term environmental impacts of the project or outline a proper plan to support the communities that would have hosted facets of Empire Wind 2 — which is why I fought to stop the project from moving forward.

ment, residents’ wishes are respected, and local communities’ bests interests are advanced. If a company can articulate a vision for an offshore wind energy project that safeguards our environment, incorporates robust stakeholder feedback into the development process, benefits the community, and creates good union jobs, I believe it is beneficial for the public to hear them out and approach the plan with an open mind. I intend to utilize my position on the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus to hold corporate developers accountable by demanding full transparency on any proposed projects that come before the community.

Those residents have recently seen firsthand the difficulties that stem from a corporate entity outright ignoring the concerns of community stakeholders when developing a large-scale project. Indeed, Equinor failed to engage with

Now that Equinor appears to have realized the error of its ways and pulled back from its offshore wind plan, we have seen growing interest from several other developers seeking to take Equinor’s place. As the selection process plays out and companies vie for a chance to develop offshore wind energy in Nassau County, it is vital that stakeholders have a say in project advance-

I will continue to utilize all the tools at my disposal to advocate for the best interests of South Shore neighbors and ensure that our communities are not negatively impacted by overdevelopment. My position as co-chair of the bipartisan caucus will give our community a stronger voice in that arena, and ensure that any proposed plans include real benefits for the South Shore. Long gone are the days when developers like Equinor thought they could simply muscle their way past community opposition. We won’t allow it.

For Democrats, Suozzi’s victory is nothing to brag about

Democrats were understandably elated when former Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi won the special election in New York’s 3rd Congressional District on Feb. 13, but they shouldn’t be popping any champagne. In truth, Suozzi’s victory over the Republicans’ candidate, Mazi Melesa Pilip, was a lot closer than it should have been.

Suozzi won just under 54 percent of the vote. Doesn’t that seem a little low? After all, he’s a former mayor of Glen Cove, a former Nassau County executive, and a former three-term representative of the district in Congress. Pilip, meanwhile, is a sophomore county legislator.

An alarming sign for me is the money spent by each campaign for each vote. Suozzi spent $2.36 million and won roughly 91,300 votes, meaning he spent almost $26 per vote. In comparison, Pilip spent just $714,000 and won roughly 78,200 votes, or just over $9 per vote.

That means that Pilip needed on average one-third the cash to bring her vot-

ers out to the polls. That indicates to me that Pilip’s voters were more excited and zealous. Suozzi, on the other hand, had to fight to bring Democrats out.

If Pilip and Suozzi had had the same fundraising numbers, and the cash-pervote numbers held, Pilip would have garnered over three times her vote total. Even if we halved Suozzi’s advantage (to make the comparison a bit more realistic), Pilip still might have won, with over 58.5 percent of the vote, if she’d spent as much money as Suozzi.

HSo, Democrats, is this your grand victory?

Aside from that lingering question, Suozzi ran a good campaign. He attacked Pilip where he needed to and worked hard in just the couple of months that he had, barnstorming through the district. He held a large event in my native Westbury, which I appreciate. The difficult fight he had, and the difficult fight many Nassau Democrats have, was beyond his control.

e spent nearly three times as much campaign money as Pilip for each vote.

To top it off, state Democrats are going to get another chance to draw district lines this year, meaning that Suozzi is almost certainly going to be redistricted into a safer, more heavily Democratic district. Why sink millions into an election that you most likely would have won more easily in nine months?

I read the election results this way: A Democratic political veteran with high name recognition and a 3-to-1 fundraising advantage won an election with the second-worst margin he’s won his House seat with, against a neophyte opponent no one had ever heard of, whom he probably would have more easily defeated in nine months.

For one thing, the political landscape on Long Island is shifting against Democrats. For years in Nassau County, the number of new voters registering as Democrats outpaced those registering as Republicans, but that is changing. In the towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay and the City of Glen Cove, which account for most of the population of the 3rd District, voter registration data for the past year confirms that the ratio of Democrats to Republicans is shrinking.

Area Democrats have also been suffering from guilt by association. The Nassau GOP has successfully associated local Democrats with their more leftleaning colleagues in New York City. The Long Islanders are branded with

negative labels like “radical” and “socialist,” or worse, “radical socialist.”

Finally, local Democrats continue to be hammered on bail reform, affordable housing and crime. These attacks are nonsense, but they stick because there is no apparatus in place to respond. None of this is Suozzi’s fault. Rather, the problem lies squarely with the Nassau and state Democratic committees, which have poor fundraising operations, abysmal organizing capacity, and virtually nonexistent communication with voters.

The party is failing to recruit new members, and cannot adequately defend its candidates, let alone go on the offensive. The state Democratic Party continues to fail candidates like Suozzi and the voters that make their existence possible.

That’s why I don’t consider Suozzi’s victory any kind of Democratic renaissance. His hard-fought win doesn’t portend more party wins in Nassau, because a successful two-month campaign can’t fix a state Democratic Party that has lost almost every position of power on Long Island in the past eight years.

