East Meadow Herald 05-25-2023

A multicultural show for EMHS Page 5

Nassau says yes to Sands project

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‘A Day at the Beach’ with the AHRC art gallery

By MAlloRY WIlSoN mwilson@liherald.com

Instead of driving 20 minutes to the beach, locals can take a short trip to the AHRC Nassau East Meadow Art Gallery on East Meadow Avenue to see its new art exhibit, “A Day at the Beach.”

The exhibit, open to the public through the end of the month, features art from AHRC members who live with intellectual and developmental disabilities. One highlight of the exhibit is a 5-foot-tall papiermaché lighthouse sculpture.

AHRC Nassau is a chapter

of The Arc of New York, a nonprofit organization that helps people with developmental disabilities.

Every January, the artists and the mentors at the gallery pick a day to brainstorm ideas for their upcoming exhibit, according to site manager Lisa Moosemueller. After they think of a few ideas, they vote through ballots to decide the favorite. After voting on the theme, the artists work on their pieces — either with a mentor or individually — working in various media.

“We had a vote, and ‘A Day at Continued on page 12

Respite care park offers some peace to those with Alzheimer’s

By MAlloRY WIlSoN mwilson@liherald.com

A new space dedicated exclusively to those with Alzheimer’s disease and their families has been added to Eisenhower Park.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and Nassau County opened a new respite care relief park to help those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, as well as their caregivers. The Eisenhower Park location is the second one of its kind in the country; the only other one is in the Town of Babylon.

More than 50,000 people on Long Island — or 3 percent — live with Alzheimer’s. More than

6.2 million people in the country live with the disease, said Chuck Fuschillo, the president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. There are over 100,000 caregivers.

“(We created) a respite relief park to give them a place to get out in the open, obviously in the beautiful park that’s here in Eisenhower Park, but also for the caregivers to come to a safe setting to avoid caregiver burnout,” Fuschillo said. “The caregivers in this county and throughout the island really are our heroes.”

The foundation and the county considered it important to create this park both to serve those

who are living with the disease and to recognize the caregivers.

The respite relief park includes educational information about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, along with benches, a brick walkway, a gazebo and nice greenery. Its purpose is to enable a caregiver to have much needed relief and learn more about what resources are available for them. It’s also a place for a caregiver and their individual with Alzheimer’s or dementia to come and chat in a peaceful outdoor area.

“This is an integral part of what this park is about,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. “It’s not just about sporting

events, it’s not just about cultural events, it’s not just about entertainment — it’s about a place where people can go to be with nature, in a peaceful setting, and it’s incredibly important to those who have been afflicted with Alzheimer’s and dementia.”

Blakeman said that he has heard from many people who

have a family member with Alzheimer’s or dementia about how disrupting it is for families.

“They need places to go, they need programs, and that’s what the American Alzheimer’s Foundation does,” Blakeman said.

“They create these programs; they create an environment to help not only people who are

Continued on page 4

Tim Baker/Herald

THE AHRC NASSAu East Meadow Art Gallery’s newest exhibit is titled ‘A Day at the Beach.’ Davis Hernandez, right, helped make the 5-foot-tall papier-maché work of art, and Richard Infante painted beach scenes.

D’Esposito wants George Santos out of Congress

By ANA BORRUTO aborruto@liherald.com

It has been a busy week on the House floor, especially for U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito. He not only passed his Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights, but spoke out in support of a resolution to expel his fellow Long Island Republican representative, George Santos.

The resolution was reportedly first introduced by a Democratic House member from California, U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia.

Santos was indicted this month, accusing him of 13 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making materially false statements to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Last week, D’Esposito took to the podium to urge the bipartisan House Ethics Committee to take swift action in getting rid Santos, who he called a “pathological liar.” The House ultimately voted to refer the resolution to the House Ethics Committee instead of voting on the resolution itself.

“I was the first member of Congress to say that he should resign, but unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that in order for a member to be expelled, you need two thirds of the vote of Congress,” D’Esposito said. “They don’t have the numbers, so that’s the problem.

“I don’t think that George should serve another day in Congress. The quickest way to rid this institution of this stain is to refer this issue to the House Ethics Committee.”

With 18 months to go until the general election, seven candidates have already put their hats in the ring looking to take over Santos’ district. Former Democratic Hempstead town supervisor Laura Gillen and Olympian Sarah Hughes seek to face D’Esposito for his seat in the fourth congressional district.

Gillen lost to D’Esposito in November’s election, but recently said in her official announcement she is running

again “because public service can be a noble calling that makes people’s lives better.” However, “too many in Washington care about political gamesmanship, sound bites and photo opportunities than actually making real progress for our families.”

Gillen previously told the Herald one of the reasons she decided to run was because of the Republican position on the national debt crisis. The GOP insist President Biden reduce spending before they will agree to raise the debt ceiling.

D’Esposito recently helped House Republicans pass the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, which is intended to

increase the federal debt limit and decrease spending. The bill also quashes several tax credits, modifies the permitting process and other requirements for energy projects, expands work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and nullifies actions by the federal education department to suspend federal student loan payments, discharge debt and implement a new income-driven repayment plan.

D’Esposito dispelled concerns the bill would make financial cuts to Veterans Affairs. Instead, he said it essentially caps discretionary spending and decreases the spending level for fiscal 2024.

“It grows the economy, it saves taxpayers money, and it protects veterans, defense spending, Social Security and Medicare,” D’Esposito said. “We believe the Limit, Save, Grow Act is exactly what this country needed, and more importantly, it was this first step in negotiations with the president and the Senate.”

With the Santos “stain” potentially damaging the reputation of the Republican Party, Democrats could come out in full force to reclaim his district, D’Esposito’s and others to take back the House, where the GOP maintains a very slim majority.

Reflecting on the policies and efforts brought forth by his colleagues such as Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, D’Esposito believes voters aren’t focused on the alleged misdeeds of one man, but looking at what the party is doing as a whole.

“I don’t believe Santos has tainted Republicans,” D’Esposito said. “I think voters see that the Republican way of governing Nassau County and Long Island is the right one.

“I’m preparing the same way I’ve prepared for every election in my life, and that is working hard now. It’s delivering on promises.”

Courtesy Matthew Capp

U.S. Rep. ANThONy D’Esposito passed a motion in the House of Representatives on May 17 to send the case of Long Island colleague to the House Ethics Committee.

Sharing her abstract art with the world

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

Karen Kirshner has shared her abstract art with the world for years, and now her hard work will pay off when her solo show launches at the George Billis Gallery in Manhattan.

After her art took off in 2018, winning awards and gaining her recognition, Kirshner never looked back. The 65-year-old artist is taking her work to the city for the show that will run until June 29.

She had other solo shows last year at Onward & Upward, at the B.J. Spoke Gallery, and Spotlight Artist, at the Paramount Theatre.

Kirshner has always been into abstract art, even though art wasn’t initially her career path of choice.

“My mother was the artist and the art teacher, and my father was the writer or the journalist and the advertising man and the lawyer, and I wanted to be like my father,” Kirshner said. “I always was a writer. I always wanted to be a famous American author.”

When her mother Betty, who specialized in humanist expression art, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in the early 2000’s, Kirshner became her primary caregiver reviving her passion for art. When Betty died, Kirshner threw herself full force into art in 2014.

Kirshner, who will have upwards of 20 pieces at the show, has shown her work with Billis before, once at his Connecticut gallery and other times at art fairs. She met him several years ago in Southampton where he became very interested in her work.

“He usually shows realistic work, representational work and minimalist work,” Kirshner said. “He never shows complex abstracts like mine — but he invited me to have a solo show.

“I’m so happy because I’m the only oddball one. I’m the wild abstract person so I think he really sees something he likes in it and keeps saying how powerful my work is.”

Kirshner said that she feels honored to be in the art field with her abstract art, and that she’s glad it’s getting recognized.

“I have my own style and people have tried to copy me many times, but I have a unique style,” she said. “I think that’s what George Billis probably recognizes.”

Kirshner said that she comes off as a

very gentle, kind soul, but all of her passion and power comes out through her pieces.

“I don’t sparkle, I don’t have extraordinary charisma,” she said. “But you don’t know that I have all of this passion in

me. I really am a powerful person, but it’s all on the inside.

“I project it all onto my canvas, it’s strong. People look at my work and don’t believe I did it.”

There will be some new pieces at the show, and some familiar favorites. She thinks her bright pieces hung up on the windows will draw people in.

“The thing about being an artist, there’s a whole community and it’s pretty supportive,” she said. “It’s just a wonderful feeling to be a part of a community of people who want to make the world a more beautiful place.”

thIS pIEcE IS titled, “The Heart of the Matter.”

hER pIEcE, “GARdEN Party,” will be at the George Billis gallery.

thIS pIEcE, “JupItER’S Infatuation,” recently won an award at the National Art League in Douglaston.

Want to see her work?

The opening reception of her show is June 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the George Billis Gallery at 527 West 23rd St., in Manhattan.

Her work can be seen at the gallery Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. until June.

Kirshner is a national-award winning artist. She studied at the Art Students League of New York, taking classes with accomplished artists.

She also has a BA from Vassar College, where she minored in studio art. She spent time in England in a graduate art program and earned an MS and MBA with distinction.

For more info, visit her website at Karenlkirshner.com

Photos courtesy Karen Kirshner EASt MEAdOW RESIdENt Karen Kirshner will share her abstract art with the world at the George Billis Gallery in Manhattan in June.

A place for caregivers and their loved ones

continued from front page

afflicted, but also those people who are living with it each and every day, the families and the caregivers.”

The creation of the park was funded by private donors and the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, a charitable foundation that provides funding for healthcare and health-related initiatives in New York. The foundation helped fund the Town of Babylon location, and a new one that will be built in Yonkers in the fall.

Fuschillo thanked County Legislator Tom McKevitt for taking the lead on the project after the legislature approved the park.

The new respiTe care relief park features educational information about Alzheimer’s disease, along with benches, a brick walkway, a

“Alzheimer’s is not only so tough for the person who’s going through it, but especially to the family and caregivers — it’s completely consuming to their life,” McKevitt said. “They want to have a place where they can go with their relative, with their loved one, and have a few moments of peace.”

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America was founded in 2002 by Bert Brodsky, whose mother lived with Alzheimer’s disease from 1980 to 1992. At the time that he was caring for her, he found that there was not a lot of information out there

regarding the disease, and he struggled with how to find support. Now, the foundation helps hundreds of thousands of people annually.

“I never thought I could affect anybody’s life but my own, but I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to start the foundation and help those families that are dealing with this terrible, terrible disease,” Brodsky said. “The respite park is a perfect example of what could happen when you put your mind to something, and you try and make the world just a little bit better.”

Home Care with Community Medicaid

Home care paid for by New York State is known as “Community Medicaid”. Paying your own living expenses, plus the cost of caregiving services, is beyond the means of many.

Since 2020, there have been numerous attempts to create a new thirty month lookback period for Community Medicaid eligibility. So far, none of these attempts have been successful and now 2024 is the earliest expected date for implementation. There is no current look-back period for Community Medicaid in New York. This means that you may move assets out of your name this month and obtain Medicaid home care benefits next month, provided you need the care.

Currently, an individual may keep about $1,700 per month plus the amount of any health care insurance premiums. Any excess income must be used towards their care. What if your living expenses exceed $1,700 per month? Enter the “pooled income trust”.

Certified by the state, pooled income trusts are used to allow you to send your

excess income, i.e. the amount over the $1,700 per month you are allowed to keep, to the trust along with copies of your bills for food, rent, mortgage, utilities, home repairs, etc. The trust pays your bills and any amounts unused will accumulate in your account and eventually be added to the “pool” to be used for charitable purposes after your death. Any monies paid to the pooled income trust are not counted as income for Medicaid purposes, allowing you to qualify for Community Medicaid.

The number of hours you will receive depends on the county’s assessment of your needs regarding the activities of daily living (ADL’s). Some of these are eating, bathing, shopping, cooking, personal hygiene, ambulating, housekeeping, dressing, etc.

Several non-profit organizations exist that offer pooled trusts. Applying to join is a formal process with which the elder law firm will assist. Costs generally include minimal start-up fees, an initial deposit and reasonable maintenance fees.

gazebo and nice greenery.

Mallory Wilson/Herald photos

BerT Brodsky, The founder and board chairman of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, speaks about his experience of taking care of his mother, who had Alzheimer’s.

each plaque aT the respite park offers information for caregivers.

Different stuDents chose different cultures to represent.

Celebrating cultures at East Meadow High School

East Meadow High School’s Multicultural Club hosted its annual Multicultural Show on April 20. The show included various performances to honor the various cultures in the community.

The assembly featured talent and cultural pride from students as they highlighted songs and dances from such countries as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Columbia, Guyana, India, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines and El Salvador.