Matthew Adarichev is a public policy major at Hofstra University, a political activist and an aspiring journalist whose work has appeared in the Hofstra Chronicle and the Anton Media Group.

Anthony D’Esposito represents the 4th Congressional District.

Herald editorial

Support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act

as objective and independent news writers and editors, we have an imperative to cover the issues most important to you, the people of our community.

Every day, our team of reporters is on the ground questioning elected officials, uplifting the stories of community changemakers, and uncovering truths that some would rather keep hidden.

But, amid industry challenges, it is no longer unfathomable to picture a future when New York state is completely without local newspapers and other local news outlets.

According to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, 2.5 newspapers now close each week in the United States. More than 3,000 newspapers have shuttered across the country since 2004, and New York has been particularly hard hit.

In 2004, New York boasted 501 newspapers. Today, it’s only 260. In 2022 alone, 30 newspapers closed across the state.

A quarter of New York’s counties are news deserts — down to their last newspaper. Orleans County recently became the first in the state to have none. These closures have also resulted in thousands of lost journalism and newsroom-supporting jobs.

Local news matters. Studies show that when a community loses its source of local news, it experiences decreased voter turnout and civic engagement. Increased municipal borrowing costs that lead to higher taxes. And decreased transparency among government and business officials, leading to increased waste, fraud and abuse.

As newspapers shutter, communities become more polarized, leaving us stuck in a never-ending doom loop where we lose sight of our shared values. During this era of intense national partisanship, local news offers a path forward.

letters

Let these elected officials know that we need to save local news

■ Contact Gov. Kathy Hochul: (518) 474-8390

■ Contact State Sen. Steve Rhoads: (516) 882-0630

■ Contact Assemblyman David McDonough: (516) 409-2070

■ Contact Assemblyman John Mikulin: (516) 228-4960

■ Contact Assemblyman Ed Ra: (516) 535-4095

Our newspaper is a proud member of the Empire State Local News Coalition. Support the coalition at SaveNYLocalNews.com.

The time to act is now. That is why the East Meadow Herald has joined with more than 150 other New York local newspapers to launch the Empire State Local News Coalition.

Comprising both print and online local newspapers, this coalition is advocating for sound public policy that ensures the important work of local news organizations can continue in our state. Through our independent journalism, we aim to serve, inform, uplift and protect New York residents.

Our coalition cares deeply about our local communities as well as the future of New York’s free press. However, market forces are making it nearly impossible for us to survive. So, together, we are sounding the alarm bell for our leaders in Albany to hear.

Bruce Blakeman bans trans athletes

To the Editor:

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s recent signing of an executive order banning transgender girls from playing sports in county facilities was a disingenuous performance to ingratiate himself with the cruel anti-LGBTQ movement. These kinds of orders and bans do more harm than good, setting a dangerous tone that can send the message that hateful acts against the LGBTQ community are justified. Nex Benedict, the non-binary 16-year-old from Oklahoma who died last month after an altercation in a high school girls’ bathroom, comes to mind.

Sadly, by targeting transgender young people, Blakeman chose to use his executive power to sacrifice a very vulnerable group, already struggling for acceptance and facing far greater rates of depression and suicide than their peers, for his own political gain. Instead of doing something to help the transgender community in Nassau

At the heart of our advocacy is the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. Sponsored by state Sen. Brad HoylmanSigal and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner — with the bipartisan support of 55 co-sponsors — this bill provides tax credits to local news outlets for the employment of local news journalists. News organizations are incentivized to actually add jobs, returning reporters to many of the state’s newsrooms, which are becoming increasingly desolate.

Importantly, the bill is also contentneutral, meaning that any legitimate local news outlet — left, right or inbetween — can benefit from this bill. The objectivity of the bill’s eligibility requirements means the legislation cannot be weaponized to penalize news organizations critical of government officials.

As New York loses talented journalists, lawmakers must act to ensure the industry is allowed not only to survive, but also to thrive. Only local news outlets — with boots-on-the-ground journalists — can deliver the hyperlocal updates and investigations necessary to sustain a community’s civic and financial well-being.

Imagine no stories about the village or town board meeting, or the school budget debate. No pictures of your granddaughter’s first soccer goal. No obituary of your friendly (and eccentric) neighbor. No investigative reporting to hold public officials to account. And no trusted institution to convene the community around a family in need.

We need your help to save local news in New York. To get the Local Journalism Sustainability Act across the finish line, lawmakers need to hear from you about why our newspaper matters and why this bill is important to you.

If you would like to help, reach out to Gov. Kathy Hochul and your local state representatives to let them know you stand with local news.

Check your Medicare statement carefully

if a poll were to be taken, I would have to be the last person on this planet who thinks that government is a perfect institution. I respect the FBI and the CIA, and I even trust the IRS. As a senior citizen, I have always considered Medicare one of the finest agencies we have, but some new facts have emerged that have convinced me that it is a sloppy and careless government behemoth.