The school’s Multicultural Club hosts the annual show in an effort to promote acceptance of diverse cultures. The tradition allows students to celebrate their own cultural heritages as well as those of their peers.

east MeaDow high School’s Multicultural Club hosted a Multicultural Show on April 20. the show is annual to promote acceptance.

Photos courtesy East Meadow School District

spotlight athlete

KieRaN Kehoe

Mepham Junior Baseball

it DiDN’t taKe long for Kehoe to work his way into the heart of the Pirates’ batting order this spring. He began the season hot and quickly caught fire, earning All-County honors and maybe more. He finished the regular season with 5 homers and 37 RBIs to go with a whopping .650 batting average and 1.100 slugging percentage. Then in Mepham’s Class A playoff opener he blasted another home run and drove in three to lead a victory over Carey.

laCRosse playoffs

Boys laCRosse

thursday, May 25

Class A semifinals at Hofstra 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.

friday, May 26

Class C semifinals at Hoftra 4 and 6 p.m.

Monday, May 30

Class A championship game at Hofstra 5 p.m.

Class B championship game at Hoftra 7:30 p.m.

tuesday, May 31

Class C championship game at Hofstra 5 p.m.

Class D championship game at Hoftra 7:30 p.m.

giRls laCRosse

tuesday, May 31

Class D championship game at Adelphi 5:30 p.m.

Class A championship game at Adelphi 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 1

Class B championship game at Adelphi 5:30 p.m.

Class C championship game at Adelphi 7:30 p.m.

East Meadow knocks off Baldwin

By toNy BellissiMo tbellissimo@liherald.com

After winning just one of its first eight games, East Meadow girls’ lacrosse clicked down the stretch of the regular season and captured three of its last four against Conference 3 rivals to enter the Nassau Class A playoffs on the upswing.

Then, on May 16, the Jets continued their ascent against young and talented Baldwin, which shared the Conference 4 title with Kennedy to make program history.

Senior Vincenza Morgillo had two goals and two assists, senior Kelly Stump and junior Alexis Chew scored twice apiece, and junior goaltender Dynastee Ramos made 10 saves to lead East Meadow to a 9-2 elimination-game victory. The Jets (5-8) advanced to face No. 3 seed Farmingdale in the quarterfinals.

“While we were looking for wins earlier in the year, we got some under our belt late in the season that gave the girls confidence coming into today,” East Meadow coach Nicolette Tortorici said after the game. “We have a nice rivalry with Bald-

win in a lot of sports and the girls played with grit and intensity.”

Juniors Jasmin Tiong-Smith and Emma Ryan scored for the Bruins, who had no seniors on their roster and finished 11-4.

“I wasn’t in love with how we warmed up and unfortunately that showed in the game,” Baldwin coach Rebecca LaFlare said. “I could tell we were nervous. We didn’t shoot up to par. It wasn;t our best game but I told the girls to not let this result take away from the great season we had. We’ll have the first conference championship banner on the gym wall.”

The Bruins controlled the pace early and held possession for much of the opening 10 minutes but couldn’t solve Ramos, who had 130 regular-season stops. “Dyna worked hard all season with different drills and faced a lot of shots,” Tortorici said. “She really came through.”

Both teams featured deep-scoring lineups, though East Meadow’s showed more in this matchup. Morgillo, who closed the regular season with six points (four goals, two assists) in a win over Pla-

inview, continued her strong May as Baldwin’s defense focused on Jets leading scorer Isabella Pota, a senior midfielder with 30 goals.

“Vincenza really grew into her own and became more confident and aggressive,” Tortorici said. “Baldwin has a high-pressure defense and tried to lock Bella off. Bella still had a ton of draw controls to help us win.”

Morgillo and Chew accounted for all of the first-half offense as the Jets built a 4-1 lead at halftime. Stump, a dangerous lefty in the crease, scored both of her goals in the second half. Juniors Halle Lara and Brooke Vislocky, and freshman Kayla Lederer also scored. Senior Ava Lanza and sophomore Alissa Valente led the defense in front of Ramos.

Baldwin returns its entire squad next spring and will be a candidate to jump up to become one of East Meadow’s conference rivals. Freshmen CJ Keryc (39 goals) and Ava Jerome (24), along with Ryan (39) were among the Bruins’ leading scorers. Juniors Alexis Lakeran and Reyna Palmer led the defense in front of junior goalie Megan Englehart.

Tony Bellissimo/Herald photo

ViNCeNza MoRgillo, left, had two goals and two assists as the Jets flew past Baldwin, 9-2, in a Nassau Class A playoff matchup May 16.

County legislators approve Sands land lease

Nassau lawmakers show overwhelming support

By BRANDON CRUZ Correspodent

Tempers flared on Monday evening as the Republican-led Nassau County Legislature voted 17-1 to approve the transfer of the Nassau Coliseum lease to Las Vegas Sands; advancing the $4 billion plan to build a new state-of-theart casino and entertainment resort on the property in Uniondale.

“The overwhelming bipartisan approval of lease terms with the Sands by the County Legislature affirms that Nassau County has made the right decision,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said in a statement. “This is the first hurdle to overcome in order to provide a world class entertainment center with a luxury spa and hotel, creating thousands of jobs and economic prosperity for Nassau County. I am very pleased with the vote.”

Last month, the county reached a lease agreement with Sands that gives the company control over the more than 70-acre Nassau Coliseum site. With approval of the lease agreement the Sands will begin paying an annual rent of $5 million to the county, while they await a state gaming license, once obtained, the annual rent doubles to $10 million. Blakeman said ptevipusly that the county will be guaranteed at least $25 million in tax revenue each year.

The lone vote against the project came from Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, a Democrat, who said g that although she is pro-union, she is voting the way she feels is best for her constituents. Minority Leader Keven Abrahams recused gimself from voting.

Before the county legislator vote, presentations were given by Deputy County Executive Arthur Walsh, Court Attorney Josh Meyer, two Sands officials Michael Levoff and Ron Reese, and Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, who was met with a mixed reaction of both cheers and boos from the crowd. The presentations were intended to address residents’ concerns regarding the potential harms that the project may cause, such as increases in vehicle traffic, pollution, crime, drunk driving, and human trafficking.

Tension in the room remained high as both supporters and opponents of the project spoke before the legislators to share their opinions, and there was loud, heated, bickering, yelling and chanting matches with each other in between and even as people spoke.

Supporters continuously pointed out the perceived benefits the project would bring such as the millions in unprecedented tax revenue, local economic growth, as well as an influx of thousands of new union jobs that would be available in the workers’ own communities; instead of commuting to New York City.

Some proponents of the deal couldn’t understand why other residents wouldn’t want this major cash flow coming into the county, with one resident asking the other side of the room, “What are you saying ‘no’ to? Jobs? A boost to local businesses

in the area? Increased revenue to the county? New restaurants and cool things to do in our community?”

Opponents countered with saying that the proposed project is an attempt at a short, quick solution to a deeply complicated issue.

Among the critics was Pearl Jacobs, president of the Uniondale Civic Association. Jacobs said that Uniondale is a community that has “long suffered from neglect, disinvestment, and taxation without representation,” adding that Uniondale residents’ “quality of life is not for sale.”

She pointed out that Black and Hispanic youth have a significantly higher rate of asthma hospitalizations in Nassau County than their caucasian peers. Jacobs also highlighted that Uniondale, Roosevelt, Hempstead and Westbury have been identified by the state Department of Environmental Conservation as communities that are adversely affected by air pollution, saying that the increased vehicle traffic would further decrease the lack of air quality in these communities, causing further disparities in health and health care.

“By voting yes, it would strongly suggest that our elected representatives have no concern or empathy for Black and Brown communities and that environmental racism is alive and well,” Jacobs said.

Vasu Krishnamurrthy, a Nassau resident who said he has a doctorate ecomonics and has had a 25-year career as a management consultant said, “Jobs and sales are stolen by casinos,” not shared or created. He cited a study from the Richmond Federal Reserve which found that sales revenues and sales tax revenues actually decline for local businesses in suburbs where casinos were newly built.

Other residents such as Bruce Cuestras, addressed concerns about clogged roads and skyrocketing utility

costs as a result of the casino, pointing out that half of his electricity bill is for “power supply charges” from the county.

When questioned during the session by Legislator Carrié Solages, Las Vegas Sands representatives guaranteed to pay

their workers “above a living wage,” noting that there will be a collective bargaining agreement between the company and ther employees union, and that the average starting salary “should be around $70,000 per year,” depending on the union agreement.

That figure was quesyioned as a simple internet search turned up that the national average salary for a casino employee is roughly $40,000, according to the web sites Glassdoor and Indeed.

After the vote, Mary Carter Flanagan, the mayor of Garden City who opposes the project, insisted the fight is not over.

“Of course this is a disappointment, but I give a lot of credit to [legislator] Delia for standing up for what is right,” Flanagan said. “We are not stopping, this is just the beginning and we will continue to fight.”

Las Vegas Sands spokesperson, Ron Reese, said “This is an important first step and we look forward to continuing to engage with the community about how we can do this in the best possible manner, but ultimately it is going to end up with the State Gaming Commission,” Sands spokesman Ron Reese.

Have an opinion on the Sands project and the county agreement? Send letter to rbethany@liherald.com.

Questions we’ve been asked...

Is there a fee charged for making funeral pre-arrangements?

There is absolutely no fee or other charge in New York State when you make “pre-arrangements”. Moreover when you pre-fund those arrangements through the Pre-Plan Trust there is no additional expense in establishing the trust account. A trust account that remains under your control and your funds are FDIC insured.

No commission, no set-up fees, no extra expenses. Just accurate, helpful information, and a plan that conforms to all New York State Regulations and SSI-Medicaid regulations as well. An enhanced rate of interest on the Pre-Plan Trust enables us to guarantee the funeral home costs when a complete funeral is arranged and paid for.

If you would like to discuss these issues, call us and we’ll arrange to have one of our licensed funeral director professionals meet with you and answer your questions.

You’ll receive clear answers, an itemized list of the costs, and some peace of mind.

F. KEARNS, Inc. Funeral Directors

Brandon Cruz/Herald

PROPONeNts Of BOth sides of the Sands casino issue made their case at the Nassau County Legislature vote on May 22.

Thomas L. Kearns

Oceanside

4 was just one of several

Training and Intelligence, just

time

NCPD celebrates 98 years with open house

By KaRina KOVac kkovac@liherald.com

It’s not quite a century, but when anything reaches the ripe age of 98, it’s certainly time to celebrate. And that’s what he Nassau County Police Department did recently with its second annual open house — a three-day event at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence, that attracted somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,000 people each day.

Among those helping the department celebrate its near-milestone were groups of students from various schools who gathered to see demonstrations, learn more about the history of the department at the police museum, and visiting Children’s Safety Town.

“We have progressed like the rest of the country has with police reform and the needs, as technology advances, as types of guns on the street, drugs, different ways to commit crimes” have advanced, we have advanced,” police commissioner Patrick Ryder said. “We are very fortunate here in Nassau County that we are, I like to say, ahead of the curve.”

Staying ahead of the curve means undertaking a new training village that will replace the usual tactical training the department has done since 1925 with what Ryder describes as a more accurately simulated real-life scenario. It’ll be complete with different locations such as a school, house of worship, different types of residences, a bank, a police station, and even a train station with a trestle and platform for specialized situational training.

Through new technology and analytics, the department can adjust to the complexities modern law enforcement can encounter out in the field, Ryder said.

“Life has gotten complicated with the amount of mental health crisis people out

there” are experiencing, Ryder said. “How do we do it? And how do we do it better?

It’s a challenge for us every day. We’re working to make it better.”

The open house aimed not only to familiarize the public with police work, but also to bridge any divide in communities where trusting the police could be lacking. Ryder acknowledged past mistakes and said the department is committed to moving forward with the public’s support. And really, in the long run, they are the good guys, after all.

“We’re here to help,” he said. “You know, yeah, sometimes you’re dealing with bad things. Things happen, and you know, people are upset. We got that. We understand that. But we want them to understand. We’re here to help you. And trust in us. We’ve got to build that trust.

“We know we have errors. We’ve made mistakes. We want to get better.”

One attendee eager to see the police was Jack Mallon. The 2-year-old wore a police vest and enjoyed the repelling demonstration.

“We came just to show him a little bit and to support the police and get his interest piqued a little bit,” said Christina Mallon, Jack’s mother.

It’s important to support law enforcement, she added, because “they do so much for us so we should do a little bit for them.”

Visitors watched an array of demonstrations beyond repelling like using the Jaws of Life to help rescue people from crashed cars, and a display of police canines. Officer Michael Leone, one of the officers involved in the K-9 demonstration, was signing specialty made K-9 cards given to the kids after the display — something they could take home as a souvenir.

It was “exhilarating” to see the kids rush him for autographs, Leone said, adding that “it’s nice to be appreciated by the public.”

Steve Dembo took his children out of school early to attend some of the open house. He knew it was law enforcement

week, so he reached out to the department to see if anything was going on, and found out about the training center event he knew his two children would enjoy.

“I think it’s important for them to see what the police officers do every day,” Dembo said. “It’s interesting. They’re interested in it.”

Together, the family saw the repel demonstration, the new state-of-the-art robot dog, and even met the motorcycle unit.

“They love really everything so far,” Dembo said. And that allowed the dad to take his kids home with them the lesson that “police are your friends, and if you have any kind of trouble at all, they’ll help you.

“It’s very important that kids know that,” Dembo added. “Not to be afraid of them.”

Karina Kovac/Herald photos

schOOl nO.

schools taking a field trip to an open house hosted by the Nassau County Police Department at the David S. Mack Center for

in

for the organization’s 98th anniversary. More than a thousand people came to each of the three days of the event.

nassau cOunty POlice Department commissioner Patrick Ryder stands in front of a repelling demonstration off the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence, where the department celebrated its 98th anniversary recently with an open house.

Tim Baker/Herald the gRand finale at the end of the recent Nassau County Police Department open house at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence was the take-off of the police helicopter.

Supporting troops with food-filled baskets

By MALLoRY WILSoN mwilson@liherald.com

Stew Leonard’s, in East Meadow, was on a mission to help military families of those on active duty have a better Easter this year. Operation Easter Basket was an effort that the grocery store came up with to help military families have special meal for the holiday. Local volunteers — Boy Scout Troop 362, members of Girl Scout Troop 1315, American Legion Post 1082 and Veterans of Foreign War Post 2736 —

Author Laurie Lico Albanese returns to hometown

Prynne? And if so, who was she?

In Hawthorne’s book, Prynne is the woman who must wear the letter “A” for the rest of her life as a symbol of having committed adultery. In Albanese’s reimagining, Isobel Gamble, a young Scottish seamstress, comes to meet Hawthorne during the 1800s. The book dives into what it meant to be American in the 19th century, and how women were targeted for being different. “This is Hester Prynne finally tells her own story,” Albanese said. “This novel asks the question, was there a real Hester

And what would she tell us if she could?” This is Albanese’s third historical novel, and her first one set in America after her other two took place in Europe. Her first book, published in 2000, was contemporary; she switched to historical fiction because she liked reading those types of books, and that’s what was getting the best reception. Her first historical novel, “The Miracles of Prato,” coauthored with her friend Laura Morowitz and published in 2009, was well-received, Albanese said. So she took that genre and ran with it.

It’s been more than a market decision for Albanese. She said that doing research for her historical fiction books transports her back to being a student and spending hours at the library reading encyclopedia after encyclopedia to get the information that she needed for an assignment. “I always think about when I

school, in high school, we always had to write reports — and that my reports, then, as it would be now, consisted of physically going to the library and literally sitting on the floor with all my different books,” she said. “I love doing that, and I kind of feel like that’s what I’m doing when I Continued on page 2

New bill aims to ease property tax burden

By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

A congressman from Seaford and two of his colleagues from Long Island are pressing for legislation to raise the SALT tax cap — which would allow homeowners to deduct a greater portion of their state and local property taxes.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino and his colleagues, Reps. Anthony D’Esposito and Nick LaLota, are introducing a bill that would increase the $10,000 cap, bringing some relief to their constituents. Though Republicans hold a slim majority in the House of Representatives, they said they believe that the SALT Deductibility Act of 2023 would receive bipartisan support.

Garbarino, whose district lands mostly in Suffolk County but covers a portion of Seaford, is a co-chair of the House’s SALT Caucus, a committee created to provide SALT relief to constituents. The caucus comprises 32 representatives, with a delegate from Washington D.C.’s at-large district as its 33rd member. Including the District of Columbia delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, the caucus counts 23 Democrats and 10 Republicans, two of whom are D’Esposito and LaLota.

“This topic is especially timely with texting next week, marking another year

that Long Islanders are getting the short end of the stick,” Garbarino said during an April 14 news conference held in front of the home of a Franklin Square resident. “This legislation, named the SALT Deductibility Act of 2023, will amend the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the limitation on state and local tax deductions.

“Long Islanders pay some of the highest property taxes in the country,” Garbarino added. “And for the hard working families in my district and all over Long Island, the $10,000 cap means they are only able to deduct a portion of their real property taxes and income taxes.”

According to Garbarino, the current SALT cap adds to the idea of New York being a “donor state.” He said that the constituents residing within the districts of the three congressmen pay property taxes far exceeding the $10,000 cap.

LaLota’s district is entirely in Suffolk County, but he stood by his colleagues, as well as Franklin Square resident Ellen Andrasick — during the conference outside of her house — to support the bill. LaLota claimed that New York leads the nation in two categories — out-of-state migration and the highest tax burden at

12.47 percent.

Even though LaLota’s out-of-state migration claim is in dispute since numerous sources put California ahead of New York in that category, LaLota said he hopes the bill would bring relief to New York on both fronts.

Rep. George Santos, who has been under fire for his alleged fabrications and has been publicly denounced by Garbari-

no, D’Esposito and LaLota for them, has introduced his own bill, the SALT Relief Act, which can be viewed at tinyurl. com/SantosSALT.

“Overtaxed New Yorkers deserve better policymaking decisions from their federal leaders,” D’Esposito, who represents the Fourth Congressional District, said. “Congress can enact positive change by passing the SALT Deductibility Act. Those of us behind this podium will fight hard to ensure the SALT cap is repealed and New York neighbors are once again treated fairly by the federal government.”

Andrasick, who moved to Franklin Square in 1968, said she could recall a time when property taxes only amounted to $600, as opposed to the $13,000 she spends today.

“The little salaries that we’re making are being taxed,” Andrasick said. “The government is getting better, but we’re getting poorer. We’ve got to get that tax rate back (down) so that people can stay here on Long Island.”

According to Garbarino, the bill was introduced last week, and it could take some time before it is enacted. But the congressman said he hopes it goes through before the current SALT cap expires in 2025.

Protestors want development, but not gambling

By REInE BEtHAnY rbethany@liherald.com

Residents from several Nassau County communities protested the proposed $4 billion casino and entertainment resort to be built by Las Vegas Sands on the 72-acre Nassau Hub area.

About 150 members and supporters of the Say No to the Casino Civic Association gathered at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola to voice their opposition.

Their concern was not with the new entertainment complex or the vast hotel or possible housing units that would be part of the deal, but the casino itself, which is projected to attract 20,000 people per day, seven days a week, year-round.

LV Sands claims the project would create over 12,000 construction jobs as well as 5,000 permanent jobs, and bring in vital revenue for Nassau County.

The residents opposing the casino are not swayed by the numbers.

“We live on the border with East Meadow,” said Corinne Zarou of Cunningham Avenue, directly across Hempstead Turnpike from the Hub area. “You don’t need a casino in a residential neighborhood. Put it down by the beaches, where there’s miles of open land.”

Manhasset resident Allison O’Brien Silva, a founder of Say No, explained, “Studies have shown, when a casino comes to a suburban community like ours, crime goes up, rates of gambling addiction go up, and property values go down. There is no value to the surrounding community.”

When the rally got fully under way, residents heard from mayors, village trustees, civic associations, and church leaders.

“I respectfully ask our town and county officials if they want their legacy to be that they brought a casino into the last 70-plus acres of prime redevelopable land in Nassau County,” said Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro.

Mineola Mayor Paul Pereira agreed, adding, “This is the county that became the Cradle of Aviation … that put a man on the moon with the lunar module from Grumman and Republic. And this is going to be our legacy now, the county that put up a casino?”

Pearl Jacobs, president of Nostrand

Gardens Civic Association, Uniondale’s oldest civic association, told listeners, “Uniondale, Roosevelt, Hempstead and Westbury have been identified by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation as communities that are adversely affected by air pollution … so putting a casino at the Hub 24/7 would increase traffic and exacerbate medical issues for our youth.”

Nostrand Gardens Vice President Heidi Sanft, who owns a travel agency, concurred. “Motor coaches are going to be riding Franklin Avenue, Glen Cove Road, Merrick Avenue,” Sanft said, “from the Long Island Expressway to Hempstead Turnpike and the mega-casino area. It’s a

Nassau County issue.”

Longtime Uniondale activist Mary Kreye spoke briefly but pointedly.

“I just say to the legislators, come to the people,” demanded Kreye. “Put this to a referendum in November. I ask the people that they not be dazzled by the money.”

Referring to a $54 million initial payment that LV Sands has promised the county, “Isn’t it bizarre,” said Garden City Trustee Charlie Kelly, “that they’re ready to sell out Garden City and central Nassau County for a one-time payment that would not pay a week’s bills for the county?”

Garden City Trustee Bruce Chester said there is strength in numbers. “All the organizations in our villages, with the boards of education, the PTAs, have to come out and say they’re against the casino, not just the mayors and village trustees,” he said.

“We are here to say, ‘Hell, no to the casino,” said Reverend Arthur Mackey, pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Cathedral in Roosevelt, “because hell is where this proposal needs to go,” adding that people at the Hub’s Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the students of NCC and Hofstra “don’t need to be dealing with the pressure of a gambling casino.”

After the rally, Ingrid Favelus, a threedecade resident of Uniondale, told the Herald that the county and town officials have not sent notices of the meetings about the casino complex, the way they do for elections or recreational events.

“They should have called and said, ‘This is our plan, and please come to the meeting and this is what we want to do,’” Favelus said. “Nothing!”

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald REp. AntHonY D’ESpoSIto says the current SALT tax cap has devastated his constituents in the Fourth Congressional District.

Reine Bethany/Herald

ABout 150 SuppoRtERS of the Say No to the Casino Civic Association surrounded Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro, shouting, “No to the Casino!” during Sunday’s protest in

SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting the Town of Hempstead (TOH) and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer.

By participating in structured project and work-based opportunities, Long Island youth are better prepared for careers of the future.

WHAT THE PROGRAM OFFERS

Career Exploration: Hone your research skills and uncover exciting new career possibilities.

Structured Work-based Opportunities: If you're a TOH and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20, you can get paid to learn about different careers and make a positive impact in your community through work-based activities.

Work Experiences: TOH and City of Long Beach youth between the ages of 16 and 20 can develop job readiness skills and explore diverse career pathways through paid summer jobs in various industries throughout Nassau County.

Earn Money: Don't miss out on the chance to earn money while gaining valuable experience and exploring your career options!

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Partner with the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) at HempsteadWorks and provide valuable work experience to youth while expanding your business's staff at no cost. The program pays participant wages in full, so there's no financial burden on the hosting employer. As a SYEP worksite, you can play a vital role in the region's economic development and access a pool of talented, hyperlocal youth who are the future workforce.

Please review the important information below for details on this summer's program.

SYEP 2023:

Participants can work up to 30 hours per week

Rate of pay is $16 per hour, paid by the TOH Participants go through physical clearance and drug screening

Worksite Responsibilities:

Ensuring youth time and attendance procedures are followed, and the timesheets are complete and accurate Supervision of participants, along with guidance and training as appropriate Monitoring youth attendance, punctuality, and job performance

Don Clavin Supervisor

Creating connections through artwork

the Beach’ was born,” Moosemueller said. “From there we spent a lot of time thinking about things that you find and see at the beach.”

The gallery previously has displayed artwork inspired by Vincent Van Gogh and by safari life. Last year it hosted an exhibit full of art pieces with a garden theme.

Nearly 30 people contributed to the exhibit. The lighthouse sculpture is joined by paintings, drawings, diamond art, jewelry, shell art and more for people to peruse and buy. All of the money earned goes back to the East Meadow gallery — either for party supplies or any activities the group does.

To get even more inspiration, the group takes excursions. They headed to the library to look at books, they went to the beach multiple times, and they went to stores like Home Goods to find nautical items.

Richard Infante, 30, who sells numerous of his paintings every year, painted some beach scenes. One in particular, he painted just from looking at a photo.

“He’s so talented,” Moosemueller said, “it’s ridiculous.”

The group has been working Monday through Friday since February on their artwork for the exhibit. To get people to come in and view it, the group hits the town and asks different stores and other businesses if they can hang fliers in their windows.

“Not many people buy things, but that’s okay,” Moosemueller said. “That’s not what it’s about. This is a whole experience, a social experience, for our artists, and just for them to hear some feedback about their artwork.”

Davis Hernandez, 39, spent nearly three months with his hands covered in glue and paper as he worked on the lighthouse. The idea for the sculpture came from Arielle Dugue, an art instructor with AHRC Nassau who visits the East Meadow location on Wednesdays. Together, she and Hernandez got to work on the lighthouse.

“It feels amazing to see it,” Hernandez said. “I love doing papiermache. I love getting my hands messy.”

Hernandez said the paint layers on the lighthouse — red and white — had to be done one at a time. The artists had to paint a layer and then let it dry, or it would bleed onto the next. His favorite part of the sculpture is the light on top that rotates like a real lighthouse beacon.