JERRY KREMER

My loss of faith in the folks who run Medicare started about three months ago, when I opened up my wife, Suzan’s, periodic statements of money spent on her medical needs. I quickly noticed that Medicare had approved $14,300 for a Texas company named Pretty in Pink Boutique. There was a claim for the sale of 600 urinary catheters over a 60-day period to my wife.

I’m happy that Suzan is physically well and by no means has any need for a warehouse full of catheters. Within minutes of discovering that Medicare had approved and paid for all of them, I

placed a call to the agency’s general number. I was connected to a woman named Gladys, who listened patiently to my complaint and, at my request, I was transferred to a Fraud Unit.

The person there noted my complaint, and assured me that it would be passed up the bureaucratic chain, to make sure there was a record of the payment, which was obviously fraudulent. A few days, later I received my periodic Medicare statement, and immediately noticed that Medicare had paid a company in Chicago for a coronavirus vaccine that I had allegedly received. That seemed strange, because I had gotten my shot at a local pharmacy, not connected to any company in Illinois.

in a farreaching scam, people everywhere are getting billed for catheters.

It seems that a woman named Linda Hennis, a resident of suburban Chicago, was checking her January Medicare statement when she noticed that a company she had never heard of had been paid about $12,000 for 2,000 catheters. She had never needed, or received, any catheters. They had been sold by a company called, guess what, Pretty in Pink Boutique.

the catheter billings. She would not confirm whether the claims had been paid. She described Medicare billing scams as “one of these problems that is ever-present and ever frustrating.”

Not to be deterred, I placed another call to the Medicare Fraud Unit, and they dutifully noted my concern about another improper payment for medical services. Satisfied that I had performed my civic duty, I turned my attention back to my law practice and other pursuits. My satisfaction lasted about 48 hours, until I spotted a New York Times article titled “Staggering Rise in Catheter Bills Suggests Medicare Scam.”

LEttERs

County, he decided to put them at further risk. Blakeman claims that “boys” are bullying their way onto girls’ teams, but he’s the real bully here.

KARIN JOHNSON RVC Pride Rockville Centre

It was obvious why Republicans chose Pilip

To the Editor:

I read the Herald’s coverage of the special election between Tom Suozzi and Mazi Pilip. You didn’t mention that Pilip was a registered Democrat when she ran against Suozzi. She didn’t change her party affiliation until a few days ago.

Right from the beginning, Pilip didn’t want to take many questions from the press, and showed she didn’t know very much about the issues. The Republicans had her run because she was pretty, black, and Jewish, with an interesting background.

MYRON MARINBACH Lynbrook

Immigrants make our economy stronger

To the Editor:

It’s time to cut through the noise and

It seems that Ms. Hennis and my wife are among the 450,000 Medicare beneficiaries whose accounts were billed for catheters in 2023, up from 50,000 in previous years. It turns out that the massive increase in billing for catheters included $2 billion charged by seven high-volume suppliers, which was the equivalent of nearly one-fifth of all Medicare spending on supplies in 2023. Doctors, state insurance departments and health care groups around the country said this spike in claims for catheters that were never delivered suggests that it is not only a scam, but a far-reaching one.

What is the government doing? Dara Corrigan, who runs Medicare’s Center for Program Integrity, declined to say whether the agency was investigating

tell the truth about immigration: Our economy and community is stronger because of it. Some leaders would have us think it’s a zero-sum game when our country takes in immigrants, but that’s not true at all.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the U.S. economy will grow by an extra $7 trillion over the next 10 years thanks to immigrants!

But we don’t have to wait for the future to see how they are strengthening the economy. In 2021, immigrants paid $524.7 billion in taxes. That’s money that helps fuel our nation’s schools, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security programs. Immigrants help support our communities as consumers and taxpayers.

Don’t believe it? Even former President Donald Trump’s appointed Federal Reserve chair, Jerome H. Powell, recognized the massive contributions immigrants make in an interview on “60 Minutes,” saying, “A big part of the story of the labor market coming back into better balance is immigration returning to levels that were more typical of the pre-pandemic era.”

So let’s give credit where credit is due, stop the anti-immigrant rhetoric and end the zero-sum mindset. Immigration truly is essential for our economic growth and our communities’ prosperity.

JOSEPH M. VARON

Long Island chapter, Bend the Arc West Hempstead

It turns out that Pretty in Pink Boutique billed Medicare at least $267 million for catheters between October 2022 and December 2023. The vast majority of the suspicious claims came from seven companies, many of which had shared executives. One of the businesses had a working phone number, but no calls were returned. The Pretty in Pink Boutique has a telephone number connected to a body shop.

Other scams are getting public attention, such as phony Covid vaccine claims, which are slowly surfacing. Regardless of its denials or bureaucratic double-speak, Medicare is failing the millions of Americans who rely on the system to be accurate and honest. Every dollar lost to some con artist is a dollar meant to pay for a legitimate health care claim.

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

FRaMEwoRK by April Ruff