“I love lighthouses — I think they’re gorgeous, and I thought it would be a nice main piece for the art gallery,” Dugue said. “Davis offered his assistance from day one, and we worked really well together, and we were great partners in this project.”

The gallery is open Mondays through Fri-

days from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All of the artwork is for sale.

“The exhibit, ‘A Day at the Beach,’ is a joyful expression of self-advocacy — a way of saying, ‘This is what interests me; how about you?’” Saundra Gumerove, president of the board of directors at AHRC Nassau, said in a statement. “It’s about creating new points of connection and celebrating shared experiences while highlighting the talent of the artists at AHRC’s East Meadow Art Gallery.”

a plethora of art media can be seen in the gallery, but this aptly dressed lady is sure to catch your eye.

the lighthouse took nearly three months to make, and it features a working, rotating light on top. there are a variety different pieces, far left, appealing to those of all artistic tastes. Some are painted, while others are made out of shells that were bought or found.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

When visitors Walk into the room, they see an array of art pieces that comprise the beach-themed exhibit.

‘Human error’ caused mailers to ID voters as Dems

By MICHAEL MALASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com

Anyone receiving a voter mail check card erroneously identifying them as a registered Democrat, there are a few things to know.

First, it was caused by human error. Second, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman does not want any blame to be leveled at county Democrats.

According to Blakeman, in the past couple of weeks, the county has fielded many calls from disgruntled voters claiming that they received these cards that misidentified their voter registration over the past couple weeks, Blakeman — a Republican — said. There also were claims that other details like township and Assembly district were also incorrect.

But there is no conspiracy, Blakeman said. Instead, it was a simple mistake admitted to by Phoenix Graphics, the vendor used by the county elections board to print and distribute these cards.

“The voter check cards were sent out with information on a card about people and where they’re supposed to vote, what district they’re in, and what their registration was,” Blakeman told reporters at a recent news conference. “In this circumstance, everyone was identified as a Democrat. Not Republican. Not Working Families. Not the Green Party. So obviously, you can imagine that people who are Republicans or in another party were very concerned that their registration had been changed by someone else.”

This has spurred concern that voters could be confused about how they can vote in upcoming primaries, thinking their registration has been changed. Another potential concern is that the other details that could be

wrong — like township or Assembly district — could add to that confusion caused by this issue.

Blakeman says he’s reached out to the elections board, and is working to not only resolve this, but ensure it doesn’t occur again.

“If you got this, don’t go vote in the Democratic primary,” he added. “The voters rolls are accurate. These

cards are not. That is the disconnect.”

Phoenix Graphics is based out of Rochester, and while admitting to “human error” over the party affiliation, did claim no other part of the card was incorrect.

“As soon as it was discovered, we moved immediately to remedy the situation,” the company said, in a statement.

“This is an isolated event, but we apologize for our mistake, especially to Nassau County officials, who bear no responsibility for this problem. We have fixed the error and, at no cost to taxpayers, will deliver corrected voter information cards as soon as possible.”

In recent years, voter fraud concerns have risen nationwide, with many Republicans blaming Democrats for creating such situations, despite presenting little — if any — evidence to back up those claims. The most prominent case involves former president Donald Trump, who continue to state the 2020 election was stolen from him — once again with no evidence to support the claim.

But Blakeman does not wish to see that kind of sentiment rise in Nassau.

“I don’t think the Democratic Party is engaged in a conspiracy to create havoc in their own primary side,” the county executive said. “I would assume that the Democratic Party doesn’t want a bunch of Republicans showing up for their primary. So, I don’t think there’s anything nefarious on the part of the Democratic Party.

“With respect to my party, I wouldn’t want a bunch of Democrats voting in our primaries.”

The county elections board said voters can expect registration cards with the correct information coming to their mailbox ahead of the primary elections in late June.

Michael Malaszczyk/Herald NASSAu CouNtY ExECutIvE Bruce Blakeman displays a voter card he says was sent to a voter in his jurisdiction, incorrectly labeling them as a registered Democrat. According to Phoenix Graphics, the vendor used by the county elections board, a number of voter cards were misprinted with the wrong party — a mistake caused by human error.

STEPPING OUT

Dan and Claudia Zanes

STEPPING OUT

Looktotheskies

Creative advocacy

By Karen Bloom

t’s the moment we’ve been eagerly awaiting: Memorial Day weekend has arrived. Besides the observances, parades and barbecues, for so many of us, that annual trek to Jones Beach to watch the action overhead during the Bethpage Air Show is a beloved tradition not to be missed. This year’s extravaganza, on Saturday and Sunday, May 27-28, is helmed once again by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

By Karen Bloom

WHERE

The distinguished squadron, back for their 9th headlining appearance, is joined by other elite military pilots including the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the U.S. Marines F-35B Demonstration Team, the U.S. Navy F-18 Growler Legacy Team, and the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod Team.

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

The Thunderbirds, “America’s Ambassadors in Blue,” demonstrate the extraordinary capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon — the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet. The elite military pilots proudly showcase the capabilities of the $18 million,19,700-pound fighter aircraft, which can travel at speeds up to 1,500 mph. Grace meets power in this mix of six aircraft performing formation flying and solo routines. Flying only a few feet from wingtip to wingtip, observers can glimpse the superb skills that all fighter pilots must possess.

WHEN

• May 27-28, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

minutes of dynamic maneuvers. We’re always improving our planes and refining our routines.”

His team is a close-knit group of five pilots, with decades of military and professional experience.

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

• $10 vehicle use fee

• Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh

“I like to say once you check in you never check out. The camaraderie of our team is what makes us special,” he says.

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

• For up-to-date information, visit BethpageAirShow.com.

“We’re thrilled that this is our 20th year with the show. It’s so important to us as it’s our home show. For many of our friends, it’s the only time they get to see us (perform).

We are always excited to be here and put a smile on people’s faces. It’s great fun to fly down low and see everyone on the beach. This is an awesome weekend, and all the performers are great at what they do.”

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

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

Other renowned civilian performers include the always popular Skytypers and their flight squadron of five vintage World War II aircraft. Mike Goulian, North America’s most-decorated aerobatic pilot. Folds of Honor Biplane with Ed Hamill. The American Air Power Museum Warbirds. Long Island’s daredevil pilot David Windmiller. The Warbird Thunder team. The Civil Air Patrol. And the Farmingdale State College Flying Rams, who will fly several of their 22 college-owned aircraft.

The Skytypers, an air show favorite, combine the best of old and new. The team uses five of the remaining World War II-era NA SNJ planes left in the world, meticulously restored with the latest technology.

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

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

“These were Navy scout planes used on missions in World War II and the Korean War,” explains Larry Arken, Skytypers’ flight leader. “We’ve modernized them and give them plenty of TLC. We have to take care of our warbirds. They’ve got quite a military history. They’ve landed on aircraft carriers and as fighter trainers they trained the Greatest Generation.”

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

The Farmingdale-based Skytypers are, of course, a familiar sight along beaches in the northeast with their skytyped messages generated at an altitude of 10,000 feet with puffs of smoke in dot matrix-style letters. Those messages will be on full display during the show, following their aerobatic routine.

“We like to think of this as the largest text message in the world,” Arken says.

Each message is two miles long and as tall as the Empire State building. Visible for 30 miles, they can be seen by 4 million people, according to Arken.

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

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

His planes’ flying maneuvers also command attention in their five-ship formation.

“We fly low, at 500 feet,” Arken says. “We’re known for our precision skills that involve 18

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

Pat McGann

All ages will enjoy some Memorial Day weekend fun on the Tilles Center lawn, with Grammy Award-winner Dan Zanes and Haitian-American jazz vocalist Claudia Zanes. They perform a mix of old and new songs from near and far in a style that has been called ‘all-ages social music,’ also described as an all-ages party. This interactive concert will have you dancing and singing along as the duo performs homespun, joyful music for everyone to enjoy. It’s a relaxed performance open to all, with modified sound levels and quiet spaces for those who wish to move around. Zanes occupies a unique place in American music where sea shanties, English music hall, North American and West Indian folk music, party songs, the spirit of early rock-and-roll, and soulful originals collide. Kids will also enjoy games, bubbles, face-painting and crafts, starting at 12:30 p.m., with a barbecue lunch available for purchase.

Saturday, May 27, 2 p.m. $25. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. TillesCenter.org, or (516) 299-3100

BALDWIN HERALD — February 9, 2023

Tom Rush and Loudon Wainwright III

Pat McGann is quickly rising as one of the sharpest stand-ups on the comedy scene. A relative latecomer to comedy, he began doing standup at 31 after realizing he was not very good at selling packaging. He hustled his way to become the house emcee at Zanies Chicago, where he distinguished himself as especially adept at working the crowd. A husband and father of three young children, McGann’s appeal stems from his quick wit and relatable take on family life and marriage. In 2017, McGann began touring as the opening act for Sebastian Maniscalco, moving with him from clubs to theater, to arenas, including four soldout shows at Madison Square Garden. McGann’s relatively short, but impressive resume, includes Montreal’s famed Just For Laughs Festival, Gilda’s LaughFest, The Great American Comedy Festival, and more. McGann still calls Chicago home.

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

Yarn/Wire

Two gifted performers pair up for an exciting double bill on the Landmark stage. These legendary singer-songwriters will enthrall their audience in an evening filled with story-telling, ballads passionate gritty blues. Tom Rush, a gifted musician and performer, offers not just a performance but a musical celebration. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. For the past 52 years, Loudon Wainwright III has carved out a distinguished career as one of our most original singer-songwriters; a six-string diarist with material that is by turns, tongue-in-cheek, tender, sarcastic, heart-wrenching, and always deeply personal. Along the way, he’s released more than 20 albums, won a Grammy, acted in film and television, and had his songs recorded by artists including Johnny Cash, Mose Allison, Bonnie Raitt, and his own son, Rufus Wainwright.

Friday, June 2, 8 p.m. $55, $49, $45. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444, or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

Now in its 18th year, Adelphi University’s ‘new music’ series welcomes Yarn/Wire. The intrepid New York-based piano-percussion quartet has forged a singular path with endlessly inventive collaborations, commissions and performances that have made a significant contribution to the canon of experimental works. The quartet features founding member Laura Barger and Julia Den Boer on piano and Russell Greenberg, also a founding member, and Sae Hashimoto playing percussion.

Photos courtesy U.S. Air Force

Airmen and women execute daring manuevers in a thrilling display of the might of the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Your Neighborhood

THE SCENE

Tom Rush and Loudon Wainwright III

Two gifted performers pair up for an exciting double bill on the Landmark stage, Friday, June 2, 8 p.m. These legendary singer-songwriters will enthrall their audience in an evening filled with storytelling, ballads and gritty blues. Tom Rush, a gifted musician and performer, offers not just a performance but a musical celebration. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. For the past 52 years, Loudon Wainwright III has carved out a distinguished career as one of our most original singer-songwriters, a six-string diarist with material that is by turns, tongue-in-cheek, tender, sarcastic, heart-wrenching, and always deeply personal. Along the way, he’s released over 20 albums, won a Grammy, acted in film and TV, and had his songs recorded by artists including Johnny Cash, Mose Allison, Bonnie Raitt, and his own son, Rufus Wainwright. $55, $49, $45. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. (516) 767-6444 or LandmarkOnMainStreet.org.

May 25

Breastfeeding Support Group

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Eye And Mind: The Shin Collection,” highlights the extraordinary collection masterworks assembled by 31-year-old connoisseur Hong Gyu Shin, an internationally recognized figure in the global art world. He shares his treasures, including works by Whistler, Lautrec, Boucher, Daumier, Delacroix, Klimt, Schiele, Balthus, Warhol, de Kooning, Gorky and many other important names from art history provocatively juxtaposed with the painting and sculpture of our own time from both Asia and the West. On view through July 9. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Mercy Hospital offers a peer to peer meeting for breastfeeding support, 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. All new moms are welcome, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required. Call breastfeeding counselor, Gabriella Gennaro, at (516) 705-2434 to secure a spot. Mercy Hospital, St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. For information visit CHSLI.org.

Art talk

Join Nassau County Museum Director Charles A. Riley II, for a Director’s Seminar, Tuesday, June 20, 4 p.m. He’ll discuss “Baldessari and the Making of the Avant-Garde.” John Baldessari’s roster from Cal Arts featured many who would gone on to be art stars. Examine not only Baldessari’s own art but some of the famous assignments offered by the man many consider the most influential art school teacher of the 20th century. Participation is limited; registration required. $40, $20 members. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org or call (516) 484-9337.

Party Supplies

"FARM STORES WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR ARMED FORCES FOR THEIR SACRIFICE TO OUR GREAT NATION"

LI TODAY

Las Vegas Sands pursuing development of multi-billion-dollar resort on Long Island

earlier this year, Las Vegas Sands, the world’s most valuable integrated resort company, announced its intention to pursue the development of a multibillion-dollar flagship hospitality, entertainment and casino project on Long Island.

The move came after the recent release of the New York State Gaming Commission’s Request for Application for three downstate New York gaming licenses.

What has happened

The company has entered into agreements to purchase the long-term lease of the site currently home to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. These transactions would grant the company control of up to 80 acres in Nassau County.

In April, Nassau County, came to terms on a lease agreement with Las Vegas Sands, which would give the Sands control over the land where it plans to spend $4 billion on a resort.

“Our company’s track record of driving significant economic benefits to the communities in which we operate and the meaningful relationships and partnerships we have created in each of those communities gives us a unique perspective on what it takes to develop transformative tourism destinations that positively impact the local community. Based on that experience, we strongly believe Long Island can be home to one of the region’s great entertainment and hospitality developments” said Robert G. Goldstein, the company’s chairman and chief executive officer.

About the resort

The resort would include outdoor community spaces, luxury hotel rooms and a

world-class live performance venue honoring the long legacy of live music at the Nassau Coliseum.

The resort property would also feature celebrity chef restaurants, experiential events and venues and flexible meeting and conference space including ballrooms. Other amenities would include high-quality casino gaming, which is planned to represent less than ten percent of the project’s total square footage, a luxurious day spa, swimming pool and health club, and a variety of other entertainment programming.

The outreach plan

Building upon years of community outreach at the site by RXR Realty, Sands is working with local Long Island communities to co-create a development plan and bid that ensures that the new integrated entertainment and hospitality resort maximizes economic opportunity, helps to build stronger communities, and protects the quality of life for all Long Islanders.

Thousands of jobs

The project would also provide thousands of quality union jobs in both construction and operations. Through the company’s well-established and industry-leading environmental sustainability program, Sands ECO360, the Long Island development would also utilize cutting-edge sustainable building and operating practices.

The company will seek guidance from Long Island’s environmental leaders on its ambition to achieve LEED certification and its goal of being the “greenest” building on Long Island.

Sands is also committed to creating a development that is uniquely Long Island through investments in existing community and cultural projects and organizations and partnerships with local celebrities and sports teams. The project would also honor the site’s legacy as a veteran memorial and pay tribute to Long Island’s beloved community of military service members – past and present.

“This project will truly be transformational for our community. It will create so many jobs and the career opportunities it will provide will change the lives for so many in such positive ways.”

“We’re welcoming The Sands resort with open arms. We firmly believe they will actively work with local small businesses and just be great neighbors in our community. The chamber is thrilled they’ll be coming to Long Island.”

The Sands — since the very start of this project — has proven that they are committed to creating a unique and innovative development that will serve our community well. We're excited to work with them.

Mariano Ugalde, Uniondale Chamber President

who we are:

The developer of a multi-billion-dollar flagship hospitality, entertainment and casino project on Long Island

Jim Skinner, East Meadow Chamber President

Candace Aguirre Holley, Small Business Owner, Hempstead

Key features of the Long Island resort

A 5-star hotel containing at least 500 rooms and amenities, including a 24-hour reception, a concierge, valet parking, and suites;

A high-end luxurious day spa, swimming pool and health club.

Celebrity-chef restaurants including concepts from Rao’s, Jean-Georges and estiatorio Milos. A Celebration of Local Dining with Poll Restaurants, whose current Long Island offerings include Bryant & Cooper Steakhouse, Majors Steakhouse, Cipollini Trattoria & Bar, Toku Modern Asian, Bar Frites Restaurant and Hendrick’s Tavern.

A world-class live performance venue will honor the long legacy of live events at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Outdoor community spaces, experiential events and venues.

Ballrooms and flexible meeting and conference spaces to accommodate corporate retreats and special events.

High-quality casino gaming will represent less than 10% of the project’s total square footage.

Local businesses will have new opportunities through a robust procurement program, which has already launched, providing information and internal Sands contacts to hundreds of local business owners.

Thousands of union jobs during construction and thousands more long-term career opportunities for Long Island residents.

Robust workforce training programs and college degree programs with Nassau Community College and Long Island University in hospitality including: hotel and casino management, security and surveillance, meetings and banquets, entertainment, and food and beverage.

Implement diversity and inclusion strategies to foster an environment of collaboration and economic equity.

Fulfill supply chain needs from local businesses, including MWBE’s, as well as veteran and disabled entrepreneurs to ensure all Long Islanders have opportunity to participate in the project’s success.

Honor the service and sacrifice of all Long Islanders who served in the United States Armed Forces with a minimum $1 million investment in a new Veterans Memorial.

Below are renderings of Las Vegas Sands’

RESORTS

marINa baY saNDs

Singapore's most iconic building, Bay Sands is home to the rooftop SkyPark with the world's longest pool, the Sands and Convention and the lotus-inspired ArtScience Museum.

The PLaZa maCao & Four seasoNs hoTeL maCao

These properties the finest in luxury accommodations and retail offerings, including Macao's and largest luxury at The Plaza Macao.

To learn more about the Sands as the world’s preeminent developer and

Sands’ proposed resort project in Nassau County

LoNG IsLaND GoING oN The CuLINarY maP

Las Vegas Sands has made agreements with several leading restaurant groups as the foundation of a premier dining experience that will put Long Island on the culinary map for global tourism and drive significant visitation to local restaurants, bars, hotels and attractions.

RESORTS AROUND THE WORLD

The LoNDoNer maCao

most building, Marina home Sands the longest infinity Sands Expo Convention Centre lotus-inspired Museum. properties offer luxury accommodations erings, Macao's first luxury mall Macao.

The VeNeTIaN maCao

Located at the center of the Cotai Strip, The Londoner Macao is Sands' latest destinationthemed resort, featuring five leading hotel brands; an array of retail, dining and meeting offerings; a 6,000-seat arena; and British-themed attractions.

Sands plans to deliver a carefully curated collection of food and beverage venues that augment the local landscape and lift the entire Long Island area with an influx of global tourists looking for a variety of experiences – from on-property offerings to regional flavor. Integral to the company’s plans is a five-star concierge program that will funnel visitors to local restaurants, bars and attractions.

Restaurant brands that have entered into agreements to explore dining concepts with Sands at the planned Long Island destination include:

NY trendsetters & local offerings

Raos

Poll Restaurants

Borrelli’s

Macao's first Integrated resort and the anchor property of the Cotai Strip, The Venetian Macao brings the Italian opulence of their flagship Las Vegas property to China.

and operator of world-class integrated resorts visit sandsnewyork.com

Grand Stage Diner

Global flavors

estiatorio Milos

Zuma

Amazonico

Coya and Nusr-Et

Maximal Concepts

Lettuce Entertain You

World-renowned celebrity chefs

Jean-Georges Vongerichten

Lorena Garcia

Tetsuya Wakuda

LI TODAY

Cares Youth Empowerment Initiative

Sands New York sponsors Opening Day Parade for Uniondale Little League

Former New York State Governor David Paterson represented Sands New York as a corporate sponsor of the Little League Parade in Uniondale. He was joined by Art Shamsky of the World Series Winning NY Mets as they walked and talked with aspiring baseball players, coaches and parents. Good Luck to all the teams this season.

Las Vegas Sands brings in former New York Jet D’Brickashaw Ferguson to hand out awards and scholarships

Las Vegas Sands invited former New York Jet D’Brickashaw Ferguson to distribute scholarships and awards, and take photographs with the Uniondale Knights Youth Football players and mentors.

Sands Youth Empowerment Initiative hosts international soccer legends Carli Lloyd and David Beckham

Las Vegas Sands hosted inspiring and legendary soccer stars Carli Lloyd and David Beckham as they met with Long Island soccer clubs and over 400 students aged 9-12 at Mitchell Field in Uniondale to share an empowering experience focused on teamwork, sportsmanship and fitness. The event was part of Sands Cares and its Sands Youth Empowerment Initiative here in New York. The initiative reflects a tradition and history of dedication and commitment to communities where Sands properties are developed.

who we are: The developer of a multi-billion-dollar flagship hospitality, entertainment and casino project on Long Island

By the Numbers

$7.9 million in charitable giving

2.7 million jobs created since 1996

$13.7 billion gaming tax contributed to host regions since 2017

Through June

Whale of a Drink fundraiser

Support The Whaling Museum by participating in Sandbar restaurant’s Whale of a Drink, Whale of a Cause fundraising effort, now through June 21. Enjoy the Sandbar’s iconic cocktail, the Whalebone, and a portion of the purchase will be donated to the museum. A “mocktail” version is also available. To help promote the fundraiser, mixologist Dan Leopold will offer a mixology demonstration and Whalebone tasting at the Museum’s Whales & Ales event on June 3, 2:30-3 p.m. Funds will support the Whaling Museum’s community education programs during its 2023 summer season. 55 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor. For information, visit SandbarColdSpringHarbor.com.

Having an event?

June 13

Passion for Pride

Support PFY, a division of Long Island Crisis Center, at a 30th Anniversary Benefit celebration, Tuesday, June 13, 6-10 p.m. With drag bingo and performances by Ivy Stalls and Syn; also special guest honoree actor-authoractivist Maulik Pancholy. The event, honoring PFY’s 30 years serving Long Island/Queens’ LGBTQ+ communities, is at Westbury Manor, 1100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury. For more information and tickets, go to tinyurl.com/pfyevent2023.

East Meadow Community Day

The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to Community Day, Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Head down to Senator Speno Park for free fun entertainment, rides, giveways, food and more.

Bingo at Beth-El

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

Temple B’Nai Torah Garden Party

On stage

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.

June 10

Wantagh’s historic Temple B’Nai Torah is part of the cause to provide pantries and shelters with fresh produce, Mark your calendar and join in a garden party on June 10. 2900 Jerusalem Ave. For more information send an email to rfauci@gmail.com.

Colin Jost

The SNL star brings his standup act to The Paramount stage, Thursday, June 1, 8 p.m. As one of SNL’s main writers, he’s never at a loss for words. $89.50, $79.50, $69.50, $59.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 7453000 or Ticktmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

Back by popular demand, families will enjoy a musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved children’s books, on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage, Wednesday, May 31, 10:15 a.m. and noon; Thursday, June 1, 10:15 a.m. and noon. Elephant and Piggie storm the stage in a rollicking musical romp filled with plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense perfect for young audiences. Together with nutty backup singers, The Squirrelles, the comedic duo even gets the audience involved in the action. $9 with museum admission ($7 members), $12 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org

Westbury House Tour

For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond the first floor corridor. Now beyond the door and discover “secrets of the service wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour, Friday, May 26, noon-1 p.m.; Monday, May 29, noon-1 p.m.; Wednesday, May 31, noon-1 p.m. and 1:30-2 p.m. Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Go along the corridors to the butler’s pantry and silver cleaning room then descend the 17 steps to the kitchen, scullery, and wine storage rooms located on the ground floor. Reservations required. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

Top lawyers honored for time in, out of office

By MALLORY WILSON mwilson@liherald.com

It was an experience that provided plenty of perspective, including for Frank Torres.

“Whenever I’m honored and recognized for what I do in my field of law, it’s so humbling,” said Torres, an associate attorney with Duffy & Duffy. “I never would have expected so many years later after getting out of law school that I would have gotten to this point.”

That point was being recognized as one of the Top Lawyers of Long Island during a ceremony last week, May 17, at the Heritage Club at Bethpage. Hosted by RichnerLive — the events division of Richner Communications and Herald Community Newspapers — the event featured some 300 attorneys, all mingling and congratulating each other on their achievements.

Lawyers were awarded for their accomplishments in a wide range of fields, including civil rights litigation, land use and zoning, commercial litigation, personal injury, and dispute resolution.

Jothy Narendran, a co-managing partner with Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran, was named one of the philanthropists of the year. She encourages everybody at her firm to get involved with a charity that they connect with on some level. For Narendran, that work involves Spectrum Designs, a custom apparel shop that employs individuals who are neurodiverse.

“It’s so nice to be recognized, especially in the community that we’re in,” Narendran said. “I don’t think there’s success without giving back.”

Amy Amato, executive director of RichnerLive, expressed gratitude for all who attended and made the event possible. Herald publisher and chief executive Stuart Richner described the gala as a “great way to celebrate all of the legal firms and professionals that contribute to our community. They are critical to ensuring that everyone’s interests are represented both fully and fairly. And I congratulate all of the winners for their hard work, passion and expertise.”

A portion of the ticket proceeds were donated to the Suffolk County Bar Association Charity Foundation, and the Nassau County Bar Association We Care Fund. There the money will be used for educational and charitable purposes, including the improvement of citizenship and justice, and to provide scholarships, grants and charitable programs to help those in need.

Brad Cronin, founding partner of Cronin & Cronin Law Firm, was honored with the lifetime achievement award for tax certiorari. He’s been practicing in his field for 40 years.

“You do a lot of hard work to get to this point,” Cronin said, “but the wonderful thing is I have a wonderful staff that’s been with me for 20, 30 years. And it means a lot that they’ve been able to support me and everything I do.”

Giuseppe Franzella, member of Bond Schoeneck & King, was honored for his work in commercial litigation. Franzella chose this particular path of law because of his family, and that he’s known that that was what he wanted to do since he knew what work was.

“I just wanted to be able to advocate for people and really solve people’s problems, which is what I do today as a litigator,” Franzella said. “I’m very flattered to be honored. It feels great to have the support of my firm and the local legal community, and it’s an honor to be among this group that’s been nominated, which is people I’ve worked with in the legal community, and looked up to, for a long time.”

Top Lawyers of Long Island sponsors

Major Sponsor

Easy Tax Credits

TenantBase

photo Booth Sponsor

Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran LLP

Gold Sponsors

Cronin & Cronin Law Firm, PLLC

Duffy & Duffy, PLLC

Mejias, Milgrim, Alvarado & Lindo, PC

Silver Sponsors

Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC

Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld LLP

Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP

Cona Elder Law PLLC

Harris Beach PLLC

Kaplan, DiTrapani, Faria & Rabanipour LLP

Littler Mendelson P.C.

Meister Seelig & Fein PLLC

Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

Nixon Peabody LLP

PBI Payroll

Raimondi Law, P.C.

Rosenberg Calica & Birney LLP

Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC

Schroder & Strom, LLP

Touro Law Center

Verron Law Group, P.C.

Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP

Tim Baker/Herald photos

TOp LAWYeR HONOReeS enjoying dinner during the awards ceremony with friends, family & loved ones.

THe VISHNIck McGOVeRN Milizio LLP team.

HON. IRA B. Warshawsky (Ret.) from Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. & NAM (National Arbitration and Mediation).

BRAd W. cRONIN from Cronin & Cronin Law Firm, PLLC.

Top Lawyers of Long Island 2023 Honorees

Gilbert L. Balanoff of The Law Offices of Gilbert L. Balanoff

John T. Bauer of Littler Mendelson Jon Bell of Bell Law Group

Frederick K. Brewington of The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington

Richard P. Byrne of L’Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini | National Arbitration and Mediation

Michal E. Cantor of Nixon Peabody

Jayson J.R. Choi of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein

Allan H. Cohen of Nixon Peabody

Andrew M. Cohen of Law Offices of Andrew M. Cohen

Nathaniel L. Corwin of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein

Brad W. Cronin of Cronin & Cronin Law Firm

Peter Egan of Nixon Peabody

Anthony J. Fasano of Guercio & Guercio

Giuseppe Franzella of Bond, Schoeneck & King

Simone M. Freeman of Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran

Avrohom Gefen of Vishnick McGovern Milizio

David Green of Campolo of Middleton & McCormick

Jay M. Herman of Herman Katz Cangemi Wilkes & Clyne

Leah Jackson of The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington

Glenn M. Jones of Harris Beach

Jared S. Kaplan of Kaplan, DiTrapani, Faria & Rabanipour

Matthew E. Kasindorf of Meister Seelig & Fein

Ken Kern of Cona Elder Law

Adam H. Koblenz of Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz

Elena B. Langan of Touro Law Center

Steven L. Levitt of Levitt

Alyson Mathews of Bond, Schoeneck & King

Jennifer A. McLaughlin of Cullen and Dykman

David L. Mejias of Milgrim, Alvarado & Lindo

Randi M. Milgrim of Mejias, Milgrim, Alvarado & Lindo

Joseph G. Milizio of Vishnick McGovern Milizio

Brendan J. Mooney of Cullen and Dykman

Mika Mooney of Mika Mooney Law

Andrew S. Nachamie of Andrew S. Nachamie

Michael D. Napolitano of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein

Jothy Narendran of Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran

Scott A. Newmark of Meister Seelig & Fein

David R. Okrent of The Law Offices of David R. Okrent

Joseph C. Packard of Schroder & Strom

Constantina S. Papageorgiou of Vishnick McGovern Milizio

Christopher A. Raimondi of Raimondi Law

Ronald J. Rosenberg of Rosenberg Calica & Birney

Deborah G. Rosenthal of Rosenthal, Attorneys at Law, and Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York

Stuart H. Schoenfeld of Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld

Jacqueline Silvey of National Arbitration and Mediation

Hon. Peter B. Skelos (Ret.) of Forchelli Deegan Terrana | National Arbitration and Mediation

Lawrence J. Tenenbaum of Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran

Frank Torres of Duffy & Duffy

Tyleana K. Venable of Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran

Rochelle L. Verron of Verron Law Group

Hon. Ira B. Warshawsky (Ret.) of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein | National Arbitration and Mediation

Ellen C. Yaroshefsky of Maurice A. Deane School of Law, Hofstra University

Brian K. Ziegler of Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman

Top Law Firms

Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran LLP

Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP

THe SaHn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC team.

BrIan K. ZIegLer from Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP.

aLySon MaTHeWS FroM Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC.

gLenn M. JoneS from Harris Beach PLLC.

FranK TorreS oF Duffy & Duffy, PLLC.

THe JaSpan ScHLeSInger Narendran LLP team.

Suha, Rosales earn $40K

Amazon scholarships

STAFF REPORT

An internship while in high school can be extraordinary. But an internship and a scholarship?

That’s exactly what Shadia Suha and Hilary Rojas Rosales were awarded recently, the Sacred Heart Academy seniors named winners of the $40,000 Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship for 2023 — and a paid summer internship with Amazon.

Returning home from school one afternoon, both young women were surprised to find the award waiting for them. The scholarship is good for $10,000 each year toward an undergraduate degree in engineering or computer science. The 12-week internship will come after their freshman year in college.

That means both Shadia and Hilary will have a chance to work on some of Amazon’s groundbreaking technologies and core platforms, like Alexa voice technology, Amazon Web Services, and the Amazon retail platform.

Hilary, a Hempstead village resident, has always had a passion for computer science. She plans to attend SUNY Binghamton’s Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science in the fall. Aside from the challenging science and research program, Hilary says she’s made new friends each year in the program, while still finding time to take care of two parakeets, Bella and Jacob.

Shadia, who lives in West Hempstead, cites the friendships she’s made at Sacred Heart, as well as a research project she worked on with Brookhaven National Laboratories, which helped reinforce her passion for the study of medicine through engineering and robotics.

And somehow she still finds time to play the violin, the piano and the guitar — just for fun.

“Not only are Shadia and Hilary intelligent, hardworking scholars, they lead with compassion, courage and commitment,” said Sister Jean Amore, Sacred Heart’s principal, in a release. “Sacred Heart Academy is so proud of them.”

Sacred Heart’s focus in science and math prepares students to apply their scientific knowledge to real-world challenges. Both Shadia and Hilary have spent a great deal of time in Sacred Heart’s science research center, a stateof-the-art facility designed specifically for student-developed research projects.

Students from historically under-represented and under-served communities represent just 18 percent of computer science bachelor’s degrees across the country, according to Victor Reinoso, global director of philanthropic education initiatives at Amazon.

“We believe that connecting students to computer science education and opportunities help create a more equitable and inclusive future — across all industries and sectors — for generations to come,” Reinoso added, in a release.

Those winning Amazon scholarships were selected based on academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, community involvement, work experience, future goals and financial need. In all, Amazon handed out 400 such scholarships across the country.

Founded in 1949, Sacred Heart Academy is an all-girls Catholic college preparatory school sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Current students come from more than 40 school districts, and graduates go on to recognized top-tier colleges and universities.

Photos courtesy Sacred Heart Academy left, and Hilary Rojas Rosales joined Sacred Heart Academy principal Sister Jean Amore to celebrate the $40,000 scholarship and 12-week internship they earned for next fall when both begin college. Shadia and Hilary balanced an intense academic schedule with relaxing activities like raising parakeets and staying sharp on

One of the best. Once again. Right here in Oceanside.

High Performing in Nine Areas of Care

Celebrating 30 years of pride with PFY

LGBTQ organization looks ahead to what still needs to be done

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

As PFY is gearing up to celebrate the month of pride in June, and the LGBTQ community in general, this year it is also celebrating its own history, as 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the agency, which was the first of its kind in a suburban setting in the United States.

PFY, which formerly stood for Pride For Youth, is now known simply by its acronym, because a grant allowed the organization to expand the reach of its services, and it now provides lifelong assistance to anyone who identifies as LGBTQ on Long Island and in Queens.

The Bellmore-based organization was founded 30 years ago as an offshoot of the Long Island Crisis Center, Tawni Engel, the associate executive director of the crisis center and PFY, explained, because its founders recognized the need for services for LGBTQ individuals.

The crisis center operates a 24/7 hotline for people with mental health crises, and in the early 1990s, Linda Leonard, its former executive director, noticed an influx of calls from members of the LGBTQ community, Engel said.

“Really over the years, it’s grown exponentially into what it is today,” Engel said of PFY. “And back then, with society, the climate was very different — things were very different.”

The crisis center actually lost funding from private and public donors in the 1990s because they didn’t want to support organizations catering to the LGBTQ community, Engel said.

“I will say that we did the right thing, obviously,” she said. “What we’re sort of known for is just saying, no, we want to meet the needs, and the needs that we are seeing. There’s obviously a gap in services, and we want to be the ones saying we’re filling that gap.”

Devon Zappasodi, PFY’s director, said that as the organization celebrates the momentous anniversary, it is also important to reflect on the work that still needs to be done.

“It’s really exciting when we’re growing and creating these new, innovative programs that are really meeting

needs and helping folks,” Zappasodi said. “But there’s also, like, this somber tone, because, you know, we’re growing and growing, but then there are still needs that are just unmet.”

Some of the problems facing the LGBTQ community today include food insecurity, the inability to obtain consistent housing and job insecurity, among others. Many people struggle with their mental health, and with accessing and understanding health care services, and PFY works constantly to make sure those issues are addressed.

At the organization’s 2050 Bellmore Road location and at its Suffolk County center in Deer Park, it offers rapid HIV and syphilis testing. PFY recently partnered with the Suffolk County Department of Health to run a mobile medical clinic, where things like free Covid-19 and HPV vaccinations were offered. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause long-term issues such as cancer if untreated.

To celebrate the anniversary and Pride Month, the organization has an upcoming Pride Gala on June 13 at the Westbury Manor. Ninety-four percent of all proceeds will be devoted to helping the LGBTQ community through PFY’s services.

Attendees will hear from award-winning actor Maulik Pancholy, who is openly gay and known for his role in the sitcom “30 Rock,” among other series. For information on the gala, visit tinyurl.com/PFYEvent2023, and for more on the agency, visit LICCPFY.org.

We’re “always keeping the community close to us,” Zappasodi said, “because without them, we’re nothing — it’s really coming from them — 30 years of working with and in collaboration with the community.”

Courtesy Tawni Engel

PFY, thE ORgANizAtiON previously know as Pride for Youth, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and gearing up for Pride Month in June.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L & L

ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. MICHAEL

J. ORLANDO, et al, Defts. Index #610738/2021.

Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Mar. 22, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the north front steps of Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 8, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. prem. k/a Section 45, Block 519, Lot 10. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the auction. BRIAN

J. DAVIS, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY. #100311 139291

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

Wilmington Trust Company as successor trustee for Citibank NA, as Trustee for Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust, Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2006-HE5, Plaintiff

AGAINST The Estate of Brenda Williams a/k/a Brenda F. Williams, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 13, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 6, 2023 at 2:00PM, premises known as 369 Clarendon Road, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, SECTION: 34, BLOCK: 491, LOT: 208 and 209. Approximate amount of judgment $750,300.90 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #005241/2014. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are

other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure

Auctions will be held

“Rain or Shine”. For sale information, please contact XOME at www.Xome.com or call

(844) 400-9633. Jeffrey S. Wasserman, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP

53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706

01-070207-F00 75313 139177

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MASTR

ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES

TRUST 2007-1

MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1, Plaintiff, Against

KAREN JONES A/K/A

KAREN B. JONES A/K/A

KAREN B. LICHTENSTEIN, et al.

Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 03/24/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501. This Auction will be held rain or shine on 6/12/2023 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 769 Van Buren Avenue, East Meadow, New York 11554, And Described As

Follows:

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

Section 50 Block 436 Lot

4 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $765,254.16 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 601311/2019

If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction.

Peter Kramer, Esq., Referee. (Phone #: (516) 510-4020)

McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 4/20/2023 File

Number: 16-301208

LD 139462

350 Front Street, Room 122, Hempstead, N.Y. 11550-4037 until 11:00

AM prevailing time

Thursday, June 1, 2023 at which time the following Formal Bids and Contracts will be publicly opened, read and approved as soon thereafter as practicable

FB#21-2023

Labor And Material To

Repair/Replace Parts For

TOH Existing Dust

Collector

FB#22-2023

*Furnish & Install 3”

Thick Foam Insulated Patio Roof and Two (2) Dry Wells

FB#23-2023

Complete Restoration Of Courtroom Benches

FB#24-2023

Purchase And Installation Of Two (2) AC units For DGS Printshop

YEARLY REQUIREMENTS

FOR: *TOWN BOARD TO

MAKE AWARD

Bid/RFP/RFQ packets may be picked up only between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:15 P.M. Bid/RFP/RFQ Packets may also be obtained via email request to Paul J. LoRaso paullor@hempsteadny.go

v Please include Firm name, address, contact person and contact telephone number. Also include Bid/Offer number that you are requesting. All Bids/Offers must be made on bidding sheets furnished by the Division of Purchasing of the Town of Hempstead and subject to all specifications, terms and conditions stated therein.

The Division of Purchasing and or the Town Board reserves the right to reject any and all Bids/Proposals and to accept the Bid/Proposal(s) that is deemed most favorable to the interests of the Town

ATTENTION VETERANS:

You have certain rights under Section 162 of The New York State Finance Law in connection with public contracts for the purchase of commodities or provision of services.

Specifically, This law may authorize acceptance of a bid submitted by a “Qualified Veteran’s Workshop” provided that the bid shall not exceed the lowest responsible bid by greater than 15%. It is incumbent on you to submit all required documentation to the Town, demonstrating your qualification for treatment under that section. You should consult your attorney to determine your qualification for treatment under this provision.

Under local law 62.5 this law may authorize acceptance of a bid submitted by a local veteran-owned business that maintains a place of business in or sells supplies, materials or equipment manufactured in the County of Nassau

and submit a bid not to exceed 7.5% more than the otherwise lowest responsible bidder, and also does not exceed the bid of the otherwise lowest responsible bidder who qualifies for the local (non-veteran) preference by more than 2.5%.

Certification as to the enterprise is required to be by the NYS Office of General Services or US Department of Veterans Affairs.

DATED: May 19, 2023

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.

DONALD X. CLAVIN JR. SUPERVISOR

KATE MURRAY TOWN CLERK

DOMINICK A.

LONGOBARDI DEPUTY TOWN COMPTROLLER 139613

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC

HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking On Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 6th day of June , 2023, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations:

LEVITTOWN STRAIGHT LANE - north side, starting at a point 39 feet west of the west curbline of North Lane, west for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-172/23)

OCEANSIDE ANCHOR AVENUE - south side, starting at a point 84 feet east of the east curbline of Nassau Road, east for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-168/23)

WEST WINDSOR PARKWAY - north side, starting at a point 224 feet west of the west curbline of Messick Avenue, west for a distance of 17 feet.

(TH-169/23) WANTAGH McLEAN AVENUE - east side, starting at a point 319 feet south of a point opposite the South curbline of Kinloch Road, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-174/23) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons: OCEANSIDE CORNWELL PLACE - east side, starting at a point 112 feet north of the north curbline of Foxhurst Road, north for a distance of 20 feet.

Crime watCh

Larceny

■ On May 6, a Levittown man reported that his catalytic converter was stolen from his car while parked on Daisy Lane.

■ Target, located on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown, reported that an unknown man stole various items from its store on May 11.

■ CVS, located on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown, reported that an unidentified woman stole various items from the store on May 13.

■ An East Meadow man reported that both front and rear license plates were stolen from his car while parked on Pontiac Road on May 14.

■ On Grant Avenue in East Meadow, a man reported that $60 was stolen from his car while it was parked on May 15.

■ BP Gas Station, located on Hempstead Turnpike in Bethpage, reported that an unknown man stole one bottle of liquor from the store on May 17.

Arrests

■ Tracy R. Brooks, 61, of North Merrick, was arrested on May 11 for allegedly shoplifting form Home Depot on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown.

■ Natalia Lozada Bravo, 22, of Hickville, was arrested for alleged DWI at the intersection of Merrick Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow on May 12.

Criminal Mischief

■ At Tri County Flea Market, on Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown, a woman reported that the rear windshield of her vehicle was damaged on May 12.

■ A resident of Centre Avenue in Bellmore reported that unknown individual(s) damaged one of his windows on May 15.

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

News brief

Town of Hempstead to host beach cleanups

The Town of Hempstead will be partnering with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society to host a beach cleanup.

The dates include June 10 from 9 a.m. to noon, and June 25 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lido Beach Town Park located at 630 Lido Boulevard in Lido Beach. Volunteers are needed. To register visit TinyUrl.com/ TohBeach.

The Town of Hempstead is in need of volunteers for two beach cleanups, slated for later in June, at Lido beach Town Park.

Public Notices

(TH-599/22 - 2/17/23)

(TH-599(D)/22)

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

Dated: May 23, 2023

Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 139698

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC, Pltf. vs. XENOPHON ANAXAGOROU, et al, Defts. Index #601442/2020. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Feb. 28, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on

June 27, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. premises k/a 1844 McKinley Ave., East Meadow, NY 11554 a/k/a Section 50, Block 172, Lots 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Said property beginning at the corner formed by the intersection of the Southerly side of Aberdeen St. and the Easterly side of McKinley Avenue, being a plot 100 ft x 100 ft. Approximate amount of judgment is $617,510.72 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions

of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the sale. RALPH MADALENA, Referee. PINCUS LAW GROUP PLLC, Attys. for Pltf., 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556. #100374 139720

Herald file photo

H ebrew Academy of Long Beach seeks educators to join our exceptional school faculty in fostering a culture of academic exploration and excellence and dedication to spiritual, intellectual, and personal growth of all students. We are currently looking for candidates in the following divisions: Lev Chana Early Childhood:

Teachers

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Assistant College Guidance Counselor

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To learn more about our school community, please visit www.halb.org. We look forward to hearing from you! Please send resumes or inquiries to resumes@halb.org

HomesHERALD

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

European Style Townhome

Agreat location that is perfect for a large family. This spacious home has 5 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms, plus additional rooms for home gym and home office. This home boasts 2-zone gas baseboard heat, new electric service, new roof, new water service, new boiler, new hot water heater, new sewer lines and all new masonry in the garage. There's a fire sprinkler system throughout the home, and a new first floor double-size outside deck perfect for entertaining, with a 2 car garage plus another parking spot behind the home. You will enjoy the ceiling fans and hardwood floors that are throughout the home. It is close to shopping, restaurants and public transportation, with the beach just blocks away. Come see for yourself, this maintenance-free home has it all! Low Flood Insurance and FEMA compliant.

A painter says he can do more than paint

Q. We started doing work to our home and are just finishing, and the painter suggested that a wall could be taken down to open up the rooms. He says he can do this himself because it’s not a support wall. We’ve looked into it, thinking about an island in the kitchen and matching the floor or replacing it. The painter said we might need an architect, but since the work is interior, it won’t need a permit. We’re wondering what we should do, because we know you’ll say we need a permit, but the painter says we can get one after the work is done, and he can start right away so he can finish the work and avoid interruptions. Do you think this is a good idea?

A. The permit, as a piece of paper or a process of reviewing the work, isn’t the point. As you read this, hundreds of projects around you are underway with no permits. Most of them will either never be found out or are of such small consequence that when an issue comes up, it will be ignored.

Usually, I only learn about problems when either a buyer or a lending bank wants something put on record. I receive frantic calls asking if plans can be made quickly and a permit obtained before the closing in a week. Anyone who tells you the permit process is quick is trying to sell you something.

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But remember, the permit document isn’t really the important thing. The permit is a symbol representing a more important issue — safety. Safety not only includes your well-being against doing something dangerous; it also means preventing health risks and the potential of losing a large sum of money if something goes wrong.

Removing a non-structural wall is a little misleading. The wall may not be supporting anything, but it has weight that you want to replace with another load. In general, people rarely look at any kind of building as a system of puzzle pieces, all fitting together in a specific way.

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As an example of what can happen, I once got a call from someone who had that wall removed and added an island. The wall load was removed from the beams below, which was a good thing because those beams were now carrying less of a load. Then an island was installed, a four-foot-wide model with a beautiful quartz countertop, a sink and a sixburner stove. The homeowner also wanted an open display for restaurant-sized canned peeled tomatoes, ready for use with one of their famous recipes.

The island load was calculated after the finished flooring began to distort and come loose and sagged 4 inches, when I was called to figure out what was going wrong. The island weighed at least six times the load of the wall, and the beam below was buckling. The floor bounced and the wine glasses in a nearby cabinet clinked together every time someone walked by.

©

2022 Monte Leeper

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Garage Sales

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Yes, we’re a nation of immigrants, but . . .

The ongoing influx of undocumented immigrants into New York City now threatens not just to overwhelm the city, but to spread into the suburbs, as we have already seen in Rockland and Orange counties, raising serious quality-of-life issues.

Let me make it clear from the start. America is a nation of immigrants. They have always been the lifeblood that gives America its unique sense of determination and ingenuity. I am a grandson of immigrants. Like the late Gov. Mario Cuomo, I consider America to be more a mosaic and stained glass window than a melting pot.

No country has more legal immigration than the United States. Having said that, we cannot be a nation without borders or one that allows entry to unlimited numbers of migrants. There must be an orderly process and procedure for immigration, not just to safeguard our society and communities, but for the welfare of the immigrants. We cannot financially afford the surge of undocumented immi-

grants we are seeing today.

Coming out of the coronavirus pandemic, our economy was straining to recover. Mental health and education needs caused by Covid had to be met and paid for, with diminished revenues. Crime in our streets had to be brought under control to protect our residents and to make cities safe for people to return to work and play. Housing had to be provided for the growing numbers of homeless, including America’s veterans. Adding 60,000 undocumented immigrants to New York City is unsustainable, especially since we have virtually no idea who these people are and what physical, mental and educational needs they have. Nor do we know the criminal histories some may have.

While the overwhelming majority of undocumented immigrants are good people, some are not. I saw examples of the negative results of uncontrolled illegal immigration on Long Island in 2014 and 2015, when there was a surge of undocumented minors across the southern border. A significant numbers of those kids were sent by the federal government to communities such as Brentwood and Central Islip, many of whose residents are

hardworking immigrants from Central America. This put a severe burden on the local school districts, which had to accept these kids on very short notice while addressing their unique educational and psychological needs and deficiencies as well as the language challenges.

Despite Rep. Steve Israel and I making requests and introducing legislation, the Obama administration refused to provide these school districts with any added funding. There was also the chilling reality that a number of these young people were connected to the MS-13 gang, which was recruiting new members and carrying out brutal acts of violence against other students. In the 18 months from the fall of 2015 to the spring of 2017, MS-13 carried out a reign of terror in the immigrant community, brutally murdering 25 mostly young people.

You can understand why residents in communities in Brooklyn and Staten Island are so opposed to large numbers of undocumented immigrants being housed close to schools and neighborhood facilities.

This crisis of undocumented migra-

tion would be severe enough if there were any end in sight. Instead, more buses of immigrants arrive at the Port Authority every day. New York City Mayor Eric Adams wants to lessen the city’s burden by sharing it with neighboring counties, which are no more able to provide the necessary services than the city. Not surprisingly, Rockland and Orange counties are resisting through legal proceedings, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has made clear his opposition to Adams’s plan.

The only answer to this humanitarian crisis is for the Biden administration to secure our porous border as quickly as possible. Despite the president’s protestations, he doesn’t need congressional authorization to get the job done. He has the necessary power and authority.

Congress will not consider legislation on undocumented migrants already in the country until there is assurance that the border is secure, and the asylum system is reformed so that just claiming asylum won’t provide long-term sanctuary until hearings are held years in the future. Our challenge must be to stop illegal immigration while ensuring that America remains a nation of immigrants.

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

Dishing up an old-time menu for the holiday

The Memorial Day acai bowl just will not work. Neither do I want to see a tofu hot dog or an Impossible Burger vegging out at my table. Save the kale smoothies for another time. This year, after all the pandemic deprivations and accommodations and missed celebrations, I look forward to an old-time cookout, me and my old friends: carbs and salt and fat.

Even as I write this, it feels transgressive. I’m a good girl — I am. I eat healthy day in and day out. For heaven’s sake, even on Thanksgiving I now prepare stuffed butternut squash as a main dish and cooked fruit for dessert.

Eating natural didn’t come naturally. I didn’t grow up breakfasting on mango, granola and yogurt, lunching on avocado toast and dining on six ounces of salmon. I grew up the old-fashioned way, boosted by sugar, highly processed cereal, egg salad with mayo for lunch and liver and red meat for dinner. I stored bags of potato chips under my bed. I

know, you’re as surprised as I am that I reached this age.

My parents’ childhood diet was worse. As Jewish people of European descent, they ate everything with a scoop of chicken fat on top. Chopped liver was a fave. They were poor, so my mother’s family of six would share one chicken and fill themselves up with mounds of mashed potatoes (laden with chicken fat, of course). They served up pots of soup, also glazed with fat. The preferred cooking method was frying, and they weren’t using canola oil, believe me.

My mom and dad lived to 95 and 97, which does raise the question of whether chicken fat is an undiscovered health food. In their 60s they started eating fish and chicken, broiling instead of frying, consuming very little sugar and bulking up fruits and vegetables. They also started exercising, every day, in dogged moderation.

My food evolution began in college, when, after playing the vending machine cookie and cocoa slots, I gained 12 pounds. I hadn’t thought about it before: Would eating cookies and drink-

ing sugar make me unhealthy? Was I prepared to buy all new clothes to accommodate my chocolate chip cookie habit?

As my parents improved their eating habits in the 1960s, I too educated myself about nutrition and began grazing at the salad bars rather than the dessert buffet.

I was an awful cook when we set up our first apartment. At my first official dinner party for the family, I cooked Cornish hens, plated them, and served them to our parents. They were hens on steroids, and it looked as if a flock of geese had landed on our table. When my mother-in-law stuck a fork in hers, blood spurted out.

Some food fads of the day were fondues, either chocolate or cheese, processed white bread and Tang (dehydrated orange juice). I did own a fondue pot, but eventually, dipping bread chunks into melted cheddar lost its appeal. Everyone I knew had a bun warmer to hold the doughy rolls we served with dinner.

Eventually I learned to cook, and have been doing it every day for more than 50 years. We have moved toward

the food paradigm of lots of vegetables and a small amount of protein, preferably fish. I eat lower-fat foods and less sugar because I believe in science, and I know that a hot dog a day will put me away. But one or two a year is good for my personal sense of well-being.

We all associate food with memories, and the coming together on Memorial Day, a holiday both celebratory and somber, has always included a gustatory launching of the summer season. The meal demands fresh corn and watermelon. Beer for the grownups.

This weekend, as we honor those who have given their lives keeping us safe and strong, let’s go back to basics. Even as fake news, fake intelligence and photo fakery overtake us, let’s serve up real hot dogs, rolls, sauerkraut, relish, hamburgers and ketchup, and let’s top it all off with a gaudy and gigantic red, white and blue Jell-O mold, which has no real ingredients at all aside from food coloring.

I don’t know why the prospect of an old-fashioned barbecue feels so satisfying, and I’m not going to analyze it. Just save a seat for me at the long table with the paper tablecloth and pass me a dog with the works.

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

RANDI KREISS

I know that a hot dog a day will put me away. But this weekend, serve ’em up.

p resident Biden must secure our porous borders as quickly as possible.

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lisa Malkin

How not to make a mountain out of a molehill

Political animosity in America is as old as the Constitution.

HERALD

Divisiveness and rancor are not traits unique to American politics, either. Humans have learned and relearned how to debate without smashing one another over the head with clubs. Politics is messy. It will always be a blood sport. Political parties exist to dismantle their enemies. But hope remains that discourse will win the day over destruction.

Last week in Nassau County, there was a moment of collective breath-holding for those who support the rule of law, after a printing company made every active voter in the county a Democrat.

The company, Phoenix Graphics, of Rochester, assured the public the mistake was a printing error, and that no one’s party registration had been changed by the Nassau County Board of Elections. Phoenix promised to fix the error, and print and mail updated voter registration cards to everyone.

County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, held a news conference anyway, clutching one of the incorrectly printed voter registration cards.

To his credit, Blakeman resisted a rhetoric-filled speech to score political points. It would have been so easy for him to blame Democrats or cast doubts on the June primaries and the November election, especially since this election cycle will be the first with newly redrawn county legislative districts.

Redistricting is a bare-knuckled politi-

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cal process that already causes voter confusion. Blakeman could have added to the confusion and distrust by blaming political enemies. He didn’t.

In fact, Blakeman explicitly said that Democrats weren’t engaged in a conspiracy. He emphasized that the county’s voter rolls are correct. He said there was nothing “nefarious” in the printing error. And he made light of any possible allusion to a conspiracy by saying that it would be nonsensical for Democrats to want Republicans to vote in Democratic primaries.

Pause and reflect for a moment on how significant Blakeman’s actions and words were. He could have made vague accusations, sown doubt and appeared to supporters as a hero battling dark forces.

The era of McCarthyism, the Gilded Age, the Civil War — there have been a number of times in our history when all hope of working with political rivals seemed dead. Our present-day political polarization has been described as among the most divisive in history. The ability to talk respectfully with people who disagree seems all but lost. Gerrymandering and U.S. Supreme Court rulings continue to separate us, and at any time there are a host of wedge issues that prevent reform.

Mention “stolen election” and people reach for pitchforks and torches.

Blakeman may not have scored political points with overzealous conspiracy theorists. Much more important, he sought to calm the electorate and reassure people’s faith in voting and democracy.

Grogan’s letter was short on facts

To the Editor:

Re Steve Grogan’s letter to the editor, “Democrats favor felons over disabled veterans” (May 11-17), referring to the Democratic lawmakers who have decriminalized adult-use recreational marijuana in New York:

Grogan argues that Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licenses to sell marijuana have gone to convicted felons, without providing the context behind the assertion. According to a March article in the Albany Times Union, state officials have reserved more than 300 “justice-involved” licenses in the first round, begun last November, for those previously convicted of a marijuana offense, or those whose immediate relatives were convicted. Lawmakers did so, in large part, to help compensate historically marginalized communities of color that were harmed by disproportionately higher marijuana possession arrests compared with predominately white areas.

From January to March 2018, for example, 93 percent of those arrested for marijuana possession in New York City were people of color. Of 4,087 arrests, 2,006 were Black people, 1,621 were Latino, and 287 were white, according to the Innocence Project. Yet Brookings Institution statistics from the time tell us there was relative-

Now that he has poured cold water on a potential simmering issue, he and county legislators must focus on continuing to reassure voters that the county’s voting systems are secure. First, the county must investigate how the printing error occurred. Was it caused by an inadvertent keystroke? Did Phoenix check information before printing nearly 1 million copies of the registration cards?

Next, Nassau legislators must adopt a local law that stipulates that vendors are responsible for fixing such errors at no cost to taxpayers, and that vendors submit a statement of accuracy verification prior to publication. Phoenix voluntarily owned up to its mistake and said it would pay to fix it, but county taxpayers shouldn’t have to rely on the goodwill of vendors when they err.

Finally, the county must insist on prior review by a Board of Elections employee, who would examine voter registration cards and give the OK for printing.

Blakeman should hold another news conference with Democratic and Republican legislators before next month’s primary to reassure voters that the voter rolls are correct, and that no party registrations were incorrectly changed.

Partisanship in our country is close to all-time highs. Blakeman deserves credit for resisting an easy layup to score political points. He and the Legislature must, however, work hard in the coming months to reassure voters that their registration information is correct, and that their votes will be accurately counted.

ly little difference in marijuana use among people of different races.

Grogan writes that licenses went “mostly” to convicted drug dealers, with-

out attributing the statement to a source.

Meanwhile, Section 137 of the state’s cannabis law prohibits anyone convicted of marijuana trafficking within the last

Israel’s safety must be America’s priority

In many corners of the world today, instability and democratic backsliding reign supreme. We see this phenomenon playing out in real time as Russia continues its malicious invasion of Ukraine, China further cracks down on human rights, and Sudan braces for a potentially protracted civil war. In the face of such a deteriorating international security situation, it is extraordinarily important that the United States reaffirms its commitment to standing for freedom, and continues to nurture democracy around the globe wherever there is fertile soil. America’s greatest ally in this generational struggle is Israel — a free country whose miraculous establishment by the Jewish people and survival against great odds has often drawn the ire of its antisemitic, authoritarian neighbors.

Recently I had the opportunity to travel to Israel as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation led by House Speaker

Kevin McCarthy, to see for myself the manifestation of that country’s great democracy and celebrate the 75th anniversary of Israel’s hard-fought freedom. During our time in Israel, my House colleagues and I met with President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana, and several other Israeli lawmakers, and briefed them on ways Congress is working to help Israel combat violence perpetrated by terrorist groups and state sponsors of terror, such as Iran.

While speaking to our Israeli partners, my colleagues and I reaffirmed our support for enhancing Israel’s “Iron Dome” missile defense system, and announced our participation in a new joint U.S. House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group — a bilateral association of legislators from the United States and Israel designed to promote avenues of cooperation between our countries.

What’s more, the American delegation formally delivered a copy of a congressional resolution I co-sponsored that calls for

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three years from obtaining a license, pending state board review. All license applicants must also prove they have owned a profitable, legal business for at least two years. For more, go to bit. ly/436glY2.

Finally, Grogan states that no disabled veterans have received licenses in Round One, again without attribution. The state’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act of 2021, however, requires that service-disabled veterans receive priority treatment in the licensing process, along with minority- and women-owned businesses and distressed farmers.

For more, go to Cannabis.ny.gov.

SCOTT BRINTON Merrick

Larger lawsuits will only damage our health care

To the Editor:

The State Legislature is again considering legislation (A.6696/S.6636) that would exponentially expand damages awardable in wrongful death lawsuits. This bill is very nearly the same as one that was — thankfully — vetoed by Gov. Kathy Hochul last January. The physicians at the Nassau County Medical Society and throughout the state worked tirelessly to have this bill vetoed, but this issue is now resurfacing.

As doctors, we have great sympathy for the grieving families of our patients, and we understand that this legislation seeks

to help them. However, any legislation to expand costly lawsuits must be balanced to help prevent the enormous adverse impact it would have on our health care system. Had the first bill been signed into law, it would have made it even more difficult for our struggling community hospitals and medical practices to continue to provide needed patient care.

While the new bill purports to respond to the governor’s veto, it in fact does not.

Hochul identified several reasons for vetoing the earlier bill, including that it “would increase already high insurance burdens on families and small businesses and further strain already distressed health care workers and institutions,” which would be “particularly challenging for struggling hospitals in under-served communities.”

Furthermore, the governor articulated her concerns that the bill “passed without a serious evaluation of the impact of these massive changes on the economy, small businesses, individuals, and the State’s complex health care system.”

The new bill does not address these concerns. It would continue to enable the awards of new categories of damages that multiple actuarial studies show will lead to a nearly 40 percent growth in liability costs, on top of the already unaffordable costs facing our physicians and hospitals.

Studies from Diederich Healthcare show that from 2019 to 2021, New York had the highest cumulative medical liability payouts of any state in the country, $1.4 billion, nearly twice as much as the secondhighest state, Florida. It also had the high-

the strengthening of the Abraham Accords. The accords — a historic framework brokered by Nassau County’s own David Friedman, who served as America’s ambassador to Israel — provide a path to lasting peace in the Middle East, and I am proud that a Long Islander played such a large part in their formation.

wWe were shown such warmth by the Israeli people as we toured large swaths of Jerusalem, including the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — moving visits to sites important to my Catholic faith. I also paid my respects to the victims of the Holocaust at Yad Vashem, which serves as a palpable reminder to the world that we must work tirelessly to prevent such evils from ever being carried out again.

Indeed, Jerusalem truly is a holy city, and I am grateful to the Israeli people for their considerate caretaking of so many important religious places of worship and other sacred sites. Sadly, however, the carefully maintained peace established by Israel that I observed was shattered as rockets fired from Gaza targeted innocent

Israelis in the southern sections of the country near the end of my visit — a painful reminder that Israel remains under siege, and that underscores the need for the United States to continue supporting our greatest ally in its struggle for survival.

On my flight back to New York from Jerusalem, I couldn’t help but think of those poor Israeli men, women and children forced to live in fear of indiscriminate death falling from the sky. We cannot allow this to remain the reality for the people of Israel.

I have seen firsthand how Israel stands as a beacon of hope in a world cloaked by darkness, and a shining example of the power of liberty in building a free, fair and just society. The United States must do everything in our power to safeguard our Israeli allies, for Israel’s very existence is a victory for the free world, and its success is America’s success. As a member of Congress, I will continue to do everything in my power to provide Israel the tools necessary to ensure that the blue and white banner forever flies high over the country’s eternal capital of Jerusalem. Israel will remain.

Framework by Tim Baker

est per-capita liability payment, 33 percent more than the second-highest state, Pennsylvania. And it far exceeds states like California and Texas, which New York is competing with to attract and retain the best and brightest physicians.

We just completed a budget cycle in which significant steps were taken to address the stability of our community health care providers, particularly those providing needed care in our undeserved areas. Yet this legislation would under-

mine the positive steps the Legislature has taken to protect access to care.

I urge the Legislature to work toward the adoption of truly balanced legislation that can expand the rights of grieving families, while at the same time preserving our patients’ ability to continue to receive needed health care in our communities.

DR. DAVID PODWALL President, Nassau County Medical Society

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Camp Avenue School — Merrick

Congressman Anthony D’Esposito represents New York’s 4th Congressional District.

e cannot allow indiscriminate bombing to remain the reality for its people.

antHonY D’esposIto